From Behind the Stumps

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Dizzy concentration

So everybody has heard and the world of cricket has been rocked once again. Jason "Dizzy" Gillespie did the unfathomable, he was the first nightwatchman to score a double ton and he lasted a supersized 400 deliveries! It is something to last that long. Concentrating on every delivery, and I am sure he had moments when his concentration lapsed but that should not take the gloss away from his feat, neither should the fact that they were playing Bangladesh, the current shipping-boys of world cricket. Most batsmen have a hard time concentrating and Gillespie showed us the way to do it. Not only that he also showed the world that anybody can do it. It is all a matter of applying oneself and it can safely be stated that Gillespie's innings were the epitome of concentration. Kudos to the man who made a comeback albeit with the bat and not the ball.

C League update

What a week this has been for football lovers as they witnessed some interesting and contrasting match-ups. The usually defensive Milan faced off first against a flambouyant side that had the likes of Ronaldinho, too bad Deco wasn't there to add to the falir. This game has to be one of Milan's more lacklustre performance this season as they conceded a goal to trail by a goal at the end of the first leg. Giuly was beautifully fed an immaculate cross from Ronaldinho which was then duly fired into the back of the net from an acute angle. The set-piece was one of the kind that arouses and titillates the senses that ends up in orgasmic ecstasy; it was that fine. Ronaldinho facing off two defenders took his time to chip the ball ahead of Giuly who then half-volleyed the ball past the oncoming Dida. Quite the goal indeed. Milan did come close on a few occasions but their effort fell well short of the mark, frustrating the home crowd. Milan need not despair and after playing at this level for so long they would know something about comebacks as they displayed in their last encounter against Lyon.

The other match-up was also interesting as two attacking but different styles of play collided. The English game of pace and technique as put forth by Arsenal and the exotic mix of Spanish and South American flair on exhibit by Villareal. Arsenal made the only breakthough of the game when Toure broke the deadlock with a close range strike; a strike that will go down in history as the last goal to be scored at Arsenal's Highbury stadium. Villareal played well to fend off the incessant threat posed by Arsenal and came off quite satisfied by the result. They must rememeber though that they still face an uphill task.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Bangladesh vs. Australia 1st Test, Day 4

Well, Bangladesh have seem to relinquished their advantage and a chance for a major upset. As I had said they needed to bat out for the most part of the 4th day if they wanted to a realistic chance of winning, which they did not do. Australia require another 95 runs with six wickets in hand and in all likelihood they will overcome this deficit.

However, we need not despair, since this match has brought out many positive aspects especialyl for the fledgling team. The way this test match has gone it will give them a tremendous boost of confidence for future series and encounters. Who knows they might still pull off an upset in this series if not this match. Let us hope that the Bangladesh team can pull a rabbit out of the hat this time.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Bangladesh vs. Australia 1st Test

Wow! What a test match this has been. The Aussies never in their right mind would have imagined such an episode unfolding before their very own eyes. Conceeding 400+ runs in the first innings and then falling short by a massive margin of 158 runs the Aussies seemed out of the match early in the third day; but that was before the Australian bowlers pegged back and started being more aggressive. At the close of the third day Bangladesh were reeling at 124 for the loss of five wickets. Although, I believe that Australia will pull back and either win this match or draw it out, the young Bangladeshi team has a lot of work ahead of them. Firstly, they need to regroup and try to play out most of the 4th day and ensure as many runs as possible and next have a bowl at the Australians, who have found the coniditions very demanding.

All analyses apart, this has been a very good match for the young team. They have shown that they can hold onto their own, albeit maybe for a short time, but still have what it takes to develop on this and carry this energy forward. To the rest of the world this shows that the Australians can be put in compromising positions, all they need is a little self-belief.

I do sincerely hope that the Bangladeshis, win this match although that may seem unlikely given their precarious positioning, and the fact that if they are bowled out on the 4th day then the Australians have plenty of time to cover up. Like I said the Bangladesh team need to regroup and try to play out most of the 4th day if they want to put the Aussies on the defensive.

Thursday, April 06, 2006

C League

So it has been decided. The final four of the UEFA Champion's League have been filled by four of the best European teams of this year. Milan take on Barcelona and Arsenal take on Villarreal. Milan had a particulary interesting game on tuesday when they faced off with Lyon. Having played out a goalless draw in the first away leg of their campaign, Milan were on shaky ground, since they needed to win to advance for sure. Milan, started off by pressing for the advantage early on in the first half and their labour finally paid off with a goal from veteran striker Filippo Inzaghi in the 25th minute from an absolute stunning and graceful play. Acting skipper, Shevchenko fed the ball to an unmarked Seedorf on the left wing who whipped in a pinpoint cross to Inzaghi, where the ball found Inzaghi's head and eventually ended up on he farpost. Milan were on top and in a comfortable position.

Six minutes later, the milanese crowd was stunned into silence with a Diara header that found its way into an open Milan net. The Rossoneri tried to foul up Juninho's set-piece by setting an offside-trap only for the move to backfire. The cross found Fred of Lyon who was inadvertently blocked by his own player, during this time Dida tried to punch the ball away only to have himself finding the air and being knocked down to the ground immediately. With the ball still in the sky, Diara jumped and completed what should not have been a goal. Lyon, galvanised from this goal and with the advantage pressed harder to seal the deal. Moments from the first half, Juninho's crossed once again to Fred only for the latter's attempt to graze the woodwork. The First half finished at a scoreline of 1-1.

Milan made quite clear that they are going all out in the second half, by keeping three men in the back. In a game that epitomised the adage, "The best defence is a strong offence," Lyon counterattacked several times and coming close on several occasions. It seemed as if Milan would be knocked out this year. Shevchenko, who had a pedestrian game until a few minutes before the final whistle, let one loose but unlucky as he was, his shot came off the farpost and then rebounded to the nearpost and seemed to pop out of harm's way but alas it Inzaghi was at the right time at the right place and knocked another one in to make it 2-1. Not being satisfied with the current situation Milan decided to hammer in the final nail of Lyon's coffin as this time the Czar, Sheva found the net at the farpost end to seal the deal with a final scoreline of 3-1. Milan will now face a Barcelona side that plays, Ronaldinho.

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Let's head out for the toss

Tails.
Heads it is.
We opt to field first.

This is a possible snippet from what happens on a beautiful morning of a day of cricket. You can still feel the sweet dew stuck to your face and the sun is just making its way through the myriad of clouds, ready to burst and shine on the glorious green patch of land enclosed in a circle of seemingly gargantuan proportions. Seen from atop high in the sky, small specks can be seen frantically yet calmly taking position ready to do battle. Willow against the cherry. On a calm and quiet day one can almost hear the rustling of the bowler charging in only to be possibly concluded by a violent bang, as leather knocks into wood.

Thwak!

Alternatively, one can hear the "oohs" and "aahs" to be ensued. A glare from the bowler. A smirk is offered back. The bowler marches his way back to his mark, thinking of what his reply would be like.

A bouncer? Lemme get that son-of-a-bitch.
I'll york the bastard!

At the end of the day bowler and batsman shake hands and meet at dinner to share a few odd stories.

Welcome to the world of cricket. To many this scene would be very familiar yet to some it won't be so. I welcome you warmheartedly to my blog which would deal with cricket largely but from time to time I would also post about other sports. Aaah I know the question that you are asking. If he intends to cover other sports as well then why the cricketing title? Elementary, my dear reader. The title is just a metaphor for trying to capture the scene of various sports from a point where one can see all the action in this case it is the wicket-keepers vantage point, trying to tie in all the hustle and bustle with all the emotions of not just the players but the audience as well. So welcome to my world of sports !