Eat Cricket, Drink Cricket, Sleep Cricket
Anil Kumble was known to us as a humble, shy folk from Bangalore, who couldn’t even step over an ant.
But this series has allowed us to get some interesting scoop on him.

* Right-headed. Likes to think of the big picture and over the long-term. Keeps reminding players to set goals and not sweat the small stuff, like pitch conditions, weather, etc.
* Takes calculated risks. Or maybe it’s better to say “doesn’t” take many risks. Delayed declaring the second innings in the third match to ensure a series win, even if that decision threatened to kill …read more

Pakistan skipper Malik feels that their win in the 5th ODI has “balanced” both the teams and raised his team’s confidence big time. We’ll know soon that he’s highly mistaken.
India called in the reserve bench on ocassion of the last trivial

So, India has an unbeatable lead in the Indian Oil Cup. 3-1.
While the media is surely going to go gaga over it, I’ll admit we aren’t faking any joy over or interest in it. That we are actually discussing genetics at school these days should be a clue to how much interested we really are in it. I am glad it’s going to be over soon. Just one (match) more to go. [We are more into the as-of-yet not started Australia tour, actually. Move over Pakistan, Australia is our biggest rival now.]
But then I thought that it’s not fair to …read more

It’s not looking all good. Actually, it’s quite annoying.
* The Green Park has been declared a no-flying zone. (Argh. You need to go tell that to the birds.)
* Once you are inside the stadium, there’s no going back.

India vs. Pakistan: 2nd ODI at Mohali
Context #1 Akhtar’s opening over. Ganguly smacks a four across cover point off a short delivery.
Rameez Raja:
When Gul comes in, he’ll teach Akhtar how to bowl at length.
Ganguly is played on by Akhtar over the next ball, which is by no means short.
Context #2 Sachin and Gambhir are trying to settle down in the first few overs.
Rameez Raja:
I think India should have opted to field first. It’s a hard pitch with a grassy patch in the middle. They could have brought their pacers in (this is a pacer-friendly pitch), got an …read more

Sachin Tendulkar has refused to captain India’s Test side for reasons that are unknown to mortals as of yet. Most self-claimed cricket experts (my dad included) are of view that Tendulkar simply lacks executive intelligence-the kind that is needed to lead an international team. He’s no match to Ponting, Waugh, and the like, of course.
Let’s dig up some stats.

Donned in a long green robe, a white fluffy beard cupping his chin, and a crescent resting on his head, Chacha Cricket, traslated from Urdu as Uncle Cricket, is perhaps the game’s craziest fan. He follows the Pakistani cricket team down to every nook of the world (the rumor has it that PCB pays him to do that), and his loud patriotic chants have gotten the better of even Barmy Army’s slogans on many an occasion.
Hopefully, we might meet over the next few days. And Chacha, SixandOut promises you some challenge.
ETA: Would you travel across the world to cheer your …read more

I spent a sleepless month in September. You know why. The T20 World Cup. I finally got my forty winks after the final. Before my eyes could adapt to light, Australia came down and I found myself entrapped again. But it seems a little different with the Indian Oil Cup. I’ll admit that I was never oh so looking forward to it. With the first match turning out to be a fizzle, I have actually decided to help Mom out with Diwali prep during the holiday.

Anyone see a problem in Malik’s leading? I do.
A lot has already been said about his inadequacy as a Test captain, but Pakistan’s T20 spectacle kind of silenced critics. Consensus: The chap is learning, and he absolutely kicks ass in the limited over version of the game, so there’s nothing to worry about. Granted. But I was dissatisfied with how boring the first match turned out to be, and Malik is my choice for the scapegoat.