Late Cut

What the heck! Since when is it that you can't call ordinary, ordinary?? Isn't it lot better than telling a player "Good Morning, how is your wife and my kids?" (alleged famous sledge by Rodney Marsh to Ian Botham). Gautam Gambhir got reprimanded for calling Rajasthan Royal batsmen ordinary. Here is what he said; "I think Rajasthan was never a threat. Except for Yusuf Pathan, the other guys were pretty ordinary," Gambhir said. "We weren't really worried about anyone else." He was found guilty of Level 1 offense due to "Public criticism of, or inappropriate comment in relation to an incident occurring in a Match or any Player, Team Official, Match Official or Team participating in any Match, irrespective of when such criticism or inappropriate comment is made." Poor Gambhir, with a name like that he is taken seriously every time he opens the mouth!! (Gambhir in Hindi means serious). That put the bee in the bonnet of IPL...

Another symphony from Motzart of Cricket, Lax, the Axeman. And what a contrasting day of cricket it was yesterday. Even if you may not have watched it, I am sure you can imagine Laxman and Dhoni sharing a long pertnership (I think this is their first century partnership). Laxman's silken touch sending the cricket ball to the fence without apparent power intersperced with Dhoni's violent treatment, was like listening to a Ghazal and a Bhangra at the same time. I love melody and rythem both equally and it was fantastic to watch. So where is this test and India's tenuous hold on the top ranking in the ICC test championship headed? I reckon, Indians will be able to force a decision in their favour even though the wicket looks nice to bat on. I believe you need to give lots of rotation to the ball on this wicket to create an impact; Bhajji and Mishra should be able to do so and with a lead of 347, put Proteas under pressure and share the series. At worst, Indians will be chasin...