The most awaited game of the world cup 2011 - India vs Australia

India vs Australia
It is going to be a crunch of a game. The most awaited game of the tournament. Both the teams are the big contenders of lifting the world cup trophy. Australia being 4 times world champion will give their all to stay in the tournament and keep the chances of winning it. On the other hand India is the team with good bunch of a match winners who can turn the game in their favor any moment.
Australia's strength is their fast bowling while India heavily relies on their strong batting line up. 
This game will be a decider for great players like Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, who's team looses the player might not be seen on any future ODI's. 



Pakistan vs West Indies -1st quarter final
It was a dull game, pakistan out played west indies in all departments and they beat them very comprehensively and progressed to semi finals.
It wa sthe first quarter final of the world cup 2011. The toss was won by west indies and without any hesitation they elected to bat, but their batsman failed to give any impression as the team was all out on only 112. Chanderpaul was the top scorer with 44 not out, he was left on one side ran out of partners. Afridi picked up 4 wickets with hafeez and ajamal picked 2 wickets each.
In reply Pakistan easily chased down total and they won with 10 wickets. Hafeez made unbeaten 61 and he was declared man of the match for his all round performance.

Team's journey to Quarter Finals.

Here is quarter final match ups

March 23	Pakistan v West Indies	Dhaka
March 24	India v Australia	Ahmedabad
March 25	New Zealand v South Africa	Dhaka
March 26	Sri Lanka v England	Colombo

It's the end of group stage matches in world cup 2011, no minnow-associated teams will be in the competition any more. Although these associate teams have given headache to the England team as the Ireland and bangladesh won their games. Some games have been so one sided and some have been a thriller. The tie game between India and England, SA vs England, SL vs Pak, England vs Bangladesh are some of few exciting -nail biter games. We had a fastest hundred of the world cup history so far and it was made by associate team player kevin O'brian of Ireland. Ross Taylor if NZ hit the record 13 sixes in an innings against Pakistan.

Let's start with group A - this group has been a tough one. Pakistan are on top of this group with 5 wins out of 6 games played. They lost the only game against New zealand.

Sri lanka are no2 here they won 4 out of 6 games played. They lost narrowly against Pakistan by 11 runs and their game against Australia was washed out.

Unlike the defending world champions Australia are at no3 . They won 4 out of 6 games played. They had a big loss against pakistan and game washed out against Sri Lanka.

New zealnd were no4 ,they won 4 out of 6 games. Their loss against Sri lanka  and Australia were so disappointing but they turned the tables against the No1 team of the group Pakistan.

Group B- This group has seen so many ups and downs . South Africa at the No1 spot. They won 5 out of 6 games. They narrowly lost against England by 6 runs.

India entered the tournament with the best contender to lift the world cup but they couldn't perform on important times. They lost 1 out of 6 games and 1 game against England resulted in a tie.

England's performance has been like roller coaster ride, they tied the high scoring games against India and won the low scoring game against South Africa. They fail to win against Ireland and Bangladesh.They won 3 out of 6 games played and lost 2 with 1 tie.

West Indies team just manged qualify with 3 wins and 3 losses out of 6 games  played.

World Cup 2011: Shoaib Akhtar declared retirement from international cricket after World Cup

Shoaib akhtar will say good bye to international cricket at the end of this world cup. This will be end of a player who has seen peaks and valleys in his cricketing carrier. 
Since he made debut in the internaional cricket he played only 46 out of 84 Tests pakistan played and appeared in only 163 ODI. Because  of injuries ,fitness, misbehavior, indiscipline and controversies like doping he was in & out of the team many time in his 13 years long carrier.
He will be remembered for getting wickets of Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar in 2 successive deliveries in the Asian test championship match at Kolkata.


I have found some good comments at cricinfo :
A man with humble arrogance and undaunted attitude who turned out to be a threat for great 2W's. Shoaib who became the competitor of his ideals Wasim and Waqar is a man of will and determination. His career full of glitz glamor and controversies a wild man with sane head on his shoulder who challenged himself on his will and still bowling 90+ miles at the age of 36 with Flat feet. I'm gonna miss da arrogance of the ball while leaving from the shoaib's hand.
He is no doubt the fastest bowler in the world and i think his attitude throughout his career matches his personality, pace and aggression. he is one of the greatest entertainers world cricket has ever produced. only pak can produce such a rare talent. he proves his worth while being part of sub-continent team. had he played more matches outside sub-continent he might have been the greatest fast bowler world has ever produced.
Its useless to talk about what Shoaib COULD have achieved...had be been more disciplined..or properly handled...or whatever...Cuz had he achieved ALL those things.
Being an Indian Cricket Supporter- I always followed Indian Team Playing everywhere they go and no doubt India has produced some real batting entertainers like Sachin,Sehwag,Ganguly,Dravid-Now Pathan. But when it comes to bowling department my heartiest congrats goes to PAKISTAN- You all have produced one of the most feared bowlers the world have ever seen- I cannot imagine a match Pakistan have played without a genuine quality express pace fast bowler- Shoaib Aktar was and will continue to be my most cherished fast bowler- I rate Waqar,Wasim and Imran Khan very highly but Shoaib Akhtar is in a differently league all together- He is a real crowd puller- I can pay a heavy ticket just to see this legend runing in to bowl- that feeling and that excitement rush that Shoaib bought to the minds of billions around the world cannot be imagined or measured- SHOIAB AKHTAR will be remembered as very rare fast bowler who never given up on pace just to extend his career-true commitment from heart.

England clinches yet another thriller !

The world cup game between England and west indies was a thriller , England just managed  to win it by 18 runs.

England won the toss and batted first. England batsman started up well adding 48 runs for the first wicket but the middle order failed to cash on the platform given and most of the batsman got out after having a good start.Trott top scored with 47 and luke wright added useful 44. For west indies russel picked up 4/49.  Bishoo picked 3 and Roach also picked up 2 wickets. England team failed to bat out their 50 overs and were all out  on 243 in 48.4 overs.
It was not going to be easy to chase the respectable total of 243 but the west indies top order had their ideas. Chris gayle played a blazing innings of 43 from 21 balls which included 8 fours and 1 six. The cameo innings by sammy 41 runs of 29 balls 2 fours and 3 sixes took the west indies in a comfortable position. They lost regular wickets and at No 8 Russel came and made 49 runs off 46 balls with 2 fours , 3 sixes.For England Tredwell picked up 4/48 and was declared man of the match. Swann picked up 3 and Bopara picked up 2 important wickets. West indies were all out on 225 with 32 balls left and they lost the game by 18 runs.
 At one stage WI were 222  for the loss of 6 wickets and they lost their rest of the 4 wickets in 20 balls adding just 3 runs.
By winning this game England have kept their hope alive to qualify for the quarter finals.

South Africa vs Ireland at Kolkata

South Africa won easily by 131 runs. Batting first South Africa made 272 for the loss of 7 wickets with half century by Duminy who was unlucky to miss a century and got out on 99.
Van vyk added 42 and Ingram added 46 useful runs.
In reply Ireland batters failed to reach the task by a big difference and the team was all out on 141runs. Morkel and pietersan picked up 3 wickets each .
J P Duminy was declared man of the match for his useful batting performance.

Results of the recent world cup matches

1. INDIA VS BANGLADESH AT DHAKA
India won by 87 runs



2. KENYA VS NEW ZEALAND AT CHENNAI
New Zealand won by 10 wickets


3. SRI LANKA VS CANADA AT HAMBANTOTA
Sri Lanka won by 210 runs


4. AUSTRALIA VS ZIMBABVE AT AHMEDABAD
Australia won by 91 runs


5. ENGLAND VS NETHERLANDS AT NAGPUR
England won by 6 wickets


6. KENYA VS PAKISTAN AT HAMBANTOTA
Pakistan won by 205 runs


7. SOUTH AFRICA VS WEST INDIES AT DELHI
South Africa won by 7 wickets


8. AUSTRALIA VS NEW ZEALAND AT NAGPUR
Australia won by 7 wickets


9. BANGLADESH VS IRELAND AT DHAKA
Bangladesh won by 27 runs


10. SRI LANKA VS PAKISTAN AT COLOMBO
Pakistan won by 11 runs


11. INDIA VS ENGLAND AT BANGALORE
Match tied


12. CANADA VS ZIMBABVE AT NAGPUR
Zimbabwe won by 175 runs


13. NETHERLANDS VS WEST INDIES AT DELHI
West Indies won by 215 runs


14. SRI LANKA VS KENYA AT COLOMBO
Sri Lanka won by 9 wickets


15. ENGLAND VS IRELAND AT BANGALORE
Ireland won by 3 wickets


16. NETHERLANDS VS SOUTH AFRICA AT MOHALI
South Africa won by 231 runs


17. CANADA VS PAKISTAN AT COLOMBO
Pakistan won by 46 runs


18. NEW ZEALAND VS ZIMBABVE AT AHMEDABAD
New Zealand won by 10 wickets


19. BANGLADESH VS WEST INDIES AT DHAKA
West Indies won by 9 wickets


20. SRI LANKA VS AUSTRALIA AT COLOMBO
No result because of rain


21. ENGLAND VS SOUTH AFRICA AT CHENNAI
England won by 6 runs


22. INDIA VS IRELAND AT BANGALORE
India won by 5 wickets


23. CANADA VS KENYA AT DELHI
Canada won by 5 wickets


24. NEW ZEALAND VS PAKISTAN AT PALLEKELE
New Zealand won by 110 runs


25. INDIA VS NETHERLANDS AT DELHI
India won by 5 wickets


26. SRI  LANKA VS ZIMBABVE AT PALLEKELE
Sri Lanka won by 139 runs


27. IRELAND VS WEST INDIES AT MOHALI
West Indies won by 44 runs


28. BANGLADESH VS ENGLAND AT CHITTAGONG
Bangladesh won by 2 wickets


29. INDIA VS SOUTH AFRICA AT NAGPUR
South Africa won by 3 wickets


30. CANADA VS NEW ZEALAND AT MUMBAI
New Zealand won by 97 runs


31. AUSTRALIA VS KENYA AT BANGALORE
Australia won by 60 runs


32 BANGLADESH VS NETHERLANDS AT CHITTAGONG
Bangladesh won by 6 wickets


33. PAKISTAN VS ZIMBABVE AT PALLEKELE.
Pakistan won by 7 wickets  (D/L method)

The fastest hundred of the world cup history

The fastest hundred of the world cup history didn't came from the test playing nation's cricketer.  Kevin O'Brien of Ireland made the fastest hundred in the world cup history.
 It was only 50 balls taken to make  100 runs and guide his team to the famous victory. In his 100 he hit 13 fours and 6 sixes.

His innings eventually came to end when he was run out on 133 made from only 63 balls with a stunning strike rate of 179.36

He made a 162 run partnership with Cusack to bring back Ireland in the game after they lost 5 wickets for 115 runs.

Mathew Hayden, the Australia left handed opener, was in mesmerising form during 2007 world cup championship he made 101 from only 66 balls.


Davison was a very unknown player when he made his 67 ball century against mighty West Indies at Supersport park in Centurion as he played for Canada in the 2003 world cup.


In 1983 world cup Kapil Dev of India held the record of fastest century for a long time, 100 in 72 balls and scoring 175 unbeaten that day at Trent bridge which saved Indians a sorry defeat against debutant Zimbabweans when they were five wickets down for almost nothing on board.


Adam Gilchrist of Australia also scored 100 in 72 balls against Sri Lanka in the final of the 2007 world cup. 

UDRS failure in world cup 2011

In the world cup 2011 the ICC has implemented use of UDRS . In the match of India against the England there was one incident when all the parameters met to give batsman out and yet he was given not out.

It was the over No. 24 and last ball of the over 
Yuvraj Singh to Bell, no run, Bell goes down very early to try and paddle one of those dinked sweep shots, ends up missing and is struck on the pads. Looks gone but Bowden gives it not out. India called for a review. Looks like it's given, all the replays showed it hitting and Bell is walking but NO!? Decision stays not out! Bell, apparently, was so far down the track that it remains up to the umpire
That's ridiculous if the ball met all the criteria to give a batsman out then he should have been given out. I was the supporter of the use of UDRS from the start but this makes me to think twice. In support of UDRS previously I did made a discussion at mylot " Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) in the world cup".
The summery of the discussion was using UDRS in world cup reduce the bad decisions and give a fair chance to all the teams. As far as I know India has suffered from the lot's of b ad decisions in past using this technology might help , but after seeing how it is used in the match against England I doubt it will be worth to use. There is no snicko meter or hotspot to help the decision to be made correctly .
There was one  more incident of UDRS failure , it was in the Sri Lanka vs Canada match.

First, in the 23rd over with Jayawardene on 11, spinner Jimmy Hansra and wicketkeeper-captain Ashish Bagai went up for a huge appeal convinced an edge had been pouched.

The umpire turned it down, but Canada went for an immediate referral. TV replays suggested an edge, but were ultimately inconclusive and the decision remained. Then, in Hansra's very next over, they went up as Jayawardene attempted a drive. Again the umpire turned it down only for the second referral to be called and again TV replays failed to provide a decisive picture.

content source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/current/story/502226.html

I think the UDRS is going to be biggest blunder like Duckworth-Lewis Method. The UDRS  is like curse in the blessings.

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