CK Nayudu's Indore still swears by Sir Frank Worrell

Indore, Apr 16 (UNI) Indore may still prefer to be known as India's first ever Test captain C Nayudu's adopted abode -- besides a certain Rahul Dravid's birthplace -- but for the cricket cognoscenti of the city, it is Sir Frank Worrell who remains the paragon of sportsmanship.

Surya Prakash Chaturvedi, an author with a number of publications under his belt, vouches he has not seen a cricket of the West Indian's calibre and recalls anecdotes to highlight Sir Worrell's gesture when he toured the city with a Commonwealth XI for a three-day match against the then Holkar side in 1950-51.

''By that time, Sir Worrell was a star player and was batting in the second innings at 68. Towards the close of play, Holkar captain -- another stalwart Col CK Nayudu -- handed over the ball to young S S Sule to bowl the last over. Worrell left his first three balls and murmured something, which only the close-in fielders could hear. And according to some of them, Sir Worrell said he wished Sule bowled him a straight one.'' ''And Sule did bowl a straight delivery and Sir Worrell apparently misread the line and was bowled. Sule's joy knew no bound but the fact is Sir Worrell had gifted his wicket to Sule to encourage the young bowler,'' Mr Chaturvedi reminisced.

''Sir Worrell was such a player. The moment you saw him, you knew this was a player, who would live in your memory forever,'' he added.

On the Barbados-born legend, who is the first cricketer to be honoured with a memorial service in Westminster Abbey, Mr Chaturvedi has another incident to share.

''It's all part of the folklore associated with Sir Worrell.

During that very 1950-51 match, Sir Worrell was smoking and relaxing in the tent and Col Nayudu came to meet him. The moment he saw Col Nayudu, Sir Worrell stood up from his chair and with an embarrassed look, was trying to hide the cigarette,'' he recalled.

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