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The Spare (C)rib/Abhilasha Khaitan

On a wing and a prayer

Just when you think you've seen it all, and think, how can he possibly better the previous one, that he goes and does it, huh? I'm not the literary type, as you may have gauged, but did go to school! So, I remember being particularly impressed with this guy they call Samson? Heard of him? Giant of a man, with incredible strength? Always a thorn in the flesh of his adversaries. So, his enemies want to get him. They tie him to pillars, shear off his hair, which is supposed to be root of his strength? You'd think he'd crumble and give up?

No siree. He weathers the storm, his hair grows back and then he uses this strength to bring down the roof on his enemies. He wins.

Now, they aren't the enemies, and Sachin's not a big guy. His strength was in his will, and that remained with him throughout. Much like Samson, he stood in the midst of the ruins, pulling it together, willing himself to win against all odds.

And he did.

But, this was just a little battle.

To win the war, he needs us, his team, to do what he did today. Fight.

I know. I'm getting melodramatic. But, do you understand where I'm coming from? Agreed, we didn't want to let this boil down to him carrying us through again. But then we never want to, but we almost always do it. It frustrates us, and disappoints him, for sure. He'd never say it, but I know him. He would not like what happened today, not one bit.

Have you read what they've been saying about us in the press, Down Under? It's not pretty, let me tell you that. I don't know if I'm supposed to read this stuff, much less let it affect me, but this is between you and me? Its stuff that would make any self respecting sportsman cringe. Words like 'timid' and 'fear', not pretty at all. So, we get upset that we're talked about thus. But, there is just the one way to prove people wrong, right?

Action. Putting our money where our mouth is. And then asking them to shut up.

Am visibly upset, I know. You would be too, had you been biting your nails, watching each of one them (which is us, for chrissakes) letting the captain down. One false stroke after another. So, I'm no Bradman, but I got a voice right? And then, when we let young Lee get to us, and Sachin was on 88, with just 2 wickets to go, I couldn't stand it anymore. Couldn't bear to watch the action.

So, I went into the dressing room, and prayed. Much like many of you may have. That's what happens when we stop believing in ourselves, as players, as competitors, as a nation.

We start living on a prayer. And just one player.

The Spare Crib/Abhilasha Khaitan