The SRT Jinx

Everyone knows it. A Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar century more or less results in India losing the match. Lately the Jinx seems to be getting stronger and stronger. In the recent World Cup, Sachin had scored two centuries, one against South Africa and one against England, the one against SA was for a losing cause and the one against Eng was almost a losing cause. How we managed to tie it from a lose-win-lose situation is a miracle. Like me, many people were hoping that Sachin would not score another ton in the World Cup so that India could lift the World Cup. And he obliged. In 2009, against Australia, Sachin scores a marvelous 175, even a high score such as this wasn't enough for the Jinx to turnaround.One would have expected these kind of Jinxes would have been negated in the shorter format of the game, The T20's.Cometh the IPL Season 4, a match against a less fancied Kochi Tuskers, Sachin carves out his first T20 hundred, you think you cannot be on a losing cause in a 20 over format, that too against a weak team at least on paper and with a superb Mumbai Indians bowling attack. Voila, the Jinx happen, the strongest team in the IPL are in the losing side against the weakest team in the IPL despite when their captain makes his debut IPL ton on his and their team's home ground.

The Jinx is getting lethal and lethal, just one way to stop it, score 99 and get retired hurt if you must or you could score a 200................................

The Paul Valthaty Effect

0/2 in 2 balls aint a good start but heck did Chennai Super Kings recover to a super score of 188/4. Thanks to local boys Vijay, Badri and a great cameo from Dhoni. No one expected Kings 11 Punjab to actually chase given the fact that the Chennai Super Kings has a international (Not a World Class) class bowling attack in Tim Southee, Albie Morkel, R Ashwin, Suraj Randiv, Scot Styris, Jakati and Raina. Well they had a chance if Gilchrist or Marsh had taken it away from them, however what we saw is the best T20 Knock when chasing. A little know Paul Valthaty smashed the CSK bowling attack to an enterprising 120 not out of just 63 balls with 19 Fours and a couple of Sixes, the next highest score of 21 indicates the dominance he had on the CSK bowlers. Well a one match knock wont get him automatically into the Indian team, if he continues his good run he may seriously knock on the door for the Indian team selection.Just hard to imagine what would have happened had Kings 11 Punjab retained Yuvraj.

The Ultimate Slow Cooked Mutton Chops

Can be tried with Goat, Sheep or Lamb

Ingredients:

1 KG Mutton Chops

8 Medium Size Red Onions

1 Medium Size Tomato

4 Medium Size Green Chillies

2 TBSP Chilli Powder

4 TBSP Coriander Powder

I TSP Turmeric Powder

1 TBSP Pepper

4 TBSP Oil

1 Cup Yogurt/Curd

1 TSP Lime Juice

Brandy or Papaya for softening the meat

Preparation:

Marinate the mutton chops with Brandy/Papaya, Yogurt/Curd, Lime Juice, Chilli Powder, Turmeric Powder, Coriander Powder, Salt and keep aside. Marinate for at least 3 Hours, more the better.

Fry the Onions is a slow flame till golden brown, just before it becomes golden brown add green chillies and tomato. Once the raw smell goes off, add the marinated mutton chops and add water till all the meat sinks well under the mixture. Keep it on low flame and let it cook for 90 minutes to 120 minutes. This is a slow cooking method and if you want it done quickly done, boil the mutton chops in a pressure cooker before and then do the cooking which would save time.

Good Luck, very easy to cook and tastes great. You can do a gravy or dry it up if you would like it drier, either way it tastes so good.

The Dhaka Massacre

A year ago, an Australia Vs Bangladesh series would have evicted another yawn from most endearing cricket fans. With the recent Australia's slide from cricket dominance and an quarter final exit from the World Cup, one would have thought the gap between the two teams had narrowed a bit. After losing the first ODI by 60 runs, I expected another encounter of similar sorts only to be surprised by the massacre that happened. I was talking to a friend about why Australia is struggling currently, due to lack of any potential future legends with the exception of Shane Watson. A 229 against Australia is quiet an achievement for a Bangladesh team and would have expected Australia to at least take 40 overs to chase them down. Shane Watson, according to me is the most underrated Australian player ever, no one really talk great about him and tend to ignore the fact that he goddamn opens the innings in both form of the game and bowls like a bowler. Not even Sir Garfield Sobers or any of the greatest All Rounders opened regularly for their country.

What happened on 11th April 2011 at Dhaka is the biggest carnage caused by an individual in the game of cricket. Maybe if Sir Vivian Richards was playing T20 now, we could have seen something of the same range. The score of 229 was mauled almost individually by Shane Watson who flayed the Bangladeshi attack in his merciless effort of 185 Not Out of 96 Balls studded with 15 Fours & 15 Sixes. I was lucky enough to record the highlights of this match in HD :) for my viewing pleasure. The next greatest all rounder has arrived and time for the cricketing world to address it give Watto his due credit.