Ganguly's wild run and an allround victory for Pune Warriors

Ever see Ganguly run so fast like today after Pietersen's victory?? That should be ranked second amongst Ganguly's special moments after his shirtless act after the Natwest series victory in Lords.. :)

It has to be Dada's day today... Whatever Sourav Ganguly was doing today turned out to be a master stroke.... be it his batting, promotion of Smith, bowling, field placements.. everything went for him today...
Ganguly was due for some good performances in this IPL 2012 but what a match-winning performance it was today.

Picture this - Ganguly running rather sprinting like a 100meters champion.... taking off after Pietersen got bowled off the very first ball Dada bowled in this IPL.

 

Pune Warriors' captain Sourav Ganguly starts his wild celebration run after the dismissal of Delhi Daredevils Kevin Pietersen which was the turning point in the match today

A swashbuckling knock from Jesse Ryder (86 runs) and an all-round performance by Sourav Ganguly (41 runs and 2 wickets) gave Pune Warriors a convincing 20-run win over Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League (IPL) game at the Ferozeshah Kotla in New Delhi today.

Dada got the wicket of Pietersen who was in a dangerous mood and the allrounder Irfan Pathan.. He should have got a 3rd wicket too but for Mathews' drop catch.

 

Ganguly's famous run after taking the key wicket of Kevin Pietersen in th IPL match

 

Dada being mobbed by his Pune Warriors' teammates after his celebratory run taking Pietersen's wicket

Pics courtesy: AP Photo

Delhi Daredevil's captain Virender Sehwag said in the presentation ceremony that he has never seen Ganguly running so fast like how he did today after taking Pietersen's wicket.

 

Sourav Ganguly taking off his shirts after India beat England in Lords during the famous Natwest Series...This act ranks first amongst Ganguly's finest moments :)

After the Natwest series famous celebration that Ganguly did by taking off his shirts, this amazing run celebrating Pietersen's wicket would probably rank second... 
I was also pretty amused by the way Ganguly's hair was behaving :)  There is something fishy in it ;) you know what I mean.. hehe..
Hail Dada!!  Looking forward to many such moments :)

Sourav Ganguly torments umpire Asad Rauf

IPL Umpire Asad Rauf had a tough time at the office today officiating as an umpire for the IPL match between Pune Warriors and Delhi Daredevils in the Ferozshah Kotla ground in New Delhi on April 21st 2012. The chief tormentor in this was Sourav Ganguly of Pune Warriors who kept hitting the ball in Asad Rauf's direction as Rauf ran for cover. This happened not once but twice...

First, Rauf was standing at square leg when Ganguly's powerful sweep caught him off guard and hit him hard on his hands. He couldn't move fast to avoid the hit..
The second time Ganguly charged down the track and hit a straight shot for four which made Asad Rauf fall trying to avoid the ball. He even signalled the four lying flat on the ground. Rauf also humorously signalled for a helmet for protection.

Check out the video of Azad Rauf's troubles with Ganguly's shot in IPL T20's official site at this link... 

All in a day's work for poor Asad Rauf :) 
If T20 is the future of cricket, then we might see umpires in full protection with helmets and guards in the near future... 

Virat Kohli fined over finger gesture in Australia

This news is a bit odd to report.. nevertheless, here is it..

Indian batsman Virat Kohli was fined 50% of his match fee after he was seen gesturing to the crowd with his middle finger on the second day of the second test match between India and Australia in Sydney.

Kohli was charged with a level two offence by the match referee Ranjan Madugalle of Sri Lanka on the third morning of the SCG Test. Kohli went to the hearing along with manager Shivlal Yadav and pleaded guilty.

 

Virat Kohli showing the middle finger to the Australian crowd in Sydney

Pic courtesy: Getty Images

The incident happened when Virat Kohli was fielding at the boundary for much of the day and some of the spectators poked fun at him and his family. Kohli also tweeted that he had been sorely provoked before responding with the finger gesture.

 Kohli also said he had heard abuse worse than he ever had in his life. Virat posted on his twitter account, "i agree cricketers dont have to retaliate. what when the crowd says the worst things about your mother and sister. the worst ive heard"

Kohli found support in England's Kevin Pietersen, who replied to his tweet saying "ha ha ha ha ha!!! Welcome to Australia buddy!!" 

Kohli tweeted back saying that he "never heard crap like that. EVER".

Virat Kohli, after losing half of his match fee, began the third day on a more positive note tweeting, "New day new beginning! :)" 

So then, after Clarke hit a triple ton and Ponting & Hussey with hundreds of their own, Australia are sitting pretty in this test match...  What are the odds that India blame this one on the pitch :) 

Same old story.... looking forward for some brand new beginnings.. not sure when though :(

Sehwag and Pattinson clash in Boxing Day Test

The Boxing day test match between India and Australia which started yesterday the 26th of Dec 2011 in Melbourne has already had its share of news and controversies in just two days.

After a couple of controversial decisions against Australia for Mike Hussey and Ed Cowan (though I feel this is out) and one more that India didn't get (that of Zaheer Khan's lbw appeal of Brad Haddin), today was another day for fresh controversy brewing.

 

Virender Sehwag and Pattinson clash in the Boxing Day Test match

Indian opener Virender Sehwag was involved in an altercation with Australian pacers James Pattinson and Peter Siddle during the visitors` first innings today. The incident happened in the fourth ball of seventh over bowled by the latest Aussie sensation James Pattinson. 

Virender Sehwag was on 16 when this happened. He played the ball down to fine leg and ran for a single during which Pattinson stood at the middle on his follow through with his elbow stretched , though unintentionally, which Sehwag evaded. 

Sehwag had a few harsh words for Pattinson after he completed the run and he was also seen pointing his bat towards Pattinson. Pattinson was not to be held back as he retorted agressively too. Peter Siddle who was fielding nearby too joined the banter to support Pattinson. 
Finally, umpire Marais Erasmus calmed the proceedings speaking to Sehwag and things were back to normal. 

After a few overs, Sehwag while taking a second run clashed with Peter Siddle who was on his follow through after the delivery. Sehwag apologized immediately but Siddle didn't even look or respond to that :)
 
Sad to see that Sachin Tendulkar missed out on his 100th century though.. just a matter of time... 
Things are heating up in the Boxing day test match.. lets see what happens in the remaining days.

Munaf Patel and the Priyanka Chopra connection...

Question: What is the connection between Munaf Patel and Priyanka Chopra?
Answer: Saat Khoon Maaf 

Read the news that Munaf Patel took a break from training and went to watch Vishal Bhardwaj's Saat Khoon Maaf movie with his family last Thursday. But, he was called back from the theatre to watch Ireland's match against England which Ireland won.

When Munaf Patel was questioned about this incident, he responded saying "I was called back to the hotel to watch Ireland. I saw only two murders in the theatre, but ended up watching many more during the Ireland-England game".

 

Munaf Patel training hard at the nets in Bangalore Chinnaswamy Stadium

PJ: 
Why is Munaf Patel working overtime and training alone in the nets?
Answer: So that he would get a comp off to watch Priyanka Chopra murder the rest of the five husbands in the movie Saat Khoon Maaf.

Lets wish Munaf a great World Cup and hope he gets his due time off to enjoy with his family!

Cricket Videos: Sachin and Kumble - The Legends involved in funny running...

Anil Kumble has always been known for his clumsy running and weird ways of getting out.. but there was one incident in which Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble - the two legends of Indian cricket - were involved in an outrageous running between the wickets which would have caused run outs at both the ends of the wicket.. .

In the end, it turned out to be once in a life time lucky reprieve for Kumble.... Just watch this video and enjoy the two legends Sachin and Kumble trying to sacrifice their wicket for each other..

Just loved the video.. especially when the commentator says that "for the sheer entertainment value Anil Kumble should be declared not out...." simply hilarious... :)

Are you a Teenager? Michael Clarke is looking for your advice then :D

Michael Clarke had his pre-game press conference ambushed by a teenager offering him batting tips before the second one day international against England on 20th January, 2011.

Geelong teen Daniel Brew somehow evaded security staff and sat among the journalists at the indoor cricket nets at Hobart's Bellerive Oval, enduring the first nine minutes of the press conference before taking his chance to make his feelings known.

 

Michael Clarke taking Daniel Brew's advice

"I've noticed something Michael, you're pushing at the ball too much. What are you going to do about that?'' Daniel inquired.

"I'm pushing at the ball too much? You should be a batting coach'' Clarke said to the teen, showing patience worthy of a Test innings.

"What do you think I should do about it?'' retorted Pup back at the teenager...

Told he was pushing at the ball too much and playing in front of his body, a jovial Clarke asked what he should be doing and was instructed to ''play in front of your nose and under your eyes and not be reaching for it too much''.

''That's how you're going to get out'' said Daniel Brew, 17, from Geelong.

Undaunted by Clarke's invitation to continue the conversation, Daniel told Clarke he should "not reach for it so much''.

Clarke, the smile disappearing from his face, responded: "Okay I'll try that today in the nets. Thank you.''

Having earlier granted Brew an autograph, Clarke was less impressed when, after refusing to lend his bat for a photo shoot, the teenager quipped: ''Why not? You never use it in the middle''.

It was an interesting incident.. and one that Clarke would never forget or rather like to forget immediately ;)

Here is the video of the press conference if you want to take a look at how Clarke tackled this teenager's bouncers... ultimately to get bowled :P

 

Daniel Brew's tips for Ozzy Michael Clarke aka Pup

• Play the ball under one's eyes and nose

• Take a bigger stride

• Watch the ball on to the bat

• Get the timing right

• Don't jump away

• Stay balanced at the crease

• And last but not the least use the bat :)

All the teenagers out there in Australia would be getting ready to barge into the press conferences henceforth... Get ready Michael Clarkey!!! :D

Funny Cricket Pictures: Bowden and Pitch Invasion by Bees!!!

We've seen quite a few pitch invasions done by over-enthusiastic fans and sometimes even dogs :P
But, have you ever heard of "Bees", yes you read it right.. a swarm of honey bees.... invading the pitch... making the players scurry for cover :)

Yes, it happened in the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi when India was playing against Australia.
Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden thanked their stars that day for not getting stung by the bees :P.. cos they were the ones batting when the bees attacked the ground... hehe..

Can't believe it.. check out the pictures then...

Billy Bowden and the Swarm of Bees.... The Story goes like this..... 

Umpire Billy Bowden unaware of the bees attack says.... "Come on guys... you can't sleep on the pitch.. I know the paratha's for lunch were good.. but we still have a cricket match to play... "

Suddenly, Bowden saw the swarm of bees and realized that he was at danger... and scurried for cover quickly saying... "Weee maaaa...... Now I understand that it was not the parathas but the bees which kept you down.. Sorry guys... I'll join you in the party"

Bowden still waiting for the bees to go.. feels that Ricky Ponting and Hayden have slept in the ground... so, he asks the bowler Anil Kumble.... "Jumbo, do you think that Ponting and Haydos would have slept waiting for the bees to go??"

Kumble quickly saw that Hayden was still surprisingly looking at the swarm of bees and replied to Bowden,
"Looking at Haydos, I don't think he would sleep even tonight after witnessing such an incident in the ground........ hehehee :P"

Bowden decides.. enough is enough... "Come on guys... lets all pray to the Queen Bee to call back her troops... so that we all can resume the game without being in danger... "

 

 

Atlast, sense prevailed.... and the bees having made the best of the time mid pitch decided that they got to go back to their routine.... Billy Bowden relieved resumed his umpiring duty and called for all the players to get back to their positions.... but beware Bowden!!!! Bees version 2 is on its way.... so, watch out :P