Lack of runs doesn't bother Dhoni

MOHALI: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni insists his own form is not a concern heading into the World Cup semifinal against Pakistan on Wednesday.

Dhoni, also India's wicketkeeper, has a well-deserved reputation as a hard-hitting middle-order batsman.

But his returns with the bat at this World Cup amount to just 125 runs from seven innings at 31.25 with a best of 34.

In India's quarterfinal win over Australia the captain did have an opportunity to play a key innings but was out for seven.

It fell to left-handers Yuvraj Singh (57 not out) and Suresh Raina (34 not out) to see the home side to a five-wicket success in Ahmedabad.

"It's a cricketing aspect," said Dhoni, the face of numerous billboard and television World Cup advertising campaigns.

However, he insisted he was not being distracted by outside influences.

"I have been batting quite well, some of the situations have not been good for really playing flamboyant cricket. Like against Bangladesh, I could not get to bat. Also some shots went straight to fielders.

"What is important, especially in India is when you are batting at five, six or seven, if the top order scores well, it does not give much opportunity to the lower order.

"The last game (against Australia) was ideal where I could have got good runs, which were also needed then, but I could not get them."

The 29-year-old added he was proud to captain India, saying: "It's an honour to lead the side. If you take a pressure job, you will find yourself in a pressure cooker."

This match is being seen by some observers as a way to start an improvement in diplomatic relations between feuding nuclear powers India and Pakistan.

But Dhoni was adamant his team would just concentrate on the job at hand.

"It depends on what you mean by hype, media, sponsors, politicians - we are not getting involved.

"We are expected to play good cricket. The biggest, distinguished guests will be there to see the game, but they are here to enjoy cricket, so we have to be at our best."

India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani are both set to be among a capacity crowd on Wednesday.

"That will be a distraction if looking forward to that, that's the role I have been handed," Dhoni explained.

"Somebody has to lose this game, irrespective of political talking.

"At the end one team will have lost and one will be going into the final. That's part and parcel of sport, every sport." 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Lack-of-runs-doesnt-bother-Dhoni/articleshow/7816318.cms

Ind vs Pak: Kirsten dossier rates Pakistan 'dangerous'

MOHALI: India need to raise their performance in Wednesday's World Cup semifinal against "dangerous" Pakistan if they aim to win the showpiece event, coach Gary Kirsten has said.

He also added Pakistan were known for playing "fearless" cricket, he has mentioned this in a 16-page document, "Roadmap to Success", prepared by the coach on how to win the World Cup.

"A combination of big-hitters and a potent pace attack with a decent spin attack to follow the pacers makes Pakistan a very dangerous side which is very well known to play fearless cricket," Kirsten said in the dossier.

The former South African batsman also said inconsistency was Pakistan's main concern.

"Pakistan as a team over the years have a tendency to blow hot and cold," said Kirsten.

"It's a great chance for Pakistan to show the world what they are capable of ... The tag of dark horses suits them and enables them to perform harder (eg 2009 ICC World Twenty20 victory)."

Kirsten also highlights the areas where India need to improve, like batting a full quota of 50 overs, making the most of batting powerplay, fielding and the support for in-form paceman Zaheer Khan.

"Our weak link so far, it (powerplay) should be taken only towards the close of an innings. The crucial aspect is not to hit every ball out of the park, but to take advantage of the field restrictions," Kirsten said.

"Only Zaheer has been up to the mark, others, especially (a) senior spinner, should rise to the occasion."

The India coach described record-breaking batsman Sachin Tendulkar as his "hero" and all-rounder Yuvraj Singh as the "Superman".

Yuvraj has already scored 341 runs in seven matches with one hundred and four half-centuries at an astonishing average of 113.66, while Tendulkar is one short of completing 100 international centuries.

"Almost 38, Sachin is still my hero; with two centuries in the tournament he is the backbone of the side," said Kirsten.

"Who thought after 15 months of struggle Yuvi will make such a comeback! He is my man of the tournament and the Superman."

The dossier, already circulated to the players, also includes tips on diet and avoiding stress. 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Ind-vs-Pak-Kirsten-dossier-rates-Pakistan-dangerous/articleshow/7815135.cms

India hope to cash in on Pak's Achilles heel: Batting

MOHALI: In any battle, a good general aims at the rival's weak spot and tries to make the first dent there. It's obvious that for India, that weak spot is Pakistan's batting and MS Dhoni would be keen to cause early damage there come Wednesday.

Cricket is a funny game and Pakistani batting may come good in the semifinal, but what must still enthuse India is the lack of experience and proven class in the Pakistani batting line-up. If the going gets tough and the pressure rises, you need experience and class to wade through troubled waters, and Pakistan do not have a batsman who has consistently got big scores on the international stage over a good period of time although, like any top international side, they have the talent.

Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez are doing well as makeshift openers but they give the opposition hopes of an early breakthrough. Asad Shafiq is only 15 ODIs old and has to prove himself at this level. Misbah-ul-Haq's career got stuck in a quagmire after a late blossoming. He has managed to make some healthy contributions in this World Cup but still has not looked commanding.

Umar Akmal is an exciting strokeplayer but tends to let exuberance get the better of him. It's not rare to see him throw a good start away by attempting a low-percentage shot. Pakistan's batting problems have been compounded by skipper Shahid Afridi's consistent failures because he has been such a destroyer of attacks.

The pitch readings have suggested that the Mohali track would favour batsmen more than the bowlers and a 270-280 score would be par for course. If that is the case then Pakistan may need more than the 40s and the 50s the batters have been coming up with. Of course, a team can win the World Cup without a single century against its name, but big knocks do help, especially if a side is batting first and trying to set a big target. A big hundred can lead the team to a total of 300 and beyond which in a pressure game becomes too much for the opposition.

The flip side is that it's the team that wins or loses and not individuals. If three or four batsmen come up with good knocks, it can easily suffice. Yet, big knocks and hefty partnerships have great value in ODIs. 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/India-hope-to-cash-in-on-Paks-Achilles-heel-Batting/articleshow/7821351.cms

Pak bowlers must find a way to sort out Yuvraj, feels Akram

NEW DELHI: Former pace legend Wasim Akram feels Pakistan need to bowl intelligently to Yuvraj Singh and get rid off him as early as possible during their high-voltage World Cup semifinal in Mohali on Wednesday.

Yuvraj who has won four man of the match awards so far has scalped 11 wickets at 24.63 apiece and scored 341 runs at a staggering average of 113.66 in the World Cup so far and Akram feels Pakistan need to stop him if they hope to reach the finals.

"Yuvraj has shown great attitude. He is eager to play long knocks and he has converted good starts to 50's and a century. Yuvraj has understood the virtue of being consistent and trust me, he is only going to get better. Unfortunately, that is not good news for Pakistan," Akram said.

"Shahid Afridi and team will have to bowl intelligently to him. They will have to stop his run-flow and that's the only way I think Yuvraj can be stopped," he added.

The 44-year-old former skipper also heaped praise on India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, describing him judicious and smart.

"MS Dhoni's captaincy has been judicious and smart. I admire his horses-for-courses methods and the decision to leave out Yusuf Pathan and retain Suresh Raina was a great move. It is never easy to drop a match-winner like Pathan but Raina's partnership with Yuvraj proved to be decisive against the Aussies.

"Now, you don't know whether he will play Raina or Pathan in the next match. So, Dhoni has created doubt in the mind of the opposition think-tank. He is keeping everybody guessing. That's smart, indeed!," he added.

Akram also backed the hosts' bowlers, who have been the weak link for India.

"I think the Indian bowlers are doing pretty well. Restricting Australia to 260 was no mean task. Zaheer, Ashwin everybody are doing their jobs and the attack has a lot of variety," said the former seamer, who took 502 and 414 wickets in one-dayers and Tests respectively.

"Zaheer has been bowling well since the last two years but in this World Cup, he has been unplayable at times. Zaheer's length is perfect, he is coming around the wicket and bowling well. For a left-hander to come around the wicket means Zaheer has got a lot of confidence," he added.

Wasim feels India would be in immense pressure against Pakistan since they are the hosts.

"India will be the team under pressure, not Pakistan. The media in India is big and strong. The pressure created by them is simply mind-boggling and then there are a billion people with massive expectations," he said.

"The fact that Pakistan is playing away from home is an advantage. Given the high security at Mohali, the Pak team has been largely confined to its practice sessions and the hotel. Hence, there will be no dearth in focus." 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Pak-bowlers-must-find-a-way-to-sort-out-Yuvraj-feels-Akram/articleshow/7817161.cms

SL vs NZ: Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 5 wickets to enter World Cup final

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka reached the World Cup final with a five-wicket win against New Zealand on Tuesday as veteran off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan said goodbye to his home crowd.

Sri Lanka, set a modest 218 to win, wobbled in the middle before reaching their target in 47.5 overs with Tillakaratne Dilshan (73) and skipper Kumar Sangakkara (54) setting the foundation at a packed R Premadasa stadium.

Muralitharan took his 534th wicket off his last ball on home soil as New Zealand were bowled out for a below-par score of 217 in 48.5 overs.

Muralitharan, who last year retired from Tests after finishing as the highest wicket-taker with 800, now aims to win his second title -- after being part of the 1996 Cup winning squad -- in Saturday's final in Mumbai.

Sri Lanka, cruising along at 160-1, lost four wickets in the space of 25 runs to raise fears of an unlikely defeat before Thilan Samaraweera (23 not out) and Angelo Mathews (14 not out) guided them home with an unbroken 35-run stand.

The victory took Sri Lanka into their second successive World Cup final, after finishing runners-up to Australia in 2007, as a capacity 35,000 celebrated with firecrackers.

Sri Lanka play the winners of Wednesday's semifinal between India and Pakistan in Mohali.

New Zealand, who for the sixth time failed in a World Cup semi-final, seemed to be succumbing like England did during their 10-wicket quarterfinal defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka, but they staged a brave rearguard action.

It was 34-year-old Dilshan who was once again in rampaging mood, taking the co-hosts to 40 by the eighth over in the company of Upul Tharanga who fell after scoring a 31-ball 30 with four boundaries and a six.

Dilshan then found an equally aggressive and in-form partner in captain Sangakkara as they added 120 for the second wicket, before Dilshan played straight into the hands of Jesse Ryder off Tim Southee.

Dilshan hit 10 boundaries and a six during his 93-ball knock.

Sri Lanka then lost Mahela Jayawardene (one) and Sangakkara in the space of eight runs and then Chamara Silva (13) before the team held their nerve.

Dilshan also became the top run-getter of the tournament with 467.

It was Ajantha Mendis (3-35) and Lasith Malinga (3-55), along with Muralitharan (2-42), who kept New Zealand under control after Daniel Vettori won the toss and opted to bat.

Scott Styris, who top scored with 57, added 77 for the fourth wicket with Ross Taylor (36) but the Sri Lankan bowlers never allowed them to run away with a big total, dismissing the Kiwis in 48.5 overs.

Styris and Kane Williamson (22) added 42 in the batting powerplay but New Zealand lost their last seven wickets for just 56 runs.

Sri Lanka once again dismissed hard-hitting Brendon McCullum through a spinner when left-armer Rangana Herath bowled him in the eighth over for 13.

Martin Guptill (39) and Jesse Ryder (19) took the total to 69 before Muralitharan had the big left-hander caught off a quickish delivery.

Soon it became 84-3 when Malinga bowled Guptill with a ferocious yorker after the opener had hit three boundaries off 65 balls.

Styris hit five boundaries during his 77-ball knock. 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/SL-vs-NZ-Sri-Lanka-beat-New-Zealand-by-5-wickets-to-enter-World-Cup-final/articleshow/7814962.cms

Ind vs Pak: Heavy rain and thunderstorm ahead of Indo-Pak semifinal match

MOHALI: Heavy rain and thunderstorm lashed Mohali on the eve of the blockbuster World Cup semifinal clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium on Wednesday.

The Meteorological Department has forecasted a partly cloudy sky to prevail in this region with a little chance of light rain by the evening on Wednesday.

"The local forecast for tomorrow is partly cloudy sky with less chance of rain," an official of the Chandigarh-based MeT Department said.

Earlier in the day, Mohali and Chandigarh witnessed bright sunshine. Dust storm with drizzle had occurred on Monday.

According to the MeT's area forecast, including that of entire Punjab, there could be dust storm or thunderstorm with light rain at a few places in the state on Wednesday.

The MeT said that currently western disturbance is prevailing over Jammu and Kashmir and its neighbourhood while Rajasthan and its neighbourhood has been experiencing an Upper Air Cyclonic Circulation.

The maximum temperature at Mohali and Chandigarh is hovering in the range of 30-32 degrees Celsius.

The maximum relative humidity on Tuesday was around 68 per cent and the minimum relative humidity was likely to be around 39 per cent.

According to the Mohali pitch curator Daljit Singh, ball is likely to seam around under the flood lights. 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Ind-vs-Pak-Heavy-rain-and-thunderstorm-ahead-of-Indo-Pak-semifinal-match/articleshow/7819709.cms

Ind vs Aus: Yuvraj, Sachin, Raina help Men in Blue avenge 2003 humiliation

Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina celebrate after beating Australia during the quarterfinal match of the Cricket World Cup at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera in Ahmedabad. (AFP Photo)

AHMEDABAD: It was billed as the blockbuster and the quarterfinal, the second of the 2011 Cricket World Cup at the Sardar Patel Stadium at Motera on Thursday lived up to the expectations.

India survived a Ricky Ponting masterclass (104, 118 balls, 7x4, 1 x6) and some tense moments to beat four-time World Champions Australia by five wickets and 14 balls to spare to set up a potentially explosive clash with arch rivals Pakistan in Mohali on March 30.

The hosts rose to the occasion in style, first with a superb bowling and fielding effort, then the great master Sachin Tendulkar set the stage alight with glorious strokeplay to put the side on cruise mode before some quintessential Indian harakiri.

The Aussies sensing a chance changed colours, bowled with venom, sledged hard and even bled - Brett Lee getting a cut under his eye while fielding. They did it all but couldn't stop India from progressing.

There were many heroes for India as they set about their chase of 261, but Yuvraj Singh, yet again, emerged as the knight in shining armour coming up with a match-winning knock of unbeaten 57 runs besides picking up two wickets earlier. The effort earned the southpaw his fourth Man-of-the-match award in this World Cup.

Also rising to the challenge was young Suresh Raina with a gutsy unbeaten 34. Yuvraj and Raina realized 74 runs from 61 balls just when the Aussies had turned on the screws.

There was some intense drama before though courtesy a horrible mix-up between Gautam Gambhir (50; 64b, 7x4) and Yuvraj (their third in the span of five minutes) resulting in the run out of Gambhir. Yuvraj edged David Hussey to Cameron White at slip and even before Yuvraj could realize, Gambhir had dashed towards him from the non-striker's end and it was a point of no return.

Five overs earlier, Virat Kohli swatted a full toss straight down the throat of Michael Clarke at mid-wicket.

Skipper MS Dhoni cracked a thundering boundary, but another attempt off Lee saw Dhoni cut the bowler straight to Michael Clarke at point. The Indians had slid to 187 for 5 in 37.3 overs and seemed to be spoiling their own party till Yuvraj and Raina came into their own.

Of course, Tendulkar (53; 68b, 7x4) was on a different planet altogether as he caressed, punched, pulled, drove and also played the upper cut, the way only he can to raise hopes of the ton of tons. 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Ind-vs-Aus-Yuvraj-Sachin-Raina-help-Men-in-Blue-avenge-2003-humiliation/articleshow/7783584.cms

India vs Australia: Sachin Tendulkar crosses 18,000 runs in ODIs

Sachin Tendulkar plays a shot during the quarterfinal match of the Cricket World Cup against Australia at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera in Ahmedabad. (AFP Photo)

AHMEDABAD: Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday crossed another milestone as he went past the 18,000-run mark in ODIs during India's World Cup quarterfinal match against Australia.

Playing in his 451st ODI, Tendulkar reached the milestone with a single off Australian fast bowler Brett Lee in the 14th over of India's run-chase at the Sardar Patel Stadium at Motera. He was 45 short of 18,000 runs before the match.

The 37-year-old Indian maestro is the highest run-getter in both Tests and ODIs. He has till date scored 14,692 runs from 177 Tests at an average of 56.94 with 51 hundreds and 59 half-centuries.

His aggregate score in all forms of cricket before Thursday's match stands at a staggering 32,657.

Tendulkar, who is playing in his sixth World Cup, is also the highest run-scorer in the showpiece event. 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/India-vs-Australia-Sachin-Tendulkar-crosses-18000-runs-in-ODIs/articleshow/7782279.cms

India vs Australia: Zaheer Khan slow ball yielding right results

India's Sachin Tendulkar (left) congratulates Zaheer Khan after taking the wicket of Australian Cameron White (unseen) during the quarterfinal of the ICC World Cup at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad. (AFP Photo)

AHMEDABAD: India's bowling spearhead Zaheer Khan on Thursday said the slower ball was doing the trick for him after picking two wickets in the World Cup quarterfinal against Australia.

The left-arm paceman dismissed Michael Hussey with the old ball to give India a key breakthrough before accounting for Cameron White in the 42nd over to help India restrict Australia to 260-6 off 50 overs.

"It has been going well for me," said Zaheer, who is India's leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 19 scalps.

"The slower one is working particularly well for me. It is one of those things when things are going your way, they are going your way."

Zaheer was warned by umpires once for straying on the pitch and the seamer said they were right in doing so.

"It was dry wicket, the odd ball went inside. And because it was a dry wicket the umpires were also a bit cautious about the surface breaking down early.

"It did not put any pressure on me as I could always bowl around the wicket. In fact, it was my plan to bowl around the wicket."

Zaheer said India's batsmen would need to steady their nerves while chasing the target under lights.

"It is a good batting track. They have a par score on the board. We still have to bat well, keep our nerve and build partnerships."

The winners of this tie will meet Pakistan in the semifinal in Mohali on March 30. 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/India-vs-Australia-Zaheer-Khan-slow-ball-yielding-right-results/articleshow/7781642.cms

Imran Khan wants Shoaib Akhtar back in Pakistan team

Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar juggles with a football during team's training session at the Sher-e Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on March 22, 2011. (AFP Photo)

DHAKA ( Bangladesh): Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan wants to see fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar restored to the Pakistan team if it plays India in the World Cup semifinals.

Akhtar hasn't played since the defeat by New Zealand midway through the group stage and has since announced he will end his 14-year international career following the tournament.

"If Pakistan plays its semifinal against India, I think Shoaib Akhtar should get a chance and share the new ball with Umar Gul," Khan was quoted as saying in Thursday's edition of Urdu language newspaper Daily Express.

Pakistan has won all its games since Akhtar was dropped, culminating in Wednesday's 10-wicket victory over West Indies in the quarterfinal.

Akhtar has taken 247 wickets in 163 limited-overs internationals but he has been plagued by fitness problems throughout his career. He has spent the last two years struggling to recover from knee surgery.

He took two wickets in Pakistan's group win over Sri Lanka, but his last over against New Zealand went for 28 runs when Ross Taylor hit the paceman for three sixes and two fours.

Akhtar has targeted a career haul of 250 wickets, but he maintains that he is not unhappy to have been left out of the team.

"It will be dream to reach that landmark, but if I don't get picked, there is not much I can do. I still remain the fastest bowler in this World Cup," Akhtar was quoted as saying.

"Pakistan winning the World Cup is far more important than reaching personal goals. For me, nation comes first. That's the way I have been. So I will accept any team decision." 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Imran-Khan-wants-Shoaib-Akhtar-back-in-Pakistan-team/articleshow/7781895.cms

England's Yardy quits World Cup with depression

England's Michael Yardy walks with his gears during team's training session in Colombo on March 23, 2011. (Reuters Photo)

COLOMBO: England all-rounder Michael Yardy has quit the World Cup suffering from depression just days before the quarterfinal against co-hosts Sri Lanka.

The 30-year-old Sussex left-hander, who played in three matches at the tournament, said he felt he had no option but to return home.

"Leaving at this stage of a World Cup campaign was a very difficult decision to make but I felt that it was the only sensible option for me and I wanted to be honest about the reason behind that decision," he said.

"I would like to wish the squad all the very best ahead of the game on Saturday.

"I would appreciate some privacy over the coming weeks while I spend time with family and close friends ahead of what I hope will be a successful season for Sussex."

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said they had applied to the International Cricket Council technical committee to request a replacement for Yardy.

However, it was uncertain whether or not tournament rules made provision for mental illness as opposed to physical injury.

"I would like to offer my full support to Michael on behalf of everyone involved with the England team and the ECB," said ECB managing director Hugh Morris.

"Michael has been an integral part of the England set up in recent years and while he will be missed in the knock out stages of the World Cup, our priority now is to ensure that he returns home to his family and is able to spend time recovering with a strong support network around him." 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Englands-Yardy-quits-World-Cup-with-depression/articleshow/7780715.cms

India vs Australia: Ricky Ponting ends century drought in quarterfinal AFP | Mar 24, 2011, 06.42pm IST

Ricky Ponting bats during the World Cup quarterfinal match against India in Ahmedabad. (AP Photo)

AHMEDABAD: Australia captain Ricky Ponting scored his first international century in over a year when he reached three figures in the World Cup quarterfinal against co-hosts India on Thursday.

Ponting had not scored a hundred in 39 international innings across all formats since making 106 against the West Indies in a one-day international in Brisbane on February 14 last year.

The 36-year-old batting great's five previous innings at this World Cup had yielded just 102 runs in total.

He reached his three figures with a quick single off Ravichandran Ashwin in the 47th over.

Brand new order: M S Dhoni slips to No 7 on Facebook, Twitter; Sachin Tendulkar leads the chart

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MUMBAI: The Cricket World Cup has created a lot of buzz on the internet, but the most valuable cricket celebrity, Indian captain M S Dhoni , seems to be losing his appeal in social media even as brands are trying to join in online world cup talks.

Dhoni is ranked only seventh in the list of players most talked about on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs in the first three weeks of cricket's showpiece event, says a study by NM Incite, a Nielsen McKinsey company specialising in social media intelligence.

He was fourth before the start of the tournament on February 19.

Among brands, Pepsi is leading in social media interactions around the world cup, but some other official sponsors such as Hero Honda, Castrol and Yahoo! are trailing non-sponsors like Nokia, Adidas and Sony.

"Some brands have managed to keep their social media campaigns far more dynamic by altering content and stimulus during the course of the tournament," Nielsen India's Media MD Farshad Family said. Online buzz occurs when a person or brand or topic comes up in several social media interactions. The more times a name is discussed, the higher the buzz.

To measure it, NM Incite studied world cup related messages on blogs, message boards, groups, videos and image sites, including YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. It's like a Google search done on social networks with brands, cricketers and teams as key words along with cricket world cup. The Nielsen-McKinsey joint venture did it with a proprietary tool called Nielsen BuzzMetrics.

Top batsman Sachin Tendulkar continues to lead the chart, followed by Australian captain Ricky Pointing , Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi and English medium pacer Stuart Broad .

Among marketers, Pepsi dominates with more than 17% share. "This is the first Cricket World Cup where social media has such kind of scale," PepsiCo India Executive Vice-President, Marketing, Sandeep Singh Arora said.

PepsiCo runs online contests for every match and it has mopped up over 9.2 lakh fans on its Facebook world cup page and more than 500 followers on Twitter.

"While they (social media users) form just 1% of our consumer base, they are evangelist or opinion leaders for our brands," Arora said. Pepsi is followed by handset maker Nokia and durables maker LG with 11% share each. Nokia is not an official partner. In fact, several non-sponsors have outdone some official World Cup sponsors, who have spent hundreds of crore for the rights, in online world cup campaigns. Take for instance Vodafone and Airtel, which have cornered 10% and 6% share, respectively, in online buzz compared to official partner Reliance Communications' 2%.

Ditto for official sponsor Reebok that has lost ground to Adidas in creating higher connect with World cup on social media networks in the first three weeks on the tournament.

While Adidas' association with Sachin Tendulkar must have helped, there are other triggers too. "We launched the pure cricket campaign almost a year before the tournament began, which helped us create a huge fan base," Adidas India Sales & Marketing Director Tushar Goculdas said.

The Adidas cricket Facebook page has more than 7 lakh fans now and counting.

"In today's world we need to acknowledge the presence of digital media, especially if the target audience is youth," LG India Chief Marketing Officer LK Gupta said. Before the world cup, LG had 50,000 fans on our Facebook page; today the numbers has gone up to 3.5 lakhs, he added. There are surprises for cricketing nations too. While no one thought of Ireland as worthy opponents to the Men in Blue on the cricket pitch, the minnows are ranked fifth among the teams that are discussed the most in social media.

India still leads the chart, but its share has dropped to 17% from more than 26% at the start of the tournament.

Now that the knockout stage has started, the buzz online is sure to heighten.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/brand-new-order-m-s-dhoni-slips-to-no-7-on-facebook-twitter-sachin-tendulkar-leads-the-chart/articleshow/7777363.cms

Pak vs WI: West Indies blown away by Pak spin

Pakistani batsmen Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal celebrate their team victory over West Indies after the Cricket World Cup quarterfinal match at the Sher-e Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. (AFP Photo)

MIRPUR: With every passing game, Pakistan's form is looking more ominous. Their skipper Shahid Afridi has led from the front and been devastating with his leg-breaks, ensuring that from dark horses before the tournament, Pakistan are now one of the favourites.

On Wednesday, they pulverized past a hapless West Indies to sail convincingly into the semifinal, fashioning a 10-wicket win after spinning out Darren Sammy's men for a mere 112 at the Shere-e-Bangla stadium.

They now await the winner of the India-Australia game in Ahmedabad on Thursday. This is the sixth time in 10 World Cup campaigns that Pakistan have booked a place in the last four. A combination of effective spin bowling and dismal technique did the Windies in.

Afridi was again at the forefront, grabbing 4/30 to destroy any hopes of a batting recovery after Mohammad Hafeez prised out two early wickets.

Once Chris Gayle fell early, the Windies fell apart, and it was obvious some veterans in the team were also past their prime. They simply failed to get the scorecard moving after being reduced to 16/3 before Afridi came to the party and wrecked their hopes further.

At one point, Afridi was on the verge of a hat-trick when he dismissed Kieron Pollard and Devon Thomas off successive deliveries. Chanderpaul played a lone hand, remaining unbeaten on 44, but he too did not look his best. The Windies lost out on everything but the toss.

Hafeez followed up his impressive bowling display with a fluent, unbeaten 61 when Pakistan chased, notching up his maiden World Cup half-century and the Man of the Match award in the bargain. The Windies were so dispirited after their batting effort they failed to dislodge Kamran Akmal too.

The West Indies will return with a bagful of worries. Their team composition needs a rethink, and their batsmen must learn to cope with spin. Four of their batsmen were trapped in front of the wicket. Overall, the team struck only seven boundaries while Hafeez himself notched up ten fours. 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Pak-vs-WI-West-Indies-blown-away-by-Pak-spin/articleshow/7775922.cms

Dhoni wants team to be mentally tough

MS Dhoni during a practice session in Ahmedabad on March 23, 2011. (PTI Photo)

AHMEDABAD: It is not the burden of the expectations of a billion people but the Indian team's preparation and execution of plans that would matter most when the hosts clash with four-time World Cup champions Australia at the Motera on Thursday according to India captain MS Dhoni.

Speaking, a day ahead of the quarterfinal, Dhoni said, "I think it's a big advantage playing at home. You have 40,000 people cheering for you. If you are in tough situations on the field those cheering fans help you and it is great to have that kind of a home support. It really helps," in the same vein he then added, "If you are part of the Indian team you realize that more often than not the expectations are not set by you but by others. Players have however realized that it is not the expectations that matter but the good preparation and execution of your plans on the field."

Dhoni also wanted his side to be ready mentally and more importantly ensure that it was transformed into a good performance. "Being mentally strong will be important but at the same time you have to rely on your skills. Ultimately, it has to reflect on the field and it is skill that really helps you give off your best. Mentally you have to be in a good frame of mind to execute the plans," he said.

On the Indian team's recent failures of not being able to bat the full quota of overs, Dhoni hopes his team will learn and now do better. 

 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Dhoni-wants-team-to-be-mentally-tough/articleshow/7774348.cms

India challenge excites Pakistan coach

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis during a training session at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. (AFP Photo)

DHAKA: Pakistan coach Waqar Younis relishes the prospect of playing the last two matches in India to win the World Cup as his team continued its ruthless march in the tournament.

Pakistan, led from the front by inspirational captain Shahid Afridi, crushed the West Indies by 10 wickets on Wednesday to advance to their first semifinal since 1999.

The easy win set up a potentially explosive semifinal against arch-rivals India in Mohali on March 30, if the co-hosts beat defending champions Australia in Ahmedabad later on Thursday.

Waqar said it would be "awesome" if Pakistan was to play India for a place in the final at the Wankhede stadiun in Mumbai on April 2.

"I would love to play India in India," the fast bowling great said. "There is no bigger rivalry in the game than that. We have not played each other in our own country in recent years.

"So it should be very exciting. The two are cricket-loving countries. If it happens it will be awesome."

Waqar said it did not matter whether they play the semi-final against India, or Australia whom they beat by four wickets in the league to end the defending champions' unbeaten 34-match streak in the World Cup.

"I have no preference whom we play," he said. "We have to concentrate on what we have to do.

"All I know is that we are going to be playing in India. There will be a lot of pressure. Not only on us, but probably on the other side as well. Whoever holds their nerves better will come out on top."

Waqar was delighted at the emphatic win over the West Indies, and hoped more such games were to follow.

"A comfortable win is always a good thing," he said. "Hopefully we will get another comfortable win. That's the aim. But we know our opponents are going to be a lot stronger."

Waqar was not worried his team may not get the kind of support in India that came its way in the league in Sri Lanka or in Dhaka on Wednesday.

"Hopefully there will be a few people coming across the border from Lahore and they'll be supporting us in Mohali," he said.

"I know it won't be like what we got here in Dhaka or in Sri Lanka. That was amazing. The people were right behind us. When we played against Sri Lanka, the crowd was not with us. So we are really comfortable with that.

"Look, we have to go wherever the tournament takes us. Mohali or Mumbai, we have to play the best we can."

Afridi's 4-30 against the West Indies took his tally as the tournament's leading wicket-taker to 21, but Mohammad Hafeez stole the show with his all-round display.

The off-spinner, asked to share the new ball with Umar Gul, picked up two early wickets and then hit an unbeaten 61 off 64 balls in the company of opening partner Kamran Akmal (47 not out).

"Hafeez is a smart cricketer," the coach said. "He is very confident when it comes to bowling. He has got such self-belief that whenever he is given the ball, he delivers.

"Bowling was never the issue in this tournament for us, it was the batting. We struggled with the openers, so it was really pleasing to see them getting runs." 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/India-challenge-excites-Pakistan-coach/articleshow/7778608.cms

We will keep Sachin on 99 tons: Ponting

Sachin Tendulkar smiles during a training session in Ahmedabad on March 23, 2011. (AP Photo)

AHMEDABAD: Apart from aiming to do everything right with a view to pull off a coup against hosts India at the Motera on Thursday, Australian captain Ricky Ponting also has a prayer on his lips that Sachin Tendulkar does not get his 100th hundred against them.

"Sachin has had an amazing couple of years. His last 15 months have been unbelievable. It's absolutely inspirational for everyone, but we only hope the 100th ton doesn't come on Thursday. He'll be doing everything to make sure he gets it, and we'll be doing everything to make sure he stays on 99 for a bit longer," said the Australian captain.

All Ponting is concerned at the moment is Thursday's match and nothing less than a win.

"It doesn't get any bigger, playing India in the quarterfinal in India. It's one of the biggest games I have played as captain. It's going to be enjoyable and exciting. Like us they too will be a bit anxious about the outcome of the game as well," he said.

"Thursday's match will not be about individuals, not about Ponting and Sachin. India are one of the favourite teams, and if we want to win the World Cup we have to win on Thursday." 

 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/We-will-keep-Sachin-on-99-tons-Ponting/articleshow/7774540.cms

Ind vs Aus: India on the edge as Men in Blue face Australia

MS Dhoni looks on during a training session in Ahmedabad on March 23, 2011. (AP Photo)

AHMEDABAD: This is it. Hold your breath when India take on Australia on Thursday, for there will be no second chances. The biggest stage, and the crucial moment, has arrived.

Where India and Australia stand in ODIs/World Cup

Reputations are at stake for MS Dhoni and his beleaguered counterpart Ricky Ponting. India lost to Australia in the 2003 World Cup final and endured an awful campaign in 2007, but the scales have tilted since. This isn't the invincible Australia of old. Rather than a sublime and uplifting battle between two powerhouses of the international game, current form indicates this second quarterfinal might be more of a scrap.

Neither side has been awe-inspiring in the build-up to this moment. Both have obvious chinks in the armour just waiting to be exploited, and both need to shed the blow-hot, blow-cold approach which has characterized their campaign so far.

Then there's the enormous pressure breathing down their necks, especially Dhoni's men. India are playing at home and millions expect nothing less than victory. The backlash, in case of defeat, will be painful. Australia have dominated this stage for so long that this bunch of players wouldn't like to be remembered as children of a lesser god. Whichever team can raise its game now will go through to meet Pakistan.

As many as six players in Dhoni's current squad were losing finalists in 2003 and will be looking to make amends. It's a great opportunity to settle an old score. Yet, making a statement of intent might not be easy, even though the Motera is expected to be dry and spin-friendly. India's bowling, apart from Zaheer Khan, has been ordinary. Time and again, they have faltered in the Batting Powerplay. Even the middle-order has collapsed twice. Australia's pacers can be a handful. Can the sight of a familiar opponent get the competitive juices flowing?

The issue of Virender Sehwag's fitness is another complication the team could have done without. The opener is struggling with a troublesome knee and Dhoni said a call on his availability would be taken in the morning. Sehwag, however, spent a lot of time at the nets fielding and batting, and seems more likely to play than not.

The Australians too have been anything but impressive. Ponting's time seems to be running out. His form and confidence is under the scanner and his fierce temper has shown through. Controversy and bad blood seems to be hounding the Aussies and they've been forced to maintain a quieter profile. The loss to Pakistan meant drawing the curtains on a 34-game unbeaten streak in this tournament and this loss of aura is a boost for opponents.

Will this be India's turn to deliver a knockout blow? 

source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Ind-vs-Aus-India-on-the-edge-as-Men-in-Blue-face-Australia/articleshow/7775807.cms

Tickets for World Cup semifinal at a premium

MOHALI: Tickets for the semi-final match of the ongoing Cricket World Cup at PCA Stadium in Mohali are selling like hot cakes and securing one for yourself after hours of standing in a queue can prove to be a real pain in the butt. However, if you are willing to shell out almost double the printed price of the general stand ticket, you are sure to run into someone or the other who would be willing to sell their ticket to you for a handsome profit.

Tuesday witnessed a maddening rush of people heading towards PCA Stadium to land tickets which were up for sale at gates 4 and 14 of the stadium. Barring a handful of women who were queued up for tickets, nearly 600 men, of all ages and backgrounds, stood in line for nearly three hours in the hopes of landing a ticket for the much-anticipated match.

Suraj Kant, a resident of Sector 34, said, "I came here with three of my friends and we brought bottles of water and a few sandwiches, which we consumed while standing in line. Luckily for us, two of my fiends were able to land tickets for the students block. As my other friend and I turned back to walk away, making plans to come back earlier tomorrow, a person called us over and offered to buy two students block tickets for Rs 200 each, while offering us four tickets of the general stand for Rs 1,000 each."

Jitender Singh, a resident of Phase IV, said, "Although the ticket price was raised five times to Rs 500 from Rs 100 in the earlier matches, yet Rs 500 is nothing compared to being able to sit in the match and watch the action live while experiencing how a capacity crowd behaves. We were fortunate to meet a person who was able to sell us five tickets for the general stand. He took Rs 1,000 each for the tickets." 

 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Tickets-for-World-Cup-semifinal-at-a-premium/articleshow/7768265.cms

Imran wants an India-Pakistan semifinals in World Cup

KARACHI: Former captain Imran Khan wants Pakistan and India to clash in the semifinal of the cricket World Cup.

Speaking exclusively on the Geo Super channel after Pakistan beat the West Indies in the quarterfinals in Dhaka, the cricketer-turned-politician Imran said he feels India will beat Australia in the second quarterfinal.

"I think India will beat Australia because their team is more suited for the conditions in this part of the world and plus their batting is very strong," Imran said.

Imran, who led Pakistan to the 1992 World Cup title, said he wanted to see a Indo-Pak semifinal because this would go in favor of the Pakistan team.

"I think because of the home crowd pressure and the fear of losing to Pakistan at home, there will be far greater pressure on India while Pakistan remain the under-dogs of the tournament," he noted.

Imran, however cautioned the Pakistani people to not over-celebrate the quarterfinal victory and see the win in the proper perspective.

"Remember India play the spinners very well perhaps they are the best players of spin today. That is why we should now forget about the quarter final and start planning ahead for the semifinal.

"I think if India makes the semi final then we should think about attacking them with a stronger pace attack maybe even bring back Shoaib Akhtar for the match," the former captain said.

He pointed out that if Shoaib was match fit and if conditions in Mohali were better for the pace bowlers then he would take a chance with the veteran fast bowler.

"He has not played in the last few matches but he remains a match-winner and perhaps knowing that this is his final appearance for Pakistan he could turn in a match-winning performance, I would take the gamble."

Imran also supported the decision to play off-spinner, Saeed Ajmal against the West Indies noting the strategy had worked well.

"But I still say go in with more attacking options and I would still like to see Younis Khan and Misbah batting up the order because in a high pressure match you need your best players to hold the fort and sustain the pressure."

Imran didn't feel that if Pakistan and India played in the semi final it would have any adverse effect on relations.

"Yes an Indo-Pak match is always a big thing specially if it is a world cup semi final but I think in the end it is cricket and sports and that is the way it should be looked at," he said.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Imran-wants-an-India-Pakistan-semifinals-in-World-Cup/articleshow/7774631.cms

Ind vs Aus: Dhoni hits back at Aussie talk of aggression

Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni during a practice session at the Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium, Motera. (PTI Photo)

AHMEDABAD: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday hit back at the Australians for talking about playing aggressive cricket with shot-pitched stuff in the World Cup quarterfinal, saying his side will not be flustered by such tactics as they have beaten them even in their own den in the past.

Dhoni said the talks of Australian aggression were not new to his team and they will play the "Indian way" which had seen his side beat them in their own backyard.

"We would play the Indian way, playing normal cricket. People have been talking much about the short-pitched balls, but this is nothing new to us. Australia have good fast bowlers, but not to forget we have won Test matches in Perth and Durban (considered to possess the fastest tracks in world cricket)," Dhoni told reporters at the match-eve press conference.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting had asked his players to play in "Australian way" of unbridled aggression in the quarterfinal on Thursday while fast bowler Mitchell Johnson said they would bombard Indian batsmen with short-pitched deliveries.

Dhoni also refused to see Thursday's match as a final before the final as has been done by Australian coach Tim Nielsen.

"It's an important game for us. I won't give it any category as a pre-final or something. You have to win it irrespective of the opposition. The mental element is very important. At the same time you have to rely on your skills because ultimately it has to reflect on the field. Mentally you have to be in a very good frame of mind to execute your plans," he said.

The Indian skipper said his side can ill-afford a batting collapse, which they had encountered in league matches, against a strong side like Australia and they need to slow down in the batting powerplay to bat out the full quota of 50 overs if too many wickets are falling at that stage.

"In all the games we wanted to accelerate and that is one of the main reasons why we lost a number of wickets (in a heap). The way out is while you need to accelerate to get as many runs as possible, once you have lost those 2-3 wickets you need to curb your instinct and bat 50 overs. Instead of aiming to get 40 runs (in this phase) you should look to get 20-25 runs which could really count at the end of the game," said Dhoni.

"Our batting has been good, especially the top order which means lower order has batted when the team was looking to accelerate. We have not been able to capitalize in the slog overs and second (batting) Power Play as well at the same time. Hopefully in the next game we would be able to accumulate more runs," Dhoni said.

India had lost wickets in a heap during the latter phase of their batting in three out of six league games. They lost seven wickets in a cluster against England in the tied match, a staggering nine for just 29 against South Africa in the game they lost and seven for 50 against the West Indies in their last league tie which they won.

In all three games India failed to bat out their full quota of 50 overs.

Dhoni ruled out the possibility of playing all his three front-line spinners Harbhajan Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin and Piyush Chawla, as advised by former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram. "That will be very tough," he said.

Dhoni requested the media not to put extra pressure on Sachin Tendulkar, who is one century short of completing a century of centuries in international cricket.

"We had lot of trouble when he was one short of his 50th Test century. I would request you to leave him alone and have the discussion (on the expected feat) after the match (after he achieves the landmark)," he said.

The Indian skipper praised senior paceman Zaheer Khan for the important breakthroughs he has provided the team with.

"We have relied on him a lot to get those breakthroughs. He has always responded well. So responsibility is with all the players, but at the same time with Zaheer giving us those breakthroughs we don't mind it. Also we have been able to capitalize on his breakthroughs, that's a big positive for us," said Dhoni.

He conceded that the Indian players are always under pressure to perform.

"When you are part of the Indian cricket team, irrespective of being a bowler or a batsman you are under pressure. You can't think too much about it. I always say think of it as an added responsibility", he said.

"It's the bowler who is under more pressure than the batsman. If you had batted first and scored over 300 runs it's the bowler who will have to defend it," Dhoni said.

Asked about the India-Australia rivalry, Dhoni said many positives have come out of the intensity of the contests.

"Over the last 2-3 years the India-Australia bilateral series has seen more intensity from the players and big positives have come out of it for both teams," he said.

On coach Gary Kirsten's role in the team, Dhoni said, "He's a fantastic gentleman to be associated with the team; the kind of character he has and the way he's managed the dressing room and not to forget the 15 members who are part of the squad, all of them are big superstars and have big following in India."

"The way he has managed each individual, he has done a wonderful job. It reflects as to how well we have done on the field," he added. 

 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Ind-vs-Aus-Dhoni-hits-back-at-Aussie-talk-of-aggression/articleshow/7772654.cms

Ind vs Aus: Sehwag doubtful for quarterfinal against Australia

Virender Sehwag reacts during a training session at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera in Ahmedabad. (AFP Photo)

AHMEDABAD: Uncertainty remained on the availability of dashing opener Virender Sehwag for India's make-or-break World Cup quarterfinal match against defending champions Australia on Thursday, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Wednesday.

"We will take a call on Virender Sehwag late this evening or tomorrow morning before the start of the game. All the others are fit and available for selection," Dhoni said at the match-eve media conference at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera.

Sehwag, who lit up the tournament with a breathtaking 175 against Bangladesh in the opening match at Mirpur on February 19, missed India's last Group B tie against the West Indies at Chennai on March 20 after aggravating his old knee problem during the course of the tournament.

He played last against South Africa at Nagpur on March 12, scoring a half century.

Dhoni said the Indian team would certainly miss Sehwag if he is unable to play on Thursday against the world's top-ranked ODI outfit.

"It's really good to have Virender Sehwag opening the innings. He can play an aggressive game. He can change the course of the game in the first five overs, give the team the kind of momentum that is needed," said Dhoni.

On Tuesday, the Delhi dasher did not take part in the warm-up session but later joined the team in the batting practice for half an hour. 

 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Ind-vs-Aus-Sehwag-doubtful-for-quarterfinal-against-Australia/articleshow/7771121.cms

Why Team India should fear Australia

Ricky Ponting looks on during a training session in Ahmedabad on March 22, 2011. (AP Photo)

TOI lists four things about the Australians that India must be careful about on Thursday

Field Marshals: They may no longer possess the same era with many of their star batsmen and bowlers gone, but the Aussies are still up there with one aspect of their game which has always give them the edge over others-fielding. The best examples of this was Steven Smith's brilliant catch and a runout he effected during their game against Sri Lanka at Colombo. In a KO, such brilliance could clinch the deal at a critical moment.

Deadly Duo: In Shane Watson and Michael Hussey, Australia have two all-time great ODI cricketers. 'Watto' can smash the bowlers around the park and play a big, match-defining knock, while Hussey can finish of an innings or a match with ease. Watson, arguably the best all-rounder of this tournament, will feed off his experience of playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Having missed out on the initial stages, Hussey would be hungry to get a big one now.

Pace Pack: In Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait, the Aussies have a lethal pace attack, that can trouble the best of batsmen. India, in fact, it could face their first big 'pace test' at Motera. While Lee and Tait will unleash searing pace, Johnson can move it around dangerously.

Big Match Experience: The Aussies have won three World Cups on the trot, four overall, and apart from that, have reached the finals twice. Skipper Ricky Ponting has played in four WC finals, and won three of them. The Aussies are masters in raising their game in big matches.

The numbers favour the Aussies

History: India have consistently raised their profile in the World Cup, from being the underdogs in the 1975 edition, to famously triumph in the 1983 Cup. Since then, they have been a force to reckon with. Australia made it to the finals in '75, and since then, they have turned into the team to beat in the World Cup. They completed a hat-trick of titles in 2007, and have clinched the crown four times. They have wona Cup in the sub-continent before, in 1987.

Big Blow: One of the biggest thrashings of the World Cup, particularly in a World Cup final, was Australia blowing India out by 125 runs at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on March 17. India goofed up at the toss, asking the Aussies to bat. Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting played one of the best innings of his career, and one of the best knocks ever in a WC final, as he smashed to power Oz to a huge total. A stunned India wilted under pressure.

Brief Scores: Australia 359/2 in 50 overs (Ricky Ponting 140*, Damien Martyn 88*, Adam Gilchrist 57; Harbhajan 2-49 ) beat India 234 in 39.2 overs (Virender Sehwag 82, Rahul Dravid 47, Glenn McGrath 3-52 ) by 125 runs.

Last Encounter: At Vizag, October 20, 2010

Brief scores: Australia 289/3 in 50 overs ( Michael Clarke 111*, Michael Hussey 69, Cameron White 89*, Ashish Nehra 2-57 )lost to India 292/5 in 48.5 overs Virat Kohli 118, Yuvraj Singh 58, Suresh Raina 71 not out; Clint McKay 3-55 ) by 5 wickets.

Record in last 5 ODIS : India 2, Australia 3 

 

Source:  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Why-Team-India-should-fear-Australia/articleshow/7768004.cms

DRS, batting Powerplays, and starting with spin

An all-time high run-rate
The average runs scored per over so far is 5.07, which is the highest so far among the ten World Cups. The 2007 tournament is next with 4.95, which means this could be the first World Cup with a five-plus run-rate.

The weaker nations have obviously been involved in a lot of matches in this tournament due to its format, but while their batting has brought down the overall run-rate, their bowling has boosted it. In the 16 matches in which the nine Test-playing teams have played each other, the average run-rate has been 5.12, which is marginally higher than the overall tournament run-rate.

Also, there've been 20 centuries scored so far, which equals the 2007 tally, and is only one short of the record total of 21 hundreds which were scored in the 2003 edition.

In terms of 300-plus scores, this World Cup has already broken the earlier record: there have been 17 so far, while there were only 16 in 2007. The difference, though, is the lack of the really high scores: in 2007, there were eight scores of more than 340; this time, there have been only three.

Of the 17 scores of 300 or more, only six have come against the top teams, and Ireland's outstanding chase of England's 327 is the only instance of a lesser team scoring more than 300 against a top side.

Overall numbers from the World Cup so far

	Matches	Runs	Wickets	Average	Run rate	100s/ 50s	300+ scores
All matches	42	18,255	642	28.43	5.07	20/ 88	17
Against the top nine teams	38	10,882	457	23.81	4.76	11/ 45	6
Top nine teams against each other	16	6929	252	27.49	5.12	9/ 31	5

Competitive or one-sided?
With so many games involving the weaker teams, it was inevitable that many games would be one-sided, and so it has been in the first phase of the World Cup. Of the 41 games that have produced results, 24 have been decided by a margin of more than 75 runs, or by five or more wickets with 30 or more deliveries to spare. Of those 24 games, 16 have involved the weaker teams.

A tale of three countries
The pitch in Chennai hasn't been batsman-friendly, but most of the other venues in India have seen good batting conditions, with the result that the overall run-rate in matches played in India is 5.22, which is well clear of the rates in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The rate in Bangladesh suffers also due to the two abject collapses by the home team, who were bowled out for 58 and 78 by West Indies and South Africa. Out of the 20 centuries scored in the World Cup, 14 have been scored in the 26 matches in India - an average of 1.86 matches per hundred. In Sri Lanka the average is 2.50 matches per hundred, while it's three in Bangladesh.

In terms of grounds, the top five run-rates all belong to Indian venues, with Pallekele and Hambantota occupying the next two spots.

Matches in the three countries in the World Cup so far

Host country	Matches	Average	Run rate	100s/ 50s	4s/ 6s	300+ scores
India	26	29.88	5.22	14/ 60	1099/ 183	12
Sri Lanka	10	26.99	4.86	4/ 18	338/ 34	4
Bangladesh	6	24.39	4.68	2/ 10	190/ 17	1

The toss factor
Out of the 42 matches so far, 22 have been won by the team batting first and 18 by the side chasing (one match was washed out and one was tied). In 30 day-night games, 15 were won by the team batting first, and 13 by the team chasing. Also, of the 40 games which produced a decisive winner, exactly 20 were won by the team which won the toss. In the 16 matches involving the top nine teams, though, ten were won by the team which won the toss, while only four times did a team win the toss and lose the game. (One match was tied, and one washed out.)

The teams batting first also have a much higher run-rate, with 80% of the centuries being scored by them. The four batsmen to score centuries in run-chases so far in the tournament are AB de Villiers, Andrew Strauss, Paul Stirling, and Kevin O'Brien.

Overall numbers from the World Cup so far

	Matches	Runs	Wickets	Average	Run rate	100s/ 50s	300+ scores
First innings	42	10,404	352	29.55	5.29	16/ 53	13
Second innings	41	7851	290	27.07	4.80	4/ 35	4

The dreaded batting Powerplay
It's the five-over period that's come in for the most discussion in this World Cup, so here are the batting Powerplay numbers. The overall run-rate in these Powerplays is 7.89, while the average runs per wicket is almost 22. That converts into a five-over score of almost 40 runs, for the loss of nearly two wickets.

Batting Powerplay in World Cup 2011

	Runs	Balls	Wickets	Average	Run rate
Teams batting 1st	1317	952	62	21.24	8.30
Teams batting 2nd	694	577	30	23.13	7.21
Overall	2011	1529	92	21.85	7.89

New Zealand have the highest run-rate of all teams, and they also made the most runs in a single batting Powerplay, scoring 74 against Canada. The second-best effort was Pakistan's 70 against Kenya. England have lost the most wickets, followed by India.

Team-wise batting Powerplay numbers

Batting team	Runs	Balls	Wickets	Average	Run rate
New Zealand	138	79	7	19.71	10.48
Pakistan	157	96	3	52.33	9.81
South Africa	222	136	10	22.20	9.79
Sri Lanka	211	142	6	35.16	8.91
Ireland	147	105	5	29.40	8.40
Netherlands	150	108	6	25.00	8.33
West Indies	140	105	6	23.33	8.00
Australia	121	100	4	30.25	7.26
India	154	130	9	17.11	7.10
Bangladesh	90	80	5	18.00	6.75
Zimbabwe	122	110	7	17.42	6.65
Kenya	85	78	3	28.33	6.53
England	180	170	14	12.85	6.35
Canada	94	90	7	13.42	6.26

Starting with spin
It's been done in one-day internationals from time to time, but never as often as in this World Cup. Dipak Patel and New Zealand made the headlines for using that tactic so successfully in 1992, but thereafter it was used sparingly: only once in 1999, three times in 2003, and never in 2007. In this World Cup, though, a spinner has opened the bowling - ie, bowled one of the first two overs - 26 times in 83 innings, which is almost once every three innings.

The team which has used this tactic most often is one from whom you'd have never expected it a couple of decades back. West Indies have opened the bowling with Sulieman Benn in each of their six matches, even against India on a bouncy track in Chennai which cried out for two fast bowlers to exploit it. Zimbabwe have started with Ray Price five times - they opened with two fast bowlers against Sri Lanka - but the team which has used this tactic most successfully is South Africa. Johan Botha got rid of Chris Gayle in their first match of the tournament, and Robin Peterson went one better, dismissing both Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen in his first over.

Out of 14 teams, nine have used a spinner to open the bowling at least once. The ones who haven't are Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Canada, and Kenya.

The DRS results
In all, 162 decisions have been reviewed so far, of which 35 have been upheld (ie, the original decision has been changed), while 127 have been struck down. That means 21.60%, or about one in five appeals, have been successful. Of these, the success rate for batsmen has been 23.53% (16 out of 68), while for the fielding team it's 20.21% (19 out of 94).

South Africa have used the DRS better than any other side with a success rate of more than 38%. Zimbabwe and Canada, while not matching South Africa for results, have done almost as well in terms of reviews.

Teams which used the DRS the best

Team	Decisions reviewed	Appeal upheld	Struck down	Percent upheld
South Africa	13	5	8	38.46
Zimbabwe	14	5	9	35.71
Canada	14	5	9	35.71
Pakistan	18	5	13	27.78
Kenya	16	4	12	25.00
Australia	8	2	6	25.00

Ireland impressed everyone with their skills with bat, ball, and in the field, but they'll need to do some work on the DRS - they didn't get a single review correct in 11 attempts, making them the only team with a 0% record. Bangladesh, Netherlands and New Zealand weren't much better.

Teams which used the DRS the worst

Team	Decisions reviewed	Appeal upheld	Struck down	Percent upheld
Ireland	11	0	11	0.00
Bangladesh	11	1	10	9.09
Netherlands	11	1	10	9.09
New Zealand	11	1	10	9.09
Sri Lanka	8	1	7	12.50

Among umpires, Aleem Dar, Ian Gould and Billy Bowden haven't had a single decision overturned through the DRS. At the other end of the scale are Asoka de Silva and Daryl Harper, with 50% or more of their decisions being overturned.

Kumar Dharmasena's decisions have been challenged more than that of any other umpire, but most of his calls - 14 out of 16 - have withstood the test of technology.

Umpires with lowest percent of decisions overturned

Umpire	Matches	Decisions reviewed	Appeals upheld	Struck down	% struck down
Aleem Dar	5	8	0	8	100.00
Ian Gould	5	6	0	6	100.00
Billy Bowden	4	5	0	5	100.00
Shahvir Tarapore	4	9	1	8	88.89
Kumar Dharmasena	5	16	2	14	87.50
Marais Erasmus	5	8	1	7	87.50
Billy Doctrove	4	8	1	7	87.50

Umpires with highest percent of decisions overturned

Umpire	Matches	Decisions reviewed	Appeal upheld	Struck down	% struck down
Asoka de Silva	4	8	5	3	37.50
Daryl Harper	5	14	7	7	50.00
Tony Hill	5	7	3	4	57.14
Amiesh Saheba	4	11	4	7	63.64