About: 2007, A New Year.

As I sit and right down this post, the new year celebrations would have already started. Well this year has seen lots of ups and down and there will be some more of them through this life. But the emotional weight of a few events where just too heavy to carry.

About: Tapi in tears, Surat submerged.

I am looking forward for this new year perhaps from the time Surat was flooded. I grew up around sea shore but the images of water in such huge volumes just gave me a eerie feeling. I was perhaps wasn't much affected directly and I was in a safe house. I was a touch far away from Surat but my parents were stuck in here and for almost a week there was only water all around. The place where I stay saw water levels rise up to 6 to 7 feet and that to for week. It wasn't a pretty picture. I was thankful nothing untoward happen but Surat sprang back very quickly and all the mud and debris were clear in a week and looking cleaner than before. I think the scar of earlier floods (94 and 98) followed by Plague. It was kudos to the local and the state government along with thousands of voluntary groups which came forward to help each other when the going got tough. I think there were people who were worst affected and images which I saw humble and perhaps suprise me rather then shiver my soul out of my body.
It was bad.
It has made me look behind at times when things were good and how I often got top on tough times by just talking to myself. I think I need to do that more with myself. It is fun. You have to believe me I remember a few old moments and I simply burst into laughing. It is not always I may be a half crack but not a cynic loser.

Laughter is the least distance between two persons.

Cricket, (God no, is this guy crazy?)

To be honest yes every soul is a touch crack. One needs to be a bit crack to push oneself further from ones own the limits. I love cricket. I played a lot of cricket and listen to lot of commentary in school, college on the radio. Radio commentary rules. I have left playing the game long time back, six years to be precise. I love the game though. I think if anything I associate life with is the game of cricket. The tone of this blog has been up and down along with fortunes of Indian cricket team. Life always gives a second chance to do better.Life gives everyone a fair chance.

It is simply never over until is truly over.

Blogs.

Blogging is fun.I blog for myself, Cricket coaxes me to blog so does various other scenarios. I think I will plan to blog more on other issues as well and give "My Point of view" to the world. It will be honest, lament and may be not worth your liking. But then world is a spectrum of colours not just black out white. I manage to complete one year of blogging came up with my 200 post. There is more to come. I think off late I was not blogging enough to my liking, that was simply because I could not, thing were out of my hand.I think I still may not post things on time but I will try to login in some more posts regarding politic Indian current affairs and general things which may see some rotten eggs and tomatoes coming here but I wont shy away from controversies. I have tried hard not to post anything which may be open to zillion interpretations and start a chain reaction of mud slinging over the eye brow raising issue. May be turning off comments would be one, but I wish to know what the world things. I will definitely provide the reason for writing what ever I write.

2007 A new year.

I plan to change a template again but lets see. I will definetly look for somehthing real simple and lucid. Any suggestions would be experimented with, if any suggestion are sought then I will go out of my way for them. :)
How does one be himself ( or herself) when one does not know who he (or she) truly is? I think it is more about going with your instincts and being honest with oneself. One has to face failures and perhaps celebrate and learn something them rather than mulling over them and going no where.

Success after all is going from failures to failures without losing the enthusiasm.

A sense confusion and uncertainty rule the roost of my life. I have often trouble deciding which side of bed I want to get up from. Then other decisions are truly made on instincts. A trip to Pune and Shirdi. :) . I want to learn to channelize them and get more discipline in line with reason. For starters cutting down weight would be a right tonic. I may be just a couple of kilos (read 5 to 7 kilos) on the wrong side. I think getting into shape and cutting down would be great. The aim is to get within 70 kilos by Holi, ( I am 76 as off yesterday) I was never this skinny in my life.Lets see.
Then catching up on some old mates from School and College (the Gang), cousins relatives, family friends some of them are as good as cousins. Then juniors and seniors from college, some of these were God send. I also want to spend more time talking to myself. Then meeting more people from all round and perhaps some Blogger to would be fun. I want to regularly mail people instead of just scrapping or forwarding something stupid mail. Orkut has helped in getting in touch with people. I also want to try my hand at investing, there is always a free advice for my father but then handling ones own money isn't easy. I splurge and plan to splurge some more.Have it spend it.

I wish all the bloggers of the blogosphere a very resounding 2007. I hope some inactive bloggers spring back to life and start posting all over again coz it is pure magic to read their post.

Bottom line.

I look forward to this coming here with lots of expectation and hope. I wish to make this year my own let see where life takes us all. This ones for life.

The grandest of wishes for one and all.

Cricket: Second Test, SA on the mat.

India have made sure that they make this one sided tour exciting, which rekindled hope for cricket fan like me and bought right sort of attention to the game. It has been a year of mixed fortunes. I think inconsistency is what represents Indian cricket.

Not so green, I am sceptic.

I thought SAfs would come hard and make India stamp on an axe, but not to be. I was watching TV and Ravi Shastri ( a top commentator) kept on saying it was a good toss to lose. I was so happy when Dravid lost the toss and SAfs elected to bat.

South African first innings

Smith is Zaks bunny.

Zaheer Khan is looking really good. He has picked up Smith as his bunny, tormented him right through the ODIs and Smith was far away from being impressive. He tried postively and ended up top edging Zaheer, long hop, it was a skier and Tendulkar maintained his calm to latch on a good (also Vital) catch of Smith. Short Pitch Stuff on opposing captain, grerat going Zaheer. He was generating some pace, some more control may be and we would have had a better and clear picture.
Zaheer then trapped Amla for nothing and Safs were deja vu al over again.

DeVillers needs to do something better. It was a shot which must not be playe. He was dismissed again Tendulkar holding a tidy catch. It is good to see Dravid asking Tendulkar to stand on first slip.

Parternship tested Indian bowling.

Dravid opted not to atack after lunch with SAfs not enjoying much at 67 for 3. Anyways a partnership made sure India patience was tested. Indians held fort even after Gibbs changed gears and suddenly went on the rampage , but by mistake he pressed a self-destruct button only to get out on a short-pitch ball Dhoni mopping him up with a nice low catch.

Boucher-Sreesanth more than a contest.

Sreesanth upped the ante agains Boucher who kept on scoring against everyone barring Kumble. Sreesanth yorked him and the next ball pitched outside off and blew his middle and leg stumps away much to the joy on Sreesanth. Boucher kicking himself.

Pollock came, saw, thrashed and went.

Ambition or excess of it done Pollock in and VRV got his lone wicket of the innings. Pollock cut a rising VRV delivery to point where Sehwag caught a stinger. SAfs hoped dashed. The next to follow was a Kumble Show.

Kumble Show.

He has been an unsung hero of India Pantheon currently the fourth highest wicket taker. No mean achievement that. Andrew Hall who is in the record books for scoring a slwoest century that too aginst India wasn't alowed to settle in much and a googly ctrapped him front. The couple of balls latter another googly bowled Nel through the gate.

Prince on Kingsmead.

He is a sticker. Dravid is another but I think Dravid on present form is one of the most complete player in world cricket. Prince had his luck, as the standard of umpiring was not that good and there were a few appeals which were turned down and helped save SAfs from the blushes or else they would have been wrapped up for less that 225. Anyways he stayed among the ruins and played the way Test cricket should be played. He should cut on his tendency to sniff around the offstump. Hacques Rudolph is missing much to my dismay. He is a very good batssmen copy book but good.

What's instore?

It depends on what colour one is supporting. It is all about taking initiative and driving home the advantage. Indian will look to bowl them below 300 and SAfs will be first looking towards Prince getting a deserving century and then may be get as many as they can. Who opens the bowling in the first session of the day.
Indian will be batting at some-point in time. Lets hope SAfs get bowled for say 285. The Indian opening batsmen have to put the heads down and just wait for Pollock to get out of attack. it means even if they have to face him for an hour and not score to many then then can score heavily from other. Nel is important for SAfs and India should look fprward to scoring off him. Indians have to look to facing they second new ball with atleast 5 wickets in hand. If they do it they will win the series or else India will make a one sided affair exciting.


Shane Warne has taken 700 hundered wickets and can take a maximum of thirty more atleast 15 must I say.

About: Merry X-Mas

Here is me wishing a Merry Christmas to one and all. There is a lot to blog about and if everthing falls in place will post something in the hours to come ...

Cricket: Can it get better?

Well call it a greed or a deep desire ... should we hope India can pull off a series victory. It would be really awesome. Great in fact.
Back to what happened in this test.

First Innings: India limps to 250's vicinity.

India was tottering and was likely to holed out before 200 hundred but Ganguly farmed the tail and made sure the threshold of 200 was crossed. VRV Singh played a very typical number eleven innings. he whacked them to all parts something that would have tickled a dying souls funny bone. India manged to get into 250's neighbour hood. India in the morning was on 150 with 5 down.
Greg Chapell suggested that every run was twice the value. India nearly made 100. They looked in great spirits after VRV clobbered everything with his range. It was good to see Ganguly scoring. His innings sent a very strong message.

South African First innings scythe by Indian.

The bowling was one of the most aspiring and incredible part of this team. The team was out played in kind in the One Days and they do want to return it. After being bruised battered, sniffed tickle and bounce it was South African batting which need to answer some swinging questions.It did swing but there was a tame shameless surrender instead of a bold message. I think the thoughts of annihilation triggered South African collapse. You have to do more than just dream in oder to achieve. The top order had to face just seven over. The scorecard at lunch read 5 run for three wickets. Great delight for me.

India often let teams of the hook but not this team. The just pulled the carpet from SAfs feet and made sure they remain down in the dumps. Sreesanth got it to swung all day and claimed what Gavaskar called a Pfeiffer. It was to great joy for me to see some young fast bowler dishing things out to the opposition. The catching was amazing, fielding good only thing lacking is the top order to fire along with Tendulkar to blast Pollock out of attack.

Indians tend to win more when they excel in the field some amazing catches made sure that SAfs never reached triple figures, their lowest total since their re-admission to international cricket.
Great performance.

Indian second Innings: Will they screw up?

It comes up every time in my mind. They looked tottering with Dravid out for one it looked totally a vain attempt, Tendulkar played wonder fully to get out. Laxman stuck to task mean while Ganguly went to go over the top. Ntini got him. Laxman stood among the ruins and Zaheer manged to able support him for a partnership of 70 which made sure, India score above 200 in the second innings was over.
The icing on the came was yet to come. Andre Nel, a clown also speaking to batsman for no reason, he tried to ruffle Sreesanth, who smacked Nel out of the boundary for a huge six, an incident which followed is beyond words may be i will put a link to its video some day. Truly awesome.

Second Edit begins.

The first edit was as a result of just about managing the post when one finds time at the days end. it may not be tiring as always. I wanted to write more but then leave office as well. I wrote whatever I could...


India buoyed by late order batting.

The late order fought back and contribute crucial runs. Zaheer contributed a good hand of 37 he whacked mean while Laxman was all about touch, sublime touch may I say. The late floursih helped India to pull some momentum and push the score beyond the psychological barrier of 400. In test matches it is not very often that one sees a team chasing down 400 batting last. If one is as good (or bad) as the last inning, then this meant a countdown of a famous (read rare) Indian victory abroad especially away from sub continent.
The six by Sreesanth and the consequence dancing gyrations just summed up the whole test match. I am still laughing for it, if someone has it then please forward it to me.

Gibbs drives and Tendulkar nestles a catch.

They say nothing stops the inevitable. Zaheer Khan who got into the team through merit and made the case sure with his performance in ODIs. SAfs (read South Africa) had to play only six balls, an over. Zaheer pitched one up, Gibbs was tempted, playing away from the body he bottom edge to Tendulkar in first slip and pouched it like it was his dear baby. It is good to see Tendulkar in first slip. It is a positive more. Dravid in his own right is a brilliant slip catcher. Will he return there when his broken finger recovers, case to be seen.

The beginning of an end.

India nine more wickets away from victory. Gibbs bagged a pair, thats, a big nought in both the innings, courtesy over confidence and under estimation. Then it was Sreesanth show again. Captain Humongous Graeme Smith slashed hard and Sehwag caught a scorcher of a catch. India's catching and conceding extras are true signs of their intentions of winning. Amla whacked Sreesanth only to be pouched again caught behind of a delivery which rose and move away just enough.

A partnership blossomed but you Kallis followed the pavilion after getting a start ans startled by a Sreesanth delivery was caught in the slip, the commentators are all over Sreesanth and so are the advertisers, I see some big brands and big money coming his way.

The next wicket was a prime example of India doing the basic right and fielding well, (not superb at this stage) DeVillers reminds me of Ponting in his early career run for suicide Zaheer made his presence felt when his under arm flick saw Devillers short of crease. SAfs five down at the close of play on day three.

Day four, India's hour.

India need just five wicket taking deliveries to wrap it up and kick the faces of India media who made sure India would never ever close to even drawing one match. It is a pleasant suprise for all of us. But there is alway a hope of India doing well no matter how there form is.

The day could not start any better when Zaheer trapped Boucher in front of wicket, India on a roll. Pollock mean while decided to have a go at Indian bowlers he played much more than he could. Kumble to India's rescue beat Pollock on length and ball just kissed the top of leg stump, India closer to victory. Nel was then beaten for pace length and spin was crapped LBW guess who, Kumble. The next dismissal was as good as it gets, Kumble set it up allowing Prince to slip into a territory where he thought he could smack anything. he scampered down the pitch only not finding his length and ball hitting the stumps. India on a threshold of victory.

Zahher Khan ended it all as he induced an edge of Ntini which resulted in Sehwag claiming a good catch. India won a famous victory.

A few lessons, a few queries and few facts.

India played well to bowl out SAfs on 84 which made sure SAfs were on back foot and running a losing race. India played perfect under dogs and followed the basics. The batsmen hung out and most played defiant innings to set it up. The bowlers stuck to task on bowling in the right place and often producing deliveries which made the batsmen to surrender his wicket and head towards pavilion. The seam up bowling was brilliant so was Kumble and Zaheer. The youth started the down fall (Sreesanth and VRV) and age completed it(Zaheer and Kumble).

Laxman made sure he did not repeat the same mistake. He had a started he has to tighten up at times may be by the quality of his strokes. Tendulkar has to score runs. Ganguly has still to prove a lot although he has started well. The bowling looks good and imagine Irfan Pathan if out of the team, I don't think India will make changes to the team going into the next test. The opening is still a cause of concern let see them tightening up their game. Imagine Tendulkar coming down at 120 for 2 instead of 15 for two.

Dravid is the man of the moment.

A say a news channel hunting for SMS inquiring who is responsible for this victory and turn around in India fortune. Dravid no one else. If he has drawn much flak for India not doing well then he alone deserves the credit for victory. He has to be acknowledged more. He is still nursing an injury to his finger and came against medical advice and led India to victory. He weathered the storm and took a few more blows and made sure SAfs were always on the mat. His bowling changes were amazing and he kept talking the bowlers and plotting each downfall. Ganguly may have been a brilliant captain but most of his amazing victories are courtesy Dravid fighting it out and grinding the opposition into sub mission, (Adelaide and Headingley).

Dravid is the only one who deserves all the claim while team can savor the sweet victory.

Whateva u do; just watch the video on this link.

Cricket: Wondering about the Wanderer's

It is not over until the last wicket is taken, last run score and last ball bowled.

It looks in India favourites to win and they may win it. There is more to come in this test match. If the weather doesn't intervene we may see an Indian victory.

Humble pie served again to people who thought Indian cricket was dead. I would love to see the news papers tomorrow. Dravid couple of days said it all. He proclaimed don't write us off.

Ashes have been decided it is the Aussies this time. Gilchrist just blasted a centulr in 57 balls, record is off 56.

Today has been a day which tells us that what a great saga the game of cricket is really.
Hopefully the saga will continues and the charm will remain forever.


Birthday greeting to Sudeep. Belated happy Birthday pal.

Blog: A fresh guard.

A lot has happened since I blogged last. God forbids but it seems like it has been forever since I last blogged. Aussies have got into winning ways. India seems to adapt well to the fact that they are poor travelers especially if it means going to face quality hostile bowling. Could anyone believe that Sachin Tendulkar would ever struggle for runs. But life is little more than a struggle be it a Warren Buffet goofing up some where or Amitabh Bachchan struggling for a hit in late nineties. They say nobody dies a virgin; life screws everyone. If u can't bear it then enjoy it. There are various version depending upon your geographic locality but crux is independent of latitudes and longitudes. It has about courage nothing else. the courage not to face the realm of beyond there horizon of thoughts but courage of control of oneself. He who mastered himself serves one and all.

I have seen, heard, known and gone through this many a times. The sun rises after the hour which is the darkest and perhaps the coldest. The last fortnight saw Indian Courts passing on judgment on three cases. The cases included Shibhu Soren, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sanjay Dutt. Shibhu Soren is an activist, his activities are based on other side of law. He has been doing lot of looting and tings worst then that he also manged to get "elected" and also gained a Cabinet berth, beat that. Aristotle had said "the petty thievies are hanged the great once are elected for a public office." The institution of democracy is by the people of the people and for the people. I guess it is a journey not a destination. They say their is devil in the detail so lets not get there.

I was struggling to update a blog even though there was a lot to blog about. There was Ganguly was exclaimed a War hero for a 83 mean while Pathan just posted a 115*, Ganguly was out without scoring but hedge funds are claiming him to be in form meanwhile Greg Chappel are best friends. There is cricket and there are men who will talk it. The other day there was a discussion while going to car, someone exclaimed that if Ganguly goes consistent for six months he will be back as captain. I cited a little flaw, I said if he remains consistent, I was not writing off, I will be the last person who will write people off, Ganguly has been a very good One Day player, a brilliant finisher, his century assure India of a victory. He struggles in Tests coz he is not good enough to undergo a test of five day, where you may have to field for the first two days and then bet against your life and bat for three days or vice versa.

The whole point about Ganguly record can be pitted against Dravid both started international cricket on the same date. Dravid is perhaps as fit as anyone in the Indian team. His test record is know out of a large shadow called Tendulkar. I think this is turning out to be a cricket post again, more on Tendulkar later.

SNAP shot.

SNAP stands for Symbiosis Nation APtitude Test. This time my center is Surat this time, I have screwed up a little with the form so lets see. A few things needs to be brushed and some need things need to be dug up again, washed, cleaned and relinquished. The thoughts of CAT bitter or sweet can no longer be counted as an achievement of disaster of life, there is more in life. Anyways SNAP is tougher than CAT in the sense it has more questions and weird marking schemes. There is GK in that my natural forte. Then in SNAP there is more emphasis on logic and reasoning and things like those. Let see I would have said once but need to grind myself into it. Harder, further stronger.

Surat on a Sunday.

The city city of Surat is in bang in the middle of two big business centers Ahemdabad to the North and Mumbai to the South. Surat to is a big business center in itself. It is the Diamond Polishing center of not only India but perhaps of the world too. The Varachha Road is big and traffic logged. It is a big on Textile too, predominantly sarees. The people are friendly and will to welcome one and all. I dont think you will out of place in this city, at least I have not for past two and half years or so.

Sunday in Surat is all about taking the vehicle you own, and get to Dumas Beach, where there is nothing, I think a theme part will do great here lets see. The whole city is on bike and cars and if you are just two on a two vehicle u are likely to be hauled up by the Traffic Havaldar. Big Bazaar just opened a few days back. If u go there on Sundays you will feel like a Kumbh Mela but seeing the volume of the people there, it is not a mistake. That whole road is now a Retail road with three multiplexes, a Garden, Premier shops and some more Malls under construction. This road I am talking about is "Gaurav Paath". It is an 8 lane road and which stretches for nearly 6 to 8 kms a drive there is absolute pleasure provide it is not a Sunday.

I got some books for myself, Angels and Demons,. I have read it but only on a soft copy, Then a book by Naom Chomsky. Madhushalla is what Mom bought it is an absolute delight. It is a must read for everyone. I wonder if Abhishekh Bachchan has read what his Grand father wrote? I think he may have. :)

Sitaron ke aage jhaan aur bhi hain;
Abhi ishq ke imtehaan aur bhi hain.

There are worlds beyond the faintest seen stars;
Love is yet to be completely tested.

I think it sums it up why I haven't been able to blog.

About: AIDS Day

Prevention is the only cure.

The worst thing than death is living a dead life.
Be safe and be smart. No one want to screw up life in a big way
Is there anything worst then dying of AIDS?
Mend your way, life to expensive to let one mistake ruin it all.
Today the December the first, is the World Aids Day.
Spread the knowledge and not the virus.
Make a promise and keep it.