A level playing field

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My lady, you're sporting a lovely tan; I even heard that you were getting a thorough wash this morning, Percy [the pigeon] had told me," Sir PM inadvertently blurted out his unfiltered update, when he met his friend Lady Flora for their usual Sunday night walk. Lady Flora, on her part was a tad surprised that Percy was turning out to be more of his private ‘khabari' than a true messenger pigeon who worked for the wellbeing of the city. A tad miffed, she nodded in the affirmative, "Yes, well, I did need a good clean-up, after all the maidan-visiting that I've been doing of late…" she hinted. That was enough for Sir PM to do an eye-roll. "Pardon my inquisitive nature, but pray, what has led you to the maidans of our city; a first, for you, if I might hazard a guess…?"

Lady Flora smiled that she was able to pique her friend's curiosity, "Well, yes… it's been my long-standing keenness to visit the maidans, and ever since this ongoing cricket competition has been underway, I have been getting updates that my countrymen, all former cricketers who are now donning new roles as commentators, have been visiting the Oval in particular. That was enough for me to head there. On one occasion, I was privy to that talented English woman cricketer, Katie…err Kate Cross, having a conversation with a couple of young girls who were seated there watching a few practice matches underway at one of the many pitches. ‘Crossie' was asking them if there were any games featuring women or young girls, and to my dismay, and hers, too, they replied in the negative. I was a bit taken aback, Pheroze." Sir PM immediately butted in, "Why so?" Lady Flora's answer rolled out in a second, "I wasn't entirely convinced with those girls' response, so I did a bit of investigation myself, and scoured the maidan for a few days, hoping that I would be proven wrong. It wasn't to be," she sighed. Her dejected face made Sir PM feel sad for his friend; he was secretly amazed by how seriously she took the term, ‘an equal playing field'.

"But I thought we were doing fine...only recently I heard that our Diana was inducted into that important body of cricket as an icon of the women's game?" Sir PM informed his friend. "Who do you mean ‘our Diana'? But she has passed, Pheroze!" He sought to correct his friend. "Not Lady Diana Spencer; I am referring to Diana Eduljee, the famous former India Test captain and proud Zoroastrian. What a trailblazer! I used to try to attend all the matches whenever she played in Bombay. I thought things were alright with the woman's game."

Lady Flora added, "Oh yes, I recall cousin Clare singing her praises thanks to her terrific show in England when she toured with the Indian women's team. All that is fine; I am referring to the current scenario - I didn't see much of maidan cricket featuring young girls, in comparison with the countless matches underway where young boys were playing. I'd like to see that change, especially in Bombay that prides itself for being the home of cricket. How wonderful it would be to also have more women fans come to stadiums to cheer for women cricketers, especially with this new format as well as the annual league that features some pretty big names."

Sir PM nodded in full agreement. ‘You are right. It will be nice to see more little girls in full gear pad up or roll their arm over on the maidans. It's the ideal nursery to hone their talent, play against the boys as well as improve their overall technique. I am no expert but I know that maidan cricket is tops. I hope schools in the city with strong foundations in the game and cricket clubs do something about it. I hear that we have a fairly tight unit in the women's game, too, but not too many from the city barring that Rodrigues girl. Something ought to be done to increase representation at the national level."

By now, both friends had reached the Oval Maidan. It was well after sunset and yet, a few matches were underway. By the sidelines a little girl was watching with intent, egging on her brother who was at the crease. As if they were party to our sutradhaars chat, the brother invited his sister to take fresh guard as he lined his run-up to bowl to her. "Now, that's a small step," smiled Lady Flora as she looked at her friend. Both watched the exchange for a while, secretly wishing that Bombay's young girls and women cricketers become a more common sight on the maidans as well as at the national level.

mid-day's Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city's sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her. She tweets @bombayana
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