Second Coming for Azhar

By Rohit Brijnath

Mohammed Azharuddin has been, and still is a confounding man. Just before the Australians landed in India, the Indian captain was accosted at a party in Mumbai and asked by an acquaintance, "Boss, yeh Shane Warne ka kya preparation kar rahe ho?" That is to say was he studying video cassettes, plotting strategy with his best batsman Sachin Tendulkar, seeking ways to defuse Australia's most explosive player? No. Nothing. Zero. He just shrugged his Versace-clad shoulder - he is the Sultan of the Stylish Shrug — and said, "Arre kaun Warne? l have five guys who can play him easily." It appeared like primitive captaincy, a cocky man who in his Second Coming had not stopped to learn anything from his first. It even moved Sunil Gavaskar, not a man with excessive affection for Azhar, to write pointedly: "What kind of preparation has the Indian think tank done apart from scanning the catalogues of Giorgio Armani."

Mocking Azhar, the most popular sport within Indian cricket, had resumed. Some of it with reason, for he can be a clumsy man, an uninspiring captain. Yet perhaps we do not have his complete measure; perhaps in the silence of his room the captain remembered what his grandfather told him: "If you work hard enough you can change your destiny." He was ready to Iead. His critics may well have sneered, loath as they are to use the word leadership when defining him, as if this bewildering man could scarcely contain such a quality. Except that Australia, the world's finest Test team, are in squabbling disarray after their most humiliating series defeat in 60 years; except that the Independence Cup win in Dhaka in the third final against Pakistan by an Indian team known to twitch nervously in tight situations seemed to redefine the word miracle. Except that at a veteran journalist, shaking his head, said, "I've never seen the team so energetic. In Calcutta the match was over in four days, but some players were back at practice on the fifth day". Surely Mohammed Azharuddin, 35 solitary, villified, controversial, had a little something to do with it.

Relieved of his captaincy in I996, dropped from the team in 1997, crucified in the public court, he has risen again. It is a comeback so bold that even Ravi Shastri, an unabashed critic, wrote after the Calcutta Test: He looks more focused, more composed and hence more effective. He has silenced his critics." The body language is more vibrant, his manner more acceptable. Now Tiger Pataudi, never quite a member of the Save Azhar Society, says, "He looks more communicative and relaxed."

His style, arms folded in the slips. remains laid back; he won' t rush like the exuberant Tendulkar did to speak to his bowlers every over. For the cynics, it is the lethargic pose of a man who has been in the sun too long, unaware of the moment, a man who Bishen Bedi says, "Can't really handle his bowlers". But perhaps he nods from the slips, has a short chat at over's end, for as Anil Kumble says: 'He knows how I bowl, he talks to me when he needs to." Javagel Srinath is complimentary too: "He endorses our views.'' Sprawled in his room prior to the third Test. Azhar does not pirouette in pleasure. He still fumes at the invective he has had to race: "People have been jealous of me. Not able to digest what I've done. Even in the first Test they said I was an ordinary captain, but we won it, did not we? For all the jealousy, see what happens in the end, who is the winner?" Today it's him. Yesterday it wasn't. Of tomorrow no man can say.

Mohammed Azharuddin is not a man of black and white; he is a man of shades, some light and buoyant, some darker and despairing. Shy, often inarticulate, he is a speaker of incomplete sentences—the ugly duckling unable to explain himself, a swan with only a blade in his hand. But though he swears he has not, some things about him have changed — these days he shines brighter. The solitary man who turned intemperate at talk of what he wore now poses for magazine covers in Versace suits: the spoilt captain who cut his toe nails at a table during a press conference is now willing to spend two days with a writer he barely acknowledged. Even in his latest, unreleased, Reebok advertisement he is portrayed as an exuberant Azhar, with a new attitude to life. It is said that wife Sangeeta Bijlani has pushed him steadily to construct a new, kinder image. It is a good time too, for the darker side was winning.

One night,recently, a strange thing happened at a charity auction of cricket memorabilia. Of the 24 items auctioned — were Shastri's T-shirt which began at a reserve (starting) price of Rs 750 went for Rs 5,000 - only one item did not move beyond its reserve price: Azhar's bat. It was ironic. it was tragic. Cricket captains are worshipped in India. Yet India's most successful captain is remembered too often, Iess for heroic deeds, more for controversy. Slapping a photographer, his romance with a film star, the fracas with Navjot Sidhu in England in 1996, and the damaging accusations of match-fixing. Of the last he says, "The shadow will go away because it 's not true." History will be the final judge, but this much needs saying: if he has erred as a man, he has been punished too even when he hasn't. There is no presumption of innocence with him: he is always guilty. As he says not without trace of anguish: "Sometimes, I feel nothing I do is good enough. "

Some agree. Says Kumble, "Most of the time that I read on him it was not on cricket and that's not right." Sangeeta is a good reference. He was criticised for taking her on tour, letting her ride in the team bus, asking for a room of his own even when he wasn't captain. Perhaps it was incorrect; perhaps too a man "with few close friends "at the lowest point of his life — on the field and off it - urgently required his only emotional anchor around him, the woman who he admits "always backs me up". Few others did and that hurts him.

He earned no empathy, only suspicion. So much that a weaker man might have broken. In 1996, when he played with beauteous contempt against South Africa in Calcutta for 109 in 78 balls, it was insinuated he was trying to throw his wicket. "No one," he says, "remembers that I was injured and saved the follow on." No one paused to recollect that for half a decade he'd been batting like a whirlwind on short visit. As Saurav Ganguly says, "That's how he scores. I mean they could have said the same of Lord's." He's speaking of England 1990 when Azhar scored I21 in 112 balls; then he was described by Mike Brearley as "a modern Ranji".

His penchant for the good life too attracted disdain, as if becoming rich was some capital offence. "I'm slogging all day, taking the criticism, I deserve it," he says. He can afford it too, with a Rs 50 lakh and more per year contract with Reebok, and possibly a more lucrative one with Pepsi. It wasn't always so. As a young hero with two centuries already for India, in Hyderabad he would cycle to practice, return home, drop his two sisters ("one at the back, one in the front ") to school and then return the cycle in time for his father to get to office. That today he relishes his 450 or so ties, his three cars (two Mercedes and a Honda), his bungalow in Mumbai, his Versace and Brioni suits and his numerous -.pairs of dark glasses (Oakley, Versace, Ray Ban, name it) makes him seem like a boy with toys he could never afford but now can. Hidden too is a compulsive generosity that defines him, stories rarely told and ones he will not speak of: "Arre mat likhna. it will seem like showing off." At benefit matches he often slips the beneficiary a personal cheque, apparently gifting Ranji Trophy player Shashikant Khandekar Rs 50,000 recently. When Ajit Wadekar retired, he gave him a Rolex watch.

Not everyone sees him that way Specifically his lack of spirit when Tendulkar was captain. Says Bishen Bedi flatly. "He didn't give Sachin full cooperation." Retorts Azhar: "Pagal hai sab see how many runs l made, Iike in South Africa." Statistically he has an argument. During his own captaincy between 1989-1996, he scored seven centuries in 37 matches for an average of 43.63; under Tendulkar's captaincy between 1996-97 to 1997-98, he scored five centuries in I7 matches for an average of 46.52. But statistics is but one measure. it was his demeanor that was under scrutiny. The charitable say his reticence was interpreted as a lack of support to Tendulkar; the less impressed believed he failed to reciprocate the commitment Tendulkar shows under him. It came to a head in Sharjah 1997, when Azhar inexplicably attempted singles that perhaps existed only in his mind, Ieading Gavaskar to say on television "There will be no tomorrow's for him if he continues like that " or something to that effect. Rages Azhar now, "Can he change my tomorrow's?" Stupefyingly, Gavaskar did change his tomorrow. But not in the way either man envisaged.

It appears the selectorial meetings heId after Sharjah were more to resurrect Azhar than discipline him. "They asked me what's wrong and I said we have to play collectively and that's not happening. I also said people are putting things into the minds of players," says Azhar. The inference was obvious: former players were attempting to influence 'Tendulkar. But more pertinent is a singular comment one selector made: "Gavaskar's statement has saved Azar.'' Here too the inference was clear: the selector, unhappy with Gavaskar's strong opinion, saw this as a chance to take on the Little Master. How could Gavaskar change Azhar's tomorrows, only the selctors could - and so Azhar was made captain again.

He has not the intellect of Mike Brearley, the considered reasoning of Mark Taylor, but Azhar cannot be as tactically retarded as he is made out to be. "Terrible Captaincy", muttered Keith Stackpole in Chennai when Azhar posted three men on the fence for Ian Healy and let the Australian take singles at will.

By habit Azhar was letting things drift. But occasionaly,and never advertised, he gets it right too. Kumble, for instance, had decided in Chennai, "I was only going to bowl over the wicket. Then Azhar gestured to me, just try one ball round the wicket. I wasn't keen but I did it and first ball Mark Waugh was gone."

Comparing Azhar with Tendulkar is a silly business. The young genius was burdened with a raw squad (no Srinath in the West Indies either) and toured abroad — South Africa and the West Indies — where Indian teams have never flourished. Too early to be judged. Tendulkar was possibly unlucky; is Azhar plain lucky? ln 1989 Raman Lamba hurt his toe in Pakistan and Azhar returned to the team and retained his place with a century: losing in South Africa in 1992-93 he contemplated quitting captaincy, stayed on and swept England 3-0 at home; in this year's Independence Cup final, he brought in Robin Singh at No. 3, a move that failed for Tendulkar, yet this time Robin's 82 changed the course of the tournament. And now his Second Coming has coincided with a home series, aided by a team more experienced and a spinning trio that has sent the baffled Australians searching for a psychotherapist.

But does luck alone account for a Test captaincy record that is superior to any other man who led India ? Is Azhar the only man to have exploited home advantage - in the past 12 years only two captains have won series abroad. Kapil Dev in England in 1986 and Azhar in Sri Lanka in 1993. No, if sport is meaured by pure achievement - win or lose and not how - then he deserves the same standard of judgement.

He is not for sure still a great captain, but he appears more positive, more forceful in approach. Yet arguments rage on. His mantra that "players should know their responsiblity and I don't like to give one-hour lectures" endures. Pataudi laughs, saying. "That was my philosophy too, but it didn't work. Sometimes you have to cajole players." But Azhar's insular style makes him awkward and coach Anshuman Gaekwad believes "he should mix some more". There is a perception that he retreats too quickly to his room, switching off his dynamo once play is over. Yet, as Ganguly says: "Hey, we're grown ups, we should know what to do. "

Managing and motivating the diversity of personalities that define Indian teams have been every captain's nightmare. Says Amrit Mathur, manager when Azhar led India to South Africa in 1992-93, "Tactically he was okay, in managing people less than okay. But now he's more experienced." Indeed, to say flatly that he can't motivate is cruel — as Rahul Dravid responds, "When I was 21 and going through a tough time, he, this captain of India, came and threw balls to me for 15 minutes and helped me." No, the biggest change is that Azhar may have found a method, a slot to step into. As Pataudi explains. "There are two types of captains. Those who push from the back like Brearley, or those who lead from the front like Richie Benaud. I think Azhar is now leading, setting the example." Like 400 sit-ups a day, a batting average of 126.5 after the first two Tests, and more fleet at 35 than contemporaries a decade behind. States Dravid: "He motivates you with his sheer performance. "

Azhar realises he has work to do. A team that he says "tends to get negative" must believe: an attitude where "we often think close matches are over when they're not" must change. He has ensured Tendulkar, though not the one-day vice-captain, attends tour meetings, and the small man has responded generously. The thing is we can see Tendulkar's heart: Azhar needs to tear his shirt and expose his own. It is there, it is unseen.

Mohammed Azharuddin will never quite be understood. The man with the Versace suit in the closet and the prayer mat on the floor; the small town boy never allowed to watch films now married to an actress; the private man caught in the most public of careers. He instinctively knows too that the accusations will never cease. Except this time he seems to be prepared. In his room, he suddenly pulls out a black diary and reads quotations impromptu from it. "My real job comes as soon as I step off the field and have to deal with the contradictions and expectations that come with being in the spotlight." Then he reads another. "Patience is a bitter plant but the fruit is very sweet." It is a poignant moment, as if he is reminding himself of what is required of him.

And so in this Second Coming for once let him not be prejudged. Let him alter his destiny without men standing in his way. As an old Tamil couplet goes: "The great and the not so great are remembered by what they leave behind." The legacy of Mohammed Azharuddin is to be completed. But he has made a fair start. (-With V. Shankar Aiyar.)

(Courtesy India Today)

Emirates new sponsors of Cricket World Cup

Emirates, the international airline of the UAE, has announced that, for the first time, it would be a Global Partner and Official Carrier of the Cricket World Cup, cricket's premier one-day event to be played in England from May 14 to June 20, 1999.

The chairman of Emirates, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, making the announcement together with Tournament Director Terry Blake, said: "This is the first time that Emirates has been involved in a major sponsorship involving cricket, but we were attracted to the event as all the participants, except the West Indies, come from countries which we serve".

"Cricket is a major sport, not only in England but also in Australia, the Indian Sub-continent, Kenya and South Africa. As one of the four biggest sporting events in the world, after the Olympics, Football World Cup and Rugby World Cup, we are expecting some 500 million viewers to watch the televised matches around the world in 80 to 100 countries".

The World Cup will be played at 21 venues in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Holland.

Greek Dance for the Derby

By Ismail Khan

Greek Dance became the second new Derby favourite within hours following his highly impressive six length victory in the Michael Seely Memorial Glasgow Stakes at York recently.

Trained by Michael Stoute the colt is as short as 4/1 for the Premier Classic to be run at Epsom on June 6 and which would hopefully provide his intended rider Walter Swinburn with a real comeback after missing the last two Derbys through injury and his self imposed sideline.

The Derby picture at one time gone hocus pocus is somewhat steadier now with Greek Dance at 5/1 with some Ante-Post bookmakers and 7/1 at most others in England and the continent and Ireland. France also has him at 7/1 with their betting shops, though that price is unlikely to last long. Also with Fahd Salman without a leading contender for the big race his Courteous and Capri sidelined, being pencilled out for Chantilly (France) and Royal Ascot, Greek Dance is sure to come down further. According to his trainer he is in good form and will take a lot of beating at Epsom.

However, there are still plenty of questions to be answered. Recent Dante winner Saratoga Spring's together with his stablemate 2000 Guineas winner King of King's and the currently Sidelened Second Empire have still to be confirmed as definite starters as has 1000 Guineas winner Cape Verde.

Greek Dance's stylish victory from Henry Cecil's Capri put him in pole position for Epsom and Stoute, who has won the Derby with Shergar and Shaharastani said. "He has to be seriously considered after this win". Stoute was asked why he had sidestepped the more competitive Dante Stakes with Greek Dance. And his reply was "Call it being winpy" and he laughed. "I was a bit of a wimp but I thought it was best for the horse at this stage."

Greek Dance had won a maiden at Newmarket last month and Stoute added. "Even though the form hasn't worked out, I liked the way he travelled through the race. And I liked the way he travelled in his subsequent race too. The colt looks on his toes and Epsom is where he is heading for.

According to me, who has nursed several classic winner's, this colt looks to have something special in him. And I don't think he will disappoint me and his plethora of supporters. He is sure to run well and run like hell plucking the Vodafone 1998 Derby in the process he said.

Michael Stoute has now won three of the five running of the race named after his great friend the late racing journalist Michael Seely. His two previous victories were with Foyer and Dr Massini.

"I hope Seely has been on all three times" smiled the Newmarket trainer. When it was pointed out to him that Greek Dance was the new Derby favourite, Stoute who saddled the disappointing odds-on favourite Entrepreneur last year said " That's the kiss of death".

Swinburn glanced over his right shoulder as he cruised into contention behind the leader Capri three furlongs out. Once Swinburn asked Greek Dance to quicken up with two furlongs to traverse, the race was virtually over.

Swinburn will be bidding for his fourth Derby win following Shergar, Shaharastani and Lammtarra.

"I can't think of many others I would like to be riding in the Derby" said Swinburn who has ridden in every Derby since Shergar's in 1981 except the last two. He was out injured following his horror fall in Hong Kong in 1996 and last year he took a Sabbatical to correct problems he was having with his weight. "That's the second stage over" he said. "He did it nicely. The next is the most important". When he was told Greek Dance was the present Derby favourite Swinburn said. "I don't know if I'll be able to handle the pressure''. He said he liked him from day one. He seemed to have everything that goes with a good racehorse. He has progressed well since Newmarket and I believe he could make the same progress again between now and Epsom.

"He feels right and that's why we are all excited about," he added.

According to Swinburn, what delighted him most was the way he could change pace and change positions. He is very manoeuvrable and that's what you need for Epsom.

He is a well balanced colt who should be able to handle any ground. He has worked on heavy at home, it was soft when he won at Newmarket and it was on fast side at York.

On the other hand Capri has proved himself no slouch with two victories this term but he was put finely in his place. Henry Cecil said. "Capri needs a trip. We will bring him back for King Edward VII at Ascot. And he could well be a St Leger horse."

But for the moment it is Michael Stoute's Greek Dance for the Vodafone's 1998 Derby Stakes to be run at Epsom next month.

Wesley Hall's third delivery took Mick Cowan's middle stump

On their 1963 tour of England, the west Indies lost only two matches of importance. The 3rd Test at Edgbaston and the first match against Yorkshire. The Yorkshiremen were patting themselves on their backs, but the West Indies swore vengeance for them in the return game at Bramall lane. "You fellows just wait until we get you so-and-so's at Bramall Lane. We are going to thrash the daylights out of you fellows." And sure they did it.

For the return they put in their full Test side, including those giant fast bowlers - Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith, and gave Yorkshire the thrashing of their lives for their effrontery. Cricketing retribution came hurtling out of the skies on the heads of Yorkshire.

Batting first Yorkshire made 260 and the West Indies replied with 358/9 dec: In the second innings Yorkshire were bundled out for a paltry 96. When the 9th Yorkshire wicket fell in the second innings, Trueman was joined by last man Mick Cowan, who brought a bat with him when he came in. Why he bothered to carry a bat with him no one knew. Not even Cowan himself. Hall was bowling from the Bramall Lane end and Cowan took a lot of trouble taking guard. All that Hall had to do was bowl a straight ball to Cowan. In raced Hall and let fly. Cowan played down the off stump and the ball went over the leg stump. Cowan looked down the wicket and told Trueman, "I think this fellow has found my weakness." To the next ball Cowan played down the leg stump and the ball went over the off stump. Again Cowan called down the wicket, "Hey Fred, I think this fellow has found both of them." Worrell now brought all the fielders round Cowan. Silly mid-on and silly mid-off were so close that there was just enough room for the ball to pass through. And Cowan was standing in the middle of this mob shaking like a leaf, with Wes Hall racing in. When Hall was midway, Cowan put his hand up and shouted, "Stop! Stop" By now the umpire also had had enough of Cowan. It was obvious that Cowan was just wasting everybody's time and only prolonging the agony. So he asked Cowan, "all right Mick, what do you want now?" And Cowan brought the house down. "Tell you what umpire, if this lot does not move back, I'm going to appeal against the light." The next ball sent Cowan's stumps flying and the West Indies had done what they swore they would do.

Sorry Madam we can't show you those

Many years ago there were two fast bowlers who had retired from cricket. Shall we call them Paul and John? These two fellows were now on the dole and finding it impossible to keep body and soul together. So they used to scrutinize the job vacancy column in all the newspapers to see if there was anything suitable for them. What they were looking for were labourers jobs as they were weak in the head.

One day they saw two vacancies for two footmen and decided to check it out. When they got to the house they saw it was a huge mansion. So they rang the door bell, the butler answered it and told them to be seated until he called Her Grace. When the lady of the house came out they bowed and greeted her. Then she told them that these jobs will mean standing for long hours on the back of the coach, opening doors and waiting on guests. "No problem Your Grace, we worked in the pits and were opening bowlers for Yorkshire for twenty years." They both said. That is very interesting", said Her Grace, "Would you mind rolling up your trouser legs and let me examine your calves." So they both did as they were told. Her Grace then felt them much to their embarrassment. "They are very strong. I am sure you will be able to stand for long hours. Also you will have to carry trays with drinks so you will have to have strong biceps. Would you both mind rolling up your shirt sleeves." Her Grace then felt their biceps, and said "they are very muscular" Finally Her Grace told them, "would you please show me your testimonials." At this they both blushed and said, "sorry Your Grace we cannot show you those." "Well I am sorry then I cannot employ you, and thank you for coming," said Her Grace. While they were on their way out, John - the silghtly stronger one in the head - said, "you know Paul if we had'nt been so bloody daft we would have got those bloody jobs."

The day trueman was sent into bat at No. 6.

Like all fast bowlers, Trueman was no exception. That is, he had a lot of faith in his batting. Especially early in his career. But the only thing that came after him was the groundsman and the roller.

One Saturday, Yorkshire were playing Derbyshire at Bradford. Yorkshire batted first, and gave the poor Derbyshire bowlers and fielders the leather hunt of their lives. Two batsmen made centuries and the crowd loved every minute of it.

Len Hutton who was then Captain of Yorkshire told Trueman to pad up and be ready to go in as nightwatchman in case a wicket fell. Because, in case it rained over the weekend on that uncovered wicket another 40 or 50 runs would be a bonus. So Trueman was hightly delighted that he was going in at No. 6.

Half an hour before stumps a wicket fell and Trueman had to go in. Having taken guard, he started to play some copy book defensive shots. Trueman was of course highly thrilled with this performance. But certainly not the crowd after watching the Derbyshire side chasing leather the whole day. They wanted more of it and not Trueman's defensive strokes that he had picked up from an outdated coaching manual. They started to give him a real rollicking. Somebody in the crowd shouted, "Hey Trueman! Are you coming back on Monday?" A few munutes silence, and the voice answered itself, because if you are, I am bloody well not"

When Wes Hall told Conrad Hunte to go and ask the lord to bowl for him.

In 1967 - 68 the West Indies toured India. Their first match of the tour was against West Zone and Conrad Hunte was leading the side in place of Garfield Sobers. Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith did not arrive with the rest of the side and landed in India only on the morning of the match after a gruelling flight. To add to their misery both were in the side for the tour opener.

When Hunte returned after the toss, Hall asked him who had won it? "I did." said Hunte. "You bloody beauty! At last we can get some sleep," said Hall putting his arms round Hunte. "Not just yet," said Hunte. Hall was baffled. "But you won the toss, didn't you?" Querried Hall. "Yes. But when I was going out to toss I saw a vision of The Lord and He told me to put them in," said Hunte. Hall went mad. "Well if that is so you go and ask The Lord to come and do the bowling for you." Growled Hall in his terribly off key voice as he and Griffith stomped onto the field behind the rest of the side.

The day Jardine presented his brand new bat

Douglas Jardine always thought he was the cat's whiskers of English cricket. He was also so bad tempered that not only the players, but also the committee dreaded him. This was in the 1930's and in this Surrey side was a bastsman - a pro' - who could not afford a new bat. Every year he would try to buy a new one but as he had a wife and five children to feed and clothe he had to keep postponing the purchase. Apart from that for six months he had to stand in the dole queue.

Jardine also had a problem. In the five county matches played his opening batsmen had hardly put on 10 runs for the first wicket. On the day the next county match started, he called the side and gave them a right royal ticking off. "I'll show you lot how it is done. I am going to open and I have bought a new bat for it." The rest of the side were having a quiet chuckle as Jardine was only a middle order batsman and that particular match was against Nottinghamshire that had the two fastest bowlers in the world - Harold Larwood and Bill Voce. And without Jardine's knowledge news of this pep talk was leaked out to Larwood and Voce, by a Surrrey player.

Nottinghamshire won the toss and put Surrey into bat. While he was padding up he told one of the other openers also to put the pads on, and when they were going out Jardine said, "I'll take the first ball."

Larwood was to bowl the opening over and he added another 5 yards to his run. The very first ball was on a perfect length. It came back off the seam, through the gate that Jardine had left open between bat and pad and cracked the middle stump half way up. It was the perfect swinging yorker. Jardine went red in the face, put his bat under his arm and walked off. Luckily the next batsman did not have to pass Jardine as he was a pro' and had to come in through a different gate. Because there was an idiotic system those days in England that Professionals and Amateurs use different gates. Meanwhile the rest of the Surrey players had done the vanishing trick. Because Jardine in that mood was the devil incarnate and had to be avoided at all costs. Except the old Pro' - the one who could not afford a new bat.

He was standing against the wall just near the door. As Jardine aproached the door he kicked it in and said, "I don't want any smart remarks from any of you." But when he saw that no one was in the room it made matters worse. He then dashed his bat against the wall so hard it bounced off and finished under a table.

"Any idiot who wants that bat can have it," he yelled, to that apparently empty room. The words had hardly left Jardine's mouth, when the old Pro' dived under the table, grabbed it and said, "thank you Mr. Jardine, you will not find a bigger idiot than me."

The bat lasted the old Pro' the rest of his career, and he never failed to tell his cronies in the dole queue that Jardine gave him a new bat.

World Cup Football history

Paris (AFP) - The 1990 World Cup witnessed the lowest goals -per-game average, a deluge of sending-off and arguably the worst final ever seen.

Just 115 goals were scored from 52 games at an average of 2.21 per game. There were 16 red cards and 164 bookings at an average of 3.46 per match another record.

In addition penalty shootouts were routine - four in total - including both semi-finals. Argentina advanced at the expense of Italy and West Germany beat England.

Appropriately it was a penalty, by Andrea's Brehme for the Germans, that decided a sorry final which included two sending offs for the Argentines. It was West Germany's third World Cup win.

Argentina's performance was typical of the tournament. They reached the final despite winning only two games and scoring five goals in total. Maradona finished the final in tears.

Cameroon, inspired by the veteran Roger Milla inspired, reached the quarter-finals, while the unheralded Toto Schillaci hit six goals for Italy to finish top scorer.

Adding to everyone's woes were the hooligans. Some 300 were expelled by the Italian police with England fans prominent in several ugly brawls which nonetheless weren't as bad as had been feared before the finals.

1990-Legends

Lother Matthaus

(West Germany, Herzogenaurach, Borussia Monchengladbach, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich).

b. 1961

Captain and midfield general behind West Germany's success at Italia 90. The archetypal German footballer, combining power, pace and skill with a ruthless eye for goal.

Scored brilliant individual goal against Yugoslavia and added three more as West Germany deservedly lifted the trophy in 1990.

England fans will remember his sporting arm around the shoulder of Chris Waddle after the latter's penalty miss gave West Germany victory in a thrilling semi-final shootout.

Was also in the West Germany side that reached the 1986 final - his goal saw off Morocco in the second round - and was captain again at USA 94.

Enjoyed great success with Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, though his return to Bayern Munich has been marred by off-field clashes with team-mates and officials.

Won a record 122 caps for Germany.

Jurgen Klinsmann

(West Germany, Stuttgart kickers, Stuttgart, Inter Milan, Monaco, Totttenham, Bayern Munich, Sampdoria, Tottenham)

Leggy blond striker who has proved West Germany's key attacker throughout the 1990s. Strong both in the air and on the ground, with searing pace and immense courage.

Earned reputation for diving earlier in his career, but won over many of his English critics during a hugely successful if short spell with Tottenham in 1994-95 to whom he returned this season.

Flicked in a clinical winner in grudge match against Holland in 1990, and was constant menace throughout for opposing defenses.

Scored five goals in as many games for Germany at USA 94, and inherited captaincy from Lother Matthaus.

Seen as a loner who loves travellng, a fact borne out by the number of clubs he has played for.

Roger Milla

(Cameroon, Douala, Yaounde, Monaco, Bastia, Montpellier) b. 1952.

Aged 38, he had a stunning impact on the 1990 finals in Italy, catching the eye as much for his celebratory tangos with the corner flag as for his goalscoring exploits.

Having made some 80 appearances for his country, Milla was persuaded out of retirement for Italia '90 and promptly helped Cameroon become the first African country to reach the quarter finals.

He changed his name to Milla from Miller because he thought it sounded more African.

Milla's opportunism saw him score four times, twice against Romania and Colombia respectively, in the process becoming the oldest player to score in the World Cup Finals.

Incredibly, he bettered that feat in the 1994 finals when, aged 42, he came on as a substitute to score against Russia in a 6-1 defeat.

After the 1990 finals a statue was unveiled in his honor in Cameroon and he was named African Fooballer of the Year for a second time, 14 years after first winning the award.

Salvatore Schillaci ( Italy Messina, Juventus, Inter Milan) "b. 1964

Toto Schilaci came from nowhere to emerge as Italy's

star of the 1990 finals.

A stubby little Sicilian, he was the last player named in the squad but the first to score, coming on to break the deadlock against Austria in the opening games.

It was only his third cap, but Schillaci didn't look back, netting against Czechoslovakia, Uruguay, Ireland, Argentine and England to finish top scorer. His expressive features and wide-eyed delerium when he scored were one of the lingering memories of the tournament.

After it he returned to the relative obscurity, a move to Inter Milan proving unsuccessful.

1990 Trivia

Chile were banned from qualifying for Italia 94 after goalkeeper Robert Rojas pretended he had been struck by a flare thrown from the crowd during a qualifying match against Brazil in 1990. Chile, who needed to win 2-0 to qualify,were losing 1-0 with 20 minutes left when the incident occurred, and Chile's players refused to play on. Television replays showed the missile clearly missed Rojas, and Chile were banned.

As in 1982, holders Argentina were beaten in their opening game. This time they lost 1-0 to Cameroon when goalkeeper Nery Pumpido fumbled a leaping header from Oman Biyick. The Africans also had two men sent off.

Cameroon's Russian coach Valerie Nepomniahchi was unable to communicate with his team without use of an interpreter. It didn't stop the Africans marching in to the quarter-finals.

United Arab Emirates Khaaleel Mubarak became the 50th player to be sent off in World Cup finals when given his marching orders in the 4-1 defeat to Yugoslavia.

American popstar Madonna named Italy's Roberto Baggio as the best- looking player in the tournament.

Holland goalkeeper Hans van Breuakelen pulled a fast one in the 0-0 draw with England. When Stuart Pearch smashed a direct free-kick straight past the diving Dutchman in the dying seconds. Van Breukelen claimed he had deliberately left it knowing that it would be disallowed if no-one touched it.

Holland and West Germany's second round stint was exactly that. Frank Rijkaard and Rudi Voller of West Germany clashed repeatedly, with both players eventually sent off. As the players walked off from the pitch, Rijkaard sent a volley of phlegm full in to the face of Voller.

Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga went a record 517 minutes without conceding a world Cup goal before Cloudio Cannigia's header beat him in the semi-final against Argentina.

Cameroon's Roger Milla, at 38,was the surprise find of the tournament, but even he needed a helping hand in the second round from Colombia's madcap goalkeeper Renee Higuita. In George Best mode, Higuita tried to dribble over the half-way line but lost the ball to Milla who rolled the ball gleefully into the empty net.

Blubbing Paul Gescoigne was Englnad 's star as they marched in to the semi-finals. There an ill- timed tackle against West Germany meant he was out of the final - if England reached it - and Gaza burst into tears at the prospect.

Another sobbing superstar was the hero of 1986, Diego Maradona. He led an ultra-negative Argentina side into the final despite their scoring only five goals and winning two games. When they had two players sent off in losing the final to West Germany, Maradona sobbed unashamedly.

Maradona had earlier joined the ranks of great players to miss penalties in world Cup finals. His pathetic chipped effort in second round shootout against Yugoslavia proved irrelevant, however, as Argentina won 3-2 in the shootout.

Toto Schillaci followed in the footsteps of Paolo Rossi in 1982. He emerged as Italy's unexpected goal hero. The feisty little Sicilian was the last player named in the Italian squad, but finished top scorer with six strikes.

The finals produced the lowest goals-per-game average just 2.21. 16 red cards and 164 bookings at an average of 3.46 per match is another record.

Penalty shootouts peppered the finals - there were four in total, with both semi -finals decided this way for the first time.

Hooliganism was a feature of the tournament, with England fans prominent. Some 300 people were deported by police.

Brazil can win Cup again

By M. Ismeth

Even as 32 teams from various parts of the world will be vying for Football World Cup in France, a stunning 2.5 million tickets have been sold with 28 million fans being left disappointed.

A total of 62 matches are to be played in various stadiums in France from June 10 through July 12 to wrest the World Cup.

Whether it will be Brazil, four times winner, Italy, Germany, Argentina, the hosts France, or England or even the U. S. will be known by July 12. But Brazil is tipped as favourites.

The French authorities are not taking any chances with regard to hooliganism by fans, which had marred many matches before. Closed circuit telvevision has been installed in many of the stadiums to spot each and every spectator entering the stadiums.

The French Police meanwhile will crack down on anyone found creating mischief. They will be brought before a Magistrate the next day and would be imprisoned and deported.

What's more interesting according to French officials no fewer than 20 million phone calls had been received on the France telecom network assisted by 90 operators handling non-French language calls.

France's World Cup begins on June 10 with the curtain raiser between four times winner of the world cup and defending champions Brazil taking on Scotland. Brazil's team includes the three R's, Rivaldo, Romario and twice FIFA 'Footballer of the Year', Ronaldo.

However, in a warm up match against arch rivals Argentina recently played at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil lost by 1-0. Boos rained down from the grandstand on the world champions. Argentina frustrated the 100,000 fans who packed Maracana stadium.

Fans who cling to the dream recalled Brazil's last loss to Argentina at Maracana in 1957. The game marked the debut of a 16 year old named Pele, and Brazil went on to win its first World Cup in Sweden the next year.

Not to be outdone by the loss to Argentina, Brazil's coach Mario Zagallo not only announced the 22 member squad for the World Cup but also announced the team that would take on Scotland in the curtain raiser on 10 June.

The squad and Zagallo's boldness at announcing the starting team pleased even his critics. "I want to congratulate Zagallo," said soccer legend Pele, who has publicly criticised Zagallo for the recent poor play.

For the first time he had the courage to say, 'this is the team. That's what we needed. " Pele said we have the players now lets get to work.

Brazil's left back Roberto Carlos, who was runner up to Ronaldo in FIFA's Player of theYear awards last year, packs the most lethal free-kick in the game and can put a swerve on the ball that mystifies experts, reports said.

Hundreds of Brazilians play abroad in countries ranging from Italy, and Spain to Finland, Japan, Honduras and India leaving Zagallo spoilt for choice.

Reports say that over-confidence, a tendency for players to negotiate club deals during the World Cup and internal wrangling have all hit Brazil during previous tournaments and there are indications that they could strike again in France.

Brazil is still the clear favourite and has lost only three full internationals since winning the World Cup in 1994, clocking up a run of 15 consecutive wins last year and their line up makes formidable reading.

Despite some ill-fated attempts to vary its style and make it more European over the years Brazil is still seen as the team capable of bringing an exotic flavour to the World Cup soccer experts say.

Ronaldo is widely acclaimed as the world's best player. He will be partnered in the attack by Romario who is still deadly in and around the penalty area.

While it may be feasible to mark one of the pairs out of a game, this simply creates more space for the other. To keep both quiet is a near impossible task said some. Behind them is 20 year old Denilson a player with high speed and dribbling skills.

Coach Mario Zagallo has said 'I would rather win playing ugly football than lose playing attractive football. Efficiency in football is based on victories, everyone wants to win and I am not different."

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