India in West Indies – seemingly not gelling together. In the ninth edition of the tournament, there were total 51 matches played and much before the real tournament began, Indians were knocked out of the tournament and had to pack their bags for home. The right to hold the tournament was gained through ICC’s rotational policy and the Cup tourney was being held for the first time in the Caribbean land.
The 16 competing teams, the largest ever contingent initially were divided into four Groups – India vied with Lankans, Bangladesh and new entrant Bermuda. (Australia, England, Newzealand, South Africa, West Indies, India, Pakistan, Sri lanka, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Canada, Kenya, Ireland, Nederlands, Scotland and Bermuda.
To wipe out your confusion, this is all about the 2007 ICC WC held between 13th March to 28th April 2007. India & Pak went crashing not even reaching the Sup 8 – Aussie, Kiwi, SL & SA clashed in Semis – Aussies defeated Lankans in the finals.
India’s disastrous campaign started on 17/3/07 at Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain when Indians succumbed to Bangla – all out for 191 and Bangla scoring them losing only 5 wickets. Against the little known Bermuda at the same venue, India scored 413/5 with century by Sehwag and getting them for 156. In the crucial match against Lankans, India chasing 254 were all out for 185 in 43.3 overs.
A similar fate beckons Dhoni’s men this time. For a semi berth, India lost to Aussie pretty badly and yesterday Chris Gayle went agonisingly short of scoring another ton but providing a tall score. Indians floundered against pace and short ball yet again.
For regular followers, the difference in standards between IPL and International was too obvious. Was there any difference in the attitude too would be a serious question to ponder !!!
After Gayle’s gale, the Windies pacers delivered barrage of bouncers; Darren Sammy & Dwayne Bravo discomforted them initially. Vijay looked out of sorts; Gambhir yet to rediscover his form. Rohit got a dubious decision and Indians were facing the wall again. Briefly a respite appeared on when Raina and Yuvi chased but not good enough. Yusuf continued to struggle and Dhoni was not elegant. The end was a 14 run defeat. Lack of quality bowler and planned batting was evident.
The victory augurs well for Windies but they still will have to bat Aussie to ensure a place in Semi. If Lankans win on Tues alongside Aussie, it would be those two teams for the next slot. The last tourney was marked by low spectator turn out due to various reasons – primer being the cost of the tickets. This time the turnout are much bigger. Though there could be theoretical hope with a win against the Lankans, the discomfort would end soon for the relief. Perhaps not the best of bowlers bowling at you (as was in IPL) is revealing the cracks in the armour. Time and again, playing overseas, the chinks become too evident.
In the second match Aussie displayed their class scoring 168/5 and beating Lankans by 81 runs. A resounding win brought about by Dirk Nannes and Johnson. Randiv bowled very well and but for a great knock from Craig White could have been in trouble. With another win of great force, Aussies are virtually guaranteed of a berth in Semis and perhaps the WC itself.
Regards – Sampathkumar.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Jelly Bean in Cricket
Dear Cricket lovers, ( Aug 2007 incident at England)
Good news is that India won the Test convincingly but there were frayed tempers. Reports suggest that the Match referee Ranjan Madugalle would be speaking to the rival captains on several incidents of poor behaviour from both teams.
Madugalle told Press : "The most important thing is for the captains to realise their responsibilities and for that to cascade down to the rest of the team. People should remember the game for the quality of cricket that is played, that is the bottom line."
Nice words but when it comes to action, it is one sided; loaded heavily against the Asians (never mind even if you have an asian match referee)
Public memory is short lived. Please recall what Mike Denness did after the Second test against SA in Nov 2001 – disciplined 6 players including Sachin and banning Veeru for one match for dissent.
The win was overshadowed by the British Tabloid which underplayed the jelly bean prank, sledging but over played Sreesanth's shoulder-barging Vaughan. Sreesanth was duly fined 50% of his match fee. England down the barrel was not able to digest the nosedive and tried to steer the sour contest to sweetness by placing tiny nuggests of confectionery at the shortleg infuriating Zaheer. Only the subsequent bat waving made news. Just why the bean was deployed, and who was responsible, did not become the subject of debate as also the more serious continuous sledging by Matt Prior & team. Poor Khan felt the beans to be an insult - the sugar-laden confectionery perhaps was a pointed reference to his weight, a much-commented-upon subject among observers of the game!
The affair began after Khan arrived at the crease and edged his first shot through the slips for four, leading to further banter from England's close-in fielders. Zaheer claimed close fielders had deliberately strewn jelly beans around the crease. Even after he had started batting, he explained, they had continued to harass him by throwing more sweets towards the stumps. Wonder what this jelly bean is all about ??
Jelly beans are a type of confectionery that comes in many different (primarily fruit) flavors. They are small (the size of a red kidney bean or smaller) and usually have a hard candy shell and gummy interior. The confection is primarily made of sugar.
Jelly beans are a favourite among cricketers not only as an energy boost - they also help turn saliva sugary, which makes it easier to polish the ball.
With regards
S Sampathkumar
Good news is that India won the Test convincingly but there were frayed tempers. Reports suggest that the Match referee Ranjan Madugalle would be speaking to the rival captains on several incidents of poor behaviour from both teams.
Madugalle told Press : "The most important thing is for the captains to realise their responsibilities and for that to cascade down to the rest of the team. People should remember the game for the quality of cricket that is played, that is the bottom line."
Nice words but when it comes to action, it is one sided; loaded heavily against the Asians (never mind even if you have an asian match referee)
Public memory is short lived. Please recall what Mike Denness did after the Second test against SA in Nov 2001 – disciplined 6 players including Sachin and banning Veeru for one match for dissent.
The win was overshadowed by the British Tabloid which underplayed the jelly bean prank, sledging but over played Sreesanth's shoulder-barging Vaughan. Sreesanth was duly fined 50% of his match fee. England down the barrel was not able to digest the nosedive and tried to steer the sour contest to sweetness by placing tiny nuggests of confectionery at the shortleg infuriating Zaheer. Only the subsequent bat waving made news. Just why the bean was deployed, and who was responsible, did not become the subject of debate as also the more serious continuous sledging by Matt Prior & team. Poor Khan felt the beans to be an insult - the sugar-laden confectionery perhaps was a pointed reference to his weight, a much-commented-upon subject among observers of the game!
The affair began after Khan arrived at the crease and edged his first shot through the slips for four, leading to further banter from England's close-in fielders. Zaheer claimed close fielders had deliberately strewn jelly beans around the crease. Even after he had started batting, he explained, they had continued to harass him by throwing more sweets towards the stumps. Wonder what this jelly bean is all about ??
Jelly beans are a favourite among cricketers not only as an energy boost - they also help turn saliva sugary, which makes it easier to polish the ball.
With regards
S Sampathkumar
Friday, May 7, 2010
WC T20 - Super 8 : India in deep trouble against Oz
An India Aussie match and if India loses, the 21 year old Ravindrasinh Anirudhsinh Jadeja is most likely to be made the villain.
Dhoni won the toss and decided to bowl stating that there would bit of swing for the fast bowlers at the early morning start. But India has gone in with only two pacers – Zaheer & Nehra. Dhoni opened with Harbajan and the first over was a maiden. Second one of Nehra went for 12; another tight one by Bhaji. Fourth over Jadeja came to bowl – 4,5,6 all went for sixers by Watson. He came back in the 10th over and the first three disappeared into the stands – now hit by Warner. His two overs costing 38.
End of over 16 – Aussie cruising at 161/2 and score of 200+ was within the realms of possibility. Yuvraj and Ashish Nehra bowled the death well and there were no sixes in the last four – Aussies finished with 184/5 –having conceded 16 in the first 16.
At the time of posting this, India is looking down the barrel with 3 gone for 17 after 3.4 (Murali, Gambhir and Raina back in the pavilion)
Regards – Sampathkumar.
One more century recorded in T20 - WC 2010
Even those who closely followed IPL may not remember Umesh Yadav – lanky pacer from Vidarbha who played for Delhi Daredevils. Praveeen kumar has been injured and though this lad was not even in the panel of 30 probables, he reportedly is to fly to Windies as a replacement. His ability to hit 145 kmph and bowling Yorkers reportedly has clinched him this.
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(courtesy : times of India)
I had written earlier of the fact that there were only two hundreds in 150 T20s and this WC has already seen the no. doubling. First Raina and then Mahela helped themselves to pleasing centuries and yesterday another one added up.
WC has moved to the next level – round prior to Semis played by 8 teams – In the first match England chasing 147/9 made by Pak, scored runs easily losing only 4 wickets. Pietersen displayed power hitting making 73 off 52. England were helped by some floppy fielding by Pakis. The match started with a six off Sidebottom who has been leaking runs, Pak off to a good start but fall of quick wickets put them on the backfoot. Afrid was run out in the first ball he faced. The fielding of England was also below standard.
In the other match, Albie Morkel slog raised the bar and New Zealand were beaten. He hit five sixes – 3 coming in a single over from Southee.
Not many would be following the Womens T20 happening at the same venues involving 8 countries: WI, SA, Aussie, Srilanka, Pak, England, Newzealand and India. India is in the half with NZ, SL & Pak. At St Kitts, India lead by Jhulan Goswami lost to NZ by 10 runs. Chasing 140, India ended up at 129 for 8. Mithali scored a lonely 44.
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If you are wondering about the title still, Deandra Dottin of the West Indies became the first woman to score a Twenty20 century, making a whirlwind unbeaten 112 off 45 balls. Her century had come off 38 balls. Having come in the tenth over, she recorded the fastest century with her second fifty coming off 13 balls. Gayle & Brendon have achieved the men’s fastest 100 with 50 balls. She smashed nine sixes and seven fours. The target was a stiff 176, which the Proteas were not able to make, folding at 158.
Indian women have two more matches – against Pak (8th) and Lankans on 10th.
Regards – Sampathkumar S
.jpg)
I had written earlier of the fact that there were only two hundreds in 150 T20s and this WC has already seen the no. doubling. First Raina and then Mahela helped themselves to pleasing centuries and yesterday another one added up.
WC has moved to the next level – round prior to Semis played by 8 teams – In the first match England chasing 147/9 made by Pak, scored runs easily losing only 4 wickets. Pietersen displayed power hitting making 73 off 52. England were helped by some floppy fielding by Pakis. The match started with a six off Sidebottom who has been leaking runs, Pak off to a good start but fall of quick wickets put them on the backfoot. Afrid was run out in the first ball he faced. The fielding of England was also below standard.
In the other match, Albie Morkel slog raised the bar and New Zealand were beaten. He hit five sixes – 3 coming in a single over from Southee.
Not many would be following the Womens T20 happening at the same venues involving 8 countries: WI, SA, Aussie, Srilanka, Pak, England, Newzealand and India. India is in the half with NZ, SL & Pak. At St Kitts, India lead by Jhulan Goswami lost to NZ by 10 runs. Chasing 140, India ended up at 129 for 8. Mithali scored a lonely 44.
.jpg)
Photo courtesy : cricinfo
If you are wondering about the title still, Deandra Dottin of the West Indies became the first woman to score a Twenty20 century, making a whirlwind unbeaten 112 off 45 balls. Her century had come off 38 balls. Having come in the tenth over, she recorded the fastest century with her second fifty coming off 13 balls. Gayle & Brendon have achieved the men’s fastest 100 with 50 balls. She smashed nine sixes and seven fours. The target was a stiff 176, which the Proteas were not able to make, folding at 158.
Indian women have two more matches – against Pak (8th) and Lankans on 10th.
Regards – Sampathkumar S
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