Monday, December 05, 2005

Me, my record, my place in the team - what game?

I do not understand, I fail to understand - why do they play a meaningless game that just can't have a result? This is unique to cricket - where the match goes on even where there is not a chance of any team winning. This is among the reasons why it makes no sense to people from non-cricketing countries.

However, given that players (esp from India) always play for their own records - this is perfect. And look what happened in that quest - the India batsmen nearly all tumbled by noon! No wait, this national team also has assisted other teams in setting records such as most runs conceded in the shortest time, and most wickets to fall in a session like today, losing a game in a session, jackpot bonanza returns for betters etc... so that's ok.

In the past they have also encouraged complete unknowns from opposing teams, by letting them become stars overnight. Their first big century, first 10 wkt haul... all that.

Good things that happened:
- SRT didn't get his meaningless 35th century. That would have been ridiculous in a dead game - not that his overrated status isn't anyway. He did get a century - # of balls faced for his piddling 22 (126). Neat.
- Selfish Sourav got 5 runs, good for 5 more games with the team. The story of his 'comeback' was plain comedy.

Regardless, nothing is going to happen at the end of day's play. Why did they start at all?

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