The Year That was In Numbers - Test's 2011

There were some great test matches witnessed in 2011. It was an awesome year for the longest format of its own...


Here is a summary of the top 5 batsmen, top 5 bowlers and the team records for the year 2011.

Test Match Team Records for the Year 2011

India - 12, 3, 5, 4 (Played, Won, Lost, Draw)

Pakistan - 10, 6, 1, 3 (Played, Won, Lost, Draw)

Sri Lanka - 11, 1, 4, 6 (Played, Won, Lost, Draw)

Australia - 9, 4, 3, (Played, Won, Lost, Draw)

New Zealand - 5, 2, 2, 1 (Played, Won, Lost, Draw)

England - 8, 6, 0, 2 (Played, Won, Lost, Draw)

South Africa - 5, 2, 2, 1 (Played, Won, Lost, Draw)

West Indies - 10, 2, 4, 4 (Played, Won, Lost, Draw)

Bangladesh - 5, 0, 4, 1 (Played, Won, Lost, Draw)

Test Match Top 5 Batsmen for the Year 2011

Rahul Dravid (India) - 12, 1145, 57.25 (Matches, Runs, Average)

Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) - 11, 1034, 49.23 (Matches, Runs, Average)

Ian Bell (England) - 8, 950, 118.75 (Matches, Runs, Average)

Darren Bravo (West Indies) - 10, 949, 49.95 (Matches, Runs, Average)

Alastair Cook (England) - 8, 927, 84.27 (Matches, Runs, Average)

Test Match Top 5 Bowlers for the Year 2011

Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan) - 8, 50, 23.86 (Played, Wickets, Average)

Ishant Sharma (India) - 12, 43, 36.69 (Played, Wickets, Average)

Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka) - 10, 41, 29.07 (Played, Wickets, Average)

Devendra Bishoo (West Indies) - 10, 39, 36.23 (Played, Wickets, Average)

Abdur Rehman (Pakistan) - 8, 36, 26.27 (Played, Wickets, Average)

Sledging sets Cricket on Fire!!!

Sledging has been around, probably ever since Cricket has been around!!! Steve Waugh called it 'Mental Disintegration', an attempt to give a good name to the practice!! Sledging is a tactic that teams use to intimidate the opposing player or to make him lose his concentration and do something, which he would not, in normal circumstances. The sledges are often humorous that spice up a dull game but sometimes there are stares, glares and abuses. The goal of sledging is to cause passions to flow in the batsmen that will help to upset the batsman's positive outlook and poise. One of the greatest joys of watching Cricket is when a genuine fast bowler is breathing fire down the batsman's throat and after the batsman plays and misses a few, the bowler gives him a lesson or two in batting!!!

What's the main requirement of sledging?? The main requirements are a Sharp Mind and a Fiery Tongue!!! The sharp mind coupled with a fiery tongue gets the best out of the cricketers and mostly the sledging incident leads to guffaws and peals of laughter from all concerned players!!! What better player to start a topic on sledging than W G Grace!! He was a master of the game and used his sharp mind and fiery tongue to get him out of sticky situations...

• Once when he was clean bowled, he calmly replaced the bails and told the umpire "Young man, they have come to see me bat, not you Umpire!!!"

What can be more sticky for a batsman than getting out!! And how he used his fiery tongue and sharp mind to get out of it!! But it is often said that you generally find your match eventually and even someone who surpasses you!

• Once it so happened that, When the ball knocked off a bail, W G Grace replaced it and told the umpire "Twas the wind which took thy bail off, good sir." The umpire replied "Indeed, doctor, and let us hope thy wind helps the good doctor on thy journey back to the pavilion."

Dr. W G Grace, One of the earliest legends of the game
A Fiery Doctor

Dr. W G Grace would never walk and sometimes, it is said, even the umpires gave him the benefit of the doubt! This one involving W G Grace is my personal favorite... Here it goes...

• Charles Kortright had dismissed him four or five times in a county game - only for the umpires to keep turning down his appeals. Finally, he uprooted two of Grace's three stumps. Grace stalled, as though waiting for a no-ball call or something, before reluctantly walking off with Kortright's words in his ears "Surely you're not going, doctor? There's still one stump standing."

Its incidents like this that marked the career of one the earliest greats of the game - Dr. W G Grace. This incident reportedly had everyone in gags as a sheepish W G Grace made his way back to the pavilion!!!

Another player who prominently used sledging to good effect was the big built with the most fabulous mustache - the Aussie paceman Merv Hughes, also known as Big Merv!! Here are two sledging incidents involving his fiery tongue and sharp mind!!

• On a day of repeated plays and misses for Robin Smith, Hughes retorted "Mate, if you turn the bat over, you'll see the instructions on the back."

The Man with the fiery mustache, Merv Hughes
A Fiery Character

• Javed Miandad once told Big Merv he looked like a ticket collector on a bus... When Merv got him out he ran past him and shouted "Ding Ding, Tickets please".

I still burst out with laughter imagining the big man uttering those words!! Even the fielders must have had a hard time controlling their amusement. Surely Merv had a great sense of humor and coupled with the sharpness of the mind and a fiery tongue, it made for great viewing!!!

Now two involving Shane Warne! Another Aussie! Man, these Aussie's are taking all the pedestals as far as sledging is concerned!!

• Australia enjoyed some great rivalry with the South Africans and once as the South African batsman Daryll Cullinan was on his way to the wicket, Warne told him that he had been waiting two years for another chance to humiliate him. The South African batsman's response? "Looks like you spent it eating"

The Bad boy of Australian cricket,
never shy of having a chat with the batsman - Shane Warne
A Fiery Bloke

• As Warne was trying to tempt portly Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga out of his crease, Ian Healy suggested "Putting a Mars Bar on a good length". Apparently Ranatunga's response was even better. David Boon (another portly Aussie player) was fielding at short leg, so Ranatunga quipped that Boony would get to the Mars Bar first!

Definitely the second incident must have drawn laughs from everyone! Its a great example of the sharpness of mind and a fiery tongue! If Warne was sharp and fiery then Ranatunga proved to be sharper and fierier!!!

I will reserve my last incident for the man who not only batted in the most fierce manner but had a great sense of humor. One of the best players to have ever played the game, West Indian batsman Viv Richards. It is said that no bowler dared to sledge him as he punished them hard for their misdemeanor!! But bowlers being bowlers, sometimes could not control themselves and paid the price!!

Bowlers never dared to sledge Sir Vivian Richards,
when they did... they were thrashed!!
A Fiery Maaan

• In a county game against Glamorgan, Greg Thomas attempted to sledge Vivian Richards after he had played and missed at several balls in a row. He informed Richards "It's red, round and weighs about five ounces, in case you were wondering." Richards hammered the next delivery out of the ground and into a nearby river. Turning to the bowler, he commented "Greg, you know what it looks like, now go and find it!!!"

So sledging definitely has its own charm in the sport of cricket and without it the sport would miss something! Definitely the players should not cross the line and hurl abuses towards the opposing players family... But light hearted banter is always welcome!! Humor may be used to just as good effect as abuse for the point of unsettling batsmen!

Reading all these stories of cricket matches of the years gone by is to be reminded over and over again, that cricket matches have always featured chatter in the middle, that grown men, when thrown into close competitive proximity will often find ways to express a variety of emotions... Aided by a fiery tongue and a sharp mind, we get some of "THE MOMENTS" in sports...

PS - Images courtesy -- 1st, 3rd, 4th espncricinfo.com, 2nd foxsports.com.au

PPS - This was my entry to the contest on Indiblogger - Sets You On Fire

If You Like it then please Promote it Here - Sledging sets Cricket on Fire!!!

The Year That was In Numbers - ODI's 2011

So the year 2011 has seen its share of ODI matches. Now only the test matches remain!!!
Here is a summary of the top 5 batsmen, top 5 bowlers and the team records for the year 2011.


ODI Team Records for the Year 2011

India - 34, 24, 10, 2, 1 (Played, Won, Lost, Tied, No Result)

Pakistan - 32, 24, 7, 0, 1 (Played, Won, Lost, Tied, No Result)

Sri Lanka - 28, 14, 12, 0, 2 (Played, Won, Lost, Tied, No Result)

Australia - 25, 18, 6, 0, 1 (Played, Won, Lost, Tied, No Result)

New Zealand - 17, 9, 7, 0, 1 (Played, Won, Lost, Tied, No Result)

England - 30, 11, 16, 2, 1 (Played, Won, Lost, Tied, No Result)

South Africa - 15, 9, 6, 0, 0 (Played, Won, Lost, Tied, No Result)

West Indies - 28, 10, 17, 0, 1 (Played, Won, Lost, Tied, No Result)

Bangladesh - 20, 6, 14, 0, 0 (Played, Won, Lost, Tied, No Result)


ODI Top 5 Batsmen for the Year 2011

Virat Kohli (India) - 34, 1381, 47.62 (Matches, Runs, Average)

Jonathan Trott (England) - 29, 1315, 52.60 (Matches, Runs, Average)

Shane Watson (Australia) - 23, 1139, 56.95 (Matches, Runs, Average)

Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) - 27, 1127, 51.22 (Matches, Runs, Average)

Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan) - 32, 1075, 37.06 (Matches, Runs, Average)


ODI Top 5 Bowlers for the Year 2011

Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) - 24, 48, 19.25 (Played, Wickets, Average)

Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) - 27, 45, 20.82 (Played, Wickets, Average)

Mitchell Johnson (Australia) - 22, 39, 20.94 (Played, Wickets, Average)

Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan) - 20, 34, 17.08 (Played, Wickets, Average)

Brett Lee (Australia) - 19, 33, 21.72 (Played, Wickets, Average)

Whats happened to Australia???

Well exactly a month ago, on the 10th of November 2011, Australia were shot out for 47 after being 21/9 at one stage against South Africa. Today on the 10th of December, they were bundled out for a measly 136 after being 75/7 at one stage and staring at another sub hundred score!!!

Australian team of the early 1990's and 2000's inflicted such scars on opposition teams, they shocked them, humiliated them but now its all going wrong for them. Who would have imagined this would be the state of the Aussie team a couple of years ago... Life has come full circle for them, they do not possess the same firepower in the batting department!! There is no Hayden and Langer to rattle away at the start, Ponting is only a pale shadow of what he was, there is no steel of Steve Waugh, no counter attack of Gilchrist... Not to mention Damien Martyn and Darren Lehmann!!!

Warner and Hughes are good players but they are more suited to the shorter formats of the game. Marsh and Watson are injured too often to make a consistent impact on the team performance. Khwaja only gets a chance if some of the players are injured as Ponting is not keen on retirement!! Hussey and Clarke can only do so much when the rest of the batting is so frail and tentative...

Australia Vs New Zealand - 2nd Test, Hobart from 9-13 December 2011

Lets wait and watch if Australia can stage a comeback in the second innings or if New Zealand win this one comfortably. As of now New Zealand lead by 153 runs with 7 wickets remaining and 3 days to go!! It is shaping to be another close match and I love Test Cricket for matches like these!!! No One Dayer or T-20 can give you the thrill or joy as a good, hard fought Test Match can...

India Vs West Indies - 4th Odi

India v West Indies at Indore, Dec 8, 2011

Sehwag won yet another toss and this time he decided India will bat first. India brought Rahul Sharma in place of Umesh Yadav who will fly to Australia to acclimatise to the conditions before the tough Aussie tour. West Indies were forced to leave out Darren Bravo and brought in K Powell.

Sehwag and Gambhir were in need of some time in the middle and they are making the most of the flat pitch. As I type this India are 192/1 with Gambhir just getting out for a well compiled 67 in 67 balls. Suresh Raina has been promoted. Sehwag is batting on 113 off just 82 balls with 5 monstrous sixes.

Lets see what happens in the rest of the innings.

India Vs West Indies/ India Vs Australia

India was expected to sweep aside the West Indian Team in the one days but they are yet to put up a commanding win. The first match was a thriller which Indians managed to win by a solitary wicket. The second match too was close though not as close as the first one. India lost the third match by 16 runs, which looks close but they had lost the match long back when they collapsed to 105/6.

The big question is will India be able to fight on the Australia tour. Its going to be a very tough tour as Aussie's might be weakened but they still have high caliber players like Watson, Ponting, Clarke and Hussey. India did not look that convincing in the tests as well vs the West Indies. Sehwag and Gambhir seem to have lost the golden touch. Sachin is bogged down by the 100th 100 expectations. Laxman plays only in crisis. Dravid was the only consistent batsman both against England and West Indies. West Indies twice took 1st innings lead in the test series. Bowling is not penetrative enough. Ashwin and Ojha capitalized on the West Indian batsmen weakness against the spin. Australians will not collapse like that against spin neither will the Australian pitches help them that much. The signs are not looking good ahead of a tough tour.

I hope the Indians hit their straps in the last two one days and get some much needed form going before the all important tour down under. Cant wait for the Aussie tour to begin. Share your views here.

2 Extra Hours during the course of my life - Thanks to Surf Excel Matic

TIME...

 

It is the most precious commodity that a man can be bestowed with... It is rightly said that lost money can be earned back but we cannot gain lost time. I remember, right from when I was a little kid, I used to pray for more time... I will share some of those instances with all of you, when I felt I was short of time, and could have done with a couple of extra hours at my disposal!!

Remember School days?? Yes the good old days!! As a child, my most favorite week, each year, was the 1st week of April - the last week before our summer vacations began! Two heavenly months lay ahead of me – no assembly lines, no homework, no Maths tests and no mugging up of Marathi lessons! Instead, I was officially allowed to meander around like a listless wanderer absolutely free with no single aim in life. My recollections are that of lethargic, leisurely days: of fighting with my sister and also playing with her, of music and movies, of visiting cousins, digging my head into piles of story books and above all, playing the game I love - Cricket… How we used to long for it!! Mornings used to start late and then outdoor cricket sessions with my school friends would start... We would exhaust ourselves, returning home in the afternoon. Lunch was followed by a quick nap before resuming cricket again till the evening would bring darkness.... I remember how we used to play until it was impossible to even sight the fielders... How we wished for more time then. We would then discuss the days play and leave only to start the routine again the following day. Two more hours would probably not have satiated our hunger but diminished it for sure!!

We were a group bonded by Cricket and School!!

School days were spent mostly playing and studying occasionally to top the class!!! Remember the epic series between India and Australia under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly. Remember VVS getting a double century, Rahul batting like a true wall, Bhajji getting a hat trick, the inspirational captaincy of Dada!!! How India stopped the Aussie juggernaut... I remember it all very well, as the series had coincided with my board exams of 10th... I watched every match, fighting with my mother and arguing with my father... How I would have loved to have a couple of extra hours at my disposal... I did not ace the boards but still did fantastically well scoring in the 80's (Yes, 80's were respectable in those days!!)

Remember how a million people stood as one after the victory at Eden Gardens, Remember Policemen jumping with joy forgetting everything else!!!
Still getting goosebumps seeing the image!! Priceless...

I was again faced with the same quandary as my 12th boards coincided perfectly with the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa... I, being such a huge fan could not miss it for anything. I remember lying to my parents that I would stay up late to study and then watch matches on mute!!! India reached the finals, the only match I watched freely, as my exams got over after the semis... Unfortunately India lost to Australia... Again, 2 extra hours would have been so useful to me... Though I am not sure how I would have used it, to study or to watch more cricket!!!!

Indian captain Ganguly after India defeated Pakistan
in the 2003 Cricket World Cup,
I could not watch the whole match...

Then came engineering college days... I would always be buried with assignments, projects, journals, tests, term works, vivas... Not to mention the lectures from morning till evening... I would barely get a couple of hours sleep most of the times, especially during the exams... Though I would catch up on some sleep in the class (the professors were great in inducing sleep!!!), but still, it was never enough!!! I remember once there was an earthquake just the day before the exams, it shook the whole hostel, but I remained unawares (deep in my 3 hour slumber)!!! 2 hours extra would surely have been used to relax and de-stress... I would just lie in the bed, doing nothing, just enjoy the stillness... And then slowly, slip deep in slumber....

The state of most of the students...

Now doing a job, there is hardly any time to do things I love the most. Over the years, days have surprisingly shrunk. There is little time for reading, blogging and even watching cricket... Quality time with the family has also decreased... 2 extra hours would do me no harm for sure. I would love to take up a book and sit cozy... I would love to tune into the idiot box and catch up on my love - CRICKET! Then I would go and blog about it and interact with my readers... I would rest my head on my mother's lap and close my eyes... WOW! When was the last time I did all this...? My memory fails me... Never mind... Just a few days, I will surely do all of these, when I get my hands on those 2 extra hours courtesy Surf Excel Matic and Indiblogger :)

Thank You, Surf Excel Matic - Now I have lots of TIME on my hand!!!!

NOTE - This post is written for the Surf Excel Matic #GetSmart Contest being held on Indiblogger.

Surf Excel Matic is smart enough to get rid of stains while your clothes are inside your washing machine, so you don't have to spend your precious time doing it seperately. Let the detergent do the washing, while you spend time with your family!

For more details on the latest Surf Excel Matic visit the following link - Surf Excel Matic

PS: All Images used in the post are taken from Google Images and all the incidents mentioned are true accounts from my life.

If you are on Indiblogger and like this post, Vote for it by clicking on the following link - http://www.indiblogger.in/indipost.php?post=93052

India Vs West Indies - 2nd Test Match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata

India Vs West Indies - 2nd Test Match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata from Nov 14-18, 2011

So Indian batsman finally came into their elements and posted a mammoth 631/7 before finally declaring. India won the toss yesterday and Dhoni had no hesitation in electing to bat first. Although Sehwag and Gambhir started briskly but both fell trying to be a bit too adventurous. They scored 38 and 65 respectively. Sachin arrived then and there was a sense of expectation whether he would finally get his 100th 100!! But he too flattered to deceive and fell for 38.

This brought the pair of VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid on the Eden Garden wicket invoking memories of the 2001 series against Australia!! And they did not disappoint. Rahul made a classy hundred, his 36th. Laxman ended the day unbeaten in his 70's and looking good for much more.

Day two brought the early wicket of Yuvraj and Dhoni joined Laxman in the middle. They both batted without any difficulty on a benign surface and Laxman soon reached his hundred. Dhoni batted in a positive way and hammered 5 huge sixes on his way to a blistering 144. India declared soon after tea with Laxman remaining unbeaten on 176.

West Indies were 34/2 when bad light interrupted play on the second day, still trailing India by 597 runs. India are in the drivers seat and should win this one comfortably. Lets see what the next three days have in store for us. Give your views on the same.

Chaos at Cape Town - South Africa Vs Australia, 1st Test 9-13 November, 2011

First, Let me catch my breath back!!! Its been almost 12 hours since the drama at New Lands, Cape Town unfolded last night but I am still feeling that unknown anxiety, thrill, joy... Call it whatever but it is because of days like these that test cricket remains a favorite of mine like so many others...


Australia started the day at 214/8, with Aussie captain Michael Clarke still batting after reaching his ton on the first day. He batted superbly with the tail to take the Australian score to 284. He made a masterful 151!! South Africa were coasting at 49/1, when all hell broke loose.... What was to happen in the next couple of hours was madness, chaos and frantic cricket... Events which have not happened in a 100 years happened, events which have happened only twice in over 2000 tests happened....


South Africa collapsed to 96 all out, loosing their last 9 wickets for just 47 runs!!! The Aussies got a huge lead of 188 runs. They must have thought of putting the match beyond the South Africans.... But, they were soon brought down to earth, their dreams shattered, they were reeling at 21/9, in a sense of disbelief.... They threatened the lowest test score of all time but the last wicket added 26 valuable runs to more than double the score!!! They were all out for a measly 47!! Thus South Africa needed 236 runs to win, they are 81/1 at stumps...


Some Fast Fun Facts -

1. Shane Watson, Australian opening Batsman took most wickets in South African 1st innings while their number 11, Nathan Lyon made the most runs in the Aussie 2nd innings!!!
2. Watson took a five wicket haul in just 21 balls!!
3. There were nine referrals for the day, DRS made its presence felt amidst all the excitement!
4. All 4 innings were played in a single day of a test match, it has happened only 2 times in the entire history of tests.
5. Michael Clarke made 151 in the first innings, a score better than the combined score of South Africa and Australia (96+47=143)!!!!
6. It was Australia's lowest test score since they made 36 in 1902!!
   

What a day it will be today, today is 11-11-11, a day which occurs only once in hundred years!!!
Cricket celebrated its own once-in-a-hundred-years-day yesterday!!!!

India Vs West Indies - 1st Test Match at Delhi, Nov 6-10

India Vs West Indies - 1st Test Match at Delhi, Nov 6-10, 2011

So India made just 209 in their first innings and gave the West Indies a lead of 90 odd runs. Considering that the Kotla pitch is playing low and slow this lead could prove to be the deciding factor in deciding the outcome of this test match.

West Indies have made 180 in their second innings with Shivnarine Chanderpaul again top scoring with a valuable 47. The lower order of the West Indies too did their bit with the bat on the increasingly difficult pitch to bat on with Sammy plundering 42 runs and Rampaul making 18 runs. R Ashwin took 6 wickets in his debut match.

So India need exactly 276 runs to win this one. It will definitely not be easy but Sehwag is batting on a different pitch it seems. India is currently 72/1 with Gambhir back in the pavilion and Sehwag batting on 42 along with Rahul Dravid.

This promises to be a very good test match with an exciting finish on the cards. I am watching it with bated breath. What are your thoughts on the match as of now?

Also read - India Vs West Indies (Day 1-2)

India Vs West Indies - 1st Test Match at Delhi, Nov 6-10, 2011

So the stars are back in the Indian team (and as I type this they are out too, sitting in the pavilion!!!)... West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first. It was that man again, Shivnarine Chanderpaul - who scored his 7th test ton against India and continous to torment India...

West Indies finally got all out on the second morning for 304. India's reply was swift as it always is when Sehwag and Gambhir open the Indian innings but they soon crumbled. As I type this India is 154/7 with, an embarrassing situation to be in at home conditions. Dravid is still there as he was, all series in England, fighting alone....

India will require to make a strong comeback and fight hard if they have to win this one..

Spot Fixing - Pakistan Players get Jail Terms

Pakistan Players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have all got jail terms along with their agent Mazhar Majeed. Salman got 2 years, Asif 1 year and Amir 6 months sentence while Majeed got 2 years and 8 months jail sentence.

The four men had been charged with conspiracy to accept corrupt payments, and conspiracy to cheat in regard to the Lord's Test against England in August 2010, when the three pre-determined no-balls were bowled - two by Amir and one by Asif, orchestrated by Butt and arranged by Majeed. While Amir and Majeed had pleaded guilty before the trial began, Butt and Asif denied the charges and were found guilty by a jury.

I think that this is a great judgement, as fixing in any sport is a curse. It is akin to selling your country, betraying your own people and even your own family. The shame which it brings on the family is much greater then what the players themselves face. I think any player who is involved in such activities should be banned for life. This judgement will surely deter others from taking a similar line and will help clean up Cricket.

What do you think?

Discover QVENDO, Discover Yourself!

Shopping was something that was on the cards for the past few days. Reason: One of my school friends has his wedding early next year. We both are very close since we sat on the same bench in the school, went to the same Higher College and then were together again as roommates and college-mates for 4 long years during our engineering days. So you can well imagine how close we are and I was looking to buy new clothes and accessories to don during his wedding. Indian weddings are spread over many days with many functions which require different styles of clothing, formals and casuals!

Budget was tight still I wanted to shop for the best and create a class of my own that would stand out in a crowd, but where In India will you get such luxury? You might ask. Well, you do!

As luck would have it, thanks to this Indiblogger contest, I stumbled on QVENDO, a private shopping club dedicated to luxury and exclusivity offering its members the best in hip and comfortable yet luxurious fashion picked up from over the world, and all of this at unmatched prices and significant deals and savings, just imagine! It offers brands that are world famous and also which are up and coming thus providing a perfect blend of items to choose from. Discounts on international brands such as Armani, Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Dolce and Gabbana and even Ralph Lauren is a steal, I’d say as these hi end brands are not even available in India easily, let alone being available for a discount!!! They even have a dedicated blog for the members. Hence, without even thinking twice, I immediately signed up and am today not only a privileged member of the exclusive checking out their range of items but also asking myself (As part of the contest mentioned above) – What would I buy if given Rs 50,000 and why? What’s more, am even blogging about the same!

Shopping, for It's My Best Friend's Wedding!

Seems quite simple but it was not as all the products attracted me and I was literally spoilt for choices! First I made a blueprint of what I needed to buy! The list included - Formal Shirt, A Chino, A Suit, Shoes, Sunglasses, Belt and two gifts (one each for my friend and the bride)... I got down to the task of selecting the items one by one, mixing and matching, the colors, the styles, the fitting... Everything had to be perfect, I could not make a mistake... My job was made difficult by the range of dazzling items on display but I made it eventually... Then came the even harder task of selecting the gifts, they had to be in sync and should look pleasing to the eyes. I browsed through the catalog and made up my mind finally!!

So here is what I zeroed in on, finally...

1. Valentino Shirt White and Rose

First up, I lay my hands on this slim fit and button up cotton shirt shirt from Valentino.

Retail Rs.9700 Rs.4500 (Valentino Shirt white and rose)

Casual Friday (Sale available only till 1st October)

The long sleeves and cut corner buttoned cuffs will provide a dapper look! Stylish and comfortable, it would serve excellently in the informal events of the wedding! Also you can choose the size which suits you because size does matter.

2. Polo by Ralph Lauren Chino Sand

This flat front sand coloured Chino, to team up with the casuals and the slim straight legged fit will definitely amplify the entire ensemble appeal!

Retail Rs.7800 Rs.4500 (Polo by Ralph Lauren Chino sand)

Casual Friday (Sale available only till 1st October)

The two front pockets and button through back pockets means there will add that something extra to the already creamy, soft, cotton feel of the chino!! Again, you can select your comfortable size.

3. Tommy Hilfiger Sack Coat

Now for the for the formal occasions, a dark blue twin buttoned Tommy Hilfiger Sack Coat perfectly suited for my style and looks smart too!

Retail Rs.19500 Rs.11000 (Tommy Hilfiger Sack Coat)
Casual Friday (Sale available only till 1st October)

Two button single breasted notch lapel, sleeves with four button cuff, two front pockets, one buttoned pocket inside packs enough power to blow anybody off its feet!! Adding to this, is the cool Tommy Hilfiger logo on the sleeve hem!!

4. Hugo Boss Shades Silver

To up the cool quotient, cool shades I stumbled upon from Hugo Boss!

Retail Rs.13600 Rs.6200 (Hugo Boss Shades Silver)

Designer Sunglasses (Sale available only till 6th October)

These Silver color shades from Hugo Boss having a sleek metal frame and providing 100% UV protection will up the heat quotient and with Hugo Boss inscribed on each arm, this will surely make heads turn!

5. Lawrence Grey Belt Black

A trendy belt to hold the entire ensemble together.

Retail Rs.4600 Rs.2300(Lawrence Grey Belt Black)

Love Leather (Sale available only till 12th October)

Lawrence Grey leather belt with stylish metal applications and a metal buckle will go perfectly with the Valentino shirt and Ralph Lauren Chino, don't you think!!

6. Hamlet Derby Shoe Vintage Grey

Upturned front with lace up design, a classy pair of shoes from Hamlet derby, providing a final touch up to my elegant couture!

Retail Rs.12300 Rs.7900 (Hamlet Derby Shoe Vintage Grey)

Love Leather (Sale available only till 12th October)

This formal yet trendy Hamlet vintage grey leather derby shoe can be paired with jeans or trousers alike and will surely help in giving my feet much needed relaxation from all the running that is required during my friend's wedding!! There are different sizes available from which you can choose the one fitting you the best!

7. Bulgari Clutch Rose/Creme, gift

A gift for my bhabhi, a beautiful purse for the beautiful bride!

Retail Rs.11700 Rs.5700 (Bulgari Clutch Rose/Creme, gift)
Love Leather (Sale available only till 12th October)

This Bulgari leather clutch with belt styled strap with a metal buckle will surely go down well with the bride. Also with the Bulgari logo metal hang tag and with Bulgari printed all over the bag and the cute Rose color, this clutch will surely be a hit with her!

8. Porsche Design Purse Cognac Gift

Lastly, one for my beloved friend...

Retail Rs.9100 Rs.6200 (Porsche Design Purse Cognac gift)

Love Leather (Sale available only till 12th October)

My friend loves fast cars and with this Porsche design purse he will skip a beat for sure! The premier leather wallet with orange color and a slightly grainy texture will make our friendship bond even tighter. It has 1 compartment for coins and 2 for bank notes.

Items in my QVENDO Shopping Cart: Rs. 50,000 - My QVENDO Shoppe List

So, the complete 50,000 shoppe List of Mine looked like this :

50,000 worth kitties in my shopping bag

Rs.4500 (Valentino Shirt white and rose), Rs.4500 (Polo by Ralph Lauren Chino sand), Rs.11000 (Tommy Hilfiger Sack Coat), Rs.2300 (Lawrence Grey Belt Black), Rs.6500 (Hugo Boss Shades Silver), Rs.7900 (Hamlet Derby Shoe Vintage Grey), Rs.5700 (Bulgari Clutch Rose/Creme, gift), Rs.6200 (Porsche Design Purse Cognac gift)

Wish I had some more...

As I kept checking through their vast catalog featuring a range of items from various brands and styles that are nowhere available in India displayed in big and bold images at such discounted prices, I couldn’t help but admire its vision in striving to bridge the gap between the so called affluent shoppers and the frugal ones. I wish I had some more money to splurge so that I could take something for my family members too –

Like this flat, bow-button centered Ballerina Shoes for my sister, these will look chic with dresses, jeggings, leggings and churidars, She will love this one!

Retail Rs.7800 Rs.4800 (Fornarina Ballerina Black)

Love Leather (Sale available only till 12th October)

and this dark blue with contrasting red colored zip Armani windbreaker for my dad, elegant and comfortable, will help him keep warm and comfy,

Retail Rs.11500 Rs.8200 (Armani Jeans Windbreaker)

Casual Friday (Sale available only till 12th October)

and this elastic-buckled golden/pink clutch for my Mom, not too ethnic yet not too modern very well defined for my mom's style of fashion!

Retail Rs.3300 Rs.1400 (flip*flop Clutch metallic gold/ pink)

Flip*Flop (Sale available only till 19th October)

(The sale on the above items is over now but a few are still available in the DIWALI SALE SECTION. So Hurry, you don't get second chances often!!) ---> (NOW OVER)

There are also a few very exciting things that will soon be available at QVENDO like -


1. Essential Accesories (Now Over)

With sleek JOOP belts, Calvin Klein black leather briefcases and Christian Audigier's flashy gold trim bags, this campaign guarantees something for everyone and is sure to bring with itself a bagful of surprises!


2. Joana Danciu (Coming Soon)


The Romanaian-born and German based designer provides dresses, tops and jackets which are a rare combination of femininity, cool elegance and inspiration from different cultures.


3. True Religion (Now Over)


True Religion Brand Jeans is not only known for its denim wear, but also for their exquisite knit and woven sportswear, such as t-shirts, western shirts, sweatshirts and sweatpants.

4. Replay Watches (Now Over)

The watches fromItalian designer brand Replay will create a flutter in your heart as yousee them. Crafted to perfection, The range of styles and the sale will want youto get on time everywhere!

5. Luis Trenker: THE brand that truly lives in their fashion! (Sale Ends on 13rd November)

Modeled after the famous mountaineer, explorer, actor and film director, Luis Trenker, is the perfect name sake for sporty clothing that knows no limits. QVENDO brings you a line with pieces that are easy to mix and match! Styles for both men and women let you create the ultimate urban outdoors look or simply give yourself over to nature in a cool casual ensemble. Either way, get in touch with your outdoors spirit in clothes that will make you feel like you can conquer the Himalayas in a day!


6. Pink Poodle: Introducing a new brand for Handbags (Sale Ends on 23rd November)

What woman can resist the allure of a great handbag? If you haven't been introduced to the hot, edgy, and unique Pink Poodle bags, let QVENDO get you acquainted and we guarantee a lasting relationship! Leopard prints, colored leather, and sleek street art designs are some of the raging different styles this hip lifestyle brand has to offer. A bag a day is easy with the vast selection and sizes we have in store for you! Shoppers, totes, clutches and more will welcome you to bag bliss!

7. Replay Jewel: Designer Jewelery (Sale Date: 3.11.2011 - 16.11.2011)

You loved their watches, now check out what Replay has to offer in jewelry! Hip urban style Italian brand Replay has had smashing success for years with their hot jeans and street chic apparel so their trendy jewelry line was a natural step. Get your 'bling' on with QVENDO's special selection of silver chains, rings, bracelets and more. Several pieces feature some amazing colorful stones. From day ware to formal ware, men and women, there are pieces for every occasion to keep your outfit looking sharp and stylish!

8. Hunter Boots: NYC boot-style of the season (Sale Date: 16.11.2011 - 30.11.2011)

If practice makes perfect then Hunter’s boots are the new definition of perfection! With over 100 years of experience in making amazing “wellies,” you cannot go wrong with a brand who still hand assembles each boot from 28 specially crafted parts! As usual, QVENDO brings you the best and brightest, this time in women's and children's boots. You’ll quickly see why Hunter not only has a huge celebrity following but a couple crown jewels on their resume too! Both HRH the Duke of Edinburgh and Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain have awarded Royal Warrants to Hunter for their decades of keeping the feet of the royal family warm and dry.

Shopping at QVENDO is a pleasurable experience

Shopping at Qvendo was truly a wonderful experience with luxury and exquisiteness all available under one roof! And the best part is that after you are done with your shopping, the ordering and payments is pretty simple, ruckus free and most importantly secure and confidential too. Goods are delivered within just 4-6 days of order and all aspects of delivery (custom inquiries and taxes) are handled by them making things easy for us buyers and thereby ensuring that we make the most of the shopping experia.

It's high time You Discovered QVENDO: Become a QVENDO Member!

Qvendo is a private online shoppe and their membership is by invitation only: either by the existing members or the members of the Qvendo team. But you need not worry! Now, you too can easily check out their store and do some shopping! All you need to do is give your 2 minutes and Register with them. That's it and You are done! It's that Simple!

So, if you want to pamper yourself with some luxury and maintain your individuality in a crowd without burning a hole in your pocket, then don’t forget to sign up for an account using this exclusive link: http://qvendo.com/vip/indianbloggers or alternatively you could also grab one of the 5 membership invites that I have with me! Remember, it’s not only an opportunity to discover Qvendo, but it’s more about discovering yourself! Get set, REGISTER, loosen yourself and indulge!

DIWALI OFFER UPDATE :

Another gift from QVENDO, the icing on the cake, this festive season of Diwali. Enjoy FREE shipping on all QVENDO sales! Offer ends on 27.10.2011 !!

HAPPY DIWALI :)

And there is a special Diwali sale too from today i.e. 20th October to 27 October - Do check it out here!!

Happy Shopping!!!

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