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Sunday, October 31, 2004

Yahoo and Google Search

Category: Professional.

On Google and Yahoo Search:

Yahoo is catching up with Google in search. They have partnered with Adobe to integrate Yahoo search in Acrobat Reader. The search engine industry is coming to the desktop. It already has. Have you tried Google's Desktop search? It is cool. The race is between Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft to take search to the desktop.

How do you guys feel the difference between Yahoo and Google?
Yahoo's search results are getting better by the day. Google is still ahead and will be, but now it has the expectation of delivering quarter on quarter. Yahoo has always done that. What's GOOG trading at on Nasdaq? It is at $190. It opened at $85 in the third week of Aug.

The other search engines to watch out for are Amazon's A9, Exalead, Vivisimo, and Kozoru.

Amazon's A9 has a neat user interface. They've a nice display page. It is cool, soothing, and looks good.

Classic Movie Dialogues

Category: Personal.

Received this as a forwarded mail. It is lovely.

Classic movie dialogues.

Jerry Maguire
Jerry (Tom Cruise): I love you. You...complete me.
Dorothy (Renee Zellweger): Shut up. Just shut up. You had me at 'Hello'

When Harry Met Sally
It's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize that you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

Notting Hill
William (Hugh Grant): I live in Notting Hill. You live in Beverly Hills. Everyone in the world knows who you are.
Anna (Julia Roberts): I'm also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.

Phenomenon
George (John Travolta): Hey, would you, uh, love me for the rest of my life?
Lace (Kyra Sedgwick): No. I'm gonna love you for the rest of mine. Lovely, isn't it!

My Best Friend's Wedding
If you love someone you say it, you say it right then, out loud, or the moment just...passes you by.

Indecent Proposal
If you ever want something badly, let go. If it comes back to you, then it's yours forever. If it doesn't, then it was never yours to begin with.

Heart Quotes

Category: Personal

Heart Quotes

Oh the heart is a free and fetterless thing
A wave of the ocean
A bird on a wing
~ Julia Pardoe

I crossed my heart, locked it's gates, and wrote 'No Thoroughfare'
Love came passing by and said, "I enter everywhere."

I've written this before. Posting this once again.

My heart the bird of wilderness
Has found it's sky in the beauty of your eyes
Give me your love for a day, a night, an hour
If the wages of sin are death, I'm willing to pay.
(Lovely!)

Saturday, October 30, 2004

Link: Cricket Blog - 23 Yards on Cricinfo

Category: Misc. Cricket.

Link: Amit Varma's Cricket Blog on Cricinfo.
It makes for very good reading.

I like to read and visualize about cricket.
You have to visualize the play in your mind when you're reading about cricket, and good writing brings that out.

I haven't seen the highlights of the 4th day's play. We lost badly. It is a game afterall and we were outplayed. However, that doesn't mean our team is bad. We will perform in the final test, atleast a good batting performance will give a fighting finish to the series.

The trend in the last three test matches has been that our tail performs and the top-order to fails. Now, it's time for our top-order to play, come on, atleast once, to show the Aussies the might of our batting.

Friday, October 29, 2004

On Yahoo Messenger after a long time.

Category: Personal

It was nice chatting with Pratima after a long time. We are allowed access to Yahoo Messenger after 7 pm. Met Pratima online. Thanks for being online Pratima. I chatted on Yahoo messenger after such a long time.

A nice song is playing in the adjacent cubicle.

Tere dar par sanam chale aaye
Tu na aaya to ham chale aaye


Dheemi si zindagi hai... raftaar chahiye

PS: You can catch me on YIM after 8 pm on weekdays, that is if I'm in office until that time.

I used to use till, but, I suppose, that is not the right usage, that's what I came to know today, so I'm using until :-)

What else, 9 pm on a Friday evening. Few guys in office. Music playing in the next cubicle.

Another nice song playing in the adjacent cubicle.

Chain ek pal nahin
Aur koi hal nahin
Sayyooneee...


Another one...

Badi naazuk hai yeh manzil
Mohabbat ka safar hai


I am going to read a good book over the weekend.

Bye for now.

Take care and have a nice weekend.

Cheers
Chirayu

PS: Yahoo Messenger and lyrical songs - a cool combination. Can't seem to stop. I gtg now.

Cricket: 3rd Test - The Final Frontier is Conquered!

Category: Misc. Cricket

3rd Test. 4th Day's play.
Australia defeat India by 342 runs.

The Final Frontier is conquered.

The Australians would have thought of Steve Waugh after taking the last wicket in India's second innings. Steve Waugh's dream of defeating India in India has been realised. Adam Gilchrist has done that. The Australians have conquered the Final Frontier. They defeated India by 342 runs to comprehensively win the 3rd test match, and take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the 4 test match series.

India's batting flopped miserably in both the innings, not able to put up even a score of 200 plus in both the innings, and that too on home pitches.

Sachin, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Akash Chopra - all went cheaply. Virender Sehwag played an uncharacteristically slow innings of 58, that being the highest contribution. Parthiv Patel contributed a bit with the bat and Ajit Agarkar remained unbeaten on 40 odd runs.

Our batting didn't click, with Jason Gillespie taking four wickets, and for a change Michael Kasprowicz taking the wicket of VVS Laxman.

The Australians deserve their win. India was outplayed in batting.
This test series was going to be a test between India's batting and Australia's bowling and the Aussies have come out on top.

Now, it is time for our batting to atleast fire in the last test match for a face-saving performance.

I think Sachin should not have played this text match. He should have taken rest.

Let's hope our players perform in the final test.

Scores... 3rd Test... Nagpur
Australia - 1st Innings....... 398 all out
India - 2nd Innnings.......... 185 all out
Australia - 2nd Innings...... 329 for 5 decl.
India - 2nd Innings............ 200 all out

Australia won by 342 runs on the 4th day of the test.

Thursday, October 28, 2004

Cricket: 3rd Test - End of 3rd Day's Play

Category: Misc. Cricket

Australia's tour of India.
3rd Test at Nagpur. End of the 3rd day's play.

A short post. I haven't seen the highlights.

Victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan.
That is the state of Indian cricket. Everyone is blaming the team for a poor performance, but the test match is not yet over. There are two days to go and even though we are more than 400 runs behind and the prospect of a huge defeat is staring at us, I think we will be able to draw the test match. It is time for one good innings from VVS Laxman, yes, this is Chirayu - the eternal optimist! :-) Come on Laxman, where are those majestic shots through covers to balls pitched outside the legstump, we're waiting for your magical batting.
---------
General Cricket. Off topic from the test match.

Let me be poetic, writing about cricket is like poetry in motion, it has to have a flow to it—a feel for the game as it progresses.

I like to spend an afternoon watching Test match cricket on TV all alone. I don't want comments about which team is doing what, I prefer to enjoy watching the game and the nuances of play. Like watching the ball seam-up hitting the good-length spot, taking the outside edge, flying towards the slip cordon, a fling in the air, a stretch of the arm, the ball touching the finger-tips and passing through towards the third-man fence. Anguish on the bowler's face, relief on the batsman's and sympathy for the fielder.

Azhar's defensive shot - A defensive shot to a ball pitched outside the off-stump on good length would normally go towards the mid-off fielder. Hang on, think again, when Mohammed Azharuddin used to bat, the ball used to race, yes race to the deep mid-wicket boundary. Ball pitched outside the off-stump, the front foot goes forward, a flick of the wrist, or should I say the magic wand, the bat turns - the ball meets the full face of the bat, with a gentle flick of the wrist, the ball races past short mid-wicket, just enough to make the fielder chase the ball, and it's an easy single. The magic of Azhar's batting and so too of Laxman.
--------
India has been outplayed at home by Australia. Less than 200 on board on an Indian pitch means staring at defeat. If we are able to draw the test match, then we have a chance of winning the Bombay test to draw the series.

Scores: 3rd Test. End of 3rd Day's Play.
Australia - 1st Innings........398 all out
India - 1st Innings...............185 all out
Australia - 2nd Innings.......202 for 3

Visit Cricinfo for complete coverage.

Mohan's Birthday

Category: Personal.

28th October

Celebrated Mohan's birthday today. Suresh and I went to Copper Chocs and then Monginis, but they didn't have eggless cakes. Then Ashish and I went to East Street and bought an eggless Black Forest cake and Chocolate cookies from Baker's Basket. It was fun zooming to M.G. Road and back.

Have you seen the promos of Naach on Channel V. The song, "Dheemi si zindagi hai raftaar chahiye" is peppy, has a lot of zing, and sounds good.

Cricket updates tomorrow

Category: Personal

For all those who visit my blog for cricket updates. I will be posting online after tomorrow's play. We are not allowed access to news, media, sports, and entertainment sites from office. Plus I had a conference call and then went out for a team dinner, so reached home by 10:30. I haven't seen the highlights. I'll be posting about cricket by tomorrow evening, after the end of the third day's play.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I appreciate it.

A surprising thing is Laxman's continuing bad form. Shane Warne has taken his wicket for the 4th consecutive time. What is happening to our batting line-up? Parthiv Patel is batting well, however that won't be enough for him to keep his place in the team, after the wicket-keeping errors in the first innings.

Team Dinner: Went to Prem's at Koregaon Park for a team dinner. We are a part of the team, although we are in another project. It was Sonia and Keerat's birthday treat. Prem's is a nice place for a candle-light dinner with your gal. However, I would not suggest it for an office party. The food was alright, nothing special.

Dropped Sonia home, and she paid me a compliment, I would take it as one.
"You are a very steady driver." I answered, this is the first time I'm going at a speed of 30 :-) on an open road, at night! Otherwise, even guys tell me to drive slowly! :-)
Her baby was sleeping, and the roads are full of pot-holes, so I had to drive slowly.

Cricket updates by tomorrow evening. Bye for now.

A general thought.

I'm never at a loss of words, writing comes naturally to me, however—sometimes, at the end of the day— I feel, come on, I can't write 5 paragraphs about a kitchen appliance :-(
(Maybe this was too honest :-) I shouldn't be posting this, but, I know—I will).

Meri zindagi mai 'Raftaar' nahin hai yaar!

I don't want to get married and settle down. I need a beautiful girl to go out with. Someone who appreciates nature, poetry, music, sports, someone who is bindaas, fast, and speaks good Hindi, yes, really good Hindi!
No, this is not a matrimony advertisement. Enough for now, or I'll go on. :-)

Good night.

Monday, October 25, 2004

Thoughts - Personal and at Work

Category: Personal

Thoughts - General, Personal, and at Work.

My mind is a whirlpool of ideas.
I remember Ngn's words.
"You need to be in the IIMs. You need that kind of an intellectual massage!"
(Thinking about this always makes me smile :-))

(In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities).
A thought on that later.
Come on, I've already written about it. I haven't put it online.
Sometimes, I feel there's more 'exciting' and 'interesting' information in the drafts that I have saved than in my posts online.
:-)

I have noticed this. I am at my best when I'm explaining things to people. I can't be a brick in the wall. If I say something, I want it to be heard aloud.

I need to be serious about work. That's what gets the paycheck at the end of the month. This afternoon, I took an extended lunch break to meet Nilesh. I went out for lunch with him. Met him after a long time. He is my school-mate and college friend.

It was a one-off incident and no one noticed it, however, I need to be careful and present an obedient attitude. People like guys who obey, not those who counter-question.

The net connection in office is sometimes up, sometimes down.
That's what makes the going slow.
Although, at work, I would say, it is
Kabhi neem neem, kabhi shahed shahed.
Sometimes good, sometimes bad!

A thought about myself.

Nothing is impossible, I have to try, that's it!
That's the kind of an attitude I'll project at work.
My 70% will be enough for the project to succeed.

I've never given 100%. I never will, unless it is for myself.
When I work for myself, I work for free! :-)

My strength is my speed.
My weakness is my attention span.
Bahut jaldi koi bhi baat se man uth jaata hai.

Anand used to tell me in Bangalore.
Please don't be sad, it shows on your face, and you're the kind of a person who generates energy and makes people happy when you're happy. You don't look good when you're unhappy. Always smile and the world will smile with you.

I guess, it does. Emotions show on my face very easily.
I can't smile if I'm sad.
Maybe, apne mai duniyadaari nahin hai

I've noticed this.
I'm a good leader and I'm good when I work individually.
When people give a lot of guidelines, it somehow dulls my enthusiasm.
Not exactly in a pessimistic way. It's just that I'm the kind of a person who likes to find things on my own rather that get the information from someone.

An ideal workplace for me would be,
Give me work-set a deadline, and leave me alone.
(And that would be possible only when I'm working for myself)

My dream company is Google and one day I'm going to get there.
Not in marketing—in search.

Thoughts on a Monday evening.
Came back from work.

We have three conference calls a week, and we're having the calls from our cubicle itself. Three people adjusting to a speaker phone, plus taking notes, it is uncomfortable. They should atleast arrange for calls from the Conference room, so that we'd be more comfortable and that would help in taking notes too.

Yes, this is a personal post after a longtime, especially for those who've been following my diary for the last couple of months.

I wasn't writing a lot of personal stuff. Not much happening, that's why.

I feel like blogging tonight.

Weekend diary.
Bought a double door, 285 litres Whirlpool refrigerator. Or should I say gifted it to mom.
Also bought a Samsung DVD player. However our television set doesn't have the necessary ports, so I've to buy a converter to setup the DVD player. Decided on the wardrobe for our bedroom. The carpenter has already started work.

My salary for the month is over. It's good. I'm not a save for a rainy day kind of person.
My attitude is, the more you give the more you get.
Paisa to aaj hai, kal nai hai, parsaun vapas hai! :-)
I like it when my bank balance is almost next to nothing at the end of the month.

This post is going along. Mom's calling me for dinner. I got to go.

Before that. I'm planning to go to Bombay over the weekend.
I want to visit Haji Ali. Nothing religious. Just want to visit Haji Ali.

Let me write about my favourite place in Bombay.

I'd been to Bombay two years ago. Whenever I go to Bombay, I always take a walk along the sea-front, right from Charni road or is it Grant Road bridge, the one near Wilson college and then walk along the sea-front till the parapet of Nariman point.
On the way, start off with an 'Energee' at the stall under the bridge, then ground-nuts, then walk along the sea-front, the wind on my face, I envy the guys n'gals sitting hand-in-hand facing the sea— oblivious to the sea of cars passing by, the hawkers selling Sheng-chana, the Bhuttawalas and the kids on cycles selling tea.
Bombay is my kind of a city. Fast and straight-forward.
After one year, I'll try for Bombay (after one year).

Alright, enough for now. I gtg.

Cheers
Chirayu

PS: A quick note. The best way to put a post online is to write it and immediately post it. I have felt that if I re-read my posts, then I feel would this be right for me to post, and sometimes I don't do it. :-)

Note added: 19th December 2004, Sunday, 04:30 pm IST.
To think about it, this is the post, which cost me my job. Haha
On hindsight nothing matters.

Cricket: 3rd Test from tomorrow.

Category: Misc. Cricket.

Cricket: 3rd Test between India and Australia.
To be played in Nagpur from tomorrow onwards.
26th to 30th Oct. 2004

Thoughts on the 3rd test starting from tomorrow.

Sachin is back—and so is Ricky Ponting.

The last day's play of the second test was washed off.
Australia is leading the test series by 1-0.
As per news reports, the pitch is going to play fair. It won't be a turner. However, it is expected to be a good batting track with help for the bowlers early on during the day.

Sachin has always played well at Nagpur, scoring centuries versus the West Indies and Zimbabwe.

The Australians will test Sachin outisde the offstump. Especially, inviting him to drive on the rise, getting the tennis-elbow into play.

It is time for Laxman to play a big innings.

We should win the toss and bat first.
On current form, Sachin should be taking Yuvraj's place. With Irfan unfit, India may go in with Ajit Agarkar or Ashish Nehra in his place. If Kaif is in the team, then would he be given the responsibility of opening the innings with Sehwag? The team selection will be interesting.

Yuvraj has been given a lot of chances, even sacrificing Akash Chopra to allow him to open the innings. Now it is time for Sachin to come back to the middle order, and as Mohammed Kaif performed well in the 2nd test, he should retain his place. If Zaheer is picked and we need an opener, then Mohammed Kaif too will have to sit.

The most likely playing team:
Virender Sehwag, Akash Chopra, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Parthiv Patel, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan.
or Mohammed Kaif instead of Chopra. Then who will open?
Let's see what team is selected to play the test.

It will be an interesting test match, and a sporting wicket will go a long way in helping that.

Lunch with Nilesh

Category: Personal.

I'm planning to go out for lunch with my school-friend, Nilesh.
I'm going to stretch my lunch time by half an hour.

Life isn't about keeping score

Category: Personal.

Nike Advertisement: Life isn't about keeping score

Life isn't about keeping score. It's not about how many people call you and it's not about who you've dated, are dating, or haven't dated at all. It isn't about who you've kissed, what sport you play, or which girl or guy likes you. It's not about your shoes or your hair or the color of your skin or where you live or go to school. In fact, it's not about grades, money, clothes, or colleges that accept you. Life isn't about if you have lots of friends, or if you are alone, and it's not about how accepted or unaccepted you are. Life just isn't about that.

But life is about who you love and who you hurt. It's about how you feel about yourself. It's about trust, happiness, and compassion. It's about sticking up for your friends and replacing inner hate with love. Life is about avoiding jealousy, overcoming ignorance, and building confidence. It's about what you say and what you mean. It's about seeing people for who they are and not what they have.

Most of all, it's about choosing to use your life to touch someone else's in a way that could never have been achieved otherwise. These choices are what life's about.

Link: Nike Advertisements.

Friday, October 22, 2004

Yahoo! Image Search

Category: Professional.

Yahoo's Image search has crossed the 1 billion (100 crore) images mark.
Source: Yahoo! Search Blog.
Compare with Google's Image search.

A Thought for Today

Category: Personal

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
~ Walt Disney

Thursday, October 21, 2004

Humour: Shayari

Category: Misc. Humour.

I prefer the English spelling of Humour. :-)

Maine poocha Google se
Maine poocha Google se
Mere Khayalon ki Malika kaun hai?
Mere sapno ki raani kab aayegi
Google bolaa..179 entries found!

Aaj didar, Kal yaar, Parso pyar
Phir ikraar, Aur phir intezaar
Phir-takrar, phir-daraar, saari mehnat-bekar
Aur aakhir mein
Ek aur Devdas at the Beer bar! :-)

On a serious note, I'm not the kind of a person to ever become a Devdas. Devdas was a Loser, in my books, and I'm not one! :-)

Related Link: I've uploaded a collection of shayaris page.

Cheers!
Chirayu

Enjoy the day and look forward to the end of the day for a long week-end ahead.

Want to do a lot of things.

Meet Ajay
Meet Nilesh
Watch Dhoom
Shop at Crossword

Tuesday, October 19, 2004

Google's Desktop Search

Category: Professional.

I've downloaded and installed Google's Desktop Search.
Search your Own Computer with Google's Desktop Search.

Search for files, mails, AIM chat conversations, word documents, and images through Google's Desktop Search. So the next time you want to find something on your computer, don't hit Ctrl + F, check Google Desktop (compatible with Windows 2000 and XP).

This is cool. Check it out.

Related Link: Reaction to Google's Desktop Search.

I'm happy with the browser interface, I like it that way.
The filetype: advanced search operator should be allowed with Google's Desktop Search. The desktop search doesn't show .pdf files on the computer.

Monday, October 18, 2004

Office: Change of cubicle

Category: Personal.

After almost five weeks, I've moved to another cubicle, which is less crowded, and I have space to stretch my legs.

Cricket: Rain plays spoilsport. 2nd Test. 5th Day.

Category: Misc. Cricket

2nd Test. 5th Day.

Rain plays spoilsport. It's raining in Chennai. An interesting day's play has been washed out. The most likely result of this test match is a draw.

Weekend Diary

Category: Personal

Weekend Diary.

Chatted with Jim on Friday evening. Helped Vishal with his presentation on Saturday morning.

Masi, Apurva, and Swati had come to Pune for the weekend.

We went to Main Street in the evening, and then for a late-night show of King Arthur at Inox.

Sunday, October 17, 2004

Cricket: 2nd Test. End of 4th Day's Play.

Category: Misc. Cricket

Australia's Cricket tour of India 2004
2nd Test. Chennai. End of 4th Day's Play. Sunday. 17th October 2004.

India are 19 for no loss chasing 229 to win in their 2nd innings. The test match is interestingly poised, with India having a great chance to level the series 1-1.

Australia started at 150 for 4 and Jason Gillespie provided solid support to Damien Martyn. They went to lunch without any the loss of a wicket. Damien Martyn played solidly and Jason Gillespie defended stodgily. Australia lost their first wicket of the day after lunch, when Gillespie was caught at slip of the bowling of Harbhajan. Damien Martyn scored his first century versus India, coming at a time, when Australia needed it the most. Martyn was out after scoring 106 runs. Anil Kumble took the wicket of Darren Lehmann, after he had added 50 odd runs with Michael Clarke for the 7th wicket. Shane Warne went early, caught at silly-point off the bowling of Anil Kumble. Kasprowicz was out LBW and Glenn McGrath was bowled by Harbhajan. Australia were all out for 369 setting India a target of 229 runs to win with three overs and a day's play remaining.

Virender Sehwag smashed Glenn McGrath for three fours and Yuvraj has a streaky boundary and India had raced to 19 for no loss of only three overs, setting the pace to win the match.

Tomorrow's first session will be very interesting. If Virender Sehwag lasts till lunch, the match will be in India's favour. The way Sehwag plays, if he is at the crease for 30 odd overs, the score would be 120 plus. Yuvraj may or may not last, however, if he plays like Jason Gillespie did this morning, and provides support to Sehwag there are chances we may go to lunch at 120 for no loss and then go on to win the match from there.

It will be an interesting day's cricket tomorrow and I'm sure of an Indian victory with Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and /or VVS Laxman making major contributions. If Sehwag lasts for the first session and sets the pace, the match is ours. Come on India, fight!

It has been an engrossing test match.
Scores: At the close of play
1st Day: 14th Oct: Australia: 235 all out. India: 28 for 1
2nd Day: 15th Oct: India: 291 for 6
3rd Day: 16th Oct: India: 376 all out. Australia 150 for 4
4th Day: 17th Oct: Australia: 369 all out. India: 19 for no loss
5th Day: Tomorrow: 18th Oct: India needs 210 more runs to win of 90 overs with ten wickets in hand.



Friday, October 15, 2004

Chatting with Jim

Category: Personal

Hi Jim,

It was nice chatting with you this evening. Brought back memories of Hyderabad. Thanks for spending some time online.
You had an inquisitive attitude during your India visit and I remember the 'Jaadu ki Jhappi' (Magical Hug) you gave to all of us when leaving for Madison.

I learnt a lot from you. Thanks.

Take Care and May God be with you.

Regards,
Chirayu

Cricket: 2nd Test: End of 1st Day's Play

Category: Misc Cricket

Australia's Cricket Tour of India 2004
2nd Test at Chennai

First Day's Play:
Australia won the toss and Hayden and Langer gave a perfect start to the test with a century opening stand.
Harbhajan took their wickets after lunch. Hayden holing out to long-off—Laxman taking the catch, and then Langer was caught at slip by Rahul Dravid. Australia were comfortably placed at 140 odd for 2.

Anil Kumble changed the complexion of the game by snapping quick wickets, and in a sudden turnaround Australia from 140 for two were all out for 235 runs.

Kumble took 7 wickets, with Australia's middle order collapsing to the sharp, rising deliveries of Anil Kumble.
Darren Lehmann was bowled for a duck, trying to cut a low delivery outside the off-stump and dragging it onto his stumps.
Adam Gilchrist was out caught at forward short-leg. Damien Martyn was also caught in front of the wicket. Michael Clarke, who scored a century on debut in the Bangalore test, was out LBW to a fastish delivery from Anil Kumble, which he tried to play on the back-foot, missed the line and was trapped in front. Jason Gillespie tried to play the ball off the front-foot and managed to spoon a catch, and Kasprowics too was caught off the bowling of Kumble, and Glenn McGrath was run-out to leave one-down batsman Simon Katich unbeaten on 36, and the Australian innings wrapped up with only 235 on board. From 130 for no loss to 235 all-out, Anil Kumble had bundled the Aussies.

Must talk about the Sportsmanship shown by the Aussie Batsmen.
Adam Gilchrist has always been a walker, that is, he walks when he has nicked or edged the ball, without waiting for the umpires signal to declare him out. Jason Gillespie too walked without waiting for the umpire's signal, and Micheal Kasprowicz walked even when David Shepherd had negated Anil Kumble's appeal and declared him not-out, still he walked. A remarkable gesture to raise the Sportsmanship spirit of the game. Well done Australia!

Indian Batting:
Virender Sehwag opened with Yuvraj Singh. With Akash Chopra out of the team, Yuvraj was opening for the first time.
Yuvraj had a lucky reprieve in the first over itself, edging a Glenn McGrath delivery to second slip, and Micheal Clarke dropped an easy catch. He jumped towards his right, cupped the ball in his hands, however, he couldn't hold on to it, and the ball seam-up, slipped out of hhis hands. That was lucky for Yuvraj. However, he didn't last long and nicked one from Warne to Gilchrist, with this wicket Shane Warne equalled the World Record of 532 Test match wickets. Yuvraj continued from where the Aussies had left off, and walked without waiting for the umpire's decision. A good gesture Yuvraj, keep it up. Hope you play well in the 2nd innings. It's tough to expect Yuvraj Singh to shine immediately in the opener's position. The question, "Why was Yuvraj made to open in the first place?" Akash Chopra should have been given the chance.

Irfan came in as the night-watchman and safely negotiated Warne's over.
So at the end of the first day's play of the 2nd test at Chennai, India were 28 for 1 in reply to Australia's first innings score of 235 runs.

I'll post about the second day's play after watching the highlights.

Cheers
Chirayu

At the end of the 2nd Day's play India are 291 for 6 in reply to Australia's first innings score of 235.

Blogstreet India

Category: Misc.

I've added my blog to BlogStreet India.

Cricket: Note

Category: Misc Cricket

A quick note: For all those who check my blog for cricket news, I will be posting by tonight. Thanks for visiting my blog. I appreciate it.

Cheers
Chirayu

A lovely quote

Category: Personal.

All my life I knew that there was all the money you could want out there. All you have to do is go after it.
~ Carlson Curtis

That's an inspiring quote.

Whatever we want is out there, we only have to find it.
Money, fame, and a hazel-eyed gal :-)

Thursday, October 14, 2004

An Irish Blessing

Category: Personal

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind always be at your back
May the sun shine upon your face
May the rains fall softly upon your fields
May the road downhill lead to your house
May your purse always have a penny or two
May God hold you in the palm of His hand
May the sun shine all day long
May everything go right and nothing go wrong.
May those you love bring love back to you
And may all the wishes you wish come true.

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

Assembly Elections: I gave my vote

Category: Personal.

I gave my vote this morning. This is the first time I have voted for the Congress.
There are indications that the Congress has a good chance of winning atleast four of the six assembly seats in Pune, and also of retaining power at Mantralaya.

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Mail from Mohsin

Category: Personal.

I received a mail from Mohsin. He was my colleague in Bangalore.

He sent this sher.

Lakh nagma bemisaal hai mera
Asl ki naql kamal hai mera
Duniya samaj thi hai uruj lekin
Mohsin yeh hai zawaal tera

That's a nice Sher, Mohsin.

Let me translate this.

A lakh extraordinary songs are mine
To duplicate the truth is my art
The world thinks of this as progress
Oh Mohsin this is your downfall

Mohsin, I remember the songs we used to sing in the cab on our way back home from the night-shift, and the Shayaris we used to recite on the terrace, and during the training sessions. :-)

Links: List of Shopping Search Engines

Category: Professional.

For my ready reference.


Links to Shopping Search Engines.



Links to various retailers.

related:www.sears.com, related:www.walmart.com.

Sunday, October 10, 2004

Assembly Elections. Whom to vote for?

Category: Misc. Politics.

Maharashtra Assembly Elections.

I have been a BJP supporter, however I don't want to vote for the BJP this time around in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, as I don't like the dictatorship of the Shiv Sena, and I have never ever voted for the Congress and I don't want to vote for them too. So I'm thinking about whom to vote for in next week's assembly election.

I'll call Girish tomorrow evening and discuss politics with him for an hour to get an idea of what the grass-root level feeling is and which party has better chances of forming a government in Maharashtra, and based on that I will vote.

As per the trends in the newspapers, the INC-NCP alliance has a good chance of retaining power. However, we've seen an anti-incumbency factor at work during the Lok Sabha elections and the assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, in May this year. So the BJP-Shiv Sena combine too has a chance, however, I personally wouldn't want them in power and nor would I like the Congress to be in power. The prospects of the Congress-NCP combine look bright and I've never been a Congress supporter, so I'm thinking about whom to vote for.

A thought on voting:
If you don't vote then you don't have right to criticize the government. All are bad, however, we've got to choose the best out of what we have, so vote we must and I'll make it a point to vote and I encourage others from Pune to vote too. It is on Wednesday, the 13th of October from 07:30 am to 05:00 pm.

Cricket: 1st Test. End of 5th Day's Play.

Category: Misc. Cricket.

Australia's Tour of India. 2004-05.
1st Test. 5th and Final Day's Play. Sunday, the 10th of October 2004. Bangalore.

Australia defeated India by 217 runs in the first test. India were all out for 239 an hour after lunch on the fifth and final day, to give Australia a comprehensive win.

Rahul Dravid and Irfan started the day's play with the score on 105 for 6. Rahul Dravid was out leg before to Kasprowicz after scoring 60. He was back in the pavilion after about half an hour of play on the final day, and there went India's hopes or wahtever little they had of saving the test.

Anil Kumble didn't last long, playing on and chopping a Kasprowicz delivery onto his off and middle stumps. Irfan at the other end was going strong, defending well, playing the ball on merit. Harbhajan gave good support to Irfan.

Well-played Irfan.
Irfan batted solidly, playing Warne confidently and defending with ease and even stepping out to hit Warne for a couple of fours and one huge six over deep mid-wicket. Irfan is a gutsy cricket. A fighter, doesn't give up. He didn't throw away his wicket. Irfan played the fast bowlers and Warne with ease and looked comfortable against both attacks. Harbhajan and Irfan took the score past 175. Irfan hit Warne for three fours in one over and then followed it up with a smashing hit for six over deep mid-wicket of the bowling of Lehmann. Irfan completed a well-deserved 50 with 7 fours and two sixes. Well-played Irfan. India are 197-8 at lunch on the final day of the 1st test. Irfan and Harbhajan have played entertaining and fighting cricket.

Our top order should adopt an attacking approach versus Warne. What is there to fear him for? Go ahead and smash him to all corners of the ground like we've done in the earlier tours of 1998 and 2001. Come on India, fight!

Laxman should play his natural game that is not to play too defensively. Laxman's defensive stroke itself goes to the boundary. He is that kind of a graceful player. Go ahead and show your class Laxman. Sehwag play your natural game.

Irfan was out early after lunch, edging a Gillespie delivery to Gilchrist, after he had taken the second new ball.
Irfan scored a well-made 55 and shared a big partnership for the 9th wicket with Harbhajan.

Harbhajan carried on batting in an attacking way and hit Glenn McGrath straight down the ground over long-off for a boundary and follwed that up with a four to third-man. Zaheer also scored a couple of boundaries off the new ball and India crossed 225. Harbhajan's attemped pull was picked up by Glenn McGrath at deep fine-leg off the bowling of Gillespie and India were all-out for 239 in their 2nd innings.

Australia had convincingly won the first test match by 217 runs.

Michael Clarke was declared the man-of-the-match for his century on debut knock of 151 runs in the first innings. That knock alongwith Gilchrist's 104 and Katich's 81 helped Australia to score 474 runs in the first innings and take the upper hand.

The 2nd test is going to be played in Chennai (Madras) from the 14th to the 18th of this month.
The team winning the toss will bat first. India needs to put up good totals on board. It's time for Sehwag and Laxman to fire. Kaif should be given a chance insted of Yuvraj and Agarkar should be brought in for Zaheer.

Scores:
1st Test. 6-10 October 2004. Bangalore.
Toss: Australia
Captains: Australia: Adam Gilchrist. India: Saurav Ganguly.

Australia 1st innings.........474 all out
India 1st innings..............246 all out
Australia 2nd innings.......228 all out
India 2nd innings............239 all out

Result: Australia win by 217 runs.

Link:
Complete Scorecard

Saturday, October 09, 2004

Cricket: 1st Test. End of 4th Day's Play.

Category: Misc. Cricket.

Australia's Tour of India 2004-05.
India v. Australia 1st Test. End of 4th Day's play. Bangalore.

Set a target of 455 to win, India are struggling at a 105 for 6 in their 2nd innings of the first test versus Australia at Bangalore.

Australia resumed their innings from their overnight score of 127 for 4 and were allout for 228 half an hour after lunch. Harbhajan picked six wickets and Kumble took two wickets.

Last innings centurion, Michael Clarke was caught at forward short-leg by Akash Chopra, who showed good anticipation to take the catch well above his head. Martyn was caught at short cover by Kaif of the bowling of Harbhajan. Gilly was caught at forward short-leg by Akash Chopra of the bowling of Kumble.

Warne played well for his 30 odd runs hitting Kumble for more than a couple of fours and negotiating Harbhajan's turn. Gillespie and Kasprowicz hung around for some time before being taken by Harbhajan and Australia were all out for 228 runs in their second innings with Harbhajan picking up six wickets.

India started their 2nd innings on a disastrous note, Virender Sehwag was adjudged leg before wicket to a Glenn McGrath delivery that stayed low and hit him on the pads. Television replays clearly showed that the ball had it the bat and then went on to hit the pads. Sehwag wasn't happy with the decision and spoke a few words with the umpire, Billy Bowden of New Zealand, on his way back to the pavilion.

Akash Chopra who had survived a sharp chance at first slip, Mathew Hayden diving full stretch to his right towards second slip couldn't hold on to the catch of a Jason Gillespie delivery, was trapped in front of the wicket by Gillespie after a very powerful appeal which was seconded by umpire Steve Bucknor who, as is his inimitable style, took a long time to arrive at the decision to declare Chopra out LBW.

In walked Saurav Ganguly with the score at 7 for 2 with Rahul Dravid for company.
Saurav Ganguly pushed a ball towards mid-wicket, the ball went to the left of Kasprowicz, who quickly made ground and fielded the ball, Rahul Dravid at the other end was watching the ball and the fielder , and by that time Saurav Ganguly was half-way down the pitch, running towards Dravid's end. Dravid gave a call to stop, but Ganguly was too far off and Kasprowicz only had to throw the ball back to Gilly to knock the stumps over to run-out Ganguly.

Ganguly left shaking his head over the mix-up and his runout. I'd say the fault rests with Saurav Ganguly. What was the need to go for a run when we were already two down, and he was settling down, having faced just a couple of balls, why the hurry to go for a run. India were three down for 13 and staring at a big defeat.

Laxman was the next man in. I had so many hopes on Laxman. Laxman started cautiously scoring only a couple of runs in the 10 balls he faced from the fast bowlers, Gillespie and McGrath. There was a bowling change and Shane Warne was brought into the attack by the Australian captain, Adam Gilchrist.

Hero departs. Warne takes the wicket of VVS Laxman for the second time in this test.
Warne's first ball from right arm over the wicket to VVS Laxman.
Warne adjusts the field, walks to his bowling mark, a flip of the fingers to spin the ball, ambles towards the crease, with a whirl sends the ball, it lands on the middle stump, Laxman steps forward for a forward-defensive shot, the ball lands and goes straight on and hits the pad bang in front of the wicket, a vociferous shout for leg-before wicket and Laxman is gone, out leg-before to Shane Warne's flipper. His first ball of the 2nd innings and his first ball to VVS Laxman gets him a wicket. Now it is 2 on 2 for Warne versus VVS.
Come on VVS what's the matter. Show your class. We're waiting for those silken strokes from your magic-wand. I look forward to your batting in the 2nd test match. Please don't disappoint.
A note for the selectors. Please don't drop Laxman. He is too good a player to be on trial.

Laxman was out LBW to Warne for 3 and India were 4 down for 19 with a humiliating defeat in sight.
Yuvraj joined Dravid and the two steadied the innings and took the score past 50 with Yuvraj playing some bold strokes of the bowling of Warne, however, Yuvraj was once again caught behind by Adam Gilchrist of the bowling of Glenn McGrath. Parthiv Patel was out LBW to Warne and India were 6 down for 100 odd runs.

Irfan Pathan gave Rahul Dravid good company and the two lasted till the end of the day's play. At the end of the 4th day's play India were a 110 odd runs with 6 wickets down.

It will be a miracle if Irfan gives Rahul Dravid company till the end of the day's play tomorrow to save the test. We've seen miracles happen and who know tomorrow there might be one.

Something about the Wall—Rahul Dravid.
At the end of the day's play he was unbeaten on 47 runs. Playing rock-solid. He was lucky to get a chance when on 16, dropped by Adam Gilchirst behind the stumps off the bowling of Warne. Rahul Dravid played like his nickname—the Wall. Presenting a straight bat—perfect forward defensive strokes to good length balls pitched on the middle and off stump; flicking deliveries off the leg-stump for singles, twos and the occasional four; leaving balls outside the off-stump, ducking attemped bouncers, and padding some from Warne bowled in the rough outside the legstump; going on the backfoot and cutting through point and covers to anything short of a length, and rocking back to cut the spinning deliveries turning from leg to middle and off.

An Indian defeat is the most likely possibility of this test match, however, stranger things have happened in cricket and to borrow a term from Michael Holding's commentary, "It's not over, until it's over!" So let's wait for tomorrow's play.

Thoughts on the team selection for the 2nd test.

Akash Chopra should be persisted with. He should not be dropped.
Even if he is dropped, Yuvraj should not be made to open.
Parthiv Patel should keep wickets and not made a scapegoat to open the innings.
Yuvraj needs to play a big innings. He should be given a chance in the next test, and if he fails, then should be dropped. Laxman should be there in the next test, he always has to be in the India team, he always is, in my team!

Ganguly should drop himself below Laxman. The batting order for the next test should be Sehwag, Chopra, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Saurav Ganguly, Yuvraj, and Irfan should be promoted in the batting order. If Sachin plays, then he should take Yuvraj's place.

Zaheer has still not recovered from his injury and is a shadow of his former self.
Zaheer was a good bowler, however, he should be dropped for the 2nd test and Ajit Agarkar who performed well versus the Australians in last year's tour Down Under, should be selected in Zaheer's place.

Friday, October 08, 2004

Cricket: 1st Test. End of 3rd Day's Play.

Australia are a 127 for 4 in their 2nd innings. The Indian innings folded at 246 after a fightback by Irfan, Parthiv Patel and Anil Kumble. Australia didn't enforce the follow-on and decided to bat again. I haven't been able to follow the match online and I haven't seen it on TV. I'll watch the highlights and then post.

Laxman's dismissal by Warne on the 2nd day was fantastic. VVS Laxman and his magic-wand playing those majestic cover drives, stepping out to Warne and hitting the ball pitched on the rough, against the turn through covers—was alas, a thing of the past, as Warne turned one sharply from a good length on the leg-stump and Laxman prodded forward, missed the line, the ball turned sharply and clipped the off-stump.
Laxman bowled by Warne! Laxman, Warne's nemesis falls atlast!

The Australians are going strong at a 127 for 4 and they have a lead of 355 runs.
They would stretch the lead to past 500 or 550 and then make India bat after lunch tomorrow.

Now we need a second innings batting revival. Come on Laxman and Dravid. It's time for those magical knocks at the Eden Gardens on a hot, humid summer afternoon to be played once again.

Come on Laxman, please score a century.

I'm done for the day. Have a nice weekend.

Thursday, October 07, 2004

Cricket: 1st Test. End of 2nd day's play.

Category: Misc.

India is struggling at 150/6 in reply to Australia's first innings score of 474.

Rahul Dravid bowled by Glenn McGrath for a duck. I have got to see that dismissal.

How come our batting line up failed.

Michael Clarke scored a century on debut and Adam Gilchrist captaining the side in the absence of Ricky Ponting, lead from the front by example and played a captain's knock of a run-a-ball 104.

Laxman was out for 31, Ganguly and Sehwag both were out under 50, Akash Chopra was trapped leg before and Yuvraj was caught behind.

Now we need a repeat of the batting heroics of the Kolkata Test of 2001 to save this test.

More later. I haven't seen the highlights.

A Thought for Today.

Category: Personal.

I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it.

Poetic Lyrics

Category: Personal.

From the film, 'Phir Teri Kahaani Yaad Aayi.'

Dil main sanam ki soorat
Aankhon mai aashiqui de

Mere Khuda mujhe tu
Ek aur zindagi de

Kaise karu Mohabbat do din ki zindagi mai
Yeh din to beet jaayenge yu hi hasi hasi main

Wednesday, October 06, 2004

Link: FindForward Chat Search

Category: Professional.

Search for IRC chat conversations on FindForward.

Tuesday, October 05, 2004

My PAN number

Category: Personal.

My PAN No. is ALIPP2845D

Chirayu

Gmail: What's New.

Category: Misc.

What's new in Gmail.

A Contacts Link on the top left-hand side above Labels.
Clicking on the Contacts link displays a list of Frequently Mailed contacts with their email addresses and a link to edit.
There is a link to list All Contacts and their email addresses with a link to edit the same.
The Contacts page is search-enabled.

Paradigm Shift

Category: Misc.

A Paradigm Shift

The captain of a naval ship sees a light far away. The captain sends a signal to the unknown source to change course—there is no reply.
After a few more attempts, the captain gives them an ultimatum—change course or I will blast you off.

"I am the captain of this ship."
The reply is, "We cannot. This is the lighthouse."

The captain had to change course.

A different way of thinking. A paradigm shift.