Ambimama - India

Sehwag says that Shane Watson and Chris Gayle are the only batsmen who take more than 200 in One Day Cricket. That shows his Cricket sense and respect for other good batsmen in the World. Shane Watson has the ability and patience to score, but I think Sehwag the other day had luck also favouring him. It was an innings characteristic of Sehwag’s approach to batting. He hit his second ball for four and simply did not stop. He took plenty of risks too, surviving two run-out chances and two dropped catches, but thundered on. And Tendulkar was travelling and was not aware of that.

Sehwag got his 200 in the 44th over and had made 219 off 149 balls by the time he was dismissed in the 47th. And in one of cricket’s stranger coincidences, both ODI double-centuries were scored in the same Indian state - Madhya Pradesh.
Sehwag’s only out-of-character moment came in the 20th over, when he dived to avoid being run out. Sehwag never dives. It was a sign that he was determined to stay the course.

Sehwag hit 25 fours and seven sixes in all. When he was dismissed - lofting Pollard to the substitute Anthony Martin at long-off, the West Indian fielders came from various corners of the ground to shake his hand. It was Karthikai Deepam that day and Sehwag made me happy. It will take a more to break this record and may be not.

I like his attitude which is not arrogant as Vivian Richards when he thought he would win the World Cup in 1983. But Richards did prove his side was superior when he came to India immediately after the World Cup loss and won all the 5 One-day matches. The first match was played in Kashmir and when there was bad light The Windies did not claim it and won the match in dark! Such was their might and on any day they are sportsmen and love to play the game lightly, they win or lose.

It is natural for them to win as Pollard showed the way in this match. His batting I watched on TV, but failed to watch further as it was late night. But I knew Windies will win. And it happened and I watched the bowler talk to ESPN and after a long time I am starting to post here, thanks to a Windies win. I have thought to post here daily but did not as I was getting bored.

But the writing in cricinfo and the post on the bowler Anthony Martin made me write fresh.

Thanks the bowler Anthony Martin!
For a complete read of the article visit the cricinfo site.

Still I am unable to recover from the joy! Indian had won the World Cup. It was all because Sri Lanka had scored 275 and it was a final. But Gambhir’s batting made me sit tight and watch the TV. And Dhoni’s confidence showed itself. Dhoni would hit in the final overs, I knew. But it was so systematic and confident! Still I am reading papers, watching TV and enjoying.

I was listening on the radio during 1983 World Cup and had no TV at that time. After the match we played Cricket all the time. Even using flood lights, during nights. And I remember one match where I finally hit for a six and won! It is just rush of blood and every ball is clearly visible for you! So after many close losses finally we won in 2011!

Yesterday a friend of mine had gone to visit the match between England and South Africa. He reports the following:
1. The foreign visitors were allowed to carry on flags and other important items to show their sporting spirit.
2. Indians were not allowed to carry anything and were checked thoroughly.
3. There was not enough food stalls and food, even water bottles.
4. Indians were not allowed to go out and have food either; if they go out they cannot return!
The hot summer of Chennai forced my friend to return home and watch the match on TV which England won by 6 runs. Is this the way we Indians should be treated?

I was not happy the way Tendulkar played in the last overs of the first test match between India and South Africa which was won by SA by an innings. He got his 50th Test Hundred and all the Indian media is showing interviews and Statistics of his feat. But I am not happy the way he played for the Indian team. I think he was rather selfish. I am unable to understand him as a character, though he is the best batsman though not comparable to Don Bradman, even though Don himself may admit Sachin is better. Don scored three centuries in day whereas Sachin has not even scored three hundreds in test match.

There are many things to compare with Ricky Ponting in his 39 test centuries and under great pressure as Captain. Ponting thinks for his team and brought back the great bowler who took nine wickets and won the last Ashes test match. Thinking for his team rather than himself – Tendulkar has never done that. Take any century by Tendulkar – it shows only his brilliance and has not won for the team. Sachin batted for a record and not for his team. Hussey and Laxman have saved and won in the tail in many situations. Though it is not winning here, but the quality of a man to fight and Sachin never did that. I cannot agree with the notion that it only works when the tailenders show that their good for it.

I think Soccer is a more team game than cricket!