Fletcher for Stability, not Rebuild

Duncan Fletcher has been appointed India's coach for two years. His credentials are noteworthy. He took a terrible English team instilled team spirit and self-belief. He made them contenders. If anything, he was coach for too long and that reflected in England's spectacular 5-0 whitewash in his swansong.

Duncan is no coach

Toddlers across the globe have reacted to the appointment of Duncan Fletcher as the newest coach of the Indian cricket team.

Duncan does it all - But he ain't no Coach

According to them Duncan works on Mr. Percival's narrow gauge railway. He means well but will "Rock 'n Roll" along the rails whenever the mood takes him. Duncan has a great big heart but is a little misguided.

For more information visit Duncan @ Thomas and Friends

Of Doors and Windows

The BCCI prefers doors. The ICC haven't tipped their hand. Doors, windows, walls don't mean much as long as the BCCI is happy with the house. Most overseas players want a Window. West Indian and Sri Lankan players could care less if its a door, a window or both as long as they are given respect. English players, it is rumored, will strike anyways no matter what the IPL cooks up. Pakistani players don't use either doors or windows, they operate using their large hearts.

Of course we are talking about the IPL Window

The reason the BCCI prefers a door is that it gives them control. Control who enters, when, why and at what price.

Sachin Tendulkar is a health hazard: Ministry of Health

Our sources in the government have revealed...

The Health Ministry of India, in a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan have shared with him a report that suggests that India's obsession with Sachin Tendulkar has reached such unhealthy levels that they will be forced to accord the addiction the status of a "disease". They said that the disease has already reached an epidemic and needs to be first controlled and treated like one.

Government insiders say that the report, that is yet to be released and likely to throw the country in turmoil when it is, has results of extensive studies done by the government in collaboration with the Amercian Institute of Sports Induced Diseases in Fans.


The study reveals that men and women who are obsessed about Sachin Tendulkar are 67% more likely to suffer from a variety of ailments including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and even mental conditions like severe anxiety, depression and bi-polar disorder, as compared to those who are obsessive about say Rajnikanth or Salman Khan; in which case they are simply classified by the study as mentally challenged since birth.

The study which was conducted over 20 years also hints at the addiction being responsible for the rise in farmer suicides, unsupervised home births, incidents of domestic violence, prostitution, and huge losses in the stock markets. As a nation, the report says, Sachin worship is costing the country in the billions of dollars. We just can't afford Sachin Tendulkar.

In one particular account, from the report that is sure to invite the wrath of women's rights organizations, a woman was forced to deliver a baby in the living room without any doctors or mid wives because her husband ordered her to stay put so as not to jinx Sachin's progress from 50 to a 100 in a recent Test match against Australia. The woman said that for the first time she realized how long a tea break can be and by the end of it she wasn't sure whom she was pushing for, Sachin or her baby.

In another account a gentleman from North India said he has been celibate for 12 years. "I clearly remember the last time I made love to my Sachin-obsessed wife. It was the day Shoaib Akhtar clean bowled Sachin Tendulkar first ball. Now, I don't think my wife will agree to sex until Sachin Tendulkar retires. She considers it a jinx. I get a hard-on even thinking about Sachin's retirement" he is quoted to have said in the report. According to the man, whose name will remain undisclosed, early on he was managing the problem fine and he seemed to have a good handle on it but off late as talk of Sachin's retirement is more frequent it becomes impossible for him to behave normally in the company of colleagues with a hard to conceal mighty bulge in his trousers.

The report also makes some recommendations on how to treat the disease. While many of the recommendations are typical government regulation stuff like....

1. Restrictions on media on how much Sachin can be broadcast, written about, blogged, etc
2. A prominent health warning on all Sachin related broadcasts with visual images portraying domestic violence, women in child birth, etc
3. A ban on asking other celebrities, especially legends-in-their-own-right past cricketers questions about Sachin
4. Appointment of Sanjay Manjrekar and Michael Atherton as brand ambassadors to spread awareness of the disease. They have criticized Sachin Tendulkar in the past and Indians need to hear more from them. 
5. A ban on reporting what the "foreign media" (read western) media has to say about Sachin. 

...the one that has Mr. Manmohan Singh worried was the recommendation that the Government of India legalize "medial porn". The Health Ministry believes that if the government enforces the above regulations, there is bound to be withdrawal symptoms. In some individuals the symptoms will be so acute that there is danger of violence and suicides. For those individuals an equivalent outlet has to be provided. Only porn can come close. Psychiatrists should be allowed to prescribe porn for medical reasons.

Chanakya on Cricket - Other Posts

1. India v Pakistan - Plans for a "revival" series
2. Dealing with India's imminent world cup exit
3. The bowler's Bill of Rights

IPL is the new Irani Trophy

The IPL was supposed to bring in new fans. Younger ones. For a while, everything was trending upwards like on Twitter. It is fair to say that when it comes to Twitter, IPL seems to be doing fine. I have seen updates on domestic cricket in South Africa and England being tweeted with the hashtag "#IPL". IPL is surely a way to get noticed in the world of tweets and tweet decks.

Initially people were confused about how to invest their loyalty then came Lalit Modi, Shashi Tharoor and his fiance and questions of loyalty took a back seat. The IPL struggled to hold on to people's trust. Actually no...because the BCCI in classic BCCI style completely changed the conversation. While Lalit Modi spoke about deals and money, the BCCI responds to questions with questions questioning the questions.


Recently someone from the BCCI was quoted in the media in response to the question of India's next coach. I don't know the exact question but the response was some thing like ... "What's the hurry in naming a coach"... I don't care what the question was but this type of a response pretty much kills any potential of further conversation.

The IPL has benefited from this type of media engagement. No one bothers the BCCI or the IPL governing council with any kind a request for conversations and as a result the task of regaining the fan's trust has taken a back seat and the conversation in fan circles is again about on franchise loyalty. The BCCI has figured out that people and sponsors will come anyways; so why bother with the trust thing.

As a result, things are less transparent and consequently less noisy.

Clearly Sachin Tendulkar makes it impossible for people to root against Mumbai. I find it strange though. If tomorrow Sachin gets picked up by Chennai, I don't think I will root against Mumbai. However through the years people have figured out which teams they want to support and its largely based on where you were born and/or brought up. Yes there are certain icon players like Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni that can test this theory but lets just say they are the exceptions that prove the rule.

While the loyalties are falling in place and the IPL has shown its resilience to corruption scandals, ownership fights with franchises, security issues, exhaustion from India's world cup win; in a few respects its going a bit backwards.

For example, last year I was able to watch all IPL games on US Television. This year, no such luck. I have to settle for 35 out of the 74 games on display. Also I looked at the IPL points table today, and

it has a distinct Bombay v the Rest of India feel.

Are we sure that we spent all this money, invited cheer leaders, Shah Rukh Khan, the Shetty sisters, Estee Lauder models, DLF maximums, Shaadi.com couples, Karbon Akmal catches....

...just to recreate the magic of Irani Trophy?

Virendra Sehwag's Easter Speech

In a speech that according to historians the world over is likely to have far reaching impacts, that will eventually make the world a better place to live in, Virendra Sehwag today warmed the cockles of sports traditionalists on easter weekend. In front of a crowd of an unsuspecting public he uttered the words that stunned the crowd to a prolonged silence not sure if what they heard was real.

It took a good few minutes for the crowd to first digest and react to the words uttered by the maverick opener.

The traditionalists in the crowd were the first to react. And even then all they could manage was tears rolling down their eyes in disbelief, and a sense of hope. It was as if it was God had risen from the dead to deliver a message they had been craving for.

Peter Roebuck reporting the speech in the Sydney Morning Herald wrote...

"Never before have fewer words been spoken, so simply  to heal so many in the language of the common man. It was a speech shorter than Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address but equal in its possibilities to allow a new world to emerge, more inspirational than Kennedy's call to public service and like Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream speech' may give a new hope to those that cricket has discriminated against."

This is what Virendra Sehwag said...

I am Virendra Sehwag

Today, I wish to express my desire to quit T20 cricket and One Day Cricket to prolong my Test career. 

I suffer from a long standing degenerative mental disease that prevents me from developing the requisite intelligence to appreciate and execute the shorter versions of the game.

Thank you and have a Happy Easter 

That was it.

Immediately after the speech he called Shane Bond, Shaun Tait, Brett Lee, and Lasith Malinga and offered them words of encouragement and a caring hand over their shoulders as they bowed their heads in shame.

Harsha Bhogle writing for Cricinfo reported...

"What marks the speech as exceptional and history making is Virendra Sehwag's refusal to condemn the shorter formats. He took it on himself. He said it was a disease in him that does not allow him to appreciate the shorter versions. How could we have failed to see such divinity in him"

Reaction to the speech was quick, far, wide and largely incomprehensible to social scientists, historians, political analysts and sports commentators.

Bishen Singh Bedi said, this is a great day for cricket. Today I recognize that Murali's 800 wickets were all genuine. He wrote to the ICC that Murali's wicket count should be recognized as 900 because there were at least that many batsmen out run out, attempting an impossible run to get to the non-strikers end. If there is any bowler who deserves to be credited with even run outs it is Murali.

In the world above Douglas Jardine invited Sir Don Bradman for dinner and apologized for Bodyline

The Mahatma and Quaid-e-Azam met to develop a plan for peace between India and Pakistan

Even in lands unblessed with cricket the echoes were loud and clear

Gaddafi distributed his fair skinned blonde mistresses amongst the homeless across Lybia. The rest he released unconditionally.

Rebublicans in the US said they are willing to consider the possibility that Global Warming is real if Obama can produce a valid birth certificate.

Thomas Friedman who was in India for his new book, "The world is a Flat pitch" and happened to witness the speech first hand said, "God is Indian and he is not Sachin Tendulkar".

He still lives...

and so shall Test Cricket

Crossroads.......again

Cricket seems forever at cross-roads nowadays. West Indies, Pakistan and now Sri Lanka seem to be back in turmoil. Add the upheavals in Australian cricket and we now have a situation where most teams are creating excuses for losing. i.e. "rebuilding".

West Indies inflicted a deep gash on themselves by dumping Gayle, Chanderpaul and Sarwan. A smooth transition is always more healthy than a clean break. In this context, I don't understand players giving up captaincy and refusing responsibility to help with sustaining goodness in teams.


Australia, until recently, were that team. There were no mass exclusions, always minor cuts. Not since, Kim Hughes relinquished captaincy to Border has Australia had a former captain in the team. Traditionally, Australia has always appointed the best batsman to lead the side. Therefore, this new experiment is going to be interesting.

West Indies have had no such tradition since Richie Richardson was captain. The administrators and selectors have done great disservice to West Indies by constantly harking back to past glories and thereby undermining the current crop. The players need encouragement and little of that sort seems to be coming from West Indies administration. It's not surprising that there is so much rebellion. There is a complete lack of understanding of today's youth and their motivation for sport. It's unlikely that the West Indies will regain even an iota of their past glory with such poor treatment of players. This is sad because the Caribbeans play a very entertaining brand of cricket that needs to be nurtured and preserved.

Sri Lanka too have wounded themselves immensely by taking on the IPL players. All that the current plan has done is divided the team. Those that want to fulfill their IPL obligations and those that put country above IPL. Why create a situation where one has to choose? By throwing down the gauntlet the team has now been divided. This to a point where Malinga has decided to give up Test cricket altogether. I can't understand why a player has to choose between money and country. Cricket is rich enough to give a player both. Sri Lankan administrators and selectors are shallow score-settlers and are simply jealous of the opportunity that today's cricketers have to make a life out of cricket.

Has anyone understood why Pakistan cricketers are taboo for the IPL, but umpires aren't?

This brings to question a very oblique theory. Vallabhbhai Patel once joked to Gandhi that he didn't know what it cost the country to keep him poor. India too probably doesn't know what's it's costing cricket to make India number one. Dead pitches, neutered fast bowlers and shorter boundaries. No wonder Pakistan and West Indies cricket is dying or in Pakistan's case fast bowlers being forced into match-fixing to survive.

Has the price been worth India's ascent to the top?

Opinions on... Chetan Sharma

Chetan Sharma did not have a particularly bad debut in Tests. It was against Pakistan in Pakistan and he bowled quite admirably. However it was Azeem Hafeez who stole the show for Pakistan in that Test. Yes, he was the bowler with the missing middle fingers.

Chetan Sharma's debut series had to be abandoned due to the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Perhaps that was a bad omen. Its wasn't an auspicious start to Chetan Sharma's career.


Normally a cricketer who wins a Test for you at Lords, scores a ODI 100 in a global tournament as a pinch hitter and secures a world-cup hat-trick; at the time he accomplished these feats; should have had a decent career.

Chetan Sharma didn't.

That last ball six 25 years ago, defined Chetan Sharma's career. And the man who hit it was not an Ijaz Faqih or a Mansoor Elahi.

It was the great Javed Miandad.

Anyone lesser known; and probably the six would have passed as a freak incident. Javed Miandad made it count. For more than a decade he used it to play on India's phyche.

Its funny, I remember each of these Chetan Sharma's feats fairly vividly. I remember where I was and the emotions as the events were captured on the live TV, live radio or news reports.

It was the summer holidays when Dilip Vengsarkar's 3rd consecutive century at Lord and Chetan Sharma's 5 wickets negated Graham Gooch's 100 at Lords. Updates were largely via news reports on All India Radio. Being away from Bombay meant no Television. I don't know how, but even without Statsguru, Circinfo previews and pre-game shows, I was aware of the significance of winning a Test Match at Lords. I also knew its not something that's going to happen frequently. That is the pull of Test Match cricket, you somehow know what you need to know and appreciate the game.

I was at home, watching live TV and delirious with joy as Chetan Sharma claimed his hat-trick against New Zealand

The local train on the Central railway was jam packed; in a way only someone from Bombay can appreciate. Yet every run Chetan Sharma scored against England; on his way to his maiden 100; was relayed across the whole compartment. Someone had a transistor on board and was tweeting updates. Riding on Chetan Sharma's 100 India beat England in the Nehru cup.

When Javed Miandad hit that last ball six, I was at home alone watching it live on TV and relaying almost the entire last over to a stranger on the phone. The man had called through out the day to get updates. I think he was a co-worker from my father's work place.

I don't know his name. I did not ask. If he said it, I was not listening. He wanted to know the score and there was no need for any other formalities to be exchanged. Actually I am not even sure if he said he was my father's co-worker. May be I simply assumed. There are no pre-requisites or pre-conditions to share scores.

I remember telling him a run out opportunity was missed. That would have closed the deal for India and Chetan Sharma would have had a more celebrated career. With 4 needed off the last ball, as Javed Miandad deposited the tamest of full tosses to the stands, I said.. "Its a six".

The next thing I hear is the dial-tone.

How rude I thought. I was mildly angry, not because India lost the game after being so close, but because the man hung up on me. That's not how cricket enthusiasts; even if they are across generations; should treat each other.

I was probably 15 then.

Ever since, I can watch any game of cricket, even an India Pakistan game with a weird sense of detachment.

The combination of Chetan Sharma and talking to a rude stranger on the phone did it for me.

India v Pakistan - Plans for a "revival" series

Someone in the The Indian government (no one's sure who)  has done something that has convinced the PCB that India is keen for a "revival" series between India and Pakistan.

Quite unsurprisingly no one associated with the BCCI has any knowledge of this.

They learnt just a few hours back that Paul Valthaty is an Indian eligible for selection. So this news about Indian government's unconfirmed advances to their Pakistani counterparts may take a while to reach the offices of the BCCI.


There is tremendous excitement in Pakistan on the prospect of yet another "revival" series. Well connected sources have confirmed that Ijaz Butt is going to float the idea that like the Ashes, the "revival" series must be held once every 2 years on a home and away basis.

"After every terrorist attack, it takes the Indian government approximately 2 years to first blame Pakistan and then seek "revival" of the eternal friendship between the 2 countries, so I think the idea is very much sustainable" said Ijaz Butt. "It is mutually beneficial" he added.

India is likely to be busy through March of 2012, when according to the ICC's FTP schedule India are to play Pakistan anyway. "The current schedule of the Indian cricket team is an attempt to defraud and further isolate Pakistan" Ijaz Butt said in an accusatory tone.

Behind closed doors, Pakistani cricket administrators are churning out innovative ideas on how an ODI tour can be arranged between the 2 countries before March 2012. One of the proposals which is likely to be floated with the BCCI is to organize a 7 ODI series during the strategic breaks in the IPL.

When asked to respond to the preparations in Pakistan, the BCCI said that this is a matter between the Indian government and the PCB and that the strategic breaks are the property of Maxx Mobile; essentially suggesting that the series as likely to be proposed by the PCB is a non-starter.

The BCCI however were very optimistic that a full series with Pakistan can be held during the tea breaks of India's Tests in England.  

Why Lasith Malinga is more patriotic than Shakib Al Hasan

We can leave the discussion on the impact of IPL to cricket for another time but there are a few things the IPL is certainly helping with. For example previously it was impossible to distinguish players based on their sense of patriotism. Or to put it more correctly what is it that really motivates different players to perform. Is it the money, the love for the country, search for personal glory, or a combination all all these things in the right mix.

With the advent of IPL it is now possible to do just that...


In the recently concluded (and largely meaningless) ODI series between Australia and Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan bowled his full quota of overs in all games. I haven't checked but I am sure its pretty close. Australia's Shane Watson too played every game in the 3 game series and averaged approximately a century a game.

In the process of these 2 fine cricketers indulging in their respective trades, there were several instances when they met each other head to head.

Never once did Shakib Al Hasan dismiss Shane Watson.

On the other hand 2 of Shakib's 3 own dismissals in the series involved Shane Watson. On one occasion Watson was the bowler and on the other he was fielding.

When playing for his country Shakib Al Hasan essentially offered no fight to Shane Watson.

Fast forward; not by much - a few hours; to the IPL4. Another questionable distraction; that should not have started so soon after the World Cup; before real cricket starts in the Caribbean

This time, in a game between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkatta Knight Riders, when Shakib was playing for nothing else but personal pride and money, he gets rid of Shane Watson...

Clean bowled.

Clearly money and personal glory trumps national pride for Shakib Al Hasan. Also I am not sure which side Shakib was playing for - its too darn difficult to keep track and all I know is that according to the scorecard they were playing on opposite teams. And now when I think about the game I am mentioning, it may not involve Bangalore at all, but does it matter? May be it was Rajasthan... who cares...

Consider the slinger in the IPL game (sorry DLF IPL game) between Mumbai Indians of Bombay and Kochi Tuskers Kerala played at the Wankhede Stadium. "Wankedia" as the English commentators were calling it during the World Cup finals and none of the Indian guys thought it necessary to correct them.

Lasith Malinga waited for the game to be safely in the Tuskers favor before he clean bowled his country man Lady Jayawardane. The real reason Mumbai Indian's lost to minnows Kochi, is because Lasith Malinga places country before self.

There was no way he was going to win only for money and personal glory when he could not perform the same ask; just a few weeks ago for his country and presumably a little less money and endorsements in the World Cup finals.

Surely people would have noticed had he won the game for Mumbai Indians at the same venue, in the same situation at approximately the same time of the day, in similar dewy condition as in the World Cup finals; and raised awkward questions

Lasaith Malinga is far more patriotic than Shakib Al Hasan.

Another way to look at this Mumbai Indians loss is to say that Sachin Tendulkar the captain did not allow Sachin Tendulkar the batsman to win. Its all about Sachin any ways and while it is easy for every one else to "win it for Sachin"; who does Sachin win it for? Winning for Neeta (or is it Nita) would mean that he won it for the money and doing it for himself would be.....Surely he isn't that selfish.

Opinions on... Gautam Gambhir

I am excited at the prospect of how Gautam Gambhir will evolve as a batsman in the next few years.

He has provided consistency and stability to India's all-star batting line up since 2008. The way he started his career in 2004 there weren't too many reasons to believe in Gautam Gambhir. Since 2008 Gautam Gambhir has been amongst the best batsmen in the world and has secured a place in India's rich history of batsmen as one of the most successful openers. His success while very welcome, was unexpected in many ways.


Here is another Aakash Chopra, is what I said to myself when Gautam Gambhir routinely made his better innings count for 30s and 40s. That must be the best he can offer is what I concluded.

That was premature.

A hint of what was in store was perhaps on display when he made 76 in the World Twenty20 finals against Pakistan but like with his hugely underrated World Cup finals innings in 2011 of 97, that innings in 2007 did not stick with me and indeed with the public for long.

Perhaps he is just not the type of batsman Indians like to rejoice.

Book ended between these 2 most courageous innings, is the story of quite possibly the most well rounded if not the most complete batsman in the world at the moment. The numbers will tell you that Gautam Gambhir is amongst the best batsmen in the world in all forms of the game but what they don't is that he seems to have an ability to recognize a match situation, tailor his game to it and over time, in some cases; influence it.

Very few have the ability to adapt their batting to the variations thrown by formats, pitches, and the opposition like Gautam Gambhir can. He can be physical and in your face with Australia, polite against Bangladesh, stroke-less for hours on end against South Africa and New Zealand; when the need is to save a Test; and nimble with his feet for attack against fast and spin bowlers alike in the shorter formats. He was clinical as captain in the 5-0 blanking of the hapless kiwis in an ODI series last year.

Gautam Gambhir is Mr. Adaptable and I am not the first one to recognize that.

In a team full of all star batsmen, Gautam Gambhir has quietly cranked up an impressive set of numbers. It is generally believed that India's ascent to being the champion Test side began post Sydney 2008. And while Sehwag, Sachin, VVS Laxman (with tail-enders), Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan have all been instrumental for this, Gautam Gambhir's amazing consistency and adaptability has coincided with India being champions in Tests and ODIs.

Gautam Gambhir's rise has also coincided with a somewhat worrisome dip in form from Rahul Dravid. Without Gautam Gambhir, the pressure on Rahul Dravid to retire would have been more intense. Gautam Gambhir has made it affordable for India to invest in an ageing Rahul Dravid as he searches for his second wind for a late career flourish.

Gautam Gambhir is almost 30, generally an age where batsmen peak. With upcoming tours to West Indies, England and Australia and possibly a home series against the West Indies, the next 1000 to 1500 runs Gautam Gambhir must be eying will help India consolidate their Test standing and prepare Gautam Gambhir to be the leader of India's next generation of batting greats.

See Also...

1. A Second wind
2. Opinions On... Jacques Kallis
3. Opinions On... Shahid Khan Afridi

Cricket Round Up

Cricket schedulers clearly have little sense of timing. After a World Cup that ambled at the start into a furious sprint in the end, we have Australia facing Bangladesh. I mean, gimme a break! The IPL too has cranked up to empty stadia. After the frenzy of the World Cup, all the six hitting now seems pointless.

Shane Watson annhilated Bangladesh, but who cares? Big deal, so did Sehwag, but in a World Cup game that mattered. I'm a huge fan of Shane Watson, but didn't he get his timing off by a few weeks? This is what he should have done against India at Motera. Having said that, Watson further rubbed humiliation into Bangladesh's wounds by claiming that he simply didn't want to run. I mean, did he really have to say that? It's bad enough for Bangladesh to know that they don't belong. An Aussie hammering of Bangladesh, right after a good World Cup is not what a cricket fan should be subjected to.


Watson's innings further brings in disrepute, ICC's decision to keep Zimbabwe and Bangladesh as automatics in the next World Cup. Ireland is obviously upset and Netherlands deserve to be upset too. These two teams demonstrated some organized resistance to the anointed ones. They were not good enough to get past the post. Ireland is especially exciting with their brand of cricket. Bangladesh's cricket is neither exciting nor encouraging. To ask the bottom two test teams to win playoff battles with the associates is a fair request.

Afridi is blowing hot, hotter and ice-cold within days. He led a sprited Pakistan challenge in the world up to the semi-finals. In the end, heart alone could not overcome lack of depth. It was a brave Pakistan challenge that was put down by India with missionary zeal. Afridi added to his stature when immediately upon return, he questioned the media on their obsessive dislike for India. Shortly, thereafter, he came up with a brain-dead response that would only make the extremists proud. My only explanation is that he got a friendly phone call from the neighborhood jihadi.

His last statement about Miandad is another one that is cool on the outside, though not diplomatic. "Miandad is not the only great batsman that we have produced". Classic. It may have killed any chances for a coaching role for Miandad, but it must have also sent a message to others that egos are not wanted, experts are. I'm still convinced that Afridi is the right person for the cricketing culture that is Pakistan.

If you put a suave, press-friendly mask on Pakistan cricket administration, you will get Sri Lanka. The resignations followed by more resignations is humorous to say the least. The most impressive thing about this idiocy is that Sangakarra has managed to make it sound smart. With his introspective interview and sane sounding analysis, he had me. Until I looked at the result and realized that SL as a whole is looking foolish despite every individual looking quite smart. This is like the Indian batting order of the eighties and nineties when at one time everyone had a test century or fifty to his name, but the team kept losing due to collapses. So no one could be dropped.

SL should take a leaf from South Africa and do it their way. Lots of resignations, but no drama. Which brings up a point? Why do World Cups have to result in blood-baths of resignations and rebuilds? Only one team is going to win at a time. Does it really mean that everyone else sucks?

Shane Watson is now a Country

Shane Watson has gained independence from the mediocrity that is Australian Cricket. He will now play for Self. And for his country. Which is one and the same.

Shane Watson is now an independent country.

History and Geography books will be updated. Even the blog Play for Country Not for Self will need minor adjustments. The "Not" is now not always required.

It was inevitable. After single handedly playing and almost beating England in the T20s and now easily winning an ODI against the English; even the Queen and the Prime Minister had no option but to just walk away from any rights Australia might have had on Shane Watson.

Shane Watson's struggle for independence started early in the summer. Even in a format that he is not entirely suited to, he out performed his countrymen. Midway through the Ashes, there is believed to be a meeting between Cricket Australia, the Australian Government and the Royal family.

"You don't suppose we will just let you walk away and form your own country, do you" Julia Gillard is supposed to have said. To which Shane Watson had said. "That is precisely what you will do"

With the series shifting to the LOI formats, came Shane Watson's defiance, general non cooperation and civil disobedience. First came the transformation to a woman. Then his (her - his her whatever) continued refusal to embrace contemporary Australian principles of incompetence, indecision, cheating on bump catches, finger pointing and lack of accountability. Those were believed to be the final straws that left Australia no choice but to recognize Shane Watson as a proper independent and sovereign country.

Shane Watson is expected to field teams; which will be himself; in almost all sports where England compete.

The BCCI is pushing for Test Status for Shane Watson.

Sunil Gavaskar was moved to tears on seeing a white man revolting against his own.

Sachin Tendulkar said, its just another country. And that he would like to score a 100 against them. Home and Away. He also added he will prepare the same way as he does with any other country.

Shane Watson and the PCB have announced that Pakistan will be hosting Shane Watson for a full tour in late spring of 2011. After the World Cup.

Related Posts...

1. On Shane Watson
2. No One Killed the Australian Supremacy

Portraits: Geethu Anna Jose

So who is Geethu Anna Jose?

If things go well, she would be the first Indian to play professional basketball in the USA.

Yes, its a big deal

Geethu Anna Jose - India Captain (Women's Basketball)

For all pencil sketches...

• Portraits @ Opinions 

Portraits: Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke is Australia's newest captain. Here's wishing him the very best from us @ Opinions

But we are concerned. Just a couple of days back Micheal Clarke said his appointment as Australia captain hasn't sunk in yet. If we remember correctly, Michael Clarke was identified as Ricky Ponting's successor just a few days after he learnt to walk as a toddler.

In our estimation there shouldn't have been a 'sinking in' issue.

Michael Clarke - Australia's newest captain

The best way we know how it will quickly sink in, is if Michael Clarke loses his first game as captain. That would be a wake up call and 'Awe shucks I am the Australia captain' feeling rolled into one.

Not that we are hoping that would happen but we aren't hoping for a Bangladesh loss either.

So if Australia losing helps Michael Clarke digest his appointment as Australia captain, then we believe its prudent to wish that Bangladesh wins

Coming to the portrait it self. Some of you - those who are not artistically endowed - might succumb to the urge to suggest that the sketch; like many others on this site; has little or no resemblance to Michael Clarke. A visit to the optician's may be worth your while.

Other portraits...

1. Imran Khan
2. Ricky Ponting
3. Mahendra Singh Dhoni

I Resign

I am resigning from my post at Sri Lankan Cricket. Actually I am not legally contracted in any way with SLC but  I am resigning nonetheless.

Allow me to explain.


I had an implicit contract with SLC and my role can be best described as an Indian-supporter-who-could-not-escape-admiring-Sri-Lankan-cricket-and-cricketers. But I no longer wish to play that role. Indeed I do not see any succession issues. My role was certainly not indispensable and you will find a million others to succeed in this role of a  Indian-supporter-who-could-not-escape-admiring-Sri-Lankan-cricket-and-cricketers.

As with any contract, this one too came with obligations on both sides.

An obligation on my part; which I believe I have fully and unconditionally honored; and an obligation from Sri Lankan cricket; which I know you have not. Your inability to better your 2007 World Cup runner-up performance with a championship in 2011 is a breach of contract.

I hereby join skipper Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardhane and the Sri Lankan selectors and offer my resignation.

In my career as an Indian-supporter-who-could-not-escape-admiring-Sri-Lankan-cricket-and-cricketers I had a great time as long as you kept your obligation to constantly improve. But two consecutive 2nd place finishes in ICC's showpiece event is abysmal and even though I gave it my all, I think it is time for SLC to groom a younger more enthusiastic professional who can be an Indian-supporter-who-could-not-escape-admiring-Sri-Lankan-cricket-and-cricketers.

My time as a Indian-supporter-who-could-not-escape-admiring-Sri-Lankan-cricket-and-cricketers has been full of happy memories.

Your humbling of India in the very first Test you played in my country, Sidhat Wettimuny's 190 in your first Test at Lords, the attacking instincts of Roy Dias and later Arvinda D'Silva; all these were my earliest assignments and I not only did well as an Indian-supporter-who-could-not-escape-admiring-Sri-Lankan-cricket-and-cricketers but I also loved my job.

More recently I was as upset at the umpiring as any other Sri Lankan when Kumar Sangakkara's brilliant fightback was wrongly cut short in a Test in Australia.

Heck, I even traveled to Greneda for the 2007 World Cup Super Six game (I have not yet been reimbursed by SLC) to watch 2 of your games. In one, which bore no consequences to the semi final line ups against Australia, you chose to rest your star players and what I cheered was a side which can be best described as the one that can lose and not hurt the Sri Lankan ego. I still cheered although I must admit I felt very much cheated.

When I look back at my career at SLC, I think this game was the first time cracks began to appear in our relationship. It was a dimwitted move to not try and win against Australia and over the last 4 years I have not been enjoying my job as much; bar the Sangakkara episode.

I vehemently believe that my resignation will be the best move for both parties in this implicit contract.

As for my next assignment.

I have an offer from the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Implicit of course. After a couple of months of spending time with my family I will accept the offer. I am now an Indian-supporter-who-could-not-escape-admiring-Bangladesh-cricket-and-cricketers

1983 + 2011 for 2015

India has now won one world cup in the subcontinent and one on English green tops during the early part of summer. How about a combined team to defend their title in 2015 on Australian and New Zealand pitches

Here's my playing X1 for Australian conditions


Sachin Tendulkar - I guess there ain't much to say here

Krishnamachari Srikkanth - I am still not completely sold on Virendra Sehwag as an ODI opener. Although I think his value with an innings like his 38 in the semifinals against Pakistan cannot be overstated. And that is exactly the kind of innings Srikkanth played in the finals in 1983. Also a 38. When both got out, no one would have imagined that these cameos would be the difference in the end. And Srikkanth has selection skills. Okay I am stretching it but Srikkanth it is for me to partner Sachin and take first strike.

Mohinder Amarnath (Vice Captain) - Have we had a better top order batsman than Jimmy Amarnath to play the fast men on bouncy, fast pitches? Perhaps Rahul Dravid but he is not a World Cup winner. In possession of a fearless hook shot, guts and patience, Amarnath will be a perfect anchor to guide the innings. He always thrived against genuine pace and loved playing away from home. During the early 80s his conquests in Pakistan against Imran Khan and in the West Indies against Clive Lloyd's fast men were inspiring. Post world cup he slumped, never to get his groove back.

His bowling is an additional asset, although he might not be as effective in Australian conditions. New Zealand perhaps yes. He was a master of taking the pace off the ball.

Yuvraj Singh - Primarily as a batsman and his fielding at point. With Srikkanth in the covers for company the fielding will get an intimidating feel. This attacking style of batting will suit the Australian conditions more and he has a decent ODI record in Australia as a batsman.

His spin bowling will give his captain more options but the side is generally not short of specialist bowlers

Sandip Patil - Mohammed Azharuddin's 3 consecutive centuries on debut instantly killed Patil's career but in the 5 years he played for India he made an impact. Capable of dominating even the most hostile fast bowling he thrived in Australian and English conditions alike, Never known to take a step back, he scored a scintillating 174 not out against Dennis Lillee and Len Pascoe in a Test match in Australia after a Len Pascoe bouncer felled him and he had to be taken to the hospital in the previous Test. He once scored 24 runs in one Bob Willis over in England and his assault on the same bowler in the 1983 semi finals booked a place for India in the semi finals


Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain and Wicketkeeper) - A much better captain than Kapil Dev.

Kapil Dev - The X factor

Harbhajan Singh - The other options are either Kirti Azad or Ravi Shastri. Both are perhaps going to be as in effective as Harbhajan Singh in Australia. And Ravi Shastri was not even a regular in the playing XI so probably does not qualify for selection. Like Sachin, Dhoni and Kapil, Piyush Chawla drops himself. So Harbhajan it is for his ability to scrap, sledge and generally get under the skin of the opposing team.

Roger Binny - Can be depended upon to bowl an economical spell of bowling and when conditions are right  can run through top orders. Who can forget the 1985 World Championship game against Australia when all Indians woke up to stumps flying and Azharuddin diving at point with Australia 5 down in next to no time. Roger Binny was the architect of that win. He also was the highest wicket taker in the 1983 world cup, so the man deserves a place in this side on that effort alone.

Also a decent enough batsman, who could bat higher than Harbhajan.

Zaheer Khan - Kapil Dev's bowling partner. There isn't much more to say

R Ashwin - The 2011 side could not afford to have R Ashiwn in the playing XI for lack of a genuine, dependable all rounder like Kapil Dev. This one does.

See Also 

• 1983 v 2011

1983 v 2011

Which one is a greater achievement. India winning the 1983 Prudential Cup completely out of the blue or India winning the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup under the weight of insane pressure from a billion people magnified a 100 times; to use Shahid Afridi's magnifying glass; by the relentless Indian media.


One was a fairy tale and the other a realistic goal achieved through dedication, careful planning and deliberate processes.

In one India beat all 4 previous World Cup winners in a sequence of high pressure games played in front of expectant (read demanding) crowds and in the other India beat the most fearsome, most intimidating, most talented team at the peak of their prowess

One had a ring of naivete and innocence to it the other had a ring of self awareness and self belief.

In one, the defining knock by the captain helped the team stay afloat and in the other the defining knock by the captain sealed one of the most fluent run chases in a world cup final. Both feats will take ages to emulate.

One had Mohinder Amarnath the other had Yuvraj Singh playing more or less the same roles.

One had a team who were out to enjoy, have fun and generally just glad to be in esteemed company the other had a team struck with anxiety attacks under the pressure of expectations

In one, Ravi Shastri was on mute, in the other we weren't so lucky.

One changed Indian cricket forever the other confirmed India as a changed team.

One was achieved by the best Test team in the world the other was achieved by defeating the best Test team in the World.

Those who watched both the World Cups, will be the best judges to call this one. To say which is the greater achievement in Indian cricket.

As for me, I need a few more samples to say for sure.

Other World Cup posts...

1. India is now Dhoni
2. Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar
3. It's Dhoni's turn

It's safe to say that Yuvraj Singh came of age in this World Cup. A few months ago he was the "waterboy". Dropped from the team for poor performance and maybe poorer attitude, Yuvraj was on the outside looking in. He seemed indignant, rather than contrite. At least that what commentators and observers wanted us to believe. And given some of the reasons he made news, it wasn't hard to believe. A few weeks later he was dropped. And that seemed to be the end of another brilliant Indian talent. Yuvraj was destined to be more Vinod Kambli than Sourav Ganguly.

More ignominy followed prior to that. He was dumped as captain of the Punjab Kings in the IPL. The "Punjab-da-Puttar" wasn't even considered good enough to captain a team that was formed for him. Sangakarra took over and Yuvraj found himself dropped from the IPL team. How bad could it get?

Everyone remembers how Yuvraj burst on the international scene in the champions trophy in Nairobi. Yuvraj also started the fairytale ICC World Cup script with the remarkable chase to win the Natwest Trophy with Mohammed Kaif. While Kaif (the first Indian ice man) lost his form, Yuvraj grew stronger.

Portraits: Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Just how big a name has Mahendra Singh Dhoni become.

For his opponents, he is certainly more threatening than Mogambo, Gabbar Singh and Shakaal put together.

No one has seen where Dhoni was from a few moments after he hit the six to bring home the World Cup till the time he was called on by Ravi Shastri for an interview. And then he went missing again. No one saw him lift the cup later, either

That makes him invisibler than Mr. India and more secretive than James Bond.

At the post match press conference he charmed reporters with giggles that were more genuine and had more warmth than any Miss India that went on to become Miss World.

That makes him an object of Abhishek Bacchan's affection. That's big.

His "Well Of Course...." will soon topple "Are O'Samba" as the most repeated line by Indians.

He has cricket's equivalent of "7 Khoon Maaf" by admitting that he made an error in judgement in a game with Pakistan. No Indian cricket captain (not even Azharuddin) has ever admitted to making a mistake for fear of being hanged to death.

That makes him bigger than Priyanka Chopra and Vishal Bharadwaj - both the music and film director.

His last ball six will resonate for a long time with Sri Lankans; who like Dr Dang will be vowing an echo of the echo of the six. And while Dilip Kumar's hit, was heard only as far as theaters in India; it makes Dhoni's hit which was telecast live world wide; better than Rana Vishwapratap Singh's.

MSD 3.0

At the moment, Dhoni is perhaps bigger than Amithabh Bacchan, Manmohan Singh, Basanti, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Poonam Pandey, Munna Bhai, Bal Thackrey, Jai, Shahrukh Khan, the Ambanis - Both Anil amd Mukesh along with their wives, Rajnikanth, Rakhee Savant, Karan Johar, Katrina Kaif, Circuit, President Obama - If he were Indian, Viru - No, not the opener, MF Hussain - If he were in India, Aamir Khan - Even if he were in LA begging for an Oscar for Pooplee Live, Lata Mangeshkar, Shard Pawar, the Tatas, the Scindias from Gwalior...

...perhaps even bigger than Salman Khan.

AndDareISayBiggerThanSachiinTendukar... there I said it. I hope I survive this. If I do, its all thanks to Sachin.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has, saved a Test match at Lords, won the T20 World Cup (and since then they have stopped calling it the World Cup - which makes him the only one to do it) The IPL, The Champions League, the last edition of the tri - series in Australia, has led India to number 1 in Test rankings and now he has won the 50 over World Cup.

More importantly no one has noticed he is still to win the 60 over cup.

With so much already accomplished, and assuming that he is not amongst the selfish, egoistic sports stars who  are obsessed with "calling it a day while they are still at the top"; another way to look at how big MS has become is to comprehend what else he needs to accomplish for him to keep his career graph ascending.

Sit down with the Israelis, Palestinians and President Obama and show them how to bring peace to the middle east. Solve the Kashmir issue, convince the world that global warming is just how God designed it to be, eradicate the world from all cyclones, floods, hurricanes (except the Nikhanj dude from Haryana), earthquakes and tsunamis, make cars run on water....

If MS accomplishes the cricket equivalent of the above, in the next 1-2 years. His career graph may continue its upward trend...

...Slightly

If you still haven't got enough of the man, like us; please indulge yourselves

1. India is now Dhoni
2. That's the way... Mahi Way
3. Opinions On... Mahendra Singh Dhoni

India is now Dhoni

At 30 off 29 balls, Yuvraj Singh swung and missed off Malinga. The familiar feeling of an impending implosion began taking possession of my being. Two more dot balls followed and I closed my eyes hoping that madness would not consume Yuvraj. Over the next two balls, Yuvraj took 3 calm runs. I breathed a sigh of relief. India were going to be champions. There would be no heartbreak. India knocked off the runs without a flourish until the very last shot. No mountain too high, no river too deep and no adversity too hard. India has become Dhoni. Calm, collected and cool.


Flashback to the World Cup in 1987. In the very first game against Australia, after being 206-2, India slumped to defeat by one run chasing 270. In that game, the original Ice Man, Steve Waugh, administered the narcotic. India didn't manufacture ice-men. When Gambhir went at 223, to a ditsy shot, my brain was beginning to turn into spaghetti. Time and again, India's big, bad, deep and stats-rich batting line-up had demonstrated no mental strength and belief. Right from the waning days of Gavaskar until now, India could collapse anytime.

But in this World Cup, India have chased with the perseverance of the FBI chasing the Unabomber. They have stayed in the hunt in the big games chasing runs. They have taken games to their logical conclusions, rather than try to finish them off in a flurry of shots. It has taken decades to shake off the "hit-out-or-get-out" habit.

This team has probably learned the lesson that Miandad taught India in 1986. It ain't over until it's over. Gambhir, Kohli and Yuvraj Singh have played their parts to perfection in most of the matches. Whenever the alternate script had to be enacted, they were in good form in every match. India's primary script was for Sehwag and Tendulkar to score big and take as big a bite as they could of the score they were chasing. When it didn't go that script, they settled into a "death-by-a-thousand-cuts" script that would take matches to the last few overs. Against Australia and in the finals, India have had to find plan B.

Bringing himself to the center stage in the final, Dhoni gave notice to the superstars playing in the game that this was his stage. Tendulkar, Murali, Jayawardene, Sangakarra and Sehwag are some of the biggest the sport has seen. Zaheer and Malinga have performed World Cup feats that will live in memory for a while. Jayawardene constructed a magnificent century. One of the very best ever crafted in the World cup finals. It wasn't brutal like Ponting or Gilchrist's recent efforts, but it was clinical, suave and scientific.

Conventional thinking suggested that Sehwag or Tendulkar were the only ones who could respond. But Dhoni was going to have none of that. He put himself in the middle of the biggest game of his life and charmed it, coaxed it, cajoled it and finally when it was almost his, brought out his biggest shot. There was only one occasion when he almost was run out that he lost it for a second. But he immediately, put his arm up, owned up for the situation despite it not really being his fault and continued. That's what leaders do. This was going to his. He owned it.

This is a new India. An India that believes that it can. It stays calm. It knows nothing but pressure. It has learned to accept it and get on with it. It explodes when it can and buckles down when it needs to. This India now manufactures Ice-Men by the dozen. Dhoni is India and India is now Dhoni.

See Also

• That's the way...Mahi Way
• Opinions On...Mahendra Singh Dhoni

That's the way...Mahi Way

Mahendra Singh Dhoni may have just eclipsed Arvinda D'Silva's 107* in the 1996 finals; the only century till date in a successful run chase in a World Cup finals. Arvinda's century too like Dhoni's 91 not out, came on the heels of 2 quick wickets but when those 2 wickets are Sehwag and Sachin; the pressure you have to absorb is that much more.

India are World Champions again and it was almost scary the way they scripted the most tense but strangely serene run chase I am ever likely to see. With each run that brought us closer, I asked my self what a win would do to the legend of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. I am not sure what the answer is, but perhaps we are seeing the beginnings of a cricketer that will eventually be bigger and meaner than Sachin Tendulkar. He will never have Sachin's skills. Thank God for that.

Sri Lanka seemed to have been defeated by Dhoni much before India finally beat them with a six of the last ball. After having started almost all matches with the Sehwag way, India ended a successful World Cup campaign; the Mahi way.

See Also...

• Our unsolicited and half baked, opinions on Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Portraits: Muttiah Muralitharan

In a grand total of 61 Test wins for Sri Lanka, Murali has featured in 54 of them and accounted for 41% of the wickets. Later today he would be itching to go out on a high with another world cup.

Even if both his knees are struck with age related arthritis, the guy will turn up for the finals and bowl.

He usually scripts his own farewells

See Also

• World Cup Finals - India v Sri Lanka: Does India have the legs for another scrap?
• Portraits @ Opinions

World Cup Finals - India v Sri Lanka: Does India have the legs for another scrap?

When asked if an all Asian World Cup finals, suggests a power shift in world cricket, Mahela Jayawardene said,

"We mustn't forget that this is a World Cup on the subcontinent, and obviously home conditions suit us. In fact, it would have been disappointing if Asian teams hadn't made it to the final. The World Cup will be played on a different continent the next time, and we can say the balance of power has truly shifted if two teams from the subcontinent make the final then."

A smart answer from a man who plays for a smart team led by an even smarter and sophisticated Kumar Sangakkara. India's opponents in the finals are a team perfectly capable of beating them comfortably

A preview...



Hangover
Malinga's toe busting missiles, Murali's enthusiasm, thirst for wickets and his knack of doing something special on farewells, Mendis' carom balls and then the formidable top order batting centered around the most prolific Kumar Sangakkara. What Sri Lanka have to offer can easily spoil India's party. As with the Ashes hangover; both physical and mental; sometimes no amount of intent and discipline can over come an emotional high of coming thorough a tough assignment. And India have come through 2 of the most intense one day matches in recent times.

How they got here
India's path to the finals has been most challenging, They were required to beat the defending champions and a dangerous Pakistan. What made these matches intense pressure games was that India were expected to win these games.

Sri Lanka on the other hand took the scenic route stopping along the way for English picnic lunches and some pictures with the kiwis. You could argue and essentially buy Mahendra Singh Dhoni's argument that India are more prepared for the pressure of the finals than the Lankans but if Sri Lanka get off the blocks early India just may not have any strength left to get in a position to put pressure on the Lankans.

Needless to say, Sri Lanka look to be better positioned to win the finals in my estimation.

How can India win
In the semi finals almost everything that was borderline, fell India's way. That's what it took to win against Pakistan. The win has to some extent masked India's 'yet to explode' middle order; a problem they share with the Lankans; and Sehwag's continuing struggles with the One Day format. Granted, in the scheme of things his spectacular dismantling of Umar Gul was as good as a knock out blow but against Sri Lanka he will have to do a lot more. While he can bat through 50 overs against a side like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka have enough wiles to frustrate him to the point where he gets himself out.

I can see only one way we can win and that is to get ahead early and stay there; whether batting or bowling first and Virendra Sehwag needs to play a marathon innings. Our middle order is too fragile to withstand Malinga and Murali in tandem.

The captains
Captaincy-wise Mahendra Singh Dhoni will meet his match in Kumar Sangakkara. In almost every respect they are quite similar. Sangakkara is all sophistication to Dhoni's cool. Sangakkara is a better batsman, is in form and has been to a World Cup final before. To Dhoni's credit however he hasn't let his form affect his decision making as a captain, and has been to and won a T20 World Cup; as captain. And when you are assessing Mahendra Singh Dhoni you have to consider luck as his core skill. The man's so lucky even Lady luck prays that she has a day like Dhoni's

Cold stats
Numbers wise, India have en edge over Sri Lanka if you focus on matches in India but Sri Lanka have traditionally owned India in World Cup matches. And recently the 2 sides have played each other so many times that the law of large numbers suggest that both sides have a 50% chance of winning.

Ground realities

The first game between the 2 sides at the same ground involved a high scoring game. India posting 299/4 in 40 overs and Roshan Mahanama replying with the innings of his life. Eventually he was run out for 98 and Sri Lanka fell 10 runs short. 

The highest score on this ground is by a Sri Lankan

Since the ground and the stadium has been redone, it is Sri Lanka who have played here before while India will be making their debut


Bottom line
I am skeptical if India can pull off another high pressure game. The mantra should be "win big". The team may just not have enough legs for another scrap

Please see...

• Portraits @ Opinions: See us paint cricketers in shades of grey and sometimes blue
• Opinions on... : Unsolicited, half-baked opinions on unsuspecting cricketers

Opinions on... Shahid Khan Afridi

Shahid Afridi is a joy to watch. Like Virendra Sehwag his game is untouched by modern coaching techniques. Both offer such tremendous value to their teams that often strategies are formed around the pure skills they offer. Both have evolved their skills, keeping a strong connection to their roots and culture.

Born, a Pathan, in a tribal areas near Afghanistan, where the word of the Afridis was the law, Shahid Afridi considers gun toting 12 year olds as "part of the culture". Shooting a gun is a "normal thing" to him and he often goes to a shooting range near the Afghanistan border to fire M16s.


Not known to put any amounts of thought in his decisions and actions, he himself has no clue what he would do next. When asked about his approach to batting, he once said that he always aims to play out 3-5 overs before going for his shots. There is no evidence that he has actually ever done that. What he plans and what he executes are completely distinct things. However he is quick to admit that even if he plans to play out the initial overs, if he does see a hittable ball, first up, he naturally finds himself going after it. So much for having a plan.

Shahid Afridi

True to his character, he announced his decision to quit test cricket and then realized he had done a foolish thing. He was back in a fortnight. Its a pity he has not played many Test matches, because talents like him can truly flourish in the free formats of Test cricket. Limited overs cricket is too restrictive for men like Shahid Afridi and Virendra Sehwag.

Like Sehwag he can turn a test match with a few moments of Afridi-style madness. In a Test match in India, that was going nowhere after the sides had scored more than a thousand runs in the first innings, he scored a 26 ball 50 in the second innings and then returned the next day to claim VVS Laxman, Saurav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar, to consign India to a shock defeat. India's batting might was unable to secure a series clinching draw in the face of Afridi's onslaught.

Pakistan never really put their faith in him as a Test player but they backed him to lead them in the 2011 World Cup over his exact opposite in terms of style and temperament, Misbah-Ul-Haq. The decision that seemed ill advised at that point, proved quite the opposite.

Shahid Afridi led Pakistan admirably and honorably. En route to the World Cup semi-finals they lost only one game and as was with the semi-finals the reason was the same. Dropped catches. For Shahid Afridi and Pakistan this will be one World Cup miss that will hurt for a long time.

Right through the World Cup, Shahid Afridi was refreshing as a leader, always smiling in front of his opponents while constantly cajoling his players. His trademark X man stance on taking wickets and catches is going to be an enduring image of this World Cup. Had Pakistan won it all; and they sure came close to do that; it would have remained in public memory like Johnty's run out of Inzamam-Ul-Haq.

Even through the high tension game against India, Afridi never seemed to forget that it was after all, just a game of cricket. He was cordial with everyone on the Indian team and did his part to ensure that emotionally charged sentiments from the outside, did not spill over on the field by engaging in more than one ways with his Indian opponents.

Whether it was a pat on the back to Sachin for surviving a catch a glance and a knowing smile at Zaheer while batting, offering his greetings after an Indian win, Shahid Afridi finally made me understand why he is most beloved in his country.

See also...

1. Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar
2. Portraits: Shahid Khan Afridi
3. It's Dhoni's turn

Catches win matches

At some point you have to stop feeling sorry for Pakistan. Like South Africa who always choke whenever they are on the verge of greatness, Pakistan never give themselves a chance just when you expect something reasonably rational from them.


After India, if there is a team that I can't resist watching, its Pakistan. When the West Indies were at their peak I was incapable of appreciating the cricket they played. With Pakistan, the connection was instant. Their cricket is all heart, unfinished, un-coached in a western sense and un-apologetically individualistic. They defy all conventional wisdom and embrace homegrown insight, without getting preachy about it. Their ways to victory have always been distinct from the rest and their approach to the crafts of batting and bowling is most traditional. Steady batting and wicket taking bowlers.

For a while now they had been good enough to cover for their only weakness; fielding. Pakistan have never been a great fielding side. They never had to. Sprawling on the ground to save a few dozen runs is beneath their style of cricket. Prevention has been their preferred choice. Why put your fielders in a position to dive, when you can just get the bloody batsman out. For Pakistan, this style has worked well for decades but yesterday at Mohali, their catching cost them a place in the world cup final against a team they beat comfortably in the league phases.

The game was more one-sided than the 29 run margin suggests and the blame for that should go to the dropped catches.

To me when India lost 9/29 against South Africa, it highlighted how good a team India are to take a game to the final over in spite of the monumental collapse. Pakistan dropped 4 Sachin Tendulkar catches. It highlights how good their bowling is. Good enough to have Sachin Tendulkar 85 / 4

While batting, Misbah played the kind of an innings Javed Miandad would whole heartedly endorse. Problem was he did not have any believers in his approach. All Pakistan needed to do to make a match of the semi finals was to hold on to their catches and bat around Misbah. Instead they gave Sachin 4 lives, viewed Misbah's innings as a liability and completely lost the plot and the World Cup

Crude Oil and Gasoline

Crude oil and gasoline are both combustible, highly inflammable and can devour anything when raging into a full blown fire. But both have completely different characteristics.

Pakistan and India's cricket teams are like that. Pakistan is like crude oil, earthy, raw and needing a refinery. India, on the other hand, are refined under John Wright and Gary Kirsten, methodical and in full bloom.

But both teams on their day have the same impact. They annihilate the opposition.


This Pakistan team is perhaps the worst of the ones that India has encountered in a World Cup. This is probably the first match-up where India will not be "upsetting" Pakistan if they won. From 1992 to 2003, with Wasim, Waqar, Anwar and Inzy in their ranks, Pakistan were one of the elite teams. However, in each of these encounters, India got past them, despite being the undeserving one. Except perhaps in 2003, where Tendulkar was simply unstoppable.

2011 brings about a first where India outranks Pakistan in the star stakes. With Sehwag, Tendulkar, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Zaheer and Harbhajan, India are formidable on paper. Throw Gambhir, Kohli, Ashwin and Pathan in there and one has a frenetic line up, likely to bash the opposition into submission.

Pakistan, however, boast a very, very formidable bowling attack. The key question for them is going to be whether Hafeez has the ability to contain India. Gul and Afridi lead the bowling and Misbah is leading the batting. But that's three against Tendulkar, Gambhir, Kohli, Yuvraj and Zaheer.

A wipeout? India have a clear edge. Pakistan is putting pressure on themselves by bringing their prime minister to watch.

It's going to be India with Sehwag and Kohli leading the way.

Portraits: Shahid Khan Afridi

Should I play Shoaib Akhtar?

See Also

• Opinions On Shahid Afridi
• Portraits @ Opinions

India to concede '92 and '99 wins to Pakistan

There is no such thing as the 'Law of Averages'. I first heard this term during the 1987 World Cup, when after a streak of Indian wins, Ajit Wadekar in a television interview, suggested that India are due for a loss as indicated by his mastery over the 'Law of Averages'. 

Now, I am no mathematician but there is wikipedia.

The 'Law of Averages' is a layman term for what really is a 'Law of large numbers'. Roughly what it is, is that if you toss a coin (as an example) for a large number of times, the number of times it lands on "heads" will start going towards its probability. Which is 50%. It means that if the number of times Mahendra Singh Dhoni captains India approaches infinity, he will likely have won 50% of the tosses. Every thing 'large' in mathematics is conveniently abstracted as 'infinity'. Many Indian cricket followers don't think that's likely (Dhoni winning 50% of his tosses) and hence don't believe in the 'Law of large numbers'. 

For them, including many influential people in the BCCI, the 'Law of Averages' is easier to comprehend and thus they believe its the truth.

Needless to say, Indians's are very worried about their 4 game winning streak; 6 if you consider T20; against Pakistan in World Cup games. The BCCI has convinced themselves that as per 'the law' they so believe in, India will lose their semi-finals against Pakistan.

So, in an unprecedented move, the BCCI has approached the ICC and MCC with a radical proposal. The proposal is as follows...

India are conceding the 1992 and 1999 world cup games, that they had won against Pakistan. 

The rational is simple, the BCCI explained. Those 2 wins were inconsequential in the whole scheme of things. The 1996 win, allowed India to contest the semi-finals and the 2003 win knocked Pakistan out of the Super Sixes round. So we want to hold on to those wins

We felt that the 'Law of averages' works in our favor going in to Wednesday's semi-finals at 2 games apiece. Also given that we have lost 2 semi-finals as a host nation. we believe the 2 trends will guarantee an Indian win.

Also, the BCCI added, we as a nation, have already rejoiced the 92 and 99 wins. People can't be unhappy over an event they were once ecstatic over.

When you are the BCCI, you can believe what you want and do what you please. We are still waiting to hear from ICC, if the proposal will be accepted

Portraits: Yuvraj Singh

That India needed Yuvraj Singh to fire to come anywhere near the World Cup was the pre-tournament wisdom. That in spite of Sachin and Zaheer on top of their games; it is Yuvraj who is the most valuable player on the team; is a bit baffling.

It tells a story. Yuvraj Singh is truly an ODI great. This is the good part of the story. The bad part; is that everyone else pretty much are passengers on the train en route to get Sachin a World Cup

See Also

• Opinions on Yuvraj Singh
• Portraits @ Opinions

England Match Report #5: Sri Lanka (Ashes devalued)

In these uncertain economic times. there is bad news for cricket. The ongoing ICC Cricket world Cup may guarantee a blockbuster closing but Test cricket's marquee event "The Ashes" has lost 75% of its valuation over the last few weeks. This according to the "American Institute for Valuations of all things Sports"  (AIVS)

Valued at well over $500 Million of today's dollars just before World War II, its valuation according  to AIVS Chief Valuator, Guesty Mate, peaked to about a $750 million dollars; also in today's dollars; in the 1950s. Its valuation has declined steadily since but what we are seeing now is an unprecedented acceleration in its devaluation.

After England, Australia and South Africa were all eliminated in the quarter finals, The value of the Ashes has hit an all time low. South Africa do not play the Ashes... technically... but their fortunes, recently have been linked to the value of the Ashes.

The MCC have always kept their distance from any organization that tries to put a monetary value on cricket's traditional trophy, claiming that the Ashes series is not for sale. Taking a dig at the IPL, the MCC President had said a few weeks back, that "unlike the IPL the Ashes is not about money"

Explaining the valuation model, Mr. Maite explained that it is common knowledge that the Ashes are not for sale but the value is an estimate of the probable bid the Ashes might receive if a private investor; lets just say Larry Ellison; were interested in buying the event.

When asked to comment on the ridiculously low valuation, Mr Maite offered a range of possible reasons. The Ashes thrives on exclusivity and adequate spacing between 2 series'; he explained. Potential investors are not taking the decision to host back to back Ashes as a positive. Neither Australia nor England are the top teams in either Test or ODI cricket and the market places no premium on T20 titles because they tend to change hands on a monthly basis. Investors are also predicting a slump in demand for the Ashes in Australia.

On the significance of 3rd party revenue generated from countries outside of Australia and England; traditionally there has been only a moderate demand for the Ashes in the Indian market but that was when both England and Australia were considered benchmark teams. Investors don't believe Indians will tune in to watch either Australia; who won only a single game against strong opposition; or England; who were completely spent by the time the quarter-finals arrived.

Then in uncharacteristic fashion Mr. Maite burst out; I mean f..k, what value does the Ashes have, when the holder falls a 100 runs and 10 wickets short of making a WC quarter final a contest? I say the $7.99 valuation we came up with is too darn generous.

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