…., CRICKET. The last cricket match that I distinctly remember watching was the mauling India received in 2003 at the hands of Australia in the finals of the 2003 World Cup. Shortly after that I left to Virginia Tech and have been here ever since. As p.i.g.s*, a TV in the apartment was not an option. The only form of entertainment was the trusted laptop. I did watch cricket matches on and off, like Sehwag’s 300 against Pakistan, India vs Pakistan in 2005 etc. But the constancy was not there.

Slowly your tastes change and you adapt to what’s available. That is just human nature. You longed cricket, but you could survive otherwise. I was never much of a fan watching cricket on streaming sites or following it ball-by-ball on Cricinfo. NFL and MLB provided me with water to quench the thirst left from Cricket. The more I stayed away from cricket, the lesser I wanted it.

This year was different. In May 2009, Anu and I moved to a place where we have access to Directv. I knew from that day that I would get the cricket package when the World Cup came around in 2011. And now the thirst is back again and I am not getting water, but madeira. Simply put, CRICKET ON HD just rocks.

I find myself waking up at 4 am on most days (other than the minnow’s games) and watching at least one innings before I have to drag myself to work. All the memories of staying late to watch Test matches of Ind v WI, or waking up early to watch Ind v Aus are coming back. Nothing beats the joy of having a cup of tea at 4.30 am watching the game I played, watched, criticized, loved, hated and missed.

Oh my dear love, where were you all these days?? I will never disconnect you………

* Poor Indian Graduate Student