Familar foes fight for semi spot by Will Luke and Andrew McGlashan

Big Picture: England could still reach the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20. It's almost worth repeating, so implausible does it sound. After beating the defending champions, India, at a packed Lord's on Sunday, a straight play-off between England and West Indies beckons south of the Thames, the winner of which will be confirmed semi-finalists. The defeat to the Dutch suddenly seems an awfully long time ago.

At the halfway point, few who witnessed England's staccato innings of 153 for 7 would have believed it could be defended against a side containing Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni. But, like West Indies did in their seven-wicket win, England bowled aggressive lengths and exposed an alarming technical weakness in India's top-order, namely their fear of anything short. England's overall superior fielding - bar a horrible fumble by Stuart Broad in the penultimate over, not for the first time - also made a difference, as it could against West Indies too.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 14, 2009

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 Ireland win hearts in defeat by George Binoy

John Mooney and Regan West walked off a sun-bathed outfield at Lord's to a rousing applause from a crowd that was appreciative and acknowledged the tenacity of Ireland's performance. They were beaten by a Sri Lankan team vastly superior in skill but Ireland's resolve held out until the end. Theirs' was a performance worthy of the praise Kumar Sangakkara showered on them.

Ireland were in the contest for the majority of the game. Their opening bowlers surprised everyone by restricting Sri Lanka to 28 for 2 during the Powerplay, the tournament's second-lowest score after six overs. Mahela Jayawardene revived the innings with a graceful yet damaging half-century but Ireland fought back during the final overs to keep Sri Lanka to 144 for 9.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 14, 2009

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 Resurgent England bounce India out by Dileep Premachandran

England 153/7 (Pietersen 46, Harbhajan 3-30, Jadeja 2-26) beat India 150/5 (Pathan 33*, Sidebottom 2-31, Swann 2-28) by three runs

'You're not Singh-ing anymore,' chanted some English fans, and India certainly weren't as they were dumped out of the competition that they won two years ago, with one Super-Eight game still to be played. With Lord's bathed in brilliant sunshine, a capacity crowd watched as England held their nerve for a three-run victory which ensured that new champions would be crowned on June 21. Around half of them would have gone home happy. Kevin Pietersen shared a 71-run partnership with Ravi Bopara, before Ryan Sidebottom and Graeme Swann picked up two wickets apiece to derail India's chase. MS Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan added 63 from six overs at the end as the game wound to a frenetic finish, but India had simply left themselves with too much to do.

The turning point was the dismissal of Yuvraj Singh, superbly stumped by James Foster as he reached out to drive Swann. Yuvraj had smashed 17 - including two sixes - from eight balls prior to that, but Foster's quicksilver glovework ensured that India were left a Snowdon-sized peak to climb without their most explosive batsman. They whittled it down to 19 from Sidebottom's final over, but though Yusuf clubbed the fourth ball for a straight six to induce palpitations amongst the English support, a single off the next ball sealed India's fate.

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 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 14, 2009

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 Jayawardene saves Sri Lanka's blushes by Andrew Miller

Sri Lanka 144/9 (Jayawardene 78, Cusack 4-18) beat Ireland 135/7 (Malinga 2-18) by nine runs

Mahela Jayawardene saved his team's blushes with 78 from 53 balls, as Sri Lanka moved a step closer to the semi-finals with an awkward but ultimately comfortable nine-run victory over the unfancied Irish at Lord's. After winning the toss and batting first, Sri Lanka were restricted to a modest total of 144 for 9 by a disciplined Ireland bowling performance in which the medium-pacer Alex Cusack excelled with 4 for 18 in three overs. In reply, Will Porterfield and Niall O'Brien raised the prospect of a famous win by adding 59 for the first wicket, but the variety and experience of Sri Lanka's attack eventually proved overwhelming.

At Trent Bridge on Thursday, Ireland had been no match for New Zealand as they slumped to an 83-run defeat, but this time they remained competitive even after a damaging double setback in the 15th over of their reply, when Ajantha Mendis removed both the dangerous O'Brien brothers, Kevin and Niall, in the space of four deliveries. Ireland carried on swinging until the bitter end, even as Lasith Malinga further undermined their chase with consecutive yorkers to bowl Trent Johnston and Andre Botha, but their final requirement of 18 runs from Malinga's final over of the innings unsurprisingly proved too much.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 14, 2009

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 Charismatic Pakistan live to fight by Sidharth Monga

Pakistan 100/4 (Shahzaib 35, Afridi 29*, Vettori 2-20) beat New Zealand 99/10 (Gul 5-6, Razzaq 2-17) by six wickets

Pakistan have bitten another bullet, in style. At the toss Younis Khan seemed relieved, almost trying to suppress laughter, when he called this a do-or-die match. It was as if he liked that there was no choice left, and his team showed they relished being in such a situation. By the end of the night, Pakistan had done, and left dying for another time. Abdul Razzaq, formerly a pariah and now making a comeback to official cricket after two years, struck with the fourth ball he bowled, and then in his third over to skittle the New Zealand top order, which was followed by Umar Gul's destruction. Gul was on a hat-trick twice and also became the first bowler to take a five-for in Twenty20 internationals.

Those two spells sandwiched a period when the spinners choked the life out of the middle order as a weakened New Zealand, missing Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor, stumbled to a meagre total on a belter of a pitch at The Oval. Debutant opener Shahzaib Hasan threatened to finish the match in a hurry, but the New Zealand spinners did well to delay the end of the match, and make sure Pakistan didn't run away with a hefty net run-rate, which will come handy in case New Zealand beat Sri Lanka.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 13, 2009

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 Collingwood backs Broad in fresh Yuvraj battle by Andrew McGlashan and George Binoy

It is a clash between the country that gave the world Twenty20 and the one that has powered its explosion. When England take on India in their crucial match at Lord's it will be the first time they have met in a Twenty20 since South Africa in 2007. Since then the game has gone to an entirely new level and the hosts are being left behind.

That game under the lights in Durban, which India also had to win to stay in the tournament, is still recalled for the breathtaking display of striking from Yuvraj Singh who hit six sixes in an over off Stuart Broad. At the time, Broad was only a year into his international career and such an experience could have broken a lesser player, but now he is a central part of England's attack.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 13, 2009

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 Sri Lanka approaching top gear by Will Luke

Big Picture: There are signs that Sri Lanka are beginning to find the sort of form which makes them so dangerous in one-day cricket. South Africa and India may have started as pre-tournament favourites, but Sri Lanka's 19-run win over Pakistan contained plenty in it to suggest they're about to hit their straps. Tillakaratne Dilshan scorched 46 from 39 to give them another flying start, an innings which contained his absurdly audacious flip-flick over the wicketkeeper's head. The last time they met Pakistan, they were airlifted by helicopter gunship. That they overcame the emotion spoke volumes of the character and belief that exists in this side, two factors which ought to help them cruise into the semi-finals.

The one major concern, however, is their middle order which sustained a horrid collapse of 5 for 40 in the last six overs. It didn't cost them against Pakistan, thanks to Lasith Malinga's deadly death-bowling, but it is one area that needs improvement if they are to beat firstly Ireland, then New Zealand.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 13, 2009

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 Parnell keeps South African juggernaut rolling by Osman Samiuddin

South Africa 183/7 (Gibbs 55, Kallis 45, Taylor 3-30) beat West Indies 163/9 (Simmons 77, Parnell 4-13) by 20 runs

There is only one team that can beat South Africa in this kind of form and at The Oval, it wasn't West Indies. On a true, hard pitch, Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis led South Africa to 183 against an attack understandably drained from a second game in less than 24 hours. An unspectacular, solid bowling performance from Wayne Parnell and Roelof van der Merwe then spiked West Indies' chase, rendering Lendl Simmons' fine hand futile. Parnell picked up four wickets to leave West Indies short by 20 runs, South Africa with a record-breaking sixth consecutive T20I win and a semi-final spot all but sealed.

Apart from brief spells with bat and ball, South Africa's frighteningly ruthless, well-rehearsed march to glory was rarely disturbed. All eyes are fixed firmly on the prize and distractions such as decent opposition teams barely make the equation. For 15 overs with the bat they barely broke sweat, humming along comfortably at over eight an over, wickets in hand, singles and doubles taking a back seat to a bucket-load of boundaries. Matters appeared ominous from the very off. As fierce as Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards had been against India, so they were meek today. Lengths in the first six overs were fuller, unnecessarily so. Graeme Smith and Kallis took toll in a quick fifty partnership. It didn't feel quite like a flood of boundaries at first, more a steady, inevitable trickle; ten boundaries and sixes came during the Powerplay on an outfield with less friction than an ice-skating rink.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 13, 2009

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 India hit a roadblock by George Binoy

The paths India and West Indies took to reach their Super Eights clash couldn't have been more different. India, by virtue of being defending champions, were pooled with the easiest teams and they swept past Bangladesh and Ireland. West Indies, on the other hand, were not favourites to qualify from a group which included Australia and Sri Lanka. They came to Lord's after being stretched by tough opponents and gave India a reality check as to what lies ahead. As MS Dhoni pithily put it, it was one of those days when "nothing really worked".

India's plans had worked smoothly so far in the tournament. Their make-shift opening pair of Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma, in the absence of Virender Sehwag, succeeded against the Ireland and Bangladesh new-ball attacks. Today they were undone by Fidel Edwards' pace and Dwayne Bravo's variations and the middle order faced its first real test of the competition. Despite Yuvraj Singh's aggressive half-century, India achieved a total that was below par.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 12, 2009

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 Pakistan look to keep the spark alive by Osman Samiuddin

Big Picture: If Pakistan are to achieve anything significant in this tournament as a team they will have to do so inspite of themselves.

As a bowling unit they have been both wasteful and outstanding. The comeback to halt Sri Lanka on Friday was as good as they have been, but the waste of Sohail Tanvir's first over and the extras ultimately rendered it futile. It is an age-old problem and will not be resolved overnight. As a batting side, they have lacked the bombast required to negotiate the powerplay and even the nous to keep singles coming along. Younis Khan has battled alone and if it is said that he is not a Twenty20 player, it is forgotten that he needs others to play around him. With bat in hand he has done his job, more than many expected; his colleagues have failed him. The less said about the fielding the better, though at least they didn't drop any catches against Sri Lanka.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 12, 2009

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 Inspired West Indies look for encore by S Rajesh

Big Picture: As challenges go, it's about as tough as it can get: less than a day after convincingly getting the better of one of the tournament favourites, West Indies need to gear themselves up to take on another. The unkind scheduling means Chris Gayle and Co have less than 18 hours between games against India and South Africa, but so comprehensive was their victory on Friday that they'll back themselves to do an encore when they take on South Africa at The Oval on Saturday.

Dwayne Bravo was scintillating against India, Fidel Edwards showed plenty of fire with his short-pitched bowling with the new ball, and Lendl Simmons' cool head ensured the experience and skill of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan was hardly needed. The challenge is to reproduce the same levels of intensity, for nothing less will do against a side which is on a hot streak, and is looking to become the first team to win six Twenty20 internationals on the trot.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 12, 2009

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 All-round Bravo floors defending champions by Sidharth Monga

West Indies 156/3 (Bravo 66*, Simmons 44) beat India 153/7 (Yuvraj 67, Yusuf 31, Bravo 4-38, Edwards 3-24) by seven wickets

An under-tested India ran into a red-hot West Indies, who didn't even need a significant contribution from Chris Gayle during a tense chase. Dwayne Bravo was his usual top-dawg self today, taking four wickets to keep India down and then resurrecting the chase after a subdued Gayle had got out early, with an innings that was both aesthetic and cruel.

By the time Bravo came out to bat, India had made a smart start to their defence of a fighting 151. After Zaheer Khan went for two boundaries in the first over, MS Dhoni chose to give Gayle no pace. Three of the Powerplay overs were bowled by spinners, and two by Irfan Pathan who didn't come on to the bat either. Harbhajan Singh, especially, fast-tracked Gayle's downfall, bowling a maiden to him to finish the Powerplays. Gayle had reached 20 off 23, after which frustration got the better of him, and he top-edged Yusuf Pathan, who had done well to keep him quiet in his first two overs.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 12, 2009

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 Sri Lanka maintain winning ways by S Rajesh

Sri Lanka 150/7 (Dilshan 46) beat Pakistan 131/9 (Younis 50, Malinga 3-17) by 19 runs

Sri Lanka survived a shocking mid-innings slump and a threatening 66-run partnership between Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq to ease to a 19-run win in their first game of the Super Eights at Lord's. Chasing a modest 151 - after Sri Lanka were shackled by some superb bowling from the spinners - Pakistan's fight was led by their captain, who made a well-paced 50, but three wickets in eight balls, including those of Younis and Shahid Afridi, sunk the chase.

Sri Lanka haven't had much success against Pakistan in important limited-overs games, but here they held their nerve well when it mattered most. The momentum was clearly with Pakistan when the teams trooped off at the break - they had only conceded 70 in the last 12 after leaking 80 in the first eight - but the Sri Lankans shrugged off that lethargy when they returned, bowling with accuracy and venom, and fielding with a vigour that justified their rating as the best fielding team in the subcontinent.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 12, 2009

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 Younis happy to have Razzaq back

Younis Khan, the Pakistan captain, has welcomed the return of allrounder Abdul Razzaq to the Pakistan side after a two-year exile caused by his decision to opt for the Indian Cricket League. Razzaq was fast-tracked into the national Twenty20 squad in England shortly after quitting the ICL, but his participation in the opening Super Eights match against Sri Lanka at Lord's today is highly unlikely as he arrives just hours before the game.

"This game is not possible but I think he will manage the last two games," Younis said on the eve of the game. "He is a good name in world cricket and in Twenty20 he is a fantastic allrounder.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 12, 2009

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 Slick South Africa crush poor England by Andrew McGlashan

South Africa 114/3 (Kallis 578) beat England 111/10 (Shah 38, Parnell 3-14)

South Africa put in a display worthy of their tag as pre-tournament favourites as they cruised to a seven-wicket victory against England at Trent Bridge after skittling the hosts for 111 in their first Super Eights match. Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell set the tone with wickets in their opening overs and were backed up by impressive spin and fine catching, particularly Roelof van der Merwe's effort to remove Kevin Pietersen, and although the run chase didn't set pulses racing the result was never in doubt.

Only Owais Shah made a significant contribution for England as he made 38 off 33 with two sixes, but it was a forlorn effort as wickets fell regularly. When a scorecard reads as poorly as England's it's easy to criticise the batting - and some of the shot selection was poor - but South Africa were outstanding in every facet of their game. They could have charged down the small total, but chose to take their time on a surface that grew slower by the minute - a key factor in Paul Collingwood deciding to bat first - yet still eased home with 10 balls to spare as Jacques Kallis helped himself to an unbeaten 57.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 11, 2009

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 Karthik gets nod to replace Sehwag

The ICC has approved Dinesh Karthik as a replacement for Virender Sehwag in India's squad for the World Twenty20. The Indian board was told of the confirmation on Thursday.

Sehwag failed to recover from an injury to his right shoulder, sustained during the IPL. The ICC technical committee reviewed the medical report and was satisfied the reason was genuine and as such granted the BCCI the right to replace the players on medical grounds.

Meanwhile the BCCI sought to clear up the mystery over Sehwag's injury. The board was aware of his injury - a "minor" Grade I tear in the shoulder - before the squad for the tournament was picked, media and finance committee chairman Rajiv Shukla said, but hoped he would recover before it began. However, the injury was aggravated and he was ruled him out.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 11, 2009

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 First big test for India with Gayle likely to return by Sidharth Monga

Big Picture: The business end of the tournament is about to begin for India, who have gone into the Super Eights under-tested. They have gone about their task effectively though, and without fuss, and facing them are a side who have been a total contrast. West Indies have been unpredictable, mercurial at times and pedestrian otherwise, and have relied on individual performances to lift them up.

Beware the individual spark though. The kind of innings Chris Gayle played against Australia can beat any team in the world on its own. The team officials are confident Gayle will be back for this match after he missed the inconsequential league game against Sri Lanka on Wednesday. India's counterpart of Gayle, the man capable of playing a similar innings at the top, Virender Sehwag, is not in town. Now starts the real test of how well Rohit Sharma can fill the opener's slot.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 11, 2009

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 Sri Lanka favourites against rusty Pakistan by Osman Samiuddin

Big Picture: Is there a team more fascinating to watch than Sri Lanka? Of all the teams that have come into the Super Eights undefeated, none has done it as beautifully as Sri Lanka. South Africa have been too efficient to love, India too imposing (and under-tested) to admire. But Sri Lanka? They have made art in comprehensively defeating Australia and West Indies in the group of death.

No batting order has as many contrasting styles of scoring quick runs, from Tillakaratne Dilshan's get-go bluster (which incidentally he discovered as opener against Pakistan earlier this year), Sanath Jayasuriya's berserker ways, to the silk of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. No attack has as many ways of getting you out, from Lasith Malinga's freaky changes of pace, to the wonderful spin of the two Ms - Murali and Mendis.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 11, 2009

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 All-round New Zealand seal comprehensive win by George Binoy

New Zealand 198/5 (Redmond 63, Guptill 45*, Styris 42) beat Ireland 115/10 (Nathan McCullum 3-15) by 83 runs

A spate of injuries forced New Zealand to call up Aaron Redmond to their World Twenty20 squad at short notice and throw him into action straightaway against Ireland in their Super Eights' opener at Trent Bridge. He answered their call with an astonishing innings, piercing gaps in the infield with pinpoint accuracy to blast 63 off 30. His half-century and cameos from Scott Styris and Martin Guptill ensured that a weakened New Zealand did not slip on a banana skin and completed a comfortable 83-run victory.

New Zealand were without three of their best players - Jesse Ryder was ruled out of the tournament with an infection while Ross Taylor and Daniel Vettori had hamstring and shoulder injuries - so they sent an SOS to Redmond, playing in the Bolton League in England. He'd never played a limited-overs international but opening in a World Twenty20 match was a seamless transition.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 11, 2009

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 Redmond to join New Zealand as injury cover

Batsman Aaron Redmond has been called up to the New Zealand squad for the ICC World Twenty20 in England as cover for Jesse Ryder, who is down with a groin injury, New Zealand Cricket confirmed today. Ryder, who was hospitalised as a precautionary measure, has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament and will fly home after further recuperation.

Redmond, who has been playing cricket in England, is expected to join the squad and his inclusion has been approved by the ICC.

"Unfortunately medical advice is that it would be very difficult for Jesse to regain full fitness in time for the remainder of the tournament," Dave Currie, the team manager, said. "Because of the time constraints at this stage of the tournament we have made the call to bring in a replacement player, and we're fortunate that Aaron has been able to join the side for today's game.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 11, 2009

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 Collingwood not fazed by strong South Africa

England had a bit of a stutter before making the Super Eights, but their captain Paul Collingwood has said his side weren't intimidated at facing South Africa, who are among the favourites for the World Twenty20.

"Even if you are the best team, it doesn't mean you are going to win the game, as we saw in the IPL and the last Twenty20 World Cup" he said. "It only takes one or two individuals to win the game."

South Africa were ruthless against Scotland and pulled off a last-ball win over New Zealand despite not being in the best of form. They have a batting-order littered with big-hitters, and have the hostile Dale Steyn as their pace spearhead, besides the canny spin pair of Johan Botha and Roelof van der Merwe.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 11, 2009

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 Zaheer thankful for second chance by George Binoy

A bruised heel prompted Zaheer Khan to be rested from India's victorious World Twenty20 campaign two years ago in South Africa. In this year's tournament, however, he was simply relieved that lightning hadn't struck twice, saying his recovery from the shoulder injury he sustained during the IPL had been a "narrow escape".

On Wednesday night at Trent Bridge, Zaheer was in full flight. His opponents may only have been Ireland but he ran in off a full run-up, bowled at a brisk pace and moved the ball both ways. His opening spell squashed any hopes Ireland harboured of upsetting the world champions. Zaheer cut Ireland opener Jeremy Bray in half with an inswinger to the left-hander before shattering the stumps with a yorker next ball. He then had William Porterfield and Andre Botha edging length deliveries to Yusuf Pathan at slip before retuning in the penultimate over to induce an edge from Andrew White.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 10, 2009

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 Spirited West Indies get Gayle boost by Alex Brown

Even on one leg, Chris Gayle looks every bit the irresistible batting force. At a windswept Lady Bay training complex on Tuesday, he strode forth from the sidelines to drive, pull and cut his bowlers to all corners of Nottingham in a short, sharp net session. Not a bad effort, considering Gayle could scarcely walk the previous morning, and had sat out all of West Indies' running and fielding drills to that point.

Gayle's right leg injury - the result of a fearsome blow struck by Mitchell Johnson at The Oval on Saturday - sidelined him from Wednesday's defeat to Sri Lanka, but West Indies' supporters need not fret. Team officials are confident their enigmatic captain will be available for Super Eights assignments against India on Friday and South Africa on Saturday, and will be close to full fitness.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 10, 2009

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 Zaheer, Rohit hand India clinical win by Sidharth Monga

India 113/2 (Rohit 52*, Gambhir 37) beat Ireland 112/8 (Zaheer 4-19, Ojha 2-18) by eight wickets

India's bowlers were clinical in their demolition of the Ireland batting, the batsmen were equally solid in chasing down the moderate total, thus consigning Ireland to their first defeat in Twenty20 internationals. Zaheer Khan ran through the top order full of left-hand batsmen, Pragyan Ojha took a first-ball wicket in his second Twenty20 international too, and the new opening combination of Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma got India off to another solid start.

Zaheer, who made his comeback from his shoulder game only in the last game, was fast and accurate today, getting the ball to shape away from the left-hand batsmen. He didn't swing it as much as his opening partner Irfan Pathan did, but his pace and accuracy did the trick. Jeremy Bray was the first one to go, on the last ball of the second over, playing all around a yorker. Soon Zaheer was on a hat-trick when William Porterfield chased the first ball of the fourth. Andre Botha survived the hat-trick, but guided one to slip in the same over.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 10, 2009

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 Ex-ICL player Razzaq returns to Pakistan side by Osman Samiuddi

The ICC has approved the PCB's request to add Abdul Razzaq to replace one of its two injured players in the ongoing ICC World Twenty20. This makes Razzaq the first former ICL player returning to international cricket after being banned.

Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, had told Cricinfo that a request had been sent to the ICC's technical committee. "He is an allrounder and we've requested he replace Arafat, who is also an allrounder." A source close to the player also confirmed that Razzaq had been contacted by the board and apprised of the situation.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 10, 2009

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 Karthik yet to be approved as replacement

The Indian team management is yet to apply for, or receive, official sanction to replace the injured Virender Sehwag with Dinesh Karthik, who was named as the stand-in on Tuesday and is expected to reach the UK on Thursday. While it seems a formality, India will have to convince the ICC that Sehwag suffered or aggravated his injury during the ongoing World Twenty20, while it is well-known that he injured his shoulder during the IPL.

In case of injuries, ICC rules allow players to be replaced after an event has started only if the injury occurred during the tournament, and Sehwag has himself admitted that he suffered the shoulder injury, which has ruled him out of the World Twenty20, during the IPL semi-finals in Johannesburg on May 21.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 10, 2009

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 Jayasuriya and Dilshan set up victory by George Binoy

Sri Lanka 192/5 (Jayasuriya 81, Dilshan 74, Simmons 4-19) beat West Indies 177/5 (Bravo 51, Mendis 2-25) by 15 runs

Sanath Jayasuriya may be turning 40 at the end of the month but his demolition of the West Indian attack, which paved the way for Sri Lanka's 15-run victory at Trent Bridge, was as violent as any innings played during his heydays. In the absence of Chris Gayle, Jayasuriya ensured that the crowd had its fill of massive hits, blitzing 81 off only 47 balls, and his occupation of centre stage was so complete that Tillakaratne Dilshan's second half-century of the tournament was largely overshadowed until after his dismissal.

The West Indian bowlers made novice errors while bowling to Jayasuriya. They often gave him too much width, allowing him to free his muscled forearms and launch the ball over the off side, instead of cramping him for the room he loves. They bowled too short and too straight as well, giving Jayasuriya the space to lift the ball off his pads. Denesh Ramdin, West Indies' captain for the day, was forced to make frequent bowling changes but none of his bowlers were able to break Sri Lanka's opening stand before it caused severe damage. Jayasuriya and Dilshan added 124 for the first wicket in 12.3 overs, and Dilshan took charge thereafter to steer Sri Lanka towards a match-winning total.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 10, 2009

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 Warm-up opportunity before bigger tests by S Rajesh

Big Picture: With West Indies and Sri Lanka already through to the next stage after defeating Australia, and with the groups for the Super Eights already decided, there is little at stake in Wednesday's clash which, incidentally, is the 100th Twenty20 international. However, both teams were superb in their demolition of Australia, and neither will want that momentum to slip away with a sloppy display going into the next stage of the tournament.

Chris Gayle is an unlikely starter with a dodgy knee, but that won't upset West Indies as long as he is fit for the bigger games ahead. Team sources say Gayle wants to play every game in this tournament and "make a statement" but he will be subjected to a fitness test at Trent Bridge before the game. Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards struck early blows with the new ball, and a similar performance against the top-heavy batting line-up of Sri Lanka could put them on top. Sri Lanka, though, have the spin wizardry of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, which could be more than a handful for West Indies.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 10, 2009

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 Injured Gayle unlikely against Sri Lanka by George Binoy

The West Indies captain Chris Gayle is carrying an injury after being struck near the knee by Mitchell Johnson and is an uncertain starter for their final group game against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge on Wednesday. Gayle said he would bat during the team's practice session at Lady Bay and decide on his participation afterwards.

Gayle almost single-handedly led West Indies to victory against Australia at The Oval on June 6 but was struck on the outside of his right leg, near the knee, in Johnson's third over. He hobbled across for a single but then sat on the ground in visible discomfort before carrying on to score 88 off 50 balls.

To read complete article CLICK HERE.

 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 10, 2009

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 Younis attributes win to seniors by Nagraj Gollapudi

Two days ago at The Oval, Younis Khan made a bizarre comment in the context of what had just happened: Pakistan had lost to England by 48 runs. Their fielders, especially Salman Butt, had put on one of the worst fielding displays in an international game. Most of his frontline bowlers failed to rise to the occasion. Minutes later, Younis walked up to the media briefing to say he did not attach much meaning to the result. "Twenty20 cricket is entertainment," he said with a smile - it was difficult to understand if Younis was being serious.

After today's smooth and expected victory against Netherlands, Younis stood by that opinion. "In this form it is better to take it easy and have fun. It is like WWF," he said with an open smile. His statement somewhat describes Pakistan's attitude in the tournament - they are reluctant winners.

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 Source: www.cricinfo.com, June 9, 2009

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