Rudderless Ship - Indian Team

With the resignation of Dravid as Indian captain, the Indian Cricket team seems to be going nowhere.

No Captain, No coach.... BCCI needs to take an action soon to put the train back on rails. At this moment, the sudden resignation of the captain after successful tour of England really raises some eyebrows. The excuse of concentrating on his batting does not really gel with the circumstances.

And the news of Tendulkar being offered the captaincy, is really taking a step backwards. With news of Tendulkar contemplating retirement from the shortened version of the game, does it really make sense in giving Tendulkar the opportunity to lead.

It would be better to have Dravid continue for some more time and groom an youngster for the job of captainship i.e. would be Yuvraj or Shewhag (if he makes his comeback) or Dhoni

Well, we would know the path BCCI takes in the next couple of days and the decision might even change the destiny of the Indian team's performance in the remaining half of the season.

Another veteran calls it a day

After an illustratious career spanning over more than 100 tests, Kiwi captain Flemming announces his retirment from ODI...

Another great player bids adieu to the color flannels..

Long Hiatus - Blogging time again

It has been a very long hiatus for yours truely... Have been busy with a project at work and had been traveling which did not give me enough time to blog...

Lots of water has flown under the bridge since last written on this blog

My son has started his first year of school and thus steps into the real world

SRK has returned with a super box office hit CHAKDE.. reviews the memories of Indian Hockey Glorious days

RGV disappoints again with RGVKIAAG... don't understand why Bollywood is depending on old movies & making remixes like the music

Hyderabad undergoes a turmoil weekend...as the blasts rock the city

India have won the TEST series and lost the ONE-DAY series in England.

India go to Twenty20 WC without their 3 main players...and may be the beginning of a new era and end of an illustratious career of 3 big names in Indian Cricket.

And after lot of debates finally one hears of retirement of a genius from the world of cricket. Sachin has been playing his best cricket on the tour of England, but the body and age has been telling on him.

Lets wait and see if this year would see the end of a great career in world of sports

India Without a Coach on A Tour

Wow... Work has been so hectic for the past couple of weeks...

Last time when yours truely wrote about Indian cricket, a coach for the Indian team had been found and finalized.

But it was not to be....the appointed coach said goodbye even before taking off on the tour of the INDIAN PARADISE. BCCI has since then swallowed the bitter pill and the Indian team has embarked on a tour to the Ireland & England without a coach. In these days when all the other countries talk about professionalism and accountability, these two words just don't seem to be part of the Indian Cricket authorities dictionary.

Just when things seem to be moving forward, Indian cricket always does a U-turn and goes back 2-3 steps.

Coming back to cricket being played...Sachin seems to be putting up scores on the board but that does not seem to make the critics happy. Even his 99 against SA is not being ranked as a face-saving effort for the Indian team. With the age, the best batsman seems to have lost his 'BOOST' power and seems to be just playing for the sake of being in the center of things.

It is high time, India looks beyond the three pillars of Indian Cricket. The days are not far away when DADA, Sachin and The Wall are going to hang up their boots.

It was on the tour of England that India discovered two finest players Dada and The Wall. ... This tour may decide how long they play for India before hanging their boots for good

Indian Cricket team has a new Coach

After days of speculation, the Indian Coach has been named and he is GRAHAM FORD

If you wish to read more about him...

http://specials.rediff.com/cricket/2007/jun/06slide1.htm

Time will only tell how this coach will setup India's cricketing future in coming years. He definetely does not have the charishma and hype that surrounded the earlier coaches to coach India.

let's keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. And hope the "PLAYERS COACH" works well with the STAR-UNIT of INDIAN CRICKET TEAM

STAR WARS - Completes 30 years

Guys while on way to India and surfing the net at the Changi Airport came across this interesting headline

STAR WARS - Completes 30 years.... Wow.. I still have the avid memories of going to the MADHURAM theatre in Ahmedabad and queuing up to watch the first movie of STAR WARS being screened there. For those who are familar with 1970-80 era of Ahmedabad film circle, would remember two prominent theatres - ADVANCE & MADHURAM which used to screen the ENGLISH movies.

And when rewinding down the memory one does not realise that it was way back in 1977 that STAR WARS was first relised. Yours truely definetly remembers those names which have become a legend Luke Skywalker,Han Solo (played by young Harrison Ford) and R2-D2( robot that won many hearts).

Read the details on STAR WARS history in this article http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2007/may/25sld1.htm

30 years down the lane...

Tendulkar in Spotlight again

Even though Tendulkar is trying his level best to silence the critics, the list of critics keeps growing.

Tendulkar has scored two centuries in the series in Bangladesh but those too are not being regarded highly by the critics.

Intersting statistics posted at cricinfo in the article

"There must be truth to it but the manner in which he crawled to a century today has left even that argument open to doubt. Today's was a solid, honest Test century - for a debutant, not for someone playing his 137th Test"

Read the article ... Whither Tendulkar?

Things just don't seem to be going Tendulkar's way both on & off the field...

Bangladesh Series - Purpose Undefined

India have embarked on a test series with Bangladesh which carries no importance in the eyes of the cricketing world.

The media has given the series a big hype by terming it as a "REVENGE SERIES". The kind of sensational opening a bollywood masala movie would hope for.

If one runs thru the pages of cricket history, there was definetely a ' revenge' series played in India after the WC-1983. West Indies had come to India with soul objective of defeating India after they had lost the WC-1983 finals. And boy...they Blackwashed India completely during that series...

Since the Bangladesh tour started there has been less play and more rain delays. It makes no sense in going to Bangladesh when the whole world knows it is the pre-monsoon season. It is high time someone puts their step down and lets the ICC know that they had an over-dose of cricket.

After the debacle in WC-2007, there was a call for complete changeover in the composition of the Indian Team. Whoever was looking to see any new faces in Indian Team must have been born recently and not knowing the facts. India are still playing with Ganguly and Tendulkar, they are scoring hundreds and making sure they are on the England tour. Poor Laxman....he is labelled to be non-ODI player and is soon going to be non-existant on the TEST match scorecard. It is time Laxman bids adieu to cricket and settles down in the princely city of Hyderabad.

Indian team is good at making and breaking a players' career. This time round they are busy doing the same with a cricketer called Dinesh kartik. In the next couple of seasons, when the batting form deserts him, he will be dumped by Indian selectors. He will be left pondering whether he ever knew the business of wicket-keeping. If you guys don't agree, please go and look at the career graph of a player called Irfan Pathan after he was termed as the next "KAPIL DEV" - the all-rounder for Indian Team.

From a layman point of view, the Bangladesh series does not seem to govern any positives for Indian team. They have not tried or tested out any new players who would stand out and be counted. Moreover, it is becoming pretty clear India does not have a strong bench and they will be a big void when the 3 stalwarts of current team bid adieu to cricket.

Aussies win the WC-2007 - The Invicibles

Australia are the true winners of the Cricket World Cup -2007.

They lift the cup for the 3rd consecutive time and the PIEGON - Glen Mcgrath signs off in style.

Probably Glen Mcgrath was the only one of the oldies who was destined to have a fairytale end to his career.

Congratulations to AUSTRALIAN TEAM...

Imposing Total for SL - WC 2007 Finals

Aussies have posted an imposing totals for Sri Lanka to chase in the WC-2007 finals.

Australia riding high on Adam Gilchrist knock of 149 runs is placed well at this stage.

Everyone is waiting to see how SL reply to this mountain of runs. It is going to be a herculean task chasing and climbing the Mt. Everest. SL would like Jaysuriya fire on the top, Sangakkara play another good knock and the captain Jaywardane would need another GEM of a knock to take the WC back home.

If Jaysuriya fires.... WHO KNOWS WE MAY SEE THE SHIELD OF INVICIBILITY BREAKING DOWN IN THE YELLOW BRIGADE...

Let's hope we have a good game and not a one-sided finals as has been off-late....

Go TIGERS...

WC 2007 - Moment to Reckon

Gilchrist gets his hundred and the next ball the whole of SL must have gone up in joy .... but it was not to be

Gilchrist snicked the ball after he got his hundred and Sangakkara came up with a fabulous take...And immediately raised his hand to signal 'NOT DONE' ... he had floored the catch during his roll-over...

A GREAT SIGN OF SPORTSMANSHIP in the heat of the moment... HATS OFF to SANGAKKARA for playing the game in true spirit.

Meanwhile...Gilchrist has completed a great hundred and has taken the game away from SL in the first session of this final.

Sri Lankans are truely looking lost as the Indians did in the last finals. Vaas seems to be bowling like Zaheer Khan on that final day in South Africa...

Gilchrist summary so far 110, 80 balls, 10 4s and 6 6s... wow..

Aussies on a gallop

WC 2007 Cricket Finals is finally underway.... And a different kind of rain is being witnessed at Bridgetown, WI

Gilchrist is playing the "RAIN GOD" and it is raining 6s and 4s. Hayden is playing the pivotal role at the other end and joining in the fun.

SL players are looking up skywards and hoping the rain would make its entry once again.

The way the opening pair of Aussies is galloping away, this looks like more of an 2003 WC replay except that the Sri Lankans seem to be at the receiving end this time round.

Aussies seem to be truely playing as the 'invincibles'. With Ponting, Clarke, Symonds,Hussey still to follow, big score seems to be in offering. Unless,SL pull off something out of their hats, Aussies seem to be running away here with the WC 2007...

Final Day of WC-2007 - Rain SpoilSport

Rain Rain Rain Go Away......

Rain is playing the spoil sport on the Final Day of the WC 2007. It has dampen the spirits of millions of fans around the world and especially the ones from the island of Ceylon.

Every anxious fan hoping for a good game of cricket must be praying that the RAIN STAYS AWAY and we have a great "CONTEST" in true terms of the FINALS.

Rain Rain Rain Go Away

Lesson for all at Virgina Tech Campus - Tragedy

Many of young dreams have been shattered.... 32 young lives have been lost due to one stroke of madness..

Indian student community has suffered ...they have lost a teacher who was imparting knowledge to youngsters and one student who came across the seven seas to pursue her dreams ..but the dreams have been curtailed even before they could take any form..

Condolonces go out to the families of all those killed in this tragic incident... Being a parent myself makes one feel if our children are really safe in the schools and colleges..As a parent one would give his child advice on not falling prey to vices like drugs or alcohol, but who can advice them to be look-out on such incidents..

With heavy heart, wish the familes of the lost ones my heart-filled condolonces..

A lesson to be learned for BCCI

A nice article that talks of implementing some corporate policies and processes to make Indian Team a world beaters...

Read the article to understand how....



http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Howzzat_HR_teaches_BCCI_masterstroke/articleshow/1895135.cms

Interesting Reading - Woolmers Death

While going thru our own Indian newspaper came across this interesting article....

"It is important for the Jamaican police to examine the victim’s mobile and telephone records, mails, emails, food in the refrigerator, meetings and appointments, work and entertainment habits. A discreet inquiry into any suspected romantic affair should also be made. They should also look into what possible enemies Bob Woolmer had — business-financial, political, religious, relationships etc. It would be equally helpful to find out Woolmer’s medical and mental history. "

Read More
http://www.dc-epaper.com/deccanchronicle/ArticleText.aspx?article=11_04_2007_007_003

This article is published by someone who is very well know in the field of investigation. And definetely would be worth a thought.

Winds of Change in Indian Cricket

The two day BCCI Committee meeting to review the WC-2007 debacle has come up with some startling and brave decisions.

This is just may be a historic decision...that may just do plenty of good for Indian Cricket

"In a historic change, it was also decided to scrap the present Zonal representation in the Senior and Junior selection ommittees. BCCI will appoint selectors on a full time basis based upon the eligibility criteria which would include stature as a player, selection experience etc. The selectors will be remunerated suitably and appointed for a two year term."

By passing the following decision...BCCI is making sure the players keep their focus on the game rather than their increasing $$ balances

A player will endorse not more than 3 sponsors or products. No Sponsor can contract more than 2 players. The players will not be allowed to do any sponsor related events 15 days before the tour and also during the tour.

Domestic cricket would also get a boost if the following rule is strictly implemented

All the players will have to play a stipulated number of Domestic matches when not playing for India.

By retaining Dravid as captain for the next tours, BCCI has sent strong signals to one and all that nonsense will not be tolerated.

Over all the 'Chappel' era seems to have brought in 'winds of change' in the INDIAN CRICKETING WORLD.... Hope this change is for good and India can only become NUMERO UNO

Read more in detail at http://www.rediff.com/wc2007/2007/apr/07dravid.htm

Finally a match to talk about in WC-2007

Finally, there was a match of equals and something to cheer about in the WC-2007.

After so many soft matches, finally there was an even contest and CRICKET was the winner. England gave Sri Lanka run for their money. They fought back from the brink to come close to pulling a victory that would have made all the English Fans 'revert to some drinking binge'.

Hope Indian cricket team takes some lessons out of the English win. It was the 7th wicket pair of unknown players in the world of cricket who fought like there was no another day. And mind you there were no heroics, just simple basic cricket of accumulation of runs thru singles. One cannot digest the thought that India with the strongest batting line up put up such a dismal show against the same SL attack.

England would take many positives out of this game and SL must be sitting pretty with their chances of going thru to semi-finals have brightened.

Guys my 2 cents on the following line up for semis - Aus, SA, NZ and SL..

Another Kerry Packer in India

Wow...

The poor showing in the WC 2007 seems to be having lots of side-effects back home.

We have our own Subash Chandra doing a Kerry Packer.....

Read more http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/india/content/current/story/288641.html

It would be worth watching the proceeding as they unfold going forward.

Scarry side of Blogging

Guys... this is really scary ..Blogging world can turn so dangerous for a person who is just sharing thoughts with the world

http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/tech/2007/04/02/cho.dark.side.of.blogs.cnn