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July 2, 2002
India's 'home' support
- Jonathan Dyson
There was a brief moment of confusion in the BBC Radio commentary box at Lord's on Saturday. A close run-out call involving Rahul Dravid was being examined by Jonathan Agnew, who could clearly see from the TV monitor that Dravid had made his ground. The umpire confirmed Dravid was not out, and huge cheers erupted from the Compton and Edrich stands below the commentary position. Confused by the noise, Agnew exclaimed: "But that was clearly in; why are there cheers?" Summariser Mike Selvey calmly explained: "They're Indian supporters, Jonathan."
It seems that it was possible even for those present at Lord's on Saturday to be surprised by the volume of support and vocal enthusiasm for the Indian team among a capacity crowd of 28,000.
As it happened, I wasn't one of the lucky supporters there -- England fans like myself who spend most of their summers saving up to follow the team abroad in the winter cannot justify spending exorbitant amounts of money on tickets and travel in England, when better value for money exists elsewhere.
However, through the ball-by-ball radio commentary and TV highlights, it wasn't difficult to gauge just how much support there was for the visiting side, and how fervently the Indian fans got behind their team.
The majority of those seated in both tiers of the Compton and Edrich stands, which form the Nursery End, were clearly behind India, and there were several clusters of Indian fans on both sides square of the wicket, especially in the Mound stand and tall Grandstand.
Early signs of the extent of Indian support came on Channel 4's Saturday morning magazine programme Cricket Roadshow, broadcast an hour before the game. During the live discussions and interviews conducted across various parts of the ground, groups of Indian fans formed a constant backdrop, desperate as they were to get on camera.
Given what I saw during my time in India, I can't say I was surprised to see further evidence of the Indians' near-obsession with appearing on television. Inevitably, during the game, there were several moments when, faced by a roving camera, groups of Indian fans jumped up and down, cheered and waved.
Some supporters had even sneaked in a couple of flags, despite the ridiculous rule still in place at Lord's that prohibits their use. It is profoundly depressing that the self-styled home of cricket still feels compelled to restrain rather than accommodate such a joyous and life-affirming style of support.
My experiences in India, and New Zealand, confirmed what I already thought -- that the ideal state of affairs to be found in the stands is a friendly mixture of home and away support, with both sets of fans gently poking fun at each other, exchanging banter about events on the pitch, and complementing each other with subtly contrasting ways of supporting their team.
If the Indian side were pleased with their following at Lord's, then playing at The Oval on Sunday must have felt like a home game, with the great majority of supporters being of Indian extraction. The most spectacular and curious feature of the Indian support came in the form of a gigantic Indian flag, with the words "India's Barmy Army" written boldly in the middle.
Given the way Indian fans took so well to the Barmy Army during the England tour, it is not surprising that Indian supporters in England are now aping their English counterparts, though perhaps you guys could think of an original name.
If the games played so far are anything to go by, it seems that this, the third NatWest Series, could well prove the most colourful and exciting so far. Last year, despite the vibrant presence of Pakistani supporters and the thrilling cricket displayed by their side as well as Australia, the tournament failed to ignite properly due to the pervasive sense of gloom created by England's dismal performance, as they failed to claim a single victory.
In 2000, England beat a rapidly-improving Zimbabwe side in the final, but the frustrating underachievements of the West Indies, coupled with the continuing decline of Caribbean support within England (understandable given the prohibitive ground regulations and high ticket prices), meant the tournament failed to provide the carnival that had been anticipated.
This year, England are re-organised and rejuvenated, India appear strong and determined, Sri Lanka, despite losing their first two games have more than enough talent to help set the tournament alight, and the supporters of all three sides are clearly out to enjoy themselves.
The only hint of antipathy so far came at Lord's, with several Indian fans giving Nasser Hussain stick at regular intervals. You can't help but wonder if this has anything to do with the ill-judged frustrations he expressed last summer about the widespread support of Asian sides in England.
As India and England face each other for the first time on English soil since 1999, it is worth recalling what the England captain said in full: "I really cannot understand why those born here, or who came here at a very young age like me, cannot support or follow England. Following England has got to be the way. [In a match against Pakistan last summer] it was disappointing to see a sea of green shirts with the names of Pakistani players instead of ours. It reminded me of when we played India at Edgbaston in the World Cup in 1999. It was like an away game because so many people supported their side."
Such a spectacular failure to appreciate the realities of the outside world and in particular the strong cultural and ancestral pride of expatriate Asians, clearly annoyed Pakistani supporters last summer. Perhaps, this year the Indian fans in England will, quite justifiably, also show their feelings about his thoughts.
Finally, as I did in India, I wonder if I could call upon some help. In order to provide as full a picture as possible of the experiences of the fans this summer, I would be very grateful if any of you watching the one-dayers and Tests could send me details of how you get on, and if you could put me in touch with others you know who will be there. I would also like to get in touch with anyone who plays club cricket in England.
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