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A feature by Karthik Narayan

Faith can move mountains, and those who said that deserve a medal. The finest example for FAITH came in the recently concluded ICC Champions trophy final. Ian Bradshaw, a nobody in World Cricket, until that finest moment when he square drove a delivery for four. No other boundary, however splendid or majestic, would have been more valuable, more worthy. That brought countless, endless smiles to a bunch of teammates and half the world watching this game of bat and ball unlike no other shot would have!

Playing out of one’s skins happens rarely in cricket, and it just happened for Bradshaw. Bowling and taking wickets may not be new to this Barbados bowler, but wielding the willow when it matters most is definitely new. An all round performance par excellence, right when the team was down. That must work wonders for the confidence of this team that has never seen winning ways in the last quarter of a century of this magnitude!

Light is no enemy for the valiant soldier, and this one guy never knew how to give up the game! Against the fading light, against all the meanest fast bowlers, he did the basics! Take lessons, all those watching! Offered the light, the batsmen also kept their heads and salutations for the West Indians making it a match to watch! They could have given up taken the light factor, and gone back home to get a nice cup of tea, but cricket is not about that! It’s about winning, team spirit, and the spirit of the game. The sanctity of the game. Also it mattered, this was the ICC Final.

Having come at the most difficult situation ever in cricketing history, I don’t recall any other innings as good as this. This ranks amongst the best ever for all seasons. It’s not a brilliant century, not even a quick fire fifty. But this cameo ranks higher than all that. This innings will stand in cricketing history as the most valiant.

Put in a pressure cooker and with a death penalty over the team, this guy came in to bat, with no hope whatsoever for whoever was left watching. The Two “B”s Bradshaw and Browne just hung in there, with the fiercest of determinations. A mountain of runs was heaped over this guy, and FAITH moved all that. That many runs just vanished as slow and steady win the race. The basics of getting the singles, and playing the waiting game bore fruits of the richest taste. The sweet smell and taste of victory wiped the sweat off the cold and clammy palms of this forlorn team!

Pump fisting, heart thumping innings are always something to remember and cherish. For all the better moments in his life, this will rank as the most cherished for this young Gun. Most importantly it means a lot for the team for the near future.

The West Indian game was all over for all of us, right when Shiv Chanderpaul got out. Out comes a surprise! They escape unscathed and creates history for a team led by an invincible-yet-not-quite-good-enough-captain. This win means more to the WI skipper Brian Charles Lara, and now the blue eyed boy of the game is Bradshaw.

A hero manufactured right under our noses! Just when Dwayne Bravo was showing his class, out comes a new hero. The West Indian glorious days are here again, definitely time for the Champagne and most aptly, calypso time!

Cricketfundas.com wishes this new King all the very best and let him entertain us with more of the best cricket.

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