It has been stumps a couple of hours ago but the day hasn’t ended for the middle-aged man leaning against the wall of the tiny security booth next to the Headingley front gate. He stands there protecting his two extra-large grocery bags full of books from the spitting rain, a certain precursor for a downpour in these parts.
It is just then that the last of the commentators to leave the arena – Cheteshwar Pujara and Dinesh Karthik – head for their waiting car. The 47-year-old Alex, in an instant, picks a few books, checks the pens in his pocket and joins a small army of fans in chasing the two former India players.
He manages barely a second or two with Pujara before those clicking pictures with smartphones elbow him out of their frame. Autograph-Hunters vs Selfie-Seekers is hardly a battle, those with pens and paper are being outnumbered and outfoxed. It is a losing battle.
Alex is a retail banker now but has been a signature-collector since he was 13. He too carries a camera phone, he also asks for pictures, but only after he has got the all-important scribble.
“You saw me with Pujara and Karthik, I was more interested in getting the autograph first, for me that is the winning ticket. I think there’s always another chance for a picture, whereas if you don’t get the autograph, the player may die on you, as morbid as that sounds,” Alex tells The Indian Express. “The new-age fan will put more emphasis on selfies because it is all Facebook, Instagram … They want to show ‘I’m with the stars, I’m with the stars’. For me, it’s more the history of the game.”
History takes up a lot of space in Alex’s life – three big garages, to be specific. Among his collection are lots of Wisdens – the yellow-covered annual almanac, also known as the cricket Bible. The oldest one he has is from the time of World War II, the latest has Harry Brook on the cover. He also possesses all the issues in between the two. Along with the Wisdens, he has 5,000 sports books with signatures.
“I have three garages and heavy-duty locking boxes full of books. It is a passion of mine. When I moved out of my parents’ home, which would have been 2010, I think they were glad to see the back of not just me but the books,” he says. “There were at least a few rooms vacant for them. I am an observer of the game, I like to reminisce about past matches, past players. I like to meet them, I like to get their autographs. It is just a good way of meeting different people, through different ages, through all walks of life.”
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Along with ‘different people’, Alex would also bump into those with the same passion as him. While at Lord’s once, he met Ilias, a fellow autograph-hunter, who would become a friend for life and someone who would add a sense of adventure to their common pursuit.
“I’ve known Ilias for about 27 years. He set himself a challenge to get autographs of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year that are announced every year. So I thought this was a good adventure. He has been doing it for a while, he goes to charity events, dinners, and even funerals,” says Alex, who has his own stories of chasing sports stars.
Method behind madness
With time, autograph-seekers get an idea of where they could find the stars. “Over the years, you get an idea where players are going or staying. There are a lot of guys who go down to the hotels for the current players and commentators. I collect most of my signatures at the ground or at dinners. Like the other week, I went to a dinner event where Graham Gooch and Barry Richards were there,” says the passionate autograph-seeker.
Having seen so many cricketers sign his books, Alex has his own favourites and the ones he finds ‘difficult’.
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“Sunil Gavaskar is very good at signing autographs. He will stand there and sign 10 things for you. You’re lucky if you get one with Vivian Richards. Alastair Cook, Ricky Ponting … they are good. The most difficult was Sir Garfield Sobers, because obviously he’s so elusive and doesn’t like giving his autograph too frequently … Kevin Pietersen doesn’t give you the time of day,” says Alex.
Do signatures give an idea about a person?
“I think it does in a way, because you’ll see the modern-day players in county cricket, a lot of them just give you a little initials now, or a squiggle. Not to say they’re not nice people, they might do it for quickness … but I think it tells you a lot about the character. Like say a Joe Root takes his time with an autograph,” says Alex, agreeing that in these days of insta-messaging and emojis, signatures are getting smaller.
But does he at times feel insulted when snubbed or neglected by the stars? He does but …
“It’s crazy really and very addictive. I have gotten a lot better since I have been married. You have got to look at it like smoking, like drinking, like alcohol, like women,” he says and follows it with a profound philosophy of standing in soaking rain waiting for cricketers.
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“My wife says this is a complete waste of time. She would look down on me pestering people for autographs. She asks me – ‘What are you going to do with it, you’re keeping it in garages, in the house. Are you really appreciating the value of this stuff, or the effort you’ve put in to get it as well?’. I totally understand what she is saying. But I enjoy this. I mean we’re all on this earth for a very short time. I think we have to enjoy what our passions are.”
With that, he once again glances at the stadium gate with searching eyes – that’s his signature move.
