Advertisements
Tag Archive | Pakistan
June 1, 2019  

2019 Cricket World Cup: West Indies, Again, Prove That Fast, Short-Pitched Bowling Gets Wickets (& Is EXCITING).

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE. Ahhh!

Click to ENLARGE. Now those are what I call decent bowling figures.

Click to ENLARGE. Look him up.

Wow, the West Indies showed GLIMPSES of their fast bowling legacy from the 1970s. It was FUN.

I like aggressive, short-pitched bowling. I grew up in that era — and it was also before the DREADED helmets.

Fast, well-directed, short-pitched bowling works, despite the helmets. Pakistan was all at sea, and that should not have been. It was not pretty.

That the WHOLE game lasted less than 50 overs is a crime. Folks paid good money to see the game. But, they got to see some good cricket.

Yesterday, I criticized South Africa’s Ngidi & Rabada for NOT being able to bowl effective short-pitched, throat balls. They bowled like girls. The West Indians showed how it should be done.

I was genuinely excited when I saw that Nicholas Pooran was in the side. I had seen him before and he is quite the talent. This boy can bat.

After a streaky start he showed what he is capable of. Wow. Hope we get to see some even longer innings from him.

Though it was too short for my liking, it was a good match. I enjoyed it. Felt sorry for poor Safraz. His side was totally out-gunner.

Related posts:
 Search ‘world cup’.

by Anura Guruge

Advertisements
March 21, 2019  

New Zealand, To Its Eternal Credit, Exemplifies The Decency & Dignity I Ascribe To Cricket Playing Nations.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE.

Click to ENLARGE.

Click to ENLARGE.

Cricket civilizes you. Plain and simple. Sportsmanship is paramount in cricket. Hence, the above expression: “It isn’t cricket”.

So, I, who watch cricket, on a large screen TV, nearly every day, and have been a fanatic all my life, strongly believe that cricket playing nations tend to be more decnet than those that don’t play cricket.

By ‘cricket playing nations’ I am referring to the 12 countries permitted to play 5-Day International Test Matches. Yes, cricket at the highest level, is played between countries and a match can last up to 5-days — and still end in a draw. That is the beauty & charm. That is what civilizes you. No crash, bangk, wallop. Very dignified.

Right now there are 11 countries that are Test nations: India, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, England, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The ‘West Indies‘ also play Test cricket but they are a conglomeration of small states that come together to play cricket. 105-countries, worldwide, play cricket. But, I am talking just about the 11 Test playing countries — New Zealand one of them.

I am so proud of New Zealand. Way to go. Obviously, it would have been better if this unfortunate incident never happened, but NZ showed us how to rise above and prevail.

And their 38-year old Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. WOW. WOW. WOW. What class. What courage. She is exemplary.

I have thought about immigrating to New Zealand! I, however, have never been. Not even close. I also don’t have any NZ friends. Dealt with a fe, but I can’t say I interact with any Kiwanis right now. My loss.

One of my all time heroes, Edmund Hillary, is a New Zealander.

I know NZ from all the cricket I watch — and some rugby. I count Richard Hadlee, Glenn Turner, Bev Congdon, Ross Taylor et. al. among my favorites. Bev Congdon made my Summer of 1973!

So, I have always had an affinity with dear Ol’ New Zealand — a British Commonwealth member no less.

How they have behaved and prevailed over the last few days has been brilliant. So, inspirational.

Thank YOU, New Zealand.

Thank YOU, Jacinda Ardern.

by Anura Guruge

December 25, 2018  

Wishing YOU A Very Festive ‘Boxing Day 2018’ & With TWO Test Matches It Does NOT Get Better.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE.

I feel bad for the Americans in that they were never blessed to discover and relish ‘Boxing Day‘. It is a wonderful British Holiday, day to chill-out after and enjoy some sporting action. And IF you are a true Brit there is nothing better than a Test match on Boxing day and this year, i.e., 2018, we have TWO: Australia vs India and South Africa vs Pakistan. I will be watching both of them. Given that Australia is 12-hours ahead of us, I plan to start watching the Australia vs India Test shortly.

Enjoy. Make ‘Boxing Day’ a part of your Christmas ritual. You will be better for it.

Happy ‘Boxing Day 2018’.

Related posts:
 Check Category ‘Holidays’.

by Anura Guruge

November 20, 2018  

New Zealand’s Win Over Pakistan By 4-Runs, In The 1st Test, In Abu Dhabi, Was A Doozy.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE.

Wow. What a last day (the 4th). I have been following the whole series, the T20s, ODIs & now the 1st Test, with interest and joy. Some good, exciting cricket.

I had watched the Test match highlights each day — some while having lunch and the rest at night, over dinner. Exciting Test match.

Hats off, most certainly, to New Zealand. A totally unexpected win — against the grain. It only became a possibility right at the end. Poor Pakistan. They showed one of their fans, a middle-aged man, crying.

Amazing spin bowling by the debutant — Ajaz Patel. This was good for cricket.

Related Posts:
 Check Category ‘Cricket’

by Anura Guruge

October 8, 2018  

Test Matches Should NOT Be Played In Empty Stadiums — It Is NOT Cricket.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE.

I have already talked about this. Click image to access my post.

I have just been watching the highlights of the Pakistan v Australia 1st Test in Dubai, UAE.

It is bloody amazing. TOTALLY EMPTY STADIUM.

Just a sea of empty blue seats.

I do NOT think there is even 100 people there if you don’t count the teams and the support staff.

You cannot play Test cricket in an empty stadium. It just kills your spirits.

There should be an asterix in the record books for all Tests played where the average attendance was less than 10,000/day.

This is a travesty.

The ICC should NOT permit this. The umpires should call the match off. I am NOT kidding.

Related Posts:
 Check Category ‘Cricket’

by Anura Guruge

September 6, 2018  

I Can’t Get Over That My ‘Buddy’ Imran Khan Is Now Prime Minister Of Pakistan.

by Anura Guruge

Google for more … much more, including recent talks with U.S. Mike Pompeo. Click to ENLARGE.

Click to ENLARGE.

Click to access this post from 2-years ago. It tells YOU the whole story.

Alas he is NOT really my buddy. I met him a couple of times when we both lived in Britain BUT we were in two very different worlds. He was already a world famous superstar and I was just a pleb. I did know one of his ex-girlfriends — but, here again, he had many and she was but one.

This post, from 2-years ago, tells you the whole story vis-à-vis Imran and I.

I wish him well as P.M. He is a very clever and talented man. He probably could be the BEST Prime Minister Pakistan has ever had. Give him a chance. He is not a bad sort — I think.

Related Posts:
 Check Category ‘cricket’.

by Anura Guruge

April 5, 2018  

Sling TV Is LYING, Lying Through Their Bloody Teeth, About Cricket Availability.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE.

You can find this, on Twitter, #SlingAnswers

I have checked, double-checked, triple-checked and then checked again.

None of these Pakistan vs Windies T20s are available on Sling TV Willow. They might be available on Willow, BUT not through Sling TV.

So, Sling TV, as they so often do is LYING.

I am so through with Sling TV.

I checked. I am paid up until April 22, 2018. That is IT. I will pull the plug.

Related posts:
 Search ‘Sling’.

by Anura Guruge

« Older Posts
%d bloggers like this: