Cricket An Emotion

Not wanting to be contained within the gender-boundaries.

- Akila Sridhar

FROM A GIRL’S PERSPECTIVE –

To be honest I'm not really the active kid on the block. I've stuck to my books and on occasions fancied a game or two with the bat. I’ve learnt what I know from the streets and my brother. Since I was the nerd with the glasses and huge intellectual, I didn't really have many friends. I had barely a verbal filter and minimal tolerance to nonsense. That guarantees lonely time and being a victim to bullying. My brother always stood for me supporting me and guiding me when I needed him. He taught me how to play cricket and asked me to stand up for myself. I started off with a stick for a bat and crushed paper for a ball. Or certain days even the writing pad at home became our bat. It was the fire they lit in me to learn this and master this since everyone told me how it was impossible for a girl. I wanted to challenge that notion. Nights were spent on practising and reading up on the techniques since I had a lot to cope for. The inferiority complex that was instilled in me took time to be broken.

The game was a way for me to express myself. What is yours?