30 days of non-stop cricket and we have ladies and gentlemen , the quarter finalists! Some would say the team list is predictable but most definitely it wasn't the case. Inspired performances from Ireland and Bangladesh kept one of the groups alive till the last match. If there ever was a prize for the most entertaining team in the league stage, the deserving winner would be England! With that background, lets look at the clashes and possible winners and match winners!
QF 1 : Pakistan vs West Indies - The match of the unpredictable nations though Pakistan I must say has been most impressive. The Windies haven't won a match against a renowned test nation as yet. Is this the match where they will fire ?
Key match moments and potential match winners (KMMPMW) - Pakistan's spin attack vs the Windies batting. Windies have a phenomenal ability to collapse leaving even gully tennis ball cricket teams far behind. If Pakistan bat first and score 250+ , then West Indies might have to bat out of their skins to win the game. Don't forget Gul. On the other hand, if the Windies play 3 fast bowlers - the 3Rs Roach, Russel and Rampaul (instead of the "nothing can affect me but i will still frown" Benn), then it might be interesting!
General Favorite - Pakistan
My favorite - My heart always supports the West Indies but more often that not my heart ain't right but hope it is this time!
QF 2 : India vs Australia - Some are already saying that this is the final before the final! India surely, I mean SURELY, go in as favorites. Australia seems to be wobbling with a lot of inconsistency in their ranks presently.
KMMPMW - Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar and Veeru against the Aussie pace attack. Ashwin and Zaheer vs Watson and Ponting. Hussey vs the Indians. Finally, the Batting Powerplay! India has gone from 9/29 to 7/51. Someone might mistake these numbers for Jim Laker or Anil Kumble's best bowling figures in a test match but this is India's performance this World Cup ! I will say this though , if Watson gets going and scores a hundred, Australia will win else India will ! India, avenge the 2003 World Cup final defeat. Do what the Aussies did to you ! Go India Go !!!
Favorites - India ! Jeetega bhai jeetega, India jeetega ! 60-40 to India.
QF 3 : South Africa vs New Zealand - Hmmm, somehow seems like a no brainer . Out and out South Africa and I suspect this will be a one sided game unless Taylor and co. can go hammer and tongs against Steyn and co.
KMMPMW - New Zealand bowling vs SA top order - specially Hashim Amla and AB De villiers. Tahir and Peterson vs Taylor and Oram . Finally, Steyn vs the entire New Zealand team.
Favorites - South Africa unless they choke. It will be a HUGE upset if the Kiwis pull this off. 90-10 to South Africa.
QF 4 : England vs Sri Lanka - This , folks, promises to be a kickass clash! Sri Lanka's spin vs the English. Mahela and Sangakara vs the English. Premadasa vs the English. Mouth watering. Both teams have done well but Sri Lankans at home are clearly the favorites but England is probably the new Pakistan . Moreover, I stand to win 600 rupees if England wins the World Cup !!!
KMMPMW - Its all about how either team will play Spin. Murali vs Swann . Strauss vs Sangakara. Awesome clash! Also remember half the England team is out injured and that means, new faces but with fresh minds! Never ever count out Malinga but I have a feeling the bragging rights will end with Morgan !
Favorites - Sri Lanka
My Favorite - Sri Lanka but am excited to watch the English! Never thought I would say this (ever!)
4 days - 4 matches and we will have the semi-finalists!
So, Ladies and Gentlemen, ready steady go !
Showing posts with label Pakistan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pakistan. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Ajab Afridi ki Ghazab Cricket and Captaincy
5 4 5 - if you were wondering whether those are the first 3 digits of my debit card pin, you are indeed wrong! That my friend, are the number of wickets the Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi has taken in the first 3 games of the World Cup (serially). Some people thrive under pressure and Afridi is definitely one of them. History tells you that to captain a Pakistan cricket team really well and more importantly win games , you need a strong individual who commands the respect of the team. Right from Zaheer Abbas ( who the Indians, including Gavaskar referred to as Zaheer Ab Bas coz' of the plethora of runs he used to score against India) to the legendary World Cup winning captain Imran Khan to the Sultan of Swing Wasim Akram, Pakistan has been blessed with certain individuals who had the ability to fire up an entire team and their massive crowd base with superlative, leading from the front performances. To this list, I would add this year's World Cup captain Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi.
A bit of history about this man. He burst onto the scene as a 16 year old (though some say he was 19), in the late 1990s with the fastest 100 in ODI cricket of just 37 balls (record that still stands). Since then, cricket watchers across the world sit up in anticipation almost every time Afridi comes to the crease. More often than not, being an Afridi fan myself , he has been disappointing . But then, his contribution to the side doesn't end there. He has always been a good fielder and over the years, has improved his bowling tremendously. My first memories of his bowling were when he snapped Brian Lara a couple of times in Australia during a tri-series but from then to now, there is sea change of difference in his variations and his general consistency.
If we look at his career, for every ball tampering incident (remember him biting the ball ?) , there has been an incident similar to the one where the bookmakers have said that it was impossible to tempt Afridi into any kind of wrongdoing. Cut to just 2 weeks before the World Cup , the selectors hadn't even named the captain as yet since Misbah-Ul-Haq had led the team superlatively in New Zealand. There seemed to be utter chaos in their camp in the lead up to the tournament. But as usual, every person who understood cricket kept saying, don't underestimate the Pakistanis.
Soon, Afridi was named captain for the World Cup and I must say he has been exceptional. Right from his first press conference where he said that he wants to win the cup for people back home to his performances in each of the 3 games ,in crunch situations, he has been bang on !
His body language on the field has been outright aggressive. He has been fielding brilliantly , making the right bowling changes, rebuking his own bowlers at times for bowling rubbish and celebrating in his trademark style with his hands raised up to the heavens above. That he is the leading wicket taker in the tournament at this moment isn't surprising! He hasn't clicked with the bat as yet but going by the way he is bowling right now, that might not even be needed !
Long back I read somewhere that Leader is the one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way and through his performances so far , Afridi has proved himself to be a Leader. To the rest of the teams - better be wary of Pakistan coz' they are well and truly ON!!!
A bit of history about this man. He burst onto the scene as a 16 year old (though some say he was 19), in the late 1990s with the fastest 100 in ODI cricket of just 37 balls (record that still stands). Since then, cricket watchers across the world sit up in anticipation almost every time Afridi comes to the crease. More often than not, being an Afridi fan myself , he has been disappointing . But then, his contribution to the side doesn't end there. He has always been a good fielder and over the years, has improved his bowling tremendously. My first memories of his bowling were when he snapped Brian Lara a couple of times in Australia during a tri-series but from then to now, there is sea change of difference in his variations and his general consistency.
If we look at his career, for every ball tampering incident (remember him biting the ball ?) , there has been an incident similar to the one where the bookmakers have said that it was impossible to tempt Afridi into any kind of wrongdoing. Cut to just 2 weeks before the World Cup , the selectors hadn't even named the captain as yet since Misbah-Ul-Haq had led the team superlatively in New Zealand. There seemed to be utter chaos in their camp in the lead up to the tournament. But as usual, every person who understood cricket kept saying, don't underestimate the Pakistanis.
Soon, Afridi was named captain for the World Cup and I must say he has been exceptional. Right from his first press conference where he said that he wants to win the cup for people back home to his performances in each of the 3 games ,in crunch situations, he has been bang on !
His body language on the field has been outright aggressive. He has been fielding brilliantly , making the right bowling changes, rebuking his own bowlers at times for bowling rubbish and celebrating in his trademark style with his hands raised up to the heavens above. That he is the leading wicket taker in the tournament at this moment isn't surprising! He hasn't clicked with the bat as yet but going by the way he is bowling right now, that might not even be needed !
Long back I read somewhere that Leader is the one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way and through his performances so far , Afridi has proved himself to be a Leader. To the rest of the teams - better be wary of Pakistan coz' they are well and truly ON!!!
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