The third round. Probably the decisive day when the lineup for the knock out stages is determined. Can Raptors budge themselves from zero wins and make an attempt for the knock out stages? Can Challengers open their tally or would they forever remain challenged? Will Vandals and Intimidators be able to keep the winning streak by the end of the day? An exciting day ahead of us, and we will get to predictions but before that some secrets from the power aisles of ACL.
a. Lalit Modi sent a memo last week to retrospectively ban any player who was dancing after the completion of any match on grounds of indecent behavior (if you don't know about what happened read the last blog). It was only withdrawn after people brought to his notice Psycat did something after the ACL 1 finals which was at best categorized as dancing.
b. Gladrags has been trying to make deals with teams owners/players. Recently he has entered into negotiations to "borrow" players from Challengers who will most probably be knocked out today. The deal is likely to get stuck because of two reasons. One, Craydit is trying to sell his entire team rather than loaning players and even Gladrags can sense that it is not going to be helpful for him. Second, Lalit Modi has passed an immediate executive order to disallow any transfers before the end of the season. Now at least you got to agree with some decisions of Lalit Modi.
c. In the last round the umpires made some embarrassing errors that made the self styled ACL executive committee (basically Lalit Modi + anybody else committee) take a hard look at the selection of umpires. It is the premise that umpires are chosen from a 'focus' group. It is not unclear that the "embarrassing decisions" seem to favor certain team/teams. So, this time around you might see surprising new umpires. How surprising the decisions will be?
d. Einstein and Craydit skipped the last round of matches for a 'knowledge' hangout at some swanky place. It is understandable to see Craydit missing matches. You might also empathize with with. For Einstein though it does not cut after his thoughtful contributions to the team - a. Making sure that the team wears the most disturbing color of jersey with the weirdest logo possible, b. Delegating Sumi with overall responsibilities without Sumi knowing about it, c. Making sure they do not have a assigned captain and last but not the least, d. Making players sit through Basanti's sessions on "How text mining can help you improve your game - A panel discussion with Basanti, Einstein and Chadra Sir"? The rumor is that attendees still don't know what game they were talking about. Seriously?!
e. Black Label, it seems, is busy writing/preparing (by delegating this to, the ever enthusiastic, hired by anyone for anything, Un.H) for the Intimidators victory speech after the finals. Clearly he has out done the blogger and predicted not only this round, the line-ups for the knockouts but an Intimidators victory. Little does he know that the initial successes of the team have been based on one players' effort and some dispirited, clueless oppositions. Not only that he has also been attracting too much attention to his team which is making the clearly better teams train their guns on Intimidators. Not very strategic, don't you think?
f. News is that Vindaloo will not be playing any further for Vandals. This is the last message which he posted to all his team-mates: "Friends- we did it! I cannot thank enough for all that contributions that I made during the matches (blogger add: which was mostly shouting incomprehensibly at anything) but I would also like to call out the enthusiasm with which you heeded to my pin - point strategies. It was really good. Supernova is down and dusted and I am over and out". The rumor is that excited by his dancing skills, he has gone to learn more from the Cheerleaders of Pune Warriors. The question is that - what does he plan to do after learning traditional Indian dance form??
As you see, some very interesting updates that no one is trying to provide you. Now to predictions:
1 Supernova vs. Raptors: It will be Supernova's match to lose and Raptors match to win. Both are evenly matched with rubbish players bolstered by one/two/half good players. What Raptors desperately lack though is strategy and match guidance.As they say, a herd of Lions led by a donkey is easily defeated by a herd of donkeys led by a Lion. In Raptor's case the lead person is still a WIP. Hey Ram's strategy and Lalit Modi's encouragement (he should start being more vocal though) should guide Supernova through.
2. Vandals vs. Ravens: Vandals are clearly the superior side. Good batting and bowling options are available. Ravens are limited in their resources but fiesty in their approach. The other thing with Vandals is that the pressure of winning is gone and there are no clear leaders after Vindaloo. If Vandals come through this test they should be considered an extremely good competitor in the final round. For Ravens the older pros, Another Bun and Kalizabban have to start performing. I would predict Vandals getting edged out by Ravens in a close contest.
3. Challengers vs. Raptors: Aah, the battle of the minnows. Raptors most likely would be playing this after getting defeated in the first match. They also do not have many match fit players. This would be the best opportunity for Challengers to register their first win. Byra missed out the last match and Nanu was in decent form. If Challengers are able to get their bowling act together, which I feel they will, they will win this one.
4. Supernova vs. Intimidators: Tough one to predict. Damru and BR Hills are doing well for Challengers. The team's confidence is high and they have players who can field. Supernova should be coming off a win from their earlier match and they would be raring to go. It should be a good contest if Hey Ram does not fail for Supernova. I will predict an Intimidators win owing to the momentum and better depth in their side.
All set then. As always thanks for reading the blog (but says a lot about how jobless you all are to be honest) , and join back next week for post match recaps!
Cheers!
a. Lalit Modi sent a memo last week to retrospectively ban any player who was dancing after the completion of any match on grounds of indecent behavior (if you don't know about what happened read the last blog). It was only withdrawn after people brought to his notice Psycat did something after the ACL 1 finals which was at best categorized as dancing.
b. Gladrags has been trying to make deals with teams owners/players. Recently he has entered into negotiations to "borrow" players from Challengers who will most probably be knocked out today. The deal is likely to get stuck because of two reasons. One, Craydit is trying to sell his entire team rather than loaning players and even Gladrags can sense that it is not going to be helpful for him. Second, Lalit Modi has passed an immediate executive order to disallow any transfers before the end of the season. Now at least you got to agree with some decisions of Lalit Modi.
c. In the last round the umpires made some embarrassing errors that made the self styled ACL executive committee (basically Lalit Modi + anybody else committee) take a hard look at the selection of umpires. It is the premise that umpires are chosen from a 'focus' group. It is not unclear that the "embarrassing decisions" seem to favor certain team/teams. So, this time around you might see surprising new umpires. How surprising the decisions will be?
d. Einstein and Craydit skipped the last round of matches for a 'knowledge' hangout at some swanky place. It is understandable to see Craydit missing matches. You might also empathize with with. For Einstein though it does not cut after his thoughtful contributions to the team - a. Making sure that the team wears the most disturbing color of jersey with the weirdest logo possible, b. Delegating Sumi with overall responsibilities without Sumi knowing about it, c. Making sure they do not have a assigned captain and last but not the least, d. Making players sit through Basanti's sessions on "How text mining can help you improve your game - A panel discussion with Basanti, Einstein and Chadra Sir"? The rumor is that attendees still don't know what game they were talking about. Seriously?!
e. Black Label, it seems, is busy writing/preparing (by delegating this to, the ever enthusiastic, hired by anyone for anything, Un.H) for the Intimidators victory speech after the finals. Clearly he has out done the blogger and predicted not only this round, the line-ups for the knockouts but an Intimidators victory. Little does he know that the initial successes of the team have been based on one players' effort and some dispirited, clueless oppositions. Not only that he has also been attracting too much attention to his team which is making the clearly better teams train their guns on Intimidators. Not very strategic, don't you think?
f. News is that Vindaloo will not be playing any further for Vandals. This is the last message which he posted to all his team-mates: "Friends- we did it! I cannot thank enough for all that contributions that I made during the matches (blogger add: which was mostly shouting incomprehensibly at anything) but I would also like to call out the enthusiasm with which you heeded to my pin - point strategies. It was really good. Supernova is down and dusted and I am over and out". The rumor is that excited by his dancing skills, he has gone to learn more from the Cheerleaders of Pune Warriors. The question is that - what does he plan to do after learning traditional Indian dance form??
As you see, some very interesting updates that no one is trying to provide you. Now to predictions:
1 Supernova vs. Raptors: It will be Supernova's match to lose and Raptors match to win. Both are evenly matched with rubbish players bolstered by one/two/half good players. What Raptors desperately lack though is strategy and match guidance.As they say, a herd of Lions led by a donkey is easily defeated by a herd of donkeys led by a Lion. In Raptor's case the lead person is still a WIP. Hey Ram's strategy and Lalit Modi's encouragement (he should start being more vocal though) should guide Supernova through.
2. Vandals vs. Ravens: Vandals are clearly the superior side. Good batting and bowling options are available. Ravens are limited in their resources but fiesty in their approach. The other thing with Vandals is that the pressure of winning is gone and there are no clear leaders after Vindaloo. If Vandals come through this test they should be considered an extremely good competitor in the final round. For Ravens the older pros, Another Bun and Kalizabban have to start performing. I would predict Vandals getting edged out by Ravens in a close contest.
3. Challengers vs. Raptors: Aah, the battle of the minnows. Raptors most likely would be playing this after getting defeated in the first match. They also do not have many match fit players. This would be the best opportunity for Challengers to register their first win. Byra missed out the last match and Nanu was in decent form. If Challengers are able to get their bowling act together, which I feel they will, they will win this one.
4. Supernova vs. Intimidators: Tough one to predict. Damru and BR Hills are doing well for Challengers. The team's confidence is high and they have players who can field. Supernova should be coming off a win from their earlier match and they would be raring to go. It should be a good contest if Hey Ram does not fail for Supernova. I will predict an Intimidators win owing to the momentum and better depth in their side.
All set then. As always thanks for reading the blog (but says a lot about how jobless you all are to be honest) , and join back next week for post match recaps!
Cheers!
2/4
ReplyDeleteOh!!! Fall in performance!!!
Boss it is 1/4. Worst performance!
ReplyDeleteI also want to attend - "How text mining can improve your game- a panel discussion". Should be interesting..
ReplyDeleteEinstein has a wrong perception about SUMI, rightly spoken next thing is that takla cant play he cant just be in his own world thinking about his hair in the past.Raptors if led properly will be a good team.
ReplyDeleteThe ACL website is showing all the wrong numbers , the batsman have been given extra runs which they have not scored in the entire match and the wickets taken by bowlers are shown less in numbers. i feel there is some scam running here to declare the best batsman and best bowler of the tournament and either score keeper has taken money or may be website owner from there favorite players.
ReplyDeleteIs ACL mein Takla kaa jaadu nahi chala...
ReplyDeleteTakla par betal ne Bangali jaddu kar diya hai , now he is not in his control isiliye uska jaadu nahin chal rahan hai......koi takla ke takle par nimbu mirchi band do......phir dekhna next match mien kya hota hai:):):):):)
DeleteVandals is the team to beat......anybody up for the challenge ? we will rip the teams apart.....go Vandals...
ReplyDeleteohh...look who is commenting....going by the history...Vandals have never won the tournament, we have seen this in earlier edition also...after winning all their league matches...they were laid to rest by Supernova...this edition will also be the same.....
ReplyDelete