Dear test cricket

It's been a long time we watched you in action. Even though we had T20 big bang IPL and we enjoyed it but it's not the same. There's only so much fast food we can eat, after a while we need the wholesome square meal to feel really good. So we've had our (more than) fair share of burgers and chips, now we need some real food. We are waiting for the 'Chicken soup for cricket's soul' :)

It's almost strange in some sense.With the frightening pace of T20 popularity and sort of sidelining of ODIs, test cricket we had in last 10 years has been exceptionally amazing. Be it the 2005 ashes test where Australian last wicket partnership of 60 almost won them the match, or the Perth test match that India won after the infamous Sydney test, we need such unbelievable test matches; and we are craving for it now.

In the age of change, you are one of the few things that stand the test of the time. We might seem okay with the ever changing modern versions of the game for a while . Who knows, they will introduce six-a-side cricket soon. But we really need you to make ourselves understand that it's not just about bat and ball. It isn't always about the speed of things, not always about aggression.

We need some real classic encounters where it is all about building a story in the course of 4 days, 12 sessions, and then taking us gradually to its climax on the fifth day where the whole match hangs in balance very delicately. On one side onus is on the remaining batsmen who would die for getting the remaining 200 odd runs and on the other side bowlers are lining up for a final burst.

Oh those turning pitches in India ! those bouncy tracks and lush outfields in Australia, 5 slip fielders waiting for a catch like a tiger waiting for its prey, fielders breathing down the neck of the batsmen, a snotter of a delivery that whizzes past the batsman's ear over after over, a resilient batsman under that helmet that just won't throw his wicket away,

oh how much we miss this !! We wait for you.

Yours faithfully,
a cricket fan

Galli or Delhi : A Gambhir debate

There's one stream of thought that says that players are free to choose what they want to do in their life while other school of thought says that playing for country must (not should) come first and foremost for any player.

We all know that this is not the first time this has come up. This time the center of debate is our Gautam Gambhir. While in past this special place has been taken up many times by different players when they chose to take a break from a series. Another instance comes to mind instantly is when it was decided that 'Commonwealth games' wasn't as important as playing in 'Sahara Cup' We might remember sending the weakest possible team to the CW games to represent India in 1998 while the full fledged team participated in Sahara cup to represent 'BCCI'. This time it's the question between BCCI or the IPL sponsor let alone playing for country Vs BCCI.

I am sure this must be very tough for players also; constantly thinking about who they are playing for. It is such a relief that ICL (remember it?) turned out to be a flop show. If ICL had got hold of these players; I don't want to imagine a situation where Gambhir is playing for 'Delhi Giants' in Feb; for 'Delhi Daredevils' in May ; for BCCI in July and 'Royal Stag' and other advertisers in rest of the year (well forget about playing for Delhi itself in Ranji Trophy).

Talk about having many bosses !

Well in this whole mess of a situation, I wouldn't really want to add another complication by questioning player's moral and asking them to justify their choices. Soon will come a time when players will have hard time remembering who they represent.

What is then the best way out for players and cricket fans?

I would really like if players decide that they play for cricket fans; they play for people. I know this sounds most cliched but there isn't a better solution. As a cricket fan, I would like to see a good old fight between bat and ball. I dread the day when Zaheer decides not to bowl at his full run-up to avoid getting injured or Sehwag decides not to play upper cut so that he can still play in some other series.
I want nothing more than players giving their 100% on the field no matter who they are playing for.

So at the risk of sounding old fashioned and most cliched, I request players to play for us ; play for the people who come to see you play.