Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Ashes Test 2009 - Who Would Be a Cricket Selector?

With the 2009 Ashes Test about to start, the selectors of both the England and Australian cricket teams, will come under intense scrutiny. When it comes to selecting a squad of players the game of cricket is unique. amongst all sports. In football for example it is the manager who picks the team whereas in cricket it is the job of a panel of selectors containing several members. These selectors contain people who all have extensive in the game having all played at various levels.

The selectors in cricket are often at the centre of controversy most especially when the team do particularly badly. This is completely understandable as it is the selectors job to pick the team and if those players picked do not perform to the expected standard then the very credentials of those that picked those players in the first place are brought into question. Returning to football if the team does not perform the manager can and frequently is sacked - an option not available when there are several selector involved in the original selections.

Most selectors, especially those involved in the international cricket arena are well paid - how would you like to travel the world watching top class cricket all expenses paid ! The beauty of the game is cricket fans are particularly knowledgeable and that means that if they do not agree with any of the selection decisions and they are proved right the selectors will come in for heavy criticism.

One of the selectors is usually the cricket coach as well, after all he manages the team his opinion will carry a lot of weight .If he wants a particular player in the team or conversely one dropped he will get his way. Whilst the cricket captain is not on the selection panel his opinion will carry a lot of weight after all, a captain who is not in tune with his selectors will adversely effect everyone involved .The panel of selectors will try to give the captain they want.

At the end of the day it is the role of the panel of selectors in cricket is to pick the best eleven cricketers available for selection. Due to injuries or more often lack of form that is not always possible due to player injuries or even more likely loss of form. Often player selections give rise to a huge amount of controversy and the selectors are called to account for their decisions.

The one and only objective of the selection panel is providing the captain and coach with the best possible squad of players to perform their job. Whether it is the England cricket selectors or the Aussie cricket selectors that have got it right, will soon be revealed.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Moragh_Pitt

The 2009 Ashes Test

With the 2009 Ashes Test Series about to start there is a growing expectation among England cricket fans that it will be just as dramatic as the 2005 Ashes won by the home side 2-1 which was their first victory over the Australian cricket team since 1987.

The victory by the Australians some eighteen months later is a painful memory best forgotten by England cricket fans! With the Lions Rugby tour being over the Ashes will take over the sporting centre stage.

The composition of both sides is far different to the sides that took to the field to do battle for the Ashes in 2005. Although Andrew Strauss returns this time as captain hoping to regain the sacred urn, many of his team are young and up and coming with no experience against the Australians. There are however a few old heads in the shape of Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff with the relevant experience to steady the England cricket team. The Australian cricket team have lost a number of players considered to be the core of their team. They are however led by Ricky Ponting who is looking after a new young crop of talented Australian cricketers such as Phillip Hughes, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle.

The Ashes would not be the Ashes without some kind of controversy and 2009 is no exception. The choice of Glamorgan's Sophia Gardens in Cardiff is a departure from tradition that has raised a few eyebrows. Drainage problems dogged the ground for many years but apparently this has now been rectified. From the five venues played at in 2005, Lord's, Edgbaston and the Oval stay, two ,Old Trafford and Trent Bridge have been dropped. Both these grounds are not only steeped in history but more significantly they were both games in 2005 that were in England's favour. Yorkshire's Headingley, an old favourite returns to complete the five.

Ashes 2009 Test Series

1st Test: Wednesday 8 July Sunday 12 July (Cardiff)

2nd Test: Thursday 16 July Monday 20 July (Lords)

3rd Test: Thursday 30 July Monday 3 August (Edgbaston)

4th Test: Friday 7 August Tuesday 11 August (Headingley)

5th Test: Thursday 20 August Monday 24 August (The Oval)

May the battle for the 2009 Ashes Test commence.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Moragh_Pitt

Is Test Cricket As We Know it Gone?

Everything seems to be getting shorter and shorter, the advent of 20/20 cricket is designed to appeal to fans who cricket wouldn't normally attract by the longer versions of the game. (It seems absurd to be calling one day internationals a longer form of the game!). However are we running the risk of changing the game as we know it? Already we can see that many cricketers simply don't have the skill set or mind set to play test cricket, Bangladesh being a great example. They have talent, but they don't like batting or bowling for very long before they either throw their wicket away or try something absurd!

Night cricket remains a possibility to attract viewers that may not have time during the day. Adam Gilchrist warns we are not ready for it yet, and I agree. There are "ball issues" but for me the problem is the limited venues where night cricket will be an option. It requires areas where the dew and conditions don't change the conditions so much that the nature of the game is changed and favours one side. Other than Australia, I'm not sure any other country can provide this.

So the question remains, should we tamper with test cricket?

I think test cricket is dying. The purists who love the game will always remain, but cricket can't exist with such small numbers of die hard fans. Not in this economic climate. I don't like changing the fundamentals of the game but how about these ideas of mine?

1. Ensure 100 overs per day

I believe more results would help attracts viewers to the game. A draw can be fascinating, but it should be the exception not the norm. I am thus in favour of giving the players as much time as possible to produce a result. My first change would be to ensure the game consists of 100 overs per day.

How often do game almost produce a result in the last session of a test? Another 50 overs over the course of a game would be massive. Play could start half an hour earlier and lunch could be reduced to 20 minutes like the tea break. I'm sick of teams not bowling their 90 overs in a day too, so harsher penalties need to be enforced. Do players really need to run in from such a long distance sometimes!

2. Limit the first innings

What about a scenario where teams have a limited number of overs in their first innings? I know this takes away a fundamental aspect of test cricket, but how often do we see batter friendly pitches in the sub-continent where after 2-3 days the game is effectively a draw? What if we limited each teams first innings to 100 overs each. I have taken note of this and in most parts of the world, teams don't last 100 overs in the first innings , so those that argue it would limit teams, and they'd have to change their game, that may not have to happen.

Also would it be exciting in the middle of a test to see a side running out of overs and having to up the ante to score runs! The second innings could remain unlimited. Thus we'd have a minimum of 3 days to complete the last 2 innings. If the first fielding side bowled the first side out before 100 overs, could they be credited those overs to their first innings?

3. Change the rules

Tidy up some of the rules. The 2 that really get me are wides and defensive fields.

To encourage more positive bowling, I think wides should be policed much better. The off side wide could stay much the same as the ODI and 20/20 currently operates, and the leg side wide could be relaxed slightly compared to those formats, to ensure leg side play can remain part of the game.

The second rule I'd change is the fielding restrictions. I am not a fan of seeing captains place most of the fielders on the boundary of 3/4 of the way back to stop boundaries being scored when a team is attacking. I think there should be a limit. Maybe they need a circle like the shorter forms of the game and maybe there could be a limit such as 4 or 5 fielders outside the circle. It then makes run chases more exciting and doesn't penalise a side who is attacking through their batting.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sanjay_Deva

Pakistan Cricket Team on Top of the World

There was only once in 1999 cricket world cup when Pakistan team was ranked favorites for the ICC multinational tournament. Every other tournament Pakistan had a bumpy ride but some how managed to reach at final and once won it in 1992.

What pleases me as a cricketing fan and especially die hard Pakistan cricket fan is the plan that was executed on 21st June at lords. I wrote an article on 19th June titled "Revolution in Pakistan cricket" in which I talked about the consistency that needs to be brought in the team and they have to act and behave like team.

The body language of Pakistan was outstanding right from the word go and the very first bowl from Muhammad Ammer indicated that Pakistani team definitely came up with the plan. Teasing Dilshan with quick short balls forced him to play a false short. Abdur Razzaq inclusion was superb as he took 3 vital wickets of srilankan top order. The catching and ground fielding was awesome and it showed the thirst of boys to win it this time.

This is what required on a more regular basis. They got themselves together and made strategies, overcome their weaknesses. The given table shows how improved the Pakistan team was after the defeat against srilankan team in a super eight match.

World T20 Pakistan Disciplinary Turnaround

Key performance indicators First 3 matches vs Next 4 matches vs

(England, Holland, Sri Lanka) (New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka)

Wides and No ball 25 11

Average opening Partnership 17.00 32.50

Run Rate in first 6 overs 7.05 7.42

Afridi's Runs 18 in 3 innings, 1 duck 158 in 4 innings,2 50's,2 NO

Wickets taken in first 6 overs 3 9

Run rate conceded in first 6 overs 9.17 6.17

Catches taken 9 14

One can see what a massive turnaround that was. It was definitely game plan and strategy that worked. The enormous innings of Shahid Afridi in semi final and final was the difference along with his leg spin. For the very first time the team looked united and there was a passion for the win. The cricketing nation is absolutely blissful with the win as they have dark memories in the 2007 final. Here is the point where revolution can be brought. This is just a beginning. The system has to be perfect in order to transform the raw talent into masterpieces. I hope and pray the Pakistan does well and goes higher and higher.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ali_Imran

Thursday, September 10, 2009

T20 World Cup 2009 Analysis

Today I am going to write on my favorite sport cricket. As you all may know that from the 5th of June 2009 the T20 Cricket World Cup is going to be start.

I am a big fan of cricket and to tell you how big fan I was I will share some of my life experiences. When I was in school I only escaped from school whenever Pakistan had cricket match, the world cup 1992 came at the time of my exams but I prepare myself for watching match not for exams but by the grace of Allah I have cleared my exams.

I have a very emotional and deep connection with cricket and I feel I am an expert of cricket so I did some analysis and come to some results that I am sharing with you.

As we know T20 world cup is happening in UK and according to my analysis three teams have the best chance to win this cup.

1. India
2. South Africa
3. Pakistan

Why these teams are good?

India because they have good batting and some how good medium fast and spin bowling and a good captain as well as they are defending champion.

South Africa is in my opinion the best team right now and they have good batting bowling plus fielding side and captain I think he is one of the best captain in the world these days.

Pakistan have good bowling attack and some how a manageable batting lineup with players like Shahid Afridi who is best for T20 cricket. and now Pakistan have a good captain that can help Pakistan to reach victory stand. But new land and west Indies are under dogs they can do upsets and I am expecting upsets from them.

Now Sri Lanka is a good team but now they are not good T20 team in my opinion and Australia is also not a team that will win this T20 world cup in my opinion. So this is my analysis and now I am waiting for your comments on this.




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Muhammad_Waqar_Arif

Visitors to South Africa For IPL Cricket & Lions Rugby Must Check New Province & Town Names

Cricket fans coming to South Africa for the IPL tournament from 18 April - 24 May and rugby fans for the British Lions matches 30 May - 4 July, should understand that they have a good chance of being confused and lost if they attempt to navigate their way around SA. This is due to the abundance of new names for certain provinces, town & cities.

Firstly, the former four provinces that make up South Africa are now divided into nine. Some of the changes include:

Transvaal / Gauteng, Northern Transvaal / Limpopo, Eastern Transvaal / Mpumalanga.

South Africa's northern neighbours, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana are all across the mighty Limpopo river, which gives its name to the northern province in South Africa. In this area lies the Mapangubwe World heritage Site which yielded gold figures some thousands of years old. The rain queen, Modjadji, also is to be found in these interesting region. She is thought to have the power to be able to bring rain to her people.

To add to visitors' confusion, many of the towns and cities now have new names, as the following alphabetical list shows:

Warmbaths / Bela-Bela, Durban / Ethekwini, Louis Trichardt / Makhado, Nabomspruit / Lephalale, Nystroom / Modimole. Potgietersrus / Mokopane, Ermelo / Msukaligwa, Messina / Mussina, Pietersburg / Polokwane, Pretoria / Tshwane.

"To avoid making costly and time consuming mistakes when travelling, one should make use of a reputable transport company or tour operator. Thinking that you can merely hire a car and start driving around is not the way to go as the maps you read are quite likely to show old names and directions. A much better plan is the study the geography of SA on the internet before you travel and use operators who know the country and the customs."

The IPL matches are schedule to be played in eight venues: Bloemfontein (Free State Province), Cape Town (Western Cape), Durban (Kwa Zulu Natal), East London (Eastern Cape), Johannesburg (Gauteng), Kimberley (Northern Cape) Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape) and Pretoria (Gauteng) and teams are: Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knightriders, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Deccan Chargers.

As tickets are limited, it is also advisable to book your match tickets and tour packages as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Opinion by Robert Wilson
CEO, Magic Marketing.co.za & Travel in South Africa.net
Specialist Tour and Transport Operators, Johannesburg, South Africa



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_John_Wilson

IPL 2 - Rules to Game

The Indian Premier League(IPL) in Season 2 is ruling the roost in South Africa, but some of the rules applicable to the T20 cricket games being played are not quite game.

Just what is achieved by having the 'strategic time out' breaks in every innings of every game? What is so strategic about this? Maybe this is needed for generating more commercial revenue and more hype. Because this is not needed for any cricketing reasons. The strategic time out is taken after every ten overs in an innings of twenty overs. The players cannot be tired in just ten overs. Normal drinks breaks are taken after every one hour in Tests and after every 15-17 overs in one-day internationals (ODI). But those breaks are only for 2-3 minutes. There have been complaints from players and others against this rule and the IPL authorities had agreed to look into this after the season. But then, why it was introduced in the first place?

Duckworth and Lewis rule is applied in rain interrupted ODIs that uses very complicated calculations to set revised targets in reduced overs to arrive at a result. Earlier, for applying D/L method a minimum 25 overs had to be compulsorily bowled. Due to emergence of T20 cricket the minimum was reduced to 20. In IPL 2 the Delhi Daredevils won a match in less than 5 overs using D/L method. There seems to be no rule regarding minimum overs to be bowled for such games. So, it is a possibility that a team can win a match achieving a target set for just one ball when the weather gods permitted time enough for only a solitary ball to be bowled. Though D/L method talks of minimum 5 overs in T20 the IPL rule book says nothing. Even a five over minimum is a mockery of cricket.

And, what about the sartorial cover code for the cheerleaders? There seems to be no rules either for determining this. Sometimes these gyrating damsels are clad quite decently while at times the dress gets reduced to the barest minimum!

A boisterous goodbye to cricketing rules?

Chinmay Chakravarty is a professional specialized in the creative field with over two decades of experience in journalistic writing, media co-ordination, film script writing, film dubbing, film & video making, management of international film festivals and editing of books & journals. Proficient in providing professional services in these related fields. Presently working in Mumbai Doordarshan as a News Editor.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chinmay_Chakravarty