Where is the Intensity?

The mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great great.....yeah, of all finals has come and gone. India edged Pakistan in their semi final encounter of 2011 world cup at Mohali in a spirited fight. Pakistan maintains their losing record against the Indians in the World Cup history by 5-0 just like NewZealanders who cannot advance to the finals after reaching semi finals six times in all their world cup appearances.

The current Pakistani team is by far the weakest when facing India in the World Cup. Look at any team combination of Pakistan in WC's and it had a good blend of experience, youth and a terrific bowling combination. Contrary to that, India is not the strongest, but definitely has a stronger team on the paper with a power packed batting line up.

Pakistan can make a match of the current bowling combination as well. They cannot defeat Australia for nothing. But what baffles me was a clear lack of intensity even when they were fielding and while batting as well. As a fan, it did not really excite me when someone hits a four or a six. Only point where I was eager to watch was when Umar Akmal was batting. He has definitely showed aggression. And who hasn't? Misbah ul-Haq. He may not be your 'in your face' kind of player but try and decipher his innings and please let me know if you get a hang of it.

I missed watching Sehwag's blitzkrieg and once the storm has passed the pitch turned out to be a slow turning track which defied the expectations of commentators, players and captains. The match was decided in India's favour and did you notice Harbhajan's extra ordinary intensity when Shahid Afridi got holed out? That is over action for you folks in his home ground which his pathetic bowling display so far in this world cup is forcing him to do.

After the match, my younger brother was saying that the NZ - SL semifinal clash was better than Ind - Pak. And he is right on the money there. SL had a mid match wobble after losing their top order, NZ had more than a sniff. You can see the remorse of NZ's Daniel Vettori, the loyal servant of his country.

Players were relaxed, Afridi is having a word or two with Sachin, Gul was wayward and the mother of all expressions is by Afridi, during the post match conference which anyone could hardly believe. He sounded as if it was another league match and gave full credit to India. He was smiling and enjoying coz he lost to India? As much as I love Afridi and the way he has led this rookie Pakistan team to semis, I am at loss of words to fathom his expressions.

My dear Shahid bhai, I had so much belief in you that you would lead your team from the front in this historic encounter. May be you must have done it. May be you must have hidden your tears when you closed your eyes with your hands on it when you sensed Pakistan was losing or was it an itch? I'd like to think the former. Misbah's batting was a mystery. And why was he not sent a message to go for an onslaught a little earlier? Did you not realise it it was too little too late? Why was the power play not taken a little earlier to ease the pressure on the other Pakistani batsmen? The 4 four drop catches that your team has given to Sachin Tendulkar is way beyond being courteous to the opposition. And the joy at the presentation is inexplicable. All this and more, begs one to ask the dreaded question, Is this match fixed?

I was just watching the match. But most of the fans who haven't seen previous WC encounters may not understand what I am barking here. After the fall of Pakistani's 6th wicket crackers have been going on near my house. High school kids were shouting on the streets and I noticed one guy was coming out and whistling on the road as India was inching closer to victory. The sky was lit and it made me wonder are we having a early Diwali this year.

The intensity was there in the people in the stadium, in the Indian fans and in my Pakistani brothers. Was it really there in the Pakistani team? It may have been masqueraded.

Want to see some intensity? Watch Kumar Sangakarra's Sri Lanka in the finals against India.

India vs Australia Pre-View

So India meets Australia in the World Cup Quarterfinals at the Motera. Is this a bane or a boon? Bane to the cricket fans who are rooting for India. David Boon for the Aussies who wants to prove their point and go one up over the cricket crazy nation and redeem their loss to Pakistan. But can Australia really do it if the pitch is doctored to Indian needs while predominantly supporting spin? I doubt. The chances of an Indian win are high if India is batting first, as said bymany commentators in the post match discussion, which is true.

What will be the par score for the pitch batting first?I believe it should be nothing less than 270 to have a semblance of a chance against the mighty Aussies even without the likes of 'The Invincibles' team. After scoring 270+, India should defend the score, probably sticking to the same bowling line up which worked against the Windies. Zaheer Khan and Ashwin should open the bowling. I again expect our medium pacers to get tonked barring an exceptional reverse swinging spell from the pace spearhead Khan in the later overs.


Australia is definitely not as scary as it once was to the opposition. It has lost it's invincibility tag but somehow somewhere you still do not want to bet against them. It is primarily because India's bowling surely is not effective to pick 10 wickets or contain the opposition to less than 280 even if the track is assisting the home team. Pakistan sent Australians into submission. But can it's neighbour with a strong batting line up,do it with some fine all round performance is anyone's guess.

Team India is not effective with its bowling line up and not so commanding
in the slog overs when it comes to death batting. Punter has got his work cut facing India. Unless a magnificient performance from the Little Master without a century or a four for by Ashwin, it is difficult to see India crossing the finish line. And if they do, the semi finals should be a blockbuster match with Pakistan in Mohali. (The writer boldly assumes that Pakistan defeats WI in their Quarter final match up)

A match (Ind vs Aus) that is highly anticipated can just prove to be a one-sided affair with just 10 overs of fiery bowling by Lee and Tait. So do not pin your hopes nor get overly excited if Indians commit blunders on the field. Try to enjoy the aggressive bowling and the audacious batting by both the teams.

Kohli is good, Yuvraj is back in form, Tendulkar may not be accounted for big matches, Ashwin can spin the ball and Dhoni and Raina can anchor the innings. The batting line up as always look so sound on paper. Infact it supported that theory till the 40th over in this World Cup.
The bat swinging momentum has to go beyond 40 overs and survive till the 50th to put an end to Aussie dominance in International cricket. India famously stopped Australia twice when they were on a 16 Test match winning streak, Once in India in 2001 and once in Australia in 2004.
Can they do it again and claim the title dragon slayers once for all?

No team wants to given an inch in the much billed match of the tournament, but one person holds the key to provide a rousing start to this match as he did so far in this tournament by hitting a boundary off the first ball he faced in each of the matches. It is not Sachin Tendulkar, but his once clone, Virender Sehwag.

Mid World Cup wrap up

Post only for the mad cricket freaks which India always finds even after the launch of IPL and the excessive cricket syndrome faced by players, fans and commentators alike.


Kenya's Odhiambo - Going uphill or downhill ?

First things first. So the break up for the World Cup leading to the Quarter finals. India has every chance to be there in the Quarters as projected otherwise by some media and news channes just to increase their website hits or TRP ratings. But this site needs none and hence putting news first.

Kevin O' Brien (Everyone loves the Irish)

India may not qualify for the Quarter finals if Bangaldesh defeats South Africa, which is highly improbable. And if India defeats West Indies they are through like a yacht in troubled water. For suppoze, just, suppoze, WI defeats India, India still has 7 points. They only have to see that the NRR to be a maintained a tad above England, i.e, assuming Eng defeats WI. England has to defeat West Indies to stay in contention for the Quarters and to stand at 7 points after the victory. Currently they have 5 points from 5 matches. So if they do not defeat WI, they are out of the tournament because other teams are standing at 6 or 7 points. And as projected by expert analysts in the studios, one need not have to wait till the last league to finalize the group combination.


Imran Tahir (Interesting to find a good leg spinner in SA)

Wondering why I am taking so much pain to educate you challenged freaks, I just had an early dinner before 9 p.m and hence the energy. On to other side of the group, i.e, Group A in all possibility Pak & SL can occupy the 3rd and the 4th slots, which means India - Pakistan Quarterfinal clash is on, assuming India defeats WI and goes to 2 place in their respective group and Pak takes 3rd position in their group. Go through the points table and the matches left for each team and logically (which is a challenge in itself) predict the possible outcomes to validate my Pak & SL taking the third and fourth slots or vice versa.


Shahid Afridi - He is called 'Boom boom' for a reason

Folks who've said that this World Cup 2011 is boring even before the first ball is bowled eat their words, hats and socks. This has been a format so tailor made for the subcontinent teams especially to see that they atleast make it to the Quarter finals so that people will be coming to the stadiums or glued to their TV sets.

Highhlights:

1) Sachin scored century twice in this series so far and once India came close to losing but avoided it with a belt (read tie) and lost the second match where he registered a Nelson number.
Bottomline: You can safely bet India losing the match whenever the master blaster scores a ton.
2) Sachin gives his wicket to a Irish bowler who is bowling to the maestro for the first time in his career. Nothing new but for the 18 yr old Dockrell only has to tell this story to his grandfather.
3) Dhoni forced his fan to work beyond his capabilities in SA match sticking to Ashish Nehra in the last over. There is only so much limit with which a fan can operate. Bring in Ashwin and Raina in place of Chawla and Yousuf.
4) Ross Taylor's knock against Pakistan should be the knock of the tournament.
5) Kevin 'O Brien's ton stands second in their meticulous yet audacious run chase against England.
6) Kenya's cricket is at a dismal stage and you would hardly believe that they were once pitching for test status.
7) Bangla Tigers did their part in holding wins against the minnows to keep their hopes afloat and possibly expecting a miracle like they had it in 2007.
8) Look at the games that the famous Eden Gardens has got to host this WC. SA vs Ire, Ire vs Ned, Zim vs Ken.
9) Sourav Ganguly is making his debut as a commentator and he is ok. He is trying not to make many mistakes but clearly lacking a cricketing acumen like Sanjay Manjrekar.
10) Shahid Afridi had a dream start to this WC campaign as a captain and boy did he lead from the front. He only has to click in his batting to take his team to the semis.
11) No club dancers cheer leaders in this WC.
12) Lot of tickets were given to the club members that is virtually impossible for an outsider to get a ticket for the finals. Some were sold in black, white and blue.
13) Watch out for the celebrities that grace the finals even if India is not playing it.
14) Some replays were deliberately cut short after a players dismissial if incase he was found using expletives.
15) Commentary exclusively in Hindi, in Star Sports? Imagine the revenues broadcasters wants to cash in airing these matches.
16) Australia are still continuing their unbeaten run despite not having the likes of McGrath, Warne, Waugh, Gilchrist etc.
17) We desis are all sadistic enough to see Aussies getting knocked before the finals. It is there in our blood to see them going home before the finals and it is there in Aussies blood to reach and win the finals.
18) Why does Bill Lawry and Richie Benaud not do commentary in the sub continent?
19) Why Navjot Singh Sidhu is still surviving with his commentary? Why don't the English rip his clothes for his English and the infamous quotes. Sidhu, taking a line out of your book, "It is better to prevent and prepare than repent and repair". I had indigestion that day after listening to it.
20) Plain old simple theory for the retards who are madly behind India for the WC glory - Countries hosting the World cup hasn't won the cup. Yet, for a friend of mine who is an eternal optimist like John Wright, Jai ho !


India's world cup squad for 2011

MSD has finally given a thrashing to his batsmen saying, play for the country but not for the gallery. Hopefully that will set things straight heading into the knock stages of the tournament.

Drought break

The place where thoughts has to rain has stopped due to excessive heat in the winter. Just as rains arrive at unexpected times defying our meterological predictions so too will be the posts at this stupid site. Just like the one now which was started half an hour short of midnight while doing fighting (with the sleep) and typing simultaneously.


There are many differences between service based and product based companies. Namely,

1) Service based companies also lauch products while doing a delivery to the client. It is not a product in physical shape like a board in a Tv or a player, but some deliverable as a package which is termed as product.
2)There will be more processes to get the work started in SBC than PBC.
3) In SBC if you are worth enough, you can have an interaction with the client. Oh client interaction? That is good yar, you can learn lot (on how to screw up the existing business).
4) Job security and salary as perceived by the public is more in PBC as compared to SBC.
5) You find more junk (people) in service based companies. Junk as in iron which is corroded, so are the experienced people trying to manage a team who knows how to just communicate things while having air in their heads.
6) With your drainage leg that does not have a reputation of producing good things upon touching the ground, the figures that you will encounter in your team or around your cubicle either in SBC or PBC is always of one quality - which is pathetic.

You will be at peace if you are working in a city that you love working. I am at peace.

There will be separate training session for you on stocks sometime from me preferably on how not to make losses. Leave those Daruwala's and Jhunjhunwala's and come to me. Night is convenient time.

It depends on the person to make contacts with your previous colleagues or friends in your previous companies. Obviously.

Unforced Errors:

1. Lost my habit so the words are not flowing as they used to.
2. Novak Djokovic has defeated Andy Murray in straight sets to claim his second Australian Open title. The thing that you did not observe in this match apart from a superb display of rallies is chest thumping. You did not observe it because he did not do it.
3. One lady RJ laughs unnecessarily while doing her RJ'ing to make the listeners glued to that channel. She might be paid for that childish laugh.
4. I don't know why am I downloading a 3Gb .iso image from torrents when I cannot burn it into a disc in my laptop.
5. Tension in Egypt is mounting to bring down a 30 year rule under Mubarak.
6. You can make it big in stocks. Either the profits or the losses. I want the former.
7.Freaks of my age have all bought houses and paying the loans and I find hard to invest in some stupid insurance companies to obtain tax exmeption.
8. You keep paying like a dumb jerk for your mutual funds even though the sum accrued so far is lesser than the sum total of all your premiums, because you have got no other choice.
9. For once Federer has truly agreed that Novak was the better player in the semi final of his AO defeat.
10. World Cup starts from Feb 19th and there will probably be a fight in my house if not a war, with my wife for the Tv.

Pathetic blog awards

So what's prompting me to post another one in so quick time after posting one last month itself. The list of tags, awards, ladies blogs, best blogger, sweet blogger, protected by Copyscape posters when I see on toddlers blogs is what is forcing me to come out of hibernation. All that they have a name beneath that poster who had given it to them. The 'no limit to mentalness' ends with a :) Why daddy?


Ok it looks cute on the blog with all those posters gifted by your pathetic mates for free. Read the comments and you will quickly come to a conclusion that all those commenters are in close relationship to the author.


Contrast that to this stupid blog which is never updated on the side bar. The last time it was updated was 3 years ago when it was first created. This sends a straight message to Lord Brahma. I am the creator but I am not responsible for their existence or their growth. But Brahma does take care of the beings existence and his fate. The final act will be performed by Shiva, the destroyer. Last known destroyer to me was Virender Sehwag.


Do you?.......... Me neither.

Seriously (stress and drag the pronunciation as much as you can to give a ringing effect to your next person).... who is bothered with all those pathetic awards which were awarded to by your friend-like bloggers? Will that give you a chance to compete with the best blogger of the country award? Are you getting monetary gains from it? Or you want to show off how cool you are only on the blog? Better display Google Ads and you can get some .00001 cents for every click clicked by a dumb jerk. I see that is a way of decoration? Please meet me in person.

Robo. One truly Indian movie which truly has Hollywood style taking and in the second half. It is worth seeing it on screen than downloading it. The fact that the director and producer attempted such a grandiose movie and pulled it off well deserves applause.

Process. Why are processes made so complicated in a company? Processes are infact made to make the job easier but, hell no. They are a pain in your rear.

Quit. Why don't I quit rather than dragging things in here and in my company? I am doing it precisely now.

Unforced Errors:

1. 15 unforced errors were made by Federer against Stepanek in Paris Masters.

The Change

1. I got married.
2. I am moving from here.
3. Read the first.

Finally the much awaited change has taken place to shake the tectonic plates lying underneath me. Though one change cannot be better than the other in any form but one sure can say the second has happened because of the first. "Marriage will definitely bring new changes in your life" echoed my best mate and I believed it when he said it.


I used to feel the same too but never did I believe in it that much as when he said it. Whether the change is good or bad depends on how we mould it?

This stupid space which has been dried up for ages has come alive before this Diwali with torch lights flooding the center of the page. How long the light flashes on it is anybody's guess. But today is a gift that is why it is called present.

Putting down the papers and still coming to the office to serve the notice period is one of the toughest things. Your existence ceases the moment you lay down the papers. Not as though I was existing before but the confirmation arrives in some form after laying down. Every hour you spend is a nightmare with every half hour accounting to a daymare.

Struggling to put 2 and 2 on the key board for I lost the habit of my writing and the absence of my dumb wit is not helping the matters. There still is one thing lingering in my mind despite the change. Have to do something about it.

I scroll up and down to see how paras I have done so I can wind up, but it was only three short paragraphs. Hence I blabber on.

One feels relieved when he puts his papers. So will be the child when you changes his diapers. Ain't you afraid to burn the crackers?

Probably my worst post. But it still is better than yours.

The unreal reality shows

I thought Re.1 Vicks will not control my cold. But after lunch I think the cold was controlled to some extent. Don't know if it is the Vicks effect or the fresh air effect outside. Thought of running and taking the bus like in a Nivaran cough syrup ad, but knowing our pathetic conditioned buses I returned to four half walls.

So Question Time. Do you think Reality shows are real? If the answer is Yes, Type QT Yes and SMS it to 57237. At the beginning of our show, the answer is 63%. Your telephone subscriber will punch a 6 rupee hole through your pocket.


You think your favourite Roadies, Splitsvilla and those bunch of singing shows going in various channels are real? Roadies still has a lot of fans. Leave aside Slutsvilla . What sort of pathetic freak do you have to be to believe those reality shows are real. They are called reality shows for a reason. Whatever they do on the screen is nothing but a tad short of Oscar level acting.

They cry, they laugh, they over act, they show extra ordinary emotions, they tell their sad stories..what not.. all this to make you glued to that show. The shows call in celebrities for competitions. Those celebrities are already aware of the answers or else how do you expect those dumb girls to be answering tough questions?

There are no more good Tv shows. Whatever show that you are watching is commercialized to the maximum possible extent. It is better to watch Saas bahu serials than watching those reality shows. Roadies, what a bluff. And it has all young educated guys following it. I really go nuts when someone asks me, do you know who is the latest Roadie? You know this year's Roadie is going abroad. Roadie my foot. MTv which was once used to be a good music channel can no longer survive on songs and interviews and hence is coming up with such programs.

Splitsvilla show went a step ahead and it promptly received an order by the Govt of India to stop airing it. Are they trying to entertain or they trying to spoil the young folks with lap and belly dances to woo their male partners in the show. What kind of sick idea it is to prove your loyalty about your partner to someone else? They do it coz they are getting paid for it. Why do you and I have to get excited to what happens to whichever girl he goes with?


Just take that reality shows are fake. Learn how these reality shows fake it. Even those news readers and Live reporters too do not convey the content as it is meant to be. These shows are no different than your favorite childhood show, WWF. If you want to see some sedate news then watch DD English news. You will be at peace. It still is decent when it comes to the news readers not trying for Oscars. They don't make your hair stiff by asking you to stay on that channel.

Those sad stories that they show you are exclusively shot with proper props to make you empathize with the guy or girl there. No doubt it is true. But the news reporter putting such a remorse expression to gain your attention is totally not acceptable.


So what do I have to watch on the idiot box? Watch sports. They are cleaner and have some emotion and planning to the way they play. They are not tainted badly till date. Though it is very easily possible to fake sports, the concept of reality sports hasn't really taken off. Till then enjoy whether you are follow ring, kabaddi or baseball.

Bottomline: What you see on the Tv is not true. Watch judiciously and don't get so freaking attached to any freaking program.

By the way, the number of people saying 'Yes' to the poll has risen to 95% at the end of the show.