2011 Cricket World Cup

Pakistan became the first of the host nations of the 2011 Cricket World Cup to reach the semi finals of the tournament following a very public trouncing of the West Indies in Mirpur today.

The West Indies had very little to offer with bat or ball in a dismal showing that saw them bowled out for just 112 runs in 43.3 overs. Chanderpaul was the only batsman to show any form of authority in the innings claiming 44 runs not out.

Shahid Afridi was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers taking 4 for 30, but he was one of three who claimed two wickets in an over as the West Indies innings collapsed around their ears.

The pace bowling attack of the West Indies held little fear for the Pakistan openers who picked them off to reach 50 runs in 47 balls, the body language of the field telling its own sorry story.

Akmal (47) and Hafeez (61) ensured the victory for Pakistan with less than half the allocated overs played, they will now face the victors of the match between India and Australia in the semi finals of the competition.

2011 ICC Cricket World Cup – Quarter Finals – Mirpur

Pakistan 113-0 (20.5 overs) bt West Indies 112 (43.3 overs) by 10 wickets

2011 Cricket World Cup

In terms of sheer excitement the 2011 Cricket World Cup in South Asia has delivered by the bucket load over the last couple of weeks of group stage matches, some of the most recent highlights being another heroic comeback from England against the West Indies, when their backs were firmly up against the wall and facing elimination from the group.

Following that breathtaking match, Pakistan defied all odds and ended Australia’s World Cup dominance with a stunning victory by 4 wickets to upset the holders and on Sunday India crushed the West Indies spirits with a fantastic 80 run win.

There will be more thrills and spills to come during the knock out stages of the tournament over the next fortnight as the best eight teams in the world do battle for the ultimate One Day International prize, with India and Australia providing the battle of the giants on Thursday March 24th from Ahmedabad, the winners of this match will certainly be the favourites to win the 2011 World Cup.

England will face a tough test in their quarter final clash against 1996 champions Sri Lanka who were runners up in Group A, with the chance of a semi final encounter with the winners from New Zealand v South Africa at stake.

The full 2011 World Cup Quarter Final fixtures:

Wednesday March 23rd – Pakistan v West Indies, Mirpur, 08:30

Thursday March 24th – Australia v India, Ahmedabad, 09:00

Friday March 25th - New Zealand v South Africa, Mirpur, 08:30

Saturday March 26th – Sri Lanka v England, Colombo RPS, 09:00

The semi final games are scheduled for Tuesday March 29th and Wednesday March 30th, with the final to take place in Mumbai on Saturday April 2nd.

2011 Cricket World Cup

South Africa sprang a surprise on the West Indies after inviting them to bat first in this intriguing encounter, opening the bowling with spinner Johan Botha to counter the big hitting of Chris Gayle. It proved to be an inspired decision when Gayle was caught off only the third ball of the match.

The Bravo half brothers showed plenty of promise with the bat for the West Indies, particularly the 22 year old Darren who hit a stunning 73, not quite matched by Dwayne who was run out for 40.

The South Africans looked solid in the field and with the ball and when Steyn cleared off the tail enders with a total of 222 on the scoreboard and 47.3 overs completed you had the feeling that they could already smell victory.

But it was no breeze for the South African openers and Amla was superbly caught behind by Thomas for just 14 and his replacement at the crease, Kallis fell almost immediately having scored only four runs and leaving the South Africans looking uneasy at 20 for 2.

And then up stepped the man of the match AB de Villiers with an inspired innings, picking out the gaps in the lack lustre West Indies field with apparent ease in a partnership with captain Smith that would not only steady the ship, but also announced the South African’s intent on going all the way in this competition.

De Villiers smashed his first fifty runs of just 54 balls and the century partnership arrived after 118 balls as South Africa looked dominant and the Windies showed signs of resignation.

South Africa’s fastest World Cup century was achieved by de Villiers in only 97 balls, and despite losing strike partner Smith at 139 for 3, de Villiers and his final partner Duminy remained at the crease to guide South Africa to a well earned victory.

South Africa 223-3 (42.5 overs) bt West Indies 222 (47.3 overs) by seven wickets

World Cup – Group B -  New Delhi

No Holding Back - The Autobiography by Michael Holding

No Holding Back – The Autobiography by Michael Holding with Edward Hawkins

For much of this book I imagined that the title was no more than a little pun on this cricketing legend’s name – perhaps a nod to his fearsome bowling. Then, two-thirds of the way through, with his early life, cricketing, broadcasting and business careers, and a chapter on his love of, and involvement with, horse racing done, he remarks his run up. Takes it back to the sightscreen, plucks a new ball from the umpire’s grasp and, if you’re at the crease with a bat in your hands you’d better know how to use it.

No Holding back indeed. In the final portion of this enjoyable book, Michael Holding lets fly. Bouncer after bouncer, aimed at the heart. Chuckers, cheating umpires, players’ attitudes, preparation and practice, the Pakistan forfeited test, the Allen Stanford fiasco, the West Indies perceived inability to play swing bowling, non-walking batsmen, sledging, the West Indies Cricket Board, the ICC (of which he was once a member until he felt compelled to resign) and, the IPL, Twenty20 and the future of Test cricket. Forthright, honest and outspoken, yet much of it makes perfect sense.

Although this is nothing but a book about a truly great cricketer (my superlative, not his) and the game of cricket, there is very little in the book about cricket itself, in terms of matches played. This is not a criticism, just a different approach to the usual blow-by-blow rehash of classic performances and semi-forgotten encounters. However, a little more insight into the characters and personalities of those he played with and against would have been welcome. Clive Lloyd, Sir Viv Richards, Andy Roberts and the late Malcolm Marshall are fleshed out, but a few more observations or anecdotes would not, in this instance, have gone amiss. Lack of a career stats appendix, however, is a fault.

For someone of such strong opinions, and moreover, being unafraid to voice them, he comes across as a really nice guy. A man of great modesty and integrity, it would appear. The words steadfast, loyal, hard-working also spring to mind. Part of this perception will come from years of listening to his broadcasting with the famously soothing, Kingstonian, molten chocolate voice. A lot of credit must go to the ghost writer, Edward Hawkins, who succeeds in not only making these words tell Michael Holding’s story, but they tell it with his voice.

No Holding Back – The Autobiography by Michael Holding is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

T20 World Cup 2010

England will be praying for a rain free game against Ireland tonight following the disappointment of losing out to the West Indies on the Duckworth-Lewis calculation after rain disturbed Monday’s match.

England had appeared to do everything right after being being asked to bat first by West Indies captain Chris Gayle. The England batsmen set an impressive 191 – 5, with an excellent stand of 95 from Eoin Morgan (55) and Luke Wright (45 not out).

In return the West Indies managed a quickfire 30 runs before rain stopped play, and on resumption of the game they were set a meagre target of 60 from 6 overs, managing that with a ball to spare.

West Indies were awarded the game on the Duckworth- Lewis rule, something that captain Chris Gayle had gambled on when winning the toss and putting England into bat.

“We knew that the weather was going to play a part -so the first five overs, obviously, can determine the game,” he said, “So we decided to go out and see what we could get out of the first five overs. The target was actually 43, I think, at one stage – and the updated calculation went in our favour. After the rain, we knew we were most likely to win the game from there on.”

The win means West Indies are through to the Super Eight stage, having seen off the challenge of Ireland on the opening day of the tournament and leaves England also needing a win against Ireland tonight to ensure they progress.

The result has left a bitter taste in the mouth for Paul Collingwood and the England team and the captain has called for a change in the D-L Formula in 20 over cricket, saying;

“We played a near perfect game, and lost. The only thing we are frustrated about is the Duckworth-Lewis equation. There’s a major problem with this Duckworth-Lewis in this form of the game.
I’ve got no problems with it in the 50-over form. But I know it’s made us very frustrated here. It certainly has to be revised for this form of the game. I’m no mathematician; I really don’t know what the equation should be. But you’re certainly backs against the wall when it works out like that.”

Collingwood added that they are praying for a 20 over game with no rain on Tuesday night, believing that if they get that they are capable of joining the West Indies in the Super Eights.

Pakistan 139-2 (18.3 overs) beat Sri Lanka 138-6 (20 overs) by eight wickets.

Pakistan were the surprise winners of the ICC World Twenty20 cricket competition.  They convincingly beat Sri Lanka in the final at Lords yesterday, and in a post match interview, Pakistan captain Younus Khan, draped in a Pakistan flag dedicated the famous victory to his former coach Bob Woolmer who died suddenly in Jamaica during the 2007 World Cup.

Khan took the opportunity to announce his retirement from Twenty20 cricket, and also pleaded for countries to reconsider the current boycott of playing cricket in Pakistan following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in March, while on thier way to play in Lahore.

Following the attack, Pakistan were also stripped of holding the cricket World Cup in 2011.

England Women win the ICC World Twenty20

Meanwhile, England won the Women’s ICC World Twenty20 in style by bowling New Zealand all out for 85 and win by six wickets, also at Lords yesterday.

England Women’s cricket captain, Charlotte Edwards said it was the “proudest day of her life.”

The England Women’s cricket team add the World Twenty20 trophy to the Ashes and the World Cup.

Stuart Broad was handed the new ball against the West Indies and managed to bowl at over 90mph regularly. With this extra yard of pace behind him, he believes that he can form a formidable opening partnership with James Anderson this summer.

Speaking about his progress as an international bowler, Stuart Broad said that he was keen to make the new ball spot alongside James Anderson ‘his own’ in the coming weeks.

As for the partnership with James Anderson, the 22-year-old says that they have played a ‘lot of cricket together now’ and this has led to them talking ‘about deliveries’ all of the time.

An example of such a situation occurred when Chris Gayle was driving Stuart Broad for four regularly at Lords. James Anderson then advised him to change his line of attack and this led to the dismissal of the West Indian captain.

As the Nottinghamshire all-rounder says, ‘communication is key in test cricket’ and it seems that England’s current new ball partnership understand this all too well.

Stuart Broad will obviously be keen to keep this going in the second test against the Windies which gets underway on Thursday at the Riverside. This will then stand England in good stead for when the Ashes come around in July and will undoubtedly make Ashes cricket betting very interesting indeed.

But reading recent cricket news concerns have been raised as to the importance young and emerging cricketers may now place on playing Twenty20 style cricket, which lends itself to fast, furious, slogging over the more  sophisticated tactical awareness of defend and attack batting necessary for traditional Test Match cricket.

Twenty20 is exciting, fast-paced and for that alone is very popular, but more importantly easier to watch as a spectator or armchair fanatic as it has condensed the game of cricket into a few hours.  It has even spawned free Fantasy Cricket IPL games.

Until Twenty20 and the IPL, cricket had not changed and was very much steeped in tradition.  Apart from the late 1970’s when Kerry Packer attempted a similar league in Australia has the ECB (England Cricket Board) and others faced such a threat to the importance of test match cricket.  And there lies the issue.  Traditionalists and the ECB don’t want to lose control to a new version of the game of cricket.

Yesterday former Yorkshire and England cricket legend, Geoffrey Boycott firmly argued that players could not switch from Twenty20 to Test Match cricket without consequences.  He argued there was nothing wrong with cricketers playing both but the styles are so different for a batsman that there would be repercussions for the England cricket team.

But England’s Ravi Bopara, who has only just returned from playing for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL appears to be silencing such a view by making 118 not out after his century helped England to 289-7 on day one of the 1st Test Match against West Indies.

But even then Boycott and BBC commentator Jonathan Agnew suggested there were lapses of concentration from Bopara towards the end of the day which they agreed was possibly due to the different mentality of Twenty20 and Test Match cricket batting styles.

Having restricted the West Indies to 239-9 in their 50 overs, the tourists were set a revised total after heavy rain intervened. The ‘Duckworth – Lewis‘ method ruled that England would need 135 from 20 overs to level the series at 2-2.

Their chances were done no harm at all when Andrew Strauss got the innings off to a rapid start. The England captain hit four consecutive fours to help his team bring up 50 runs within the first six overs.

Ravi Bopara also made a valuable contribution until he was caught off the bowling of Kieron Pollard for 35. With the score already over 100 at this stage though, the game was virtually over.

Andrew Strauss and Matt Prior completed the victory in the 19th over when the former guided a Dwayne Bravo delivery for four. Andrew Strauss ended up unbeaten on 79 and said afterwards that it was a fantastic response from his side after the embarrassing defeat on Friday.

The Middlesex man said that performing as they did was the perfect way to ‘counter the criticism’ that has been directed at them a lot this winter. He then admitted how England’s One Day International team are very ‘Jekyll-and-Hyde’ and that you never quite know what to expect.

The victory for England means that the final game of the tour on Friday will decide who wins this limited over series. Should Andrew Strauss’ men emerge victorious, it would be a fantastic way to end a rather forgettable few months.

Back home though, the series could have much wider implications on the English game. In the initial touring squad, England named three players of Asian descent. Monty Panesar and Owais Shah took their places on the tour along with Yorkshire’s Adil Rashid. When Andrew Flintoff sustained his hip injury in Antigua, Ravi Bopara and the uncapped Amjad Khan were added to the squad as cover.

The emergence of Nasser Hussain, Mark Ramprakash and Ronnie Irani in the 1990s is now being followed up by a new wave of talented Asian cricketers who have pledged their allegiance to the Three Lions.

Shah, born in Karachi, Pakistan, has made five Test appearances for England, spread over a three year period. Prashant Patel, of Shah’s first club, Wycombe House, says that the Middlesex batsmen’s inclusion at international level gives great hope to minority groups.

“Within the local community I would say that the Asian population see him as a great role model as, in some circumstances, they feel that their opportunities to play at the highest level or in fact succeed in any aspect of life are limited because of their background. Owais is an example that times are changing.”

The club, based in Isleworth , hosts a vast mix of cultures, and Patel explains that cricket has become one of the best tools to promote an integrated community: “Cricket is very useful in uniting people,” he explains.

“Some of our members belong to cultures who would not interact with specific ethnic groups in their regular lives due to conflicts of religious beliefs, but when they play together on the cricket pitch and they socialise, they seem to overcome their original beliefs. The changes cricket makes can be very significant indeed.”

One of the most significant could be a potential shift in support among British Asians. In 2006, Sajid Mahmood was taunted and called a ‘traitor’ by Asian sections of the Headlingley crowd as he played for England against Pakistan, the country of his grandfather’s birth. The treatment of the Lancashire-born fast bowler highlighted the divide between English fans and British Asians, who follow the country of their family’s roots.

However, Patel says that the prominence of the likes of Shah, Panesar and Bopara in and around the England set-up could lead to a change amongst a younger generation.

“Most of the ethnic minority groups within our local boroughs would solely support their home nation,” he explains. “But we find our youth team players support either only England, or England and their ethnic home nation. Their parents are also beginning to support both teams and this is directly because of Owais’ success and the fact that he grew up locally.”

Despite the great success of previous and current Asian players on the international scene, the most significant contribution of all could be made by a player yet to be capped by his country – Yorkshire’s Rashid.

Whereas the likes of Hussain, Ramprakash and Panesar all grew up and developed their cricketing talents in the home counties, 21 year-old leg spinner Rashid was born and bred in Bradford, the scene of some of the U.K’s most notorious race riots.

Rashid’s County Championship debut in 2006 was hailed by a local Muslim MP as the player that will “put to rest” the racist issues that lingered around Yorkshire.

At a time when positives seem few and far between for the national team, this is certainly a cause for optimism, although the true impact of Shah, Panesar and Rashid may only be felt in ten or fifteen years time, when a new generation of Asians, inspired by the current crop, come to wear the Three Lions in the Test arena.