Sujoy Ghosh's Blog: My Voice - Posts Tagged "cricket"
The Knock | Opening Excerpt
If you have to pick someone to bat for your life, whom will you trust with your life?
Against the fiercest of the bowlers, on the most hostile of the pitches; whom would you pick to bat in defence of your life? Whom will you choose to stand between you and your judgment day?
When most cricketers answer this question, they pick a player they admire or adore but rarely that answer is tested; after all, it’s a gentlemen’s game. In the history of this marvellous game, never did a cricketer bat to defend someone’s life. They might have played a game or two to evade taxes but never it became a matter of life and death. No one ever even came close to it.
One morning in the month of December, as it was summer down under it was a bright dawn; one player showed the world that he can be trusted with life, almost literally. He can stand between life and death and dare to stare into the hollowed eyes of the Lord of Dark in its all glory. The knock was etched into the memories of the players of both the sides, who witnessed an inning of grit the world would not have to come to know about lest someone decided to chronicle the journey.
The origin of the story lies in four consecutive balls off the Lord’s turf during a first-class match in the summer of ‘67. India was touring England and a rookie was given the ball for the second time in the day’s play after the openers for the county side made over two hundred runs in less than two sessions. The Rookie had gone for forty runs for eight overs he tossed during his first spell in the first session and it was unlikely that another spell would do any wonders. He was plainly outsmarted.
The rookie was not supposed to be in the team. It was just a matter of chance. The team already boasted four top-quality spinners in the squad who struggled to play together as the team, for practical reasons, would usually take the field with three spinners and two medium pacers who could swing the bat at times of need. It was the 60s and India was still opening up to the World as a young democracy. On the 22 yards, India was still a struggling side when compared to the older cricketing nations and their strength was concentrated in one department – spin bowling.
In a country where citizens struggled to make ends meet, cricket was a luxury only a few wanted to afford. Some of them were former royalties and only a handful of them came from humble backgrounds. The selection into a team at state and national level was heavily tilted towards the people of means. For most families, cricket, for that matter any sports, was a hobby for a casual break from routine life. A career in sports was rarely sought.
The struggle was not just limited to the talent. Infrastructure was just as modest. The pitches were rarely tended to in the most parts of the country. As result, the surfaces available for practice resembled the sorry surface of Mars more than Earth. Spin ruled the domestic circuit and consequently, carried the weight of the national team. Bound by the circumstances, the national side was making the most of it. Born with handicap, Indian bowlers excelled with sheer determination and ensured that the world notices their immense potential. Even on hostile pitches, Indian bowlers bamboozled the best in the business with confounding variations in the flight and playfulness of the googlies. Their skill was rightfully dubbed as pure artistry with the ball.
Rookie was a chip of the same block.
The Knock
Buy Here
Against the fiercest of the bowlers, on the most hostile of the pitches; whom would you pick to bat in defence of your life? Whom will you choose to stand between you and your judgment day?
When most cricketers answer this question, they pick a player they admire or adore but rarely that answer is tested; after all, it’s a gentlemen’s game. In the history of this marvellous game, never did a cricketer bat to defend someone’s life. They might have played a game or two to evade taxes but never it became a matter of life and death. No one ever even came close to it.
One morning in the month of December, as it was summer down under it was a bright dawn; one player showed the world that he can be trusted with life, almost literally. He can stand between life and death and dare to stare into the hollowed eyes of the Lord of Dark in its all glory. The knock was etched into the memories of the players of both the sides, who witnessed an inning of grit the world would not have to come to know about lest someone decided to chronicle the journey.
The origin of the story lies in four consecutive balls off the Lord’s turf during a first-class match in the summer of ‘67. India was touring England and a rookie was given the ball for the second time in the day’s play after the openers for the county side made over two hundred runs in less than two sessions. The Rookie had gone for forty runs for eight overs he tossed during his first spell in the first session and it was unlikely that another spell would do any wonders. He was plainly outsmarted.
The rookie was not supposed to be in the team. It was just a matter of chance. The team already boasted four top-quality spinners in the squad who struggled to play together as the team, for practical reasons, would usually take the field with three spinners and two medium pacers who could swing the bat at times of need. It was the 60s and India was still opening up to the World as a young democracy. On the 22 yards, India was still a struggling side when compared to the older cricketing nations and their strength was concentrated in one department – spin bowling.
In a country where citizens struggled to make ends meet, cricket was a luxury only a few wanted to afford. Some of them were former royalties and only a handful of them came from humble backgrounds. The selection into a team at state and national level was heavily tilted towards the people of means. For most families, cricket, for that matter any sports, was a hobby for a casual break from routine life. A career in sports was rarely sought.
The struggle was not just limited to the talent. Infrastructure was just as modest. The pitches were rarely tended to in the most parts of the country. As result, the surfaces available for practice resembled the sorry surface of Mars more than Earth. Spin ruled the domestic circuit and consequently, carried the weight of the national team. Bound by the circumstances, the national side was making the most of it. Born with handicap, Indian bowlers excelled with sheer determination and ensured that the world notices their immense potential. Even on hostile pitches, Indian bowlers bamboozled the best in the business with confounding variations in the flight and playfulness of the googlies. Their skill was rightfully dubbed as pure artistry with the ball.
Rookie was a chip of the same block.
The Knock
Buy Here
The Knock - A Brief Introduction
India must play out the last day of the Boxing Day test match in Melbourne, Australia. Aussies have a formidable bowling attack, and India has lost its best batsman. A young man is about to take the bat with his career literally hanging by a thread. Can he make it?
Alman Chisti is a successful IT consultant working for a top business. Alman’s father Asad was an excellent spinner who never got the opportunity to play at the top level. Despite his good performances, the limited opportunities he received at the beginning of his career failed to land him a position in the Indian squad. With his son, Alman wants to fulfil that dream.
Before the start of the day, Zain receives a call from his brother. Alman had a heart attack and is about to undergo surgery. For reasons explored in the story, Zain believes that if he bats well, no harm will come to his father. He hinges his batting on this faith, putting immense pressure on himself. He has to bat the day out to save India from losing the test match and his father from losing the battle in the operation theatre.
The Knock
Buy Here
Alman Chisti is a successful IT consultant working for a top business. Alman’s father Asad was an excellent spinner who never got the opportunity to play at the top level. Despite his good performances, the limited opportunities he received at the beginning of his career failed to land him a position in the Indian squad. With his son, Alman wants to fulfil that dream.
Before the start of the day, Zain receives a call from his brother. Alman had a heart attack and is about to undergo surgery. For reasons explored in the story, Zain believes that if he bats well, no harm will come to his father. He hinges his batting on this faith, putting immense pressure on himself. He has to bat the day out to save India from losing the test match and his father from losing the battle in the operation theatre.
The Knock
Buy Here
Author Notes | The Knock
The Inspiration Behind The Book
As a child I heard about a story of a cricketer whose grandfather wanted to see him play for the national side but by the time the cricketer wore the blue blazer, the grandfather had passed away. The cricketer was Mohammad Azharuddin. This story stayed with me for years. A few years ago, Rahul Dravid was asked the question – who will you ask to bat for your life? The legendary batsman named Sachin Tendulkar as a testament for his trust in the defence of arguably the greatest batsman to walk on the planet. The moment which blended these two independent ideas was the story of Bob Blair.
The Knock is a love letter to the game my father loved. The Knock is a love letter to my father who passed away a few years back.
Character Influences
Chistis are us. In the anecdotes which build the core of the story, I have borrowed from the experiences of my father and father of my friend Ali. They lived most of their prime in pre-globalization India. They were aspirational but always had welfare of family in mind. There are elements of modern aspirational India but their nature is reflective of a more humble era.
That Moment
There is a father-son moment in the early chapters which kept me awake the night I wrote it. It broke my heart as a writer. For a moment in there, I felt like I was speaking to my own father. It was a little overwhelming for me as a writer as well. In the climax there is scene which I cannot disclose here because of the spoiler nature. That scene kept me awake for the whole night. It was difficult to not over-elaborate the scene. The scene is retained just as it was written in the first draft.
Takeaways
What are stories if not little time capsules. With The Knock, I tried to capture some moments from the history of Indian cricket with the socio-economic situation of the time the characters lived in. I hope that in the end, my readers feel a little emotional and spare a moment to reflect upon their lives and people around them.
Stay Blessed
The Knock
As a child I heard about a story of a cricketer whose grandfather wanted to see him play for the national side but by the time the cricketer wore the blue blazer, the grandfather had passed away. The cricketer was Mohammad Azharuddin. This story stayed with me for years. A few years ago, Rahul Dravid was asked the question – who will you ask to bat for your life? The legendary batsman named Sachin Tendulkar as a testament for his trust in the defence of arguably the greatest batsman to walk on the planet. The moment which blended these two independent ideas was the story of Bob Blair.
The Knock is a love letter to the game my father loved. The Knock is a love letter to my father who passed away a few years back.
Character Influences
Chistis are us. In the anecdotes which build the core of the story, I have borrowed from the experiences of my father and father of my friend Ali. They lived most of their prime in pre-globalization India. They were aspirational but always had welfare of family in mind. There are elements of modern aspirational India but their nature is reflective of a more humble era.
That Moment
There is a father-son moment in the early chapters which kept me awake the night I wrote it. It broke my heart as a writer. For a moment in there, I felt like I was speaking to my own father. It was a little overwhelming for me as a writer as well. In the climax there is scene which I cannot disclose here because of the spoiler nature. That scene kept me awake for the whole night. It was difficult to not over-elaborate the scene. The scene is retained just as it was written in the first draft.
Takeaways
What are stories if not little time capsules. With The Knock, I tried to capture some moments from the history of Indian cricket with the socio-economic situation of the time the characters lived in. I hope that in the end, my readers feel a little emotional and spare a moment to reflect upon their lives and people around them.
Stay Blessed
The Knock
Broadcast | Promotion - The Knock
Dear Friends
I am thrilled to share that my book 'The Knock' is available for free from Feb 2nd through the weekend till Feb 4th on your nearest Kindle. I would be honored if you could grab a copy. Please extend this message to anyone who would be interested in reading. I would be grateful.
The Knock is a story about Zain Chisti and his family who returned from the States to fulfil a dream - see their blood and flesh in Indian whites. When the dream was fulfilled, the family was hit with a tragic event and the last day of the Boxing Day test match becomes a trial of faith and human perseverance.
Your feedback is invaluable, so please take a moment and share your thoughts and insights through a review on Amazon and Goodreads. It would make a world of difference.
Links for getting the Book:
Amazon.in
Amazon.com
Best
~Sujoy
I am thrilled to share that my book 'The Knock' is available for free from Feb 2nd through the weekend till Feb 4th on your nearest Kindle. I would be honored if you could grab a copy. Please extend this message to anyone who would be interested in reading. I would be grateful.
The Knock is a story about Zain Chisti and his family who returned from the States to fulfil a dream - see their blood and flesh in Indian whites. When the dream was fulfilled, the family was hit with a tragic event and the last day of the Boxing Day test match becomes a trial of faith and human perseverance.
Your feedback is invaluable, so please take a moment and share your thoughts and insights through a review on Amazon and Goodreads. It would make a world of difference.
Links for getting the Book:
Amazon.in
Amazon.com
Best
~Sujoy
Broadcast | Promotion - The Knock
Dear Friend
I am excitedto share that my book 'The Knock' is available for free till April 15th morning India time on your nearest Kindle. I would be honored if you could grab a copy.
The Knock is a story about Zain Chisti and his family who returned from the States to fulfil a dream - see their blood and flesh in Indian whites. When the dream was fulfilled, the family was hit with a tragic event and the last day of the Boxing Day test match becomes a trial of faith and human perseverance.
Get it on Amazon.in
Get it on Amazon.com
Your feedback is valuable.
Love
~Sujoy
I am excitedto share that my book 'The Knock' is available for free till April 15th morning India time on your nearest Kindle. I would be honored if you could grab a copy.
The Knock is a story about Zain Chisti and his family who returned from the States to fulfil a dream - see their blood and flesh in Indian whites. When the dream was fulfilled, the family was hit with a tragic event and the last day of the Boxing Day test match becomes a trial of faith and human perseverance.
Get it on Amazon.in
Get it on Amazon.com
Your feedback is valuable.
Love
~Sujoy
My Voice
Author Goodreads Blog:
Born in Allahabad, into a Bengali middle-class family, unassuming management consultant Sujoy is an author with a thing for ordinary people struck in extraordinary situations.
He ...more
Born in Allahabad, into a Bengali middle-class family, unassuming management consultant Sujoy is an author with a thing for ordinary people struck in extraordinary situations.
He ...more
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