Jupiter was chasing the Moon

 

During the night of yesterday,

The Jupiter was chasing the Moon.

Some said it chased the glazy eclipse,

Others said it chased the shiny full moon.

Victory still measured by the foot

 

On Infantry Day, a friend sent me this heart warming message:

I thanked the friend and said to him: while the world has changed to SI system, thankfully we are still following the FPS (foot, pound, second) system.

Net Run Rate India: at the end of 24 Oct 2023

 In my last post I wrote about some folks celebrating Mr Viral Kohli's century against Bangladesh. Mr Kohli once again played for his own statistics when playing against New Zealand. Instead of quickly securing victory, he played to secure his century. He failed of course to get his century.

It is now clear that despite India being on top of the table, she is third in the net run rate. Here is the table at the end of play on 24th Oct 2023.

 

(click on the table to view the full table)

The difference between India and South Africa's run rate is more than 1, or, India is approximately 51 runs behind South Africa in every game till now. 

South Africa and New Zealand have a fixture on 1st November. One of them will win. India also has a tryst with South Africa later. One of us will win. But clearly, all things being equal, it is more than likely that the NRR will decide the top position. The second and third position in the semis do not matter as much, because each will play against the other in the semis. It is the top team that will meet the weakest of the four in the semis.

Right from the word go India should have aimed at setting up a runaway net run rate. Individual statistics are subservient to team goals.

Net Run Rate: India

 

As per espncricinfo.com the 'Net Run Rate of a team is calculated by deducting from the average runs per over scored by that team throughout the competition, the average runs per over scored against that team throughout the competition'.

So, why are we celebrating Mr. Virat Kohli's century against Bangladesh? India could have easily finished the innings in 40 overs, as opposed to the current 41 overs and 3 balls. When finishing the innings in 40 overs, we could have got a better net run rate and would have inched more towards first position in the tally. Why are we so cavalier about our ultimate goal? Why are we celebrating individual achievement so lustily?

Or, have I missed something very obvious?

That night I was really dreaming

 

I looked for you in the crowd,

Then, I looked for you among the stars.

That day I was day dreaming,

That night I was really dreaming.

Someone's wish, other's despair?

 

Through the night 

When all the lights dimmed

In the streets outside

He collected all the tears

That had fallen,

And, through the night

When the clouds disappeared

And the stars had started falling,

She collected all the stars

That had fallen

And I wondered,

If the sky was weeping,

And, are the stars and tears

Just the same,

Someone's wish, other's despair?

Dear Kalpavruksha

 

Dear Kalpavruksha,

How are you doing?

It's been a while

Since I sent you my wish.

Was it lost in transmission?

Or, will it yet arrive

Saddled on Pegasus?

So, how do wishes work

In your garden?

First in, first out?

Last in, first out?

Or, is there a shelf life of wishes?

How do you do it?

When someone's wish

Is another's curse?

Does it hurt when someone says,

It's all wishful thinking?

*Kalpavruksha: the wishing tree in Indralok

Mirror Opposites

 

  Have you noticed that अक्लमंद and मंदबुद्धि are almost mirror opposites in more ways than one?