The First Ball

Ah what a time to start a blog on cricket. India’s just been peeled, torn, cut and squashed by the British. No. 1 in tests has become 3. The only T20 lost. ODI series gone! But then, being the most ardent of Indian supporters and seeing this team perform since the late nineties, I do not give up hope on such trivial issues. If you are an Indian fan, optimism should be your strength. And the reverse also works. If you show faith (or optimism) on Indian performance, you are branded a fan! Remember 2007WC, when once we all (read 1 billion people!!) believed Bermuda could beat Bangladesh?! Yes, that’s exactly what I am talking about!

Now the papers and the sites have screamed various causes for India’s performances. The word ‘fatigue’, echoed. The IPL, blamed. The selectors, censured. The BCCI criticized for all its hypocrisy. But whoever thought the BCCI would change must be the greatest optimist. I recently read somewhere, ‘Even after Srikanth Anirudha makes his debut, plays tests, scores runs, retires, joins BCCI and then heads the selection panel to give his child a chance, BCCI would remain the same!’ How true! If you ask me for the cause, I would say it was because the selectors completely ignored me and my talent because I didn’t play the IPL!

I say forget this tour. It doesn’t even have Sachin’s hundredth century. Only Dravid’s scored. And he would be the last person to disapprove even if this entire tour were termed unofficial by the (BCCI-controlled) ICC! Give India a break. But if you really want an improvement, ask BCCI to subscribe to Harsha Bhogle’s articles on Cricinfo and then implement the suggestions. For starters, they can even refer to this blog. How is this for a beginning – Rest all main team players for the upcoming home series against England and West Indies. Let them go home, love their wives, play with their children, take rest. (Hope they haven’t forgotten what these mean!) Play the emerging players. If they lose, you are already used to it. If they win, you have a fresh pool of talent! Whatever be the case, for the series Down Under, you have a team of fresh and fit players!

Anyway I am not BCCI and never will be. All I can do for my passion for the game is watch it, play it and then write it! And this blog helps me do the last part. Even Saurav!