THE sad passing of cricketer Jaspal Bansal last Thursday drew plenty of tears in the Dubbo sporting community but it also brought about some special moments across the weekend.
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On Friday people converged on Dubbo from far and wide to support Bansal's family at a memorial service, while on Saturday players from all clubs came together with the family for a special moment of reflection at No.1 Oval, where 'JB*' had been painted on the outfield.
The 47-year-old's passing after a short battle with illness also reached far further with former Australian off-spinner Gavin Robertson, now a co-host of the Talkin Sport radio program penning the following words after being informed of Bansal's death by former CYMS batsman Andrew Johns.
"I write today after the sad news that a man I once played cricket against has passed away and I thank Andrew Johns, who listens to my Radio show Talkin Sport who called to advise myself of the sad news.
"In 1985, myself, Tom Moody and Paul Reiffel were picked to tour India in the Australian under-19 cricket tour
"The Indians had a very good team but they had a dynamic bowler called Jaspal Bansal, I'm certain we called him Jaspal Singh, but he was the primary figure spoken about in our team meetings.
"Jaspal was the first person I ever saw swing the ball not only conventionally, but also late in the day which I later learned was called reverse swing, but he was quick and was extremely difficult to face.
"Jaspal knocked me over in a one-day game, in Jamshedpur I think we were, when I went to work a ball through leg and it shaped back in and took middle stump out.
"Jaspal was one of the players who had such respect that we all formed great friendships on tour, but for me it was seeing the photo in the Daily Liberal that hit me.
"It was the smile, that is something you cannot forget, and we spent three months and one week playing against each other over three test matches and nine one-day games, but the smile and reading the tributes brought back memories of a very fine person who this world has sadly lost.
"I've only spoken to Jaspal once in 30 years since that tour, but the pain I read in the Dubbo cricket community's tributes online makes my heart break for his wife and children, and his community of Dubbo.
"I only write to tell of the respect we had for Jaspal as a fine fast bowler and a dashing batsman, that we as an Australian under-19 team had for him and his ability to create friendships with a big smile at the end of a day's play against a hungry, success-driven Aussie cricket team that learnt much about the world and the game of cricket.
"Vale Jaspal Bansal."
