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Change is the only constant

I just returned from my trip to India. It was to be a 19 day trip but got extended to 50 due to visa problems (What's new, you ask!). I was visiting home after 9 years and I was told by all and sundry, that I am not gonna be able to recognize the India (especially Chennai where I spent most of the 50 days). In fact, a friend of mine in the U.S. (a desi) wrote to me while I was in India to check in on me and find out how was doing. He also asked me, "Isn't it all so different to you??".. My short answer was "No".

The long answer went something like this, "Yeah, there are dozens of new flyovers, shopping malls, wide highways with lanes marked (which no one follows very much), Nike and Reebok showrooms, coffee shops and all that, but the essence of the city - and the people - has not changed". I meant it in the most positive way. I did not say this, knowing, especially, what he wanted me to say in response to his question.

The city, the towns and the country is pretty much exactly as I remember. The way people interact with each other, the smells (the good, the bad and everything in between), the sounds, the colours, the richness, the poverty, the traffic, sea of humanity -- All that is absolutely unchanged. This is how I remember India. This is the India I lived in. This is the India I cherished and continue to do so.

I belong there. I cannot really explain it. If you know what I am trying to say, then, you know it. There is only one place in the U.S. where I get the feeling that I get when I am in India, New York City. May be, its the cosmopolitan nature of NYC, or may be the foods, may be its the sounds, I don't know.

India never changes. That is the beauty of her. We change. We think we change. We think since we think we have changed, India would too! But India is like a parent. No matter how much we change, or think we have changed, she is always there with the same, unchanged love, affection and the open arms.

Good Ol' Chennai

Tennis Ball Cricket at Besant Nagar Beach

Its good to be be back.

Bradman v Patterson - The Don Wins.

I saw this story posted on during a rain delay of a cricket match while following the text commentary on Cricinfo, which received it from a reader. Its about the incomparable Don Bradman.

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A fanciful story from Michael Henderson on Don. Absolute Gem . "I think I have a beauty. It was told to me by the great Australian batsman, Dean Jones, who positively swore on the head of his daughter it happened, and I have since been told that Merv Hughes also confirms its truth.

The scene is set at a Test match between Australia and the West Indies at Adelaide Oval back in February 1989. These were the days when the Windies were the greatest power the cricketing world had ever seen, the days when they used to select 11 fast bowlers in the team and a 12th man who was a fast bowler just to be on the safe side.

And it was into just such a furnace that the young bowler Mervyn Hughes walked - with bat in hand. Figuring fortune favoured the brave, Hughes wielded the willow like an axeman his axe, and somehow - after snicking fortutiously, connecting full-bloodedly, and missing entirely - he finished the day's play at 72 not out.

The tradition in Test cricket is that the batting side take a few beers into the fielding side's dressing-room afterwards, but not on this evening. Instead, Merv took an ice-box full of bottles, so keen was he to give the men of the Windies the full blow-by-blow account of every run he'd made. So it was that half an hour later, Jones - who himself had contributed 216 - and Hughes and several other Australian players were in the Windies dressing-room, when a sudden hush fell upon the gathering.

They looked to the door and there was Sir Donald Bradman himself, being ushered into the room by several South Australian cricket officials. The Don had expressed a desire to meet this mighty team, and now here he was.

For the next 15 minutes or so, the great man was introduced to the visiting players, with each West Indian standing up well before Sir Donald got to their position on the bench. Then, when their time came, they warmly shook his hand and had a few words.

This all proceeded splendidly until Sir Donald got to the last man on the bench, Patrick Patterson - the fastest bowler in the world at that time. So the story goes, not only did Patterson not stand, he simply squinted quizzically up at the octogenarian. Finally, after some 30 seconds of awkward silence, Patterson stood up, all two metres of pure whip-cord steel of him, and looked down at the diminutive Don.

"You, Don Bradman!?!" he snorted. "You, Don Bradman?!?! I kill you,mun! I bowl at you, I kill you! I split you in two!"

In reply, Sir Donald, with his hands on his hips, gazed squarely back at Patterson and calmly retorted: "You couldn't even get Merv out. You'd have no chance against me, mate!"

All Time Underrated Test XI

Any discussion of an all-time great test team in Cricket, includes, names such as Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Shane Warne, Wasim Akram etc. However, there are some outstanding cricketers that have made tremendous contributions to their teams, and the game in general, that have had their entire careers overshadowed by some these legends. For example, Rahul Dravid. He has been an outstanding servant of Indian cricket with his grit and determination and has come through in many big occasions. However, some of his vital contributions have been outshone by innings such as the 281 that VVS Laxman made in Kolkata, 2001. Or for example, a toiling Jason Gillespie has always been overshadowed by the presence of Glenn McGrath and a Shane Warne. Or, a Danie Vettori, whose contributions do not get the necessary accolades because he plays for New Zealand (a small time team compared to Australia, India and England etc.).

So, I thought, I should put together a team of Underrated Individuals picked from around the world. My only criteria was that, they played during my cricket watching years (1983-present). Without further ado, here is my underrated Test XI:

1. Graham Gooch
2. Saeed Anwar
3. Rahul Dravid
4. Jacques Kallis
5. Aravinda De Silva
6. Shivnarine Chanderpaul
7. Alec Stewart (WK)
8. Shaun Pollock
9. Daniel Vettori (C)
10. Anil Kumble
11. Jason Gillespie

12th Man: Justin Langer

Let me hear about your underrated ones.

My Favorite Fast Bowler

That Maan Courtney Walsh. I had tremendous respect for Courtney when exhibited exemplary sportsmanship in not running out Salim Jaffer in the final over, in the World Cup quarterfinal in 1996 (which West Indies went on to lose to Pakistan). Its not something I would do. I disagree to this day with what he did, but respect it nevertheless.

My admiration for Courtney grew through the nineties as he would run through the Aussies and the English, along with the one of the best fast bowlers of all time, Curtley Ambrose. Anyway, here is a video clip I found on Walsh. The slower he bowls to get Graham Thorpe, is an absolute gem!

Enjoy!

My 20 favorite moments of Sachin Tendulkar's career

On Nov 15 1989, the cherub-faced wunderkind, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar (who later on in his career, would be designated GOD by the hundreds of millions of Indian cricket fans) made his cricketing debut on the international stage, against Pakistan, in Pakistan - no less. This kid, now the wise old Yoda, is still plugging away, setting records by the bunches and motoring along in his 20th year of International cricket. He has had his ups, downs but has never lost his passion for cricket, the pride of representing India. He is the richest cricketer ever to play the game, one of the most talented to ever pick a bat, one of the most popular sportsperson and even with all that, the humility he shows on and off the field, his ability to stay out of trouble (not a single scandal). What a role model for generation of Indians and cricketers everywhere! I am extremely proud and boundlessly happy that he plays for my country.

On this 20th anniversary of his international debut, I thought I should list 20 of my favorite Sachin Tendulkar moments of the last 20 years. Following are my rules for the list selection:

• It need not only be his batting exploits. As you know, he has pulled off some miraculous catches and un-bee-lee-vuh-bul wickets out of nowhere
• There needs to be video evidence available on the internet, so that I could link them.. or at least, photographs with associated columns/articles waxing poetic
• I either saw it live on TV, internet, or followed it on cricinfo text (These are my rules. If you don't agree, go, make your own list)
• Moments that had huge bearing in the outcome of a match/series/tournament will be pushed up the list, even if it is not a "dominating" performance

On that note, without further ado, I present to you, MY 20 FAVORITE SACHIN TENDULKAR MOMENTS OF THE LAST 20 YEARS ( SRT/20, if you will). I am posting #1 to #10 in this post and the rest, in the next post.

#1. India v Pakistan, 2003 World Cup

Unquestionably, the match of the tournament. India facing a daunting total of 273, needed a fast and positive start and that's exactly what they got from Sachin in the company of Sehwag. This was additionally more fun for me, as in my apartment in State College, PA, my roommates and I had set up satellite dish (this was before the time of online streaming boys!) and had two rooms full of cricket fans watching the match. It so happened, one of the room was full of Pakistan fans and the other, full of India fans. The ebb and flow of th match was a great spectacle and the cheering and hollering from one room to another was very memorable. Of course, all this, till Sachin stepped in and ripped their hearts out with a breathtaking display of batting. This was also the first time India and Pakistan faced off on the cricket field after the Kargil war and some Indians may have thought of this as an opportunity to settle some scores as well.

The highlight of that marvelous inning (@ 03:41) was a backfoot, on the up, punched drive through extra cover off Wasim Akram, after which, Sachin held the pose for a second. You can hear Robin Jackman almost have an orgasm!! My then roommate Gautam and I were discussing at the time, whether we should just give honorary India citizenship to Robin.

#2. The making of the genius

Fast forward to 3:24 and spend two good minutes watching till 5:23.

Tom Alter: Sachin, So you prefer facing Walsh and Marshall? You prefer facing fast bowling, why?

Sachin: Of course. Of course. I like facing fast bowling, because, the ball comes straight on to the battt.

GAME, SET and MATCH. (I know this does not qualify as a part of his 20-year International career, but come on! Seriously. Also, I make the rules here.)

#3 India V Australia, Sharjah 1998.

Sandstorm game. Needing to qualify for the finals. Enough said.

I was in the final year of undergrad in college. Already had a job. So, I spent the last 2 semesters in college, doing the two things I love to do. Playing and watching cricket. And 1998 happened to coincide with one of the most productive phases in Sachin's career. Lucky me.

#4. Four-Four-Four

India vs Australia, 2008 CB series league match in Melbourne.

#5. India v Australia, Sharjah 1998, Finals.

After playing one of the finest one-day innings in its sheer belligerence and audacity and taking India through to the final of the tournament on a better run-rate, Sachin tormented the Aussies one more time to win the tourney! Just brilliant.

#6. India v West Indies, Hero Cup, Finals, 1993.

The legend of Sachin continues to grow, following his sheer magic to pull the rug from under the South Africans in the last over semifinal match. I did not watch the match live. India had made a modest total of 225, and Sachin had made a very crucial 28 runs. However, he was not too far away from the center of action, as he took out Brian Lara for 33. (Time mark 4:03)

#7. India v Australia, Wills International Cup, QF, 1998. Dhaka

Sachin's day at the office that day reads, 141 runs off 128 balls and 4/38. One man wrecking crew. The Aussies were probably having nightmares how much Sachin had whupped them in 1998. I could not find the video for this match online. If someone has it, please pass it along.

#8. India v South Africa, Hero Cup Semis, Last Over

South Africa needing 6 runs off the last over, Sachin came on to bowl and gave away only 3. I remember watching this game as a 16 year old and being completely a nervous wreck. Sachin kept his cool and was way beyond his years. A major glimpse in to his psyche that would show the potential the man had! Cricinfo had included it at #25 in the list of 50 magical moments in cricket. Time Mark 1:10 begins the last over by Sachin.

#9. First Test Match Century

India were in a dire situation of losing the test match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Needing an improbable 408 runs to win the match, India were reeling at 109-4 when SRT walked in. While couple more wickets fell, he played a long inning in the company of Prabhakar and scored his maiden test ton (119 not out) and secured a draw. I had written about my memories of this test match recently.

#10. India v South Africa, 1996-97, Capetown Test Match

India was having a terrible tour of South Africa, after being humiliated in Durban. My college class were on an industrial tour and we couldn't wait to get to Jamshedpur and get to the hotel, so that we could catch India batting in the 2nd test at Newlands, Capetown. South Africa posted a massive 529/7 in the 1st inning and India were doddering at 58 for 5, when one of the most special partnerships in test cricket I have ever witnessed or read/heard about happened between Sachin and Azharuddin - for the sheer elegance whilst being absolutely brutal. I remember us getting to the hotel and staying near the front desk for 3 hours while watching the partnership. Spectacular.

Click here for the Youtube Link

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Next Post: #11-#20.