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Showing posts with label Mohali. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mohali. Show all posts
How Parthiv Patel breathed life into a wicketkeeper’s career. By batting for three hours and fifteen minutes.
Maybe you had only seen Parthiv Patel play in the IPL. Maybe you had some memory of him in that Little Hearts’ TV commercial with Syed Kirmani. Maybe you saw him save a Test on debut in England.
Or Maybe you didn’t. Maybe you’d forgotten all about Parthiv. Maybe all you know of him are from those silly jokes online. Maybe you thought he was making his debut in Mohali.
Parthiv made his debut in the summer of 2002. Before Mohali, he played his last Test in the summer of 2008. And here he is, in the winter of his career, pushing 32. He even has a beard but when that smile breaks through, he pushes back all those years, he’s 17 again. It’s Trent Bridge all over again. He saved a Test with his bat then. Today, he won a Test with his bat.
That smile. As if the years in between didn’t happen. As if Dhoni didn’t happen.
Parthiv Patel is back. He was back on November 27. Bat in hand, battle in mind. He was there after Murali Vijay fell in the 16th over. He was there for 26 overs, 115 minutes, 42 runs, goodbye new ball.
He was back on November 29. After Murali Vijay fell in the second over. He was there for 20 overs, 114 minutes, 67 runs, 54 balls, goodbye England.
Parthiv Patel kept wickets for 184.1 overs. Then he opened the batting. Twice.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan had lost nine wickets against New Zealand in a session, the post-tea session. India had lost Murali Vijay before tea. James Anderson was bowling with some of that old fire, Chris Woakes was in too. The target was 103. Would India do a Pakistan and lose 9 for 71?
Parthiv Patel slashed, cut, scooped, even drove, 11 fours, a six, he sealed and WhatsApped the match to India. Just like that.
England hardly got to ponder, "stranger things have happened". Stokes was taken off, Batty was on, that’s how lost England were.
Patel finished it with a four. It was his moment. Inside out, through covers, over the ropes, across the line India was. Patel’s chip was symbolic of this win, it was an unglamorous team effort. One that may just make it to Parthiv Patel’s untold story when it’s told behind closed doors amongst close friends.
He was in whites not in blue. It was a four, not a six. It was the third Test of a five Test series not a World Cup final. He wasn’t even the back-up keeper through most of the Dhoni years.
Is that why Parthiv Patel’s comeback story needs to be toasted some more? Where and how did he come into the picture? What were the hard yards, hard runs he scored?
Those nameless domestic seasons he played and won? How he led Gujarat to their first Vijay Hazare trophy? Those 339 runs in Mumbai Indians’ championship finish?
There were also four catches and one stumping. Of all, Jonny Bairstow’s catch stood out; it was way too low but then so was Patel. Not many keepers would’ve caught that.
And somewhere there is the hope for India’s wicketkeepers who’ve played on, behind the scenes, through the Dhoni years, filling in when there’s the odd call up for the odd series.
There’s something unique to each one’s game, hanging in is the key. Here’s to you, Dinesh Karthik, Wriddhiman Saha, NamanOjha.
And you Mr Parthiv Patel.
Even when you’re not playing for India, we know you’re out there, doing your thing. It could be Gujarat or India Green or Mumbai Indians or Rajasthan Cricket Association President's XI or Royal Challengers Bangalore or Sunrisers Hyderabad.
No matter what, we’ll always have Mohali. No matter what, we’ll always have Trent Bridge.
(Note: From August 2, 2002, when Parthiv Patel made his Test debut, not one cricketer from either India or England is currently playing international cricket. From India, only Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra have not retired.)
First published here
Beats talking about India's cricket problems
What's with the Aussies? Are the Indians getting to them - are they getting to themselves? Watch Bored Member Gaurav Sethi talk Naked Cricket with Kashish and Nishant Joshi.
India vs Pakistan vs You vs The Voices In Your Head (World Cup Semis, Live with the Bored Members) - Welcome to KIRKITISTAN.
Early Bored Call: Too close to call, mind says India, mindlessness says Pakistan, and the heart, wadaya think it says
By the sound of it, Akmal will continue to play in this World Cup, and at some point there should be an India-Pak game. Don't you just know, man. I reckon Akmal will play that game – 4 out of his 6 test hundreds are against us, remember Karachi? That innings had teeth.
My gut says, Kamran Akaml will decide that India game. Remains to be seen, who he plays for that day. (From March 9, after Akmal dropped Ross Taylor twice on his birthday)
Pre-Mohali Medical Checkup
"Going by evidence, by match time
they will be big fat fluttering butterflies..."
they will be big fat fluttering butterflies..."
Politics enter India Pakistan semifinals
"Where's the proof Pakistan infiltrated
the World Cup semifinals in India?!"
the World Cup semifinals in India?!"
Mohali is calling moi
MO-HA-LI is calling
With the lights wide open
And the nights wide open
MO-HA-LI is calling moi
On the edge of
some desert western town
is the town's pride
MO-HA-LI is calling
On the edge of the fourth day
On the edge of some western town
is the Town's Pride hotel
so close to gate no. 5
that old man can walk right in
be in before the gates are open
and the lights are off
just to stand in the centre
like some old baseball pro
soak it in, soak it in
MO-HA-LI is calling
on the edge of the fourth day
MO-HA-LI is calling moi
you better go boy
you better go boy
Can't take no for an answer
drive in that yellow new mitsubushi lancer
And the road winds around
And the eyes round around
You get a first sighter
on the edge of town
You get a first sighter
On the edge of the fourth day
there is nothing to play for
there is so much to play for
the win already happened
the win never happened
MO-HA-LI MO-HA-LI is calling moi
And i soar above my seat
like a wave from M0-HI-CO
MO-HA-LI is calling moi
(written on victory eve here, when India beat Australia in Mohali, reposted, after we beat them again and booked the Mohali ticket - Mohali is calling most Indians, pity it doesn't seat that many)
With the lights wide open
And the nights wide open
MO-HA-LI is calling moi
On the edge of
some desert western town
is the town's pride
MO-HA-LI is calling
On the edge of the fourth day
On the edge of some western town
is the Town's Pride hotel
so close to gate no. 5
that old man can walk right in
be in before the gates are open
and the lights are off
just to stand in the centre
like some old baseball pro
soak it in, soak it in
MO-HA-LI is calling
on the edge of the fourth day
MO-HA-LI is calling moi
you better go boy
you better go boy
Can't take no for an answer
drive in that yellow new mitsubushi lancer
And the road winds around
And the eyes round around
You get a first sighter
on the edge of town
You get a first sighter
On the edge of the fourth day
there is nothing to play for
there is so much to play for
the win already happened
the win never happened
MO-HA-LI MO-HA-LI is calling moi
And i soar above my seat
like a wave from M0-HI-CO
MO-HA-LI is calling moi
(written on victory eve here, when India beat Australia in Mohali, reposted, after we beat them again and booked the Mohali ticket - Mohali is calling most Indians, pity it doesn't seat that many)
When 50>200
To be exact, when 73*>204*
A 73* becomes that much more valuable when the best batsman in the world cannot muster more than 38 runs. When the opposition just has to turn their arms over and the pitch will do the rest to dismiss the batsmen. Or the umpire will. When your back hurts so much that you can't stand up, sit down or do anything that won't hurt like a mofo. When all your hard work can be undone by the tiniest error of judgement on someone else's part. When no one around you cannot keep their mind straight with the tension and the excitement and anger and frustration and the hope and disappointment. When you know everything you've done in the past, no matter how great will not be remembered, all that doesn't matter as much as what you're doing now.
The 204* becomes insignificant when it comes from the blade of a captain who refused to enforce the follow on and promoted himself to number 3, having failed in the first innings. When it comes on the back of a 394 run first innings lead. When it comes from someone who thinks the job is done by having made it international cricket, someone who can't understand why people don't remember that neat knock he played that time.
Yuvraj's knock is what should be the stuff of legends, a classic response to doubters but it just doesn't feel right, despite the win. Laxman's knock in a match where either team could have a dozen things to fault for their loss was the reaffirmation of a faith. A fifty that's a hundred times more valuable, more memorable, more significant than a double century.
For more of Crownish's play, visit the fckingblog
Thankful for what?
In another typical fluff piece on Cricinfo, Siddharth Monga writes ( and I quote)
This wasn't obviously all that Australia brought to Mohali, but it summed up their attitude over the last five days. They might not be the same dominating side of the last decade, but they are going to make it difficult for sides to beat them. They just won't go away, and whenever there is a single stump visible for a Test win, they will go for it. That played its part in making this Test great. That is what Australia need to be thanked for.Which is pretty much a continuation of the narrative that the "Cricketers in the baggy green dont give you an inch".
To which I say, bollocks!
Here are the match facts
- India are notoriously slow starters, as evidenced by their performance in the first test of a series for as long as I can remember and highlighted by Ricky Ponting in the pre-match sound bytes.
- Australia won the toss and were 154/1 in 41 overs on Day 1. And despite the middle order wobble, they held the upper hand thanks to a late order fight back that saw them go from 275/6 to 428 all out.
- Remember too that in the first essay, India's bowling was down to 3 men, thanks to Ishant's injury. Factor in Harbhajan's niggles and the bowling attack was effectively Two and a Half Men!!
- Remember too that because of VVS Laxman's back spasms, India's batting was effectively 10 men. And it was not as if the Australians were blindsided by this revelation. Nor were they oblivious to the advantage this gave them.
- After securing a 23 run lead ( and the psychological gains that come from this), the Australians were off to a flyer in their second essay. The first wicket fell at 81 ( reached in 13 overs at over 6 runs/over).
- By the time the third wicket fell, they were sitting pretty at 151 with an overall lead of 174.This, on a day 4 wicket.
- Fall of wickets1-0 (Gambhir, 0.4 ov), 2-31 (Dravid, 7.4 ov), 3-48 (Sehwag, 11.5 ov), 4-48 (Raina, 13.2 ov), 5-76 (Khan, 23.5 ov), 6-119 (Tendulkar, 29.6 ov), 7-122 (Dhoni, 33.2 ov), 8-124 (Harbhajan Singh, 33.4 ov),
Starting from not consolidating the advantage of winning the toss to not being able to drive home the advantage to not being able to prise out the last two Indian wickets despite having 92 runs to play with, this Australian team did what no other Australian team from the golden era of the Border Gavaskar Trophy would have done, namely keep the opposition in the contest.
In this test, the Australians did not concede inches, they were handing over yards. On a platter. And for that reason alone, this nonsense about "They just won't go away" needs to end. Because they were never there to begin with.
Listen to the Bored Interview on Test Match Sofa.
Test Match Sofa's Daniel + Bored Member Naked Cricket chat about Bored Cricket Crazy Indians, the test match in Mohali, Che Pujara, Iqbal, Ponting, Jatman, Pakistanis, the Butts, their asses on the line, Nohit Sharma, Bollinger, Bollinger’s new IPL money, what it does to Ponting, but why read, when you can listen. Here you go -
Thanks to Achettup + Homer for getting this interview on Bored.
Why do I watch cricket
Why do I watch cricket
Not for Ijaz Butt and his shenanigans
Why do I watch cricket
Not for happy hour with the boys at Bennigan’s
I don’t wanna keel over, on the side
With some mongrels arguing about the sanctity of their side
But it’ll do, too, if that’s all there is, it’ll do
Why do I watch cricket
For that precise moment when I know
I’m about to call it right
And Ishant Sharma won’t be able to resist
To follow a good one
With some overpitched scum
That will be driven right down
By Shane Watson for four runs
Why do I watch cricket
For the last ball of the day
By an old hand rookie called Amit Mishra
That knocks Michael Clarke
One of his five
For that precise moment when I know
I’m about to call it right
On his debut, that this kid will be history soon
Why do I watch cricket
When I don’t wanna spend money on a ticket
You got a free pass
I’ve got 8 sports channels with everything on
With cricket to football
From Berlin to Bonn
Why do I watch cricket
To walk through an empty Mohali
With a fourth day hangover
To see Zaheer - Khan through them
On the fifth
Why do we watch cricket?
We all saw something
And we think we’ll see it again
This could be Lord’s or this could be Mohali!
Right now I’d like to be on a flight to London, minor issues of visa notwithstanding. There is an almost magnetic pull to some test matches – like Mohali, October, 2008, the 5th day. India on the verge, Australia on the edge. And here we are again, Lord’s, July, 2009, the 5th day, England on the verge, Australia, you know where they are.
4th day, Mohali, Australia finished 5 down (ditto Lord’s) – Clarke and Haddin still there. That series though, neither Haddin’s mind nor feet were moving. Now, Haddin is uncluttered, and batting with him is, Clarke boy again.
Looking back, Mohali, like Lord’s, followed a drawn test. Both 2nd tests, and in both tests, Australia’s adversaries had the follow-on option, which they did not use. Useless I say.
In both tests, Australia was set a target in excess of 500. (516 and 522)
That 5th day in Mohali, you remember what Zaks did – he did Australia in. Who will do them tomorrow?
You know what I'm thinking: Really miss Teri Maa Ki - that was the the Teri 'Marquee' series!
Post Match Note - Both matches were lost by Australia pre-lunch. That's food for thought.
An unlucky draw
by Naked Cricket
Some tests have ‘Draw’ written all over them. If you look closely, instead of RBS, you’ll see ‘Draw’ written on the field, midway between the stumps and the side screen.
If you squint more, you’ll see all those Airtel hoardings are really ‘Draw’ hoardings.
You don’t need the beautiful mind of a code-breaker for this: just a hint of mint, a dash of squash…
Mohali had ‘Draw’ written all over it. That’s what kept me away. No victory dance, no Poms to prod.
Take the Mohali test (don’t shove it yet) – from a possible 450 overs (less 2 for each change of innings), what do we get – 343 (minus your twos please). The game was scrapped forty minutes before 5pm on the 5th, do that math too.
107 overs less (that is a day and 17 overs)
Begs the question, why wasn’t this test played higher up in the hills – would’ve been lucky to get a day and 17 overs. Must have got cold feet.
And isn’t this the second test in consecutive series being played at Mohali – and even though every parrot in the com box is enamoured by Mr. Bindra’s hospitality, go on this way, test cricket will need a hospital very soon.
The really bored quiz 3.33
Who kept while MSD bowled the last over of the Mohali test match, on 23rd Dec, India vs England, 2008? (Question asked by Anonymous on Bored to the Bone 33.33 comments)
Take it this is simpler than The really bored quiz 2 (still no answers) but tougher than The really bored quiz 1.
Good for cricket
Chennai and Perth were. How good will Mohali be?
Can England come from behind, just like India and South Africa did the other day?That sure will make cricket’s day. And cut this Indian team to size – nowhere close to tiny oz, but you get the drift.
But how fit is Yuvi?
by Naked Cricket
Not mentally, but physically. Recall the SRT-YS match turning partnership at Chennai? Good. Recall how around the same time they all but keeled over, and ‘oh! My $@#% back!’ was nearly heard from the stump mike but snuffed out. Sure the humidity was 109% and it still didn’t rain, but back to that question, how fit is Yuvi?
Not physically, but mentally. Why would he go for gas to his papa’s petrol pump when the team bus is just a whistle away? And what type of tank takes two hours to fill? Sure free spirits are good, but a night before match day – is this the year of living dangerously? Or the year of living stupidly? But back to that question, how fit is Yuvi?
Not mentally, but physically. Recall that wunderbar ODI hundred last month – before he got all wonderful, didn’t he ask for his black belt? And then he (and we) braced ourselves for another collapse, but he came off, didn’t he? But back to that question, how fit is Yuvi?
Bored to the bone 31 (Mohali, Napier, Perth)
by Naked Cricket
Viru was out on the third ball. He had a prior appointment at Yuvi’s Papa’s petrol pump. That’s a gas.
Jeetan Patel’s back. Not in the Saurashtra side, but playing for the all blacks. The spin doctors got him back. Who says only quicks play with injuries.
Symonds let Harris have him again. Similarities to his first innings dismissal reopen the old debate - should a person be punished for the same offence twice?
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