Back to earth

After their trip to cloud nine last Saturday, the Bangladeshis got the rude awakening that most people expected. At least that's how things stand at half-time of the Eng-Bangladesh game at Trent Bridge. With Trescothick going hammer and tongs at Tapash Baishya --- who nearly 'scored' a century in the runs given column in his 7 overs-- and Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood helping themselves to big 100s, England scored 390 odd. How much of this Bangladesh can make in their outing is the big question. Michael Vaughan continues to struggle in the limited over form of the game--- he didn't trouble the scorers today. Flintoff was looking good before he holed out to long-off; a near carbon copy of his dismissal against Australia on Sunday.
It will be interesting to see the mindset with which Bangladesh come out to bat. Everything else seems irrelevant and of academic interest only.

Australia yorked again!

Well, in my last post, I mentioned that the Eng-Aus match was evenly poised. The game then seemed to go Australia's way till Kevin Peterson (not sure I got his last name spelt correctly) exploded. And my, did he rock ! Gillespie was left shaking his head, Shane Watson mouthing expletives in frustration, and Ricky Ponting searching for positives from the defeat. In the end, it seemed a comfortable 3-wicket win with plenty of balls to spare, though it certainly was far from it.

Australia yorked !

I write this a day after the mightly Aussies have been yorked by minnows Bangladesh. And what great delight it gave me to see the bowed heads of the Australian cricketers as they left the field. Hopefully, it will shut some of their loud-mouths. Call it a fluke or whatever, but this particular game was worth every minute of sleep I lost, staying awake to watch the Bangladeshi's celebrate. Something told me that it might not be the usual story of a Bangladesh game.

Of course, the Aussies will look to come back; and the next time they play against them, the Bangladeshis better watch out. But that's something into the future; as Habibul Bashar said , rather bashfullym after the game, these moments don't happen very often, and they were going to really celebrate. Yes, they have every right to savour these moments; in fact they should remind themselves of that occasion as often as they can to instill in themselves the belief that it is possible. Bangladesh's victory on Boxing Day 2004 coincided with the deadly tsunami; but this particular victory will not be scarred by any thing of that sort. They can, and must relive this moment often----- if only to be able to look some of their contemporaries straight in the eye.

As I finish writing this post, England are looking to put another one across the Aussies--- but things are evenly balanced at this point. There were a few great yorkers bowled today--- Harmison bowled one to get rid of Hussey, Gough bowled Kasprowicsz with one, and Shane Watson was bowled by one; and when England batted, Mcgrath bowled Trescothick with one. Flintoff hit a huge six of a bouncer, Vaughan who seems to relish Aussie attacks is hanging around.

Half way of the innings gone, another 140 odd to get. Can we see the mighty Aussies trudge off the field with their heads bowed again?