5 days and no result...

The first match between England and India ended in a draw after five enthralling days of cricket.
Only in a game like cricket can play go on for five days, not produce a result and still be absolutely nail biting!!
It lends to the beauty and charm of the game- it is clearly a gentleman's game where lunch and tea are duly taken along with drinks intervals right on the field that can last for a long time during the day.

What made the game interesting?
Disciplined English bowling, insipid Indian batting (apart from the last day), a cracking century from an emerging great of the game, Kevin Pieterson, and the rain that finally saved India from caving to defeat. For me in the US, it meant getting up at 5 in the morning to follow the game every day- and I did it absolutely religiously. I made a point of the other day- that this is the last tour when Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman are together and they should make it count. They didnt click in the first test but my sense indicates they will come good. No wonder my friends call me a perennial optimist.

I had indicated in my earlier blog that I would be happy if we draw the series and win the one dayers. I am still sticking to my 1-1 forecast for tests and 3-2 for one dayers in India's favor.

Wouldnt it be fun if we won 2-0 and 4-1, but then, I have learnt not to dream...

Indian summer of cricket in England

I have a really good feeling about the forthcoming Indian tour of England for three reasons-
a) This is likely to be the last English tour for Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman and Dravid together to England and I bet they are raring to go. While Ganguly and Dravid made their incredible entry together at the Lords in 1996, Tendulkar's 171 against English Lions is just the appetizer fans need for an entree in the test series. Way too many questions have been asked off the Little Master since the World Cup. Sachin looks angry; and more importantly, hungry to score and thats great news for Indian fans. Laxman, on the other hand, is due for big scores against England. This batting line as good as any in world cricket when it comes good!!
b) The English are having tremendous confidence post their 3-0 win against the West Indies. It is always a tantalizing proposition to meet a victorious side on its home turf- and dent some egos I hope!!
c) The Indian fans in England. India has a huge fan base in England and English grounds are generally small- that makes for an incredible atmosphere.
The Indian bowling attack is weak and while that may be a limitation in tests, our batting will give us the edge in one dayers.
I will be happy if we draw the tests and win the one days series.
More importantly, I will want our famed batting line-up to come good. I have been disappointed earlier, so Im not jumping out of my seat woth enthusiasm but I'm optimistic for sure.
Let the best team win!

The first six months

We are well over half way through 2007. The economy is still on course, the war continues in Iraq and there is considerable uncertainty about the Presidential nominees for 2008; however, as far as I am concerned, there have been three events in the first half of the year that bear mentioning, none of them of cataclysmic importance or significance, but important enough...(they also reveal the lens through which I view the world for whatever that worth!!).

Event One- The launch of the Iphone on June 29. Much awaited technological marvel that will revolutionalize the way we will live our everyday life. A phone, a camera, a music device with incredibly user friendly internet capability, this device is well on its way to becoming the one device we would all need going forward. It wont be hip anymore to own an iphone, it will be an absolute necessity to have one. Unlike some other devices, this one has clearly matched its hype if the first week is anything to go by. And imagine this- I am endorsing it whole-heartedly even when I dont own one myself!!

Event Two- Roger Federer's 5th consecutive Wimbledon win. I grew up idolizing Borg. 5 Wimbledons and 6 French Opens is a very rare feat and I thought if anyone could come close, it would need to be Sampras and when he didnt succeed, I thought the record would stay for a long time. That long time is here. Federer is a class act for several reasons and while a lot have to do with extraordinary tennis talent on the court, his off-court appearances, his humility, his incredibly earthy and almost vulnerable persona make him that much more dear and personable as a sporting icon. He epitomises what true sporting excellence is all about- talent, perseverence, skill, stamina, resilience and all done in a manner that has the utmost respect of peers and critics alike. Even as America is torn with Barry Bonds set to overtake Hank Aron, no such questions hang over Federer- he is a true great who symbolizes the best that sports has to offer!

Event Three- World Cup Cricket 2007. Much of the cricket crazy Indians (myself included) got a rude shock when India were ousted in the first round. In hindsight, it lent us good perspective on how lopsided our passion could be. I, for one, have learnt not to buy second round and quarterfinal tickets for any country henceforth. Watching Ireland and Bangladesh play each other can be fun but not when you expected a mouth-watering India- Pakistan clash!! Enough said...

So there you have it...surprisingly easy choice for me. I thought of Diana's 10 year commemorative concert for a moment but then, I decided, naahh...this is it.