The month of March had something awesome to offer.
I had exclusive rights to select which TV channel to be viewed cos there wasn’t anyone around to watch it.
Incidentally there was live cricket being telecast all day round.
To start with India was in New Zealand. For 1st time I was receiving the signals live on my TV. In 1999 and before, I did not have a cable TV connection and in 2003 there was some TV rights issues between cable operators in Pune and STAR TV. This was the reason I got a digital TV as soon as it was in the market.
It was a delight to watch the world’s strongest batting order and hardest hitter on the small grounds of New Zealand. Nice way to start a day.
Then came the women’s world cup of cricket. I had heard and read a lot about girls like MITHALI RAJ, ANJUM CHOPRA, JHULAN GOSWAMI. Now was a chance to watch them live. The girls played the way the boys played in 1980s and 1990s. Light bats, long handles and slog sweeps. After 25 overs 85/2 seemed to be a good score. 230 was a difficult target. This is the cricket I studied as a starter. The fielder standing at the boundary behind the slips was still called the THRID ‘MAN’.. that was funny..
There was an interesting incidence that occurred in India vs England match. Jhulan Goswami – India skipper – was in middle of a quiet spell when nothing much was happening. Suddenly, a ball bumped up from a full length spot and hit the bats’woman’. Wasim Akram was on air then and during the replays he yelled all of a sudden “ why is the bowler apologizing”.
Jhulan Goswami – the spearhead of the Indian attack – apologised to the batsman cos the ball misbehaved off the pitch. No wonder this irritated the pace bowlers club. You know what .. after all these girls were a “BHARATIYA NARI” first and foremost.
I used to watch this before leaving for work and then follow the scores online.
As soon as this ended, it was time for SA vs AUS.
Then there were two best test sides competing for the top slot. SA trying to prove the the victory in Aus was not a fluke and AUS fighting for pride.
Fast Forward to modern cricket. Run Rate in the test was better than the Run Rate in the World Cup match I watched a few hrs earlier. I difference was to be seen. The players playing for life.. Each run been scored as if life depended on it. The fielders throwing themselves around the ball as it they were at a water park. So after vintage cricket, came the new age cricket.
I used to see this telecast while having my dinner.
For the late night show there was England vs WI test series. England in WI and Lara was not part of the WI team. Boy .. what a record Lara has vs England.
But this WI under Cris Gayle is a good team. They know how to win. They know how to fight.
There is something nostalgic about the way cricket is played in the West Indian islands. Those passionate fans dancing on calypso beats and cheering every little thing that their team achieves.
The attendance was much better here than when Australia played in India. So this was refreshing.
WI has some amazing batsman, a crazy Gayle, a sedate Sarwan and a boring Chanderpaul. Fiddel Edwards reminded people of the old WI pace bowlers.
England team on the other had is very predictable. I am at me betting best when England is playing. This timer around too, I won a few good ones … and after a long time.
England lost control of the match for a few hrs on the 4th day of the 1st test and that cost them the series. For all the remaining sessions were fearsome battles. No side giving an inch.
It looked boring but this is the way test cricket is too be played. I can watch such matches with my eyes stuck on the TV.
So after the WI vs ENG again came INDIA in NZ … and the whole cycle repeated itself.
Then again there was Deodhar Trophy super league to fill the gaps as substitute.
Now .. as the 2 test series are over and womens world cup has been done… I am watching AUS vs SA T20 and then will be watching WI vs ENG.
What an anticlimax …
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
1o'clock, in my house, there is no cat, but there is a mouse…
TOM AND JERRY SHOW .. LIVE
1.00 a.m. – I realise there is something banging underneath my bed. I neglect it. There is so much stuffed under my bed that I can’t even think about it.
2.00 a.m. – Finally I decide to logoff and switch off the laptop. There is nothing left to do so lets get some sleep.
2.15 a.m. – This stage is called the delta sleep. I like it. I feel like I am meditating. Insulated from everything but thinking about just one thing. Incidentally, I am thinking about the TOM & JERRY pics that a friend of mine emailed me to wish Happy Friendship Day. TOM AND JERRY on a friendship day!!! Anyway, who cares?
2.20 a.m. – My toes are touching something soft and fleshy. Let me thing what is it? Pillow … Cell phone … ipod …Laptop … dictionary ... novel ... What is it? I push it. It crawls over my legs and passes by. Ooops.. this was something moving and living.
2.22 a.m. – I decide to switch on the lights and have a look.
2.23 a.m. – There he is. A sweet little mouse happily perched on the chair, underneath my uniform. For a moment, this site gives me a sense of gratification. At least someone found a place, a reason and time to ‘sit’ on my chair. It sees me and jumps. Passes under the bed into the closet. CRACK !!!!
The bottom most part of my closet is full of antique things. A lot of CD’s, cassettes, and books and magazines that I liked when I read them but never touched them later. I have preserved them and I don’t know why. Happy hunting ground for rodents. Now, I have a reason to open it.
I use my grandfather’s walking stick to have better control over the situation. In better times, I use it to practice my hand to eye co-ordination
2.30 a.m. – There is no sign of any movement. Yeah, the lights are on. That creature won’t move until it is dark. But I want to keep an eye on him so can’s switch off the lights. I open the door of the room. I hope that it sees the darker side of the house and rushes towards it. Again a long wait for it to emerge… So I am waiting. I wonder if TOM & JERRY could ever be friends.
2.32 a.m. – No signs of movement. Now, here is a dilemma. Should I let it be in there or should I take pains to get it out of that place. What is the right thing to do at this time of the day? The answer is that I decide to blog.
2.45 a.m. – I use the stick to disturb his comfort level inside my close. I see that Ricky Ponting has developed a moustache. No, it’s actually his tail. Rodent’s not Ricky’s.
It vanishes in the flash. Now this fellow seems to be kissing John Wright. I push the stick hard. He jumps out and again finds a camouflage under my bed. This is a red alert area.
2.46 a.m. – There is a bag in which I have preserved every thing that I once used on a cricket ground. My 1st pair of keeping gloves, a dozens of inners, a few caps and yeah a lot of memories. The memories are safe .. What about the other things? Then there are a few meters of cables. It is such a mess that even my electrician doesn’t bother touching them. He calls it my Laboratory. And now, my new found roomy is in the lab. RAF needed.
1st things 1st. I safely remove the bag which has all near and dear things of mine. I wonder why the cutie hasn’t entered it. The answer is right. Those things have never been cleaned. The sweat still remains. Look Angad.. the medicine still works. No one can enter this bag until he decides to stop breathing.
But my friend is still hidden somewhere. I try to infuriate him but, no reaction. Hurrah .. In the process I find Chandrashekhar Gokhale’s Me Maza…. Thankooooo
2.49 a.m. – No sign of any movement as yet. Well the poor creature must be tired…
I decide to leave him alone .. its too late for him to leave my cozy room and find a place else where.
So finally, I will leave the room and let the mouse be here. I won’t switch of the lights cos he might again disturb himself. I will leave the fan on cos .. common it too hot. May be the noise of the fan will make him feel that I am still around and he doesn’t mess with my belongings.
So I will be going downstairs and sleeping in the guest room so that the guest can have a sound sleep.
As they say अतिथि देव भावः
Hello.. Mr Mouse Uncle .. the window is left open I don’t want to see you here in the after the sunrise.
GOOD NIGHT
SWEET DREAMS …
1.00 a.m. – I realise there is something banging underneath my bed. I neglect it. There is so much stuffed under my bed that I can’t even think about it.
2.00 a.m. – Finally I decide to logoff and switch off the laptop. There is nothing left to do so lets get some sleep.
2.15 a.m. – This stage is called the delta sleep. I like it. I feel like I am meditating. Insulated from everything but thinking about just one thing. Incidentally, I am thinking about the TOM & JERRY pics that a friend of mine emailed me to wish Happy Friendship Day. TOM AND JERRY on a friendship day!!! Anyway, who cares?
2.20 a.m. – My toes are touching something soft and fleshy. Let me thing what is it? Pillow … Cell phone … ipod …Laptop … dictionary ... novel ... What is it? I push it. It crawls over my legs and passes by. Ooops.. this was something moving and living.
2.22 a.m. – I decide to switch on the lights and have a look.
2.23 a.m. – There he is. A sweet little mouse happily perched on the chair, underneath my uniform. For a moment, this site gives me a sense of gratification. At least someone found a place, a reason and time to ‘sit’ on my chair. It sees me and jumps. Passes under the bed into the closet. CRACK !!!!
The bottom most part of my closet is full of antique things. A lot of CD’s, cassettes, and books and magazines that I liked when I read them but never touched them later. I have preserved them and I don’t know why. Happy hunting ground for rodents. Now, I have a reason to open it.
I use my grandfather’s walking stick to have better control over the situation. In better times, I use it to practice my hand to eye co-ordination
2.30 a.m. – There is no sign of any movement. Yeah, the lights are on. That creature won’t move until it is dark. But I want to keep an eye on him so can’s switch off the lights. I open the door of the room. I hope that it sees the darker side of the house and rushes towards it. Again a long wait for it to emerge… So I am waiting. I wonder if TOM & JERRY could ever be friends.
2.32 a.m. – No signs of movement. Now, here is a dilemma. Should I let it be in there or should I take pains to get it out of that place. What is the right thing to do at this time of the day? The answer is that I decide to blog.
2.45 a.m. – I use the stick to disturb his comfort level inside my close. I see that Ricky Ponting has developed a moustache. No, it’s actually his tail. Rodent’s not Ricky’s.
It vanishes in the flash. Now this fellow seems to be kissing John Wright. I push the stick hard. He jumps out and again finds a camouflage under my bed. This is a red alert area.
2.46 a.m. – There is a bag in which I have preserved every thing that I once used on a cricket ground. My 1st pair of keeping gloves, a dozens of inners, a few caps and yeah a lot of memories. The memories are safe .. What about the other things? Then there are a few meters of cables. It is such a mess that even my electrician doesn’t bother touching them. He calls it my Laboratory. And now, my new found roomy is in the lab. RAF needed.
1st things 1st. I safely remove the bag which has all near and dear things of mine. I wonder why the cutie hasn’t entered it. The answer is right. Those things have never been cleaned. The sweat still remains. Look Angad.. the medicine still works. No one can enter this bag until he decides to stop breathing.
But my friend is still hidden somewhere. I try to infuriate him but, no reaction. Hurrah .. In the process I find Chandrashekhar Gokhale’s Me Maza…. Thankooooo
2.49 a.m. – No sign of any movement as yet. Well the poor creature must be tired…
I decide to leave him alone .. its too late for him to leave my cozy room and find a place else where.
So finally, I will leave the room and let the mouse be here. I won’t switch of the lights cos he might again disturb himself. I will leave the fan on cos .. common it too hot. May be the noise of the fan will make him feel that I am still around and he doesn’t mess with my belongings.
So I will be going downstairs and sleeping in the guest room so that the guest can have a sound sleep.
As they say अतिथि देव भावः
Hello.. Mr Mouse Uncle .. the window is left open I don’t want to see you here in the after the sunrise.
GOOD NIGHT
SWEET DREAMS …
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
