Fever pitch

I’m glad IPL’s started and I at least have something to watch on TV (apart from news, i.e.). I’m surprised at the way Royal Challengers have bounced back after the mauling they received at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders in their first match. Jaques Kallis has been superlative for them (and amazing supporting roles by Kumble the magician and Uthapa the unpredictable).

It’s saddening to watch the fortunes of some teams go so bad so soon – Rajasthan Royals and Kings’ XI Punjab. The first edition of IPL had seen them surprising several teams (and RR went on to win the finals while Punjab lost in the Semis). It reminds me of the fortunes of the ladies who own these teams who hail from the tinsel town. Both Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty were popular heroines (okay, Ms Shetty was NOT exactly popular but known). But their careers have long been on the wane and there’s only one way to go for them – down. Looks their teams too are headed the same way along with them. And, come to think of it – these blokes in the side can’t even claim to be ‘reading scripts’ and get away when their losses seem to have been scripted by the bad team-building choices by the owner-nis. But as Jadeja said they still might be laughing all the way to the bank despite losses in the matches! But it surely is NOT the best thing for the future of IPL.

For now I’m placing my money on Royal Challengers and Deccan Chargers to reach the semis along with Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings). Seems the Kolkata and Delhi teams are losing steam faster than one thought now. And the battle for the wooden spoon seems to be the toughest – between the Punjabis and the Rajasthanis.

Rol(l)(e) Reversal

It's probably premature to talk so. But the one and a half days of play at Perth has thrown up unexpected turn of events. It was India that was to succumb to the 'chin-music'. The bowling quartet of Lee, Clark, Johnson and Tait (the superfast) were to vanquish the Indian batsmen susceptible to fast bwling. And register their 17th win on the trot to create a new world record (by erasing their own).

So far the scores belie the expectations. At 72 for 5 as I write this Australia seems to be on the mat - on a pitch that was made for both their batsmen and bowlers.One small thing on the side too. I was proved wrong about Pathan. mrsgollum you were right! But I'm glad you are!

What if...

... the scene changes as thus imagined (a continuation of yesterday's post on cricket)?Now Sachin has come out and spoken his mind. Ditto BCCI (to some extent, if you consider it to have any mind in the first place). Even Mike Procter has added his two bit. The media is in a frenzy - and much like the cricket-loving public. I almost would say that it's stoking the fire! With all the leading and loaded questions. Everyone seems to be screaming. (And that very much includes me).

So, Mike Procter though says he stands by his decision and it wasn't based on just the word of the Aussies, what was THE evidence by which he decided to punish Bhajji? It's a mystery. A 2-million dollar BCCI fine question I guess. Since Sachin has said he COMPLETELY backs Harbhajan it cannot be then Sachin's prevaricatoins that tilted the balance. I hope Mike Procter produces this YET invisible evidence at least in his lifetime. May be he requires Michael Clarke's help to invent some!

But what if this entire scenario changes? What if ICC accedes to BCCI and Indian players' protests and withdraws/annuls the ban? What if it has to withdraw the ban based on 'lack of conclusive evidence'? What if MIke Procter's made to eat his own words?

Will the ICC act against Mike Procter and say he was wrong in penalising Bhajji and exclude him forever from officiating as a match referee? Will the ICC show that it has the balls to act against non-Asian umpires as it has acted in the past against Asian umpires (based on Ricky Ponting's report incidentally Hariharan of India was removed from the Elite Panel)? Will the Australian players (Symonds and Ponting and Michael Clarke) be 'punished' for making an issue and for 'lying' with the intent to cause stress to the opponents? OR, will BCCI walk out of ICC and create a new cricket council with the support of other Asian nations?

I'm pretty excited with the turn of events. But not very happy with my yesterday's rant - though not regretting it!

Living up to the Legacy!

Australia is a country of immigrants. Centuries ago the British deported all its thugs, murderers, cheats and such other criminals to the shores of now what's called Australia. I most times wondered about the veracity of this information. Were all the people in Australia the descendants of cheats and criminals?

Yesterday they proved it beyond doubt. Yes, the genes are irreplaceable. Australians are cheats. Loud and clear. And, they're proud about it too. They take pride in cheating, lying and brow-beating others to submission. Wow! What a legacy they have!

Australians didn't need cheating or lying or even under-hand tactics to establish their supremacy in World Cricket. But they still went ahead and used it to win an otherwise losing test, and a loss of chance to rewrite the record books. Shows what stuff they're made of. Full of shit!

I doubt if India would bounce back in the series even to fetch a draw in either Perth or Adelaide. In all probabilities it'd be a 4-0 in favour of 13-member Australian side that is also backed by the local media (which otherwise was primrose pure while the side was playing in India), the match referee and supported from the ring-side by a boneless wonder called BCCI. The same BCCI that bares its fangs at its own fellow-cricketers when they want to earn a buck but becomes blind, tongue-tied when the entire country's prestige is at stake.