So, the NZ tour has come to an end. For some strange reason, it is being called a final frontier. I would imagine that no Test series wins in quite some time in Sri-Lanka(not in a long time), Australia, South Africa(never), West Indies(not since 1971)would mean there are many significant frontiers to conquer. Dhoni's team won and we must congratulate them for it but then, an alternate result is not to be expected between the No.3 and No.8 teams in the world.
Dhoni has shown remarkable calm and poise as a captain and very importantly, seems to have the complete support of his team. He has also at certain times shown that he is not afraid of criticism, his 8-1 field placing being a case in point. But, he needs to improve a lot, tactically. For as long as I have watched cricket, I have felt the most glaring evidence of ours being a weak team is our inability to set attacking fields. When we finally have a team which is stronger than most, I mean, there can be absolutely no comparison between us and Vettori's team, why do we shy from attacking. Why have that sweeper in place always, why not put that extra slip against fast bowlers or close in fielder against Harbhajan Singh when you need one. And for God's sake why repeat the mistakes Ganguly committed in Sydney in 2004, Dravid in England in the final test in the 2007 tour, and Kumble in Adelaide. Why declare so late?
More importantly, I think it is important to criticise Dhoni when he falters for I detect a sort of attitude reminiscent of Sachin Tendulkar beginning to creep in where he is too sacrosanct and any criticism amounts to downright blasphemy. Dhoni has done a good job so far as a captain and one day batsman and is a fine ambassador for the game, too. But let's give him what he is due, whether bad or good.
On an aside, despite the fact that he did not do anything great in the test series, my favorite moment of the tour remains a Virender Sehwag special. The first three balls of the tour which were all sent sailing over midwicket for sixes. Even though India lost both the T20s (who really cares), it was a harbinger of the things to come. And, I think the bashing in one dayers also contributed to the insipid bowling of Southee and Mills in the tests, they could not get over it.
April 09, 2009
April 04, 2009
The Historic Trip to Town Part - II
For as long as I can remember, I have always imagined my life as a part of a larger narrative, chronicled in black and white, in still photographs and in film with a background score set to it. Perhaps it is just that I have always wanted to be a storyteller that I like to imagine my own life as scenes from a novel or movie.
Therefore, in my mind the following scenes are recapitulated with elaborate camera movements and soundtracks.
Setting: Guy waiting amidst barbed wires and telephone booths. Dimly lit scene in the part of night when the dawn in just about to set in.
As she becomes visible walking out from her hostel, the initial chords in The Sounds of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel begin to play. The song plays till she walks up to him.
"What have you put on your face?"
"On my face?!"
"Yeah. It looks different. More shiny."
And something changed.
******
Setting: Inside a BMTC bus. It is still before sunrise.
The camera follows them as they enter the bus and take a seat right at the back. As they sit, Aye Khuda Hafiz from Yuva starts. The camera angle keeps switches between shots of them sitting together and shots of her through his eyes beginning at her face and down to her hands. The song continues right till before Lucky Ali and Alisha Chenoy get into 'wo wos' at the end of the first verse and ends as they settle into a conversation about bus rides with the final long shot of the bus turning at crossing.
******
Setting: Walking up Brigade Road
Dream sequence as he watches her walk ahead and as the guitar starts strumming in the background, he breaks into You've really got a hold on me by the Beatles. They walk along a closed KFC, cigarette shops and the Nigiris which sells imported mangoes(or are they to be exported?) as he continues singing.
******
Setting: In Kaycee's, a small South Indian place, one of the least glamorous and memorable on Church Street which was the only place to be open at that hour.
Dev Chanda Theme 1 plays out as they throw probing questions about respective crushes and those others who had a crush on them.
******
Setting: A figure with a lit cigarette and smoke in a dark room.
A deep, impassive voice recites poetry with only the slight disturbance of the telephone line punctuating it.
What do I want of you?
To walk away with, from the rest.
As in privacy, you discard ceremony
Let your thoughts flow in front of me.
Lean on my shoulders, clasp my fingers.
My love, vouchsafe to me what you have vouchsafed to none.
What no brother, husband, friend and physician was privileged to know.
Talk of all and sundry, vacuities, the pain of existence, the pleasure of living.
Life's big despairs and small glories, what at this moment you lie thinking.
Tell me the whole story.
******
Therefore, in my mind the following scenes are recapitulated with elaborate camera movements and soundtracks.
Setting: Guy waiting amidst barbed wires and telephone booths. Dimly lit scene in the part of night when the dawn in just about to set in.
As she becomes visible walking out from her hostel, the initial chords in The Sounds of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel begin to play. The song plays till she walks up to him.
"What have you put on your face?"
"On my face?!"
"Yeah. It looks different. More shiny."
And something changed.
******
Setting: Inside a BMTC bus. It is still before sunrise.
The camera follows them as they enter the bus and take a seat right at the back. As they sit, Aye Khuda Hafiz from Yuva starts. The camera angle keeps switches between shots of them sitting together and shots of her through his eyes beginning at her face and down to her hands. The song continues right till before Lucky Ali and Alisha Chenoy get into 'wo wos' at the end of the first verse and ends as they settle into a conversation about bus rides with the final long shot of the bus turning at crossing.
******
Setting: Walking up Brigade Road
Dream sequence as he watches her walk ahead and as the guitar starts strumming in the background, he breaks into You've really got a hold on me by the Beatles. They walk along a closed KFC, cigarette shops and the Nigiris which sells imported mangoes(or are they to be exported?) as he continues singing.
******
Setting: In Kaycee's, a small South Indian place, one of the least glamorous and memorable on Church Street which was the only place to be open at that hour.
Dev Chanda Theme 1 plays out as they throw probing questions about respective crushes and those others who had a crush on them.
******
Setting: A figure with a lit cigarette and smoke in a dark room.
A deep, impassive voice recites poetry with only the slight disturbance of the telephone line punctuating it.
What do I want of you?
To walk away with, from the rest.
As in privacy, you discard ceremony
Let your thoughts flow in front of me.
Lean on my shoulders, clasp my fingers.
My love, vouchsafe to me what you have vouchsafed to none.
What no brother, husband, friend and physician was privileged to know.
Talk of all and sundry, vacuities, the pain of existence, the pleasure of living.
Life's big despairs and small glories, what at this moment you lie thinking.
Tell me the whole story.
******
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