Tendulkar

Kapil Dev: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“Everybody go ga ga about Sachin Tendulkar that ‘I learn from him and so on’. If you ask Virender Sehwag who is your guru he will say Sachin. If you ask Yuvraj, he will say Sachin. But I have never seen Sehwag or Sachin or Laxman, with their bundle of experience in batting, walking up to the bowlers to advise them the correct line to bowl.”

Kapil Dev Nikhanj is certain that the youngsters merely pay lip service tributes to the seniors in the side. The former Indian captain does not see the desired team spirit on the field.

What he really meant:

“If the bowlers keep repeating their mistakes and no one corrects them on the field, will they not continue in the same vein?”

What he definitely didn’t:

“What I really advocate is on-field coaching with microphones and headsets, specifically for this Indian side.”

Duncan Fletcher: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“We have got players who have scored 200s and 300s, you know, in their CVs.”

Duncan Fletcher that his Indian side has the players to pull off a miracle in the third Test at Edgbaston.The Indians were routed for 224 on the first day and it’s been a leather chase ever since in the field.

What he really meant:

“Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir. Can you count them out?”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I wish those 200s and 300s could be added to the Indian score—at the start of each innings. Why do they have to start from zero all over?”

Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar serving two masters?

“No man can serve two masters.Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”

That’s what the Good Book states.

An article in Outlook India highlighted the inherent conflict of interest in the job profiles of Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri when they (supposedly) provide unbiased, expert comments on games involving India while at the same time they are contracted directly to the Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI).

Graeme Swann: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“I don’t know whether it is mistrust of technology or kidology on their [India’s] behalf.”

Graeme Swann is perplexed by the BCCI’s decision to veto the use of the Decision Review System (DRS) in the up-coming India-England series. It is viewed by some as a move to negate Swann’s ability to get frequent leg-before dismissals—under the system; by others, as protecting Sachin Tendulkar who is the beneficiary of more benefit-of-the-doubt decisions than any other player—owing to his stature. 

What he really meant:

“The reasons given [by the BCCI] are laughable.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Technology is for kids.”

Sachin Tendulkar: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“Satisfaction is like engaging the handbrake and hoping a car moves forward.”

Sachin Tendulkar says he is never satisfied while speaking to ‘Sky Sports Magazine’.

What he really meant:

“Satisfaction is a self-erected barrier to further successes.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“My replies are mechanic.”

Sachin Tendulkar, the cricketer, versus Sachin Tendulkar, the ‘artiste’

Sachin Tendulkar is an “artiste”. Not a mere cricketer, not a mere entertainer but a performer who uses creativity, imagination and skill arranging elements in such a way to to affect the human senses and emotions and having a certain aesthetic value.

This definition of the batsman comes courtesy that Income Tax Appellate Tribunal which overruled an IT officer’s objections that Tendulkar’s income earned via commercials should not be granted tax-exemption.

The said officer contended that by appearing in commercials Tendulkar does not become an actor.

Cricket: Musings on WI-Pak,SL Premier League and IPL rumbles

Another batch of random thoughts, in no particular order (are random thoughts ever sequenced?):

West Indies beat Pakistan in the first Test match. The most laughable captain in world cricket, Darren Sammy, comes up trumps claiming a fifer as the Caribbean side wins an encounter between unpredictable “a-bit-more-than-minnows”.

Devendra Bishoo and Saeed Ajmal impress. Ajmal gets eleven but ends up on the losing side.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul lets his bat do the talking. Walking the talk? Certainly.

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Rahul Gandhi and the SMS Pitch (Satire)

JAIPUR—

Sources within the Congress(I) and the BCCI have—in confidence—revealed that the real reason Rahul Gandhi is in police custody is because the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) is miffed with the Congress’ General Secretary and are considering charging him with damaging the Sawai Mansingh cricket pitch.

It is understood that Rahul Gandhi wished to get a feel for farming before he launched his campaign supporting UP farmers. He believed that doing some ‘fielding’ on his own would lend authenticity to the Congress’ support.

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Weekend Cricket Diary:Shivnarine Chanderpaul , English triumvirate and Gayle storms

Image via Wikipedia

6th May 2011

Shivnarine Chanderpaul straight-batted the West Indian Cricket Board (WICB) once more with his straight talk.

Speaking to Line and Length, a local radio station, the seasoned campaigner slammed the West Indian management as ‘interfering’.

“I think, given the opportunity, I might have got bigger scores. Every time I settled in and started to get runs, messages would come telling what to do and what not to do, how to bat and how not to bat.” said the Guyanese.

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ICC adopts a ‘short’ rule for men’s cricket (Satire)

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has ruled that from July 2011 onwards, all men players are to wear sleeveless Tees and shorts while representing their sides on the cricket field.

The rules apply across the board and are applicable for international as well as domestic games.

It is the ICC’s desire to make the sport ‘more attractive and presentable’ to the Rest of The World.