Into the semifinals!!!

What a match!!! I do not have another set of 3 words to describe the feeling.   And when the Australian bowlers started mouthing a lot of expletives (atleast thats what they seemed to be), the desire to win must have gone stronger for our desi boys. 
In trying to find updates of the game while in office, I hit upon Guardian's Rob Smyth whose commentary was less about cricket and more about a lot of other people who never rang a bell with me. It must take a lot of talent to type in drivel after every over in a match!  Still it kept me informed - which is all thats expected.

Also caught half an hour of the game in a crowded canteen in the office, where the reaction to every ball was magnified.  Which is what happens with crowds - in a crowd each person is more than a single person.
Great match anyways...we will get the cup after all.

India and England match with Hindi commentary

I would have loved to read Wodehouse describing Sunday's World Cup match between India and England. (Read his "Mike - a public school story" ). It is from Wodehouse that I learnt about boxing and football and golf. Ofcourse, I was coached about cricket in the cradle like the other 200 crore Indians.


Sunday's match was tragic - having both teams lose is a farce.
I watched the game on DD and here are some choice quips from the Hindi commentators :

•  When Sachin hit a four - "Dekhiye kaisi bahaduri se khel rahe hain. Ek dilchaspi honi chahiye cricket mein, aise khelne ke liye". Amazing insight.

•  When Sachin hit another four - "Aisa shaandar cricket na humne bhootkal mein kabhi dekha hai, na bhavishya mein dekhne ko milega". The death knell for Indian cricket?

•  When Sachin missed a ball while fielding that became a four - "Sachin sahi samay par jhukh nahi paye aur ball haath se nikal gaya. Vaise to Sachin kabhi kahin nahi jhuke. Par fielding mein to jhukna padta hi hai." Intellectual.

I wish someone would go around and hand out some quieting potion to these Hindi commentators before the match. Or we should atleast have the option of tuning out their mindless bakwas.