Memoirs of an aspiring cricket journalist- Part 1

They say that a transition from student life to corporate life is a shocker for a fresher. We are so used to being around with friends, hanging out in the college cafeteria, sitting in class and chatting away to glory or even perhaps bunking lectures and pushing off to the nearest multiplex to catch the latest movie.

When we are suddenly in a workplace, all these seems to be a thing of the past. With no familiar faces around, we almost feel as if we are in a different planet altogether. But, if you enjoy your work, then none of these will matter, and that is what I have found out in my first week of corporate life.

Being surrounded by friendly colleagues, who are more like friends who assisted me whenever I needed them, made me feel at home right from the moment I set foot at Cricbuzz.

I've always maintained that I wanted to get into something related to cricket. After having given up the game(for good or bad I don't know), 4 years ago, I knew that my only chance to enter the dabbling world of cricket, would be is by getting involved with the technicalities of the game, writing about it or even perhaps taking up umpiring.

I had the flair for the game since I was probably 2 yrs old, sitting on my Father's or grandfather's lap, and gathering all the action into my bald little head. So I am now accustomed to every inch of terminologies.

I took up umpiring as a hobby, did a few matches at my cricket club ,when I was 13 yrs old and toop up the exam conducted by the KSCA a couple of months ago.

As always, I just glanced through the rule book, the manner in which I would do for my engineering exams. This "RESULT" did not give me shivers and I was as happy as a guy who would come out of an IIT-JEE exam knowing for sure that he would clear it.

Just imagine sitting and writing an exam inside the players pavilion, at a venue having some rich cricketing heritage, surrounded by all the cricketing memrobilia, as compared to writing an exam in an exam hall at the University, with 2 or 3 invigilators scrutinizing every move just like the way the immigration officials in the US frisk every passenger.

Anyways coming back to this, I wasn't surprised when I got a call from the KSCA saying, I had cleared the exam and was duly called in to attend the viva voce and the practical session. Perhaps the rules and regulations in the BCCI is as old as India perhaps. Maybe Simon Taufel wouldn't be Simon Taufel if he was born in India, but then I would still give it a crack a couple of years down the line!

Is Test Cricket really dying??

The hottest topic of discussion amongst the cricketing fraternity these days seems to hinge on the 5 day game for some strange reason. Over the course of time, ever since its inception in the 1860's, cricket has undergone evolution just like any other sport. Today the game has become so commercialised that we often wonder if test cricket would survive the onslaught of the T20.

They say that T20 is a young man's game and those who have been born and bred playing the longer version of the game don't belong to cricket's latest baby. For a fact, it was these so called "test match batsman" who did exceedingly well on the seaming and bouncy South African wickets during the 2nd season of the IPL.

The likes of Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis proved it to everyone beyond doubt that the test cricket is the pinnacle of the Gentleman's game and the other versions of cricket are just an adaptation of the longer version.

The cricketing culture these days seems to have changed completely. These days its a common sight to see budding young cricketers talk about which IPL team they would like to represent rather representing their country. The value of earning a test match cap is soon deteriorating and that is a big cause of concern.

The best solution to tackle this growing threat of T20 cricket is to introduce a world test match league/championships on the home and away basis, which would provide some much needed oxygen and some spice to test cricket.

India,Australia and England are the only nations that have witnessed full houses for test match cricket over the years. No wonder international cricket seems to be revolving around these countries. The Ashes series of 2005 ,Border Gavaskar series last year which would now be remembered for the infamous Sydney test, and the current Ashes series has proved beyond doubt that test match cricket is here to stay. Watching Anderson bowl on that Edgbaston wicket last week was an indication that the art of swing bowling was well and truly alive and brought back memories of young Wasim and Waqar charging in to bowl.

The system needs a rethink but its certainly outrageous to think that the format of the game which has produced legends like Sir Don Bradman,Sir Garfield Sobers and Sunil Gavaskar will be forgotten. Test cricket is the true test of character and fitness and no amount of money nor commercial interest can take away the beauty of test match cricket. Won't it be a sad sight to see young bowlers running in to bowl with a third man and deep point straight away?

The ICC had been mulling for sometime about the possibility of Day Night test matches. But this move is widely touted to fail as it would take out the early advantage for the bowling team as they would not be able to make use of the moisture on the wicket, resulting in dead and placid wickets which would be enough to put the crowds to sleep.

The move would just backfire and the tradition of test match cricket would be changed forever.

What would you call the 3 breaks? (Dinner,Drinks and Stumps? !!). Bizarre!!

Bollywood's new trademark!

They say that only 2 products sell in India, one is cricket and the other is Bollywood. The word "sell" has been made a literal term these days, seeing the way bollywood evolve in the manner it has over the past few years. While on one side there are the dedicated breed of Actors like Aamir Khan who prefer quality over quantity,we also find another set who believe in setting a record of doing the most number of movies in a year(You know who I am talking about!).

Those who have grown up watching the likes of Amitabh Bachchan doing mercurial roles in Sholay,Coolie,Deewar and Don to name a few would be absolutely at loss of words seeing the type of movies being made today,and by loss of words I mean outraged! The kind of movies being made today are just killing the art of 'acting'.

There was a time when you weren't considered a good actor,if the movie did not run in the theatres. But these days,there are different yardsticks to measure the 'ACTING SKILLS' of an individual. Whether the movie runs or no,whether the cash registers ring or no,you are considered a good actor only if you are a good KISSER! So in general,its a safe bet to say that good kissers make good actors.

While on one hand we have the industry crying out loud saying we should not even compare our film awards to the Ocsars because of the visible cultural difference, some others go any mile under this clause of "the script demands the scene" to do the kind of roles that would that would make us redefine the word called 'FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT'. Gone are those times where a kiss would be as rare as sighting the haley's comet. These days movies are incomplete without the so called intimate scenes whether it is needed or no. Its considered below dignity for a few actors in todays industry if they don't kiss on screen!

Whats worse is to see the industry divided into the so called 'CAMPS'. Like the Yashraj camp, Bhatt camp and so on. A certain group of actors not willing to move out of their comfort zones. While some actors redefine the word versatality,some others simply don't want to move out of their comfort zones. It was appalling to watch the recently concluded IIFA Awards in Macau. Its now been presumed that the Bachchan family is the first family of Bollywood, right?

So it was only obvious that the 'Actress of the Millenium Award' go to the Bachchan Bahu,while some other genuine and talented entertainers who had a huge impact on the audience like Madhuri Dixit and Rani Mukherji were ignored. One thing's for sure, to make it big in B town, you need to decide which camper you want to be, or marry into a bollywood family. If not for these two, you have to be exceptionally skilled. Is it right to wonder if the so called Acting schools are imparting the right lessons these days?

Probably the only people who have the right to define the role of versatality can be Naseeruddin Shah or Kirron Kher. Oh heck ,how can I forget our own Aamir Khan!!

Is India really serious about the 2010 CommonWealth Games?

Since I am used to blogging on sport related topics, I thought this was something all we sport lovers of this country need to address.

Many of us must have witnessed/seen/heard of the rousing success of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Sydney. It was hosted with the highest degree of professionalism and to perfection. Minor glitches are a part of every event but this event was spotless. When it was announced that New Delhi would host the games in 2010, I was filled with a sense of pride, just like my fellow countrymen that an event of such magnitude was coming to our country,and it would be the perfect platform to showcase our culture,talent and an excuse to build our existing and pathetic sports infrastructure. The Govt took all the accolades and lauded the Indian Olympic Association for rightfully securing the hosting rights, a compliment which Suresh Kalmadi took with a lot of honour. He promised to the entire nation that day,that the event in Delhi in 2010 would be the best ever. 3 years down the line,one gets the doubt if the event will be held in India at all?

What bigger disgrace can we as citizens of India face? The Commonwealth Games in Delhi being awarded to some other country just because our infrastructure is shoddy? There is no bigger humiliation for us as a nation if we fail to host the event and match it upto international standards,like the way it was done in Sydney,if not better it. The promise made in 2006 seems to be fading by the minute. Mr Kalmadi has the audosity to still say that all the projects are on track,while its so clearly visible that not even half of the construction work on any of the stadiums is complete. The metro rail work has hit a roadblock thanks to some finest bit of civil engineering marvel undertaken by the DMRC. Is it safe to say that they could learn a thing or too from the Hindusthan Construction Company which recently inaugrated the Bandra Worli Sea Link?

The Indian Govt has not even acknowledged the fact that the CG Games will be a pride to the nation. They are blindly trusting Mr Kalmadi's words, and he is doing nothing,but just hoodwinking the public into believing some serious work is going on!

Its for all of us to see the standards we have stooped down to. When the IPL was moved out of India, the General Elections was given as the reason why they could not provide security to the star studded league. Now what excuse will they make? That the CG Games be moved to some other country on the lines of infrastructure? Some of the projects have hit a roadblock and time is running out. With less than 9 months to go for the event to kick off, its safe to assume that it is going to be a big heart break, a rude shock and a slap on our faces. We as citizens of India will be deprived of an event,that will put us on the world map,when it comes to olympic sports!!

Even as we speak,there is news that the Govt is yet to clear funds for the road work adjacent to the stadium!! What a shame!!!