Memorable Moments of Cricket in SSN IV

Well, I’m back with more memories. The funny thing about memories is that you have got to keep remembering them for them so stay put. Else they’ll be replaced by new ones in the fresh category.

Anyway, I had last left story at the point where I had come to a nadir with respect to my fielding. Although my bowling had improved quite well- not quite as well as I would’ve liked, my fielding was fast unbecoming.

So, a few months later, when we began to play cricket (in our last semester in college), I was determined to set the record right. We were now playing in a different place- in the barren lands adjoining the sports block. So I thought- a new place, a new day.

Indeed it was, I was asked to open, and played quite well. However I tried to loft a fast half volley on my legs when I must have just flicked it away with my strong wrists, and holed out to long on. I guess I need more batting practice to start using the full range of my strokes, and make judgments as to choose which stroke for which ball. The fact that I’ve learnt it is a different story- narrated later in this series.

Anyway, after having given a good start to the innings, it was propelled to a good finish by the other batsmen, and we had a good score to defend. I was asked to field at long on this time- quite a new position for me, which is usually kept for bowlers who can easily change after overs during a spell. I was asking God- please give me a chance to prove myself.

And give it He did very soon. Early into the innings, Vijay pulled a short one; got the top edge and the ball flew in my direction. I quickly focused on in it like a hawk focuses on its prey, unwavering from the ball, and my feet started to move all by themselves in the right direction. I moved like in a trance truly and I felt the ball dying, thought it might fall before me so I leaned forward at the last moment and pouched it comfortably, close to my thigh, with both hands.

My joy knew no bounds that I threw the ball high up in delight, while still continuing the run towards the bowler’s end. My first catch in the deep! The fact that I had caught this ball fielding at long on, while my own demise was by holing out to the same place was poetic justice to me.

And there was more to come on the same day.

Later in the innings I had been shifted to long off and another top edge sailed straight to me. This time I was confident. I followed the ball like a missile homes in on its target. I knew I didn’t have to move at all for this. I just steadied my position, bent my knees slightly without moving an inch, and pocketed the gift right down my throat with my palms in the protective posture. It was a catch as cool as it gets- in fact I was calmness personified (true to my name Prashanth), and my technique seemed so perfect that I had even taken care to not prevent my palms from hiding the ball from my eyes even at the last moment. Sadly, the ball was a no-ball. I had seen it the moment the bowler (Shankar) had overstepped, but I didn’t allow thoughts that this was going to be a useless catch to bother me. In fact, I told myself the umpire wouldn’t have noticed the overstepping, but it was going to be a futile prayer. He had crossed the line by a large distance, and it would take a blind man not to see that.

Anyway, I was happy I hadn’t spilled any of the catches so far. If the first made me happy, the second made me delightful.

And there was to be a third as well. This one made me delirious. This time I was back at my stock position; yes you guessed it- square leg. We had just finished a high scoring match which we had won, and we expected to see more fireworks by the end of the day. Right in the first over of the match there were signs. A boundary had been hit, fine off the leg side. Later in the over, Ramkumar (Rockram) pulled a short one, and the ball was heading to me at square leg. This time, I had no issues; nothing at all. I just watched the ball, followed the basics and pocketed another catch- 3 on 3! That catch started a slide, and wickets tumbled. The match was at a stark contrast to the previous one where wickets were at a premium, Prakash and I were amazed at the fickleness of fortunes in the cricket pitch.

To the victor go the spoils

Well, India have had a tough, and triumphant series down under, and now its time to look at the spoils.

First of all, there are a lot of positives from the series, as well some riches unearthed. The most conspicuous and greatest gain of the tournament has been the emergence of Ishant Sharma as a lethal bowler. India has always been handicapped by the absence of a strike bowler who could deliver consistently. We've had some good bowlers who peaked now and then, however, even those bowlers in their day weren't so much as deadly- bowlers like Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth, RP Singh, L Balaji, Ajit Agarkar to name a few. But with Ishant at the helm, and Zaheer, Irfan and Sreesanth (Not to forget the newest member of the squad- the modest Praveen Kumar) India have a pace battery that is varied as well potent.


Uthappa has managed to keep his role as a floater- he can get runs quickly at the end of the innings or at the opening as well. His kind of shots find most use in the powerplays, so Indians must learn to use him well- he was used well in the series, and if the Indian think-tank did it consciously then they are going in the right direction.

Gambhir has emerged as the best No.3 in ODIs India had for a long time. His technique is solid, and he's extremely comfortable against the spinners- and plays it as well as Sachin and Dravid. And the fact that he played so well in the T20 shows that he can change the pace of the innings according to the situation.

With Rohit Sharma's cool head and the big hitting capabilities of Yuvraj and Dhoni, India looks a menacing batting unit- just like ever on paper, but this time for real as well. Yuvraj showed great signs of what he can do in the match againt Sri Lanka- where everybody was struggling to pierce the in-field, Yuvraj revelled in getting his runs in boundaries. We saw a repeat of that in the 2nd Final against Australia, which was cut short by Yuvraj's momentary lapse of concentration and getting carried away. He needs to control his feelings of exuberance, and concentrate on getting the runs more than anything else. Like Gavaskar said "Play good cricket India! Not glamourous cricket!" Tendulkar's presence at the top will be a morale booster for the side while terrifying the opposition, which means others can play their natural game, with the feeling that while Sachin's out there, there's nothing to worry.

Dhoni's captaincy has improved manifold that he actually out thought Ponting in various occasions. His masterstrokes in the final are now part of folklore- introducing Chawla for the first time in the series, in both the finals (even when the pitch in the 2nd Finals was said to favour the fast bowlers), as well giving the new ball to Praveen Kumar on both occasions. He has also changed his batting style to the extent that he scores atleast 30-40 runs at a run-a-ball pace almost every match. Earlier he would score big innings, but sporadically. This style is more befitting the role of a captain, but he must not forget his origins- of the batsmen who demolished bowler's reputations. Already some people have started feeling he has lost the shots he became famous for. The fact that he throws away such talk by saying "Stealing singles is more fun that bludgeoning boundaries" is all nice in the press, but he must know that India might need him in that role as well. But for now, he is the "cement" in the middle order for India (commentatorspeak). If India gets going well from the top more often, he may get the license to hit as he comes at 4 or 5 down.


So all in all, India has become a side to look for- already South Africa are keen to defeat India, looking at it as their salvation of sorts, and so they must constantly be thinking and moving ahead. They must guard themselves against burnout- which is very frequent nowadays, and with the bench strength that India has right now, they can afford to rotate players. The Aussie tour has showered injuries upon the side- as the latest medical report revealed, and its time India took burnout as a serious issue.

Hair Grafting and Consultation

We all love our hair- in fact the truth is the hair is what that gives beauty to our face while we whine about our nose, chin and cheeks. If we ever imagined ourselves as bald we would understand this fact- we would look so otherworldly; we would look like aliens from the star trek series.
So what's got to be done if you hair is falling? First of all, its time you understood the seriousness of the problem and found out where's the problem- whether its genetic, or due to aging, or due to other reasons. Then if the trend is not reversible by medicine, you must go in for hair transplant.
Looking up the Net for a nice hair transplant site (I looked up for myself as preventive measure- I'm not losing hair, touchwood) I came across a certain Dr. Shapiro who gave me an amazing piece of information- even your nutritional supplements can cause hair loss! Now how many of us know that?
He does hair transplants at South Florida, and it costs as low $3 for a graft! I must say he's a reliable man from his site, and from the information he provides, you can be sure he's a man who knows what he's doing. The site provides videos of patients who tell us about him, and various other footage about his job. There's also a wonderful FAQ section that answers all your queries as well allaying inherent fears.
Gotten a problem with your hair? Time to meet Dr.Shapiro mate.

A Fistful of dollars sountrack

The movie wasn't a sensation, and so wasn't the soundtrack at any rate. Even the movie achieved prominence only after a decade or so, and the soundtrack became famous only because it reminded people of the movie and not because it had anything special. But, it signalled the start of a legacy and because of that this soundtrack is an artifact.
The soundtrack isn't bad either. Its got the usual Ennio Morricone elements (interestingly he was credited as Dan Savio in the film's credits), the whistling and yodeling along with the latin guitar. It's quite an enjoyable tune- the kind of tune that stays in your mind long after you've heard it; the kind of tune you keep humming while on the move.
Its worth it for you to download it and find out how this track sounds, coz I aint gonna describe this.

Free Download A Fistful of Dollars original soundtrack rapidshare megaupload ziddu
Size: 3.9 MB
http://tinyurl.com/37yqku

Get Rich With Vitamins Fellas! Move over soft drinks!

My mama always said "Son, if you ought to grow big and strong like Hanuman (he is a Hindu deity who is portrayed as the strongest person who is not a God by birth), you need vitamins and proteins."
With the entry of junk food and chips, there's perhaps no way we could eat according to our daily dietary requirements. Life shows no mercy, and soon you end up with some vitamin deficiency disorder, and believe me- such disorders may cause havoc in your life, especially if you're young- under 16 or so. If your body aint well made until atleast 20, you could end chronically sick, affected by petty diseases now and then. Like for example a silly cold could trouble you for days. Or you could end up with disorders that could deform your body shape- if you ever get such a disorder, forget about having a beautiful shape ever- you wont ever get back the perfect homo sapiens form, and it caused by deficiency of Vitamin D.

So how do we get the necessary vitamins? Eating Veggies? But how do I know which veggie has which vitamin, and veggies aren't so tasty are they? So the best way is vitamin supplements.
Looking up the Internet for vitamins supplements I came across this 10-in-one multi vitamin formula that provides all our required vitamins as Liquid Vitamins in just about a few ounces. And a bottle of 323 ounces is just $19.95. The whole site is filled with recommendations from top Doctors and authorities on the subject.
Even if you are an ignoramus on this subject, it wont take you long to understand the benefits. The site is well planned and gives you exactly what want. Help sections are found easily and FAQs are answered comprehensively. It takes a few glances to understand that the site is reliable.
Whether you are an athlete or a person working in a blue collar job you surely need vitamins for daily growth and maintanence of your invaluable body. So I suggest you look up the site soon for more info on keeping up with your diet, or it would be too late.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Soundtrack

Well, this was supposed to have come a long time earlier- this is one of greatest theme music you would ever see, however, the reason why this comes so late in my blog is because I wanted my 100th post to be a special one.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly was one of the first Cowboy Western I ever say, and by far its one of the best for sheer stand-out quality. Although the effect would be better if you had watched Sergio Leone's earlier works A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars more, I saw The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is pretty good even otherwise, because in that case you have no expectations. You simply sit back and enjoy the film. As Roger Ebert says- there is no plot, however there are sequences. The gunfight sequence, the nameless man's arrival sequence, introduction of the 3 characters sequence, the War sequence etc. They all add color to the movie.

Anyway, enough of the movie. I'm giving the soundtrack here, so let me tell you something about it. It used three different instruments and the same tune for the 3 characters. The main theme, resembling the howling of a coyote, is a two-note melody that is a frequent motif, and is used for the three main characters, with a different instrument used for each one: flute for Blondie, ocarina for Angel Eyes and human voices for Tuco. Ennio Morricone's fans would know that whistling and yodeling are staple diet in his compositions, and here too they can expect the same.

The Soundtrack actually enhances the effect manifold for the characters, and gives them a legendary feel- Blondie riding into the sunset in the climax, with the super cool music behind him,I've never known a better finish to a film. Just the shot and the background music would make you want to go through all the film makes you to.

The song in itself is reflective of the theme of the movie as well. It starts to peak, and get quite passionate at times, and just when it gets quite heady, it goes back to the light-hearted tone, indicating that after all, this is just for fun. Even the movie is the same- all the killing, fighting, death, sentiments- its a medley, but finally, it all ends light-heartedly leaving you with smile on your face, so that you come out of the movie hall just the way you entered- no tears, nothing to rake your head about.

Here's the song

Free Download Ennio Morricone The Good The Bad and The Ugly Sountrack ( Theme Music ) Clint Eastwood Lee Van Cleef rapidshare megaupload Ziddu

Size: 6.2 MB
http://tinyurl.com/2vrmfm

Online Casino Reviews

Online casinos are dime a dozen now. Anybody with knowledge of a pragramming language, and a decent connection can set up an online casino with a software created by "themselves". And its pretty easy to transfer the money, with paypal and all.
But, for the user, to pick a casino from the ocean available online is a humoungously difficult task.
Enter onlinecasinolist.com, a site that provides reviews of numerous online casino sites on the web. Ratings are given by users as well as critics are based on a variety of factors like security, certificate, fair play,customer support, deposit options, payout speed etc.
They have a review of the software used in the site as well, sorting the software based on Games selections, special effects, and speed of response.
And they have various categories of classification so you can easily pick the casino you want in a trice. Like for example they have the page to sort casinos by the bonuses they provide. And here's a review of the best online casino according to them.
Its a brilliant idea to sort casinos like this to prevent wayward travellers from getting lost. So whenever you want to gamble online, don't forget to pay a visit to this site. It'll be worth your time to look up the best casino, because they say "When you want to play, play with the best".

Greatest Love Songs: Dole Dole (Telugu)

Not many songs deserve a review from me, and only a few deserve a detailed explanation. But this song is so good, that it deserves a blow by blow account from me. So here it is, enjoy reading about it after listening to the song.
Dole Dole from the Telugu movie "Pokiri" sung by Ranjith and Suchitra

The "Nam Dam Thara Thiri Thada" repeated about 4 times (the echo effect) with which it starts give you the feel of being transported to a new world, to a dream perhaps. Then the vocals start off in the best way they could have- the beats gradually pickin' up speed and reaching a stable state- the state in which most part of the song stays.

From thereon it sounds as if an apsara from Heaven is singing (and the song is full of her overtures). Suchitra's voice (enhanced with more echo and other such fine tuning) combined with the lyrics- seem to be feeding you wine- no something even more intoxicating than that- heavenly nectar!

"Some voices are a whine,
And some sing like a swine,
But the sweetest purest voice is wine"
-Prashanth Krishnan

She stands as living proof of the above poem.

You're taken to dizzy heights when she starts off Zara Jaldi Jaldi and the Vadi Antharanga line complements her voice like the cross to the t.

If her "Omaha Zeeya" made Uyirin Uyire the flier it was, this line makes this song the Melody it is.

The Chalega Chalega cameo (Ranjith is the male lead) is that part of the song that keeps appearing occasionally (and at the right places) to allow you to loosen up your legs after reaching excited states with the preceding lines (Courtesy: Suchitra)- it throws (or rather, brings) you back into reality.
It is instances like these that add color (not that it lacks variety) to the song, else it would seem like an Angel playing her Harp- sweet and enchating, yet sounding the same, some "insane" (forgive me, couldn't find another word!!) people might say.

Then of course it has some beautiful interludes with the violin and guitar (the whole song uses all kinds of instruments to fantastic effect) - readying the launch pad like Dhoni with a good bat-lift (before that huge loft).

Then of course- the usual train like drum beats that was also heard in Suttum Vizhi Sudare, overlapped by a chorus rendering guaranteed to switch off all interaction with surroundings and pull you inside- perhaps you might indulge in nostalgia, or maybe you might be enjoying a trip in the beach with your sweetheart, or might just enjoy the blissful state.
The Veena and Tabla in this place are worthy additions.
The baton is handed over to Main Vocals with a high pitched bouncer (the last words of the chorus- "Hooo").
Then the Siren Suchitra continues her overtures in the 1st verse- nothing need to be specially mentioned here- the rendering speaks for itself, with Sumanth's words "Gnaaaa" adding a feel of pure Carnatic (trust me, pure Carnatic has no place here, but it seems so it does)

The lyrics need special mention here- very rhyming and not at one moment losing the momentum, in fact gaining as Suchi glides on.

The "So you wanna shake it up now" in the end (afore the fast Veena bit) reminds you that this is just another song- not a Deva Gaana.

It seems to take off for a moment, and then it reaches a sort of constancy- and softness- back to nostalgia, the chorus doubly pleasing now, combined with Zwishchenzungs from the men chorus and the oddities in the beats. This is the best part of the song some might say-a finesse guaranteed to please all and sundry.
This is the part solely reserved by the drums- like the Veena and Tabla in the last chorus.
And it starts off with a drum beat that sounds like a following a ball in a squash court- reverberating off each wall.
The "lla lei" is so wonderfully complemented by the "Krr" sounds of the beat.

The whole bit allows you to sip the music, taking your time, allowing you to get used to the impact, and delaying (or should I say extending) the pleasure for some more time.

The 2nd verse is just about the same as the 1st (I understood as little of it as the whole song, but the lyrics again impress- rhyming and keeping tempo. Perhaps I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much had I understood what the words meant)- but the words "Sun Mere Deewana" sound quite different to "Dil Bar Dekhona". Both extremely sensuous and inviting, and leave a great impact.
By now you know the song is nearing its end- so you enjoy the last words more- the Dalari Dayake Yagasi Yagake doesn't disappoint you there.

The grand finale is the unexpected early arrival Zara Jaldi Jaldi- the signature lines of the Siren, overlapping (or rather overstepping) the "So you wanna…" and gives you one final peg of the best Beluga to our ears- it really feels as if Christmas came earlier.
You digest each word with the concentration of a micro-biologist, by now well used to the lyrics, and knowing that these are her last lines (of the song that is!).

The song ends in quick fashion- like a Dhoni cameo ending an Indian run-fest, with the bit "So you wanna…" which never seemed to stick anywhere, allowed to finish the number.

Here's the song(will be put soon today)

Golfers of the world unite- in the net!

My dad holds the game of Golf in high regard. Whenever I wanted to play some (silly atrium) game with my friends, he would stop me and make me study. When I asked him how'll I get my enjoyment, my recreation- he'd say "Study well, and you can always get to play golf with the richest of the world".
Hmmm, I marked that up in my mind. So those who play golf have a status symbol. Indeed, the game of golf, unlike many others, was once exclusively for the recreation of the rich. And you had to be someone important to them, if you were invited for a game of golf. So fraternising with them was tough.
But not anymore, golfers can now socialise on the net. But do they not need something that binds them all in one place, apart from the playing ground?
Enter stracka.com A Social Network for Golfers where golfers can meet players with similar aspirations, track one's handicap and put up statistics for other players to see, and perhaps gape about, and of course, do general stuff available in social site like blogging, posting in forums, photoshare etc.
And some added features are the ability to check out various golfing courses of the world without actually going there.
The whole site is extremely pleasing to look, and browsing is easy. And they have some cool programs that help you review your game like the Stracka line that helps us to read our putts.
There's lot about golf in here, and while discussing your game with other players, you're sure to develop it fast than by just watching it on TV, or reading guidebooks. This is an opportunity not to be missed if you're a budding golfer.
And whats more, its all for free! Now thats some deal aint it? I know what I'm gonna do- I'm gonna register, because its free, and I would get to meet some high class people, and maybe, maybe get to learn some golf :)

Went all in and lost? No Problem! Try Again!

Some of the harsh realities of life is that there is rarely a second chance. So if you took a risk and lost, there's very little chance you can get back on your feet. That's why people want stable decently paying jobs than the high risk jobs that can earn a lot of money in short time.

Anyway, all of us want credit, and lots of it. And if you had lost your job recently, or had to sell your home because you had to move, then your credit is no more, and you had bought a lot of things- including your car in which you move by that credit.

So what do you do to get yourself back on track, to regain the credit. A direct way you can think of is- get a new job. However, if you could have done that you might as well as have saved your first one. No- you've got to think different.
Someone has to trust you to give you money even if your credit is bad- which it is right now. Enter badcreditoffers that offer to your credit cards bad credit. The whole site is wonderful- it provides all the top 10 credit offers that get you bad credit, and compares them. It also gives you a list of opportunities for loans- all kinds-personal, auto, home etc.
Its a totally professional site from the looks of it and it is definetely worth a visit if you're desperate for credit.
So next time you want some urgent credit- there's nowhere else to go but here!