October 17, 2008
On a day that will only be remembered for the milestones, India’s top three batsmen will rue the fact that they failed to make merry on a what seems like a batting paradise.
In case you missed it, here are the milestones
- Sachin breaches 12000 runs in Test Cricket
- Sachin makes 50th Test 50 and is the second Indian to do so after Rahul Dravid 🙂
- Sachin breaks West Indian Brian Lara’s record for most runs scored in Test Cricket
- Ganguly crosses 7000 runs
Meanwhile, there was a game of cricket being played.
Sehwag should have paid attention. Dravid looked set for a big one with some of the shots reminding us just what kind of a player he is. He should have capitalized on what looked like his best innings in the last 4 Test matches. Gambhir should have stayed on, he got stuck after lunch and fell shortly after Dravid. I have no words for Laxman. Maybe he should not have been promoted up the order – it seems almost like some kind of a curse. Tendulkar and Ganguly each played a brilliant innings, one true to their reputation. This partnership has saved India some blushes.
India will do well do get to 400. Does Amit Mishra bat? My fellow Delhi-ite bloggers NC, SB and SP will know better if deserving debutant Amit Mishra can bat. Now a days one has more faith in India’s lower order than our middle.
6 Comments | 
Cricket, Dravid, Ganguly, India, India-Aus series, Indian cricket, Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Tendulkar, The Big 3 of Indian cricket | Tagged: 2nd Test, Amit Mishra, Australia, Border Gavaskar Trophy, Cricket, Delhi Amit Mishra, Dravid, Gambhir, Ganguly, Ganguly crosses 7000 runs, Gautham Gambhir, Ind vs Aus 2008-09 2nd Test, Ind vs. Aus 2008-09 2nd Test Mohali, India, Indian cricket, Laxman, Mohali, Rahul Dravid, Sachin, Sachin reaches 12000 runs, Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, Tendulkar breaks Lara records, Tendulkar highest run getter in Test Cricket, Tendulkar reaches 12000 runs, Test Cricket, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman | 
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Posted by vmminerva
October 17, 2008
Not only did Sachin break Brian Lara’s 11.9k+ record, he went on to create a new 12000 run club in Test Cricket. Who better than Sachin to have inaugurate the most elite of clubs?
What was most striking today was the way he tore apart Aussie bowling on his way to a brilliant 88. I really thought he would get to the 100 today (nervous 90 jitters apart). He certainly deserved that, and what an occasion that would have been. But that will remain so.
Today, it is all about Sachin – the man Indian never tires to watch.
4 Comments | Cricket, India, Tendulkar | Tagged: 2nd Test Mohali, Australia's tour of India 2008, Border Gavaskar Trophy, Ind vs. Aus 2008-09 2nd Test Mohali, India, India-Aus series, Indian cricket, Mohali, Sachin, Sachin Tendulkar, Tendulkar, Tendulkar breaks Lara records, Tendulkar reaches 12000 runs | Permalink
Posted by vmminerva
August 9, 2008
This is getting to be ridiculous to say the least. The umpiring review/referral system which promised much has wrecked havoc for India in this series. Billy Doctrove turned down a plumb lbw decision today, prompting more ire towards the umpires among India supporters. Sri Lanka are reviewing everything and are getting away with murder. Perhaps they have learned the art from Ricky Ponting. Samaraveera’s almost mocking shake of the head when Kumble asked for review is nothing short of umpire coaxing. For me, such distasteful cricket took the charm out of Sangakkara’s innings.
At the risk of sounding socio-centric, I must say the umpiring review system has been very one sided this series. Sri Lankan batsmen enjoy the batsman’s benefit of doubt while Indian batsmen (primarily the Big Three) have been the victim of the umpire’s doubt. So now we have to fight not just two incompetent blokes but three. Perhaps the folk behind this are now happy that India will now have doubts about the use of technology and the like. For it is us, who created a riot after the atrocities of the Sydney Test and ousted Bucknor. Perhaps it is only fitting that Bucknor’s fellow bystander that day, Mark Benson, has stood in this series so far. Benson is surely having sweet revenge. Such atrocities make even a draw, let alone a victory, a herculian effort (out of form batsmen nothwithstanding).
Yes, I did mention the Big-3 here and while I’m itching to spill my thoughts on them, I will wait till the end of this Test. Till then do us wait.
8 Comments | Anil Kumble, Cricket, Dravid, Ganguly, India, India-Aus series, Indian cricket, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Sourav Ganguly, Sydney Test, Tendulkar, The Big 3 of Indian cricket, Umpiring | Tagged: Anil Kumble, Billy Doctrove, Cricket, Dravid, Fab four of Indian cricket, Ganguly, India, India's tour of Australia 07-08, India's tour of Sri Lanka 2008, Indian cricket, Kumar Sangakkara, Kumble, Mark Benson, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Sachin, Sachin Tendulkar, Samaraweera, Sangakkara, Sourav Ganguly, Sri Lanka, Steve Bucknor, Syndey Test, Tendulkar, Test Cricket, The Big 3 of Indian cricket, The Big Three of Indian cricket, Umpires for India's tour of Sri Lanka 2008, Umpiring, umpiring errors, umpiring referral, umpiring review system | Permalink
Posted by vmminerva
May 27, 2008
It’s now official: Mumbai Indians are the official chokers. Fellow blogger SP says quite straightly that they pulled a South Africa.
It was an incredibly entertaining match, going down to the wire – really down to the last ball. I was hoping for a bowl-out, actually, thought I think even if that had happened, Rajasthan would have won it.
How could have Mumbai lost this? Lost their head in the last 2 overs. Fernando messed up in the final over, Sachin blew it big time. With his cautious ODI-opening-overs-style batting and by pressurizing his team. He seemed to have slowed Jayasuriya down too. Yes, the pitch was slow, understood, but there was a sense that Sachin was waiting for something. And that something never came.
I was rather surprised to see that not much has changed in Sachin’s captaincy, after all the years. I also found it baffling that for the last ball, when the Rajasthan Royals needed 2 to win and 1 to tie, Sachin was signalling to spread out the field! Not bringing ’em in. Panic, I guess. Nothing else can explain that. I was also rather shocked to the hear the comments from him the post-match presentation: ‘lacked common sense’, etc, etc, dissing the team. That wasn’t the forum for that!
Meanwhile, thanks to the Rajasthan Royals, the Delhi Daredevils have a place in the semis now. Mumbai will now have to beat Bangalore in tomorrow’s match and hope Chennai lose. The Royal Challengers on the other hand have nothing to lose. After having moved up the table enough so as to not end up last, they might go for the kill. Something tells that Dravid might sign off the BRCs with this match and that despite conflicting media reports on his unhappiness with Mallya’s ways and his own denying rumors of quitting. Thus the extra motivation for the consolation victory.
I’m not cheering though, for my cheering seems to be jinxed. So I’ll shut up, watch, and then write.
2 Comments | Bangalore, Cricket, Dravid, India, IPL, Rahul Dravid, T-20 Cricket, Tendulkar | Tagged: Bangalore Royal Challengers, Cricket, Delhi Daredevils, Dilhara Fernando, Dravid, India, IPL, Jayasuriya, Mallya, Mumbai Indians, Mumbai Indians vs. Rajasthan Royals, Rahul Dravid, Rajasthan Royals, Sachin, Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, South Africa, T20, T20 cricket, Tendulkar | Permalink
Posted by vmminerva
May 25, 2008
Two darn good games made my Saturday! It felt really good to watch two matches without exactly supporting one side. That both went down to the wire added to the pleasure. Competitive cricket (albeit the T20 variety) was played and entertained well.
The first came with a lot of hype, and lived up to it for the most part. While the first half was all Rajasthan, the second half was the more exciting one to watch. Chasing 200-odd in T20 is not an easy task and I though the Chennai team game the Rajasthan a run for their money. Credit to the Chennai Super Kings for that. While Dhoni reminded us once again never to depend on him too much, Parthiv played a good cricketing innings: almost no crap shots and a fairly cool head on those shoulders. I was also impressed with India-reject Raina. The other part that was really commendable was the Chennai crowds – who not only braved the sweltering heat, but also seemed great sports. When it comes to crowd sportsman spirit – we Chennai-ites kick partisan Mumbai’s butt!
I almost didn’t watch the Mumbai Indians and the Delhi Daredevils fight it out, but somehow they kept my attention. Sachin flopped yet again, as I had expected. Uthappa came good with the bat but made up the sloppiness while fielding. Sehwag ramped up by attacking Pollock like very few batsmen can. You cannot help but ebb with pride when sehwag bats like this. Was disappointed to see him fall shortly after, but that was to be expected. Gambhir turned it on, though cautiously. Dhawan and Tiwary batted T20 style – irritatingly T20, but entertaining nonetheless. Karthik, was the pick of the batsmen – played classly, pulling it off well, especially when it was required of him and almost not expected of him. Way to go Karthik!
It will now be interesting to see Mumbai fight it out. They will most probably lose to the Rajasthan Royals and though it may seem absurd to wish, I would like to see Bangalore trounce them once again. 🙂
Leave a Comment » | Bangalore, Cricket, Dhoni, India, IPL, Robin Uthappa, T-20 Cricket, Tendulkar | Tagged: Bangalore, Bangalore Royal Challengers, Chennai, Chennai Super Kings, Chennai Super Kings vs. Rajasthan Royals, Cricket, Delhi, Delhi Daredevils, Delhi Daredevils vs. Mumbai Indians, Dhawan, Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Gambhir, IPL, Karthik, MS Dhoni, Mumbai, Mumbai Indians, Parthiv Patel, Raina, Rajasthan, Rajasthan Royals, Sachin, Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag, Suresh Raina, T20, T20 cricket, Tendulkar, Tiwary, Uthappa | Permalink
Posted by vmminerva
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