Stop War, Start Tennis

With this message on the back of their shirts and in the thick of things, Rohan-Aisam have been hitting brilliant backhands, powerful forehands and body line serves as they make a statement, a powerful one to reckon with.

This is a start of an epic saga for two men; one at the baseline, the other at the net; waiting to pounce on any loose returns with sheer ruthlessness, the breath of determination fill their nostrils as the sweat of perseverance burn the passion for the sport in their hearts, and well, they wear their hearts out on the rackets, serving aces and smashing returns.

Two men, who form a great partnership and equally unusual, both on and off court. Hailing from Bengaluru, Southern India, Rohan Bopanna, a not so famous name in the international tennis circuit, even if a little in his home country, teamed up with Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi in 2007 to form tennis world’s Indo-Pak Express. Little was known of them at that point of time. They consumed a healthy chunk of time to realize their potential as a unit as they started off as on and off partners. But right from the time they started playing together, Rohan and Aisam always hogged the limelight, sometimes for their great game co-ordination and mostly for the nations they represented.

Rohan and Qureshi, together, have won around 10 challenger trophies, but are yet to win a Grand Slam. Well, they came very close to achieving that feat in the just concluded U.S. Open as they faltered at the final hurdle by losing out to the Bryan Brothers in the championship match. The Bryan bros are the best in the doubles circuit, and they have been there for quite some time now, with 9 majors under their belt. But they were pushed to the brink by the 46^th seeds in their effort to add the 9^th. The final scoreline read as Bob Bryan/ Mike Bryan beat Rohan Bopanna / Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi in straight sets; 7-6(5) 7-6(4). “The Indo-Pak Express was running pretty well until we met these guys”, said Qureshi.

The focal point of the emerging combo’s game is their big serve and powerful ground strokes, which proved quite tough for the No.1 seeds too. Both Rohan and Qureshi have healthy experience in the singles version of the game, and for a long time now. Both of them have been around in the ATP scenario for around a decade, more or less. This is the prime reason why the Indo-Pak duo prefer to play from the backcourt placed at the baseline, but do not miss out on opportunities at the net.

Interestingly, Bopanna and Qureshi are using the I-formation, which is quite new to the doubles game. Here, they stand in a perpendicular way to the net, both the server and the one at the net. The advantage of this formation is that the opponent cannot decide on which way the guy at the net will go after the serve. Consequently, the server moves to the other side, as per their pre-decided plans. This is very effective in closing out on opponents’ returns, which are usually volleys straight down the middle.

The Indo-Pak Express is as active outside court as they are inside it. They have used the example of their partnership to start a new, fresh and rejuvenated effort to bring the two brother nations to a common peace and status of harmony with their campaign of “Stop War, Start Tennis” in the global forum reaching out to the millions of Indians and Pakistanis living outside their motherlands too, apart from the ones living in their own country.

Rohan has expressed that it is a great feeling when he sees Pakistani supporters rooting for him when he plays along with their son, Qureshi. During their entire U.S. Open campaign, the Indian and Pakistani ambassadors to the United Nations rooted for them and supported them all the way as they went down in a blaze of glory.

Everyone aware of their feat will be acknowledged of their noble deed towards brotherhood and mankind. And the liking the duo has developed in people’s minds was evident from the noise level in the Arthur Ashe arena last Friday and the support base for them.

Even winner Bob Bryan said, “What they are doing is a lot more important than winning the U.S. Open”. The Bryan bros also decided to donate a part of the cash award to the Pakistan flood relief fund.

Their achievements on court, no matter how big or small, shall always remain inferior to the impact this partnership can and is having on the relations between the two neighboring countries, and the dialogue process. Alas, they haven’t been able to yet showcase that it is action, and not dialogue alone, that can lead to a more peaceful and better tomorrow.

All of us in both the countries are extremely proud of the performance of the inspirational duo and all praise for them. But, will things remain the same when they start losing a few matches, not win a few trophies when they might be expected to? May be not. Here, success is short-lived.

The journey has just started for the duo in real sense, now. It is now that they shall feel the burden of sub-continental expectations, the wrath of fans who worship you during your good days and pelt stones at times when you experience a rough ride, a bump in the way.

Looking at the two of them, we can call ourselves brothers in arms, separated by the LOC. If you look back at our history, we are sons of the same mother, brought up by different and contradicting fathers. A step back may lead to a whole leap forward, but the courage lacks, from within. It is a billion dollar question: Can we replace racquets with torches igniting brotherhood?

Red Redemption

Old is gold. It sure stands true for the banyan tree in our backyard breathing life into us for the last couple of generations. But does it hold the same degree of relevance for the demi gods I have been worshipping from the time I got an idea of the tricks of their trade? These men, clad in red shirts (soaked in victory), seem to wear the look of tired and worn out warriors, left with nothing in their armory but pride and history.

Marched on by their ever so planned general for the last couple of decades, these red devils on the wrong side of the age bar have won titles, buried challenges and laid their opponents to their graves of defeat. For years, they have worn their hearts out on their sleeves, but as the times have passed, these sleeves have gathered rust. But the question that gets raised here is whether their rusted glory can empower them to go on and challenge for yet another English Premier League Crown? Time and only time holds the answer to this question, perhaps.

But men of pride and glory do not let time decide for them, they define it on their own terms. The likes of Scholes and Giggs are considered veterans in today’s date; veterans who have served their team through the thinnest of situations to reach the most glorious of pinnacles the legend of the game of football can and has to offer. They have earned the tag of ‘experienced campaigners’ not by sitting under the sun, but by sweating it out season after season. The list of somewhat exhausted yet existing old devils doesn’t end dead red with them, as they have company in the form of Edwin Van Der Sar (a liability for the Dutch, an added ability for Old Trafford) and the man who leads and sets exemplary achievements on-field; Rio Ferdinand; the captain of the topsy-turvy ship.

But the question that pops up in our minds now is why we are, all of a sudden, calling Manchester United the team on the wrong side of the age-bar when it’s the Blues from Stamford Bridge with more senior citizens in the top flight than any other premier team (read EPL’s top 4)?? Or is it because Sir Alex Ferguson sports a comparatively aged team when put on the same platter as Arsenal, led by his bitter most rival; Arsene Wenger? The reason for the anxious query lies in the team’s performances in the opening part of this fresh new season, which hasn’t been good, to put it mildly.

The red devils have had a poor start to the season so far without having stamped their authority on either the English Premier League or the European scenario. Wins have been hard to come by, with defenses going off to sleep even against lowly opponents such as Sunderland and Blackpool. Edwin Van Der Sar has looked a lazy log between the posts who seems to be standing in front of a firing squad helplessly trying to lash on to bullets which used to be footballs to him a season back. Perhaps the vision’s blurring out at the age of 40, a reason why he has announced his retirement by season end. This is one area where the Manu bench lacks substantially serious strength with only Tomasz Kuszczak as the obvious second choice, nowhere close to the Dutch legend with the gloves.

And if defensive lapses were not the only worry for Sir Alex, Manchester United, in this new season, has also lacked creative options in the midfield with lackluster performances, so far, being silver lined by the absence of goal scoring options up front too.

But it has been this way for the last three years or so; they haven’t had the best of starts to their seasons for the last couple of times. So, why a hue and cry this time? That is due to the nature of their gameplay so far in this ongoing season. The real glory of Manchester United lies in the un-put-down-able fact that even when they play poor football, there is always an undeniable expectation of a better tomorrow which keeps Old Trafford roaring in soaring fever pitch voices. But this time round, tomorrow seems to be pretty much out of vision blurred out by the clouds of uncertainty.

If one considers the battle for the League Crown for the last half a decade, it’s been a war of the red devils against the mighty blues who just grow mightier with every passing season. Stamford Bridge has seen the home team lose only once in the last 90 odd games, now that is some statistic to reckon with. In such times when their bitter competitors/rivals have struggled to find form at home and away, Chelsea have stamped their authority on almost all matches against all opponents so far. With a 4+ goal difference in the league, Chelsea have run riot on the pitch every time they have stepped on it. On analyzing Chelsea’s stupendous performance in the season so far, despite them having comparatively more aged players, the management at Old Trafford will be questioning themselves: What is going wrong with us then?

Quite obviously, the answer to all the anxious anticipatory looks is not about the tired legs, but may be of the will or fortitude. Lack of intent or should I say, intensity, can be a valid reason behind their failure so far, but not a good enough excuse. None would be more aware of that than the great, Sir Alex Ferguson, himself. And it’s not just Chelsea they have to tackle, but also Arsenal and Manchester City, primarily; both these teams have shown good form and potential in this early part of the season and looming threats on United’s chances of winning another Premiership crown. For all United fans, these are times for prayer, with expectance of joy and glory in near future. Will the experienced men stand up and respond to the call of the hour? Can they drape the trophy in red once more? Will Old Trafford rejoice again?

I have my fingers crossed, what about you?..............

Feet Of Wisdom

The most successful manager in English football’s history. The never exhausted ol’ machine gun that just never runs out of ammo. The phenomenon. He is the living and ‘kicking’ legend. He is Sir Alex Ferguson, probably the most prestigious and honored name in the managerial fraternity of football. A man who has made winning a routine habit just like his habit of chewing gums during match time, a daily obsession, or rather ritual.

One of the special and primary attributes of the legend’s coaching has been his ability to identify and nurture extraordinary talents of the sport and then carving stars of the game out of them and making them a force to reckon with. He has been doing it for Manchester United and, he has been doing it for ages. And a nice point to ponder upon is that, often these derby horses that come out of his stable turn the richest in their trade (ask Beckham or Ronaldo, or to some extent Rooney).

But, the tables have turned a little in the last year or so. Since the departure of CR7 to the cash-rich Real Madrid and thus becoming CR9, the Manchester United roster seemed to be lacking that zing thing or the usually ever-existent superstar who takes the standard of the team to a whole different ‘out-of-the-league’ pedestal. Sir Alex had faced a similar kind of dilemma when former England captain and world’s richest footballer, Posh’s Beckham decided to leave the club to become a Galactico in the land of Madrid in the year 2003. At that point of time, he found the perfect or even better solution in the form of young Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo Dos Santos Aveiro for £12.24 million (which proved to be a minimal cost as compared to his later selling price; £80 million), who during his stint with the club reached unprecedented heights and went on to became one of the footballing greats of the club, his generation, and a heartthrob of many a woman. Now, Sire Alex again, faces the same problem of filling the void.

The 2009-2010 season proved to be the season of ‘void’ for the Red Devils as the trophy cabinet could feel the burden of emptiness striking its season desk harder and harder and so could the ManU bench which felt the pain of the lack of a superstar who could support and complement Rooney in his talismanic superman efforts to single-handedly salvage some pride for the club which, by the end of the season, could not land either of the English Premier League or the UEFA Champions League, which is a poor performance considering the club’s rich history in these competitions. But when in charge of things is the legend called Sir Alex Ferguson, you just can’t help but stop being cynical of proceedings.

It’s time for the new season, new expectations and inevitably, new signings to liven things up, necessarily. This was the time for him to spend the funds accumulated by selling off the world’s richest player (a move that made him richer, in terms of the moolah). It was time Sir Alex proved it yet again to the world that he still has it in himself to nurture a footballing genius out of a sensational talent. The results of his efforts shall be evaluated only after the end of the season but speculations and front page headlines have taken form at the very imminent start.

With Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen, both not living up to the expectations and the millions spent on them, Sir Alex had to find answers and quickly, with time fast running out. Berbatov’s performance in his couple of seasons with United has been lackluster to be defined precisely. And Michael Owen has been closer to the first aid box rather than the goal post in his stint with United so far, surely kept the physios busy.

The potential answer now stands with 3 goals in as many appearances for England’s and the entire world’s arguably biggest club. Popularly known as ‘Chicharito’, he is Javier Hernandez, a man who is being already touted as the next big thing, as the new wonder kid on the block. Standing not so tall at 5ft 9inches, Hernandez has blistering pace and great control on and off the ball. A healthy statistic on his ability to burst lungs is that he was the fastest player in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, reaching a top speed of 32.5 km/h (now that is some pace). And to add to all this is his ‘quick-as-a-flash’ ability to find the back of the net, is what the ManU manager will take as a bonus.

Everyone will remember his two goals in this year’s World Cup; the first against France by springing the offside trap, latching onto a beautiful through pass from Rafael Marquez, sidestepping Hugo Lloris and then a cool side footer into the net. The second one, a straight down the middle scorcher against the Argentinians, leaving Andujar with an open mouth. Already being predicted as the best buy of the summer, only time shall say Hernandez will live up to the hype and pre-performance praise showered upon him or not.

The difference in situations with Javier Hernandez and his present mentor is that time is a relatively closer friend of the former, and quite an enemy of the latter.

The new season has just kicked off, speculations are still ripe, the noose of questions will only tighten as the league table starts shaping up, and it’s all about who can still breathe, and not choke. Can he do it one more time or probably for the last time? Will Old Trafford again submerge itself in the glorious red? Only time shall say.

I-DONT-KNOW-WHAT-IT-IS?

This is just another I-don’t-know-what-it-is. There is nothing special about it. And when I say this piece of

paper does not contain elements worthy to gain your attention, you raise your eyebrows with

your grip on that A4 size paper reshaping into a relatively strong clutch. Humans, you see,

we like to perceive the expected as the unexpected jolt, but of course, the one that doesn’t

harm us. A flash of the eye, a click of the fingers on your foot, and you say to yourself, as if

talking to your closest one, “Okay, let’s waste a quarter of an hour”.

So what is it, story of just another one of us, unlike all, like none, and that is the only

common element of his genetically human body, which he probably feels is reincarnated in

the logical form of a living entity. Call him what you want to, no holds barred, make yourself

feel good. They keep pissing you off, telling you all the time: Get into the character, feel

it. What a fool you are, don’t you get it, they are just making a mockery of the pissed off

character, and all the while, he keeps on his useless search of finding the one, who he

himself represents. Aah, now don’t multiply the lines on your forehead; you are not the

only one drenched and soaked wet in this never ending shower of puzzles which beckon

common sense as the sun to provide the silver lining on the clouds of uncertain certainties

or the other way round; this is what we do; we can’t keep it simple. See, I caught you again,

just when I mentioned we can’t keep it simple, you let out a sigh of frustrated failure; you feel

you can do nothing to alter its course. No, simplicity has not vanished into space through the

punched holes on the extinguishing Ozone layer. It’s just that we have lost it in our self-built

camouflage of complex high-rises and swirling highways; and in the not yet ready highway to hell.

Here he is, sitting on his chair that turns him into a workaholic the moment his rear is

embraced by the warmth of the cushion. I know, you know, but sadly, he doesn’t know

that the rolls on the chair aren’t getting him anywhere, leave alone what he desires his

destination to be, it’s his destiny’s desire that matters. But there is a good question I have in

store for you, what is his form in your free-flowing rhythms of imagination? Is he the one with

eyes glued to computer screen but is reprimanding himself for not visualising the destruction

beyond the window screen? Or is he the one who reaches out to you, but, you pull back

just when he might have made it? He might also be the one who’s a step away from the

chequered flag but has to meet other checkpoints too. And at times, he steps into the shoes

of the supremo who, when looks back on his trail of success realizes that he failed to hold

on to those billions of moments; which shall never come back to him, while striding to be a

millionaire. He is all that want you want him to be, he is all that he couldn't be.

Right from the time he took his first step to this date when he jumps three at a time, to be a step ahead of the rest, all that he has managed, is to get drifted off the track.

When he was still just another child in the primary school trying to grasp the usage of lines to encrypt the definition of geometry in that little piece of innocence placed on top of the human shelf, he missed out on realizing how beautiful these lines could be, if they were to dance to his rhythms. All his life he has been told to follow the ideals of a wall poster that read, "Walk the untrodden road, instead of racing down the beaten path". But today, he stands under the lights with the soothing drops of rain cooling his burned out soul under the fatigued flesh and bones, and questions to himself- Which actually was the untrodden road, rather the beaten path? He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and opens them again. He looks around himself pausing at every subject; who seems to be at haste and an unnaturally familiar hurry. They seem to be walking his walk, talking his talk. Everyone has a train to catch, everyone has a road to follow, and everyone has a destination to reach. They are all tail-less rats (certainly not tale-less, each one has plenty). He lets out a sigh of relief in the form of a grinding grin. Now he knows the universal fact: He is not alone.

As a child, he used to look at the skies and wonder how so many stars were able to live in such huge numbers in that single sky without any chaos, without the blaring of horns, without one screaming at a million others………now he has passed two stages of human growth, and still wonders the same.

Plug & Play

Yesterday, my Dad was using my PC for sending an important mail or whatever (probably creating my brother's profile in any of the matrimonial sites). Suddenly, he turns around and asked me something very simple with a clueless expression (less clueless than the Indian batsmen in T20 World Cups), "Beta, what's this circle with the thunderbolt in cutting it into half doing in your toolbar?"

"That is Daemon Tools, Daaaadd; it's used for reading image files." And my father gives me an even more clueless expression. I prayed that he freezes his questions right there or I were to have a tough time. Luckily, he did. Okay, fatherly discussions can stop here.

Well, Daemon Tools, ISO Buster, Alcohol and the list goes on; these softwares in today's date are an integral part of every gamer's computing system, in fact, they're a must. Of course, the likes of WinRAR and WinZip, the olden Goldies, cannot be left out.

A few of you non-gamers are sure to put up the face of a jackass who's been served a roasted turkey for dinner. But that's fine. It's like; you can't expect the Shiv Sena to understand the meaning of secularism.

Half a decade or a decade back, the trend of video games for computers caught up with the global youth (primarily the Japanese). Well, the trend has changed a little bit. Nowadays, computers are being specifically designed and configured to meet certain gaming requirements. The gaming industry is constantly on the rise and experiencing a boom (expected to be worth $68 billion by 2012).

Now, if you look at the larger picture, this realistic virtual world of gaming is not all about high end graphics, 3D designs and mechanical gizmos. There is more than that meets the eye. The finish line is beyond where some of us might perceive it to be. The world of gaming has its beautiful blend of virtues and vices. The Gen G shall blindly believe the virtues, as their parents are sure to take the vices' department. I agree, it is an undeniable fact that excess exposure to several video games can have hazardous effects on the young kid forever stuck to the joystick and eyes glued to the computer screen. Some of the consequent hazards can be poor eye sight, lack of appetite, strained fingers and many more unhealthy conditions which lead to a healthy income for the child specialists waiting in their chambers.

But I'd say the grass is greener on the other side. Flip the coin; open your eyes to the positive changes and impact many of these video games have encrypted on this computer-frenzy generation. This virtual world, which encapsulates the thinking minds of the young, also enrich and enlighten them with practical lessons on many essential qualities of life; which make a human out of a man.

Gamer or non-gamer, almost all of us are familiar with the most popular, I repeat the most popular multiplayer game of this decade: "Counter Strike". It has an unsurpassed fan base in the gaming community. This game brings alive a virtual world where kids turn hot-shot terrorists and hop around the place in a shooting spree, against the protectors of law; the Polizei, and sometimes, vice-versa. But there is also an untracked virtue of this demolition platform; team work and co-ordination. Terrorists or counter terrorists, the experience of the game installs the quality among the experienced of how to co-ordinate with other members of a team in the successful completion of a task; not preferably death and massacre.

Then, there in the racks are games like "Age of Empires", "Rise of the Nations" and many more which develop the abilities and capabilities of those young brains. In such arenas, gamers face the ultimate challenge of giving virtual life to their dream empire, fending off enemies and taking their dream to an unprecedented level. There are games based on sports such as soccer, basketball, tennis, and cricket and like, which incorporate the discipline of a sportsman in that gaming genius. They teach them precision and above all, perfection.

If we are to discuss the endless list of such marvellous creations, it would go on for ages. The point I am trying to put forward is, let's widen our perspective and point of view on the effects and influences the world of gaming has on the this "Gen G".

Hundreds of researchers and reports suggest that video games, due to their violent nature, at times, can prove hazardous for those not yet mature, regardless of age. I say, they are more prone to violence in this globally unsafe real world than the virtual one existing in their computer screens, where at least it flashes "Game Over". Unfortunately, it isn't the same in OUR (outrageously unsafe real) world.

So, Let's Play!

OF THE LOUD EDGES AND EXTINCT PEACHES

With the changing of seasons and passing of years, experts and legends have said that the game (read gentleman’s sport) of Cricket has revolutionised in itself and only witnessed and experienced changes in positive vibes, aka development. Starting as a 5-day format in the land of royals and colonial colonies, the game initially had few, but worthy takers. The true legends of the game have all been great test cricketers. Even the ones in the modern era are known for their ‘test’-ing abilities.

Then came evolution-I with the advent of One Day Internationals, and it was there to stay. The ODI format totally revolutionised world cricket arousing interest in the sport in many a country world-wide, especially in the sub-continent. And it is the sub-continent, which has now become synonymous with Cricket. This shorter version of the game changed the way batsmen dealt with the swing of the red devil, its spin from the 22 yard rough terrain. Scoreboards ticked along faster as scorers had to maintain well-oiled hands. The crowd at the stands got more opportunities of fielding practice as the ball often sailed over the boundary ropes (nowadays bearing advertisements). This form of action packed sport was accompanied by loud music in the stands, the blowing of trumpets and the phuss-phuss of Bhopoos. If Cricket was thought to be a thorough gentleman’s game, ODIs made the head-scratchers think twice. It started to involve fiery on-field rivalry, at times, leading to heated discussions. Batsmen slogging the fast bowlers straight over their heads resulted in them facing some chin music thereafter. But nothing bogged down the spirit of sportsmanship. The records, both international and domestic, in this format are composed of huge variety. From the fastest hundred to maximum number of balls taken to get off the mark, almost each has been unique and appealing in its own way. ODIs have witnessed changes, few in rules and a few in terms of use of technology, constantly from time to time (read Tendulkar’s career span)…….the greatest cricketer of the modern era with no fool to doubt it.

But all this bakwaas can go on at some old-age cricketing club. The times have changed; cricket is no more for the faint-hearted. We now live in the fast paced lanes of 20-20 action packed drama which no reality TV script can ever match in their wildest of dreams. The T20 for every common man is the ultimate epitome of entertainment. Every match comes with bundled packages of high levels of tension and nail biting pressure. Surprisingly, after a hard day at work, this is what every cricket lover asks for at the end of the day, every one just asks for this never ending euphoric tension to relieve them of their stress. But no, T20 is not a vitamin capsule. If to be described metaphorically, it is a 3-hour roller coaster ride and one hell of a ride. Just the thrill and sensation of the game will urge you to say “do hell with technique and grammar, I don’t care”.

Here, batsmen turn butchers as bowlers step in the shoes of scape-goats. No length of distance of the boundary ropes seem to be long enough to hold the white slightly deformed (from the fierce hitting) spherical demon from sailing over it. Every spot on those cricketing bats turn sweet during the batsman’s short stay on the wicket. Unfortunately, it’s not so with the 22 yards and for the bowlers running in and putting their heart out every time on those ‘belter of a wicket’. Some may call it injustice to the bowlers while some may call it a batsman’s game (which I believe, it is), either way round, at the end of the day, you’re in or you’re OUT, clean bowled. That tells me, the scene of the castling of the stumps by a fast bowler breaking away through the defence of a batsman has become an endangered and almost extinct art. Every time I am sitting in front of the television watching one of the daily doses of IPL, my ears long to hear the words such as “a peach of a delivery” to sprout out of the commentators’ ever-ecstatic voice. Everyone loves to see huge mammoth size totals being put up on the scorecards, but hey, please spare a thought for the bowler ,who at the end of the day, has to take up the blame even if a good length ball goes crashing into the hoardings. In this age of 20 over cricket, heaps and heaps of praises are showered upon many technically-flawed batsmen who seem to know nothing beyond a full-fledged slog of the bat. Well, how many of those experts of the game behind the microphones religiously discuss the bowler’s pain. Not that it’s an obligation, but surely a necessity. In the advent of IPL and almost multiple T20 world cups in a calendar year, I really miss the unmatched excitement of low-total close finishes which have become a rarity.

Now, let’s see, how many of us remember the epic semi-final clash between Australia and South Africa during the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup. The match that ended as a tied encounter (despite Lance Klusener’s stupendous heroics) and ultimately Australia progressed to the finals on the net run rate system and going on to win the championships. And how many of us remember the highest successful run chase in ODIs by the South Africans against the same opponents in 2006 in Jo’burg. I am sure to find more votes in favour of the second instance. The latter match was, indeed a thriller of a match with over 800 runs being scored in a one day match for the first time ever, but, if that was a thriller, the former was nerve cracking extravaganza for any true cricket lover.

In these times of 3 hours of masala cricket when the wild swing of the wooden log in the hands of the “no better than clubbers” batsmen earn them valuable runs in the most peculiar of ways even oblivious of their personal conception (leave out all the rest), once in a blue moon, you can see the back of the wild swinger, all thanks to the perfect swinging delivery and then you say, rather whisper to the you within you, “Wooowww”.

You feel it now, that’s what I am talking about. It is this version of cricket as a game that many of us miss in today’s date. If wishes came true, I shall have it back.