tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37904502011-08-29T00:02:53.735-07:00A network for Yenjvoyment.Yenjienoreply@blogger.comBlogger201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-59546379398548179162010-03-19T05:56:00.000-07:002010-03-19T06:26:30.890-07:00

We've all heard a lot of things about the IPL and its commissioner, from different commentators who often have their own agendas. He's been accused of vanity, greed and excess. His tussle with the TV channels has become as much of an annual pre-IPL feature as the party he throws to kick things off. His ongoing mission to put an advertising label on everything Cricket makes the IPL commentary

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-62139778027959184812010-02-10T07:45:00.000-08:002010-02-10T08:00:45.822-08:00

The Number 1 Test team in the world lost narrowly to the Number 2 Test team in the world by an innings in the just concluded Nagpur test. The BCCI, being the proactive organization that it is, has already sprung into action. The following are some of the actions being taken -- A high-powered committee has been established to look into the ground and facilities at the Nagpur stadium. This

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-40064230239009020162009-07-22T21:07:00.000-07:002009-07-23T09:05:57.203-07:00

Alright. I know everybody's been holding their collective breath for the report on my MRF bat's performance. It is still only partially knocked in really. I need to spend atleast another 3-4 hours on it, with the mallet and with the old ball in a sock routine. However, earlier this month I took it out for its first game. Here's what happened -First ball - defended.Second ball - hit HARD right

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-45799884123066403472009-07-12T18:56:00.000-07:002009-07-12T19:04:11.058-07:00

Australia had it all wrapped up but for the singing, except one man refused to lay down. When the chips were down, Collingwood showed why he is an English Test batsman. He may never get a game in Sehwag's 20-20 side, and he will never make West Indian fans put down their rum and dance in the stands with his powerful hitting, but when it comes to Test Match Cricket, Mr. Collingwood is the closest

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-11329053253433014982009-06-26T07:18:00.000-07:002009-06-26T07:20:54.017-07:00

Kevin Pietersen knows what will tilt the balance in the Ashes series - good cricket. This is what he said in an interview yesterday - "I think whoever plays the best cricket over the 25 days will win the series". Another No shit sherlock moment from a professional sportsman.

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-71239840212634210032009-06-24T10:04:00.000-07:002009-06-24T11:00:43.944-07:00

The T20 World Cup being over and done with, Shahid Afridi proceeded without delay to replace his foot where it belongs - squarely in his mouth. Some of his comments to the Pakistani press on his triumphant return home -The Indians did not seem keen to play us (he means they did not seem keen to resume playing against Pakistan regularly) - "On the face, they said they would like to see cricket

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-2585030428165772982009-06-16T10:05:00.000-07:002009-06-16T10:50:31.770-07:00

The importance of defining innings in a batsman's growth can not be overstated. Consider 2 examples and how they have affected two of India's most important players. 2 years ago, on July 19, 2007 MS Dhoni came into bat against England in the second Innings of the Lords Test, and scored an unbeaten 76 to save the match. India had all but lost the match by then, and were really saved by rain, but

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-72768430348569661702009-06-15T11:13:00.000-07:002009-06-15T11:15:58.140-07:00

JRod commented earlier that he missed the elephant condoms at the IPL closing ceremony. That is really sad. So I went looking and found the source for him. If he wants to commemorate his book launch with a good helping of elephant condoms, now he knows who to contact - http://www.skylanterns.co.za/

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-11422237178996268852009-06-15T04:12:00.000-07:002009-06-15T05:01:19.416-07:00

Kirsten said players may be tired after the IPL. Dhoni feels that complaining about tiredness is not a valid excuse - the more cricket you play the better you get. I think the Indian players were definitely tired, mentally more than physically. They were also somewhat smug, believing in their own press which was hyping them up as the team to beat.The most telling comment yesterday was from Nasser

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-77113089240616586402009-05-26T12:25:00.000-07:002009-05-26T12:42:42.907-07:00

In all the worldwide mediastorm over Chris Gayle's hissy fit about T-20 vs Test Cricket, it is illustrative of the all pervading political correctness that not one person has come out and pointed to the real 600 pound Gorilla in the room - that Chris Gayle is just plain lazy, and that moreover his laziness is simply representative of the lazy entitlement fuelled attitude that characterizes the

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-91296419544226259252009-05-26T07:58:00.000-07:002009-05-26T08:45:45.276-07:00

On May 25, JRod posted this and I got angry and posted a comment on his blog about patronising Aussies etc. He replied and explained his p.o.v. which is a reasonable one. It made me wonder why I got so worked up. Here's my reasons, which I felt deserved a full post -1. Like most Indian bloggers/observers, I'm real proud of the IPL, which is definitely the best Cricket tournament going around

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-34807992231098964752009-05-26T06:31:00.001-07:002009-05-26T06:50:50.606-07:00

Last week Harsh Boggle speculated that Warney won't be back for IPL 2010. That got me thinking as to who else might be reconsidering a return in IPL 2010. Of course this is all speculation, but here's my list of potential retirees -Anil Kumble - He's done. He gave it his all this year, and would have loved to go out on a winning note, with a thumbed nose at his fat man owner to boot, but it was

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-33665190263803980782009-05-24T20:07:00.000-07:002009-05-24T20:10:28.307-07:00

A post I had written exactly one year ago on another blog. Only partially relevant today, but interesting nevertheless -May 27 - The Chennai SuperKings beat the Deccan Chargers today to enter the Semifinals of the inaugural IPL tournament. With this the final 4 teams in the tournament are, well, final. They are the Rajasthan Royals, the Punjab Kings Eleven, the Chennai SuperKings and the Delhi

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-15300544099338495682009-05-24T17:00:00.000-07:002009-05-24T19:59:40.279-07:00

Ullu-ka-PatthaWhen Bangalore lost all their batsmen, and the only "specialist" left standing to shepherd the tail was Robin Uthappa, I got a strange feeling that maybe the league's Least Valuable Player (or Most Useless Player) had one last hurrah left; that maybe, just maybe, he'd pull something special out of his sleeve and offer one more glimpse of the early talent and promise which we had

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-9668779167257086362009-05-22T08:41:00.000-07:002009-05-22T08:52:34.111-07:00

I saw the latest update on Harsha Boggle's blog today. In a piece creaking under the weight of every metaphor he could think of, Boggle has largely mirrored my own feelings about the Rajasthan Royals, their place in the IPL, and about their captain Shane Warne. By leading a rag-tag team of youngsters to within an inch of the playoffs, and winning hearts and minds along the way, Warney has

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-67314311914201000902009-05-15T08:34:00.000-07:002009-05-15T14:03:02.385-07:00

I'm Not the Only One Pissed OffArticle on The Wisden Cricketer blog that seems to say the same thing I was saying earlier about the media reactions to IPL in general and Modi in particular, especially from non-Indian journos/commentators. Bottomline is, as long as the cricket is honest and hard fought, does the other stuff matter? Depends on what you are looking for, I guess. If you're like Arjun

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-10347727866351752652009-05-13T09:48:00.000-07:002009-05-15T13:55:35.123-07:00

Karthik Makes His CaseThere has been comment in the media about the Indian selectors' hubris/screw up in not including a backup wicketkeeper in the squad for the T20 WC. With Dhoni's current workload as crucial middle-order bat and keeper, apart from the rigors of captaincy, it makes a lot of sense to have a backup keeper in the team. It would only help if the backup keeper was also a decent bat,

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-91229437306446881062009-05-07T09:23:00.000-07:002009-05-15T13:55:53.864-07:00

SRT for Team India T20 World CupThere was a spirited campaign among Cricket bloggers until recently, to have Sachin Tendulkar included in the T20 World Cup squad. The plight of the Mumbai Indians should have given them some pause. SRT is not right for the world cup squad. He does not have the explosive power of Sehwag or Yuvraj, the steadying influence of Gambhir, or the audacity of Raina or

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-53153954050478206302009-05-02T22:32:00.000-07:002009-05-15T13:56:33.911-07:00

So far the IPL has lived up to expectations, and even beyond. I think the most important trends have been1. The early predictions of the Indian youngsters struggling with the alien conditions of South Africa have been proved somewhat true. Without exception the young batsmen, weaned on the batting friendly flat wickets of India, have been surprised by the unexpected bounce or late swing, or the

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790450.post-817381682002-09-17T13:34:00.000-07:002009-05-13T10:50:49.927-07:00

Testing what this is all about. Looks interesting but not sure how its different from discussion boards or news servers. Check out

Yenjienoreply@blogger.com0