Story India's International Diary - Early wicket for Kiwis

[shantanu_rooney]

ICC Champions Trophy 2009
Dravid among Champions Trophy Probables
Cricinfo Staff
July 7, 2009

Rahul Dravid picked in the 30-man probables for Champions Trophy

Rahul Dravid finds himself back in the ODI reckoning after the former captain was
named in India's 30-member probables list for the Champions Trophy, on Monday.

The All-India Senior Selection Committee, which met at the MA Chidambaram Stadium
to pick the 30 probables for the elite top-eight tournament to be held in South
Africa during September 2009, however decided to ignore the likes of Irfan Pathan
and Robin Uthappa.

Dravid last played a one-day international for India back in October 2007 against
Australia in Nagpur, but he is back in the reckoning for September's Champions
Trophy in South Africa.

Dravid's Twenty20 form during the Indian Premier League in South Africa has led to
his inclusion in the Champions Trophy squad - with him scoring 271 runs at a
strike-rate of 115.81 as the Royal Challengers Bangalore finished as IPL
runners-up.

The 36-year-old takes his place in the 30-man initial squad named by the Board of
Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the tournament, which takes place from
September 24 to October 5.

During his years as one of India's batting superstars, Dravid has 10,585 runs from
333 ODI matches, including 12 hundreds and 81 fifties.

Senior cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who had opted out of the just-concluded West
Indies tour, returns to the side as do the injured duo of Virender Sehwag and
Zaheer Khan.

Hard-hitting Delhi batsman Virat Kohli, Bengal stumper Wriddhiman Saha, Tamil
Nadu's R Ashiwin and Murali Vijay also found a place in the list of probables.

UP pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, lanky Rajasthan medium pacer Pankaj Singh and the
Mumbai duo of Ajinkya Rahane and Dhawal Kulkarni also found mention in the list.

Probables: M S Dhoni(C), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma,
Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Abhishek Nayar, Ishant
Sharma, Zaheer Khan, R P Singh, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha,
Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik, Munaf Patel, R Ashwin, M Vijay, Amit Mishra,
Ajinkya Rahane, Dhawal Kulkarni, S Badrinath, Ashish Nehra, Virat Kohli,
Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh, Wridhiman Saha, Pankaj Singh.

? Cricinfo​

 

[shubhrayu]

Well I am gonna follow this story

 

[Funknath]

Nice start, Shantanu. Looking forward to story with awesome graphics.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

India Cricket
India to play tri-series against Sri Lanka, NZ
Cricinfo Staff
July 12, 2009

India come of the field after defeating the Sri Lankans

Sri Lanka Cricket on Friday confirmed that India and New Zealand will play a triangular
series along with the hosts during the Kiwis' tour in August.

The tri-series was "agreed with the Chairman, Secretary, Board of Cricket Control in
India and the Chief Executive, New Zealand Cricket at discussions held with the
Chairman and Secretary, SLC during their visit to the UK," a statement from Sri Lanka
Cricket said on Friday.

India had been considering playing the series as it would provide them with crucial
match practice ahead of the Champions Trophy in South Africa in September.

India have just returned from their 2-1 one-day international series win in West Indies
and will be enjoying some lengthy break from international cricket.

With the New Zealand's tour for Test matches not expected to generate much public
interest, India's inclusion for the one-dayers was welcomed by SLC, which would create
great commercial interest.

"SLC would like to express its appreciation to the officials of BCCI for agreeing on an
unscheduled tour, which would add an additional commercial benefit to the stakeholders
of SLC, moreover a viewing pleasure to the cricket loving public in Sri Lanka," the
release added.

Sri Lanka Cricket have also released the fixtures for the tri-series which will be held
before the Champions Trophy and run from September 8-14. The dates of the four-game
tournament were also fixed during the ICC meeting held in UK. All matches will be
played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Tri-series at Premadasa stadium, Colombo
Sept 8 Sri Lanka v New Zealand
Sept 10 India v Sri Lanka
Sept 12 India v New Zealand
Sept 14 Final
​

 

[shalin_hitter]

Awesome.It would be great to see Dravid bacdk again in the squad

 

[Ollie_H]

was there something wrong with your other India story? I don't see why you need to keep chopping and changing stories?

 

[shantanu_rooney]

was there something wrong with your other India story? I don't see why you need to keep chopping and changing stories?

There was nothing wrong with my India story, but the only problem was that the gfx took a lot of time and that much time didnt had due to my coll stuff. So I talked with the story mods and they gave me the green signal to do a new story which will be without any ingame screenies.

 

[Ollie_H]

but you could have just done the rest of it with no in game screenies? It really annoys me because you start really good stories and the after about 4 pages you just quit to start a new one!

 

[OffCutters]

Strange to see an India-Sri Lanka-New Zealand tri-series. But should be a good and interesting series though. Great writing, like the cricinfo idea as well.

 

[Leverocks]

Nice work shantanu, hope Dravid can reclaim his spot back in the ODI side.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Champions Trophy 2009
ICC announce Champions Trophy Fixtures
Cricinfo Staff
July 20, 2009

Australians celebrate their 2006 Champions Trophy victory

The fixtures for the upcoming Champions Trophy have been announced today in the
ICC's meeting held in Dubai. The format has been revamped, with only eight teams
instead of ten will be participating.

Unlike last edition of the tournament in 2006, when the tournament lasted nearly
a month, there will be no qualifying round this time. Centurion and Wanderers
will host all 15 games between them.

The teams have been divided into two groups of four each and the
top two from each will qualify for the semi-finals. India and Pakistan find
themselves in the same group, along with Australia and West Indies, and the two
rivals will meet on the fifth day of the tournament in a day-night game at
Centurion. Group B includes South Africa, England, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. The
hosts will play Sri Lanka in the opening game in Centurion.

The prize money for the Champions Trophy has also been increased nearly four
times, with US$5 million on offer for the tournament to be played from September
22 to October 5 in South Africa.

Harron Lorgat, the cheif executive of the ICC said: "Champions Trophy is a short
event, with a new format which will involve the top eight nations in the world in
action. This should be a fantastic spectacle to follow for all the fans from
across the globe. We are extremely grateful towards South Africa for hosting this
event after it was postponed last year because of security reasons in Pakistan.
We are also grateful to our members for finding a slot for it in their busy
schedule."

ICC Champions Trophy 2009

Group A: Australia, Pakistan, West Indies, India
Group B: South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England

Sep 22: South Africa v Sri Lanka
Sep 23: Pakistan v West Indies
Sep 24: South Africa v New Zealand
Sep 25: England v Sri Lanka
Sep 26: Australia v West Indies
Sep 26: India v Pakistan
Sep 27: New Zealand v Sri Lanka
Sep 27: South Africa v England
Sep 28: Australia v India
Sep 29: England v New Zealand
Sep 30: Australia v Pakistan
Sep 30: India v West Indies
Oct 02: 1st Semi Final
Oct 03: 2nd Semi Final
Oct 05: Final

? Cricinfo​

 

[Pakistani Army]

As I am a Pakistani supporter, I feel that a victory is assured against the West Indians however the main threat will be Chris Gayle as we all know what he can do if he fires.

Second game against the Indians is going to prove to be a tough challenge for the Pakistanis. I feel that on their day however Pakistan can be World beaters. The main threat will definatly have to be Gautham Gambhir aswell as the other greats at the top of the order including Sachin & Dravid.

And finally onto the Australians. The Australians have lost a few of their key players since their 2006 Champions Trophy victory i.e: Martyn, Symonds, Hayden & McGrath and I feel with this they have not been the same side of strong power as they once were. Pakistan will still have to play well though in order to get past a well balanced Australian side.

Fantastic presentation Shantanu. I like the write-up aswell as the Cricinfoesque layout. Keep up the fine works!

 

[Funknath]

Nice pres there Shantanu. Hoping that India wins the tri series and Champions Trophy.

KUTGW

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Sri Lanka Tri-Series 2009
Bond and Vincent back in NZ squad
Cricinfo Staff
August 22, 2009

Shane Bond and Lou Vincent celebrate against the Aussies

New Zealanad have called up opening batsman Lou Vincent and fast bowler Shane Bond
for the one-day tri-series against Sri Lanka and India which starts on 8 September.

The pair were suspended from international duty by the New Zealand Cricket Board
because they were involved in the Indian Cricket League. But they have since cut
their ties with the unauthorized Twenty20 competition under the NZC's amnesty
scheme. It means they could return to the international fold after two years out.

Fast bowler Daryl Tuffey was overlooked for selection after declining to undergo a
fitness test organized by the NZC last week because his father was unwell. A test
was finally conducted later in the week, but it was cut short without him even
bowling a single delivery.

Allrounder Grant Elliot, who missed the ICC Twenty20 World Championships in England
and the India home series because of injury and sickness, has also been included in
the squad with Aaron Redmond dropped.

Neil Broom and Martin Guptil have retained their places, while Jeetan Patel, who
was not selected for the Twenty20 World Championships in England, returns to the
team.

New Zealand play the opening game of the series against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Squad: Daniel Vettori(C), Shane Bond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Grant Elliot, Martin
Guptill, Brendon McCullum(wk), Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Iain
O'Brien, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Lou Vincent.

? Cricinfo​

 

[Jaztheman]

Vincent and Bond are massive call ups, i rate them both highly. I think Bond was one of the best bowlers in the world when playing for New Zealand, if a little inconsistent with his bowling when I watched him play. Not that many surprise inclusions bar those two, but not many were needed.

As always very clean and neat presentation that is a joy to read. No constructive criticsm from me... yet.