Yesterday this time I was struggling to find the right words to express my disappointment about the game. Today, I am in shock! Not because of the match (no surprises there) but because one of the greatest players of this Indian side has decided to call it quits.
And Anil Kumble announced his retirement in much the way he has gone about his game in the last 18 years - quiet, dignified and determined. Its not so much the surprise that Kumble called it quits. If you think about it, it was only a matter of time before he announced his retirement, nor is it surprising that he did it mid-series, epsecially considering his injury and numerous stitches. What jolts me as a cricket fan is the realisation that this afternoon is the last time I will see one of India's finest bowlers grace the cricketing field. This will be the last time I will see Jumbo beat batsmen with his googly or catch them off guard with a wrong one.
I wanted this to sound like a tribute but I doubt I'll be able to do it justice. How do you go about summarising nearly two decades of a genius at work? I could use a whole lot of superlatives and throw in all the cliches like great, genius, irreplacable, etc (some of which I have used already) and it'll all be true but Kumble was more than all that. He is and will remain India's most dedicated, most determined and absolutely professional cricketer, not to mention the finest bowler of this Indian side (certainly the most successful one).
His retirement is yet another testament of his commitment to his game as well as his team. He quit when he knew he could do it with dignity, do it on his own terms and at a time when he knew he would be giving the reins of captaincy to an able successor. You wouldn't expect anything less from a player who never let up, one who would risk bowling with a broken jaw to keep his end of the bargain.
And this farewell, though hurried, is nevertheless fitting because it's at the Kotla that Kumble carved his name in the hall of fame as only the second bowler ever to take 10 wickets in an inning, made all the more sweet as it came against Pakistan. And he can retire in peace knowing he's made records which are in all probability never going to be broken.
I thought writing this teary-eyed blog would help me come to terms with the fact that Kumble has indeed made his last appearance in an international match. If anything, it only makes me remember countless moments - be it his ten-wicket haul, his various milestones of 00, 500 and recently 600, his scrappy partnership with Javagal Srinath in the India-Aus match in B'lore or his much prized century - I could go on and on.
He was quiet, dignified, gifted, dedicated, committed, competitive and most importantly priceless! Who says no one is indispensable - India's just short of one now. It's heart-breaking to say goodbye to this genius. I know for a fact that it going to take me a while to get used to an Indian line-up that doesn't include Anil Kumble.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Kotla batting fest
At tea on the second day of the ongoing test match between India & Australia anyone would have assumed this match to be a cakewalk for India. With 550 runs on the board and VVS Laxman looking on 160, it was clear that India was planning on batting only once on the Kotla wicket. Yet here we are on day 4 with Australia not only avoiding the follow-on but also looking to bridge the 200-run gap and quickly too. This match is one battinng fest - 4 days, about a thousand runs scored and only 13 wickets taken so far in the match. All this on a pitch that's supposed to favour spin bowling. Talk about ironic!
So what went wrong? Australia batted beautifully, no doubt about that and it didn't help that Kumble was out of the field more than on it and when he did come, he was nursing a nasty injury. But what made the difference was that even with the pitch deteriorating and the ball spinning wildly, India lacked the killer instinct. Was it missing intensity or lack of ideas, there just wasn't a moment in this match where India could take quick wickets.
A couple of days back, it was so easy to say that this match will only have two outcomes - a draw or a win for India. Now, however, it's anybody's game. The odd thing is, India didn't even bowl too poorly. Although yes, there were a few half chances, especially Clarke's lofted shot that just grazed the top of Ishant Sharma's hand. Clarke was on 21 at that time. Perhaps, the score would be much different if India had got him then. Well we'll never know will we?
The upshot of all this is that it has been an interesting test match although as an Indian fan, I was rather hoping India had wrapped this match up (with an innings defeat if possible). Now, unless India manage a miraculous victory out of this, this will be remembered as an australian victory (even if they draw the game). We'll have to wait and see how this match affects the game of the two teams in the next test. This was supposed to be the decider - looks like this one's just a prelude. I think I'd better stay tuned in - the best is certainly yet to come!
So what went wrong? Australia batted beautifully, no doubt about that and it didn't help that Kumble was out of the field more than on it and when he did come, he was nursing a nasty injury. But what made the difference was that even with the pitch deteriorating and the ball spinning wildly, India lacked the killer instinct. Was it missing intensity or lack of ideas, there just wasn't a moment in this match where India could take quick wickets.
A couple of days back, it was so easy to say that this match will only have two outcomes - a draw or a win for India. Now, however, it's anybody's game. The odd thing is, India didn't even bowl too poorly. Although yes, there were a few half chances, especially Clarke's lofted shot that just grazed the top of Ishant Sharma's hand. Clarke was on 21 at that time. Perhaps, the score would be much different if India had got him then. Well we'll never know will we?
The upshot of all this is that it has been an interesting test match although as an Indian fan, I was rather hoping India had wrapped this match up (with an innings defeat if possible). Now, unless India manage a miraculous victory out of this, this will be remembered as an australian victory (even if they draw the game). We'll have to wait and see how this match affects the game of the two teams in the next test. This was supposed to be the decider - looks like this one's just a prelude. I think I'd better stay tuned in - the best is certainly yet to come!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Enter the Ugly Indian
Call me old-fashioned and a resident of another age if you will, but one of the things I loved about Indian cricket was the fact that our players were so well-mannered. I grew up watching Bedi applaud batsmen who hit him for six, Gavaskar playfully joshing Imran Khan and Abdul Qadir and Kapil Dev hugging Phil Simmons after knocking over one of his teammates.
Fast forward to 2008 and Gautam Gambhir sticking an elbow into Shane Watson and well, I think you get the drift. And this was by no means an islolated incident. Many of the Indian cricket team today have been found guilty of unsportsmanlike behaviour (even Dravid was once caught rubbing a lozenge on a cricket ball)at some time or the other, notwithstanding their shrill protests of innocence. Be it ball-tampering, over-appealing, not sticking to over rates, bowling with dodgy actions...we seem to be doing it all with relish. Of course, if we are ever caught, the Indian cricket board promptly steps in and threatens to cancel all cricket with the offending nation. How else can you justify the fact that Harbhajan got away on the grounds that he had not called Symonds a monkey. He was, in fact, only abusing his mother ("teri maa ki...")!
What is really shocking is that most of the media and so-called cricket pundits seem to support this metamorphosis. One TV channel yesterday went so far as to claim that India should stop following the principles of Gandhi and give as good as they get. Yeah, yeah, we know how that one works, right? An eye for an eye. Perfect recipe for a blind world.
So, has the age of the Ugly Indian arrived? Are we going to be what the Aussies were in the seventies and the Pakistanis were in the eighties and nineties? I really hope not. The likes of Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman and among the new crop, MS Dhoni, still represent all that is good about the Gentleman's Game and the way India has always played it.
Oh, and I am sure Gambhir will get away scot-free (a fine, in all probability). After all, if he does not, we can always cancel the Aussie tour!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Testing times
The Border-Gavaskar trophy has been very interesting so far, largely due to the fact that India won the second test so comprehensively. But just when you thought that this series was going really well and that we had gotten past the ugliness of playing the game in 'bad' spirit (last year when India toured Australia) we have some news (breaking news I might add) about an Adam Gilchrist's opinion about Tendulkar (supposedly) on the much-media abused Harbhajan-Symonds fiasco. This is an excerpt dug out of Gilly's autobiography True Colours. What was the point of this exercise? Was the temptation of dragging Gilchrist (the rare gentleman of modern cricket) through the mud too hard to resist? Or was it some misplaced idolism of the God of Indian cricket? Or was the series played a li'l too peacefully for everyone's comfort? Methinks we have gotten so used to sensationalism, it's hard now to not to hype otherwise inconsequential details so as to spice up the game.
But really, there was no need. For anyone who loves this game, Gilly's book excerpt about Tendulkar is an entirely unnecessary & inconsequential information leading upto the third and crucial test of the series. Australians are considered even more dangerous when they're wounded. In such a scenario one would think, we wouldn't let something as trivial as a book excerpt get under our skins. We're only egging a very important player from the Indian line-up to focus his thought and energy on something that's not related to the game.
Thankfully, Tendulkar has been around long enough not to be affected, I beg your pardon, not to let his game be affected by such controversies. A fact he proved with his masterly performance today. True, he will be very disappointed to miss out on a century - he certainly looked in good touch to get it. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to play for tea after all. Either way if India do well in this test (and they are at the moment at 245/3 looking strong) then it'll be no thanks to the media who definitely did all they could to take the players mind off the game. Honestly the term, 'a welcome distraction' doesn't apply to all situations. Indeed, right after India wins a test match, especially against Australia, any controversial discussion not related to the current series or players is an extremely 'unwelcome' distraction (In bad taste too!).
But really, there was no need. For anyone who loves this game, Gilly's book excerpt about Tendulkar is an entirely unnecessary & inconsequential information leading upto the third and crucial test of the series. Australians are considered even more dangerous when they're wounded. In such a scenario one would think, we wouldn't let something as trivial as a book excerpt get under our skins. We're only egging a very important player from the Indian line-up to focus his thought and energy on something that's not related to the game.
Thankfully, Tendulkar has been around long enough not to be affected, I beg your pardon, not to let his game be affected by such controversies. A fact he proved with his masterly performance today. True, he will be very disappointed to miss out on a century - he certainly looked in good touch to get it. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to play for tea after all. Either way if India do well in this test (and they are at the moment at 245/3 looking strong) then it'll be no thanks to the media who definitely did all they could to take the players mind off the game. Honestly the term, 'a welcome distraction' doesn't apply to all situations. Indeed, right after India wins a test match, especially against Australia, any controversial discussion not related to the current series or players is an extremely 'unwelcome' distraction (In bad taste too!).
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Reactions of an irate fan!
Well, we really played like footballers or hockey players who are suddenly thrust into a cricket field and asked to play cricket. Granted this is a typical reaction to an Indian loss, but heck! How else do you react?
Talk about being caught on the wrong foot. What was the last three days about? It certainly wasn’t cricket, least not from the Indians and it's not like they can say it was unknown conditions or adjusting to the weather. This is home turf for crying out loud! And we lost by an innings and 90 runs in three days!
I am a huge Kumble fan and he is, according to me, one of the finest cricketers there is but we’ve seen better judgement from the man. He really wasn’t fit enough to play and that showed not just in the way he played but also in the way the team played – an unfit captain is not exactly a good motivation for a team. Of course, there was a fair bit of experience in the side, which should, ideally, have taken on the mantle, so to speak. To give credit, Ganguly did give it a shot in the second innings and Pathan gave it his best in both the innings, he just ran out of partners. And I refuse to talk about the bowling. Like I said, not having Kumble at his best was bound to hurt our chances.
Of course, we shouldn’t discount the efficiency of the Proteas. It was like the two teams played on different pitches. The Indians batted on one that seemed bowler friendly, and the South Africans on one that was batsmen friendly. Dunno whether it was the brilliance of the South Africans or the mediocrity of the Indians. Perhaps both.
As for Gary Kirsten, a pretty uninspiring start. But I guess this is like medicine, you get worse before getting. Pardon me, that wasn’t me guessing, that was me fervently hoping!
Of course, I am also hoping all this distracted playing from the Indians has nothing to do with a certain star-studded event that’s about to start in the next couple of weeks! If so, we may as well hand over the trophy to the South Africans for washing us out!
Prove me wrong please!!
Talk about being caught on the wrong foot. What was the last three days about? It certainly wasn’t cricket, least not from the Indians and it's not like they can say it was unknown conditions or adjusting to the weather. This is home turf for crying out loud! And we lost by an innings and 90 runs in three days!
I am a huge Kumble fan and he is, according to me, one of the finest cricketers there is but we’ve seen better judgement from the man. He really wasn’t fit enough to play and that showed not just in the way he played but also in the way the team played – an unfit captain is not exactly a good motivation for a team. Of course, there was a fair bit of experience in the side, which should, ideally, have taken on the mantle, so to speak. To give credit, Ganguly did give it a shot in the second innings and Pathan gave it his best in both the innings, he just ran out of partners. And I refuse to talk about the bowling. Like I said, not having Kumble at his best was bound to hurt our chances.
Of course, we shouldn’t discount the efficiency of the Proteas. It was like the two teams played on different pitches. The Indians batted on one that seemed bowler friendly, and the South Africans on one that was batsmen friendly. Dunno whether it was the brilliance of the South Africans or the mediocrity of the Indians. Perhaps both.
As for Gary Kirsten, a pretty uninspiring start. But I guess this is like medicine, you get worse before getting. Pardon me, that wasn’t me guessing, that was me fervently hoping!
Of course, I am also hoping all this distracted playing from the Indians has nothing to do with a certain star-studded event that’s about to start in the next couple of weeks! If so, we may as well hand over the trophy to the South Africans for washing us out!
Prove me wrong please!!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
The Quiet Legend
There are some who startle you with their brilliance and leave you awestruck and yet others who, go about achieving that brilliance in a quiet, almost unnoticeable manner. He had a dream debut, played a flawless inning and played with a maturity and efficiency far belying his age, yet he is remembered as an afterthought for another debutant stole the show. The difference - he was 5 short 100 when he got out, while his partner also a debutant, scored the much-prized maiden century.
Yet he persisted, a player with technique so flawless and timing so sweet, you wouldn't want him to stop and he wouldn't. The Wall he came to be known in the years to come. The anchor with rock-solid defence who held one end together. Indeed, India's most memorable test victories will more often than not see this man holding fort. The glory, of course, will go to the highest scorer. So be it Lords or Eden Gardens, Rahul Dravid finds himself in the shadow of another batsman simply because he didn't score as many runs as his partner.
And yet today, the man who always seemed like a second fiddle in big partnership and relegated as an anchor, meant to hold an innings together (a job he has done admirably for over a decade now) has in his own unique style completed the feat of scoring 10,000 runs in Test cricket - only the third Indian after Gavaskar and Tendulkar to do so.
He is a fine example of quiet dignity, of hard work and concentrated, earnest effort. This man, we call The Wall has done more for a team than can or should be expected. Moulded his game to suit the interest of his team. Kept wickets, opened, dropped down the order, captained the side when there was none to do so and even took on the responsibility of touring overseas with that team minus a coach. No mean feat.
I am the first to admit that each performance should be taken on its merit and a player is only as good as his performance is that particular day's game. But there are some legends, whose brilliance cannot be ignored. These aren't players who shout about their work, or even draw attention to it, but they go about it in a dedicated manner and just when you begin to doubt the effort, they give you proof of their genius. Hopefully, sooner rather than later, we shall give this quiet legend the applause he so deserves.
Yet he persisted, a player with technique so flawless and timing so sweet, you wouldn't want him to stop and he wouldn't. The Wall he came to be known in the years to come. The anchor with rock-solid defence who held one end together. Indeed, India's most memorable test victories will more often than not see this man holding fort. The glory, of course, will go to the highest scorer. So be it Lords or Eden Gardens, Rahul Dravid finds himself in the shadow of another batsman simply because he didn't score as many runs as his partner.
And yet today, the man who always seemed like a second fiddle in big partnership and relegated as an anchor, meant to hold an innings together (a job he has done admirably for over a decade now) has in his own unique style completed the feat of scoring 10,000 runs in Test cricket - only the third Indian after Gavaskar and Tendulkar to do so.
He is a fine example of quiet dignity, of hard work and concentrated, earnest effort. This man, we call The Wall has done more for a team than can or should be expected. Moulded his game to suit the interest of his team. Kept wickets, opened, dropped down the order, captained the side when there was none to do so and even took on the responsibility of touring overseas with that team minus a coach. No mean feat.
I am the first to admit that each performance should be taken on its merit and a player is only as good as his performance is that particular day's game. But there are some legends, whose brilliance cannot be ignored. These aren't players who shout about their work, or even draw attention to it, but they go about it in a dedicated manner and just when you begin to doubt the effort, they give you proof of their genius. Hopefully, sooner rather than later, we shall give this quiet legend the applause he so deserves.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Cricket on Sale – what’s your bid!
It’s been a disgusting day and only threatens to get worse. If you really like your cricket, then I am sure you’ll have been as sick as I have been watching news flashes all day.
Dhoni bought for highest – Chennai 6 Cr. Hayden bought for 2 Cr. Kumble base price – 1 Cr highest bid – 2 Cr. Preity Zinta’s Mohali bought Kumara Sangakkara for 1.8 Cr. Need I say more? I have grown up watching some of these icons. I wouldn’t even dream of referring to their cricket cards (the small postcard thingies you get as freebies) in such a derogatory manner and here you have newshounds making them sound like brothel pick-ups. I very nearly parted with my lunch when I read the news flash on Kumble and Gilchrist.
What’s the point of this? Are we supposed to be impressed with the monies involved? Are we supposed to get orgasmic about the oh-so-marvellous union of Bollywood and Cricket? Perhaps we should all cheer the EPL clone for the game of cricket. I suppose there is a population that is applauding this appalling auction of some of the finest cricketing talent of this century - a bid n win game on cricketing legends.
As somewhat of a traditionalist I am quaking at what it will do for the game. To me a Gilchrist or a Hayden will remain an Australian and I am not going to enjoy watching them don a Chennai or Bangalore cap. So much of watching cricket is culture. To me, each of these nations has its bearing, way of playing, attitude all of which is integral to the functioning and game of that individual nation. Perhaps this will become as legendary as EPL (English Premiere League), but I for one am not holding my breath. I am hoping this is some bizarre nightmare that I’ll hopefully be jolted out of.
Dhoni bought for highest – Chennai 6 Cr. Hayden bought for 2 Cr. Kumble base price – 1 Cr highest bid – 2 Cr. Preity Zinta’s Mohali bought Kumara Sangakkara for 1.8 Cr. Need I say more? I have grown up watching some of these icons. I wouldn’t even dream of referring to their cricket cards (the small postcard thingies you get as freebies) in such a derogatory manner and here you have newshounds making them sound like brothel pick-ups. I very nearly parted with my lunch when I read the news flash on Kumble and Gilchrist.
What’s the point of this? Are we supposed to be impressed with the monies involved? Are we supposed to get orgasmic about the oh-so-marvellous union of Bollywood and Cricket? Perhaps we should all cheer the EPL clone for the game of cricket. I suppose there is a population that is applauding this appalling auction of some of the finest cricketing talent of this century - a bid n win game on cricketing legends.
As somewhat of a traditionalist I am quaking at what it will do for the game. To me a Gilchrist or a Hayden will remain an Australian and I am not going to enjoy watching them don a Chennai or Bangalore cap. So much of watching cricket is culture. To me, each of these nations has its bearing, way of playing, attitude all of which is integral to the functioning and game of that individual nation. Perhaps this will become as legendary as EPL (English Premiere League), but I for one am not holding my breath. I am hoping this is some bizarre nightmare that I’ll hopefully be jolted out of.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
A poor sport
They keep saying that cricket is a rich sport. Look at the amounts of money involved. Look at the number of sponsors. Look at the celebrities. Look at the earnings of the top players.
Aye, whatever the sport lacks, it's not money.
There are a few things that it will miss in the coming days, though. Things that all the money in the world cannot buy.
It will miss the sight of the only Aussie who walks when he is out, and whose batting was the closest thing to Flashdance on the crease. It will miss the tall man in the black cap whose cover driving would have inspired Browning and Wordsworth to poetic excesses, and whose captaincy would have won him a place in most teams. It will miss perhaps the greatest all-rounder the world has seen since Ian Botham and definitely one of the greatest bowlers of modern times.
Cricket may have the bucks. But it will shortly lose Messrs Gilchrist, Fleming and Pollock.
And it will be all the poorer for that.
Aye, whatever the sport lacks, it's not money.
There are a few things that it will miss in the coming days, though. Things that all the money in the world cannot buy.
It will miss the sight of the only Aussie who walks when he is out, and whose batting was the closest thing to Flashdance on the crease. It will miss the tall man in the black cap whose cover driving would have inspired Browning and Wordsworth to poetic excesses, and whose captaincy would have won him a place in most teams. It will miss perhaps the greatest all-rounder the world has seen since Ian Botham and definitely one of the greatest bowlers of modern times.
Cricket may have the bucks. But it will shortly lose Messrs Gilchrist, Fleming and Pollock.
And it will be all the poorer for that.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
A very (very) special willow-wielder
If you were to hear to what the media is saying, you would not be blamed for thinking that the first day of the fourth Test between India and Australia was about Sachin Tendulkar’s 39th Test Hundred. Well, it was. He did play brilliantly and with far more freedom than we have seen in recent times.
Aye, the little fella played a bonny innings. But for me, the day belonged as much to someone who was just a bit taller. Someone who scored less than half the runs that Sachin did.
Aye, the little fella played a bonny innings. But for me, the day belonged as much to someone who was just a bit taller. Someone who scored less than half the runs that Sachin did.
But man, he was every bit as bonny as the little fella. I am referring to VVS Laxman’s 51.
For many people this would be sacrilege, but for me, this series has been all about how VVS has quietly gone about showing that he is perhaps India’s best batsman in a crisis since a certain GR Vishwanath, who shared the same penchant for coming good when India seemed to need him the most. And like Laxman, he could do so with amazing grace – seemingly caressing the ball to death. And just as Laxman has been overshadowed by Sachin, so too was GR perennially in shade of a certain Sunil Manohar Gavaskar. But the shadow was largely statistical – Sachin and Sunny had infinitely better records than GR and VVS, but it would be a brave person (or an insane fan) who would say that there was too much separating the foursome in terms of sheer quality.
It was this quality that enabled VVS to shine even when Tendulkar was wreaking havoc at Adelaide earlier today. And of course, he got the runs when India had got into a minor crisis – the score 156-4 and Ganguly had been dismissed cheaply (the bowler and umpire teaming up rather well on that one, I thought, but that’s another story). He added 126 with Sachin, flicking and cutting his way to an elegant 51 before falling victim to a Lee bouncer. Once again, he had helped dig India out of a hole. And done so without having appeared to be digging at all.
The Aussies must hate the very sight of him. As for me, I will simply paraphrase what the great Sir Raymond Priestley had said about Antartic Explorers:
“"For scientific batting, give me Rahul Dravid; for swift and efficient run accumulation, Sachin Tendulkar; but when you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems to be no way out, get on your knees and pray for VVS Laxman."
'nuff said.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Michael and the disappearing fungus!
All right, this is not an entry about cricket in its purest sense. But well, one of the game’s practitioners gave me a nasty shock a couple of days ago and I am still reeling.
I refer to the man they call Pup. Michael Clarke. Notwithstanding his refusal to walk an
d his claiming a rather dubious catch at Sydney, the lad did not fit the “Ugly Aussie” tag. Well, not in appearance, at least – he had a rather wide-eyed innocent look and a nice shock of blonde hair. A bit like a smaller version of Owen Wilson with an intact nose. Even my 63-year-old mum had muttered, “Kitna pyaara bachcha hai!” (What a sweet child he is)
Alas, no more.
When I was watching the highlights of the first day’s play at Perth, I saw someone in the Aussie ranks who looked like Adam Hall (the South African of the short hair, massive posterior and all round skills) on the field. My curiosity turned to shock and then sheer horror as I realised that the person masquerading as Hall was none other than Pup. Gone was the mop of blonde hair and in its place stood cranial fungus that seemed reminiscent of a crop that had been ravaged by wildfire. Yeah, the gap-toothed grin was still there but heck, it now looked grotesque.
Seldom has beauty been so rapidly metamorphosed into something beast-like, albeit with a winsome grin. Alas and alack! 'twould seem that Clarke has attempted to follow Becks' footsteps. Thankfully, he has not yet married a Spice Girl and has shown no tendency (reported at least) to prance around in ladies' undergarments but who has seen the future?
Needless to say, I witnessed his demise at the crease with a smirk and an eye that was totally dry! Thus fall those that dare to literally take a weight off their minds (I am sure his hair weighed a fair bit!).
Finally a couple of disclaimers: 1. No, I ain’t gay. 2. No, I am not reacting like this because Clarke has got a barber to do to his scalp what nature seems to be doing without any prior request to mine!
Polite Cricket
An Indian fan couldn't have asked for a better two days (well, perhaps another hundred runs on the board) but more than the game (as gripping as it is) what strikes me more is the conduct of the players. This has undoubtedly been the politest two days of Test cricket. When Tendulkar came in to bat, Lee welcomed him with the good ol' bouncer and a smile about a yard wide. Australian batting - Lee defends a good ball and Pathan walks up to him for a casual chit-chat (wide smile being a constant). It's almost as if each one has been instructed to slap on the smile and mince the words.
Not many would complain, given the recent events but there is something so surreal about this niceness. Wickets are celebrated but not aggressively and Andrew Symonds is decidedly not looking any Indian player in the eye if he can help it. Of course, much like Sydney, he refused to walk this time too (an awkward moment, considering Raut gave him ample time to do so and only raised the finger when he figured the man wasn't walking) Really, Symonds, you ain't earning no brownie points for that (the hearing isn't over mate!)
N of course, amidst all this was the sheer joy was watching Anil Kumble celebrate his 600th wicket. The test is far from over - and this one will most definitely yield a result given that it's the second day and Australia is 195/7 in response to India's first innings score of 330.
I realise I've rambled, but it's the shock of watching two headstrong teams play their politest best! Yeah sure, we still had some dicey decisions and no doubt, we'd like to discuss at length the injustice of losing Tendulkar and Dhoni to lbws, that too for deliveries that were clearly too high or pitching outside. Bottomline, 22 players have walked out on the field with a resolve to put the game above all else (n perhaps TRPs too). The game has had its moments, just this time around its been quiet drama. If you ask me cricket hasn't been a gentleman's game in quite some time...this will take some getting used to...
Not many would complain, given the recent events but there is something so surreal about this niceness. Wickets are celebrated but not aggressively and Andrew Symonds is decidedly not looking any Indian player in the eye if he can help it. Of course, much like Sydney, he refused to walk this time too (an awkward moment, considering Raut gave him ample time to do so and only raised the finger when he figured the man wasn't walking) Really, Symonds, you ain't earning no brownie points for that (the hearing isn't over mate!)
N of course, amidst all this was the sheer joy was watching Anil Kumble celebrate his 600th wicket. The test is far from over - and this one will most definitely yield a result given that it's the second day and Australia is 195/7 in response to India's first innings score of 330.
I realise I've rambled, but it's the shock of watching two headstrong teams play their politest best! Yeah sure, we still had some dicey decisions and no doubt, we'd like to discuss at length the injustice of losing Tendulkar and Dhoni to lbws, that too for deliveries that were clearly too high or pitching outside. Bottomline, 22 players have walked out on the field with a resolve to put the game above all else (n perhaps TRPs too). The game has had its moments, just this time around its been quiet drama. If you ask me cricket hasn't been a gentleman's game in quite some time...this will take some getting used to...
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