Ball boys keep cool as India-New Zealand battle it out amid Wankhede's sweltering heat

Rohit Sharmarsquos India and Tom Lathamrsquos New Zealanders were not the only ones along with the onfield umpires who were challenged by the hot and humid 32degree conditions at Wankhede on FridayThe 30odd U14 players who were stationed as ball boys on the boundary ropes should be factored in tooDespite the oppressive conditions every ball boy appeared keen to do his lsquodutyrsquo and they were seen offering water bottles to India and Kiwi fielders near the longon or longoff ropes ldquoThis is my first international match as a ball boy Itrsquos a big opportunity for me to learn something from our star cricketersrdquo said a ball boy about his maiden experience Veteran sports journalists Ayaz Memon left and G Viswanath in the Wankhede Stadium press box yesterdayldquoWe rotate a group of 15 to give everyone a chance to watch a Test and big players at the venue They will get inspired by watching them play and one day some of them may be in the middle playing for Mumbai and Indiardquo said Mumbai Cricket Association secretary Abhay Hadap And we all know the story about how cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar was a ball boy during the 1987 World Cup1988 veterans in the boxQuite a few among the 50odd journalists covering the third and final Test between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium are regulars on the circuitHowever also present were two writers who reported on the 1988 Test in Mumbai which the Kiwis under John Wright won mdash Ayaz Memon and G ViswanathBefore the Bangalore Test triumph earlier in this series the 1988 victory was the last Test NZ won in IndiaWhile Memon and Viswanath were lapping up the excitement on Friday this diarist was informed how they were among the handful of Indian journalists who covered Indiarsquos 1983 World Cup in England They both wrote for the same publication then mdash Sportsweek magazineThey remembered how NZ in 1988 were well served by offspinner John Bracewell who claimed eight wickets 281 and 651 apart from scoring 52 in the first inningsldquoBracewell bowled really well in that match He was a classical offspinner Dilip Vengsarkar was India captain and that was Indiarsquos leftarm pacer Rashid Patelrsquos first and only Test Patel went wicketless in his 14 overs in the game ldquoOne of the Indian journalists had written that NZ were no good and wonrsquot win After the game some Kiwi players including Bracewell came below the press box to tell him journalist to get down where they wererdquo recalled Memon who covered that game for this newspaper and Sportsweek thenAlso ReadWankhede woes Indiarsquos fragile end to a promising dayViswanath who covered that game for The Hindu newspaper said ldquoThe most memorable part for me was Bracewellrsquos competitive nature He showcased a fighting spirit He was a good offbreak bowler and a good batsman who scored a vital halfcenturyldquoEarlier Test matches used to be sixday affairs with the fourth day as a rest day Wankhedersquos old press box used to be full then toordquo said Viswanath about the November 2429 Test which India lost by 136 runsMumbai had the numbersThough Mumbaikars are celebrating Diwali around 20000 cricket lovers headed to the Wankhede to witness a Test in a series that India have already lostCricket fans reached the venue well before Kiwi captain Tom Latham walked out to bat with Devon Conway on Friday morning The Wankhede Stadium can accommodate 33000 spectatorsIndian team supporters were seen encouraging their favourite stars by shouting Rohit Rohit and Virat Virat during the NZ inningsThey took great delight in applauding Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar for their nine NZ wickets as they returned to the dressing room after bowling out the Kiwis for 235However their utter silence indicated how stunned they were over Kohlirsquos run out