King Hussain of England


Hussain and umpires

By Anil - 9 Aug, '03
August 9 2002

No, not Jordan, yes we did mean England. A man with the unlikely name of Nasser Hussain has ascended the throne of English cricket, and redefined its fortunes. After plumetting towards the bottom of international cricket ratings in recent years, England seemed resigned to accepting a permanent spot there. However, it has staged a remarkable comeback to occupy a place in the top half for over a year now, thanks mainly to Hussain. Ever since he has taken over the captaincy, England has risen dramatically in the international rankings.

Background

An intense, competitive man, Hussain is now acknowledged by most cricket experts and fans in England as the main force behind their new upswing. While several will still mention his partnership with coach Duncan Fletcher to explain their team's recent successes, recognition is seeping in that while Fletcher has helped with administrivia, Hussain is the man who runs their think tank and who devises their team strategy - both on and off field. He holds his place in the team by being a competent batsman, gritty if inelegant, and often giving of his best when the pressure is highest.

The confrontational nature of Nasser Hussain has earned him few friends over the years. Mike Brearly, considered England's smartest captain until Hussain came along, has referred to Hussain as "ruthless". It is rare indeed to find Hussain lightening up or joking around, even off field, away from the action. Ever the brooding, intense, thinking competitor, Hussain is capable of talking at length of his cricketing thoughts to whoever is willing to listen. He is an articulate and well spoken person.

Hussain and officials

International umpires now know well what to expect from Hussain when they do anything to incur his displeasure. Umpires who decide to change the ball when his side is fielding may be challenged, or even rebuked, by him in open view of spectators, TV cameras, and match referees. West Indian Steve Bucknor, an ICC elite umpire, was followed around by Hussain in the recent ODI final between India and England even when he attempted to ignore Hussain's repeated protests. Bizarrely, several overs later when India was taking the game away, Hussain went back to Bucknor a second time, gesturing for the benefit of TV cameras, to remind him that it was his fault that England was losing. Poor Bucknor could do nothing to prevent this public spectacle, and nor did the ICC referee do anything about it later. Umpires who have attempted to abort a day's proceedings due to poor light, when Hussain and his team have held the upper hand, have also earned his ire.

In fact, Hussain has gained a notorious reputation abroad for his public outbursts against home umpires and officials whenever the England team is touring, particularly in the Asian countries. During his team's recent tour to India, he rebelled against the most marginal of LBW decisions which went against his team, going so far as to threaten the umpire with letters to the ICC, and openly dissenting the umpire's LBW decision against Trescothick. This was done clearly in defiance of ICC rules. In another case, he seemed to encourage one of his batsmen, Michael Vaughan who, disgruntled by a "handling the ball" decision, complained that the Indians were using tactics against the spirit of the game. Hussain also had unkind words for the Indian cricket board and its chief. It was precisely this type of attitude that led the legendary Sunil Gavaskar to write that England are the "World Champion Whingers", a statement met with many bitter reprisals and complaints from the English media, coach, and ECB officials.

Incongruously, the same statements and actions from Hussain that have been ignored by match officials and ICC, would have attracted a great deal of attention, were it to come to from another captain, Sourav Ganguly. The Indian captain has been targetted by world media as well as cricket officials, for much less aggressiveness on field. Do rules change according to who breaks them? Michael Holding, one of the best fast bowlers cricket has known, has said that Hussain-style bodyline bowling tactics against Sachin Tendulkar, when they were used by the famed West Indian pace quartet a couple of decades back, were then criticized by cricket officials as intimidation, and led to ICC rule changes; however, when they are being practised today by Hussain, they are praised as great tactics and overlooked by those officiating.

Controversial tactics

Which leads us to Hussain's recent controversial tactics. He is seemingly obsessed by Sachin Tendulkar; nobody knows how many hours or days or months Hussain has spent going through tapes of Sachin Tendulkar's many great innings. Suffice it to say that he devotes a large chunk of his strategy to countering the batsman. After an exemplary ODI innings by the Indian batsman in the recently concluded Natwest trophy, Hussain appeared awestruck as he spoke admiringly about the lessons he had learned that day from a master of the game, rather than about the rest of the cricket played.

Hussain, who plays cricket like a game of chess, has concluded that the only way for his bowlers to contain Tendulkar is by denying him any way to strike the ball. Thus, he has instructed his left arm spinner to bowl outside leg stump; his seamers to bowl around the wicket at his body with a crowded on side field, the so-called "bodyline"; and at other times told his seamers to bowl wide of off stump with a packed off side field. Confronted by tactics that seem to be against the spirit if not the letter of the law, an impatient and at times enraged Sachin Tendulkar has given away his wicket cheaply. The umpires hold silent, uncommenting vigil over these tactics, unmindful of the fact that they could be against modified ICC rules, or that they could spell the end of spectator interest in Test cricket. Once again, the "blue-eyed" status of Hussain and the England team prevails.

Origins

Appearance belies the origin of Nasser Hussain. An Indian Muslim by origin, Hussan was born in Madras (now Chennai) and spent the first five years of his life there before his family moved permanently to England. He gets his "English" looks from his mother, a woman of English origin who married his father Jawad in England and then moved back to India for a few years. One would be hard put to to recognize Nasser as one of Indian origin.

When he recently visited India as the captain of the England cricket team, a cricket-crazy population welcomed him enthusiastically as one who originated from there - only to be coldly rebuffed by the England captain, who never wasted an opportunity to remind them that he was there as a representative of England, and would have nothing to do with them. Not once did Hussain make a gracious remark about the country where he was from, and not once did he warm their heart by saying anything complimentary about the place. Hussain is clear about his priorities: undoubtedly viewed as something of an "Asian" by English audiences in the past, he has been careful to project himself as anything but.

Hussain even went on record last year to appeal to English people of Asian origin to support the English team at all times rather than applaud those from the land of their parents. Seemingly in constant denial of his own origins and root, he would want others to be the same way. Hussain, largely for this reason, has always been disliked by British Asians and is even booed by them during matches involving an Asian team. A recent award he received as "Asian of the Year" from the English monarchy, was given no publicity. However he has also received other felicitations from the royalty, such as an OBE, of which he has been openly and justifiably proud.

Admirable achievements

For all his attitude, Hussain's achievements in England have been admirable. In a country torn apart in recent times by turmoil due to ethnic riots and accusations of discrimination, he has reached the very top of his chosen profession, and won the acclaim of his countrymen. A name such as his in the other influential cricketing nation, Australia, would be almost unimaginable. Australia, which has a large immigrant population comprising first, second, and third generations, has not had a cricketer of color for a long time. Hussain is held in respect even by Australians, with one of their best players Mark Waugh recently pronouncing Hussain as "a bit Aussie-like". In this light, what Hussain has achieved is remarkable indeed.

Retirement?

Hussain has promised to fade away from the cricket field after the World Cup of 2003. English cricket authorities have reacted with disappointment, clearly unwilling to let go of a successful leader. Whatever the trail he leaves behind, Hussain may well be regarded as one of the best captains England has had, leading a mediocre team to unexpected triumphs by sheer dint of effort, acumen and intensity.

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