A song for Rahul Dravid - You did it all coz you were the wall.

Keeper captain close in slip

You did it all
Coz you were the wall


One down open middle order flip

You did it all
Coz you were the wall


Dropped declare resign blip

You did it all
Coz you were the wall


Rahul Jammy Dravid Skip

You did it all
Coz you were the wall


Shooter target trigger click

You did it all
Coz you were the wall


One day no way go away hick

You did it all
Coz you were the wall


T20 not empty scored plenty tick

You did it all
Coz you were the wall


Coach’s boy, very coy, one big kick

You did it all
Coz you were the wall


Whipping boy, favourite toy, very, very sick

You did it all
Coz you were the wall


Soft spoken, invisible, just another brick

You did it all
Coz you were the wall


Written 16th October, 2008. Also for Jammy: "I'm out of form"

Read more...

Return

Mother-of-Indian-Cricket to MS Dhoni...

click on cartoon to enlarge

Read more...

Return

Has VVS Laxman retired from one day cricket?

We know for certain Dravid has retired from one day cricket. Even he knows now. But what about Laxman, with his old blues in the closet – he’s exactly where Dravid was before his services were summoned.

Laxman last played an ODI close to 5 years’ back. He scored, er, he didn’t. Somewhat ironical, as Laxman refused to score in his first innings as well. Both ducks against African teams, South Africa and Zimbabwe. His first game against another African team, Kenya, he scored – 1.

Before Dravid’s return in England, his last game too was in South Africa. He scored, gotcha there, 4. He was run out.

When Dravid was made to return against England, he scored 4, 2, 32, 2, 19 and 69. He even got run out in one of those innings.

There really isn’t much of a case for playing Laxman in ODIs. Just as there wasn’t one for Dravid. Doubt he'll do any worse than Dravid though, but there's a romance to it - Laxman in blues, down under. When he played there last, he dished out two 100s in two days.

If he is asked to return, it will only be after a 4-0 drubbing in Australia - and if he pulls off a Dravid-in-England.

Laxman has played 86 ODIs over 8 ½ years – his batting average is 30.76, strike rate 71.23, 6 100s in there. Laxman made his ODI debut when he was 22.

Rohit Sharma made his one-day debut when he was 20 in 2007. So far in over 4 years he’s only played 67 ODIs. His batting average is 31.35, strike rate 77.25, 2 100s in there.

On debut, Rohit scored, er, he didn’t – he wasn’t required to bat. In his last ODI too, he didn’t score  – he was retired hurt on 0.

You could call VVS and Rohit Sharma Mr & Mrs Lazy Elegance. Both are masters of the give-it-away school. Both secretly want to be opposition coaches that conduct catching practice drills.

In spite of his one-day misdemeanours, VVS has moved on, he and test cricket are drinking buddies now.

As for Rohit, he’s shed a few kilos. Where am I going with this? Only Rohit will tell.

Read more...

Return

Test cricket in reverse

Going by the epic finishes recent tests played in India have had, the BCCI is in all earnest looking at playing the fifth day first, followed by the fourth, third and so on. The argument is clear – "anyway, it is only the die-hard test cricket fans that turn their TVs on the first few days…if we give the masses a result on the first day itself (the 5th) then we will introduce more people to the joys of tests. As for the toss, that will take place on the fifth day (the 1st)." Cynics pointed out that such a format is undoable, to which a BCCI office bearer called for restraint, “bear with us please sir”. Still early days, but interesting times ahead. Btw the headline for this post should read as Reverse in Cricket Test.

Read more...

Return

Yuvraj's latest blame game

- a mosquito made me a b grade player

Read more...

Return

VVS Laxman in a fancy dress.

click on cartoon

Read more...

Return

Looking forward... and back.

I seem to be in a majority of one for thinking that a rather barren 2010 is not such a bad thing for India. While everyone and their uncle seems to think that not playing enough tests in 2010 is going to negatively impact us, not least in the ICC standings, I actually think it is a blessing in disguise.

A cursory look at the ICC FTP indicates that India have a pretty busy lead in into the year, with tours to Bangladesh and the West Indies ( for the T20 World Cup) and playing hosts to South Africa and the IPL.

Following which, there is a lull till the Australians come a visiting (again!) for a 7 ODI set. Which kick starts what is possibly the most hectic year and a half India has, with away series in South Africa, England, West Indies and Australia, the World Cup at home, and playing hosts to New Zealand, England and Pakistan. I kid you not - between September 2010 and April 2012, India will be playing an incredible 21 Tests ( and this does not take into account any additional Tests the BCCI may host to ward of all the negative criticism)!

Which is why I think the break in the lead up is important. And so too the timing of the break.

India's break from International cricket happily coincides with the English County season, from start to finish. And given the benefits reaped by Zaheer Khan, RP Singh and Sreesanth from their stints with English Counties ( not to forget Piyush Chawla's abridged time with Sussex), it is an excellent opportunity for us to get our bowlers over there.

Or at the NCA. Or the MRF Pace Academy.

Blips in the rankings are not a real concern. What is more important for India as a cricketing entity is building a dynasty. And the most vital ingredient to building a dynasty is a potent bowling attack. One that has the ability to defend whatever score the batsmen put up. And I strongly believe that we have all the tools for just such an attack.

Consider the following list of bowlers

Munaf Patel
RP Singh
S Sreesanth

Ishant Sharma
Sudeep Tyagi
Irfan Pathan
Zaheer Khan
Ashish Nehra

Now consider the list again

Munaf Patel Current age 26 years 174 days

RP Singh Current age 24 years 27 days

S Sreesanth Current age 26 years 330 days

Ishant Sharma Current age 21 years 122 days

Sudeep Tyagi Current age 22 years 105 days

Irfan Pathan Current age 25 years 67 days

Zaheer Khan Current age 31 years 87 days

Ashish Nehra Current age 30 years 248 days

Add to the mix

Harbhajan Singh Current age 29 years 183 days

Pragyan Ojha Current age 23 years 119 days

Ravinder Jadeja Current age 21 years 27 days

Piyush Chawla Current age 21 years 9 days

Amit Mishra Current age 27 years 39 days

If handled well, we not only have age but also experience on our side - vital factors in building and then sustaining a dynasty.

The 2010/11 -2011/12 season will show us if we can handle our bowlers properly. The lead up to that is an opportunity to work the bowlers into form ( and fitness). Which is why the barren 2010 season ( or non season) isn't the worst thing to happen to Indian cricket.

Speaking of Indian cricket, the Ranji semi finals begin tomorrow. The marquee match is between two ordinary teams, the other between my pre tourney favorites and "the" red hot team of the tournament.Mumbai vs Delhi gets top billing because of the history between the two teams- for a time, especially in the 80s, it was almost inevitable that the two teams would contest the Ranji finals. Every single year.

This year is different. Two very ordinary teams, one with major leadership issues and the others with no bowling to call upon will try to recreate the magic of the Mumbai - Delhi contest. And the only thing worth looking out for is how Ishant fares with the ball.

The other match, between UP and Karnataka, is the money game. The best bowling line up in the country, led by the Future India Captain( I haven't given up hope yet) play the most dominant batting line up in the country, bar Tamil Nadu. And while UP will be without Sudeep Tyagi or Suresh Raina, this will be the ideal platform for Tanmay Srivastava to show why he was once regarded so highly in the U-19 setup. For Karnataka, Uthappa's captaincy and Manish Pandey's batting will be the keys. And the Chinnaswamy wicket.

Here's to a good game then..

Happy New Year.

Read more...

Return

Sachin Announces Retirement - Just Another Premonition

Or call it a nightmare! While I was still thinking, what should be the one special post on Sachin completing 20 years in international cricket for Bored, I dozed off to sleep!

And it was time for another one of those premonitions!

----------

Sachin announced retirement 3 months back, and the reality has sunk in! Indian cricket is not the same anymore, being Indian hasn't remained the same either! SUNK, it is!

Last night, India lost their fourth straight one day series in the past 3 months, this time to Afghanistan. (Guess, I just love dreaming about the mountain, terror torn country!) Most of the blame had to be shouldered by the frail Indian batting line-up, that was still being regarded as the best in the world, only 90 days back!

After the Indian loss by 178 runs at Hyderabad, the arrogance in the words of Captain Virat Kohli, however, wasn't lost! "We have lost Sachin, but we have the potential to produce another one.", said he, and was mocked at by the packed stadium at Hyderabad! He was also mocked at in sports bars and coffee houses around the world! Bored Chief has announced a free of cost medical check up for Virat's mental illness, as the Bored Chief cannot see Indian cricket go down the drain where it is headed to.

BCCI has lost all its multi-million deals with its sponsors, in the past 2 months, when they were up for renewal! If BCCI hasn't invested well in the past, it seems with the current trend, that it is heading towards another Lehmannesque bankruptcy!

On a scarier note, Bored had an exclusive interview with the legendary Sachin himself. He seems to be going crazy sitting at home, watching India lose so bad! He wants to get back to cricket, but then he is already 50! His wife, being a student of medicine, is scared for his health!


------------

I couldn't bear the trauma of Sachin's retirement any longer, which is where I woke up! And thankfully the nightmare ended!

Because Sachin is still here, inspiring confidence in me and his team, as he has for the past 20 years! And we will continue to see turning up in his whites and blues, and playing for India, as he has for the past 20 years!

Thank You Sachin, for still being here!

You could read more on what I think about Sachin and his 20 years, here!

Read more...

Return

Bhajji the batsman versus Chotu the #@$%

In the Daredevils vs. Victoria game at the Kotla, Mishra hit what should have been a six, then some spoilsport did a MI3 manoeuvre and stole Chotu of a six. That could have been the highpoint of a lowly game, not to be.

Mishra can bat, he wants to bat; and if he makes it as a batsman he will be a compact batsman for more reasons than one.

Big bro Bhajji meanwhile is the real deal lower order resident all rounder for the Aussies. He is a mascot first, then a player.

On the basis of Bhajji’s charge against the Aussies, you’d think he has some stratospheric first class batting average. It’s a charming 19.11. Point to be noted milord. 11 fifties too. That’s how he always makes the 11.

Poor Chotu’s first class average is merely 19.50 – only .39 more than Bhajji’s.

Also, he has played 86 to Bhajji bhai’s 141 games. And to Bhajji’s 11, he only has 9 fifties.

But a moment of batting beauty, both Bhajji and Chotu have a first class high of 84. What a magical number, 84.

I rest my case, both should play for India. One always will, the other, by the grace of Bhajji.

(I’ve chosen to compare Bhajji and Chotu’s first class batting numbers for two reasons 1) Chotu has only played five tests to Bhajji’s three million, and Chotu is yet to register an ODI average in his five games. Another day, we will pack some sandwiches and talk first class bowling numbers)

Read more...

Return

Questions from Match 1!

Did you sh*t in your pants watching the last 4 overs of the match 1 of Hero Honda Cup 2009?!

Edge of the seat cricketainment is here! Australian or Indian, never mind, if you weren't at the edge of your seats in the last four overs of yesterday's match, my friend, you are not following cricket!

What is a convincing victory?!

The news channels keep calling yesterday's result a convincing victory for Australians! I believe that convincing victories are those, which grant you an undisputed psychological advantage for the next matches, and Australia do not take that from this match!

Is ODI format dead?!


My pants full of sh*t on your faces, ODI detractors! Because when the Top 2 ODI teams battle it out, it creates Cricketainment!

Read more...

Return

BCCI, please help with the whereabouts of Che

Click on map for approx whereabouts




Che for Dummies

Read more...

Return

sreesanth: could bcci have reacted differently...?

i think bcci were left with no option but to warn sreesanth once the referee wrote some scathing remarks in his report... it was easier for them too... anything written with sreesanth's name in it is reason enough to go out of the way to discipline him... tomorrow you may see him punished for sniffing close to his team mates... for deliberately spraying swine flu virus... but that's another matter...

has bcci reacted too harshly or is there another angle to it...?

it can be that he is on the verge of team india selection and the bcci wants to make sree aware of any fallouts if he goes astray again... otherwise why would they care...?

i won't be surprised if he plays for india again as early as the australia odi series... given the team's pace problems, the warning can just be a timely rap on the knuckles to get his act together to become 'acceptable'...

now if only sree can take the cue... and behave a bit... there is another chance... another opportunity... to be grabbed with both hands... to bring his career back on track...

Read more...

Return

Too long in exile.

ODI Debut: April 13, 2003.

Last ODI: April 21, 2003.

Read more...

Return