From: Das, Reshmi
Sent: Wednesday, 24 September, 2008 2:37 PM
To: Abraham, Santosh ; Agniswar Das-Gupta; Anandam Banerjee; Arig Chakraborty; Arunava; c.bhattacharya; Chatterjee, Rajarshi; Chiranjib Dey; d.tanushree; DP Ghosh; dutta_debjani; gh_sarmistha; Ghosh, Chiranjib; ghoshjn; Jayanta.mondal; Mishra,Dipti; Pooja Sethpal; Rupak Giri; saptarshi; saptitude; Siddhartha.Bhadury; Soumik Banerjee; Soumik Bose; Soumik.Banerjee; Sunetra Dasgupta; tanusreedas; Uttiya Chatterjee; Uttiya Chattopadhyay
Subject: FW: The Continuing Ganguly Saga
I found this ‘article’ on ndtvcricket and thought it was worth sharing this around. Enjoy!
The Continuing Ganguly Saga 09 Sep 2008 Mina Anand |
| This is a tale - unfinished so far
Of a fiery cricketer - a lode star
An attacking player... with elegance to match
India's most successful Captain - and in the 10,000 (ODI) runs batch
For a man who has done so much for Indian cricket
Isn't it bizarre he's always on a sticky wicket
For a cricketer who has plundered 18,000 + runs (Test and one-day combined)
Not to mention the 22 one-day tons
It's ironical that he has to fight his way back
Battle the odds and ignore the flak
This story has had many twists and turns
But 'Dada' keeps his end up - the fire fiercely burns
Let's now take guard and take stock
The 'hitherto' Ganguly Saga' lets unlock
We'll examine the issues - such as they are
What the critics fall back on, in trying to pull down this star
'Dalmiya's man' - he was dubbed
Shouldn't he with Sachin, Sanath, Inzy - be clubbed? (10,000-ODI-Runs Select Club)
His place was assured in the team - they say
Thanks to his 'Godfather' - come what may
Then - may I ask the public this
Whose are the runs - Dalmiya's or his?
Some other 'crimes' - charged to his name
Shows dissent - slows down the game
Unfit - fakes injuries - late for the toss
Lazy - princely - ask Freddie Flintoff!
Some tag the word 'Parochial' to him
Ironical that memories can be so dim
Wasn't it Ganguly - the 'new broom'
(Who swept away zonal politics)
Exciting 'Indian' talent he did groom
Talent that he picked and backed
A 'fighting spirit' in the team was packed
He turned the Indian team around
Battle it out- stand your ground!
This took Indian cricket to new heights
Putting up some of the great fights
(Remember Eden Gardens…Barbados…Headingley…Adelaide…Chennai…Lords-NatWest?)
Won matches at home and away
Won accolades for the way we play
Then there's the talk about 'green tops'
Facing fast bowling Ganguly 'hops'?
From the quicks he shys away
Then how on earth did he flay
The opening bowlers in the one-day game
Dispatching them - on his way to fame
Some more chat - that he detests
'Chin Music' in the Tests
May I refer all - to the Brisbane Test
The Aussie quicks at their furious best
'The Wall' and 'The Little Master' fell
Sounding for the tour - a 'death knell'?
But out came striding the Captain bold
Unleashed his repertoire manifold
Leading from the front - at Brisbane
Treating the Aussies - with disdain
Thus at the 'Gabba' - of bounce and pace
Ganguly - to a 'setting-the-tone' century did race
From the 'Brisbane heights' to the 'Chappell era lows'
The Prince has stoically taken many blows
No 'fair-weather' friends - his legion of fans
They believe in him - he vindicates their stance
Experience, resolve - and the 'Ganguly' knack
Was behind the dramatic 2006-7 comeback
Sachin-Ganguly-Dravid-Laxman-Kumble - our Magical Five
Contrary to 'death-knells' - they are still very much alive
Currently the 'Fab Four' may not be at their batting best
All credit to a tre'mendis' display by Sri Lanka in the Tests
But if old Hayden and Hussey and Sanath are still around
Why should our 'younger' 'Seniors' not stand their ground? (didn't Leander Paes?)
'Out of form' - is how we dismiss and dispatch
Don't all great batsmen go through a rough patch? (Ponting is still around)
The press doesn't often bother to tell all
In the minds of the greats - Gangly stands tall
Ask Gavaskar, Boycott, Bhogle - to name a few
His county (Glamorgan) also gives him his due
"An outstanding professional" - was the Glamorgan call
He's as committed as the 'Wall'
Not for power - or for pelf
It's cricket that spurs him on - improving himself
At 'sixes and sevens' - but not for long
At 'sixes and fours' - is where he still belongs
There are few better sights than the southpaw's grace
"God of the off-side" - is how he stays!
PS: I am a long-time cricket follower, a current 'interning' lawyer and a non-stop supporter of the Indian Cricket Team. (Particularly of 'Dada' and the Seniors). And I am not a Bengali!! Thanks & Regards, Reshmi |
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