An era has come to an end
Finally, Steve Waugh has declared that he would retire at the end of the Sydney Test against India. This great man started his career against India and should ideally end it with a win against India. His career has had too many romantic instances to not have another romantic end. I am pained that he did not wait to conquer the final frontier - a series win against India in India. I feel this is a defeat for the most indefatigable character I have ever seen- the very fact that he is not waiting for the Indian series is a sign of a rare admission of defeat that I never associated with him. The century against England was so Rocky like- triumph of the human spirit against all odds. I remember the first time I noticed Steve Waugh - he was the ODI specialist who would bowl the death overs for Border's Australia. He was known as the Ice cool Waugh. This was the reason I started my relationship on a very negative note. I have never liked the bits-and-pieces players who are fit for some ODIs and are not good enough to hold their places in both forms of the game.Then he was dropped in 1990-91 after this talk about how he cannot play really fast bowling and cannot handle bouncers.He made way for Junior who immediately struck a chord with his stylish approach and don't-give-a-damn attitude.The 1991 Indian tour and the WC passed by without much to notice about Steve. Then, 1993 Ashes was the first time I sat up and noticed his batting. There was one match where Australia scored 600/4-5 dec. with everyone scoring centuries,Border scored a 200 if I am not wrong,Steve,Mark and Boon all made runs in that innings. I had seen this innings live on Prime Sports and started liking Steve's booming cover drives.Then, came the series against WI in WI.How could any team with a second string attack led by a nobody called Mcgrath win a series with double century partnerships from a pair of twins who cannot handle pace?Steve became enemy no.1.The Ambrose- Steve showdown did not help matters.I started appreciating his superb run collecting abilities,though grudgingly. He had been batting amazingly well over the years and was proving to be the right guy to take over as the next captain of Australia. People, including me, had been surprised that he was not the automatic choice after Border, but as usual, the Australian selectors showed that they always take the correct decisions and at the right time,even if the whole world criticizes their decisions. They have never been congratulated for what they did - they sacked Steve, people said Ponting would not make the cut - nobody appreciates the selectors after he won the WC.They delayed Steve's taking over by making Taylor the captain which ensured that Steve got a more well oiled machine and again, the selectors were not appreciated - Thankless job.
The back injury meant he had stopped bowling.The 1996 WC was another low-key affair for Steve,except for the SF against WI.Lara was going great guns and Taylor had no option but to go back to his best player- a stroke of genius,which only he could come up with,Steve bowled a 'peach of a delivery'- as described by Ian Chappell to get rid of Lara on 30 odd after he had creamed him for two consecutive cover drives timed to perfection.This was the turning point in the match and I finally acknowledged the genius of Steve Waugh's bowling,years after he stopped bowling.
Then, the Ferozeshah Kotla Test,the first under SRT, where he was the only one to withstand the dust,pollution and vagaries of the pitch to remain unbeaten in the second innings.He had made some statements about how the players should not worry about external factors and concentrate on playing cricket.At that time, he happened to be the only player who had toured the sub-continet earlier.
Then I saw lot of late innings fightbacks in the company of Healy or Reiffel or even Mcgrath at times, which kept cementing my opinion about him that he is probably the best in the business.I also started believing that his ODI batting is much better than what is made out to be.When he was made the Captain,his first series was against WI in WI. I realised that immediately after becoming the Captain, he had mellowed down on the field - now he used to sledge in a not so obvious fashion. There was a time when he was worse than Ponting,Mcgrath,Warne combined- now he was acting in a fashion in line with the most important job in Australia.The series against WI turned out to be Lara's series-the way he came back after being shot out for 81 in the first Test. Lara had been appointed the skipper only for the first two Tests. He decided to stamp his authority on the match- came up with successive centuries in the next three matches- to tie the series 2-2. It was only because Australia was the holder of the Sir Frank Worrell trophy that they got to keep it.I kept thinking, if Taylor had been at the helm, he would never have let Lara get away with his assault against Warne,Mcgrath. But, I got a glimpse of the toughness of Waugh when he dropped Warne for the last test. That was a big decision.Taylor would have never done that- doubts started creeping if he would act in an iconoclastic way just for the heck of it, will it be a case of egos (bruised probably after having been pipped by Taylor the last time- I was thinking on the lines of what Indians usually do).During the WC, I really started respecting Waugh when he decided to slow down the innings against WI to ensure that WI get more points and make it to the super sixes and they,in turn would go into the super sixes with some points in hand.Here was a guy who admitted that he does not mind being unpopular - his loyalties lie with the Australian public- they want him to win the WC.He doesn't give a damn if he is seen as a spoilsport.Then, the 120 against SA was something which did not surprise me, I remember being surprised at his stats when he was batting on 30 odd that day, that he did not have too many hundreds to his name.His batting was never a doubt for me - his ODI batting had become special by now.The way he handled Bevan in the semi-final when they were batting together was amazing. They were together in the middle overs and Steve Waugh was coming off this great century and Bevan was really struggling hard, wasn't able to rotate the strike.Waugh used to take a single off the first ball, and Bevan used to play out five dot balls. I am sure any other batsman would have gone and have a chat with him- but not Waugh.He just let him do whatever he wa doing and went about his business in a very cool and calculated fashion.
From then, he only managed to surpass himself every time he went out- whether it was the comeback century against England after missing the fourth Test and hobbling his way to a 100 in the fifth,the fighting knocks against India in 2001,some breathtaking knocks in ODIs against SA,the last two years have been chronicled by everyone in the recent past.
I think he is one of the best batsmen I have seen.He also happens to be the last of the set of cricketers from the time when I started watching cricket- Wasim,Aravinda were the others who left this year.
This is a change of guard as far as my Cricket watching goes- now I have graduated to watching Cricket for individual performances- I hate Team India but deify SRT.It does not matter if the teams win or lose, I watch cricket to enjoy individual performances. I don't get messed up in all the supporting my side thing anymore.
I guess this would sum up the importance of being Steve Waugh :
As much as I would die to watch SRT play,I would have only Steve Waugh play for my life.

Ahmedabad
I was back in Ahmedabad after three months,this time for the Confluence 2003. It was great fun as I caught up with Manish Singhal, who had become a dear friend during my stay at IIM A during my summers.Also made some new friends this time with whom shared lot of ideas. So, all in all, a very satisfying 4 day break from the chilly rigmarole of Gurgaon.I was immediately brought back to the Haryanvi realities of life when all seven of us were packed like sardines into one auto rickshaw with all the luggage,including two big packages from my loot of Crossword which is having a sale of upto 70% on most books till Nov. 30th.I have tried to kickstart my life again today.Went for a jog in the morning and exercised.By the end of day, tomorrow, I should also get some structure back in my academic life- challenge or no challenge. The lack of pacemakers has been instrumental in my not having any motivation to put in effort.I have identified one of the motivators I need and I had been looking for it for some time now,but managed to lay my hands on it during this trip to the Crossword,Ahmedabad.A Rocky movie.I bought the VCD of Rocky IV.The Rocky series has always been hugely motivational and has always managed to ignite that something in me.
I know,psychologists would classify this behaviour as a sign of weakness of character and too external a locus for comfort.I know it and have realised it that if I get spurred on by such external trivialities, then so be it. I am much better off getting activated by movies,people and books than be like a zombie without any of these things.Somebody might see this as a weakness but I see it as a humble realisation and getting the best out of the resources available.

The Final
Notwithstanding Ponting's belief about the crowd and how they can handle it, I believe the first 15 overs for India and the first 15 and the last 10 overs in the Aussie batting innings are absolutely important. SRT needs to be there till the end of the 15 overs, we should be through - whether batting first or second,Aussies will obviously be off to a flier, but how well can we contain them in the end is what matters - if we can keep control over Bevan if they are chasing or on Ponting,Martyn and Symonds if they are batting first will decide who's the winner. I have a feeling that if they bat first, it'll have to be srt,kartik (if he plays) and kumble/bhajji who will strangle the middle order.If they don't, we r in trouble. If we bat first, a score of 240+ mite be enuff if we don't give up trying after the initial assault of 100 in 10 overs.We just need to keep plugging away with slow bowlers.The minute we let the game drift, we'll lose this game.
SRT recently made this statement that during the last tour, all the batsmen were more worried about hanging in there and were not positive.He'll have to remind the same to himself and the other players. Australia gives the opponents lot more chances than a mechanical team like SA,SL or NZ who don't have too many geniuses who like to get along with the game, that too, on their terms.So, you have a better chance against Australia if you believe in yourself and decide to give it as hard as you get.(e.g. BCL,SRT)
For all you know, Zaheer Khan mite decide to get back to his critics and start delivering the goods.Whatever, today, the only two who can beat Australia are SRT and BCL.Cricket happens to be a team game and these two are still not Gods,so they need occasional help from their teams.So, please, Team India - do it for SRT.Just hang in there, for he will do the rest.

Hindustan Times
An editorial and a news article in today's Hindustan Times made interesting reading. The editorial was about Boris Becker's new autobiography in which he has claimed that 'men are not made for monogamy'. Then there was some interesting information about how even swans and foxes, once held up as examples for fidelity, have now been found to stray. The sole exception seems to be the unfortunately named screw-worm fly, which stays with its partner till death-do-them-part. There is a biological validation of what Becker has said because men do stray more than women. The reason being that women are bearers of the life-giving ovum(egg), the supply of which is few and far between when compared to men's sperm.This makes women more selective when choosing their partners.
Now, it all becomes clear right !!!!!
The news item was about how Delhi Police rewarded Sub Inspector Baney Singh with Rs 5000/- and constables Balram and Adal with Rs 2500/- for showing honesty in solving a Rs 25 lakh robbery case.
We have reached a state where one has to reward the black sheep which actually sticks to doing the job its paid for.
I am not trying to take away anything from these cops but the fact remains that we have degenerated to such decrepit limits and soon children would be reading in fairy tales and schoolbooks that you should never be honest in any circumstances.

This is called playing BLIND
Now I am attempting something which every Hindi movie hero ( I might have slipped on ocassions, but one should take note of the fact that I refrain from using the term Bollywood - we are a bigger Industry with more diverse movies and we are demeaning ourselves by calling ourselves a derivation of the term Hollywood) who has ever laid hands on a pack of cards does, be it Gambler (Dev Anand), The Great Gambler (AB) or any of the umpteen Mithun movies - I am going to play blind.
I do not know the composition of the teams, the weather expected, the playing conditions, the form - still would put some money ( of course even putting a smaller amount of money on a black horse can be very profitable if you are sure you won't crib later that you could have earned more, had you put more money) on one man named Brian Charles Lara snatching back the record that Haydos broke, in the upcoming series in Zimbabwe. If that happens, Zimbabwe will surely create a record.

A good day
Yesterday, I decided to spend some time by myself. Spent two hours in Planet M and bought two Audio CDs - Tehzeeb, Mannay Dey's rendition of the Madhushala. Then, watched two movies back to back. Pinjar is a very intense movie with a very powerful story and brilliant performances by everyone. Amrita Preetam's story has the punch and overall the movie is definitely one which a aficionado would be only foolish to miss. Satya made me notice her seriously for the first time, Jungle told me its not a flash in the pan, Deewangi ensured more respect, Bhoot showed class and Pinjar has cemented it - Urmila Matondkar is a very good actress when given good roles. I was one of the members of the Urmila Hate Clubs during the days of Narasimha, Chamatkar, even Rangeela. Missed Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya because I was not sure if I would enjoy any movie which has both Fardeen Khan and Urmila. She has got my respect the same way Ajay Devgan is running away with it with his acting skills these days. I still remember the days of Jigar and the other movies in which he starred with Karisma Kapoor, which our Cable guy in Varangaon was so particular about making us watch. Compare that with Company and you know what they mean by the term evolution of an actor. Manoj Bajpai has another very good role in Pinjar which he has essayed very well. Uttam Singh who is becoming a permanent feature in partition related movies has given somewhat familiar music (reminds me of Gadar) but picturisation was very good. Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi does not need any lessons in direction, especially after Chanakya. I was apprehensive about his adapting to a three hour package with no episodes. He has acquitted himself admirably. Full marks to the movie. Go and watch it.
After Pinjar, I went and saw Baghban. Its a cliched story which has been repeated again and again over years in Telugu and Hindi family dramas (Avtaar etc.). I have associated Ravi Chopra with the Aditya Chopras, Karan Johars and Suraj Barjatyas who keep making those emotional family dramas about loving your parents blah blah and rake in millions by putting in a lot of Ekta Kapooresque drama and NRI/rich families who have had everything fed to them in a silver spoon and have never had to work hard in their lives and loads of foreign locales thrown in for good measure to appeal to the aspirational aspect of the average Indian moviegoer and this formula keeps working again and again. Maine Pyaar Kiya was the only half-decent movie these guys ever managed among the three of them.Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, DDLJ,Mohabbatein were horrible to say the least. I have somehow managed to not watch Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Hum Saath Saath Hain. I watched some fifteen minutes of K3G on cable and it was a torture to say the least. This was the reason I had not gone to watch Baghban till now. So, I went yesterday.
Surprise, Surprise.
Baghban is a very old story repackaged brilliantly. AB is at his very best. He has the ability to pull off anything so well that I keep wondering why the hell does he make such bad movies at times. He definitely does not know anything about choice of scripts or probably he trusts the professional capabilities of his friends too blindly. Its to his credit that in spite of that he manages to deliver such performances from time to time that the audiences keep forgetting all his bad moves and remember only the great ones because they are so good that they overshadow everything else.
Hema Malini - Brace yourself for the most sexist remark made on this blog - Gabbar Singh : 1975, Me :2003; about the Same person; Same remark : "Yeh Rampur vaale apni ladkiyon ko kaun chakki ka aatta khilatein hain, re?" She looks exquisite, out of this world, amazingly beautiful. The Hindi with a heavy Tamil accent and the dance like movements even when she is walking are still there, which are an integral part of the Dream Girl package. If you are ensuring that the audience, which includes hard core AB devotees, to look at you even when AB is delivering a powerhouse dialogue, in the same frame, you can be happy about it.
The climax scene had brought together Salim and Javed together, though they wrote separately. AB had called up Javed Akhtar and asked him to write the screenplay for the climax, he obliged. Salman Khan, who has made a "Very Very Special Appearance" in the movie and has acted very well, called up his father Salim Khan and asked him to write his last scene. Salim protested that he was drunk then and was watching a cricket match. Salman insisted and Salim Khan hurriedly wrote down a few lines for him. Believe me, you can really make out the difference between a Javed Akhtar screenplay and a drunk Salim Khan's, which is not bad mind you. Only that you can guess why Javed Akhtar has done better than Salim Khan after separating. AB would do well to somehow ensure a patch-up between the two most brilliant brand managers India has seen.
About Ravi Chopra, he is definitely a very good director, a cut above the young turks brigade. I just wish he takes good scripts and makes the good movies he is promising right now. He is GOOD.
Overall, Baghban is another 'cannot miss' movie.
Yesterday was a very Good day.

Dravid
Irrespective of the result of the match, full marks to Dravid for his imaginative captaincy, yet again. Opening with Sehwag and then having Agarkar bowl later in the match is a masterstroke. Step down Ganguly. You have done your job. The team got the fighting spirit under you but now its time for a thinking Captain to take over.

Knew this was coming
With the kind of sex starved general populace out here (both men and women, mind you!!), I knew this was coming. The guys had to run out of docile girls some time and had to look in the other direction. Do not be surprised if you find more news on how DU girls assaulted some fresher from Azamgarh ( I say Azamgarh because I was looking for a small town and was reminded of the milestone shown in the movie Company, where the narrator says the two gangs are flourishing with unemployed youth doing contract killing and returning to the small towns in UP where they came from, initially).
So take care all ye guys in NCR.Take good care of yourself ;)

Cricket
In spite of his having shown no evidence of it in public, I have somehow associated a very rich sense of humour with Steve Waugh. Its on display in this article where he has described,dissected and analysed The God. Of course, there is still a lot of self praise inserted intelligently, 'he will be keyed up when he plays the best'. Talking of self praise, I have always thought that I can more or less predict The God's game and can tell when he is setting himself for a big one. I was happy to see that even the best Captain in the world observes those same things. Of course he sees one more point- the sliding in, when going for the first run and trying to steal a second at every given opportunity. Probably that's the difference between yours truely and the best captain in the world. Ramanand, check out his views on The God's fielding abilities.
This reminds me that a few days back JR and I sat down and made up a XI for ODIs consisting of all the great players we have seen.The team is selected not on the basis of who's the best but who fits the XI. That's why one might find a few names missing.The team goes like this,
A C Gilchrist
SR Tendulkar
B C Lara
IVA Richards
S R Waugh ( Captain)
M Bevan
W Akram
S K Warne
M D Marshall
A A Donald
D W Fleming
Subs:
R T Ponting
J N Rhodes
CEL Ambrose
J Miandad
M Muralitharan

We had discussed Dean Jones but I guess we forgot about him while selecting the subs. I feel he might lose out on Rhodes, Ponting on their better fielding (yes, they r better than even Deano)and on sheer fighting skills to Miandad, the Chennai knock notwithstanding. Damien Fleming might be a surprise choice for many - but the facts are on his side - he was the first choice for death bowling - WC Semifinals against WI, Mohali, '96 and against SA,Edgbaston '99. Moreover Imran and Ambrose are new ball bowlers and with Marshall, Wasim in the team there is no doubt who will open the bowling, Donald is the perfect first change bowler. You need someone good to come in second change and Fleming fits the bill.