Day Four, Second Test, India vs New Zealand 2008-09 at McLean Park
Scorecard
Gautam Gambhir scored an unbeaten hundred, Sachin is on his way there, the fightback has reached a criticality from where India are looking to get a quick fourth innings word in, Rahul Dravid lofted a sweetly timed serene six over long-on which made you wonder why he has so few of them in his test career - but these are, unfortunately, mere elements of our post - the point is about abysmal umpiring around the world spearheaded by a core group of has-beens or wannabees - one we have consistently been highlighting.
Rahul Dravid was about as glaringly caught off the pads as the decision by Ian Gould to send him on his way is.
Forget about India...we have made the same point in the earlier test re; James Franklin, the Saffer-Ozzie matches and Windies-Pommie games as well...so this is NOT about India alone but a watch on the larger menace of substandard umpiring.
Let us consider the jook -
1) The ball missed the bat "by a mile" in cricketing parlance
2) It struck the top of the front pad "as clearly as daylight is," in the same parlance.
3) The front leg was on the leg stump - the ball was going down the leg side.
4) The claim was for a catch and the decisiongiven was for a catch.
5) You didn't need a slo-mo replay or hotspot to see it - just awake eyes and a non-dull mind.
6) It could have been a match-transforming error for any team in the situation India were in. India are not out of it yet even though Tendulkar and Gambhir put that behind built on from there.
Ian Gould figures in our list of frequent errors recorded here at various times and series. Run a check of the archives.
We have been focussing on how umpiring inadequacy is increasingly judging matches.
Arguments against this premise will reel out fo sho' , and with plenty of unverified figures to base themselves upon, but put them to England, and West Indies, and they'll tell you where to stuff those arguments up - the sense of jook is overwhelmingly strong on the cricket field today, and beyond it.
Anybody who says cricket is just a game doesn't know what he is talking about. Cricket is representative of everything under the sun but an idyllic pasttime. Darwinian philosophies operate in this game as well. And then you have umpires in white smocks tinkering with the natural selection principles of Nature!
Imagine if the white smocked were unqualified, error-prone or of a diabolical predisposition - the petri dishes would be exploding with life forms straight from the darkest caves of horror known to man. They'd tinker disruptively.
You could continue to make a case for fancy umpiring coated with dollops of tradition but let me tell you it is not a human tradition to be mediocre
- mediocrity cannot survive long.
This wasn't even a close decision! No fig leaf of natural human error here or rub o green.
What is especially galling is the complete absence of accountability, actionability, and any introspection from the compulsive error-makers. Instead one gets to hear the kind of astonishing self-justifying others-blaming foghorning as the kind which emitted from a freshly-retiring completely mistaken umpire, to split one's ears totally with.
That "decision" didn't turn out as destructive as it had the potential to be, but that does not emancipate the callous judges of cricket and their hangman fingers.
Wake up ICC, at least in your ceremonial year before human rights activists tom-tom your atrocities to a cheynine twister. It is so frustrating - the ICC and umpires, Taufel downwards, are not even shamed the slightest to improve their efforts!
The game itself was absorbing - the Kiwis as spent after their efforts in this match as India turned up on the first day. There wasn't any sign of them making any inroads beyond what Sehwag's careless stroking opened up. That umpiring boo-boo happened and went past. It has all the markings of leading up to a sporting Indian declaration on Day Five and a strong pitch for victory by either side. We stick to what we said after the first innings, this is not a match India should lose. Unless they want to of course.
We should talk about Gambo's hundred without feeling guilty about not having watched or written much about JC Fatbwoy Ryder's. But we did a number on him earlier...and with apologies to Taylor and he, we are open to discussion on the topic.
And thus we conclude this edition of Tales from the Land of the Silver Fern Series 2008-09
Saturday, 28 March 2009
Jooked! Yet again...
This one's for Som
[DISCLAIMER: This is in no way an attempt to disrespect the memory of Che Guevara for whom we have the utmost respect and regard.]
Som of Doosra, opened my eyes through his article Rainbow chasing Poms dealt a raw IPL deal. This poster is dedicated to him and his post. He is free to use it if he so wishes.
Modi, in his own way, in his own world, is perhaps transforming his society the way Che did, and actually giving the actual workers a greater share in what they are doing. You are free to disbelieve it of course.
Sehwag the master stroke maker is losing to...
Sehwag is too good a batsman to waste opportunities like the way he did at Napier. Sehwag on return played good cricket, attacked bowlers and showed us how good he is and what we missed when he was not around. But once he is settled down bit of recklessness creeped into his batting.
In the first 12 innings after his return sehwag scored 3 centuries and 1 fifty. That's upto that superb double ton against SL. After that in 18 innings he has scored 5 fifties (including two 90's), 7 scores of 20 - 45, and 6 scores of below 20. This is the longest streak without a century from Sehwag. Prior to this he had a 13 innings srteak without a ton and he ended it with a century in Adelaide on his return. Sehwag is averaging 35.83 since that double ton at Galle. I don't remember him struggling during this period. There could be one here and one there but he is definitely in form. He played few good knocks of 90's with one against England proving to be a match winning knock. It's not form but his approach that is letting him down and India. I don't care how many runs he scores in ODIs. If he scores that's great. But test match is different and special. Sehwag's role is very very important in tests. Every session that he stays at the crease, he takes the match away from the opposition by one and a half sessions.
I am not expecting Sehwag to compromise on his stroke making but expecting him to remember that he is not a Afridi, a pure entertainer, but a master stroke maker who can entertain, enthrall and excel. Here is a man who is capable of scoring 400 in 5 sessions but giving it away after scoring just twenties and thirties in 15 to 20 minutes. Someone mentioned, in cricinfo commentary, about his triple ton at Chennai and justified today's dismissal. I did not watch that innings. But I am sure he cannot do it all the time. He must show some respect to bowlers when due. It's test cricket and there is hell lot of time out there to score his runs. He need not score a 500. I will be happy with a 150. Doubles and triples are always welcome. But none would come if he lets this streak, not no. of innings without a hundred but recklessness, to continue. The moment he accepts that strike rate of 70 is mammoth in test cricket and settles for it I would be happy. Even 60 is fine but just that he cannot manage that. Such is the talent of this man that he is recklessly wasting it.
The joy of NZ cricketers at Sehwag's dismissal reminded me the way teams used to celebrate the fall Sachin Tendulkar in 90's. It gives them a big confidence booster and a spring in their steps. What a blunder it was Sehwag? What a terrible shot you played to get out and put your team in more peril?
Friday, 27 March 2009
Kiwis Whipping India
Second Test Day Three India vs New Zealand 2009
I missed all those boys out at play
Ryder and Taylor how they worked the flay
Those Indian bowlers were quite a hue
They see fielders and go purple and blue
Batsmen, they thunder will come and plunder
Back this third day we see ah meek surrender
Hark! They tell I and I
There was a day a play gone by
That day at Eden Steve charged a frontier
Can one forget he ruing that blunder
I missed all those boys out at play
Ryder and Taylor how they worked the flay
Now I gwine stay in to be in thrall
Laxman has come in to partner The Wall.
Scorecard
And thus we conclude this edition of Tales from the Land of the Silver Fern Series 2008-09
What was it about the pitches again?
West Indies vs England 2008: Third ODI
The Englishmen were finally given what they been asking for since Sabina; been saying they'd need this to set the record straight on this tour - a fast pitch.
Here is the result when Hingland wuss given dat - Scorecard
As public broadcasting portal posters love to conclude their posts - "nuff said!"
But I wonder what Harry Belafonte might have made out of this strong whine from English casks - he might have sung it dis way - Man Smart Hingland Smarter. With a twist of course. I leave it to you to design your own cocktail.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Eye of the Tiger
Risin' up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive
So many times, it happens too fast
You change your passion for glory
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive
Chorus:
It's the eye of the tiger, it's the cream of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watchin' us all in the eye of the tiger
Face to face, out in the heat
Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry
They stack the odds 'til we take to the street
For we kill with the skill to survive
chorus
Risin' up, straight to the top
Have the guts, got the glory
Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop
Just a man and his will to survive
chorus
--Survivor
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
The Different Numbers of Cricket
An intelligent gentleman whom I know only through the web and nothing beyond the handle he wears, sparked a conversation into the lull world cricket is briefly experiencing. He cast a drop of an idea into a virile engine of cricket discussion when he asked - "Is batsmanship all about numbers only?"
Many of you who read me regularly know that I have use for numbers but mostly like to look at the game beyond it. Naturally as the debate roared to life, it attracted my attention and I joined in. Only, I'd like to stretch it beyond batsmanship.
There is no denying that cricket is a game of numbers - ask Lara, or enquire of Bryce McGain - they cannot deny the significance of numbers in their lives.
Batting and bowling, winning and losing in cricket, has always been a game of numbers. Yet that is not how we always remember it, do we?
There is a sincere attempt around the world of cricket fans and followers to quantify the game of cricket and its conditions for greater objecivity and easier comparisons.David Barry, Cricketanalysis.com Even Cricinfo has developed a decent team - It Figures - to analyze its vast database of cricketing numbers. HowSTAT! is another. They play an important part in digesting the game and defining it in a certain useful way to us.
Fans around the world, thanks to the internet, have easy and ready access to databases. I have indulged as well. Numbers are summoned at the drop of the hat because it is easy to do so. Cricket discussions and debates are based on such foundations of numbers....gradually the grammar of describing cricket is changing. Even commentators of the game go to extreme lengths to get their statistical parlance just right while consigning description to a few oft repeated words which have longed ceased to capture the essence because they have become so threadbare...
The number game of cricket is essential, but can an "ONLY numbers game in Cricket" approach capture the the essence of the game? That's where the world is slowly gravitating to.
We have ICC coming out with various Ranking Lists or All-time Lists, at the drop of the hat based on formulae mostly meaningless to the fan who has watched the players play. Nowadays, followers of the game increasingly have adopted these glasses to see the game with. I don't know if it is as much fun anymore if it has to be only numbers....
One musn't lose the essential subjectivity in the pursuit of objectivity to preserve simple memories of a game. That subjectivity is a sponge which takes in the scent of exhiliration, the smell of fear, the odor of frustration and the perfume of winning and preserves it for later. It is the sponge on the headphones of time which wraps the various sounds you heard in the game - the drumbeats of anxiety and anticipation or of both - into the recordings in your mind. It is the vision which saw a fielder dive, skin his elbows and yet get up ruefully shaking his head in wonderment and astonishment....the impact of that cover drive just heightened to more than just the 4 runs it netted....you may still recall two decades later saying to yourself Bhesh, Bhesh Laxman! Wah Sehwag! Hail Brian Lara! or Shabash Inzy!....a little bit of subjectivity must remain to enjoy cricket.
Kolkatta Laxman, Barbados Lara, Bangalore Sunny or Sunil Oval, Madras Vishy, Adelaide Rahul, Perth Tendulkar, Sehwag's Galle...A Melbourne Kapil steaming in on high fever, or a Chennai Saqi stealing the match from Sachin's backbreaking pilotage right at the finish line...these innings need subjective appreciation...otherwise they cannot be truly comprehended and recorded in our memories as long as we live.
Antigua Anil is no match statistically to Kotla Kumble, but can ONLY numbers approach capture the defiance of those fourteen overs at St. John's bound painfully within a barrel bandage? The great man Lara acknowledged it with his prize wicket before the ambulance came in.
The condition of the match...the fixed concentrations of Laxman and Dravid shining like bold sinews through their sweat-drenched skins...or the Sunny Rebel taking the battle into the English hearts at the Oval...or Gentle Vishy nonchalantly twisting and teasing Supercat's finely tuned hunters to their own doom...the numbers ONLY approach of ICC and many fans lacks the beauty of a well-constructed language. Numbers have their own soul, I agree - a 666666 off an over for instance - but their expressions, ability and scope are still very limited in describing cricket.
If numbers ONLY be the game, one would much rather be a banker than waste time on cricket. Thankfully, Cricket has far too many different numbers in its rhythm - each has its own beauty and cannot be compressed into a numerical argument.
Monday, 23 March 2009
Who apes who?
The England ladies won the ICC Women's World Cup for the third time when they trounced a strong Kiwi side in the finals. Hearty congratulations to them.
I was reading around in the media to guage the mood in England.
I was surprised to see that the English society responded in pretty much the way we used to in the days of PT Usha, through Sania Mirza, till only a few months ago. India now sports a proud fig leaf of sorts through Bindra and the Weightlifting/Boxing crew, and of course Vishy Anand.
It was mostly in the England's women cricketers show the boys vein of things. Something we here are all familiar with - we are about 20% certain that Sania Mirza will eventually win a Grand Slam title, while we are 100% certain that not a single Indian male tennis player will be within the same confidence levels. Ditto for athletics or swimming. The chances of the Indian ladies doing better are more. We then ask the gents to take a leaf out of their book.
The Australian employs this signal achievement of the English ladies as part of its pre-Ashes 2009 mindgameology.
But I am curious, why are there such stark differences between performance of the two sexes in some societies, in some sports, while it isn't the same in other sports or countries? The matter doesn't have anythying to do with economic state of the society or the stalk it largely comes from or such things. While I agree women's infrastructure in some sports in some societies may be better than men's, I dare say that's the majority or the main reason.
So while men anywhere must always be inspired by women, maybe it is time England male cricket team looks around and is also inspired by how that has worked in other societies ahead of their immediate problem - to win a one-day series in West Indies.
Well done England ladies!
Why would you want to blog on cricket?
Awright, we are quitting the scene -
- of IPL controversies
for the moment -
It is time to ask oneself why does one blog?
If one does blog, why blog about sports? Why not on something useful to the society?
If one still continues to blog about sports, why blog about cricket?
If one blogs about cricket, then why would one want to shy away from examining different aspects of it? Including controversies? Afterall, if one is undertaking the pains to dedicate a blog, time and effort to a sport, then why do it flippantly?
We will not ask ourselves why realignment still meant overloading one centre over the other....oooops! I lapsed into IPL again...comeback bro, you far gone into dis!
Yeah, I need to find anwers to those questions in my mind...what the f is one doing typing words and words about cricket? It's freaking antipatriotic!
Do I not need to utilize my energies and time for something more useful than cricket or sport? Something grander? All the time? Every single moment of my living life?
I need to figure out those things...I need time..........hhmmmmmm.....
OK, I thought about it...I think I'm one tired old lazy f@rt...I'll let other people do wonderful things with their lives while I exhaust mine talking cricket.
Yeah..I guess it is time people began to help themselves, we'll let the world go about doing their profound deeds, while some of us can sit back and talk silly things about cricket.
Thankfully Google makes it convenient and cheap to type and talk cr@p.
Was it decided beforehand?
Some questions were raised in Please consider this Mr. L. Modi and and in the useful discussions and contributions in the comments beneath that article.
One of the things which is troubling some of us who follow the game in India about this entire drama is what made the Home Minister harden his stance, and thereby the official security organs of the country, when he was consistently offering methods by which the event could continue to be hosted in India?
It is no secret that he asked for rescheduling of dates and or truncation of tournaments or change of venues in some cases after consultaion with his security advisors. CNN IBN
Something made him harden his benevolent stance.
Is it possible that IPL (which does not necessarily mean the entire BCCI) had already planned to expand its wings long before Lahore happened?
That they did not want to run a truncated tournament?
That perhaps hardball stances and political manoeuvering (needlessly) stymied the talks and vitiated the atmosphere? That it forced the government to reconsider its benevolent considerations for adjutments?
Let us see what the HM Mr.P Chidambaram said -
Home minister P Chidambaram slams BCCI
23 Mar 2009, 1328 hrs IST, TIMESOFINDIA.COM
IPL is a shrewd combination of cricket and business. There is no need to add politics into it, Chidambaram said.
Shrewd combination of cricket and business...
There is a premise that some franchisees were in the game for a quick spread overseas. IPL was never designed to be a domestic tournament as we were led to understand. That it was a travelling roadshow in concept like F-1 racing or star music and dance stageshows. And all before Lahore and ensuing threat perceptions happened.
That there was a quid pro quo understanding between IPL and ECB going back to the interrupted tour of India.
That ECB was already uncomfortable with the Stanford presence hovering over the pitch at Lord's and saw Mumbai as an opportunity to bring in a more acceptable cricket-background element into their own game to help grow it up to the next level.
That Stanford was threatening a pull out (check our archives here on the complete Stanford saga over the years and ECB's tie-up therein) due to the economic troubles of the world (the world would awaken to his own misdemeanors eventually).
Let us see what Indranil Basu of Economic Times of 21st December 2008 has to say -
England may get slice of hosting next edition's IPL
21 Dec 2008, 1023 hrs IST, Indranil Basu, TNN
NEW DELHI: The next IPL Twenty20 extravaganza may unfold at Lord's as well. The tournament, which had a smashing debut earlier this year, is expected to be split with five weeks of action in India and three weeks in UK where it is expected to draw in sub-continental diaspora as well as English fans.
The IPL proposal has been discussed with the English board which has evinced keen interest in the possibility of staging a part of the competition that was won last time by Jaipur Royals.
...
The IPL governing body is expected to consider the proposal for two venues when it meets on January 3 and even though the schedule and revenue model need to be finalised, the scheme is expected to go through.
It's likely that the tournament will kick off in India and then move to the UK for three weeks before it returns to India for the final matches
...
"IPL will become more of an international event and other cricket boards are also likely to be supportive. Indian interests will be safeguarded in the revenue model and the game will benefit overall," said well-placed sources.
...
Given that IPL drew in top talent from across the cricketing world, adding an England leg will make the event even more high profile.
...
ECB open to co-hosting IPL
The England and Wales Cricket Board, it is learnt, is amenable to the idea of co-hosting the next IPL T20 extravaganza
...
If the tournament is shared between India and UK, it would also dilute the criticism that India was using its financial clout to set the tournament to its interests.
"We have to see the domestic season in England, but as of now, ECB is keen to work it out. That is why we are going to discuss about IPL matches in England," an official added.
...
Another important factor that has made ECB more amenable to the offer is that other T20 tourneys have simply not been able to emulate the IPL's success.
The Stanford T20 Cup proved to be loss making, despite $1 million prize money for each member of the champion team in a winner-take-all format.
After incurring a huge loss following the financial meltdown, Stanford may be rethinking about hosting the event.
But IPL sees it as an opportunity to recreate the T20 magic as world cricket is significantly supported by revenues from India— about 80% of the total cricketing turnover.
And all this before Lahore happened.
Please consider the details and nuances - is it possible that there never was a true intention from IPL (different from entire BCCI because IPL includes people like franchisees with their business-minded urges) to settle the matter in India?
That the entire charade of politics and bargaining was merely to offer IPL an excuse to decamp with domestic players and our domestic tournament from the country while appearing the victim of circumstances rather than the creator of them? That Lahore was turned out a convenient handicap of the government for IPL?
It is easier now to explain to the respective publics and cricketing world at large by both ECB and IPL than it might have been otherwise?
Let me digress a bit - Indians know that politicians in India who end up having differences with their parties, prefer to be expelled rather than quit on their own. You may ask "why" in surprise, as you see them undergo extreme insulting situations till they are eventually kicked out. Why not quit in a dignified manner sraightaway?
There are reasons for those charadse they play, and there are significant benefits to being expelled over quitting on your own. Yes, it is a curious world we live in.
Coming back, it is in such a curious world that people play cricket games. It is in such a curious world where people see nothing wrong in lifting your domestic circuit and carting it around the international stage. They see value in it. They see convenience in it. They see opportunity in it. It is devious...you can call it anything but it will remain a devious method.
Did the ECB-IPL Cartel actually succeed in achieving their ends?
Will it be easier to sell this sop to Indians and Englishmen rather than encounter troublesome criticisms through any other regular transparent route?
Did they actually end up avoiding dirty questions from their fellow boards on the ICC?
A refugee can be always offered amnesty and one can look good doing it. The refugee looks a woebegone victim worthy of sympathy. This is a microwave sopcorn..instant and ready to consume and easy to make.
The refugee can now go ahead and make his fortune in different lands without the hassle of going through regular immigration procedures. The supporter need not have to undertake tortuous preocesses to allow the immigrant to come in to his land.
A worse question - was IPL ever designed with any limiting framework? Does BCCI have any control left over its players or does it have to dance to the tune of galmorous franchisees and TV showmen?
Has BCCI allowed the subversion of the tacit national credibility the people of this country have given to their organisation as the representer of India in the sport of cricket?
Has IPL, an offspring of a situational necessity, gone beyond this Laxman rekha? Read More......
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Please consider this Mr. L. Modi and
Give us answers.
Telegraph.co.uk - 9:40PM GMT 29 Nov 2008
Britain unprepared for Mumbai-style attack,
former head of SAS says
Britain is unprepared for a Mumbai (Bombay)-style terror attack and hundreds of civilians would die if the country was targeted in such a way, the former head of the SAS has revealed.
The former SAS commander, a lieutenant colonel who was involved in providing support to the Metropolitan police following both the 7/7 and 21/7 London tube attacks, said that the UK does not have enough of the right type of counter-terrorist forces in London or other major cities to deal with a multi-site, and mobile terrorist incident such as we seen in Mumbai.
...
The former officer added that British armed response teams are not as numerous, well trained or equipped as they should be to deal with a fast moving and violent a scenario as that which occurred in Mumbai.
"A Mumbai-style attack requires a military-type response," he said. "Our armed police are brilliant at dealing with armed criminals, in ways that produce the best possible chance of a conviction of a suspect in the law courts but they are as yet unlikely to be as effective as they need to be when chasing terrorists armed with AK47s and chucking grenades in the centre of London."
- - -
Telegraph.co.uk - 12:36AM GMT 01 Dec 2008
Islamic terrorist 'planned Mumbai-style massacre in Britain'
Counter-terrorism investigators believe an Islamic terrorist was planning a Mumbai-style massacre in Britain
Kazi Nurur Rahman, from east London, was associated with the same terrorist group that is accused of the attack in India which killed almost 200 people.
He was arrested in a sting operation as he tried to buy three Uzi submachine guns and 3,000 rounds of ammunition.
...
One senior officer told the Daily Telegraph: "This was definitely part of a larger order and the fact that he tried to buy three submachine guns means you only have to do the maths to know he was not the only one involved
...
Rahman, 31, was an associate of Omar Khyam, the leader of a gang plotting to blow up Bluewater shopping centre or the Ministry of Sound nightclub with a fertiliser bomb.
Khyam trained with Lashkar-e-Taiba (Let) the Kashmiri separatist group accused of the Mumbai (formerly Bombay) massacre, before he turned to al-Qaeda.
Police were first told about Rahman by an American informant who spoke of a man he knew as Abdul Haleem who ran a terrorist gang in east London and travelled to Pakistan in the aftermath of September 11.
So where are you all taking our players? Into a worse unprepared hellhole?
Now that you've read those kindly you and the fat bwoys with you who are eager to make a personal statement in England tell us, Indians, a few things.
1) How is the threat perception different in India and England?
2) How will you ensure that our players will be safe in England?
3) God forbid, but if units are already there in London and South Africa (now don't tell us that isn't possible for we have seen over the years, on the same television you swear by that terrorists can do many things you and I cannot), and those are not unlikely places considering that Dawood and his bookie men were said to have their presence in both places during the match-fixing trials, then, if anything happens to our boys...what should we Indians think about you and your lot?
Will you be a culpable accessory then? Should we take you to courts? The entire lot of you?
4) How in the facting world did it ever enter your head that with the above kind of news available in the media to say that England is a safe place? Or that Mr. Mallayya? How did you people even imply that that place is safer than India by shifting a domestic tournament out of India?
5) Are you doing this as part of a pre-decided deal with ECB to hold a circus in England and show them how to make money?
6) Are you doing this because of TV moguls and some franchise members? If some franchise members want to shift out rather than accommodate changes, then who are they?
7) Considering that the government gave you several options initally and you played hardball, perhaps because of TV issue and some franchise members, could it not be an extention of the same that you are going abroad? Could you really not adjust/cut down etc? One finds that hard to believe after hearing the Home Minister and security men initially offer you the window. So this was all predecided eh?
8) What did Shah Rukh Khan mean when he said on TV news channels that it is only TV entertainment after all? Is it cricket or is it not cricket? If it is not cricket, then have you and ICC been cheating the world by calling it cricket?
Don't think everything will be same next year.
Don't expect the same support we, the followers of the game, were willing to give you today.
Don't take my word for it...wait and watch...you can't kick people, who do not depend upon you lot, in the face and then ask them to come and put their money and self-respect into your pockets.
We have a word for such deserters and those who play with the image of India...kabhi fursat mein miloge to chaai paani par batoonga kya kehtein hain in jaison ko...aise dhandebazon ko.
- - -
Now observe how you end up being lipped. This is just the beginning -
Guardian.co.uk
Coming to a county ground near you? Cricket circus seeks shelter in England
• Indian Premier League Tournament to be staged abroad over security threat
• South Africa also vying to win lucrative deal
Doesn't the headline, Modi, Mallayya et al quaintly remind you of brown sahib days?
You guys must feel like "arrived" now, ready to dance and shake your fat booties in the English circus, the headlines have begun to roll for you! Don't worry, maybe you'll be lucky and have some peanuts thrown your way. Who knows, if you make enough money for them, if you entertain enough, you might even wax forever at Madame Tussauds!
- - -
EDITED TO ADD
Good friend Baskar, a learned and wise man whom I respect very much, provided an article which is significantly relevant to this post. Let me bring up his comment into the main post -
I think this report at Daily Telegraph on 23.3.09 is of some relevance:
British hotels are vulnerable to Mumbai-style attacks, anti-terrorist officers warn
British luxury hotels are vulnerable to Mumbai-style attacks, senior anti-terrorist officers are warning, ahead of a major relaunch of the Government's counter-terrorism strategy next week.
It reports, among other things,-
"The Daily Telegraph has learned that senior counter-terrorism officers are highly concerned about the possibility of attacks by terrorists using automatic weapons on major hotels and other public buildings....
"Security sources have also told The Daily Telegraph that the threat of terrorist attack is now reckoned to be at the top end of "severe", the third of four risk levels which rate an attack "highly likely".
The only higher rating would be "critical" which means that an attack "is expected imminently...."
(emphasis mine)
I think this answers your first question:
"1) How is the threat perception different in India
Thank you Baskar.
- - -
nm2878, another good friend from Cricket-Match-Special directs us to this -
Mike Norrish @ Telegraph.co.uk Blogs
IPL in England is no reason to cheer
Sky Sports, the ECB's broadcasting partner and main source of income, is unlikely to be overly impressed by the prospect of the Setanta-screened tournament being allowed to overshadow its own summer plans.
A 'no' from Sky could scupper the whole idea before it even starts. And perhaps that's no bad thing
...
So here's hoping it's South Africa. England's cricketing summer already has its starter and its main course. It doesn't need an Indian takeaway as well.
Lap it up L Modi and crew. Y'all must be loving it! Read More......
Sense of Entitlement and other things
Second ODI, West Indies vs England 2008-09, Providence
Scorecard
Stuart Broad continues to have the broadest mouth of all cricketers enjoying the narrow sense of entitlement which comes from being born into the game.
Andrew Strauss enjoys walking and four minutes between overs.
Then Shiv! The great man of Guyana enjoys his proportion while asking the umpire if it wasn't a no ball.
Do you wonder why all such things are happening?
Because most ICC umpires have set such poor standards of competence and ICC have shown that it is unwilling to do anything about it.
Go ahead, fight like morons now on the field (or from commentary boxes or wherever) for every decision...but don't do anything about poor umpires.
Go ahead, if you do, cry "Mah Nation!" "Your nation!" "Mah Man!" "Your Man!" "Mah Race!" "Your Race!" "Mah Religion!" "Your Religion!" "You Asians!" "You Non-Asians!" Yeah, cry out all the tripe you can, aloud, clear your lungs and spit out useless venom, but not one call for better umpiring standards. Not one call for accountability. Not one call for evenness...an insistence on minimum standards. Let's all give a sense of entitlement to all nonsense with all our nonsense.
Yeah, Let the goons rule!
- - -
Now the good parts
Tigah score a 100 and 8000.
Sars plays a good innings.
Anderson bowls well.
Collingwood takes a brilliant catch.
England generally tie up West Indies.
West Indies unable to push the pedal hard up the hill.
Losing ground in the final overs.
- - -
Back to the bad part
RAIN STOPS PLAY
- - -
Back to the good part
But Fazeer asks us to hang on - "it's blue skies over the rice and sugarcane fields in the distance," he sez.
We think Guyana's that way becoz its favourite bwoys have put up a show.
- - -
Bad again
But we simply have to convey this back, "Fazeer man, looks like it has become a downpour and this could be the end of the West Indian innings. Hope the drainage's good here."
- - -
Back to the good part
By this time if you are dizzy, you'll understand what kind of weather there is.
The game's back on.
Fazeer calls it a "spitting drizzle."
I like the man's choice of words.
- - -
Bad once again
Umpire gobbles Sammy.
Ball sidling down the leg like a seductress and the Umpire thinks that's dead straight. The same one who responded to Shiv's prompting for a no-ball.
- - -
Colly on a hattrick!
Clean bowls Nikita Russian Miller next ball and we wait.
Denied!
- - -
Duckworth - Loosethis System may figure in this match yet again
What else...RAIN!
But West Indies managed to complete its 50 overs. Tiggah not out on 112.
England need 265 to win with all their resources intact.
More on the D-L system sure to come. Read More......
If you're leaving close the door
Were not welcoming you back anymore.
I hope the people involved in the pre-election party-aligned gambits leading to a domestic function being conducted in Timbucktoo, and the businessmen and gleaming flotsam who make up the IPL crowd, are throughly ashamed.
Next time a dog farts in a yonder meadow, make sure you run from your home and city to South Africa or England or Timbucktoo to cook and eat your roti and subzee there.
What am I saying? You kind of guys will probably choke on roti and subzee anyway...so make that your champagne and steaks and pasta samosa or whatever.
Just begone you shameless lot - just crabs pulling each other down.
Local governments are deciding along party lines, the businessmen and TV channels just want their pound of flesh whichever way...balls to adjustments and all that...and the glimmery flotsam within is so just much noisy nonsense of course....then Modi, IPL and BCCI...stupid people who cannot make a thing happen in India or keep it there if it happens.
None of you can make adjustments. Fie on you all!
Count my paisa and interest out of it henceforth.
When Blogger/Google Swallowed My Post
Yesterday, I got down to type a really heartfelt, deep, analytical, sensitive, dramatic, romantic, historical and lengthy post on "what this recent run of Indian wins meant to me" directly onto the Blogger text editor rather than copy paste from MS Word.
I revelled in polishing the metaphors and playing games with the twists of language to create what I, in my mind, saw as a masterpiece in creation...I was a Shakespeare crafting King Lear.
It took up considerable time...I almost went into a trance-like state to allow the time for memories from distant recesses to be able to come forward to the centre of action unhindered and in one piece. There were periods I wouldn't be typing anything...just sitting hunched up in my ergonomic chair, reading through my memories in my mind, sorting them, sifting through them, selecting the things I wished to include in the next paragraph and in which order and what pattern...it took time. I began sometime in the late morning and wound up towards the evening.
When I had that ready. I clicked the "Submit" button and then I got this -
"We're sorry... ... but your query looks similar to automated requests from a
computer virus or spyware application. To protect our users, we can't process
your request right now.
We'll restore your access as quickly as possible, so try again soon.
In the meantime, if you suspect that your computer or network has been infected, you might want to run a virus checker or spyware remover to make sure that your systems are free of viruses and other spurious software.
If you're continually receiving this error, you may be able to resolve the problem by deleting your Google cookie and revisiting Google. For browser-specific instructions, please consult your browser's online support center.
If your entire network is affected, more information is available in the Google Web Search Help Center.
We apologize for the inconvenience, and hope we'll see you again on Google."
Naturally I was a confused mixture of various emotions known to mankind.
To cut it short - I lost my story and the "zone" which made me write what I did. So I can't type it out again...maybe it was never meant to be anywhere but in my mind's journal.
That's how Google swallowed my post yesterday.
Later in the night, I heard some of the sentiments I held expressed by a couple of sports programmiers on different news channels. Any lingering enthusiasm to revive my lost article evaporated then.
Moral of the story - Don't trust this online typing business/embedded text editors and autosave features unless it is a short post. Use the good old MS Word to plan your article (or OpenOffice.org or Star) and then copy and paste into Google Blogger text editor and be done quickly and safely.
One thing I wished to add...Harbhajan showed us he can be a matchwinning bowler in some situations. I want him to that more often. In the first innings he tends to bowl defensively flatter rather than attackingly loopier with rip as he did yesterday. It could be a team strategy...I do not agree with it then...but I urge Harbhajan to be as attacking at most times.
Finally, for all those who have this peculiar disease which makes them utter compulsively that Sachin Tendulkar isn't a performer in winning causes...take that once again and hug it up!
Friday, 20 March 2009
A Memorandum
Yesterday, we sought clarifications.
Today, morning has broken over New Delhi - one has watched the news and the pre-match half-hour, the newspaper boy has just bunged in a baton of newspapers gripped in a band, and one has also located a You Tube upload - we now have the knowledge as they say.
The essential difference between Sachin's catch -
and Ricky Ponting's catch -
is that ponting's hand is over the ball while Sachin's fingers are under it. So Sachin's looks out while Ponting's doesn't at both speeds available.
In both cases, I am willing to give the benefit of doubt to the fieldsmen, even though 90% of the times you know it if you have grounded a catch, and believe it was the responsibility of the umpires to sort out the doubt. In both cases they didn't have any doubts.
Both oppositions have expressed displeasure in press conferences afterwards - the videos are up there for comparison.
And just Ricky Ponting offered his version while a journalist got his goat, Sachin has explained his to us - today's The Hindu. We quote an extract from the interview -
On the McIntosh catch: I was 100 per cent confident that I had taken the catch. I have seen the replays and I have also seen my fingers under the ball.
If the umpires were in doubt they would have definitely called for the third umpire. Sometimes on camera it looks different. I was pretty confident otherwise I wouldn’t have appealed.
I think the mind's been illuminated and ignorance has dissolved.
Meanwhile in live action, New Zealand has erased the deficit and India will have to bat again - the scores are level. The innings hasn't been spared. India needs two wickets to win this match.
First Test: India vs New Zealand 2008-09: Day Four at Hamilton
Scorecard
And thus we conclude this edition of Tales from the Land of the Silver Fern Series 2008-09
Fiffer Harbhajan has the Peacocks prancing
First Test: India vs New Zealand 2008-09: Day Four at Hamilton
Scorecard
He does it - the thing which we accused him of not doing in Final Word - First Day First Test.
Again a beauty to get rid of the frustrating Captain Vettrori.
Again the loop and drift we noted today as the difference in Drifting through the Loop.
The ball drifts in with the arm from around the wicket and continues to come in off the pitch, threatening the wooden castle with a wicked fizz in rising.
Daniel Vettori is boxed and hurried, and the ball takes a faint but audible inner edge off the bat to be caught by Captain Dhoni behind the stumps.
The Peacocks begin to prance as if on cue...the scent of a rare test win in New Zealand is in the air, overpoweringly heralding a shower of many many more - perhaps a series win! A forlon Kiwi, Captain Vet, trudges off the pitch into the distance. He is Harbhajan's fifth drift through the loop.
India is now seriously close to victory - the final dour reluctance has been overcome - now the mercurial O'Brien and McCallum remain and one more after that.
Thus far Harbhajan has the following figures -
O: 23 M: 2 R: 45 W: 5 Eco: 1.95
Captain Dhoni now summons the new ball with a gesture we view as purposeful. We believe he is also thinking of winning the game which Captain Vet didn't consider when he delayed himself in the order. We believe Captain Dhoni also wants to spare an innings.
And thus we conclude this edition of Tales from the Land of the Silver Fern Series 2008-09
Drifting through the Loop
First Test: India vs New Zealand 2008-09: Day Four at Hamilton
Scorecard
Harbhajan earns our ire whenever he quits doing the above.
Immediately, he ceases to be pose a threat when he bowles flatter and quicker consistently. It is an old problem and much has been written about it in the past.
But today he is holding the ball back just that little bit in the air, thereby allowing it to drift its way through the loop - as if by magic, he appears a completely different bowler with many forgotten dimensions to his bowling revealed.
JEC Franklin's dismissal is a testimony of that.
At first glance, it appears a loose shot. When you follow the ball, you get the drift. In a sense it was a loose shot for the batsman failed to allow for the floating in the air away of the ball outside the off stump before spinning back just a little bit after pitching. The fractions in the air were so subtle, yet they had the power to make the batsman patently ugly.
This is good spin bowling by Harbhajan Singh and the batsman needs to be in sync with the chune of the spinner...you know, get the drift, figure the loop, and all that stuff. Four wickets thus far for him. We must keep up the pressure on this Sardar to perform thus. Imagine if Mishra matches in a similar way from the other side!
India three wickets away from a rare test win in New Zealand at this stage with the Kiwis still 69 behind.
However, McCallum and Vettori are at the crease. This a Kiwi peculiarity, Vettori has done this often, coming in very late under such conditions for his team...we've seen him do this before to hold up the match, but this time there is plenty time in hand for the opposition. They will play frustatingly, stonewalling and pick the bad balls to irritate, in the process hoping you'd lose focus and therefore sting, thus allowing a bail out.
Oh by the way, did we mention the mental clarity Sehwag is enjoying these days? You just had to see the catch he took in the gully off Taylor's bat travelling at a rate of knots...everyone thought the ball had gon past to the boundary but the kool kukumber had it plucked out from the air in a no fuss manner - when you are in that kind of zone, you understand the drift of play even while fielding somewhere out in the meadow.
And thus we conclude this edition of Tales from the Land of the Silver Fern Series 2008-09
Donald Peters denies poaching attempt on Dyson
West Indies vs England 2008-09, First ODI
Scorecard
In an earlier article titled England is a coaching challenge we had examined the reports of England's possible poaching attempt on Dyson and some reactions from the Caribbeans to that news.
Below is Donald Peters' rebuttal of Simon Wilde's reportage.
Audio Link to Donald Peters interview.
All this was before what transpired a few hours ago.
Now, after Dyson did a South Africa to West Indies and handed the match over to England by one run according to Duckworth-Lewis system, one is unsure if there will be any more poachers or protectors of the rare talent called Coach John Dyson.
At the end of it, the man owned up for his mistake in calling back the batsmen based on incorrect calculations when light was offered to them, and the Windies Boyz may yet do it for Dyson and win the series thereby taking people's mind off from this loss, but in the present climate where no one is happy with the functioning of WICB in their own region, Donald Peters may be stretched out on the rack of that interview and today's blunder by its appointed staff.
For starters, the news brigade has started its spin - Patrick Kidd sees A Cunning Plan in all this with his brand of humour.
However, do spare a thought for Simmons and Pollard. West Indies are getting their talent to finally tick.
Or Steve Harmison who always means plenty licks. Over to Cricinfo -
39.1 Harmison to Chanderpaul, FOUR, poor, wide ball but a top shot - back-cutting for four. Brilliant
39.2 Harmison to Chanderpaul, SIX, that is stunning! Absolutely brilliant from Chanderpaul. Down on one knee - almost both knees - he scooped underneath it and sent it sailing over fine leg for six. Special shot, that!
39.3 Harmison to Chanderpaul, FOUR, the crowd are alive now! Four more! An orthodox and powerfully struck four over extra cover. This is how you play a batting Powerplay!
Can Harmison respond? He's going around the wicket now
39.4 Harmison to Chanderpaul, FOUR, shot! Four more to Chanderpaul, walking into another aerial extra-cover driven boundary
39.5 Harmison to Chanderpaul, FOUR, another! This is breathless cricket from Chanderpaul, standing tall and slapping it straight back past Harmison. My word - he absolutely drilled that
This is quite outstanding - unmissable cricket from Chanderpaul
39.6 Harmison to Chanderpaul, FOUR, short, wide and Chanderpaul steps to leg and slaps it over extra cover for another four! That's how to play the Powerplay. Audacious, wonderful cricket
Wakey wakey, England. This match has suddenly slipped
464444 = 26 runs off the over.
Most runs in an over in limited overs cricket - Statsguru
Making IPL 2009 Happen: How About Tata, AL, or Mahindra?
By now even the troublemakers are probably aware of the details of security measures to be implemented during this seaon's IPL.
There is still a doubt though about its feasibility - voices speak in different moods.
The intelligence is there, the measures have to be taken.
As part of security systems to be implemented, is this news report from a Saffer sports news portal - IPL seeks bullet-proof buses.
Makes me wonder what the consideration here are when you know Mahindra and Mahindra have an advanced defence systems establishment besides the old warhorses - Tata and Ashok Leyland?
Products of the Defence Vehicle factory at Jabalpur may not be available for commercial use but Tata and Ashok Leyland have been in the defence systems business for a very long time.
And there is Mahindra with high quality bullet and bomb proof vehicles. 
Their Marksman, a bullet, bomb and mine proof vehicle of the SUV dimensions the IPL is looking for, was recently unveiled to the public eye.
I'm sure they have the kind of vehicles, and/or can adapt as per requirements of Indian Premier League. You'll probably get the product you want and the quality you want rather than purchasing from off the shelf. They were all on display at Defexpo.
Cost, quality and convenience are easily addressed through these manufacturers, unless of course they have a gestation period for orders. In fact, Mahindra Defence Systems has a tie-up with the South African company which manufactures the best selling MPV (Mine Protected Vehicle). Broadsword, a military blog, tells us so. Makes sense to buy closer home at short notice when good quality available locally.
Or is it for "convincing" people? You see there is this "impression" a good friend was recently telling us about...
- - -
Tata example:-
Ashok Leyland example:-
Both are also bus manufacturers of course. Read More......
A relevant phase of play
West Indies vs England 2008-09, First ODI
Scorecard
Owais Shah and Paul Collingwood are building the England innings. And one is watching closely, for the two are likely to be playing for one's IPL team - Delhi Daredevis or 3D as we like to call it.
They are keeping it ticking over, but Shah scares me.
Throughout this series, he has shown poor fitness and has consistently been a runout threat to himself and others.
Nasser is speaking about it.
Even though IPL is a 20 over game, the intensity of IPL matches, the summer heat, the tense atmosphere in an Indian stadium and the need to score brisker than Shikhar Dhawan did for Delhi last season - I don't know...I'm having my doubts maan! This Shah man running takes me back to the Baby Hindustan days of Indian cricket (or Morris Oxford MO = Baby Hindustan) when life was leisurely and running reflected that.
The current Indian teamsters are swift...almost like next season's Ferraris in comparison.
Me very worried maan!
However, they are doing a job here for England. Yes...they are doing A job...a part of the entire. At 179-3 off 38 one can only ask, "But will it be enough for the explosive Windies Kings?"
"Can these two possible Daredevilers (if they play that is) also step it up to give us a competitive match?"
250-270 is no big deal for West Indies.
With this we go into a rain break during the match.
Bryce McGain in Full Cry
Day Two, Third Test, Australia vs South Africa 2008-09
Scorecard
He's been threatening to debut for a while now - at least a season and a few tours. Somehow he was injured on the threshold of his debut or was overlooked by a young pretender.
Well he finally cut through the tragedy and got his big chance yesterday against a team thoroughly roadkilled by Australia, the series won, and without their main batsman and inspirational captain, Graeme Smith.
Under such circumstances nothing can be more poignant than these debut figures at this point of time (SA 322-3 off 83 overs) -
BE McGain Overs: 10 Maidens: 2 Runs: 93 Wickets: 0 Average: 9.30
His Usain to the 100 mark is currently interrupted by his captain Ricky Ponting who can't seem to quite make up his mind about him.
Will he ever bowl again in test cricket? McGain is obviously somebody else's Munafa...
Cricinfo has these additional things to say -
11.2 McGain to Prince, SIX, Prince says hello to the veteran debutant and sends the ball soaring over long-on. He jumped down the track and lofted it cleanly
South Africa 50/0 AG Prince 33* (30b 5x4 1x6) BE McGain 0.2-0-6-0
59.1 McGain to Kallis, SIX, Kallis breaks free with a pull. Long hop on the stumps and Kallis goes right back to pull it over deep midwicket
South Africa 213/2 JH Kallis 10* (40b 1x6) BE McGain 4.1-1-30-0
74.3 McGain to Kallis, SIX, Smashed! Kallis is again down the track and lofts it cleanly over long-off for a cracking six
South Africa 280/2 JH Kallis 61* (78b 10x4 2x6) BE McGain 7.3-1-72-0
74.5 McGain to Prince, SIX, They are looting McGain, No mercy. Day light robbery. Prince advances down the track and whips a lofted delivery over wide midwicket region.
South Africa 287/2 AG Prince 126* (221b 16x4 2x6) BE McGain 7.5-1-79-0
The word our cricinfoist is looking for is perhaps thuggee
Bryce must regret not debuting against the Indians, known for their extreme hospitality towards newbs and nabobs - he might have done a Krejza instead.
Well, maybe he'll do that yet, if only he can somehow wrap those fingers around his captain's confidence and wrist a really good spin on it...84th over of the innings...he should be bowling, jumping up and down and appealing right now...this is a spinner's phase of an innings!
EDITED TO ADD
In the one over he was give later, Bryce managed to complete the sprint to the fastest 100 for a debutant - in just under 11 overs flat.
O:11 M:2 R:102 W:0 Eco:9.27
101.2 McGain to de Villiers, SIX, We got a man down in the crowd! It was a dolly, a long hop and de Villiers pulls it over midwicket boundary where a man lunges over the railings to catch it and topples over !
South Africa 401/3 AB de Villiers 37* (61b 5x4 1x6) BE McGain 10.2-2-99-0
Bryce McGain breasted the tape an over ahead of Shahadat Hussain of Bangladesh in his dash to be the quickest to the mark.
But he must not worry...he can take encouragement from the 11th and 13th name on the list. Even Shahadat has done well.
Are West Indian Players Striking?
We mentioned in a related article yesterday titled Some trouble brewing over in the Caribbeans that positions and stances were hardening in West Indies and we are witnessing yet another instance of discord and eyeball-to-eyeball stuff between WIPA and WIBC remeniscent of the Lara-Hooper holdout in a London hotel or the WIPA-WIBC standoff around the time Stanford 20/20 came into existence.
Now it is rumored that players of Barbados, Leewards and Windwards Islands are joining the strike. Their local tournaments are thrown off gear.
The ODI was feared to be affected too...but I can see Nasser Hussain explaining the pitch to us. So that bit of rumour is unfounded we can clearly see.
WI cricket need a strong dose of wisdom and foresight.
We, on the other hand, are now onto our second leg of Cricket Watching Marathon for the day - With the first session of Indo-Kiwi match in the morning, the Saffer-Ozzie match through noon and evening, now for a limited overs interlude till the India-Kiwi match resumes again!
Strauss wins the toss and opts to bat first.
Prior and Harmison are drafted back into the team.
Scorecard
EDITED to ADD
Cricinfo confirms the strike for us.
Why would youngsters wish to lose the chance to further their chances and to display their game?
Ashes 2009: Why is England doing this?
This has been going on for a while now on different forums and internet journals and blogs. One ignored it imagining that better sense would prevail, that pre-Ashes nerves would settle down a bit once a reasonable time elapsed from their 51 all out, that advance baiting for a healthy catch of excuses would be given a rest at least this time, and that England would actually follow what they preach to others.
How can England interfere with, and manipulate, its local trade laws?
How can it stop Australian players contracted with counties from earning their wages in England?
Why cannot the overseas signings play both for counties and for their countries?
Why are influential voices from England trying to throttle these basic rights provided for by their internal laws?
At all times in the past two years, all public newsmongering portals emitting from England, had provided platform for only specific kind of preachers who preached unto others, what is now, it appears, throughly contrarian when it comes to their own little tournament called Ashes!
We don't call this duplicity, but let's say "I'm bamboozled," as they call it!
The Prince of Cape Province Returns in Style
Day Two, Third Test, Australia vs South Africa 2008-09
Scorecard
He was injured. His place taken by flamboyant JP Duminy. He refused stand-in captaincy for he would have no say in deciding his batting order. The finger injury had healed and he was ready to just get out there and play...anywhere. So he came in with rookie Imraan Khan to open the batting instead.
He began by attacking Hilfenhaus first, shunted him out of the attack and then ploughed into the middle-aged deburant, Bryce McGain with a huge six in the 12th over of the innings. Prince was describing the terms and conditions under which he was going to play this game.
In the 56th over of the innings, he heaved at McGain again, got an edge which curled up and away to land somewhere for an intended four in an unintended direction.
Next ball, he middled it the way he wanted to - charging down the pitch at McGain and lofting him over long-off for a four. That was his 11th test hundred.
This was his statement...attacking cricket...The Prince was back from injury.
The ball after the celebrations, sweeps McGain from outside off to the square-leg boundary for a four.
Ashwell prince wants to make up for the lost time and space - he wants a double here.
Big up for Ashwell Prince!
Need some clarifications here
From those who saw the entire match. I having missed the live viewing of the match after lunch, and there being no re-runs on Set Max till pre-match half-hour, I request those who saw the match to let us know if this is a Ricky Ponting like situation or different?
0.3 Khan to McIntosh, OUT, Tendulkar takes it very low at first slip and he's hurt his finger, McIntosh fails to dig out a full delivery and the ball clips the top of the bat and travels low to Tendulkar at first slip who falls forward and appears to take it an inch off the ground, now he releases the ball after the dive and for a split second we aren't sure if he took it cleanly, McIntosh isn't sure either and he waits but Gould was convinced, replays aren't dead accurate and he MAY have got his fingers underneath the ball, I repeat, MAY. It's a tough one, I must admit. Tendulkar started celebrating immediately , Perhaps McIntosh could have stood his ground with more conviction
TG McIntosh c Tendulkar b Khan 0 (2m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
-- Cricinfo
Reading around only complicates rather than solve.
One learns that Tendulkar suffered an injury as a result. Was it because the ball bounced on his fingers?
One also learns that the umpire didn't call for advice from the third umpire. Is that true? Why didn't Ian Gould seek clarification if there was doubt?
Did Tendulkar claim it or did he shrug his shoulders? Was Tendulkar correct in claiming the catch?
Is there really a Ricky Ponting or Michael Clarke like situation here? Or a Michael Slater like situation sans the aggressive run up to tha batsman with pearls spittling out of the mouth?
I hope to catch a snippet of it in the pre-match highlights tomorrow morning or on the news channels later tonight. If any of you can clarify unbiasedly, I'll be grateful. I trust the judgment of the posters here. Read More......
Thursday, 19 March 2009
First Test: India vs New Zealand 2008-09: Day Three at Hamilton
First Test: India vs New Zealand 2008-09: Day Three at Hamilton
Scorecard
The morning began sweetly - Yuvraj timing it off his legs and Sachin into the covers and square boundary on the off. Chris Martin must have been overcome by a sense of dread as he saw those three fours from the sweer spots of timing.
Everything was hunky dory, one exhaled and relaxed the pursed lips - this isn't going to be a Karachi collapse - one worried about Yuvraj staying on to build a 200 lead.
Just as I had my coffee and toast lined up - a pre-breakfast munch appeared very much on - and settled into my seat...Yuvraj shouldered arms to a Chris Martin straight delivery from wide around the wicket - clean bowled!
Against the run of play, typically Yuvraj to have a blackout, and the toast was suddenly appeared an unappetizingly wasted extravagance.
Sachin meanwhile is stuck on 99...the nerves...how he must so wish to get to the landmark like Sehwag with a six!
but that first four of his...a push into the covers...a square drive from the top of his toes and a square cut....class act they.
We are expecting MSD to stay with Sachin and get a hundred of his own if India is to make a match of it. Sachin to get a minimum of 200 if he gets beyond 99.
Sachin's game is brooding too much in the 90s. Suddenly it becomes an uncertain tired old man when it was a vibrant red-blooded youngster just a few balls ago.
And with that single whipped off his hips...no. 42 up! Eighty-five international hundreds in all!
Gwaaan Tendlya! Show the young uns how it's done! 250 for you today. The 100's behind him...now watch him go!
India 326/5 - sachin Tendulkar 100*
Talking about Sachin's 85 international hundreds - 42 (tests) + 43 (ODIs) and 51 50's (tests) to boot...some names with similar conversion rates, in fact better conversion rates (more hundreds than 50s) are Don Bradman and Clyde Walcott.
Some trouble brewing over in the Caribbeans
WIPA President, Mr.Dinanath Ramnarine, resigns over pending issues.
There was also a boycott of sorts the other day of the Digicell function, it is suggested.
Just when West Indies cricket is developing precious momentum, I'm sure they do not need comfromtation between players and board all over again.
West Indies cricket took a beating from earlier player protests and WICB's instrangience on certain issues.
Then there is this article in the Telegraph.
There appears to be some debate over the contents of that Scyld Berry article in the Telegraph. The factuality of it that is....
I came across a learned view expressed upon the very same article at a forum discussion which is worth considering as a counterpoint -
"The gross income for CWC (host's portion) was US$149 million which includes the US$101.1m referred in the article. The costs to stage was US$94m (approx.) which includes finance costs, prize money, team transport and accommodations etc. The biggest amounts were spent on these three items. The net profit of US$55m was the highest tournament profit in the history of the cricket world cup which included the highest ticket revenues in CWC history (US$31.4m/672,000 tkts) - which beat England in 1999 (US$22m/425,000 tkts) and South Africa (US$9.2m/628,000 tkts), all having roughly the same number of matches. The revenue details can be found in the CWC audited accounts (KPMG)"
....
"The sad reality is this is just a continuation of the English media bias and totally inaccurate reporting that we in the Caribbean just suck up and believe generally. Every cent spent on CWC 2007 was independently audited (KPMG) and the ICC approved any significant contract so they knew exactly what the funds were spent on. The author says WICB receives US$100m. He doesn't say that out of that comes all tournament expenditures. Just to fly all the 16 teams to the WI (business class) cost about US$4m. Acommodation fo all 16 teams in the Caribbean was around US$5m - which of course benefitted the hotels and there inflated prices. Prize money was US$3m. The ICC receives very detailed independent audited reports on all their tournaments so they do in fact know where the money was spent. "
...
"One of the best English media propaganda was during CWC when they came out with the "fact" that music and musical instruments were banned. This was of course totally untrue but somehow they got the entire Caribbean believing that this was so...even as the music blared from the sound systems at every venue.
Still, our own PR wasn't able to overcome their tactics which was aimed at discrediting the Caribbean effort so we must take some of the blame for not doing a good enough job. To tell you the truth, I didn't see how anybody would believe them with so much music being played and instruments blowing away at Sabina for the opening game against Pakistan... we had to be constantly moving people because they complained of people beside them with horns and drums!
I realized we were up against it when some of the English writers called the Opening Ceremony amateurish and poor...I saw the OC for 1999 CWC...it was four firecrackers which got wet in the rain and filled Lords with smoke... that was it! "
Whatever is the truth, West Indies cricket needs stability and a partnership between players and adminstrators at a time when things are looking up...not attempts from within and without to destabilize it.
Missed a day's play
Due to unexpected turn of events, I wasn't able to watch the match yesterday when Sachin was in full glory.
I'll join in today.
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Bombay Duck
It's not a duck but a lizard fish found in the waters between Bombay and Kutch, with an extremely overpowering odour, hence necessitating transport in air-tight containers. So Wiki tells us.
Lest you think we have transformed into a foodie blog as we wait on the second day of the first test to commence in an hour's time (it's 2.15 AM here...how's that for passion eh? Smiley and all that...), Bombay Duck is relevant to cricket too. Especially Indian cricket. It has quacked in Indian cricket, we are told.
Ajit Agarkar must be a very nice man. I don't know him personally, and neither do I know the lizard fish of the Arabian Sea personally. He was christened so for obvious reasons - firstly he hailed from Bombay and we were told he was an all rounder to replace Kapil Dev...Ok, that's a bit much much, maybe Manoj Prabhakar? He scored five ducks in a row and he was plastered with the obvious nickname.
But similar things have happened to many Kapil pretenders when they were batsmen.
Y Ananatha Narayan of Cricinfo blogs looks at Agarkar's main task - bowling - as part of an interesting group of test bowlers.
I found that while browsing to kill time. There are many statistical reasons as the author explains, but we didn't need all those complexities. Back in those heady days wehn Ajit Agarkar played one test after another for India, one always felt that the Bombay Duck container had sprung a leak and that's what the stink was all about. Nothing selectorial of course.
Interestingly, Ashish Nehra, who has no known nickname, also finds dishonorable mention in the list.
Promodaya and Sami are no brainers either...these blokes do not require statistical tools...good old commonsense suggested them while they were playing.
Darren Powell of West Indies appears to be the only internationally active bowler in that...He leads the attack in fact. I do not know about the Bangladesh bowlers.
Last Chance Saloon
The Indian belles are up against it - they have a slim theoretical chance of qualification with a really big win over West Indies, their rivals later tonight.
This is the points table.
This is the hypothetical equation -
India are ahead of New Zealand on net run-rate and can still reach the final, but only if they beat West Indies, New Zealand go down to Pakistan and Australia lose to England.
India need to do their part at 2300 hours GMT on March 19th.
West Indies vs England 2008-09 One Day Series
The start of a possibly important series (historically), and also an interesting one, between India and New Zealand has shifted our focus a bit from the coverage of the Caribbean tour of England. The one dayers are about to begin, so game talk has commenced.
West Indies are a dominant team at home. More so in the limited overs game. Not many have mastered them on their own grounds. In fact, only Australia have managed success in the last three years.
England too are strong at home - they have a fair record. But they have been beaten at home unlike West Indies. And by West Indies. But they aren't playing at home, so the confidence gained by their win against South Africa is not quite proper.
Overseas again, it is a patchwork - a fabulous win in the CBS series in Australia and an inspired series win in Sri Lanka. But there have the other extremes like the whitewash in India and the near one in New Zealand.
To punt on England with certainity would land one in the asylum, but if you have surplus for play, and you really aren't certain, then England's a good bet.
They can surprise themselves in the one-day game. Just as easily, they can make complete fools of themselves to look like some footballers wandered out onto a cricket pitch.
And they haven't won againt West Indies home or away for some time now. The last time they played West Indies in West Indies, the series was a draw in 2004.
So you wonder even as you agree subconsciously when you read Darren Sammy say this in Starbroek News -
“Taking into consideration the win in the Test series followed by the triumph in the 20/20, our momentum is high and we are looking to carry that momentum over into the limited overs series, where we intend to grind them into the ground.”
England may look ripe red cherries ready for the picking, but one must be wary of the hard nut inside. If England get the right personnel in (read - use Mascarenhas and the like), they can make any team chase them a long way to win.
We, while enjoying the game, will also keep an eye open for that mime artiste called Broad. He can be fun to watch, going all red-eared with a quick moving mouth that can shame any of the current street style musicians, as he is deposited repeatedly over the ropes by the batsmen. I mute the TV so that the words do not sail across and offend the living room - therefore I tell you he can be a very entertaining mimester...almost an independent theater on his own.
Final Word - First Day First Test
First Test: India vs New Zealand 2008-09: Day One at Hamilton
Scorecard
Jesse Fat Boy Ryder was nuking the Indians' initial ambitions. Along with him was Captain Vet, gathering the spilled guts of his Kiwi brood and stitching them up into a life-saving partnership. The Indian bowlers toiled in a manner they didn't have to in the first session of play but there weren't commensurate results.
Jesse Ryder : Imagesource - Cricinfo
Ryder played close to his body, the Indian bowlers tempted him to reach out a little further, the famed fragility of the Ryder sang froid refused to be provoked, and lay low till into the late hours of the day's play. One doesn't know if he has been practicing meditative discipline or if it is just the famed Indian propensity to propel stuttering names into the limelight, but what was clear that this time, Jesse wans't going to give up on a big one (his first) unlike his three previous consecutive attempts which fizzled out to impetuous temptations after he crossed the halfway mark. This was an innings for the team - not for a personal Fat Boy legacy. We congratulate this exciting young batsman on his first hundred...
Scorpi of Cricket Fizz likened him to Mark Greatbach in his article The bald marauders. We think that comparison isn't a disgrace and Jesse Ryder might actually prove a more colourful character. The Kiwis can do with one more besides Big Mack.
Captain Vet heals the Kiwis
The other day someone was discussing on the web, I forget now where, if Captain Vet wasn't the most underrated batsman. Somebody in that discussion was insistent that if his performance against "minnows" were ignored he wouldn't look so good in the statistical format. This young dad, we know, excited a few young ladies when he himself was more studentish than captainish, but we never cared to examine him in that way or in the statistical format. Which is a pity really, for this is a fellow Delhi Daredeviler besides a prominent all rounder and we should be aware of his data.
So suitably chastened one went over to the Statsguru to check peruse Dannyboy's CV with a critical eye.
If only I hadn't been lethargic and had equipped myself with the figures before I followed that discussion, I might have blown the booming voice of the thread to bits with them. Danny Boy does well against big teams...we in India, have been at the recieving end of his bat more often than a few others. He averages 43 against us and recorded today, his first hundred against us. Well done Danny boy!
One knew instinctively that there was something wrong in the forumist's assertions...well, so much for forum discussions! Looks like all participants were gassing through their finger tips!
Munaf cracked the code so to speak. He broke through the bamboozling maze the Kiwis were staking around the unimaginative (and a trifle luckless) Indians, in spectacular fashion sending back Vettori and Mills off successive deliveries to position himself on the threshold of a momentous hat-trick. Alas! Things don't pan out as one wants them to. Ryder went beserk and was last out. O'Brien briefly threatened to score a hundred with the care he was exercising. But Munaf did enough to shut me up among others.
Records and holes in the slips
Which brings us back to the period when the Kiwis dominated - the slips appeared to be like a bucket of soap suds - the odd bubble kept popping and holes would develop to be immediately plugged with a new bubble after the ball would have streaked for four. And then that bubble would burst and the cycle would repeat. Maybe there was a plan there.
However Dravid pouched a fielding record in the slips. He didn't miss out...no sir!
Well actually he's alongside Mark Waugh with 181 catches each, but the Waugh twin has long retired from the game. This is one Rahul double hundred we are rooting for. In fact we wouldn't mind a Rahul doubleton this match with the bat either.
Harbhajan failed to do what Kumble was very good at usually. Anil, whenever the opening bowlers gave him the comfort, would drill the advantage in with a quick wicket or two. Harbhajan didn't tempt nor did he ever threaten to pick either Vettori or Ryder.
And Ishant - in an earlier article on the series titled An important tour for Ishant Sharma we mentioned that this was Ishant's signal...his green light tour to pull ahead from the level he is at. To climb to the next rung...to be a series-winner. We felt his stats needed to begin to reflect the kind of bowler he truly was...he picked four wickets in this innings and has declared to the world, Woot! Woot! The Ishant Sharma engine was ready to pull the weight for India. Like Jesse, Ishant is the man who could make this series his own.
And thus we conclude this edition of Tales from the Land of the Silver Fern Series 2008-09
Related article on today's play:- First Test: India vs New Zealand 2008-09: Day One at Hamilton
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Thought for the day
We like this player package, Jesse Ryder, and would love to watch him also play in the IPL - next year if not this year. It's curious how the performance of these southern islanders is not affected poorly by IPL or the talk preceding it - Danny boy and Ryder, both are contracted to play IPL. Read More......
