Oz's in India
Well before the series had begun, the 'war of words' as they say has started. Ponting reasserts that his team are the real world champions (Did we take anything away from your team, mr.ponting?) and that the T20 champions will find it hard to cope with increasing pressure. They are supposedly peeved by the extreme celebrations that have accompanied our victory. If someone like me feels that all these stage managed antics are quite over the top, the australian team has all the more reasons to get irritated. Andrew Symonds says that his animal instinct has taken over after watching how humble the reactions to India's victory have been. Hope he doesn't rise to the next level of being a cannibal, when he takes the field!! Sreesanth, beware!
Heck, I dont understand what has really come on these players. Have they become possessed all of a sudden? Isn't this just a game? Aren't we supposed to be a sport, taking a victory in our stride and a loss on our chin?
NO
It isnt just a game. It is a game with a lot of colourful personalities, with pride at stake and with egos to be battered. Let the general paying public be a sport in taking the result of the game lightly. The athletes involved shouldnt. As Robin Uthappa said, fight fire with fire. If they are aggressive, you be aggressive as well. If they are subdued, go for the throat. Here is the most important point of all...Carry on the aggression, off the field. Dont let the opponent get near you, even as a friend. The Indian team does not require international friendships. Nothing else should matter more to the country or to the team, than a win and a series win at that. If someone hits the bowler for a four, let him make the batsman pay for it. Make him see some stars, atleast!!
In essence, the team should 'play to win'. Now, there are various connotations to the phrase 'playing to win'. But the only version of 'play to win' I know of, is to do whatever it takes on and off the field, to make the opposition limp.
I hope history does not repeat itself. Everyone remembers the treatment that was meted out to the so-called "Kapil's Devils" at the hands of the then superior West Indies in 1983. We were blackwashed 0-5 soon after winning the cup.
And I hope, the Indian cricketers really play some good cricket to back up their claims and verbals.
Adios.
Heck, I dont understand what has really come on these players. Have they become possessed all of a sudden? Isn't this just a game? Aren't we supposed to be a sport, taking a victory in our stride and a loss on our chin?
NO
It isnt just a game. It is a game with a lot of colourful personalities, with pride at stake and with egos to be battered. Let the general paying public be a sport in taking the result of the game lightly. The athletes involved shouldnt. As Robin Uthappa said, fight fire with fire. If they are aggressive, you be aggressive as well. If they are subdued, go for the throat. Here is the most important point of all...Carry on the aggression, off the field. Dont let the opponent get near you, even as a friend. The Indian team does not require international friendships. Nothing else should matter more to the country or to the team, than a win and a series win at that. If someone hits the bowler for a four, let him make the batsman pay for it. Make him see some stars, atleast!!
In essence, the team should 'play to win'. Now, there are various connotations to the phrase 'playing to win'. But the only version of 'play to win' I know of, is to do whatever it takes on and off the field, to make the opposition limp.
I hope history does not repeat itself. Everyone remembers the treatment that was meted out to the so-called "Kapil's Devils" at the hands of the then superior West Indies in 1983. We were blackwashed 0-5 soon after winning the cup.
And I hope, the Indian cricketers really play some good cricket to back up their claims and verbals.
Adios.
posted by Balaji Varadharajan at 11:55 AM
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