Cricket, a way of life

I am short on topics to write! So thought I'll write in a few words about... Cricket!!

Now, we are a cricket family.. in the sense all of us watch it with a lot of passion except my Mom of course. I think that's partly to do with the fact that we are so obsessed with it all the time!

Dad watches cricket of every kind. He fought with me the other day because I was not allowing him to watch the Saurashta v/s Bombay Ranji match! As my mom puts it right.. "Mattaiya thukkindu vandhutangala.. ", any match with a bat and ball is all that is required to get his attention.

Bro was slightly better off. I mean he watched all India matches and a bit of other exciting teams, like Australia v/s South Africa etc etc.

I watch matches with India playing in it. Period. Others I am not keen, though off late, I do track matches in which Australia is on the losing side ;)

Now, cricket has the unique ability to decide our moods. The day India wins, We are in the best of moods cracking jokes and laughing loud :). The day India loses albeit fighting, our mood is fine with some laughter missing. The day India "really" loses pathetically, we are in mourning and a simple request by Mom to remove the book from the sofa would invariably result in an argument and tears :(


So, happy days,

- The Hero cup final in 1992. First time I saw the magic of Eden Gardens lighting up papers to rejoice the victory :)

- 1996 World Cup match against Pakistan :). During 1996, we(bro and I) used to call the Indian team the "One-way" team ;), they had a chance to win only if they batted first :D and fortunately, we did it that day!

- 2003 World Cup match against Pakistan :). Sachin the genius !! I remember seeing a photo in the Outlook magazine where a chai walla had a board offering FREE tea to everybody cos of the win. I've tried hard to locate that snap, but haven't managed yet!

- 1998 series against Australia :), Sachin again :D

- 1998 Sharjah series against Australia :). Sachin was phenomenal in the last two matches :D, complete mayhem of the Aussies !

- 2001 series against Australia :). Vacation time, was at home :). The Kolkata test had the ability to cool frayed tempers between bro and me over some petty issue ;)

- Independence day Dhaka final against Pakistan :D. Saurav and Kanitkar did the trick.

- Natwest series final against England. We were returning from Shirdi and escaped the England batting marathon. Morose, we never watched the Indian innings for sometime after Sachin's dismissal... but the neighbours of my uncle's in Bombay ensured we did watch the match after all :D

- T20 world cup final in 2007 against Pakistan :D

- 2004 Series against Australia in Australia. That’s one of the reasons I bought a television as soon as I moved outta my aunt's place in Hyderabad :) not waiting for the roomies to say "Yes". Its tough to get women to decide on buying something together, more so when its for cricket!!

Before 2000, we used to win so rarely, most of them due to Sachin's sheer brilliance that the wins are so vivid in my memory. It also helps that I was in Chennai around that time. I barely watched a couple of matches in Pilani.. there was hardly any company :(. And to argue for the TV in the hostel common room is pretty annoying, so I sticked to 'The Hindu's report on matches!

Sad days,

- 1996 World Cup semi final. It still hurts :(. Bro and I couldn't sleep that night.. don't remember feeling so miserable any other time

- 1999 Test match in Chennai against Pakistan :(. We were about to win, but botched it up in the end. I watched this match at my Grandfather's place.. got so angry at the end, shouted and walked outta home without saying Bye to thatha :(. I am sure he was worried, every grandfather is worried when the "girl" child in the family is so aggressive ;). The only silver lining, I refused the offer to go and watch the 5th day of the match at the ground.. don't think I could have handled that :(

- 2003 World cup final :(. I slept through the first half hoping Australia would be bowled out for a paltry score.. they made 359! @$#!!!@#$#!&^%^

- 2008 Sydney Test match against Australia. Again #$@#$%^!$&*


There have been many other defeats, but can't remember anything that rankled for long.. I mean before, 2000, we lost 3 outta 5 matches consistently :), so can't be too worried about them all! I started watching cricket during the Sachin era.. watch matches as long he is there and then switch off... there was no hope/chance to win without him! Sachin is truly truly the GOD!


Ironically, my work deals with building a product for Australia! My secret desire is that if ever Cricket Australia were to buy this product, I would perhaps resort to some "rogue" coding :D. Fortunately for them, my biggest enemy - Mathew Hayden is now retired.. and if they continue their losing ways against India..I might just be nice :).

As for Hayden, if he continues to play for Chennai SuperKings and plays well enough.. I might support you also !! Strange are the ways of cricket!

B