England bemoan lack of big-hitters

Paul Collingwood admitted that England will have to look at their batting line-up for future Twenty20 matches, after seeing his side dumped out of the ICC World Twenty20 tournament at the Super 8 stage by West Indies.


Collingwood and the home fans were left cursing the English weather, as two rain storms left the Windies facing just nine overs and Chris Gayle’s men reached the revised target of 80 to make the semi-finals.


Although England’s performances have been much improved on displays in the same event two years ago, when they won just one of their five matches, there is still a lot more to do before they can think about challenging for the trophy.


In these circumstances people often look for something or someone to blame – this time the finger has to be pointed at the performances with the bat.


Although England surprised many with their win over defending champions India, and also produced a decent display to beat Pakistan in the group stages, their totals often fell well short of what they could and should have been.


England batted first in each of their five matches and their top score (185-5) came against Pakistan, but that was the only time they wracked up over 165 in 20 overs.


The top order batsmen, Ravi Bopara, Luke Wright and Kevin Pietersen, all produced the goods at different stages of the tournament – with top scores of 55, 71 and 58 respectively.


England’s bowlers, especially Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad, can also take some praise for the way they performed.


Again, as has been the problem in other forms of the game in recent times, the middle order has been the downfall and, in particular, the lack of big-hitters at the selectors disposal.


The only big-shot player that England bring in for Twenty20 fixtures is Dimitri Mascarenhas, but he fell short again in this tournament. The Hampshire ace still only has a top score of 31 in 13 international Twenty20 innings.


Mascarenhas was not the only player found wanting though and the selectors will be hoping they have found a middle-order solution by the time the next event is staged in 2010 (brought forward as the 2008 Champions Trophy tournament was postponed) in the West Indies.

Ashes bowling fears for Aussies

Australia have revealed concerns over the fitness of Brett Lee as they prepare for this summer’s Ashes cricket action, and are now hoping the England and Wales Cricket Board will help their preparations.

The world’s top Test team have asked for permission to use 12 players in the Ashes warm-up fixtures, as they look to test Lee’s progress after recent ankle surgery.

Ricky Ponting's men are due to play two first-class matches before the opening Test against England, which takes place in Cardiff on July 8, and the selectors are looking for Lee to prove his fitness.

The tourists will play a four-day game against Sussex (June 24-27) at Hove and then face the England Lions at New Road (July 1-4), and they are hoping the ECB will allow them to use 12 players during those two matches.

Both Lee and fellow seamer Stuart Clark are coming back from long-term injuries and Australia are keen for the duo to get some match action under their belts.

Ponting has admitted that Lee’s fitness is still “a bit of an unknown”, although the Aussie skipper has been pleased to see the New South Wales paceman getting through the IPL unscathed.

With regards to Ashes 2009 betting and the absence of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne this summer, the involvement of the 32-year-old could prove crucial to the tourists’ chance of retaining the Urn.

Lee took 20 wickets in both the last Ashes series in 2006-2007 and Australia’s defeat on English soil in 2005, also proving a more than useful figure with the bat down the order.

In a worst case scenario for the tourists, both Lee and Clark may not be fit enough to feature in Cardiff and that would leave an inexperienced pace attack of Mitchell Johnson (21 Tests), Ben Hilfenhaus (3 Tests), Peter Siddle (7 Tests) and Andrew McDonald (4 Tests).

Murali , Again in the Danger Zone ? Schedule of the matches

With the silent of this blog, I'm going to break it again after a few weeks. Now again , time to live with cricket. The matches will begin in next month.Until then, we have something to talk about. Also, you can see the schedule of Sri Lankan tour in Australia, below.



************************ No doubt, Murali on Top *************

Darell Hair


Some of Murali loving people burning a stunt of Darell Hair to show their openion



Beginning from Arjuna Ranathunga's time, a gap between Murali and Australia has raised. Some times it must be between Shane Warne and Murali, but both of them are not responsible for the matter, it's between some people in both countries like umpire Darrell Hair ,who created this big controversy. Darrell Hair, who called No-Ball action against Murali, before the world cup of 1996, has created many troubles for him after that.But Murali has reached to the world no.1 figure through those rival activities.


************************ Arjuna advised Muralidharan ************

Darell Hair, Murali and Arjuna Ranathunga in the ground when the trouble aroused


In this juncture again, Former Captain Of Sri Lanka, Arjuna Ranatunga has advised Murali, not to play in Australia in the coming series of November.The only solution for him is refrain from face to face action on Australian soil to avoid more controversies, according to the former skipper, who was the giant figure behind Murali when the last trouble era.Murali respect much for him but this time he disclaimed the idea and said,
"I am used to any situation and will accept the way it comes perhaps it may motivate me more to take on the challenge" as a real lion as a replay but he respects the former captain as before.

We can't predict what'll happen for Murali in time to come. Hope nothing trouble in this time avoiding much talked controversy.

********************* Schedule of the matches ****************

October 2007-------------------------------
Sat 27 - Mon 29
10:30 local, 01:00 GMT Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI v Sri Lankans
Adelaide Oval

November 2007-----------------------------
Fri 2 - Sun 4
10:00 local, 00:00 GMT
Queensland v Sri Lankans
Allan Border Field, Brisbane

Thu 8 - Mon 12
10:00 local, 00:00 GMT
1st Test - Australia v Sri Lanka
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane

Fri 16 - Tue 20
10:30 local, 23:30 GMT
2nd Test - Australia v Sri Lanka
Bellerive Oval, Hobart

January 2008-------------------------------
Wed 30
10:00 local, 23:00 GMT
Prime Minister’s XI v Sri Lankans
Manuka Oval, Canberra

February 2008------------------------------
Sat 2
10:00 local, 23:00 GMT
Tasmania v Sri Lankans
Bellerive Oval, Hobart

Tue 5
Floodlit Match
13:15 local, 03:15 GMT
India v Sri Lanka
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane

Fri 8
Floodlit Match
14:15 local, 03:15GMT
Australia v Sri Lanka
Sydney Cricket Ground

Tue 12
10:00 local, 23:00 GMT
India v Sri Lanka
Manuka Oval, Canberra

Fri 15
Floodlit Match
11:30 local, 02:30 GMT
Australia v Sri Lanka
W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth

Tue 19
Floodlit Match
13:45 local, 03:15 GMT
India v Sri Lanka
Adelaide Oval

Fri 22
Floodlit Match
14:15 local, 03:15 GMT
Australia v Sri Lanka
Melbourne Cricket Ground

Tue 26
10:00 local, 23:00 GMT
India v Sri Lanka
Bellerive Oval, Hobart

Fri 29
Floodlit Match
14:15 local, 03:15 GMT
Australia v Sri Lanka
Melbourne Cricket Ground

March 2008---------------------------------
Sun 2
14:15 local, 03:15 GMT
1st Final - TBC v TBC
Sydney Cricket Ground

Tue 4
Floodlit Match
13:15 local, 03:15 GMT
2nd Final - TBC v TBC
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane

Fri 7
Floodlit Match
13:45 local, 03:15 GMT
3rd Final - TBC v TBC
Adelaide Oval
if required

******************************************************
More Cricket Information,
Visit,
http://cricketschedule.blogspot.com

Sanath, Done it again !!! Playing 400 Matches with 300 Wickets

Sanath Jayasiriya, the unbelievable cricket sports star in our era, has done and proved it again with 400 cricket one day matches. The first cricketer in the history has played 400 one day internationals.


Jayasiriya, who started the career in 1989 , scored more than 12,175 runs with 306 wickets. He has scored 100's in 25 matches with highest score 189. The best bowling figure is 29 runs for six wickets. Got 114 catches and five wickets in 4 times.The batting average for Sanath is 32.79 , for bowling 39.48.

Then, those figures have proved without any argument, The world's best cricketer is Sanath Jayasiriya.The only cricketer in the world's history played more than 400 matches, scored more than 12,175 runs and got more than 306 wickets, we can't expect even Sanath know that.

The Second place , Sachin Tendulkar (India) has started the sports career in 1989 too, has played 398 one day internationals, scored more than 15,450 runs with average 44.11 , 41 centuries, got only 152 wickets with average 43.86, best 5/32, has got 5 wickets in 2 times according to the reports.

The Third Place, Inzamam-Ul-Haq, played 378 one days, scoring 11,739 runs to the average of 39.52 ,10 centuries ,got only 3 wickets had started the career in 1991, finished in 2007 with the "ICC Cricket World Cup - 2007".

Sanath Jayasiriya, at 38 of age, congratulation for the Un-Disputed success in the field.

(
Is there any important information about Sanath Jayasiriya ? Please keep it here as a comment to share the knowledge !)

The New 50-50 One Day rules, Going To Change By Today Onwards..

Today is the 1st of October. From today onwards the ICC is going to introduce some new regulations for one day format of cricket. Those rules are validated for the series Sri Lanka-England. Those are the new rules,

• There’ll be a free hit after if it’s a front-foot No-Ball.

• After the 1st power play, that means during second and third power plays, an additional fielder will be permitted outside the fielding , inner circle.

• If there is a problem, like rain , number of overs have to be reduced. If so number of overs for each power play will be reduced accordingly.

• Minimum distance for boundaries was 140 yards . It’ll change to 150 yards.
The minimum on one side is of 65 yards , straight boundaries 70 yards, previously was 60 yards.

• If one side refused to play the mach for any reason, The match referee has the right to choose the winning team.

• If a new batman not ready to play after 2 minutes with a wicket, umpires can impose Time-Wasting penalties for him.

• A new ball can be used in 35th over onwards, but the decider is the leader of the team, who lost the toss.

( I appreciate your replay if there is any other regulations, I’ve forgotten to mention)

The first Ball

As an Indian, it feels very nice to start contribution to “A Different Stroke” very close to a day when India lifted the inaugural T-20 world cup. I had started writing this piece just around 30 minutes after this event. Although it is not the first time I am pouring my heart out writing on cricket, but starting as a contributor for the first time, it is like as if I am going to open an innings in an international (20, 50 or infinity notwithstanding) after a few knocks at domestic cricket. Let me come out of this and move along.

Rather than restricting myself to the final and India’s win, I would look back to the whole tournament. I am restricting myself to purely cricket point of view, minus the cheer-girls / boys and related extravaganza that had been brought in to bring more crowds, specially the fast generation (what is it now – Z?). I just mentioned a little bit of my thought when I requested the moderator to consider me as a contributor; quite a few of us cricket-lovers and cricket thinkers are flummoxed by the happenings in the whole tournament. I would like to bring the issues straight out.

At the outset I admit that I have never been so mistaken in my life in any matter related to cricket. But my agony was little bit lessened when I saw the whole world also did so. All people said this is a bigger graveyard for the Bowlers. This statement is repeated even today by Vettori (of all people). The same was said when in mid eighties rules for ODIs were also altered every now and then. But let us think very clearly. I see T-20 is a chance for resurgence of the bowlers. Let us not bother about the figure / statistics in RPO; the benchmark cannot be same (and should not be compared with ODI and tests). This is because in T20- you cannot bat out an opposition. Chris Gayle could not do it. Almost all the T20 matches till now in this World cup, has been won by good bowling, and this is going to stay. Even out of 27 matches, Player of the match award has gone to Bowlers in 11 cases including the final and 3 to all-rounders. The player of the tournament also has gone to Afridi predominantly for his bowling performances, as he conceded himself. The Batsmen have almost reached saturation, unless you take cricket back to the "gulleys" via tennis and badminton courts. Till then, My Dear Bowlers – don’t feel left out. Go and enjoy the sweet smell of grass under the sun. Your expiry date is somewhat far-off.

How The T-20 World Cup Went On... ! What Next ?

Now, the very first Twenty20 cricket world cup is over giving some unexpected entertainment with comparing others. When I was thinking about that, I wanted to know how the matches went on and find out what is Shah Rukh Khan's factor as a behind scene. Then, this is what I'm doing now to share the the information with you.I know many of you'll copy this to PCs.

Groups,
Group A: Bangladesh, South Africa, West Indies
Group B: England, Australia, Zimbabwe
Group C: New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Kenya
Group D: India, Pakistan, Scotland



* September 11 South Africa vs West Indies,
(Johannesburg)
South Africa won by eight wickets


* September 12 New Zealand vs Kenya,
(Durban)
New Zealand won by nine wickets


* September 12 Pakistan vs Scotland,
(Durban)
Pakistan beat Scotland by 51 runs


* September 12 Australia vs Zimbabwe,
(Cape Town)
Zimbabwe won by five wickets



* September 13 West Indies vs Bangladesh,
(Johannesburg)
Bangladesh won by six wickets


* September 13 England vs Zimbabwe,
( Cape Town)
England won by 50 runs


* September 13 India vs Scotland,
(Durban)
Match abandoned, rain

* September 14 Sri Lanka vs Kenya ,
(Johannesburg)
Sri Lanka won by 172 runs


* September 14 Australia vs England,
(Cape Town)
Australia won by eight wickets


* September 14 India v Pakistan,
(Durban)
India win bowl-out 3-0 after tie


* September 15 Sri Lanka vs New Zealand,
( Johannesburg)
Sri Lanka won by seven wickets


* September 15 South Africa vs Bangladesh,
( Cape Town)
South Africa won by seven wickets

*********** Super 8 ***********

* September 16 New Zealand vs India,
(Johannesburg)
New Zealand won by 10 runs


* September 16 Australia vs Bangladesh,
(Cape Town)
Australia won by nine wickets


* September 16 South Africa vs England,
(Cape Town)
South Africa won by 19 runs


* September 17 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka,
(Johannesburg)
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 33 runs


* September 18 New Zealand vs England,
(Durban)
New Zealand bt England by five runs

* September 18 Australia vs Pakistan,
( Johannesburg)
Pakistan bt Australia by six wickets


* September 18 Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka,
(Johannesburg)
Sri Lanka bt Bangladesh by 64 runs


* September 19 South Africa vs New Zealand,
(Durban)
South Africa won by six wickets


* September 19 England vs India,
(Durban)
India won by 18 runs


* September 20 Australia vs Sri Lanka,
(Cape Town)
Australia won by 10 wickets


* September 20 Bangladesh vs Pakistan,
(Cape Town)
Pakistan won by four wickets


* September 20 South Africa vs India,
(Durban)
India won by 37 runs


*********** Semi Finals ***********
* September 22 1st semi-final: New Zealand vs Pakistan,
(Cape Town)
Pakistan won by six wickets


* September 22 2nd semi-final: India vs Australia,
(Durban)
India won by 15 runs

*********** The Grand Finale ***********
* September 24 Final: Pakistan vs India,
(Johannesburg)
India won by five runs


What Next ?

The Champions Trophy, will be held next year (2008)in the month of September in Pakistan. It'll be over in two weeks.After that in 2010.The only problem is to fix dates to Twenty20 world cup with international calendar scheduled to be held around the world. There will be another ICC World Twenty20 in England in 2009 according to the ICC.their first priority is for the Test, after that for 50 over matches.

Shah Rukh Khan factor :
When I read today's international news papers , I've seen something interested article but on the first page of one of the news papers in India.That tells

"Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif had mentioned earlier that it was SRK’s presence that inspired Dhoni and his men to victory." Because "Chak De! India" film had inspired all of India.

Shah Rukh was there because The BCCI and Sharad Pawar had invited him in last 2 hours.His sun wanted to see the match then.

Rashid Latif also explained "He was the ‘X’ factor that lent that extra edge to the Indian team"


Shah Rukh Khan has said,
"I am glad to be able to contribute through them. But, in this case, I was another Indian among the spectators cheering the boys with my mind, body, heart and soul. Yeah, I was praying fervently as well, but then so was everyone else."