Australia, the ICC Champions Trophy winner 2009

At last the ICC Champions Trophy title has been gone to the Australian door with their strong performances from the all sides batting bowling and fielding. This is the second time they have achieved crowned the second prestigious title of cricket. They again have proved that there is none equal in limited over cricket tournament. By achieving the Man of the Series award Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has showing green signal for his career. Three time World Cup winner leading the top position of the one-day rankings. Riding on Shane Watson’s unbeaten century, Australia could able to hold the title for next two years, a six wickets victory over neighboring country with 28 balls remaining.

Both the team lost two early wickets but Australia could gain. New Zealand’s 5 wickets within hundred runs including BB McCullum’s wicket in just for five five runs brought a big pressure in cricked wicket of SuperSport Park, Centurion on 5 October. To regain the pressure, NT Broom, JEC Franklin and KD Mills fought strongly against Australian bowlers, but Ricky Ponting’s direct hit to first stamps sent Mills home. At the end New Zealand could not achieved more than 200 for to make a strong runs-wall for the opposition batsmen.

It seems that the world champions will be demolished with the Kiwi bowlers. The lose two important wickets just for 6 runs but SR Watson’s 105 runs and CL White 62 brought the expected wins and Watson awarded the Man of the Match crown.

Australia was in very rough and tough position in the group stage round. It seems that they could be out from the tournament but win over Pakistan confirm to play in the semi-finals. I think it happened just for the previous series win in England.

Sources: ICC-CRICKET, Cricinfo, Wikipedia

Will India be qualified for semi-finals? Champions Trophy 2009

It is a big question for Indian cricket team and their performances and all the Indian supports may be very angry the first match. Losing to the arch rival Pakistan in the first match and today’s match is do-or-die match for Australian and Indian cricket teams. It is sure that if India loses to the defending champions then they have to say goodbye from this year Mini World Cup. Host South Africa has to say see off.

India is in dangerous zone they have to win in both matches if they want to be qualified. But it would be an inauspicious dream for them instead of beating Australia. Though the tri-color has another match with West Indies, the fate is totally on today’s match or it would be a nightmare.

Indian captain MS Dhoni already has explain the situation of his team. He strongly commented on the twenty20 cricket and explained that doing well in the IPL is not good for one-day international cricket or Test match. Will this comment play any effective roll on BCCI that eager to host twenty20 cricket.

I think, financial muscled BCCI will be back to the real observation and will make attention on test cricket and limited over matches instead of the money making game Twenty20 cricket. It is sure to tell that Indian present condition is not well at all. To tell honestly that BCCI’s leadership and destructive observation could fell a long term bad effect Indian cricket.

Just after a week India will celebrate money making game and the organizer is taking hard preparation for it. When the cricket nation like England and Australian is making slogans and trying to avoid twenty20 cricket at the same time Indian full concentration on money making cricket.

Organizing IPL T20 cricket in South Africa, IPL commission is trying to show a hand to the government. But he basic loser is Indian cricket but benefit for BCCI.

Anyway, I think all the eyes if fixed at SuperSport Park, Centurion where India is going to take on Australia. This tournament will be a decision maker for India who will play in the semi-final of ICC champions Trophy 2009. 

Pak vs WI match preview and live score: ICC Champions Trophy 2009

The first match has been over when Sri Lanka scored 319 runs and threw a big challenge to the host. The second encounter between Pakistan and West Indies will kick off on 23 September 2009 at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. In the previous post I wrote some important notes on the both teams of their wining progress and the players’ promotion in the last few years. Here I will explain detail on them.

Pakistan wicket keeper batsman Kamran Akmal is on super form. In the recent practices match against Sri Lanka, Pak crew started very well when 82 runs. During the one-day series in Arab Emirates he played very well cricket against Australia and honored as a man of the series title. Kamran Akmal is going to appear fourth time in the ICC champions trophy.

Naved-ul-Hasan’s 5 wickets against Sri Lanka brought an easy wins. And Umar Gul impressive bowling for the fans but devastated the Sri Lankan side during the twenty20 world championship.

All rounder Shahid Afridi form could bless for the team and Mohammad Asif has back to the team after one year and hoping best performances. Shahid Afridi will play his 10^th match in ICC Trophy. He picked up 9 wickets from nine matches and he is the second man after Abdul Razzaq and picked up 10 wickets who has been kept out from the team but returned to the tam during the twenty20 world cup.

Pakistan skipper is on gear because his boys re doing well since one-day series one-day series with Australian till now even in the practice matches. Although he got a little bit injury during the warm-up match, hope he will come back and lead the team instead Shahid Afridi will be the responsible captain for the team against West Indies.

One time champions and two times runner-up West Indies will not be less strong than Pak team. You all known that Pakistan still did not play in final any more. So it can say confidently that West Indies is very ferocious in this stage.

CH Gayle is considred the number one batsman on West Indies tem. He scored 695 runs from his 14 appearances in Champions trophy. RR Sarwan and Bravo has also good statistic too. But in the squad you will not find any names.

Live Score on ESPN STAR Sports

The broadcast right has been gone to the ESPN STAR Sports group and for the sub-continent people Star Cricket will show that all 15 matches live. They have top quality commentators like Ravi Shastri, Harsha Bhogle, Sanjay Manjrekar, Wasim Akram, Ranil Abeynaike, Nick Knight, Bob Willis, Ian Chappell, Simon Doull, Kepler Wessels, Shaun Pollock, Alan Wilkins and Ian Bishop. So enjoy their best quality commentary and discussions during the match time and beak time too.

Squads:

Pakistan: Younus Khan (capt), Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umer Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul Hasan, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Yousuf, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamir, Mohammad Asif, Rao Iftikhar, Saeed Ajmal

West Indies : Floyd Reifer (capt), Darren Sammy, David Bernard, Tino Best, Royston Crandon, Travis Dowlin, Andre Fletcher, Nikita Miller, Kevin McLean, Kieran Powell, Dale Richards, Kemar Roach, Devon Smith, Gavin Tonge, Chadwick Walton

Directv is an Americal TV channel that will bring the exclusive digital coverage for the USA fans of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy and ATN for the Canadian people.

Online text commentary websites information: Cricinfo.com, Vcricket.com and Cricketnirvana.com are my favorite sited and I am impressed with third quality of text commentary. I think it will please you all.

Pakistan vs West Indies match Analysis: ICC Champions Tropjy

Three good news is for the Pakistan cricket fans at the same time. When Pakistan Cricket authority is trying to make a tour along with India in a neutral venue at the same time two Pakistan players have been nominated for ICC award and the two important victories before the Champions League. West Indies will be the strong opponent during the second match of and the first match of Group A. Rest of the teams are Australia and Indian. Pakistan second match will be against arch rival cricket opposition India.

ICC Champions Trophy 2009

Pakistan vs West Indies on 23 Sep 2009

2nd Match Group A, New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Live action starts from: 12:30 GMT (18:00 IST)

First, I am going to congratulate to the Pakistan players who are going the honored with ICC Award 2009 and same to West Indies Players Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and others. We all know that Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul’s destructive bowling brought the prestigious title earlier this year. Though Caribbean’s exile in semifinals washed out them but kept the footprint in almost every area.

Pakistan last took on West Indies in United Arab Emirates in 2008/09 season when they took a sweet revenge over the visitors because West Indies beast Pakistan in the opening math of the 2007 crick world cup. At this moment both the team has changed a lot.

Pakistan just achieved 4 wins among the last ten matches. First five matches they played along with Australia and last with Sri Lanka. The last 10 matches’ statistics except Bangladesh matches, they have similar wins like Pakistan. New Zealand, India and England were the oppositions.

When ICC Champions Trophy 2009 opening ceremony show live

We already have known that the opening match gets underway with South Africa and Sri Lanka one year later SuperSport Park instead of Pakistan. The opening match is scheduled as a day-night, so the lighting and the colorful events will be enrolled at the end of the match. I want to remind the second season of IPL twenty20 league tournament was held in the same country earlier this year. This is the third events that South Africa is going to organized this kinds of with in two years. By organizing the Twenty20 world championship, the nation praised over the world. They will also the host country of Fifa World cup 2010.

After the cricket World cup, long time have been passed but did not organized any single event like world competition. So, this event comes such time when the limited over match is on dissecting table of many question.

Hindu

The tournament arrives at a time when questions are being asked about the future of the 50 overs-a-side format. The competition here could be critical to the survival of ODI cricket in its present form.

In ODI cricket, there is time and space for batsmen to build an innings, for bowlers to send down longer spells with reasonably attacking fields. Here, the sides have a greater chance to regroup and recover.

In recent news I found that the master bluster batsman Sachin Tendulkar proposed ICC that if the one-day international match could inaugurate in two innings. ICC committee has accepted that proposal and the experimentally will be held soon.

I am disappointed that after 2007 more the four most money making games are held. Among them two IPL tournaments and two twenty20 matches. So it is natural the attraction and flavor of the limited over match has washed out from the cricket fans memory.

South Africa vs Sri Lanka Preview and live score: ICC Champions Trophy 2009

The first match of Group B will be commenced on at 14:30 local on September 22, at Centurion. The opening ceremony will be taken part with he match to the tow teams of B group. The will be the best time for the sub continent cricket fans and the match will be showed live thorough Star cricket. A close competition will enjoy in the first match of the Champions Trophy.

ICC Champions trophy is familiar as the second world cup cricket over the world. From this view it will be very prestigious for the host because they always play a stress cricket when they reach in semi-finals but they won the first title of Champions Trophy held in Bangladesh in 1998.

South Africa was in the number one ranked odi cricket team just one week ago. So it could assume that they played positively in the last few tours especially home and abroad. As a host country South Africa will get extra support from all sides at the same they are in pressure to play a good cricket for their country.

I was shocked to see that Sri Lanka did not visit anytime after 2007 even South Africa. They last meet at the time of ICC World Cup in 2006/07 that was held in West Indies and in 2006 at Ahmedabad during the 5^th season of champion trophy. Both the times South Africa won the matches.

Live score on websites:

cricbuzz

sify sports

cricketnirvana.com

cricketpulse

Source: wikipedia, Cricinfo

India vs New Zealand practice match highlights: Champions Trophy 2009

At first, I am going to congratulate New Zealand scoring the big score and for the massive win over Indian cricket team. Wining toss, the Black Caps elected to bat first and scored 301runs by losing 9wickets. Perhaps this the highest run against Indian team. Although Indian newly form backed batsman Sachin Teddulkar did not play. Although it is not an international match but the prestigious trophy this kinds of performances will disappointed all supports.

No doubt that New Zealand has played on of the best cricket of their history from my view. Without a single century New Zealand able to cross 300 runs against Indian blowers. I think Indian fans will be dissatisfied to show good performances in the Champions trophy 2009.

Fall of New Zealand’s wickets:1-33 (McCullum), 2-93 (Ryder), 3-148 (Taylor), 4-167 (Guptill), 5-177 (Oram), 6-211 (Elliott), 7-254 (Vettori), 8-301 (Broom), 9-301 (Patel)

Fall of Indian wickets: 1-58 (Karthik), 2-70 (Dravid), 3-101 (Dhoni), 4-112 (Raina), 5-125 (Yuvraj Singh), 6-128 (Pathan), 7-130 (Kumar), 8-197 (Nayar), 9-198 (Mishra) and 10-198 (Singh)

The statistic of falling wickets Indian batting line-up is unbelievable after wining the tri series and the bowlers except YK Pathan, A Mishra and Raina offered the expensive run-rate.

Forget everything and dress with a new mood because Indian has some strong opposition in the Group A. They have to face arch rival Pakistan, top ranked Australia and stronger West Indies.

Score has taken from Cricinfo.

India vs New Zealand warm up match live score: ICC Champions Trophy 2009

India is going to take on New Zealand in their first worm up in South Africa when the first match of the ICC champions’ trophy will be held between South Africa and Sri Lanka. The practices match is taking place at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom. The local time is 14:30 Local Time, 12:30 GMT but according to Indian standard time the match will be held at 7:00pm.

Match: Warm up match of ICC Champions Trophy 2009
Teams: India vs New Zealand
Time: 14:30 Local Time, 12:30 GMT
Venue: Senwes Park, Potchefstroom
Live score: Cricinfo

In the recent tour of the Compaq cup tri series Indian beat New Zealand and comparing the team capacity at this moment Indian is stepped ahead with the recent performances and the during the tour of New Zealand, India achieved a record breaking wins over the Black Caps.

Well all know that the winning statistics of India is very well and now they jumped their odi ranking. The Champions Trophy is another stage to gear up their raking. New Zealand has a routine that they preformed well this kind international as well. So I thing they will improve a lot and will show a best performance.

Some websites will show matches live action.

vcricket.com
action8cricket
cricbuzz
sify sports
cricketnirvana.com
cricketpulse

It is not important at this moment who wins or loses but the main encounters will be started from 22 September. This practices match before the group round match will promote them to show a better or best performances.

ICC Champions Trophy 2009 preview all nations

You already have heard that the 6^th season of ICC Champions Trophy 2009 (Mini World cup) is going to hold in South Africa at two play grounds The Wanderers and Centurion from 22 September 2009 where eight nations will take part as well. Six teams are taking part in the Warm-Up matches and England and Australia is taking parts in Natwest One-day international series. South Africa, West Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand already has played a matches each and on 20 September there will another warm-up match when New Zealand v India at Potchefstroom Pakistan v Warriors at Benoni and Sri Lanka v West Indies at Pretoria.

India is considered one of the strongest team at this moment. In the recent tour of Sri Lanka won the Compaq Cup triangular series. And last two New Zealand as well as West Indies performed well. It could say easily that last tow year they did not lose any one-series including the home series along with England.

Sri Lanka is one of the well formatted team of Asia that could do well in the last few series especially against Pakistan in odi and test and against New Zealand in the home series except losing in the final along with India. Their eye-catching showdown in the recent twenty20 world cup in England claims congratulate when the turning hand and most successful spinner Muttiah Muralitharan could not attend.

Pakistan is the third country from South Asian region and recent twenty20 world champions are determine to take the title this time. There last two tours were very fruitfulness although the home series was disappointed their fans. But, the series against Australia after a long break was hopeful.

Australia is on the way of series win. In the Natwest one-day international series, they are expecting a 7-0 victory over the host England. The last tours were very painful events for then Oceania giant especially the tour of South Africa. For England same thing is reflecting. Ashes series winner are dominated by Australian.

New Zealand is the 2^nd season winner and expecting to do well. In the press conference Black Cap captain was explaining their situation and expected highly to get the title second time. During the last series could not do well in Sri Lanka even when India visited to them, they lost their fame ever.

West Indies is the only nation who played most time in ICC Champions Trophy final and achieves title one time and two times runner up. Their last performances were very stable that could be appreciated. Though they were kept them to play international cricket when Bangladesh visit to them, it difficult to assume how they could perform in the 6^th stage.

At this moment all the fans are waiting to observe the worm-up matches result. The second worm-up matches will be staged on 20 September and look eyes on the fixture and timetable of the Champions Trophy 2009.

Indian squad for ICC champions Trophy and Sachin Tendulkar’s 17000 runs milestone

India has announced a 15 man squad for the ICC champions Trophy where Virender Sehwag is not named. Although it was know to all that he is suffering from shoulder injury problem from Twenty20 world cup, he could be if he comes round his problem. In the recent tour of Sri Lanka when Sachin Tendulkar scored a 70 runs average. After a six month breaks he has returned his form at the age of 36 when India is fighting for the top ranked ODI team as a third nation.

The 36 years old Sachin Tendulkar is just 106 runs from 17000 milestones. As he has been drawn his name in the 15 man squad for South Africa showing a team best performance in the recent triangular Compaq cup 2009 tournament. He as added 200 more runs from the tour adding a hundred in his career.

I explained in the previous article that the changing batting order brought a big success during the tour of Sri Lanka when Rahul Dravid was promoted as an opening batsman along the Sachin Tendulkar. And, I also mentioned that they both will be turning point of India of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2009. anyway I am not taking credit for it just it seems to me and explained even a kids could understand it easily.

I am a big fan of Sachin Tendulka and will want to see him in Indian squad. At the same time I hope that he will be the highest total runs holds of the world of 20,000 runs in One-day formatted cricket. Well all know the Cricket is a game where fitness is the most important issue for the players.

It is sure that Virender Sehwag returns would boot Indian team most instead he will lead Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy finals. Gautam Gambhir who came back home keeping unfinished the last tour, will came back to the squad in ICC Champions Trophy.

Indian Squad:

MS Dhoni (Captain/wicketkeeper), Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, RP Singh, Ashish Nehra, Dinesh Karthik, Praveen Kumar, Amit Mishra and Abhishek Nayar.

ICC Champions Trophy 2009: venues Fixture, time schedule and live TV action

Top ranked eight cricket teams are going to take part, ICC organized Champions Trophy torment, is also known as mini world cup cricket is one of the most expected cricket events for the cricket fans all over the globe. It regularly holds after two year. This year the event is going to host by South Africa, the Twenty20 world cup inaugural championship was hosted too. This is the sixth edition of the 50 overs formatted one-day international tournament.

ICC Champions Trophy was started in 1998 as a knock out tournament in Dhaka. Later it has been formatted as group stage, knockout (semifinals and final) and four teams will play each other in the group state match where India and Pakistan will be in the same group in A. So a big opportunity for the cricket fans of both countries.

You all know that the event was scheduled to hold in Pakistan one year ago but due toe some cricket playing counties for anxiety of security concern of Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand crickets ICC postponed it for one year. Later they decided the venue as South Africa. The three play grounds Wanderers Stadium and Centurion Park and Johannesburg stadiums of South Africa have been selected for the champions’ trophy 2009.

Fixtures of ICC Champions Trophy 2009:

Date	The Wanderers	Centurion
Tue 22 Sept		SA v SL (D/N)
Wed 23 Sep	Pakistan v WI (D/N)
Thu 24 Sept		SA v NZ (D)
Fri 25 Sept	SL v England (D/N)
Sat 26 Sept	WI v Australia (D)	India v Pakistan (D/N)
Sun 27 Sept	NZ v SL (D)	SA v England (D/N)
Mon 28 Sept		Australia v India (D/N)
Tue 29 Sept	England v NZ (D/N)
Wed 30 Sept	India v WI (D/N)	Australia v Pakistan (D)
Fri 2 Oct		A1 V B2 (D/N)
Sat 3 Oct	B1 v A2 (D/N)
Mon 5 Oct		Final (D/N)

From Asia three test playing countries are taking part in the ICC Champions Trophy 2009 except Bangladesh. So the time schedules according to the Asia will be most important. Sri Lanka, India and the end country Pakistan according to the geological location will and time is almost half an hour vary from each other except Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka have one hour time gap to Pakistan and India have (+/-) half an hour to each countries. According the Indian time the dayer matches will be started at 13:00 IST and the day-night will be at18:00 IST.

Europe based TV channel Sky Sports will show the matches live for in UK, Wales and Scotland. New Zealand is the only nation can watch match on Sky Sports and Fox Sports is ready to give effort for Australia.

The Indian fans can watch the matches on DD National beside Star Cricket and Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia and Pakistan have opportunity to watch on Star Cricket as well.

DIRECTV for USA, super sports for African countries, Asian Television Network ATN for Canada, BTV for Bangladesh and GEO Super is ready for the Pakistan fans.