On the Write Line

This morning, one of my friends mentioned Sehwag’s Magnum Opus as a performance befitting the South Indian superhero. I agree. Anyone who were lucky enough to have witnessed what unfolded yesterday at Indore would. The charismatic opener absolutely bludgeoned his way to a record breaking 219. I’m sure, Darren Sammy and his men wouldn’t have even dreamt what they would be up against yesterday afternoon. It wasn’t as if the West Indian bowlers were bad. It was just that Sehwag’s game had moved notches above. The knock was absolutely entertaining. A slice from Bollywood. A regular in a Rajnikant movie. Making the impossible look like an everyday chore. Sehwag went about his task  a la  Richards’ style.The original King of Cricket would be proud of him. Driving, cutting, pulling and flicking mercilessly. With the scantiest of respect to line, length and the reputation of the bowler. Watching him bat, one felt, as if, he was out there with a mission...

Come December 26, and cricket fans in India will have an early start to their morning. The reason; the first day of the First Test between India and Australia, at the glorious MCG. With the Christmas spirit still hanging heavy in the air, we will all look forward to receiving a gift from the good old Santa. And talking of gifts, I’m expecting a few in the coming three months. For once, let the touring Indian side play Santa. Sounds apocryphal, isn't it? Never mind. Read on. #1 The most awaited Hundred. The best Christmas gift for all the billion cricket fans back home, and more importantly, Sachin Tendulkar fans, would be the master’s elusive 100 th  century. Could there be any better place for this Gladiator than the MCG, or any of the spectacular Australian grounds, to reach this milestone?  #2 Youngsters creating magic. This series will lay bare the young talent this country has to offer. It will be a litmus test for the ‘...

I’m sure, back home, in the sun-kissed Caribbean isles, there’s an air of despondency as their national team is found floundering against a formidable Indian side. Barring Chanderpaul, no West Indian batsman was in his elements in the First Test. So, I’m sure, for any youngster in the Caribbean, it would be really difficult for him to believe that West Indies, once-upon-a-time ruled the cricketing world for over a decade. Caribbean cricket  aficionados  should be grateful to Steven Riley and his film ‘Fire in Babylon’. For he made the task simpler; to make these youngsters understand and believe that their team was once-upon-a-time the undisputed champions of the game. History has enough evidence up its sleeve to prove it. Ask the Indians who witnessed Kapil lifting the World cup in 1983. They still regale us with the proceedings that unfolded at Lord’s that afternoon. With India bowled out for a paltry 183, no one gave them an outside chance. Espec...