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
Monday, February 21, 2011
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
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