I have been an avid follower of Cricket right from the tender age of 7-8 years when the sport for me just meant to hit the ball and then on learnt the finer aspects of the game by following many forms of competitive cricket played by different teams including the English County, Ranji matches, local tennis ball cricket etc. I have followed more cricket than have played the game that is, if you don’t count the various video, computer and mobile games though ☺
What drew me into the game was the thinking needed for the game and not many people would understand the aesthetics of the game. The game is played more on working out a batsman, handling the bowler and manipulating and manoeuvring the field. Execution, which is playing the game is as important as planning for the game.
And I was lucky to have been watching cricket in the era of many great talents and gentlemen likes of Sachin, Kumble, Dravid, Pollock, Aravinda De Silva, Murali, Kallis, Ambrose, Lara, Mark Waugh, Richie Richardson, Gavin Larsen, Stephen Flemming, Laxman, Gilchrist etc played the game. Then there were the not so gentlemen who played the game with sheer aggression not just in their game such as Ponting, Steve Waugh, Ganguly, Warne, Cairns, Donald, Franklyn Rose, Ranatunga, Akram, Waqar etc.
These guys added to the flavor and excitement to cricket without ever needing the catalysts such as cheer leaders or sponsorship deals for every catch taken or every boundary hit. There was no need for the game to be shortened. In fact people wanted the 5 day games to last longer because there was purity in the completion, unpredictability was dependent on players ability not to give up and a bit of luck and now we have IPL.
I always believe that smartest and most intelligent people are greedy and can stoop to any levels for their selfish gains and such a problem attacked the game of Cricket too. There was hunger to capitalize on the passion of the people for the game, different groups were formed. Game became a mere means of money and entertainment. The greed became insatiable, wanted it to reach many other unexplored countries and compete with Football, Basketball etc . And in the process, a lot of changes happened to the game, trimmed down to a mere hitting the ball as far as possible phenomenon. Game that started as timeless shortened to a sport of 2-3 hours per game. It totally doesn’t make sense for a team of 22 players where at a time it’s just a couple of people being active participants can be completed in a matter of minutes but hey, people have no time, they like the shortened version. It drew many people away from the game, people wanted more Test matches and didn’t bother much about T20 and so the administrators of the game started reducing Test matches and we cricket lovers had to resort to IPL, Thanks to some of our icons being part of the tournament.
There are many positives about IPL which probably the marketing team of IPL and cricket bloggers have extensively covered such a money for cricketers, chance for youngsters rubbing shoulders with legends, opportunities etc. But there are many more negatives to the IPL, money being perceived in a wrong sense, young cricket minds drifting away from cricket to being page 3 celebs, fixing, average talent which should be supported and nourished further getting big bucks and in the process being obsolete after a couple of seasons etc.
This post was triggered by the growing predictably unpredictable matches of the IPL, taking one such match Mumbai Vs Rajasthan last league match of 2014 IPL. The first half of the tournament had clear positions of the team but then most of the remaining matches would have rendered useless so all probability and combinations came to play, we need these teams to win these matches to compete for the top 4 and so all matches became very interesting, the top 3 team making all the necessary experimentation to lose the matches, the top 2 teams suitably losing few games to keep the battle for the top spot open. All ingredients of an entertainment series when you have TRPs coming down. Sport is meant to be unpredictable and battle of talents, but when you take that away then what you are providing is sheer entertainment.
The scenario for Mumbai was to beat Rajasthan with certain stipulation for them to qualify to the top 4. If Mumbai players did this then would have been very exciting but when many people predicted what could be the scenario that happens is kind of unbelievable in the wrong sense.
Yes I am alleging fixing of the game. But bigger question is not if it’s, true it’s just that who all are involved.
I had spoken of the same scenario and how it would unfold to half a dozen people 10-12 days ago, the only change in my narration was Pollard and not Anderson. Either I am Nostradamus or that is one hell of a coincidence for the impossible to happen.
Cricket is reduced to entertainment thanks to some buffoons and IPL.
IPL is good entertainment but for it taking away the spirit of the game and unpredictability and competition is a bit too much for a Cricket fan to take.
WWE and IPL are no different, both very well scripted reality shows.
What drew me into the game was the thinking needed for the game and not many people would understand the aesthetics of the game. The game is played more on working out a batsman, handling the bowler and manipulating and manoeuvring the field. Execution, which is playing the game is as important as planning for the game.
And I was lucky to have been watching cricket in the era of many great talents and gentlemen likes of Sachin, Kumble, Dravid, Pollock, Aravinda De Silva, Murali, Kallis, Ambrose, Lara, Mark Waugh, Richie Richardson, Gavin Larsen, Stephen Flemming, Laxman, Gilchrist etc played the game. Then there were the not so gentlemen who played the game with sheer aggression not just in their game such as Ponting, Steve Waugh, Ganguly, Warne, Cairns, Donald, Franklyn Rose, Ranatunga, Akram, Waqar etc.
These guys added to the flavor and excitement to cricket without ever needing the catalysts such as cheer leaders or sponsorship deals for every catch taken or every boundary hit. There was no need for the game to be shortened. In fact people wanted the 5 day games to last longer because there was purity in the completion, unpredictability was dependent on players ability not to give up and a bit of luck and now we have IPL.
I always believe that smartest and most intelligent people are greedy and can stoop to any levels for their selfish gains and such a problem attacked the game of Cricket too. There was hunger to capitalize on the passion of the people for the game, different groups were formed. Game became a mere means of money and entertainment. The greed became insatiable, wanted it to reach many other unexplored countries and compete with Football, Basketball etc . And in the process, a lot of changes happened to the game, trimmed down to a mere hitting the ball as far as possible phenomenon. Game that started as timeless shortened to a sport of 2-3 hours per game. It totally doesn’t make sense for a team of 22 players where at a time it’s just a couple of people being active participants can be completed in a matter of minutes but hey, people have no time, they like the shortened version. It drew many people away from the game, people wanted more Test matches and didn’t bother much about T20 and so the administrators of the game started reducing Test matches and we cricket lovers had to resort to IPL, Thanks to some of our icons being part of the tournament.
There are many positives about IPL which probably the marketing team of IPL and cricket bloggers have extensively covered such a money for cricketers, chance for youngsters rubbing shoulders with legends, opportunities etc. But there are many more negatives to the IPL, money being perceived in a wrong sense, young cricket minds drifting away from cricket to being page 3 celebs, fixing, average talent which should be supported and nourished further getting big bucks and in the process being obsolete after a couple of seasons etc.
This post was triggered by the growing predictably unpredictable matches of the IPL, taking one such match Mumbai Vs Rajasthan last league match of 2014 IPL. The first half of the tournament had clear positions of the team but then most of the remaining matches would have rendered useless so all probability and combinations came to play, we need these teams to win these matches to compete for the top 4 and so all matches became very interesting, the top 3 team making all the necessary experimentation to lose the matches, the top 2 teams suitably losing few games to keep the battle for the top spot open. All ingredients of an entertainment series when you have TRPs coming down. Sport is meant to be unpredictable and battle of talents, but when you take that away then what you are providing is sheer entertainment.
The scenario for Mumbai was to beat Rajasthan with certain stipulation for them to qualify to the top 4. If Mumbai players did this then would have been very exciting but when many people predicted what could be the scenario that happens is kind of unbelievable in the wrong sense.
- Qualifiers were never in Mumbai in the first place but then the Qualifiers get moved to Mumbai so we need a Mumbai team to get the crowd.
- Rajasthan is almost the least hated team of the IPL and underdogs so none will suspect fixing especially after 3 players were arrested last year.
- Watson plays a shambolic innings. I have not seen him play so defensively even in Test cricket.
- Watson is not a great captain but his bowling changes and decisions, come on man it was for all to see.
- Big signing player should be showcased else who will be paying big bucks next year.
Yes I am alleging fixing of the game. But bigger question is not if it’s, true it’s just that who all are involved.
I had spoken of the same scenario and how it would unfold to half a dozen people 10-12 days ago, the only change in my narration was Pollard and not Anderson. Either I am Nostradamus or that is one hell of a coincidence for the impossible to happen.
Cricket is reduced to entertainment thanks to some buffoons and IPL.
IPL is good entertainment but for it taking away the spirit of the game and unpredictability and competition is a bit too much for a Cricket fan to take.
WWE and IPL are no different, both very well scripted reality shows.
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