Words to be Chased: Demoralising, Riposte, Unfailing, Restrained, Brimful, Disembarking, Tarnished, Serenity, Mandate, Rescinded, Befell, Doubtless, Exorbitantly, Countenanced, Snugly.
By Gideon Haigh
To concerns about the demoralising and deadening effects of the grind of international cricket, there could be no more effective riposte than Ricky Ponting. Too many games? Too much travel? Bring ‘em on! In 2003, tackling every challenge with unfailing enterprise, he set the tempo of the world’s best Test and one-day teams – and, in Australia’s undefeated World Cup campaign, the tactics too.
Ponting’s calendar year featured 11 hundreds, five among 1,154 one-day runs at 46.16, and six in 1,503 Test runs at 100.20, including three that became doubles. Yet as impressive as his run-pile’s height was the energy with which it was scaled. Ponting hits his attacking shots hard, his defensive strokes barely less hard, and runs every run as though it might be his last. Even at his most restrained and responsible, he impresses one as barely contained, brimful of confidence, ready any moment to bust loose.
For almost its entirety, the same has been thought of Ponting’s career; it has been hampered not by doubts of his ability but by certainties. Born in Tasmania’s Prospect, he quickly became it. His grandmother dressed four year- old Ricky in a T-shirt bearing the legend: “Inside this shirt is an Australian Test cricketer”. He had his first equipment deal with Kookaburra at the age of 12, represented his state at 17 and his country at 20; his maiden Test hundred at Headingley in July 1997, when he was 22, suggested not so much a coming man as an arriving and disembarking one.
For the next four years, however, Ponting’s career was of the coming-and-going kind. There was more coming than going, as a Test average a tick over 40 from his first 45 Tests suggests, but questions remained about his staying power, except when it was devoted to staying out late: commotions in nightclubs in Calcutta and Sydney tarnished his reputation. Thirty subsequent Tests in which he has averaged 79.73 have answered every interrogatory, plus a few not even asked. His restless cricket intelligence forced him to the forefront of candidates to succeed Steve Waugh as Australian captain; his marriage to Rianna Cantor, an arts/law graduate from University of Wollongong, provided domestic serenity.
Few issues in Australian cricket have caused such public discontent as the cultivation of separate Test and one-day teams. When Waugh’s limited-overs mandate was rescinded, one Sydney newspaper ran mug shots of the country’s selectors beneath the headline “Wanted: For Incompetence”. Some, doubtless, wished their prejudices justified when Ponting was appointed Waugh’s one-day successor in February 2002; he did not oblige them. The worst mishap when Australia began their World Cup defence in February 2003 befell them before they took the field, and Ponting so skilfully contained the morale damage from the Shane Warne drug drama that Warne was barely missed. And, with 114 in the first Super Six game against Sri Lanka and 140 not out in the final against India, Ponting was himself Australia’s highest scorer of the tournament.
As if to make his own statement about the relationship between the game’s two forms, Ponting promptly set about bringing to Test cricket some of his one-day vim. Three Tests against West Indies yielded 523 at 130.75. Series against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe then warmed him up for a rematch with India, who had had Australia’s and his measure just under three years earlier: while again more than matching Australia, India had this time to go round Ponting rather than through him. He sold his wicket not just dearly but, with 242 in Adelaide and 257 in Melbourne, downright exorbitantly.
While Ponting’s appointment as Waugh’s Test successor was welcomed for restoring the five and one-day leaderships to a single custodian, it reasserted some other old Australian cricket values too: that a team’s most complete batsman should bat at No. 3 and that the captain is chosen from a nation’s best 11 cricketers. Departures from both customs have been countenanced in recent years – not without sound reason – but Ponting seems to fit as snugly into the traditions of his office as any of his antecedents. And, as for “the grind”, Ponting seems quite content for it to continue – preferably with Australia doing most of the grinding.
Words chased:
1. Demoralising: (Adjective)(Dictionary meaning): Lowering of the morale of; weakening of the spirit, courage, discipline, or staying power.
The defeat at the hands of Australia in three-days was demoralising for Indian players.
Sehwag’s audacious batting has a demoralising effect on the opposition bowlers.
In the context, the word demoralising and deadening is used for the hectic schedule of the cricketers who keep on playing throughout the year in different parts of the world. Whenever we check the news, somewhere an international match is going on between two countries. Its almost too much of cricket.
2. Riposte: (Noun)(Dictionary meaning): A swift sharp reply in speech or action; A retaliatory action, manoeuvre, or retort.
Synonyms of Riposte: Retort, Comeback, Response, Repartee.
Virender Sehwag riposte left press reporters speechless.
He is always ready with funny riposte.
In the context, writer has used riposte for Ricky Ponting. Many cricketers keep on complaining about the tight schedule but Ricky Ponting is not one of them. He is not perturbed by the amount of cricket being played. So, the quick answer to too much of cricket is Ricky Ponting.
3. Unfailing: (Adjective)(Dictionary meaning): Never ceasing or falling short; Inexhaustible; Always reliable; Certain; Not failing; Incapable of error.
Synonyms of Unfailing: Unflagging, Infallible, Inexhaustible, Cease-less, Certain, Faithful, Steadfast, Persistent.
Antonyms of Unfailing: Unreliable, Unsure, Unfaithful, Disloyal, Untrustworthy.
Despite his bad-health, he continued to go to office with unfailing regularity.
Senator’s unfailing loyalty to the king was commendable.
In the context, Ricky Ponting faced all the challenges with unfailing courage. He did not shy from taking that extra responsibility of premier batsman in his team.
4. Restrained: (Verb)(Dictionary meaning): To hold back or keep in check; control; To hold (a person) back; prevent; To limit or restrict.
She could not restrain her tears after being reprimanded by class-teacher.
Finance Committee proposed strict monetary policy to restrain inflation.
Synonyms of Restrain: Curb, Suppress, Restrict, Limit
This word can be also used as an adjective. In that case restrained means “(of a person or person’s manner) calm and unemotional”, (of clothes, décor, etc.) subtle and tasteful.
Synonyms of Restrained (Adjective): Controlled, Reticent, Moderate, Reasonable, Muted.
Sehwag adopted restrained approach as wickets fell in quick succession.
Girls who are themselves restrained eaters or skip meals are more likely to develop obesity than not.
In the context, the word restrained is again used for Ponting. Generally, he is very aggressive and risk-taking batsman. But even when he is playing in a controlled manner, he can wreck havoc in opposition camp.
5. Brimful: (Adjective)(Dictionary meaning): Full to overflowing; Filled to capacity.
India is brimful with doctors and engineers.
After scoring a swashbuckling century, batsman was brimful of confidence.
The new kid on the block is highly energetic and brimful of talent.
6. Disembark: (Verb)(Dictionary meaning): To leave a vehicle or aircraft; to unload (passengers or goods) from a ship, aircraft, etc.; To go ashore from a ship or leave an aircraft or other means of transportation.
Synonyms of Disembark: Debark, Set down, Get off, Alight, Land.
The officer was instructed to disembark at the next station.
The convict kills a man on the train then disembarks to be met by two secret agents.
In the context, the word disembark is used for Ponting’s career graph. After scoring his first century against England in 1997, he finally arrived on the international cricket horizon. Everyone knew that he was a very precocious player, but that spark was missing. That innings spurred him to the greatness. He became very consistent in all forms of game and can be hailed as one of the modern day greats.
7. Tarnish: (Verb)(Dictionary meaning):To dull the luster of or discolor the surface of (a metal) as by exposure to air; To besmirch or sully (a reputation, honor, etc.)
Minister’s reputation was tarnished when the fodder scam report was leaked in public.
The silver was tarnished by exposure in open air.
Paul Burrell would never tarnish the memory of Diana because he loved her.
Synonyms of Tarnish: Taint, Sully, Besmirch, Stain, Defile.
8. Serenity: (Noun)(Adjective): The quality or state of being serene; calmness; tranquillity; A royal title of honor: preceded by Your or by His or Her.
New songs of Gulzar’s album brings serenity to mind, body and spirit.
If you find serenity, contentment and happiness, people may be jealous of you.
Synonyms of Serenity: Calm, Peace, Tranquillity, Composure.
In the context, the word serenity is used for state of Ricky Ponting’s marriage which brought serenity to his life and career. Before his marriage he was very brash and was guilty of many misdemeanours in pubs and bars. But marriage had a calming effect on him and that made him a better player also.
9. Mandate: (Noun)(Dictionary meaning): An authoritative order or command, esp. a written one; An order from a higher court or official to a lower one.
This word can be also used as a verb which means “To make mandatory, as by law”; to assign (a region, etc.) as a mandate.
If any ruling party wants to amend changes in Women’s bill, they should have a clear mandate in Lok Sabha.
The battle was focusing on whether the US would require a fresh UN mandate to carry out an attack.
10. Rescind: (Verb)(Dictionary meaning): To make void; repeal or annul (a law or order).
Certain traffic regulations have been rescinded since the introduction of one-way traffic on J.M.Road.
Synonyms of Rescind: Annul, Overturn, Repeal, Invalidate, Revoke, Cancel, Countermand.
In the context the word rescind has been used for Steve Waugh’s captaincy.
11. Doubtless: (Adverb)(Dictionary meaning): Certainly, probably, Without doubt.
“I do not know what was done regarding his property–the correct legal thing, doubtless.”
12. Befall: (Verb)(Dictionary meaning): To come to pass; happen; occur.
Accident, illness and hard times can befall anyone, of any age, at any time.
He could not recover from the disaster that befell him.
The word “befell” has been used for Shane Warne’s dope scandal before World Cup 2003. Australians were the defending champions going into the World Cup and Warne was one of the potent strike bowlers of their team. But despite his exit in inglorious way, Ponting led from the front and marshalled his troops brilliantly to win the tournament.
13. Exorbitantly: (Adverb)(Dictionary meaning): Exceeding all bounds, Excessive; Extravagant.
Articles were priced exorbitantly in the malls.
The word exorbitantly has been used for price which Ricky Ponting has put on his batting. Earlier Ponting would make a quickfire 40 or 50 and throw his wicket away. But, now he understands the importance of his wicket and bowler has to earn his wicket. He has put a very high price tag on his wicket.
14. Countenance: (Verb)(Dictionary meaning): To give sanction or support to; tolerate or approve.
“Her father did not countenance her marrying while she was still in college.
“The college will not countenance any violence in the college campus”.
Synonyms of Countenance: Endure, Endorse, Sanction, Approve , Brook.
The word countenance is primarily used as noun which means “Appearance, especially the expression of the face”.
Sehwag’s reply left reporters with puzzled countenance.
In the context the word has been used as verb.
15. Snugly: (Adverb)(Dictionary meaning): Comfortably sheltered; Cozy; Closely secured and well built; compact.
The word snugly has been used for Ricky Ponting’s captaincy. He has fit into the captaincy role after taking it from Steve Waugh and performed very well. He is comfortably ensconced in his position not bothering about opposition or the amount of cricket being played.
Words Chased: Demoralising, Riposte, Unfailing, Restrained, Brimful, Disembarking, Tarnished, Serenity, Mandate, Rescinded, Befell, Doubtless, Exorbitantly, Countenanced, Snugly.