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Created by Scorpicity , first seen at his blog Cricket Fizz.
Showing posts with label India vs Sri Lanka 2009. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India vs Sri Lanka 2009. Show all posts
DDCA: Married to the mob.
Hat tip Sunny's fb comment: Do you think the DDCA realised there was much more money to be made renting out Feroz Shah Kotla for weddings than having these cricket matches ? There is an extreme shortage of open spaces in central Delhi and huge traffic jams on the MG road to all those farmhouses!
Laugh more on DDCA's expense - Revealed: What went into the Kotla pitch
YOU SON OF A PITCH!!
It was scary watching, so you can imagine what it was like in the middle, very scary. Seems to me this was a reactive pitch – in reaction to the criticism some of the Kotla wickets got in the Champions League. That the Daredevils lost the only game I attended must have sealed the deal.
The way the ball jumped from a good length you’d think the groundsman had popped some Viagra in. Hard on the batsmen alright, but it’s funny when you see that none of the five dismissals were Viagra induced. There’s also an alternate theory which claims Kandamby’s bulk did the wicket in.
Let it be known, it was only after Kandamby had frolicked for nearly 30 minutes that the match was suspended. If I was Sanga, I would’ve declared the Lankan innings @83 for five.MSD seemed keen enough to play on this wicket, perhaps he should have come at one down.
Of course there are those people who will blame Sachin, and claim he knew about the wicket all along and that’s why he sat out – personally I think that’s irresponsible comment, and while Sachin is indeed the son of Indian cricket, he is no son of a pitch.
Follow Bored Cricket@twitter #sonofapitch
Not such little differences.
When last did MSD bowl Sehwag in a one dayer? Good question, pass. Today, Sehwag brought himself on as early as the 16th over, bowled four overs straight, going round the wicket to left hander Tharanga first ball.
MSD prefers to not bowl Bhajji in the power play; today, Sehwag brought Bhajji on in the 14th. Also unlike MS, Sehwag did not bring Bhajji on to tackle the tail – instead, he chose to bowl Jadeja through.
Of course, once Jadeja was done, Bhajji came on in the 44th, but by then, so were the Lankans. Off late, Bhajji usually has the tailenders for dessert, but Nehra can be such a spoilsport.
Also noticed the stand in skipper and wicketkeeper are far more cheerful – but then picture Sehwag captaining and keeping or far that matter DKNY keeping and…ok, let’s not push it.
MS will be back on the 27th, till then Bhajji will be low key; will bat after the batsmen and bowl where a team’s frontline spinner should, in the first fifteen.
A Christmas ban.
It may not be a test series, but the discerning MSD doesn’t care much for playing the Lankans. 3 tests, 2 T20s and 2 ODIs too many, what about decorating my bikes with mistletoes – and anyway, always better to end the year on a high with a hundred, than lose a series to the Lankans.
A shrewd plan indeed. Let’s talk, mid pitch, mid way through the bowler’s run-up, by the way, off the cuff, just talk – it takes time to talk. The more time it takes, the longer the game goes on, the longer the game goes, the stronger the chances of a ban.
Of course, a 3 ODI ban will be ideal, but 2 will do too. Back for the Delhi game, where if we’re bowling second, we’ll bowl by example – bowl our overs or the Lankans well within time. No more talking, that’s for Aircel mobile ads.
But are the Aircel ads worth talking about?
Down to the last decimal point with Bhajji.
That's On Bored, from December 15th, after the Rajkot ODI; and now in the Nagpur ODI, what are Bhajji's bowling analysis - 10-0-58-1 i.e. Bhajji went @5.8 r.p.o. Incredible, two games, identical runs conceded; if only he was half as accurate. But dart's life.
Letting go.
Defeat can be liberating – in a way, it’s a form of failure, and once you’ve faced failure, you’ve faced one of your deepest fears, left with very little to fear. About a year ago I read J.K. Rowling’s benefits of failure, an excerpt:
So why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged. I was set free, because my greatest fear had been realised, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.
After today’s defeat at Nagpur, it appears, yet again, there is one player in our team who doesn't fear failure; or does he?
Hello, was that you Bhajji?
There was something about Bhajji today; from the moment he greeted Jatman’s hundred with a slavelike bow, you could tell he was determined to put in a special performance.
This of course was aided by not bowling in the power play overs; that’s for kids like Jadeja. Bhajji ages like wine, and the uncorking must not be rushed.
Bhajji came on to bowl after every bowler had been smashed. By then he believed in his legend, that he will save this cricketing race from decline.
He knocked Dilshan and Sanath over, though closer examination will tell you they knocked themselves – but Bhajji had it all today, for he doesn’t like it easy. When the wicket helps spin he doesn’t help himself. Today as he saw lesser mortals like Zaks and Nehra fall around him, he decided – I will bowl slow; a ball at 80 kmph. They will not expect this.
And when they try to play it off their pads, I will sneak one on the off stump. Ha! That will have them in a quandary. How do you think I knocked Dilshan’s off stump?
Also, let it be known I was the only bowler who went at less than 6 runs per over. Bhajji being a creature of habit likes to go at 5.80 runs per over; irrespective of the conditions, and today was no different. Who cares if the other guys go at 10 and 12 r.p.o., I’m good with my 5.80 r.p.o.
Of course Bhajji was the man of the match. But the modest man that he is, he requested the commentators to honour a lesser player. Well done Bhajji, you played so well, even we didn’t recognise you.
today is the day...
at the time of writing this, sehwag is at 115 odd with about 24 overs to go... the way sehwag is playing... not trying to outdo himself as has been the case of his odi career so far... today is the day we will see the first double hundred being scored at one day internationals...
only jatman can come in between sehwag and double hundred... that's there for the taking...
Where did the two one dayers go?
It’s somewhat disappointing
When you see, it’s only five one dayers
Oh you must be so happy, you naysayers
It’s so sad that this should come to pass
That people started calling ODIs a pain in the ass
But really, it’s somewhat disappointing
Only five, not seven
We will survive, we will be alive
By the end of the series
By the end of the series
There’s some unseasonal rain in Delhi tonight
Who knows there could be some on the 27th too
And if that happens, will it be only four one dayers?
Oh you must be so happy, you naysayers
And what about Christmas Eve
Will Eden take its leave?
It’s been so long, far too long
There is so much that can go wrong, go wrong
And if that happens, will it be only three one dayers?
Oh you must be so happy, you naysayers
And what about Yuvi's poor little finger
How will India play without its gun slinger
Damn it, call Rajkot off!
And if that happens, will it be only two one dayers?
Oh you must be so happy, you naysayers
Only two one dayers, one at Nagpur, one at Cuttak
Looks like with these two were kinda stuck
But there gotta be a reason for them to be scrapped
Play a test match, GOTCHA! You're trapped!
And if that happens, will it be no one dayers?
Oh you must be so happy, you naysayers
It’s so sad that this should come to pass
That people started calling ODIs a pain in the ass
Confusing one form with the other
Arguably some players have a license to fail repeatedly; and even if they fail in one form, they can always sneak into another form. So Ishant is dropped from the test team but he makes the T20 side. Yusuf Pathan is dropped from the ODI side (frankly I’ve lost track of this player’s flop shows) and walks into the T20 team. Rohit Sharma too, out of the ODI side, but in the T20 side.
I know, if and when any of these players make it in any form they will be rushed back into whichever form they were ousted from.
No such luck for someone like Amit Mishra. He’s first dropped from the test team, and then he’s not picked for either the one-day or T20 team. It’s obvious, some guys have all the bad luck – their neck is always on the line.
At Bored we’ve tracked Yusuf Pathan’s repeated failures (the number of first ball ducks) to hell with lame reasons that defend his batting position to his thoughtless batting; today, yet again, he was out on a second ball duck.
I wrongly called it as a first ball duck on twitter
@nakedcricket: Can't wait for Yusuf Pathan to score a first ball duck #cricket
It's a little much to talk about a T20 game, esp a lost cause, so here is BoredCricket on twitter
MSD's innings show just serious he takes India's No.1 test ranking. #cricket #MSD
The emotionally imbalanced cricket fan will find fault in MSD's subdued innings. #cricket
After the last over heroics from gambhir, more cricketers are looking to get their sisters married #cricket
MSD on the phone with Dravid, "you were right, once you enjoy test cricket...." #cricket #MSD
Damn, this Dinesh Karthik is so damn keen he wants to field for the Lankans #cricket
After this dismissal, Mahela will continue batting in the dugout #Mahelaisanoptimist #cricket
Sangakarra is still trying to win Sri lanka's first test in India #cricket
Only a conservative guy like Arnold will say 180. C'mon think 250 #cricket
And the crowds sing, When the Sanath's go marching out. #cricket
Credit to Ishant, he just didn't drop the ball, he dropped himself too #cricket
Hop on Bored, follow BoredCricket on twitter
Hey, what are tweets doing in a blog post? But hey, what are IPL amateurs doing in the Indian team?
vaughan trott saga revisited...?
jayasuriya was seen not only patting sachin tendulkar, his mumbai indians team mate, but smiling too... after srilanka's 2-0 dressing down in the test series...
more mumbai indian than a srilankan...?
YAY!
At 10.15 am I was flat out asleep when a “YAY!” from downstairs snapped me awake. That has to be the 7th wicket; I zap the TV on, there’s a score, SL 309, and a replay, Murali’s wicket, Bhajji’s got it – barely awake, I’m thinking, how many more has B***** taken?
Scorecard appears, just the gratis 10th wicket, that is booked for Bhajji; in addition to Dilshan’s freebie.
I’m downstairs, HUGs, it’s like I won the match. More HUGs on TV, and then all the replays; I’m well rested, clearheaded, this is turning out to be a No. 1 Sunday.
Through the day I have one thought, why did my body clock not wake me up before day’s play – how did it work for the 3rd day, when Jatman was on the verge? Am I becoming one of those record hungry Indians that make SMG proud?
I need to address these issues, or are they non-issues? Anyway, I did get a tennis ball game in. As I bowled to a left hand batsman, and one turned from outside leg to way beyond off – I thought of Bhajji’s lack of turn again. And then when I bowled some crap down leg, I had to ask myself, am I no better than Bhajji?
Making a song and dance out of Bhajji and Dilshan.
(A tribute in broken Punjabi-Hinglish to the unbreakable Bhajji and his compelling appeals that have devoured Dilshan twice.)
Kar de ungal upar shupar!
Upar Shupar! Upar Shupar!
Sun le meri baat puttar!
Kar de ungal upar shupar!
Upar shupar! Upar shupar!
Dilshan ka kya, pad lagi ki paad maari
Awaaz ayee, awaaz ayee!
Gandi se joh bu ayee!
Kar de ungal upar shupar!
Upar Shupar! Upar Shupar!
Dey de, dey de, dey de yaar
Upar Shupar!
Abey! Don’t care what he says!
Dilli daredevils da munda haiga!
He should know kaise haiga!
Upar Shupar! Upar Shupar!
Kar di appeal, ho gaya mamla fit
Kar di appeal, ho gaya mamla hit!
Umpire ne kar di Dilshan ki!
Upar Shupar!
Bhajji ne kar di Dilshan ki
Upar Shupar!
Upar Shupar! Upar Shupar!
(This song is best danced in two steps, first raise your dreaded finger like an idiot umpire would with a glazed look into the mid distance (enamoured by Bhajji’s appeal) then raise the other hand’s finger up, break into the Bhangra with both fingers raised – sing it yaar, Upar Shupar! Kar de ungal Upar Shupar!
you can do nothing about it...
dilshan stood no chance... when bhajji appeals... nothing else matters...
umpires have no option but to raise the finger... in accordance...
Dear Trevor
From Cricinfo, Trevor Bayliss has this to say on the UDRS
"The question that's got to be asked is, why the referral system is being used in every other series barring this one, when the ICC said that it should be used after October 1," Bayliss said. "No one's explained to us yet why it's not being used when it's being used everywhere else in the world. If Dilshan was able to go and make a big score in the first innings, things might have been a bit different."Now, this can either be seen as a valid point for the increased use of Technology in cricket ( and grist to the mill for more BCCI bashing) or sour grapes.
I am inclined to go with the latter. And not just because of my well documented antipathy to the increased use of technology in cricket (here and here).
In one of the "other series" where the UDRS is being used, at the end of the first day's play, both teams involved are unhappy with the referral system. This despite having the full complement of everything the UDRS has to offer.
Ricky Ponting is unhappy because "The Australia captain believed West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul was caught behind on 38 during the opening day of the second Test. But the third umpire did not give him out.".
And the West Indies are unhappy because "Chanderpaul was fired on the flimsiest of evidence from one camera shot when other angles were inconclusive and the "hot spot" replay failed to show a touch on the edge of the bat."
And for the record, Snicko indicated a sound in both incidents - the source of which remains unknown.
So not only is the technology in use unreliable, it is further compounded by the fact that human error ( and human malice) has a huge role to play in the final result. So, not only can the technology in use produce erroneous results ( or be manipulated to produce said results) but you have the discretion of the third umpire to deal with AFTER the technology has delivered its verdict.
And who is to say that Sri Lanka would have benefited from the UDRS. For all I care, Prasanna Jayawardene would have never come close to the 154 he scored in the first Test at Ahmedabad had the technology been in play!
Does that answer your question, Trevor?
Cheers,
Was it Jammy or was it Jatman?
I need closure for Jatman’s wicket. Let’s get one thing straight guys, his innings was not some accounting procedure, it was not meant to be carried forward. Seeing how fast our man, Jatman got to his double from the 180s (a blink of an eye is longer in comparison), you’d expect, the 280s to 300 would have been faster. Needs to be considered that Sanga pulled out a Dilshan from his hat, and said, play boy to Jatman – and nearly had him; but by then our man was high on helium, he needed to go; it’s bad enough the innings had to be broken by drinks breaks, tea intervals – given a chance, Jatman would have said, “one tea to go”. Innings such as his cannot have a break, and while you write of them, you can’t afford to have para breaks, line breaks, word breaks are bad enough. The innings was a rant. Jammy however, did not get this. Or maybe he did, and I already did complement him for his camaraderie; but Jammy, how well do you know Jatman – why were you trying to squeeze his innings last night – what was all that about hogging the strike, last two overs, think you batted thirteen balls – that is just not possible, not on sir. And Jatman, you know him, he won’t say nothing, you are like his big bro. Face it, last night’s innings was not meant to played again today – it was like her perfume, meant to stay, not washed by water or time. And what did you do, you let him sleep over it. Go back in time Jammy, rotate the strike, give Jatman those last two overs back. And if he gets out, so be it. I can live with that.
Damn the record.
Is it such a bad thing that Sehwag missed his third triple? Sure I woke up earlier than usual, got into my track and field gear, but the night before when a few of us Bored Members spoke, we almost knew, as Shastri would say, “the first few overs are crucial”, and that’s when Jatman will get out. It was also the reason for this Dilshan post.
In a way today's papers were disturbing. Sehwag was plastered all over the front page, he was the headline in anticipation of bigger headlines. For any other player, I know of a few papers that will even change their masthead. I also know of news channels that will tattoo cricketer’s names on their anchor’s arms.
With Sehwag it’s different, even when he goes nuts there's some national disaster that overtakes him in the news. Records and Jatman are not meant to collaborate. The runs and the ruins around them, that’s his legacy. He is not street legal. He is for a blog, not the mainline media.
Just as records are for Sachin. So if and when he gets 40 something century at Brabourne we will have to unlearn counting all over again. But they can’t make us forget the 293. It may not be a record, but it has been recorded with a cricketing needle.So friggin deep I can almost hear each shot pierce through.
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