Feels like reading too much too can create more blocks in meditation. Have never meditated properly at all. Have been very impatient. What is the path of self-inquiry? In language terms, it is about watching your thoughts. Who is watching? If I am watching my thoughts, does it mean that MY mind should be watching the thoughts that are coming up? If "I" keep watching my mind, how will my mind be still? So used to be attached to the mind, that it is like "mind" is watching the "mind". Enquiring where did this thought originate from, mind is being used. So if I keep doing that, will my mind be ever quite.?
Contemplation - another way. The mind is contemplating. So if my mind is only contemplating my thoughts and actions, how will this help? How will the mind be dissolved?
My mind is again having all this questions. Or all this just a way to dissolve the mind.
Philosophising again, it looks like all this is just a process to help the mind realise that it is just a manifestation and not a reality. Once it realises that, it will understand how meaningless it is. Then it will choose to die or it dies or it is absorbed. With the mind, goes the ego. Ego is nothing but a manifestation of the mind.
Whatever remains then is the pure Self (whatever that Is or Is Not).
Let me in someway surrender myself to this quest or enquiry. I will not pressure myself or even feel if it is possible to realise self. It will not help me in anyway. Who knows what the future has for me? And anyways, realised or unrealised, I will never diminish so who cares.
If it has to happen, it will... maybe, it already has... But it Is or Is Not.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
My Love, Spirituality and Shahrukh Khan connection
I have written about my love in previous posts as well. I am touching them again here but with a slightly different note. It might be slightly cheesy for the unromantic, for the ones who find it to superflous or idiotic to be rules by the heart in this way. But what to do... I would always choose to be a man of hearts rather than the brain.
I have always been more matured for my age while growing up. I remember as child, being attracted to the girl who used to dance on stage during Christmas celebrations or the one who used to fill water from the same public tap as I. I have always been open to love, for love. I have walked the road of life with a lot of love in my heart, paving the way for spirituality and then there was always, Shahrukh Khan's (SRK) songs in the background.
Thank you for all the wonderful and beautiful moments and sights of love. You have unintentionally helped me in understanding love, life and I much more than before. The year that I turned 16 is an important turning point of my life. It was the time when I was first touched by true love. I don't believe that true love needs to be always reciprocated. It never happened to me for some time. For other reasons which I remember, I had alienated myself from the crowd into a recluse. But through it all, my love for V was going strong. It was kind of obsessive and very intense. But still very school boyish and immatured. I would see daydreams with her. So there I was, looking at her from the canteen (with about 200 mts separating us) and then looking at the building behind her (which was my college), looking at the other kids and aha… the first step towards spirituality… a philosophic enquiry. Sitting all by myself questions sprang up, one after the other and another voice answering them, not in a assured manner and sometimes questions met with silence. Maybe, I can say I was alone but not lonely. Or the word is solitude. A fire was lit… and it still burns.
So the SRK connection… If I ever have to draw a roadmap of my love life, I can always mark some destinations with an SRK song or movie. At this stage of my love. That was the time when I started loving SRK and his movies. His movie songs like “Tu hain meri Kiran” (You are mine, Kiran) from Darr which expressed the obsessive nature of love or another epitome of music for the unrequited love “Ae Kash Ke Hum Hosh Mein Ab Aane nap aye”(I wish I never wake up now) from Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa or a song describing realization of love “Ho Gaya hain tujhko to Pyaar Sajna” (You are in love) from DDLJ. I used to listen to the same songs everyday in the same order while getting ready to college. SRK, loved you for the movies you used to do then and the man you were then. How I wish if you would remember what you were now?
I loved you so much that I do not hope anything from you. Then, the final year of college. The great little warrior was somewhat more assured and strong. Was no longer the puzzled, cynical and angry boy of before. With lot of love for V and still open to love. Then one fine morning, while standing with my group of 3 friends and collegemates, she calls me. She is none other than R, the greatest girl I had met till then(as I realized later). She called me to inform me that she is getting engaged. I still have no idea what prompted her to tell me that. I have never been close to anyone during my 4 years in college (except for 3 friends) and certainly not her. And she had been going around with another guy for about 2 years. Back to the moment, there she was telling me that she is getting engaged (not to the guy she is in love with) . Then that was just the start of a hour long conversation. Wow, that was the beginning of one of the most wonderful relationships I ever was to have with a girl. After that, there were so many more meetings, computer pracs, walking around in college. Ahh, the intelligent and soul-stirring conversations with a rare and genuine girl. I knew that I never stood a chance, but I never looked for it. R was the first one who read my book of love quotes. R helped me in opening up to the other people around me. I mean, the quietest guy in the college was busy playing an active role in the B’Day party of a professor. And the graceful way she accepted my handwritten greeting card and how she appreciated me. How can I ever forget that? How can I ever forget the great girl who helped me to grow more open to the world around me? How can I?
SRK connection… That was the year when Mohabattein released. Now when I look back, the story is nonsensical and stupid. But back then, I loved it. I loved the songs. But more importantly, something that I still love about the movie is the concept of love that was shown. I mean the way you should love without any expectations no hope and no conditions. That was exactly the dimension of love I was experiencing. And then as a matter of coincidence, to see something like that in Silverscreen.
I never did anything for love but did everything in love. I loved you so much that I miss you and I felt pain. After about 1 year of starting my work life, I came across CG. I still remember the first time I was introduced to her. Did not even remember her until a chance of life had my entire team moving to a new temporary office set up and we would be seated closeby. Then those lunches together with Jeni. Then working on weekends. Then gradual and slow start of a close friendship. Speaking about dreams, Mumbai, plastic “hi” and all that. Then going to the orphanage together. You calling out my love as nothing but just a fashion to have a girlfriend when I confessed my love to you (ohh, that hurt the most). Then me playing Santa Claus by giving you Robbie Williams CD or some meaningful gift you would like. Then your decision to go back to Mumbai. I still remember coming with you to your church and tears in my eyes during the sermon. Awesome walk through the WTR Road and then me going back home alone in the eerie dark road again. Never felt spooked or haunted though. Moments spent talking in the terrace. The sun setting on the evening you were leaving, the bus which you boarded to Mumbai, the last and only time I ever held your hand. I still remember staring at the back of the bus and feeling a lump in my throat. Maybe, I should have taken that last trip with you to Mumbai and come back, a road trip for a lifetime of memories. Memories, in the end that is all we will ever have. During all this, great little warrior used to put in his walkman headphones on the years and walk MG Road. Once sitting there, observing life as is. Then one night coming back and writing 5 poems, one after the other. Phew, what was that? You were not the reason but you certainly helped me.
SRK connection… This longing feeling to be with the one you love and to do anything and everything in love. So what if it never will be receiprocated, atleast I gave my love a chance! So what if I am hurt now, this will be reasons for a smile for many years hence! And all this in the first half of a not so successful movie named “Chalte Chalte”. What do I say more? But yeah, this movie still reminds me of this phase. I was there with her on her last day in Bangalore, walking, talking and with a song "Sunona, Suno na, Humsafar Mujhi ko chun lo naa" as the theme.
Ohh! My Lady so Bright!! As I was about to close my heart to love, was getting resigned to fate that love will never happen to me and just when I had enough of Bangalore , she came. I still remember seeing her once before (many months before) in the cafeteria, sitting all alone and something had struck me then. But I had choosen to ignore it. Fell in love with CG too after that. Then during one of offsite training, I met my Lady So Bright again. Everytime I tried to guard myself from getting close to her, she would break open the door and barge in. She came, we saw and I got conquered. Those naughty antics, those innocent lies, so full of life and energy. Taking me ( a villager ;-0)to show what a Pub is, walking and running around in the garden, the first girl who told me that she too loves me, the first girl who told me to hold her hand, the first girl that I made love with... Poems coming out like a stream. Love was changing me for the better. I was so open to many other things, people who were so different to me. All my life, I never had an ideal girl but never thought I would fall in love who would be so naughty, so cunning but in a innocent way, so feeble yet more stronger than I thought I knew her to be. Love every moment of this roller coaster life, love so much that you are the one to travel along side with. Want to make you laugh, make you feel good, feel relaxed, smile, celebrate, make love to you, all my life.
SRK connection... As was the thing, my love certainly made me the happiest but was a cause of great sorrrow for the people closest to me. At the same time, SRK's movie "Veer Zaara" happened and with it came some great songs with it. Some lines like "Naadan hain woh, kehte hain joh, Mere liye tum ho gair"(They are naive, who tell me that you are not the one for me). Also, what about "Yeh Hawaa Kyun Gaa rahi hain", the song which I kept playing it while on return flight from NY in 2005 after a 3 month stay.
So there it is. My love life in connection to spirituality and SRK. There are many ways on this so called road of spirituality. So far I have somehow chanced upon the way of love... and as it is, the way of love is filled with so much romance and music and fun. Loved the journey so far, looking forward to what lies ahead.
And yeah, recent SRK's movies are really bad (and he is so pretentious than before) but my love is still going great. Thanks to all the girls whom I loved and the only one who could love me back. My spirituality... ohh that wonderful search... It is still on... I know I am walking, but will I reach the end or maybe it is all about the journey... Will I ever find an answer or what if it has never been about the answers? Ahh, who knows...
I have always been more matured for my age while growing up. I remember as child, being attracted to the girl who used to dance on stage during Christmas celebrations or the one who used to fill water from the same public tap as I. I have always been open to love, for love. I have walked the road of life with a lot of love in my heart, paving the way for spirituality and then there was always, Shahrukh Khan's (SRK) songs in the background.
Thank you for all the wonderful and beautiful moments and sights of love. You have unintentionally helped me in understanding love, life and I much more than before. The year that I turned 16 is an important turning point of my life. It was the time when I was first touched by true love. I don't believe that true love needs to be always reciprocated. It never happened to me for some time. For other reasons which I remember, I had alienated myself from the crowd into a recluse. But through it all, my love for V was going strong. It was kind of obsessive and very intense. But still very school boyish and immatured. I would see daydreams with her. So there I was, looking at her from the canteen (with about 200 mts separating us) and then looking at the building behind her (which was my college), looking at the other kids and aha… the first step towards spirituality… a philosophic enquiry. Sitting all by myself questions sprang up, one after the other and another voice answering them, not in a assured manner and sometimes questions met with silence. Maybe, I can say I was alone but not lonely. Or the word is solitude. A fire was lit… and it still burns.
So the SRK connection… If I ever have to draw a roadmap of my love life, I can always mark some destinations with an SRK song or movie. At this stage of my love. That was the time when I started loving SRK and his movies. His movie songs like “Tu hain meri Kiran” (You are mine, Kiran) from Darr which expressed the obsessive nature of love or another epitome of music for the unrequited love “Ae Kash Ke Hum Hosh Mein Ab Aane nap aye”(I wish I never wake up now) from Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa or a song describing realization of love “Ho Gaya hain tujhko to Pyaar Sajna” (You are in love) from DDLJ. I used to listen to the same songs everyday in the same order while getting ready to college. SRK, loved you for the movies you used to do then and the man you were then. How I wish if you would remember what you were now?
I loved you so much that I do not hope anything from you. Then, the final year of college. The great little warrior was somewhat more assured and strong. Was no longer the puzzled, cynical and angry boy of before. With lot of love for V and still open to love. Then one fine morning, while standing with my group of 3 friends and collegemates, she calls me. She is none other than R, the greatest girl I had met till then(as I realized later). She called me to inform me that she is getting engaged. I still have no idea what prompted her to tell me that. I have never been close to anyone during my 4 years in college (except for 3 friends) and certainly not her. And she had been going around with another guy for about 2 years. Back to the moment, there she was telling me that she is getting engaged (not to the guy she is in love with) . Then that was just the start of a hour long conversation. Wow, that was the beginning of one of the most wonderful relationships I ever was to have with a girl. After that, there were so many more meetings, computer pracs, walking around in college. Ahh, the intelligent and soul-stirring conversations with a rare and genuine girl. I knew that I never stood a chance, but I never looked for it. R was the first one who read my book of love quotes. R helped me in opening up to the other people around me. I mean, the quietest guy in the college was busy playing an active role in the B’Day party of a professor. And the graceful way she accepted my handwritten greeting card and how she appreciated me. How can I ever forget that? How can I ever forget the great girl who helped me to grow more open to the world around me? How can I?
SRK connection… That was the year when Mohabattein released. Now when I look back, the story is nonsensical and stupid. But back then, I loved it. I loved the songs. But more importantly, something that I still love about the movie is the concept of love that was shown. I mean the way you should love without any expectations no hope and no conditions. That was exactly the dimension of love I was experiencing. And then as a matter of coincidence, to see something like that in Silverscreen.
I never did anything for love but did everything in love. I loved you so much that I miss you and I felt pain. After about 1 year of starting my work life, I came across CG. I still remember the first time I was introduced to her. Did not even remember her until a chance of life had my entire team moving to a new temporary office set up and we would be seated closeby. Then those lunches together with Jeni. Then working on weekends. Then gradual and slow start of a close friendship. Speaking about dreams, Mumbai, plastic “hi” and all that. Then going to the orphanage together. You calling out my love as nothing but just a fashion to have a girlfriend when I confessed my love to you (ohh, that hurt the most). Then me playing Santa Claus by giving you Robbie Williams CD or some meaningful gift you would like. Then your decision to go back to Mumbai. I still remember coming with you to your church and tears in my eyes during the sermon. Awesome walk through the WTR Road and then me going back home alone in the eerie dark road again. Never felt spooked or haunted though. Moments spent talking in the terrace. The sun setting on the evening you were leaving, the bus which you boarded to Mumbai, the last and only time I ever held your hand. I still remember staring at the back of the bus and feeling a lump in my throat. Maybe, I should have taken that last trip with you to Mumbai and come back, a road trip for a lifetime of memories. Memories, in the end that is all we will ever have. During all this, great little warrior used to put in his walkman headphones on the years and walk MG Road. Once sitting there, observing life as is. Then one night coming back and writing 5 poems, one after the other. Phew, what was that? You were not the reason but you certainly helped me.
SRK connection… This longing feeling to be with the one you love and to do anything and everything in love. So what if it never will be receiprocated, atleast I gave my love a chance! So what if I am hurt now, this will be reasons for a smile for many years hence! And all this in the first half of a not so successful movie named “Chalte Chalte”. What do I say more? But yeah, this movie still reminds me of this phase. I was there with her on her last day in Bangalore, walking, talking and with a song "Sunona, Suno na, Humsafar Mujhi ko chun lo naa" as the theme.
Ohh! My Lady so Bright!! As I was about to close my heart to love, was getting resigned to fate that love will never happen to me and just when I had enough of Bangalore , she came. I still remember seeing her once before (many months before) in the cafeteria, sitting all alone and something had struck me then. But I had choosen to ignore it. Fell in love with CG too after that. Then during one of offsite training, I met my Lady So Bright again. Everytime I tried to guard myself from getting close to her, she would break open the door and barge in. She came, we saw and I got conquered. Those naughty antics, those innocent lies, so full of life and energy. Taking me ( a villager ;-0)to show what a Pub is, walking and running around in the garden, the first girl who told me that she too loves me, the first girl who told me to hold her hand, the first girl that I made love with... Poems coming out like a stream. Love was changing me for the better. I was so open to many other things, people who were so different to me. All my life, I never had an ideal girl but never thought I would fall in love who would be so naughty, so cunning but in a innocent way, so feeble yet more stronger than I thought I knew her to be. Love every moment of this roller coaster life, love so much that you are the one to travel along side with. Want to make you laugh, make you feel good, feel relaxed, smile, celebrate, make love to you, all my life.
SRK connection... As was the thing, my love certainly made me the happiest but was a cause of great sorrrow for the people closest to me. At the same time, SRK's movie "Veer Zaara" happened and with it came some great songs with it. Some lines like "Naadan hain woh, kehte hain joh, Mere liye tum ho gair"(They are naive, who tell me that you are not the one for me). Also, what about "Yeh Hawaa Kyun Gaa rahi hain", the song which I kept playing it while on return flight from NY in 2005 after a 3 month stay.
So there it is. My love life in connection to spirituality and SRK. There are many ways on this so called road of spirituality. So far I have somehow chanced upon the way of love... and as it is, the way of love is filled with so much romance and music and fun. Loved the journey so far, looking forward to what lies ahead.
And yeah, recent SRK's movies are really bad (and he is so pretentious than before) but my love is still going great. Thanks to all the girls whom I loved and the only one who could love me back. My spirituality... ohh that wonderful search... It is still on... I know I am walking, but will I reach the end or maybe it is all about the journey... Will I ever find an answer or what if it has never been about the answers? Ahh, who knows...
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Mumbai... It's people, It's spirit! --- Part 2
It is so extensive to speak about Mumbai. It is known as the City of Dreams and truly deserves the tag. Somehow, there is always an opportunity for anyone to make a living. That is why you have a high number of immigrants coming from all corners of our amazing country.
This city actually symbolises the map of India. A Lady with open arms, welcoming all. As said before, anyone can make some sort of a living here. Somehow, somewhere they will find some shelter here.
The city is open to all. Mumbai is home to Asia's biggest slum as well as the world's costliest house.
It is home to people from all walks of people. In one side, you have the countries richest business tycoons, media agencies, movie stars, cricketers and then you have the channawalahs (roadsie peanut sellers), nariyal paaniwaalas (roadside coconut water vendors), roadside chaats, boot polish, etc.
I agree that the city can be insensitive and it has many notorious examples of it. But more often than not, the city always rises above the situations and challenges like the megafloods of Mumbai. Unknown strangers serving tea to strangers stranded in the water, people supplying biscuits or fruits (whatever they could), volunteers who would go in the waist-deep waters and stand near pot-holes to warn others about the unknown danger are all now a part of the folklore.
Speaking about my experiences with people in Mumbai, there are so much. How about how amazed I was when my rickshaw driver took a boy (who had been asking for directions) and dropped him at his location? And then when the boy takes out a 10 rupee note, the driver just smiles and says "No". How about the rickshaw friend who used to drop me home free so many times? How about the bus conductors who were so cordial that they would always alarm me before my stop (just because I informed them I have no idea which stop I need to get down except for the name). How about the showrooms where they will show you every item they have and don't even make a grimace if you don't buy after all that. Haa, Mumbai... You made me tough but also gave me a false perception that people all around the world are the same helpful and professional. Imagine my culture shock with rickshaw drivers in Bangalore who will charge whatever they think the rate is, fight with you, quarrel over the destination, the unprofessional showroom sales people, or in NY when I was shocked by the rude responses when I was just enquiring about the rates of different watches, monkey caps, taxi driver asking for tips, Internet cafe shop person not showing me how to swipe in the card and log-in when I just asked for guidance, etc..
I do not want to glorify the terrorist attacks by spelling them out, but the city needs to be applauded for the way it gets back on it's feet everytime after such barbaric acts has happened. People will be out taking the same streets and local trains, fighting fear but going on. This city is made of such people, and maybe they are made of the city.
Salaam Mumbai!!!
Mumbai... It's people, It's spirit! --- Part 1
First.. I am from Vasai, a suburb near Mumbai, but not too far to be not touched by the openness, freedom and the spirit of Mumbai.
Second... Been to New York twice, once in 2005 for 3 months and then in Dec 2010 for 2 weeks. The second trip, walking on the NY streets, observing people and my interactions with the shopkeepers and taxi-drivers, made me realise... how great Mumbai actually is! It truly is the city of dreams. Missed it so much. I left Vasai for work and came to Bangalore. I was in for a culture shock from the lack of professionalism and friendliness among the local shopkeepers to the rickshaw drivers to showrooms and road rage among common people. Except for the weather, there is nothing great that you can write about Bangalore. If I am to be born again, I want to be born in Vasai... near Mumbai... I mean, we all feel we are Mumbaikars. That is how big Mumbai's heart is.
So a post on this greatest city was long overdue... I will try to cover some general grounds and then maybe some personal experiences as to why I feel this city is the greatest in the world.
Also, the photos used in the posts are not mine but from google searchs.
The Spirit of Mumbai and it's people can be easily witnessed in a very regular day. Just go to any of the local stations or stand next to a railway track and see the train go by. You will see a hundreds of people hanging by the train (as if their life depends on it). But that is the way it is. Millions have taken that train for years. Many unnamed relationships are formed. People just know each other by faces and always smile and acknowledge each other (no plastic "Good Morning" or "How are you"). Then there are people who form some bonds. They will always get into the same compartment, rotation on who will bring food for the gang, playing cards in their one hour journey. So strange are these relationships, that the only time their lives ever intertwine is in the daily journey to the office by local train.
I too have been unknowingly a part of this. I used to take the First Class Compartment of the 8.47 (or 8.45)a.m Vasai Local. I would always stand near the same bench everyday. I saw that there was a group there. They would crack jokes, play cards, etc.. Then one day I was feeling very sick. I just asked one of them if I can sit for just 5 minutes as I am not feeling well. Then Mumbai opened up, they quickly gave me the place, someone got a bottle of water. But that is not all. I got down at Andheri and some of the group got down there too. One of them came to me and said, "Take leave, Health is Wealth". I have no idea who he is or his name and vice versa. But we are all just the same, somewhere we all see ourselves in everyone in this sea of faceless people.
And then the words of Karishma Kapoor that she allegedly told a reporter when asked why she used to travel by the local train "To understand life". Agreed. To add to that statement, just travel by the local train, hang outside the doors or sit by the window and see the various phases of life passing by. You will be closest to understanding the nature of the observer, the witness. Where else can you get such a meditative lesson, but Mumbai.
Second... Been to New York twice, once in 2005 for 3 months and then in Dec 2010 for 2 weeks. The second trip, walking on the NY streets, observing people and my interactions with the shopkeepers and taxi-drivers, made me realise... how great Mumbai actually is! It truly is the city of dreams. Missed it so much. I left Vasai for work and came to Bangalore. I was in for a culture shock from the lack of professionalism and friendliness among the local shopkeepers to the rickshaw drivers to showrooms and road rage among common people. Except for the weather, there is nothing great that you can write about Bangalore. If I am to be born again, I want to be born in Vasai... near Mumbai... I mean, we all feel we are Mumbaikars. That is how big Mumbai's heart is.
So a post on this greatest city was long overdue... I will try to cover some general grounds and then maybe some personal experiences as to why I feel this city is the greatest in the world.
Also, the photos used in the posts are not mine but from google searchs.The Spirit of Mumbai and it's people can be easily witnessed in a very regular day. Just go to any of the local stations or stand next to a railway track and see the train go by. You will see a hundreds of people hanging by the train (as if their life depends on it). But that is the way it is. Millions have taken that train for years. Many unnamed relationships are formed. People just know each other by faces and always smile and acknowledge each other (no plastic "Good Morning" or "How are you"). Then there are people who form some bonds. They will always get into the same compartment, rotation on who will bring food for the gang, playing cards in their one hour journey. So strange are these relationships, that the only time their lives ever intertwine is in the daily journey to the office by local train.
I too have been unknowingly a part of this. I used to take the First Class Compartment of the 8.47 (or 8.45)a.m Vasai Local. I would always stand near the same bench everyday. I saw that there was a group there. They would crack jokes, play cards, etc.. Then one day I was feeling very sick. I just asked one of them if I can sit for just 5 minutes as I am not feeling well. Then Mumbai opened up, they quickly gave me the place, someone got a bottle of water. But that is not all. I got down at Andheri and some of the group got down there too. One of them came to me and said, "Take leave, Health is Wealth". I have no idea who he is or his name and vice versa. But we are all just the same, somewhere we all see ourselves in everyone in this sea of faceless people.
And then the words of Karishma Kapoor that she allegedly told a reporter when asked why she used to travel by the local train "To understand life". Agreed. To add to that statement, just travel by the local train, hang outside the doors or sit by the window and see the various phases of life passing by. You will be closest to understanding the nature of the observer, the witness. Where else can you get such a meditative lesson, but Mumbai.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Sachin Tendulkar- An Objective viewpoint of a fan
Let me state this precisely... I am big fan of Sachin. Of course, I have never had any formal cricket coaching or have never played any real cricket league (with Season ball), not represented school or college... But leaving modesty aside, I consider myself a deep student of the game... While playing in my locality, my coaches were Sachin and Dravid, many other international cricketers collectively and yes of course, my brain/heart. I am not boasting but I used to emulate my stance and defence on Dravid, my straight drive on Sachin (have executed many a times as well). There was a time when my brain was highly active and there was not a single day when I did not use to think about my game, or some match I might have seen. Believe me, I have won the 1999 WC match for India in the do-or-die situation against Australia. For whatever reasons, I will have to live my life with a tag a thinker and not a doer.. Hence my words might now carry much weightage... But, still need to put my perspective on Sachin Tendulkar.
For some Sachin is the epitome of batsmanship, god of cricket and put in all the superlatives possible. Believe me, I am the first one to say that he is certainly one of the most talented players in world cricket. When it comes to One Dayers, any alltime XI will be incomplete without him. But when it comes to Test Match (cricket in it's purest form and intent, where cricket skills, intelligence and character is stretched to its limit), Sachin is great but not really deserving of a secured place in All-time XI.
Lets try to put some perspective as to why. His fans first argument would obviously be the number of centuries i.e. 49. Taking out all the match situations, lets look at this on a pure number basis. Out of 49, India has won on 20 occassions. Again out of these 20 wins, 3 were against Bangladesh, 2 against Zimbabwe and 2 against Sri Lanka in 1993 and 1994 (when they were not really good). This means that his 49 centuries has resulted 11 wins against top quality sides of the era. Even if you require some further debate, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh can be considered as "Home" matches as the conditions are similar to back home in India. Not really made of GREAT stuff huh.
This time let me initiate the argument that he is a choker. His 136 while chasing 271 against Pak is supposed to be one of his greatest innings. I agree that he really played well there. But did he win it for us? The answer is NO. I don't care if he was having backaches. I believe that to be a champion, you need to be making great sacrifices. Even if that means, fighting it out to make that last extra effort of 20 runs and taking your team over the line. But Sachin chose to take the short cut and with slightest hint of flight, came down and holed out trying to hit the ball for a six. Saqi might have fooled in, but the truth is that he was himself beaten by his weak control over his mind. What I mean is, when the target is in sight, within hands reach, is when your mind really starts playing games. This is the time when it is the toughest to concentrate and control your mind. Sachin has always lost the plot here. Be it be while having to chase modest targets like 155 (V/s Aus in Chennai 2000) or 120 (against WI) or the most recent matches in Sri Lanka and in Mohali against Australia. This is further evidenced whenever he is approaching a milestone (especially the nervous nineties). His 175 (one of his best ODI Innings, I love it) against Aus in Hyd also substantiates this, he got out for a stupid shot when India was so close to victory. His 93 or 96 against Pak in 2003 WC, almost taking us to victory but then Dravid and Yuvraj played sensibly to finish it.
His fans might say that India normally lets him down. I do not agree to that. Post 1996, Sachin has had a great advantage of batting with Dravid, Ganguly, Laxman and Sehwag. When India won it's first Test Match in Australia (in Adelaide), it was Dravid who had made 233 and followed it up with 70 odd runs (while chasing). In the same series down under, Sachin made 241 (hyped up as the innings without a cover drive) and 60 in the second innings only resulted in a Draw. Yes, you can argue that the bowlers did not do their job but the fact is the test match did not result into a Win. We had the same team and the same opponents. Thank goodness it was Dravid and not Sachin who was setting up the chase. Otherwise, it would have been another case of so near yet so far.
Now let me put up the argument. Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman has opened the innings and also come in positions of #3, #4 (when Sachin was injured/rested), #5 and #6. Sachin has always played at #4. The argument is you always have the best batsman at #4. The reasoning is because opening debacles are not anticipated and there is always #3 (who has a difficult job of blocking his end if the ball is moving around or build on the good start given by the openers) to take the shine of the ball giving your best batsman the best chance of making it good (in Sachin's case, the most). No matter what the match situation (except for a nightwatchman) or what his personal form was, Sachin has never stepped down from his favourite position. Even I was surprised when I read in Cricinfo that Sourav averages about 66 @ that position of #4 amassing about 1000 runs. Who knows what could have been. Maybe that amazing 264 run chase on the 4th day pitch when Dada made 98 coming at #4 as Sachin was rested/injured (Dravid contributing 78) against Sri Lanka (with a threat of a certain Murali) in Kandy would not have been just a one-off. From a personal point of view, #1, #2, #3 and #6 are the most challeging positions to bat. The former because having to face fresh bowlers on a fresh pitch (with no real idea how the pitch will behave) and #6 as there is always many occassion when you will have to manouvre the tail.
"Greatness" is a word not to be used very loosely and "greatest" is word which should be used miserly. Sachin is great but not god or the greatest. Sachin cannot even be compared to Gavaskar as the latter played without a helmet and always played for a win and only when it is not possible played to not lose. Gavaskar's 38 centuries means more to India than Sachin's 49 centuries. Gavaskar never had the likes of laxmans, dravids or even a ganguly. He just had an inconsistent Vishy and M Amarnath. Moreover, Gavaskar opened the innings (without a helmet) against the fastest bowling line-ups (WI, AU, ENG) and was not being shielded at #4. Gavaskar had the nerve to set up the match, try and win the now famous 403 run chase against the mighty WI. Sachin does not have any story like that. I keep stressing on the helmet. Why? Just remember, that Sachin was hit on his face while facing Waqar in his debut innings and after that he is never seen without a helmet (not even while facing spinners). The gradual fans and his admirers can say that it is a protective gear but the more you think and analyse it gives the batsman an advantage. I am not going to stress on it any longer.
So my dear friends, enjoy Sachin's batting as long as it lasts. It has given everyone (including yours truly) a lot of smiles. But don't insult the likes of Gavaskar by stating Sachin is greater than him. Just try to answer this: If Gavaskar was not there, will there ever be a Tendulkar?. That is what Gavaskar's impact on Indian cricket is. But don't insult the likes of Dravid, VVS and Ganguly by saying Sachin is a god and the cornerstone of Indian Cricket. Sachin was there in the 1990's as well as the 2000's. But India started winning ODI' s consistently in late 90's and Test matches abroad post 2000 when we had the above-mentioned batsmen establishing themselves in the team. Also, a closer observation of Sachin's big scores will reveal a pattern of contributions from one of the above or Sehwag as well. That is the truth. Sachin pales in comparison to Lara who scored 430 runs against the Strong Australian team. Sachin just does not have a story like. To be greatest, you need to have such against all odds stories. I am not saying he should do it every year. But atleast 1! Maybe, I am asking for too much.
All I want to state is that Sachin is a great batsman, showcases amazing humility but Test-match impact and playing in pressure situations has never been his forte. And Test Match cricket is not all about the god-given talent but sop much more about mental strength, tactics and intelligence. In this regards Sachin falls just (only just) short of greatness. His averages and mass of runs might hide this, but look deeper and you will see.
Thanks. I know I have been saying this but this is my last post on cricket. I know that Sachin fans will not agree. It is fine. I just wanted to put this perspective out there among all the hype around Sachin.
For some Sachin is the epitome of batsmanship, god of cricket and put in all the superlatives possible. Believe me, I am the first one to say that he is certainly one of the most talented players in world cricket. When it comes to One Dayers, any alltime XI will be incomplete without him. But when it comes to Test Match (cricket in it's purest form and intent, where cricket skills, intelligence and character is stretched to its limit), Sachin is great but not really deserving of a secured place in All-time XI.
Lets try to put some perspective as to why. His fans first argument would obviously be the number of centuries i.e. 49. Taking out all the match situations, lets look at this on a pure number basis. Out of 49, India has won on 20 occassions. Again out of these 20 wins, 3 were against Bangladesh, 2 against Zimbabwe and 2 against Sri Lanka in 1993 and 1994 (when they were not really good). This means that his 49 centuries has resulted 11 wins against top quality sides of the era. Even if you require some further debate, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh can be considered as "Home" matches as the conditions are similar to back home in India. Not really made of GREAT stuff huh.
This time let me initiate the argument that he is a choker. His 136 while chasing 271 against Pak is supposed to be one of his greatest innings. I agree that he really played well there. But did he win it for us? The answer is NO. I don't care if he was having backaches. I believe that to be a champion, you need to be making great sacrifices. Even if that means, fighting it out to make that last extra effort of 20 runs and taking your team over the line. But Sachin chose to take the short cut and with slightest hint of flight, came down and holed out trying to hit the ball for a six. Saqi might have fooled in, but the truth is that he was himself beaten by his weak control over his mind. What I mean is, when the target is in sight, within hands reach, is when your mind really starts playing games. This is the time when it is the toughest to concentrate and control your mind. Sachin has always lost the plot here. Be it be while having to chase modest targets like 155 (V/s Aus in Chennai 2000) or 120 (against WI) or the most recent matches in Sri Lanka and in Mohali against Australia. This is further evidenced whenever he is approaching a milestone (especially the nervous nineties). His 175 (one of his best ODI Innings, I love it) against Aus in Hyd also substantiates this, he got out for a stupid shot when India was so close to victory. His 93 or 96 against Pak in 2003 WC, almost taking us to victory but then Dravid and Yuvraj played sensibly to finish it.
His fans might say that India normally lets him down. I do not agree to that. Post 1996, Sachin has had a great advantage of batting with Dravid, Ganguly, Laxman and Sehwag. When India won it's first Test Match in Australia (in Adelaide), it was Dravid who had made 233 and followed it up with 70 odd runs (while chasing). In the same series down under, Sachin made 241 (hyped up as the innings without a cover drive) and 60 in the second innings only resulted in a Draw. Yes, you can argue that the bowlers did not do their job but the fact is the test match did not result into a Win. We had the same team and the same opponents. Thank goodness it was Dravid and not Sachin who was setting up the chase. Otherwise, it would have been another case of so near yet so far.
Now let me put up the argument. Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman has opened the innings and also come in positions of #3, #4 (when Sachin was injured/rested), #5 and #6. Sachin has always played at #4. The argument is you always have the best batsman at #4. The reasoning is because opening debacles are not anticipated and there is always #3 (who has a difficult job of blocking his end if the ball is moving around or build on the good start given by the openers) to take the shine of the ball giving your best batsman the best chance of making it good (in Sachin's case, the most). No matter what the match situation (except for a nightwatchman) or what his personal form was, Sachin has never stepped down from his favourite position. Even I was surprised when I read in Cricinfo that Sourav averages about 66 @ that position of #4 amassing about 1000 runs. Who knows what could have been. Maybe that amazing 264 run chase on the 4th day pitch when Dada made 98 coming at #4 as Sachin was rested/injured (Dravid contributing 78) against Sri Lanka (with a threat of a certain Murali) in Kandy would not have been just a one-off. From a personal point of view, #1, #2, #3 and #6 are the most challeging positions to bat. The former because having to face fresh bowlers on a fresh pitch (with no real idea how the pitch will behave) and #6 as there is always many occassion when you will have to manouvre the tail.
"Greatness" is a word not to be used very loosely and "greatest" is word which should be used miserly. Sachin is great but not god or the greatest. Sachin cannot even be compared to Gavaskar as the latter played without a helmet and always played for a win and only when it is not possible played to not lose. Gavaskar's 38 centuries means more to India than Sachin's 49 centuries. Gavaskar never had the likes of laxmans, dravids or even a ganguly. He just had an inconsistent Vishy and M Amarnath. Moreover, Gavaskar opened the innings (without a helmet) against the fastest bowling line-ups (WI, AU, ENG) and was not being shielded at #4. Gavaskar had the nerve to set up the match, try and win the now famous 403 run chase against the mighty WI. Sachin does not have any story like that. I keep stressing on the helmet. Why? Just remember, that Sachin was hit on his face while facing Waqar in his debut innings and after that he is never seen without a helmet (not even while facing spinners). The gradual fans and his admirers can say that it is a protective gear but the more you think and analyse it gives the batsman an advantage. I am not going to stress on it any longer.
So my dear friends, enjoy Sachin's batting as long as it lasts. It has given everyone (including yours truly) a lot of smiles. But don't insult the likes of Gavaskar by stating Sachin is greater than him. Just try to answer this: If Gavaskar was not there, will there ever be a Tendulkar?. That is what Gavaskar's impact on Indian cricket is. But don't insult the likes of Dravid, VVS and Ganguly by saying Sachin is a god and the cornerstone of Indian Cricket. Sachin was there in the 1990's as well as the 2000's. But India started winning ODI' s consistently in late 90's and Test matches abroad post 2000 when we had the above-mentioned batsmen establishing themselves in the team. Also, a closer observation of Sachin's big scores will reveal a pattern of contributions from one of the above or Sehwag as well. That is the truth. Sachin pales in comparison to Lara who scored 430 runs against the Strong Australian team. Sachin just does not have a story like. To be greatest, you need to have such against all odds stories. I am not saying he should do it every year. But atleast 1! Maybe, I am asking for too much.
All I want to state is that Sachin is a great batsman, showcases amazing humility but Test-match impact and playing in pressure situations has never been his forte. And Test Match cricket is not all about the god-given talent but sop much more about mental strength, tactics and intelligence. In this regards Sachin falls just (only just) short of greatness. His averages and mass of runs might hide this, but look deeper and you will see.
Thanks. I know I have been saying this but this is my last post on cricket. I know that Sachin fans will not agree. It is fine. I just wanted to put this perspective out there among all the hype around Sachin.
Thanks Lax... Very Very Sorry
Thank you Laxman for the batsman you are. The general public might find it hard to understand why he is so appreciated as his batting is like a poetry, not as straight like a prose. Those gentle wrists, which allow you to hit a ball on the onn-side when the ball is pitched outside off or when you dance down the track to a spinner and then play an inside out shot. Hah...
The below career"ography" is with inputs from Cricinfo.
My first memories of VVS was when he hit that awesome 167 against Australia (in Australia) in a loosing cause in the year 2000. India was following-on and VVS was opening the batting. Yeah, as India never had a proper opening pair and always had a makeshift opening pair. Dravid and Ganguly too have tried their hands till we found Sehwag. Back to the 167, VVS' maiden hundred. It was like there were 2 matches going on, India v/s Australia and VVS v/s Australia. Yeah, he made 167 runs out of 261 that India made. VVS was the 8th wicket to fall. But the man had made a mark. Finally, after years of spending in the domestic arena as a batting giant, the man was recognised to make the next leap.
But then, he is one of the most unrecognized architect of transformation of Indian Cricket. Tendulkar always have created a great hype, Dada creating an attitudinal shift with his captaincy, Dravid proving to the world that Indian's can play the short ball. VVS Laxman played the most important innings by an Indian (second only to Gavaskar's 102 while chasing 403 runs target). VVS made 281 runs and along with Dravid and Harbhajan led to a victory by a team following-on. This was only the 3rd time in the history of the game. The next match he made two 60+ scores. He made 66 with India chasing 155 in the 4th Innings of a Test match, only dismissed 20 runs short of the target because of a great catch by (his Australian cousin) Mark Waugh.
Then VVS was at it again when he remained NOT OUT on 154 against WI to help draw the Test Match in 2002. Player of the match was Sachin as he made 176 in the company of VVS.
Australia is at the receiving end again in 2003. It was Steve Waugh's farewell series and it was being played in Australia. A backs-to-the-wall 303-run stand with Rahul Dravid sets up the famous victory in Adelaide before a dazzling 178 in Sydney and a triple-century partnership with Sachin Tendulkar gives India a chance to seal the series.
It was in 2004 though when he showed why he separates from the other contemporary greats. On an astonishing day when twenty wickets fell, on a dustbowl that Ricky Ponting called "nowhere near to being Test standard", he scripts a doughty 69 that paved the way for a consolation victory in Mumbai.
Then came his second double century in Delhi. The team in the receiving end was again Australia. From Cricinfo- When Laxman plays like he did today, he paces his innings superbly. He scored 17 off 19 balls out of the first 50 runs in his 278-run partnership with Gautam Gambhir. Then came the lean period against Clark during which Laxman took 34 balls to move from 50 to 55. And then he took off, reaching his century off 170 balls and scoring his second 100 off only 130, though he hardly ever looked like he was in a hurry.
But what is missed among all of the above is that other than his artistry, is his steely nerves. He ,other than Rahul Dravid, has been the man on whom India depends upon when in a crisis. He is again the one on whom India depends when faced with a target to chase on the last innings of a Test match. His contribution of 70+ runs in Mohali in 2010 were worth in gold. With victory in sight, he never once looked like getting out. He never played a hurried shot. Even with 6 runs to win, he did not panic and try to finish it off with expansive shots.
Maybe that is what makes this man. He just goes about his job quietly and a calm way. There are very few distractions to him. And when the team's back is against the wall, his presence out there makes everyone feel calm. He is very assuring.
With Sehwag, people are always on the edge of their seats.
With Dravid, there is always some sort tension on his face (too serious). Too much of WORK in his GAME.
With Sachin, there are the nervous nineties (even after 48 centuries and 20 years of Intl cricket) he gets nervous with a milestone approaching, then there is always worry of gifting his wicket with victory within reach.
With Ganguly, there is always the danger of a short ball or an open face of the bat to the slips.
With Laxman, there is always a sense of calm. Yes, there are a few claims that he is a nervous starter. It is like a monk meditating in the centre of the pitch. There are very few players who can give this kind of experience to the ones watching, as teammates or opponents or spectators. And maybe, that is why he is not counted among the Fab 4 or not even equated with Sehwag. VVS has had so many important 30's and 40's which might never receive as much recognition as a leg glance from Sachin does. That is the cruel reality of the world. But for the purists among us and deep students and admirers of the game, VVS will always be hailed as someone who other than being an artist also made an impact on the games he played.
Very Very Sorry for not including you in the 2003 WC (my biggest beef with Ganguly- How could you ever take D Mongia ahead of VVS).
Very Very Sorry for not naming you a part of Fab 4, something that you highly deserved as being the chief architects (along with Dravid) in transforming Indian Cricket to what it is now when being led by a great leader Ganguly.
Very Very Sorry as some years down the line you might be not acknowledged as one of the greatest batsmen ever to have played this game, while a player
--> who just has bigger scores and higher number of centuries (out of which most does not even contribute towards a win or is made in partnership with you or Dravid, thereby easing the pressure) with lesser mental strength (often choking when really required to deliver)
--> who has played all his life in 1 position (#4 - which allows the condition to be much better for batting as the balls grows older and the pitch gets less livelier, if played in the morning)
--> does not have to often bat with the tail-enders.
--> has only twice chased down in the 4 innings of Test match succesfully (only when there were significant contributions by the other batsmen)
will be called the "Greatest" batsman of all time. Just a reflection of our morals and the basic structure of the society. Too hoots to the subtleties and artistry, just show me the numbers...
Lax... For whatever it is worth-- If at work while India is batting in a Test match and I enquire about the score and I hear some paltry score, my question always is "Is Dravid still there? or Laxman?". Secretly, that is what you mean to maybe many more than me... that assurance that we might still have an answer to a really dodgy situation... Your half centuries and so many 30's and 40's, the partnerships you foster with the lower order and the way you respond to pressure (by pressure I mean the REAL MATCH pressure and not the bogus and over-hyped pressure of meeting 1 billion expectations) is what I ask from the teams premier batsman...
The below career"ography" is with inputs from Cricinfo.
My first memories of VVS was when he hit that awesome 167 against Australia (in Australia) in a loosing cause in the year 2000. India was following-on and VVS was opening the batting. Yeah, as India never had a proper opening pair and always had a makeshift opening pair. Dravid and Ganguly too have tried their hands till we found Sehwag. Back to the 167, VVS' maiden hundred. It was like there were 2 matches going on, India v/s Australia and VVS v/s Australia. Yeah, he made 167 runs out of 261 that India made. VVS was the 8th wicket to fall. But the man had made a mark. Finally, after years of spending in the domestic arena as a batting giant, the man was recognised to make the next leap.
But then, he is one of the most unrecognized architect of transformation of Indian Cricket. Tendulkar always have created a great hype, Dada creating an attitudinal shift with his captaincy, Dravid proving to the world that Indian's can play the short ball. VVS Laxman played the most important innings by an Indian (second only to Gavaskar's 102 while chasing 403 runs target). VVS made 281 runs and along with Dravid and Harbhajan led to a victory by a team following-on. This was only the 3rd time in the history of the game. The next match he made two 60+ scores. He made 66 with India chasing 155 in the 4th Innings of a Test match, only dismissed 20 runs short of the target because of a great catch by (his Australian cousin) Mark Waugh.
Then VVS was at it again when he remained NOT OUT on 154 against WI to help draw the Test Match in 2002. Player of the match was Sachin as he made 176 in the company of VVS.
Australia is at the receiving end again in 2003. It was Steve Waugh's farewell series and it was being played in Australia. A backs-to-the-wall 303-run stand with Rahul Dravid sets up the famous victory in Adelaide before a dazzling 178 in Sydney and a triple-century partnership with Sachin Tendulkar gives India a chance to seal the series.
It was in 2004 though when he showed why he separates from the other contemporary greats. On an astonishing day when twenty wickets fell, on a dustbowl that Ricky Ponting called "nowhere near to being Test standard", he scripts a doughty 69 that paved the way for a consolation victory in Mumbai.
Then came his second double century in Delhi. The team in the receiving end was again Australia. From Cricinfo- When Laxman plays like he did today, he paces his innings superbly. He scored 17 off 19 balls out of the first 50 runs in his 278-run partnership with Gautam Gambhir. Then came the lean period against Clark during which Laxman took 34 balls to move from 50 to 55. And then he took off, reaching his century off 170 balls and scoring his second 100 off only 130, though he hardly ever looked like he was in a hurry.
But what is missed among all of the above is that other than his artistry, is his steely nerves. He ,other than Rahul Dravid, has been the man on whom India depends upon when in a crisis. He is again the one on whom India depends when faced with a target to chase on the last innings of a Test match. His contribution of 70+ runs in Mohali in 2010 were worth in gold. With victory in sight, he never once looked like getting out. He never played a hurried shot. Even with 6 runs to win, he did not panic and try to finish it off with expansive shots.
Maybe that is what makes this man. He just goes about his job quietly and a calm way. There are very few distractions to him. And when the team's back is against the wall, his presence out there makes everyone feel calm. He is very assuring.
With Sehwag, people are always on the edge of their seats.
With Dravid, there is always some sort tension on his face (too serious). Too much of WORK in his GAME.
With Sachin, there are the nervous nineties (even after 48 centuries and 20 years of Intl cricket) he gets nervous with a milestone approaching, then there is always worry of gifting his wicket with victory within reach.
With Ganguly, there is always the danger of a short ball or an open face of the bat to the slips.
With Laxman, there is always a sense of calm. Yes, there are a few claims that he is a nervous starter. It is like a monk meditating in the centre of the pitch. There are very few players who can give this kind of experience to the ones watching, as teammates or opponents or spectators. And maybe, that is why he is not counted among the Fab 4 or not even equated with Sehwag. VVS has had so many important 30's and 40's which might never receive as much recognition as a leg glance from Sachin does. That is the cruel reality of the world. But for the purists among us and deep students and admirers of the game, VVS will always be hailed as someone who other than being an artist also made an impact on the games he played.
Very Very Sorry for not including you in the 2003 WC (my biggest beef with Ganguly- How could you ever take D Mongia ahead of VVS).
Very Very Sorry for not naming you a part of Fab 4, something that you highly deserved as being the chief architects (along with Dravid) in transforming Indian Cricket to what it is now when being led by a great leader Ganguly.
Very Very Sorry as some years down the line you might be not acknowledged as one of the greatest batsmen ever to have played this game, while a player
--> who just has bigger scores and higher number of centuries (out of which most does not even contribute towards a win or is made in partnership with you or Dravid, thereby easing the pressure) with lesser mental strength (often choking when really required to deliver)
--> who has played all his life in 1 position (#4 - which allows the condition to be much better for batting as the balls grows older and the pitch gets less livelier, if played in the morning)
--> does not have to often bat with the tail-enders.
--> has only twice chased down in the 4 innings of Test match succesfully (only when there were significant contributions by the other batsmen)
will be called the "Greatest" batsman of all time. Just a reflection of our morals and the basic structure of the society. Too hoots to the subtleties and artistry, just show me the numbers...
Lax... For whatever it is worth-- If at work while India is batting in a Test match and I enquire about the score and I hear some paltry score, my question always is "Is Dravid still there? or Laxman?". Secretly, that is what you mean to maybe many more than me... that assurance that we might still have an answer to a really dodgy situation... Your half centuries and so many 30's and 40's, the partnerships you foster with the lower order and the way you respond to pressure (by pressure I mean the REAL MATCH pressure and not the bogus and over-hyped pressure of meeting 1 billion expectations) is what I ask from the teams premier batsman...
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Spirit of Cricket - Cricket needs to even out the balances
There has been too much cricket off-late on the field as well as on my blog. So well, I promise (and I hope) that this will be the last one for some time on cricket on my blog. But it is such an important part of my life and so interesting that I still keep playing the game many a times in my mind. I have played and won India the game while chasing 282 against Australia in 1999 do-or-die World Cup match in the Super-sixes. Ok, I will be serious.
Cricket, it is the greatest game in the world. It can be unfair, just like life. It can be such a leveller. one day you are the star and the other day you are the villain, just like life. It is a near perfect combination of mental and physical test and I think that is what sport is. The way you play cricket speaks a lot about you. Any one who sees a Sachin play will not only understand his respect for the game but also his underlying humility. Any one who sees Steve Waugh play, will easily realise what a gritty and self-opinionated individual he will be. I can give you more examples and it will be true, more often than not. But that is if you see the game as deeply as I do. And when I say deeply, I mean "deeply" and not "closely". One of the things that separates cricket from other games is the number of instances the spirit of the game can be expressed. Yeah, really. Sit back and name any game and think about this.
Now as I say the spirit of the game (cricket), sadly the administrators and the players have really brought it down. The current commodisation of cricket is very unfortunate but speaks about the times we live in. Unfortunately, cricket is like that. It will always reflect the time it is being played. For instance, when you had socialist India in the 70' and 80's, Sunil Gavaskar's batting reflected it. Then as India became an emerging country, you had Sachin. And then India is all around in the news with a blooming economy, you have Sehwag. Think about it and you will see the difference. That is the wonder of cricket, the most wonderful game in the world. But what we see now is not exactly a reflection of what cricket stands for. There are many things which needs to be changed to bring back cricket to its original and maybe purest form of competition and that is to play the game within the confines of the spirit of the game.
Lets take a look at how the of cricket has been cut and choped to make it more attractive (not interesting) for the spectators. As per the nature of the game, batting will always be the most visible and attractive part. Then as commercialisation and commodisation of cricket happend, it ensured that this is where all the advantage should shift to. At times, it was just philosophy and fear as well.
Starting with Bodyline, somehow it has been perceived that batsman needs to be protected. Douglas Jardine and his tactic is the most misunderstood phenomenon in the world of cricket. He has been demonised for ageas but until only recently people have been more open about this tactic. I will refer to the tactic with it's original and more worthy name- Leg Side theory. So you have 6-7 fielders on the onn-side, the fast bowlers pitch it short and the batsmen need to decide to leave it or play it and risk getting out and even worse getting hurt. The way I see it, it was played under the spirit of cricket. The batsman need to be good and talented to read the length of the ball and decide to leave it or play at it. That is the batsmans job. And it was not unplayable. Jardine himself showed that you can score of this tactic when he cracked a century in India later (with the theory employed against him). Accusations flew that this was not cricket and for some reason Jardine, Larwood and his bowlers were made to look like evil men out there to only hurt the Australian batsmen. The fact that Don Bradman averaged only 50+ in this entire series and England won the Ashes prove that this was a very attacking and tactical move. But somewhere, it was projected as evil and Jardine and Larwood never played another game for England. That was the first instance I can think of when the balance was tilted towards batting and it has continued ever since.
Short delivery is an important part of the fast bowlers armoury. But now it's potency is further negated with the new Leg side rules and the invention which made ordinary batsmen look great - the helmet. With the helmet, you have ordinary batsmen trying to pull or hook the ball which otherwise they would have had to struggle to leave or practise for months and years to master a hook or a pull. Ever seen Suresh Raina, Michael Bevan or Pollard and how uncomfortable many modern batsmen look against the shot ball. The batsmen in their late 20's and before, belong to a generation who would undergo their entire cricketing career without never playing without a helmet. Fast bowlers' most important armoury is so neutralised. It is so unfortunate. Nowadays, you have coaches who tell the youngsters to practise "Dilscoops". Ever wondered, if Dilshan or any modern batsmen would have the guts to play that shot without a helmet. Again, the bowler looses another fight. You have worried parents who would need their children to put on helmets while practising. How I feel if they could understand that without the helmet, their children might get hurt now but will emerge as better and stronger players later.
Just like all these gears which has evolved over the years, there is 1 more (if not the most) important gear which has evolved to "unacceptable" levels. Thicker bats, hick on the lower side of the bat, lots of wood on the middle, Mongoose bat, etc. These bats are so good that even outside edges fly to the boundary for a 4 or a 6. So unfortunate, when all the great players and the youngsters use this without ever giving a single thought.The ball has remained the same for centuries but the bat has undergone such a technical revolution. So many batsmen are revered as hitters and commentators lament on how the batsmen of previous era were so "scared" to loft the ball. Of course, the bat they were using never gave them an extra advantage. It was not made to make "hitting" or "increasing the power" easier. They had to rely on timing (something more deeply rooted to cricket than hitting). If that wasn't enough, you have the boundaries being shortened to "assist" the batsmen. That is cheating in my eyes. I don't care if it is approved but my heart goes out to the bowlers. They are really getting the wrong end of the stick as of now.
Playing on uncovered pitches were really a "test" to the batsmen. Agreed that covering the pitches has somewhat made it safer but still it has also made it easier for the batsmen. Nowadays, there is not much variety in the pitches worldwide. The pitch in Perth is not as fast as it used to be, a mere 18 years ago. So much so for comparing batsmen of yore and now. There is no comparison. There has been no generation of batsmen who had it so easy.
If all that wasn't easy, then comes worst possible cheating. Any batsman can stand his ground after he has clearly nicked the ball (which close-in or wicket keeper has caught cleanly) and see if the umpire has "caught it" as well. I often wonder why they walk when they get bowled. Not sure what example we are setting up to the children. It's like telling the kid "Go lie, steal and cheat to win... As long as you are not caught, you have the right". I was extremely saddened when Sachin too did it twice (I remember 2 occassion, otherwise he is a walker). Appealing by the bowlers is fine with me as it can be only to unsettle the batsmen or create a few nerves. Just as the batsman should be morally obligated to walk, fielding side should be to call back the batsmen when given out incorrectly. Well, but we all live in a world of acceptable levels of cheating. Well, that is not cricket.
To ensure that the spirit of cricket is restored and not the current commodity which looks like a corporate running it's firm, I would seriously recommend the below measures to ICC:
Cricket, it is the greatest game in the world. It can be unfair, just like life. It can be such a leveller. one day you are the star and the other day you are the villain, just like life. It is a near perfect combination of mental and physical test and I think that is what sport is. The way you play cricket speaks a lot about you. Any one who sees a Sachin play will not only understand his respect for the game but also his underlying humility. Any one who sees Steve Waugh play, will easily realise what a gritty and self-opinionated individual he will be. I can give you more examples and it will be true, more often than not. But that is if you see the game as deeply as I do. And when I say deeply, I mean "deeply" and not "closely". One of the things that separates cricket from other games is the number of instances the spirit of the game can be expressed. Yeah, really. Sit back and name any game and think about this.
Now as I say the spirit of the game (cricket), sadly the administrators and the players have really brought it down. The current commodisation of cricket is very unfortunate but speaks about the times we live in. Unfortunately, cricket is like that. It will always reflect the time it is being played. For instance, when you had socialist India in the 70' and 80's, Sunil Gavaskar's batting reflected it. Then as India became an emerging country, you had Sachin. And then India is all around in the news with a blooming economy, you have Sehwag. Think about it and you will see the difference. That is the wonder of cricket, the most wonderful game in the world. But what we see now is not exactly a reflection of what cricket stands for. There are many things which needs to be changed to bring back cricket to its original and maybe purest form of competition and that is to play the game within the confines of the spirit of the game.
Lets take a look at how the of cricket has been cut and choped to make it more attractive (not interesting) for the spectators. As per the nature of the game, batting will always be the most visible and attractive part. Then as commercialisation and commodisation of cricket happend, it ensured that this is where all the advantage should shift to. At times, it was just philosophy and fear as well.
Starting with Bodyline, somehow it has been perceived that batsman needs to be protected. Douglas Jardine and his tactic is the most misunderstood phenomenon in the world of cricket. He has been demonised for ageas but until only recently people have been more open about this tactic. I will refer to the tactic with it's original and more worthy name- Leg Side theory. So you have 6-7 fielders on the onn-side, the fast bowlers pitch it short and the batsmen need to decide to leave it or play it and risk getting out and even worse getting hurt. The way I see it, it was played under the spirit of cricket. The batsman need to be good and talented to read the length of the ball and decide to leave it or play at it. That is the batsmans job. And it was not unplayable. Jardine himself showed that you can score of this tactic when he cracked a century in India later (with the theory employed against him). Accusations flew that this was not cricket and for some reason Jardine, Larwood and his bowlers were made to look like evil men out there to only hurt the Australian batsmen. The fact that Don Bradman averaged only 50+ in this entire series and England won the Ashes prove that this was a very attacking and tactical move. But somewhere, it was projected as evil and Jardine and Larwood never played another game for England. That was the first instance I can think of when the balance was tilted towards batting and it has continued ever since.
Short delivery is an important part of the fast bowlers armoury. But now it's potency is further negated with the new Leg side rules and the invention which made ordinary batsmen look great - the helmet. With the helmet, you have ordinary batsmen trying to pull or hook the ball which otherwise they would have had to struggle to leave or practise for months and years to master a hook or a pull. Ever seen Suresh Raina, Michael Bevan or Pollard and how uncomfortable many modern batsmen look against the shot ball. The batsmen in their late 20's and before, belong to a generation who would undergo their entire cricketing career without never playing without a helmet. Fast bowlers' most important armoury is so neutralised. It is so unfortunate. Nowadays, you have coaches who tell the youngsters to practise "Dilscoops". Ever wondered, if Dilshan or any modern batsmen would have the guts to play that shot without a helmet. Again, the bowler looses another fight. You have worried parents who would need their children to put on helmets while practising. How I feel if they could understand that without the helmet, their children might get hurt now but will emerge as better and stronger players later.
Just like all these gears which has evolved over the years, there is 1 more (if not the most) important gear which has evolved to "unacceptable" levels. Thicker bats, hick on the lower side of the bat, lots of wood on the middle, Mongoose bat, etc. These bats are so good that even outside edges fly to the boundary for a 4 or a 6. So unfortunate, when all the great players and the youngsters use this without ever giving a single thought.The ball has remained the same for centuries but the bat has undergone such a technical revolution. So many batsmen are revered as hitters and commentators lament on how the batsmen of previous era were so "scared" to loft the ball. Of course, the bat they were using never gave them an extra advantage. It was not made to make "hitting" or "increasing the power" easier. They had to rely on timing (something more deeply rooted to cricket than hitting). If that wasn't enough, you have the boundaries being shortened to "assist" the batsmen. That is cheating in my eyes. I don't care if it is approved but my heart goes out to the bowlers. They are really getting the wrong end of the stick as of now.
Playing on uncovered pitches were really a "test" to the batsmen. Agreed that covering the pitches has somewhat made it safer but still it has also made it easier for the batsmen. Nowadays, there is not much variety in the pitches worldwide. The pitch in Perth is not as fast as it used to be, a mere 18 years ago. So much so for comparing batsmen of yore and now. There is no comparison. There has been no generation of batsmen who had it so easy.
If all that wasn't easy, then comes worst possible cheating. Any batsman can stand his ground after he has clearly nicked the ball (which close-in or wicket keeper has caught cleanly) and see if the umpire has "caught it" as well. I often wonder why they walk when they get bowled. Not sure what example we are setting up to the children. It's like telling the kid "Go lie, steal and cheat to win... As long as you are not caught, you have the right". I was extremely saddened when Sachin too did it twice (I remember 2 occassion, otherwise he is a walker). Appealing by the bowlers is fine with me as it can be only to unsettle the batsmen or create a few nerves. Just as the batsman should be morally obligated to walk, fielding side should be to call back the batsmen when given out incorrectly. Well, but we all live in a world of acceptable levels of cheating. Well, that is not cricket.
To ensure that the spirit of cricket is restored and not the current commodity which looks like a corporate running it's firm, I would seriously recommend the below measures to ICC:
- Reinstate Leg-side theory: Batsmen need to sort out their deficiencies and stop being cry-babies , crying foul every time they are intimidated. It is high time that this theory is accepted with the fielding side and bowler getting more freedom to create a more fair contest.
- Ban Helmets: OK, since everyone are now cowards, I will say ban helmets with vizor atleast. Protect the back of the head as a blow there can be lethal but still remove the vizor. Batsmen need to perfect their technique and not take undue advantage of the gear to look (or not look) at the ball and hit. It is just not cricket to remove one of the most potent weapon of the fast bowler and pave a rosy road for the batsmen. The fear of getting hit will make them willing to practise and masterise the pull/hook shot and not rely on protective gear and unfair rules to protect them. Lets see how many will then play the Douglas Marillier shot ( I refuse to call it Dilscoop as he was the not the first one to play it).
- Ban all the modern variations of the bat: Bring back the bats of yore. The current bat is not actually helping any batsmen become master of their trade. They know they have a higher percentage of clearing the boundary line or the ball flying faster of the bat as their bat is designed in such a way. There is no change in the ball but the bat is a new mean machine now. It is just pure cheating. There are no excuses for this. Modern batsmen are making mockery of the spirit of the game everytime they walk out with it.
- Uncovered pitches: Yes, back to the basics. Atleast in the Test matches please. There is a reason they are called "Test" matches. Only the best will survive and play Test matches. This will be the incentive for players. This will ensure that interest in the test matches go on. You can only be called "great" if you have succeeded in the test match format.
- Punish not-walking/incorrect decisions: There should be punishment everytime a batsman does not walk when he knows he is clearly out. In the same way, the captain and the bowler will be punished for appealing for a succesful wrong decision. A tally of incorrect decisions by umpires are maintained and used to rate them. Televise it during the match as well. The foul commited by a player should also be a statistic being maintained. That will be an incentive (sad that an incentive is required) for players to play fair and square.
- No limit on the number of bouncers that can be bowled in an over: I think it pretty much explains itself. The batsmen cannot be sure that after 2 bouncers they will not get another one. We have so many batsmen who take advantage of this rule by plodding their front foot as the bowler is over with the delivery stride.
- The last one (maybe the most controversial): In the limited overs cricket, the amount of time batsmen can play needs to be limited just as the number of overs are limited for a bowler. So many a times, the best bowler in the side can't do much after his quota of overs while the best batsman continues to pile up. In ODIs, the batsman needs to be declared out or maxed out after he scores a century and in T20's he can play till he scores 35 runs. Ok I can compromise and will add an extra stipulation. If required, we can have them bat at the end of the innings with the last wicket remaining. It would be awesome. Just imagine the complexion of the limited overs game will change. Cricket is a team game and the impact of 1 batsmen is being limited (just like how the impact of the best bowler is being limited). And every batsmen will have to pull in their weight. Ohh, did batting become much more difficult and deglamourous now.
It is very sad and unfortunate that I had to write such a blog or even think that this measures are the only way that the spirit of the game can be kept alive. But we really need it. Because what we see it not cricket. It is a contest being played in accepted levels of unfair conduct and cheating. How can you tell a bowler or a fielder that tampering is cheating when the above mentioned "legalised cheating" is accepted and exploited. For me, the above instances are equivalent to ball tampering. So the question here is, if you cannot reinstate the leg-side theory or ban helments or regulate proper bats would you legalise ball-tampering?
I hope I have been clear in what I am trying to say here. We see the spirit of cricket being breached every day by the administrators as well as the greats of the game. Unfortunately, it is all accepted. But look deeper and you will see the truth....
So that's it from me!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
My greatest innings'... hahahha
Hahaha... You better stop reading it now, this is just for my own amusement... Watched "Chak De! India" last week and it got me slightly nostalgic. Walking down the memory lane and remembering some of my own favourite innings... And when I say mine, i mean MINE. The one's played in Vasai, with a Rubber/tennis ball. Hopefully, I remember the match situations well. Heheheh
Year: 1997 (Some time during summer vacation)
Match: Vasant Nagri Sector 1 v/s Vasant Nagri Sector 2 (1st ever Test Match)
I was representing Sector 1. yeah, I don't remember the runs or anything, but what I do beleive is this had got all of us so excited. It made us (atleast me) feel very professional. It was played for 2 days. The unique rule was that LBW was not out, so as to take out the umpire bias. So we used to gather at about 7 a.m. and the match would start by 8: 00. You know how difficult it is to get every one on time. Then we would play till 11.30 or so and then resume at 2.30 and play till the sun would set. Wow, those were the days. So I as a wicket-keeper had already gloved some nice catches. I kind off remember that. Well the match situation was that we had a batting collapse in the 1st inning and Sector 2 had build up an amazing lead. Now Day 2, mid-day we got them all-out. Again, we were headed for disaster. As always, terrible players (those who just swing the bat and clear the ground) were sent before me. I have great respect for Dinku, the only one who played like a pro and an amazing talent. But the others are all Yusuf Pathan types, king of hits in gully and whenever it comes to the real thing, they will be a damp squib. Coming back to the match, we were like 5-6 wickets down and we had to play to draw the game. Finally, I got my chance. At the other end was Vishal ( a talentless guy), but still could swing the bat. So he was taking full advantage of the No Lbw rule and putting his leg in every ball. And there I was, all serious, batting as you should. Leaving the ball, defending, driving for a single (which was declined, as Vishal's instructions were "You play 1 over, i will play another"). Of all this, there is one Square drive which I still remember. Sweetly timed and it went to the boundary. Ahh, the satisfaction! This is an important event in my life becuase after many months or so, when I was not playing cricket much, Dinku reminded me of that stroke. He was like "Itna class shot tha who, Vishal tho paka raha that, par thu bahut acha khel raha tha. Aur woh Off-side mein jho shot that, mast class tha". Actually he was at that time trying to influence me to come in the morning and play. And he was successful. Back again to the match, we both were not-out till the end and that match was drawn. And little did I know, that 1 shot will actually be remembered by someone other than me in the future and that was the instant which triggered passion for the game.
Match: Double wicket finals (Abhinesh and Veenu v/s Amit and Pradeep) there were some 2 more teams in an unofficial time-pass tourney we had on a regular evening. We never did it after that, not sure why.
Year: 1998-99-2000 (who knows and I dont care)
Yeah, the position I like the most- the underdogs. Let me tell you why, we both never had bowled in our lives and the other 2 were decent bowlers and hitters (not batsmen). They played 1st and due to some luck, they were not able put on a heavy score. Here again, I was the batsman who had to do the scoring as Veenu was a complete dud with the ball and bat. Match situation- 7 runs required from 6 balls. I was facing the 1st ball. Pradeep was the bowler. The 1st ball was dispatched for a 4 (Somehow I dont remember where I hit it). Then, the next ball I hit it for 3 (with some hesitation if I should go for the 3 or not). So now we had scored more than them but still it was Double wicket. So a wicket would mean our runs would be deducted by 2. So the over needed to be completed and Veenu was on strike. I told him "Bas, out mat ho.. Kuch bhi ho, Out mat ho, Pura body daalke khel". And he survived the next 3 balls. Wowo, underdogs were the winners. What an amazing feeling I had that evening!
Match: some random match in the evening
Match situation: It was a 6 over match. My team had about 6 players. Luckily, I was opening this time. My team had an amazing collapse. 4 wickets in 2 overs. Ajay came in. He was a decent bat. I instructed him just concentrate on singles till the 5 over and then we will try to accelerate. We did accumulate runs slowly during the course of the match. The last over was to be bowled by Sujith, a tall and lanky bowler. He bowled a nice length delivery and I dispatched it over long-on for a 6. The next bowl, I danced down the pitch and got a nice full-toss and hit it for a 4 to the deep mid-wicket region. So satisfying. We scored about 45 or 44 runs in that innings. I was so satisfied with that innings. We lost the match but maybe who cares at that time.
Match: some random match in the evening
I don't even remember the runs much but again I was opening the batting. There was a slight collapse and I was still out there. Slowly grafting runs. Then in the slog over, it was time to accelerate. Now why is this special, here it is. Anthony was going to ball. I turned around, told one guy that this will be a boundary. Then I came dancing down, making room for myself and hit one of the best Inside-out shots I ever had through the covers for the boundary. It was so special because the ball went to the boundary all the way on the ground and the 2 fielders just kept running but were short by just 2-3 more paces. I dont even remember anything else, but I know I was not-out till the end. But that shot, my thought process, my body-flow, the way the ball went, the fielders, the sun light, everything I still remember.
Then there so many, like my first 1/2 century ever, or some rear-guard action. I always been a fighter and maybe that is why I always have a soft corner for paul collingwoods, russel arnolds, Sodhis of the world. Apart from the above mentioned, there are so many instances of brilliance I remember like:
--> 9 runs in 1 over reqd to win, I hit the 1st ball for a 6 and then an easy win. I still remember my calculation for the six. I remembered Klusener's stance, I think it would let me loft the ball more, increase my power and reach. So I immitated his stance of legs being far apart and I also stood out of the crease (so that I can get under the ball). Waited till the last moment before the bowler turns back to get into the run-up to take my stance, just in case he does not see where I am standing and adjusts his length. Wowo, it is satisfying when things pay-off.
--> Some action again at the end of another rear-guard action. It was the last over and Guru (one of the locality's fastest bowler) was about to bowl. I knew I had to improvise and I remembered 1 particular shot of Manjrekar in a series down-under. So when Guru was half-way on his run-up, I stood up, came to the off-side of the stumps, and he bowled it on the off side itself and I played it across square on the onn-side for a 4. The next ball, I stood my ground (anticipating a yorker) and yorker it was. Played straight behind the bowler for a 4. The next one was short delivery, played front of square for a 3.
Wow, where is the bat? Can I turn back the wheels of time and go back there? Hehe... As I write all these words with thoughts in my mind of what could have been... :-)
Year: 1997 (Some time during summer vacation)
Match: Vasant Nagri Sector 1 v/s Vasant Nagri Sector 2 (1st ever Test Match)
I was representing Sector 1. yeah, I don't remember the runs or anything, but what I do beleive is this had got all of us so excited. It made us (atleast me) feel very professional. It was played for 2 days. The unique rule was that LBW was not out, so as to take out the umpire bias. So we used to gather at about 7 a.m. and the match would start by 8: 00. You know how difficult it is to get every one on time. Then we would play till 11.30 or so and then resume at 2.30 and play till the sun would set. Wow, those were the days. So I as a wicket-keeper had already gloved some nice catches. I kind off remember that. Well the match situation was that we had a batting collapse in the 1st inning and Sector 2 had build up an amazing lead. Now Day 2, mid-day we got them all-out. Again, we were headed for disaster. As always, terrible players (those who just swing the bat and clear the ground) were sent before me. I have great respect for Dinku, the only one who played like a pro and an amazing talent. But the others are all Yusuf Pathan types, king of hits in gully and whenever it comes to the real thing, they will be a damp squib. Coming back to the match, we were like 5-6 wickets down and we had to play to draw the game. Finally, I got my chance. At the other end was Vishal ( a talentless guy), but still could swing the bat. So he was taking full advantage of the No Lbw rule and putting his leg in every ball. And there I was, all serious, batting as you should. Leaving the ball, defending, driving for a single (which was declined, as Vishal's instructions were "You play 1 over, i will play another"). Of all this, there is one Square drive which I still remember. Sweetly timed and it went to the boundary. Ahh, the satisfaction! This is an important event in my life becuase after many months or so, when I was not playing cricket much, Dinku reminded me of that stroke. He was like "Itna class shot tha who, Vishal tho paka raha that, par thu bahut acha khel raha tha. Aur woh Off-side mein jho shot that, mast class tha". Actually he was at that time trying to influence me to come in the morning and play. And he was successful. Back again to the match, we both were not-out till the end and that match was drawn. And little did I know, that 1 shot will actually be remembered by someone other than me in the future and that was the instant which triggered passion for the game.
Match: Double wicket finals (Abhinesh and Veenu v/s Amit and Pradeep) there were some 2 more teams in an unofficial time-pass tourney we had on a regular evening. We never did it after that, not sure why.
Year: 1998-99-2000 (who knows and I dont care)
Yeah, the position I like the most- the underdogs. Let me tell you why, we both never had bowled in our lives and the other 2 were decent bowlers and hitters (not batsmen). They played 1st and due to some luck, they were not able put on a heavy score. Here again, I was the batsman who had to do the scoring as Veenu was a complete dud with the ball and bat. Match situation- 7 runs required from 6 balls. I was facing the 1st ball. Pradeep was the bowler. The 1st ball was dispatched for a 4 (Somehow I dont remember where I hit it). Then, the next ball I hit it for 3 (with some hesitation if I should go for the 3 or not). So now we had scored more than them but still it was Double wicket. So a wicket would mean our runs would be deducted by 2. So the over needed to be completed and Veenu was on strike. I told him "Bas, out mat ho.. Kuch bhi ho, Out mat ho, Pura body daalke khel". And he survived the next 3 balls. Wowo, underdogs were the winners. What an amazing feeling I had that evening!
Match: some random match in the evening
Match situation: It was a 6 over match. My team had about 6 players. Luckily, I was opening this time. My team had an amazing collapse. 4 wickets in 2 overs. Ajay came in. He was a decent bat. I instructed him just concentrate on singles till the 5 over and then we will try to accelerate. We did accumulate runs slowly during the course of the match. The last over was to be bowled by Sujith, a tall and lanky bowler. He bowled a nice length delivery and I dispatched it over long-on for a 6. The next bowl, I danced down the pitch and got a nice full-toss and hit it for a 4 to the deep mid-wicket region. So satisfying. We scored about 45 or 44 runs in that innings. I was so satisfied with that innings. We lost the match but maybe who cares at that time.
Match: some random match in the evening
I don't even remember the runs much but again I was opening the batting. There was a slight collapse and I was still out there. Slowly grafting runs. Then in the slog over, it was time to accelerate. Now why is this special, here it is. Anthony was going to ball. I turned around, told one guy that this will be a boundary. Then I came dancing down, making room for myself and hit one of the best Inside-out shots I ever had through the covers for the boundary. It was so special because the ball went to the boundary all the way on the ground and the 2 fielders just kept running but were short by just 2-3 more paces. I dont even remember anything else, but I know I was not-out till the end. But that shot, my thought process, my body-flow, the way the ball went, the fielders, the sun light, everything I still remember.
Then there so many, like my first 1/2 century ever, or some rear-guard action. I always been a fighter and maybe that is why I always have a soft corner for paul collingwoods, russel arnolds, Sodhis of the world. Apart from the above mentioned, there are so many instances of brilliance I remember like:
--> 9 runs in 1 over reqd to win, I hit the 1st ball for a 6 and then an easy win. I still remember my calculation for the six. I remembered Klusener's stance, I think it would let me loft the ball more, increase my power and reach. So I immitated his stance of legs being far apart and I also stood out of the crease (so that I can get under the ball). Waited till the last moment before the bowler turns back to get into the run-up to take my stance, just in case he does not see where I am standing and adjusts his length. Wowo, it is satisfying when things pay-off.
--> Some action again at the end of another rear-guard action. It was the last over and Guru (one of the locality's fastest bowler) was about to bowl. I knew I had to improvise and I remembered 1 particular shot of Manjrekar in a series down-under. So when Guru was half-way on his run-up, I stood up, came to the off-side of the stumps, and he bowled it on the off side itself and I played it across square on the onn-side for a 4. The next ball, I stood my ground (anticipating a yorker) and yorker it was. Played straight behind the bowler for a 4. The next one was short delivery, played front of square for a 3.
Wow, where is the bat? Can I turn back the wheels of time and go back there? Hehe... As I write all these words with thoughts in my mind of what could have been... :-)
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Just some scribblings
Not sure if it is a poem in a whole or if a part of it is a whole poem in itself... But anyways, it's been long since I wrote a poem and added something to my 50+ collection so far...
Such is Life
Dreams,
Last flame of the candle,
But never extingushing.
Road,
One where my heart walks,
And one where reality hurts.
Day,
Starts with love sleeping next to me,
Then it passes on, and,
Ends with love sleeping next to me,
Ambitions,
So many of them,
So little I have done for them.
Passion,
It's there, it sure is there,
Waiting to erupt.
Life,
Going through it most of the time,
FEW moments though which help me feel it.
Me,
With you always,
And all the ways.
Such is Life
Dreams,
Last flame of the candle,
But never extingushing.
Road,
One where my heart walks,
And one where reality hurts.
Day,
Starts with love sleeping next to me,
Then it passes on, and,
Ends with love sleeping next to me,
Ambitions,
So many of them,
So little I have done for them.
Passion,
It's there, it sure is there,
Waiting to erupt.
Life,
Going through it most of the time,
FEW moments though which help me feel it.
Me,
With you always,
And all the ways.
Friday, September 3, 2010
One on the Maoists and Indian Government
Let me first imply that my knowledge on the Maoist issue is quite less but much better than the
normal urban dweller. I am not an expert and I do not know in and out of it. Now since that is out of the way...
Maoist movement started in 1967 as a Peasant movement to protect land rights. It gradually has expanded to the more wider proportions as now. Agreed, that except for Kerala, not many of the states have been very successful in implementing it. Agreed that even now there are many Adivasis and tribals who have no land for themselves to dwell and somehow have been suppressed to live a life which looks like they have no fundamental rights. Agreed that many innocents have been at the wrong end of the stick when it comes to some atrocities committed by the States armed forces. But I do not agree with the method of guerilla and armed warfare and extortionist approach towards resolving this issue.
Of course, the ASFPA Act is very unpopular and I am not a strong supporter of it. I commend Irom Sharmila for the non-violent protest for the last 10 years. Irom Sharmila has won over many prominent human rights activists just because of her steely resolve and the means with which she has tried to achieve it.
We all have our grievances with the Government and the system. No system or constitution is perfect but will always be a work in progress. For me to write this or Irom Sharmila to continue her protest or the Maosit sympathisers to come on national television and support the cause of current hostage situation of 4 cops in Bihar is an outstanding evidence the consitution is successful in providing us with freedom of speech and expression. That is the greatest gift of democracy.
As for the Maoists, the harm and terror inflicted among the poor people (for whom they fight for) is in itself a clear indication of how they can abuse any kind of power they would have. The women Maoist workers themselves have come out to expose the sexual and gender harrasment rendered within the groups. There is also a lot of nepotism within the ranks. The act of plotting against a country's government is war, but when done by their own nationals it is also called Treason. Then when mass-killings, landmines, extortions, hostages, etc. becomes the way of communication, it takes the form of terrorism. I do agree that there was a certain amount of reason and grievances which supported the activity during it's infancy but it is completely lost now. No educated and sensible Indian would now stand up for Maoists. Of course, the consitution of India cannot and should not be converted to a Marxist-Leninist society.
Now coming onto the Indian Government.It is very sad that Indian government has been running the nation with a relatively lesser kind of indifferent attitude as the British Governments of Pre-Independence era. Our founding fathers were great but thereafter the corruption and pessimism that has crept in is ridiculous. When it comes to growth and economy, it looks like an amazing success but take a deeper look and we still see abysmal infrastructure, poverty, lack of accessibility towards the fundamental rights for a large percentage of the population. India is shining when you look at the many cosmopolitan cities but when you look at the villages, therein lies the darkness. There is a lot of work here. I will leave that for another post.
Back to the Government and Maoists, Andhra Pradesh has done an amazing job in restraining Maoist activities there. YSR was a very tactful politician when it comes to this issue. What YSR did was to improve the infrastructure in the state especially with roads and modes of communication even to the innermost areas of the forest. This ensures that the so called abodes where the Maoists would live/hide was also accessible to the police. It certainly helped in better policing of the issue. That is why the state where there was a very high rate of Maoist activity post 2000 does not have any activity after 2009 or so. Now it has shifted to Orrisa and Bihar. I hope that the Government does go out of it's way to create a dialogue (although it looks like we are past that stage) with the Maoists. But if not, it should act soon and take the problem head-on. Pakistan and China can wait for now.
At the time of writing this post, 1 Bihar cop - Hawaldar Lukas Tete has been killed by the Maoists. The Maoists has warned that they will kill the remaining 3 if their demand of releasing 8 Maoist activists are not released by Indian Government from the prison. I might appear insensitive here - my heartiest condolences to the the grieving family and my heart goes out to the families of other cops - but looking at the bigger picture we should not negotiate with such acts of terrorism. If we release the prisoners now, it will set up a precedence.
Of course the situation is complicated and I do not have the answer here sitting in the comfort of my chair and security of my home. But I have the below questions for the Maoists and the Maoist sympathisers:
1.) What would you do if Indian Government also puts up a condition that they will start killing the 8 prisoners if the cops are not released back?
2.) Do you really believe that you would be able to make such protests, suggest the Indian Government to make negotiations and even have them aired in National television, get it printed in various national dailies if the Indian Government was formulised in the Marxist-Leninist stance?
3.) Do you really believe that Maoist activity would have even grown to such extents if the Indian Government was not a successful democracy and suppreses Human rights?
I really hope that the brave cops being held by the Maoists return to their homes, safe and sound. Now that maybe the 1st step towards resolution. The second step is for all these Maoist leaders to form a Political party and enter the elections. Contest for votes and if elected, please provide all that you say you are fighting for to the people you say you are fighting for.
normal urban dweller. I am not an expert and I do not know in and out of it. Now since that is out of the way...
Maoist movement started in 1967 as a Peasant movement to protect land rights. It gradually has expanded to the more wider proportions as now. Agreed, that except for Kerala, not many of the states have been very successful in implementing it. Agreed that even now there are many Adivasis and tribals who have no land for themselves to dwell and somehow have been suppressed to live a life which looks like they have no fundamental rights. Agreed that many innocents have been at the wrong end of the stick when it comes to some atrocities committed by the States armed forces. But I do not agree with the method of guerilla and armed warfare and extortionist approach towards resolving this issue.
Of course, the ASFPA Act is very unpopular and I am not a strong supporter of it. I commend Irom Sharmila for the non-violent protest for the last 10 years. Irom Sharmila has won over many prominent human rights activists just because of her steely resolve and the means with which she has tried to achieve it.
We all have our grievances with the Government and the system. No system or constitution is perfect but will always be a work in progress. For me to write this or Irom Sharmila to continue her protest or the Maosit sympathisers to come on national television and support the cause of current hostage situation of 4 cops in Bihar is an outstanding evidence the consitution is successful in providing us with freedom of speech and expression. That is the greatest gift of democracy.
As for the Maoists, the harm and terror inflicted among the poor people (for whom they fight for) is in itself a clear indication of how they can abuse any kind of power they would have. The women Maoist workers themselves have come out to expose the sexual and gender harrasment rendered within the groups. There is also a lot of nepotism within the ranks. The act of plotting against a country's government is war, but when done by their own nationals it is also called Treason. Then when mass-killings, landmines, extortions, hostages, etc. becomes the way of communication, it takes the form of terrorism. I do agree that there was a certain amount of reason and grievances which supported the activity during it's infancy but it is completely lost now. No educated and sensible Indian would now stand up for Maoists. Of course, the consitution of India cannot and should not be converted to a Marxist-Leninist society.
Now coming onto the Indian Government.It is very sad that Indian government has been running the nation with a relatively lesser kind of indifferent attitude as the British Governments of Pre-Independence era. Our founding fathers were great but thereafter the corruption and pessimism that has crept in is ridiculous. When it comes to growth and economy, it looks like an amazing success but take a deeper look and we still see abysmal infrastructure, poverty, lack of accessibility towards the fundamental rights for a large percentage of the population. India is shining when you look at the many cosmopolitan cities but when you look at the villages, therein lies the darkness. There is a lot of work here. I will leave that for another post.
Back to the Government and Maoists, Andhra Pradesh has done an amazing job in restraining Maoist activities there. YSR was a very tactful politician when it comes to this issue. What YSR did was to improve the infrastructure in the state especially with roads and modes of communication even to the innermost areas of the forest. This ensures that the so called abodes where the Maoists would live/hide was also accessible to the police. It certainly helped in better policing of the issue. That is why the state where there was a very high rate of Maoist activity post 2000 does not have any activity after 2009 or so. Now it has shifted to Orrisa and Bihar. I hope that the Government does go out of it's way to create a dialogue (although it looks like we are past that stage) with the Maoists. But if not, it should act soon and take the problem head-on. Pakistan and China can wait for now.
At the time of writing this post, 1 Bihar cop - Hawaldar Lukas Tete has been killed by the Maoists. The Maoists has warned that they will kill the remaining 3 if their demand of releasing 8 Maoist activists are not released by Indian Government from the prison. I might appear insensitive here - my heartiest condolences to the the grieving family and my heart goes out to the families of other cops - but looking at the bigger picture we should not negotiate with such acts of terrorism. If we release the prisoners now, it will set up a precedence.
Of course the situation is complicated and I do not have the answer here sitting in the comfort of my chair and security of my home. But I have the below questions for the Maoists and the Maoist sympathisers:
1.) What would you do if Indian Government also puts up a condition that they will start killing the 8 prisoners if the cops are not released back?
2.) Do you really believe that you would be able to make such protests, suggest the Indian Government to make negotiations and even have them aired in National television, get it printed in various national dailies if the Indian Government was formulised in the Marxist-Leninist stance?
3.) Do you really believe that Maoist activity would have even grown to such extents if the Indian Government was not a successful democracy and suppreses Human rights?
I really hope that the brave cops being held by the Maoists return to their homes, safe and sound. Now that maybe the 1st step towards resolution. The second step is for all these Maoist leaders to form a Political party and enter the elections. Contest for votes and if elected, please provide all that you say you are fighting for to the people you say you are fighting for.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Fixing Allegations, my thoughts
Yes... Cricket's darkest secret and nightmare is back! When NOTW aired the videos with Majeed boasting and correctly predicting the 'No-Balls", the great game took a step back and "Gambling" was in the forefront.
I did see the videos and looks like it is pretty convincing evidence. Anger is the feeling we all share and justifiable as well. Last 2 months or so, Asif and Amir had provided so much joy to cricket lovers like me. I preferred watching the test matches in England rather than the run fest in 2nd Test Match of Sri Lanka and a useless ODI Tournament. Asif and Amir were so impressive in series' down under last year. And yet, it all came to this.
Let's go and try to analyse the culprits I think and punishments I feel is fair.
PCB: Yes, Pakistan Cricket Board. It is one of the most disgusting institutions ever. The entire cricketing world need to remember that Rashid Latif and Basit Ali were the first ever individuals (yes not an Aussie or Englishman, but a Pakistani - So not a 'Culture' Issue, a dig @ Aussies) who had guts to speak against the match-fixing malaise. Rashid Latif had also warned about Spot-Fixing seven years back and had even suggested ICC or PCB (am not sure) to organize a mock match/series and he will help identify the spot event and the culprits. But they all fell in deaf ears. Casual 'Life Bans" look like a sabbatical and the same set of players keep coming back. Shoaib Akhtar has got so many chances to clean up his act. Qayyum report had clearly told that players like Wasim, Waqar, Saeed, Inzi were unco-operative. Justice Qayyum himself claimed that he was a fan of Wasim and hence, was very lenient on him. Qayyum had put in some corrective measures which were never implemented to clean-up the system.Waqar is one of the few players who was caught in the act of ball tampering but went on to become the captain of the side. Is there any other nation who would like to have Shahid Afridi as the captain after his dancing on the rough side of the pitch act against England during the lunch break and ball-biting event? Salim Mallik was banned for life but it is revoked in 2008 or so. Rashid Latif and Basit Ali never gets a proper chance to make a come back. Rashid Latif is actually outcasted. This clear lack of leadership among the institution shows that they don't care for the game or the ones who play it and obviously, the ones who watch it. PCB needs to be completely revamped. The only corrective measure I can think is give the reins to Rashid Latif and I am sure he will atleast turn out a system nourishing honest cricketers.
Salman Butt: Just as I was starting to like him and thinking that this might just be start of a new era for Pak, all this allegations came about. His stats are not something you can boast of but it was the demeanour with which he used to appear during press conferences which impressed me and many others. He has been around for 7 years so there can be no leniency towards him. Life ban. I don't care if it was only spot fixing but you cannot get away with it after you were supposedly serving the game and the nation for 7 years. He should have been wiser that this. And 7 years with 1 IPL Season (part of KKR in the Inaugural IPL Season) does not make him poor. It is just cunningness and greed that led to his actions. Especially as a captain, he should be given exemplary punishment. No sympathy.
Mohd Asif: His fast bowling is of the highest quality, a decent amount of swing with amazing accuracy. But if there was anyone who was blinded by the glitz, glam and money, it is Asif. He tested positive for banned substances in IPL, then was caught in Dubai for Drug possession and now spot-fixing. An insitution like PCB meant that he can get away with the first 2 offences. He is an ideal example of bright people gone wrong. He has now become criminal minded and entirely corrupted. The game of cricket can no longer take a chance with him again. He is a habitual offender. He needs to be cut-off from the game. A life ban is what I seek for him. Thanks for some amazing spells but that is it. Bid Adieu!
Mohammad Amir: Genius with an incredible talent. Before we judge this guy, I would like all of you to remember what you were at the age of 17-18 years. And then imagine if you were also from a small village where Taliban can close a highway as per their whims. I don't know if his village had any proper means of print media. And now imagine that this naive simpleton with a rags to riches story, a fairy tale (if there was any), is being coerced or allured by a serial offender that you can get away with anything. Then the captain tells him to bowl a no-ball and earn some money. It won't affect the result of the match. It is too small. You won't be caught and it won't harm the team. At this moment, please spare a thought how this lad with an impressionable mind would think. My heart goes out for this guy in this entire fiasco. A legendary career cut short by a moment of madness. It also proves the lack of leadership and structure in PCB, which does not care for it's young stars. PCB has done nothing to protect the interests of this guy. He was just out there for the wolves. If Amir was involved in a few instances of Spot-fixing and never in any kind of match-fixing, a suspension of 5 years would be sufficient. Let him re-start his career at the age of 23 as a wiser man. I believe the game of cricket can give him one more chance and the game will be only richer because of it. Hope the officials do the right thing and take the complete picture when judging him. I only hope that it was spot fixing and not match fixing. And if he did indulge in any kind of match-fixing, he needs to be given a life ban. Many hearts might still be sympathetic towards him but that is what it would be. He will become part of a very sad and sorry folklore. As for now, I wish him the very best and wish that he cleans up the act. I would still like to remind people his exuberance and joy when he took the 5-for in the tainted Lords test. Also, right after the no-ball there was dropped chance of Alistair Cook. Let me remind people that the expression of anger in Amir's face looked that of a simple bowler who was upset he did not get the wicket. He is not criminal yet. He can be the 1 success story which every young Pak kid of now and the future can still aspire for. I hope this come true.
I did see the videos and looks like it is pretty convincing evidence. Anger is the feeling we all share and justifiable as well. Last 2 months or so, Asif and Amir had provided so much joy to cricket lovers like me. I preferred watching the test matches in England rather than the run fest in 2nd Test Match of Sri Lanka and a useless ODI Tournament. Asif and Amir were so impressive in series' down under last year. And yet, it all came to this.
Let's go and try to analyse the culprits I think and punishments I feel is fair.
PCB: Yes, Pakistan Cricket Board. It is one of the most disgusting institutions ever. The entire cricketing world need to remember that Rashid Latif and Basit Ali were the first ever individuals (yes not an Aussie or Englishman, but a Pakistani - So not a 'Culture' Issue, a dig @ Aussies) who had guts to speak against the match-fixing malaise. Rashid Latif had also warned about Spot-Fixing seven years back and had even suggested ICC or PCB (am not sure) to organize a mock match/series and he will help identify the spot event and the culprits. But they all fell in deaf ears. Casual 'Life Bans" look like a sabbatical and the same set of players keep coming back. Shoaib Akhtar has got so many chances to clean up his act. Qayyum report had clearly told that players like Wasim, Waqar, Saeed, Inzi were unco-operative. Justice Qayyum himself claimed that he was a fan of Wasim and hence, was very lenient on him. Qayyum had put in some corrective measures which were never implemented to clean-up the system.Waqar is one of the few players who was caught in the act of ball tampering but went on to become the captain of the side. Is there any other nation who would like to have Shahid Afridi as the captain after his dancing on the rough side of the pitch act against England during the lunch break and ball-biting event? Salim Mallik was banned for life but it is revoked in 2008 or so. Rashid Latif and Basit Ali never gets a proper chance to make a come back. Rashid Latif is actually outcasted. This clear lack of leadership among the institution shows that they don't care for the game or the ones who play it and obviously, the ones who watch it. PCB needs to be completely revamped. The only corrective measure I can think is give the reins to Rashid Latif and I am sure he will atleast turn out a system nourishing honest cricketers.
Salman Butt: Just as I was starting to like him and thinking that this might just be start of a new era for Pak, all this allegations came about. His stats are not something you can boast of but it was the demeanour with which he used to appear during press conferences which impressed me and many others. He has been around for 7 years so there can be no leniency towards him. Life ban. I don't care if it was only spot fixing but you cannot get away with it after you were supposedly serving the game and the nation for 7 years. He should have been wiser that this. And 7 years with 1 IPL Season (part of KKR in the Inaugural IPL Season) does not make him poor. It is just cunningness and greed that led to his actions. Especially as a captain, he should be given exemplary punishment. No sympathy.
Mohd Asif: His fast bowling is of the highest quality, a decent amount of swing with amazing accuracy. But if there was anyone who was blinded by the glitz, glam and money, it is Asif. He tested positive for banned substances in IPL, then was caught in Dubai for Drug possession and now spot-fixing. An insitution like PCB meant that he can get away with the first 2 offences. He is an ideal example of bright people gone wrong. He has now become criminal minded and entirely corrupted. The game of cricket can no longer take a chance with him again. He is a habitual offender. He needs to be cut-off from the game. A life ban is what I seek for him. Thanks for some amazing spells but that is it. Bid Adieu!
Mohammad Amir: Genius with an incredible talent. Before we judge this guy, I would like all of you to remember what you were at the age of 17-18 years. And then imagine if you were also from a small village where Taliban can close a highway as per their whims. I don't know if his village had any proper means of print media. And now imagine that this naive simpleton with a rags to riches story, a fairy tale (if there was any), is being coerced or allured by a serial offender that you can get away with anything. Then the captain tells him to bowl a no-ball and earn some money. It won't affect the result of the match. It is too small. You won't be caught and it won't harm the team. At this moment, please spare a thought how this lad with an impressionable mind would think. My heart goes out for this guy in this entire fiasco. A legendary career cut short by a moment of madness. It also proves the lack of leadership and structure in PCB, which does not care for it's young stars. PCB has done nothing to protect the interests of this guy. He was just out there for the wolves. If Amir was involved in a few instances of Spot-fixing and never in any kind of match-fixing, a suspension of 5 years would be sufficient. Let him re-start his career at the age of 23 as a wiser man. I believe the game of cricket can give him one more chance and the game will be only richer because of it. Hope the officials do the right thing and take the complete picture when judging him. I only hope that it was spot fixing and not match fixing. And if he did indulge in any kind of match-fixing, he needs to be given a life ban. Many hearts might still be sympathetic towards him but that is what it would be. He will become part of a very sad and sorry folklore. As for now, I wish him the very best and wish that he cleans up the act. I would still like to remind people his exuberance and joy when he took the 5-for in the tainted Lords test. Also, right after the no-ball there was dropped chance of Alistair Cook. Let me remind people that the expression of anger in Amir's face looked that of a simple bowler who was upset he did not get the wicket. He is not criminal yet. He can be the 1 success story which every young Pak kid of now and the future can still aspire for. I hope this come true.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Pro- Wrestling - kind of guilty pleasure
It's been long, really long since I wrote anything. So right now, I was just bringing myself to write something. And the topic which was fresh on my mind was Pro-Wrestling. I always wanted to write something on this great business/art/form of entertainment.
Firstly, let me tell you that I have utmost respect for the amazing artists who go to the ring and perform their art/skill whenever and wherever they get a chance. When I say artists, I include WWE Wrestlers, TNA Wrestlers or no longer functioning WCW and ECW roster as well as the North American regional promotions to the artists from their poorer neighbours who have added the Lucha Libre style to wrestling as well as the European and the Asian (All-Japanese) wrestling promotions.
Wrestling is an Art. You can debate on it however you want, but this is my opinion. I do not want this to be an education on how the business is conducted, so let me just stick to the Art thing. You have 2 wrestlers and they have developed their characters. Generally, one will be the nice 1 (babyface) and the other will be a villain (heel). Now, they have to tell a story.. a story of characters and keep the audience glued to the match, their every move... and slowly, but surely reach the climax. Don't watch TNA, but yeah... watch Smackdown and see the first wrestling match which will always be pro-wrestling in it's purest form. Just like when you fight, there will a phase where you get beat up and then the other guy beats up.. and the way you fight will tell a lot about your character and strenth. That is exactly what these great artists need to express every outing. During this , they also need to take bumps and do moves but in a safe manner. They need to sell the pain (act out the pain) that they are receiving. They need to build-up towards the climax for which the audience is waiting for. And all this in a limited amount of time. They need to coordinate their moves just like dancer move in a group dance or the musicians will perform in an opera or how the singers need to be in tune with each other. All this takes utmost dedication and years of practice.
One common thing which I (every wrestling fan ) hear is "Wrestling is Fake". I used to get pissed before but not at all nowadays. I just smile and keep quite. To each his own. Even I will never understand the level of pain and sacrifice these wrestlers do to just do something that they love and which entertains us. I have no idea why Jeff Hardy will jump from a 20 feet ladder or Mick Foley will fall down from 20 feet to the announcer's table or Shawn Michaels and Undertaker carry on wrestling, taking bumps and giving their best for 20 years. Of course, they have practised a lot, most of the furniture is stunt furniture and it is choreographed but the pain is not very less or absent. Pain is there although they have trained themselves to do the moves safely. Mistakes have ended people career. If you don't believe me, check why Bret Hart quit wrestling. Injuries have changed people's career. If you don't believe me, check Owne hart and Steve Austin's match and how Steve's broken neck affected his wrestling. Even through all the injuries, these people keep themseleves motivated to go on fighting. If you don't believe me, check the following link for Micke Foley's list of injuries: http://sahirhussain.tripod.com/id7.html . Enough said. Don't watch wrestling, ridicule us (the fans) but please acknowledge the workers and give them their due respect.
A slight dig on cricketers here. I was scoffing when I heard Dhoni speaking about travelling around India during IPL (some 44 days). These wrestlers, espcially WWE Wrestlers, travel every week(all around the year) around different parts of North America and work House Shows (other than the Televised events) and still need to keep their physical condition topnotch. I wonder what they would have to say to Dhoni and CO.. The only leisure time they get is during year-end and as and when they get injured and cannot perform. Before you state steroirds, please check the current roster. You will get your answer.
So that's it from my end. It is not exactly passionate as I would have liked to, but anyways just my way of dedicating my love towards this wonderful business/art/entertainment. I wish I have put some light on the passion of the workers which was my intention. I wish that the next time you see your cousin or your friend watching wrestling, you don't insult the wrestlers by saying "Wrestling, it's fake, isn't it?".
Firstly, let me tell you that I have utmost respect for the amazing artists who go to the ring and perform their art/skill whenever and wherever they get a chance. When I say artists, I include WWE Wrestlers, TNA Wrestlers or no longer functioning WCW and ECW roster as well as the North American regional promotions to the artists from their poorer neighbours who have added the Lucha Libre style to wrestling as well as the European and the Asian (All-Japanese) wrestling promotions.
Wrestling is an Art. You can debate on it however you want, but this is my opinion. I do not want this to be an education on how the business is conducted, so let me just stick to the Art thing. You have 2 wrestlers and they have developed their characters. Generally, one will be the nice 1 (babyface) and the other will be a villain (heel). Now, they have to tell a story.. a story of characters and keep the audience glued to the match, their every move... and slowly, but surely reach the climax. Don't watch TNA, but yeah... watch Smackdown and see the first wrestling match which will always be pro-wrestling in it's purest form. Just like when you fight, there will a phase where you get beat up and then the other guy beats up.. and the way you fight will tell a lot about your character and strenth. That is exactly what these great artists need to express every outing. During this , they also need to take bumps and do moves but in a safe manner. They need to sell the pain (act out the pain) that they are receiving. They need to build-up towards the climax for which the audience is waiting for. And all this in a limited amount of time. They need to coordinate their moves just like dancer move in a group dance or the musicians will perform in an opera or how the singers need to be in tune with each other. All this takes utmost dedication and years of practice.
One common thing which I (every wrestling fan ) hear is "Wrestling is Fake". I used to get pissed before but not at all nowadays. I just smile and keep quite. To each his own. Even I will never understand the level of pain and sacrifice these wrestlers do to just do something that they love and which entertains us. I have no idea why Jeff Hardy will jump from a 20 feet ladder or Mick Foley will fall down from 20 feet to the announcer's table or Shawn Michaels and Undertaker carry on wrestling, taking bumps and giving their best for 20 years. Of course, they have practised a lot, most of the furniture is stunt furniture and it is choreographed but the pain is not very less or absent. Pain is there although they have trained themselves to do the moves safely. Mistakes have ended people career. If you don't believe me, check why Bret Hart quit wrestling. Injuries have changed people's career. If you don't believe me, check Owne hart and Steve Austin's match and how Steve's broken neck affected his wrestling. Even through all the injuries, these people keep themseleves motivated to go on fighting. If you don't believe me, check the following link for Micke Foley's list of injuries: http://sahirhussain.tripod.com/id7.html . Enough said. Don't watch wrestling, ridicule us (the fans) but please acknowledge the workers and give them their due respect.
A slight dig on cricketers here. I was scoffing when I heard Dhoni speaking about travelling around India during IPL (some 44 days). These wrestlers, espcially WWE Wrestlers, travel every week(all around the year) around different parts of North America and work House Shows (other than the Televised events) and still need to keep their physical condition topnotch. I wonder what they would have to say to Dhoni and CO.. The only leisure time they get is during year-end and as and when they get injured and cannot perform. Before you state steroirds, please check the current roster. You will get your answer.
So that's it from my end. It is not exactly passionate as I would have liked to, but anyways just my way of dedicating my love towards this wonderful business/art/entertainment. I wish I have put some light on the passion of the workers which was my intention. I wish that the next time you see your cousin or your friend watching wrestling, you don't insult the wrestlers by saying "Wrestling, it's fake, isn't it?".
Saturday, April 24, 2010
A few firsts in life
Just trying to list down some of the few firsts in my life. Some are endearing, some are embarassing and some show how naive I was. But well, that is how life is. We don't have a school where they really teach us every other thing. We have to learn a lot on our own way. Of course, I do not remember my first step and all, but there are some events which I really remember and in a way might have shaped my growth. I will try to be chronological and also, will try to have categorise them into endearing and embarrassing (for lack of better word).
First beating:
Endearing: The first real beating that I remember is when my mom hit me after I apparently misbehaved at a family friends house. I mean all I did was to just ask them to serve us with some food (as guests are supposed to be treated) and then also asked where is tea after the snacks. Ok... Adults think it is bad habit and my mom had just told them that I don't like biscuits (which was true) but it was no excuse for me not to empty the tray :-)
Embarassing: This is so embarassing but I am so past that and grown. In college, before my real entry to philosophy or spirituality or questioning existance as it is (whatever you want to call) I was like a tapori. Pretty foolish and really naive. So here I was telling one of my friends that the mother of one guy in our group is not exactly well-behaved. As if that was not a great mistake, I thought I will do another small one. I said that I am going to propose to the girl who another guy in our group likes. Ohhh! What an error? So the next day it looks all normal and then the group decides to go near the railways tracks where it is all peaceful. I go along without any hint as to what is going to hit me (and hit it really did). As soon as we reached there, the guy (one with the mother) just slapped me and I still remembered looking at the girl (whom I was going to propose) staring at me along with the other girls. My eyes were already welled up. I lost count of how many slaps I got . End of the day, I was shameless enough to go back to the group as if everything is sorted our. But luckily, it turned out to be an important day of my life as I started alienarting myself from the group and being more alone. I think I was more active than I have ever been. Really, sitting below the pillar, looking at the girl I really loved and then looking at all those people around, seeing and observing lives and as my bro handed over Fountainhead to me... Great little warrior was born! Life has never been the same ever since.
First time on the pedal:
Actually, here it is only endearing as my bro used to take me double seat in out little tricycles when I was 3 or 4 years old in our verandah. Then he used to always take me along with him to the school or many other evenings just cycling to the kabrastaan 'hindi word for cemetery'(where we were scared and would remind us that we are not supposed to look back and call out "Chal aa na (Come, let's go)" as even the ghost will come with us). Then my bro also was the one who taught me to ride a bicycle in the ground in front of Jiten Apts.
First love:
Ohh! Ask my bro or my mom who till date says that I was in kinder garten when I got down from the rickshaw and hugged a girl (who too was in kindergarten) tright in front of our apartment. But to be honest, I do not remember it at all. And as I was always too old for my age, I do remember crushes when I was in school but if I have to remember my first love ever, it has to be Vijetha (name changed or not changed to protect identity). I still remember standing on the terrace of Advance Classes and then V turning up there and saying"Hye Abhinesh, I asked Ramitha if she likes some one..." Well,, although I remember the what I want to say is the feeling I had after the following. Once she fisnishes what she had to inform me, she is about to go back to other girl friends when she asks me "Akela hain kya(Are you alone)"and I say "Haa, Company degi kyaa? (Yes, will you give me some company)" and then a little hesitation, a little thought process and then she comes and stands next to me. That was the moment, the time when I felt and knew the wonderfull emotion we all have learnt to call "Love". V, as I have already told you, Thanks so much. Just to add, it was my first love and it went unrequited.
First Interview and Job:
Hmm... My first interview. I still remember that it was for a call centre execfutive of Hotline paging company. I went there with a false confidence assuming that I will get a job. But then, could I be more wrong? There were about 60-70 people for the Job for 5 openings. I went through the first 2 rounds but then failed. And this was to be the story of my life, till I succesfully passed and secured a job. That was after I had been rejected by 16 firms. Thanks again, because maybe otherwise I would have been staying in that bubble where survival and the daily fight for it seemed very easy and very normal. Great Little Warrior grew more and more strong and really proud that I was able to find my footing. At the time of writing this, I am working for one of the biggest firms on Wall street (of course, the B'Lore division) and been there for 6 years.
Then there are many other firsts in my life like my house, my 16 Inch TV (from my first real salary), my scooter, my first mobile and yes of course, the first time a girl loved me back (and probably the only who could ever love me). It would be really a big blog, I have to write abt this here. About my Lady, Ohh so bright!!. What can I say, just read my poems and you will see her in many.
First beating:
Endearing: The first real beating that I remember is when my mom hit me after I apparently misbehaved at a family friends house. I mean all I did was to just ask them to serve us with some food (as guests are supposed to be treated) and then also asked where is tea after the snacks. Ok... Adults think it is bad habit and my mom had just told them that I don't like biscuits (which was true) but it was no excuse for me not to empty the tray :-)
Embarassing: This is so embarassing but I am so past that and grown. In college, before my real entry to philosophy or spirituality or questioning existance as it is (whatever you want to call) I was like a tapori. Pretty foolish and really naive. So here I was telling one of my friends that the mother of one guy in our group is not exactly well-behaved. As if that was not a great mistake, I thought I will do another small one. I said that I am going to propose to the girl who another guy in our group likes. Ohhh! What an error? So the next day it looks all normal and then the group decides to go near the railways tracks where it is all peaceful. I go along without any hint as to what is going to hit me (and hit it really did). As soon as we reached there, the guy (one with the mother) just slapped me and I still remembered looking at the girl (whom I was going to propose) staring at me along with the other girls. My eyes were already welled up. I lost count of how many slaps I got . End of the day, I was shameless enough to go back to the group as if everything is sorted our. But luckily, it turned out to be an important day of my life as I started alienarting myself from the group and being more alone. I think I was more active than I have ever been. Really, sitting below the pillar, looking at the girl I really loved and then looking at all those people around, seeing and observing lives and as my bro handed over Fountainhead to me... Great little warrior was born! Life has never been the same ever since.
First time on the pedal:
Actually, here it is only endearing as my bro used to take me double seat in out little tricycles when I was 3 or 4 years old in our verandah. Then he used to always take me along with him to the school or many other evenings just cycling to the kabrastaan 'hindi word for cemetery'(where we were scared and would remind us that we are not supposed to look back and call out "Chal aa na (Come, let's go)" as even the ghost will come with us). Then my bro also was the one who taught me to ride a bicycle in the ground in front of Jiten Apts.
First love:
Ohh! Ask my bro or my mom who till date says that I was in kinder garten when I got down from the rickshaw and hugged a girl (who too was in kindergarten) tright in front of our apartment. But to be honest, I do not remember it at all. And as I was always too old for my age, I do remember crushes when I was in school but if I have to remember my first love ever, it has to be Vijetha (name changed or not changed to protect identity). I still remember standing on the terrace of Advance Classes and then V turning up there and saying"Hye Abhinesh, I asked Ramitha if she likes some one..." Well,, although I remember the what I want to say is the feeling I had after the following. Once she fisnishes what she had to inform me, she is about to go back to other girl friends when she asks me "Akela hain kya(Are you alone)"and I say "Haa, Company degi kyaa? (Yes, will you give me some company)" and then a little hesitation, a little thought process and then she comes and stands next to me. That was the moment, the time when I felt and knew the wonderfull emotion we all have learnt to call "Love". V, as I have already told you, Thanks so much. Just to add, it was my first love and it went unrequited.
First Interview and Job:
Hmm... My first interview. I still remember that it was for a call centre execfutive of Hotline paging company. I went there with a false confidence assuming that I will get a job. But then, could I be more wrong? There were about 60-70 people for the Job for 5 openings. I went through the first 2 rounds but then failed. And this was to be the story of my life, till I succesfully passed and secured a job. That was after I had been rejected by 16 firms. Thanks again, because maybe otherwise I would have been staying in that bubble where survival and the daily fight for it seemed very easy and very normal. Great Little Warrior grew more and more strong and really proud that I was able to find my footing. At the time of writing this, I am working for one of the biggest firms on Wall street (of course, the B'Lore division) and been there for 6 years.
Then there are many other firsts in my life like my house, my 16 Inch TV (from my first real salary), my scooter, my first mobile and yes of course, the first time a girl loved me back (and probably the only who could ever love me). It would be really a big blog, I have to write abt this here. About my Lady, Ohh so bright!!. What can I say, just read my poems and you will see her in many.
Insensitivity - Is it natural?
Last week, I was informed over the phone that my grand mom passed away. For 2 hours or so, I was distraught. I started reminiscing about old school vacation days when we would go to Kallepuly, Pallakad where our grand parents used to stay. Memories like how I used to dislike my grandpa as he used to make us write maths tables on vacations, make us sleep early and beat us whenever we were indisciplined, how I used to like the calming effect of my grandmom, how I used to touch her very smooth stomach with my palm and say "Aiyee, so smooth", How we used to play in the lawn, and then the last time I met her. It was 2 years back and she had grown really week and frail. I felt guilty as I had spoken to her just a week back when she enquired when I will come to visit her (now that she was in my folks house) and 2 days back where she expressed her happiness over my change in shift timings.
But then, after those 2 hours or so, I did not feel much. Of course, there is a certain tinge of something missing but not exactly the kind of grievance you would attach to this kind of tragedy. I know I am not exactly spiritually evolved as I remember getting up one morning very sad as I had a very bad dream where I witness my brother in an accident and then go running around scared(I still remember that pain I felt at that time, It was so real). So is it that her being old (she was in her 80's) made me not feel a deeper grief? Or was it the emotional distance I had acquired due to not meeting here regularly or talking to her frequently? I feel it is a mix of both. But this insensitivity... It makes me wonder, why?
Not sure what answers I am looking for while I am writing here... But just thought of penning this down, a sort of confession. I feel a certain amount of guilt for this sort of indifference or insensitivity I have (whichever it is).
Not a means to justify it, but I have deep belief in nothing reallly dies but "passes on" to another form/stage/life. I hope and wish that the currently departed soul flows through the cycle of life and experiences all that it chooses to and gets nearer to the oneness we all seek...
But then, after those 2 hours or so, I did not feel much. Of course, there is a certain tinge of something missing but not exactly the kind of grievance you would attach to this kind of tragedy. I know I am not exactly spiritually evolved as I remember getting up one morning very sad as I had a very bad dream where I witness my brother in an accident and then go running around scared(I still remember that pain I felt at that time, It was so real). So is it that her being old (she was in her 80's) made me not feel a deeper grief? Or was it the emotional distance I had acquired due to not meeting here regularly or talking to her frequently? I feel it is a mix of both. But this insensitivity... It makes me wonder, why?
Not sure what answers I am looking for while I am writing here... But just thought of penning this down, a sort of confession. I feel a certain amount of guilt for this sort of indifference or insensitivity I have (whichever it is).
Not a means to justify it, but I have deep belief in nothing reallly dies but "passes on" to another form/stage/life. I hope and wish that the currently departed soul flows through the cycle of life and experiences all that it chooses to and gets nearer to the oneness we all seek...
Friday, April 16, 2010
Some office humor on the way...
These are fictional accounts and written only in pure humor. Any resemblance to any one living or dead is purely coincidental ;-)
(Inside a meeting room)
Mngr: You need to tell me whenever you go to the toilet.
Member: No, I will not.
Mngr: Why what is wrong with that?
(Then there started a whole debate over THIS-- Outcome, the member caved in so that he can get out of the room!)
Mngr: Our Team from Ninkampoo is asking for help.
Subordinate: We are ourselves short-staffed and swamped with work.
Mngr: Are you sure? Is there anything we can do?
Subordinate: Yes, we are swamped. Inform them of our situation.
Mngr: No, there should be something we can do. Let's see.
(No comments, what else can the slaves do... c'mon, you are here to take off load from the teams in Ninkampoo and do your work as well. Is that too much to ask for?)
Mngr: Our Team from Ninkampoo is asking for help.
Subordinate: We are ourselves short-staffed and swamped with work.
Mngr: Are you sure? Is there anything we can do?
Subordinate: Yes, we are swamped and finding it difficult. Inform them of our situation.
Mngr: Ok, no worries. I will call them and say that I can help them. Let me see how I can help them.
(Thanks so much. BTW, Did you know we are also finding it difficult... Ahh, never mind. ohh, now that was obvious).
Mngr: Where is my Favouriteeee? I miss my Favouriteee!
(Subordinate is surprised and slightly homophobic)
Mngr: You think it is fair to send my Favourite to Ninkampoo now and then later to Timbaktoo as well, right?
Subordinate: Ok.
Mngr: You too have good things in store.
(Now that is a naive subordinate or rather foolish as well)
Subordinate: Lets send this awesome individual to Timbaktoo.
Mngr: Really, you think so?
Subordinate: Yes, very good performer.
Mngr: I have my doubts if this possible. Anyways, send a mail to my mngr and see. But i would not raise my hopes.
(Subordinate drafts and sends the mail)
Mngr: Ohh another thing, I think this awesome individual wanted to pursue studies. Check on that.
(Any more hurdles you can think of)
(Mngr's mngr confirms that the awesome individual can go to Timbaktoo)
Mngr: Subordinate, good job on that.
(Really!!!)
(Inside a meeting room)
Mngr: Now when Dean called you from Ninkampoo for help why did you say no?
Subordinate: You know it. We are only # people here. He is aware of it. How can a greater # team ask for a smaller # team for help?
Mngr: I don't think that is nice although I see where you are coming from (can you get more creative).
Mngr: But you did not handle it better.
Subordinate: But do you see the real issue? How can we be expected to help when we ourselves are underwater?
Mngr: Don't say no. Just say "Ok, we will this but maybe you can do that for us".
Subordinate (with a puzzled look): How will that help the situation? That is no solution.
Mngr: NO. But we can't say a direct NO.
(Well it is so messed up, and it turns out to be a heated argument and after 15-20 minutes of argument, instead of work)
Mngr: I do not need a loose cannon for my Ninkampoo team.
Subordinate: Ok, I am fine with that.
(Oops.. sorry.. .that got serious)
(Inside a meeting room-- Ohh, I want to get out of here already)
2 Subordinates: We do not want to do this new function.
Mngr: But we have agreed to do this.
2 Sub: Who did? We were not asked for it?
Mngr: This was agreed much before.
2 Sub: But we were then 4, now we are only 2 left in the team.
(Mngr gives a blank look-- maybe, bad in maths)
2 Sub: We still never did it then, why should we do it now?
Mngr: No, we need to do it. That is it.
(Well, the argument would have gone for 45 mins or so and inbetween...)
Mngr: I see where you are coming from.
(and inbetween)
Mngr: I hear you.
(Does not look like that and seriously, can you be more creative)
(and inbetween)
Mngr: But, But, But... (so you confirm you are missing the point).
(Here's the outcome, 2 Subordinates came out puzzled as they were still expected to take on the new function--- Now that is what I call "People's Manager)
So that's it for office humor. Will be back for something more significant, heart touching and spiritual. Till then... Work hard.
(Inside a meeting room)
Mngr: You need to tell me whenever you go to the toilet.
Member: No, I will not.
Mngr: Why what is wrong with that?
(Then there started a whole debate over THIS-- Outcome, the member caved in so that he can get out of the room!)
Mngr: Our Team from Ninkampoo is asking for help.
Subordinate: We are ourselves short-staffed and swamped with work.
Mngr: Are you sure? Is there anything we can do?
Subordinate: Yes, we are swamped. Inform them of our situation.
Mngr: No, there should be something we can do. Let's see.
(No comments, what else can the slaves do... c'mon, you are here to take off load from the teams in Ninkampoo and do your work as well. Is that too much to ask for?)
Mngr: Our Team from Ninkampoo is asking for help.
Subordinate: We are ourselves short-staffed and swamped with work.
Mngr: Are you sure? Is there anything we can do?
Subordinate: Yes, we are swamped and finding it difficult. Inform them of our situation.
Mngr: Ok, no worries. I will call them and say that I can help them. Let me see how I can help them.
(Thanks so much. BTW, Did you know we are also finding it difficult... Ahh, never mind. ohh, now that was obvious).
Mngr: Where is my Favouriteeee? I miss my Favouriteee!
(Subordinate is surprised and slightly homophobic)
Mngr: You think it is fair to send my Favourite to Ninkampoo now and then later to Timbaktoo as well, right?
Subordinate: Ok.
Mngr: You too have good things in store.
(Now that is a naive subordinate or rather foolish as well)
Subordinate: Lets send this awesome individual to Timbaktoo.
Mngr: Really, you think so?
Subordinate: Yes, very good performer.
Mngr: I have my doubts if this possible. Anyways, send a mail to my mngr and see. But i would not raise my hopes.
(Subordinate drafts and sends the mail)
Mngr: Ohh another thing, I think this awesome individual wanted to pursue studies. Check on that.
(Any more hurdles you can think of)
(Mngr's mngr confirms that the awesome individual can go to Timbaktoo)
Mngr: Subordinate, good job on that.
(Really!!!)
(Inside a meeting room)
Mngr: Now when Dean called you from Ninkampoo for help why did you say no?
Subordinate: You know it. We are only # people here. He is aware of it. How can a greater # team ask for a smaller # team for help?
Mngr: I don't think that is nice although I see where you are coming from (can you get more creative).
Mngr: But you did not handle it better.
Subordinate: But do you see the real issue? How can we be expected to help when we ourselves are underwater?
Mngr: Don't say no. Just say "Ok, we will this but maybe you can do that for us".
Subordinate (with a puzzled look): How will that help the situation? That is no solution.
Mngr: NO. But we can't say a direct NO.
(Well it is so messed up, and it turns out to be a heated argument and after 15-20 minutes of argument, instead of work)
Mngr: I do not need a loose cannon for my Ninkampoo team.
Subordinate: Ok, I am fine with that.
(Oops.. sorry.. .that got serious)
(Inside a meeting room-- Ohh, I want to get out of here already)
2 Subordinates: We do not want to do this new function.
Mngr: But we have agreed to do this.
2 Sub: Who did? We were not asked for it?
Mngr: This was agreed much before.
2 Sub: But we were then 4, now we are only 2 left in the team.
(Mngr gives a blank look-- maybe, bad in maths)
2 Sub: We still never did it then, why should we do it now?
Mngr: No, we need to do it. That is it.
(Well, the argument would have gone for 45 mins or so and inbetween...)
Mngr: I see where you are coming from.
(and inbetween)
Mngr: I hear you.
(Does not look like that and seriously, can you be more creative)
(and inbetween)
Mngr: But, But, But... (so you confirm you are missing the point).
(Here's the outcome, 2 Subordinates came out puzzled as they were still expected to take on the new function--- Now that is what I call "People's Manager)
So that's it for office humor. Will be back for something more significant, heart touching and spiritual. Till then... Work hard.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Movies I want to make before I die - Info
I have created a new blog and now am writing down my stories/scripts on that.. here's the 1st one---
http://greatlittlewarrior-seeker.blogspot.com/
It is still under construction. You can check in periodically to see how the story progresses. It is inspired by my own life, it's trivial problems and my own spiritual quest. :-)
http://greatlittlewarrior-seeker.blogspot.com/
It is still under construction. You can check in periodically to see how the story progresses. It is inspired by my own life, it's trivial problems and my own spiritual quest. :-)
Sunday, March 28, 2010
An Ode to the Big Three - Saurav Ganguly
Amid match fixing allegations and investigations, CBI cleared 3 men off their radar saying that they were not at all involved in it - Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly. Indian cricket still had a lot to look forward to. Enthusiasm was at an all time low and a lot of pessimism among the Indian cricket fans. Little did we all know that this would be a perfect setting for the men in blue to start a new age golden era with newer attitude and grit. Oh Captain!! My Captain!! The Prince of Calcutta along with John Wright brought about a remarkable change in Indian cricket.
But before all this, lets speak about Saurav the player. First picked in 1992 and thrown back out of the team, this guy had the guts to tell his dad that he will be the Captain of Indian cricket team. Then after 4 years, he was selected. On this news Bishen Singh Bedi (legendary Indian spinner) quotes "Sourav Ganguly is a proven failure" while Tiger Pataudi (great Indian Cricket Captain) quotes "His selection proves quota system is still prevelant". And Saurav's response was nothing but just a century in each of his 1st 3 Test matches wow... and then there was no turning back. All his career, he has been bestowed with the unenviable role of proving his critics wrong and there was no shortage for that. He has always been a few shots away from greatness and his weaknesses is something that is known by every other bowler now. But I choose not ever to speak about his innings or stats here because his contributions are more than that. He is an inspiration for the human in me, in all of us.
Sourav the captain, knew what he wanted, trusted his gut feelings and trusted his teammates. It is only because ; of his stubborness that Harbhajan Singh was picked ahead of Sarandeep Singh for the 2001 Series against Australia ; he spotted Mahendra Singh Dhoni and wanted him to be included in the side; Yuvraj Singh has been able to hold on to his spot in the team inspite of inconsistent performance. But maybe more that this, his contribution to Indian Cricket was the shift in attitude and self-belief. He was a fearless captain and very instinctive and the team reflected that. Under him, the adjective Team India was coined. Under him, Team India would not shy away from any verbal confrontation and would take the other teams in their home turfs. This started getting reflected in the Away wins we started to have. Under him, youngsters got a lot of chances (although Aakash Chopra might not agree to that). To quote from article I read after his dishonourable exclusion from the side, "Maybe the powers that are will determine that this man will never play agin for India but the the current youngsters like Yuvrajs, Pathans, MSD, who are playing for Team India and the ones after them need to remember that there is 1 man to thank for who paved the way for them".
Well to say the least, Saurav was so human like all us. So imperfect and yet too stubborn, So self-confident almost on the verge of looking arrogant (and arrogant too he might be) and many a times so full of himself and yes, so unpredictable. It was this quality along with him deliberately assuming an aggressive body language at times but also, always wearing his heart on his sleeve that endeared him to us. With Sachin it was always awe, with Rahul it was always respect, with Saurav we felt too connected to love him or loathe him or hate him. We have all secretly admired him as he showed us that for all our imperfections and with all our imperfections, we still can take on the world. For that and only for that, you will always be my favourite criketer ever.
I hope I am keeping aside the topic of cricket for some time on this blog until such time arises that the game inspires and invites me to write again.
But before all this, lets speak about Saurav the player. First picked in 1992 and thrown back out of the team, this guy had the guts to tell his dad that he will be the Captain of Indian cricket team. Then after 4 years, he was selected. On this news Bishen Singh Bedi (legendary Indian spinner) quotes "Sourav Ganguly is a proven failure" while Tiger Pataudi (great Indian Cricket Captain) quotes "His selection proves quota system is still prevelant". And Saurav's response was nothing but just a century in each of his 1st 3 Test matches wow... and then there was no turning back. All his career, he has been bestowed with the unenviable role of proving his critics wrong and there was no shortage for that. He has always been a few shots away from greatness and his weaknesses is something that is known by every other bowler now. But I choose not ever to speak about his innings or stats here because his contributions are more than that. He is an inspiration for the human in me, in all of us.
Sourav the captain, knew what he wanted, trusted his gut feelings and trusted his teammates. It is only because ; of his stubborness that Harbhajan Singh was picked ahead of Sarandeep Singh for the 2001 Series against Australia ; he spotted Mahendra Singh Dhoni and wanted him to be included in the side; Yuvraj Singh has been able to hold on to his spot in the team inspite of inconsistent performance. But maybe more that this, his contribution to Indian Cricket was the shift in attitude and self-belief. He was a fearless captain and very instinctive and the team reflected that. Under him, the adjective Team India was coined. Under him, Team India would not shy away from any verbal confrontation and would take the other teams in their home turfs. This started getting reflected in the Away wins we started to have. Under him, youngsters got a lot of chances (although Aakash Chopra might not agree to that). To quote from article I read after his dishonourable exclusion from the side, "Maybe the powers that are will determine that this man will never play agin for India but the the current youngsters like Yuvrajs, Pathans, MSD, who are playing for Team India and the ones after them need to remember that there is 1 man to thank for who paved the way for them".
Well to say the least, Saurav was so human like all us. So imperfect and yet too stubborn, So self-confident almost on the verge of looking arrogant (and arrogant too he might be) and many a times so full of himself and yes, so unpredictable. It was this quality along with him deliberately assuming an aggressive body language at times but also, always wearing his heart on his sleeve that endeared him to us. With Sachin it was always awe, with Rahul it was always respect, with Saurav we felt too connected to love him or loathe him or hate him. We have all secretly admired him as he showed us that for all our imperfections and with all our imperfections, we still can take on the world. For that and only for that, you will always be my favourite criketer ever.
I hope I am keeping aside the topic of cricket for some time on this blog until such time arises that the game inspires and invites me to write again.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
An Ode to the Big Three - Sachin Tendulkar
What more can I say that has not been already said about this man:- a child prodigy, a genius, master blaster, the master, etc.. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has almost become a synonym for Indian cricket, but as he himself would agree no one is greater than the game. He is revered to as God by his hardcore fans, but time and again he has proved that he is not. For him suits the phrase "born genius", "born to play cricket". There is no question of what Sachin Tendular would be if he is not a cricketer... there never was a question like this in his mind and of course, in his journey of life. I am too small to speak about his shots and technique, so I will leave them at that. He has been a ray of hope for millions for the 20 years he has played cricket (and still going strong). Has tried to stray away from controversies, but has at times surprised with sudden and instinctive expression of passion like coming down the wicket to Glenn McGrath in Nairobi in Champions trophy and giving him an earful, then supporting Sourav Ganguly in his meeting with Sharad Pawar (resulting in a historic comeback by the southpaw) and his tremendous support to Harbhajan Singh during the infamous Monkeygate episode. He will always have a few small question marks, although for me it is only his 4th Innings performance in a Test match... I did not observe the consistency that would be expected from the world's greatest batsman ever (move over Don Bradman although I give it to you for playing without a helmet and on uncovered pitches but we will never know how you would adapt to conditions in different countries and different bowlers like Sachin has over his career). There are so many great innings he has played, but if there is any I have to pick up as his greatest, it will be the one after the Sandstorm in Sharjah, period.
To speak about Sachin, the player... his greatness lies in his utmost dedication and love to the game of cricket. We can see it from the way he approaches his batting, bowling and fielding. A man with undoubtable integrity (a walker except for a couple of times I can remember). When he goes out to bat, you can see.... there is no arrogance or under-estimation as he knows that all it needs is a very good delivery to get out. It does not matter who the bowler is, it just a matter of 1 ball. Hence, you will never see him disrepecting anyone on the field. But again, it does not mean he does not mark a bowler as such. Ask Henry Olonga (Zimbabwe). Henry Olonga got Sachin out of a short delivery in Sharjah, which was just a customary last match of the round-robind round as Zim and Ind were already in finals. Rumour has it that Ajay Jadeja even mocked Sachin for the way he got out an Sachin's reply was "Just wait till the next match". Sachin was certainly awaiting. Zimbabwe batted first and scored 196 runs. All eyes were on Henry Olonga as everyone were keen to see if he can repeat the last match's magic again. But that was it. Henry Olonga had no idea what hit him as Sachin went full guns blazing. I still remember how furious Sachin was when Saurav refused to take the second run once during the innings and the way he glared at Saurav and Saurav was just trying to pacify him from the strikers end (with hand gestures a small smile on his face). Saching went on to hit a century (more than run a ball innings) and India won the match and yes, Henry Olonga was never the same afterwards. Everyone remembers his Sandstorm innings, Ravi Shastri yelling out "He does not only want to qualify the innings, he wants to win the match", Tony Greig yelling out "The little fellow has hit the tall fellow for a six" and then after cracking a match winning century in the Finals, Steve Waugh (Australian Captain) stating in a press conference "We were not defeated by a better team, but by a better player".
For Sachin, cricket was everything. The nets was his laboratory. He would practise playing a leg spinner bowling around the wickets before the Australian tour of India of 1998 in preparation to facing Shane Warne. The first ball that Shane bowled around the wicket was hit back over his head for a Six and that set about the duel. Shane would never get the better of Sachin. The field was where Sachin would execute his practise and knowledge. The lofted late cut off Shoaib Akhtat laid down the momentum for him makin 93 runs and India winning the 2003 World Cup match against Pakistan which he himself has admitted that he had been playing that innings for a year (as the draws were out and India knew when they will face Pak).
Just as that, Sachin the man... Something that all the brash and over-confident younsters of the current team needs to follow. Sachin has never pulled any star tantrums, been very dignified and respectful in the public and always respected the opponents on the field. Not for him any shenanigans or terms like sledging (which does not have a place in the field). It was always his game that showed how aggressive and competitive he was. Just as in the cricket field he has been able to uphold his middle-class values in his public life. No scandals, no link-ups, no party animal ; Just his game, his family and his very secretive charity work. Love the man you are Sachin, hope the current crop and the future crop learn humility from you (sadly I dont see in them at all though except for Dhoni).
To sum it up, one of my friends had put this in his status after Sachin became the 1st Batsman to hit an ODI double century in Mens format (remember it was a lady cricketer from Australia who hit the 1st ODI double century ever helping her team to score the first ever 400+ runs in an ODI innings) - People would have missed their breakfast, been late to the office, missed the bus, forgot something... But we all would have gone to bed with a smile, as Sachin hit this double century... that is what he means to almost all of us.
To speak about Sachin, the player... his greatness lies in his utmost dedication and love to the game of cricket. We can see it from the way he approaches his batting, bowling and fielding. A man with undoubtable integrity (a walker except for a couple of times I can remember). When he goes out to bat, you can see.... there is no arrogance or under-estimation as he knows that all it needs is a very good delivery to get out. It does not matter who the bowler is, it just a matter of 1 ball. Hence, you will never see him disrepecting anyone on the field. But again, it does not mean he does not mark a bowler as such. Ask Henry Olonga (Zimbabwe). Henry Olonga got Sachin out of a short delivery in Sharjah, which was just a customary last match of the round-robind round as Zim and Ind were already in finals. Rumour has it that Ajay Jadeja even mocked Sachin for the way he got out an Sachin's reply was "Just wait till the next match". Sachin was certainly awaiting. Zimbabwe batted first and scored 196 runs. All eyes were on Henry Olonga as everyone were keen to see if he can repeat the last match's magic again. But that was it. Henry Olonga had no idea what hit him as Sachin went full guns blazing. I still remember how furious Sachin was when Saurav refused to take the second run once during the innings and the way he glared at Saurav and Saurav was just trying to pacify him from the strikers end (with hand gestures a small smile on his face). Saching went on to hit a century (more than run a ball innings) and India won the match and yes, Henry Olonga was never the same afterwards. Everyone remembers his Sandstorm innings, Ravi Shastri yelling out "He does not only want to qualify the innings, he wants to win the match", Tony Greig yelling out "The little fellow has hit the tall fellow for a six" and then after cracking a match winning century in the Finals, Steve Waugh (Australian Captain) stating in a press conference "We were not defeated by a better team, but by a better player".
For Sachin, cricket was everything. The nets was his laboratory. He would practise playing a leg spinner bowling around the wickets before the Australian tour of India of 1998 in preparation to facing Shane Warne. The first ball that Shane bowled around the wicket was hit back over his head for a Six and that set about the duel. Shane would never get the better of Sachin. The field was where Sachin would execute his practise and knowledge. The lofted late cut off Shoaib Akhtat laid down the momentum for him makin 93 runs and India winning the 2003 World Cup match against Pakistan which he himself has admitted that he had been playing that innings for a year (as the draws were out and India knew when they will face Pak).
Just as that, Sachin the man... Something that all the brash and over-confident younsters of the current team needs to follow. Sachin has never pulled any star tantrums, been very dignified and respectful in the public and always respected the opponents on the field. Not for him any shenanigans or terms like sledging (which does not have a place in the field). It was always his game that showed how aggressive and competitive he was. Just as in the cricket field he has been able to uphold his middle-class values in his public life. No scandals, no link-ups, no party animal ; Just his game, his family and his very secretive charity work. Love the man you are Sachin, hope the current crop and the future crop learn humility from you (sadly I dont see in them at all though except for Dhoni).
To sum it up, one of my friends had put this in his status after Sachin became the 1st Batsman to hit an ODI double century in Mens format (remember it was a lady cricketer from Australia who hit the 1st ODI double century ever helping her team to score the first ever 400+ runs in an ODI innings) - People would have missed their breakfast, been late to the office, missed the bus, forgot something... But we all would have gone to bed with a smile, as Sachin hit this double century... that is what he means to almost all of us.
An Ode to the Big Three - Rahul Dravid
It's the IPL season so, I thought let's write something on Cricket... And if so, then what else but the Big 3 of Indian Cricket...
He is the WALL. Rahul Dravid, who was overshadowed for the most part of his cricketing career by the other 2 has now carved a niche for himself as one of the greatest Test Batsman in the world ever. He is easily the 3rd Best No.3 batsman ever in the world. Watching Rahul Dravid bat is like watching a farmer toiling in the field, or an ironsmith hitting away one by one on the hot iron, shaping it slowely (but strongly). He is a purists delight. I have a certain old school in me and if there ever was a reason for me to appreciate why a good ball needs to be respected, it is him batting. You see the man batting, and you can see that he is a perfectionist. For the first few deliveries/minutes, he will be practising a defensive stroke at the non-strikers end. Not for him the early flurry of runs or nervous zeroes. His aim is to first survive and that too in a very correct way, after which he knows that runs will flow. He knows his strengths are his concentration and much perfected technique. How I wish he releases a book on his training/practise: that will be an institution for all the Rohit Sharmas, Uthhapas, Kohlis etc. He is and has always been 1 man at whom India has looked upon in a crisis. It does not matter if it was in New Zealand with him hitting back to back centuries or playing an important fighting innings along side Laxman @ Kotla (the greatest test match ever of the greatest test serries ever), helping in winning 1st Test Match in Australia and so many other instances. When it comes to Test Matches, it is only Dravid we have always had. Around him as the constant, the Sachins, Souravs and Laxmans have played more attractive innings and as always for the cricket illiterates of India, Dravid was always under appreciated. It all started with his first match itself where a certain Sourav Ganguly knocked up a fine century and Dravid missed it with a mere 4 runs... and that has been his tale. But for the purists in us, the old school people among us who know that the game of cricket is not just slam bang and sixers, but is more of the finer points... like achieving perfection, constructing an innings, respecting good balls, playing a cultured shot (it is not baseball to just swirl your bat, make contact and hope that the ball powers through for a home run) and that batting can be a laboured art, you are the epitome of batsmanship. Kudos to Dravid to having bailed out India numerous times, for being the unsung hero so often and personally, for giving us a glimpse of a forgotten era of batsmanship (which looks like it will soon get extinct)... If I ever have a son who wants to be a batsman, I would like him to play like you... a mere Mortal who achieved immortal heights through sweat, toil and persistence.
He is the WALL. Rahul Dravid, who was overshadowed for the most part of his cricketing career by the other 2 has now carved a niche for himself as one of the greatest Test Batsman in the world ever. He is easily the 3rd Best No.3 batsman ever in the world. Watching Rahul Dravid bat is like watching a farmer toiling in the field, or an ironsmith hitting away one by one on the hot iron, shaping it slowely (but strongly). He is a purists delight. I have a certain old school in me and if there ever was a reason for me to appreciate why a good ball needs to be respected, it is him batting. You see the man batting, and you can see that he is a perfectionist. For the first few deliveries/minutes, he will be practising a defensive stroke at the non-strikers end. Not for him the early flurry of runs or nervous zeroes. His aim is to first survive and that too in a very correct way, after which he knows that runs will flow. He knows his strengths are his concentration and much perfected technique. How I wish he releases a book on his training/practise: that will be an institution for all the Rohit Sharmas, Uthhapas, Kohlis etc. He is and has always been 1 man at whom India has looked upon in a crisis. It does not matter if it was in New Zealand with him hitting back to back centuries or playing an important fighting innings along side Laxman @ Kotla (the greatest test match ever of the greatest test serries ever), helping in winning 1st Test Match in Australia and so many other instances. When it comes to Test Matches, it is only Dravid we have always had. Around him as the constant, the Sachins, Souravs and Laxmans have played more attractive innings and as always for the cricket illiterates of India, Dravid was always under appreciated. It all started with his first match itself where a certain Sourav Ganguly knocked up a fine century and Dravid missed it with a mere 4 runs... and that has been his tale. But for the purists in us, the old school people among us who know that the game of cricket is not just slam bang and sixers, but is more of the finer points... like achieving perfection, constructing an innings, respecting good balls, playing a cultured shot (it is not baseball to just swirl your bat, make contact and hope that the ball powers through for a home run) and that batting can be a laboured art, you are the epitome of batsmanship. Kudos to Dravid to having bailed out India numerous times, for being the unsung hero so often and personally, for giving us a glimpse of a forgotten era of batsmanship (which looks like it will soon get extinct)... If I ever have a son who wants to be a batsman, I would like him to play like you... a mere Mortal who achieved immortal heights through sweat, toil and persistence.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)