Sanity Restored Is Insanity Gained

When I initially hit upon this statement, it was more by chance than by intent. When I started thinking about it later, it made more and more sense to me. Of course, a statement like this is bound to raise eyebrows, and bring more amusement and giggles than any sort of constructive thought as to why a sentence like this would get even coined.

Coined, I understand is a big word. For once though, I wish to keep the rights reserved on this statement to myself. In order to make people understand what I meant by this sentence, I had to struggle, and quite expectantly, all my efforts went in vain. All were busy teasing, and laughing at such a strange and weird sentence as a name on orkut. Yes, this is my name right now in orkut, and when my friends, new/old add me in orkut, they tend to wonder who the hell is this ? I sometimes have to personally go to them and add myself in their friends' list, since my name isn't there, and now, nor are my snaps.

Importantly though, it started dawning on me that "Sanity Restored Is Insanity Gained" assumes much more importance than what people might otherwise think. Dismissing it as a moment of madness, is not acceptable, atleast not to me. There are some simple reasons why I stick to my point. There doesn't exist a single soul on this planet, who doesn't have a whacky side to him/her. No one is born perfect. No one is born dumb either. Everyone have their own unique traits, which could be odd for some, irritating for some others, and amusing for yet others. But there exists a streak of abnormality in everyone of us. The levels of which may vary.

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They Just Can't Win !!!

Australia, posted an even better 346 in the 3rd ODI in the CHappell-Hadlee Series, only to watch in dismay as they lost yet again to New Zealand, by 1 wicket. Australia seem to have lost the habit of winning which it prided in, having lost 5 on the trot and 6 of their last 7 ODIs.

Incredibly, New Zealand were 116/5 but Mcmillan scored a blistering century(fastest ever by a Kiwi in ODIs), and then McCullum played a Boucher like innings to seal the exciting 1 wicket win. Australia, for all it's injury and resting woes, now have a mammoth task in hand to come out of this slump.

In the span of 3 days, the second highest run chase ever has been bettered by New Zealand. And in the last one year or so, Australia has lost trying to defend scores of 332, 434,334 and now 346.

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Is Parity Restored In Cricket?

Today I witnessed the virtual obliteration of a mammoth total that Australia (Aussie) posted, by a re-vitalised New Zealand (Kiwi) Team. To overhaul a total of 336 with more than an over to spare, and that too by 5 wickets can be described as nothing but obliteration. That is precisely what the Kiwis did to the Aussies in the 2nd ODI in the Chappell-Hadlee trophy in Auckland today. And for the first time in a very long time, their No.1 spot has been usurped from them by South Africa in the ICC ODI rankings. Australia, without their Big Guns are now like any other normal team in the World Scene. Or, frighteningly for the Aussies, maybe even worse than the rest.

What started as a loss to England in the Commonwealth Bank Series in Australia, has now started to take alarming proportions. Not because the Aussies have now lost 5 of their last 6 ODIs, and not even because they have now lost 4 in a row. But because of the manner in which they have lost these past 4 ODIs. Attributing all the losses to the absence of a world class all rounder like Andrew Symonds is akin to how India attributed it's chances of winning and losing to the presence or absence of Sachin Tendulkar in the 90's. India has come a long way since then, and can beat any team now without Sachin's services. And to Australia's credit, never had its team depended on one player for its performances. But, it does seem now, that the absence of Symonds from the team has had some impact.

Without Ponting, Gilchrist, Symonds, Clarke and Lee, Australia seem as vulnerable as any other team. The interesting fact though, is even with the services of Ponting, Gilchrist and Lee, they lost to a supposedly weak England team in the Tri-Series in Australia, and that too 2-0 in a possible 3 match finals. This is not something the Aussies are accustomed to. Aussies have been all along known for their fighting spirit, to win matches out of nowhere, to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. But to lose 2-0 in the finals in Australia, and then to lose convincingly to New Zealand in the Chappell-Hadlee series, must be worrisome for Cricket Australia.

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So, who wants a medal ?

No, I haven't put medals on sale for people to buy. This is what has come to be of the National Games. Though I am immensely passionate about cricket, I can't but sympathise at the state of the 33rd National Games in India. Yes indeed! The National Games are on in Guwahati if you are not aware that is (And is actually almost over!). What was more news on channels happened before the games began. And they were all about political games and not the sporting ones. ULFA plotted and executed a successful attack, just before the games. But little did they realise that, the country has much more important sports information to chew on.

That is the effect of cricket. The game, without any fault of its own has virtually killed off Hockey as the National Game, and has all but wiped off interest in the common citizen in upcoming athletes in India. The irony of it all is, that these same citizens will sit glued to television sets when the Olympics begin next year. After all, it's an international event, and demands that kind of a viewership. And then, the old cribbing of India's spineless performance crops up once again. But until then, the common Indian citizen doesn't bother what athlete, which event? Nothing. It's all cricket.

It is but obvious, that the star value attached to a sport is what will fetch wider audiences to it. If not for Sania Mirza, Tennis in India would have been what it was pre-Paes/Bhupathi era, inspite of Paes and Bhupathi's heroics in the slams. Sania's glam image, has done what the Ramesh Krishnan's of old, who actually managed reaching the semis of major slams couldn’t do.

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