Sweet Memories Of Cricket

For the last seven-eight days, IPL has been knocking on my door. Every night, before going to bed, I have watched the super exciting games of cricket.This part of the life, which I have been obsessed over in the life, deals with a feeling difficult to put down with keystrokes.

Cricket is not everything. It is more than everything. It's life. Life may betray you. Life may confuse you. But, cricket is always there stretching its arms and waiting for you. It's unambiguous, unadulterated,better than hot movies you use to watch when you are alone. There is always a simple outcome: Either win or loss. There is always a "what if " analysis in life. For me, the only place where Things make sense is cricket. In life, you never know when Your girlfriend will dump you, when your best friend will betray you, when you will get a job,internships, when will your best thing get lost and so on. But, see cricket is easy, like food. You just need to have it and energy will follow. Beyond Gender, Caste, religion, region, violence, at eternity.

Life has always been a great grandmother of all heartbreaks in my life. Personally I have been a big failure in my life. But, I have always faced it bravely with cricket in me. There is always something to learn from every game, every moment. Just try to search and most often you will find it.

What is unique in cricket is It clubs together the pain of defeat, the joy of being victorious, the heart-stopping ties, Super Over excitement with a million of possiblities and finally leading you to infinity of thoughts.It makes the mind beautiful.  You can be flown so easily. It's like falling in love each time you watch it. I do fall. When stumps are shattered, when it is a near miss, Those moments cann't be replicated. It is like you have got everything.

And If you feel mesmerized after reading this, then IPL 6 is out there waiting for you. Enjoy!!!

Where we lost the rivalry between India and Aussies?

One of the biggest news in the Indo-Aussies series was this:Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja, James Pattinson and Mitchell Johnson are suspended for failing to do their homework. But, for me this is not the only problem Border-Gavaskar series suffers with. There is one more serious and terrible error here.

Gone are those days when the characters from India and Australia used to show the onfield rivalry and the contests used to be the best You could ever imagine. The Border-Gavaskar  series had started with the aim as both Countries used to be invincible at home. With Australia struggling to continue to maintain their winning streak in India. There was India everywhere  at home.

Also, not to forget , it was the characters who used to make the series alive. Shane Warne and Glenn Mcgrath against Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Waugh against Saurav Ganguly etc. used to make the contest a scene of total romance and pleasure.( in cricketing sense )

On the other hand, the ongoing series is nothing as exciting as it used to be a few years ago. Aussies have struggled so far and with the scoreline of 3-0 , they have to play in Delhi for pride only. They could neither show the skill nor determination to learn from their mistakes which England did quite superbly which handed them the series. The current bowling attack of Aussies is one of the worst on their part which i have ever seen. I know that talking from internet blog and performing on field are quite different things, but still The aussies which I  have always known since my childhood used to be far better learner than this. Australia looked like without any game plan throughout the series.

From my side, I am a person who have grown up watching test cricket and certainly will watch  hundreds of tests more in this lifetime, this is rather disappointing.I used to bunk other important stuffs to watch the Indo-Aussies contest when i was a kid. But, sadly the mouth-watering contests are dying slowly and it hurts me a lot to write this. Today, the game has become pretty predictable and even if while I am in classes, i can tell exactly what would have been happening there in the test match. I just want both teams to bring back the rivalry back and provide us some really good stuff. But, I am worried that this may not happen at all.

I hope you all agree with me in this.
Thank you

Is this the era of South Africa?

The top spot in test rankings has been a hot spot after the great australians retired in later part of 2009.India, aided by its improved bowling attack, to go with a murderous batting line up and array of home Tests, managed to get there in November 2009 and managed to stay afloat for 18 months. I, being an indian was too happy by this feat itself.The English Summer of 2011 thoroughly exposed India, and following their whitewash at the hands of the hosts, Team England got to the top seat. In comparison to the Indian side, they had quite a better squad.Exactly a year after its ascent, England side lost the top spot to the South African side, which has been atop since then. However, unlike the Indian and English teams, this South African side looks set for a longer ride at the top. I will give you the reasons.

Despite having a team capable of gunning down any opposition, they always faltered at the last step and earned the tag of “Chokers”. The trend is continuing still in the limited overs tournaments conducted by ICC. The Test side, however, looks a different story.Gary Kirsten came with a tag of giving india on rank 1 status in test cricket. His home team waited for him to return back and he was snapped up as the head coach immediately. What became India’s loss was South Africa’s gain.Their batting in the last few years had a settled look even though one or two spots are still experimented.Smith, Alviro have added flair at the top. Their middle order of Amla, Kallis and De Villers could challenge any all-time best middle order batsmen, and that added to their strength.The major advantage for the current South African side is the strength of the lower middle order. Faf de Plessis made a dream start to his career and has been a handy all-rounder.In Peterson, they have a spinner who is much better than their previous recruit – Harris. He is able to provide some kind of support to the pace battery rather than being just a fill in bowler when their pacers need rest. And with the bat, he is as good as any bowling all-rounder. And then Philander is a decent lower order bat too.


And finally, the pace attack. Since the last few series, the opposition has been forced to get out before 50 runs which adds so much humiliation for any team.Steyn is indeed the best pace bowler in the circuit currently, and could swing the ball at a menacing pace of 150 kmph. His partner Philander is an artist with gentle pace while Morkel's  bouncers in a quick ball could unsettle any of the best batsmen, and he wonderfully compliments the wicket takers in Steyn and Philander.

Any side will face problems when their regular players are injured. The replacements usually are not as good as the regular ones. But it is here that the current South Africa side looks ominous. Duminy, Tsotsobe, Merchant De Lange , Klienveldt, Abott are better than just replacements anyways. The depth of the side, wealth of backup players, and a top class set-up has all made this side look invincible.

Let us hope that The proteas will remain dominant in a few years to come.

Thanks

Middle overs in ODI

I just can't understand why there are a very few people interested in watching middle overs of an ODI game. It's a matter of fact that most of them don't like ODI cricket at all. Some of them like tests and t20’s, some of them just like tests, and some of them don’t really like cricket at all, they just like how many stories there are in a cricket match. I hear people saying things like “there’s those horrible overs between over 10 and over 40” and “it’s dreadful, killing the game.” Both of these sentiments make me wonder if they actually like cricket at all.  Because for me the middle overs of an ODI are almost as pure as cricket gets. Let me explain why is it so?

Cricket is more than a simple bat and ball game that involves hitting a ball as far as you can. These are a few things which make it better than baseball, handball, or other similar games. Cricket is a game of risk vs good decisions. Some batsmen are able to maintain a strike rate of 200.0, the problem is that when they try it, it becomes risky. They tend to get out more quickly. They try to keep a tradeoff between the scoring rate and risk. So, instead of trying to hit the ball over the inner circle, they try to hit it past along the ground. Instead of trying to hit the ball over the cover aread, they hit it to third man for a single or leave the ball to go to wicketkeeper.

A defensive shot is pure foolishness in baseball, it’s abused ,but it has merit in cricket. Even the most attacking players have a balance between attack and defence.A spin bowler is more likely to take wickets with a slow, flighted delivery, that's full enough to bring a batsman forward, but short enough to turn. But that has a risk involved that the batsman may come out of crease and hit him over long-off or long-on.A captain has a lot of options when it comes to setting a field, even within the ODI rules about field placement. The art to setting a defensive field is often damage limitation. The most heart-breaking runs are those which are given easily in the cricket.

This balance, and battle of wits between batsman and fielders is most on display during the middle overs of an ODI. When watching this period I ask myself what the plan is to try and get a wicket without taking a risk. What is the shot that the captain is letting the batsman have, and what’s the risk for him in that?  These are the questions that make the middle overs enjoyable.Sure there are less fours, sixes and wickets.  However there is still the battle of wits.  I’m not sure what the attraction is in watching big hit after big hit.  I prefer the balance between the mental and physical battle that only cricket really provides.  And, for me, there’s nowhere better for that than the “boring middle overs.”

I hope you agree with me in this.

Will miss you "Mr. Cricket"

Another one goes. This time again, loss is not limited to a country but to the entire cricket as One of the most consistent batsman of my era has decided to hang his boots.

I don't know whether There will be any replacement of Mike Hussey in world cricket or not. But, I can assure you Getting as successful as Hussey was will be an extremely difficult for this young cricket generation. Hussey was made to prove himself too many times before he arrived the door of International cricket at the age of 30. He played 11 first-class seasons and scored more than 15,000 runs before being selected for his first Test. But, once he came, he never looked back. Just 7 years of career and 12th highest run getter for Australia of all times with a terrific batting average of 51, including 19 centuries tells the whole story. He steadied Australian innings all the time during that period and uncountably many times pulled them out of trouble.

In my opinion, he is even harder to get replaced than Ricky, as he saw the Australian transition from world champs to "can be defeated" type of team. Unlike Ponting, who endured a string of poor performances before calling it quits, Hussey has averaged 79 this summer, including three centuries, which is ample to show that he is leaving this great game by being on top. He was really a mixture of efficiency, excellence, adaptability, modesty, passion, team man and many more.

I will definitely miss him and so will the world. He was a sole representation of baggy green cap. He always did everything what was needed most urgently at that time. He was a sort of person who always wore the Australian cap with utmost pride, everytime he went to field.

And In Hussey words, when he was asked what does he feel about retirement and how he wants the world to remember him. Hussey said: “As someone who loved the game, who was a team man. Someone who was passionate about the game, prepared very well and gave his all for his country.”

He was a great ambassador of this game in all formats. None can forget his cheer ups and smiling face on field.Hats off to legend and May God send some more Husseys for the upliftment of the game. He will always be one of my favorite players of all time! Again, thanks for being a really wonderful player, and a great human being.

Finally Indo-Pak Series is here

finally, both countries are here. Indo-Pak bilateral series is one of those things I have always enjoyed. Nothing could hinder it after all. No political issues, No governmental issues. Cricket has won after all.

The best thing about Indo-pak series is that Many temporary fans are born. People knowing nothing about cricket too are anxious about win or loss. They will forget every worries. Even excuses like : There is too much of cricket, Indian team is not doing well, There is no Sachin Tendulkar etc. are not gonna stop them from being the witness of this series. Thanks a lot to Christmas and Santa claus for making a way for happening of this series.

The captains of both teams may say that it is just one more series for both the teams. But,unfortunately the arrogant cricket lovers won't get satisfaction with anything less than a win. Although it remained a short tour, only two T20s, and three ODIs, still the average heart beat of both nations are surely gonna rise. Both teams kick off the T20 series from Bangalore on christmas eve.

Both teams had not played each other in bilateral ties after Mumbai attacks in 2008. There came a desert of no Indo-Pak games and only a few oases  like World cup encounters 2011 and 2012, asia cup 2012 etc. gave some hope of revival and finally it is happening.

For those, who don't wanna watch cricket, Just let the saga begin and I bet you won't be able to resist at all. So, Just Check your heart beat and get ready to watch some super exciting cricket.

Thanks

We will miss u "Sachin"

Sachin retires from One-day internationals. Does it make just another news for you like the other rubbish news these media is filled up with. For me, it isn't. It is as if I could stop the wheels of time and bring those 23 revolutions of earth around the sun back.

I know I did not see Sachin's debut as i was not even born at that time. But, I know how were One-dayers like. There used to be only red-leather balls and players used to wear white dresses before 90's. The only channel available in India used to be Doordarshan.
With the passage of time, the scene changed.  Coloured clothing and floodlit games become commonplace. Duckworth and Lewis,Powerplays, Supersubs and Super Overs etc. They all appeared and who has seen it better than the maestro?  He saw the changes and brought revolution in the game by his extraordinary technique.

My own emotional development as an adult seems to run parallel with Sachin Tendulkar’s career.As he was the cricketer who took me from my birth to the college life. Many of my friends liked Ganguly or Dravid. But I always admired him the most.Slow to anger,uncomplicated, aggressive and honest.

As a batsman, and teamman, Sachin was something I just instantly fell for.

His batting was elegant to watch. His shots were crisp and final. The ball was delivered, the ball was hit.That double hand slaps he would give at anything that had floated onto his surface. Or the double tap at the pitch he would do with his right hand. All will never be fading from my mind.

I was not old enough to get cricket when Sachin came around, and once I got just old enough, I knew this was a player for me. Sachin didn’t bat for records, milestones or cheers, he batted to win.

The great batsmen are often selfish creatures who would run out even their children if it meant they get to continue doing what they do best. That wasn’t Sachin. People often compare him to Don Bradman, but who knows Bradman only played tests and also almost against few teams and limited supply of stadiums,While Sachin played across the whole globe.

Sachin bats like a team player.Every time he entered the field he had had to control the game from there onwards.He made to move it forward, he had to make sure his team were in a better position than they were before, he had to win. The sight when Tendulkar is dismantling Fleming, Warne and Kasprowicz in Sharjah will remain until the sun stops shining.

Sachin is going from One day internationals on 23rd December 2012. I am 19 now. I wonder how will I ever tell my son/daughter in the future how I spent almost entire time of living with Sachin Tendulkar. I’d definitely tell him about his 143 in Sharjah against the best attack of the world, every detail of being at the world cup 2003, the 241 not out he produced at Sydney when Waugh had announced retirement.There were tears of happiness everywhere, including on my cheeks.  But mostly I’ll tell him that despite how I loved Sachin as a batsman, and never hated him on his failures, that he was the player I grew up with.

my favourite,the player that was always there. And when my son/daughter gets bored of me going on about this old cricketer he will never see, I’ll just play him a collection of his shots that I’ve found on the internet. I wish if i would give the immortal images of him playing those shots, stuck in my mind. My friends may like Kohli, Sehwag, Dravid, VVS, Ganguly etc. but sachin is mine. To me, his batting was everything.

Sachin is the India  I grew up in. But, it is now only a memory. We are indeed the lucky ones. Hail to him, my role model, SACHIN TENDULKAR.

It's Morgan speaking here

Not among a good day at all from India's prospective. A good T20 track and a flurry of runs made it worth watching. The batting was relatively even between the two teams. I think that the main difference was the fielding. England's was clearly superior and that was worth a difference of maybe 20 runs in the end.Yuvraj once again proved why he is the best shorter format player India have ever produced and was a worthy 'man of the series' not sure if 2 matches really merits being called a series. Poor captaincy decisions by both teams really caught my attention.

Michael Lumb blasted a quick-fire half-century which got England off to an ideal start before a splendid knock under pressure by skipper Eoin Morgan. Chawla really looks poor to me and I don't see any reason for him to be picked up. Also Awana only added to the MSD's worries. England will be pleased with their efforts as they sign off an extremely successful series with a well deserved victory.

In the end i would just send a message to the whole world that Please send a good quick bowler in India as more than 1 billion fans are suffering needlessly (not to mention i am included too).
cheers and merry christmas.

Puzzling Indian Approach in Nagpur

Finally we lost it. Our pride of being invincible at home was shattered by the English.I would like to congratulate England for this massive achievement, something they had not done in last 28 years. They fought hard, and now they are enjoying the fruits of their hard work.

The better team won. Everything looked perfect for India after the first test in Ahmedabad. It is easy to pinpoint mistakes. But , i personally think England played better cricket than us. I would rather praise England than to blame India.Some of the tactics of MSD were puzzling ones in this test especially the way India approached their innings on fourth morning. They should have accelerated in the overs they played. And then they declared 4 runs short which doesn't make sense to me.

I personally think many players in the indian squad either do not want to play test cricket or they do not enjoy playing it. Their fitness level is far from required for five days play. They look better for 4 overs. And regarding Sachin Tendulkar, i am upset too like millions of fans with the way he is getting out. But, i will still say he is good enough for continuing cricket. At least he did not throw his wicket away like most others did, rather he fell to some very good balls.

Now, coming ahead is T20 series against England. And i am looking forward to it.

Bye Bye Punter

Hi to all and this is the post completely dedicated to one of the best cricketers i ever had vision of, Ricky.

Sincerely speaking there was a time when i always wanted to see Ponting getting out regardless of the opposition. He was arrogant, bull-headed, and sledging Aussie who just terrorised the world. The worst the style of his getting out, the better i used to feel. I remember how he had destroyed my dream of watching India the world champs At wanderers in 2003 by his blazing 140 not out in the finals. That is one of the reasons why i felt so good to watch him lose his wicket each time.

I never heard Ponting saying that Oh i love India and its people. Maybe this is one of the reasons why all indians hate him. Instead Ponting just used to spit on his hands and always be ready to shake hands with you after the end of the match. His aggression in the field taught me much about cricket and its finer details.Ponting only idea about India was that this was a place Aussies have not conquered in few decades and he just loved winning and he used to come here with a firm purpose.His eyes were always looking for win and he did that in india in 2004 too conquering the series here. It feels sad that he won't be padding up anymore. I have grown up watching him bat and learnt a hell lot of things from him. Maybe i will miss him too.

I remember he was smart even in the eyes of my sister too who doesn't know a bit about cricket. Maybe it was something inside him which made him a true legend. It is really heart-breaking to lose him.