Kangaroo Curry for Dinner...

As an unbiased and ardent fan of the game of Cricket, what I saw yesterday was the best that the Gods of Cricket could ever bestow on me. On the soils of Wanderers at Johannesburg, Aussies after pilling up the unprecedented total in the history of the ODIs would have never thought that proteas with their intransigent self-credence and astounding temperament would thrash the record right under their nose.

Cricket is not only a mind game but a heart game too and it was probably the sentiments of the South Africans that kept pricking them and finally saw them scrap though in front of their people and their soil. At this level of the game, it no more matters as how deftly you handle your side or how well you train them, more than that, what matters most is how much you believe in yourself or how well you have tweaked your team to give them that edge which prepares them mentally than anything else, to fight the best in the business. Australia as a matter of fact, had nothing special to canon-fire in their bowling department and the dropped catch by Bracken only diminished their chances to win the series, having won the last two ODIs after losing the first 2 in the 5-game series. For South Africans, the more I say nothing it is! Their winning the series decider by scoring 438 runs in the second innings, zips up my mouth and I find myself with no words to comment on their commendable victory, the unprecedented, and the improbable.

As an equalitarian by nature, South Africans have always been my favorite when compared to Australians, and going by the same idea, West Indians compared to South Africans. Definitely, it’s the spirit of game which matters at the end of the day rather than players who are here today, but who knows if they will be there tomorrow again.

Lastly, I was moved by the kind gesture shown by one of the greatest players in the game, Ricky Ponting the Australian Skipper, when he handed over the joint man of the match title (conferred jointly on Ponting and Gibbs)to Herschel Gibbs.

Now to add to this entire whim, I have this final thought. With shorter boundaries, more all rounders and flatter wickets, Cricket has really moved on. Certainly. Give them sometime and you will hear someone yelling “Shit! They couldn’t manage a mere 78 runs in last 5 over”. My condolences to all McGraths and Akhtars.

PS: As I plan to stop here, I hear the news about India defeating England in Mohali Test by 9 wickets. Munaf Patel and Kumble doing wonders again.