November 20, 2009
November 17, 2009
Not that funny.
Rahul Dravid made 177 test runs in a day. You find that funny, laugh. When last did Dravid make so many test runs in a day? Oh, just yesterday. Yeah right, after yesterday’s innings it looks like Dravid makes them all the time.
For some strange reason I’m thinking of Wasim Jaffer. Not entirely because of the egg ad conversations, but because of this Jaffer-Dravid p'ship at the Kotla.
Jaffer was hitting it like Dravid. For some reason it was tough to tell who was who – Jaffer was playing like he had turned up for a Ranji game. Even I was impressed. That when I knew he was at best stopgap, and this was possibly the last time I’d watch Jaffer at the Kotla. But he was smoking.
Back to Dravid. He had his cigar. And even though it’s more than four years, I lit up too.
But it wasn’t to blow smoke on any selectors, it was plain damn indulgence. When was the last time we said that about a Rahul Dravid innings? Yesterday. And hopefully today.
And if not, it’s still okay – because no matter how many runs you make Rahul, I’m still curious, what are you to Indian cricket – not as a batsman or a slip fielder, but as cricketing impact?
Yesterday we saw Sachin’s impact, c'mon place some cards on the table. It’s all about 2011. How many runs will it take to make you talk, 320? I'm waiting, but you shouldn't.
On Bored: Rahul Dravid's unnatural innings
For some strange reason I’m thinking of Wasim Jaffer. Not entirely because of the egg ad conversations, but because of this Jaffer-Dravid p'ship at the Kotla.
Jaffer was hitting it like Dravid. For some reason it was tough to tell who was who – Jaffer was playing like he had turned up for a Ranji game. Even I was impressed. That when I knew he was at best stopgap, and this was possibly the last time I’d watch Jaffer at the Kotla. But he was smoking.
Back to Dravid. He had his cigar. And even though it’s more than four years, I lit up too.
But it wasn’t to blow smoke on any selectors, it was plain damn indulgence. When was the last time we said that about a Rahul Dravid innings? Yesterday. And hopefully today.
And if not, it’s still okay – because no matter how many runs you make Rahul, I’m still curious, what are you to Indian cricket – not as a batsman or a slip fielder, but as cricketing impact?
Yesterday we saw Sachin’s impact, c'mon place some cards on the table. It’s all about 2011. How many runs will it take to make you talk, 320? I'm waiting, but you shouldn't.
On Bored: Rahul Dravid's unnatural innings
November 15, 2009
You're the (messiah and the mistress)
You’re the messiah and the mistress
You’re the Brutus cut
And the brute that felled Caesar
And all at once Caesar
You’re a tattoo across that man’s chest
And the woman’s breast alongside him
You’re the reason they watch TV
Together
But I cannot stand to see you open
And I can’t stand to see you close
I cannot stand to see you slow
And I can’t stand to see you go
I cannot stand to hear the hype
And I can’t stand to hear the tripe
You’re a B&W TV memory
Of me running to tell my sick mother
Of you running down to Qadir
“This crazy kid's gone nuts!”
And ever since
She’s been nuts about you
And that was the only time I watched
You and cricket with my brother
You’re the kid brother I never had.
Kid, change those milestones into stones.
(The first four lines came four days back, this Tendulkar20 Business can sure put you off)
You’re the Brutus cut
And the brute that felled Caesar
And all at once Caesar
You’re a tattoo across that man’s chest
And the woman’s breast alongside him
You’re the reason they watch TV
Together
But I cannot stand to see you open
And I can’t stand to see you close
I cannot stand to see you slow
And I can’t stand to see you go
I cannot stand to hear the hype
And I can’t stand to hear the tripe
You’re a B&W TV memory
Of me running to tell my sick mother
Of you running down to Qadir
“This crazy kid's gone nuts!”
And ever since
She’s been nuts about you
And that was the only time I watched
You and cricket with my brother
You’re the kid brother I never had.
Kid, change those milestones into stones.
(The first four lines came four days back, this Tendulkar20 Business can sure put you off)
November 14, 2009
November 11, 2009
A third rate captain.
I have watched Mohammad Yousuf closely, last time round in Delhi, he fielded under my nose. At third man. Third man is MoYo’s favourite place in the whole world. It is here that he’s one with himself, far from the madding crowds of team bonhomie, backslapping, hair ruffling, feelings, feeling.
When a wicket fell, no less than an Indian wicket that, after the mercurial Shoaib Akhtar ran a mile to bowl, MoYo didn’t budge an inch, forget drag his heals a few metres to the middle.
Instead he turned on his heal, turned his back to the boys, got lost in some future ICL thoughts.
Now MoYo is to be captain for a full test series. Never mind he says – I will captain from third man. This way, I don’t need to hurl annoying instructions that captains…he stops mid sentence, sensing an effort .
From third man there will be no such problems. Bowlers will bowl, appeal, change ends. Yes, that’s another thing, no appealing either. “I will not raise a finger, not in appeal, not at anyone, I want peace”
And what about the change of ends after every over – surely MoYo will not walk a few paces to mid on - that would be much too close to his teammates or cross over to the other side again (just to be in his safe house, third man)
MoYo languidly strokes his beard, and replies somewhat sternly, “I cannot afford to remain there and have a long on…I am not a defensive captain...I plan to go off the field every alternate over and give some youngster an opportunity to play for Pakistan”
On Bored: Vettori to captain Pakistan
When a wicket fell, no less than an Indian wicket that, after the mercurial Shoaib Akhtar ran a mile to bowl, MoYo didn’t budge an inch, forget drag his heals a few metres to the middle.
Instead he turned on his heal, turned his back to the boys, got lost in some future ICL thoughts.
Now MoYo is to be captain for a full test series. Never mind he says – I will captain from third man. This way, I don’t need to hurl annoying instructions that captains…he stops mid sentence, sensing an effort .
From third man there will be no such problems. Bowlers will bowl, appeal, change ends. Yes, that’s another thing, no appealing either. “I will not raise a finger, not in appeal, not at anyone, I want peace”
And what about the change of ends after every over – surely MoYo will not walk a few paces to mid on - that would be much too close to his teammates or cross over to the other side again (just to be in his safe house, third man)
MoYo languidly strokes his beard, and replies somewhat sternly, “I cannot afford to remain there and have a long on…I am not a defensive captain...I plan to go off the field every alternate over and give some youngster an opportunity to play for Pakistan”
On Bored: Vettori to captain Pakistan
The third man
Sachin plays as he pleases, Saurav’s retired, and Rahul plays Ranji.
As I check the Ranji scores, many cricket worlds emerge – there’s clarity, beyond bias, more like a future truth, who will be the last man standing?
Good for Dravid, every now and then his sense of humour returns: asked about the dilapidated Delhi team that Karnataka plays, he reminds you of the Aussies.
There’s a test coming, it’s Rahul vs Sachin again.
As I check the Ranji scores, many cricket worlds emerge – there’s clarity, beyond bias, more like a future truth, who will be the last man standing?
Good for Dravid, every now and then his sense of humour returns: asked about the dilapidated Delhi team that Karnataka plays, he reminds you of the Aussies.
There’s a test coming, it’s Rahul vs Sachin again.
November 10, 2009
Sketchy
Chatting with cartoonist cum Bored Member A Bisht compelled me to sketch again - good timing, the Indian teams' form has been sketchy off late. Between plumbers and masons, this leaked on to my page.
Aamer is actually seventeen.
Unlike Boom Boom Afridi who isn’t seventeen. Boom Boom plays like he’s seventeen, Aamer on the other hand, plays with the concern of an older man, someone MoYo’s age – MoYo of course didn’t play today.
When the chase was on in earnest, the importance wasn’t lost on the Pak players.
They were frozen in time – approx the time they lost it personally.
However MoYo looked miffed as he played with his beard. Word is the ICL will call him later tonight. Of course he won’t get a game there either.
But these are trivial pursuits, young Aamer, who goes by two names, one on his jersey, the other on the TV, was so cool, he deserves to break more records – I recommend he bat even lower than 10, and break the highest score by a No. 11 batsman.
Also thanks Aamer, from India, for helping us remember one Douglas Marillier, who until today had a world record to his name.
The record’s gone but the memories fresh. And if it isn’t, what do you think they made scorecards for?
When the chase was on in earnest, the importance wasn’t lost on the Pak players.
They were frozen in time – approx the time they lost it personally.
However MoYo looked miffed as he played with his beard. Word is the ICL will call him later tonight. Of course he won’t get a game there either.
But these are trivial pursuits, young Aamer, who goes by two names, one on his jersey, the other on the TV, was so cool, he deserves to break more records – I recommend he bat even lower than 10, and break the highest score by a No. 11 batsman.
Also thanks Aamer, from India, for helping us remember one Douglas Marillier, who until today had a world record to his name.
The record’s gone but the memories fresh. And if it isn’t, what do you think they made scorecards for?
November 09, 2009
Boom Boom
BOOM BOOM - JOHN LEE HOOKER IN THE BLUES BROTHERS
At a music store, Boom Boom caught my eye for obvious reasons. Enough said, shut up and listen.
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