Cricket: Punters last call

Ricky Ponting has literally been lead to ODI retirement, for any Indian cricket fan worth their throats, Ponting remains the most menacing batsman of the present generation. Ponting when peaking in his performances and abilities won everything every where. He was simply hard to get on top. He won three world cup medals, he lead Australia undefeated in one of those. His century in 2003 world cup final remains one of the worst nightmares for a true Indian cricket fan. He won the Ashes 5 nil, only captain after Warwick Armstrong to inflict a whitewash. When the Aussies were firmly on top, Ponting perhaps led a hall of fame dream team. Hayden, Langer, Gilchrist, Warne, Gilchrist, Bret Lee.

Ponting in fast seeming condition was peerless, he at times blasted attacks and tame wild attacks into submissions. He was one of the key batsman during Steve Waugh's superlative captaincy. He is the best captain the game his since his Bradman. He lead by example. He remains of one the formidable bats in test cricket. Ponting apart from a marvelous batsman and astute captain was a brilliant fielder.

The last phase of Pointing's career was woeful though. The Aussies looked quiet averages once the Hall of Fame players left, Ponting look a wonder less magician with nothing up his sleeve. He should have replaced a captain before he lost the Ashes against inform upsurging English team. I wont be surprised if Aussies win the next Ashes and Ponting raises his last toast.

He struggled in India at times though, for a long time he didn't have a century in India and at particular time he had taken more catches than scored runs here. Bhajji went on to say he was his bunny. Ponting against spinners in India looked a different batsman. He was a giant in the condition in most places apart from India, where Kumble and Bhajji tormented him. Ponting, Dravid and Kallis, all has pretty riveting similar careers, Kallis adds more value via his bowling, Ponting superbly led an amazing collection of players from the front and with the bat. Dravid remains the most stoic and looked more complete than Ponting till this Australian tour. These three gentlemen all have scored similar amounts of runs, started playing around the same time. All were rock solid and played some of the most memorable innings that test cricket has ever seen or will see. All three know form rock solid technique flair and classic shots. Ponting cut and pull shots were two of his signatures shots. He always looked ominous while playing those shots.

The fallacy of Ponting was perhaps he hung on to captaincy for a seaon too long. It was Pontings fixation that costed him the pervious Ashes. He looked pretty naieve as a captain. He didnt have the players but thats when cpataincy should come into count. He lost the Ashes thrice, tired hard in the previous World Cup.

Ponting seemed brute and brash to us, the forgettable Sydney test and other avoidable instances. You love him or hate you cant ignore him. One of this finest batsman to play the game wont be playing in ODIs again.

It is very interesting to know how he goes around in test matches. Ponting legacy as a batsman and captain will continue to shine for a long time to come.

Cricket: Preview India vs Aus

India tour to Australia has kicked off with a couple of practice matches. Its was so magnanimous of BCCI to let a batch of our players leave early and gift them two matches, guess thats what early Xmas gifts resemble. I don't know if the Board thing or our players, but we don't consider practice matches much on to do list of a tour. India's previous tours to South Africa, West Indies and England being the latest one, have seen us in pretty embarrassing situations, in South Africa we lost the match in the first session, the pitch turned docile after Indian innings and every SAf batsman helped himself with runs and form. West Indies we were 5 wickets down for peanuts the then Man in form with th Bat, Harbhajan and guess who Suresh Raina bailed us out, if it was any other set of players in the opposition we would have been decimated. England saw us winning nothing except a couple of mini sessions between lunch and the following drinks break. I hope fortunes have changed.

Fit? Fine.

India vs Aus is no more the marquee series per se. But for an Indian fan (here, me :P) and players in the team there should be enough spice to compel me (read us) to follow. Its fitness rather than form on this tour that will be the key to the series. It is the key to any series but for us this is the one. You can go out of form and inform in the middle of the game but if you are down on fitness. You can go into a series with an indifferent form and pull of some magical performances but it would be difficult to go into a series with your fitness in the wrong direction of slope. Then Aus is a big country to travel with injuries. Sehwag, you don't know, before you get up on Boxing day he may already playing 50 of 30 balls. Gambhir next to stay put. Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar have all done well against Australia at home and away when Aussies were at peak of the game in the last decade or so. Laxman is just primed for runs. Sachin is a ton away from ton of tons, wonder if anyone has noticed it. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will have to fight it out for now exclusive so bereft batting order. But Kohli may get a look in before Rohit Sharma. Dhonis batting may just be under a more stern observation. 

Zaheer is coming out of long injury lay off, Ishant seems to be jumping a skipping rope between Am-I-injured-or-Am-I-not. Umesh, Ashwin and Ojha are yet to play in Aus. Irfan Pathan is not selected for some reason. Praveen Kumar wont be there. He did well in West Indies and England and did enough to be considered a decent test bowler. If there is swing he will do it. Bhajji and Sreesanth have been sent home for a long family vacation. Ashwin should fancy a chance against Aussies who have traditionally felt the pinch from the off spinners from Laker, Jasu Patel, Bhajji, Murali, Swann have done well against Australia. I for one would have love to see, Ishant and Bhajji bowling in tandem to Ricky Ponting. Ishant beating the inside edge with Ponting on the back foot, Bhajji beats the outside edge with Ponting coming forward. But then we have to savour what we get. Zaheer Khan is the keep simply because he has played just three test match in Australia. He is has to last the whole tour and keep taking wickets. He is vital to the outcome of the series from Indian perspective

Down Under - getting out of the rot.

Aussies now find themselves thin on talent and aptitude. It is (obviously) hard to replace guess who have entered history of the game. I don't know for how long Haddin may play, there are a few injured players, not suggesting Indians don't have their share of worries. Aussies have worries of their own. Its only Bangladesh and West Indies who have lost more matches. Ponting seems to the punter who out of tricks, but then the harder you want to pray of Indians winning this tour, they more you got to hope that Ponting doesn't get into form. Hussey is another player who can keep ticking, best brains in Aussie line up Watson is not played so that is a dream bonus. Why wasn't Warner scripted couple of years back is the question? Phill Jacques is a joke. Hilfenhaus makes a come back. Siddle will look to sizzle again, rest of the Aussie bowling is something I don't know about. I must add though, I am looking forward to Lyon vs Dhoni.

There are some key duels you want to see, Sehwag vs the cover point or third-man fielder. Dravid & Tendulkar old (oldest) war horses vs greenhorn Aussie rookie bowlers. Gambhir vs bad luck and ill form. Zaheer vs fitness. Ricky Ponting vs Ashwin. Hussey vs Zaheer. Umesh Yadav needs to adapt quickly and be counted. I am just wondering is Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar should all swap places. It's an idea that has caught my fancy. I wonder if it would make sens to have Laxman at three, Dravid at four and Tendulkar at five. Dhoni vs Haddin. 

The contemplation.

I am contemplating either a daily blog or after at the end of each innings.for  this tour especially for the days test matches played. There is one thing that I pray for, is series to be free of any possible controversy. The most important question for me will they employ DRS?

Cricket: Preview Aus vs India

Aussies are the defending champions in this world cup. Aussies know most about the way to get to the finals. They have depended on individual brilliance and sustained team effort to make it to finals of five world cup finals out of the last six. India meanwhile have been anywhere on the chart, swinging between good and ordinary. Aussies meet India in the quarters of cwc11.


The men who matter.

Tendulkar has notched up 99 centuries, our expectation of one more against a side that always got stiff competition and centuries for Tendulkar. One more centuries seems almost inevitable. Bhajji at the current form finds himself in the company of Prosper Utseya of Zimabawe and Rizwan Cheema of Canada. Bhajji to his discredit is striking with one wicket every match conceding 43 runs in his ten overs. Bhajji needs to pull in his weight. Ponting is been bait/bunny he would love to devour. Zaheer, on Indian pitches coming back in reverse gear to catch the teams on tentative footwork, inducing edges, false stokes and LBWs.
Ponting captain marvellous (last edition circa 2007) and a struggling batsman with form, fitness. He can come good with one last innings. India bowlers beware. Hussey is another one, a competent bat, quick run, clean hitter, can change gears and momentum at will. Lee always has bowled hostile, may want to turn back to his debut match against Indians in Adelaide where he just blew us away.

The men who would have mattered.

V.V.S. Laxman


In many ways.

India seem worthy successor to Aussies at times, But SAf look equally worthy, with better bowling line up and discipline in the field. Indian perhaps with better batting. SAf and us both don’t have that aura of menacing skill of winning from any point. The Aussie batting and Indian bowling both look fragile; needless to say both will be tested.
Aussies have won the toss amd elected to bat. A second edit of this blog soon.

Cricket: Aus down under in India

This post was first to be written as a review of the first test then it was post pone to review of the test series then it was pushed back to review of Aus truncated tour of India. It was the best half cooked series Indian cricket fans were ever been fed in a long time. It’s a matter of shame, but then we are like this only.

Ever since I came to know, this was a too few a test series of two matches, ODI washing out came as a relief except for today’s match, but then how BCCI works raises more questions and provides few answers in return, they are like this only.

If you look back at the fall of events before Aussies started their tour to India there was much ruckus about spot fixing, derivative, contracts, forwards and future of cricket. I wasn’t concerned about the future of cricket per se just bothered about how it will be perceived. But then there is always something weird and random in Pakistani cricket which throws up some beautiful patterns but that’s few and far in between for most of the time it is face saving and "sweep it under the carpet"n  type of intricate exercise; for sure they will always be like that only.

First test – Laxman is very very special.

Laxman and Lara two of the contemporaries that will find themselves an invite is a cricketing ten against Aussies were to be made. The first would be Tendulkar followed by the two other gentlemen we can debate the rest of the players. He is like that only.

The Aussies started on a strong but a slow note, taking time forever, trying to direct the match towards a draw, probably not taking into account Sehwag and there tendency to collapse seeing the Indian spinner making it turn, break and jump. They meandered with no real change of plans. The posted a strong 428 at less than 3 an over, forget Sehwag tends to score more than run a ball. Zaheer taking five. If he stays for an appreciable time he can mow the score in a day. Tendulkar and Dravid and Laxman would just hammer them harder. Indian batsman got starts didn’t pile up celebrative centuries and so on. India out paced Aussies with the scoring rate and spared a lead of 23 runs. Aussies were seemingly taking control before an inspired change in bowling ishant rocked the top order, got his man Ponting, spinners too jumped in the fray, Zaheer cleaned up the tail.

The Indian top order collapsed and going into the fourth day it was 55/4 with Indians catching straws but wicket was weary Laxman was nursing an injury.
An hour into the play Aussies seem to be in control but lacked ideas to polish of the tail. Ishant and Laxaman tailored a tense partnership, Ishant getting out and a thrilling one wicket Indian victory at Mohali befitting a thriller test match.

Second test, same story, same plot, same wine in the same bottle.

Aussies had a stop start stop beginning to there second test, Dhoni losing the toss Punter bet on playing first, match swayed either way for first four days. Ponting meanwhile found firm footing on loose Indian pitches, before among all bowlers Raina had Ponting LBW,but then North dug in and carried Aussies forward Paine make sure Indian bowlers continue to toil. Bhajji bowled with a lot of heart. But then Bhajji's clout as a bowler needs a makeover, at least his bowling does. Indians restrict Aussies to a thought 478, game on.

The Indian top order misfired again but Murali and Master stroked it delightfully, giving Aussies a fitting reply. Murali score a century, Tendulkar, the old wine scored a double. The Indian first innings wither away soon and an expectation of a big lead withered away. The last five wickets fell for 9 runs Aussies hopping and jumping after restricting India to below 500. The Aussies fail to take an initiative in their second and some tight bowling especially by Ojha who, tied one end up and Zaheer and Bhajji rocked the Aussie batting line up who seemed a bit too casual. Dhoni and boys looking to take the cake home.

The last day of the test match was again a riveting one Sehwag got out cheaply, Dravid for a change facing Home ground blues. Pujara was the cat among the Kangaroos and along with Murali Vijay and Tendulkar scripted a wonderful Indian series win.

Dhoni again out witted Ponting twice in a row in the same series. Ponting is still to win a test in India as a captain.

Oh dear ODIs.

The first one was abandoned.

The second one, while Indian bowls kick started it all Aussies Captain made a stoic and a poignant century and Craig White hammered the Indian bowling to all parts and together scored 85 in last five overs, 293 what seemed a tough total to get with a fragile Indian batting line up. Shikhar Dhawan joined a prestigious club Tendulkar, Dhoni and Raina are his fellow members who have scored a duck on debut. I will be happy if I were to be in that company. Yuvraj not losing his regal charm eased himself to a half century before being bored and playing across get bowlwed. Virat “Boisterous” Kohli swivelled and cramped and limped to get to a century before Raina did a minor Craig White, by scoring at will and Indian eased to what seem like a one side boring victory. An unassailable lead with one more boring (one sided) match to play.

The third ODI was abandoned due to rain.

This was the half cooked review of a half cooked series, credit to BCCI. We are like that only.

Cricket: Flintoff vs Aussies

The drama continues to unfold as Aussies and Poms lock horns for the third test over the series. It’s an observation of mine, that both Aussies and Poms have had similar nature of problems, similar nature of performances. The injuries to Lee and to Pietersen, the fragile top order, lack luster performance of frontline bowlers, Broad and Johnson, the performance of the offies, Haurtiz and Swann, the centuries by captains, Strauss and Ponting. But I think the Aussies have a better middle order. I think both teams reluctance to beef up bowling i.e. both Stuart Clark, and Harmisson are busy chit chatting on the sidelines. So if someone said it has been an even contest,then the preceding are some proof of that.

The only differentiating the two teams is the colossal persona of Andrew Flintoff who like Ursa Major seems to be guiding the English Ashes conquest.

I have been dearly following and blogging cricket for some amount of time, I haven’t seen too many ex-captains playing in an Aussie team. I mean Indian test team has Tendulkar and Dravid also when Ganguly was also playing, they were all their (and will be there for some time at least) in the playing eleven led by Dhoni, there is Lankan team right now (playing ODIs) where Jaywardene and Jayasuriya both ex-captains are currently playing in the eleven, take Pakis for example in they have had such similar teams. But not Aussies, they keep captains till they retire or get/ forced dropped. I don’t mean that Ponting should be dropped or ex communicated. He is a terrific player, but he is one of the generation kind of Aussie captain who regularly gets beaten in tactics and seems to have just one plan.

I mean Punter is Punk’d. Flintoff retirement was surprise for most, but Ponting is not good at trademark Aussie verbatim, the entire barrage you associate with Aussie cricket players. He is undermining his own case; I wonder if he (Ponting) surely understands the gravity of the situation of this series. Why do you want to incite someone like Flintoff for any reason? Flintoff has been on and off the field with injuries, but when he is on song, he is the best bowler in the two teams combines and looks very lethal on top of his bowling mark with the red cherry in his hand. He won the last test doing it a la Botham style, on the very day, Botham eclipsed Aussies at a test in Headingley (1981), Aussies enforced the follow on and went on to lose (they have been the only team to do so and lose), Botham smacking a century and Bob Willis scything the Aussies bats. The test is remembered as Botham's test and the series the Botham’s Series. The clock did finally turn after 27 years as Flintoff completed the turn by blasting through the Aussies batting on teh final day of the Lords test. Flintoff not only defeated the Aussies, but also history in some ways, as Poms posted there first victory over Aussies at Lords in over 75 years, the home of Cricket’s Holy Grail, The Ashes and also home of English Cricket.

Flintoff isn’t far off, I wonder if he would make a century in this series for the remainder of the three matches (this one included in three)

The series could be more riveting if both captains chose team on merit of abilities. Stuart Clarke and Watson are a must for this Aussie team. Watson seems to have funk you need in cricket, he get something extra to bring it on the table. Harmisson should be there his pace and bounce will upset the Aussies, and also will cut down on load from Flintoff, this making the Pom bowling attack shaper. Swann will play coz Aussies have been traditional very ordinary to off spin bowling, like the English have been to seam and spin bowling.

Let the Test begin and may best team win.

Second edit.

Cricket: Spirit sorcery and Ponting

Ponting has been a good batsman. He has been lucky one too,for a while he use to come one down following a swash buckler like Langer or the Big Oak like Colossus in Hayden. One loves to hate him and grudgingly accept that he has done well. He likely to zoom past Tendulkar’s record in test cricket on current form. His record as a batsman and his fielding skills will remain enviable for the next couple of years.

Ponting now has to steer a ship in the absence of big sails like Hayden, McGrath, Warne, Gilchrist, Langer and Martyn, who have retired from the game that’s a tough task in itself. But absence of these once in a generation players proves how much the team he use to captain was pretty much on auto pilot. India having dented Aussies in Australia, Ponting has turned from being excellent batsmen to a decent captain, to a poor sorcerer,he has started invoking spirit of the game at wrong points in time.

I mean to hell with the spirit of the game, most fans who have followed Australia have explored too deep in the new territories pushed the envelope a bit too far. Peter Roebuck had something nasty to say about him when India lost the infamous test which Steve Bucknor won’t forget any easily either. I think that whole match was a turning point in starting of descent of Ponting & Co. The subsequently lost to SAFs.The fallout of that was Andrew Symonds who was mentally disintegrated.

The following season Indian tour gave Ponting enough opportunity as a leader who could challenge none other than George (W) Bush himself to some of the most bizzare, un Aussie like judgments. I think it is from that point onwards that I started to believe that if anyone can give George W Bush a run for his money it has to be Ricky Ponting. I won’t be surprised if they both go for it and it is photo finish. Ricky Ponting has to be what Bush is/was to politics. You want to disavow what he said or does but wanna have a hearty laugh as well

I think he tried to provide every justification is Australia losses other than accepting the fallacy of him as the captain. Sorry Ricky just gets on with the game. Invoking spirits of the game wont help, you made horrendous tome of it some of the decision by leaving out Stuart Clarke one of the things that decided the out come of the game. Aussies would have done anything if they were in the spot which English found or almost forced themselves into. Bopara is good (no doubt?), but Collingwood should be batting one down, he is the best English batsmen on current form. Pietersen being the stroke player will get you runs make foundation of scoring big and quick but it is people like Collingwood that will finish it for England.

I think the first test was drawn because of improper team selection.

I think more drama is expected in this Ashes series.

This was a second edit.

Cricket: India one up.

MSD lead India to one nil up with two more matches to go. The Aussies never looked as to put up a fight as India tightened their grip as the game moved forward. India won the match by a record margin as many records and personal milestones were conquered. Indians are firm favourites at this point in time to win the series. Can the Aussies come back?

Problems of a different kind.

India has had superlative performances with bat, ball, and gloves and in the field as well. Zaheer and Ishant are bowling superbly. Their fitness is supreme, their control amazing and are doing everything with high degree of finesse. Zaheer has marked Hayden as his man, while Ponting will be daunted by Ishant. Zaheer mean while has penchant for top order left handers, Strauss and Cook (England), Smith (South Africa), and now Hayden. He is so good that at point the blue eyes Irfan Pathan is struggling to break into the side. The old ball is working well for both Ishant and Zaheer. If Aussies thought they would only be facing Kumble, Bhajji & Co, then they would have got a big jolt in the very first over of this sries when Hayden fished out side off stump (Symo no pun intended) and edged to keeper Dhoni.
Amit Mishra, mean while was ridiculed for his selection instead of Piyush Chawla. I believe Mishra has better control, Chawla has ages on his side, National selectors are happy. Batsmen are a worry though, although there is time but the planned should be made well in advance. My chief concern Gambhir, scored well and now has cemented his place for at least till the end of this season. Sehwag when he will score India will win, not that he didn’t score this time. Laxman may face the axe. Dada Ganguly will be looking to add a few more runs before he decides to call quits. It would have been so good if Tendulkar had got the century. Meanwhile Bhajji has ensured he is saving from the axe by taking wickets in no time and turned tables on Australia. I hope they spare no quarter and drub Aussies three nil.

Pontings headache.

Big guns are not firing. I wonder why Pomersbach and Shaun Marsh were not included in the squad. Lee has failed to come to terms and now Ponting is claiming back to back Test matches are tough to play. But that’s not enough of excuse when Australia holds Boxing Day (26 Dec to 30 Dec) and New Year (2 Jan to 6 Jan) match within 48 hours. I think this back to back test match is no excuse. I also think they are over balanced. Off course they neither have a quality spinner and nor the pace battery is charged enough to impose any threats. I think he should look to shuffle the batting order also. It should be Hayden, Katich, Clarke, Hussey, Ponting, Haddin and Watson. Also if he is looking to bowl, why has he not pressed for Katich to bowl? We all know he can bowl. It is one of the many nebulous decisions that Ponting has taken. They all have back fired and Ponting seem to be confused. I think Katich will do better then White and Clarke. I was happy with Siddle and Mitchell Johnson is really good. He is consistent with is pace, but he should be seriously looking at Zaheer and what he does there is a lot to learn. It will be interesting to see, if some heads roll if Aussies lose this.

Milestones on the same road.

This is India’s biggest win in term of margin. Tendulkar has most runs and establish 12k runs club and Ganguly got a doggy 16 century and entered 7k runs club going past Don Bradman, got into the record books, meanwhile Dravid (highest Catches) and Bhajji (300 wickets) await their turns to doff their hats. Mishra meanwhile got a Pfeiffer on debut, which is something good. Gambhir got his second ton.

The next test match is in Ferozeshah Kotla Delhi. It is home ground for Sehwag, Gambhir, Ishant and Mishra. I am confused whether to add Kumble in this list. He got his perfect ten here.

Also check ot this link Aussie online newspaper The Australian, check out this blog.

Cricket: Aussies blend in.

At last Ponting caught up with law of averages in India. He is the front runner to go past Tendulkar if and when Tendulkar breaks Lara’s record for most runs. He announced his intention with a well deserved century, put for some reason couldn’t go on and firmly assert Aussie position on this test.

Remember Day one?

Hayden out in first over of the first match. Poor Goliath or what I prefer calling Big Oak, (Hayden) way have got knocked out because of combination of a very good delivery and a bad decision, he way have earned Rahul Dravid sympathies as well, but to be fair to the umpire he did turn back, a virtual tacit sign by the batsman saying Yes I have snicked this one. Ponting on the crease in first over of the day. He fight it out, but then the whole Aussie set up for this match was a defensive one, which like the last test at Adelaide which Australia played for the draw from the very first ball of the match. The Aussie never got a flying start, mean while hapless and weary Indian spinners kept batsmen in check but never threatened to knock Aussies over in a hurry. The strange mix of 8 batsmen and 7 bowlers i.e. Hayden, Katich, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke, Haddin, Watson and White being the batsmen and Lee, Clarke, Johnson, Watson, White Clarke and Katich being the bowlers. I haven’t seen an Aussie team with that many all rounders namely Katich, Clarke, White and Haddin. A luxury really.
Ponting kept accumulating runs. He did not plunder them; in fact his batting was a sign of things to come. He gained confidence and dashed Bhajji a couple of times. Bhajji had the last laugh though; he got his man while Ponting walked of a relieved man after scoring a priceless century against India in India. Aussies made 250 runs in the day for the loss of three wickets

Hussey man of limited resources limitless possibilities.

Hussey controls the tempo of the game a very effective player good in defence and attack. A very traditional player in every sense of the word. He too never seemingly forced the issue and kept pegging away India attack. He was helped by the poor field setting. He kept on edging Kumble only to be happy to see no second slip. If Kumble is turning it in to a left hander, at his pace and bounce second slip is a must. Hussey did show that he plays a little away from the body so a big turner of the ball someone like a Tendulkar against Hussey would be very interesting. Hussey also had a welcome century to his name. He was beautifully done in by Bhajji in the second innings.

The Aussie Bowling.

Again blessed by some help from the umpires and show sheepish strokes that Indians played, Lee & Co looked really lethal up to the point when Indians were staring at follow on from much closed quarters. But then deadly lee and company couldn’t really polish of the tail, Bhajji and Zaheer getting a good half centuries and India marched from 180 for five to 360 all out. I say a couple of dozen more runs r say a lead of 30 to 40 to the Aussies would have really tightened the screws on the Aussies.

Second Innings and tall claims of forcing the issue.

If Aussie were honest in saying that they were the only team bent on “forcing the issue” meaning playing for the result, they would be cruising at 3.5 to 4 an over rather than creeping and crawling at 2.5. The Big Oak fell cheaply again perhaps rocked the Aussie boat. Ponting this time didn’t last long, Ishant foxing him with a very good slower delivery. Katich and Hussey looked to steady the rocking boat, Bhajji on other hand looked very itchy to take wickets and salvage some pride. He got two against the run of play. Those two wicket taking deliveries very beauties. A seam up delivery an addition in Bhajji repertoire a la Mendis. Katich was foxed with one that bounced a touch too much and Hussey was foxed by a ball that was supposed to turn away from him but castled his off stump as he learnt that spinning deliveries are to be played with the bat and not with the pad. Ishant looked tremendously in control. Ishant and Zaheer troubled all the Aussie batsmen with bounce and movement.

Action shifts to Mohali, Chandigarh

The Ashes Diary: Brisbane Test, Day One.

The first test of The Ashes series went underway at `Gabba, Brisbane. The first test of Aussie summers is always played here. The `Gabba pitch is traditionally a very complete pitch. It is complete in the sense that it offers something for everybody. It offers pace and bounces for the seamers, spin for the spinner, true bounce for the batsmen to play some rich strokes. It is obviously remember it for a gritty and rare Ganguly century and his exaggerated show of accomplishment which went onto to become his signature.

Visiting teams and injured members.

I still have no clue of this, but I think of a tour by a team and I think injuries, for example, Yuvraj missing tour to SA and Marcus Trescothick finds playing away from England a precarious situation. I think he should not play cricket outside Lord’s, Head Quarters of ECB. I don’t know what it is but that nothing short of insane. One has to obviously remember that Vaughan and Simone Jones are already there on the list. Micheal Vaughan only churned out century when he toured last. He is obviously been missing.

The Teams; English and the Aussies.

I think the batting order for England is quiet decent in the prevailing circumstances. Collingwood could have been at three, Pietersen at five and Flintoff at six add to the options. It is the matter of being consistent.
The Aussies have packed themselves with 7 batsmen and 4 bowlers. I think if any team can withstand the barrage of these supreme quality bowlers then there is a chance for anyone to extend the test match to 4 innings and 5 days. But as everyone knows that’s something rare. McGrath, Warne, Lee, Gillespie, they were there too last time, but this time Aussies are playing in their own backyard and English have not won a series since 87 (or 89?) .

The First test, dubious record, Aussies in control.

Ricky Ponting made a bold statement and further ads to the good work of Langer and Hayden. He made a brilliant century. He looks like climbing on to top Tendulkar; one can say that at least on current form. If one tends to fine one of the Aussie has superlative years scoring well beyond the benchmark 1000 runs and then seem to loose steam, sufferers could be a list of present Aussie team with bright exception of Ponting. Hayden, Glichrist, Martyn, Clarke, and Langer. It is weird. In the last Ashes which were played in England we had to wait till the fourth Test to see an Aussie hundred, this time round thankfully it is on first.
It is a bit very early to say but the English have always lost the first test at least in the last four concluded Ashes test. I think English will have a very bright chance on retaining the Ashes is they take this test into 4 inning and fifth day. I think this test would be no exception. I would be last one to be surprised in Aussie don’t pull of this test. But cricket is a weird game.

But cricket is a weird game.

India is such a brilliant team* in both forms of the game. The team carried its rich form of bizarre display of batting, ordinary bowling and one shot the batsmen played was to inside edge the ball onto the stumps, clear sign of lack of footwork and excessive bounce, Tendulkar was lucky to survive a leg before appeal. He did not manage for much long. I think India should have batted the second time as well. I am sure even in the second time they would not have come close to a moderate total of 248. Indian bowlers failed to impress with Munaf only managing some respectability in terms of bowling figures. If Indian batsmen find hard times on seamer friendly pitches then Indian bowlers struggle too to get the opposition out. Kumble has to come in at someone’s expense. Dinesh Mongia came in too late. I don’t know if he will score. Kaif was caught of a rising Pollock delivery, not many would have lined up after Kaif to play that one. Tendulkar was bowled so was Dravid. Raina has a lot to prove. I think the way Raina is playing should make Ganguly happy as it increases his chance of making it back to the Indian team.
I hope this performance is not a sign of things to come as the conditions as things only get bizarre, weird and tough.

* Only home conditions apply.

Cricket: The greatest One-Day cricket match.

It will be perhaps the best match anyone might see in ages to come. The list of superlatives that I can use will be short to describe it. It shall be talked about for ages to come and I have the pleasure of having it watched LIVE. It was 2-2 and the match was to be held at the bullring, Wanderer’s Johannesburg. The Australian captain Ricky Ponting has a certain liking for this ground. He had once lead a carnage, which saw him scoring a mammoth century and Australia piling up 368.
It was the same ground. I managed to land up on a sports channel showing the drama "Live". I saw Gilchrist after sometime hitting 50 in no time. I thought Aussies will score 350. Then after some length of time, I saw Ricky Ponting was playing at 88 of 53 balls.He ended the misery for South African by hitting 164 of 105 balls. I promised myself there would be a couple of records that will be shattered today. I thought 400 run mark will be breached. It was shattered as I saw the dreadful over number 47 in much Roger Telemachus balled 4 consecutive no balls and Andrew Symonds clearing boundaries with some ease in that over. My mind went back through the time almost three years back to the same ground the occasion being the World Cup. It was the first dreadful over from Zaheer Khan that sealed the fate of the match. Ponting made complete mockery of Indian bowling.
It was a different day today. Ponting is a “Big match, Big innings” player. He has put to sword many bowling attacks from all over the world. He did it again today. He just piled on the agony. I think his catch was a very good one perhaps the best one ever wishes to see. The agony meanwhile continued. Andrew Symonds continued the onslaught. I saw the score at 434 for 4. I knew who was going to win. I told my Dad it is over. My father is a big cricket buff as well. He said it is never over until it is actually over. The game of cricket is a funny game. It is the game of glorious uncertainties. Dad said a simple line “South Africa might just win, who knows?”
I don’t know what was going through Graeme Smith’s mind when he came out to bat and saw 435 to win at a run rate touching 9 runs an over. I was very sceptic and wrote off South Africa to winning this match.
It was 7:27 P.M. in my watch and a dear friend called said, “whatever you are doing, you better switch over to the match”. I was like “What’s the deal man?” he told, “South Africa are 181 for 1 in 20 overs”. I said “what?” I checked on; to see it was 182-1 in 20 overs. I thought this match is on. Then I saw Graeme Smith holding out on the boundary. I thought bye-bye cricket match. Then when had posted "Cricket: Run Carnivale" my father came running asked me to watch this over. Gibbs had plundered Symonds for three “four’s” and a “Six”.This over costed Australians 18 runs. It was topsy-turvy after Gibbs got out. There were wicket at regular interval with batsmen under a lot of pressure. I wished he stayed in to score a double century. The balance of the game shifted every over after that. The run rate climbed to 8 an over then pulled back to 7. I vividly remember the equation “South Africa requires 77 of 42 balls.” I was a bit apprehensive. Then Wan Der Vath fell like a wrath on the Australians. He scored 35 over 18 balls and pulled it back for South Africans.
He was dismissed and then Roger Telemachus came in and managed couple of boundaries only to hold out in the deep on the off side. The equation was 18 of 12 balls. It was meanwhile anybody’s game at that time with 18 runs to get and 2 wickets remaining. The pulse were racing and a part of me was “Relax, cool it”. Mark Boucher had to settle a few scores. He laid to rest all past nightmares to rest this time. He is a very good finisher as well. He was ice cool. There were wickets falling all around him. But he lifted the weight on his shoulders and kept pegging away. He never looked out of sorts.
When it was eight wickets down; Andrew Hall came in. He can do everything on the cricket field (bat, ball and keep wickets). He also has the slowest test century so he can bat. He took a couple of singles and then hit a boundary of the second ball of over. I said game set and match South Africa. I realized the next ball he was caught. Makhaya Ntini, who was on receiving end in Australia walked in. He did what not many could have done in the situation; he took a single and the game was tied. I knew Australia was not winning this. I was savouring the moment. My prayers came true when Boucher hit the winnings runs with a four over the top. South Africa had set a new One-Day record for most runs in a One-Day innings. There is a lot, more which will be said and written. I hope I will own a CD of this match I would love it.
I can’t say anything more. There will be things which may happen in the game of cricket. I today believe is saw history being made today. This match proved right whatever is said about the game of cricket. This is the greatest game of cricket ever, till date.

Cricket: Run Carnivale

This is an absolute belter of a game.This is the one you would wish for in your dreams.It is an abolute carnage of bowlers and people are being smashed all over the garden.
The Aussie have set Proteas a record breaking chase of 434 in a one day match.Ponting with a dynamite 164 in 105 balls. Gibbs so far is 132 of 94 balls. It doesn't get any better then this with peole just hell bent on plundering runs.
I though i should hold my post on the days play of England vs India. Th match to watch for the evening is Australia vs South Africa. Just check out the numbers on this page.