Things to do during break in Cricket

Drinks Break

In cricket, just after an hour into the proceedings of an intriguing test match, or just when your favourite team is going great guns and the opposition in a limited overs game or vice versa, there comes a stoppage – in the form of ‘drinks break’. During a scheduled cricket match, a stoppage can occur in various forms, like lunch, tea, drinks break or rain interruption amongst others. While a break is welcomed by some section of spectators, others see it as an interruption to the game. We take a look as what different kind of spectators do in these breaks.

1. The first species of spectator comprises of those who don’t want a break. However, this species is on a decline in the recent past, though, it comprises of the true lovers of the game. When people amongst them go to the cricket field, they look deeply involved in the game throughout and don’t realize they are on camera, even if it’s eyeing on them for more than two minutes. Hence, not surprisingly, these are the ones who hate breaks in the game. Actually they hate any kind of stoppages in the game. Be it a drinks break or between the innings break, a tea break or a rain interruption.

What they do during breaks: They never change the channel. They listen to all the expert advices being poured down, even if it means Nikhil Chopra having a cricket bat in his hands and telling Sachin or any front line batsman how he could have played that shot that brought his downfall. They are amongst the ones who don’t shy away from giving advice to even the experts and doing their own commentary when highlights are being shown during the break.

I remember how once a caller made a call to DD Sports program “Forth Umpire”, which was then hosted by Charu Sharma and reprimanded the channel for ads taking over just after the last ball had been bowled and would not return until the first ball of the next over had been bowled. Before he could say more, an embarrassed Charu cut the phone and apologised for the problem caused. In short, these guys are really serious about their sport.

2. Second are those who want to take it as an opportunity to take a rest and get themselves ready for the next session of play to begin. The just finished intriguing game of Cricket has taken a toll off them and they need some time off to get their act together and immerse themselves once again. A drinks break is a welcome break for this kind of species.

What they do during a break: The lazy ones mute their respective television sets and lay back on the sofa. They close their eyes and have some rest. The athletic ones get out from their TV halls, take stroll down in the home or outside for sometime or indulge in some light exercises and get back to the game as soon as the game resumes.

3. The third kind of species are the most prevalent – the family spectators. This is the species where one family shares a TV and want to see four different channels at one point of time. While mother wants to see ‘Balika Vadhu’, although she discourages child marriages, father wants to catch up with the main headlines of the day and the geeky brother wants to enhance his GK by watching ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, as if identifying the voice of Kareena Kapoor will get him selected to the IIMs. You are the only one want to watch the game. The break brings a respite to you as now, at least for the time being, you are not fighting for your channel. This species generally makes deal with their family and watches the game on time wise turns.

What they do during the break: They take a chill – pill and enjoy the little encounters amongst the family members, at least this time; they are out of the race. They see a little bit of all the channels in between and wait for their turns to return to the game.

4. The fourth kind of species consists of group of people assembled at one house to rock the evening with the game. Their main aim, however, is to have a gala time rather than to particularly appreciate the nuances of the game being played. They generally look forward to the break as to catch up with their friends.

What they do during the break: They refill the soda pitcher, wait for the food they have ordered. They garnish the food in the serving plates. Small groups are formed to discuss almost everything, right from their respective lives to how Raina could have scored a few more blows that could’ve led India post a score of over 300!

5. The final species belong to working class and haven’t watched much of the match in progress. They either are not aware of what has happened to the game till then or they have just followed the game through cricinfo by reading the live online commentary. The break gives them a chance to find out what has happened and how until then and build momentum for the proceedings to follow.

What they do during breaks: They surf through all of the news channels try to see some of the action that has already taken place. They don’t miss the follow up program and watch their every package right from ‘fours and sixes’ to ‘fall of wickets’. They make sure to grasp everything before they ready themselves for the resumption of the game.

Well these were the types of spectators who prefer to do various different things every time a break in induces in the game. What about the people in the middle, what they do. Not being one of them, thus I would be able to provide insights only as an outsider. The twelfth man not only transmits through messages from the team management to the players out there but also luxuriate himself to the glory of being a cricketer by feeling all the hoopla of being on the field and witnessing the electrifying atmosphere. Most common activity, apart from having drinks, of course, is checking out the bats of the batsmen by their counterparts.

However, one incident during last year’s championship league game featuring South Australia and Mumbai Indians deserves a special mention. The break was a forced break when Pollard in his usual style sent a ball out of the park for a six. While they were waiting for the new ball to come out, Dwayne Bravo, his partner at the non-striking end, called him to the middle of the pitch and they just started to enjoy the music that was playing in the stadium. They actually danced much to the enjoyment of Mumbai’s dug out and amazement of the commentators. An amused Ganguly, while commentating said, “Well, that’s the West Indian culture. Cannot imaging a Tendulkar, hitting a six over mid-wicket and dancing on the cricket field.”

Thus, we found out a hell lot of things to do during a break. Now just having gone through it, recognise to which species you belong to and post it down as a comment. Also, you are welcome to mention any other species that I might have left out.