Do you believe in love at first sight? For some lucky people, it happens twice in one instance. Karina Michwal was only nine years old when she started watching cricket, and not only did she fall in love with the sport but also a certain right arm fast bowler from Australia who is called Brett Lee. Fast forward to present day and 22 year old Karina is still head over heels for the former Australian International.
In conversation with SPOGO, we chat with her about all things cricket and why Brett Lee holds a special place in her heart!
Who is your favourite player and why?
I'm a die hard fan of the Aussies speedster Brett Lee, I loved his toe crushing yorkers and the smile & stare he would give to a batsman after delivering an unplayable bouncer. Besides being a great bowler he's also a great human being, he has worked with so many underprivileged children in India with his philanthropic work. So all this kind of adds to my liking for him.
When did you start supporting him?
I vividly remember the first time I actually saw him bowling was in a 2007 T20 World Cup game against Bangladesh. He took a hatrick in that game which was the first by any bowler in T20 cricket. I was very impressed by his smooth run up and fine follow through and not to miss the consistent speed he maintained throughout his spell. I instantly became a fan after that match.
What makes your favourite player different from others?
The fact that he was hostile only while bowling and remained respectful and an absolute gentleman afterwards, something that was rare in fast bowlers during that time. I remember him extending his respectful regards after a certain batsman would score a century or register some record in his name. I really liked that about him a lot.
What is the best fangirl memory you have?
There are many but if I have to share one that will definitely be Lee wishing me on my birthday on Twitter in the year 2015. I still remember I was in my car when I saw the tweet, I couldn't really believe my eyes so I rechecked if it's the real one or some fake account but to my absolute surprise it was the 'blue ticked' Brett Lee. I started crying then and there itself – happy tears of course! That was indeed the best day of my life.
As a cricket fan, what is it about the sport that you love the most?
The unpredictably. I love the absolute thrill that this game offers across all three formats. You could play quality cricket for sessions and then one fiery spell of 45 minutes can lead you to a humiliating 36 all out defeat. Then you can again bounce back in the rest of the series with your mental strength and perseverance and go on to create history. That's cricket for me, the real test of one's character!
How do you react to your team’s loss or if your favourite player performs badly?
Ranting in Whatsapp groups works best for me. All my friends and cousins are equally passionate about cricket as I am so we watch games together and celebrate or whine about the results in our groups and after all the ranting and complaining is done we also make it a point to write respectful words of love and support to our teams and players on social media platforms.
