The Real Test

Here is a classic one from Ramachandra Guha
“In my opinion, Test cricket may be compared to the finest Scotch, 50-overs a side to Indian Made Foreign Liquor, and 20-20 to the local hooch. The addict who cannot have the first or the second will make do with the last. The pleasures of the shortest game are intense but also wholly ephemeral. There is no time to savour delights offered in such a rushed and heady fashion. The medium form allows one to take in the booze more leisurely. Here, a batsman can bat long enough to develop an innings, to play strokes other than the hoick over midwicket or mid on.

But proper cricket can only be Test cricket. Spread out over five days, the game unfolds as in an epic drama. No restrictions are placed on anyone. As with the finest Scotch, one savours every sip; and yet, as with the finest Scotch, the whole is infinitely greater than the parts.”

Check out the complete article at: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080329/jsp/opinion/story_9055430.jsp

I have often been involved in coffee table discussions wherein the debate is over Test or One-day or 20-20, which one is going to be more popular, exciting and interesting. The above liner is a clincher. I will remember that!

No doubt, that 20-20 cricket will be a crowd puller, an instant hit. The IPL has left no stone unturned by roping in popular film stars into the fray. Moreever, ShahRukh and Preity Zinta are owning cricket teams and Cricket is becoming more of a tamasha or a mega bollywood bash. This will no doubt increase the TRPs, but where will all these lead cricket to. Are we seeing the beginning of the end of the gentlemans game?

20-20 cricket is more a show of brawn over brains, strength over strategies. Be ready to see more of the upper cuts and the hoicks over the mid wicket.

The BCCI seems to be hell bent on spoiling the test cricket in the country, by preparing some of the flattest wickets ever seen for the test matches. The match at Chepauk was a dud. Sehwag provided the much needed spark, but overall, the match was a hugely forgettable one.

It was very heartening to see Dravid crossing the 10,000 runs mark at Chepauk. It is a very coveted milestone and i for one, do feel that there is no more a deserving candidate than Dravid. Javagal Srinath pours his heart out in this interview and flowers a lot many accolades (all deserving!) on dravid - http://cricketnext.com/news/dravid-an-icon-of-test-cricket-srinath/30643-14.html.

Dravid has been the No.1. batsmen for India in test cricket during the period from 2002 to 2007. There were a lot many centuries and double centuries towards a winning cause. Tendulkar was more of a dud during this period and there were occassional brilliances from him and Laxman. Ganguly, with a suspect defence, has never laid claims of being a Test great.

2007 has been an off-year for Dravid, which included the world-cup debacle and some low scores in tests. His work ethics and attitude are of the first grade and he is a role model for any youngster in any profession. I just hope that he survives at least the next 2-3 years of test cricket and scores tons of runs.

Tantrik's Story & the Cricket round-up

I have been off-blog for quite sometime. This has more to do with some serious work loads and ridiculous schedules on the professional front.

Check out this link:- http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2008/20080310/en_1.html

The guts of the tantrik should very well be appreciated here. He tried the tricks in front of the cameras of one of the prime indian channels. This was hilarious stuff. “The tantrik tried. He chanted his mantras (magic words): “Om lingalingalinalinga, kilikili….” But his efforts did not show any impact on Sanal – not after three minutes, and not after five.”

Here is a very funny situation that a guy got into because of dowry!. The guy goes around saying that he is from City A even though he is from City B, coz his wife is from city A. His hands are all shaky and sweaty whenever he hears a high decibel “hello” from his wife..The world is so round and funny..Hope the guy finds some peace..

The Indian team returned victorious from the tough Australian Campaign. Not that they won the test series. The fact that they won at Perth, on a bouncy track, is in itself a victory of sorts. That the Indians were at the receiving end on most of the erring umpiring decisions, robbed them off the Sydney test and most probably a test series victory. Sydney had proved elusive during the 2003-04 series as well. A typical fighting innings by Steve Waugh in his farewell test eluded us of what could have been a historic win on that occasion.

A lot has been written about the controversies surrounding this year’s Sydney test. A “maa ki..” comment is less derogatory to Andrew Symonds and the match refree than a ‘monkey’ comment! But for a billion cricket fans, Harbhajan has been a big disappointment. “maa ki..” is a terribly derogatory comment to make in India and he has set a bad example for all young cricket enthusiasts.

India, of late, has found quite a few talented young cricketers. These youngsters seem to have the right attitude to survive at the highest level and take India forward. For once, the retirement of the Pancha Pandavas ” sachin, dravid, kumble, ganguly and laxman”, does not seem to leave behind a big void.

The squad for the first two tests against the South Africans have been announced - http://content-www.cricinfo.com/indvrsa/content/current/story/342851.html.
Hope the Indians continue their winning momentum - lot easier to do in home conditions!