Their brilliant performance in the first couple of World Cup matches has helped Indian batsmen Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar to rise to fifth and 10th respectively in the ICC one-day rankings issued on Monday.
Sehwag, who smashed 175 against Bangladesh, is up six places in the latest chart, while Tendulkar, riding on his 120 against England, has risen five spots.
ICC Rankings
Indians are headed northward even in the bowling rankings with Zaheer Khan in 14th (up by nine places), Harbhajan Singh in 16th (up by four places) and Munaf Patel in 22nd (up by 11 places).
England captain Andrew Strauss, who struck a 158-run knock in yesterday's thrilling tie against India, is in 13th spot in the batting list, up by eight places.
Others who have gone up the charts are Tamim Iqbal in 23rd (up by three places), Misbah-ul-Haq in 32nd (up by 12 places), Younus Khan in 44th (up by four places) and Kevin O'Brien in 52nd (up by four places).
Australia's Shane Watson, JP Duminy of South Africa, Netherlands' Ryan ten Doeschate and South Africa's Dale Steyn have all achieved personal landmarks.
Watson has climbed four places to break into the top 10 for the first time in his career.
Duminy's has risen two places to share the 15th spot with captain Graeme Smith and West Indies' Chris Gayle while Ten Doeschate has jumped 12 places to 20th.
In the bowling list, Steyn has jumped four places to fourth position.
Batsmen losing ground are Virat Kohli in third (down by one place), Kumar Sangakkara in eighth (down by one place), Gautam Gambhir in 10th (down by one place), Jacques Kallis in 14th (down by six places) and Chris Gayle in 15th (down by five places), Ricky Ponting in 19th (down by six places).
South Africa's duo of Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers maintain the top two positions in batting chart.
Apart from Steyn, Mitchell Johnson of Australia has rocketed 12 places to fifth position after figures of 4-19 and 4-33 against Zimbabwe and New Zealand, respectively.
Also on the move are are Shahid Afridi in 11th position (up by 12 places), Shaun Tait in 29th (up by eight places), Tim Bresnan in 30th (up by 11 places) and Shoaib Akhtar in 37th (up by seven places).
England's James Anderson has taken a nosedive in the latest rankings dropping 12 places to 24th after figures of 0-72 and 1-91 against Netherlands and India, respectively.
Daniel Vettori of New Zealand continues to lead the field with South Africa's Morne Morkel in second place and Ray Price of Zimbabwe moving up one place to third position.
In the Rankings for all-rounders, Ten Doeschate has moved up four places to a career-best fifth as the top four remain unchanged with Bangladesh's Shakib-Al-Hasan leading the way.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sri Lanka seek revenge of 2003 upset against Kenya - world cup 2011
Sri Lanka would look to bounce back after their morale-sapping loss in the last match and avenge their 2003 edition defeat at the hands of Kenya when they take on the African associate nation in their World Cup Group A match here on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka, tipped as one of the title contenders, lost to Pakistan by 11 runs on Saturday and they would look to lift their morale with a big win against Kenya at R Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday.
They have also got the boost ahead of Tuesday's match with fast bowler Lasith Malinga available for selection for after sitting out of Sri Lanka's last two matches due to a sore back.
Sri Lanka ill-afford to take their Tuesday's opponents lightly though Kenya had suffered heavy defeats at the hands of New Zealand and Pakistan in their last two matches and facing internal division with differences between their coach Eldine Baptiste and senior players.
Against the Kiwis, Kenya were bowled out for 69 runs, their lowest total in ODI cricket, and then Pakistan thrashed them by 205 runs at Hambantota.
But the last time Sri Lanka and Kenya met in a World Cup encounter was in 2003 and the Africans had stunned the 1996 champions on that occasion with an upset win in Nairobi.
Understandably, Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss warned his players not to be complacent
"The fact that we did not win our last game will stop any complacency. Our guys are consciously aware of playing good cricket and we certainly will not take them lightly," Bayliss said.
He said Malinga was able to bowl full steam at the nets today and he would be available for selection.
"Lasith bent over to pick up a cricket ball about two weeks ago and strained his back a little. The physio said that the first two weeks were the most important after his injury as the most likelihood of him re-injuring was that period. He bowled in the last two practice sessions. He has bowled with a full run-up today and batted and fielded. We have a selection meeting in the evening and will decide what to do then," Baylisss said.
Kenya, on the other hand, are facing trouble ahead of their all-important match with reports of differences between players and coach emerging.
Cricket Kenya chief Samir Inamdar yesterday blamed differences between the players and West Indian coach Eldine Baptiste for their lacklustre performances so far.
Kenyan captain Jimmy Kamande, however, dismissed suggestions that there was disunity within the squad and promised a better performance on Tuesday.
"I also read those reports. I have not spoken to the chairman, but I can tell you that my team is very solid. When a team loses people try to find excuses. The thing is we have not performed and we want to play well," Kamande told reporters at the pre-match press conference.
"Obviously Sri Lanka are a solid side. But we have nothing to lose. They are the ones who are under pressure to perform. Having lost to Pakistan, this makes a must win game for them and we will try and put pressure on them," Kamande added.
The Teams (From):
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain and wicketkeeper), Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath.
Kenya: Jimmy Kamande (captain), Tanmay Mishra, James Ngoche, Shem Ngoche, Alex Obanda, Collins Obuya, David Obuya (wicketkeeper), Nehemiah Odhiambo, Thomas Odoyo, Peter Ongondo, Elijah Otieno, Maurice Ouma, Rakep Patel, Steve Tikolo and Seren Waters.
Umpires: Tony Hill (New Zealand) and Shahvir Tarapore (India).
Sri Lanka, tipped as one of the title contenders, lost to Pakistan by 11 runs on Saturday and they would look to lift their morale with a big win against Kenya at R Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday.
They have also got the boost ahead of Tuesday's match with fast bowler Lasith Malinga available for selection for after sitting out of Sri Lanka's last two matches due to a sore back.
Sri Lanka ill-afford to take their Tuesday's opponents lightly though Kenya had suffered heavy defeats at the hands of New Zealand and Pakistan in their last two matches and facing internal division with differences between their coach Eldine Baptiste and senior players.
Against the Kiwis, Kenya were bowled out for 69 runs, their lowest total in ODI cricket, and then Pakistan thrashed them by 205 runs at Hambantota.
But the last time Sri Lanka and Kenya met in a World Cup encounter was in 2003 and the Africans had stunned the 1996 champions on that occasion with an upset win in Nairobi.
Understandably, Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss warned his players not to be complacent
"The fact that we did not win our last game will stop any complacency. Our guys are consciously aware of playing good cricket and we certainly will not take them lightly," Bayliss said.
He said Malinga was able to bowl full steam at the nets today and he would be available for selection.
"Lasith bent over to pick up a cricket ball about two weeks ago and strained his back a little. The physio said that the first two weeks were the most important after his injury as the most likelihood of him re-injuring was that period. He bowled in the last two practice sessions. He has bowled with a full run-up today and batted and fielded. We have a selection meeting in the evening and will decide what to do then," Baylisss said.
Kenya, on the other hand, are facing trouble ahead of their all-important match with reports of differences between players and coach emerging.
Cricket Kenya chief Samir Inamdar yesterday blamed differences between the players and West Indian coach Eldine Baptiste for their lacklustre performances so far.
Kenyan captain Jimmy Kamande, however, dismissed suggestions that there was disunity within the squad and promised a better performance on Tuesday.
"I also read those reports. I have not spoken to the chairman, but I can tell you that my team is very solid. When a team loses people try to find excuses. The thing is we have not performed and we want to play well," Kamande told reporters at the pre-match press conference.
"Obviously Sri Lanka are a solid side. But we have nothing to lose. They are the ones who are under pressure to perform. Having lost to Pakistan, this makes a must win game for them and we will try and put pressure on them," Kamande added.
The Teams (From):
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain and wicketkeeper), Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath.
Kenya: Jimmy Kamande (captain), Tanmay Mishra, James Ngoche, Shem Ngoche, Alex Obanda, Collins Obuya, David Obuya (wicketkeeper), Nehemiah Odhiambo, Thomas Odoyo, Peter Ongondo, Elijah Otieno, Maurice Ouma, Rakep Patel, Steve Tikolo and Seren Waters.
Umpires: Tony Hill (New Zealand) and Shahvir Tarapore (India).
Roach's hat-trick scripts Dutch downfall - world cup 2011
Kemar Roach lifted the spirits on a dank day of World Cup action by becoming the sixth World Cup hat-trick-taker as West Indies cruised past a disappointing Netherlands outfit in Delhi.
His whippet pace and low-trajectory overwhelmed a Netherlands who, set 331 for victory, were left to regret their captain's decision to field first. Roach finished the game in style, trapping Pieter Seelaar and Bernard Loots lbw before splattering Berend Westdijk's middle stump to seal a 215-run victory.
His whippet pace and low-trajectory overwhelmed a Netherlands who, set 331 for victory, were left to regret their captain's decision to field first. Roach finished the game in style, trapping Pieter Seelaar and Bernard Loots lbw before splattering Berend Westdijk's middle stump to seal a 215-run victory.
Dhoni 'happy with tied result - cricket
They could not secure victory even after setting England [ Images ] a mammoth 339-run target. But India [ Images ] skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni [ Images ] was happy to escape with a tie result, as he felt at one stage the English appeared clear favourites to win the match
Both teams scored 338 runs in the Group B clash, which was only the fourth tied result in the history of the World Cup.
England skipper Strauss scored a magnificent 158-run knock and along with Ian Bell [ Images ] (59) almost pulled off an incredible win for his side while chasing the huge total.
"The way it was going, it seemed England would win it. So, happy with the tied result. It (the result) may reflect as a win in the (points) table," Dhoni said after the match.
"The way Strauss and Bell were going, it looked it would be all over by the 48th over… until Zak (Zaheer Khan ) came, bowled brilliantly," Dhoni said.
Dhoni though was also disappointed that their attack could not defend such a big total.
"I think so (it was defendable). If 338 is not enough then perhaps in every match you will have to score 350-360 runs, which will be very tough to do.
"It was a different wicket and pretty flat in the second innings, but then there was more pressure on England's batsman. The lower order contributed, Swann, Bresnan and one more guy, Shehzad, all played well," he said.
Strauss, who was adjudged Man-of-the-match for his scintillating knock, though was full of mixed feelings after the match.
"In a way, yes, no...," he said, when asked if he was happy with the result.
"We were in a great position to win. Then we had a shocking powerplay (when both he and Bell got out) and India were favourites then. Some ways we are happy and some ways distraught," the left-handed batsman said.
Strauss also said the thrilling game was good advertisement for cricket.
"It was a great game (for One-day cricket). There was a lot of pressure. Some way it was disappointing and some way it was a privilege to play such a game. It was an outstanding wicket to bat on," he said.
India pacer Zhaeer Khan, who dismissed both Strauss and Bell on consecutive balls to bring India back in the match, said, "The tie result explains everything. Strauss batted well and it was electrifying till the end."
Source: Rediff.com
Both teams scored 338 runs in the Group B clash, which was only the fourth tied result in the history of the World Cup.
England skipper Strauss scored a magnificent 158-run knock and along with Ian Bell [ Images ] (59) almost pulled off an incredible win for his side while chasing the huge total.
"The way it was going, it seemed England would win it. So, happy with the tied result. It (the result) may reflect as a win in the (points) table," Dhoni said after the match.
"The way Strauss and Bell were going, it looked it would be all over by the 48th over… until Zak (Zaheer Khan ) came, bowled brilliantly," Dhoni said.
Dhoni though was also disappointed that their attack could not defend such a big total.
"I think so (it was defendable). If 338 is not enough then perhaps in every match you will have to score 350-360 runs, which will be very tough to do.
"It was a different wicket and pretty flat in the second innings, but then there was more pressure on England's batsman. The lower order contributed, Swann, Bresnan and one more guy, Shehzad, all played well," he said.
Strauss, who was adjudged Man-of-the-match for his scintillating knock, though was full of mixed feelings after the match.
"In a way, yes, no...," he said, when asked if he was happy with the result.
"We were in a great position to win. Then we had a shocking powerplay (when both he and Bell got out) and India were favourites then. Some ways we are happy and some ways distraught," the left-handed batsman said.
Strauss also said the thrilling game was good advertisement for cricket.
"It was a great game (for One-day cricket). There was a lot of pressure. Some way it was disappointing and some way it was a privilege to play such a game. It was an outstanding wicket to bat on," he said.
India pacer Zhaeer Khan, who dismissed both Strauss and Bell on consecutive balls to bring India back in the match, said, "The tie result explains everything. Strauss batted well and it was electrifying till the end."
Source: Rediff.com
Strauss edged it twice but Indians didn't appeal - cricket
The Indian team seems to have a 'hearing problem' in addition to its bowling and fielding woes which led to its failure to defend a strong score of 338 in the World Cup match against England last night.
Much has has been spoken and written about how poor bowling and fielding in addition to a late batting collapse that resulted in the fall of India's last seven wickets for 33 runs and nearly enabled England to win.
But two huge blunders committed by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his bowling spearhead Zaheer Khan appear to have gone unnoticed in the debate and discussion over the tied match.
England skipper Andrew Strauss, who was the architect of India's agony by hitting his highest ODI score of 158, should have been out when he has scored a mere 13 if wicket-keeper Dhoni, Zaheer or close-in fielders had appealed for a caught behind at that point. Strauss clearly nicked a Zaheer delivery but there was no appeal by the Indians.
98 runs later, the England skipper had another stroke of luck when he again edged Zaheer to Dhoni with his score at 111 but none of the Indians on the field appealed.
Some of the television commentators, who heard the replays of the clear nicks, thought that the Indian players probably did not hear the edges because of the crowd noise --an unconvincing argument given the fact that Indian cricketers are used to noisy, boisterous crowds everytime they set foot on the field.
No cricket ground in the world has as vocal spectators as Kolkata's Eden Gardens where over one lakh fans turn out for big matches.
Source: Ndtv
Much has has been spoken and written about how poor bowling and fielding in addition to a late batting collapse that resulted in the fall of India's last seven wickets for 33 runs and nearly enabled England to win.
But two huge blunders committed by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his bowling spearhead Zaheer Khan appear to have gone unnoticed in the debate and discussion over the tied match.
England skipper Andrew Strauss, who was the architect of India's agony by hitting his highest ODI score of 158, should have been out when he has scored a mere 13 if wicket-keeper Dhoni, Zaheer or close-in fielders had appealed for a caught behind at that point. Strauss clearly nicked a Zaheer delivery but there was no appeal by the Indians.
98 runs later, the England skipper had another stroke of luck when he again edged Zaheer to Dhoni with his score at 111 but none of the Indians on the field appealed.
Some of the television commentators, who heard the replays of the clear nicks, thought that the Indian players probably did not hear the edges because of the crowd noise --an unconvincing argument given the fact that Indian cricketers are used to noisy, boisterous crowds everytime they set foot on the field.
No cricket ground in the world has as vocal spectators as Kolkata's Eden Gardens where over one lakh fans turn out for big matches.
Source: Ndtv
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Batting gives the South Africans the edge - Cricket World Cup 2011
It is a contest between a team still looking for its finest World Cup moment and the other whose best in the competition can only be sighted far in the rear-view mirror.
If South Africa is waiting for its time to come, two-time winner West Indies is also looking to turn the clock back.
On Thursday, One-Day International cricket returns to the Ferozeshah Kotla after December 2009, and the untested surface adds to the excitement of the first match of this World Cup where there is no overwhelming favourite.
The pitch will come under scrutiny with the curators too keeping their fingers crossed. Despite heavy rolling and lot of grass being shaved off, concerns over possible low bounce at one end remain.
Overall, the South African batting line-up looks like it will be more than a handful for the West Indies attack. This may well prove to be the decisive factor. But, then, turning things around is well within the West Indies' scope.
Either way, the outcome of the match may not impact the teams' prospects of reaching the quarterfinals — these sides are more than capable of beating Bangladesh, the Netherlands and Ireland.
Eyeing a grand exit?
South African skipper Graeme Smith has reasons to be more anxious than his West Indies counterpart, Darren Sammy. Smith has given indications that this may be his last World Cup, and he will obviously be keen to sign off in glory.
Though the squad has 11 players making their World Cup debuts, South Africa is among the favourites. A fine mix of batsmen suited for one-dayers, a choice of all-rounders, variety in both pace and spin departments, traditionally awe-inspiring fielding — all add up to make South Africa a winning combination.
The line-up, including Smith, Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, Ab de Villiers and Jean-Paul Duminy, reflects the expertise and experience to worry any attack in this form of the game. With tearaway bowlers like Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel and seamer Lonwabo Tsotsobe, not to forget a hungry Wayne Parnell, at its disposal, the pace battery appears compact. Add the never-before options like off-spinner Johan Botha, Robin Peterson, a left-arm spinner with all-round capabilities and Pakistan-born leg-spinner Imran Tahir, and the South African attack assumes menacing proportions. No wonder, some of the ex-South African cricketers have called it their best World Cup squad.
‘Dangerous side'
About the West Indies, Smith said on Wednesday: “Consistency has always been an issue with them when it comes to playing in a series of four to five matches. But you can't take away the fact they have real match-winners in their squad. They are a dangerous side, especially in a one-off game…especially in a World Cup.”
West Indies, winless in the one-dayers against Test-playing nations since June 2009, has the potential to cause upsets. What makes the side “dangerous” is its blend of explosive power and energetic young talent. The side may not have the experience of its rival but has some names capable of turning a match on its head.
Sammy, his deputy Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Darren Bravo, seasoned campaigner Ramnaresh Sarwan and the ever-so-steady Shivnarine Chanderpaul represent the depth in batting.
The pace-attack consisting Kemar Roach, spoken very highly of, along with Ravi Rampaul, Sammy and Dwayne Bravo is far from menacing but together with the spin options in Gayle and left-arm spinners Sulieman Benn and Nikita Miller provide the variety.
Sammy said the “quietly confident” team was keen to go “step by step” in the competition.
“We have a well-balanced side and if we play to our full potential, who knows what could happen. After all, the one-day game is about doing well on that day. And doing what it takes.”
The teams (from):
South Africa: Graeme Smith (Captain), Hashim Amla, Morne van Wyk, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Johan Botha, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Colin Ingram, Wayne Parnell and Imran Tahir.
West Indies: Darren Sammy (Captain), Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Nikita Miller, Sulieman Benn, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Kieron Pollard, Devon Smith, Kirk Edwards, Andre Russel and Devon Thomas.
Umpires: Simon Taufel and Amish Saheba, Third umpire: Asoka de Silva; Fourth umpire: Richard Kettleborough.
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe.
Match starts at 2.30 pm .
Source: Hindu
If South Africa is waiting for its time to come, two-time winner West Indies is also looking to turn the clock back.
On Thursday, One-Day International cricket returns to the Ferozeshah Kotla after December 2009, and the untested surface adds to the excitement of the first match of this World Cup where there is no overwhelming favourite.
The pitch will come under scrutiny with the curators too keeping their fingers crossed. Despite heavy rolling and lot of grass being shaved off, concerns over possible low bounce at one end remain.
Overall, the South African batting line-up looks like it will be more than a handful for the West Indies attack. This may well prove to be the decisive factor. But, then, turning things around is well within the West Indies' scope.
Either way, the outcome of the match may not impact the teams' prospects of reaching the quarterfinals — these sides are more than capable of beating Bangladesh, the Netherlands and Ireland.
Eyeing a grand exit?
South African skipper Graeme Smith has reasons to be more anxious than his West Indies counterpart, Darren Sammy. Smith has given indications that this may be his last World Cup, and he will obviously be keen to sign off in glory.
Though the squad has 11 players making their World Cup debuts, South Africa is among the favourites. A fine mix of batsmen suited for one-dayers, a choice of all-rounders, variety in both pace and spin departments, traditionally awe-inspiring fielding — all add up to make South Africa a winning combination.
The line-up, including Smith, Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, Ab de Villiers and Jean-Paul Duminy, reflects the expertise and experience to worry any attack in this form of the game. With tearaway bowlers like Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel and seamer Lonwabo Tsotsobe, not to forget a hungry Wayne Parnell, at its disposal, the pace battery appears compact. Add the never-before options like off-spinner Johan Botha, Robin Peterson, a left-arm spinner with all-round capabilities and Pakistan-born leg-spinner Imran Tahir, and the South African attack assumes menacing proportions. No wonder, some of the ex-South African cricketers have called it their best World Cup squad.
‘Dangerous side'
About the West Indies, Smith said on Wednesday: “Consistency has always been an issue with them when it comes to playing in a series of four to five matches. But you can't take away the fact they have real match-winners in their squad. They are a dangerous side, especially in a one-off game…especially in a World Cup.”
West Indies, winless in the one-dayers against Test-playing nations since June 2009, has the potential to cause upsets. What makes the side “dangerous” is its blend of explosive power and energetic young talent. The side may not have the experience of its rival but has some names capable of turning a match on its head.
Sammy, his deputy Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Darren Bravo, seasoned campaigner Ramnaresh Sarwan and the ever-so-steady Shivnarine Chanderpaul represent the depth in batting.
The pace-attack consisting Kemar Roach, spoken very highly of, along with Ravi Rampaul, Sammy and Dwayne Bravo is far from menacing but together with the spin options in Gayle and left-arm spinners Sulieman Benn and Nikita Miller provide the variety.
Sammy said the “quietly confident” team was keen to go “step by step” in the competition.
“We have a well-balanced side and if we play to our full potential, who knows what could happen. After all, the one-day game is about doing well on that day. And doing what it takes.”
The teams (from):
South Africa: Graeme Smith (Captain), Hashim Amla, Morne van Wyk, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Johan Botha, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Colin Ingram, Wayne Parnell and Imran Tahir.
West Indies: Darren Sammy (Captain), Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Nikita Miller, Sulieman Benn, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Kieron Pollard, Devon Smith, Kirk Edwards, Andre Russel and Devon Thomas.
Umpires: Simon Taufel and Amish Saheba, Third umpire: Asoka de Silva; Fourth umpire: Richard Kettleborough.
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe.
Match starts at 2.30 pm .
Source: Hindu
Five-star Afridi demolishes Kenyans - Cricket World Cup 2011
First it was the batsmen who carved out an important innings from Pakistan, who have not progressed beyond the first round of the World Cup in the last two editions.And later, it was skipper Afridi who penned the perfect script to end the day on a high.
The Kenyan batsmen had no answer to captain Afridi's tantalising leg-spinners as he ended up with figures of five for 16 off eight overs.
Source: rediff.com
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Besieged Pakistan take fresh guard - world cup 2011
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis believes the recent spot-fixing scandal will not have a detrimental effect on their World Cup campaign which gets underway against Kenya here on Wednesday.Former Test captain Salman Butt and pacemen Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif were banned on charges of corruption relating to last year's Lord's Test against England.
All three also face criminal prosecution.
But Waqar said his team, who are in action for the first time since the bans were announced, are not worried about the past.
"Whatever happened last year is now history. This is a new place and an important tournament, so we want to be fully focussed and start the event like India and New Zealand did," said Waqar.
Pakistan are also eager to put behind them their tragedy-hit 2007 tournament.
Four years ago, Pakistan suffered an embarrassing three-wicket defeat at the hands of outsiders Ireland in Kingston and crashed out in the first round.
As if the humiliation was not enough, their English coach Bob Woolmer died the very next day, threatening the World Cup and putting the players under investigation by the Jamaican police who initially treated the death as murder.
Even after the death was declared as due to natural causes, Pakistani players came in for severe criticism from home fans who wanted them punished for their first round exit -- their second in as many events.
Captain Shahid Afridi said his team will take all opponents here seriously.
"There have been so many upsets in the World Cup in the past, like the one against Ireland four years ago, so we have that in mind and we will be on our toes in every match, be it Kenya or Sri Lanka," Afridi told AFP.
The current Pakistan squad has only four survivors from that Irish defeat -- Younis Khan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal -- but Afridi said no player has forgotten the shattering loss.
Not even Kenya's abject 10-wicket surrender to New Zealand in a Group A match in Chennai on Sunday, makes Afridi feel at ease.
"If they had a bad day then they can come hard on us. We will be geared up as our main aim is to win all our group matches," said Afridi of the first stage where Pakistan also face Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Canada.
The top four teams qualify for the quarter-finals from each of the two groups.
Pakistan opener Ahmed Shahzad and middle-order batsman Misbah-ul-Haq hit centuries in the first warm-up match against Bangladesh last week and senior batsman Younis Khan scored 80 in a lost cause against England.
Younis and Misbah will be the key in providing a solid base for hard-hitters Afridi, Umar Akmal and Abdul Razzaq, who can run riot in the final overs and in the batting powerplay.
Kenya captain Jimmy Kamande vowed to have a different approach against Pakistan, after his team was shot out for a paltry 69 against New Zealand.
"Next game, it'll be different opposition and a different approach from us. I would be happy as long as we improve each and every game," said Kamande, whose team reached the semi-final in the 2003 World Cup.
"We didn't express ourselves (in the first match) but we will show improvements," said Kamande, whose team has never met Pakistan in a World Cup match having been a regular feature in the World Cup since 1996.
Pakistan have won all their five one-day internationals against Kenya.
Source: ndtv
England survive Dutch brilliance - world cup 2011
Ryan ten Doeschate produced a scintillating 119 from 110 balls, and followed up with the brilliant bowling figures of 2 for 47 in ten overs, to give England one of the biggest frights of their international lives. However, his very best efforts were not quite enough to propel the Netherlands to an incredible victory in their World Cup opener at Nagpur.
Faced with a massive target of 293, and humiliation on an even greater scale than they suffered at Lord's two years ago, England responded with a determined batting performance under the floodlights, and thanks to composed half-centuries from Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott, they eventually reached safety with six wickets and eight balls to spare. However, the final margin of victory did no justice to the journey they were forced to undertake. Had England stumbled, it would surely have gone down as the greatest upset in World Cup history.
The final overs were fraught with possibility, as England battled with a run-rate that barely dipped below seven an over, against a pumped-up team of performers who could mainline their adrenalin straight from that opening fixture of the World Twenty20. With 69 needed from the final ten overs, Trott was exquisitely stumped off a leg-side wide by Wesley Barresi, who had earlier launched the Dutch innings with a sparky cameo of 29 from 25 balls, and when the in-form Ian Bell was bowled middle stump by the final ball of ten Doeschate's spell, Nagpur really was living up to its reputation as the City of Orange.
That dismissal left England's fate in the hands of Paul Collingwood, who has barely been able to buy an international run all winter, and Ravi Bopara, whose inclusion at the expense of the second spinner Michael Yardy contributed to their problems in the field, but for which he ultimately atoned with a vital 30 not out from 20 balls, including a soothing six over long-on off the first ball off the 49th over - the first of England's innings.
It was Collingwood who proved the key, however. He was England's captain when they lost in 2009, and ten years earlier he had also been on the receiving end of a NatWest Trophy beating while playing for Durham in Amstelveen. The threat of a triple dose of humiliation compelled him to rediscover his fighting spirit, and he restored faith in both himself and his team with an unbeaten 30 from 23.
It was all extraordinarily fraught. Whereas previous shocks have revolved around batting collapses in helpful conditions - think Ireland in Jamaica four years ago, or West Indies against Kenya in 1996 - this performance was all about the weight of runs that the derided Dutchmen were able to pile onto England's shoulders. With Associate cricket in the spotlight like never before, following the decision to reduce the 2015 World Cup to 10 teams, and in light of the recent capitulations by Canada and Kenya in Group A, this was a performance that showed the sport's second tier in the best and most timely light imaginable.
ten Doeschate's prowess in limited-overs cricket is hardly a secret - he averaged 54 in the CB40 last season, and weighed in with nine wickets, as Essex advanced to the semi-finals - but England had no answers to his watertight technique and a shot selection that started out composed before exploding in the closing overs with 52 runs coming from his last 26 deliveries. He came to the crease in the 12th over and though he took 12 balls to get off the mark, the value in gauging the pace of the wicket paid off handsomely.
All told, ten Doeschate struck nine fours and three sixes in a 110-ball stay, the first of which came off a gentle full-toss from Kevin Pietersen, whose two overs were dispatched for 19 and highlighted England's folly in omitting Yardy - Bopara's medium-pace was not called upon. Swann, on his return to the team following the birth of his son Wilfred, was the pick of England's bowlers with 2 for 35 in ten tidy overs, while Stuart Broad was menacing if a touch expensive in his first full international since the Adelaide Test in December. But ten Doeschate treated the rest of England's attack with disdain, as he powered through to his fourth and highest century in 28 appearances for the Netherlands.
After calling for the Powerplay in the 43rd over, ten Doeschate lost his fifth-wicket partner Tom de Grooth, the hero of Lord's 2009, who was bowled by a Stuart Broad yorker for 28. But undeterred, he picked off consecutive boundaries from Tim Bresnan to move through the nineties, before reaching his first World Cup hundred from 98 balls and in remarkable fashion, as a sharp single to short fine leg turned into five overthrows when Trott's shy ricocheted off the stumps and away to the ropes.
On a night that belonged to the Dutchmen in spite of the final result, the nadir of England's performance was reached in the final six overs of their bowling effort. Only last summer, England's attack was touted as their likeliest route to World Cup glory, given how intricately each member of the attack knew their roles, and how quickly they were able to react to changing circumstances. However, the closing overs were a total shambles that would have disgraced a club side, given the breadth and variety of the errors that were committed.
A foretaste of the chaos came in Swann's seventh over, when ten Doeschate, on 47, launched a drive into no-man's land behind the bowler's arm, where James Anderson and Kevin Pietersen converged from mid-off and mid-on respectively, but stopped dead as the ball plugged harmlessly between them.
Anderson's day then went from bad to worse when he returned to the attack in the 46th over. His attempt at blockhole bowling resulted in two awful waist-high full-tosses, the second of which swung away down the leg side for four. Both were called as no-balls, and Anderson was very fortunate not to be withdrawn from the attack by the umpires. Or not as it happens, because the Dutch captain Peter Borren was delighted he remained. He belted three consecutive boundaries in a listless ninth over, to finish unbeaten on 35 from 24 balls.
England's embarrassment didn't end there. Though Broad showed some fight to end ten Doeschate's stay via a catch in the deep in the 49th over, he was denied the wicket of Borren in the same over when Collingwood at midwicket failed to take his required position inside the fielding circle. A no-ball was signalled, Borren was recalled, and there was still time for one more howler, as Swann shelled a sitter at third man to reprieve Mudassar Bukhari.
The Netherlands final total of 292 for 6 was their highest against a full-member nation, and the second highest by any Associate, beating the 230 they scored against England on this very day 15 years ago, at the 1996 World Cup. The hero that day was the 18-year-old Bas Zuiderent, who was the only Dutchman to miss out this time around, as he made 1 from 10 balls before becoming Swann's second victim. It was scant consolation for England on a day that they could not allow to get any worse.
The new opening pairing of Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen went some way towards atoning for England's earlier errors with a 105-run stand in 17.4 overs. They started with clear intent as Strauss snaffled three fours in the first over, from Mudassar Bukhari - two clips off the toes and a fortuitous under-edged cut past off stump, en route to 88 from 83 balls, while Pietersen's first shot was a sweetly timed drive to a Berend Westdijk outswinger.
On a slow deck, Pietersen's instinct was to advance onto the front foot at every opportunity, and his timing seemed in fine fettle even though he kept picking out the fielders in a well-drilled Netherlands outfit. Strauss meanwhile hung back in his crease and took advantage of the Dutch inexperience to nudge and pull eight of his first nine boundaries behind square on the leg-side.
However, as the hardness went out of the new ball and Barresi came up to the stumps to restrict Pietersen's footwork, his returns tailed off appreciably. Having scored 29 from his first 31 balls, he made just 10 from his next 30, before Pieter Seelaar added his name to the list of left-arm spinners to have captured one of the more notable scalps in world cricket. A tempting delivery was tossed up outside off stump, and Pietersen failed to get his feet to the pitch as he poked an uppish drive to short cover.
In the end humiliation was avoided, and given the lop-sided format of the World Cup, England have already made a significant stride towards the quarter-finals. But with the in-form Indians looming in Bangalore on Sunday, there is no room for another performance this poor. The world is watching. And they've taken note.
Source: ndtv
Faced with a massive target of 293, and humiliation on an even greater scale than they suffered at Lord's two years ago, England responded with a determined batting performance under the floodlights, and thanks to composed half-centuries from Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott, they eventually reached safety with six wickets and eight balls to spare. However, the final margin of victory did no justice to the journey they were forced to undertake. Had England stumbled, it would surely have gone down as the greatest upset in World Cup history.
The final overs were fraught with possibility, as England battled with a run-rate that barely dipped below seven an over, against a pumped-up team of performers who could mainline their adrenalin straight from that opening fixture of the World Twenty20. With 69 needed from the final ten overs, Trott was exquisitely stumped off a leg-side wide by Wesley Barresi, who had earlier launched the Dutch innings with a sparky cameo of 29 from 25 balls, and when the in-form Ian Bell was bowled middle stump by the final ball of ten Doeschate's spell, Nagpur really was living up to its reputation as the City of Orange.
That dismissal left England's fate in the hands of Paul Collingwood, who has barely been able to buy an international run all winter, and Ravi Bopara, whose inclusion at the expense of the second spinner Michael Yardy contributed to their problems in the field, but for which he ultimately atoned with a vital 30 not out from 20 balls, including a soothing six over long-on off the first ball off the 49th over - the first of England's innings.
It was Collingwood who proved the key, however. He was England's captain when they lost in 2009, and ten years earlier he had also been on the receiving end of a NatWest Trophy beating while playing for Durham in Amstelveen. The threat of a triple dose of humiliation compelled him to rediscover his fighting spirit, and he restored faith in both himself and his team with an unbeaten 30 from 23.
It was all extraordinarily fraught. Whereas previous shocks have revolved around batting collapses in helpful conditions - think Ireland in Jamaica four years ago, or West Indies against Kenya in 1996 - this performance was all about the weight of runs that the derided Dutchmen were able to pile onto England's shoulders. With Associate cricket in the spotlight like never before, following the decision to reduce the 2015 World Cup to 10 teams, and in light of the recent capitulations by Canada and Kenya in Group A, this was a performance that showed the sport's second tier in the best and most timely light imaginable.
ten Doeschate's prowess in limited-overs cricket is hardly a secret - he averaged 54 in the CB40 last season, and weighed in with nine wickets, as Essex advanced to the semi-finals - but England had no answers to his watertight technique and a shot selection that started out composed before exploding in the closing overs with 52 runs coming from his last 26 deliveries. He came to the crease in the 12th over and though he took 12 balls to get off the mark, the value in gauging the pace of the wicket paid off handsomely.
All told, ten Doeschate struck nine fours and three sixes in a 110-ball stay, the first of which came off a gentle full-toss from Kevin Pietersen, whose two overs were dispatched for 19 and highlighted England's folly in omitting Yardy - Bopara's medium-pace was not called upon. Swann, on his return to the team following the birth of his son Wilfred, was the pick of England's bowlers with 2 for 35 in ten tidy overs, while Stuart Broad was menacing if a touch expensive in his first full international since the Adelaide Test in December. But ten Doeschate treated the rest of England's attack with disdain, as he powered through to his fourth and highest century in 28 appearances for the Netherlands.
After calling for the Powerplay in the 43rd over, ten Doeschate lost his fifth-wicket partner Tom de Grooth, the hero of Lord's 2009, who was bowled by a Stuart Broad yorker for 28. But undeterred, he picked off consecutive boundaries from Tim Bresnan to move through the nineties, before reaching his first World Cup hundred from 98 balls and in remarkable fashion, as a sharp single to short fine leg turned into five overthrows when Trott's shy ricocheted off the stumps and away to the ropes.
On a night that belonged to the Dutchmen in spite of the final result, the nadir of England's performance was reached in the final six overs of their bowling effort. Only last summer, England's attack was touted as their likeliest route to World Cup glory, given how intricately each member of the attack knew their roles, and how quickly they were able to react to changing circumstances. However, the closing overs were a total shambles that would have disgraced a club side, given the breadth and variety of the errors that were committed.
A foretaste of the chaos came in Swann's seventh over, when ten Doeschate, on 47, launched a drive into no-man's land behind the bowler's arm, where James Anderson and Kevin Pietersen converged from mid-off and mid-on respectively, but stopped dead as the ball plugged harmlessly between them.
Anderson's day then went from bad to worse when he returned to the attack in the 46th over. His attempt at blockhole bowling resulted in two awful waist-high full-tosses, the second of which swung away down the leg side for four. Both were called as no-balls, and Anderson was very fortunate not to be withdrawn from the attack by the umpires. Or not as it happens, because the Dutch captain Peter Borren was delighted he remained. He belted three consecutive boundaries in a listless ninth over, to finish unbeaten on 35 from 24 balls.
England's embarrassment didn't end there. Though Broad showed some fight to end ten Doeschate's stay via a catch in the deep in the 49th over, he was denied the wicket of Borren in the same over when Collingwood at midwicket failed to take his required position inside the fielding circle. A no-ball was signalled, Borren was recalled, and there was still time for one more howler, as Swann shelled a sitter at third man to reprieve Mudassar Bukhari.
The Netherlands final total of 292 for 6 was their highest against a full-member nation, and the second highest by any Associate, beating the 230 they scored against England on this very day 15 years ago, at the 1996 World Cup. The hero that day was the 18-year-old Bas Zuiderent, who was the only Dutchman to miss out this time around, as he made 1 from 10 balls before becoming Swann's second victim. It was scant consolation for England on a day that they could not allow to get any worse.
The new opening pairing of Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen went some way towards atoning for England's earlier errors with a 105-run stand in 17.4 overs. They started with clear intent as Strauss snaffled three fours in the first over, from Mudassar Bukhari - two clips off the toes and a fortuitous under-edged cut past off stump, en route to 88 from 83 balls, while Pietersen's first shot was a sweetly timed drive to a Berend Westdijk outswinger.
On a slow deck, Pietersen's instinct was to advance onto the front foot at every opportunity, and his timing seemed in fine fettle even though he kept picking out the fielders in a well-drilled Netherlands outfit. Strauss meanwhile hung back in his crease and took advantage of the Dutch inexperience to nudge and pull eight of his first nine boundaries behind square on the leg-side.
However, as the hardness went out of the new ball and Barresi came up to the stumps to restrict Pietersen's footwork, his returns tailed off appreciably. Having scored 29 from his first 31 balls, he made just 10 from his next 30, before Pieter Seelaar added his name to the list of left-arm spinners to have captured one of the more notable scalps in world cricket. A tempting delivery was tossed up outside off stump, and Pietersen failed to get his feet to the pitch as he poked an uppish drive to short cover.
In the end humiliation was avoided, and given the lop-sided format of the World Cup, England have already made a significant stride towards the quarter-finals. But with the in-form Indians looming in Bangalore on Sunday, there is no room for another performance this poor. The world is watching. And they've taken note.
Source: ndtv
Monday, February 21, 2011
Cricket-Furious Ponting smashes TV after being run out
India Feb 22 (Reuters) - A furious Ricky Ponting took out his frustration at being run out in Australia's opening World Cup match by smashing a television set with his bat in the team's dressing room.
The incident during the Group A match against Zimbabwe was reported to the sport's governing body but an International Cricket Council source said on Tuesday "it was unlikely the matter would be taken any further".
On Monday, the Australian captain was found short of his crease at the non-striking end by a direct throw from the mid-wicket boundary by the lanky Chris Mpofu while attempting a second run.
Ponting was seen talking angrily to himself as he walked back to the pavilion and it appears his emotions spilled over once he was back in the dressing room, where he saw footage of his dismissal being replayed on TV.
"It's true. We have already informed the ICC and the Australian cricket authorities about the incident," Gujarat Cricket Association secretary Rajesh Patel told Reuters before adding that the incident was a minor one.
Australia beat Zimbabwe by 91 runs in their World Cup opener at the Sardar Patel Stadium.
Source: af.reuters.com
The incident during the Group A match against Zimbabwe was reported to the sport's governing body but an International Cricket Council source said on Tuesday "it was unlikely the matter would be taken any further".
On Monday, the Australian captain was found short of his crease at the non-striking end by a direct throw from the mid-wicket boundary by the lanky Chris Mpofu while attempting a second run.
Ponting was seen talking angrily to himself as he walked back to the pavilion and it appears his emotions spilled over once he was back in the dressing room, where he saw footage of his dismissal being replayed on TV.
"It's true. We have already informed the ICC and the Australian cricket authorities about the incident," Gujarat Cricket Association secretary Rajesh Patel told Reuters before adding that the incident was a minor one.
Australia beat Zimbabwe by 91 runs in their World Cup opener at the Sardar Patel Stadium.
Source: af.reuters.com
Criket News - I don't think we expected it to be that easy
New Zealand thumped Kenya by 10 wickets in a lop-sided Group A match of the World Cup on Sunday that appears to justify bids to trim the 2015 edition of the showpiece event by leaving out the whipping boys.
The sparse crowd at the MA Chidambaram Stadium witnessed a total mis-match as New Zealand unleashed their pace trio of Tim Southee (3-13), Hamish Bennett (4-16) and Jacob Oram (3-2) to bundle out Kenya for a meagre 69 in 23.5 overs and returned to overwhelm the target in eight overs.
There was not much room for batting practice chasing a 70-run victory target but openers Martin Guptill (39) and Brendon McCullum (26) stroked some easy boundaries before completing the chase.
The outcome strengthens the International Cricket Council's bid for a 10-team World Cup in 2015, accommodating the weaker teams in the Twenty20 World Cup instead.
"I don't think we expected it to be that easy," New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori told reporters after a perfect start to the tournament suggested the team was determined to put behind a poor build-up that included whitewash against Bangladesh.
"To bowl well and allow the batsmen such a small chase is always pleasing. It was a fantastic efforts by the bowlers," he added.
Source:- Rediff
The sparse crowd at the MA Chidambaram Stadium witnessed a total mis-match as New Zealand unleashed their pace trio of Tim Southee (3-13), Hamish Bennett (4-16) and Jacob Oram (3-2) to bundle out Kenya for a meagre 69 in 23.5 overs and returned to overwhelm the target in eight overs.
There was not much room for batting practice chasing a 70-run victory target but openers Martin Guptill (39) and Brendon McCullum (26) stroked some easy boundaries before completing the chase.
The outcome strengthens the International Cricket Council's bid for a 10-team World Cup in 2015, accommodating the weaker teams in the Twenty20 World Cup instead.
"I don't think we expected it to be that easy," New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori told reporters after a perfect start to the tournament suggested the team was determined to put behind a poor build-up that included whitewash against Bangladesh.
"To bowl well and allow the batsmen such a small chase is always pleasing. It was a fantastic efforts by the bowlers," he added.
Source:- Rediff
Criket News - Jayawardene notches his 2nd World Cup century
Mahela Jayawardene smashed an 81-ball century, the fastest by a Sri Lankan in the World Cup, to set up a 210-run victory over Canada on Sunday in Group A
Jayawardene's quickfire knock surpassed the previous Sri Lankan fastest in the competition, 85 balls by Sanath Jayasuriya scored against Bangladesh in 2007 in Port of Spain.
The former Sri Lanka captain helped set up a hefty 332-7 after Sri Lanka won the toss and batted first.
On a slow pitch where stroke making was difficult and an equally slow outfield at a new stadium, Jayawardene adjusted his game beautifully to suit the conditions and complete his second World Cup hundred.
Jayawardene struck nine fours and a six in scoring 100 off 81 balls. He survived two caught behind appeals at 11 and 22 as the referral system did not have the hot spot or the snickometer to guide the third umpire.
Source:- Rediff
Jayawardene's quickfire knock surpassed the previous Sri Lankan fastest in the competition, 85 balls by Sanath Jayasuriya scored against Bangladesh in 2007 in Port of Spain.
The former Sri Lanka captain helped set up a hefty 332-7 after Sri Lanka won the toss and batted first.
On a slow pitch where stroke making was difficult and an equally slow outfield at a new stadium, Jayawardene adjusted his game beautifully to suit the conditions and complete his second World Cup hundred.
Jayawardene struck nine fours and a six in scoring 100 off 81 balls. He survived two caught behind appeals at 11 and 22 as the referral system did not have the hot spot or the snickometer to guide the third umpire.
Source:- Rediff
Criket News - Injury scare for Tendulkar?
An injury scare has surfaced for Sachin Tendulkar who underwent a MRI scan on his left knee in Mumbai on Sunday.
Tendulkar stayed in Mumbai after his return from Dhaka, as the rest of the team made their way to Bangalore.
Indian team physio had asked Tendulkar to undergo a scan as precautions to avoid any minor niggle getting serious. The results of the scan are expected on Monday. Tendulkar is expected to fly to Bangalore to join the rest of the team at the nets later in the day.
Sachin TendulkarAn injury to him would give India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni a few headaches as Tendulkar is expected to play a vital role in India's World Cup success.
While the problem isn't believed to be serious the Indian team management doesn't seem to want to take too many risks with the fitness of the batting maestro.
"He's fit for the rest of the World Cup. The MRI hasn't revealed any serious damage," a well-placed source said.
Source:- Rediff
Tendulkar stayed in Mumbai after his return from Dhaka, as the rest of the team made their way to Bangalore.
Indian team physio had asked Tendulkar to undergo a scan as precautions to avoid any minor niggle getting serious. The results of the scan are expected on Monday. Tendulkar is expected to fly to Bangalore to join the rest of the team at the nets later in the day.
Sachin TendulkarAn injury to him would give India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni a few headaches as Tendulkar is expected to play a vital role in India's World Cup success.
While the problem isn't believed to be serious the Indian team management doesn't seem to want to take too many risks with the fitness of the batting maestro.
"He's fit for the rest of the World Cup. The MRI hasn't revealed any serious damage," a well-placed source said.
Source:- Rediff
Friday, February 18, 2011
World Cup swansong awaits top cricketers
Some of the top names in world cricket - Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, Muttiah Muralitharan and Ricky Ponting - would love to make this World Cup a memorable one for themselves as this could well be the last time they are playing in cricket's showpiece event.
While Sri Lankan legend Muralitharan (38) has already announced his retirement from international cricket after the tournament, Indian batting icon Tendulkar (37), South African all-rounder Kallis (35) and Australian skipper Ponting (36) are unlikely to make it to the next World Cup to be played in 2015.
Ponting (1999, 2003 and 2007 - last two as skipper) and Muralitharan (1996) have already been part of World Cup winning squads and would be keen to lift the coveted trophy one more time.
Tendulkar, who is set to become the only other cricketer, apart from former Pakistani player Javed Miandad to appear in six World Cups, owns almost all the important landmarks in One-Day International cricket but would definitely not like to have a record of playing in the most World Cups without winning even one.
Kallis, too, would be desperate to win the World Cup, missing from his illustrious career.
Meanwhile, Tendulkar may not be the only player, India would lose before the next World Cup.
Given the spate of injuries, even flamboyant opener Virender Sehwag and pace spearhead Zaheer Khan (who would be 36 in 2015) may not feature in the next World Cup.
Besides Ponting, whose future as skipper is uncertain, Australia is also likely to lose pacer Brett Lee (34), who has already announced his retirement from the longer version of the game, and Michael Hussey (34), who was unfortunate not to make it to the team after failing to recover from a hamstring injury.
World Cup co-hosts, Sri Lanka, could be among the biggest losers, as the fulcrum of their batting - skipper Kumar Sangakkara (33), Mahela Jayawardene (33), and Tillakaratne Dilshan (34) - are not likely to be around in 2015.
For Pakistan, the injury and controversy-prone Shoaib Akhtar (35), Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (36), and former skipper Younis Khan (34), who shares a love-hate relationship with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), are in all likely be making their last World Cup appearances.
The West Indian trio of Chris Gayle (31), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (36), and Ramnaresh Sarwan (30), too are unlikely to play till 2015.
While it is almost certain that skipper Andrew Strauss (33) and Paul Collingwood (nearing 35) are representing England for the last time, New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori, and all-rounder Scott Styris (35), Jacob Oram (32), may not be around for the Black Caps in 2015.
There is also little chance of former Kenya skipper Steve Tikolo (nearing 40), once considered the best batsman among the ICC associate members, all-rounder Thomas Odoyo (32), the first player from a non-Test playing team to achieve the double of 1500 runs and 100 wickets in ODIs, and former Canada skipper John Davison, who impressed everyone with his pyrotechnics in the 2003 edition, of playing till 2015.
Source: sports.ndtv.com
While Sri Lankan legend Muralitharan (38) has already announced his retirement from international cricket after the tournament, Indian batting icon Tendulkar (37), South African all-rounder Kallis (35) and Australian skipper Ponting (36) are unlikely to make it to the next World Cup to be played in 2015.
Ponting (1999, 2003 and 2007 - last two as skipper) and Muralitharan (1996) have already been part of World Cup winning squads and would be keen to lift the coveted trophy one more time.
Tendulkar, who is set to become the only other cricketer, apart from former Pakistani player Javed Miandad to appear in six World Cups, owns almost all the important landmarks in One-Day International cricket but would definitely not like to have a record of playing in the most World Cups without winning even one.
Kallis, too, would be desperate to win the World Cup, missing from his illustrious career.
Meanwhile, Tendulkar may not be the only player, India would lose before the next World Cup.
Given the spate of injuries, even flamboyant opener Virender Sehwag and pace spearhead Zaheer Khan (who would be 36 in 2015) may not feature in the next World Cup.
Besides Ponting, whose future as skipper is uncertain, Australia is also likely to lose pacer Brett Lee (34), who has already announced his retirement from the longer version of the game, and Michael Hussey (34), who was unfortunate not to make it to the team after failing to recover from a hamstring injury.
World Cup co-hosts, Sri Lanka, could be among the biggest losers, as the fulcrum of their batting - skipper Kumar Sangakkara (33), Mahela Jayawardene (33), and Tillakaratne Dilshan (34) - are not likely to be around in 2015.
For Pakistan, the injury and controversy-prone Shoaib Akhtar (35), Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (36), and former skipper Younis Khan (34), who shares a love-hate relationship with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), are in all likely be making their last World Cup appearances.
The West Indian trio of Chris Gayle (31), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (36), and Ramnaresh Sarwan (30), too are unlikely to play till 2015.
While it is almost certain that skipper Andrew Strauss (33) and Paul Collingwood (nearing 35) are representing England for the last time, New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori, and all-rounder Scott Styris (35), Jacob Oram (32), may not be around for the Black Caps in 2015.
There is also little chance of former Kenya skipper Steve Tikolo (nearing 40), once considered the best batsman among the ICC associate members, all-rounder Thomas Odoyo (32), the first player from a non-Test playing team to achieve the double of 1500 runs and 100 wickets in ODIs, and former Canada skipper John Davison, who impressed everyone with his pyrotechnics in the 2003 edition, of playing till 2015.
Source: sports.ndtv.com
ICC CWC 2011: Opening Ceremony Highlights
ICC CWC 2011: Opening Ceremony Highlights
Click here for the open ceremony highlights...
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Ashwin a positive character
Dhoni said whether Aswhin will get to play in the World Cup will depend on the condition and pitches.
"I think Ashwin is a positive character and has tremendous belief in himself. Whatever variations he has got, he backs himself to bowl in those areas. What we have seen lately is that he can contribute with the bat also. That is a big positive. On making him play or leave him out, we will decide after seeing the wicket. We have to know whether the wicket will spin or not and then go with two pace and two spinners or two pacers and three spinners," he said.
Stating that he wants to back each and every player, Dhoni said, "We want to back each and every individual irrespective of the fact whether he has played ten years, eight years or just made his debut. What we try to do is not to let any player dropped from the side."
"The core team needs to be tight together. As far as Yuvraj is concerned he is among the senior-most players with the amount of experience he has got from 230-240 odd international games. He has got plenty of experience batting at four and he has come up ranks from batting at number five or 6-7.
"It is a tough slot to perform because more often than not you don't get a chance to perform because the top order contributes if you are playing in the sub-continent. It's a plus to have him in your side. Big positive, big match player. The tournament is happening in India and he will push himself to perform."
Source: rediff.com
"I think Ashwin is a positive character and has tremendous belief in himself. Whatever variations he has got, he backs himself to bowl in those areas. What we have seen lately is that he can contribute with the bat also. That is a big positive. On making him play or leave him out, we will decide after seeing the wicket. We have to know whether the wicket will spin or not and then go with two pace and two spinners or two pacers and three spinners," he said.
Stating that he wants to back each and every player, Dhoni said, "We want to back each and every individual irrespective of the fact whether he has played ten years, eight years or just made his debut. What we try to do is not to let any player dropped from the side."
"The core team needs to be tight together. As far as Yuvraj is concerned he is among the senior-most players with the amount of experience he has got from 230-240 odd international games. He has got plenty of experience batting at four and he has come up ranks from batting at number five or 6-7.
"It is a tough slot to perform because more often than not you don't get a chance to perform because the top order contributes if you are playing in the sub-continent. It's a plus to have him in your side. Big positive, big match player. The tournament is happening in India and he will push himself to perform."
Source: rediff.com
Results achieved from practice games
On the positives gained ahead of the World Cup, Dhoni said, "We have achieved whatever positives we can from practice games. From here on we have to start from scratch. We are playing on February 19 and hope we will perform to our potential."
On his own batting approach in the game, Dhoni, who scored an explosive unbeaten 108, said, "I wanted to spend more time in the wicket. In the last two three games, I tried to score off every delivery but one has to see the wicket whether the ball will come or not. I was pushing myself too much that was one of the reasons that I was getting out. I wanted to make the most out of this warm-up game.
"So, I said to myself that irrespective of whatever happens in the first 15-20 deliveries, I will be careful and after that I will look to score. My strength has always been like that. Even if my strike rate is initially 60 or 70, I can always accelerate. My main aim was to rotate with my partners," he added.
Source: rediff.com
On his own batting approach in the game, Dhoni, who scored an explosive unbeaten 108, said, "I wanted to spend more time in the wicket. In the last two three games, I tried to score off every delivery but one has to see the wicket whether the ball will come or not. I was pushing myself too much that was one of the reasons that I was getting out. I wanted to make the most out of this warm-up game.
"So, I said to myself that irrespective of whatever happens in the first 15-20 deliveries, I will be careful and after that I will look to score. My strength has always been like that. Even if my strike rate is initially 60 or 70, I can always accelerate. My main aim was to rotate with my partners," he added.
Source: rediff.com
Dhoni warns Sreesanth
Dhoni also talked about S Sreesanth's theatrics during matches and said he has no problem till the pacer does not cross "boundaries".
"I am very specific to him and told him that he should not cross a few boundaries. It is better that you do not cross those boundaries. If you want to irritate someone that should be the opposition and not your side. Till he does both these things, I am really happy to let him do whatever he wants to do. As for his behaviour today, I do not think there was much. I must say that bit of chit chat is always fine. It does not mean that whenever we play cricket such things does not happen.
"As I said, there are certain boundaries that you should not get too personal with a player. If these guidelines are followed I am quite happy with it. More often than not it is the batsman and Sreesanth who knows exactly what is going on," he added.
Source: rediff.com
"I am very specific to him and told him that he should not cross a few boundaries. It is better that you do not cross those boundaries. If you want to irritate someone that should be the opposition and not your side. Till he does both these things, I am really happy to let him do whatever he wants to do. As for his behaviour today, I do not think there was much. I must say that bit of chit chat is always fine. It does not mean that whenever we play cricket such things does not happen.
"As I said, there are certain boundaries that you should not get too personal with a player. If these guidelines are followed I am quite happy with it. More often than not it is the batsman and Sreesanth who knows exactly what is going on," he added.
Source: rediff.com
Yuvraj can contribute with ball as wellYuvraj can contribute with ball as well
Talking about importance of having Yuvraj in the team, Dhoni said, "What is important is we are playing with four bowlers. A part-time spinner is really important especially if it is left-arm away going spinner. That really adds on to the bowling strength, that's the one big advantage he has got over others. Once he gets going, it is difficult to stop him (Yuvraj) from scoring runs."
Asked whether he is worried that Yuvraj has not been scoring big in recent times, Dhoni explained, "Today, he did not get an opportunity. It would have been nice for him if he had batted. It is important to have runs under your belt. You may be talented but at the end of the day you need those 30 or 40 runs and then you start thinking positively. Then you look to dominate the bowlers."
"Positive thing about Yuvraj is once he scores, he scores through the series. Being a left-arm bowler, he has been contributing right from South Africa, he has been a big strength to the team. If we play with three seamers and one spinner or two seamers or two spinners, Yuvraj role becomes important.
"He gives us the odd breakthroughs required in the middle overs. That is a big asset he has got where he edges over the others. If all the batsmen are in good form, I do not mind one batsman out of form. But the amount of talent he has got I will back him fully. We are not playing with seven bowlers," said Dhoni.
Source: rediff.com
Asked whether he is worried that Yuvraj has not been scoring big in recent times, Dhoni explained, "Today, he did not get an opportunity. It would have been nice for him if he had batted. It is important to have runs under your belt. You may be talented but at the end of the day you need those 30 or 40 runs and then you start thinking positively. Then you look to dominate the bowlers."
"Positive thing about Yuvraj is once he scores, he scores through the series. Being a left-arm bowler, he has been contributing right from South Africa, he has been a big strength to the team. If we play with three seamers and one spinner or two seamers or two spinners, Yuvraj role becomes important.
"He gives us the odd breakthroughs required in the middle overs. That is a big asset he has got where he edges over the others. If all the batsmen are in good form, I do not mind one batsman out of form. But the amount of talent he has got I will back him fully. We are not playing with seven bowlers," said Dhoni.
Source: rediff.com
Kohli is in great form
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that Virat Kohli has the edge over Suresh Raina to bat at number four going by the current form of the two players while also saying that he would want Yuvraj Singh in the playing eleven for the World Cup.
Stating that Yuvraj did not get a chance to bat on Wednesday since Raina was sent up the order to have left-right combination, Dhoni said, "Major difficulty will come when Yuvraj gets going and scores one or two 50s, that will be the time we will be in a dilemma. Number four slot is very important for us. Right now it is a slot war. It is number
four slot where Kohli needs to bat with Gautam Gambhir at number three."
"To perform to his potential, Virat needs to bat up the order. That is where Raina can score batting down the order as well and he has done very well batting at number five and six. So, it will be a slot war more than for a place in the playing eleven.
"Kohli is sort of a player who likes to spend little bit of time early and then go after the bowlers. Still, there is a bit of chance where Virat may get an edge over Raina seeing the current form he is in," he said after India crushed New Zealand by 117 runs in their second and final World Cup game.
Source: rediff.com
Stating that Yuvraj did not get a chance to bat on Wednesday since Raina was sent up the order to have left-right combination, Dhoni said, "Major difficulty will come when Yuvraj gets going and scores one or two 50s, that will be the time we will be in a dilemma. Number four slot is very important for us. Right now it is a slot war. It is number
four slot where Kohli needs to bat with Gautam Gambhir at number three."
"To perform to his potential, Virat needs to bat up the order. That is where Raina can score batting down the order as well and he has done very well batting at number five and six. So, it will be a slot war more than for a place in the playing eleven.
"Kohli is sort of a player who likes to spend little bit of time early and then go after the bowlers. Still, there is a bit of chance where Virat may get an edge over Raina seeing the current form he is in," he said after India crushed New Zealand by 117 runs in their second and final World Cup game.
Source: rediff.com
Monday, February 14, 2011
'I have always believed that leg-spinners are essential in ODIs'
Leg spinner Piyush Chawla has played just one ODI over the past two years but following his match-winning performance against Australia in a World Cup warm-up, he appears to have bagged a place in the Indian team.
The variety and control in Chawla's leg spin not only brought him four wickets on Sunday but also made him the frontrunner to clinch the second spinner's slot in India's World Cup line-up.
The 22-year-old was a surprise inclusion in India's 15-man squad for the Feb 19-April 2 showpiece as he had last played in the 50-over format in July 2008 -- in the Asia Cup against Pakistan -- before playing one match against South Africa last month.
Chawla was drafted into the side ahead of the more regular left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha to provide variety to an attack already boasting of two off-spinners in Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin.
"They have wisely included a leg spinner, Piyush Chawla, to partner Harbhajan Singh in the World Cup," Pakistan's World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan said.
"I have always believed that leg-spinners are essential in ODIs as they are attacking options and take wickets."
Source: rediff.com
The variety and control in Chawla's leg spin not only brought him four wickets on Sunday but also made him the frontrunner to clinch the second spinner's slot in India's World Cup line-up.
The 22-year-old was a surprise inclusion in India's 15-man squad for the Feb 19-April 2 showpiece as he had last played in the 50-over format in July 2008 -- in the Asia Cup against Pakistan -- before playing one match against South Africa last month.
Chawla was drafted into the side ahead of the more regular left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha to provide variety to an attack already boasting of two off-spinners in Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin.
"They have wisely included a leg spinner, Piyush Chawla, to partner Harbhajan Singh in the World Cup," Pakistan's World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan said.
"I have always believed that leg-spinners are essential in ODIs as they are attacking options and take wickets."
Source: rediff.com
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Sreesanth replaces Praveen in World Cup squad
Praveen Kumar, the India fast bowler, has been ruled out of the World Cup due to an injured elbow and will be replaced by Sreesanth. The decision comes a day after Praveen underwent a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore to gauge whether he had recovered from the injury sustained before the start of the one-day series in South Africa last month.
Praveen, 24 had been sent back immediately from South Africa as a precautionary measure to recuperate at the NCA. The recovery did not go as planned, however, and he consulted Dr Andrew Wallace, a London-based surgeon who has treated many Indian players including Sachin Tendulkar. Praveen has been a regular with the Indian one-day side for the past couple of years and was set to be a certain starter in the World Cup, but his injury healed too slowly to allow him to participate in the global tournament.
Sreesanth has established himself in the Test side but has been on the fringes of the one-day outfit. He has played only 51 one-dayers in more than five years since his debut in 2005, and has a bloated career economy rate of 6.01. But he proved effective in the two ODIs he's played over the past 12 months, bagging seven wickets for 77 runs.
The other fast bowlers in the Indian squad are Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Munaf Patel.
Read more at: http://cricket.ndtv.com
Praveen, 24 had been sent back immediately from South Africa as a precautionary measure to recuperate at the NCA. The recovery did not go as planned, however, and he consulted Dr Andrew Wallace, a London-based surgeon who has treated many Indian players including Sachin Tendulkar. Praveen has been a regular with the Indian one-day side for the past couple of years and was set to be a certain starter in the World Cup, but his injury healed too slowly to allow him to participate in the global tournament.
Sreesanth has established himself in the Test side but has been on the fringes of the one-day outfit. He has played only 51 one-dayers in more than five years since his debut in 2005, and has a bloated career economy rate of 6.01. But he proved effective in the two ODIs he's played over the past 12 months, bagging seven wickets for 77 runs.
The other fast bowlers in the Indian squad are Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Munaf Patel.
Read more at: http://cricket.ndtv.com
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Thought of quitting last year, says Yuvraj
India middle-order batman Yuvraj Singh on Friday revealed that he almost thought of quitting international cricket when he was dropped from both the Test and ODI teams last year.
Yuvraj said it was the toughest phase in his 10-year-long career and his parents helped him overcome that lean period. "It was tough time for me. I think that was the toughest period for me in last 10 years. There was time when I asked myself do I want to continue. Seriously I thought do I want to play anymore or not. There was lot of negativity around me," he said.
"Everytime I hit the field, I was getting injured. That time was really bad for me. I just came out of it with the help of few good friends, my strong father and mother. Some amount of self motivation and hard training," said Yuvraj.
The 29-year-old left-hander was dropped from the squad that was picked for the Test series against Australia in October at home and from the ODI squad for the Asian Cup in Sri Lanka in June last year.
Yuvraj said he is confident to hit form in the forthcoming World Cup.
"My form is all great at the moment as compared to last couple of years. Last year it was tough because of injury. I am ready for the World Cup," he said.
The Chandigarh-born player's role has increased as a part-time bowler in the side and Yuvraj said it was because of the absence of a left-arm spinner.
"I have been bowling quite frequently and I try to bowl full 10 overs because you don't have main left-arm spinner in the side. I know that my role has increased as a bowler," he said.
With youngsters like Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina around, does it make Yuvraj feel insecure or push him to do better? "I am not insecure. I have played for 10 years. When I was young kid I always thought of playing ODIs and now I have played more than 250 ODIs. So no insecurity," Yuvraj told NDTV.
He said like all other Indian teammates, he would like to win the World Cup for veteran batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who will be making his sixth and likely his last appearance in the quadrennial event.
"I would give anything for the World Cup and would like to win it for him (Sachin). For India it will be dream come true," he said
Read more at: http://cricket.ndtv.com/
Yuvraj said it was the toughest phase in his 10-year-long career and his parents helped him overcome that lean period. "It was tough time for me. I think that was the toughest period for me in last 10 years. There was time when I asked myself do I want to continue. Seriously I thought do I want to play anymore or not. There was lot of negativity around me," he said.
"Everytime I hit the field, I was getting injured. That time was really bad for me. I just came out of it with the help of few good friends, my strong father and mother. Some amount of self motivation and hard training," said Yuvraj.
The 29-year-old left-hander was dropped from the squad that was picked for the Test series against Australia in October at home and from the ODI squad for the Asian Cup in Sri Lanka in June last year.
Yuvraj said he is confident to hit form in the forthcoming World Cup.
"My form is all great at the moment as compared to last couple of years. Last year it was tough because of injury. I am ready for the World Cup," he said.
The Chandigarh-born player's role has increased as a part-time bowler in the side and Yuvraj said it was because of the absence of a left-arm spinner.
"I have been bowling quite frequently and I try to bowl full 10 overs because you don't have main left-arm spinner in the side. I know that my role has increased as a bowler," he said.
With youngsters like Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina around, does it make Yuvraj feel insecure or push him to do better? "I am not insecure. I have played for 10 years. When I was young kid I always thought of playing ODIs and now I have played more than 250 ODIs. So no insecurity," Yuvraj told NDTV.
He said like all other Indian teammates, he would like to win the World Cup for veteran batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who will be making his sixth and likely his last appearance in the quadrennial event.
"I would give anything for the World Cup and would like to win it for him (Sachin). For India it will be dream come true," he said
Read more at: http://cricket.ndtv.com/
Thursday, February 3, 2011
World Cup is not about Sachin alone: Kapil Dev
There's this thing about Kapil Dev. Just when you start thinking he's clueless about the conversation going around him, he comes up with a comment so forthright that he leaves you thinking about what he just said.
On Wednesday afternoon, when six former World Cup-winning captains gathered at a promotional event in south Mumbai to speak about the upcoming quadrennial event, a similar thing happened.
"Why Sachin?" he thundered, when asked how important this World Cup was for Sachin Tendulkar. "It's an insult to everybody else if you keep asking about Sachin all the time. Winning the World Cup is as important to the rest of the team as it is to Sachin, to you and me and the billions who want India to do well. It's not about Sachin alone."
Until then, it had seemed like Kapil was busy soaking in what his contemporaries - Clive Lloyd, Allan Border, Imran Khan, Arjuna Ranatunga and Steve Waugh - had just said. At that moment though, he did many things by not allowing the thought of this being 'Tendulkar's World Cup' to seep into the mind. He not only addressed the fact that too much pressure was being put on Tendulkar's dream of winning the trophy, but also reminded how passionate India is about this game.
The six former skippers kept aside enough time to take questions from the eras gone by to the 10th edition of the World Cup which begins later this month. Imran and Ranatunga spoke of controversies and corruptions, Waugh and Border spoke of Australia's fighting spirit and Lloyd reminisced the glory days of West Indies.
Of course, they all made it an afternoon to remember.
Imran remembered how much the 1992 World Cup victory mattered when it came to materialising his dream of building a cancer hospital and spoke of the current woes of Pakistan cricket.
Ranatunga saw humour in assessing how the 1996 World Cup victory had changed Sri Lankan cricket. "Among many things, the World Cup success brought more politics and corruption into Sri Lankan cricket," was how he summarised the impact of the victory.
Steve Waugh was asked what he thought of sledging in cricket and once again displaying the no-nonsense attitude that he's so famous for, he just said: "I don't want to comment."
Border remembered the 1987 World Cup victory that was the beginning of a turnaround in Australian cricket. When asked what it takes for teams from outside the sub-continent to win here, he said: "Discipline. That's what Bob Simpson (Australia's World Cup-winning coach) taught the team and that's what gave us the edge."
Lloyd put his hope on West Indies opener Chris Gayle, labelling him a player with the ability to change the course of a match single-handedly. "If West Indies make it to the quarterfinal and Gayle is in form, the team's chances will be very good. He's a player who can alone make a difference in a game," the two-time World Cup-winning skipper said.
Source:- timesofindia.indiatimes
On Wednesday afternoon, when six former World Cup-winning captains gathered at a promotional event in south Mumbai to speak about the upcoming quadrennial event, a similar thing happened.
"Why Sachin?" he thundered, when asked how important this World Cup was for Sachin Tendulkar. "It's an insult to everybody else if you keep asking about Sachin all the time. Winning the World Cup is as important to the rest of the team as it is to Sachin, to you and me and the billions who want India to do well. It's not about Sachin alone."
Until then, it had seemed like Kapil was busy soaking in what his contemporaries - Clive Lloyd, Allan Border, Imran Khan, Arjuna Ranatunga and Steve Waugh - had just said. At that moment though, he did many things by not allowing the thought of this being 'Tendulkar's World Cup' to seep into the mind. He not only addressed the fact that too much pressure was being put on Tendulkar's dream of winning the trophy, but also reminded how passionate India is about this game.
The six former skippers kept aside enough time to take questions from the eras gone by to the 10th edition of the World Cup which begins later this month. Imran and Ranatunga spoke of controversies and corruptions, Waugh and Border spoke of Australia's fighting spirit and Lloyd reminisced the glory days of West Indies.
Of course, they all made it an afternoon to remember.
Imran remembered how much the 1992 World Cup victory mattered when it came to materialising his dream of building a cancer hospital and spoke of the current woes of Pakistan cricket.
Ranatunga saw humour in assessing how the 1996 World Cup victory had changed Sri Lankan cricket. "Among many things, the World Cup success brought more politics and corruption into Sri Lankan cricket," was how he summarised the impact of the victory.
Steve Waugh was asked what he thought of sledging in cricket and once again displaying the no-nonsense attitude that he's so famous for, he just said: "I don't want to comment."
Border remembered the 1987 World Cup victory that was the beginning of a turnaround in Australian cricket. When asked what it takes for teams from outside the sub-continent to win here, he said: "Discipline. That's what Bob Simpson (Australia's World Cup-winning coach) taught the team and that's what gave us the edge."
Lloyd put his hope on West Indies opener Chris Gayle, labelling him a player with the ability to change the course of a match single-handedly. "If West Indies make it to the quarterfinal and Gayle is in form, the team's chances will be very good. He's a player who can alone make a difference in a game," the two-time World Cup-winning skipper said.
Source:- timesofindia.indiatimes
World Cup is not about Sachin alone: Kapil Dev
There's this thing about Kapil Dev. Just when you start thinking he's clueless about the conversation going around him, he comes up with a comment so forthright that he leaves you thinking about what he just said.
On Wednesday afternoon, when six former World Cup-winning captains gathered at a promotional event in south Mumbai to speak about the upcoming quadrennial event, a similar thing happened.
"Why Sachin?" he thundered, when asked how important this World Cup was for Sachin Tendulkar. "It's an insult to everybody else if you keep asking about Sachin all the time. Winning the World Cup is as important to the rest of the team as it is to Sachin, to you and me and the billions who want India to do well. It's not about Sachin alone."
Until then, it had seemed like Kapil was busy soaking in what his contemporaries - Clive Lloyd, Allan Border, Imran Khan, Arjuna Ranatunga and Steve Waugh - had just said. At that moment though, he did many things by not allowing the thought of this being 'Tendulkar's World Cup' to seep into the mind. He not only addressed the fact that too much pressure was being put on Tendulkar's dream of winning the trophy, but also reminded how passionate India is about this game.
The six former skippers kept aside enough time to take questions from the eras gone by to the 10th edition of the World Cup which begins later this month. Imran and Ranatunga spoke of controversies and corruptions, Waugh and Border spoke of Australia's fighting spirit and Lloyd reminisced the glory days of West Indies.
Of course, they all made it an afternoon to remember.
Imran remembered how much the 1992 World Cup victory mattered when it came to materialising his dream of building a cancer hospital and spoke of the current woes of Pakistan cricket.
Ranatunga saw humour in assessing how the 1996 World Cup victory had changed Sri Lankan cricket. "Among many things, the World Cup success brought more politics and corruption into Sri Lankan cricket," was how he summarised the impact of the victory.
Steve Waugh was asked what he thought of sledging in cricket and once again displaying the no-nonsense attitude that he's so famous for, he just said: "I don't want to comment."
Border remembered the 1987 World Cup victory that was the beginning of a turnaround in Australian cricket. When asked what it takes for teams from outside the sub-continent to win here, he said: "Discipline. That's what Bob Simpson (Australia's World Cup-winning coach) taught the team and that's what gave us the edge."
Lloyd put his hope on West Indies opener Chris Gayle, labelling him a player with the ability to change the course of a match single-handedly. "If West Indies make it to the quarterfinal and Gayle is in form, the team's chances will be very good. He's a player who can alone make a difference in a game," the two-time World Cup-winning skipper said.
Source:- timesofindia.indiatimes
On Wednesday afternoon, when six former World Cup-winning captains gathered at a promotional event in south Mumbai to speak about the upcoming quadrennial event, a similar thing happened.
"Why Sachin?" he thundered, when asked how important this World Cup was for Sachin Tendulkar. "It's an insult to everybody else if you keep asking about Sachin all the time. Winning the World Cup is as important to the rest of the team as it is to Sachin, to you and me and the billions who want India to do well. It's not about Sachin alone."
Until then, it had seemed like Kapil was busy soaking in what his contemporaries - Clive Lloyd, Allan Border, Imran Khan, Arjuna Ranatunga and Steve Waugh - had just said. At that moment though, he did many things by not allowing the thought of this being 'Tendulkar's World Cup' to seep into the mind. He not only addressed the fact that too much pressure was being put on Tendulkar's dream of winning the trophy, but also reminded how passionate India is about this game.
The six former skippers kept aside enough time to take questions from the eras gone by to the 10th edition of the World Cup which begins later this month. Imran and Ranatunga spoke of controversies and corruptions, Waugh and Border spoke of Australia's fighting spirit and Lloyd reminisced the glory days of West Indies.
Of course, they all made it an afternoon to remember.
Imran remembered how much the 1992 World Cup victory mattered when it came to materialising his dream of building a cancer hospital and spoke of the current woes of Pakistan cricket.
Ranatunga saw humour in assessing how the 1996 World Cup victory had changed Sri Lankan cricket. "Among many things, the World Cup success brought more politics and corruption into Sri Lankan cricket," was how he summarised the impact of the victory.
Steve Waugh was asked what he thought of sledging in cricket and once again displaying the no-nonsense attitude that he's so famous for, he just said: "I don't want to comment."
Border remembered the 1987 World Cup victory that was the beginning of a turnaround in Australian cricket. When asked what it takes for teams from outside the sub-continent to win here, he said: "Discipline. That's what Bob Simpson (Australia's World Cup-winning coach) taught the team and that's what gave us the edge."
Lloyd put his hope on West Indies opener Chris Gayle, labelling him a player with the ability to change the course of a match single-handedly. "If West Indies make it to the quarterfinal and Gayle is in form, the team's chances will be very good. He's a player who can alone make a difference in a game," the two-time World Cup-winning skipper said.
Source:- timesofindia.indiatimes
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)