Doing and undoing!

"Don't think of what you have to do, don't consider how to carry it out!" the master exclaimed. 

"The shot will only go smoothly when it takes the archer himself by surprise. 

It must be as if the bowstring suddenly cut through the thumb that held it. 

You mustn't open the right hand on purpose." 

                                                                      - Eugen Herrigel in "Zen in the Art of Archery"

"Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties".... I find the term 'Cricket' in this cliche, a very narrow one and would love to replace it with 'life'!

But, since the business here is Cricket, I let me have it for a start....appropriately so, with what happened in that game between the Oz and Kiwis in Auckland!

After that fairy tale finish in that game, which belonged to the showcase in a museum, I tweeted "Incredible is word which will fall short of description.... and I don't subscribe to 'incredulous' - the skeptics choice".

The Aussies were off to their customary flying start and suddenly lost a bit of sense which got them reduced to 106 for 9!

It is always intrigues me as to what happens in the minds of the bowlers, and why - especially in a crunch contest - after running through the entire top-line of accomplished batsmanship powerfully; and...., and then allow that last one or two men to score a bit and spoil all the great fun that they had!

Eugen Harrigel, while learning the art of archery, in his quest to embrace Zen, found the going tough and said to his master that he was failing despite his conscientious effort to relax. And the Master replied, "That's just the trouble"!

The first 8 batsmen tried to score and tried to retain their wickets and therefore failed, the last batsman lived the moment and thus survived every ball, letting the opposition bowlers "try" to take his wicket - the roles got reversed: and hence the one who failed succeeded and one who succeeded failed!

Zen is a way of life, so is Cricket... so is any other profession! 

The conscientious effort, freezes the mind, tightens the muscles, numbs the reflexes and therefore, renders the one who is putting in the effort, ordinary.

The 'effort' of the Kiwi bowlers in the end allowed Aussies to escape the ignominy of finding their name amongst the other low scorers in the history of the game and the relief that it was all over!

The confidence that the Kiwis got off to, with the explosive start by McCullum, may have urged them to rush and finish-off the game,  and 'enabled' them to lose a few wickets in a rush.

11 runs to go, 4 wickets in hand..... Aussies were merely getting through their motions.... and Daniel Vettori gifted his wicket....!

5 runs remaining, 27.3 overs to go, 3 wicket in hand!  

Nothing to lose in any case, and so Starc runs in and just bowls...effortlessly, which incidentally lands as a couple of perfect yorkers and two more wickets in succession! 

Still 5 runs remain, 27.1 overs to go, 1 wicket in hand!!  Everything swayed, and lost a bit of sanity, nails of countless fingers got chopped off without a cutter... the crowd and the commentators screamed in delirium!

The last man facing the last ball of Starc who was on a hat-trick.  Suddenly, the Aussies starts 'planning' to take that wicket and grab the victory from nowhere! 

Aussies forgot that they reached this stage, in this match, not because of their effort; but inspite of it..., inspite of them... because they had letgo! When they had nothing to lose, they got everything. 

The proximity of victory, made historic by its bizarreness, made them to 'try conscientiously'.... they wanted to take charge and that effort made Starc bowl that last ball way outside the line allowing the 'prey' escape.

Still Aussies can win, New Zealand can win or even a tie - as they say, all three results was also possible. 

Williamson, who witnessed the heap of wickets fall, standing on the other end, probably thought enough is enough and swung his bat..., not sure on purpose or despair...., at the first given opportunity and the ball soared high into the stands!

The Kiwis scrambled through....just. 

It certainly could not have been planned, but in the end, everyone would say (except the Aussies) that it was a poetic justice!

We are in for more exciting matches in the days to come!  As I write this, England just compiled 309 runs against the Srilankan's and we are in for an exciting game!

To continue...