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DECADE I |
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Karnataka Cricket Decade I - The 30's |
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To narrate the tale of Karnataka cricket, one has to be a historian, a poet and
a dramatist all rolled into one. Lesser mortals, like this writer, could, at
the most, only make an attempt to make it a readable hand-book The amazing
degree of dedication shown over the years by the officials of the
administrative wing, the adorable cultural touch being given by the players, a
huge and passionate army of admirers, a remarkable sense of responsibility
being exhibited by the media, and, above all, the spontaneity with which the
government, the industries and business establishments often reveal their care
and affection for this sport. All these jointly built an enviable image for
Karnataka cricket in the Indian sports scene.
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The first three decades of the 20th century saw
the short, two-rung ladder –schools cricket and colleges cricket—catching the
imagination of sport-watchers especially in Bangalore and Mysore. The
contribution of Hubli-Darwar aspirants in this regard too was notable though
they were essentially inspired by the hectic cricket activity in the
Bombay-Maharashtra zone during the earlier decades. Now, for the last three
decades, they are playing a commendable role in the development of Karnataka
cricket. So are the other zones like Shimoga, Raichur and Mangalore. The third
rung of the ladder—the most significant at that—appeared during the early years
of the 1920s in the name of “private Clubs”. The Bangalore United CC (BUCC) is,
in fact, older than the KSCA itself and still looks hale and healthy.
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The arrival of BUCC encouraged others to form
clubs not only in the famous sporting cities of Mysore and Bangalore but also
in some of the district headquarters of the state like Shimoga, Chickamagalur
and Tumkur. The on-the-field exploits of the collegians and the club players
forced many an instinctively imaginative cricket organiser to think in terms of
organising short “cricket trips” to the neighbouring cities. Soon such trips
were reciprocated by the neighbouring cities. “How long should we be playing
only this type of cricket? We must do something big and more purposeful”. That
was a sensible thinking and thus born the Mysore State Cricket Association in
1933 and it gained the affiliation of the Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI) in 1934.
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The men behind this historic event of getting into the mainstream called the
BCCI were Prof J.C.Rollo, Jastice Mr P.Medappa, Capt.T.Murari, Major YVK
Murthy, capt.M.G.Vijayasarathi and a host of other devoted soldiers. Thus began
Karnataka cricket’s journey on a regulated path. JC Rollo, an Englishman, was
the first president of the Association. Since then, till date, popular and
respected persons from almost all walks of life, held several important posts
in the Association and contributed their mite to make the Association grow on a
systematic pattern--brick by brick.
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From a small room at the Central College pavilion
to the massive structure on the MG Road—Chinnaswamy stadium—did not happen over
night. The leaders and their soldiers functioned with such an admirable sense
of understanding that a sort of a family atmosphere always prevails in and
around the Association. This has been the speciality of Karnataka cricket that
has earned it a prestigious status in Indian cricket. The trend was set in the
early 1930s and is being continued till date. No wonder if it continues
forever. For, such is the mental make-up and salient feature of persons
belonging to Karnataka cricket. Right from the President to the last groundsman
the culture is maintained in a manner born.
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After Rollo, personalities like P.Medappa,
S.P.Rajagopalachari, Singaravelu Mudaliar, C.S.Pitchamuthu J.B.Mallaradhya and
several other prominent citizens of the state who functioned in various
capacities in the Association, ensured a smooth running in those days when
corporate sponsorship was an unheard proposition. In the 1950s there emerged
two powerful leaders in S.A.Srinivasan and M.Chinnsawamy. The twin created a
refreshing trend that suited the atmosphere prevailed in Indian cricket at that
period. SAS who began as a hon. treasurer in 1953-54 became the president in
1961-62 and held that post till his death in Aug 1973. Chinnaswamy who became
the hon. secretary in 1953 provided credibility and class to that post till
1978. Then from 1978 he remained the president till 1990 when Dr K.Thimmappiah,
the man who scored the first Ranji trophy century for the state, took over.
This multi-faceted man is one of the most popular and respected citizens of the
state. His association with the game for over 60 years made Doctor Thimmappiah
an integral part of the state cricket. And he is the BUCC man.
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M.Chinnaswamy occupies the most glittering
chapter in the history of Karnataka sport while the part played by him in the
growth of Indian cricket will always be recalled with reverence. Such were this
great motivator’s achievements as a cricket administrator. A fatherly figure,
Chinnaswamy could be described as a democrat who willingly wore the mask of a
dictator. His honesty and integrity, his passion for the game, his care for the
cricketers and his colleagues helped him to function with ultimate authority.
Close associates always recognised a hidden child in this giant of a man. The
KSCA honoured itself by naming the stadium after him. It was a fitting tribute
to this great man but for whose relentless efforts the association would not
have acquired the 16.25 acres of land. The land belonged to the defence
ministry and so obtaining it for constructing a cricket stadium looked like
asking for the impossible. But the convincing manner in which Chinnaswamy
approached the powerful politicians of those days like Messrs N.Nijalingappa,
Veerendra Patil, Ramakrishna Hegde and S.M.Krishna, did the trick. The popular
political personalities of the later years like Messrs D.Devaraj Urs, R.Gundu
Rao, Veerappa Moily, and S.Bangarappa all considered the needs of the KSCA with
great understanding. The credit for the healthy KSCA-Govt relationship, thus,
must go to Chinnaswamy.
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C.Nagaraj became the hon.secretary in 1978 with
Chinnaswamy taking over as the president. He held that post till 1998 when
Brijesh Patel a former Test cricketer, defeated him in elections. Nagaraj who
had served the KSCA in various capacities (committee member, team manager,
asst.secretary) during his long association with the KSCA was also served the
BCCI as joint.secretary and hon. secretary. During his 20-year secretary ship
(1978-98) the entire Indian cricket was keen to keep pace with the changing
time. The sponsors were showing enough signs for having come to stay with
cricket on a long-term basis. Thus the demands of running a state cricket
association and staging international matches became very high and thereby
challenging. From this angle, Nagaraj’s contribution could be hailed as huge
and commendable. No doubt, when a set of persons rules an association for
decades in succession, there bound to be detractors. Yet the fact remains that
Nagaraj would go down in the history of Karnataka cricket administration as an
important personality.
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The 1996 World Cup came as a great boon to the
KSCA.The floodlights, and other basic facilities at the stadium had to be
improved and KSCA covered itself with glory by conducting the India—Pakistan
quarterfinal match in a grand manner. Nagaraj and his men can take full credit
for this unprecedented success. Ironically enough, Nagaraj who was hailed as
the “cricketers' man” almost throughout his tenure, was beaten in the 1998
elections by a team of cricketers headed by Brijesh Patel. But then, the 1998
election results clearly showed that the KSCA firmly believes in democratic
methods and both the victors and the vanquished deserve lofty praise for the
smooth take-over. K.M.Ramprasad, a former Ranji trophy player won the
president’s post from Dr K.Thimmappiah, and, Brijesh Patel won the secretary’s
slot from Nagaraj.
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The new team is just three years old. Yet its
performances till date are highly impressive. The team’s very first assignment
was a match between India “A” and the West Indies “A”. That was a sponsor less
match. Yet the KSCA office-bearers and committee swung into action and made the
assignment a financial success. That match could be termed as the
morale-booster to this new team. That success gave the needed confidence to the
KSCA. A series of sponsors are now associated with the KSCA. That is a good
sign in modern sports administration. Blue prints are being prepared to make
cricket in the moffusil centres more active and competitive.
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Running a state sports association (particularly
that of cricket) is like running a huge joint family without affecting anyone’s
sentiments and sense of freedom and importance. This the KSCA has been doing
exceptionally well right from the day it was formed in 1933-34 and it looks
certain to maintain it for many more years to come.
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Mysore state (it became Karnataka in 1974) played
its first Ranji trophy match on Nov 4 1934 against Madras (now Tamilnadu). In
fact that was the first ever Ranji trophy game. Mysore had the dubious
distinction of losing that tie on the first day itself. Till date no Ranji
trophy match ever had got over in one day!
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Mysore was skittled out for 48 and 59. Madras
that made 130 in its fist knock thus won the encounter by an innings and 23
runs. Madras’s hero was left-arm spinner A.G.Ram Singh who took six for 19 and
five for 16. For the loser M.G.Vijayasarathi with his fast off-breaks bagged 6
for 23 and returned as the tragic hero.
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Those were the days when newspaper addicts used
to rush to the Railways station to obtain a copy of the newspaper (The Hindu)
from the train that comes from Madras in the morning. On Nov 5, 1934 most
cricket lovers were surprised to see the Mysore Ranji trophy team also arriving
by that train after having completed the match in one day! “Everything is there
in the paper”, said one of the players when asked why the team had returned on
the “second day” of the match itself.
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Mysore state’s first ever Ranji trophy team
comprised M.S.Taversham (captain), N.Curtis, P.McCosh, K.S.Ramamurthy,
T.Murari, R.Nailer, M.G.Vijayasarathi, S.Darashah, Buttenshaw, B.R.Nagaraj Rao
and Y.S.Ramaswamy.
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Those were the days when the south zone
competition was played on a knockout basis. Thus there was nothing significant
happened to Mysore cricket.
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