First class players get second class treatment in India

At least for the first four days, the Ranji Trophy final was a gripping game of cricket. Fortunes fluctuated almost every session, there were some outstanding performances, and a result that did Mumbai proud, but did not shame Tamil Nadu a whit. It was a wonderful match with one hugely annoying aspect: where were the spectators?
Mumbai in May is hot, humid and a ruddy sweat bowl, I agree.The timing of the match was flawed, though the fixtures committee may have had little leeway considering that this was a World Cup year. Even so, first-class cricket deserves better — from administrators and spectators.
In the first session on the opening day I counted 198 heads. Okay make that 200, if you include the two who arrived at the stroke of lunch. On the decisive fifth day, a more reliable arithmetician accounted for 708. For the five days, the turnstiles may have clicked for 1500 spectators. That’s appalling for the final of the national championship.
For three days, there was not a soul in the Sachin Tendulkar stand. As a matter of fact, Tendulkar himself was absent, having flown to the US for an operation on his finger. His presence would have added lustre to the final, and the finger injury was inopportune. But the need for ‘stars’ to play domestic cricket cannot be overstated.
There is something to learn from the Australian system beyond high-voltage fitness regimens and the art of sledging. For instance a calendar that balances enough international cricket, and enough participation of international players in domestic cricket without causing burn-out. It can happen if the greed in the Indian cricket system is replaced by a vision that promotes long-term excellence. In both cases, money can be the consequence, but one is so much more meaningful.
In the meanwhile, there are some fine memories of this year’s final to treasure.
Hemang Badani had a plum match, following up a half-century with the full thing. He was gritty and strokeful, showing the right attitude to match his ability with the bat.
Sadagopan Ramesh made a bright 80-odd to suggest that the flame still burns in him. Wasim Jaffer was elegance personified in scoring two half centuries. His driving on either side of the wicket was a treat to watch and only Sachin and Sehwag make batting look easier on the domestic circuit.
Two young fast bowlers, Balaji and Salvi, were perhaps overwhelmed by the occasion and became too erratic. But their potential is undoubted.
The pick of the bowlers for me was the crafty Ajit Agarkar and never-give-up-man Sairaj Bahutule. They brought Mumbai back from the brink when Tamil Nadu threatened to open up a huge first-innings lead, then bamboozled the opponents in the second outing to make the win for Mumbai both emphatic and memorable.
These are guys in contention for a spot in the national side. There is little that can be done about truant spectators, but I hope that the selectors were awake.
Talking of indulgent spectatorship, Ian Peebles, the celebrated English writer recounts this story of Denis Compton who was addressed to by an aged, coloured man - clearly a great fan of the three Ws — while fielding in the deep during a match in Trinidad in 1953-54.
‘‘Mistah Compton,’’ said the old spectator, ‘‘Mistah Worrell, Mistah Weekes and Mistah Walcott comes first, den comes de Lawd above.’’