History repeats for fourth time

It is not unfamiliar territory for the Indians. First it was Sri Lanka, then England came twice and now it is Australia - for the 4th time in 4 successive ICC events India stand on the brink of elimination from an ICC event. And things have been complicated this time. Yuvraj and Veeru have been sorely missed. And without them (and with Dravid) the Indian team looks the weakest of the 4 different teams that took the challenge. The only time Team India overcame they challenge (2007 T20 World Cup v England Group match) they went on to win the tournament. Incidentally, that happened in South Africa too. Fingers crossed!! Will history repeat on that front?

Of bungee jumps and contract refusals

Cricket seems to have entered a new phase. The advent of T20 has now resulted in a new business terminology - freelance cricketer*. After Andrew Symonds, its not the turn of Andrew Flintoff to turn a freelance cricketer. Freedy went to the extend of rejecting a contract offered by the ECB stating that he had to take a bungee jump in a television program as the reason for rejection. Undoubtedly it's the lucrative money from the IPL that must have prompted this decision. But just as players tend to be clever when it comes to earning money, the IPL has gone a step further. They have ruled that a player can play in the IPL only if he has received clearance from his national board. Now that's a case of the snake eating itself - How is it going to end?

* A freelance cricketer is someone who doesn't have a contract with his national team board and is available to play domestic cricket (especially T20 cricket) at his will for teams in any country.

IPL 3.0 - dying already?

It looks like the IPL and KBC have so much in common. After taking India by storm with KBC 1 and KBC 2, KBC3 bored the Indian audience because of the lack of novelty in its concept.
Now IPL 3.0 seems set to run into the same fate - something aggravated by other reasons also. A similar fate struck the Premier Hockey League a few years back. Looks like IPL could go that way. So much for a "cricket crazy" nation.

The new Pakistan

When Pakistan lost the Test and ODI series against Sri Lanka, just as every Indian would be, I was pleased. It always gives me (and every Indian) that wicked pleasure to see Pakistan lose. But last night, when I saw the news flash on TV - the news that Australia have lost the Ashes once again - I was ecstatic. The joy was even more. Now that makes me think - at least in cricketing terms is Australia India's new Pakistan?

The magic of 194

10 years after Saeed Anwar limped and thrashed 194 runs against India in a ODI, the record has been equaled. But quite unfortunately, there seems to be absolutely no coverage on this. That left me wondering - what if Sachin Tendulkar had achieved this? Another interesting point to note was that the 194 runs record set by Anwar was not eclipsed but only equaled - what is it with 194? Sadly for the record breaker - Chris Coventry of Zimbabwe - the match ended in the favor of the opposition. But still kudos to the unknown hero.
As expected Rahul Dravid has driven his way back into the Indian team - a selection that has come in for some harsh criticism. But let's face it. The Champions Trophy is just a month away and India cannot afford another embarrassing exit from another tournament. So this is probably the only worthwhile solution for the issue. Give him a chance - after all, he has a better record in South Africa than the special one.

What's the fuss?

I am completely unable to understand why some of the Indian players talk of security concerns as the reason for not signing the 'where about clause' of the World Anti Doping Agency. Agreed that they are popular in India. Agreed that they are icons. But that does not warrant their argument! Does it mean that WADA will disclose to every Tom Dick and Harry? Come on cricketers - don't be so childish!! What indeed is the fuss?
There is a saying - if your name is tarnished once, there is no way it can be restored. Ask Manoj Prabhakar and he will say. Cricket South Africa did just that to Dale Steyn. Why did they jump the gun in announcing that the player failed a drug test only to retract it a day later? Poor Dale, even if he has been proved innocent now, there will always be a suspecting eye at him now!
Speaking of keeping a suspecting eye, the hasty decision of the IPL authorities to induct ICL escapees into IPL 3.0 (yeah there is a techno name for the next IPL) makes me suspect something fishy. After all, the BCCI had announced that there will be a 1 year period in which they willl still not be entertained! Now the fringe players in the current IPL teams will face the heat of this move!
Also evincing interest was the move by certain Kiwi players. They were daring enough to delay signing their official contracts because they wanted to put IPL before their country. Looks like the IPL's cash is quite some money for the Kiwis.
And by the way. Here is a funny parting shot. Read it and laugh out loud.

Freddy in Double Impact

The retirement announcement of the week - that of Freddy - may have had a telling impact on the Ashes series but for that perennial problem that dogs him - injuries. For a man who was the inspiration to England's victorious Ashes campaign in 2005 things have been on the down slide ever since. First it was the way in which the Aussies snatched the Ashes back the same year. That was followed by a spate of injuries and then the 2007 World Cup near death experience in WI. The injuries have only gotten worse and it was time that Freddy quit the scene - so the retirement is well timed and will become even better if England go on to retain the Ashes.
The retirement though will have a double impact. Firstly, England will have one less player (or nobody) to inspire them positively during a crunch - that will be a cruel impact. Secondly, CSK (yeah that team in the IPL) will now have the undivided attention and services of Freddy. Agreed that Freddy hasn't quit ODIs. But judging by what he is going through now, I think England would already be thinking of a replacement for him. Now that's a superb impact for CSK.