All posts by csb10.top

When Steve Waugh said Australia would come hard at India, he wasn’t kidding. A team scoring 400 for 5 in a single day was not something the Adelaide Oval had experienced before. Australia went on a run-riot and overtook the 387 they scored against West Indies on the second day of the fourth Test of the Frank Worrell Trophy in 1968-69.A closer look at the scoring pattern lets slip an interesting ploy.

Australia played to put India on the defensive as soon as the game began, and once the pressure was on, the batsmen could step off the gas, play a relatively safer game, and still end up with a huge total on the first day.

Ricky Ponting was unbeaten at the day’s end, with a score of 176 in 246 balls with 24 boundaries. His strike rate of 71.5% suggests a poor bowling performance, but on closer inspection, it was Ponting’s frame of mind and the pitch’s true bounce that attributed more to his final score. Ponting had an in-control percentage of 87.4, compared to the team total of 84%. His back-foot strokeplay was authoritative, and the number of runs he scored off the front foot reveals how consistent the bounce was.

When Ponting reached his hundred, he achieved the rare distinction of scoring all 16 of his boundaries on the offside. It had a lot to do with the line the Indians bowled.

For a large part of the day, India bowled a good length, and just short of a good length. The arrival of Steve Waugh, unsurprisingly, brought a change in tactics. Of the nine bouncers bowled in the day, five were directed at Waugh. Ironically, it took a half-volley – just the delivery the bowlers were trying to avoid – from Ashish Nehra to dismiss him.

Bangladesh set themselves up for the daunting task of a Test series against Australia with a thrilling victory over the Commonwealth Bank Academy at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane. Set 230 to win, they overcame a mid-innings wobble to eke home with just six minutes, and two wickets, to spare.Mohammad Ashraful anchored the innings with a classy 61, while Alok Kapali chipped in with a pugnacious 44. But it was the two senior men, the Khaleds – Mashud and Mahmud – who did the damage late on with some adventurous shotmaking. Both made 28, and Mahmud – the captain – finished things off with a four over mid-on.The result was set up by the academy declaring their innings at 203 for 4 earlier in the day. Resuming at 99 for 4, Aaron Nye and Callum Ferguson were largely untroubled in the morning session. Nye hit three big sixes and was unbeaten on 89 when the declaration came, with Ferguson not out on 48.Bangladesh started poorly, with Mark Cleary nipping out both Javed Omar and Habibul Bashar early in the innings. Ashraful put the innings back on track, but his dismissal – caught behind off Steven Magoffin – left Bangladesh in dire straits at 134 for 5. But Kapali, Mashud and Mahmud then combined to see it home, upping the run-rate to decisive effect after a period of consolidation. For the Academy, Peter Worthington took 3 for 31.The declarations were pivotal in ensuring a result, but Bangladesh won’t care too much. For a team starved of any sort of success, even against the likes of Canada, this is a massive shot in the arm. Mind you, it’s Australia that await just up the road.

South Africans 267 for 7 (Dippenaar 101*) beat Sussex 114 by 153 runs at Hove

The South African tourists brushed Sussex aside at Hove, bundling them out for 114 and winning by 153 runs almost before the floodlights could have any effect.Only Sussex’s captain Chris Adams, with 32, survived for long – and it was his namesake, Paul, who did most of the damage. Adams (P) took 3 for 19, to back up the early inroads made by the seamer Charl Langeveldt, who grabbed 3 for 30.Earlier, after winning the toss, a fine century by Boeta Dippenaar set up the South Africans’ imposing total of 267 for 7 in their 50 overs. Dippenaar enjoyed the seaside sunshine the most, cracking an unbeaten 101 from just 90 balls, and there were also useful contributions from Martin van Jaarsveld (46), Graeme Smith (31) and Herschelle Gibbs (31).Dippenaar was not named in South Africa’s orginal one-day squad for this tour, but was drafted in when Neil McKenzie withdrew with a back problem. Dippenaar has made the most of his chance, stroking 76 against Ireland on Wednesday and this hundred in front of a good crowd at Hove.Mark Boucher was the only worry for the tourists, run out for single figures for the second match in succession as the South Africans pressed for late runs.

SYDNEY – Steve Waugh is to be replaced as captain of Australia’s one-daycricket team, the Australian Cricket Board announced today.ACB chief executive James Sutherland said Waugh would not be picked inthe team for the looming seven-match one-day international series inSouth Africa starting in March.Waugh said he saw his axing as “a setback and a challenge” but he would”definitely” remain available for selection in the one-day team.”I’m not in the side right now but I’ve got to try and turn that aroundand be selcted for the 2003 World Cup.”Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said his panel made a unanimousdecision to drop Waugh from the limited-overs team.Hohns said the new captain would not be named until the one-day squadfor the South African tour was chosen in the next seven days.Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist are considered favourites for the job.

The World Cup final has most people thinking that Australia are the odds-on favourites. However, a closer look at the numbers suggests that the two teams are quite evenly matched. If you are wondering how Australia can be stopped after 16 consecutive one-day international wins, remember that it was India who halted their run of 16 consecutive Test victories in 2001.Cricket is a funny game and has more statistics than any other sport in the world. West Indies, the champions of the first (1975) and second (1979) World Cups, remained unbeaten in both tournaments for ten consecutive matches till they lost the title to India in 1983. However, before losing the final at Lord’s, their run of unbeaten games was halted – by India, in Manchester, June 10th 1983.That was India’s maiden victory over a Test-playing country in a World Cup and also the first defeat for the West Indies in a World Cup.Now Australia are unbeaten in World Cups since 23rd May 1999 when they lost to Pakistan by ten runs at Headingley and are unbeaten in 17 matches (7 in 1999 & 10 in 2003).With Australia as reigning world champions, India might repeat history to halt Australia’s world record of consecutive victories.In my opinion, both teams are evenly matched but India is a more balanced team (in batting & bowling) while Australia is a bit stronger in bowling. It is interesting that a pace trio in both teams dominates the bowling department.For Australia, Brett Lee (20), Glenn McGrath (18) and Andy Bichel (15) have taken a total of 53 wickets while India’s trio of Zaheer Khan (18) Srinath (16) and Ashish Nehra (15) have taken 49 wickets in the current World Cup.While Australian reserves have stepped up admirably to replace players, it is more interesting that India’s bench strength is such that Anil Kumble & Ajit Agarkar with 474 ODI wickets between them could not get a proper chance. India’s success with seam has meant that Harbhajan Singh has taken only eight wickets.In batting, for Australia every batsman has played one or two useful innings while for India, Sachin Tendulkar and Ganguly have dominated their batting. Rahul Dravid played useful knocks in two matches and youngsters Yuvraj Singh & Muhammad Kaif also played their roles in important games.In this World Cup Australia have won ten out of ten matches played while India have won nine out of ten. Australia have comprehensively defeated all three Asian teams, all former world champions, Pakistan, India & Sri Lanka (twice) in this World Cup.So if India win, it will be ten victories for both teams and if it’s a victory for Australia, then people may well call them the `Brazil of Cricket’. I think this is the second time in eight World Cups that both finalists are so well balanced, as the records show. The earlier instance was when West Indies met Australia in the 1975 final.Can Australia’s current run of consecutive ODI wins be halted by India, in Johannesburg, March 23rd 2003?

A five-wicket haul from India seamer Iqbal Siddiqui helped Maharashtra reduce Saurashtra to 288 for nine on the opening day of the West Zone Ranji match between the two sides at the Nehru Stadium, Pune.The fact that most of the visiting batsmen failed to build on their starts after Maharashtra had put them in proved to be the former’s undoing. RV Dhruv who made 50 off 82 balls and opener PP Joshi who made 47 off 64 balls were the top two scorers for Saurashtra.For Maharashtra, Siddiqui, a left-arm seamer who made his Test debut for India in the recent Mohali Test, claimed 5 for 92, while Hrishkesh Kanitakar, claimed 2 for 41, with his gentle off-spinners. Suyash Burkul, the 20-year-old right-arm medium-pacer making his Ranji debut claimed the other wicket to fall on the day.

With group leaders Karachi Whites and Lahore Blues not in action, Sheikhupura, Peshawar, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur will be anxious to close the gap on the points table in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-I cricket championship.The fifth round of matches, starting Saturday, therefore assumes great importance for the team lying below Karachi Whites and Lahore Blues in the two pools.Sheikhupura are in excellent position to topple Lahore Blues at the top of Group-II if they can overcome Rest of NWFP at Sheikhupura Stadium with maximum points. Sheikhupura will then also have a psychological edge of the Blues because both of them are pitted against each in the next round from Feb 1.In the other group, Karachi Whites, who were runners-up to Lahore Blues last season, have a comfortable lead on the ladder with a difference of 24 points over four teams.Fifth round schedule (Jan 26-29):*Hyderabad v Gujranwala at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad (Umpires: Sadiq Mohammad and Nadeem Ghauri. Match referee: Naeem Ahmed).*Sargodha v Karachi Blues at Sports Stadium, Sargodha (Umpires: M. Nazir Junior and Iqbal Butt. Match referee: Khalid Niazi).*Faisalabad v Rest of Sindh at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad (Umpires: Asad Rauf and Siddique Khan. Match referee: Musaddeq Rasool).*Bahawalpur v Rest of Balochistan at Bahawalpur Stadium. (Umpires: Athar Zaidi and Ijaz Ahmed. Match referee: Fahimuddin Alvi).*Lahore Whites v Rest of Punjab at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (Umpires: Salim Badar and Khalid Mahmood Sr. Match referee: Shafiq Ahmed).*Sialkot v Rawalpindi at Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot (Umpires: Mian Aslam and Afzaal Ahmed. Match referee: Azhar Khan).*Peshawar v Islamabad at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar (Umpires: Islam Khan and Aleem Dar. Match referee: Ehteshamuddin).*Sheikhupura v Rest of NWFP at Sheikhupura Stadium (Umpires: Feroz Butt and Z.I. Pasha. Match referee: Azmat Rana).

Franklyn Rose, the former West Indian fast bowler, has joined Surrey for the rest of the season, as a replacement for Saqlain Mushtaq, who has been called up by Pakistan.Rose, 31, has played 19 Tests and 27 ODIs for West Indies, and toured England in 2000. He will spearhead the Surrey attack in their push for their fourth County Championship title in five years – going into the latest round of matches Surrey were only one point in front of Sussex, who had a game in hand.Keith Medlycott, Surrey’s manager, said: “Signing Franklyn on a short-term contract was very important to the club. He will bring some invaluable experience and quality to our bowling attack for our crucial remaining matches. We are delighted that we have been able to get him registered in time for our match against Kent today. He will be a major boost in our bid to win both the Frizzell County Championship and National Cricket League.”

Work has just started at The County Ground on building the new turnstiles which will be in place for the start of the 2002 season. Over the course of the next few days both the brick walls either side of the Jack White Gates in St James Street will be demolished, and the gates will be taken down.New walls, which will comprise of brick topped with a metal rail, will be built and will include the new turnstiles. After the work is completed the Jack White Gates will be re-hung.Whilst the work in St James Street is being undertaken the entrance is out of use, and traffic is being re-directed through the museum gate, which is approximately fifty metres further along the street.Over the next few weeks work will also begin on building the new Sir Vivian Richards Gates at the Priory Bridge entrance to the ground. All the work is due to be completed by April 26th in time for the first home match at The County Ground which is against Glamorgan in the Benson and Hedges Cup on April 30th.The Sir Vivian Richards Gates will be dedicated, and the Jack White gates will be re-dedicated on Sunday May 12th, which will be a very important day for the club.Not only do Somerset Sabres entertain Yorkshire Phoenix, but in the morning the club hold their annual church service at St James, when former Sussex player John Barclay will be the preacher, and during the afternoon the club will present the twelve Golden Jubilee Cricket Awards.

The prospects of fitting in 100 overs of cricket at Kingsmead today look bleak, but South African coach Graham Ford said on Thursday that the important thing is that his team is switched on and ready to roll their sleeves up whenever they get on the field for their Standard Bank Summer Spice Series final against India.While groundsman Wilson Ngobese was frantically trying to prepare the ground for Friday’s big match after 38 mm of rain fell on Durban, Thursday was a quiet day for the South Africans; their preparation was limited to the mental side of ensuring that they perform to their consistently high standards on Friday.Ford admitted that the team was frustrated by not being able to practise as much as they normally would, due to the bad weather that has gripped Durban over the last week. “The pitches were still drying after last weekend’s rain, so we haven’t been able to get the ideal preparation. And the wicket for the final may be a bit too soft and slow for our liking. But I’m happy with the progress we’ve shown during the series, and the guys are all in good form,” Ford said. While South Africa’s top-order batsmen have led their charge into the final, the bowlers will be looking forward to a pitch that should give them some assistance, as opposed to some of the terminally flat and low strips theyhave been forced to bowl on so far this season.Captain Shaun Pollock has led from the front with the new ball and will be hoping that the weather does not flush out the pace and bounce, so essential to the South African attack, of the Kingsmead pitch. Pollock’s immaculate control could well be supplemented by the raw pace of Mornantau Hayward, as South Africa will look to make early inroads into the strong Indian top-order. Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly, as watchers of the tri-series already know, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, all have the ability to scatter bowlers all over the field, and wayward bowling will travel far at Kingsmead on Friday. There may have been plenty of carping over the tameness of the South African attack so far this season, but discipline is likely to be their most valuable asset today.Tendulkar, the holder of all the limited-overs international records that really count, and Ganguly, in thunderous form at present, are obviously the biggest dangers, and South Africa will want to get them back in the pavilion early on. Dravid and Laxman apart, the rest of the Indian batting is inexperienced, although Virender Sehwag has shown that he has a big hit in him occasionally.Saturday has been set aside as a reserve day for the final and, with Durban and, lower down the coast, East London, looking very wet on Thursday, the match is unlikely to take place Friday. If and when the match does get underway, however, the important thing for the South Africans is to be totally focused as they strive for their fifth successive one-day international series victory at home. The Indians, for once, look like being tigers away from home, and they will not be soft touches in the final.Squads:South Africa: Shaun Pollock (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Jonty Rhodes, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Nicky Bojé, Mornantau Hayward, Makhaya Ntini, André Nel, Justin Kemp.India: Saurav Ganguly (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Rahul Dravid, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Deep Dasgupta, Venkatesh Prasad, Shiv Sunder Das, Jacob Martin.