The friendly argument

Well its that time of the year again when the arguent about the football friendlies hots up, views exchanged on sites, discussion fora, press and other media and yet no concrete result ever emerges out of it all. ManU will be playing Malaysia today (even as the additional 39th game in the league argument rages on), Arsenal will tak on Barnet ina traditional fixture before heading off to the Bavarian lands to square off against minnows before returning to face some quality opposition at the Emirates. Now this might be a good outing for Wenger's youngsters to prove a point, (a really really minuscule one even though points are supposed to be dimensionless but still, a point) and the old ManU workhorses like Scholes to shut critics up, the utility of it all is still little known. It does give a chance for the new signings to gel with the team they will be playing with, the regulars to get into some action after a long break and the marketeers to make the most out of some susceptible overseas fans. (They would do better service to the Game if the Asian teams were making a reverse trip, training at the advanced facilities and competing against some of the best talents so that logic goes out the window.) Perhaps the only ones who gain the most is the bunch of public comentators like yours truly who get topics to prolong those coffee/water cooler breaks at office if not arguing about whether these games should be on air live, dicussing how Adebayour could have scored one more sitter. (Guess ManC fans will get to do a lot omre of that now)

And speaking ov live coverage, the cablewallah wasnt showing Ten Sports which wasnt airing Tour De France because a second rate team was facing a second string squad. ESPN was airing The Open where Watson leads the play from Retif Goosen (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/18072009/58/open-open-live-watson-leads.html) and of course The Ashes which sadly, due to som terrible batting display from KP and Bopara (while both have been called as limited over batsmen, noone would like to repeat that after today) was a dull affair. Why Strauss chose not to enforce the follow on, or indeed have a third man in place earlier, will remain a mystery.

Trivia - Noticed Sangakkara's helmet lately ? Its shape is supposed to make the ball skid off and minimise impact. Its indeed heartening to notice that Technology is coming up with something that makes the game safer rather than merely performance enhancing gadgets (No disrespect to the Kiwi keeper Dr Gadget .. even Dinesh Karthik used the same kinda baseball helmet) More so after the sad demise of Umpire Jenkins (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/8134885.stm) during a match. This should go down well with those who criticise Woolmers vision as turning the game into a Star Wars episode. My personal take is anything that enhances safety or transparency (football has a lot to learn from cricket in terms of TV referrals. The microprocessor chips in balls to detect line crossings can follow later. Every major tournament sees a new improved ball that is closer to the perfect sphere than its predecessor and increases the woes of the Goalkeepers but that apart, no major tech aided developments.) should be vigorously looked into. And as far as performance enhancing developments are concerned, bodies like FIA have always laid down rules to level the playing field. After all, who doesnt want to see more of these 40 yard scorchers.

My vote for T450

What a test match !!! and what a platform, Ashes, first test ever in Wales and what a result ! If anyone said T-20 was gaining popularity because of the element of unpredicatbility, Test cricket goes one better because there is no fixed timeline for the end of the game. For the emergence of unlikely heroes, an oustanding performace stealing the thunder, remember the heroics of Anderson and Panesar with the bat. There's this thing about the paucity of time that has made T20 such a hot favourite with the audience but ask any Aussie cricketer/cricket follower today and they would tell you that Test cricket is too short. And for pure entertainmnent value, nothing in the world T20 championship got the crowd on its feet like every delivery that Anderson/Monty blocked.
While the cries for innovation have never been louder across sports, days like today will continue to reinforce the importance of the heritage, and embellish the classics diary.

Jinx ? naaahhhh

it was Chennai and it was Tendulkar, in that fateful test match in 1999 vs Pakistan, that gave voice to the hushed murmurs of "he is not a match winner". This should put to rest once and for all the thoughts of the doubting Thomases. There is nothing more the man needs to prove.
However, two men do. One, in the midst of a terrible and inexplicable slump of form. The other, having made strong starting claims to cement his place in the team.
The second test in Mohali will be a true test for 13 men, the two gentlemen above and the 11 KP chooses to step out onto the PCA grounds. Rest assured, we will be there to follow the proceedings.

On a day when talks of a jinx plaguing the EPL top 4 abound, Indian cricket has undone its Jinx with Chennai.
Ah, i so love Test Cricket !