Old Habits Die Hard

                Summers in England has always been memorable for India be it NatWest Final victory in 2002 or a heartbreaking defeat in 2019 World Cup Semi Final or the latest scar that we all got on 14th July at Lords. Cricket is my first love and it is the only sport I follow lock, stock and barrel. I will leave ODI and T20 from this article and will come to the most serious facet of Cricket i.e. the Test Match Cricket. 

            I grew watching Indian Cricket in 90s and our performance in that era was pathetically pathetic. I don't remember any match we had won overseas including Sri Lanka. Things only changed when Ganguly took over the captaincy from Sachin after disastrous 0-3 loss to Australia (1999-00 series) and 0-2 home series loss to South Africa (2000). That period was the darkest period of Indian Cricket altogether. Before going to Ganguly period I will come back to the most heartbreaking defeat in 1997. 

            The young Indian Team (Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Abey Kuruvilla, Doda Ganesh, Venkatesh Prasad - out of 11 players these have not played even 10 Test matches till 1997) under the leadership of Sachin faced the world class bowling attack of Ambrose, Walsh and Bishop when it toured West Indies in 1997. In third Test Match of 5 match series, India had to chase 120 runs in the final inning of the match and we lost the match by 38 runs and got all out at 81. This was not a heartbreak, it was an absolute surrender. I could not sleep that night. Many times Sachin has said it on record that it was the most depressing day of his career. This young Indian team could have become immortal but .... 

Another day came just two years later when India had to chase 271 runs in final inning in First Test match against Pakistan in Chennai in 1999. This Indian team was way more experienced and by this time Laxman, Ganguly, Dravid, Prasad etc have all well established themselves.Pakistan had the best bowling attack in the world - Akram, Waqar and Saqlain. Despite of Sachin's valiant inning of 136 runs (I consider this inning as his best Inning ever) we lost the match. It was a true heartbreak. Even to this day we rue our chances in this match. May be Moin Khan cheated in this match. May be it was all fault of our top order.

The Lord's test match is another such heart breaking test match and I can never forget it. We should have won this match. May be Jadeja should have shown some more intent, may be Bumrah should have avoided that shot, may be Nair should have been more watchful! There are so many may be. This match was ours to win. We always celebrate our fight and we are right in doing so. But when our fight will get convert into memorable Test victories.

When we will forget our old habits! When will our swordsman give us memorable victories! I salute his inning in World Cup 2019 Semi Final. I consider this inning as the best inning played by any Indian player in a losing case.

Book Review [172] : The Power Of Now

A book that's more than 5 million copies has been sold since its first publication deserves to be read. 'The Power of Now' by Eckhart Tolle is one such book. Through various random links and twitter accounts of prominent intellectuals this book got my attention.

 

To an eastern mind this book is an average read and "nothing" to offer except to observe the moment that is now without thinking about the past and worrying about the future. Though it looks simple but it's a very powerful concept. Most of the times we live in our past and get ourselves busy in past glory, animosities and lost chances and remaining time gets occupied in future planning. We (most of us) disrespect our present. This book underscores our present.

Over thinking is a major issue. We always think and think and because of this the mental noise always clouds our true inner being. This book also tells how to get rid of this 'absurdity'.

This book is a slim book, about 191 pages. First half is really good and introduces/emphasizes concepts that are really good while second half is pretty boring and looks superfluous.

I will still recommend this book as it has Some Thing to offer depending on how much exposure one has towards spirituality/meditation.

Recommended (8/10)

Book Review [171] : The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind

'The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind' by Dr. Joseph Murphy is the first book i read this year. It has a very high rating and more than a million copies have been been sold since its inception. It was first published in 1963 and since then it has been translated in more than 30 languages.

I found this book very effective. It talks about how to bring positivity in life and how to achieve calmness/greatness. Some may call it pseudo science but it is what it is. Similar concepts we learn when we meditate or do guided meditation or indulge in Yog Nidra. Break the connections between conscious mind and the outer world and let your subconscious mind take control.

Its an old wisdom that says 'Think good and good follows. Think evil and evil follows. You are what you think all day'. It was correct then, it is correct now. 

Nothing can disturb you but your own thoughts. The suggestions, statements or threats of others have no power. What the other person says or does can not really annoy or irritate you except when you permit him to disturb you. You should not let some one else to disturb your peace of mind.

 

Do the thing you are afraid to do, and the death of fear is certain.

Spread light not darkness. 

Spread positivity not negativity.

Spread goodness not evil.

Stay positive, stay good and always make your mind free from all doubts and negative energy. Always start the day on a good note and end the day with a good note. You are the captain of your soul, master of your fate. World is yours dear friend.

Highly Recommended (10/10).