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Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
Before AB de Villiers cried, the skies wept.
- O dear Leonard Cohen
- Will you lend your voice and words
- To the loss we're feeling
- Because all we can do now
- Is cry
- Cry, cry, cry
- All we can do is cry
- Cry like we was babies
- Cry like we was lost
- Cry like we don't know when we're going home, AB
- Cry like we don't know when we're going home, baby
- Cry like we just don't know
- Oh, what a game this is
- The very game that makes me live
- Is the very game that makes me die
- The very game that makes me high
- The very game that makes me die
- Oh, what a game this is
- The crying game
- I cried like a Pup
- I cried like a captain
- I cried with AB de Villiers
- I cried with Michael Clarke
- I cried with my heart ripped bare
- I cried for a player I scarcely knew
- His childhood photographs on my bedside table
- And I saw him growing up
- And I saw him going up
- I saw him fall
- I saw us all fall
- I saw that kid from the country
- His farmer ways
- I saw him with Warner
- I saw him on the scoreboard
- Forever not out
- Forever, 63* not out
- I saw Morne long legs run down at the Kotla
- I saw Morne scissor balls back down at third man
- How he made the ball rise on such a passive pitch
- How he made the ball rise on just any pitch
- "How the moon hits your eye
- And the zing bails fly
- That's a Morne"
- I saw Morne as a boy going to school
- The gentle gawky kid that wouldn't hurt a fly
- The gentle gawky kid that wouldn't tell a lie
- Such a good kid, such a straight good kid
- And that kid sits on the banks of Eden Park
- In a pool of tears, in a pool of blood, sweat and years
- Morne Morkel, just sits there and weeps
- All six foot four inches of him just sits there and weeps
- That's a Morne
- "When the moon hits your eye
- Like a big pizza pie, that's amore"
- Oh, what a game this is...
- The very game that makes me live
- Is the very game that makes me die
- The very game that makes me high
- The very game that makes me die
- Oh, what a game this is
- The crying game
- AB was everywhere, every fucking where
- From mid off to mid wicket
- From a midsummer night's dream to a midlife crisis
- AB batted in the 40th, AB bowled in the 40th
- AB aged nine years, he was on to his 40th
- AB says
- I don't know what to do, I am completely at a loss
- AB says
- I don't know, I don't even know when we are going home
- AB says
- I tried my best to catch it, I didn't
- AB says
- As a captain, I'll be there for the guys
- AB says
- But life moves on and the sun will come up tomorrow
- AB says
- AB sobs
- I write to my South African friends
- I ask them the same question
- How are you?
- Antoinette Muller says
- "Oh I'm fine. They did their best."
- Sean Wilson says
- "I'm okay. It's just sport."
- Sean Simpson says
- "I am shattered. Drinking nice wine though."
- Ben Karpinski says
- "Not well mate. Really not well
- But hoping your boys can beat Australia on Thursday. That will help things"
- The very game that makes me live
- Is the very game that makes me die
- The very game that makes me high
- The very game that makes me die
- Oh, what a game this is
- The crying game
- Before AB cried, the skies wept.
Credits, notes, asides:
"That's Amore" - by Dean Martin (lyrics by Brooks, Jack / Warren, Harry).
"That's a Morne" - by Sean Wilson (@SimplySean on twitter).
It's only after writing this that I discovered that Morne Morkel and I share a birthday. We did not go to the same school, however.
For a lark, picture Leonard Cohen singing "Now so long, Morne, it's time that we began to laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again".
First published in daily O
Who is your favourite Younis Khan?
I had huge respect for Younis Khan – the player, fighter, captain and more than anything someone who wanted to take the Pakistani cricket establishment head on. That has now become a story of the past, why ?
He has just proven that he is another average politician from the subcontinent. He has told the press that in spite of him not being fully fit in the finger. Younis justified this bravado by invoking Sachin Tendulkar and his cameo during the 2003 world cup against Pakistan.
So, what is wrong with his intentions ?
Why am I being so harsh on a brave Pathan ?
If his team wins and / or he scores some runs, then he would emerge a brave warrior who went to war without a finger and made a name for him. A la, Ekalavya of Mahabaratha fame.
If Pakistan indeed loses, like how the history points, then Younis becomes a martyr. A man who would soon be recommended for a Nishan-e-Haider, and retired.
Tell us who your favorite Younis Khan is ??
Ekalavya of Mahabaratha or a Nishan-e-Haider winning martyr
Wasn't Bored almost right or what?!
When the T20 World Cup was still to begin, when the Indian team were still supposed to win, I at Bored had some observations about the teams. Read them, before you read these!
Now, weren't those right or what!
South Africa reached the semi finals on account of their experience at IPL, and then lost it, on account of the same! A case in point being Duminy's experience with MI! But more importantly they choked again! How I wish I had betted on it!
Australia found it real hard without Roy, and they are unseeded for the next T20 WC now! Of course, because it is Oz, ICC may change some of the rules before next year!
India, well, still very raw! So, let us forget it! Just let them come back, got those effigies ready!
West Indies, okay I was wrong about them!
Sri Lanka, still don't like their outfits!
But Pakistan! Yes, so right about them! They had lost both their warm ups and are now into the Finals of T20 World Cup! Hail their inconsisntency!
What would have South Africa done?
If it were South Africa playing New Zealand instead of Sri Lanka, then despite winning all its previous games and looking like the best team on paper, South Africa would have made sure they didn't qualify for the semi finals.
They did it in 2007.
Sri Lanka showed them how not to do it in 2009.
So then, how many teams (besides Australia) have reached the semis unbeaten and gone on to play the final?
The T20 Carnival begins tomorrow!
Yeah, Bored was live last night, and I was one of those on the panel! I mention this, cause our moderators deserve a special thanks! It must have been one hell of a task for them!
So, the warm up matches are over, including the India-Pakistan warm up final! It is time for the T20 carnival to begin!
A quick look at the teams:
Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands, Bangladesh: The group of upsetters! It would be fun to watch, whose party they spoil!
Australia: Andrew Symonds has been sent back home! So reports Achettup! The Oz T20 teams now looks like those racist blokes really in need of some proteins, wait that could send all of them back, ala Warney!
South Africa: Any side that has benefited the most from the IPL, apart from India, in terms of match practice, it is these guys. Guess, CSA has a certain BRC management to thank!
New Zealand: Their reaching the semi finals is almost a given! After all it is an ICC tournament! Can't bet on it though! Want to bet on Saffers choking instead?
England and West Indies: Are very happy with winning against each other! May get out of the WC as soon as it begins! Of course, you know that!
Pakistan: They have lost both their warm up matches, so they are going a long way in this World Cup, on account of their inconsistency!
Sri Lanka: I hate their team outfits!
India: One loss, one win! Against somebody they have never won against, against somebody they have never lost any! Yeah, you can't comment much on their form! But they are the defending champions!
All that I would now add, Aane De!
So, the warm up matches are over, including the India-Pakistan warm up final! It is time for the T20 carnival to begin!
A quick look at the teams:
Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands, Bangladesh: The group of upsetters! It would be fun to watch, whose party they spoil!
Australia: Andrew Symonds has been sent back home! So reports Achettup! The Oz T20 teams now looks like those racist blokes really in need of some proteins, wait that could send all of them back, ala Warney!
South Africa: Any side that has benefited the most from the IPL, apart from India, in terms of match practice, it is these guys. Guess, CSA has a certain BRC management to thank!
New Zealand: Their reaching the semi finals is almost a given! After all it is an ICC tournament! Can't bet on it though! Want to bet on Saffers choking instead?
England and West Indies: Are very happy with winning against each other! May get out of the WC as soon as it begins! Of course, you know that!
Pakistan: They have lost both their warm up matches, so they are going a long way in this World Cup, on account of their inconsistency!
Sri Lanka: I hate their team outfits!
India: One loss, one win! Against somebody they have never won against, against somebody they have never lost any! Yeah, you can't comment much on their form! But they are the defending champions!
All that I would now add, Aane De!
Bat and ball
Who is on top—bat or ball? In IPL 2, only one score above 200 so far. But a number of bowlers with a haul of 10 or more wickets. Indian pitches in ipl one, were they made for a run feast? Not so in South Africa.
by Lalit
Where are you dear sir, we need someone as able to respond?
Well, we paged you yesterday, but you didn’t respond. Your stoic silence has been taken for granted by the South African's, they think they could get away with murder.
Don’t believe me?
See what they have done. They have dropped Johan Botha from their squad for the final ODI.
Why?
They want to shield him, from being called again. So he will not be called now, unless you, our dear sir broke his silence and called him, names.
Look at what the man himself says (and I quote the good guys from cricinfo)
"We know what we want to do and we know what we need to do," Botha told Cricinfo. "It's pretty simple."
What does this mean?
This means many things to us.... conspiracy sir.
1. May be they are planning to send his body double (Johan Onna) for the test in Australia and get Botha them cleared
2. Or, may be they are tutoring him now. On how not to bowl how he bowls now, during this break from the final ODI
Your silence is painful dear sir. Yes sir, more painful than how batsmen felt when Steve Bucknor declared them out (he says he is retired but still sir, the batsmen feel the pain).
And my dear sir no worries, I assure you even this time if you open you will not close that easily. No court and no case sir. Yes sir, I mean your sweet mouth simply can’t, those harmonic words that come out.
(Y)our scope is expanding, you will first finish Johan Botha and cricket South Africa off and then come to India. Here we will say “Hello” to Gill paji, our sports minister and a big “Thank you” to him. We need to extract an answer from Harbajan and Dhoni, irresponsible guys they are sir. First tell them how important the Padma awards are, and then demand an answer as to why they missed the ceremony. We need to ask them if that was because of an impending income or expenditure. Yes sir, an ad shoot or a girl friend. You know what we try to mean here…
And sir we have this spineless ICC’s meeting happening in Dubai to decide if cricket could be played in Pakistan or by ICL.
Sorry sir, I know this might be confusing, but two things sir. One my English is not as perfect as yours and two this particular item (line) in the ICC agenda was drafted by Sharad Pawar.
And sir I repeat, please save us & cricket sir. We believe, there have only been two indelible icons in world history who saved the world – general or cricket. One, Hercules and the important two is you sir.
So please respond sir.
Bored Question
Today is when the second phase of the Indian general election happens. One of the most important states, for Indian cricket (today*) goes for its final phase of polling today (6 constituencies of Jharkhand went to polls during the first phase on 16.04.2009).
Ranchi, the home town of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the state of Jharkhand is voting today to elect their representative. A while back, there was a huge hue and cry about Mahi's family not featuring on the electoral rolls, and how important it is for the captain & his family to exercise their franchise. After the family was shown waving their ration cards / ID's fanatically on national TV, the state election commision came out with a release stating that Mahi's family has been included in the rolls and they can vote.
The question now is... Is the captain exercising his franchise today or is he exercising with his franchise in SA ?
Well my answer is...
He might have already sent a proxy as he did for the Padma awards. The captain has a match to play this evening.
So what do you think?
* Who knows about tomorrow !? The Indian cricket team might join the revolution and get 14-16 captains !!
Calling Bishen Singh Bedi… Mr. Bedi come in please!!
Johan Botha of South Africa is the latest to be reported for suspect action. I learn this is the third time Botha had been reported. The news that he has been reported for a suspect action also coincides with no news from Mr Bedi for a while. We haven't heard from you sir since you had whiskey with the visiting English team (in late '08) and hung-over during practice.
Cricket, Mr Bedi is boring, without your valuable comments about today's bowlers and their bowling. I can see Monty nodding vigorously in agreement, sitting at his home in Bedfordshire.
I am sure you would agree with us it is time, Mr Bedi it's time for you to speak up. For, a right action has to be taken against the latest of (the spate of) wrong actions. I am sure Mr Bedi you would agree with us, that this disease of wrong actions has to be eradicated from the cricket world, be it by bowlers or administrators.
Mr Bedi, ask him to use Botha brain and hand while bowling and do it right.
now that a precedent has been set...
no i am not talking about IPL being shifted to south africa...
i am talking about the reason england lost out to south africa...
it was anticipated that had bcci organised IPL in england, 70% matches would have been washed out due to bad weather…and this fact tilted the balance in favor of south africa...
no problem with that...
it's just that since bcci has now set a precedent of shifting the venue of their most important tournament, IPL, coz of weather...can we expect that some care if not equal consideration will be given to when finalising the itinerary of some 'unworthy' international matches...?
bored joke: why south africa was preferred over others...? coz they are SAF...
Where are your towels, son?!
By Ankit Poddar
If you want to be a hitchhiker in the galaxy, you need to always carry a towel. So said, Arthur in Douglas Adams' "The Hitch-hiker's Guide to Galaxy" or something to that effect!
But from now on, you need to carry a towel, even if you are watching a match which involves any one of South Africa, Australia or India.
Coz, the blood bath for the top three slots in both ODIs and Tests is now being contested between these three teams!
And if there is bathing involved, it is always recommended that you carry a towel!
I would recommend a red towel, the bloodier it gets, the less stains on your towel, and as we all know, stains look good only in detergent commercials!
And then, we @ BCC!, can also get into a collaboration with Welspun and get you a regular supply of red towels and also make some money in the process!
Bored to the Bone XI
Andrew Hudson, Gary Kirsten, Kepler Wessels (c), Jacques Kallis, Jacques Rudolph, Ashwell Prince, Neil Mckenzie, Boeta Dippenaar, Dave Richardson (wk), Paul Harris, Charl Langeveldt
Look Ma, all South Africans!
Martin van Jaarsveld missed out, blame the quota system.
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