Silly M(a)id-on

With all these discomforting talks going on about ODIs being past their prime, I have been asking myself what exactly is it about ODIs that I don’t want them to die out. Am I just refusing to give up something I have enjoyed so much for as long as I have been following cricket? Or do ODIs still have something to give to the game?

Shane Warne thinks we don’t need them anymore. Harsha Bhogle has a point when he says “If you remove the ODI from the mix, the gulf between T20 and Tests, from a batting point of view, becomes way too vast, and over time you end up with a situation where players are good enough to play either the one or the other.”

Peter Roebuck thinks There Is Life In The ODI Yet. While Dileep Premachandran calls for an overhaul.

There has been a lot of talk about ODIs needing “a context”. Lots of ideas are being thrown about. No more bilateral series, no phony 4-match triangular series, playing ODIs as a build up to Test matches on tours, splitting each innings into 2 etc. Leela made a point about ODIs series being an interesting watch these days only if there is some off-field drama associated with it, and I find myself agreeing with it. But then there wasn’t always some kind of drama associated with ODIs when I used to stay up late and see all those matches, was there? (or was I really fokat those days?)

I mean, all of India’s matches were seen simply because India was playing. All of Australia’s matches were seen because they were the numero uno team and I wanted to see if any of their opponents were giving them a run for their money. Pakistan’s matches were followed cheer the other team because earlier Pakistan losing used to be equal to India winning somehow. All of South Africa’s matches were seen because when they were not busy choking, they used to play good cricket. And for Shaun Pollock.

And now when I find myself trying to write a preview for the Compaq Cup, I don’t know what to say. I mean yeah, I’m happy that India is finally back in action. And I am super excited to see how Dravid will fare and all. But it’s not how it is supposed to be. This series (and the Eng-Aus one) seems so pointless that I am tempted to label it as another Fake ODI Series. As someone commented on someone’s blog (and I paraphrase here because I don’t remember where I read this)

It takes just 4 matches to decide a tri-series, but it takes 7 one-dayers to conclude that England suck at pyjama cricket.

Indeed.

For the last 2 overs I have been chanting “Balla utha! Chhakka laga!” in my head(That’s in a song from the movie Victory for the uninitiated). And the Pathan brothers have obliged

Time for a celebratory coffee break!

I am worried about India playing 4 specialist bowlers and the part timers being taken for runs this time.
I am worried about Yuvi falling to Mendis or Murali in an awful manner.
I am worried about the law of averages catching up with all Indian players in golden touch.
I am worried about Sachin getting another harsh decision from the umpires.
I am worried about Jayasuriya, the man who refuses to age, hitting Indian bowlers all over the park.

On the other hand,
I look forward to India winning the match and equalling its own record of successive wins.
I look forward to wrapping up the series tommorow itself.
I kinda also look forward to Murali getting the 2 wickets he needs to set a world record as long as it does not mess with the points above .

And then,
It would be good to see Balaji in action later in the series and give Zak/Ishant some rest.
It would be fantastic to go on and win the series 5-0!! Ah, the dreams and high hopes!!

On an entirely separate note, I have decided that, since Rahul Dravid is not playing ODIs and T20s any more, I am transferring my affections to Dhoni for these formats.