Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Bad Taste

From time to time, there are several incidents that occur on a cricket field which makes one smile, chuckle & laugh but every so often there comes along instances which, everyone knows will make their way into the annals of all time bloopers. Famous situations I can recall immediately are visions of Javed Miandad jumping up & down like a monkey with springs for feet & hot coal in pants...exchanging pleasantries with Kiran More. Our now coach Mr. Chappell asking his brother to under arm the last ball of a match is another clip which is bound to be shown time & time again.

We recently witnessed another such gem...a little cracker of a clip which doubtless will be forwarded around the internet much like Shane Warne's ball of the century to Gatting in the Ashes.

For those unfortunate enough not to have seen it on TV let me replay it in the most descriptive way possible: Our favourite Paki cricketer Inzi Bhai plays a defensive push to short cover and "scampers" for a single. However, he is sent back and when backing up to his crease Inzi(for no fault of his) obviously blocks the wicket and pitch due to his ample girth. The fielder shy's at the stumps but Inzi's in the way! What does Inzi do? He doesnt try to turn his back on the ball but instead with complete intent & awareness plays a textbook semi-forward defensive stroke to the ball coming toward him! Obviously the Indians go up in appeal and Inzi's given out.

You have to understand here that the rules are clear on the matter. Inzi is within his right to block the stumps & hence stop the ball from hitting the stumps. However Inzi decides to do his imitation of Geoff Boycott in the nets instead. Ah dear dear Inzi Bhai.

And now the big man has let it be known that the appeal was in "bad taste" and that he "could not imagine Rahul's team" doing something like this. Well Inzi Bhai, when bottle caps were freely being used to alter balls, I guess that wasn't such a big deal but Oh when a team makes a goof of you on a world stage I guess it definitely is in "bad taste" :-) He also went on to say "if I hadn't blocked the ball, it would have hit my body (!!!!!)" muahaha! I guess Inzi never heard or saw Steve Waugh bat in the West Indies or hear the famous quote "one for Australia".

It appears that Inzi is reverting to type yet again...a spoilt little boy crying because the other boys have found him out to be a bit of a dud. Not the first time Inzi...and won't be the last but hey you're still a goddamn great player in my book so I wouldn't worry about "unsportsmanlike" behaviour from my opponents too much...Inshallah of course! :-)

Monday, February 06, 2006

First Post

Pakistan are poised to snatch an improbable but thoroughly deserving win in the 1st one dayer in Peshawar. It would hardly seem like the most auspicious of times to begin publishing a cricket blog.

However, after some introspection sparked off by Challa's suggestion that I must begin to give form to my passion, I have decided to begin musing publicly on all things cricket. I am hoping my good friends & fellow cricketislifer's such as Bhattu, Sethi, Sidp, Rathi & Indro might contribute regularly to this blog.

Welcome to my musings on something that has defined me, shaped my personality, helped me grow, shown me up & thrown me in the deep end of life's classrooms more than all other experiences put together.

Lets try to keep side on and play straight