Once in a blue moon

ALL BASES COVERED – This sporting week has been packed with events that are seldom witnessed. In a week that was truly ‘one-of-a-kind’ in every sense of the term, here are some of the rarest happenings in the realm of sports.
Pak dominant in all formats
After being engulfed with off-field turmoil, our team’s backlash has been valiant. Downing a team that was ranked above us in all three formats was no mean task; and credit goes to Misbah for this massive turnaround in fortunes. The last year has been one of the most successful runs in our Test cricket’s recent history, and that has been coupled with emphatic triumphs in the limited-overs formats. What also stood out in all the three series was how the triumphs were veritable team efforts. The future is looking bright, only if we can steer clear of off-field antics we can continue to climb up the pecking order in world cricket.

Afridi’s responsible displays
Afridi’s exploits in the fourth ODI were from the top-drawer. Rarely, if ever, would one witness the same player digging the side out of a hole with both bat and ball with the team staring down the barrel like we were in Sharjah. Struggling at 97 for six, Afridi performed maturely with the bat and strung together partnerships down the order to ensure that we crept up to the respectability of 200. And with Sri Lanka needing a meager 46 from 74 balls, with Sangakkara and Jayawardene going great guns, it was again Afridi who pulled the rabbit out of the hat.
It would be an understatement to suggest that it’s not every day that Afridi gets a grip on his neurons with the willow in his hand. And, one wonders that if he can perform with maturity in a dodgy little quagmire that we found ourselves in, how exactly would he defend his nonsensical approach to batting for the past 15 years? And again, while his bowling has been progressing towards new heights, before his staggering spell on Sunday rarely has his match-winning exploits with the ball come with the batting side chasing down a moderate total in a pressure cooker situation. This column has been hard on Afridi, and justifiably so. His dexterity has never been in question, the temperament, his inability to act responsibly and perform consistently were. Afridi claimed in his post-match interview that he had a “point to prove”. So now that the point is ostensibly proven, what next? Back to the mindboggling irrationality?
Rarely has an international sportsman been given so much leeway for so long. While his peers have been dropped for prodigiously lesser sins, Afridi’s place has been unfathomably secure despite his inanities. With all this unparalleled latitude and the fact that for someone being touted as a ‘match-winner’ one could handpick three maybe four genuine world-beating performances in ‘clutch time’ in over a decade and a half of cricket, Afridi still has everything to prove.

Federer overawes Nadal
Federer demolition act over Nadal in their group encounter in AWTFs witnessed Federer at his devastating best. Faced with Federer’s consummate stroke play, Nadal was hapless. Despite his supreme skill and pedigree, witnessing Federer dominate Nadal is a sight most rare. With their head-to-head skewed at 17-9 in the Spaniard’s favour, Nadal has always had Federer’s number. Another inimitable stat: four of the nine Federer triumphs have come in indoor arenas – and indoors he leads Nadal 4-0.
Nadal has never made significant inroads in indoor tournaments owing to two decisive factors. First, the indoor season begins at the tail-end of the ATP calendar and hence more often than not Rafa is fatigued out. Second, and more importantly, indoor play connotes that the elements of nature – which quite often are Nadal’s decisive allies – are not there to aid the 10-time Grand Slam champion’s unique brand of tennis. Rafa thrives on all kinds of temperatures and the possibility of climatic fluctuations taking their toll on the opponent is not there. Also, air and wind aid Nadal’s stroke play that is dominated with profuse topspin and kick especially in his trademark forehand and serve.
Federer quite often is seen bogged down on his left flank, and never truly manages to escape that corner in outdoor contests. Therefore, when the menace surrounding Nadal’s deadliest weapon against Federer is moderated R-Fed manages to capitalise resoundingly! Also, indoor turfs are normally slower and since the bounce is regular and even, it also allows the Swiss maestro to run around his backhand and strike his deadly forehand. Nadal might not have been at his best in London this year, but in indoor conditions Federer will always have that edge over his longtime nemesis.

Djokovic loses out to compatriot
Djokovic has had a tame ending to his record-shattering season. And it is understandable since his recent performances have been marred by injury and there are genuine concerns over his body allowing him to replicate this year’s form next year. Nevertheless, even in the worst of times No-Djo does not lose out to fellow Serbians. Prior to his three-set loss against Janko Tipsarevic, Djokovic had a 13-1 record against his compatriots Troicki and Tipsarevic and even that lone loss against Troicki came in the first ever matchup between the two good friends.
The top players do have a grip over their fellow countrymen. Nadal rarely loses to another Spaniard, Federer almost always takes the sting out of Wawrinka and Djokovic has never given either Troicki or Tipsarevic a chance even when they have played their best tennis. This trend has got a lot to do with the fact that when the top players get a measure of a particular opponent they manage to augment their stranglehold, the more often they play. Since players from the same country get to practice together a lot – owing to domestic tournaments, Davis Cup campaigns or even because of growing up together and being hitting partners more often than not – the dominant players gauge most facets of their counterparts. And hence, eventually the gauntlet is thrown to the other players to enhance their repertoire and penetrate out of their shell of underachievement – something David Ferrer has been doing recently; and not only against Nadal, as showcased by his run in London this week. All the same, the fact that three of the top four players have failed to reach the semis in AWTFs is an anomaly in itself.

Arsenal’s European distinction
English teams Champions League dilemma was thoroughly discussed in yesterday’s ‘EPL Crystal Ball’. But Arsenal’s turnaround in their season and the fact that they are the only English team that has qualified for the knockout stages with the final round yet to be played is worth elaborating in synchrony with the theme of this column. Despite Chelsea’s assortment of European heartbreaks, it is Arsenal that is truly the most underachieving English club in Europe. And now that it seems that they are the only English club that will top its group, and hence avoid the big shots in the draw for the last 16. In fact, there is a genuine possibility that Arsenal might be the only English club in the last 16.
Pundits have shown their perplexity regarding the infertility of Wenger’s all-conquering batches on the European front between 1998 and 2004 – an era that had two double-winning sides and the history-defying ‘Invincibles’. In fact, Arsenal’s most fruitful run in the competition came in 2006 when the team was traversing a transitory period. Can this side replicate the achievement of 2006 and maybe go one step better?
Arsenal were drawn in the second toughest group this year, featuring the likes of Marseille – French Champions and Borrusia Dortmund – German Champions who last weekend toppled mighty Bayern in the Allianz Arena. On the other hand, Manchester United have made a meal of their annual gift from UEFA, Chelsea are making a meal of everything that is being put in front of them these days and Manchester City have failed to convert their domestic supremacy in Europe. Arsenal meanwhile, have turned around an abysmal start to the season, and should be optimistic of going deep in most competitions. However, the two biggest stumbling blocks are that when the onus is on them the Gunners are usually out of bullets and the fact that Robin Van Persie is made of glass.

Adam Scott’s bizarre round
It is not every day that someone shoots 9 birdies, and then manages to attract enough antagonistic forces to ensure that he was left four shots behind the leader. Adam Scott managed to accomplish this unique feat in the Australian PGA Championships on Thursday, courtesy his frequent rendezvous with water. Scott shot nine birdies, two bogeys, a double bogey, a triple bogey and five pars en route to a truly bizarre golfing show.
The Australian found water in three of the first five holes and hence despite some characteristically sublime putts, Scott was way off the pace on the leader board. Adam Scott flaunted both the weird and the wonderful on a day which could’ve seen his stamp his authority in the PGA Championships in front of the home faithful. Nevertheless, with Tiger Woods languishing at the 58th spot in world rankings, nothing is exactly flummoxing in the domain of golf these days.

Dramatic events at Mumbai
After four days of run of the mill cricket, the final day at Gymkhana Ground proved to be a nail-biting finale. At the start of the day the safe money was on a draw but after West Indies were bundled out for 134 it left India with an achievable target of 243 in 64 overs. And just when it seemed that Windies have thrown away the match, the match became a ropy affair and every possible result was possible in the dying seconds of the game. Runs were scored, wickets tumbled, and at the end of it all India needed three runs of Fidel Edwards’ final over, with two wickets in hand. Edwards bowled a courageous over, with three dot balls up top, which were followed by Varun Aaron finally managing to conjure up a single. However, in an inexplicable moment of thoughtlessness Ravi Ashwin blocked the penultimate ball, leaving India with two runs to win off the final ball. The last ball was hit down the ground and the duo managed only a single. The fact that at the end of five days of test cricket, the result hinged on the last delivery of the game was a unique occasion in itself. Couple that with the fact that the match actually ended with the scores tied, makes it one of the rarest moments in the history of cricket.