Then add the simple word ``women's'' to it. And see what you get -- empty grounds, dusty pitches, bankrupt coffers and almost total anonymity. To such an extent that the national team conquers England 2-1 in England in a one-day series, yet there is not a hint of celebration back home.

Perhaps, then, Shubhangi Kulkarni, former captain of the Indian women's cricket team is justified when she figures that, ``Men's cricket is `cricket'. Women's cricket is an entirely different sport altogether.'' Is that regret one hears in her voice, or just a deep seated hurt?

``I feel embarrassed in saying this, but we needed just Rs five lakhs for the current England tour. After near impossible problems, we managed to somehow scrape together Rs four lakhs, and a lotof that also had to come from our personal pockets,'' she reveals.

``It's not as if we are asking for too much,'' Shubhangi adds. However, in India it seems as if even trying to collect the basic expenses such as travel and stay is akin to asking for the moon, as far as the women's game is concerned. The basics? An Anjum Chopra, who cracked a brilliant century in England last week, takes home a total purse of Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per match, ``which barely takes care of the laundry bill on tours.''

The World Cup is just around the corner -- in the year 2000. And it seems that the country, which placed fourth in a field of 12 in the last edition, may be headed for their own version of the Y2K disaster. It is clear that something needs to be done soon.

The stepping in of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may be one solution. Another door is the government's. It is certainly happening everywhere else in the world.

Australia are at the pinnacle of women's cricket today. The Aussie women havewon the 1978, 1982, 1988 and 1997 World Cups. And they are part of the Australian Cricket Board. Women's cricket features in the annual Ashes exhibition. Former Aussie player Betty Archdale finds a prominent place in the 150 living treasures of the country. Roads are named after women players. The list of sponsors for the women's team almost outdoes the one for the men's -- from the Commonwealth Bank to Tiffany to Coca Cola.

Come England! The Women's Cricket Association and the England Cricket Board (ECB) merged in 1998 and an interim programme has been in place since 1997. The women are partners in a record breaking sponsorship deal of 13 million pounds between Vodafone and ECB. Women cricketers regularly play in the men's teams at the inter-club and inter-district level.

Do the examples suffice? Is the BCCI listening?

In the territory of the government, women's cricket suffers in no-man's land. ``When the government was deciding the `priority sports' list for its funding schemes, cricket was left outbecause it was felt that there is too much money there already,'' reveals Shubhangi. ``But what about women's cricket?'' The `prefix phenomenon' has struck once again!

Among the industry, companies like Air-India and Indian Railways have picked up the responsibility and regularly employ women cricketers. Drops in the ocean, but hopefully they will inspire others to follow suit.

For something needs to be done, and soon. ``We play for the love of the game,'' says Shubhangi. Probably women's cricket is where the popular phrase originated -- ``Love hurts!''