Keeping your eyes on the ball.

Unwinning ways

Out of the blue

This young Jamaican was trying very hard to be a fast bowler. Till a friend pointed out, that his run-up was quicker than his delivery.
So if not a record breaking sprinter, Usain Bolt might have been doing cricket in the Caribbean a few favours.

India's finest wicketkeeper takes guard again

He came. He saw. He conquered. He disappeared. He has returned. Sadanand Viswanath.

Marcus Trescothick's 'Minternational' Career

Looks like Marcus Trescothick was chewing on a lot more than how to handle the Aussie bowlers during the 2005 Ashes series. By his own admission, he gives more credit to Murray Mints than the English bowling line up - Flintoff, Jones and Harmison.

More on this Minteresting story here.

Mallika after Kirsten?

Why not?

I like the idea of Mallika's forehand going down the line every time someone misfields, bowls a wide, gets out for a duck etc. (Ugly aur Pagli has 99 references to the afore mentioned forehand.)

Statutory warning: The boys in blue might just take their eyes off the ball in order to receive a forehand at the hands of this delicious damsel.

It doesn't get verse than this.

There was a captain named Dhoni.
Said, 'I don't play just for the money'.
The reasons for our defeat,
Can be blamed on tired feet
And a choc-a-bloc itinerary.

The Board came back all flared.
'Go if you're tired' they dared.
'The IPL was the best
Time for you to rest
Now let us of your tirade be spared.'

So off he went on his much needed break
But not so long that his wallet would ache
Then he'd come back and win.
Master Murali-Mendis' spin.
And thus he did for his country's sake?

Alas the plot went ding dong
Someone sang another song.
The Indian team lost,
Gave credit to the host,
And Dhoni said, 'We read the pitch wrong'.


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Ding dong bell,
Dhoni's in the well.
Who put him in?
A big mouth and foot within.

Tennis the Mendis

With a grip on the cherry similar to that used by tweakers in the tennis ball version of the game, Ajantha Mendis is the latest virus willow wielders are facing up to. He's turned the ball, Sri Lanka's fortunes and a few batting averages the other way. Never has rush hour traffic back to the Indian dressing room been observed with a spinner operating.
And going by Ajantha's Asia Cup heroics on a flat, batting wicket, it looks like the Emerald Isle has found the successor to King Murali's throne.

More stats on Ajantha Mendis here.

Batch of 1983

This day, 25 years ago, they turned world champions of cricket.

Holier than thou

Bastard can be forgiven.

Monkey cannot.

This can only happen in Australia.

Putting the monkey on the other shoulder

Bhajji went from a 3.3 offense to 2.8, and from a 3 test ban to losing 50% of his match fee.

Symonds went from being equally involved in the words exchanged to being let off scot free. That's the same offense for which Bhajji was fined.

Who, tell me, is the respected judge in this court? I'd like to press a charge of racial discrimination.

The Rawalpindi Express takes a detour. Now to run around trees.

Looks like 'CHUCK DE' might still happen. The Express from Rawalpindi famous for throwing tantrums among other things round and red, has apparently signed up a Bollywood flick. Ho, ho, ho. It's called Mein aur Meri Himmat and will be directed by Sanghamita Chaudhri. Let's give her a big hand, and a bravery award.

You have to read this.

Sreesanth. Cold shouldered?

We know that Sreesanth won't be running in Down Under when the first test commences on Boxing Day (Dec 26). But he's all set to bowl for his home state in a Ranji Trophy game which starts a day earlier.

Doesn't look like a shoulder injury does it?

Click here for more on this smelly rat.

The Bengal tiger at the dinner table

He's the only reason my mother watches cricket.

He's my dad's only example when he talks about Indian cricketers who have displayed evidence of a backbone.

He is the drift of conversation in our living room when the finest innings by an Indian is discussed - standing on the balcony at Lords, bare top, shirt in the air, Flintoff 1 - Dada 2.

So if there's anyone celebrating Sourav Chandidas Ganguly's return to monarchy in the Indian batting line-up, it's my parents. No, they aren't Chatterjees, Bannerjees or Mukherjees, but they do share a fondness for fish with the tribe. And of course, a very strong affection for Dada.