When our very own ‘Gentleman's game’ reveals its hideous side...

The demons are back in the cricketing town. Three eminent cricketers at the peak of their careers (one newly appointed captain, other two darting demolishers) have plummeted to nadir overnight in a startling revelation by a London-based bookie. This has further obfuscated the abysmal past record of a team tainted with myriad allegations and now grappling to clean dappled reputations. If this is not a ‘flash in the pan’ kind of thing, then it is surely a sorry state of affairs for this elegant game. There is no rocket science involved to comprehend the fact that all this was done for ‘easy money’, at the stake of national pride. The incident is redolent of Cronje-Azharrudin incident that did no harm to either of the men. One of them had a crash and the other is blooming in local politics. The verdict might give a temporary suspension to culprits or even might call for exoneration, but one way or the other-‘fixing’ quandary will remain.20 months later, new faces might make the headlines with similar sins only to be again acquitted. It’s high time we send chills down the spines of those who are even contemplating of fiddling with the game in lure of money. Don’t hesitate to hand life bans to the people who are tainting reputations with impunity. If that’s not frightening enough, give a severe incarceration to teach them a lesson of their lives. This is not any more just a question of national pride and justice; it is a question of salvaging some respect for the game that deserves every single bit of it.

Pace bowlers or Tigers-who'll extinct first?

A passing thought: Denis Lillee took Half of wicket with aggression before delivering and the other half after delivering!

Its sad. Its grim. And its getting darker. I may not have seen the likes of Richard Hadlee, Jeff Thomson, Courtney Walsh , Ambrose or Michael Holding darting balls at batters , but i have witnessed the fiery Akram, McGrath, Allan Donald, Gillespie, Waqar and yes, i can surely say, the 'species' of Pace Bowler who threatened the best of batsmen on any given day, is on the verge of extinction.

Blame the heavy bats, Blame the short boundaries, blame the pace academies, blame the cricket rules-but its true and ICC is doing nothing.Batsmen score centuries like nothing. Edges fly away for sixes.Test matches end in pale draws with plenty of Batting records crumbling. Twenty-20s have opened new floodgates, Slogging seems more pleasant to eyes than defense. This is not good for cricket's health..

Subcontinent pitches are flat and , frankly, more creditable than any other turfs for this plight. the Steyns, Lees, Asifs are doing good but where are the fiery bowlers???

This is high time for leading cricket bodies to ponder and bring back that thrill in cricket which is gradually effacing. Or else bowlers will extinct before the tigers do!