The Ian Bell Run Out

The English crowd boo the Indian cricketers as they are making their way onto the ground from the dressing room. Not to be outdone by their public, the English media surround the Indian team, and start clicking away photographs salivating at the prospect of 

and many such fancy headlines for their front-page news. They are literally in the face of the Indian cricketers. Nice job guys. The English cricketers though applaud the Indian team, as the team enters the ground. A sarcastic response to the so-called unsportsmanlike behavior of the Indian team, it is assumed.

All this drama happens owing to the fact that the Indians appealed for a LEGITIMATE run out. I agree that the appeal was controversial but it was valid nonetheless. The English cricketers were unhappy, and Ian Bell - the batsman involved - particularly so.

I would have liked Dhoni not appeal for the run out (I take this back. Ian Bell is a scumbag.). But he did. It all happened in the heat of the moment. He was getting frustrated that Bell keeps going on and on. Things like this have happened in the past, and they will still kell keeps going on and on. Things like this have happened in the past, and they will still keep happening.

As the commentators discuss about the ongoing jeering from the crowd, out walks Ian Bell amidst a suddenly roaring crowd. Reason being? The Indian team and the captain withdrew the appeal. I absolutely feel that there was no need for MS to have taken the appeal back. But he just did. MS, you're the man!

And then one of the gentlemen in the commentary box says, "They are cheering for the Indian team, for withdrawing the appeal" Really? You think so. No you don't. You pretty well know that they are cheering for Ian Bell, and Ian Bell only.

So what's left? A bloody embarrassed English crowd and Media. All that booing and intimidation accounts for naught! Go hide your faces in the closet, or even better run your front-pages like this

Photos Courtesy : Yahoo Cricket* * - The photos available on the blog are edited versions of photos from Yahoo Cricket.
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Dada

Sourav Ganguly – I might write an epic biography of his, and yet it might not suffice. He has been one of the most passionate, and splendid leaders that Indian Cricket has had.

Even the great Sachin Tendulkar refused captaincy attributing it to denting his performance on field. Ganguly does not take “No” for an answer. He led team India to places they have never been. I am not one to keep records of his achievements, but I am sure that he has reached many a milestone untouched.

Not only did he lead by example, he went out of his way to identify new talent. He was the one who found Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, and so many others who are part of the current world-cup-winning-squad. He played a vital role in grooming these youngsters into the respectable people they are today.

Millions in India love him and adore him, for to them he was ‘Dada’ – the man who started a new chapter in Indian cricket. The aggression and intensity that Ganguly brought is one his trademarks. He never does mentally check out, every sesond of the game(even if he is in the dressing room). Remember the Natwest trophy final, 2002? That’s how much zealous he is. If Dhoni is Captain cool, Ganguly is Captain Charisma!

So many things have been said about him. And so many arguments have been made about him. Nevertheless, nobody can deny that he is and forever will be a legend in Indian Cricket.

A man so great in caliber did not leave the cricketing arena in style. He was dropped, rather than him announce his retirement. Die-hard Ganguly fans were enraged, and argued that the board was unfair to him. True, that he could have made a few more wonderful knocks. However, the sad truth is he is not the same Ganguly he was a decade ago.

Ganguly gave the KKR the chance to ridicule him, and KKR did just that. Now there are rumors that Kochi want him because their sweetheart Jayawardena has to go back to Srilanka. Is Ganguly a replacement? Just like how Nehra was replaced by Sreesanth? Kochi and KKR can go to hell.

I felt happy when Gilchrist retired from International Cricket. Would not everyone consider Gilly a threat, even today? However, he retired more than three years ago, when he was in prime form. He did that because he knew it was time. He knew that there were a few more good knocks left in him, but it was not worth the risk.

Gilchrist will forever be known as the guy who changed the definition of a wicket-keeper. A guy who did not linger after his time. A guy who was not pushed into retirement. A guy whose last knock was one of his best knocks. A guy who went out with grace!

That is how I wanted Ganguly to be. Sadly, that is not the case. I hope the Die-hard (or so they call themselves) Ganguly fans would stop putting him under so much pressure. His time is done, it is time we move on and just appreciate the man for what he once was.