da mrbet： He walked in tall when England were down and out at 191 for 9
da supremo： Mahmood Ahmad06-Jul-2001He walked in tall when England were down and out at 191 for 9. Neitheroverawed by the situation nor shaky on seeing his opponents rampant, heunleashed a flurry of strokes all round the wicket taking his team to arespectable total while more than ably partnering Alec Stewart for a 100-plus stand for the last wicket.
Andrew Caddick
Photo © CricInfo
Yes, you’re right, I’m talking about Andrew Caddick, that lanky Somersetpaceman who’s lately turned into a useful lower order batsman. He hasalways reminded me of a fresh and upright cadet in a military academy.Well, I’m not fully aware of the norms at various military academiesaround the world, but I do know what it is like to be an army cadet inPakistan – having myself been in one for some time – and do know that many ofthe traditions here were from the British army.The first thing they – your trainers – try to inculcate is disciplinecapped by aggression – of personality, bearing and countenance.Chicken-hearted souls, extreme cases of introversion, are a definite nofor these academies; they aren’t picked for training in the first place.Now reader, don’t be impatient and don’t wonder what a cadet has to dowith Andy, apart from the coincidence of the first three letters ofhis name. I feel there’s something else in common, too!As for the first quality, I wonder if there is any bowler in the presentEngland squad who’s more organised, disciplined and upright thanCADdick? And, if there is one, I’m simply not aware of his name. Gough,his opening partner, may be deadlier, more incisive maybe, but not moredisciplined or as accurate.And as for aggression, I’d ask, is there any doubt in your mind aboutCADdick’s, aggression after watching him butchering McGrath, Shane Warneand Co. on the first day at Edgbaston? He came to the crease and startedplaying his shots with sheer hostility, not hitherto seen in Englandranks during the whole of the innings.The icing on the cake is perhaps the fact that he had saved his best forthe Aussies – the one-day and Test champions of the world. Afterhammering 36 (44 balls) in the last league match of the NatWest Seriesat The Oval, he carried on in the same vein to slaughter the Aussieattack yet again, getting 49 not out off just 40 balls, of which seven wentto the rope and one over it. Surely stuff to remember.Now, I did tell you above, CADdick reminded me of a cadet even before heproduced that blitz the other day against Australia.Well, most must be aware that immediately after entering the doors of amilitary academy, the new recruit has to have a close shave of his head.That happened to me too. And the most conspicuous feature of my face,subsequent to that head shave, were my ears protruding like sails of atwo-mast yacht, if nothing else!Looking at this tall, well-built, upright and soldier-like paceman justharks back to my days of cadetship. He does stand and deliver with thebest of them!
