The Series is Lost...

I just finished watching the fourth ODI between India and South Africa. Obviously, India lost.

Well, now-a-days, it becomes news when India wins... But this is certainly a ‘news’ as India lost the match and lost the series with it. We haven’t yet won a series in South Africa. But who expected such a bad performance from the “Men in Blue”?

I was still watching the match because of and only because of Irfan Pathan. He played a brilliant knock today. He showed more signs of maturity and patience. However I think he should concentrate on his bowling first. His bowling action seems to have changed. I think we need to give him some time.

As far the Indian team is concerned, what else remains to say? There is a talk going on about Saurav Ganguly to be selected.

So are we going back to the experience instead of youth? In my opinion, it’s not the question of youth or experience alone. It’s neither an easy thing to get a balance between them two. I feel what the Team needs most is not players but a proper game-plan. So let’s see when do they get it… and yes they need not to get overexposure in media. !

Final Flipper by Thrpedo: Ian Thorpe Retires:

“……You can swim lap after lap staring at a black line and all of a sudden you look up and see what’s around you. That’s what it feels like to me…”

-Ian Thorpe, The Australian Swimmer,

in a news conference announcing his retirement.

The famous man in his famous Black bodysuit won’t be seen cutting through the Olympic waters again.

One of the greatest Swimmers of all time, Ian Thorpe of Australia announced his retirement today signing the end of a record-breaking career at the age of just 24.
195 cm tall Thorpe who has an extra-ordinary flipper-size 17 feet, is one of the gifted Athletes. He could puff away other swimmers with his famed ‘Dolphin-kick’.

This Australian Olympic Superstar came to be known as a “Record-machine”.

He became The Youngest Men's world champion in swimming history at the age of 15, by winning the 400 freestyle final at the 1998 world championship, and since then, has been breaking a lot of records and making new ones. He celebrated The Sydney Olympics, 2000with three Golds and two Silvers.

Thorpe has not competed in any major international competition since the Athens Olympics 2004. Amidst the suspicions about his motivation ahead of coming Beijing Olympics 2008, the injury, illness, Thorpe said that he has realised –there was more to life than swimming.

Several brows rose to his decision to retire at so early of an age. Thorpe, however, said breaking records "wasn't as inspiring as it should have been."
Although he reportedly gets around US $2.6m as his sponsorship earnings, Thorpe said that Money was not his motivation. “I’m not driven by Finance, it’s not my thing. I’m lucky that I’m pretty financially secure. I’m not completely secure- I have to work or I’m going to run out. “

“As I got fit physically my mind also got fit, I started looking at myself not only as a swimmer but as a person.”

So he wants to whirl around in the new avenues of life. Best of Luck in your new journey, we’ll always miss you, Ian!

Here is Ian Thorpe in numbers

Thorpe has won 5 Olympic Golds. He also has won 10 Commonwealth Golds .

Since 1998 he dominated the 400 meter freestyle, winning the event at every Olympic, World; Commonwealth and Pan Pacific championships until he took break after Athens Olympics.

Thorpe stockpiled 11 World titles during his career - the most by any swimmer.
At the 2001 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Thorpe grabbed record six Titles.

Between 1999- 2002, Thorpe broke 13 World Records.

Ian, who also once has did a “catwalk” for Armani, is one of the graceful athletes of the era. He was a true champion of the game and a pin-up idol too…

Ashes begins

So the Ashes are finally here! ....

Do I need to say anything else to explain how enthusiastic people are about it? well they are, always... But this time- like it was last time- everyone is hoping for a battle. But I doubt what will happen because, looking at the present sides, I think Aussies are way too better. .

Anyways, let's see what happens...

The Indian Curse... Rain washed the play aside

Seems like Team India is facing some curse, wherever they go, Rains follow...

That's why, may be, today's ODI against South Africa was called off due to the heavy rains in Johanesberg.

Since past few days, the Indian Cricket team has't been performing well. Everyone is hoping for them to see on roll again... and due to the Rains -the wait continues a bit longer...

Roger Federer Coming to india???

I just came to know that,..... that Roger Federer will be in India mext month!!!!!!!!

Well, there is no official announcement yet, but I heard him say it very clearly in the audio of Post match Interview. He has said that he's going to India before Christmass for some UNISEF work.

Now I'm desperately waiting for the confirmation....

Roger is the "Shanghai-Knight"

Roger Federer defeated James blake 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 to win the final match of the season and lift the Masters Cup again. I am so petrified by the match that can't find the words to describe...

As Blake had said it rightly, we are at the loss of adjectives wehn we describe Roger's game. and not only game but to describe why and how he is best of the best.

He is such a humble athelete and an inspiration to all the young kids around the world. I think he is becoming just like an old tree, which when blossoms more and more, leans down to the Mother Earth more and more and more....

Musical Kalam

This picture came in today's Newspaper.

Our Dear President A P J Abdul Kalam gives ace percussionist Sivamani company after a function at Rashtrapti Bhavan on Tuesday..

"BOOKS" and not "BOMBS"

"If we had given them just one less plane
and taken that money and put it
into education,
God only knows how many fewer terrorists
and how many
more engineers and scientists we might have educated..."

- Bill Clinton

The Former US President spoke on arm-deals with Pakistan, during a conference in Canada. The Conference was about child Poverty and he regretted tha he couldn't

That's what I read him saying in today's Newspapers.
Well, It's never too late, Mr. Clinton!

Democrats Win in US mid-term polls

In short, it's the tendency of the Voters in US to vote like that.

In a deeper sense, it's the Victory of the Democrats.

In a much deeper sense, it's the loss of Bush Administration.

Whatever it may be, one thing is sure, people want a Change. And they want security and they want jobs and they want..........

Death Sentence for Saddam: A Farce?

So the so called court gave death Sentence to Saddam.
So what? what difference it made? virtually nothing, but I think one can't say anything by sitting by the Desks anywhere. Who knows the Realities over there?

My Basic question is: how accountable the court is? And why it's making such a hurry to give the punishment??

As for whether it's a right punishment or not? Well only time will answer it.

The Win In The Field, Lost On The Podium…

Yesterday, after Australia won the Champions Trophy, something happened during the prize ‘Distribution’ Ceremony that made many people unhappy. Some of the Aussie players nearly pushed BCCI Chief Sharad Pawar away in the heat of celebrations.

After the Interviews, the announcer Rameez Raja forgot to announce the Trophy and Mr. Pawar (who is also a Minister in the Union Govt.) was waiting for it. Australian Captain Rickey Ponting demanded the Trophy from Mr. Pawar. But Pawar responded him by asking him to step forward for the presentation. Ponting was so eager to wrap his hands around the Trophy that once Pawar gave him the Trophy, he and later Damien Martin nudged the BCCI Chief away and joined the Team in Celebrations.

Well, accepted that they are Australians and think of nothing ahead of a victory… Accepted, that this was like a Dream come true for the World Champions as they won the ICC Champions Trophy for the first time. Accepted, that they were too desperate to party…
Accepted, that this was a mistake.

Still, I think this is clearly an irresponsible behaviour and is punishable. Any Sportsperson, especially a team should never forget that they are being watched by thousands of people worldwide. They should not forget that they are Roll-models for many young kids.
Every game follows a code of conduct of some kind or the other. Cricket, the gentlemen’s game, needs a conscientious behaviour to retain its reputation.

I hope ICC takes some action- Oh! Well how can they? They’ll simply say that “Off- Field” things are not in their control or something like that. Pushing the things under the Carpet, that’s what they normally do, isn’t it?

An AUSSIE WIn

Australia won the Match and The ICC Champions Trophy and proved why they are World No One.
After an impressive Start given by Gayle, West Indies couldn't keep the momentum and were all out for 138. In the Rain inturrupted game on Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai Australia went on to score 116 Runs and were declared Winners according to D/L Method. The Aussies won by 8 wickets (with 41 balls remaining)

Here are a few pics:

Overcast skies in Mumbai during the final of the Champions Trophy, West Indies v Australia, Champions Trophy final, Mumbai, November 5, 2006. (Src: Crickinfo.com)

The World Champions went on to beat the Defending Champions to grab the ICC Trophy for the first time.






Ther was something for the West Indies to cheer for. Chris Gayle of WI won the 'Man of the Series' Award.

And Yes The Sunday Crowed in Mumbai was so cheerful and enthusiastic to support both the teams...

ICC Awards

It was a rather special evening in Mumbai.

The Cricketing City today hosted Hundai ICC Awards 2006, an event coloured in the colours of Cricket and Bollywood. (And an event which will make the last pages of tomorrow’s newspapers into ‘pg. 3’)

While Australia won five of the eight awards, India got none. The only thing to cheer for the Indian camp, apart from the beautiful arrangements, was declaration of Indian skipper Rahul Dravid as the Captain of All-Star Test XI of the year and inclusion of Irfan Pathan and Yuvraj Singh in All-Star ODI XI of the year.

The players who were winners at the awards, also known as Cricket Oscars, this year are:

Rickey Ponting, Australia: Player of The Year (Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy) and Best Test Player of the Year

This Aussie Captain is thrilled to receive both of these awards and also credited his fellow team-mates.
Ponting was presented the ICC Player of the Year award by Indian Meastro- Sachin Tendulkar.


Mahela Jayawardhane, Sri Lanka: The Captain of The Year

The 29 year old received his Trophy from legendary Imran Khan, former Pakistan Captain. Interestingly Mhela has just celebrated his marriage anniversary and walked in to the venue with his wife, Christina. And had this nice surprise waiting for him!

Michael Hussey, Australia: Best One-day Player of The year

Well records are enough to show how impressive he has been over the last year.

Karen Rolton, Australia: Women’s Player of The Year

Karen, Captain of Australian Women’s Cricket Team, went ahead of India’s Anjum Chopra and England’s Katherine Brunt to become the first to receive the first Women’s Player of The Year award. The addition of this new Award is a greatly appreciated move by ICC.

Ian Bell (England): Emerging player of the year:

Simon Taufel (Australia): Umpire of the year

Spirit of the Cricket Award: England


All-Star ODI XI of the year
Adam Gilchrist (wk), MS Ohoni, Ricky Panting, Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Yuvraj Singh, Michael Hussey, Andrew Flintoff, Irfan
Pathan, Brett Lee, Shane Bond, Muttiah Muralitharan.
12th man:
Andrew Symmonds.

All-Star Test XI of the year
Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Ricky Panting, Rahul Oravid (Captain), Mohd Yousuf, Kumar Sangakkara, Andrew Flintoff, Shane Warne, Makhaya Ntini, Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath.
12th man: Brett Lee.

photo curtesy: Crickinfo.com

New "TATA" Height

On the eve of Diwali, the TATA Steal announced the largest ever Indian takeover of a Foreign Company….and today came the news that the joint venture is about to bid for Brazil’s biggest Steal Firm CSN- Companhia Siderurgica nacional. Tata took over UK’s seven years old firm ‘Corus’ ranked ninth in the world.

Tata took over UK’s seven years old firm Corus, an Anglo-Dutch firm ranked ninth in the world. This has been a remarkable achievement for the celebrated Indian Firm who has played a part in the Country’s development. Let’s hope this recent take-over brings out another boom in Indian industry.