2009 ~ Live Cricket

Future stars ready to lock horns in New Zealand

The ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2010 will be getting underway on the birthday of a man called Rahul Dravid. While the stars of the future from all over the globe will start their campaign on January 11 the Indian batting great will be lighting 37 candles on his cake to celebrate the day.

The start of the tournament on the birthday of Dravid, one of the greatest-ever batsmen, could be a source of inspiration for the Indian young guns entering the big event as the defending champions.

Defending champions India will open its campaign against qualifier Afghanistan at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, near Christchurch on the opening day of the competition with Pakistan facing the West Indies in Palmerston North and the 2008 runners-up South Africa taking on Ireland in Queenstown.

Besides the 10 full members, there are six Associates and Affiliates teams taking part, having won through their respective regional qualifying tournaments as well as the global qualifier, which was held in Canada in September.

Meanwhile the U-19 Cricket World Cup 2010, to be contested by as many as 16 teams, was officially launched in Dunedin, New Zealand, on November 23.
The ICC Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, pointed to the competition’s track record as a launching pad for future stars.

“It’s been shown over and over that a number of players come through this event, and very shortly afterwards they are on the international arena in a meaningful way,” the ICC Chief Executive remarked.

Speaking at the launch function at University Oval, Dunedin, he recalled some of the current stars who have come up through the under-19 ranks, including New Zealand’s own Ross Taylor, who captained the national U-19 side at the 2002 event.

He also noted the swift rise of South Africa opener Hashim Amla, who went on to full honours after playing in the 2002 tournament in New Zealand, and fast bowler Wayne Parnell, who played in the 2008 tournament in Malaysia.

“Wayne Parnell had hardly finished playing at the Under-19 level when he was picked in the international side. This reflects the close migration from the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup tournament to the international stage,” Haroon Lorgat observed.

He emphasized the importance of the ICC U-19 CWC and described it as one of the flagship events of the global game.

“It’s an extremely important event for us at the ICC. We have pencilled this in as one of our major events going into the future. The ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup deserves to be put alongside the ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC World Twenty20, ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC Women’s World Cup. This ICC U-19 CWC is the most important event that those under-19 players will play at this stage in their careers,” he stated.

He confirmed that the ICC was committed to growing the profile of the tournament, and was in negotiations to boost the level of television coverage for the event that will already see matches carried to a global broadcast audience of millions.

He expressed his total satisfaction with the preparations for the tournament, noting that New Zealand Cricket had an excellent track record of hosting major tournaments, including both the U-19 CWC (in 2002) and the ICC Women’s World Cup (1982 and 2000).

8:56 AM

Countdown to mega event begins

The World Cup remains the most prestigious of all the cricket tournaments and the International Cricket Council (ICC) regards it as its flagship event.

The first-ever Cricket World Cup was staged in England in 1975. It was described as an instant success and England went on to host the event in 1979 as well as in 1983. The other cricket playing nations then expressed the desire to organize it and the ICC has had to follow a rotation policy since then.

The World Cup came to the sub-continent in 1987-88 and it reached Down Under in 1991-92. It returned to the sub-continent in 1995-96 with England hosting it again in 1999. The action moved towards Africa in 2002-03 and the flame of cricket reached the Caribbean Islands for the first time in 2006-07.

Now the sub-continent will be the hosts once more in 2010-11 with the tournament to be held from February 17 to April 2. The countdown for the mega event has begun and the functionaries of the ICC and the Tournament Organizing Committee are ready to meet the challenge.

A ceremony was held in Mumbai on November 9 in which the fixtures of the 2011 World Cup were allowed well in advance.

Sharad Pawar, Vice President, ICC, and Chairman, Organizing Committee, very rightly pointed out that the match schedule announcement would allow all stakeholders to start planning their tours.

“The announcement of the match schedule for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is an exciting development as not only does it allow all our stakeholders to start planning their tours but it will also remind everyone that we are getting closer to the staging of the biggest event in world cricket, where the leading cricketers from all over the globe will battle it out for the top prize in the game,” he remarked.

“The sub-continent offers some great facilities for the cricketers, spectators, sponsors and media, and with some brand new stadia to be built and others to be upgraded, the match schedule will allow the venues to focus on the task at hand to plan and implement their preparations and ensure they are ready to welcome the world to this beautiful, historic and cricket-loving region in 2011,” Pawar noted.

The ICC Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, believed that the announcement of dates was an important indicator of the excellent progress they were making towards staging their flagship event.

“The match schedule will allow the teams, commercial partners, spectators and media to commence with planning their tours. Preparation of venues and safety and security planning continues and I am confident that the host countries will showcase our great sport with its great spirit in the best possible light,” he observed.

“The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will be the ICC’s next 50-over tournament after the highly successful ICC Champions Trophy 2009 in South Africa. And with plenty of high-quality matches played since that event concluded last month, I’m convinced that the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in the sub-continent will further cement the status of ODIs and once again illustrate one of cricket’s greatest strengths – that with Tests and Twenty20 Internationals alongside ODIs, we have three viable, vibrant and successful formats of the game at international level,” the ICC chief added.

“The sub-continent has hosted high-quality events in the past, including two ICC Cricket World Cups in 1987 and 1996, and we are committed to stage another world-class event in 2011, one which will be memorable and enjoyable for all,” Tournament Director, Prof Ratnakar Shetty, said.

“However, the announcement of the match schedule will mean that the venues hosting the matches will have to meet their timelines to ensure everything is ready for what we believe will be a superb spectacle and a great advertisement for the sport which has a huge following in the sub-continent,” he pointed out.

9:29 PM

AUSTRALIA won by 3 runs in 5th ODI leading 3-2

Amazing finish to an amazing match! Australia held their nerves towards the end in a tight situation and they hence win by just 3 runs. They now lead the 7-match series 3-2 with couple of games to play. India were chasing a mammoth 351 in their 50 overs but they still got closer with Tendulkar smashing a scintillating 175 off just 141 balls.

The home side were off to flying start with Sehwag (38) again playing a cameo upfront. The middle order failed miserably but Raina (59) got together with the Little Master and build on a stunning stand that almost took their side through. Jadeja (23) played a crucial role as well but again poor running between cost him his wicket. Once again, towards the end, the last wicket was almost there before a risky second got Kumar run out which sealed the victory for Australia.

The wicket was absolutely great as there were 697 runs scored on it. But still, debutant McKay and Watson bowled beautifully picking up three wickets each which counted a lot in the end. Hang on for the presentation news..

Sachin Tendulkar is awarded the Man of the Match for his outstanding innings of 175 that took India and the match that closer. He seemed pretty disappointed that he couldn't win the match even after scoring that many runs.

10:02 AM

Batsman should fire in 5th ODI

With the seven-match series tantalisingly poised 2-2, India will have to overcome its batting shortcomings when they go into the crucial fifth cricket one-dayer against a spirited but depleted Australia here on Thursday.

The Indians, seeking to dethrone Australia from the number one spot in world rankings, will be strengthened by the expected rerun of Gautam Gambhir, who had to skip last match due to a neck injury.

Although the left-hander Gambhir`s presence will lend solidity to the top order, the worrying factor for the hosts has been the lack of good starts in the series so far.

Clearly the onus is on the Indian batsmen to deliver the goods on a track which according to the curator has plenty of runs to offer but will also aid the bowlers.

Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar have put on stands of 25, 21, 37 and 40, and the home team would be hoping this can be extended to something closer to the hundred mark which would be the ideal platform for Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Dhoni and Raina to launch a blitz later on.

Tendulkar is on the verge of reaching another milestone in his glittering career as he his just seven runs short of touching the 17,000 run-mark and the champion batsman would take inspiration from the moment to score big.

"We failed as a batting unit. We should have batted the full 50 overs but that was not possible because we kept losing wickets at regular intervals," India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had said after the defeat in the previous match.

While the Indians have their task cut out for the flood-lit encounter the Aussies have been grappling with a spate of injury problems ever since the series began.

The latest to join the casualty list is Peter Siddle, who has returned home because of a side-strain. They have already lost the services of pace spearhead Brett lee, stumper Tim Paine, and all-rounder James Hopes.

Dhoni`s men did a remarkable turnaround after narrowly losing the first ODI at Vadodara but a shoddy batting display in the fourth match saw the hosts handing back the advantage to Ricky Ponting`s outfit.

Another batting failure could spell disaster in tomorrow`s match at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium at Uppal as the team that wins the clash is sure to hold a huge advantage in the final outcome of the rubber, with the last two ties scheduled at Guwahati (day) and Mumbai (day/night).

Henriques picks up injury, not to play in Hyderabad
Moises injury a new headache for Oz: Nielsen
Ponting creates confusion over Siddle`s injury
Henriques returns, Australia induct McDonald and Cockley
Oz struggling to field eleven players at Hyderabad

Gambhir`s presence in the line-up has become a crucial one as he brings in the virtue of patiently working the ball into the gaps and rotating the strike to the other stroke-makers in the team.

The Delhi left-hander can change gear as per the needs of the situation and has been the calming influence in the top- order while skipper Dhoni has taken over this job in the latter part of the innings.

What the Indians would be hoping for is explosive opener Sehwag`s longer stay at the crease as he has rocketed off with a flurry of boundaries but continues to lose way in the 30s and 40s.

If he and Tendulkar, can give a better start than what they had done thus far, the others can cash in on the inexperienced and injury-hit Australian bowling attack.

India`s bowling has been a mixed bag with Ishant Sharma, in particular, blowing hot and cold.

The pick has been left-arm paceman Ashish Nehra whose display in the beginning as well as the end of the Australian innings has been outstanding.

Praveen Kumar has been steady while off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has also shown improved form after an indifferent start to the series.

The visiting team`s pace attack has lost a bit of bite after losing very impressive Siddle and they would hope Mitchell Johnson, who has been inconsistent, to put up an improved show.

Doug Bollinger has impressed in the absence of his seniors colleagues and off-spinner Nathan Hauritz has also done well though he lacks support in the middle overs.

In batting too, the Australians have depended on skipper Ponting and his deputy Michael Hussey to a large extent while Shane Watson`s all round display at Mohali must have gladdened them.

Left-handed Hussey, in particular, has become the thorn in the India`s flesh as he has smashed three half-centuries in four matches to frustrate the hosts.

The Teams (From):

Australia: Ricky Ponting (C), Michael Hussey (VC), Doug Bollinger, Nathan Hauritz, Jon Holland, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron White, Clint McKay and Moses Henriques.

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar, Amit Mishra, Sudeep Tyagi, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja.

Hours of play: 14:30 to 1800 IST and 18:40 to close of play.

9:49 AM

Opening the door for American Cricket

Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor today suggested that cricket series between the arch-rivals India and Pakistan could be organised in a neutral venue like the USA.

Pointing out that the USA has many cricket enthusiasts, Tharoor, who had his education in that country, today hoped that an Indo-Pak cricket series would well be appreciated by the public there.

"We have a large patriotic population of both Indians and Pakistani in the USA and a handful of cricket enthusiasts as well. That`s a very, very good way to organise cricket in third countries when terror strikes have stopped cricket between the two countries," Tharoor said.

"It will be terrific to see a baseball stadium in the USA crowded for a cricket match, though the stadium will be small by cricket standards," he added.

"There is a lot at stake in Indo-Pak rivalry as there is some historical baggage (of Partition). There is a greater degree of detachment among spectators which makes Indo-Pak cricket so exciting," said Tharoor, who has co-authored a book `Shadows Across the Playing Field` with former Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shaharyar Khan.

Recalling the resumption of Indo-Pak cricket in 2004 that was termed as a friendship tour, Tharoor said, "For the first time so many cricket visas were given. The atmosphere was so good among fans."

"In earlier days, a total of about 200 used to be quite competitive. Now the standard has gone up. Test cricket is considered as the highest degree," Tharoor said.

"If there is any record in this ongoing seven-match India-Australia series, it will not linger much in your memory, but an achievement in Test cricket has an embedding quality which would be remembered for 40-50 years," Tharoor said.

Tharoor was speaking at the launching ceremony of his book in the city.

12:02 AM

Dhoni and Yuvraj played excellent to give India 2-1 lead

An implausible 148-run partnership between Yuvraj Singh and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni sailed India through the turbulent 3rd ODI, beating Australia by 6-wickets and, thus, taking a 2-1 lead in the 7-match Hero Honda Cup series on Saturday.

Interestingly, this is also the 100th ODI between the two teams, and the first day-night match ever of the stadium.

After Australia posted a competitive 229/5 largely built around Michael Hussey’s unbeaten 81, Yuvraj (78) and Dhoni (71 not out) played their innings brilliantly to guide the team home with 10 balls to spare in a relatively low-scoring contest.

Both the batsmen started cautiously on a difficult Feroz Shah Kotla strip before unleashing a barrage of strokes in a record fourth wicket partnership, which took the game away from the hapless visitors.

The capacity crowd at the Kotla burst into celebrations as Suresh Raina hit Mitchell Johnson to the boundary to bring about the winning runs, leaving the world champions in a daze.

Yuvraj and Dhoni stitched a record 148-run partnership against Australia in India, eclipsing the previous best of 119 between Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir in the last game in Nagpur.

The dashing left hander perished after putting India within sniffing distance of victory, but Dhoni ensured that there were no further hiccups.

Both the teams will now travel to Mohali for the fourth game to be played on Monday.

Indian openers milked 12 runs off the first over with Sachin Tendulkar hitting Mitchell Johnson for two boundaries – one past cover and the other clipped to the square leg boundary.

Playing in front of his home crowd, Virender Sehwag (11), however, looked strangely subdued. Even when he middled the ball, he did not find gaps and to make it worse, the hard-hitting opener was hit on his foot by a Peter Siddle yorker in the eighth over which had him in pains, needing the physio’s attention.

When play resumed, Sehwag slashed Johnson for his only four but three balls later, he had his middle stump uprooted by a Johnson express that simply crashed through his defence.

Hit on his neck while fielding that prompted him to leave field, Gambhir walked out to hearty applause but he too found boundaries were not easy to come by as the Australians maintained stiffling line and length and did not hesitate to throw themselves around to cut short boundaries.

It took India 13.2 overs to reach 50 and a batting collapse was just round the corner with Johnson again in the thick of things as it was a rude shock for the hosts who slumped from the comfort of 37 for no loss to 53 for three inside 16 overs.

Tendulkar, who was content running hard between wicket in absence of easy boundaries, could not beat Johnson’s direct throw from mid-off and perished in his quest for a risky single.

It was a sad end to his 47-ball knock of 32 and Tendulkar didn’t even wait for the third umpire’s verdict before starting the long walk back.

Two runs later, Nathan Hauritz’s second delivery turned sharply to beat Gambhir’s (6) defence and clipped off-stump to silence the entire stadium.

The team in dire strait, captain Dhoni joined Yuvraj in the middle with a herculean task ahead of them and both showed willingness to toil for every run as boundaries dried up.

Both Yuvraj and Dhoni played cautiously as they went about the job of rebuilding the innings and were quite content to keep the scoreboard moving with gentle pushes and nudges.

Yuvraj picked up young Moises Henriques for special treatment by clobbering him for a six and a delectable boundary in the same over. In the very next over, he spanked Adam Voges for a six and a four off consecutive deliveries to notch up his 42nd ODI half century.

Earlier, electing to bat, Australia were well served by Hussey who gauged the conditions well to crack an unbeaten 81 while Ponting produced a fighting 59 to steer the visitors to a competitive 229 for five.

While Shane Watson (41) also chipped in with an useful contribution, none of the other batsmen could hang around for long on a pitch which was not conducive for strokeplay.

Ponting, opening the innings for only the second time in his career, and Shane Watson provided a solid start to the innings with both the batsmen playing cautiously on the slow track.

Watson, however, began on an aggressive note by square cutting paceman Praveen Kumar to the point boundary in the last ball of the opening over of the day.

Both Ponting and Watson curbed their natural strokeplay and took their time to adjust to the low bounce of the pitch which had produced a number of low-scoring matches during the recent Champions League.

The two Aussie openers were showing signs of accelerating the pace of scoring when part-timer Yuvraj provided the breakthrough to the home team.

Watson was smartly stumped by Dhoni as he stretched forward to counter the spin which brought an end to the 72-run opening partnership. His knock of 41 was studded with five boundaries.

The experienced Hussey then joined his captain in the middle and the two seasoned players went about consolidating the position for the team with a risk-free approach.

Ponting, who looked quite comfortable at the middle, soon notched up his 72nd ODI half-century but could not survive long after that as he fell prey to Jadeja.

Ponting was trapped in front of the wicket by a Jadeja delivery which kept a trifle low and umpire Sanjay Hazare had no hesitation in ruling him out.

The hosts struck in the very next over when another part-timer Raina evicted Cameron White with Dhoni taking the catch after fumbling for a long time. White was, however, distinctly unlucky as the television replays showed that the ball had hit his pads before going to Dhoni.

From a comfortable 128 for one, the visitors suddenly slumped to 129 for three, bringing some life back into the game.

Voges joined the action after White’s brief stay at the wicket and took the score to 172 before becoming Harbhajan Singh’s first victim with Praveen latching on to a brilliant catch.

However, some lusty hittings by Hussey in the fag end of the innings took the visitors to a decent total.

11:51 PM

Dhoni stars in a fabulous win in 2nd ODI

It was all about Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on October 28. He played the innings of his lifetime that enabled India to erect their highest-ever ODI total against Australia. Then he led from the front in the field until he himself whipped the bails off to run out the last man to signal the end of the match.

The skipper was the star of India’s most comprehensive win over Australia for quite some time. The Indians needed something as awesome as this one to stamp their authority over the Aussies whom they have been giving tough time for a number of years now.

The Indian cricket fans would remember the day for a long time as they watched the Aussies being floored decisively by a determined outfit who outplayed their fancied rivals in the two key departments of the game, batting and bowling.

It doesn’t really how many qualified coaches do they hire and how many youngsters do they blood, the standard of Indian fielding remained as dismal as it has mostly been over the years. Their batting and bowling has improved in leaps and bounds but fielding is an area that remains a cause of concern for them all along.

The Indians are fortunate to have been blessed by so many outstanding batsmen and bowlers at the moment. No other team possibly can be expected to win a game if they field as poorly as they do.

What a pity that they could still not raise their spirits in the field when in the driving seat. The Australians were always going to struggle while chasing a target of 355 against a potent bowling attack.

The Indians would have won the match by a much bigger margin if their fielding was upto the mark. The manner in which Praveen Kumar misfielded more than once was shameful of an international cricketer. He made a mess of a catch in the deep that should have been nothing more than a regulation catch near the fence. Instead he gifted a six to Shaun Marsh much to the dismay of left-arm spinner Ravindu Jadeja who was bowling exceptionally well.

The catching technique of Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh in the outfield also left a lot to be desired. Even the schoolboys in Australia and South Africa are expected to take the catches that they dropped.

The Indians should be indebted to their captain for not having lost his cool even with those dreaded lapses in the field by the celebrated members of his team. He made near perfect bowling changes to ensure that the match was never opened.

Earlier in the day Dhoni entertained the crowd with one of the greatest ODI innings. Coming in to bat at number five he initially consolidated the innings with Gautam Gambhir and then cut loose in the company of Suresh Raina. He scored 124 off 107 balls to power India to their highest-ever total against Australia.

7:35 AM

India have ability to beat Australia

Harbhajan Singh says India have what it takes to beat Australia in the ongoing one-day series and promised to be his aggressive self while playing against the World Champions.

"I believe if we play to our potential we will win 5-2. It is very important for me to do well. I am most happy when the situation demands that I perform well for my country," Harbhajan told an Australian daily.

The off-spinner is struggling to get back his touch as a bowler but was impressive with the willow as he blasted a 31-ball 49 in the first match to steer India close to win though the hosts lost by four runs in the end.

"It would have been nice to win the game with the bat but, obviously, when you come so close from nowhere it is quite satisfying. Next time I will make sure that we win."

A win in the series would ensure India number one spot in world rankings.

The turbanator insisted that taking the bull by horn is the only way to tackle the Australian team.

"It is always fun to play Australia. There is something about it that seems to make me lift to a higher level. I am a confident person and it helps me when I play against the best team in the world.”

"It brings the best out of me. They like to dominate and intimidate but I just give it back, just believe in yourself," he said.

9:44 AM

Nagpur stadium READY for 2nd ODI

Nagpur: Stadium in Nagpur has been decked up to host second match of the seven-one-day international cricket series between India and Australia.

The Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) in the city will be hosting the first day and night match, the second of the seven-one-day match series on October 28.

The stadium officials said the security of the cricketers and the spectators is very important and so they have taken all measures to ensure that.

“All the areas which were earlier not covered with the close circuit television (CCTV) surveillance like parking, inside stadium, peripheral gates, all have been covered with the CCTV surveillance. This has been added this year. Apart from this, the security remains very tight, every spectator will be under cover,” said Sudhir Dabir, coordinator, Vidarbha Cricket Association.

The stadium, which has the capacity for 44,000 spectators, has sold most of the tickets.

The enthusiasm among the cricket lovers has not taken a beating despite the defeat of the home team in the first match.

The fans said they hope their side not only to win the second match but also the whole series.

“Obviously Sachin Tendulkar is there. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and some of the new players are also in good form. So, we hope that the India not only wins the second match but the whole series,” said Jayant Mangrulkar, a resident.

Australia beat India by four runs in a thrilling first match of the one-day international on Sunday in Vadodara.

The other matches will be played in New Delhi (Oct. 31), Mohali (Nov. 2), Hyderabad (Nov. 5), Guwahati (Nov. 8) and Mumbai (Nov. 11).

8:44 AM

Batting becomes crucial in ODIs

After playing a nail-biting series-opener, rival captains Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ricky Ponting acknowledge that batting power-plays have become crucial as it can influence the result of a one-day match.

India lost the first ODI of the seven-match series by a narrow four-run margin against Australia here yesterday and both the captains said that performance during the power-plays can have a bearing on the match.

Chasing 293 to win, India were quite comfortable at 167 for three at one stage but the script changed when skipper Dhoni opted for batting-power play and ended up losing four wickets in that period.

“We lost wickets during power-plays, too many in fact. That was the turning point. If you don`t have enough wickets in hand you cannot cash in on the power-play,” Dhoni said.

He also defended his decision to take power-play a little early -- between 35 and 39 overs -- saying that conditions demanded that move.

He reckoned that in sub-continent conditions the batting power-play can be best utilized against a hard ball, so when ball got changed he opted for it.

“In the sub-continent you want the ball to be hard as once the bowlers work on the ball they get reverse swing going and once it happens it`s difficult to force the pace.”

“The momentum happens when the ball is hard and new. At the end of the day you don`t want the difference between balls (remaining) and runs (to be scored) to be around 30 or 35,” he reasoned.

Australian skipper Ponting admitted that his team take power-plays seriously and do adequate planning.

“We got to get it right as it can cost you a game as you saw it today (Sunday). We have been guilty of it in the last few games that we have played.”

“When we take our Power Play, we have generally lost a wicket in the first over. We lost one (Cameron White) to the second ball of our PP today. India lost one first ball.”

“If you lose wickets in a Power Play, it slows you down and makes it almost irrelevant,” Ponting said.

Ponting also wondered why batsmen do not play orthodox shots during power-plays but just throw their bat at each and everything.

“Once the field comes in, you think you have to hit a six every ball. If you still play normal cricket shots, like you do in Test matches, you can still hit the ball through the field and it travels pretty quickly,” he said.

8:33 AM

India & Australia Battle for supremacy

Ever since I started watching cricket, I always considered Pakistan as the only arch rival India had. But the scenario has changed to a big extent in recent years and now the one side I want to see India facing is Australia.

This change can be attributed to various reasons, like the poor form and lackluster performance by the Pakistan side (the last time they toured India, a journalist called their side consisting of carbon copies of originals), and to a big extent the controversies India-Australia series have witnessed in the recent times; well who can forget the famous “Monkey-gate row”.

It is not that India-Australia matches were as dead as a dodo earlier; I still remember the 1996 World Cup match in Wankhede Stadium where Sachin Tendulkar was stumped by Ian Healy on 90 off the bowling of Mark Waugh. It may have looked like just another dismissal of the Master Blaster but for me it was a dramatic scene from a Shakespearean play where Julius Caesar was stabbed in the back by Brutus. What it (Sachin’s wicket) meant for Australia was clear once they started celebrating his wicket and indeed they won the match which was otherwise slipping out of their grip.

Two more instances that cut across my mind, came in the Titan Cup (a triangular series featuring India, Australia and South Africa) in 1996 where India had two close encounters with Aussies. India cruising to a close victory in the final over, bowled by captain Sachin Tendulkar, and Australia losing the match by just five runs.

But it was in the earlier match of the series where all the drama happened; Azharuddin given out leg before when he was not and Bangalore crowd going berserk and disrupting the match and then it was Jadeja running himself out after colliding with the bowler and Australia deciding not to call him back. India’s all hopes almost crashed when Sachin fell to a Steve Waugh delivery.

Call it mere coincidence or an appropriate end when India cruised to victory, courtesy a ninth wicket partnership between Kumble and Srinath with their moms cheering them from the stands and it was a Dussehara (I am not comparing Aussies to demons).

Since then I have not seen any controversy-free India-Australia series. Another important thing is the level of cricket between the two teams which has only gone up.

Though cricket is full of anecdotes and I am not short of them, in a flashback of the incidents that happened between these two teams in last one decade, I can just recall Shane Warne bowling in the rough to Sachin Tendulkar and Ian Healy chanting “bowling Shane” relentlessly, later Sachin thrashing Warne with his paddle sweeps and jumping out of his crease to loft him over his head to long on and hitting against the spin over midwicket boundary.

And who can forget Sachin’s two back-to-back centuries against Australia in Sharjah in April 1998. Though his 143 in a league may not have won India the match but ensured them a berth in the final of the triangular series, it is still considered one of his best innings in the ODI format. And his 134 in the final coincided with his birthday. The memories of his lofted sixes off Kasprowicz, Tom Moody and Shane Warne are still fresh in the minds of all cricket lovers.

While many would be thinking that it is an article more about Sachin, let me tell you, for a long time India-Australia series meant Sachin versus Australia. It is for everyone to see how Sachin’s best performances have come against Australia.

India’s tour to Australia in 1999-00 may have been a disastrous one with India’s challenge proving to be a damp squib, as they lost the series 3-0. The series also had its share of controversies with Sachin being given leg before wicket after being hit on the shoulder while ducking a McGrath delivery and later Tendulkar being awarded the Man of the Series award.

I can just recall the failure of the Indian batting line up and Sachin batting to avoid follow-on and India’s southpaw Sourav Ganguly getting out to part time bowler Greg Blewett. The only shining moment for India came in the Sydney Test when VVS Laxman scored 167 in a losing cause. But very few people knew that he would become a nemesis for Australians in times to come.

After Mark Taylor failed to conquer on Indian soil, it was the turn of his successor Steve Waugh, who came here in 2001 and called it his final frontier. The highlight of the series was but of course VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid’s partnership in the second Test at Eden Gardens. VVS Laxman’s 281 is till date considered the best inning by an Indian player. But the series also saw the emergence of Harbhajan Singh claiming 32 wickets in three Tests, prompting Aussies to name him ‘Turbanator’.

Again the series saw Aussies hurling verbal abuses at Indians. In the first Test, it was Michael Slater abusing Rahul Dravid after latter refused to leave the pitch. Later it was McGrath who used his verbal volleys on Sachin as he continued to drive him in the off side. Then in the Kolkata Test when Laxman and Dravid batted all day long, the Aussies started calling them ‘Mr Leavers’.

While in its last two tours to India, Australia won in 2004-05 against a depleted Indian side, though the series could have ended in a draw had it not rained on the final day of Chennai Test, while in their last outing Australia lost 2-0.

It was India’s tour to Australia in 2007-08 that raised the rivalry to a new level. The Harbhajan-Symonds verbal spat and again some controversial decisions were unforgettable instances of the series. Being called ‘racist’ by none other than Aussies proved to be bit too much for the nation. The emotions across the nation reached such a level that calls were made to leave the tour mid way and series being declared null and void.

However, cricket enthusiasts went overboard and started burning effigies of Aussie players and umpires which was uncalled for.

The Test series was completed and India surprised everyone by winning the one-day series, courtesy Sachin Tendulkar. India had left out Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid from the ODI squad and later, even Sehwag was dropped from the series.

It has been more than a decade since I have been following the India-Australia encounters closely. While many things have changed, one thing that has remained unaffected is Sachin Tendulkar.

It was in 1994 when the Little Master scored his maiden ODI century against the same opposition in Sri Lanka. Life has come to a full circle for Indian cricketing icon, remaining unaffected by age. The mainstay of Indian batting is till a class apart and is still winning matches single handedly.

Aussies who are out to avenge their defeat on the home turf from Indians in the CB series last year are also wary of the fact that the one player who stands between them and a series win is again going to be the Indian Batting Maestro.

But the two areas where Aussies were always two steps ahead of Indians were their fielding and fast bowling. On the other hand, Indians always relied upon their spin attack and strong batting line-up, which always faltered on fast and bouncy pitches. Indian team was high on skill and low on fitness and for Aussies it was more or less the other way around.

The new Indian youth brigade is a few notches up when it comes to fielding and overall fitness, but when it comes to skills they are novices to say the least. Getting filthy money from IPL, Champions League and TV commercials, the young guns don’t seem to bother even after losing their place in the side. Even mediocre players with poor commitment and poor skills make it to the national side. With conditions favouring the hosts, it is expected to be a close fought series and India’s complacency can prove to be their bane. If only Sachin can rub off his qualities on his teammates as well…

10:04 PM

Players are injured but fit for first ODI

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Saturday that despite being hit by injuries, Team India is prepared for its campaign against Australia that starts on Sunday.

Briefing the media after the news of Gautam Gambhir’s injury starting doing the rounds, Dhoni said that many players in the team are indeed facing trouble with their fitness, but also assured that the issues are not that serious.

“We (Team India) are hit by injuries, but most players will be fit for tomorrow,” said Dhoni ahead of the first ODI against Australia that will be played on Sunday.

Four crucial players in the Indian team are currently hit by injuries.

While Gambhir injured himself in the head during net practice in Vadodara on Saturday, captain Dhoni injured his knee while practicing on Friday.

Reports also claimed that Virender Sehwag was too hit on the chest accidentally while practicing on Friday, due to which, he also missed the session on Saturday. Dhoni, however, attended the session.

Apart from these, all-rounder Yuvraj Singh’s injury too is a major setback for the team.

Dhoni said that though it is still unclear if Yuvraj will be able to play the first ODI, he is sure to participate in the second match.

The sacking of fielding coach Robin Singh and bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad has also left the team stranded. However the captain courageous said that the team must not mourn the loss of specialized coaches and have to prepare themselves with the provisions they currently have.

Not disclosing the possible Playing XI for the first ODI, Dhoni said that the team will play 5 bowlers in the match.

1:07 AM

Misbah disappointed at his omission from all formats

By the look of things Misbah-ul-Haq has been jolted with his omission from the Pakistan squads for the upcoming series of One-day Internationals, Twenty20 Internationals and Test matches against New Zealand.

The Pakistan squads were announced on October 22 and it appears as if Misbah was simply unaware of the line of thinking of the members of the national selection committee. His ‘informers’ were probably caught napping. Otherwise he might not have reacted so sharply when he came to know about his exclusion.

If Misbah had any idea of the selectors ruling him out from every squad he might have been tempted to use political channels to stay in the team.

There’s also a possibility that the decision to drop him was somehow kept a secret or the selection committee received the go-ahead signal from the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) at the eleventh hour.

Whatever the reasons of his sacking, whether right or right, the selectors have certainly been embarrassed because on the same day Misbah scored an unbeaten 153 for Sui Northern Gas Company Limited (SNGCL) against Lahore Shalimar at the LCCA Ground in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy to dispel thoughts of loss of form.

I don’t think it’s going to be the end of the road for Misbah in international cricket as some of the commentators have passed the pressure. In fact I won’t be surprised if he regains his spot in the team even during the upcoming series against New Zealand.

The ball is in the court of Misbah and if plays his cards sensibly, besides scoring heavily and consistently in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the selectors might be prompted to recall him for the Test series later this year. If he could not be sent as replacement to New Zealand, he will be a strong contender for the series against Australia that follows soon afterwards.

There is plenty of cricket ahead for Pakistan in the next 12 months and Misbah can’t be written off so soon. He has the potential to stage a comeback. With Pakistan now playing even their ‘home’ matches abroad there’s greater chance of a vacancy being created in the batting department.

Misbah did have a poor run in all the three formats last year, after being so successful the year before, but he still has a lot to offer and there’s every chance for him returning to the national team sooner than later.

Misbah is a mentally tough character. He has shown his worth against strong teams after making a dramatic comeback in the international arena during the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007. He very nearly earned the crown for Pakistan almost single-handedly.

He then consolidated his position in the Test team by playing some fabulous knocks on Pakistan’s last tour to India in 2007-08. He became a permanent member of the team but with the return of Mohammad Yousuf and the advent of newcomers like Umar Akmal and his own form declining, the selectors now have given him a break.

Misbah would be hoping that this indeed is just a break and he could return with a bang in not too distant future.

1:02 AM

Confident Australia not to underestimate India

For a change there’s no war of words on the eve of an important series. It was becoming a tradition to say something that provoked the opposition and then a debate ensued on irrelevant matters.

Thankfully Ricky Ponting didn’t fire any shots in the air and his carefully worded media briefing in Mumbai on October 21 reflected the maturity expected of a captain who must be feeling at the top of the world after sterling performances with a youthful squad at his disposal.

The Australians, having thrashed England 6-1 in the ODI series before retaining the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa earlier this month, take on India on their turf in a series of seven One-day Internationals starting on October 25.

Australia, with their recent triumphs, have regained their number one status in the ODI rankings with India not very far behind at second position. So the series is actually a battle between the top two teams of the world at the moment.

Ponting, unlike the past, talked very positively upon his arrival in India and the message was loud and clear that his team was there to play cricket and avoid unnecessary controversies. It was a pleasant surprise to watch the Australian captain acknowledging the strength of their opponents instead of highlighting their weaknesses.

Ponting is obviously very keen for his Australian one-day side to continue their spectacular form into the Indian series.

"We have been playing very good one-day cricket for the last few months, beginning from the England tour, and we want to continue with that. We could not have done better than what we did in the last few one-day games. But we have a fresh set of challenges here," the Australian skipper remarked.

"India has a very good and strong one-day team and we are not underestimating them. We are the number one and number two teams in the world which points to an entertaining and good contest over the next few weeks. We just need to keep improving and be at our best right through the series," Ponting added.

He did not mince words in stating that he will have to shoulder additional responsibility in the absence of his deputy Michael Clarke due to a back injury. Also missing the ODI series are wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, batsman Callum Ferguson and left-arm quickie Nathan Bracken.

"The challenge will be how our middle-order batsmen cope with playing spin bowling over the next few weeks. Mike Hussey has played a lot of cricket here. Shane Watson and Tim Paine play spin well. I am confident the team will do a very good job," Ponting, in terrific form of late, hoped.

"I have played some of my best one-day cricket over the last few months. A lot of responsibility is on my shoulders as the number three batsman in the team," he conceded.

"We have always enjoyed playing in India and our rivalry over the last few years has been growing which is good for the world game," Ponting pointed out.

1:23 AM

Indian outfits made scapegoats

It’s really unfortunately on part of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to have been a party to the exercise of minting money at the cost of their own players.

One could understand the eagerness of the BCCI in getting a major event staged on their soil after the shifting of the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to South Africa at the eleventh hour due to security concerns following the blasts in Mumbai late last year.

By the look of things the BCCI appeared determined to host the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 contest by hook or crook. They are believed to have pioneered the idea of holding a tournament among the national champions in the shortest version of the game in different parts of the world.

There was nothing wrong with the idea. But did the cricket world need to invent yet another tournament at a time when the international calendar is already packed with far too many events? Wasn’t excessive amount of cricket already going on in nearly every part of the world?

The leaders of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the movers and shakers in the BCCI must have thought otherwise when floating another international event in the middle of a crowded schedule.

Probably they don’t realize that the game of cricket is getting flooded with events and the players are the worst sufferers. The quality of the game would indeed decline if the cricketers are kept engaged in the field day in and day out. The administrators of the game need to draw a line somewhere.

The role of the BCCI has often been criticized for compromising on the interests of the game for the sake of commercialism. I think they have done greater damage to the cause of their own cricketers by holding the Champions League that could easily have been avoided.

The lackluster performance of the three Indian participating outfits, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Deccan Chargers and Delhi Daredevils suggested a certain amount of doubt in the minds of the cricket followers of the globe.

People having an insight of the game had a feeling the Indian teams were ‘pushed’ by certain quarters not to go beyond a defined line. In other words they were advised if not ordered to just play the tournament without making a serious attempt to win it.

It could not be mere coincidence that neither of the Indian teams could make it to the semifinals. All the three sides were pretty strong, packed with match-winners. Their below-par performance must have disappointed the crowds.

There’s also a feeling that the BCCI might have gone overboard in their pursuit for being generous hosts. They might have even given an assurance to the foreign Boards that their teams will not only be looked after well in India but they would also be obliged with inconceivable results.

It would look quite odd to have non-presence of a home team in the semifinal line-up. It may not be a cause of concern for the officials of the BCCI but the cricket crazy nation of one billion inhabitants would of course miss their stars in the knockout games.

11:43 PM

Younis Khan stays as captain

Uncertainty and unpredictability go hand in hand with Pakistan cricket. Nothing could be taken for granted in this part of the world. A captain can still be removed from office even after having performed beyond expectations and people can still get away with it after having taken the laws in their hands.

There were indications that the head of Younis Khan was to be put on the chopping block after Pakistan returned from South Africa, having made it to the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy against all odds.

The conspirators became proactive and the impression was being given that Younis had become a spent force and he needed to be replaced by someone as enterprising as Shahid Khan Afridi.

Even a few of the members of the Governing Body of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) were openly lobbying for Shahid and they were not afraid to publicly criticize Younis for his performance or the lack of it in the just concluded Champions Trophy.

With the PCB members seeking his blood, Younis must have been under enormous pressure when he confronted the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Sports in Islamabad.

In fact he had arrived there ready in all respects. He had done his homework in the interim period. He appeared mentally prepared to face the criticism from the Standing Committee after the provocative statements prior to the hearing.

He might have been pleasantly surprised to be cleared of any wrongdoing after all that drama that surrounded the hearing but he still decided to submit his resignation to the PCB Chairman, Ijaz Butt, who was also present on the occasion.

It could have been a pre-planned move because this allowed Younis to hog the limelight once more and silence the guns that were being targeted at him. All of a sudden he became so innocent and the PCB Chairman acted according to the plot.

Soon afterwards Younis had a one-to-one meeting with the PCB Chairman in which he is reported to have demanded more authority and a long-term tenure in lieu of taking back his resignation.

The PCB bosses don’t have an option right now. They can’t be expected to pass on the Test captaincy to Shahid Afridi who might struggle to make the playing eleven all the time. Some quarters have pleaded for the reinstatement of Shoaib Malik but that would have been too early at this stage.

With so much of cricket to be played by Pakistan during the next 12 months there hardly is any need for the change of guard in any case. Sacking Younis only because Pakistan lost to New Zealand in the semifinals of the ICC Championships would have been ridiculous.

All seems well now with Younis having taken back his resignation. He is ready to lead the national team once more with the PCB lending him the much needed support. He has been confirmed as the Pakistan captain till the 2011 World Cup, subject to fitness.

"I am very happy right now. The faith that the chairman and the board has placed in me again, it's good to know. The support that I have received from the board and the country through this time has been fantastic," the Pakistan skipper acknowledged.

4:27 AM

Champions League T20 - Highlights 2009

Caribbean champions Trinidad and Tobago made a dream start to the Champions League Twenty20 yesterday when they used a clinical all-round performance to crush Somerset by 44 runs.

Electing to bat first, T&T gathered a sturdy 150 for nine off their 20 overs and then bowled out the English county for 106 in the Group A fixture at Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The result vaulted T&T to the top of the group on net run-rate over Somerset, who had upset Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Deccan Chargers on Saturday.

Set 151 to win, Somerset were under pressure throughout after dipping to 28 for three after six overs.

The effervescent international all-rounder Dwayne Bravo claimed back-to-back wickets, dislodging Marcus Trescothick (3) and Craig Kieswetter (4) and spinner Sherwin Ganga sent back captain Justin Langer (15).

South African Zander de Bruyn stroked an unbeaten 43 but he and Langer were the only batsmen avoiding the ignominy of single digit scores against a rampant T&T bowling attack.

Bravo led the way with four for 23 off four overs in a clinical T&T bowling performance.

Man of the match Sherwin Ganga picked up two for 16 off three overs with his off spin and left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed bagged two for 18 off four overs.

Earlier, T&T got a rousing start from their free-scoring opening batsman Lendl Simmons and William Perkins.

The cricket's Champions league - CLT20 2009 has kicked off with a boom. Some smashing cricket has been observed throughout the series. With T20 matches in action, sixes, fours and wickets are so common which make every moment of the game exciting. If you missed some matches, you can watch free video highlights online.

Watch Champions League T20 Highlights video:

On www.live-criket.blogspot.com: The official website broadcasts the free video highlights of each and every match. You can watch the highlights video

3:33 AM

Sehwag means business

The incomparable Virender Sehwag has shown once more that his batting talents are second to none. He has had a layoff from international cricket for reasons beyond his injury but his critics should know that he has lost none of his skills that make him the most feared batsman in the world. He has probably become wiser now as far as shot selection is concerned.

Sehwag was close to his best while playing for Delhi Daredevils against Wayamba at his home ground, Feroz Shah Kotla, in the Champions League Twenty20 Tournament 2009 on October 11.

Delhi desperately needed to overpower Wayamba in order to stay afloat in the competition after having lost their opening game to Victoria a couple of nights ago. The pitch wasn’t conducive to free flowing strokes yet Sehwag was the man they looked forward to in the crunch game.

Gautum Gambhir won the toss for the second game running and he had to make sure that the advantage was capitalized unlike the previous match when Delhi couldn’t even post one hundred while batting first.

The state of the pitch was very much in the minds of the batsmen and it was truly reflected when the flamboyant Sri Lankan opener, Tillakaratne Dilshan, played out the first over without troubling the scorers. It was a rare sight watching a maiden over being bowled and that too inside the powerplay session. Chanaka Welegedara deserved the credit for having kept Dilshan quiet.

Sehwag, who opened the innings with Dilshan, didn’t take long to open his shoulders and once he was underway the pitch looked full of runs rather incredibly. That’s the magic of Sehwag. He can remain untroubled on the most difficult of strips for two reasons. He has complete faith in his eyesight and secondly the bowlers also don’t have the heart to attack him with the same intensity and purpose as they do with other batsmen.

Dilshan kept struggling in his 16-ball 10 while Gambhir was also short of confidence on pitch whose bounce could not be trusted. But Sehwag kept hitting boundaries and the run-rate didn’t dip.

The enigmatic Dinesh Karthik did his job of feeding Sehwag with the strike and their partnership took the match away from Jehan Mubarak’s side. The ease with which Sehwag caressed the ball to the various corners of the ground was a treat to watch.

A century for Sehwag was there for the taking but as it has happened many times in the past the entertainment for the crowd was cut short against the run of play. Karthik pushed one towards the point region and took off for the quick single. Sehwag responded but he was beaten by the flat throw from Mahela Jayawardene.

Sehwag was run out after scoring 62 off 42 balls with the help of a six and 10 fours. The score was already 112 when he departed in the 15th over. Karthik made up with three consecutive sixes off Ajantha Mendis and the Delhi total reached 170 in the allotted 20 overs.

Glenn McGrath, the Australian fast bowling great, appeared to have derived the inspiration from his teammate Sehwag as was right on the money while returning to the bowling crease after 18 months. Delhi were never in danger of losing the game after the blitz from Sehwag and they lived upto the billing by winning it by 50 runs.

4:30 AM

Younis Khan’s head could be on chopping block for wrong reasons

Intrigues and mismanagement have been part and parcel of Pakistan cricket for a number of years. In the absence of seasoned and committed administrators the affairs of the controlling body of the game have mostly remained in the hands of people with vested interests.

It’s not uncommon in Pakistan cricket to go unpunished after committing blunders and misdeeds. There are also examples of the cricketers having made scaegoats and penalized for the faults of others. The captaincy of the national team has never been a bed of roses and more often than not there have been uncalled for controversies.

I fail to comprehend how Pakistan’s performance in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2009 in South Africa could be considered a debacle or even below par.

The defeat against New Zealand in the semifinals has been blown out of proportions and an impression is being passed by certain quarters that there was some foul play in it.

I don’t know how those learned members of the Governing Body of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who are now crticial of the performance of Younis Khan in particular, had taken for granted that Pakistan would be returning home with the trophy in their baggage when the team was actually not even expected to enter the semifinals.

Australia and India were rated among the favourites for the title but these teams were placed in Pakistan’s group. It was nothing short of a miracle that Pakistan forced their way into the knockout stage of the competition against the heaviest of odds.

Pakistan never had an impressive record on the soil of South Africa where the ball seamed and bounced much more to their liking. Yet Pakistan defied all odds to cruise into the semifinals. Beyond that it was always going to be a bonus.

Similarly neither New Zealand nor England were expected to progress beyond the first round in the presence of the likes of South Africa and Sri Lanka in their group. England succumbed to Australia in the semifinals and the New Zealand crashed in the final against the same opponents. There was no hue and cry in any part of the world because that’s how life goes.

When England and New Zealand can feel relaxed after having performed beyond expectations why has Pakistan been denied this luxury? I think the movers and shakers of the game in the country should rise above petty interests and they should rather mobilize their energies in doing things that could lead to the resumption of international cricket in Pakistan.

This is not the right time to displace Younis Khan. Why should he be removed from captaincy when the team has actually come up with much better performance than anticipated. All his moves should not be taken negatively.

He is after all a human being and cricket is a team sport. He can’t be the only reason of the defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the semifinals. He should be given time to recover from injury.

2:10 AM

Poor fielding is the reason to loss in CL opener says Kumble

Bangalore: Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Anil Kumble held his team’s poor fielding responsible for the five-wicket defeat against Cape Cobras in the opening Champions League Twenty20 Group C match here.

A disappointed Kumble also heaped praise on J P Duminy, whose brilliant unbeaten 52-ball 99 saw the South African team through in the first match of the USD six million tournament.

“When you have 180 on scoreboard, it’s always disappointing to lose. JP Duminy batted really brilliantly. We dropped number of catches that might be one of the reason, but there are other things to be looked after,” Kumble said after the match on Thursday.

“The ball was coming lot quicker on the pitch. We thought that the pitch may play slower and it will spin later, but Duminy put up a great fight,” he added.

Asked why he did not hand over the ball to experienced all-rounder Jacques Kallis in the crucial last over with Cobras needing nine to win, the leg-spinner said, “I thought slower ball will work and that’s why I gave the task to Vinay (Kumar), but it didn’t work.”

Meanwhile, his counterpart Andrew Puttick insisted that inspite of a shaky start, he was confident of chasing down the target.

“We were confident of chasing the target. We should have restricted them much earlier. We had a bad start, but Duminy was superb with the bat. If you get one batsman to play throughout the innings, then you can chase any target,” he said.

Duminy, who was adjudged the Man-of-the-match, revealed that looking at the big target he decided to go for all-out attack as it was the only way the Protea side could have won the match.

“Target of 180 was always big and we had to chase it fast and I had only that thing in my mind,” Duminy said.

4:52 AM

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH SCHEDULE

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SCHEDULE:

THE 12 PARTICIPATING TEAMS HAVE BEEN DIVIDED INTO GROUPS OF THREE EACH

The Groups and the schedule:

Group A – Deccan Chargers, Trinidad & Tobago and Somerset
Group B – Eagles, New South Wales and Sussex
Group C – Royal Challengers Bangalore, Cape Cobras and Otago
Group D – Delhi Daredevils, Wayamba and Victoria

Date	Time (GMT)	Match Details	Venue
Oct 8, 2009	10:30	Bangalore Royal Challengers vs Cape Cobras , 1st T20 Match	M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Oct 9, 2009	10:30	Eagles vs New South Wales , 2nd T20 Match	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Oct 9, 2009	14:30	Deccan Chargers vs Victoria , 3rd T20 Match	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Oct 10, 2009	10:30	Cape Cobras vs Otago , 4th T20 Match	Rajiv Gandhi Int. Stadium, Hyderabad
Oct 10, 2009	14:30	Deccan Chargers vs Cape Cobras , 5th T20 Match	Rajiv Gandhi Int. Stadium, Hyderabad
Oct 11, 2009	10:30	New South Wales vs Sussex , 6th T20 Match	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Oct 11, 2009	14:30	Delhi Daredevils vs Wayamba , 7th T20 Match	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Oct 12, 2009	10:30	Somerset vs Trinidad and Tobago , 8th T20 Match	M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Oct 12, 2009	14:30	Bangalore Royal Challengers vs Otago , 9th T20 Match	M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Oct 13, 2009	10:30	Victoria vs Wayamba , 10th T20 Match	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Oct 13, 2009	14:30	Eagles vs Sussex , 11th T20 Match	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Oct 14, 2009	14:30	Deccan Chargers vs Trinidad and Tobago , 12th T20 Match	M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Oct 15, 2009	14:30	TBC vs TBC , 13th T20 Match	M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Oct 16, 2009	10:30	TBC vs TBC , 14th T20 Match	Rajiv Gandhi Int. Stadium, Hyderabad
Oct 16, 2009	14:30	TBC vs TBC , 15th T20 Match	Rajiv Gandhi Int. Stadium, Hyderabad
Oct 17, 2009	10:30	TBC vs TBC , 16th T20 Match	M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Oct 17, 2009	14:30	TBC vs TBC , 17th T20 Match	M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Oct 18, 2009	10:30	TBC vs TBC , 18th T20 Match	Rajiv Gandhi Int. Stadium, Hyderabad
Oct 18, 2009	14:30	TBC vs TBC , 19th T20 Match	Rajiv Gandhi Int. Stadium, Hyderabad
Oct 19, 2009	14:30	TBC vs TBC , 20th T20 Match	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Oct 21, 2009	14:30	TBC vs TBC , 1st Semi Final T20 Match	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Oct 22, 2009	14:30	TBC vs TBC , 2nd Semi Final T20 Match	Rajiv Gandhi Int. Stadium, Hyderabad
Oct 23, 2009	14:30	TBC vs TBC , Final T20 Match	Rajiv Gandhi Int. Stadium, Hyderabad

1:58 AM

Australia’s young guns do the business

In the end it was in the fitness of things that the best team having entered the knockout stage of the competition went on claim the trophy. Yes the Australians were the worthy winners of the title after having proved themselves the strongest of all participating outfits. Ricky Ponting deserved to be crowned again after yet another spectacular performance.

This title win should rank higher and feel sweeeter for the Aussies who managed to do it with a relatively young and inexperienced outfit. They were a much more formidable side when they had clinched the Champions Trophy in India for the first time in 2006 and there was hardly any element of surprise in Ponting having run away with the glittering cup.

Things were different in 2009 when Ponting returned to defend the title. Although they had demolished England 6-1 in the ODI series on the eve of the Champions Trophy they were expected to face tougher challenges with South Africa and India rated as the firm favourites due to a combination of factors.

Obviously nobody was foolish enough to write the Australians off but there certainly were not many people giving them as much of a chance as they had in the past when Ponting used to have the services of master blasters like Adam Gilchrist and Mathew Hayden and champion bowlers like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

It was an opportunity for the Australian youngsters to come good on the international stage and they rose to the occasion under the able leadership of Ponting whose purple patch with the bat made the difference.

It’s nice of Ponting to have recognized the outstanding performance of the youngsters in helping Australia retain the Champions Trophy with hints of conviction.

"We have gone through some ups and downs in the last 18 months. A number of great players have left and we brought in a lot of young, fresh players. It was great to see some of them stand up and deliver," Ponting was quoted as saying after Australia completed a six-wicket win over New Zealand in the final in Centurion on October 5.

The Australian youngsters did not show signs of nerves and were not overawed by the occasion when New Zealand tried to make a comeback in the game. Fast bowler Peter Siddle and off-spinner Nathan Hauritz bowled exceptionally well at a stage when the New Zealanders were attempting to cut loose.

The Black Caps had opened up the game even while defending a modest total of 200 when they got the prized scalp of Ponting to reduce Australia to 6 for two. It was the 128-run third wicket partnership between Shane Watson and Cameron White that allowed Australia to regain control. "Two young guys at the crease at 6 for 2, it doesn't get any tougher and they did a great job," Ponting acknowledged.

"In the ODI series in England after the Ashes, we did well there to put ourselves in a position where we can give this tournament a little bit of a shake. We've played some great cricket over the last couple of weeks here," the victorious captain noted.

Ponting led from the front and his own batting form was instrumental in motivating his youthful side. His aggregate of 288 was the highest in the tournament earning him a golden. He was also declared Man-of-the-Series award, ahead of Watson, who scored unbeaten centuries in semifinal and final.

3:45 AM

TV Channels broadcasting 2009 Champions League T20, CLT20 - Live

Airtel Champions League T20, the battle of champion teams from different countries is set to begin. ESPNStar has the global media rights for the Champions League T20 for 10 years. Different TV Channels are set to broadcast it live in different countries all over the world.

Here are the TV Channels with broadcasting rights in different parts:

Star Cricket (live) – India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal

Star Sports (live) – India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal

ONE HD (live) – Australia

British Eurosport (live) – United Kingdom

Directv (live) – USA

CBN, ATN Cricket Plus - Canada

8:54 AM

Ponting says he is chasing benchmarks set by Tendulkar

Only the third batsman to amass 12,000 runs in one-day cricket, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting says he is chasing the benchmarks set by veteran Indian Sachin Tendulkar.

Ponting, after scoring a match-winning unbeaten 111-run knock against England last night to take Australia to their second successive Champions Trophy final, paid tribute to Tendulkar, who is completing 20 years in international cricket this November.

"The number of innings of his I have been able to sit back and watch, I think he is an amazing player. Look at his stats and records and it`s quite incredible for someone to have stayed in the game for 20 years," Ponting said.

"He has set benchmarks for guys like me to chase him and get as close as we can. If I had to last 20 years, I would probably be batting in a wheelchair," he quipped.

Ponting is the first Australian and the third overall, after Tendulkar and Sri Lanka`s Sanath Jayasuriya, to score 12,000 runs in one-dayers.

Tendulkar and Ponting, in fact, are the two biggest achievers in batting in contemporary cricket.

Tendulkar has played 159 Tests and scored 12773 runs with 42 centuries and 53 half centuries at an average of 54.58 runs. In one dayers, he has turned out in 430 matches and scored 16903 runs with 44 hundreds and 91 fifties, averaging 44.48.

Ponting, on the other hand has played 136 Tests and scored 11345 runs with 38 centuries and 48 half centuries, averaging 55.88. In one dayers, he has turned out in 323 matches, scored 12043 runs and hit 28 centuries and 70 fifties, averaging 43.32.

Both Tendulkar and Ponting no longer play Twenty20 internationals for their countries.

"It is a nice achievement but I had no idea before the game how many runs I had scored. I hit runs for my country and when my career is over I can reflect on the successes," Ponting said.

After yesterday`s win, Ponting lauded the younger members of his team for contributing to side`s unbeaten run in the ongoing event.

"We have made it to the finals with relatively young guys. Michael Clarke is missing and so is Nathan Bracken. We are peaking at the right time for the finals," Ponting, shared a 252-run stand with Shane Watson (136) last night, said.

For the last five years, Australia has won everything the ICC has put on stake except for the Twenty20 World Cup. Ponting said he takes pride in the side`s performance.

"The key I think is the mix we bring of youth and experience. When senior guys take responsibility, it allows younger guys to learn and find feet at international level," he said.

"We are playing at a level which would win us the big games. We look to play best cricket when it matters," Ponting added.

Ponting`s own form has won him all-around admiration and the right hander credited it to the brief break he took after the Ashes debacle this summer.

7:59 AM

ICC World ODI Team of the Year 2009 announced

Dhoni named as captain for second year running

The ICC today announced its ODI Team of the Year, as chosen by a specially appointed selection panel chaired by West Indian batting legend Clive Lloyd.

The announcement was made at the LG ICC Awards celebration at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg. Presented in association with FICA, the ICC Awards recognise the best international players of the past 12 months.

The ICC World ODI Team of the Year is (in batting order):

Virender Sehwag (Ind)

Chris Gayle (WI)

Kevin Pietersen (Eng)

Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL)

Yuvraj Singh (Ind)

Martin Guptill (NZ)

MS Dhoni (Ind, captain, WK)

Andrew Flintoff (Eng)

Nuwan Kulasekara (SL)

Ajantha Mendis (SL)

Umar Gul (Pak)

12th man: Thilan Thushara (SL)

Six countries are represented in the 12-man line-up and just one player - Mahendra Singh Dhoni of India - also appeared in the World ODI Team of the Year in 2008. Dhoni is named as captain of the team for the second year running.

Chairman of the LG ICC Awards selection panel, Clive Lloyd said: "It was a very difficult task in selecting this year's ODI team but looking at the line-up I feel it has great balance and depth. It would be a formidable team."

Lloyd was joined on the panel by former India captain Anil Kumble, former Pakistan all-rounder Mudassar Nazar, former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming and ex-England wicketkeeper Bob Taylor. Statistics were available as a guide but were not necessarily the overwhelming factor in the choices made.

The ICC ODI Team of the Year was one of two teams selected by the ICC selection panel along with the Test line-up. There were also eight individual prizes given at this year's LG ICC Awards.

The Selection Panel

The LG ICC Awards selection panel was charged with two main tasks: providing a long-list of nominations to the 25 members of the voting academy to cast their votes in the individual player award categories and, using their experience, knowledge and appreciation of the game, select the ICC World Test and ODI teams.

2:23 AM

ICC Awards 2009 Announced

Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan - who sports a beard that has been fashioned with the utmost of precision - fetches the Twenty20 International Performance of the Year award. His 96 not out off 57 balls against the West Indies in the semi-final of the World Twenty20 at The Oval on 19 June was truly sublime.

Holland's Ryan ten Doeschate won this one last year and this time around Canada's Rizwan Cheema, ten Doeschate, Ireland's William Porterfield and the Netherland's Edgar Schiferli are up for the gong. The Irishman bags it and, amidst a heavy accent that most of the audience are left to strain their ears at.

Siddle beat off Hilfenaus, Ryder and Onions to the Emerging Player of the Year award.Siddle is subjected to a gaggle of photographers, who jostle for position and insist: 'Peter, Peter, hold your trophy up high!'

ICC head honcho Haroon Lorgat announces that New Zealand have won the Spirit of Cricket award. Nominees Australia, England and Sri Lanka have lost out. Captain Vettori accepts the accolade and is characteristically humble in his acceptance speech.

10:49 AM

Glory for Pakistan and agony for India

India ’s fate in the ICC Champions Trophy hinged more on the result of the Australia-Pakistan game at the Super Sport Park in Centurion than their own against the West Indies at the Wanderers in Johannesburg .

Both the matches were taking place on the same day (September 30) and it was to India’s advantage that their encounter was a day-nighter, meaning it started a few hours later than the other one being played entirely in sunlight.

Pakistan had already qualified for the semifinals with the blessings of the Nature as the washed out tie between Australia and India allowed them this luxury even before taking the field for the final league outing.

Australia and India were the two contenders for the single semifinal slot that remained vacant. India were to get a lifeline only if Pakistan managed to defeat Australia . In other words India ’s fate was lying in Pakistan ’s hands.

Pakistan had all cards in their pocket entering the game against Australia and their peace of mind was reflected in body language. Younis Khan and his boys were absolutely relaxed while playing pressure-free cricket.

Australia had everything to play for but Pakistan were not supposed to be pushed about it. The manner in which Pakistan batted had made it clear that they were more interested in going through the motions rather than making efforts to do anything sensational. The idea of conserving energy for the upcoming knockout games might also have been in their mind.

Pakistan , who are known for making the most of the death overs even with tail-enders make hay, scored only one run in the penultimate over of the innings with specialist batsmen at the crease. The batting powerplay overs were hardly utilized.

Australia were cruising towards a cakewalk victory when suddenly the match opened up with the departure of Michael Hussey. There was tension in their camp and the wickets kept on tumbling as soon as the Pakistan bowlers applied pressure.

The pace trio of Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan bowled exceptionally well in their final spells and the Australians were absolutely clueless. It was happening at the same time when India were in the process of wrapping up the West Indian innings.

Obviously the Indians must have become interested but their excitement was short lived because the Australians somehow got the winning run on the final ball of their innings. That meant the end of the road for India as far as the tournament was concerned.

Had Australia succumbed to defeat, the Indian would have been in a rush to chase their target of 130 against the West Indies . Since that didn’t happen they had full 50 overs at their disposal to register a consolation win, their first in the competition.

The Indian captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who himself got a wicket against the West Indies, very right pointed out that it was the defeat to Pakistan that crippled their chances of qualifying for the semifinals. The road had to be bumpy afterwards and so it turned out.

8:40 AM

Is the stage being set for Pakistan or Australia to claim Champions Trophy?

After watching the farcical results during the past few days everybody is left wondering if the stage is being set for Pakistan to run away with the Champions Trophy.

It’s quite extraordinary that South Africa and Sri Lanka, the two strongest outfits in Group B, have crashed and the semifinal sports have been secured by England and New Zealand, neither of them stood any chance of doing it at the start of the tournament.

The qualification of England and New Zealand into the semifinals, at the expense of hosts South Africa and Sri Lanka, means a soft target for Pakistan in the knockout stage of the competition having lost its charm considerably due to the unexpected results.

England had given a very good account of themselves in their first couple of games, against the fancied duo of Sri Lanka and South Africa, but their pathetic performance against New Zealand in their last league game suggested them of being incapable and unsuited for the big contests.

Pakistan are on a roll here. The washout game between Australia and India let them proceed to the semifinals without worrying for the outcome of their final league fixture. Such kind of luxury is hardly ever available in a tournament as keenly contested as the Champions Trophy where the teams are generally evenly matched.

Now Pakistan can afford to experiment and do whatever they desire in their last league outing against Australia. They should be in a very relaxed frame of mind and it might not be easy for Ricky Ponting and his men to call the shots despite looking stronger on paper.

Pakistan’s chances of winning the trophy have further been boosted by the ouster of South Africa and Sri Lanka. There’s likelihood of another potentially champion team, India, following suit.

With the trio of South Africa, India and Sri Lanka out of their way, Pakistan have every reason to feel more comfortable as far as their future in this particular tournament is concerned.

Neither England nor New Zealand appear to be having the depth or the character to come to terms with a Pakistan side playing as freely as now. New Zealand, in particular, has had horrible record against Pakistan over the years and they should consider themselves dead and buried if they are pitted against them in the semifinals or the final.

England might present a stronger challenge to Pakistan because, unlike New Zealand, they don’t have anything like mental block. The New Zealanders have passed the impressed of being scared of the ‘word’ Pakistan because they have come up with below-par performance against them more often than not.

It could help Pakistan’s cause immensely if they are defeated by Australia in their last league encounter because this would enable them to book a date with New Zealand in the semifinals. In other words Pakistan’s place in the final will be guaranteed the moment they finish runners-up in Group A, behind Australia.

6:22 AM

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