.......only in November 2010 after almost 900 wkts, 200 against Bangladesh and 100 odd against West Indies, 100 against England and 70 against India and 40 against Australia. Doubts would always remain whether he would be called as greatest bowler ever to have played Test cricket. Cheap wickets would always go ahaonst him, more tests against BD and Zim would always go against him. And questions on what if the 15 degrees rule wasnt introduced on behest of Jaggu would persist. Yo Babehh...........
July 30, 2009
Jeet ka mantra
...for Pakistan would be go YOUTH policy. Dump the old guards of Misbah and MoYo from ODIs like India did in 2008. May be the fresh legs would mean change of luck and more energy on the field.
At least that would help Pakistan get 1st victory of this tour........Would you call this hatred stuff ? Would you say this biased ?
At least that would help Pakistan get 1st victory of this tour........Would you call this hatred stuff ? Would you say this biased ?
July 29, 2009
Disgusting this!!
Pretty cheap and disgusting this report in Pak media. Any Indian around in Pak team hotel and he is a bookie, so we should say any Pakistani around Indian team hotel, he is a terrorist? Cheap cheap cheap.
KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday refused to comment on reports that national team manager Yawar Saeed had complained about the presence of suspected Indian bookies in a where the team was staying during the Test series against Sri Lanka in Colombo. "It is premature for us to make a comment. We will wait for the manager's report on the whole issue and then make a comment on it," PCB's chief operating officer Saleem Altaf said.
The Pakistani media reported that during the team's stay at a in Colombo, some players had told Yawar about some Indian nationals staying on the same floor as the team pestering them with invitations to have tea and dinner. Yawar complained to the hotel management who changed the floor of the Pakistani players. The media has indicated that the Indian nationals might be suspected bookmakers from Mumbai but Yawar told a declined to comment on their profession. However, now it transpires that the Pakistani players didn't approach Yawar with any complaint and in fact some of them had got quite friendly with the Indians. "The fact is that one of the player's who was a bit concerned with the mixing of the players with the Indians went and told captain Younis Khan about his suspicions after which Yawar came into the picture," one team source said from Colombo.
"The Indians were at the Taj Samundra hotel since the second Test in Colombo and got close to some players," the source said. He said it was after Younis spoke to the team management that Yawar called the players and told them clearly that they were not allowed under PCB or ICC anti-corruption rules to entertain unknown persons or accept gifts or mingle with them. "Yawar reminded the players that they were supposed to report to him immediately if some unknown or suspicious person tried to make contact with them or offered them favors," the source disclosed. It was after this that the team manager asked the hotel management to change the floor.
Pak lost the Test series in Sri Lanka 0-2 with the final Test drawn. The Pakistani batting collapsed thrice in a row in the first two Tests and the team lost close matches leading to criticism over performance of some players.
KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday refused to comment on reports that national team manager Yawar Saeed had complained about the presence of suspected Indian bookies in a where the team was staying during the Test series against Sri Lanka in Colombo. "It is premature for us to make a comment. We will wait for the manager's report on the whole issue and then make a comment on it," PCB's chief operating officer Saleem Altaf said.
The Pakistani media reported that during the team's stay at a in Colombo, some players had told Yawar about some Indian nationals staying on the same floor as the team pestering them with invitations to have tea and dinner. Yawar complained to the hotel management who changed the floor of the Pakistani players. The media has indicated that the Indian nationals might be suspected bookmakers from Mumbai but Yawar told a declined to comment on their profession. However, now it transpires that the Pakistani players didn't approach Yawar with any complaint and in fact some of them had got quite friendly with the Indians. "The fact is that one of the player's who was a bit concerned with the mixing of the players with the Indians went and told captain Younis Khan about his suspicions after which Yawar came into the picture," one team source said from Colombo.
"The Indians were at the Taj Samundra hotel since the second Test in Colombo and got close to some players," the source said. He said it was after Younis spoke to the team management that Yawar called the players and told them clearly that they were not allowed under PCB or ICC anti-corruption rules to entertain unknown persons or accept gifts or mingle with them. "Yawar reminded the players that they were supposed to report to him immediately if some unknown or suspicious person tried to make contact with them or offered them favors," the source disclosed. It was after this that the team manager asked the hotel management to change the floor.
Pak lost the Test series in Sri Lanka 0-2 with the final Test drawn. The Pakistani batting collapsed thrice in a row in the first two Tests and the team lost close matches leading to criticism over performance of some players.
Our Pathan, their Pathan
If their Pathan is leading his T20 team, then our desi elder Pathan is busy taking selectors heads on and then eating his own words.
"I want to be part of Indian Test side". Said Pathan few days back.
"Mera bhai Irfan, mera chota bhai Irfan, Shivan(g)i ka pati Irfan, mere pitaji ka beta Irfan is excluded from Indian ODI team for non cricketing reasons. Selectors ki maa ki.........."
"I didnt say anything on my chota bhai Irfan. Wo to kuch journos ne mujhe mithai khila di to maine khushi me majak kar diya". He said today.
Koi gal nahi Yusuf Pathan bhai, just remember one thing you are not ex player, you are current player. Yadi ODI cricket khelna hai to bhai apne performance par dhyan do aur selectors ko gaali dena chod do. Kisi selector ka dimag ka dahi ho gaya to bhiya aap apni jagah kho baithenge and MS bhai bhi kuch nahi kar payenge. So thoda bach ke rahiyo. Apni jagah banaye rakho aur match jeetate raho.
So no more blabbering in anger sir.....
"I want to be part of Indian Test side". Said Pathan few days back.
"Mera bhai Irfan, mera chota bhai Irfan, Shivan(g)i ka pati Irfan, mere pitaji ka beta Irfan is excluded from Indian ODI team for non cricketing reasons. Selectors ki maa ki.........."
"I didnt say anything on my chota bhai Irfan. Wo to kuch journos ne mujhe mithai khila di to maine khushi me majak kar diya". He said today.
Koi gal nahi Yusuf Pathan bhai, just remember one thing you are not ex player, you are current player. Yadi ODI cricket khelna hai to bhai apne performance par dhyan do aur selectors ko gaali dena chod do. Kisi selector ka dimag ka dahi ho gaya to bhiya aap apni jagah kho baithenge and MS bhai bhi kuch nahi kar payenge. So thoda bach ke rahiyo. Apni jagah banaye rakho aur match jeetate raho.
So no more blabbering in anger sir.....
Boom Boom Boomer
.....Afridi to finally lead his t20 side against SL.....Good stuff. Who knows we might see different Boomer this time, some matured and some cool headed stuff. Something like final t20WC....
Q, aaj khush to bahut honge tum..... Well he really is.....
Q, aaj khush to bahut honge tum..... Well he really is.....
SL's patchy ODI form.
Sangakara has made some very optimistic outlook towards the ODI world cup 11. Unfortunately their record since jan 1, 2008 isnt very good. Out of 38 games they have played in this duration they have won 19 and lost 17. The only major team they have had success against is Pakistan by winning 3 out of 4 and losing 1. They won 6 against Zim and as usual 3 against BD out of 4. Against strong teams their record is pathetic. 5 wins and 10 losses to India in SL and Australia. 2 losses to WI and 3 losses to Australia with a solitary win.
Every series they go in they have lotsa debutants. Lot of players get axed and lot many come back. But barring ageless Jayasuriya and to an extent Sanga himself, no batsmen has been able to do well for SL in this span.
So how could this team be considered a contender for the home world cup? Of course unless they turn around the tide and play well. Another worrying aspect for them is they have not won a single bilateral series against strong team at home. 2 series loss (2-3 and 1-4) to India and 2-3 loss to England in 2007 isnt a pretty picture for a team which had a formidable record at home. The management speaks of tough decisions. If the same is being followed, then the first one to get kicked out on that terms is Mahela Jayawardhena himself out of the ODi team. Hell he had 3 ducks in row against ZIM in the tri-series last year.
He doesnt play well against Pakistan. And besides in current season out of 16 games he has made 212 runs at an average of 14. Last 3 seasons he averages 14.13, 36.2 and 25.15. Pretty low for a man who speaks so loud on consistency and team building ethics. So when there are so many talented youngsters knocking the SL ODi team, why doesnt this man gets dumped unless he scores substantial in whatever domestic cricket SL has ?
Every series they go in they have lotsa debutants. Lot of players get axed and lot many come back. But barring ageless Jayasuriya and to an extent Sanga himself, no batsmen has been able to do well for SL in this span.
So how could this team be considered a contender for the home world cup? Of course unless they turn around the tide and play well. Another worrying aspect for them is they have not won a single bilateral series against strong team at home. 2 series loss (2-3 and 1-4) to India and 2-3 loss to England in 2007 isnt a pretty picture for a team which had a formidable record at home. The management speaks of tough decisions. If the same is being followed, then the first one to get kicked out on that terms is Mahela Jayawardhena himself out of the ODi team. Hell he had 3 ducks in row against ZIM in the tri-series last year.
He doesnt play well against Pakistan. And besides in current season out of 16 games he has made 212 runs at an average of 14. Last 3 seasons he averages 14.13, 36.2 and 25.15. Pretty low for a man who speaks so loud on consistency and team building ethics. So when there are so many talented youngsters knocking the SL ODi team, why doesnt this man gets dumped unless he scores substantial in whatever domestic cricket SL has ?
July 28, 2009
Akram on Akhtar
Wasim Akram says correct on Shoaib Akhtar that his career is over. No later this statement came and also the news broke out that he is in further trouble with Butt and he s been issued notice...
Well we never know few appeals and cases later Akhtar could still be in the team and competing with Amer for a slot. When MoYo can come in and along with Misbah who is now off for long time can keep youths like Alam and Akamal junior out of the ODIs, then why not Akhtar.
Wonder if somebody in Pakistan listens to Wasim ? He is one of those sane ex-cricketer in the subcontinent who speaks some sense.
Well we never know few appeals and cases later Akhtar could still be in the team and competing with Amer for a slot. When MoYo can come in and along with Misbah who is now off for long time can keep youths like Alam and Akamal junior out of the ODIs, then why not Akhtar.
Wonder if somebody in Pakistan listens to Wasim ? He is one of those sane ex-cricketer in the subcontinent who speaks some sense.
July 27, 2009
SL won or Pak lost ?
http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/416478.html
What tough calls man ? Dropping Vaas ? When was he playing except the final Test which was a brokered deal to get rid of him for good ? Making Dilshan keep ? Was that a brave move ? Idiotic to say the least. You have lost your best batsman in LOI cricket to this inability of the captain to step up and keep when PJ was injured.
When did SL play breathtaking cricket to outplay Pakistan? SL won 2-0 cos Pakistan lost it in those mindless collapses. SL never played positive cricket to win the series. When they could play positive cricket they choked and gave up chance to win 1st test on their win without help from Pakistan batsmen or bowlers!!
Speaking for media for praising the team ignoring the realities is idiotic. And why is he even writing now ? He is no more a captain, he isnt in the greatest of form, so why is he blabbering? I dont know if Nuvan and Thilan deserved those 17 and 12 wkts without the help from Pakistan batsmen? I guess not.
Mendis is punctured for good and he wasnt even considered for the final Test.
When there was an opportunity for the new captain to set the pace for a win he choked just cos Dilshan was injured. So what if he was injured. If they would have gone for victory and lost then it was acceptable, but closing the shop 32 overs before the game is negative cricket. For negative cricket so much of applauds ? Not done dude.
History would be created when you guys win outside SL and sans BD and Zim. Thats when the history would be made for you guys. Until then keep making runs, they wont contribute an iota to your greatness ?
What tough calls man ? Dropping Vaas ? When was he playing except the final Test which was a brokered deal to get rid of him for good ? Making Dilshan keep ? Was that a brave move ? Idiotic to say the least. You have lost your best batsman in LOI cricket to this inability of the captain to step up and keep when PJ was injured.
When did SL play breathtaking cricket to outplay Pakistan? SL won 2-0 cos Pakistan lost it in those mindless collapses. SL never played positive cricket to win the series. When they could play positive cricket they choked and gave up chance to win 1st test on their win without help from Pakistan batsmen or bowlers!!
Speaking for media for praising the team ignoring the realities is idiotic. And why is he even writing now ? He is no more a captain, he isnt in the greatest of form, so why is he blabbering? I dont know if Nuvan and Thilan deserved those 17 and 12 wkts without the help from Pakistan batsmen? I guess not.
Mendis is punctured for good and he wasnt even considered for the final Test.
When there was an opportunity for the new captain to set the pace for a win he choked just cos Dilshan was injured. So what if he was injured. If they would have gone for victory and lost then it was acceptable, but closing the shop 32 overs before the game is negative cricket. For negative cricket so much of applauds ? Not done dude.
History would be created when you guys win outside SL and sans BD and Zim. Thats when the history would be made for you guys. Until then keep making runs, they wont contribute an iota to your greatness ?
Killing the golden goose
BCCI is planning to get the top stars in the corporate T20 in September. Thats right before the CT. After CT its Australia ODI series and then the grudge series against SL followed by BD tour , SA series, IPL and the T20WC.
Not to add the uncalled for SL tri-series. So the 2 month break now reduces to close to 1 and fourth of a month break for the 4 or 5 cricketers who play all 3 formats of the game for country -- MS, Yuvraj, Gambhir and Harbhajan along with Zaheer. Not to forget that Viru is injured.
If top stars are to play for corporate T20, then what does it leave for the corporate teams and what different does it make from IPL ?
Unfortunately we get the feeling BCCI is slowly killing Tests where as it has huge power to save Tests by increasing the revenue for Test players and asking the other boards to follow the suit. India is supposed to play 8 Tests this summer which isnt as bad. Just that except SA, the opposition isnt as formidable as it was last summer. Okay SL are good team, but they are cuckoos when it comes to playing Test cricket in India...
So why not rest the top stars totally in the cotton wool quilt and use them sparingly. May be likes of Dabri or fringe players can be given the opportunity to prove their worth as this is almost the season opener for the country?
Not to add the uncalled for SL tri-series. So the 2 month break now reduces to close to 1 and fourth of a month break for the 4 or 5 cricketers who play all 3 formats of the game for country -- MS, Yuvraj, Gambhir and Harbhajan along with Zaheer. Not to forget that Viru is injured.
If top stars are to play for corporate T20, then what does it leave for the corporate teams and what different does it make from IPL ?
Unfortunately we get the feeling BCCI is slowly killing Tests where as it has huge power to save Tests by increasing the revenue for Test players and asking the other boards to follow the suit. India is supposed to play 8 Tests this summer which isnt as bad. Just that except SA, the opposition isnt as formidable as it was last summer. Okay SL are good team, but they are cuckoos when it comes to playing Test cricket in India...
So why not rest the top stars totally in the cotton wool quilt and use them sparingly. May be likes of Dabri or fringe players can be given the opportunity to prove their worth as this is almost the season opener for the country?
July 24, 2009
Alvida Vaas
No more Vaas'sism from today. No more terror to lefties, no more first wicket dismissals on balls coming into the right handers, no more 8-for against minnows and no more flag bearing of just the 2nd world class subcontinent fast bowler after Kapil Dev in subcontinent. Only Dev has taken more than Vaas's 236 wkts in subcontinent.
I guess he was shabbily treated in his final Test. He should now gracefully retire before jumboorie selectors of Lanka dilute his contributions in ODIs too.
Thanks Vaas for your so many first ball dismissals and the delight you got on all the subcontinental fast bowlers. SL team would miss you more than what Sanga or Blabba Queen make us believe.
I guess he was shabbily treated in his final Test. He should now gracefully retire before jumboorie selectors of Lanka dilute his contributions in ODIs too.
Thanks Vaas for your so many first ball dismissals and the delight you got on all the subcontinental fast bowlers. SL team would miss you more than what Sanga or Blabba Queen make us believe.
Youngsters to look for next season and Badrinath 's failure
The flavor of the season ahead in India should be :
1) Manoj Tiwary -- the 1st real youngster post 2007 age to make the mark but injuries got him and barring the yorker game in Gabba in CB series 2008, this lad didnt get much chances to prove his talent. This season he should be back in contention given the injury of Raina and ahem ahem uselessness of Rohit Sharma
2) CP : Much said about him on Indian blogs in 2008. before injury got him ahead of IPL, he was in terrific form and he should get chance to prove his worth in ODIs and as a fringe player in Tests.
And those who support Badrinath to be in contention for the place in ODIs or Tests should go look for his score cards in Emerging player tournaments. He is the boss there and doesnt have to deal with the wicked presence of MS up there. Scoreline of 4, 3, 13 in 3 games as skipper obviously wont help his cause and then vocal cords or noise or support of Kris wont help him get even 3 or 4 voices in his favor.
Cmon Dabri, prove it you have got the substance and the mettle. As of now I m grinning cos I know you are useless. Your performances down under are going to turn off ur remaining supporters too.
1) Manoj Tiwary -- the 1st real youngster post 2007 age to make the mark but injuries got him and barring the yorker game in Gabba in CB series 2008, this lad didnt get much chances to prove his talent. This season he should be back in contention given the injury of Raina and ahem ahem uselessness of Rohit Sharma
2) CP : Much said about him on Indian blogs in 2008. before injury got him ahead of IPL, he was in terrific form and he should get chance to prove his worth in ODIs and as a fringe player in Tests.
And those who support Badrinath to be in contention for the place in ODIs or Tests should go look for his score cards in Emerging player tournaments. He is the boss there and doesnt have to deal with the wicked presence of MS up there. Scoreline of 4, 3, 13 in 3 games as skipper obviously wont help his cause and then vocal cords or noise or support of Kris wont help him get even 3 or 4 voices in his favor.
Cmon Dabri, prove it you have got the substance and the mettle. As of now I m grinning cos I know you are useless. Your performances down under are going to turn off ur remaining supporters too.
Whats the point in negative cricket ?
Sri Lanka needed 309 runs on day 5 for a clean sweep of Pakistan. They had 7 wickets in hand and 2 of their best batsmen of the year on crease.
2 and half sessions on day 5 SL need another 1o9 runs to win with 6 wickets in hand. In the day so far SL has scored just over 200 runs for a single wicket loss. Proves that they didnt want to go for the target, set the world record and win the series 3-0.
Negative cricket all round. In first hour of last session Younis Khan kept bowling himself and fawad Alam when he should have bowled his 2 best spinners. Pitch looked flat, yet Younis should have on his 2 best bowlers of the Test match. The players had lost the shoulders, they were lethargic and usual bugsy Akamal wasnt even chirping.
16 overs on and 106 runs to win. The equation was 133 runs in 36 overs which is quite gettable this days on final day of the Test match. Run rate just little under 4. Achievable given captain is on the crease. When the captain himself is content in playing negative cricket, there is hardly anything the team can do or the fans can expect to see the test cricket being kept alive.
Such Tests are disgrace for the health of longest format. It takes us back to the days of India Pakistan cricket when either team didnt want to lose just for saving the heads being rolled and saving the careers. Lose pathetic cricket.
Pak bowlers are not even trying something different. No banter, no sledging (very unusual for a Pak team) and no lifting up the spirits.
Rather than Pak, it would be SL who would need to be blamed for this boring Test match -- the dead rubber, who bothers about the victory right now. Series already in pocket, man of the series and man of the match awards would come this team's way and the averages would have been bulged up too. Whats the use of this century of Sangakara when its not even attempting to scare Pakistan that they are going to lose 0-3.
I remember Nagpur Test match of 2006 series between India and England when in last innings India needed 300 odd to win and batsmen knew it wasnt possible to win, yet Tendulkar and Pathan (I) managed to score runs at T20 pace then scaring Flintoff....Although Test was a draw, yet India attempted to make a match out of it.
Negative Test cricket has been foray of Lanka ever since they began their inception. It was at its pinnacle in 90s when Jaya was in peak of his form, yet they couldnt convert those drawn Tests to victories. Remember 1997 series when India and SL played out 5 boring draws. Every time India would score fast on day 2 losing wkts and scoring 500 odd runs. And then SL would carry on batting for the rest 3 days. Remember 952 ? Even today's retiree Vaas scored a 50 and debutant Mahela scored a 80 odd runs after 576 runathon by SJ and RM.
Unless SL dont give away this tendency to play negative Test cricket, they wont be counted in top test teams of the world, no matter how many batsmen they have over 50+ or bowlers over 700+ or how many clean sweeps they achieve over BD or Zim or SA or Eng at home.
2 and half sessions on day 5 SL need another 1o9 runs to win with 6 wickets in hand. In the day so far SL has scored just over 200 runs for a single wicket loss. Proves that they didnt want to go for the target, set the world record and win the series 3-0.
Negative cricket all round. In first hour of last session Younis Khan kept bowling himself and fawad Alam when he should have bowled his 2 best spinners. Pitch looked flat, yet Younis should have on his 2 best bowlers of the Test match. The players had lost the shoulders, they were lethargic and usual bugsy Akamal wasnt even chirping.
16 overs on and 106 runs to win. The equation was 133 runs in 36 overs which is quite gettable this days on final day of the Test match. Run rate just little under 4. Achievable given captain is on the crease. When the captain himself is content in playing negative cricket, there is hardly anything the team can do or the fans can expect to see the test cricket being kept alive.
Such Tests are disgrace for the health of longest format. It takes us back to the days of India Pakistan cricket when either team didnt want to lose just for saving the heads being rolled and saving the careers. Lose pathetic cricket.
Pak bowlers are not even trying something different. No banter, no sledging (very unusual for a Pak team) and no lifting up the spirits.
Rather than Pak, it would be SL who would need to be blamed for this boring Test match -- the dead rubber, who bothers about the victory right now. Series already in pocket, man of the series and man of the match awards would come this team's way and the averages would have been bulged up too. Whats the use of this century of Sangakara when its not even attempting to scare Pakistan that they are going to lose 0-3.
I remember Nagpur Test match of 2006 series between India and England when in last innings India needed 300 odd to win and batsmen knew it wasnt possible to win, yet Tendulkar and Pathan (I) managed to score runs at T20 pace then scaring Flintoff....Although Test was a draw, yet India attempted to make a match out of it.
Negative Test cricket has been foray of Lanka ever since they began their inception. It was at its pinnacle in 90s when Jaya was in peak of his form, yet they couldnt convert those drawn Tests to victories. Remember 1997 series when India and SL played out 5 boring draws. Every time India would score fast on day 2 losing wkts and scoring 500 odd runs. And then SL would carry on batting for the rest 3 days. Remember 952 ? Even today's retiree Vaas scored a 50 and debutant Mahela scored a 80 odd runs after 576 runathon by SJ and RM.
Unless SL dont give away this tendency to play negative Test cricket, they wont be counted in top test teams of the world, no matter how many batsmen they have over 50+ or bowlers over 700+ or how many clean sweeps they achieve over BD or Zim or SA or Eng at home.
Look beyond Shoaib and Asif
Rightly so Shoaib Akhtar has been ignored for the probables of CT squad. Its time he is forgotten for good and the new talented eager bowlers are given a chance to play for Pakistan. I would suggest dump Asif too.
July 22, 2009
My birthday today
Its my dubbay today. Birthday today. Along with Graham Gooch. So my critics, my silent readers and my few supporters wish me a very happy birthday.
And also wish that the country gets its one of the bestest returns in the international cricket this year.....
July 21, 2009
Ponting humbled by defeat ?
Surprised to see Aussies not making meat out of the umpiring decisions and Ponting being very quiet right now. Perhaps defeat and being the 1st Aussie skipper of modern age to lost at Lords has made him being humble.
No lectures, no whinning but just a small note that they would bounce back...
What India began in October, SOuth Africa continued and now England is building up on that. Australian defeats werent so common few years back as they are now. And perhaps here the worth of Ponting's captaincy would be evaluated.
He is no Border n no Waugh, forget being a Taylor. He got great teams in legacy so as long as those players were around he won. As they left and the new players have come in, he has faltered in captaincy and as well his batting. Perhaps he would like to learn a lot from Allan Border who transformed ordinary team to a world beating unit in few years time. It is being too early the transformation has begun for Australia, but then the results or the signs for new dawn in Australian cricket aint visible as of now. Its just 2 Tests and who knows Aussies would still bounce back to win it 2-1, but the typical Australian authority and stamp would always be missing....
Yet another collapse
Another test, another drama. 2/203 to 299 all out. 8 wkts for 96 runs. 4th collapse in as many innings. Good innings from Khurram Kha and selfish Yo, but then couldnt he last long to guide the tail through.....
And then Umar Gul strikes back on 1st ball....
Sangakara hits 1st ball four. Its all happening.
Collapses never happened in heap like this in my distant memory.....
And then Umar Gul strikes back on 1st ball....
Sangakara hits 1st ball four. Its all happening.
Collapses never happened in heap like this in my distant memory.....
July 19, 2009
Ump errors
If Australia lose, perhaps they would feel the pinch India felt in Sydney 2008. That would be a karmic retribution. Perhaps then Rick would understand carrying away in euphoria of possible victory is different and playing the game within spirits of the cricket is different.
Cricket is a great leveller and it doesnt consider if its India or England. Some Aussie blogs have mentioned that had Ponting taken the Strauss catch of may be Hussey then his effigies would have been burnt in India. Well may be yes, but then they should have known the anger and the pain when you are resigned to loss for not the game you play, but owing to over appealing and claiming catches when they are not...
English reaction to this catches and umpire reactions have nothing but idiotic. Something they would have learnt while watching Sydney 2008.
And not everybody is like Anil Kumble and his Indian lads who wont sulk. Not everybody takes this incidents in good taste. It would be interesting to see Ponting's reaction on result today if they lose or even if they win......Lets see how the hunters feel when they are preyed down by their own medicine.....
Cricket is a great leveller and it doesnt consider if its India or England. Some Aussie blogs have mentioned that had Ponting taken the Strauss catch of may be Hussey then his effigies would have been burnt in India. Well may be yes, but then they should have known the anger and the pain when you are resigned to loss for not the game you play, but owing to over appealing and claiming catches when they are not...
English reaction to this catches and umpire reactions have nothing but idiotic. Something they would have learnt while watching Sydney 2008.
And not everybody is like Anil Kumble and his Indian lads who wont sulk. Not everybody takes this incidents in good taste. It would be interesting to see Ponting's reaction on result today if they lose or even if they win......Lets see how the hunters feel when they are preyed down by their own medicine.....
Day 5, Lord's Test
I would rather be cautious and keep my fingers crossed. I would want the Aussies to defend their 75 year old glorious record of being undefeated in a Lord's Test. I would want Aussies to win or draw this game. Aussies are missing n this is an Aussie B team playing. I would want Haddin and Clarke to win it for Australia. They have given away the max runs chase and it would be just apt for them to do the same honors to England.
Mitch is yet to come and if there is an occasion when he needs his willow to crush the ball its NOW. One wicket less and it would have meant Aussies have their nose ahead. Right now its 60-40 England.
Perhaps the life of Test Cricket in danger, which few blogs mention and MCC wants me to believe, would be saved if this chase is finished off successfully. It would really be legendary test and then it would worth alll the hype of a Ashes Test. Otherwise not.
Mitch is yet to come and if there is an occasion when he needs his willow to crush the ball its NOW. One wicket less and it would have meant Aussies have their nose ahead. Right now its 60-40 England.
Perhaps the life of Test Cricket in danger, which few blogs mention and MCC wants me to believe, would be saved if this chase is finished off successfully. It would really be legendary test and then it would worth alll the hype of a Ashes Test. Otherwise not.
RIP Chaminda Vaas
Chaminda Vaas retired today from the Test cricket. He would be perhaps only cricketer to end up as Triple Nelson (111 Tests).. So the Lankan media was correct that this test was being a farewell for this first world class fast bowler from Lanka....
He would be best remembered for being the first Lankan to take 10-for abroad and getting their first victory abroad in NZ in 1995.
Not sure he would be around to play ODIs and T20 till 2011 as he says.
He was the only world class Test bowler in the SL side along side Murali. But he has laid the foundation where the budding SL bowlers can emulate him.
In a way he was Kapil Dev for Sri Lanka.
His success mostly came against West Indies, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. Against top Test teams he wasnt that successful, but then subcontinent wickets have hardly assisted fast bowlers. His contribution to SL test cricket is no less than Murali, just that later got more wickets. Murali and Vaas were like Twilight vampires who hunted in pairs :).
He would be best remembered for being the first Lankan to take 10-for abroad and getting their first victory abroad in NZ in 1995.
Not sure he would be around to play ODIs and T20 till 2011 as he says.
He was the only world class Test bowler in the SL side along side Murali. But he has laid the foundation where the budding SL bowlers can emulate him.
In a way he was Kapil Dev for Sri Lanka.
His success mostly came against West Indies, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. Against top Test teams he wasnt that successful, but then subcontinent wickets have hardly assisted fast bowlers. His contribution to SL test cricket is no less than Murali, just that later got more wickets. Murali and Vaas were like Twilight vampires who hunted in pairs :).
July 18, 2009
Endangered
76 year old glorious record of being unbeaten in a Lord's test now looks in danger. Imagine what is that going to do to England. Coming out of jail in Cardiff has given a new lease of life to the Poms, while the Aussies have forgot how to fight....
Match fixing on ?
Is it true ? I dont think so. Neither would sane cricket fan think so its being on. I read it on one of the blogs that an ex-captain of an ongoing Test series is involved in match fixing. That comment came from one of the fan cum blogger.
Match fixing in this age? When the media scrutiny is highest match fixing would still be on ?
Why dont we accept defeat in grace and not jump to extreme opinions. Its clearly visible that the reason for that collapses isnt any match fixing but simple lack of application. Simple lack of application of cricketing basics. Thats it. Nothing less, nothing more.
I seriously wish those fans get well soon.....
Match fixing in this age? When the media scrutiny is highest match fixing would still be on ?
Why dont we accept defeat in grace and not jump to extreme opinions. Its clearly visible that the reason for that collapses isnt any match fixing but simple lack of application. Simple lack of application of cricketing basics. Thats it. Nothing less, nothing more.
I seriously wish those fans get well soon.....
Mendis should be Splendid again
I want Mendis to be in wickets in the 3rd Test. I want him to regain his so called splendidness before he embarks on the tour to India. I want him to be the same bowler which he was when India played him last in 2008 in Tests. I want him to be as strong and hyped as he was.
The battle between the trio of Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman in this order wont be as interesting as it would be when Mendis would be at peak of his powers. Trust me they would come down very very hard to this man for all what happened in SL' 08.
And not to mention that Sehwag would be itching to make his mark again on the scene with a comeback after the much debated and discussed shoulder injury....And I didnt even mention Yuvraj, Dhoni and the number 1 Test batsman of the world Gautam Gambhir.
Mendis and Murali vs India once again in our home land. Something which SL wont like as they havent won a single Test here, let along come near to winning one in 6 tours. Come October soon!!!
The battle between the trio of Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman in this order wont be as interesting as it would be when Mendis would be at peak of his powers. Trust me they would come down very very hard to this man for all what happened in SL' 08.
And not to mention that Sehwag would be itching to make his mark again on the scene with a comeback after the much debated and discussed shoulder injury....And I didnt even mention Yuvraj, Dhoni and the number 1 Test batsman of the world Gautam Gambhir.
Mendis and Murali vs India once again in our home land. Something which SL wont like as they havent won a single Test here, let along come near to winning one in 6 tours. Come October soon!!!
Accepting the realities.
When the harsh realities are penned out, the logic and the sense jump out of the window. In comes the jingoism and vandalism.....Accepting hard facts is something which doesnt come easy for most of us. But those who do, the life becomes sweeter after that. Living in denial never helps, the best way to overcome a problem is to accept its existence and overcome it by taking it heads-on.....
Question is how many of us want to do it ?
Question is how many of us want to do it ?
July 16, 2009
Way ahead
Pakistan will need to be positive and upbeat about their chances in the Test cricket ahead. They have to play 11 Tests in next one year and that’s a whopping number given their past stats over the year. And they are big series, England and Australia. They have got the composition of team right and the crux of the players are fixed for the tests except MoYo. For me he would never be a part of any setup in Pak cricket, but then who bothers about a blogger and over top of that an Indian.
July 15, 2009
An Indian is # 1 in Test rankings
Finally the man from Delhi gets rewarded for his golden consistency. Gautam Gambhir becomes # 1 Test batsman in the world. Still ICC rankings are crap. He became # 1 cos MoYo slipped. I must say ICC rankings are still crap but its great to ssee an Indian # 1 in Tests.....Praising an Indian doesnt mean I m scathing towards neigbhors. Yet I would be said that. Lets see how long Gambhir would remain # 1.....b4 MoYo hits another selfish century and pops up again.
Freddie retires
In whats a shocking news Freddie Flintoff has decided to retire from Test cricket. Thanks to his injury recurrals. This is indeed a huge blow to his fans, his team.
July 14, 2009
Indians on welcome break
Finding no Indian cricketer in news for his performance on the field is a bit disappointing, but worth taking as this break would ensure the champs would be ready for the home series against SL, Australia and South Africa. Not to forget the Champions trophy, for which the Indians would be strongest contenders. With possible return of Rahul Dravid it would be a tough combo to beat.
it would be a retro move to get back Dravid, but then there is no cut for experience...
India gets to play 8 tests this summer, 6 against good teams and 2 against minnows. Sachin, if he plays all he would be one test away from Steve Waugh's record. Dravid would easily scale past Ponting and Border getting 11000 runs. Laxman all set to cross 7000 runs and the man at the top Sehwag crossing 6000 and the golden goose Gambhir crossing 3000 runs.
The biggest question for selectors would be the place of Ishant Sharma in the scheme fo things next season. He has been patchy in ODIs and T20s. Relatively OK in Tests. So I guess he should be played more in tests than limited overs format.
Ashish Nehra has proved out to be a good enough bowler in ODIs. Not sure how would he shape up, he could be a decent partner to Zaheer Khan in the ODIs if fit.
This combos are too far to discuss, but would be a lot of headache for the selectors to pick up right squad to continue mission 11 in right track.
it would be a retro move to get back Dravid, but then there is no cut for experience...
India gets to play 8 tests this summer, 6 against good teams and 2 against minnows. Sachin, if he plays all he would be one test away from Steve Waugh's record. Dravid would easily scale past Ponting and Border getting 11000 runs. Laxman all set to cross 7000 runs and the man at the top Sehwag crossing 6000 and the golden goose Gambhir crossing 3000 runs.
The biggest question for selectors would be the place of Ishant Sharma in the scheme fo things next season. He has been patchy in ODIs and T20s. Relatively OK in Tests. So I guess he should be played more in tests than limited overs format.
Ashish Nehra has proved out to be a good enough bowler in ODIs. Not sure how would he shape up, he could be a decent partner to Zaheer Khan in the ODIs if fit.
This combos are too far to discuss, but would be a lot of headache for the selectors to pick up right squad to continue mission 11 in right track.
Collapse....
2/285 to 8/312.
Good going Pakistan. You prove that you are T20 world champs. So what it’s a Test. We would play every game T20 way. Yeah very well, but preserve wickets.
Basic premise of the game, every coaching manual and academy suggests. Alright no coaching and academy works in the bylanes of Pakistan. But the players themselves would know wickets in hand are the most precious wealth for a batting team. Its like Wickets hai to match hai. Bin wickets sab soon.
Pakistan could still win this game, but then question now 4th innings in row where a madness sets in and the collapse happens. Food for thought.
July 13, 2009
Vinod Kambli on Tendulkar
‘‘We are very close... we were very close. He could have done a little more, but he didn’t"
I always felt discriminated because of my caste and colour by the cricket board
The Mumbai southpaw replied in the affirmative when he was asked whether Sachin is embarrassed to accept him as a friend now.
Vinod Kambli on Tendulkar. The fuckard, bastard of Indian cricket points a finger on Tendulkar claiming that he didnt do as much for him. Question is why is he even entitled to do that ? If you couldnt handle the fame, success then its not his problem. You get thrown out of the team for disciplinary actions, not his problem. If you are not good enough to play for Mumbai, you are not good enough to play for India.
And if you feel you were discriminated, then why did you even get the chances you got. Dont say this caste thing here. You are useless fellow, unwanted and cheap bastard. You have stooped to such a low level. Great you didnt play any more than 100 odd ODIs and 17 Tests. You didnt deserve to don an Indian cap.
Got all the benefits you could, got all films (E grade), beaten up first wife, divorced by 2nd wife and now you claim all the moral highs. Fyckin asshole.
I always felt discriminated because of my caste and colour by the cricket board
The Mumbai southpaw replied in the affirmative when he was asked whether Sachin is embarrassed to accept him as a friend now.
Vinod Kambli on Tendulkar. The fuckard, bastard of Indian cricket points a finger on Tendulkar claiming that he didnt do as much for him. Question is why is he even entitled to do that ? If you couldnt handle the fame, success then its not his problem. You get thrown out of the team for disciplinary actions, not his problem. If you are not good enough to play for Mumbai, you are not good enough to play for India.
And if you feel you were discriminated, then why did you even get the chances you got. Dont say this caste thing here. You are useless fellow, unwanted and cheap bastard. You have stooped to such a low level. Great you didnt play any more than 100 odd ODIs and 17 Tests. You didnt deserve to don an Indian cap.
Got all the benefits you could, got all films (E grade), beaten up first wife, divorced by 2nd wife and now you claim all the moral highs. Fyckin asshole.
Boring headlines
Flintoff injured....
Faction in Pakistan team after Galle loss and Sara collapse, claims Inzy Aloo Haq.
Ricky Ponting questions England tactics....
Buchanan slams Indian greats......
This headlines make no difference to the readers. They are default and keep coming once in a while. I guess they shouldnt even be published in the newspapers or sites. Flintoff is always injured, Pakistan is always riddled with factions and ex-players always slam current players. Aussie coaches reel Indians and Ricky Ponting talks of moral high.....
Are they joking us?
Faction in Pakistan team after Galle loss and Sara collapse, claims Inzy Aloo Haq.
Ricky Ponting questions England tactics....
Buchanan slams Indian greats......
This headlines make no difference to the readers. They are default and keep coming once in a while. I guess they shouldnt even be published in the newspapers or sites. Flintoff is always injured, Pakistan is always riddled with factions and ex-players always slam current players. Aussie coaches reel Indians and Ricky Ponting talks of moral high.....
Are they joking us?
An Apology Ricky
Hey Ricky,
Before fuming on Poms for their time wasting tactics in Cardiff yesterday, didnt you remember the infamous Sydney Test 2008 ?
The game which was India's owned both morally and technically until you stooped to lowest ebb to win the 16th test in row.
I support your team, but then that was the instance I believed in word 'Ugly Aussie'. You have earned bad bad reputation in India after that incident when Kumble famously termed only one team was playing with real spirits of cricket.
I suggest before you teach anybody morality, you should come foreward and issue an unconditional apology to those bloody Indian cricketers whom you claimed out when they were not and ask ICC to nullify the Sydney result and thus make the series result 1-1.
Before fuming on Poms for their time wasting tactics in Cardiff yesterday, didnt you remember the infamous Sydney Test 2008 ?
The game which was India's owned both morally and technically until you stooped to lowest ebb to win the 16th test in row.
I support your team, but then that was the instance I believed in word 'Ugly Aussie'. You have earned bad bad reputation in India after that incident when Kumble famously termed only one team was playing with real spirits of cricket.
I suggest before you teach anybody morality, you should come foreward and issue an unconditional apology to those bloody Indian cricketers whom you claimed out when they were not and ask ICC to nullify the Sydney result and thus make the series result 1-1.
July 12, 2009
Indian Test Random Fact # 1
Virender Sehwag hasnt had liking for minnow attacks. Against BD and Zim he has 189 runs in 5 Tests with 74 his highest. His runs have come against Pakistan and Australia in major chunk followed by South Africa and West Indies.
The greatness of the man lies in the fact that 4 of his 15 hundreds are below 150 and the rest above 150. 147 against WI in 2002 Mumbai Test was his last highest score below 150.
England and New Zealand are his least favorite Test teams. Pakistan and Australia are 2 of his most favorite Test teams. 1500 runs against Aussies and 1300 runs against Pakistan.
Should the cricket world heed to Pakistan's pleas for help ?
Pakistan must remember that its now playing a Test match. A bloody 5 day long, 450 over long, 15 sessioned game of cricket. Pakistan are playing Test matches in T20 style. They got to stay on crease , spend time and play conventional shots than poor ones.
Somebody needs to get that in their head. Quicker the sooner. Fawad Alam is in. Now whom would the so called stani experts blame ? They have collapsed two times in row now. A test match cannot be won in a blink of eye.
This is inexplicable, irresponsible. A side whose pride is at stake doesnt even have balls to show fight. Same mistakes all over? Alright, this is their nature to be unpredictable but then this is pathetic.
A clean sweep now looks possible.
Somebody needs to get that in their head. Quicker the sooner. Fawad Alam is in. Now whom would the so called stani experts blame ? They have collapsed two times in row now. A test match cannot be won in a blink of eye.
This is inexplicable, irresponsible. A side whose pride is at stake doesnt even have balls to show fight. Same mistakes all over? Alright, this is their nature to be unpredictable but then this is pathetic.
A clean sweep now looks possible.
Ashes, day 4.
The rains finally came down on day 4 of the Cardiff test to give a glimmer of hope to England to save the kickass defeat. 2/20 in pursuit of wiping out 239 runs lead is a grim scoreline. This is typical sordid English stuff.. High on talks, low on deliverables. Huge trumpets blown about camradrie, team spirits, fire in the balls. But then the Aussie bastards cut those balls even before they could bulge up with the fire.
674 for 6 is a huge score and with 4 hundreds made indicates how good English bowling is. Anderson, Flintoff, Broad isnt an attack that would scare the Aussies. If you dump Hussey, then Aussie batting is strong, not quite what Chappell and Tony Greig feel.
By the by Bugsy was spotted in Saramutthu oval.
2 spinners in the team with one of them in poor form is ridiculous. Today most prolly permitted by weather England would be defeated and that would be the end of Ashes for England. Lord's test anyway is by default australian.
It would be great if England players and media could shut their mouth off and look for performances on the field to win the ashes.
And give some respect to Ricky for what he has managed to do since SA defeat late last year. North has been a revelation. Hughes is yet to come back to his elements this tour. Imagine what happens when he would be in form.
5-0 wont be a distant dream then for a repeat. For now England looks all set to be dead and buried in 1st Ashes test, the hype for which in England reached to a stupid levels of madness.
674 for 6 is a huge score and with 4 hundreds made indicates how good English bowling is. Anderson, Flintoff, Broad isnt an attack that would scare the Aussies. If you dump Hussey, then Aussie batting is strong, not quite what Chappell and Tony Greig feel.
By the by Bugsy was spotted in Saramutthu oval.
2 spinners in the team with one of them in poor form is ridiculous. Today most prolly permitted by weather England would be defeated and that would be the end of Ashes for England. Lord's test anyway is by default australian.
It would be great if England players and media could shut their mouth off and look for performances on the field to win the ashes.
And give some respect to Ricky for what he has managed to do since SA defeat late last year. North has been a revelation. Hughes is yet to come back to his elements this tour. Imagine what happens when he would be in form.
5-0 wont be a distant dream then for a repeat. For now England looks all set to be dead and buried in 1st Ashes test, the hype for which in England reached to a stupid levels of madness.
2nd Test Pak vs SL
Moin Khan effect runs large on Pak. Fawad Alam is in and Ijaz Butt's son / grandson Salman is out. Rameez quotes Salman Ijaz Butt was kicked for the 2nd inning shot he played.
Q would be happy. Me and SP would watch him overjoyed from sidelines. Fawad Alam is in for his debut. Malik would open.
Younis Khan was smiling and before Ranil Abenayke could listen thank you for "have a good time" he ran away. Perhaps he saw furious media back home.
Sangakara comes in with unchanged team. Lets see if he has the same luck now.
No Razzaq, no Kaneria and no Butt. Guess Butt this days is a butt of jokes. Ijaz jokes, Salman jokes. Even the picture of Butt is laughter evoking. Angry old man. But why is he always angry ?
Rameez is trying explaining ouster of Butt.
SL dont have good commentators ? If Fernando isnt there then there is this lad Ranil Abenayke. He stinks. I would bet to hear Fernando than this Ranil guy. At least Ranjith has some knowledge and he is funny.
Why doesnt Pattaattu come to the commentary fold ? Or any other player recently retired? Why do we need 80s players blabber along ?
Another test kicks off. 36th between this 2 teams. Max SL have played against any country. By year end they would have played 32 Tests against India, lost 14 and won 5. 3-0 again in India.
Q would be happy. Me and SP would watch him overjoyed from sidelines. Fawad Alam is in for his debut. Malik would open.
Younis Khan was smiling and before Ranil Abenayke could listen thank you for "have a good time" he ran away. Perhaps he saw furious media back home.
Sangakara comes in with unchanged team. Lets see if he has the same luck now.
No Razzaq, no Kaneria and no Butt. Guess Butt this days is a butt of jokes. Ijaz jokes, Salman jokes. Even the picture of Butt is laughter evoking. Angry old man. But why is he always angry ?
Rameez is trying explaining ouster of Butt.
SL dont have good commentators ? If Fernando isnt there then there is this lad Ranil Abenayke. He stinks. I would bet to hear Fernando than this Ranil guy. At least Ranjith has some knowledge and he is funny.
Why doesnt Pattaattu come to the commentary fold ? Or any other player recently retired? Why do we need 80s players blabber along ?
Another test kicks off. 36th between this 2 teams. Max SL have played against any country. By year end they would have played 32 Tests against India, lost 14 and won 5. 3-0 again in India.
July 11, 2009
Ashes day 3
Prick in the ass Ponting scores 38th 100 and now he has put his team firm positioned to win it handsomely weather permitting.
England were simply without plans or plan B when Pupps and South got going North with their partnerships.
Panesar and Swann were expected to wringle Aussies in a jeans and dump in the sea nearby, instead they got swamped for runs.
Anderson who was supposed to be the reverse swing master, couldnt even swing the ball. After all not all can reverse swing it like Zakso. Well m talking of Tests, so no Umar Gul mention here. And he was a dud in the Galles Test.
North and Haddin are still batting and not to mention Mitch is yet to come. So a quick fire batting with over 120 runs in first session, day 4 would mean England would go down 0-2 very soon. Not even 10 days of tight contest. Oh my, Ashes would be decided so soon.
England are screwed, big time. Only Indar bhagwan can save them. Yeah ask them to please Indar bhagwan for some rains. Thats the only saving grace for Pommies.
England were simply without plans or plan B when Pupps and South got going North with their partnerships.
Panesar and Swann were expected to wringle Aussies in a jeans and dump in the sea nearby, instead they got swamped for runs.
Anderson who was supposed to be the reverse swing master, couldnt even swing the ball. After all not all can reverse swing it like Zakso. Well m talking of Tests, so no Umar Gul mention here. And he was a dud in the Galles Test.
North and Haddin are still batting and not to mention Mitch is yet to come. So a quick fire batting with over 120 runs in first session, day 4 would mean England would go down 0-2 very soon. Not even 10 days of tight contest. Oh my, Ashes would be decided so soon.
England are screwed, big time. Only Indar bhagwan can save them. Yeah ask them to please Indar bhagwan for some rains. Thats the only saving grace for Pommies.
July 10, 2009
Yusuf bares it all...
Following video shows how this man shamelessly puts his antics on Pak govt, press and public. His antics, his switchings to IPL n ICL.
"ICL ek cricket league hai. Mujhe offer aaya. Maine le liya. Karry packer league khelte hai. County cricket khailte hai. IPL hai. ICL ne kaha me chala gaaya. In logo ko meri zaarrorat nahi hai. Team se bahar kar dia...."
Innocence claimed.
Watch out.
"ICL ek cricket league hai. Mujhe offer aaya. Maine le liya. Karry packer league khelte hai. County cricket khailte hai. IPL hai. ICL ne kaha me chala gaaya. In logo ko meri zaarrorat nahi hai. Team se bahar kar dia...."
Innocence claimed.
Watch out.
Super Sunday....
with the Ashes decider in Cardifff
and 2nd Pakistan Lanka test in Colombo i guess without Murali begins......
Million dollar question -- will Younis field same team giving rat and pig's ass to ex-players or will he get in Fawad Alam in place of Khurram Kha or Salman Ijaz Butt...And who will keep for SL ? Sanga steps in and raises his hand and says me? Or Dilshan keeps doing it?
India me captain sahab khud keeping karte hain. SL me captain sahab kisi aur pe daal dete hai. Passing of the buck. Yadi Murali aayenge to kya Rangana khelenge ? Ya fir Mendis ko bhagayenge ?
Some key questions for Sanga Singh to answer.... BTW Q, if you read this wudjya let me know if Miandad has his mouth sealed with the tape? He hasnt blabbered since this defeat ?
and 2nd Pakistan Lanka test in Colombo i guess without Murali begins......
Million dollar question -- will Younis field same team giving rat and pig's ass to ex-players or will he get in Fawad Alam in place of Khurram Kha or Salman Ijaz Butt...And who will keep for SL ? Sanga steps in and raises his hand and says me? Or Dilshan keeps doing it?
India me captain sahab khud keeping karte hain. SL me captain sahab kisi aur pe daal dete hai. Passing of the buck. Yadi Murali aayenge to kya Rangana khelenge ? Ya fir Mendis ko bhagayenge ?
Some key questions for Sanga Singh to answer.... BTW Q, if you read this wudjya let me know if Miandad has his mouth sealed with the tape? He hasnt blabbered since this defeat ?
400
th post for the year....Blogging never got so exciting...I am all hooked up n looking for a possible 1000...That would be kickass thing to happen.....
A away from home India Pak test series
If bcos of 11/26 India and Pakistan cant tour each other then why not have the Tests at the foren venues, say in England ? Why not rather than why ? Imagine Oval game ? Give all the revenue to Butt sahib. But have the series. Cant wait to see India wiping out 9-12 record...
An ode to SMG
He is the man who attracted me to the game of cricket. He was the man whom I wanted to emulate. I couldn’t subsequently but I grew up watching him. My first cricketing hero. I remember imitating myself as him in the backyard while playing cricket with my cousin. I remember being shocked when I read his news of retirement in Naidunia on 9th March 1987. I was all of 9 then. I watched cricket for him. I closed my TV when he was out for 4 in 2nd Texaco trophy in 1986 in England. I cherished his only ODI hundred. Jumped and danced. Enjoyed his last test innings even though I hadn’t had much idea about the rules then. I was a kid then. But I knew him. I knew him coming out for batting with cap on and short height.
Some called him selfish, even today some call him biased and some call him cranky. He wore his heart on his sleeve and the pride for country on his face. The one who had the highest of the pride for being an Indian cricketer, he was the man who transformed the country’s cricket from torrid early decades to fruitful later decades of successes and victories. He fought for people, their rights, helped the needy first class cricketers, fought the system as part of it, expressed his views giving a pig’s S to English and Aussies who by his time as player were the custodians of the game. He made world know what Indian cricket is all about. He made people in the world know that from now onwards Indians won’t be an easy target to be overhauled. Victories won’t come easy, but defeats won’t be conceded.
The man who gave self respect to the Indian cricketers and a role model to the generation next of the Indian cricket. The man owes a big standing ovation and a highest civil award for being a transformer of opinion about country. His success meant India would gain some respect in some sports at least. He made people believe that yes sports as career could help. He scored runs at his will everywhere anywhere against anybody. No bowler could defy him. No bowler could break through him. He had success against all countries of his generation. West Indies, Australia and Pakistan bore the brunt of his batting. England had some success, but he played some gems against the Old Blighty as well. Sri Lanka were a minnows then and played occasionally. South Africa, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe didn’t play Test cricket during those days. 34 hundreds from a batsman in era of strong pace attacks was a huge thing. A major achievement. Somebody who played 108 consecutive tests only to break for boosting his battered ego in Kolkata was a first time in world cricket then. He drew more Tests than he won but then he reduced losses which were so frequent those days.
Some say he had his own lobby of Mumbai cricketers – Ravi, Dilip and so forth. He has been hero for the modern day greats of the country. The greatest batsman of all times was a ball boy in his last world cup. He inspired this man and gave advice to everybody when they failed. Ganguly, Sehwag or Dravid. All benefitted from the father of Indian batting. How many greats did you have before him in batting? Few. Vijay Hazare and Vinoo Mankad. Who else? And how many after him ? Azhar, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid, Laxman. Sehwag in making. The inspirtation and the urge to succeed in batting came from this man.
The man who scored 10,122 runs in 125 Tests home and abroad, 34 hundreds and 108 catches. The man who turns 60 today, the man who redefined Indian cricket, the man who delighted the generation of depressing 70s with his batting, the man who made Indian batting the way today it is.
Gentlemen n readers here is wishing Sunil Manohar Gavaskar a very happy n healthy 60th birthday. SMG, Indian cricket’s first legend n the greatest cricketer of all times of the country. Sir, have a great happy life ahead with a wish to hear you more and more on the cricketing telecasts India plays rather than the needless IPLs.
July 9, 2009
Denial
Expect next a statement from John Buchanan that he was misquoted over his statements on this greats listed in the post below. Can this bloody failed Aussie coaches keep their mouth shut on Indian greats who just make them piss in their own pants....Bloody assholes.
Lol.
Homegrown heroes such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Harbhajan Singh and VVS Laxman, were expected to influence, and on some occasions single-handedly win IPL matches," Buchanan said. "Yet their subdued performances highlight that Test match temperament does not necessarily ensure prolonged success in the T20 game.
"The same could be said about Rahul Dravid. Dravid is a great representative of Indian cricket, a team man, humble, a well-spoken gentleman. But unfortunately he could not score a single run in the early rounds of the IPL, and in my opinion, is not suited to this form of the game. I am certain Dravid's performances were also affected by the off-field drama created by his franchise owner Vijay Mallya."
"The same could be said about Rahul Dravid. Dravid is a great representative of Indian cricket, a team man, humble, a well-spoken gentleman. But unfortunately he could not score a single run in the early rounds of the IPL, and in my opinion, is not suited to this form of the game. I am certain Dravid's performances were also affected by the off-field drama created by his franchise owner Vijay Mallya."
His opinions weren't restricted to India's ageing stars. He went on to question Yuvraj Singh's attitude, though he later clarified that there was no malice involved in his comments.
"Yuvraj Singh in a sense tries to be a modern-day Sourav Ganguly, but I don't think he has the charisma or the dignity with which Ganguly carries himself," he said.
Tendulkar has been lauded, and rightly so, as one of the very top batsmen in the history of cricket," he wrote. "But is he an effective T20 player at this stage of his career?
"In the position he plays - as an opener or No. 3 - the T20 game requires not only the finesse and skills he has, but also the power and domination, an ability to take the bowlers on while being creative. You have to be inventive and fearless. And I don't see those qualities as part of Sachin's makeup at this stage of his career. Sachin Tendulkar is still a great player but not in this arena of T20
Ashes day 2
Ponting's 38th hundred and Katich's 8th 100 have put Australia in a commanding position. Aussies, the bloody aussies hold all the cards now in the test and day 3 would decide how good they would be in a position to win or draw. Unless they fold out cheaply like Pakistan did, they dont stand a chance to bat out a large 4th innings total.
England did bowl good in patches, but Ponting and Katich were too good to play out the good moving balls. Panesar was under utilized and Swann threatened but never got through. Broad, Anderson were flop. Flintoff was the only wicket taker. He for parts looked like the one of 2005.
From here I would fancy Aussies batting a bit fast today and try to go to a lead today. They were defensive in 2nd and 3rd session. Traditional test play than their normal brand of game. When Hayden, Langer were around they would race to 240s in 60 odd overs. Run rate of 4 was norm those days. This days Aussies are more traditional than others. India, England have learnt to go over 3.5+ and at times 4. But then with Katich, the workhorse, you cant expect run rate to go up.
120 runs in first 2 sessions would mean they go past England and then speed up the tempo in last session. That would be a perfect day for Aussies.
There have been some blogs who have been needlessly critical of Aussies. They play their game hard, but then to find faults of everything they do is cynical. Ponting replied with his 100 to one such blog, though i m sure he must not have read it.
Let there be some objectivity in the criticism than just for heck of it. Oh yeah.
Once Aussies have sizeable 150+ lead, you never know. This is England which was bundled out for 55 not so long ago by far far far lesser West Indian outfit.
England did bowl good in patches, but Ponting and Katich were too good to play out the good moving balls. Panesar was under utilized and Swann threatened but never got through. Broad, Anderson were flop. Flintoff was the only wicket taker. He for parts looked like the one of 2005.
From here I would fancy Aussies batting a bit fast today and try to go to a lead today. They were defensive in 2nd and 3rd session. Traditional test play than their normal brand of game. When Hayden, Langer were around they would race to 240s in 60 odd overs. Run rate of 4 was norm those days. This days Aussies are more traditional than others. India, England have learnt to go over 3.5+ and at times 4. But then with Katich, the workhorse, you cant expect run rate to go up.
120 runs in first 2 sessions would mean they go past England and then speed up the tempo in last session. That would be a perfect day for Aussies.
There have been some blogs who have been needlessly critical of Aussies. They play their game hard, but then to find faults of everything they do is cynical. Ponting replied with his 100 to one such blog, though i m sure he must not have read it.
Let there be some objectivity in the criticism than just for heck of it. Oh yeah.
Once Aussies have sizeable 150+ lead, you never know. This is England which was bundled out for 55 not so long ago by far far far lesser West Indian outfit.
Ashes Predictions
My erstwhile predictions :
Australia 3-1.
With yesterday's display its still 3-1 but a good chance to go 4-0 for Australia. I would wait for that figure, but its really an achievable figure.
Australia 3-1.
With yesterday's display its still 3-1 but a good chance to go 4-0 for Australia. I would wait for that figure, but its really an achievable figure.
Ex hone ka ahsas.
Fawad Alam to sirf ek bahana hai.
Asli maqsad Younis Khan ki lena hai
Wo jo abhi shor macha rahe hai
Wo jo abhi kah rahe he palak man kaha gaya
Wo log kaha the jab 3 din tak team jeet rahi thi
Tab Alam ka alam yaad nahi aaya
Tab Razzaq ka nahi hona yaad nahi aaya
Yeh sirf bhootpoorv hone ka ahsas dilane bhar ka prayas hai
Asli maqsad team ki madad karna nahi balki
uska manobal girana hai....
Moin Khan aur Nawaz ko laga diarrohea hai
Peeche se nikalne ke bajai mooh se nikal rahe hai
Younis ne unko andekha karna hai
aur doosre test ko jeetne ka plan jo karna hai...
Asli maqsad Younis Khan ki lena hai
Wo jo abhi shor macha rahe hai
Wo jo abhi kah rahe he palak man kaha gaya
Wo log kaha the jab 3 din tak team jeet rahi thi
Tab Alam ka alam yaad nahi aaya
Tab Razzaq ka nahi hona yaad nahi aaya
Yeh sirf bhootpoorv hone ka ahsas dilane bhar ka prayas hai
Asli maqsad team ki madad karna nahi balki
uska manobal girana hai....
Moin Khan aur Nawaz ko laga diarrohea hai
Peeche se nikalne ke bajai mooh se nikal rahe hai
Younis ne unko andekha karna hai
aur doosre test ko jeetne ka plan jo karna hai...
July 8, 2009
How can Mohd Yousuf be # 1 ?
How disgusting. Cheap and biased. MoYo is # 1 batsman in Tests. Holy crow. How come ? He didnt play a Test for 19 months and he makes a 100 and goes on the top.
And bloody hell, players like Gautam Gambhir score everywhere in every conditions. He doesnt even reach the top. Tendulkar scores 3 hundreds in 6 home tests and he is not even in top 10.
And bloody hell, players like Gautam Gambhir score everywhere in every conditions. He doesnt even reach the top. Tendulkar scores 3 hundreds in 6 home tests and he is not even in top 10.
Fucking shit. Who says ICC is biased towards India ? They are for sure towards this pervert!! Out of nowhere he comes back and mocks players who play for their team with utmost sincerity and commitment. yousuf is a joke. Big joke.
Mohd Yusuf disgusts and to see him on top of rankings is even disgusting. If you term this hate, yes it is. A selfish batsman cannot be # 1 in ranking. A man who puts money and selfish interests over country and team cannot be # 1.
Anybody knows how ICC players ranking work? I see no sense here.
Ashes day 1
Its been a Australia's day till now. England have lost their key and best batsmen. Flintoff and Prior are the last recognized pair on the crease. KP crossed 1000 runs against Aussies in just 11th Test, but he would also know that 69 would not be the score England look from him.
Strauss, Cook, Bopara didnt score high and got carried away in hype and hoopla. Fell to cheap dismissals.
Hilfy and Johnson have been the bowlers for the Australia who have bowled quite well. Somehow Australia right now lack a genuine pace bowler like Lee who could run down the opposition in a torrid spell.
Not so long ago Clark was their best bowler, but he is not in the side today. Hauritz hasnt bowled that bad so far. Right now Ponting is trying to run through the 80 overs to may be get the new ball. 17 more balls to go right now.
Australia would be happy to restrict England below 335 or 340. All in all a good Test match cricket on day 1 of Ashes.
Session wise scoreline :
Session 1 : Australia
Session 2 : England
Session 3 : Australia so far.
Strauss, Cook, Bopara didnt score high and got carried away in hype and hoopla. Fell to cheap dismissals.
Hilfy and Johnson have been the bowlers for the Australia who have bowled quite well. Somehow Australia right now lack a genuine pace bowler like Lee who could run down the opposition in a torrid spell.
Not so long ago Clark was their best bowler, but he is not in the side today. Hauritz hasnt bowled that bad so far. Right now Ponting is trying to run through the 80 overs to may be get the new ball. 17 more balls to go right now.
Australia would be happy to restrict England below 335 or 340. All in all a good Test match cricket on day 1 of Ashes.
Session wise scoreline :
Session 1 : Australia
Session 2 : England
Session 3 : Australia so far.
July 7, 2009
Ashes begins today
Ashes begins today. Supposedly most anticipated contest and the mother of all series. Really ? I dont quite agree. India vs Australia is a bigger contest than this series. Ashes is all about English rants and false dawns. One test match win and England believe they are good to win the Ashes only to see them getting thumped royally.
This time English seem more desparate. They have got John Buchanan in their ranks to help them out with the Aussie secrets.
How much thats going to help England would be known with time.
On the other side of the coin, a tightly fought Ashes is t he need of hour to counter the growing influence of T20.
Australia winning 3-1 or 4-1 would be icing on the cake. And for that matter my Australian predictions hardly go wrong.
This time English seem more desparate. They have got John Buchanan in their ranks to help them out with the Aussie secrets.
How much thats going to help England would be known with time.
On the other side of the coin, a tightly fought Ashes is t he need of hour to counter the growing influence of T20.
Australia winning 3-1 or 4-1 would be icing on the cake. And for that matter my Australian predictions hardly go wrong.
Happy Birthday Sourav
Happy Birthday Dada.
The present day Indian team is all what you transformed from a talented but underperforming unit to a formidable one in Tests and ODIs.
More is always less for you.
You rocked throughout your career and acted as inspiration for lot many lesser folks including the author of this blog.
The present day Indian team is all what you transformed from a talented but underperforming unit to a formidable one in Tests and ODIs.
More is always less for you.
You rocked throughout your career and acted as inspiration for lot many lesser folks including the author of this blog.
Pakistan loses
Absurd stuff. Comic stuff. My eyes lit up when I checked the score card to confirm Pak victory. And what I saw was total out of blue. 98 for 8 and then all out for 117. Only Pakistan can do this. This is master of all collapses. Mother father grandfather and great grandfather of all collapses. England had it in 1990s, today it was Pakistan. Younis Khan must be a shattered man. I feel for him. He got his team to this stage where one good partnership would have sealed it for the team. But the others weren’t even half as responsible as the captain. What a crap performance. 71/2 to 117 on a batting beauty. No Murali. Pakistan wont get chance better than this to beat SL. Past record is all fine. Talking of present, the king of spin would return next match and then it would be just impossible for Pak rookies to repeat the first 3 days of this Test match.
Q and other stani bloggers must be feeling disgusting and Damith would be enjoying and relishing this victory. No body would have thought this would happen. Typical Pakistan stuff, and that’s why we need them to keep playing cricket. T20 or Tests or ODIs. No other team can go to this extreme. Once again Pakies succumbed to left arm spin. 4/15 in 12 overs is a credible stuff. And how many did that selfish batsman made ? Just 12. He was the most experienced batsman or Test cricketer in his team and he went soon. Century made, team goes to hell. I proved my point. Result who bothers. Now it would be keen to see what the likes of Akram, Miandad and other stalwarts say of this.
Pakistan lost it more than SL won. That’s how the cricket is. A great leveler. Who would know it better than Mendis and Pakistan team. T20 win and now a test loss which they should have never lost. One last thing Mendis is now proved to be a very ordinary bowler. His average has now been normalized. 26 in 3 to 36 in 7. He should be ready for some more mauling later this year as he tours India – a land where his team has never won a Test match. Tendulkar and company would be very keen to make amends for what he did to them last year same tsime. Laxman, Tendulkar, Dravid and Yuvraj making merry of Mendis, not to forget Sehwag.
July 6, 2009
Welcome move to get Dravid
Its a welcome move. To get Dravid back in the ODI scheme. After all what we have seen with the likes of Raina, Pathan Y and yeah you got it right the fuckass RS, it was the call of hour to get the best finisher of India back in the fold. Now if he s in the probables, he better make it to the final XI.
Questions about his form, fitness were easily resolved with IPL-2. There is no question over his ability and commitment. It would be a delight to see him back in the ODi fold. I still maintain that he was dropped without a fair trial. One ODI series before he was captain and in awesome form in ODIs. Hadnt he resigned from the job on Sep 14, 2007 he would still be a part of the ODIs. 5 bad ODIs and he was dropped. And contrast that to the fuckass RS. You would see being 23(really?, RS is India ;s Afridi) and being 34 is so much of difference. Forget quality, thas not even in contention. All we talk here is of a plan 2011. Youngistan and fresh legs is all they need.
I dont think getting Dravid in the fold is a bad move. Get him in the final 15 or 16. India would be unbeatable in CT.. Winning 5 series in row is a huge thing. Sri Lanka 2 times in their home turf. England, New Zealand and now West Indies. CT next and then Australia. Sounds great to see the next victims lined up. And yes there are no young guns behind this success. :)
Questions about his form, fitness were easily resolved with IPL-2. There is no question over his ability and commitment. It would be a delight to see him back in the ODi fold. I still maintain that he was dropped without a fair trial. One ODI series before he was captain and in awesome form in ODIs. Hadnt he resigned from the job on Sep 14, 2007 he would still be a part of the ODIs. 5 bad ODIs and he was dropped. And contrast that to the fuckass RS. You would see being 23(really?, RS is India ;s Afridi) and being 34 is so much of difference. Forget quality, thas not even in contention. All we talk here is of a plan 2011. Youngistan and fresh legs is all they need.
I dont think getting Dravid in the fold is a bad move. Get him in the final 15 or 16. India would be unbeatable in CT.. Winning 5 series in row is a huge thing. Sri Lanka 2 times in their home turf. England, New Zealand and now West Indies. CT next and then Australia. Sounds great to see the next victims lined up. And yes there are no young guns behind this success. :)
MoYo -- 2
I have a fight with my captain. Ok I m quitting cricket. I would go join ICL.
Few months later…..
Coach and captain are fired. New captain. Captain my friend. Younis. Mera bhai, mera dost. I would quit ICL and I would play for Pakistan as long as possible.
2 years earlier.
Oh they feel me I m not useful for T20 format. I would quit cricket and play for ICL. Would show them that T20 is my cup of tea too.
Joining ICL.
Mia Yousuf, you are our great batter after inzi bhai. We need you. Come back to our folds and we would get you a IPL contract.
Really ? Would you also give me captaincy ? I converted for the same. I was vice captain for Inzi bhai.
Joining IPL.
Are yaar yeh Yousuf to IPL jaa raha hai. Chandra se approval lo aur court case file karo iske against.
Court case goes in favor of Zee and Yousuf is barred from playing IPL.
What does this show ? Whenever the man doesn’t get his deal he jumps the gun. He jumped the boat to ICL in 2007 when he had a terrific 2006 when he broke all records for most calendar runs in Tests. And then when PCB persuaded him to go back, he played for 1 more year and then again jumped the gun. Imagine this happening to any other country. The player would be dumped no matter how important he is for the team. Symonds and Warne were dumped. Warne never played ODIs again. Australia lost the Test series to India and South Africa in absence of Symonds. And then again the World T20 early exit. They didn’t compromise even now. Symmo would have been more than handy in Ashes with his off spinners.
India dumped Siddhu in 1996 when they had no other opener in the squad to England. Its only in Pakistan that they keep going to players like Yousuf or Akhtar who feel themselves to be over the team, over their nation and are ready to make enough switches. All they care for is money. And they selectively decide their priorities depending on their convenience. Where the country comes ? Where does the loyalty to the team comes ? Nowhere. Who bothers. When you have a boss who would get you in at any cost in the team, then hell with the team priorities and stuff. All I know is my money and my comfort zone.
MoYO!!!!
A century in supposedly comeback game. 10 more in 10 games wont make him a team man. He would still remain a traitor and a selfish man. Opportunist and disgustingly self pity envoking convert!!!
Does Pakistan lack a genuine replacement for MoYO that it has to go back to this most selfish cricketer in a long time memory.....
Vandalism gets back in
The BCCI has insulted the pride of Maharashtra by aborting the tournament named after Professor D.B. Deodhar," a party spokesman said. "If the decision is not reversed, Shiv Sena will not allow a single IPL match in the state.
Welcome Shivsena onboard BCCi!!!
Now if you drop Rohit Sharma from the team, then this lads would come up and say "Mumbai pride hurt".
As if we didnot have enough madness from media, one more unwanted guests who want to cash in the CRICKET cow. How fickle is the pride of this state that gets a dent on a miniscule event. Amazing.
July 5, 2009
Settling the Debate on Tendulkar
Right this times when we all know Tendulkar is once in a century phenomenon there are few questions being raised on his effectiveness in the ODIs and Tests. I have seen people get confused. He is a better Test player alwys since Pakistan 89, but no he wasnt a great ODI player since 1989. No no, he was great in fact he had shown things to come in his early days.
Oh yeah, post 2000 he doesnt play fast innings, he is an anchor, he should bat 4, he shouldnt open, he is slow now, ijnured and seflish. (Spell mistakes intended).
All this opinions right from a pan shop owner in Mumbai to a suave business head, every body has their opinions on Tendulkar. For me there is no doubt that he is the best of the business. He is better than Bradman or better than even Richards. Bradman played Ashes most of his time and scored 80% of runs against same opposition England. Richards faltered in his last few years and his average almost dropped below 50 (50.21 to end).
Critics suggest he didnt play better innings in 2000s. Is being aggressive the only benchmark to judge a batsman great ? Critics forget the role he has played in shaping up the careers of his peers and younger lot. Ask Sehwag, Dhoni, Yuvraj, Laxman (1996) how they have benefited by the presence of Tendulkar in their dressing rooms or even the middle when this lads struggled. not many remember the 126 Sachin played in Chennai Test of the 2001 Test series which actually helped India win the series.
Count in the innings India's two best batsmen of all times played together in 1990s and 200s. They share the record for most runs for 3rd wicket partnerships. And for me their contributions is not to be taken in isolation but in inclusion. Count their contributions together. Tendulkar and Dravid have not competed against each other, they have helped each other, learnt a lot with each other.
There has been no ego between Tendulkar and Dravid as there has been previous greats like Kapil and Gavaskar or Imran Khan or Miandad. Had there been ego in this 2 legends, the Indian test fortunes wouldnt have turned from ridiculously disgusting of 1990s to a glowing path breaking 2000s.
It was the batting by Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman followed by captaincy of Ganguly helped with the bowing of Anil in this decade that has led to the combination India has today in Tests. We can loathe the ODI or T20 teams, but its very difficult to shred the Test team.
And this couldnt have been possible due to the presence of Tendulkar for so long in the dressing room and the middle.
To me and many alike me he is the GREATEST ever. For those who he is not, I dont bother.
Oh yeah, post 2000 he doesnt play fast innings, he is an anchor, he should bat 4, he shouldnt open, he is slow now, ijnured and seflish. (Spell mistakes intended).
All this opinions right from a pan shop owner in Mumbai to a suave business head, every body has their opinions on Tendulkar. For me there is no doubt that he is the best of the business. He is better than Bradman or better than even Richards. Bradman played Ashes most of his time and scored 80% of runs against same opposition England. Richards faltered in his last few years and his average almost dropped below 50 (50.21 to end).
Critics suggest he didnt play better innings in 2000s. Is being aggressive the only benchmark to judge a batsman great ? Critics forget the role he has played in shaping up the careers of his peers and younger lot. Ask Sehwag, Dhoni, Yuvraj, Laxman (1996) how they have benefited by the presence of Tendulkar in their dressing rooms or even the middle when this lads struggled. not many remember the 126 Sachin played in Chennai Test of the 2001 Test series which actually helped India win the series.
Count in the innings India's two best batsmen of all times played together in 1990s and 200s. They share the record for most runs for 3rd wicket partnerships. And for me their contributions is not to be taken in isolation but in inclusion. Count their contributions together. Tendulkar and Dravid have not competed against each other, they have helped each other, learnt a lot with each other.
There has been no ego between Tendulkar and Dravid as there has been previous greats like Kapil and Gavaskar or Imran Khan or Miandad. Had there been ego in this 2 legends, the Indian test fortunes wouldnt have turned from ridiculously disgusting of 1990s to a glowing path breaking 2000s.
It was the batting by Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman followed by captaincy of Ganguly helped with the bowing of Anil in this decade that has led to the combination India has today in Tests. We can loathe the ODI or T20 teams, but its very difficult to shred the Test team.
And this couldnt have been possible due to the presence of Tendulkar for so long in the dressing room and the middle.
To me and many alike me he is the GREATEST ever. For those who he is not, I dont bother.
July 3, 2009
Pakistan start favorites
.....with Murali out to injury and Mendis being eased out by the green champions in the Test series beginning today.
Key Players :
Sri Lanka :
- Mendis : Leader of the pack. First test without Murali. 26 wkts against best batting line up of world is year back now. New series, new Mendis.
- Blabba King : If he just speaks or he also bats remains to be seen. First series after resigning. Would be due for a failure after so called bull run in last 12 Tests.
- Sangakara : Is he keeping with Pras out ? Dunno. But his batting would be key.
- Samarweera : The hot suave Test batsman for Lanka. Was in form of life before .......Would be keen to see how he comes back.
Pakistan :
- Younis Khan : Their best batsman. How he leads in longer format would be interesting.
- Yousuf : I want him to fail and then bump out of the international scene forever. Opportunist and a disgrace to the team ethics.
- Umar Gul : He is Q with name beginning with U than O. Consistent and in red hot form. How he reverse swings in Tests would be keen to watch.
- Ajmal : Debutant. Would need to edge the Gujju spinner. Dont bowl Doosras man, else there would be no Watson here to give a stupid excuse this time.
For health of Test cricket I wish there are sporting wickets, no big partnership records, even contests between bat and ball. Finally result in all 3 Tests with no dull batting draws. Please. And Sanga, please take a diff route than previous captains to not play batting draws.....
A note to Rohit IPL Sharma
Mr Rohit Sharma,
A self righteous individual would take a call now and offer the captain to get himself dropped and fly out the first taxi or cruise back to Borivali(W), contact the local coach and get a few nets in Azad Maidan or even CCI club or for that matter any local Gymkhana in your own surroundings, get a few lads to bowl you underarm, hit a few sixes, smash some windows, get some hits from the fellow society dwellers and then prepare for a long grind in the domestic cricket and pray that in a year or 2, if you regain your never existing silken touch and your spot is still up for grabs by 2010, then you should come back or else we have decided to remove you out of our system.
Its tad unfortunate that you exist in the team even now after long haul of listless performances and its a test of our patience that we have to see your disgusting lovelorn face every time 1 or 3 wkts fall. Dude, the Fashion week is around the corner and then there are lots of hot chics in South Mumbai party circuit or if you cant afford them there are lots of dance bars too open even now in Mumbai suburbs. A lot of them in Dahisar, few minutes walk from your place. You would certainly find few there. After all a cricketer is even a hot property right now. You dont have hunger for runs, albeit other hunger(s) would get satisfied and by chance if you still make it to the Champs Trophy team (you never know DBV could plant you anywhere, even on moon's cricket team) at least you would look happy and I would be able to curse you openly seeing your face.
Right now you look remorse and sad, so i feel pity on you. Right now you look like a daily waged labourer who travels free of cost in Mumbai locals. Hell no, even he pays. What do you do? Do nothing and still grab those fat pay cheques. IPL, tour fee, ad contracts, fashion show invites and stuff. But did you know kid, all this lasts till the runs from your bat flow. If you dream of Rakhi Sawant when you bat, you are gonna get what Rakhi Sawant gets. Bhai, yeh jo IPL ka contract hai na, yeh bhi tab tak hai jub tak aapke paas runs hai. Runs nahi banaoge to ICL bhi nahi lega tumhe mere dost. Fir kisi bridge ke neeche khade hokar tum apne Mumbai Ranji mate ko nahi kah paoge "mere paas gadi hai bangla hai south mumbai flat hai tumhare paas kya hai". And he would reply "Rohit tum aur mai isi Borivali national park ke fly over ke neeche se chale the kisi cricket ground ki aur. Fir tum kaha pahuch gaye aur me kaha chal pada. Aaj tumhare pass yeh sab hai mere bhai, lekin mere paas INDIA CAP aur IPL CONTRACT hai". Tab kya karoge dost? yeah Mahesh Bhatt jaroor koi movie de dega tumhe.
Bhai hume maaf karo aur aapko dekhne ka jo hume majboori hai nee use door karo. Jao bhai kahi aur jao. Wo Kandivali kanda poha club me captain ki vacancy hai, waha kheloge ? Mast captain banke? Gimme a buzz if you want to.
A self righteous individual would take a call now and offer the captain to get himself dropped and fly out the first taxi or cruise back to Borivali(W), contact the local coach and get a few nets in Azad Maidan or even CCI club or for that matter any local Gymkhana in your own surroundings, get a few lads to bowl you underarm, hit a few sixes, smash some windows, get some hits from the fellow society dwellers and then prepare for a long grind in the domestic cricket and pray that in a year or 2, if you regain your never existing silken touch and your spot is still up for grabs by 2010, then you should come back or else we have decided to remove you out of our system.
Its tad unfortunate that you exist in the team even now after long haul of listless performances and its a test of our patience that we have to see your disgusting lovelorn face every time 1 or 3 wkts fall. Dude, the Fashion week is around the corner and then there are lots of hot chics in South Mumbai party circuit or if you cant afford them there are lots of dance bars too open even now in Mumbai suburbs. A lot of them in Dahisar, few minutes walk from your place. You would certainly find few there. After all a cricketer is even a hot property right now. You dont have hunger for runs, albeit other hunger(s) would get satisfied and by chance if you still make it to the Champs Trophy team (you never know DBV could plant you anywhere, even on moon's cricket team) at least you would look happy and I would be able to curse you openly seeing your face.
Right now you look remorse and sad, so i feel pity on you. Right now you look like a daily waged labourer who travels free of cost in Mumbai locals. Hell no, even he pays. What do you do? Do nothing and still grab those fat pay cheques. IPL, tour fee, ad contracts, fashion show invites and stuff. But did you know kid, all this lasts till the runs from your bat flow. If you dream of Rakhi Sawant when you bat, you are gonna get what Rakhi Sawant gets. Bhai, yeh jo IPL ka contract hai na, yeh bhi tab tak hai jub tak aapke paas runs hai. Runs nahi banaoge to ICL bhi nahi lega tumhe mere dost. Fir kisi bridge ke neeche khade hokar tum apne Mumbai Ranji mate ko nahi kah paoge "mere paas gadi hai bangla hai south mumbai flat hai tumhare paas kya hai". And he would reply "Rohit tum aur mai isi Borivali national park ke fly over ke neeche se chale the kisi cricket ground ki aur. Fir tum kaha pahuch gaye aur me kaha chal pada. Aaj tumhare pass yeh sab hai mere bhai, lekin mere paas INDIA CAP aur IPL CONTRACT hai". Tab kya karoge dost? yeah Mahesh Bhatt jaroor koi movie de dega tumhe.
Bhai hume maaf karo aur aapko dekhne ka jo hume majboori hai nee use door karo. Jao bhai kahi aur jao. Wo Kandivali kanda poha club me captain ki vacancy hai, waha kheloge ? Mast captain banke? Gimme a buzz if you want to.
Delhi ne bana di Opening Jodi
If Sehwag returns soon and Nehra retains his place till then it would be a rare occurence that Delhi de mustande would open bowling and batting for India. Who said Delhi was no longer a power house ?
Bret Lee seals his spot
6/76 almost seals the spot for Bret Lee. Almost in. Final XI. Well done Binga. Get more Pommie wickets and the Ashes would be back in Aussie fold in England in 8 years.
Sachin Tendulkar -- early days of ODI career.
There was post on Krish’s blog about the early history of Sachin Tendulkar - - the ODI batsman. I believe his earlier career prior to 1996 world cup can be divided to 2 parts :
2) 1994 – 1996 Till the world cup when he really got into groove of scoring 100s at regular intervals.
I wont say much on post 1996 history as we all know how he turned himself to a greatest batsmen of all times in ODIs. Ok if you ask me he is the greatest in Tests too. No Don Bradman.
Back to the topic. He began his innings in ODIs with a duck and took time to set his feet in the ODIs. When he came on to the scene, Indians played hopeless ODI cricket. Kapil Dev was on a decline and Prabhakar was staging a comeback. A year later Kumble debuted but he didn’t become a regular feature in ODIs until 1993. For that matter Tests too (1992 SA tour, 6-for in Jo’ burg). One thing Tendulkar showed in earlier days was the promise and he fulfilled those promises he showed in 1st few years. India didn’t play that many ODIs then and a century in ODIs by an Indian was a rarity. 300s were never touched. 299-4 was the highest India had made until 1996.
During those days the 15 over restrictions didn’t exist until 1992 World Cup when Greatbatch turned the tides in astonishing World Cup campaign. 1990 was a lean year for India in cricket with only ODi series wins coming in India vs SL and then against England (thanks to Azhar’s batting). 1991 was another lean year when India didn’t play much of cricket except few Sharjah trips and then the SA comeback series which India won 2-1. It was in end of 1991 Sachin really came in his own in both forms of the game. The twin centuries in Tests at Sydney and Perth were classics and only shining gems besides Shastri’s 206 and Azhar’s hundred in Adelaide. India lost the Test series 0-4 and the B&H series 0-2 to Australia. That was the first series when Tendulkar the bowler gained limelight. His 2 wkts in Perth ODI against WI in 41st over to earn a classic tie defending 126.
1992 World Cup saw what Tendulkar would be in coming years when he top scored for India with 284 runs in 8 matches in what was a horrible campaign. During this days he used to come at 5 or 6 in the ODIs. Vinod Kambli was more fancied than this man and he rose to heights quicker than the man only to fall even sooner. Manjrekar was another promising batsman who never delivered what he had. Siddhu was good in home series, cropper abroad. Jadeja was another young player during those days.
1994 was when Tendulkar scored his first 100 in ODIs. 6 years and 78 games later. Against his fav opposition Australia. 110 runs in 130 balls. Krish suggested he was slow in the innings. I counter the fact. He had a SR of 84 runs per 100 balls. During those days his career SR was 77 runs per 100 balls and he had just started opening 3 months earlier against NZ (2-2). After this series Singer Cup in SL, the next assignment was the WI home ODI series which India won 4-1 and then the tri-series involving WI and NZ, which India won again. He partnered Jadeja on the top and scored 2 more 100s in the same year. 1995 was another lean year for India in ODIs and then it was 1996. 3 hundreds in World cup followed by Sharjah and then the England tour. Sachin Tendulkar then was already a legend in making and he started getting to the peak in 1998 – the year which saw the demolition of Shane Warne in Tests and ODIs by the great man.
So in run up to the 1996 world cup Tendulkar evolved to the ODi batsman he was. And the major factors for this were :
1) Batting lower down the order (5 or 6). Finisher role wasn’t carved then. So he didn’t get that many balls to bat long. Whatever he got he made most out of it. 11 fiftees in 78 games was a testimony to that. One 50 every 7 innings wasn’t bad for a 5 or 6 batsman.
2) Less ODIs played by India. The fact that he played only 78 ODIs in 6 years was a testimony to the fact that India didn’t play much ODIs that age. Remember it was 1996 that began the times when India ended up playing 30+ ODIs every year. Tendulkar has never been dropped from any team in his entire career. His first ODi miss was his 185th ODI in 1998.
3) If somebody says Tendulkar was slow in earlier 90s then it is a cruel joke. He has had a SR of 86 for his ODI career. He batted in opening slot for most part since 1994 and has scored more runs than anybody on that slot. He negotiated swing, pace and spin with ease. Whenever he scored 100 India mostly won (37 100s of 42 are in winning cause). He was more attacking of the opening pair of Him and Ganguly (1996 – 2007). We got to understand one fact that in early 90s the Odis were not as high scoring as they are now. 270 then was winning score 9 of 10 times.
So its very wrong to say Tendulkar was slow in his early days in ODIs. That’s the 2nd face of the coin for you for Sachin Tendulkar – the ODI batsman.
July 2, 2009
Sunny Uvach....
When this man speaks, yyou gotta listen. Bang on the head. Straight point. (Courtesy : www.cricinfo.com)
Sunil Gavaskar: "The worrying factor is far too many youngsters see IPL as the be all and end all." has joined the debate over the IPL by saying young players should aim for the India cap instead of being lured by the riches of the league. Various influential cricket figures, including India's coach Gary Kirsten, have warned against the rising importance of the IPL in world cricket.
"Today, parents are encouraging their children to take up cricket as a career option because of the IPL and the amount of money it provides. But the worrying factor is far too many youngsters see IPL as the be all and end all," Gavaskar, a member of the IPL's governing council, said while delivering the Dilip Sardesai Memorial Lecture in Mumbai.
Gavaskar said the IPL could not be their ultimate goal and pointed out the worrying trend among young cricketers to pull out of domestic matches in order to be injury-free ahead of the tournament. "A lot of players miss out on domestic cricket before the IPL to avoid injuries. That is what we have to be very very careful about, the IPL
being seen as the be all and end all, not the India cap," Gavaskar said.
He also advised cricket authorities to guard the youngsters against the unbelievable amount of money being paid to even inexperienced players in the IPL. "The other thing to guard against is players in the age group of 19-22 going the wrong way [because of the money factor]. Younger players get carried away by fame, publicity and success," Gavaskar said.
Gavaskar added that the IPL was not to blame for India's debacle at the ICC World Twenty20. "I don't think IPL can be conceived in any other way," he said. "The home and away concept is so essential to it. This time it was played in South Africa, even there this (concept) worked. Our team got outplayed (in the World T20). I would not look too much into it."
India's batsmen had their weakness against the short ball exposed in England, and in the ongoing ODI series in West Indies, but Gavaskar felt this was not a long-term problem. "There's a lot of cricket (that has) been played where there were not many short balls, and so the balance tends to be on the front foot," he said. "Then when suddenly there are short pitched deliveries, you couldn't adjust to it. I think that's what happened (to the Indian team). I think there need not be too much concern about it."
Outburst!!
A series kicks off in the Emerald Isle on 4th July, the American Independence day :). Pakistan vs Sri Lanka. Supposedly and allegdlelly 2 countries I am bitter on and hate. I dont say that, but few of the readers of the blog feel so. Why ? Cos I dont like the way Pak and SL play Test cricket. Thats it.
I dont like the way few Indians play their cricket. This is pretty human. Every body have their own choices and dislikes. Dont they ? But no, nobody points fingers to them. Its easy to come down here, read the stuff, then in the end brand me as a hater and then walk off. And then spread the word. Result people read me, but they dont drop their comments. Reasons : I lack analysis. Really ?
I have been following cricket now for 23 years. My first memory is of the victory of World Series in Australia in 1985. And till date I have memory of every game itched in my memory India has played. Yeah every ODi, every Test. From the onset of Azharuddin to retirement of Gavaskar to the confused 1987 - 89 until Sachin Tendulkar came on the horizon to the 1990s when the trio of Anil, Dravid and Ganguly burtst on the scene alongside 2000s when Sehwag, Harbhajan and Yuvraj came in to the disgusting days of Sharma and Pathan Y.
Whosoever claims that i lack facts or stats I have a hearty laugh. I openly challenge anybody to have a quiz with me on the facts and the stats and the trivia. I promise i wont need any reference to statsguru or any other cricket encyclopedia.
People call players names. They have fan following. if i call few people names who play cricket, i get hate stuff. Fake One down player to Mr Useless or whatever, thats fine. I should not name anybody. Now if any body in SL finds burning effigies in India a bit crazy, then he voices his opinion freely. If I do it, I am a hater.
Amazing standards to judge a blog. People threaten to sue me. People teach me power of analysis. I would hardly blog on Pakistan vs SL test series. Cos the brand of cricket thats played in Test series in SL doesnt appeal me similarly as way India plays doesnt appeal to few many. And I want to write as freely as I can on this blog. I dont care much about what people brand me or my blog as. I care much about my quality of writing, which is not at all poor, which is not at all cheap.
I would rather suggest the silent, regular and occasional reader to read this content without any prejudice or any malacious intent. I repeat this blog is just about cricket. Politics or racial / religious content has no place here. So if you could enjoy this blog with freedom, you are most welcome, but if you read this and spread wrong word about me, then you are not welcome here. Better find some other place except this.
I dont like the way few Indians play their cricket. This is pretty human. Every body have their own choices and dislikes. Dont they ? But no, nobody points fingers to them. Its easy to come down here, read the stuff, then in the end brand me as a hater and then walk off. And then spread the word. Result people read me, but they dont drop their comments. Reasons : I lack analysis. Really ?
I have been following cricket now for 23 years. My first memory is of the victory of World Series in Australia in 1985. And till date I have memory of every game itched in my memory India has played. Yeah every ODi, every Test. From the onset of Azharuddin to retirement of Gavaskar to the confused 1987 - 89 until Sachin Tendulkar came on the horizon to the 1990s when the trio of Anil, Dravid and Ganguly burtst on the scene alongside 2000s when Sehwag, Harbhajan and Yuvraj came in to the disgusting days of Sharma and Pathan Y.
Whosoever claims that i lack facts or stats I have a hearty laugh. I openly challenge anybody to have a quiz with me on the facts and the stats and the trivia. I promise i wont need any reference to statsguru or any other cricket encyclopedia.
People call players names. They have fan following. if i call few people names who play cricket, i get hate stuff. Fake One down player to Mr Useless or whatever, thats fine. I should not name anybody. Now if any body in SL finds burning effigies in India a bit crazy, then he voices his opinion freely. If I do it, I am a hater.
Amazing standards to judge a blog. People threaten to sue me. People teach me power of analysis. I would hardly blog on Pakistan vs SL test series. Cos the brand of cricket thats played in Test series in SL doesnt appeal me similarly as way India plays doesnt appeal to few many. And I want to write as freely as I can on this blog. I dont care much about what people brand me or my blog as. I care much about my quality of writing, which is not at all poor, which is not at all cheap.
I would rather suggest the silent, regular and occasional reader to read this content without any prejudice or any malacious intent. I repeat this blog is just about cricket. Politics or racial / religious content has no place here. So if you could enjoy this blog with freedom, you are most welcome, but if you read this and spread wrong word about me, then you are not welcome here. Better find some other place except this.
July 1, 2009
Run up to Ashes -- English Way
Bonding at unknown locations is all fine. Screaming great camaradrie (*) in dressing room is all fine. Calling self as Ashes favorites is all right. Hiring an ex-Aussie coach known for his IPLantics is all right. But there is one bottom line which English team are ignoring / forgetting / overseeing that the series as huge as Ashes is being won in the field. On the field. With the personnel on the field.
Every time we hear the same crap from English that they are well placed to win, every time they are thumped royally. 2005 was an abberation(*). Performance against Warwicks doesnt inspire much confidence. Whereas in the enemy camp, Mr Cricket has got some sort of form back.
Cant wait for 6 more days to see Ashes kicked off.
Every time we hear the same crap from English that they are well placed to win, every time they are thumped royally. 2005 was an abberation(*). Performance against Warwicks doesnt inspire much confidence. Whereas in the enemy camp, Mr Cricket has got some sort of form back.
Cant wait for 6 more days to see Ashes kicked off.
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