A Happy Place

Scrubs is a fantastic sitcom which narrates itself through the thoughts of a funny guy named JD. JD usually has a vivid imagination and uses that to drift off very often. Given that he is a doctor in a hospital with the entire sitcom based around the hospital – its obvious that they deal with the morbid topic of death in a light yet sensitive manner. Now doctors as they are wont to – discuss patients on the death bed and they usually have a good inkling about when someone is about to leave for heavenly/hellish abode. And then they say that the only thing that can be done is to put the patient into a happy place. Jd – with his imagination thought of putting the patients in a room with clouds and lots of balloons – making them happy.

When so many legends of the Indian Team are about to leave the team – running their last few laps, one really hopes that they too are in a happy place before they leave. Firstly one hopes that the player gets to leave on his own terms and not because some fat failed ex-cricketer thinks its time for retribution. And then that the last sign off is memorable. We saw Dada go – announcing himself our before the start of the test series and then going on to hit one of the best centuries he has ever hit at Mohali. You call that leaving on a high. Kumble – knowing when it was time to go – when wickets were not forthcoming at the Kotla of all places. He quit on the last day of the test and came out to bowl with an injured finger. You call that leaving with dignity. The happy place is indeed that feeling of success or dignified pride just before you leave, with your head high.

We as a cricketing nation have been spoiled. If the Aussies has “If Lillee don’t get you, Thommo will”, we have now for almost a decade been lulled to believe that middle orders are routinely built with the quality of Dravid, Sachin, VVS and Dada with the opening of Sehwag thrown in for spicy garnishing. We have come to exect a Sachin-Rahul partnership to save us from 20/2 or the old firm of Rahul and VVS to laugh off a huge deficit and build up yet another of their triple hundred partnerships. And then to have Sachin blasting away where others fade into oblivion or to have a gritty Dada to fight off critics and the shortpitched ball to wrest away initiative from battle hardened Aussies.

We have been lulled into the belief that its our right to expect this quality – to be 4 down and have quality like VVS and Dada there at the crease. To have concentration and determination good enough to score on a cloudy day on a damp green pitch in Headingley and lead us to victory. Or to ground out a 240 odd at Sydney – while being in the worst possible form.Or to have some elegant shots to turn around a tough situation into a dominating one.

We should be grateful and hope that we ourselves get a chance to be in a happy place when they all leave the ground for good. Instead we seem to be in a hurry to see the back of champs like Dravid and VVS and the blasphemy of it all – even Sachin. Forgive us oh father in heaven for we know not what we seek. We seek a happy place for stalwarts while risking ourselves into a middle-order fresh and no where close to the quality as dictated by the Fab Four.

Its time we were genuinely scared of seeing a lineup that reads Gambhir, Sehwag, Sharma, Pujara, Badri, Yuvraj, Dhoni.. A middle order without the stamp of genuine world class.

Perhaps its our way of soothing ourselves into believing that we wont miss them – that we go round asking for their heads. That we believe that the pretenders are yet ready so that when they are gone we will have convinced ourselves that we did not really need them anyway.

One gone and three to go. 2-3 years at best by which time they will all be gone and only be names rich with history. Till then lets strive to enjoy every little drop of water in the oasis. It promises to be a long desert once the departure is all complete.

The Checklist

Just prior to the 2003 World Cup began, India were on a lean patch - losing effortlessly in New Zealand and generally having a bad start to the Cup with a less than convincing victory v/s Holland and a thumping defeat to the Aussies. Which is when Sachin took over and quite literally charged us through to the finals - with sterling contributions from Dada and the others too. But till that final it was truly Sachin's Cup. The final was another story of us choking in a final. I assume Sachin looked back at that, looked around at the young team that was promising to be so much and said to himself- "Well Never mind, I still have another go in 2007" and perhaps left it at that.

Come 2007 and yet again India were faltering but had turned things around in the home series v/s SL. But there was disaster waiting. First a loss to the Bangladeshis, then a thumping critical win against the Bermudans and finally the loss that kicked us out - a loss to the Lankans. India - one of the bets to win the cup were out - in the First Round. Total and complete disaster. Sachin had played his part in the exit by not contributing much. And thats when I believe, the checklist must have been born.

SRT would have been more disappointed than anyone else - heck it was his 5th attempt at the Cup and the runners up trophy in 2003 was the best he had to show for it. He could have had the Cup in 96 but for Azhar's dumb decision at the toss. He could have had it in 2003 but our nervousness was too much compared to the Aussies.

So then there he was - 18 years in the business, great reputation, huge achievements, many records, many accolades - but he must have felt the pinch of several things missing. Firstly and most importantly - the World Cup was not there. How could HE - the greatest of his generation leave the game without the Cup. How could HE - the best that India ever produced - tolerate 2 penny critics raising aspersions about his achievements? That he never played when it mattered? Or that he choked in Finals? Or that he could never really play in a 4th inning!

He had it all - but perhaps the thought was to put his legacy beyond doubt. After all, no one nitpicks the Don's record by saying that the Don never had to contend with so much cricket or with ODI cricket which corrupted the purity of technique.

And while the young team played without him in Bangladesh - Sachin set out a 4 year plan for himself. Yes it had to end with the World Cup in 2011 - He would win it in front of his adoring home crowd at the Wankhede. But what till then ? What would keep him motivated for 4 long years? For if he did indeed play till 2011, it would mean that he had pushed his body in international cricket for 22 years and across 4 decades.

So thats where Sachin decided that the critics after all must be put to some use - and out came all the accusations on a piece of paper.

1. Never Plays in Finals
2. Never saves matches for India
3. Never plays in the 4th inning of a match
4. Has never played under pressure (admittedly he laughed for a good 5 mins after writing this one down. After years of walking in to bat at 20/2 in test matches - cant take pressure was surely one of the best jokes he had heard)
5. Has lost the capability to play attacking cricket
6. Has never played at the Wankhede
7. Is not fit enough for International Cricket
8. Is blocking places for deserving youngsters to get into the team

And out of these - with the final aim to take the World Cup back home (so that stupid political protesters could break it again), Sachin created his checklist to start ticking off till he chose to take off from the Cricket Scene in 2011 with the Cup in his hands.

The last two years have been testimony to the pursuit of this checklist. The consistency and aggresiveness of his innings in England, the purity and reflexes of his knocks in Australia. The twin big innings in the finals in Australia to win a BIG tournament. The fighting 49 in Bangalore v/s Aussies in Bangalore to secure the draw. The 103* at Chennai to exorcise old demons. Sachin has been busy ticking off aims.

One only hopes he has a triple hundred written down somewhere on that list and perhaps a century to win the World Cup final at the Wankhede while Pushkar watches on.

Till such time, Shine on Sachin

Trukz

Just started playing this game and seems like a good one.

Trukz

Try it out.

The bores.

It was the 12th of March 2006, placements were on at IIMB. Placements are usually like a chaotic job fair where candidates jump in and out of interviews and superbly manage to switch between how consulting is the ideal career for them to how they are exactly cut out to make money for the ibank they are interviewing for. Sometimes people end up telling Citibank how it would be the greatest honour of their life working for StanC. Yeah - you get the picture - a high stress situation for all involved. That day I was through with my first round processes for HUL (the company that eventually picked me) and was waiting for an interview with P&G ( first being told that i was not on the shortlist - they had lost my form - then being told that they would interview me - then eventually not being interviewed at all)

In between all this, I was hearing news of the Australians having piled on 434 in 50 overs at the Wanderers. Looks like another thumping win for them we discussed and rushed on to the next process. Till Gibbs took control , till Smith badgered out 90 in 55. Till suddenly it seemed as if it was a match on.

When the last 10 overs started, the placements were already secondary - Recruiters, candidates, trackers, company volunteers were all in the TV room - watching South Africa - create history - willing them to win. Willing Kallis to get out, willing Van der Wath to get those runs. Cheering every boundary as if it was India beating Pakistan in a world cup. An apocryphal story goes that one of our batchmates was called in for an interview with GS India and he told them to wait as SA charged up against the Aussies. And when they chased it down we all cheered wildly.

And it was so out of character for the South Africans. South Africans are supposed to be the most boring cricket team ever - clinical cricket minus of passion. And yet there they were launching the best offensive ever. Creating conditions to have a bunch of Indians - some of us under stress of placements - waiting there and cheering them on.

South Africans continued to choke after that match - notably in the T20 WC against India and in the WC in the Windies. But for that one match the bores of international cricket had the world on their side.

Perhaps its what Graeme Smith brings to the game. The unbridled aggression and passion for a win, for proving people wrong. And that is exactly what he set out to do on 20th Dec 2008. A record run chase in the 4th inning v.s the World No.1 Australia in their own backyard at Perth.

And outstanding century at the top and with support from everyone else, the South Africans yet again had most of the non - Australian world cheering for them. As yet again they dragged themselves out of their boring mode to a interesting team that could breathe passion into the game.

First the 387 chase at Chennai and now 414 at Perth - this has been a fantastic week for Test Cricket. Outstanding stuff.

A slow demise

We all knew that it was around the corner - just a matter of time that it had to happen. Afterall the body could only take so much abuse. Yes the best patchup possible was done to prolong the lifetime but even then, one could unmistakably sense that the end was nigh. The bandaging could only do so much after all.

Some soft hearted people could not bear to look at the sight and suggested euthanasia, but our hero, the companion of the aforesaid was unwilling - An old warhorse he said, Will go down fighting he said. Irreplacable he said. In the past he (our hero) had chosen better versions and let go his earlier faithful companions but this time he was not about to fall into the same trap he said. That they would be together till death do them apart.

Some scoffed at such indulgence, others simply poked fun, some had sympathy - some mooted the idea of gathering funds to ensure that the situation was taken care of but eventually the hero stood alone by his companion.

The kindhearted ones amongst us, hoped that the end would happen altogether, quietly without much struggle but then such wistful thinking never really comes true does it ?

We then finally received a message saying "Guys, my phone is upset with me and refuses to work on any mode apart from loudspeaker. Hence i wont be able to take your calls"

Unfortunately, the phone was dying a slow death - because in truth perhaps our hero was too miserly to let it die with dignity and honour and outright buy a new one. But no - it had to drag on and on till finally it would stop working even as a pager.

But sigh - who dare argue with one's boss especially so close to appraisal time - so we now only sms him instead of speak

Here is attached a pic of the phone in slightly happier times - when it was only bandaged up.




This we believe was the drunken night which got the phone to this condition in the first place

The Final Flight

A bespectacled young man who confused batsmen by calling himself a spinner and did not turn the ball. A nerd who came up with a computer game on cricket - self titled ofcourse. Highest ever Indian wicket - taker. Captain. But above all a fighter who shaped his own career on his own terms.

If the wolves would have had their way, Jumbo would have been out of the team in 2003. Harbhajan by then was the first choice spinner for us. Abroad Jumbo was termed ineffective for ages. But Jumbo has not been a champion for nothing. He has not been known for his resilience or his fighting spirit or his commitment for nothing. If anything then at age 34, he refused to walk away quietly. He refused to remain a old 2nd choice spinner and he fought back. That Adelaide test might be remembered for Dravid's double hundred and Agarkar's six wickets. But for Kumble it meant that he was back in the reckoning with a 5 wicket haul. For he had converted what was expected to be his last tour down under into the start of a second inning for himself. He then bowled at Sydney to pick up 8 wickets in the first inning with 4 more in the second and had it not been for a blind Bucknor and a butterfingered Parthiv, he might as well have won us the series and bid adieu to another great - Tugga - with an Indian victory.

For someone who was expected to fade away in 2003, he came back strongly not only to be play a strong role in most overseas Indian victories but also to return to Australia as the captain. And he pulled off a victory at Perth - the mecca of fast bowling.

Kumble has always been a great bowler but he has been criticised for being non-conventional. He shrugs that off and soldiers on picking up wickets - proving himself to be India's greatest match winner. But at no point of time reaching the levels of popularity enjoyed by the Fab 4 or heck even Yuvraj. He was always in the shadows - but never shying from picking up responsibility for the team. Ever ready to toil and throw down over after over in fast bowling friendly pitches while a usually ineffective pace attack had done their no show. Ever ready to pick up the baton while negotiating central contracts for the players.Ever ready to do a job not primarily his - bat hard when the batting had collapsed and guide India to a better score. Ever ready to realise his limitations and fight hard to achieve above those.

His batting was a story of two parts - A useful tailender at the start and end of his careers and flabby in the mid. His 88 in company of Azhar at Eden was in the first phase while that awesome century in England at the end. Towards the end of his career he was a much better batsman than in the other parts. Yet again a testament to his immense commitment to the game. Rarely would you find a Kumble playing a nothing shot to throw it away. He would want to be there at the pitch and add to the tally so he and the other bowlers would have something to bowl at.

Commitment or resilience for Kumble usually is associated with his courageous act in the Windies when he came out with a fractured jaw and bowled to get rid of Lara. He typified the same spirit in his final test (fittingly at Kotla) when he braved 11 stitches and an ungainly bandage to come out and contain the Aussies and pick up 3 wickets. His last wicket in Test Cricket captured everything that he was. He toiled for many overs to get the wickets he did, he showed commitment in going for a tough catch and taking it and then expressed his emotions with a throw at the stumps. But what made it special was that he braved the pain to get his wickets and came out because the team needed him. He was way off his best form but never ever off his spirit.

If Kumble was a batsman and had achievements similar to his own - he would have been feted as a great hero. Here in the sparkling light exuded by Sachin, Dravid, Dada, VVS and Sehwag we were blinded and for most part Kumble has been the unsung hero. However History will be much kinder and fairer to the man who has been the workhorse of the team for almost 19 years. A man who has won us more matches than any other bowler.

We would do well to remember that its the team which takes 20 wickets that wins a test match. Kumble did more than his fair share to that cause. Today at the Kotla, Jumbo landed his final flight and was on his way - as usual with no fuss.

Thanks Jumbo for all the years, for all the wickets and for all the memories.

Run Outs

Lets examine why run-outs happen ...

1. The striker calls for a run and zips down confident that there is one to be taken there but the non - striker staunchly stands his ground wondering how the hell the striker even imagined there was a run on. But hey give some credit to the striker who atleast went for it. For all you know the fielder's throw could have missed target and that one run could have been the difference between the win and the loss. But a runout in this case
2. Then there is the one where there is hesitation. Maybe - May not be. Bam by the time you decide to take off, the ball is in the keeper's gloves and you have been run out. If only you had started earlier and not stopped to debate whether there in fact is a run there or not - you could have made it and lived to die another day.
3. Then there is the genuine misunderstanding - the striker thinks there is 2, the non striker thinks there is 1. The classical - one-side-hoping-for-more from it all while the other side thinks that there is only so much that can be done here. And amidst all that confusion, you have been run out
4. Then there is the confusion caused by the 3rd person involved in the picture - the runner. The batsman might be injured, so out comes the runner. With it creating the ultimate triangle situation. The batsman might put complete faith in the runner only to see him fumble and be run out OR the batsman might not trust the runner and both might run together to the same end. Well thats just not done isnt it -The runner then ensures that the batsman is runout anyway.

So the key then is to ensure that you dont get run out at all. If at all you have to get out - it had better be that special ball. A random fielder putting a throw is just not done.

Movies

Lage Raho Munnabhai, Rang De Basanti, Wednesday. Different movies - yet a thread thats common to them all.

Gandhi is known as the father of the nation - admittedly I have always been biased anti Gandhi and see no reason to turn that around at all. However Lage Raho quite lucidly captured the essence of Gandhi - protest peacefully and victory will be yours eventually. If you are slapped on the cheek - offer the other one. Your lack of protest will eventually shame the attacker and he will give in. Yet the movie asks the pertinent question. What do you do if you get slapped on the other cheek too ? And Munnabhai promptly shows us the answer - through slapping him back. Non Gandhian but indeed practical.

And thats where RDB takes off from. Protest peacefully - have candle marches et al. But what when those fail? What do you do when you are pushed constantly. Thats when you snap and react and react forcefully. RDB showed the extreme where a bunch of youngsters could assasinate an incompetent defence minister. Protest violently so it registers!

And Wednesday - spoiler ahead if you havent seen the movie yet - registers a similar idea. You carry on with normal life inspite of all the shit that surrounds you. You are numb to blasts in Kashmir, Blasts in Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Surat, Delhi, Mumbai - practically everywhere. You stay at home - wary of visiting public places due to the threat. You put your head down and continue with life. But somewhere sometime the anger boiling inside - albeit slowly - will cross that high limit and then there will be hell to pay.

Maybe that anger will be all too visible now - for the government and the authorities will sense it and act visibly. We might find an operation that strikes at the heart of the likes of SIMI and IM. And then there will yet again be hell to pay. Because if the terrorists dont, the government will at the elections.

The corridor of uncertainty

A batsman in form usually rocks the scene with his confidence. He would not hesitate to take a swing at that long hop outside offstump even if its the first ball he faces and the odds are that it would go on for the boundary. The inform batsman has no doubt in his mind - he knows he is on the top of his game and would punish any loose ball. Hell - he would even come right down the track to top bowlers and thwack them over their heads without an iota of indecision.
Sometimes the swings might take the edge - but they would still fly to third man for boundaries. But the in-form batsman would take shots even on marginal balls and succeed like success.

It is when the batsman begins to lose form, doubts take over the back of his mind. When he takes his shots - they are mostly tentative pokes usually ending up in edges going in to the slips or that grinning forward short leg. In most such cases, when the batsman walks out - he walks out with a purpose of not failing. He would be extra cautious - not wanting to get drawn into false shots. he wants to get a hang of the pitch, build up familiarity and then once he is in - take his shots.

Yet often in that "getting in" phase - there might just be that one ball, pitched outside off in that corridor of uncertainty - the batsman aims to let go - deciding not to take the shot only to see it coming straight onto the stumps. Plumb and not offering a shot or maybe sometimes deciding to go for it but failing to get the bat down in time. Time to go and take that long walk back to the pavilion yet another time in his career.

Because whether in form or not, the batsman does well to remember the words of the wise man who said "You miss 100% of the shots you dont take!"

The Captain

He had been their most successful captain. Hell he had taken over in tough times from a captain who had lost most and had ended up confusing the boys. But this chap had come in - fresh with new ideas - firm on principles and high on determination.

Slowly but steadily he had realised that all this team needed was a bit of direction and loads of motivation. So he set about identifying the best talent - previously ignored and decided to put his weight right behind them. Soon the starlets who had shone in a couple of matches and then marched themselves into oblivion were suddenly back in contention. They were given an extended run - they were mentored and lo and behold they were topping the performance charts.

He had given the team a sense of purpose and belonging. A goal - a belief that they could mix with the best and give as it came. That they too could shoot higher than the rest.

And that transformed the team - that transformed the performance and catapulted the team into one of the best - into being one of the most potent teams - a team that could be relied on.

And the team now looked upto that man who had made it all possible for a little trust and belief had indeed gone a long way.

But today was not about the journey that had been. Today was about the announcement he had in hand - that he was to play his last series here and that he was to leave the boys to fend for themselves. That he had no other choice really in the matter - he just had to move on to his new role, it was almost a diktat that he had to go. And he expected the boys to take it on their chin and move on. But try as he did - he could quite digest the fact that this dream was over and that a new one had to start.

He went through his words over and over again - trying to finalise the ones he could deliver that would soften the blow. And just as he had the ideal words on hand, his coach rushed in and told him that he had broken the news.

The captain - apprehensive walked in to face his team - he expected a barrage of anger for letting the announcement happen through the coach. But the crestfallen hopeless faces were not what he expected. The young stars who owed their all to him, who thought their future was tied to his remaining the captain had taken it badly.

But the captain had to leave - his work here was done - the fruits were ripe. He had had his pleasure seeing them ripen. The sweet taste could be enjoyed by the successor - for the captain had other fields to pasture, a new role to crack.

For the thrill of starting over - the challenge of taming the unknown was something his kind could never turn down.