26

Well, how important is 26?

Hmm?

Think.

Hint: It's not about people born on 26th of a month. Look at the colours in the above photograph

Got it?

Think again.

Another hint: Ask Peter or Nathan.

Got it now?

No?

Ok, one last hint: Ask any of Shane Watson, Philips Hughes, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, or Shaun Marsh. 

They will tell you how important 26 is.

26 January is Australia's national day.

26 runs is the lowest score in Test Cricket, which Australia came close to break this week.

26 runs partnership for the last wicket saved Australia from making this record.
The partnership was broken when the 26 year old Peter Siddle got out.

Even their run rate in that innings was 2.6 !

Were it not for the 26 runs partnership between Paul Siddle and Nathan Lyon on 10th November at Newlands in Cape Town, Australia would have got to the top of a list which they would have never imagined (in their wildest of dreams).

The lowest Test score in a Cricket match is 26 runs (New Zealand gets the honours), and Australia came tantalizingly close to dethroning their neighbours from the (un) enviable position. All courtesy that 26 runs last wicket partnership between Nathan and Paul, who would never have imagined how important role they could play with bats in their hands.

As a sports fan, as a person, as an Indian, and as many-other-identities-I-may-have, it was amazement-delight-excitement-disbelief-admiration-pity-comedy- and many other emotions rolled into one while watching Australia unfold that day.

It was as if someone was hearing our jokes about when the next wicket would fall, and then making it happen in the real world.

I will not forget that extraordinary day of cricket.

Australia will not forget that day.

I will not forget how important 26 can become.

Australia will NEVER forget how IMPORTANT 26 could be.

And they will never want to look again at the picture below.

Never.

26.

Huh !