India Vs England: A Preview.......

 You don't need to be a psychologist to read whats in the minds of both India and England before the start of what is undoubtedly one of the most eagerly anticipated India vs England series in quite a while and i dare say one of the most eagerly anticipated home test series for India in a long while. The last time this much anticipation was there when these 2 countries met, England went on to win the series 4-0 and snatch the Number 1 ranking from India. I am sure that if you are reading this then you must surely know which 4-0 spanking I am talking about here. If not, then I am afraid that you were probably spending your vacation in Mars. I don't think there has ever been a series between the number 1 and number 2 sides in the world which was as one sided as India's tour to England last year. Quite simply, India got smashed both physically and mentally by England. And so deep were the wounds that were inflicted by England during that series that India went on to lose 4-0 in Australia as well even though they went into that tour in a confident frame of mind. I doubt that those wounds have healed even after more then a year has passed. And these wounds wont heal unless India finds some mental peace. And that peace can only come in one way.......return the favour to England...beat them 4-0.

                        Not many countries are as strong as India are in their backyard. Its no secret. The difference in the body language and mental frame of the players is like chalk and cheese in comparison to an overseas tour. Its like as if Harry Potter has cast a spell on the Indian players which turns them into dragons at home and well,.... mice abroad. Of course, India have vastly improved as a touring nation compared to what they were in the 1990s. But the last two disastrous tours have raised a question..."Are India going back to their days of Tigers at Home, Mice abroad now with Dravid and Laxman retiring and Sachin soon to follow???" or was it just "a fluke and a flash in the pan." And this series is the first step in answering that question even though its being played at home. India are going into this series as such overwhelming favourites that anything less then a series win could mean the end of Dhoni's era as a Captain and the end of  Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan's carriers. India have a lot at stake in this series and i dare say much more to lose then England. As to how desperate India really are can be seen from the warm up games that England have played on this tour, mediocre opposition and more importantly no exposure to quality spinners for the England batsmen. I find  this extremely unsporting from the BCCI.

                         On the other hand, we have England whose progress as a cricketing powerhouse has only gone downhill since they took over the Number 1 ranking. They got beaten 3-0 by Pakistan in the Middle East, drew 1-1 in Sri lanka (a credible result, mind you) and then lost their Number 1 ranking at home by losing 0-2 to an extremely well polished South Africa. Andrew Strauss has retired now and Alastair Cook has now taken over the reins and for an England side I don't think there is a tougher tour then a "Tour of India" even though in terms of importance, the Ashes tour wins it hands down. Make no mistake though, England aren't going to be pushovers. They weren't the Number 1 side for nothing and their biggest strength lies in their preparation before a big series. The biggest reason for England's 1-3 win over Australia down under was in the way they went through the process of conquering the conditions and the opposition. In Andy Flower they have one of the best coaches in the world, if not the best, who leaves nothing to chance. A man who knows the value of hard work and who is probably the main reason behind England’s success in recent years.  I have no doubt that Andy Flower would have been preparing for this series for a long time and especially after the 5-0 ODI series defeat to India in India last year his resolve to do well this time around will be much stronger. Just like “Chokers” is the perennial word which the South Africans hate to discuss, “Playing spin” falls in the same category for England. And this is the backbone of what scoreline this series might end.

                           Coming to this series, the prospects are endless and the individual battles that will unfold are fascinating to say the least. For me there are a few key areas and battles that I think will decide the series:

1.      Alastair Cook Vs Zaheer Khan: This battle at the top of the order should be one of the battles of the series for me. Zaheer likes bowling to left handed opening batsmen and Cook is one of those guys whom you don’t want to get off to a start. Plus, that he is now the Captain makes his wicket one of the biggest in this series.

2.      Kevin Pietersen Vs Pragyan Ojha and Yuvraj Singh: Another big battle. And its one battle that England will have to win if they are to do well in this series. Pietersen’s habit of getting out to slow left arm bowlers is well known around the world. One thing for sure is that this battle won’t be boring. KP will take the Indian spinners on. Its either Boom or Bust.

3.      Virender Sehwag Vs James Anderson:  The most destructive batsman in world cricket on his day versus the best swing-seam bowler in test cricket. England’s biggest weapon in this series is their fast bowling and Anderson has had good success against Sehwag recently. Plus, Sehwag has been struggling for form of late. So, an engrossing battle on the cards here.

4.      Sachin Tendulkar Vs Graeme Swann:  Swann will have to do a lot of bowling in this series and I am pretty sure that when Tendulkar comes out to bat then England will bowl Anderson and Swann at him to start off. And I expect Sachin to respect Anderson and look to take Swann on. Quite frankly, the way Sachin bats in this series is going to be one of the talking points of the cricketing world. I personally hope to see Sachin bat aggressively and take on England’s bowlers. The cricketing world and the whole of India seems like a better place to live in when Sachin is in full flow.

CONCLUSION: Its no secret that India go in as clear favourites in this series. But India aren’t going to find it as easy they might have hoped. England will have their moments in this series but eventually the turning ball on turning pitches might be too much to handle. I am secretly hoping for a 4-0 win as an Indian fan but I am also hoping that England have an Ace under their sleeve and reveal a new and surprising tactic to counter India’s spin bowling. What I also hope for is some brilliant umpiring (with no DRS in the series). It’s a big series and nobody wants the talks of DRS and poor umpiring to spoil the party. My prediction is a 2-0 or a 3-1 win to India.  

                         

The Journey..

Waking up in the morning , to feel the Sun’s rays.

It doesn’t matter for how long the clouds allow it, or for how long the tide stays.

The sand on the beach has turned from silver to gold,

And the time has come for me to leave, as everyone had foretold.

I will be on my way soon, to the place which is not unknown,

there have been bad days, but there have also been days when I have felt like a King on his throne.

I don’t know what the day might bring, as I venture out to the playground of the one best known,

I hope that I am able to return safe and sound at night, to the place everyone labels as my Home.

But there is no word in life like “Guarantee”, although we have freedom we are never really free.

If I never return, would you miss me? Every single day, you don’t even say goodbye to me.

Life is tough but tougher still is death; I hope you never find out that I had fallen prey to fate.

I will try to come back best as I can, until then I will just keep on walking till I cross hell’s gate….

The Test.........

Through the tests which time took,
here I stand, above everyone else.......as I should.
The didn't like what they saw me do,
and I don't care one bit where time leads me through.


I have been through worse, when times were really bad.
I had no time to lie down and to be sad.
I conquered them all, during those tough days,
and yeah, I am sure as hell gonna dominate even today.



The journey wasn't smooth, as I had predicted
but the end reward was just the one I expected.
Life tried to put me down once before, as I hesitated,
but today, I wouldn't  make that same mistake as people calculated.



The Goal is still far away, even further then my dreary eye could see.,
but it doesn't matter how far the goal is, if you have the heart to rise above thee....
There will be storms in the way, and there will be jungles as they say,
but if you have a glimmer of hope lit in your heart, then you might not have to wait till the month of May.



The legs and hands will tire, the closer that you get,
but you will have to force your mind to cancel out that aspect.
You will be rewarded with more then what you deserve,
if you  have the will to just persevere.



Nothing in life comes easy,
we even have to struggle to hold our own  in  our very own family.
The obsession with money will soon engulf everyone else around you,
And if you don't keep up, you might be the one who ends up in fatality.

The Moon..........

The darkness of the night is gently disturbed,
by the moon emerging from beneath the dark clouds.
No matter how much effort it takes, yet unperturbed
it continues on its journey through the mazy crowd.




It doesn't have the regalness of the Sun, nor does it have the Sun's power.
Yet in its own silent way it controls the tides, accurate to the hour.
The Sun gives out more light and it breeds life, commanding respect
but for a romantic, there is nothing quite like the moon when the question is of "being perfect".




It comes out only at night when its admiring strangers go to sleep,
yet it never feels lonely, as the mighty stars give him company to keep.
It doesn't give us much warmth, neither does it make us feel cold.
But do be on your guard, because it can so easily take away your soul.




When the darkness arrive after the Sun sets, the world descends to black from white.
And when all hope is lost, he appears and fights the losing battle, but doesn't give up without a fight.
It teaches us all about life and how to live and fight it,
at night, it lights our paths just enough so that we can walk on our own two feet.

The Cripple..........

I picked up the gun that was lying deep in the drawer,
checking, whether time has rusted it from the inside.
I know that emptying its contents won't give me an answer,
but at least it will make me presentable to the world outside.




I have been fighting a lost cause ever since the day I was born.
Every passing year seems to pierce me just like a rose's thorn.
I never vented out my emotions to the people who matter,
in the fear that I will become a joke, and my sentiments scattered.




Time has passed by and its numerous tests have made me numb,
and I am afraid that when the real test comes, I will fail to recognize it like a dumb.
I have almost forgotten that I am the only one who is capable of winning this battle.
In this world we are all controlled by an invisible force, just like the way we control our cattle.




You never came to my rescue, when you knew that I needed to be dazzled.
You watched me struggle through every stage of this crossword puzzle.
I am the one who will have to live my life through this misery,
slowly slowly, I am losing power in my battery.



I ask the one above, why you made me a cripple for no fault of mine ?
Am I paying for the sins committed once upon a time ?
Is there any cure for this torture that I have been suffering since nine ?
At least give me a taste of your sweetest wine.



I hope to wake up from this nightmare which I hope is just an extended session,
Why do we all hope that everything bad is just a dream from which we might wake up anytime.
Making the best of all we have got should be our only life's mission.
otherwise there will be no satisfaction for us, at least not in this lifetime.

The journey........

I can feel the sea calling me out,
inviting me without even giving me a shout.
Beckoning to me, asking me to test myself out.
Am I brave enough to clear out all of my doubts ?




The time has come, the time has come to build a raft,
I don't want a boat, because I want to feel the Sea up close.
I want to see whether I am really good at my craft,
Will I survive, on this journey which I chose ??

The stare in the rain.......

I can feel the warmth of your stare,
those anxious eyes watching me, questioning me....
asking me, whether I have what it takes to dream ?
will I save her soul from the depths of society ?


Time seemed to have stopped,
and those seconds passed like hours,
My mind was starting to play tricks on me
Is she really the one ???
Is she really the one for whom I have been waiting so long ???
My entire life I have waited.
Is the wait over ???



That stare, that stare made the hair on my hands stand.
It was as if those small strands of hair were stung,
and now they wanted to burst out of my hands.
The rain was now starting to fall
but it made no difference, as I didn't notice it
till the raindrops started to roll over my eye, slowly.


The wind was staring to pick up speed,
and her hair was now starting to slowly float.
Floating as if an invisible hand was caressing it....
It looked like it wanted to fly away to the end of the horizon,
but was being held back by the reality of life.


The people were all starting to run away,
run away to the shelters of the nearby shop
hoping to escape from the increasing rain,
and from the wind which was now blowing like a wild fire.
But she wasn't moving and nor did I,
the feelings and emotions were at an all time high.
Nature seemed like an ally,
helping to bring us close by slowly removing the obstacles of life.

Money and Life...........

No use in this world by being a nice soul,
because in the end you are the only one left all alone.
No matter how hard you try to do others proud,
they will always say that you are one, wretched, useless tree sprout.




Never be nice in this world of ours,
because nice guys finish last.
In the end its the money that matters,
and if you don't earn, even your own will treat you as one of the "untouchable" caste.





Ahh, I feel so lonely today, lonely as the full moon.
I should not be surprised, because I was naive to have not realized the universal fact soon.
I learned in school when I was young , that character is all we have,
but today I learned that its money that defines you, and thats the new fact.





All relationships are a myth no matter how close they look on first glance,
They will all treat you well for a day or two, but when your troubled times come they will all turn away on first chance.
Everything will be alright and everybody will treat you like a King if you turn out in your own suit,
but if you seem like a stupid dependent, then they will kick you in the heart with the strongest boot.




Everybody will believe that you are a criminal,
and you will be unfairly judged.
Your very soul will be pronounced guilty,
just because you are one fat fuck.




Even the corrupt politicians get away because they are rich, no matter how moral-less they are,
I am trying my best to do everyone proud, yet I am pronounced a demon who has come from afar.
Its better to not live a life where you know opinions will vary proportionately in relation to money,
I can't wait for this tide to turn, for I will go away to a place that is sunny.

The Blind Man........

Are you the one who took away my sight ?
and left me all alone to suffer this horrible plight.
Though I am in a room filled with the Sun's light,
yet its darkness that I can see and all I can do is fight.




Are you the one who broke my heart in two ?
knowing fully well that it can't be repaired by glue.
Now you are enjoying this and I know its true,
but try looking at it from my point of view.




The ghosts of the past still dance all around my mind,
and its a dance which can be seen by a blind.
Its tune has got me all spellbind,
and I am struggling to be in the right frame of mind.





I can see the blackness in your heart,
and how you lured me in is a credit to your art.
You knew that I wasn't all that smart,
and you made me give my eyes for an imaginary part.





Now you have come back to see whether I am alive,
after all these years have passed numbered five.
I would rather die then go with you for a cliff dive,
I have been dead for far too long in this hive.




Your voice now sounds to me like a Lion's roar,
and the number of times you have killed me, I haven't kept a score.
And yet here you are coming back to hurt me more,
you can't stay here and when you leave better close the door.

The Prisoner...

Is there anybody out there waiting to save me ???
Do try your best, but don't fail to unbind me.
I have been shackled for too long in this world of the mortals,
Are you brave enough to defy God and free me ???



Bounded in chains, I have suffered for too long,
I haven't felt any sunlight and there is no difference between the dusk and dawn.
We are all nothing but puppets, controlled by fate like its pawn
and are then thrown away after their lust is satisfied, just like a circus clown.




I can feel my hands and legs moving, even though they are tied by a strong chain.
In my dreams I am a free man and they can't push me out into the rain.
The eyes of unknown guards gaze at me burning my skin,
Swords and bullets don't hurt as much as the absence of freedom to move one's own shin.




I hear the dogs barking and the sounds of the soldiers marching outside.
They too are bounded in chains just like me, though of an invisible kind.
They have no freedom nor any liberty, and all they do is take orders from the devil who presides.
And they pay that devil with their lives, just as I am about to pay mine.




I hear everything that goes on outside these walls as I cannot see,
The only music I hear is of the falling rain and the buzzing of a honeybee.
I was sold away by the ones I used to call as my own,
and I wonder who is to blame, my so called friends who betrayed me ?? or the one who made me just like a clone ??




I don't believe in death anymore, nor do I believe in life.
Time has passed, and so has the seasons and it cuts me slowly like a knife.
There isn't much time before they hang me and watch me die,
but before they do that, I will tell them that "Heaven's a lie", "Heaven's a lie."

The grey haired soldier..........

Its been long since the hair on my scalp has turned Grey,
but not as Grey as the character of people alive.
My soul has been long lost, just like a needle in a stack of hay,
fallen prey to the corrupt ministers who congregate in a hive.




I have watched the village kids grow up and become men,
and watch them dreaming the same dreams as I.
I hope they realize before it gets too late,
that these dreams will never be allowed to fly.




I remember my glory days vividly,
when I used to be a soldier who played in the dirt.
I made huge sacrifices for them, and killed people happily,
but in the end, they made me feel like a stain in their clean white shirt.




Me and my friends left our friends and family behind,
hoping to be of service to our motherland.
But what we saw was an utter abuse of mankind,
by the ones whom we trusted to lead us to the promised land.




I can still hear the cries of agony of my friends,
and see them in my nightmares over and over again.
Those old, wrinkled politicians with white hair and shaky hands,
pushed us towards the edge, hoping that we will fall off never to appear again.




My friends are long gone and I somehow survived,
growing old with the passage of time.
I think about their families and for how long they have been deprived,
and realized that the time has come for their kids to shine.

i got some good news yesterday that the internet should get fixed soon.....if we are lucky, then it might get fixed today itself....hopefully, that happens.......i had written 2 poems a few days back and i can't wait to post them here once the internet gets fixed....till next time...see ya

apologies everyone......work is going on in our road, as a result of which they have cut the phone lines.....thus, no internet connection these past few weeks.....hopefully, it gets fixed soon....and i can get back to blogging....till then, see ya all........

The man who sits by the fire...........

Downed my last drink for the night, contemplating life.
Hadn't talked to my parents for a while, nor..... to my family of five.
Sitting here by the fireplace all alone, staring at the beehive,
wondering whether she is thinking the exact same thoughts, the one whom I used to call "My Wife."




A log of wood from a tree in my backyard was crackling in the fire,
I was staring at it for far too long, and it made my eyes tire.
Though my eyes are tired now, my spirit has been long gone.
It is the end of my life's Summer, and it is the Autumn that has dawned.





The fire was slowly starting to burn away and I started to add more wood.
Added two, hoping its enough and that it would do it some good.
Didn't add any wood to my life's fire when I was young and able,
I am still paying the price of my life's mistakes, and it should be made into a fable.




The fire started to burn alright and began licking the leaves of the adjoining tree.
The insects and bugs began crowding around it, as if in a trance from which they can never be free.
The dance of the flames reminded me of a life I will never be able to forget.
The first time we danced was during our marriage, and I was behaving like a drunk hornet.




The moon came out from behind the clouds, and it was a bloody cold night,
and the sudden breeze made the flames stretch, and gave my old heart a freezing bite.
The cry of an owl somewhere in the woods reminded me that it was getting late,
I got up from my everyday position, reminded again, that time doesn't give a damn about my fate.




Had my dinner of yesterday's prawns, made by my newly appointed maid.
I ate my fill and left some for her, though how many I didn't calculate.
Went to my bed and slowly crept under the blanket, keeping some raw prawns as fish's bait,
and then stared upwards towards the ceiling and watched the blades of the fan rotate.

The Stormy Beach....

Staring at the sky, listening to the crashing of the waves.
Bracing myself, for whatever nature might throw my way.
The night was stormy and the rain added to my misery,
but it was nothing compared to what I had to endure today.



The beach was sandy and the shopkeepers were busy,
the pesky kids were all going crazy.
The gale didn't stop nor did it slow down,
and I am sure that tomorrow morning will be hazy.




Ain't no cheese, ain't no soft breeze....... in this cursed land.
The angry clouds won't spare you in their mood, even if you have an umbrella of a top brand.
The waves were crashing with their full force, and there is no escape.
If you thought that you can hide away, then its your first big mistake.




I could see the funny irony, when this storm came.
The mothers took their children away, yet they didn't stop the game.
Can't blame the children here, as they are all just kids.
But if something were to happen to them, then its the seniors who will have to take the hit.




And there were the trees, the mightiest of all,
rooted to the center of the earth, standing tall.
But even they weren't a match for this nature's call,
swaying to God's music, as if dancing in a King's ball.



And I thought, as calmly as I could.
Am I a fool to be sitting here when I should be running as everyone would.
I would have made a cave for others too, as all should.
After all, we are all equals in this world of the misunderstood.

The Forest.....

The path was decorated by dead leaves as if its autumn,
and I was twisting my way around it, to join the buds beginning to blossom.
The broken tree on the way reminding me of nature's unmistakable power,
the thunder of the black clouds unmistakably is of the coming shower.



The tire marks on the road were a guiding light,
just as in life its our morals that allow us to put up a fight.
My destination is still far enough for me to take a nap,
I better find a suitable place so that my fingers don't get snapped.




And there was She, a simple village lass,
heart of Gold, but looked brittle as a glass.
Found myself defenseless against that attack from her eyes,
couldn't control my heart, couldn't even stare into the skies.




Found myself losing my mind, after all I am a normal man.
But never mustered the courage to coax my heart, and ask her for a milk can.
She stared at me and gave me a customary smile,
and so lost was I, that I imagined myself amongst the divine.



The skies opened up, as if in robust denial,
and the clap of the thunder made me realize....... the power of the celestial.
Gone was She in a blink of an eye,
and I didn't even had the chance to bid her a final goodbye.



Never had I felt such emotion, such an extreme sensation,
a feeling of desperation, and I can now see the obvious complication.
No point now in trying to find her as she would have taken shelter in some cave.
Suddenly in front of me, I could see an ancient cemetery of graves.

The Struggle.....

The thread of life ties down our good side and evil side together,
forming our very true self, one not separated from the other.
Destiny does play its part, and no matter how hard we try,
its hands always seem to pull us back to be fried.



I want some wings, some wings to fly.
If I had been born an Eagle, to reach the end of the world I would have at least tried.
But then, may be I had committed some sin for which I am being punished,
I may have been born naive, but I am definitely not foolish.




I can feel the sharpness of the knife that cuts through my heart.
In today's world, to succeed you definitely need a head start.
No need to shed tears just because you got stung by fate's dart,
in order to earn respect, you have to play your own part.




Its a shame that we keep fighting amongst ourselves for petty gains.
Compare that with the vastness of the Universe, its such a shame.
Civilizations had come and gone before us,
but I doubt they would have had to endure such pain.




They say, the lines in our hands tell us our future,
and along with the lines in our brow, people normally say that its secure.
If you believe in that, and sit on your ass,
I can assure you that you are not mature.



The past is gone and now the future beckons,
pulling you closer every second.
There ain't no use putting up a struggle.
Coz you will end up digging your own grave and putting yourselves into trouble.

Love Song........

The wind seemed to change its course whenever you walked,
and you thought I was just another one of those who stalked.
Winning your love wasn't a mission,
as I know that you became mine when Cupid's court was in session.



The fragrance of the flowers became meaningless,
as your aroma had already knocked me senseless.
Those eyes of yours held the deepest mysteries of your soul,
and I could keep staring at them......... as time unfold.



Your smile and laughter would make me realize,
how much happiness there is in this wretched world.
I am not the one for any compromise,
when fate asks me for my Soul.



Its been long since I last saw you,
and I know that the chances are increasingly becoming less.
But I do believe that there will be one last cue,
to relieve me of this destiny's stress.

God's Game.....

The heart doesn't seem to beat anymore,
Do take pity on my soulless soul.
Ages have passed since blood flowed through these veins,
Nowadays, even a snake's venom doesn't seem to leave a stain.



There was once a time when life seemed simple,
the sky was blue, and my life had principle.
Came from nowhere those heartless people,
they destroyed my life and made my wife a cripple.



Life played its worst game with me and I had no chance,
I had to become the devil and make fate dance.
Charged I truly was after that unforgettable day,
and after a few months, God cut short my wife's stay.



Never had I contemplated violence till that moment,
after that day, people came to know me as a merciless giant.
The smell of gunpowder started feeling like a flower's aroma,
Satan himself came to give me Death's diploma.



Time passed and my hair became gray,
I had my revenge and made my enemies pay.
I built a new house near a bay, with Destiny's say,
never did I imagined that my soul would just fade away.



The thirst for blood can never be satisfied,
my heart now doesn't even wish to be pacified.
Its already too late to be getting mystified,
afterall, I am soon to be crucified.

Hi folks...........I am back....I have been gone 2-3 days.....but now I am here and I have spent these 2-3 days by writing some poems in my spare time....And here they are...I hope that u all like them..