If you know me, then you know Cricket and Bollywood makes my life worth living (like for most Indians).
So, since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is on, I can't help but be glued to games and watch some unexpected results while wondering how the hell is India going to make it to the next rounds, all at the same time.
Let's talk about some games that make this world cup a heart racing, jaw dropping, unorthodox and unexpected series of events.
England vs Netherlands
Most of us can't even name one player in the Dutch team. They are a bunch of players who come, play and leave. There are no hoardings or banners with their names. They just play for the love of the game barely making it to the world cup.
So when these players play England, a country where cricket was essentially born, I don't think anyone pays much attention to wondering who'll win, the question is, how badly will they lose.
But then there are players like Ryan ten Doeschate. (Yes, I know his name now). Who comes and plays so beautifully, that we all as spectators are suddenly wooing for the underdogs, the Dutch, to win. Yes England won the game, because in the last few overs, the Dutch started showing their amateur roots but Doeschate proved, doesn't matter which country you play for, it matters how you play, and how much you love the game with a century and two wickets under his belt.
India vs England
Not to be biased or anything, but the world knows that the Indians can bat. Before the game started, it was suppose to be an even game, with either side having similar chances of winning, but once the game started Sachin Tendulkar proved once again, he is here to stay and how.
When Sachin hit his century against the Englishmen, the world bowed down, and the English felt helpless. That's the sheer magic the man creates around him. A score of 338 is never assumed to be chase-able. It has never been chased in the world cup. It is always enough to put the opposition in pressure, even more so during a world cup game.
But then again, Indians who can bat like there is no tomorrow, somehow forget every now and then, cricket is a game of batting and bowling. Yes Zaheer and Harbhajan are good bowlers, but we need 5 of them, or may be good 4 of them, and that's somehow never understood.
Strauss, the English captain, made use of India's inability to bowl and hit his first world cup century crossing the 150 run mark, making the chase seem so easy, that one actually wondered if any score is ever enough?? England, at one stage, were positioned to win the match well before the 50th over mark, till as it always happens in the game of cricket, twists and turns, or a batting powerplay in the last ten overs changed the game and resulted in a tie.
That game just proved that no team today truly no.1, like the Australians used to be few years ago.
England vs Ireland
The biggest upset of a world cup ever. Not because England lost to their amateur neighbors, but because a country who is still fighting to get its test status managed to chase down 327 in 49.1 overs against the likes of Anderson, Swann and Bresnan. Such was the joy on Irish faces, it seemed like they had won the world cup in their own way.
The Irish have Kevin O'Brien, who has proved time and again that cricket is his passion, and he will play till he can prove that the Irish deserve more than just a world cup entry every 4 years. The Irish did it once before in 2007 when they kicked Pakistan out of the world cup, and once again they are ready to prove that they don't want to be underdogs, they are here to play cricket, like any other test nation.
England on the other hand must be wondering if they are capable of beating South Africa who they face next on March 6th. All the weird games had their name in common, and it's probably time for them to think if they are surviving through talent or just luck.
There is still so much of cricket to be witnessed and I can't wait to see how this all turns out. There is no favorite team this time. Australia is no more the super power, super confident, invincible team it was once. And right now, the cup is a fair game. Anyone can win it, the question is will it be one of the test nations, or we'll be surprised this time around?
So, since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is on, I can't help but be glued to games and watch some unexpected results while wondering how the hell is India going to make it to the next rounds, all at the same time.
Let's talk about some games that make this world cup a heart racing, jaw dropping, unorthodox and unexpected series of events.
England vs Netherlands
Most of us can't even name one player in the Dutch team. They are a bunch of players who come, play and leave. There are no hoardings or banners with their names. They just play for the love of the game barely making it to the world cup.
So when these players play England, a country where cricket was essentially born, I don't think anyone pays much attention to wondering who'll win, the question is, how badly will they lose.
But then there are players like Ryan ten Doeschate. (Yes, I know his name now). Who comes and plays so beautifully, that we all as spectators are suddenly wooing for the underdogs, the Dutch, to win. Yes England won the game, because in the last few overs, the Dutch started showing their amateur roots but Doeschate proved, doesn't matter which country you play for, it matters how you play, and how much you love the game with a century and two wickets under his belt.
India vs England
Not to be biased or anything, but the world knows that the Indians can bat. Before the game started, it was suppose to be an even game, with either side having similar chances of winning, but once the game started Sachin Tendulkar proved once again, he is here to stay and how.
When Sachin hit his century against the Englishmen, the world bowed down, and the English felt helpless. That's the sheer magic the man creates around him. A score of 338 is never assumed to be chase-able. It has never been chased in the world cup. It is always enough to put the opposition in pressure, even more so during a world cup game.
But then again, Indians who can bat like there is no tomorrow, somehow forget every now and then, cricket is a game of batting and bowling. Yes Zaheer and Harbhajan are good bowlers, but we need 5 of them, or may be good 4 of them, and that's somehow never understood.
Strauss, the English captain, made use of India's inability to bowl and hit his first world cup century crossing the 150 run mark, making the chase seem so easy, that one actually wondered if any score is ever enough?? England, at one stage, were positioned to win the match well before the 50th over mark, till as it always happens in the game of cricket, twists and turns, or a batting powerplay in the last ten overs changed the game and resulted in a tie.
That game just proved that no team today truly no.1, like the Australians used to be few years ago.
England vs Ireland
The biggest upset of a world cup ever. Not because England lost to their amateur neighbors, but because a country who is still fighting to get its test status managed to chase down 327 in 49.1 overs against the likes of Anderson, Swann and Bresnan. Such was the joy on Irish faces, it seemed like they had won the world cup in their own way.
The Irish have Kevin O'Brien, who has proved time and again that cricket is his passion, and he will play till he can prove that the Irish deserve more than just a world cup entry every 4 years. The Irish did it once before in 2007 when they kicked Pakistan out of the world cup, and once again they are ready to prove that they don't want to be underdogs, they are here to play cricket, like any other test nation.
England on the other hand must be wondering if they are capable of beating South Africa who they face next on March 6th. All the weird games had their name in common, and it's probably time for them to think if they are surviving through talent or just luck.
There is still so much of cricket to be witnessed and I can't wait to see how this all turns out. There is no favorite team this time. Australia is no more the super power, super confident, invincible team it was once. And right now, the cup is a fair game. Anyone can win it, the question is will it be one of the test nations, or we'll be surprised this time around?
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