Old age hasn't chipped away at Madhav V Gothoskar's wit. Nor has it affected his memory. For, on the eve of his 90th birthday yesterday, memories and anecdotes flowed like a river. The former umpire remembers his first Test assignment as if it was yesterday. Tony Lewis's Marylebone Cricket Club (England toured under the MCC banner until 1976-77) visited India to clash with Ajit Wadekar's World No. 1 side in 1972-73 when Gothoskar officiated in the Kanpur and Mumbai Tests of the series.

It was during this rubber that some members of the England team were fooled into believing that Gothoskar was Sunil Gavaskar's uncle. "I remember Lewis and Mike Denness asking me in all seriousness whether I was related to Gavaskar. I asked them, just because Buller [former umpire Syd] rhymed with Keith Miller, does it mean they are related?" Gothoskar remarked with a chuckle.