The French poet, novelist and dramatist Victor Hugo bestowed upon the world an epochal quote when he remarked that “no one can stop an idea whose time has come”. On an intriguing second day of the 4th Ashes Test at the picturesque Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground in the staid town of Chester Le Street, the … Continue reading Victor Hugo, Chris Rogers and Chester le Street

Watching Virender Sehwag bat is more akin to getting to grips with the atonality of a rebellious Igor Stravinsky, than being soothed by the mellifluous temperateness of a sedate Chopin. Yet there are few batsmen in the world who can bestow upon their audience Proustean bursts of ‘moments bienheureux’. Possessing a style of batting that is … Continue reading The Atonality of Virender Sehwag

“XXX”; “Murky”; “Sleazy”; “Sexual Favours”……No this is not a concise review of an online pornographic release. Yet these are not words that one usually attaches to a game of cricket either – normally. But we are not living in placid or normal times. The former New Zealand international Lou Vincent’s damning confessions before the Anti … Continue reading Gentleman’s Game or a Middleman’s Playground?

Mr.Lou Vincent, When you made your sparkling Test debut against Australia on the 30th of November 2001, I happened to see the match live on television. I thought that your stroke play was dazzling. Since I am entirely bereft of the gift of prescience, I had no knowledge that in due course the dazzle would be … Continue reading An Open Letter To Lou Vincent

Thou art IPL, the very agonizing death of cricket The Faustian fiend who in bargains proceeds to revel; Offering nothing genuine between the wickets Alas! In you every cricketer desires to unabashedly bejewel 2.Thou art IPL, the remorseless butcher of the genuine A throwback to the times of Bacchanalian greed Beguilingly deceptive from what is … Continue reading Thou Art IPL

The contrast between the two teams preparing to take the field at the Oval this Friday could not have been starker – buoyant hosts (in spite of a fast bowling spearhead nursing a bruised nose) taking on a battered bunch of visitors boasting performances that would warm the cockles of their opponents’ hearts. What started … Continue reading Rahane the Cure for Kohli’s Woes?

“Do you know what my favourite part of the game is? The opportunity to play” – Mike Singletary Philip Joel Hughes was given an opportunity to play, and play he did! He played the life affirming sport that he not merely loved but lived. He played, insouciant to the inherent perils, inevitable praises and the … Continue reading Philip Joel Hughes – In Memoriam

The word ‘Chutzpah’ is derived from the Yiddish language and denotes the quality of audacity, for good or for bad. India and Australia epitomized this audacity in incredible measure in the nail biting test match concluded today at the Adelaide Oval. Michael Clarke, to the best of my knowledge is bereft of the gift of … Continue reading The Adelaide Chutzpah

Twitter trolls and Facebook fanatics alike had a field day, when riding high upon the back of (yet) another World Cup victory against a diminished arch-rival Pakistan, Dhoni’s men upset the apple cart by routing the much vaunted Proteas of AB De Villiers. While Shikhar Dhawan’s flamboyance contrived with a miracle bowling effort to stun … Continue reading Dreamy Eyes and Daring Deeds

The Proteas need to desperately assuage the Rain God of their presumed innocence. The Maker of Storms seems to be nursing a wrath that is singularly peculiar, and unerringly directed towards a successive bunch of hard working and talented South African cricketers. If in the year 1992, the visage of McMillan morosely facing up to … Continue reading Rain God Redux – The Protea Curse