India vs England First Test: Ahmedabad

Since The end sems are going by, i could not watch this one completely. Still , it was a lot better than i had anticipated it after 3 days.India have comprehensively trumped England in the first Test at Ahmedabad to set the tone for the series. There were some batsmen in this test who looked like they could bat forever, take cook, pujara. Pujara was looking as if he wanted to bat till the earth finishes in 2012. And Alastair Cook, He almost did it.He spanned for about 505 minutes and His 176 was a monument to concentration, stamina, skill and determination.He left records trailing and the Indian bowlers at a loss.In partnership with wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who again showed his ability against spin, Cook gave England hope of saving the match.

When a captain begins his second innings with a 330-run deficit after following-on, batting for so long is as much a mental discipline as a physical one.Pietersen’s contribution was of six balls that showed all his problems against left-arm spin. He miscalculated a sweep so badly he was bowled behind his legs.And a personal bad news is that Gautam Gambhir fled back to Delhi due to his grandmother's death.

It was a team-effort with two players in particular standing out. The caravan now moves to the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and India must maintain the same level of intensity in the second Test. They shouldn’t allow England to come back if they are to avenge their defeat of the summer of 2011.

Waiting eagerly for next test and also end sems to pass over.
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Indian Bench Strength

I have still not been able to understand the reasoning behind giving Rohit Sharma this many number of chances ahead of Manoj Tiwary.Forget Day and Night Test cricket, if ever there’s Bench Cricket, Manoj Tiwary will be its captain. The selectors say: Rohit Sharma has talent, Suresh Raina trains to finish the game and Yuvraj Singh is back so poor Manoj Tiwary has got no chance at all.For now, Rohit is a T20 special, who blocks that slot regardless of runs.His lack of scores are a mystery not only for me but for him as well.This would not have happened at all had the selectors had him let go out of the team after such dismal show against Srilanka (Mind it he had scored 13 runs in 5 innings in that series.) Instead, Rohit returned like a sequel of movie.

Then there is Suresh Raina. Everywhere we go, Raina keeps telling that he trains to finish the game. That must be IPL games, and the occasional T20 and one day game for India.He still has not been able to impress me at all.

And Yuvraj Singh, personally i like him a lot. He is like a force, you can't control it.He is the only one who can bat, bowl, or field all. He also got the wickets of KP and Ian Bell in the practice game. He is after all India's third spinner for the test.

But, The strategy of Indian selectors is still like some computational problem:
Whether P=NP or not?

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Is Indian Team really hungry for winning?

India were decimated in England last summer. The 4-0 whitewash doesn't even begin to describe the complete and utter domination of the English side. The story doesn't end here. They lost against Australia too to make it 0-8.

But what about the team now, do they believe that they can win every single match against the English at home?They had certainly better be aiming for that.While they might be realistic about the nature of the pitches and the outcomes, still the 4-0 result is less likely now looking at the forms of each individual in Indian team. As i feel the team has weakened by the spots of Mighty Rahul Dravid, and very very special Laxman. England will be quite happy to play for a draw in the series. If England are to win even one of the matches, that will be victory enough for them. The big question then is, just how badly do India really want to thrash England.

India's rise to the top wasn't the result of dominating the world cricket scene,Rather, India played consistently good, cricket over a period of time while other sides declined to do so. India were destined to become the first side to win the world cup at home. Isn't that a great achievement?

But, now where we are today? Rank 5 in tests, 3 in ODI and 5th in T20s. Very dismal indeed for a nation where cricket is treated like a religion.  I am just hoping that they will overshadow this poor phase and bounce back really very hard.

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Why cricket is better than GirlFriends?

I do not know whether it is the result of my parents, teachers, friends or someone else, but whatever be the case,or some reason or another I have been an obsessed cricket nerd and i am quite proud about that.In the school whenever i got even a little time between recess or anything, i chose that for cricket rather than other activities. Numerous exams of mine have been ruthlessly spoilt due to this, but No matter what life has thrown at me, my desire to watch Test matches, one-dayers and now Twenty20, has never diminished and will never diminish.It all started in 2000 and will continue till last breath. When India reached final in world cup 2003, then lost it who can forget that moment? Still , i was too damn proud of this national cricket team. In fact, these are the only things that make me happy from inside. Now i got why i could never have any girl friend as if ever i had one, i would have treated her only after cricket which would have led to what you say "breakup".
Ok so this post still has not really deciphered what exactly it is that thrills me about cricket, so I’ll throw in some keys points on what gets me going.

A team winning or losing off the one remaining ball. A six being smashed for the win. That sound of the stumps being cracked.An elegant sweep shot. That shared moment of laughter between batsman and bowler when there is a near miss. Sachin Tendulkar, Dale Steyn. Mitchell Johnson. and numerous names waiting.
If you love cricket I’m sure you nodded in agreement at a few of the above.
I just want you all to say:"There should be more of Cricket in the World!"

Thank you

Tricky targets in T20

Mumbai Indians, the defending champions, bowed out of the CLT20, with an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Sydney Sixers. Having done well to restrict Sydney to 136, Mumbai were too slow to start with their run-chase and couldn’t make up for it as the overs went by.However, such an approach has been seen a number of times when teams are chasing those in-between totals in T20 cricket. Such instances do beg the question: How should a team approach such a run-chase?

My views regarding this is :
When a team has to chase totals within the range of 130-150, the first thought that may come to their mind is, “Come on, we can knock them off pretty easily? It is T20 cricket after all!” However, somewhere at the back of their minds, there is a voice of cautioning which says, “Hang on; we don’t want to lose this one. It could be a major embarrassment.”

The fall of an early wicket is what makes such a feeling stronger and may push the team into a shell. The other possibility is that the openers themselves get a bit too cautious. Thus, such scores are more a psychological battle when compared to some of the 170 or 180 plus totals we see.On many an occasion, we see such low scores on surfaces that aid the bowlers. Such run-chases can be tricky, but the targets can be achieved with proper application.

When the team starts the chase with a flier – then that takes the pressure off their middle order. Having set a base and by getting the run-rate under control, the other batsmen have no problems in getting into their stride. Batting sides can attempt such a practice if the conditions are good and the batsmen can play their strokes. In difficult conditions, it may be a gamble – which may or may not pay-off.

Ultimately, it seems to be a mind-game and it is all about handling the pressure and maintaining your cool. A team’s cricketing sense is tested in every way when faced with such challenges.

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Invaluable Watson

Shane Watson: As i will say this name is enough for making any opponent against him sweaty.Since he hit his stride as a top-class international allrounder in all formats, Watson's stats have been staggering, across Tests, ODIs and T20 internationals, with both bat and ball. Watson's contributions in the shorter forms of the game has been outstanding.When cricket Australia called him back just after a few games he played in CLT20, the angry reaction of Sixers was natural, but given Watson's form with both bat and ball, it's understandable that Cricket Australia wanted him in the best possible shape for a crucial series.It was just a strategy  to give him more time to prepare for the vital Test series against South Africa later this season, a win in which will once again give Australia the No. 1 Test ranking.Watson has been the one consistent performer - with a substantial body of work - in all three formats of the game, with both bat and ball, over these last four years.

So, i am waiting eagerly for the super entertaining series between Aussies and Proteas starting from november 9.(And don't forget Watson is there too).
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Fairness vs Unfairness

It is not, as its name suggests, a competition of winners. But,Is it fair that teams from India, Australia and South Africa have a direct entry into the main CL T20? I, personally don't agree.The imbalanced nature of the competition is its greatest flaw. With four IPL teams, two South African franchises and two Australian gaining automatic entry into the event, the rest are right to feel a little left out.I think the farce regarding qualification rounds for some teams and direct entry for some others is causing heartburn in the heart of some of the nations.Also, too many teams from a single nation dilutes the very essence of Champions League. Yeah, i know that they are the owners of this tournament and as owners of the tournament, Ind,Aus and SA have the right to have more teams in the tournament proper for commercial reasons but on the other hand it has failed to achieve the true motto of the tournament, Champion of the champions.

But, as usual, we have to live with it. Let's forget this and just watch upcoming superexciting matches.
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One team One people One Goal

I could never get the fact that why People love to abuse or mock Darren Sammy. He is, after all, West Indies’ non-playing captain.Most people don’t think he should be in the side.His medium pace is very gentle and his wild slogging is rarely effective.Chris Gayle could do a better job and he’s taking the spot of someone better, is what they say. They say it a lot.Sammy has heard all of this. He’s just a nice guy.His innings was as far from pretty. He barely kept out yorkers, hit crazily across the line, mistimed almost everything . He heaved West Indies to a score that Sri Lanka could not challenge. This was a captain’s innings.With the ball, he came on at a time when Sri Lanka had thrust Angelo Mathews up the order. Sammy brought up his fine leg, knowing Mathews would be tempted. Sammy tried an offcutter and Mathews fell straight into his trap, missing the ball as it moved further away from him off the pitch.West Indies have played well at times against England, Australia, India and New Zealand and just often failed against them (except New Zealand).To win this tournament you need luck, skill and timing.They played their most perfect game and smashed Australia in every way.In the final of the World T20, Sammy ended with 2 for 6 off two overs, 26 off 15 balls and a trophy.Isn't it a captain's knock?Sammy is the man no one wanted as a player. Sammy is the man who no one wanted as a captain. And Sammy is the captain who has given his team their first major ICC trophy since 1979.Isn't it ironical?

Now coming to their dancing, they were better than Srilankan cheerleaders in every possible way. Although i like cheerleaders, and i am eagerly waiting for them in this champions league anyway, yet i can't stop praising the West Indies' dancing skills. and Lastly the most important innings of the match : Marlon Samuels, i am going to remember this innings for ever. One man army, from 32-2 in 10 overs, he made the most valuable contribution to the match and gave West Indies a fighting total, which in the end proved 36 runs more.Hats off to him.

Now in the words of Darren Sammy, i am concluding this world cup as:

“This is it for the fans wi bleed maroon wi came wi saw and wi conquered. One team one people and the goal was achieved”.

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India:One more elimination in T20 WC

India ended their World Cup campaign on a winning note, but it was not enough in the end.Bitter sweet moment for India, they go home with 4 wins out of 5 matches, they lost one match that determined their fate in the tournament. What do you call it? Misfortune is not the accurate word here.India were knocked out of the World Cup for the 3rd consecutive time and Pakistan qualified for the semis for the 4th time in 4 T20 World Cups. India will reflect upon the hammering at the hands of Australia. A trifle better show might have helped them sail through to the semis, they now go empty handed.What a time to come good for Faf Du Plesis, not good enough to win a match, but good enough to annoy a billion people at once.India were really good, really bad. It seems as Dhoni's men have given us everything, yet nothing both at the same time.

But on a night like this there is really nothing more you can do than sit back and enjoy the sweet sound of cricket.

Result: India once again got eliminated from the World T20. Yuvi is back in his old touch and as usual South Africa continues their form in the ICC Tournaments.
Now looking forward for the champions league and England series.

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India Vs Pakistan : Was this time any different?

Pakistan have a great bowling attack against anyone who isn’t India.Isn't it true?
If Shane Watson is superman , then certainly Virat Kohli is Batman.A day which was full of abuse finally ended with usual result with India making it 8-0 in the world cup encounters against their favourite opponents. What a moment it is!!! A wicket is the greatest moment ever. A six is greater than the greatest.Nothing remains as usual in Indo-pak game.The crowd chants Sachin’s name even though he is not there. 70% of the crowd (I am not sure about this number , may be larger)  have their countries shirt on. People with face paints are more likely to dance. Pakistani fans leave earlier enough so  that they don’t have to deal with too many Indian fans on the way out. Indian fans stay, dance and cheer the tv interview.Just mesmerizing it is!!!

About the match , there is hardly anything to write. India broke the three year old jinx of not being able to win a single game in the Super 8 stages of the T20 World Cup In a game of the magnitude of India v Pakistan, putting a total on board is always a safe option and Mohammad Hafeez chose to do exactly that when he won the toss. I totally disagree with Hafeez looking at the fact that 6 of the 7 games played earlier in the super 8 stage were won by the team chasing. Pakista never looked in the game after first 2 overs. Almost every batsman of them getting out was in suicidal mode. And rest was nothing surprising . The target of 129 was never going to tough and it was later confirmed by the solid performance of Virat Kohli. Now The matches of Tuesday have become interesting. Too much depends on that day. Let's see which team is the one to hold the nerves in the end.

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