Live Cricket Matches
Showing posts with label cricket live. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cricket live. Show all posts
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Live ipl Matches
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Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Half-way report card of ipl teams
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Chennai Super Kings
Matthew Hayden muscles the ball, Chennai Super Kings v Deccan Chargers, IPL, 16th match, Durban, April 27, 2009
Retirement seems to have worked wonders for Matthew Hayden, who has 289 runs at 41.28 for the Chennai Super Kings © AFP
Things have begun to perk up after a slow start. Their bowlers were struggling and, by the end of the fifth game, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni decided it was time for experiments. The bowling line-up started to change: Sudeep Tyagi and Albie Morkel opened and Shadab Jakati, the left-arm spinner, was drafted in. L Balaji was given the task to bowl with the old ball while Joginder Sharma and Manpreet Gony were dropped. And in the batting, M Vijay was drafted in for Parthiv Patel. The changes worked and Chennai won their next three games to storm to the top of the table.
Defining moment: It came after the loss to Deccan Chargers in Durban. "We are running out of ideas, we don't know where to bowl and what to bowl," was Dhoni's frank assessment. "This is our best bowling line-up in paper. But it's not working and now it's time to change and experiment."
Best player: Matthew Hayden, with 289 runs at 41.28.
Biggest let-down: Andrew Flintoff. He struggled with the bat and the ball and Chennai's form actually started to turn around after his exit.
Ins and outs: Flintoff left for England within a week of the tournament after suffering a knee injury. He was anyway slated to leave on May 1 for the West Indies series.
Kings XI Punjab
The most disciplined team. They were badly hit by injuries but have gelled as a unit to keep turning in regular wins. Only Yuvraj Singh has scored over 200 runs but four others have scored more than 100, the most in any side. The bowling looked weak on paper but Irfan Pathan has starred with the ball, often taking early wickets to unsettle the opposition. The spinners Piyush Chawla and Ramesh Powar have done well and Yusuf Abdulla too has turned in a couple of good cameos. And Yuvraj, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, along with the coach Tom Moody, have led the side well.
Defining moment: When the team sat together after the first two losses and charted the way forward. They then won a close game against Bangalore - with Ravi Bopara and Yuvraj taking them home - which set off their revival.
Best player: Irfan Pathan with ten wickets and Yusuf Abdullah with 14. They have worked brilliantly as a pair. Irfan has often struck crucial blows with the new ball and Yusuf has kept his nerve in the end overs.
Biggest let-down: No one actually. If anything, they would like Yuvraj to be more consistent. He is their main power player but has accumulated only 208 runs at 29.71.
Ins and outs: Bopara, the only Englishman to perform in the IPL, has left but Brett Lee, James Hopes and Sreesanth will be more than handy additions.
Delhi Daredevils
They have lived up to their pre-tournament billing of being favourites and have the best win-loss ratio, winning five of their seven games. And the best news is that their stars are yet to fire. Only Tillakaratne Dilshan has accumulated more than 200 runs and only Ashish Nehra has taken ten wickets but they have kept winning.
Defining moment: No single moment but they have won all the tight games they've been involved in and each time someone has put his hand up - whether it's Nehra with the ball or Dilshan with the bat.
Best player: Dilshan. One of the more under-rated players on the international circuit has expertly steered the middle-order out of several mini-crises. Last year, Delhi suffered because of middle-order problems and this time they were really tested by the failure of the top order but Dilshan has stood up to the challenge.
Biggest let-down: The hyped opening pair of Virender Sehwag (avg of 21.75) and Gautam Gambhir (avg of 28.00)
Ins and outs: Paul Collingwood and Owais Shah have left for the home series against West Indies but that won't make much of a difference because they never got to play a game. The biggest news so far is that Glenn McGrath hasn't got a game either.
Deccan Chargers
Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs added 63 in quick time, Deccan Chargers v Mumbai Indians, IPL, 12th Match, Durban, April 25, 2009
Is the Deccan Chargers batting too dependent on Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs? © AFP
They proved to be the tournament's dark horses, winning their first four games. But they lost the next three, possibly because their batting is top-heavy, depending too much on Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs.
Defining moment: Their fifth game. It was a close finish against Delhi with Fidel Edwards, their strike bowler, going up against Dilshan. As the match hurtled towards its climax, Edwards lost his cool, argued with the umpires over wide calls, got into a sledging game with Dilshan and generally lost the plot. Dilshan plundered 17 runs in the 19th over, bowled by Edwards, to win the game. It was Deccan's first loss and they are yet to win after that.
Best player: RP Singh with 13 wickets at 13.23. He has bowled with the new ball but has really surprised with his accurate death bowling.
Biggest let-down: VVS Laxman with 19 runs at 3.80. He has been repeatedly getting out to soft dismissals and is going through a horror run.
Ins and outs: Edwards has left after a fine tournament. Andrew Symonds is expected to make an impact when he joins the team after their ninth game.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
It's been a fascinating ride for Bangalore. They upset the defending champions in the first game but returned to last year's form for the next few. Rare occurrences like five first-ball dismissals and two second-ball dismissals left the team wondering what had hit them. However, they kept working hard in practice and the coach was willing to try different combinations. The appointment of Anil Kumble as captain after Kevin Pietersen's departure seems to have changed the team's fortunes; they have won three in a row now to move to fifth in the points table.
Defining moment: Mark Boucher held his nerve to win a close game against Kolkata Knight Riders to fetch Bangalore their second win. It was a game that should have been won without much sweat but Bangalore threatened to fold under pressure. Lucikly for them, their opponents were simply worse than they were and that win provided the momentum. Kumble became captain in the next game and they have gone from strength to strength.
Best player: Kumble, with ten wickets at an economy rate of 5.82. The man refuses to fade away without a fight. And then there's his captaincy.
Big let-down: Pietersen and Jesse Ryder. Pietersen averaged around 15 and Ryder 8. The two biggest picks of the year were expected to be part of the team's revival but they have failed.
Ins and outs: A struggling Pietersen left and the in-form Rahul Dravid, who had returned to India mid-tournament for the birth of his second child, has rejoined the squad. Nathan Bracken will bolster their bowling if he joins them this week.
Mumbai Indians
Lasith Malinga gets a high-five from Zaheer Khan after dismissing Wilkin Mota, Kings XI Punjab v Mumbai Indians, IPL, 20th match, Durban, April 29, 2009
Lasith Malinga is using the IPL brilliantly to show his skills after a long injury lay-off © Associated Press
The Tendulkar syndrome has hit the team. They are yet to get out of the shadow of Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya and have lost quite a few close games. Tendulkar has scored over 200 runs but when he has failed, so has the team.
Defining moment: It will come the day they win a game without a contribution from the two big stars. They have talent in JP Duminy, Dwayne Bravo, Abhishek Nayar and Shikhar Dhawan, who have the potential to turn things around. But will they?
Best player: Lasith Malinga with 11 wickets at a staggering economy rate of 4.83. He is back from a long injury lay-off and is using the IPL brilliantly to show his skills. The slinger has rarely been collared.
Biggest let-down: Harbhajan Singh. Just three wickets so far.
Ins and outs: No disruptions for them.
Rajasthan Royals
The top-order batting had been the chief worry but Graeme Smith's return to form and Naman Ojha's successful stint as opener would have eased concerns. Yusuf Pathan has lorded around the park and the entry of Lee Carseldine at the top has added further stability to the top order. They won three tight games, a sign that the captain Shane Warne is still weaving his magic with his band of young men.
Defining moment: The Super Over game against Kolkata. It highlighted two of their biggest strengths - Warne as captain and Pathan the batsman. Like Delhi, they have rarely lost a close game. But unlike Delhi, they have lost easily in a few games.
Best player: Yusuf Pathan with 181 runs at a strike rate of 161.60. He has played a hand in all their wins.
Biggest let-down: Graeme Smith who, till his revival against Punjab on Tuesday, had 65 runs at an average of 13.
Ins and outs: Kamran Khan has been asked to undergo rehab for his action but he was already doubtful with a knee injury. Shane Watson will bolster their batting when he joins them this week.
Kumar Sangakkara is ecstatic after latching on to an edge from Brendon McCullum, Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL, 6th game, Durban, April 21, 2009
Losing front: Kolkata Knight Riders captain Brendon McCullum has just 85 runs at 10.62 © AFP
Kolkata Knight Riders
A team drowned by controversies - the multiple-captaincy theory, an under-pressure coach, a struggling captain and even a fake blogger - have been hit even worse by poor on-field performances. There hasn't been a single moment that sticks in the mind, nor a passage of play that has convinced observers that they are turning the tide.
Defining moment: With two runs required from two balls against Rajasthan, Sourav Ganguly, who had guided the chase brilliantly, fell going for a big shot. Had they won that, they might have found the momentum they were desperately seeking.
Ins and outs: Chris Gayle has left for England and Sourabh Sarkar has come in for the injured Harmeet Singh. David Hussey's all-round skills will be available after Australia's Twenty20 game against Pakistan in the UAE this week.
Best player: Brad Hodge, who with 240 runs at 40 is third on the run-scorers' list. He hasn't found much support from the other batsmen, though.
Biggest let-down: Brendon McCullum has just 85 runs at 10.62. He said he'd quit if the team didn't make semi-finals. While he may have intended it positively, he could be seen as a weak, emotional captain reacting to severe pressure.
Matthew Hayden muscles the ball, Chennai Super Kings v Deccan Chargers, IPL, 16th match, Durban, April 27, 2009
Retirement seems to have worked wonders for Matthew Hayden, who has 289 runs at 41.28 for the Chennai Super Kings © AFP
Things have begun to perk up after a slow start. Their bowlers were struggling and, by the end of the fifth game, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni decided it was time for experiments. The bowling line-up started to change: Sudeep Tyagi and Albie Morkel opened and Shadab Jakati, the left-arm spinner, was drafted in. L Balaji was given the task to bowl with the old ball while Joginder Sharma and Manpreet Gony were dropped. And in the batting, M Vijay was drafted in for Parthiv Patel. The changes worked and Chennai won their next three games to storm to the top of the table.
Defining moment: It came after the loss to Deccan Chargers in Durban. "We are running out of ideas, we don't know where to bowl and what to bowl," was Dhoni's frank assessment. "This is our best bowling line-up in paper. But it's not working and now it's time to change and experiment."
Best player: Matthew Hayden, with 289 runs at 41.28.
Biggest let-down: Andrew Flintoff. He struggled with the bat and the ball and Chennai's form actually started to turn around after his exit.
Ins and outs: Flintoff left for England within a week of the tournament after suffering a knee injury. He was anyway slated to leave on May 1 for the West Indies series.
Kings XI Punjab
The most disciplined team. They were badly hit by injuries but have gelled as a unit to keep turning in regular wins. Only Yuvraj Singh has scored over 200 runs but four others have scored more than 100, the most in any side. The bowling looked weak on paper but Irfan Pathan has starred with the ball, often taking early wickets to unsettle the opposition. The spinners Piyush Chawla and Ramesh Powar have done well and Yusuf Abdulla too has turned in a couple of good cameos. And Yuvraj, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, along with the coach Tom Moody, have led the side well.
Defining moment: When the team sat together after the first two losses and charted the way forward. They then won a close game against Bangalore - with Ravi Bopara and Yuvraj taking them home - which set off their revival.
Best player: Irfan Pathan with ten wickets and Yusuf Abdullah with 14. They have worked brilliantly as a pair. Irfan has often struck crucial blows with the new ball and Yusuf has kept his nerve in the end overs.
Biggest let-down: No one actually. If anything, they would like Yuvraj to be more consistent. He is their main power player but has accumulated only 208 runs at 29.71.
Ins and outs: Bopara, the only Englishman to perform in the IPL, has left but Brett Lee, James Hopes and Sreesanth will be more than handy additions.
Delhi Daredevils
They have lived up to their pre-tournament billing of being favourites and have the best win-loss ratio, winning five of their seven games. And the best news is that their stars are yet to fire. Only Tillakaratne Dilshan has accumulated more than 200 runs and only Ashish Nehra has taken ten wickets but they have kept winning.
Defining moment: No single moment but they have won all the tight games they've been involved in and each time someone has put his hand up - whether it's Nehra with the ball or Dilshan with the bat.
Best player: Dilshan. One of the more under-rated players on the international circuit has expertly steered the middle-order out of several mini-crises. Last year, Delhi suffered because of middle-order problems and this time they were really tested by the failure of the top order but Dilshan has stood up to the challenge.
Biggest let-down: The hyped opening pair of Virender Sehwag (avg of 21.75) and Gautam Gambhir (avg of 28.00)
Ins and outs: Paul Collingwood and Owais Shah have left for the home series against West Indies but that won't make much of a difference because they never got to play a game. The biggest news so far is that Glenn McGrath hasn't got a game either.
Deccan Chargers
Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs added 63 in quick time, Deccan Chargers v Mumbai Indians, IPL, 12th Match, Durban, April 25, 2009
Is the Deccan Chargers batting too dependent on Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs? © AFP
They proved to be the tournament's dark horses, winning their first four games. But they lost the next three, possibly because their batting is top-heavy, depending too much on Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs.
Defining moment: Their fifth game. It was a close finish against Delhi with Fidel Edwards, their strike bowler, going up against Dilshan. As the match hurtled towards its climax, Edwards lost his cool, argued with the umpires over wide calls, got into a sledging game with Dilshan and generally lost the plot. Dilshan plundered 17 runs in the 19th over, bowled by Edwards, to win the game. It was Deccan's first loss and they are yet to win after that.
Best player: RP Singh with 13 wickets at 13.23. He has bowled with the new ball but has really surprised with his accurate death bowling.
Biggest let-down: VVS Laxman with 19 runs at 3.80. He has been repeatedly getting out to soft dismissals and is going through a horror run.
Ins and outs: Edwards has left after a fine tournament. Andrew Symonds is expected to make an impact when he joins the team after their ninth game.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
It's been a fascinating ride for Bangalore. They upset the defending champions in the first game but returned to last year's form for the next few. Rare occurrences like five first-ball dismissals and two second-ball dismissals left the team wondering what had hit them. However, they kept working hard in practice and the coach was willing to try different combinations. The appointment of Anil Kumble as captain after Kevin Pietersen's departure seems to have changed the team's fortunes; they have won three in a row now to move to fifth in the points table.
Defining moment: Mark Boucher held his nerve to win a close game against Kolkata Knight Riders to fetch Bangalore their second win. It was a game that should have been won without much sweat but Bangalore threatened to fold under pressure. Lucikly for them, their opponents were simply worse than they were and that win provided the momentum. Kumble became captain in the next game and they have gone from strength to strength.
Best player: Kumble, with ten wickets at an economy rate of 5.82. The man refuses to fade away without a fight. And then there's his captaincy.
Big let-down: Pietersen and Jesse Ryder. Pietersen averaged around 15 and Ryder 8. The two biggest picks of the year were expected to be part of the team's revival but they have failed.
Ins and outs: A struggling Pietersen left and the in-form Rahul Dravid, who had returned to India mid-tournament for the birth of his second child, has rejoined the squad. Nathan Bracken will bolster their bowling if he joins them this week.
Mumbai Indians
Lasith Malinga gets a high-five from Zaheer Khan after dismissing Wilkin Mota, Kings XI Punjab v Mumbai Indians, IPL, 20th match, Durban, April 29, 2009
Lasith Malinga is using the IPL brilliantly to show his skills after a long injury lay-off © Associated Press
The Tendulkar syndrome has hit the team. They are yet to get out of the shadow of Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya and have lost quite a few close games. Tendulkar has scored over 200 runs but when he has failed, so has the team.
Defining moment: It will come the day they win a game without a contribution from the two big stars. They have talent in JP Duminy, Dwayne Bravo, Abhishek Nayar and Shikhar Dhawan, who have the potential to turn things around. But will they?
Best player: Lasith Malinga with 11 wickets at a staggering economy rate of 4.83. He is back from a long injury lay-off and is using the IPL brilliantly to show his skills. The slinger has rarely been collared.
Biggest let-down: Harbhajan Singh. Just three wickets so far.
Ins and outs: No disruptions for them.
Rajasthan Royals
The top-order batting had been the chief worry but Graeme Smith's return to form and Naman Ojha's successful stint as opener would have eased concerns. Yusuf Pathan has lorded around the park and the entry of Lee Carseldine at the top has added further stability to the top order. They won three tight games, a sign that the captain Shane Warne is still weaving his magic with his band of young men.
Defining moment: The Super Over game against Kolkata. It highlighted two of their biggest strengths - Warne as captain and Pathan the batsman. Like Delhi, they have rarely lost a close game. But unlike Delhi, they have lost easily in a few games.
Best player: Yusuf Pathan with 181 runs at a strike rate of 161.60. He has played a hand in all their wins.
Biggest let-down: Graeme Smith who, till his revival against Punjab on Tuesday, had 65 runs at an average of 13.
Ins and outs: Kamran Khan has been asked to undergo rehab for his action but he was already doubtful with a knee injury. Shane Watson will bolster their batting when he joins them this week.
Kumar Sangakkara is ecstatic after latching on to an edge from Brendon McCullum, Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL, 6th game, Durban, April 21, 2009
Losing front: Kolkata Knight Riders captain Brendon McCullum has just 85 runs at 10.62 © AFP
Kolkata Knight Riders
A team drowned by controversies - the multiple-captaincy theory, an under-pressure coach, a struggling captain and even a fake blogger - have been hit even worse by poor on-field performances. There hasn't been a single moment that sticks in the mind, nor a passage of play that has convinced observers that they are turning the tide.
Defining moment: With two runs required from two balls against Rajasthan, Sourav Ganguly, who had guided the chase brilliantly, fell going for a big shot. Had they won that, they might have found the momentum they were desperately seeking.
Ins and outs: Chris Gayle has left for England and Sourabh Sarkar has come in for the injured Harmeet Singh. David Hussey's all-round skills will be available after Australia's Twenty20 game against Pakistan in the UAE this week.
Best player: Brad Hodge, who with 240 runs at 40 is third on the run-scorers' list. He hasn't found much support from the other batsmen, though.
Biggest let-down: Brendon McCullum has just 85 runs at 10.62. He said he'd quit if the team didn't make semi-finals. While he may have intended it positively, he could be seen as a weak, emotional captain reacting to severe pressure.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Symonds, Watson in as Australia bat
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Pakistan v Australia, 1st ODI, Dubai
Symonds, Watson in as Australia bat
April 22, 2009
Toss Australia chose to bat v Pakistan
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
International cricket welcomed its newest ODI venue - Dubai Sports City - for the first ODI of the five-match series between Pakistan and Australia. Batting first seemed the best option on a sun-baked pitch and it was Michael Clarke who called correctly,opting for an opportunity to pile on the runs. His counterpart Younis Khan said he would have done the same and reckoned a score of 260-270 was chaseable on this surface.
Pakistan went in with three seamers and as always, the attention will center around the mercurial Shoaib Akhtar. Umar Gul and Rao Iftikhar Anjum complete the trio and the spin duties will be shared between Shoaib Malik, Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi.
Making a comeback for Australia will be Stuart Clark, who will be saddled with a lot more responsibility given Nathan Bracken's recent struggles and an injury to Brett Lee. Another player who will be looking to wipe the slate clean following a series of off-field troubles is Andrew Symonds. David Hussey makes way for him in the middle order and the top order has been overhauled following the ODIs in South Africa, with Shaun Marsh returning from injury.
The glitz of the IPL may steal the attention of viewers from across the globe but the importance of this series cannot be underestimated. It's a series between a team craving for cricket and another craving for a rest after a back-breaking summer.
Australia are affected by pull-outs and injuries and their bench strength will be tested, not for the first time this season. It will be upto their virtual second-string side to prove they are playing to win and not treating this series as a mere formality.
It's a home away from home for Pakistan and the team will embark on a new era in a new country, but in their hearts, their players will hope this arrangement of overseas games is only temporary.
Pakistan (from) 1 Salman Butt, 2 Nasir Jamshed, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Shahid Afridi, 7 Kamran Akmal (wk), 8 Umar Gul, 9 Rao Iftikhar Anjum, 10 Shoaib Akhtar, 11 Saeed Ajmal.
Australia (from) 1 Shaun Marsh, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Brad Haddin (wk), 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 Callum Ferguson, 7 James Hopes, 8 Nathan Hauritz, 9 Stuart Clark, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Kolkata bowl in cloudy Durban
Both Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders lost the opening game of their IPL campaigns on a rainy Sunday in Cape Town and the teams are now preparing to take on each other in Durban, where unfortunately the weather forecast for Tuesday is also bleak.
Punjab, however, will not be too disheartened even though Delhi beat them by ten wickets at Newlands. Their innings was curtailed to 12 overs by rain and further showers reduced Delhi's target to 54 in six overs, leaving Punjab's bowlers with little chance. The highlight of the game for Punjab was the performance of their openers, Ravi Bopara and Karan Goel, who added 67 at more than ten runs an over.
Kolkata, on the other hand, had a horrid outing against Deccan Chargers. Their pre-tournament build up was fraught with controversy over the multiple-captain theory and the issue was laid to rest only days before their first match, with Brendon McCullum taking over the leadership duties from Sourav Ganguly. The unrest reflected in their performance: Kolkata were 34 for 4 after 10.4 overs and the top-score was Brad Hodge's 31. Unlike those of other franchises, Kolkata's owner Shahrukh Khan was vocal about his disappointment over his team's performance and another poor outing will only increase pressure and criticism levels.
Player form guide
Punjab: The openers Goel and Bopara surprised a few people with the power with which they hit the ball against Delhi. Both of them played aggressive cameos while Yuvraj also smashed a couple of sixes before he was run out. The bowlers - Yusuf Abdulla and Vikramjeet Malik in particular - barely had a work out because of the shortened innings but they withered under a fierce onslaught from Virender Sehwag.
Kolkata: The explosive opening combination of Chris Gayle and McCullum failed against Deccan and the rest of the batsmen followed suit. The bowling did not inspire either - Ashok Dinda was the only one who took a wicket - as Deccan needed to take no risks to meet an asking-rate of less than six an over.
Watch out for
Karan Goel: He opened for Punjab, when quite a few expected Kumar Sangakkara to partner Bopara, and thrived against the new ball. He began by powering the ball square on the off side but the shots that stood out were his sixes over wide long-on after charging the fast bowlers.
Brendon McCullum and Chris Gayle: They are one of two overseas opening combinations in the tournament. Both batsmen are dynamic hitters but both failed against Deccan. Don't bet on both failing once again.
Friendly fire
Ishant Sharma v Yuvraj Singh: The last two times Yuvraj batted at Kingsmead, he smashed 58 off 16 balls against England, and 70 off 30 balls against Australia during the World Twenty20. Ishant will hope to have more success against him than Stuart Broad and Stuart Clark did.
Team news
Punjab are likely to play the same overseas players as they did against Delhi, unless they want to give Burt Cockley a go instead of Yusuf Abdulla. There isn't too much reason to change the Indian players either because they barely had chance to succeed or fail in the first game.
Punjab: 1 Ravi Bopara, 2 Karan Goel, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Yuvraj Singh (capt), 5 Mahela Jaayawardene, 6 Irfan Pathan, 7 Piyush Chawla, 8 Taruwar Kohli, 9 Vikramjeet Malik, 10 VRV Singh, 11 Yusuf Abdulla.
Kolkata did not play Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis in the first game, choosing to give the fourth overseas-player's slot to Australian allrounder Moises Henriques. However, they might think about including Mendis, given that their others managed to take only one Deccan wicket among them.
Kolkata: 1 Brendon McCullum (capt & wk), 2 Chris Gayle, 3 Sourav Ganguly, 4 Brad Hodge, 5 Aakash Chopra, 6 Laxmi Ratan Shukla, 7 Moises Henriques, 8 Ajit Agarkar, 9 Murali Kartik, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Ashok Dinda.
Punjab, however, will not be too disheartened even though Delhi beat them by ten wickets at Newlands. Their innings was curtailed to 12 overs by rain and further showers reduced Delhi's target to 54 in six overs, leaving Punjab's bowlers with little chance. The highlight of the game for Punjab was the performance of their openers, Ravi Bopara and Karan Goel, who added 67 at more than ten runs an over.
Kolkata, on the other hand, had a horrid outing against Deccan Chargers. Their pre-tournament build up was fraught with controversy over the multiple-captain theory and the issue was laid to rest only days before their first match, with Brendon McCullum taking over the leadership duties from Sourav Ganguly. The unrest reflected in their performance: Kolkata were 34 for 4 after 10.4 overs and the top-score was Brad Hodge's 31. Unlike those of other franchises, Kolkata's owner Shahrukh Khan was vocal about his disappointment over his team's performance and another poor outing will only increase pressure and criticism levels.
Player form guide
Punjab: The openers Goel and Bopara surprised a few people with the power with which they hit the ball against Delhi. Both of them played aggressive cameos while Yuvraj also smashed a couple of sixes before he was run out. The bowlers - Yusuf Abdulla and Vikramjeet Malik in particular - barely had a work out because of the shortened innings but they withered under a fierce onslaught from Virender Sehwag.
Kolkata: The explosive opening combination of Chris Gayle and McCullum failed against Deccan and the rest of the batsmen followed suit. The bowling did not inspire either - Ashok Dinda was the only one who took a wicket - as Deccan needed to take no risks to meet an asking-rate of less than six an over.
Watch out for
Karan Goel: He opened for Punjab, when quite a few expected Kumar Sangakkara to partner Bopara, and thrived against the new ball. He began by powering the ball square on the off side but the shots that stood out were his sixes over wide long-on after charging the fast bowlers.
Brendon McCullum and Chris Gayle: They are one of two overseas opening combinations in the tournament. Both batsmen are dynamic hitters but both failed against Deccan. Don't bet on both failing once again.
Friendly fire
Ishant Sharma v Yuvraj Singh: The last two times Yuvraj batted at Kingsmead, he smashed 58 off 16 balls against England, and 70 off 30 balls against Australia during the World Twenty20. Ishant will hope to have more success against him than Stuart Broad and Stuart Clark did.
Team news
Punjab are likely to play the same overseas players as they did against Delhi, unless they want to give Burt Cockley a go instead of Yusuf Abdulla. There isn't too much reason to change the Indian players either because they barely had chance to succeed or fail in the first game.
Punjab: 1 Ravi Bopara, 2 Karan Goel, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Yuvraj Singh (capt), 5 Mahela Jaayawardene, 6 Irfan Pathan, 7 Piyush Chawla, 8 Taruwar Kohli, 9 Vikramjeet Malik, 10 VRV Singh, 11 Yusuf Abdulla.
Kolkata did not play Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis in the first game, choosing to give the fourth overseas-player's slot to Australian allrounder Moises Henriques. However, they might think about including Mendis, given that their others managed to take only one Deccan wicket among them.
Kolkata: 1 Brendon McCullum (capt & wk), 2 Chris Gayle, 3 Sourav Ganguly, 4 Brad Hodge, 5 Aakash Chopra, 6 Laxmi Ratan Shukla, 7 Moises Henriques, 8 Ajit Agarkar, 9 Murali Kartik, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Ashok Dinda.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Consolation win lifts Australia to No. 2
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It may have been a dead rubber at the end of a long summer, but a resolute Australia scrapped hard in the field to secure a consolation win in Johannesburg and move up to No. 2 in the ODI rankings. Both innings in the match followed a similar pattern: significant contributions from the top four before the middle order collapsed. Michael Hussey remained unbeaten to make sure Australia capitalised on the batting Powerplay and shepherded them past 300, but none of the South African batsmen played that role, leaving the tail too much to do.
South Africa appeared to be coasting towards victory when they had reached 186 for 2 after 34 overs, with Jacques Kallis and Man-of-the-Series AB de Villiers looking solid. Nathan Bracken then lured Kallis into a loose away-from-the-body waft which ended in Brad Haddin's gloves. Mitchell Johnson turned up the pressure a notch when he ended JP Duminy's short, shaky stay in the next over. It was still anybody's game when Mark Boucher swatted James Hopes straight to Nathan Hauritz at midwicket.
A stunning piece of fielding swung the match in Australia's favour. Albie Morkel, who has established a reputation as a game-changing big-hitter, had started confidently, crunching the ball powerfully square either side of the wicket. One of his slog-sweeps off Hauritz swirled high in the air and looked headed for a six; Ben Laughlin, at the edge of the boundary, leapt with perfect timing to pluck the ball two-handed, keeping his balance to ensure he remained within the field of play. South Africa had slid to 226 for 6 in the 42nd over, still 78 adrift.
With the wickets tumbling, de Villiers decided to take the Powerplay in the next over, but was bowled by Laughlin off the first ball. The match was effectively over, only the formalities remained.
It hadn't seemed as if South Africa would be bowled out when their top order was firing. Herschelle Gibbs had bludgeoned quick hundreds his two previous ODIs in Johannesburg, and he continued in the same vein on Friday. He got going with an effortless drive through the covers in the first over, which brought the nearly packed stadium to its feet. His cover-driving remained a feature of his innings, and he also routinely charged down the track to loft the bowlers in the arc between long-on and long-off.
Kallis was also in fluent touch, and the pair had collected 104 runs before Gibbs was undone by a flatter one from Hauritz. Kallis marched on to his half-century and Australia's chances were looking bleak before South Africa's middle-order caved in.
Australia had had their own collapse earlier. On a belter of a track, they were haunted by two of their familiar failings over the one-dayers against South Africa this year: their batsmen's inability to make centuries, and their struggles against spin. Their 303 was a competitive score but a lot more looked on the cards after the top order scored almost at will to motor along to 215 for 3 in 36 overs. South Africa's slow bowling was weakened by the absence of Johan Botha, but with Duminy filling the breach with three wickets and Roelof van der Merwe continuing to find international cricket easy, Australia's charge was derailed.
The spin pair choked the runs in a five-over period starting from the 31st over, and the attendant pressure fetched South Africa four quick wickets. Australia slipped to 246 for 7, but Michael Hussey kept his cool and capitalised on some less-than-satisfactory death bowling by South Africa, who allowed 45 runs off the final five overs.
It was a decent total but the onslaught from their openers, Haddin and Michael Clarke, had some thinking of the "438 game". It was Haddin who provided the initial impetus, carving a couple of short balls from Makhaya Ntini for four over the point fielder. Neither batsman was shy of chipping the ball over the infield, and Haddin was particularly keen on backing away and lofting over the covers.
The experiment to use Kallis early was abandoned after he leaked 21 in two overs. Some amateurish fielding from Morne Morkel gave away four runs and let Clarke reach his half-century; nothing was going right for the hosts.
South Africa came back into the game when both Haddin and Clarke gave catches to Duminy in the space of 11 runs. Callum Ferguson kept the momentum going, peppering the off-side boundaries to race to 41 before his dismissal in the 32nd over kicked off the phase where the spinners held sway.
The performance of their spinners has been one of South Africa's big gains over the ten one-dayers against Australia. The series may have ended with a loss, but South Africa can be proud of their ODI showings. They held their own against the world champions both at home and away to pocket the No. 1 ranking, and that after a 4-0 drubbing in their previous series against serious opposition
South Africa appeared to be coasting towards victory when they had reached 186 for 2 after 34 overs, with Jacques Kallis and Man-of-the-Series AB de Villiers looking solid. Nathan Bracken then lured Kallis into a loose away-from-the-body waft which ended in Brad Haddin's gloves. Mitchell Johnson turned up the pressure a notch when he ended JP Duminy's short, shaky stay in the next over. It was still anybody's game when Mark Boucher swatted James Hopes straight to Nathan Hauritz at midwicket.
A stunning piece of fielding swung the match in Australia's favour. Albie Morkel, who has established a reputation as a game-changing big-hitter, had started confidently, crunching the ball powerfully square either side of the wicket. One of his slog-sweeps off Hauritz swirled high in the air and looked headed for a six; Ben Laughlin, at the edge of the boundary, leapt with perfect timing to pluck the ball two-handed, keeping his balance to ensure he remained within the field of play. South Africa had slid to 226 for 6 in the 42nd over, still 78 adrift.
With the wickets tumbling, de Villiers decided to take the Powerplay in the next over, but was bowled by Laughlin off the first ball. The match was effectively over, only the formalities remained.
It hadn't seemed as if South Africa would be bowled out when their top order was firing. Herschelle Gibbs had bludgeoned quick hundreds his two previous ODIs in Johannesburg, and he continued in the same vein on Friday. He got going with an effortless drive through the covers in the first over, which brought the nearly packed stadium to its feet. His cover-driving remained a feature of his innings, and he also routinely charged down the track to loft the bowlers in the arc between long-on and long-off.
Kallis was also in fluent touch, and the pair had collected 104 runs before Gibbs was undone by a flatter one from Hauritz. Kallis marched on to his half-century and Australia's chances were looking bleak before South Africa's middle-order caved in.
Australia had had their own collapse earlier. On a belter of a track, they were haunted by two of their familiar failings over the one-dayers against South Africa this year: their batsmen's inability to make centuries, and their struggles against spin. Their 303 was a competitive score but a lot more looked on the cards after the top order scored almost at will to motor along to 215 for 3 in 36 overs. South Africa's slow bowling was weakened by the absence of Johan Botha, but with Duminy filling the breach with three wickets and Roelof van der Merwe continuing to find international cricket easy, Australia's charge was derailed.
The spin pair choked the runs in a five-over period starting from the 31st over, and the attendant pressure fetched South Africa four quick wickets. Australia slipped to 246 for 7, but Michael Hussey kept his cool and capitalised on some less-than-satisfactory death bowling by South Africa, who allowed 45 runs off the final five overs.
It was a decent total but the onslaught from their openers, Haddin and Michael Clarke, had some thinking of the "438 game". It was Haddin who provided the initial impetus, carving a couple of short balls from Makhaya Ntini for four over the point fielder. Neither batsman was shy of chipping the ball over the infield, and Haddin was particularly keen on backing away and lofting over the covers.
The experiment to use Kallis early was abandoned after he leaked 21 in two overs. Some amateurish fielding from Morne Morkel gave away four runs and let Clarke reach his half-century; nothing was going right for the hosts.
South Africa came back into the game when both Haddin and Clarke gave catches to Duminy in the space of 11 runs. Callum Ferguson kept the momentum going, peppering the off-side boundaries to race to 41 before his dismissal in the 32nd over kicked off the phase where the spinners held sway.
The performance of their spinners has been one of South Africa's big gains over the ten one-dayers against Australia. The series may have ended with a loss, but South Africa can be proud of their ODI showings. They held their own against the world champions both at home and away to pocket the No. 1 ranking, and that after a 4-0 drubbing in their previous series against serious opposition
Friday, April 17, 2009
Wanderers in doubt for hosting IPL matches
Wanderers hosting the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, including the second semifinal and the final, is still in doubt as the organisers and the local cricket association have not been able to resolve the issue of VIP suites at the Johannesburg stadium.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has reportedly even threatened not to use Wanderers, the largest stadium in the country with 10,000 more seats than any other venue.
The dispute between the IPL and the Gauteng Cricket Board (GCB) is over the IPL's demand for all the suites in the main pavilion to accommodate its VIP guests including Bollywood stars during the six league games, one semi-final and the final scheduled to be held there. The IPL organisers and local cricket authorities at the other venues have resolved the dispute over suites without much of a hassle.
There is still time for the matter to be resolved as the first match at Wanderers, between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils, is to be played only on May 2.
GCB said it had complied with the initial IPL request to make 2,400 suite seats available for the semifinal and the final, including the use of the prestigious Long Room President's Suite.
GCB cited contractual obligations with its suite holders which did not allow it to accede to the IPL request.
"We have considered the IPL's request, but we regret it is not possible to release all the suites," the report quoted GCB.
The IPL has offered to provide free tickets in the main pavilion of Wanderers for suite holders as well as a demarcated area for their refreshments, but it appears that CSA would have to foot the bill for this from the 30 million rands it is reportedly getting for hosting the series.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has reportedly even threatened not to use Wanderers, the largest stadium in the country with 10,000 more seats than any other venue.
The dispute between the IPL and the Gauteng Cricket Board (GCB) is over the IPL's demand for all the suites in the main pavilion to accommodate its VIP guests including Bollywood stars during the six league games, one semi-final and the final scheduled to be held there. The IPL organisers and local cricket authorities at the other venues have resolved the dispute over suites without much of a hassle.
There is still time for the matter to be resolved as the first match at Wanderers, between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils, is to be played only on May 2.
GCB said it had complied with the initial IPL request to make 2,400 suite seats available for the semifinal and the final, including the use of the prestigious Long Room President's Suite.
GCB cited contractual obligations with its suite holders which did not allow it to accede to the IPL request.
"We have considered the IPL's request, but we regret it is not possible to release all the suites," the report quoted GCB.
The IPL has offered to provide free tickets in the main pavilion of Wanderers for suite holders as well as a demarcated area for their refreshments, but it appears that CSA would have to foot the bill for this from the 30 million rands it is reportedly getting for hosting the series.
McCullum named Kolkata Knight Riders captain
Putting all speculation into rest, Shah Rukh Khan's Kolkata Knight Riders appointed New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum as captain of the team.
McCullum will replace Sourav Ganguly for the second edition of the tournament, which kicks-off in Cape Town on Saturday.
KKR meet Hyderabad Deccan Chargers in their opening match on April 19.
McCullum's appointment comes in the wake of Knight Riders coach John Buchanan pitching for multiple captains for the tournament.
McCullum will replace Sourav Ganguly for the second edition of the tournament, which kicks-off in Cape Town on Saturday.
KKR meet Hyderabad Deccan Chargers in their opening match on April 19.
McCullum's appointment comes in the wake of Knight Riders coach John Buchanan pitching for multiple captains for the tournament.
SA Vs Aus 5 th one day.Long summer draws to a close
South Africa and Australia have faced off in six Tests, four Twenty20 internationals and nine ODIs over the past four months. The end is in sight. However, the final match is a dead rubber after South Africa wrapped up the series in Port Elizabeth and the best Australia can hope for is a victory that would give them some momentum heading to the UAE to take on Pakistan. South Africa have a 7-2 advantage in the nine ODIs this year and have deservedly retained the No. 1 one-day ranking. Australia have slipped so far that they now sit third behind India, although victory in Johannesburg would bump them back up to second.
The Wanderers will bring back incredible memories for both teams and anyone who watched the previous ODI between the sides at the venue. It was March 2006. It was the decider for a series locked 2-2. Australia posted 434 for 4 - the first time any team had passed 400 in a one-day international. Their new record stood for only a few hours as South Africa defied all expectations to chase down the total and finished with 438 for 9 when Mark Boucher slammed a boundary off Brett Lee to win with a ball to spare. It's too much to ask for a repeat, or anything close to it, but a tight, hard-fought match would be an appropriate way to end this long and competitive summer.
Form guide (last five ODIs, most recent first)
South Africa WWWLW
Australia LLLWN
Watch out for
On his day, Herschelle Gibbs is the most dangerous batsman in South Africa's side. He had one such day three years ago, when his 175 from 111 balls made their total of 438 a possibility. He had another triumph on Monday, when he scored his 21st ODI century to set up another South African series victory in Port Elizabeth. The combination of an in-form Gibbs and a match at the Wanderers should sound alarm bells for Australia.
Australia's leading run scorer during the series has been Brad Haddin, who has looked more comfortable in the opening role than his partner Michael Clarke. A powerful top-order striker, Haddin has made two half-centuries during the series and with Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh both waiting for their opportunities to arrive in the UAE from next week, he will be keen to put one last stamp on the opening position before it once again becomes a wrestle for the job.
Team news
South Africa have decided to rest Johan Botha after his bowling action was reported by the umpires in the previous game and he is likely to head to Perth in the coming days to undergo testing. Wayne Parnell has also been left out after struggling in the past two matches to recapture the brilliant form he displayed in collecting 4 for 25 in Centurion. But the attack won't be significantly weakened with Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel named as the replacements.
South Africa 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Herschelle Gibbs, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 AB de Villiers, 5 JP Duminy, 6 Roelof van der Merwe, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Albie Morkel, 9 Morne Morkel, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Makhaya Ntini.
Australia could have used the dead rubber to throw an opportunity to their unused members of the squad but Marcus North and Cameron White will remain drinks-waiters at the Wanderers. Neither man is in the touring party for the Pakistan series, which starts next week. Ben Laughlin is in that group and for the Johannesburg match has replaced Shane Harwood, who has resumed training with the Rajasthan Royals after his brief flirt with ODI cricket. "We feel with Ben Laughlin being in our squad for Dubai as well as Stuart Clark, this would be a good opportunity for Ben to have another good solid hit-out," Ricky Ponting said. "Stuart has been here for a few days and he has got a bit of bowling under his belt. But we have decided to go with Ben ahead of him for this game."
Australia 1 Brad Haddin (wk), 2 Michael Clarke, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 David Hussey, 5 Michael Hussey, 6 Callum Ferguson, 7 James Hopes, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Nathan Hauritz, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Ben Laughlin.
Stats and Trivia
* Between the two sides, ten men who played in the 438 match will take the field on Friday - four from Australia and six from South Africa
* The two highest scorers from each team in that game - Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Ponting and Michael Hussey - will all be part of the rematch
* It's often assumed that Mick Lewis had the worst economy rate in that match as his ten overs cost 113 but in fact the honour belongs to Jacques Kallis, who bowled six overs for 70 - or 11.66 runs per over
* Gibbs needs 44 runs to become the second South African after Kallis to reach the 8000 figure in ODIs
Quotes
"If we can make it 8-2 over the summer it's pretty much a clear-cut victory"
Graeme Smith points out that while the Tests went 3-3, South Africa have had a clear advantage in the ODIs
"I don't see that there's a great need to make a lot of changes right now. What this last game becomes all about for us is having some pride in our individual performances and our team performance."
Ricky Ponting
The Wanderers will bring back incredible memories for both teams and anyone who watched the previous ODI between the sides at the venue. It was March 2006. It was the decider for a series locked 2-2. Australia posted 434 for 4 - the first time any team had passed 400 in a one-day international. Their new record stood for only a few hours as South Africa defied all expectations to chase down the total and finished with 438 for 9 when Mark Boucher slammed a boundary off Brett Lee to win with a ball to spare. It's too much to ask for a repeat, or anything close to it, but a tight, hard-fought match would be an appropriate way to end this long and competitive summer.
Form guide (last five ODIs, most recent first)
South Africa WWWLW
Australia LLLWN
Watch out for
On his day, Herschelle Gibbs is the most dangerous batsman in South Africa's side. He had one such day three years ago, when his 175 from 111 balls made their total of 438 a possibility. He had another triumph on Monday, when he scored his 21st ODI century to set up another South African series victory in Port Elizabeth. The combination of an in-form Gibbs and a match at the Wanderers should sound alarm bells for Australia.
Australia's leading run scorer during the series has been Brad Haddin, who has looked more comfortable in the opening role than his partner Michael Clarke. A powerful top-order striker, Haddin has made two half-centuries during the series and with Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh both waiting for their opportunities to arrive in the UAE from next week, he will be keen to put one last stamp on the opening position before it once again becomes a wrestle for the job.
Team news
South Africa have decided to rest Johan Botha after his bowling action was reported by the umpires in the previous game and he is likely to head to Perth in the coming days to undergo testing. Wayne Parnell has also been left out after struggling in the past two matches to recapture the brilliant form he displayed in collecting 4 for 25 in Centurion. But the attack won't be significantly weakened with Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel named as the replacements.
South Africa 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Herschelle Gibbs, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 AB de Villiers, 5 JP Duminy, 6 Roelof van der Merwe, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Albie Morkel, 9 Morne Morkel, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Makhaya Ntini.
Australia could have used the dead rubber to throw an opportunity to their unused members of the squad but Marcus North and Cameron White will remain drinks-waiters at the Wanderers. Neither man is in the touring party for the Pakistan series, which starts next week. Ben Laughlin is in that group and for the Johannesburg match has replaced Shane Harwood, who has resumed training with the Rajasthan Royals after his brief flirt with ODI cricket. "We feel with Ben Laughlin being in our squad for Dubai as well as Stuart Clark, this would be a good opportunity for Ben to have another good solid hit-out," Ricky Ponting said. "Stuart has been here for a few days and he has got a bit of bowling under his belt. But we have decided to go with Ben ahead of him for this game."
Australia 1 Brad Haddin (wk), 2 Michael Clarke, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 David Hussey, 5 Michael Hussey, 6 Callum Ferguson, 7 James Hopes, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Nathan Hauritz, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Ben Laughlin.
Stats and Trivia
* Between the two sides, ten men who played in the 438 match will take the field on Friday - four from Australia and six from South Africa
* The two highest scorers from each team in that game - Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Ponting and Michael Hussey - will all be part of the rematch
* It's often assumed that Mick Lewis had the worst economy rate in that match as his ten overs cost 113 but in fact the honour belongs to Jacques Kallis, who bowled six overs for 70 - or 11.66 runs per over
* Gibbs needs 44 runs to become the second South African after Kallis to reach the 8000 figure in ODIs
Quotes
"If we can make it 8-2 over the summer it's pretty much a clear-cut victory"
Graeme Smith points out that while the Tests went 3-3, South Africa have had a clear advantage in the ODIs
"I don't see that there's a great need to make a lot of changes right now. What this last game becomes all about for us is having some pride in our individual performances and our team performance."
Ricky Ponting
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Sachin Tendulkar excited about IPL in South Africa
Noida (UP), Apr 15 (ANI): Indian cricket team's star batsman Sachin Tendulkar avoided debate over the venue of this year's edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Further, he asserted that as the skipper of Mumbai Indians, he is eager to regale the supporters of his team despite the matches being played in South Africa.
When persisted by journalists for his comments on the government's inability to provide security for the IPL extravaganza, Tendulkar said, "I am sure the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the concerned guys must have tried their best. It's just coincided with the elections. I don't think by shifting the tournament
to South Africa there will be any less interest. The interest is terrific."
He said this while interacting with media persons at a reception hosted by Jaypee University of Technology at Noida here last evening.
The BCCI wanted to stage the event overseas after failing to get government clearance for security cover as certain dates of fixtures clashed with the general elections.
The IPL was a huge success in its inaugural edition in cricket-crazy India last year, primarily because it was structured around city-based franchises with a fan base in home and away matches.
However, Tendulkar wasn't a part of the winning Indian side in the ICC Twenty-20 World Cup held in South Africa 2007 due to injury.
And reportedly he has expressed his inability to be a part of the national side which again plays in England this June.
On this score, he said that he does not wish upset the team's combination that has shaped well over the last two years.
"I would have loved to be there (England). But I feel, it would be unfair to disturb the combination and that's the only reason I have stayed out of the team," added Tendulkar. (ANI)
Further, he asserted that as the skipper of Mumbai Indians, he is eager to regale the supporters of his team despite the matches being played in South Africa.
When persisted by journalists for his comments on the government's inability to provide security for the IPL extravaganza, Tendulkar said, "I am sure the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the concerned guys must have tried their best. It's just coincided with the elections. I don't think by shifting the tournament
to South Africa there will be any less interest. The interest is terrific."
He said this while interacting with media persons at a reception hosted by Jaypee University of Technology at Noida here last evening.
The BCCI wanted to stage the event overseas after failing to get government clearance for security cover as certain dates of fixtures clashed with the general elections.
The IPL was a huge success in its inaugural edition in cricket-crazy India last year, primarily because it was structured around city-based franchises with a fan base in home and away matches.
However, Tendulkar wasn't a part of the winning Indian side in the ICC Twenty-20 World Cup held in South Africa 2007 due to injury.
And reportedly he has expressed his inability to be a part of the national side which again plays in England this June.
On this score, he said that he does not wish upset the team's combination that has shaped well over the last two years.
"I would have loved to be there (England). But I feel, it would be unfair to disturb the combination and that's the only reason I have stayed out of the team," added Tendulkar. (ANI)
We were 'saddled' with Warne during IPL: Team Jaipur
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New Delhi: Shane Warne's midas touch to minnows Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural IPL season may be a part of cricketing folklore but a new book reveals that the Australian spin legend was not the original choice for captaincy.
In their book 'IPL - an inside story', Alam Srinivas and T R Vivek say Jaipur owner Manoj Badale was "saddled with Warne" by chance in the first players' auction.
"In fact, Warne was never the over-riding original choice for the captaincy of the Jaipur team. Badale made it clear during an exclusive e-mail interview with us. 'Warne's views
could only be factored in after the first (players') auction and it is clear given the choice of Graeme Smith, that we did not build a team around Warne. But rather we picked a team based on individual roles and records".
The book gave an eyewitness version, by a franchise CEO, of the first auction where Jaipur just happened to buy Warne because no one else was buying him and the auction appeared to be in disaster.
"Warne's was the first name that came up as the 78 players' names were picked up. But no one was willing to pick him up at the reserve price. The auction was headed for disaster within the first few minutes.
"Since (Lalit) Modi has some interest in the Jaipur team he made an eye contact with Badale and Co. and nudged them to start bidding. Jaipur raised the placard... hoping other teams would jump into the fray... But no other team bid for Warne. Jaipur, it seemed, was saddle with Warne."
The authors also wrote that the legendary spinner was "not a strategist" but someone who can just goad people to give 100 per cent on the field.
They said Warne was an "insecure" person who feels "compelled to be liked by others" and is greedy for praise.
"...It is his ability to earn respect and love of his teammates. Warne can goad people to give 100 per cent on the field," the authors wrote.
"Excuse me, you would say, but isn't that what captaincy is all about? Isn't that how Ganguly and Ponting became great captains?... please read our words carefully. We never said that Warne is not a good leader. All we said was that he is not a strategist," they argued.
"Even his trait to extract the best out of his players, to make them die rather than fail only proves it," they added.
The book also attempted to justify their point with Warne's coach Terry Jenner's view on the bowler's behaviour. "He (Jenner) could see something else too, behind the bravado, that many people missed, and this was the insecurity that is so obvious in Warne today. He desperately wanted people to like him, to praise him, to say how good he was," the book quoted from Paul Barry's biography on Warne.
"Warne will only listen to people that he thinks can help him go somewhere. He shies away from control, authority or demands for rational behaviour. In its extreme form this syndrome is a mental illness called narcissistic personality disorder; Warne appears to be suffering from milder version," the book added from Warne's biography.
The authors observed: "Therefore, throughout the IPL, one witnessed this twin emotions in Warne's captaincy. He went out of his way to be loved by his teammates and rejected anything that did not fit his scheme of things."
In their book 'IPL - an inside story', Alam Srinivas and T R Vivek say Jaipur owner Manoj Badale was "saddled with Warne" by chance in the first players' auction.
"In fact, Warne was never the over-riding original choice for the captaincy of the Jaipur team. Badale made it clear during an exclusive e-mail interview with us. 'Warne's views
could only be factored in after the first (players') auction and it is clear given the choice of Graeme Smith, that we did not build a team around Warne. But rather we picked a team based on individual roles and records".
The book gave an eyewitness version, by a franchise CEO, of the first auction where Jaipur just happened to buy Warne because no one else was buying him and the auction appeared to be in disaster.
"Warne's was the first name that came up as the 78 players' names were picked up. But no one was willing to pick him up at the reserve price. The auction was headed for disaster within the first few minutes.
"Since (Lalit) Modi has some interest in the Jaipur team he made an eye contact with Badale and Co. and nudged them to start bidding. Jaipur raised the placard... hoping other teams would jump into the fray... But no other team bid for Warne. Jaipur, it seemed, was saddle with Warne."
The authors also wrote that the legendary spinner was "not a strategist" but someone who can just goad people to give 100 per cent on the field.
They said Warne was an "insecure" person who feels "compelled to be liked by others" and is greedy for praise.
"...It is his ability to earn respect and love of his teammates. Warne can goad people to give 100 per cent on the field," the authors wrote.
"Excuse me, you would say, but isn't that what captaincy is all about? Isn't that how Ganguly and Ponting became great captains?... please read our words carefully. We never said that Warne is not a good leader. All we said was that he is not a strategist," they argued.
"Even his trait to extract the best out of his players, to make them die rather than fail only proves it," they added.
The book also attempted to justify their point with Warne's coach Terry Jenner's view on the bowler's behaviour. "He (Jenner) could see something else too, behind the bravado, that many people missed, and this was the insecurity that is so obvious in Warne today. He desperately wanted people to like him, to praise him, to say how good he was," the book quoted from Paul Barry's biography on Warne.
"Warne will only listen to people that he thinks can help him go somewhere. He shies away from control, authority or demands for rational behaviour. In its extreme form this syndrome is a mental illness called narcissistic personality disorder; Warne appears to be suffering from milder version," the book added from Warne's biography.
The authors observed: "Therefore, throughout the IPL, one witnessed this twin emotions in Warne's captaincy. He went out of his way to be loved by his teammates and rejected anything that did not fit his scheme of things."
In-form Harbhajan seeks success in IPL
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New Delhi: Harbhajan Singh sat down with CNN-IBN to look ahead to Season Two of the IPL. Leaving the nightmare of slap-gate behind, Harbhajan says he is a changed man, and his performance in New Zealand will be the ideal springboard for the IPL.
On New Zealand tour
Harbhajan Singh: It was a very good tour, not just for me but for all the team-mates. We won in New Zealand after 41 years, which is great. I've been on tours before, but we couldn't do well on previous tours to New Zealand. But I'm happy we have done it this time.
Critics will never be quiet. They will still find something else to talk about. I don't play for these guys. I play for my country, which is more important than listening to what goes around. I know what I'm capable of doing and what is my contribution to Indian cricket. I don't need to prove anything to anyone.
CNN-IBN: Over the past eight months or so, your best has come in Test cricket, taking 70-odd wickets during this period. What is so special about your bowling these days? Have you changed anything in your bowling, or is it the experience you have got better with?
Harbhajan Singh: Let me correct you first: it's 80 wickets. I have not done anything special and I haven't changed anything in my bowling. I've just been bowling freely and playing a lot of cricket at the right time, giving my best shot whenever I've gone out to play for India.
CNN-IBN: The last IPL didn't have good memories for you. You must be keen to set the records straight and do well for Mumbai Indians.
Harbhajan Singh: Whatever has happened is over and done with. We all make mistakes learn from them. I've learnt a lot, I've moved on as a cricketer and I'm looking forward to doing well for the IPL for Mumbai Indians. Keeping my fingers crossed that I perform the way I have been.
About the Mumbai Indians side
Harbhajan Singh: We have a very balanced side with a good mix of youth and experience. We have a lot of players who can win games for us. We have Jean-Paul Duminy, the new man in the team, Kyle Mills, Lasith Malinga who is fit. Apart from them we have Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, and a lot of other youngsters as well who can win games for us.
We just need to play some good cricket. You can't really say who will win in Twenty20 cricket. All I can say is that the effort will be there, and we'll give our best shot to win games for Mumbai Indians.
On New Zealand tour
Harbhajan Singh: It was a very good tour, not just for me but for all the team-mates. We won in New Zealand after 41 years, which is great. I've been on tours before, but we couldn't do well on previous tours to New Zealand. But I'm happy we have done it this time.
Critics will never be quiet. They will still find something else to talk about. I don't play for these guys. I play for my country, which is more important than listening to what goes around. I know what I'm capable of doing and what is my contribution to Indian cricket. I don't need to prove anything to anyone.
CNN-IBN: Over the past eight months or so, your best has come in Test cricket, taking 70-odd wickets during this period. What is so special about your bowling these days? Have you changed anything in your bowling, or is it the experience you have got better with?
Harbhajan Singh: Let me correct you first: it's 80 wickets. I have not done anything special and I haven't changed anything in my bowling. I've just been bowling freely and playing a lot of cricket at the right time, giving my best shot whenever I've gone out to play for India.
CNN-IBN: The last IPL didn't have good memories for you. You must be keen to set the records straight and do well for Mumbai Indians.
Harbhajan Singh: Whatever has happened is over and done with. We all make mistakes learn from them. I've learnt a lot, I've moved on as a cricketer and I'm looking forward to doing well for the IPL for Mumbai Indians. Keeping my fingers crossed that I perform the way I have been.
About the Mumbai Indians side
Harbhajan Singh: We have a very balanced side with a good mix of youth and experience. We have a lot of players who can win games for us. We have Jean-Paul Duminy, the new man in the team, Kyle Mills, Lasith Malinga who is fit. Apart from them we have Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, and a lot of other youngsters as well who can win games for us.
We just need to play some good cricket. You can't really say who will win in Twenty20 cricket. All I can say is that the effort will be there, and we'll give our best shot to win games for Mumbai Indians.
Razzaq blames PCB for ICL players' mess-up
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Karachi: Experienced all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, who has expressed his desire to return to the national team, is aghast with the step-motherly attitude of the PCB towards the Indian Cricket League players and feels the board had complicated matters by consulting the ICC on the issue.
"There was no need to consult the International Cricket Council because I have ended my contract with the ICL so I don't see any problem if I want to play for my country again," Razzaq, who recently ended his contract with ICL to play for Pakistan, said.
"I just feel that the Pakistan Cricket Board has complicated matters by approaching the ICC for advise," he added.
He said it was not an easy decision for him to end his contract with the ICL but he did it on the advise of Pakistan captain Younis Khan.
"And also because I am very keen to represent my country once again," he added.
However, the ICL organisers are yet to confirm about the termination of Pakistani players' contracts.
"There was no need to consult the International Cricket Council because I have ended my contract with the ICL so I don't see any problem if I want to play for my country again," Razzaq, who recently ended his contract with ICL to play for Pakistan, said.
"I just feel that the Pakistan Cricket Board has complicated matters by approaching the ICC for advise," he added.
He said it was not an easy decision for him to end his contract with the ICL but he did it on the advise of Pakistan captain Younis Khan.
"And also because I am very keen to represent my country once again," he added.
However, the ICL organisers are yet to confirm about the termination of Pakistani players' contracts.
Pietersen will have positive effect - Steyn
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Dale Steyn believes captain Kevin Pietersen and coach Ray Jennings have leadership and management skills to take Bangalore Royal Challengers right to the top in the IPL. Pietersen's style of leading by example, he said, would have a positive effect on the team while Jennings' ability to crack the whip would help players stay focused.
"He [Pietersen] leads from the front always. That is a great strength of his," Steyn told Cricinfo from Johannesburg ahead of the final ODI against Australia.
The team's owners, unhappy with their second-last position in the inaugural tournament, appointed a new coach and captain: Martin Crowe, who was the coaching director, was replaced by Jennings while Pietersen took over the captaincy from Rahul Dravid, the team's icon player.
Steyn said he did not know Pietersen well enough to understand him, having played against him only last year in England. That would apply to many in the team, so Steyn felt the challenge was to get acquainted quickly and understand Pietersen's philosophy. "I don't know him at all. I have played against him but I still don't know what kind of a man he is, what kind of mood swings he has, but it is going to be interesting and we are going to have to find our feet quickly."
According to Steyn, Bangalore were unlucky to lose a lot of games marginally last year. "We did not dominate, but we were competitive", Steyn said. He felt things would be different this time, especially because of Jennings, who has the ability to turn rank outsiders into champions.
"He is capable of turning teams that have nothing into something fantastic," Steyn said. "He is really good at it. I remember him taking Eastern province [in 2001], who were an almost nothing team, to winning the SuperSport series, the four-day championship, one of the most difficult competitions to win."
Jennings was coaching South Africa when Steyn made his international debut in 2003. For Jennings, it was important to help Steyn find his feet as quickly as possible. That did not happen; Steyn had to go back and work hard before coming back a year later. Things are different now and he is enjoying one the best phases of his career. For the better part of the last five months he has performed well against the Australians. He was the highest wicket-taker in both the home and away Test series; he also shared the top spot with team-mate Makhaya Ntini in the ODI series in Australia, and is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing ODI series.
"Back then he was coaching and now he is going to be managing me," Steyn said when asked what sort of a relationship he expected to forge with Jennings. A possible worry for Bangalore is the absence of Zaheer Khan, one the best fast bowlers in the game today, who moved to Mumbai Indians. Steyn said the inclusion of slow bowlers like Roelof van der Merwe was likely to balance the loss.
"Zaheer brings something different into the team in that he is left-arm fast bowler and complements me perfectly. He was fantastic for us last year and comes with a lot of experience. We are going to miss him. But if you have seen the domestic Twenty20 tournament in the last two years in South Africa, the spinners have been the match-winners. Roelof van der Merwe has been the hero. He can be useful and can pair with another spinner to do the damage."
The presence of four South Africans in the Bangalore squad - Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, van der Merwe and Steyn - was considered an advantage by outsiders and Steyn agreed. "We have been playing well and we definitely know the conditions a hell of a lot better in our own country. Even if the four international players cannot be all from South Africa in an IPL game, you are going to get a lot of advice from the local players. It can only help to get the extra bit of advice."
Last year Steyn had inadvertently summed up Bangalore's low-key performance with an unforgettable quote. "The IPL was only four overs a game and it was like a paid holiday; you only had to work hard if you felt like it, which is probably why we finished second-last." Did he still consider it a party? Steyn had a hearty laugh. He said this time the IPL was at an opportune time for players who would be preparing for the World Twenty20 in June in England.
"The IPL is a great tournament. This year it is even better because it becomes a bridge into the World Twenty20 which will start in England immediately in June. There is no better preparation than competing in the IPL, which is a Twenty20 competition."
"He [Pietersen] leads from the front always. That is a great strength of his," Steyn told Cricinfo from Johannesburg ahead of the final ODI against Australia.
The team's owners, unhappy with their second-last position in the inaugural tournament, appointed a new coach and captain: Martin Crowe, who was the coaching director, was replaced by Jennings while Pietersen took over the captaincy from Rahul Dravid, the team's icon player.
Steyn said he did not know Pietersen well enough to understand him, having played against him only last year in England. That would apply to many in the team, so Steyn felt the challenge was to get acquainted quickly and understand Pietersen's philosophy. "I don't know him at all. I have played against him but I still don't know what kind of a man he is, what kind of mood swings he has, but it is going to be interesting and we are going to have to find our feet quickly."
According to Steyn, Bangalore were unlucky to lose a lot of games marginally last year. "We did not dominate, but we were competitive", Steyn said. He felt things would be different this time, especially because of Jennings, who has the ability to turn rank outsiders into champions.
"He is capable of turning teams that have nothing into something fantastic," Steyn said. "He is really good at it. I remember him taking Eastern province [in 2001], who were an almost nothing team, to winning the SuperSport series, the four-day championship, one of the most difficult competitions to win."
Jennings was coaching South Africa when Steyn made his international debut in 2003. For Jennings, it was important to help Steyn find his feet as quickly as possible. That did not happen; Steyn had to go back and work hard before coming back a year later. Things are different now and he is enjoying one the best phases of his career. For the better part of the last five months he has performed well against the Australians. He was the highest wicket-taker in both the home and away Test series; he also shared the top spot with team-mate Makhaya Ntini in the ODI series in Australia, and is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing ODI series.
"Back then he was coaching and now he is going to be managing me," Steyn said when asked what sort of a relationship he expected to forge with Jennings. A possible worry for Bangalore is the absence of Zaheer Khan, one the best fast bowlers in the game today, who moved to Mumbai Indians. Steyn said the inclusion of slow bowlers like Roelof van der Merwe was likely to balance the loss.
"Zaheer brings something different into the team in that he is left-arm fast bowler and complements me perfectly. He was fantastic for us last year and comes with a lot of experience. We are going to miss him. But if you have seen the domestic Twenty20 tournament in the last two years in South Africa, the spinners have been the match-winners. Roelof van der Merwe has been the hero. He can be useful and can pair with another spinner to do the damage."
The presence of four South Africans in the Bangalore squad - Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, van der Merwe and Steyn - was considered an advantage by outsiders and Steyn agreed. "We have been playing well and we definitely know the conditions a hell of a lot better in our own country. Even if the four international players cannot be all from South Africa in an IPL game, you are going to get a lot of advice from the local players. It can only help to get the extra bit of advice."
Last year Steyn had inadvertently summed up Bangalore's low-key performance with an unforgettable quote. "The IPL was only four overs a game and it was like a paid holiday; you only had to work hard if you felt like it, which is probably why we finished second-last." Did he still consider it a party? Steyn had a hearty laugh. He said this time the IPL was at an opportune time for players who would be preparing for the World Twenty20 in June in England.
"The IPL is a great tournament. This year it is even better because it becomes a bridge into the World Twenty20 which will start in England immediately in June. There is no better preparation than competing in the IPL, which is a Twenty20 competition."
IPL 2009: Another round of cricketainment
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As the stage is set for the commencement of the second edition of the Indian Premier League, my mind goes back to exactly a year ago when the IPL was launched amidst unprecedented fanfare and high expectations.
The concept itself was unique what with the public auction of players, the introduction of franchisees and the keen involvement of film stars, flamboyant industrialists and big business houses. The money associated with the event was the eye rubbing and mind boggling variety. They were detractors who scoffed at the concept and said that nothing could compare with countries vying with each other.
"When Mohali's Brett Lee bowls to Bangalore's Rahul Dravid, will it be the same as Australia's Lee bowling to India's Dravid" was the crux of their argument. Apparently the vast majority disagreed and when the tournament got underway cricket fans relished the rare spectacle of seeing Brett Lee bowling to Matthew Hayden, Glenn McGrath bowling to Adam Gilchrist and Muthiah Muralitharan bowling to Kumar Sangakkara.
Given the glitz and glamour and the fact that all the leading cricketers in the world were taking part in the newest 'avatar' of the game the average cricket fan could not wait for the IPL to get underway.
Brendon McCullum gave the tournament the dream start it needed with an electrifying 158 and interest in the IPL thereafter never waned. If anything it only kept getting higher and higher. The fact that the IPL scored over soap operas as also Shah Rukh's newly inaugurated game show "Kya Aap Panchvi Paas Se Tez Hai" underscored the unprecedented following for the competition on television. Almost every one of the matches spread over six weeks was watched by a packed crowd.
At the end of it all there was little doubt that the IPL had evoked a highly favourable response. The six-week extravaganza, which had cricket of the rollicking variety, turned out to be a whopping success giving rise to a new phrase - cricketainment.
Whichever way one examined the event there is little doubt that the IPL struck the right chords around the country. The IPL was also closely followed by cricket fans all over the world what with the cash-rich tournament having a truly international touch. Also keeping a tab on it were administrators who see Twenty20 as the game's future.
On the eve of the tournament Sachin Tendulkar predicted that the IPL would be a super-hit and indeed it caught the public fancy in this country like few events in the past.
Everywhere you went the discussion among cricket enthusiasts - and even those having only a passing interest in the game - centered round various aspects of the IPL. The fact that film stars, prominent industrialists and media barons were among the franchisees added more than a touch of glamour with the cheerleaders also doing their bit on this front while the astronomical amount of money involved was the subject of much debate. Various opinion polls focused on the large number of women followers among the millions of TV viewers.
But the IPL was not only about glitz, glamour and big bucks. It also succeeded in exploding many myths about the Twenty20 game - that it is a batsman's game, that it is a format of, by and for the youngsters and oldies have no place in it and that it is all slam bang with little by way of strategic moves or tactical planning.
Describing the IPL as 'a landmark time in cricket' Adam Gilchrist was of the view that after 30 years when people look back they would say it is the most important thing to have happened in cricket. "In time to come people will say IPL changed the direction of cricket," he said and it is difficult to disagree with this view.
In a tournament lasting 45 days and involving 59 matches there was bound to be a glitch or two. There was the odd incident and the hot-under-the-collar statements. Admitting the glitches IPL chairman Lalit Modi reminded everyone that it was the first year of a tournament run on a massive scale and he hoped that everything would be ironed out by the time of the next edition. Cricket fans could not wait for that to get underway such was the impact the IPL created. And now the time has come for IPL II to provide another round of cricketainment.
The concept itself was unique what with the public auction of players, the introduction of franchisees and the keen involvement of film stars, flamboyant industrialists and big business houses. The money associated with the event was the eye rubbing and mind boggling variety. They were detractors who scoffed at the concept and said that nothing could compare with countries vying with each other.
"When Mohali's Brett Lee bowls to Bangalore's Rahul Dravid, will it be the same as Australia's Lee bowling to India's Dravid" was the crux of their argument. Apparently the vast majority disagreed and when the tournament got underway cricket fans relished the rare spectacle of seeing Brett Lee bowling to Matthew Hayden, Glenn McGrath bowling to Adam Gilchrist and Muthiah Muralitharan bowling to Kumar Sangakkara.
Given the glitz and glamour and the fact that all the leading cricketers in the world were taking part in the newest 'avatar' of the game the average cricket fan could not wait for the IPL to get underway.
Brendon McCullum gave the tournament the dream start it needed with an electrifying 158 and interest in the IPL thereafter never waned. If anything it only kept getting higher and higher. The fact that the IPL scored over soap operas as also Shah Rukh's newly inaugurated game show "Kya Aap Panchvi Paas Se Tez Hai" underscored the unprecedented following for the competition on television. Almost every one of the matches spread over six weeks was watched by a packed crowd.
At the end of it all there was little doubt that the IPL had evoked a highly favourable response. The six-week extravaganza, which had cricket of the rollicking variety, turned out to be a whopping success giving rise to a new phrase - cricketainment.
Whichever way one examined the event there is little doubt that the IPL struck the right chords around the country. The IPL was also closely followed by cricket fans all over the world what with the cash-rich tournament having a truly international touch. Also keeping a tab on it were administrators who see Twenty20 as the game's future.
On the eve of the tournament Sachin Tendulkar predicted that the IPL would be a super-hit and indeed it caught the public fancy in this country like few events in the past.
Everywhere you went the discussion among cricket enthusiasts - and even those having only a passing interest in the game - centered round various aspects of the IPL. The fact that film stars, prominent industrialists and media barons were among the franchisees added more than a touch of glamour with the cheerleaders also doing their bit on this front while the astronomical amount of money involved was the subject of much debate. Various opinion polls focused on the large number of women followers among the millions of TV viewers.
But the IPL was not only about glitz, glamour and big bucks. It also succeeded in exploding many myths about the Twenty20 game - that it is a batsman's game, that it is a format of, by and for the youngsters and oldies have no place in it and that it is all slam bang with little by way of strategic moves or tactical planning.
Describing the IPL as 'a landmark time in cricket' Adam Gilchrist was of the view that after 30 years when people look back they would say it is the most important thing to have happened in cricket. "In time to come people will say IPL changed the direction of cricket," he said and it is difficult to disagree with this view.
In a tournament lasting 45 days and involving 59 matches there was bound to be a glitch or two. There was the odd incident and the hot-under-the-collar statements. Admitting the glitches IPL chairman Lalit Modi reminded everyone that it was the first year of a tournament run on a massive scale and he hoped that everything would be ironed out by the time of the next edition. Cricket fans could not wait for that to get underway such was the impact the IPL created. And now the time has come for IPL II to provide another round of cricketainment.
IPL brings silver lining to South Africa economy
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) — Moving the Indian Premier League (IPL) extravaganza to South Africa will help create a silver lining to the grey economic clouds hovering above the country.
Economists here speculate that the IPL glitz-and-glamour show, British and Irish Lions rugby tour and FIFA Confederations Cup tournament could provide a 200-million-dollar revenue boost come early July.
"These sporting events will help the country a great deal, especially with growth. Hopefully, they will help relieve some of the current economic pressures," economist Mike Schussler told the Johannesburg Star.
South Africans are feeling the financial pinch, but not so much that they have to abandon watching their favourite sport with tickets for the two IPL double-headers in Cape Town this weekend sold out inside two hours.
And any tourism fall-off suffered by the Mother City at the bottom of the continent will be more than compensated for when the IPL hits town ready to splash the cash.
One and Only, a five-star made-for-celebs hotel opened just two weeks, is a hive of activity and Cape Town will be just the first of many South African cities to benefit from the five-week, 59-match tournament.
FIFA general-secretary Jerome Valcke, who recently complained about the lack of Confederations Cup publicity ahead of the June 14-28 dress rehearsal for the 2010 World Cup, would surely approve of hype IPL-style.
"The heat is on," scream full-page newspaper advertisements bringing revenue to a local industry hard hit by the global financial crisis and every night public and pay television viewers are treated to humorous IPL promotions.
No South African is happier than football official Danny Jordaan at the decision to select South Africa ahead of England as the temporary 'home' of a show likely to woo many converts to the shortest version of the game.
A key figure in the winning World Cup bid team, Jordaan has spent countless hours fending off criticism from foreign media about the readiness of South Africa to stage the international football showcase.
"Moving this tournament, with its considerable financial implications and huge global television audience, to South Africa in such a short space of time is yet another major indication of world confidence in us," said Joordan.
"Some of the biggest cricket stars in the world will be here showcasing again the world-class facilities of our country and love for high-quality entertainment."
There will be plenty of familiar faces on the IPL pitches as well with the 15 original South African choices for the second edition bolstered by late additions Yusuf Abdulla and Charl Langeveldt.
All the big-name Proteas are there and also Durban-born Tyron Henderson, whose 262 Twenty20 wickets convinced defending champions Rajasthan Royals to spend 650,000 dollars and win a fierce bidding war with Deccan Chargers.
Economists here speculate that the IPL glitz-and-glamour show, British and Irish Lions rugby tour and FIFA Confederations Cup tournament could provide a 200-million-dollar revenue boost come early July.
"These sporting events will help the country a great deal, especially with growth. Hopefully, they will help relieve some of the current economic pressures," economist Mike Schussler told the Johannesburg Star.
South Africans are feeling the financial pinch, but not so much that they have to abandon watching their favourite sport with tickets for the two IPL double-headers in Cape Town this weekend sold out inside two hours.
And any tourism fall-off suffered by the Mother City at the bottom of the continent will be more than compensated for when the IPL hits town ready to splash the cash.
One and Only, a five-star made-for-celebs hotel opened just two weeks, is a hive of activity and Cape Town will be just the first of many South African cities to benefit from the five-week, 59-match tournament.
FIFA general-secretary Jerome Valcke, who recently complained about the lack of Confederations Cup publicity ahead of the June 14-28 dress rehearsal for the 2010 World Cup, would surely approve of hype IPL-style.
"The heat is on," scream full-page newspaper advertisements bringing revenue to a local industry hard hit by the global financial crisis and every night public and pay television viewers are treated to humorous IPL promotions.
No South African is happier than football official Danny Jordaan at the decision to select South Africa ahead of England as the temporary 'home' of a show likely to woo many converts to the shortest version of the game.
A key figure in the winning World Cup bid team, Jordaan has spent countless hours fending off criticism from foreign media about the readiness of South Africa to stage the international football showcase.
"Moving this tournament, with its considerable financial implications and huge global television audience, to South Africa in such a short space of time is yet another major indication of world confidence in us," said Joordan.
"Some of the biggest cricket stars in the world will be here showcasing again the world-class facilities of our country and love for high-quality entertainment."
There will be plenty of familiar faces on the IPL pitches as well with the 15 original South African choices for the second edition bolstered by late additions Yusuf Abdulla and Charl Langeveldt.
All the big-name Proteas are there and also Durban-born Tyron Henderson, whose 262 Twenty20 wickets convinced defending champions Rajasthan Royals to spend 650,000 dollars and win a fierce bidding war with Deccan Chargers.
Mixed day for Knight Riders; they win 1, lose 1
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Kolkata, April 15: Kolkata Knight Riders enjoyed mixed success as of the two practice games they played on Wednesday, winning one game while losing the other.
The Shah Rukh Khan owned team lost the first game against Free State by two wickets.
Defending a meagre target off 140 runs, they managed to stretch the home team to the last ball but in the end, the score just did not prove enough.
They bounced back in the second game to romp home to a 59 run victory. Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum scored 76 each as KKR set up a formidable total of 204 runs in 20 overs. In reply, Free State could muster only 145/7.
The Shah Rukh Khan owned team lost the first game against Free State by two wickets.
Defending a meagre target off 140 runs, they managed to stretch the home team to the last ball but in the end, the score just did not prove enough.
They bounced back in the second game to romp home to a 59 run victory. Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum scored 76 each as KKR set up a formidable total of 204 runs in 20 overs. In reply, Free State could muster only 145/7.
Priyanka Gandhi bats for Shahrukh
News
follows wherever Shahrukh Khan goes. He scores whether is on or off the field. When his films are not shining, he let cricket
shine. With Indian Premiere League (IPL) Season II round the corner, he is in the news again. And believe it or not, Priyanka Gandhi is going to cheer for his team Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL Season II, which is starting on April 18.
Priyanka Gandhi was seen cheering for Shahrukh's Kolkata Knight Riders along with hubby Robert Vadra and brother Rahul Gandhi in one of the IPL matches last year. This year too, the charismatic Congress star campaigner, is going to support Shahrukh's team in spite of her busy schedule. Kolkata Knight Riders meet Deccan Chargers in their opening match in Cape Town on April 19.
Interestingly, Priyanka is a huge fan of Shahrukh and they are close to each other. This camaraderie has even led to rumours that Shahrukh would join politics.
Well, Shahrukh and Priyanka seem to be playing politics on the field!
follows wherever Shahrukh Khan goes. He scores whether is on or off the field. When his films are not shining, he let cricket
shine. With Indian Premiere League (IPL) Season II round the corner, he is in the news again. And believe it or not, Priyanka Gandhi is going to cheer for his team Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL Season II, which is starting on April 18.
Priyanka Gandhi was seen cheering for Shahrukh's Kolkata Knight Riders along with hubby Robert Vadra and brother Rahul Gandhi in one of the IPL matches last year. This year too, the charismatic Congress star campaigner, is going to support Shahrukh's team in spite of her busy schedule. Kolkata Knight Riders meet Deccan Chargers in their opening match in Cape Town on April 19.
Interestingly, Priyanka is a huge fan of Shahrukh and they are close to each other. This camaraderie has even led to rumours that Shahrukh would join politics.
Well, Shahrukh and Priyanka seem to be playing politics on the field!
Skipper Gayle leads Windies in IPL
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ST JOHN'S, Antigua (AFP) — West Indies captain Chris Gayle will head up the Caribbean swashbucklers at the second Indian Premier League tournament.
Gayle will hope to make up for his injury-hit season last year when he turns out for the Kolkata Knight Riders in South Africa, the venue for the competition after security threats saw it moved from India.
The 29-year-old left-hander, who enjoys an impressive average batting average of 40 plus in both Tests and one-day internationals, can be a destructive force when he gets going.
He formerly held the record for the highest innings in a Twenty20, having scored 117 against South Africa in the World Twenty20 Championship, and was the only batsman to have hit a century in the format.
New Zealander Brendon McCullum eventually broke that record when he notched up an incredible 158 not out for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the first game of the inaugural IPL in 2008.
At the IPL player auction for the eight-team league, which comprises 59 Twenty20 games over five weeks, fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor - who are both useful with the bat, were both snapped up for 150,000 dollars by Deccan Chargers and Kings XI Punjab respectively.
The Chargers also signed Dwayne Smith for 100,000 dollars, while rookie Barbadian pacer Kemar Roach and Kieron Pollard both remained unsold at the auction.
Dwayne Bravo will hope to star for the Mumbai Indians in his second season after West Indies selectors chose to ignore him for the two-Test series against England, which will see his IPL countrymen have to leave South Africa on May 1.
Bravo said his availability for the Mumbai Indians squad had not arisen because of the recent cash feud between players and the West Indies board.
"I have been advised by doctors to get my ankle stronger before I can play five-day cricket. The plan is to join the team in England when the ODIs begin."
Gayle and the likes of Edwards will, like their seven possible England opponents in the IPL, be available for a little less than two weeks and will be paid on a pro-rata basis as a result.
The run-up to the IPL was marked by a threat by five senior West Indies players to withdraw from the series in England as they had already committed to play in the tournament.
The problem arose after the series was arranged bilaterally between the West Indies and England boards after the withdrawal of Sri Lanka - whose players demanded they be allowed to play in the IPL - and falls outside the Future Tours Programme.
Gayle will hope to make up for his injury-hit season last year when he turns out for the Kolkata Knight Riders in South Africa, the venue for the competition after security threats saw it moved from India.
The 29-year-old left-hander, who enjoys an impressive average batting average of 40 plus in both Tests and one-day internationals, can be a destructive force when he gets going.
He formerly held the record for the highest innings in a Twenty20, having scored 117 against South Africa in the World Twenty20 Championship, and was the only batsman to have hit a century in the format.
New Zealander Brendon McCullum eventually broke that record when he notched up an incredible 158 not out for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the first game of the inaugural IPL in 2008.
At the IPL player auction for the eight-team league, which comprises 59 Twenty20 games over five weeks, fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor - who are both useful with the bat, were both snapped up for 150,000 dollars by Deccan Chargers and Kings XI Punjab respectively.
The Chargers also signed Dwayne Smith for 100,000 dollars, while rookie Barbadian pacer Kemar Roach and Kieron Pollard both remained unsold at the auction.
Dwayne Bravo will hope to star for the Mumbai Indians in his second season after West Indies selectors chose to ignore him for the two-Test series against England, which will see his IPL countrymen have to leave South Africa on May 1.
Bravo said his availability for the Mumbai Indians squad had not arisen because of the recent cash feud between players and the West Indies board.
"I have been advised by doctors to get my ankle stronger before I can play five-day cricket. The plan is to join the team in England when the ODIs begin."
Gayle and the likes of Edwards will, like their seven possible England opponents in the IPL, be available for a little less than two weeks and will be paid on a pro-rata basis as a result.
The run-up to the IPL was marked by a threat by five senior West Indies players to withdraw from the series in England as they had already committed to play in the tournament.
The problem arose after the series was arranged bilaterally between the West Indies and England boards after the withdrawal of Sri Lanka - whose players demanded they be allowed to play in the IPL - and falls outside the Future Tours Programme.
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