Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Lal Mere Dil ka Haal he
main jab chota tha, mujhe lal rang se kch jyada hi pyar tha. laal kapde,socks, jute, blah blah blah. evrydng in red.1st ya 2nd ki baat he. i once went walkin wit ma mom.hath pakad ke chal rahatha.mom was also wearin red, coincidence he. a bull charged at us.we where only 100m away from home. a bull charged at us. i was scared to death.mom se hath chudaya nd bhaga.ran nd ran till i reched home and closed the gate.dnt even turn back to see wat hapnd to mom[:p]. after sometime mom came back, and said abhi tu aisa he, tujhe bas apni fikar heto bada hojae to kya hoga. lukily for me and ma mom, the bull was comin towards us. usdin itna dar gya tha main ki.i usually dnt prefer red des days. even till date lal rang se jaise thodi chid mach jati ho. [:)]
Kya Pata Kal ho Naa Ho
The phrase has gr8 importance in ma life. its smdng i have felt. i was good frnds wit ma grandpa(mom's dad). when i was a kid i liked him a lot.played a lot with him. we used to get along very nicely. i dnt remembr mch of ma childhood. jst keep colctin some vague memories from the photographs. slowly i grew. may thing changed in me. i dnt knw y and how, but strtn keepin a distance from ma grandpa. used to hate him. used to insult him a lot, indirectly. may be the teen spirit in me made me do so. i dnt remembr any particular reason fr ma behaviour. but i was cruel. ma behaviour hurt him a lot. one day he fell ill. i went to coimbatore to meet him. he was admitted there. when he saw me, he said am sory because of me you had to travel so much nd come. i dnt knw y but i felt dfrnt all of a sudden. ma attitude twrds him changed. i strtd feelin guilty. i was ashamed of maslf.
i came bak 2 pondy, nd was only tinkin bout ma next trip 2 kerala. thot i would meet him, apologize, may be. get things right and back to normal. finally the day came. i was on ma way to kerala. throughout the journey i was only tinkin about how to talk 2 him, what extly i shud say etc.. i reachd der. smdng ws unusual. there wer lots of ppl gathered there. i went inside. i would never be able to forget that scene.
all that i wanted to say or share is still within me. he left me, without hearin a word. without saying a word. if only i had talked to him before i would have felt better.
similar was the case with ma grandma(ma fathers mom). she was in icu. i was in good terms with her. happened last yr. when i heard she was in icu i called her up. ma uncle piked up. told she is very weak at presnt.recoverin. call tomorrow, she would be fine and would talk 2 u.. am still waitin fr dt day. that tomorow never came. she passed away that nite..
i came bak 2 pondy, nd was only tinkin bout ma next trip 2 kerala. thot i would meet him, apologize, may be. get things right and back to normal. finally the day came. i was on ma way to kerala. throughout the journey i was only tinkin about how to talk 2 him, what extly i shud say etc.. i reachd der. smdng ws unusual. there wer lots of ppl gathered there. i went inside. i would never be able to forget that scene.
all that i wanted to say or share is still within me. he left me, without hearin a word. without saying a word. if only i had talked to him before i would have felt better.
similar was the case with ma grandma(ma fathers mom). she was in icu. i was in good terms with her. happened last yr. when i heard she was in icu i called her up. ma uncle piked up. told she is very weak at presnt.recoverin. call tomorrow, she would be fine and would talk 2 u.. am still waitin fr dt day. that tomorow never came. she passed away that nite..
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Ma Affair with Cycle tests
Final sem here. First cycle test starts from tomorrow. and here i am, sitting idle, no mood 2 study. after 18 straight failures last sem i had decided would do something dfrnt ds sem. the only difrnce was that last sem i watchd movies and passed the time before exams, this time cricket. i dnt even sleep this afternoon. very strange. i love sleepin. bt i thot il study nd dnt sleep. 15 past 12 in the nite now, still sittin nd tinkin why 2 study. it was a dfrnt ball game in frst sem. used to get up at 6 nd study. used to get awesome scores. but now i am not able 2 get up, nd that 2 fr studyn. nowdys i prefer sleepin even bfre sem exams. ma time table bfre sem exams wer cool.
get up at 9. study.sleep at 1039.gt up at 1. eat. study, sleep at 1445 hrs. get up at 4. tea. walk or talk2 ma slf in the terrace. study frm 6 to 8 may b. nd then again roamin passin time. i cant sit idle fr more than 15-20mins at a stretch.
fr cylcle test even dose 20mins r enuf. but am not able 2 sit even fr tht mch time bfre cycles. god knows wat will happen 2 me tmrw.
bt i knw 1 dng. der r many out der like me in coll who dnt study nd cm. dy pass smhw.. il struggle..
panbu is goin 2 kill me
get up at 9. study.sleep at 1039.gt up at 1. eat. study, sleep at 1445 hrs. get up at 4. tea. walk or talk2 ma slf in the terrace. study frm 6 to 8 may b. nd then again roamin passin time. i cant sit idle fr more than 15-20mins at a stretch.
fr cylcle test even dose 20mins r enuf. but am not able 2 sit even fr tht mch time bfre cycles. god knows wat will happen 2 me tmrw.
bt i knw 1 dng. der r many out der like me in coll who dnt study nd cm. dy pass smhw.. il struggle..
panbu is goin 2 kill me
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Thunderstruck
This happened during the 2004 summer. i was in mumbai. had gone out with my cousin to some shop. i bought few cd's and was waiing at the counter for the bill. my cousin walked out of the shop. i paid the bill and opened the door to move out of the shop. as i opened a gal walked past me, she was in red top and dnt remembr wat else she was wearing. pure beauty. i was shocked. i couldnt move. there i was standing holdin the door half open, gazing at her. she was so damn beautiful that i couldnt take ma eyes off her. from somewhere inside ma stomach, a word "wow" slowly crawled towards ma tongue, i tried a lot stopping it, but it popped out and popped out loud. oh ma god, she turned back. AJ be ready for a tite slap. i was still gazing at her, she stopped was staring@ me. i exctly dnt know hw i was feelin. happy coz i saw the beauty queen or tensed coz the queen was about to slap me. bt she surprised me. she smiled and walked off. phew........ wat a gal......
How i lost it as a player
i used to play cricket at school level. many considered me as the second best batsmen in school. i used to love playing cricket. i could die for it. i still remember each and every minute detail of ma 54 from 25 innings after my eleventh exam. i was up against two quick bowlers. the 2nd nd 3rd best bowlers in ma school. i still remember each and every shot i played. how i made them think. every shot i ever dreamt of playing was mine dt day. the way i got was the funniest part of the match. i was the best captain in ma skool.ma winnin percentage was 90plus. i made really awkward decissions.but it used t work fr me.i never used to win the toss. out of some 20 or 30 would have won only 2 or 3. bt the bowling changes and field placmnt i made was really cool. i loved ma captaincy.
but those days are gone now.
i played cricket with that same passion recently, against b section. i was not out. score 7 of some 4overs i faced. all the blame on me for the lose. i take it. i dint tell anyone, but i know why exactly i was in such a patheic form. i was holding a bat after 2 years break. i was playing with a tennis cosco, as light as a paper, for the first time in my life. i used to play with hard balls. i like it when it hit ma bat hard and fast. i couldnt adjst. i tried bt i cudnt.
bt dt ws it. ppl wnt undrstnd. i was dropped from the criket triangular between a,b,c section. i am not sad coz i was dropped, it hurt me coz i play better than 90% of people who wer in the squad. i decided that day, that there are few people who i must show what i am capable of. i will let ma cricket do the talkin. there are two things i look forward to do when i join a company. join a gym again. and play criket regularly...
my hard luck with criket
when i was in school, i used to play good criket..i mentioned it earlier. i wanted to play regionals badly. in 10th i decided to go for the selection. the day i still remember, selection after school. our P.T sir gv the responsibility to a guy in 11th.anupam. ma bad luk. had a fite with him dt aftrnoon only. i was innocent.sm misunderstandin. he dnt even gv me a chance.i stood der waitin nd waitin till all left. no criket ds time AJ. but i dnt lose hope. quikly went to the T.T selection a week later. won frst prize at school and went to the regionals. i felt as if i gav a good answer to anupam. 11th standard. we had an official coach. he had to select the team. i was selected. phew. i cant rite it in words. bt i was damn happy. few days later i heard princi ordered dt no 11th guys could go for criket. we had to study. i went nd begged. no use. a week later basket ball team ws announced. 5 12 std students and 5 frm 11th. jale pe namak chidakna kise kehte he i undrstud dat day. i won interhouse criket dt year.bad luk no t.t matches wer condcted.
12th std. bfre the selction we smhw managed to get the princi in our pokets. the team announced. coach again selectd me as an opener. this time i was nly few days away frm departure. P.T madam called and said am not in the team.i felt like killing maslf dt day. smhw i askd her y.. aftr hearin the answer i felt as if i dnt desrve to live... 2 12th std players nd 13 10th std guys wer in the team. the 13 or most of the 10th guys dnt want me in the team. i dnt have ny fight or enimity wit them. we wer frnds.dts wt i thot. i dnt talk bout ds 2 dem ever. that day i walked away from the criket field. decided that would never hold a bat again. bt criket never leaves me.
but those days are gone now.
i played cricket with that same passion recently, against b section. i was not out. score 7 of some 4overs i faced. all the blame on me for the lose. i take it. i dint tell anyone, but i know why exactly i was in such a patheic form. i was holding a bat after 2 years break. i was playing with a tennis cosco, as light as a paper, for the first time in my life. i used to play with hard balls. i like it when it hit ma bat hard and fast. i couldnt adjst. i tried bt i cudnt.
bt dt ws it. ppl wnt undrstnd. i was dropped from the criket triangular between a,b,c section. i am not sad coz i was dropped, it hurt me coz i play better than 90% of people who wer in the squad. i decided that day, that there are few people who i must show what i am capable of. i will let ma cricket do the talkin. there are two things i look forward to do when i join a company. join a gym again. and play criket regularly...
my hard luck with criket
when i was in school, i used to play good criket..i mentioned it earlier. i wanted to play regionals badly. in 10th i decided to go for the selection. the day i still remember, selection after school. our P.T sir gv the responsibility to a guy in 11th.anupam. ma bad luk. had a fite with him dt aftrnoon only. i was innocent.sm misunderstandin. he dnt even gv me a chance.i stood der waitin nd waitin till all left. no criket ds time AJ. but i dnt lose hope. quikly went to the T.T selection a week later. won frst prize at school and went to the regionals. i felt as if i gav a good answer to anupam. 11th standard. we had an official coach. he had to select the team. i was selected. phew. i cant rite it in words. bt i was damn happy. few days later i heard princi ordered dt no 11th guys could go for criket. we had to study. i went nd begged. no use. a week later basket ball team ws announced. 5 12 std students and 5 frm 11th. jale pe namak chidakna kise kehte he i undrstud dat day. i won interhouse criket dt year.bad luk no t.t matches wer condcted.
12th std. bfre the selction we smhw managed to get the princi in our pokets. the team announced. coach again selectd me as an opener. this time i was nly few days away frm departure. P.T madam called and said am not in the team.i felt like killing maslf dt day. smhw i askd her y.. aftr hearin the answer i felt as if i dnt desrve to live... 2 12th std players nd 13 10th std guys wer in the team. the 13 or most of the 10th guys dnt want me in the team. i dnt have ny fight or enimity wit them. we wer frnds.dts wt i thot. i dnt talk bout ds 2 dem ever. that day i walked away from the criket field. decided that would never hold a bat again. bt criket never leaves me.
Sachin Zone
Sachin's profile
http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/sachinzone/content/player/35320.html
Sachin's career
http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/IND/MICRO-SITES/SACHINZONE/career.html
Records held by sachin
http://www.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/IND/MICRO-SITES/SACHINZONE/records.html
Awards Won
http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/IND/MICRO-SITES/SACHINZONE/award.html
Statistics
http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/IND/MICRO-SITES/SACHINZONE/statistics.html
Centuries
http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/IND/MICRO-SITES/SACHINZONE/test-tons.html
Articles on Sachin
http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/IND/MICRO-SITES/SACHINZONE/articles.html
http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/sachinzone/content/player/35320.html
Sachin's career
http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/IND/MICRO-SITES/SACHINZONE/career.html
Records held by sachin
http://www.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/IND/MICRO-SITES/SACHINZONE/records.html
Awards Won
http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/IND/MICRO-SITES/SACHINZONE/award.html
Statistics
http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/IND/MICRO-SITES/SACHINZONE/statistics.html
Centuries
http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/IND/MICRO-SITES/SACHINZONE/test-tons.html
Articles on Sachin
http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/IND/MICRO-SITES/SACHINZONE/articles.html
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Ma YEar book
SRM UNIVERSITY
Department Of Information Technology
2004 - 2008
AJEESH DAMODARAN 11TH JUNE 1987
Permanent Address With Contact No : – I would never like to have a permanent address, but still………
Berger Paints qtrs,
Opp fillo hotels,
Vinobha nagar main road.
Pondicherry-8
Permanent E-Mail ID /Blogspot :–
ajeesh.aj@gmail.com
spiderman_khnh@yahoo.co.in
ajeesh-aj.blogspot.com
Hobbies :–Playing and watching cricket, watching movies, computer games(AOE & NFS), talking to friends, talking to myself and SLEEPING.
About Ur School n Mates :-
I had a very bad image in school (from 7th till 12th). I was a rogue. I was against the girls of my class. Used to fight with them daily. Had lots of issues , many of those went up to the principal as well. Was nearly rusticated from school twice.
But friends I have made, few but forever they will stay in my heart. Rik, Somesh,Bijun, Madhavan, Karteek, Justin,Prasanth, Mukundh, Karthick, Rachna, Madhu, Shrujal, Chinmay, and Neha.
Any Unforgettable Moment Or Day Of Ur Coll Life :-
I usually went out with Swasti, Chandranika, Titash, Mahim and Nitin. This was basically one of the group to which I belonged. I have loved almost all the outings we had. MGM and Mahabalipuram trips are my favourites. Moments are many, but friends are few, the moment you would cherish the most, always come with friends you love the most. The life at hostel is also worth mentioning. ma life @114 was heaven...The journey from A block to B block, and then from 414 o 309. The nigh outs, the fights, the movies we saw, who on earth can forget that life.
Any Favorite Quotes/One Liners Tat u Would Like To Share :-
· Jeeyo Khush Raho Muskurao, Kya Pata Kal Ho Naa Ho.
· When we wake up in the morning, we have two simple choices. Go back to sleep and dream, or get up and chase those dreams. I would prefer to sleep and dream.
· Fuck Fear, Drink Beer.
· Better to understand a little, than to misunderstand a lot.
· If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again; it was probably worth it.
· Your kid may be an honors student, but you're still an idiot.
Any Of Ur Spl Friends Or Teachers Tat U Would Like To Mention About :-
I don’t have anything special to mention about my teachers, but would like to name few. In college, Dorothy madam was really nice. Back in school, I loved many of my teachers. Selvaraj sir, Sujatha madam, Giridhar sir and Tamilozhi sir were my favourites.
Coming to special friends, swasti,chandranika,titash,mahim,nitin,ashu,neeraj,ravi,animesh,sabby,bicky,akshay,partha, himanshu, and lots more......
Happiest n Embarrassing Moments In Ur Life :- I seriously cant figure out the happiest moment of my life. May be it is yet come. So lets move on to the next section.
· In 6th, I was once made to stand in front of the whole school during the assembly. I was punished as I was caught fighting. The whole school was made to boo me by shouting “shame shame puppy shame” thrice.
· My mom once threw me out of the house naked, and my neighbor saw me. (I was in 5th then)
· I was nearly rusticated from school once, trying to help my friend rik, who was in trouble. My mom was called and a psycho sir of mine insulted her a lot.
· I once started for college from my home, unzipped. A gal standing on the way was continuously staring down under. It was after I passed her that I realized I was exposed.
Anything Extra U Would Like To Mention :-
I once had a crush this gal, ma classmate(4th). I decide to tell it to my best friend then, Shrujal. I called him up and asked him to come and meet me. We met after an hour or so. He came up to me and said, ajju, I too need to tell you something great. You will be shocked hearing this. Then we started fighting on the topic “pehle tu, nahi pehle tu”. Finally we decided to toss a coin. And god curse that moment, tail was my call, head it was. He began, “ajju, please don’t tell this to anybody. Am crazy about her, I think I love her”. Shocking it was, speechless I was. Somehow I told him “ cool, does she know? Better go and speak to her about this”. When he asked what my shocking news was, I simply had to say that “I knew you loved her, wanted to ask you face to face”.
Slowly I started realizing that life is all about giving, to people you love the most, and hardly about taking.
Astala Vistala Baby… njoy life day by day…..
Ajeesh
Department Of Information Technology
2004 - 2008
AJEESH DAMODARAN 11TH JUNE 1987
Permanent Address With Contact No : – I would never like to have a permanent address, but still………
Berger Paints qtrs,
Opp fillo hotels,
Vinobha nagar main road.
Pondicherry-8
Permanent E-Mail ID /Blogspot :–
ajeesh.aj@gmail.com
spiderman_khnh@yahoo.co.in
ajeesh-aj.blogspot.com
Hobbies :–Playing and watching cricket, watching movies, computer games(AOE & NFS), talking to friends, talking to myself and SLEEPING.
About Ur School n Mates :-
I had a very bad image in school (from 7th till 12th). I was a rogue. I was against the girls of my class. Used to fight with them daily. Had lots of issues , many of those went up to the principal as well. Was nearly rusticated from school twice.
But friends I have made, few but forever they will stay in my heart. Rik, Somesh,Bijun, Madhavan, Karteek, Justin,Prasanth, Mukundh, Karthick, Rachna, Madhu, Shrujal, Chinmay, and Neha.
Any Unforgettable Moment Or Day Of Ur Coll Life :-
I usually went out with Swasti, Chandranika, Titash, Mahim and Nitin. This was basically one of the group to which I belonged. I have loved almost all the outings we had. MGM and Mahabalipuram trips are my favourites. Moments are many, but friends are few, the moment you would cherish the most, always come with friends you love the most. The life at hostel is also worth mentioning. ma life @114 was heaven...The journey from A block to B block, and then from 414 o 309. The nigh outs, the fights, the movies we saw, who on earth can forget that life.
Any Favorite Quotes/One Liners Tat u Would Like To Share :-
· Jeeyo Khush Raho Muskurao, Kya Pata Kal Ho Naa Ho.
· When we wake up in the morning, we have two simple choices. Go back to sleep and dream, or get up and chase those dreams. I would prefer to sleep and dream.
· Fuck Fear, Drink Beer.
· Better to understand a little, than to misunderstand a lot.
· If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again; it was probably worth it.
· Your kid may be an honors student, but you're still an idiot.
Any Of Ur Spl Friends Or Teachers Tat U Would Like To Mention About :-
I don’t have anything special to mention about my teachers, but would like to name few. In college, Dorothy madam was really nice. Back in school, I loved many of my teachers. Selvaraj sir, Sujatha madam, Giridhar sir and Tamilozhi sir were my favourites.
Coming to special friends, swasti,chandranika,titash,mahim,nitin,ashu,neeraj,ravi,animesh,sabby,bicky,akshay,partha, himanshu, and lots more......
Happiest n Embarrassing Moments In Ur Life :- I seriously cant figure out the happiest moment of my life. May be it is yet come. So lets move on to the next section.
· In 6th, I was once made to stand in front of the whole school during the assembly. I was punished as I was caught fighting. The whole school was made to boo me by shouting “shame shame puppy shame” thrice.
· My mom once threw me out of the house naked, and my neighbor saw me. (I was in 5th then)
· I was nearly rusticated from school once, trying to help my friend rik, who was in trouble. My mom was called and a psycho sir of mine insulted her a lot.
· I once started for college from my home, unzipped. A gal standing on the way was continuously staring down under. It was after I passed her that I realized I was exposed.
Anything Extra U Would Like To Mention :-
I once had a crush this gal, ma classmate(4th). I decide to tell it to my best friend then, Shrujal. I called him up and asked him to come and meet me. We met after an hour or so. He came up to me and said, ajju, I too need to tell you something great. You will be shocked hearing this. Then we started fighting on the topic “pehle tu, nahi pehle tu”. Finally we decided to toss a coin. And god curse that moment, tail was my call, head it was. He began, “ajju, please don’t tell this to anybody. Am crazy about her, I think I love her”. Shocking it was, speechless I was. Somehow I told him “ cool, does she know? Better go and speak to her about this”. When he asked what my shocking news was, I simply had to say that “I knew you loved her, wanted to ask you face to face”.
Slowly I started realizing that life is all about giving, to people you love the most, and hardly about taking.
Astala Vistala Baby… njoy life day by day…..
Ajeesh
India vs Australia:: 10th ODI CB Series
Match starts at 0315 GMT (0845 IST)
Preview:
Rain and low scoring affairs is what the farewell edition of this tri-series will be remembered for. That said, the bowling has been outstanding. The batsmen have been made hard to work for their runs; not often do you see Dhoni getting to fifty without a single hit to the fence or Gilchrist playing a very subdued innings. Clarke and Sangakkara have perhaps been the best batsmen this series, assessing the conditions early and planning out their innings well.
Fortunately, no rain has been forecast for Sunday at Sydney. Zilch. Now that we're in the business end of the tournament lets look at where these teams stand. Australia are in the finals, even if they get thrashed in their next two games. What about India? India need to win at least one of their two games to ensure a spot in the finals. If India lose tomorrow and on Tuesday again then they must rely on Australia to beat Sri Lanka for them to be in the finals.
For Australia these next two games will be valuable practice. It's Johnson who will be rested this time, so that he can be fresh ahead of the finals. Lee comes back into the squad. Their batsmen will be looking at these games to get themselves in form. Ponting's scores look like an international dialing code and whats worse is that he doesn't appear to be confident while at the crease. Symonds has done worse.
Ponting also revealed he had rejected an offer of a break from the Australian selectors, and said he was confident of turning his form around, starting with Sunday's tri-series clash against India in Sydney. "I really do only think it's getting half-an-hour to an hour in the middle and every batsman says that," he said here. "When you are in a rut you keep finding ways to get out. "Hopefully it's on Sunday that I get that hour in the middle and a few balls from the middle and things will start to turn around."
Adam Gilchrist had claimed the skipper was feeling the burden of leadership during a particularly turbulent season, with the contentious Harbhajan Singh hearing, the uncertainty over the scheduled tour of Pakistan and the distraction of the Indian Premier League. But the Aussie skipper, who has also been troubled by back pain made no excuses. Ponting said he was doing extra work in the nets and was not prepared to accept the offer of resting from a tri-series match, even though Australia has already booked its place in the finals. "I want to work my way through it and come through the other side," he said. "I'm not quite through it yet, but I'll keep trying and I'll keep working hard. I have never thought of having a break ...physically, I have felt very good."
Symonds has managed to land a massive deal in the IPL despite aggregating only 42 runs this series. He has also been criticised over his threat to pull out of the upcoming tour of Pakistan and he's also been blamed for his part in the Harbhajan Singh race row. But Hopes, who also plays alongside Symonds with Queensland, defended the all-rounder. "I have known 'Roy' for a long time and it is not distracting him," said Hopes, using one of Symonds' nicknames. "He is just getting frustrated with his batting, not so much the way he is getting himself out but that he is not getting himself in. Everyone goes through those patches but I don't think it has anything to do with signing with the IPL or anything like that.
India have bowled extremely well this series, restricting Australia to low totals, but their batting has been a big letdown. Tendulkar hasn't scored a fifty yet, Gambhir hasn't scored anything of significance after his hundred in the washed out game. On the bright side, Friday saw the resurgence of Yuvraj Singh. He looked his confident self for once, flaying the ball to all parts of the ground. India will be hoping that knock isn't a one-off. The five bowlers strategy has worked well for India and it doesn't look like they will change the make up of the squad for this game either. The batsmen really need to fire though.
Teams
India (From): Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni(w/c), Robin Uthappa, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Ishant Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, S Sreesanth, Manoj Kumar Tiwary, Piyush Chawla
Australia (From): Adam Gilchrist(w), Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting(c), Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Mike Hussey, James Hopes, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, Adam Voges, Ashley Noffke, Brad Haddin, Brad Hogg, David Hussey
Preview:
Rain and low scoring affairs is what the farewell edition of this tri-series will be remembered for. That said, the bowling has been outstanding. The batsmen have been made hard to work for their runs; not often do you see Dhoni getting to fifty without a single hit to the fence or Gilchrist playing a very subdued innings. Clarke and Sangakkara have perhaps been the best batsmen this series, assessing the conditions early and planning out their innings well.
Fortunately, no rain has been forecast for Sunday at Sydney. Zilch. Now that we're in the business end of the tournament lets look at where these teams stand. Australia are in the finals, even if they get thrashed in their next two games. What about India? India need to win at least one of their two games to ensure a spot in the finals. If India lose tomorrow and on Tuesday again then they must rely on Australia to beat Sri Lanka for them to be in the finals.
For Australia these next two games will be valuable practice. It's Johnson who will be rested this time, so that he can be fresh ahead of the finals. Lee comes back into the squad. Their batsmen will be looking at these games to get themselves in form. Ponting's scores look like an international dialing code and whats worse is that he doesn't appear to be confident while at the crease. Symonds has done worse.
Ponting also revealed he had rejected an offer of a break from the Australian selectors, and said he was confident of turning his form around, starting with Sunday's tri-series clash against India in Sydney. "I really do only think it's getting half-an-hour to an hour in the middle and every batsman says that," he said here. "When you are in a rut you keep finding ways to get out. "Hopefully it's on Sunday that I get that hour in the middle and a few balls from the middle and things will start to turn around."
Adam Gilchrist had claimed the skipper was feeling the burden of leadership during a particularly turbulent season, with the contentious Harbhajan Singh hearing, the uncertainty over the scheduled tour of Pakistan and the distraction of the Indian Premier League. But the Aussie skipper, who has also been troubled by back pain made no excuses. Ponting said he was doing extra work in the nets and was not prepared to accept the offer of resting from a tri-series match, even though Australia has already booked its place in the finals. "I want to work my way through it and come through the other side," he said. "I'm not quite through it yet, but I'll keep trying and I'll keep working hard. I have never thought of having a break ...physically, I have felt very good."
Symonds has managed to land a massive deal in the IPL despite aggregating only 42 runs this series. He has also been criticised over his threat to pull out of the upcoming tour of Pakistan and he's also been blamed for his part in the Harbhajan Singh race row. But Hopes, who also plays alongside Symonds with Queensland, defended the all-rounder. "I have known 'Roy' for a long time and it is not distracting him," said Hopes, using one of Symonds' nicknames. "He is just getting frustrated with his batting, not so much the way he is getting himself out but that he is not getting himself in. Everyone goes through those patches but I don't think it has anything to do with signing with the IPL or anything like that.
India have bowled extremely well this series, restricting Australia to low totals, but their batting has been a big letdown. Tendulkar hasn't scored a fifty yet, Gambhir hasn't scored anything of significance after his hundred in the washed out game. On the bright side, Friday saw the resurgence of Yuvraj Singh. He looked his confident self for once, flaying the ball to all parts of the ground. India will be hoping that knock isn't a one-off. The five bowlers strategy has worked well for India and it doesn't look like they will change the make up of the squad for this game either. The batsmen really need to fire though.
Teams
India (From): Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni(w/c), Robin Uthappa, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Ishant Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, S Sreesanth, Manoj Kumar Tiwary, Piyush Chawla
Australia (From): Adam Gilchrist(w), Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting(c), Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Mike Hussey, James Hopes, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, Adam Voges, Ashley Noffke, Brad Haddin, Brad Hogg, David Hussey
Source : Cricinfo
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