Some experts are saying that
In the semi final They may face
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Champions Trophy '09: Sri Lanka looks Favorites
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Pakistan deserves the T20 title
Before 10 years on June 21, 1999 Pakistan lost the final of ICC World Cup V/S Australia at Lord's. Exactly after 10 years they were once again in the final of ICC World Cup V/S Srilanka at the very same venue. But this time it wasnt 50 over game it was Cricket's shortest version 20-20. And the result was also different. Pakistan won the match against the Srilankans as they beat them by 8 wickets.
Pakistan came in to this tournament facing some tough and unusual situations. The team hardly played any cricket in the year.The team didn't do too well in the warm up games and in the group satge.But in the Super 8 round they won against Ireland and New Zealand. They faced South Africa,the favourites of the tournament in the semi-final and won against them. The final was against Srilanka against whom they lost in the Super-8 stage. But it was a new day. They forgot the past. They had some plans for every player of the oppsission team and they successfully implimented the plans. They believed in their selves and gave their 100% in the final and won the T20 World Cup at the Home Of Cricket at Lord's. Last time they almost clinched the victory from India at the Wanderers, Johannesburg but couldn't win. This time they didn't make even a single mistake in the final and became the World T20 Champions.
Pakistan taught the lesson that even in the T20 Cricket you need to play some sensible cricket and you need to get your basics right. Afridi and Malik batted very sensibly. They are the real champions. There is no doubt that the best team won the tournament.
Srilanka also played well in the tournament. Sangakkara led his side very well and played an excellent knock in the final but they couldn't win.
Pakistan came in to this tournament facing some tough and unusual situations. The team hardly played any cricket in the year.The team didn't do too well in the warm up games and in the group satge.But in the Super 8 round they won against Ireland and New Zealand. They faced South Africa,the favourites of the tournament in the semi-final and won against them. The final was against Srilanka against whom they lost in the Super-8 stage. But it was a new day. They forgot the past. They had some plans for every player of the oppsission team and they successfully implimented the plans. They believed in their selves and gave their 100% in the final and won the T20 World Cup at the Home Of Cricket at Lord's. Last time they almost clinched the victory from India at the Wanderers, Johannesburg but couldn't win. This time they didn't make even a single mistake in the final and became the World T20 Champions.
Pakistan taught the lesson that even in the T20 Cricket you need to play some sensible cricket and you need to get your basics right. Afridi and Malik batted very sensibly. They are the real champions. There is no doubt that the best team won the tournament.
Srilanka also played well in the tournament. Sangakkara led his side very well and played an excellent knock in the final but they couldn't win.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
No favourites in T20 WC: But my money on Australia
This year's WC is starting just after the IPL. Different players from different countries have done well in the IPL. According to most of the people Indian team is favourite to win the T20 WC in England. I think in this format of Cricket its difficult to select a favourite.There is nothing like favourites in the shortest version of Cricket. Any team can do well on a pirticular day. Before 2 years in the same tournament at the Rainbow Nation nobody was considering Indian Team as favourites but at the end Indian team won the tournament.
Indian team is looking strong,no doubt in that with some in form players like Raina,Rohit Sharma,RP Singh,Pragyan Ojha,etc. And we have few excellent players for this format of the game like Gambhir,Sehwag,Dhoni,Yuvraj,Pathan Bros.,etc. The team is looking very balanced. People also beilive that we have got very easy group in the group stage round. India is in group A withBngladesh And Ireland. But we should not forget these both sides created a major upset by beating India and Pakistan respectively. If this can happen in a 50 over game,they can rewrite the history in a T20 match.So India will have to play both the matches very seriously in group stage. There are other fine teams like Australia,South Africa,New Zealand,etc. India will have to face them in super 8 round. So its not going to be easy for the Indian team to retain the title.
If I have to pick a side as a favourite for the WC,it will be Australia. Many people are not considering Punter & Co. as a strong contenders for the tournament. According to me the Australians will give their more than 100% to win the tournament. Some players like Ponting,Mike Hussey,Shaun Marsh,Shanw Watson didn't play in the 2nd edition of IPL. I think that will help them as they have got enough rest and all the players are feet to play.
Their bowling attack will be led by Mitchell Johnson and it has become stronger as Brett Lee is back. Though David Hussey hasn't done well in the recent past I think he should be in the team as he can do the job with the bat and the ball and can be a trump card for the kangaroos. David Warner is also one of the player to watch out for. And Ricky "Punter" Ponting may come with some surprises.
If i have to rate my top 4 favourites teams to win the T20 WC 2009-England, the list will be like this :
1) Australia 2) South Africa 3) New Zealand 4) India
Indian team is looking strong,no doubt in that with some in form players like Raina,Rohit Sharma,RP Singh,Pragyan Ojha,etc. And we have few excellent players for this format of the game like Gambhir,Sehwag,Dhoni,Yuvraj,Pathan Bros.,etc. The team is looking very balanced. People also beilive that we have got very easy group in the group stage round. India is in group A withBngladesh And Ireland. But we should not forget these both sides created a major upset by beating India and Pakistan respectively. If this can happen in a 50 over game,they can rewrite the history in a T20 match.So India will have to play both the matches very seriously in group stage. There are other fine teams like Australia,South Africa,New Zealand,etc. India will have to face them in super 8 round. So its not going to be easy for the Indian team to retain the title.
If I have to pick a side as a favourite for the WC,it will be Australia. Many people are not considering Punter & Co. as a strong contenders for the tournament. According to me the Australians will give their more than 100% to win the tournament. Some players like Ponting,Mike Hussey,Shaun Marsh,Shanw Watson didn't play in the 2nd edition of IPL. I think that will help them as they have got enough rest and all the players are feet to play.
Their bowling attack will be led by Mitchell Johnson and it has become stronger as Brett Lee is back. Though David Hussey hasn't done well in the recent past I think he should be in the team as he can do the job with the bat and the ball and can be a trump card for the kangaroos. David Warner is also one of the player to watch out for. And Ricky "Punter" Ponting may come with some surprises.
If i have to rate my top 4 favourites teams to win the T20 WC 2009-England, the list will be like this :
1) Australia 2) South Africa 3) New Zealand 4) India
Saturday, April 18, 2009
CSK favourites but, dont underestimate RCB
According to me this time CSK looks favourite to win the IPL-2. Led by a very good and lucky captain MS Dhoni, CSK is a very balanced team. There r some good Indian players like Raina,Badrinath,Parthiv and of course Dhoni him self. And classic foreign players like Hayden,Muralitharan,Oram,Flintoff,Albie Morkel and Stephen Fleming who is also their coach this time.Thilan Thushara is also a good player with the ball and bat. The good thing for the team is that all the foriegn players mentioned above except Flintoff will be available for the whole tournament. And most of them r in good form ,so they r looking favourites to win the tournament innitially.
One should not underestimate the Royal Challangers this time. The team is led by Kevin Pietersen and they have 5 South Africans in their squad,more than the any other side. 4 of them r Kallis,Boucher,Steyn,and Van Merve. Kallis will be the captain once KP leaves the team for his national duties. Other good foreign players like Chanderpaul,Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor are also very hand ful in this form of the game. Rahul dravid scored 371 runs in the last season.This time he's not the captain and wont be under pressure as he was in the last season. Kumble will also help the team with his flippers googlies and probably with his leg spinners.Praveen Kumar also swings the bowl and will get the help in south african conditions. Robin Uthappa is back in their side and might open the batting for them. Unfortunately Nathan Bracken is also not available this time.
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One should not underestimate the Royal Challangers this time. The team is led by Kevin Pietersen and they have 5 South Africans in their squad,more than the any other side. 4 of them r Kallis,Boucher,Steyn,and Van Merve. Kallis will be the captain once KP leaves the team for his national duties. Other good foreign players like Chanderpaul,Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor are also very hand ful in this form of the game. Rahul dravid scored 371 runs in the last season.This time he's not the captain and wont be under pressure as he was in the last season. Kumble will also help the team with his flippers googlies and probably with his leg spinners.Praveen Kumar also swings the bowl and will get the help in south african conditions. Robin Uthappa is back in their side and might open the batting for them. Unfortunately Nathan Bracken is also not available this time.
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Monday, March 23, 2009
IPL goes abroad
IPL wont be played in India. I think its a good decision by the IPL. I sent a mail to them a day before they announced that IPL will be played in england or in south africa. I think its a good move as the show must go on.
I think at this stage South Africa is looking ahead in the race, as the domestic season is about to end.There is no international matches after 17th april in the country. The problem with the England Cricket Board is that the county season is starting in the country from april 9 (MCC VS. Durham). So its difficult for ECB to change the schedule. The other problem is that ECB will be under pressure even if they want to change the schedule of the county season because of their commitments with SKY Sports. So at this time South Africa is looking ahead in the race.
I also think that as the tournament wont be played in india Pakistani cricketers might play in IPL 2.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Playing XI for the 5th ODI V/S New Zealand
India have busy schedule ahead.Test series,IPL,T20 WC and than West Indies tour.So some of the players will get hardly any time to rest.According to me Playing 11 for tomorrow should be like this:
Virender Sehwag (Captain)Sachin TendulkarSuresh RainaRohit SharmaYuvraj SinghDinesh Karthik (Wicket Keeper)Yusuf PathanIrfan PathanPraveen KumarPragyan OjhaIshant Sharma
I think its important for Dhini to take the rest.We have won the sereis. Its important to win The the each and every match. 4-0 is better than the 3-1 but player's fitness is more important. This time we have an extra wicket keeper on the tour so MS can take the rest.Harbhajan and Zaheer have played 4 matches of the series.So Pragyan and Irfan should replace them.It will be good experience for Ojha to bowl in different conditions.Irfan should be given a chance as we have already sealed the series.If Sachin is 100% fit than he should replace Gambhir.It will be good experience for Sehwag also to lead the side.Though he has done it before for Team India vs. South Africa and Sri Lanka
Virender Sehwag (Captain)Sachin TendulkarSuresh RainaRohit SharmaYuvraj SinghDinesh Karthik (Wicket Keeper)Yusuf PathanIrfan PathanPraveen KumarPragyan OjhaIshant Sharma
I think its important for Dhini to take the rest.We have won the sereis. Its important to win The the each and every match. 4-0 is better than the 3-1 but player's fitness is more important. This time we have an extra wicket keeper on the tour so MS can take the rest.Harbhajan and Zaheer have played 4 matches of the series.So Pragyan and Irfan should replace them.It will be good experience for Ojha to bowl in different conditions.Irfan should be given a chance as we have already sealed the series.If Sachin is 100% fit than he should replace Gambhir.It will be good experience for Sehwag also to lead the side.Though he has done it before for Team India vs. South Africa and Sri Lanka
Monday, March 2, 2009
Playing 11 of Team India for the 1st ODI
Ishant Sharma's injury is a big worry for the Indian team.He has done a good job in the recent past for the team.I hope he would be fit for the second ODI.
I think the team for the 1st ODI should be like this :
Sehwag,Sachin,Gambhir,Raina,Yuvraj,Dhoni,Yusuf pathan,Harbhajan Singh,Praveen Kumar,Zaheer Khan & Munaf.
I dont think that Irfan should be there in the team. He hasnt bowled well inthe recent past and thats the reason why I think he doesn't deserve a place in the side.
I think the team for the 1st ODI should be like this :
Sehwag,Sachin,Gambhir,Raina,Yuvraj,Dhoni,Yusuf pathan,Harbhajan Singh,Praveen Kumar,Zaheer Khan & Munaf.
I dont think that Irfan should be there in the team. He hasnt bowled well inthe recent past and thats the reason why I think he doesn't deserve a place in the side.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Team for 2nd T20.
India lost the first T20 VS. The Kiwis. I think over-excitement was the reason.The ground was very small,boundries of hardly 60 meters. So Indian batsmen thought that they can clear the ground easily and they played too many shots and lost the wicket.
Anyways, I think only 1 change should be made in the team for the second match.The team should be like this : Sehwag,Gambhir,Raina,Yuvraj,Dhoni,Jadeja,Yusuf,Irfan,Harbhajan,Zaheer,Ishant.
Rohit is not in good form. Jadeja can be helpful with bat and ball .He can bowl some good yorkers in the depth.He can also bat well.So he is a utility player.
I was surprised that Dhoni didnt ask Sehwag to bowl. Sehwag could have been useful in the last match.
Anyways, I think only 1 change should be made in the team for the second match.The team should be like this : Sehwag,Gambhir,Raina,Yuvraj,Dhoni,Jadeja,Yusuf,Irfan,Harbhajan,Zaheer,Ishant.
Rohit is not in good form. Jadeja can be helpful with bat and ball .He can bowl some good yorkers in the depth.He can also bat well.So he is a utility player.
I was surprised that Dhoni didnt ask Sehwag to bowl. Sehwag could have been useful in the last match.
Friday, February 6, 2009
An Extra Wicket Keeper
think we must have an extra icket keeper in the squad...We have already won the sereis...Some of the players will get rest.but what abt Dhoni ?.... He wont get rest.Indian team have busy schedule ahead...So its very important to get rest....I know its very important to win all d matches though we have won d sereis as we r targetting top spot in rankings.....Sehwag,the vice captain can lead the side very well.....And we have to learn to win without some important players......We need Sachin for WC 2011...but in recent times we have won the series without him....But we still need him....Just like that Dhoni's absence should not affect the team......and wicket keeping is a tough job.......So he must be given a rest for a match.... But this time there is no wicket keeper.so this cant b done....
Tough Competition
In the current ICC ODI Team ratings South Africa is the No.1 team. Team India has reached at No.2 spot as Kiwis have Beaten Kangaroos in the second ODI. And Aussies r at now No.3
According to me we r going to c ups and downs in top 3 spots.
Australia is not playing good cricket currently but I think they will start competing hard once again very soon.We should not forget that Brett Lee and Stuart Clarke r injured and when they will be fit, Australia bowling attcak will be strong again. Mike Hussey is also not in greats of form but as it is said in cricket "form is temporary,class in permanent" he will also start doing well for his country.David Warner is a good young batsman but he is not consistent so according to me Simon Katich should open the innings in ODIs too with Shaun Marsh.According to me, Brad Haddin can be a good opening batsman for Australia beacause he is a natural stroke player and can do well at the opening position And Andrew Symonds might come back in the team and Aussies will start roaring again.
The other thing is that Australia is not playing too bad cricket But its the other teams who have raised their levels,especially India and South Africa.This 2 teams have beaten australia in the past but both the teams were unable to perfrom well consistently.Both the teams have got 2 out standing captains in MS Dhoni and Graeme Smith.And the teams are looking very balanced .
So we might see some great cricket from these 3 sides and may be from the other teams in the next 2 years.
According to me we r going to c ups and downs in top 3 spots.
Australia is not playing good cricket currently but I think they will start competing hard once again very soon.We should not forget that Brett Lee and Stuart Clarke r injured and when they will be fit, Australia bowling attcak will be strong again. Mike Hussey is also not in greats of form but as it is said in cricket "form is temporary,class in permanent" he will also start doing well for his country.David Warner is a good young batsman but he is not consistent so according to me Simon Katich should open the innings in ODIs too with Shaun Marsh.According to me, Brad Haddin can be a good opening batsman for Australia beacause he is a natural stroke player and can do well at the opening position And Andrew Symonds might come back in the team and Aussies will start roaring again.
The other thing is that Australia is not playing too bad cricket But its the other teams who have raised their levels,especially India and South Africa.This 2 teams have beaten australia in the past but both the teams were unable to perfrom well consistently.Both the teams have got 2 out standing captains in MS Dhoni and Graeme Smith.And the teams are looking very balanced .
So we might see some great cricket from these 3 sides and may be from the other teams in the next 2 years.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Big day in IPL : Where will KP & Flintoff go ?
tomorrow,february 6,2009 is a big day in IPL. the auctions are taking place for the second season and england players are available this time.
the 2 big names are andrew flintoff and kevin pietersen.but the question is who will select these 2 players in their team ?
well lets c which team will be interested in byuing this players ?
i dont think kolkata will kp him as they already have some good foreign players like ponting,mcclum,hussey,gayle,etc.so no place for a batsman and especially for whom who is available for only 15 days. for kkr flintoff can be a better option because it is almost confirmed that pakistani players wont be playing in this ipl season.so they will loose akhtar and gul,who are very good bowlers.they have ishant sharma in the team but still needs 1 more good bowler so they might go for fredddie.but the problem is dada and flintoff dont share good relationship with each other.
rajasthan royals can go for kp. especially shane warne can force the team management to buy this south african born british cricketer.
mumbai indians is a team which might go for one of these players as in the bating department,apart from jayasurya they dont have quality foreign batsman.
royal challangers is the team which will try to buy both these players.but the remaining money wont allow that. we all know that the their last season's performence frustrated the flamboyant team owner mr.vijay mallya so he would be very keen to do so. and they really need such t20 kind of players.
deccan charger's bowling department is no so strong.they can try to get flintoff.
i dont think chennai can buy flintoff as he is an al rounder. but i dont think they will be interested in KP..
delhi might go for flintoff as its not yet confirmed that if mcgrath is playing this time or not
king 11 punjab also wont be that much interested in getting these two players at this time as they are looking a balanced side at the moment..
so lets keep the fingers crossed and wait for the auctions.
the 2 big names are andrew flintoff and kevin pietersen.but the question is who will select these 2 players in their team ?
well lets c which team will be interested in byuing this players ?
i dont think kolkata will kp him as they already have some good foreign players like ponting,mcclum,hussey,gayle,etc.so no place for a batsman and especially for whom who is available for only 15 days. for kkr flintoff can be a better option because it is almost confirmed that pakistani players wont be playing in this ipl season.so they will loose akhtar and gul,who are very good bowlers.they have ishant sharma in the team but still needs 1 more good bowler so they might go for fredddie.but the problem is dada and flintoff dont share good relationship with each other.
rajasthan royals can go for kp. especially shane warne can force the team management to buy this south african born british cricketer.
mumbai indians is a team which might go for one of these players as in the bating department,apart from jayasurya they dont have quality foreign batsman.
royal challangers is the team which will try to buy both these players.but the remaining money wont allow that. we all know that the their last season's performence frustrated the flamboyant team owner mr.vijay mallya so he would be very keen to do so. and they really need such t20 kind of players.
deccan charger's bowling department is no so strong.they can try to get flintoff.
i dont think chennai can buy flintoff as he is an al rounder. but i dont think they will be interested in KP..
delhi might go for flintoff as its not yet confirmed that if mcgrath is playing this time or not
king 11 punjab also wont be that much interested in getting these two players at this time as they are looking a balanced side at the moment..
so lets keep the fingers crossed and wait for the auctions.
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