Cricket was the loser
I Test between INDIA - PAKISTAN 2006

For a series, which was billed almost 10 times as intense and interesting as the Ashes, the opening test was an anticlimax. All the excitement that is usually associated with an INDO-PAK contest was missing in the match.The much expected tussle between the Pakistani bowlers and the Indian batsmen was not to be seen as the pitch was heavily loaded in favour of the batsmen.

The batsmen from both sides had a feast of runs as the bowlers toiled without any reward. The pitch was so dead that even one of the most mentally strong bowlers of the modern era , Anil Kumble and one of the Fastest bowlers of all time Shoaib Akthar failed to make any impact. The match brought back memories of a similar kind of a lifeless pitch in Colombo where Jaysuriya and Mahanama Pounded the Indian attack to ground
in a world record stand for the 2nd wicket.

There is no disrespect to the batsmen of both sides. A century is still a Century and they deserve all the credit. But if you ask them personally they would not rate these innings among their best efforts. This is why I believe we should not read too much in to the statistics of this match. If Geoffrey was watching this match he would have said,“ MY MOM COULD HAVE MADE RUNS ON THIS PITCH”. In fact I was not surprised When Wasim Akram told the other day on television that he would like to come out of retirement and bat on this wicket.

All Said and done it is the onus of the administrators to look after the game. They must ensure that such no contest pitches are never produced. The Pitch should be sporty and it should encourage all facets of the game. Even if the pitch slightly favors the home team it is not a sin, but to produce a pitch like this is inexplicable.

There is no other game in this world, which has the intricacies of test cricket. With the advent of one-day cricket test cricket has lost its charm. The real test for any cricketer is the TEST MATCH. It is the highest platform where every cricketer loves to make his mark. He strives to earn respect among his peers by establishing himself in test cricket. Will the cricket administrators give a thought to all these and take steps to protect this wonderful game which all loveSo dearly? It remains to be seen.

Sujatha's Masterpiece," A novel titled Yeappodhum Penn"

One of the most difficult things in the world is reading the mind and heart of a woman. In our country women have always been treated either as goddesses or miserably scorned. There have been very few who have treated women as equals and given them the respect they deserve by lending an ear to know what they think and feel. In this day and age women have become independent and self-sufficient. They have earned the respect because of their economic independence but still they are not completely understood and their feelings continue to remain confined within their heart.

This book talks about those same feelings, which are in the heart of every woman. Things that go through a woman’s heart at every stage of her life is so beautifully described by the author. The influence of the external world and society in the shaping of her attitude is shown with brilliant examples. Author gives a rational explanation to the ,sometimes, strange behavior of women, which have puzzled us for centuries. Answers to the questions like why a girl child likes a particular doll, why some adolescent girls have inhibitions about sex while some others are too curious and why some women hate men are explained in a way only Sujatha can.

Not only these, there are also concrete scientific evidences and explanations throughout the book which give us a lot of information. For instance the description about the stage by stage development of a fetus in to a complete Child would cause envy to many physiology professors.

The story is also not devoid of the old classic literature touch. There are small snippets of poem lines between chapters, which show the author’s proficiency in the language. There is also a sincere attempt by the author to make the story contemporary to the period it was written. I would like to remind the readers that this story was written in a monthly magazine long back as a serial story.

The only low point in the book I see is the usage of a particular slang which is not common and acceptable to all sections of tamil speaking public.Those who do not understand the slang may get bored with the book.But for those who understand the enjoyment is doubled. May be the author wanted it tobe that way.

This book is a must read for people who indulge in watching and enjoying pornography and other stuff that dehumanize women. They will definitely not look at women as lifeless objects of pleasure after reading this book.