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[tombaan]

Madhav Gothoskar

 
Tony Greig celebrates bowling Salim Durani at Calcutta. Greig made his enemies on the field, but his easygoing manner off it won him friends © The Cricketer International
 
 
I made my debut in the third Test of the 1972-73 MCC tour at Kanpur. However, the incident involving Geoff Arnold and Tony Lewis occurred at Bangalore in a South Zone v MCC match in January. In those days, umpires were introduced in a tour game before they stood in Test matches. South Zone were led by S Venkatraghavan and had Nawab of Patuadi and Brijesh Patel in their ranks. Arnold was bowling and I don't know why he did it, but at one point, he used four-letter words against the Indians and the country as well.

I went to Lewis, the MCC captain, and told him that I wouldn't tolerate insults against my country, whereupon Lewis took Arnold out of the attack. At some point during the day, during a drinks break, Lewis approached me and said that English people have a habit of using foul words casually quite often. I then told him in humorous manner that when there is another organ for that particular action, why use his mouth?

Just before close of play, Lewis looked at me and I nodded. Arnold then bowled the last over of the day. I reported the matter in writing to Mr Chinnaswamy, the vice president of umpires' commission.

At Kanpur, in my first Test and the fourth match of that series, there was an lbw appeal from Tony Greig against Sunil Gavaskar. After I had negated it, Gavaskar apparently commented quietly that I was his uncle - because he was Gavaskar and I was Gothoskar. Afterwards, Tony Lewis asked me whether I am really related to Gavaskar. I asked him why, and he told me that the last names were Gavaskar and Gothoskar. Then I told him that there were so many "Kars" in that team - Wadekar, Parkar, Solkar - and was I uncle to all of them? I told him that in that case, Sid Buller, the English umpire, and Keith Miller should also be related.

In the same match, Nawab of Patuadi was beaten neck-and-crop and bowled, and the ball went to the boundary. But I had called it a no-ball and the tall Greig leant towards me (unfortunately, I don't have the photograph with me now) and exclaimed: "Oh God! Why did you call it a no ball?" I told him, "Had you told me you were about to beat him neck-and-crop, I wouldn't have called".

I umpired in the next Test at Mumbai as well. When Gundappa Vishwanath scored his century, Greig lifted him and cradled him like a baby, singing a lullaby. When Greig then scored a hundred, Gavaskar called Vishy and they both tried to lift Greig. Of course, they couldn't!

[CLR James]

Ha ha. Great stuff Tombaan.

[jaat69]

at least he can do copy -pasting alright besides ofcourse, sweeping!