ICC World Twenty20

[Howsie]

Ah but he is, even his OD bowling seems to have come good (The weakest part of his game). Hes played 3 games got 8 wickets at an average of 12 with a rpo of 3.62. Also got 50 not out last night to bring Gloucestershire home. In the championship he has an average of 14.8 as well although he has been injured for a good part of that.

Add his new found batting ability to that and you might well have a Chris Cairns replacement.

Overall I am fairly happy with the squad outside of Styris and think they have a great chance of winning it.

I've got a pretty good feeling about this team too. If you look at our top four anyone of them can win us a game on their own. And yes I have seen how well Franklin seems to be going over there, he is bowling pretty well.

Franklin just needs to be confident and he good do anything

That was his problem in the test series, he just did not look confident at all with his batting.

 

[naresh091]

I dont want to see Jadeja in the XI playing run-a-ball knocks there when the team needs big hits.Yeah he bowls quite tightly and fields well too but Ojha would be more than handy with his useful slow left arm bowling.And I also dont get the idea of playing another 'half here-half there' player like Jadeja when we have five genuine Batsmen,five consistent bowlers and a useful all rounder(Yusuf Pathan).He just doesnt fit into my ideal XI.

 

[shravi]

I dont want to see Jadeja in the XI playing run-a-ball knocks there when the team needs big hits.Yeah he bowls quite tightly and fields well too but Ojha would be more than handy with his useful slow left arm bowling.And I also dont get the idea of playing another 'half here-half there' player like Jadeja when we have five genuine Batsmen,five consistent bowlers and a useful all rounder(Yusuf Pathan).He just doesnt fit into my ideal XI.

You're underrating Jadeja to immense levels. He wouldn't be in the team if he was a bits and pieces player. He doesn't get enough chances to make the most of for the Royals. He's always being moved up and moved down the order. There is no stability when he's playing for the Royals. I'm sure that will play on his mind as he's not quite sure what his role in the team is. Just look at his List A record, 60 with the bat, 22 with the ball. Look at his most recent Ranji season. I realize that they are both very different from T20 cricket but it gives an indication of what he can do when he has a concrete role in the team.

 

[naresh091]

Might be.Im just saying that based on what Ive seen of him in the two seasons of IPL and the T20 game he played for India and scored a run a ball 57(the game we lost)
He has played some crucial knock,I agree.But for the least,he doesnt fit into this star studded batting order imo.

 

[nz0003]

McCullum and Ryder looking in good form during the current IPL game.

Taylors due in next.

nz0003 added 30 Minutes and 28 Seconds later...

Taylor in form as well.

 

[shravi]

Might be.Im just saying that based on what Ive seen of him in the two seasons of IPL and the T20 game he played for India and scored a run a ball 57(the game we lost)
He has played some crucial knock,I agree.But for the least,he doesnt fit into this star studded batting order imo.

It wasn't a T20 game. It was the last ODI of the series and his ODI debut vs Sri Lanka. Dhoni was at the crease when he came in and he was sticking around on Dhoni's orders I think because Dhoni told him to wait and go for it later. Dhoni got out though and the game was lost by then. He was hardly the only one to blame. Plus, it was a 50 over game. It's not that easy to maintain such levels of aggression continuously.

 

[SaiSrini]

I dont want to see Jadeja in the XI playing run-a-ball knocks there when the team needs big hits.Yeah he bowls quite tightly and fields well too but Ojha would be more than handy with his useful slow left arm bowling.And I also dont get the idea of playing another 'half here-half there' player like Jadeja when we have five genuine Batsmen,five consistent bowlers and a useful all rounder(Yusuf Pathan).He just doesnt fit into my ideal XI.

Ojha cant bat, Jadeja is a very good T20 batsman (he has scored "more than run a ball" knocks this IPL). Jadeja is a brilliant fielder, where Ojha is just good. Ojha is an attacking bowler, but when its not his day, he could go for a lot of runs. But Jadeja is almost always very tight and the pressure exerted by him most often translates into a drastic shift in the momentum of the game (he almost won the game for India in the 2nd T20 against NZ in NZ which we lost off the last ball).

Jadeja is a far better option than Ojha.

 

[naresh091]

Oh Maybe I was underrating him too much.But thats what I feel after seeing him play in about 10-15 games atleast.Hope Im wrong.If hes a better option than Ojha,Im more than happy tbh.

 

[Aoun13]

Pakistan hire psychologist ahead of World Twenty20

Following the lead of teams like Australia, India and Sri Lanka, Pakistan have decided to hire a motivational psychologist to help their players cope with pressure and perform well in the World Twenty20 next month.

The PCB has employed sports psychologist Maqbool Babri, who will start working with the players at their conditioning camp starting at the hill station Bhurban on May 14.

"The idea is to improve the mental toughness of players and their ability to not crack under pressure," Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam told PTI. "Nowadays every top sportsmen and women has a sports psychologist to help them through pressure situations and in big tournaments.

"Myself and (captain) Younis Khan thought it would be a good idea to get a psychologist to work with the players and improve their self-belief and get rid of the fear of failing in big matches."

Pakistan, who lost in the final of the inaugural World Twenty20, are grouped with hosts England and Netherlands in this year's tournament, which kicks off on June 5.

? Cricinfo

nice idea by the coach:banana2

 

[SciD]

Rohit Sharma is smoking in end. Need to make room for him but where

Viru
Gauti
Raina
Yuvi
MSD
Rohit
Yousuf
Irfan
Bhajji
Zak
RP Singh

 

[Leggie]

That line up is perfect. I think Rohit deserves his place in the side after smacking all these world class bowlers around. It's one hell of a batting up in fact. Having, Sehwag, Raina, Dhoni and Yusuf in the side at once is orgasmic.

 

[King Cricket]

Is GG Gautam Gambhir?

Who else?

The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters.

 

[Alam_dar]

I would not rate the teams as 1,2, 3 but in Groups.


1st Group:

It consists of India, Australia, South Africa

All these 3 teams are looking equally good and par with each other.


2nd Group:

This is the Group of Dark Horses. This means although on Paper they are weaker than above mentioned 3 teams, but these Dark Horses could up set each and every prediction.

It consists of Sri Lanka, Pakistan and NZ

By default all these 3 are not so good as first 3 Teams, but they are the real dark horses.


3rd Group:

It consists of England and W. Indies


4th Group:

It consists of all minows including Bangladesh.



My favourite Indian Eleven:

1. GG
2. Sehwag
3. Raina (my favourite player at moment)
4. Yuvi
5. Yousuf Pathan

**********All these 5 Batsmen are Match Winners and if any of them stays longer, then India is going to win the match easily

6. MS Dhoni

7. Kumar (I don't think in 20/20 Irfan Pathan is needed. But India could do much better with swing bowling of Kumar. He could also hit big Sixes)

8. Bhaji
9. RP Singh
10. Zaheer
11. Ishant

India do need 4 Good Fast/Swing Bowlers. Playing extra batsman like Rohit Sharma is not wise for this shorter version of game.

If Bhajji not delivers, then he should be replaced and Ohja should do the entry.


My Favourite Pakistan Eleven

My JAN Pakistan, all the good wishes to you my Pak Team. Here is my playing Eleven.


1. Shahzaib Hassan (If he proves himself equally good as in Domestics, then we have a dynamite Monster here and he could lift Pakistan in the category of first Group of teams.

2. Akmal
3. Malik
4. Younus
5. Misbah
6. Fawad Alam

I feel only Shahzaib Hassan and Akmal are real big hitters in this batting line, while Malik, Younus, Misbah and FAwad, they all are Average hitters of the ball.

7. Afridi (Big Hitter. He could be promoted in order if our Openers provide us with good Start)

8. Yasir Arafat (He is a good swing bowler in helpful conditions. Has experience of English wickets. He is also counted as big Hitter in English County)

9. Gulla (He has also got the muscles to hit hard. He should be given some training for this purpose)

10. Shoaib Akhtar (he has also got the power to hitting hard)

11. Muhammad Aamir (This lad could also prove to be a big surprise. If he really comes true with his talent, then Pakistan will be having very dangerous Bowling Attack)


I have rated Pakistan in 2nd Group. But I tell you that Pakistan will be the biggest Dark Horse (bigger than SL and NZ). Strong Point of Pakistan is it's strong Bowling. While weak point is Batting Line up, which is very fragile very often. We are lacking explosive 20/20 Batsmen like Yuvi and Yousuf and Raina.

Alam_dar added 10 Minutes and 42 Seconds later...

Don't know why Dussey is in there, Hodge has been the best T20 batter in Aus for the past few seasons and now he is performing in the IPL.
Anyway my 11 would be

Warner
Watson
Ponting
Symonds
Hussey
Ferguson
Haddin
Lee
Hauritz
Johnson
Bracken

I don't think Clarke is suited to the T20 game but he will be picked over Ferguson.

O dear, why dont you want to have HOPES in your playing 11? He is a good all rounder and can also do the hard hitting. Instead of Ferguson or Hussy, he should be there.

 

[Leggie]

How can Pakistan be a 'Dark Horses' when they got to the final in 2007?

 

[SciD]

Aussies are dark horse.