Ryan ten Doeschate - The best of the rest
As I walked inside the elevator of Hotel Peninsula, excited gripped my heart like a toddler taking hold of a chocolate. Being able to meet an international cricket was too much for me to handle, add to that the fact that the said cricketer was gifting me 2 clubhouse tickets for his team’s next World Cup game made it all the more unreal for me.
I was so chuffed that I forgot the dressing etiquette that suits the environment of the lobby of a 3-star hotel that accommodates international players that come to play in Chittagong. I was in 3-quarters and flip-flops, but not with an ounce of embarrassment as the wave of excitement just washed everything else away.
When Netherlands came to Chittagong to play their World Cup group fixture in 2011, Ryan ten Doeschate offered me 2 tickets to go and watch him play live from the stadium. It was an act of unparalleled humility that made me fall in awe of him instantly.
You see, one can be a great player with sheer hard work and bit of luck, but being a gentleman must come from within. We became acquainted to each other through Facebook and that became the foundation of that amazing day.
In a match where almost all of his teammates were disappointing, he scored 53* in 71 balls to steer his team to meagre 160 runs in 46.2 overs against the home side. He stood unbeaten, he stood above them all - like always. And it happened just the way I wanted: a good performance from him ending up in a win for my country, Bangladesh.
Originally from South Africa, he plied and still plies his trade in the English county for Essex and chose to represent Netherlands due to his Dutch ancestry. A decision that made him the greatest player to ever play the game for a non-Test playing nation.
The amount of talent he possesses would surely have earned him a spot in the South African cricket team at some point of his career, but like Kevin Pietersen, he was one of those who the Proteas missed out on.
He showed the world his worth in the very same World Cup by scoring 2 centuries in the tournament and also bowling some cunning medium pacers along the way. His career figures are nothing short of breathtaking.
Among players who have played 30 or more ODIs, he ranks first when it comes to batting averages. Scoring 1541 in 30 ODI innings with an average of an extraterrestrial 67, he stamps his name as one of the greats of the game.
Couple that with averages of 42.80 and 47.14 in T20Is and first-class respectively, and it provides a testament of his versatility. It is not just his batting though as he can do more than an admirable job with the bowl and averages of 24.12, 20.08 and 33.82 in ODIs, T20Is and first-class depicts just that.
When he comes on to bat, a sense of relief chills the spine of viewers. Pacing the innings is an art that not many have. But ten Doeschate is a pioneer at that. According to the situation, he can be defensive or offensive. He can be a sheet-anchor or a blasting slogger to power his team through.
His understanding of the game is unquestionable as well. The amount of experience he has gathered as a player playing in different nations and tournament has made him one of the best students of the game.
Watching him bat is a surreal experience for me. That odd and unorthodox back-lift complementing his even more unique shots. There is not a place in the park where he can’t hit the ball to and the divine grace with which he does is majestic - like God controlling the orchestra.
Right now, he is featuring for Dhaka in the 3rd season of the Bangladesh Premier League. Last time around, he was wearing the colours of Chittagong Kings. And he once again honoured me by giving me the privilege to meet with him.
It is very easy for fame to carry you away to the world were false pride ego hover over as clouds, especially if you are as good at what you do as ten Doeschate is. But he is not only an inspiration for aspiring cricketers, but also Human beings who want to the value of humility and modesty in life.
He might not have played for a big nation, but what remains immovable is the fact that he is a legend in his own right. As the sand of time flows down the river, his name will be deeply carved to the stones of domestic cricket.
And there is no reason why it shouldn’t be.