Story SouthAfrica's International Diary(ICC CT 2009) - Boucher tries to Steady the Ship

[shantanu_rooney]

This is Back...​

​

​

​

Well after a small break, I have decided to continue with this story, which was running quite well when it was regularly updated. As the vacations have started here in India, I have decided to continue this story.

I would not continuing with the T20 World Cup as I don't have the save files any more, instead I would start with a new series/tournament. Hope you all keep the same old support with me. :upray

 

[BKB1991]

Well you have got my support! As long as you STICK to this story! What about the career diary?

 

[Pakistani Army]

This is Back...​

​

​

​

I would not continuing with the T20 World Cup as I don't have the save files any more, instead I would start with a new series/tournament.

Hmm. I urge you to complete the ICC World Twenty20 tournament on Cricsim or any other simulation game.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Hmm. I urge you to complete the ICC World Twenty20 tournament on Cricsim or any other simulation game.

Well I think instead of the World T20 Championship, I will do the ICC Champions Trophy and probably the Champions League T20 using the cricsim, as I dont have either Cricket 2005, 2007 or even Ashes Cricket 2009.

 

[hedger_14]

Just skip the T20 World Cup. Anyway, great to see this back up again.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Preview

The ICC Champions Trophy is an elite event for the top eight nations in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Rankings. The event, formerly known as the ICC Knockout, has been held five times. Winners of the competition include South Africa (1998), New Zealand (2000), Sri Lanka and India (2002), who were joint winners after the final was washed-out, West Indies (2004) and Australia (2006). The tournament has been staged in Bangladesh (1998), Kenya (2000), Sri Lanka (2002), England (2004) and India (2006). The venue of the Champions Trophy was first decided as Pakistan but later was postponed and changed to South Africa due to security reasons.

Sponsors

Telecasting Rights

ESPN Star have secured the telecasting rights for the ICC Champions Trophy 2009. ESPN Star being ICC's official broadcasting partner the Champions Trophy rights have been given to them. ESPN Star have won the race for the rights against SKY Sports - England's main sports broadcaster, Channel Nine, Super Sport, Zee Sports etc. All the matches will be shown live on ESPN and Star Cricket.

Fixtures

The ICC Champions Trophy 2009 is a 2nd biggest cricket tournament scheduled to take place in South Africa in September-October 2009. It will be the sixth mini world cricket series. The ICC Champions Trophy 2009 will be contested by 8 Test teams which have been 'seeded' and divided into two groups are A and B.

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

Group Staghes

South Africa v Sri Lanka @ Centurion
Pakistan v West Indies @ Johannesburg
South Africa v New zealand @ Centurion
England v Sri Lanka @ Johannesburg
Australia v West Indies @ Johannesburg
India v Pakistan @ Centurion
New Zealand v Sri Lanka @ Johannesburg
South Africa v England @ Centurion
India v Australia @ Centurion
England v New Zealand @ Johannesburg
Pakistan v Australia @ Centurion
India v west Indies @ Johannesburg

Semi Finals and Finals

A1 v B2 @ Centurion
A2 v B1 @ Johannesburg
Finals @ Centurion

Some More..

ESPN Star have also brought back their most famous fantasy cricket game 'Super Selector' for all the Planet Cricket Members.

More Information on the fantasy game coming soon....

 

[shalin_hitter]

The qualifiers should be a piece of cake for SA......
Cant wait for the fantasy game

 

[MaD]

Yay A South African story, can't wait :banana2

 

[T-Hawk]

Mate, I have just read through all of this and I have to say this is truly amazing, it's presented excellently and is highly entertaining to read, Keep up the superb work mate :hpraise

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Defending Champs arrive in South Africa​

Welcome to ESPN and we will bring you the details of the squad of the team which arrived today in South Africa. The defending champions Australia are the first team to arrive for the Champions Trophy having landed at the Johannesburg airport in South Africa directly from England where they trashed the host 6-1 in the Natwest Series after losing Ashes.

The Aussies are full of confidence and are coming from a huge 6-1 series victory against England in Natwest Series after losing the Ashes. Aussies have made just two changes in the squad that was in England for the ODI Series. David Hussey and Doug Bollinger have come in for the injured Michael Clarke and Nathan Bracken respectively. Brad Haddin has failed to recover from his broken finger which means Tim Paine who had a impressive One Day Series in England will be wearing the wicket keeping gloves. Aussies hopes of retaining their Champions Trophy will be fully on their inform skipper Ricky Ponting who had an outstanding One Day Series in England scoring 233 runs in 4 matches at an average of 58.25 after recovering from an injury.

Ricky Ponting*
Doug Bollinger
Callum Ferguson
Nathan Hauritz
Ben Hilfenhaus
James Hopes
David Hussey
Michael Hussey
Mitchell Johnson
Brett Lee
Tim Paine?
PEter Siddle
Adam Voges
Shane Watson
Cameron White

Ricky Ponting the Man to Watch​

: Its going be a tough and very competitive tournament. The momentum is on our side after winning the Natwest Series comfortably, but we can't take anything for granted or lightly as we are drawn in a tough group along side India and Pakistan who look to be in good form of late and West Indies of course can't be underestimated even when they are playing their second string side.

 

[just_cricket]

Writing, graphics and overall presentation looking great as always- there's just something about your presentation that just looks better than other efforts- what font and size do you use, is it Comic Sans MS size 3?

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Writing, graphics and overall presentation looking great as always- there's just something about your presentation that just looks better than other efforts- what font and size do you use, is it Comic Sans MS size 3?

yeah Comic Sans MS size 3

 

[shantanu_rooney]

India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka arrive​

Welcome to ESPN and we will bring you the details of the squad of the team which arrived today in South Africa. The three sides from Asia - India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have landed at the Johannesburg airport in South Africa for the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy.

The Indians are fresh and full of confidence from their victories in Sri Lanka and West Indies. After having a disappointing Twenty20 World Cup in England, the former defending champions toured West Indies for a four match ODI series which they won 2-1 with one match being washed away by rain. Just before participating in the Champions Trophy they played a small Tri-series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Sri Lanka, which they won by defeating the host in the finals. The Indians arrive with a very strong without injured duo Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan, but they Rahul Dravid and Ashish Nehra making a comeback.

MS Dhoni*†
Rahul Dravid
Gautam Gambhir
Harbhajan Singh
Dinesh Karthik†
Virat Kohli
Praveen Kumar
Amit Mishra
Abishek Nayar
Ashish Nehra
Yusuf Pathan
Suresh Raina
Ishant Sharma
RP Singh
Sachin Tendulkar
Yuvraj Singh

Key Man: Sachin Tendulkar​

: We have performed well in one day internationals over the past 6 months or so, but when it comes to major ICC tournaments we haven't played our best cricket yet since the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup. So the stage is set for us to fire all guns and make a huge statement to the world.

Unlike their rivals India, the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup winners dont arrive in South Africa for the Champions Trophy in full confidence after having lost both the test and one day series to Sri Lanka in small island. Pakistan do travel with a very strong and a balanced balance squad. With the likes of Fawad Alam, Imran Nazir and Mohammad Asif making their return to international cricket, along with some new youngsters in form of Mohammad Aamer and Umar Akmal who have arrived on the international stage with a bang.

Younis Khan*
Shahid Afridi
Fawad Alam
Ifthikar Anjum
Imran Nazir
Kamran Akmal†
Misbah-ul-Huq
Mohammad Aamer
Mohammad Asif
Mohammad Yousuf
Naved-ul-Hasan
Saeed Ajmal
Shoaib Malik
Umar Akmal
Umar Gul

Key Man: Shahid Afridi​

: We have not played good cricket since we won the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in England and we want to play it now in South Africa. We have a very good balance in our side, of both experience and youth and that will be the key to our success in this tournament.

Last team to arrive today were Sri Lankans. They come South Africa after having a good Twenty20 World Cup in England, followed by victories over Pakistan(Test and ODIs) and New Zealand(Tests) at home. Like the other two sides, the Lankans do arrive with their full strength with the likes of Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan returning after some injury problems. Thilan Samaraweera makes his return to one day thanks to some outstanding performances in recent test matches. Dammika Prasad, Upul Tharanga and Thilina Kandamby are only the new faces in the side which toured England for the Twenty20 World Cup.

Kumar Sangakkara*†
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Sanath Jayasuriya
Mahela Jayawardene
Thilina Kandamby
Chamara Kapugedera
Nuwan Kulasekera
Lasith Malinga
Angelo Mathews
Ajantha Mendis
Muttiah Muralitharan
Dammika Prasad
Thilan samaraweera
Upul Tharanga
Thilan Thushara

Key Man: Tillakaratne Dilshan​

: We have had a very good season so far, and we want to continue it by doing all the good things. We are here with our best squad, which has a good combination of experience and youth. I also feel this could be the season in which we could win a major ICC tournament after a long time.

 

[Prithvi]

Good update and correct the spelling of Sri Lanka

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Hosts announce their squad​

Welcome to ESPN and we will bring you the details of the squad of the team which arrived today in South Africa. Today the host - South Africa have announced their squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2009.

South Africa who were defeated in semi-finals of the World Twenty20 Championship by the eventual winners Pakistan in England have announced their 15-man squad for the tournament with a couple of changes. Medium-pacer Lonwabo Tsotsobe and left-arm spinner Robin Peterson have been named in the Champions Trophy squad, marking their return to international cricket. They take the place of Morne Morkel and Vaughn van Jaarsveld who have been very disappointing of late. Charl Langeveldt missed out on a place after failing to fully recover from a shoulder injury.

Graeme Smith*
Johan Botha
Hashim Amla
Marck Boucher†
AB de Villiers
Jean-Paul Duminy
Hershelle Gibbs
Jaques Kallis
Albie Morkel
Makhaya Ntini
Wayne Parnell
Robin Peterson
Dale Steyn
Lonwabo Tsotsobe
Roelof van der Merwe

Key Man: AB de Villiers​

: We are confident about our team. We have a very good squad with good balance it in. We have been knocked out many-a-times in the semi-finals of bigger tournaments and we are very eager to change that stat. We have performed very well in last 6 months or so and now we want to continue the same form.