Dud Sea Scrawls The Writing, clearly, is not on the wall!

He was almost caught, but our kid Piyush went over the rope. Then the ball went higher and higher and higher and in a span of five balls Yuvraj had conceded five sixes. Thankfully, it was the last over of England Innings. Dravid could have opted for Agarkar, but no sir, he had more faith in Yuvraj. Since Yuvraj is a part time bowler, so I guess we will forgive him. The fact of the matter is that Dimitri could have scaled any bowler. So I guess Agarkar will be all smiles tonight for escaping unscathed, as a mere spectator. Sometimes I worry that Agarkar will unleash a self everyone expects from him, and then we will all watch shamefaced. After all, he hold the record for getting to fastest fifty wickets and one of the fastest fifties as well. He is among the top five wicket takers in Indian One Day history, and yet, we cannot ever seem to trust the dude.

Uthappa is the obvious talk point for the day. But wait. We must remember that Ganguly reached his 11th half century of 2007 today. Lets hold grudges against him, for we know he is capable of scoring at faster pace, and he could have converted at least some of his half efforts into three figure scores. Lets throw all the mud we have got at him, for we would have done that if we had lost the game. Or maybe, for once, lets just thank the bloke for batting sensibly enough, and bringing the ship close to the shore. Tendulkar got the man of the match, cramps, another missed hundred (he has 41 already, so what?) and universal cheer. Even though his name is Gambhir, no one takes the guy seriously. Second time this week, he came and batted wisely and nicely. But then came the great Indian collapse and chaos. Unbelievable it was, when India won the match, and how!

Enter Uthappa. Asking rate rising. Wickets falling. Dhoni goes. Left with Agarkar, Powar, Zaheer and Piyush. Uthappa’s first match of the series. A failure here means more bench time. India watching. Most have given up hope already. Only die hard fans and diseased optimists hoping for a miracle. Most certain that their prayers will be wasted. One run out. Thank God Uthappa survived. Another run out. This was cruel. Zaheer was just doing the right thing, had run out of the crease a little and ball hit by Uthappa went straight to the bowler. Two more batsmen left. When Uthappa walked across, and guided the ball to the boundary rope, scooping the ball as if with a spade, and throwing it back, to the boundary rope, a hundred million smiles flashed. Maybe more. Then came the next ball, but after some talk between the bowler and England Captain. Each second exploded like a tense wire of the nerves across the nation. Finally the bowler starts running. Uthappa strikes the ball clean. A fielder dives. Ball escapes. Boundary. Win. Uthappa, only 21, jumps and so does the nation overjoyed!

Cricket, on days like this, is nerve racking, intense, exhilarating. Making it 3-3 after India was 3-1 down was sweet. Doing it with this style: Priceless.

Hail Uthappa! Hail Ganguly and Tendulkar! Hail Cricket!