The problem with growing up

is that you stop getting amazed by little joys of world around you...

Conversations

A couple of years back in office, in the cafeteria, I met a colleague who happened to be a very good friend....
Me: kya baat hai..bada khush dikh raha hai...
Friend: Nahi bey..
Me: has to raha tha...
Friend (with a smile): Nahi bey...aisa ilzaam mat laga.
Me: kyo bhai..?? Hasne aur kush hone me kya burai hai...?
Friend: burai hai...It deprives a man of a sense of self pity :)

They say peace is to be found within. Where to find that insight??

We judge too soon ...

Too much noise. Both in and out.

Missing County Cricket

I recently came across an article on cricinfo lamenting the fact that in wake of IPL, county cricket has taken a backseat. And it suddenly hit me, I had absolutely no clue about county cricket of recent times. Not that I was a die hard fan, but I used to follow it especially when Indian players were playing. I remember checking scores when Ganguly played for Lancashire, Dravid for Kent and Scotland, and briefly while Yuvraj turned out for Yorkshire. I always wondered why Sachin did not return to County cricket after his stint with Yorkshire. 

County cricket is probably the best first class cricket in the world (international test matches notwithstanding). Indian first class cricket, on the other hand is hopelessly boring and pathetic. Here teams strive and play only for first innings lead. The number of drawn matches is exceptionally high in case of Ranji trophy matches. Only positive aspect is that Rajasthan has been the consecutive champions in the past two years (albeit on the strength of borrowed players like Akash Chopra and Hrishikesh Kanitkar). Needless to say, Ranji trophy cricket can't be classified as a good platform for youngsters who aspire for cricket at highest level. Not that players aspire for that in any case. IPL is the"thing" these days. And I loath it except for the times when I get to see the batting of Ganguly, Dravid and Sachin. 

County cricket, on the other hand was always considered a finishing school for honing the skills one needs to master for the test cricket. I remember Geoffrey Boycott commenting that Yuvraj won't do well at Yorkshire (which he didn't) because he had no feet movement and was only good on wickets where ball easily came on to the bat. Precisely the reasons Yuvraj never turned into a great Test player as compared to his exploits in the limited overs format. Players like Yuvraj, Sehwag, Gayle would always struggle at the seaming pitches of Headingley, Leeds.  

With the advent of IPL, the traditional skills seem to be waning. We hardly get to see a solid front foot or back foot defense; dilscoop, helicopter shots are what people admire. Not one spinner comes to mind (Graeme Swann aside) who has been performing well at the test level. Off spinners are more concerned about containing the batsmen, leg spinner hardly turn the ball and one rarely gets to see a classical inswing/outswing bowler. Nobody can be blamed for it though. Economics has been the driving force of this world. Players used to make good money in county cricket earlier, now they do so in IPL. 

Only the players who go unsold or are unable to represent their countries at international level play county cricket, and, not surprisingly it has lost its charm. 

If only IPL or a similar tournament could be played in England, it would be much more fun. For, it would test the real skills of the players. Here in India, the ball keeps low, does not swing, the boundaries are short and wickets are tailor made for batsmen. And, India is no longer the breeding ground for spinners as it once was (when was the last time you saw Harbhajan spinning the ball??). It's important for cricket to return to its roots. 

*****

A good article providing some food for thought on the god like status enjoyed by Sachin Tendulkar. I can't help but agree with the author. 

Life finds out ways to get even with you... it always does...

There is no such thing as sunk costs

I hate goodbyes.

Happy Birthday Blog

This blog completes 3 years today. And I miss it many times. I don't post as often as I would like to. Seems like I have lost the touch (which probably never was there in first place :) :P). I write but don't post it. Keep it safe as drafts because I myself don't feel like reading it. I hope that I rediscover my desire if not touch to write...and this blog survives...

Just like I am trying to. 

Addiction

If not anything..it lets you know how strong you are...
Me...I am still fighting it..

Who Am I?

Am I  travelling, or just sailing??

Hero

Are you your own hero? Look at yourself, at what you do and ask yourself what your hero would have done had he been in your place.
A lot of questions get answered if we ask ourselves this question at each and every step.
What follows is inner peace :)