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Showing posts with label Delhi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Delhi. Show all posts
Dilli-Mumbai hai-hai
The Dilli-Mumbai trash-talking session yesterday was pretty good fun, I have to say. I hope it never gets to Yankees-RedSox levels because that's just downright idiotic. But there are enough differences between the two cricketing cultures that some trash-talk is necessary and desirable. Unity in Diversity as our Founding Pitajis used to say. Without that diversity, we'd be some boringly homogeneous unit like, say, New Zealand. (No offence intended to Kiwis; I love you all very much; its just that I can't get excited about North Island-South Island rivalries).
So, in the interests of full disclosure, why don't Dilliwallahs and Mumbaiwallahs tell us all what is so distinctive and wonderful about their respective cricketing cultures? Lets get right down to the level of the respective language. Not just the gaalis but the distinctive cricketing terms. Here is one linguistic offering from me.
In Delhi University, back in the 1980s, a common term for a bowler for reducing a batsman to a quivering mess was Uski to lassi nikaldi. I loved this one; it conjured up visions of a brutal fast bowler shoving a batsman into those large brass pots I used to see in the Lajpat Nagar market and then energetically whirling the wooden handle that stuck out, till the froth formed over the drink. Poor batsman, turned into a swirling, watery yogurtish mess.
Tons more; and in a city like Mumbai, where four languages are the minimum for any self-respecting Mumbaikar, there should be tons to share. Speak up.
Anonymous Amit
Amit Mishra may play in today’s one dayer. He last played in one more than six years’ back, in April 2003. Within less than ten days, Mishra made his debut and played his last ODI.
What does this tell you? The last ten years were booked for Bhajji and Jumbo. Between them they ate all the tests, ODIs, and T20s on offer. Why wouldn’t they, look at those cool nicknames – does Mishra have one?
Does anyone know how many first class wickets Amit Mishra has taken? How would you, even his mates and selectors don’t. Mishra did not exist before the IPL.
Mishra is a TV character, he was born on prime-time one IPL evening, playing for the Delhi Daredevils. Even then in season 1, his captain did not see obvious merit in his bowling. He didn’t play at first, then Vettori was sick, and he played. And boy, did he play.
Season 2, again, the Daredevils went the Vettori route, but Dan all but had his specks broken by a cranky Yusuf. Mishra was back, again. It took a special captain in Jatman, not to maximise Mishra in the semis, he preferred to bowl himself to a marauding Gilchrist.
Here we are on 28th September 2009, Dusherra. If Mishra is back, chances are, he may not be back for long. If for instance he bowls his ten overs for 71, that could be it. This may be his last game for another seven years.
He’ll need a five for, like his test debut, to stay on the selectors' radar.
Remember what happened to that guy called Ojha, the only way I remember his name is thinking Orange Juice, OJ, and a laugh – Ha! The OJ-Ha cricketer – how many people had the patience with Ojha?
He was born on prime time IPL too. And it’s because you and me saw it, the selectors could no longer afford to look away.
How much corporate money is there behind Ojha and Mishra – more than there is behind this blog, but that’s not saying much.
How much money rides on Bhajji’s inclusion in the side? You good at maths?
At Bored we like talking about Amit Mishra, no one else does; you can read more about him here – it’s usually cynical, depressive, but then, by now, so must be Mishra.
Dravid plays shot, gets out.
Sources close to Dravid's edge claim he was in a hurry to load some Diwali pictures on to Facebook. Appears he will be tagged soon.
Cough Wicket
by Naked Cricket
In the aftermath of bombastic Diwali celebrations, a rare case of hit wicket afflicted Australia. No sooner had Ricky Ponting shouldered arms to an Ishant Sharma delivery, he started to cough relentlessly, causing the bails to dislodge themselves. This has been recorded as the first case of Cough Wicket in cricket. With four more days to go in the test match, you can be rest assured this will not be the last. Appears this is one celebration the Aussies will lament.
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