A Tribute to a true Legend...

When i was checking the scores of the Ind-Aus test match at Adelaide i was a taken aback when i saw an article on Adam Gilchrist's retirement. When i explored further i came to know that he has decided to retire from all forms of the game after this tour.It came as a rude shock as i had expected him to go on for another year at least. After all he is still limber and his performances in recent times though a bit on the downside are not something which arouse a call for his head.So with his retirement passes an epic which changed the way the game is being played.
He is someone who has revolutionized the world's perception of a wicketkeeper. Before his era a wicketkeeper was considered as somebody who was exceptional in the task of guarding the wickets and could chip in with the bat too. The runs scored by him were always considered to be a bonus. But with his arrival he has transformed this perception.The magnitude of his impact is so high that today teams are preferring to select guys who are good with bat and are decent behind the stumps to those who are exemplary behind the wickets but are not so good when it comes to batting.
Besides being an awesome wicketkeeper batsman Gilchrist is an exemplary sportsman. He is someone who has always played the game in the true spirit and the way he walks back to the pavilion when he knows he is out without waiting for the umpire to raise is finger is quintessential of his sportsmanship.That he walked even during the world cup semifinals even though his team was in a precarious situation speaks volumes about his character.This is probably the prime reason why i adore him so much.To be candid he is the only current Australian cricketer whom i revere.
Gilchrist deserves every bit of the accolades being showered on him.If one takes a look back at his career he has been a prolific run scorer for Australia in all forms of the game.His show behind the stumps has been equally good. Recently he passed Mark Boucher to set the world record for the maximum number of dismissals in test cricket by a wicketkeeper.He also holds umpteen number of records which include the second fastest century in test cricket,the best strike rate in test cricket for batsmen who have scored more than 2000 runs. Criticized for his lack of ability with the gloves he has proved his detractors wrong by putting in some remarkable show behind the stumps especially to the likes of Warne and Mcgrath.
Gilchrist has always been a big match player. He has been part of 3 world cup winning squads which in itself is a great achievement and his performance in all the three have been magnificent too.The innings he played against Srilanka in the 2007 world cup finals was an outstanding one. The timing of the innings couldn't have been better.It was the finals of the world cup and it required a great start as the match was already truncated. Given that he had been a bit scratchy throughout the series, he choose to strike form at the best possible time.There are numerous other innings including the one he played against India in Mumbai,which corroborate his appetite for big time. He is such a kind of a player who can turn a match on its head in a jiffy.
Gilchrist has also been a good leader throughout his career.His leadership skills were to the fore when he lead Australia to a 2-1 series victory in India,a task which even Steve Waugh couldn't manage to.He was never made a full time captain though as he was already inundated with the tasks of opening and keeping.
Gilchrist has been truly an awe-inspiring player. He is one of the greatest entertainers the game has ever got to witness. But more than anything he has been a true sportsman.He is an ideal role model for all the aspiring young cricketers.His retirement will definitely create a huge void which Australia are going to find very difficult to fill.Gilchrist has been truly a legend.

The jallikattu frenzy

When i was browsing through the newspaper on 10/01/2008 one issue caught my eye. It was the apex courts' ban on jallikattu. For those of you who are not acquainted with this word, its a bull-taming sport popular in the southern parts of Tamil Nadu.It was a very heartening news as every year hordes of people are injured and a few even lose their life to this barbaric sport.However, the apex court soon reversed its decision and condoned it to held.The supreme court apparently revoked the ban on the basis of a review petition filed by the government of Tamil Nadu.The Tamil Nadu governments' request for quashing the ban was based on the contention that it was a traditional event being practiced for ages and was archetypal to the Tamil culture.The organizers on their part pledged better safety for both the onlookers and contestants.The fact that still 80 people were injured and around 3 died proves beyond doubt that casualties are an eternal part of this sport.In addition to the participants a huge chunk of onlookers are also injured when the rampaging bull finds its way amongst them.
The protagonists of the sport opined that its a sport which tests the valor of the contestants.I strongly rebuff their contention. There are gluts of different ways for these daredevils to portray their bravery than trying to tame a bull let on the loose.
Its a misery even for the bulls. The bulls are usually intoxicated and are subjected to all kinds of torture before they are unleashed.
Its high time we eschewed this savagely cruel sport and portray ourselves as civilized creatures.

Power of Nano

January 10 2008 will be go down in the chronicles of the automotive industry as a day of revolution. It was definitely a day when automobile majors worldwide turned around and took notice of India.Yes i am talking about the launch of the much awaited 1 lakh car.I was as excited as any body else to have a glimpse of it. Amidst wide spread speculations of cost escalation and detractors deriding the whole idea Tata motors should definitely walk with their heads held high for delivering on something which everybody else dismissed as a wonky idea.The car does look sleek and is definitely worth its weight. It does promises to revolutionize the way India travels.The spree of announcements by other automobile majors of a similar budget car proves that budget cars have a huge market which remains untapped.
As far as the markets the car is likely to exploit are the bourgeoisie, people in the hinterland and the auto rickshaws.Just as the Indica devoured the Fiats and ambassadors in the taxi markets, this car will eat into the auto rickshaw markets. An auto rickshaw costs somewhere upwards of 1.3 lakhs and the nano is not only cheaper its also more spacious.With the launch of nano, lower middle class families' dream of owning a car has got a lot easier. The two wheeler markets are also bound to be in for a change as people would definitely go in for a four wheeler which costs 30-40 k higher than a two wheeler.
On the flip side there is no denying the fact that congestion is bound to increase but it is for the government to provide more roads. One cannot blame the tatas for it. As far as the environmental hazards is concerned the car is definitely going to make it worse though Ratan tata as promised that it will be a clean car.
On the whole nano promises to be a revelation and how it fares is a question which time only can answer.