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NSW cruise into Airtel CL T20 final

Posted by admin on October 22nd, 2009

New South Wales Blues booked their place in the Airtel CL T20 final with a commanding 79-run win over Victoria Bushrangers in Delhi.

New South Wales skipper Simon Katich won the toss and openers David Warner (48) and Phil Hughes (35) got off to a blistering start, while Katich’s 26 ensured a colossal total of 169 for seven on a difficult surface.

Off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, who shared the new ball, claimed two wickets at the start of Victoria’s response and Moises Henriques ripped through the middle order with three for 11 as Victorian Bushrangers managed a meagre 90 for nine in reply.

Warner had given NSW a storming start, knocking the new ball around in typically belligerent style.

Shane Harwood and Peter Siddle had begun accurately, but Warner quickly launched into attack and dealt primarily in boundaries throughout his brief, but destructive innings.

The left-hander smashed Harwood for consecutive boundaries in his second over and bludgeoned Siddle for two boundaries and a six over long-off.

NSW made 56 from the powerplay and Warner had contributed 48 in an opening stand worth 62 when he was run out, a mix up with Hughes leaving him stranded yards out of his crease.

There was no let up, however, as Daniel Smith (20) clubbed the first ball he faced for a boundary and Hughes, who had watched while Warner had amassed the runs, turned on an aggressive display.

Top Performer

Victoria sniffed a chance when Hughes fell to Clint McKay and the scoring rate dropped slightly, but Katich’s cameo ensured NSW finished with a formidable total.

Hauritz, who shared the new ball with Brett Lee, destroyed Victoria’s chase by removing both openers, Rob Quiney and Brad Hodge, for ducks in his first over.

David Hussey (16) and Cameron White (11) were the only batsmen in the top six to reach double figures and attempted a fightback, but their resistance was nipped in the bud.

Both batsmen were snared by Henriques and Victoria were left needing 131 from 56 deliveries when White was dismissed.

Instead, wickets continued to tumble and Henriques returned to claim McKay for his third victim as NSW cantered to victory.(source)

NSW has edge over Victoria today

Posted by admin on October 21st, 2009

NSW’s batting might tilt the balance in their favour when they cross sword with VB in the first semi-final of the Airtel CLT20 today.

Simon Katich’s men emerged from the group stage with an impeccable all-win record before tasting their lone defeat against Trinidad & Tobago, an outfit that remains alien to defeat in the tournament so far.

The NSW, however, can consider themselves unlucky to have found themselves at the receiving end of Kieron Pollard’s stunning batting pyrotechnics as the power-hitter lit up the Friday night sky with an unbeaten 18-ball 54.

Barring that morale-sapping four-wicket defeat, Katich and his men have not put a foot wrong in the tournament, firing mostly in unison which remains the secret of their progress so far.

Not that there has not been any individual brilliance on display from the outfit which includes the likes of David Warner and Brett Lee.

In fact the mere sight of David Warner, with Phillip Hughes in tow, opening the innings is good enough to send shivers down any bowling unit which is aware of the left-hander’s hitting prowess. .

A swashbuckler with an uncomplicated game and a simple philosophy that the balls are meant to be hit, Warner has already made his mark with the bat and if he can conjure up a similar performance today, Victoria would be doing the catching up job for the remainder of the match today.

Hughes, on his part, is not really a dud with the bat either.

He seems to have taken his game to a new level after his secret meeting with Sachin Tendulkar and the left-hander gave an ample display of that in the match against Trinidad & Tobago, slamming a free-scoring 83 runs off 64 balls.

Katich himself is there to lend stability to the middle order and Moises Henrique may not have set alight the tournament so far but there cannot be any question about his ability.

Their bowling looks equally formidable and any attack that has Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Doug Bollinger is bound to earn the respect of the opponents.

Lee has been in consistent form, measly with runs and regular with wickets, and the speedster also has a reputation of raising his game on big-match occasions.

Stuart Clark doesn’t boast Lee’s speed or flamboyance but the reticent pacer has few equals when it comes to efficacy and he has been among the wickets regularly. .

Victoria, however, would go out today to prove that they are no push-overs.

The team under Cameron White had a rather roller-coaster group stage campaign with surprise defeats against the lowly Wayamba Elevens and stunning triumph over Delhi Daredevils at their den at Ferozeshah Kotla.

White would be worried with the batsmen’s form and he himself would have to lead from the front today if the side is to win.

The bowling looks better with Shane Harwood, Peter Siddle and Clint McKay in form but all would depend on how they fare against the Warners and Hugheses today.(source)

Brian Lara wants to help Windies

Posted by admin on October 21st, 2009

Brian Lara is prepared to join other Carribean cricket legends in rescuing the game in the region ahead of the Australia tour.

Lara admits he is happy not to be involved in the current set-up following years of poor on-field results and off-field controversy, including a recent players’ strike that has only just been resolved.

The once powerful Windies look set to arrive Down Under in disarray , but the 40-year-old is willing to play his part in dragging their game back to its feet.

“Not much other than encouraging the guys,” Lara said when asked on radio 2UE what his involvement in West Indies cricket was.

“There is so much wrong with it at the moment that I’m very happy that I’m not in there causing some of the problems.

“There (will be) some involvement in the future, I am almost certain that is going to be the situation.

“I am not pushing myself on anyone and I’ve not been asked but I believe it’s a fait accompli that the likes of Sir Vivian Richards or Gordon Greenidge (or myself)… we all have to play a significant part in West Indies cricket in the near future.”

Lara fears the players’ strike coupled with Australia’s hunger to make amends for their Ashes loss leaves West Indies in danger of heavy defeat during the upcoming three-Test series.

But long term he sees some hope for his former team on the back of the success in the Twenty20 version of the game.

Lara has taken great heart from Trinidad & Tobago’s performance in reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League Twenty 20 and believes exposure at that level can only be good for all forms of cricket in the Caribbean.

“There is less talent (needed) and more luck so, yes, we can do pretty well in it,” he said of Twenty20 cricket.

“But what it’s done is create an opportunity for first-class cricket to excel along the same levels as international cricket.

“Victoria and NSW and Trinidad & Tobago are all being represented at that level (in the Champions League).

“That’s what I love about it; that first-class cricket is coming on the same level as international cricket.

“That can only be a positive thing.”(source)

“India-Oz series will be hard-fought”

Posted by admin on October 20th, 2009

Australia all-rounder Cameron White today echoed Ponting’s view that India would be a tough nut to crack at home.

“As Ponting said the Indians will be very hard to beat on their home soil and I too feel the same. I think it will be a good, hard and exciting cricket series between the two countries,” White, the captain of Victoria Bushrangers, told reporters ahead their Champions League semifinal match against domestic rivals New South Wales Blues here tomorrow.

“Even the Indians will get the support of thousands of home crowd,” he said.

Earlier, leaving for India, Ponting had yesterday said that India are a much tough opponent at home than when they are travelling.

White’s views were backed by Test regular Simon Katich, who though feels that Ponting’s men are a confident lot coming into the series, especially after their recent success in England and South Africa.

“I think the guys are very confident. They have performed very well in England as well as in the Champions Trophy in South Africa. Some of the guys in the team have played in IPL and in Champions League and know the conditions well,” Katich, who is the skipper of NSW, said.

Meanwhile, on tomorrow’s first semifinal encounter of the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament, both the NSW and the Victoria skippers feel the match would be a hard-fought affair but warned against expecting a high-scoring affair in the low and slow Feroz Shah Kotla wicket.

“It will be interesting to play Victoria in neutral venue. We have had lot of battles and good rivalry, so expect a tough game tomorrow,” Katich said.

“Hopefully, with Brett(Lee) in our side, we will draw more Indian support. But the match would be a low-scoring one because the earlier matches have shown that bowlers will have upperhand on this wicket,” he added.

White also expressed similar feelings, saying, “We know each other very well, the only thing is that we will be playing on a different venue than where we usually play each other. But it will be a hard pressure game.(source)

Ricky Ponting wary of India

Posted by admin on October 20th, 2009

Australia captain Ricky Ponting has urged his players to disregard India’s unimpressive Champions Trophy form.

A rejuvenated Ponting, who revealed he has not touched a cricket bat in 10 days, left Sydney airport on Monday evening ahead of his side’s seven-match ODI series against India beginning on Sunday.

“They’ll be particularly hard to beat in India – they always are,” Ponting said.

“They definitely play a lot better at home than they do when they travel. I actually tipped them as one of the strongest sides for the Champions Trophy to tell the truth.

“The game against us which was a washout game was shaping up as being a terrific game of one-day cricket and that was something that probably cost India along the way. But that’s tournament play – those things can happen.

“I noticed that they’ve made a few changes to their squad as well for the games against us and we’ll obviously be missing Michael Clarke and Nathan Bracken again, and (Callum) Ferguson being out as well means the younger guys will get an opportunity to step up again.”

Ponting reckons Ferguson’s absence with a serious knee injury will be a significant loss but he is confident the remaining members of the middle order can fill the void.

The skipper is also hopeful his deputy Michael Clarke can overcome a nagging back complaint in time to join the squad later in the series.

“I know that he’s been, and certainly the medical team have been hoping that he’ll be, on the improve sooner rather than later. So hopefully he is fit to join the squad as soon as possible,” he said.

“He’s the number four batsman in the side and the vice-captain of the team and one of the more experienced players that actually handles Indian conditions very well, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed.”

Ponting, meanwhile, admits he is spoilt for choice at the top of the order following the return of opening batsman Shaun Marsh from a hamstring injury.

Marsh’s comeback leaves selectors with a tough decision following the emergence of Tim Paine, who excelled during the Champions Trophy.

“Paine coming in has had a fair bit of success at the top of the order and probably given himself every opportunity to remain there,” Ponting observed.

“But if you go back six or seven months Shaun was one of the up-and-coming batsman in our team and someone that’s got a very good record at the top of the order for us.

“So we’ve got some tough decisions to make there but whichever way we go we know we’ve got very good depth in our batting… so hopefully we get it right on the morning of the first game.”

The seven-match series gets under way on Sunday in Vadodara with the final match to be played in Mumbai on November 11.(source)

Eagles face stiff challenge from NSW

Posted by admin on October 9th, 2009

Diamond Eagles will have to play out of their skin to start their Airtel CL T20 campaign on a winning note against a formidable NSW Blues.

Considering the big names in captain Simon Katich, Stuart Clark, Nathan Hauritz and Brett among others in the NSW squad, Lee, the champion Australian side is undoubtedly the overwhelming favourites in the opening Group B match at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in Delhi.

On the other hand, the Eagles are the underdogs in the encounter, but one thing which is in the favour of Boeta Dippenaar-led side is their opponents lack of knowledge about them.

Speedster Lee, high on confidence after a successful ICC Champions Trophy campaign, possesses the biggest threat before the Eagles as he has the unmatched ability to extract bounce from the placid sub-continent pitches.

Besides Lee, who would be eyeing to use this chance to the fullest to get an idea about the conditions here before returning to India for national duty, the NSW attack has two nippy pacers in Doug Bollinger and Stuart Clark up its rank.

The spin department will be in the hands of off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, who is fast emerging as a world class tweaker. (Source)

Statistical Review: ICC CT 2009-10

Posted by admin on October 7th, 2009

A statistical review of how the teams and the players have fared in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy.

During the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa sprung many surprises. Both the favourites — South Africa and Sri Lanka went out in the first round, while underdogs New Zealand marched their way to the finals of the tournament, to end up as runners-up.

Here is a statistical survey of the ICC CT 2009-10.

Highest Innings Totals:

Total Overs For Opponents Venue Date

323/8   50.0     England          South Africa       Centurion         27.9.2009
319/8   50.0     Sri Lanka        South Africa       Centurion         22.9.2009
315/7   50.0     N Zealand       Sri Lanka           Johannesburg   27.9.2009
302/9   50.0     Pakistan         India                 Centurion         26.9.2009
301/9   50.0     South Africa    England             Centurion         27.9.2009

Lowest Innings Totals:

129 36.0 West Indies India Johannesburg 30.9.2009
133 34.3 West Indies Pakistan Johannesburg 23.9.2009

Highest Innings Totals without an individual century:

323/8 50.0 England South Africa Centurion 27.9.2009
315/7 50.0 New Zealand Sri Lanka Johannesburg 27.9.2009

Highest Innings Total without an individual fifty:

205/6 Pakistan Australia Centurion 30.9.2009

Highest match aggregate:

624/17 100.0 England S.Africa Centurion 27.9.2009

Highest match totals without a hundred:

592-17 96.4 New Zealand S.Lanka Johannesburg 27.9.2009
500-17 96.5 Australia W.Indies Johannesburg 26.9.2009

Biggest win – by wickets: Margin

9 wickets Australia     England       Centurion          2.10.2009
7 wickets India          West Indies Johannesburg 30.9.2009
6 wickets England      Sri Lanka     Johannesburg 25.9.2009
6 wickets Australia     N Zealand    Centurion         5.10.2009

Biggest win – by runs:

55 runs    Sri Lanka     South Africa Centurion        22.9.2009
54 runs    Pakistan      India             Centurion        26.9.2009
50 runs    Australia     West Indies    Johannesburg 26.9.2009

Most extras conceded in an innings:

Extras Conceded by Opponents/Score Venue Date

36 Australia West Indies (225) Johannesburg 26.9.2009
25 England Sri Lanka (212) Johannesburg 25.9.2009

Most hundreds in an innings:

2 Australia England Centurion 2.10.2009

Most fifty-plus in an innings:

3      Sri Lanka     South Africa         Centurion     22.9.2009
3      England       South Africa         Centurion     27.9.2009
3      Australia      India                   Centurion     28.9.2009

Most ducks in an innings:

3 Pakistan India Centurion 28.9.2009

Leading run-getters:

For M I N.O.Runs H.S. Ave. 100 50 S.R

Ricky Ponting       Aus.   5 5 1 288 111* 72.00 1   2   78.68
Shane Watson      Aus.   5 5 2 265 136* 88.33 2   -   91.06
Graeme Smith      SA     3 3 - 206 141    68.66 1   1 107.29

Leading wicket-takers:

Bowler                For M Wkts. Ave. Best 4W S.R. E.R.

Wayne Parnell      SA   3   11 17.81 5/57   1    15.2   7.00
Stuart Broad      Eng. 3   10 15.50 4/39   1    16.9   5.50
Kyle Mills             NZ   5     9 22.88 3/27   -     32.1   4.27

Centurions:

Runs Balls S.R. Batsman For Opponents Venue

141 134     105.22 Graeme Smith             SA           Eng.        Centurion
136* 132    103.03 Shane Watson             Aus          Eng.        Centurion
128 126     101.58 Shoaib Malik               Pak           India      Centurion
111* 115      96.52 Ricky Ponting              Aus           Eng.       Centurion
106   92     115.21 Tillakaratne Dilshan      SL             SA         Centurion
105* 129      81.39 Shane Watson             Aus           NZ         Centurion

Most sixes:

11 Shane Watson Australia
8 Paul Collingwood England

Most sixes in an innings:

6s Runs Balls Batsman For Opp. Venue

7 136* 132   Shane Watson     Australia England   Centurion
6   98   89   Owais Shah           England   S.Africa   Centurion
5   67   34   Eoin Morgan          England    S.Africa Centurion

Best bowling in an innings:

Wkts. Bowler For Opponents Venue

5/57 Wayne Parnell     S.Africa     N Zealand      Centurion
4/25 Gavin Tonge       W.Indies    Pakistan         Johannesburg
4/31 Grant Elliott        N.Zealand England          Johannesburg

Most dismissals in an innings:

5 Tim Paine Australia England Centurion

Captains with most wins:

4 in 5 matches by Ricky Ponting
3 in 4 matches by Daniel Vettori

2 in 4 matches by Andrew Strauss (Source)

“I will never bat as an opener”

Posted by admin on October 6th, 2009

Shoaib Malik has criticised the team management for shuffling the batting order during the CT, saying it affected his form.

Malik said he would never bat as an opener or at the number three position in future.

“I am ready to bat any position for the team but it is not a good strategy on part of the team management to keep on changing the batting order of players in every match. They are unable to focus and produce runs,” he said.

Malik, who was sent at the number three position in the crucial semifinal against New Zealand and failed, said in future he would not like to be used as an opener or number three player and wants a permanent position in the team.

“One of the reasons why players can’t score consistently is they don’t know about their position for the next match.

Stay updated with all the on-field and off-field action from the world of cricket

The team management should inform a player before a series or tournament where they expect him to bat.

“Personally, I am not comfortable playing as an opener or number three batsman. Constantly changing the batting order affects the focus and concentration of the batsmen,” he said.

Malik said Pakistan lost the Champions Trophy because the batting struggled on a pitch which was good for bowlers.

“Our batsmen didn’t get enough runs although I thought 233 was a defendable target but we dropped catches at crucial times and our bowling was sloppy,” he said. (Source)

O’Brien added to Black Caps squad

Posted by admin on September 30th, 2009

Champions Trophy semi-finalists New Zealand have called up Iain O’Brien to their injury-ravaged squad.

Although O’Brien is yet to be ratified by the International Cricket Council, authorisation will be a formality after fast bowler Daryl Tuffey was ruled out of the tournament with a broken hand.

Tuffey became the third Black Caps player struck down by injury since arrival in South Africa following the departures of Jacob Oram and Jesse Ryder.

Despite their off-field problems, New Zealand booked their place in Saturday’s second semi-final with victory over England last night. (Source)

Gambhir wins Castrol Best Cricketer of 2008 Award

Posted by admin on September 18th, 2009

gambhir India opener Gautam Gambhir edged out teammate Virender Sehwag to be named the Castrol Cricketer of the Year 2008 at a glittering function here on Thursday.

Gambhir, who was declared fit today to travel to South Africa with the Indian squad for the ICC Champions Trophy after missing the previously held triangular series in Sri Lanka, received Rs five lakh and a trophy.

The left-hander, who scored over 1000 runs in Tests and ODIs in 2008, also won the best batsman of the year award while feisty off-spinner Harbhajan Singh won the best bowler of the year honours, worth a trophy and Rs two lakh each.

Swashbuckling batsman Sehwag and India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni were declared the Test and One-Day cricketers of the same year.

Archive for the ‘News’ Category

NSW cruise into Airtel CL T20 final

NSW has edge over Victoria today

Brian Lara wants to help Windies

“India-Oz series will be hard-fought”

Ricky Ponting wary of India

Eagles face stiff challenge from NSW

Statistical Review: ICC CT 2009-10

“I will never bat as an opener”

O’Brien added to Black Caps squad

Gambhir wins Castrol Best Cricketer of 2008 Award

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