New Blog, New Story
Hello friends, I've got a new blog, but this one is only for people who have interest in social and political issues. My new blog, The Inside Story has a lot to offer and most likely our partner Satya Mathur is going to join me. Unfortunately, Rishabh can't join us because he doesn't take interest in fields other than cricket. I will continue to write cricket articles on Crick-o. So if you do take interest in political and social issues, do visit my blog.
The brainchild of BCCI that has led to India's shaky No.1 position
Now, most of you must have got the idea from the title itself. Of course, it is the IPL and Mr.Lalit Modi who have struck again. And they along with the whole BCCI individual giants are encouraging a format, where India doesn't even rank in top 5. Come on BCCI...why do you always have to something atrocious and harmful for the team in your control? Bring in some more tests please :s ...before we, the fans of Indian Cricket break your luxurious, exquisite office made from the money-through-IPL into bits and pieces.
For MSD and Co. somehow provided the icing on the cake by first marking Indian Cricket's 100th test win, and then of course, taking India to numero uno. Now that playing against minnows like Bangladesh is going to give India not even one single point in the table, and with the NZ test series still not confirmed, I doubt if India might even slip to as low as 3 or 4 in the rankings. Possible enough? Isn't it? Here is where, MSD's golden luck will come into play. Don't forget how SL players were left licking their wounds due to the lacking of UDRS. Had it been there, at least the 3rd test could have resulted in a draw. And now in the present and the future, if by god's grace, the Aussies and the Saffas could fail to make amends of the opportunities coming at them, it is going to be Dhoni's luck again.
Still though, credit has to be given to the whole Indian team, not only the one in the present but right from the 90s when our legendary heroes were cementing their place in the side right to youngsters coming in the side and doing well of late. Needless to say, it has been a long journey, and the whole of Indian Cricket deserves to cherish these precious moments. Who knows..kal India No.1 ho ya na ho?
An update big time!
Alright so...after a long break we are back! I had a long chat with Shanav and Satya and finally we decided not to blog this blog even an inch anywhere outside Blogger.com. Even I was having a tough time developing on Wordpress(Ah! A long story...never mind 'bout that).
Let me inform you though, we are looking for a new refreshing template for Crick-O. Nevertheless...WE are really back this time around.
3rd Test, Day 1: Tailenders fire and helps India reach 350
What a shame for the top order and what a game going on! A result is foreseen this time around. I would rather like India to go for a win than slowing down things and playing just for a draw. India's 1st innings is almost over other than (if)the last partnership between Ishant and Munaf can take the score to 450+ runs, it would be a merry and a cherry on the the cake served(I mean the efforts) by MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh and SRT. Congrats to Ian O'Brien for taking his 50 wickets. He continues to show a fine package of disciplined line and length bowling mixed with some fine pace.
From India's perspective what really hurt me the most was the middle order slump just after the Tea. But it's good to see MSD back in the side and why not? He has shown his worth by scoring a half century. Bhajji has again showed that he can bat and mat his counterparts. And as the cricinfo.com commentators said, Vettori would really be hopping madly back in the dressing room after failing to stop the Indian tail wag and score runs heavily. Definitely, the Kiwis have underestimated Harbhajan and Co.
A few records were tumbled down on this day and another one which is regarding this blog is that Crick-O marks it's 100th post with this one adding to the total.
Now moving forward to expectations from India for Day 2 all I can say is 'reverse swing'. That's it. Chilly, windy conditions are perfect for the Indian seamers to get the bowl to swing and once again prove their mettle after being hammered in the 2nd test. But again, DON'T Underestimate Harbhajan Singh.
While many of the Indian supporters would be wanting to see the 100th test win for India, it would be too early to say anything, at least after looking the mauling Indian bowlers received in Napier.
Symonds, the new king of controversies.
This time he's in the news for being booted out of bar for drinking a lot.
Cricket Australia officials have already given Symonds a "last chance" warning over previous alcohol-related misdemeanors.
He was reportedly spotted at the Watt Bar at the Powerhouse in New Farm, Brisbane,where he was being asked by the security to leave.
For more news on this issue click here
It's time to bid adieu Shoaib Akthar as the controversial king.
Oh and probably it's all over for Andrew Symonds now. Isn't it ?
When 3 cricket fanatics got together !
Hell ya !!! And we have another one joining in. Satya, you ROCK !!! So now, we are 3 cricket followers(me, Shanav, Satya) on a blog hitting one shot after another.
Satya is another of my classmate and our cricket talks has always been never ending. He's probably much more hilarious than me and his imagination goes far...far beyond, even to the distance of a ball being hit out of the stadium.
I welcome you Satya to Crick-O.
Can New Zealand give a fitting reply ?
Seems tough! Their main in-form bowler Ian Butler is on the bed and will be there for the whole series. Anyway, there's still one ray of light that has the power to spark and turn the game for the Kiwis - Daniel Vettori. And one more advantage for them is Tendulkar's injury. I guess that should be at least average to save the series. Other thing is that they have to work hard for victory. If they still can't, then all is lost for sure.
I wonder who would be in for Tendulkar ? Is it going to be Rohit Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Dinesh Karthik or maybe Ravindra Jadeja. My choice would be clearly Irfan Pathan as he would clearly add a bowling option as well as batting. This would create a balance as well. Also, it's time to get back Ishant back in side. And give some rest to Munaf.
I don't exactly know about the Black Caps when it comes to replacements and their squad as I am not a keen follower of them. Please suggest it yourself.
I would like to end this post with this quote by Rudyard Kipling from his poem 'If' which goes for both the teams :
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
Then and only then would you achieve your golden aim - The Game!This last line was added by me myself though I know it won't do any justice to those real words of Kipling.
The weekend of injuries
Tendulkar, Smith, Kallis, Ian Butler, and the latest one to join was the West Indian Chris Gayle. Sigh....with the level of fitness increasing I do hope to see these guys back in action(Ian Butler is back I guess).
Get Well Soon guys !
By the way, is there anyone else I missed out ? Please remind me by posting in the comments section.
Bodyline tactics ?
24.5 Johnson to Kallis, no run, do we have another injury here, not a pretty sight! Short on middle, struck Kallis on the jaw from under the helmet, he's in pain and is bleeding, the physio is out and it may take some time before he's back on his feet. Lethal delivery that.
2.1 Johnson to Smith, 1 run, ripper, banged in short at 150.9 kmph, raps him hard on the gloves and lobs in the direction of square leg, superb bowling
Are we going to see another Bodyline series with this time Australia on the giving end ? Anyway, the Proteas seem to have lost their way with the day 2 ending completely under Australia's control.
Who do you say ? Have the Aussies shown that they are still the best or does it still require some more time to prove it ?
Solid, Stupid Saffas Slump
How often does a champion team like South Africa fall down like this ?-
| 0.3 | Johnson to McKenzie, OUT, what a start for Australia, short of a length outside off and moved away, McKenzie tried to defend that off the back foot, got a thin edge to Haddin who took a good catch stretching to his right |
ND McKenzie c  Haddin b Johnson 0 (1m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00 | |
| South Africa 0/1 GC Smith 0* (0b) MG Johnson 0.3-0-0-1 | |
| 0.5 | Johnson to Amla, OUT, he's given him, the hosts are reeling here! Swung in sharply, landed on middle and leg and seemed to strike him in line, at least to the naked eye, as he tries to flick that away, Rauf raises his finger but Amla is not convinced. He's called for a referral, but replays suggest he is stone dead. |
| HM Amla lbw b Johnson 0 (6m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00 | |
| South Africa 0/2 GC Smith 0* (0b) MG Johnson 0.5-0-0-2 | |
| 2.3 | Johnson to Kallis, 1 run, short on middle, turns it away wide of midwicket for a single |
| GC Smith retired hurt 2 (3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 66.66 | |
| South Africa 3/2 JH Kallis 1* (7b) MG Johnson 1.3-1-2-2 | |
| 5.3 | Hilfenhaus to de Villiers, OUT, they've gone silent again, this was absolutely plumb, landed on a good length on the off stump and cut back in sharply, de Villiers didn't anticipate that movement as he came forward to defend that on the off side, was rapped on the pads in front of middle. He knew he was out, didn't call for a referral. South Africa are in deep trouble now as Hilfenhaus joins the party |
| AB de Villiers lbw b Hilfenhaus 3 (13m 8b 0x4 0x6) SR: 37.50 | |
Not even 6 overs and 3 wickets already lost! Truly shows that Australia are back in the competition to be the Numero Uno.
What are your opinions on it ?
Crick-O welcomes it's new member
So it does seem like the search for my team mate is over with my own classmate and one of my best friend - Shanav Kakkar joining in as a writer. Though he told me that he won't be as regular as I am. But it doesn't matter to me. At least he's here to support me. I expect one of my another best friend to join in as well. Though he's a bit unsure.
Anyways, there have been a few changes made to the blog text(like - the 'Who's Online' has changed to 'Online Spectators') as you all can see.
From here on I...ooops...we would be getting back to cricket.
