You may not be aware what position Murali Kartik bats – possibly because you don’t think he bats.
But batting is a gift, and after Bhajji, it’s a gift that keeps on giving.
It’s now clear to every bowler, at least spinner, that if the spin doesn’t get you in, the batting will.
Murali Kartik opened the batting for Railways today. He scored 57 (144 mts, 96 balls, 9 4s, 2 6s). Good for him. It’s a shame his team wasn’t bowled out today, he could have opened the bowling. And topped that in the post match conference by opening his mouth.
That if anything goes far in India’s team selection.
I'm tired of the Bhajji vs Mishra comparisons, even Mishra is. He’s on twitter now.
But surely there are others who have not given up.
I suspect Kartik is still hanging in. Right now I don’t put the keeping gloves beyond him.
He’s only 34, been through a lot already, did you know, he even played for KKR – that’s a lot in one lifetime.
I’ve run into Kartik a few times, he always looks dazed – as if still reacting, somewhat incomprehensibly to the selectors.
Once was before an India tour, so that must be a long time back. And when I see cricketers I like, I just wish them luck.
So here I see, Kartik, by himself, in Priya market – and I call out, “Murali!” He nearly jumps out of his beads. “Best of luck for the tour” I add. If he spoke to strangers, think he would have said, “best of luck for the nets?”
Btw Bhajji has a first class average of 19.83 with 2 100s, 12 50s (155 matches). Kartik’s first class average is 19.21 with 16 50s (167 matches).
As for their bowling averages, why bother? The selectors don’t look at it, why should you?
Showing posts with label Harbhajan Singh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Harbhajan Singh. Show all posts
December 24, 2010
May 01, 2010
A big know-know: India in the World T20.
There is no RP Singh, ominous for India’s opponents. Also, Irfan Pathan will not bowl the last over, so you can’t afford to have anything more than 16 to get in the 20th. And the freebies in the super-overs sans Ishant Sharma, not going to be the same. Also Ishant hasn’t spoken to any of the youngsters (they’re older than him), so the semi-quicks will not carry with them the burden of Ishant’s youth.
Angry young man Gambhir will open the batting, and running with him will be rough. Dravid’s not there, so after Gambhir, there will not be anyone to keep up the high standard of aimless running between the wickets. India’s opponents will have to be on their toes, a few wickets could be gifted through idiotic running, but after Gambhir they’re pretty much on their own. Even taking Gambhir’s wicket for granted could be perilous, his bad run could well be a no-show, as in, he refuses to run.
If MS Dhoni is incapacitated (too much T20, takes a sabbatical) and Gambhir captains, India’s exit could be during the post toss interview, wherein Gambhir angers Afghanistan – calling them a dangerous side, or some such politically incorrect remark, mixing politics and cricket. Following which, Afghanistan does indeed become a dangerous side, rocket launchers for bowlers, guerrilla tactics in the field (fielders hiding behind boundary line hoardings appearing when least expected, snaring catches, blocking boundaries – as is the saying in Afghanistan, there are no boundaries…we like to seep into Pak and Iran and here and there (not quite the same when translated from Pushtoo, but that’s the gist).
Matters could worsen if Gambhir is unplayable too (banned) and BossDK takes over. Under him, the side will overachieve as nincompoops, following in his battered footsteps of derailed captaincy, keeping and batsmanship.
It could all go very wrong if Yusuf Pathan sticks to his international form, first ball duck coming. Rohit Sharma too would’ve snapped out of his IPL run, and will be all un-intense for the national squad. What about Raina, even he doesn’t know if he can resist the lures of midwicket.
But there’s Bhajji’s propaganda, Bhajji wielding Sachin’s bat, wanting to bat up the order, bowl up the order, field up the order, and cause general anarchy up the order – if all else fails, Bhajji will cheer you up. Zaks will make intense faces, become bowling captain, and urge overkill after a wicket. Praveen Kumar will bowl inane bouncers at 125 kmph. Piyush Chawla will make baby faces. Murali Vijay will always be grownup, always staring.
But there’s no Jatman. But it’s the T20 world cup, and he’s never there.
On Bored: Lalit Modi in the Carribean
Angry young man Gambhir will open the batting, and running with him will be rough. Dravid’s not there, so after Gambhir, there will not be anyone to keep up the high standard of aimless running between the wickets. India’s opponents will have to be on their toes, a few wickets could be gifted through idiotic running, but after Gambhir they’re pretty much on their own. Even taking Gambhir’s wicket for granted could be perilous, his bad run could well be a no-show, as in, he refuses to run.
If MS Dhoni is incapacitated (too much T20, takes a sabbatical) and Gambhir captains, India’s exit could be during the post toss interview, wherein Gambhir angers Afghanistan – calling them a dangerous side, or some such politically incorrect remark, mixing politics and cricket. Following which, Afghanistan does indeed become a dangerous side, rocket launchers for bowlers, guerrilla tactics in the field (fielders hiding behind boundary line hoardings appearing when least expected, snaring catches, blocking boundaries – as is the saying in Afghanistan, there are no boundaries…we like to seep into Pak and Iran and here and there (not quite the same when translated from Pushtoo, but that’s the gist).
Matters could worsen if Gambhir is unplayable too (banned) and BossDK takes over. Under him, the side will overachieve as nincompoops, following in his battered footsteps of derailed captaincy, keeping and batsmanship.
It could all go very wrong if Yusuf Pathan sticks to his international form, first ball duck coming. Rohit Sharma too would’ve snapped out of his IPL run, and will be all un-intense for the national squad. What about Raina, even he doesn’t know if he can resist the lures of midwicket.
But there’s Bhajji’s propaganda, Bhajji wielding Sachin’s bat, wanting to bat up the order, bowl up the order, field up the order, and cause general anarchy up the order – if all else fails, Bhajji will cheer you up. Zaks will make intense faces, become bowling captain, and urge overkill after a wicket. Praveen Kumar will bowl inane bouncers at 125 kmph. Piyush Chawla will make baby faces. Murali Vijay will always be grownup, always staring.
But there’s no Jatman. But it’s the T20 world cup, and he’s never there.
On Bored: Lalit Modi in the Carribean
January 25, 2010
January 24, 2010
Wanted: An economical test bowler
As always Dhoni had Bhajji’s only wicket home delivered to him, Dhaka via Jalandhar. Bhajji’s only wicket was the last man, Rubel Hossein – have you heard that name before. You will from now, Bhajji knocked him over.Bhajji, the most economical Indian bowler today, 1/48 @ only 2.54 runs per over, miserly. That’s what your strike bowler is for, to double up as your stock bowler – Bhajji, the strike, stock bowler. The true bowling allrounder.
Never mind that Amit Mishra. He may have been the 4th and 3rd highest scorer with his 14 and 50 in the first test, but it’s Ojha’s turn now. Next time it will be Mishra again. And so on.
And those 7 wickets that Mishra took, don’t make too much of them – he was way too costly, more than 4 runs per over. Bowling average of 22.5, not good enough either.
Mishra knows, he should’ve bowled better; he was lucky with those wickets. It won’t always be this way. As for poor Bhajji, he had it bad, a catch dropped off his bowling, baah! How could they – that’s his job, dropping catches.
On Bored: A horror cricket film, The Night Before II
January 13, 2010
January 08, 2010
A new toast for two ten.
I don’t care if he’s Indian or if he’s Pakistani
Don’t care if it’s you or some guy called Mohammad Sami
I don’t care if he’s a drunk or a flag bearer for the barmy army
Don’t care if it’s Umar Akmal after a brazen 49
Don’t care if it’s Shane Watson in the tavern after a run out on 99
I want a new toast
A new toast for two-ten
It can’t be that difficult
To give some new kids a chance
You can’t have the same mob playing all the time
And then saying there’s too much cricket
But wait a second, if there’s too much cricket
Why don’t you take a chill pill?
You may not quite be over the hill
But when the fuck will you get your fill?
Zaheer and Bhajji, what’s with you
You waiting to disintegrate on the field
Now you see the Lankans, right?
Do you even know their names?
Yeah, so bring some nameless players
From the back of beyond
A new state, somewhere in the North East
Or the Andaman Islands
Yeah, give it a push guys
You looking for a fucking fast bowler
Maybe you been looking in the wrong places
Go look in the middle of MP which incidentally
Is also the middle of India
If a kid can tame a tiger
Yeah, you know what I’m saying
I want a new toast
A new toast for two ten
Not you toast
No, no, no
I don’t wanna toast your five for whenever that comes
I wanna toast your five weeks off
On Bored: Cricket Songs
Don’t care if it’s you or some guy called Mohammad Sami
I don’t care if he’s a drunk or a flag bearer for the barmy army
Don’t care if it’s Umar Akmal after a brazen 49
Don’t care if it’s Shane Watson in the tavern after a run out on 99
I want a new toast
A new toast for two-ten
It can’t be that difficult
To give some new kids a chance
You can’t have the same mob playing all the time
And then saying there’s too much cricket
But wait a second, if there’s too much cricket
Why don’t you take a chill pill?
You may not quite be over the hill
But when the fuck will you get your fill?
Zaheer and Bhajji, what’s with you
You waiting to disintegrate on the field
Now you see the Lankans, right?
Do you even know their names?
Yeah, so bring some nameless players
From the back of beyond
A new state, somewhere in the North East
Or the Andaman Islands
Yeah, give it a push guys
You looking for a fucking fast bowler
Maybe you been looking in the wrong places
Go look in the middle of MP which incidentally
Is also the middle of India
If a kid can tame a tiger
Yeah, you know what I’m saying
I want a new toast
A new toast for two ten
Not you toast
No, no, no
I don’t wanna toast your five for whenever that comes
I wanna toast your five weeks off
On Bored: Cricket Songs
January 01, 2010
What's not in a name
Harbhajan has many names - Bhaj, Bhajji, ‘bhajan, Har’, Turbunator, and no doubt others that have endeared him to you. While each name has its time and place, none of the names capture the flying Sikh in his element.
If it wasn’t for the geyser repairman’s visit, this name would never have come to me; his name was - Hulchul Singh.
As I heard Hulchul Singh say Hulchul Singh, I felt Bhajji had come to repair my geyser. I kept a safe distance from Hulchul Singh; more than an arm’s length away.
Hulchul Singh was a modest little man. But his name it was so damn kinetic. With a name like that, I almost expected him to run in with the tri-colour to repair my geyser, Bhajji would have done no less.
With a name like that I expected Hulchul to teri ma ki the geyser, rip it out of the wall, and then hurl it through the window, Bhajji would have done no less.
With a name like that, bet you get the drift, you just want to drift.
You can meet Hulchul Singh on bored here; after the Continuing Saga of BossDK and BiggBosST, Jatman, Bored Peon & Bored Neon, he just had to make his grand entry – on New Year’s day. Happy, Hulchul?
If it wasn’t for the geyser repairman’s visit, this name would never have come to me; his name was - Hulchul Singh.
As I heard Hulchul Singh say Hulchul Singh, I felt Bhajji had come to repair my geyser. I kept a safe distance from Hulchul Singh; more than an arm’s length away.
Hulchul Singh was a modest little man. But his name it was so damn kinetic. With a name like that, I almost expected him to run in with the tri-colour to repair my geyser, Bhajji would have done no less.
With a name like that I expected Hulchul to teri ma ki the geyser, rip it out of the wall, and then hurl it through the window, Bhajji would have done no less.
With a name like that, bet you get the drift, you just want to drift.
You can meet Hulchul Singh on bored here; after the Continuing Saga of BossDK and BiggBosST, Jatman, Bored Peon & Bored Neon, he just had to make his grand entry – on New Year’s day. Happy, Hulchul?
December 26, 2009
Who will bowl with the relatively new ball?
Through the one-day series India has picked 3 medium pacers, one of whom has ended up going for plenty. Of course, once Ishant was included he was the chosen one. In his latter years when Kumble was still playing one-day cricket, then too India played 3 seamers plus the one spinner; the fifth bowler’s role tackled by part-timers.
Thus India’s attack lost out on either Kumble or Bhajji when playing teams like Australia and South Africa away from the sub-continent. The 2003 finals in South Africa, when the Aussies whipped 359 runs was against an attack sans Kumble; Zaheer going at over 9, Nehra at 8 plus runs per over.
Surprisingly it was the part-timers like Mongia, Yuvraj, Sehwag, Sachin who bowled 15 overs for 85 runs. Where as the three seamers went for 211 of their 27 overs.
That’s one game, but this is a pattern across India’s one-day games over the last few years. And if the part-timers(usually spinners), and there are always a few who can bowl 10 overs – why doesn’t India take the lead and start playing two specialist spinners as an attacking move?
That is, bowl them in the power plays – take pace off, challenge the batsmen to hit over the top when the field is in; these are cricket clichés, said often enough, but no Indian captain has been brave enough to play two specialist spinners.
It’ll be interesting to see how many one-dayers Bhajji and Kumble have played together; it’s time India realised you don’t need a home test series to play two specialist spinners; always play your best four or five bowlers.
For old time’s sake, I took another look at that India v Bangladesh scorecard in the 2007 world cup game; while the final scores do not give you a sense of the mauling, here too India played three seamers plus Bhajji.
Times like this you wonder, where did Kumble play his 271 one dayers, when did he take those 337 wickets, why wasn’t he good enough to be the fifth bowler?
Kumble played his last one dayer in March 2007, an inconsequential world cup game against Bermuda. He played his last test much later, in November, 2008. For the record, Bhajji did not play in that game, India bowled three seamers, and the fifth bowler’s role was split between Sachin and Sehwag.
Kumble’s one day bowling average was 30.89; Bhajji’s stands at 33.12.
Today, Bhajji is a first choice spinner while either Ojha and Mishra make the squad (but not the playing XI) depending what the flavour of the season is. Not long before both are dispensed with, and India turns to an old flame, Piyush Chawla. What better, he even bats as high as six for his Ranji team.
On Bored: batty about batting
Thus India’s attack lost out on either Kumble or Bhajji when playing teams like Australia and South Africa away from the sub-continent. The 2003 finals in South Africa, when the Aussies whipped 359 runs was against an attack sans Kumble; Zaheer going at over 9, Nehra at 8 plus runs per over.
Surprisingly it was the part-timers like Mongia, Yuvraj, Sehwag, Sachin who bowled 15 overs for 85 runs. Where as the three seamers went for 211 of their 27 overs.
That’s one game, but this is a pattern across India’s one-day games over the last few years. And if the part-timers(usually spinners), and there are always a few who can bowl 10 overs – why doesn’t India take the lead and start playing two specialist spinners as an attacking move?
That is, bowl them in the power plays – take pace off, challenge the batsmen to hit over the top when the field is in; these are cricket clichés, said often enough, but no Indian captain has been brave enough to play two specialist spinners.
It’ll be interesting to see how many one-dayers Bhajji and Kumble have played together; it’s time India realised you don’t need a home test series to play two specialist spinners; always play your best four or five bowlers.
For old time’s sake, I took another look at that India v Bangladesh scorecard in the 2007 world cup game; while the final scores do not give you a sense of the mauling, here too India played three seamers plus Bhajji.
Times like this you wonder, where did Kumble play his 271 one dayers, when did he take those 337 wickets, why wasn’t he good enough to be the fifth bowler?
Kumble played his last one dayer in March 2007, an inconsequential world cup game against Bermuda. He played his last test much later, in November, 2008. For the record, Bhajji did not play in that game, India bowled three seamers, and the fifth bowler’s role was split between Sachin and Sehwag.
Kumble’s one day bowling average was 30.89; Bhajji’s stands at 33.12.
Today, Bhajji is a first choice spinner while either Ojha and Mishra make the squad (but not the playing XI) depending what the flavour of the season is. Not long before both are dispensed with, and India turns to an old flame, Piyush Chawla. What better, he even bats as high as six for his Ranji team.
On Bored: batty about batting
November 24, 2009
Drop Harbhajan Singh five days at a time.
The Champions Trophy was a godsend for Indian cricket. Bhajji was dropped for a one day international, somehow replaced by Mishra. But unless Mishra knocked all ten and proved himself as an all-rounder, how could he take Bhajji’s place?
What, even Kumble couldn’t take Bhajji’s place – it was Bhajji who took Kumble’s place and then made it his own; the spinners’ spot was a rare family heirloom, handed down through generations.
There is a security cover on Bhajji; it extends beyond MSD and Sachin’s good wishes. It stretches beyond marketers. This cover protects him beyond lost form, from the promise of other spinners who threaten to outbowl him.
Now listen up Mishra, Ojha and Chawla: You can outbowl him, but you cannot replace him. Bhajji is a given. If you do not compete against his bowling, it will be his batting, his cheerleading, his hugs, Bhangara, drama, out of ideas, he will even sing Banarama.
Frankly the day Mishra took five at Mohali, I told myself, enjoy this, Indian cricket will ensure it doesn’t last. What little I saw of Ojha, I told myself the same.
Can you see Bhajji bowl, I refuse to now. Each time he bowls I see a corrupt nation stick its tongue out at me.
How else did he play six one day internationals against Australia after his Champions Trophy form? And when his so-called batting form evades him, he will make the team on some new quota.
Worse, I now doubt every Bhajji move, even though he moves well. That faulty reverse sweep against Murali, when India was nine down, and Mishra was more than holding his own, I have my views on that.
Just as you no doubt have yours; how MSD defends every below par Bhajji performance, their Hummers, newly forged business links – but look at it this way, we all love to play with friends.
On Bored: What better than being dropped on your birthday
What, even Kumble couldn’t take Bhajji’s place – it was Bhajji who took Kumble’s place and then made it his own; the spinners’ spot was a rare family heirloom, handed down through generations.
There is a security cover on Bhajji; it extends beyond MSD and Sachin’s good wishes. It stretches beyond marketers. This cover protects him beyond lost form, from the promise of other spinners who threaten to outbowl him.
Now listen up Mishra, Ojha and Chawla: You can outbowl him, but you cannot replace him. Bhajji is a given. If you do not compete against his bowling, it will be his batting, his cheerleading, his hugs, Bhangara, drama, out of ideas, he will even sing Banarama.
Frankly the day Mishra took five at Mohali, I told myself, enjoy this, Indian cricket will ensure it doesn’t last. What little I saw of Ojha, I told myself the same.
Can you see Bhajji bowl, I refuse to now. Each time he bowls I see a corrupt nation stick its tongue out at me.
How else did he play six one day internationals against Australia after his Champions Trophy form? And when his so-called batting form evades him, he will make the team on some new quota.
Worse, I now doubt every Bhajji move, even though he moves well. That faulty reverse sweep against Murali, when India was nine down, and Mishra was more than holding his own, I have my views on that.
Just as you no doubt have yours; how MSD defends every below par Bhajji performance, their Hummers, newly forged business links – but look at it this way, we all love to play with friends.
On Bored: What better than being dropped on your birthday
November 09, 2009
October 29, 2009
No balls to you!
By the 49th over, India was 349/4. After that, Fall of wickets 5-352 (Dhoni, 49.3 ov), 6-353 (Raina, 49.5 ov), 7-354 (Kumar, 49.6 ov)
Where’s Ravindra Jadeja - Padded up on the bench.
The kid has a first class double, a highest of 232* plus one more century, an average of 38. Compare that to Bhajji and PK: both have fifties but no century. Bhajji’s first class average 19, PK’s 23.
It wasn’t just the last over, it was a few balls in the last over. India was past 350. Bhajji and PK had crazy quick Domino’s delivery runs in the last game. They were expected to deliver again.
I don’t have much against that, esp after seeing Jadeja all at sea in the first ODI.
But just imagine what it does, when you see the bowlers bat before you – luckily for Jadeja it was only a few balls, imagine the scars had Bhajji and PK gone in earlier.
Then again, imagine what those few balls could have meant to Jadeja? That too with a license to throw Shastri’s proverbial kitchen sink at everything.
Looks like I’ll have to give Jadeja a net in the Kotla. Bhajji, try and stop me.
On Bored: The day this Jadeja will be called Jaddu
Where’s Ravindra Jadeja - Padded up on the bench.
The kid has a first class double, a highest of 232* plus one more century, an average of 38. Compare that to Bhajji and PK: both have fifties but no century. Bhajji’s first class average 19, PK’s 23.
It wasn’t just the last over, it was a few balls in the last over. India was past 350. Bhajji and PK had crazy quick Domino’s delivery runs in the last game. They were expected to deliver again.
I don’t have much against that, esp after seeing Jadeja all at sea in the first ODI.
But just imagine what it does, when you see the bowlers bat before you – luckily for Jadeja it was only a few balls, imagine the scars had Bhajji and PK gone in earlier.
Then again, imagine what those few balls could have meant to Jadeja? That too with a license to throw Shastri’s proverbial kitchen sink at everything.
Looks like I’ll have to give Jadeja a net in the Kotla. Bhajji, try and stop me.
On Bored: The day this Jadeja will be called Jaddu
October 26, 2009
Blessed by Bhajji.
Did you see Bhajji and Ravindra Jadeja bat together? How could you, they did not bat together. Jadeja was in awe of Bhajji, Bhajji was in awe of himself. He was the senior batsman, so what if he batted lower than Jadeja. In the time they spent together, Jadeja unlearnt all the batting he ever knew.
How he craved Bhajji’s approval. He even ran out of turn excitably, only to be admonished with a wave of Bhajji’s gloved hand. That was communication, Bhajji had, in gesture spoken to Jadeja. It was time to get out. Which he did.
On Bored: How to survive seven
How he craved Bhajji’s approval. He even ran out of turn excitably, only to be admonished with a wave of Bhajji’s gloved hand. That was communication, Bhajji had, in gesture spoken to Jadeja. It was time to get out. Which he did.
On Bored: How to survive seven
October 25, 2009
Ten more Sikhs
Today, even Bhajji the bowler couldn’t put off Bhajji the batsman. If one Sikh could achieve this much, imagine what eleven can. Here is the BCC! Turbanator XI, as always, way before the game. But as always, falling on deaf years. How dumb can they be?
Chances are, you will also enjoy, the longest single cricket blog, Cricketers who can Singh
Chances are, you will also enjoy, the longest single cricket blog, Cricketers who can Singh
September 27, 2009
For this we didn’t pick Amit Mishra:
10-0-71-1
5 runs from 10 balls.
These the two reasons to not play Mishra. First Bhajj, the first choice spinner, secondly, Yusuf Pathan, the 7th batsman and the 5th bowler.
Yeah, Bhajji got a five for the other day, and Yusuf has done incredible things in the IPL.
It’s just that one isn’t a bowler, and the other isn’t a batsman. These marketing guys can sell you strange sh*t.
5 runs from 10 balls.
These the two reasons to not play Mishra. First Bhajj, the first choice spinner, secondly, Yusuf Pathan, the 7th batsman and the 5th bowler.
Yeah, Bhajji got a five for the other day, and Yusuf has done incredible things in the IPL.
It’s just that one isn’t a bowler, and the other isn’t a batsman. These marketing guys can sell you strange sh*t.
August 16, 2009
Has Rahul Dravid returned for Sachin Tendulkar?
Sachin intends to play the 2011 World Cup. He will, in spite of form or fitness. He will, because that is his destiny, it has been written by him, endorsed by the BCCI.
Part of that vision is Sachin lifting the World Cup together with MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Rahul Dravid.
Each one of these players is key to Sachin’s plans. While MS is captain, and should still be in 2011,Yuvi and Bhajji are Sachin’s core group. They are his comfort zone. Together they are the collective face of Indian cricket.
Then what about Rahul Dravid? Dravid is a strong reminder that the 90’s master class is far superior to today’s flash of youth. He’s a flashback to both his and Sachin’s glory days. His return, more than even Sachin’s, states unequivocally that the young guns are not a patch on the fab four.
It does not matter how many of the fab four remain, what matters is the latest battle between then and now has been won yet again by India’s fab four.
The resting of the so-called next Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma is a case in point. Rohit, the brightest of the next generation swagger has fallen. Raina, Yusuf, Karthik are not indicative of now as Rohit is.
Just as Dravid and Sachin are indicative of then. Look back beyond Sharma’s scattered scoring, look at his scattered positions in the batting order. Was this all meant to be?
Yet again, Sachin and Rahul will take the field in blue together. How well it wears on him is not important, that he has returned is what’s crucial. More so to co-author Sachin Tendulkar’s legacy.
Here's another take on Rahul Dravid at Bored Cricket Crazy Indians: Living in the past?
Part of that vision is Sachin lifting the World Cup together with MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Rahul Dravid.
Each one of these players is key to Sachin’s plans. While MS is captain, and should still be in 2011,Yuvi and Bhajji are Sachin’s core group. They are his comfort zone. Together they are the collective face of Indian cricket.
Then what about Rahul Dravid? Dravid is a strong reminder that the 90’s master class is far superior to today’s flash of youth. He’s a flashback to both his and Sachin’s glory days. His return, more than even Sachin’s, states unequivocally that the young guns are not a patch on the fab four.
It does not matter how many of the fab four remain, what matters is the latest battle between then and now has been won yet again by India’s fab four.
The resting of the so-called next Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma is a case in point. Rohit, the brightest of the next generation swagger has fallen. Raina, Yusuf, Karthik are not indicative of now as Rohit is.
Just as Dravid and Sachin are indicative of then. Look back beyond Sharma’s scattered scoring, look at his scattered positions in the batting order. Was this all meant to be?
Yet again, Sachin and Rahul will take the field in blue together. How well it wears on him is not important, that he has returned is what’s crucial. More so to co-author Sachin Tendulkar’s legacy.
Here's another take on Rahul Dravid at Bored Cricket Crazy Indians: Living in the past?
May 29, 2009
The spinner and his batsman friend - II
The spinner and his batsman friend
Glitz blitz show and show
Let’s walk with the media in tow
You’ve heard of Beckham baby
Stick with me i’ll bring you lotta jalebi
Pump pump! pump pump!
The spinner and his batsman friend
Taught him how to bat and play the field
Slap whack career highjack
Monkey junkie flunkey Jack Kerouac
What a beat poet spinner
No rhyme no reason
The spinner and his batsman friend
Play a prank play a shot
I’m here no matter what
The spinner and his batsman friend
See how the spinner flew to his batsman friend
May 28, 2009
Delhi to Barca.
Small talk about the IPL is not without peril, the other day when I initiated some with Tinku, the young insurance magnate, he asked me in all seriousness, “Bhaiya,maine suna hai aap IPL ki studies kar rahen hai” (Bro, I hear you're doing a study on the IPL?).
Tito, the Spanish Baba from the mountains returned to offer his condolences, “Sorry man, your team lost”. This was the day after the IPL finals, 3 days after Delhi’s ouster, but a polite sports fan and hooligan sportsman will go far in India. Look at Bhajji he just got airlifted by a helicopter in Jalandhar.
And then I find myself watching Barca amidst Catalan war cries, and I know the healing has begun.
Tito, the Spanish Baba from the mountains returned to offer his condolences, “Sorry man, your team lost”. This was the day after the IPL finals, 3 days after Delhi’s ouster, but a polite sports fan and hooligan sportsman will go far in India. Look at Bhajji he just got airlifted by a helicopter in Jalandhar.
And then I find myself watching Barca amidst Catalan war cries, and I know the healing has begun.
April 29, 2008
19th Nervous Breakdown.
Go on, abuse Harbhajan Singh.
It’s politically correct.
Call him names. Call him big, bad dirty Hinglish names. Names that would have made Bhajji proud.
Bhajji is no saint. A while back he said Gilchrist was no saint.
Where did that come from? Ok, that was Australia, Sydney, Symonds, monkey, teri ma ki. Is Australia relevant?
From India’s favourite son, beholder of national pride, he is now a human stain. A cricketing untouchable.
And unlike in the Aussie chapter, this time, action was swift. An eleven match IPL ban, and Bhajji’s fifteen minutes of fame were over.
But why did it come to this?
Weren’t the telltale signs always there – in Australia, in the South Africa series, in the dressing room? Of course, what happens in there stays there.
Is Bhajji alone responsible? Was he so potent a power that Sachin Tendulkar, M.S. Dhoni, Lalchand Rajput, Garry Kirsten just let him be.
What about Anil Kumble? What was his take on Bhajji’s theatrics in the last two test series? Or was he neutralised like some of the village elders?
Isn’t Bhajji one of M.S. Dhoni’s ablest lieutenants in both the T20 and one-day games -what was his take all along?
What was our take? What was the media’s take? Did we give a damn, as long as Bhajji was proven not guilty in Australia?
Who else has been undermined in the past? Why did Dravid resign as test captain? Kumble over Bhajji for Dravid; Bhajji over Kumble for Ganguly. Why do we continue to hear talks of favouritism?
And now Bhajji v/s Sreesanth. North v/s South. Welcome to IPL.
And why was Harbhajan Singh made Mumbai Indians’ captain? In the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, did a team called “Indians” demand a provocative Indian player as its first face? While foreign veterans Shaun Pollock and Sanath Jayasuriya were overlooked, Bhajji was at best a popular choice. The selection disregarded his short fuse, flawed people skills, and penchant for pangas.
The same Bhajji who suffers anxiety attacks when he doesn’t strike early. A common refrain when he comes on to bowl: “needs an early wicket”. Or else.
And when that early wicket eludes, watch the shoulders twitch, droop, fall – followed by an uneasy grimace at missfields, another nervous breakdown at a dropped catch. As if the catch dropped was a personal attack on his virility.
Imagine then, what erupts when Sreesanth missfields or drops a catch off Bhajji’s bowling? Lord have mercy.
The irony of Bhajji being his own worst enemy is not lost in this: first, he overestimated his own capabilities and accepted the Mumbai Indians’ captaincy. The first few defeats set the bomb ticking, the last one, ironically against Kings XI Punjab, exploded in his face.
Looking at Bhajji operate, you sense the world is his enemy. Looking at Sreesanth act, you sense he’s the world’s enemy. One perception leads to the other, and finally, the two cricketers persecute themselves, with or without the help of others.
It’s no surprise then that two players, so similar, almost craving for the world’s attention, could not coexist in the same team. And while their craft of pace and spin, is as dissimilar, as North and South, they almost appear to be threatened by the others one-upmanship.
A telling difference between the two, Singh at 27, is a ten year veteran in world cricket, while Sreesanth at 25, made his international debut in 2006.
Yet somehow the two continue to act like squabbling six year olds. “Gimme my bat, that’s my ball…WACK!!”
And if that is the case, reform school cannot be far behind. For, to punish them with match bans and set them lose again will be wrong on both Indian cricket and the two players.
Here’s a rare opportunity for Indian cricket: to make two wrongs right.
Suggested listening:
19th Nervous Breakdown by Rolling Stones
Paper Tiger by Beck
Go on, abuse Harbhajan Singh.
It’s politically correct.
Call him names. Call him big, bad dirty Hinglish names. Names that would have made Bhajji proud.
Bhajji is no saint. A while back he said Gilchrist was no saint.
Where did that come from? Ok, that was Australia, Sydney, Symonds, monkey, teri ma ki. Is Australia relevant?
From India’s favourite son, beholder of national pride, he is now a human stain. A cricketing untouchable.
And unlike in the Aussie chapter, this time, action was swift. An eleven match IPL ban, and Bhajji’s fifteen minutes of fame were over.
But why did it come to this?
Weren’t the telltale signs always there – in Australia, in the South Africa series, in the dressing room? Of course, what happens in there stays there.
Is Bhajji alone responsible? Was he so potent a power that Sachin Tendulkar, M.S. Dhoni, Lalchand Rajput, Garry Kirsten just let him be.
What about Anil Kumble? What was his take on Bhajji’s theatrics in the last two test series? Or was he neutralised like some of the village elders?
Isn’t Bhajji one of M.S. Dhoni’s ablest lieutenants in both the T20 and one-day games -what was his take all along?
What was our take? What was the media’s take? Did we give a damn, as long as Bhajji was proven not guilty in Australia?
Who else has been undermined in the past? Why did Dravid resign as test captain? Kumble over Bhajji for Dravid; Bhajji over Kumble for Ganguly. Why do we continue to hear talks of favouritism?
And now Bhajji v/s Sreesanth. North v/s South. Welcome to IPL.
And why was Harbhajan Singh made Mumbai Indians’ captain? In the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, did a team called “Indians” demand a provocative Indian player as its first face? While foreign veterans Shaun Pollock and Sanath Jayasuriya were overlooked, Bhajji was at best a popular choice. The selection disregarded his short fuse, flawed people skills, and penchant for pangas.
The same Bhajji who suffers anxiety attacks when he doesn’t strike early. A common refrain when he comes on to bowl: “needs an early wicket”. Or else.
And when that early wicket eludes, watch the shoulders twitch, droop, fall – followed by an uneasy grimace at missfields, another nervous breakdown at a dropped catch. As if the catch dropped was a personal attack on his virility.
Imagine then, what erupts when Sreesanth missfields or drops a catch off Bhajji’s bowling? Lord have mercy.
The irony of Bhajji being his own worst enemy is not lost in this: first, he overestimated his own capabilities and accepted the Mumbai Indians’ captaincy. The first few defeats set the bomb ticking, the last one, ironically against Kings XI Punjab, exploded in his face.
Looking at Bhajji operate, you sense the world is his enemy. Looking at Sreesanth act, you sense he’s the world’s enemy. One perception leads to the other, and finally, the two cricketers persecute themselves, with or without the help of others.
It’s no surprise then that two players, so similar, almost craving for the world’s attention, could not coexist in the same team. And while their craft of pace and spin, is as dissimilar, as North and South, they almost appear to be threatened by the others one-upmanship.
A telling difference between the two, Singh at 27, is a ten year veteran in world cricket, while Sreesanth at 25, made his international debut in 2006.
Yet somehow the two continue to act like squabbling six year olds. “Gimme my bat, that’s my ball…WACK!!”
And if that is the case, reform school cannot be far behind. For, to punish them with match bans and set them lose again will be wrong on both Indian cricket and the two players.
Here’s a rare opportunity for Indian cricket: to make two wrongs right.
Suggested listening:
19th Nervous Breakdown by Rolling Stones
Paper Tiger by Beck
March 05, 2008
Australian for… what?
An opportunity for the Aussie beer brand, Foster’s to extend its ad campaign, “Australian for beer” in India. Place Ponting’s pint sized face after the Brisbane defeat in their ad. Add the line: Australian for whiner. Sign off with Foster’s, Australian for beer.
Now, Foster’s could go the whole Hogg, and include the only just retired Chinaman bowler but that would be a tad overdone. But Brad Hogg (Australian for forgotten) if anyone, has reason to feel belittled, being excluded in his last international. Including Symonds and Hayden in any such sneer fest is tempting. But they are only the troops. Ponting is the General.
Yet Symonds & Hayden (Australian for assault) continue to be the focus of India’s scorn. Ponting, as if less evocative visually, and smaller in stature, almost Hitleresque sans moustache, camouflages with the collective Aussie antipathy. (Australian for gamesmanship)
Ponting is by no means the arrowhead. He is the archer. Invisible in his greens, on the greens.
And whether it was Symond’s shenanigans or Hayden’s heresy or Brett’s beamer or Clarke’s cuddle, were they mere shots in the dark? And in the dieing days of the Commonwealth Bank Series, if that wasn’t enough, Gillispeak (Australian for honesty) was anointed too.
Did the wives and girlfriends follow? Along with the cherubic children who made it for their Daddy’s retirement –did they point fingers at Harbhajan Singh too? And a witch-hunt, no less ensued. And the fanatic hordes of Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, took to hunt down Bhajji. Welcome to Salem, Australia, 2007-08. The trials never ended, even though the series has.
And bring back Muralitharan. And hang him with your words too.
In the meantime, Australia hangs on to every word. That could have been spoken, must have been spoken, will be spoken. As Ricky Archer will admit, a spoken word, and a sped arrow never come back.
Coming back to beating Australia, it’s so seldom, yet so sweet. But beating Ponting’s team was more about defying a nation’s scorn.
In the latter days of the series, it was almost like taking on a bunch of meandering mercenaries - who sensed they were playing on borrowed time. Thinking when that last bullet ball gets them, will it be a LBW or a run-out?
In the second final, it was as if both Symonds & Hayden were tempting fate – Almost a touch of Yeat’s “An Irish Airman forsees his death” in their dismissals. One over of poetry for the Indians by you-know-who Singh, and the ablest two lieutenants went down, somewhat predictably, run-out and LBW. It was over then. As General Ponting said so himself!
But when exactly did General P think it was over? When his IPL bid was upsettingly low? When India took Perth? Or when he let the Sydney test take him?
Does General P even recall where, why and when this Aussie summer started to go awry? And did he feed the flames and flies of Perth? When he’s alone, at home, flicking the lamp switch, on-off-off-on, will he in between see the light?
That he once was the best batsman in the world. That he captained the best team in the world. That not just Australia, but Indians too, not only feared but respected his craft.
Long before it became craftiness (Australian for mental). Disintegration just backfired with interest, mate.
PS: In spite of being twin bros. both Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh were quite unlike each other; they were Australian for Foster (‘s) brothers!
January 31, 2008
The devil of small things.
The makeshift commentator idled away: “Thank You Umpire!” Seemed like a long time anyone, leave alone a commentator, had thanked an umpire – that too for signaling a wide ball. But this was an inter-school cricket match at St Paul’s, and there was a tad more bonhomie than in that 2007-08 India-Australia test series, Down Under.
Of course, this was only a Ten10 tournament – and any way you look at it, ten-over a side games will generate far less friction than locking adversaries in for five days. And once they become sworn enemies, is there any point in playing – that too, twice a year, as if the annual reports of their cricket boards cannot be inked without their blood. No thank you, I’ll pass.
Meanwhile, Commentatorji was wired to a white-noised neta’s loudspeaker, and rambling repeated thanks to the umpire – while I was sucked to the backroom’s rear window. Suddenly another classic film title rolled past, and mine was a room with a view. Not quite Hitchcock, but the batsmen were going for the kill.
Still, I approved of the overtly conservative field placements – there wasn’t one but two third-man positions. Can’t fathom why most captains are dead against a third man - Is it because the cheap ticket holders hang around there? Mind you, right now I was the only crowd behind third man; almost like pole position, literally, or hanging Mirinda manlike from a billboard, only more secure.
In spite of me, the cheap ticket non-holder, the third man fielders weren’t budging. Not even when the ball zipped past. Reckon that’s why the wicket keeper was standing way back to tiny tot’s out-swingers – a new cherry can do amazing things, even when placed in a little hand. Even from a distance, I half expected a Sachin Tendulkar uppercut.
But the batsman (boy?) was more intent square off the wicket – and as the cheerleaders and their followers were all stationed there, you can safely say, like Sehwag, he was playing to the galleries. And naturally to the gallows!
But no matter what, the watching school kids remained unmoved, like mute spectators– almost akin to an India-Australia World Cup final in neutral, non-cricketing Switzerland.
Thanks to the commentator, it dawned on me this wasn’t because of any eviction notice or stringent spectator code, but the playing teams were both from outside. Is that the way forward – no home series to secure best behaviour? But then, is there a corner in the world that the “Bharat Army” or the “Invincibles” won’t go to – Tierra del Feugo, here we come! Falklands, here we go!
Meanwhile, the commentator thanked the Umpire for signaling a no ball. Next, a wicket fell, and all hell broke loose. You’d be forgiven for thinking Harbhajan Singh had knocked Rickie Ponting over again. Or Australia had just won No. 16, the Sydney test. Frankly, if you play cricket, a big wicket always warrants a big celebration. No matter how small you are. Though somehow, in front of these school kids, the players in that 2007-08 India-Australia test series, Down Under, seemed a lot smaller. And no matter what, I just can’t get that bad taste out of my mouth. They were to me, to warp a phrase, the devil of small things.
For the entire series of "Rear Window & Room with a View" pictures click here
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