tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44338585965104328372024-03-13T08:27:59.788-07:00SPORTILLIGENTStraight from the heart sport writingZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-57072859720663508392015-08-24T08:12:00.001-07:002015-08-25T01:12:08.620-07:00A FAREWELL TO MY FAVORITE: THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES, KUMAR SANGAKKARA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As I watched Kumar Sangakkara play his final international
match today, as I saw him tear up delivering his heartfelt farewell speech and as
I kept a straight face when my favorite active cricketer become a former
player, I thought that I will never be able to express the myriad emotions I felt.
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It was easy to watch his T20 swansong in 2014, even though
my team was losing, because he scored the match-winning innings. It was easy to
write about his ODI swansong earlier this year, with his illustrious career and
records, may be because I knew there was more to come. But there was nothing
today. What do you say when all you feel is numb as the last link to your
childhood obsession is out and what do you write about someone who has been the
mainstay in the media for the past few weeks. So I decided to just type and
type and type which resulted in this stream-of-consciousness blog post.</div>
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This is not an eloquent tribute to the Sri Lankan legend,
this is not a cricketing or statistical analysis of why he was ‘underrated’
genius, this isn’t even a recollection of his many virtues as gleaned from interviews
and my minimal interactions with him. This is an honest outpouring of why Kumar
Sangakkara is my favorite. This is a fangirl talking about what her role model
means to her.</div>
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First things first, supporting Sangakkara as an Indian cricket
fan hasn’t been easy. The number of times I have been trolled and ridiculed for
supporting the ‘excessive appealing’, ‘sledging’, ‘cheating captain’ of a rival
team, both on and off line, was enough to dent anyone’s faith (or fanaticism.) Like the time I was targeted for defending skipper
Sanga when Suraj Randiv bowled a no-ball
to Virender Sehwag stuck on 99 to deny him a ton in India’s win, or the time
when my inbox was full of insults when I posted that Sanga had correctly called
the 2011 World Cup finals toss the first time during the match.</div>
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Had I been a fan of a lesser cricketer or if there was even
an inkling of doubt on his sportsmanship, my loyalty may have wavered. But no,
I was a fan of a player who radiated such passion on field and conviction off
it, as a cricket fan you had to believe him and in him. (And as a teenager,
even love him.)</div>
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But then again, it is hard not to love a guy who had the
aura of ‘geeky gentleman’ around him, possibly a first in cricket. Who else can
quote Oscar Wilde’s ‘consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative’ to a
player like Kallis on field! While I can’t
say how true this is (when I asked him about this episode, all I got was his boyish
laughter in response,) his video sledging Shaun Pollock in his typical-accented
English during the 2003 World Cup assures me that he did pull some classic and
classy shenanigans on field. (As does his wicked laughter in response to seeing
the Pollock clip during an interview.)</div>
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But the same cocky laughter had another facet, the calm, composed
smile. Picture the following incidents –</div>
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He is playing a crucial test against Australia on their home
turf, there is actually a chance of his underdog team winning it, he is nearing
a well learned double century and he is wrongly given out. All he does is walk
away and calmly accept the umpire’s apology later. </div>
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He has played one of his finest ODI knocks, carrying his bat
throughout the innings and giving his team a formidable total only to have the
Indian wicketkeeper-batsman smash his record and bowlers. He congratulates the
opposition with a calm smile. </div>
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He has played in the finals of four consecutive World
championship finals, only to lose all of them. But he doesn’t lose his smile at
the post-match ceremony. In fact, I vividly recall his face when Dhoni hit that
six of Kulsekara; he had a serene smile and congratulated Mahi-Yuvi before
giving one of the most gracious runner-up speeches in the tournament’s history,
his calm unfazed. (He had the same composed reaction when he returned to Lanka
the next day and was greeted by cheering fans.)</div>
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He is returning home to his pregnant wife after being caught
in a terrorist shoot-out in foreign country and being air-lifted from a cricket
stadium. He should be terrified but he has a reassuring smile when he talks
about it and is even able to joke about his teammate Paranvithana being shot
later.</div>
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He is leading a team that hasn’t been paid in months by an organisation
riddled with petty politics. Yet he manages that serene smile and ensures that
he not only exposes the politicking on a global platform but also that the
players get their due, monetary and otherwise. </div>
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(The only time I remember him being losing the composed façade is when he
scored that much-awaited century at Lords in 2014 and pumped his hands in an
exaggerated celebration.)</div>
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A lesser person would probably not have survived all this
with their record and reputation unscathed. A lesser player would have reacted
angrily, thrown a fit, been broken or unsporting. But Sangakkara carried on, played
his game, lead his team, brought about change in the system and made a
difference to his country on a larger level. Seriously, how could one not love
this guy!</div>
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Cricket aside, Sangakkara is unique in many other respects.
An aspiring lawyer from Trinity, Kandy who speaks with the tone and flair of one
from Oxford. He loves U2 and Oscar Wilde but is true to his roots when it comes
to his country’s pride. A witness to war and strife at a young age, he speaks so
fearlessly against anti-national elements, many see a future politician (or
diplomat if Sirisena succeeds) in him. Yet at the same time he is a cheesy
romantic whose love stories (both wife and cricket) sound too idealistic to be
true. A smart, sharply-dressed celebrity whose penchant for different
hairstyles is matched only by his bespoke fashion sense. A voracious reader who
is known to have no ghost writer. A responsible citizen who has helped rebuild
his country after civil war and tsunami, supporting numerous charities and
generally making a difference to anyone who met him. </div>
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I know several people, of different nationalities and backgrounds,
who interacted with him and had only words of praise. In fact the only people I
ever heard bad mouth Sangakkara were on Twitter, mainly (and sadly) Indians who
either hated his guts or found his team/cricket boring. Of course, it is beyond
me how anyone can find his stylish, southpaw strokes boring, but then again he himself
has confessed that he finds his cover drive ugly, (but even he can be wrong
sometimes!) However, ugly or not, the his sheer statistical success cannot be
denied and even if he thinks that Ranatunga and Jayawardena are better batsmen
than him, he leaves the game as the second most successful batsman after
Tendulkar.</div>
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Which brings me back to today, 24 August, the last time I saw
Sangakkara play international ‘crickut’. I saw the usually calmly-smiling Sanga
tear up as he delivered his farewell speech, his short hair streaked with grey
now as he called curtains on a 15-year long career. And then I remembered the
dashing, long-haired wicketkeeper-bat I saw in the early 2000s as a kid; the
messy-haired, flamboyant No 3 I had a crush on as teen; the mature, suited-booted
player who delivered a striking blow in a mild-manner at his 2011 Spirit of
Cricket lecture; the scruffy, smiling guy who was so impressed when I spoke to
him in Sinhalese and wanted to know about my plans for the future; the weirdly-shaped
helmet clad batsman I saw from the stands of the Brabourne Stadium, and all I
could think is that cricket will never be the same again, not for me. </div>
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Stephen Chbosky wrote in his cult novel ‘The Perks of being
a Wallflower’, <i>“I didn’t think it was
very good because I didn’t feel any different when it was over.</i>” Well it is over now and I feel the difference.
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Farewell & Thank you for the memories, Sangakkara. </div>
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ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-46389758914507127532015-03-26T10:52:00.000-07:002015-03-26T10:55:38.261-07:00MORE PRIDE LESS BLAME, INDIAN CRICKET FANS!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The last time that India lost a World Cup match to
Australia, back in the finals in 2003, I was a school kid who was so
heartbroken, I vowed to hate Man of the Match Ricky Ponting forever. I cursed our
captain Sourav Ganguly for fielding first, strike bowler Zaheer Khan for leaking
runs and all the extras, Sachin Tendulkar for top-edging to McGrath on 4, and
everyone in the team for letting us down. But 12 years later, when India lost
yet another World Cup match to Australia, this time in a semifinal, I am mature
enough to understand that these cricketers tried their best and did not lose on
purpose. </div>
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Yes, the boys could have played better. That Shikhar Dhawan
shot could have been avoided, bowling could have been tighter at death, and
Virat Kolhi could have played himself in before going for the big hits. But we
cannot blindly blame the team for losing a match, implying that they did hard
enough, not after being away from home for 4 months in preparation. And we most
definitely can’t blame Anushka Sharma for ‘distracting’ her better half just by
being in the stadium. That’s both sexist and insulting to Kohli, who has
consistently been India’s top performer for years. Yet, numerous fans through
the digital platform belittled the team and their relations, forgetting all the
good work done in the past. To make matters worse, reputed media outlets labeled
the defeat as a ‘shame’ and questioned player commitment. Such reactions betray
that these supposed followers of the game do not know how sport works. Usually, one side wins, while the other loses
but everyone tries equally hard. People who say that they watch sport should
understand this better than anyone else. In fact, they should be a sport about
it. </div>
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Let’s accept that Steve Smith played a great innings and
deserved his century, let’s give them the credit due because Australia is the
better bowling unit and let’s face it that the better team won. But at the same
time, let’s not forget that India made it to the semifinals when few gave us a
chance, after losing every game in Australia for the last three months. Nobody,
not even the most ardent supporter, believed that we could beat South Africa,
let alone bowl them out for less than 200! Let’s celebrate the fact that in
seven matches before this our young, inexperienced bowling unit took all the 70
wickets. Lets remember the centuries of Suresh Raina, despite his weakness
against the short ball, or that of Virat Kohli that helped us maintain our
perfect score against Pakistan, or those of Dhawan and Rohit Sharma pulling us
out of tough situations. Most importantly, let’s acknowledge the contribution
of captain MS Dhoni. The guy who carried us home last World Cup and was leading
from the front till the penultimate moment in this one. He did not see his newborn
daughter for over a month, choosing to stay in Australia with the team to prepare
for the World Cup. But we saw the emotion on his face after the match, and we
should know how much it mattered.</div>
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In 2003, I felt let
down by the team, but in 2015 I feel is pride for the efforts of our team.
Because in the last decade I’ve grown up enough to understand that in sport,
the team that performs better on that day wins. I sincerely wish that ‘fans’
who make whatsapp jokes and ‘media’ that says Shamed in Sydney also grow up and
understand this. </div>
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The Defending Champions may have not have lived up to their
tagline of We Won’t Give it Back, but we certainly didn’t give it away easy. </div>
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ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-57323783270131367502015-03-23T05:27:00.001-07:002015-03-23T05:27:51.083-07:00DEFINITIVE RANKING OF THE WORLD CUP MAUKA ADS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It all began with the a TV ad by host broadcasters Star
Sports that was meant to kick-off India’s campaign at the 2015 ICC Cricket World
Cup against arch-rivals Pakistan, who have never defeated India in the tournament’s
history. But what started as one-off add, became a full-blown campaign with
Star Sports releasing a different ad before every India match, complete with the
signature qawaalli tune of ‘<i>mauka mauka.’</i>
Most of these ads garnered thousands of hits and popularity all over the internet,
especially in the social media discourse. But not all the Mauka ads have been
as funny as the first. So here’s presenting a definitive ranking of all the
Mauka ads released by Star Sports so far. (23<sup>rd</sup> March)</div>
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</b></span><!--[endif]--><b>India vs Pakistan</b></div>
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They say the first is always the best for a
reason. This ad shows a grumpy Pakistan fan get old waiting over the two decades
for Pakistan to beat India in a World Cup match so he can burst his aging box
of crackers. A novel way to depict a running joke in India-Pakistan rivalry,
this TVC caught the fancy of entire India. </div>
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The second ad followed the same theme as
the first, but in reverse. India had never beaten South Africa in a World Cup
match and a couple of South African fans point out the same, giving Indian fans
a box of crackers in jest. A continuation as good as the first, the turning of
tables was a great way to get the attention of fans.</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
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This ad created quite a stir thanks to a
teaser released showing the Pakistan fan in an India jersey along with a box of
firecrackers. This and the fact that it was shot inside Star Sports studio featuring
commentators Harsha Bhogle and Aakash Chopra made it a welcome surprise. The catch
here was that if Pakistan were to qualify, they needed India to beat Ireland,
hence the grumpy fan was supporting his rivals. The surprise elements in this Mauka
ad, made the series impactful again, after few lukewarm ones. </div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> <b>
</b></span><!--[endif]--><b>India vs Bangladesh</b></div>
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With the caption India vs the World, this
TVC was a complete departure from tradition. It showed a Bollywood-esque song
and dance sequence in a qawaalli face-off between the original grumpy Pakistan
fan, who is joined by fans of other participating teams, and a group of Indian
fans. This ad worked because the usual Indian vs other fans and the Pakistan
fan’s jersey change was getting monotonous. </div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> <b>
</b></span><!--[endif]--><b>Pakistan vs Ireland</b></div>
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This ad was different again, in the sense
that it focused on a Pakistan match, instead of India. It showed commentators
in the Star Sports studio discussing Pakistan’s chances of reaching the quarterfinals
only if they defeated Ireland and Pakistan’s mascot fan listening in on this
conversation. It worked because of its change in approach, talking about
Pakistan’s match more than the fan’s jersey changes. </div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>India vs UAE</b></div>
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The Pakistan fan, annoyed at the South African
fan after their team’s loss to India, throws their jersey away, only to be visited
by a UAE fan who gifts him the UAE team jersey. This third ad of the series was
unimaginative compared to the first two, with the return of the titular
character as the only saving grace. </div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oB1CUxX1JJE/0.jpg" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oB1CUxX1JJE?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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</span><!--[endif]--><b>Pakistan qualifying </b></div>
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This was a short TVC and only showed the Pakistan
fan changing back into his Pakistan jersey, after briefly donning the Indian
one, as mentioned above. This focused on the Pakistan’s chances (mauka) again.</div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LVk_ikU_cQY/0.jpg" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LVk_ikU_cQY?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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</span><!--[endif]--><b>India vs West Indies</b></div>
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This ad was easily the worst of the lot.
The Pakistan fan, after chaging colours from South Africa to UAE, all in the
hopes of an Indian defeat, is visited by a courier person who delivers the West
Indies jersey to him, as it’s the next team India was to play. He also delivers
a packet of colous as the match was to be held on Holi. The courier man,
advertised the online shopping brand YepMe.com and this showed Star Sports’ clear
intention to milk the Mauka ads for all they were worth. </div>
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<br /><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kn3yzJITdvI/0.jpg" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kn3yzJITdvI?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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This is the ranking of all the Mauka ads so
far. This list will be updated if and when more Mauka ads are released. </div>
</div>
ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-71355468644854766172015-03-19T09:49:00.000-07:002015-03-19T09:49:18.947-07:00PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORIES: SANGAKKARA’S ODI CAREER <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kumar Sangakkara played his last ODI match on 18<sup>th</sup>
March, 2015. It was one of the most abysmal ends to what is one of the greatest careers. Sangakkara was out for 45 off 96 balls, the second-last man to fall in Sri
Lanka’s paltry score of 133 against South Africa in the first quarterfinals of
the 2015 World Cup. The moment of Sanga walking away was picturesque, but far from
picture perfect. It was raining, he had performed poorly and there minuscule
chances of victory. One of the greatest exponents of the limited overs game,
one who scripted records till the match before that, was leaving the field
disheartened. As emotional as the moment was, there is one thing that I’m
certain of, this image is not how his monumental ODI career should be
remembered. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3f_kx2MmFRJLIHP0LHl-ErngSn4e2jU4NklYI7x3Z4-4FgJqLCmbzUYJiVJcmwIiqyYf5n5mpMq8Yketp7Posj16jvsiaX0nAgH7qBj0gYiEJyMYS9nuLLDNpNE1ggy1q2NtNbuC4v-ZS/s1600/Sanga+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3f_kx2MmFRJLIHP0LHl-ErngSn4e2jU4NklYI7x3Z4-4FgJqLCmbzUYJiVJcmwIiqyYf5n5mpMq8Yketp7Posj16jvsiaX0nAgH7qBj0gYiEJyMYS9nuLLDNpNE1ggy1q2NtNbuC4v-ZS/s1600/Sanga+2.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sangakkara will be remembered as the second most successful batsman
in ODI history, with 14234 runs, second only to Sachin Tendulkar, studded with
25 centuries, and the numerous records
that he has created and broken in the 50-over game, becoming one of the
greatest ODI careers in the last decade. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeeBgJt1qqskQtWzqen0EVzCG6asvL1Tbu016o10ueybnKSlPW5abbW6DX0sfYsayn_TlxNkhKlcshg5XE0ZiQxxYS0ahAucmrrwlTKDJLkmC4L4ydB8PJIRc6ksrPo_hxIoPLAK4HbYs/s1600/Sanga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeeBgJt1qqskQtWzqen0EVzCG6asvL1Tbu016o10ueybnKSlPW5abbW6DX0sfYsayn_TlxNkhKlcshg5XE0ZiQxxYS0ahAucmrrwlTKDJLkmC4L4ydB8PJIRc6ksrPo_hxIoPLAK4HbYs/s1600/Sanga.jpg" height="320" width="271" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He should also be remembered as the most successful
wicketkeeper, with over 500 dismissals (402 catches, 99 stumpings), beating the
record of Adam Gilchrist, who is acknowledged as the best wicketkeeper-bat in
cricket. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizwirtBExqlYMQGs5r8YZ5A6KQ4hkBQhIEB8Q-tJ7oX8dAWI6u0e5qu74Dp-g-JZXRQGczkPOrB0PdHlNginsLNX47r6fTS_xUQAphkmx4KQbyfvymJrekHMeKB6Iws4W0SdvPGqbBgfR/s1600/sanga+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizwirtBExqlYMQGs5r8YZ5A6KQ4hkBQhIEB8Q-tJ7oX8dAWI6u0e5qu74Dp-g-JZXRQGczkPOrB0PdHlNginsLNX47r6fTS_xUQAphkmx4KQbyfvymJrekHMeKB6Iws4W0SdvPGqbBgfR/s1600/sanga+16.jpg" height="320" width="279" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wickets was not the only thing Sanga kept, he kept up the
mood of the match from behind the stumps. We may complain all we like about his
incessant appealing, but there is no denying that he was entertaining on the
stump mic. Besides his <i>Niyammai</i>
encouraging the bowlers, his sledging and mind games were amusing. From quoting
Oscar Wilde’s quips to Kallis to the now iconic video of him <a href="http://sportilligent.blogspot.in/2015/03/5-funniest-stump-mic-quips-of-2000s.html" target="_blank">sledging Shaun Pollock in a 2003 World Cup match</a>, he managed to make most people smile with
his antics. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDN2P7jRhEBG_Ax419lrpqZnP_6Bb7ZzboapceVXF4t3gJo04mPSMWT-QUv-wNrt1E9OnLQ7kubR1np8yE6_nvyOr8yq0OwzTU4v4OWtdekHIJ4x_el3TJdeyYEtY9klQHnfEc4cVBK_J1/s1600/Sanga+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDN2P7jRhEBG_Ax419lrpqZnP_6Bb7ZzboapceVXF4t3gJo04mPSMWT-QUv-wNrt1E9OnLQ7kubR1np8yE6_nvyOr8yq0OwzTU4v4OWtdekHIJ4x_el3TJdeyYEtY9klQHnfEc4cVBK_J1/s1600/Sanga+13.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Sanga should also be
remembered as an astute captain on field and an inspirational leader off it.
His captaincy figures of 1765 runs in 45 matches do not do justice to the
impact he had. Despite his resignation following the defeat to India in the
2011 World Cup finals, he remains one of Sri Lanka’s most loved captains. In
his final match as captain, he proved what it is to be a true sportsman in his post-match
speech and conduct. No wonder, Sri Lanka received a hero’s welcome in Colombo despite
defeat. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CYt6uIKTCidVQHMnxSc1rj0ZUIpp5uivJFF1yqXnQ9lqNXUvqaDn5NAi3RwgKCZtvaeYgw76QpKUWd2-CIxloOj8DIUc8tfPE21ny4U0WZLnb3NtomQ-RSywk9lf4vE9U9xc3ER3YS0M/s1600/Sanga+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CYt6uIKTCidVQHMnxSc1rj0ZUIpp5uivJFF1yqXnQ9lqNXUvqaDn5NAi3RwgKCZtvaeYgw76QpKUWd2-CIxloOj8DIUc8tfPE21ny4U0WZLnb3NtomQ-RSywk9lf4vE9U9xc3ER3YS0M/s1600/Sanga+1.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A national icon for his country, Sangakkara has always
spoken about the problems plaguing Sri Lanka, going out on a limb against
corrupt administrations. He led the team during the months where they were not
paid by their Board and brought out the internal politics in public to ensure
better functioning. His <a href="http://sportilligent.blogspot.in/2011/07/kumar-sangakkaras-speech-more-than-just.html" target="_blank">MCC Spirit of Cricket Lecture</a> in 2011 on ‘The story of
Sri Lankan cricket’ is considered one of the most important speeches in
cricketing history.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNquuWMcR3Q-wEACWYglIZbNkNtrtjTjT-Bz-ydr_dI67z37s38MJOM_eykYuu-BsTEx3UWpl-0rTNSgkqDk3Ozk5nnhng-8Db3BlUVTqOQf88-qR2zjvEfQJJTJxZKJwTjdXZwlNgeFh/s1600/Sanga+5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNquuWMcR3Q-wEACWYglIZbNkNtrtjTjT-Bz-ydr_dI67z37s38MJOM_eykYuu-BsTEx3UWpl-0rTNSgkqDk3Ozk5nnhng-8Db3BlUVTqOQf88-qR2zjvEfQJJTJxZKJwTjdXZwlNgeFh/s1600/Sanga+5.jpeg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">His on and off field achievements, lead to numerous awards,
prominent among which is 2012 ICC Awards where he won three awards, including
the prestigious Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer of the Year as well as
the People's Choice prize, for the second consecutive time. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9HyT5bKu8lBFS3idnU1QUeli9RILEMIaBpWvIKqCCwCIqkTRy7bHDZp56bwjeMkKE2HXEKbM0blYnKMYLh34icIvjqGYTyKb1CYTGNwXy0pmawGLgqcy-Ny1EfWfQ4soAcVj0_9eQkkb/s1600/sanga+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9HyT5bKu8lBFS3idnU1QUeli9RILEMIaBpWvIKqCCwCIqkTRy7bHDZp56bwjeMkKE2HXEKbM0blYnKMYLh34icIvjqGYTyKb1CYTGNwXy0pmawGLgqcy-Ny1EfWfQ4soAcVj0_9eQkkb/s1600/sanga+3.jpg" height="320" width="288" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In limited overs cricket, his biggest achievement would be
the 2014 Twenty20 World Cup, his only major World Championship trophy. For a
player whose team had made it to the finals of the last four World championship
trophies but always ended runners up, contributing to win a major title victory
was a great achievement. His 52 off 35 in the finals, his last T20 match,
earned him the Man of the Match and a fitting farewell in at least one format
of the game.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNDVh3A_m0fDV13x3mIYz7A-UwnxVqp8wz-4dQX3s2cfqvomQluadnrV5ZR-8cCMYZPKQNBYM6s840dcxUJklrrk11UrrBeFCM-xivYICdecoZCDJGmEG2O76e2s7mWg4GJagMATTXLYa/s1600/Sanga+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNDVh3A_m0fDV13x3mIYz7A-UwnxVqp8wz-4dQX3s2cfqvomQluadnrV5ZR-8cCMYZPKQNBYM6s840dcxUJklrrk11UrrBeFCM-xivYICdecoZCDJGmEG2O76e2s7mWg4GJagMATTXLYa/s1600/Sanga+11.jpg" height="248" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now for some of my personal favorite Sangakkara memories.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My earliest memory of Sangakkara is from his days as the long-haired,
rockstar type days in the early 2000s. He made his ODI debut in 2000 vs
Pakistan at Galle as a 23-year old, scoring 35 before he was run-out. In his
debut series, a tri-series involving South Africa as well, which Sri Lanka won,
he made 199 runs at an average of 66, and was the 4<sup>th</sup> highest
run-getter. From then on, there was no stopping him from making his mark in the
50-over game.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCS6Jy1n4omqezkJm3yD_dGC1RiVSrHkyDn0Y6M3VJrcsGKo_mzavA8A9DIoInPhUE_0xNLns22l7xg4CBJcT8VRJLnJ_N34xCIRQiOUvv0CXI7puUpn0JqV2RMdcDXGloyrMni-AX4Ke/s1600/Sanga+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCS6Jy1n4omqezkJm3yD_dGC1RiVSrHkyDn0Y6M3VJrcsGKo_mzavA8A9DIoInPhUE_0xNLns22l7xg4CBJcT8VRJLnJ_N34xCIRQiOUvv0CXI7puUpn0JqV2RMdcDXGloyrMni-AX4Ke/s1600/Sanga+14.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My favorite Sangakkara ODI innings is one that came in a
loss. His highest score of 169 is vs. South Africa and he has scored some
brilliant tons against other teams as well. But the innings I enjoyed watching the
most, came in 2006 against India in Jaipur, where opening the innings, he
scored an unbeaten 138 of 147 deliveries. What entertaining stroke play it was,
with 13 boundaries and 2 sixes! Unfortunately for him, his Indian
wicket-keeping counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored 183 in the chase of 299 and
India won that game by 6 wickets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another innings, again an unfortunate one, is the one he
played against Australia in the 2007 World Cup finals in West Indies. Sri Lanka
lost that game by Duckworth-Lewis method but Sanga scored a valiant 54 off 52 amidst
constant rain. This image says it all about the conditions that day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The above innings, was stitched along with his best mate and
strongest partner, Mahela Jayawardene. Throughout their 15-year long careers,
they have remained the mainstay in Sri Lankan batting, forming one of the best
left-right combinations we have seen in recent cricket history. Known as
Sangawardene, their partnership statistics of 5992 runs at an average of almost
42 over 151 innings tells the story of both their best partners in cricket.
Best friends till the end, they both played their last T20 and ODI game together.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">While Jaywardene was the classic wrist-flicker, Sangakkara
was the stylish puncher. His trademark cover-drive, immortalized in so many
photographs, is one of the most beautiful sights in cricket for me. Watching
Sanga go down on his knees, put his weight behind the ball and slice the ball
through covers, if seen in slow-motion, can be cricket’s version of porn!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This ‘pornography’ was in full force during his last ever
ODI assignment, the 2015 World Cup. The number of records he made in his 7
matches of the tournament, were enough for everyone to question his decision to
retire when in such sublime form. His captain Angelo Mathews even went on to
say, “I have gone on my knees to beg him out of retirement, but at the end of
the day, it is his decision.” He amassed 541 runs in 7 matches at an average of
108.20. He scored an unbeaten 105 against Bangladesh, 117 not out against
England, 104 against Australia and 124 vs. Scotland to become the first batsman
to record four consecutive hundreds in ODIs. Ironically, his only failure came
in the game that needed him the most, and became his last.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But, in his own words, “Now that I am 37, the joints are
creaking. I consider myself lucky. Sometimes, things just fall in place.
Everything clicks. No matter how hard you try to find that one thing, it
becomes difficult.” This was before that disastrous quarterfinals, but he was
just as eloquent after it. “Disappointments are a part of our career, and you
just take it on the chin and move on. Retiring from cricket is not about form.
I feel that the time is now and it’s right, I’ve tried to give everything I
have when I’ve played the game, the game goes on. You can’t hold onto it and
people shouldn’t be too sentimental. I think a lot better players and greater
players have gone, and the game has gone on and there are new players who take
the mantle, and in my case it won’t be any different."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On that note, all I can say is Farewell Sanga, I
for one will miss you. </span></span></div>
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ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-77051347353854629402015-03-02T05:58:00.002-08:002015-03-02T06:01:13.226-08:005 FUNNIEST STUMP MIC QUIPS OF THE 2000s<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The stump microphone has been a great boon to cricket –
helping umpires hear a knick, providing commentators with things to talk about,
documenting evidence in case of conflict. At the same time it has also been a
constant source of entertainment for the more discerning cricket viewer (or
listener), thanks to the endless babble of wicketkeepers. You haven’t experienced
a cricket match completely if you haven’t had your ears accosted by Nayan
Mongia’s ‘<i>Aai ga’</i>, Kamran Akmal’s incessant
‘<i>Shabaash, shabaash bhai’</i> and Kumar
Sangakkara’s <i>‘Niyamaai’</i>. From bowling
tips to funny quips, from sledging batsmen to encouraging bowlers, the stump
mic has given us memorable one-liners, hilarious sledges and some of the
funniest moments on the cricket field. Presenting the five funniest stump mic
quips, in no particular order, captured in the 2000s.</div>
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<b> 1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Dhoni reminding Sreesanth about the absence
of his girlfriend <o:p></o:p></b></h3>
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Let’s start with India’s Captain Cool, who
seems to handle his fielders’ lack of concentration is his typical cool manner.
In a Test match against New Zealand, S. Sreesanth appeared to be sloppy in his
fielding position, which was promptly noticed by the skipper and his
non-existent girlfriend had to bear the brunt of it. MS Dhoni was heard saying
"<i>Oye Sree udhar girlfriend nahi hai,
idhar aa ja thoda</i> (Hey Sree, your girlfriend isn't there. Move ahead.)
Looks like Dhoni sure knows how to keep up the mood of both his team and fans!</div>
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The Australian art of sledging
seems to have inspired Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara to a great
extent. In his own words, ‘Sledging, as pioneered by the Australians, is a
measured comment designed to get a reaction out of a player. Not to abuse someone
or use obscene language.’ Here we see him ‘encouraging’ Shaun Pollock during a
2003 World Cup match, by reminding him of the expectations of the home crowd,
with his tongue firmly in cheek, eliciting a smile from the staid Pollock as
well. Who would have thought that sledging can be both subtle and
sophisticated! </div>
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<b> 3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><b>Flintoff riling Tino Best to give up his
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England all rounder Andrew Flintoff
is known for a number of things – his Ashes achievements, his alcohol exploits
and his habit of constantly talking up to opposition players. Many will
remember him as being the source of Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes at the 2007 ICC
World Twenty20 Championship, as it was Freddie’s banter that drove Yuvi to
pummel the hapless Stuart Broad over. But his exchange with the West Indies’s
Tino Best during a Test match had the opposite effect. He kept yelling ‘Watch
the windows, Tino,’ pushing the tailender to charge forward against Ashley
Giles, getting stumped in the process. Freddie was so delighted by this effort
that he couldn’t stop giggling for the next few minutes!</div>
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4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Kaif
spouting statistics at Mohammad Yousuf</b></h3>
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An India-Pakistan match can never be complete without some hearty banter
exchanged between the two teams, be it Javed Miandad-Chetan Sharma, Sachin
Tendulkar-Abdul Qadir or Gautam Gambhir-Shahid Afridi. This particular incident
is funny not because of the sledging, but because of the deadpan-commentator manner
in which India’s Mohammad Kaif delivers it. Pakistan’s star batsman<b> </b>Mohammad Yousuf was<b> </b>having a patchy day on crease when
Kaif, in the slips, starts discussing Yousof’s match stats in an emphatic
fashion. <i>‘87 ball khel lee, ek bhi chauka
nahin maara,’ </i>(he has played 87 deliveries but hasn’t scored a single
boundary) he says, gesticulating around, while Yousuf smiles benignly. </div>
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fielders</b></h3>
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We started with MS Dhoni, so let us end with him. The Indian captain has
uttered several gems behind the stumps that can perk up even a boring match,
memorable being this advice about teamwork – <i>‘Vijay apna hi fielder hai use catch lene ke liye hi aage rakha hai,
off mein bowl fenk</i>.’ (Vijay is in our team; he is placed in that position
to take a catch, keep bowling on the off-stump) and referring to England’s Ian
Bell as ‘g<i>hanti</i>’ with calls of<i> ‘Ghanti bajaao iski’</i> (Ring this bell)
and ‘<i>Ghanti ko leke jayenge’</i> (Let’s
take Bell’s wicket). My personal favorite however is Mahi informing Ravindra Jadeja
about the role of fielders, in a Test match vs New Zealand. <i>‘Ye ghoomega toh Pujara ko isiliye idhar
rakha hai, voh udhar taali bajaane ke liye nahi hai’ </i>(If the ball turns,
I've kept Pujara in the slips for catching only; he's not standing there just
to clap). Yes, that’s how ‘cool’ the captain can get when the job isn’t done
well! </div>
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ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-22738770246078769462015-02-23T08:33:00.000-08:002015-02-24T07:38:47.784-08:00WHY WAS FEDERER MADE TO APOLOGIZE TO PAKISTAN FANS?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you know that in the India vs Pakistan match on 15<sup>th</sup> February in Australia, India beat their arch-rivals for the 6<sup>th</sup> consecutive time in World Cup history?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you know that during the match tennis ace and India’s most beloved non-Indian sportsperson Roger Federer posted his photo holding an Indian jersey?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you know that Federer has been made to apologize for posting that absolutely harmless photograph?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, as ridiculous as it sounds, Federer, the most successful tennis player, a UN charity ambassador and the second most trustworthy person in the world according to one <a href="http://sports.ndtv.com/tennis/news/178700-roger-federer-second-most-respected-public-figure-in-the-world" target="_blank">study</a>, apologized!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And we thought that we had no freedom of expression in our country!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here’s what happened – the above photograph seemed to have
hurt the sensibilities of Federer’s Pakistani fans and a Cambridge student,
writing for Express Tribune, an English newspaper in Pakistan, claimed he had
deleted all his Federer photos and taken a brief opinion poll in which ten out
of 12 Pakistanis apparently felt hurt or betrayed. Here’s the original article –
<a href="http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/26237/dear-federer-why-would-you-choose-to-bleedblue/" target="_blank">http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/26237/dear-federer-why-would-you-choose-to-bleedblue/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now Federer is the brand ambassador for Nike, the same kit sponsor
as the Indian team, and is known to follow cricket to a certain degree, owing
to his part South African parentage. Currently in UAE for the Dubai Open, where
he is the Defending Champion, this is what he said in connection with the photo in question, “It was more of a Nike
thing to be quite honest. It was a Nike campaign they had because I met some of
the Indian players and I had just spent some time in India so they presented
the shirt to me. I support South Africa, and everybody knows that. The idea
wasn't to spark any fire and I'm sorry if it did that.” He further added that
cricket following depended on where he was. "When I'm in America
definitely not. When I'm in Europe definitely not. But then when I'm in Australia
and here (in the UAE) a little bit sometimes. So it really depends where I am
in the world which sport I follow."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That’s that then, a sportsperson did what his sponsor asked
him to do and when faced with backlash, dutifully apologized. But that’s not
it! This issue might either die down in the excitement of the World Cup or another Dubai Open trophy, or become excellent news fodder and be constantly referred to in the subsequent press conferences of both Federer and Team India. While I respect every writer's freedom of speech and fan's freedom of expression, t</span>here are a number of things that annoy me about this supposed ‘controversy'. S<span style="font-family: inherit;">o here’s me using my freedom
of expression to say why this is an unjustified overreaction. Firstly, the language, which is infantile and accusatory, as suggested by the few excerpts below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<i>But sadly it’s
time to say farewell. And yes, this has to do with the picture you posted
holding the Indian team shirt, and the hashtag #BleedBlue, overtly signifying
loyalty to India.”</i>So? Would you stop supporting a sportsman who has been such an inspiration to
you (as suggested by the article) just because he supports a rival team in
another sport? Whatever your reasons, cricket is only a sport, you know, not
war.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“I’m upset that you
chose to support India over Pakistan, publicly. This made it seem like your
Pakistani fans are expendable (…) This public display of support for India
represents a ruthless valuation of your Pakistani fans, based on their economic
and brand impact.” </i>He NEVER insinuated that, it was your interpretation of the photograph.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“After you posted the
picture, I did an informal poll of the dozen biggest Pakistani Roger fans I
know. (…) But 10 of the 12 felt seriously hurt or betrayed. Six of those 10
said you had acted “like a sell-out” and have stopped supporting you
altogether.”</i><br />Sell-out? Imagine calling a sportsperson of his stature a sell out? That’s rich
coming from cricket fans of a country that have so many cricketers actually involved
in being a ‘sell-out’</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“I deleted over a
hundred Roger posts from my Facebook wall as well as the photo collection I had
painstakingly put together. I also donated my RF cap and my collection of books
about you.”</i><br />That says more about you
than about him, actually.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Secondly, it seems that he is more offended by the hashtag
Bleed Blue than by the image. I hope he realizes that it is the tagline of a
marketing campaign and does not really reflect the colour of his actual blood. Technically,
Federer is allowed to bleed whatever he wants or not at all, as long as he is doing his duty
as a player, ambassador and family man. Plus, it’s a free world and he can
support whichever country, in war as much as in sport. It is not like he wore
the flag, cheered wildly for India, and desecrated the Pakistan colours. Just
because the opinion of your idol doesn't match yours, doesn't make him any less of an icon or invite such scathing criticism on his integrity. Like, I love Iker Casillas
but if he wants Pakistan to beat India in match and says so publicly, I won’t
be cut up over it! Because I understand that it is a sport, even when played
between two countries with bloody history. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thirdly, when you are a fan of sport, you are supposed to have
some spirit of sportsmanship. This writer seems to lack that even though he has
attempted to write a balanced piece giving his thoughts on why he thinks
Federer did it. And any fan without sporting spirit </span>shouldn't<span style="font-family: inherit;"> ideally question
that of others, least of all a sporting legend. It just shows that you as a
fan, and maybe as sporting nation, are not objective enough. What if Pakistan
had won that match? Would you still have outraged over the innocuous image? Or
laughed at Nike’s presumptuousness?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ll conclude by apologizing to Roger Federer, because shouldn't be the one to apologize. As an Indian,
I was proud to see you with our jersey, as a sports fan, I was happy to see you involved in
other sports and as a cricket fan I am sorry that other cricket ‘fans’ treated
you such. You are a great player and deserve the respect of every fan, irrespective
of who you choose to support in other sports. All the best for your Dubai Open
campaign and you can be assured of a billion Indian wishes. As always, Allez
Roger, je t’aime!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-73693663908522859622013-10-27T05:21:00.000-07:002013-10-27T05:22:04.380-07:00WHEN I MET KUMAR SANGAKKARA…<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">WHEN I MET KUMAR SANGAKKARA…<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36bLxWY15fp66O2lyQBGUXXFOr-hHW8td1ZSN2kIA_tyucSlt3jQn3uygk3gFpo-kprYSQ5o0pVr7cKZqCoV1Ek-OlxWcr6r84tX2rNE0TqhmPGjPXzwSNSDF2fTXU2bzhj5acf0N6JBw/s1600/20131027134147851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36bLxWY15fp66O2lyQBGUXXFOr-hHW8td1ZSN2kIA_tyucSlt3jQn3uygk3gFpo-kprYSQ5o0pVr7cKZqCoV1Ek-OlxWcr6r84tX2rNE0TqhmPGjPXzwSNSDF2fTXU2bzhj5acf0N6JBw/s320/20131027134147851.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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My favorite cricketer turns another year older today, and I
am writing this not just as a birthday wish but as a fan tribute – What
happened when his biggest fan (In India) met Kumar Sangakkara! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
NOTE: It’s a straight from the heart fan piece, very fangirly
in nature!</div>
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I have been attending every international and IPL match he
has played in Mumbai for some years now (with the exception of the World Cup
finals) and have been trying to get an audience with him. However that never
bore fruit till 21<sup>st</sup> September, 2013. It wasn’t a chance meeting, I
won a contest! There was a #MeetSangakkaratSmaaash contest conducted by
Smaaash, Mumbai and one of my friends, who goes by the Twitter handle
@Arey_Yaar brought it to my notice. I immediately jumped at the chance and
started writing…</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Following is my written entry to the contest on “Why I
should get an opportunity to meet Kumar Sangakkara?”</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>“ICC Cricketer of the
Year, ICC People's choice Player of the year, youngest MCC Spirit of cricket
lecturer, one of 2012’s Wisden Cricketer of the Year, former Sri Lankan captain
and currently the fourth best Test batsman – Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I consider myself to
be one of Kumar Sangakkara's biggest fans and over the years have watched Sri
lanka & Sunrisers Hyderabad matches just to see him bat & even
supported him over my home team. There is something special about watching a
southpaw bat & Sanga has always been one of the most elegantly entertaining
batsman, especially when plays his trademark cover drive. And I am not saying
it from a prejudiced fan's perspective, his statistics speak for themselves.
Sangakkara has scored over 22,000 runs with the distinction of having the
highest batting average at the Number 3 position after the legendary Sir Don
Bradman.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>His gift of gab has
always been as popular as the video of him sledging Shaun Pollock at the World
Cup match in 2003 as well as his gracious talk after losing the World Cup in
2011. But what I appreciate the most is the conviction in his words that
reflects his passion for his craft and the love for his motherland as seen in
the MCC Spirit of Cricket Lecture 2011. His goal has always been to protect
cricket, which in his civil war-affected country, occupies a place of pride as
a “panacea that heals all wounds” in his own words. He has been courageous to
bring to light all the overt operations which threatened to tarnish the game he
holds beloved and has taken a stand against the forces of power back home. It
takes great courage to go against the organization that employs you to bring
out the truth. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Personally for me he
is among the greatest to have played the game, not just for his on field
laurels but also for his off field achievements. He is my greatest sporting
role model & I look up to him for his passion, dedication & sheer
personality. My love for Sanga has always been a defining part of my identity,
finding a way in my Xaviers Graduation Yearbook as well, where I was described
as Mrs. Kumar Sangakkara, an epithet the entire Twitterverse already knows me by.
From my family & friends to my professors and colleagues, all know me as
the girl who loves Sanga more than any Sri Lankan. I have written numerous
blogs about him & have been to every game he has played in Mumbai. However
I have never got the opportunity to meet him upfront and interact with him, an
unrequited dream which I now have the hope of fulfilling thanks to this
wonderful contest by Smaaash. I sincerely request you to please give me this
chance to meet my cricketing idol and make my biggest dream come true! Thanks!”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Needless to say that mine was the first name on the list of
winners!!</div>
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<br /></div>
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On the day, I was waiting with my sister when I first saw
him up close, and cheesy as it sounds, I did stop breathing for a moment so he
literally took my breath away! And then it was my turn to go interact with him.
The first thing I said was <i>‘Aywobuwan’ </i>(hello
in Sinhalese, thanks to my favorite Sri lankan girl @Yoshitha_k ) which got an
appreciative ‘Nice!’ from him. He then asked if I was from Mumbai and what did
I do? Small talk and an autograph later, I asked him something I’ve always
wanted to know - does he really read Oscar Wilde & quote his Irish wit to
people (a sly reference to his exchange with Kallis) To which he replied, “Yes
of course, I do enjoy reading Oscar Wilde” Unfortunately by then it was time
for the next person to meet him so I had to say goodbye. But not before he said
it was a pleasure to meet me! </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although it was just a few minutes of interaction, it was a
huge deal! All my adult life as a cricket fan I<span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> have spoken of little else other than
meeting Kumar Sangakkara - my most favorite cricketer, my idol & my
unabashed cricketing crush</span>! <span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Everyone has admired, idolized & been
obsessed with a celebrity at some point, but when you are among the chosen few
who get to not only meet but also interact with your idol & crush, it
reminds you of how blessed & lucky you are! Thanks to everyone who believed
that I deserved to & would meet Sanga.</span> When I look back, I
realize I have been extremely fortunate to meet both my cricketing loves (Binga
& Sanga). 21<sup>st</sup> September, 2013 – indeed a day to remember…. Till
I meet Sangakkara again!</div>
</div>
ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-25741217397641553812013-07-22T03:42:00.000-07:002013-07-22T03:42:02.446-07:00THE YEAR THAT WAS: Where do we go from here, Federer?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">THE YEAR THAT WAS: Where do we go from here, Federer?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Pf97xBDqllI5JXh2XhntLnpNcJWd18HyS57oe8Aqh-ZYUeB_8mzX97dNjIRlJ4l2ZW2L2t2bgLtOSBPPYSiiH0908_dgi6VZ0S9rPKichN7iTzK9T2TWWa98h66DMlA0Yz5Va8VHeAjS/s1600/1016050_561205503925798_1506400361_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Pf97xBDqllI5JXh2XhntLnpNcJWd18HyS57oe8Aqh-ZYUeB_8mzX97dNjIRlJ4l2ZW2L2t2bgLtOSBPPYSiiH0908_dgi6VZ0S9rPKichN7iTzK9T2TWWa98h66DMlA0Yz5Va8VHeAjS/s320/1016050_561205503925798_1506400361_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The journey from July 2012 to July 2013, more specifically
from Wimbledon 2012 to Wimbledon 2013, has been an especially unusual,
unimaginable and an insane one to say the least, for Roger Federer. In one
sentence, it has been a journey from Ecstasy to Agony. A year back, he was on
top of the world with a record-equalling seventh Wimbledon Trophy, the
record-breaking ATP World No. 1 Ranking and a shot at the record-shattering 300
weeks as No. 1. A year later, it would only be fair to say that the situation
is down in the dumps, with an unprecedented second-round defeat, slipping down
to World No. 5 for the first time in eons and an unceremonious end to a 10-year
Grand Slam streak. Topsy-turvy is an understatement for the year that was. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The questions begs itself; how on God’s good, green, grassed
earth did we get here? How did All England Tennis Championship’s greatest
protégé, Centre Court’s precious ward, SW 19 grass court’s invincible warrior
clad in pristine white reach a situation like this? Wimbledon is his first
Grand Slam title, a Trophy he has lifted seven times, five of those
back-to-back, and a tournament where he has failed to make the finals only
twice before. Since his first taste of success in 2003, Federer’s relationship
with the grass courts at SW 19 has been nothing short of a love affair with
exactly Three plot twists – 2008, 2010 (Both Nadal) and 2011 (Djokovic). 2012
was a fairytale, where Federer recaptured all his lost and former glory
vanquishing all his foes with a performance worthy of the All England Lawn
Tennis and Croquet Club’ crown prince. Then what happened in 2013? How did the
Defending Champion lose and (adding insult to injury) in the second round to a
relatively unknown player? And how did he not recover from it but fell further
backward losing to a qualifier, Federico Delbonis in the semis of his next
outing, Hamburg?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In hindsight, the beginning of the end probably began on the
same day he won his seventh Wimbledon crown. Ever since that fateful day,
Federer has never been the same again. He won merely two trophies after that, only
one of which has come in six months of 2013. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Following is Federer’s Player Activity since Wimbledon 2012 –</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 644px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 3949; mso-width-source: userset; width: 81pt;" width="108"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2011; mso-width-source: userset; width: 41pt;" width="55"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 3364; mso-width-source: userset; width: 69pt;" width="92"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 1682; mso-width-source: userset; width: 35pt;" width="46"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 5193; mso-width-source: userset; width: 107pt;" width="142"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 7350; mso-width-source: userset; width: 151pt;" width="201"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td class="xl68" height="25" style="height: 18.75pt; width: 81pt;" width="108">2012</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; width: 41pt;" width="55"> </td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; width: 69pt;" width="92"> </td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; width: 35pt;" width="46"> </td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; width: 107pt;" width="142"> </td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; width: 151pt;" width="201"> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">Tournament</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Surface</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Round </td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Result</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Opponent</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Score</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">London
Olympics</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Grass</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Finals</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Lost</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Andy Murray</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">2-6, 1-6, 4-6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl67" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">Cincinnati</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Hard</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Finals</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Won</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Novak Djokovic </td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">6-0, 7-6(7)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl69" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">US Open</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Hard</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Quarterfinals</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Lost</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Tomas Berdych</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;"> 6-7(1), 4-6, 6-3, 3-6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">Shanghai</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Hard</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Semifinals</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Lost</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Andy Murray</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">4-6, 4-6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">Basel</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Hard</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Finals</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Lost</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Juan Martin Del Potro</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;"> 6-7(6), 5-7</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">ATP Finals</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Hard</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Finals</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Lost</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Novak Djokovic </td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">6-7(6), 5-7</td>
</tr>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td class="xl68" height="25" style="border-top: none; height: 18.75pt;">2013</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;"> </td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;"> </td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;"> </td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;"> </td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;"> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">Tournament</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Surface</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Round </td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Result</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Opponent</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Score</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl69" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">Australian
Open</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Hard</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Semifinals</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Lost</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Andy Murray</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">4-6, 7-6(5), 3-6,
7-6(2), 2-6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">Rotterdam</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Hard</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Quarterfinals</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Lost</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Julien Benneteau</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">3-6, 5-7</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">Dubai</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Hard</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Semifinals</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Lost</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Tomas Berdych</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">6-3, 6-7(8), 4-6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">Indian Wells</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Hard</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Quarterfinals</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Lost</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Rafael Nadal</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">4-6, 2-6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">Madrid</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Clay</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Third Round</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Lost</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Kei Nishikori</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">4-6, 6-1, 2-6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">Rome</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Clay</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Finals</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Lost</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Rafael Nadal</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">1-6, 3-6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl69" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">French Open</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Clay</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Quarterfinals</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Lost</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Jo-Wilfred Tsonga</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">5-7, 3-6, 3-6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl67" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">Halle</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Grass</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Finals</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Won</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Mikhail Youzhny</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl69" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">Wimbledon</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Grass</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Second Round</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Lost</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Sergiy Stakhovsky</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5),
7-5, 7-6 (7/5)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">Hamburg</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Clay</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Semifinals</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Lost</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">Federico Delbonis</td>
<td class="xl70" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">6-7(7), 6-7(4)</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The same question again? How did we come here in just under
a year? From the soaring heights of a Grand Slam victory to a depths of defeat
in an ATP 500 event? The only possible explanation I see, and I say this with a
heart as heavy as Thor’s hammer, is that that maybe, finally, we have come to a
point where he simply isn’t the best tennis player on the tour at present. Greatest of all Times? Yes, surely. Greatest
in 2013? Not quite. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The biggest reason for this is the most natural of all – age.
Federer is days away from 32 years of age. (August 8<sup>th</sup> is his
birthday) Rafael Nadal is 27, Novak Djokovic is 26 as is Andy Murray, Tomas
Berdych and Richard Gasquet are both 27, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga and Stanislas Wawrinka
are both 28 and Juan Martin Del Potro is only 24. Of the current Top 10, David
Ferrer is the only player above 30 years of age. (Of these, only Nadal,
Djokovic, Murray and Del Potro have won a Grand Slam)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sport of tennis has evolved tremendously in the past few
years, it is not just textbook technique & grace that can get you through,
speed, power & stamina are more crucial than ever now. The recent Wimbledon
finals bearing testimony to the fact, where two pairs of 26-year old legs were
tired by the time the marathon 4+ hours finals were done. It is akin to the
backhand shot – the classic one-handed backhand becomes a rarity as the more potent
two-handed backhand gains importance. Similarly gone are the times where Federer’s
adroitness was the deciding factor in matches, it is agility & athleticism
that is foremost to the craft today, something that a 31-year old would
difficult to adapt to at this stage of his career.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That being said, it
would be most unwise to write Federer off. This is the man who turned the tide
in tennis in the 2000s by the sheer force of the number of his achievements,
taking over every milestone there was, to be considered greater than McEnroe,
Sampras, Laver, Emerson, Agassi. This is the man who has spend 300 weeks as the
World No. 1 with 17 Grand Slams and 77 ATP Titles, an Olympic Gold &
Silver, but most importantly an unmatched passion & precision for tennis.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So where do we go from here? While Roger Federer goes to
play the Crédit Agricole Suisse Open, Gstaad, we Federer fans have already
skipped ahead to the US Open. In the hope & faith that we will be redeemed
in the finals Grand Slam of the year. Personally, I’d be gladly vindicated if
Roger Federer bounces back from the terrible year that was to win another title
(Note, I didn’t say, even though I wish, a Slam) even if it is for one last time, and prove to
the world, once again, that he is indeed the GOAT. I do not have enough
optimism to sustain my fangirlism, but I have hope. Hope that Roger Federer
will once again redefine renaissance and his resurgence will inspire the
Federer family once again. We cannot know what the future holds, except the
fact that Roger Federer is NOT planning to hang up his boots just as yet. As long
as he plays, I will watch him & witness the poetic beauty of tennis, irrespective
of victory or defeat. . It is hard being a Federer fan in 2013, but then, nothing
easy is worth it!</div>
</div>
ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-239876501385343802013-04-13T08:04:00.000-07:002013-04-13T08:04:39.686-07:00IPL & THE IMAGE OF WOMEN REPORTERS IN SPORT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IN"></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 14pt;">IPL
& THE IMAGE OF WOMEN REPORTERS IN SPORT</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-IN"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN">Indian
Premier League 2013 is here! The sixth edition of the unprecedentedly popular
Indian domestic T20 league is being watched and followed by millions. For the
next 2 months, our TV screens, desktops, timelines etc. will be flooded with
information about the IPL. In short, love it or hate it, you can’t ignore it.
And if there is IPL, there will be Extraaa Innings on Sony Max and if there is
Extraaa Innings on Sony Max, there will be pretty looking females in the studio
or stadium, dressed to the nines, armed with microphones, asking random, often
clueless, questions to cricketers with no apparent purpose or meaning.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN"> A
lot has been said, written, posted, tweeted about the two female reporters on
Extraaa Innings this IPL - Karishma Kotak a contestant on the
sad-excuse-for-reality-television-show Bigg Boss 6 and former Miss India
International Rochelle Maria Rao, winner-of-a-beauty-pageant-known-for-its-
imprudence. It is important to note here that I have nothing against these
ladies. In fact I am slightly envious of the fact that they get the opportunity
to roam around stadiums, talking to cricketers. My problem is with the ideology
behind the recruitment of these ladies and what they stand for – that female sport
reporters do not/ are not supposed to understand sport, they are merely
supposed to be beautiful showpieces to decorate the screen for the watching
audience.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN">This
concept is nothing new or not restricted to the male psyche, it appears to be a
universally established fact that physically attractive ladies with little or
no knowledge about the game can be and make acceptable sport presenters and
that is what annoys me the most. It is not a mindset, it has become an unsaid
canon, and I have personally experienced such incidents in my short stint in
this field. In my final year of journalism studies I was asked by one of
my professors, a senior reporter with a leading news channel, which beat I was
interested in. I said sport and the immediate response was ‘Oh you’ll do well
in the sports beat, you biggest advantage is that you are a woman’. </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN">Recently
I did an interview with Rohit Sharma and was delighted when he spoke
pleasantly, politely and in depth. I was later told that this was due to the
fact that I’m a woman and that he tends to be curt with male reporters. I have
worked with Ravi Shastri for some time and he was always more courteous and
compliant with me than with my male colleague.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN">What
these incidents highlight is that yes, being a lady does have its perks in the
field of sports reporting, and honestly, I am quite flattered to be treated
like one in whatever interactions I have had with cricketers so far. But there
is a huge, wide, deep difference in being a lady sports reporter and being a
beautiful-but-brainless lady sports reporter. If Sony Max and Extraaa Innings
want glamorously dressed women in their show to attract eyeballs, they can
easily get intelligent and good-looking female presenters, such as former
cricketers like Isa Guha, Anjum Chopra, Melanie Jones and Lisa Sthalekar. If
that is too much, then established sports reporters from news channels or even
normal ladies who understand cricket (go on Twitter, you will find many!) would
do. But no, they insist on having ‘models’ with no knowledge to present
cricket. In the words of Neeraj Vyas, business head, Max, “The focus is on fun
and entertainment and not on serious cricket. The girls are not chosen for
their knowledge of cricket. Give them some time, they will get better. The
girls have to change every year to get in younger and fresher faces” As a
female who follows cricket, as a female sports writer, heck even as a female,
this comment is absolutely insulting!! If the girls are “not chosen for their
knowledge of cricket” then on what basis are they chosen? On how presentable
they look against the green backdrop of a stadium or on how well they can hold
a mic or how tight can their dress get without splitting?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN">Let’s
have a look at some of the inanely absurd things Miss Kotak and Miss Rao have
uttered {complied on the basis of the tweets I've received, I don’t
watch much of Extraa Innings I admit} on camera while talking to cricketers
(Again I repeat, I have nothing against the ladies in question, it’s not their
fault that they do not know the difference between spinner and seamer)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Daniel Vettori
was asked how important it is to vary pace being a 'quick bowler'
Something similar happened last year when Dale Steyn was asked how
difficult it is to spin the ball in Indian conditions. [SERIOUSLY?!?! Max
should at least teach them what is to ‘spin’ and ‘seam’ before giving them
the mic!]</span><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Dwayne Smith was
asked if he’s done a lot of shopping [In the middle of a game?? ]</span><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Karun Chandhok
was asked about the noise levels at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Here is
his tweet - @karunchandhok Interviewer at #IPL match to me yesterday “Have
you ever heard sound like this at a sporting event ?”….Clearly never been
to a car race!</span><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN"> Andrew
McDonald was asked who was taller, Gayle or him</span><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Alan Donald,
sitting in the Pune Warriors India dug-out in their blue colors, was
referred as the Sunrisers Hyderabad coach. [Poor Waqar Younis, always
denied credit]</span><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">I’ve lost the
number of times KKR has been called KRK by them [a certain Deshdrohi will
be pleased to be called upon by such pretty ladies]</span><o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
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<span lang="EN-IN">These
are just a few incidents in the first 10 days of the tournament. Imagine the
list I’ll be able to compile by the end of May! (By when both the ladies in
question would have got the desired offers from Bollywood and advertisers)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN">My
point here is simple – I am a lady who not only follows cricket, but aims to
work in the field of sports journalism. And instances such as these IPL hosts
are detrimental to my prospects. Mr. Vyas clearly mentioned that they need glam
models with no knowledge of cricket for the entertainment factor. But in the
process he is negatively affecting the image of women sports presenters. In
this era of gender equality, where women are probably doing better than men in
many sectors, IPL is, as my friend at Alternative Cricket puts it, setting
feminism back to a prehistoric age. They could have used Indian female
cricketers and subtly promoted them and their game. There is no dearth of
cricket playing or following women in India and many of them are pretty as
well. If the aim is to have beautiful, eye-pleasing women, then it can be
achieved without stereotyping sports loving women and insulting the
intelligence of the wider cricket-watching population.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN">P.S.
This article is inspired by Anjali Doshi @anjaliadoshi on <a href="http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-article/ipl-male-gaze-sexism/57655" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Wisden India</span></a>, but not a
replication. Thanks to Anjali for a great idea!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN">P.P.S
I would appreciate your feedback - thoughts, comments, suggestions, even
accusations, on this piece in order to get a broader, interactive idea on the
topic. Do share your views in the comments section. Thanks!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
</div>
ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-26891799823887576862013-03-19T04:26:00.001-07:002013-03-19T04:26:34.791-07:00YOU MADE ME A FAN, RAFA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">YOU MADE ME A FAN, RAFA<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8oo7nHEN_YgNvUF7YyOxeq3fU_kieV5-wLYboWZ1nGLDn9N-tDS0oW12WNTUG4y7Q3eOrpWVjJU7IZ6AIPEZwRxZ5OyhOoYgsU6FyYNaNveMyLQcGm1f8SkDR110ECIB6zYhrGbrAvO0/s1600/nadal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8oo7nHEN_YgNvUF7YyOxeq3fU_kieV5-wLYboWZ1nGLDn9N-tDS0oW12WNTUG4y7Q3eOrpWVjJU7IZ6AIPEZwRxZ5OyhOoYgsU6FyYNaNveMyLQcGm1f8SkDR110ECIB6zYhrGbrAvO0/s320/nadal.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
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Anybody who knows me, even remotely, follows me on Twitter
or reads my blog will know this – I am a FEDERER FANGIRL. Roger Federer is the
ultimate sportsperson for me, to the point of irrational insanity. So obviously
I tend to not like the guys who defeat him often... That is till this Sunday. Till
last week, I could never be accused of being a fan of Rafael Nadal. I’m not
even sure if I liked him very much. Respected, yes but never admired. But
Sunday changed that once and for all. After watching him life the BNP Paribas Open
Trophy at Indian Wells after all that has happened in the last seven months,
there is only one thing I can say – You made me a fan, Rafa.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s back up a bit and run through what exactly happened to
Nadal in the last few months. He won his obligatory French Open title in June
and moved on to Wimbledon where in the second round, he was faced with a shock
exit after losing to 100<sup>th</sup> ranked Czech Lukas Rosol in what was
probably one of the biggest upset in Grand Slam history. Post that Nadal
promptly withdrew from the London Olympics with a recurring knee injury, a forced
hiatus that continued till the end of the year missing the US Open and the ATP
World Tour Finals. His year-end ranking plummeted to No. 4 and talks were rife
that Nadal will never be able to be tennis player that he was. That should have
been the beginning of the end and that’s what everybody thought, maybe even
Uncle Toni, but not Rafa. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2013 came and things just got worse with him pulling out of the
Australian Open with a stomach infection and dropping out of the top 4. He finally
made his much awaited comeback to tennis in February at the Chile Open on his favoured
surface, clay. Unfortunately for him, once again he was stunned, this time by
World No. 73 Horacio Zeballos who went on to win the tournament. Undeterred,
Nadal continued his South American sojourn, his first time since 2005, to claim
the clay court titles in Brazil and Mexico. But the real test to reiterate his
comeback would be playing on hard courts against top ranked players, a test he
passed in flying colours. Back on American hard courts after a year, Nadal
started at Indian Wells seeded at No. 5 and was faced with huge obstacles in
the form of Roger Federer (a match I would like to never, ever talk about) Tomas Berdych (who I’m glad was beaten bad) and
Juan Martin del Potro (who took care of Djokovic and Murray)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is only one word I can use to describe Rafael Nadal’s campaign
at Indian Wells – Unbelievable. This man, who is perennially in excruciating pain
thanks to a knee defect since childhood, who was out with injury for 7 months,
lost major matches to virtually unknown players and has a nemesis in hard court
tournaments, defied all the odds, defeated the top players who beat other top
players and went on to life the BNP Paribas Open Trophy, his 600<sup>th</sup>match
win and a record 22nd career ATP Tour Masters 1000 title. As I said, UNBELIEVABLE.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now a lot of tennis analysts and experts believe that the
BNP Paribas Open is the fifth Major, after the four Grand Slams. If there is
any truth in that, then Rafael Nadal may might as have won his 12<sup>th</sup>
Grand Slam title already, on a surface he is least fond of. That in itself is a
big feat, for a guy who was supposed to have seen the writing on the wall back
in July. Honestly, I am really happy
& proud that Rafael Nadal won the Indian Wells title. In sport, superhuman
effort when down and out is what counts and makes a difference! Before his
comeback & knee injury, I couldn't be accused of liking him. But after
seeing him struggle & bounce back in the last on year, it is safe to say, that
I have been forced to convert and become <s>a grudging admirer a</s> fan!</div>
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Here are some Nadal quotes which I found to reflect the kind
of person he really is and endeared me even more to me, thereby converting me –</div>
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<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">"Seriously, it's impossible to have better comeback,
no?"</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">"That's makes emotional week for me, very important
victory for me, winning against the best players of the world on a surface that
is good for them."</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">“When you have one comeback like I’m having, you remember
all the low things, lower moments that you had during this seven months, doubts
and all these things. So beating three Top 10 players and winning a title like
this is just something unbelievable for me. Very, very happy and very emotional.”</span></li>
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P.S. THIS piece is no way means my love for Roger Federer
has diminished an iota. He is the greatest player of all times and the sportsperson
I love the most, but not at the cost of Nadal. Just saying :) </div>
</div>
ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-41664991709579695282013-02-27T03:07:00.000-08:002013-02-27T03:18:08.157-08:00MS DHONI: CHANGE THE GAME<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">MS DHONI: CHANGE THE GAME<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMySLuMs4INwv3MmrFPqvi-YO9xisPLEgKyznDP2FLpSdRxScDJ4PY2lb2EmV7hQLKWJz8CajJxhUTHSMm6Dbh6bc8oFAym9vx5qdkaKbgtgt9EIHPYK1C3wKcypjh0Rr4x-EK1OBGHDWq/s1600/Dhoni+passion+1x2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMySLuMs4INwv3MmrFPqvi-YO9xisPLEgKyznDP2FLpSdRxScDJ4PY2lb2EmV7hQLKWJz8CajJxhUTHSMm6Dbh6bc8oFAym9vx5qdkaKbgtgt9EIHPYK1C3wKcypjh0Rr4x-EK1OBGHDWq/s400/Dhoni+passion+1x2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
abominable Pepsi ad poster I was talking about</span></td></tr>
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MS Dhoni is a lot of things. He is a two-time World Cup
winning captain, he is India’s most successful captain-batsman, he is the captain
with the most terrible overseas Test record, he is the man who changed the face
of Indian cricket. But amidst it all, he is the most influential Indian cricketer
of modern times. Influential, not just as the captain of the Indian team, but
also as one of India’s foremost batsman. One strong performance from his bat
can change the game (No reference to the abominable Pepsi campaign by the same
name)</div>
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We have seen this game-changing batting ability from him in
spades whenever he has played limited overs cricket, in blue or yellow or in
any other color; but it has been rarely seen in the Test whites. Of the 74
Tests he has played in his 7 and ¼ years career, he has scored 4107 runs at an average
of almost 40 with a strike rate of almost 60 batting from No. 3 to No. 8 with 6
centuries and 28 half-centuries, receiving the Man of the Match award only
twice. (Incidentally both against Australia) While these numbers are not disgraceful
for a wicketkeeper-batsman coming at No. 7 in a team that boasts (or boasted)
of extraordinary batting stalwarts, they are a bit anti-climatic for a player
like Dhoni. He has never been able to stamp his authority on the 5-day game as
he has in the shorter formats of the game. His overseas record is flaky and has
never scored a century outside the sub-continent and of his 6 centuries, none
has come in losses. In most cases, an average Indian fan does not even expect
much when Dhoni comes in to bat in a Test, and in recent times he had become more
of a tail-ender than R Ashwin. Why am I spouting statistics and highlighting
Dhoni’s Test defects you ask? Because this just goes on to show how crucial,
how utterly important Dhoni’s double ton against Australia in the Chennai Test
was.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFbzBvD6dBq3IKAkrllwjddnORSnJZJzj0F9FcGqsLELE_NErR6jaz4_L6saBtpe_RbblCyQQ0fPQlYONWZRYnMvEyFZxTmY1dV9Sq3H91_NNLYVS6K1-WgR7QBLD6WXNewV-jiWAXOdL/s1600/msdhoni-24-03-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFbzBvD6dBq3IKAkrllwjddnORSnJZJzj0F9FcGqsLELE_NErR6jaz4_L6saBtpe_RbblCyQQ0fPQlYONWZRYnMvEyFZxTmY1dV9Sq3H91_NNLYVS6K1-WgR7QBLD6WXNewV-jiWAXOdL/s320/msdhoni-24-03-23.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MS Dhoni scored <span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">224 runs from 265 balls with 24 fours and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 84 vs Australia in the first Test at Chennai.</span></td></tr>
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Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored 224 runs from 265
balls with 24 fours and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 84. Statistically, this was
his best Test innings, beating his previous best of 144 vs West Indies at the
Eden Gardens in 2011. But qualitatively and influentially, this was his THE BEST
Test innings. There are a many reasons for this – it was against Australia, it
came on the back of dreadful Test series loss against England, it gave India a
sizeable lead and it was at an amazing strike rate and it was the final
clincher for India’s victory. He became only the second Indian batsman (after
Sehwag of course) to score 200 runs in one day, 100 of which came in a single
session! (Here let’s observe a moment of silence for Nathan Lyon) I have followed
MS Dhoni’s career from the start and I have never seen him bat like this is a
Test match. I was half expecting him to strip of his Test whites and reveal his
yellow jersey underneath! Maybe because he was the playing at his favourite ground
or maybe he got inspired by his ‘Oh Yes Abhi’ ad, Dhoni’s 224 against Australia
at Chennai ‘changed the game’</div>
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On a serious note, Dhoni has set the tone for the rest of
the series. A one-match lead counts for not much in a Test series unless you
can carry forward the momentum, as we saw against England. Dhoni and his troops
have their task cut out at Hyderabad, bat big, spin them out and take an unassailable
2-0 lead. <a href="http://sportilligent.blogspot.com/2013/02/flashback-border-gavaskar-trophy.html" target="_blank">Expecting the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to be a one-sided series</a> is too
much and Australia will be raring to go and get even. But Dhoni’s knock has
given India the much needed momentum early in the series. Over to Hyderabad! </div>
</div>
ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-34514967601987966732013-02-21T00:22:00.000-08:002013-02-21T00:26:58.701-08:00FLASHBACK: BORDER-GAVASKAR TROPHY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fGmqEB6xlfdAQs8KFOt18AlFOZcQHU92Gm1l7u613sa-likMTKyzjLrM8zc0QQOWKzEmwaLMc4Y_6OWKeU57I5R8qbMHO84Eo0E-om32zclhD-5EO4x1xVv0x6gpjdEP9JGTTRIYFsWI/s1600/402px-Border-Gavaskar_Trophy_n_Airtel_Cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fGmqEB6xlfdAQs8KFOt18AlFOZcQHU92Gm1l7u613sa-likMTKyzjLrM8zc0QQOWKzEmwaLMc4Y_6OWKeU57I5R8qbMHO84Eo0E-om32zclhD-5EO4x1xVv0x6gpjdEP9JGTTRIYFsWI/s320/402px-Border-Gavaskar_Trophy_n_Airtel_Cup.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Perhaps no other trophy or
tournament has shaped the way of Indian cricket as it is today than this
singular series played against a singular opponent. The 10 India vs Australia
Test series so far since the initiation of this Trophy have provided us with something
more than just cricket - it has given us hope, elation, anger, depression, and
above all memories that have been unendingly etched in our heads and history.</div>
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It is not a historic battle like the Ashes. It is not a neighbourly
fight like the India-Pakistan or Australia- New Zealand series. It is not a
clash for supremacy like India-England. But the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is no
less a clash of the titans. The
India-Australia rivalry occupies a special place in cricket. Ever since India
halted Australia cavalry charge in 2001, India has become Australia’s biggest
nemesis and India was the Final Frontier the Baggy Greens were desperate to
capture. Of course they managed to finally win a Test series on Indian soil in
2004 under Adam Gilchrist. Australians may have the Ashes as the most testing
Test series but as an Indian, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has always been the
pinnacle of Test achievement.</div>
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Ever since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy came into existence in
1996, India and Australia have played each other ten times, in India and thrice
in Australia. Of these, India has won five series and Australia have won
three. Of course all these wins have
come on Indian soil, the three times that India played in Australia, they were
whitewashed, drew and lost.</div>
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With the first India vs Australia Test starting in Chennai,
let’s have a Border-Gavaskar Trophy Flashback.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1996</span></b>
– The debut of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was also the debut of Sachin
Tendulkar as captain with a one-off Test played at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi from
the 10<sup>th</sup> to 13<sup>th</sup> October with India cruising to victory
in 4 days. Brad Hogg and David Johnson (Remember him? Anyone?) made their debut
but the show stealer was, wait-for-it, Nayan Mongia! Australia, having elected
to bat, were bundled out for 182 with a Kumble 4-fer with contributions from
Sunil Joshi and Aashish Kapoor. Opener Mongia then scored a century which was
the highest score of the match. India had to chase a meagre 56 and Tendulkar
had the precious trophy. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1998</span></b>
– The next time Australia toured India was in 1998 and vouched for a thrilling
3-Test series that India won 2-1. This series will probably be best remember
for the epic duel between Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne – among the best
batsmen and bowlers of that time. It was after this series that Warne famously
claimed that SRT starred in his nightmares. Australia suffered heavy losses in
the first 2 Tests at Chennai and Kolkata, sealing the fate of the series, but
fought back admirably in the third to restore some pride. Yet the Final
Frontier remained unconquered for Waugh & boys while his Indian counterpart
Mohd. Azharuddin enjoyed a fruitful series.
Sachin Tendulkar was named Player of the Series with for 446 runs in 3
matches and drew his strongest comparisons with Sir Don Bradman.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1999-2000</span></b>
– This was the first year that the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was held on
Australian soil and the result, as many expected, was a 3-0 whitewash. The only
silver lining for India was then Captain Sachin Tendulkar being named Player of
the Series. In hindsight, another, although hitherto unknown, silver lining was
the initiation of the man who would go on to torment Aussies for more than a
decade. VV Laxman scored a sublime century at the SCG opening the batting and
thereby started his love affair with Australia and the Sydney Cricket Ground.
But nothing could prevent massive losses for India, with Australia playing like
Champions. Debutante Brett lee tore through Indian order on Boxing Day at MCG,
Glen McGrath troubled with his razor sharp line and length and finished with 18
wickets, Ricky Ponting began his own affair with Indian bowlers with an average
of 125. On the back of the fixing scandal, entering the new millennium with new
player things could not have been worse for Indian cricket.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2001</span></b>
– The Border-Gavaskar Trophy was back on Indian soil and Australia faced a new
look Indian side. Under new captain Sourav Ganguly, in the absence of spearhead
Anil Kumble and with a host of new faces, India looked the weaker side against
a team on the brink of a World Record consecutive Test victories. Australia won
the first Test at Mumbai by a comfortable margin of 10 wickets and were on a 16
match undefeated streak when the 2001 Kolkata Test began. Australia won the
toss and elected to bat putting on 445 runs on board and then bundled out India
for 171, enforcing follow on. (Here I
have to take a moment and thank Steve Waugh, sincerely Tugga you saved our
country, thank you!) And the rest is history, and a pile of numbers – VVS Laxman
- 281, Rahul Dravid - 180, Harbhajan Singh - 13, Indian victory - 171, the
tears of joy priceless! India won the third Test at Chennai by 2 wickets thanks
to a brilliant century by Tendulkar and an insane 15 wickets by Harbhajan, also
the Player of the Series. India won the series 2-1 and Indian cricket was
reborn. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2003-2004</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span>–
This time a new look Team India went to Australia under talismanic skipper
Sourav Ganguly and Coach John Wright. Everybody believed that it was the best
chance India had to defeat the Aussies at home. India came close with some
fantastic cricket in the first Test at Brisbane studded with a Ganguly century
and a Zaheer Khan fifer (Which was his last game, as his mistress, injury,
visited him) but that Test ended in a draw. India then went on to register a
historic 4-wicket win in the second Test at Adelaide with Rahul Dravid’s 233 (mingled
with a million tears) and a six-wicket haul by Ajit Agarkar. But Australia won
the next Test at Melbourne with comprehensive 9-wickets making the last Test at
Sydney the decider. Unfortunately for India, Aussies fought out a draw in
Skipper Waugh’s last Test despite a wonderful batting performance by India (and
a Laxman century, obviously!) posting a target of over 700. Rahul Dravid was
adjudged the Man of the Series for his fabulous batting performance. The series
saw some of India’s best performances as a team in Test cricket ever and it was
indeed disappointing to see it end in a draw.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2004</span></b>
– This is the series, dubbed the Final Frontier series, which I am most likely
to forget. (In fact I’m pretty sure, I had managed to repress it in some deep,
dark corner of my brain before I started writing this!) Australia came under
stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist for a 4 Test series which was also Shane Warne
and Glenn McGrath's last tour of India. The first Test at Bangalore saw
debutant Michael Clarke start his life-long -tormenting-India campaign with a
splendid century which gave the visitors a comprehensive win. The second Test
at Chennai was a rain affected draw and all eyes shifted to the next at Nagpur
which proved to be the undoing of India. A ‘alleged’ green-top-resultant-injury
for skipper Ganguly meant Dravid was the unfortunate one to have captained the
historic match when Australia finally conquered their Final Frontier after 35
years winning a Test series in India. A stunning performance by Damien Martyn
and India’s collapse against pacers on a bouncy top meant that there was only
pride to play for in Mumbai. Ponting returned and Indian ‘authorities’
retaliated by preparing a crumbling turner which ended a low-scoring match in 3
days. (Which I am, incidentally, still mad about as I had passes for only day 4
& 5!!) The proof of the pitch is that even Michael Clarke extracted 6
Indian wickets! Damien Martyn was named Player of the Series, and an unrelated
Fun fact – Gautam Gambhir made his debut here!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2007-2008</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span>– A
lot of water (and tears) had passes under the proverbial bridge when India went
Down Under with a new captain at the helm, the indomitable Anil Kumble, for a
series that is sadly remembered more for controversy than cricket. India lost
that series 2-1 with Brett Lee being awarded the Man of the Series for his 24
wickets. Australia won the first Test at Melbourne comfortably by 337 runs with
India getting bowled out under 200 twice. The second Test at Sydney also went
to Australia by 122 runs who took an unassailable lead. However this Test was
marred by the ugly Monkeygate Scandal and even worse, the horrendous umpiring
errors. As Kumble promised, India managed to wipe out the negativity and win
the third Test at Perth by 72 runs, a truly terrific performance at the bouncy
WACA. The fourth Test at Adelaide
petered down to a draw. Australia may have regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,
but this series lost them a lot of respect.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2008</span></b>
– The 2008 India vs Australia series will be remembered for a lot of things
aside from the 4 Tests. Two Indian legends played their last Test in this
series (almost 5 years have passed and we still haven’t found their ideal
replacements, FYI) The first Test at Bangalore, where Zaheer Kahn grabbed both
a fifer and a fifty, was drawn. India claimed a comprehensive victory in the next
Test at Mohali with a power-packed performance by MD Dhoni in both innings. It
was a record-breaking match for Sachin
Tendulkar who became the highest run scorer in Test match history surpassing
record of 11,957 runs marks and on the way becoming the first man to score
12000 runs in Test cricket history as well as for Sourav Ganguly who crossed
7000 runs in Test cricket on the way to scoring his last century in Test
cricket. The third Test at Delhi was an emotional one as captain Anil Kumble announced
his retirement after suffering from a finger injury. Despite double tons from
Laxman and Gambhir, the match ended in a draw. The fourth Test at Nagpur was Sourav
Ganguly’s swan song (apt huh, considering what happened there 4 years back) and
India gave him a fitting farewell with a 172 run victory reclaiming Dada’s most
beloved piece of silverware - the Border-Gavaskar Trophy! Ishant Sharma was
named Man of the Series (Yes an Indian seamer in sub-continent conditions!)</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2010</span></b>
– Back again in India, this 2 Test series was special for one reason – India actually
whitewashed Australia in a Test series! The first Test was at Mohali, one that
would go down in the history books as being the most topsy-turvy India vs
Australia Test ever! Here is how it went – Aus make 428 in first innings, India
reply with 405, bowlers restrict Australia to 192 in second innings, India need
216 to win and Day 4 ends on 55/4, Aussies strike early & hard on day 5,
Tendulkar, Zaheer & Dhoni gone leaving a back spasm-ed, in-pain VVS Laxman
with the tail. Australia sniffed victory when India needed 92 runs to win with
just 2 wickets remaining at Lunch, but cometh the Aussies, cometh the Laxman! With
runner Raina, tail-ender Ishant and under Laxman’s guidance, India inched
closer to the target when tragedy struck in form of Ishant’s wicket at 190.
Ojha was the last man in and more drama ensued with an umpiring gaffe,
overthrows and scampering runs. In the end, India won by 1 wicket, Laxman top
scored with a precious 73 and Zaheer Khan received the Man of the match. In words
borrowed from Ravi Shastri, all 3 visits were possible till the last ball was
bowled, it did go down to the wire! India won the second Test a Bangalore with 7
wickets, completed the whitewash and retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Tendulkar was named Player of the Series and another Fun fact, Cheteshwar
Pujara made his debut in the Bangalore Test, with his half-century helping in
victory.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2011-2012</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span>– The
less I think about this the better. Before the start of the last the
Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, I wrote <a href="http://sportilligent.blogspot.in/2011/12/why-this-is-indias-best-chance-to-win.html" target="_blank">‘Why this is India’s bets chance towin a Test in Australia’</a> and I don’t think I have ever been so wrong in my
entire life! India were whiplashed and whitewashed 4-0, the worst overseas Test
series ever without a single silver lining (Unless you count Zaheer Khan
playing an entire Test series without getting injured as one)! Oh wait, I forgot Virat Kohli’s century at
Adelaide, but it was a placebo. The very trophy that made Indian cricket,
destroyed it. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy gave birth to the new, fearless Indian
team 10 years ago and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy killed it. Innings defeat, not
crossing even 300 runs, lone Indian ton, not being able to bowl out Australia
even once... the agony piled on from Melbourne, Sydney, Perth to Adelaide. New captain and Player of the Series Michael
Clarke ripped apart a hapless India and after a disastrous performance, Dravid
and Laxman retired. Indian cricket will never be the same again. </div>
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These were the 10 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series held so far.
With the 11<sup>th</sup> coming up, here is hoping that this new look India
does what they did back in 2001, a new icon is born and Indian fans get back
their hope faith. </div>
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Thanks for reading!</div>
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ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-16275755351255090172012-12-30T20:08:00.001-08:002012-12-30T20:32:55.423-08:002012 ENDED THE WORLD (AS I KNOW IT)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2012 ENDED THE WORLD (AS I KNOW IT)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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The world did not end in 2012, the Mayans were proved wrong.
But 2012 was the end of the world as I know it.
Cricket is my passion, the most defining part of my identity and I have
watched cricket for quite some years now, and never have I felt so cheated, so
disheartened and so upset at the end of a calendar year as I have felt in 2012.
All this for one reason, the big R word – RETIREMENT.</div>
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2012 has ended the careers of more cricketers I like than
the entire last decade! <br />
Rahul Dravid. Brett Lee. VVS Laxman. Mark Boucher. Andrew Strauss. Ricky
Ponting. Sachin Tendulkar. Mike Hussey.<br />
Cricket will never again be the same of me!</div>
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Picture this - when Australia come to their long won Final Frontier,
India, in 203 for the away stage of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (something they
so convincingly hold) and when the first wicket falls for either team, <a href="http://sportilligent.blogspot.in/2012/03/thank-you-dravid.html" target="_blank">Rahul Dravid</a>
and <a href="http://sportilligent.blogspot.in/2012/12/thanks-for-entertainment-punter.html" target="_blank">Ricky Ponting</a> WON’T walk in. There will be no <a href="http://sportilligent.blogspot.in/2012/08/farewell-to-my-very-very-special-hero.html" target="_blank">VVS Laxman</a> to guide the tail and
team home when we falter. Oh and no Mr. Cricket taking on Indian spinners like
he eats them for breakfast. </div>
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As for all the ODIs against Pakistan and England and Sri
Lanka (this comes by default) there will be another opener walking out with
Virender Sehwag, no biggie, it happens all the time. But also there will be no
wait for the 50<sup>th</sup> century, no asking ‘Sachin out hua kya, kitna
banaya?’ not even ‘India doesn’t win when he scores a century’ because ODI
cricket has lost its best exponent. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the
fact that SRT will no longer walk out in the Indian Blues ever again.</div>
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I have never seen Sachin Tendulkar bat in an ODI match live,
even though I’ve seen him bat so many times. Come to think of it, I will never
get to see <a href="http://sportilligent.blogspot.in/2012/07/brett-lee-bids-adieu.html" target="_blank">Brett Lee</a> bowl full throttle again, unless I go see him in KKR’s Purple.
Neither have I seen the greatest Test wicket-keeper batsmen, mark Boucher, as
his career was cut short by a series, when he was hot on the eye in a practice game
in England and lost full visibility. And my favorite, most respected, Ashes-winning
captain Andrew Strauss, no way to watch him play, again! </div>
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All this makes me realize how much cricket lost this year
has. And it’s hard to say goodbye. To think that we might not be able to watch
the Rahul Dravid cover drive, the Ricky Ponting Pull and Hook, the Sachin Tendulkar
Straight Drive, the Brett Lee Yorker, in 2013 is enough to get me lamenting
that 2012 is indeed the end of an era, an era of cricket legends, especially in
<a href="http://sportilligent.blogspot.in/2012/08/life-after-dravid-and-laxman.html" target="_blank">Indian cricket</a>.</div>
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As an Indian fan, I started the year on a hope and prayer
that the New Year’s Test at Sydney brings back some semblance of teeth to
Indian test cricket. As an Indian fan, I end the year on a hope and prayer for
the same. As a cricket fan, I end the year with the lament that 2012 has left
cricket poorer.</div>
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ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-65708751856158551342012-12-03T20:48:00.000-08:002012-12-03T20:48:07.699-08:00THANKS FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT, PUNTER<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKR32j5GkHs9NjnUGspo50HdFVK_sWQSGM4tQwWO5EDO9sliaK3DoL3E9UIgq0B0N-w_hO5BFR_DrOFkm672uDK_SVTp9qNFvN81SaDxFDJZGBrO7chxMN29N_VojtMXAY_cbCbbUhnqW/s1600/152305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKR32j5GkHs9NjnUGspo50HdFVK_sWQSGM4tQwWO5EDO9sliaK3DoL3E9UIgq0B0N-w_hO5BFR_DrOFkm672uDK_SVTp9qNFvN81SaDxFDJZGBrO7chxMN29N_VojtMXAY_cbCbbUhnqW/s320/152305.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Scoreboard says it right- Thanks Ricky!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">After all the accolades and tributes that have flown in before, during and since the Perth Test when he ended a phenomenal cricket career, I have a confession to make.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">I have never liked Ricky Ponting.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">As a kid who watched the 2003 World Cup Finals with excessive optimism and prayers, it is hard to like him. His 140 not out, which demolished India’s hopes of winning the Trophy, was probably one of the best ODI innings played by an Australian; but I still disliked him. The 2004 Border-Gavaskar Trophy did not endear him any further as his gem of an innings in Melbourne took the game away. I was wickedly delighted when Ponting became the first captain since Allan Border to lose the Ashes in 2005. But then came 2007 and he also became the first captain in 86 years to clean sweep the Ashes, beating England 5-0 at home, in addition to being the Man of the Series. My dislike deepened. In 2006 he led Australia to a Champions Trophy victory (and pushed Sharad Pawar off the podium) I disliked him to the core. His attitude as Australian captain in the controversial 2008 India vs Australia Test series was enough for any Indian to start hating him. The subsequent Ashes defeats and unsuccessful tours to New Zealand and India, A World Cup defeat (where he did his best albeit) and it looked like the Ponting era was gone. He gave up captaincy and instead of going down, came up even more. He became the first cricketer to be part of 100 Test match wins at Galle & tormented India with a century at Sydney and a double at Adelaide. How could any Indian cricket fan like him!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">However, the more my dislike grew, the more I felt another emotion toward Mr. Ricky Thomas Ponting – an emotion like 'grudging admiration'. The sheer power and proficiency of his game forcibly turned me from a grudge-keeper to a grudging admirer. But Ponting is known to have that effect on people. How can a cricket fan not like a batsman who can turn any delivery into a boundary with that trademark pull and hook? How can you not like watching him piling on the runs with his laidback smile? How can you not like his astute brains as skipper, be it field placements or sledging the opposition? The words obnoxious, stubborn, disagreeable, ruthless are all compliments to the man. And after playing 375 ODI matches and scoring 13,704 runs at average of 42.03 with 30 centuries and 82 half-centuries and after playing in five World Cups, winning three of those back-to-back and two of those as captain; And after 167 Tests scoring 13366 runs at an average of 52.21 with 41 centuries and 62 half-centuries and after winning Ashes 5-0, holding on to the ICC Test Mace for the longest time and having his name on pretty much every trophy there is, Ponting can afford to be obnoxious, stubborn, disagreeable, ruthless and anything else he wishes to be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">And therein lies the greatness of Ponting. His arrogance is a crown he wears on a high head, he is proud of his stubbornness because that has what has got him his plus 25,000 runs and every possible Trophy there is to be won as captain. He no longer is a part of the international cricket anymore, but such is his legacy that no other mortal could ever come close. Captain of the most successful, the most dominant side in world cricket for a decade with every possible series, tournament and trophy in his name, as a batsman, second only to Sachin Tendulkar in numbers and as a leader second to none in his ruthless, aggressive, effective style. Ponting doesn't ask to be loved, or even liked, he merely demands grudging admiration. As he walks in to the sunset, all I can say is - Thanks for the entertainment, Punter!</span></span></div>
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ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-70214022384675938312012-11-29T00:26:00.002-08:002012-11-29T00:27:14.803-08:00IT'S ALWAYS THRILLING IN MUMBAI!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>First published on ESPNCricinfo.com <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/page2/content/story/593221.html">http://www.espncricinfo.com/page2/content/story/593221.html</a></b></div>
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<b>Choice of game<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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There is no reason not to go for an
India vs England Test, even more so when the match is at Wankhede, a ground
where India vs England has an unforgettable history. Who can forget the match
back in 2006 where Shaun Udal became unlikely hero and India folded for 100
all-out. And this match has been just as topsy-turvy as the one 6 years back
where </div>
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<b>Key Performer<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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KP (Kevin Pietersen) has always been the KP (Key Performer)
for England and this was no different as he played one of the best innings by
an Englishman on Indian soil. His fluent 186 off 233 with 20 fours and 4 sixes,
two of which were absolute crackers, was the highlight of the day. It did not
matter if you were English or Indian, all spectators alike applauded the sheer
magnificence of his bat whenever he scored a boundary. His century celebrations
were trademark KP & there were very few people in the stands who did not
join in the cheer. Interesting observation – far more people stood up for
Pietersen than for other centurion Alastair Cook!</div>
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<b>One thing you’d have
changed about the day<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Instead of changing one thing about today’s play, I’d change
eight! The seven Indian wickets that fell like dominoes and the absolute
insipid bowling earlier in the day. As
an irrational, emotional India fan, it was heart-breaking to watch the team
crumble like this in home conditions. And as each of the 7 wickets fell in just
about 30 overs, the last shreds of optimism evaporated. As an objective cricket
watcher, it was exhilarating to see 15 wickets fall one after the other in one
day.</div>
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<b>The interplay you
enjoyed the most<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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One hit the other all over the park for seemingly easy runs,
the other got him out in an anti-climax dismissal after a brilliant innings.
For obvious reasons, the contest I enjoyed the most was Kevin Pietersen vs
Pragyan Ojha. KP’s susceptibility against left-arm spinners has given rise to
much talk but he made little of it as he hoisted Ojha for 3 sixes and the same
got better off him when , on the verge of a double hundred, he offered a thin edge
into Dhoni’s gloves to end a splendid innings. I’d say that in this interplay,
both Ojha and Petersen returned with equal honors.</div>
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<b>Wow moment<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The WOW Moment for me, strangely, wasn’t on the ground as
such, but in the stands. The sheer energy and enthusiasm of the crowds is
infectious – The cheering, the chanting, the chatting. The insane celebrations
when an English wicket fell, the rhythmic clapping when the bowlers ran in to
bowl, the wild slogan shouting when an Indian batsmen took guard, the roaring applause
even for singles, the standing ovation
when Sachin Tendulkar entered the ground – this was the wow factor for me.</div>
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<b>Player Watch<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Alastair Cook. From starting the day with a solid century to
ending the day on field, shining the ball & pepping his team up, captain
Cook could do no wrong today. It was a treat to watch him bat as he brought up
his second century of this series and lead from the front. His fielding was
spirited and some sharp saves just served to increase the intensity of the
other fielders. He must have gone off field a happy man with India on the mat. </div>
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<b>Shot of the day <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The Sachin Tendulkar Straight
Drive. He scored only 8 runs off 2 boundaries but with his exquisite timing and
clean hitting, his first four off Panesar is my shot of the day. Pietersen and
Cook scored in hordes but the typical shot down the ground by the Master stands
out above everything else.</div>
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<b>Crowd meter<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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There is no describing the Wankhede crowd in a few lines,
that will take a book! The upper tier of the North and SRT Stands, where I was
seated, was probably the most vibrant stands with the constant cheering. Even
the English supporters joined in the celebrations and overall it was a cordial
atmosphere with a healthy dose of bantering between the Indians and English. One
of the English supports sitting with us went on to say that it was the best
place to watch cricket in India! </div>
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<b>Overall<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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It was disappointing, it was heart-breaking, it was
frustrating as an Indian fan, but overall it was a brilliant day of Test
cricket. It started with centuries by Cook and Pietersen, it went on to become
a wicket-taking competition with 8 English and 7 Indian batsmen getting
dismissed. So we got to see the best of both batting and bowling. Mumbai has always given us some of the most
interesting Test matches in the recent years and I am hoping that one too,
miraculously, becomes a close contest. </div>
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<b>Marks out of 10<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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9. The one mark lost is due to the uninspiring performance
from the Indian team. Gautam Gambhir has played a crucial knock so far, but
otherwise it has been a collectively disappointing outing. But full marks to
the atmosphere created by the fans despite the disappointment.</div>
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ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-67610265676368052362012-11-19T20:50:00.001-08:002012-11-19T21:54:31.301-08:00ENGLAND NEED TOO MANY COOKS… <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ENGLAND NEED TOO MANY COOKS…</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RW5I4re9PIf_vhZdF6hdJGWdo8j7L4Uv8IP27SuqRHA2LApM_VyBokDvwqsOj45B7FrHNYSESEpluh_XStJJMkairaAnpCiGClXSS_G7aKTcE1C6GLuG_xRycyVoHnoW8CAK53mStQk5/s1600/Alastair+Cook+was+finally+dismissed+for+176+on+the+final+morning+of+the+first+Test.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RW5I4re9PIf_vhZdF6hdJGWdo8j7L4Uv8IP27SuqRHA2LApM_VyBokDvwqsOj45B7FrHNYSESEpluh_XStJJMkairaAnpCiGClXSS_G7aKTcE1C6GLuG_xRycyVoHnoW8CAK53mStQk5/s320/Alastair+Cook+was+finally+dismissed+for+176+on+the+final+morning+of+the+first+Test.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This was the first Test of his first series as official
captain. It could not have come at a more inopportune time. The team has lost
its No. 1 Ranking, worse, they have lost their captain, the guy who got them to
the top. Their most prolific batsman has been ‘re-integrated’ in the team and
the dressing room atmosphere is less than cordial. They have come to India, a
place with almost hostile conditions, for a series that is hyped up to be an
almost Imperialist revenge like plot. In the midst of this, he is just a
left-handed opening batsman who has to play for the first time without his
trusted new-ball partner in less than favorable conditions, while forging a new
partnership with a debutant, while keeping up with a headstrong Coach, while
leading a stumbling team in a crucially difficult series. </div>
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All this sounds like a perfect recipe for disaster. But not
if you are Alastair Cook.</div>
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England lost the first at Ahmadabad by 9 wickets, a result
much better that expected. And all thanks to that rookie captain playing for
the first time without the guidance of mentor Andrew Strauss. But Cook has no
reason to be disheartened by his team’s loss. Because there was a huge win in there
for him. Scoring a fighting century, a 374-ball 176 no less while your team is
following on after getting out for 191 in the first innings, is the mark of not
only a good batsman, but of a great cricketer. That right there is the biggest
positive England can take from the loss. </div>
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T o be perfectly honest, England does not look half as the
team that tormented India last summer, whitewashed them 4-0 and took over the
Test mace. Over the last 12 months, a lot has changed for the England Test
team, even though most of their frontline players remain the same. Although it
is agreed that the situation is different as this series is being played in the
sub-continent and not on the bouncy green tops back home. But then they played
South Africa in the very same conditions and lost 2-0 in what was one of the
most intense Test battles of 2012. England played West Indies at home before
that and did just fine with a 2-0 victory. Of course I consider their 1-1 draw
in Sri lanka as a plus in England’s favor because winning a Test match there
takes great effort, for batsmen who are susceptible to spin on rank turners.
(It must be said that major credit here goes to a certain Mr. Pietersen whose
splendid century lit up the series & possibly saved it) But the pivotal
point where England started losing the plot came as early as January, a time
when they were still No. 1. England’s UAE tour, the Test bit of it, was
disaster to say the least. Pakistan won the 3 match series 3-0, completely humiliating
the visitors. </div>
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Cut to November, and after one Test down in the series, the
challenges still remain the same for the Barmy Army. <a href="https://twitter.com/kevinpp24/status/270488510367158272" target="_blank">Kevin Pietresen can proclaimhis loathing for losses </a>all he wants, truth is that they have a lot of ground
to cover before the next Test in Mumbai starts. It is not about the English
batsmen’s affinity (or rather the lack of it) for spin, it is not about the
mental games of playing no spinners in the tour games, it is not about India preparing
bone-dry, spinning pitches. If Cook and Matt Prior could have batted it out
following on, there is no reason why the others couldn’t. As the captain said post match, English
batsmen failed because they did not trust their own methods. If England has to
turn a new leaf, then it is the batting that will have to come out strongly,
start using their feet, try not to come ahead and sweep every ball that spins. And
they have an excellent example of the same in the form of Captain Cook.</div>
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He did not get the Man of the Match award, there was a
Double Centurion from the opposite side who deserved it. But what he did get
was respect, a lot of it. Alastair Cook’s gritty century won him a number of admirers,
most of them Indian, and rightly so. He has set the tone for the series, one
which if the rest of the team follows, it will be the <a href="http://sportilligent.blogspot.in/2012/10/welcome-to-bharat-barmy-army.html" target="_blank">perfectly intense competitionwe have been waiting for.</a> It is always said that too many cooks spoil the broth,
but in this case, I think England needs too many Cooks!</div>
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ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-76942471029071012892012-10-29T22:47:00.000-07:002012-10-29T22:53:10.813-07:00WELCOME TO BHARAT, BARMY ARMY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">'Why India-England matters<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">England captain Alastair Cook with Coach Andy Flower.</td></tr>
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The Three Lions have landed in Mumbai. Almost 14 months
after inflicting an almost physically painful defeat on India. And as an ardent
fan of the longest version of the game, I am so excited for this Test series to
begin, it is bordering on obscene. </div>
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A lot of water (and tears) has passed under the bridge since
that fateful summer when England not only whitewashed India 4-0, but also
snatched away the No. 1 Ranking (Of course karma set the record straight here
later!) India has changed no wait it has transformed. Two of our best batsmen have
left, the third is on the threshold, the No. 1 spinner is no longer a certainty
and a youngster has taken over the role. The opening batsmen’s capabilities are
being questioned and the opening bowlers are lack lethality. The batting order
isn’t set, the captain is in misery, the fielding looks mediocre. England too
has had their own share of the roller-coaster. Talismanic captain Andrew
Strauss has left, leaving the reins of a volatile team to Alastair Cook. KPgate
has created an unreasonable stir fanned by Coach Flower. And they are no longer
the best Test team in the world (according to rankings) BUT, this is
irrespective, irrelevant, immaterial. All that matters is that there is an
India vs England 4-Test series happening soon!</div>
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I do not want to see this as a revenge series or a chance to
get payback England. I do not want to see this as Sachin Tendulkar’s last
series (possibly). I do want to see this as a baptism by fire for Captain Cook.
I do not want to see this as Pietersen’s re-integration series. I want to see
this, only and only as a comprehensive Test series between two capable, former
World No. 1 Test sides. I want to see this as an endorsement for what good Test
cricket should be. I want to see this as a turning point for the Indian cricket
team. So it doesn’t matter if it isn't a 4-0 whitewash (although this score
line will make a billion people ecstatic), it doesn’t matter if England combat
spin with their bat and go on to score big or India crumble to Swann and Panesar, it doesn't even matter if it is a drawn series. As long as cricket
fans world over get to watch a thoroughly entertaining and enlightening Test
series. Indian cricket needs a pivotal Test series against a good team, and I
hope this series can fill this void.</div>
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Personally as well this series is important to me. I hope to
start blogging regularly again throughout this series (of course I also hope to
meet Kevin Pietersen or interview Alastair Cook or alter the backward,
stereotyped mind of Steve Finn, but that’s another story) But most important I
hope to go to the Wankhede Cricket Stadium and watch five days of pure,
unadulterated Test cricket with the North Stand Gang. And a Kohli/KP century,
Zaheer Khan fifer or Viru-Gauti shutting the critics mouths would be an added
bonus! </div>
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But the biggest hope I have from this series is to see some
semblance of positivity to return to most Indian cricket fans. The negative
attitude (on twitter and otherwise) that I have seen towards the team & most
players is disheartening. It is justified in some measure, there have been
performances that no one can be proud of and there has been a phase even the staunchest
fan would be tempted to give up. But true Indian cricket fans are those who got
up on the morning of the Adelaide 2012 Test believing we could turn a 7-0 deficit
and win this one. And I am one of them. So here is hoping that when England and
India take the field at Ahmadabad, we see five such days of cricket that the
faith in the Indian team and belief in good Test cricket returns. Welcome to
Bharat, Barmy Army!</div>
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ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-47516840734948240112012-08-22T10:25:00.000-07:002012-08-22T10:25:13.195-07:00LIFE AFTER DRAVID AND LAXMAN?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"><b><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16pt;">LIFE AFTER DRAVID AND LAXMAN?</span></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"><b><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16pt;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">While other people are waiting for the Indian Test summer to begin, I am dreading it. I am honestly dreading the moment when the Indian cricket team will walk into Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hyderabad</st1:place></st1:city>, dressed in pristine whites. I am dreading the moment when MS Dhoni and Ross Taylor will head for toss. I am dreading the moment when Dhoni will announce <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country>’s playing XI. But most of all I am dreading the moment when <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country> will come in to bat and the first (and then third) wicket will fall. When Rahul Dravid will not come in to bat.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">For as long as I have watched cricket, I have never seen an Indian Test team without Rahul Dravid. And though this betrays my age and ignores the minimal matches he missed due to injury, it is true. I have never been upset at the fall of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on">India</st1:country></st1:place>’s first wicket, ever, even when Viru-Gauti were on song. Because my favourite batsman walked in at No. 3. And tomorrow if <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country> bat first and Chris Martin or Neil Wagner clean up Virender Sehwag or Gautam Gambhir, and some Indian batsman walks into the middle, I for one will watch with wistful eyes. To make matter worse, when the third wicket will fall, VVS Laxman will not walk in. And what happens when <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country> is fielding? Who will stand in the slip cordon? Who will be standing behind Dhoni, alongside Tendulkar? The emo Indian cricket tragic in me weeps, how will I ever watch <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country> play Test cricket again?!?!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Will we ever be able to replace the indispensable duo of RSD-VVS? It has been almost four years since Sourav Ganguly retired and we still haven’t managed to have a settled No. 6 batsman. Will we find a batsman with the potential to take up the crucial No. 3 spot, let alone No. 5? The answer is no. I don not think <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country> will ever manage to find two batsmen with the calibre of Dravid and Laxman to play Test cricket at the same time. But I wholeheartedly believe that <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on">India</st1:country></st1:place> will find two batsmen good enough to take up the No. 3 and 5 slot, in Indian conditions, and deliver a worthy performance. Being an Indian cricket fan, I am an eternal optimist. And I believe that there will be life after Dravid and Laxman. Not a successful one maybe, but a satisfactory one.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">So when the Indian team is announced at the toss tomorrow, I am going to try my best to not feel let down. Because if the two guys who will replace the two greatest Indian batsmen of our era, are considered good enough by Dravid and Laxman, then they are good enough for me. So tomorrow whoever walks in at No. 3 and No. 5 will have my full support. Be it Subramaniam Badrinath, Chesteshwar Pujara, Suresh Raina or Virat Kohli, I sincerely hope that 10-15 years down the line, some other fangirl will write similar tributes for them. As for now, I will watch the Test match tomorrow, filled with dread, and hope. Hope that there will be life after Dravid and Laxman for <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country>. </span></div></div>ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-26315467072292502332012-08-20T07:39:00.000-07:002012-11-01T00:01:09.547-07:00FAREWELL TO MY VERY, VERY SPECIAL HERO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">FAREWELL TO MY VERY, VERY SPECIAL HERO<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">That's it folks. Farewell VVS Laxman</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB">March, 2001 was a pivotal time for Indian Cricket. It wasn’t exactly ashes, but it was among the embers and we needed someone to come and savage it. On the back of a match-fixing scandal, change is captaincy, young, unbred players and uncertainty, Indian cricket needed a hero. And that hero came in the unexpected form of Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I am one of the lucky few who started watching cricket at the start of 2000, and I believe that the new phase of Indian cricket started around the same time. I am also among the few who fell hopelessly in love with Indian Cricket team after the epic Kolkata Test in 2001. By this virtue, I am an eternal admirer of VVS Laxman. His Very, Very Special innings if 281 after following on in Australia’s historic defeat at the Eden Gardens, sealed his name in the Indian Test team, history books, cricket legends and our hearts. Ever since that day, Laxman has been my hero. Ganguly is Dada, Dravid is my idol, Tendulkar is <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country>’s best batsman, but Laxman is the hero. Sometimes unsung, sometimes fallen, but always a hero. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Over the last few days, a lot has been said about his batting, his match-winning innings, his affinity for Australian bowlers, his contribution to the Indian Test team and I don’t think there is anything new I can add to his tribute. His batting was so exquisitely technical that even the coaching manuals would have to take notes. A slight flick of his wrists could fetch a four, in areas where you thought were impossible. His wrists were out-worldly in the words of a friend, if put on auction, VVS Laxman’s wrists would fetch more than his bat! His presence on the crease was reassurance, <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on">India</st1:country> was in with a chance till he was there, even with 9 wickets down as he showed us in Mohali in 2010 against <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on">Australia</st1:country></st1:place>. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Of course Laxman vs the Aussies is a different story altogether. There was a perceptible change in him, and in the Australians, whenever he came in to bat. And it comes as no surprise that almost all of his iconic knocks have come against the former World No. 1 side. It is said that is there was one Indian batsman they feared, it was him. Not Tendulkar, not Dravid, but Laxman, and rightly so, he could literally decimate them at will! The irony of life is that it was his failure against the very same team that has led to his retirement and me writing this. His last series came against his favourite opposition, in his favourite country but unfortunately with unfavourable results. I don’t want to delve into his retirement and the reasons for it, but only about the man and the void he has left behind.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">But what I really loved about him was his attitude towards the game. VVS Laxman loves cricket, he absolutely loved his cricket. He played the game as a form of worship. His batting was veneration on the pitch he considered hallowed. And this is what I will miss the most – watching Laxman offer his devotions with the bat. He was not a great runner between the wickets, but his boundaries made up for that. He was an ok fielder, but his sharp slip catches made up for the runs leaked. His numbers don’t do him justice – 8781 runs in 134 Tests with an average of 45 doesn’t look spectacular. But his mere presence in the team made up for that. With VVS Laxman gone, world cricket has lost a true devotee, Indian cricket has lost its soldier and I have personally lost my hero. There is so much more I want to say, but cant. I am just glad, elated that I was there at Wankhede in November 2011 to watch Very, Very Special Laxman play his last Test match on Indian soil. At least I’ll die with the satisfaction of seeing him play live. Hopefully one day I will get to meet him, meet my hero. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I’ll conclude with <a href="http://cricketwithballs.com/2012/08/19/vvs-a-cricketer/" target="_blank">borrowed words, lifted straight from my favourite writer Jarrod Kimber</a> (hope he doesn’t mind too much) – “It’s not often you get a professional sportsman who plays just because he loves the game, without trying to prove anything to anyone, but just because of the thrill he gets out of playing a good shot. Players who make it look as easy as VVS do are often said to not care as much as others. When someone like him moves on, even if it was time for him to go, cricket loses something. It loses a star, a poet and a cricketer. Cricket will move on without him, but it will miss him. Very very will never quite do him justice.”</span></div>
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ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-47627626833934343342012-07-14T04:23:00.003-07:002012-07-14T05:52:56.448-07:00BRETT LEE BIDS ADIEU<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brett Lee looks out at the SCG after announcing his retirement from international cricket.</td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Brett Lee limped off the field during his third over in fourth ODI vs <st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region> at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Durham</st1:city></st1:place>, most people expected it to be just another injury in the fast bowler’s 13-year long career. As one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket, Lee has been no stranger to injuries, five ankle operations, elbow surgery, back stress fractures, side strains, muscle strains and broken bones. He has always come back strongly every time he has been laid low. But this time, it was not so. The calf muscle he pulled up during his run up turned out to be the last injury his body could take, and those 2.2 overs he bowled turned out to be to be the last he bowled in international cricket. He returned home to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sydney</st1:place></st1:city> this week and on Friday the 13<sup>th</sup> of July, he announced his retirement from international cricket.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Though not entirely unexpected, I can’t pretend the news did not sadden me. There is always a void left in a cricket follower’s world when the curtains fall on a great career, especially when he is one of your favorites. There is a certain sense of despair just at the thought that you won’t get to see him don his national colors and play on field again. I have already endured one such heartbreak in March when Rahul Dravid called it quits. And when I heard of Brett Lee’s retirement early morning on Friday, it was the same feeling all over again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brett Lee has been one of my favorite cricketers from a long time. He was the first foreign player I liked and non least because of his off field persona. In fact it would be fair to say that Lee has the distinction of being the most loved foreign cricketers in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> - maybe for his looks, music, Bollywood appearances or brand endorsements. But the main reason I liked Brett Lee was his art – fast bowling. As a young kid beginning to follow cricket, it was some sight to see a blond, strapping guy running in hard and bowling down the ball at the speed of a rocket! The sheer adrenaline rush I got, just by watching him bowl, was something. I have never had the chance to watch Dennis Lillee, Curtly Ambrose bowl live, so watching him was the first time I experienced express pace bowling. Admittedly there was Shoaib Akhtar, but then again he lacked the charm (and the looks) that Binga was blessed with! And as I grew up and became a teen, I have to admit that o began liking him for an altogether new reason. And Brett Lee had the honour of being my first major cricket crush! (Tongue-firmly-in-cheek) The following is an excerpt from something I wrote years back when asked to write about her dream (don’t judge me, I was only a kid when I wrote this!)– “. She worshiped, respected, loved, admired a lot of cricketers, but she was crazy about only one – blonde Australian fast bowler who hurled in his deliveries at 150k, drew blood or a wicket and then celebrated by doing a wild windmill-airplane or cycle-pump dance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It didn’t matter that he was Australian and that more times than none, he performed well against <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> and was destructor-in-chief when we lost. He was such a visually pleasing bowler that I remember watching <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s matches only to watch him bowl. There is one match in particular that I would like to mention – <st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region> vs <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:place></st1:country-region> at the 2003 World Cup. For those who recollect that one, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_qa20KKCEg" target="_blank">Brett lee fired in a delivery at around 160k and decimated Marvan Attapattu’s stumps</a>. That looked crazy, and the celebration was even more insane. That was the kind of bowler he was – dangerously fast and accurate, when on song, the opposition batsmen had to be terrified.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For a fast bowler, especially someone who looks to run hard and bowl every delivery at the highest possible speed, it is phenomenal to have had a 13-year long career. He made his Test debut vs <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> in 1999 in the Boxing Day Test (scalping a fifer and running through the Indian batting order) and his ODI debut soon after. Most are of the opinion that he was a much better bowler in ODIs than in Tests, but to have more than 300 Test wickets in an era when the Australian Test team had the best quality of players is to say something, right? To make a mark as an Aussie bowler alongside the likes of Glenn Mcgrath, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz is no mean feat. And for a guy who grew up on a farm in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Wollongong</st1:place></st1:city>, had to drive for miles early morning to reach practice and battle excruciatingly painful injuries at the start of his career, it is remarkable what he has achieved. A World Cup victory in which he was instrumental, Ashes, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Allan Border Medal, a hat-trick in ODIs and T20Is (the first man to do so) – he has had a gloriously successful career. Probably the only complain is that he has 380 ODI wickets, one short of claiming the record for Australia’s highest wicket-taker. But this too shows the kind of man he is, leaving even though there is a limestone approaching. As an express quickie, one thing that struck me about him was his affability. He would sledge and intimidate off the batsmen when he was bowling, typical Aussie thing to do, but otherwise, he would be always smiling and exchanging banter with his team mates and sometimes the opposition. Brett has probably drawn more blood from batsman than any other bowler, but I doubt a single player would call him a mean guy, such was his personality on field.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am one the lucky ones who has had the opportunity to interact with Brett on a regular basis over the last year. And all I can say is that the praise that flown in for him, from past and present cricketers, is all justified. He is a genuine likeable person and his dedication to the game is immense. I have seen him play through pain, with broken bones and on pain-killers. I can’t imagine how tough it must be for a 35-year old to still bowl at 150k despite all the obstacles, but he has still done it and given his 100% every single time. Resilience is the one quality I would associate the most with him, coming back strongly after every injury, without dropping his pace or intensity. . His sheer passion and knowledge of cricket reflects in the way he talks and I have learned a lot about cricket just by talking to him. Now that I have met and interacted with him, my impression of him as kid has been reinforced even further. Brett Lee is an asset to the game and we will surely miss watching him bowl in international cricket.</span></div></div>ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-68876341972186231482012-06-17T06:53:00.001-07:002012-06-17T07:03:16.423-07:00OPEN LETTER TO LEANDER PAES & MAHESH BHUPATHI<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">OPEN LETTER TO LEANDER PAES & MAHESH BHUPATHI<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dear Lee-Hesh,</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As a young Indian, my first understanding of tennis came in 1999, thanks to the both of you. You’ll taught me what tennis is and today it is my second favorite sport in the world. I was so proud to read all the glorious exploits of ‘Indian Express’ in the newspapers. I used to collect paper clippings of your victories. All the Grand Slams, all the ATP events, all the <st1:city w:st="on">Davis</st1:city> Cups. Needless to say, you’ll were my idols and I loved watching you’ll play together. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXnqwX0h8n7sPCEeI3egMDTntY8SWk2j6Dt7x1w1tTUPm_vafEtn5skiKCSA6KhOI4ucwEz1U_jKEQzKmkXt-tjuRufSkXPlia2QLxF_e1dnnwU8xqa6NsE4hCXP7QIEg8URRIr08es3X/s1600/2412051_crop_650x440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXnqwX0h8n7sPCEeI3egMDTntY8SWk2j6Dt7x1w1tTUPm_vafEtn5skiKCSA6KhOI4ucwEz1U_jKEQzKmkXt-tjuRufSkXPlia2QLxF_e1dnnwU8xqa6NsE4hCXP7QIEg8URRIr08es3X/s320/2412051_crop_650x440.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then the split happened. I was really upset initially but with time and victories with other I accepted that Lee-Hesh will not play together again, unless it’s for the India. Of course no one really knows the exact reason of the fall-out, and it really doesn’t matter because you’ll came back together later; and always played for India. You would always come together as one to play under the national flag. At the Asian games, at the Commonwealth games, in the Davis Cup; everybody kind of expected you to play together, as we saw in 2008 before the Beijing Games.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Now its 2012. Years have passed and a lot of water has flown under the bridge. Rohan Bopanna, Somdev Devarman, Karan Rastogi, Prakash Amritraj… a number of Indian players have come, some have gone and you’ll have tried with various partners with moderate success. But everybody knows that the success that Lee-Hesh had cannot be replicated with a Mirny, a Zimonic, a Knowles, a Stepanek, a Dlouhy. That is because you are the best Men’s Double pair for India, ever. And that is why we expected you to play together at the 2012 London Olympics as well. Till the issue snowballed last week. And I say snowballed, because it may have been blown out of proportion by the media. This is the Olympics! Possibly the last Olympics that both of you’ll will play. And yet you’ll don’t want to play with each other. Aren’t you the same guys who had tears in their eyes when the national anthem was played after a particularly hard-fought victory? The same players who wrapped the Indian tricolor around their shoulder during the victory laps? You cannot fake those emotions, just look at the photographs. I do not doubt your patriotism or loyalty for a moment, I just wish to remind you about it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQ4ADwTsakSnv-BBqcnmW6tP_09HvFIQjT5St1pIkOLJmAQCOBRlss11mu7GSvSI9Gl_TLGVikSHwMRFtPSHu4wQJqeRdC86_Pr0z4m5idGXnuY_L2dXSjzWozvZMyArTbVQavOf7PQob/s1600/paes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQ4ADwTsakSnv-BBqcnmW6tP_09HvFIQjT5St1pIkOLJmAQCOBRlss11mu7GSvSI9Gl_TLGVikSHwMRFtPSHu4wQJqeRdC86_Pr0z4m5idGXnuY_L2dXSjzWozvZMyArTbVQavOf7PQob/s200/paes1.jpg" width="193" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W3Efcim62Dwu3BQ_I-lfGp9ErEWGTGsgu6QQHIBz9ScO8_WD-WUKZ0heU7ciA0qyLPtBUIddBA6sVjyzJcH9vg5cRbVAS6CjBhYlXN1GrDprpgU0WqB1n5T6ABA22VA2UIXNSB0xVrnJ/s1600/AVN_PAESPATHI_369136e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W3Efcim62Dwu3BQ_I-lfGp9ErEWGTGsgu6QQHIBz9ScO8_WD-WUKZ0heU7ciA0qyLPtBUIddBA6sVjyzJcH9vg5cRbVAS6CjBhYlXN1GrDprpgU0WqB1n5T6ABA22VA2UIXNSB0xVrnJ/s200/AVN_PAESPATHI_369136e.jpg" width="153" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am trying to understand the issue, or at least I’d like to think I am. I’ve read all the <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/emails-between-bhupathibopanna-and-aita/266195-5-22.html" target="_blank">emails to and fro the AIT</a>A, the <a href="http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=f8nrrrcab&v=0011J7YDsLRiGloKVCg0h56ibuzQafm6rtr5anAFfWAwZOWdr2K3R9Zu9Od84wKqK1MRbQsFN3h-h7wa_F-aio3lqSdFd8ayooiORzZdqdyyw0nrrs_j86rdSL97ceD0aX9gjHpXoSHyGJANpxnEuQQzzT0Kdf4idKT" target="_blank">press release from Bhupahi-Bopanna</a> and numerous semi-factual news reports. But I still don’t completely get the reason for this almost-childish-bordering-on-egoistic behavior from India’s two greatest sportsmen. I don’t know who is right or wrong, all I know is one of you have to be the bigger person here. All I know is there cannot be ego when you are representing your country. And I also know I am being too idealistic here, but I always am when it comes to Indian sport.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZC9pfeCvzqkx0_qBxUjzLDv6sFjY3APgE366rQJeNDQqOnW_tUVXKeM5m4dud93ScBvA9jw9pWNgtoNS1aV9xUn3E2SXFSVDApvSbjVR2yKHggEVIuFgsWBzUooPHAxLIcDxmWIDPpFnt/s1600/Leander-Paes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZC9pfeCvzqkx0_qBxUjzLDv6sFjY3APgE366rQJeNDQqOnW_tUVXKeM5m4dud93ScBvA9jw9pWNgtoNS1aV9xUn3E2SXFSVDApvSbjVR2yKHggEVIuFgsWBzUooPHAxLIcDxmWIDPpFnt/s320/Leander-Paes.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Leander Paes after winning the bronze medal <br />
at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I am no authority in playing tennis, representing India or the functioning of sports administrations. But I can safely call myself an emotional Indian fan. And as someone who has grown up watching you play together, I know that you are India’s best chance of an Olympic medal. We all know what happened at the 2008 Beijing Olympic, how we almost got a medal, how we narrowly lost to eventual winners Federer-Wawrinka. I have very little doubt that we can reach there this time. Forget the Bryan brothers, the Woodies picked you to be the best! So just for this one Olympics keep everything aside and play - for India, for a medal, for us fans. Nothing beats winning an Olympic medal and no sacrifice is too big to achieve that, least of all sacrificing your ego. Just rewind back to 1996 and have a look at Leander’s emotions, it says it all.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All I want is to see the Indian Express in action one last time. Medal or no medal, this is our best chance. Please put everything aside and play as one. Leander, be the bigger person and take the first step. Mahesh, be a better person and let bygones be bygones. As fans, we don’t care who is right or who is wrong. In fact after some time, we may not even remember the issue. All we will remember is seeing you two play your own brand of tennis together. And since India has two slots, Bopanna will get his chance to play with another partner. So please, just this once, play as one.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">Yours sincerely,</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">An Indian fan.</div><br />
</div>ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-8366941731037141932012-06-10T03:44:00.000-07:002012-06-10T03:44:34.727-07:00IT’S HARD BEING A FEDERER FAN AT THE FRENCH OPEN<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">IT’S HARD BEING A FEDERER FAN AT THE FRENCH OPEN<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span></u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo: Roger Federer
Copyright : Corinne Dubreuil" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/c100.0.403.403/p403x403/543088_10150935600459920_416145710_n.jpg" width="320" /> </div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When I wrote the <a href="http://sportilligent.blogspot.in/2012/05/it-is-hard-being-federer-fan-in-2012.html" target="_blank">first part of this piece</a>, I had a fair inclination that I will be writing this in the near future, after the quarter/semi final of the French Open 2012 to be more precise. Because I knew that Federer will not (and should not) advance to the finals at Roland Garros. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Part of me wanted Roger Federer to lose the French Open semifinals to Novak Djokovic. Not a treacherous, disloyal part, but instead the faithful, emotional part. For one main reason – I cannot see him lose another Grand Slam Final to Rafael Nadal. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is the French Open, a Grand Slam owned by Nadal. Admittedly I am not a big fan of the Spaniard, but that doesn’t mean I hate him or ignore his achievements or potential. I have always maintained that in another era, he would have been the greatest and my favorite. In fact I would advise other Federer fans the same as well, there is no point in hating Nadal. I accept that he is the King of Clay, the best tennis player on clay since Bjorn Borg. And his six French Open titles stand testimony to the fact. Clay is probably the toughest surface to play tennis on and to excel on it requires a different kind of stamina and agility along with quick reflexes and speed. Something that Rafa possesses which makes him look so effortless on a clay court. In fact, even exceedingly good clay court players pale in comparison to him. A phenomenon that we Federer fans are well acquainted with. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It is not Fed is not a good player on clay, it is just that when he plays against Nadal, he looks the second best. Case in point being the Madrid Open 2012, it was played on clay and Federer emerged Champion contrary to expectations. It seems that Federer becomes the best player on clay once the sword called Nadal is removed from over his head. That is what happened in 2009 when he won his maiden (and only) French Open. He dismissed Robin Soderling without breaking a sweat and completed his career Slam. But in a sport like tennis, there is no silver and it doesn’t matter how many finals he has reached at Roland Garros, nobody remembers the runner-up. And every final that Federer loses to Nadal, is like a thorn in the side of every Federer fan. That is precisely why I wanted him to lose to Djokovic. Despite knowing that last year in the semifinals of the French Open, he played the best match of the year, defeating Djoker and ending his unbeaten run. That match wiped out the doubt I had in my mind that Federer is past his prime. He still has it in him, but he also has a mental block along with it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So as the French Open Men’s Final begins today, I support no one. Djokovic will either finish his career Slam or Nadal will go past Bjorn Borg. Either ways, I will watch it for some exceptional tennis from two of the most ingenious players tennis has seen. May the better man win! As for us, it will always be hard being a Federer fan at the French Open.</div></div>ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-34380876686645448082012-06-03T03:41:00.000-07:002012-06-03T03:59:11.180-07:00LET’S NOT UNSING VISHY ANAND<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">LET’S NOT UNSING VISHY ANAND<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQXONw7khED9kKNJ2qtnbrRaLiXgNMEqrRWZL-nf8q52BR7RDYXbjNT_Yaw66ZI3zoKnqNyUmB5bIWd46ckrdC9Thqrk76phyphenhyphenypwT7zyYjlq7b45cV7JR6TTJMMiXfqHNn5bJFJ4uFXka/s1600/viswanathan_anand_award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQXONw7khED9kKNJ2qtnbrRaLiXgNMEqrRWZL-nf8q52BR7RDYXbjNT_Yaw66ZI3zoKnqNyUmB5bIWd46ckrdC9Thqrk76phyphenhyphenypwT7zyYjlq7b45cV7JR6TTJMMiXfqHNn5bJFJ4uFXka/s320/viswanathan_anand_award.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sport is mostly
associated physical activity, agility, strength, fitness, and perspiration. Maybe
that is why most people do not follow chess as a ‘sport’. But that does not
make World Chess Champion Vishwanathan Anand any less of a sportsman. In fact,
I will go on to say that Vishy Anand is India’s greatest sportsperson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Chess is an individual
sport, which not many people understand, let alone follow. Watching a chess
match live can be a not-so-entertaining experience unless you have above
average IQ levels. And that is why it isn’t endorsed as well as the other
sports, especially in India. Of course Vishy changed this, he made sure that everybody
in India knew who he was and which sport he played. It would be fair to say
that he put India on the world map as far as chess is concerned. A sport dominated
by Russians, Anand carved his own niche and became one of the greatest Chess
players of all time. Yet you won’t see Anand posters on the road or any temples
built to worship him. His face doesn’t adorn any hoarding, or sells any popular
products. No celebrity ever gushes about him or how handsome he is, no child
says he wants to become like V Anand after he grows up and very few people
idolize him. My only question is why. And the only answer I get is media.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When Anand was en
route to becoming World Champion, again, at Moscow, the IPL was on in full
swing in India and that was the main focus of the media. Some publications
carried the headline but the articles were brief and left a lot to be desired. I
understand that in order to make more money, things like IPL are given more importance
in media, but with such a major achievements by an Indian, surely we could have
a lot more coverage on Anand. How else will the masses be aware of such
happenings if the media does not give it the place it deserves?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Recently there has
been lot of talks about sport being included as a category for India’s highest civilian
award, the Bharat Ratna and of course the name that has started this is Sachin
Tendulkar. But personally I think that is any Indian sportsman has to be given
the Bharat Ratna, it has to be Vishwanathan Anand. Anand is the first recipient
of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 99, in 2007 he was the first sportsperson to
be awarded the PadmaVibhushan. And it is only fair that he receives the Bharat Ratna
soon. I say this going out on a limb but with full conviction. And why not, considering
his sheer amount of achievements. Anand was India’s first Grandmaster back in 1988.
He has won the World Chess Championships five times, in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010
and 2012 and has been the undisputed World Number 1 since 2007. In a sport as competitive
and intensive as chess, such dominating is incredible, more so for an Indian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To be
completely honest, I do not understand chess as much I would like to. I play
chess but my biggest achievement has been beating by 8-year old nephew once,
after losing to him countless times. And I can’t write about chess as I can
about other sports. But I wrote this piece for only one reason – to highlight
how Vishy Anand has always been the unsung hero, as compared to a Sachin
Tendulkar or a MS Dhoni, or sometimes even a Leander Paes. I hope to join
sports media one day and I would be very disappointed if I have SRK & KKR
on the front page when Anand should be there. I have only on e request of all
the sports writers, even those who write in 140 characters on twitter, let us
not unsing Vishy Anand. he is India’s greatest sports player.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-2961682033178740342012-05-20T05:42:00.001-07:002012-07-07T06:50:14.636-07:00IT IS HARD BEING A FEDERER FAN IN 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">IT IS HARD BEING A FEDERER FAN IN 2012<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have been a Federer fan ever since I started watching tennis. Hard not be since the year was and Roger Federer was the flavor of the season. But over the years that I have watched, followed and started writing about tennis, I simply fell in love with him. For me he became the greatest sportsperson in the world. Maybe it was the way he played the game - with sheer beauty and grace, like poetry in motion; maybe it was his emotional outburst on court - tears & fist pumps that betrayed the burning with which he played; maybe it was his off-field demeanor – calm, polite, convincingly honest. I can’t exactly point out the moment when RF became my idol and ideal sportsperson, but in the past 9 years, I have been a Fedex loyalist.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Cut to 2012, Federer is no longer the World No 1, the star, the one to watch out for and serious aspersions are cast on his GOAT status. Most people remember that he hasn’t won a Grand Slam in two years (his last title was the 2010 Australian Open) but very few remember that he has the record of 16 Grand Slams. Most people remember that he lost the French Open finals to arch-nemesis Nadal, but no one seems to remember that he played the best match of 2011 when he beat Djokovic at the semis and ended his winning streak. Most people remember that he bowed out of the US Open after a tough fight, but most forget that he won the ATP World Tour Masters where only the Best 8 played. Most people have given up on him, very few people believe he can ever win a major again and most think his era is over. It is a common practice in sport, forgetting or ignoring the achievements but never forgetting the failures.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The last two years have been hard on both Federer and his fans. Some say it started in 2008, I don’t quite agree. Federer won only one Grand Slam that year, the US Open and lost both French Open and Wimbledon to Nadal. He couldn’t capture an Olympics medal in singles despite being the favorite, but won the Gold with Wawrinka. But 2009 was resurgence, he completed his career Slam finally winning the French Open and after an epic Wimbledon Final against Andy Roddick, he was back in the game. In 2010, he won the Australian Open and but had a dismal year in the next three Slams. For the first time since 2004, Federer was knocked out in the quarter-finals of any Grand Slam at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. 2011 was decidedly the lowest point of his career, he turned 30 and age just seemed to catch up with him. He lost at Wimbledon and US Open being 2 sets up and did not win a single Grand Slam for the first time since 2002. For a moment even I doubted his ability and thought maybe he was past his prime. But the last three months of 2012 put my doubts to rest, momentarily. This is what I wrote in <a href="http://sportilligent.blogspot.in/2011/12/sportilliegnt-picks-top-five-sport.html" target="_blank">my year-end review</a> – “Roger Federer had one of the worst years of his career. For the first time in eight years he failed to win a single Grand Slam, his ranking plummeted to No 4 and his age reached the dreaded 30. Yet the fact that he is featured on this list is a tribute to his resilience and his sheer willpower. In the last three months of 2011 he showed exactly why he is called the Greatest Tennis player when he overcame physical and mental barriers to win three back-to-back Masters Titles including the prestigious season-ending ATP World Tour Finals. He looked fit, he looked hungry and he looked rearing to go. Surely 2012 augurs well for Federer fans.<u1:p></u1:p>”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But most unfortunately, it was not so. 2012 started as 2011, if not worse. Federer lost to Nadal yet again in the Australian Open semis. He slipped to Number 3 on the rankings and if I’m not mistaken at one point, Andy Murray was close to overtaking him. He was cleanswept in the Davis Cup losing to John Isner. But then came three titles at Rotterdam, Dubai and Indian Wells and brought some hope with them. Federer actually defeated Nadal at the semis at the BNP Paribas Open semis and beat Isner to win the title. The high was short-lived as he went down to Roddick of all people at Miami. But then came Madrid and brought more hope. On the blue-clay surface Federer captured the title and became the World Number 2 while the ‘King of Clay’ and ‘World Number 1’ were busy complaining about the conditions. Of course then came the loss to Djokovic at Rome, but it hasn’t dimmed the Madrid cloud as much. After all Federer is ahead of Nadal in the ATP rankings, even if briefly and that takes some to time to get over.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So why am I writing this? Maybe to understand that being a Federer fan is as topsy-turvy as supporting the Indian cricket team or maybe like supporting Arsenal in football. It has never been easy and it never will. But in 2012 it will be even harder, tougher than ever before. French Open, Wimbledon, London Olympics coming up and I do not have enough optimism to sustain my fangirlism, but I have hope. Hope that Roger Federer will once again redefine renaissance and his resurgence will come as no surprise, not to me. It is hard being a Federer fan in 2012, but what in life has ever been easy?</div></div>ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433858596510432837.post-42373343609535404932012-05-05T07:55:00.003-07:002012-05-05T07:55:43.875-07:00FIVE REASONS WHY I WATCH THE IPL<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Indian Premier League (IPL) is called a lot of things. Circus,
carnival, Bollywood movie, soap opera, and sometimes a culprit for all untoward
happenings. But under all the hype, hoopla, frenzy, glamour and packaging, IPL
is about cricket. Although not exclusively, but it’s still cricket being played
and it is still the game most of us love, even though it’s played in colors we
don’t like and in ways we don’t appreciate. But IPL, in an odd, random way, is
just like itself; you don’t really have what you want or expected, but you
learn to live it by ignoring the unpleasant and focusing on the bright side.
Gyan apart, we are a month into the fifth edition here is why I watch the IPL; despite the annoying trumpet sounds,
brand-spewing commentators and the absolutely abominable Extraaa Innings show!</div>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS</span><br />
</b>They may be here for only for the money, but top international
players, well most of them, come to India every year and very
enthusiastically take part in the IPL. And they bring in the quality. For
instance, Kevin Pietersen came in late and left early, but his short-term
stint with new franchise Delhi Daredevils was breathtaking to say the
least. And the explosive century he smashed against the Deccan Chargers is
going to be listed as one of the highlights of this year’s tournament.
Watching international cricketers playing alongside Indian domestic
cricketers is a sight in itself. Who would have thought that we would see
Lasith Malinga sharing the new ball attack with Munaf Patel or Brett Lee
bowling in tandem with Lakshmipathy Balaji, Michael Clarke setting the
field with Ganguly or Virat Kohli and Daniel Vettori discussing bower
options together. Even watching players like Morne Morkel, Faf du Plessis,
Owais Shah, Cameron White, not normally considered in the A-listers, put
their best foot forward is worth watching.
The presence of international cricketers lends a sort of credibility
and, more importantly increases the quality of the IPL.<br /><br /></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">RISE OF GEN X<br />
</span></b>How many of us had heard of Shahbaz Nadeem before he rattled Mumbai
Indians’ esteemed batting order? Or Pawan Negi or Parvinder Awana or
Ashish Reddy or Paul Valthaty before IPL? Not many I am sure. And even if
we had, we would have considered them as just another Ranji player. But
IPL gives these young and upcoming cricketers recognition, the kind that
domestic cricket doesn’t. Not to mention, the big bucks they bring home. Contrary
to what most people think, not all Indian cricketers are royalty or
loaded, and the fame, money and publicity IPL provides to these cricketers matters to
them. Guys like Ajinkya Rahane,
Manoj Tiwary, Robin Uthappa, Irfan Pathtn and the likes have played
international cricket before, but IPL is still the platform for them. It
may not be the ideal platform for national selection, but since our
selectors consider it to be, strong IPL performances can take players a
long way, case in point being Ravi Ashwin. And it is so not only for Indians,
if you remember Shaun Marsh in IPL I took everyone by storm winning the
Orange cap and a berth in the Australian team. <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">THE LAST HURRAH</span><br />
</b>By his own admission, this is the last time we are going to see Rahul
Dravid play competitive cricket. It’s been years since we watched Adam
Gilchrist play international cricket, but every IPL we can at least have a
glimpse of the world’s greatest wicketkeeper-batsman. Watching Sourav
Ganguly captain a side again is a longed-for sight, which we lucky to see
this year. Muttiah Muralidaran’s
trademark spin and smile are only seen in T20 leagues. It’s gratifying to
know that retirement doesn’t necessarily mean the end of one’s career, we
can always watch them in the IPL! I know a Gilchrist fans who religiously
watched every Kings XI Punjab game just to watch him bat. Hundreds of
Gagulians (as the cult calls themselves) have become Pune Warriors
supports for their hero. I know a Dravid fan who actually traveled to
Jaipur to watch him bat. And I completely understand this, I will never
have enough of watching Dravid bat or Ganguly lead. If for nothing else,
then IPL is worth watching to see the past greats in action.<br /><br /><b><o:p></o:p></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">THE THRILLS AND KICKS</span><br />
</b>Dale Steyn’s breath-taking spell against the Mumbai Indians, Virender
Sehwag blazing his way to five consecutive half-centuries, Sunil Narine’s
spinners that have left established batsmen astounded, Pune defending 129
and beating Mumbai Indians on their home ground, then Mumbai defending 120
and repaying the favor, all the last ball finishes, all the stingy 19<sup>th</sup>
overs, all the gravity-defying catches and dives and run outs. IPL is not
mere entertainment, it is entertaining cricket! There is no other way of
describing the kind of cricket played by guys like Chris Gayle, AB de
Villiers, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the likes. With no international
cricket happening currently, a cricket-lover can get his kicks from
watching the IPL. <br /><br /></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">THE FAMILY THAT WATCHES CRICKET TOGETHER… </span><br />
</b>Nobody in family watches a lot of cricket<b> </b>and even though the television is on whenever there is a
match, the longer formats of the game are hardly followed by the folks at
home.<b> </b> But that changes during the IPL. Maybe
because they are shorter matches telecasted during prime time or maybe
because it so well packaged and advertised, most of my family watch and
follow the IPL. In fact my entire clan even got together to go to Wankhede
to watch an IPL match, the first in a stadium or many of them. Funny thing
is, there are times when I don’t want to watch a particular game, but my
nephew makes me put on Sony Max, something that is unprecedented! This is
probably the strangest reasons to watch the IPL, but spending time
watching and discussing cricket with family is a good enough incentive for
me.</li>
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I have absolutely no loyalties in the IPL, I don’t support
any team or rather franchisee. As long as the players I like are doing well I
don’t care who wins. But I will continue following the IPL, to watch my
favorite players, to watch closely-fought matches and most of all, to watch
some quality cricket.</div>
</div>ZENIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391014642727364931noreply@blogger.com0