debi, I am telling you, this fast-bowling factory business — my husband says they are building machines in the nets, but last week my neighbour’s son came home from a trial with a broken wrist from a new 'world-class' pitch. All this restructuring, but who asks the chhoto chele who cannot afford a private coach? Until they show me a spinner from a village like ours getting the same chance as a city boy, I will trust my old recipe for sandesh over their new committee report — at least I know the syrup will not curdle.

Oh, listening to Hemanta Kumar on the radio while shaping sandesh, and this talk of our fast-bowling factory makes me think. My ma would say, the best doi sets slowly, no rushing. Are we changing the domestic pot too fast, too many bubbles? My heart still aches for that last World Cup loss, like seeing a favourite postcard tear. But these young pacers, ha! Let them cook a little longer, they will bring the trophy home.