Bruised, Battered, Shattered..

Over the last few weeks, India has been gripped by two very disheartening and unpleasant events.
One has been on the cricket field (the recent debacles against England), the other has been on the streets of the National Capital.

I have lived in Noida and Delhi pretty much all my life, and I am ashamed to state that this is not the only incident. We have had gruesome, morbid, sickening reports of suchlike earlier too.
But perhaps what has got even the typically immune, impervious NCRite seething and agitated now, is the gross callousness and contempt with which such a case has been handled.
I believe there is only so much a cop can do - such as were we expecting, with the benefit of hindsight - that the cops should have been peeping into every moving bus?

Certainly not, if the screams of the unfortunate victim would have been scuffled by those hooligans, who were filled with nothing but lust all over themselves.
However, what was possible, was prompt action - what was possible was an exemplary punishment that wold forbid any such sick mind to think twice, thrice, heck even a zillion times before even having the gall to commit such a reprehensible act.

And this is where the problem lies - there have been far too many cases which have been found wanting for timely action, and where even if the culprits have been apprehended, they have begun to roam free again though bail, while the victims are maimed for life.
Another reason why people are fuming is because given the events of this case, many people believe that it could easily have been them.

9-9.30 is not an unearthly hour, not was the woman in any way in 'unsafe' territory, using public transport in the heart of the nation's capital. Which is why, the depravity of the act has hit even harder.

On the other hand, there is the small matter - I had written earlier about how India was as invincible as England and Australia have been in their dens (if not more). Well, 2004 has happened again.
Just as Australia took the series away in '04, we have had a walloping after Ahmedabad, and it's England now, who have turned the corner, and been deserving winners.
Well done, England!
However, I have hopes that the Indian fan will get more reason for cheer than doom in the coming years, as the team prepares itself for life without its Ram, Laxman, Bharat...I just hope this ushers in a new Ramayana, not a Mahabharata!!
Happy 2013 in advance!!

What A Wednesday!

Year: 2008.
Date: September 5 (Teacher's Day)
There came a movie, which truly taught me a lot about a gripping, thought-provoking story without being too preachy about terrorism.

Unfortunately, a few months later, there came along Ajmal Kasab, on November 26, unleashing terror on the streets of Mumbai, in one of the deadliest and most horrific terrorist attacks.

Year: 2012
Date: November 21
As luck would have it, Ajmal Kasab has been hanged to death, on yes, A Wednesday.

While there is never any joy in celebrating any individual's demise, this day is a day for some (mind you, only some) recompense for all those who have suffered through the hands of terrorism.
This is a day that shall help us believe that even if we were a few years late, justice was served, finally.

Let it be known that even if it is late, we can bring the perpetrators of such dastardly acts to book, through the oft-circumvented legal route too.

Most importantly, let it be known that India is not to be seen as a convenient, free-for-all place for any mischief-monger to wreck havoc on our soil.

Goodbye Ajmal Kasab, and Goodbye to all the Biryani jibes, and the Thankyou-Dengue-Mosquito jokes!

Jai Ho!

These are really interesting times in the Bollywood landscape.

Of late, a spate of meaningful, funny, and thought-provoking movies have come up. The last few weeks have given us Barfi!, Oh My God, and English Vinglish - pretty much one week after another.

A Truly Oh My God Collection

Now I am a no-holds-barred stickler for a witty, engrossing script. The last few movies (mentioned above) have been low on hype and high on output, thanks to their wonderful script, fluid screenplay, brilliant performances, and impeccable direction.

The fact that I have not even counted GoW I and II in this list, and have discounted the not-so-universally liked Heroine only shows that there have been enough big-ticket movies around within a couple of months.

Now that the audience has been introduced to such riveting and sumptuous fare, we are pining for more such movies coming our way.
Hopefully, Talaash should not disappoint, and I am still rooting for the SRK-Kat jodi onscreen in JTHJ (despite its rather thanda title).

Thankyou, Bollywood for coming of age and for producing so many likeable, truly 'different' movies with such disarming regularity of late.

This is just a post and a humble way of saying keep up the good work, from an interested and appreciative audience.
A special note to the Censor Board too, for passing a potentially sensitive and touchy movie like 'Oh My God' without much fuss.
Dear 'different' filmmakers and wondrous, creative storytellers - well done and more power to you!
Well done, and Jai Ho!

Dear Heart of Sai Baba, fare thee well!!

Profuse apologies for the really poor joke as the title of this post.
However, I am sad today and I would make up any PJ on this universe, to get even a whiff of any radical emotion other than disappointment.

I am sad to see an outstanding umpire's career coming to an end. Simon Taufel, take a bow sir - you have elevated the role and skill-level of an umpire to much better standards through sheer dint of your impeccable conduct and deportment.

It was painful to see Mark Boucher go the way he had to, a few months ago.
Many editors and journos have long been ready with their oft-rehearsed farewell lines for one Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. It's another matter that the Little Master might keep them waiting for a few more years, even now.
There was a void when the great Kapil Dev left, and one struggles to remember a genuine Indian all-rounder, before or after him.

However, the departure of this non-sportsman on the cricket field seems truly sad. No one has dominated the world of cricket umpiring with such unparalleled competence than Simon.

Before Simon, cricket has been blessed with some illustrious umpires - from Dickie Bird to David Shepherd to Rudi Koertzen.
However, the bright talent that this 'young' gem is and has been, will be hard to find.

Achieving so much at such a young age in the umpiring world, is not easy at all.
In fact I reckon Simon Taufel is the Sachin Tendulkar of umpires - started young, excelled in all conditions, vanquished pressure and the perils of stardom, achieved just about everything possible in his field, and became a living legend with great competence and insight.

Among the many admirable qualities he has, there are two things that truly made me a Simon fan:

Focus and Decision Making
His ability to read the length, trajectory and angle of the ball in determining LBWs is exemplary. The focus in identifying close nicks, and knowing when not to give a batsman out, was fantastic.

Positioning and Self-Confidence
The way Simon used to run in time adjacent to the stumps in perfect preparation of adjudicating a run-out is something fantastic, made even more commendable by the fact that umpires today do not bother to do any such stuff because they can always fall back on the safer, easier and more convenient option of going 'upstairs' to the 3rd umpire. Despite this, Simon never flinched from taking a tough decision, relying on his ability, knowledge and confidence on his decision-making abilities.

It is easy to overlook the fact that today, we live in an age of stumpcams, microphones, third umpires, decision reviews, and hawk-eyes. These are times when even an iota of error is magnified and played over and over again.

To remain pretty much unblemished in even such times, and to be able to trust oneself to give decisions instead of relying on the easy, safer option of simply calling up the third ump, has been truly commendable.

And now, he bids goodbye to help groom other umpires (if even a few of them can come close to him, it's job well done).

As the Word T20 ends, one country will win.
But the whole world will be at a loss - of a great umpire, whose expertise, equanimity, and faultless decisions shall remain etched in the memory of all his fans.

Fare thee well, Simon!!

Well-deserved and well-done - Congrats to the New # 1

It was indeed a special week, this last one.

I was chuffed to see South Africa finally get a long-due and well-deserved #1 Test ranking. Despite a gritty display from the English on the final day of the last test (and the series), the Proteas managed to come up trumps.

Unless you were a completely jingoistic Englishman or totally anti-South Africa (for any personal reason), you would have no reason to grudge them their victory.

Right since their re-introduction to cricket in 1992, the South Africans have always looked champion-material in whichever format, whichever tournament they have participated in. However, for reasons best known to no one, they have always finished second-best.

Further, more than any team, it is they who seemed to have almost patented the concept of a team having all the ingredients to win anywhere against anyone, but still managing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory at the most inopportune, crunch moments.
No wonder, the C-word almost stuck to them.

It is because of all these reasons, therefore, that they have remained atleast (if not for most impartial supporters') favorite team to win.
If ever I wanted to see a team win besides my own country, it has been South Africa.

Being popular, long-deserving and also emotional favorites, it was nice to see them on top of a podium finally.
Hopefully, this should also help them realize that they are champions and perhaps they might not inexplicably C (choke) anymore in those big finals when it matters the most!

Guess what, as it turns out, the so-called 'choker' have been able to become No.1 in the world in cricket's toughest and most prized format - that too, by beating the reigning World Champions in their own backyard! Boy, it doesn't get better than this.

Dear England, as I had written earlier, it's much easier winning at home and being # 1.
I did not detest their becoming # 1 (though yes, being Indian, it was disappointing to see India lose. But we got what we deserved, for not playing well, and later in Australia too).
However, the Englishmen thought only Indians have follies, and that they can never play well outside the subcontinent.

Well, dear Englishmen, as things stand, we even stayed # 1 longer than you did (including drawing with the same South Africans in their own den).
And, facts have proved: atleast we do win (convincingly) at home :)
By the way, see you in India next!!

As I said, well-deserved and thank you, South Africa!!

The Great 'Wall' of India

'People like Gundappa Viswanath and Sudhakar Rao continued to play even after retirement. I have played with them (in his initial years) and it was a huge thrill for me to play against them.'

This quote, from the one and only Rahul Dravid, made me marvel at the character of the Wall, once again.

A few months ago, Dravid retired from international cricket.
A few weeks ago, Dravid turned up for his domestic club - yes, even after his retirement from international cricket, and scored a century.

The takeaway news here, is obviously not his century, but the fact that he felt committed enough, to voluntarily give something back to the game.

Yes, to the game that he has loved and lived pretty much all his life, till date.
To the game that's made him what he is, today.

Yet, how often do you see successful stalwarts, who have walked out of the spotlight, come back selflessly, to lend a helping hand for others?
To be a source of inspiration not just through their achievements, but also by their conduct?

There are only some who go on to become stars from amongst the also-rans and the mere mortals.
Even lesser than them are those who become superstars.
And then, there are the select few(er) from among the already few superstars, who become role models.
As I have written earlier too, Rahul Sharad Dravid is one who belongs to that elusive, last category.

So this post will not dwell too much on the talent (which is too evident to negate through the numbers he's stacked up since 1996).
This post is about acknowledging and lauding what a super-successful sports star is doing, to leave the game richer.
All of us know that if ever there is one word that defines him most appropriately, it is selfless. A team-man to the core, RD has done his bit for the team on numerous occasions on the field.
What is worth noticing, is that he his still keen to play, share his experiences and knowledge on the both off and on the field. Even now, after he has retired and need not play, he still turns up for his club in a domestic tournament.
He is still keen to sweat (as profusely as he always has), just so that he can give something back to the game - the same thrill, the same joy, the same lessons - that he learnt, while watching his idols and being starry-eyed and just plain happy about playing, thanks to their presence.

Once again, in the latest news that I read about him, Dravid has, characteristically, also tried to give his two cents in ensuring that the future of Indian cricket is not only in the right hands, but also with the right mind and temperament.

I don't care even if this sounds like a paean to Dravid but with gestures such as these, I like him all the more:
For not simply putting his feet up after an illustrious career and dismissing the new generation with contempt.

• For being a role model thanks to his impeccable and exemplary conduct.
  
• For caring enough for the new generation to teach, guide, and mentor them, with his readiness and voluntary, selfless presence on the field with them.
  
• For being a wise counsel to the next crop of cricketers to also place the value of toil, patience, and perseverance (Test cricket) over and above a world offering dollops of easy cash, glamor, and a laid-out lifestyle.
  
• For teaching that cricket is great(er) even if every ball is not a Citi Moment of Success or a DLF Maximum. For exemplifying that a ball left well can also be a moment of quiet victory for a batsman in a battle of attrition against the bowler.
  
• Most importantly, for stressing on and inspiring the new crop with the fact that playing in whites for your country at a fraction of the T20 amount, can still give the ultimate joy, pride, and satisfaction.

No praise is too high for this true champion.

I started this post with a Dravid quote, so it might be only appropriate to end with another one, that sums up what this ever-sensible character has to share for budding cricketers:

'What I'll like to tell young kids is that the greatest satisfaction you are going to get is by playing Test cricket and playing in some of these great stadiums of the world. That will give you the greatest personal satisfaction, so don't sell yourself short. Try and achieve. It is possible. It can be done.'

Putting the I in ETHICS

If you are reading this, chances are you have a bit of spare time - in which case, I would strongly recommend you to read this.
Consider this recommendation to be a precursor to this post.

Apart from being a truly well-deserved eulogy to the best prime minister we have ever had, this article also traces the origins of today's omnipresent corruption in our system and collective psyche.

In today's world where blatant flouting of political propriety is the norm, can we ever expect to see any politician worth his salt (let alone a high-ranking minister) even considering plying by public transport? Oh, that, after (and because) he has voluntarily relinquished his position as a minister!
Yeah yeah, dream on!

True, we are not living in that era anymore, but what stops us from being better people than what we are?
Yes, none of us might (heck, can) ever attain such a towering moral rectitude as that of the great man, but why can we not try being at least true to ourselves?

I hope we never lose sight of the fact that even Shastri ji could have had his temptations.
Even he could have died rich, bequeathing a legacy of unforeseen wealth for his progeny.

However, we tend to worship only the glitzy, blighted by the chamak-damak, saluting only those who can bamboozle us with their 'numbers', dazzle us with their razzmatazz, making legends out of those who've 'made it large'.
In comes an Ambani then, while we forget the industriousness of a Tata.

Perhaps it is an unfathomable travesty, that understatedness goes unrewarded. The most genuine and morally 'rich' are often silent people. However, unfortunately, today's parlance has found the synonym of silence and understatement to only mean weakness and meekness.

Therefore, it is my humble attempt (in writing now, through this post!) that atleast I, shall put the I in ETHICS.

Strive I shall continue to do, for success and for everything I want to be...
But I don't need 'em if they come by losing the very principles which have shaped me.
What's the point of reading or writing a thousand words of eulogy....
if I do not actually imbibe the teachings of my hero - Shri Lal Bahadur ji?!

Amen to the effort and good luck to me! (and anyone else who'd like to follow suit)!!

And then some more..

I have often been intrigued by what separates the chaff from the grain, the good from the best, the men from the boys.
As Dhoni's CSK makes it four finals out of five (irrespective of the result, this record is, in itself, one to behold), I began to think again - what is it that makes such leaders, such teams (or to extend this analogy further, what makes successful leaders, people) feel motivated enough to do an en core?
After all, they have already tasted the highs of success, smelt the aroma of a win, and run the victory lap.
What now?
How does one propel oneself to feel the same intensity, to rise and do it all over again, and again, and again?

The answer, as I have found (till now), lies in just 4 words. These are words that not only help successful people replicate their success, but are also pivotal in creating success for the very first time too.
And so, gentle ladies and men, I give you the 4 magical words: And Then Some More.

I read that in a Shiv Khera book some time ago, and it dawned on me, that it's precisely a genuine and resolute faith in this mantra that keeps people going.
Most of us are wary of failure...what will happen if I lose/fail to do something?
There is an apprehension in every new task/challenge we take...what if - something goes wrong? what if - I do not execute everything properly? what if - I end up being the subject of ridicule?

Winners, unlike most, think otherwise. As they say, courage is not the absence of fear. It is the conquest of fear. We all feel nervous and apprehensive at times. However, what separates one from another, a winner from anyone else, is the attitude - 'And then some more'.

Yes, I will do whatever is required of me (average-to-good, normal role), and then some more (make it large!)
Yes, I will win my first championship, and then some more!
Yes, I will make my first million, and then some more :-)

As I said, I am not too concerned by what CSK manages to do in the IPL final - the lesson to imbibe has already been delivered: Let us not rest content with whatever we achieve.

Let us keep raising the bar. After all, that's why a Bill Gates, an Amitabh Bachchan, an Ambani, a Tendulkar - turns up at work everyday when any of them could pretty much waltz through life, along with their proverbial next seven generations, without caring a damn about earnings.

But then, that's why they are there in the first place - because they know why or how they could even get there.
'And then some more' is all that we need to do - for all the good things/habits, that is. It's 'And Then No More' for all negative, avoidable ones).
Think about it..and then some more!

Now, THAT'S What I Call - A Performance!!

Oh yeah, I know the IPL is alive and kicking in its fifth edition, and the slam-bang version has expectedly been hogging pretty much all the headlines as far as cricketing news is concerned.

But, somewhere far away, a yesteryear cricketing giant and a recently-usurped Goliath locked horns on the former's home soil, in that ultimate test of cricket - Test Cricket.

What has made me write about this match in particular, is the way it transformed, thanks to a very aggressive, and an extremely positive approach adopted by the eventually winning Aussie skipper, Michael Clarke.

One look at the scorecard, and you can see how the tables were turned for West Indies, who dominated for the better part of three days in the match.
Apart from reasserting the reason why Test cricket is regarded as the true test of both perseverance and performance, it also showcased the captaincy of Michael Clarke at its best.
This really deserves to be applauded in today's world of T20-dominated cricket and reactive/insipid captaincy seen on most occasions.

Consider this:
Responding to WI's First Innings total of 449, the Australians were in all sorts of bother at 285/8. That was at end of Day 3.
After staging a remarkable fightback, the team managed to cross 400 and were 406/9 just before Tea on Day 4. 101 out of 100 captains would carry on batting and ensure that the till-now dominant West Indies (who were still not trailing, as per the scoreboard), did not go on to win the match.
Most captains would prefer to bat out till that last wicket, and hope to come as close as possible to (if not in excess of) 449.

Which is where, Clarke showed a lot of gumption and despite trailing by 43 runs, still declared the innings at 406/9, with about 5 overs to go before Tea on Day 4.
Such positive captaincy infused life in the match and a hitherto missing cricketing mojo in the Aussie bowlers, who managed to prise out the Caribbean batsmen very cheaply in their second essay.
Bundling out West Indies for 148, and led by the pugnacious Watson and the ever-reliable Michael Hussey, the Aussies won a very memorable match indeed.
 
Thanks to the antics and belligerent attitude, coupled with the sledge-fest they naturally display in every outing, I don't say this very often for an Australian: but since they rightly deserve to be lauded for this one, credit must go where it is due: Well done Australia, well done Michael Clarke - that, is indeed what I call, a performance!

The Good Guy Who Finished First

As anyone who has read even a few posts on this blog might guess, cricket has been my passion ever since childhood. As I dabbled into the sport, I remember my first heroes (or superheroes, considering the stature they commanded and the persona they exuded) were Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar.
And then, ofcourse, as any Indian/cricket-loving fan would testify, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar happened to us.

Apart from these living legends too, the Indian cricket fan got many more heroes and sporting icons. However, I cannot recall any who come as gentlemanly yet competitive, and as proven-superhero-material yet still so understated and unassuming, as Rahul Sharad Dravid.

All other 'legends' and 'superheroes' of Indian cricket have somehow always had a larger-than-life aura about them. A Kapil or Gavaskar were the original holy cows, while a Sachin has always had a universal and timeless appeal to him.

However, as Harsha Bhogle points out so succinctly in his tribute, it is Dravid who has taught us to place grit, determination, and selfless effort over and above everything else, for the sake of the team.

From keeping wickets only for the sake of a better team composition, or opening the innings in the toughest of terrains, Dravid did it all.
With elan, and without complaints.
With genuine care for the team, and without any show-shaa, hoo-haa about his 'sacrifices'.
Time and time again.

Without even the slightest effort or desire to seek or share glory for some of the most epic efforts he has produced. And mind you, there are some truly sublime specials in his 16-year career.

People often mistake dignified, understated conduct for meekness or lack of aggression. However, as even the most competitive cricketers of his time have vouched, there was always a steely, unyielding resolve behind the boyish looks within that helmet.

As with most of his gentlemanly efforts, he has done a good job of knowing when to 'leave'. As he calls curtains on his glorious career, we can only stand up and doff our hat to a true champion.
Thankyou Rahul, for all the memories.

Thankyou for teaching and proving to us that selflessness is still alive in this competitive, come-look-at-me world, and for persevering with it even when it did not seem to be the 'in' thing to do.

Most importantly, thankyou for showing and proving to us that even the most competitive and 'aggressive' guys can be impeccable enough in their conduct to be shown to the next generation(s) as role models.

Thankyou Rahul, for teaching and proving to us that good guys can also finish first.
Fare thee well!

Well done and Thankyou, Pakistan!!

I don't know if it I am too jingoistic about it, but for as long as I can recall, if ever anything has given me close to the same pleasure (and at times, even more) as an Indian win, it has always been about seeing a Pakistani and/or Australian team lose.

Which is why, I never knew I would write an article with such a heading, as I do for this one's, today.
As it turns out, this is exactly how events of the cricketing world and emotions within me, have panned out.
So here I am - happily sharing how good it felt to see the Pakistan cricket team take the mickey out of a completely outplayed English outfit.

Never knew I would enjoy watching a Pakistani huddle one day!
Image: courtesy Cricinfo

As anyone who has followed the world of Test cricket in the recent past would testify, we have seen the #1 Test team in the world being pummeled into submission on foreign soil, twice within a span of 6 months.

India began their England tour of July-August 2011 as the numero uno team in Test cricket, after having also attained a high of a World Cup triumph earlier in the year.

As we all know by now, by the time that England tour ended, we were not only stripped of our #1 Test status, but were simply stomped upon, in the absence of even a semblance of fight from us.

Ofcourse, it's another matter that this current Australian tour has proved to be equally disastrous for our Test team and its superstars.

At least we had been #1 in Test for about a couple of years - since December 2009.

No Monopoly
By all means, this Paki win shows India's already depleted ranking is now under even more threat, but I am still happy. Why?

Because it means that an England, Australia or South Africa would not think they have a monopoly over the world rankings and would have to earn it by proving themselves everywhere, just like India, Pakistan need to.

Respect Asian Conditions Too
I had written earlier, about why England would be considered a truly worthy #1 team only after seeing their results on Asian tracks and conditions. As it stands, after just one tour of such conditions, the much-vaunted England team stands exposed, without any excuses to offer.

Well done, Strauss
I must also credit Andrew Strauss for the way he has made an honest and dispassionate prelim-assess of how things stand and the tasks on his plate.

Sample this: ""We can't ignore this result and just say it's an aberration," Strauss said. "That would not help us. This was an eye-opener and a wake-up call and with two more tours on the subcontinent coming up, things won't get easier. We have to be up for this challenge."

It is this approach, straightforwardness, vision and clarity that all those who run any form of cricket in general, (and particularly, Indian cricket) must also emulate.

Field Wide Open for Top-Draw Competitive Cricket
Another reason why I have been happy about the Pakistani win is because it makes for a very open and interesting contest for the top position in Indian cricket.
5 teams - England, India, Pakistan, Australia, and South Africa are within 10 points of each other, vying for the 2011-12 #1 rank by the end of March.

Ofcourse, India would not reach that position, for they do not play their next Test till September 2012. However, the very fact that with all these countries are so close, not to forget a resurgent New Zealand (who recently beat Australia in Australia) and the perennial dark horses - Sri Lanka, Test contests definitely seem to have ample room to make for some engrossing and competitive cricket among so many countries.

I believe it's never good for the game if only one team dominates (oh, I would very conveniently make an exception to this statement in case of an Indian dominance!). So with Pakistan winning, it's nice to see so many teams basically on an even keel, and never beating their chests off after winning only on home soil.

Let the games and foreign wins begin...
May the most competitive tourist win!!

To A Happy 2012 (& Beyond)!!

Alright, considering that this is the first post on this blog in 2012, lemme start off with Happy New Year and all that!
Now that I have spoken of the New Year, it is perhaps only complementary that I also talk about my resolution for the new year (and no, I won't say kill you with lame ones like my new year resolution is gonna be 1024 x 768 pixels).
Specific to this blog, I would like to ensure that beginning this year, I blog more on stuff apart from just cricket.
Having said so and continuing with the tradition of breaking new year resolutions at the first given opportunity, here's the new year's first post - on: er, surprise surprise, Cricket!

No seriously, I write more non-cricketing stuff and thereby, hope to live up to my blog's tagline (Something or the other... about ...something or the other!).
If nothing else works and I cannot seem to bring myself to write too much about anything that's not cricket, I shall still strive to live up to my blog's tagline. By changing the blog's tagline itself (easier, no?:P).

Anyway, enough of trivial talk - onto my thoughts about the 'Agneepath' series we have been playing/enduring (depending on whether you are one of the eleven Indians on the field or the billions outside).

While the year has indeed been new, it has been far from a happy one for the Indian cricket team, much less the hapless Indian cricket fan and well-wisher.
Come to think of it, it is not even new, in the sense that the same old story of being totally toppled over when touring overseas, has come back to haunt us, a la England, 2011.

So much for the pre-series billing of this being India's best chance of beating Australia in Australia.

On the other hand, we must also remember and acknowledge that it's always easier to be wise in hindsight. How many of us were not happy (before Perth) with our batting order or advocated even one change from the top 6 batsmen who took the field in these Test matches?
How many of us actually believe, hand on heart, that we did not field our best batsmen in the first 2 Tests?

As I write this, it's Day 1 of the First Test between England and Pakistan with England on the mat at 105/7.
On days like these, I start thinking about the same old 'Imagine if India and Pak were one country, and we had Paki bowlers and Indian batsmen', but then..(on current performances), Indian batsmen?..er...forget it.

Now what?
As they say, let bygones be bygones. Jo hua, so hua.
The least we can and must do, is to look for solutions and long-term fixes than just lament over results not being to our liking or indulge in any blame games.

Here is what I believe must happen in the Indian cricketing fraternity and within our cricketing 'system':

Improve the Standard of Domestic Cricket

• By domestic cricket, I do not mean the IPL. I would like to see better, sporting, lively pitches instead of the dead dodos we have, for our Ranji, Duleep and Irani Trophy matches.
• Let India A tours be regularly scheduled to England, South Africa and Australia, apart from countries with more or less amenable/similar conditions.

Spot, Persist with, and Nurture Talent

• Groom and blossom players irrespective of their scores at domestic level only or even the 'runs' scored. Give importance to the way the player performs.The areas a bowler operated in, more than just the wickets he took.
• The way a batsman applied himself, more than just the runs he made.As they say, if the processes and basic ingredients are in place, the results will follow for sure. We must nurture such players who show the right temperament, attitude and skill level (not just runs/wickets) - especially on English, SA, and Aussie soil.

An Indian Argus
High time we have a selection committee that is a) not by zonal basis and b) gives players the room to fail/prosper for sure. Let no cricketer be unsure of his place for atleast the first 5 matches of his career. That should not be such a bad thing to do.

Replace Being Reactive with Being Proactive
Last but not the least, being proactive in dealing with the fitness and concerns of our cricketers.
Check this out - the first and last paragraphs of this article are especially note-worthy.

The fact that the Board tracked the common (possible) reason for the injury to the speedsters and the fact that they anticipate the future and plan for it:
"..we knew the workloads had been very high for the likes of James Pattinson and we had to make sure players were ready to go. Part of it is mitigating injury and part of it is making sure the next guys are raring and ready to go. We know players will be injured .."

Only when we are able to make such honest, concerted efforts would we able to ensure a better and happy 2012 and even beyond.