Title Defence Off To a Shaky Start

:: by Harish ::

Friday was the day when the Spring Season of the Indoor League kicked off. We started our campaign against Down N Out at 10 pm. Prior to the match, there was a team meeting where team ‘KAPTAN ‘ Mummoorthy addressed the team explaining the new strategy of giving responsibilities to a set of 5 players in both the batting and bowling dept. and encouraging all of us to give our best shot. Kicha, our toss man, won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first. Kicha and Kaushik opened the batting. Moorthy’s advice seemed to have the right effect on our openers who batted beautifully.

Kaushik in particular was in sublime form driving and flicking off his hips. He seemed to be in exceptional touch. Kicha at the other end was scratchy to start with but then grew in confidence. Our opponents seemed down and out and were clueless about how to bowl to our openers. After a good solid start the openers fell in quick succession. Kaushik was looking to accelerate when he fell trying to clear long on. Kicha who had always problems sighting the ball (inspite of new eye glasses with correct vision) followed him. Jaggu and Sreeram replaced them, lived dangerously. The calling and running between the wickets kept us at the edge of our seats. Jaggu soon was walking back after a terrible mix up. What followed was chaotic, a procession of wickets. We finished at 90, an average score considering the start. It was up to our bowlers to deliver the goods. Moorthy and Jaggu were as usual lively and were giving problems to their openers. After the initial break thru wickets started falling. Yagna, Bharath and Koushik who replaced our opening bowlers also chipped in with useful wickets. They were 5 down for around 30 and things looked rosy. The tide turned. Positive batting from their lower order and some bad bowling from us kept the match interesting. Kicha, our coach [ரொம்ப கோச்சுகிறவன்] for the match, was livid and was really upset with the number of extras we were conceding [46 for this match]. They needed 30 from the last 5. Game on. Yagna bowled an amazing over where he was on the spot and gave nothing away. After that over the match was pretty much sealed. Finally, Bharath finished the match by bowling a tight last over. We had scrapped through!

We had won but our performance left a lot to be desired. After the game Ashwin and Moorthy worried about our performance in the match and how we needed to tighten up our game for us to defend the title successfully. I am sure we will get better as there is scope for tons of improvement.

Bottom line: Ashwin, Bharath, Harish, Jaggu, Karthik, Kaushik, Kicha, Moorthy, Sreeram, Yagna

[greener the normal, bluish the better, reddish the worse]

The Slower One

Now that the season is over, like true champions, we shall analyze our fall season's performance in this and upcoming articles. We expect phantom reports from our special anti-consultant [you just do opposite of what he says] Appu. In this article we want to talk about the find of this past season - the slower one. Actually it should be 'the slower ones' as there are two versions which has come to the fore, this season - the 3M version and the abracadabra version.

The biggest worry for the team is the out-of-form of Mummoorthy, the 3M, the real slower one. 3M has come in 'XL' size this season, that's a double upgrade straight from 'M'. We didn't know that that when somebody is out-of-form he also cant field and catch. It has become appallingly clear that 3M will make a very good typist as can be witnessed whenever any round object approaches in towards him. But being a phoenix like Sachin Tendulkar, 3M has promised to rise from [after] the Ashes [series] and work on the basics and get fit and in touch before the spring season. These days, anything anybody wants to give 3M, he wants them to roll it as a ball and throw at him. That way he can practice simple catching. This is in addition to his daily running - hundred rounds around the dining table at his place. Now this has become so serious that he refuses to read the emails we send unless we print it out and roll it into a ball and throw at him. Well, it's all for the team's cause and that's what is defined as "commitment" in oxford dictionary!

The abracadabra slower one is the slickest salvo that has worked well for the Virtual Realists this season. This slower one from the Yagna's repertoire has worked every time as can be seen from his tally of wickets for the season. The Captain too has cleverly used this reliable weapon as part of the team's strategy, e.g. the breakthroughs in the final title match. So what does this ball do? The ball is actually delivered in the off spin release, a typical slow ball variation used by legendary pace bowlers, with the normal stride. The unique thing here being the gripping of the ball by Yagna which doesnt involve the thumb at all! Normally the batsman doesnt have to worry with Y's bowling as it is harmless at best. But then how would he expect such a bowler to even have a variation and that too a slower one? There in lies the secret power. Surprisingly our own 3M refuses to believe in the slow ball strategy. But then he doesn't believe in so many other things like "Sachin" the phenomenon. Didn't we say that 3M has lots to catch up with?

[next an ode to the three new soogies (rookies)]