Let me say this, I am being honest here. I never thought India would win more than a couple of matches let alone the series. I thought, Jayasuriya, Jaywardene and Murali will have Indians for barbecue and beer. “Help yourself” no limits barred were on the menu on this buffet. But then I did not take Dhoni’s reputation of crumpling the past under his feet and make another huge stride in his campaign of wining good matches and contributing in more ways than just the bat. The next task would b winning a final of a triangular or some other big tournament away from home. Dhoni is on his way to be the best captain India has seen. It is a big thing to say but then I can afford to say this; here it is “My point of view®”
Aye aye Captain.
He is amazing. A clout is certainly growing with Dhoni in the centre of it all. You hear Aussie commentators, especially Ian Chappell saying how a Captains psyche becomes the teams psyche. One can see two examples here, one of Dhoni and then of Peitersen, though, I regard Pietersen as a top quality stroke player, foolish batsman and an atrocious fielder. Then third example could be, of Graeme Smith. But I think Smith would love to have more options in bowling department, namely a spinner. SAfs are you listening? Lets get back to Dhoni. He has taken Indian cricket followers by storm. We have seen people come in play well and then show some panache. He came in loads of panache and style. It was Paki President Musharaff go gaga over his locks. Then came in Dhoni the chunk hitter. He can turn ot on in the slog overs and score in double quick time.His stroke play is limited, no doubt, I mean I don’t expect a flowing cover drive all along the carpet from Dhoni. But he is born to bludgeon it back over the bowlers head. Since age,form and supreme fitness are all playing part in Dhoni’s much deserved success. He is performing so in a sense he is not just there to make plans and strategies; he is a critical part of the strategy. He is the engine and the steering wheel of this made in India cricket team.
Great captains are damn lucky. Dhoni won the toss, a big help in negating Mendis-Murali threat, there was no way India can win chasing in the lights. Yuvraj was turning it a square, Murali could have turned it the breadth of the pitch.
Indian innings.
Indians started cautiously, each failing innings I am getting more depressed for Gambhir, He is in such a good form, he has to convert starts into big runs. The openers slot is still wide open in the sense that, Jaffer is there in test. Jaffers known for big centuries in domestic cricket. In other formats, namely ODI and T-20 there s Uthhappa who is not picked from some weird reason, not forget the Phantom of Sehwag. Anyways Gambhir Persished soon, Virat Kohli was looking good made a good 50. He was then beaten for pace and played on to the stumps. He wasn’t exactly tested. I mean he was gifted leg side deliveries and there wasn’t much happening there besides boundaries. Yuvraj holed out, He is heavy a torrid time. He is way off the boil I don’t know it is the knee that’s troubling him. He got out without scoring. I think he should stared fielding at backward point again. You know couple of sharp catches, a run out and a few saves can turn the bad times in no mean time. I mean Yuvraj would have loved the platform Dhoni and Raina had made for him. He couldn’t have done much coz he was dismissed quickly giving Vaas his 400 ODI wicket. Dhoni and Raina then stabilized and then kept adding moment through out the middle overs and kept Murali and Mendis at bay. The scored at run a ball and India could have been in much better position had each not got out at the time they got out. Indians lost last seven wickets for 30-35 runs or so. Rains chipped one in the air and Dhoni holed out, seemingly looking tired. The reset of them just came and went without rhyme or reason. India packed 258. A very good total, they may be 30- runs short but very competitive.
Lankan Innings.
Lankan reply or should it be Jayasuriya’s reply to the Indian total? Their first wicket fell around 30, the opener fell for a naught. How ordinary is that? Indian bowlers are all over Lankans. Sangakarra only too good to be true, played on to Munaf. It is good to see Munaf among wickets. I think he can improve on the length, the line is impeccable though. A couple of more wickets and then Harbhajan was licking his lips. Indian have decoded Sri Lanka formula, bat first, get decent score, anything above 220 and then let Murali do the rest. This strategy works nine out of ten times, lets just say this was the tenth turn after nine successive campaigns. Jayasuriya’s edge of the bat is increasingly growing. It is creditable to Jaysuriya, that he has struck 11 centuries after age of 35. I bet at least 6 of them against India. I wonder why are his performance biased in and around the subcontinent?
Anyways he played against the spin, Raina caught a very good catch. The way Indians field not only show their physical preparation, taking good catches and making run outs makes a team look really good. Jaywardene undermined his own abilities. 16 of 40 balls, chasing a decent total aint a way. He was planning to take it to last ten overs, again getting regimented on a plan without any other plan to fall back on. A swift throw saw him run out. Sri Lanka four down, but metaphorically all said and done because three of the four wickets were named Jayasuriya, Sangakarra, Jayawardene. Indians would have felt match is in pocket, rest of the two wickets were Dilshan and Kapugudera, both woefully out of form, Lankans were dead and buried. Thushara, was perhaps symbolic of how an oil lamp ends with a flicker at the end. I thought he should have come up the order but then Indian won the series after being dead and buried in test series,against the same bowling attack.
Jaywardene the losing Captain.
Jaywardene stomach would have churned after loosing the toss, perhaps he himself got many things to think about right now so he can take off his mind and start thinking cricket There is a scope of improvement though. The toss is so important that if the captain gets his call right, the match is in the pocket. I think West Indies and Sri Lanka offer some of the most partisan and ordinary pitches in the world, low turners. Not good for cricket. Indian pitches are not to great too, but the pitches here are not that too biased as the pitches in the Emerald Isle. Did you see Yuvraj turn the ball square? Well Jayawardene as got a big correction, all the hype of Asian Ashes are down the drain. He is too good for that,he adapted to very well to the new role as a captain. He has to realize that cricket doesnt allow to get to ahead off yourself and your words will come to haunt you before you finish winking your eyes.
Sweeping mistakes under the magic carpet of a Series win.
India won the fourth match but if Lankans would have seized intitative (read Jayasuriya scoring 140+ ) then these mistake would have come to haunt big time.Indians lost Raina and Dhoni back to back and Indian innings folded before they reached the pavilion and changed.
So one set batsman has to see the end of the innings come what may.
Where is the support/flourish at the end?
Bowling short to Jayasuriya wont pay any dividends, ever.
Why was mid off kept back when Harbhajan is turning it square and score read Lankans Six down?
Wht wasn’t there slip to Harbhajan when Mendis was bowling?
I hope coach and Captain have similar puzzles in their diaries.
Me gearing up for Aussies coming to India.
25.8.08
Cricket: Sri Lanka loose.
India winning is passé for now, so Sri Lanka lost the match, again, India have won two in a row so that ensure the remaining of the match will have something to offer other than academics. You know, “just for the sakes thing” wont be there. So thats something good. Will it last? I for one thought India would be bundled out 3-1 by the fourth mach, but I was really surprised as I had exchanged by blue jersey for the darker shade. The darker shade just faded tonite.
This Singh is King too.
There are so many Singh going every where these days. This Singh is one of the King. India is high on MSD, (Mahendra Singh Dhoni). He has just raised the level of captaincy a couple of notches. I still have reservations about team selection though, but as crowds part for a man who knows where he is going, Dhoni makes the right call more often then not. Those traits are good. He first took a right call for dropping Pathan, poor chap, Virat Kohli, is young and did play well, before running himself out. Gambhir, seems to losing momentum need to up the ante soon, because he can play spin really really well, he has had a good run from the last T-20 World cup and scoring in every form of the game. Anyways Dhoni saw himself in a familiar situation of rebuilding his innings, Raina, who had a very good Asia cup, looking good, was also run out after making a solid 54, Badri felt early, so not much on him. Dhoni mean while looked like a man with a plan and purpose and will to execute, He made a well made 76 before he was out in the pen-ultimate over. Dhoni like Ganguly has started well leading by performances, but there is long road. Ganguly seemed to fizzle out of form especially in test and then runs, and fitness seems desert him. I think wicket keeping ensure Dhoni match fit. He is a very vital component of this batting line, with ability to hit some towering sixes.
But playing a bowler shot would have seemed like a very stupid decision if Lanka were to bat first and score card that would have read 120 for None. But he made the right call, India batted first knowing that Murali and Co would be hard to negotiate under lights, he won the toss and batted. A decent start helped and Dhoni-Raina-Sharma did their bit to present a respectable store. Indian seam bowlers darting the white cherry around, seemed to have had the better of Lanka’s batting. All the worries are now resting in Lankan camp, Indians wont mind it at present, in fact that would be welcome change, Lankans carrying the burden of favourites tag. I wonder will they collapse again if they were to bat first?
No one is singing for this Singh.
Yuvraj Singh, continues to vacillate between ordinary and extra ordinary performance, the chief architect on India T20 World Cup along with MSD off course, any way the start was decent but Yuvraj needs to carry on, perhaps he might be interested in watching today’s highlights and see what Jayawardene did. He needs to spend time, say 10 overs 60 balls I don’t care how much he scores in those 60 balls, he can cut loose anytime and make up for that lost time. The runs he makes afer that would be worth couple of barrels of Crude. ODI is Yuvrajs domain, if he stays in the end India will win,if sats are to be believed, India don’t loose often when Yuvraj crosses 50.
Zaheer in wonderland.
Zaheer has a penchant for pegging back left hand opening batsmen. Gilchrist, Langer, Smith, Gayle, Sangakarra, couple of new openers from Lanka, Cook from England have all been on Zaheer platter. I still remember his one of delivery to Langer in a Mumbai test when Aussies were here last. He produced a beauty kicking of from length and Langer was proud to glove it. He is in control and seems to be taking care of Sangakarra, He has him twice in two matches. Its Zaheer ability, something that Pathans lack to just land one a stump away from off and coming in to the left hander. Sanga creamed Zaheer, to a boundary only to be beaten next ball and see the Umpire raise his finger, the rot started. Jayasuriya is such a touch plaer against India, just guided a gentle lob to Dhoni, couple of more LBW and Lanka dug themselves a big hole, more to come, couple of more wicket, Munaf also coming to the party, Lanka down and out. He looks in a wonderful rhythm, Zaheer should take the charge and will have to continue to pile deep, if India is to win this series
Captains in command.
Jayawadene would have dealy thanked the India if he had crossed into three figues, if you are playing in Lanka you cannot drop catches of Jayasruriya Jayawardene and company and then think you will cream them off, with couple of catches gone a begging Jaywardene would have taken Lanka home but he played a risky flick which ended up as a lob to man behind his back, victory was for th taking, Munaf cleaned up Murali. He dug in and build his innings picking and chosing what to hit, leave and ease for a single. When he got out, he had a very good strike rate. He almost single handedly won the match.
The loser goes back to safety of his home.
The Champions Trophy issue crept up last week. I don’t know whats with the security? We hada tournament last month there, nothing came of it. Is it more because of politics between the sub continent countries and England-Australia-SAfs and NZ. I think there is lot of politics going on in the board room off ICC. There has been lot of it there in past few years. India and sub continent fetching nearly 80% of ICC revenue, wants more while the founding countries still amazed and seduced by the revenue don’t wish to accept the new hegemony of the business of country and the huge following there is. Australia don’t accept it because they are the most consistently winning for so many years. The English who “invented” the game and took it their colonies, haven’t done all that to well in any form of cricket, especially after IPL become such huge thing in India, the number coming out of IPL and couple of foreign players who came and played and went back to the counties would have spread the word around, ECB still looking dumb as to why did they not allow players here for IPL. I LMAO when I first read couple of fortnights back that English would be sending their second rung team, man it would have not mattered, they way they seem to crash out of major tournaments, it wouldn’t have mattered if they were to second whichever rank team hey wanted. They would have come there just to fill the numbers. West Indies board don’t have much say, SAfs pull out was surprise, perhaps they were more concerned with Aussies coming in and their Captain in not the best of health. That’s is besides the point now.
So will the suspended Champions trophy make way for Champions League?
A few other points.
Dravid should be recalled ASAP.
Whats with the fielding/catching/running?
Four bowlers/Eight batsmen?
Are India Spinner looking at Mendis?
Mendis = Kumble - bounce
Sharma/Badri should be number three.
Yuvraj may wanna look at number four.
The edge is missing from both teams, bothe teams are guilty of vacillating between sublime to the ridiculous.
This Singh is King too.
There are so many Singh going every where these days. This Singh is one of the King. India is high on MSD, (Mahendra Singh Dhoni). He has just raised the level of captaincy a couple of notches. I still have reservations about team selection though, but as crowds part for a man who knows where he is going, Dhoni makes the right call more often then not. Those traits are good. He first took a right call for dropping Pathan, poor chap, Virat Kohli, is young and did play well, before running himself out. Gambhir, seems to losing momentum need to up the ante soon, because he can play spin really really well, he has had a good run from the last T-20 World cup and scoring in every form of the game. Anyways Dhoni saw himself in a familiar situation of rebuilding his innings, Raina, who had a very good Asia cup, looking good, was also run out after making a solid 54, Badri felt early, so not much on him. Dhoni mean while looked like a man with a plan and purpose and will to execute, He made a well made 76 before he was out in the pen-ultimate over. Dhoni like Ganguly has started well leading by performances, but there is long road. Ganguly seemed to fizzle out of form especially in test and then runs, and fitness seems desert him. I think wicket keeping ensure Dhoni match fit. He is a very vital component of this batting line, with ability to hit some towering sixes.
But playing a bowler shot would have seemed like a very stupid decision if Lanka were to bat first and score card that would have read 120 for None. But he made the right call, India batted first knowing that Murali and Co would be hard to negotiate under lights, he won the toss and batted. A decent start helped and Dhoni-Raina-Sharma did their bit to present a respectable store. Indian seam bowlers darting the white cherry around, seemed to have had the better of Lanka’s batting. All the worries are now resting in Lankan camp, Indians wont mind it at present, in fact that would be welcome change, Lankans carrying the burden of favourites tag. I wonder will they collapse again if they were to bat first?
No one is singing for this Singh.
Yuvraj Singh, continues to vacillate between ordinary and extra ordinary performance, the chief architect on India T20 World Cup along with MSD off course, any way the start was decent but Yuvraj needs to carry on, perhaps he might be interested in watching today’s highlights and see what Jayawardene did. He needs to spend time, say 10 overs 60 balls I don’t care how much he scores in those 60 balls, he can cut loose anytime and make up for that lost time. The runs he makes afer that would be worth couple of barrels of Crude. ODI is Yuvrajs domain, if he stays in the end India will win,if sats are to be believed, India don’t loose often when Yuvraj crosses 50.
Zaheer in wonderland.
Zaheer has a penchant for pegging back left hand opening batsmen. Gilchrist, Langer, Smith, Gayle, Sangakarra, couple of new openers from Lanka, Cook from England have all been on Zaheer platter. I still remember his one of delivery to Langer in a Mumbai test when Aussies were here last. He produced a beauty kicking of from length and Langer was proud to glove it. He is in control and seems to be taking care of Sangakarra, He has him twice in two matches. Its Zaheer ability, something that Pathans lack to just land one a stump away from off and coming in to the left hander. Sanga creamed Zaheer, to a boundary only to be beaten next ball and see the Umpire raise his finger, the rot started. Jayasuriya is such a touch plaer against India, just guided a gentle lob to Dhoni, couple of more LBW and Lanka dug themselves a big hole, more to come, couple of more wicket, Munaf also coming to the party, Lanka down and out. He looks in a wonderful rhythm, Zaheer should take the charge and will have to continue to pile deep, if India is to win this series
Captains in command.
Jayawadene would have dealy thanked the India if he had crossed into three figues, if you are playing in Lanka you cannot drop catches of Jayasruriya Jayawardene and company and then think you will cream them off, with couple of catches gone a begging Jaywardene would have taken Lanka home but he played a risky flick which ended up as a lob to man behind his back, victory was for th taking, Munaf cleaned up Murali. He dug in and build his innings picking and chosing what to hit, leave and ease for a single. When he got out, he had a very good strike rate. He almost single handedly won the match.
The loser goes back to safety of his home.
The Champions Trophy issue crept up last week. I don’t know whats with the security? We hada tournament last month there, nothing came of it. Is it more because of politics between the sub continent countries and England-Australia-SAfs and NZ. I think there is lot of politics going on in the board room off ICC. There has been lot of it there in past few years. India and sub continent fetching nearly 80% of ICC revenue, wants more while the founding countries still amazed and seduced by the revenue don’t wish to accept the new hegemony of the business of country and the huge following there is. Australia don’t accept it because they are the most consistently winning for so many years. The English who “invented” the game and took it their colonies, haven’t done all that to well in any form of cricket, especially after IPL become such huge thing in India, the number coming out of IPL and couple of foreign players who came and played and went back to the counties would have spread the word around, ECB still looking dumb as to why did they not allow players here for IPL. I LMAO when I first read couple of fortnights back that English would be sending their second rung team, man it would have not mattered, they way they seem to crash out of major tournaments, it wouldn’t have mattered if they were to second whichever rank team hey wanted. They would have come there just to fill the numbers. West Indies board don’t have much say, SAfs pull out was surprise, perhaps they were more concerned with Aussies coming in and their Captain in not the best of health. That’s is besides the point now.
So will the suspended Champions trophy make way for Champions League?
A few other points.
Dravid should be recalled ASAP.
Whats with the fielding/catching/running?
Four bowlers/Eight batsmen?
Are India Spinner looking at Mendis?
Mendis = Kumble - bounce
Sharma/Badri should be number three.
Yuvraj may wanna look at number four.
The edge is missing from both teams, bothe teams are guilty of vacillating between sublime to the ridiculous.
24.8.08
Blog: At ease, Sunday
There was lot of catching up to do. I was not in sync with me for better part of the week. Things seem to spiral downwards, first it was a running nose then it was sore throat and cough, then head aches before and after a slumber and then had fever for couple of nights. It was perhaps the weekday blues. I feel I have lot of catching up to do with my own self.
Blogging helps. :D
I hope things are for the better. I have promised myself a plate of hot samosas and kachoris for Sunday morning brunch. You see there is a shop that fishes out lovely samosa for a deep frying pan, very yummy. I think my parents would settle for khasta kachori, and khajur ki cutney. I generally prefer having samosas in the evening after the welcome siesta following a heavy lunch. Mom seems to more gear for Sunday brunch and then Sunday lunch. Both being weekly events, much looked forward too. Family having three meals a day together, much longed for. The lunch obviously taken a bit late, you see it takes time to cook up three course menu. If some yummy sweet dish is done that one can have his stomach full, thank the lord for it before that, and following a little prayer, a little lunch, siesta is then part of the natural sequence.
You see I associate food and sleep like on following the other, hand in glove kind a thing. For going to sleep the dinner is important, after getting up follows break fast, and then some lunch if you could afford a sleep after lunch then you are lucky, but one can follow their dreams after dinner though. I have had (more than a) fair share of nap in my life. I think anyone who eats to this heart content and sleeps, and wakes up without any worries is the richest person on Earth. You might have read this very thing some where else too, believe me I read it from the same place. :P
Anyways there is a cricket match tomorrow a well, so also there is a grand prix , so wont mind checking that out. Although I am a pissed off about the champions trophy about to all out, I think it is more than the security issue in Pakistan, its politics in the ICC between countries of Sub Continent, India Pakistan (and may be Sri Lanka n Bangladesh) and Other, (Australia, England and South Africa).
( I will try to explore this in my next cricket blog.)
I just want to say to this to SAfs and the others, Pakistan is as safe and a violent neighbourhood in Johannesburg. So come on in and get on with it.
Anyways couple of college friends were about to come and pay a visit but then it has been a while but those guys postponed it to the next weekend. Don’t have many plans for the evening though, if some one comes calling than it is a different issue. I got some chores as well, which have to be shifted from “Plan To Do” to actually “to do”.
Gokul Aashtmi, it rains after midnite. Some may say what the hell, it rains in this season all day round, particular, in this region of sub continent. It is just a belief. When I last saw out of my window, the rain was a pleasant full, like a soft fountain and the rain drops seem to sway in a cool breeze like leaves in fall, really pleasant to the senses.
More updates in next 48 hours.
Blogging helps. :D
I hope things are for the better. I have promised myself a plate of hot samosas and kachoris for Sunday morning brunch. You see there is a shop that fishes out lovely samosa for a deep frying pan, very yummy. I think my parents would settle for khasta kachori, and khajur ki cutney. I generally prefer having samosas in the evening after the welcome siesta following a heavy lunch. Mom seems to more gear for Sunday brunch and then Sunday lunch. Both being weekly events, much looked forward too. Family having three meals a day together, much longed for. The lunch obviously taken a bit late, you see it takes time to cook up three course menu. If some yummy sweet dish is done that one can have his stomach full, thank the lord for it before that, and following a little prayer, a little lunch, siesta is then part of the natural sequence.
You see I associate food and sleep like on following the other, hand in glove kind a thing. For going to sleep the dinner is important, after getting up follows break fast, and then some lunch if you could afford a sleep after lunch then you are lucky, but one can follow their dreams after dinner though. I have had (more than a) fair share of nap in my life. I think anyone who eats to this heart content and sleeps, and wakes up without any worries is the richest person on Earth. You might have read this very thing some where else too, believe me I read it from the same place. :P
Anyways there is a cricket match tomorrow a well, so also there is a grand prix , so wont mind checking that out. Although I am a pissed off about the champions trophy about to all out, I think it is more than the security issue in Pakistan, its politics in the ICC between countries of Sub Continent, India Pakistan (and may be Sri Lanka n Bangladesh) and Other, (Australia, England and South Africa).
( I will try to explore this in my next cricket blog.)
I just want to say to this to SAfs and the others, Pakistan is as safe and a violent neighbourhood in Johannesburg. So come on in and get on with it.
Anyways couple of college friends were about to come and pay a visit but then it has been a while but those guys postponed it to the next weekend. Don’t have many plans for the evening though, if some one comes calling than it is a different issue. I got some chores as well, which have to be shifted from “Plan To Do” to actually “to do”.
Gokul Aashtmi, it rains after midnite. Some may say what the hell, it rains in this season all day round, particular, in this region of sub continent. It is just a belief. When I last saw out of my window, the rain was a pleasant full, like a soft fountain and the rain drops seem to sway in a cool breeze like leaves in fall, really pleasant to the senses.
More updates in next 48 hours.
20.8.08
About: Today
I was signing on something today, as a habit I write the date below the sign, I realized today is 20 August 2008, just for fun it is 20-08-2008 or 20082008.
Just for fun. :p
I tried googling for some found this site. just converted Decimal 20 August 2008 to respective binary and hexadecimal number. The result are as follows.
Binary: 1001100100110110101011000
Hexadecimal: 1326D58
I have been wondering is Morse code can be used in form of binary numbers and then used for communication or some other application. Now thats food for thought.
:)
Also just a while back realized today is the birthday of my childhood friend. I dont rememeber when I last met him, but its been long time. I want to give him a call tonite.
Just for fun. :p
I tried googling for some found this site. just converted Decimal 20 August 2008 to respective binary and hexadecimal number. The result are as follows.
Binary: 1001100100110110101011000
Hexadecimal: 1326D58
I have been wondering is Morse code can be used in form of binary numbers and then used for communication or some other application. Now thats food for thought.
:)
Also just a while back realized today is the birthday of my childhood friend. I dont rememeber when I last met him, but its been long time. I want to give him a call tonite.
15.8.08
About: 61 Independent years.
Its been 61 years since my country won its freedom, it has been slow going and lots of things have happened for both good and bad. I sit to blog about a total random collection of events, people, places, things, which randomly come to mind. It may consist of things one should be proud of and few things one may want to shrug it off, like something unwanted placed in the kitchen loft or a store.
The list is long but the road ahead is longer.
The list is long but the road ahead is longer.
- Gandhi.
- Democracy.
- ‘93 Bombay bomb blasts; other bomb blasts.
- Sardar Patel.
- Liberalization.
- Wars with Pakistan.
- Insurgency.
- Regionalism.
- Corruption.
- Param Vir Chakra and all gallantry award recipients.
- Green Revolution.
- White revolution
- The business houses, Ambanis, Tatas, Bhartis, Mittals, all A to Z.
- Muslims Presidents, Sikh Prime Minister, Christian Leader of Opposition.
- Lady President and Prime Minister.
- Emergency.
- Hockey.
- Arjun Award Winners.
- World Champions.
- A billion and more of me.
- Atom Bomb.
- Space Program.
- Internet Train ticket booking.
- Mobile Phones, Phone Network.
- Malls.
- Chinese Bhel.
- Made in India.
- Call centres.
- Religions.
- Hindi Movies.
- Mother Teresa.
- Cricket.
- Compassion.
- Poor roads.
- Speeding cars
- Stock Markets.
- Gold.
- Festivals.
- Farmers.
- Buyers markets.
- Developing Economy, Emerging Nation, Enriching cultures.
- Constitution.
- Corus, Jaguar, Land Rover,Tetley.
- Cultures.
- Hinglish.
- Yoga.
- Army.
- Indian Institutes.
- Performing Artists: Singers, Actors, Painter, Designers, Poets.
- Diamonds.
- Software Companies.
- Salaries.
- 26 January.
- Illiteracy.
- Beauty Pageant Winners.
- Chacha Choudhary and Saboo.
- Cable TV.
- Olympic Golds.
- Diaspora.
- Professionals: Engineers, Doctors, Architects,
- Media
14.8.08
Blog: I wonder if
I wonder if life is an amazing string of coincidences or is it just a series of consequences. There is no doubt that what you do, obviously it includes what you think is, the karma, the cause and it will have an effect, may not always be as desired. The effect may not be subsequent, one may see the effects of their cause after a long time, or may not live to see the effects of your actions. It may be your kids or grand kids for example, or an institution which you may start, things like that.
But I was just thinking about it in between times, off course all this may be explained through sciences and logics, or could be brushed off just rubbish. It is one of the many things which amaze me. But sciences and logics may not always answer the way things happen, the inconsistency of the event thereof or the matter of the timing of an event. We do things all the time, often repeatedly but consistency on the effect or resulting end is not always the same.
I don’t want to get into you-know-this-meant-to-happen-that-way. This particular answer, often sweeps matter under the carpet and
1. May not help us to identify the cause.
2. Rob us of our moment of amazement, surprise, bewilderment, a roar of laughter or simplicity of a smile.
The other side is of the coin is often the difficulty or fatigue or momentum we face when we got to do something. I, for one at times, feel it very difficult to call someone on their birthday, especially when I have last spoken to them the same day the previous year. It is not something else but laziness of the purest form. But since mobile phone is omnipresent tool of our lives calling up people near and far shouldn’t be a great deal. Often a phone to nearest and dearest takes some planning and at times in the hind sight you often thing it would be better if you had not made the call, simply because you kept the phone in such a jiffy that the person at the other may be thinking what the hell?
Then there is the waking up in the morning phenomenon. Yes I love mornings, I love em more coz more often then not, I wrap myself in my sheets and go deeper into sleep mode. It is not until my mother asks me wakes up me half a dozen times and I say 5 more minutes and then my father stern but equally affectionate voice you are awake aren’t you, I almost say “Yeah I am ready.(to wake up)”. The rest of the morning conversations takes place between us getting ready for offices and his and my breakfast. Mom chipping in with queries and questions.
The point is the later in the night I sleep the earlier I get. That for a time range. I cannot sleep at five in the morning and get up before say 10 at best. A few nights back I went home, freshen up, went to sleep by 8 got up at midnight ate dinner and then purposely reached late to office. I thought the trains would be less cramped but the first sight of an approaching train bought reality fast to my realm.
Th other day I slept at two in the night only to get up before my father left for the morning walk. Did everything on time and things felt so smooth, just like a cruise!!. I prefer being on time or early to office, temple, bus stand, party, beer, telephone bills anything you say. I curse myself for being late. It is a paranoia, but its something I don’t want to let go off.
Why do things in life at times seem so obvious and times so surprising?
Is it just a coincidence or is it just a consequence?
But I was just thinking about it in between times, off course all this may be explained through sciences and logics, or could be brushed off just rubbish. It is one of the many things which amaze me. But sciences and logics may not always answer the way things happen, the inconsistency of the event thereof or the matter of the timing of an event. We do things all the time, often repeatedly but consistency on the effect or resulting end is not always the same.
I don’t want to get into you-know-this-meant-to-happen-that-way. This particular answer, often sweeps matter under the carpet and
1. May not help us to identify the cause.
2. Rob us of our moment of amazement, surprise, bewilderment, a roar of laughter or simplicity of a smile.
The other side is of the coin is often the difficulty or fatigue or momentum we face when we got to do something. I, for one at times, feel it very difficult to call someone on their birthday, especially when I have last spoken to them the same day the previous year. It is not something else but laziness of the purest form. But since mobile phone is omnipresent tool of our lives calling up people near and far shouldn’t be a great deal. Often a phone to nearest and dearest takes some planning and at times in the hind sight you often thing it would be better if you had not made the call, simply because you kept the phone in such a jiffy that the person at the other may be thinking what the hell?
Then there is the waking up in the morning phenomenon. Yes I love mornings, I love em more coz more often then not, I wrap myself in my sheets and go deeper into sleep mode. It is not until my mother asks me wakes up me half a dozen times and I say 5 more minutes and then my father stern but equally affectionate voice you are awake aren’t you, I almost say “Yeah I am ready.(to wake up)”. The rest of the morning conversations takes place between us getting ready for offices and his and my breakfast. Mom chipping in with queries and questions.
The point is the later in the night I sleep the earlier I get. That for a time range. I cannot sleep at five in the morning and get up before say 10 at best. A few nights back I went home, freshen up, went to sleep by 8 got up at midnight ate dinner and then purposely reached late to office. I thought the trains would be less cramped but the first sight of an approaching train bought reality fast to my realm.
Th other day I slept at two in the night only to get up before my father left for the morning walk. Did everything on time and things felt so smooth, just like a cruise!!. I prefer being on time or early to office, temple, bus stand, party, beer, telephone bills anything you say. I curse myself for being late. It is a paranoia, but its something I don’t want to let go off.
Why do things in life at times seem so obvious and times so surprising?
Is it just a coincidence or is it just a consequence?
12.8.08
Cricket: A fair result.
The series ended 2-1 in favour of Sri Lanka. Indians were beaten not before putting Sri Lanka in spot of bother couple of times. India however were virtually always in the corner gasping for fresh air, inform of inspiration from The Middle Order. There were hardly any inspiring performances as a result India on the losing side.
The once great Indian Middle order.
Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman are formidable in any version of the game. I know these guys did not have a great series neither did they have any form behind them to be in the run making mode. All these four had a very ordinary IPL and did not have any form i.e. hardly played or made runs. Yes Dravid and Ganguly did make some runs. But cricket is a game of momentum, ask Paul Collingwood, back to back centuries, the second century for a winning cause, which set up the game nicely for England.
For people who don’t follow cricket wish to understand what I am try to say I put forward an example, what happens to your week when there is an important meeting a Monday morning and you are late for office due to a hangover of laze. I bet it will all screw up. I personally make sure at least two alarm bells go off coz I hate being late anywhere anytime especially Monday mornings.
Then second is Sehwag and Gambhir are in prime form. There is no looking back for Sehwag, but Gambhir must convert starts into big score, something he did not do this tour, may prove costly to him. Sehwag again may do well in one days but I hope Gambhir gets a big one in one of the ODIs. As for the big four, they would have been in an indifferent position. They use to hardly see any Indian openers scoring runs, so for aloof we, a positive start meant big four could cash in big time. This proved too elusive this time around. Then talking of momentum them hardly a practice.
Well this may not be an excuse but Sri Lanka has equally pathetic performance when they came in India. Then I read at cricinfo that just one tour game not enough. There should be at least a couple of tour games for a visiting team. It was a tour game in Australia that things turned around for Perth and India recorded a thrilling win. I think lack of tour games probably will hurt any visiting team. It is necessary, just like warm up preceding exercises. They did not have one. I mean how would anytime fear if they were asked to fly down and face Harbhajan and Kumble on a Chennai pitch first thing in the morning. I don’t think it will help.
It’s been a long time that big four have flopped together; at least Dravid had some runs coming out of the last test. Laxman and Tendulkar injured is cause of concern. Tendulkar has been on roll call of hospitals for various injuries or niggles rather than on the score board. It cost his IPL side a crack at the trophy and his India team a chance at challenging Lanka.
Dhoni is exceptional.
Dhoni is a wonderful batsmen and very calm headed almost pan faced captain. But if you compare him to Kathick and Parthiv he is a very good keeper. He hardly misses anything. Parthiv and Karthick hardly got anything. They may be worrying about playing for the next time, but they should have done better, There were so many chances got a begging plus batsmen knew that their mistake wont cost him his wickets because keeper were not confident enough to grab opportunities. It was good of Dhoni to let this series go, iron out a few off his own niggles and then switch on for a big season ahead. India’s fielding is the key to wining a series.
The bowlers looking to get into rhythm.
Ishant Sharma inspired India to second test victory, what an effort. The conditions in which he did what he did were truly remarkable. It is always not scene in sub continent pitches that a fast bowler engineers a batting collapse. Zaheer Khan needs to try a bit harder in the fourth and fifth spell. He is a bulky ox who hits the bat hard. I think going back to drawing board and re thing his attacking bowling options won’t be a bad idea. Harbhajan pleasantly surprised me as he looked to get into great rhythm. Kumble w\for once flattered to deceive. I don’t what with Kumble and bowling out side the leg or a leg stump line. He can’t pick up wickets bowling that line and the pace at which he bowls. He depressed.
Mysterious Mendis.
Murali and Mendis are pair to be. Mendis flummoxed the Indian batsmen. They were a totally at sea against his variations. Sehwag seem to have got a nag of him but then often he played a rash shot and bought is own undoing. The other did not have much clue, the list included Laxman Darvid Tendulkar and Ganguly. Yuvraj and Raina and other have there task cut out for ODIs. Murali couldn’t do much damage earlier.
Sri Lanka worries.
I think Sri Lanka is tougher to beat in their own home ground than Pakistan and India. The pitched are tailor made, turning square on day one. But then batsmen must do their job which they do, but those who say it was a team effort that Sri Lanka won the series and India lost, they are just looking at the score line. Vaas hardly bowl anything the onus was on Murali and Mendis. The hard part is any bowl marginalizing them both. The batsmen have no second chances with close in fielder and keeper staking any chances coming there way.
Sanga and Jayawardene failed in just one inning and that cost Sri Lanka the match. Their batting too needs to come of its own if they are to do something away from sub continent. Samraweera looks good, one of the openers look good. There is definitely no dearth of talent there, Dilshan looked way off colour for long.
The once great Indian Middle order.
Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman are formidable in any version of the game. I know these guys did not have a great series neither did they have any form behind them to be in the run making mode. All these four had a very ordinary IPL and did not have any form i.e. hardly played or made runs. Yes Dravid and Ganguly did make some runs. But cricket is a game of momentum, ask Paul Collingwood, back to back centuries, the second century for a winning cause, which set up the game nicely for England.
For people who don’t follow cricket wish to understand what I am try to say I put forward an example, what happens to your week when there is an important meeting a Monday morning and you are late for office due to a hangover of laze. I bet it will all screw up. I personally make sure at least two alarm bells go off coz I hate being late anywhere anytime especially Monday mornings.
Then second is Sehwag and Gambhir are in prime form. There is no looking back for Sehwag, but Gambhir must convert starts into big score, something he did not do this tour, may prove costly to him. Sehwag again may do well in one days but I hope Gambhir gets a big one in one of the ODIs. As for the big four, they would have been in an indifferent position. They use to hardly see any Indian openers scoring runs, so for aloof we, a positive start meant big four could cash in big time. This proved too elusive this time around. Then talking of momentum them hardly a practice.
Well this may not be an excuse but Sri Lanka has equally pathetic performance when they came in India. Then I read at cricinfo that just one tour game not enough. There should be at least a couple of tour games for a visiting team. It was a tour game in Australia that things turned around for Perth and India recorded a thrilling win. I think lack of tour games probably will hurt any visiting team. It is necessary, just like warm up preceding exercises. They did not have one. I mean how would anytime fear if they were asked to fly down and face Harbhajan and Kumble on a Chennai pitch first thing in the morning. I don’t think it will help.
It’s been a long time that big four have flopped together; at least Dravid had some runs coming out of the last test. Laxman and Tendulkar injured is cause of concern. Tendulkar has been on roll call of hospitals for various injuries or niggles rather than on the score board. It cost his IPL side a crack at the trophy and his India team a chance at challenging Lanka.
Dhoni is exceptional.
Dhoni is a wonderful batsmen and very calm headed almost pan faced captain. But if you compare him to Kathick and Parthiv he is a very good keeper. He hardly misses anything. Parthiv and Karthick hardly got anything. They may be worrying about playing for the next time, but they should have done better, There were so many chances got a begging plus batsmen knew that their mistake wont cost him his wickets because keeper were not confident enough to grab opportunities. It was good of Dhoni to let this series go, iron out a few off his own niggles and then switch on for a big season ahead. India’s fielding is the key to wining a series.
The bowlers looking to get into rhythm.
Ishant Sharma inspired India to second test victory, what an effort. The conditions in which he did what he did were truly remarkable. It is always not scene in sub continent pitches that a fast bowler engineers a batting collapse. Zaheer Khan needs to try a bit harder in the fourth and fifth spell. He is a bulky ox who hits the bat hard. I think going back to drawing board and re thing his attacking bowling options won’t be a bad idea. Harbhajan pleasantly surprised me as he looked to get into great rhythm. Kumble w\for once flattered to deceive. I don’t what with Kumble and bowling out side the leg or a leg stump line. He can’t pick up wickets bowling that line and the pace at which he bowls. He depressed.
Mysterious Mendis.
Murali and Mendis are pair to be. Mendis flummoxed the Indian batsmen. They were a totally at sea against his variations. Sehwag seem to have got a nag of him but then often he played a rash shot and bought is own undoing. The other did not have much clue, the list included Laxman Darvid Tendulkar and Ganguly. Yuvraj and Raina and other have there task cut out for ODIs. Murali couldn’t do much damage earlier.
Sri Lanka worries.
I think Sri Lanka is tougher to beat in their own home ground than Pakistan and India. The pitched are tailor made, turning square on day one. But then batsmen must do their job which they do, but those who say it was a team effort that Sri Lanka won the series and India lost, they are just looking at the score line. Vaas hardly bowl anything the onus was on Murali and Mendis. The hard part is any bowl marginalizing them both. The batsmen have no second chances with close in fielder and keeper staking any chances coming there way.
Sanga and Jayawardene failed in just one inning and that cost Sri Lanka the match. Their batting too needs to come of its own if they are to do something away from sub continent. Samraweera looks good, one of the openers look good. There is definitely no dearth of talent there, Dilshan looked way off colour for long.
11.8.08
Blog: Golden Date
Hail Abhinav Bindra, he shot a Gold for us. He is the first among billions to win an individual Gold Medal for India.I would mark this as a proud moment of joy, a weight lifter Jadhav (silver?), Leander Paes (bronze), Karnam Malleshwari (silver), Rathore (silver) have won medals before but ABhinav is the first.I hope there are more medals to be won.
It is a damn proud moment for all of us.
Well done Abhinav.
Although this news comes in in the wake of a lady weight lifter being holed up by our won sports authority ... its musci to all Indian years.
It is a damn proud moment for all of us.
Well done Abhinav.
Although this news comes in in the wake of a lady weight lifter being holed up by our won sports authority ... its musci to all Indian years.
8.8.08
4.8.08
Cricket: Indians save face.
Caution:Long cricket post ahead, discretion advised.
Well done Indians. They managed to win one more “away” test. They have prolonged the series to a in the form of third test which goes back to Colombo. I will remember this test for what the bowlers did and the batsmen didn’t. It will also be remember for one of the “away” test in which Dravid contribution was “limited” to taking few scintillating catches and dropping may be a couple of them.
The Man, the Innings; both in review.
He bats and you watch. There is either some madness that happens which make u tear your hair out or you could hold your nerve as some hammer hits the hot iron on the anvil. Let me introduce Virender Sehwag. His aura is such that there was a ephemeral wave of relief when Sehwag was not included in the original squad to tour Australia earlier this season i.e. late last year. : P
The man has such a clout. There was a piece written by Ian Chappell wondering way he wasn’t selected. I think some one from the selectors while surfing net read it, Sehwag was selected to the trip down under, sat out couple of games, played in the third and since then he is in a roll and perhaps may score runs even if bats with the bat turned around. The Perth test was memorable one in the sense the rocket booster Sehwag gave India much needed starts, suggested Kumble to give one more over to Ishant when he dismissed Ponting. Ponting was beaten all ends up and after than Ishant was all over Ponting even in the ODI. He also took couple of quick wickets that helped scythe Australia and India beat Australia in their own home.
The times have changed a mixed bag IPL a triple century and double for him since then. This 201* where he carried the bat, meaning all ten wickets fell while he was not out. This score was his 15 consecutive score of over 150, now that’s something. He was perceived to be an ODI player but then has a brilliant Test record, perhaps envy of many and ODI is decent at best. He remains danger to the opposition, because pitch don’t matter to him much, he has score runs all round the world under all conditions.
I thought Sehwag blew it up in Colombo when he was out to an innocuous hook shot. He paid the price after a very brisk start and India collapsed to an innings defeat. The tides changed India went to Galle and there was a gale in form of Virender Sehwag that awaited them. He shredded the cunning attack into submission. He and Gautam Gambhir piled on runs very very quickly. Indian openers have looked in great touched, but then there was a batting collapse and things start to get heady again. The Nawab of Najafgarh meanwhile was having a dream run creaming all the bowlers all over the ground. There were lots off hiccups on its way; at one point in time wickets were falling so quickly that Sehwag at the other end would be thinking that he is seeing a highlights package at the other end. It was meant to be and he got another double century. He looked like a man possessed and stood between defeat and his Team.
He looked in command and in control. Jayawardene would have thanked his stars when Sehwag go out cheaply in both the innings in the first test. After his dismissals Indian team just seem to have collapsed trapped with some ordinary cricketing shots, and some reviews which could have gone either way. But it was Sehwag turn to thank the stars and couple on lower end batsmen in his team for his double ton. There was a bit of Sehwag show left, he got out off a rash shot. If he would have carried a bit longer then Jayawardene and Co would have been staring down the cliff. He scored a quick fire 50 in the decond innings and helped India to a decent total.
Not "Showing Now" anymore …
His great Indian middle order never looked so ordinary. I think I have a conspiracy theory on this. Alrite it may just be a hypothesis. Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid and Lakman, have not played well. They haven’t had any scores in any form of cricket to boast of, it is a start of a new season. There IPL performance better not be discussed. It was nothing to talk off. Now then it’s difficult to come into a season and stare down the wicket and find the smiling assassin and the weird bowler looking to rip it into you and then go bang bang boom. I think they have hit the straps, with Sehwag leading the charge; it would make sense for couple of batsmen out of the big four to rally around him till they have scored well sufficiently well to come on the forefront on their own. While Murali was contained in this test Mendis to his credit has had a perfect 10 for the match. I think Murali bowled doosra every second delivery and played it to our hands, mean while other batsmen continue to revel under the sniper’s Mendis’s hair cross. If I were an Indian spinner I would be looking at Mendis more closely then the batsmen because there are a few things to learn from him and one more bowl in the armoury will only help.
I hope to see the big four coming to their own, provided we win the toss and bat first on turning Colombo pitch. If we get a good start I can expect at least one of the big four to get a century if not two.
It is just the big four the majority of players are coming after some indifferent form, Zaheer after injury, Ishant after an ordinary IPL, Bhajji after slapping Sreesanth, and perhaps the echo of the slap he smacked on Sreesanth still echoes in his ears. Dinesh Karthik after being out of limelight due a now Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna recipient Dhoni. I think Parthiv may come in instead of him. He will be under pressure to perform well with the gloves. The last test series he played was years ago when he dropped more catches then he scored runs. He has to perform or parish because Dhoni will come in sooner rather than later.
Help from unexpected quarters.
As Indians have won the match one can savour it was a “in-the-balance” test match. The Indian seamers let the charge. Ishant Sharma and Zaheer led a brilliant fight back, with three Lankan wickets down and team score within double digits, the spell was cast, the mould was formed, the packaged was stamped for India. It was more so because of the fact that two names out of the three wickets that fell are called Sangakara and Jayawardene. These two bat well. These two bat really well together and reminiscent of Madmax, Arvind DeSliva and jog along Arjuna Ranatunga. It wasn’t meant to be. Ishant got the first opener with a beauty that moved across and could have tested any top left hander on top of this form. He did really well to edge it to second slip. Zaheer “Zak” could have one in his opening over as well but Rahul Dravid missed a catch. It was a screamer, as he tried his best with his right hand but Wandort did not do much damaged and stayed on for eternity. Zak goes for top order batsmen all the time. He had done well in England and coming out of injury, he looked in total control and rhythm. But that rhythm went out too soon I guess. It was a fourth day pitch and Zak the Ox could have got some more purchase had looked to take more wickets. But then Zak bowled another cock-a-hoop to Sangakkara. Sanga looked bewildered as he edged one and Indian were ascending and piling into Lankans. Ishant mean while was coming to his own and was lured into a cut which Jayawardene failed to keep down. Dravid caught that stinger and made up for the earlier chance which had gone begging. Lankans three down for nine runs. The writing was on the wall.
Wandort had resigned as he hardly scored anything. Indians liked him there. Ishant had him covered as he continued to look at sea. His misery was soon ended as Harbhajan quick sliding delivery wrapped his pads. Four down.
Kumble meanwhile start bowling I don’t know what. A line on leg stump and length full. He was trying to emulate Ishant. Did he wanted to contain the batsmen? The idea was good but the timing wasn’t. He was better off attack. Meanwhile Bhajji just played on Singh is King theme song. He kept the pressure on working out the batsmen dismantling him ball by ball. Ishant mean while was serving red hot thunderbolts. Dilshan pulled some momentum back but then the lanky pacemen produced one which lifted from length and Dilshan gloved it to keeper. This wicket meanwhile was all credit to the keeper as he pouched one. The fat lady starting to clear her throat. Kumble and Harbhajan just ran through the Lankans.
The probable fall guy.
Jaywardene's prophecy was turned into a hum dinger. He is such a great player and made some handsome runs all over the place. He should be first to understand that the game is always coming around to kick some butt. It is better to just keep boasts out of your mind. I saw his interview after the second test and thought he is still under the spell that Lankans scoring 600 and Indians losing by an innings. I hope when he reaches back to Colombo and before the last test starts that India has a (at least a hypothetical) chance of winning the series. If suppose India wins the next test and hence the series will head roll in Lankan camp. There have been at least a couple of heads that have rolled in the English camp after SAfs won the test and hence the series. Jaywardene should mark his words well and mark his crease better than his words. I wish he may never have to rue the words he said. This is a game of cricket and it is never over till the last run scored or last wicket taken.
Long Living Kishore.
Its been almost two decades since he passed away. He was a legend in a life time. Kishore Kumar the most versatile artist Hindi cinema ever saw. A deserving blog on Kishore Kumar and also on Firendship Day/week likely soon.
Song: Mere Meheboob Qayamat Hogi,
Movie: Mr. X in Bombay
Well done Indians. They managed to win one more “away” test. They have prolonged the series to a in the form of third test which goes back to Colombo. I will remember this test for what the bowlers did and the batsmen didn’t. It will also be remember for one of the “away” test in which Dravid contribution was “limited” to taking few scintillating catches and dropping may be a couple of them.
The Man, the Innings; both in review.
He bats and you watch. There is either some madness that happens which make u tear your hair out or you could hold your nerve as some hammer hits the hot iron on the anvil. Let me introduce Virender Sehwag. His aura is such that there was a ephemeral wave of relief when Sehwag was not included in the original squad to tour Australia earlier this season i.e. late last year. : P
The man has such a clout. There was a piece written by Ian Chappell wondering way he wasn’t selected. I think some one from the selectors while surfing net read it, Sehwag was selected to the trip down under, sat out couple of games, played in the third and since then he is in a roll and perhaps may score runs even if bats with the bat turned around. The Perth test was memorable one in the sense the rocket booster Sehwag gave India much needed starts, suggested Kumble to give one more over to Ishant when he dismissed Ponting. Ponting was beaten all ends up and after than Ishant was all over Ponting even in the ODI. He also took couple of quick wickets that helped scythe Australia and India beat Australia in their own home.
The times have changed a mixed bag IPL a triple century and double for him since then. This 201* where he carried the bat, meaning all ten wickets fell while he was not out. This score was his 15 consecutive score of over 150, now that’s something. He was perceived to be an ODI player but then has a brilliant Test record, perhaps envy of many and ODI is decent at best. He remains danger to the opposition, because pitch don’t matter to him much, he has score runs all round the world under all conditions.
I thought Sehwag blew it up in Colombo when he was out to an innocuous hook shot. He paid the price after a very brisk start and India collapsed to an innings defeat. The tides changed India went to Galle and there was a gale in form of Virender Sehwag that awaited them. He shredded the cunning attack into submission. He and Gautam Gambhir piled on runs very very quickly. Indian openers have looked in great touched, but then there was a batting collapse and things start to get heady again. The Nawab of Najafgarh meanwhile was having a dream run creaming all the bowlers all over the ground. There were lots off hiccups on its way; at one point in time wickets were falling so quickly that Sehwag at the other end would be thinking that he is seeing a highlights package at the other end. It was meant to be and he got another double century. He looked like a man possessed and stood between defeat and his Team.
He looked in command and in control. Jayawardene would have thanked his stars when Sehwag go out cheaply in both the innings in the first test. After his dismissals Indian team just seem to have collapsed trapped with some ordinary cricketing shots, and some reviews which could have gone either way. But it was Sehwag turn to thank the stars and couple on lower end batsmen in his team for his double ton. There was a bit of Sehwag show left, he got out off a rash shot. If he would have carried a bit longer then Jayawardene and Co would have been staring down the cliff. He scored a quick fire 50 in the decond innings and helped India to a decent total.
Not "Showing Now" anymore …
His great Indian middle order never looked so ordinary. I think I have a conspiracy theory on this. Alrite it may just be a hypothesis. Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid and Lakman, have not played well. They haven’t had any scores in any form of cricket to boast of, it is a start of a new season. There IPL performance better not be discussed. It was nothing to talk off. Now then it’s difficult to come into a season and stare down the wicket and find the smiling assassin and the weird bowler looking to rip it into you and then go bang bang boom. I think they have hit the straps, with Sehwag leading the charge; it would make sense for couple of batsmen out of the big four to rally around him till they have scored well sufficiently well to come on the forefront on their own. While Murali was contained in this test Mendis to his credit has had a perfect 10 for the match. I think Murali bowled doosra every second delivery and played it to our hands, mean while other batsmen continue to revel under the sniper’s Mendis’s hair cross. If I were an Indian spinner I would be looking at Mendis more closely then the batsmen because there are a few things to learn from him and one more bowl in the armoury will only help.
I hope to see the big four coming to their own, provided we win the toss and bat first on turning Colombo pitch. If we get a good start I can expect at least one of the big four to get a century if not two.
It is just the big four the majority of players are coming after some indifferent form, Zaheer after injury, Ishant after an ordinary IPL, Bhajji after slapping Sreesanth, and perhaps the echo of the slap he smacked on Sreesanth still echoes in his ears. Dinesh Karthik after being out of limelight due a now Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna recipient Dhoni. I think Parthiv may come in instead of him. He will be under pressure to perform well with the gloves. The last test series he played was years ago when he dropped more catches then he scored runs. He has to perform or parish because Dhoni will come in sooner rather than later.
Help from unexpected quarters.
As Indians have won the match one can savour it was a “in-the-balance” test match. The Indian seamers let the charge. Ishant Sharma and Zaheer led a brilliant fight back, with three Lankan wickets down and team score within double digits, the spell was cast, the mould was formed, the packaged was stamped for India. It was more so because of the fact that two names out of the three wickets that fell are called Sangakara and Jayawardene. These two bat well. These two bat really well together and reminiscent of Madmax, Arvind DeSliva and jog along Arjuna Ranatunga. It wasn’t meant to be. Ishant got the first opener with a beauty that moved across and could have tested any top left hander on top of this form. He did really well to edge it to second slip. Zaheer “Zak” could have one in his opening over as well but Rahul Dravid missed a catch. It was a screamer, as he tried his best with his right hand but Wandort did not do much damaged and stayed on for eternity. Zak goes for top order batsmen all the time. He had done well in England and coming out of injury, he looked in total control and rhythm. But that rhythm went out too soon I guess. It was a fourth day pitch and Zak the Ox could have got some more purchase had looked to take more wickets. But then Zak bowled another cock-a-hoop to Sangakkara. Sanga looked bewildered as he edged one and Indian were ascending and piling into Lankans. Ishant mean while was coming to his own and was lured into a cut which Jayawardene failed to keep down. Dravid caught that stinger and made up for the earlier chance which had gone begging. Lankans three down for nine runs. The writing was on the wall.
Wandort had resigned as he hardly scored anything. Indians liked him there. Ishant had him covered as he continued to look at sea. His misery was soon ended as Harbhajan quick sliding delivery wrapped his pads. Four down.
Kumble meanwhile start bowling I don’t know what. A line on leg stump and length full. He was trying to emulate Ishant. Did he wanted to contain the batsmen? The idea was good but the timing wasn’t. He was better off attack. Meanwhile Bhajji just played on Singh is King theme song. He kept the pressure on working out the batsmen dismantling him ball by ball. Ishant mean while was serving red hot thunderbolts. Dilshan pulled some momentum back but then the lanky pacemen produced one which lifted from length and Dilshan gloved it to keeper. This wicket meanwhile was all credit to the keeper as he pouched one. The fat lady starting to clear her throat. Kumble and Harbhajan just ran through the Lankans.
The probable fall guy.
Jaywardene's prophecy was turned into a hum dinger. He is such a great player and made some handsome runs all over the place. He should be first to understand that the game is always coming around to kick some butt. It is better to just keep boasts out of your mind. I saw his interview after the second test and thought he is still under the spell that Lankans scoring 600 and Indians losing by an innings. I hope when he reaches back to Colombo and before the last test starts that India has a (at least a hypothetical) chance of winning the series. If suppose India wins the next test and hence the series will head roll in Lankan camp. There have been at least a couple of heads that have rolled in the English camp after SAfs won the test and hence the series. Jaywardene should mark his words well and mark his crease better than his words. I wish he may never have to rue the words he said. This is a game of cricket and it is never over till the last run scored or last wicket taken.
Long Living Kishore.
Its been almost two decades since he passed away. He was a legend in a life time. Kishore Kumar the most versatile artist Hindi cinema ever saw. A deserving blog on Kishore Kumar and also on Firendship Day/week likely soon.
Song: Mere Meheboob Qayamat Hogi,
Movie: Mr. X in Bombay
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