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Current Issue: July 2009

Enemy Of Self

From an achiever to a demolisher. From sublime to disaster. From likable sportsman to fallen individual. Several other adjectives for and against him can be added. But the underlying truth is that his woes would not have multiplied if his recent captain Ricky Ponting had been a realistic cricketer and a genuine Australian sportsman. Had the captain discharged his duties, as they should have been discharged, the 'mixed' and temperamental Symonds would not have slipped five fathom deep in slush through the influence of 'spirit'.

What 'monkey' is to India, 'kangaroo' is to Australia. To call some one 'monkey' is not derogatory or the word is no way racial. Had Ponting realized this all aspect in Sydney in 2007 and kept. his favourite star, Symonds in check the brilliant fielder and brutal hitter of the ball would not have turned 'arrogant, undisciplined and wayward in his ways'

Both Symonds and classic batsman Ponting have done an immense harm to Australian cricket and Australian reputation as a 'cultured' nation.

If Melbourne and Sydney are currently reeling under the 'racial slur' for indulging in an uncalled for attacks on Indian students, both Symonds and Ponting are largely to blame for inciting the section of gullible alcoholic-youngsters. It will take quite awhile for Australia to regain the confidence of immigrants from several countries, particularly from Asia.

Symonds is third international cricket player, who has been sent back from an overseas official tour for going missing from his hotel after consuming a large quantity of alcohol. The first two have been Lala Amarnath and Gilchrist. While Amarnath was penalized by skipper Vizzy and manager Britain- Jones for none of his fault on the tour to England in 1936, the West Indian Gilchrist was punished by his skipper Alexandar for bowling too many bouncers at Swaranjit Singh in the match between the West Indians and North Zone at Amritsar's Gandhi ground.

Symonds, 'mixed' in his upbringing, habits and temperament, went a 'muck' after the 2007 Sydney encouragement. Initially, he was interested in 'fishing' then he switched to alcohol and the kind of gambling which led him to sustain heavy losses. All this and domestic unhappiness saw him lose control of himself. Instead of smashing the ball in all corners and spinning it with his fingers, he was sinking his sorrows with alcohol only to turn a bad Australian boy cooling his heels in his adopted country instead of playing 20 World Cup in England. What a decline !

Price Of Arrogance

Price Of Arrogance The humility pays; and arrogance destroys. This is what has become crystal clear from the substandard doings of Ricky Ponting's Australia which was sent packing in the preliminary round of the second edition of the World Twenty-20 Cup on Monday, June 8, 2009. The second chapter of the competition began with two upsets on the first two days on June 5 and 9. The atmosphere was far more serene as there was no needless hoopla that was associated with the previous tournament in South Africa. The importance of the national identity made the World Cup pulsating. The emphasis was on cricket and players and not officials and their hangerson.. From being invincible for years, Australia has become easily beatable under the captaincy of Ponting who, even after repeated failures, continues to wear arrogance on his sleeves. Australia now needs a new leader before the team regains their supremacy in the world of cricket. How have the might fallen !

After losing to West Indies , Australia was crushed by the happygo- lucky Sri Lankans. From 79 for five wickets, Australia rallied to 159 for nine wickets in the stipulated 20 overs but young Mendis amply demonstrated that his 'balls were more potential than Australians porous bats. He took three wickets for 20 runs. The beer-guzzling Lankans , as ever, batted with the devil-may-care spirit and achieved the target of 160 runs for the loss of four wickets with one over to spare. The opener Dilshan (53) and Sangakkara (55 not out) were the architects for Sri Lankans win and Australia's humiliation. In beating Australia, the West Indians showed that they were returning to form and their problematic days are the ting of the past. The Sri Lankans mental approach becomes sharper when they face over-exaggerated Australians and the Lankans add "bijli' in their doings .They showed that kind of spirit while beating Australians in 1996 World Cup in Lahore.

Making Debut Soon

Cricket is not yet a global sport but it will make debut next year in the Guangzhou Asian Games. It will boost financial muscle of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and staging country, China. The competition will be held in both sections-men and women.

China has started playing cricket and, regardless of its performance, it will participate in both sections. Several other countries, like, Hong Kong, Singapore, Nepal and host of other nations will jump into the fray. The competition will help increase cricket's popularity and it will not be confined to merely 'Commonwealth' countries, as has been the case at present.

Cricket was included in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games but it was dropped because many 'self-stylist' officials, including India's Suresh Kalmadi, did not promote the idea of inclusion of cricket in the multi-discipline programme. These petty officials felt that their importance would reduce with the inclusion of cricket.

Analysts feel that as Asian Games calendar is already unwieldy, it will be best if the OCA revise the format further by reducing the competition to 15 overs -a -side instead of 20 overs. Each bowler will bowl a maximum of three overs. If the format is reduced to total of 30 overs, the match can be finished inside of three hours, including completion of all necessary formalities.

Knowledgeable observers feel that the lure of T-15 matches will be even more pulsating and irresistible than that of T-20.

There is, however, the risk of the cricket-crazy India media, both electronic and written, providing more space to cricket to the utter neglect of other remarkable performances in events such as athletics, swimming and gymnastics. Making Debut Soon

K.R.W

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