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Some random thoughts

Lots been happening that merits longer posts but given that I haven't gotten around to those some tweet style thoughts for now -

1) Kevin Pietersen is a bigger idiot than I had reckoned. And while the ECB haven't shown great sagacity in how they're handling the issue, if I were an England player, I would find it hard to welcome him back to the fold anytime soon.

2) I am probably the one soul on earth who never found VVS Laxman to be as attractive to watch as Tendulkar and Dravid but between 2001-2010 his steeliness in adversity was second to none in the Indian team. India will be hit harder than they realize. Also, the side note to his retirement has to be how the incredible Tendulkar story rolls on. Its mind boggling to think that the little man made his debut before the other big five players (Kumble, Srinath, Dravid, Ganguly, and Laxman) and he's the last man standing.

3) South Africa are deserving of the number 1 tag if only by dint of their brilliant all-conditions away record. But given the fate of the last two teams to hold that spot they will be wary. Very wary. Also, Gary Kirsten is some coach.

4) The upcoming Ind-NZ is a battle between two teams who've been desperately poor at Test cricket recently so it'll be a case of whose confidence holds up. If he gets to play both games, I'm tipping Ojha as man of the series.

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