When Andrew Strauss was appointed England’s test captain, Andrew Flintoff joked, something to the extent of, Strauss is the butt of change room jokes.
It may have reflected the gamesmanship between the players, but it wasn’t too flattering for England’s new captain.
Strauss, in classic Strauss fashion, did not react to this supposed innocent remark, as that’s just what it possibly was.
Lesser men may have made a mountain out of it. Like why are we even talking about it now?
It’s about timing. It’s about the economy of word, comment, in a flash world of IPL, Strauss is old style. Ballroom cricket almost.
He prefers, at the risk of using a corrupt cricketing phrase, his bat to do the talking. Trouble is, in today’s world, bats do not talk louder than words.
Why else would there be such a clamour for the man, nay the talisman, Andrew Flintoff.
While Andrew F is greater than the sum of his achievements, Andrew S is, and will always be in the shadow of his triumphs.
An IPL contract may never be his. The exaggerated limelight of an Ashes win, one like 2005, where Freddie and KP loomed large over the cricketing world, atop a double-decker, may never be his.
But I doubt that matters much to an everyday guy like Andrew Strauss. For one, his calm of manner makes him stand better on his two feet than float in fluff of clouds.
And here you go for a bored Ashes version
Showing posts with label Ashes 2009. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ashes 2009. Show all posts
August 25, 2009
August 24, 2009
Please retain Ricky Ponting as captain.
Ian Chappell’s expertise is to belittle Steve Waugh: according to him, Ponting’s a better captain than Waugh. Where did that come from, sir?
Earlier Chappell claimed Mark Taylor was a better captain than Steve Waugh. Tomorrow when Michael Clarke is captain, he’ll tell us Clarke’s a better captain than Waugh.
At some point, it’s possible he called brother, Greg a better coach than Waugh. If he knew me, he’d call me a better Indian than Waugh.
Anyway, Chappell’s come to Ponting’s defence, and puts the blame squarely on the Aussie selectors. Here’s what he said -
“If Ponting clamoured for an all-seam attack at The Oval the selectors should have been strong enough and wise enough to advise otherwise.”
Appears the Aussies have learnt little from the series defeats to India, South Africa and now England. Voices like Chappell’s are defiant in their defence for Ponting as skipper.
Sure, retain Ponting as captain. You lost it a long time back. Now here’s to losing it many more times.
Earlier Chappell claimed Mark Taylor was a better captain than Steve Waugh. Tomorrow when Michael Clarke is captain, he’ll tell us Clarke’s a better captain than Waugh.
At some point, it’s possible he called brother, Greg a better coach than Waugh. If he knew me, he’d call me a better Indian than Waugh.
Anyway, Chappell’s come to Ponting’s defence, and puts the blame squarely on the Aussie selectors. Here’s what he said -
“If Ponting clamoured for an all-seam attack at The Oval the selectors should have been strong enough and wise enough to advise otherwise.”
Appears the Aussies have learnt little from the series defeats to India, South Africa and now England. Voices like Chappell’s are defiant in their defence for Ponting as skipper.
Sure, retain Ponting as captain. You lost it a long time back. Now here’s to losing it many more times.
August 23, 2009
Come on pussy come on.
Australia can win it, so can you with a plastic bat and the umpires in your pocket. On a different train of thought, the Aussies have nothing to lose...except for the Ashes. That doesn't make sense but then neither do the Ashes. Btw that's up at Bored Cricket Crazy Indians (BCC!)
Come on Pussy Come on
The Ashes look lost and so are you
Nothing to play for except your thoughts
Where do you go, what do you do?
Come on Pussy come on
Come on Pussy Come on
The Ashes look lost and so are you
Nothing to play for except your thoughts
Where do you go, what do you do?
Come on Pussy come on
August 22, 2009
Andrew Flintoff – an occasional sense of occasion.
If the headline is gimmicky, it can be argued, but so is Freddie. He looks all earnest because he knows the importance of it.
You can bet he will look his best in his last test innings today. There will be so much purpose around him, you’d think he could broker peace in the Middle East.
Freddie Flintoff will be the man. Today, tomorrow, and if it gets to day after, which it won’t, unless it rains on everyone’s parade.
This is, as the previous test, another abridged one, that should suit Freddie just fine – he is a limited overs player. But that is not the thrust of this piece or Freddie’s world in this test.
The test has just started for Freddie. He has connected to the sense of a moment. The moment was manufactured by Stuart Broad, the Aussies and whoever else could pitch in.
But we are on the threshold of a London Moment. It will be bigger than Lord’s, it will be bigger than the Oval. It will be the shape of Freddie’s fancy.
What picture will he paint? Will he be airbrushed?
Here’s what I expect, Freddie to arrive at the crease, and regardless of whether he scores or doesn’t, the crowds will be at his command. That will be a moment.
If he plunders with the bat, then it will be a savage, almost apocalyptic moment – and Noah will fetch one of Andrew Flintoff for his ark.
But it will be ball in hand that Freddie will emerge Godlike, a larger manifestation for all mortals to see, believe in, myth will be no myth no more.
As Krishna revealed the universe within to Arjun.
Freddie will seize the moment, the day, the night, and all that lies within its grasp, and beyond it.
The ball will cease to be a ball.
It will be, a moment hurled at the Australians.
And not even the Aussies can defy destiny.
It is written here, but only Freddie knows how it will pan out.
Not from the poms or the convicts, read about the Ashes @ Bored Cricket Crazy Indians (BCC!)
You can bet he will look his best in his last test innings today. There will be so much purpose around him, you’d think he could broker peace in the Middle East.
Freddie Flintoff will be the man. Today, tomorrow, and if it gets to day after, which it won’t, unless it rains on everyone’s parade.
This is, as the previous test, another abridged one, that should suit Freddie just fine – he is a limited overs player. But that is not the thrust of this piece or Freddie’s world in this test.
The test has just started for Freddie. He has connected to the sense of a moment. The moment was manufactured by Stuart Broad, the Aussies and whoever else could pitch in.
But we are on the threshold of a London Moment. It will be bigger than Lord’s, it will be bigger than the Oval. It will be the shape of Freddie’s fancy.
What picture will he paint? Will he be airbrushed?
Here’s what I expect, Freddie to arrive at the crease, and regardless of whether he scores or doesn’t, the crowds will be at his command. That will be a moment.
If he plunders with the bat, then it will be a savage, almost apocalyptic moment – and Noah will fetch one of Andrew Flintoff for his ark.
But it will be ball in hand that Freddie will emerge Godlike, a larger manifestation for all mortals to see, believe in, myth will be no myth no more.
As Krishna revealed the universe within to Arjun.
Freddie will seize the moment, the day, the night, and all that lies within its grasp, and beyond it.
The ball will cease to be a ball.
It will be, a moment hurled at the Australians.
And not even the Aussies can defy destiny.
It is written here, but only Freddie knows how it will pan out.
Not from the poms or the convicts, read about the Ashes @ Bored Cricket Crazy Indians (BCC!)
August 11, 2009
Freddie’s farewell was Lord’s
If he bowls anymore, it’ll be a farewell to arms, and other limbs.
Mind goes back to Kumble’s last ball in test cricket; it was over-pitched, driven down the ground for four.
Flintoff, much like Kumble, will flex his face and contort you into believing he’s giving it more than 100%. Often that’s true.
It’s such a shame then that also in view is the bowling arm, not going through fully, pushing that ball down leg. And in Freddie’s case, you can’t compare the mid 80s to a 92 mph delivery, or Lord’s to the slavery of Edgbaston.
But that’s over and done with.
Flintoff will play at the Oval. He should, even on one leg. If I was king, I’d make an even half fit Freddie open the bowling.
Even if it’s just for a Shoiab spell of 2-3 overs, hit the Aussies hard, with Mr Big. After that, save Freddie for Ponting.
Restructure the batting order to accommodate Freddie higher up – he was in some batting form, use his last two innings, greedily.
Make Freddie feel like captain. What, let him feel like God. Have him play the crowds, rouse the ruffians, set loose London on the enemy.
If Lord’s was Freddie’s farewell, make the Oval his resurrection.
It’s a one-time thing. Make us believe. But before that guys, believe in yourself.
It’s London again.
Mind goes back to Kumble’s last ball in test cricket; it was over-pitched, driven down the ground for four.
Flintoff, much like Kumble, will flex his face and contort you into believing he’s giving it more than 100%. Often that’s true.
It’s such a shame then that also in view is the bowling arm, not going through fully, pushing that ball down leg. And in Freddie’s case, you can’t compare the mid 80s to a 92 mph delivery, or Lord’s to the slavery of Edgbaston.
But that’s over and done with.
Flintoff will play at the Oval. He should, even on one leg. If I was king, I’d make an even half fit Freddie open the bowling.
Even if it’s just for a Shoiab spell of 2-3 overs, hit the Aussies hard, with Mr Big. After that, save Freddie for Ponting.
Restructure the batting order to accommodate Freddie higher up – he was in some batting form, use his last two innings, greedily.
Make Freddie feel like captain. What, let him feel like God. Have him play the crowds, rouse the ruffians, set loose London on the enemy.
If Lord’s was Freddie’s farewell, make the Oval his resurrection.
It’s a one-time thing. Make us believe. But before that guys, believe in yourself.
It’s London again.
August 10, 2009
The 3 Days, 2 Nights B&B Ashes weekend getaway
That's England at Headingley for you.
They just did test cricket a huge disservice. Almost predictably, they lost it after Strauss’ wicket, not once but twice. On an Early Bored Call @ twitter after Strauss’ first innings’ wicket, this – “Australia will win the 4th Ashes test at Headingley. Looked over my shoulder, and it was 2 wickets down.
Funny bit is England was set for defeat: much before they took the field, and even before they were hurled out of bed by the fire alarm. For a side that can obsess with one player, even if he’s the only player they got, England deserved to lose.
Think they believed in their inadequacies as a team, in the Langer dossier, in basically nothing.
If this is not match fixing then what is?
England takes the field with eleven players. Amongst them are two non-players, Bopara and Harmison. Was Harmison there on Freddie’s behest, ‘eh, keep my mate, willya?’ That Harmison can still make the side is an advertisement for scrapping test cricket.
That teams continue to blunder on selection until they are thrown by a defeat shows just how safe most selection is– the whole world knows Bopara is not going to score any runs, but they still must give the kid another chance. If anything it’s a disservice to Bopara. He goes in No. 3, a lamb to the slaughter.
If England wants to win the Ashes, they first have to weed out the losers. And they don’t need the Langer dossier for that. Just a stomach for a fight.
The rest can go on holiday, but not on our expense this time.
They just did test cricket a huge disservice. Almost predictably, they lost it after Strauss’ wicket, not once but twice. On an Early Bored Call @ twitter after Strauss’ first innings’ wicket, this – “Australia will win the 4th Ashes test at Headingley. Looked over my shoulder, and it was 2 wickets down.
Funny bit is England was set for defeat: much before they took the field, and even before they were hurled out of bed by the fire alarm. For a side that can obsess with one player, even if he’s the only player they got, England deserved to lose.
Think they believed in their inadequacies as a team, in the Langer dossier, in basically nothing.
If this is not match fixing then what is?
England takes the field with eleven players. Amongst them are two non-players, Bopara and Harmison. Was Harmison there on Freddie’s behest, ‘eh, keep my mate, willya?’ That Harmison can still make the side is an advertisement for scrapping test cricket.
That teams continue to blunder on selection until they are thrown by a defeat shows just how safe most selection is– the whole world knows Bopara is not going to score any runs, but they still must give the kid another chance. If anything it’s a disservice to Bopara. He goes in No. 3, a lamb to the slaughter.
If England wants to win the Ashes, they first have to weed out the losers. And they don’t need the Langer dossier for that. Just a stomach for a fight.
The rest can go on holiday, but not on our expense this time.
July 30, 2009
From Flintoff to Afridi, how many degrees is that?
The third Ashes test starts Thursday, but then again, it could refuse to start. Like Flintoff’s body could refuse to start – that would be a story. But other than that there is nothing. Over the last week since England won Lord’s, the Ashes became a Champagne Supernova. Flintoff meanwhile, became a very rare vintage Champange Supernova, that was on.
But still, even Flintoff can’t take you through a week – so KP collapsed like Pakistan, and when we were done with him and the IPL and ECB and seven degrees of separation – that you and I were responsible for KP’s foot, my foot! - then came in Bell boy. How Bell boy sustained the English media is baffling. It’s the equivalent of Kaif in the limelight. Some things are not done. And when Bell boy was wrung out, it rained at Edgbaston.
The ground staff could be the only ones on the ground. What does that leave you with – a one-day international in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. Who knows, maybe it will rain there too, and we’ll all get what we want – another twenty20 game. In that case, will Shahid Afridi captain?
But still, even Flintoff can’t take you through a week – so KP collapsed like Pakistan, and when we were done with him and the IPL and ECB and seven degrees of separation – that you and I were responsible for KP’s foot, my foot! - then came in Bell boy. How Bell boy sustained the English media is baffling. It’s the equivalent of Kaif in the limelight. Some things are not done. And when Bell boy was wrung out, it rained at Edgbaston.
The ground staff could be the only ones on the ground. What does that leave you with – a one-day international in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. Who knows, maybe it will rain there too, and we’ll all get what we want – another twenty20 game. In that case, will Shahid Afridi captain?
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