Vintage Tendulkar! India Win Series Against South Africa!

Sachin Tendulkar created history today at Gwalior in the second one day international against South Africa. From the very start Sachin played shots all around the ground achieving half century, then century, then one hundred fifty and finally the incredible double century not out. The first time in the history of one day cricket that someone has hit a double ton.

The superlative innings rekindled memories of the ferocious run hungry Tendulkar of the nineties. The focused and obsessively intense batting feats at Sharjah against the Aussies rushed to the mind.

Team India seemed to be in a devastating mood. There was no time to wait. Sehwag fell early to his favorite shot. Dinesh Karthik gave terrific support in fast paced partnership. The power and fury of Pathan and Dhoni was perhaps inspired by the demolition man at the other end. The unbelievable 400 mark was surpassed and a target of 402 set for a plundered South Africa. What followed was inevitable. They did hit an incredible 434 once to beat Australia at home, but today Tendulkar's strokes paralyzed them.

Congratulations to the master blaster. Look at his records--47 test centuries and 46 ODI ones. Century of centuries is bound to come in the near future. I take this opportunity to reaffirm my view that a player who excels in test cricket can excel in any form of cricket and this is always a mistake to drop such players to go for the so called one day specialists. India has been making this mistake time and again. It's okay to groom players, but groom them for cricket and not for money spinning commercial ventures. Even South Africa made a horrible mistake by dropping Hashim Amla in the first ODI as Amla was in devastating form and was the man of the series for the test matches.

Go for cricket and money will follow. Don't go after money and let cricket be a circus.

Marriage in Reverse Motion?

One of the endless serials in a colorful TV channel recently hit upon a brilliant idea! This is bound to save you time tension and legal hassles. All estranged couples take delight!

If you want to run away from your wedlock never bother about divorce and courts and lawyers. Follow what the serial offers you and be a winner.

Just arrange the same marriage ceremony. But in reverse order. Take off the garlands from each others throats. Sit before the holy sacrificial fire inside the ceremonial canopy-both of you- and take the opposite vow that you cannot carry on with this holy bandhan or tie. If you are the groom then rub off the Sindoor or vermilion from the bride's forehead. Mutual denials of wedding rings and ornaments.

Both of you stand up. Take the saat phere around the fire alright, but in reverse order--going backwards. Finally, get someone to untie the wedlock.

And, you are free birds! Maybe the serial did not digest the immense potential of its panacea fully. Because, for the most horribly estranged couple of the serial itself this panacea was not suggested or applied at all!

Though basically a Hindu criterion, this can easily be expanded to other sects and clans. Everyone has wedding ceremonies. Just organize the ceremonies again, but in reverse motion!

That easy! What?

Jaipur ODI: Hadley Chase Thriller!

The first onedayer between India and South Africa had everything like that of Hadley Chase thriller. The apparent weaknesses, the ups and downs and the twists!

India were without four key players and SA was without it captain. Perhaps SA put India into bat first to attack the weaker batting order right away.

India added to their plan by a shaky start with Tendulkar run out and Sehwag run out in an absolute tragedy. But India did very well in the end amassing 298/9. There was just one half century by Suresh Raina, but almost every player did his bit contributing to the final competitive score.

SA started very well thanks to a couple of weird umpiring decisions. But then, wickets fell at regular intervals and India looked to finish it off with SA begging for mercy at 225/8 with all recognized batsmen back in pavilion.

And then, the final twist. With some fierce batting by the tailenders South Africa almost snatched the match away from India. India won by 1 run!

A classic encounter reminding all cricket lovers of the intensity of the game of cricket.

One last word is unavoidable though. India always corners a team and then gives it a new lease of life. On so many occasions and losing finally many of them. Jaipur ODI and the Kolkata Test are the latest instances. But winning both of them by the closest margins lends to Team India a new vigorous positive energy.

Don't bother about short or longer versions of cricket. Just enjoy good cricket!