Shane Warne

While idly browsing through the internet on Friday evening after an exhaustive working week, saw the news that Shane Warne died of a heart attack. He was just 52. The news was shocking, to say the least. He was such an effervescent personality that shone even through the TV screens to ordinary viewers like me.

I immediately knew, that people will start reminiscing about his debut against India - against the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Ravi Shastri and of course his ball of the century against Mike Gatting.

I have watched almost all the matches that he played in. Whether, it was Australia/New Zealand, getting up at 3.30 in the morning or in the West Indies, where the matches go late into the night for a person watching in India. I made it a point to follow the Australian team's performance whenever Shane Warne played. 

He had a presence about him and when he came into bowl, the match almost always would take an interesting turn. After his brilliant performances in Sri Lanka and in England at the start of his career, I was interested to see how he would play against Indians in India. Unfortunately, he was injured for the one-off test in 1996. The next time he came to India in 1998, he was having some shoulder problems, Yet, he had his moments on the field against the best Indian batsmen. Over the next 2 series in India, he was good in spells but could not conquer the Indian batsmen like he did batsmen of other countries. That said a lot about the skills of the Indian batsmen rather than his abilities. History of cricket over the last 200 years has shown that every player - batsmen or bowler has a bogey team, against whom they struggle. That does not make the player a lesser champion. Shane Warne's bogey team was India which had the best set of Indian batsmen ever in the history of Indian Test cricket.

I watched the magic balls he bowled to superb players like Jacques Kallis and Shiv Narain Chanderpaul. I remember watching the test matches where he took these wickets and how he slowly built up the pressure over a few overs . His theatrics, confidence and the way he set up the players before they were beaten and clean bowled were a treat to watch. They were beaten by his mind tricks as much as his skills on the cricket field.

In ODIs too he was a brilliant bowler. His spells against West Indies in 1996 semi-final at  Mohali and against the South Africans in 1999 semi-final at Old Trafford were brilliant. He literally dragged the Australian team to the finals on the strength of his performances and personality.

What struck me most about him was his desire to excel in a field of his choice. Test Cricket, World Series of Poker too where he competed at a world stage, brought out the best in him. He brought out the same level of insight and excellence when he took on commentary after his retirement. I generally, follow cricket by keeping the TV on mute. After watching cricket for almost 40 years, I feel that there is nothing new a commentator, even an ex-player can offer insight on. Yet, whenever, Shane Warne came on to commentate, I would always increase the volume to listen to him talk. He was brilliant in bringing out the nuances in the game that we were watching and almost predicting the turn the game would take. Listening to him, one knew that he was very fair in his commentary. He was harsh on some of the Australian players, for example Mitchell Starc, who took exception to some of his comments and yet generous in his praise when he played well. He was unstinting in his praise, even for the opposition players. He described the game as he saw it. No half measures. 

His spin bowling master class with an English news channel was brilliant where he guided young kids on how to bowl wrist spin. He really communicated with the kids and youngsters by being their age in talking to them. This could also have been the reason, that he was able to, as a Captain of Rajasthan Royals, take a bunch of youngsters and win the IPL trophy in the very first season. He was also a very good slip fielder, which was an under rated part of his skills.

Sunil Gavaskar considers him as a lesser bowler than Muttiah Muralitharan and the quartet of Indian spin bowlers of the 1960s and 1970s. Comparison between different generation of players does not give a true picture as there are many variables like standard of players, pitch conditions, playing rules etc. which cannot be compared. Hence, I have just compared the bowling statistics of Warne with Muralitharan as they were contemporaries. One factor to be kept in mind is that the hard Australian pitches do not generally support spin bowling while the Sri Lankan pitches keeping their bowling strengths in mind, generally spin from day one. The statistics in their home countries and against each other make interesting reading. I think Shane Warne clearly stands out.

It is good to stand up for Asian players, but it does not do the players nor Sunil Gavaskar any credit by romanticising their achievements. 

He is gone at 52. Too young for any one. But, I guess, he lived a full life. If one were to imbibe something from his life, it is the desire to excel and compete at the highest level and even stand out among peers. He did that in Cricket, Poker and Commentary. Go well legend.

Russia Ukraine Crisis

There is a war currently on between Russia and Ukraine. Viewing this afar from India, with no skin in the game, the difficult question one has to ask oneself is, who has the moral high ground in this war? If at all, there is a moral high ground.

On one side there is the President of Ukraine, educated in USA, a career as a stand-up comedian with his own TV show. Based on the popularity of the TV show, he runs for President and surprisingly/shockingly gets elected. He talks a lot about democracy and democratic values. Yet in the first 2 years of his Presidency, he arrests and jails his main political opponent. He shuts down 2 TV stations critical of his functioning. So, one can see, that his posturing on democracy is just that - Posturing. He does not seem to believe in the free exchange of views that are so fundamental to a democracy.

Yet, because of his Western education and his opposition to the Russian President - Vladimir Putin, he is supported by the Western Europe leaders and USA. 

On the other side, is the President of Russia - Vladimir Putin. His career is well known - a former KGB spy who has seen the hypocrisy of the West from close quarters for more than 40 years and deeply distrusts them. His seemingly only interest is to protect Russian interests. Putin has also said that he does not want to take over the country, if Ukraine agrees to not be a part of NATO.

Almost one week of war has exposed the double standards of the West and USA. They are openly supporting a President who gives only lip service to democracy. Reports have come out that he is arming mercenaries to fight for Ukraine. Videos have come out exposing the racist mentality of the Ukrainian people and their army. Their UN Ambassador was seen giving sly threats to countries whose people are stuck in Ukraine to support their side, otherwise he could not guarantee safety to the stranded people of those countries. He is alleged to even using the stranded foreigners as human shields. Yet, they support the Ukrainian President.

The West has started imposing sanctions on Russia. They have even targeted the Russian private citizens and their wealth by seizing their assets. They have given themselves the right to moralise and act as Judge, Jury and Executioner.

The Western Media has once again displayed their bias towards people other than Whites. Numerous journalists have said on record that Ukraine is a civilised nation and hence needs support. In that one statement, they have whitewashed the crimes of USA and the other Western countries in their attacks and interference in Asia and Africa and established their contempt for other races.

As a common citizen in India, it is hard not to get affected by what is going on in Ukraine. I have read about the various invasions of India, including the wars between 1947- 71. I witnessed the war in 1999 and have been witnessing the frequent attacks on India via Kashmir/Mumbai etc. There is only suffering for the people. Lives are lost, economy gets impacted, in these acts of Politicians.

Ukraine wants to get free of big brother Russia and have a life of its own. Yet, who are they choosing? The hypocritical NATO and the West.

One can understand Russia’s position. They have supported India against these Western nations whenever India faced difficult times. Now, they do not want NATO at their borders and their interference. In all this, the UN has acted as per its nature – toothless and biased.

The Indian government has been very clear and nuanced in its stance, via its views and abstentions in the UN Security Council Meetings. The Indian govt has repeatedly asked for ceasefire and resumption of dialogue. Historically, Ukraine had taken a stance against India - supporting the sanctions against India in 1999 post our nuclear testing and asking for Article 370 to be reimposed. Yet, Indian leadership has shown maturity. It has not taken sides openly. India is lucky to have an experienced External Affairs Minister and well-liked and respected Prime Minister. This is reflected in the statements from the Western nations on our stance. India has never attacked another country. Our recent actions of taking tough decisions shown by our air strikes in Balakot etc. have given us respect in the eyes of the World. India needs to play a leading role in diffusing the war in Ukraine.

History has time and again shown that the ones who pay a heavy price in any war are the common people who have to suffer at the hands of scheming and ambitious politicians. The only winners in this war are the Armaments manufacturers and their lobbyists and agents. We can only wish for a swift ending to this crisis, with as little loss of lives and destruction of property. But then, it is not in our hands. We have to wait and watch.