ICC Cricket World Cup

It's early February and I can't wait until the Cricket World Cup begins. I am looking forward to the late night matches because the timezone of the subcontinent (India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh) is suitable as the host nations are only a few hours behind Australian time.

History will be created (Can Australia win a fourth consecutive cup?), legacies will be created (Can Muralitharan inspire his Sri Lankan teammates to win the tournament as a fitting swansong to a player of such high-calibre?). Here's a list of teams that I reckon can challenge for a World Cup:

1. Australia (The national selectors have made some bizarre and astonishing decisions as of late, however, the whole nation will shut up if the team flies back in the plane with a trophy. Barring injury and form - Mitchell Johnson on a bad day - and apart from ageing players (i.e. Ponting, Haddin etc. should be a strong chance to win the tournament.)

2. England (Will be a little cocky after defeating Australia for the first time in 24 years in an Ashes series away from home, however, will be brought down to Earth again on subcontinental pitches and quality spinners.)

3. India (One of the host nations. In reasonably good form after straight series wins against Bangladesh and New Zealand on home soil. Will be looking forward to playing up home ground advantages after a tough tour of South Africa. The cup is overflowing with potential new-generation of stars like Subramanium Badrinath, Robin Uthapa, Ravindra Jadeja, Pragyan Ojha, Piyush Chawla, so the future looks bright.)

4. Sri Lanka (Another host nation. With a few of the older guard retiring or close to calling it a day, a good blend of experience and relative youth. Old wise heads such as Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan mixed in the youth of talent up-and-coming stars such as Angelo Matthews - enjoyed watching him in the IPL - Upul Tharanga and Suraj Randiv looks a good team. With the departure from the scene of Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan, the next bunch of cricketers seem ready to seamlessly slot in with players like Malinga Bandara and the already established Lasith Malinga.)

5. South Africa (Graeme Smith has grown into the captaincy role in the last 5 years. The Proteas will be out to show that they are not the same team as the "chokers" of 1999 - the historic tied semi-final with Australia. Lots of talented youngsters, regardless of colour, such as Wayne Parnell, the Morkel brothers - Albertus (Albie) & Morne, Colin Miller, David Ingram. With Hashim Amla firmed up at number 3, they will be formidable opponents. The slow bowling department looks good as there is a mix of experience - Johan Botha and Paul Harris - and youth - Imran Tahir (leg spinner who idolises Shane Warne. Moved to South Africa from Pakistan for love and stayed on.)

Here's a list of teams outside the "expected" top teams who could give a serious competition.

Pakistan (Yes, unfortunately. When they have got their heads together and focus on the cricket field, these guys can be a treat to watch. With firepower fast bowling, reasonably good spinners and good alround options - such as Shahid Afridi - they will be competitive. However, time and time again they seem to be affected by internal politics - with players feigning "injury" because they do no want to play under a certain player who is captain. The nation's Cricket Board is also not a saint as they interfere with team selections. As I say, it's a big mess but if they can get their mind straight the ultimate gift they can give to their people is the simple joy of winning a World Cup again. If that happens, then at least this time they will let the players through the main airport!)

Bangladesh (Probably got Test status a little too early, but have proven their worth over a long period of time. They have to show that beating Australia in Lords and India in a previous World Cup (2003) game was not a fluke. Have plenty of home ground advantage and a plethora of slow-bowling options - Shakib Al-Hasan, Abdur Rehman etc. Will give the top nations a good run for their money.)

Afghanistan (Watched a video recently on the Cricinfo website about their rise. Truly inspirational stuff. I would rate them as a dark horse in the tournament, but I would be keen to watch their progress. In a nation sick and tired of civil wars and instability, their people will be proud with an honourable exit. I think there is enough talent for them to proceed to the second-round.)

New material

I was going through my blog right now and noticed that I had not published anything since October 2009 (which is almost one year now!). I guess during the year I have been a little bit occupied with trying to establish myself professionally. A lot has being happening internationally, locally and domestically over the past year. The experience of blogging has been quite pleasant and I hope to get back into it again soon when I get some more time on my hands.

There is a lot of material to update my blog followers on, such as:

• Palestine/Israel situation
• The Australian Federal Election
• Climate Change and Sustainability
• Another possible episode of "Smirkman", "Mr Ambitious" and "Big Ears"
• Satirical updates of news and current affairs from throughout the world
• and much much more ....

So readers, do not despair, material is there. Watch this space....

Australia gets shellacking

There is currently some debate going on in the public arena in regards to the relevance of 50 overs a side cricket. In my view, the purest forms of cricket are 50-50 and Test cricket, the genuine gentleman's game.

I did watch the IPL and the ICL on televison and kept in touch through the wonders of the internet. My honest opinion is that there is a lot of money flowing around in international cricket (and the BCCI for that matter) right now. The administrators have got some screws loose in their heads, because there is simply too much cricket going on. There is no need for extravaganza of any sort, be it IPL or ICL. It is sad for a traditionalist like myself to see a great game like cricket being diluted to 20-20 "hit and giggle" cricket. Cricket does not need to be Americanised, with the skimpy cheerleaders after every boundary and the shortened number of over per side. There was even talk of Bangladesh playing "night-time" Tests against England with a pink ball. Unbelievable I think! Just keep cricket the way it is and don't change it - that is my view. Are you listening David Morgan, Sharad Pawar and your board members?

I know most people who are modern in their thinking would have a different viewpoint to me. Most people these days are looking for novelties and 20-20 cricket appeals to them. This is basically a bold gimmick to capture the unconquered North American and European markets. There will be issues emerging in the future (and there have been a few instances recently) where players have to decide what comes first - National team duties or Club allegiances? With million dollar contracts, playing for your country of origin will diminish and people will just be in it for the money. Already people have been questioning themself along the lines of "why should I play for my local club & country if I can earn $5 million in 3 years playing in the IPL".

In this context, going back to the main point of this post, is the fact that a rivetting 7-ODI series is being played between India and Australia. Australia looked like thrashing India in the !st ODI, but India came back strongly (the tail wagged) and Harbajan "The Turbanator" Singh (with 49) and Praveen "Precision" Kumar (with 40) threatened to win the game for India. It was some feisty batting from the two - Harbajan irritating the Aussies, yet again, with his mighty effort! If only Ashish Nehra had given the strike to Praveen Kumar and Kumar had gone for it...

Anyways, the 'Boys in Blue' (Team India) came back very strongly and posted a more than competitive score (7-354) with Mahendra Singh Dhoni (124 off 107), Gautam Gambhir (76 off 80) and Suresh Raina (62 off 50). They followed this with an inspired fielding display (an Achilles heel for Indian teams in the past) and took wickets at regular intervals, highlighted by the fact that Mike Hussey was the top scorer in the Aussie innings with 53 off 60 balls.

The moral of the story: 50 overs cricket is alive and kicking! To the doubters, I say that this mega-series between India and Australia will prove to be the reason of kickstarting the stumbling car engine (which is the common perception) of 50 overs cricket worldwide. It's competitive, thrilling and down to the wire. You can't ask for anything better than it!

It will be an intriguing series to follow. I would be a bit suprised if the doubters are still loudly exclaiming the virtues of 20-20 cricket after the current series is completed.

Do I need more any more evidence to get the message through to you?

Next piece of work

I will be attempting, over the next few months, to revive an old plot of mine that has been sitting inside my Creative Work file for over 2 years and has been gathering some dust. The working name is "Diamond Harbour", may change this later.

I was inspired to write this story after watching Sarkar & Company, two Bollywood movies. I am not going to give much away, but Chotti might be pleased to note that I will be trying to create a sense of deeper narrative and better characterisation and plot and setting in this one.

Main theme: thriller/action/drama
Issues raised: illicit gold smuggling, drug trafficking, unethical business practices, hundi and hawala network, Australian undergound mafia, Indian underground mafia, influence of trade unions at Haldia Port, political fallout of scandals, corrupt politicians, administrators and police offiicials of West Bengal, Indian government's relationship with Australia, Australia's handling of the India friendship.

Main characters: Ajay Khanna (Head, Marketing, Khanna International Exports Pty. Ltd.), Nikhil Bannerjee (CPM-corrupt Chief Minister, West Bengal), Dev Singh (Khanna's associate in Mumbai underworld), Sunder Lal Khanna (Ajay's father, former Maharashtra CM), Rahul Khanna (Ajay's younger brother, looks after South East Asia section), Atul Khanna (Ajay's older brother, looks after European operations; resentful of Ajay's power base), Mohan Lal Khanna (Sunder Lal's older brother, looks after North American operations; main operative in the North American hundi & hawala market; plots against his brother and nephew), Baburam Rao Shirodkar (INC-corrupt Industry Minister of national government, associate of Ajay's father), Ramesh Khanna (Ajay's son; rises to take control of the family company after the fall from grace of his father)

This is just a sneak preview of what is coming.
Any thoughts at this initial stage???

AFL finals series 2009

I can't wait for next weekend to come quicker. This 2009 season the AFL finals series are going to be massive. Yes, unfortunately, the West Coast Eagles or Fremantle Dockers did not finish in the top eight teams of the ladder. Both teams proved the Eastern States "tanking" critics wrong. AFL is Australia's national game and I have grown to respect since my childhood days - yes I am indeed an unabashed fan of the game. I absolutely love it to bits and know many of the players' names, coaches and assistant coaches (and which coach was employed by which club in the past). This season I would say the top four teams, judging from this weekend's performances, in numerical order are:

1. St Kilda
2. Geelong
3. Bulldogs
4. Magpies

I was also pleased that in the last "tipping" round of the regular season I recieved 7 correct tips. Either of the top four could be playing in a premiership final because they are the trendsetters for 2009. It is going to be a rivetting finals series..... hope St Kilda run out as premiers this year though, they are the best team out of 16 for this season and they have some young stars - Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montaghna, Stephen Milne, Adam Schneider... to name just a few...

2009 coming to a close very quickly

Things are getting quite interesting...... my load at work is getting a bit heavier, with even more responsibility and generally, am not getting much time to spare for myself. nonetheless, i endeavour to do as many things possible each day. compromises and sacrifices have to be done at times - no reading, no watching television, no watching hindi movies. however, this is all "short term pain for long term gain"....... i am really satisfied with the way life is going on at the moment.. and i keep on asking myself "what is the best use of my time right now'. i am keeping my procrastination in check by writing a plan every day for the whole day as soon as I get up from sleep. I am pleased with the effective way that I am working.... can only ensure that I keep it up....

On another note its a little to contemplate that 2009 is coming to an end so quickly. Lots of local and international events took place this year. Let us hope that 2010 brings up more joy and the economic cycle now makes an upward shifts and we get out of this rut, which is the Global Financial Crisis.

News flash

Greetings. I noticed I had been absent on my blog since around about May, so I thought I would update it. Lots of events have transpired in the last three months, including:

• Peter "The Smirking Devil" Costello finally announced he will be not be seeking re-election at the next Federal Election. However, don't hold your breath because he may do a "Colin Barnett" pretty close to Mr. Rudd anouncing the date of the next election. That's right folks, "I will serve in the best interests of my party, if they wish me to" and little Peter would probably want to be elected "unopposed". Keep following this line of stories. The marathan has begun and the factional warriors within the Liberal Party are stockpiling their samurai swords.
• The matter of the "fake email" Ozcar controversy was finally revealed. Mr Godwin Grech is in fact, not an earthly being, yes that's right he is from planet Zirgon, which Tony Abbott used to live in when he was a teenage kid, and I think Wilson "Mad Uncle" Tuckey also frequently visits from time to time. On a more positive note, at least Senator Eric "Sincere" Abbetz actually apologised for the whole circus show. Malcolm "It is not my fault" Turnbull seems seriously out of depth and already some scheming is going on behind his back in terms of who a better leader could be. Senator Nick "Ambrosi the Laughing Assassin" Minchin is a snake and puppeteer, Andrew "Backstabber" Robb is far from a "pair of safe hands", he is a factional warlord, aligned with Ambrosi; Joe "Obese" Hockey, keep dreaming; Tony "Elephant Ears" Abbott, I think the only person who likes you is yourself; Julie "Wikipedia" Bishop has to go as she has the worst poll internal poll ratings apart from Malcom "Malicious" Turnbull; Christopher "Nasal Voice" Pyne is not leadership material. I think the best chance at the next Federal election would be to bring back John Hewson, Andrew Peacock, or even someone like Malcom Fraser.
• This whole trivial debate on climate change is turning into a bloody circus. The Greens, whose committed votebank consists of trees, living animals, oceans and mountains, are doing a great deal of harm to their own constituency by not supporting a commitment for action on climate change. Ironically, the Liberal party is the one accussing the ALP of "putting an unecessary tax burden on the people of Australia" and "ensuring that the next generation of Australians remain unemployed". The ALP, on the other hand is ensuring that "it wants to work with business" to ensure its proposed Carbon Emissions system works in harmony with business interests and keeps people in jobs. Unthinkable, Bob Hawke and Paul Keating must be having sleepless nights. The Opposition is still divided over this issue, some saying that there are four seasons in the year (summer, winter, autumn and spring) while some argue that"the climate change argument is put forward by mad scientists". They want to wait until November and see whether or not Turnbull makes a blunder before stabbing him in the back like Julius Caesar. There are many Brutus's around Turnbull (the two prominent ones are Minchin and Robb).
• The coverage of attacks on Indian students in Australia by the Indian media is nothing short of sabre-rattling. Headlines such as "Australia is a racist country" is alarming. Whatever happened to "impartial journalism" ? Seems to have been thrown out the window! There are a number of issues causing this situation: lack of regulation of the international student market, track record of supposed "education colleges" etc.. Australia is a peaceful nation, there is just a minority of "thugs" who are the remnants of Australian nationalism from the "White Australia" policy of the early 1970's.
• "I can confirm that Mohammed Nordin Top is dead" .................... or not. With modern technology you can expect it to pinpoint who the bad guys are. Not in the case of the Indonesian police who had to back down from the claim that South East Asia's most wanted Islamic terrorist had been killed in a police shootout.
• In a surprising development, Bill Clinton, the former US President, flew to Pyongyang, North Korea to secure the release of two young Korean-Americans. Unfortunately, he performed this delicate mission with his "pants on" this time.
• The military junta of Burma/Myanmar has sentenced Aung San Suu Kyi, the rightful Prime Minister, to a further 18 months house arrest over a rather bizarre incident in which an American man named John Yettaw, 43 "swam across the river to get into the resident of Suu Kyi". Why is there even a trial proceeding against her? Did she compromise the national security of Burma by letting in to her place a man who wanted to talk to her? I think it was merely a poltical case designed to keep her imprisoned so that she cannot stand for elections in next year's "shame elections" which will ensure the military maintains its tight grip on power. It would be great public relations to send William "Mad Uncle" Tuckey to take stock of the whole situation and give his piece of mind about the military clique ruling the country and then maybe he could be imprisoned for life, never to return to Australia. In his heart of hearts, Malcom "Malicious" Turnbull would be delighted with that prospect.
• Sarah Palin is eyeing the Presidential race for 2012. During her brief hiatus in the public arena, various Facebook groups such as "I have more foreign policy experience than Sarah Palin" started to be established, revealing the real face and character of Sarah "I'm just a hockey mum" Palin. She should quit the race now, as she is a proven stumbler at momenous ocassions and has produced some golden moments such as "When I get up in the morning, I open my window and what do I see? Russians throwing stones at me!". She should give up trying to be a Presidential candidate and become an Ambassador to Antartica, or even Ambassader to Planet Mars. Just thought of something better, Ambassador to the Bermuda Triangle - yep, that's right, because then no trace of her will ever be found (cause of death: vanished without a trace). Then that will add to whole debate about climate change. The sceptics will be converted.
• Kim Jong "Very Ill" Ill is reportedly planning to handover the leadership of North Korea to youngest son, Kim Jong Nam, 26. With daddy keeping an eye on him, the poor guy will have his work cut out for him: no nightclubbing, no listening to American music or chasing American women, no drinking alcohol. We have witnessed or are witnessing the changing hands of regional despots, such as Fidel Castro to brother Raul Castro in Cuba, Muammar Gaddafi to his son Mohammed in Libya and Hosni Mubarak to son Gamal Mubarak in Egypt. Egypt is an amusing case, because the voting public is spoilt for choice between two very good candidates. That's right: Gamal Mubarak v Gamal Mubarak. He is ensured to have 100% success at the elections. Brings whole new meaning to the phrase "following in the fathers' footsteps".
• China's political leadership needs to promote the younger generation. We have Who? and When? serving in the current positions of Chairman of the Communist Party and Premier, respectively. How about a few more others such as: How? Why? Where? What? That would be great, because then all the most important questions of this century would be answered.
• Pakistan has admitted that millitants from their territory have been launching attacks on India. Living the good life in the tribal areas of Pakistan, they are amused by the American drone attacks. "They killed Osama number 2 yesterday in Tora Bora, but I am alive and kicking. We are gonna party the night off with our ISI brethren tonight", said Osama bin Laden, reportedly from the back of the residence of retired General Pervez Musharaf's mansion in New York.

That's the latest round of local and international news. Till next time, I bid you farewell. You can read more of the latest news headlines in my next blog post.