Well keeping in mind the quarter finals of the world cup, this just seems to be a mismatch with Pakistan not only having an upper hand against the Caribbean but also the West Indies might never ever be able to regroup once the quarter finals against Pakistan be over in the next 8 hours to come. Also the other side would be Sri Lanka who are scheduled to face England on Saturday. No doubt that both these teams would enter with minimum or no effort into the semi-finals of the world cup. But, is this right on the part of the ICC is a million dollar question.
There is no particular team like the Aussies in the past two world cups to have a birthright on the world cup. And neither have Bangladesh and Zimbabwe been underdogs as they have been expected. But, if things are given a close look at, it looks that group A is gifted with weaker teams compared to group B. Group A has two teams from the sub-continent namely Sri Lanka and Pakistan who always have an upper hand being the hosts and enjoying home like conditions. I all blame it on Australia to have deceived the ICC who came out with such grouping of teams.
In group B, only India is a team worth having anyone's bet into. Though South Africa have emerged on the top of the table, it was India who gifted them with a victory by losing 9 wickets for 28 runs with all odds predicting a 350+ total at the end of the Indian innings. Added to that, there were mismatches in England's games against Ireland and Bangladesh which reduced England's chances that in turn favored South Africa to end as the top team. Had England won against Ireland and Bangladesh, they would have been on the top and not the Proteas.
Teams like Zimbabwe, Kenya, Canada and Holland never made their presence felt. However, Ireland and Bangladesh did. Both Ireland and Bangladesh were far superior compared to Kenya, Canada and Zimbabwe in group A. One has to take a deeper look to Explore reality. West Indies on the other hand proved a 2nd chance for teams like England and India. In group A, All four teams played to their potential with minnows aside. Pakistan beat Australia which in turn beat New Zealand. If I was in place of Lorgat, I'd have put Australia in group B and South Africa in group B and Bangladesh in group A while Zimbabwe would have been in group B.
Showing posts with label Kenya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kenya. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
A real nightmare for viewers
I had earlier written a couple of posts regarding the ICC scheduling the world cup 2011 with the initial days consisting of matches involving just the weaker teams in an attempt to curb a legal match fixing. However, unlike what was expected, things didn't turn out to be just a bore with the results being as expected that the so called stronger teams would thrash the weaker teams. This has been the matter of the past with some batsman scoring 36 runs over a minnow and lots of the batsmen having their highest scores against these teams when they are found to flatter against a stronger lot.
That however didn't turn out to be the case this time with England losing to Ireland and an Irish batsman scoring the fastest hundred in the history of the world cup and a non test playing team, once again Ireland not only chasing a 300+ total successfully but also became the team to have chased down 326 runs on board beating the older record of 313 by Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe way back in the 1992 world cup. This stands on the top of all huge run chases in world cups. If these were delights to watch, nightmares would be to see India thrash Bermuda by 257 runs after scoring 413.
That was the highest team total in a world cup surpassing 398 that Sri Lanka scored against Kenya in1996 at Kandy. But, the same team lost both their games in the group stage to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Highest individual score in the 2007 world cup was by a Pakistani batsman against Zimbabwe when he scored 160, which was two runs more than what Mathew Hayden managed against West Indies. But, where was Pakistan in games against West Indies. That apart, another nightmare is to watch games between two minnows which evokes no interest like it happens in matches between Kenya, Canada, Netherlands, Ireland and Bangladesh.
A win or a loss for either teams would make no difference to the teams playing unless the team has been victorious against any other string opposition which makes them stand a chance to make it to the next round. That has also been evident with teams like Kenya, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Ireland making it to the super sixes and super eights of a world cup respectively. But, viewers will definitely complain for lack of tough competition and lack of any cricket action. Yesterday there was a match between Kenya and Canada for its unimportant result. Worst is the case when such games are held on weekends.
That however didn't turn out to be the case this time with England losing to Ireland and an Irish batsman scoring the fastest hundred in the history of the world cup and a non test playing team, once again Ireland not only chasing a 300+ total successfully but also became the team to have chased down 326 runs on board beating the older record of 313 by Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe way back in the 1992 world cup. This stands on the top of all huge run chases in world cups. If these were delights to watch, nightmares would be to see India thrash Bermuda by 257 runs after scoring 413.
That was the highest team total in a world cup surpassing 398 that Sri Lanka scored against Kenya in1996 at Kandy. But, the same team lost both their games in the group stage to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Highest individual score in the 2007 world cup was by a Pakistani batsman against Zimbabwe when he scored 160, which was two runs more than what Mathew Hayden managed against West Indies. But, where was Pakistan in games against West Indies. That apart, another nightmare is to watch games between two minnows which evokes no interest like it happens in matches between Kenya, Canada, Netherlands, Ireland and Bangladesh.
A win or a loss for either teams would make no difference to the teams playing unless the team has been victorious against any other string opposition which makes them stand a chance to make it to the next round. That has also been evident with teams like Kenya, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Ireland making it to the super sixes and super eights of a world cup respectively. But, viewers will definitely complain for lack of tough competition and lack of any cricket action. Yesterday there was a match between Kenya and Canada for its unimportant result. Worst is the case when such games are held on weekends.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Holding the spirits high
Well I had stated in one of my recent posts regarding the world cup being unofficially declared with the initial games being played between weaker teams and strong ones that does not evoke much interest among viewers. But, at the same time, one has to appreciate the ICC for coming out with such a plan that would keep the spirits of the game high with hardly any room for a fowl play like it has happened in the past. One can imagine Pakistan losing the last game to Bangladesh in the 1999 world cup after they had won matches against New Zealand, Australia and West Indies.
That loss to Pakistan hardly made any difference to the world cup with no team carrying any points forward to the super six stages. But, one match that really mattered was the one between South Africa and Zimbabwe which South Africa intentionally lost in an attempt to eliminate England which was much deserving than Zimbabwe. It is agreed that there is no scientific reason for my statement but, one can imagine the reason with India losing to Zimbabwe in the mast minute by 4 runs. That was also the reason why India failed to reach the semis of the 1999 world cup.
So was the case in the 2003 world cup with Sri Lanka losing to Kenya for reasons assumed that Kenya had gained 4 points from a walkover game against the Kiwis after the latter turned down to tour the country and Kenya had wins against Bangladesh and Canada. This deprived West Indies and South Africa from reaching the super sixes and New Zealand from reaching the semis. A match gifted from Zimbabwe to Kenya saw Kenya reach the semis as well which was unfair. This led to the ICC come out with a different in 2007 with teams divided into 4 groups, with 4 teams in each group.
As a result, any such tricks by teams would mean the end of the team doing it. But, that was a failure with India and Pakistan crashing out from the tournament after they lost to Bangladesh and Ireland respectively owing to overconfidence. But, the current format gives teams a 2nd chance so that the top four would reach the quarter finals. Once again, any team that tries to act smart will have to pay the price by being the victim itself before making life miserable for any other team. An optimum chance here lies in the fact that even if a team wins against weak oppositions, a place is guaranteed in the quarter finals.
So, with the first 10 days reserved for weaker teams, the best idea for fans who'd have come here to see the world cup would be to visit Tourist Places in India.
That loss to Pakistan hardly made any difference to the world cup with no team carrying any points forward to the super six stages. But, one match that really mattered was the one between South Africa and Zimbabwe which South Africa intentionally lost in an attempt to eliminate England which was much deserving than Zimbabwe. It is agreed that there is no scientific reason for my statement but, one can imagine the reason with India losing to Zimbabwe in the mast minute by 4 runs. That was also the reason why India failed to reach the semis of the 1999 world cup.
So was the case in the 2003 world cup with Sri Lanka losing to Kenya for reasons assumed that Kenya had gained 4 points from a walkover game against the Kiwis after the latter turned down to tour the country and Kenya had wins against Bangladesh and Canada. This deprived West Indies and South Africa from reaching the super sixes and New Zealand from reaching the semis. A match gifted from Zimbabwe to Kenya saw Kenya reach the semis as well which was unfair. This led to the ICC come out with a different in 2007 with teams divided into 4 groups, with 4 teams in each group.
As a result, any such tricks by teams would mean the end of the team doing it. But, that was a failure with India and Pakistan crashing out from the tournament after they lost to Bangladesh and Ireland respectively owing to overconfidence. But, the current format gives teams a 2nd chance so that the top four would reach the quarter finals. Once again, any team that tries to act smart will have to pay the price by being the victim itself before making life miserable for any other team. An optimum chance here lies in the fact that even if a team wins against weak oppositions, a place is guaranteed in the quarter finals.
So, with the first 10 days reserved for weaker teams, the best idea for fans who'd have come here to see the world cup would be to visit Tourist Places in India.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Vacancy for a coach filled by Bangladesh
Well until now, the problem with Bangladesh cricket was that it could not find decent cricketers and now, even the vacancy for a coach has been a far from reality for the Bangladesh cricket Board. Nevermind that Bangladesh have been able to get a decent coach in Dav Whatmore who was the coach of the Sri Lankan team that won the world cup in 1996. Not only did Sri Lanka win the world cup in 1996, but also the Sri Lankan team ended up their world cup campaign without losing a single match in that edition. of course, there were two matches against Australia and West Indies which were forfeited.
Anyways, with that being a different issue altogether, coming to the subject of Bangladesh coach, all that can be concluded is that Bangladesh have successfully filled the void rather than looking out for a successful coach. At the same time, Bangladesh cricket board have made the name of the Essex fast bowler - Ian Pont be known to the entire world which was until then known only to England or may be only to Essex. This should not be a problem for players like Andy Flower and Tom Moody have been seen coaching the England and Sri Lankan team despite one coming from Zimbabwe and the other a lesser known Aussie.
However, Bangladesh deserve not to have a coach for, they were seen showing off their ego when they turned down the offer by the former West Indian fast bowler Colin Croft for his lack of experience as a coach. One has to check out the caliber of the present Bangladeshi coach - Ian Pont as to how successful has he been as a coach. Adding to that, Andrew Caddick was also not offered the job, but this time for better reasons that Andy had business interests at home. Likewise, Venkatesh Prasad was also in the line for the job but didn't happen to be so for reasons best known to him alone.
Now, the million dollar question is that can Bangladesh team benefit from the Essex player who will henceforth be coaching the national side? This is no real estate blog to define the returns but, as a cricket blogger, it would be worth citing the advance of Bangladesh team to the super eights of the world cup in 2007 though it would be more precise to say that India helped Bangladesh to advance further. And, the Kenyan team made it to the semis in 2003 once again at the cost of New Zealand when the Kenyan coach happened to be Sandip Patil - the one who coached India in 1996 world cup.
Anyways, with that being a different issue altogether, coming to the subject of Bangladesh coach, all that can be concluded is that Bangladesh have successfully filled the void rather than looking out for a successful coach. At the same time, Bangladesh cricket board have made the name of the Essex fast bowler - Ian Pont be known to the entire world which was until then known only to England or may be only to Essex. This should not be a problem for players like Andy Flower and Tom Moody have been seen coaching the England and Sri Lankan team despite one coming from Zimbabwe and the other a lesser known Aussie.
However, Bangladesh deserve not to have a coach for, they were seen showing off their ego when they turned down the offer by the former West Indian fast bowler Colin Croft for his lack of experience as a coach. One has to check out the caliber of the present Bangladeshi coach - Ian Pont as to how successful has he been as a coach. Adding to that, Andrew Caddick was also not offered the job, but this time for better reasons that Andy had business interests at home. Likewise, Venkatesh Prasad was also in the line for the job but didn't happen to be so for reasons best known to him alone.
Now, the million dollar question is that can Bangladesh team benefit from the Essex player who will henceforth be coaching the national side? This is no real estate blog to define the returns but, as a cricket blogger, it would be worth citing the advance of Bangladesh team to the super eights of the world cup in 2007 though it would be more precise to say that India helped Bangladesh to advance further. And, the Kenyan team made it to the semis in 2003 once again at the cost of New Zealand when the Kenyan coach happened to be Sandip Patil - the one who coached India in 1996 world cup.
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