Day 10

Well minnows will always remain minnows. Canadians looked at one point that they will restrict the Zimbabweans and make a match out of it. However they let it slip and Zimbabwe posed a relatively imposing total. Zimbabwe usually look to bowl 40 overs with spin and thus watching them play is always interesting as they run through their overs quickly. I expected some fireworks from the Canadians given their performance in the warm up match against England and some late display of fireworks in the last match. However what happened was totally disappointing. It was really painful to watch John Davison trying to ascertain his superiority and failing miserably again and again.

When Pollard and Roach are breathing fire, no team can do much and the Dutch were no exceptions. Cannot blame them. After the tie, we have an hat-trick in this one and the WC has suddenly come alive!

Sri Lanka play Kenya tomorrow. Zzzzzzzz!

Day 9

Tumultuous, shocking! Took me this very moment to fully comprehend the meaning of 'Topsy Turvy'. We should have lost. But at least we did not let them win. The master blaster's wonderful effort, which should have been enough to ensure an outright victory proved only sufficient to deny the opponents what should have been their most famous win till date.

In tomorrow's matches, I expect Zimbabwe to open their account against the Canadians although not without a fight from them and I am rooting for the Dutch to cause an upset by defeating the out of form Windies.

In the end, all's well that does not end unwell!

Day 8

From what I heard, this match was one which I should not have missed. But today was a day I will never forget ever in my life and hence I do not regret missing this one.

But after many tiring days, I will finally recline and put my legs up and watch India play England.

Best of Luck to India

Day 7

Australia totally steamrolled New Zealand. Abysmal showing by the Kiwis. Right in continuation from where they left off in the series against India.

I had high hopes from Ireland and they nearly lived up to them. In the end, playing Bangladesh at their home in the company of a large and boisterous crowd proved too much. The Irish realised that in the subcontinent, cricket is played and followed with an intensity unparalleled anywhere else. Hopefully the 'other' men in green will only get better from here and cause an upset or two.

Tomorrow is probably the first really competitive game of the tournament.Watching the Lankans play the Pakistanis has always been interesting. Will surely catch the highlights of this one.

Ciao Ciao!

Day 6

Chris Gayle's tall claims came crashing down thanks to a some sublime batting by De Villers. This West Indian side looks out of touch and poorly prepared. Will be easy meat for the likes of India (let's hope it is) and the two associates will hope the best in their respective matches against them.

Australia vs New Zealand - mouth watering eh? But I have miles to go before I rest down and enjoy cricket.

Good night!

Day 5

It is becoming monotonous. The associates raise your expectations and then fail to live up to them. Dismissive feeling.

South Africa play West Indies tomorrow. That's one match I do not want to miss. I can vividly remember the opening match of the first ever T20 World Cup where Chris Gayle blasted the wind out of the South Africans only to get battered by Herschelle Gibbs again.

Cheerios!

Day 4

Well played Holland! Cheers to Ten Doeschate! SRK will be smiling 'loudly'. I am sure you will have better matches ahead Holland.
Pretty Exhausted. Have no interest in watching Pakistan play Kenya but will still hope for something special.

Good night!

Day 3

Anticipation gone down in drain once again! Zimbabwe should have applied themselves and sealed this match! But they look on the right track at least in the bowling department and I wish them well and hope that they spring up an upset. I bet the ICC officials are smiling.

On day 4, Pakistan play Kenya - I expect the Kenyans to do an encore of their performance against the Black Caps, and the Dutch play the English (one might call it a north sea rivalry!) amidst memories of the Twenty20 world cup match in Lord's, 2009. Ten Doeschante will be looking to show that his signing by KKR was a good deal and more Dutch players would be looking at this cup as an opportunity to bag IPL contracts as well as county stints. Best of luck to the Orange boys!

Bon Nuit and Au Revoir!

Day 2

After a brief resistance at the start of the innings, just when I thought that the Kenyans were getting any better at the gentlemen's game, they collapsed like a pack of cards (or for that matter like cycles in a cycle stand). I know this sounds cliche but the way the Kenyan batting unfolds is a cliche as well and hence I have not bothered to find a better term.

The first game got over even before the second was about to start. In the other game of the day, technically both the teams were playing on home grounds - the Canadian team is comprised of Indian, Pakistani and Lankan expatriates. I was not expecting anything out of the ordinary from the Canadians but I hoped that in chasing a big target, John Davison would come up with another one of his blistering knocks (the one which we have been waiting for since the match against the West Indians in WC 2003). Alas I can only say that this cup was an opportunity for the Canadian players to enjoy a trip to their home at their board's expense.
Such performances more than provide an excuse for the ICC's decision of banning associates from future editions of the world cup. I hope that the Irish and the Dutch prove the ICC wrong and cause a few upsets here.

Among other things, Somdev Devvarman, India's lone hope in tennis meets Roger Federer in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships and I just feel proud that an Indian is competing in a field that comprises of Fedex and Djoker. Being an ardent fan of Federer, I honestly do not know whom to support! But I guess it does not matter who I cheer for and I am happy to know that I will not cry myself to sleep if Federer loses.

Meanwhile Day 3 is another don't care day where Australia play Zimbabwe. The Zimbabweans beat the Aussies in a Twenty20 world cup match in South Africa in 2007 and I hope that we at least get to see a contest. Nothing is more exhilarating than seeing fringe players from weaker teams rise to the occasion and push the bar right up by playing the tournament of their lives - because that is what makes history and that is what the world cup is for!

Adios \m/

Day 1

I missed the action! And I feel violated. The Bangladeshis could not match an imposing total of three hundred and seventy runs. They had done their homework well and planned for the master but forgot to do so for his apprentice destroyer.

I pity myself that I could not resist the urge to sleep on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. No more afternoon naps during this world cup. Especially not on match days!

The Canadians play the Lankans and the New Zealanders take on the Kenyans tomorrow on day two. Could I be more interested?

Daffodils

Another poem that has been doing the rounds of my mind these days is Daffodils by William Wordsworth. Poetry appreciation is not really my forte but whenever I come across such beautiful poems I feel that I should have studied the English language with a lot more interest.

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch'd in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's teacher

Some pieces of literature, no matter how old they are never become obsolete. One such example is Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's teacher.

Reading it again and again gives me great pleasure and I cannot help but marvel at Lincoln's astute observational skills and strong belief in morality.

He will have to learn, I know,
that all men are not just,
all men are not true.
But teach him also that
for every scoundrel there is a hero;
that for every selfish Politician,
there is a dedicated leader…
Teach him for every enemy there is a friend,

Steer him away from envy,
if you can,
teach him the secret of
quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that
the bullies are the easiest to lick…
Teach him, if you can,
the wonder of books…
But also give him quiet time
to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,
bees in the sun,
and the flowers on a green hillside.

In the school teach him
it is far honourable to fail
than to cheat…
Teach him to have faith
in his own ideas,
even if everyone tells him
they are wrong…
Teach him to be gentle
with gentle people,
and tough with the tough.

Try to give my son
the strength not to follow the crowd
when everyone is getting on the band wagon…
Teach him to listen to all men…
but teach him also to filter
all he hears on a screen of truth,
and take only the good
that comes through.

Teach him if you can,
how to laugh when he is sad…
Teach him there is no shame in tears,
Teach him to scoff at cynics
and to beware of too much sweetness…
Teach him to sell his brawn
and brain to the highest bidders
but never to put a price-tag
on his heart and soul.

Teach him to close his ears
to a howling mob
and to stand and fight
if he thinks he’s right.
Treat him gently,
but do not cuddle him,
because only the test
of fire makes fine steel.

Let him have the courage
to be impatient…
let him have the patience to be brave.
Teach him always
to have sublime faith in himself,
because then he will have
sublime faith in mankind.

This is a big order,
but see what you can do…
He is such a fine little fellow,
my son!

Greed!

Greed, for lack of a better word is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cut's through and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed in all of it's forms. greed for life, money love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind and greed, mark my words will not only save Teldar paper but that other malfunctioning corporation called The USA

- Gordon Gekko

World Cup fever begins!

There is a possible Anglo Irish rivalry brewing up in the subcontinent and this is a small evidence.

I expect to see the Irish in the quarters and soon in white colours playing their maiden test against India just like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

On other hand, Yuvraj Singh did not get to sharpen his weapons in the run slaughtering fest called 'warm up match' prior to the Cup. Is this a sign of the future things to come?

We have all descended from monkeys... And we are still descending!

- Navjot Singh Sidhu

The wait always seems unending!

Ezekiel 25:17

The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who in the name of charity and goodwill shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost jewellery and I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers and you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.