CA: C'mon Australia

Now that the sordid tale of ball-tampering has led to Messrs Smith, Warner, and Bancroft being banned, it's also worth looking back at a few things.

The punishment: Apt or too harsh? Or too less?

What has really led to the quantum of punishment?

It is not the perpetrators alone but the fact that the world is pooh-poohing at Aussie claims of "playing hard but fair" with the more accurate Lehmann-guided approach to just "headbutt the line".

The whole episode has led to the Australian cricketing establishment losing all its sheen and moral high ground, if ever they could have claimed to have one.

So while the swiftness and zero-tolerance displayed by Cricket Australia in handling this fiasco is appreciated, what we are also witnessing is a damage-control exercise now.
The damage has already been done.

It would have been bettee to invest in creating a team like their neighboring Kiwis are - a true embodiment of giving their best on the field, being aggressive in their pursuit of victory, but not at the cost of gentlemanliness and sportsmanspirit.

The damage has been to the spirit and ethics of the game.
Which is why, it is no coincidence that the Aussies have always been the bad boys of cricket.
Sure, they are not the only team to cross the line and there are characters in every team but it is the consistency and encouragement and almost advocacy and patronization of such an approach from every team and their management (headbutt the line, mental disintegration, play hard but fair, it's just Australian to do so) which makes the team stand out in its brazenness consistently, in any and every era.

Pick any generation of cricketers, any team of any era, and you would find as Peter Roebuck had once described, "a pack of wild dogs" around, always.

Time to do away with such an attitude more than such players. If the cricketing establishment can, instead of encouraging, be strict and punitive in its implementation of playing the game and just the game fair and square, we woukd not have see any such players and attitudes prospering.

You think sledging, and you think of the Australian cricket team.
You think rowdyism, and you think of the Australian cricket team.

The country needs a makeover, and not just a cosmetic one, only for display purposes.

The cricketing world needs the game to rule, not brash, bullying talking heads.
Forget adopting unethical means, the world would see a team that is civilized and gentlemanly and likeable too.
Aah, to think of such a team in baggy green caps is a dream as of today.

And that is why, one hopes to see this come to life, atleast after the lessons and damages from this ball-tampering saga.

One hopes Australia can do it. We'd like to see them to do so.
After all, it is a shame to be so consistently talented as they are, but be the diametrical opposite of that talent when it comes to behavior, manners, and conduct.
Let that not happen anymore, guys...c'mon Australia, you can do it.
You must do it!!

Rest In Peace, Sridevi

In the tragic passing away of Sridevi, we have encountered a tragedy that is perhaps even bigger than her demise.
The way people have begun speculating about every possible scenario and the way every More-than-smart Know-it-all-Alec has started jumping to conclusions, is sad...even disturbing.

When one does not know the exact sequence of events, when one is so far off from what transpired, the scene of the incident, and in the absence of a first-hand account or the details of the 'crime' scene, who is anyone/how can people so conveniently run up every facet of their imagination/conspiracy theory, and pronounce their judgement in their self-anointed fast-tracked court of justice?

Alas, be that as the way it is, what I found worth sharing (in case you haven't read it already), was a heartfelt letter.
An open letter that Ram Gopal Verma wrote, as an ardent fan, whose adoration, admiration and love for her is palpable in the words that have poured through, straight from his heart, into this letter.

This is a person who is sad, distraught, even agonized and shattered.
He has not minced any expression - be it his feelings, his recollections, and their intensity (regarding the memories of his experiences and times with her) or the pain that he has felt on losing her.

We will miss you Sridevi, the great legend.

From all your fans:
May God rest your soul in peace.
Rest In Peace. Rock In Peace.

Open Letter : From an Indian Cricket Fan

Dear BCCi and other custodians of Indian cricket:

As an ardent follower and fan of Indian cricket, I have had the pleasure and privilege of watching many memorable performers and performances.

However, it is also prudent to think and assess the ramifications of how we are performing overseas as well as in our talent scouting and talent grooming processes.

Apart from using the national team's performances outside the subcontinent as a benchmark and barometer for the standards we have set ourselves, it is also quintessential to look at our bench strength, the grooming of our A teams, the exposure they get through quality tours, the domeatic cricket structure apart from the IPL razzmatazz, and the junior level cricket (U-19s et al).

If we can ensure transparency and accountability on these aspects, I am sure we will be a much better team, not just despite the system but because of it too.

Here's to better days and better tours ahead, Amen!!

Cheers,

Just one of the millions of well-wishers of Indian Cricket.

To a Healthy, Happy, and Prosperous 2018 and to our till-date best version of ourselves!!

It's that time of the year again, when we meet another new calendar, reflect on another year gone by, and make resolutions for yet another time :)

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of this year and ushers in a 2018 which brings about peace, happiness, positivity, good health, prosperity, and joy to everyone!!

As we bid goodbye to 2017, I hope that more than anything else, we all become better versions of ourselves.
Let us all become better persons and what I consider most important is that may all of us be able to say that we were better in 2017 than what we were in 2016, and likewise, we would be the best-ever version of ourselves in 2018 (to be at a stage where we can say we have never been better than what we are now, in this year), only to be able to repeat this statement thereafter, in 2019, 2020, 2021, and so on, for every forthcoming year too!

Wishing all readers of Choc-a-blog a very healthy, joyous, happy, and prosperous 2018 :)
May you - in this year - be the best you have ever been, and may you be able to say this statement in every year henceforth! :)

Bye bye 2017, Cheers, and Welcome 2018!!