Karnataka - Bangalore   

And the game continues…

— Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

Relaxing: Pakistan Cricketer Shoaib Akhtar taking a break during third test match in Bangalore on Tuesday.

Bangalore: Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar suddenly decided to break the monotony and started doing push-ups in the deep. And as an enthusiastic crowd at the Chinnaswamy Stadium egged him on here on Tuesday, he did a set of 20 before quickly getting up, and prepared to field as Mohammad Sami steamed into deliver his next ball. It was that kind of a day when the crowd’s involvement with the game was on a high and it also helped that the Indians performed reasonably well.

Later as a belligerent Sourav Ganguly and a dogged Rahul Dravid helped India extend the overall lead to 220, the fans were in high spirits. Shoaib the showman, however, did draw a lot of attention. He indulged in a bit of gamesmanship with both Ganguly and Dravid and with the crowd saying their ‘boos’ loudly, the Pakistan speedster smiled and returned to his run-up. He was also spotted with a soft toy resembling a leopard, close to the boundary line and he kept chatting with the ball boys.

An ironical backdrop also played out briefly, as Shoaib steamed in from the BEML End and as Wasim Jaffer squared up, the giant screen flashed the image of a crocodile showing off its molars with the words “come” flashing behind. It was an ad-spot for a wildlife resort but the accidental-symbolism involved in it when a red-hot fast bowler charged towards an opening batsman, was spot on. The game is not just about the players and the crowds, there are a lot of backroom staff who ensure that everything goes smooth at the stadium.

At the entry points, Ticketpro employees ensure that fans with valid tickets or passes are provided hassle-free entry. “I am here by 7 a.m. and before that I have to be in my office by 6.30 for a briefing. The crowds are well behaved though some get a bit hassled when you ask them to display their tickets or passes. As for the match, I get back home later in the evening and catch the highlights on TV,” said a young lad at the gates.

For the media, the official scorer is indispensable and M. Nagaraj has been doing the rounds for years with the same enthusiasm. “I am here by 7.15 in the morning and I prepare for the day. It is easier these days with a software called ‘Scorelite’ helping us when we key in on our laptops.

Earlier, with manual scoring, we had to make ten entries in the scorebook with every ball bowled. I enjoy this,” Nagaraj said before rushing home.

It will be another long day for him on Wednesday as the third Test enters its final stretch.

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