Aussie teachers

After another hopelessly overpowering series win, Stephen Fleming doffed his hat to the Aussies, and said they were just too good.

Ponting (at the presentation) said they "had fun", and (to the Kiwis) "...hope you learnt something..."

What attitude. What confidence. What arrogance.
Well, he can afford it all.

A question of perspective

Yesterday I heard and read something, from two people both in the business of informing sports followers about sports- in this case cricket. One was at a point when India was still in with a good shot at saving the Test, and the other when defeat loomed rather more ominously.
Both opinions were about Sachin Tendulkar’s batting on the final day of the Test. With India more or less giving up any ideas of the eminently improbable victory, he walked in with both openers back in the hut, and Dravid soon followed. Of course he could have chosen to play his so called natural game and go for his shots, or he could choose to be circumspect. Either way, he would attract flak, the way things are these days. But that is my two=pie bit, and not what I set to say here.

Wat I was saying was this:
One media person used these phrases in his description of Sachin's innings:
"...Tendulkar batted magisterially..."
"...majestic poses in defence..."
and, in an earlier bulletin

“If ever there was a case of a batsman being in complete control without scoring, this was it”, or something pretty close to that.

Not much later, another media person, also in the business of bringing sports to the masses, said this:
“Sachin? He just plodded on, and he looked completely at sea, couldn’t play any shots”

Different perspectives enriching an opinion... or coloring it?

Moments

Sachin Tendulkar just got out to Afridi, and Pakistan need to only to complete the formalities now. I can't help but nod my head unhappily, yet appreciatively at the fight and intensity this Pakistani team has shown. Sort out the Shoaib thing once and for all (either way) and this could be truly be a turning point for this team.
Right now though, I shall sit back and wallow- looking at a series win squandered.
aaarrgh.

Athletic Award

As India and Pakistan began what could be a pricess day of Test cricket, Sanjay Manjrekar had his own gem. After a particularly committed effort from Mohd Sami at the loing on boundary, he had this to say:
"I would say this man is the Athlete of The Year for me. With due respect to the likes of Michael Johnson...Sami is the Athlete of they Year"

Hats off, Sanjayji.

100th

Here's a particularly hitting-the-nail sort of tribute to Inzamam. How he only suggests, does not assert; how his softness and his domination are one and the same.

And he plays his 100th Test today. Hope it is not too memorable for him!

Wright time

The way everyone has been talking about it, and the way it is treated as a given, this would seem in all likelihood to unofficially be John Wright's last test. I just thought of that. Is it time for a tribute yet? Is it time for the accolades and Thank Yous yet?

Maybe not, but I hope he can win the last test, and with it, make his last series a satisfying one. I like the man, and the coach...a lot. In later days maybe we could officially dedicate this (prospective, hopeful) win to him. Now, maybe we could just play the Test with that possibility in mind.

Returning, and captaincy

Wanting to write is the easiest thing.
Writing often is easily addictive, sometimes.
But losing the writing habit is the easiest thing.

Haven't been writing much off late. I guess work is a good excuse, and a valid one. New country, new home, new work, no Net at home...these would work well too.
But laziness still figures somewhere in that list.

Been catching up on some readin today, though.
What is said here about Sauravda I somehow know in my heart is largely true. And while it does not blacken his slate completely, he cannot be an innocent bystander in the process of such warped journalism, if at all it can be called that. I believed that he would lose the captaincy if we lost the series, but his place seems assured for now. How long he can maintain his place on captaincy alone remains to be seen, with batting talent waiting on the sidelines and potential captaincy talent right by his side. His confidence is brimming over though, and he doesn't believe that his batting is as woeful as some people would like to believe. Well then, neither is Laxman's...

Meanwhile, I still enjoy India beating Pakistan. I do hope we can make it a 2-0 series win though- 1-0 or worse still 1-1 would just not seem acceptable for this team.

Two teams

Two teams with batting lineups that are managing to pull off some good scores. Two teams that are not bowling anywhere near as well as they would like to.
India has a decidedly better attack on paper, but they haven't been able to bowl as effectively as they would like. Without looking hopeless, they have made hardly a dent on the Pakistani battibg.

Again, the Indian batting is expected to perform, and it has been (more or less). Whats changed the mood of the series around is the fact that pakistan have seemed ready to show up at the crease, and make a difference. After their dismal (and quite spineless)batting Down Under, this is the biggest surprise, and one thatis at the crux of this series becoming closely fought. Day 3 coming up, and the Pakistanis could find themselves in agreat position if they manage to continue yesterday's batting form.

Unbelievable DDCA

I don't believe it.
Its still not ready???
These guys are amazing. It was supposed to be ready ages ago!

Mohali ending

Pak lead by 198. over 3 hours of play to go. 4 wickets in hand.
will they set a target?

4.35pm here
Akmal finally gone. 37 overs to go, 3 wickets. Tthere's only the slimmest of chances, the match really does look mostly dead now...
But what a fantastic fighting knowck from the keeper. after 10/3 and then the subsequent departure of Inzy and Youhana, who would have thought they would be able to make it this far. Razzaq killed his natural game completely and hung in there but hats off to Akmal for an innings that had plenty of shots and ensured, through its scoring rate, that they never felt bogged down.
Will we (again) look back on the slow progress post Sehwag and wonder if we let the initiative go there?

If all encouragement forced in a result...

So. 200 odd run lead, and we're all out. I learnt, depressingly, last night of Tendulkar's dismissal. 6 short of a hundred. Painful. Very painful.
Here we are then. 1st test. Day 4. Pakistan has 5 and a bit sessions to bat out or less to hammer out some (lots of runs) and challenege India. Doesn't look likely though. Rameez Raja has already declared that a draw for Pakistan from here would be like winning the test. Huh? and the scorecard would read what exactly then?

But admittedly, losing from here should really not be an option for India. Go Balaji!
-and as I wrote that, believe it or not, he got Taufeeq Umar in his first over!

and thats 13/3 , and a few moments after that, 25/3. Exhilirating stuff.

cool

And talking of tennis (well at least I was, before I started writing), this is really cool, and wow. And can be found here.

during session 1
Century #9. to go with 8 fifties and an average of 53-odd after 32 Tests. Who would have thought, this seemingly slam-bang impulsive stroke player would be the success he is and the run machine he seriosuly threatens to be in the long(er) term. He has stated his mind is set on batting through the day, and looks good. I can hear Sanja Manjrekar saying "what does Sehwag mean by a big one after all", and going on about Sehwag. Remember, he is the best Mozzie this side of Australia.

yeow. The umpires just took 6-7 mminutes to figure what ball to replace the old shapeless one with. It was alike a group gathering out there. DD of course grabbed the opportunity to mollify their sponsors for the ads they cut with a lot of ads here.

Mohali Day 1

Lunch
Honours even at lunch, I would think. Taufiq Umar departing just before the break would leave the Indians feeling buoyed, but a shade under 100 in the first sessison on a pitch meant to favour the bowlers isn't too bad. The core of experience is at the pitch now, and theirs will be a crucial partnership. Could well decide if Saurav's decision at the toss is judged as attacking or defensive.

At the start of play the ground seemed surprisingly not full. I am waiting for the ground reports- how many Pakistani fans, mixed stands or not, the little stories.Why do I get the feeling I may be expecting too much...

A new experience

And here it is. The first time I am following an Indian series from overseas. Its not too bad right now, come to think of it- I guess cause I have a feed of DD Sports running in the office!
What I have missed till now is the build up, the hype, the tension, the tons of media discussion that would happen had I been back in India. But, it would seem, I am not missing too much on that front.

I find it surprising that there is less hype around this series. Naturally, once last year's tour had been built up the way it had, it was always going to be difficult to call this, say, a a Friendship tour and expect the same effect.
I wonder what sort of time the Pakistani fans are having of it, across the border in India. It is something I have thought about often, and I would really like to know what the scene is like out there.
It has been different, moving abroad. In some ways I follow cricket the same way I did back home. It is the small things that I realise I am missin gout on. I still have the absolutely great resources of Cricinfo to check out, but it is odd not waking up to the SportsPage. But, today feels good. there is a buzz around the Indians in office, and though there are TVs all over, I cant wait for the one above my desk to finally be plugged in!