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!

After a Long Time

Well, it's been a long time since I've posted here. A big sorry for that, to all of you. Anyway, these four months have been packed with a lot of cricket action and rarely missed any part of it. Hope you didn't as well.

These days I was watching the IPL matches. There were some exciting contests, especially during this week. Semi-finals are just a day away. I'm looking forward to it eagerly.

By the way I wish to post my thoughts on the IPL in my next post and that will be posted today itself. I now want to cover up for the days I've missed. But, most probably I won't be able to do that. Still want to give my best shot.

Enjoy your cricket!

Highlights of Australia vs Sounth Africa ODI series

1st ODI - http://tinyurl.com/8lzttv
2nd ODI - http://tinyurl.com/9nl6gt
3rd ODI - http://tinyurl.com/d5jhcm
4th ODI - http://tinyurl.com/b4y7q7

Unpredictablility in Cricket!

Zimbabwe wins against Bangladesh and then goes down losing to Sri Lanka without giving a fight. Bangladesh, who have no other option other than to win, does it emphatically against a very tough opponent, Sri Lanka.

So many things happening in a Cricket ODI tournament, where one would've thought beforehand that Sri Lanka will easily win all the matches. But, the finals is yet to be played and Sri Lanka has already lost a match. Whatever the outcome it maybe in the finals, already enough unpredictable results have been produced. So strange is the game of cricket.

Two years, if not one, no cricket fan would've ever dreamt that Australia will be defeated by any opponent in Tests so easily, that too in Australia itself. But, what happened last month was something that even a non-cricket-lover would be surprised about. Yet, this did indeed occur.

Is this good for cricket or not? I doubt that anyone will ever say "no" as it increases the interest in the game. It is good for the game and for its lovers. Unpredictability in cricket seems to be at its peak. And, now how good is that for anyone watching cricket?

The Future of Aussies

The Kangaroos were wounded twice very badly, but counter-attacked in retaliation afterward.s Yet, that wasn't good enough to erase the humiliation of losing a home Test series in nearly 15 years! But, that was sufficient to hold onto their No.1 position in ICC Test rankings for possibly another two more months.

But, now that South Africans are in their best form in years and a formidable force to defeat any team in any conditions, Australia will have to be biting the nails until the start of their return series against South Africa next month. Then onwards, it can be a real nightmare for them, or if they do well unlike the recently concluded series, it would be otherwise.

However, Australians are still having a lot of problems to solve. Their bowlers have lost the venom they had in the past. Their batting and fielding is inconsistent like never before. Unless, they solve these problems pretty quickly, it is difficult to even dream that Aussies will be able to secure their top spot in Tests, let alone for it to happen in the real world.

Rise of Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn wreaked Australia's strong batting line up in the 2nd test to hand the Proteas a sensational victory over the world champs,which something all the other South African sides couldn't achieve in the past.Finally they have lived up to potential and one of the main reasons is the rise of Dale Steyn,who is a genuinely fast, if slightly raw, bowler, who moves the ball away from right-handers, Steyn sprints to the wicket and hurls the ball down with aggression, and often follows with a snarl or side for the batsman.Before the series Mathew Hayden quoted that Dale Steyn will be tested,but from what has happened in this series we can say that he has passed the test and Maththew Hayden have failed it.
In September 2008, Steyn was named the ICC's Test Player of the Year, taking 86 wickets at an average of just 18.10 in the 14 Test matches he played during the period in consideration.This rise was expected by the SA selectors as they knew the potential this man has.Dale Steyn's rise to national selection was rapid, being picked in the side for the first Test against England in December 2004 little more than a season after making his first-class debut.but it's since the last one and half years that he has really taken off and taken the world by storm,he's currently #2 in ICC Test bowling rankings behind the all time great Murali,it'll be hard to catch Murali but seeing his rise we can never write him off