Talking of LBWs

There is something about the LBW that makes cricket probably the most subjective sport/game around. After having done years of umpiring at reasonably varied levels, I am yet to come across

(a) a batsman who does not complain about his LBW dismissal and
(b) a bowler who does not complain about his LBW appeal being turned down

Even the greatest are susceptible to this as I saw over the weekend.

There was the bowler who felt thoroughly aggrieved when I turned down his appeal against the marauder. What can I do if the ball pitched outside leg stump?

And then the marauder himself seems to have indicated that the title of the last post should never have been - as he had 'supposedly' played the ball before it hit his pads...

There are LBW complaints and there are LBW complaints.

Next!!

Jayasuriya lbw Dharmichand 102 (Given out by...)

That is precisely what happened on Saturday.

The consummate player that he is, he reduced some of the best Singapore bowlers to pie-chuckers (thanks KP for the term!) when he thrashed something like 242 runs in about 100 balls over two innings today in the IA 20/20 Olam Cup tournament.

After thrashing everybody out of sight at IA for his second century of the day, the marauder got a bit tired and missed a wrong 'un from Dharmi leaving me with an easy decision. (giving me yet another topic to boast to my grand-children - that is IF they understand cricket ;-)

That said, Upul Tharanga was a bit of a let down - caught behind off Shoib (again, yours-sincerely had to do the exercise of lifting the index finger ;-) He did come back strongly with two excellent run outs to push the Southern Kings back strongly.

Apart from cricket, there were a few things that could have been avoided...

The toss had to be delayed because the great man did not happen yet at the ground :-() - Don't remind me that anybody can toss for the team... such is our pandering to stardom...

Anand and I goofed up on the elementary counting of men outside the circle - resulting in a delayed no-ball call. Pressure, Pressure!

And a fair bit of the gamesmanship from the great man - when he tried to bowl even before the batsman was ready, not once, twice... but five times!! Happy that one stood upto him; but it was sheer nonsense. May be I should have put my ample waist in front of his two-step-runup? I think Sarika and Ramesh handled him much better today. To be fore-warned is to be fore-armed, definitely.

Reminded of what Sarika said, "When star players pressure you, cover the face!" (their face, mentally, that is!)

But the cricket was absolute fun; thanks Sanath!!

As expected Eastern Riders won the Olam Cup on Sunday - albeit a major hiccough in the middle order after Upul blasted 84 in no time. Probably Chetan missed a trick by making Arun cool his heels when the two Oldies were batting in the end. Otherwise, East literally limped to the victory post - James was having a sub-runner, Harish: ditto and Sunder is no spring hare!
Anyway, it was a great two days.

Thanks to IA for arranging the fab event. Looking forward to the next one!

Glad at Gangothri Glades!!

Some interesting comments on cricinfo commentary during the ongoing Kar v Mum Ranji trophy finals...

"Update From Mysore - My colleague just got back to office from the Gangotri glades & said the ground is jam packed with lots of Buzz, Hats off to the curator for making such a CRICKET FRIENDLY PITCH!"

"Wow, what a match. This is called cricket at its best. Not the one like Ind vs SL @Hyderabad where 800 runs are scored in a day without much fun. This is exciting for me in Bangkok. Go Mumbai Go"

There were many more.
You can check it out here. (Hope cricinfo keeps it for eternity :-)

Two questions:

1. If 24 wickets fall in ~145 overs of play (a wicket every six overs), is that construed as good cricket? Remember 2003 Kiwi tour?
2. Are our batsmen so bad to have jelly feet, knees, not to mention brains, to see red when they see green? (what a horrible pun :-()

Corollary question:

3. What would have happened to the crowds in Mysore, if Sachin and Dravid had played in this final? Perhaps, Dhoni should have told that to BCCI; he seems to be only person that they listen to these days. Ek Whiskey, Do Masala Dosa!!

CCT09 & Red Cross - Deed Done :-)

Project Live?

Check.

First month-end OK?

Check.

India Vacation?

No check.

OK, India madness?

Check.

Red-Cross donation?

Check.

New Year arrived?

Check.

Transfer winnings?

ahem, er, well...

Quiz Winner prizes?

er, well, ahem...

Watch out for more emails...