I should stop writing cricket

Sehwag got out to the same ball. Again. And at a crucial point in the match, meaning that India scored thirty runs less than it could have had he stuck around for a while more.
All said and done, I am thankful that he got some runs under his (ample) belt. It wasnt a risk-free innings for sure; and it is too early to say that his bad run is over.

But Vengsarkar has pulled out something from his pocket - which is the inclusion of Wasim Jaffer (specialist opener) in the team to South Africa for the ODIs. That is certain to put pressure on Veeru to perform. In any case, he has ensured that nobody is going to ask for his removal from the team - in the immediate future.

But picking Kumble over Powar? The question mark over Kumble had been his athleticism - and the same question could be asked about Powar as well. But what Powar brought to the team was a certain economy in the spin department with more than a hint of aggression. Kumble on the other hand, in his last few seasons had leaked quite a few and could even have been accused of predictability - something that can certainly not be said of him in the Test arena, especially after a superlative performance in the WI. Picking Kumble might have been a brave experiment, but Powar has reason to be disappointed.

I should stop writing cricket

Sehwag got out to the same ball. Again. And at a crucial point in the match, meaning that India scored thirty runs less than it could have had he stuck around for a while more.
All said and done, I am thankful that he got some runs under his (ample) belt. It wasnt a risk-free innings for sure; and it is too early to say that his bad run is over.

But Vengsarkar has pulled out something from his pocket - which is the inclusion of Wasim Jaffer (specialist opener) in the team to South Africa for the ODIs. That is certain to put pressure on Veeru to perform. In any case, he has ensured that nobody is going to ask for his removal from the team - in the immediate future.

But picking Kumble over Powar? The question mark over Kumble had been his athleticism - and the same question could be asked about Powar as well. But what Powar brought to the team was a certain economy in the spin department with more than a hint of aggression. Kumble on the other hand, in his last few seasons had leaked quite a few and could even have been accused of predictability - something that can certainly not be said of him in the Test arena, especially after a superlative performance in the WI. Picking Kumble might have been a brave experiment, but Powar has reason to be disappointed.

Time for a Restinder

Sehwag needs a rest. To put it bluntly, he needs to be dumped from the team. I know, I know. He is more than capable of making me eat my words in the very next match at Mohali - such is his talent. But the way he has been going about things gives him a thoroughly unprofessional look. And no matter how talented someone is, if he is unprofessional, he does not deserve to play for the country. It is an honour to be in the Indian team - an even bigger one to be its vice captain. The work put in must reflect the honour and pride that he feels.

First, how can he keep getting out to the same delivery? The one that swings or cuts in off a good length either gets him bowled or lbw. In fact if enough of these are bowled at him, chances are that he will get out sooner rather than later. This is a serious technical flaw, and to sweep it under the carpet by saying, "o, thats just the way he plays", is to undermine the serious impact that Sehwag can make to the score if he clicks. And he happens to be in a team that contains two of the best batsment of al time, and coached by another. Between Tendulkar, Dravid and Chappel, there isn't much about batting that is unknown. So is there an unwillingness to learn? Becasue it is hard to believe that someone with Sehwag's experience of international cricket can't sort out a chink in the armour.

Clearly, a message has to be sent - to rattle him out of his complacent cocoon. He cannot take his place for granted. And if Chappel as coach is unable to express his anger and frustration; perhaps the selectors need to step in.

Luxury's lap

What luxury! The average Indian cricket fan would stab and bite for the opportunity. Plush air-conditioned seating, unlimited beer, unlimited food, a clear view of Brad Hogg's bald spot and a close look at the loud and mysterious Mister Lalit Modi. And oh yeah, cricket from behind the bowler's arm.

The cricket was ho-hum. Only Mitchell Johnson and Damien Martyn providing the spark to an otherwise dull contest; its nature decided as early as half way into England's batting when Flintoff perished stupidly. Collingwood as ususal tried to punch above his weight, but the rest of the batting had already thrown in the towel. The headline writers had expected much more - a pre-Ashes dhamaka offer; a Diwali firecracker of a match to light up the skies with shock and awe. In the end, it ended with the phussss of a wet cracker. A few sips into our second glass of beer, though, things did not look that bleak. Strauss was displaying characteristic panache square of the wicket and Bell looked like he had strapped on a few booster rockets. And to top it all, Damien Martyn dropped a sitter and when I chocked on my beer, I practically spat on Brad Hogg who as ususal had his tongue out.

The Sawai Man Singh stadium, let it be said again - is an excellent piece of work, and can certainly compete with Mohali for the title of India's best cricket ground. The grass cover was perfect enough to look phoren. But, I just saw the best parts of the ground, and consumed RCA sponsored beer and pineapple souffle - so my judgment is in danger of being jaundiced. So I suggest if you are around the next time there is a game happening in pink Jaipur, go for it.

By the way, I think Lalit Modi thinks he is a bit of a rockstar. I saw him venture out into the crowd and give away autographs. Cricket administrators too??

Lajpat Nagar: insane honk-happy traffic, idiotic double parking, dust, noise, anti-terrorism police, really oily chowmein, buxom Punjabi aunties, loud Sardars tonking whisky mixed into two-litre bottles, chemists who sell cigarettes and most else, the pretence of middle class respectability...

I am trying to look for that one feature, the USP or two that with define and distinguish - but there aren't any. The guys who sell booze in the thekas are as brusque as the ones in Pahar Ganj, and the traffic, the air and noise is just as bad. The buildings are stuck to each other, like science projects gone bad, like in most of congested Delhi - East, West or North.

I will keep looking.

God, I hope he's back.

I hope he's back, I really really do. Irfan Pathan lends such enviable balance to the team that to have him out of the team would have meant that either the batting or the bowling would be weakened terribly. And the danger of that happening was real, unbelievably so after his dream debut year when he would cut through the top order of most teams with the new ball. And then the long tour to the Caribbean happened, where his speed dipped, accuracy went beserk and his economy rate balooned - leading to unnecessary speculation about a loss of "confidence".

"I mean, its not like its a set of frikkin car keys now, is it?"

I am always wary of going to a pub to watch the match. Some of the lowest points of my life have been in pubs, drinking inspid beer and watching India get screwed, king-size on a big screen. One hot Bangalore afternoon, my friends and I were the first people in the pub, watching Mandira Bedi, Charu Sharma and Chika before the start of the match - lured by a big screen and unlimited beer for two hundred bucks. Once inside, we even painted our faces as well.

The pub soon resembled a microscopic view of infected tissue. Believe you me, there was hardly room to breathe when Zaheer ran in. Forget going to the bar to get yourself a beer, to go the loo would have required a struggle of Gandhian proportions. And then of course Messrs Hayden, Ponting and Martyn decide to rip the Indian bowling apart - with a smile. So there was no World Cup and no beer either.

Yesterday though was slightly different in that the cricket was incidental. Shanth wanted to drink. Ro too, and so we ended up on the most uncomfortable chairs in all of North India, in front of a big screen, listening to good music on a bad sound system. But the good part: Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan and some elctric fielding. Also, Ms Bedi's wardrobe. Of course, we didn't have to listen to her.