A Massacre at Adelaide Oval: Indian Cricketers Eviscerated

Somachandra Skandakumar …. writing from the hills of Uva in Sri Lanka

Skandakumar attended Royal College in Colombo and was a talented cricketer vying for a spot in  Sri Lanka’s groundbreaking tour of England in 1975 when he was ‘felled’ by illness. He went on to become an insghtful cricket commentator and even verbally ‘eviscerated’ the Australian captain Kim Hughes when the latter offered lame excuses after the Aussie touring team was defeated at the Colombo Oval in 1981.

Skandakumar went on to serve the BCCSL for several years in the 1990s and 2000s and more recently was Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in Australia. So, his jesting review of the scenes at Adelaide Oval yesterday 10th November are grounded in experience.

As one tiny spectator on Level Five of the Riverstand, I can assure readers that the victory secured by England was as comprehensive as breathtaking. The ‘rain’ of sixes and boundaries from Hales and Buttler was shattering.

The huge majority of Indian fans on the ground were rendered speechless.

The Barmy Army’s “Sweet Caroline ….,” sung by the smattering of English fans in the vast mass of Indian supporters, captured the heights.

Lyrics

Where it began, I can’t begin to knowing
But then I know it’s growing strong
Was in the spring
And spring became the summer
Who’d have believed you’d come along

Hands, touching hands
Reaching out, touching me, touching you

Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I’ve been inclined
To believe they never would
But now I

Look at the night and it don’t seem so lonely
We filled it up with only two
And when I hurt
Hurting runs off my shoulders
How can I hurt when holding you

One, touching one
Reaching out, touching me, touching you

Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I’ve been inclined
To believe they never would
Oh no, no

Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
Sweet Caroline
I believe they never could
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good