''Cricket at Fever Pitch'': 22 yards and beyond

New Delhi, July 26: The moolah may have shifted cricket's centre of gravity to the sub-continent but when it comes to cricket literature, it's clearly a dwindling genre in India. Khalid A-H Ansari, however, would like to believe otherwise as he comes up with ''Cricket at Fever Pitch'', an anthology of his writings over the last 35 years.

Anthologies are not bound to be chronicles of any event and is free from the burden of history. Ansari enjoys this freedom and his articles -- interviews and opinion pieces -- make fluent reading.

The veteran journalist collects and collates articles from his ''Khalidoscope'' column in Mid Day and its predecessor ''Hitting Out'' in the now-defunct Sportsweek magazine, spread over three-and-a-half decades.

In his foreword, Sunil Gavaskar noted that it was Ansari's ''integrity'' which sets him apart from the men of his ilk and went on to describe his friendship with the author, who is also a trustee of the legend's CHAMPS foundation.

As a 1969 article narrates, Ansari caught up with the rather inscrutable Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi in a Mumbai hotel where the ''Noob'' advocated inviting foreign groundsmen to improve the field conditions in the country and revealed that he didn't go for a contact lense because that would have needed a three-month layoff.

Pataudi was just not ready for that.

The youngest Test captain also spoke about Nari Contractor, whose career was cut short in the West Indies after he was struck by a Charlie Griffith bouncer. Pataudi had no doubt in his mind that ''Charlie did chuck.'' Ansari also chronicles, in a 1971 article, how the sleepy little village of Wade went euphoric when its prodigious son Ajit Wadekar, born on April Fool's Day, returned after cornering glory in the West Indies.

A 1975 article sheds light on G Ramchand's report after India team's return from the World Cup. Gavaskar had played that snail-pace knock of 36 not out off 174 balls with just one four during the traumatic stay in the middle.

Later, the Little Champion admitted ''I couldn't force the pace and I couldn't get out''. Another article suggests Tony Greig could well have been India's first foreign coach, well ahead of the likes of John Wright or Greg Chappell. Asked if he would consider coaching India, Greig remarked ''Sure, provided the money's right.'' The towering 6'7'' blond, who once went down on his knees and appeal a vociferous Eden Gardens to stop sounding gong, also revealed his love for Kolkata crowd.

''To me there cannot be a better Test ground in the world than Eden Gardens. Everybody there was so terribly involved in every ball that was bowled. It was an unforgettable experience. I think it was the greatest sight I've ever seen: the lush outfield, all the colours in the world in the overflowing stand...If I were asked to choose one ground in the world to play on, I'd plump for Eden Gardens,'' he said.

In a 1983 interview, the author made Zaheer Abbas admit that captaincy was taxing.

''So often during this series, I found myself awake at four in the morning worrying about what to do on the field the next day. No, being captain, especially on a tour of India which presents its own special kind of problems and pressure, is no fun at all,'' said the disillusioned ''Zed''. And in the same interview, the elegant Pakistani had prophesied that Gavaskar would overtake Don Bradman's 29 Test ton record.

In a candid tete-a-tete with Caribbean legend Viv Richards, Ansari finds the hurt ego in King Richards who was pained after the match-fixing scandal hit the game.

''During my playing days, we were never approached (by bookies).

We had too much national pride, I guess, although some shady guys were around a lot of time when we toured India.'' And though he doesn't like sledging or mental disintegration of the opposition, as propagated by Steve Waugh, Richards said he was never in favour of taking it lying down.

'' I'm not advocating foul language but it's important to give as good as you get out there in the middle. Fast bowlers, in particular, tend to be bullies when they have the ball in their hands. They have to be put in their place. Body language cunts for a lot.

''I remember the treatment we gave Craig McDermott when he came out to bat after being particularly obnoxious when bowling. He trembled like a leaf when I asked Amby (Curtley Ambrose) aloud to bowl around his rib cage,'' Richard recalled.

The temptation to share anecdotes is always irresistible and Ansari jots down a few as well. On another occasion, he wonders how Kapil Dev, one of the most athletic player of his days, makes it to the World's Portliest XI, along with spin twin Bishan Singh Bedi and Erapalli Prasanna and other continental players like Inzamam-ul Haq and Arjuna Ranatunga.

UNI