Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year
Its 2009! (Im sorry if you knew that already) and Im as immature as ever. :D Lets hope I start writing again this year, though I need something to write on. Im bored of writing on the Indian middle class and Im not very sure that Im not a member of it myself, so I'll give it a rest. Happy New Year! Till next post...
Monday, March 3, 2008
Khali, change your name!
In a ridiculous programme, in a Hindi news channel (I forgot which but I think it was quite a reputed one), Khali is being asked to change his name. Apparently, his name is linked to his defeats. Infact, the news channel called an astrologer to explain Khali's recent loss! The astrologer also predicted when Khali was going to start winning. Such confidence, you'd almost think he was Vince Mcmahon's right hand man.
Seriously, its no big secret nowadays that wrestling is scripted, and its even less of a secret that Khali is not at all popular with the U. S. crowds or as they call it, is a heel. The fact that media is going to such ridicolous depths just to get news is saddening. In fact, the intensity with which the program was presented made me believe that these people seriously don't know that wrestling is scripted. Wrestling is more like a soap opera with its various storylines and plots, but the intensity with which they were examined was comparable to the intensity that real life happenings get. The show examined Hornswaggle (sp?) cheating on Khali with as much dedication as they examined Benazir Bhutto's assasination.
Khali is again being linked to national pride. He is potrayed as an Indian out there to destroy all Americans. To me, he is just a man making big money and not out there for national pride. He has full right to make his money but if the media brings nationalism into this... its just pathetic.
Seriously, its no big secret nowadays that wrestling is scripted, and its even less of a secret that Khali is not at all popular with the U. S. crowds or as they call it, is a heel. The fact that media is going to such ridicolous depths just to get news is saddening. In fact, the intensity with which the program was presented made me believe that these people seriously don't know that wrestling is scripted. Wrestling is more like a soap opera with its various storylines and plots, but the intensity with which they were examined was comparable to the intensity that real life happenings get. The show examined Hornswaggle (sp?) cheating on Khali with as much dedication as they examined Benazir Bhutto's assasination.
Khali is again being linked to national pride. He is potrayed as an Indian out there to destroy all Americans. To me, he is just a man making big money and not out there for national pride. He has full right to make his money but if the media brings nationalism into this... its just pathetic.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Another comparision of statistics
I recently read an article on the decline of Tendulkar, particularly during the last 7 years or so. I always used to think that Sachin plays a lot for himself and not the team, which was reinforced by the collection of going out in the 90's. But then I decided to use the admirable Cricinfo Statsguru and check out a few facts myself.
Lets see ODI's first.
As an index of comparision, I used Ricky Ponting as many old timers constantly mark him out as the best batsman in the world currently. I also put Jack Kallis and the writer's own favourite, Rahul Dravid for good measure. Also, I've only taken matches against the top 8 teams. (ie: not Bangladesh and Zimbabwe) Lets see how these four compare against each other while chasing totals (ie: batting in the second innings) in the last 7 years.
Ponting has 2098 runs at an average of 44.63 with 5 centuries and 12 half centuries. Tendulkar has 2442 runs at an average of 38.15 with 2 hundreds and 17 50's.
Kallis has 2472 runs at an average of 49.44 with 5 hundreds and 15 50's.Dravid has 2573 runs at an average of 39.58 with 2 hudnreds and 22 fifties.
Tendulkar seems to be the worst of the lot but these statistics hide not outs. The not outs in order have been 16, 7, 18, 13.
With Dravid, Ponting and Kallis as one down players, it is obviously easier for them to remain not out as compared to an opener. And the 17 fifties hide 4 90+ scores. Dravid has only one 80+ fifty. So, there doesn't seem to be anything to suggest that Tendulkar isn't good while chasing. But there remains the crucial aspect of winning the match. Unfortunately, here Tendulkar fails. He just has an average of 45.13 in chasing matches which India won with half the hundreds and half the fifties. Ponting has an amazing average of 66.96 with the same amount of hundreds and only 1 less half century. Kallis has an average of 66.24 with 2 less hundreds and 3 less fifties. Whereas Dravid has an averaeg of 57.38 with the same amount of hundreds and 7 less fifties. Indeed, these statistics are very interesting.
In won matches in the first innings, Ponting and Kallis both average around 50 and Dravid averages 57, but Tendulkar averages an amazing 62 so you can't forget his role in making big totals in the first innings. Leaving innings alone, in won matches in the past 7 years, the averages have been 56, 52, 58, 56 of the four batsmen. In lost matches they have been 25, 37, 35, 29.
Now, instead lets see the four from the time Dravid made his debut. Ponting has an average of 45, Tendulkar, 45, Kallis 56, Dravid 39 (decimals rounded off to the nearest 100). In won matches their averages are 53, 60, 53, 51. In lost matches their averages become 26, 32, 34, 30. Interesting.
Tests are much harder to analyze but the figures are indeed interesting. Lets start with basic figures such as Test averages in won matches in the past 7 years. Ponting has an average of 70, Kallis has an average of 70, Dravid has an average of 80 and Tendulkar only has an average of 52. Interesting, to say the least.
Their averages in all matches in the same period have been 63, 48, 62, and 55. These are indeed interesting figures. Unfortunately for Tendulkar his average in lost matches goes does by 13, whereas the other's average go down by 23, 23 and 29 respectively. If you compare Tendulkar from 1996, in Tests (the time when all the other three made their debut), then Tendulkar averages 52 as opposed to 58, 57 and 55 of the other 3. In won matches, his average actually goes down by 2 and becomes 50, whereas Dravid's becomes 70. Ponting and Kallis have an average of 63 and 60 in won matches throughout their career.
In lost matches Tendulkar averages 41 (a difference of 11), Ponting 39 (a difference of 19), Kallis 36 (a difference of 21) and Dravid actually averages only 24 (a difference of 31). I didn't use the Lost/Won principle throughout Tendulkar's career as India won precious few matches during 1989-1996 so the stats will make him look worse.
After these statistics, I think even you will agree that Tendulkar hasn't been at his best in the past few years. Statistics aren't everything, but like it or not, they do seem to imply that Dravid is much more of a team man than Tendulkar.
Lets see ODI's first.
As an index of comparision, I used Ricky Ponting as many old timers constantly mark him out as the best batsman in the world currently. I also put Jack Kallis and the writer's own favourite, Rahul Dravid for good measure. Also, I've only taken matches against the top 8 teams. (ie: not Bangladesh and Zimbabwe) Lets see how these four compare against each other while chasing totals (ie: batting in the second innings) in the last 7 years.
Ponting has 2098 runs at an average of 44.63 with 5 centuries and 12 half centuries. Tendulkar has 2442 runs at an average of 38.15 with 2 hundreds and 17 50's.
Kallis has 2472 runs at an average of 49.44 with 5 hundreds and 15 50's.Dravid has 2573 runs at an average of 39.58 with 2 hudnreds and 22 fifties.
Tendulkar seems to be the worst of the lot but these statistics hide not outs. The not outs in order have been 16, 7, 18, 13.
With Dravid, Ponting and Kallis as one down players, it is obviously easier for them to remain not out as compared to an opener. And the 17 fifties hide 4 90+ scores. Dravid has only one 80+ fifty. So, there doesn't seem to be anything to suggest that Tendulkar isn't good while chasing. But there remains the crucial aspect of winning the match. Unfortunately, here Tendulkar fails. He just has an average of 45.13 in chasing matches which India won with half the hundreds and half the fifties. Ponting has an amazing average of 66.96 with the same amount of hundreds and only 1 less half century. Kallis has an average of 66.24 with 2 less hundreds and 3 less fifties. Whereas Dravid has an averaeg of 57.38 with the same amount of hundreds and 7 less fifties. Indeed, these statistics are very interesting.
In won matches in the first innings, Ponting and Kallis both average around 50 and Dravid averages 57, but Tendulkar averages an amazing 62 so you can't forget his role in making big totals in the first innings. Leaving innings alone, in won matches in the past 7 years, the averages have been 56, 52, 58, 56 of the four batsmen. In lost matches they have been 25, 37, 35, 29.
Now, instead lets see the four from the time Dravid made his debut. Ponting has an average of 45, Tendulkar, 45, Kallis 56, Dravid 39 (decimals rounded off to the nearest 100). In won matches their averages are 53, 60, 53, 51. In lost matches their averages become 26, 32, 34, 30. Interesting.
Tests are much harder to analyze but the figures are indeed interesting. Lets start with basic figures such as Test averages in won matches in the past 7 years. Ponting has an average of 70, Kallis has an average of 70, Dravid has an average of 80 and Tendulkar only has an average of 52. Interesting, to say the least.
Their averages in all matches in the same period have been 63, 48, 62, and 55. These are indeed interesting figures. Unfortunately for Tendulkar his average in lost matches goes does by 13, whereas the other's average go down by 23, 23 and 29 respectively. If you compare Tendulkar from 1996, in Tests (the time when all the other three made their debut), then Tendulkar averages 52 as opposed to 58, 57 and 55 of the other 3. In won matches, his average actually goes down by 2 and becomes 50, whereas Dravid's becomes 70. Ponting and Kallis have an average of 63 and 60 in won matches throughout their career.
In lost matches Tendulkar averages 41 (a difference of 11), Ponting 39 (a difference of 19), Kallis 36 (a difference of 21) and Dravid actually averages only 24 (a difference of 31). I didn't use the Lost/Won principle throughout Tendulkar's career as India won precious few matches during 1989-1996 so the stats will make him look worse.
After these statistics, I think even you will agree that Tendulkar hasn't been at his best in the past few years. Statistics aren't everything, but like it or not, they do seem to imply that Dravid is much more of a team man than Tendulkar.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
A comparision of statistics
Well, I really like to compare the statistics of Ponting, Lara and Tendulkar. Ponting, being the youngest has 193 innings. Lets see Lara and Tendulkar when they had 193 innings and compare the three.
Tendulkar had 9879 runs at an average of 57.43 with 34 hundreds, 45 fifties and 21 not outs.
Lara had 9993 runs at an average of 53.43 with 26 hundreds, 45 fifties and 6 not outs.
Now watch how close Ponting is to these two, specially Tendulkar.
Ponting has 9776 runs at an average of 58.53, with 34 hundreds, 39 fifties and 26 not outs.
He is just a hundred runs or so from the two and will need 224 runs in his next two innings if he wants to equal Lara and Tendulkar's record of making 10000 runs in 195 innings. Thats quite unlikely. Incidentally, however, Tendulkar was around the same age when he played 193 innings. So Ponting should run Tendulkar close in making most runs. It all depends no who retires when.
In one days of course, I thought Tendulkar is the undisputed master. Ponting can't even come close. But he manages to come closer than I thought.
Tendulkar had 11, 491 at 44.43 after 286
Ponting has 11, 023 at 43.91
Of course, his recent batting slump hasn't helped or if he had batted in this series as he normally does he would have been 11, 200. But he still is pretty close. Tendulkar, by the way had 33 hundreds by then whereas Ponting has 26, his fifty conversion rate isn't as good. In Tests, he has a pretty good chance of beating Tendulkar. In ODI's Tendulkar had played 286 innings by July 2002, which is almost 6 years back, Ponting is 2 years younger than him, so he'll have to play atleast 4 years more than Tendulkar. At a Ponting fan's most optimistic, Tendulkar will retire in a year or so, but I doubt Ponting will stick around in ODI's till 40.
So Tendulkar's ODI record remains as unbreakable as Murali's 723 and both Murali and Tendulkar aren't even finished yet.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Cricket and racism
Ah, how can anyone resist writing on such a wide topic. It seems like there is nothing else to talk about with this racism controversy about and it appals me that anything can be given so much importance. Cricket is just a game, played for and to give amusement. What is all this racism, and so much fuss about it. One writer specially astonished me by comparing Ricky Ponting with George Bush and his actions with those or Iraq. If the writer was trying to be humorous, all I can say is these comments don't amuse me at all. And the worst part of it is that a lot of Indians seem to be encouraging him. Some people thankfully said that the comparisions with George Bush and Iraq were out of place but that is seriously an understatement. I would have loved to comment on the analogy but I find myself lacking for want of words.
All these characterizations of Australian players as cheats is just hype. The media loves controversies, and it loves it when they are there in cricket, an immensely popular sport. But I think this controversy has been taken a little too far. What really touched me is the way the umpire, Steve Bucknor was treated. Okay, the guy made a lot of mistakes, he's above 60, and lets say India lost a match because of him. So, what? He was deeply humiliated, and will have a hard time getting back into umpiring, and people took to the streets to protest against him. This spirit of patriotism, specially prevelant in the middle class impresses me a lot but it always seems to be employed in the wrong areas. Indian people are willing to burn effigies for the sake of a cricket match and yet fail to protest for simple needs like housing, unemployment in the country. Why isn't the spirit directed into more constructive work. Burning effigies of Bucknor on the streets and showing its rage, the same middle class fails to protest for simple human needs such as pavements, or even clean water in parts of the country (with the former available nowhere). No, I'm not a hypocrite, I have participated in such rallies, but do they get any media coverage, or any support? Forget it.
The Indian middle class jumps to the support of its country in matters of cricket, national flags, anthems and other patriotic things. But will it ever try to make the conditions in the country more livable for the masses? No. The money given to the Indian Cricket Team could just as well have been given to those less fortunate. The amount of money BCCI has is a disgrace, and seems to show that cricket is given more importance than human life.
If this had truely been a just a continuation of a fight India has led against white superiority, I would have appreciated it. But when we are so eager to carry out Nuclear Deals and cooperate with those same whites and fight so vehemently against the Chinese and Pakistanis, its just silly. If India challenges white superiority in cricket, the world is not going to become a better place to live in. Had India actively fought the U. S. and other European countries and looked for friendship with China and Pakistan, I would have been proud of the stance. I'm proud of it still, but the amount of importance its being given leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Most people believe I'm unpatriotic. Me, I just don't like patriotism as practiced by the great indian middle class.
All these characterizations of Australian players as cheats is just hype. The media loves controversies, and it loves it when they are there in cricket, an immensely popular sport. But I think this controversy has been taken a little too far. What really touched me is the way the umpire, Steve Bucknor was treated. Okay, the guy made a lot of mistakes, he's above 60, and lets say India lost a match because of him. So, what? He was deeply humiliated, and will have a hard time getting back into umpiring, and people took to the streets to protest against him. This spirit of patriotism, specially prevelant in the middle class impresses me a lot but it always seems to be employed in the wrong areas. Indian people are willing to burn effigies for the sake of a cricket match and yet fail to protest for simple needs like housing, unemployment in the country. Why isn't the spirit directed into more constructive work. Burning effigies of Bucknor on the streets and showing its rage, the same middle class fails to protest for simple human needs such as pavements, or even clean water in parts of the country (with the former available nowhere). No, I'm not a hypocrite, I have participated in such rallies, but do they get any media coverage, or any support? Forget it.
The Indian middle class jumps to the support of its country in matters of cricket, national flags, anthems and other patriotic things. But will it ever try to make the conditions in the country more livable for the masses? No. The money given to the Indian Cricket Team could just as well have been given to those less fortunate. The amount of money BCCI has is a disgrace, and seems to show that cricket is given more importance than human life.
If this had truely been a just a continuation of a fight India has led against white superiority, I would have appreciated it. But when we are so eager to carry out Nuclear Deals and cooperate with those same whites and fight so vehemently against the Chinese and Pakistanis, its just silly. If India challenges white superiority in cricket, the world is not going to become a better place to live in. Had India actively fought the U. S. and other European countries and looked for friendship with China and Pakistan, I would have been proud of the stance. I'm proud of it still, but the amount of importance its being given leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Most people believe I'm unpatriotic. Me, I just don't like patriotism as practiced by the great indian middle class.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Advertisements
I mentioned advertisements commonly found in India and I'd like to dedicate a whole post to them. First of all, nowadays advertisements have severy degraded and there are very few if any, which are actually witty or have a line worth remembering. But apart from that, advertisements reflect the superiority of the English language embedded in us as I mentioned in the last post.
I don't exactly remember which product but I'm sure all of you have seen the ad which focuses on a boy who comes to the village to see a girl, and as long as she talks in hindi/punjabi he thinks of her as a silly village girl. But as soon as she starts talking with an accent, he decides she is a very educated, smart girl. Education is necassarily associated with English. There is perhaps less fault in the advertisement, or in any person who thinks so and more fault in the system. Learning English has become such an essential part of getting a good job and earning money, that no one will ever consider doing something in Hindi or for that matter, any other language.
Apart from that, ads, as I mentioned on fair and lovely, fair and handsome are of course, widely prevalant. Then ads on cement and such focus on making India a carbon copy of the U. S. or Singapore or such countries. Make something original!
I don't exactly remember which product but I'm sure all of you have seen the ad which focuses on a boy who comes to the village to see a girl, and as long as she talks in hindi/punjabi he thinks of her as a silly village girl. But as soon as she starts talking with an accent, he decides she is a very educated, smart girl. Education is necassarily associated with English. There is perhaps less fault in the advertisement, or in any person who thinks so and more fault in the system. Learning English has become such an essential part of getting a good job and earning money, that no one will ever consider doing something in Hindi or for that matter, any other language.
Apart from that, ads, as I mentioned on fair and lovely, fair and handsome are of course, widely prevalant. Then ads on cement and such focus on making India a carbon copy of the U. S. or Singapore or such countries. Make something original!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Still racist?
Britishers left our country a long time ago but I can't help thinking that there is still an element of white superiority embedded in each one of us. The fact is made painfully clear with each new advertisement. Fair and lovely, fair and handsome, the fact that talking English makes you superior. Bad pronounciation, in English is always looked upon as a sign of inferiority. Waiters and people at call centers are painfully instructed to talk in good English.
The undying hypocrisy of the middle class in India is reflected in this. They are very nationalistic, but very few still would rate someone who talks fluent English and someone who talks fluent Hindi on the same level. In fact, recently, by not going to foreign countries to get jobs, people seem to be doing a favour to their country. They proudly announce something which should be looked upon as natural! They seem to be contributing to the economic development of our country by working here but blindly ignore the economic disparities present! People who criticize the country are labelled as unpatriotic. The country should be blindly supported. I personally think people who criticize the country manage to do more for it than those who succumb to blind patriotism. There seems to be a feeling that patriotism and pride for nationality will overcome the problems posed by the Indian system of government.
But back to my topic on white superiority. There is a subtle change in attitude in third world racism and first world racism. Third world racism, wherever present, seems to concentrate on an attitude of hate, and almost seems like hate against superiors. First world racism meanwhile concentartes more on an attitude of contempt, contempt towards inferiors. I think this difference in attitude makes the whole difference. Whites coming to our country are treated with supreme politeness and stared upon curiously as wonders. Asian people visiting white countries are merely ignored.
The fact that I'm writing this article itself in English goes on to show that I'm more comfortable in expressing my views in English rather than Hindi. I know that, and I'm ashamed of it. I try my best to improve. Atleast, bad English is not something by which I judge perosn.
The undying hypocrisy of the middle class in India is reflected in this. They are very nationalistic, but very few still would rate someone who talks fluent English and someone who talks fluent Hindi on the same level. In fact, recently, by not going to foreign countries to get jobs, people seem to be doing a favour to their country. They proudly announce something which should be looked upon as natural! They seem to be contributing to the economic development of our country by working here but blindly ignore the economic disparities present! People who criticize the country are labelled as unpatriotic. The country should be blindly supported. I personally think people who criticize the country manage to do more for it than those who succumb to blind patriotism. There seems to be a feeling that patriotism and pride for nationality will overcome the problems posed by the Indian system of government.
But back to my topic on white superiority. There is a subtle change in attitude in third world racism and first world racism. Third world racism, wherever present, seems to concentrate on an attitude of hate, and almost seems like hate against superiors. First world racism meanwhile concentartes more on an attitude of contempt, contempt towards inferiors. I think this difference in attitude makes the whole difference. Whites coming to our country are treated with supreme politeness and stared upon curiously as wonders. Asian people visiting white countries are merely ignored.
The fact that I'm writing this article itself in English goes on to show that I'm more comfortable in expressing my views in English rather than Hindi. I know that, and I'm ashamed of it. I try my best to improve. Atleast, bad English is not something by which I judge perosn.
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