The curious case of tummy ache and the second tied test match!

Like many Indians, the news of MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina’ retirement brought out some nostalgic cricketing memories for me. Dhoni may be the ideal captain for many cricket lovers but for many of our schoolmates, Gowri Sankar was the best captain who would often lead us into the YMCA grounds for a game of cricket. I was never sporty and at best was a good 12th man. 

Whenever India played a test or one day match one of our classmates used to slip out of the class citing an urgent call of nature and run to Bakshi Automobiles to bring back the latest scores from the radio commentary.

23 September 1986 – On arriving at the main school building around 9 AM, like any other day, I was asked to report to Manager sir house. It was normal for us to go across to their house for classes taken by him or Meera teacher. However, I was sensing trouble as it was unusual for them to teach us the first class of the day; and I gingerly made my way there.

Sir was sat on the big bench in the veranda and the moment I entered he asked angrily, “What happened to you yesterday afternoon and where were you?”. “Sir, I had a very bad tummy ache and I had to rush home”, I replied mustering my best acting skills. “Is that so? Did you take any medicines? Are you feeling better now?”, he asked. “Yes sir. I am slightly better now but came back as I didn’t want to miss any classes”, I replied. “Oh! is that so? Go and wait at the side area”, he dismissed me. A few of my classmates were already there and were cross with me because almost all of us had the same story.

Our sudden tummy ache was because the previous day was the last day of the Madras test match between India and Australia. It was a tight contest and got closer as the day progressed. Tensions mounted each time one of our cricket messengers came back with the latest scores. During the lunch break, some of us headed to Ashok’s house near the underbridge to watch the live telecast on TV. The match was so intense that we stayed back and with each passing hour more and more classmates would join us and by around 3 o’clock most of the boys were absent from the classes. It was the second test match in history to end in a tie and all of us went home with a sense of being witnesses to a historic moment.

The arrival of another classmate in tears brought me back to the present. I don’t remember, maybe don’t want to remember, the exact punishment we got, but suffice to say it took us a few weeks to get out of the doghouse!

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