Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Its just not cricket

Its just not cricket when ....
.... the greatest batsman the world has ever known passes a landmark that trivialised every other thing he did. It is a challenge, a bottleneck, a millstone around the neck, an increment of a number that takes a year to happen, a throne that was so close to touch but difficult to get on. Its not cricket when his true fans in the far corners of the world run down the staircase in the morning, having dreamt of seeing a number greater than 100 against his name, and have their wish comes true. Sachin, blaze away. That's a flame's destiny. The last hurrah isn't named in vain. With apologies to Douglas Adams, the meaning of life is not 42. It is 35.

Its just not cricket when ....
.... the most successful captain of an Indian team is treated with such ruthlessness that he earns the sympathies of even his opponents. Ganguly may have had his problems, he may have outlived his stay as a batsman, he may be anachronistic in the current scheme of things. But this is no way to dump him. After having performed reasonably in the two innings of the Delhi test, he was dropped by the selectors. For all the times that I believe he may have been supported unduly, this is the one time my support is with him. Legends deserve better exits. They should bow out, not be bowed out. The selectors reaffirmed their ability to make wrong decisions on the fateful day by making another one. They picked Wasim Jaffer.

Its just not cricket when ....
.... a player of limited abilities (yes, that’s me) leads his team to a first ever league victory in years of playing. It is a dream come true for all those who have pursued and failed. Those who came close (yes, me again, on a few occasions, with the select faithfuls) and strived. Those who struggled their way from one close match to another in this league (yes, that’s my team), from one controversy to another (match suspensions, pitch invasions, you name it), from one great performance to another. We won. It has sunk in, and it feels great. Its just not cricket when a left-handed opening batsman leads his team to victory (yup, that’s me in case you didn’t get it). It is a warning, that he is close to getting dropped :-)

12 comments:

Akruti said...

Off to topic:) Beautiful pictures you have posted in the previous post,Asusual like before,same question,can i copy a few of those to my desktop:)

RTD2 said...

It's just not cricket when Somebody rudely brushes past Someone to thunder down the stairs and check authenticity of said dream ;)
That said, Someone is very happy about Somebody's passion!! Congratulations!

sd said...

Ya 35 it is! But you know what - the actual "final" meaning of life may be something much greater than 42! And congrats on winning:)

Anonymous said...

It could be 42?!

Maha said...

Hi Parth, how are you? Thanks for your wishes...:) I hope to really rank well this time around! See ya soon...

Extempore said...

Dada's been re-selected also now - where's the new post, my friend?

Wishing you and yours a very happy New Year!

dinesh said...

First time here..

Good post. I've been waiting for his 35 th for a long time. Strangely though, his first double hundred was a little sweeter.

Echo your thoughts on ganguly's exit ! Ofcourse he's back now..I can't help but think that his return is politically motivated as well, and not because they repented their decision.

Congratulations on your victory. When you say "lead my team" , you captained the team or lead by performance ?

Parth said...

Extempore, its coming, its coming ... thank you very much for the prod. I needed it.

Dinesh, I think I "lead" the team in bad spelling. Jokes apart, I was the captain of the team and did get in some good performances along the way. Thanks for stopping by.

sd said...

Happy New Year Buddy!

aparna said...

Happy New Year Parth! :-)

30in2005 said...

Something I think you should see Parth....
http://inihar.blogspot.com/2005/12/just-not-cricket.html

RadioActive Ray said...

Hey Parth ...
Guess what I chanced upon your blog today as I was Googling for 'chunnu munnu di gaddi' and will definitely link your note on the Chetak to the story I put up tonight.

Nice reading man ... more later ... and hi to all the other Aggies on board too!
-Amitava