Kenyan skipper Jimmy Kamande on Monday brushed aside reports of a rift between the players and their West Indian coach Eldine Baptiste, saying such issues crop up only after defeats.
Reports coming from Kenyan capital Nairobi said there were divisions within the squad, with Cricket Kenya chief Samir Inamdar blaming those differences for the team's lacklustre performances.
But Kamande said his team, with two crushing World Cup defeats so far, were united. "I have read it like you. My team is very, very solid. We all are together as one," said Kamande ahead of his team's third match in Group A against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Tuesday.
"When the team loses, people try to find a way for excuses. There's no excuses on those lines, just that we haven't performed well so far and will try to do well in the rest of the games."
Kamnade said Kenya - shot out for 69 against New Zealand and 112 in their match against Pakistan - needed to get the basics right. "We don't want to complicate the game of cricket," said Kamande. "Obviously we haven't been on top form, but some changes have to be done, batting order maybe, so that you can't continue doing the same thing."
Sri Lanka, the captain said, were one of the top teams in the competition, despite their narrow defeat to Pakistan. "We have our third game against another top side so we have to work on that and try to get a good result. Hopefully, I will get the best out of my players and that's what players realise," said Kamande.
Kenya beat Sri Lanka in the 2003 World Cup, in Nairobi, but have a 4-1 losing record in ODIs between the two sides. Kamande said the pressure was on the 1996 champions.
"Sri Lanka look solid up there, but we have nothing to lose. They are the ones who would be under pressure to perform at home and now obviously having lost to Pakistan it's a must-win game for them. We will try to put some pressure on them. We will try to go out there and bowl at a nice tight line and length and if we do it will add problems for the Sri Lankan side."
Monday, February 28, 2011
Irish will ensure England keep eye on the ball
England return on Wednesday to the scene of their thrilling tied match against India at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium against an Ireland team who they would take lightly at their peril in World Cup Group B.
Theirs is marginally the tougher of the two qualifying groups and although England, India, South Africa and West Indies should go through to the quarter-finals in late March, Ireland are quite capable of upsetting any of them on their day.
In 2007, Trent Johnston's men famously upset Pakistan to send them packing after the first round, a result remembered too for the death shortly afterwards of the sub-continental team's coach, Bob Woolmer.
England here have already been given a scare against one of the so-called "smaller" nations, Netherlands, who they only beat with eight balls remaining last Tuesday.
Andrew Strauss's men, however, have shown they are in red-hot form with the bat, matching India's huge 338 total on Sunday in one of the most memorable cricket matches ever, let alone the World Cup.
In all, England have chased down 630 runs in two matches so far with their captain Strauss leading from the front having amassed 246 runs so far to head the batting charts in the tournament.
Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell will also be hungry to join their skipper higher up the run charts and the relatively inexperienced Irish line-up on the flat batting track could well be the opportunity they need.
However, Ireland make up for the relative lack of their bowlers' wicket-taking ability with an unstinting commitment in the field by pouching half-chances and scoring direct-hit run-outs.
The English bowling, which was thrashed by the Dutch and the Indians, is still a point of concern, especially with their strike bowler James Anderson still searching for some morale-boosting wickets.
Stuart Broad should make a return after a stomach upset kept him out of the match against India and will be looking to continue his recent purple patch.
England, however, will be wary of the batting prowess of the Irish, knowing that Niall O'Brien - Ireland's surprise packet in the 2007 World Cup - and Ed Joyce are both dangerous.
Joyce played for England in the Caribbean four years ago but switched back to the country of his birth last year after losing his place in Strauss's line-up.
His return against his former team mates should add a little extra spice to the occasion.
Ireland, who lost to England by 48 runs in the Super Eights in 2007, have another reason to beat their old rivals on Wednesday. They have aspirations of joining the nine test-playing nations and a win would certainly not hurt their cause.
Theirs is marginally the tougher of the two qualifying groups and although England, India, South Africa and West Indies should go through to the quarter-finals in late March, Ireland are quite capable of upsetting any of them on their day.
In 2007, Trent Johnston's men famously upset Pakistan to send them packing after the first round, a result remembered too for the death shortly afterwards of the sub-continental team's coach, Bob Woolmer.
England here have already been given a scare against one of the so-called "smaller" nations, Netherlands, who they only beat with eight balls remaining last Tuesday.
Andrew Strauss's men, however, have shown they are in red-hot form with the bat, matching India's huge 338 total on Sunday in one of the most memorable cricket matches ever, let alone the World Cup.
In all, England have chased down 630 runs in two matches so far with their captain Strauss leading from the front having amassed 246 runs so far to head the batting charts in the tournament.
Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell will also be hungry to join their skipper higher up the run charts and the relatively inexperienced Irish line-up on the flat batting track could well be the opportunity they need.
However, Ireland make up for the relative lack of their bowlers' wicket-taking ability with an unstinting commitment in the field by pouching half-chances and scoring direct-hit run-outs.
The English bowling, which was thrashed by the Dutch and the Indians, is still a point of concern, especially with their strike bowler James Anderson still searching for some morale-boosting wickets.
Stuart Broad should make a return after a stomach upset kept him out of the match against India and will be looking to continue his recent purple patch.
England, however, will be wary of the batting prowess of the Irish, knowing that Niall O'Brien - Ireland's surprise packet in the 2007 World Cup - and Ed Joyce are both dangerous.
Joyce played for England in the Caribbean four years ago but switched back to the country of his birth last year after losing his place in Strauss's line-up.
His return against his former team mates should add a little extra spice to the occasion.
Ireland, who lost to England by 48 runs in the Super Eights in 2007, have another reason to beat their old rivals on Wednesday. They have aspirations of joining the nine test-playing nations and a win would certainly not hurt their cause.
Pakistan spinner Rehman out of Canada match
Pakistan will be without left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman in their World Cup match against Canada on Thursday after suffering a left leg muscle injury in the 11-run over Sri Lanka.
Team manager Intikhab Alam said Rehman's injury will take five days to heal.
"Rehman sprained his leg while fielding in the match against Sri Lanka and had to put on a strapping in order to bowl. It's an adductor muscle rupture," Alam said.
Rehman, who will be 31 on Tuesday, took one wicket in Pakistan's win against the 1996 champions in Colombo on Saturday.
"We don't want to risk Rehman and will wait for him to recover," said Alam, of the spinner who has 13 wickets in 17 one-day internationals.
Alam said Rehman's place is likely to be taken by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who has yet to play in the tournament. Senior batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, who hurt his hamstring, may be rested, said Alam.
Team manager Intikhab Alam said Rehman's injury will take five days to heal.
"Rehman sprained his leg while fielding in the match against Sri Lanka and had to put on a strapping in order to bowl. It's an adductor muscle rupture," Alam said.
Rehman, who will be 31 on Tuesday, took one wicket in Pakistan's win against the 1996 champions in Colombo on Saturday.
"We don't want to risk Rehman and will wait for him to recover," said Alam, of the spinner who has 13 wickets in 17 one-day internationals.
Alam said Rehman's place is likely to be taken by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who has yet to play in the tournament. Senior batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, who hurt his hamstring, may be rested, said Alam.
Taibu in debt to Ponting, Ganguly
Pint-sized Tatenda Taibu smashed 98 as Zimbabwe kept their World Cup quarter-final hopes alive on Monday, paying tribute to lessons learned from Ricky Ponting and Sourav Ganguly.
Taibu played with the Australian and Indian in his time with Indian Premier League side Kolkata Knight Riders and he believes his short spell alongside them made him a better player.
"Sharing the dressing room with great players such as Ricky Ponting, Sourav Ganguly was a great experience. I learnt a lot about the game from them," said Taibu after Monday's 175-run win over Canada. "It helped me improve as a player."
The win over Canada gave Zimbabwe, who made 298 on Monday, their first victory after a 91-run loss to defending champions Australia. The 27-year-old Taibu, a former national skipper, said the advent of Twenty20 cricket had helped more teams pile up big scores.
So far at the World Cup, the 300-run barrier has been breached six times with India and England both making 338 in Sunday's nail-biting tie in Bangalore on Sunday.
"T20 has helped in piling up big scores. Also, with the introduction of the batting powerplay and innovative shots, you get bigger scores," he said.
Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura said that Monday's 175-run win would provide much-needed impetus with four group league matches still to play.
"Obviously, I am happy with the performance of the boys. We got a big partnership (181 between Taibu and Craig Ervine) going. We would still like to take it one game at a time and not think about a quarter-final berth straight away."
Zimbabwe are in Group A at the World Cup with Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand tipped to fill the four quarter-final qualifying berths.
Taibu played with the Australian and Indian in his time with Indian Premier League side Kolkata Knight Riders and he believes his short spell alongside them made him a better player.
"Sharing the dressing room with great players such as Ricky Ponting, Sourav Ganguly was a great experience. I learnt a lot about the game from them," said Taibu after Monday's 175-run win over Canada. "It helped me improve as a player."
The win over Canada gave Zimbabwe, who made 298 on Monday, their first victory after a 91-run loss to defending champions Australia. The 27-year-old Taibu, a former national skipper, said the advent of Twenty20 cricket had helped more teams pile up big scores.
So far at the World Cup, the 300-run barrier has been breached six times with India and England both making 338 in Sunday's nail-biting tie in Bangalore on Sunday.
"T20 has helped in piling up big scores. Also, with the introduction of the batting powerplay and innovative shots, you get bigger scores," he said.
Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura said that Monday's 175-run win would provide much-needed impetus with four group league matches still to play.
"Obviously, I am happy with the performance of the boys. We got a big partnership (181 between Taibu and Craig Ervine) going. We would still like to take it one game at a time and not think about a quarter-final berth straight away."
Zimbabwe are in Group A at the World Cup with Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand tipped to fill the four quarter-final qualifying berths.
Roach hat-tricks as West Indies crush Netherlands
Kemar Roach grabbed six wickets, including a hat-trick, while Kieron Pollard smashed 60 off 27 balls to help West Indies thrash the Netherlands by 215 runs in the World Cup on Monday.
Pollard built on the platform laid by Chris Gayle, who made 80, as the Caribbean side posted 330-8 before bowling out their hapless opponents for 115 off 31.3 overs in the Group B game at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.
The West Indies' total was the highest at the ground, which is coming off a 12-month suspension over a dangerous playing surface.
The Netherlands hardly posed any threat in the lop-sided encounter, crumbling to 36-5 by the 11th over after early strikes from Roach, who took 6-27, and left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn (3-28).
Roach, 22, returned to collect only the sixth World Cup hat-trick and the first of this tournament, sealing an emphatic win for the former world champions.
Dutch hope Ryan ten Doeschate, who scored 119 against England, failed to repeat his magic this time, trapped leg before wicket for seven by Benn.
Tom Cooper provided the only resistance with an unbeaten 55 off 72 balls.
Earlier, Gayle put on 100 runs for the opening wicket with Devon Smith (53) after the West Indies were put in to bat on a placid wicket in the day-night clash.
Pollard, who plays for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, hammered five fours and four sixes on his way to the third-fastest World Cup half-century before Ramnaresh Sarwan chipped in with a 42-ball 49.
Gayle overcame a subdued start to unleash seven fours and two sixes in his 110-ball knock, which was cut short by ten Doeschate (1-77) during a batting powerplay.
Smith scored at a quicker pace than his more famous partner, racing to his fourth one-day half-century off 45 balls with the help of nine fours.
Just when Smith looked set to go on to a bigger score, he edged behind off medium-pacer Bernard Loots to give the Netherlands their first breakthrough in the 17th over.
The promising Darren Bravo, with 30, then joined in the party briefly, dispatching Australian-born Cooper to the stands before hitting another six off left-arm spinner Pieter Seelaar who finished with 3-45.
But Seelaar took his revenge in his very next over, tempting Bravo to charge down the pitch and offer a simple catch to Alexei Kervezee at long-on.
Kervezee also took two more catches which accounted for Gayle and captain Darren Sammy, who made just six, in an otherwise sloppy performance in the field by the non-Test playing nation.
The win put life back into the West Indies campaign after they lost to South Africa in their opener.
For Netherlands, it was the second defeat on the trot after the six-wicket reversal against England in Nagpur last week.
Pollard built on the platform laid by Chris Gayle, who made 80, as the Caribbean side posted 330-8 before bowling out their hapless opponents for 115 off 31.3 overs in the Group B game at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.
The West Indies' total was the highest at the ground, which is coming off a 12-month suspension over a dangerous playing surface.
The Netherlands hardly posed any threat in the lop-sided encounter, crumbling to 36-5 by the 11th over after early strikes from Roach, who took 6-27, and left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn (3-28).
Roach, 22, returned to collect only the sixth World Cup hat-trick and the first of this tournament, sealing an emphatic win for the former world champions.
Dutch hope Ryan ten Doeschate, who scored 119 against England, failed to repeat his magic this time, trapped leg before wicket for seven by Benn.
Tom Cooper provided the only resistance with an unbeaten 55 off 72 balls.
Earlier, Gayle put on 100 runs for the opening wicket with Devon Smith (53) after the West Indies were put in to bat on a placid wicket in the day-night clash.
Pollard, who plays for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, hammered five fours and four sixes on his way to the third-fastest World Cup half-century before Ramnaresh Sarwan chipped in with a 42-ball 49.
Gayle overcame a subdued start to unleash seven fours and two sixes in his 110-ball knock, which was cut short by ten Doeschate (1-77) during a batting powerplay.
Smith scored at a quicker pace than his more famous partner, racing to his fourth one-day half-century off 45 balls with the help of nine fours.
Just when Smith looked set to go on to a bigger score, he edged behind off medium-pacer Bernard Loots to give the Netherlands their first breakthrough in the 17th over.
The promising Darren Bravo, with 30, then joined in the party briefly, dispatching Australian-born Cooper to the stands before hitting another six off left-arm spinner Pieter Seelaar who finished with 3-45.
But Seelaar took his revenge in his very next over, tempting Bravo to charge down the pitch and offer a simple catch to Alexei Kervezee at long-on.
Kervezee also took two more catches which accounted for Gayle and captain Darren Sammy, who made just six, in an otherwise sloppy performance in the field by the non-Test playing nation.
The win put life back into the West Indies campaign after they lost to South Africa in their opener.
For Netherlands, it was the second defeat on the trot after the six-wicket reversal against England in Nagpur last week.
You ain't seen nothing yet, Bell tells Cup rivals
Ian Bell has insisted there is plenty more to come from England at the World Cup following their thrilling tie with co-hosts India that breathed new life into the group phase of the tournament.
England, set an imposing 339 to win, finished on 338 for eight after Bell, who made 69, helped captain Andrew Strauss put on 170 for the third wicket in a match where the skipper went on to a career-best 158.
Although England conceded their highest World Cup total during Sunday's match, having gone for 292 in their opening six-wicket win over the Netherlands, Bell said bowling was hard work on flat subcontinental pitches and that the team would improve during the course of this event.
"We haven't played our best cricket yet and we have just tied with India, chasing 338," said Bell ahead of their return to the Chinnaswamy Stadium for Wednesday's match against Ireland.
"That has got to be a good sign. We just need to make sure that we play better cricket as this tournament goes on - there is no point playing it now."
He added: "Our batting unit has been playing well, certainly Strauss, and that is exciting for us."
Bell had the best view in the ground for much of Strauss's innings, the highest score by an England batsman in a World Cup match, and he was in no doubt about the quality of the left-handed opener's effort.
"It was probably the best knock I have seen for a long, long time and probably the best knock I have ever seen from an England player. It had everything. He hit his boundaries when he wanted to, he rotated the strike, he played his sweeps and he looked very hard to bowl to. It really was for the rest of us a template of how you play a proper one-day innings."
England, who've never won the World Cup, missed the reverse-swing variations of the ill Stuart Broad and Bell added: "We were without Broady last night who has probably been our leading one-day bowler for a period of time now. It is a good sign for us that we still did so well.
As for England's attack, a sympathetic Bell paid tribute to the performance of Yorkshire seamer Tim Bresnan, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Monday, who took important late wickets against India to finish with career-best figures of five for 48 in 10 overs.
"The wickets have been very hard to bowl on. It is difficult to have a go at any bowler who goes the distance on those kinds of wickets. But to have a guy (Bresnan) that gets five for 40-odd in 10 overs, that was the outstanding performance on that kind of surface."
As for his feelings about tieing a match England could equally have won and lost, Bell said: "We have taken a lot more positives than we have negatives. "I feel very lucky to have played in a game like that. It was one of the best World Cup games I have ever been involved in. It was an incredible game."
England, set an imposing 339 to win, finished on 338 for eight after Bell, who made 69, helped captain Andrew Strauss put on 170 for the third wicket in a match where the skipper went on to a career-best 158.
Although England conceded their highest World Cup total during Sunday's match, having gone for 292 in their opening six-wicket win over the Netherlands, Bell said bowling was hard work on flat subcontinental pitches and that the team would improve during the course of this event.
"We haven't played our best cricket yet and we have just tied with India, chasing 338," said Bell ahead of their return to the Chinnaswamy Stadium for Wednesday's match against Ireland.
"That has got to be a good sign. We just need to make sure that we play better cricket as this tournament goes on - there is no point playing it now."
He added: "Our batting unit has been playing well, certainly Strauss, and that is exciting for us."
Bell had the best view in the ground for much of Strauss's innings, the highest score by an England batsman in a World Cup match, and he was in no doubt about the quality of the left-handed opener's effort.
"It was probably the best knock I have seen for a long, long time and probably the best knock I have ever seen from an England player. It had everything. He hit his boundaries when he wanted to, he rotated the strike, he played his sweeps and he looked very hard to bowl to. It really was for the rest of us a template of how you play a proper one-day innings."
England, who've never won the World Cup, missed the reverse-swing variations of the ill Stuart Broad and Bell added: "We were without Broady last night who has probably been our leading one-day bowler for a period of time now. It is a good sign for us that we still did so well.
As for England's attack, a sympathetic Bell paid tribute to the performance of Yorkshire seamer Tim Bresnan, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Monday, who took important late wickets against India to finish with career-best figures of five for 48 in 10 overs.
"The wickets have been very hard to bowl on. It is difficult to have a go at any bowler who goes the distance on those kinds of wickets. But to have a guy (Bresnan) that gets five for 40-odd in 10 overs, that was the outstanding performance on that kind of surface."
As for his feelings about tieing a match England could equally have won and lost, Bell said: "We have taken a lot more positives than we have negatives. "I feel very lucky to have played in a game like that. It was one of the best World Cup games I have ever been involved in. It was an incredible game."
Sleepy Younis misses India-England match
While millions of fans across the world watched a pulsating tie between India and England on Sunday, Pakistan's senior batsman Younis Khan preferred sleep over high-voltage cricket.
"I slept early, so I couldn't watch the England-India match," Younis said on Monday, when asked about the Group B match in Bangalore. "I missed it, but scores show that even... 400 runs is gettable in the sub-continent."
England, chasing 339 to win, finished on 338 for eight in a sell-out match featuring 676 runs, with centuries from Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar and England captain Andrew Strauss.
Younis said he was happy to take on the responsibility of being a senior player in the team, who have won both of their opening fixtures.
"As a senior player, I am happy to put my contribution in the team's totals," said Younis, who scored 50 against Kenya and 72 against Sri Lanka. "It is a good feeling and the win against Sri Lanka has put us closer to the quarter-finals."
Younis, who normally bats at number three, said he had no problems batting one place lower.
"My job is that whenever there is need, I can play at three and now if the team needs me at four then I am ready to bat there as well and had good partnerships with Misbah-ul-Haq," said Younis.
Younis and Misbah added 108 for the fourth wicket to help Pakistan post a challenging 277-7 against Sri Lanka, before restricting their opponents to 266-9.
Younis said Pakistan could go all the way to the World Cup final.
"Every match is important for us whether it's against Canada, Australia or New Zealand so our effort is to win every match and reach the final and win it, but the first goal is the quarter-final," said Younis.
Pakistan's next match is against Canada on Thursday.
"I slept early, so I couldn't watch the England-India match," Younis said on Monday, when asked about the Group B match in Bangalore. "I missed it, but scores show that even... 400 runs is gettable in the sub-continent."
England, chasing 339 to win, finished on 338 for eight in a sell-out match featuring 676 runs, with centuries from Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar and England captain Andrew Strauss.
Younis said he was happy to take on the responsibility of being a senior player in the team, who have won both of their opening fixtures.
"As a senior player, I am happy to put my contribution in the team's totals," said Younis, who scored 50 against Kenya and 72 against Sri Lanka. "It is a good feeling and the win against Sri Lanka has put us closer to the quarter-finals."
Younis, who normally bats at number three, said he had no problems batting one place lower.
"My job is that whenever there is need, I can play at three and now if the team needs me at four then I am ready to bat there as well and had good partnerships with Misbah-ul-Haq," said Younis.
Younis and Misbah added 108 for the fourth wicket to help Pakistan post a challenging 277-7 against Sri Lanka, before restricting their opponents to 266-9.
Younis said Pakistan could go all the way to the World Cup final.
"Every match is important for us whether it's against Canada, Australia or New Zealand so our effort is to win every match and reach the final and win it, but the first goal is the quarter-final," said Younis.
Pakistan's next match is against Canada on Thursday.
Bell pledges England support for gay Davies
England wicketkeeper Steven Davies will have the full support of his team-mates after publicly announcing he is gay, batsman Ian Bell told reporters on Monday.
Surrey gloveman Davies, 24, is believed to be the first active professional cricketer to out himself and he explained why to Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper by saying: "I just felt it was the right time for me."
"It's something that I've obviously wanted to do for a long time. I've probably been comfortable with it now for a couple of years."
"The reason why I've decided to make it public is simply because I think the more people who do it, the more acceptable it becomes."
Davies, who was a member of England's victorious Ashes squad but did not play in the Tests, said he decided to reveal his sexuality to his team-mates before the tour of Australia and received the full support of his colleagues.
He was in England's provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup but did not make the cut.
"To speak out is a massive relief for me, but if I can just help one person to deal with their sexuality then that's all I care about," Davies said.
Bell, talking to reporters at England's hotel in Bangalore the morning after their dramatic tie with joint hosts India, said Davies had a "massive future in English cricket" and that was all that mattered.
"We knew before the Ashes series," Bell said of Davies's sexuality.
"That didn't change anything for us. He is a very popular guy in our team, a good mate of mine and that doesn't change absolutely anything."
"He went to (England coach) Andy Flower first and then it came to the group. I don't think it had any effect on any of the guys. We all supported him through the tour which could have been very difficult."
Flower insisted: "Steve's private life is his own concern."
"It has absolutely no bearing on his ability to excel at the very highest level in international sport."
Davies, who said he told his family five years ago, revealed he was partly inspired to make the announcement by Wales rugby union international Gareth Thomas, who went public about his homosexuality in 2009.
Left-handed batsman Davies made his international debut in a Twenty20 match against the West Indies in March 2009, playing his first one-day international against Australia later that year.
Surrey gloveman Davies, 24, is believed to be the first active professional cricketer to out himself and he explained why to Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper by saying: "I just felt it was the right time for me."
"It's something that I've obviously wanted to do for a long time. I've probably been comfortable with it now for a couple of years."
"The reason why I've decided to make it public is simply because I think the more people who do it, the more acceptable it becomes."
Davies, who was a member of England's victorious Ashes squad but did not play in the Tests, said he decided to reveal his sexuality to his team-mates before the tour of Australia and received the full support of his colleagues.
He was in England's provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup but did not make the cut.
"To speak out is a massive relief for me, but if I can just help one person to deal with their sexuality then that's all I care about," Davies said.
Bell, talking to reporters at England's hotel in Bangalore the morning after their dramatic tie with joint hosts India, said Davies had a "massive future in English cricket" and that was all that mattered.
"We knew before the Ashes series," Bell said of Davies's sexuality.
"That didn't change anything for us. He is a very popular guy in our team, a good mate of mine and that doesn't change absolutely anything."
"He went to (England coach) Andy Flower first and then it came to the group. I don't think it had any effect on any of the guys. We all supported him through the tour which could have been very difficult."
Flower insisted: "Steve's private life is his own concern."
"It has absolutely no bearing on his ability to excel at the very highest level in international sport."
Davies, who said he told his family five years ago, revealed he was partly inspired to make the announcement by Wales rugby union international Gareth Thomas, who went public about his homosexuality in 2009.
Left-handed batsman Davies made his international debut in a Twenty20 match against the West Indies in March 2009, playing his first one-day international against Australia later that year.
Dad's crash death inspires Cup kid Kumar
Sixteen-year-old schoolboy Nitish Kumar became the youngest ever World Cup player on Monday, but his only regret was that his father, killed in a 2005 car crash, was not there to see it.
The teenager was named in Canada's team to face Zimbabwe and at 16 years and 283 days, supplanted Bangladesh's Talha Jubair, who was 17 years and 70 days old when he featured against the West Indies in the 2007 World Cup.
But his debut was tinged with sadness.
His father Vikal was killed in a car accident in England while on a cricket tour in 2005 with Kumar, 11 at the time, in the back seat.
He was hospitalised for almost a month and did not learn of his father's death until returning to Canada.
"It would have been easy for me to pack it in," Kumar told the Toronto Star newspaper.
"My father wanted me to play at the highest level and where I am now is because of him, my family and my coach. Without them, I'd be lost. There was a time when I would play for myself, but now I play for my father."
Sadly, Kumar's World Cup debut was not particularly memorable.
After Zimbabwe had made 298-9, the opening batsman, who has been given a month off by his school to take part in the World Cup, was out for just one after facing only 10 balls.
Before the World Cup, Kumar had played five ODIs for Canada, making his debut against Afghanistan in Sharjah in February 2010.
Nicknamed 'Tendulkar', he was born in May 1994, four-and-a-half years after Sachin Tendulkar's international debut against Pakistan in 1989.
Canada have the oldest and youngest player in the tournament with the oldest, 40-year-old John Davison, opening the batting with the youngster.
"The first time I saw Nitish was 10 years back when he was only six. I was amazed to see a six-year-old's control over his shots," said Davison.
"Even at that age, he could hit pull shots and I felt he was a special talent."
The teenager was named in Canada's team to face Zimbabwe and at 16 years and 283 days, supplanted Bangladesh's Talha Jubair, who was 17 years and 70 days old when he featured against the West Indies in the 2007 World Cup.
But his debut was tinged with sadness.
His father Vikal was killed in a car accident in England while on a cricket tour in 2005 with Kumar, 11 at the time, in the back seat.
He was hospitalised for almost a month and did not learn of his father's death until returning to Canada.
"It would have been easy for me to pack it in," Kumar told the Toronto Star newspaper.
"My father wanted me to play at the highest level and where I am now is because of him, my family and my coach. Without them, I'd be lost. There was a time when I would play for myself, but now I play for my father."
Sadly, Kumar's World Cup debut was not particularly memorable.
After Zimbabwe had made 298-9, the opening batsman, who has been given a month off by his school to take part in the World Cup, was out for just one after facing only 10 balls.
Before the World Cup, Kumar had played five ODIs for Canada, making his debut against Afghanistan in Sharjah in February 2010.
Nicknamed 'Tendulkar', he was born in May 1994, four-and-a-half years after Sachin Tendulkar's international debut against Pakistan in 1989.
Canada have the oldest and youngest player in the tournament with the oldest, 40-year-old John Davison, opening the batting with the youngster.
"The first time I saw Nitish was 10 years back when he was only six. I was amazed to see a six-year-old's control over his shots," said Davison.
"Even at that age, he could hit pull shots and I felt he was a special talent."
My focus now is on getting wickets: Akhtar
Former tearaway Shoaib Akhtar admitted on Monday that age has dimmed his energy and desire to deliver the 100 mph toe-crunchers that once made him the world's most feared fast bowler.
The charismatic but controversial Pakistan seamer, whose career has been plagued by injury and disciplinary problems, knows that, at 35, it is sense rather than speed that will get wickets.
"I left this race of bowling at 100 mph a long time ago. I am nearing 36 now and am more mature, so I am focusing (more) on getting wickets now than bowling fast," said Akhtar, who broke the 100 mph barrier at the 2003 World Cup.
However, he added: "But I crossed 159 kmh (98 mph) the other day."
Akhtar has played 162 ODIs with 246 wickets and 46 Tests, which yielded 178 wickets.
The charismatic but controversial Pakistan seamer, whose career has been plagued by injury and disciplinary problems, knows that, at 35, it is sense rather than speed that will get wickets.
"I left this race of bowling at 100 mph a long time ago. I am nearing 36 now and am more mature, so I am focusing (more) on getting wickets now than bowling fast," said Akhtar, who broke the 100 mph barrier at the 2003 World Cup.
However, he added: "But I crossed 159 kmh (98 mph) the other day."
Akhtar has played 162 ODIs with 246 wickets and 46 Tests, which yielded 178 wickets.
Rokibul praises team spirit
A win achieved from unexpected means always has the power to bring the team together and Rokibul Hasan believes that Bangladesh's come-from-behind win against Ireland has been a much-needed boost.
"Team spirit always grows through in these close wins. We are very confident after winning the last match," said the right-handed batsman, yesterday, who made 38 in Bangladesh's modest 205 in their second group B game of the World Cup.
The Tigers returned to training at the GP-BCB National Cricket Academy ground after a two-day break. They will take another break today before returning to the nets on Wednesday afternoon.
Last Friday, Ireland succumbed to the inspired swing bowling of Shafiul Islam who picked up four late wickets, ensuring the Tigers' first win in the tournament..
"We now know that if bowling doesn't work, our batsman can back us up and vice versa. This gives us a lot of mental strength.
"There was a time in that game when they needed less than a run a ball to win. Shafiul gave us breakthroughs in that situation, which is something we are very happy about. He completely changed the momentum," said Rokibul, who added a crucial 61-run stand for the fifth wicket with Mushfiqur Rahim after the Tigers slipped to 86 for four in the 16th over.
"We discussed the previous match, the positives, negatives and the areas where we can improve. If we could have latched on to the start given by Tamim and Imrul, we could have got 240-250. We lost quick wickets at that time; we would like to improve in that area.
"Junaed (Siddiqui) and my run-outs were costly. Both of us were batting well and if I could have added some more runs with Naeem (Islam), it would have done us a lot of good," said Rokibul, who has the enviable average of 66 from two World Cup games.
Last year had a traumatic beginning for the Jamalpur-born Rokibul who suddenly retired from international cricket after being left out by the selectors. He withdrew his decision a few months later but on his return game, Rokibul hurt his foot during a fine 76 in England.
Now in a new role as the team's No 6 batsman (where he averages 32.42 from nine innings), Rokibul says he likes the responsibility but hasn't yet got the real taste of batting at this position.
"I am really enjoying batting at the position. It is something I am doing for the team. I haven't got that much opportunity but I would like to utilize it whenever I do," he said.
"I prepared myself to bat at 6 after I was informed to bat during the Powerplays," added Rokibul.
Razzak aims to step up
All the pre-tournament talk about the World Cup had focused on the Bangladesh bowling being dependant on the left-arm spinning duo of Abdur Razzak and Shakib Al Hasan, due to the matches being held in the traditionally spin friendly wickets of the subcontinent.
But with two matches of the World Cup already played, the efforts of both bowlers have hardly been noticeable. Despite this, the smart money is still on the duo playing a major role in the coming games against West Indies, England, Netherlands and South Africa to help Bangladesh press for their goal; a quarterfinal spot in cricket's biggest show.
Shakib, the number one ODI all-rounder, seemed to regain his rhythm against Ireland in the second group match after a poor showing against a dominating India in the opening match but Razzak has yet to find his form despite the fact that he had a much better bowling figure of 8-0-30-1 in the second game compared to his expensive nine over spell against India where the ace spinner conceded 74 runs without any success.
“It was not the same wicket we had played against New Zealand. The wicket had little turn as it did in October last year. In this kind of wicket you must concentrate more on the line and length and you have to bowl wicket to wicket otherwise you will be punished by the batsmen,” explained Razzak yesterday.
He has been providing unnatural flight in his bowling without being able to extract much turn and with some odd short deliveries in between, has been handled quite comfortably by most of the batsmen..
“We must accept this condition because there is no other choice. I think any bowler will be successful in this condition if he keeps the basic things right. Actually this kind of wicket is a heaven for the batsmen,” he responded.
The 28-year old bowler, who has so far claimed 163 wickets in 113 matches, however was very much confident that his bowling will be better in the next group matches.
“What I felt that I need to adjust a few minor things to my bowling and I am really hopeful with my bowling and I think everything will be okay from the next game,” said Razzak while talking about their next game against West Indies on March 4 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
Is this kind of condition then putting extra pressure on the Bangladesh batsmen? Razzak however was diplomatic while responding to the issue. “What I want to say is that it is really helpful for the bowlers if the batsmen can put a handsome total on the board in this kind of condition,” he observed.
Captain Shakib was not ready to comment on the wicket, rather he said that they have to play better cricket in these conditions.
“We must play better cricket no matter what the condition is. I do not think there has been any significant change in the Mirpur wicket,” observed Shakib.
Press call India to wake up
World Cup favourites India came under fire from a demanding media Monday after their dramatic tie with England as fallen giants West Indies looked for their first win against the Netherlands.
In a gripping contest on Sunday that injected life into a tournament that has seen a series of lopsided matches, the home side scored 338 all out in Bangalore thanks to a crowd-pleasing century from Sachin Tendulkar.
But in dramatic scenes under the floodlights at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, England, led by skipper Andrew Strauss with 158, levelled the scores off the final ball of their innings.
Despite the excitement, India's media said the match should serve as a wake-up call, bemoaning the hosts' failure to beat England and lamenting lacklustre fielding and a bowling line-up that lacked penetration.
"Top-rated India get wake-up call from England", said the front page of the Daily Mail, which relegated news of the government's impending budget onto an inside page.
"It must be said that the collective failure of the frail Indian bowling attack allowed the visitors to come back into the match several times," the newspaper said.
The Hindustan Times asked: "Will just putting runs on the board be good enough to win the World Cup?"
"It could happen, but will require a lot of luck. When compared to most champion teams of any era, this team suffers in terms of all-round balance."
The Times of India blasted the Indian attack as one of the worst in the Test world but said there was time to rectify weaknesses.
Strauss, whose century earned him the man-of-the-match award, said his side had put down a serious World Cup marker.
"Coming into this game after the Holland performance, it was a great bounce-back and showed everyone around the tournament that we're going to be a force to be reckoned with," said Strauss, whose side had a major scare against the Dutch in their opener.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni praised left-arm quick Zaheer Khan for a burst of three wickets for one run in six balls, including two in two to get rid of Ian Bell (69) and Strauss, that swung the match back India's way.
But he said it was India's fielding, long their Achilles heel, that had cost them a second victory of this tournament to set alongside their 87-run opening win over co-hosts Bangladesh.
"I don't think we can improve the fielding very much because we have got quite a few slow fielders in the side," he said.
"But as far as the bowling department is concerned I think we have got a talented group so hopefully in the coming games we can improve a lot."
In the first match of the day, Canada were playing Zimbabwe in Nagpur where 16-year-old Ontario schoolboy Nitish Kumar made history by becoming the youngest ever World Cup player.
Zimbabwe scored 298 in their 50 overs with Tatenda Taibu (98) and Craig Ervine (85) putting on 181 for the third wicket.
"We're quite happy. That was our target in the morning, to get around 290/300 and anything past that was a bonus so I back the bowlers to come out and do the job," said Taibu.
The West Indies were due to play the big-hitting Netherlands in New Delhi in the day/night match.
The Caribbean side were well beaten by South Africa in their first Group B clash, a result that saw the former undisputed kings of the one-day game slump to ninth in the one-day rankings.
Want man or machine?
In a whirl of high-definition graphics, the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) is drawing flak at the World Cup as the men in the middle endure trial by TV.
The system, which allows teams to question an official's on-field decision, is being used for the first time in a World Cup after making its debut during the first Test between New Zealand and Pakistan in November 2009.
But India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni believes the system is flawed and was furious that his side were denied a wicket following a review in their epic tie with England on Sunday.
India spinner Yuvraj Singh thought he had Ian Bell lbw on review when the batsman had made just 17, with replays showing the ball would have hit the stumps.
Bell was given not out by New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden but had started to walk off. However, the decision was returned to Bowden by Australian replay official Rod Tucker and the Kiwi deemed Bell to be too far down the pitch to be dismissed.
"The adulteration of technology with human thinking meant we didn't get that [Bell] wicket," said Dhoni, whose country refuses to use the system in home series.
He was unhappy with the instruction to umpires that says if a batsman is more than 2.5 metres down the pitch he should be given not out, unless the ball would have hit middle stump.
It was not certain if Bell's middle stump would have been knocked over but Dhoni said: "If Hawk-Eye says it's good and going to hit middle stump, I see no reason why the distance matters."
Bell went on to make 69 and shared a crucial third-wicket partnership of 170 with captain Andrew Strauss.
At the World Cup, the UDRS is missing two of its vital aids -- the Hot Spot and the Snickometer.
The Hot Spot is an infra-red imaging system used to determine whether the ball has struck the batsman's bat or pad while Snickometer is used to ascertain if the ball touched the bat on its way to the wicketkeeper.
The unavailability of the Hot Spot and Snickometer means the third umpire only has the ball-tracker or Hawk-Eye, slow-motion replays and the stump microphone at his disposal.
The review system came under early scrutiny during Sri Lanka's World Cup opener with Canada.
Mahela Jayawardene, who scored a match-winning century, was the focus of two referrals from Canada for caught behind decisions, both of which went against the minnows.
TV replays in both cases were inconclusive and the benefit of doubt was given to the batsman.
"For us, this was the first time we were playing under that rule and our guys were not experienced with it," said Canada coach Pubudu Dassanayake. "Definitely without Hot Spot you can't take proper decisions for caught behinds."
Jayawardene, despite benefiting in the absence of Hot Spot, said later it was a concern not having it as part of the UDRS.
"They don't have Hot Spot, and that's probably the downside to it. I don't think they have Snicko either.
"You need to make sure that fair decisions are being made and we need to help the umpires especially because in the conditions it's not easy for them to make correct decisions all the time."
That the technology is not foolproof was evident once again when Australia played New Zealand in Nagpur last week.
The umpires employed UDRS to determine whether Australian skipper Ricky Ponting edged a leg-side delivery to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum but in vain.
Former Australian umpire Darrell Hair was scathing in his criticism of the review system, calling it detrimental to an umpire's confidence.
"If the game is going to sap the confidence of umpires to that extent, where they cannot trust their own calls to be made on basic bread-and-butter decisions, then the system has failed them," he said in comments carried by the Herald Sun newspaper.
"The ICC [International Cricket Council] should be working with their umpires to give them the skills and confidence to make correct decisions on the majority of occasions.
"A review system by its very nature will uncover mistakes but management of why these mistakes occur in the first place should be the priority.”
Double trouble for Kenya
Kenya face double trouble ahead of their all-important World Cup Group A match against Sri Lanka here on Tuesday, as they counter formidable opponents and differences between players and coach.
Kenya have lost both their matches at the tournament, going down by 10 wickets against New Zealand, after being shot out for just 69, before slumping to a 205-run loss to Pakistan.
Adding to their problems, reports have emerged of internal divisions within the squad.
Cricket Kenya chief Samir Inamdar on Sunday blamed differences between the players and West Indian coach Eldine Baptiste for their lacklustre performances.
But Kenya captain Jimmy Kamande brushed aside the reports, saying his team is united.
"There is no fighting, no worries," said Kamande. "Maybe there is miscommunication, but I can assure you we are all here as a family and are happy. We will show some improvement in future games."
Kenyan cricket has been dogged by political problems since the famous run to the 2003 World Cup semifinals.
It was in that World Cup where Kenya beat Sri Lanka in Nairobi, but that is their only win in five clashes between the two nations.
Kenya have four survivors from that match -- Steve Tikolo, Collins Obuya, Thomas Odoyo and Peter Ongondo -- but the team looks a pale shadow of that side at the current tournament.
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara urged his team not to panic after slipping to defeat against Pakistan.
"We have Kenya, followed by Australia, so we will look back on the defeat and learn from our mistakes which is very important," said Sangakkara.
"There are a few things we can learn. Bowling a better line and length is important and when we bat partnerships are important and we shouldn't panic," added the skipper, who scored 49 against Pakistan.
The top four teams from each group will qualify for the quarterfinals and Sangakkara stressed the need to keep improving as the tournament progresses.
Sri Lanka V Kenya
Matches: 5
Sri Lanka win: 4
Kenya win: 1
First meeting: March 6, 1996, Kandy -- Sri Lanka won by 144 runs
Last meeting: April 6, 2003, Sharjah -- Sri Lanka won by 129 runs
Taibu's narrow miss in big Zim win
Tatenda Taibu just missed a maiden World Cup century while Raymond Price grabbed three early wickets as Zimbabwe crushed hapless Canada by 175 runs for their first win in Group A on Monday.
Zimabwe were indebted to former captain Taibu (98) and Craig Ervine (85) for posting 298-9 before dismissing Canada for a paltry 123, with left-arm spinner Price finishing with 3-16 off eight tight overs.
The African nation, who lost to Australia in their opener, virtually reduced the match to a no-contest when Price, sharing the new ball for a second successive game, took three wickets in his opening three overs.
The spinner bowled John Davison, the oldest player in the tournament at 40, before accounting for 16-year-old Nitish Kumar, the youngest player to feature in a World Cup, and skipper Ashish Bagai as Canada teetered at 7-3.
Kumar, who needed permission from his school to take a month off for the event, contributed just one before offering a return catch.
Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer (3-31), and off-spinners Prosper Utseya (2-24) and Greg Lamb (2-29) then built on Price's superb effort as Canada continued to struggle against spin to suffer their second successive defeat.
Hurt Pakistan to hurt others
Maverick paceman Shoaib Akhtar on Monday said Pakistan were hurting from the cricket corruption scandal, but his rejuvenated team will take their frustrations out on their World Cup rivals.
Test captain Salman Butt and seamers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer were banned for corruption barely two weeks before the World Cup which depleted Pakistan's bowling options.
But Akhtar said the loss of the trio has helped unite the squad.
"We are a hurt side so we are here to hurt others. It's better that it happened to us because every time a controversy happens it gathers us together and what better situation than before a World Cup," Akhtar said.
Pakistan, rated as dark horses in the most open World Cup in its 36-year history, inflicted a narrow 11-run defeat over co-hosts Sri Lanka in their last match after seeing off Kenya by 205 runs.
Akhtar, 35, admitted he was missing Aamer -- banned for five years -- and Asif -- banned for seven -- but said others have stepped up.
"Obviously without Aamer and Asif we have suffered badly, they were the best with the new ball, it's unfortunate what happened to them. Had they been with us it would have been the most lethal bowling attack," said Akhtar.
"But the way [Umar] Gul and [Abdul] Razzaq have been bowling, the way [Wahab] Riaz is bowling, we can still do a much better job as we have variety in our attack."
Akhtar hoped Pakistan -- who next face Canada in Colombo on March 3 -- will not get complacent after beating Sri Lanka.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Dhoni confounded by umpiring call against England
Bangalore: MS Dhoni made a thinly-veiled criticism of the umpiring decision that nearly cost India the World Cup match against England that ended in a tie.
Ian Bell, batting on 17 on the last ball of the 25th over, was hit in front by Yuvraj Singh. Umpire Billy Bowden turned down the LBW appeal and India asked for a review.
Replays showed three things working in favour of the appeal --- there was no no-ball, the ball hit in line, and Hawkeye said the ball was hitting the middle stump. Seeing the replay on the giant screen, Bell started walking back when the umpires decided to stay the not-out decision.
What apparently saved Bell was the fact that he had stretched out 2.5 metres away from the stumps, implying the ball could have passed over the stumps, even though he was hit on the shin.
ICC rules stipulate players to not question umpiring decisions hence Dhoni chose his words carefully to describe his feelings even as he said India had no option but to accept the decision.
"It Hawkeye said the ball was hitting the stumps, there was no reason to not give it out, even though Bell was out of his crease," Dhoni said.
"There was a match in which I walked down the pitch, was hit on the shin and was given out LBW. So if that can be out, so should be this," Dhoni said.
Replying to a question about the adulteration of technology with human intervention, Dhoni said: "The adulteration is why we didn't get the wicket."
"I WAS RELAXED"
Dhoni said he was at peace having given Munaf Patel the final over in which England needed 14 to win. Rookie pacer Azmal Shahzad hit a first-ball six to put England back in the game.
"Munaf does a good job most of the times. He bowls in the right areas, but Shahzad played a good shot," he said.
"I thought the game would be over by the 48th or 49th over the way Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell were batting, so I am happy with the result."
England captain Strauss, who made 158, said it was his most satisfying one-day innings. "I wanted to be there till the end but Zaheer Khan made a good comeback," he said.
He defended bowlers from both sides. "It was a wicket where any bowling attack would struggle," adding that the outcome was a memorable game of cricket for both sides.
Ian Bell, batting on 17 on the last ball of the 25th over, was hit in front by Yuvraj Singh. Umpire Billy Bowden turned down the LBW appeal and India asked for a review.
Replays showed three things working in favour of the appeal --- there was no no-ball, the ball hit in line, and Hawkeye said the ball was hitting the middle stump. Seeing the replay on the giant screen, Bell started walking back when the umpires decided to stay the not-out decision.
What apparently saved Bell was the fact that he had stretched out 2.5 metres away from the stumps, implying the ball could have passed over the stumps, even though he was hit on the shin.
ICC rules stipulate players to not question umpiring decisions hence Dhoni chose his words carefully to describe his feelings even as he said India had no option but to accept the decision.
"It Hawkeye said the ball was hitting the stumps, there was no reason to not give it out, even though Bell was out of his crease," Dhoni said.
"There was a match in which I walked down the pitch, was hit on the shin and was given out LBW. So if that can be out, so should be this," Dhoni said.
Replying to a question about the adulteration of technology with human intervention, Dhoni said: "The adulteration is why we didn't get the wicket."
"I WAS RELAXED"
Dhoni said he was at peace having given Munaf Patel the final over in which England needed 14 to win. Rookie pacer Azmal Shahzad hit a first-ball six to put England back in the game.
"Munaf does a good job most of the times. He bowls in the right areas, but Shahzad played a good shot," he said.
"I thought the game would be over by the 48th or 49th over the way Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell were batting, so I am happy with the result."
England captain Strauss, who made 158, said it was his most satisfying one-day innings. "I wanted to be there till the end but Zaheer Khan made a good comeback," he said.
He defended bowlers from both sides. "It was a wicket where any bowling attack would struggle," adding that the outcome was a memorable game of cricket for both sides.
India, England battle to a tie
On a track that offered full value for good strokeplay, the marquee game of the World Cup thus far, between India and England at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, turned out to be a contest between two sets of weak bowling attacks.
That needs qualification. England's attack was definitely weakened by the absence through illness of Stuart Broad, and by the fact that James Anderson, the de facto leader of the lineup, is rendered totally innocuous in sub-continental conditions, while their game-breaker Graeme Swann holds little terror for Indian batsmen reared on spin, on a track devoid of significant turn.
India's bowling is just plan weak, period. Especially on a good batting track. Consider the options: Zaheer, whose best deliveries are negated in conditions that are not helpful; Munaf, a first change bowler pitchforked into the opening slot to fit in with "game plans"; an off spinner whose role - defined by the management, or selected by himself, is unclear - is to contain; a leg spinner who hasn't had the good fortune to make the squad in the year and more leading up to the World Cup; and a couple of part timers whose USP is to keep the ball slow and hope for the best.
Given that, it was a straight up hitting contest against bowling machines - which side can hit harder, oftener?
As it turned out, the two teams together scored 676 runs in 99.5 overs. And at the end of it all, the result was a tie.
If India's first outing, in the lung-opener against Bangladesh, was about unbridled aggression, its first home game, against England today at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, was a smooth cruise, punctuated by sharp bursts of calculated aggression.
For instance, the span between overs 11-15 produced 26 runs; overs 16-20 produced 27; overs 21-25 produced 29 - and then, with game-breaking suddenness came the assault between overs 26-30, when 41 runs were thrashed in stunning fashion to not just rocket the run rate up, but make mincemeat of England skipper Andrew Strauss's plans.
The architect of the edifice of runs India constructed was Sachin Tendulkar. His start was slow - at times, seeming dangerously slow. When the bowling power play ended with India on 84/1, Sachin's contribution was 24 off 43 balls, including a maiden played out to England's best bowler on the day, Tim Bresnan.
He continued in that vein till the half way stage of the innings, playing well within himself and combining with Gautam Gambhir to move the score along at a steady 5.6 or thereabouts. Outside of Gambhir's calculated forays down the track to Bresnan and Swann, the only signs of overt violence during this period, after the departure of Sehwag on the back of an edgy 35 off 26, was when Tendulkar decided that Paul Collingwood could not be allowed to settle down into the 5th bowler duties Strauss had whistled him up for.
The idea was for Collingwood to produce a few overs of very straight wicket to wicket stuff; had he been allowed to do that, pressure would have been off the lead bowlers, who would have had the space to regroup.
Displaying the shrewdness of one who has been there, seen it all many times over, Tendulkar pounced. A dead straight ball in the 18th over, Collingwood's first, was hit dead straighter, back over the bowler's head for six. In the 22nd, he demonstrated another way of dealing with the Collingwood class of bowler: a little skip to set it up, a shuffle to clear his front leg out of the way of the clean swing of the bat, and a satisfied glance at the trajectory of the ball as it soared high into the stands at midwicket. (The shot brought up his 50 - 66 balls, three 4s, two 6s).
If this phase was the set up, the next was the execution. The next 49 deliveries he faced produced 68 runs, spiked with seven fours and three more sixes. What was noticeable about this acceleration was that it looked unhurried, almost inevitable. And it's centerpiece was a calculated assault, first on Swann, then on Anderson, in the period between the 36th and 40th overs.
Just prior to this phase, Sachin called for a change of bats. Till then, he had been batting with the lightest bat in his arsenal; at this point, he moved to the heaviest, the one that would give him best bang for the buck.
Swann was looking to tie the batsman down on an off stump line; Sachin greeted him in the 27th over with a minute adjustment of the feet that gave him the room to scythe the ball high over long on. Next ball, the bowler sought to adjust by changing the line to off and middle; Sachin stayed back and launched a slog sweep to put the ball into the stands over midwicket. In the 29th over, it was the hapless Anderson's turn - first, a vintage Sachin cover drive, characterized by that smooth glide into line and the checked punch, a seemingly defensive shot that, when he plays it, sends the ball screaming to the fence. Like Swann, Anderson sought to adjust, and moved the next ball a bit wider in line; Tendulkar again seemed to read the bowler's mind, stayed back, and cut with crisp power to the point fence.
The knock - his 47th in ODIs, the fifth and perhaps most calculated on a World Cup stage - was the pivot around which India fashioned its second successive 300+ score. Sehwag was all edges in the first Anderson over, teasing the field with three straight chances in six deliveries. Ironically, just when he seemed to be settling down, an attempt to get cute through the vacant slip region saw Matt Prior take him out with great anticipation and considerable agility.
Gambhir continued his journey to mid-season form with a 50 that mixed careful accumulation with sudden forays down the wicket against pace and spin alike (with Tendulkar, Gambhir was responsible for reducing Swann, touted before the game as England's game changer, to impotence). Yuvraj, promoted to number four ahead of the in-form Kohli, was low in form, timing, and foot speed between wickets for the major part of his knock before redeeming himself with a few trademark mows to the midwicket-wide mid on region that produced a useful 58 (50 balls, 9 fours).
At 327/5 after 47, India seemed set for 350 plus - but that is not to make allowance for the team's penchant for suffering a mind melt at the worse possible moment. In a performance that was cataclysmically comic - and with help from a superb spell of death bowling from Bresnan who, in the face of the general carnage, reaped a five-for through the virtues of keeping it simple and adhering to good lines and lengths - India lost Pathan, Kohli, Harbhajan, Zaheer and Piyush in the space of 11 balls and as many runs, to end up on 338 - a good 30, 40 runs less than Sachin Tendulkar had the right to expect of his mates after he had set it up in company of Gambhir.
The question was, on a track that provided full value for batsmen who knew how to play shots, would it be enough to seal the deal?
Perhaps there is something to "momentum" after all. India dominated for 48 overs out of 50, and England looked down and almost out. Then came the mind-melt - and whatever attack of nerves caused it, the Indians seemed to carry it out onto the field.
Andrew Strauss had just gotten into his teens when he flayed at a Zaheer delivery outside off and got an edge everyone heard - except bowler and keeper, neither of whom bothered to appeal. (A little later, Strauss got into a tangle against Chawla and got the ball on his back pad in front of off stump - incredibly, all that elicited was a stifled appeal for caught behind; even there, the bowler did not go up at all).
That said, Strauss and Petersen set it up superbly. Realizing early on that there was nothing in the wicket to aid Zaheer and Munaf, realizing too that without external help both were at best medium pacers who would come straight on to the bat, the two openers set about taking the attack apart. Petersen was all size and arrogance and muscle, walking down the track with contempt oozing in every stride, and hitting as he willed; Strauss was the skillful surgeon, using the width and depth of the crease to perfection to put the ball through the gaps.
What was remarkable about the opening was the calm assurance they showed. 338, even on a patented featherbed, is never easy to hunt down batting under lights. Doubly so for a team with a record as dismal as England's on Indian soil. Even more so when the team is coming off a 6-1 hammering in this form of the game. And yet, there was never a sign of pressure, of stress - if anything, it was the fielding side that seemed unsure of itself and its ability to defend the total.
There was only one way a wicket was going to come - accidentally. Munaf to Petersen, good length, on off, and the batsman smashed it back down the track. Munaf's reaction was purely in the interests of self-preservation; he threw his hands up in front of his face. The ball slammed into the heel of his hand, and popped gently up in front of him as he fell on his bottom; a bemused Munaf gently reached out and grabbed it like a child plucking fruit, to end a knock that threatened had threatened to decimate the target.
The highly rated Jonathan Trott looked a bit out of sorts against Piyush Chawla's spin, finding it particularly difficult to pick the googlies. Sure enough, one such got him in such a tangle that he ended up squared up in front of the middle stump as ball met pad.
The very next ball almost did for Ian Bell, but he survived a close brush with the LBW rule - and from that point on, India was never in the game. Bell and Strauss silenced the raucous crowd with a masterclass in how to mount a chase.
Against the leaden-footed Indian fielding, they worked the ball around relentlessly, running the fielders ragged and the bowlers to distraction; with monumental patience they waited for the pressure to mount on the bowlers and, every time one of them erred, they pounced with unerring instinct, smashing the ball to the fence.
More than anything else, what they did was ensure that there was never a lull in the scoring for "consolidation" or whatever reason, never a point when the pressure was relieved because the batsmen were "biding their time". No bowler was allowed the luxury of a maiden over; no bowler got to bowl at any one batsman for any length of time.
What lit the night skies was Strauss - a picture of class, concentration, determination and incandescent skill. "Captain's knock" is a phrase used for every scratchy 50 a skipper scores, but this one had "leader" engraved on every silken stroke.
If Strauss made one error, it was in how late he left taking the batting power play. The Indian attack was really under the pump; every single bowler was going for over 6 rpo. The part-timers had been decimated, and Dhoni, in one desperate gamble, was saving a few overs of his leading bowlers for the death.
Had Strauss taken the PP in the 30-40 over space, he would have forced Dhoni's hand - but as it turned out, Strauss opted for the Power Play in the 43rd over - and, in inexplicable fashion, a ploy meant to accelerate the run rate ended up torpedoing the team's smooth progress.
Zaheer was called on to bowl the first PP over. Off his fourth ball, Bell attempted a heave as insane as his batting till then had been sensible, and skied an eacy catch to mid off where Kohli made no mistake. Off the very next ball Strauss, who had crossed over before the catch was completed, got a yorker that has to be among the best of its kind ever - Zaheer stepped up the pace; the ball curved through the air and crashed into the batsman's toe in front of middle - and a game that seemed headed in one direction did an abrupt about face.
Some teams are so habituated to losing, that they never believe they can win, even when they are clearly doing just that. England is one such - they never seem to have about them the confidence that they can nail down even the easiest tasks, and that failing now surfaced as the side imploded.
In his next over, Zaheer saw Collingwood looking to chip down the track to him, and produced a superbly disguised slower ball that beat the shot and pegged back the stumps. From 280/2 in 42, England had suddenly slumped to 285/5 in 44.4. Worse followed. Matt Prior succumbed to the prevailing air of madness, and aimed an almighty heave at Harbhajan Singh that merely got an edge for Raina at midwicket to grab with ease.
The Power Plays produced 25 runs and four wickets; the ask became 34 runs off the last three overs - and the odds had clearly flowed to the bowling side.
Insanity is contagious. Michael Yardy looked around the field, went across his stumps, and paddled a Munaf delivery straight to Sehwag, the short fine leg placed just for that shot and the man he had checked out before facing that ball.
Tim Bresnan, who saw all his hard work with the ball going to nought, briefly raised hopes that he would do with the bat what he had done with the ball, and in the penultimate over smacked Piyush Chawla for two sixes over midwicket. Chawla, who had briefly experimented with the round the wicket option, realized he was giving Bresnan the angle to hit, went back over the wicket, cut out the frills, and bowled straight and quick. Bresnan flailed, and the ball went scudding through to hit the stumps.
That reduced England to 325/8, needing 14 off the last 6 balls with Munaf to bowl - the best option India could have used anyway, since his forte is bowling straight, wicket to wicket, with few if any frills.
Shehzad produced yet another twist. Winding up, he swung clean through the anticipated line, and smacked Munaf over the long on boundary for another six. A scrambled single off the next ball made the ask four off two. Another mow, two to the midwicket region, and it was 2 needed off one, with Swann on strike.
Perhaps the way the game ended was true cricketing justice. Swann drove, extra cover dived and intercepted, the batsman crossed for the single, and the score stood tied.
676 runs had been scored in 99.5 overs. And at the end of it, neither team had won. A superb innings had lit up each innings; a superb spell of late overs bowling had swung the game around on its axis. Perhaps in the final analysis there was nothing really separating the efforts of the two teams - both had equally scintillating moments and, in patches, played equally badly.
One final thought: Off the 5th ball of the 50th over of the Indian innings, Zaheer and Munaf took one, then crossed for the second - but Zaheer never managed to make his ground, getting run out to end the Indian innings. To add to his chagrin, he saw the umpire signal one-short - Munaf had failed to ground his bat. Thus, two men ran twice the length of the pitch, and failed to score a single run. One run more in the Indian total, and... Just one of those ifs and buts that make this game so fascinating.
That needs qualification. England's attack was definitely weakened by the absence through illness of Stuart Broad, and by the fact that James Anderson, the de facto leader of the lineup, is rendered totally innocuous in sub-continental conditions, while their game-breaker Graeme Swann holds little terror for Indian batsmen reared on spin, on a track devoid of significant turn.
India's bowling is just plan weak, period. Especially on a good batting track. Consider the options: Zaheer, whose best deliveries are negated in conditions that are not helpful; Munaf, a first change bowler pitchforked into the opening slot to fit in with "game plans"; an off spinner whose role - defined by the management, or selected by himself, is unclear - is to contain; a leg spinner who hasn't had the good fortune to make the squad in the year and more leading up to the World Cup; and a couple of part timers whose USP is to keep the ball slow and hope for the best.
Given that, it was a straight up hitting contest against bowling machines - which side can hit harder, oftener?
As it turned out, the two teams together scored 676 runs in 99.5 overs. And at the end of it all, the result was a tie.
If India's first outing, in the lung-opener against Bangladesh, was about unbridled aggression, its first home game, against England today at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, was a smooth cruise, punctuated by sharp bursts of calculated aggression.
For instance, the span between overs 11-15 produced 26 runs; overs 16-20 produced 27; overs 21-25 produced 29 - and then, with game-breaking suddenness came the assault between overs 26-30, when 41 runs were thrashed in stunning fashion to not just rocket the run rate up, but make mincemeat of England skipper Andrew Strauss's plans.
The architect of the edifice of runs India constructed was Sachin Tendulkar. His start was slow - at times, seeming dangerously slow. When the bowling power play ended with India on 84/1, Sachin's contribution was 24 off 43 balls, including a maiden played out to England's best bowler on the day, Tim Bresnan.
He continued in that vein till the half way stage of the innings, playing well within himself and combining with Gautam Gambhir to move the score along at a steady 5.6 or thereabouts. Outside of Gambhir's calculated forays down the track to Bresnan and Swann, the only signs of overt violence during this period, after the departure of Sehwag on the back of an edgy 35 off 26, was when Tendulkar decided that Paul Collingwood could not be allowed to settle down into the 5th bowler duties Strauss had whistled him up for.
The idea was for Collingwood to produce a few overs of very straight wicket to wicket stuff; had he been allowed to do that, pressure would have been off the lead bowlers, who would have had the space to regroup.
Displaying the shrewdness of one who has been there, seen it all many times over, Tendulkar pounced. A dead straight ball in the 18th over, Collingwood's first, was hit dead straighter, back over the bowler's head for six. In the 22nd, he demonstrated another way of dealing with the Collingwood class of bowler: a little skip to set it up, a shuffle to clear his front leg out of the way of the clean swing of the bat, and a satisfied glance at the trajectory of the ball as it soared high into the stands at midwicket. (The shot brought up his 50 - 66 balls, three 4s, two 6s).
If this phase was the set up, the next was the execution. The next 49 deliveries he faced produced 68 runs, spiked with seven fours and three more sixes. What was noticeable about this acceleration was that it looked unhurried, almost inevitable. And it's centerpiece was a calculated assault, first on Swann, then on Anderson, in the period between the 36th and 40th overs.
Just prior to this phase, Sachin called for a change of bats. Till then, he had been batting with the lightest bat in his arsenal; at this point, he moved to the heaviest, the one that would give him best bang for the buck.
Swann was looking to tie the batsman down on an off stump line; Sachin greeted him in the 27th over with a minute adjustment of the feet that gave him the room to scythe the ball high over long on. Next ball, the bowler sought to adjust by changing the line to off and middle; Sachin stayed back and launched a slog sweep to put the ball into the stands over midwicket. In the 29th over, it was the hapless Anderson's turn - first, a vintage Sachin cover drive, characterized by that smooth glide into line and the checked punch, a seemingly defensive shot that, when he plays it, sends the ball screaming to the fence. Like Swann, Anderson sought to adjust, and moved the next ball a bit wider in line; Tendulkar again seemed to read the bowler's mind, stayed back, and cut with crisp power to the point fence.
The knock - his 47th in ODIs, the fifth and perhaps most calculated on a World Cup stage - was the pivot around which India fashioned its second successive 300+ score. Sehwag was all edges in the first Anderson over, teasing the field with three straight chances in six deliveries. Ironically, just when he seemed to be settling down, an attempt to get cute through the vacant slip region saw Matt Prior take him out with great anticipation and considerable agility.
Gambhir continued his journey to mid-season form with a 50 that mixed careful accumulation with sudden forays down the wicket against pace and spin alike (with Tendulkar, Gambhir was responsible for reducing Swann, touted before the game as England's game changer, to impotence). Yuvraj, promoted to number four ahead of the in-form Kohli, was low in form, timing, and foot speed between wickets for the major part of his knock before redeeming himself with a few trademark mows to the midwicket-wide mid on region that produced a useful 58 (50 balls, 9 fours).
At 327/5 after 47, India seemed set for 350 plus - but that is not to make allowance for the team's penchant for suffering a mind melt at the worse possible moment. In a performance that was cataclysmically comic - and with help from a superb spell of death bowling from Bresnan who, in the face of the general carnage, reaped a five-for through the virtues of keeping it simple and adhering to good lines and lengths - India lost Pathan, Kohli, Harbhajan, Zaheer and Piyush in the space of 11 balls and as many runs, to end up on 338 - a good 30, 40 runs less than Sachin Tendulkar had the right to expect of his mates after he had set it up in company of Gambhir.
The question was, on a track that provided full value for batsmen who knew how to play shots, would it be enough to seal the deal?
Perhaps there is something to "momentum" after all. India dominated for 48 overs out of 50, and England looked down and almost out. Then came the mind-melt - and whatever attack of nerves caused it, the Indians seemed to carry it out onto the field.
Andrew Strauss had just gotten into his teens when he flayed at a Zaheer delivery outside off and got an edge everyone heard - except bowler and keeper, neither of whom bothered to appeal. (A little later, Strauss got into a tangle against Chawla and got the ball on his back pad in front of off stump - incredibly, all that elicited was a stifled appeal for caught behind; even there, the bowler did not go up at all).
That said, Strauss and Petersen set it up superbly. Realizing early on that there was nothing in the wicket to aid Zaheer and Munaf, realizing too that without external help both were at best medium pacers who would come straight on to the bat, the two openers set about taking the attack apart. Petersen was all size and arrogance and muscle, walking down the track with contempt oozing in every stride, and hitting as he willed; Strauss was the skillful surgeon, using the width and depth of the crease to perfection to put the ball through the gaps.
What was remarkable about the opening was the calm assurance they showed. 338, even on a patented featherbed, is never easy to hunt down batting under lights. Doubly so for a team with a record as dismal as England's on Indian soil. Even more so when the team is coming off a 6-1 hammering in this form of the game. And yet, there was never a sign of pressure, of stress - if anything, it was the fielding side that seemed unsure of itself and its ability to defend the total.
There was only one way a wicket was going to come - accidentally. Munaf to Petersen, good length, on off, and the batsman smashed it back down the track. Munaf's reaction was purely in the interests of self-preservation; he threw his hands up in front of his face. The ball slammed into the heel of his hand, and popped gently up in front of him as he fell on his bottom; a bemused Munaf gently reached out and grabbed it like a child plucking fruit, to end a knock that threatened had threatened to decimate the target.
The highly rated Jonathan Trott looked a bit out of sorts against Piyush Chawla's spin, finding it particularly difficult to pick the googlies. Sure enough, one such got him in such a tangle that he ended up squared up in front of the middle stump as ball met pad.
The very next ball almost did for Ian Bell, but he survived a close brush with the LBW rule - and from that point on, India was never in the game. Bell and Strauss silenced the raucous crowd with a masterclass in how to mount a chase.
Against the leaden-footed Indian fielding, they worked the ball around relentlessly, running the fielders ragged and the bowlers to distraction; with monumental patience they waited for the pressure to mount on the bowlers and, every time one of them erred, they pounced with unerring instinct, smashing the ball to the fence.
More than anything else, what they did was ensure that there was never a lull in the scoring for "consolidation" or whatever reason, never a point when the pressure was relieved because the batsmen were "biding their time". No bowler was allowed the luxury of a maiden over; no bowler got to bowl at any one batsman for any length of time.
What lit the night skies was Strauss - a picture of class, concentration, determination and incandescent skill. "Captain's knock" is a phrase used for every scratchy 50 a skipper scores, but this one had "leader" engraved on every silken stroke.
If Strauss made one error, it was in how late he left taking the batting power play. The Indian attack was really under the pump; every single bowler was going for over 6 rpo. The part-timers had been decimated, and Dhoni, in one desperate gamble, was saving a few overs of his leading bowlers for the death.
Had Strauss taken the PP in the 30-40 over space, he would have forced Dhoni's hand - but as it turned out, Strauss opted for the Power Play in the 43rd over - and, in inexplicable fashion, a ploy meant to accelerate the run rate ended up torpedoing the team's smooth progress.
Zaheer was called on to bowl the first PP over. Off his fourth ball, Bell attempted a heave as insane as his batting till then had been sensible, and skied an eacy catch to mid off where Kohli made no mistake. Off the very next ball Strauss, who had crossed over before the catch was completed, got a yorker that has to be among the best of its kind ever - Zaheer stepped up the pace; the ball curved through the air and crashed into the batsman's toe in front of middle - and a game that seemed headed in one direction did an abrupt about face.
Some teams are so habituated to losing, that they never believe they can win, even when they are clearly doing just that. England is one such - they never seem to have about them the confidence that they can nail down even the easiest tasks, and that failing now surfaced as the side imploded.
In his next over, Zaheer saw Collingwood looking to chip down the track to him, and produced a superbly disguised slower ball that beat the shot and pegged back the stumps. From 280/2 in 42, England had suddenly slumped to 285/5 in 44.4. Worse followed. Matt Prior succumbed to the prevailing air of madness, and aimed an almighty heave at Harbhajan Singh that merely got an edge for Raina at midwicket to grab with ease.
The Power Plays produced 25 runs and four wickets; the ask became 34 runs off the last three overs - and the odds had clearly flowed to the bowling side.
Insanity is contagious. Michael Yardy looked around the field, went across his stumps, and paddled a Munaf delivery straight to Sehwag, the short fine leg placed just for that shot and the man he had checked out before facing that ball.
Tim Bresnan, who saw all his hard work with the ball going to nought, briefly raised hopes that he would do with the bat what he had done with the ball, and in the penultimate over smacked Piyush Chawla for two sixes over midwicket. Chawla, who had briefly experimented with the round the wicket option, realized he was giving Bresnan the angle to hit, went back over the wicket, cut out the frills, and bowled straight and quick. Bresnan flailed, and the ball went scudding through to hit the stumps.
That reduced England to 325/8, needing 14 off the last 6 balls with Munaf to bowl - the best option India could have used anyway, since his forte is bowling straight, wicket to wicket, with few if any frills.
Shehzad produced yet another twist. Winding up, he swung clean through the anticipated line, and smacked Munaf over the long on boundary for another six. A scrambled single off the next ball made the ask four off two. Another mow, two to the midwicket region, and it was 2 needed off one, with Swann on strike.
Perhaps the way the game ended was true cricketing justice. Swann drove, extra cover dived and intercepted, the batsman crossed for the single, and the score stood tied.
676 runs had been scored in 99.5 overs. And at the end of it, neither team had won. A superb innings had lit up each innings; a superb spell of late overs bowling had swung the game around on its axis. Perhaps in the final analysis there was nothing really separating the efforts of the two teams - both had equally scintillating moments and, in patches, played equally badly.
One final thought: Off the 5th ball of the 50th over of the Indian innings, Zaheer and Munaf took one, then crossed for the second - but Zaheer never managed to make his ground, getting run out to end the Indian innings. To add to his chagrin, he saw the umpire signal one-short - Munaf had failed to ground his bat. Thus, two men ran twice the length of the pitch, and failed to score a single run. One run more in the Indian total, and... Just one of those ifs and buts that make this game so fascinating.
Expect pace, bounce from Mohali track: Curator
A bouncy track awaits the Netherlands and South African teams at the Punjab cricket Association stadium, which is set to host its first match of the World Cup on Thursday.
PCA curator Daljeet Singh on Sunday said that the wicket will offer good bounce, though it is being ensured that the bowlers are not able to get too much movement.
"It's important to keep grass on the wicket. There will be good pace and bounce, though our effort remains not to have too much movement. The grass will be brownish while the outfied will be fast," Singh said.
He, however, said that with cold weather conditions persisting in Punjab, which has been lashed by rains during this week, there would be some movement early on, with the match being a day game.
"The weather forecast shows signs of rain on March 3 and 4. We are keeping our fingers crossed. Due to bad weather earlier, we had started working on the track much early, so that the wicket gets hard before the tie, keeping room for possibility of spell of rains in between and the fact that we may have to cover the wicket," he said.
During the past few days, the upper hills of neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir have received fresh spell of snowfall while the plains were lashed by rains. The maximum and minimum temperature at Mohali and adjoining Chandigarh during the past few days has been hovering around 20 degrees Celsius and 10 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Singh said that for the first league match at PCA grounds on March 3, the track used will be the one on which last Test match between India and Australia was played.
For the next league match on March 11 featuring Ireland and West Indies the pitch used will be the one on which Punjab and Tamil Nadu U-19 teams match was held recently.
"For the semi finals here (on March 30), we will be using either of the two tracks on which the league matches are played," he informed.
He said that the boundary length will be 75 m on square of the wicket while 73m straight on from the wicket.
"We have also further improved our indoor practice facilities," he said.
Meanwhile, PCA Joint Secretary, G S Walia said that the South African team will be arriving at Chandigarh tomorrow evening while the Dutch will arrive on Tuesday.
He said for the March 3 tie, 3200 tickets in the 28,000 capacity stadium had been sold and added sales were picking up gradually though initial response had been lukewarm.
On the great rush for tickets at some venues, Walia said that PCA had reserved 15,000-17,000 tickets for the general public including those for the semi-finals.
For the convenience of the fans coming to watch the match, for the first time routes had been printed on tickets which they are supposed to adopt to reach the stadium.
PCA curator Daljeet Singh on Sunday said that the wicket will offer good bounce, though it is being ensured that the bowlers are not able to get too much movement.
"It's important to keep grass on the wicket. There will be good pace and bounce, though our effort remains not to have too much movement. The grass will be brownish while the outfied will be fast," Singh said.
He, however, said that with cold weather conditions persisting in Punjab, which has been lashed by rains during this week, there would be some movement early on, with the match being a day game.
"The weather forecast shows signs of rain on March 3 and 4. We are keeping our fingers crossed. Due to bad weather earlier, we had started working on the track much early, so that the wicket gets hard before the tie, keeping room for possibility of spell of rains in between and the fact that we may have to cover the wicket," he said.
During the past few days, the upper hills of neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir have received fresh spell of snowfall while the plains were lashed by rains. The maximum and minimum temperature at Mohali and adjoining Chandigarh during the past few days has been hovering around 20 degrees Celsius and 10 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Singh said that for the first league match at PCA grounds on March 3, the track used will be the one on which last Test match between India and Australia was played.
For the next league match on March 11 featuring Ireland and West Indies the pitch used will be the one on which Punjab and Tamil Nadu U-19 teams match was held recently.
"For the semi finals here (on March 30), we will be using either of the two tracks on which the league matches are played," he informed.
He said that the boundary length will be 75 m on square of the wicket while 73m straight on from the wicket.
"We have also further improved our indoor practice facilities," he said.
Meanwhile, PCA Joint Secretary, G S Walia said that the South African team will be arriving at Chandigarh tomorrow evening while the Dutch will arrive on Tuesday.
He said for the March 3 tie, 3200 tickets in the 28,000 capacity stadium had been sold and added sales were picking up gradually though initial response had been lukewarm.
On the great rush for tickets at some venues, Walia said that PCA had reserved 15,000-17,000 tickets for the general public including those for the semi-finals.
For the convenience of the fans coming to watch the match, for the first time routes had been printed on tickets which they are supposed to adopt to reach the stadium.
India will be the real test for our spinners: Peterson
South African left-arm spinner Robin Peterson, who was part of the spinners trio that bamboozled the West Indies, says the biggest test of the slower bowlers will be against home team India.
South Africa played three spinners in Peterson, offie Johan Botha and Pakistan born leg-spinner Imran Tahir and the strategy worked.
"The challenge is against quality batsman, especially against the Indian batsmen who play spin the best. To come up against them and really perform, you know where you are in terms of your own level. That's a massive challenge," said Peterson.
"We have done well against India in the past and there is no reason why we can't do it again. We just got to keep things simple against them."
South Africa will take on India March 12 in Nagpur.
Asked about the roles of each spinner, Peterson said: "We all got different roles to perform. We are selected for a particular reason and gameplan," he said.
Peterson said he is surprised that South Africa did not use spiners more often in the past.
"I don't know why they did not use spinners a lot more, probably they just relied only on pacers. The mindset has changed now. Now we have three quality spinners who can perform at this level and they are confident enough."
"In the subcontinent, you have the best conditions for your bowling. It's a big challenge for spinners to bowl in South Africa. Here we can be an attacking option. All three spinners in the squad will love it."
He lavished praise on Imran, who claimed four wickets against West Indies on his ODI debut.
"Imran and I have come a long way. I played against him in under-19 cricket. Imran and I get along very well. He knows his game, I give whatever international experience I can share but he knows what he has to do. He is a class act."
South Africa's bowling coach Vincent Barnes said they will look at the conditions and decide on the three spinner option.
"It will be an option but that does not mean it would be the only option. Obviously we got to look at the conditions in the matches coming up. We have got a couple of day matches, obviously morning and freshness of wicket do come into play. We have one in Mohali."
South Africa played three spinners in Peterson, offie Johan Botha and Pakistan born leg-spinner Imran Tahir and the strategy worked.
"The challenge is against quality batsman, especially against the Indian batsmen who play spin the best. To come up against them and really perform, you know where you are in terms of your own level. That's a massive challenge," said Peterson.
"We have done well against India in the past and there is no reason why we can't do it again. We just got to keep things simple against them."
South Africa will take on India March 12 in Nagpur.
Asked about the roles of each spinner, Peterson said: "We all got different roles to perform. We are selected for a particular reason and gameplan," he said.
Peterson said he is surprised that South Africa did not use spiners more often in the past.
"I don't know why they did not use spinners a lot more, probably they just relied only on pacers. The mindset has changed now. Now we have three quality spinners who can perform at this level and they are confident enough."
"In the subcontinent, you have the best conditions for your bowling. It's a big challenge for spinners to bowl in South Africa. Here we can be an attacking option. All three spinners in the squad will love it."
He lavished praise on Imran, who claimed four wickets against West Indies on his ODI debut.
"Imran and I have come a long way. I played against him in under-19 cricket. Imran and I get along very well. He knows his game, I give whatever international experience I can share but he knows what he has to do. He is a class act."
South Africa's bowling coach Vincent Barnes said they will look at the conditions and decide on the three spinner option.
"It will be an option but that does not mean it would be the only option. Obviously we got to look at the conditions in the matches coming up. We have got a couple of day matches, obviously morning and freshness of wicket do come into play. We have one in Mohali."
We're learning to love spin, say South Africa
South Africa may boast deadly fast bowlers Dayle Steyn and Morne Morkel, but the speed-loving Proteas are falling in love with spin.
Slow bowlers Imran Tahir and Johan Botha claimed six West Indies wickets between them in their opening World Cup win on Thursday, with Botha even being tossed the new ball.
Fellow spinner Robin Peterson, who went wicketless in that game, believes that South Africa now fully appreciate the significance of the slow men in the pursuit of a first World Cup.
The 31-year-old Peterson told the Press Trust of India South Africa had previously relied on pace. "The mindset has changed now. All the guys are excited about it and there are spinners at home who can do a job. Now we have three quality spinners who can perform at this level and they are confident enough to play at this level."
"Obviously when you come to the subcontinent, the captain looks at you to be the attacking option. But we have got three spinners now. In the past we only had one. Now they can use the spinners in short bursts, more attackingly."
Peterson admitted that it was a challenge to bowl against quality batsmen on subcontinental tracks. "I wish I was born in India. It's a dream to play in India. In the subcontinent, you have the best conditions for your bowling. All three spinners in the squad will love it."
Despite Peterson's enthusiasm, bowling coach Vincent Barnes said that his side would not use the same strategy all the time at the World Cup and that the bowling combinations would depend on playing conditions.
"We have got to look at the conditions coming up. We have got a couple of day matches, obviously morning and freshness of wicket do come into play," he said, ahead of the next game against the Netherlands in Mohali on Thursday.
Tahir, JP Duminy and Steyn all missed training on Sunday, but their absences were shrugged off by team management. "Imran has an upper respiratory tract infection and rested as a precaution," team manager Mohammed Moosajee said.
"JP developed lower back stiffness after the last game and was also rested. Dale bruised his right side after a collision during today's warm-ups and was removed from the rest of the practice by the physiotherapist Brandon Jackson to undergo treatment."
Leg-spinner Tahir took 4 for 41 in the win over the West Indies and will have another key role in the game against the Netherlands. Barnes said: "I hadn't seen a lot of him before but I got to spend time with him during the India series and he has been unbelievable in the set-up."
Slow bowlers Imran Tahir and Johan Botha claimed six West Indies wickets between them in their opening World Cup win on Thursday, with Botha even being tossed the new ball.
Fellow spinner Robin Peterson, who went wicketless in that game, believes that South Africa now fully appreciate the significance of the slow men in the pursuit of a first World Cup.
The 31-year-old Peterson told the Press Trust of India South Africa had previously relied on pace. "The mindset has changed now. All the guys are excited about it and there are spinners at home who can do a job. Now we have three quality spinners who can perform at this level and they are confident enough to play at this level."
"Obviously when you come to the subcontinent, the captain looks at you to be the attacking option. But we have got three spinners now. In the past we only had one. Now they can use the spinners in short bursts, more attackingly."
Peterson admitted that it was a challenge to bowl against quality batsmen on subcontinental tracks. "I wish I was born in India. It's a dream to play in India. In the subcontinent, you have the best conditions for your bowling. All three spinners in the squad will love it."
Despite Peterson's enthusiasm, bowling coach Vincent Barnes said that his side would not use the same strategy all the time at the World Cup and that the bowling combinations would depend on playing conditions.
"We have got to look at the conditions coming up. We have got a couple of day matches, obviously morning and freshness of wicket do come into play," he said, ahead of the next game against the Netherlands in Mohali on Thursday.
Tahir, JP Duminy and Steyn all missed training on Sunday, but their absences were shrugged off by team management. "Imran has an upper respiratory tract infection and rested as a precaution," team manager Mohammed Moosajee said.
"JP developed lower back stiffness after the last game and was also rested. Dale bruised his right side after a collision during today's warm-ups and was removed from the rest of the practice by the physiotherapist Brandon Jackson to undergo treatment."
Leg-spinner Tahir took 4 for 41 in the win over the West Indies and will have another key role in the game against the Netherlands. Barnes said: "I hadn't seen a lot of him before but I got to spend time with him during the India series and he has been unbelievable in the set-up."
South African trio miss training
South African trio Imran Tahir, JP Duminy and Dale Steyn all missed training on Sunday, but their absences were shrugged off by team management.
"Imran has an upper respiratory tract infection and rested as a precaution," team manager Mohammed Moosajee told cricinfo.
"JP developed lower back stiffness after the last game and was also rested. Dale bruised his right side after a collision during today's warm-ups and was removed from the rest of the practice by the physiotherapist Brandon Jackson to undergo treatment. They will all be monitored going into Mohali."
Leg-spinner Tahir took 4 for 41 in South Africa's opening win over the West Indies and will have another key role in the game against the Netherlands in Mohali on Thursday.
South Africa's assistant coach, Vincent Barnes, said: "I hadn't seen a lot of him before but I got to spend time with him during the India series and he has been unbelievable in the set-up."
"Imran has an upper respiratory tract infection and rested as a precaution," team manager Mohammed Moosajee told cricinfo.
"JP developed lower back stiffness after the last game and was also rested. Dale bruised his right side after a collision during today's warm-ups and was removed from the rest of the practice by the physiotherapist Brandon Jackson to undergo treatment. They will all be monitored going into Mohali."
Leg-spinner Tahir took 4 for 41 in South Africa's opening win over the West Indies and will have another key role in the game against the Netherlands in Mohali on Thursday.
South Africa's assistant coach, Vincent Barnes, said: "I hadn't seen a lot of him before but I got to spend time with him during the India series and he has been unbelievable in the set-up."
Aussies line up Bangladesh ODIs week after World Cup
Australia will visit Bangladesh in April shortly after the World Cup for three one-day internationals, the Bangladesh Cricket Board said on Sunday.
The Australians will arrive in Dhaka on April 4, two days after the World Cup final in Mumbai.
After a warm-up match in Fatullah, the first ODI will be held at Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on April 9.
The other two ODIs will also be held at the same ground on April 11 and 13. The third ODI will be a day-night game.
Australia were also scheduled to play two tests in the tour, but they were postponed at the request of Cricket Australia, said the BCB officials.
The Australians will arrive in Dhaka on April 4, two days after the World Cup final in Mumbai.
After a warm-up match in Fatullah, the first ODI will be held at Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on April 9.
The other two ODIs will also be held at the same ground on April 11 and 13. The third ODI will be a day-night game.
Australia were also scheduled to play two tests in the tour, but they were postponed at the request of Cricket Australia, said the BCB officials.
We need ICC help to rescue our game: Cricket Kenya
Kenya's dismal performance in the World Cup is down to deep-seated funding and development problems which cricket's governing body needs to help address urgently, Cricket Kenya chief Tom Sears said on Sunday.
He recommends the formation of a regional league to develop the game in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania but Sears said that massive defeats already in the Cup by New Zealand and Pakistan show it will need more than that to bring up the standard.
Kenya badly need the International Cricket Council (ICC) to step in, according to Sears.
"People must know why we are where we are. The performance at the World Cup was a result of not investing in grassroot cricket and a strong domestic league," he told Reuters.
"The gap is obviously growing wider because countries like Kenya don't get enough exposure at the top level. They don't play full members as often as they should to help bridge the gap."
"You don't expect to emerge from the Nairobi League, which is the highest level here, to start winning matches at the World Cup."
Sears said it is from this background that Kenya were able to lose by such huge margins against New Zealand and Pakistan, 10 wickets and 205 runs respectively, in the World Cup in the last week.
"Associates like Kenya need help from ICC to raise the standards of cricket," said the former Derbyshire chief executive who was also former head of business development for the New Zealand Cricket Board. "Funding is equally important. Kenya depends solely on the ICC grant of $1.5 million a year for all its programmes, which is less than, for instance, what England Cricket Board gives one county."
"Other associate members receive up to $1 million from their governments and here we don't receive any funding from the government," he said after returning home from India.
The ICC has announced that most non-test playing associate members like Kenya will probably miss out for the next World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2015 when 10 instead of 14 teams will participate.
He recommends the formation of a regional league to develop the game in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania but Sears said that massive defeats already in the Cup by New Zealand and Pakistan show it will need more than that to bring up the standard.
Kenya badly need the International Cricket Council (ICC) to step in, according to Sears.
"People must know why we are where we are. The performance at the World Cup was a result of not investing in grassroot cricket and a strong domestic league," he told Reuters.
"The gap is obviously growing wider because countries like Kenya don't get enough exposure at the top level. They don't play full members as often as they should to help bridge the gap."
"You don't expect to emerge from the Nairobi League, which is the highest level here, to start winning matches at the World Cup."
Sears said it is from this background that Kenya were able to lose by such huge margins against New Zealand and Pakistan, 10 wickets and 205 runs respectively, in the World Cup in the last week.
"Associates like Kenya need help from ICC to raise the standards of cricket," said the former Derbyshire chief executive who was also former head of business development for the New Zealand Cricket Board. "Funding is equally important. Kenya depends solely on the ICC grant of $1.5 million a year for all its programmes, which is less than, for instance, what England Cricket Board gives one county."
"Other associate members receive up to $1 million from their governments and here we don't receive any funding from the government," he said after returning home from India.
The ICC has announced that most non-test playing associate members like Kenya will probably miss out for the next World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2015 when 10 instead of 14 teams will participate.
Room to Read to benefit from special fundraising efforts at India-England clash
Reliance Life Insurance have provided an extra incentive for India and England's batters to score runs on Sunday at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Group B match by pledging money to Room to Read for every four and six hit during the game.
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It will donate Rs. 10,000 for every four scored to Room to Read, one of the ICC's charitable partners for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, which is an organization that promotes literacy and access to books. This pledge is in addition to its existing commitment of donating Rs. 25,000 for every six hit during the course of the tournament.
With an average of almost 36 fours and over four sixes hit in each match during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 so far, and with an average first innings score of 264 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in ODI cricket, it means that Room to Read could be set to receive almost Rs 500,000 from the India-England match alone. This would mean 600 underserved children could benefit from fully functional libraries with books and trained teachers.
Reliance Life Insurance has already donated over Rs. 1 million to Room to Read during the course of the tournament as part of the 'Boundaries for Books' campaign, with 43 sixes hit during the event so far.
Players from both teams met students who benefit from Room to Read's work on Friday, in the build-up to Sunday's match, with Virat Kohli spending almost an hour with four scholars, from Delhi, to learn about how Room to Read provides educational opportunities for young people.
Tsotsobe likely to return against the Netherlands
South Africa might rest one of their three frontline spinners and draft in pace bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe for Thursday's match against the Netherlands in Mohali, bowling coach Vincent Barnes hinted on Sunday.
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A three-pronged spin attack did the trick against West Indies on Thursday but the team are keen to try out other options for the day match in Mohali, which traditionally offers more bounce than most Indian tracks, Barnes said.
"Obviously we got to look at the conditions in the matches coming up. Morning (conditions) and freshness of wicket do come into play," Barnes told reporters after the team's practice session at Services Cricket Ground.
"Going forward, obviously it (three spinners) will be an option but that does not mean it would be the only option."
"You got to consider that Mohali has a little more bounce."
Asked which spinner would warm the bench in that case, Barnes said, "I can't say that... it's about getting the best of type for the conditions and look at the balance of the side."
Left-arm pacer Tsosobe would be the obvious beneficiary if his team opts not to field three spinners again.
"He is a very skilful bowler, the big advantage is that he is tall and gets good bounce," Barnes said of the towering paceman who turns 27 on March 7.
"He is one of our best bowlers in the past six months. It's just a pity that we had to keep somebody out and play three spinners."
Many believe Peterson might have to pave way for Tsotsobe but the left-arm spinner has strong objections to being called the third spinner in the side.
"I don't think we have spinner number one, two or three. We all got different roles to perform," said Peterson, who hopped into a tuk-tuk to visit the tomb of Mughal emperor Humayun on Saturday while most of his team mates went to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.
Batting order will be shuffled: Sammy
West Indies skipper Darren Sammy says the batting order will be shuffled and the team will adopt a different mindset and attitude against the Netherlands for their World Cup clash on Monday.
Bringing big-hitting Kieron Pollard up the order is one of the changes the West Indies can make following all-rounder Dwayne Bravo's absence due to injury.
Sammy said Dwayne's exit has prompted them to revise their team composition, especially their batting order.
"In absence of Bravo, we have to rethink the composition of our team. I am confident of their abilities. We are looking at changing the batting order. Each player will have to play to their full potential. As a captain I, also, have to put my hand up."
"We might bring him (Pollard) up the order. He has done very well in India. We have to utilise him. He brings with him the experience of playing in the conditions because of IPL," Sammy said on Sunday on the eve of the match here.
The West Indies lost their opening match against South Africa by seven wickets on Thursday but Sammy chose not to mull on it, saying they will try to put up a better performance and bring cheer to their fans back home.
"We know what to expect. We are much better prepared. Guys did their best against South Africa. We have been working hard and will try and put better batting and bowling display. We will come with a different mindset and attitude and win it for the fans back home. It's a must win match for us," Sammy said.
The absence of their key player Dwayne Bravo, who has been ruled of the tournament due to a knee injury, will be felt. Sammy said the all-rounder's sheer presence was a motivation for the team.
To have Bravo in the side is an inspiration even if he is injured. He is a great motivation."
The Netherlands gave a fright to England in their opening game but Sammy is not too ruffled.
"We saw them bowl (The Netherlands) against England. We know what to do. We have to go out there and express ourselves and execute our plans properly," he said.
Bringing big-hitting Kieron Pollard up the order is one of the changes the West Indies can make following all-rounder Dwayne Bravo's absence due to injury.
Sammy said Dwayne's exit has prompted them to revise their team composition, especially their batting order.
"In absence of Bravo, we have to rethink the composition of our team. I am confident of their abilities. We are looking at changing the batting order. Each player will have to play to their full potential. As a captain I, also, have to put my hand up."
"We might bring him (Pollard) up the order. He has done very well in India. We have to utilise him. He brings with him the experience of playing in the conditions because of IPL," Sammy said on Sunday on the eve of the match here.
The West Indies lost their opening match against South Africa by seven wickets on Thursday but Sammy chose not to mull on it, saying they will try to put up a better performance and bring cheer to their fans back home.
"We know what to expect. We are much better prepared. Guys did their best against South Africa. We have been working hard and will try and put better batting and bowling display. We will come with a different mindset and attitude and win it for the fans back home. It's a must win match for us," Sammy said.
The absence of their key player Dwayne Bravo, who has been ruled of the tournament due to a knee injury, will be felt. Sammy said the all-rounder's sheer presence was a motivation for the team.
To have Bravo in the side is an inspiration even if he is injured. He is a great motivation."
The Netherlands gave a fright to England in their opening game but Sammy is not too ruffled.
"We saw them bowl (The Netherlands) against England. We know what to do. We have to go out there and express ourselves and execute our plans properly," he said.
We have real chance against West Indies: Borren
Dutch captain Peter Borren says the team was looking to have a crack at the depleted West Indies in their second World Cup game here on Monday.
Borren, while taking into account his side's impressive show against England and the West Indies' lacklustre seven-wicket defeat against the South Africans on Thursday, said a famous World Cup win is a certain possibility.
"We look at the West Indies side and the way they played against South Africa, we can't wait to get out there and perform," said Borren at the pre-match press conference at Kotla.
The team's cause will be helped by Dwayne Bravo's absence. The West Indies all-rounder was injured while bowling in the South Africa game and has been ruled out of the tournament.
"He is a big loss to the West Indies. He is also the vice captain. But they still remain a good side with overall options. We need to be wary of them," he said.
The Dutch have been based at the venue for the last two days and Borren expressed satisfaction with the preparations.
"We have been practising here for the last two days and getting used to the conditions. The team has focussed a lot on fielding. Most of us have been here quite a few times before. The majority of the squad has been in Delhi four to five times. That should help."
The Kotla pitch, which was under the scanner after coming out of a suspension, eased a quite a few nerves by playing true during the the South Africa-West Indies match Friday.
Borren hoped the pitch will play in a similar manner while saying that a dew will continue to play a crucial role.
"The pitch looks different from Nagpur and though we have not played on the wicket yet, we have not come here completely blind."
"The dew was not a factor in our last match but it is a certainty here. There was a lot of dew around last night when we were practising. We will have to take that into consideration if we win the toss."
The International Cricket Council's decision of cutting the team size to 10 in the 2015 World Cup have received a lot of flak from the associate nations. Borren is unfazed and sees the current edition as a chance to shine in international cricket.
"We have got a few more games left and I see it as a chance for us to shine at this level may be for the last time. We had a good start against England and now we will try to win some games and qualify for the second round."
Borren asserted the game back home will not suffer after the ICC's move.
"It will have no real effect on whether or not we are trying to raise the level of cricket in Holland. The last few years ICC has been funding the associate cricket for a while. We will continue to strive to professionalise the sport."
Borren, while taking into account his side's impressive show against England and the West Indies' lacklustre seven-wicket defeat against the South Africans on Thursday, said a famous World Cup win is a certain possibility.
"We look at the West Indies side and the way they played against South Africa, we can't wait to get out there and perform," said Borren at the pre-match press conference at Kotla.
The team's cause will be helped by Dwayne Bravo's absence. The West Indies all-rounder was injured while bowling in the South Africa game and has been ruled out of the tournament.
"He is a big loss to the West Indies. He is also the vice captain. But they still remain a good side with overall options. We need to be wary of them," he said.
The Dutch have been based at the venue for the last two days and Borren expressed satisfaction with the preparations.
"We have been practising here for the last two days and getting used to the conditions. The team has focussed a lot on fielding. Most of us have been here quite a few times before. The majority of the squad has been in Delhi four to five times. That should help."
The Kotla pitch, which was under the scanner after coming out of a suspension, eased a quite a few nerves by playing true during the the South Africa-West Indies match Friday.
Borren hoped the pitch will play in a similar manner while saying that a dew will continue to play a crucial role.
"The pitch looks different from Nagpur and though we have not played on the wicket yet, we have not come here completely blind."
"The dew was not a factor in our last match but it is a certainty here. There was a lot of dew around last night when we were practising. We will have to take that into consideration if we win the toss."
The International Cricket Council's decision of cutting the team size to 10 in the 2015 World Cup have received a lot of flak from the associate nations. Borren is unfazed and sees the current edition as a chance to shine in international cricket.
"We have got a few more games left and I see it as a chance for us to shine at this level may be for the last time. We had a good start against England and now we will try to win some games and qualify for the second round."
Borren asserted the game back home will not suffer after the ICC's move.
"It will have no real effect on whether or not we are trying to raise the level of cricket in Holland. The last few years ICC has been funding the associate cricket for a while. We will continue to strive to professionalise the sport."
Chigumbura and Bagai hoping for a victory
Rival captains Elton Chigumbura of Zimbabwe and Ashish Bagai of Canada spoke in the same vein about their World Cup encounter on Monday, considering it as their "best chance to win a match in this tournament."
"It's a game which we must win. We have to bat well and put them under pressure in order to win the game," Chigumbura told reporters on the eve of the match.
In the last match, the Zimbabwean spinners bowled 39 overs and the skipper feels that they will stick with their tried and tested gameplan.
"Against Australia, our spinners bowled well and restricted them to 262. Spin is our strength and we will like to stick to our strength. Against Aussies we bowled and fielded well but we couldn't finish the game. We are working on those areas and hopefully we will put up a better performance against Canada," Chigumbura added.
Having two former captains in Tatenda Taibu and Prosper Utseya in the squad also helps in devising strategies, feels Chigumbura.
"Both (Taibu and Utseya) have played a lot of international cricket. And when you have experienced guys in your set-up, it's obviously a great help," the skipper said.
The skipper also welcomed the move of having former Zimbabwean greats Heath Streak (bowling coach) and Grant Flower (coach) in the line-up.
Canada captain Bagai said, "It's a must-win game for us. The top three in the batting order need to take a lot of responsibility."
Canada's best known batsman John Davison who was there at the media conference alongside Bagai said that he has learnt to deal with expectations of big score from him everytime he goes out there to bat.
"I know people always talk about those two innings (111 vs West Indies and 75 vs New Zealand in 2003 World Cup) but personally, I have to bat after assessing the situation. That is easier said than done," said the 40-year-old who is the oldest player in the tournament.
After ICC's announcement to reduce the number of teams to 10 from the next edition, Bagai said that it will be time to take a stock of things after the tournament and a call on his future in international cricket.
"I have a central contract. Once the World Cup gets over, for me and the other guys, it will be a process of evaluating the situation and see what Cricket Canada has in store for us. We will take a call accordingly," he said.
"It's a game which we must win. We have to bat well and put them under pressure in order to win the game," Chigumbura told reporters on the eve of the match.
In the last match, the Zimbabwean spinners bowled 39 overs and the skipper feels that they will stick with their tried and tested gameplan.
"Against Australia, our spinners bowled well and restricted them to 262. Spin is our strength and we will like to stick to our strength. Against Aussies we bowled and fielded well but we couldn't finish the game. We are working on those areas and hopefully we will put up a better performance against Canada," Chigumbura added.
Having two former captains in Tatenda Taibu and Prosper Utseya in the squad also helps in devising strategies, feels Chigumbura.
"Both (Taibu and Utseya) have played a lot of international cricket. And when you have experienced guys in your set-up, it's obviously a great help," the skipper said.
The skipper also welcomed the move of having former Zimbabwean greats Heath Streak (bowling coach) and Grant Flower (coach) in the line-up.
Canada captain Bagai said, "It's a must-win game for us. The top three in the batting order need to take a lot of responsibility."
Canada's best known batsman John Davison who was there at the media conference alongside Bagai said that he has learnt to deal with expectations of big score from him everytime he goes out there to bat.
"I know people always talk about those two innings (111 vs West Indies and 75 vs New Zealand in 2003 World Cup) but personally, I have to bat after assessing the situation. That is easier said than done," said the 40-year-old who is the oldest player in the tournament.
After ICC's announcement to reduce the number of teams to 10 from the next edition, Bagai said that it will be time to take a stock of things after the tournament and a call on his future in international cricket.
"I have a central contract. Once the World Cup gets over, for me and the other guys, it will be a process of evaluating the situation and see what Cricket Canada has in store for us. We will take a call accordingly," he said.
Dew factor to play key role in clash against WI: Borren
The Netherlands gave a mighty scare to England before losing their World Cup opening match and their captain Peter Borren said they would aim for an upset victory against an injury-ravaged West Indies in a Group B encounter here tomorrow.
"We have got potential to win matches. We had played very well against England. Last two days, we had very good training session, we had good fielding and bowling sessions. All the players are in good shape so we are looking for another good performance against the West Indies," Borren told reporters ahead of tomorrow's match. He said the Netherlands would look to emulate the feat of Ireland who reached the second round in the last edition of the World Cup in the West Indies.
"We take inspiration from Ireland. They did pretty good in the last edition of World Cup when they qualified for the second round. They also played well in the last edition of the Twenty20 World Cup. We are also pretty handy associates and we take inspiration from them."
"We have five league matches to play in this World Cup and if we win three of them, we have good chance of qualifying for the second stage. I hope that guys will chip in and play their role to the fullest," he said.
Borren said dew could play an important role tomorrow as there was moisture in the air when the Dutch players trained yesterday at Feroze Shah Kotla. "I saw the conditions at Ferozeshah Kotla last night. Dew factor is going to be there. In a day-night clash, you always think of dew. So I think that will play an important role in deciding the outcome. If we win the toss, we would like to bat first. So toss will also play an important role. Let''s see what happens tomorrow," he said.
He reiterated his stand that International Cricket Council needs to support the associate nations and should not reduce the number of teams to 10 in the next World Cup.
"ICC needs to support us. We want ourselves to play in the next edition of the World Cup. Further progress will help cricket grow in our nation," Borren said.
All-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate, who blasted a 110-ball 119 against England, said that particular knock has instilled confidence in him to take on the best in the business.
"Associate nations like us don't play Test nations very often. So competing with the big teams in World Cup is something great and good for our confidence. That particular knock against England has given me enough confidence to dish out more good knocks," Doeschate said.
The Dutchman also informed that yesterday he signed a contract with Indian Premier League contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders, which bought him for USD 150000 for the fourth edition of the Twenty20 league. "Just yesterday, I signed the contract with them. So coming three weeks in the World Cup are very important for me to play well and score. Right now, World Cup is on my mind and after that I will think of the IPL," Doeschate said.
"We have got potential to win matches. We had played very well against England. Last two days, we had very good training session, we had good fielding and bowling sessions. All the players are in good shape so we are looking for another good performance against the West Indies," Borren told reporters ahead of tomorrow's match. He said the Netherlands would look to emulate the feat of Ireland who reached the second round in the last edition of the World Cup in the West Indies.
"We take inspiration from Ireland. They did pretty good in the last edition of World Cup when they qualified for the second round. They also played well in the last edition of the Twenty20 World Cup. We are also pretty handy associates and we take inspiration from them."
"We have five league matches to play in this World Cup and if we win three of them, we have good chance of qualifying for the second stage. I hope that guys will chip in and play their role to the fullest," he said.
Borren said dew could play an important role tomorrow as there was moisture in the air when the Dutch players trained yesterday at Feroze Shah Kotla. "I saw the conditions at Ferozeshah Kotla last night. Dew factor is going to be there. In a day-night clash, you always think of dew. So I think that will play an important role in deciding the outcome. If we win the toss, we would like to bat first. So toss will also play an important role. Let''s see what happens tomorrow," he said.
He reiterated his stand that International Cricket Council needs to support the associate nations and should not reduce the number of teams to 10 in the next World Cup.
"ICC needs to support us. We want ourselves to play in the next edition of the World Cup. Further progress will help cricket grow in our nation," Borren said.
All-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate, who blasted a 110-ball 119 against England, said that particular knock has instilled confidence in him to take on the best in the business.
"Associate nations like us don't play Test nations very often. So competing with the big teams in World Cup is something great and good for our confidence. That particular knock against England has given me enough confidence to dish out more good knocks," Doeschate said.
The Dutchman also informed that yesterday he signed a contract with Indian Premier League contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders, which bought him for USD 150000 for the fourth edition of the Twenty20 league. "Just yesterday, I signed the contract with them. So coming three weeks in the World Cup are very important for me to play well and score. Right now, World Cup is on my mind and after that I will think of the IPL," Doeschate said.
Pakistan fined for maintaining a slow over-rate against Sri Lanka
The Pakistan team was fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its 11-run win against Sri Lanka in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in Colombo on Saturday.
Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fines after Shahid Afridi's side was ruled to be one over short of its target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration.
In accordance with ICC Code of Conduct regulations governing minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.
As such, Shahid was fined 20 per cent of his match fee while his players received 10-per-cent fines.
The offence is contrary to Article 2.5.1 of the code which relates to minor over-rate offences. The penalty was accepted by Pakistan without contest so there was no need for a hearing.
The full text of the code, which was recently revamped, can be found at http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/rules_and_regulations.php.
Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fines after Shahid Afridi's side was ruled to be one over short of its target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration.
In accordance with ICC Code of Conduct regulations governing minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.
As such, Shahid was fined 20 per cent of his match fee while his players received 10-per-cent fines.
The offence is contrary to Article 2.5.1 of the code which relates to minor over-rate offences. The penalty was accepted by Pakistan without contest so there was no need for a hearing.
The full text of the code, which was recently revamped, can be found at http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/rules_and_regulations.php.
West Indies using Bravo injury as motivation
Even after he was ruled out for the rest of the World Cup by injury, Dwayne Bravo is still inspiring West Indies ahead of a crucial game against Netherlands on Monday.
West Indies captain Darren Sammy said the talented all-rounder would be hard to replace, but was now a focal point for the rest of the squad after a left knee injury in the opening defeat to South Africa ended his tournament.
"Losing a key player like Dwayne, he's been an inspiration to us on the field and even when he gets injured he becomes an inspiration to the team," Sammy said on Sunday. "We'll be using his injury as a form of motivation for us."
Following a seven-wicket loss to the Proteas, West Indies would have "a different attitude and a different mindset" against a dangerous Dutch team in the Group B match, Sammy said.
He called it a "must-win game" for West Indies, with contests against co-hosts India and Bangladesh, England and Ireland still to come.
"We know what we have to do. Everyone is responsible ... we know what we have to do and it's about our guys going out there and expressing ourselves and executing properly," Sammy said. "We must win against the Netherlands."
There were still positives for West Indies, according to the skipper, including the form of Dwayne's half brother, Darren Bravo, and the team's extra knowledge of the pitch at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.
It will be West Indies' second game of the tournament at the ground, and on a touch surface to predict, while the Dutch have traveled from Nagpur.
"Yes, we have played on the wicket. We know what to expect so definitely we are much better prepared," Sammy said. "They (Netherlands) put on a good batting display against England. We saw how England bowled against them and we know how we have to bowl against them."
To compensate for the loss of Bravo, West Indies is considering pushing big-hitting Kieron Pollard up its batting order and giving leftarm spinner Nikita Miller a start against the Dutch.
Sammy said Miller, who is also a steady batsman, had a "strong case" for inclusion.
He added West Indies needed to "maximize" the potential of explosive Indian Premier League player Pollard, who was out for a duck against the South Africans batting down at No. 8.
"It (moving Pollard up the order) is something we have looked at," Sammy said. "He has batted very well in India and he is one of our key players so obviously it is finding the right timing and place for him to go out there and be maximized to his full potential."
"He's done it in India, so he is one of the guys who brings a lot of experience in these conditions."
West Indies captain Darren Sammy said the talented all-rounder would be hard to replace, but was now a focal point for the rest of the squad after a left knee injury in the opening defeat to South Africa ended his tournament.
"Losing a key player like Dwayne, he's been an inspiration to us on the field and even when he gets injured he becomes an inspiration to the team," Sammy said on Sunday. "We'll be using his injury as a form of motivation for us."
Following a seven-wicket loss to the Proteas, West Indies would have "a different attitude and a different mindset" against a dangerous Dutch team in the Group B match, Sammy said.
He called it a "must-win game" for West Indies, with contests against co-hosts India and Bangladesh, England and Ireland still to come.
"We know what we have to do. Everyone is responsible ... we know what we have to do and it's about our guys going out there and expressing ourselves and executing properly," Sammy said. "We must win against the Netherlands."
There were still positives for West Indies, according to the skipper, including the form of Dwayne's half brother, Darren Bravo, and the team's extra knowledge of the pitch at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.
It will be West Indies' second game of the tournament at the ground, and on a touch surface to predict, while the Dutch have traveled from Nagpur.
"Yes, we have played on the wicket. We know what to expect so definitely we are much better prepared," Sammy said. "They (Netherlands) put on a good batting display against England. We saw how England bowled against them and we know how we have to bowl against them."
To compensate for the loss of Bravo, West Indies is considering pushing big-hitting Kieron Pollard up its batting order and giving leftarm spinner Nikita Miller a start against the Dutch.
Sammy said Miller, who is also a steady batsman, had a "strong case" for inclusion.
He added West Indies needed to "maximize" the potential of explosive Indian Premier League player Pollard, who was out for a duck against the South Africans batting down at No. 8.
"It (moving Pollard up the order) is something we have looked at," Sammy said. "He has batted very well in India and he is one of our key players so obviously it is finding the right timing and place for him to go out there and be maximized to his full potential."
"He's done it in India, so he is one of the guys who brings a lot of experience in these conditions."
Injuries to match-winners concern South Africa
A South Africa official says the team has illness and injury concerns with its two matchwinners following a seven-wicket win over West Indies in its opening Group B match at the World Cup.
Team manager Mohammed Moosajee says pollution in New Delhi had contributed to legspinner Imran Tahir picking up a respiratory tract infection, while batsman AB de Villiers has a sore back.
De Villiers, who hit an unbeaten century on Thursday, is battling a long-standing problem. Moosajee said "we just have to manage it regularly".
Moosajee added JP Duminy had "some lower back tightness" and fast bowler Dale Steyn had bruised his side colliding with a teammate in a football match at training.
South Africa play Netherlands on Thursday.
Team manager Mohammed Moosajee says pollution in New Delhi had contributed to legspinner Imran Tahir picking up a respiratory tract infection, while batsman AB de Villiers has a sore back.
De Villiers, who hit an unbeaten century on Thursday, is battling a long-standing problem. Moosajee said "we just have to manage it regularly".
Moosajee added JP Duminy had "some lower back tightness" and fast bowler Dale Steyn had bruised his side colliding with a teammate in a football match at training.
South Africa play Netherlands on Thursday.
Vettori, Wright defend team selection after defeat to Australia
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori and coach John Wright have defended the decision to leave Kyle Mills and Jacob Oram on the sidelines during Friday's defeat to Australia in their World Cup Group A match.
Mills and Oram were overlooked, as the Black Caps team management opted for Jamie How and Hamish Bennett.
"We wanted to strengthen our batting because we knew Australia would come at us with pace on a number of fronts," Stuff.co.nz quoted Vettori, as saying about How's inclusion.
"Particularly around that secondary ball, we thought it would be nice to have a guy who can play pace well and Jamie is a very good player of pace to counter that. But it didn't work, did it?"
Meanwhile, Wright said that both Mills and Oram were sidelined due to form rather than injury.
"Bennett and [Tim] Southee did well in our first game. Kyle's back to full fitness. He's trained well the last two days, but we felt that the two pace bowlers and two spinners against Australia was the right option so he'll get his opportunity in the next game," Wright said.
New Zealand will now face Zimbabwe in Ahmedabad on March 4.
Mills and Oram were overlooked, as the Black Caps team management opted for Jamie How and Hamish Bennett.
"We wanted to strengthen our batting because we knew Australia would come at us with pace on a number of fronts," Stuff.co.nz quoted Vettori, as saying about How's inclusion.
"Particularly around that secondary ball, we thought it would be nice to have a guy who can play pace well and Jamie is a very good player of pace to counter that. But it didn't work, did it?"
Meanwhile, Wright said that both Mills and Oram were sidelined due to form rather than injury.
"Bennett and [Tim] Southee did well in our first game. Kyle's back to full fitness. He's trained well the last two days, but we felt that the two pace bowlers and two spinners against Australia was the right option so he'll get his opportunity in the next game," Wright said.
New Zealand will now face Zimbabwe in Ahmedabad on March 4.
Sri Lanka need Murali and Malinga to hit ground running
If Sri Lanka are to have any chance of becoming the only Asian team to win two World Cups in the sub-continent, they need their two chief weapons, Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan, to find their form, fast.
The co-hosts were one of the pre-tournament favourites to win the showpiece but Saturday's 11-run defeat by Pakistan exposed some glaring weaknesses in their bowling armoury.
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Muralitharan should have been trapping rival batsmen with his mystifying powers of flight and spin but has instead been leaking runs to rank outsiders such as Canada.
In the first match he was the most expensive of the Sri Lankan attack.
The off-spinner's figures of 2-38 at the cost of 4.22 against a bunch of part-timers in Hambantota was hardly the kind of stats the world's most prolific wicket-taker would want to shout about.
He was the most economical of the Sri Lankan bowlers against Pakistan but having picked up only one wicket, his success rate would have hardly set Sri Lankan pulses racing.
But at least Muralitharan is playing a part in all the action as the same cannot be said of Malinga.
The 27-year-old, who made his name in the 2007 World Cup by claiming four wickets in four balls against South Africa, has not even tested one run-up to the pitch.
He was sidelined with a sore back against Canada but had been declared fit for the contest against Pakistan.
However, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara was not prepared to gamble on his fitness and chose to rest him for "the more difficult matches we have ahead", a strategy that backfired on Saturday.
With showdowns against world champions Australia now less than a week away, the Sri Lankans know they can no longer waste time experimenting with their line-ups and plan to draft Malinga into action in their match against Kenya on Tuesday.
"We will consider him for the next game because we need to get him into his rhythm ahead of the game against Australia next Saturday," Sri Lanka's team manger Anura Tennekoon told Reuters.
"Malinga was rested as a precautionary measure. We don't want to take any chance with him because he is our key bowler. Malinga is fit but we don't want to take that extra one percent (risk with his fitness) and play him."
Sangakkara acknowledged the presence of Malinga could have tipped the match in their favour, as in the end they lost by a fairly narrow margin after Pakistan amassed 277-7.
"We can say that we missed Lasith a bit. He is going to be back with us very shortly," he said.
Luckily for Sri Lanka, one defeat is unlikely to dent their chances of progressing in the tournament, especially since Zimbabwe, Kenya and Canada are expected to be the teams that fall by the wayside in Group A.
Its round-robin format means four teams from Group A will qualify for the knockout stages.
While the bowling has been the obvious weak link, Sangakkara was also concerned with his team's batting even though they scored 332-7 in their first match and came very close to overhauling Pakistan's total.
Going forward, Sangakkara wants to learn from their mistakes and said he wants his bowlers to pay more attention once on the field.
"A few things we can learn, maybe bowling a better line and length is important all the time," he said.
"On a pitch like this, had we played better cricket and done basics especially in batting, we could have changed the result."
"If we had kept building partnerships, when we had that great start, I think it would have been a different story."
"It's pretty disappointing to be 10 (sic) runs short at the end."
Ashes axing helped me regain confidence for World Cup: Johnson
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has said that the pain of his ruthless Ashes axing has helped him regain his confidence for their World Cup campaign.
Johnson has opened Australia's World Cup campaign with 4-19 against Zimbabwe in Ahmedabad and 4-33 against New Zealand in Nagpur.
The 29-year-old now has 36 scalps from 17 ODI matches in India at an average of 19.80.
"It was disappointing at the time, but for me it was another challenge to work very hard in the nets, to get a few little things right, work with Troy Cooley (bowling coach) and Stuart Karppinen, our fitness trainer, to get a bit of strength back," Fox Sports quoted Johnson, as saying.
"It can be tough at times when you can't work on certain things outside of bowling in the middle. I was able to do that (after being dropped). The one-day series in Australia I built into it. I missed the first part of it (due to a throat infection), but hopefully it's paid off now."
"It's a long tournament (the World Cup), but I'm feeling confident at the moment and I want to continue to be a big part of this team," he added.
Australia will now face Sri Lanka in Colombo on March 5.
Johnson has opened Australia's World Cup campaign with 4-19 against Zimbabwe in Ahmedabad and 4-33 against New Zealand in Nagpur.
The 29-year-old now has 36 scalps from 17 ODI matches in India at an average of 19.80.
"It was disappointing at the time, but for me it was another challenge to work very hard in the nets, to get a few little things right, work with Troy Cooley (bowling coach) and Stuart Karppinen, our fitness trainer, to get a bit of strength back," Fox Sports quoted Johnson, as saying.
"It can be tough at times when you can't work on certain things outside of bowling in the middle. I was able to do that (after being dropped). The one-day series in Australia I built into it. I missed the first part of it (due to a throat infection), but hopefully it's paid off now."
"It's a long tournament (the World Cup), but I'm feeling confident at the moment and I want to continue to be a big part of this team," he added.
Australia will now face Sri Lanka in Colombo on March 5.
Masterful Sachin
Writing about Sachin Tendulkar is fast becoming an exercise in pointlessness. Is anything left unsaid? Is there anything left for him and his countless, maniacal supporters to prove? Every superlative is a cliche. But the man just won't let the scribes rest. Yesterday he notched up his fifth World Cup hundred in the match against England in Bangalore, as faultless an innings as you could hope to see.
In an effort to find something original to say about the man who is in his 22nd year of creating magic at the crease, one or two persistent writers have recently unearthed some things, which though not original, are not as regularly expounded on. One is his insatiable hunger for the game, and another is his ability to score quick runs without seeming to take any risks. Both those attributes were on display in his 115-ball knock of 120 yesterday.
The T20-bred openers of today rely upon the Powerplay overs to get off to a flier and elevate their strike rates. With games built around giving the ball as hard a whack as possible when the field is up, these players usually retreat into their shells after the field spreads out, concentrating on picking the singles and putting the bad balls away. The better ones have the games to tide them over till the batting Powerplay and the slog overs, when they up the ante once more. The geniuses have the versatility to pick off boundaries even when the bowling is good and the field spread.
In Banglaore, Tendulkar was on 24 off 43 balls with two 4s to his name when the bowling Powerplay ended at the end of the fifteenth over. He then picked his moment to blaze away, scoring his last 96 runs off 72 balls with eight 4s and five 6s. During that phase of play, not once was a false shot played or Tendulkar beaten.
The prevailing opinion now seems to be that he has mellowed since his nakedly aggressive heyday of the 90s. That may be true as far as his modus operandi is concerned, but the results are much the same. He is still scoring as fast as he ever did, and hitting hundreds as frequently. Also, from the evidence of his double-hundred against South Africa a little over a year ago -- the first in the one-day format -- he has gotten better at that very basic skill of batsmanship; not getting out.
His hunger for the game also forms part of the reason for his high strike rate, which is paradoxically coupled with a low-risk game. Tendulkar is one of the best judges of the single, and there comes a stage in his innings when keeping him tied up is next to impossible, so keen is his eye for the stolen run.
Yesterday too, well into his innings, the 37-year old was scampering his singles as if he was playing his first World Cup, not his sixth.
He has stated that a World Cup trophy is the only feather missing from his cap. In this, his last World Cup, that too on home soil, all other teams will be wary of the Tendulkar masterclass. On yesterday's evidence and considering the evolution of his game to a near-perfect one, there will not be much they can do about it.
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