World Cricket II

Steve :clap:

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Originally Posted by [url=http://www.cricinfo.com/page2/content/story/483966.html

Cricinfon Page 2[/url]]Statistics don't really count, even the one that tells you Imran averaged 19 with the ball and 50 with the bat in his final 10 years as a Test cricketer.

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:shock: Most bowlers and batsmen would kill to have one of those averages. Imran had them both at the later part of his career :notworthy:. Perhaps Imran is the best bowling all-rounder in Test cricket (Sobers being a batting all-rounder).

Batting-wise Kapil's average looks a bit modest but the main reason was he seemed to have a cavalier approach (from what I have read and heard). And Kapil would have bowled mostly in Indian pitches and that's the reason his bowling stats look a bit off, I think.

It is a pity that BBC went on strike on the day of Kapil's 175 :-(.

Still I rate Ian Botham way above Imran Khan, since no one has made such an impact on the game when Beefy was played. He is the true world class all-rounder that I've ever seen in my life. His aggressive batting matched Viv Richards (many of his hook shots without helmet is still vivid in my memory) and he has a bit of style too, his agressive bowling matched any fast bowlers of Windies as well as others at that time and he was the best fielder in slips as well as any part of the ground. In fact, his off-field activities the worst you could've ever seen in International Cricket. Had he not been addicted to drugs, we might have witnessed a only one in the history to score 10,000 test runs and 500 wickets all-rounder and 200 catches. He is a natural talent and he too played naturally with some flair.

If I've to describe him in one word, he is 'Mr.Controversy'. If I want to see anyone in action among these four, then he will be my first choice and Kapil will be the next. The next two are little bit boring and they are not entertainers (bat+bowl+field) like IT Botham and Kapil Dev. Ian and Kapil played more attacking games than the other two, who were little bit calculative and cautious in their approach.

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Originally Posted by Plum

India is just above bangla and WI in bowling averages in last 3 years in Tests

This clearly proves how much of our test record owes it solely to our great batting machine and not any other aspect

To me even saying that the batting machine is ONE of the reasons for India's ascension to #1 is deeply insulting. Or even saying that they are only 60% or 70% responsible is also insulting.
Clearly, they are the sole reason we are top.

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aahn :asku busku: ippadi oru bowling attack vache captain panni, test matches win panni, 1st place-ku kondu vandhomla :wink:

ipdi oru bowling attack vechu captain paNNi win paNNOmnu solRadhukku bowling average innum kammiyA irukkaNum

What these numbers tell us is that our bowlers, and the way they have been captained(again, not much of Dhoni's fault but certainly these bowling averages counter any claim that Dhoni did miracles with this bowling group), have given away huge runs anyway. It is our batting that has surpassed that huge opposition score and out-scored them.

Clear?

And one doesnt need stats - anecdotal evidence sliced at any point of time will support it. Take the recent test series - our bowling conceded 400+ twice. Still, our batting didnt cave in matched them, and purely due to the efforts of the batsmen, got ahead. Go back to Sri Lanka - same story

Go back to Sri Lanka India Series in India. 32/4 _ Dravid produces match saving hundred. Again, Captaincy has got nothing to do with saving that match.
And so on...

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Originally Posted by Flau

the way they have been captained(again, not much of Dhoni's fault

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appuRam edhukku soneenga :lol:

To pre-empt, despite this bowling, he captained us to victory. The point is captaining to victory would not involve such high averages

Aus vs srilanka t20. . Aus 25/2. .6 overs

Fernando catch to dismiss clarke :rotfl3:

aus 31 for 4 :rotfl2:

aus 115/7 in 18.4 overs

Abdur Razzaq slams 7 four's and 10 sixes to make 109 off 72 balls. Pakistan wins by 1 wkt and 1 ball to spare in its chase of 287.

http://www.cricinfo.com/pakistan-v-s...ch/461567.html

Book by Gibbs exposes dark side of South African cricket
PTI, Nov 1, 2010, 03.06am IST

JOHANNESBURG: Stories about sexual orgies, marijuana sessions and the dominance of a group of senior players in South Africa cricket squad have been exposed in out of favour opener Herschelle Gibbs' autobiography, which is releasing on Monday.

The weekly 'Sunday Times' carried excerpts from Gibbs' book, a day before its release.

The book graphically details the sexual exploits of the controversial player who has been in trouble for his late night binges and drunken driving charges, as well as leading players in smoking pot in the West Indies.

Gibbs, who just last week confessed that he would have to work very hard to return to the national squad, could also incur the ire of fellow players after writing in his book that the Proteas are dominated by a clique of older players.

"The team has been criticised for being run by a group of senior players - Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, and more recently, AB de Villiers," Gibbs wrote.

"This inner circle splits the team in two and makes any chance of developing true team spirit among the Proteas impossible," said Gibbs, adding that former national coach Mickey Arthur had often bowed to them after trying to take them on.

"Simply put, without Graeme's backing, he didn't have much influence over the guys. In the end, Graeme was simply too powerful."

Gibbs also disclosed how the squad never regained its spirit after former captain Hansie Cronje, now deceased, got a life ban following his admission to match-fixing that was first uncovered by Indian authorities.

"Things were never the same. I sympathised with Shaun Pollock (who took over from Cronje). He had a tough time filling Hansie's shoes and gluing the team together. But the Proteas never had that same togetherness under Polly (Pollock). He never socialised with boys too much."

Gibbs was one of the co-accused with Cronje and Henry Williams, after allegations of match-fixing in Nagpur. He was suspended for six months after that, but still respects the late South African skipper.

"(Despite) the cloud that hangs over his legacy, I can tell you that I've never played with anyone who possessed such a die-hard attitude to winning," Gibbs stated.

The poor performance of the national team in recent years also came under fire from Gibbs, who was himself blamed for contributing to that.

"We've got to admit that the Proteas have underachieved in international cricket over the past decade."

Gibbs summed up his own indiscretions, which included a confession to pulling out some of his wife Tenielle Povey's hair while he was driving during a fight.

"As explosive as my batting can be, it hasn't quite matched the pyrotechnics of my life off the field," Gibbs wrote.


Read more: Book by Gibbs exposes dark side of South African cricket - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/s...#ixzz140MSchc0

Quite shocking revelations if they are true.

Which channel is telecasting the current SA vs Pak series ? :?

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Originally Posted by Dinesh84

Which channel is telecasting the current SA vs Pak series ? :?

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Ten cricket

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Originally Posted by Maniraj

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Originally Posted by Dinesh84

Which channel is telecasting the current SA vs Pak series ? :?

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Ten cricket

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:ty:

our dth only has Tensports channel :(

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Originally Posted by Dinesh84

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Originally Posted by Maniraj

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Originally Posted by Dinesh84

Which channel is telecasting the current SA vs Pak series ? :?

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Ten cricket

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:ty: our dth only has Tensports channel :(

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Here too :sad:

Night Ten sportslae highlights poduvaanga :P

caam on Fakistan

Fakistan ki Zindabad :yessir:

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Originally Posted by PARAMASHIVAN

caam on Fakistan

Fakistan ki Zindabad :yessir:

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Apadiyae fakistaan poyirunga :wave:

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Originally Posted by Maniraj

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Originally Posted by Dinesh84

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Originally Posted by Maniraj

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Originally Posted by Dinesh84

Which channel is telecasting the current SA vs Pak series ? :?

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Ten cricket

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:ty: our dth only has Tensports channel :(

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Here too :sad:

Night Ten sportslae highlights poduvaanga :P

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indha ten tholla thanga mudiyale..ten action forfootballten cricket for cricket..tengolf..ippadi oru oru sports oru oru channel :banghead: ...ellathayum pakka mudiyala :x

Yes :sad:

Intha week UEFA Champions league paaka mudiyathu polae :cry:

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Originally Posted by Maniraj

Yes :sad:

Intha week UEFA Champions league paaka mudiyathu polae :cry:

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today even in tensports 2matches r aired..but namma match edhulennu theriyala :?

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Originally Posted by Cricinfo

15.2
Shahid Afridi to de Villiers, OUT, This could be out, the third umpire called to check on a stumping appeal. Lovely bit of flight and turn from Afridi, who lands it on middle and off and snakes it past AB's uncertain prod outside off. The replay suggests not out. Wait a minute, the third umpire has said "Out"! Controversial stuff here, he seemed atleast two inches in when the bails came off. Smith in the dressing room throws his hands out and looks absolutely annoyed. Well, well! We need to look at that again, and maybe the 3rd umpire, Zameer Haider, needs to as well! The decision stays, AB is gone. Well, we have seen replays and that is a howler from the 3rd ump. AB's backfoot did come out, but he was well in when the bails came off. Even Fawad Alam, who was walking past AB as he headed back looked surprised with the call. AB just shrugged, looking clueless as he kept walking. Bizarre.

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:rotfl2: indha maadhiri rendu 3rd umpire India-vulayum irundha usepul-a irukkum.

Article from the Guardian

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England's toughest tour? No chance. It will, though, be good preparation. India, the world's No 1 team, are coming next summer

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Originally Posted by P_R

Article from the Guardian

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England's toughest tour? No chance. It will, though, be good preparation. India, the world's No 1 team, are coming next summer

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:exactly: if england wins..it shud seal the hype around ashes hereafter..untill aussies get back on track..india is bigger ofcourse

Actually I think Ashes will be quite keenly contested.

I think Aussies will win the ashes

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Originally Posted by Plum

I think Aussies will win the ashes

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Appo ok :mrgreen:

Makhaya Ntini retires from international cricket

Makhaya Ntini the South Africa fast bowler, has announced his retirement from international cricket but will continue representing domestic sides. Ntini will be given a farewell during the Twenty20 international between South Africa and India at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on January 9, when he will make his final appearance for South Africa.

An emotional Ntini, fighting back tears, announced his decision at a press conference in Johannesburg on Tuesday. He reflected on his journey from being the first black African cricketer to play for South Africa in 1998 to becoming one of the nation's premier bowlers.

"It has been a wonderful journey for me to represent my country," Ntini said at his retirement press conference in Johannesburg. "I have so many great memories, which I will carry with me for the rest of my life. My career is by no means over; it just means that internationally my time has come to hang up my boots. Domestic cricket is thriving at the moment, and I want to be a part of the set up, as a player, for as long as possible."

Ntini said he made his decision "two months ago" but only announced it on Tuesday because he has been in meetings with Cricket South Africa over his future. "I was in Port Elizabeth and thought it's time to call it a day. I can't keep waiting to end something when I don't know when it's going to end. I didn't want to be pushed out of the game."

His international career spanned 13 years and he was the first black African player to represent the country, four years after democracy. It was the completion of a journey that began when, as a 14-year-old boy who could barely speak English, Ntini was given a scholarship to Dale College. The prestigious Eastern Cape school had deep cricketing roots and was where Ntini honedhis skills and made a name for himself. Seven years later, he was picked for South Africa, achieving what many thought was impossible.

"Nobody ever thought that we as black people would be able to compete, but I've done that. I've conquered and I've been through all the cricketing countries. I left footprints, I did everything that I needed to do to show that we as black people can manage, we can do everything."

He has never shied away from being the black face of South African cricket and acting as a role model to black youth. Ntini said in his time with the national team "all the coaches and the three captains, the late Hansie Cronje, Shaun Pollock, Graeme Smith showed me that it's not about your colour, it's about what you can do."

Ntini always maintained the combination of coming from a rural, poor background and his race meant that he had to work harder than anyone else. "I knew that challenges that would come in the years to come and I was prepared for it. I tied my laces, I ran every day because I wanted to achieve what no one else could," said Ntini.

The hours spent practicing could all have amounted to nought when Ntini was convicted of rape two years after making his debut. He reflected on that time as the worst in his life. "I thought I would never play again. The worst badge you could put on anyone is that of a rapist." The then United Cricket Board assisted Ntini in his appeal and he was subsequently acquitted but he still had a tainted reputation that took time to mend. "Some of the people of this country believed that if you are mentioned in that way (as a rapist), you'd done it, and to win all of them back was hard."

Despite the difficulty, he managed to do just that. In 2005 and 2007, Ntini was voted South Africa's most popular sportsman of the year in the BMI Adult SportTrack Report . By then, he had also become the first South African to take 10 wickets at Lords and had claimed the best return by a South African bowler in a Test match, with 13 wickets for 132 runs against the West Indies in Trinidad.

"Taking Test wickets was the most important thing that happened to me in my life," said Ntini, who quickly added that he has no regrets about retiring before reaching the magical 400-wicket mark. "It's just one of those things that happens." Ntini retired with 390 wickets from 101 tests at an average of 28.82.

His love of cricket has not dimmed and he is committed to playing for the Warriors for "as long as they will have me." He also plans to spend his part of retirement working at his academy in Mdantsane, near East London. The academy will focus on players between the ages of seven and 24 and will seek to assist players of colour. "I am sick and tired identifying a child and putting him in an academy and six months later, we don't see him again. We need to make sure we protect the new generations of cricketers," said Ntini.

Although the academy is an independent project, Ntini is in talks with Cricket South Africa (CSA) to assimilate with their development programmes. He will also be acting as a CSA ambassador. Gerald Majola, chief executive officer of CSA said that helping Ntini cope post-retirement is part of an initiative by the body so that "Makhaya can have a career after cricket." Majola said CSA aims to assist former players in accordance with their "calibre and level of skills."

Ntini 's effervescent personality makes him an ideal representative for CSA and will also ensure that he can keep to his promise of "making sure cricket in this country does not die." Most of all, he wants to remembered as a uniter. "Makhaya is not just a name, or a person, its energy, dedication, pride, all of us together. It's Ubuntu." The word originates from African traditions and focuses on communities. Its meaning, 'I am because we are,' captures how Ntini flew the flag for the black majority in South African cricket.

good cricketer.......... :clap: all the best for future :thumbsup:

Oops I thought he'd already retired :oops:

nethhu nalla irundha manusan, innaikku retire aayittaru, kaalam kettu kedakku :(

Edho avaru 'mavuth' aana effect kodukkareenga? :-)

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Originally Posted by MADDY

nethhu nalla irundha manusan, innaikku retire aayittaru, kaalam kettu kedakku :(

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avan rombha naalave summa mixture thane saaptitu irunthan...

1st ODI

Australia 239/8 (50 overs)

Sri Lanka 60/2 (11.1 overs)

SL 111/8 in 26 Overs.

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Originally Posted by ajaybaskar

SL 111/8 in 26 Overs.

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aus :clap:

Xavier Doherty (sla) 6.0over 19/4 :clap:

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Originally Posted by Dinesh84

Sri Lanka 60/2 (11.1 overs)

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Originally Posted by ajaybaskar

SL 111/8 in 26 Overs.

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:shock:
Koot batting :clap:

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Originally Posted by Sourav

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Originally Posted by MADDY

nethhu nalla irundha manusan, innaikku retire aayittaru, kaalam kettu kedakku :(

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avan rombha naalave summa mixture thane saaptitu irunthan...

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:rotfl:

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Originally Posted by ajaybaskar

Edho avaru 'mavuth' aana effect kodukkareenga?

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vivek's appa in Run: retire dhaane da aanen, sethha poitten
vivek: rendum onnu dhaan, idha off pannu

SL 165/8 in 33 overs.

Mathews 40
Malinga 26

Current partnership 59 runs, 7.4 overs, RR: 7.69 (Malinga 26, Mathews 29)

Come on Srilanka :clap: