that sinking feeling

This is so depressing, whatever elements of untruth may be in it- pleading with ganguly? ugh.

Apparently Dean Jones was on yesterday (on similar footage of Dravid, Ganguly and Chappell), that indeed it was Ganguly who was pleading to be included in the playing XI. It all smacks of the petty and political behaviour we have all become used to so vocally disliking over the last few years. It seems, in some ways, that it is a vestige of those times- to accommodate this one 'issue'- but it still leaves one terribly disheartened.

Far, far more than 326/2.

slurs

so what is with people? if you spend the money to go watch a cricket match (and, I assume, the beer you consume there), why waste it if all you end up doing is this? Get a life. I suppose these are the people who have Lehmann posters up in their rooms.

Meanwhile, I don't quite get why Ganguly should be meeting with Pawar. It smacks of either political overtones, desperation, pettiness, or all of these- and I am not saying its one-sided either. If he makes it to Pakistan now, it will be seen as a tainted selection; if he is not picked in the playing XI (which he might not if this man has anything to say), there will be another uproar- treating a former captain with no respect by letting him (forcing him) to languish in the dressing room.

Sigh. The webs they weave...

lout

It seems increasingly likely that I will not post my thoughts on the Ashes. I never meant for a series review, more an out pouring of the moments and memories that led most of us to push all other sporting activity to the side for the span of a couple of months. So I chose to use a relatively good week at work to ‘recover’ (bah, what an excuse) from the cricket, and now, faced with far more demanding work weeks, don’t see myself spouting eloquently on this gargantuan series.

Of course, meanwhile other things keep happening. The wheel keep turning in world cricket, or threaten to fall off if you’re talking about the Indian perspective. Everyone has read everything there is to about Ganguly “being asked to step down”. There are many things to ponder, debate and argue but it seems more and more unlikely to me that Ganguly will be able to gracefully walk away (as a captain) into the sunset like he deserved to for his contributions to Indian cricket. Instead, what must surely be the fag end of his captaincy career (let his batsmanship still have a chance), is marked by the very bickering and pettiness that he helped us forget about. It’s a pity, really.

While his unglamorous hundred the other day was a display of gritting your teeth and trying hard, in some ways it can also be seen as symbolic, and symptomatic, of something else you’d think ails Indian cricket- the desire, always, to ensure your place in the setup is safe. This is not to say his innings was at the cost of team interest- it was not, but too often, starting with the administration, it is too much about keeping your place, your power and your hold.

And oh, I sound far more cynical than I feel, by the way.

Waugh-dada

There is a new section on ESPN’s Sportcenter India called Simson’s corner featuring some (cricket expert)called Charlie Simson. After his analysis of Day 2, he went on to make a big statement. He praised Ganguly’s batting and proposed that he could well be India’s Steve Waugh. Now hang on a minute. It may not be as bizarre as it sounds, nor as true as we would like it to be. In terms of leadership I believe Ganguly’s contribution and place in Indian cricket is exceptional. He has been outstanding in moulding young skills with attitude and heart, and has given the team his backing at all times. There is a confidence and aggression he has brought to the side that was severely lacking and almost unheard of in Indian cricket. In batting skill, though, he is nowhere near Tugga the great. Steve Waugh was the man who you would choose to “bat for your life”. Notwithstanding the fighting abilities that Sauravda has recently displayed (Brisbane, Sri Lanka, England), he is not on the same plane when it comes to sheer obduracy and reliability.