Chennai Test, Day 1, 1st session

The test match got underway in Chennai albeit to scare attendance and zero chances of rain with sunny clear skies. Perhaps heavenly omens for the Test match to happen. Now that it has happened, the wicket played to its true nature off late. Batting beauty with no leeway to the bowlers. England got off to slow start, cautious. 67 runs in 27 overs, with nothing flashy or significant to write about. Bowlers rotated, but no success. Mishra brought in late, something which happens regularly with Dhoni as skipper. Even in Nagpur after the Mohali heroics, the Harayana lad was brought in late. Not much difference though, not that he is a great bowler as of now and would turn it around like Mendis. Has gone for 49 runs in 10 overs. Well that’s not pretty much like AK. AK in his prime until late last year would hold back to runs if not wkts on a flat track. But this lad needs a turner to get a wicket on. That’s why we need a leggie who doesn’t turn the ball much. May be we have been pampered and spoiled for choices after 19 years of Anil Kumble flavors and 619 wkts.

The Test match is shaping like the Lord’s Test 2007 when England got off to flying start only to lose way later in the day and before being Zaked and RP’ed on day 2. Strauss was the man then, as is now. He came from wilderness in the Lord’s and so is now. So is history going to repeat itself ?

Besides what is the use of a flat track ? Its further going to kill the game of cricket in the country. England going strong on 1/138 just half way through the day. The over rate is pretty much decent with 14.x overs per over. Better than what Ponting managed entire month of Nov and Oct or even now.

Cricket resumes in the country

A min more and the first ball would be bowled in the country shocked and ripped by ghastly terror strikes. And amazingly or to my horrors, the mind is still stuck in the 11/26. And the game is not untouched by the happenings either.

9.25am The two teams line up for a moment's silence to remember the tragic losses of the Mumbai attacks

Everything being written about cricket in India post 11/26 involves a mention of the event. The way security has changed, the way the crowds would be keeping away from the game, the way the English have come back to play the Tests, the way IPL and money factor was attributed to the return, some murmur in the neibhouring lands about the double standards over the cricket in India and Pakistan. Everything has a mention of 11/26.

Imagine what Sachin Tendulkar would be going through, a city in which he was born, brought up and lived his life in, was attacked and he must be for sure having one part of his mind in the Mumbai events. So even if we see a below par Indian performance nobody should blame the team. Given the situations, the mood and mindset is just not there.

But since the game has resumed and we being the religious followers of the only ‘TRUE RELIGION’ of INDIA, lets support it in whatever way we can. But it would be very difficult for us to look solely on cricket and not the backdrop of the events. Just too tough. Imagine the mindset of cricketers, one eye on the ball and other one outside the stadium.

God Bless the INDIAN cricket, INDIAN terrain and the country along with its proud citizens.

Let the spirit of humanity and the game resume and triumph …..

Preview to the 1st Test : India vs England

India vs England begins in 2 days and talking from fresh cricket perspective with no backdrop of 11/26, the favorites are India to win fair and square.

Expected scoreline : 2-0 (if no rains in Chennai) or 1-0 (if Chennai is rained out) to India.

Key players to watch for :

From Indian perspective :

1. Yuvraj Singh : needless to mention that this might be a last chance for himself to establish on the Test level. A fair run is essential to be granted to the maverick southpaw.

2. Rahul Dravid : Critics are out to get him. His send-offs are written and just a matter of time they are rolled out in anticipation of a possible retirement announcement. However, this blog supports him to the core and is hopeful that he would bounce back rock solid and hard to the critics. Write him off @ ur perils.

3. Mahendra Singh Dhoni : First Test series as full time captain. No Ganguly and no Kumble. First series in 20 years when India goes to a series without Kumble (excluding his injury breaks) and onus on MSD how he handles Amit Mishra as Anil ‘s replacement.

4. Virender Sehwag : Back to what he does the best. Hammer the bowlers. Primary reason for 5-0 washout in the oDIs, but was overshadowed by majestic hundreds by Yuvraj. Except for one game gave starts in all 5 games. Is one of the top scorer in Tests this year (beside Graeme Smith). A hundred or 2 in the offing.

5. Gautam Gambhir : Back after the Test ban, he would be back on his favorite spot. In form of his life, much depends on the starts he and Viru provide in every innings. Easily on the road of being India’s best opening pair EVER.

From English perspective :

1. Kevin Pieterson : England s captain and best batsman. Got form late in ODIs but made little difference in Cuttack. A lot would depend on the man if England are to show up a good performance out here. Lot of responsibilities off the field too dealing with the security issues.

2. Freddie Flintoff : Back to full fitness (?) and amongst the top 3 batsmen of the England team. First change bowler and a hard hitting batsman at 6 or 7. Would be key with both bat and ball for fortunes of England in the series.

3. Ali Cook : A man who has not hit a single six in international cricket career so far would have lot of responsibility to give a good start to the team with Andrew Strauss. Back in the country where he was rushed to the Test debut 2 yrs back, he would be eyeing few runs in his belt before of course England’s bread and butter series against Aussies begin.

4. Monty Panesar : England win or lose, lot depends on his performance. A lot of promise was showed in his debut in the same country 2 yrs back and with SRT as 1^st Test wicket, would be keen to resume his battle with Tendulkar and Dravid. Would be interesting to see how he balls to Sehwag. If he is able to keep runs in the check and take wkts, he would have done a world of good to his expectations.

Chennai is a spoil sport venue this days. Its been 6 years since a game was played with a result in Chennai (WI, 2002). Since then owing to rains or flat tracks, the games have either being drawn or abandoned. Thanks to the security issues and the ongoing tussle between the BCCI and CAB, Kolkata missed out on hosting the test match.

And with concerns over Mohali too, it would be interesting to see where the second Test is held. Delhi could be one option, Kolkata wont be any, Bangalore could be third.

Let cricket begin with no mention of 11/26. No statements, no over the top opinions on separating terror from cricket, no pointings to the fragile Indian mindset right now and god sake no equating with the country lying in the north west of us. A silence on 11/26 from cricketing point of view is needed. We don’t need to listen what Indian cricketers or English cricketers feel. We must thank England for the resumption of tour in the wake of crisis and security concerns. And for now lets get on with the game. Lets get on with our RELIGION. The one factor that binds entire country and unites it.

Gentlemen PLAY!!!

responsibility of India to tour Pakistan ?

Any post on this blog on cricket in Pakistan is skipped. May be for being politically correct or avoid any controversies. Whatever it is, i find it a bit two edged sword. If somebody other than me writes anything on Pakistan, opinions are penned. Me is skipped. Is it wrong to term or voice my opinion on the current happenings. i feel may be this is a case of saving readership as many Pakistani bloggers visit Indian blogs. Whatever it is, it is a bit disappointing. Leg Slip or cricket files or well pitched -- have openly shown insensitivities on the 11/26 bombings or though they pretend to be sporty blog, they in fact are open forum for anti-Indian rheoteric. I am no political blogger, but as a citizen of this country ripped apart by TERROR, i find it tough to co-relate to them. Tough for me to accept any cricketing ties with them.

It will be the first step towards showing the world that neither the Commonwealth Games nor the World Cup in 2011 needs to be in danger of being taken away from India. Perhaps mixed with the relief will be somewhat warmer feelings towards a neighbor whose cricket has suffered because no one wants to go there.

If India understand the frustration of being an outcast and the joy that comes with acceptance, then they have a responsibility to tour Pakistan next month. Things might change between now and then, but in principle at least India must accept that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Suresh Menon speaks for the responsibility of India to tour Pakistan.

This is a very flawed argument to support the tour Pakistan, which is a terror strife country and is directly accountable for the Mumbai attacks. Several reports, evidences suggest that Pakistan trained and sent the 10 terrorists to carry out 11/26 bombings in Mumbai. We don’t have any responsibility to a country which binges on hatred and spite for us. We cannot be playing cricket with them in their own dynamic militant backyards in an age when a bomb can go off anytime anywhere. More chance of that happening in Pakistan than anywhere else.

In the past bombs have went off outside Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore stadiums – 3 of the supposed venues where India was to play.

There is a lot of difference in the security situation in India and Pakistan. India is a global hub of financial booty for cricket. Pakistan has neither money, nor team to back itself. All it has is AK-47, bombs and free to use terrorists. Why do we need to go and play there ? The players or the reporters home and away, who equate India and Pakistan in same bracket, joke around.

FYI, I am in anguish, anger and despair post 11/26. Cannot expect sane, logic and restraint in this crisis situation. So I would always say NO to any cricket between us and them. Not that my view matters hugely to anybody, but this is what I feel. The outrage and the pics of 11/26 are still afresh and to go and read some fanatic Pakie bloggers justifying the attacks or questioning the claims of terrorists from Pakistan adds fuel to fire. Its an open and shut case. What evidences they are talking about ? Have they ever acted on so many evidences we have provided ? We have told them the brand of lingerie the men behind Mumbai bomb blats (1993) wear, the exact co-ordinates of the terror camps in their own land, yet they speak of no evidence. We cannot play any friendly or unfriendly contests on the 22 yards field.

Cricket is bACK!!

Welcome back England and cricket resumes in an united, aggreviated and angry INDIA.

Elite Eden!!

What an average Pakistani blogger thinks about India as a country and its religion, its cricket and its people including Muslims is evident right here --->http://legslip.com/2008/11/29/ind-pak-cricket-zindabad/

Move aside Wankhede, Chepauk, PCA, Chinnaswamy....When it comes to the tradition and history of cricket in India none other than EDEN GARDENS in Kolkata deserves the limelight. That for you, is the BEST cricket stadium in the country and one of the best in the world in line of MCG and Lord's.

Thanks to the tussle between Jaggu and BCCI regime, the premier ground is yet again barred of the international cricket. Why should Mohali host a 2nd Test in a season ? It would have been a good idea to keep the Nagpur test in Kolkata to bid farewell to its most prodigal son and country s best left handed batsman in his home town. But thats BCCI for you......

Eden garden shud ASAP return back to the international cricket scenario. Jaggu or no Jaggu!!

Pujara not in, Badrinath not out YET!!!

Inclusion of Badrinath over Pujara is a headless chickened stuff and outright example of bias, favoritism, quota system and chauvinsm!! Chief Selector and Badrinath happen to be from same state. And bigger question is what has Badrinath done to be in the squad and what has Chets Pujara not done to be in the squad ? Hitting 3 triple tons in a season half way mark is not enuf for him to be in the team ?

If not then whats sufficient ? Giving away the chances, making 0s, 2s or single digit scores ? Or hailing from the same state from the chief selector ? This is outrageous. Similar to Jaffer when he got aplenty of chances when DBV was chief selector.

Thats narrow minded with no heads applied to the decision. A lot like PCB's Ijaz Butt.....BEsides that the squad is on the expected lines.

Mumbai Marches for Victory over Terror and so does India....

Get on with the GAME!!!

There is cricket or there is no cricket. If you wish to come to play us fine come. Most welcome. No insensitivities please.

And if we dont want to play in your country fine. We wont and we dont want to. Stop clubbing us with you. We aint like you. You thrive on hate, violence, terror. We prosper on peace, love and inaction!!

Stop verbal diaorrhea.

Who bothers ?

Strongly reacting to reports linking Mumbai terror attack to Pakistan, former skipper Rashid Latif on Monday said their cricketers should boycott the IPL and ICL even as pace legend Wasim Akram felt the sport could be a platform to dispel the growing tension between the countries.

Rashid said he was appalled by the manner in which Indian media and government functionaries had tried to implicate Pakistan in the Mumbai attacks.

"What happened in Mumbai is wrong but Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism. And it is so unfair the way they are trying to drag us into this incident," he said, adding clear message has to be sent to India that Pakistan was not prepared to accept blind accusations.

"Our players must pull out of the IPL and ICL and send a clear message to the Indians. As it is I have a feeling very soon the extremist elements in India will try to stop our sportsmen and artists from working in India," he said.

He also advised the Pakistan Cricket Board to stop pleading with the Indians to send their team to Pakistan.

"If they can't come to Pakistan then we shouldn't also go there for any cricketing activity. The security situation is the same in Pakistan and India," he said.

Rashid also said if England went ahead with their Tests in India it would show double standards on part of western countries who refuse to tour Pakistan due to security concerns.

Any doubts that he needs psychic treatment ? And as if Yousuf and others are really leaving ICL ? I am sick of this Pakistani rants and blackmailing with the tour. Who needs to tour them and who wants them here ? Stop this kid's play guys. Show us you guys are grown-ups. And not sissy babies.