Shabhash!: My Love Affair with Cricket Begins

Njuhi J. Karianjahi

Exactly one month ago today, I re-met the white, wide-bowling wonder called cricket. I was instantly taken aback by the rules and nuances of the game that the boys had played since grade school. I remembered the times back then when I wanted to play and the boys would refuse. A particularly priceless memory is the lunch break when Karim was bowling and hit me smack in the eye with his new cricket ball. I remained disconnected from the game until that lovely Saturday last month when Aliya dragged me to watch the guys play.

I was at first lost for words. I was actually seated down at a cricket match. It was unbelievable. I also thought that there was nothing better than to be away from the stack of university books that hid at least ten days of assignments crammed into one weekend. But I digress. I watched the game, clueless at first because there was nothing other than the constant bowling going on from both ends of the area where the young crisp uniformed lads played. It seemed like everybody else was totally enjoying the game and I was the fringe member. And then I heard the shout..."Shabhash!"

My first thought was that that Shabash was the player's name. I looked around me and saw the smiles on all my friends' faces. My puzzlement was boundless. I realized from the jumps and hops that the batsman had sent the ball far enough to warrant two runs, an amazing feat in ordinary time. The play was a definite praise worthy act, calling for a cheer -- shabhash.

After that I caught on pretty quickly. I eventually yelled too, although it was the other team's wide that I applauded, much to the ire of my friends and the home team we were there to support . No matter, I was hooked. The afternoon went by so quickly that I did not even notice the cute classmate I had been eyeing all semester walk past. Well, I guess I did. But more importantly, I wanted to be in the game. Not to play clipboard cricket after an exam, but the real thing.

After the game, Aliya and I shyly asked one of the team members to lend us the bat and ball so that we could try our hand at a mini practice at the edge of the field. He agreed and like five year olds, we got to work, playing baby cricket. Aliya and I gleefully spent the next fifteen minutes hitting and missing, and hitting and throwing off course, with laughter breaks in between. I say fifteen minutes because we had no gloves on and those cricket balls are hard to catch! I thought it was time to sit down again until I tried to get the bat away from Aliya and failed. She would not give it up. At that moment I noticed a look in her eye -- a look I had only ever seen in my own mirror before. A fresh enthusiasm. I now call it the cricket eye.

What happens now is a matter of planning. We have a team and a load of equipment. We have begun the walk to the fast bowling future. To the women we shall play with and the women in our lives who support us now: "Shabhash!" for encouraging us to be superb. See you at the green next fall.