Mysore: As stunning as the two ODIs (on which I have some comments below) have been, I want to bring to your attention a great Mysore story, which hasn’t gotten much attention from the national press. In fact, I couldn’t find even a single story in any English language newspaper except for my favorite newspaper, Star of Mysore and so I can not link any story.
This is cricket. As in good, cultured and compassionate conduct.
In the aftermath of the Tsunami nearly 14 months ago, citizens of Mysore adopted a village, Mudliarkuppam, in Nagipattinam district. The pontiff of Suttur matha, Shri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji, took the lead and organized Mysore Citizen’s Forum (MCF), which was the nodal agency for relief efforts in this village. The contributions collected from Mysoreans were channeled through MCF, which included journalists, businessmen, technocrats and architects. In the past year, MCF has rehabilitated villagers by buying boats and other necessary equipment to earn a living, in addition to building public utilities such as a hospital and school. Yesterday, 92 houses built by MCF were given away by the new Chief Minister, Kumaraswamy to the villagers of Mudliarkuppam. Another 55 houses are being built in the second phase.
Nice going, guys.
Cricket on Google: Google video has come as a boon to us, who don’t get to watch live cricket, thanks to those cricket enthusiasts who post highlights. Speaking of tsunami, this weekend, I also watched some video clippings from the tsunami benefit games played in Australia recently. For one thing, Google video makes it possible for me to not just put faces to names but also look at batting technique and bowling actions. I watched a 40 minute highlight package of the first one day international on friday but highlights of the second game aren’t posted yet.
Prem Panicker wrote about the virtues of pitching the ball up and how that made a difference in the second game. Well, these are the basics that one would expect international cricketers to remember and put into practice after getting a pasting in the previous game.
Srilankan coach, Tom Moody will certainly be hoping that his players, especially bowlers, will remember that in third finals of the VB series. In what must be one of the stunning comebacks and most savage display of attacking batting, Australia recovered from 10/3 to score 368 of 50 overs in the second finals, after being down by a game. Imagine being swept at home by Srilankans, who being in Sydney (which ain’t no subcontinental flat track) would have fancied their chances. No chance of that once Murali went for 0/99 in 10 overs and Ponting and Symonds scored imperious hundredss. This is crushing an opponent, Aussie style. Well, it’s not for nothing that I have adopted them as my cricketing team, although I should hasten to add I do not condone their verbal aggression on the field. A couple of reports on that game here, here and here.
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