mere funde

Category: Cricket

  • The power of observation

    By Debasish on Cricinfo:

    Given the volume of cricket that BCCI imposes on the Indian cricketers, the cricketers have found a novel way to avoid over exertion. How ? By crashing out in the first rounds of every ICC tournament ( World Cup, 20-20 World Cup and now the Champions Trophy) and thereby gaining some “rest” for the ad endorsements.

    Another one from Apoorv:

    O Captain my Captain! our fearful trip is done, The rain saves us the shame of losing two on the run, The port is near, the bells I hear, the Oz horns are blaring, While follow eyes the steady keel, the media grim and daring.

  • Quotes of the day

    From the world of cricket come the lines below. Talk about hitting below the belt!!

    It was in Jamaica that Mike Gatting became the first batsman, as opposed to bowler, to be accused of ball-tampering after being struck in the face by Malcolm Marshall. When they finally retrieved the ball, which had richocheted so far it was located somewhere around the mid-off region, they found, or so legend has it, a piece of Gatting’s nose embedded in it.

    Martin Johnson, Times Online

    The new age cricketing wife or girlfriend tends to be a brassy sort of gal who can’t wait to tell the Allan Border Medal interviewer who designed her dress and her hanky – both of which happened to be the same size.

    Robert Craddock, The Courier Mail

  • Random Notes

    Some random notes from the extended weekend I am enjoying.

    1. Andrew Symonds is an idiot. Why would you call another player a “lump of shit”? That too on air. That too when you take offense at someone calling you a monkey. And that comment about Hayden’s wife. Funny, but not done!!
    2. Slumdog Millionaire is a good movie. But it does not deserve to be in the Top 250. And 10 Oscar nominations. Are you kidding me?? Frieda Pinto looks good 🙂
    3. The Wrestler is another good movie. Bottom line – you need someone to talk to. The scene where he is getting a lap dance, but is clearly not interested in it, is very real.
    4. The Big Lebowski is as random movie as any. For me, it is the one that comes closest to Cool Hand Luke. Must Watch.
    5. Will also be watching Milk. 

    So there. 3 movies down. A couple more to go. Now that time well spent.

  • Sehwagology

    This guy is awesome. Actually, he is beyond awesome. He is the only other cricketer of the current bunch, after the God of course, I would pay to watch play. He wields the willow like no one, and scores his at will.

    He is one off the old block. Days when cricket was not entertainment (no T20 tamasha), even though his game is very entertaining. Days when people loathed getting their clothes dirty. Days when saving a single was not too essential. When people did not want to slide across the field.

    Now don’t get me wrong – I am not against fit players, I am huge Jonty fan – but then, he did save more runs every innings than some middle order score. I have always believed that though fitness is essential, it should not be the focus. Boon proved it. Arvinda De Silva proved it. Ranatunga walked singles. Inzy bhai did not care about single. Actually he did not need to. Why run singles when you can easily score boundaries. Even though Sehwag ain’t built the same way, he plays in a similar fashion. He isn’t too enthued about running, or warm-ups, or too much of fitness nonsense. He sees the ball, he knows he needs to score, and does exactly that.

    As for me, as long as he keeps playing like he did during his 195 at the MCG or the 83 at Chennai against the Poms, I don’t care. He is, without doubt, the most entertaining batsman in cricket today.

    Inspired by this post.

  • World Test XI

    Ron Reed and Vic Marks have done it. And so has Uncle JRod.

    Here is mine.

    1. Sehwag – The innings against South Africa and Poms at Chennai. Enough said.
    2. Smith – Gambhir is unlucky to miss out, but Smith scored more runs, and at crucial times.
    3. Pietersen – The guy can bat.
    4. Tendulkar – I don’t want to explain this one.
    5. Ab – Loads of runs, and with style.
    6. Chanderpaul – I hate to do this. I mean I really hate his tape under his eyes, but he made runs, and buckets of it.
    7. Dhoni – The best keeper batsman in Tests today.
    8. Mendis – Amazing debut against the best players of spin in the game today.
    9. Ishant Sharma – One of the three awesome pace bowlers. His spell to Ponting was one of the best spells of fast bowling in almost a decade. 
    10. Dale Steyn – Look at the number of wickets.
    11. Mitchell Johnson – Very impressive young bowler with a lot of heart and good cricketing sense.

    Reserve bowler – Zaheer Khan – again amazing cricketing sense. Reserver batsman – Gautam Gambhir.

    Any ideas??