I know I am going to sound like a complete spoilt sport saying this, but regardless of what anyone thinks, facts are facts and some assumptions just can't be helped, looking at the rather GLARING facts.
My dad and I are ALMOSTconvinced that the umpires (originally Mark Benson and Asad Rauf) in this match were um... swayed from their supposed neutral positions by unknown sums of money (I'm trying to avoid the accusatory word here). Because if you look at it, the umpiring decisions in this match have been nothing sort of atrocious and SURPRISE SURPRISE (or not?), all the bad decisions have only gone India's way. I'm not talking about one or two. There must have been 6-10.
In the first innings, when India was bowling, Mark Benson gave some of the most OBVIOUSLY out LBWs as not out. About 3 of them? Only the MOST OBVIOUS and the MOST CANNOT-BE-GIVEN-NOT-OUT-WITHOUT-SUSPICIONS-ARISING lbws were given out. It was utterly frustrating. The commentators kept saying, "Oh Mark Benson has made another shockingly bad decision!"
Then when India started batting, DRAVID (sob) was given out by LBW when even I could see WITHOUT replay that the ball was bouncing far too high. Shocker of a decision. And a heartbreaker as well. With our most reliable player gone, it didn't take too much to bundle India out.
In the middle of all this, somehow, Mark Benson (who was making most of the bad decisions) got palpitations and was sent to the hospital. A replacement umpire was sent in. I thought I had seen the last of the obviously rubbishy decisions.
Ok then it comes to the second innings. India bowls. Not TOO many bad decisions to make here, because most of the appeals really weren't out.
Then India BATS. Jammy ONCE AGAIN gets a RUBBISHY decision. His bat hits his pad but SA appeals for a caught behind and ASAD RAUF now starts making the atrocious decisions! He gives it out! ?!?!?!
Sachin's wicket too was dubious. Lbw appeal for a ball bouncing rather high. Given out. Hawk eye shows that it only JUST clipped the top of the bails. May well have missed them. Asad Rauf has done it again. AND THEN. AND THEN INDIA IS HANGING ON BY THE SKIN OF THEIR TEETH WITH THE FINAL WICKET holding on somehow, praying for bad light. Indian fans world over are chewing their nails off. Sreesanth gets a bouncer, he drops his bat and pulls out of the shot at the last moment. The balls passes the bat and goes off his shoulder instead, into the keeper's gloves. Everyone appeals. Asad Rauf, as an umpire, is TRAINED to notice the tiniest of details about the way the ball bounces/turns/etc. but supposedly DOESN'T notice the OBVIOUS fact that Sreesanth pulled the bat out of the line of the ball. He gives it out. WOW. That is a trained umpire INDEED.
Sreesanth looked like he could have killed. So did I for that matter. At a time when bad light could have JUST helped India snatch a quiet draw from under the Proteas' noses, these decisions were crucial. Either the umpires didn't realise that, or they only realised it TOO WELL- for the wrong reasons. Funnily enough, hardly any (if any at all) bad decisions went against SA. Only heaven knows what the truth of the matter really is. Although I can't help but say that there seems to be more than meets the eye to this match.
And if you've been following the match, you won't doubt my (rather flamboyant, I agree) declarations.
I promise I won't say anything more about my assumptions unless something is proven. :P
Although you will probably hear me whining about the unprofessional umpiring in this match for eons to come, especially if SA wins the series. *TOUCHWOOD*
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Cursed Internet Connections.
Finally, FINALLY I CAN POST AGAIN TO BLOGGER AND MY BELOVED CRICKET BLOG!
Hail whoever "rushed" to repair those damaged internet connection lines.
Right I feel so RUBBISHY because I have not been able to post about how absolutely MISERABLY our BELOVED TeamIndia is performing.
Ok this is HILARIOUS. Just listen to this.
India is obviously in an absolutely despairing position. The light it seems, is dipping rapidly. Obviously India wants to last out till they call bad light. Ntini bowls and hits Sreesanth on the bowling arm. His right arm. Sreesanth drops his bat and walks away in pain. The commentator (obviously Indian) JUMPS on this opportunity and says "OOOOH he's hurt. Bring out the physio, bring out the stretcher, bring out everything. Take as much time as you want. It's completely in his right to do so. The longer he takes, the more chance of the umpires offering bad light!" LOL.
Ok, Zaks is out. :( :( :( One more wicket for SA to grab like the EASIEST of victories. I honestly want to switch the TV off RIGHT NOW. What can VRV SINGH DO?!?!?! OR EVEN SREESANTH. URGHHHHHH THIS IS SO INSANE WHY DO I WORK MYSELF UP LIKE THIS?
BLOODY UMPIRES GO ON AND OFFER THE LIGHT COME ON. Where are those weather gods when you need them? I know fortune favours the brave, so come on now, favour the Indians who were brave- Dhoni, Kumble and Zaks.
Ok THATS IT. THEY'VE WON. *SOBCRYDIE*
That's it. I'm off to mourn my miseries.
Hail whoever "rushed" to repair those damaged internet connection lines.
Right I feel so RUBBISHY because I have not been able to post about how absolutely MISERABLY our BELOVED TeamIndia is performing.
Ok this is HILARIOUS. Just listen to this.
India is obviously in an absolutely despairing position. The light it seems, is dipping rapidly. Obviously India wants to last out till they call bad light. Ntini bowls and hits Sreesanth on the bowling arm. His right arm. Sreesanth drops his bat and walks away in pain. The commentator (obviously Indian) JUMPS on this opportunity and says "OOOOH he's hurt. Bring out the physio, bring out the stretcher, bring out everything. Take as much time as you want. It's completely in his right to do so. The longer he takes, the more chance of the umpires offering bad light!" LOL.
Ok, Zaks is out. :( :( :( One more wicket for SA to grab like the EASIEST of victories. I honestly want to switch the TV off RIGHT NOW. What can VRV SINGH DO?!?!?! OR EVEN SREESANTH. URGHHHHHH THIS IS SO INSANE WHY DO I WORK MYSELF UP LIKE THIS?
BLOODY UMPIRES GO ON AND OFFER THE LIGHT COME ON. Where are those weather gods when you need them? I know fortune favours the brave, so come on now, favour the Indians who were brave- Dhoni, Kumble and Zaks.
Ok THATS IT. THEY'VE WON. *SOBCRYDIE*
That's it. I'm off to mourn my miseries.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Retirement of an all-time Great.
The world is about to lose one of the greatest spinners to ever play Cricket.
Yes, finally, after a record 699 wickets (soon to be 700, surely) to his name and a wildly successful career, Shane Warne has announced his retirement from cricket once the Ashes series is over.
I appologise for my delay in blogging about this, it just completely slipped my mind. Here are a few links for articles about his retirement.
http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/273509.html
http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/ausveng/content/current/story/273533.html
http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/ausveng/content/current/story/273513.html
What an amazing cricketer, what a scintillating career. It is not just Australia which will miss him. The entire cricketing world will miss his fiery flippers and vicious spin, which "revived a lost art", that of spin bowling, in a world where pace was predominant. His liveliness on the field and his unbeatable skill has left a deep imprint on cricket, and no doubt, the world hopes that he will soon continue gracing international cricket with his presence in the commentary box.
One of the greats indeed. Hats off to you Warnie. :)
Yes, finally, after a record 699 wickets (soon to be 700, surely) to his name and a wildly successful career, Shane Warne has announced his retirement from cricket once the Ashes series is over.
I appologise for my delay in blogging about this, it just completely slipped my mind. Here are a few links for articles about his retirement.
http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/273509.html
http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/ausveng/content/current/story/273533.html
http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/ausveng/content/current/story/273513.html
What an amazing cricketer, what a scintillating career. It is not just Australia which will miss him. The entire cricketing world will miss his fiery flippers and vicious spin, which "revived a lost art", that of spin bowling, in a world where pace was predominant. His liveliness on the field and his unbeatable skill has left a deep imprint on cricket, and no doubt, the world hopes that he will soon continue gracing international cricket with his presence in the commentary box.
One of the greats indeed. Hats off to you Warnie. :)
Thursday, December 21, 2006
A Gentleman's Game?
It is supposedly said that cricket is a gentleman's game.
Well, perhaps it was so in the past, but it certainly is not now. (No, I'm not talking about the sexism in the statement, even though that is a fairly valid point)
Let me describe a few recent on field incidents.
1. Muralitharan's run-out
Sangakkara took a run to get his hundred and Murali ran as the non-striker. As Sangakkara raised his bat to the crowds to celebrate his hundred, Murali grounds his bat, then turns around to congratulate his team-mate. He doesn't realise that the ball isn't dead yet, and so, when the NZ keeper gets the ball, he promptly runs Murali out. AND THE UMPIRE GIVES IT OUT!! Hello, he grounded his bat remember? Once he's grounded it, isn't the ball supposed to be declared dead? And the NZ team didn't care that he was congratulating his team-mate, they just run him out. Whatever happened to gentlemanliness?
2. Geraint Jones's run out
Highly similar to Murali's, just that this time, he was a little out of his crease as Shane Warne appealed for an LBW decision aganist him, and in the meantime, Ponting run him out by throwing the ball at the stumps. ?!?!
Honestly. He was waiting for the umpire's decision! I felt so sad for him.
3. Andre Nel's sledging
If you're Indian and you hate Nel for his scathing remarks and sledging of the Indian players during play, it's not so ok anymore. Because if it wasn't for his sledging, we would never have seen Sreesanth's hilariously entertaining display of his dancing skills. But even then, Nel does go overboard with what he says sometimes. He's a lot worse when he plays in India against India because the crowd sledges him back and gets his blood boiling. :P And he actually shouts at the crowd! Trust me, I've been there, done that.
There you go, those are just a select few.
Just because the players don't start headbutting each other doesn't exactly mean it's a gentleman's game.
Oh and before I go, the video of the above mentioned Murali run out.
Well, perhaps it was so in the past, but it certainly is not now. (No, I'm not talking about the sexism in the statement, even though that is a fairly valid point)
Let me describe a few recent on field incidents.
1. Muralitharan's run-out
Sangakkara took a run to get his hundred and Murali ran as the non-striker. As Sangakkara raised his bat to the crowds to celebrate his hundred, Murali grounds his bat, then turns around to congratulate his team-mate. He doesn't realise that the ball isn't dead yet, and so, when the NZ keeper gets the ball, he promptly runs Murali out. AND THE UMPIRE GIVES IT OUT!! Hello, he grounded his bat remember? Once he's grounded it, isn't the ball supposed to be declared dead? And the NZ team didn't care that he was congratulating his team-mate, they just run him out. Whatever happened to gentlemanliness?
2. Geraint Jones's run out
Highly similar to Murali's, just that this time, he was a little out of his crease as Shane Warne appealed for an LBW decision aganist him, and in the meantime, Ponting run him out by throwing the ball at the stumps. ?!?!
Honestly. He was waiting for the umpire's decision! I felt so sad for him.
3. Andre Nel's sledging
If you're Indian and you hate Nel for his scathing remarks and sledging of the Indian players during play, it's not so ok anymore. Because if it wasn't for his sledging, we would never have seen Sreesanth's hilariously entertaining display of his dancing skills. But even then, Nel does go overboard with what he says sometimes. He's a lot worse when he plays in India against India because the crowd sledges him back and gets his blood boiling. :P And he actually shouts at the crowd! Trust me, I've been there, done that.
There you go, those are just a select few.
Just because the players don't start headbutting each other doesn't exactly mean it's a gentleman's game.
Oh and before I go, the video of the above mentioned Murali run out.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Riding the high (still).
Here are some nice stuff about TeamIndia's historic victory against the Proteas from articles that arrive in my Gmail inbox :)
Article 1:
JOHANNESBURG, Dec 18: As the clock ticked away, and the scoreboard kept pace on a tense Monday morning, the faces in the Indian dressing room slowly started losing colour.
Anxiety had already streaked into their eyes while the frowns had also transformed into furrows: Ashwell Prince and Shaun Pollock were making an unbelievable dash for an improbable victory.
But then, suddenly, the magic moment arrived: Pollock, batting till now like he was possessed, took a mighty swipe at Anil Kumble and missed. South Africa's last hope had fallen apart; in a flash, the tension evaporated in the dressing room; the smiles were back and the chatter began all over again.
Mark Boucher had already gone back to the dressing room. Prince was still there but now it was truly just a matter if time. About 12 overs later, victory eventually kissed India.
It was a massive 123-run win, marked by an amazing team effort in which the batsmen nicely complemented the bowlers and both were backed up by superb catching.
When last man Makhaya Ntini ballooned the ball and Virender Sehwag raced towards it, the nearly-empty stadium rose to its feet. Even before he completed the catch, Rahul Dravid was jumping up and down, like a little boy who had just heard the clanging of the ice-cream man.
Suddenly, the entire team surged towards the middle and selfishly dived at the stumps. Nobody wanted to miss the memento, a souvenir for a stunning victory.
Dravid, Zaheer, Dhoni, Sehwag and Laxman proved to be the quickest and lucky ones. As the players celebrated their rebirth, hugging each other, the great Indian huddle materialised. Cries of ' India Zindabad' too rang around the stands.
Earlier in the morning, too, the day began with a huddle. Victory was just five steps away for India; for South Africa it was 239 too far but definitely not unreachable.
India needed a quick and sharp breakthrough as they defended a 402-run total: Zaheer Khan provided it in the third over itself, trapping Boucher before the stumps.
But Pollock seemed to be in a zone: he arrived and immediately started picking boundaries like he was collecting flowers in a garden. The answer had to be hidden in Anil Kumble's flippers. Eventually, one ripped past Pollock's groping bat; another crashed into his pads.
The moment was clearly nigh. Pollock succumbed to the pressure after making a splendid 40. Prince, meanwhile, continued his own resistance. On the threshold of his century, at 97, he stepped out to overtake his milestone, missed and got bowled.
Kumble with three for 54, wrapping up the tail before it could really start wagging. Sreesanth had provided the first ray of hope, with a bustling five-wicket haul in the first innings and a stunning three-wicket spell in the second. He was named the Man of the Match.
The party has begun; Christmas has clearly arrived early.
Aritcle 2:
Not even the most patriotic admirer would have imagined that India would outplay the Proteas on their home soil in the first Test. Congratulations to the Indian team. India needs more aggressive players like Sreesanth, whose energy certainly has a positive rub-on effect on the others. Team India however, should not take this victory for granted and should assiduously plan ahead. —Nitin G Gokarn, Mumbai.
Yup. Go read the articles on Cricinfo if you want to ride the high of this victory still further. Here's one that will help :)
http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/rsavind/content/current/story/273283.html
OH and this one is just AWESOME. I could read it and be happy all day. TEAMINDIALOVE
http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/273285.html
And listen to Dravid's press conference because... well, just because. I will not risk my dignity by fangirling in specifics.
I just read this mile long interview with Greg Chappell on Cricinfo. It was really very insightful and I think my respect for him has gone up a few notches. Seriously. I mean, a lot of things he says makes so much sense, and not just to cricket. I think I took a couple of life lessons away from that interview. So go read that too.
http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/273408.html
I feel this bubbly warmth inside me now. AHHHHH the joys of cricket.
Ok let me not get too carried away because I know I will revert back to upset (although not faithless) if (touchwood) they lose the next test. Or even draw it. I mean, I want them to win. >< AHHHH MUST LOWER EXPECTATIONS.
Oh and I need to sleep. The time is 2.39 am EEP. GOODNIGHT!
Article 1:
JOHANNESBURG, Dec 18: As the clock ticked away, and the scoreboard kept pace on a tense Monday morning, the faces in the Indian dressing room slowly started losing colour.
Anxiety had already streaked into their eyes while the frowns had also transformed into furrows: Ashwell Prince and Shaun Pollock were making an unbelievable dash for an improbable victory.
But then, suddenly, the magic moment arrived: Pollock, batting till now like he was possessed, took a mighty swipe at Anil Kumble and missed. South Africa's last hope had fallen apart; in a flash, the tension evaporated in the dressing room; the smiles were back and the chatter began all over again.
Mark Boucher had already gone back to the dressing room. Prince was still there but now it was truly just a matter if time. About 12 overs later, victory eventually kissed India.
It was a massive 123-run win, marked by an amazing team effort in which the batsmen nicely complemented the bowlers and both were backed up by superb catching.
When last man Makhaya Ntini ballooned the ball and Virender Sehwag raced towards it, the nearly-empty stadium rose to its feet. Even before he completed the catch, Rahul Dravid was jumping up and down, like a little boy who had just heard the clanging of the ice-cream man.
Suddenly, the entire team surged towards the middle and selfishly dived at the stumps. Nobody wanted to miss the memento, a souvenir for a stunning victory.
Dravid, Zaheer, Dhoni, Sehwag and Laxman proved to be the quickest and lucky ones. As the players celebrated their rebirth, hugging each other, the great Indian huddle materialised. Cries of ' India Zindabad' too rang around the stands.
Earlier in the morning, too, the day began with a huddle. Victory was just five steps away for India; for South Africa it was 239 too far but definitely not unreachable.
India needed a quick and sharp breakthrough as they defended a 402-run total: Zaheer Khan provided it in the third over itself, trapping Boucher before the stumps.
But Pollock seemed to be in a zone: he arrived and immediately started picking boundaries like he was collecting flowers in a garden. The answer had to be hidden in Anil Kumble's flippers. Eventually, one ripped past Pollock's groping bat; another crashed into his pads.
The moment was clearly nigh. Pollock succumbed to the pressure after making a splendid 40. Prince, meanwhile, continued his own resistance. On the threshold of his century, at 97, he stepped out to overtake his milestone, missed and got bowled.
Kumble with three for 54, wrapping up the tail before it could really start wagging. Sreesanth had provided the first ray of hope, with a bustling five-wicket haul in the first innings and a stunning three-wicket spell in the second. He was named the Man of the Match.
The party has begun; Christmas has clearly arrived early.
Aritcle 2:
Not even the most patriotic admirer would have imagined that India would outplay the Proteas on their home soil in the first Test. Congratulations to the Indian team. India needs more aggressive players like Sreesanth, whose energy certainly has a positive rub-on effect on the others. Team India however, should not take this victory for granted and should assiduously plan ahead. —Nitin G Gokarn, Mumbai.
Yup. Go read the articles on Cricinfo if you want to ride the high of this victory still further. Here's one that will help :)
http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/rsavind/content/current/story/273283.html
OH and this one is just AWESOME. I could read it and be happy all day. TEAMINDIALOVE
http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/273285.html
And listen to Dravid's press conference because... well, just because. I will not risk my dignity by fangirling in specifics.
I just read this mile long interview with Greg Chappell on Cricinfo. It was really very insightful and I think my respect for him has gone up a few notches. Seriously. I mean, a lot of things he says makes so much sense, and not just to cricket. I think I took a couple of life lessons away from that interview. So go read that too.
http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/273408.html
I feel this bubbly warmth inside me now. AHHHHH the joys of cricket.
Ok let me not get too carried away because I know I will revert back to upset (although not faithless) if (touchwood) they lose the next test. Or even draw it. I mean, I want them to win. >< AHHHH MUST LOWER EXPECTATIONS.
Oh and I need to sleep. The time is 2.39 am EEP. GOODNIGHT!
Monday, December 18, 2006
Emphatic victories.
Australia won the ashes. HMPH. England really played badly towards the end. >< But I can take back what I said about Flintoff because he hit a terrific 51. <3 That's about the only positive. Sigh.
About India, THEY WONNNNNNN :D:D:D:D:D:D:D
OK I admit I am very high about their victory. And so were they, judging by their jubilant celebrations (read as: pouring drinks on anyone in sight, including all their teammates and management, the commentator(s) who happened to be there to steal a few interviews, the security personnell and the chief selector for Indian cricket). FUN :)) Dhoni even managed to get drinks poured into his pants. :P:P It was a crazy, messy affair, because it wasn't just water, but orange juice and energy drinks and milk and anything else. I would have given just about ANYTHING to be there, but that is, I suppose, besides the point.
Jammy even carried his son, Sameet around and into the dressing room to join in the celebrations. (UNFAIR)
So it was a wonderful match, with Sreesanth of course, being the highlight of it all when he took full advantage of being in the limelight and turned the cricket pitch into his dance floor (refer previous entry). Of course, there were also the brilliant wickets he + Zaks + Jumbo took. The batting wasn't too great, but I think it wasn't too easy a pitch to bat on, and anyway, some knocks made up for the lack of scores from others. Laxman with his class and calm, Ganguly with his gritty application, Zaheer with his wonderful comeback to the international stage, Jammy with his composure and strategy, Sehwag with his blinding catches, VRV Singh with his unexpectedly aggressive batting, Kumble with his masterful and well-thought out wickets, and of course Sreesanth with his impressive show of his dancing skills and his skilled bowling, it was a team effort.
I know it's all easy to say after they've won, but seriously, it was a good match. And even when they lose, we still love them, right? (cue to say YES)
Just one funny moment before I go:
Gautam Bhimani: So Rahul, did you expect such a response from Sreesanth to Nel's words? What did you make of this reaction from the quiet Keralite?
Dravid: *laughs loudly* QUIET?? You've never seen him in the dressing room!
India's first ever test win in South Africa. History has been created! :)
About India, THEY WONNNNNNN :D:D:D:D:D:D:D
OK I admit I am very high about their victory. And so were they, judging by their jubilant celebrations (read as: pouring drinks on anyone in sight, including all their teammates and management, the commentator(s) who happened to be there to steal a few interviews, the security personnell and the chief selector for Indian cricket). FUN :)) Dhoni even managed to get drinks poured into his pants. :P:P It was a crazy, messy affair, because it wasn't just water, but orange juice and energy drinks and milk and anything else. I would have given just about ANYTHING to be there, but that is, I suppose, besides the point.
Jammy even carried his son, Sameet around and into the dressing room to join in the celebrations. (UNFAIR)
So it was a wonderful match, with Sreesanth of course, being the highlight of it all when he took full advantage of being in the limelight and turned the cricket pitch into his dance floor (refer previous entry). Of course, there were also the brilliant wickets he + Zaks + Jumbo took. The batting wasn't too great, but I think it wasn't too easy a pitch to bat on, and anyway, some knocks made up for the lack of scores from others. Laxman with his class and calm, Ganguly with his gritty application, Zaheer with his wonderful comeback to the international stage, Jammy with his composure and strategy, Sehwag with his blinding catches, VRV Singh with his unexpectedly aggressive batting, Kumble with his masterful and well-thought out wickets, and of course Sreesanth with his impressive show of his dancing skills and his skilled bowling, it was a team effort.
I know it's all easy to say after they've won, but seriously, it was a good match. And even when they lose, we still love them, right? (cue to say YES)
Just one funny moment before I go:
Gautam Bhimani: So Rahul, did you expect such a response from Sreesanth to Nel's words? What did you make of this reaction from the quiet Keralite?
Dravid: *laughs loudly* QUIET?? You've never seen him in the dressing room!
India's first ever test win in South Africa. History has been created! :)
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Sreesanth's Secret Life.
Oh my goodness me. Sreesanth should be made a permanent feature of every cricket match because he is so utterly entertaining. Hilarious.
For those of you who did not watch this match (geez, shame on you if you're not watching/ following such an entertaining Indian match, especially if you're an Indian supporter), here follows a description. So Sreesanth comes on to bat after Zaks falls to Ntini. I was upset becaue Zaks was utterly smacking away (oops, I guess I underestimated him :P).
Nel bowls, a little wide, Sreesanth swings rather wildly and misses, expectedly. Nel walks up to him (and this is completely uncalled for) and hits his own heart with his fist and says "Show me your heart, show me" to Sreesanth. UTTERLY unneccessary. Sreesanth is clearly charged up, his blood is boiling, you can practically see it. Then Nel (evidently feeling rather pleased with himself, the cheeky idiot (don't get me wrong, I like Nel)) bowls a good length ball and Sreesanth, all riled up, makes room for himself and SMASHES it over Nel's head for a six! Haha take that Nel! Oh but WAIT, it's not over yet. Sreesanth then skips down the pitch, while swinging his bat around his head, rodeo-style, accompanied by a, I quote, "pelvic thrust" and he continues in this fashion until he's made sure that he's brought his point across to Nel and everyone else watching.
At this, the commentators are first silent in utter disbelief and then they all promptly burst out laughing, choking on their words and falling off their chairs. Once they have regained their footing and their breath, they proceed to replay the scene about ten times in 5 minutes, and they laugh like idiots every single time.
Honestly, I don't blame them one bit. It was completely totally hilarious and I laughed every single time they replayed it too. Classic.
If only test matches were always this hilariously entertaining.
For those of you who did not watch this match (geez, shame on you if you're not watching/ following such an entertaining Indian match, especially if you're an Indian supporter), here follows a description. So Sreesanth comes on to bat after Zaks falls to Ntini. I was upset becaue Zaks was utterly smacking away (oops, I guess I underestimated him :P).
Nel bowls, a little wide, Sreesanth swings rather wildly and misses, expectedly. Nel walks up to him (and this is completely uncalled for) and hits his own heart with his fist and says "Show me your heart, show me" to Sreesanth. UTTERLY unneccessary. Sreesanth is clearly charged up, his blood is boiling, you can practically see it. Then Nel (evidently feeling rather pleased with himself, the cheeky idiot (don't get me wrong, I like Nel)) bowls a good length ball and Sreesanth, all riled up, makes room for himself and SMASHES it over Nel's head for a six! Haha take that Nel! Oh but WAIT, it's not over yet. Sreesanth then skips down the pitch, while swinging his bat around his head, rodeo-style, accompanied by a, I quote, "pelvic thrust" and he continues in this fashion until he's made sure that he's brought his point across to Nel and everyone else watching.
At this, the commentators are first silent in utter disbelief and then they all promptly burst out laughing, choking on their words and falling off their chairs. Once they have regained their footing and their breath, they proceed to replay the scene about ten times in 5 minutes, and they laugh like idiots every single time.
Honestly, I don't blame them one bit. It was completely totally hilarious and I laughed every single time they replayed it too. Classic.
If only test matches were always this hilariously entertaining.
THE ASHES! and India-SA Test1 Day3
I am sitting at the dining table once again watching cricket as I type in here, but this time I'm watching the 3rd test of The Ashes on silent mode, because everyone else is asleep. :P
Yup I don't think my family is getting over the jetlag as well as I am, but that may just be because I am so used to being an owl.
SOOOO I have happily clipped on my earphones and am really quite content watching Shane Warne bowl and Alastair Cook bat to the tune of 23 by Jimmy Eat World.
Ok on to the Ashes. I didn't quite watch the first two tests, both of which Australia won by huge margins. Being a five match series and this being the 3rd test, it's England's final chance to pull themselves back into the series by either winning or drawing this game. Funnily enough, it would probably be easier for them to win than to draw because they still have an hour and a half of today plus the whole of tomorrow left to play, and honestly, if they last that long, I think they'll quite easily score 557 runs. :P
But I must say that it's been a great fightback from England. Or at least, it was. When they had this HUGE partnership for the 2nd wicket. Then of course, Bell got himself out caught and Colllingwood got out as well to leave Cook (who incidentally is rather good looking) hanging on. Oh well. I say a few from the English team really need to stand up and take some responsibility and play to their potential. They really have been on a decline ever since they won the last Ashes. Their ODI performances in recent times have been nothing short of dismal and if they do not prove themselves at least in the tests, they are really in for it because the World Cup is only about 3 months away.
Speaking of proving themselves, India-SA Test1 Day3 has started and #%(*^($&*^(* Cricket Channel is not showing it live until the 4th day of the 3rd Ashes test finishes >P
However, I am keeping track on Cricinfo AND WHAT THE *^#()#* BANANAS DHONI IS OUT!? UGHHHH and to think I was just going to say something good about India.
Ok nevermind I shall go ahead with my praises. Well I must say, India played out of their skins yesterday. Sreesanth finished with 5 for 40, his maiden 5-wicket haul and every bowler pitched in. A lot of discipline in the line and length and a lot of effort in the field ensured that SA was all out for 84, leaving India with a sizeable lead of 165. Then along came the batsmen, who admittedly did not play very well, except for maybe Ganguly, who got out and Laxman who, fortunately, is still hanging on. Although, I must say, we already have a very good lead and if we continue in this reign we should be ok.
But of course, we are INDIA AND HENCE WE HAVE TO BE RUBBISHY AND ARGHHH WHY DID KUMBLE HAVE TO GET OUT WHAT CAN ZAKS POSSIBLY DO WITH THE BAT?!?!?!
Sigh. On a positive note, however, the new 3D feature at Cricinfo seems quite nice. It's still beta though, so it's a little slow and all, but it's pretty cool when you can't watch the match live :P Oh and it tends to replay the same ball over and over. But its fun. The umpire actually makes hand signals. <33>Distraction: Hrithik (HOT) in Dhoom2 Coke ad. ><
Ok as much as I love watching the Ashes, it's really annoying that I can't watch India-SA! Especially when there's a good chance that India will be all out before they actually start showing the match. :(
Oh and LOL Mcgrath just snapped the boundary rope when he slid to save a 4.
I realised that this entry has transformed into some kind of fangirling ramble. I promise I'll TRY to be more er... informative. :P
Ok so Laxman got his 50 in slow time, strike rate under 50, but hey, he's staying there. (PLS LAXMAN LET ME NOT HAVE JINXED YOU WITH THAT STATEMENT)
Oh and Zaks just hit a FOUR. Ok fine, maybe he can be useful. India's lead is growing and my hopes are growing with it, because IF India win this, it will be their first test victory in SA I think. That's a pretty sad record eh? But hmmm they need a morale boost and this is the perfect opportunity. But like I said, you can never actually predict anything with India because they're so darn unpredictable. Like that time against Pakistan when Pathan got a hat-trick and reduced Pak to a mere 36 for 6 in the first day of the test. You'd think India would have capitalised on that to go on and win. BUT NOOOO they lost MISERABLY to Pak. Disappointing to say the least. Disgraceful and dismal to be more accurate.
But all that is in the past. I shall look to the future to be a little more... what shall we say? Joyous?
Speaking of joyous, Cook smashed a GLORIOUS four off Mcgrath, brilliant cut shot to the third man boundary :D
And now Pietersen drove through cover for a boundary. Oh man I'm so slow in updating cos I keep getting distracted and it's really hard to be switching between two matches. :P Especially when one is on TV and the other is the scorecard on the internet.
Flintoff's all padded up to come in next. I say, wasn't he the one who was England's hero in the last Ashes? It's funny, I haven't seen any of his BRILLIANT innings ever since he became captain. Sad how players tend to perform worse when they have the burden of captaincy placed on their shoulders. Like Ganguly. He suddenly went into some kind of unstoppable decline, which is so sad because he was a great player, one of the all time greats. I sincerely hope Jammy doesn't join that club.
And now as I watch Mcgrath on the screen, I get reminded of how much I admire him as a player. I really don't like any of the Australian team 'cept Blee and Mcgrath. They're both AMAZING bowlers, Mcgrath especially. He's 35 or so, and he's still bowling pace! Now that's fitness man.
UGHHH Cook out for 116 and Hoggard out for a DUCKKK :(:( England D: 261 for 5 now. Sob.
9 more runs for India's lead to be 350. I think I'll go read some fanfic and come back to update if something interesting happens in either match. I seem to have run out of insights. :P Toodle-oos!
Yup I don't think my family is getting over the jetlag as well as I am, but that may just be because I am so used to being an owl.
SOOOO I have happily clipped on my earphones and am really quite content watching Shane Warne bowl and Alastair Cook bat to the tune of 23 by Jimmy Eat World.
Ok on to the Ashes. I didn't quite watch the first two tests, both of which Australia won by huge margins. Being a five match series and this being the 3rd test, it's England's final chance to pull themselves back into the series by either winning or drawing this game. Funnily enough, it would probably be easier for them to win than to draw because they still have an hour and a half of today plus the whole of tomorrow left to play, and honestly, if they last that long, I think they'll quite easily score 557 runs. :P
But I must say that it's been a great fightback from England. Or at least, it was. When they had this HUGE partnership for the 2nd wicket. Then of course, Bell got himself out caught and Colllingwood got out as well to leave Cook (who incidentally is rather good looking) hanging on. Oh well. I say a few from the English team really need to stand up and take some responsibility and play to their potential. They really have been on a decline ever since they won the last Ashes. Their ODI performances in recent times have been nothing short of dismal and if they do not prove themselves at least in the tests, they are really in for it because the World Cup is only about 3 months away.
Speaking of proving themselves, India-SA Test1 Day3 has started and #%(*^($&*^(* Cricket Channel is not showing it live until the 4th day of the 3rd Ashes test finishes >P
However, I am keeping track on Cricinfo AND WHAT THE *^#()#* BANANAS DHONI IS OUT!? UGHHHH and to think I was just going to say something good about India.
Ok nevermind I shall go ahead with my praises. Well I must say, India played out of their skins yesterday. Sreesanth finished with 5 for 40, his maiden 5-wicket haul and every bowler pitched in. A lot of discipline in the line and length and a lot of effort in the field ensured that SA was all out for 84, leaving India with a sizeable lead of 165. Then along came the batsmen, who admittedly did not play very well, except for maybe Ganguly, who got out and Laxman who, fortunately, is still hanging on. Although, I must say, we already have a very good lead and if we continue in this reign we should be ok.
But of course, we are INDIA AND HENCE WE HAVE TO BE RUBBISHY AND ARGHHH WHY DID KUMBLE HAVE TO GET OUT WHAT CAN ZAKS POSSIBLY DO WITH THE BAT?!?!?!
Sigh. On a positive note, however, the new 3D feature at Cricinfo seems quite nice. It's still beta though, so it's a little slow and all, but it's pretty cool when you can't watch the match live :P Oh and it tends to replay the same ball over and over. But its fun. The umpire actually makes hand signals. <33>Distraction: Hrithik (HOT) in Dhoom2 Coke ad. ><
Ok as much as I love watching the Ashes, it's really annoying that I can't watch India-SA! Especially when there's a good chance that India will be all out before they actually start showing the match. :(
Oh and LOL Mcgrath just snapped the boundary rope when he slid to save a 4.
I realised that this entry has transformed into some kind of fangirling ramble. I promise I'll TRY to be more er... informative. :P
Ok so Laxman got his 50 in slow time, strike rate under 50, but hey, he's staying there. (PLS LAXMAN LET ME NOT HAVE JINXED YOU WITH THAT STATEMENT)
Oh and Zaks just hit a FOUR. Ok fine, maybe he can be useful. India's lead is growing and my hopes are growing with it, because IF India win this, it will be their first test victory in SA I think. That's a pretty sad record eh? But hmmm they need a morale boost and this is the perfect opportunity. But like I said, you can never actually predict anything with India because they're so darn unpredictable. Like that time against Pakistan when Pathan got a hat-trick and reduced Pak to a mere 36 for 6 in the first day of the test. You'd think India would have capitalised on that to go on and win. BUT NOOOO they lost MISERABLY to Pak. Disappointing to say the least. Disgraceful and dismal to be more accurate.
But all that is in the past. I shall look to the future to be a little more... what shall we say? Joyous?
Speaking of joyous, Cook smashed a GLORIOUS four off Mcgrath, brilliant cut shot to the third man boundary :D
And now Pietersen drove through cover for a boundary. Oh man I'm so slow in updating cos I keep getting distracted and it's really hard to be switching between two matches. :P Especially when one is on TV and the other is the scorecard on the internet.
Flintoff's all padded up to come in next. I say, wasn't he the one who was England's hero in the last Ashes? It's funny, I haven't seen any of his BRILLIANT innings ever since he became captain. Sad how players tend to perform worse when they have the burden of captaincy placed on their shoulders. Like Ganguly. He suddenly went into some kind of unstoppable decline, which is so sad because he was a great player, one of the all time greats. I sincerely hope Jammy doesn't join that club.
And now as I watch Mcgrath on the screen, I get reminded of how much I admire him as a player. I really don't like any of the Australian team 'cept Blee and Mcgrath. They're both AMAZING bowlers, Mcgrath especially. He's 35 or so, and he's still bowling pace! Now that's fitness man.
UGHHH Cook out for 116 and Hoggard out for a DUCKKK :(:( England D: 261 for 5 now. Sob.
9 more runs for India's lead to be 350. I think I'll go read some fanfic and come back to update if something interesting happens in either match. I seem to have run out of insights. :P Toodle-oos!
Saturday, December 16, 2006
India-SA Test1 Day2
I originally did not intend to use this address to blog at all, but I had a mad urge to blog about cricket stuff and what better place to do it without boring anyone who reads my main blog? Oh and the address of this blog suits the purpose rather well, does it not?
So here I am, back from the USA and watching the test mentioned in the title. Seemingly it's been a rather tumultous test match, with India getting all out for 249 (which is absolutely pathetic) and GANGULY scoring 51 NOT OUT and VRV getting 29 and a 44-run partnership with Ganguly and THEN dear dear Sreesanth JUST getting his third wicket and Zaks getting 1 and India reducing SA to 21 for 4.
The most surprising thing about all this is Ganguly's innings. ANY cricket lover in the world could probably tell you about the entire controversy with Greg Chappell and Ganguly and how he was ousted from the team etc etc because the Indian Media, being the India media, covered it to the last detail. Well, as much as the whole issue was rather damaging for Indian cricket, the truth was that Ganguly was not performing and in that sense, the ousting was justified. Now I was a huge fan of Ganguly, but I can say that he let me down, just like he let down all his other fans. So naturally, when I heard that he was back in the Test side, I was skeptical. Ok let me be more honest. I was BRUTALLY critical. It wasn't a very fair move on my part, but there you go. I had become faithless when it came to Ganguly.
And then, in the test against the Rest of South Africa team, he pulls off a miraculous innings along with Irfan! And in this first test, I find out that he's the one who's saved the Indian team's dignity. Well well. What can I say? Honestly. Because you simply can never tell with India.
Keep going Dada. If this is really your comeback, I'm not one to complain. :)
So here I am, back from the USA and watching the test mentioned in the title. Seemingly it's been a rather tumultous test match, with India getting all out for 249 (which is absolutely pathetic) and GANGULY scoring 51 NOT OUT and VRV getting 29 and a 44-run partnership with Ganguly and THEN dear dear Sreesanth JUST getting his third wicket and Zaks getting 1 and India reducing SA to 21 for 4.
The most surprising thing about all this is Ganguly's innings. ANY cricket lover in the world could probably tell you about the entire controversy with Greg Chappell and Ganguly and how he was ousted from the team etc etc because the Indian Media, being the India media, covered it to the last detail. Well, as much as the whole issue was rather damaging for Indian cricket, the truth was that Ganguly was not performing and in that sense, the ousting was justified. Now I was a huge fan of Ganguly, but I can say that he let me down, just like he let down all his other fans. So naturally, when I heard that he was back in the Test side, I was skeptical. Ok let me be more honest. I was BRUTALLY critical. It wasn't a very fair move on my part, but there you go. I had become faithless when it came to Ganguly.
And then, in the test against the Rest of South Africa team, he pulls off a miraculous innings along with Irfan! And in this first test, I find out that he's the one who's saved the Indian team's dignity. Well well. What can I say? Honestly. Because you simply can never tell with India.
Keep going Dada. If this is really your comeback, I'm not one to complain. :)
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