It’s not Aaqib Javed with the four wickets.
Archive for January, 2006
A champion bowler
Wednesday, January 18th, 2006Girls going crazy
Wednesday, January 18th, 2006
Well his hair looks like that of a skunk. Bewildering 2262 comments and still going strong on Will’s CoU then.
FA Cup at its best
Tuesday, January 17th, 2006
The FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world. Every year it brings with it superb matches and amazing stories. I witnessed one such match in which Wigan beat Leeds on penalties (4-2)3-3. David Healy’s two goals and Gary Kelly’s superb strike for the 3rd goal (a guy who scores less than a goal per 100 games) for the equaliser in extra time couldn’t stop Wigan from winning in the penalties.
One more team is eliminated then. 673 will see the same fate when a winner is finally declared.
Winning matches v/s records
Tuesday, January 17th, 2006The 50 year old record didn’t break. Also, I do not understand the obsession with records. If your records come your way, fine. I do not see the big deal. Wins are important and not records. There is an obsession with records. I can understand a young test team like Bangladesh savouring the first test century of a player but it doesn’t matter generally as far as I am concerned.
I will remember players for more for trying to win matches and matches they helped their team win than for statistical records they might have achieved.
50 years on
Monday, January 16th, 2006
A little more than 50 years later, the opening world record looks set to be broken. An article by Partab Ramchand written 6 years earlier relives memories of that partnership.
Race for women’s No #1
Monday, January 16th, 2006Any of Kim Clijsters and Amelie Mauresmo can take the top spot from Davenport.
To quote from tennisfans:
Here’s how it goes: Clijsters can take the top spot if she reaches the final or if Lindsay loses before then (all those ranking points to defend, I guess). If Davenport makes the title match, Kim must at least make the quarters. Davenport, can retain the top ranking by reaching the final and having Clijsters lose in the fourth round or earlier. She will also stay No. 1 if she wins the title and Clijsters doesn’t make the final. However, Mauresmo has the most difficult scenario. She must win the title and Clijsters must not advance to the semifinals, regardless of what Davenport does.
Another ‘ova’
Monday, January 16th, 2006Its Pironkova this time. The Williams just can’t handle the ovas. Only difference this time is that Tszvetana Pironkova is from Bulgaria.
And she epitomises the young daring sportsperson:
I have known about Venus for a long time but when I go on court I am a professional so I should not think she was kind of my idol before. After one day I have another match so I don’t think I should celebrate.
BCCI making their own cricketing calendar
Monday, January 16th, 2006I pondered about how much the BCCI can restrict. Now they are going to have their own broadcast with commentators handpicked. Also, they are making their own calendars – scrapping their own Champions Trophy after the next edition and playing Australia more often reports Rahul Bhatia.
The member countries ARE the ICC. If a majority number of member countries get a lot of financial reward playing tours with India more often, they are unlikely to object to it as in the case of Australia here.
Another aspect, even if the ICC shows some balls and bans countries x,y,z for a period – it wouldnt matter as the countries would go onto play their cricket any way.
The unofficial RSA-India test after the Mike Denness issue showed it can easily be done.
Increased demand for the sport in India has lead to power in terms of money generation capabilities in India. This shouldn’t be the reason for a hackneyed calendar without any structure though thats exactly what is happening.
How much can you restrict?
Monday, January 16th, 2006I had spoken about the restriction on speaking with the media the BCCI imposed on players recently. Apparently they are now objecting to what is being telecast on TV as well.
Also, Sehwag will have to stop his column as well. Will the BCCI compensate him for the income he has been denied as a result of this?
Not cricket
Monday, January 16th, 2006There was nothing ‘great’ in the batting effort of India or Pakistan in this test match. People were going gaga when Afridi and Akmal were making runs and some fans from India would be feeling the same currently. Memories of Chris Gayle’s knock and that India-Sri Lanka test match comes to mind.
In chess, when the opponents decide, a draw can be agreed upon. I think the same should hold good for test cricket. It is an option in the last hour of play. But why not in any period during the test match. Why have a dead rubber too after a series has been completed.
The Indian board was not able to accomodate a twenty20 charity match for Pakistan earthquake victims and proceeds of a limited overs match will go to them.
A twenty20 match or one dayer for charity would be much more interesting than cricket which has been played till now and that which will be played tomorrow.
