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

Shoaib Akhtar to retire after WC, no more flying wings..!!!

SHOAIB AKHTAR, popularly known as the 'Rawalpindi Express' will retire after the world cup cricket tournament. According to Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam, the 35-year-old fast bowler has decided to hang his boots after the world cup.

Alam further added that Shoaib Akhtar will make an official statement about his retirement.

Shoaib made his debut in 1997, while playing a test match against the West Indies, and is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers ever to play the game. He took the world by storm by making every batsman to work extra-hard to fend off his quick deliveries.

There were, and there will be fast bowlers such as Shane Bond, Brett Lee and Dale Styen, who have reached the 150 kmph landmark but no one will match the terror generated by Akhtar.

One of the most memorable moments for him in his legendary 14-year career, without any doubt, would be taking the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar on his very first bowl to the little master. His toe clinching Yorker took Sachin by surprise taking the middle stump and bringing joy to the bowler.

His fast bowling and antics on the ground will be remembered by fans across the world.