Football may be known as 'the beautiful game', basketball's pace can hardly be matched and the grace and fluidity that is seen in tennis is unrivalled. But the game of cricket is unique for its romantic appeal and aesthetic nature. It is perhaps the only game where one can love and enjoy many a facet such as the sheer artistry of great batsmen, the irresistible charm of watching the best fast bowlers whilst appreciating the skills of great spinners and gasp at the amazing skills of top fielders. The game allows for great interactions and its history is full of fascinating anecdotes involving many a legend. Few teams and individuals can claim to have even come close to wooing and charming many a viewer the world over like the Caribbean kings did for almost half a century. The game has in its 130 years seen glorious batsmen including the incomparable Don Bradman, the unmatched run accumulator Jack Hobbs, the languid and graceful David Gower, India's batsman nonpareil Sunil Gavaskar and the prodigy Sachin Tendulkar. Great bowlers such as Harold Larwood, Lindwall and Miller, Lillee and Thomson, Imran Khan, the blond genius Shane Warne among others have stamped their authority on the game. So one is definitely justified in asking what makes the Caribbean teams and players so unique in the annals of the sport?
The mass appeal of West Indian cricket goes way back in time and transcends the boundaries of sport. The oppression and torture the people had endured made people the world over respect them and appreciate their achievements. Cricket gave the people an ideal platform to unite and showcase their incredible natural talent and exceptional athletic ability. It was and perhaps still is the only sport which brings people from all the islands together.
The West Indians made their entry into cricket in the late 1920's and played England. The sense of pride and professionalism was yet to set in but the talent and skill was more than evident. The brilliant and prodigious batsman George Headley and the gifted all rounder Learie Constantine played key roles in the early years. By the late 1940's the West Indians had in their ranks three of the greatest players the game has ever seen- Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott or simply the 3 W's. Each of them was a brilliant batsman and hailed from the island of Barbados which went on to produce many more legends. The team was slowly beginning to produce exceptional talents and also consistent wins thus making them a true threat. Wesley Hall and Charlie Griffith, the legendary fast bowling pair had arrived on the scene and their blinding pace terrorized batsmen the world over.
The late 1950's saw the rise of possibly the most gifted player the game has ever seen or will see. The once in a generation all rounder Garfield Sobers enthralled audiences with his breathtaking batting, brilliant bowling and his sublime fielding skills. He still is in everyone's mind, the finest all rounder ever. The year 1960 saw Frank Worrell lead his team to play Australia who were then the top team. This series came to be regarded the finest ever and Worrell, who was incidentally the first black captain went on to earn lavish praise and accolades from one and all for his fair play and spirit. He was single handedly responsible for uniting all the islands of the Carbbean, getting them to shed their domestic rivalries and stand as one. He had the great ability to mentor the finest and bring out their talents. He had truly paved the way for the next generation of Caribbean legends.
The 1970's and 1980's were probably the finest two decades for the team. Clive Lloyd took over the captaincy after the legendary Sobers and led the team on a very gruelling tour of Australia in 1975-76. The team was trounced 5-1, but the key aspect was that Lloyd had discovered that a barrage of fast bowling would be the way to dominate the game. He assembled an exceptional set of fast bowlers in Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Colin Croft and later the exceptional Malcolm Marshall. The unbelievable aspect was that there were scores of bowlers waiting in the wings without a chance to get in. The team dominated the game like none other and in Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge and Clive Lloyd, it had three of the world's best players. In England in 1976, a daft racist remark by the English captain Tony Greig irked the West Indian fast bowlers and they unleashed a fearful attack on the batsmen. Despite this hostile approach they were only feared the world over but never disliked. They did the job on the field and never resorted to any invective and sledging. The batsmen were respected and unlike most cases, the dominance of the team was appreciated the world over. The geniality and sporting nature of the team was there for all to see. They lorded over the one day format as well crushing others en route to the first two world cup trophies.
Viv Richards, with his swagger and gum chewing calm was the greatest and most feared batsman of his era and became a hero worldwide. His dismantling of bowlers was a sight to behold. Michael Holding's bowling stood out for its hostility and pace masked by sublime motion and incredible smoothness. The Caribbeans had taken the world by storm and they were to most people the most liked and appreciated.
The late 1980's gave little evidence to suggest that the hegemony was coming to an end. The dominance had waned in the one day format but in tests, the team still ruled the world. In the mid 1990's, the dazzling Brian Lara of Trinidad& Tobago stamped his class by erasing record after record. His incredible eye and quicksilver footwork left audiences amazed and opponents stunned. But the team as a whole had very little else to show. Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh formed probably the finest fast bowling pair in the 1990's but reality began to stir. The team was trounced by every team around and the performances were quite pathetic. Brian Lara as only he can single handedly took on the all conquering Australians and saved the series in 1999 but the image was very clear now. The cricket system in the Caribbean was taking a beating and the world realized it. The Calypso beats and sound of drums which had so charmed people was not there any more and the dwindling audiences and lack of quality players showcased a grim future ahead.
The administration in the West Indies has become outright pathetic and frequent clashes and pay disputes have led to players striking and second string teams being sent for games. The influence of T-20 cricket has also created a division in the nation and Test cricket which made the team so much more attractive no longer seems to find a favor there. It is rather painful to watch such a proud cricketing nation which in its pinnacle ruled the world being reduced to such a pitiable state. The heart longs for a quick resolution to all the problems that plague the cricket in the West Indies and their renaissance in the game, but the mind probably knows that the best times are behind us now and it is almost impossible to expect the same again. The game is undoubtedly a lot poorer without the Calypso charm!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The perennial debate...
Not many issues/topics can quite cause an opinion divide like the way the issue of love vs arranged marriage does especially in Indian society. The institution of marriage has witnessed myriad changes and has become an extremely expensive showcase event for most families. There is more fizz, more fun and the glitz and glamor is there for all too see. But at the heart of all marriages, tradition does hold sway and this is often the most touchy element..
Indian marriages for long have been a very family affair which is in sharp contrast to the way the western world thinks. The Indian weddings demonstrate at every step that the wedding is more s symbol of unifying families than just the two individuals themselves..This thought or belief is reflected right from the time the parents start thinking about the future of their son/daughter..Conservative thoughts and religious values play a major part in the life of bourgeois families in India..It is very important to pass ones views on such a topic without taking an extreme stand. I definitely tread a path which does not portray me as an iconoclast nor does it tend to reflect any kind of orthodox and dogmatic views..
Most individuals, yours truly included have been brought up with a healthy mix of traditional values and a modern outlook. But there are lots of cases when this is not so. Orthodoxy and blind beliefs tend to take control and decision making is the least progressive in these cases. 'Love marriage' is the common term used to refer to the case when two individuals meet, usually without the preliminary involvement of their parents, get to know each other well and realize that their wavelengths match. They decide after the period of courtship (duration is a very random variable) that it is time to communicate the information to their family. In contrast, 'arranged marriage' starts with the parents of the girl/boy contacting friends and extended family members to enquire about prospective partners for their children.. This usually involves exchange of horoscopes to make sure that all the stars are right before the decision is made on the match.
Its not just the definitions that differ. Both the ideas are fundamentally opposite and everything that follows is inevitably different. Indian society is rooted in tradition and this means adherence to the system of castes and sub castes. While not getting into the issue of theism and religion which have later led to the all pervading caste system, it is wise to observe that the reason why families place and emphasis on the caste has its roots in the original reason why the various castes originated i.e. they were formed based on the nature of work such as education/priestly, business, menial jobs etc..While all this may be too very archaic to most modern day people, it is not something that can be shunned totally. Though the gap has been considerably bridged between castes/classes, the level of education and knowledge to go with overall progress is still not very even in Indian society and this is certainly a factor that makes most families fastidious.
Love marriages may seem to be the best as they allow for two people to get to know each other for a considerable period before making a big decision of commitment. It also allows for one to confide, confess and sort out any issues that may have an effect later. A person in the course of a relationship goes through a lot of problems, deals with numerous arguments and is often faced with the all too obvious question if this was necessary in the first place. To come out of all this perfectly and lay the foundation for a successful marriage is very commendable yet an extremely challenging task..The biggest challenges faced include the whole idea of commitment which often seems a hasty decision when encountered with relationship problems, issues of caste/religion and financial status to go with other family issues that often end up being the reasons for failure of the relationship to culminate in marriage...
Arranged marriages deal with the latter issues beforehand because the families speak to numerous people and have a thorough evaluation before embarking on this journey and more often than not make the right decision.. These marriages tend to bring other problems to the forefront though which include not fully knowing the girl/boy before the wedding which means one is often in the dark when it comes to knowing about the past of his/her future partner. This is an especially difficult situation which is all the more magnified because of the nature of today's society..The modern society has made some of the more constructive and mature ways of approaching life seem passe. When this is the case, culture and tradition find it hard to even get a look in. For someone like me who believes in the right balance between tradition and modern ideas, this is something that is hard to compromise on..
There have been a few marriages of late..many involving close friends..It is fairly obvious that I will be under the guillotine in a year or two...This topic has been discussed among us friends for years without really coming to a proper decision as to which approach is better..If you ask me I would probably pick a case of a practical love marriage which would imbibe the best aspects of both systems...It would make sure I know the person fairly well and have a good idea about her interests, likes and dislikes, temperament and more importantly help build better trust before taking the plunge..Also when I say practical, I mean meeting a person whose values and beliefs conform to those that my family adheres to..I cannot be a heretic and not care about these...I do believe that the relationship between the families post marriage is very vital too and this should not be compromised for purely selfish reasons...I can expect brickbats from both sides when I say this but I stick my neck out and say that this is just about the perfect way to go..There may be a host of problems with what I suggest, the biggest question being- how is it possible to find the right girl i.e. the practical choice?..Well..I don't think its quite possible to answer that one with any degree of certainty..This opens the door for further discussion on the topic...As I said..the debate will continue to rage on..!!
Indian marriages for long have been a very family affair which is in sharp contrast to the way the western world thinks. The Indian weddings demonstrate at every step that the wedding is more s symbol of unifying families than just the two individuals themselves..This thought or belief is reflected right from the time the parents start thinking about the future of their son/daughter..Conservative thoughts and religious values play a major part in the life of bourgeois families in India..It is very important to pass ones views on such a topic without taking an extreme stand. I definitely tread a path which does not portray me as an iconoclast nor does it tend to reflect any kind of orthodox and dogmatic views..
Most individuals, yours truly included have been brought up with a healthy mix of traditional values and a modern outlook. But there are lots of cases when this is not so. Orthodoxy and blind beliefs tend to take control and decision making is the least progressive in these cases. 'Love marriage' is the common term used to refer to the case when two individuals meet, usually without the preliminary involvement of their parents, get to know each other well and realize that their wavelengths match. They decide after the period of courtship (duration is a very random variable) that it is time to communicate the information to their family. In contrast, 'arranged marriage' starts with the parents of the girl/boy contacting friends and extended family members to enquire about prospective partners for their children.. This usually involves exchange of horoscopes to make sure that all the stars are right before the decision is made on the match.
Its not just the definitions that differ. Both the ideas are fundamentally opposite and everything that follows is inevitably different. Indian society is rooted in tradition and this means adherence to the system of castes and sub castes. While not getting into the issue of theism and religion which have later led to the all pervading caste system, it is wise to observe that the reason why families place and emphasis on the caste has its roots in the original reason why the various castes originated i.e. they were formed based on the nature of work such as education/priestly, business, menial jobs etc..While all this may be too very archaic to most modern day people, it is not something that can be shunned totally. Though the gap has been considerably bridged between castes/classes, the level of education and knowledge to go with overall progress is still not very even in Indian society and this is certainly a factor that makes most families fastidious.
Love marriages may seem to be the best as they allow for two people to get to know each other for a considerable period before making a big decision of commitment. It also allows for one to confide, confess and sort out any issues that may have an effect later. A person in the course of a relationship goes through a lot of problems, deals with numerous arguments and is often faced with the all too obvious question if this was necessary in the first place. To come out of all this perfectly and lay the foundation for a successful marriage is very commendable yet an extremely challenging task..The biggest challenges faced include the whole idea of commitment which often seems a hasty decision when encountered with relationship problems, issues of caste/religion and financial status to go with other family issues that often end up being the reasons for failure of the relationship to culminate in marriage...
Arranged marriages deal with the latter issues beforehand because the families speak to numerous people and have a thorough evaluation before embarking on this journey and more often than not make the right decision.. These marriages tend to bring other problems to the forefront though which include not fully knowing the girl/boy before the wedding which means one is often in the dark when it comes to knowing about the past of his/her future partner. This is an especially difficult situation which is all the more magnified because of the nature of today's society..The modern society has made some of the more constructive and mature ways of approaching life seem passe. When this is the case, culture and tradition find it hard to even get a look in. For someone like me who believes in the right balance between tradition and modern ideas, this is something that is hard to compromise on..
There have been a few marriages of late..many involving close friends..It is fairly obvious that I will be under the guillotine in a year or two...This topic has been discussed among us friends for years without really coming to a proper decision as to which approach is better..If you ask me I would probably pick a case of a practical love marriage which would imbibe the best aspects of both systems...It would make sure I know the person fairly well and have a good idea about her interests, likes and dislikes, temperament and more importantly help build better trust before taking the plunge..Also when I say practical, I mean meeting a person whose values and beliefs conform to those that my family adheres to..I cannot be a heretic and not care about these...I do believe that the relationship between the families post marriage is very vital too and this should not be compromised for purely selfish reasons...I can expect brickbats from both sides when I say this but I stick my neck out and say that this is just about the perfect way to go..There may be a host of problems with what I suggest, the biggest question being- how is it possible to find the right girl i.e. the practical choice?..Well..I don't think its quite possible to answer that one with any degree of certainty..This opens the door for further discussion on the topic...As I said..the debate will continue to rage on..!!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Hail the King!!
Not often would you see a team's morale taking a beating after getting a wicket of a top class batsman, but this is precisely what happened for over a decade when teams faced the West Indies. At the fall of the first wicket, which was either Gordon Greenidge or Desmond Haynes, in walked Issac Vivian Alexander Richards. His swagger and regal gait coupled with the air of nonchalance best expressed by chewing gum with no regard for the bowler or the match situation made most bowlers quake in their knees. In an era of exceptionally quick bowlers who had a penchant for knocking batsmen out, Viv Richards exuded an extraordinary confidence bordering on arrogance, when he walked out to face them. He never ever wore a helmet and his threatening message was made known to the bowlers well before he took guard.
Viv Richards was an exceptional batsman blessed with a fantastic eye. His ability to read the length far quicker than most others and his unbridled aggressive nature made him almost impossible to bowl to. He was also a very useful bowler and his feline reflexes made him one of the finest fielders in the game.
He made his debut at Bangalore in 1974 along with Gordon Greenidge. Whilst Greenidge had a great match making 93 and 107, Richards had a very forgettable debut contributing just 4 and 3. Soon, he was in his stride though cracking 192 at Delhi and announced himself. The following year, in the tour of Australia, he was at the receiving end of some hostile fast bowling by Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson. The tough as nails approach of the Aussies coupled with the barrage of sledging he faced unnerved the young Richards at first. But at the end of what was a disastrous tour overall for the West Indies as they lost 1-5, he was one of the few positives.
The 1975 World Cup Final saw Richards change the course of the game with his fantastic fielding as he was responsible for running out the Chappell brothers to help the West Indies win a close final. The year 1976 would turn out to be Viv Richards's 'annus mirabilis'. They travelled to England to take on Tony Greig's team.
Greig, the English captain had his roots in South Africa and had rather insensitively said before the tour that he would make the West Indies 'grovel'. The rather racist remark did not go down too well with the proud Richards and he took it upon himself to make England pay dearly for that. In one of the most amazing displays of batting, he amassed 829 runs in the series despite missing one test. Tony Greig crawled behind the West Indian team as his English side were vanquished at the Oval courtesy Richards's 291 and a breathtaking display of sustained hostile fast bowling by Michael Holding who took 14/147 on a docile track. Viv Richards had made two double hundreds and by the end of the calendar year he had 1710 runs, a record that stood for almost 3 decades.
Kerry Packer's rebel series flagged off in 1977 and almost all great stars of the game were a part of it including Richards. Once the television rights were settled, Richards was back to the main team and at the time of the World Cup in 1979, he was indisputably the greatest batsman in the game. In the final of the World Cup at Lords, the West Indies took on England. Richards, partnered by Collis King who made 86 off 66 balls launched an imperious attack on the hapless Englishmen stroking a glorious 138 n.o culminating his innings with two of the most audacious strokes seen when he moved across to the off stump and sent Mike Hendrick's deliveries over the square leg fence. This very display symbolized the man. His range of shots, the extraordinary belief and confidence, his arrogance and pride made him the most exciting cricketer by a distance.
The runs continued to flow from his blade as the West Indians under Clive Lloyd lorded over the cricket world. He seemed to reserve his best for the big games. His centuries in the world cup, the finals of the world series in Australia and not to mention the county championship finals where he along with Ian Botham and Joel Garner took lowly Somerset to great heights. India, in a remarkable heist stunned the West Indies at Lords in 1983 to lift the World Cup. Viv Richards looked to be making the day his own until Kapil Dev pouched a stunning catch to turn the game.
In the series following the World Cup, the West Indians thrashed India heavily in tests and ODI's making up for the World cup defeat and Richards scored heavily throughout. He was an integral part of Clive loyd's team in 1984 that effected the first 'blackwash' on England when they trounced them 5-0 in England. But Richards's best performance was saved for the one day series. At Old Trafford in Manchester, England had the West Indies in dire straits at 166/9 with only Michael Holding left with Richards. In surely what has to be the greatest innings ever played in a one day match, Richards took on the English bowlers and smashed them to all corners in his immortal 189*. A fairly good English attack of Botham, Willis, Foster and Pringle was treated like a club attack and some strokes left those watching stunned. His quite extraordinary flick off Botham from a ball on off stump which went over square leg between 2 fielders had the great all rounder stare in disbelief and his remarkable assault deflated the English team. A 106 run last wicket stand with Holding contributing just 12 runs had undoubtedly shown the world that when Richards was in full flow, there was hardly anything any bowler or captain could do to stem the onslaught.
Viv Richards naturally became Lloyd's heir when the legendary left hander decided to hang up his boots. He led the West Indies to another 'blackwash' of England in 1985, this time in the Caribbean. This series is best remembered for the fastest test century he made in 56 balls when he went berserk in Antigua. His mauling of the English attack left no one in doubt about the great man's genius. He continued to lead the team until 1991 without losing a single series. His batting did taper a little towards the end as his average came down from the high fifties to just over 50. But then Viv Richards was a man who never cared for records and personal milestones. Michal Holding famously said that if Richards was the kind who wanted to play for records, he would have held all of them. For all the stats minded he did finish with 8540 runs at over 50 with 24 hundreds in tests and 6721 runs in ODI's at an astounding average of 47 which ranks him among the greatest ever in both forms of the game.
Viv Richards in full flow was a treat for the eyes. His dashing approach and a regal presence unnerved the best of opponents. His swagger is legendary and his no holds barred riposte to fast bowling puts him right up there with the best. The King of the crease has no rivals when it comes to dominating attacks and any comparisons with Richards are useless as there has been and can only be one Viv Richards.
Viv Richards was an exceptional batsman blessed with a fantastic eye. His ability to read the length far quicker than most others and his unbridled aggressive nature made him almost impossible to bowl to. He was also a very useful bowler and his feline reflexes made him one of the finest fielders in the game.
He made his debut at Bangalore in 1974 along with Gordon Greenidge. Whilst Greenidge had a great match making 93 and 107, Richards had a very forgettable debut contributing just 4 and 3. Soon, he was in his stride though cracking 192 at Delhi and announced himself. The following year, in the tour of Australia, he was at the receiving end of some hostile fast bowling by Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson. The tough as nails approach of the Aussies coupled with the barrage of sledging he faced unnerved the young Richards at first. But at the end of what was a disastrous tour overall for the West Indies as they lost 1-5, he was one of the few positives.
The 1975 World Cup Final saw Richards change the course of the game with his fantastic fielding as he was responsible for running out the Chappell brothers to help the West Indies win a close final. The year 1976 would turn out to be Viv Richards's 'annus mirabilis'. They travelled to England to take on Tony Greig's team.
Greig, the English captain had his roots in South Africa and had rather insensitively said before the tour that he would make the West Indies 'grovel'. The rather racist remark did not go down too well with the proud Richards and he took it upon himself to make England pay dearly for that. In one of the most amazing displays of batting, he amassed 829 runs in the series despite missing one test. Tony Greig crawled behind the West Indian team as his English side were vanquished at the Oval courtesy Richards's 291 and a breathtaking display of sustained hostile fast bowling by Michael Holding who took 14/147 on a docile track. Viv Richards had made two double hundreds and by the end of the calendar year he had 1710 runs, a record that stood for almost 3 decades.
Kerry Packer's rebel series flagged off in 1977 and almost all great stars of the game were a part of it including Richards. Once the television rights were settled, Richards was back to the main team and at the time of the World Cup in 1979, he was indisputably the greatest batsman in the game. In the final of the World Cup at Lords, the West Indies took on England. Richards, partnered by Collis King who made 86 off 66 balls launched an imperious attack on the hapless Englishmen stroking a glorious 138 n.o culminating his innings with two of the most audacious strokes seen when he moved across to the off stump and sent Mike Hendrick's deliveries over the square leg fence. This very display symbolized the man. His range of shots, the extraordinary belief and confidence, his arrogance and pride made him the most exciting cricketer by a distance.
The runs continued to flow from his blade as the West Indians under Clive Lloyd lorded over the cricket world. He seemed to reserve his best for the big games. His centuries in the world cup, the finals of the world series in Australia and not to mention the county championship finals where he along with Ian Botham and Joel Garner took lowly Somerset to great heights. India, in a remarkable heist stunned the West Indies at Lords in 1983 to lift the World Cup. Viv Richards looked to be making the day his own until Kapil Dev pouched a stunning catch to turn the game.
In the series following the World Cup, the West Indians thrashed India heavily in tests and ODI's making up for the World cup defeat and Richards scored heavily throughout. He was an integral part of Clive loyd's team in 1984 that effected the first 'blackwash' on England when they trounced them 5-0 in England. But Richards's best performance was saved for the one day series. At Old Trafford in Manchester, England had the West Indies in dire straits at 166/9 with only Michael Holding left with Richards. In surely what has to be the greatest innings ever played in a one day match, Richards took on the English bowlers and smashed them to all corners in his immortal 189*. A fairly good English attack of Botham, Willis, Foster and Pringle was treated like a club attack and some strokes left those watching stunned. His quite extraordinary flick off Botham from a ball on off stump which went over square leg between 2 fielders had the great all rounder stare in disbelief and his remarkable assault deflated the English team. A 106 run last wicket stand with Holding contributing just 12 runs had undoubtedly shown the world that when Richards was in full flow, there was hardly anything any bowler or captain could do to stem the onslaught.
Viv Richards naturally became Lloyd's heir when the legendary left hander decided to hang up his boots. He led the West Indies to another 'blackwash' of England in 1985, this time in the Caribbean. This series is best remembered for the fastest test century he made in 56 balls when he went berserk in Antigua. His mauling of the English attack left no one in doubt about the great man's genius. He continued to lead the team until 1991 without losing a single series. His batting did taper a little towards the end as his average came down from the high fifties to just over 50. But then Viv Richards was a man who never cared for records and personal milestones. Michal Holding famously said that if Richards was the kind who wanted to play for records, he would have held all of them. For all the stats minded he did finish with 8540 runs at over 50 with 24 hundreds in tests and 6721 runs in ODI's at an astounding average of 47 which ranks him among the greatest ever in both forms of the game.
Viv Richards in full flow was a treat for the eyes. His dashing approach and a regal presence unnerved the best of opponents. His swagger is legendary and his no holds barred riposte to fast bowling puts him right up there with the best. The King of the crease has no rivals when it comes to dominating attacks and any comparisons with Richards are useless as there has been and can only be one Viv Richards.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Tests need a fillip...
Is there an imminent danger being posed to the future of test cricket? Over the past year, cricket experts, commentators and the ICC have been stressing that the five day game is endangered and concrete steps need to be taken to prevent it from dying out. This is one of those rare issues where the views if the ICC and the experts have concurred and deserves to be discussed in some detail. The biggest factors contributing to the so called decline of tests include unequal and boring contests, dwindling audiences, lifeless tracks and the extraordinary rise of Twenty-20 cricket which has taken the cricketing world by storm.
In a recent article in Cricnfo, Sambit Bal stresses the need for the game to get a little more elitist and make it more captivating for the viewers by preventing grossly unequal and boring contests which often take away the charm of the game. Top flight test cricket seems to be restricted only to say 5 teams now with Pakistan, New Zealand and West Indies rebuilding and struggling through problems galore in selection and other criteria. Test cricket is a total contrast to other forms of the game and to most other sports as well. It is built on technique, patience, focus, sound strategy and further goes on to emphasize the necessity for a team to dominate consistently for long periods and not just a short span of overs which is the case in the slam bang version i.e. T-20. When there are contests between top teams and the weaker teams that are struggling to find their feet, undoubtedly, even the most hardcore cricket fan would struggle to sit through it.
Dwindling crowds for test matches the world over have created a huge concern for the administrators. Only Australia and England tend to regularly draw huge crowds for test matches whilst in most other countries including India, grounds are hardly filled even for major contests. This can be dealt with by staging the test matches in only the top cricket grounds of the country. Test matches in India staged at the Eden Gardens or in some of the bigger cities such as Bangalore and Chennai would be most likely to attract a good crowd whereas if the game is held in some of the lesser known centres, the audience is not a very cricket literate one and would surely choose to avoid a test match simply because they consider it a slow moving game and do not understand the nuances of the format. This is probably the first point that the administrators need to consider especially in India where there are umpteen grounds but only the ones in the bigger cities can truly attract a test cricket loving audience.
While ODI and T-20 cricket in particular has totally shifted the balance towards batsmen, test cricket albeit only just, still remains the format where there is a much closer contest between bat and ball. Lifeless and placid tracks worldwide coupled with rules loaded in favour of batsmen have shifted the balance in tests too. All through the 60's to the 90's, test cricket was enjoyed and contests were cherished because of the fact that tracks had some grass and bounce. Bowlers had the support they needed and this presented a much more even contest. Brilliant batsmen came up against the finest of bowlers on pitches that had a fair share of help for both parties and this resulted in some classic test cricket. The game revelled in its ability to produce mouth watering contests within contests, pitting great players against each other and the clashes made the matches all the more absorbing. With the tracks the world over getting all the more placid and dull, batsmen have a field day and the surfaces are turning into graveyards for the bowlers. A fine example of a good test match pitch can be the Australian grounds which offer a fair deal of assistance to both bat and ball throughout the five days and more often than not test matches held there produce results. The West Indian and sub continent pitches are quite the opposite with average scores of 500 being a normal occurrence. There is almost no hope of achieving a result on these tracks and no cricket lover would even like to catch these games on television let alone actually bothering to visit the stadium. Unless the pitches are well prepared to give the bowlers and the batsmen a fair advantage, there is no way contests can be made exciting enough for audiences the world over.
Perhaps the biggest threat for test cricket has come from the remarkable rise of T-20 cricket. This ultra short form of the game is fast and exciting to the modern viewer. Whilst it is true that it is extremely racy and has high skill levels, it does not allow for any focus on technique, concentration, strategy and lacks the sense of drama and theatre that are weaved into tests. The humongous money involved in T-20 has led many people to start feeling that players might opt for this simply due to the lure of mammon. While there is quite a possibility that many players might feel it is much better to make a fast buck by sticking to T-20, the vast majority still do believe that to truly be classified among the greats and to be recognized, it is paramount to perform in tests. Test cricket still does continue to explore all facets of a player's game and without doubt showcases his strengths and exposes his frailties the best of all formats of the game. There is definitely room for all three formats and the ICC, with good foresight, plan the future tours programme well to incorporate the right number of tests, odi's and T-20's.
There is surely a necessity for an official ICC test championship which allows for keener contests among the top 4-5 teams and brings out the best in them. This is in the pipeline and I sure hope something positive materializes soon enough. Test cricket has for years been a cricket lover's delight and has produced innumerable legends and fantastic contests all along. It is faced with its biggest challenge now and I am pretty sure, the strong foundation the game's oldest format is built on will stand it in good stead and help it tide through these turbulent times.
In a recent article in Cricnfo, Sambit Bal stresses the need for the game to get a little more elitist and make it more captivating for the viewers by preventing grossly unequal and boring contests which often take away the charm of the game. Top flight test cricket seems to be restricted only to say 5 teams now with Pakistan, New Zealand and West Indies rebuilding and struggling through problems galore in selection and other criteria. Test cricket is a total contrast to other forms of the game and to most other sports as well. It is built on technique, patience, focus, sound strategy and further goes on to emphasize the necessity for a team to dominate consistently for long periods and not just a short span of overs which is the case in the slam bang version i.e. T-20. When there are contests between top teams and the weaker teams that are struggling to find their feet, undoubtedly, even the most hardcore cricket fan would struggle to sit through it.
Dwindling crowds for test matches the world over have created a huge concern for the administrators. Only Australia and England tend to regularly draw huge crowds for test matches whilst in most other countries including India, grounds are hardly filled even for major contests. This can be dealt with by staging the test matches in only the top cricket grounds of the country. Test matches in India staged at the Eden Gardens or in some of the bigger cities such as Bangalore and Chennai would be most likely to attract a good crowd whereas if the game is held in some of the lesser known centres, the audience is not a very cricket literate one and would surely choose to avoid a test match simply because they consider it a slow moving game and do not understand the nuances of the format. This is probably the first point that the administrators need to consider especially in India where there are umpteen grounds but only the ones in the bigger cities can truly attract a test cricket loving audience.
While ODI and T-20 cricket in particular has totally shifted the balance towards batsmen, test cricket albeit only just, still remains the format where there is a much closer contest between bat and ball. Lifeless and placid tracks worldwide coupled with rules loaded in favour of batsmen have shifted the balance in tests too. All through the 60's to the 90's, test cricket was enjoyed and contests were cherished because of the fact that tracks had some grass and bounce. Bowlers had the support they needed and this presented a much more even contest. Brilliant batsmen came up against the finest of bowlers on pitches that had a fair share of help for both parties and this resulted in some classic test cricket. The game revelled in its ability to produce mouth watering contests within contests, pitting great players against each other and the clashes made the matches all the more absorbing. With the tracks the world over getting all the more placid and dull, batsmen have a field day and the surfaces are turning into graveyards for the bowlers. A fine example of a good test match pitch can be the Australian grounds which offer a fair deal of assistance to both bat and ball throughout the five days and more often than not test matches held there produce results. The West Indian and sub continent pitches are quite the opposite with average scores of 500 being a normal occurrence. There is almost no hope of achieving a result on these tracks and no cricket lover would even like to catch these games on television let alone actually bothering to visit the stadium. Unless the pitches are well prepared to give the bowlers and the batsmen a fair advantage, there is no way contests can be made exciting enough for audiences the world over.
Perhaps the biggest threat for test cricket has come from the remarkable rise of T-20 cricket. This ultra short form of the game is fast and exciting to the modern viewer. Whilst it is true that it is extremely racy and has high skill levels, it does not allow for any focus on technique, concentration, strategy and lacks the sense of drama and theatre that are weaved into tests. The humongous money involved in T-20 has led many people to start feeling that players might opt for this simply due to the lure of mammon. While there is quite a possibility that many players might feel it is much better to make a fast buck by sticking to T-20, the vast majority still do believe that to truly be classified among the greats and to be recognized, it is paramount to perform in tests. Test cricket still does continue to explore all facets of a player's game and without doubt showcases his strengths and exposes his frailties the best of all formats of the game. There is definitely room for all three formats and the ICC, with good foresight, plan the future tours programme well to incorporate the right number of tests, odi's and T-20's.
There is surely a necessity for an official ICC test championship which allows for keener contests among the top 4-5 teams and brings out the best in them. This is in the pipeline and I sure hope something positive materializes soon enough. Test cricket has for years been a cricket lover's delight and has produced innumerable legends and fantastic contests all along. It is faced with its biggest challenge now and I am pretty sure, the strong foundation the game's oldest format is built on will stand it in good stead and help it tide through these turbulent times.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
My ultimate Wishlist......
Most people must have watched the movie 'The Bucketlist' and must be wondering if this is yet another similar list..Well I do wish these things happen way before I kick the bucket..:D..Am a sports crazy guy as people who have read the blogs/known me would testify..so excuse me for the excessive number of sports related wishes in my list..!
There are quite a few things I would love to do, places I would love to visit and people I so wanna meet sometime..Here's a list..
1. Lords cricket ground in London--> Not for nothing is it known as the mecca of the game. The ground has a great history, some fantastic names and performances associated with it and almost always, the dream of every cricketer is to be able to have his name on the honours board at this great stage..
2. Wimbledon centre court--> for the sheer aura it has, the remarkable sense of theatre and classic contests and players that have graced it, nothing matches the hallowed grass of Wimbledon centre court. It would be one of my life's biggest moments if I can visit it and spend sometime there..
3. Melbourne cricket ground (MCG)--> The largest of all cricket grounds..Just facing the great stands itself can be unnerving for the finest of players..also its standing among the greatest sporting arenas in the game make it one of the places I would love to visit..
4. Old Trafford, Manchester--> Known as the 'theatre of dreams', this glorious football ground is home to the most famous team of all-- Manchester United and has left many an indelible mark in the mind of football lovers worldwide..Just to watch the Red Devils play with that massive crowd cheering will be the stuff of dreams..!
5. Eden Gardens-->India's greatest sporting venue..accommodates a massive 100000 most times and the unpredictable nature of the crowd to go with their unmatched love for the game make it a must visit place for the cricket lover..
6. Barbados- Kensington oval-- This is almost all but impossible now considering that West Indies cricket is at its nadir...IF only I could sit back in a time machine and travel a good 30 odd years and watch the mighty Calypso kings hunt down every other opponent, their fast bowlers making batsmen hop and Sobers and Richards lording over attacks the world over, wow!..that would just about make my life..!
7. People I would love to meet include Brian Lara (the biggest reason for me to start watching cricket), Shane Warne (met him though not exactly a proper meeting so to say) for the very fact that he is so larger than life.
Viv Richards just to check out that swagger and Garry Sobers to admire the astonishing natural gifts he possessed..
Roger Federer and Steffi Graf who have made tennis such a joy to watch..
8. Finally, the thing I would really love and give up anything for is to be able to go back in time to relive my school and college life with my amazing pals...Truly there has been nothing like those days and I guess practically all that can happen is meeting up with all my buddies sometime in the coming years to catch up on all the great times we shared...!
Pics: Left to Right--> High School, University of Kansas (Masters) and my college in Bangalore (M.S Ramaiah Institute of Technology)..
There are quite a few things I would love to do, places I would love to visit and people I so wanna meet sometime..Here's a list..
1. Lords cricket ground in London--> Not for nothing is it known as the mecca of the game. The ground has a great history, some fantastic names and performances associated with it and almost always, the dream of every cricketer is to be able to have his name on the honours board at this great stage..
2. Wimbledon centre court--> for the sheer aura it has, the remarkable sense of theatre and classic contests and players that have graced it, nothing matches the hallowed grass of Wimbledon centre court. It would be one of my life's biggest moments if I can visit it and spend sometime there..
3. Melbourne cricket ground (MCG)--> The largest of all cricket grounds..Just facing the great stands itself can be unnerving for the finest of players..also its standing among the greatest sporting arenas in the game make it one of the places I would love to visit..
4. Old Trafford, Manchester--> Known as the 'theatre of dreams', this glorious football ground is home to the most famous team of all-- Manchester United and has left many an indelible mark in the mind of football lovers worldwide..Just to watch the Red Devils play with that massive crowd cheering will be the stuff of dreams..!
5. Eden Gardens-->India's greatest sporting venue..accommodates a massive 100000 most times and the unpredictable nature of the crowd to go with their unmatched love for the game make it a must visit place for the cricket lover..
6. Barbados- Kensington oval-- This is almost all but impossible now considering that West Indies cricket is at its nadir...IF only I could sit back in a time machine and travel a good 30 odd years and watch the mighty Calypso kings hunt down every other opponent, their fast bowlers making batsmen hop and Sobers and Richards lording over attacks the world over, wow!..that would just about make my life..!
7. People I would love to meet include Brian Lara (the biggest reason for me to start watching cricket), Shane Warne (met him though not exactly a proper meeting so to say) for the very fact that he is so larger than life.
Viv Richards just to check out that swagger and Garry Sobers to admire the astonishing natural gifts he possessed..
Roger Federer and Steffi Graf who have made tennis such a joy to watch..
8. Finally, the thing I would really love and give up anything for is to be able to go back in time to relive my school and college life with my amazing pals...Truly there has been nothing like those days and I guess practically all that can happen is meeting up with all my buddies sometime in the coming years to catch up on all the great times we shared...!
Pics: Left to Right--> High School, University of Kansas (Masters) and my college in Bangalore (M.S Ramaiah Institute of Technology)..
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
In anticipation....
Another week coming to its end or rather the best part...the weekend!..as usual trying to work out what i can do different this time round to make it more interesting..am off 2 blore this time...mayb a movie, a lunch/dinner treat, get to a club with pals..(in case ur wonderin Wow..wuts up with this bugger...hold ur horses...i gotta do the driving back..lol)..i look fwd 2 these trips to blore coz thats abt the only thing that keeps me going...but yeah frm the next week on, ill hv my cuzn around in chennai and i shud hv a whale of a time...no more complaints and cribbing abt lack of pals and company..thr is a lot to check out in this city i guess and all i can say is im jus waitin big time for this weekend..
I am startin 2 feel a lot better mentally..reading sum gr8 books and slowly startin 2 feel at home..the daily irritating feel and monotony seems to be disappearing just a touch and I sure am getting a strong feel tht better things are in store in the coming few days..!
well..i dont think this blog made much sense but i sure hope that what am hoping for happens else it will be time for u people 2 struggle and read more crap about how life sucks! :D
I am startin 2 feel a lot better mentally..reading sum gr8 books and slowly startin 2 feel at home..the daily irritating feel and monotony seems to be disappearing just a touch and I sure am getting a strong feel tht better things are in store in the coming few days..!
well..i dont think this blog made much sense but i sure hope that what am hoping for happens else it will be time for u people 2 struggle and read more crap about how life sucks! :D
Friday, July 10, 2009
Time for some serious action...
The spate of rape cases in India over the last year is a matter of grave concern for everybody..Child rapes have increased exponentially and the perpetrators of this ghastly crime continue to walk away scot free almost every time due to the various loopholes in the judicial system...Only few cases manage to make it past the Police to the courts. In many cases they are held back by the victims and their families due to the fear of further oppression and embarrassment. If at all the cases do manage to get to the courts, the pitifully slow judicial system in India tends to procrastinate judgment so long that there is almost no use expecting anything meaningful to come out of the process...
It is often said that one needs to get to the grassroots level to diagnose the problem correctly..India is a vast democracy with an enormous population and the number of illiterate and uneducated in the country is huge..Uncouth and uncivilized youth roam the streets and morality is absolutely out of the window when it comes to these people..They have very little knowledge of or respect for human values and their attitude towards women is downright atrocious...The very fact that these immoral, lecherous individuals manage to get away time and again with such horrendous acts speaks volumes of the inability of the state to act right and on time..
Almost everyday we see numerous rape cases, accusations related to molestation , incidents of paedophilia and sexual assaults on tourists..All this does not really showcase the country in good light nor does it bode well for the future generation..Parents sweat and worry every minute till their girl gets back home and the fact that girls are unable to walk safely on the streets after evening really goes to show how grave the scene is..Add to this, the various loopholes in our judiciary system abet these criminals and have made them the scourge of the civilized society..
It really is high time the authorities implement a stricter form of punishment say capital punishment/life term or even the death penalty for rape..Agreed that it might sound rather harsh and death penalty is not a very acceptable form of punishment in most places..The people who do protest against capital punishments must also spare a thought for the traumatic experience of the victims and all the embarrassment that they are forced to endure during the course of the process that is supposed to provide 'justice'..There are a few nations that have very stringent laws for various crimes and death penalty definitely serves as a deterrent in those nations..I firmly believe that if and when it is enforced, the rule will surely be a major factor in helping reducing the incidences of the dastardly act that so far has been committed without an iota of fear of any grave consequences...
I sure hope the government decides to act sooner rather than later and takes certain concrete steps whilst formulating more stringent policies to control the menace that is affecting modern India..As Mahatma Gandhi said, the country can be truly envisioned as a developed one only when its women can safely walk the streets even at night without any fear..Let us strive to achieve the great man's dream!
It is often said that one needs to get to the grassroots level to diagnose the problem correctly..India is a vast democracy with an enormous population and the number of illiterate and uneducated in the country is huge..Uncouth and uncivilized youth roam the streets and morality is absolutely out of the window when it comes to these people..They have very little knowledge of or respect for human values and their attitude towards women is downright atrocious...The very fact that these immoral, lecherous individuals manage to get away time and again with such horrendous acts speaks volumes of the inability of the state to act right and on time..
Almost everyday we see numerous rape cases, accusations related to molestation , incidents of paedophilia and sexual assaults on tourists..All this does not really showcase the country in good light nor does it bode well for the future generation..Parents sweat and worry every minute till their girl gets back home and the fact that girls are unable to walk safely on the streets after evening really goes to show how grave the scene is..Add to this, the various loopholes in our judiciary system abet these criminals and have made them the scourge of the civilized society..
It really is high time the authorities implement a stricter form of punishment say capital punishment/life term or even the death penalty for rape..Agreed that it might sound rather harsh and death penalty is not a very acceptable form of punishment in most places..The people who do protest against capital punishments must also spare a thought for the traumatic experience of the victims and all the embarrassment that they are forced to endure during the course of the process that is supposed to provide 'justice'..There are a few nations that have very stringent laws for various crimes and death penalty definitely serves as a deterrent in those nations..I firmly believe that if and when it is enforced, the rule will surely be a major factor in helping reducing the incidences of the dastardly act that so far has been committed without an iota of fear of any grave consequences...
I sure hope the government decides to act sooner rather than later and takes certain concrete steps whilst formulating more stringent policies to control the menace that is affecting modern India..As Mahatma Gandhi said, the country can be truly envisioned as a developed one only when its women can safely walk the streets even at night without any fear..Let us strive to achieve the great man's dream!
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