Coffee With Sundar » cricket

B S Chandrasekhar – Legendary Indian Leg Spinner!

Sundar Rajan G S — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:06:09 +0000

Dear Readers,

CWS has completed 2 years since it was launched on 19th March 2008. To celebrate this special occasion, we have 2 really amazing guests for the CWS show today!

In the first of the two interviews today, we have a legendary leg spinner of Indian Cricket � B S Chandrasekhar! It is indeed a very very proud moment for Coffee With Sundar to host such a stalwart on our show!

Here is a brief introduction of B S Chandrasekhar (Source: Wikipedia)

B S Chandrasekhar is a former Indian cricketer who specialized in leg spin. Considered amongst the top echelon of leg-spinners, Chandrasekhar along with E.A.S. Prasanna, Bishen Singh Bedi and Venkataraghavan constituted the Indian spin quartet that dominated spin bowling in the 1960s and 1970s.

Born and educated in the city of Mysore, Chandrasekhar was infatuated with cricket from a very early age. Overcoming a polio attack which withered his right wrist as a child, he became one of the most successful leg spin bowlers in cricket history. An unorthodox bowler with an unusually long run-up, Chandrasekhar played in 58 Test matches, and collected 242 wickets in his career. Making his Test debut against England at Bombay in 1964, his most memorable performance was against England at The Oval on August 23, 1971 where he took six wickets for 38 runs, and helped India to a series win. Of the spin quartet, he was the most likely to bowl an unplayable delivery, and it brought India many laurels including its first victory in Australia. He was named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1972 and won the Wisden’s “Best bowling performance of the century” award in 2002, for his 6 wickets for 38 runs against England at the Oval in 1971.

Coffee With BS Chandrasekhar – Former Indian Leg Spinner

Me: Sundar Rajan G S

BSC: B S Chandrasekhar

Me: You had a polio attack in your childhood and yet you managed to achieve your dream of playing for the country? How did you manage.. Can you talk about your early days?

BSC: I was born in Mysore on the 17th may 1945 and I had the attack of polio when I was 5 or 6. By the time I was around 10, my arm had largely recovered, though not to 100%. �Like most children in the neighborhood, I enjoyed playing cricket with my brothers and friends.

Then we shifted to Bangalore in 1954 where I continued to play rubber ball cricket in the streets.�It was in 1962 that I joined City cricketers just to enjoy leather ball cricket without any great expectations. Since I was playing for fun, I was able to try different styles of bowling. I tried left hand, fast bowling, and whatever else I felt that the famous bowlers at the time were doing.

In 1963, I started bowling leg spinners, the way I imagined Richie Benaud would, and succeeded in getting wickets regularly. �In a short period of about 3-4 months, I reached the international level from the club level.

Me: Can you share 2 or 3 anecdotes about your most memorable moments in your cricketing days.. Especially some moments shared with the spin quartet..

BSC: It was a great experience climbing the ladder and reach the top of it. I was only 18 then and it was great to travel to different places in India and abroad and meet different people. That gave me a chance not only to meet the big people from different fields, but also a chance of meeting the prime ministers and Presidents of different countries. The entire experience itself of a person from Mysore meeting the queen of England and such “big” people was memorable for me.

On the cricket front, there was a time in ’76 in New Zealand when the umpiring was so bad that plum LBWs were not given several times in a row, even when it was obvious the batsman was out. My appeals were met with no reaction from the umpire. Then, I bowled the batsman out – and appealed to the umpire. When I appealed, the umpire said that the batsman is bowled. So I replied, “I know that he’s bowled, but is he out?”

Me: Thank you sir for sharing those amazing anecdotes.. You were a match winner abroad during the days when India wasn�t having a great record abroad.. You had 42 wickets in 5 test matches abroad.. How did you enjoy bowling aboard? Did you do anything differently?

BSC: I really enjoyed playing cricket everywhere. Since I was able to extract nip and bounce on any wicket, I didn�t try anything different on the foreign soil. I also had 5-6 different types of variations apart from the normal leg spinners which I utilized accordingly, depending on condition of the wicket. �But again, this didn’t depend on the country.

Me: We have MRF Pace foundation for producing good fast bowlers.. Do you we must have similar academies for spin bowling to produce more spinners at the grass root levels? What other suggestions do you have to improve spin bowling in India?

BSC: Well they have the national cricket academy in Bangalore where they have camps for spinners also and they call spinners from India and other countries to come and coach the up and coming youngsters.

Me: Can you talk a bit about Sachin Tendulkar & Anil Kumble?

BSC: Without doubt both of them are greats. Both of them have survived for 20 years. They were able to adjust themselves in all 3 categories of the game successfully which is very difficult. Each category has different technique and different approach which one has to adjust accordingly and both of them have done it and were a very big success as well.

Me: A lot of us want to play cricket & represent the country.. But the slots are so few.. What is your advice for young & budding cricketers with high aspiration and odds so strongly against them?

BSC: I always recommend that you concentrate on your academics, unquestionably. The critical question to be answered here is whether the individual is confident of being Better than every other Indian in the population who is also equally interested in entering international cricket. If so, then go for it. If not, I would suggest concentrating on academics.

The odds of making it big in cricket are very small. Only 11 can play in a side. One has to contend with millions of people vying for those few spots. �The odds of winning a lottery are probably better. Counting on making it big in cricket would be as risky as counting on winning a lottery ticket for your future.

Me: Thank you so much sir! It was fantastic having with you for this special edition of CWS! Thanks a lot for your time.

Ganguly – Passion personified

Sundar Rajan G S — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:42:42 +0000

Guys,

One of the great Indian middle order batsmen has decided to call it a day!!

Although, I have not been a great Ganguly fan, there are few things in him which I like a lot..

1. The passion that he brings on the field.. One of the few Indians who dont let their shoulders drop even when the opposition have to chase 120 in 50 overs..

2. His aggression.. Who can forget the great replies he gave to the australian team..

3. Most important thing I like in Ganguly, is the way he made an amazing comeback into the Indian cricket team after being thrown out.. It was a huge mess.. & only the will power and determination of Ganguly that got him back into the team..

I am extremely lucky to have some of his “Offside” shots.. As Rahul Dravid says, on the off-side, first there is God, then there is Saurav Ganguly..

Hail Ganguly!

Vintage Jayasuriya

Sundar Rajan G S — Thu, 15 May 2008 06:24:33 +0000

A must watch.. The slaughter from Sanath Jayasuriya: 114 of just 48 balls..

I am happy that Mumbai Indians are back in reckoning

Poem on Sachin Tendulkar

Sundar Rajan G S — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:53:05 +0000

Here is an attempt to appreciate Sachin Tendulkar… I really admire this great man!

Sachin Tendulkar
- By Sundar Rajan G S

Oh Sachin Tendulkar has come out on a quest!
Of all the cricketers, he is one of the best!

Sachin hits a six, sachin hits a four..
We wont be satisfied, we ask for more…

They call him the master, they call him the blaster..
Sachin is THE man, when we have a disaster..

In such tense moments, come graceful drives..
The crowd jumps and roars, giving high fives..

Sachin scored the winning run, without losing concentration..
The nation celebrated the moment, giving him a standing ovation..

He deserved the man of the match.. for atrocity with his bat..
But you see a different person outside, his humility deserves a pat..

Oh Mr.Sachin, I am your great fan!
6 + 4 = 10dulkar, I respect you gentle man!!

Wah! Sehwag!

Sundar Rajan G S — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:21:01 +0000

I really enjoyed the knock played by Virendar Sehwag!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGlrODbZnUI

Originally found at: http://coffeewithsundar.com

Technorati Tags: cricket

Howzatt!

Sundar Rajan G S — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:10:00 +0000

Ronald and his dad drove to the cricket ground in a Tata Safari. He carried his heavy cricket kit bag. His dad carried six stumps. Ronald was cribing all along from the gate to the middle of the ground, where his father was fixing the stumps. His friend rohit, hadnt come for practise. That was the issue. Rohit was supposed to bowl and his father was supposed to keep.

After wearing gloves, pads, helmets and all the protective gears, He was all set to bat.

Ronald’s dad was bowling offspin. His action looked like Arjun Ranatunga bowling.. Or probably he looked like Arjuna Ranatunga Ronald plays a brilliant forward defence. It looked like Rahul Dravid was batting. “Great Defence, Ronny” – cheered his dad.

Dad carries the ball and more importantly he carries himself to the start of the run up.
He bowls a ball directed towards the leg stump, which Ronny paddle sweeps.
The ball goes past the wicket keeper gloves which was lying there as there was no one to keep. It was running fast towards the shops near the edge of the ground.

“Ball Up!! Ball Up!!” shouts Ronny to the boy standing there…

The boy standing there was Shivu.. He picked up the ball.. This was the first time he held a leather ball in his hand.. He wiped the ball on his dirty pant… He had seen Brett Lee doing it on TV.. And finally he threw the ball to them..
He came running towards the middle..
“Can I also join Uncle?”
Ronny’s father.. already panting for breath heavily.. told ok..
Shivu picked up the wicket keeper gloves.. and tried wearing it..
“Go and bowl” said ronnys father, who snatched the gloves from him..

Shivu took a long run up like how Shoaib Akthar does.. He runs hard and bowls the ball..
The ball slips from his hand.. it was a wide ball… Ronny started laughing..
“It not enough to run like Shoaib Akthar, you should bowl like him..”

Shivu runs hard again.. This time he bowls much better..
Ronny plays a square drive.. Didnt connect it too well..
Shivu runs barefoot and dives to field the ball..
“Nice Job Mate!” shouts Ronny’s dad..

Shivu was extremely happy on hearing such motivational words..
He had extra energy to bowl all though he hurt himself diving for the ball..
He runs faster.. He can feel the breeze “hitting” his face as he runs to bowl..
The ball was bang on target, with a hint of swing.. It beats ronny who was trying for a square drive again..

He runs fast to the start of his run up.. He runs even faster to bowl..
He hits the deck hard.. Ronny was struck on his pads..
“How is thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!”
Shivu appeals to the umpire.. who wasnt present.. He jumps for 10 secs..
Ronny and his dad were surprised..
There was nobody there.. What the hell was he doing..
In the mean time.. Ronny’s dad gives ronny some tips to play straight..

Shivu was in his own world..
He felt his shabby coffee stained t shirt and an equally shabby, torn pants was his Indian Blue Uniform”
He felt he was wearing an addidas shoes..
“Shivvu..” “Shivvu” “Shivvvu..” he can hear the whole world chanting his name on the morning when there was pin drop silence in the ground..

“Shivendra is walking back to his run up..”
“He has been the best Indian bowler on this tour down under..”
“He has already beaten ricky ponting twice in this over..”
These commentaries of “Ravi Shaastri” were echoing in his head

He is running hard..
He is bending his back..
He wants to extract the last juice on the wicket..

He bowls a blinder of a delivery..

Ronny, who won the man of the series fox maximum number of runs in under 19 tournament, was completely beaten.. Clean Bowled!!
Can you imagine this!! Middle stump on the floor.. It was the sight of the day.. A sight which every fast bowler would like to see..
Ronny was dumb struck.. He couldnt believe his eyes.. He had never faced such a deadly bowler

“My chance to bat” “Please, Please, my chance to bat!” pleads shivu to ronny..

Ronny was removing his gloves in wonder.. Shivu was extremely happy..
He is going to wear the gloves and pads… which only “Big Players” wear..
He was already in a dream world as he was holding a bat with a leather grip..
This bat was so different from his bat, which is carved from a wodden plank..

“Hey Shivu, what are you doing there? #@@@*^^#@?” shouts a man..
He gives back the bat to ronny and runs towards the shop..

“Sorry Master! Sorry!” he replies to the man who was not willing to listen to shivu..
He beats him with a stick and pushes him down.. He also throws 20 tumblers on him and asks him wash it..
“What are you doing there you idiot, who will wash the coffee cups? Your father will come or what?” He shouts..

Shivu starts scrubbing the tumbler..
But his mind was only thinking about the deadly ball which got ronny out..
His mind was only thinking about the pads and gloves which he will never get to wear again.
His mind was only thinking about the way he shouted “Howzzaaaaaatt!!!”, “How is that…. ?”

Whenever India loses badly, we always tell..
“In a country of 1 billion population, we cant even find 11 players who can play well… Where have our talented cricketers gone?”
Next time you think like that, Think again!! Your answer is here.

If you are stumped, give your comment!

Nonsense!

Sundar Rajan G S — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:51:00 +0000

I just saw the squad announced for the ODIs at crickinfo. I am really really surprised by the fact that Ganguly is dropped! I think this is utter non sense.

Infact, I am not a big fan of dada. Infact, I dont like dada at all. But think, this is gross injustice. He is fine form and he shouldnt be dropped now!

Some of the reasons given by dropping dada is as follows,

1. Ganguly’s fielding is poor.
I fully agree with this. I hate to see dada run behind the ball. But I dont think matches just be won by fielders alone. Some one who replaces dada should score good runs also.

2. Give more chances for youngsters.
Australia is not a place to try youngsters. Give chances for them in 20 20 matches. You just cant throw these guys into a ODI series. If you see the test series, juniors like dhoni, yuvraj, wasim jaffer (in terms of number of matches) have not contributed with the bat significantly. It is only sachin, saurav, dravid and laxman who have scored here. Infact, I would have retained atleast laxman for this series. He plays brilliantly against the aussies.

3. Dhoni wanted youngsters!
This is the most annoying reason given. I only hope that this is a rumour. I dont think he has the clout to throw away someone like ganguly for “fielding”. Utter nonsense. Dhoni is not scoring runs himself. Now he is dropping dada who is in great nick.

Anyways, the idiosyncrasies of indian selection continues,
These are certainly a bunch of fools headed by a joker,

I only hope dada comes back again. I really like his pride in everything he does.

You will find these in my blog: Coffee, Fun, Carnatic Music, Mridangam, Google, Random thoughts, Business ideas, Start ups, Videos, Blogposts, Cricket, India, Philosophy, Real life Experience.. The list goes on…..

Check you score on Google

Sundar Rajan G S — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 06:58:00 +0000

Some time back, I posted about how you can check time on Google. Now you can also check the score on google’s news cricket onebox.

===============================

{Via Google Official Blog}

With the start of the Twenty20 world championship, cricket fever is upon legions of enthusiasts. To make it easier for you to indulge your interest in a game John Fowles characterized as “chess made flesh,” we’ve simplified your search for cricket scores. Just type [cricket] in a Google search box and you’ll see a brief score of all the current cricket matches. A single click will also give you access to a detailed cricket score card.

If you’re a diehard India fan, then type [cricket india] or [cricket score India England] to get results for Indian matches. Of course, feel free to replace India with the country of your choice for country-specific results.

He is here to stay :-)

Sundar Rajan G S — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:14:00 +0000

I am very very relieved. I really want to see sachin play for a while.

Found this article on crininfo.com
=======================================

Batsman seeks to end media speculation

I haven’t thought of retirement – Tendulkar

Cricinfo staff

September 6, 2007

Sachin Tendulkar says he isn’t even thinking about retiring � Getty Images

Sachin Tendulkar has dismissed speculation about his retirement from one-day cricket, saying he was “batting brilliantly” at the moment and the thought of quitting had not even crossed his mind.

“The thought of retirement has not crossed my mind,” Tendulkar told PTI. “I am still enjoying the game very much and want to play for as long as I can. Cricket means a lot to me.”

Tendulkar’s clarification sought to end speculation over his retiring from one-day cricket after India’s home engagements against Pakistan and Australia later this season. Cricinfo had reported, quoting sources close to Tendulkar, that he was inclined to announce his retirement on this tour of England but had been persuaded by friends to do so at home.

Tendulkar, along with Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, had opted out of the ICC World Twenty20 and he had told The Times of the toll one-day cricket was taking on his body. “I enjoy every moment I have on a cricket field, but the recovery times between games these days are difficult, especially for one-day internationals, and that’s my major obstacle,” he said. “It does take its toll on the body. When you are 22 or 23, you recover a lot more quickly. But at 34, it’s not so easy.”

Tendulkar has been in excellent one-day form on the tour of the United Kingdom so far. In ten innings, he has plundered 548 runs, with four 90s, at a strike rate of 84.3. The tour also reunited him with his opening partner Sourav Ganguly, and the pair, the most prolific in the history of one-day cricket, added four more century partnerships to take their tally to 25, 16 of them for the first wicket.

� Cricinfo

Sachin to Quit?

Sundar Rajan G S — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 08:00:00 +0000

Found the article in Hindustan Times

I only hope that it is not true.

====================================

Will he, won’t he? After Loksatta, a Marathi daily, reported on Wednesday that Sachin Tendulkar was “set to retire from one-day cricket at Lord’s� on Saturday, media circles here were abuzz. The report stated: �He (Tendulkar) had discussed his desire to retire from ODIs with his best friend around a month ago� But he felt that he should retire honourably, according to his status.”

The paper expected Tendulkar to bid adieu to ODIs either after Lord’s or after the home series against Pakistan later this year. Loksatta quoted an unnamed friend as saying that �even if his mind doesn’t want to accept it, physically he is finding it harder to cope with ODIs”.

What made the grapevine go slightly haywire was the fact that Tendulkar, in an interview to The Times, London, earlier this week, had talked in a similar vein � about how it was getting harder for his body to cope with the rigours of one-day cricket.

However, Rahul Dravid, asked this in the post-match press conference, said these reports were �completely false� and sources close to Tendulkar dismissed them too. Tendulkar himself said what he meant by those remarks was that it would be better if there were more than two days between one-dayers. Logically too, it makes no sense for Tendulkar to contemplate retirement at the moment, given that he is playing beautifully. Yet, star cricketers before him have retired at the top of their prowess.

Sources close to his sponsors say that they are extremely worried, given the money riding on the Tendulkar brand. Like everyone else though, they aren�t quite sure what�s happening.