da 888casino： Who is the oldest living Test cricketer
da mrbet： Partab Ramchand06-Jun-2001Who is the oldest living Test cricketer? On the face of it, this mayseem an unlikely question to ask, except at quiz time. But a clearerpicture will emerge when I point out that this question is being askedon a former Test cricketer’s 95th birthday. But is he, at this age,the oldest Test cricketer alive?The doubt arises because Wisden cricketers’ almanack lists Alf Goveras the oldest Test cricketer alive. Gover, a right arm fast mediumbowler, played for England in four Tests in the 1930s and 1940s. Hemade his Test debut against India in 1936, toured this country withLord Tennyson’s side in 1937-38 and played his last Test against Indiaon his home ground at the Oval in 1946. Wisden lists his date of birthas February 29, 1908. Interestingly enough, just a few entries aboveGover is the name of MJ Gopalan. The former Indian cricketer’s date ofbirth is given as June 6, 1909.This was the accepted entry till a few years ago till members of hisfamily clarified that he was born on June 6, 1906. Since then it isaccepted in certain cricketing circles that Gopalan is the world’soldest living Test cricketer.Not that these contradictions mean anything to Morappakam JoysamGopalan. For him, today was just another day. A recent hip injury hasrestricted his movements and so a visit to the temple, regretfully,was not possible. But there was time for a puja at home, followed by afew visitors and a generally quiet day spent at home with familymembers.When this writer rang him up to wish him, Gopalan himself picked upthe phone. Blessed with a strong physique and good memory, the formerdouble international – he also represented the country in hockey as acontemporary of the peerless Dhyan Chand – spoke in calm and cleartones. Asked whether he looked forward to his 100th birthday, Gopalanexclaimed "My God, is living 95 years not enough. I am also not invery good physical shape these days with age having caught up and withthis injury I have."Asked pointedly whether he was born in 1906 or 1909, Gopalan clarifiedthe correct year of birth was the former. "I don’t know how theschool where I studied listed my year of birth as 1909 but that stuck.It’s so long ago that I don’t know how it happened. But I can confirmthat I am 95 today," he asserted.Gopalan is well known in India even though his international cricketcredentials, on the face of it, may be modest. He played just one Test- against England at Calcutta in 1933-34, scoring 11 not out and 7,taking one wicket (James Langridge) with his medium pacers and holdingthree catches. He also toured England in 1936 but, not unexpectedly,does not wish to recall the events of that unhappy tour.In fact, Gopalan with the benefit of hindsight, probably made thewrong decision. Having toured New Zealand as a member of the Indianhockey team under Dhyan Chand in 1935, he was an automatic choice forthe Indian team that was certain to retain their gold medal at theBerlin Olympics in 1936. Faced with the choice between cricket andhockey, Gopalan opted for the former, thus denying himself a goldmedal which the Indian team, predictably enough, won.If Gopalan is well known in India, he is a living legend in Chennai.He played with distinction for the state in the Ranji Trophy andagainst visiting sides. To him goes the honour of bowling the firstball in the national competition, on November 4, 1934. The all rounderled Madras for many years, and after his playing career was over, wasa member of the national selection committee for three years in thelate fifties and early sixties.Having retired from active public life for many years now, Gopalan isstill a highly respected figure in sports circles. Whenever he attendsa function, he is the cynosure for both young and old. Sunil Gavaskarfor one, always bends down to touch the feet of the doyen whenever thetwo come together at a public gathering. With a toothy smile and afirm handshake, MJ as he is popularly known, greets everyone withchildlike enthusiasm.Gopalan can never be cynical. In frequent conversations with him, Ihave never heard him say, "you know, in my day…", that ratherirritating phrase so common to cricketers of yesteryears. He enjoysthe modern game, has a kind word or two about the present daycricketers and eschews, like the plague, the controversial and seamierside of the game. He watches the game on TV and is ready for apleasant discussion on any aspect of cricket.It really does not matter whether Gopalan is 92 or 95, or whether heis the oldest living Test cricketer in the world or not. He is thefather figure of Indian cricket, a man who lives and breathes sport.No Test cricketer has lived to be a hundred. We all hope and pray thatthis gentleman cricketer will be the first to reach the `century.’
