01.30.08
Adam Gilchrist – A Tribute To Churchie
Well people you all must be knowing about Adam Gilchrist’s retirement.So I thought that it would be great if I set up a video tribute for Gilly.All you have to do is find some videon from any site which can be embeded and paste the corresponding code in the comments page.I’ll include it in the blog with a link back to yours (If you have one).The video may be anything from Gilly’s batting to his interviews. Anything about Gilly is welcome.You can also send in some interesting facts also.
He deserves every bit of this.He has been a wonderful entertainer in the reent past.He is history’s best Wicket Keeper-Batsman that the game has seen.Here are my favourites to start this off :
Good Reaction Time:
At His Devastating Best (2nd Fastest Century In The History Of Test Cricket:
One Of His Best Catches :
01.25.08
Contest Within Contests
Adelaide is proving to be another run fest for the Indians.They’ve got whatever they asked for with Virender Sehwag striking form.What we have witnessed here is good,competitive Cricket with both the bat and the ball dominating equally.
You can’t ask for anything more.You have the runs scored and also the wickets that you expect when the game seems to be going monotonously.What I saw was contest within contests.Initially it was a well-fought contest between Sehwag and Brett Lee when Sehwag played some good shots against the Aussie Paceman.He looked elegant and he had complete authority over his shots.Lee had the last laugh when he had Sehwag caught by Adam Gilchrist.
Then it was the contest between all the Aussie bowlers and Sachin.But no one lived upto the expectation with Sachin mesmerising the Adelaide crowd with his batting.Tendulkar didn’t spare any bowler during his innings.He was particularly harsh on Brad Hogg taking him for special treatment.Laxman had his own contest with Mitchelle Johnson before getting out to Brett Lee.
Tendulkar reached his century with a classy cover-drive off Michael Clarke.After the fall of Laxman,Aussies put a lid on the Indian scoring rate till the end of day one.But then on Day two,Sachin had his own plans.The first three overs were hit for 24 runs,Sachin crossing the 150 mark in due course.
Then came an pacy spell by Lee.He bowled a bouncer which Sachin hit on his knees because of an under-edge.Tendulkar was suffering from pain and due to this there was a stoppage in between.Then Lee bowled another bouncer the very next ball with the trap set.Sachin fell to the trap holing out to Brad Hogg at deep square leg ending his wonderful innings.Check out this link.
It is looking as though the Indian tail is becoming more reliable in recent times.Rather they look quite positive and quite comfortable out there in the middle.Harbhajan Singh scored a well made 63 before getting out and Anil Kumble scored a masterly 87 before being the last man dismissed.Kumble put on 107 with Harbhajan and then another 70 odd with Ishanth Sharma.
The Indian tail gave a good fight against the Aussie pacers.They were impeccable.Finally the Indian innings ended when on 527.
The Australians did well to reach 62/0 at the end of days play.They had their part of a contest with the Indian bowlers.
During the days play Adam Gilchrist became the most successful wicket-keeper surpasing Mark Boucher’s tally in duAll the way,there has been some good contests that has been taking place during this Adelaide test.Let us fish for more in the coming days.
01.24.08
My Dream Comes True,So Did Sachin’s
Ah what a feeling?Finally me and Sachin Tendulkar are finally happy just because of the way we timed our respective creations.There is nothing more exciting than this.I didn’t go to college as I had a problem with my bike.Or rather should I call it fate that made me to watch the match (though only the clippings on the news channel and tracking it on the net) which included some good innings by Sehwag and Laxman.
Just about 24 hours I had written about this Adelaide test stating that this would be the last time that the Australians will be able to see the fab-five of Indian cricket together on Australian soil.I also expected Sachin to showcase something special for this moment.
I was just thinking about how he’ll perform in Adelaide where the odds and stats were completely against him.I expected him to sign off in his own style.The Master has done it again.During this innings,Tendulkar completed his 39th century in Test cricket.In due course he also set the record for most number of boundaries scored by any person during his career.
There never seems enough records for Sachin who sets a record everytime he scores a run.Well every run is by itself a World Record.The way he played today was tremendous.He started off quite causiously taking 18 balls to get off the blocks.But then he showcased what he is capable of and the Adelaide crowd was very happy with the Little Master’s effort.As I always said,watching the Master At Work is a real treat to watch.
Sachin accelerated at a tremendous pace and reached his 39th century.He just needed two balls for moving from 92 to 102 smashing a six and a four of consecutive balls of Michael Clarke.What a moment was it for the man?I’m thoroughly happy with what he has done at Adelaide and so will be the billions of fans the World over.He has finally set his records right at The Adelaide Oval.He thrashed all the bowlers and the Aussie fielders were made to just fetch the ball.He never made a mistake at all throughout his innings.
With The Master remaining unbeaten overnight,can we expect a double from him?Will the fate again work in my favour?Can he entertain the Adelaide crowd for a few more hours?Only time can answer all these questions.Let me hope that the Master provides me with another video that I can keep watching over and over again.
Indian Show At Adelaide
After the Perth match which showcased some spicy Indian pace bowling,everything boiled down to Adelaide with both the captains expressing their eagerness to stamp their authority over the other.With some talks about Hayden planning new techniques to counter the Indian pace attack,the stage was well-set for another cracker on the cards.
It is finally the D-Day and Anil Kumble won the toss and elected to bat on a sunny Adelaide Thursday.Virender Sehwag walked in with his new opening partner,Irfan Pathan.But this didn’t last long as Irfan Pathan was dismissed in the eighth over of the day.Then Rahul Dravid put his head down with Sehwag and as the lunch break was approaching Dravid was caught at slips.Both the wickets in the morning session was picked by Mitchelle Johnson.Then walked in Sachin Tendulkar to a standing ovation from the Adelaide crowd who came there expecting something from him.
Initially Sachin was very slow taking 18 balls to get off the mark.But once he got off with a boundary,there was no turning back.He thrashed Johnson for three boundaries in the same over.Sehwag at the other end was very selective in picking the balls and he reached his 50 off just 68 balls.But even he was foxed by a Brett Lee ball that was caught by Adam Gilchrist.Replays suggested that Brett Lee had over-stepped by some distance.Another decision against the Indians.
Then walked in Saurav Ganguly who looked quite calm and relaxed and looked free of the thought of being left out of the ODI team.But he too left early,trapped by Brad Hogg for the fourth time in this series,while trying to sweep him.The score read a tricky 156/4.
Meanwhile Tendulkar never let any bowler settle at the other end while lots of drama was taking place at the other end.Then he found an able partner in V.V.S.Laxman.Both approached the game in a different ways.Tendulkar soon crossed 50.After that he changed his game plan and started accelerating at an alarming rate.
No bowler was spared.A Brad Hogg over was hit for 18 runs with two fours and a six in it.He was very severe on Brad Hogg specially.Tendulkar reached his 39th century off just 133 balls.In the mean time Laxman went unnoticed and completed his 50 at the other end.Things looked very bright with both going great guns.But then Laxman was caught off the bowling of Lee by Gilchrist.
Dhoni walked in at both,Sachin and Dhoni decided to drop their anchor without any further damage for the day.the Indians ended the day on a respectable 309/5.This will set up an exciting second day with both Sachin and Dhoni capable of scoring quickly.Hoping for loads of action tomorrow also.Cheers!!!
01.23.08
The Sick Attitude
Did you guys see the recent news on the television?Did you see whats the difference between an experienced campaigner and youth is?Surely you would have.There comes in the maturity thing.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni – The Indian ODI captain – sounded so very raw and harsh when he said he didn’t have any problem when he walked out for practising at the nets.But did he care to ever think of what the other person would be going through?Did you see the way Anil Kumble handled the media?
M.S.D may have chosen the team according to his needs as it is his discretion to select the team.But my point of argument is whether should he have been so very rude?Doesn’t he know how to convey the message and handle the media?He’ll soon learn his lessons when he might face tough times ahead.
