The King is dead, long live the King.....

In a shocking development, Indian cricket was found dead on the cricket field in Port of Spain. Initial reports coming in suggest that it was a case of collective suicide as the body was surrounded by hopelessness and despair. There was also evidence of complacency on the walls. This development comes on the heels of a loss to Sri Lanka in the World Cup 2007. It may be recalled that Indian cricket had set sail for the West Indies 2 weeks ago to stake its claim in the premier one day cricket championship.

Reliable sources have now revealed that Indian cricket was already suffering from money-monia and advert-itis for several years now and experts reckon it is likely that they played a significant role. While these pre-existing conditions were known to everyone, Indian cricket had gone on record to state that there was no connection between the two and these ailments would not hamper its performance on the cricket field. Or so they believed.......

Indian cricket was last seen alive after the series in Pakistan in 2004 when it won the test as well as the one day series. Thereafter, it seemed to have passed its halcyon days and an effort to recreate past glories had not yielded significant results inspite of desperate measures which included a heart and a head transplant and the misguided amputation of a seemingly gangrenous limb which, against all expectations, healed itself and grew back. Nevertheless, no one would have suspected that the end would come so swiftly.

Indian cricket was discovered slumped on the floor, unconscious and barely alive, after the match with Bangladesh by Faith, Hope, Adulation and Patriotism who went in to check when Indian cricket did not answer their impassioned pleas. It was rushed to the St Kitts hospital where doctors from Bermuda declared that nothing seemed to be seriously wrong since all tests carried out on the arms and legs suggested they were moving as required and looked equal to the challenges that were to follow. However, it turned out to be a false hope.

A preliminary autospy conducted on the body revealed no evidence of a spine and testicles. Frustration, Anger and Resentment revealed that this was consistent with manner of death and have now elevated the level of investigation to a full autopsy. We shall bring you the results of the same as and when they are released

Underwriter not available

It happened this morning. I was bitten by the blog bug.

Imagination took flight..........Maybe I have some talent hitherto undiscovered - some acclaim perhaps? A large sip of self indulgence rolled around the tongue and savoured............Maybe even a rank stranger moved enough to leave behind an approving comment - highest order of praise for a weekend blogger. Maybe...... maybe...... maybe even a book with a collection of posts one day!!! A BOOK ??!! It felt heady........

Guess humans are universally designed in a way to believe their own bullshit.

The set up process was easy enough. "Choose a name for your blog". Reflections? Musings? Whats in a name anyway? Come on, lets get this over with and get down to the real stuff. Substance over form; thats the way to go. Fortunately the weak moment passed. I couldn't name what will potentially become a book "Stray thoughts", "Stories from here and there". Too hackneyed.

I reminded myself, its a statement of YOUR personality. YOUR brand name. YOUR label. Make it count. I was like a first time father and fresh resolve surged through.

It should have a play on words. It should have a hint of self deprecation. Maybe some black humour. And it has to convey a person with pretensions to writing. Maybe a "Pretender"? Nope, unoriginal. Maybe an "Upstart"? Too sterile. Too bad Underwriter already means something else in the Queen's lingo. Hang on a sec. Play on words? Tick. Self deprecation. Tick. Black humour. Tick. Pretension to writing? Tick. Thats it! That wasn't tough was it?

I fed in the name. I wasn't even noticing the "check availability" field alongside. "Sorry, name is unavailable". Pipped at the goal post. "Underwriters" perhaps - same theme, almost identical to the original choice. Same result. "Under_writer", "Under_writers". I was getting desperate.

"Underwrite" - only available option. I regarded it with a jaundiced eye. I couldnt kid myself. It may bear an optical resemblance but it cant hold a candle to the original choice. But for now, it would have to do. The great journey would have to start with a faulty spark plug. Guess the world has a way for putting paid to the best laid plans

I wanted to be an underwriter but now I shall now underwrite. I consoled myself saying its only a matter of tense.

Cheers