Gargi Raut in Leeds
For many sports journalists, storytellers or even enthusiasts of the game, covering a Test series in England is the ultimate dream and not just another assignment. Ultimately, it is the country where cricket’s soul lives, where the game’s history lies thick, be it the history of the Lord’s cricket stadium, the echoing applause at The Oval or even the buzz at Headingley or The Old Trafford on a Test morning.
To be in England for the all-important five-match Test series is truly a moment filled with meaning. And more so because we are all witnessing one of the biggest transitions in Indian Test history. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring and a young Shubman Gill at the helm, the possibilities for the team are endless. The series stands as one of the most important litmus tests for both the captain and the coach Gautam Gambhir, whose run in Test cricket hasn’t been the greatest. Nonetheless, covering cricket in England is a rite of passage, it is a chance to cover the sport in its truest form.
There’s a certain romance in the air in England ahead of the Test series, the overcast skies, the movement in the air and quiet anticipation of what the new-age team will bring to the fore. For a journalist from the subcontinent, where cricket is followed with intense passion, covering cricket in England is like stepping into this different yet equally deep-rooted culture is inspiring.
After all, cricket tours aren’t just about cricket. It is the blend of cultures, especially when it comes to these two countries with so much shared cricketing history. Equally, intense fans on either side, an equally young team, and a team that has the hunger to showcase their skills.
Apart from the culture, covering cricket on ground is a ceremonial experience, it is like getting to know stadiums like you would get to know a friend, every ground has its own personality. Even though I have not been to any of the stadiums, I have the impression that Lord’s carries and unmatched gravitas, Edgbaston is more about colour and fresh energy and so on.
Covering a series on ground, especially one that is this important, is a challenge in itself. From the press box, you have a responsibility to not just report on what happens on the field but also capture the feel of the day, the shifts in the mood, the crowd’s silence during a tense over and other such quiet drama that only Test cricket delivers.
Many aspire to have this kind of opportunity and it’s more than just a job, most of us truly do it for the love of the game. But it’s also a responsibility to do justice to the game, to the players and the fans watching from around the world, you have to be a part of the story and not just tell it. For those of us lucky enough to be here, it is a moment to be truly cherished.