Raja Muthirai - Book review

One of the Sandalyan's best. But I never got to know about the book untill I read. Actually I went to the library to borrow Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan. As that was not available I had to settle with this (The first tamil novel I wanted to read was Ponniyin selvan but I completed as many as 7 before that due to unavailability). Its goes with usual Sandalyan's style. If you don't like his style, then you wont like any of his books. He is someone who goes into the detail of explaining. It wont be entertaining throughout. There will be lows (the boring part due to too much explanation). But the high part that will follow, will run swiftly without your knowledge. When you realise, it will already be morning. That is the best part I like about him.

What this book is about?

Raja Muthirai is a story about the pandiyas. Of the Sandalyan's book this is the one which has a non-chola hero. The hero is the great Vira pandiyan brother of Sundara pandiyan (MGR has done this character in Madhurai Meetha Sundharapandian). The story deals with investigation of the pearl robbery in the country which is the biggest source of the country's income.  In the meantime, Muthukumari, daughter of Sundarapandiyan is kidnapped. The culprit is found to be Veera Ravi Udhaya Marthanda Varman (I like this name a lot!!), the Chera King. What unfolds is the lead up to the war and the war between the two Tamil Kings.

The situation is very bad for the pandiyas as they are rebuilding their empire from scratch. With few thousand soldiers how tactically they win is the interesting plot of the story. But the story is not completely about it. There is Sandalyan's touch to it. The romance. Two couples and lot of love. Story goes with the history and few characters are fictional. For example, Vira Pandiyan's lover. She has been shown as a typical girl in the first half but a fierce warrior in the second. The intimacy between them in the middle of tensed war situation shows how naughty the Sandalyan's hero is.

More than the war, the lead up and the war strategy is what that keeps you engaging. 

The material that is used in the climax to win the battle is explained something similar to today's Mortar (Beerangi). This is unbelievable those days, but barring that, you will get a feel of a period film. This again is one of Sandalyan's best and must read!!

Are we grooming the right guy for Lead spinner?

Ravichandran Ashwin. All set to become the fastest Indian to 100 test wickets. From a bigger picture he is the man for the future. But does he have that in him to lead the spin attack for another 5-10 years? Lets analyse.

16 tests, 90 wickets is no mean achievement. He has lead the spin attack after the disastrous tour of England to high success. R Ashwin - Take a bow.

But that is not what a critic will look at. There are lot more to it. Out of the 16 tests, 13 were played in India.


So he is very good in Indian or Sub-Continent conditions. We have 3 other teams in the Sub-Continent were he can be useful. Again, this is a wrong impression if you dig further deep. Out of these 13, 9 were played against weaker opponents (West Indies, New Zealand & Australia). The only stronger team to tour was England and they dominated him to the max. He looked dull, out of confidence and looked like he was not the man for the mission (To lead the spin attack).

His only overseas tour was a disaster. There is no more to discuss on that tour. He was simply out played. He was comparatively a better batsman.

So where is the problem? He is highly successful in the shorter format. The answer lies here. Ashwin knows what it needs to succeed in the shorter format. Variations. He has very good carrom ball, faster one, slower one. When he tried to apply them in tests, he was successful but only against weaker opponents who were unable to play him. But England showed how to play him. They were patient and made Ashwin to make mistake. He did and they succeeded.

When you look at the Indian spin legends, they stick to a line and length and drew the batsmen forward. They were successful. Waited for the batsmen to make mistake. Patience is the key which is missing from Ashwin.

But he looks to improve in the current series. He keeps bowling good deliveries and doesn't show much variations which is very good at this level. Although Aussies are weaker, this change from him is really positive.

Does this solves the complete problem? Will he be successful overseas or he will again be a flop show like Bhajji? That depends on how quick learner he is. Kumble doesn't have any variations but he was the man for the mission. He was highly successful in any conditions. There are lot of take away for Ashwin from the Jumbo.

I have made another observation in the current series. The discovery of Jadeja. Highly criticized player of modern times. His bowling is good if not great. He sticks to the line, odd ball turns and keeps a tight line. He puts a constant pressure on the batsmen from one end. To me he looks like a lead spinner in the alien conditions. But long way to go Jadeja!!

Clarke - The leader by example

When we think of an Australian player, especially an Australian captain, the thing that strikes our mind is attitude. After the monkeygate incident and the infamous Sydney test of 2008, the Australians are stamped as unsportive.

Yes!! You should have the spirit to not lose a game but that should be the right spirit. But the mighty Aussies of the last decade got used to the habit of winning that the defeat was unacceptable to them. They sledge, do all non sense on the field to distract and win the match. They were talented but they were also the most hated for their attitude. Kumble, the then captain, went on to say "There was only one team playing in the spirit of the game". Ponting was a major contributor.

But now, the transitional side, under Clarke is a much different one. The sledging came down and the team now looks to play in the right spirit. A very good example was witnessed recent Mohali test. They were defending a below par total of 133. India need to go at a brisk pace to avoid a draw. But the over rate, never dipped. That is the right thing to do and Clarke did it. There were no time wasting tactics involved.

There maybe couple of reasons involved in this change.

One is the captain. Captain is the face of the team. He gives a perspection about the character of team. Clarke is a good guy, atleast from my point of view. His approach is positive. He tries to lead the team by example. He knows the team is struggling. He saw legends retire. Now its his turn to rebuild the team. All he can do is do the bulk of scoring which he does constantly.

The second reason might be the drop in performance level of the team. they are no more the force to recon with. Their confidence level is low.

So what is the real reason in the change in the behaviour out of these two? We are getting the answer in current Delhi test. There is no Clarke and the Aussie aggression is back. I could see sledging during Kohli dismissal and Rahane play. So how one man can make a difference. That's a great thing about this guy. Today he maybe at the receiving end. He is in the process of building his team. Once done, he is all set to rule the world.

All the best pup!!