Matthew Hayden (AUS)
- Top run scorer, in domineering form, what more can you say?! Haydos is back and with some bang! He plundered three hundreds and one fifty, with 659 runs, at an average of 73.22, including the fastest ever World Cup Hundred off just 66 balls.
Adam Gilchrist (wk) (AUS)
- Sealed his place with his innings of 149 in the Final, which was the fastest and highest ever scored in a Final. His best knock came at the most vital of times and it won his team the game. Tidy behind the stumps as ever with 12 Catches and 5 Stumpings.
Ricky Ponting (c) (AUS)
- Captained the winning team to victory. Captaincy was easier for Ponting than for others, however he did what was required and played some sumptuous innings. Clever user of the powerplays and particularly Shaun Tait.
Mahela Jayawardene (vc) (SRL)
- Played one of the innings of the tournament in the Semi-Final, showing a lot of players, notably England’s, how to construct a one day innings. Commands the respect of his troops and the world.
Scott Styris (NZL)
- Surprise package at the World Cup. Had been out of form after injury, but came back to deliver on his talent on the biggest of stages. Handy with the ball as well, he was the lynchpin around which the Kiwi’s batted.
Kevin Pietersen (ENG)
- The only player who did not make it into the Semi-Finals. Two hundreds and one of them in a victory, a first for KP. He showed why he is number one in the world and looks set to up his game to a new level, having displayed higher levels of maturity and shot selection as the tournament progressed.
Michael Clarke (AUS)
- Down as the finisher, as that is what he ended up doing for Australia from number four! Four not outs, during which he guided Australia home, he took over from Mike Hussey and is really turning into one of Australia’s most dependable performers. Class fielder too.
Shane Bond (NZL)
- Did not deliver in the Semi-Final, but up to that point he was sublime and extremely economical. If he can stay fit he can achieve a lot more and maintain that ridiculously low strike rate in the teens.
Lasith Malinga (SRL)
- Star of the tournament with the ball, despite being sidelined by injury half way through. With four wickets in four balls for the first time in international cricket against South Africa, he is going to be a star for years to come. Best bowler for Sri Lanka in the Final too.
Muttiah Muralitharan (SRL)
- They still can’t stop him and he did it all with a smile. Surely now the World’s best and most enthusiastic! He may now retire from One Day Internationals, but Shane Warne’s Test Wickets Record is under serious threat.
Glenn McGrath (AUS)
- Pigeon signed off in style as the leading World Cup 2007 wicket taker, with 26 and he is now comfortably the World Cup's highest ever wicket taker. Sides tried to get after him, but he usually got his own way in the end, as ever! Can walk off in to retirement a proud man indeed.
12th Man: Brad Hogg (AUS) / Jaques Kallis (SAF)
- The mysterious googly of Brad Hogg proved to be many a batsman’s undoing and in need of an extra spinner he is surely the man to fit the bill. He now has his eyes on Stuart MacGill’s assumed Test place. Meanwhile, Jaques Kallis gets a mention as South Africa’s best player, just ahead of his captain, Graeme Smith, but ultimately he was a letdown in the big games, uncharacteristically giving his wicket away on too many occasions, having been criticised for scoring too slowly against Australia earlier on.
Showing posts with label World Cup 2007. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Cup 2007. Show all posts
Tuesday, 1 May 2007
Monday, 30 April 2007
Still awake?
Finally, after 47 days of predominantly dour cricket – and one overwhelming horror – this World Cup has come to a suitably anti-climactic end. To call it tedious, and bereft of any semblance of Caribbean flavour would be an understatement. It was a lifeless tournament that left its hosts feeling totally detached; only in the last few games were exorbitant ticket prices reduced to levels of normality.
In the words of Michael Vaughan and the whole of Team England, we must try and “take the positives”. I praised the format prior to the tournament, thinking of the initial group stages as ‘pre-qualifiers’ and the Super Eight competition as the main bulk of the tournament (the ‘Super Nine’ format of 1992 is widely regarded as the best format yet).
However, the progress of Ireland and Bangladesh rather threw away the idea of the elite eight nations each playing the other once. Bangladesh’s win against South Africa and Ireland’s triumph against the Tigers excepted, all their Super Eight games were predictable in the extreme. Meanwhile, the ICC cannot be blamed for the West Indies side failing to catch fire, or Australia being so good that none of their games were closely contested. Equally, with their desire to involve the whole of the Caribbean (games were played over eight islands) one could sympathise with the ICC for wanting to extend the length.
But they get it horribly wrong - and, by the end, only the ICC's bank account would have been happy.
Although the ICC may have believed heavyweight clashes in the Super Eights merited being played on different days, and, if Australia had been less good and India and Pakistan had been there, the Super Eights may have been enthralling, a tournament of nearly seven weeks was always going to be too long. But ultimately the Cup was characterised by the ultimate turn-off: endless isolated mis-matches.
See 'How to Host a World Cup'
In the words of Michael Vaughan and the whole of Team England, we must try and “take the positives”. I praised the format prior to the tournament, thinking of the initial group stages as ‘pre-qualifiers’ and the Super Eight competition as the main bulk of the tournament (the ‘Super Nine’ format of 1992 is widely regarded as the best format yet).
However, the progress of Ireland and Bangladesh rather threw away the idea of the elite eight nations each playing the other once. Bangladesh’s win against South Africa and Ireland’s triumph against the Tigers excepted, all their Super Eight games were predictable in the extreme. Meanwhile, the ICC cannot be blamed for the West Indies side failing to catch fire, or Australia being so good that none of their games were closely contested. Equally, with their desire to involve the whole of the Caribbean (games were played over eight islands) one could sympathise with the ICC for wanting to extend the length.
But they get it horribly wrong - and, by the end, only the ICC's bank account would have been happy.
Although the ICC may have believed heavyweight clashes in the Super Eights merited being played on different days, and, if Australia had been less good and India and Pakistan had been there, the Super Eights may have been enthralling, a tournament of nearly seven weeks was always going to be too long. But ultimately the Cup was characterised by the ultimate turn-off: endless isolated mis-matches.
See 'How to Host a World Cup'
Saturday, 28 April 2007
Final Preview: Australia vs Sri Lanka
We finally come to the end. It has been that sort of World Cup hasn't it? All the thrills and excitement we were promised have largely failed to materialise thus far and everybody wants this match to be one of the greatest of all time. The good news is that it could well be that!
In a repeat of the 1996 Final, Sri Lanka, underdogs once again, are taking on the Champions elect, Australia. Sri Lanka will not mind their underdog status though as they play some of their greatest cricket when they feel free to express themselves, especially at the top of the order. And of course, it is when Australia are that their most confident that they can actually be at their most vulnerable, as in 1996 and during the recent CB series. They have shown a level of professionalism and focus so far though that few teams in the history of the game have ever matched, if any. The pitch in Barbados should favour pace and do something first up, bad news for Sri Lanka maybe, or maybe not with their pace line-up. It is their spinners who can stiffle games though, so they will be hoping that the pitch is slow when the Aussies bat and that is more likely in the second half.
So we all hope that this equation will add up to one fantastic final, rife with tension, brilliance and ultimately delerium. The team news is good, everyone is fit. Australia will line up as per usual with a formidable batting line-up, backed up by a combination of a strike bowler, evergreen miser, industrious work horse, mysterious spinner and a few bits and bobs. Indeed their opening partnership is a culmination of the success of Sri Lanka's new approach in 1996. Both of these sides really do go for broke in the first twenty overs, hint hint England hey? Sri Lanka meanwhile match up pretty well, with the mystery man himself, a pacey spearhead, two wiley old misers and a few part timers. There batting is prehaps not as strong, but many would say that their bowling contains more wicket takers and options. Overall, this is how they match up man for man:
Ricky Ponting (c) 10
vs
Mahela Jayawardene (c) 9
Matthew Hayden 9
Adam Gilchrist (wk) 9
Michael Clarke 9
vs
Sanath Jayasuriya 9
Upal Tharanga 6
Kumar Sangakkara (wk) 9
Andrew Symonds 9
Michael Hussey 8
Shane Watson 7
vs
Chamara Silva 8
Tilakaratne Dilshan 8
Russell Arnold 7
Brad Hogg 8
Nathan Bracken 8
Shaun Tait 8
Glenn McGrath 8
vs
Chaminda Vaas 8
Farheez Maharoof / Dilhara Fernando 6
Muttiah Muralitharan 10
Lasith Malinga 9
Totals: Australia 93 Sri Lanka 89
Prediction: The toss could prove crucial to the result on this wicket. I want Sri Lanka to win, I tipped them at the start, therefore I can not change my mind now, Sri Lanka, though the brain tells us all that it will likely be Australia.
Key Players: Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath, Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas.
In a repeat of the 1996 Final, Sri Lanka, underdogs once again, are taking on the Champions elect, Australia. Sri Lanka will not mind their underdog status though as they play some of their greatest cricket when they feel free to express themselves, especially at the top of the order. And of course, it is when Australia are that their most confident that they can actually be at their most vulnerable, as in 1996 and during the recent CB series. They have shown a level of professionalism and focus so far though that few teams in the history of the game have ever matched, if any. The pitch in Barbados should favour pace and do something first up, bad news for Sri Lanka maybe, or maybe not with their pace line-up. It is their spinners who can stiffle games though, so they will be hoping that the pitch is slow when the Aussies bat and that is more likely in the second half.
So we all hope that this equation will add up to one fantastic final, rife with tension, brilliance and ultimately delerium. The team news is good, everyone is fit. Australia will line up as per usual with a formidable batting line-up, backed up by a combination of a strike bowler, evergreen miser, industrious work horse, mysterious spinner and a few bits and bobs. Indeed their opening partnership is a culmination of the success of Sri Lanka's new approach in 1996. Both of these sides really do go for broke in the first twenty overs, hint hint England hey? Sri Lanka meanwhile match up pretty well, with the mystery man himself, a pacey spearhead, two wiley old misers and a few part timers. There batting is prehaps not as strong, but many would say that their bowling contains more wicket takers and options. Overall, this is how they match up man for man:
Ricky Ponting (c) 10
vs
Mahela Jayawardene (c) 9
Matthew Hayden 9
Adam Gilchrist (wk) 9
Michael Clarke 9
vs
Sanath Jayasuriya 9
Upal Tharanga 6
Kumar Sangakkara (wk) 9
Andrew Symonds 9
Michael Hussey 8
Shane Watson 7
vs
Chamara Silva 8
Tilakaratne Dilshan 8
Russell Arnold 7
Brad Hogg 8
Nathan Bracken 8
Shaun Tait 8
Glenn McGrath 8
vs
Chaminda Vaas 8
Farheez Maharoof / Dilhara Fernando 6
Muttiah Muralitharan 10
Lasith Malinga 9
Totals: Australia 93 Sri Lanka 89
Prediction: The toss could prove crucial to the result on this wicket. I want Sri Lanka to win, I tipped them at the start, therefore I can not change my mind now, Sri Lanka, though the brain tells us all that it will likely be Australia.
Key Players: Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath, Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas.
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
Semi-Final Preview: Australia vs South Africa
After yesterday's somewhat surprisingly one sided affair fans the world over will be hoping for a closer contest this afternoon. The history between Australia and South Africa is plentiful, the desire to win on both sides strong. Having famously "choked" in 2003 and 1999, against Australia, South Africa will be desperate to win today and put to bed the lingering doubts over their ability to play the big games. Cricket is as much a mental game as it is a technical one, just ask Duncan Fletcher and the mental strength of the Australians is what separates them from the chasing pack. South Africa's batting line-up is almost as talented and long and has the ability to take the game to Australia.
Batting well provides South Africa's best chance of victory here. The Australian attack is not the strongest it has ever been, though it is undeniably mighty. If South Africa bat first and really get stuck in, they can reap the rewards derived from placing Australia under pressure. There are cracks within the Australian team, but you have to be on top of your game and extremely ruthless in order to exploit them. If you don't, then simply put, Australia will nail you! England showed that Australia are not infaliable, but also that if you give them a sniff they will go in for the kill.
South Africa are still bouyed by their victory just over a year ago, when they chased down over 400 to beat the Aussies. It is time though to forget that game, it is in the past, it was a different Aussie bowling attack and it was a one off game. The South African failure in the group stages proved the faliability of opting to chase. If Australia are allowed to set the pace and get above 350, nine times out of ten you will be out of the game before you have started. South Africa must realise that their best chance is to bat and put the Australian batting line up under pressure, especially considering that their attack is so one dimensional when bowling first, on what should be a belter of a wicket. No help for the seamers in St Lucia I'm afraid and it's easier to play the so far mysterious Brad Hogg when setting, rather than under the pressure of chasing.
Australia meanwhile are dominant. Undefeated in 27 World Cup games, spanning 8 years, they look focused, determined and most importantly of all, confident. Over confident? Not a chance. Since the Ashes 2005, this Australian side have risen their game to a new level and after the CB Series surprise, they are all to aware of the dangers which over confidence can bring. They can be beaten, but they won't lose. That is what makes them the best side in the World. With Australia completely dominating this World Cup to date Gill Woolmer has asked South Africa to "do it for Bob", we ask them to do it for the good of cricket!
Prediction: If South Africa bat first they can win this, if not the Aussie dominance will continue. It will be close with recent encounters standing at 3-3.
Key Players: The performances of Graeme Smith, Jaques Kallis, Brad Hogg and Shaun Tait could decide this one. The Aussie batsman rarely fail, so it will have to be their bowlers who do and the South African batsman who make the most of it if there is to be an upset.
Batting well provides South Africa's best chance of victory here. The Australian attack is not the strongest it has ever been, though it is undeniably mighty. If South Africa bat first and really get stuck in, they can reap the rewards derived from placing Australia under pressure. There are cracks within the Australian team, but you have to be on top of your game and extremely ruthless in order to exploit them. If you don't, then simply put, Australia will nail you! England showed that Australia are not infaliable, but also that if you give them a sniff they will go in for the kill.
South Africa are still bouyed by their victory just over a year ago, when they chased down over 400 to beat the Aussies. It is time though to forget that game, it is in the past, it was a different Aussie bowling attack and it was a one off game. The South African failure in the group stages proved the faliability of opting to chase. If Australia are allowed to set the pace and get above 350, nine times out of ten you will be out of the game before you have started. South Africa must realise that their best chance is to bat and put the Australian batting line up under pressure, especially considering that their attack is so one dimensional when bowling first, on what should be a belter of a wicket. No help for the seamers in St Lucia I'm afraid and it's easier to play the so far mysterious Brad Hogg when setting, rather than under the pressure of chasing.
Australia meanwhile are dominant. Undefeated in 27 World Cup games, spanning 8 years, they look focused, determined and most importantly of all, confident. Over confident? Not a chance. Since the Ashes 2005, this Australian side have risen their game to a new level and after the CB Series surprise, they are all to aware of the dangers which over confidence can bring. They can be beaten, but they won't lose. That is what makes them the best side in the World. With Australia completely dominating this World Cup to date Gill Woolmer has asked South Africa to "do it for Bob", we ask them to do it for the good of cricket!
Prediction: If South Africa bat first they can win this, if not the Aussie dominance will continue. It will be close with recent encounters standing at 3-3.
Key Players: The performances of Graeme Smith, Jaques Kallis, Brad Hogg and Shaun Tait could decide this one. The Aussie batsman rarely fail, so it will have to be their bowlers who do and the South African batsman who make the most of it if there is to be an upset.
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
Semi-Final Preview: Sri Lanka vs New Zealand
This is likely to be the closer of the two matches, with two very evenly matched sides looking to make it into the final. New Zealand have not made the final from this stage in five attempts, whilst of course Sri Lanka won the competition back in 1996. The recent ODI series and Test series in New Zealand were both drawn 2-2 and 1-1 and having finished second (SRL) and third (NZL) in the Super Eights, these teams are also ranked third (NZL) and fourth (SRL) in the world.
The pitch at Sabina Park in Jamaica is likely to favour the seamers, hence Ireland's success. Therefore you would imagine that the Kiwis have a natural advantage. However, in Chaminda Vaas and the returning Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lankans can more than match what New Zealand have to offer in Shane Bond and James Franklin. The spin department sees Muttiah Muralitharan and Daniel Vettori go to head to head, whilst there may also be roles to play for Sanath Jayasuriya and Tilakaratne Dilshan. New Zealand will have to decide on whether to stick with the impressive young Jeetan Patel, or include the extra seamer, though both Mark Gillespie and Michael Mason were given serious hammer by the Australians. The presence of Jacob Oram, Scott Styris and Craig McMillan, may just tempt Fleming to include Patel, whilst Sri Lanka have a difficult choice to make between Dilharo Fernando, who has been impressive at the death and Farheez Maharoof, who impressed against Ireland and can add a lower order batting threat.
The head to head batting makes for interesting reading for Stephen Fleming. Chaminda Vaas has dismissed him the most in ODI's and has had him for a duck on the last four occassions that the two have met. Kumar Sangakkara meanwhile loves batting against New Zealand, having made 69*, 79, 15, 89 and 36 in his last five ODI innings against the Kiwis. Meanwhile, in the recent Test series he made 4, 100*, 156* and 8. If New Zealand don't get him early they will be in trouble. Two other key players are likely to be the evergreen Sanath Jayasuriya, so key to Sri Lanka setting a large asking rate and Scott Styris, who has been in blistering form so far. Shane Bond knows the importance of getting Jayasuriya before he unleashes his destructive potential and you feel that if he is out for a low score then New Zealand can keep Sri Lanka within reach. Scott Styris meanwhile will be stressing to his team mates the importance of playing Murali with the same poise and composure with which he did in the last meeting between these two, which of course Sri Lanka won.
Prediction: It's going to be close. Win the toss and win I say.
Key Players: Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Scott Styris and Shane Bond.
The pitch at Sabina Park in Jamaica is likely to favour the seamers, hence Ireland's success. Therefore you would imagine that the Kiwis have a natural advantage. However, in Chaminda Vaas and the returning Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lankans can more than match what New Zealand have to offer in Shane Bond and James Franklin. The spin department sees Muttiah Muralitharan and Daniel Vettori go to head to head, whilst there may also be roles to play for Sanath Jayasuriya and Tilakaratne Dilshan. New Zealand will have to decide on whether to stick with the impressive young Jeetan Patel, or include the extra seamer, though both Mark Gillespie and Michael Mason were given serious hammer by the Australians. The presence of Jacob Oram, Scott Styris and Craig McMillan, may just tempt Fleming to include Patel, whilst Sri Lanka have a difficult choice to make between Dilharo Fernando, who has been impressive at the death and Farheez Maharoof, who impressed against Ireland and can add a lower order batting threat.
The head to head batting makes for interesting reading for Stephen Fleming. Chaminda Vaas has dismissed him the most in ODI's and has had him for a duck on the last four occassions that the two have met. Kumar Sangakkara meanwhile loves batting against New Zealand, having made 69*, 79, 15, 89 and 36 in his last five ODI innings against the Kiwis. Meanwhile, in the recent Test series he made 4, 100*, 156* and 8. If New Zealand don't get him early they will be in trouble. Two other key players are likely to be the evergreen Sanath Jayasuriya, so key to Sri Lanka setting a large asking rate and Scott Styris, who has been in blistering form so far. Shane Bond knows the importance of getting Jayasuriya before he unleashes his destructive potential and you feel that if he is out for a low score then New Zealand can keep Sri Lanka within reach. Scott Styris meanwhile will be stressing to his team mates the importance of playing Murali with the same poise and composure with which he did in the last meeting between these two, which of course Sri Lanka won.
Prediction: It's going to be close. Win the toss and win I say.
Key Players: Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Scott Styris and Shane Bond.
Sunday, 22 April 2007
Super Eight’s Going Home Flops
It does exactly what it says on the tin! (NB: Players must have played at least 5 games):
1. Chris Gayle WIN
Inns: 9 Runs: 212 Average: 25.33 HS: 79 Bowling Average: 56.4
- Failed to be the explosive player the West Indies needed. Simply didn't show up and even his bowling was unusually wayward.
2. Shariar Nafees BAN
Inns: 6 Runs: 31 Average: 5.16 HS: 12
- Having showed so much promise in the last twelve months, Nafees just couldn't buy a run, averaging 5 from 6 innings.
3. Michael Vaughan (vc) ENG
Inns: 9 Runs: 209 Average: 23.22 HS: 79
- The similarities with Gayle are scary. Bowling better than batting, top score of 79 in his last match! His captaincy wasn't bad, but was rather dictated by the poor performances of his team mates. Vaughan hardly set the tone for them though, at the crease or in the field. Surely the end of his ODI torture.
4. Eoin Morgan IRE
Inns: 9 Runs: 91 Average: 10.11 HS: 28
- One of very few Irish players to have played county cricket, he failed abysmally and was a real let down. Many expected a lot more of a talented player, especially John Emburey.
5. Habibul Bashar (c) BAN
Inns: 8 Runs: 105 Average: 13.12 HS: 32
- The complete opposite of confidence personified! Bashar simply got worse as the tournament progressed, failing to set an example and having a penchant for the run out. His captaincy wasn't much better, hence why he gains the acrymonious honour of captaining our flop side.
6. Aftab Ahmed BAN
Inns: 9 Runs: 128 Average: 14.22 HS: 35 Bowling Average: 38.0
- Aftab is one of Bangladesh's promising young guns, but he failed to deliver in this tournament and only just managed to score slightly more runs than his captain, a dubious honour.
7. Andre Botha IRE
Inns: 7 Runs: 62 Average: 10.33 HS: 28 Bowling Average: 36.2
- His bowling was economical, but for a middle order batsman his contributions were very poor. Not helped by injury, but Ireland would have expected more from their overseas import.
8. Andrew Flintoff ENG
Inns: 7 Runs: 92 Average: 13.14 HS: 43
- Bowling was good, if a little expensive at times. No-one will question his place on bowling skill, but number six now appears a skyscrapper too high for Freddie. Against the West Indies, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa Flintoff contributed just 26 runs from 5 innings, that becomes 11 from 4 if you remove yesterday's effort. That is woeful form and undeserving of even eighth place in the batting.
9. Dinesh Ramdin (wk) WIN
Inns: 6 Runs: 84 Average: 16.8 HS: 52
- Failed to dispel the notion that he is not a wicket keeper batsman. In fact at times his glovework didn't even suggest he was a wicket keeper!
10. Sajid Mahmood ENG
Overs: 48.0 Average: 32.37 Economy: 5.40 Batting Average: 1.0
- Another tale of wasted talent. Has a good slower ball, can top 90 m.p.h. Unfortunately this matters little when it shoots down leg, or is a wide half volley. A batsman's best friend, he really needs a first full season, or two, in county cricket to hone his skills.
11. Jerome Taylor WIN
Overs: 64.0 Average: 51.0 Economy: 4.78 Batting Average: 9.25
- He has failed once before and been dropped. However, he was very young then. Having looked like being back to his best before the tournament, Taylor could not live up to lofty expectations once again and tailed away. Just wasn't the strike bowler the Windies needed, but he was hardly well handled by his coach.
1. Chris Gayle WIN
Inns: 9 Runs: 212 Average: 25.33 HS: 79 Bowling Average: 56.4
- Failed to be the explosive player the West Indies needed. Simply didn't show up and even his bowling was unusually wayward.
2. Shariar Nafees BAN
Inns: 6 Runs: 31 Average: 5.16 HS: 12
- Having showed so much promise in the last twelve months, Nafees just couldn't buy a run, averaging 5 from 6 innings.
3. Michael Vaughan (vc) ENG
Inns: 9 Runs: 209 Average: 23.22 HS: 79
- The similarities with Gayle are scary. Bowling better than batting, top score of 79 in his last match! His captaincy wasn't bad, but was rather dictated by the poor performances of his team mates. Vaughan hardly set the tone for them though, at the crease or in the field. Surely the end of his ODI torture.
4. Eoin Morgan IRE
Inns: 9 Runs: 91 Average: 10.11 HS: 28
- One of very few Irish players to have played county cricket, he failed abysmally and was a real let down. Many expected a lot more of a talented player, especially John Emburey.
5. Habibul Bashar (c) BAN
Inns: 8 Runs: 105 Average: 13.12 HS: 32
- The complete opposite of confidence personified! Bashar simply got worse as the tournament progressed, failing to set an example and having a penchant for the run out. His captaincy wasn't much better, hence why he gains the acrymonious honour of captaining our flop side.
6. Aftab Ahmed BAN
Inns: 9 Runs: 128 Average: 14.22 HS: 35 Bowling Average: 38.0
- Aftab is one of Bangladesh's promising young guns, but he failed to deliver in this tournament and only just managed to score slightly more runs than his captain, a dubious honour.
7. Andre Botha IRE
Inns: 7 Runs: 62 Average: 10.33 HS: 28 Bowling Average: 36.2
- His bowling was economical, but for a middle order batsman his contributions were very poor. Not helped by injury, but Ireland would have expected more from their overseas import.
8. Andrew Flintoff ENG
Inns: 7 Runs: 92 Average: 13.14 HS: 43
- Bowling was good, if a little expensive at times. No-one will question his place on bowling skill, but number six now appears a skyscrapper too high for Freddie. Against the West Indies, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa Flintoff contributed just 26 runs from 5 innings, that becomes 11 from 4 if you remove yesterday's effort. That is woeful form and undeserving of even eighth place in the batting.
9. Dinesh Ramdin (wk) WIN
Inns: 6 Runs: 84 Average: 16.8 HS: 52
- Failed to dispel the notion that he is not a wicket keeper batsman. In fact at times his glovework didn't even suggest he was a wicket keeper!
10. Sajid Mahmood ENG
Overs: 48.0 Average: 32.37 Economy: 5.40 Batting Average: 1.0
- Another tale of wasted talent. Has a good slower ball, can top 90 m.p.h. Unfortunately this matters little when it shoots down leg, or is a wide half volley. A batsman's best friend, he really needs a first full season, or two, in county cricket to hone his skills.
11. Jerome Taylor WIN
Overs: 64.0 Average: 51.0 Economy: 4.78 Batting Average: 9.25
- He has failed once before and been dropped. However, he was very young then. Having looked like being back to his best before the tournament, Taylor could not live up to lofty expectations once again and tailed away. Just wasn't the strike bowler the Windies needed, but he was hardly well handled by his coach.
Saturday, 21 April 2007
Preview: The end of an era
An emotional tie today pits Duncan Fletcher against Brian Lara. It would be hard to wish defeat on either of them. There really isn't much else to say, it is all about Lara and how Fletcher can motivate England. There will be some youngsters on view, but all eyes will be on the one legend on the field. It will be a timely reminder to England that none of their players are near reaching that level yet.
Prediction: West Indies win I'm afraid.
Players to watch: Brian Charles Lara and Michael Vaughan.
Prediction: West Indies win I'm afraid.
Players to watch: Brian Charles Lara and Michael Vaughan.
Friday, 20 April 2007
Some competition needed
After Australia's dissection of New Zealand today, the World Cup is desperately in need of some close and exciting semi-finals and a great final. The tournament has had some surprises and a couple of nail-biting finishes, but has generally been littered with one-sided matches that have been over long before they actually finished.
With Australia sweeping away all before them there is a danger that the World Champions will win their third title on the spin without even being seriously challenged. It is up to the South Africans to finally give them a game and should the Australians triumph then New Zealand or Sri Lanka must make the final a contest.
If not the 2007 World Cup will probably go down in history as the biggest anti-climax in ODI cricket. All the talk of it being the most open tournament in years is already looking foolish, with the gulf between the Australians and the rest widening into a gaping abyss. There is no doubt that the Australians have been by far the best and most consistent team in the competition, but I'm sure even they would prefer to be pushed a little more in pursuit of a third consecutive World Cup. Let us hope that they are and the last three matches provide some cricket to remember.
With Australia sweeping away all before them there is a danger that the World Champions will win their third title on the spin without even being seriously challenged. It is up to the South Africans to finally give them a game and should the Australians triumph then New Zealand or Sri Lanka must make the final a contest.
If not the 2007 World Cup will probably go down in history as the biggest anti-climax in ODI cricket. All the talk of it being the most open tournament in years is already looking foolish, with the gulf between the Australians and the rest widening into a gaping abyss. There is no doubt that the Australians have been by far the best and most consistent team in the competition, but I'm sure even they would prefer to be pushed a little more in pursuit of a third consecutive World Cup. Let us hope that they are and the last three matches provide some cricket to remember.
Preview: Australia vs New Zealand
This should be a cracking game of cricket, but the absence of Jacob Oram will likely hit the Kiwis' hard and Hamish Marshall is no like for like replacement. This would seem to be the second choice final, but you can count on the Kiwis to not rest their best. Shane Bond will be in action with the new ball and he has proven to be an Aussie nemesis in the past. Facing him will be leading run scorer Matty Hayden. Haydos has been in sublime form early on and has really found his way back to his best form since late 2005. He and Gilchrist are still the most feared opening partnership in World Cricket.
New Zealand of course have Scott Styris, another superb performer so far. They will be looking for another big innings from him, the young Ross Taylor and as ever, Stephen Fleming, with late cameos from the likes of Brendon McCullum. In Jeetan Patel and Daniel Vettori they have a wonderful spin attack to complement their quicks and medium pacers, though they may still miss the bounce of Oram. Oram's absence may also mean that New Zealand feel uncomfortable in not playing the extra quick in place of Patel though. Australia's bowling is not quite at the same level, but with the volume of runs that they often score, their bowlers are under less pressure and nobody seems to have read Brad Hogg's googly yet.
Prediction: Australia to narrowly avenge the Chappell-Hadlee Series whitewash.
Players to watch: Matthew Hayden and Shane Bond.
New Zealand of course have Scott Styris, another superb performer so far. They will be looking for another big innings from him, the young Ross Taylor and as ever, Stephen Fleming, with late cameos from the likes of Brendon McCullum. In Jeetan Patel and Daniel Vettori they have a wonderful spin attack to complement their quicks and medium pacers, though they may still miss the bounce of Oram. Oram's absence may also mean that New Zealand feel uncomfortable in not playing the extra quick in place of Patel though. Australia's bowling is not quite at the same level, but with the volume of runs that they often score, their bowlers are under less pressure and nobody seems to have read Brad Hogg's googly yet.
Prediction: Australia to narrowly avenge the Chappell-Hadlee Series whitewash.
Players to watch: Matthew Hayden and Shane Bond.
Thursday, 19 April 2007
Preview: West Indies vs Bangladesh
At first this may appear as a nothing game, what with South Africa's brutal dismissal of England and with them, semi-final hopes of the remaining nations. However, a lot is at stake here today. West Indian circket is at an all time low and Brian Lara will want to bow out of One Day Internationals on some semblance of a high in front of home support. Where the Windies go from here is up for debate, but what is not is that Lara has been a fine player, if not captain and deserves a raptuous and victorious send off in these final two matches.
Standing in the way are of course Bangladesh who themselves have a point to prove. Having lost to Ireland they are now in danger of bowing out on a low. They will want to reassert themselves as a top nation and compete with a team who are not ranked that much higher than them at present. It will still be hard for both sets of fans to get excited about what is now a dead rubber though.
Prediction: West Indies to lift some gloom.
Players to watch: Chris Gayle and Saqibul Hasan.
Standing in the way are of course Bangladesh who themselves have a point to prove. Having lost to Ireland they are now in danger of bowing out on a low. They will want to reassert themselves as a top nation and compete with a team who are not ranked that much higher than them at present. It will still be hard for both sets of fans to get excited about what is now a dead rubber though.
Prediction: West Indies to lift some gloom.
Players to watch: Chris Gayle and Saqibul Hasan.
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
Preview: Sri Lanka vs Ireland
Ireland's final game today and it will be tough going. Having already achieved more than England by beating two Test playing nations, they now look to go level on points with their neighbour.
Sri Lanka will recall Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas - was this not the game to rest them? - it should be one sided, but Ireland have upset the apple cart before. Whatever the result, Irish cricket continues to grow.
Prediction: Sri Lanka but Ireland not to disgrace themselves.
Players to watch: Sanath Jayasuriya and William Porterfield.
Sri Lanka will recall Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas - was this not the game to rest them? - it should be one sided, but Ireland have upset the apple cart before. Whatever the result, Irish cricket continues to grow.
Prediction: Sri Lanka but Ireland not to disgrace themselves.
Players to watch: Sanath Jayasuriya and William Porterfield.
Always Look on the Bright Side
Is the glass half empty or half full? Depends who's buying ultimately, but following the understandable doom and gloom around at the moment, and well articulated by Tim and Nick on this blog, the time has come to look for the positives in English cricket.
Test Cricket
It's important that we don't mix up the One day debacle with the Test team and treat them as one and the same. Last summer, we comprehensively beat Pakistan. Over the past 3-4 years we have dominated teams on the test circuit and we should bear this in mind with the Ashes defeat.
We were beaten by a highly motivated Australian team who are comfortably the best in the world. We couldn't cope with injuries to key players, notably Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan and Simon Jones. Some of the selection choices didn't help, but playing Monty Panesar and Chris Read from the start wouldn't have changed the result.
We have a settled test team, with competition for places throughout the team. It is also a young test team, which could be around for a long time. How we bounce back in the summer will be critical, but we shouldn't panic on this front.
ODI
We went into the tournament as the 8th best team in the world. We will finish 5th or 6th, depending on what happens against the equally poor West Indies. Isn't this therefore a good tournament for us ?
South Africa aside, we have looked competitive against the big teams in the tournament. We probably gave Australia their biggest test so far and should really have beaten Sri Lanka. Never mind that we've not looked convincing against the minnows, we have at least beaten them all- unlike South Africa, India and Pakistan.
On the playing side Kevin Pieterson, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, James Anderson and Paul Nixon can all come out with reputations enhanced. Monty Panesar has shown that he can be a One day bowler. Andrew Strauss's innings yesterday was a welcome return to some sort of form
However, there are negatives. Michael Vaughan and Ed Joyce played safety first cricket at the start but didn't capitalise on their starts. Joyce in particular faces a fight to continue his international career with England while his Irish former team mates are looking forward to a new phase in theirs. Jamie Dalrymple has gone backwards with his batting and wasn't trusted with the ball. Saj Mahmood and Liam Plunkett let the opposition get off to flyers, despite Anderson at the other end. And then there is Freddy....
What do we do?
On the test side, we carry on with the players we've got and the coach we've got for the summer.
The team below is one that can look to close in on the Australians.
Cook
Strauss
Vaughan
Pieterson
Collingwood
Bell
Flintoff
Read
Jones/Anderson
Panesar
Hoggard
For One Day cricket, we need a new coach and captain. I'd go for Peter Moores as One Day coach, with Collingwood as captain. We need a new approach at the start of the innings and to identify players who have the appetite for the game and the willingness to take the risks required. This should then lead to a smooth transition for Moores to succeed Duncan Fletcher, maybe at the end of the summer.
At the last World Cup, we went out in the group stages and were amongst the worst test teams in the world. We have progressed, but we need to go further and faster.
Test Cricket
It's important that we don't mix up the One day debacle with the Test team and treat them as one and the same. Last summer, we comprehensively beat Pakistan. Over the past 3-4 years we have dominated teams on the test circuit and we should bear this in mind with the Ashes defeat.
We were beaten by a highly motivated Australian team who are comfortably the best in the world. We couldn't cope with injuries to key players, notably Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan and Simon Jones. Some of the selection choices didn't help, but playing Monty Panesar and Chris Read from the start wouldn't have changed the result.
We have a settled test team, with competition for places throughout the team. It is also a young test team, which could be around for a long time. How we bounce back in the summer will be critical, but we shouldn't panic on this front.
ODI
We went into the tournament as the 8th best team in the world. We will finish 5th or 6th, depending on what happens against the equally poor West Indies. Isn't this therefore a good tournament for us ?
South Africa aside, we have looked competitive against the big teams in the tournament. We probably gave Australia their biggest test so far and should really have beaten Sri Lanka. Never mind that we've not looked convincing against the minnows, we have at least beaten them all- unlike South Africa, India and Pakistan.
On the playing side Kevin Pieterson, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, James Anderson and Paul Nixon can all come out with reputations enhanced. Monty Panesar has shown that he can be a One day bowler. Andrew Strauss's innings yesterday was a welcome return to some sort of form
However, there are negatives. Michael Vaughan and Ed Joyce played safety first cricket at the start but didn't capitalise on their starts. Joyce in particular faces a fight to continue his international career with England while his Irish former team mates are looking forward to a new phase in theirs. Jamie Dalrymple has gone backwards with his batting and wasn't trusted with the ball. Saj Mahmood and Liam Plunkett let the opposition get off to flyers, despite Anderson at the other end. And then there is Freddy....
What do we do?
On the test side, we carry on with the players we've got and the coach we've got for the summer.
The team below is one that can look to close in on the Australians.
Cook
Strauss
Vaughan
Pieterson
Collingwood
Bell
Flintoff
Read
Jones/Anderson
Panesar
Hoggard
For One Day cricket, we need a new coach and captain. I'd go for Peter Moores as One Day coach, with Collingwood as captain. We need a new approach at the start of the innings and to identify players who have the appetite for the game and the willingness to take the risks required. This should then lead to a smooth transition for Moores to succeed Duncan Fletcher, maybe at the end of the summer.
At the last World Cup, we went out in the group stages and were amongst the worst test teams in the world. We have progressed, but we need to go further and faster.
Tuesday, 17 April 2007
What a shambles
This has been, without doubt, the worst winter in the history of English cricket. It is not overstating things to say that both the Ashes and World Cup could not have gone any worse. In nine games against top-eight opposition, England have lost every game; and only once, against Sri Lanka, did they even achieve an honorable defeat.
The one-day defeat to South Africa was utterly pathetic. England’s archaic strategy was exposed for what it is and, frankly, they were shown to be simply not good enough, lacking in fundamental quality and nous.
The fallout from the winter will be big. Duncan Fletcher, who has done a terrific job, will now surely have to go. Sadly, he has not vindicated those who laughed at Geoff Boycott’s suggestion in October that his time was up. Michael Vaughan, clearly, will have to be pushed aside as ODI captain; he is 32, so has no chance of playing in the next World Cup, and will leave behind an awful ODI record.
Andrew Flintoff, meanwhile, now cuts an increasingly forlorn figure; his batting has disintegrated to the point when number six, in both forms of the game looks ridiculous. More worryingly, his joie de vivre and self-confidence look shattered, perhaps irrevocably. Sajid Mahmood’s woefully erratic bowling, coupled with his laissez-faire attitude and the fundamental mistakes still present in his game – like putting his hand over the ball – are testament to England’s selection policy. Too often, players learn their trade on the international stage; meanwhile, individualism is coached out of them, meaning mavericks like a Lasith Malinga or a Sanath Jayasuriya are increasingly rare.
England were unlucky with injuries, but their continually baffling selection certainly didn’t help. Over the last three years, they have moved aimlessly from one one-day humiliation to the next. Though it is true that England could have had a reasonable World Cup side, had players in form two years ago remained fit and firing – Trescothick, Vaughan, Strauss, Pietersen, Collingwood, Flintoff, G.Jones, Giles, S.Jones, Harmison, Anderson – the selectors are at fault for developing no sort of coherent plan to develop others. Selections were haphazard, with the county circuit’s best English one-day batsman, Mal Loye, continually ignored, and perhaps the second best, Owais Shah, given just three games. They deserve credit for picking Ravi Bopara, and, to some extent, Paul Nixon, but not for “hunches” Bresnan, Ali, Loudon, Yardy et al.
The administrators are culpable too – for allowing a schedule which flogs their players mercilessly into the ground, and sees the World Cup directly after the Ashes tour. Basic flaws, typically, remain unadressed: there are still no Powerplays in domestic one-day cricket. In short, there was no structure in place for one-day success; all hopes were pinned on the freakish CB Series triumph and the idiosyncratic genius of Kevin Pietersen – not coincidentally, a player who learned his trade away from the age group system. England have, remarkably and astoundingly, won just one ODI series out of their last 12. Success in the World Cup would have concealed that. Only after an unmitigated shambles of a winter is there hope for a brighter future.
The one-day defeat to South Africa was utterly pathetic. England’s archaic strategy was exposed for what it is and, frankly, they were shown to be simply not good enough, lacking in fundamental quality and nous.
The fallout from the winter will be big. Duncan Fletcher, who has done a terrific job, will now surely have to go. Sadly, he has not vindicated those who laughed at Geoff Boycott’s suggestion in October that his time was up. Michael Vaughan, clearly, will have to be pushed aside as ODI captain; he is 32, so has no chance of playing in the next World Cup, and will leave behind an awful ODI record.
Andrew Flintoff, meanwhile, now cuts an increasingly forlorn figure; his batting has disintegrated to the point when number six, in both forms of the game looks ridiculous. More worryingly, his joie de vivre and self-confidence look shattered, perhaps irrevocably. Sajid Mahmood’s woefully erratic bowling, coupled with his laissez-faire attitude and the fundamental mistakes still present in his game – like putting his hand over the ball – are testament to England’s selection policy. Too often, players learn their trade on the international stage; meanwhile, individualism is coached out of them, meaning mavericks like a Lasith Malinga or a Sanath Jayasuriya are increasingly rare.
England were unlucky with injuries, but their continually baffling selection certainly didn’t help. Over the last three years, they have moved aimlessly from one one-day humiliation to the next. Though it is true that England could have had a reasonable World Cup side, had players in form two years ago remained fit and firing – Trescothick, Vaughan, Strauss, Pietersen, Collingwood, Flintoff, G.Jones, Giles, S.Jones, Harmison, Anderson – the selectors are at fault for developing no sort of coherent plan to develop others. Selections were haphazard, with the county circuit’s best English one-day batsman, Mal Loye, continually ignored, and perhaps the second best, Owais Shah, given just three games. They deserve credit for picking Ravi Bopara, and, to some extent, Paul Nixon, but not for “hunches” Bresnan, Ali, Loudon, Yardy et al.
The administrators are culpable too – for allowing a schedule which flogs their players mercilessly into the ground, and sees the World Cup directly after the Ashes tour. Basic flaws, typically, remain unadressed: there are still no Powerplays in domestic one-day cricket. In short, there was no structure in place for one-day success; all hopes were pinned on the freakish CB Series triumph and the idiosyncratic genius of Kevin Pietersen – not coincidentally, a player who learned his trade away from the age group system. England have, remarkably and astoundingly, won just one ODI series out of their last 12. Success in the World Cup would have concealed that. Only after an unmitigated shambles of a winter is there hope for a brighter future.
Woeful
The humiliating loss to South Africa was a fitting exit for an England team that had offered little to the 2007 World Cup. From the moment they failed to challenge New Zealand in their opening match England have stuttered and stumbled along, showing glimpses of quality, like nearly snatching victory against Sri Lanka and pummeling Australia for half an innings, but generally being consistently mediocre.
Poor selection and preparation has yielded poor performances from most of the team. Only Pietersen and Collingwood have played consistently well. Flintoff has bowled pretty well, but failed utterly with the bat, while Bopara and Nixon have played some fine cameos, as well as those memorable innings against Sri Lanka. Other odd good performances have punctuated the general malaise, but failed to dispell it.
Fletcher, who so brilliantly lifted England from the abyss when he first became coach, now looks bereft of ideas and the end is surely nigh. Perhaps, one more good season of home Tests is all he has left - it would be sad to see him leave now on such a terrible note.
Where England go from here in ODIs is hard to say. They have the nucleus of a good team - Pietersen, Flintoff, Collingwood, Bopara, Panesar and Anderson, but badly need more quality in key areas. Both opener slots are up for grabs, at least one of whom needs to be an aggressive big hitter (if not Trescothick then someone like him). Hopefully the forthcoming county season will yield such players, along with a genuine strike bowler, unless Simon Jones can overcome his injury problems.
The debate over the keeper will rage on, with many calling for one keeper in ODIs and another in Tests. I would prefer to see England select a keeper who can bat for both forms of cricket. My choice would be Steven Davies, though many see him as much more of a Test keeper than one for ODIs. If England do split the role then Nixon has made a good case for himself in ODIs or Prior could be given another go, with Davies in Tests.
Whatever else happens England must learn the harsh lessons given to them in this tournament and start playing ODI cricket in the aggressive manner that the best international teams have been doing for the last decade.
Poor selection and preparation has yielded poor performances from most of the team. Only Pietersen and Collingwood have played consistently well. Flintoff has bowled pretty well, but failed utterly with the bat, while Bopara and Nixon have played some fine cameos, as well as those memorable innings against Sri Lanka. Other odd good performances have punctuated the general malaise, but failed to dispell it.
Fletcher, who so brilliantly lifted England from the abyss when he first became coach, now looks bereft of ideas and the end is surely nigh. Perhaps, one more good season of home Tests is all he has left - it would be sad to see him leave now on such a terrible note.
Where England go from here in ODIs is hard to say. They have the nucleus of a good team - Pietersen, Flintoff, Collingwood, Bopara, Panesar and Anderson, but badly need more quality in key areas. Both opener slots are up for grabs, at least one of whom needs to be an aggressive big hitter (if not Trescothick then someone like him). Hopefully the forthcoming county season will yield such players, along with a genuine strike bowler, unless Simon Jones can overcome his injury problems.
The debate over the keeper will rage on, with many calling for one keeper in ODIs and another in Tests. I would prefer to see England select a keeper who can bat for both forms of cricket. My choice would be Steven Davies, though many see him as much more of a Test keeper than one for ODIs. If England do split the role then Nixon has made a good case for himself in ODIs or Prior could be given another go, with Davies in Tests.
Whatever else happens England must learn the harsh lessons given to them in this tournament and start playing ODI cricket in the aggressive manner that the best international teams have been doing for the last decade.
Preview: England vs South Africa
Big One. The time has come and only one side can progress. It is a contest between the number one ranked side in the world, when the World Cup began, South Africa, and Commonwealth Bank Series winners England. The side that wins the toss in Barbados will hope to bat and put a decent total on the board and then exploit the uncertainties in the pitch in the second half. If Michael Vaughan can remain a lucky tosser (some would say being selected is one such example!) then England really need to make the best of the track once they have seen off the new ball. They will then rely heavily on Kevin Pietersen, playing against his old country, to get stuck in and increase the tempo.
South Africa's bowling line-up has been the subject of much debate, made up exclusively of seamers. Barbados has proved to be a pitch which is slightly more favourable for the pace bowler than spinner though and so their all seam attack may be well suited to conditions. Andre Nel has regularly impressed against England although it is a surprise not to see Makaya Ntini in the side. Given England's struggles against spin and larger degree of familiarity with pace, the South African approach could also play into their hands, especially Andrew Strauss who likes playing them. If England win the toss and bat with composure they should win, with the larger variety they have within their bowling attack. However, if South Africa get off to a flyer, no total, whether setting or chasing, is ever quite big enough. Jaques Kallis has been out of sorts recently though so England have a chance. England tend to rise to the big occasion, are South Africa still chokers though?
Prediction: Dare I say England? I can only hope.
Players to watch: Andrew Strauss and Andre Nel.
South Africa's bowling line-up has been the subject of much debate, made up exclusively of seamers. Barbados has proved to be a pitch which is slightly more favourable for the pace bowler than spinner though and so their all seam attack may be well suited to conditions. Andre Nel has regularly impressed against England although it is a surprise not to see Makaya Ntini in the side. Given England's struggles against spin and larger degree of familiarity with pace, the South African approach could also play into their hands, especially Andrew Strauss who likes playing them. If England win the toss and bat with composure they should win, with the larger variety they have within their bowling attack. However, if South Africa get off to a flyer, no total, whether setting or chasing, is ever quite big enough. Jaques Kallis has been out of sorts recently though so England have a chance. England tend to rise to the big occasion, are South Africa still chokers though?
Prediction: Dare I say England? I can only hope.
Players to watch: Andrew Strauss and Andre Nel.
Sunday, 15 April 2007
England's One Day Headache
England have patently struggled so far at this World Cup and generally in One Day cricket since the end of 2005 at least. We now examine some of the key problems for England and what can be done to resolve them by the summer's end.
Aggressive Opener:
Marcus Trescothick has the ability to take the game to opposition sides at the top of the order in both forms of the game, but it is his ability to plunder the powerplay overs that England have especially missed to date. With no Tresco, there have been no blistering and imposing starts, no centuries from the top, no senior player to turn to and a missing pair of ever-reliable slip catching hands. Once Trescothick is under way he is incredibly hard to stop (just ask Devon!) and his ability against spin makes him a fantastic all round player, capable of pulverising opposition attacks ala Jayasuriya. In his void there has been no reliable replacement. Mal Loye was tried, but in relative terms failed and following that there was no time to find another chosen one. Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan and Ed Joyce, for all their qualities, fall into another bracket entirely. Will Jefferson and Michael Carberry are two openers who will look to press their claims further this summer.
Strike Bowler:
Australia have Brett Lee and now Shaun Tait, New Zealand have Shane Bond, Sri Lanka Lasith Malinga. Without Simon Jones England are missing that go to strike bowler, the magical one who is capable of getting a wicket at any stage of the innings, especially during the middle overs, when the ball is starting to show signs of reverse swing. In 2005 Jones was being groomed as the replacement for Darren Gough and how badly they have missed a man who can fill those boots. Without that special strike bowler England have struggled to turn games around, or finish the job. For all the qualities England’s other bowlers have, without Jones and the retired Stephen Harmison, England are, as Michael Vaughan himself stated, a “squeezing attack.”
The Pietersen, Flintoff quandary:
Pietersen bats too low, Freddie too high. It is as simple as that. As the best player in the side KP should be batting at number three, where he can make full use of the fielding restrictions and bat for the nigh on maximum amount of time. We don’t see Ricky Ponting or Jaques Kallis batting at four. It is a point I continue to dwell on though! Flintoff meanwhile has averaged a woeful 22 since the start of the India series one year ago and on that basis would be better suited to playing at seven. The Freddie to open debate is a dangerous one, lest we all forget his failings at number three at the ICC Champions Trophy, just six months ago, against a new ball. His skills are best suited to the last ten overs and that is when he should make his thunderous entrance, not whilst the spinners are on, with quick singles and nurdling required. Flexiblity in the batting order is not though something which England seem to understand however.
Issue for the future:
The wicket keeping situation is still one that will rouse curious debate throughout the nation and indeed world. Whilst Paul Nixon has impressed many with his commitment and desire, at 36 he can not be considered the future, nor groomed for the next Ashes series, ICC Champions Trophy, or World Cup. It is also questionable as to whether he has the technique to survive at Test level. With Chris Read and Geraint Jones seemingly failed men of yesterday now, there are two main contenders for the role and those two players resided within the academy squad over the winter. They are of course Matt Prior and Steven Davies, the young wicket keepers currently playing in the county season curtain raiser at Lords.
Simplistically stated, Prior is seen as the better and more explosive batsman of the two, whilst Davies is seen to have more potential with the gloves and a Gilchristean resemblance (he is left handed!). Prior has already tasted international cricket, albeit on the subcontinent and in positions varying from opener, to number three, to number five. He plays his best cricket for Sussex at six though and should be looked at as a serious contender for the lower order of the one day side at least, given Davies’ younger years. Davies is probably the long-term heir apparent, but may be too fresh to throw in immediately. James Foster is of course another option, but his exclusion from the academy squad would seem to signal that he is further down the pecking order in the race to become England’s first undisputed wicket keeper since Alec Stewart retired.
The line-up:
With Tresothick and Pietersen in the top three, England would be a powerful side to be feared once again. Both are capable of huge innings at fast rates, whilst Ian Bell is a player who would look to accumulate and bat more cautiously, allowing others to bat around him. With a lower order of Flintoff and the aggressive wicket keeper, England would be well placed to also attack those final overs. That leaves us the middle order trio whose jobs would be to milk the middle overs and wristly flick the ball in to gaps, turning ones in to twos and running the opposition ragged. Paul Collingwood is brilliant at this and is also one of the best finishers in the game, but is slightly suspect against serious pace around offstump early on in his innings. Ravinder Bopara meanwhile has shown us that he too could be a brilliant finisher and innovative gap finder, but he is still young. Both are probably suited to coming in against spin, so numbers five and six seem appropriate.
A number four is thus required, someone capable of playing against both pace and spin. Andrew Strauss may seem an obvious choice and he could yet prove to be the answer, he did after all start his promising international career there. However, Owais Shah showed in India, during a crucial innings of 88, that he is a fantastic player of spin, capable of wristy stroke play that many fine players would drool over. As a regular first class number three and one day opener he also has the technique against pace. He has long been a fine domestic one day and Twenty20 player and has really kicked on in the longer form of the game over the past two seasons as well. Given just a paltry three matches at number three in India during yet another woeful one day series for England, he has since dropped back into the abyss, though he lined up for the MCC vs Sussex at Lords on Friday. Rumours abound that Fletcher does not like him much, John Emburey claims his face does not fit. Only such reasoning can explain his exclusion to date. Maybe if Fletcher departs this summer, Shah may finally make the step up.
England’s best one day line-up undoubtedly looks a lot like this, can England get them fit and gel them together by the end of the summer though, in time for the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa?:
Marcus Trescothick
Ian Bell
Kevin Pietersen
Owais Shah
Paul Collingwood (c)
Ravinder Bopara
Andrew Flintoff
Matt Prior/ Steven Davies/ Paul Nixon (wk)
Simon Jones
Monty Panesar
James Anderson
12th Man: Ashley Giles/ Liam Plunkett
Chris Pallett
Aggressive Opener:
Marcus Trescothick has the ability to take the game to opposition sides at the top of the order in both forms of the game, but it is his ability to plunder the powerplay overs that England have especially missed to date. With no Tresco, there have been no blistering and imposing starts, no centuries from the top, no senior player to turn to and a missing pair of ever-reliable slip catching hands. Once Trescothick is under way he is incredibly hard to stop (just ask Devon!) and his ability against spin makes him a fantastic all round player, capable of pulverising opposition attacks ala Jayasuriya. In his void there has been no reliable replacement. Mal Loye was tried, but in relative terms failed and following that there was no time to find another chosen one. Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan and Ed Joyce, for all their qualities, fall into another bracket entirely. Will Jefferson and Michael Carberry are two openers who will look to press their claims further this summer.
Strike Bowler:
Australia have Brett Lee and now Shaun Tait, New Zealand have Shane Bond, Sri Lanka Lasith Malinga. Without Simon Jones England are missing that go to strike bowler, the magical one who is capable of getting a wicket at any stage of the innings, especially during the middle overs, when the ball is starting to show signs of reverse swing. In 2005 Jones was being groomed as the replacement for Darren Gough and how badly they have missed a man who can fill those boots. Without that special strike bowler England have struggled to turn games around, or finish the job. For all the qualities England’s other bowlers have, without Jones and the retired Stephen Harmison, England are, as Michael Vaughan himself stated, a “squeezing attack.”
The Pietersen, Flintoff quandary:
Pietersen bats too low, Freddie too high. It is as simple as that. As the best player in the side KP should be batting at number three, where he can make full use of the fielding restrictions and bat for the nigh on maximum amount of time. We don’t see Ricky Ponting or Jaques Kallis batting at four. It is a point I continue to dwell on though! Flintoff meanwhile has averaged a woeful 22 since the start of the India series one year ago and on that basis would be better suited to playing at seven. The Freddie to open debate is a dangerous one, lest we all forget his failings at number three at the ICC Champions Trophy, just six months ago, against a new ball. His skills are best suited to the last ten overs and that is when he should make his thunderous entrance, not whilst the spinners are on, with quick singles and nurdling required. Flexiblity in the batting order is not though something which England seem to understand however.
Issue for the future:
The wicket keeping situation is still one that will rouse curious debate throughout the nation and indeed world. Whilst Paul Nixon has impressed many with his commitment and desire, at 36 he can not be considered the future, nor groomed for the next Ashes series, ICC Champions Trophy, or World Cup. It is also questionable as to whether he has the technique to survive at Test level. With Chris Read and Geraint Jones seemingly failed men of yesterday now, there are two main contenders for the role and those two players resided within the academy squad over the winter. They are of course Matt Prior and Steven Davies, the young wicket keepers currently playing in the county season curtain raiser at Lords.
Simplistically stated, Prior is seen as the better and more explosive batsman of the two, whilst Davies is seen to have more potential with the gloves and a Gilchristean resemblance (he is left handed!). Prior has already tasted international cricket, albeit on the subcontinent and in positions varying from opener, to number three, to number five. He plays his best cricket for Sussex at six though and should be looked at as a serious contender for the lower order of the one day side at least, given Davies’ younger years. Davies is probably the long-term heir apparent, but may be too fresh to throw in immediately. James Foster is of course another option, but his exclusion from the academy squad would seem to signal that he is further down the pecking order in the race to become England’s first undisputed wicket keeper since Alec Stewart retired.
The line-up:
With Tresothick and Pietersen in the top three, England would be a powerful side to be feared once again. Both are capable of huge innings at fast rates, whilst Ian Bell is a player who would look to accumulate and bat more cautiously, allowing others to bat around him. With a lower order of Flintoff and the aggressive wicket keeper, England would be well placed to also attack those final overs. That leaves us the middle order trio whose jobs would be to milk the middle overs and wristly flick the ball in to gaps, turning ones in to twos and running the opposition ragged. Paul Collingwood is brilliant at this and is also one of the best finishers in the game, but is slightly suspect against serious pace around offstump early on in his innings. Ravinder Bopara meanwhile has shown us that he too could be a brilliant finisher and innovative gap finder, but he is still young. Both are probably suited to coming in against spin, so numbers five and six seem appropriate.
A number four is thus required, someone capable of playing against both pace and spin. Andrew Strauss may seem an obvious choice and he could yet prove to be the answer, he did after all start his promising international career there. However, Owais Shah showed in India, during a crucial innings of 88, that he is a fantastic player of spin, capable of wristy stroke play that many fine players would drool over. As a regular first class number three and one day opener he also has the technique against pace. He has long been a fine domestic one day and Twenty20 player and has really kicked on in the longer form of the game over the past two seasons as well. Given just a paltry three matches at number three in India during yet another woeful one day series for England, he has since dropped back into the abyss, though he lined up for the MCC vs Sussex at Lords on Friday. Rumours abound that Fletcher does not like him much, John Emburey claims his face does not fit. Only such reasoning can explain his exclusion to date. Maybe if Fletcher departs this summer, Shah may finally make the step up.
England’s best one day line-up undoubtedly looks a lot like this, can England get them fit and gel them together by the end of the summer though, in time for the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa?:
Marcus Trescothick
Ian Bell
Kevin Pietersen
Owais Shah
Paul Collingwood (c)
Ravinder Bopara
Andrew Flintoff
Matt Prior/ Steven Davies/ Paul Nixon (wk)
Simon Jones
Monty Panesar
James Anderson
12th Man: Ashley Giles/ Liam Plunkett
Chris Pallett
Preview: Australia vs Sri Lanka
The tournament favourites meet in Grenada today in what should be a compelling encounter. Both sides are favoured to meet in the final and they will be eager to impose themselves upon each other early on. The pitch in Grenada has been quite slow and difficult to play on so far and it may well favour Sri Lanka's style of play, especially as they are a Malinga down. Whilst Farheez Maharoof is a decent one day bowler, he is still a bowler the Aussies will fancy getting after and so the likes of Tilakaratne Dilshan and Russell Arnold could prove to be crucial with their contributions of part time spin on the slow surface.
Australia meanwhile must decide who to play instead of Shane Watson. Brad Hodge has been favoured to date, but both Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson are pressing hard for places in the starting line-up. It is likely that they will again favour the extra batting and the part time spin of Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke and even Hodge. Along with Brad Hogg, a threat because of his rarity, they have decent slow bowling options to match Sri Lanka. Murali of course has strangely not always enjoyed playing the Aussies.
Prediction: Fascinating encounter. Sides have been getting closer to Australia and it could be time for a reality check. Without Malinga though, Sri Lanka are missing that extra penetration. Australia to win the pre-final, maybe Sri Lanka to save their best for the real thing.
Players to watch: Ricky Ponting and Mahela Jayawardene.
Australia meanwhile must decide who to play instead of Shane Watson. Brad Hodge has been favoured to date, but both Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson are pressing hard for places in the starting line-up. It is likely that they will again favour the extra batting and the part time spin of Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke and even Hodge. Along with Brad Hogg, a threat because of his rarity, they have decent slow bowling options to match Sri Lanka. Murali of course has strangely not always enjoyed playing the Aussies.
Prediction: Fascinating encounter. Sides have been getting closer to Australia and it could be time for a reality check. Without Malinga though, Sri Lanka are missing that extra penetration. Australia to win the pre-final, maybe Sri Lanka to save their best for the real thing.
Players to watch: Ricky Ponting and Mahela Jayawardene.
Preview: Bangladesh vs Ireland
The match provides Ireland with their best chance of a Super Eight victory, whilst for Bangladesh it is a real test of how far they have come. They are the favourites to win this game and they will have to deal with that expectaton. Both sides strengths lie in the bowling department and in Boyd Rankin and Trent Johnston, Ireland have two good seamers capable of taking the wickets of the best batsman. Meanwhile, the likes of Andre Botha, Andrew White and Kyle McCallan are capable of restricting sides in the middle overs.
In Mohammad Rafique, Sakib al Hasan and Abdur Razzaq, Bangladesh have a restrictive attack which is always in with an excellent shout on slow wickets. The up front pairing of Mashrafe Mortaza and Syed Rasel are also very capable and all round they are a good one day attack, backed up by youthful and athletic fielding. The inconsistency in the batting of both sides often proves to be their downfall and that is why both sides are in with a chance of victory today. Bangladesh though have more quality when they get it right.
Prediction: Bangladesh to show that they are most certainly no longer minnows.
Players to watch: Mushfiqur Rahim and Eoin Morgan.
In Mohammad Rafique, Sakib al Hasan and Abdur Razzaq, Bangladesh have a restrictive attack which is always in with an excellent shout on slow wickets. The up front pairing of Mashrafe Mortaza and Syed Rasel are also very capable and all round they are a good one day attack, backed up by youthful and athletic fielding. The inconsistency in the batting of both sides often proves to be their downfall and that is why both sides are in with a chance of victory today. Bangladesh though have more quality when they get it right.
Prediction: Bangladesh to show that they are most certainly no longer minnows.
Players to watch: Mushfiqur Rahim and Eoin Morgan.
Saturday, 14 April 2007
Preview: New Zealand vs South Africa
Defeat to Sri Lanka on Thursday has left New Zealand in a potentially dangerous position. Should they lose to both South Africa and Australia then they could find themselves tied on points with both South Africa and England. Should that be the case, then net run rate would come into play and thanks to Stephen Fleming's tactical astuteness, the Kiwis are far better placed in that regard. By dragging out the defeat to Sri Lanka for 46 overs rather than going for a do or die approach, the damage to the net run rate was kept to a minimum. Whatever the result here they still have an excellent chance of progressing.
The same can not be said for the South Africans who desperately need victory. With the game against England a virtual quarter final, South Africa need to beat the Kiwis to ensure that they will still have a chance of progressing if they do lose to England on Tuesday. Again, net run rate would come into play, with England's currently superior. Graeme Smith is less concerned with run rate though and more with getting the two victories that will see both South Africa and New Zealand through.
With the pitch in Grenada looking slow, New Zealand will want to include offspinner Jeetan Patel, alongside Daniel Vettori, in order to give the South Africans another trial by spin. Whether Ryan Peterson plays is another matter altogether, with the South Africans favouring their all seam attack.
Prediction: Kiwis to do England a favour, spin and medium pace to be crucial once again.
Players to watch: Jeetan Patel and Jaques Kallis.
The same can not be said for the South Africans who desperately need victory. With the game against England a virtual quarter final, South Africa need to beat the Kiwis to ensure that they will still have a chance of progressing if they do lose to England on Tuesday. Again, net run rate would come into play, with England's currently superior. Graeme Smith is less concerned with run rate though and more with getting the two victories that will see both South Africa and New Zealand through.
With the pitch in Grenada looking slow, New Zealand will want to include offspinner Jeetan Patel, alongside Daniel Vettori, in order to give the South Africans another trial by spin. Whether Ryan Peterson plays is another matter altogether, with the South Africans favouring their all seam attack.
Prediction: Kiwis to do England a favour, spin and medium pace to be crucial once again.
Players to watch: Jeetan Patel and Jaques Kallis.
Friday, 13 April 2007
Preview: Australia vs Ireland
Ricky Ponting is looking for Australia to impose themselves once more and Ireland will have a tough time preventing them from doing so. The Aussies have lost through complacency before, but Ireland really are aiming for respectibility from this encounter. Trent Johnston leads his new nation against his old and along with Dave Langford-Smith and Jeremy Bray, he will be looking to prove that he has what it takes to play at this high level.
Ireland have not looked like winning a Super Eight game so far and that is unlikely to change. Unlike Bangladesh they really are out of their depth, although the likes of Boyd Rankin and Niall O'Brien can really look to kick on their careers after this tournament. Ireland will hope that Andre Botha will return to aide their cause. They will need all the quality they can get, even if Australia rest key players. A first game for the talented Mitchell Johnson could be on the cards, while Andrew Symonds will be looking for his first major innings of the tournament if promoted.
Prediction: Australia no sweat.
Players to watch: Andrew Symonds and Trent Johnston.
Ireland have not looked like winning a Super Eight game so far and that is unlikely to change. Unlike Bangladesh they really are out of their depth, although the likes of Boyd Rankin and Niall O'Brien can really look to kick on their careers after this tournament. Ireland will hope that Andre Botha will return to aide their cause. They will need all the quality they can get, even if Australia rest key players. A first game for the talented Mitchell Johnson could be on the cards, while Andrew Symonds will be looking for his first major innings of the tournament if promoted.
Prediction: Australia no sweat.
Players to watch: Andrew Symonds and Trent Johnston.
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