United Hunters

It was after a gap of almost 12 years that I returned to full blood cricket (leather ball, pads, helmet, guards and serious players). Not that cricket is a bloody game, however, the feeling is a lot different from mohalla/vehra (frontyard/backyard) cricket with a thaapi (cricket bat shaped piece of wood, used to thrash wet clothes and the hanky-panky) and tennis ball !

In my heyday I had been a ferocious bowler whom most batsmen feared. And, with a bat in my hand I loved to belt the opposition bowlers. Had I not made it to the medical school, I would have definitely been a professional cricketer. However, a couple of weeks ago when a friend of my brother's invited us to join his team at the nets, because they needed some bowling practice, I made a mess of myself. I was bowling left and right, short and full. The whole week my body ached as if the batsmen had belted me instead of the ball. This past weekend I was, however, back at the nets, hoping to relieve some of my ache. Having accepted that I had grown old for pace bowling, I wasn't expecting to do much better. But, surprise ! surprise ! A couple of balls I threw down the pitch made everyone stand up. I was getting my rhythm back. Bowling a good line and length, and generating good pace, I impressed the team. Before, we could wind up at the nets they were rooting for me to join their team, the United Hunters to play in this summers Etobicoke and Districts Cricket League (www.edcl.net) !

United Hunters are a second division team, made up of Punjabi guys. And as would anyone expect of a Punjabi team, they do well against the tough teams and poorly against the poor ! Firmly believeing in the motto "Tough get going, when the going gets tough!" We will be sporting a blue outfit, with our team logo on the chest and names on our backs !