And then...South Africa happened!

South Africa had made it to the Quarter-finals without having any real serious problems in the group stages. Yes they did stutter against England, but topped the group and played the fourth best team in Group A which was New Zealand. Everyone expected it be a stroll in the park with New Zealand looking not too convincing in the group stage matches .But then the South Africans have been given the tag of ‘chokers’ not for nothing .And at Mirpur on Friday ,they did it again. They choked and choked heavily under pressure. And instead of travelling to Sri Lanka for the semi-finals, they had to travel back home.

Coming into the quarter-finals,both teams had never won a knock out game in the World Cup's and one team had to break that jinx on Friday and it was New Zealand.Unbelievable as it is, any South African team that has played the World Cup has always come into the tournament as one of the major favorites to win it or at least make it to the semi-finals. Apart from the 1992 World Cup, where the rain rule left them to get 22 runs of 1 ball, something or the other has always gone wrong. In 2003 against Sri Lanka at Durban, they messed up with the par score, the Duckworth-Lewis method stating that the team needed to get one run more than the par score to win the match. Mark Boucher was communicated that they needed to get 229 which actually was the par score, and actually to win the match they needed 230. Once they got to 229, Boucher was very much pleased with it, in fact going on the punch the air. But unfortunately, it was only the par score and they were punched out of the tournament.

Any South African team that has played the World Cup since they got back to playing cricket in 1992 has always flattered to deceive. They have always started as being the hot favorites but have never lived up to their billing. Choke is one ‘C’ word that the South Africans won’t like to have in their dictionary, but unfortunately by the looks of it, it could very well be the first word in the dictionary even before the alphabet ‘A’.


On Friday, they could do no wrong till Kallis was at the crease. Things were just perfect, having bowled out New Zealand for a paltry score of 221 and then 108-2 with Kallis at his vintage best. And then he hit a very good shot which had 6 written all over it till it ran into Jacob Oram who probably took the most important catch of his cricketing career and it was a blinder. Kallis was back into the hut and then South Africa happened!! AB DeVillers, easily their best player of the tournament got run out, probably the only possible way that he could have got out, and then Duminy was cleaned up by Nathan McCullum. From 121-3 they went to 132-7 asking too much of Faf Du Plessis .He tried, but it was always going to be too much after that.


Daniel Vettori’s captaincy was something that we don’t get to see often these days. Once Kallis was out , the overs after that were treated like power plays with at least 5 fielders in the ring. The only way New Zealand was going to win this match was if they took 10 wickets. Vettori knew this very well and he kept on attacking with close in fielders staring at the batsman and the bowling was backed up by excellent fielding, Martin Guptill being the best of the lot. Jacob Oram showed why he is so dangerous with the ball ending up with 4 wickets and the most crucial catch of Jacques Kallis to turn the match in the favor or the Kiwis.

No one gave the black caps a chance before the match, but they came out trumps. They now face Sri Lanka at the lion’s den itself at the Premadasa and no one is giving them a chance again! That’s expected. But then the Kiwis are on a roll, they have knocked off one ‘S’ already in the form of South Africa , can they get the better of another ‘S’? . Only time will tell.

The Knockout Punch

Australia came into the quarter-finals with their halo of being unbeaten broken. India came into the quarter-finals with their ego’s battered – not a single win in the group stages of a kind that will please the Indian audience . If Australia came into the match with not too many mistakes in the group stages , it was exactly the opposite for Team India , starting off with England in a match they should have won easily but ended up with honors even and against South Africa where hara-kiri was at its supreme best losing 9 wickets for 29 runs.

But the major difference between the two sides coming into the quarter-finals was the big match exposure. Australia started off with an easy win against the Kiwis who were yet to get into the groove (as I write this , they have pulled off a stunning victory against South Africa) , then against Sri Lanka which was a washout and against Pakistan where the Australian batsman could hardly get the ball off the square when up against a terrific spin trio of Shahid Afridi , Abdur Rehman and Mohammad Hafeez and then Umar Akmal finishing off the match with a splendid innings to end the Aussie 34 match winning spree in the World Cup’s.

India on the other hand had to battle hard, be it against England or against Ireland. They edged, scratched, messed around, were miserable in the fielding department and the bowling only seemed to start and end with Zaheer Khan, but managed to get two points out of four games and one against England. Against South Africa, they deserved to win, but that was till Sachin Tendulkar was at the crease. They had committed all sorts of mistakes that one could have asked for to be corrected before entering the knock out stages. At Motera, all these mistakes were rectified.

Right from the beginning of the tournament, India’s batting has been at its supreme best, but their bowling has never complimented the batting and their fielders have never complimented the bowlers. All in all it even the hardest of optimist would have relented to the fact that if India had to win the quarter finals, the batsman had to do it and somehow hope and pray that the bowlers concede at least one run less than their opposition, meaning which it was always going to be a win the toss and bat first situation. And this did not happen. Ponting won the toss and as expected, opted to bat first.


This is where the bowlers had different ideas. R.Ashwin probably the most talked about person in the country after the World Cup has started over his non inclusion in most of the group matches was in the side and was given the new ball. It only helped that he is Dhoni’s teammate at the Chennai SuperKings and his temperament was something that Dhoni was very well versed with. And indeed he bowled like a king making Watson look like a pauper asking as if can I hit you for few runs. The answer was Watson’s stumps being castled. At the other end it was Zaheer Khan, the second highest wicket taker in the tournament who seems to be in the form of his life. Harbhajan Singh, although not amongst the wickets kept the pressure on the batsman and although Munaf Patel was clobbered around a bit by Brad Haddin, the bowlers always seemed to have in control.

And finally, the magical Yuvraj Singh, who seems to turn things into gold, whatever he touches this World Cup. His spell of 44 runs of 10 overs with 2 wickets was decisive since his first wicket was of Brad Haddin, at a time in the game when the momentum was swinging in the favor of the Aussies and then getting the better off pup: Michal Clarke who was totally beaten by the flight and ended up holing at long on.

Australia ultimately set India a target of 261, probably 20 runs less than what they would have liked thanks to some superb fielding in the outfield by Ashwin, Raina and Yuvraj. A score very much competitive in a big game and which meant the top 5 for India had to fire. Sachin set up the game beautifully for India but was out in a slightly controversial manner, Gambhir batted in a superb manner till he decided that somehow or the other he needed to find a way to get run out, Sehwag had gone early and so was Virat Kohli, but while they lasted had decent partnerships. At the other end though there was a sedate Yuvraj Singh going about doing his job , not getting affected by the things happening around him : Gambhir’s run out or Dhoni’s dismissal. And with 70 odd runs to get in about 11 overs and having Raina as his partner , Yuvraj decided to break loose and in a span of 10 minutes things changed . Pressure was eased as both Yuvraj and Raina slaughtered Bret Lee and Shaun Tait and from there on there was no looking back. Yuvraj exploded and Raina came up with a six of his own to make sure that there were no further hiccups.


The top 5 did play their part and it was the 7th batsman which is another most talked about topic in Indian Cricket came good in the form of Raina. Ashwin was in his elements and got rid of Ricky Ponting who in all probabilities has played his last World Cup game and probably his last as the captain of the Australian ODI team. It’s almost certain that the selectors will now start looking beyond Ponting to lead the side.
Ponting himself came good at a time when nothing seemed to go in his favor this World Cup by hitting a brilliant century and reminding everyone that the scratcher in him still remains. But unfortunately for the two time World Cup winning captain, his century was in a losing cause and ending the era of Australian Supremacy.

There is no road to success without any punctures. India has had its share of punctures in the group stage. It’s now time to step up the gas and hit top gear. And what better when the opposition is Pakistan in a World Cup semi-final. Mouth watering encounter in the offering irrespective of whether you love cricket or not and a Money Flowing encounter for the organizers!!

When the world spoke of the other Kevin

At 111-5 and chasing 328 to win, one would not like to put the money on the batting team. And certainly not if the batting team is Ireland. And definitely not if the opposition is a formidable English side. But then there are people who have different ideas. Kevin O’Brien did.

At the M Chinnaswamy stadium at Bengaluru, Kevin O’ Brien did what otherwise would have been something impossible for the human mind to achieve. He came out to bat there with only one intention, of winning the match. There was no point in pushing and prodding around and getting a nice little half century. What he saw and which no one of us did was what lay in store beyond that. The moment he stepped on to the field to bat, he had decided that he would go for the kill and in the process played an innings that has to go down as one of the greatest ever World Cup knocks.

Kevin certainly did not clobber the English attack. He massacred them. 13 fours and 6 sixes being an evidence of that and going on to get the fastest century ever in a World Cup off 50 balls beating that of Mathew Hayden that had come in 66 balls . The innings was something that the likes of Kevin Pietersen can only dream to play. The best part about his batting was it was a chanceless innings. His sixes were clean, the only way the boundary rider could catch it was if he was in the stands.

It doesn’t get bigger, does it? Kevin’s innings was power reminiscent of Kieron Pollard but with a calmer head and better technique. What he knew very well was as they were getting closer to victory, the only thing the Irish needed was him to stay out there and not give away his wicket. And he managed to do this till the penultimate over and got out in the most appropriate way in the form of a run out. England would not have been able to get him out in any other way.

Partnerships play a vital role in any match and in Cusack, Kevin found an ideal partner who was willing to weather the storm right till the end. The match changing partnership of 162 meanwhile also raised a totally different debate of what total is safe for the team batting first and how and when the powerplay’s should be used . The Irish pair compiled 62 runs in the 5 allotted overs of power play and this breathed life into the Irish innings. And probably life into the 2011World Cup!

England ran India close, and managed to get a point out of it. But against Ireland, they ran into Kevin O’Brien and the rest is history.

Preview:The Big Match:India Vs.England

Was it a blessing in disguise for the people of Kolkata that the India Vs. England’s match got shifted to Bangalore? People queuing up for tickets were lathi-charged. There was chaos. But all for the love of the game.The India England encounter was always going to be a huge match in this World Cup and the hype surrounding it has been enormous. For this the common man will still be ready to take a few blows if that means a ticket to today’s encounter between the two heavyweights.

Today’s match immediately brings back the memories of the 1987 semifinal that India lost to England and 2003 where the Nehra inspired Indian team raced to a victory. But today is a new day. The team that holds its nerves should come out trumps. Andrew Strauss at a press conference yesterday has made it clear that the pressure is on India. And it indeed is. There are millions watching and a loss against an English side will certainly not be acceptable.

The conditions in Bangalore are a bit damp. There has been some rain there and this raises a question whether India plays with two spinners or three seamers. With Nehra fit to play today’s game he is a certainty if India are to play three seamers meaning which Sree ‘maniac’ Sreesanth sits out . If not, Piyush Chawla comes in as the second spinner . Any which ways Sree has to sit out. The question Dhoni has to answer is whether to play to your strengths which is spin or play to the conditions. Better would be playing to your strength, and with the English having a history of struggling against spin and with the home crowd it has to work.

The big match also has its share of the battle within a battle. Stuart Broad won’t forget for his lifetime what Yuvraj did to him at the inaugural T20 World Cup by hitting him for six sixes in an over. Time to make amends Mr. Broad? And then of course Yuvraj with his dibbly-dobbly left arm spin would be looking to get the better of Kevin Peterson who again should be opening the batting today . Then there is a certain Mr.Sehwag who is a wounded tiger , after being hurt in the ribs by a local bowler . Good for India I say, bad for England!!And what’s more, he has vowed to play 50 overs!!

Strauss has been in good form and for India it’s very important to get him out cheaply and likewise, England have to get Sehwag out cheaply. No one likes the toss to be an important factor in such games , but whoever bats / bowls first , it’s up to these openers to negotiate these first few overs where in the ball might swing , and then it’s a batsman’s game. Tendulkar will be hungry for runs after having missed out against Bangladesh and England will know that very well. Also another thing England would do well to keep in mind is that Dhoni might just give the new ball to Harbhajan Singh to tackle Kevin Peterson.
And at the same time India will have to keep in mind the English pace attack who on its day can destroy the opponents single handedly. It’s GAME ON…

Beyond the Greens

‘Bounce them out’, that is what we used to hear from an Australian or a South African captain or for that matter from a Kiwi captain. Once the Indian team was on tours and by on tours I mean outside the sub-continent , down under and on the safari to Africa, the stage was set. Stage not for a great series to look forward to, but the stage for the opposition to hit India where it hurt most. A Test Series loss and that too a guaranteed one. And as time went by, as more tours went by, the very fact was accepted. We cannot win a Test Series in Australia and South Africa. Have pitches, with lots of grass and that’s it. The grass itself was timorous enough for us and before the toss itself; it was Game Set and Match for the opposition.


But then as we have in our stories. That was ‘Once upon a time’. Not anymore. First it was the bowlers who responded. At Perth, Ishant Sharma had Ricky Ponting on the mat for a good half an hour before the Aussie captain finally gave in-edging one to the slips. That led to the crumble and India going on to win the Test match at Perth, considered to be the fastest track in the world. Then we had Sreesanth’s spell at Johannesburg where his five wicket haul paved the way for India’s first victory on South African soil. His release has always been immaculate and that was something that the experts of the game sat up and took notice of, his cult always on the rise since then. And the most recent win in Durban considered being the bounciest track in the world. India missed Zaheer in the first test and the result was to be seen, beaten black and blue. But once he was back in the side, like a magic wand, he spread his charm to Ishant & Sreesanth who also responded with dream spells. Along with Bhajji and a VVS special, the mother of all battles as it was quoted in the media lived up to its expectations with India winning the Test and the series going into the decider at Cape Town with both teams at 1-1.
And during this entire stretch from Perth to Durban we always have had Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman to back up the good work by the bowlers. And of course Virender Sehwag, who has literally demolished the opposition single handedly on many a occasions.


As you read, we are into the 4th day of the Test match at Newlands with India having taken a slender two run lead courtesy the little master Sachin Tendulkar having gone on to score his 51st century and a good steady innings by Gautam Gambhir and a fantastic counter attacking knock by Harbhajan Singh. There was a time when a 300+ score by the opposition would be considered good enough and sometimes even enough for an innings win. But now foreign teams are uncertain what pitch to offer the Indians-green and seeming or flat and hard-because it’s now a double edged sword.

The Indian team would have arrived in South Africa with the mindset that every toss here would be a bowl first decision. And I am sure that some members would have come there thinking that they will be batting first in all the Test’s considering Dhoni’s recent run of luck or no luck as I would say with the toss. But then we have the ‘Law of Averages’ and Dhoni did win the toss at Newlands and put South Africa to bat , and what we had was another excellent bowling performance to keep South Africa to 360 odd runs although it is still somewhere around a 100 more than what Dhoni would have liked after winning the toss. Credit undoubtedly goes to Jacques Kallis who played yet another stunner to get South Africa there.

The Indian bowlers have complimented the Indian batsmen very well over the past few years and that’s the very reason why Dhoni’s final frontier as is said by the media which is South Africa looks very much a reality. Winning a Test series in South Africa is never easy and will never be, especially when the opposition has top quality fast bowlers in Dale Steyn and Morkel and that too in absolute hostile conditions for the batsmen. But the batsmen have very much stood up to the task and in a way confronted their own demons. As a result, the series has lived up to the expectations, and what we have on our platter is 2 days of pure, on the edge stuff coming up. This Test promises to be another humdinger as by the looks of it, we will know the winner not before the 5th day. Hope India pulls off this Test match and goes beyond the greens and conquers it in its truest sense.

No 'No-Balls ' Please!!-

All the tiredness has vanished in the air with the NO-BALL!! What am I taking about. If I am not wrong which I am sure I am not, the whole of last week was about Dhoni and too much of cricket and his letter to the BCCI. But come Dambulla and the tri-series match between India and Sri Lanka, we all have a new story to write about. The birth of Suraj Randiv!!!!

Not much seemed to be happening for the Indians. Dhoni was tired , his fingers still tinkling as they always do , injuries to Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel being called for cover, Bhajji out of the tournament and then almost the final nail in the coffin-India’s loss to New Zealand by 200 runs. This is just what the doctor had not ordered but then this is exactly what the media wanted. It was great news for them to pounce upon as this series being considered as a build up for the World Cup preparations with Sri Lanka being the host country along with India and Bangladesh.
But then we are talking about cricket and something has to happen.And for a change there Bhajji was not involved!!. It was Virender Sehwag. Oh No! He didn’t do anything wrong! Wrong was done upon him. On 99 and 1 run to win for India , the Sri Lankans hit upon a gala plan . Reason-They knew the rules well and at the same time knew that by doing what they were going to do, they were in no ways breaking the rules of the game.Suraj Randiv bowled a No-Ball. Fine isn’t it!!. Not till you bowl it on purpose. Yes he actually did that .Sehwag in his customary style hit it out of the park and raised his arms in the air for two reasons –India winning and him getting to this 13th International ODI ton. But it was not to be. The latter part was not achieved. The moment Randiv had stepped over the line , the match was finished!!


Yes, it was a No-Ball which meant a penalty run and what happens next is irrelevant as per the rules of the game. Sri Lanka had exploited this rule to the hilt and in doing so they never realized that they were breaking the spirit of the game. Yes, they have been winning the Spirit of the game award for consecutively two years now. But then I really don’t know how this has been possible. They have been involved in doing stupid things like this before as well. Probably the award is not given to the team that has played the game in the right spirit but probably to the team that has fractured it to the least.

Bowling a No-Ball would not have had an impact on the game by any means. India would have won anyways.How does it matter to the Lankan’s whether Sehwag got to his ton or not. The attitude from Kumara Sangakarra the Sri Lankan captain should have been ‘Get him out’. Instead he was heard on the stump camera in Sinhalese saying to Randiv ‘He is 1 run away from his 100’.

This does not imply that Sanga asked him to bowl a No-Ball. But then the bowl before that which went for byes should have been collected by such a high class Quality keeper .It was not at all a difficult take, not atleast at this level.
Dilshan was ultimately indicted , Randiv was fined and Sanga warned . Final Result- Law to be changed?Nah not one bit. If the law is changed it would be an insult to MCC!!.Yeah the good old chaps who made the rules. That’s how is stays for now. The sportsmanship spirit broken and the gentleman’s game brought to a disrepute once again.

GOD of BIG Things

It was the evening of 24th February 2010.Every thing had gone quite.A pin drop silence.There was not a single GOD whose name was not taken.There was no escaping it.There was no way out.Neither did anyone want to escape it!!!!

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was on 199.He was not to disappoint us all, all the millions of cricket lovers, and of the people who were packed in the office canteen.A square cut, a misfield and the moment had arrived.The Zenith was reached.Between silence and a deafening noise there was a time gap of nano seconds.Only Sachin can do this.Only he can continue doing this.

Years and years of waiting for who will be the first man to score 200, there were some people who didn't have an iota of doubt of who will be the first to reach 200, I was one of them. His 175 against Australia had strengthened my thoughts and the belief that if any one ever was to touch that milestone, it would be Sachin. Finally when it did arrive, our joy had crossed all the boundaries,something when a mother sees her new born child for the first time.

SACH is the man, his stupendous performance on the field complimented by his ever down to earth approach,his humilty , the art of being a human when you are viewed as a GOD by most if the people who follow cricket and for those who don't ,he is an immortal.

If ever I had one wish to make, I would ask for the World Cup to be in Sachin's hand.It's a dream that Sachin has been chasing for the past 20 years, and all of us have accompanied him in his dream.There will not be a better moment in my lifetime atleast , when (don't like using IF) I will Sachin achieving this dream at the Wankhede Stadium on 2nd April 2011.

God bless Sachin...Sachin bless us all....