Once in a while a situation become such that life challenges one to do or die. The one who has the courage accepts this challenge to reclaim his honour, stand by what he believes in and goes in the battlefield prepared to die; knowing that he has fought and fought hard till the soul left him. Just like the Spartans did. When a country%u2019s fundamental belief and what it stands for is questioned, there is no doubt it throws a challenge to its people to do or die. Nothing short of a victory is good enough and the only way to rise over your opponent is to fight as a soldier with conscience and fight with passion. So that even if death come it comes with dignity. And if victory happens to kiss the brave, this moment in life is the one which makes the life complete. There is no greater joy than this moment in which one has made its nation proud and restored the hope of its billion odd people who believed in their soldiers. There is no bigger glory than reclaiming the honour for which millions have fought and given life in the struggle to become a free nation. A nation which believes in democracy , promotes equality and celebrates diversity. Last Saturday in a remote corner of the world, in a country which refuses to integrate with the wider world and humiliates his opponent in the slightest of the opportunity, such a battle was fought and won by 11 Indian soldiers. %u2018Nothing short of victory would do%u2019, was their motto just like the Spartans. And victory finally kis
RE:chak de
by Roy Chowdhury on Jan 20, 2008 06:04 AM
%u2018Nothing short of victory would do%u2019, was their motto just like the Spartans. And victory finally kissed those who fought with the truth on their side against the one who resorted to lies and deception. The vision of the tri colour held high by none other than the man who stood by what he believed was one of those moments, which makes one proud beyond poetic words. It is that moment when all 1 billion odd are together and one as a nation that is confident, optimistic and humble. No matter what happens next, at that moment the victory is for the one who deserves the most and nothing else in the world matters.
I congratulate the Indian team and Indians wherever they are for this famous win against the mighty Australian team and appeal to keep this momentum going for the next and final test to level the series. Jai Hind Rajeev Tyagi Research Scholar Paris, France
RE:well done India
by on on Jan 20, 2008 05:13 AM
Ha Ha Ha.. Do we really need to know what you do and where you're? The forum is to discuss the cricket and why not just leave it there?
Well i suppose, this aussie team is not the best team playing without Hayden, mcgrath & warne. They may only know to sledge without performing unlike Waugh, Mcgrath and Warne who use sledge and also perform.However full credit to indian bowler who bowled exceptionally well to take 20 aussie wickets cheaply.
RE:Not potential aussie team
by Manvinder S. Arora on Jan 20, 2008 05:22 AM
Oh really ??? What happened to you (if you saw the last day's last few overs), when tail enders like Michelle Johnson was hitting like crazy along with Stuart Clark? I am just wondering, how every player in Australia comes to be the best selection ! Hayden Mcgrath are going to be history soon, as Steve Waugh.
RE:Not potential aussie team
by explorer on Jan 20, 2008 07:53 AM
I think India too is not the potential team as it is without Yuvraj, Sreesanth and Munaf Patel lol
Congratulations to the Indian team on an outstanding performance against Australia. Indian batsmen showed good grit and bowlers bowled to a plan. Beyond this we or the media should not get carried away by posting or shouting big headlines like - "Team India has arrived". "We can be the best test team".
We need to look introspectively as a whole the Indian team performance. Granted they were short of match practice for first test and they lost. But seriously there should be no excuses for losing the second test. If Ganguly and Dravid got wrong decisions, the others could have done better. The team combination was in correct until this test because we kept accomodating Yuvraj Singh and he is not a worthy test player outside of India. Look at his performance before in the caribbean for example. We need to start selecting a team based on conditions. Horses for courses. Just like we choose bowlers based on conditions, we should select batsmen as well. We have to start winning series outside of India on regular basis to be counted as a top team. We still need to beat South Africa, Australia on their home soils. What Australia achieved - 16 straight wins, we can only dream about it yet. They have been consistent and wonderful. We need to acknowledge their performance and feel proud of what we did to stop their juggernaut and take that as a good lesson and stay grounded and perform day in, day out. Performance and team balance should be the criteria for selecting a team.
* Ponting lost his first Test at home as captain - his fourth overall. * With Australia's defeat to India at Perth, their best ever sequence of remaining undefeated at home in the last 25 matches between December 26, 2003 and January 6, 2008 has ended. * After remaining undefeated in their last ten Tests, Australia lost the first Test at Perth. West Indies was the last team to beat Australia at this venue in February 1977.
The above selected stats of the Perth Test make the defeat all the more telling for the hosts. Remarkable, the way Team India came back after the Sydney Test which went against the visitors mainly due to Aussie chicanery and third rate (and probably deliberately anti-Indian by that blind and senile Bucknor) umpiring.
This was truly a team effort of the Indians which saw players in each department stepping up to the plate and delivering, picking up the slack wherever required. Magnificent effort! The fact that India became the first team from the sub-continent to record a victory at Perth - in 10 Tests (Pakistan lost all the five Tests at this venue and Sri Lanka two) - makes this victory even sweeter.
Now the next port of call is Adelaide. A winning combination is generally not changed but the Indian think-tank will need to assess carefully whether Bhajji needs to be included in the team; if so, then in whose place. Team India is spoilt for choice in regard to seam bowling, so it is not easy to decide whether to make Ishant sit outside or RP o
RE:Team India gives a fitting reply to Aussies
by Aseem Talukdar on Jan 20, 2008 07:31 AM
West Indies defeated Australis at Perth both during 84-85 and 96-97 session.
RE:Team India gives a fitting reply to Aussies
by Prat King on Jan 20, 2008 03:56 AM
(contd.) Ishant sit outside or RP or Irfan. Irfan is performing very well with both bat and the ball, he deserves to be there. One alternative could be to open with Sehwag and Dravid and India goes with 5 bowlers. Another option can be to not make any change and use Sehwag and Tendulkar as part-time bowlers.
Let's hope the team chooses the best combination it thinks most appropriate, and they carry Perth%u2019s momentum to Adelaide and level the series. All the best to Team India!!
RE:Team India gives a fitting reply to Aussies
by kaka on Jan 20, 2008 04:35 AM
irfan can't be a bowling allrounder in adelaide. There wont be swing over there. HE can be chosen for batting and bowl few overs. It depends a lot on Ishant. And RP has to rely on around the wicket.
RE:Team India gives a fitting reply to Aussies
by on on Jan 20, 2008 05:21 AM
kaka, I am sure you have played extensive amount of cricket in Adelaid to make such judgemental comment.
As far as I am concerned, Irfan will be handful with the new ball in Adelaid..
RE:Team India gives a fitting reply to Aussies
by kaka on Jan 20, 2008 05:22 AM
Swing will be absent in Adelaie unlike the Freemantle doctor in PErth. I will let you make your own judjement.
I could say the samething about you. You having played in Adelaide and along with Pathan - a similar left arm swing bowler should know well about it?
RE:RE:Team India gives a fitting reply to Aussies
by kaka on Jan 20, 2008 06:19 AM
BTW everyone is bound to have his or her opinion. If you dont like it dont read it and hence dont reply.
IF you reply and particularly without a handle for you then dont start bashing the handle of the poster. Then it defeats the purpose of exchanging opinion and which btw is to open up oneselves. Which is why being critical is very helpful rather than complacency.
RE:Team India gives a fitting reply to Aussies
by on on Jan 20, 2008 06:13 AM
LMAO!!
I am just speaking from the common sense. Yes I have played some cricket and I know the new ball always swings Pathan has the ability to swing it as well. You watch the Adelaid match and let us know what you think of the swing..
btw I wish I should have played for India and at Adelaid..
RE:RE:Team India gives a fitting reply to Aussies
by kaka on Jan 20, 2008 06:17 AM
yep the new ball is going to swing for 40 overs in Adelaide. IT is Adelaide get it....
Anyways get ready to throw bricks on cricketers houses if they lose to Australia....
RE:Team India gives a fitting reply to Aussies
by kaka on Jan 20, 2008 06:51 AM
final one i promise.
the very moment you ridiculed my handle and asked me where i am from then I lost any intention of exchanging any more opinion with you. Why do people need to know where the person is from to exchange opinion? Do they want to place him according to their preconceived notion.
Sachin and lara have scored better that others ..but their character at cricket matches lack game spirit... the real outstandin batsman are in terms of technique, class, charcater, team spirit and application..
RE:sachin and Gangully are the most selfish players in recent times
by Swapnil Shah on Jan 20, 2008 08:00 AM
you seem not to know anything about criket mate ! Keep quiet next time.
RE:sachin and Gangully are the most selfish players in recent times
by Kruger Brent on Jan 20, 2008 04:03 AM
Sachin and Ganguli play for entertaining spectators and audience. For their class they are unpredictable. And hence entertaining. Watch the extravagant shots of Sachin over the slips or the ones cracked through cover by Ganguli. Class ! In India, the current match winners are Kumble, Harbhajan, Zaheer, Pathan, Dravid and Laxman. Let someone win the matches and some provide sheer entertainment.
RE:sachin and Gangully are the most selfish players in recent times
by Munna Bhai on Jan 20, 2008 04:09 AM
Rabbit, Your ranking is nothing do with this article. Are you OK or need some mantle treatment. I think I need to open an umbrella in your back-side.
RE:sachin and Gangully are the most selfish players in recent times
by Munna Bhai on Jan 20, 2008 04:11 AM
Oye Rabbit, Who score 154 run in Sydney / 71 in first inning of Perth. 67 in first match. Tere baap ne ye run banaaye kyaa.
