DAISY IRANI SUBAIAH
The warm air hit my face as I came onto the balcony of our Airbnb in Melbourne around 7.30 in the morning. I saw a long queue of Aussies outside a green and white building. The pub?
Ohhh, yes, it’s the morning of the Boxing Day Test match and it is tradition to have a tipple or two to clear the throat and get it ready to cheer your team at the Melbourne Cricket Ground ( MCG).
Welcome to the joy of my Indian family vacation – the perfect blend of relaxation, adventure and... cricket.
Cricket-mad male family members are master criminals at cleverly planning itineraries around important Indian cricket fixtures, and this year it was Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India.
The obsession unveiled
For Indians, cricket is a religion, a unifying force that transcends boundaries. It’s the single reason your husband and son are willing to endure an eight-hour flight, jet lag and questionable airline food – to witness 11 men chase a leather ball for five days straight.
A recent survey revealed that 44 per cent of Indians are inclined to travel abroad to watch live cricket matches.
The Thrill
The first day, as we waded through the crowd, it was a festive atmosphere all around. Families with kids in prams striding with a mission to accomplish.
Around us a myriad of Indian languages were animatedly providing professional opinions on the match that hadn’t even started. Punjabi, Gujarati, Telegu were the ones that caught my ear!
And, if the mood wasn’t Indian enough, a bunch of tents were set up inviting all to have turbans tied, henna applied and butter chicken toasties devoured.
Such fun seeing the Aussies with turbans on their heads and an English man with an Indian flag painted on his cheek! Truly the spirit of sport bringing humanity together!
Once seated among the 87,000 people in the stadium, what caught me by surprise was that first electrifying roar that went up when Sam Konstas audaciously scooped Jasprit Bumrah for a six!
Wow, that sound in the stadium made Dolby Surround Sound 5.1 seem like a baby’s lullaby.
The gasps, the ooohs, the aaahs, chants of Innddiiaa Innddiiaa from the Indian fan section clashed with the Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oye! Oye! Oye! cries from the Australians!
The Mexican wave took my breath away. The solidarity of every member of the audience throwing their arms and voices up in unison was stunning. This, despite the killjoys in the members’ enclosure, who snootily declined to carry the wave through their hoity-toity section.
The fans refused to be snubbed and picked up the action as though the members’ section was a Kolkata pothole to be jumped over without losing a beat!
Colourful language has always been part of sport – on field or off field! Usually directed at the umpires or at the indiscretions of errant players, Indians are the undisputed champions of the world when it comes to the precision with which it is delivered.
While there was plenty of that on display, I discovered the Australian art of settling a dispute without coming to blows.
Four unreserved seats were contended between two groups of claimants – all Aussies. It was hard for us to mediate because both parties had only one line of argument: “F…k you, these are our seats.”
The same line was repeated with increased volume between healthy chugs of beer until the whole exchange was reduced to “F… you!... F… you!” These two words were hurled at each other with the monotony and frequency of a long rally at the French Open tennis.
It took a third party mediation with a bellowing “F…k You Guys! We are here for the cricket!” to bring a close to the abuse bombardment. Peace was restored and a beer break called!
You might wonder why someone like me who is not particularly interested in cricket would sit through a five-day Test match? It’s akin to watching paint dry.
Well, I learnt that the answer lies in the nuances – the strategic plays, the psychological battles, the game plan. It’s a slow-brewing drama that rose to a cliffhanger when Virat Kohli slammed into Konstas! Boo, Boo!
Holiday or cricket pilgrimage?
Combining holidays with cricket matches has become a trend among Indian families. The perfect excuse for fathers to justify their sports obsession under the guise of “family time”.
“Darling, look, the Botanic Gardens, we must visit, but first, let’s catch the morning session at the MCG.”
Picture this: an Indian family in Melbourne, the father decked out in Team India merchandise from head to toe, the mother trying to sneak in some shopping between innings, and the kids torn between the allure of cricket and the temptations of theme parks.
The patriarch wins – because attending the match is an educational experience. “See, children, this is where strategy meets skill. Now, pass me the binoculars; I need to analyse Kohli’s cover drive.”
Conclusion
So, as I find myself in Melbourne, surrounded by thousands of cricket enthusiasts, I take a moment to appreciate the lengths to which fans go for the love of the game.
It’s more than just a sport; it’s a cultural phenomenon that brings families together.
India lost but that did not take anything away from the experience. I’m ready to take another five days of fans, opinions, appeals and cricket!
Ooops. I think I’ve gone cricket mad! Now I understand!
