BHUBANESWAR 21-Sep-2006 68
A four-month-long playing stint in England seems to have revived the spirits of Orissa’s five leading cricketers, who were lying low due to the State team’s repeated failure to regain place in the Elite Division of the Ranji Trophy Championship.
Parida played for North Allerton Town Cricket Club in the North Yorkshir-Shouth Durham Premier League. In 22 matches, he scored 1,070 runs, which included four hundreds and five fifties. His best was an unbeaten 142 against Marske Cricket Club. He also doubled up as the second wicket-keeper in 14 matches, effeting 22 catches and five stumpings.
Initially, Parida struggled for runs, hitting just one fifty in 10 matches. ‘‘I found it difficult to cope with the soft wickets and lateral movement of the ball,’’ explains the Indian Airlines traffic assistant.
It was Parida’s second stint in England, coming after a gap of six years. He earlier played in the Bolton League in 2000. Parida’s impressive contribution helped his club finish second among 13 teams. Great Ayton, against whom Parida slammed a ton, emerged champions in the division.
Parida played in a competition where, which featured the participation of many known Asian players including Amol Mujumdar, Rahul Sangvi, Navdeep Singh (all India); Riyaz Afridi, Mohammad Zahid, Tariq Ajiz (all Pakistan); Disanayake and Gunaratne (both Sri Lanka). Parida feels that the English stint helped him regain his confidence.
While playing for Allerton Club, Parida made good friendship with legendary Ian Botham’s son Liam, who his tipped to become the caption of the club’s first eleven next year. ‘‘Liam is an excellent all-rounder like his father. He insisted me to play for the club next year,’’ Parida said.
According to Sagarika, an experience Odissy dancer with keen interest in cricket, his husband proved himself as the most dependable player of the club. ‘‘He rescued the team from many critical situations. He showed fine team spirit and became the most dependable member. The most important part of his performance was his sense of patience,’’ observed Sagarika.
The England experience has enabled Parida to forget a dissapointing domestic season last year and gear up to start the coming season with new vigour. ‘‘I am not only aiming to score heavily this season, but make up last year’s failure as well,’’ he said.
Speaking on his future goals, 32-year-old Parida, who is known to his teammates as Teddy, said he would continue to play cricket as long as he enjoyed it. ‘‘I would also continue my effort to earn a place in the National team,’’ said Parida, who earlier played a couple games for India ‘A’.
At present Parida’s 11-year-long first class career statistics read: 83 matches, 135 innings, 5,688 runs, 13 centuries, 32 fifties, 220 highest score and 78 catches. But the immidiate goa Parida wants to realise is to bring Orissa back to the Elite group.
All the Orissa cricketers were provided good accommodation by their respective clubs. Parida and his wife Sagarika put up at Allerton Club member Mike Wake’s house. While other Orissa cricketers did their own cooking, Parida enjoyed a concession on that front as his wife was with him. Mohanty stayed close to Colwyn Bay’s home ground, where he shared a flat with groundsman Dave Wallace.
