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Cricket
Life’s a Pitch!
If the national vice is gambling, Cricket provides ultimate providence for an ordinary mortal to catapult to Shangri-la while gaining movie-star, bikku and World War l fighter pilot status. Alas, only 01% of the 20 million population will enter this rarefied Utopia. But any Three-wheel driver may dream on! Unlike his Indian counterpart who risks home being burnt down when his performance drops, the fatalistic Buddhist attitude permits occasional faux pas from Cricket heroes as long as demi-gods remain solid citizens. Scandalous behavior not an option.
Michael Ondaatji describes a sticky wicket in his autobiographical Running in the Family when insurgents march to his home in search of weapons. However, cricket bat and tennis ball are provided (in a nifty piece of under-arm bowling by younger sister) so angry young men enjoy cricket for the rest of the afternoon, arms forgotten before lemons.
In Sri Lanka Buddhism is practiced. Cricket is sacrosanct !
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