India vs SA - Test 2

I don't think many people would ask me why test 2 all of a sudden. Going by what's happening in the first test, I think it is time to start thinking about the second test. The earlier the better.

The batsmen: It would be absolute madness to point fingers at the regulars. Sehwag, Gambhir, Sachin. They could not have done more than what they have given the bowling that was going on. It would be great if Laxman comes back, and definitely include Dinesh Karthik instead of that Saha guy. Murali Vijay and Badrinath have both done decently and Badrinath should get the nod ahead because he is better and more composed than Murali Vijay.

The bowlers: Sreesanth and Mithun (the new guy) should be included ahead of Mishra, and Ishant Sharma. Ishant Sharma has now been persisted with for a little too long, and should go back to Ranji or County or maybe just take rest for some time, and drop out of the IPL in order to concentrate on his test skills. BCCI should just give him the million dollars (definitely less than what they would be spending on the all the chaprsis of the IPL).

South Africa will definitely be in a better frame of mind for the next test match going in with a humongous victory over India, and definitely have better firepower at least in the bowling department. But I still think India can counter the attack and hang on (or maintain) the No. 1 status of their own if they all but bat and bowl a little sensibly over the next match.

Update: As I write this, Sachin is on 99 and probably relaxed and India's best bet to save the match. Fingers crossed.

India vs South Africa - Test 1

anyone out there getting a deja-vu chennai feeling or is it going to turn the other way round with The Proteas really going to stick it in to the Indians this time. probably India will miss Ntini this time. or will India miss the services of Dravid and Laxman (and Sreesanth and Yuvraj??).

The truth is at the end of day one, Kallis and Amla showed us that they are here with a strong determination to get the No. 1 Test spot and are kinda pissed off, that a team with not-so-good bowlers is ahead of them. India will have plenty to ponder upon cos the South Africans have just started. There is a long list to come yet, De Villiers, Duminy and Boucher. And each one of them is just as good against the non-aggressive bowling that the Indians were up to yesterday. And never count out Smith. He will just as pissed as getting out to Zaheer again (hahaha).

Coming to the India, well they have that pair of Sehwag and Gambhir at the top. I am pretty optimistic about India's chances at batting on this surface, because it is a good lineup, may not be the best, but it is good enough to blunt the attack. Sehwag, Gambhir, M Vijay, Tendulkar, Badrinath and Dhoni. Almost all of them are in good form, some in the form of life, and some raring to go. Dhoni can bat under all conditions in all styles, and any target can be countered once Tendulkar becomes the center stage of this innings.

It looks like the match is going to a draw unless the Indian batsmen hand it over to them, and have no doubt they are capable of doing that. Of late, they have been doing it ever so seldom, but you can never know in cricket. Let's hope for the best.

3 Idiots - Review

Watch Munnabhai M.B.B.S. It's better.




and I am returning to blogging, whatever that means.

Cricket is a funny game

And who said test matches are boring?

Courtsey: Cricinfo.com

Drona

Watch this movie only if you want to see the world's first superhero who sports a beard. KK Menon could have been the first baddie who sports spiked hair, but unfortunately Amrish Puri beats him by a mile (or a million). You decide.

Travel

finally, i saw amsterdam, and stuttgart and munich, and oktoberfest.

pics here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/asifraj/tags/stuttgart/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/asifraj/tags/amsterdam/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/asifraj/tags/munich/