ICC Champions Trophy 2009/2010

[iHammad]

Tomorrow is the Pakistan warm up match against Sri lanka at Benoni. 8:30 am est

[10DuLKaR]

India vs Kiwis on 20th.. Will it be broadcasted here in India? :nervous:

[vvvslaxman]

Who will be Champions? http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=17&art_id=vn20090918105429798C444360 Who'll be the champions? Stuart Hess September 18 2009 at 11:08AM Submit your comment GROUP A AUSTRALIA Defending champions, but they lack the aura of yesteryear. Mike Hussey's comments recently that they have become a "working class team" probably sums up their new way of thinking. South Africa won seven out of 10 matches against them last summer, inflicting significant psychological damage along the way. Opponents won't fear them, and how they adapt to that will be interesting. Nevertheless they remain Australia and with players like Ponting, Clarke and Johnson in the group they will be significant challengers. Watson, a one-time wannabe all-rounder but latterly changed into an opener will be an important player at the top of the order, who has to provide some kind of initial protection to a potent middle-order. Callum Ferguson is a young player worth watching, quick between the wickets, while his fielding is electric. Prospects: Semifinalists Key Player: Ponting. Escaped too much harsh criticism for losing the Ashes for the second time. The realisation that there isn't anyone better to lead Australia at the moment probably saved him as did the fact that he remains their best batsman. If he does fire with the bat as he showed in the fifth ODI against the English this week, he could inspire his team to a deep run in the tournament. INDIA The modern game's glamour side, and the fervour for the sport in that country affords the players demigod status. They've grown into their status as cricket's richest nation and now play with a swagger that was missing even in the days when Kapil Dev led them to World Cup success in 1983. The Indian Premier League has unveiled a host of young stars who are being melded into the team. Raina, Mishra and Yusuf Pathan are the foremost among those. It is the batting that is the most potent part of their team's make-up. Though Virender Sehwag is not in the group, any line-up containing, Dravid, Tendulkar, Yuvraj, Gambhir, Pathan and Dhoni, is one to be respected. Their bowling is not weak, with RP Singh, Nehra and Sharma all able to take advantage if the pitches have bounce, while Harbhajan Singh, Mishra and Yuvraj will spin it. Their weakness is their fielding, where only Raina looks wide awake. Prospects: Finalists Key Player: Tendulkar. The 'little master' is still capable of producing the kind of sublime stroke play that leaves bowlers bemused and crowds gasping. PAKISTAN The country that should have hosted this event, but because of security concerns in that country, it had to be moved to South Africa. Countries are now refusing to tour there, leading to the Pakistanis becoming somewhat of a nomadic group; they will play Australia in England next year. Their win in this year's World T20 Championships was crucial in keeping them in the spotlight for the right reasons and ensuring that the rest of the cricketing world didn't forget about them. They remain an enigmatic team, capable of the sublime and the ridiculous in a short space of time. In the 20-over formats their flaws can be more easily blanketed, that will not be the case in the 50-over game, where they will have to show far greater patience. They have some outstanding individuals led by skipper Younis, former captain Shoaib Malik and of course the magnificent Mohammed Yousuf. Umar Gul is a potent late innings bowler, but he'll have more work to do in this tournament than was the case in the T20 event. Prospects: Group stage Key Player: Afridi. 'Boom Boom' had offered only occasional glimpses of his attacking flare. At the T20 champs, though, the extra leadership responsibility seemed to sit well with him. WEST INDIES They're in a desperate state. In-fighting among the board and unhappiness amongst the senior players means they have brought a significantly weakened side to the tournament. So no Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Sarwan or Chanderpaul, who would represent the heart of the team. The ICC have left the door open for the West Indies Cricket Board that should they resolve their issues in the next few days they will be allowed to bring the top players into the tournament. In the meanwhile, the group that are here, were the same side that lost Tests and one-day series' to Bangladesh in the Caribbean earlier this year . They may play with lot of flare, but they won't trouble the other three sides in the group - they're just too young. Sadly it's not as if the West Indies can use this tournament as some sort of building block for the future, because unless matters get sorted out at Board level, the sport in that region is heading for disaster. Prospects: Wooden Spoon Key Player: Captain Reifer. Has to try and maintain some sort of competitive threat from his side, which will be very hard given the limited and inexperienced resources at his disposal. GROUP B SOUTH AFRICA Another tournament, another tragedy? Surely not, surely the horrendous run that has seen them get to semi-finals at three world cups, the semis of the last Champions Trophy and the semi-finals at the last T20 World Champs has got to end some time. As much as they don't care to admit it, it must be affecting the players heading into this year's tournament. Public expectations will be further boosted by the team's performances last summer and the fact that they are the number one team in the world. They haven't had much competitive cricket in the last three months, a stark contrast to their three rivals in the group. But there are positives. They'll most certainly be the freshest of the major contenders which may be beneficial given the current helter-skelter nature of the cricket calender. The squad is dotted with match-winners, be it batsmen or bowlers, and they will expect to be the best fielding unit in the competition. Prospects: Should make the final this time Key Player: Kallis. There are others, the captain, Gibbs, Morkel, Botha, and De Villiers, but Kallis is the glue that binds the side. He is the rock in the batting line-up, and provides control with the ball. NEW ZEALAND Very much the nearly men in these kind of tournaments, expect on one occasion in 2000 when they claimed the title in Kenya. Have a number of good parts to their team, and though they lack the explosiveness of sides like South Africa, Australia and India, they have a solid group that can make life difficult for opponents. Their batting is a weakness with the key being getting good individuals to play together well at the same time. Ryder, Taylor, Guptil, McCullum, Elliot and Vettori are very good with the bat, but as the skipper stated yesterday, they lack the ability to put together good partnerships on a consistent basis. The return of Bond and Tuffey has provided their bowling with some much-need depth and Bond, who starred here during the 2003 World Cup, is vital weapon for Vettori. The skipper is a class act, and is probably the best left-arm spinner going around at the moment. Prospects: Group stage Key Player: Vettori. Sure, McCullum's good to watch when he clicks, but his inconsistency has been a problem lately. That has not been the case with Vettori, who has grown into the captaincy and is his side's best player. SRI LANKA The competition's dark-horses and a significant threat to South Africa in the tournament's opening game on Tuesday. The Sri Lankans tend to slip under the radar because they don't have the kind of star names of teams like India, but they have highly skilled and tough individuals who will drag their side out of difficult spots. Sangakkara, Dilshan, Jayawardene and Muralitharan are well know to South African audiences, but Thilan Samarweera isn't and the mysterious Mendis will get more game time than was the case during the IPL. Their fast bowling has variety and importantly pace so that they can take advantage if pitches are bit more sporty, while their spinners will enjoy the tracks if they are slow. There's a terrific balance to the team and in Sangakkara and Jayawardene they have two thoughtful and inspirational leaders who will bring out the best in the players. They are also the best fielding unit out of the three sub-continent sides Prospects: Semifinalists, but it wouldn't surprise if they went further than that. Key Player: Sangakkara. A stylish left-hand bat, who keeps as well as anybody and captains brilliantly too. ENGLAND It's tempting to say they're rubbish given how they've laid a fat egg in the series against the Australians. But it is worth remembering that just a year ago they cleaned South Africa's clock in winning four out of five ODI's - the fifth being a washout. The absence of Flintoff and Pietersen means they lack explosiveness in the middle order, while Bopara, Collingwood, Shah and a host of others have provided very little support to their best batsman, Strauss. Their bowling too lacks consistency, though if the wickets here are conducive, then Broad, Anderson and Sidebottom, might cause opposing batsmen a few flutters. Adil Rashid looks a useful prospect, and could be a crucial player if the pitch at the Wanderers has bounce. Too much though sits on Strauss's shoulders. The other batsmen need to back up their captain better if England are to put defendable totals on the board. Prospects: Group stage. Key Player: Strauss. Firmly established as the leader after regaining the Ashes, and has been their steadiest player in the ODIs against the Aussies.

[iHammad]

4 days till the first match!

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Tournament cynics can take a walk : Mickey Arthur Speculation about the future of cricket and its three formats is inevitable but I have been surprised by how much of it is also idle and uninformed, writes Mickey Arthur. More... Tournament cynics can take a walk Mickey Arthur September 22, 2009 First Published: 00:26 IST(22/9/2009) Last Updated: 01:12 IST(22/9/2009) Speculation about the future of cricket and its three formats is inevitable but I have been surprised by how much of it is also idle and uninformed. I strongly believe there is place for all three codes in the calendar and there is most certainly place for three world events every four years. Despite what you may have heard or read, the Champions Trophy is actually very popular with the players - or at least the players and coaches that I have spoken to. The tournament is not the World Cup, but it does give the teams an opportunity to compete against the best in the world and there is no substitute for that. If there is too much cricket being played then it is surely the likes of England's seven-match series against Australia and other tournaments which are created or elongated purely to generate income. Those who say there is no place for a third global tournament alongside the World Cup and the T20 World Championship are out of touch with reality because intense, meaningful international competition is exactly what the game needs to keep its place in the entertainment market. I challenge any of the Champions Trophy doubters to find a single player in any of the eight squads who thinks this tournament is irrelevant. I am certainly not a traditionalist for the sake of it. In fact, I fully endorse the view that the game needs to keep reinventing itself and developing which is exactly why I would support a move from 50 overs to 40 overs for one-day internationals, including the World Cup. Even with the most intense approach from the fittest teams, it is not possible to maintain a high enough level of entertainment through the middle of an innings. But by removing 10 overs but keeping the same number of power-play overs, I reckon the formula would be perfect. It would also mean a six-hour contest rather than seven-and-a-half which makes a big difference, especially to the live audience. The Champions Trophy is a sprint event — more like 100 metres than 1500 metres of the World Cup — which gives everyone a greater chance of success. In my opinion, seven of the eight teams could win. With respect to the West Indies, they are too busy tearing themselves apart to have a chance here. Perhaps, I am wrong but they look very much like a ‘B’ team to me. Just as at the T20 World Championship in England earlier this year, South Africa and India are most peoples’ favourites. I know how determined India are to atone for their embarrassingly early departure at the T20. And, as everyone knows, we haven't won an ICC event since 1998. We both have much to prove.

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Aussies without key Champions Trophy players Australia waited eight years before winning the Champions Trophy in 2006 and are not expected to relax their grip easily. More... Aussies without key Champions Trophy players September 16 2009 at 04:22PM Australia waited eight years before winning the Champions Trophy in 2006 and are not expected to relax their grip easily when the 2009 tournament begins in South Africa next week. Smiles were back on the faces of their opponents after their recent Ashes defeat, but quickly disappeared following their one-day series victory over England. The famous "Aussie grit" will be on view again when they begin the defence of their title even without some of their key players who figured prominently in their the Champions Trophy win in India three years ago. Australia have a different look this time as they are missing four of their 2006 stars - Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn and Andrew Symonds - but skipper Ricky Ponting does not appear to be short of confidence. "We've got great depth in Australian cricket and I think this is one of the things that has held us ahead of the game for the past seven or eight years," Ponting said. "We expect the young guys who come into the side to make an impact as well as those who have been in the side for some time." Australia are in Group A with unpredictable Pakistan, in-form India and the depleted West Indies. Easy matches are not expected in Group B, with South Africa, Sri Lanka, England and New Zealand all capable of raising their game. The top two sides from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the final to be played at Centurion on October 5. South Africa will also be keen to break a jinx of not winning a major title at home India and South Africa have emerged as strong challengers to Australia, following their impressive recent performances. South Africa, enjoying home advantage, have beaten Australia in away and home one-day series in 2009. South Africa will also be keen to break a jinx of not winning a major title at home, having flopped at the 2003 World Cup and then the 2007 Twenty20 World Championships. Australia are expected to cruise past the West Indies, who are without their first-choice team following a bitter contract row. Australia will need to be at their best in the remaining two matches and will have to beat either India or World Twenty20 champions Pakistan to boost their chances of making it to the semi-finals. A cracker of a match awaits fans when arch-rivals India and Pakistan clash for the first time in more than a year. The cricketing ties snapped between the two nations following the 2008 Mumbai attacks. "No rivalry can match the India-Pakistan rivalry and I think the September 26 match will be something billions of people all over the world will be waiting for," said Pakistani paceman Umar Gul. India are enjoying a dream one-day run, their five consecutive bilateral series wins under captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Gary Kirsten boosted further by Monday's success over Sri Lanka. England have also lost much of their strength in the absence of injured Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff. Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara leads an exciting band of cricketers - Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Muttiah Muralitharan and Mahela Jayawardene - but lack consistency. ICC Champions trophy fixtures GROUP A September 23 at the Wanderers: Pakistan v West Indies (2.30pm) September 26 at the Wanderers: Australia (holders) v West Indies (9.30am), September 26 at Centurion: India v Pakistan (2.30pm) September 28 at Centurion: Australia v India (2.30pm) September 30 at Centurion: Australia v Pakistan (9.30am) September 30 at the Wanderers: India v West Indies (2.30pm) GROUP B September 22 at Centurion: South Africa v Sri Lanka (2.30pm) September2 at Centurion: South Africa v New Zealand (9.30am) September 25 at the Wanderers: England v Sri Lanka (2.30pm) September 27 at the Wanderers: New Zealand v Sri Lanka (9.30am) September 27 at Centurion: South Africa v England (2.30pm) September 29 at the Wanderers: England v New Zealand (2.30pm) SEMI-FINALS October 2 at Centurion: Group A winners v Group B runners-up (2.30pm) October 3 at the Wanderers: Group B winners v Group A runners-up (2.30pm) FINAL October 5 at Centurion: winning semi-finalists (2.30pm) ICC champions trophy squads Australia Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Nathan Bracken, Callum Ferguson, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Tim Paine, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron White England Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Joe Denly, Eoin Morgan, Graham Onions, Matt Prior, Adil Rashid, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright India Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, Rudra Pratap Singh, Amit Mishra, Dinesh Karthik, Abhishek Nayar New Zealand Daniel Vettori (captain), Neil Broom, Brendon Diamanti, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey, Shane Bond, Ian Butler Pakistan Younus Khan (captain), Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umer Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul Hasan, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Yousuf, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamir, Mohammad Asif, Rao Iftikhar, Saeed Ajmal South Africa Graeme Smith (captain), Johan Botha, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe Sri Lanka Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedara, Angelo Mathews, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dhammika Prasad, Lasith Malinga, Thilina Kandamby West Indies Floyd Reifer (captain), Darren Sammy, David Bernard, Tino Best, Royston Crandon, Travis Dowlin, Andre Fletcher, Nikita Miller, Kevin McLean, Kieran Powell, Dale Richards, Kemar Roach, Devon Smith, Gavin Tonge, Chadwick Walton