28.9.05
Blog: Three Things in Life......
I got these forwarded on mail to me.I felt these messages must be shared by all....
22.9.05
Cricket: Back to Square Won.
I don’t know which shoe company does Sourav Ganguly endorses but I surely don’t want to step into his shoes. I also dare say that very few people will line up to step into his shoe. The crown of captaincy of is not for light hearted.
Well done India? Could they have done better? May be yes. One thing amazes me that why the intensity does so often not there .Why do they tend to play a very unfamiliar, unpopular, unbranded form of the game. Do we as fans expect too much out of the team.
May be Media is cooking up stories for our own hungry bellies. The stories which we wish are never there and when its there we relish it to no ends? There may be a lot of criticisms but should we not question ourselves. Media I think has to take a fair share of the blame. One good innings by a player take him to the moon. The rocket obviously driven by expert men/women of the blood hounding media. If someone misses out, at some point of time one will, then he is made to bite the bullet.
I remember a football coach from a cricket club called East Bengal commenting on the should not’s of the Indian team. The ex-players and self proclaimed “experts” suddenly mushroomed on the TV screens and presented their “honest” opinion on the matter.
There were almost words put into the people mouth to get an “Exclusive” bite. The real experts, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri kept saying that things happen and then they are dealt with. Alas! Media. It’s never good when the media starts presenting their stories.
Does freedom brings resposibilty? I hope we all learn something from this.
Now coming back to the “action” packed series in Zimbabwe. This Indian team won an overseas series after a gap of 19 years. A coincidence that England, also won the Ashes after the same number of years.
What does Ganguly take from the series? India won!! It had to win. Zimbabwe is on the bottom of all the 10 test playing nations. So a clean sweeps was the script even before the series got under way. Dada batted with lots of pains to compile a crawling century. If one sees his dismissal in first innings of the second test, one will express dismay. The captain’s form is so dismal that a wicket before him ensures the opposition one for one offer. The question remains why is there in the team? Yuvraj not doing justice ether to himself or his partner in covers Kaif.
When will magic return to Indian team? When does the Maestro show again why is he a teenage protégée’ turned an institution of positive attacking batsman ship. He is like a warship that just makes his presence felt in enemy waters with much awe and pure respect. He brings out every positive there is about the game.
The cricket team to do the hard work of just putting the media in the TV sets and newspaper and ensure that cricket is on the front pages for joyous reasons. The winter is long for Indians.
Well done India? Could they have done better? May be yes. One thing amazes me that why the intensity does so often not there .Why do they tend to play a very unfamiliar, unpopular, unbranded form of the game. Do we as fans expect too much out of the team.
May be Media is cooking up stories for our own hungry bellies. The stories which we wish are never there and when its there we relish it to no ends? There may be a lot of criticisms but should we not question ourselves. Media I think has to take a fair share of the blame. One good innings by a player take him to the moon. The rocket obviously driven by expert men/women of the blood hounding media. If someone misses out, at some point of time one will, then he is made to bite the bullet.
I remember a football coach from a cricket club called East Bengal commenting on the should not’s of the Indian team. The ex-players and self proclaimed “experts” suddenly mushroomed on the TV screens and presented their “honest” opinion on the matter.
There were almost words put into the people mouth to get an “Exclusive” bite. The real experts, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri kept saying that things happen and then they are dealt with. Alas! Media. It’s never good when the media starts presenting their stories.
Does freedom brings resposibilty? I hope we all learn something from this.
Now coming back to the “action” packed series in Zimbabwe. This Indian team won an overseas series after a gap of 19 years. A coincidence that England, also won the Ashes after the same number of years.
What does Ganguly take from the series? India won!! It had to win. Zimbabwe is on the bottom of all the 10 test playing nations. So a clean sweeps was the script even before the series got under way. Dada batted with lots of pains to compile a crawling century. If one sees his dismissal in first innings of the second test, one will express dismay. The captain’s form is so dismal that a wicket before him ensures the opposition one for one offer. The question remains why is there in the team? Yuvraj not doing justice ether to himself or his partner in covers Kaif.
When will magic return to Indian team? When does the Maestro show again why is he a teenage protégée’ turned an institution of positive attacking batsman ship. He is like a warship that just makes his presence felt in enemy waters with much awe and pure respect. He brings out every positive there is about the game.
The cricket team to do the hard work of just putting the media in the TV sets and newspaper and ensure that cricket is on the front pages for joyous reasons. The winter is long for Indians.
19.9.05
Blog: A passing thought...
Just another passing though…..
What do you do when on starts to prepare for competitive exams? THINK. Yes! Every one is compelled to churn ones own mind body and soul to think deeply.
Well think I can, understand I cannot. The concept of “understanding” is not well averse with me and till date remains an enigma, an unknown territory to which I don’t have any maps or insights. My concept of things is either you know or don’t know things.
So day before yesterday when I was doing nothing and staring at my dictionary some thing pedestrian just flashed in the top floor of my body. I put my mind/consciousness on it.I began to think. Try to follow these and add if you like.
This is what I got next…..
The dictionary is a book in which
Egg comes before the Hen.
Zero comes latter then One.
Failure comes before Success.
Thunder follows Rain.
Victory comes after Defeat.
Faith precedes God.
Peaces come before Religion.
Friend comes before Love.
Tomorrow follows Today.
Misery appears before Solace.
Hunger beckon before Thirst.
Destruction precedes Development.
War follows Peace.
Genius follows Foolishness.
Humor follows Happiness.
Light comes after Dark.
Habit comes before Hobby.
Rich follows poor.
Health comes before wealth.
Cricket comes before Football.
Death follows birth.
Neptune follows Uranus.
Rough precedes Smooth.
Disciple precedes Discipline.
Victory follows Valour.
Dream precedes Reality.
Wickedness follows viciousness.
What do you do when on starts to prepare for competitive exams? THINK. Yes! Every one is compelled to churn ones own mind body and soul to think deeply.
Well think I can, understand I cannot. The concept of “understanding” is not well averse with me and till date remains an enigma, an unknown territory to which I don’t have any maps or insights. My concept of things is either you know or don’t know things.
So day before yesterday when I was doing nothing and staring at my dictionary some thing pedestrian just flashed in the top floor of my body. I put my mind/consciousness on it.I began to think. Try to follow these and add if you like.
This is what I got next…..
The dictionary is a book in which
Egg comes before the Hen.
Zero comes latter then One.
Failure comes before Success.
Thunder follows Rain.
Victory comes after Defeat.
Faith precedes God.
Peaces come before Religion.
Friend comes before Love.
Tomorrow follows Today.
Misery appears before Solace.
Hunger beckon before Thirst.
Destruction precedes Development.
War follows Peace.
Genius follows Foolishness.
Humor follows Happiness.
Light comes after Dark.
Habit comes before Hobby.
Rich follows poor.
Health comes before wealth.
Cricket comes before Football.
Death follows birth.
Neptune follows Uranus.
Rough precedes Smooth.
Disciple precedes Discipline.
Victory follows Valour.
Dream precedes Reality.
Wickedness follows viciousness.
14.9.05
Blog:Hostel Chronicles or Survivor series
This blog is dedicated to all who happen to go in for a Engineering degree to a hostel and came out with a degree with them.
Salute you.
A list of 22 facts of engineering hostel life.
1). The lecturers dont teach.The students dont study.The only guy who benefits is the one who owns the 'dhaba' next to the college.
2).Rules are made to be broken.
3).Promises are made to be broken.
4).Deadlines are made to be extended...ALWAYS!
5).The geeks are the most pampered lot during the internal exams.
6).The lab assistants are the most respected people (during the lab exams i.e).
7).The watchmen are the people most bribed.
8).The HOD is the person most respected (heights of sycophancy here).
9).The principal is the person most abused and insulted (behind the back i.e).
10).Dropping subjects is 'cool'. (Arre yaar..Drop the idea of dropping subjects plzz).
11).There is always a lecturer in the college who can't speak proper 'english'.
12).Night-out is the second most important tool to ace the exams.
13).All time u will be in debate with students of other branch as their branch is d BEST.
14).The most important tool..the bhramastra..is the 'chit' in which the words can be understood only by the person who wrote them(in most of the cases i.e).
15).The freshers are the most sought after..Be it in the canteen, the 'free' periods or for completing the records, assignments.
16).One has to live in constant fear of a DROP all through the engg career as according to new revised stringent RULES any thing can happen to ANYONE. (KISI KO KUCH BHI HO SAKTA HAI) .
17).Guys always think the chics in the college next lane are more beautiful.
18).The second-years are the ones with the 'I am the don-of-the-college' feeling, if one has cleared SOM/EDC of 3rd sem.....( BAAP of all papers of ENGG).
19).The third years are the ones with the 'so-many-backlogs' feeling and the poor souls get down to studying after bossing around in the college for so long. But the fun still continues.
20).The fourth years have no connection with the college whatsoever...with no interest in ragging, pulling each other's legs, the bday parties, the bday bums et al which they enjoyed so much till now. All they want is a good placement and a '1st-class' tag attached to their memo.
21).The first three years are spent in cursing the college, the people there, the system et al.
22).But towards the end of the fourth year, people tend to feel nostalgic abt the pure unadulterated fun they have had for 4 years.Now the very system they disliked, the very canteen they cursed,the time that they spent there, the birthday bums they suffered..All these seem like heaven to them.
Salute you.
A list of 22 facts of engineering hostel life.
1). The lecturers dont teach.The students dont study.The only guy who benefits is the one who owns the 'dhaba' next to the college.
2).Rules are made to be broken.
3).Promises are made to be broken.
4).Deadlines are made to be extended...ALWAYS!
5).The geeks are the most pampered lot during the internal exams.
6).The lab assistants are the most respected people (during the lab exams i.e).
7).The watchmen are the people most bribed.
8).The HOD is the person most respected (heights of sycophancy here).
9).The principal is the person most abused and insulted (behind the back i.e).
10).Dropping subjects is 'cool'. (Arre yaar..Drop the idea of dropping subjects plzz).
11).There is always a lecturer in the college who can't speak proper 'english'.
12).Night-out is the second most important tool to ace the exams.
13).All time u will be in debate with students of other branch as their branch is d BEST.
14).The most important tool..the bhramastra..is the 'chit' in which the words can be understood only by the person who wrote them(in most of the cases i.e).
15).The freshers are the most sought after..Be it in the canteen, the 'free' periods or for completing the records, assignments.
16).One has to live in constant fear of a DROP all through the engg career as according to new revised stringent RULES any thing can happen to ANYONE. (KISI KO KUCH BHI HO SAKTA HAI) .
17).Guys always think the chics in the college next lane are more beautiful.
18).The second-years are the ones with the 'I am the don-of-the-college' feeling, if one has cleared SOM/EDC of 3rd sem.....( BAAP of all papers of ENGG).
19).The third years are the ones with the 'so-many-backlogs' feeling and the poor souls get down to studying after bossing around in the college for so long. But the fun still continues.
20).The fourth years have no connection with the college whatsoever...with no interest in ragging, pulling each other's legs, the bday parties, the bday bums et al which they enjoyed so much till now. All they want is a good placement and a '1st-class' tag attached to their memo.
21).The first three years are spent in cursing the college, the people there, the system et al.
22).But towards the end of the fourth year, people tend to feel nostalgic abt the pure unadulterated fun they have had for 4 years.Now the very system they disliked, the very canteen they cursed,the time that they spent there, the birthday bums they suffered..All these seem like heaven to them.
12.9.05
The Ashes Diary - The story so far
The Ashes Diary: The story so far
Highlights: England 373 all out Strauss-129 Warne- 6-118
Australia: 363 all out Langer-126 Hayden-110 Flintoff- 5-78
England: 34-1 Bad Light stopping play.
It is sad the way the series is wrapping up. It is because of unavoidable reason, the rain happens to be the key element which will decide the fate of Ashes this time around. It was a very unlike test. As expected the pitch was as flat as it could be. There were just two out of four innings completed in four days of cricket.
The Aussie opener hit out of bad form with uncharacteristic centuries to ensure that they are not on chopping board. The sun is fast setting out on many Aussie cricketers. Its time for new players to come to fore and carry the flag forward. As expected with the end of a great series the old men will hang up their boots. There are Warnes and McGraths who are still among wickets are almost into twilight. But everyone wants to go out of this game on a high not, just to make the last point that they were not just pulled out but they themselves bowed out of the scene followed by a great ovation. Australia has had a great bowling duo. My only regret would be that weather saved England of many blues.
The series would be remembered for the heroics of Andrew Flintoff. He came forward and made himself counted. He took catches, struck batsmen, bought wickets and build innings which help set up matches for England. Sir Geoffery Boycott had once said that Flintoff had batting average of bowlers and bowling average of batsmen. I can explain, he had batting average of thirties and bowling averages of late forties.
The average of “decent” is around forties. A bowler would desire bowling average inearly thirties. These Ashes series ensured this changed. Flintoff now has a good bowling average like the one of a good bowler and batsmen average. He has ensured that this goes down the history that Flintoff won the Ashes for England.
There may be a few jitters in the day. There will be no more surprises in the end as announcement of the winner of Ashes is only a formality now. It is difficult to imagine nine English wickets to fall in a day, Aussies chasing those runs when only thing which seems to be falling is rain. If the English hold out to Aussies mission is accomplished.
One more result is for gone conclusion, the man of the series. It was an animated Flintoff who paved the way for Mr.Vaughan to lay his hands on the Ashes. A first English captain in two decades who will know what does feel like to hold the Ashes. There will be lots of animated emotions in the English press in the days to come when the cricket teams will win the Ashes.
The Cinderella story for Australia is finished the clock has struck twelve. This series is tribute to the mettle of Aussies and how the Aussies were over awed stroke for stroke, how the pitch was set on fire by the English seamers and the Ashes were won back.
Highlights: England 373 all out Strauss-129 Warne- 6-118
Australia: 363 all out Langer-126 Hayden-110 Flintoff- 5-78
England: 34-1 Bad Light stopping play.
It is sad the way the series is wrapping up. It is because of unavoidable reason, the rain happens to be the key element which will decide the fate of Ashes this time around. It was a very unlike test. As expected the pitch was as flat as it could be. There were just two out of four innings completed in four days of cricket.
The Aussie opener hit out of bad form with uncharacteristic centuries to ensure that they are not on chopping board. The sun is fast setting out on many Aussie cricketers. Its time for new players to come to fore and carry the flag forward. As expected with the end of a great series the old men will hang up their boots. There are Warnes and McGraths who are still among wickets are almost into twilight. But everyone wants to go out of this game on a high not, just to make the last point that they were not just pulled out but they themselves bowed out of the scene followed by a great ovation. Australia has had a great bowling duo. My only regret would be that weather saved England of many blues.
The series would be remembered for the heroics of Andrew Flintoff. He came forward and made himself counted. He took catches, struck batsmen, bought wickets and build innings which help set up matches for England. Sir Geoffery Boycott had once said that Flintoff had batting average of bowlers and bowling average of batsmen. I can explain, he had batting average of thirties and bowling averages of late forties.
The average of “decent” is around forties. A bowler would desire bowling average inearly thirties. These Ashes series ensured this changed. Flintoff now has a good bowling average like the one of a good bowler and batsmen average. He has ensured that this goes down the history that Flintoff won the Ashes for England.
There may be a few jitters in the day. There will be no more surprises in the end as announcement of the winner of Ashes is only a formality now. It is difficult to imagine nine English wickets to fall in a day, Aussies chasing those runs when only thing which seems to be falling is rain. If the English hold out to Aussies mission is accomplished.
One more result is for gone conclusion, the man of the series. It was an animated Flintoff who paved the way for Mr.Vaughan to lay his hands on the Ashes. A first English captain in two decades who will know what does feel like to hold the Ashes. There will be lots of animated emotions in the English press in the days to come when the cricket teams will win the Ashes.
The Cinderella story for Australia is finished the clock has struck twelve. This series is tribute to the mettle of Aussies and how the Aussies were over awed stroke for stroke, how the pitch was set on fire by the English seamers and the Ashes were won back.
Blog: Agassi vs Federer
Agassi vs Fedrer
This is no ordinary match. This is the final of the last grand slam of the tennis calendar year. A hard court, hard fought tennis tournament for champion only. This is the match between old and new; the past and the future of tennis. It is match between men who are representing two completely different tennis eras. Agassi represent the once dominance of Americans on tennis courts and Fedrer represents the challenge to American domination of tennis.
Agassi representing old flamboyance, style statements on court and ups and down of tennis. His rivalry with his contemporary and compatriot, Pete Sampras was well know and well sought after. He is in an elite list of Americans who have conquered clay court at the French Open. His wife exactly knows what’s professional tennis all about; being there, down that. She is a brand of tennis in her own right. A number one for nearly a decade. She fought through injuries and aghast her critics every time she was buried. At one point of time, her only habit was winning grand slams. I have a limited knowledge of this fact but I think Agassi and Graf need to rent out an apartment itself if they display their tennis trophies.
Agassi, it seems has been there forever, at 35 he is looking for a win at Arthur Ashe stadium, the venue for U.S. Open. And probably end his career on a high note. The ups and down and personal let downs has seen this champion regaining the number title. This also coincided with the fact that he won the Wimbledon, the most glamorous of all the grand slams. He also happens to win over Ms.Steffi Graf as they won the French Open together I believe. Paris again proving why it is called a city of romance!!
Agassi being stretch this time round to reach to the final to set up a show down Roger Fedrer the reigning world number won. His match
Roger Fedrer is also into winning habits these days. He has already won Wimbledon this year and is a favourite to win this tournament as well. Roger represents new energies of tennis the glimpses of which can be seen in his fellow contemporaries like Hewitt and Roddick. Nadal is still a teenage age boy he has time his sides. Fedrer is consistent, and rallies well. He also had good pass through shots, the winners. He has a good serve and volley game. He uses the court well comes to attack at the net and defend at baseline. The trademark of any number one in tennis is high percentage of first serves.Both men don’t show many emotions on court and are known for their chivalrous attitude on the court. This tournament will be a feather in the cap for both new and old pros who stand at different ends of tennis court. The protégé and the old war horse. Let the games begin. I pray for a big five setter that keep me glued to the TV set.
This is no ordinary match. This is the final of the last grand slam of the tennis calendar year. A hard court, hard fought tennis tournament for champion only. This is the match between old and new; the past and the future of tennis. It is match between men who are representing two completely different tennis eras. Agassi represent the once dominance of Americans on tennis courts and Fedrer represents the challenge to American domination of tennis.
Agassi representing old flamboyance, style statements on court and ups and down of tennis. His rivalry with his contemporary and compatriot, Pete Sampras was well know and well sought after. He is in an elite list of Americans who have conquered clay court at the French Open. His wife exactly knows what’s professional tennis all about; being there, down that. She is a brand of tennis in her own right. A number one for nearly a decade. She fought through injuries and aghast her critics every time she was buried. At one point of time, her only habit was winning grand slams. I have a limited knowledge of this fact but I think Agassi and Graf need to rent out an apartment itself if they display their tennis trophies.
Agassi, it seems has been there forever, at 35 he is looking for a win at Arthur Ashe stadium, the venue for U.S. Open. And probably end his career on a high note. The ups and down and personal let downs has seen this champion regaining the number title. This also coincided with the fact that he won the Wimbledon, the most glamorous of all the grand slams. He also happens to win over Ms.Steffi Graf as they won the French Open together I believe. Paris again proving why it is called a city of romance!!
Agassi being stretch this time round to reach to the final to set up a show down Roger Fedrer the reigning world number won. His match
Roger Fedrer is also into winning habits these days. He has already won Wimbledon this year and is a favourite to win this tournament as well. Roger represents new energies of tennis the glimpses of which can be seen in his fellow contemporaries like Hewitt and Roddick. Nadal is still a teenage age boy he has time his sides. Fedrer is consistent, and rallies well. He also had good pass through shots, the winners. He has a good serve and volley game. He uses the court well comes to attack at the net and defend at baseline. The trademark of any number one in tennis is high percentage of first serves.Both men don’t show many emotions on court and are known for their chivalrous attitude on the court. This tournament will be a feather in the cap for both new and old pros who stand at different ends of tennis court. The protégé and the old war horse. Let the games begin. I pray for a big five setter that keep me glued to the TV set.
9.9.05
The Ashes Diary - Day One, The Oval.
The Ashes Diary, Review Day One: Oval Test.
Highlights: England 319/7
Strauss 129, Warne 5-118
The honours even they have said. I suggest Aussies have drawn first blood in the last test of the series. Why do I say so? It is flat pitch to no ones surprise. The score looks healthy at present but won't do so if the Aussie bowlers polish up the tail in the first session itself. The score would not be sounding too great at 340 all out. The job is already cut-out fot he English. I suggest they should look at it as thus is the only inning they have to bat. This inning is perhaps being the key which can set the Aussie batsmen out of jail. If they can do it they will make mockery of this very brilliantly performing English team.
The Aussies would have to do serious batting make lots of runs, take a big first innings lead and set up challenge for the English batsmen.
A good century by Strauss, Trescothick is a batsman who will always give a chance. He presented one to Aussies who accepted it gleefully. The rest of English top-middle order batted like millionaires and got stuck in the web of the Sheikh of Tweak. If Sheikh can induce batsmen of the class of Tendulkar, Dravid, Lara, Attpattu and Laxman regarded as class players of spin bowling then English batsmen are easier to deceive. They show minimal of footwork; show no intention of leaving the safe haven of the crease, they have tradionaly been too committal on either front or back foot. There is nothing being taken away from Shane Warne, he is such a prodigious spiner of the cricket ball. It is no mean task; this can be gathered that not many can spin it that much.
I always fancied Tendulkar as a genuine leg spinner. He often shows signs of good leg spinner. He has the turn and variety too. The few dismissals that immediately come to mind are Moin Khan can being bowled by a googly which squared him up and went through his legs in third test in Pakistan. Steve Waugh having a wild waft at a sharp tuning delivery succeeded in guiding the ball into safe house called Dravid. The last and the most fitting: Warne leg before wicket to Tendulakar in Kolkatta Test which India won after following on.
Warne will continue to get wickets wherever he goes ‘coz that the only thing he knows.
There is one more thing I would like to bring to everyone’s attention. The following statistics also under line, how vital is Warne-McGrath partnership. They have more than 1150 international wickets between them in the last decade. In this match too their combined efforts is as follows, 53 overs 168 runs and 6 wickets. There are a few more facts; India blossomed in their tour to Australia simply because Warne-McGrath duo was missing. Well that’s part of history now.
A few things which either team would like to do:-
Australia: - Polish the English tail quickly, bat well, score big bat England out of the game. Then see what happens in second innings with a rather infamous tendency of English to collapse.
England: - Weather the storm of second new ball. Then cross the psychological 400 run mark. Then give the ball to Freddie Flintoff and party. The Aussie batsmen are not exactly on the run will be a bit scratchy and jittery.
This series is slated to go down to the wire. There are few surprises in-stored for every one. The saga has just begun. I am to know what happens next. The Ashes remains so close and yet so far. My fingers are crossed; I hope the rain does put off the fire of The Ashes
Highlights: England 319/7
Strauss 129, Warne 5-118
The honours even they have said. I suggest Aussies have drawn first blood in the last test of the series. Why do I say so? It is flat pitch to no ones surprise. The score looks healthy at present but won't do so if the Aussie bowlers polish up the tail in the first session itself. The score would not be sounding too great at 340 all out. The job is already cut-out fot he English. I suggest they should look at it as thus is the only inning they have to bat. This inning is perhaps being the key which can set the Aussie batsmen out of jail. If they can do it they will make mockery of this very brilliantly performing English team.
The Aussies would have to do serious batting make lots of runs, take a big first innings lead and set up challenge for the English batsmen.
A good century by Strauss, Trescothick is a batsman who will always give a chance. He presented one to Aussies who accepted it gleefully. The rest of English top-middle order batted like millionaires and got stuck in the web of the Sheikh of Tweak. If Sheikh can induce batsmen of the class of Tendulkar, Dravid, Lara, Attpattu and Laxman regarded as class players of spin bowling then English batsmen are easier to deceive. They show minimal of footwork; show no intention of leaving the safe haven of the crease, they have tradionaly been too committal on either front or back foot. There is nothing being taken away from Shane Warne, he is such a prodigious spiner of the cricket ball. It is no mean task; this can be gathered that not many can spin it that much.
I always fancied Tendulkar as a genuine leg spinner. He often shows signs of good leg spinner. He has the turn and variety too. The few dismissals that immediately come to mind are Moin Khan can being bowled by a googly which squared him up and went through his legs in third test in Pakistan. Steve Waugh having a wild waft at a sharp tuning delivery succeeded in guiding the ball into safe house called Dravid. The last and the most fitting: Warne leg before wicket to Tendulakar in Kolkatta Test which India won after following on.
Warne will continue to get wickets wherever he goes ‘coz that the only thing he knows.
There is one more thing I would like to bring to everyone’s attention. The following statistics also under line, how vital is Warne-McGrath partnership. They have more than 1150 international wickets between them in the last decade. In this match too their combined efforts is as follows, 53 overs 168 runs and 6 wickets. There are a few more facts; India blossomed in their tour to Australia simply because Warne-McGrath duo was missing. Well that’s part of history now.
A few things which either team would like to do:-
Australia: - Polish the English tail quickly, bat well, score big bat England out of the game. Then see what happens in second innings with a rather infamous tendency of English to collapse.
England: - Weather the storm of second new ball. Then cross the psychological 400 run mark. Then give the ball to Freddie Flintoff and party. The Aussie batsmen are not exactly on the run will be a bit scratchy and jittery.
This series is slated to go down to the wire. There are few surprises in-stored for every one. The saga has just begun. I am to know what happens next. The Ashes remains so close and yet so far. My fingers are crossed; I hope the rain does put off the fire of The Ashes
7.9.05
The Ashes Diary - Preview, Oval Test
The Ashes Diary: Preview Oval Test
It is down to the last Ashes test and the series is still undecided. I don’t know when such and occurrence was seen. It would have been definitely before I could spell cricket. I have not followed cricket for ages but I can say that this is one thing I always follow like many million of fans in India and thousands abroad.
This test like the series is likely to go to the wire down to the last ball on the last day. The table have been turned in a sense that England will be without Simon Jones. Simon Jones has done well along with Flintoff. Harmison has been more of stock bowler and less of a lethal bowler. It is more of the fact that, he has maintained pressure with some accurate and hostile display of "hit the deck" fast bowling. Flintoff and Jones have reaped huge dividends in the form out of form Aussie batsmen from the other end.
The Aussies have been such a hospitable treatment by English bowlers that they share only one test century in eight innings.
I read the following line in a paper which said that English have been more Aussies and the Aussies have been more English. The more heartening scenario for me has been the display of traditional, conservative form of test cricket. The run-rate through out the series has been breaking into the ceiling of four runs an over. This has ensured the audience an edge of the seat affair for the audience.
This is as good as a cricket series one will see. On matter which team one may support the game of crickets has lots of positive which came to foray from this series. These things may be ingredients which may act as a catalyst to English cricket.
The Oval pitch has been forever a very batsmen friendly. One can expect the pitch to be as flat as performances of Team India in final. It doesn’t get any flatter than that.
Talking of team India, I think its time for changes at the top. Ganguly will do a world of good to everyone including himself if he steps down gracefully and passes the baton to Rahul Dravid. The time is ripe for change. The team is struggling to find a winning path. I wonder how much does it has to do with absence of Sensei Sachin. India has not won a series for nearly two decades outside sub continent. I hope Indian bowlers steam roll Zimbabwe. I hope we can expect that to be done without much fuss.
Now returning to the Ashes…. Will there be heads rolled if Aussies lose the Ashes to England? The batting has been lacklustre and kind of dragging itself to the pitch. One more starling fact is this, the series where most number of sixes have been hit against Australia is it bad bowling or superb bowling. One thing is for sure if a team to beat the Aussie, they must give it hundred percent. There are records broken when Aussies are defeated. The performance has to be record breaking.
The series is wide open. The Aussie retains the Ashes if they win this one. This will ensure that people remember how Aussie drew level the series and English lost to regain the Ashes. All good work done will go down the drain for the English. I wish they are not praying for rain to play naughty at the Oval. The series is interestingly poised and nobody wants a wash out in the last match.
Is this the end of a era which saw the Aussies claiming the last frontier? Has English team enough fire in their bellies to reclaim the Ashes and their lost pride on the road to victory.
The Ashes Diary returns to give a reasons and facts of the Ashes. Do watch out for the review to the Ashes series and a final sum up of what was a fiery Ashes.
It is down to the last Ashes test and the series is still undecided. I don’t know when such and occurrence was seen. It would have been definitely before I could spell cricket. I have not followed cricket for ages but I can say that this is one thing I always follow like many million of fans in India and thousands abroad.
This test like the series is likely to go to the wire down to the last ball on the last day. The table have been turned in a sense that England will be without Simon Jones. Simon Jones has done well along with Flintoff. Harmison has been more of stock bowler and less of a lethal bowler. It is more of the fact that, he has maintained pressure with some accurate and hostile display of "hit the deck" fast bowling. Flintoff and Jones have reaped huge dividends in the form out of form Aussie batsmen from the other end.
The Aussies have been such a hospitable treatment by English bowlers that they share only one test century in eight innings.
I read the following line in a paper which said that English have been more Aussies and the Aussies have been more English. The more heartening scenario for me has been the display of traditional, conservative form of test cricket. The run-rate through out the series has been breaking into the ceiling of four runs an over. This has ensured the audience an edge of the seat affair for the audience.
This is as good as a cricket series one will see. On matter which team one may support the game of crickets has lots of positive which came to foray from this series. These things may be ingredients which may act as a catalyst to English cricket.
The Oval pitch has been forever a very batsmen friendly. One can expect the pitch to be as flat as performances of Team India in final. It doesn’t get any flatter than that.
Talking of team India, I think its time for changes at the top. Ganguly will do a world of good to everyone including himself if he steps down gracefully and passes the baton to Rahul Dravid. The time is ripe for change. The team is struggling to find a winning path. I wonder how much does it has to do with absence of Sensei Sachin. India has not won a series for nearly two decades outside sub continent. I hope Indian bowlers steam roll Zimbabwe. I hope we can expect that to be done without much fuss.
Now returning to the Ashes…. Will there be heads rolled if Aussies lose the Ashes to England? The batting has been lacklustre and kind of dragging itself to the pitch. One more starling fact is this, the series where most number of sixes have been hit against Australia is it bad bowling or superb bowling. One thing is for sure if a team to beat the Aussie, they must give it hundred percent. There are records broken when Aussies are defeated. The performance has to be record breaking.
The series is wide open. The Aussie retains the Ashes if they win this one. This will ensure that people remember how Aussie drew level the series and English lost to regain the Ashes. All good work done will go down the drain for the English. I wish they are not praying for rain to play naughty at the Oval. The series is interestingly poised and nobody wants a wash out in the last match.
Is this the end of a era which saw the Aussies claiming the last frontier? Has English team enough fire in their bellies to reclaim the Ashes and their lost pride on the road to victory.
The Ashes Diary returns to give a reasons and facts of the Ashes. Do watch out for the review to the Ashes series and a final sum up of what was a fiery Ashes.
4.9.05
Blog: Game Set and Match for Maria.
Game, Set and Match For Maria….
Sania beats Maria….Is it a distant dream? No. It is a real possibility. Well worth a match. We can give some points for Sania as probability would suggest she has got at least 50% of a chance of winning. It will be a big day/night for all Sania Mirza’s fan. She might have all sorts of problems with her strokes or fitness but she has everything to play for coz it’s never over till it’s over.
Everyone from Santana to Santa Claus all are gaga over her and singing just one gana Sania Sania…. instead of Maria Maria…. She can be aptly called Ms.India as she truly represents face of contemporary Indian women. Her background too gives encouragement to come out of hedonism of religion and let your laurels speak for yourself. She is focused on what she is doing. She knows what is next and she brushes past the uncertainties of tomorrow.
Now back to the match which is a showdown of Teen Queens. Sania is not only teen Queen she is the pulse of the nation. If she manages to pull a rabbit out of a hat it will be perhaps the biggest sports winning feat in history of tour nation. We a nation of more than a billion people should stand together behind her with all boons and hopes. All media will also be there from sab-se tez and sab-se slow. If Sania wins the media will go bonkers. It will set the cash register ringing for all of them. Then the Media will play a grand slam as to who gets the maximum pie for their own good.
There is a good role of media as well. By the time this day is half way through every kid, every chacha and every mausi of India will know what is US open and who is Sania Mirza. Every one should pray that Sania wins. Everyone will vouch her to go on and WIN. She has more than two billion shoulders to stand on and negate whatever Maria has to offer.
Go for it Sania play your heart out make sure Maria has to play her best tennis if she has to stay number one. Sania should say just ten words “If it is to be it is to be me.” The ball is in your court, give it the best fore hand you got. Let Maria run for cover from Hurricane Sania… Will Sania keep a date with history? I pray she does coz I got all my fingers crossed, I hope you do as well.
Sania beats Maria….Is it a distant dream? No. It is a real possibility. Well worth a match. We can give some points for Sania as probability would suggest she has got at least 50% of a chance of winning. It will be a big day/night for all Sania Mirza’s fan. She might have all sorts of problems with her strokes or fitness but she has everything to play for coz it’s never over till it’s over.
Everyone from Santana to Santa Claus all are gaga over her and singing just one gana Sania Sania…. instead of Maria Maria…. She can be aptly called Ms.India as she truly represents face of contemporary Indian women. Her background too gives encouragement to come out of hedonism of religion and let your laurels speak for yourself. She is focused on what she is doing. She knows what is next and she brushes past the uncertainties of tomorrow.
Now back to the match which is a showdown of Teen Queens. Sania is not only teen Queen she is the pulse of the nation. If she manages to pull a rabbit out of a hat it will be perhaps the biggest sports winning feat in history of tour nation. We a nation of more than a billion people should stand together behind her with all boons and hopes. All media will also be there from sab-se tez and sab-se slow. If Sania wins the media will go bonkers. It will set the cash register ringing for all of them. Then the Media will play a grand slam as to who gets the maximum pie for their own good.
There is a good role of media as well. By the time this day is half way through every kid, every chacha and every mausi of India will know what is US open and who is Sania Mirza. Every one should pray that Sania wins. Everyone will vouch her to go on and WIN. She has more than two billion shoulders to stand on and negate whatever Maria has to offer.
Go for it Sania play your heart out make sure Maria has to play her best tennis if she has to stay number one. Sania should say just ten words “If it is to be it is to be me.” The ball is in your court, give it the best fore hand you got. Let Maria run for cover from Hurricane Sania… Will Sania keep a date with history? I pray she does coz I got all my fingers crossed, I hope you do as well.
Tagged: If I were....
If I were a beginning, I would be: 0.
If I were a month, I would be: January.
If I were a day of the week, I would be: Friday.
If I were a time of day, I would be: A fresh early morning.
If I were a planet, I would be:Earth.
If I were a season, I would be: Winter.
If I were a sea animal, I would be: A Sea Horse.
If I were a direction, I would be: East.
If I were a piece of furniture, I would be: A King-size Bed.
If I were a sin, I would be: Hypocrisy.
If I were a liquid, I would be: Mercury.
If I were a fraud/scare, I would be: Y2K.
If I were a stone, I would be: A Diamond.
If I were a tree, I would be: A Mango tree.
If I were a tool, I would be a: A Swiss Army Knife.
If I were a flower/plant, I would be: A Rose.
If I were a kind of weather, I would be: Incessant Rain.
If I were a musical instrument, I would be: A guitar.
If I were an animal, I would be: A Lion.
If I were an emotion, I would be: Humor.
If I were a vegetable, I would be: Potato.
If I were a sound, I would be a: Flowing Waterfall.
If I were an element, I would be: Hydrogen.
If I were a car, I would be: Mercedes.
If I were a song, I would be: The Summer of ’69 – Bryan Adams.
If I were a food, I would be: Rice.
If I were a place, I would be: Mount Everest.
If I were a material, I would be: Silk.
If I were a taste, I would be: Hot and spicy.
If I were a scent, I would be: Musk.
If I were a religion, I would be: Peace.
If I could unite, I would be: The Inrternet.
If I were a sentence, I would be: I.
If I were a body part, I would be: The Mind.
If I were a facial expression, I would be: Laughter.
If I were a subject in school, I would be: Maths.
If I were you, I would be: Reading this further.
If I were a shape, I would be: A Circle.
If I were a number, I would be: 1.
If I were a colour, I would be: Red.
If I were a thing, I would be: Lighthouse.
If I were a benchmark, I would be: Six Sigma (6σ).
If I were a union, I would be: Dabbawalla of Mumbai City
If I were a monument, I would be: Taj Mahal
If I were a fine artist, I would be: A poet
If I were a collection of poems, I would be: Madhushalla
If I were a watch, I would be: Titan Fast-track.
If I were a God, I would be: The Sun.
If I were a vowel, I would be: an A.
If I were a consonant, I would be: Q.
If I were a formula, I would be: E=mc2.
If I were a Science, I would be: Economics.
If I were a theory, I would be: The Game Theory.
If I were an entrepreneur, I would be: Henry Ford.
If I were sport, I would be: Cricket.
If I were a movie, I would be: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.
If I were an explorer, I would be: Neil Armstrong.
If I were a relation, I would be: A friend.
If I were a river, I would be: The Ganges.
If I were intoxication, I would be: Love.
If I were alone, I would be: An Island.
If I were a question, then I would be: Why?
If I were a hobby, I would be: Reading.
If I were a habit, I would be: Punctuality.
If I were in an atom, I would be: A Neutron.
If I were a wonder, I would be: A Rainbow.
If I were an end, I would: Full stop.
3.9.05
Blog: Curls Swirls and Goals.
There are sports and there is football. The game that played with an equal passion where ever in the world you might be. It is as crisp as the samba on the beaches of Brazil, as it is on the maidans of the great city of Kolkatta. It is definitely one thing which is universal in the wide varied world. The goal remains a goal everywhere one may be.
Where to see?
The sports coverage is quite good so where to see is quite simply answered. There is a good coverage of European football. The viewers mainly consume the feed in from club football, which I must say is as good as International soccer.
When did I begin seeing it?
I being a cricket fan won’t mind following Sri-Lanka vs. Bangladesh being played in Sri-Lanka. The football fever struck me sometime during the last football world cup in 2002. By the way the next world cup is in Germany. The hosts are good contender with likes of Michael Ballack and Andriey Shivchenko and company. There are big matches all over the weekend and there is a big build up to the game.
What to watch?
Well football offers a lot of variety. The teams from Latin America play a very aggressive football. They play it the best because there is a lot of panache in their game. They have an entertaining display of football. One may be able to see big scores. There lots of goal being scored the score may often read 3-3, or 4-2. That’s why one will see great goal scorers from down there. Pele, Maradonna, Ronaldo and many more.
The Europeans play a more subdued and “cultured” game. They typical score may be 2-2, 2-1.
I like to watch a build up to the goal. How the ball is passed from the defence through to a must skill full mid-fielders to the goal scores or finishers.
There are goal scores which are lethal. I have kept names for few. Rudd Van Nilestrooy who plays for Manchester United and Holland is the “shark”. He will more often then not nets the ball in even if there is a slightest of chance of netting it in. He is as good as a finisher as one may see. Michael Owen too has great skills. Ronaldo is the greatest athletes among the present. There are lost of them and all fun to watch.
If there are great scores then there are great defenders and goal keepers. One name that always pops up is Oliver Kahn of Bayern Munich and Germany
The best part I like is exchange of jerseys at the end of a games play. It’s a great tradition.
Which Teams to see?
There is a big bouquet. There is The English Premier League, The Italian Serie’ A, The Spanish La-Liga the Bundesliga of Germany. Then there is the big one. There the top club teams from Europe wrestle for the UEFA Champions League, the biggest draw of them all. The teams to watch out are Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Valencia, Inter Milan and AC Milan, Real Madrid. It is easy to follow coz the big boys play on the weekends. There is a huge rush to it all. It’s fun to watch.
Why to watch?
If one can waste five days over a cricket Test Match or a day over one day international then two hours of football seem like peanuts. The adrenaline levels are higher than most cricket matches. The point is “most cricket matches” not “all cricket matches”. It was said before the Ashes that no one will watch it as it coincides with the starting of the English Premier League. The cricket matches in England sold like hot cakes.
The bottom line: "Football is great value for time of two hours."
Where to see?
The sports coverage is quite good so where to see is quite simply answered. There is a good coverage of European football. The viewers mainly consume the feed in from club football, which I must say is as good as International soccer.
When did I begin seeing it?
I being a cricket fan won’t mind following Sri-Lanka vs. Bangladesh being played in Sri-Lanka. The football fever struck me sometime during the last football world cup in 2002. By the way the next world cup is in Germany. The hosts are good contender with likes of Michael Ballack and Andriey Shivchenko and company. There are big matches all over the weekend and there is a big build up to the game.
What to watch?
Well football offers a lot of variety. The teams from Latin America play a very aggressive football. They play it the best because there is a lot of panache in their game. They have an entertaining display of football. One may be able to see big scores. There lots of goal being scored the score may often read 3-3, or 4-2. That’s why one will see great goal scorers from down there. Pele, Maradonna, Ronaldo and many more.
The Europeans play a more subdued and “cultured” game. They typical score may be 2-2, 2-1.
I like to watch a build up to the goal. How the ball is passed from the defence through to a must skill full mid-fielders to the goal scores or finishers.
There are goal scores which are lethal. I have kept names for few. Rudd Van Nilestrooy who plays for Manchester United and Holland is the “shark”. He will more often then not nets the ball in even if there is a slightest of chance of netting it in. He is as good as a finisher as one may see. Michael Owen too has great skills. Ronaldo is the greatest athletes among the present. There are lost of them and all fun to watch.
If there are great scores then there are great defenders and goal keepers. One name that always pops up is Oliver Kahn of Bayern Munich and Germany
The best part I like is exchange of jerseys at the end of a games play. It’s a great tradition.
Which Teams to see?
There is a big bouquet. There is The English Premier League, The Italian Serie’ A, The Spanish La-Liga the Bundesliga of Germany. Then there is the big one. There the top club teams from Europe wrestle for the UEFA Champions League, the biggest draw of them all. The teams to watch out are Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Valencia, Inter Milan and AC Milan, Real Madrid. It is easy to follow coz the big boys play on the weekends. There is a huge rush to it all. It’s fun to watch.
Why to watch?
If one can waste five days over a cricket Test Match or a day over one day international then two hours of football seem like peanuts. The adrenaline levels are higher than most cricket matches. The point is “most cricket matches” not “all cricket matches”. It was said before the Ashes that no one will watch it as it coincides with the starting of the English Premier League. The cricket matches in England sold like hot cakes.
The bottom line: "Football is great value for time of two hours."
1.9.05
Cricket: Injured Sachin, Bleeding India ...
As Sachin nurses himself back to health, India is struggling to find winning ways. The term “inconsistency” is the only thing which is consistent in Indian cricket. The fortunes of Indian teams has always buoyed with the form of the topmost player. With test slated for latter days of September things are not looking bright. There are obvious reasons that the scenario may only change when Sachin takes to field and leads the front. Sachin has done the wise thing. There is no point going to Zimbabwe.
The greatest player in history of the game needs a great stage to comeback. I wonder, if the World Series slated to be held in Australia in month of October is given a official status. If it is, it will provide a great stage to make his comeback. I hope Sachin breaks the record of most centuries in the presence of all the great players playing together against a great team like Australia. The record peaks for the man for himself. One thing which separates him out and creates his own class is consistency. Sachin has played an enormous amount of cricket 100 tests and 340 O.D.I. His consistency is amazing.
The other players are struggling to see India through. There are all kind of problems being faced in batting as one could imagine. If they score runs they cannot defend and if they bowl well they can’t put bat to ball. They onus seems to be in the team, rather than perform well.
The fast bowling department seems to be doing fine. This is obviously a good onus. Ashish Nehra coming to fore-front and picking wickets at will. Irfan Pathan also seems to hit the right rhythm. Zaheer Khan seems a bit low mentally his body language does not seem in tune with the game. He has also lost some of pace as well as control.
The moral of the story is: India needs Sachin to get back any sort of winning form.
The greatest player in history of the game needs a great stage to comeback. I wonder, if the World Series slated to be held in Australia in month of October is given a official status. If it is, it will provide a great stage to make his comeback. I hope Sachin breaks the record of most centuries in the presence of all the great players playing together against a great team like Australia. The record peaks for the man for himself. One thing which separates him out and creates his own class is consistency. Sachin has played an enormous amount of cricket 100 tests and 340 O.D.I. His consistency is amazing.
The other players are struggling to see India through. There are all kind of problems being faced in batting as one could imagine. If they score runs they cannot defend and if they bowl well they can’t put bat to ball. They onus seems to be in the team, rather than perform well.
The fast bowling department seems to be doing fine. This is obviously a good onus. Ashish Nehra coming to fore-front and picking wickets at will. Irfan Pathan also seems to hit the right rhythm. Zaheer Khan seems a bit low mentally his body language does not seem in tune with the game. He has also lost some of pace as well as control.
The moral of the story is: India needs Sachin to get back any sort of winning form.
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