Here are a list of 5 things cricket commentators love to say. They literally swear on these. And when I say commentators, I am talking about the Shastris, the Gavaskars, the Chappels and the Lyods, and not the modern ones who do not swear by test cricket as these oldies do.
1. "Look at the bat these guys use now-a-days. We used to have lighter bats" - when a simple back-foot nudge goes for a six from Yuvi or Viru. As if saying everything depends on the bat.
2. "These things should be taught a junior levels" - when a batsman does not stretch forward enough to save himself from getting run out. You would often hear Gavaskar saying this.
3. "Mind you , there were no helmet those days ..". I still can't believe those guys used to play without helmets.
4. "Look at the sledging these days, in our days it was just a look in the eye, or a humorous comment". - I believe this sledging issue is overrated.
5. And finally "So much cricket being played these days, the players are bound to get injured"
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
World T20 starts in England
World T20 starts in England, and unlike the IPL there is no hype around it.
With all the action switching to ESPN/STAR, the difference now is the increased number of ads being shown. I don't think these BCCI guys ever watch matches , and that too on TV. Because if they would, they would understand how much pain it is to watch our favorite players among the numerous advertisements. .....
With all the action switching to ESPN/STAR, the difference now is the increased number of ads being shown. I don't think these BCCI guys ever watch matches , and that too on TV. Because if they would, they would understand how much pain it is to watch our favorite players among the numerous advertisements. .....
Sunday, May 17, 2009
IPL 2 : Down to the deciders...
We are now in the final stages of the IPL2. With only 2 games left to be played per team, and its not clear who are the four teams who will play the semi finals. Its so close this time. Of course, Delhi Daredevills , who are at the top, are through. From the other 6 (leaving KKR) , any 3 can make it. Take your pick. Lets take a look at the highlights from last few matches.
Heroics of Rohit Sharma : Two matches, back to back, and Rohit Sharma is assigned the task to finish it up for his team. He does one of them, and gets out on the other. Luck favours the brave, but not every day. The first match, against KKR, needing 21 runs of the last over, scores 26 runs, and wins it for the team. What a match. I would say Mortaza lost it for the KKR, rather than Rohit winning it. He just didnt bowl how it was required. First match for him in the IPL, and I think the pressure did him in. First bowl itself was a no ball,reason being there were not enough fielders in the ring, and it went for four. And with six balls still remaining and 15 to win, it looked difficult still. Two sixes came after that, and it reduced to 1 off last ball, which Sharma dispatched to the onside with a skilled hook off a bouncer. Thrilling finish indeed. Now, the second match, next day, different opponent, KXIP this time. And this time it was 11 runs required of the last over. Irfan was given the ball, and he started with a wide, and a boundary. With 4 required of 4 balls, it looked easy. But then Rohit tried to smash the ball, and saw his stumps broken off a slower one. It was 4 off 3 then, and then RP Singh was out the next ball. Harris came to the crease, required 3 off the last ball. Hit the ball to the cover boundary, and guess what, stopped after running the second one, without trying to squeeze the third one.
Secret of Munaf Patel : The way Munaf has been performing recently, I wonder whats his secret. In the last match, took an amazing catch off his own bowling, running towards short leg, and then in the last over, kept his nerves till the last ball, protected a single, held a throw from Warne, and ran the non striker out. Winning it for his team. What a finish. Again, in this game against DD, took an amazing catch, again off his own bowling to bowl Gambhir out. This is amazing how he is performing recently. Especially when he plays for RR, under Shane Warne. He is the ace bowler for his team, and I think that gives him the edge. Many times you see stars perform better when given the responsibility. And such is the case with this guy. Not a swift mover in the field, but has the uncanny length, and upright seam every time he comes to ball.Also because of his height, extracts bounce every other ball. I guess Dhoni needs to take a leaf out of Warnes book and treat Munaf like he does.
Heroics of Rohit Sharma : Two matches, back to back, and Rohit Sharma is assigned the task to finish it up for his team. He does one of them, and gets out on the other. Luck favours the brave, but not every day. The first match, against KKR, needing 21 runs of the last over, scores 26 runs, and wins it for the team. What a match. I would say Mortaza lost it for the KKR, rather than Rohit winning it. He just didnt bowl how it was required. First match for him in the IPL, and I think the pressure did him in. First bowl itself was a no ball,reason being there were not enough fielders in the ring, and it went for four. And with six balls still remaining and 15 to win, it looked difficult still. Two sixes came after that, and it reduced to 1 off last ball, which Sharma dispatched to the onside with a skilled hook off a bouncer. Thrilling finish indeed. Now, the second match, next day, different opponent, KXIP this time. And this time it was 11 runs required of the last over. Irfan was given the ball, and he started with a wide, and a boundary. With 4 required of 4 balls, it looked easy. But then Rohit tried to smash the ball, and saw his stumps broken off a slower one. It was 4 off 3 then, and then RP Singh was out the next ball. Harris came to the crease, required 3 off the last ball. Hit the ball to the cover boundary, and guess what, stopped after running the second one, without trying to squeeze the third one.
Secret of Munaf Patel : The way Munaf has been performing recently, I wonder whats his secret. In the last match, took an amazing catch off his own bowling, running towards short leg, and then in the last over, kept his nerves till the last ball, protected a single, held a throw from Warne, and ran the non striker out. Winning it for his team. What a finish. Again, in this game against DD, took an amazing catch, again off his own bowling to bowl Gambhir out. This is amazing how he is performing recently. Especially when he plays for RR, under Shane Warne. He is the ace bowler for his team, and I think that gives him the edge. Many times you see stars perform better when given the responsibility. And such is the case with this guy. Not a swift mover in the field, but has the uncanny length, and upright seam every time he comes to ball.Also because of his height, extracts bounce every other ball. I guess Dhoni needs to take a leaf out of Warnes book and treat Munaf like he does.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Ah ! That Warne Vs Sachin Battle again
Those who watched the Mumbai Indians (MI) VS Rajasthan Royals (RR) match (14May,Durban,IPL2) would have seen the Warne Vs Tendulkar battle. It was amazing. Deja vu.
Warne might have won it in the end by bowling sachin out LBW, but it was sachin who was giving him some run for his money. It was fabulous.
With 146 runs to win, MI didn't start well. Lost 3 wickets early, but Sachin and Sanath were on the crease. Sanath scored 16, and when he was out, at 56/4, it was all on Sachin and Duminy. Duminy got out on 4, and the score was 76/5. Sachin was scoring briskly as well, and then Shane Warne brought himself on. Shane started with legside, a wide, a not-so-wide, and sachin scored 5-6 off those deliveries, paddle sweeping, hitting one, and missing other. And then came the straight one. And this time sachin was struck straight on the pads.Shane appealed profusely, as if praying, and the dreaded finger came up.
Warne might have won it in the end by bowling sachin out LBW, but it was sachin who was giving him some run for his money. It was fabulous.
With 146 runs to win, MI didn't start well. Lost 3 wickets early, but Sachin and Sanath were on the crease. Sanath scored 16, and when he was out, at 56/4, it was all on Sachin and Duminy. Duminy got out on 4, and the score was 76/5. Sachin was scoring briskly as well, and then Shane Warne brought himself on. Shane started with legside, a wide, a not-so-wide, and sachin scored 5-6 off those deliveries, paddle sweeping, hitting one, and missing other. And then came the straight one. And this time sachin was struck straight on the pads.Shane appealed profusely, as if praying, and the dreaded finger came up.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
IPL 2 : A mixed bag for English Cricketers
IPL Season 2 has been so far a mixed bag for the English Cricketers. A few of them performed well, while others disappointed the fans.
Andrew Flintoff (Freddy): A total failure. He was picked for a huge price by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He brought lot of promise but ended with disappointing figures. Picked for $1.55m, he will be paid around $300K for playing three matches. The fact that he picked only 2 wickets and scored just 63 runs, indicates how costly he was to the CSK. But judging a great player like him in 3 matches, and that too in a 20 overs match is unfair. But may he is just not right for the shortest format of the game.
Kevin Peterson (KP) : A lot was expected from him after the poor performance of the test-like squad of Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB). Mallya even made him captain ahead of stalwarts like Dravid, Kumble, Kallis and Boucher. He delivered little, and so did the team. With only 2 wins of the first 6 matches, KP has little to show. And now he has to leave for his home series against the Windies.
Ravi Bopara : After a couple of good performances for his IPL team Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), he was selected for the no 3 batting position against the upcoming Windies series. This series has comes as a positive for him, Though he will be sad to leave his good T20 form in between, he should be happy to be recalled for his national side ahead of Vaughan and Bell.
Paul Collingwood : He has been kept in the sidelines for the Delhi Daredevils (DD) team, and has been the 12 th man as of now.The other 4 foreign players playing in DD are Daniel Vettori, Derk Nennes, Dilshan and AB DeVilliers. With all of them in great form, there is hardly any chance that he will get a game in a star studded squad in coming few days, before he leaves to join his team in England.
Dimitris Mascarenhas : He has been playing well for the Rajasthan Royals (RR), and wont be leaving anywhere. Good for RR.
Andrew Flintoff (Freddy): A total failure. He was picked for a huge price by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He brought lot of promise but ended with disappointing figures. Picked for $1.55m, he will be paid around $300K for playing three matches. The fact that he picked only 2 wickets and scored just 63 runs, indicates how costly he was to the CSK. But judging a great player like him in 3 matches, and that too in a 20 overs match is unfair. But may he is just not right for the shortest format of the game.
Kevin Peterson (KP) : A lot was expected from him after the poor performance of the test-like squad of Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB). Mallya even made him captain ahead of stalwarts like Dravid, Kumble, Kallis and Boucher. He delivered little, and so did the team. With only 2 wins of the first 6 matches, KP has little to show. And now he has to leave for his home series against the Windies.
Ravi Bopara : After a couple of good performances for his IPL team Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), he was selected for the no 3 batting position against the upcoming Windies series. This series has comes as a positive for him, Though he will be sad to leave his good T20 form in between, he should be happy to be recalled for his national side ahead of Vaughan and Bell.
Paul Collingwood : He has been kept in the sidelines for the Delhi Daredevils (DD) team, and has been the 12 th man as of now.The other 4 foreign players playing in DD are Daniel Vettori, Derk Nennes, Dilshan and AB DeVilliers. With all of them in great form, there is hardly any chance that he will get a game in a star studded squad in coming few days, before he leaves to join his team in England.
Dimitris Mascarenhas : He has been playing well for the Rajasthan Royals (RR), and wont be leaving anywhere. Good for RR.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
McCullum says he will quit if KKR cant make to semis
"I'll quit if we don't make semis " - McCullum
A bold statement from a captain whose side has already lost 4 out of 5 matches, and also lost lot of faith from the fans because of the controversies. (Multiple captain formula, sending back players in the mid of the series et al.)
What he does not understand is, its not his fault. Just make Saurav 'dada', the captain and see the difference. If not win, at least the faith of the fans will be regained.
Also he needs to understand that no matter what happens in this season, he will lose his captaincy anyway. SRK will not stick to him for long.
A bold statement from a captain whose side has already lost 4 out of 5 matches, and also lost lot of faith from the fans because of the controversies. (Multiple captain formula, sending back players in the mid of the series et al.)
What he does not understand is, its not his fault. Just make Saurav 'dada', the captain and see the difference. If not win, at least the faith of the fans will be regained.
Also he needs to understand that no matter what happens in this season, he will lose his captaincy anyway. SRK will not stick to him for long.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Its final : India to host 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Finals
Its good news for all cricket fans in India. India is going to host the final and one semi-final of the 2011 World Cup along with 29 other league matches across eight venues.
Also, Sri Lanka will stage the other semi-final along with other 12 league matches in three venues, while Bangladesh will stage eight matches at two grounds.
Its really a good news for India and Indian Cricket. There is no better place than India to hold any cricket match.
Also, Sri Lanka will stage the other semi-final along with other 12 league matches in three venues, while Bangladesh will stage eight matches at two grounds.
Its really a good news for India and Indian Cricket. There is no better place than India to hold any cricket match.
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