Loosing can become a painful habit

I was just watching our(Sri Lankan) Cricket team under performing in back to back ODI's. It was really painful to watch. Cant believe this was the team went so close to win the World cup few months back. It was more painful to watch how Sanga, Mathews struggle to just hit the ball to a gap and grab a single. Just simply everything is wrong.

No big expectations guys just score more than 250 in next three matches that's enough.

Sri Lankan Cricket Team's Indian Tour Schedule

Schedule:

Nov 8: Sri Lanka Team arrives at Mumbai.
Nov 11-13: 3-day Match at Ahmedabad Vs Board President`s XI.

Nov 16-20: First Test at Ahmedabad.
Nov 24-28: Second Test at Kanpur.
Dec 2-6: Third Test at Mumbai.

Dec 9: 1st Twenty20 at Mohali (D/N)
Dec 12 : 2nd Twenty20 Match in Nagpur (D/N).

Dec 15: 1st ODI against India at Rajkot.
Dec 18: 2nd ODI against India at Vizag (D/N).
Dec 21: 3rd ODI Match against India at Cuttack (D/N)
Dec 24: 4th ODI against India in Kolkata.
Dec 27: 5th ODI against India in Delhi (D/N).

Dec 28: Team departs.

Cricket Commentators, Are they really expert?

We all know Cricket is a very unpredictable game. But have these so called expert commentators really understand that? Given the fact that most of them have played lot of cricket and matured with the game they should be seeing things beyond our view. Instead they predict things like armatures.

Sanga and the team : We are proud of you guys

When our cricket team looses, most of the times we used to criticise them. But this T20 World Cup final was one of the rare occasions we feel proud about the team despite the loss. The passion and the spirit the whole team showed through out the tournament was outstanding. There was always someone who stood up and took the responsibility either in batting or bowling. I am really proud of them and whole world would never forget specially how Dilshan, Sanath, Sanga, Mahela, Murali, Mendis, Mathews and Malinga played in this tournament. You all have made Sri Lanka proud. Cheers to all of you guys!!!!

How Indian Cricket fans can show their anger in a peaceful manner

This is an innovative thinking from Nishi Narayanan from Cricinfo. But as we all know Indian supports are the last in the line to accept these kind of CIVILISED ways.

1. Send an anonymous tip to airport authorities regarding possible swine flu among the Indian team contingent. Getting them quarantined will be much more satisfying than breaking a few windows.

2. Hold a press conference. Have all aggrieved Indian fans stand on a stage behind Bishan Bedi, who will read out a hand-written letter telling the players what a bunch of wusses they are for not staging a walkout to protest the short-ball barrage by England.

3. Don't bawl or cry foul murder when reporters stick their mikes into your faces asking for reactions. Be cool. How do I feel now that India have exited the World Twenty20? A little constipated, but I think that's the Chinese takeout from last night.

4. Threaten to support England in the next tournament in that country. The concept of English grounds being filled by thousands of fans cheering for England is bizarre enough to mess the minds of the Indian players so much that they'll need John Buchanan to explain it to them.

5. Invite the players to parade in an open-top bus through the streets of Mumbai as a we-forgive-you gesture. If they survive the ride in the city's monsoons, organise a function for them to watch their post-match interviews where every "obviously" and "of course" is replaced by the sound of nails on a chalkboard.

6. Spread a rumour through the press that Shahrukh Khan plans to buy the whole team for his franchise. If the thought of playing for Kolkata Knight Riders doesn't depress them, the fear of fakeiplplayer leaking all their dirty secrets will surely get to them.

7. And finally, do as Gandhi would. Boycott products endorsed by cricketers. Don't buy shampoos, soaps, cellphones, colas, water, satellite TV, motorbikes, cars, clothes, electricity, chocolate, chips, air conditioners and refrigerators. That leaves books and maybe air. A refreshing and uplifting lifestyle. The Mahatma would approve.

LINK

Why Mahela's Resignation is good for Sri Lankan Cricket

Aftermath of Mahela's resignation from the Cricket Captaincy is not something I am surprised of, specially the media hype. What is most hilarious factor is same media people who criticized Mahela when he fails are now saying he should remain as the Captain. But this is not something new for Sri Lanka as we experienced these type of things with Arjuna and Marvan in the past.

Mahela is my favourite batsman, also the most gifted and talented batsman Sri Lanka produced after Aravinda de silva. The inning he played to see Sri Lanka trough against England in Australia was one of the best for me. Also the master piece of 2007 World Cup semi final against New Zealand. He has given lot to Sri Lankan Cricket there is no doubts about that. As a captain he has brought a lot for SLC as well. He has transformed a team which had lot of potential but less success in to a winning team in both forms of the game. Apart from that he has brought new culture in to the team which has ultimately provided us a winning team.

But it is really the time for him to quit the job. As Jayasooriya did in the past which ultimately gave the birth to two most successful captains Marvan and Mahela. Mahela is a very smart person who knows exactly what he is doing in and off the field. There are lots of talks about the political pressure and stuff. Regardless of those things if we concentrate on Cricket, Sri Lankan team really needs a change here. Mahela's era should end and team should start fresh for 2011 World Cup. If he delayed his call as it would have being a desaster for SLC which he understood perfectly. He knew if the team continue to loose more matches and if he continue his bad period with the bat, his farewell will be very much painful. Also the selectors will have to find a Captain in a rush and will not have time to build a new team. Now, even we loss few more matches we can take it as the transition period and build up. And also in Mahela's perspective this will give him time to comeback as a ODI batsman by only concentrating on his batting.

So hats off to this talented stroke player and one of the best captains we had, for not being selfish and giving 100% to his country and the game.

Ajantha Mendis : Rising of a Legend

I was so fascinated to watch Medis in action yesterday against India. It was a while since we saw Sri Lankan Cricket team doing this well in a competition. Followed by Jayasooriya's brilliant innings in the upfront it was all Mendis show. Following are the few interesting comments I found :
"It was like you were playing something else, and the ball was something else. I won't really blame the batsman, we couldn't pick the deliveries. If you see our bowling, it was the best bowling line-up we could offer when we wanted one more extra batsman in the side. They tried their best and we could have got 274 but for the Mendis factor." - MS. Dhoni
"I wonder how good he was as a kid at carrom. Take the "red" boy!" - Crickinfo Live Scorer on Mendis
"We had never played him before. We had only seen videos and you can visualise and all, but he was difficult to pick out there in the middle. We never had any real reply against him." - MS Again
"A mystery spinner he has been thus far. The mystery is now out in the open and every batsman is out to solve it. The real challenge for Mendis, of uncertain categorization, to maintain that secrecy, begins now. " -Osman Samiuddin
"Dhoni, whose innings stood out for its sensible approach, was mesmerised even at the press-conference. For every question demanding explanations for the defeat, he the same answer: Mendis." - Sidharth Monga
'The 23-year-old plays his cricket for the Sri Lankan army. I suggest he's going to make a right officers' mess of hundreds of international batsmen's stumps in years to come" - Sportingo's Mark Rivlin

Indian's run feast against Pakistan

I was watching the sensational batting performance by Indian's yesterday over Pakistan. It was absolutely wonderful to watch. When Shewag and Suresh clearing the boundaries I was just wondering how big this ground is. But its Karachchi one of the biggest grounds. It was unbelievable, and there is no doubt that they have got some influence from IPL. And the other thing is 300 is no more a winning total in 50 over format. Everybody talks about T20 is killing 50 over cricket, but what I saw yesterday was 50 over cricket is improving from T20.
In the post match interview only I got to know that the Karachchi has 85 meter boundary and its so big. Anyway its wonderful batsmanship by Indians. Thanks a lot guys for the entertainment.