WORLD CUP;INDIA=ENGALAND

If you are an Indian fan you will be upset with the result.But if you look at things in nuetral eye that was a fair result.India batted well,all the front line batsmen done well,but in the end fell short of atleast 30 runs.The collapse India had in the fag end of the innings raised the confidense of Englishmen.Till the end of 42nd over they had supremacy.Suddenly Ian Bell started to struggle against Piush Chawla,pressure was applied by Zaheer and he removed both Strause and Bell.Indian feilders and Bowlers who looked clueless started to apply themselves sensing a victory.It is amazing how the fall of a wicket effects the course of the match.Earlier when Stause was doing well Dhoni remained calm.Immediately on taking the power play there was a change and Dhoni tightened the screws.I should say THE GLORIOUS GAME OF CRICKET HAD WON IN THE END.Actually if we had a pace bowler in place of Piyush for the 49th over the result would have been in our favour.OK no problem,what a game we had.Up to 50th over India dominated ,then Englanf upto 42nd over then India upto 48th over.The decision declaring Ian Bell not out was crucial.Third umpire gave the decision infavour of the batsman based on the rules.But everybody in the stadium including the batsman thought it was out.Had it went in favour of India the result would have been reversed.We should take the positives out of this game.All the batsmen done well and they look in tremendous touch.Zaheer struck form,Munaf and Harbhajan O K.Problem is with fifth and sixth bowlers .One spot can be filled with part timers.But the other one ?Here Dhoni has problem.Nehra,Ashwin,Sreesanth or Piush.This match may be an eye opener for India.And this will make them more alert.

Other teams ?

My ranking as on today (please note the + and -ie positives and negatives)

South Africa (+more composed and balance than any other teams,negative past history in WC)

India(+Batting Line up,-Bowling)

Australia(+ terrific bowling side,-recent bad run,batsmen not in form or injured)

Pakistan (+talented and gifted players,-feilding,om some day they can loose even against Holand)

Srilanka(+ home ground advantage,-weak middle order)

PAI UNCLE AMAR RAHE.........

Yes ,Pai Uncle the creator of AMAR CHTRA KATHA Sri Ananth Pai passed away day before yesterday.I was influenced very much with the Amar Chitra Katha when I was young.Many Puranic,Historic Stories was introduced in a simple way with drawings.I used to wait eagerly every fortnight to read new stories through amar chitra katha.I used to search my fathers bag when he return from the office.He will keep it a suspense to rise my eagerness.Most of the occassion I can find a story book like Poombatta,Balarama or Amar Chitra Katha.I can still smell the beetle leave smell of my fathers bag because he had a habit of chewing beetle leaves.My heart will fill with joy on finding the book and will engage in reading soon.Some of the stories I still remember was Khatolgaja,Prdyumnan,Akbar,Rasiya Sultana etc. Anantha Pai even tried a tough subject like Bhagavad Geetha in the form of Chitra Katha for younsters.Even my mother used to enjoy the stories those days.He had done a great job I think because now a days grantmothers stories are rare.May be because of small family background.Children have no time to listen to grandmas.They hardly get time to complete their home work.The time they get they spare for playing Cricket or some games like that.Not to say tha Importance of these stories.One could learn the wast cultural heritage of our mother Land.I know there will be many people in India who will be thankful to Sri Anantha Pai.That will for sure will fetch heavenly glory for Pai Uncle.May his soul rest in peace.PAI UNCLE AMAR RAHE......................

SWEET MEMORIES OF 1983 WORLD CUP

I was then a 14 year old boy studying in 10th standard.School was just re opened.India lost two series against Pakistan and West Indies almost one sided.Team was announced without a team manager.A group photo,I still remember in Mathrubhoomi daily under the newly appointed captain Kapil.Team was full of alrounders.Former Australian Captain Kim Hughes warned the world to be beware of the Indian team.I remember reading the news in Mathrubhoomi daily.I was excited with the prospect of hearing the running commentary on BBC in the National Panasonic Radio in my house.Those days television was not at all seen by anybody in my village.In the month of June rain has started.West indies had an unassailable supremacy in world cricket.Indias first match was against West indies on June 9th.That was thursday.I dont know why every test matches and important tournaments starts on thursday in England.Commencement of the play delayed due to rain.I could tune to BBC only by 07.00 PM.Commentary was available on short wave 16metre band. On the first day there was a surprise.Zimbabwe,a new comer defeated Australia on the first match. Indias match extended to second day.Chasing 289 west Indies fell short of 30 agonising runs.There india warned the world.Devils of Kapil started the world cup campaign.India easily overcame the challenge of Zimbabwe by defeating them by 5 wickets.India lost to Australia in the third match.In the first match in the second round west indies took revenge on India second round match aganst Zimbabwe was crucial but they had something hidden under their sleeves .India were 9 for4,17 for5,61 for6 127for7,169 for 8 .That day world had seen the best ever world cup innings from Kapil Dev who had single handedly retrieved India from a desperate position 9 for 4 in extremely difficult circumstances.He remained unbeaten on 175 at the end of 60 overs.I forgot to say the play was 60 overs each.India won the match by narrow margin.This innings was a booster for Indian team.By this time rain has intensified in our village and we are thrilled by the prospect of entering the semifinals.India had done it by defeating Australia in the final match.
It was a nothing to loose situation for India.Nobody expected the team to enter semi finals.Big Australians,Newzealand were out.Remeber in the previous two world cups India had won against east Africa only.India had even lost to Srilanka in the world cup in 1979.
India had to face England and everyybody were looking forward to a England –West Indies final.But we had another idea thanks to some brilliant bowling from Keerthi Azad and Mohinder Amarnath.They bowled 24 overs between them conseding just 55 runs and removing 4 Englishmen.That included Gatting,Alan Lamb,Botham and Gover.England were restricted to 213 in 60 overs .Targest looked modest.But India started slowly with 110 for 2 in the 42nd over,with English bowlers giving nothing away.From that point Amarnath,Yashpal and later Sandeep Patil laounched a brilliant display of Batsman ship to sail india through to the final with 5 overs to spare.Mohinder was adjudged Man of the Match for his alround performance.Later it was Patil who had made it easy.Exactly one year before at the same venue at Manchester Old Traford Sandeep scored a brilliant hundred to save India from a possible follow on.He hit Bob willis the then English captain for 6 boudaries in one over.Before the start of the over he was 80 not out and after the over he was 104 not out.What a way to score a hundred!!!.....He repeated the performance in this match,he hit Bob Willis for 3 fours in one over.Not many knows the brilliance of Patil.He was handsome and acted in films.He was very attractive,attacking batsman from Bombay.Later he became Indias coach.
So…..India in final!!!......ready to face West Indies.Who is looking forward to complete the Hat trick world cup win.With star steaded team.Greenidge & Hynes most successful opening pair in the world.Richard ,the prince of Cricket.And nothing to say about the four Fast Bowlers,Roberts,Garner,Holding and Manclom Marshal…..A brilliant wicket Keeper Batsman Jef Dujon.
It was June 25th.I had a lunch.Match starts at 3.30 Indian time.I was looking at the wall clock impatiently for the start of the play.The pitch was helping bowlers in the Lords,the Meca of Cricket was full of grass.Clive Loyd the windies Captain won the toss and he had no hesitation to choose to field first.I had a tea and banana fry made by mother.The Radio was tuned to high volume so that no part of the match would be missed unheard.Cristefer Martin Jenkin,Henry the BBC Commentators were geared to top form.That day Akashvani also relayed the Commentary.''Namaskar Ab Ham apko England ke Lords stadium par liye chalte hai,jahan se aap Bharath our west Indies ke beech men ghelnewale wishwa kap final match ka ankhon dekha hal angrejee me sunenge…..''
Play started,much for our disappointment India were 2 for no lose in 8 overs with ball moving around the bat in top speed stranding Sreekant and Gavaskar helpless.Soon Gavaskar was out for 2.Gavaskar failed in the world cup with only 38 runs in 6 innings he played.But his presence was all the more important and India lost two matches in the world cup in which Gavaskar was dropped for want of form.Mohinder joined Sree.He hooked west Indian fast bowlers infront of his nose to get boundariesSoon sree also started attacking.Mohinder was technically the best player against fast bowling was again heading towards a good score .Sree delivered his best innings in the world cup final.He scored 38 before he was LBW to Marshal.But much for our disappointment Mohinder and Yashpal got out soon and India were 90 for 4 at the strock of Lunch in 30 overs.Soon after lunch India collapsed to 129 for 8 and eventually 183 all out ,thanks to some resistance by Kirmani and Sandhu in the end.
In the mind of Cricket followers there was not much doubt left.It was just matter of time when the game be finished.Soon windies were 50 for 1 with Richard hoping to fininsh the game within 30 overs,bowlers were stranded,they couldn’t do anything infront of the brilliance of Richards and the windies fans started celebration.Suddenly drama has started Hynes got out,and Richards was caught brilliantly by Kapil.Gomes and Loyd followed them and Bachus caught beautifully by Kirmani.And by now windies were 66 for 6 and we had a game on our hand.The catch taken by Kapil to dismiss Riachrds was brilliant according to Commentatros.Richards hooked a short pitched ball to squire leg and Kapil was fielding at short squire leg and he had to run about 14 yards to take the catch.Richards was yelling for the second run.Suddenly Kapil reached under the ball and catched it and was walking as though nothing had happened.There was no anguish in his face.No angry words.No signal of arrogance He made it so simple.That was the greatness of Kapil he himself knew that here is the turning point and I had the man.I went to weekly Bhajan then.Bhajan was inevitable for me.The Mandir was near my house.(Durgaparameshwari Bhajana Mandira).In between the bhajans i couldnt control the excitement,I came back to listen the latest stage and I found my father was listening to the commentary for the first time that too in my absence.Dujaon and Marshal was trying to retrieve the team.After Bhajan I came back and found that the score was past 100 for 6 and the partnership was threatening and the overs of main bowlers were almost finished and windies have plenty of overs to play.Soon Kapil tossed the ball to Amaranth.Who with his gentle medium pace removed both Marshal and Dujone.Kapil removed Roberts.In the end Holding was trapped lbw and India were at the top of the world.Yes we won the world cup……………critics said it was only accidental.But if should study thinks carefully it was the brilliance of Kapils devils that made the prudential world cup to come to the subcontinent.That was half past 12 on 26/06/2009 I slept with full of joy.And I hoped not to sleep.I slept with my father talking until father warned me not to talk and have sleep,then when i dont know sleep had overcome me to end a glorious day to think of all through my life.I still remember each and every moments of that day.Because I recollect such wonderfull occassions every now and then to keep myself excited.The face of Kapil Dev lifting the Prudential World Cup,was unforgettable.Innocent,full of joy,no mask over his face,broken English to express his veiws infront of the world.

Many critics said that it was only accidental.But Indial proved it wrong by winning the Benson & Hedjes World Cup,Rothmans Cup & Australasia Cup within three years.

KEY TO INDIAN SUCCESS

• Sehwag should be in top form.
• Toss should be won in important matches especially day night matches
• Couple of breezy knocks from Yusaf Patan,to lift India from any difficult situation.
• Ryna or Yuvaraj should click in.
• Part time bowlers performance will be crucial.
• Luck should favour.(Cricket is a game of uncertainty.A formidable team will be upset at any point in Cricket,see the case of South Africa,they were always threatening until they are rather surprisingly beaten by somebody right from their re entry in world cricket 1992.)
In my opinion a team from the subcontinent-India,Pakistan or Srilanka will lift the trophy.
Being an ardent lower of Cricket I am extremely happy that India has done well recently and we have achieved top ranking.

COMPARITIVE STUDY-TEAM IN 1983 & 2011

How the team in 1983 was better than 2011
• Presence of Genuine All Rounder (Kapil Dev)
• Quality of fielding (I think we can’t match Sreekanth,Yaspal,Kapil)
• English Condition in 1983 suited our medium pace bowlers like Rojer Binny,Madan Lal,
Balwindar Singh Sandhu,Mohinder Amarnath.
• Physical Fitness of players were lot better.
• All bowlers were all-rounders capable of scoring a hundred at least in first class cricket,
(Binny,Madan,Shastry,Azad,Kapil, Sandhu)
• Kirmani bats at number 10 and Sandhu at 11.
• Mohinder Amarnath was in top form,he scored abve 1200 runs in 11 test innings just before the world cup that too against mighty West Indies and Pakistan in their home ground.
How much the team in 2011 better than 1983
1. Home advantage playing in front of home crowd
2. Batting line up especially top 7 batsmen much better.Un doubtedly best in the world.

WORLD CUP CRICKET

World Cup Cricket is round the corner. The hopes of Indian Cricket lowers that India will repeat its performance of 1983 are high. This is mainly because the form the players and the team is in at present. India is number one in test ranking and number two in one day format. We have almost defeated the number one in one day ranking South Africa in their home ground.
Any how this time there is not much risk in the preliminary round as it was in the previous world cup where India lost to Bangladesh. Unfortunately India couldn’t recover from the shock. Here India should play so badly to be not qualified for the Quarter finals. Once we enter the Quarter final it is a do or die situation and if we have a nice run in the preliminary round and all the players in form why shouldn’t we win the title.
Our strong points
• Home advantage
• Successful captain
• World class players like Sehwag and Tendulkar at the top.
• Yusaf Patan a surprise package who can change the course of the match all by himself
• All are top players in the world Gambhir,Kohli,Yuvaraj,Raina,Dhoni,Harbhajan, Zaheer Khan
• Top fielders like Raina,Kohli,Yuvaraj
• Many Part time bowlers –Raina ,Yuvaraj,Sehwag,Kohli,Yusaf Patan,they may be handy in slow Indian tracks
Weak points
1. Bowling except Harbhajan & Zaheer
2. Feilding of Nehra,Munaf,
3. Injury for Sehwag,Gambhir,Tendulakar,Zaheer-(Have they really recovered from the injury they have sustained during the last tour)