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| Wednesday, 22 October 2003 |
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Madugalle counters Singh's googly by Dr. Elmo Rodrigopulle During the tea break on the final day's play in the Test between India and New Zealand, one of the Doordhasan TV Commentators Sanjay Manjrekar interviewed Ranjan Madugalle, the match referee. Manjrekar, the former Indian stylish batsman who is now excelling in describing the game on TV, and the son of the illustrious former Indian batting genius Vijay Manjrekar, posed very interesting and topical questions as to the functions of the match referee and what is expected of him etc. Madugalle the former Sri Lanka captain and who was one of the most elegant batsman churned out by the country, but who unfortunately gave up wielding the willow prematurely, answered to the point and in style. Madugalle whose answers were very interesting and enlightening, proved and underlined that the International Cricket Council in appointing him the chairman of match referees had picked the right man. Manjrekar then crossed over to the TV Commentators box and asked former Indian left arm spinner Maninder Singh if he had any questions for Madugalle Singh's question was double edged and apparently an underarm googly. It went something like this. Ranjan with all this travelling as match referee and being away from the family how is family life and more or to that effect. The question was akin to Ravi Shastri asking Sanath Jayasuriya that had he broken Brian Lara's record and been gifted a 16 room house would he have reserved two rooms for the umpires? Madugalle as usual square cut him and then went on to praise his family saying that he has a gracious wife and two lovely daughters and that the wife takes care of everything as his job requires that he be on the move. 'My marriage is absolutely fine', said Madugalle. Madugalle as usual like he did when facing the thunderbolts of bowlers when at the wicket answered gentleman like. Manjrekar who saw the wiles of the question batted for Madugalle when he said that even TV commentators too travel a lot and that Madugalle should also return that question to Singh. 'How is your married life?' Madugalle asked Singh. A smiling Singh's reply was inaudible. Anyway the questions and answers innings would probably have been well received by the viewers and it is hoped that similar stints will follow, because at times there are verbal diarrhoeas taking place in the TV Commentators box. |
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