It was 4th and final test match at Sialkot in Pakistan in 1989. After India fought
intensely first three Tests, all ending in draws, Pakistan were desperate to
win the fourth and final game. Pakistan were hell-bent on winning
the final Test and the series. A green fast and bouncy wicket was prepared to
favor their fast bowlers. Giant like Wasim Akram, Imran Khan, Waqar Younis making the
fast attack even more powerful , sharp and destroyer to the opposition team batsman.
Its the 2nd Inning of India, R J Shastri & NS Siddhu on the pitch analyzing and
thinking how to come out of this scary situation where they have to face best
fast attack in world cricket. India in
no time were 38/3, savers of the previous matches already made their way to
pavilion.
Sidhu facing waqar Younis left a ball to which Ravi Shastri come
and said “very well left” but Sidhu responded he couldn’t even see the ball. On
the very next over, one fast ball from Wasim Akram hit the pad of Ravi shastri and he got out for duck without adding a
single run to the scoreboard which making
the condition even worst for the India(38/4).
Sidhu thought, oh only he is
left and after that Kumble and all others would come who would fall like
bicycles falling in stand one after others, but he got shocked after seeing 16
year short boys walking in to ground. Now he has no idea how this boy going to
face against tall and huge fast bowlers where great batsman of those day scored
nothing( Srikant-3, Azhar-4, Manzrekar-4, Ravi Shashtri-0).
Narrating this, once in an
event Sidhu told that Sometimes people said plan has to be made but when
someone like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were bowling that too at a high pace
and on such a bad wicket, you couldn’t plan, he further added Pakistan bowlers
were making his life so miserable that he felt it was better to get out than
facing their wrath.
Yunis welcome this boy with a
fast bouncer of more than 150Km/h which
he left without having any idea of how to play this. Sidhu went to his partner to ask if everything is ok,
the boy responded with his Natural feeble voice “its ok”. A Very next ball from
Younis a bouncer, taking inside edge of bat and hit the nose and bleeding
started. “His T-shirt got spattered
with blood. Standing at non-striker’s end Sidhu thought this boy will go and not play again.
Even Imran said, 'chote, chot
lag gayi hain. Chalo, baad mein aajana (Boy, you are hurt. Go in and come
later)
By seeing the boy bleeding
profusely, Sidhu called for the stretcher and physiotherapist, but the remedies
given to him was worse than the injuries. they come up with ice pack and a pain
killer.
Even in this worst condition
little boy insisted that this was not the time to leave the ground and decided
to face the fast bowling attack, It’s an
extraordinary show of exemplary courage by this teenager.
On the next ball which was a
yorker, the ball must have been bowled at 160 km/hr, it straight and it
whizzed between sidhu legs and hit the advertising board for a four.” He
hit another four and after that Pathans watching the match also applauded.
Fearless play by this teenager
inspired Siddhu to withstand against the best fast bowling attack, and at end
India were able to save the last test also.
Sachin Tendulkar is a name that
needs no introduction for people from any country that play the sport of
cricket . He is perhaps the greatest batsman in the world and has broket most
of the record that ever existed in the sport for batsman.
“Be fearless, great things were
never accomplished by those who were fearful”
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