What happened to your favorite cricketer you once rooted for, who owing to unknown reasons, has faded from the public memory after a few appearances? Through his protagonist W.G. Karunasena, Shehan Karunatilaka seeks to answer this question in the extraordinary cricket fiction Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew.
Cricket fiction is a largely unexplored genre. But also an exhilarating one. There is a certain relatability when it comes to cricket, especially in South Asia, allowing it to act as a captivating tool to reflect on a plethora of diverse topics which found themselves seeking attention. Shehan Karunatilaka’s ambitious debut novel Chinaman is one such ostensible tale of Sri Lanka in the late 20th century through cricket and its many characters.
Wijedasa Gamini Karunsena (Wije) is Chinaman’s voice - a retired sports journalist and an alcoholic who is drinking himself to death. He is on a quest to find spinner Pradeep Sivanathan Mathew, who according to him is the greatest cricketer to have embraced the game. He is accompanied by Ari Byrd, his cricket fanatic friend and a math teacher. Mathew played for Sri Lanka in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s before disappearing with no records of him to be found. But both Wije and Ari have been witness to his genius and are sure that he exists. Wije’s journey to find this mysterious cricketer forms the underlying theme of the Chinaman.
The quest reveals as much about the narrator as it does about the legendary spinner. The 64-year old journalist is going through professional as well as personal crisis and hopes to redeem himself through the book that he is writing about Pradeep. He is a volatile and short-tempered old man who believes ‘unlike life, sport matters’. "In 30 years, the world will not care about how I lived, "But in a hundred years, Bulgarians will still talk of Letchkov and how he expelled the mighty Germans from the 1994 World Cup with a simple header." Wije says. His sole objective now is to discover Mathew and complete the book before the sun sets on his life.
The book is neatly organized in five sections - each section titled after a cricketing nomenclature (First innings, second innings, close of play, follow-on and last over). The author has taken significant effort in explaining cricket terminologies and references to make for a cohesive read, even to non-cricket audiences.
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Fact and fiction, involving cricket incidents and personalities, are amalgamated with astute perfection. The storytelling is complemented with an extensively devised plot featuring interesting characters (a six fingered coach, fortune teller, diabolical midget, match-fixer etc.) and unconventional storylines, resulting in a spellbinding reading experience.
The narrative for most parts is based in Sri Lanka and keeps you on the edge at all times. There are enough twists and turns in the chase to keep you hooked. The inventive and engaging writing creates a fascinating world, elevating the reader's curiosity. The finesse and honesty with which the author has carved out human relationships in a mystery thriller is commendable. I thoroughly enjoyed the hilarious one-liners and found the book incredibly funny.
The author cleverly highlights hard-hitting issues of corruption, ethnic division and terrorism in Sri Lanka - only to the extent which cater to the main plot. Sri Lankan cricket and its cricketers remain at the core and drive the story forward. They feature in regular cricket conversations between the characters, sometimes even becoming the reason for an argumentative conflict. The book also reflects on the apathy of those cricketers who are forgotten after a few magical appearances, only to be found suffering later in life.
Final Take: Must Read
So, does Wije manage to discover Pradeep Mathew? Is he alive? Does he even exist? Chinaman answers this and a lot more. It reveals so much that is unknown about the history and culture of the island nation. It will leave you amazed by its imaginative capabilities.
You will root for the protagonist to succeed in his tryst against time, feel the characters and their endearing relationships and celebrate cricket. Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and would highly recommend it as a great addition to your reading list.
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