Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Summary of 'No Longer the victim'

      This is an attempt to summarise an article: ‘No longer the victim’ by Ayaz Memon. It was published in The Times of India on 23 August 2010.


      The article has a long introduction spanning over three paragraphs. The introduction illustrates that Indians’ age old fetish for personal milestones is still visible in the excessive importance given to the recent Sehwag controversy.

       The writer then criticises the brouhaha over the deliberate no-ball. He elaborates how India is accustomed to taking resort to outrage at each insult. But the Indian cricket should no longer play the role of a victim, Ayaz Memon insists, as a rising power in the world cricket it should play a leadership role in cricket by raising the genuine concerns about the sport. He suggests that the BCCI should compel MCC to address the issue of ‘sprit of cricket’.

       The article is informative with full of examples:

1) Kishenchand’s strange demand: recognise him as the bowler who bowled when Bradman scored the single to reach his hundredth hundred. (example of servility and Indian’s fetish for personal achievement.)

2) Match referee Mike Denness’ allegation against Sachin Tendular in 2001 and ‘Monkeygate’ in Australia in 2008( example of India’s taking umbrage at just every insult)

3) Bishen Singh Bedi’s complain about John Lever’s use of vaseline to tamper the ball in 1976 and John Snow’s might heave to Sunil Gavaskar in 1971 (example of how Indian players were always at the receiving end of offences.)

4) W.G. Grace’s open rebuke and Trevor Chappell’s underarm delivery (to show hazy term –sprit of cricket)

        Ayaz Memon’s article abounds with phrases, idioms and good vocabulary.

 To pinch something from: to steal something from

Kishenchand saw no irony in trying to pinch some glory from Bradman's achievement, not his own team's win, because that seemed the better opportunity for recognition.

 A barometer of: a measurement of

The transformation from servility to aggressive self-assertion is a remarkable aspect of the journey of independent India in which cricket has always been a strong metaphor, often a barometer of the country's mood but sometimes also a measure of the nation's frailties.

 To take recourse to: to take shelter or refuge to…

Gamesmanship is not new to sport, but what is new in Indian cricket, say critics, is the easy recourse to bristling outrage at each insult, perceived or real.

 To take umbrage at: to take offence at
…….the Indian cricket establishment seems to take umbrage at just about everything

 Grouse and whine: complain

Yet, in a trail of such events Indian cricket often seems to blur the line between genuine grouse and misplaced whine.

 To tick off : to annoy

It is part of the game's established humour how W G Grace ticked off an umpire for giving him out leg before wicket

 Cowering : cringing (shrinking or hiding back) in fear

… the doctor admonished the cowering umpire.

 Diabolical : cruel , pertaining to devil, satanic

Chappell's underarm delivery was a diabolical ploy to deny New Zealand a win in 1981
 Too clever by half: trying to be over-smart, actually turns into foolishness.

……his mistake was actually of being too clever by half because Sri Lanka were going to lose the game in any case.

 Asinine: stupid, relating to an ass

Cricket is a funny game, but its laws don't have to be asinine

A well written and informative article!

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