Here’s to a Waughsome cricketer, human being

Not because Steve happens to be a distant cousin of mine. But because Steve Waugh’s monumental contribution to Australian cricket can seldom be questioned. And his pride in wearing the Baggy Green (the Australian cap) can rarily be matched.

But the wretched cold-blooded and shameful ruthlessness of the Aussie strategy, which does not feature Steve any more, is detestable beyond compare.

Anyway, I had resigned myself to a rather hopeless farewell to one of my truely great sporting heroes.

Steve’s first two scoring shots were scorching fours full of venom and anger, when the TV camera focussed on a banner from the crowd which read ‘Steve don’t go.’ It was more of a plea from a fan which brought a lump in my throat.

But I controlled my emotions and watched the grandeur of a setting sun with utmost intensity. It was beautiful just as it was painful. The beauty lay in Steve’s resolve to shove his bat’s handle you know where. And the pain was in direct contrast to the b*****d Aussie attitude.

However, Australia’s most successive Test and one-day captain was destined to have a field day — much to chagrin of Messrs Border and Co, the Aussie selectors, not to mention David Hughes, who’s been baying for the blood of the Waugh twins for some time.

Only to confirm my belief that artisans can never become artists and therein lies the cricketing conflict which separated Bradman from his colleagues. Aussies are human too.

And no matter what their system suggests, I cannot believe that the Australian terrier called Allan Border is not green with envy of Steve’s feats. Be that as it may, Steve’s hundred off the last ball off the day and the subsequent joy at pulling down all his critics was clearly his very personal prerogative.

Australia may yet lose the last Test but for me, very few sportsmen are as substantial human beings as Steve Waugh. I once probed him on his involvement with Udayan, the home for underprivileged chidren in Kolkata. ‘‘Bish, if you can make a difference to the life of one person it’s worth your while to be human’’ he said looking straight and deep into my eyes.

The only way to live a life is to commit to it like crazy. One’s dignity may be assaulted, vandalised and cruelly mocked, but cannot be taken away unless it is surrendered.

On both these counts, Steve Waugh comes out a supreme champion. May your tribe flourish, Stephen Rodger Waugh. God bless you now and always.