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

[JD10]

England behind as ever:laugh:laugh

 

[Gaurav_7]

No surprises there in SA squad.I like the way you present your stories.Well done.

 

[Pakistani Army]

I am a fraction curious as to what Herchelle Gibbs is doing in the squad. You would think that he would be kept for the shorter format of the game (T20). Personally, I would play Hashim Amla instead of Gibbs in the final starting XI.

However, it still is a strong squad. The South Africans look to be the favourites.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Final Three Teams Arrive​

Welcome to ESPN and we will bring you the details of the squad of the team which arrived today in South Africa. The final three sides - England, New Zealand and West Indies have landed at the Johannesburg airport in South Africa for the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy.

England head to South Africa in mixed emotions, delighted by winning the Ashes and devastated by losing the following ODI series 6-1 to Australia at home. The selectors have made some changes to squad by bringing in Joe Denly, Graham Onions and Steve Davies for the injured trio of Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and Matt Prior. Rest of squad remains the same, that was hammered by the mighty Aussies 6-1 at home.

Andrew Strauss*
James Anderson
Ravi Bopara
Tim Bresnan
Stuart Broad
Paul Collingwood
Steve Davies?
Joe Denly
Eoin Morgon
Graham Onions
Adil Rashid
Owais Shah
Ryan Sidebottom
Graeme Swann
Luke Wright

Key Man: Paul Collingwood​

: We come from the back of a hammering by Australia in ODI Series. But its a new day and a new series and thats why we have a chance performing much better than what we did against Australia. Everyone in our team has the self confidence and that's what is need.

The Kiwis arrive in South Africa with not much confidence, as they were defeated in all forms of the game by Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka and also had a disappointing Twenty20 World Cup in England. As for the squad is concerned Daryl Tuffey, Shane Bond and Brendon Diamanti make a return to the squad for the Champions Trophy while Brendon McCullum's brother Nathan misses out.

Daniel Vettori*
Shane Bond
Neil Broom
Ian Butler
Brendon Diamanti
Grant Elliott
Martin Guptill
Gareth Hopkins
Brendon McCullum?
Kyle Mills
Jacob Oram
Jeetan Patel
Jesse Ryder
Ross Taylor
Daryl Tuffey

Key Man: Ross Taylor​

: We haven't had best of the season yet, but the confidence is there in the team. We have played some cricket but the results have not gone our way. We hope, we can do the basics and reach to the later stages of the tournament.

The last team to arrive to South Africa, were the West Indies. The West Indies came from defeats to Bangladesh at home in the Test and the ODI series but at the same time they had a successful Twenty20 World cup in England. As expected, the West Indies selectors have named a squad without most of the leading players for the Champions Trophy in September, giving an indication that there might not be an early resolution to the long drawn out contracts dispute.

Floyd Reifer*
Darren Sammy
David Bernard
Tino Best
Royston Crandon
Travis Dowlin
Andre Fletcher
Nikita Miller
Daren Powell
Kieran Powell
Dale Richards
Kemar Roach
Devon Smith,
Gavin Tonge
Chadwick Walton?

Key Man: Andre Fletcher​

: We are no second string side. At the end of the day, whoever goes out there to play is representing West Indies and is a West Indies team. We may not be most experience but we surely have plenty of talent. We intend to work together so that we would be competitive in South Africa.

 

[Biggy]

What game do you play this on?

 

[shantanu_rooney]

What game do you play this on?

I am undecided yet, ICC or cricism.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

South Africa v Sri Lanka Pre-Match Show Part I
Game One​

: Hello and welcome to all our viewers. In this pre-match show, we ie my guest and I will be previewing the ICC Champions Trophy and also the first match between the host South Africa and Sri Lanka at the Centurion. So with me in the studio I have the legendary South African fast bowler Shaun Pollock along with Sri Lanka's best batsman Aravinda de Silva. Welcome to the show guys.

: Thanks a lot Harsha and hello to all our viewers.

: Shaun, starting from you what do you think of the Champions Trophy's new format? Do you like this one or do you prefer the earlier ones?

: Actually Harsha, I liked this format the most. The previous format was almost like a World Cup in which ten teams took part but in this eight top teams and straightaway after the group stages get over we have the semi-finals and finals. This one will be more shorter than the previous ones. So I feel this will be very entertaining to watch and I am very excited about it.

: Do you thing ICC made the right decision by making South Africa the hosts for the tournament or do you think Pakistan should have been given a second chance?

: ICC made the right decision shifting the tournament out of Pakistan. The security in Pakistan is not good at all and thats why it was a right decision. Making South Africa the hosts, I say yes again because we have seen this year itself that South Africa were very successful in hosting the IPL 2 in a very short period of time and so I feel South Africa will again make this tournament a hit.

: About today's match who do you thing are the favourites - South Africa who haven't played since losing to Pakistan in semi-finals of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in England or Sri Lanka who had successful home series against New Zealand and Pakistan?

: I feel both sides are equally good. South Africa are better than Sri Lanka on paper as they have a very balanced side and are number one in the World but you cant underestimate Sri Lanka as you never know with the likes of Jayasuriya and Dilshan in your team. But I am sure we are going to have a good game of cricket.

: I completely agree with Aravinda, its going to fascinating game of cricket today, and I am sure everyone watching the game will be entertained.

: Talking about both the teams, first Shaun. Do you think Herschelle Gibbs will be given an another chance ahead of Hashim Amla as he has not performed at his best in last 2-3 months or so?

: If I were the captain I would go for Herschelle because he is kind of a batsman you never know. He is like the Sehwags, Dilshans and Jayasuriyas of the world. One day he may be out for a duck but next day he may score 150. So, I think the Proteas will stick with him.

: Now about the Sri Lankas, everyone has been playing well of late. Dilshan, Jayawardene, Samaraweera etc. But the problem is with Mendis, he hasn't been that effective as he was when he arrived. Would you drop him for an extra fast bowler on these kind of pitches or will stick with him?

: When Ajantha arrived there weren't many videos on him, and so the players found him difficult to play but now there are many available and I think the players have found how to play him. Yes I would give a chance to an extra fast bowler on these pitches instead of Mendis.

: Now its time to slip to a short break but we on the other side we will have the pitch report, followed by the toss, a chat with a special guest and also a contest for our viewers. Still then stay tuned.

 

[Prithvi]

Good work mate. And how long is the break:laugh

 

[shantanu_rooney]

South Africa v Sri Lanka Pre-Match Show Part II(Pitch Report and Toss)
Game One​

: Welcome back to The Cricket Show. Without wasting much time lets go down to Ian Bishop who is ready for the pitch report along with Geoffrey Boycott.

: Thanks Harsha. Its a warm day over here at Centurion for the first match of the Champions Trophy. Alongside me I have Geoffrey Boycott, who will tell us more about the pitch. So Geoffrey what do you think about the pitch?

: Well, this is a very good track for batting.Its almost a flat wicket, but it has some moisture on it which will be very helpful for the bowlers in the first 10-12 overs. But after the first hour-so the ball will start coming nicely on the bat and stroke playing will be much easier.Talking about the spinners they will come to play as the ball gets older, say after 20 odd overs. Overall its a very good pitch batting.

: So win the toss and bat first? and what type of score do you feel will be very good one?

: Yeah, win he toss and bat first. Score around 270-280 would be a really good score on this pitch, as it would be difficult to chase under the lights.

: Thanks a lot Geoffrey. So as we have heard win the toss and bat first. That's all from us, back to you Harsha in the studio.

: Thanks a lot Ian, and Geoffrey Boycott. Now lets go down to Ravi Shastri who is with the two captains for the toss.

: Ladies and gentlemen welcome to Centurion for the first match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2009. With me I have Graeme Smith, the captain of South Africa and Kumar Sangakkara the skipper of Sri Lanka. Graeme Smith has the coin.

: Heads.

: Heads is the call, and its come down as tails. Graeme Smith has won the toss and so Graeme what are you going to do?

: We will bat first. The pitch looks really good for batting and hopefully we can make the most use of it.

: So whats the composition of the side for today.

: We are going with three specialist bowlers in Botha, Steyn and Parnel and they will be supported by the likes of Kallis, Albie Morkel and van der Merwe and the rest of the side is the same.

: Herchelle Gibbs hasn't been in the best of form over the last 2-3 series, is he playing?

: Yeah, Herschelle is a very important part of our team and so we have all the trust in him. Unfortunately Hashim Amla misses out today.

: Ok, Graeme good luck for the match. Kumar disappointed on not winning the toss?

: Yeah a bit, because the pitch looks really good for batting. Anyways I don't think the pitch would be changing a lot as the game progresses.

: What kind of score are you looking to restrict the South Africans for today?

: Anything around 240-250 would be a good score to chase, keeping in mind that we will be batting under the lights.

: Whats the side for today?

: We have Thilina Kandamby and Thilan Thushara coming in Ajantha Mendis.

: Thanks a lot Kumar and good luck for the match. So South Africans have won the toss and they have decided to bat first. That's it from the center back to you Harsha.

: As you have just listened, Graeme Smith has won the toss and he has decided to bat first. Now lets have a look at the two lineups for today.

: Looking at the two lineups, Shaun any surprises for you?

: No not at all. I feel this is the strongest possible lineup South Africa could play with today. Nice to see Herschelle been given an another chance today and I am sure he would grab it with both hands.

: Aravinda what do you think about the Sri Lankan side?

: Actually I am a bit surprise not to see Thilan Samaraweera's name there in team. He has been in good form off late and I don't know why he isn't playing today. Maybe he is injured. Otherwise its a very good side.

: As we slip into another short commercial break, lets take a look at the stats of the SuperSport Park in Centurion.

Highest ODI Score batting first: 392/6 - South Africa v Pakistan

Highest ODI Score batting second: 301/9 - South Africa v England

Most Runs by a bastman on this Ground: Graeme Smith(SA) - 840 runs in 15 Innings.

Highest Score by a batsman in an Innings: Dave Callaghan(SA) - 169* v New Zealand.

Best bowling figures in a Match: Trent Johnston(IRE) - 5/14 v Canada

Most Wickets by a bowler on this Ground: Shaun Pollock(SA) - 32 in 16 Matches.

 

[Gaurav_7]

Good one mate.South African XI looks really good and they bat all down to number 9 and Parnell is quite handy as well.Looking forward to the match.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

South Africa v Sri Lanka Pre-Match Show Part III(Predicta Contest and Super Selector)
Game One​

: Welcome back to the Cricket Show. We are just minutes away from the start of the first match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2009 between South Africa and Sri Lanka. If you have just tuned in, then for you guys the news is that South Africa have won the toss and they will batting first. Ok, here are some games for all our viewers. 'NOKIA' the sponsors of this Champions Trophy brings to you a predicta contest in which you just have to guest the right answer and you could win some vcash. Here is our today's question.

Q: How much will South Africa score?
a)below 200
b)200-240
c)240-280
d)280-320
e)above 320​

: We hope you participate in the above contest. ESPN Star the official broadcasters of all ICC tournaments have decided to bring back their most famous fantasy cricket game 'Super Selector' for all our viewers. Here are the rules for the game.

Rules:-
* Pick a team of 11 players, including 5x batsman, 4x bowlers, 1x wicketkeeper and 1x allrounder.
* From the 11 players selected one must be appointed the captain.
* 1 point for each run scored.
* 30 points for each wicket taken.
* 5 points for a catch or run-out by a wicketkeeper.
* 10 points for a catch or run-out by a fielder.
* Points will be doubled for the captain selected.
* +10 if a player scores a centuy or +5 if he scores an half century.
* +10 if a player takes a 5 wicket haul.
* +10 if a player is named the man of the match.
* +100 if a player is named the man of the tournament.

Note: Pick your 11 players from here.​

: We hope you all must have understood the rules. If so, then what are you all waiting for, pick your team and stand a chance to 100,000 vcash. So that's all from me, we will slip into a short commercial break now but stay tuned because on the other side of the break we have live action from first match between South Africa and Sri Lanka from the SuperSport Park in Centurion.

 

[Prithvi]

Mate, why did you put KXIP logo for Kumara Sangakkara Face??:laugh

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Mate, why did you put KXIP logo for Kumara Sangakkara Face??:laugh

I cant see any KXIP logo...what are you talking about? :confused:

 

[Highlander999]

For the predicta contest I am going with )280-320

My Fantasy XI

Batsmen

Ponting
Smith
Strauss
Sehwag
Watson

Keeper

Sangakkara

All-Rounder

Kallis (C)

Bowlers

Steyn
Aamer
Lee
Harbhajan Singh

 

[Gaurav_7]

My Fantasy XI

Batsmen

Ponting
Smith
Gambhir
Sachin
Dilshan

Keeper

Dhoni

All-Rounder

Kallis (C)

Bowlers

Steyn
Muralitharan
Lee
Anderson

My prediction -
240-280

Brilliant work with the update.