[edit] Celebration of CRYcket in Atlanta

GiriMohan Coneti

Just as the Indians were basking in the Caribbeans, reminiscing their incredible Test match success at Port of Spain and the infuriating loss at Barbados, not far away, across the pond right in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, a bunch of furiously motivated volunteers of the Atlanta chapter of CRY Inc (Child Relief and You), celebrated the spirit of cricket for an impeccably noble cause -- that of helping grass-roots projects for the underprivileged children in India.

In a country where baseball is the only game that's thought of as a ball and stick game, a country where fans are religiously searching underwater for Babe Ruth's piano to restore good luck charm for the Boston Sox, cricket takes a backseat -- a sore in the eye for the plethora of Indian immigrants who are craving to relive their Bombay maidan days and the delusional effect of stump graffiti on the wall.

The astroturf pitch on which the tournament was played.CRY Inc-Atlanta organized their annual cricket jamboree - MAHARAJA CRYcket Cup 2002. It sure redefined cricket and its spirit -- and that doesn't mean you get credits in a spelling bee spelling it the way it's spelt. The redefining piece is the fact that it was an eight-a-team game, played on an astroturf with non-stop action from 8 am to 8 pm and, probably, the only cricket tournament that encourages co-ed teams.

Since its inception, this event has graduated from 16 teams participating in 1999 to 48 teams last year (2001). With a record participation, this year's event brought out the best cricketing talent on this side of the world. CRYcket 2002 drew participation from students and professionals both in and around Atlanta, including a few entries from Tennessee and Alabama. In fact, the youngest team (17-year-olds) drove a good three hours to Atlanta from Columbus, Georgia

Every year after the event, the participants and their families have carried home some memorable moments -- moments long lost in the narrow streets, alleys and parks of deep suburban India. For a few other Indians who were born and lived here all their lives, these are moments that they can finally relate to of what the cricketing ambience and exuberance is all about. For the silent onlooker, the American, whose sporting experiences just don't seem to span out of NFL, NBA and MLB, it's the proverbial fascination for a game that's euphemistically put as "interesting". It's moments like these that CRY Inc - Atlanta is delivering to the masses together with educating them about the profound causes for which CRY Inc - Atlanta is striving to raise money for.

Back in 1999, the event raised a humble $1000 that saw the number grow to $4000 in 2001. The finals of this year's CRYcket had all the histrionics and the gut wrenching action to ask for. The ambience was akin an English league soccer game, with a boisterous group from Dunwoody supporting their team. With a not-so-imposing total of 58 in eight overs put up by the team from Chattanooga (VOLS), the team from Dunwoody (Dunwoody Gang) started their innings on a bright note with a steady flow of runs. At the end of the fifth over, the Dunwoody team had to score 21 runs to win off the remaining three overs. That equation soon changed to 8 balls and 13 runs, thanks to some clean line and length that the Chattanooga bowlers found.

The victorious Dunwoody teamAt the fall of the fourth wicket, just when victory was slipping away from the Dunwoody team, in walked Suresh, skipper of the Dunwoody team and lofted one for a huge six. The last over started with 6 runs to win. The penchant for scoring singles saw 3 run-outs in the next 5 balls. With two wickets in hand and two runs to score off the last ball, the Dunwoody team made a run of a perfect ball that found its way to a tense pair of hands that fumbled behind the wickets. And so, the game was tied. As the Dunwoody team had lost less wickets, they emerged winners.

The tournament this year had to be played over two weekends, thanks to the rains playing spoilsport and stealing one whole morning's session. In spite of this inadvertence, the teams remained unfazed and the organizers / volunteers were even more resilient to oversee the successful completion of the tournament. The 150-odd audience turn-out for the event may sound pittance in comparison to the Adelaide Oval or Chepauk, but they had the hearts and vocal chords that had all the makings of a cricket carnival.

Had it not been for the spirit of the volunteers, this tournament wouldn't be wildly successful year after year. CRY Inc - Atlanta volunteers bring with them the same professionalism that they exhibit in their work lives. Together with this professionalism comes the ability to make it fun and endearing. This is, in fact, what makes the Atlanta action center of CRY a great organization to volunteer for. CRY Atlanta volunteers come from diverse professional backgrounds - including financial analysts, bio-statisticians and software engineers. Across the other spectrum are volunteers who are teenagers who are doing their bit for the organization.

Reflecting the thoughts of many CRY volunteers, Srinivas Vemulapalli, who was the coordinator for this year's event, said: "Organizing this event gave me a lot of satisfaction because it gave me a chance to share the work of CRY Inc. with new sections of people."

[GiriMohan Coneti is based out of Atlanta and is a CRY Inc volunteer. He can be reached at Girimohan@hotmail.com .]