Chennai Super Kings tastes blood in inaugural match against KKR

IT COULD not have been a better start for the Indian Premier League with the world cup winning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni scaling new heights for his team Chennai Super Kings. The last ball delivery by Tim Southee enabled the IPL season 3 winner's Chennai Super Kings to taste blood.

In the inaugural match between defending champion Chennai Super Kings and the newly formed Kolkata Knight Rider led by Gautam Gambhir, all the cricketing drama was witnessed. From one point where it was considered that Chennai Super Kings are going to face a definite loss from the hands of KKR, MS Dhoni kept the ray of hope alive with a brilliant run out of Yusuf Pathan followed by Jacques Kallis.

KKR who once looked on top till first three quarters of second inning ended up on the losing side after the last 5 overs. 154 runs in 20 overs was not that a tough call for KKR, as players like Yusuf Pathan, Jacques Kallis and their very own captain, Gautam Gambhir who is known for some big hitting and making target set for them a small one.

Match lived up to the hype created by media and fans on social networking website as it ended on the nail biting last bowl of the match, a perfect way to inaugurate the tournament. The action has just begun and we hope to see harder hitting and nail biting matches in the fourth edition of IPL.

IPL 4 to kickstart today, hopes high on new entrants

AFTER WINNING the world cup and making the country go crazy its time for IPL to send the excitement in air and we are just few hours away to see the epic encounters of the league. It will be a tough call for the fans to cheer for the players who once played for the country but are now disseminated across participating teams.

Such questions were also asked before the commencement of the IPL in 2008, but we all got our answers as we saw that regionalism was very much on the fans sides than any particular player, it was obvious that they will cheering for their team than any particular player. But throughout the last three seasons of IPL; fans have their own favorite players list in their favorite franchise teams; like Muttiah Muralitharan, MS Dhoni, R Ashwin from CSK or Gautam Gambhir, V Sehwag from Delhi Daredevils.

Now as we know that players have been shuffled between the various teams like Gautam Gambhir who was born in Delhi and was former team member of Delhi Daredevils is no longer the part the team this season, this time he is the Captain of Kolkata Knight Riders. Now the question is will the fans that was cheering for him last three seasons of IPL as he was a part of Delhi Daredevils; be cheering for him knowing that he is no longer a part of their favourite teams.

Same with Mutthiah Muralitharan, as he was playing for Chennai Super Kings for last three seasons and said to be very integral part of CSK team planning. He will be playing for Kochi Tuskers this season. How the fans of CSK, who once loved him are going to react when he will be playing against their very own team remains to be seen.

Lots of answers will come and lot of drama are just few hours away as we are going to witness another epic cricket tournament in India after World cup 2011.

Kamran Akmal dropped from upcoming West Indies tour

AFTER DROPPING some crucial catches in the world Cup 2011 and letting Pakistan face one of its worst defeats, Pakistani wicket keeper Kamran Akmal was dropped from the upcoming Pakistan's tour of West Indies in the T20 and ODI format.

Ross Taylor whose catch was dropped by Akmal in the league match of World Cup 2011 twice had given Shoiab Akhtar and Abdul Razzaq thrashing of life time, where they were hit 30 plus runs in an over at the end of the inning. From that moment the match from Pakistan’s side flew to New Zealand's corner, resulting in one of the worst losses for Pakistan.

Kamran Akmal was under the scrutiny by the selectors throughout the entire world cup matches, where he was in news for some sloppy catches dropped by him and irresponsible wicket keeping.

Sloppy work with gloves has given his critics license to kill and they didn’t miss any opportunity as they took the privilege to axe him from the upcoming series against West Indies.

Akmal is not the only person who was shown the door from the squad. Fellow mate Abdul Razzaq was also dropped from the squad where as senior players like Umar Gul and Younis Khan have been rested. Shahid Afridi will continue as the captain and team will feature new wicketkeeper, Mohammad Salman.

Squad for the test team is yet to be announced and it is expected that Umar Gul and Younis Khan will make their come back in the squad for test team.

The tour will start off with a warm-up game from April 18, while the only Twenty20 will be played on April 21 in St Lucia. The five-match ODI series will begin on April 23, and the Test series is scheduled to commence from May 12.

Squad: Shahid Afridi (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Taufeeq Umar, Usman Salahuddin, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Tanvir Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Hammad Azam, Aizaz Cheema and Mohammad Salman (wk).

World cup 2011: Not an anticipated goodbye from England

ONE TEAM, which has always been in the news throughout the entire world cup, whether it’s their fighting spirit against India chasing a massive 338 runs or their loss against two minnows of the group co-host Bangladesh and unpredictable Ireland, England has managed to grab eyeballs whether they won or lost a match.

 

Whatever they did - win or lose- they did it in style.

 

The manner in which England won against favourites South Africa by a close margin showed why one-day cricket still has a long way to go and can offer a lot to cricket fans. The close matches and time available for the teams and players to decide the strategy is unlike the Twenty-Twenty cricket, where once the flow is decided nothing much can change.

 

In the quarterfinals, however, England met their match and they were defeated by 10 wickets.

 

Sri Lanka, any day, at home, was a better team compared to England but it was expected that England will give the opposition a run for their money.  But the English team really looked tired and jaded and perhaps it was time for the boys to go home to the cool environs of the British islands.

 

On a slow Colombo track, England managed just 229 runs in their quota of 50 overs, a task which was not going to be tough for the in-form Sri Lankan openers.

 

The hosts chased the target with 10 wickets in hand, dishing out a thumping defeat to the English team.

 

Although England played quite well in the league stage but it seems that the team ran out of ammunition to test tough opponents and make it to the final of the world cup.

 

Also, one must not forget that the English team came into the World Cup after an extremely competitive showing Down Under where after a tough test series they defeated the Aussies after many years. At the same time, the English started losing momentum soon after the test win. In the one-day series they lost heavily to the Aussies.

World Cup 2011 registers record viewership of 162 million

NAIL-BITING matches in the league stage, and now some come-from-behind performances by teams at crucial stages in the quarter finals has led the World Cup 2011 to reach the highest viewership in the history of cricketing tournament.

According to the data released by a television audience measurement agency, the initial 40 matches has recorded viewership of 162 million viewers, which is a lot higher than the combined viewership that was recorded for IPL 3 in 2010.

 

As per data, IPL 3 in 2010 generated 143.6 million viewers in total. Whereas, in World Cup 2011 the first 40 matches drew 161.9 million viewers. The data has been recorded for cable and satellite homes for viewers aged above four in urban and semi-urban centres.

Compared to the last ICC World cup 2007 played in West Indies, the number of viewers for the first 40 matches was only 109.5 million viewers; whereas this year in its first 40 matches the number stood at 161.9 million - thus registering a growth of 48 per cent when compared with that of the 2007 World Cup.

Aloke Malik, managing director, ESPN Software India added that they have leveraged the broadcast, digital and mobile platforms to screen the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. The response has been good and they also expect the traction to build as the tournament progresses.

Can Sri Lanka defeat England today to recreate the 1996 magic?

AFTER TWO big names and top contenders of World Cup 2011 viz Australia and South Africa were sent back from the tournament in two consecutive days, it's time to find out who is going to be the fourth team to qualify for semifinals. Is it going to be everyone’s favorite Sri Lanka or England, which is yet to show its reall mettle in the world cup 2011.

In the fourth quarterfinals at the R. Premadasa stadium in Colombo, one-time champion Sri Lanka will take on England, who till date has never won the coveted cup. Going by past records, Sri Lanka's performances in the league matches have been outstanding, which was followed by Australia and New Zealand.

England, on the other hand, has received much press and attention related to issues such as injuries, and a player opting out of the tournament due to depression.

Although they have played some exceptional cricket, losing to Bangladesh and Ireland was a dark patch for them in the tournament but their fight against India was truly commendable. Their win over South Africa was a stunner as at one time the Porteas were the clear favourites to win the match. With this fighting spirit England managed to make their way to quarter finals.

Fifteen years back in the same month of 1996, it was Sri Lanka against England in the quarter finals. In the match, not only did Sri Lanka defeat England but also ended up taking home the coveted trophy.

Now, at what is being looked at as another 1996 kind of encounter, the larger part of the responsibility falls on English shoulders if they want to avenge the 1996 loss.

Pakistan crushes West Indies in World Cup quarterfinal

IN THE first quarterfinal of World Cup 2011, Pakistan has stunned West Indies with a brilliant performance by their bowlers and making an official announcement of their arrival to Mohali, Chandigarh on March 30, 2011, to face the winner of 2nd quarter final. It will be either India or Australia, who will face the mighty challenge? We are just hours away to get the answers.

 

Electing to bat after winning the toss West Indies was taken aback by some ruthless bowling performance by Pakistan. Except winning the toss and hitting a boundary on the very first ball of the match nothing went right for them. Pakistan spinners made West Indian batsmen to give up their fight against them and was bowled out for 112 runs only.

 

Shahid Afridi continued his magnificent performance in the world cup picking up four West Indian wickets for 30 runs; after some early blows by Mohammad Hafeez Ahmad and very well supported by Saeed Ajmal. Three of them gave tremendous performance by taking eight wickets in common from 27.3 overs giving away only 64 runs. Shivnarain Chandrapaul was the top scorer for them scoring 44 not out, only three batsmen for West Indies managed to reach double figure.

 

Chasing 113 runs in 50 over with 2.26 runs per over was never a tough call for Pakistan though they have given some bad batting performance in the tournament, especially in the match against New Zealand. Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez effortlessly reached the total of 113 runs in the 21st over and made it official that they are coming to India.

 

Mohammad Hafeez did the job for Pakistan with bat also; where he scored 61 runs of 64 balls after taking two wickets in 10 overs with mere 1.6 runs per over in the first innings making him win the award for the ‘man of the match’.

Ponting quashes reports of retirement or captaining a county

AUSTRALIAN SKIPPER Ricky Ponting has quelled all rumours of him retiring after the World Cup 2011. Ponting who had captained Australia in the last two consecutive World cup wins, plans to lead the Aussies to make a hat-trick of world cup wins.

If Australia manages to grab the cup this year, Australia's world cup count will go up to five. However, Ponting has quashed all reports by saying that he has no intention of retiring or giving up his captaincy.

On Wednesday, one of the leading dailies in the U.K. had reported that Ponting would retire after WC 2011, and was hoping to say good bye to his career by captaining an English county side this year.

The 36-year-old batsman has not been in his usual good form over the past few months and Australia’s current performance in the World Cup 2011 has allowed every cricket expert to talk about him and his way of captaincy.

His performance in world cup 2011 has not been at par. He has not made any big scores, and some his way of dismissals, being soft ones or controversial, have been in news for weeks.

His altercation with the Pakistani team after getting out despite being given out by the UDRS system was not appreciated by the spectators and cricket experts.

Even the Australian media has been commenting that all good things must come to an end so is the case with Ricky Ponting. His era as one of the most successful captains is over, and he should hand his captaincy to some new talent in the team. Micheal Clarke can take over from Ponting once he bids goodbye.

Delhi Daredevils calls for volunteers to be part of IPL 4 crew

WITH THE whole nation getting into cricket frenzy as India takes on Australia in the second quarterfinals of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, the Delhi Daredevils, one of the IPL teams, has given one more reason for cricket fans to cheer.

Delhi Daredevils has announced the call for volunteers for the fourth season of IPL, giving the cricket crazy fans a chance to be a part of the Delhi Daredevils crew and to make their dream of being associated with cricket a reality.

On its fan page on the social networking site Facebook, Delhi Daredevils has posted a link where fans can fill the form and after strategic analysis they will be selected as volunteers depending on experience and passion for cricket.

Daredevil Volunteers will be required for the following activities:

1. Spectator Services - Helping spectators who have come to watch the match in the stadium. Assisting spectators with anything else they might need and managing the crowd.

2. Accommodation & Transport - Making transport arrangements, coordinating with travel agencies, assisting the accommodation and transport heads with all related activities.

3. Ceremonies Staff - Assisting dignitaries, guests and others to and from the stage during award ceremonies, carrying out awards and various articles among other related activities.

4. Venue Operations - Coordinating between various departments primarily on match days at the stadium and DD events held elsewhere, ensuring a smooth work flow throughout the events.

5. Press Operations - Assisting in media and press activities of the Delhi Daredevils, conversing and coordinating with journalists, media personnel and agencies.

6. Technology & Broadcasting - Working behind the scenes on updating and compiling data, operating on LAN interface and other computer-specific activities.

7. Workforce Operations - Ensuring supply and delivery of stock goods, erecting stands and facilitating various backend activities in and around the stadium.

8. Marketing - Handing out cheer items, managing tasks related to branding boards, banners, on ground implementation and other such properties.

9. Protocol - Guiding esteemed guests and dignitaries to assigned seating enclosures, ensuring they are comfortable and have a pleasant experience.

10. Ticketing - Delivering tickets, assisting in sales, online redemption and inventory management in relation to tickets. Travelling will also be a part of the tasks assigned.

So if you have dreamt of watching Virender Sehwag blaze his way past the opposition or David Warner’s electric throws from every corner of the field, then this is the time to be join the Delhi Daredevils. 

Time Commitment

The selected volunteers will be required for a maximum period of 15 days. During this time, the volunteers will be required to be present on all the days dedicated for DD activity. A detailed brief regarding the timings will be given to volunteers at the venue. Travel & Food Refreshments will be provided to the volunteers at the venue on all days of attendance. Volunteers must arrange for their own conveyance to and from the venue.

Benefits

Becoming one among the Daredevils comes with many benefits too:

• The Daredevils volunteers will be the exclusive witnesses of the first Training Session of the team.

• Official Delhi Daredevils Crew kits consisting of a Tee, Tracks, Caps, Utility belt and Delhi Daredevils Sipper will be provided to the volunteers.

• Chance to experience the IPL as an event more than just a cricketing match.

• Certificate of Volunteer work will be provided by Delhi Daredevils.

• You will get a chance to see the players up close during the course of the tournament during practice sessions and matches.

• Get up-close and personal with the team-behind-the-team of the Delhi Daredevils and learn what goes into creating a sporting brand like the Delhi Daredevils.


The link to be a part of crew team is:
https://www.facebook.com/delhidaredevils?v=app_6009294086

Its Official...India Vs Australia for QFs

THE STAGE is all set on March 24, for an epic encounter between the defending champion vs the anticipated champions in the quarterfinals of the ICC cricket world cup 2011.

Yes, it is official now. With an 80-run win over West Indies (WI) in the last league match of World Cup 2011, it was confirmed that the Indian team will take on Australia in the second quarter finals of the tournament. In the last league match against WI, India was bowled out for 268 runs in the 50^th over; again losing its last seven wickets for mere 50 runs and the Indian team was not able to bat for its full fifty over third time in a row. Earlier against South Africa, they had lost their last 9 wickets for 29 runs, and also lost that match.

Dhoni’s strategy against WI is under scrutiny. Cricket experts like Tony Graig are claiming that India was not keen to win the match against Windies so that they could avoid Australia in quarterfinals.

Love it or hate it, India defeated West Indies - making it very clear that its India Vs Australia on 24^th march 2011 at Ahmadabad, where history will be made as India is a crowd favorite for this WC 2011 and will take on the defending champion Australia.

The last time a high profile encounter between both teams took place in the finals of 2003 world cup where Australia destroyed the hopes of India winning their second world cup. India was badly mauled in that match and it is time for a generous payback.

Will India be able to avenge the defeat in the final of the 2003 world cup or will it be a repeat of that match and end all Indian hopes for the world cup 2011? Only time will tell.

Co-host Bangladesh is out of World cup 2011

Dreams of Bangladesh to reach the quarter finals have been crushed by the performances of Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Robin Peterson. Bangladesh, who was playing their must-win match against South Africa, couldn't handle its bowling and lost by 206 runs.

Put into bat first South Africa scored 284 runs for the loss of 8 wickets. J Kallis was the top scorer for them scoring 69 runs, and was well supported by Du plessis and Hashim Amla who scored 52 and 51 runs respectively.

Chasing 285 run was never easy for Bangladesh as they were bowled out in the 28^th over of the inning for only 78 runs.

Captain Sahkib Al Hasan was the only batsman to reach double figures for his team scoring 30 runs from 49 deliveries - and being top scorer for the team.

Non-inclusion of both the frontline bowler Dale Styen and Mornie Morkel created a buzz in the world of cricket. Was South Africa playing safe by giving Bangladesh a chance to reach quarter-finals, which will automatically eliminate one of the top contenders of world cup i.e. India, England or West Indies?

But these rumors were put to rest as Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who was playing his first world cup match, gave Bangladesh team three early blows making it difficult for them to score even 100 runs.

The destruction created by Lonwabo Tsotsobe was taken forward by Robin Peterson humiliating Bangladesh in front of their home crowd, and bidding good bye to World cup 2011.

Team Kochi "Kochi Tuskers" new jersey for IPL. They look like fruity pebbles..!

Was going through my twitter account and there was a tweet from RP Singh, Indian fast bowler who hails from Raibarely. He is a part of team Kochi the newest member of IPL teams. Earlier he played for Deccan Chargers and done some tremendous job for them leading them to win the second season of IPL played in South Africa in the year 2009.

So as I was saying…I was going through my twitter account and there was a tweet form him where he posted a picture of him in his new jersey of Team Kochi.

This might get real rude…but to be very frank...I give a damn…I just want to know what the hell is wrong with the creative team of Kochi. A jersey with bright orange and purple color...I mean is this some c grade of cricket tournament. 

First they came up with the shitty name of all time for their team… “Indi Commandos.” The worst name one can give to his team, then from where they got some idea to do on line poll for their team’s new name and now finally they are happy with “Kochi Tuskers.”  Still I don’t know what that means and how many of them like the name.

And now when things were looking good the creative team again came up with shittier thing of all, purple and orange color jersey for their players…I mean…Are they going to play or they are being assigned the role of cheerleaders.

Creative team of Kochi u need to think…and think hard, or the governing body of team Kochi needs to think about their creative team.

All what you wanted to know about this man. Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar's Test career
Period	Tests	Wickets	Average	Strike rate	5WI/ 10WM
Till Dec 2001	16	46	36.45	64.1	2/ 0
Jan 2002 to Dec 2003	13	72	15.08	30.4	6/ 2
Jan 2004 onwards	17	60	30.18	50.0	4/ 0
Career	46	178	25.69	45.7	12/ 2

Shoaib's tally of 178 Test wickets is the eighth-highest for Pakistan, and only three of those bowlers have a better average.  99 out of 178 victims either bowled or lbw.

Best Pakistan bowlers in Tests (Qual: 150 wickets)
Bowler	Tests	Wickets	Average	Strike rate	5WI/ 10WM
Imran Khan	88	362	22.81	53.7	23/ 6
Waqar Younis	87	373	23.56	43.4	22/ 5
Wasim Akram	104	414	23.62	54.6	25/ 5
Shoaib Akhtar	46	178	25.69	45.7	12/ 2
Iqbal Qasim	50	171	28.11	76.1	8/ 2
Saqlain Mushtaq	49	208	29.83	67.6	13/ 3

Pakistan with and without Shoaib in Tests since Nov 29, 1997
	Tests	Won/ lost	Wickets	Average	Strike rate
With Shoaib	46	20/ 16	702	33.63	62.1
Without Shoaib	69	20/ 28	1038	34.70	67.4

Shoaib in ODIs
Period	ODIs	Wickets	Average	Econ rate	Strike rate
Till Dec 2003	95	155	21.41	4.51	28.4
Jan 2004 onwards	68	92	30.97	5.09	36.4
Career	163	247	24.97	4.76	31.4

Despite the number of games he missed, Shoaib still finishes as Pakistan's sixth-highest wicket-taker in ODIs, and fourth in terms of averages among Pakistan bowlers who've taken at least 150 wickets.

Top Pakistan bowlers in ODIs (Qual: 150 wickets) Bowler ODIs Wickets Average Economy rate Strike rate Saqlain Mushtaq 169 288 21.78 4.29 30.4 Wasim Akram 356 502 23.52 3.89 36.2 Waqar Younis 262 416 23.84 4.68 30.5 Shoaib Akhtar 158 241 24.70 4.75 31.1 Imran Khan 175 182 26.61 3.89 40.9