Super Warner

The Proteas had no answer to wonder-boy Warner’s stunning heroics, as he kept clearing the fence of the world’s biggest cricket ground with ease to the delight and amazement of 62,000-odd spectators there. The combined team effort of the fresh and young faces of Australia gave them a much deserved 52-run victory in this T20 encounter at the MCG and redeem some lost pride.

Chasing a more than respectable target of 183, South Africa got off to the worst possible start and never really recovered. Gibbs was leg before the third ball of the innings itself-a touch unlucky to be given out, de-Villiers fell onto the stumps when he got a nasty one from Tait the next over before Kallis being bowled off Hilfenhaus, which left them tottering at 12 for 3 off 4 overs. With his clean and pretty-looking strokes, Duminy somewhat steadied the ship thereafter and milked the bowling for quite some time. After van Jaarseveld’s soft dismissal, much was expected of Boucher but he too departed pretty soon, caught brilliantly in the deep by Mike Hussey, who fell backwards over the mid-wicket boundary to take the catch.
Wickets continued to fall before Duminy but he tried his best to keep one end going. Till he was there, one felt they were alive in the game, though with the rate almost 12-per over, it was a daunting task. The partnership with Albie Morkel gave them some hope as Tait continued to prove expensive, but that didn’t last long as in the 16th over Morkel was caught in the deep off Bracken, who was hard to score of. Once Duminy was caught plumb in front in a mistimed effort of a reverse sweep for a bold innings of 78, the match was effectively over.

This was after the Dave Warner spectacle of muscled strokeplay of the highest quality. In his innings of 89 off 43 deliveries, his trademark crisp heave over midwicket for his sixes left the crowd gasping with astonishment. Ntini, Steyn and Kallis were all treated with disdain as the Proteas had no answer, and the 22-year old completed his fifty in just 19 balls-the second fastest in the world. Ponting never really got going and fell trying to match Warner, but it didn’t matter since the Aussies were 100 on the board in just 10 overs, well poised to go beyond 200. The magician along with David Hussey kept the crowd entertained, before Ntini ended the partnership in the 14th over, taking both their wickets off successive deliveries. Needless to say, Warner was given a standing ovation. Batsmen arrived and departed as South Africa did well thereafter to restrict them to 182 for 9. Morkel, Ntini and Steyn at the death bowled really well to epitomize the never-say-die spirit of their team.

Warner became the first man to debut for Australia in any format without first-class experience since 1877. This occasion will be etched in the minds of the cricketing world, for he has created a sensation out of nowhere. He has a great future in the game, or atleast this format. From unknown origins of club cricket, his story is likely to be synonymous to that of rags to riches. Hats off to the selectors.

Hopman Cup

The duo of Marat Safin and sister Safina just could not finish it off, as Slovakia took the Hopman Cup again. Skills-wise, both of them could have defeated the winners anyday. Results merely show the difference in confluence of tactics, temperament and mental strength.

Dominica Cibulkova and Dominic Hrbaty had the better ingredients in the end, or atleast better luck, it has to be said. First, it was Safina who paid the price for over-trying to be aggressive and gain confidence in her play. With first set secured, she needed a calm head and a balanced approach to wrap up the match, but her forehand continued to betray her and she lost the set, and eventually the match. Cibulkova took strength from her frustration and defeated her without fuss, with least signs of nerves in a somewhat tense match. The match epitomised the importance of confidence. When 1-5 down in the third set, Safina did try to make a comeback, but it was far too late and Cibulkova wasn't going to be broken twice. It was all upto the big man Marat Safin to take revenge and ensure a mixed doubles match to decide the winner.

Personally, I am in awe of the attitude and style of Safin, and with exceptional tennis skills he possesses the
calibre to be among the best in the world for quite some years now. He was confidence personified in his match against Hrbaty, but never went for the kill. That was to be his undoing as Hrbaty continued to fight back and stay in the match, and most amazingly defeat him. At no point in the match except at the death did Hrbaty look better than him, but in the end only results matter. One felt Safin had numerous chances to bury the game, but that did not happen, and a third-set tiebreak decided the fate, in Hrbaty's favour. One could only shake one's head in disbelief and realise why the Russian is among the biggest underachievers of this game.

Marat Safin is unique and fascinating-a croud puller. He announced his arrival with a win against Pete Sampras in the US Open in 2000 with a stunning display of tennis. The dormant volcano erupted on another occasion-the Australian Open 2005, when, on his birthday, he fought off the Federer-at-peak in the semi-finals in a gruelling five-setter, and went on to win the tournament. The world expected a whole lot more than just two grand slams. The Australian Open is the platform-it is time he wakes up one more time.

The true hero

Amazingly talented, multi-faceted, exceptionally creative, having maturity of the highest level and known to be the among the most handsome faces in Bollywood-Aamir Khan is unique. He has been revered and appreciated for every single project in recent years, for not just bringing about mini-revolutions in the industry, but also for redefining entertainment with his movies. Although still a commercial superstar, he has moved beyond just the profit-motive and has taken pains to bridge the gap between art and commercial films through his instinct of getting attracted to peculiar scripts. With his newest piece of work, Ghajini, he has shown that he can master every role, and every script.

The story adopts the old theory of hero, heroin and villain, and contains negligible food for thought or matter of public concern, theme being the culmination of a tragic love story, with hero's revenge against the murderer of his beloved. Action packed with appreciable violence and brilliant screenplay, it has utmost
entertainment value. For many of his fans though, it is a matter of disappointment since being the old reel-life hero isn't what really defines Aamir Khan in Bollywood, but to many others, it was a pleasure to realise and witness his hand in conventional films. In many ways, this movie was a reminder of Aamir's versatility, and as usual, the feature of it were the scenes of perfection and extraordinary acting-his trademark.

In the industry he is mistaken to be mechanical when referred to as "the perfectionist", though he isn't from any stretch of imagination mechanical in his approach towards his profession, or film-making in general. I had seen the making of perhaps his most extraordinary effort till date- Taare Zameen Par, and realised the amount of heart he had put in. He was best friends with the kids of New Era School, Panchgani, and they had more than just fun...an experience of a lifetime. Aamir made them realise that the most essential ingredient of acting is the ability to not act, but the imagination of reality in the acting, and created the most jovial environment possible-the fun factor even got out of hands in some instance. In fact, I doubt whether other actors put so much emotions and heart in their projects. Monotony and non-creativity or non-sensitiveness are antonyms to his personality. The idea of him being robotic, is laughable.

This man represents the urban elites of the nation, and invariably lifts the level of Bollywood through his unique and exceptional contribution. Aamir is only human, but achieves realistic marvels within his limitations that appear magical. The unexpected is expected from him.