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Sunday, February 20, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Irritate Opposition, Not Your Own Team: Dhoni to Sreesanth
"I am very specific to him and told him that he should not cross a few boundaries. It is better that you do not cross those boundaries. If you want to irritate someone that should be the opposition and not your side," Dhoni said of the Kerala bowler, who has a reputation of losing his cool and coming up with animated gestures in the heat of the moment.
Dhoni said he has no issues with Sreesanth's behaviour as long as he keeps the aggression within limits.
"Till he does both these things, I am really happy to let him do whatever he wants to do," he said.
Sreesanth was at his usual aggressive self in the two pre-World Cup warm-up matches that India won and he hit the headlines by getting into an argument with Australian skipper Ricky Ponting during one of the games.
However, in the second warm-up match against New Zealand, Dhoni said he was satisfied with the way the pacer conducted himself.
"I do not think there was much. I must say that bit of chit chat is always fine. It does not mean that whenever we play cricket such things does not happen," Dhoni said.
"As I said, there are certain boundaries that you should not get too personal with a player. If these guidelines are followed I am quite happy with it. More often than not it is the batsman and Sreesanth who knows exactly what is going on," he explained.
World Cup: Odds Favor Asian Giants
The huge advantages the trio enjoy include familiar playing conditions and the crowd support. While teams such as Australia, South Africa and England seem to put all their eggs in the pace and seam baskets, I feel, it will be the spinners who will be calling the tune given the low bounce and turn the pitches are likely to afford.
May be the odd fast bowler like a Steyn or Lee or Johnson might still trouble the batsmen with their sheer pace, but eventually, the very nature of the surface would blunt that edge while bringing into play the spinners. So much for theory, but cricket has the nasty habit of throwing eggs on the pundits' faces and we need to make due allowance for such unpredictability.
Thus far, a majority of the experts have dubbed the CWC as the most open in its 36-year history, but I would still like to believe that it would be one of the three top Asian teams who will take home the Cup.
Champions Australia are at a low ebb and I wouldn't read too much into their recent series win against touring England. In the warm-up game against India in Bangalore on Sunday, the Aussies looked all at sea and in their next game against South Africa, they were all but outplayed. Regardless of the brave words emanating from the Aussie camp, I suspect they have a lot of hard work ahead of them even to justify the tag of title favourites.
As for the South Africans, it is obvious that they are keen to wipe off the tag of chokers. Their captain Smith said as much last week. However, they need to be playing at a different level altogether. They have the players to do that, but under pressure, it is a different ball game. In their favour is the fact that the core group has survived difficult times and it is only logical to expect that the seniors would be wiser.
England and the West Indies would be the dark horses, but neither team seems to have the balance required to win in the sub-continent. The presence of a quality spinner is mandatory in these conditions, as against a predominantly seam-up attack. Both these teams seem to rely heavily on pace and that could be their undoing.
Further, the England players are already complaining about the absence of rest between their tour Down Under and the CWC, with just four days at home in between before flying out to Asia. Also, England haven't had happy memories of their recent visits to the sub-continent where they struggled to deal with the spinners and there is little reason to believe that it would be any different in the CWC.
Similarly, the West Indies cricket overall is in poor health with frequent altercations between players and their Board over payments and what have you. It is hardly makes for an amiable environment for team development, but clearly, the West Indies' best days are behind them although they are capable of tripping a few teams.
As for New Zealand, it boils down to getting the team together and shrugging off the recent off-the-field distractions involving a couple of their key players. The Kiwis do not have star players, but as always they depend on a collective effort that we are yet to see.
Their recent trip of the sub-continent was an unmitigated disaster and the loss to Pakistan at home only rubbed salt into their wounds. It remains to be seen whether the Kiwis have the strength of character to rise to the occasion, erasing the past. At best, they have been consistent performers in the CWC, but never quite looking the team that could actually win the Cup. There is little reason to believe that it would be any different this time around.
Thus, any which way you look, the short list of potential winners boils down to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. These three teams are rich in talent and balance that is so crucial to succeed. The trio also boasts of quality spinners and a seam attack that is capable of achieving breakthroughs first up. Add to the mix an array of stroke players and you end up looking at teams that the neighbours would envy.
We can discuss endlessly on the prospects, but it is best to remember cricket̢۪s home truth - you begin every match and innings from zero. Forget the records, the reputations and such factors, but for me, the CWC begins from March 23 when the quarter-final shootout commences. Along the way, we will get some indication on how well the teams are prepared.
For sure, the 2011 CWC will be the swansong for the older generation of players, including our own Sachin, who are hoping for a successful last hurrah, but rarely has Sport is about performance and not fairytale ending as there is always a sting and twist in the tail.
India v Bangladesh 1st Game ICC World Cup – India seek revenge
India who lost their last game against Bangladesh in the last edition of World Cup will search for the revenge when they take on them in front of their supportive home crowd. Bangladesh ensured India's early exit in the first round of the 2007 tournament in the Caribbean and Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is determined to avoid any repeat on the subcontinent.
This time M.S.Dhoni team is much different than it was in 2007 under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid or we can say the Greg Chappel who divided the team in more than two parts which resulted in an early exit from the tournament. However, this time around the teams look more solid and eager to win than before.
The batting demolition of New Zealand in Chennai followed a 38-run victory over three-time defending champion Australia on Sunday in Bangalore, achieved thanks to a superb effort from spinners Piyush Chawla and Harbhajan Singh.
The pace attack led by Zaheer Khan may have to concede the bulk of the work to the slow bowlers, with several part-time options also at India's disposal, while there is a problem of plenty in the batting department.
Indian batting order will much depend on the start given by likes of Sachin, Sehwag, Kohli and Gambhir. If any two of them able to build the Indian inning in the middle overs by keeping wicket in hand then Dhoni, Yuvraj and Pathan can blast any attack out of the park.
Indian team who is carrying the hopes of billion on their shoulder needs to perform as per their potential to make the hopes of billions count in their opening game against Bangladesh.
Pitch & Conditions
The Pitch at Mirpur is likely to get support spinners and will also provide some help to the fat bowlers. Team winning the toss is likely to bat first and put runs in excess of 275 on the board to put pressure on the opposition.
Likely Playing XI for both teams (Match is schedule to begin at 14:00 PM India Time)
Bangladesh who heavily relies on spin is likely to go with two pace bowlers and three pace attacks with additional spinning all-rounder in their squad. So far they have done great with the help of their spinning options and they know to beat India in their back yard they need something special from their bowling attacks.
On the other hand India have already decided on the playing XI with Virat Kohli is in prime form they are likely to go with him that means Suresh Raina will heat the bench against the much awaited World Cup inaugural game. In the bowling department Zaheer Khan is likely to lead the pace attack along with Ashish Nehra and Munaf Patel with Harbhajan Singh leading the spin department along with spinning all-rounder Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan.
India: Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni (Captain & WK), Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel.
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Raqibul Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Mahmudullah, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain.
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