AHMEDABAD: Australia had to finally concede the crown. Champions for the last three editions (1999 to to 2007), the Ricky Ponting-led team were defeated but not disgraced in the quarterfinal against the pumped-up Indians at Ahmedabad on Thursday. They return empty-handed after 12 years at the top. Defying odds and loss of form, Ponting showed …
KARACHI: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi predicted that Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar will have to wait until after the World Cup to reach the milestone of scoring 100 international centuries. “Sachin will have to wait until after the World Cup for his 100th international century because we are not going to allow either him or …
DHAKA: Captain Graeme Smith prepared himself for verbal “daggers and swords” to be directed at his South African squad after an all too familiar defeat in the World Cup knockout stage on Friday. Smith’s eight-year tenure as limited-overs captain ended in ignominy with a 49-run quarterfinal loss to New Zealand in a match his side …
CHENNAI: England skipper Andrew Strauss won the toss and elected to bat first in Thursday’s must-win World Cup Group B match against the West Indies. England made three changes, including one enforced by injury to fast bowler Ajmal Shazhad who was ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury. Chris Tremlett replaced out-of-form paceman …
NEW DELHI: The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, which began with the India-Bangladesh match last month in Dhaka, has so far delivered 25 per cent more ratings compared to the 2007 edition of the quadrennial event. A total of 29 matches has been played so far in the World Cup and it has generated an …
COLOMBO: Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar will retire from international cricket after the World Cup, bringing an end to one of the most colorful careers in the sport. Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam has confirmed that the 35-year-old quick, nicknamed the “Rawalpindi Express,” will make a formal announcement at a news conference later Thursday in Colombo. …
BANGALORE: Brett Lee was recently described by Ricky Ponting as the glue of Australia’s pace attack — but even he came unstuck against 19-year-old Canadian Hiral Patel on Wednesday. Lee, who began the match with an economy rate of 4.13, saw his first over clattered for 16 runs by the impudent Patel, playing only his …
NEW DELHI: In a battle of minnows, Kenyan skipper Jimmy Kamande won the toss and elected to bat in their Group A match against Canada at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi. Kenya made one change, replacing Peter Ongondo with Thomas Odoyo. Languishing at the bottom of the points table, both Kenya and …
CHENNAI: England’s World Cup campaign was today dealt a massive blow when star batsman Kevin Pietersen was ruled out of the event due to a hernia injury. The explosive right-hander, who was recently promoted to the opening slot, was in discomfort during England’s narrow six-run win over South Africa yesterday. The England Cricket Board had …
BANGALORE: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that though their bowling is slowly improving in the 2011 World Cup, the fielding continues to be a cause of worry. Dhoni, who has been a vocal critic of the team’s sloppy fielding, said the players need to raise their standards. “We got ourselves in a great position …
