JOIN USOf Dravid and India connection
Behind a thick moustache and a white panama hat, Les Burdett has cleverly hidden his friendly face. But remind him about his nearly 35-year stint at the Adelaide Oval as the curator, a warm smile sprouts immediately.
“It was a great time…35 years. A lot of memories, and was lucky to see some great matches and great innings by great batsmen. That’s what you’re here for,” Burdett, now in-charge of the ANZ Stadium pitch, said.
So, who’s his favourite batsman? “Rahul Dravid,” gushes Burdett. “A great batsman and an equally terrific gentleman. I still remember his knocks at Adelaide in 2003-04, when he made a double hundred and an unbeaten fifty to take India to victory. They celebrated for hours after that, and Dravid didn’t want to go out of the stadium,” Burdett reminisced.
“This time as well we had a good chat, and I remember him introducing his wife and two boys. It was so nice of him to come and talk and share some good moments. You won’t often find such cricketers,” he said.
The South Australian’s connection with India started way back in 1987 when Jagmohan Dalmiya invited him to prepare the pitch at the Eden Gardens for the World Cup. “It was a great experience for me to come to India and work. Dalmiya had invited me to come to Kolkata, and he was the last word in everything, very powerful man,” he said.
Though Burdett didn’t have an enjoyable beginning to his tryst with India (suffering queasy stomachs), it’s a relation that has assumed a friendlier hue since then.