CRICKETFUNDAS.COM PRESENTS "THE HARD TALK"
'The Hard Talk' is certainly
going to be different from the other columns that we have . Just as
the name suggests, this column will involve articles on issues that
needs to be looked upon. Articles here will be written with passion
and disdain. Articles in this column are written to present a
sense of emotion running through the readers' minds. It is more on
the 'off field' activities than the usual 'on the field' events.
Openers?
What a dilemma!
Writer : Bhavya Kumar Vasudevan
Ever since that
historic Test series against Australia back
in 2001, the Indian team has looked bright and steady while climbing
the ladder leading to success. There was something about the team
during that series that binded all the players together. It was the
spirit amongst all members of the team. It was a time when the
status and fortunes of Indian cricket was to change. It has been 3
years since that historic series took place. The spirt has not died
since then. It still remains within all the members of the team.
That is the reason why India has got the tag of 'The best of the
rest' by playing some breathtaking cricket since
2000/01.
Pakistan
Cricket : Chaos and Unprofessionalism
Personified
Writer : Venkat
For one, who has
been tracking the aftermath of the Samsung Cup series between India
and Pakistan has been as interesting as the series itself, its more
and more chaos and confusion in the PCB that I notice and not
disappointment or dejection! The Pakistan Cricket Board, which
boasts itself of a professional setup, is unfortunately filled with
some truly unprofessional people
Umpiring :
What can be done?
Writer : Aman
Modi
From Muttiah
Muralitharan being called for chucking, to Sachin Tendulkar being
given out leg before for ducking to a low short ball that hit him on
his shoulder, to the dubious decision-making in the Sydney Test that
could have won India the away series against Australia, to recently
concluded India’s tour of Pakistan, umpires have been raising
questions over their abilities of judging the game of
cricket.
Do not push
yourself ICC!
Writer : Bhavya Kumar
Vasudevan
It just seems that next time
the Indians will be suspended for catching, scoring 50's and 100's,
and even for winning, since they have been suspended for all other
possible reasons. The ICC don't even leave the youngsters alone, and
they time their move perfectly with the most important match against
Pakistan coming up. The suspension of Ambati Rayadu before such an
important game has left everyone stunned. It just makes one wonder
that why does it always happen with only Indians.
Politics,
a part and parcel of the game.
Writer : Bhavya Kumar
Vasudevan
With one of the most
politically affected tours currently going on between India and
Pakistan, it is only correct for England to tour Zimbabwe. A couple
of years ago when India was in no position to tour Pakistan, there
was a comment made by the ECB that stated India's decision as a
political and incorrect one. It was simply wrong on ECB's part to
comment on the sensitive issue regarding India and Pakistan. Sport
should not be mixed with politics were the statements coming out of
England. Now they are at the receiving end, and India is making the
ECB eat out their own words by giving full support to
Zimbabwe.
Why can't we find 11
match winners in a big nation like ours?
Writer :
B.V.Swagath
Why can't we find 11 match
winners in a big nation like ours? Is this because of dearth of such
talented men? Not quite. I would strongly disagree. Or is it because
of rigid-minded selectors and the team management ? This seems more
likely, atleast to me . Take an instance of the India-Australia
match at Mumbai on Nov 1st 2003 , even the most optimistic of all
Indian fans would have given up thoughts of an Indian win once
Md.Kaif and Dravid departed .There was no interest left in the match
after Kaif and Dravid got out , it was like a final ritual to be
completed and the match would get over pretty soon .
So many Questions
but no Answers
Writer : Vishal
Bhargava
Why are the Indian pitches
the same even after re-laying them? How are they the same even after
them being re-laid? Why didn’t the Indian pitch authority learn the
scientific way from the New Zealand Turf Institute? How didn’t they
understand the procedure of making the pitch an ideal one, unlike
the ones that are being played on? Why was the pitch at Mumbai and
Chennai re-laid? Didn’t those pitches offer good bounce and pace
earlier? When will we learn? Doesn’t the board know that cricket is
our lifeline and the people would ideally want the team to win a few
Test Series overseas.
ESPN - STAR : Only no
STARS here
Writer : Vishal
Bhargava
ESPN-STAR bore me.
Especially when they’re telecasting a cricket match featuring India.
And they disappoint me to such an extent that I’m forced to watch a
Ekta Kapoor saas- bahu drama, which I thought previously was the
worst that could happen to a viewer. Many may say that the current
DD commentators are the worst, but I disagree, entirely.
Tolerance or
Ignorance
Writer : Vishal
Bhargava
A cricket match being
witnessed live in a stadium is exciting and fun, so I was
told. Either the person who commented that hadn’t witnessed a
match in Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium or he was lying. Considering the
fact that he was from Punjab, I’m inclined to believe that it is the
former that extracted that comment from him. (For the record, Punjab
is supposed to have the best stadium in the country). Anyway, that
notion compelled me to grab a seat at the Wankhede stadium featuring
India and Australia at three times the price of the ticket since the
tickets could only be purchased through touts. So, I was eagerly on
my way to the stadium, which I had to reach half-an-hour prior the
commencement of the match or I would not be allowed even with a
valid ticket, due to the instructions behind the ticket.
