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
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
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
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