Powar made to sit out practice

Mumbai: A negligent Ramesh Powar was disciplined by the West Zone team coach Chandrakant Pandit at the Brabourne Stadium, Cricket Club of India here on Thursday. The Mumbai off-spinner, who forgot to bring the formal colours, was not allowed to train and practise with the team on the eve of the clash between West and East Zones in the All Star Series tournament for the Deodhar Trophy.Pandit, who had even convinced Irfan Pathan to wear the official dress for practice sessions during the first round matches at Motera, forced Powar to watch the nets from a cane chair, but allowed him to join the team meeting."It would have been improper to train and practise wearing different clothes. Moreover, we have been given three sets for the tournament. He forgot to carry the team colours and hence I told him to sit behind the nets," said Pandit.
Vital role
In the inter-zonal tournament opener at Motera last Sunday, Powar captured four vital Central Zone wickets and along with Wasim Jaffer fashioned West Zone's win. Left out of the Indian team for the ICC World Cup, the portly off spinner hopes to sustain his performance in the remaining part of the BCCI's domestic tournament and be in the running for India's engagements after the World Cup.
Former chairman of the national selection committee Kiran More feels Powar's time will come, but said he should avoid playing too much league cricket in England.
"He can develop into an excellent Test match bowler," said More, who came to Mumbai on Wednesday to greet the Indian team that left for Montego Bay (Jamaica) early on Thursday morning.
Fine performances
Apart from Powar and Jaffer's performances, Assam junior Parvez Aziz's blitzkrieg, Rohan Gavaskar's match-winning knock against South Zone and Joginder Sharma's incisive spell against Central were some of the highlights of the first round matches played at Motera. Delhi opener Gautam Gambhir, cut out the frills and anchored North to an easy win against Central. North leads the table with five points, followed by West and East with four each.
The West versus East, South versus Central and North versus West matches will be played at the Brabourne Stadium on March 2, 3 and 4. The remaining four matches will be played at the Wankhede on March 7, 8, 10 and 11.
The teams (from):
West Zone: Amol Muzumdar (Captain), Wasim Jaffer, Rohit Sharma, Abhishek Nayar, Ramesh Powar, Sairaj Bahutule, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Shrikant Mundhe, Rakesh Patel, Yusuf Pathan, Pinal Shah, Rajesh Pawar, Cheteshwar Pujara, Parthiv Patel, Sidharth Trivedi.
East Zone: Deep Dasgupta (Captain), Wriddhiman Saha, Parvez Aziz, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, Manoj Tiwary, Rohan Gavaskar, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Mihir Diwakar, Shibsagar Singh, Ranadeb Bose, Shib Shankar Paul, Saurasish Lahiri, Bikas Pati, Timir Chanda, Abu Nachem, Debasis Mohanty.
Umpires: I. Sivaram and R. Radhakrishnan. Third umpire: Sanjeev Rao. Match Referee: Anil Patel. Hours of play: 1.30 to 5 p.m. and 5. 45 p.m. onwards.

courtesy:Hindu

Andy Symonds targets S. Africa match

Melbourne: Injured all-rounder Andrew Symonds, a key player for Australia's World Cup campaign, is hopeful of returning to the side before the pool match against South Africa.
Symonds is believed to be well ahead of his scheduled rehabilitation programme and could be available before the March 24 match against the Proteas."I reckon hopefully I will take part in that match. If not South Africa, then a bit before that. But we just have to wait and see how it progresses," Symonds was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald.The March 24 match was initially considered an optimistic return date for Symonds.But an assessment by a Brisbane specialist last Friday has given Symonds hope that he could ease his way back into the side for the preceding match against the Netherlands, on March 18, the newspaper report said.
"I have been trying to get a bit of strength and bulk back into the muscle and I am ahead of schedule," Symonds said. — PTI

courtesy:Hindu

Jaihind scores win

Mysore : Jaihind CC, helped by some useful contributions by C. Raghavendra (47) and Karthik Raghavan (49), registered a two-wicket win over BEML (Mysore) in the pre-quarterfinal tie of the Sri Gopalaswami Memorial cricket tourney played at the Gangotri grounds here on Thursday.
The scores: BEML (Mysore) 219 for eight in 50 overs (P. Ashok 48) lost to Jaihind CC 223 for eight in 45.3 overs (C. Raghavendra 47, Karthik Raghavan 49).
The Mysore Gymkhana 216 in 48 overs (Uttam Raj 80) bt KR Nagar SC 165 in 45 overs (Pruthviraj four for 19).

courtesy:Hindu

In 1983, things were simpler

HYDERABAD: Twenty-four years ago, Kapil Dev's team for the 1983 World Cup left almost unnoticed with only one BCCI representative, Prof. Chandgadkar, present to see off the team. Worse, Air-India forced the BCCI to pay for the extra baggage for the trip to London.Apparently, no one ever thought that the team would come back after stunning two-time World champion, the West Indies, in the final.And, there was only one official with the team, a genuine all-rounder for the innumerable roles he had to play — P.R. Man Singh. In an exclusive chat with The Hindu, Man Singh provides a rare insight into those magnificent days when the Indians had an enchanting summer.Man Singh pointed out that the media focus on the World Cup then was nothing compared to the current edition. "Neither the corporates nor the sponsors lined up for the cricketers then.
Relaxed mood
"Consequently, Kapil's team enjoyed, literally, the whole World Cup ambience in a very relaxed mood. We were in a situation where we had nothing to lose but everything to gain," he said.
Significantly, the 1983 victorious squad did not have either a coach or a doctor or a physiotherapist. Only Man Singh was there to take care of everything."During the first team meeting before the World Cup, we impressed upon the players to just give their best and enjoy the game." Then before the first league match against West Indies, the message was: "When we can beat them in Berbice (in the preceding one-day series) why not here. Thus began the drilling of self-belief into the players," recalled Man Singh.But who monitored the `nets' and rectified the flaws if any? "Essentially, Jimmy (Mohinder Amarnath) did the job of taking care of the complete training programme with Kapil and Sunil (Gavaskar) deciding what should be the batting order and the bowling line-up. In fact, there was very little time spent in the nets because of inclement weather and tight schedule," he says.
Suitable conditions
"Fortunately, the wickets and the conditions suited the Indians more than most of the contenders there. That is the reason why Mohinder, Madan and Roger Binny were so successful.
"And our initial strategy was to see that Kirti Azad and Mohinder shared the fifth bowler's slot for the 12 overs (then 60 overs each contests). Soon, we were pleased that both of them bowled 12 overs each. Sometimes even Kapil could not complete his quota," said Man Singh.
More options
Interestingly, the 1983 World Cup manager believes that the bits-and pieces all-rounders of that Indian team provided more options. "It was a collective effort. The camaraderie and spirit of togetherness grew by leaps and bounds as the event progressed. And everyone was acknowledging the team effort instead of focusing on individual feats. The fact that Kapil never ever discussed his epic knock of 175 not out against Zimbabwe spoke of his modesty," he added.
When did the feeling begin that we were in with a chance to win the World Cup? "Obviously after reaching the semifinals. For we then realised it was a question of two wins. Even when we were bowled out for 183 in the final, the boys were never dispirited and we attacked. Can you imagine now, that right through a one-day innings, a slip fielder was positioned during the 1983 final," said Man Singh.The members of the 1983 World Cup squad were paid Rs. 12,500 each as tour money and shared the winner's purse of £30,000. After all the celebrations of being World Cup champion, each of them including Man Singh ended up with Rs. 2.5 lakhs each.

courtesy:Hindu

Suzie Bates's century sinks India

IN FULL FLOW: New Zealand opener Suzie Bates forces one through the off-side during her century knock against India on Thursday.

Chennai: Set a difficult target, thanks to some loose bowling and Suzie Bates's century, India eventually went down by 91 runs to New Zealand in the ICC quadrangular women's cricket series, at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday. India's poor bowling came as a surprise after its impressive performance on Wednesday. The host will now face a virtual semifinal clash with Australia on Saturday.For the Australians, Lisa Sthalekar continued swinging a productive bat for an 82-ball 77, taking her team to a six-wicket win over England.Kiwi opener Maria Fahey edged a Rumeli Dhar delivery, which went straight to Hemlata Kala's outstretched arms. The score was 10 for one, and India looked set to trigger another collapse. What followed instead was a 101-run partnership between Bates and Haidee Tiffen.
Dominant partner
Bates was the more dominant partner, slashing, cutting and driving at will. Amita Sharma bore the brunt of some crisp cuts to the point boundry, going for 24 runs off her three overs.The relentless Bates was helped by some sloppy work on the field.She effectively used her feet against Preeti Dimri and Nooshin Al Khadeer, scoring 11 boundaries in her 122.Rebecca Rolls's 54-ball 58 saw the only six of the innings, when she sent one over mid-wicket. Rolls put on 104 with Bates for the third wicket, but the two century-plus partnerships were followed by a mini-collapse, after Bates started cramping.
Mediocre batting
The Indians' bowling no-show was followed by some mediocre batting. Once Karuna Jain failed to judge a run and Jaya Sharma was trapped plumb by Nicole Browne in the 15th over, the rest of the innings unfolded in a sea of dot balls.The ubiquitous Kiwi fielders were brilliant, letting past very little. The Indians were forced to wait for the rare loose ball, and despite Jhulan Goswami's slam-bang attempts at the fag end of the match, India fell 91 runs short, conceding a bonus point as well.
The scores: At MAC: New Zealand: M. Fahey c Kala b Dhar 4, S. Bates b Dimri 122, H. Tiffen c Goswami b Al Khadeer 34, R. Rolls st. Jain b Dimri 58, S. McGlashan (not out) 24, A. Mason c Jain b Goswami 3, R. Milburn (run out) 7, N. Browne b Goswami 0, H. Watson (not out) 1, Extras (b-3, lb-3, w-13) 19, Total (for seven wkts. in 50 overs) 272.
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-111, 3-215, 4-232, 5-235, 6-269, 7-269.
India bowling: Goswami 10-2-43-2, Dhar 10-1-28-1, A. Sharma 3-0-24-0, Dimri 10-0-57-2, Al Khadeer 10-0-61-1, Kamini 6-0-41-0, Kala 1-0-12-0.
India: K. Jain (run out) 13, J. Sharma lbw b Browne 29, M. Raj c Rolls b Mason 31, H. Kala b Mason 7, R. Dhar c Mason b Burke 11, M. Kamini b Mason 11, S. Paranjpe c Rolls b Browne 4, A. Sharma lbw b Burke 0, J. Goswami (not out) 27, N. Al Khadeer (not out) 19, Extras (b-4, lb-1, w-23, nb-1) 29, Total (for eight wkts. in 50 overs) 181.
Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-55, 3-84, 4-108, 5-119, 6-126, 7-127, 8-138.
New Zealand bowling: Milliken 8-0-47-0, Watson 10-3-17-0, Browne 9-1-27-2, Mason 10-1-36-3, Tiffen 3-0-20-0, Burke 8-2-18-2, S. Bates 2-0-11-0.
At IIT-Chemplast:
England: S.J. Taylor c Blackwell b Pike 101, L. Newton b Pike 13, S.C. Taylor c Pike b Fitzpatrick 54, C. Edwards lbw b Sthalekar 10, J. Gunn lbw b Nitschke 19, L. Greenway c Bulow b Nitschke 16, B. Morgan b Fitzpatrick 23, L. Askew (run out) 10, J. Smit (not out) 4, I. Guha (not out) 0, Extras (lb-8, w-6, nb-4) 18, Total (for eight wkts. in 50 overs) 268.
Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-157, 3-181, 4-201, 5-227, 6-246, 7-258, 8-267.
Australia bowling: C. Fitzpatrick 10-3-43-2, S. Andrews 8-0-37-0, C. Smith 4-1-27-0, K. Pike 8-0-35-2, S. Nitschke 10-0-74-2, L. Sthalekar 10-1-44-1.
Australia: M. Bulow b Guha 52, S. Nitschke b Morgan 21, K. Rolton c&b Colvin 35, L. Sthalekar c Greenway b Colvin 77, K. Blackwell (not out) 40, C. Fitzpatrick (not out) 35, Extras (lb-2, w-7) 9. Total (for four wkts. in 46.4 overs) 269.
Fall of wickets: 1-80, 2-80, 3-151, 4-226.
England bowling: J. Gunn 7-0-43-0, L. Askew 7-0-41-0, I. Guha 7-2-36-1, B. Morgan 6-0-36-1, L. Newton 10-0-56-0, H. Colvin 9-0-45-2, C. Edwards 0.4-0-10-0.

courtesy:Hindu

Why Team India need to win the World Cup this time

A few metres away from the Gateway of India, cutting through the crowd of screaming fans, one piercing question leapt out at Greg Chappell. “Will we win the World Cup?The coach, who had just stepped out of the team hotel, paused for a second, grinned, and stepped into the waiting car. It’s a question that has been flung at him from almost every corner of the country. In a crowded hotel lobby in Vizag, at dinner in Goa, during a shopping trip in distant Alappuzha, and now on a Mumbai street. And it’s a question he knows will continue to haunt him over the next 60 days in the West Indies.
What is the answer?
We will, say the hundreds of advertising hoardings, clippings and the brains behind them. We can, offers the coach. We should, say the players. Perhaps, the real question that needs to be chewed on is why this Indian team, so desperately, needs to win the World Cup.Beyond the obvious, the truth is that never has a cricket team gone to the World Cup with so much at stake. And here’s why.• You have a coach who is at the end of a contract, hoping that the BCCI would ask him to stay on for two years more. For Chappell, a semi-final slot is the least he needs to bring back to the table when talks for the future start. The hard-talking Aussie has, by and large, managed to push his gameplan through over the last year, but if there’s one area where he has stumbled, it is his communication with senior players like Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh.An early end to India’s World Cup will mean the simmering tension is bound to pop up again —something that Indian cricket could definitely do without. And of course, there’s his vision still waiting to turn into reality, his process of forging a new Indian team, one that will emerge from the shadows of veterans like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.

• You have a captain who is eager to establish his leadership with the biggest prize ever after the slump that followed a dazzling beginning. Dravid’s captaincy was the toast of the country during the amazing 17-match chase streak. But thereafter, it was a string of uncomfortable moments in the West Indies, Malaysia, during the Champions Trophy and of course, the rout in South Africa.

All of a sudden, questions were asked within the team and outside, about his conservative leadership style, his ‘aloof’ nature, even his hunger to lead. But the warm-up series this year against the West Indies and Sri Lanka has brought that shy smile back on the gentleman skipper’s face. It’s a smile that millions of fans will hope remains till the end of April — for the team’s sake, for the skipper’s sake.

• You have Sachin Tendulkar, named vice-captain, desperate to stamp his seal once again in world cricket during what will surely be his last World Cup. If India fails, and Sachin too, it will mean the beginning of the final chapter of one of the greatest cricketers ever.

After a nightmare date with a series of injuries, Sachin just about came into form in South Africa, but never quite managed to survive those blips in focus that cut him down in mid flight. He missed out on two Test centuries, barely salvaged a horrendous start in the one-dayers, and finally got going in the twin series against the Windies and the Lankans. Oh yes, Tendulkar has a lot left to prove.

• You have Sourav Ganguly, desperate for that final blaze of glory after the trauma of being dropped and then having to virtually gatecrash his way back into the team after a year. Surely, all eyes will be on Dada, whose comeback is already one of the biggest fairy tales of Indian cricket. But Ganguly, it is believed, is far from satisfied, and is eyeing that one big score that will cement his place in the team. Already, this master of man-management has made an impact among the juniors with “valuable tips” and suggestions. He will play a key role, says Chappell, but even Ganguly knows that a flop in the West Indies would have the knives out again.

• You have Virender Sehwag, struggling to come to terms with a clutch of demons hovering over his head. Sehwag’s story is the most bizarre to have come out of this Indian book in a long, long time. Everyone agrees he is the match-winner that India needs, even Chappell says he can turn a match on his own — but except for that flicker in Vizag against Sri Lanka, he has done little to keep the faith. As chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar remarked, “He keeps getting out in the same way (slashing to slips) again and again.”For Sehwag, a bad World Cup would virtually mean a full stop—even the few senior players who have been backing him over the last few months may not be able to help. Not with a powerful section of the BCCI, livid over his strident stand on the unresolved contracts issue, gunning for his head.• You have Harbhajan Singh, still struggling to come to terms with a coaching manual that he has never come across before. Harbhajan, an extremely emotional character, has had his problems with the blunt style of Chappell, often struggling to get on the same page with the coach. He may believe that he knows better about the art he purveys, and has often been baffled about why the thinktank does not seem to share the supreme confidence that he has in his capabilities. He may not rate his competition very highly, too, but he knows this World Cup is his best chance ever to turn the corner—in every sense.

courtesy:Hindu

Akhtar, Asif exclusion an eyewash?

Even as injury is being used as the official reason behind the absence of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif from Pakistan’s World Cup squad, one question that begs to be answered is whether the injury is a cover up. With the ICC set to introduce target testing at the World Cup, it begs the question, is the injury a cover up to avoid Shoaib and Asif from a possible life ban if they tested positive at the World Cup. “I still maintain my innocence and why would I eat anything like this? I have bowled at a record 100 miles per hour. I have achieved enough for myself and for the country. Why would I jeopardise myself for 13 nanograms? People who have been caught have had levels of 150-200 nanograms. If I had to take something, then it would have been for those levels, not for mere 13 nanograms,” said Shoaib Akhtar, professing his innocence to claims of having tested positive for the banned performance enhancing drug Nandrolone. “I don't know about these things. I was injured and might have taken something wrong,” said young fast bowler Mohammad Asif. This ugly spectre of drug abuse was haunting Pakistani cricket. The two star cricketers had been picked for the World Cup but were quickly shipped away to London. The aim was to get the drugs flushed out as the ICC are scheduled to use target testing. Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid related to the male sex-hormone Testosterone. The steroid helps rebuild tissues that have become weak due to injury. They also promote the development of muscle tissue in the body, with an associated increase in strength and power. Discontinuing the use of the substance may not guarantee the test being negative. Metabolites of nandrolone have been found in the urine of some athletes after 2 years after last use. All this would have played on the athletes’ mind with Akhtar preferring the safe option of giving himself a 50% chance of playing the World Cup. “I have an injury and I'd informed the board. I've 50% chance of playing the World Cup,” Akhtar had announced. With the WADA and the ICC ready to hit it where it hurts, the PCB has pushed the bowlers behind the curtain. But when it's team goes out to play in the World Cup, all this is bound to hamper their performance. courtesy:Hindu

Elusive World Cup remains on Tendulkar's wish-list

NEW DELHI: After overcoming a string of injuries and surgery, Sachin Tendulkar is heading into his fifth World Cup desperate to fulfill one of the rare career ambitions that has eluded him.
During his 17-year international career, which started when he became India's youngest test cricketer at the age of 16 years and 205 days in 1989, Tendulkar has accomplished more than what most cricketers ever dream of.Tendulkar's 14,783 runs are the most compiled by any batsman in the history of limited-overs internationals and his 41 one-day centuries are also the most in the world. Twice during the past three World Cups, he has emerged as the most outstanding player of the tournament.But has never been able to celebrate with the title.
Tendulkar, who will turn 34 during the World Cup in the Caribbean, wants to bring back the premier limited-overs trophy for the millions of his adoring fans.India won the World Cup in 1983 in an upset over West Indies and came within a match of doing it again in 2003, only to be crushed in the final by Australia.Tendulkar was the leading scorer in the World Cup in South Africa, but his failure to make a big score in the final saw India's challenge fade and his player of the tournament award proved to be a small consolation.In 1996, when India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka co-hosted the tournament, Tendulkar earned his first player of the tournament award. But India frittered away a winning chance in the semifinal against Sri Lanka — which went on to clinch the title.India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have each won the World Cup once, and all are hoping to be the reigning champion when the next edition is again jointly staged in the subcontinent in 2011.Tendulkar remains India's most crucial player in what is likely his last World Cup.Since playing his first World Cup as a teenager in 1992, Tendulkar has gone on to become the quadrennial tournament's highest run-compiler with 1,732 runs from 33 matches.
Yet there were doubts over his form recently until he silenced critics with a century against the West Indies in January.Tendulkar is once again showing signs of flamboyance, but is unlikely to be batting at the World Cup in his favored opening position.During the recent home series wins over below-strength West Indies and Sri Lanka, Tendulkar was shifted down from the opening position as the team management sought to use his experience to bolster the middle-order.
Something similar happened even ahead of the 2003 World Cup when the then team management, lead by coach John Wright, adopted the same logic to use Tendulkar.But as India got off to a tottering start, Tendulkar was back at the helm as an opener. The move transformed India's fortunes and the team went on to qualify for the final for the first time in two decades.
Tendulkar's leg-spin adds another dimension to his team play, allowing the captain to use him as a fifth bowler and use that slot to field an extra batsman.Whatever he does, Tendulkar is guaranteed to be one of the most-watched players of the tournament.

courtesy:Hindu

Tendulkar raring to go

With perhaps the last chance to demonstrate his talent on the biggest one-day stage of all looming, Sachin Tendulkar is determined to prove that India can once again take World Cup honours.
The 1983 winners finished as runners-up to Australia four years ago in South Africa, with star batsman and vice captain Tendulkar hoping that India can go one better in the West Indies.A World Cup win would cap Tendulkar's remarkable career in the one-day game - the 33-year-old currently holding records for the most number of runs (14,783), centuries (41) and caps (381).This month's event is probably the last chance Tendulkar and other members of India's so-called 'golden generation' of cricketers - Sourav Ganguly, captain Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble - will have to score success.
And Tendulkar says that, with India's opening match against Bangladesh taking place on March 17, both he and his team-mates are raring to go."To be honest, to play well and win the World Cup is our long cherished dream. Not only mine, but it's the team's dream," said Tendulkar, who will be playing in his fifth World Cup."No one can deny the importance of an event that comes once in four years," he told the Mumbai Mirror."I have to admit that the huge stage of the World Cup motivates me to showcase my talent."The best will play against the best. That's something which excites any player. I, too, am ready for the challenge."Besides Bangladesh, India are placed in Group B alongside 1996 winners Sri Lanka and Bermuda, with Tendulkar saying that a strong start will be vital for progress."This Indian side is giving me a very good feel. Getting the right momentum will be a crucial factor," he added."The team which can adapt to (the) wickets quickly will go ahead in the race."

courtesy:Hindu

Tendulkar motivated by Cup dream

Star batsman Sachin Tendulkar says he is fired up by the prospect of helping India win the World Cup.

Tendulkar, 33, is the all-time leading run scorer in one-day internationals but has not been at his best for the past couple of years."To be honest, to play well and win the World Cup is our long cherished dream. Not only mine, but it's the team's dream," said Tendulkar."I have to admit the huge stage motivates me to showcase my talent." Despite his legendary status in the game Tendulkar, who will be playing in his fifth World Cup, has yet to win the tournament.In addition to holding the record for most ODI runs (14,783), he has also scored the most centuries (41) and won the most caps (381)."No one can deny the importance of an event that comes once in four years," Tendulkar told the Mumbai Mirror newspaper."The best will play against the best. That's something which excites any player. I, too, am ready for the challenge."Tendulkar has slipped down the order for India in recent times but remains the team's vice captain."This Indian side is giving me a very good feel," he said."Getting the right momentum will be a crucial factor. The team which can adapt to (the) wickets quickly will go ahead in the race."India won the tournament in 1983 and were beaten finalists in South Africa in 2003.They are in Group B with 1996 champions Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bermuda.

courtesy:Hindu

Capturing the Caribbean: Cricket World Cup 2007

With a newly designed Jersey similar to the one we wore in 1983, the men in blue are ready to capture millions of hearts and the World Cup this year. Lets join hands in supporting our best ever one-day team which is all geared to conquer the Cup…

WITH THE CRICKET World Cup round the corner, one cannot stop remembering our cricket team’s past performances, their aspirations, their hopes in the present World Cup, the big names in the team and of course the wonder team of 1983.

I remember the slogan of this advertisement whenever I think about the World Cup 'Eat Cricket, Sleep Cricket' and now even ‘dream cricket’. It’s in our blood. Despite recent losses in the last series in the Caribbean and the team’s constant failure or call it a practice of staying out of form for some big players, we Indians never stop supporting our team. And more than just once, our cricket team has made us feel proud. For the coming World Cup, our team seems to be the most balanced among the 16 competitors and thus deserves to lift the cup on their way back.

Our batting line is one of the strongest in the world. With Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly we know that we have no shortage of experience. These players are not only known for their capability to change the face of the game single handedly but they can also be quite consistent.

In an essay of records, Sachin Tendulkar also holds the World Record of scoring maximum runs in the World Cups. He has so far scored over 1730 runs in the World Cup tournaments. And with most of the people seeing this as his last World Cup, we cannot imagine what the Master Blaster has on his mind. Along with Sourav Ganguly and Mark Waugh , Sachin also holds the record for maximum number of centuries, 4 each, in the World Cups.

With most expecting this to be Ganguly’s last world cup as well, are we heading for more centuries coming from two of the greatest Indian batsmen of all times. Sourav has always been known for his ‘out of the ground’ sixes. No wonder he also holds the record for the largest number of sixes in the World Cup. So far he has hit 23 sixes and with the kind of return he has made to the team, we certainly expect this figure to hit the hilt.

When we are talking about the performances of the big names of Indian cricket we cannot forget mentioning Rahul ‘The Wall’ Dravid. Rahul has lived up to his reputation of being the backbone of the Indian Team with a record for the highest partnership in the World Cup. He along with Ganguly scored 318 runs against Sri Lanka at Taunton in 1999.

With young guns likeYuvraj, Dhoni, Pathan, Kartick and Sehwag around, our Batting grid looks the strongest. The good thing is that this current team looks very sturdy with the bowling department as well. Speedsters like Shreesanth, Munaf Patel, Zaheer and Agarkar in the team give them good bowling options. They are fast, if not the fastest, intelligent and aggressive. Our spinners in Bhajji and Kumble give the team not just more experience but also an edge over most spinners in the world. With the team working harder than ever and of course with our blessings and support it looks all set to come back with not just more records and individual success stories but with the Cricket World Cup. Lets start planning a grand welcome already.

Ganguly's ouster started India's slide

The downslide of the Indian cricket team started with the unsavoury manner in which Sourav Ganguly was ousted. Excessive experimentation with our batting and inability of our players to come to grips with the contract system have further contributed to our dismal performance.
Still, there are no excuses for our poor display in South Africa. The Indian team should have prepared itself better knowing fully well what to expect there. Even a schoolboy knows they were not going to offer flat wickets on a platter for the Indian batsmen to flourish. The groundwork was not done. The team should have either gone to South Africa much earlier than they did or at least put the gap between the matches during the ICC Champions Trophy to better use. Now-a-days information is available with the click of a mouse even if it is not forthcoming from the South African Board and there are search engines like Google to do the job for you! They should have got acclimatised to the conditions by planning a few more warm-up games. But it now seems by the time they will do so, the tour will be over! To put the entire performance in proper perspective it should be said that our strength is batting and we have undermined it by the excess amount of experimentation that has been carried out.A player like Rahul Dravid can cope up with the constant change in his batting order but not someone like Virender Sehwag who struggles when he is sent in the middle order.
And pray what are we doing with Irfan Pathan by sending him at number three when even a great all-rounder like Kapil Dev has not batted at this position!!These experiments have become too much of a hindrance to the team's progress. You need to be mentally strong to play at this level and these constant changes have made players unsure about their roles in the team. There are so many players padded up, it's a joke! No one knows who would go where! It's looking like a team of schoolboys and not the India team. It is time to identify 14 or 16 players for the World Cup, which is the most important thing that's coming up. I do not think this has been done so far. By now the players must know their jobs, whether they are openers, middle order batsmen or what. Our other traditional strength is spin bowling and we have not used it fully to our advantage. As we know because of the amount of One-day cricket that is played now, wickets are slowing down and spinners will have a role to play. We have Anil Kumble back now which is a good sign. Though Harbhajan Singh has not been in form, I think he will get his act together soon. Then there are people like Ramesh Powar and even Murali Kartik to do the job. But they need good support in the slips which is not happening now. For a bowler these missed catches are very disturbing. We do have some good medium pacers now but spin should always be looked upon as our strength in bowling, even on bouncy wickets as batsmen the world over are not able to play spin well. The same team was doing very well earlier but the downslide, I feel, started with the unsavoury manner in which Ganguly was ousted. Coach Greg Chappell had no business to send the e-mail to the Board criticising Ganguly, resulting in the spat being made public. What happens in the dressing room should never go out of its four walls. And all these fitness regimens and commando training are not for us. We are unlike the Australians who are rough and tough from childhood. Our culture is different and we have to balance it properly.
We should concentrate on getting the players, who come from different regions and speak different languages, blend as a cohesive unit. Otherwise groupism may take place. You leave it to the players to remain fit or else go out of the team. After all they will be losing not only allowances but also modelling assignments if they are chucked out! I also feel that the poor performance of the Indian team in South Africa and in recent times in One-Day Internationals show that the players are yet to come to grips with the contract system which is new to our cricket. It seems the Indian players are yet to understand the implications of the system. They are happy to sit out when injured as they are assured of a fixed sum. I would advocate going back to the old system where players are only paid match fees and allowances. Yes, the Indian Board is a very rich body now and lots of money has flown into its coffers. But it would make sense if the contract system is done away with and a new system, in fact the age-old format, is resorted to. Give them big money as match fees and allowances, offer them bonuses for performing well. I feel that is the way we can go back to put the game back on track.
As for Sachin Tendulkar, I think he will bounce back. He is still getting back into the groove after his injury lay-offs. But I'm sure he will come back stronger. He has two or three years of cricket left in him and hopefully his injuries are a thing of the past. But I feel he requires support from the other end which is not forthcoming.
courtesy:timesofindia

South Africa wins in style

With an emphatic 174 run win at Durban, South Africa leveled the Test series against Team India. There was a glimmer of hope that the weather gods would come to the rescue of the Indians but it turned out to be otherwise. Team India surrendered meekly to a disciplined South African attack. The defeat thoroughly exposed the Indian batting and their incapability to handle an accurate and intelligent seam attack by the South Africans. Once again Indian batsmen failed to adapt themselves and were knocked out like 9 pins. The Indians began their day with already two down on the board. Just when Jaffer was settling down, a bad shot cost him his wicket. Ganguly and Laxman failed to deliver and things looked bleak for India.
It was Dhoni who fought back into the South African camp with his explosive and inimitable batting style in the company of Zaheer Khan. Their useful partnership just delayed the inevitable. Looking at the way the Indian batsmen surrendered to the South Africans, it makes us think as to what is lacking with the team. The dismissals of Sachin and Dravid go onto suggest that they have been getting out in a similar fashion. It is ironical that these two experienced campaigners have not been able to correct themselves. The Indians have been longing for a good opening partnership, so that the middle order batsmen have the confidence to build on the solid start provided by the openers. Probably we need to look at giving a chance to Gautham Gambhir and take a relook at Sehwag. On the bowling front VRV Singh could make way for Munaf Patel if the latter is fit in time. Or otherwise look at a double spin attack with the 'Turbanator' Harbhajan making it into the team, which is most unlikely to happen as the South African tracks have been bouncy and conducive to seam bowling.

Full credits to South Africa for their win and it is high time that Team India rejuvenates itself and plays well. With the series level, the third Test proves to be a good tussle between the bat and the ball.
courtesy:timesofindia

'Sehwag should be put on the bench'

Nobody knows it better than the top five Indian batsmen that they have let down their side badly. Not everyday you come to South Africa and sit on a 1-0 advantage. You expect seniors to be more conscious about this rare opportunity but if they indeed were, I did not notice it.
South Africa could now be unstoppable. It never ceases to amaze me that this Indian team has some of the most talented and possibly a few of the greatest ever seen in their ranks yet when it's time to bat out the last day, they are found wanting. In recent years, it has happened too often: be it in Bangalore against Pakistan in 2005 or against England in Mumbai, and now in Durban this year, Indian top order has not come to party. It has been most disappointing for me that they do not put a high price on their wickets. A few changes are inevitable and I would be shocked if Gautam Gambhir is not given his opportunity in the final Test. To me it appears that Virender Sehwag doesn't take a lot of responsibility. His first innings shot was an absolute shocker and though he got a good ball in the second knock, he is proving to be inadequate.
The management would surely now show more guts in putting Sehwag on the bench. It would also serve as a message to other senior players that such a fate could also befall them. I do not think it would still come to a stage when Sachin Tendulkar is not picked but the great man, one of my most favourite batsman, has not pulled his weight in the series yet. There is so much which South African cricket fans want to cherish and applaud in him but he has not given them the opportunity. Knowing how Time Father works, it could be the last visit to these shores by the great charmer and I hope he rises to the occasion in Cape Town. I guess Rahul Dravid could sit in his room and watch endless replays of his two dismissals and yet, still feel sorry for himself. VVS Laxman has borne the brunt of South African attack in this series and thus might have wanted to get to the other end when on 49 in the first innings. That it exposed the last man VRV Singh to an almost full over could be termed as bad cricket by a few of us. Wasim Jaffer failed to build on his early start in both the innings and the manner of his dismissal in the second left a bad taste in mouth. That being so, I must say that the overcast conditions when Indians batted in the two innings played a massive role in their debacle. Yet getting out is one thing and failing to apply oneself is quite another. Indians were of the latter as they would readily admit. It was inevitable that Durban would once again throw up silly weather since as long as I can remember, enormous time has been lost due to intervention from the above. I don't think changing its Boxing Day status is an answer but it was frustrating to see it happening all over again.
Umpires had a difficult time with lights in this Test and it must have been a heavy drain on their mental and physical resources. The ICC should also look at the issue of allowing floodlights to operate during a Test match as it does not work basically for batsmen. The red ball looks dirty under the lights and it's hard on the batters. Coming to Cape Town, I guess South Africans would now be more assured against the visitors and wouldn't look for any dramatic measures now that they have drawn level. They have been let out of jail and now the Indians could end up paying a huge price.
courtesy:timesofindia

When Tendulkar batted a la Sachin

On Wednesday, Tendulkar batted like Sachin again. With a sumptuous 76-ball century against West Indies that was aesthetic, intelligent and sexy, the maestro was rocking once again and in the mood for World Cup. Vadodara couldn't have been luckier. Since his unbeaten 141 against the same side in Kuala Lumpur last September, Tendulkar wasn't quite the same, he was painfully workmanlike, seemingly shackled by a crushing load of huge self-expectations.
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Scorecard
It wasn't just the less number of runs, a mere 339 scored in 13 innings at an average of 26.76, it was also the manner in which he was getting them. There was something un-Sachin-like about these knocks: an absence of fluidity and fun.He seemed like a millionaire fallen on middle-class days. Everything changed in Vadodara. Playing with an uncluttered mind, Tendulkar turned batting into an expression of freedom once more. Shots seen recently only on television shows of India's Greatest Triumphs were resurrected. Two of them will endure in memory: a down-on-the knees six off Marlon Samuels and a last-nanosecond flick off a Darren Powell yorker that sped to the boundary even as the bowler muffled his appeal. You could see why He was the best. Tendulkar appeared irritated at the suggestion that there was something missing from his recent knocks. "I never played according to what x, y or z says. I always bat as I feel is the correct way. I have played long enough to know what is good for me. People should appreciate that," he said rather tersely to presenter Arun Lal in the ceremony that saw him claim both player of the match and player of the series award.
You couldn't argue with him today. Former greats feel with Sachin roaring back to form, India's World Cup jigsaw is falling into place. Ex-India captain Ajit Wadekar believes that fear of injury could have been restricting Sachin's strokeplay since he returned after a lay-off last year.
"But the kind of shots he played in this innings show such worries are gone. When you regain your confidence, it takes your batting to a higher level. He seems to be peaking at the right time for the World Cup," said Wadekar.
courtesy:timesofindia

Tendulkar back among top-20 in ICC rankings

DUBAI, Feb 1: With the World Cup just around the corner, Sachin Tendulkar sounded warning to his opponents by moving back into the list of top-20 ODI batsmen in the LG-ICC Player rankings released on Thursday. Tendulkar, who hit his 41st hundred in the fourth and final match of the One-Day International series against West Indies on Wednesday, climbed four places to be joint 18th alongside Sri Lanka's Upul Tharanga. He amassed 191 runs from the four matches.
When Tendulkar batted a la Sachin
Sachin's ton fashions India's big win
The Mumbai batsman had slipped out of the elite club in April last year but briefly regained his place during a tri-series against Australia and the West Indies in Malaysia and the ICC Champions Trophy, and then dropped out again by the end of the latter tournament in November 2006. Wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the highest-placed Indian, occupying fourth place after gaining two spots to be behind leaders Mike Hussey of Australia, England's Kevin Pietersen and Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting in that order. India now boast four players inside the top 20 batting slots with captain Rahul Dravid moving three places up in 12th spot and Yuvraj Singh lying 20th. Although Yuvraj has slipped one place, the good news is that he is playing again after being sidelined since October with a serious knee injury.
India's 3-1 success against the West Indies was however, not enough to lift it up from sixth place in the ODI Team Championship table. India is four rating points away from third-placed Pakistan and there is still plenty of scope for upward movement when they line up against Sri Lanka in another four-match series later this month. Ten of the 11 teams on the table, with the exception of the West Indies, will be in action over the next few weeks, the chances for significant changes in the standings before the ICC Cricket World Cup starts in March.
Australia is nine rating points clear of South Africa at the top of the table and is yet to lose a match during its ongoing tri-series against England and New Zealand.
And while India has four batsmen inside the top 20 places of the player listings, Australia can boast the same number inside the top six positions.
Besides Hussey and Ponting, Adam Gilchrist is fifth and Andrew Symonds is sixth while yet another Australian player Michael Clarke, occupies 10th spot among the batsmen.
Harbhajan Singh is India's top-ranked bowler in 13th spot in the ODI bowlers' rankings. Seamer Ajit Agarkar is four places lower and the recently recalled Irfan Pathan is just outside the top 20, in 21st position. Top three places on the list were, however, unchanged with South African Shaun Pollock, Australian Glenn McGrath and Daniel Vettori of New Zealand occupying the top three places.
courtesy:timeofindia

International Cricket Calendar for India

Date	Match	Venue
February
Thu 8	India vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI	Kolkata
Sun 11	India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI	Rajkot
Wed 14	India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI	Margao
Sat 17	India vs Sri Lanka, 4th ODI	Visakhapatnam

Karthik: Smells like teen spirit

It has been a roller-coaster ride in international cricket for Dinesh Karthik. Since making his ODI debut against England at Lord’s in September 2004, the dashing Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper underwent acclaim and rejection before making his way into the National squad again. All that happened in a short span of two years. Now the teenager has matured to sport an assured demeanour. Gone is the nervous energy that did him in, in his initial stint. A couple of match winning knocks in South Africa (31 not out in a Twenty20 match) and at home (63 against West Indies at Cuttack) have been his latest tickets to fame. They also landed him a berth in the World Cup squad. Earlier this week, he was smiling ear-to-ear after being signed up by Nike. Soon after parading the new team uniform with captain Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Zaheer Khan and S Sreesanth, the 21-year-old related his experiences with the Indian squad, his comeback and the challenges ahead.
"Positive" and "confident" were liberally sprinkled during his chat with TOI in the car on his way to the airport. "One year ago, I never thought I would make the World Cup squad. It wasn’t even on my mind," he says. But such has been the turn of events that his batting abilities have landed him a plump spot in the middle-order. It all began with a 400 he struck as opener for new employers Chemplast in a local league match in Chennai. An audacious 134 off 182 balls in a Ranji Trophy match against Mumbai at the Wankhede in December 2005, set the tone. "It didn’t happen by chance. I made a conscious effort to polish my batting technique," he explains.
At the other end, the Indian squad were hurtling towards one batting disaster after another. It reached abysmal levels in South Africa. Karthik got his opportunity then and made it count. "The Twenty20 game was a small turning point," he admits. It gave him a foothold not only in the ODI team but also in the Test XI during the South African sojourn. "I have become more judicious in my shot selection," he indicates. He began feeding on the competitive spirit in the squad and the inputs from heavyweights Tendulkar and Dravid. "You can learn so many things from them," he says. In ten of the 13 ODIs that he has played so far, he has been in the side as a middle-order batsman. Doesn’t he miss wicketkeeping? "I do," he admits but points to his routine, which includes wicketkeeping drills. "I know that I am in the team as a batsman. But if Dhoni is not available I will have to keep wickets." While skeptics point to a competition between him and Dhoni, Karthik corrects it by saying, "I enjoy a very healthy relationship with Dhoni." He adds, "Remember, there are four wicketkeepers in the side Dravid, Robin Uthappa, myself and Dhoni."

courtesy:timesofindia

Pakistan's Akhtar, Asif out of World Cup

KARACHI, March 1: Pakistan's doping-tainted pace bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif on Thursday were ruled out of the World Cup in the Caribbean due to injury.Coach Bob Woolmer called the news a "huge blow" while captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said Pakistan would now travel to the tournament which starts on March 13 under "tremendous pressure." The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) denied the new-ball pair were withdrawn to save them from possible life bans if they came up positive for steroids in mandatory pre-tournament drugs tests.
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Pak to leave for WC without Shoaib, Asif
Shoaib, Asif fit for World Cup: Inzamam
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Pak all-rounder Razzaq out of World Cup
"Akhtar and Asif are both out due to injury and we have decided to replace them with Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami," Pakistan chief selector Wasim Bari said. "Their injuries will take another two weeks to heal so after consultation with Inzamam-ul-Haq we have taken the final decision," he said. "The Pakistan team is capable enough to deal with this critical situation." Akhtar and Asif had both been having injuries reassessed in England. Akhtar is battling a knee and hamstring injury, while Asif has a recurrence of an elbow injury sustained last year.
There had also been uncertainty about whether the duo would take the doping tests ordered by Pakistan amid warnings by experts that they could still have steroids in their system.
In November Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year after they tested positive for the steroid nandrolone, but the bans were later overturned on the grounds that they took the substance unknowingly.
"Their withdrawal has nothing to do with doping. They were due to feature in dope tests once they regained full fitness but for us the chapter is now closed," PCB World Cup spokesman Pervez Mir said. "We did our best and waited because Inzamam wanted them in the team as they are our best bowlers. But reports of their injuries were not good and we could not have waited any more," said Mir, who represented Pakistan in the first World Cup in 1975.
"It is a huge blow," Woolmer told a joint news conference with Inzamam. "But their injuries would have taken more time and we couldn't wait any more." "We now know where we stand. It is true that our chances have been hit badly by the absence of these two key bowlers but we will have to show the kind of spirit and team unity which can win us a big event like the World Cup," he said. The Pakistani team were due to fly out to the Caribbean later on Thursday. They play hosts the West Indies in the opening match at Jamaica on March 13. "This is not an ideal situation for us. We are leaving for the West Indies under tremendous pressure," Inzamam said. "But we have shown in the past that through team spirit we can overcome any crisis situation. Mohammad Sami and Arafat may not be as good as Akhtar and Asif but they'll try their level best to make up for the loss." He added: "We could not take the risk on Shoaib and Asif as the deadline was approaching. We had to take a decision. "It's up to the available players now to show their mettle so that we can achieve the best possible results in the World Cup."
courtesy:timesofindia

World Cup format and regulationsormat

Format and regulations of the cricket World Cup starting in the West Indies on March 13.
First round: The ninth edition of the World Cup will be contested by 16 teams, the most ever. In the first round they are divided into four groups of four teams and play each other once. The top two from each group qualify for the super eight.
Super eight: The winners and runners-up from the four groups will play each of the other teams except the team which advanced from their own group. The top four qualify for the semi-finals.
Semi-finals and final: The second and third place finishers will contest the first semi-final while the teams placed first and fourth will meet in the second. The winners meet in the final in Barbados on April 28.
Points: Two for a win, one for a tie or a game without result in the preliminary and super eight stages. Teams qualifying for the super eight carry forward only the points gained in the group stage against the other qualifier.
Key rules:
If the scores are equal, the match is tied regardless of the number of wickets which have fallen. Each match comprises two sessions of 3-1/2 hours each with a 45-minute interval. First session 0930 - 1300, interval 1300 -1345, second session 1345 - 1715
If the start is delayed or play is suspended, the match can be extended by a maximum 30 minutes.
Key innovations:
Powerplay: Fielding restrictions when only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-metre circle surrounding the wicket with at least two in catching positions will be applied in three blocks totalling 20 overs. The first powerplay of 10 overs automatically comes into force at the start of an innings. The fielding captain must then nominate two five-over spells when restrictions will apply.
Bowl-out: Cricket's equivalent of soccer's penalty shootout if the semi-finals or final end in a tie. Bowlers from opposing teams take turns to bowl at a set of three stumps. The team with the most hits after five deliveries each is the winner.
Courtesy:timesofindia.

Spin vision of Team India

There are 'favourites' and there are 'dark horses', but there's no knowing who's gonna lift the World Cup on April 28. One thing's certain though: It's not going to be a team that's not willing to believe or be bold.All 16 sides will arrive in the Caribbean having painstakingly prepared--both on the drawing board and on the playing field--for cricket's quadrennial showpiece. Team composition, batting order, bowling mix, fielding positions... The many options--some inherent to that team, some created over time through improvisations--will have been thoroughly tested. It's time now to make the choices.The Indians too will have to carefully weigh their options, and among them will surely be the one on how best they can use Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, the two specialist spinners in the squad. Who'll get the nod or, should the circumstances so encourage, will both be in the playing 11?
In terms of experience and expertise, both are well endowed and have time and again shown match-winning capabilities, but can they be given that huge role of together spearheading the Indian attack? The team think-tank, which has been a huge proponent of flexibility, must believe they can and probe this possibility with both pragmatism and passion.
In the many years of lamenting over and yearning for pace bowlers, we have lost sight of the fact that spin has been our traditional strength and that we can still employ it as a weapon better than most. At the top level of any sport, where there is very little to choose between the teams, surprise can be a clincher. Cricket too is replete with examples of how the 'unexpected' brought the opposition to their knees.
Remember the problems off-spinner Dipak Patel posed when, out of the blue, he came on as an opening bowler during the 1992 World Cup? The effects of that 'shock' lasted long enough for New Zealand to keep employing the plan right through the tournament even as teams tried desperately to come to grips with something they hadn't budgeted for in their plans or preparations.
There is bound to be a surprise or two in this World Cup as well, and India can certainly exercise the two-spinner option as many times as the opportunity arises. While the wickets this time are expected to aid their art, the variety in the attack in the attack will not suffer. If anything, it will be enriched.
Kumble and Harbhajan are very different bowlers--and it's not just because one delivers leg-spin and the other off-spin. Kumble's is that tight relentless assault that forces the batsman to play from his post, while Bhajji is about the loop that is launched to fool him in the air. One is about the minor variations, the googly and the flipper hardly discernible when they are slipped in but deadly all the same. The other is forever chasing that extra turn, which in turn lends his 'doosra' a telling edge.In fact, considering the conditions they are expected to encounter in the Caribbean, the selectors probably missed a trick by not also including Ramesh Powar in the 15.
In a format of the game where containment is a key and dot balls are at times nothing short of telling blows, spinners have often been considered vulnerable against the batsmen looking for ready runs. Two spinners in a playing eleven is surely luxury. Or, so they will have you believe.On India's tour of the West Indies last year, two spinners had wreaked havoc.. The stranglehold Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels had on India's much-vaunted batting line-up in the crucial middle overs should have been both a pointer and a prod for teams that have a tradition of relying on spin to churn out the right results.

There must, of course, be a method in the 'madness'. The tracks and, perhaps more importantly, the form that Kumble and Bhajji carry during the Cup should decide whether India play this card. The Indian team is full of part-time spinners and there will always be the temptation to include that extra seamer or batsman at the expense of the two-spinner option but should the conditions so present themselves, the think-tank mustn't shy away and play 'safe'.
It's time to back belief.

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Take risks, Amarnath tells India

BANGALORE, March 1: The picture of Mohinder Amarnath running towards the pavilion with a huge smile of satisfaction, after claiming the last West Indian wicket in the 1983 World Cup final is etched in the mind of every Indian cricket lover. Even after 23 years, Amarnath's memory of India's triumph at Lord's remains vivid. "The only thing on our mind was to bag the last wicket as quickly as possible. Once it was done I started running towards the pavilion."Could India win the Cup again in the Caribbean? Amarnath felt that the fortunes of the team would depend a lot on the finishers. "Finishers like Yuvraj and Dhoni will have a crucial role to play," he said. "Even the spinners can play a pivotal role in the team's fortunes."
He also felt that the tough and demanding conditions in the West Indies would get the best out of the players. "They have played against all the countries an
d in all conditions. Only tough conditions make a player better. I've always believed in taking risks, only then can we reap the desired results."Echoing his views was another former World Cupper Krishnamachari Srikkanth: "I will not be surprised if India win the World Cup. We have a very well balanced side with experience and all-rounders that has lent stability. The pitches in the West Indies is expected to be similar to those in the sub-continent."
But Amarnath sounded a note of caution: "India's chances are good. But remember, the West Indian pitches are freshly laid," he said. He added that preparations do not have much role play in the mega event: "It's is a different ball game. Everything depends on the way you start. Hopefully our team will qualify for the Super Eight. That's when the real test begins." When asked to comment on the openers Amarnath, preferred Robin Uthappa to Virender Sehwag. "The opening issue should be sorted out in the warm-up matches. But going by form, I would prefer Robin to open the innings."
courtesy:timesofindia