Out For A Big While

Again I couldn't force myself to write for the last 80 days or so. I'm actually sufferring from boredom and being busy these days. That has had a really bad impact on my blogging. Anyway, I'll try my best to push myself to post here once in a while and for now write a summary about the international cricket I witnessed (most probably you as well) during these days.

So, during these days I just couldn't miss the action in cricket, though I did miss it in my blogging life. Ashes is going on well and the recently concluded Test and ODI series in Sri Lanka did show a lot of uncompetitiveness and unprofessionalism by the Pakistan team. But, in the last two ODI matches Sri Lankans were a lot complacent. Taking a look at the Ashes, England made everyone shocked when they were dismissed for just 102 runs in the 1st Innings thanks to The Fanatics, the rival cheerleader group of the Balmy Army, playing a prank on the English players during the early hours of the first day of the Test match.

On the other hand, the series in the Caribbean went unnoticed due to the players' strike of the West Indies' side. Bangladesh could not ask for more as they made maximum use of it to whitewash the hapless third string West Indies team in the two test match series. They went on to win the ODI series 2-1 emphatically. A tour that Bangladesh will never forget for sure.

Underdogs to Take on the Favourites

It's the first semi-final of the IPL. The Deccan Chargers are going to be up against the title favourites Delhi Daredevils. Who's your bets on? Delhi Daredevils have come to this game with a winning note. Deccan Chargers will still be upbeat despite there 12 run loss to the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

So far in the tournament, Delhi Daredevils haven't had good starts when it comes to batting. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir haven't been in their best form of late. So that may be one area, which the Deccan Chargers might want to exploit. On the other hand, the Delhi Daredevils have one of the best bowling attacks which might worry the Deccan Chargers a lot. But, still the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds, Herschelle Gibbs and Rohit Sharma will definitely make Deccan Chargers have the edge when it comes to batting. Their bowling attack has also stood upto the challenge. Therefore, it's safe to assume that they've got one good balanced side. So do the Delhi Daredevils thanks to their strong middle order, which comprises of AB de Villiers, TM Dilshan, Mithun Manhas and Dinesh Karthik

Today's going to be the big day for both teams as well as for their devoted fans. So let me wish good luck to all of them. Hope we can see a thrilling close finish today!

IPL Action

I don't need to give any introduction to the IPL to any cricket lover. It's a household name in any part of the world where cricket is popular. In India the prison inmates went on a hunger strike for not allowing them to watch it and last year in Bangladesh the university students protested to postpone their exams. So popular it is and so devoted are its fans.

During the first few days of the IPL no one could predict who'll get to the semi-finals. It's pretty obvious, but who thought that the defending champions Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab will be out of the tournament in the first round! The former were the first in the pack last time at the end of the first round, while the latter was second.

In come Royal Challengers Bangalore and Deccan Chargers to the semi-finals. Remember, that they were the no.7 and 8 in the last IPL season. This time they've changed the tables aroud. It's very good to see that two underdogs coming so strongly beating the favourites. But, Delhi Daredevils and Chennai Super Kings have reserved their places in the semis as they did last time.

So who will come to the finals is the big question in all our minds as the top four teams who are to play in the semis has already been confirmed. Wish you good luck in supporting your team and also wish that your team will get to the finals. But still there's only going to be one team that will be crowned as the King of IPL 2009!