Just another game...

Yes, you are right! Another post about some crap game! Oh noo, you got me wrong! It's not about any crap game, it's about Cricket...

No, No, No... I was not trying to be a smart ass or trying to make a fool of you, I was just trying to drive through my point that, being an Indian, Cricket is just not another game for me, even if Sunil Chetri comes on the TV screen and says so...

I have come to know the game, a lot by watching TV, rather than playing it with real cricket ball. I never did that. So I cannot really understand a lot of things about it, since I don't have a first hand knowledge of it. For eg: To hit a six of four of a hard tennis ball, you have to use your power. But, in case of a real cricket ball, at times, as they say, "It's just timing and it's outta ground!". I think you got my point.

Okie, cutting through the chase, I wanted to talk about these little things which attracts you, or should I say 'me', to Cricket. One thing is the amount of well thought out decisions that a captain has to make on the field, after weighing millions of factors. A little exaggerated, I must confess...

So, When Anil Kumble decides to give Ganguly the new ball in the Pakistan's second innings, that was just a stroke of luck? Yes, as per his own admission...

Then, what about giving Laxman a go at Mohammed Sami which in turn became an inspired move? I don't know if this test at Eden Gardens is going to have a result or not, but I really am getting a gut feeling that, Kumble is going to be an excellent captain. Not because he has real experience and intelligence, but because he can think out of box, when it is required.

And, I see a lot of comments against letting Sourav Ganguly come out to bat before Sachin Tendulkar to accelerate. I think the simple logic behind that thinking was that, as Danish Kaneria will be operating from one end, it would be easier for a left handed batsman to tackle him. I am not saying that Sachin cannot handle him, but he might have to use all his talent and skill to use it. But for Sourav, he can play with the spin and hit some lusty blows...

Now, these things were pretty good calculated moves by the Jumbo. Now I am waiting to see how he is going to handle another issue. Dinesh Karthik has not had a good series so far. And with someone like Yuvraj Singh, waiting on the fringes for a long time, breathing down the neck of all the batsmen in this current playing 11, it is going to be a tough decision for Kumble to select a team for third test...

He should have ultimate confidence in Dinesh Karthik to field him in the third test. Unless he is ready to continue with him in Australia, even if he fails in the third test also, he should not select him for the third test. Because, if he is planning to bring in Yuvraj or even Sehwag, who had a tremendous tour to Australia last time around, then, those two should be given a chance before that tour. So for that he will have to drop Karthik as every other batsmen is enjoying these lame pitches and a lame bowling attack...

Now, that requires some logical thinking from the captain. He might have to burn some midnight oil. These are the things that makes Cricket, or for that matter, any team game all the more interesting, don't you think so???