Archive for April, 2007


 Howzatt - The Cricket Blog 

Australia Wins Cricket World Cup 2007

2


And Australia have won ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. Three times in a row.

Congrats Australia



 Howzatt - The Cricket Blog 

And Sri Lanka is in Final !!!

DV174077And the bad luck has not left New Zealand’s back yet, they are the most unlucky team in the world cup history who never reached World Cup finals and Sri Lanka winning the game comprehensively might again write the history written a decade ago.

Stephen Fleming did say before the start of the game - “We were outclassed at key moments” - and he and his players need feel no shame in losing to a demonstrably better side.”, But that does not mean that you go to a game without self-confidence. New Zealand was out classed in every department of the game. Never seem to be on top of Srilanka anywhere in the game

Despite Murali’s 4 wicket hall, it will be Mahela’s 115 that will be talked more in coming years in same breath as of Viv Richard’s 138, Steve Waugh’s 12 or Ricky Ponting’s 140. It’s easy to talk about those innings but pacing such an innings is a thunderous task.

Jayewardene: “The captaincy has helped, and Tom [Moody] has definitely pushed me to the limits. He’s not happy when I’m cruising. In fact, he’s not happy when anyone’s cruising” © Getty Images
 
Sri Lanka’s dominance was best expressed by a bugler in one of the stands, who started playing The Last Post when Lasith Malinga was brought back for his second spell. The first had sent shockwaves through the New Zealand dressing room, with Fleming trapped leg before and Ross Taylor playing blind man’s buff as delivery after delivery rocketed past the outside edge.

Malinga had missed the last three games, but any doubts about whether he’d be in the groove were soon blown away. “To be honest, no,” Jayawardene said with a broad smile when asked whether Malinga’s return had been a welcome surprise. “He’s got a big heart and he’s improved a lot over the past 12 months.”

He isn’t the only one. Jayawardene has been outstanding in the leadership role since taking over, and after a six-month drought, the tactical acumen is being backed up by weight of runs - 529 in the tournament so far. “I’ve become mentally much stronger,” he said. “The captaincy has helped, and Tom [Moody] has definitely pushed me to the limits. He’s not happy when I’m cruising. In fact, he’s not happy when anyone’s cruising.”

He would have been delighted at the cruise today though, a romp that affords Murali, Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas a second chance to lay their hands on the game’s ultimate prize. With the likes of Murali around, you know for sure that a certain Welsh poet’s words will be heeded. Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And i am happy that Srilanka is in Final.



 Howzatt - The Cricket Blog 

Reason Behind Bangladesh’s Win

_41006183_whatmore203.jpgBangladesh’s celebration of victory and ouster of Team India did spark the whole media but one man failed to get due credit which he was supposed to get and whose Midas touch has made Bangladesh a Giant killer , Dav Whatmore. He has been with team for last four years and the results are clearly shown.
Dav Whatmore brought Bangladesh from a test ranked minnow to one that beat some top teams in recent times and is finally termed as giant killer in the World cup, though Bangladesh’s players have immense potential but the credit for the recent victory goes directly to the Coach Dav Whatmore. From the team which was not able to beat even Canada to the team which gives scares top team, it is Whatmore who is responsible
It is not just the wins but the way Bangladesh is winning has made even biggest of cricket pundit to think about this team. In the win against India, Rahul Dravid’s team looked nowhere to match against the likes of Bangladeshis. Whereas as Whatmore had always stated that Bangladesh is ready to give some shocks or even tremors to cricketing world and they did it

Whatmore always knew that Bangladesh has immense potential in them and it just needed time to show up in international arena. But the people thought that he was just trying to show is profile as low outfit coach. But Bangladesh’s win against India and South Africa and a win against Australia in a one day clearly show that it was not a fluke and they are capable of turning things upside down.

Whatmore always focused on young talents since he knew Bangladesh’s domestic cricket was not able to produce high class performers and young players proved that his confidence in them was not young , The U-19 Bangladesh Cricket team is one of the top ranking teams among its age groups , so you can clearly understand how focused they are towards there cricket.

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