Cricket: Preview T20 World Cup

T20 frenzy kicks off from today in Sri Lanka. 12 teams clash to the shortest format of Gentlemens game. My quick 20 takes -

1. Weather could play a spoil sport,which will tumble the points table.

2. David and Goliaths, punt on a minnows beating a top Test teams.

3. Expecting big sixes, swinging yorkers, ace fielding,the team with best bowling and fielding will win the Cup.

4. Lots of cricketers play T20 leagues in Aus, India, England and Lanka. - Oram, Pollard, Vettori, Afridi etc.

5. Games within games, some making comeback Yuvraj and Kallis, some facing wilderness, Pietrsen debuts on the analyst corner.

6. All Rounders on premium – Kallis, Oram, Morkel, Afridi, Razzaq, McCullum, Dhoni, Angello Matthews, Sammy.

7. Myster Spinners -  Ajmal, Afridi, Narine, Mendis, Ashwin, Balaji.

8. Ace fielders - Guptill, Pollar, Raina, Virat, Imaran Nazir, DeVilliers, Warner.

9. Game changers with the bat - Gayle, Raina, bravo, Angello, Baristow, Warner, Watson.

10. Game changers with the ball - Gul, Afridi, Mendis, Narine, Steyn, Watson.

11. Teams to watch out Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa.

12. Minnows to watch out for Ireland, Bangladesh, Australia.

13. Twitter, FB is in, Live telecast may see a blip in T20 at least at the group stages.

14. This is the most open tournament of cricket is last 10 years or more.

15. SL tend to be low and slow, the pitches are relaid and hopefully they wont be slow and low.

16. Toss could be a very big deal.

17. Dhoni and Co look very good if you consider a batting unit, only.

18. Future stars that may emerge will still have to grind it out in Test match areans.

19. A brilliant piece of felding, consecutive boundaries, run outs may just change the game on its head.

20. May the best team win.

Cricket: Mumbai lose way to Hyderabad.

1. Some basic rules of cricket should aply to T20 as well, key factors being, opening partnership, performance of top order batsmen and bowlers, fielding, supreme quality of cricket.
2. The matches in this IPL has four session divide by 2 unStrategic time outs and an innings change.
3. It was the match of the slingers, Edwards takes two. Malinga, takes three.
4. Deccan Chargers Hyderabad are the team to beat.
5. I am not convinced about batting line of most teams, Nayar has to bat in top four.
6. Dhaval Kulkarni didn’t bat much didn’t bowl well, why was he played?
7. Is Bhajji watching the speeds of other bowlers especially finger spinners?
8. Will the law of averages catch up with Gilchrist? He batted brilliantly.
9. Dwayne Bravo is magnificient, so is slinga Malinga, some breath taking stuff.
10. Mumbai India onus pretty much on Tendulkar.
11. Bhajji should have done better with the ball, but he did make amends with the bat.
12. Those who said T20 is for young shouldn’t watch IPL-2.
13. Some of the field placements were amusing, no mid wicket for Gibbs and no third man for Gilchrist were a few of them.
14. The first couple of overs after unStrategic time out key to most matches.
15. Win toss, bat first and defend, is that the key to IPL-2.
16. Pragyan Ojha is looking ominous, Ojha vs Ganguly is what I am looking forward too Slinga Malinga and Yusuf Pathan at the death would be joy to watch.
17. It was raining sixes, I think boundaries should be there, atleast it doesn’t have any bearing on the match.
18. Gibbs and Gilchrist made a huge hole by commanding awe.
19. There are several dilemma facing captains but no one seems to go traditional, conserve wickets and look to explode around last five overs.
20. Mumbai Indians will find hard to cement place in semis on current form.

Cricket: Riders feel the Charge

As I said Cricket and T20 are like two subjects too be prepared from the text book, but the maxims of the two games remains the same. I think even the punters know this fact. I didn’t see the curtailed match as I opted for the siesta instead. But yeah Sehwag did fire, he has had one of the most interesting last 18 months and his opening partner too seem to have a run full time. I think Delhi and Chennai have the most potent bowling attack hence favourites to win. Others are good but remain untest.

I saw the Knight Riders vs Decaan Chargers match. So here are 20 point blog from the match Knight Riders vs Deccan Chargers.

1. Fidel Edwards 6 in four overs, brilliant, gearing up to see Edwards vs Malinga.
2. All hype of Gayle, McCullum and Ganguly was settled in first 20 minutes of the game, all three in the hut and KKR reeling soon.
3. The variety of reasons may have taken IPL away from India but lots many things in terms of must-do-basics-of-cricket have between bought closer.
4. Did I see turn on SAf pitches? Ojha and Karthik would be still rubbing there eyes in some disbelief.
5. Scott Styris was saved from the blushes by two brilliant catches by Gibbs and Sharma.
6. Gibbs the swash-buckler he is tuned it on big time, scored a meaty 53 not out, made sure the driver advantage is bought all the way to deliver point.
7. The onus is on Rohit Sharma tough, he need to prove both fitness and form and temperament and technique, there is no doubt over the quality of talent.
8. RP rips apart Kolkatta Knight Riders with four wickets.
9. Ganguly missing Eden gardens and tailor made pitches there.
10. There is a case of going back to the basics and have specialist openers for this IPL-2.
11. Agarkar, the question his can he bowl without embarrassing his captain?
12. Laxmi Ratan Shukla, well, he smacked a couple but was deceived by stupid and turning orthodox left arm spin.
13. Laxman should read “For Dummies - How to run between the wickets?”
14. But he need no master class in batting, the six off Ishant was very very special.
15. Deccan Chargers are really in some different colour altogether.
16. It is matter of time before Dada comes good atleast once, though he needs some soul searching to do, something he looked to be doing when facing Fidel.
17. I think almost all team needs to fine tune their batting order, almost all have screwed up, but it is just one match.
18. I think Harmeet Singh bowled well and impressed, look sgood but would do good to add pace.
19. Where was Mushraffe Mortaza for Kolkatta Knight Riders?
20. I think all of us viewers should enjoy what is happening rather than reminiscence on what has happened last year, this IPL is on, with a difference.

Cricket: IPL T20.

T-20 Mania is On.

Cricket is different from T-20. Cricket is cricket; T-20 is T-20. It is something like studying two different subjects for examinations to be prepared from the same text book. I had done the previous a few years ago.
So it is 20 point blog, not quiet a “twitter”.

1. Mumbai Indians draw first blood, score in excess of 160.
2. I saw a reluctant Tendulkar, score a fifty and Jayasuriya started but faded.
3. Dropped chances almost even the match, but Chennai flattered to deceive.
4. Dumminy walk out of limelight, better luck next time.
5. Nayyar, challenege from him is to emulate and better Yuvraj, Dhoni, Yusuf Pathan.
6. Nayyar would be proud to smack 3 sixes in an over on Flintoff.
7. Tendulkar shepherd the flock, but team lost too many wickets.
8. IPL = Inadvertent Promotion League, give us a break from Ads Mr. Modi.
9. Cheerleaders, :P
10. Parthiv Patel come on kid, do something.
11. Lasith Slinger Malinga fastest underarm bowler?
12. Zaheer as cool as you like, he can bowl with blindfold and walking towards the bastmen with his back facing the bowler. 
13. Bravo … what panache of the man
14. Dhoni shows a sneak peek on how to construct a T20 innings.
15. Bhajji, almost got his man, and then got Freddie Flintstome Flintoff.
16. Hayden the big oak looked threatening.
17. The Big Oak, caught brilliantly by Zak off eternal young, old guard Jayasuriya.
18. Oram almost won them the watch by tryng to get more than maximum.
19. Lasith Malinga and Nayyar to take Mumbai Indians forward.
20. Team with a flexible potent and explosive middle order is the key.

That was for the first edit, second edit after the second Match.

Second Edit:

1. Always bet on the underdog.
2. The bookmakers would definetly give a thumbs up to T20.
3. Rahul Darvid is in a class of his one, so is Kumble.
4. Mascrenhas, screams two in two, RCB have their backs to the Wall.
5. Pitersen, remains half as good as pie.
6. Dravid smacked a six, Kumble take 5 for 5, RCB defend a meagre 130 odd.
7. Warne shall remain Sheikh of tweak, man has control over the ball.
8. Virat Kohli, seems, acts, behaves like a brat, he is oversmart for himself.
9. Praveen Kumar, perhaps got under Smiths skin, Smith edged Praveen to Dravid.
10. Jesse the big barrel rolled one on to Tyron’s stumps.
11. Dravid want to be Warne bunny, but he did catch him.
12. Munaf Patel looks like one from India’s most wanted.
13. For once Ms Shetty want beaming/flashing her teeth.
14. Those who said T20 if for young would have seen today’s match with lots of interest.
15. Warne, Kumble have retired Dravid is in Twilight but managed to set tone of thigns to come.
16. Yusuf Pathan should think with his brains and then use his brawns instead of experimenting on the opposite tread.
17. You cannot keep Jesse Ryder out of the game.
18. The number three five and six in batting order are crucial for T20.Was it Pietersen for Banglore and Warne for Rajasthan, Royal Rajasthan lost by a very big Margrin.
    
19. T20 teams got to have a Talisman cricketer to pull the rabbit out of the hat.
20. Will the huge deficit for Royals prove to be there undoing in the even of run rate?

Cricket: Indians squeeze past.

From now on own T20 matches wont be a sojourn it will be just 20 sentences will would cover maximum detail of the match.

1. Sri Lanka win toss.
2. Dilshan tires to do a Dhoni, dons the captains shirt and keepers gloves.
3. Jayasuriya goes for Ishant, 22 runs in an over.
4. Ishant pull one out of thin air to send Jayasuriya back Lankans 60 in 5overs.
5. Yusuf Pathan stifles the scoring rate, Lankans drag thoughtlessly.
6. Lankans aspire of inspiration, tail enders fire.
7. Dhoni look in command even under the hammer.
8. Lankans build momentum and flay Indian pacer bowlers.
9. Zaheer out of touch seems ages when he bowled last.
10. Ishaant out of line, comes back good with last over, Lankans restricts to 171.
11. Disaster strikes when Sehwag runs out, only way that Lankans can get him, one down in first over.
12. Gambhir for once fail to play long innings.
13. Yuvraj and Raina flex their muscles tonk sixes, get Indians going.
14. Sharma flatters to deceive; Dhoni for once, fails, wickets tumbling both end.
15. Bandara and the old fox Jayasuriya give nothing away, take wickets a plenty, 15/4 in 5 overs.
16. A master stroke in hindsight, Dhoni promotes Jadeja over Pathan brothers, India 117 for 7.
17. Bandara thinks he is the greatest leggie in last 20 years, Pathan Yusuf greets him 4, 6, 6 in an over.
18. Jadeja is castled, Sri Lanka have foot on the door, Pathans have sight on the score.
19. Dilshan out smarts himself, gets Fernando the wild an over, Lankans crumble under Dilshan’s folly.
20. Irfan smacks a sixer of Malinga to get Indian a truly unprobale victory, last 26 balls accounted for 59 runs.

Cricket: Not quiet a match

Rajasthan Royals led by Shane Warne have a touch of "Aussie-ness" in them. They don't seem to ever relieve the pressure and they do their home work really well. This ensure the match went the royals way as they cruised to 105 runs win. Delhi lost their way very early in the match. Sehwag couldn't fire with the bat and then the Royals commanded and steer the ship and storm in the IPL's Final.

Asondkar stand tall.

He is a short guy. When he stands against Smith, after clipping a boundary its a David-Goliath kind of thing. But his short height pressents him an advatage. He can play the drive up in the air when the taller bloke, say someone like Smith would be happy to defend. Then comes a second advantage, the fast bowler after getting tonked would attempt a bouncer. The bouncer to a any other batsman would be shoulder high but that to Asondkar would be above the head. This makes sure that he plays a high percentage game. This also helps more recognized Smith to play himself in the game and when the time come he can swiftly change gears.

The right mix.

Royals is a well balanced team. A recognized opener Smith, a work horse Kaif, two in-form all rounder, Watson and Pathan. Warne and Tanvir are genuine wicket taking bowlers. Tanvir with his awkward action and immculate line and amazing control. Warne well, Sheikh of Tweak. couple of good keepers as well, Kamran Akmal especially enjoys India conditions and Indian bowlers. Watson is the genuine all rounder meanwhile Pathan is a filler but his batting is really good. He is well built and clears boundary with ease.

Warne spinning magic.

Warne struggled in India when it came to taking test wickets. We played him all too easy. The Indians batsmen batted against the turning and bouncing Warne's deliveries rather while the English/Safs/Others played suave and imposing Shane Warne instead of the turning ball. But he has got it right for the Royals. Just imagine a rookie from under 19 spending a day with Shane Warne discussing spin bowling. It is a dream come true said Sunil Gavaskar.It is indeed dreamcoe true.
I hope he returns again to IPL next year too. Shane Warne turning the 8 ouncer, it is a very pretty sight.

Next on line is

A match between the would have been ODI Captain Yuvraj and Maverick Dhoni. Let the best team win.

Cricket: India conquer 20-20

It was a cliff hanger. I just remember the burst of crackers and pyro the moment Sreesanth held to Misbah catch at short fine leg. He held on it it for dear life and Dhoni lifted the T-20 World Cup. India dismantle some good teams on their way to the world cup, proving that best of abilities wont get you much, but best of performance surely will. India performed well. They won coz the beat the best teams in business. It included, Pakistan (twice) England (not highly rated, obviously) South Africa, Australia.
South Africa being the best balanced they always seem to have more than three all rounders. Boucher will always bat, Kallis,(did not play in the Cup!) Pollock, Morkel, Hall, Kemp and I may add Gibbs coz he is a damn good fielder.
Aussies well they know to win in every format on that can be played, their team hardly changes be it Test, ODI, T-20. They are a very good team but surprisingly there are not too many all rounders, only specialist, there is scope to get into their fifth bowlers but you seldom see it coz their planning is so good, along with the execution.. So when India scored big there is every chance of a team defending if two of the bowlers fire.

India missed a big heart bowler.

I felt Zaheer Khan should have played this series. India looked way out. It is taxing this format coz couple of bad balls just can give the momentum to the opposition. India at the moment doesn’t have a bowler who can sent shiver into the spine, forget the shiver, they may not even send a cautionary note. It is not about the pace but place too. Bret Lee and Shane Bond were dispatched all over the park, they were the fastest, but it is normal to see couple of Indian bowlers go above six an over in ODI. I think the better thing would be to bowl to a set field, I mean why bother too much, being a pro bowl to your strength sert the field coz batsmen men will always give a chance if he is tied down, by setting an offside field and bowling full on leg stump will only help the batsmen to score runs.

Catch ‘em ma’an

Did u have a look at the fielding? Indian fielding and they bowling extra’s is the indication of whether India is playing well or not. They some how manage to put a decent show if they field well which is not something they do regularly. India fielded well in general. The youngster inclusion perhaps added to this but there was a discipline for one and all to see. There was also a sense or urgency in cutting down the angles. The running between the wickets was a treat to watch. Sehwag I think did well in this, but I am still far from impressed with his batting. He looks to play only a cut shot which is causing him to get in and get out before you can say “I”.

Vice Versa.

I think T-20 will influence the game of cricket for sure. It will directly impact the 50 over game or it may out shine it. But tighten up your seat belts as cricket will hasten up and may quicken up the pace. The scope of stopping runs will go on increasing and teams will be separated by the way the field coz there would be close finish between the international teams. We had hit over 200 and England matched us only to go down fitting. West Indies had butchered SAfs only to be butchered by Gibbs and they lost defending 200! WI have forgotten how to win. I hope they remember what is it too win a cricket match. I mean by now I think there would be middle aged won cooking up stories of what a potent force WI use to be. Well across the Atlantic in England there would be mythic going around with stories of English knights braved dragons and winning cricket tournaments. It is a sorry state.
But there is enough seen in t-20 where an old folk may ask u to go back to the basic, run hard, be quick on feet, stick around for partnerships and look for percentage cricket. The T-20 perhaps will keep this game of cricket, a game of glorious uncertainties.
A cricket match will never be over until the last run is scored of last wicket is taken.

Flying back home.

So the ministers and BCCI officials were given the first row seats, Dhoni was there too, he was felicitated and so were his over the moon hyped “Daredevils”. India won a World Cup 24 years later … well that caught my cricketing mind spinning. I mean come on can u ignore truth and still hold onto to your conscience. If I am not wrong, under Dada’s captaincy we won the Mini World Cup, the knock out, actually we shared it along with Sri Lanka but we were winners of the tournament and there too we beat good teams, wonder no ones mention that. I hope no one noticed that ever, coz the eye see what they want to see.

Cash in on T-20

It is a money spinner for everyone, hosting board, participating board, spectators, betters and also cricket players. The news channels hyped in so did the broadcasters. The government poured some money over players who played exceptionally well. So all in all it was an enriching experience.

Bottom Line.

I got a forward in which which quoted former president, respected APJ Abdul Kalam, “India will be a super power in 20-20”.
:P think about it.

Cricket: Catch 20-20

The catch 22 will soon gave cath 20-20.The only agony is adds, i thionk they have to still formulate a way to show the action live and dont let ads screw up the fun ... thats why i feel at times football serves well.
Too many things are likely to happen in twenty twenty before u bat an eyelid.

A complete cricket fan story.

India vs Pakistan has to be a sell out. I heard Hussain joking that atleast coule of people would watch that one, it was a good one while wtahcing the watch i turned my head behind my back ad the count was 15, me excluded. It has to be a pack house anywhere.
Anyways I was a bit late afta dinner, the score card read 9-2, i thought well lets see whats happening.

Asif ......... tere bin ....

He is good, he has got pace and amazing thing called control. He can take it both ways and bowls a line which is really nagging, as nagging as a mother in law. ANyways he bowled three dot balls and Gambhir felt the pinch. One must know that Asif holds the distinction of bowling the first maiden in 20-20. Anyways the flood gates opened... i mean flood gates for wickets. Sehwag played what he played best, a nothing shot. I mean u facing someone with great control and pitching is making the ball dart around, doesn't it make sense to see what it is like spenidng time in the middle. Sehwag can shred any attack to bits provided he puts sense to what he is upto ... I mean doing anything blindly is insane.

I am not a big fan of Karthick, cause he has to be consistent. The ball that got him was a beauty and would have tested anybody, he couple of gutsy blows got Utahappa going. One over extra was a beauty.

Uthappa on his own.

Gutsy is the word for him. He is a very good hitter down the ground and thats class. A couple od sixes if hanid really turned the tide is not for some rain India looked well to getting some more.

Give it to the Pak bowlers.

India vs Paak has always been India batsmen vs Paki bowlers. Pak will have no dearth of bowlers, thay just come from nowhere and mean bussiness and have a lot of flair. The new bowler Tanvir who bowled of the wrong foot kept Dhoni and Utahappa in check. It was for him that Utahappa was out following a number of rain intervention ...

Pathan vs Pathan.

Irfan Pathan beltwe to towering sixes and wallopped Afridi out of the park. Those were huge stuff, something what India may have been missing off late.
Bang bang and gone. He was bowled following two sixes.

Indian bowling.

Agarkar has sleepeless lint is he doesnt give up easy hit me balls, man come alive, dont srew it up. I think there is not dearth of talent we have to find someone who is a bit more tidy then Agarkar coz he goes plenty. I thought he have a bright chance before he came in and screwed it up big time last four overs gone for 54. can u believe it? I mean some expierenced Pak player would have creamed it. I for once thought of giving sehwag and Yuvi a ball in the middle.

Harbhajan on a bhjan.

He bowled beautifully to Afridi and fooled him twice and then got him the second time to restrict Afridi is no mean task. Afridi went and then it was a Pak show.

In the end.

India played the right card Harbhajan Sehwag and Utahappa pulled it of for India. I thought Pak bowlers would cream it up but they couldn't enforcing India to come on top of the group. Well done.