Adieu IPL!Welcome back,Test Cricket

Well…long time since I last posted on this blog….So far its been more about the IPL and nothing much else.

Like any new concept,the IPL T20 excited most of us in the beginning…what with all the glitz and glamor in the Olympics-like opening ceremony.And most of the cricket played so far has been nothing short of fantastic,which is only to be expected considering the quality of talent available in all teams.Though a couple of teams have failed to make a significant impact in the tournament,things are bound to change once the transfer market opens in the off-season…Sounds football-like,doesn’t it?

Flaws:

*Much like the 2007 ODI World Cup, the IPL has been  far too lengthy,and as Wasim Akram has said,the tournament will be a bigger success if it becomes shorter…

*The live coverage on television,to say the least,has been below par.Inexperienced studio presenters and helpless commentators-when one listens to the commentary,the word “DLF” is repeated at least a hundred times within a single innings….so much for the sponsorship…HUH?

*And last but not the least,Lalit Modi comes up with a new rule everyday…we’ll get enough new rules to publish the “IPL-Lalit Modi Rulebook” very soon…check this out

After all the T20,it’s feels much more special to watch intense test cricket  played over five days..’specially the two series in progress now..For all of you folks who think IPL would end up killing test cricket…let me put it this way…too much of any format becomes a bore…be it tests,ODIs or T20..so,its up to the ICC(and yes…BCCI) to make sure cricket lives longer,rather than their multi-million dollars….

 

T20,IPL n Slapgate!

It’s been one amazing year in Indian cricket..Coming to think of it..the BCCI had never wanted to embrace T20 till last year..and the BCCI,for reasons best known to itself, was refusing to allow India to take part in the world T20..Not long before,there was no Sreesanth and his antics..and Bhajji had seemingly grown up from the days when he asked Ponting to “*&%^ off”…Those were probably the first english words he spoke….

Now,after a long,hard season….look where we are…India World T20 champs….and guess what,the same BCCI cash cow wants to spearhead the T20 bandwagon..While the IPL so far’s been a great treat for all fans,laying to rest all doubts on whether fans will back their cities as they’ve been used to cheering their country all these years.

But wait…lets get down to THE topic….Firstly,I wish Sreesanth was an actor..he could give all our stars a run for their money..How well did he emote!And Bhajji…wont he ever change?Enough has been argued by our ubiquitous news channels…so I dont need to go into that too much…

One valid point that was made was by Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi…who said Sreesanth has more antic skills than bowling talent..

On the other hand..people like the versatile Harsha Bhogle,one of my favourite commentators,who,not long ago,was telling all of us from the commentary box not to go too much into the Symonds-Bhajji-monkey-controversy…is finding himself in the thick of things now..as the Mumbai Indians’ adviser….Pity him!He wouldnt have wanted this!

And finally,these days,it feels good that test cricket is returning…albeit the fact that the IPL’s going on in this country…Lets savour the “real” cricket…as Oz take on the Windies..and the Kiwis go to Mighty Ol’ Blighty!

 

Indian Cricket

One of the most compelling experiences of cricket,and modern sport in general,is tracking the rise of a sportsman from an ordinary background,having no godfathers,mentors and the like,yet rising to the heights just due to his own grit,guts and sheer mental strength.Thats why watching this young Indian team perform in recent times has been the experience worth more than all the IPL dollars.

Imagine a coolie’s son rising to the heights of a Hollywood star in a few years time and yet displaying an uncharacteristic level-headedness uncommon among Indian sportsmen of the recent past.And another,born into a family of wrestlers,literally having to grapple his way to selection.Welcome to the world of the Dhonis and the Praveen kumars…

I came across this bit of info in an article in Tehelka.It said that Dhoni used to go to a temple about 50 km from Ranchi.He used to talk to the priest for hours,asking if it was possible to predict his future.When he said yes,Dhoni didn’t want to know about it all..Instead he sought God’s blessings to improve his game.

The priest says

“We used to chat with him for hours and hours together when he came here.I want to do so even now.But I know it is impossible”

Also,just before that home series against Pakistan,where Dhoni’s rise started,he had no one to turn to for practice.All the practice he had before that series was with his school coach,who bowled to him with wet tennis balls on a concrete surface,to train him to face Akhtar and co.And on that hot,humid day in Vizag,all those fast deliveries flew to the boundary like tennis balls would in gully cricket.

While these guys have been rewarded for the hard work they put in,there are many,many more, who,having been given the cold shoulder by the BCCI,have sought employment with the ICL.

I also came across this touching article on one of cricinfo’s blogs about the sufferings undergone by some of our own first-class cricketers.They deserve(d) better.

Today,even as the world is split into two factions,arguing about the viability of the IPL and the ICL,one thing is for sure…these leagues have helped those underprivileged lot earn a living.