Monday 2 April 2012

Second wind

They are back again, and like creaking terminators, to borrow Rahul Dravid's words from the Bradman oration. Over the last couple of seasons, you might have thought many times that you had seen the last of them. But the 'oldies' are not ready yet to give up on the fun and games that the IPL is.
That they could beat younger men in their own game was proved in the first edition. A genius, who goes around by the name of Shane Warne, rose like a phoenix from the ashes of retirement and led a bunch of no-hopers to the IPL triumph, underlining the epithet, "The best captain Australia never had" in the process. Unfortunately, he won't be around this time, neither will his glamorous actress girlfriend Liz Hurley. For many, that's going to make Warne's absence even more conspicuous and poignant!
Nevertheless, Adam Gilchrist, pushing 41, Muttiah Muralitharan, touching 40, and India's own troika of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, all closing in on 40, are set to strut their stuff one more time.
They may not have someone like Hurley in tow, won't be adventurous enough to take a swig of beer during the match or practice with a cigarette in hand, or have the impetuosity to brawl with powerful officials, but they all can play as well as that maverick Australian. So cheer up, that's no small consolation

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