Life as it is

Every day, I am learning new things about life. The thing which always puzzled about me was that why I get week knees so often with no apparent reason. I deduced from my experience that I give more importance to people with whom I interact, I just focus on that person and forget about myself. My experience, age, achievements all go for a toss and there in front of others I am completely focused on controlling them with what I can pull. As per my nature I value honesty too much and (damn, sometime I regret it) I simply am a pathetic liar. Positive side of this is that I get trust from people of being a good and sensitive guy. But what the hell, this is not going to stop when I stand in their run; they all feel not a pinch when they toss me away. I agree I am down-to-earth; I attach myself to my belongings, my friends and my past. So, I need to learn some Buddha’s teaching of moderation and letting go any want of worldly things. But the most important thing I desire is trust from everyone I meet. This sometime makes me look too naive or simple with no air of attitude. Some of my college friends told me that I don't of any attractive personality and I am hardcore idealist. But then I am learning moderation, and I find myself always doing the balancing act in any confrontation between my friends.
So, what did I learn from my upbringing by idealist parents? My mother is a religious lady and has a rebellious streak but keeps it in control and normally throws her tantrums in home only. My father is socially a nice guy but has very less time for his family. Also, I never felt that he is part of our family at all. Though when I was young (I am youngest in my family), I used to love my father and used to think that I will also become a doctor like him. But soon reality dwelled on me and me and my elder brother decided that whatever happens we will never ever go to medical profession. Yes, I hate this profession. People who love this normally give a very lame argument that they want to serve the society but they are really dreaming. Its materialistic society and being doctor is your job that will give you yours livelihood. You will sometime save lives, you may help somebody to regain their health but truth is you are getting paid for it. Sometimes you may provide your services for free but it will always be rarity, not the norm. So, how people will see you?

When being doctor was a novelty as there were very few educational institutes and also people were not that financially strong, people regarded medical profession as sacred. Though doctor's life is same as it was, they do the same thing though load might have become more; people's perspective about this profession has completely changed. In past, getting medical care itself was a prized service. Most of the towns, cities were not having doctors and people regarded themselves as they regard many other rare things. Respect was attached to this profession as life saving and health benefits were also novelty. Now, doctors are in every street. Though, ratio of number of doctors and population in India is still pathetic compared to any developed nation but now people don't see doctors as rare species. Professionalism and business sense has also crept in the medical services, thus you have so many nursing homes, hospitals owned by business families only for monitory reasons. They still emphasis that main motive is social service but everyone knows that this is far from truth. Doctors are regarded in same way as salesman selling their services, and Indians have little narrow vision for service providing people. Thus, doctors are clubbed in as same as teachers, servants and stage performers. Though they all are very different professions but Indian social mentality forgets the differences completely and put them in same bucket. On the same note teaching profession has also suffered the same fate as medical. Now, doctors are considered as they doing their work because they are being paid for it, negative impression has become more prominent.
My father has made his career completely on his own. He didn't have big support from family as family itself was fighting for its survival. He lived in an orphanage as my grandfather had died when my father was 11 years old. As for numbers, family was huge with four sisters and three brothers. Elder brother of my father had to stop his education and start working as peon (its lowest level in government offices). My father and his younger brother were put in orphanage as family was not able to afford their care. My father's elder brother then fought hard with his work and study, after some years he was able to complete his school and moved in for teaching. My father had a good education record and he was a merit holder in secondary board exams. My grandfather had died because of TB, lots of booze and no medical care, so my father had decided that he will become doctor and stay in his hometown. He got in medical college and with some hiccups was able arrange some financial support through scholarships. He finished his MBBS and started his practice. Money was always a sore point for family at that time. Also, with this kind of harsh beginning no one can expect my father to be very sensitive, he never had much experience of family so he treated and treats his family as he treats others. He used the same scale to judge us, his children, as being used by outsiders to judge us; "You need to perform and show your value to get any recognition". There was no support except some critical comments. We (my brothers and I) always were got criticism from him for anything we did. As he believed in old Indian philosophy of pointing out only negative things for perfection, he followed it to the hilt. My eldest brother broke down first; he was put in military school to chase my father's dream of air force pilot. After rigorous ragging, brother lost the stream and came crashing down, running from hostel and making hell of his exams record. My father, never got any sympathy, so, he never showed any and kept on pressing hard my eldest brother to the cliff, from where he fell down, never to stand again. My eldest brother, with some years delays, finally able to clear his school but had a depression problem to carry on. My second elder brother, who dreamt initially of becoming an ace pilot was chasing my dad's other dream of making him a doctor to carry on his practice. Second brother was lucky enough to get some support from teachers in his early school life and when he finally finished his school with great colors, he rebelled. He went for engineering, not because he loved it but for getting away from medical profession. As for his poor fitness, going to army was not an option. When I was in school, everybody expected me to become doctor as I was the last hope for my father to carry on his practice. But I hated it as I said previously. For me, being doctor was never an option. I loved the sky, stars and rocks floating around in vast space. Father considered as a waste of time. Though my teachers also supported my interests but they can't be part of my family duel. So, my astronomy books and notes usually came under scissor and discouragement. At that time my second brother had already got in engineering college, so, I thought that’s the way out. I was not so great in studies but managed fairly. After schooling, I had to drop one year as I was not able clear entrance exam for engineering just after my schooling. I was not staying with my parents, so that was ok, though my uncle was always there to keep my father's tradition of criticism. I was aiming for aerospace and was afraid of getting good rank in entrance exam which may give chance to my father to push for some of his doctrine. My father now had to compromise as he had realized how much we hated doctors. My tutors were left wondering when I told them that I don't want higher ranks. They considered me as some nerd as I was good in numbers and physics. Somehow I was able to scrap through the entrance exam and got call from some of the best engineering colleges and there I did one of the many blunders in my life. To give me support in my blunder, my father was there with me. I chose other engineering stream, instead of aerospace as per my brother's misinformation about aerospace's prospectus. I pulled myself miserably through four years of engineering. Best part of all this was that I was having some close friends who with their different upbringings had complete different views about life. In last year of college, due to one of my senior's encouragement, I went for an entrance exam for management. Again, I was able to scrap through that exam and went to one of the most prestigious institute. Irony was that I was not aiming for that institute and was aiming for another institute with less rigorous academics, I faired poorly in interview for that institute. So, next 2 years, again I spent wondering about what is life and all that stuff. I simply was and am careless in my academics and my record shows that. I always found myself doing something I don't like. Astronomy was one pet hobby which survived my father's criticism and I still carried it with wherever I went.
I inherited my father's way of judging everyone with the results. Intentions, faith, optimism were not part of my outlook. And most criticized subject of my scrutiny was always me, myself. It gave me lots of doubts about being me and my capabilities. Good thing was I also inherited my mother's rebellious streak. I put myself down (no need for others) but still I continue to fight, keep on stretching myself. Though I try to keep myself calm but I panic normally when given of lots of time to decide. In new and changing conditions, I find myself without fears and lesser doubts. Give me more time, I will go down the well; ask me instantly, I will be hold on to myself. My most of achievements were mainly due to my short jumps only. I am so good at putting pressure on myself that other pressures seem minute. So, now I have so much experience in working under pressure.
From the recent experience, I finally realized that judging by results is good, rational and right way but right intention is also important. Truth is in public you will be judged by results only but in your private circle, it’s the right intention which is more important. I still have a long way to go in changing my outlook but as I am, I can't stop. Family is there for emotional support only and without it you become a ruthless machine. Machine may function with complete rationality, but human mind with its imaginations stay full with doubts which choke its function. Rationality helps in finding the right path but emotional support is needed for the courage to walk on that chosen path.
"Have the right intention and honesty, judge yourself in terms of this, leave the results for others. Love your family and friends which keep you going. Love everything there is, not what is not and work for what you dream to get. There is no way down other then your self-loathing, so cheer up and keep running."

Freedom of expression in India

First the news which I am going to talk about; "Controversial book on Rajiv Gandhi withdrawn". This news state that a book was withdrawn by publisher because it contained some controversial comments by author on the former indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. Comments were about Gandhi's naiveness as a politician and one about Bofors deal; calling him as a traitor. As for reality, we can't say somebody is naive politician if many indians just feel great after a look on him, they will walk many miles, stand in hot sun jsut for a glimpse. This discription is of more like a film star but thats the Gandhi family, politicians with a touch of glamour. Even their current generation is maintaining this hype and in the same way indians, mostly rural, consider them more than any movie star. I am in no way in agreement with this stupidity but I am also no way against people's foolishness. If people want to believe in someone then they are sa free as me in not believing in one. Now, the author's (author of the controversial book in the news) views can't be claimed right or rational but repressing it or banning it is even more stupidity. If someone is shouting wrong things then the right solution may be to show the facts to him or anyone who wants to see, it will be utter foolishness, if I try to put a cloth in that person's mouth and choke him, so that he can't speak.
Repression gives him more creditibility and this is the same thing politicians have done by pressurising for withdraw of this book. They call themselves better politicians but this whole issue shows their thick headedness. This thing also shows that most of the indians in power are not argumentative, they prefer pledging their obedience to their superiors and demand the same from their juniors, no place for arguments. Submission should be complete as per 'Brahmins' or the indian power holders. This culture is just not limited to political powerhouses, its a norm in every institution in India. Be it a corporate house or some government's bureaucratic offices. Superiors, not only in work even in educational institutes demand adherence to their words of mouth, they don't feel oblige to explain anything. No wonder, indian education system stinks of hypocrisy and it chokes creativity. While talking about education, media even shows their narrow mindedness when blaming this suffocation of human mind on few institues which though not been free of this culture still offer a passage out of this strangulation. People talk about brain drain, in the same breath they talk about these institutes being responsible. Yes, they are responsible because choking brain always look for a way out to freedom and thankfully these institutes have build a reputation of giving people a chance.
Again on the point of freedom of expression, indian powerholders always preferred yes-man than a person questioning their judgements, even our god wants complete submission to his/her authority. The way indian culture suffocated and braught down to her knees in front of agressor outsiders is just not part of history, its in the nature of indian society.

Festival of colors

Through out the years, the perspective of people has been changing with times. Their priorities, their customs and rituals take a complete new shape with the moving social scenarios and popular thinking. Festivals as a mean of social gathering and 'collective entertainment' has always been very important for all societies, be it Christmas, be it Id, be it Diwali or Holi. All festivals have a common theme of uniting families, friends and at large societies. This communal gathering serves the purpose of making everyone feel as a part of a group, this helps him to relate with the larger group. Thus, festivals become a mirror of social priorities and their unity. Disintegration of a society as such will appear first in changing festival rituals.

Anyway, some days ago was 'Holi', a festival of colors as per Indian tradition. People celebrate this by putting different colors on each other, some keep it dry and some drench others with water. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a small town, so, I had a luxury to listen to all popular holi folk songs and as well being witness of HOLI in full color. When I was young, I used to love the Holi for its songs (not the movie songs), people used to start preparing one month advance for Holi. For complete one month, a small group of young lads used to sit under a tree and used to sing folk songs with 'Chang' (also called Dhapali, a kind of drum). As a kid, I loved it so much that I used to sing these songs with a steel plate in my hands and circling around a candle on a stool. Though, I was just 3 years old at that time and I don't remember the scene that much but my parents still remind me of that whenever there is any mention of Holi. As for the colors, we used to play with water only. My elder cousins used to play with colors but not many hard colors (not easy to remove) were available in the market at that time. All the other elderly people were content with 'Gulal' (dry colored powder, mainly herbal only). People used to hurry up visiting their friends and relatives in early hours of the day and rest of the day, streets were marked red & blue, rainbow was splashed through out the road and people with their faces painted in odd colors appeared like aliens. It was a complete merry-making day and Holi fever used to stretch even for some days after Holi.
When I joined a boarding school at the age of 10, Holi was marked with mud and lots of dirt smacking. It was bad and dirty but I most of the time used to run away from this (most of my friends used to do the same with a very small success rate). I was lucky enough as my home was in just nearby town, so, I used to survive this Holi onslaught unscathed. My friends who were not that lucky, used to run and hide in forests, backside of our hostels. But they were hunted like police used to hunt for 'Virappan' (A bandit from south India, sandalwood smuggler) but with a great success rate. Most of the friends used to give in before evening and had joined the mud party. Still, it was fun as we used to get some good food in our mess. Joy and merry used to make us forget about everything else. Vehicles passing in front of our school used to play Holi songs in full volume and we could hear these even from our classrooms which were well distance away from the front boundary wall.

When I went to college, again hostel (Bombay), so Holi was still with its lively pace. Though in college it used to be just colors and water but still you can't expect us to be dissent, after all its college life. There used to be a small fountain near by our hostel mess and on Holi it used to be filled with color. Everyone, in the start had to take some dips in the pool and throughly present himself to the color onslaught. It was considered inappropriate to have a normal skin color (no black or white, specially light brown) on this day. I admit that I missed Holi in my last year as I went on a bike trip with my friends. We went to a small seashore town called "Murud" and I got some bruises to show while returning. It was not an easy ride as we were a large group, 7 bikes. We lost our way and few parted away on Mumbai-Pune highway, got caught by police, paid fines as bikes were not allowed on that express highway (why the hell, road is there for?), made a mess of our financial plans and even contemplated going back. Finally, when we were passing through Alibagh (another small town, famous for its seaside Villas), we caught up with our parted friends and thankfully some money from an ATM. When we reached our destination, we were relieved but soon were in tight spot as it was a holiday and all liquor shops & bars (most important) were closed. After bugging one local guy we were able to get some beer from his house and then we proceeded to pass on that afternoon in hot sun & beer. One of my close friend, always famous for his drama antics (necessary attribute for getting babes), pained us with his untimely act of being drunk and out of control. We finally got back with one bike loosing its breaks two (including me) getting some bruises on knees.

It was Mumbai, with its loads of lively 'Krishna' (Hindu God, famous for his antics with local babes on Holi) fans, so, Holi was celebrated with gusto enthusiasm in the city. Small suburbs used to have their own competition and on the day you could find many young groups strolling around with colors. Girls and boys both used to be part of these groups. Sadly, with one of the most pathetic male-female sex ratio in world, our campus had to satisfy with the small bunch of girls who used to dare to come out of their hostels. No complains, it was still a good time (after all you should use your scarce resources well).
When I went to Ahmedabad for my management diploma, Holi spirit was little bit down as people were not that open. Inhibitions due to slightly higher number of girls and seriousness of some career caring individuals; it was a small affair, limited to one rain dance party in front of girl’s dormitory. Still, it was not that bad when it was in full flow.
Now, the saddest part, I am in far southern mega town in India, which is populated by some highly intellectual people without any common sense. Holi is not even considered a holiday here. Forget Holi, many people don't even know why is 'Diwali' (a Hindu festival of light and booming sounds of crackers) celebrated. I came to office as usual, though, I was able to notice few colored faces on bikes, who appeared to enjoy there college days. I called up my home and wished them 'happy holi' but even at home it was no festival mood. Times are changing. When I visited last, everyone was too busy to plan for Holi, gone were the days when groups used to sing. Now, on the Holi, police remain on high alert as people are desperate to find any reason for fight. My town has a large population of India’s two main religions and it has already witnessed some bloody rites in past. Holi, has been become a victim of this communal tensions. As for the youths, they all have gone to big cities for their livelihood (including me). Town, now appears a black & white photograph of colored joy in past. My mother cribs that Holi is dead now. People from cities are more willing to spend their money on valentine or some father/mother day cards but playing colors is considered as non-urban and countryside ritual. It doesn't mean that they don't enjoy playing colors but the importance of this festival in our lives has gone down. It’s the same story for other Indian festivals. They are all either dead or dying slowly. Some festivals are surviving in dance performances for foreign tourists and some are supported by government’s cultural committee. We are so busy in chasing dollar dreams that we forget our own diamonds. May be some day, some foreigners will make a documentary on these lost festivals and grand Indian heritage then we will say, "ohh!! We used to enjoy like this.”

So, again on the point I was talking in first paragraph on the importance of these festivals for social unity. As a human, we have very small memory; we tend to forget that we are part of any larger group if we are not reminded of it again and again. Festival as social gatherings used to serve this. Nowadays, popular western festivals are more based on individuals or at best couples. Westerners also have their 'Christmas' which serve the same purpose as Indian 'Holi' or 'Diwali' but we Indians don't celebrate 'Christmas' that much as most of us are non-christens. We are happy to copy western non-religious festivals as these are considered 'modern'. Even westerners are not this much narrow minded in loosing their own gems for other's glittering stones. Holi is already almost gone, now limited in some hostel boundaries, other small festivals are not even in the picture. Is it a sign that our society is dissolving down to oblivion? It's still a long shot but symptoms are already here.

Labor issues in IT firms

I was just browsing through the news sites and I came upon this article about Infosys (a leading Indian IT company), "Infy likely to go through a mid-level crisis". It says that Infy is facing a shortage of mid-level employees. Percentage of employees with 3-5 year experience is decreasing, though at starting level company is hiring at unprecedented rate. Blame is given to the slowdown in 2002-03. This is not just a problem with Infy but also with other leading Indian IT companies. People don't regard them as ideal companies to work for or as aspiring place to work. With increasing number of IT players and MNC's owned ODC, competition for skilled employees was expected to go up. MNCs by entering Indian market are increasing not only the pay checks but also by their improved HR practices, raising the bar for Indian IT firms. This is already been a much talked phenomenon. The other news which made it interesting was news on CNN website. "Microsoft's labor troubles" was the heading. The causes for employee crunch were different from what listed for Indian companies but the sharp contrast was visible. Microsoft, though now being not considered as an aspiring firm to work for by techies in US, is still able to pull high skill techies in India. They are really pushing hard to increase their strength in India. Though, at managerial level Microsoft is not hiring much in India but the boost its hiring is getting is unparallel. More interesting fact is MS is hiring experienced techies mainly which previously worked for Indian IT majors. So, whereas Indian IT firms are facing mid-level employees’ shortage, MS is trying to fill it labor gap in US from hiring techies in India. In India, you still not have that many options in deciding your career. Infy and other Indian IT majors recruit freshers in bulk, so most of the engineering graduates end up in one of them. With entrance of MNCs, they have more options to choose from only after they get 2-3 years experience. MNCs which are loosing their charm as innovating firms in west are cruising to India where due to lack of other options people don't give much importance to these factors. Yahoo and Google are also hiring in India but their focus is mainly on high skilled techies (5+ years) experience. For managerial jobs, still these MNCs have not shown the will and their hiring at this level is minimal.

The expectations of western employees and Indian employees are at far end of spectrum with each other. Indian employees give very high importance to job security and firm's brand image. In brand image they don't consider if the firm is fun to work in or highly innovative but major importance is given to the fact that if the firm is financially strong enough to last long. On the same track, pay cheque become a major issue. More the company offers, more the Indian employees will be happy. Indian IT firms don't have a proper employee review system and employee being thrown out due to poor performance is a rarity. TCS (Tata consultancy services), though is trying to change this. These kinds of appraisal schemes give more emphasis on experience than person's performance. People can't move up the hierarchy without spending certain number of years in the lower level. This system is borrowed from Indian government bureaucracy which very famous for its inefficiency. This system strangles any creativity and innovativeness in their employees. Indian government system is also one of the remaining antic from colonist era. In times of British occupation, strategy makers, innovation and creativity were considered British property and Indians were not allowed in their scope. Government bureaucracy was developed in such a way that employees couldn't question the authority of their British superiors. Indian industry has retained this structure as to facilitate authoritarianism. Indian IT firms made some modifications initially to this system but as they grew authoritarianism crept in. Now, the same is crippling their growth. MNCs with their open culture and special rewards for being creative and innovativeness, provide a much better alternative to Indian techies. Though, they are not much accustomed to utilize this opportunity in a best way but time stand by them. Big salary, much higher financial strength compared to Indian players and open culture pull Indian techies out of slumbering Indian firms to MNCs. Microsoft is utilizing this talent pool in a big way and it’s the same story for other IT MNCs. They are all opening big shops in India.
But question, how long this advantage will remain with MNCs? Indian IT firms, in no way emphasize on authoritarian culture but they fail to eliminate this from their employee's mentality. Indians have very high interaction with government bureaucracy than any other system and its effect as a valid system or way of life on people's mentality are obvious. Indian IT majors though don't propagate authoritarian culture but their own culture is not strong enough to train new people joining in and impact their way of life. From this argument it’s obvious that MNCs with not so strong culture will not able to alienate from this Indian way of life. Authoritarianism will creep in their too and may snub the growth of MNC's Indian operations. Stiff competition is the only remedy which can keep firms on their toes to keep warding any negative attribute to enter their culture.
One of the major negative effects of authoritarianism is very high attrition rates in companies. Firms with this kind of culture loose their employees and difference between high level management and entry level employees become wider and wider. It’s the same happening in Infy and MS, though in different geographical regions. MS is trying to stretch itself and stay afloat by expanding in India, whereas Infy and other Indian IT majors don't have this option. China and other East Asian countries are still in their infancy in terms of IT education. In some of developed Asian countries, with their own strong markets, local firms have already passed on this stage. Though, almost all the Asian countries suffer from colonialism effect, as they all try to catch western countries by just coping their system. Japan and South Korea are example of this with authoritarianism being part of their industrial culture. Both these economies are struggling to maintain their high growth rates. Japan is loosing its own culture as more and more youths are looking to west for ideal system which can utilize their skills in better way. Pride of heritage is also getting lost as people relate heritage with the struggling economy.

Humans’ best prize their identity and when they find their identity behind the time, they loose charm in their life which further deteriorate their efficiency to stay with time. This cycle eventually eliminate lagging cultures which fail to improve themselves.

Greatest One day Cricket match ever

Aussies slaughter South African pacers and bang makes another world records of highest score in an innings, passing 400 runs marks for the first time in history by any cricket team. That was one hell of a match, for bowlers a haunting dream and batsmen's sweet dream. This was the final match of the series between Australia and South Africa, played at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, on 12 March 2006 (50-over match).
In the start, Gilchrict in his own macho fashion molded another of his typo inning making quick 50, Katich on other end was holding firm. After, Gilchrist was gone, came the captain Ponting. Inning was going with good pace and everyone was expecting a good score near 300. Then, in the mid inning, storm took its pace and bam, bang, balls were chasing the boundary ropes, some were flying high, some were crusing between fielders. Katich soon left the party and Hussey came on crease. Hussey didn't spend any time in initial hiccups and on the other end, bowlers were realising their worst ever dream. Every ball was getting a treatment, which is best suited for a nail by hammer. South African fielders were left gasping and as sideboys to give back the ball to horrified bawlers. Hussey had its share of fun, hammering some classy fours and sixes. Ponting was just making himself a dream monster to set bowlers jumping on their couch and take their sleep away with a swift shot. Some credit should also go to South African bowlers who kept their sanity intact. Special treatment was reserved for one of the best allrounder of modern cricket. Kallis gave away 70 in his 6 overs. Telemachus was heartborken, offcourse, in his last over bowled consecutive 4 no balls. Hussey and Ponting were though not able to finish till the end and fell little before the bowler's holocaust. Symonds and Lee in last few overs, just kept the smoke flying of the firestorm pastby. Aussies ended with world record 434/4, which is even difficult in a test match with no restriction of overs.
Some good thoughts for South Africans also, for not giving up easily. They though being beaten brutally thorugh out the ground were brave enough to give it a chase. Smith surely have some guts, though he lacks some grey matter and experience. Smith, in start of series made his own grave by some laudable comments on Aussie. They were simply pathetic and laughable. Aussie, 2 down initially without their captain, mauled them in last 3. Though 4th was a close fight but as Steve Waugh wrote in his book "Out of my comfort zone", Aussie love their back against the wall and thats when they are most dangerous. Smith, though makes up a little with his gutts which may give a hope that he will gain some sanity as he gains more experience.

hmmm....

That was half of the epic which took place on 12th March, 2006. I agree, I left my seat in front of tv when South Africa had played just 10 overs. Match had some resemblence to the World cup final which was played on the same ground in 2003 between India and Australia. Aussies had in the same way butchered Indian bowlers. But the South African reply took the resemblence of the world cup semifinal match in 1999, between the same teams. That match was tied with South Africa not able to finish the chase. Steve waugh became famous and Gibbs became sort of infamous for a quote which though Waugh never took credit for was repeated again and again in media. Waugh as per media said to Gibbs when Gibbs dropped his catch that you have dropped the Cup, mate. In this match it was the same Gibbs which became hero of this battle.
I left the match with the feeling that South Africa will give a good chase but getting passed 434, was ..unthinkable. So, when I got a message in morning that South Africa has won, I was shocked. I opened the cricinfo and checked the Scorecard and left bedazzled in what I had missed. The way South Africans responded was just breathtaking. There were several records shattered and most disheartening was for Aussies who had built a record just in first inning. Aussie bowlers who were always enjoyed a fine run were in for some treatment which was always reserved for opponents by Aussie batsmen. Mike Lewis, new Aussie bowler, not only broke the record of Muralidharan for going highest number of runs in his 6 over spell, but it also helped Agarkar to get some sypathy for being hit for most number of runs per over. 113 in 10 overs of Lewis was unprecedent, Murali had got 99 in 10 overs against the Aussie team but still it look pale in comparison. Bracken, who on the normal days is not a bad fielder at all, dropped Gibbs once. Lee who bowled last over of the match, might have lost some confidence as he was at the receiving end when the epic climaxed.
There were also many South Africans who were able to salvage their reputation by playing their heart out in the chase. Gibbs, finally had some relief over dropping Waugh's catch in 1999. Smith, who had become famous for his illadvised comments was able to prove his leadership and batsmanship. Van Der Wath, who was plounded while bowling scored brisk 35 in just 18 bolls. Boucher played his part and finally, South Africa was able to remove the tag of chokers which had become synonymous with their names. It was GREATEST ever cricket match without any doubt.