by Mayukh Ghosh
"Against the increased tempo of modern life, cricket must be regarded as a rather slow moving activity."
Harry Altham, President of the MCC.
Thousands echoed his opinion.
The immediate post-war attendance boom was over and the average daily attendance for Sheffield Shield and County Championship matches was down to an all-time low.
Dour play by tourists, throwing, dragging, poor over rates contributed to the already dismal state of affairs.
There were concerns raised even in South Africa.
The secretary of SACA wrote to Donald Bradman: "Cricket seems to be in the doldrums all over the world. Particularly as far as gate receipts are concerned."
He wished Bradman luck with Australia's summer of cricket, against the West Indian team.
CLR James is finally a happy man. His never-ending campaigning has finally bore fruit.
At long last Frank Worrell is the West Indies captain.
And he is quick to bring discipline in the dressing room.
"When you are given out, you leave the wicket, whether you think you are out or not."
Bowlers to bowl their overs as quickly as they can.
No card-playing.
A 10 pm curfew.
"And no cocky nonsense if we win."
Richie Benaud's team is the favourite to win. But the preparations isn't up to the mark.
McDonald's leg is injured.
Benaud has a throat infection.
Meckiff with a damaged Achilles tendon.
And on the day before the first Test, Davidson is afraid that he has broken his finger.
Bradman's speech that night helps but the fitness issues are evident.
December 9, 1960.
Brisbane.
Richie Benaud wakes up and reads that a noted journalist has confidently written that Benaud has the measure of Garry Sobers.
Benaud loses the toss but soon the visitors find themselves in a spot of bother with the score at 3 for 65.
Jack Fingleton recalls Pierre Bosquet's words after Balaclava: "C’est magnifique, mais ce n’est pas la guerre"
Garry Sobers and Frank Worrell.
They will be remembered as the most revered among West Indian cricketers.
Here they take 53 off Benaud's first 10 overs.
Benaud later said that he knew where every ball will land but had no idea which stroke Sobers will unleash against each of them.
O'Neill fears getting injured. He is standing in the covers. Garry's shots are hit with such power.
Lindsay Kline: " I've never seen a ball hit as hard as Garry hit it that day."
A great display of stroke-play ends only when he mistimes a Meckiff full-toss.
Sydney Morning Herald's Tom Goodman, of all people, says that Sobers' 132 is 'one of the greatest Test innings of our time'.
At the end of the day Bradman visits the West Indies dressing room to meet Sobers.
"Congratulations. You didn't disappoint me."
7 for 359.
Daily Telegraph: "The Australians, hot favourites in this Test series, are on the run."
But that innings of Sobers was way more important than all that.
He, in a way, revived Test cricket.
The Test ended in a tie and the rest is history.
But it all started on December 9, 1960.