THE last Test match played at the Brabourne Stadium, home of the Cricket Club of India (CCI), was the one in 1972-73 between India and England. It will not be forgotten in a hurry by the historian because it was during this that the little artist G. R. Vishwanath broke a long-standing hoodoo in Indan cricket that a batsman scoring a century on first appearance did not score another. Six Indians before him had not made a second. It was just inexplicable.
The next Test against the West Indies led by Clive Lloyd was played at the Wankhede Stadium just a mile away as the crow flies. The reason why the Mumbai (Bombay then) Cricket Association had to build another home for itself is a controversial tale which is based on a clash of egos between two influential individuals who are no more. The CCI and the MCA had differences on the matter of the distribution of tickets, the irony being that the MCA faces problems in this regard with the Garware Club, which is housed at the Wankhede Stadium. That the Brabourne Stadium is no more a Test match centre is a tragedy.
Another tragedy is that the CCI, which its founders hoped would be the equivalent of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in India, never achieved this status. Today the Club and the Stadium are, in a way, historical relics, though wth a president like Raj Singh Dungarpur, there have been attempts to revive the Club's role in the affairs of the game. Raj being the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not had it easy. The CCI is an affiliated member of the BCCI like any other state association, but unlike any one of them, does not conduct cricket in the state. On December 7, 1987, the Brabourne Stadium completed 50 years. And on the same date last year completed 60 years. At the beginning of this year, when the touring Australians played Ranji Trophy champions, Mumbai, in the opening fixture, Raj Singh said that it is the 50th year since Test cricket was played at the ground. Well, if he did not have the satisfaction of watching India beat Australia in a Test in 1998 here, he had the pleasure of seeing Mumbai overwhelm the visitors by 10 wickets and the former's skipper, Sachin Tendulkar, make a career-best first class score of 204. Always a man for the right occasion, Raj Singh offered the Mumbai captain the honorary membership of the Club.
One has to go back to 1933 when Douglas Jardine's MCC was in India. On November 8, the Cricket Club of India was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee with its registered office in New Delhi. As the name suggests, the principal object of the company was to promote sports in general and cricket in particular thoughout the country. The promoters of the Club were some of the leading members of the BCCI who had been the promoters of the Board five years earlier. R.E. Grant Govan, a British businessman based in New Delhi, was the first president. Originally, life members, who were later termed as founder members, paid Rs 100 and ordinary members paid Rs 10 for entrance and an annual subscription of Rs 15. A large number of Mumbaikars had enrolled themselves as members on the basis of the assurance from the committee that a stadium and a club-house would be built in their city. But because of the unavailability of land at the price the Club could afford then plans were almost abandoned as far as shifting the headquarters to Mumbai were concerned.
The man who made the CCI and the Brabourne Stadium a reality in Mumbai was Anthony S de Mello, who negotiated with Lord Brabourne for over a week and finally asked him, "Your Excellency, which would you prefer to accept from sportsmen, money for your government, or immortality for yourself?" The Crown's representative had no hesitation in saying he would prefer the latter and de Mello knew then he had won. Anthony S De Mello was both a dreamer and a deficit financer. Soon after acquiring the land Messrs Gregson, Batley and King were appointed the architects who drew up the blueprint of the Stadium and the Club House. Messrs Shapoorji Pallonji and Co. were awarded the contract for construction. Frank Tarrant, the former Australian cricketer, coach and umpire, was given the task of making the outfield and the pitch. As scheduled, the opening ceremony took place on December 7, 1937. Lord Brabourne had left Bombay to become Governor of Bengal. Sir Richard Lumley, his successor as Governor of Bombay, was the guest of honour. The Maharaja of Patiala, who was then the president of the Club, requested the Governor to declare the Club and the Stadium open while expressing the hope that "this beautiful ground would become for India what the Lord's ground is to England".
The Brabourne Stadium is unique. When one enteres the CCI through the main gates one does not get to see the ground at once. Former Test spinner B. S. Chandrasekhar recounted to me his first experience when he came to Mumbai in 1964 to play against Australia. "When the taxi brought me to the CCI from the airport, I thought I had come to the wrong place. I introduced myself at the reception and I was welcomed warmly. But I could not see the ground. I wondered whether we would be transported by bus to the ground. I was taken across to the Chambers to my room and informed that I could come back to the Club for my meals. I went into a large dining hall where an orchestra was playing. I became comfortable when I was joined by senior colleagues like Chandu Borde. I asked him where the stadium was. He replied that I was at the Stadium. And then he took me out to see the most impressive ground and Stadium I had ever looked upon. I fell in love with the Stadium and it became my lucky hunting ground."
The facilities for the players and the spectators have come in for high praise. But the Stadium and the Club, which should have become the toast of the country, are now lying virtually unused, at least the former is. What a waste of resources. Anthony S de Mello would turn in his grave if he could hear of matters that have passed. Yet, those who have watched cricket at the Brabourne Stadium and partaken of the hospitality of the Club would have wonderful memories. Yes, those were the days..