What a game
To watch Sachin Tendulkar Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly in harness on Saturday afternoon, and then to admire VVS Laxman, was to be transported to a different world: a world of delicacy and enchantment, buttressed by the rock-solid foundations of the straight bat and the clear mind. Michael Vaughan played splendidly, but he wasnt the same.
My previous blog had aroused quite a few emotions. Particularly after Sachin had scored 91 on Sunday. In the circumstances it was a brilliant innings. But was it a normal Sachin innings? We did not see any straight drive. Throughout the innings, Sacin was never his dominating self. He was very tentative and was even hit on his head. Can you ever remember Sachin being hit on his head prior to 2001?
Of course there was some evidence of his class. On Saturday evening we saw a cut and a cover drive to raise the hairs from our necks. On Sunday, we had some mid-wicket deflections manoeuvered by those powerful wrists, sweep shots at various angles to outwit the field placements and, in particular, an exquisite stroke over extra cover to remind us of the genius. But the problem is that these days we need reminding of his class - time does not wait, not even for Sachin Tendulkar.
There are runs left in this mesmerizing cricketer but they will not come with the free spirit that captured our hearts all those years ago. They will come from the mind that allowed it to flourish. This is no bad thing; it's just not quite the same. That’s all I am trying to say.
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I had written in one of my previous blog that Test cricket is more exciting than the one-day game. I think the last two Test matches have justified that.
I have found cricket very boring this year. This is largely due to the fact that for most part of the year all we have seen are meaningless one-sided one-day contests. My interest has been revived by stunning cricket played in England over the last two weeks.
The Test Match at Nottingham had some memorable moments, which showed us why this game is such a beautiful game. Memories will linger forever………..of watching Sidebottom bowl beautifully and yet get no rewards,………………of watching Zaherr bowl with such aggression, ………of watching Vaughn make batting look so ridiculously easy………………..of watching the Indians in despair as England fought back through Vaughn and Collingwood and then jump in joy at the fall of each subsequent wickets after the second new ball had done the trick…………. Of watching a famous Indian victory. Oh what a beautiful game.
My previous blog had aroused quite a few emotions. Particularly after Sachin had scored 91 on Sunday. In the circumstances it was a brilliant innings. But was it a normal Sachin innings? We did not see any straight drive. Throughout the innings, Sacin was never his dominating self. He was very tentative and was even hit on his head. Can you ever remember Sachin being hit on his head prior to 2001?
Of course there was some evidence of his class. On Saturday evening we saw a cut and a cover drive to raise the hairs from our necks. On Sunday, we had some mid-wicket deflections manoeuvered by those powerful wrists, sweep shots at various angles to outwit the field placements and, in particular, an exquisite stroke over extra cover to remind us of the genius. But the problem is that these days we need reminding of his class - time does not wait, not even for Sachin Tendulkar.
There are runs left in this mesmerizing cricketer but they will not come with the free spirit that captured our hearts all those years ago. They will come from the mind that allowed it to flourish. This is no bad thing; it's just not quite the same. That’s all I am trying to say.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
I had written in one of my previous blog that Test cricket is more exciting than the one-day game. I think the last two Test matches have justified that.
I have found cricket very boring this year. This is largely due to the fact that for most part of the year all we have seen are meaningless one-sided one-day contests. My interest has been revived by stunning cricket played in England over the last two weeks.
The Test Match at Nottingham had some memorable moments, which showed us why this game is such a beautiful game. Memories will linger forever………..of watching Sidebottom bowl beautifully and yet get no rewards,………………of watching Zaherr bowl with such aggression, ………of watching Vaughn make batting look so ridiculously easy………………..of watching the Indians in despair as England fought back through Vaughn and Collingwood and then jump in joy at the fall of each subsequent wickets after the second new ball had done the trick…………. Of watching a famous Indian victory. Oh what a beautiful game.
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