Oct
9
Champions League T20: Otago Volts
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New Zealand’s Twenty20 champions Otago Volts enter the tournament as a strong contender for the title.
Brendon McCullum is a proven match-winner, while all-rounder Dmitri Mascarenhas is capable of making a difference with both bat and ball. Nathan McCullum, Ian Butler and Neil Broom are the other players with some international players and would be expected to play stellar roles for Otago.
Squad: Craig Cumming (captain), Brendon McCullum, Nick Beard, Neil Wagner, Greg Todd, Hamish Rutherford, Aaron Redmond, Dmitri Mascarenhas, Warren McSkimming, James McMillan, Nathan McCullum, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Derek de Boorder, Mathew Harvie.
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Oct
9
Champions League T20: Trinidad & Tobago
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The team that the great Brian Lara once played for will be the Caribbean’s sole representation in the Champions League .
The Bravo brothers — Dwayne and Darren — the best talents to come out of the West Indies for a while will no doubt be the star attractions. Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul and Denesh Ramdin are a few young talents that can make headlines in the tournament.
Squad: Daren Ganga (captain), Dwayne Bravo , Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul, Denesh Ramdin, Samuel Badree, Navin Stewart, Kieron Pollard, William Perkins, Sunil Narine, Dave Mohammed, Adrian Barath, Rayad Emrit, Sherwin Ganga
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Oct
9
Champions League T20: Wayamba Elevens
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Wayamba qualified for the Champions League following their Inter-Provincial Twenty20 tournament victory over Basnahira South in what could be a big boost for Sri Lankan domestic cricket.
Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene will be Wayamba’s main hope with the bat. Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis may have not enjoyed success in the two editions of the IPL so far, but he definitely poses a threat as was witnessed in the ICC Champions Trophy .
Squad: Jehan Mubarak (captain), Mahela Jayawardene, Ajantha Mendis, Farveez Maharoof, Sameera de Zoysa, Ishara Amerasinghe, Chanaka Welegedara, Mahela Udawatte, Isuru Udana, Thissara Perera, Michael Vandort , Rangana Herath, S Karunanayake, J Kulatunga, K Lokuarachchi.
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Oct
9
Champions League T20: Delhi Daredevils
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Gautam Gambhir leads one of the star-studded line-ups in the Champions League Twenty20 .
The Delhi Daredevils’ line-up boasts of the two most dangerous batsmen in world cricket — Tillakaratne Dilshan and Virender Sehwag .
Daniel Vettori , Ashish Nehra and Amit Mishra make up a formidable bowling attack that is capable of running through any batting line-up on its day.
Squad: Gautam Gambhir (captain), Virender Sehwag, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rajat Bhatia, Dinesh Karthik , Mithun Manhas , Dirk Nannes , Amit Mishra, Ashish Nehra, Avishkar Salvi, Pradeep Sangwan, Owais Shah , Manoj Tiwary, Daniel Vettori.
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Oct
9
Groups for 2011 World Cup
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The groups for the 2011 World Cup have been decided. While the format has not been formally disclosed by the ICC, they have indicated that it will be a quarter-final format i.e. top 4 in each group play in the QFs. The tournament is going to be shortened to 49 matches (from 51) and to around 5 weeks (from 6 weeks).
I personally am not a fan of the QF format, but what the hell can I do about it. I think the Champions Trophy is a better deal than the World Cup. My own ideal format for the World Cup is as follows: have 14 teams, of which 4 teams get byes into a Super-8 round (previous champs, most recent CT champs, most recent T20 champs, #1 ODI team, etc). The 10 remaining teams are divided into two groups of 5 each, and play each other. Top two in each group join the other 4 in the Super-8. In the Super-8, everyone plays each other and top 4 go to the semis. It will be 51 matches (same as 2007), but with at least two matches a day, it can comfortably be completed in 5 weeks or less.
Anyways, I’m not the ICC chief so I can’t decide the format. So, without further ado, I present the 2011 World Cup groups:
Group A – Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada, Kenya.
Group B – India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands.
Read more at: http://www.cricinfo.com/wc2011/content/current/story/428712.html
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Oct
8
Afridi to turn out for Dolphins in SA domestic T20
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After finalising a deal with Nashua Dolphins for next year, swashbuckling all-rounder Shahid Afridi is all set to become the first Pakistani to play in South Africa’s domestic Twenty20 tournament.
Afridi said the Nashua Dolphins had approached him to play for them in the country’s pro T20 cricket league.
The all-rounder stated that he would represent the Dolphins for two to three weeks in February after the conclusion of Pakistan’s tour to Australia.
”They will officially announce my signing tomorrow,” Afridi said yesterday.
”But I am excited at the prospect of being the first Pakistani to play in their domestic T20 league which is of high standards,” he added.
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Oct
8
IPL teams in CL T20
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RCB had a dismal inaugural season in IPL being termed as a test side and the entire team make up was shuffled for the 2nd edition.. Few T20 specialists were selected from the auction but the campaign still did not seem to be on track with KP as captain.. Once KP left, it was decided that Anil would lead the side and he led the side from the front.. RCB, under him, entered the knock out stages.. Upsetting CSK’s chances in the semis, they faced Deccan in the finals who like RCB had a dismal outing in IPL-1.. In a final, that could have gone either way, Deccan prevailed.. RCB are looking for revenge., (that was Kumble’s statement).
Placed in Group C, they face Cape Cobras on the first day and Otago Volts later..
TEAM : Anil Kumble (capt), Rahul Dravid, Robin Uthappa, Jacques Kallis, Ross Taylor, Dale Steyn, Manish Pandey, Praveen Kumar, Bhuvanesh Kumar, Roelof van der Merwe, Mark Boucher, Vinay Kumar, Virat Kohli, Akhil Balachandra, Rajesh Bishoni.
Delhi Daredevils are like their former captain Sehwag.. Unpredictable.. Twice have they come to the semifinals after being confident in the league only to lose the semis badly.. With Sehwag stepping down from captaincy and 3 of the international stars missing it will be upto the local Delhi lads to put up an impressive show.. I don’t think they can even field 4 foreign players.. Glenn McGrath’s exploits are sought after..
In group D, they find themselves in the same group as Wayamba and Victoria.. Both are tough opponents..
TEAM : Gautam Gambhir(capt), Virender Sehwag, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dirk Nannes, Dinesh Karthik, Manoj Tiwary , Ashish Nehra, Amit Mishra, Owais Shah, Pradeep Sangwan, Aavishkar Salvi, Rajat Bhatia, Mithun Manhas.
Deccan too like the RCB had a dismal IPL-1 but unlike RCB they stuck with the same team with Gilchrist as a full time captain and the winning coach Darren Lehmann (was with Rajasthan ROYALS during IPL-1).. Rohit Sharma played well for them and the purple cap (leading wicket taker) holder RP Singh, Gilchrist came good at right times to ensure a place in the semifinals.. Cometh the hour, cometh the man, a true Aussie style demolition from Gichrist ensured a place in the finals where a drop catch and quick wickets from the RCB side and some excellent cricket from the team led them to lift the DLF IPL-2..
Deccan with the firepower of Gilchrist, freelancer Symonds and the likes of Styris and Fidel Edwards should be menacing.. Placed in Group A with Trinidad and Somerset.. Not a tough group.. Will RP and Rohit come back to form again for this tournament is a question.. (would be remarkable if they do so, they would earn the reputation of being in form for the Chargers always and be poor for the nation).. Will VVS sit and watch the entire tournament from the dug out yet again?
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Oct
7
South African teams in CL T20
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The Standard Bank Pro20 was used to launch the franchise system at the end of the 2003/04 season and has been a domestic highlight ever since. Like its format of 20 overs per side, it has a short, sharp format of five league matches followed by a semi-final and final.
The No. 1 side after the round robin stages plays No. 4 in the one semi-final and No. 2 plays No. 3 in the second semi-final with the winners going through to the final. In all cases the team with the higher log position has home ground advantage. There is also a reserve day allowed for all knock-out matches in the case of inclement weather conditions.
NASHUA CAPE COBRAS is the brand name for the Western Cape franchise of Cricket South Africa. Its constituent components are the Western Province Cricket Association and the Boland Cricket Board. They play their home matches at Boland Park, Paarl, and at Sahara Park Newlands.
Current nationally contracted players are Smith, Gibbs, JP Duminy and Monde Zondeki.. Ashwell Prince also hails from this place..
DIAMOND EAGLES is the brand name for the central franchise of Cricket South Africa and has been the most successful franchise in terms of winning trophies. The constituent members are the Free State and Griqualand West Cricket Boards. Their home grounds are the OUTsurance Oval in Bloemfontein and the De Beers Diamond Oval in Kimberley.
They are one of only two franchises – the Nashua Titans are the other – to have won all three domestic trophies in the course of the past four seasons and have altogether had five trophy successes.
IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Diamond Eagles don’t have it easier, grouped with winners of AUS and ENG T20 winners namely, NSW and Sussex.. The South African Pro20 runners up the Diamond Eagles have had some fantastic seasons on the domestic circuit but with no current South African internationals some have suggested the side may struggle against their more fancied opponents. But having said that, no team is to be taken lightly..
Shadley van Schalkwyk.
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