Elegance matters in sports and in cricket. It is a must for the romanticists, especially for the willow-wielders. Batsmanship is not all about hitting the ball madly; there has to be a touch of grace and beauty in that craft. Otherwise, it doesn’t remain a craft anymore, but transforms into a tool which gives joy only to the devil. And a devil doesn’t know the importance of elegance.
In the 80s and 90s, elegance mattered. There was that 22-yard wicket to essay epics, there were those boundaries to relish the charm of those epics, there were those vociferous crowd to back the champions and there were those champions in those days as well to give the fans unforgettable moments and world of joy. But, one factor made the 80s and 90s, one of the most unique eras of cricket – elegance.
Cricketers in those days, always had that delicate touch. They were blessed with a certain inner peace. Their hearts were more passionate and the love for the game was immense. They had the ability to enrich this game and be thankful of what they received from the game.
They were graceful and worshipped the God of beauty. They were not only the ultimate champions of the game, but in terms of courage and intelligence, there exists hardly any cricketer in the modern era to hold a candle near to them. Elegance only radiates if there is sublime courage and intelligence within.
Sir Richard Hadlee was the household name in New Zealand in the 80s. The charismatic allrounder gifted New Zealand so many memorable wins that it took him to a different level.
From his rhythmic run-up to perfect action to lethal leg cutters and nagging and incisiveness to astonishing wicket-taking abilities to effective batsmanship lower down the order made Sir Hadlee the choice of New Zealand’s 80s generation. His impact and elegance was so massive that the contributions of a Jeremy Coney, Ewen Chatfield, John Wright, Ken Rutherford, Ian Smith and Martin Crowe used to get overshadowed.
Gradually, the batsman from Auckland named Martin Crowe started to make his presence felt in the team. Apart from his run-making consistency, Martin’s elegance and bravery earned praise from the fans and critics all around the world.
The tracks were not placid like today, the pace-bowlers in those days didn’t bowl only to check runs, the boundaries were not short, there was no free-hit and powerplay and of course, there were bowlers like Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel garner, Malcolm Marshall, Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, Ian Botham, Dennis Lillee and Bob Willis to put shiver down the spine.
Martin faced the barrage of short-pitch stuffs on docile wickets and flayed strokes of highpedigre with utmost bravery. He was a technically gifted batsman and sound both on the front and back foot. He had the hunger for long innings and he never occupied the crease, but dominated the 22-yard with authority. His back lift was not high, but despite this, he was found astute against the most ferocious pace-bowling attacks during his time.
Then there was that power he used to generate while scripting boundaries. How could he send the ball to the boundary with such a brutal force from barely a flex of the wrists always left me and my father stunned. You have to be extremely gifted to do such and Martin was a gifted batsman.
Above all, his drives through the offside boundary either on the back or front foot, will always remain etched in my memory. All of a sudden, he would pivot on the back foot, raise his bat slightly high, get his head and body in perfect position and then, allowed the ball to come into the middle part of the wood late and with the slightest use of the wrists, he would send a that back-of-a-length delivery to the point and backward point boundary.
He would watch the ball rocketing towards the boundary with his traditional direct gaze. Simply gorgeous stuff! Martin’s execution of such strokes was a treat for the photographers and the true lovers of the game – a lot of elegance was poured in just one stroke. The whole phenomenon used to happen within a whisker of a second and the effect of such executions within such a miniscule second, is huge – they allow the flowers to bloom in the hearts of every cricket romanticist.
Elegance is an ideal blend of good taste and dash of darings. When the mind is not cluttered and always supports exactness and lets the heart to echo about beauty and a never-ending romance with the world and humanity, the body dishes out perfectly and that’s what elegance is.
Simplicity and a harmonious mind are the keys to achieving elegance. Elegance can’t be achieved by spending money, but it has to be earned. Martin earned it and it was possible only because he possessed a simple heart and he loved this game very much.
Cancer is a traitor. It is not only frustrating medical science and the doctors, but the human-being across the world as well. It gives a patient immense pain and sufferings and then gradually, gifts them death. Martin has lost the battle against cancer.
It’s not easy for a cricket fan, who has grown up watching Martin play, to accept his sad demise. But, I can proudly say one thing, I am privileged to watch Martin Crowe bat. He has given me the sort of joy which the modern day ball-basher can’t give. As Giorgio Armani said, “Elegance is not about being noticed, it’s about being remembered”.
I am sure, Martin will please the Gods as well with his graceful batting display in the heavens.
Rest in peace.
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