Announcing a new blog: http://deep-ness.blogspot.com/
(Sorry Deeps! Couldn't think of a different URL)
The idea is to do more "serious" stuff on the new blog and the timepass stuff here. Ah yes, cricket too! So Australia win the World Cup. Unfortunately, their brilliance is making the game boring. Let's hope the other teams catch up soon.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Chattering monkeys
It is natural that idiots who speak without listening to others during conversations will be hated, if not completely ignored. I fear I have now become one such. As ever, circumstances are to blame.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Disappointing, Only
So, it has all ended up like this. With one month to go in the World Cup, the Indian team is back home. Uncountably infinite articles and blog posts have discussed, despaired, contemplated and ranted about how the unimaginable has come to pass. Of course, this is only the beginning of the madness.
I missed the Bangladesh match but watched all of the deciding Sri Lanka fixture. Without getting into the messy details, my feeling about was lacking in the Indian outfit - team spirit. This was almost the same team that played so well in 2003, but back then it looked like a close-knit, cohesive unit. This time around, all the controversies over captaincy, confusion in team composition, division over the coach's methods, aging stars, non-performing stars, all combined to make the team lesser than the sum of its components.
Personally, apart from feeling a bit flat that India is out of the world cup so soon, I don't care for all the criticism heaped on the players. Sure, there are issues to be addressed, most crucially to ensure our cricket does not fall behind, failing to adapt to changes in the game (and go the way of Indian hockey), but I only feel sad for the players who must surely be hurting more than everyone else. All the outrage on display by "fans" has nothing to with cricket or sport. My smug take on this is that life is mind-numbingly boring most of the time and being out of the world cup deprives us of the distractions we crave - entertainment, adrenaline rushes and vicarious feelings of euphoria.
I missed the Bangladesh match but watched all of the deciding Sri Lanka fixture. Without getting into the messy details, my feeling about was lacking in the Indian outfit - team spirit. This was almost the same team that played so well in 2003, but back then it looked like a close-knit, cohesive unit. This time around, all the controversies over captaincy, confusion in team composition, division over the coach's methods, aging stars, non-performing stars, all combined to make the team lesser than the sum of its components.
Personally, apart from feeling a bit flat that India is out of the world cup so soon, I don't care for all the criticism heaped on the players. Sure, there are issues to be addressed, most crucially to ensure our cricket does not fall behind, failing to adapt to changes in the game (and go the way of Indian hockey), but I only feel sad for the players who must surely be hurting more than everyone else. All the outrage on display by "fans" has nothing to with cricket or sport. My smug take on this is that life is mind-numbingly boring most of the time and being out of the world cup deprives us of the distractions we crave - entertainment, adrenaline rushes and vicarious feelings of euphoria.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Holy Smokes! What all has happened in 4 days time!
I had casually mentioned upsets by minnows in the previous post, but Ireland knocking Pakistan out and Bangladesh pushing India to the brink has changed the whole complexion of the tournament. All this took a back seat though, due to the shocking death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer. He was truly one of the most influential figures in international cricket and as the first laptop-wielding coach (with the super successful South African team of the late 90s), pioneered the use of technology in the modern game. Inzamam resigned as Pakistan captain and retired from the one-day game. An inglorious exit for a great player who has seen both ends of the spectrum in World Cups, having announced himself so emphatically as a 22-year old in the '92 edition. Pakistan cricket is in a state of complete disarray with the PCB chairman and the board of selectors handing in resignations. Freddie Flintoff's latest drinking binge got him dropped for a match and also stripped him of the England vice-captaincy. The poor guy reportedly fell off a pedal boat and had to be fished out of the water. It might be a blessing in costume, the captaincy stuff was cramping him as a player. Andrew Strauss seems like a better option as England captain.
As for India, the Sri Lanka match becomes all-important now. The match against Bermuda was good to get some confidence back. The batting lineup showed resolve and blasted to India's first 400 plus score. I distinctly remember the match when India went past 300 for the first time. This was against Pakistan in Sharjah and Azhar launched into Ata-ur-Rehman's last over, carting a couple of sixes and a brace of fours. Azza was in the midst of a form slump and this burst came out of nowhere. He was shaking in nervous anger and for some reason, seemed to be mouthing off little Sanjay Manjrekar, who was at the non-striker's end.
I had casually mentioned upsets by minnows in the previous post, but Ireland knocking Pakistan out and Bangladesh pushing India to the brink has changed the whole complexion of the tournament. All this took a back seat though, due to the shocking death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer. He was truly one of the most influential figures in international cricket and as the first laptop-wielding coach (with the super successful South African team of the late 90s), pioneered the use of technology in the modern game. Inzamam resigned as Pakistan captain and retired from the one-day game. An inglorious exit for a great player who has seen both ends of the spectrum in World Cups, having announced himself so emphatically as a 22-year old in the '92 edition. Pakistan cricket is in a state of complete disarray with the PCB chairman and the board of selectors handing in resignations. Freddie Flintoff's latest drinking binge got him dropped for a match and also stripped him of the England vice-captaincy. The poor guy reportedly fell off a pedal boat and had to be fished out of the water. It might be a blessing in costume, the captaincy stuff was cramping him as a player. Andrew Strauss seems like a better option as England captain.
As for India, the Sri Lanka match becomes all-important now. The match against Bermuda was good to get some confidence back. The batting lineup showed resolve and blasted to India's first 400 plus score. I distinctly remember the match when India went past 300 for the first time. This was against Pakistan in Sharjah and Azhar launched into Ata-ur-Rehman's last over, carting a couple of sixes and a brace of fours. Azza was in the midst of a form slump and this burst came out of nowhere. He was shaking in nervous anger and for some reason, seemed to be mouthing off little Sanjay Manjrekar, who was at the non-striker's end.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
World Cup Opener
So the big event has begun!
The first round is difficult to be excited about, with too much minnow bashing in prospect. But these matches have thrown up huge upsets in the past and do get newer teams into the fold. The Windies came out on top in the clash-of-the-mercurials opener with Pakistan. Marlon Samuels is a great talent and seems to have gotten over his inconsistency.
I am kind of sick of all the predictions for semi-final berths, so let's not go there unless some of you are just dying to tell. Almost everyone expects India to be in the semis though and the team has a lot going for it in terms of experience, class and balance. This Cricinfo feature lays out the statistics. Really mind-blogging, those numbers for India.
Tail piece: I couldn't get down to blogging for the last few days because of a journal paper I'm working on. The thing was stuck in my throat for a long time, but finally beat it into some shape for a decent first draft. I don't like to boast, but this paper of mine destroys the theory of relativity and disproves the existence of gravity.
Sam and I are setting off tomorrow to see the Grand Canyon, just in time to get something out of spring break. Will put up some pics if we manage to capture something special. Also maybe a travelogue of sorts.
The first round is difficult to be excited about, with too much minnow bashing in prospect. But these matches have thrown up huge upsets in the past and do get newer teams into the fold. The Windies came out on top in the clash-of-the-mercurials opener with Pakistan. Marlon Samuels is a great talent and seems to have gotten over his inconsistency.
I am kind of sick of all the predictions for semi-final berths, so let's not go there unless some of you are just dying to tell. Almost everyone expects India to be in the semis though and the team has a lot going for it in terms of experience, class and balance. This Cricinfo feature lays out the statistics. Really mind-blogging, those numbers for India.
Tail piece: I couldn't get down to blogging for the last few days because of a journal paper I'm working on. The thing was stuck in my throat for a long time, but finally beat it into some shape for a decent first draft. I don't like to boast, but this paper of mine destroys the theory of relativity and disproves the existence of gravity.
Sam and I are setting off tomorrow to see the Grand Canyon, just in time to get something out of spring break. Will put up some pics if we manage to capture something special. Also maybe a travelogue of sorts.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Chandrahas Bey has a post on the best Indian cricket writing(click here). From what Chandrahas writes (and also from what I've read before), Ramachandra Guha's work stands apart from the rest. Among recent books, Rahul Bhattacharya's Pundits From Pakistan has received praise from all quarters. It's been lying on my bookshelf for a while now, should get to reading it soon.
PS: Too distracted with work for purposeful blogging.
PS: Too distracted with work for purposeful blogging.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Life and Timepass
A deep insight has dawned upon me. Timepass subsumes everything. It gives meaning to our life. Whatever we do is for Timepass only. I spent a considerable amount of time on trying to think of one, just one voluntary activity in my life which cannot be categorized as Timepass. From drawing a complete blank[1], my conscious mind[2] segued into the Eureka! moment I mention above.
In this light, I was greatly tempted to correct the name of this blog, at the least by flipping the order of the two words. I have restrained myself with superhuman effort, for the sole purpose of ensuring a continuity in the lives of its millions of rabid readers and followers.
[1] I want to ask you to undergo similar introspection and let us know the results.
[2] As opposed to the subconscious, which must have known for a while now.
In this light, I was greatly tempted to correct the name of this blog, at the least by flipping the order of the two words. I have restrained myself with superhuman effort, for the sole purpose of ensuring a continuity in the lives of its millions of rabid readers and followers.
[1] I want to ask you to undergo similar introspection and let us know the results.
[2] As opposed to the subconscious, which must have known for a while now.
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