team stats

South Africa have wrapped up the series, but they are looking at the Antigua match as a possible 100th Test win for the nation.
It made me dig up these basic stats on Test teams (excpet Zim). While nothing earth shattering hides in them, they make for an interesting look-see.

P W L T D W/L W% D%
SA 302 99 106 0 97 0.93 .32 .32
Eng 832 289 240 0 303 1.20 .34 .36
Aus 665 303 176 2 184 1.72 .45 .27
Ind 385 82 127 1 175 0.65 .21 .45
WI 418 148 127 1 142 1.17 .35 .33
Pak 310 95 81 0 134 1.17 .30 .43
NZ 322 57 128 0 137 0.45 .17 .42
SL 149 37 58 0 54 0.64 .28 .36

P-Played W-Won L-Lost T-Tied D-Drawn W/L-Win/loss ratio
W%:Wins (to total)percentage L%:Loss(to total)percentage

Almost inevitably, (and depressingly) India has the highest percentage of draws, and lowest percentage of wins from total matches. Australia is, of course, excellent. Almost the opposite of India in these respects.

>>why do even the basic spaces and tabs disappear when I publish?

searches

Sheesh
How many people end up here through searches for Roshni Chopra....!

Denial

The game's governing body has made a ruling, it has been appealed against, the appeal turned down, and the rules clearly state that is that.
Well, for some people, that is this.

It's just power games to these guys. I can give them this much- Chris Broad does seem to be a bit over-enthusiastic doing his job as schoolmaster...er, referee. But that does not call for such ego-play.
'Jagmohan Dalmiya says it is not over.' Sheesh, you aren't even Pres anymore, jaggu dada.

The Court of Arbitration? Hello? The guy has been fined, warned and has bowled his team's overs really really slowly. Just accept the decision and go back to your power machinations within that fiefdom...er, Cricket Board.

Thank You

Thank you, for bringing to a hitherto constantly controversial job, honesty and integrity. For ensuring that throughout your tenure your motives nor your commitment could be questioned.

Thank you for working tirelessly and conscientously, trying to transform a team of chronic under achievers. For alleviating the pain and, to an extent, controlling the malaise.

Thank you for being supportive of your wards and still supporting their nation. For emoting despite being reserved, and starting to know what the Indian fan goes through.

Thank you for your calm, your quiet drive , your almost paternal disposition. Thank you for helping take this team to the next level, and letting it know it has a long way to go yet.

(And, Mr Wright, sorry for bidding you farewell on such a flat, uninspiring note. )

touched

The inevitabiliy of shame

I feel cynical.
It was instinctively and helplessly that I made certain observations way back in September about the Indian tour to Pakistan (for I had been to Lahore myself), and expressed my concern over our ability to reciprocate what we received there.
I was not ever in the thick of things, nor was I where it mattered-India- to judge to what extent we showered our warmth on the visiting Pakistanis- team and fans. But from whatever I can see, hear and read, my fears were not unfounded.

I cringed when I heard the commentators talking about the bottles in Jamshedpur. And Delhi, yesetrday, was hopelessly putting off. This is the capital of the country, the seat of its political power, the location for a hotly cricket-vist by Pakistan's leader and the venue for the last ODI. Yet who seemed to care that irrespective of the last few weeks, a memorable last day could leave not justa good taste in the mouth but warmth in our hearts, and theirs.
"Oh, what sentimental bullshit," they would have said to this. Cheer, hospitality, sportsmanship,...warmth? Bah!
Let us sit silently as their batsmen play scintillating shots, moan dejectedly when bowlers take our prized wickets, throw bottles in a graceful trajectory towards their fielders.

While I have spoken often about offending grounds being banned from international cricket matches for a period of time, this goes beyond that anger. It is something that leaves me dejected, despairing and hopelessly frustrated. In fact, this post seems so pointless now- mere words, serving no more than to patchily express my disgust at my own countrymen.
Pakistan have come and Pakistan have gone, and I can only cherish my Lahore experiences even more.

thoughts @:
IndiaUncut

non blogging blogger checks in

Work consumes much mind space, and considerable time as well.

The cricket world continues all around, with lots of batting exploits in India, some tight cricket down under-er, some very interesting cricket in the Caribbean that I do not have access to at all (visually), and another world cup final and Indian loss.

Jamshedpur has shamed me again- even if the stone throwing incident was isolated- for this series was always going to be about more than just hospitality in words. As soon as I heard that someone had thrown a stone, I fumed. After the Windies tour, I believed they should simply have been denied an international match for a few years. But these deplorable stadium conditions are yet another question mark for the richest Board around.
Osman Saimuddin writes an interesting piece as a cricket traveller here, though it is more as a traveller than a cricket journalist. But it is what makes cricket (and cricket tours) fascinating for me.
The Tendulkar- Wisden controversy seems really ridiculous, and unless I am totally lost, half the alleged statements have not even been made by Wisden. While Sambit Bal tries to make sense of it all here, there's another attacking and, might I add, biased piece here.

94* and...

aaaarrrghhh.... Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is in some mood to day. It is as if he is out to prove a point to anyone and everyone, and seems very intent on doing do.

Ouch! Another premeditated hit, a six, and it landed sqaure on a cameraman's head. Boy that hurt. At least 10 people around me in different parts of the office went "ooohhh...." seeing the guy getting hit.
The perils of being in a cricket ground.

Viru

Sehwag has just been dismissed, and we can all breathe again. An absolutley stunning innings of 74 off 40 balls, which was sheer murder for the fielding side. I have lost count of the number of times I, or somene else around me, has said "He's mad!"
The first six off Sami was so casual- no respect for the fact that this was the fastest bowler in the series- almost all the shots just rocketed to the fence, except the few exquisite cuts to the third man and flicks on the leg.
Exhilirating stuff.
And now Ganguly dada has come in.

Weekend

Net-less, cable cricket-less weekend, and I missed every ball of the India Pakistan ODI, Hinds and Chanderpauls' great performances, South Africa's shaky start to the series against a not so strong West Indian XI, which it would seem shall be back to full strength (though that has not been too effective off late), and missed the race even though I had the feed at home.

Ganguly jokes (mostly unfunny, few hilariously so) are the highlight of my inbox. Ganguly bashing has, of course, become some sort of a trend- as happens so often with praise, and especially criticism, in India. Trust Sambit Bal to come up with a more balanced (and respectful, I might add) take on the issue.

I finally found out how (or rather, why)the Aussies score the other way around. I had presumed it was the desire to be different and thumb it to the old country, but I guess not.
Another ill informed American take on cricket here, resourcefully found by Mike here.

Both of which combine to remind me, I should find out how exactly they started calling it soccer.

Carib cricket

In a refreshing surprise, the South Africans were jolted into the realisation that they could well have a fight on their hands in this Caribbean tour. Destined to always be the unglamorous hero, Chanderpaul made his way to what seems another doughty hundred, as is his wont.

Wavell Hinds putting up his hand when the team, and West Indian cricket, so desperately needed it is a really commendable act. To learn that he is the Vice Pres of the WIPA just makes it more of an achievment. One can only imagine what sort of pressures and distractions he has been through recently. With the senior pros looking sure to return by the next Test, I hope this entire mess is cleaned up in the best way possible- on the field.