"...Today when cricket is no longer the same cricket as was played by the likes of Don Bradman and Vijay Manjrekar, the bowlers need all the assistance possible.
Surely after reading this, you will accept that benefit of doubt to the batsman must be changed to benefit of doubt to the bowler..." (The Asian Age, Feb 15 2011)
I am in desperate minority in today's middle-class India. I have zero interest in ODI Cricket world cup starting today. (Luckily at my home my wife doesn't much like cricket and my son is more fond of football and test cricket.)
This is such a far cry from 1983 where at IIT-Madras, I couldn't gather courage to watch final moments of India's famous victory over mighty WI on TV. I had to go out of common-room and stand on the balcony in front of my room, on the third floor of hostel BRAHMAPUTRA- (one of the best places I ever lived), waiting with bated breath, for the climax.
For me, Test Cricket becomes fascinating sport because of bouncers/ short-pitch bowling and forward short leg.
If you are not wearing protective equipment- and for most of part of cricket history you didn't- you could die facing the former or fielding at the latter.
Although the likes of legendary Eknath Solkar (एकनाथ सोलकर) and Brian Close made forward short leg their own piece of real estate, most times rookies are asked to field there.
The Wizard of Id, created by Brant Parker and Johnny Hart.
(open the picture in another browser window to enhance it.)