Congratulations to Indian Cricket Team on winning the twenty twenty cricket world cup!

Finals against an equally spirited Pakistan team, has to be voted as one the most exiting and thrilling cricket matches played in contemporary cricket.

It was absolutely unbilievable!! stunning!! No words to describe it!!! It is the gretest day in the history of cricket!.. The greatest day in the history of world sports!!  The greatest day in the life of every true cricket lover!! I just watched the greatest ever one day cricket match in my life.

22 brave men,  50 overs, 872 runs, 25 sixers, 87 boundaries. First bat 434!! and the Second bat overcomes it with 438!!!  All in a single day !!! It was a mind blowing battle.. a legendary game of cricket!! Truely awesome !.. Hats off to South Africa for standing up tall to the unrealistic uphill task, never giving up and eventually pulling off a miraculous win. Indians didnt do that in the world cup final. They lost the match in the first over. In contrast SA didnt think about loosing and had a brave strategy right from the start and played accordingly.

The whole world was in shock when they saw Australia pile up a record score of 434. Everybody thought the game was over. That score was itself a un-imaginable and 'out of the world' total. But at the end of the day, they were in double shock. South Africa managed to scale the mammoth unrealistic target scoring 438! This is a gem of a match probably 'a one in hundred years' kinda match.

It rained Sixers and fours  all day. Records were created and re-created, broken and re-broken.  It was a day where willows (cricket bats) massarced the poor Kookubooras (white cricket ball) indiscriminately. A great treat to any cricket lover's eyes.



I have to say i was most privilaged to have witnessed this great match on TV today.This match once again re-empasizes the fact 'What a magnificient game cricket is'. The amount of tension and suspense it creates in truely unparalled and you get that in any other game. Its rightly called 'The game of Glorious Uncertainties'. Nothing is over until its really really over. I dont think Australia lost today.. Niether do i think South Africa won. This will go down largely as the yet another day where 'The great game of cricket' came out as a winner. Thats why i advice people to first 'Like and love the game for the great game it is'. Not because your side performs good or bad. Thats secondary.

Cricket is a 'Game of Life' Nothing is impossible. If you believe you can do it, you can defenetly do it and do it in the most realistic way. Hats off to CRICKET. And also the act of Rickey Ponting denouncing his share on the 'man of the match' and preseting it to Hershelle Gibbs holds high the fact that 'Cricket is a Gentleman's Game'.

Off late we have seen many instances of some truely remarkable matches played. The Natwest series final at Lords , the 2-1 series win against Australia in 2001, the recent Ashes or the the most emotional of all 1999 world cup semi-finals. But none too better, bigger or greater than this. You cant compare this game with anyother, the fact that  a record of highest ever team total of 434 was carved by the Aussies, but on the same day it was broken and a new record created.
In that way South Africa beat the the fate itself stood up to the task and achived a miracle. Because usually fate usually doesnt a instance where a great record is scripted and broken the same day, because history usually doesnt change that fast. And thats why it will go down as 'The most memorable and greatest game of cricket in the history'.    

Today's Test match ended in a disspointing draw. But last couple of hours of the match were very interesting after Indians decided to try for a win. The match that for most part of today looked like going for a draw suddenly became lively!! But i fail to underatnd the strategy of Indian think tank.



Till Dravid got out, though they had a whole day of 90 overs to get 370 it looked evident that both Jaffer and Dravid had stuck to the crease firmly playing for a draw. Then suddenly after Pathan came to the crease they adopted a brave strategy promoting hard hitters. Why didnt they bat a little aggresively the whole day. If they were aggressive right form the start putting Dhoni and Pathan up the order, i think they would have easily gotten close to a victory. It was a sudden change of tactics at the dying hours. And it was tooo late, it was  too difficult to get 200 in 25 overs. They should have devised a clear mandate before the start of the play.

Inzamam's criticism of Dravid and Indian team for apealing against him after he blocked the ball from hitting the stumps and calling it as un-sportive is highly uncalled for and un-appreciated. It looks childish and doesnt reflect any gentlemanness.

Suppose he saw the ball in the last fraction of a second, then as result of natural instinct if he had tried to block the ball, then his argument would have been acceptable. But from the video its very clear the Inzamam had the look of the ball being thrown at him for a quite a long time. He had a lot of time before the ball stuck him to decide what he should have done. Being sportive n as per the laws of the games he should have run towards the wicket to save himself.

Now why did he block the ball ??. Two possibilities i can think of. Either he did not know the rules, which is again totally unacceptable for a  player whos been in the game for 14 years, Or that instatntaneous action could have been caused from a 'natural decieval dishonest instinct' that i think is most common in Pakistani cricketers!! . And they think he didnt do it intentionally since the 'natural instinct' inthem itself is something 'childishly dishonest'!!.

The fact that all cricket pundits and the press in the Pakistan itself have defended Dravid's actions shows that, that appealing was perfectly under the rules of the game and there was no question of 'lack of sportmanship or whatever'. So the accusation just stands as something childishly, immorally and truely unsportively raised to gain a psychological advantage.



Traditionally Pakistanis are known for being dishonest in the game. Time and again they do some little unsportive or wrong thing here and there.
One recent example i remember is when Pak was playing against West Indies in Australia i guess, Yousuf Youhana (now Mohammod  Yusouf)  while batting dropped the ball close to the crease n started running. While running he like playing cricket on the gullies n roads of Karachi, he pushed the ball using his legs!!. It was clearly visible from the TV replay that he did it intentionally!!. After watching it LIVE!, i was laughing hard n began to feel, 'What the hell!What does this guy think?!  hes playing cricket on the roads of Karachi?!, there are hundreds of cameras like hawks watching every bit of thing that players do!! And he thinks nudging the ball from his legs wont be caught by any of those cams!! Poor fellow!!'

Now to the topic. Taking another leaf from the history of cricket i would proove that this guy(Inzamam) has no right to take the word n talk about 'sportmanship'.
It was Asian Test championship in 1999 i guess at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Sachin was batting, it was a crucial strage of the match. Sachin played a shot n went for 2 runs i guess, the fielder Nadeem Khan(Moin Khan's brother) threw the ball at the non-striker's end. Sachin was centimeters away from the crease line unfortunately collided with the bowler and was not able to cross the crease line. And the ball hit the stumps. All the Pakis jubilantly appealed n was given out. He was out technically, but in honour of true sportsmanship they should have not appealed n let Sachin play.
Only a great sportsman like Hansie Cronje would have done that. He was known for many such highly sportive decesions. If this guy Inzamam who speaks so big of 'being sportive' was a adorer of 'real sportmanship' he should have asked his captain (Wasim Akram) to withdraw the apeal.

Another thing, a newsreport on a cricket website said
'Chetan Chauhan said people who are now criticising Dravid maintained silence on Shoaib Akhtar, who was more unsporting while hurling a beamer at Mahendra Dhoni during the second Test at Faisalabad.

"Nobody said anything when Shoaib Akhtar bowled a beamer at Dhoni. This is the most unsporting gesture as the beamer was deliberate and intentional. You can't murder someone and say sorry. For that he should have been banned at least for two matches. I am shocked no action was taken against him'

Thus themselves being part of many un-sportive actions these Pakistanis have no right what so ever to question a perfectly alright action by Dravid as unsportive.               


 

I get back from our town meeting and to my shock and pleasure hear to the news India' score is 403/0 with a staggering run rate of 5.67 at the nd of day ([correction] 4(today). Did anybody know that the highest partnership for the first wicket was [update] 413 way back in 1955/56 between our own Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy against Newzeland in Chennai.



Can [correction]Sehwag and Dravid do that and create history. And boy! Shehwag has a mighty chance of getting his second triple century and possibly break the ultimate record of Lara!! Best of luck!

But the loser is the game of cricket thanks to deadly dead pitch.

After Ganguly's dreadful form with the bat and soaring captaincy records, what not has been said about him on the negetive side. Criticisms in press, teased and joked off by public. The 2 minute maggie joke what not?. Yes.. Ganguly has failed off late both as a captain and a player. But speak no second thoughts on his calibre. He has already earned his spot as one of alltime greats. His elegant strokeplays, timing, placement reflect how classier player he his. Its a treat to watch him on full flow. As they say 'Form is Temporary and Class is Permanant'. But also no second thoughts on the fact 'place in the side should be purely based on performance'. '



For most part of his captaincy, he was successful. But during the latter periods he was too much worried and involved about the captaincy role instaed of handling matters with a cool head. That made him virtually care nothing about his batting. Gradually he was failing on both fronts. He is a great player. Dont rule him off. He has the ability to come back into the team performing well in the domestic league. Its sad that Ganguly has ruined his carrer a little being too complacent as a batsman and worrying too much as a captain. His awesome talents should not go a waste. He still has a lot of cricket left in him. India stilll needs the services of him. Hoping for a Ganguly comeback.. hopefully see the real Sourav!! soon..

With John wright’s tenure exiring process to find a new coach is on. Naturally because of cricket its gaining much publicity. The selection committee should be very thoughtful, careful and highly analytical in choosing the new coach. Because the job of coaching the Indian cricket team is one of the most difficult things to do in sports that must handle not just the mental and physical aspects of the game but also keep in mind the everpresent public and media evaluation, interest of the coach’s performance.

John wright had a very long and highly successful stint with the Indian team. He turned India from a side that was largely unpredictable and in-consistent to a consistently well performing team. Under previous Indian coaches on some occasions Indians played like they were world beaters, the very next day they would be at the bottom of dead sea. He brought into Indian team the great asset of consistency. This could well turn out to be a major milestone or a big break in the Indian cricket.

Generally in any sport weather you are a player, a coach or an administartor those who perform well in the mental aspect of their jobs are the ones who winners. This largely applies to life as well. All your talents could be worth trash if you lack good leadership, managing and planning skills.

John wright was highly successful coach because he did his mind work of a coach better. Now we should select a new coach who also knows the mindgame better. A coach who not just coaches the players but one who inspires them in trouble scenarios, expertly analytical, tries innovative practical things, puts in right strategies in right place. See players like Sachin or Rahul don’t need to be told how to bat. Now in all the contenders who has all these qualities as a proffesionalist ?



Generally whites have these qualities naturally( that’s why they virtually rule the world). I feel in whole of India in a billion people there only two people who are fit for the job and who pocess these credentials professionally. They are Sunil Gavskar and Ravi shastri and nobody else. In a billion only they know how to handle the mindgame better. Unfortunately they are not in the race ( Ironically they are in the selection panel). Then the only choice would a famed foreign coach. Since forign coaches especially whites are generally mind experts of the game any selectively choosen candidate should do the job.

Now in the contenders four names appear. Mohindr Amarnath, Greg Chappel, Tom Moody and Desmond Haynes. Who would be my choice ?. I would easily rule out Amarnath and Haynes since I think they are better mind readers. Now the choice would be between Chappel and Moody. Moody would naturally probably should do the job. But on account of my observation of and experience of watching Greg Chappel speak about cricket over the years I would bank on him. Becaue he is the one knows the mind game better and the one who has played the game in that way and hence became a cricket legend.

An incident in a recently held cricket conference is an indication of Chappel’s mind credentials. In that conference there were two speakers, Chappel and Sandy Gordon the cricket psychlogist. They were giving speeches on psychological aspects of cricket. Chappel spoke first and spoke well. Then came psychologist Gordan’s turn. When he went to the dias Gordan remarked “Well actually I have nothing to say.. since Greg Chappel has said all and everything that I wanted to say ! !”. So that’s why it will do a wealth of good if Chappel becomes the coach.

Just now i learnt Greg Chappel indeed has been appointed as the coach. So my man wins !! Iam happy.. looking for some really good days for Indian cricket !!

Whom do you think as the hottest handsome hunk right now in the cricket world interms of looks...

The nominees are...

1. Shaheed Afridi (highy sex appealing has clean bold even White girls)



2. Irfan Pathan ( nice hair style good looks)



3. Rahul Dravid (gentleman's looks)



4. Micheal Clarke (Handsome young man)



5 Shoib Akhtar ( Hot n sexy)



6. Yuvraj Singh (Handsome)



5. Kevin Peterson (Strong n handsome)



6. Graeme Smith (Looks like those English movie "MAN")



7. Chris Cairns ( Man)



And the winner is ...

We are all always mesmorized by the greatness of contemporary Indian cricketers like Sachin, Sourav Dravid, Bhajji and many more. Yes really they are world class players. But how much do we know of great Indian players of the past ?. Only 2 names that com to our minds are Gavaskar n Kapil Dev.

Still earlier than their times, there were some truely world class players who played for India during 1930-60s. Though induvidually they were awesome and a class of their own, they arent too recognized because team India collectively at that time was weak. In a team of 11 one or two were world class and rest pretty ordinary, so as a team India cudnt win too many matches. But these great players have left their mark on the game by producing truely memorable performances time-to-time against some tough oppositions.

Some of those greats were Ranjit Singh Ji, a royal who never played for India( there was no Indian team in 1900s) was a master craftsman n artist of the game who invented the famous leg glance. Who'l forget the great Col CK Naidu a superb cricketer whose devotion to the game was eternal u will not believe he played first class cricket untill the age of 68 ! !. People now think of dying at that age. And the 3 Vs, the
Vijay Merchent, Vijay Hazare (both batsmen) and Vinoo Mankad (One of the greatest all-rounders ever). They were truely great cricketers who cud have matched any great contemporatry cricketer in competency. Probably they had a wrong date withe time !