Bangladesh: Surprisingly T20 Favorites

Recently I read in yahoo that Bangladesh being one of the populated country in the world not have won a single Gold Medal in Olympics. The biggest reason of it is they are not interested as others and secondly a lot of cricket passion which created Bangladesh Premiere League (BPL). Although they never won a single T20 or one day World Cup in the past but this league postured them to be one of the favorites in T20 World Cup. They clinched 4th  position in T20 after whitewashed Ireland recently in T20 tournament, which put them ahead of Australia who at one time are known to be the Giant of Cricket. Also India and Pakistan who were champions of T20 World Cup are at spot 8 and 5 respectively. Where as England holding a top position .
T20 Ranking of top 16 international teams:

S# Team Matches Points Rating  Qualify Match 1. England 15 1954 130 23 2. South Africa 12 1468 122 20 3. Sri Lanka 11 1268 115 20 4. Bangladesh 6 665 111 9 5. Pakistan 19 2055 108 31 6. Australia 15 1603 107 25 7. New Zealand 16 1686 105 26 8. India 9 930 103 16 9. West Indies 13 1335 103 21 10. Afghanistan 6 500 83 11 11. Ireland 13 1082 83 18 12. Netherlands 5 321 64 8 13. Zimbabwe 9 463 51 13 14. Scotland 5 200 40 8 15. Canada 5 79 16 8 16. Kenya 6 75 13 9

It looks like either the charm of International T20 is gone and not a single team is interested of building a consistent top class T20 or may be Bangladesh under the captaincy of Mushfiqur Raheem showing some smart and hardworking efforts. Also this year they have been in to Asia Cup finals which held in Bangladesh by defeating India and Srilanka. The conditions of Srilanka are not new for Bengali tigers and there enthusiasm shows that they have the ability of winning the World Cup. And become the third Asian after India And Pakistan in 6 years to won a T20 world cup.

What Australian Opting in T20 WorldCup 2012

The recent performance of Australian cricket team has established anxiety and pressure in the Australian cricket and has made them first time after so many years to go for a defensive approach. 1999-2007 time-period has been dominated by Ricky Ponting 11. They at that time had every ingredient to win a test match or an ODI in a toughest condition, no one has given them hard time in crucial matches. They march out with flying colors every time when they played final of ODI world cup whether against Pakistan, India and Srilanka. Despite of being non Asian they rule in the Asia in that period. And it was hard to think that they will come down. But the time come when they started getting feeling tough times even from Zimbawe in T20 matches. Many big players like Mc Grath, Hayden, Warne, Langer and Gilchrist take retirement simultaneously and put Australia in a serious pressure. As they lost control, despite of some serious bowlers like Lee, Tait and Bracken and batsman like Hussey, Clarke and Ponting; Australians were unable to win the 2011 WorldCup held in India only reaching out in the quarter-finals. The reason may be somewhat not having a established spinner like Shane Warne who can resist Indian batting line up or some one like Gilli and Hayden who may gave a thrashing start and put a mountainous total in front of giant Indian team who may also find difficult to chase it.

Presently Australians have set them back in ancient times where they are in search of Gilli, McGrath, Warne, Hayden, Ponting, Waugh and dozens of players like this. Despite of having a strong domestic cricket club in the world they are unable to build a team in half a decade is pretty surprising. But let us not forget that many good players are in the team such as Hussy Brothers, Clarke, Watson and  David Warner who can get the glory back. But beside of these 5 players they need another 6 players who have same potential as they have. As Ponting 11 has every one match winner.

Australians in this year T20 World Cup has not yet created  'Victoria Bitter' as they did. Some new blood is inducted in to the team and Mr. Clarke is dropout from the team.

Australia Squad for T20 World Cup 2012 (Preliminary)

George Bailey, Travis Birt, Dan Christian, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hogg, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Ben Laughlin, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Andrew McDonald, Clint McKay, Dirk Nannes, Stephen O’Keefe, Tim Paine, Rob Quiney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Shane Watson, Cameron White.

George Bailey is the team captain. This team although has great potential as individuals but it will be a test for them in the Srilankan conditions both as a individual and as a team. Adam Voges, Finch, Birt, Wade and Mc Donald are great domestic players and Australian cricket is hoping to produce the same result from them in this upcoming World Cup.

As Australian domestic team-NSW had won the Champions league which was held in India in the past having few superstars in the team and played out superbly against strong teams of all parts of the world except of Pakistan whose Sialkot Stallions were unable to be the part of it due to some issues. So the confidence creates an idea in the mind of Australian team Selectors of using maximum fresh players in the team and also pick the peak performers of T20 such as Hussey brothers, Watson and David Warner. As next one day World Cup will be held in Australia and New zealand  so they are looking for promising players for the One Day World Cup 2015, for which in the history they are well known rather than of T20 World Cup.  

Predicting as a Guru

My last post and South Africa's fresh performance against England, I feel like a Cricket Guru. Before proceeding further in that I first want to congratulate Mr. Hashim Amla for his glorious triple century who reminds me Muhammad Yousuf's double century against England @ Lords in 2006. Not because of his beard :D but from his stance. Moreover he is now the highest run scorer of South Africa in a test math. And making a triple century against England does the topping on the ice as it is one of the best side in test cricket.

Now back to the topic as I predict the name of Smith, Amla, Kallis and De villiers who are strong contenders for making a century and put South Africa on the driving seat for the first test match. 3 out of  4 were right and the one which was wrong may become right in the next match. I can't say for the next inning as England's gets the disappointing start in second inning and from here onward it seems like we will not see even a respectable total from England. 

Let see what are the possible result of this test match and how this will boost any of the team for the rest of the matches?

And Considering about being a guru I feel good to be a Cricket Fan..... :)

 

England Unable to touch 400

Despite of Cook's hundred in the first test match against South Africa, England team were unable to score 400. There was a decent performance from Trott who scored 71, Pietersen who resist 42 runs of 72 balls and Matt Prior scoring 60 runs showing us a fair job. 

But the others were not up to mark, Skipper- Andrew Strauss who won the toss and decided to bat first gone without scoring a single run while Bopara who is in the contest of taking the position of KP in T20's and ODI's in future scored a duck too. Ian Bell was also clean bowled by Kallis on just 13 with a disappointing average of 23. The tail of England Batting, who are so called to be the best in the world scored 41 in all.

This is for sure that the series will remain tough for England despite of having the advantage of home conditions which they normally had against the normal test teams. But this time they are playing against South Africa, having a good bowling attack and decent batting too. They restrict England Cricket team under 400, which creates an opportunity for them to put some lead on the board. And a best way to put England bowlers under pressure because if they don't put them in pressure then they might get themselves in to a serious pressure. As England bowling attack like South Africans is good. 

Let see if England can restrict South Africa under 400 or we see tons from Amla and Kallis or may be from Graeme Smith or De Villiers.   

Ajinkya Rahane Cementing His Position

After Scoring a Hundred For Rajasthan Royals

Playing for Indian Cricket team is itself a milestone without scoring a single run. As a player is chosen from millions. And cementing your position in team 11 makes you a superstar of India.  

Indian Cricket team is blessed with one of the top class batsman in the world. Sachin, Gavasker, Sehwag, Dravid, Ganguly, Gambhir, Kholi, Raina, Rohit and the list goes on and on. Another name will soon be coming in the list i.e Mr. Ajinkya Rahane who has impressed Indian Cricket team selector from his matchless performance in this year IPL 2012 by scoring 560 runs in this year IPL season. Almost 5000 runs in First Class with an average of almost 64, this guy is capable of playing big innings too. He is not only a running machine for Rajasthan Royals also handles the inning very well.

His name is selected for the upcoming tour of Srilanka, which is as far as both the teams are concern is vital tour and also both the teams are looking to form a perfect team 11 for upcoming T20 world cup which will be in Srilanka later this year. Although having players like Gambhir and Sehwag in the lineup it is difficult to get the chance. He has shown an optimistic performance in Caribbean last month by scoring one less 80 despite not a good performance by India A as a unit.

He expressed, "I am hopeful that I will get a chance to play and make full use of the opportunities. When I am given a chance, I should be able to give more than 100 per cent."

     

Playing with Rahul Dravid in Rajasthan Royals and showing performance making every one to predict him as a "Future Wall Of India".

Let see how much he take full advantage of this opportunity?

Do you think he can be Next Dravid for India?  

Pakistan And South Africa Looks for Specialist Unlike England

 Teams are looking forward to announce their squad for T20 World Cup Final which will be held in Srilanka this year. In all of them Pakistan and South Africa are known to be one of the good looking teams on paper. Both the teams announced there probable squad for the tournament. And the most common thing about them is the experienced players are back in to the side for the world cup. 

Pakistan Cricket team has announce its squad of T20 world cup before announcing the squad for ODI's against Australia. In which they have chosen Abdul Razzaq on Hammad Azam, Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal on Ahmed Shehzad and Sarfaraz Ahmed respectively and no space for junaid khan of showing responsibilty against Srilanka in last test. Mean while on the other hand we see a 30 player preliminary squad from south Africa but most probably experienced player will be the part of team 11 i.e Grame Smith, Hashim Amla, Botha, Steyn and Kallis, Duminy. Not sure of Hashim Amla, he may be rested for the group matches.


Considering both the teams it looks like they both have consider past performers of T20 World Cup which is
not a bad approach. On the other hand England has took a big decision by dropping out KP from the squad but that might have its own reasons. May be England board has made its mind about the substitute of KP, may be Ian Bell or Morgan will play his role. when he show the signs of playing for England in T20's and ODI's for more 3-4 years, England Board didn't find any charisma in that. We all know that how professional England board is. They don't have there personal choices. But dropping out of KP from T20 world cup squad may cost them the World cup. As they are the current defending champions of this World Cup. And KP in the past world cup has played the vital part in it.


Do you think it is safe for England to come out with out KP on the grounds of Srilanka for the tournament?
 OR
KP's Job is over?
Comment it!

Alarming Condition For New Zealand

It has been a long time for New Zealand to win a series comprehensively against any top team in the world.

They in the past were tough one to crack but at present its a different situation for them. This Year they have lose in ODI's against two big teams WI and South Africa by margin of 4-1 and 3-0 respectively. This really make them to be least favorite in this year T20 world cup final, despite being the semi-finalist in the last ODI World Cup. 

They have got one of the best players in the history which creates pressure for opponent teams. Although right now they have a good quality side on paper but somewhat they are not pumping up. They need to win some matches against tough sides to get that momentum back. One more thing which might hurting them is the frequent changes of coach, Mike Hesson as appointed as the fifth coach for New Zealand in last four years. But seeing the record of Mike Hesson it looks like he might be the game changer or could be the great conditioner for New Zealand team. As this guy has the experience to coach New Zealand-A team which will really be a key factor for them. There batsman such as Martin Guptill, Macullum, Ryder and others they need to put some effort or else it would be the alarming condition for them.

Is New Zealand Cricket team lost the passion of cricket unlike the Asians?

OR

Is New Zealand lost the professionalism unlike the Aussies and Britian players?