Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Cricket World Cup Team Rankings

A 3-0 clean sweep of Australia helped New Zealand move ahead of Pakistan and into the third place in the International Cricket Council (ICC). It is the first time since the listings began in October 2002 that Australia has not occupied the top position.

1. South Africa 128 rating points
2. Australia 125
3. New Zealand 113
4. Pakistan 111
5. India 109
6. Sri Lanka 108
7. England 106
8. West Indies 101
9. Bangladesh 42
10. Zimbabwe 22
11. Kenya 0

Australia demoralised by New Zealand whitewash

New Zealand completed a 3-0 whitewash of their one-day series with Australia after a thrilling one-wicket win in Hamilton on Tuesday.

Australia had looked in command after posting a massive 346 for five, but the Kiwis stunned the world champions with the second-highest run-chase in one-day history to win with just three balls to spare.

Sehwag or Kaif ?? Give ur Opinions

Are you guys happy with Indian Cricket Team for World Cup 2007..??? One interesting question that comes to mind as you go through the list is how Virendra Sehwag got an entry in the team and why Mohammed Kaif was dropped?

If we compare the yearly records of Sehwag and Mohammed Kaif, then the latter’s performance comes out to be better. In previous matches Kaif has not only scored valuable runs with a good average but he has also brought many victories for India. If we take fielding even then Kaif is a much-much better fielder than Sehwag. In fact when Kaif remains in the field he saves a lot many runs and has been known for taking wonderful catches.

Moreover, the basis on which the selectors had given priority to Sehwag over Kaif is troubling.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Sourav Ganguly proves that attitude's everything


Sourav Ganguly proved it with his stirring comeback in South Africa and then again here, in the one-dayers. The Man of the Series award against Sri Lanka is an indication of how far Dada has travelled.

Three months ago, Prince of Kolkata, Sourav Ganguly was wondering when he would make it back to the national squad. Three months on, he is one of the keys to India doing well at the World Cup.

On Saturday, the 34-year old capped a fairy tale comeback with a Man of the Series award, his first in six years.

Record run chase destroys Australia

Ross Taylor made 117 to lead a record run chase as New Zealand beat Australia by five wickets in the second Chappell-Hadlee limited-overs cricket match Sunday to clinch the three-match series 2-0.

After inflicting Australia's heaviest-ever one-day loss, by 10 wickets, in Wellington on Friday, New Zealand chased down the Aussie's total of 336 runs for four wickets Sunday to win with eight balls to spare, achieving the highest successful run chase on New Zealand soil.

The loss dislodged the Australians from the No. 1 spot in world limited-overs cricket, handing the top ranking to South Africa five weeks before the World Cup in the Caribbean.

Full Article

India beats Sri Lanka 2-1 to win the series



Indian captain Rahul Dravid holds the trophy after India beat Sri Lanka at the ACA-VDCA stadium in Visakhapatnam, 17 February 2007. India beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the fourth and final one-day international to clinch the series 2-1.

Source

Cricket World Cup 2007 Match Schedule

Seeded teams: Australia (A1), South Africa (A2), Sri Lanka (B1), India (B2), New Zealand (C1), England (C2), Pakistan (D1), West Indies (D2) - top two from each group progress to Super Eight phase.

MARCH

Group A, St Kitts (all start 1330 GMT)

14 Australia v Scotland
16 Netherlands v South Africa
18 Australia v Netherlands
20 Scotland v South Africa
22 Netherlands v Scotland
24 Australia v South Africa

Group B, Trinidad (all start 1330 GMT except *)

15 Bermuda v Sri Lanka
17 Bangladesh v India
19 Bermuda v India
21 Bangladesh v Sri Lanka
23 India v Sri Lanka
25 Bangladesh v Bermuda (*starts 1430 BST)

GROUP C, St Lucia (all start 1330 GMT)

14 Canada v Kenya
16 England v New Zealand
18 Canada v England
20 Kenya v New Zealand
22 Canada v New Zealand
24 England v Kenya

Group D, Jamaica (all start 1430 GMT)

13 West Indies v Pakistan
15 Ireland v Zimbabwe
17 Ireland v Pakistan
19 West Indies v Zimbabwe
21 Pakistan v Zimbabwe
23 Ireland v West Indies

Super Eight (all start 1430 BST)

If any seeded team does not finish in the top two in their group, the non-seeded team qualifying will take their allotted place in the Super Eight fixture list.

27 D2 v A1, Antigua & Barbuda
28 A2 v B1, Guyana
29 D2 v C1, Antigua & Barbuda
30 D1 v C2, Guyana
31 A1 v B2, Antigua & Barbuda

APRIL

1 D2 v B1, Guyana
2 B2 v C1, Antigua & Barbuda
3 D1 v A2, Guyana
4 C2 v B1, Antigua & Barbuda
7 B2 v A2, Guyana
8 A1 v C2, Antigua & Barbuda
9 D1 v C1, Guyana
10 D2 v A2, Grenada
11 C2 v B2, Barbados
12 B1 v C1, Grenada
13 A1 v D1, Barbados
14 A2 v C1, Grenada
15 B2 v D1, Barbados
16 A1 v B1, Grenada
17 A2 v C2, Barbados
18 D1 v B1, Grenada
19 D2 v B2, Barbados
20 A1 v C1, Grenada
21 D2 v C2, Barbados

Semi-finals

24 Super Eight 2nd v 3rd, Jamaica (start 1545 BST)
25 Super Eight 1st v 4th, St Lucia (start 1445 BST)

Final

28 Winner SF1 v Winner SF2, Barbados (start 1445 BST)

Source

ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 : Groups and Teams

Group A : St Kitts & Nevis

Australia
South Africa
Scotland
The Netherlands

Group B : Trinidad & Tobago

Sri Lanka
India
Bangladesh
Bermuda

Group C : St. Lucia

New Zealand
England
Kenya
Canada

Group D : Jamaica

Pakistan
West Indies
Zimbabwe
Kenya