Liverpool - We still trust you YNWA!!

Well, it's three games into the English Premier league and Liverpool are off to one of their worst ever starts in a long time, with 1 draw and two losses. We were all buzzing around with optimism at the start of the season but somehow three matches down, we look like we are in a bottomless pit of despair. Come on, we trusted BR, why should anything change now? Agreed that we didn't do well on the transfer deadline day, but I guess we should look at the positives that our youngsters like Raheem Sterling are going to get more chances and we are going to be one of the more sustainable teams in the PL.

Appealing to the Kop to keep their trust!! YNWA!!

Guess who is the latest to be bitten by the shutter bug?

Well, you guessed it right. Yours truly here has been officially bitten by the shutter bug! 

 

A random photo with my new DSLR. Colours of Chennai

Dear Mr.Wall

Dear Wall,
This is one of your fan writing on the eve of one of the saddest days that cricket will witness. I am using the name WALL as you yourself said that you love to be called by that name. I am seeing you ever since you made your debut at the LORDS, the home of Cricket. There were times I cursed you like anything unable to tolerate your blocking. There were times I cursed you for not being able to find gaps or hit monstrous sixes. There were times I cursed you to get out in Tests to see my GOD bat.
There were times I cursed you for taking bad decisions while you were the captain of Indian Cricket team. I am sure that there will be many like me who would have done all the above.
Despite knowing this is happening throughout the country, you stood your ground on being patient and belief waiting for your time. And it came in your favorite Country, England during the summer of 1999. Runs flourished from your bat. Centuries came in twins. Suddenly the ball from your bat found no fielder but just the fence. You even became a part of highest partnership for any wicket along with DADA (then – which was later broken by yourself along with my GOD).
But again, thanks to our all time woes – Bowling, our team could not cross the second stage in that world cup. You were not praised or you efforts considered here in our country for staging a wonderful solo show throughout that tournament. You were also doing commentary in the semi finals and finals (in anticipation of getting MOT for being the highest run scorer). I just wonder how many people remember those two crucial knocks in that WC as it was easily overshadowed by another emotional ton from my GOD. That’s the way the cricketing life has been for you.
Then there came a day in March 2001, at the city of Joy. You along with the ‘Master of Wrist’ made an EPIC out of nothing at the Eden Gardens. You both made a dead and buried game to a Test match that will be remembered forever (by those who love Test cricket). You both have the distinction of making the OZ sweat under the scorching heat of Indian - March for one whole day. But even here, your 180 is overshadowed by a 281 from your partner. You were not worried either for not making the headlines as usual.
Then came the African Safari in 2003 – A world cup to remember till 2011. It is remembered for many reasons. India made it to the finals and lost only to the best. Sachin was the MOT and played some memorable innings. We beat Pak for the 4th time in a row and many more. But I just wonder how many remember that you were asked to keep wickets and you did that so graciously throughout the tournament to good effect. Again you dint made to the headlines for the same reason.
Then came a period to both remember and forget. You were made the captain of our team in 2005 where at the other end our DADA was sacked indefinitely. You joined hands with Guru Greg who takes the honor for almost burying Indian cricket [Thank GOD it did not happened]. You were instrumental in winning a series in WI for the first time in 30 years. I dare say that you alone are responsible for winning that series as that series was decided by just 1 game at Jamaica where you played two innings of character on a mine field. You made the world look back at us when you led us to first ever test victory in South Africa. But it took just 1 week in the Caribbean in 2007 to bury you and the entire team. As usual our great Media went hammer and tongs at you and the rest of your mates.
Everyone were saved somehow and the rejuvenation begun once again in your favorite land. You led us to series win in England after 26 years. It also marked the rejuvenation of my GOD. Again it took just 1 not so good ODI series to make you step down from captaincy. I just wonder if you had realized by now, that is the starting point of the end.
Since then you were treated with utmost disrespect and disloyalty by the Board and even the cricketers. You were sacked from the ODI team stating rubbish reasons. You struggled to score fluent runs. You were made to open the innings in Aus just to accommodate the then T20 hero in the middle order. You got boos from the Aus crowd. But you put everything aside and scored a wonderful 93 at Perth and laid the foundation for a famous win. But again that match will be remembered by many for the spell bowled to Ponting by Ishanth. Even here you did not made to the headlines.
Amidst all these, you just concentrated on your defense and score runs. The highpoint of embarrassment came when you were picked for the Champions Trophy held in SA and dropped immediately after that. I don’t remember any other cricketer even 10 % of your stature from any other country being treated like this.
Then came the World Cup in 2011 in our country. But you were not part of it. You would have just wished the team like one of us and watched the game in TV. As much elated you would have been when we lifted the trophy, you would have also felt disappointed for not being a part of that team. That’s how the life has been for you.
Putting aside everything, once again you scored fluent runs and tons in your HOT SPOT- England (I don’t wish to speak about the other HOT SPOTJ). You even carried you bat through at the Oval. You got rich tributes and ovation from everyone that you would have got ever for the first time.
But how could things just change in your life. Once again embarrassment hugs you in the form of selection in T20 and ODIs. I was very happy for the first time when you immediately announced retirement from both forms before getting humiliated once you return to India and getting dropped from the ODI team. You gave us a visual treat when you smacked hat trick of sixes in the only international T20 you played. That was simply glorious. You ended your ODI career on a high scoring a half ton.
Then came the most anticipated series Down Under. I will remember that session at the MCG where you and my GOD involved in a partnership of sheer character, grit and determination. Had that partnership gone on to the next day, I would not have been writing this letter to you as things would have been different.
Today you are going to announce your retirement from international cricket. I cried when I saw Jumbo walk off the field. Stood up and saluted when DADA was carried off from the field. But you dint gave me the opportunity to do either. It is the aspiration of every sportsman to walk off from his field for the last time with a resounding ovation. But loads of external factors would have forced you to do this. Such is the way life has been for you for all these 16 years. Today everything will change. The entire media would go Ga-Ga at you and your achievements and service to our country etc etc. But you will be still the same, answering all the questions posed to you in your own Gentlemanly way, not take a dig at any individual, not pose silly and stupid reasons.
I just wonder how it is to be Rahul Dravid or is it possible to emulate you. I can’t find an answer. I don’t think anyone else can be as humble and as honest and as down to earth as you. Of course there is my GOD. Even he has gone through many tough times and fought his way back. But I have to admit that he was treated better than you.
All you did at those stones being thrown at you by me and everyone else in these 16 years, you built a huge WALL. People claimed that there was a gate in the wall when you were at Aus this year. I can just pity them. You will always be remembered as our own UNBREAKABLE WALL that had bore all forms of humiliation and still stood tall for the sake of the game and the country forever.
With Love and Salutations and a Big Hug
Yuva

Get out of the Game – You SLUGS !!!

Nov 15th 1989. A small curly haired boy from Mumbai made his international debut in the game of cricket and scripted a lot of selfish stories.
June 5th 1996. A young fellow from a Bangalore middle class family made just 95 runs in his debut at the home of cricket Lords showing very poor technique in defence.
Nov 20th 1996. A tall wristy Hyderabadi scored a meager 50 in his debut test at Ahmedabad against a kiddish SA attack which had kids like Allan Donald and Fanie De villiers and the bowler with the easiest of the actions to pick, Paul Adams. His 50 is absolutely useless to India’s victory in that game.
Between their debut and till date, these 3 men did little service to the country and most importantly the game. Yes. Very Very Little. To say bluntly, they did nothing.
That is why the people of the country they have born in, are calling for their heads at any cost.
Why won’t they? I should say this is too late. Those 3 men have always been a failure and consistently brought disgrace if not glory to the country and the game, ever since they made their respective debuts.
How dare that Hyderabadi and that Bangalorean can play for one and half days together to win a test after follow on being enforced by a very very weak Aus team? Absolutely atrocious!!
H how can that Mumbai boy can be given the tag MASTER just after scoring a matter of 9 ODI tons and a couple of test tons in 1 whole year? He was facing just school kids then of the likes of Mc Grath, Warne, Wasim, Waqar and the slowest of the bowlers then - Allan Donald. Absolute non-sense right?
If someone is struggling with back pain he should be going to hospital and take treatment. But this fellow created a scene by batting with back pain for hours scoring yet another subdued century for record sake. Result?? India again lost as he failed to match the prowess of the other 10 in his team. How can anyone tolerate this rubbish!!! Not to mention the emotional drama he staged by returning back to join the team after his father’s funeral to play the WC in 1999.
Let’s forget the past.
At 38, that Mumbai veteran scored just 2 tons against minnows like England and South Africa in inconsequential WC games last year. But of no use. His batting didn’t even come close to the bowling and fielding marvels displayed by the rest of the 10 players and hence India lost both the games. We lost because of this one player alone. How can the Indian public allow this?? Should not he have been dealt with Iron hands? Because, he scripted a similar selfish story a year back against his favorite minnow Aus to score 175 but making the team to lose. We cannot see a better selfish player than him.
At 36, that Hyderabadian used a runner to cheat the Aus and won the game for India bringing just disgrace and not glory. How can he hit a ball to mid wicket which was pitched a foot and a half outside off stump? This should not have been allowed at any cost. He simply cheated the Aus team by playing strokes which were not to be played and by using a runner.
At 38, that Bangalorean scored just 3 tons in 8 innings (4 Tests) in the most batting friendly conditions in England. Again he can’t match up to the performances of the other batsmen and bowlers and ended on the losing side. Moreover he also created a scene by announcing retirement in ODIs just after he was selected for the ODI series. What an ugly act that is!!! Inexplicable!!!
The worst thing is that they have not retired still. They play just to earn money.
Had the game of cricket has a body and soul; it would strangle these 3 men and push them away from its presence. How dare they block the pathway of future legends of Indian cricket - for whom Cricket is passion and Life?? There is no better sin in the world than this.
As I mentioned above, the Hyd and B’lore guys together just made 300+ runs, only twice against a weak Aus team whose bowling attack can be compared to any gully cricket team’s .
The current generation Indian batsmen will for sure score those runs in few overs and not sessions against any of the current bowling line ups in the world. They have the technique, determination and discipline to sleep on South African pitches for not just sessions, but for days.
So why the fuss then?? Just throw those 3 men out of the team and the game.
What right they have or earned to be in the team till now. All they have done to the country and the game are just brought dishonor, disgrace, failures and tears to the public. Their recent outing and Eng and Aus have been nothing short of failure. So what if they don’t have a graceful exit? Graceful exits are meant for only players who graced the game and made the game feel proud for having them. Not for these three selfish slugs who play for bank balance.
The joy a modern day cricket fan gets when he see Kohli/Dhoni hit a cricket ball for a boundary with a bat speed of 130 Kph, is sky high when compared to a lazy flick by that Hyderabadian to get the same boundary towards mid-wicket to a ball pitched a feet outside off stump or a straight drive(which is the easiest of the shots in the game) being played by that Mumbaikar or an ugly cover drive being played by that sluggish Bangalorean.
Those 3 men really deserve this from their own people and the GODs of the game - the critics.
Those 3 men have shown utmost ingratitude for their country, their followers and the game. They should be treated to the highest form of humiliation if there is one. Come on People. Join hands and chuck those 3 out to see a wonderful and bright future for Indian Cricket. By doing this, one should taking utmost pride and should have his head held up high looking towards the skies.

-Yuva