Centumphobia: Fear of the Number 100

Here is a bit of really easy trivia: who is the leading centurion in international cricket? Any cricket fan worth his salt would laugh in your face for asking him this. Here is a slightly more difficult question: who has scored the most number of nineties in international cricket? Mmm … Sachin? Right again. With 22 nineties (15 in ODIs and 7 in Tests, none of them are not outs) Sachin is way ahead of his nearest rivals, who atleast have the consolation of a few not out 90s.

Sachin clinically demolished Pakistan's bowling in Mohali but as soon as he got in the 90s there was a buzz in the common room of my hostel, will he get a century this time? 10 bucks say he won't. As it turned out I should have gotten in on that bet because rest assured a panic attack struck Sachin at 99 and he prodded Umar Gul's routine delivery to a very grateful Kamran Akmal.

His 90s jinx has been especially apparent in One Day Internationals this year. His last ODI ton came against the West Indies in January 2007 and in the 26 games since then Sachin has managed 11 fifties and an excellent average of 44.9. Of these 11 fifties, 5 have been 90s including 3 99s(thats also a record: only player to be dismissed for 99 thrice in ODIs). 26 games without a triple figure score is also his third most barren spell. So whats wrong? Has the Master Blaster become the Master Choker or has he been having really bad luck. Its really a combination of the two, his nervousness in the 90s and some terrible decisions by the umpires.

Here is something you might not have noticed: had Sachin converted his every 90 into a century he would have been the first ever cricketer to score one hundred centuries (37+41+22=100) in international cricket!

If these keeps up “Nervous 90s” may be renamed “Tendulkar 90s”. Come on Sachin score a century and shut me up!

Sachin’s ODI 90s in 2007

99      v       SA      in      Ire     at Belfast    

93      v       SA      in      Ire     at Belfast

99      v       Eng     in      Eng     at Bristol

94      v       Eng     in      Eng     at The Oval

99      v       Pak     in      Ind     at Mohali

Internet is Killing Language!

Inspired by David Duchovny’s dialogues in Californication

Hello blogosphere, I am back, after a week’s absence due to a despicable little thing called tests. This post is on the effect of the internet on language. Internet isn’t killing language (that was just an exaggeration, to get you to read this post and it clearly worked) but it is making it primitive, bending grammar and redefining syntax. People don’t talk anymore, they chat; they don’t write, they blog (I am now a part of the problem). All across these modern methods of communication there is a common pattern, a disregard for grammar. Punctuations, by some are looked at as an unnecessary keystroke. Worse still, others think of it as an unmeaningful tool at their disposal for decoration, to be used wherever and as many times as the heart desires. Seriously, what good does putting more than one question mark or exclamation mark do? How is “????” different from the good old “?” and how is “!!!!!” different from “!” ?

Some people (maybe even you) would pass this off as the evolution of language, but this is not evolution, this is regression. “English” on the internet does not resemble English (you might want to read that again, it is not a typo).

A lot of the shorthands and deliberate misspellings were introduced because they save time but now they have become a fad and are slowly spilling over to more formal usage as well.

Some believe that anything that is comprehensible is acceptable. As this train of thought spreads, text on the internet gets more and more obscure. This is what I found on the internet:

“LOLZ NUHUH iiM So0o0o0o000o0o0o GUD @ 3NGLiiSH!”

This is comprehensible but I am using the word in a very liberal sense.

If this keeps up, in due time, our language may start to resemble what the cave men used to speak!

That is my opinion, you may consider it, disregard it, lambaste it or ignore it and I would appreciate if you posted some comments in the process.

If you liked this post, you might want to read books r a mans best frnd by Akshay Rajgopalan as well.

Will Arsenal Gun Down the Red Devils?

Ever since I can remember Arsenal vs Manchester United has been one of the most eagerly awaited games of the season. It's no different this time around, as two of the traditional superpowers of English football get set to lock horns at the Emirates on Saturday. As it often has been in the past, Arsenal vs ManU is a match up between first and second. Arsenal lead the table presently on goal difference and have a game in hand.

Both teams have been playing scintillating football this season. Arsene Wenger in an attempt to form a super team for he future has moulded a wonderful team for the present. ManU have spent their Yankee money very wisely this season and their new recruits Tevez, Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson all look the part. Arsenal, on the other hand haven't spent great sums and have relied on the old faithfuls(this was about the only expression in which I could use old for wenger's lot) to do the job and they have all risen to the task. Fabregas has been the player of the season so far. He has been scoring, passing, tackling and doing just about everything else as well. Robin van Persie too has matured and filled the boots of the departed French master. Aleksander Hleb has been passing the ball flwlessly and ripping the opposition to shreds with his movement. Flamini has been a revelation, his work-rate has been so impressive that Gilberto has had to sit on the bench. Gallas, now sporting the captain's armband has lead from the front(or from the back, if you prefer) and has formed an impressive central defensive partnership with Kolo toure.

Man United started the season very slowly but have been a juggernaut of late romping down teams by huge margins. Cristiano Ronaldo has started the season from where he left off last term and the goals have been flowing in for the Portuguese winger. Speaking of Portuguese wingers, United new boy Luis Nani has had a great start to his career at his new club and could play an important part in Saturday's clash. The timeless wonder Ryan Giggs( How old is he? 33 now) has been playing good football again this season. He could be the mascot for Energiser(One, because he looks funny and two, because he just keeps going on and on). Rooney and Tevez have started to gel and form a frightening attacking duo, they already have 11 goals between them for the club. ManU's real strength lies in defence. Nemanja Vidic has been one of the finest defenders in the league since last season. Together with Ferdinand, the two have been the major protagonists in a miserly defence.

This really is the irresistible force against the immovable object and so my prediction for the game is a draw.

So, as I get set to sneak off to Kaifu's house to watch the game, I suggest you do the same(watch the game, not sneak off to Kaifu's house), because this one is sure to be a humdinger!

Men to watch: Cristiano Ronaldo(ManU), Francesc Fabregas(Arsenal)
Notable Absentees: Paul Scholes(ManU), Robin van Persie(Arsenal)

My Prediction: Arsenal 2 - ManU 2