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

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