IndiaPost.com - Cricketing anecdotes 'Caught & Told'

India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Few, if any, cricket lovers would know the fact that Sourav Ganguly, as an under-15 player was bullied by Sachin Tendulkar.

Even die-hard fans of the game would not know that master blaster Tendulkar has a peculiar habit - sleep walking… and well, talking in sleep too! Revelations such as these and a fund of other fascinating trivia abound 'Caught & Told' (published by Roli Books) - a pocket-size book that comes with a hundred little locker room and playing field anecdotes -- some interesting, some hilarious and some plain silly -- coming straight from the cricketers' personal experiences on and off the field.

Conceptualized by Louisville, Kentucky-based sports professional Jai Bokey, and compiled by former cricketer Sandeep Patil along with Mumbai-based sports writer Clayton Murzello, 'Caught & Told' brings alive the players and the different eras they played in, while evoking the timeless charm and spirit of the game.

In his foreword, Australian cricketing legend Greg Chappell says most of the players he played with, those who survived any length of time, stayed because they had a good sense of humor. "They could laugh at themselves, at others and at serious moments as much as funny ones. You need characters in a cricket team.

There are plenty of times when you could take yourself too seriously," Chappell writes. Jai Bokey, who worked with former captain Sunil Gavaskar at Professional Management Group (PMG), was instrumental in developing and monitoring the first of its kind CEAT Cricket Ratings.

He was the first Agent of sorts for Sachin Tendulkar -- before Tendulkar signed up for WorldTel -- when PMG used to represent the ace cricketer for his endorsements. Bokey formed PROSports in 2000; became cricket content provider for websites; developed the Ratings scheme for AXN Channel; and syndicated articles written by Sandeep Patil (Cricket) and Jude Felix (Hockey) for various publications throughout India.

Following his move to the US in 2001 to do his MS in Sports Management from Pittsburgh, PA, Bokey formed KEY Sports and became sports provider for Asian Indian media here in the US. Thereafter, he also launched www.CrickeyNews.com, an indigenously developed news crawler and website totally dedicated to Cricket News, Facts and Statistics.

In an emailed interview with India Post, Bokey talked about his pet concept that continues to evolve even today.

IP: How did the idea for this book occur to you?

Bokey: While working at PMG, I had the privilege of interacting with Sunil Gavaskar every day. During our meetings, while watching cricket games or also during office talk, Mr Gavaskar used to always come up with some funny cricketing anecdote that would have us in splits! It was during that time that the idea for Caught & Told was conceived. I thought why not compile all those which included some cricket star/celebrity and come out with a book that would be enjoyed by all cricket fans and aficionados together.

IP: How did Sandeep Patil and Clayton get roped in?

Bokey: Sandeep Patil was one of the biggest pranksters on and off the cricket field during his playing days. And as an editor of the book he is the one, who has contributed to the highest number of real life cricketing anecdotes to the book, some of which he has been privy to or has been involved in; ditto with Clayton Murzello, albeit on cricket journalism side. Clayton has covered numerous cricket tours with the Indian Cricket team and has contributed some real life cricketing anecdotes from the press box.

IP: How did you go about getting all those current and veteran crickets to contribute?

Bokey: Sandeep Patil and Clayton had the job to get the best anecdotes from all current and former cricket players and journalists. They did an excellent job getting the right quality of content for the inaugural issue. We are in the process of compiling as many quality and real life anecdotes to come up with Caught & Told II.

IP: Were there anecdotes which you wanted to, but could not publish?

Bokey: There were a lot of anecdotes that we censored for various reasons. We always wanted the book to be light reading material for cricket fans of all ages and groups. Moreover, we felt no anecdotes should be printed that were derogatory to any cricket player world-wide. And we kept our word.

A lot of big names of the cricketing world Ian Chappell, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, to name a few contributed to the book without even thinking twice. Greg Chappell, who was then the Coach of the Indian Cricket team did not hesitate to write the foreword to our maiden issue.

IP: How has the book been received in India? Bokey:

When we launched the book in India in Dec 2006, we received excellent reviews from leading media outlets in India. The book's initial print was sold within a year and now the second print run is in market. Plans are afloat to make TV program out of this concept for a leading TV Channel in India.

IP: Is the book available in the US?

Bokey: The book is currently available on CaughtandTold.com and Amazon.com ($11.99 (plus S/H). One of the leading cricket websites in the US, DreamCricket.com has also agreed to market the books.

IP: What's in the offing next?

Bokey: With Caught & Told well received in India and looking at the huge potential in the US and Canadian market, we are extending the brand 'Caught & Told' to fields other than Cricket. CaughtandTold.com has created multiple fields where any visitor willing to contribute anecdotes can do so.

The best anecdotes would be printed in a book with a credit to the concerned author and would also be used in the planned TV program. Contributors with most anecdotes (at least 10 in a calendar month) will receive a free copy of Caught & Told - World Edition.