Who is Paul valthaty?

I watched a marvelous innings today by this guy. I think I saw his name pop up in domestic circuit sometime ago. But never really paid attention. But his innings today epitomized class batting as I learned during my childhood. No non-sense cricket. Pure cricketing strokes. And never for once he looked in rush. Except in the end when he flashed his bat to finish it. He played this innings may be a bit too late. By 4-5 yrs. Otherwise he would have been drafted into National squad. His career was halted by an injury to eye it seems. What a luck?

Champions League 2010

Finally Chennai lived upto IPL hype to clinch CLT20. Warriors unfortunately added more substance SA's chokers image. Dhoni managed his troop really well to squeeze out a good performance in semi-final and final. Ashwin has been a new revelation and in line for next spinners berth on Indian squad. Raina, Vijay were at their best at times to provide solidity. Foreign players contributed in every match to win.

In all, the tournament was of high standard and better compared to IPL. In IPL at least 2 teams appear below par every time. Punjab of course takes first place, while Kolkatta is not even close there. Even champions league showed those shades with Central districts and Wayamba succumbing to pressure in every game. It was amazing to see RedBacks, Lions and Warriors winning games against all teams. All matches were really good with medium and slow pace bowlers controlling games. Mumbai lacked winning attitude, Central Districts has no key players while Wayamba couldn't get their attitude right. Except for Ravi Shastri, Gavaskar and sometime Doul, the commentary was also good. T20 did indeed change the dimension of the game. Watching Champions league T20 on a 36inch HD TV gave me that franchisee sport feel, that we get with NFL & Euro soccer leagues. It was more like a party out there at BullRing except for the serious cricket in the middle.

I felt that RedBacks gaveup too easily in the semifinal but worked too hard to deserve a chance in the final. But Bangalore was up and down and couldn't repeat their magic against Chennai. Lions were decent but not good enough in the crunch games. Victorians were good to comeback strong but were a tad bit late. They had to hope for the third team's loss to enter semis.

To be continued..........................

India vs SriLanka or SoapOpera? - I

Yes. This is what I am thinking about right now. These two cricket boards are so after money that instead playing per calendar and sparing time- they play cricket in spare time i.e when both nations have no ICC commitments. Cricinfo has actual statistics of how many times these two played since Jan 2009. What I don't understand is the attitude of both cricket boards.
BCCI are in never ending Money coma that nothing else matters. No quality bowler? So what Selectors are sleeping and rest of the administration trying to solve "unfortunately become public" issues, power fights & rejecting candidates. BCCI treasurer owns a private cricket franchisee? GOK whats going on. Secretary's son gets a chance in A team. Union minister becomes ICC president. Hello, what is ICC. Indian Cricket Money, corruption Coma. Surprisingly Indian government has no role to play. They do not want to manage cricket like Hockey or other Olympic sports. But I can guess the reasons. They do not want cricketers like Sachin Tendulker buy their own tickets to overseas trips while Govt managed BCCI office houses lousy staff enjoying all the funds through various ways. Hold on! Its just another case of respecting British legacy? Like administration, railways etc? Ghosh, there is no Nehru to send teams to CA, CSA to see how they administer cricket. Rest We know (Money & power).
SriLanka on the other hand is thirsty for matches so it can clear all debts. Every new development- sport minister of the country makes announcement. Not sure I understand if its support or the interest to follow the cricket board on the other side of adam's bridge. Hang on fans. Asia cup organization shows the interest in revenue vs game. Poor floodlights, stupid format & unconvincing effort. Not sure if Bangladesh players remember that series as Asia cup or something else. I sometimes doubt if BCCI & Srilanka Board agreed to play a certain no.of series between them and pre-decided how many to share between them.
So these tests are consequential? No way. Who will enjoy them?
1. Players like Mahela, Tendulkar, Dravid & Murali who were from the test era (and few others of course). BTW, definitely not Yuvi
2. Test cricket fans who will watch them on TVs
3. New fans who come down to see cricketers.
4. Boards for ranking reasons and revenue
5. Yeah. I did not forget. Dhoni, if he wins the series. Not sure Murali or Warne is the best. But Dhoni will be the best among who played against Lanka in all respects.

I want to wake up one day and hear that no one is watching cricket on TVs anymore. Guess what happens to BCCI & SriLankan cricket boards?

to be continued.............................

Shame on Indian cricketers!!!

What stops? 1. IPL 2. Endorsements 3. Parties 4. Remuneration 5. Fan following

Unfortunately nothing for Indian cricketers. I have been watching cricket since 1987. And I can see remarkable transformation in the Game and Technology around it. But the attitude of Indian cricketers (few exception here) transformed on the similar lines of Politicians in India. It was just outragious the way India got eliminated from T20 WC. But it seems Indian team already knew and not interested in changing it. For the simple reason that they already have the 5 I listed above.

2007- Big drama was made of Sehwag's absence. Looks like Dhoni was in similar situation and couldn't say anything :). All new comers - Raina, Rohit, Pathan struggled against short bowling.

2010 - No change. How ridiculous?

An excerpt from Harsh Bhogle's article on Cricinfo - "Not one of these three shortcomings was unknown, and it would be easy to blame the system and the coaches for it. Teachers don't write exams, students do, and eventually they must figure it out themselves, and so we must return to attitude. There is no point blaming the pitches and the bowlers in domestic cricket for the inability to play short-pitched bowling. Gavaskar emerged from the same school, as did Tendulkar, Dravid and even Laxman. Abhinav Bindra and Saina Nehwal are products of such a system. Azharuddin emerged as one of the world's finest fielders. Greatness lies in rising beyond the system. It isn't the system, therefore, but work ethic that lies at the heart of success. I'm not saying India's cricketers don't possess it, it's just that they don't display it often enough."

If Tendulkar struggles against short ball for one complete series, tournament, almost all of us know what he does in the next series. Does anyone in the current Indian team has that hunger, zeal to learn, determination to succeed? Not everyone can be a Tendulkar as a matter of fact. But you can be a Dravid if you work as hard as Dravid did (you can get close to him by about 90% rest 10 his specialaity). I recall numerous games where every cricket fan was tired of Dravid hitting every single ball to fielder and eating 50 odd balls for 10-20 runs. But he transformed himself into all modes - oneday/Test/T20 (evident from IPL - I don't care if you call it below standard as long as any cricketer prioritizes it over national cap). And Dravid undoubtedly is the technically perfect batsmen among a bunch of big/goods like Bradman, Lara, Pointing etc.

Unfortunately, no one in current Indian team has that hunger to score runs and working hard to get there. Yuvraj singh, Rohit Sharma, Yousuf Pathan should be removed from team and their contracts terminated. They show no respect & enthusiasm for game. They reflect arrogance, crazy after fame and absolutely no determination to improve. Their fundamental approach to Game is wrong. Most of the above statements apply to Yuvi than others. Being fit is not an option but requirement to perform to fullest potential. If someone is not interested in maintaining fitness that indicates indiscipline and lack of respect for Game.

Gambhir, Sehwag must be taught to run between wickets and removed from team the next time they get run out or get thier parnter run out. Ravindra Jadeja has no maturity to perform at international level and should not be given anymore chance. Suresh Raina has no skill to perform on foreign soil and must be retained only for home tournaments. And all of them need to improve fitness. If someone is interested in IPL and Preity only then kick him out. No commitment no place.

What is the point in paying 250,000 USD a year to a foreign coach if the problem lies with players? BCCI runs like a business - profit only profit and just profit. They don't even care for the money they spend. Not a professional body by any means. And it is a big mystery why it is not run by government like other sporting bodies. No point in getting Gary Kirsten or Greg Chappell if players don't want to come for fitness training and are unprofessional.

One more Damn weekend in AAmeRaca

Just started. Can't think of much other than Walmart, TV Guide for movies over weekend, cleaning house and wash/press clothes. Is life this boring for guys in India who work their ass off during week. BTW, I meant guys n gals. And suddenyl a thought of cooking something for next week strikes my mind. Cook & freeze! The single most thing I have been doing without a thoguht of dropping the idea ever. I spoke to several bachelors over last 2 yrs and some families also. Looks like we all Desi's (Please read Day-see-ss) have same life style and thinking. Of course I know guys who want to rent a car every weekend and go around to take pictures of white skin (No offense intended). And some trying their wardrobe with an ever new camera to abuse Orkut album section. Some playing cricket etc. Some building muscles and getting Tattos on. All of a sudden my L1 visa gives me Licence to become a Bro or a Klan (No offense again).

Strange I thought when I saw few guys playing vollyball in a parking lot of course Day-see-ss. Many go to temple. And 98% download telugu movies. Sorry guys, I forgot your group of MAA,TEJA,GEMINI devotees. I somehow have a feeling of controlling politics in India through satellite :). At least, I can blabber while drinking Vodka/Scoth (Read Voddkha/Scotchy/eSchotch).

Last but not least, using google maps to find directions to stupid and dirty theatres to Watch stereotype Desi movies at distributor-monopolized prices. Of course, after reading Jeevi(Please read J-chiru-E-Spicypix-Evi) review.

Can someone teach thinking-cricket to Indians?

It is as if everyone knew what is going to happen. Indian started losing right from first match and they were comprehensively beaten in the format they are defending champions. I thought it is tough for youngsters as well as senior players to cope up with NZ conditions. However, never in last two matches, Indian batting looked to be troubled by local conditions. Their own thinking and approach is to blame. It is an in-experienced team in terms of playing in New Zealand. But it is a team in form. I do not recall if Dhoni, Yuvraj, Zaheer were there in the last tour. But, they are champions of this format. They never displayed that quality. It hurts very much to see Dhoni playing like Dravid. If Dhoni did not bat the way he did early in his career no one would have cared to admire him. He changed his game completely. It is understandable for ODI format, and understandably he could do it as he is/was skipper. But T20 is not a game where you defend balls for ever. Not Dhoni at the least. If you want someone to stabilize the innings take Dravid or Rohit Sharma and instruct them their responsibility. Sehwag, Dhoni, Yuvraj, and Pathan – these players are for T20 format. We need them to blast the bowling. Every cricket playing nation knows about Sehwag and they have their own plans. Same applies to Yuvraj and Pathan. But I do not think anyone even cares to consider Dhoni in that list. Maybe, Dhoni should be replaced as captain by someone else in one of the three formats - to give a chance for someone to improve captaincy skills and let Dhoni play like “Dhoni” for heavens sake. We have witnessed how much Tendulkar has gone through during his career. He was given captaincy; he was sent lower down the order and was pressurized in every possible manner. And every time he came back to his original position we know how he performed. I am not saying captaincy is not for Dhoni. He is the guy. He should lead Indians but not at the cost of his own self. You make Dravid keep wickets for 50 overs and ask him to rescue team and play 35 overs and take every catch that comes in his way, and, keep his own self? I guess you are asking for too much. If Gilchrist or Sagakkara does it, that’s fine they are regular wicket keepers and fine batsman. Dravid is not a regular wicket keeper. And in this case, Dhoni is doing it to himself rather than someone else doing it to him. Just for an example, while playing against NZ, can he match their wicket keeper – Brendon McCullum? I doubt that. Dhoni can neither display that flamboyancy with bat nor that quick work with gloves. No doubt Dhoni is good with gloves, but I don’t subscribe to the statement that he is great behind stumps. May be its time he gives up his wicket keeping for one of the formats and lets in a wicket keeper batsman like Karthick or Wriddhiman Saha. I do not see a point in giving more chances to someone like Rohit Sharma. There are enough talented players around the country waiting for their chances. He is either unsettled with his position or his approach. In my opinion he has the best technique among current bunch of youngsters and some seniors too. But he does not seem to have that huger, that urge to score, value for his wicket. Yuvraj Singh never seemed to have liked the word consistency, except when we talk about one single series.

So, every time India gets confused like they are right now, should we look at each other or pray god for another run hungry machine (Which is still running, despite a 20 year loyal service)?

Dhoni, the stabilser?

Dhoni was just unbelievable in 2nd ODI against Srilanka. He was uninspiring and looked either confused or had selfish motives. Once Yuvraj got out, I and guess everyone, thought, he would guide India to a respectable total. However, to my surprise, he even failed to play his natural shots. And confused the no striker multiple times for singles. I always thought that the difference between a good and average batsman is in the ability to play shots even at good balls. However, Dhoni seem to have forgotten his cricket completely. There was no aggression at all. For someone like Dhoni, I thought, he would plan at least 25-30 runs from final power play. But the way he played Ajantha Mendis, suggests that, he has the biggest problem of all, facing mendis. I think Dhoni must sit down with Sehwag sometime and learn something about being positive for the sake of his own cricket. As far as team is concerned, he is doing very well and needs to introspect his own batting. Topping charts with average and strike rate might not give you more satisfaction than being yourself. Hope Dhoni realizes it soon.