MCG scorer Michael Walsh recollects Dravid-Laxman stand in Kolkata to Warne’s Ball from Hell

From fab partnerships to Shane Warne’s ball of the century – he has watched them all and recorded them. “I remember that magical Warne moment. He was easily the best bowler I saw, always some drama on.” The scoring of the event involves acknowledging the umpire’s signal, jotting down the wicket, ticking and crossing boxes. In all this, is he able to soak in the moment, like Warne’s delivery to Mike Gatting? “Oh yes yes, you have to soak all that up, enjoy it. I remember that was one of the first international series that had a giant screen in the stadium. We do have TVs in the box, but that kind of moment becomes a collective experience with the crowd all craning their necks and watching the screen – and then the gasps!,” says Walsh.

Warne himself had recorded that moment of watching thus: “So we saw the replay of it, we’re all gathered together next to the wicket, looking up, and I was like ‘geez, that was pretty good’,” Warne had once said.

Walsh was also at hand to watch Sunil Gavaskar threaten a walkout when he instructed his partner Chetan Chauhan to accompany him at the MCG in 1981. “They had almost reached the end with Sunny looking pretty angry and waving his hands, until the manager, an army chap I believe, [Wing Commander Shahid Ali Khan Durrani] stopped the partner and sent him back. On Thursday, he would see Virat Kohli shoulder-barging the teenager Sam Konstas. “Not a pleasant viewing, was it? There should be no place for physical contact in this sport.”

Fondest memory

Walsh remembers the 1989 Ashes tour of England with great fondness, when under the captaincy of Allan Border Australia’s revival began. Border had advised his team-mates not to indulge in any small-talk with the England’s players, maintaining a bubble of sorts. “Even in their camp, I remember there were a few rules,” Walsh says. “The wives couldn’t come on that tour initially. There were team dinners, collective lunches. I was away for four-and-half months, probably did 30-odd matches of scoring. Post the Ashes, I accompanied the team as they played in Denmark too, some friendlies.”

MCG scorer Michael Walsh (left) with the manual scorecard of the ongoing Australia vs India fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (Express Photo by Sriram Veera)

He also remembers the genial presence of the coach Bob Simpson. “Not only tactically astute and a great man-manager as he is known for, but he was also a very kind person. He would include us even in the team events. Say a team dinner before the Tests. Or if anything was given to the players officially, he would say it should include even the scorer like me. All 17 get or nobody does; that’s a rare trait.”

When the talk shifts to funny incidents while scoring, O’Neill chips in. “Two years ago, I remember the power went out and we couldn’t turn this lamp on and off – it’s what we do these days to acknowledge the umpire’s signals for leg byes or no-ball or whatever. So we had to open the window and wave a handkerchief!” he says.

Any logistical nightmare while touring India and scoring? Walsh smiles and says, “The usual. Power went off for a couple of hours. Or once in Kochi, I sat in the stands with the fans. We had been given a table, but oh boy it was difficult to do the job with all that noise. Eden Gardens and elsewhere we got good cabins, but I have always found that in India that lots of hangers on would enter the cabin, who just wanted a free-view I suppose! Has that changed now?!”

Here's wishing one of #TeamIndia's most stylish batsmen, @VVSLaxman281 a very happy birthday 🎂🍰

On his special day, relive his 'very very special' knock of 281 against Australia #HappyBirthdayVVSLaxman pic.twitter.com/72e2ZwCD90

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 31, 2019

His 100th Test was the last year’s game against Pakistan that ended in three days at the MCG. “Mark Taylor, possibly Australia’s best modern-day captain, gave me a cake on behalf of Cricket Australia and spoke a few nice words. That felt good. We scorers aren’t getting any gold from India or a suitcase of money!”

In this digital age, is the old way of scoring relevant? Why should young kids take up this hard profession? “Because you love this game I suppose is the greatest reason out there to take this job. If you can’t become a player or an umpire or a commentator, this is the next best job to watch cricket. You get a great seat in the house, you are involved in every ball. You need great powers of concentration, you need to be fit,” he says.

“It can get boring occasionally when there is a boring draw or very long partnership going on a dull day of course.” Like that Eden Gardens game? Laughter that emanates from the wisdom of covering 101 Tests erupts.