For the last week or so, I have to say that the cricket on display hasn’t been well that exciting or riveting to a certain extent. I admit, Lara’s resistance in the second test was a treat to watch but the repeated pummeling received by the hapless and English and the bizarre tactics employed by the West Indian batsmen after passing 400 runs coupled with the euphoria surrounding the football World Cup has lead to cricket taking a back seat. During this period, I had the time so sit back and look at some of the aspects of the game today that are rather less related to cricket, but nonetheless, mildly interesting.

I recently realized that Brian Lara had now reached the rather ‘old age’ in cricketing terms of 37. I have to admit if I would have been asked to guess his age my estimate would be much lower and also I found that the promising Jerome Taylor was only 22. For some reason, it seemed rather queer to me that there should be an age difference of about 15 years between 2 members in a cricketing 11, though I’m sure that there have been other instances. I wonder if anyone knows what would be the biggest difference in the ages of two players, who have played together?

Before the 3^rd test, the West Indian authorities decided to call ICC special consultant, Andy Atkinson, to help them prepare a better pitch. Well, after the first couple of days, “better” might be an overstatement, not for a batsman though! Also, Atkinson was down with a stomach bug for the first day of the match so was not able to see first hand how his pitch faired. Apparently, this was not unusual because this was the third time he had fallen sick in during or before a match for which he had prepared the pitch! Well hopefully the ICC are able to chose pitch consultants with better health levels!

The Spanish football team has stamped its class on this World Cup and it was rather surprising to see them relegate their prolific striker and captain Raul Gonzalez to the substitutes bench for the opening two games of their World Cup campaign despite his poor form. For a cricket follower, such a situation could mean only one thing: The end of Raul’s career, the disgrace of not being selected and being stripped of captaincy and other such pessimistic views. Well, it is interesting to note that he came of the substitutes’ bench in second match to produce a sparkling performance, capping it of with a goal and was in the starting line up as captain for the next game! Now, if this were to happen to a cricketer, it would be nothing short of spectacular, and I am sure the remains of Sourav Ganguly’s international career would be turning in their grave at this moment!

The England team received yet another blow when it emerged that Ashley Giles may require further surgery and Michael Vaughan could be sidelined for nine months due to their succumbing to their respective injuries. Coupled with Andrew Flintoff’s niggle and Simon Jones’s now almost definite absence from the Ashes, it would barely do justice to say ‘how the mighty have fallen’. After their dismal performance against a spirited Sri Lankan side, English hopes of retain the Ashes seem to have sunk to new low and now the battered and beleaguered face stiff opposition from a young enthusiastic Pakistani side refreshed after substantial lay off from international cricket. There is no doubting the brilliance of Pietersen and Flintoff, but unless they get their act together quickly, it might be a rather tame defense of the little urn they so spectacularly won back last year!