Cricocity

July 22  marks the anniversary of Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan's 800th wicket in Test cricket. Muralitharan picked his final Test wicket of the final ball of his career before bidding goodbye to the traditional form of cricket. On the last day of his 18-year-long Test career, Muralitharan brought up the unprecedented --- and perhaps unsurpassable --- milestone when India's No. 11 Pragyan Ojha, having blunted the Lankan attack for close to an hour, edged an off-break to the hands of Mahela Jayawardene at slip. Jayawardene lunged to his left to take a sharp catch as the the crowd at the Galle International Stadium, which had been decorated for the off-spinner's swansong, burst into spontaneous celebrations. Sri Lanka's most loved son, who made his Test debut in August 1992 against Australia, battled numerous problems in his illustrious and controversial career, most notably being no-balled for throwing, each time by Australian umpires. After Day 2 of this T

Recently, we lost veteran and 83' world cup hero Yashpal Sharma due to cardiac arrest. But his exploits in the world cup as well as classy performances in domestic circuit would always remain invaluable and cherished in hearts of die-hard cricket fanatics! The right-handed batsman, who also served in the Indian selection committee, forced the pundits to take a note when he slammed a whopping 260 for Punjab Schools against Jammu and Kashmir.  Such splendid performances and his stubborn - never say die attitude earned him a spot in the series against Pakistan in 1978. But all he could do was warm the benches. The England series of 79' was a turn around for his career after which he became a regular member of the squad.  He scored his maiden century against Australia in Delhi later that year.  As a tribute to this epic middle rder batsman I am bringing you a story about his aggressive yet promising performance for the Kapil's Devils! The Indians were still minnows and not eve

 Recently the Cricket universe celebrated the 72nd birthday of the Indian batting great - Sunil Gavaskar. Reflecting on the same I have brought you an amazing story about the birth of the Little Master! We go back 72 years, all the way to 10th of July 1949. Just two years after Independence, most of the Indian subjects were still not well off economically. Our hero also came from a not so different background.  Must have been a busy day at the Purandare's Maternity Hospital opposite to the Chowpatty at Girgaum with heavy showers adding to all worries of the to-be-mothers admitted there. Born at 8.42 PM Sunny paaji was the last of the kids to be born on the day with many from his joint family visiting him eventually till midnight.  After a couple of days, his uncle visited his nephew again, at the hospital. Sleeping peacefully on the cot of the general ward was the baby when, the sharp-eyed uncle noticed and instantly told Mrs. Mrunalini Gavaskar that it was not their baby. He h