Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Dear Anil,

Whatever happened to playing good cricket, irrespective of the surface or the opposition or availability of players?

What happened to "I think we’ve done well to be leaving behind something important for the next generation of cricketers - a belief that they can actually come here to Australia, compete with the Aussies on their terms, on their turf and win. Instead of putting a message across to other teams, we can put a message across to our own teams. Keep believing".

We discovered that the reason for Kumble’s grumpy behaviour at the media briefing (which lasted exactly three minutes, 20 seconds) had everything to do with the argument he had in the morning with the Motera pitch curator, Dheeraj Parsana.

The curator has left a grass covering on the wicket, and in the morning, when the Indian team arrived for its nets session, Kumble urged Parsana to shave off the grass on the wicket. Parsana, according to the sources in the Gujarat Cricket Association, flatly declined Kumble’s request.
Is this the legacy you wish to bequeath the future generations of Indian cricketers?

8 comments:

cricketnewsonlinelive.com said...

Homer,

Hope Anil replies with a resounding no to your question.:)

BTW, it is interesting to note that curator has refused. Board politics?

Kartikeya said...

Give them a break Homer.... one silly story.. which is a bizarre jumble of contradictions ought not to get you all upset :)

the writer concludes that "
One thing is for sure. The first hour on day one of the Ahmedabad Test will be electrifying."

its going to be electrifying because india don't know what their team will be, while south africa do, and the curator has left a tinge of grass on what the writer knows is going to be a "slow and spinning" wicket where the ball will rarely rise above the waist

the "rarely rise above the waist" part is a low blow from the writer whose article demonstrates a peculiar inability to aim any higher.

So i'd worry about the stupid article and its condescending tone instead of hauling Kumble over the coals....

cheers

K

Jrod said...

Anil is an interesting man, i think i may like to have a glass of red wine with him.

Homer said...

cricketnewsonlinelive,

Thanks for your comments..

I hope Kumble and the team play good cricket, but if the conversation between him and Parsana is true, I am extremely disappointed.

As regards Board politics, I think it is more media pressure after Chennai.

Cheers

Homer said...

Kartikeya,

It is the attitude that is galling - Kumble was part of the team that won at Headingley and Perth and Jo'burg.

And yet,at home we insist on no grass.. What are we afraid of?

Cheers

Homer said...

Uncle J,

it will be an interesting conversation and I wont mind being a fly on the wall :)

Cheers

scorpicity said...

This is pathetic... wimping about the pitch...aaargh.

Homer said...

lol Scorpi :)