Legglancer
State Regular
An interesting article about Bedi's past ..... However I think there are too many unneccesary references to his religion which is regretable. However some interesting insight on the man....
Leg
Four-letter world of ex-spinner with a four-letter name
By Mahinda Wijesinghe
Judging by the vituperative comments made by former Indian Test captain, Bishan Singh Bedi, about Muralitharan's bowling action, it appears envy may have been the major catalyst for this outburst. Previously too, Bedi has displayed his green-eyed propensities on the same subject. Seems envy and Bedi go together like Tweedleedum and Tweedleedee. Even a former high official of the local cricket hierarchy has maintained similar views after Muralitharan toppled him from the perch he had built around himself.
Captured 219 wickets in 18 Tests?
Controversy has been closely linked with the Delhi-based colourful patka-wearing follower of Guru Nanak (1469-1538) the founder of Sikhism. The left-arm spinner who began his Test career in 1966, aged 20 years, scalped 266 victims at 28.71 in a career spanning 67 Tests. Admittedly, one of the most accomplished spinners to emerge from the sub-continent, the bearded Indian's feats pale into insignificance and bears no comparison when it can be seen that Muralitharan - at the time of writing - having played a mere additional 18 Tests has captured a mind-boggling 219 more wickets than Bedi at 5.76 runs per wicket cheaper! The Sri Lankan off-spinner's figures are currently, 485 wickets at 22.95 in 85 Tests.
B.S. Bedi — Innocence of youth
Denied allegations
Controversy No.1 took place at the Sabina Park in Jamaica in 1975-76 when the battery of Carribean pacemen injured five Indian players. As Bill Findall reported in the Wisden Book of Test Cricket: "Bedi declared his first innings closed as a protest against intimidatory bowling. At the time it was thought that he also declared his second innings closed for the same reason. He later denied this, stating that neither he nor Chandrasekhar was fit to bat because of hand injuries sustained when fielding." This incident took place in April 1976.
Fury of his own team-mates
Controversy No. 2 took place four months later at Lord's when Bedi, playing for English county Northamptonshire, met Lancashire (ironically, the same county Muralitharan was to represent 23 years later!) in the 1976 Gillette Cup final. Brought on to bowl the last of the 60 limited-overs by Lancashire skipper David Lloyd, of current TV commentary fame, Bedi was smashed for 26 runs by David Hughes as follows: 4-6-2-2-6-6. As yet another David, Frith on this occasion, commented about this incident in his most readable book, The Slow Men (Corgi Books 1984):
"One will never forget the fury shown by Northants team-mates after Bedi's final flighted over of the 1976 Gillette Cup final at Lord's had been smashed for 26 by Lancashire's David Hughes....Bedi had refused to hurl the ball at leg-stump." In other words, Bedi stubbornly refused to change his usual style of bowling to suit the requirements of his side when the situation demanded the restriction of runs.
Lost contract with English county
Hat-trick of controversies or incident No.3 took place in yet another four months later, this time at the Chepauk stadium in Madras. Bedi was leading India against England in the Third Test. Indian umpire Reuben - there weren't international umpires at that time - accused England fast bowler, J.K.Lever of using a surgical gauze impregnated with Vaseline to help him swing the ball. He considered it a breach of Law 46. Of course explanations were offered by the England management headed by Manager Ken Barrington who did admit "there had been a technical breach of the law governing "fair and unfair play", though the offence was totally unintentional." But as Dicky Rutnagur reported in the Wisden Almanack (1978):
"Fuel had been added to the fire by Bedi, the Indian captain, stating after the incident that even at Delhi, during the first Test, he had suspicions that a polishing agent of some kind had been used." While David Frith reported that "the vehemence of which protest Bedi felt eventually cost him his contract with Northamptonshire."
Silence of the singing Sikh
Incidents of this nature within such a short space of time gives a fair insight of the character of the man who called Muralitharan a burglar, a cheat and a dacoit. The Sri Lankan off-spinner has been subjected to the most rigorous and exacting physical/mechanical tests by physicians/surgeons and experts on biomechanics around the world as no other bowler in the history of the game, and exonerated by the ICC committee as well. So, any opinions to the contrary whether by Bedi, Border or Botham would hold as much water as that held by any Tom, Dick or Harry. However, the timing of these comments - on the eve of the impending Australian tour to Sri Lanka - makes one wonder whether Bedi was singing for his supper. On the other hand, Shane Warne, the Australian leg-spinner, was found guilty by the Australian Cricket Board and fined for having accepted money from a bookie, accused by a woman for his obscene and immoral conduct, and finally banned for an year after having taken performance enhancing drugs. Yet, not a word about the 'convicted' Australian from the 'singing' Sikh who called Muralitharan such despicable and unjustifiable names.
Maybe silence is gold for some.
Leg
Four-letter world of ex-spinner with a four-letter name
By Mahinda Wijesinghe
Judging by the vituperative comments made by former Indian Test captain, Bishan Singh Bedi, about Muralitharan's bowling action, it appears envy may have been the major catalyst for this outburst. Previously too, Bedi has displayed his green-eyed propensities on the same subject. Seems envy and Bedi go together like Tweedleedum and Tweedleedee. Even a former high official of the local cricket hierarchy has maintained similar views after Muralitharan toppled him from the perch he had built around himself.
Captured 219 wickets in 18 Tests?
Controversy has been closely linked with the Delhi-based colourful patka-wearing follower of Guru Nanak (1469-1538) the founder of Sikhism. The left-arm spinner who began his Test career in 1966, aged 20 years, scalped 266 victims at 28.71 in a career spanning 67 Tests. Admittedly, one of the most accomplished spinners to emerge from the sub-continent, the bearded Indian's feats pale into insignificance and bears no comparison when it can be seen that Muralitharan - at the time of writing - having played a mere additional 18 Tests has captured a mind-boggling 219 more wickets than Bedi at 5.76 runs per wicket cheaper! The Sri Lankan off-spinner's figures are currently, 485 wickets at 22.95 in 85 Tests.
B.S. Bedi — Innocence of youth
Denied allegations
Controversy No.1 took place at the Sabina Park in Jamaica in 1975-76 when the battery of Carribean pacemen injured five Indian players. As Bill Findall reported in the Wisden Book of Test Cricket: "Bedi declared his first innings closed as a protest against intimidatory bowling. At the time it was thought that he also declared his second innings closed for the same reason. He later denied this, stating that neither he nor Chandrasekhar was fit to bat because of hand injuries sustained when fielding." This incident took place in April 1976.
Fury of his own team-mates
Controversy No. 2 took place four months later at Lord's when Bedi, playing for English county Northamptonshire, met Lancashire (ironically, the same county Muralitharan was to represent 23 years later!) in the 1976 Gillette Cup final. Brought on to bowl the last of the 60 limited-overs by Lancashire skipper David Lloyd, of current TV commentary fame, Bedi was smashed for 26 runs by David Hughes as follows: 4-6-2-2-6-6. As yet another David, Frith on this occasion, commented about this incident in his most readable book, The Slow Men (Corgi Books 1984):
"One will never forget the fury shown by Northants team-mates after Bedi's final flighted over of the 1976 Gillette Cup final at Lord's had been smashed for 26 by Lancashire's David Hughes....Bedi had refused to hurl the ball at leg-stump." In other words, Bedi stubbornly refused to change his usual style of bowling to suit the requirements of his side when the situation demanded the restriction of runs.
Lost contract with English county
Hat-trick of controversies or incident No.3 took place in yet another four months later, this time at the Chepauk stadium in Madras. Bedi was leading India against England in the Third Test. Indian umpire Reuben - there weren't international umpires at that time - accused England fast bowler, J.K.Lever of using a surgical gauze impregnated with Vaseline to help him swing the ball. He considered it a breach of Law 46. Of course explanations were offered by the England management headed by Manager Ken Barrington who did admit "there had been a technical breach of the law governing "fair and unfair play", though the offence was totally unintentional." But as Dicky Rutnagur reported in the Wisden Almanack (1978):
"Fuel had been added to the fire by Bedi, the Indian captain, stating after the incident that even at Delhi, during the first Test, he had suspicions that a polishing agent of some kind had been used." While David Frith reported that "the vehemence of which protest Bedi felt eventually cost him his contract with Northamptonshire."
Silence of the singing Sikh
Incidents of this nature within such a short space of time gives a fair insight of the character of the man who called Muralitharan a burglar, a cheat and a dacoit. The Sri Lankan off-spinner has been subjected to the most rigorous and exacting physical/mechanical tests by physicians/surgeons and experts on biomechanics around the world as no other bowler in the history of the game, and exonerated by the ICC committee as well. So, any opinions to the contrary whether by Bedi, Border or Botham would hold as much water as that held by any Tom, Dick or Harry. However, the timing of these comments - on the eve of the impending Australian tour to Sri Lanka - makes one wonder whether Bedi was singing for his supper. On the other hand, Shane Warne, the Australian leg-spinner, was found guilty by the Australian Cricket Board and fined for having accepted money from a bookie, accused by a woman for his obscene and immoral conduct, and finally banned for an year after having taken performance enhancing drugs. Yet, not a word about the 'convicted' Australian from the 'singing' Sikh who called Muralitharan such despicable and unjustifiable names.
Maybe silence is gold for some.
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