I normally do not express my views about cricket matches. I have believed that it should be left to the experts. I witnessed an extremely engrossing test match between India and Australia and will remember it for all the wrong reasons for many many years to come.
There are only certain things that can be said on television...the so called ethics comes into play there. But there are no such boundaries here. This is my space and I am the king here. I shall refrain from the technicalities because they have been presented quite beautifully in these links. I shall just stick to what I personally believed.
Taking a leaf out of Gautham Bhimani's post match presentation:
1) Mike Hussey should have been given out off Ishant Sharma when there was a clear nick off his bat. The umpires were catching their forty winks there.
2) Andrew Symonds had nicked the ball so loud that even the smallest hair on my ass heard it. But it seems like Steve Bucknor did not have my ass on his ear and as a result he did not hear anything.
3) Symonds was caught napping when M.S.Dhoni did some super quick work behind the stumps in the second innings on two occasions. On both counts the umpires thought they shall let Symonds continue to bat because of the strong "partnership" they had developed.
4) Rahul Dravid had his wall broken just when he had laid the foundation. Again Bucknor reminded me of that spoilt little kid who pees in the living room just after it has been cleaned. You just feel like whopping his ass.
5) Saurav Ganguly was given out caught behind by Mark Benson. Micheal Clarke cliamed that he had caught the ball cleanly and an ignorant captain supported his cause. Benson should have referred to the square leg umpire but took Ponting's word. I know ignorance can be a bliss, but in this case it required a bitch slap.
6) Ponting dove around like a cat on a hot pan to hold on to what he believed was a "correct" catch off M.S.Dhoni. If Ponting was right, then the TV cameras were wrong. And according to him they were! Oh, you poor technology...I am sorry to say you have died here.
I have always believed that fortune favours the brave. But in this case, it fucked us on the deal. Team India played against 13 players without the 12th man on the field! The force of a billion people could just stand and watch the atrocities that were committed on the field. After a lot of discussions and post match analysis, here's what I feel.
1) When the Australians get kicked at, they do not go down sportingly. All kinds of tactics were conjured up that reminded me of the arguments we used to have when playing street cricket.
2) Post their "win", Ponting said in reference to Saurav's dismissal fiasco that "That's how the game should be played". I think just because Ponting is the captain of a world class team, he rules the world and has a say in everything. If a man claims he is so honest, why the hell did'nt he walk when he had edged the ball in the first innings? Well, Mr.Ponting, just like how you think you own everything in cricket, I think you are an arrogant man and I own this space.
3) Hats off to Saurav when he did not acknowledge the crowd after reaching his 50. The mark of protest was clearly seen. I am sure if Dada were captian, we would have noticed a walk out similar to Sunil Gavaskar/Chetan Chauhan and Arjuna Ranatunga/Team Sri Lanka.
4) I bow down in reverence to Anil Kumble who maintianed dignity while talking to the media unlike his counterpart. I felt goosebumps when I saw Team India walking out to the field to congratulate them on the win. I personally feel they should not have done it but they rose above the game itself.
5) It will be interesting to see if an issue is raised against Australia's excessive appealing. Their reaction to every appeal turned down was as if they thought that the umpires were complete jackasses. Whether or not it ensures a penalty is a topic for another day. I guess in the ICC rule book if a team from the sub-continent is charged, they should be fucked! All other teams can do whatever they please.
There are only certain things that can be said on television...the so called ethics comes into play there. But there are no such boundaries here. This is my space and I am the king here. I shall refrain from the technicalities because they have been presented quite beautifully in these links. I shall just stick to what I personally believed.
Taking a leaf out of Gautham Bhimani's post match presentation:
1) Mike Hussey should have been given out off Ishant Sharma when there was a clear nick off his bat. The umpires were catching their forty winks there.
2) Andrew Symonds had nicked the ball so loud that even the smallest hair on my ass heard it. But it seems like Steve Bucknor did not have my ass on his ear and as a result he did not hear anything.
3) Symonds was caught napping when M.S.Dhoni did some super quick work behind the stumps in the second innings on two occasions. On both counts the umpires thought they shall let Symonds continue to bat because of the strong "partnership" they had developed.
4) Rahul Dravid had his wall broken just when he had laid the foundation. Again Bucknor reminded me of that spoilt little kid who pees in the living room just after it has been cleaned. You just feel like whopping his ass.
5) Saurav Ganguly was given out caught behind by Mark Benson. Micheal Clarke cliamed that he had caught the ball cleanly and an ignorant captain supported his cause. Benson should have referred to the square leg umpire but took Ponting's word. I know ignorance can be a bliss, but in this case it required a bitch slap.
6) Ponting dove around like a cat on a hot pan to hold on to what he believed was a "correct" catch off M.S.Dhoni. If Ponting was right, then the TV cameras were wrong. And according to him they were! Oh, you poor technology...I am sorry to say you have died here.
I have always believed that fortune favours the brave. But in this case, it fucked us on the deal. Team India played against 13 players without the 12th man on the field! The force of a billion people could just stand and watch the atrocities that were committed on the field. After a lot of discussions and post match analysis, here's what I feel.
1) When the Australians get kicked at, they do not go down sportingly. All kinds of tactics were conjured up that reminded me of the arguments we used to have when playing street cricket.
2) Post their "win", Ponting said in reference to Saurav's dismissal fiasco that "That's how the game should be played". I think just because Ponting is the captain of a world class team, he rules the world and has a say in everything. If a man claims he is so honest, why the hell did'nt he walk when he had edged the ball in the first innings? Well, Mr.Ponting, just like how you think you own everything in cricket, I think you are an arrogant man and I own this space.
3) Hats off to Saurav when he did not acknowledge the crowd after reaching his 50. The mark of protest was clearly seen. I am sure if Dada were captian, we would have noticed a walk out similar to Sunil Gavaskar/Chetan Chauhan and Arjuna Ranatunga/Team Sri Lanka.
4) I bow down in reverence to Anil Kumble who maintianed dignity while talking to the media unlike his counterpart. I felt goosebumps when I saw Team India walking out to the field to congratulate them on the win. I personally feel they should not have done it but they rose above the game itself.
5) It will be interesting to see if an issue is raised against Australia's excessive appealing. Their reaction to every appeal turned down was as if they thought that the umpires were complete jackasses. Whether or not it ensures a penalty is a topic for another day. I guess in the ICC rule book if a team from the sub-continent is charged, they should be fucked! All other teams can do whatever they please.
6) I feel public speaking techniques and people management classes that Team India receives should be withdrawn. Play cricket just the way you play in crowded parks and narrow streets where every player is an authority. Believe me, that's the approach needed while playing in Australia.
7) I salute Harsha Bhogle and Sunil Gavaskar for a super post match talk. I especially loved the way Mr.Bhogle grilled all concerned in a sublime manner. As always Mr.Gavaskar's emotions were worth watching and his thoughts worth listening. Hats off to you Sirs! I now know why you are deeply respected in the cricketing fraternity.
Anyway, all has been completed. I cannot help but smile at the fact that if the roles were reversed, and if India had been in Australia's position, the game would have been played in much better spirit and dignity. Go Team India...Go Anil Kumble! You have locked horns with the bull and almost brought it down. Hang in there because one billion people are behind you to pick you up if you fall.
7) I salute Harsha Bhogle and Sunil Gavaskar for a super post match talk. I especially loved the way Mr.Bhogle grilled all concerned in a sublime manner. As always Mr.Gavaskar's emotions were worth watching and his thoughts worth listening. Hats off to you Sirs! I now know why you are deeply respected in the cricketing fraternity.
Anyway, all has been completed. I cannot help but smile at the fact that if the roles were reversed, and if India had been in Australia's position, the game would have been played in much better spirit and dignity. Go Team India...Go Anil Kumble! You have locked horns with the bull and almost brought it down. Hang in there because one billion people are behind you to pick you up if you fall.
