Back to the playing field

The 1st international games of 2009 begin today. The somewhat traditional New Year's test at Sydney began today (03-Jan) a day later than usual - this is just the 6th time in the last 20 years that a SCG test did not begin on 02-Jan; and in 1995 it actually began on 01-Jan instead. In these 20 years, the SCG has seen 21 completed games (i.e. not including the one that started today) - Aus have won 12 of them, 9 (out of 11) since 2000 with just a single loss to England back in 2003. After last year's acrimonoues 2nd test against India with it's terrible umpiring decisions and the now infamous racism charges by Symonds against Bhajji. For perhaps the 1st time, the BCCI showed it's might in a full blown manner against CA and the ICC. BCCI's financial clout won the day eventually, with Bucknor removed from the 3rd test at Perth and CA dropping the racism charges on Bhajji. First time that world cricket probably saw money speaking lounder than the bat & ball.

Anyway, back to cricket... South Africa look to whitewash Australia in their own backyard and get going in their quest to be the new World #1. Australia have the 1st strike in this game by winning the toss and taking 1st strike on a Sydney pitch that usually wears down a tad over the 5 days. This time though, I don't think either team has the spinner to make use of the wearing pitch. Australia are really fighting for pride in this dead rubber; a team that this time last year was setting world records for the longest winning streak, is now fighting to avoid a new record of being whitewashed for the 1st time in a home series. But the going is tough for them with Lee and Symonds being forced out of the team with injuries. So much has been said about Johnson having to lead the Aussie bowling attack after such a short stint in the team, that I don't need to mention it again (wait, I just did, but what the hell... it was worth mentioning :P) South Africa are not without their injury woes - Prince remains injured and Smith is playing with a hurt elbow, but SA's batting depth coupled with Aus' bowling lack of depth should make it pretty tough for Aus in this game. Already Ponting has fallen for a duck, but Hayden is surviving and that should be good news for the Aussies.

In neighbouring New Zealand, rain continues to hamper cricket. After the 1st game was washed out, the 2nd game started on time only to be interrupted by rain in the 7th over. After drawing the test series 0-0 and the T20s 1-1, both teams should be looking for the ODI series to settle the scores between them. If the rain holds, this should an interesting series between rank 5 (New Zealand) and rank 8 (West Indies). Both teams have relatively young teams with some up & coming players to watch out for.

After the challenging fight that Bangladesh put up against Sri Lanka last week, the 2nd test starting today is unlikely to provide the same level of competition - especially with carrom-ball specialist Mendis after an injury layoff. The Mendis effect cannot be underestimated, esp after the terrific performance against the Indians in his debut series.

In other news -

• ICC have launched a ICC Cricket Hall of Fame yesterday and inducted 55 initial international players
• England appear to have a serious conflict between captain & coach; more development expected over the weekend
• ICC has officially acknowledged that day/night test cricket is the way to the future for test cricket

Goodbye 2008... Welcome 2009...

2008 was a very unique year in every sense of the word...
The financial industry as we knew it in Jan 2008 no longer exists, Wall Street no longer exists, numerous banking mergers have led to fewer names making it to 2009...
Terrorist activities hit the world hard throughout 2008, none more so than in Mumbai...
The World's most powerful nation elected a young & charismatic leader, a leader who has since selected a former Democratic rival & former First-Lady to be his international front...
The World's Largest democracy conducted multiple state elections through the year including in the terror-prone crown of the country, signed a world-changing nuclear deal and witnessed a controversial parliamentary vote of confidence in the process...
Yes 2008 was unique, and such a year of unexpectedness will probably not be seen for a while to come.

In the cricketing world as well, 2008 was unique...
The start of the year saw the cricketing world reach the brink of "war" as racism allegations & counter-allegations almost split the world... arguably this generation's best keeper-batsman played his last game... Warne's expected replacements retired over a span of weeks... India saw the end of 2 of her stalwarts... India got a single captain for all 3 forms; an energetic, youthful and competitive leader... a whole new spectacle called IPL was born... and flourished... national team mates slapped & bawled... Pakistan were isolated from the rest of the cricketing world... terrorism disrupted cricket... and cricket (much like everything else) fought back...

Controversies & tragedies were abound... but in the end, 2008 ended with exciting cricket all around... First India's exciting chase at Chennai, then South Africa nearing the end of Oz domination in test cricket and finally Bangladesh fighting tooth & nail for their 1st test win against credible opposition...
That was a fitting end to 2008... Here's looking forward to even better and more competitive cricket in 2009.

Happy New Year folks!

Addition at 03-Jan 02:00 AM
Cricinfo's Review 2008 piece is pretty good with multiple views. Check it out at:
http://eap.cricinfo.com/db/INTERACTIVE/FEATURES/REVIEW08/

Cricket... over Chai!

Where do I start.... I am an avid follower of cricket and as with most cricket enthusiast, the topic of 'cricket' inevitably comes up over lunch, dinner or a cup of coffee. Often friends and I exchange emails on various aspects of cricket - news, rule changes, ongoing matches, exciting players and what not. So, I picked up an idea floated by one of my friends and decided to try penning a Blog.

As 2009 begins, the cricket world has been turned topsy-turvy with South Africa having just beaten Australia at the MCG and taking series winning 2-0 lead. India beat England at home 1-0 and went upto 2nd in the ICC Test rankings, a position that India will lose to South Africa once the rankings are next revised.

West Indies are currently in New Zealand where both teams waited through a rain-interrupted 1st Test, followed by an interesting relatively evenly-fought, yet drawn 2nd Test. The 1st T20 saw International cricket's 1st ever Super Over contest after a thrilling tie. The 2nd T20 was more one-sided and both teams were level in Test & T20s as they headed into the 5 match ODI series.

Having beaten the World Test Champs in the 1st 2 tests, South Africa continue their stay Down Under hoping to make it a 3-0 whitewash at Sydney and become the new World Test Champs.Soon after, they will compete in the first international T20s of 2009, followed by the battle for the World ODI Champ title - a 5-0 whitewash in the ODIs will see South Africa regain the #1 position in ODIs, a title they are the only team apart from Australia to have ever held; last held in April 2008.

Sri Lanka have have travelled to Bangladesh where the teams have just finished a 6-day Test. No, they are not playing for 6 days, but instead have a rest day in the middle of the Test. This game was far more interesting than expected as Bangladesh went into Day 6 dreaming of victory and the Tigers stayed in the game all the way until past lunch on Day 6. A sad case of so-near-yet-so-far. The 2nd Test follows in the new year.

Early 2009 will see some more exciting cricketing action:

• In Jan, Zimbabwe travel to Bangladesh and join the hosts and Sri Lanka in a tri-series.
• Zimbabwe stay on in Bangladesh for the clash of the ODI minnows.
• Sri Lanka travel to Pakistan after the Indian government refused to approve India's tour.
• In Feb, New Zealand travel back across the Tasman Sea to complete their tour of Australia.
• From Feb onwards, England clash with hosts West Indies in 4 Tests and 5 ODIs.
• And most importantly, the top 2 Test nations will clash again.

With so much to look forward to, we sure have a lot to talk about Cricket... over Chai!