 With the high profile Indian Premier League taking place in India right now, interest in local cricket matches opposite weak sides like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe have been of little interest. It is certainly disheartening. But our team never gave up. In the past few weeks, Pakistan has played on home-ground with Bangladesh and before that Zimbabwe and our young players like Salman Butt, Umar Gul, as well as veterans Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan as well as cappy Shoaib Malik have won every single game.In other words, we won 11 straight one-day international games in a row and in the process, the young guns of Pakistani cricket set a record. We followed up this triumph by playing a Twenty20 game with Bangladesh and again thrashed them. With major players like Abdul Razzaq, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shabbir Ahmed among countless others out of the team - they now form Lahore Badshahs under the wing of Indian Cricket League - it must've been difficult for our players | |
| to win every single match and that too at a time when most people are tuned to IPL matches that have Bollywood stars and international players pitched together. | |
| ZFor having the heart to play their best and not giving in to pressure, we at Instep salute these young stars. And here's why the Pakistan cricket team are Instep's hotsteppers of the week! With the high profile Indian Premier League taking place in India right now, interest in local cricket matches opposite weak sides like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe have been of little interest. It is certainly disheartening. But our team never gave up. In the past few weeks, Pakistan has played on home-ground with Bangladesh and before that Zimbabwe and our young players like Salman Butt, Umar Gul, as well as veterans Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan as well as cappy Shoaib Malik have won every single game. In other words, we won 11 straight one-day international games in a row and in the process, the young guns of Pakistani cricket set a record. We followed up this triumph by playing a Twenty20 game with Bangladesh and again thrashed them. With major players like Abdul Razzaq, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shabbir Ahmed among countless others out of the team - they now form Lahore Badshahs under the wing of Indian Cricket League - it must've been difficult for our players to win every single match and that too at a time when most people are tuned to IPL matches that have Bollywood stars and international players pitched together. For having the heart to play their best and not giving in to pressure, we at Instep salute these young stars. And here's why the Pakistan cricket team are Instep's hotsteppers of the week! | |
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Hotstepper of the Week Pakistan cricket team
India beats Australia: wins Commonwealth Bank series!
In a brilliant display of teamwork, commitment, and maturity, the Indian cricket team beat Australia 2-0 in the best of three finals to lift the Commonwealth Bank triseries in Australia. The second final in particular was an absolute humdinger and the manner in which youngsters responded in the pressure cooker situation was nothing short of remarkable. This is definitely the Indian team’s most notable achievement in the 50 over format in years and should prove to be a fantastic springboard for more success over the next couple of years.
All round performance gives India vital victory:
It is true that the Indian victory at the SCG and at the Gabba was set up by the little champion Sachin Tendulkar, but it is heartening to see that several individuals contributed over the two matches. From Rohit Sharma’s patient 50 that helped India chase down 240 in the final to Harbhajan’s crucial blows in the middle overs to Praveen Kumar’s spectacular 4 for 46 in the second final, both the finals had enough instances of Indian players stepping up during crucial moments. What was so remarkable about the matches is the fact that not one Australian player barring James Hopes was able to lift their game in either of the games.
Vindication of selection policy:
India’s success in the triseries is not just a vindication of MS Dhoni’s captaincy skills but is also a shot in the arm for the selection committee that has been trumpeting the need to promote rookies at the expense of experienced warhorses. There has been a lot of criticism of the policy that has led to the introduction of several youngsters at one time rather than in phases. But, to the credit of the selection committee it has to be said that they gave the captain the team he wanted.
Fantastic climax to a long tour:
With this victory, an eventful Australian tour that will go down in history not for the runs scored but for the insults traded finally come to an end in a moment of triumph for Indian cricket. This victory will also hopefully give the Indian and Australian medias enough things to write about without having to resort to articles about the childish behaviour of the two sides. But mostly, I am hoping that this is not another false dawn for Indian cricket, and that this team can start putting together good performances consistently and is more than just a mere collection of several stars as has been the case for many years.
victorious Vettori eyes bigger spoils
Photosport
MORE SPOILS: Captain Daniel Vettori is confident he has the New Zealand cricket team to be serious Champions Trophy contenders in September - assuming they're not ravaged by player boycotts.
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Captain Daniel Vettori is confident he has the New Zealand cricket team to be serious Champions Trophy contenders in September - assuming they're not ravaged by player boycotts.
Fresh from their 3-1 one-day series win over England, the tourists head home on Friday after a two-match cricketing public relations trip to Aberdeen to play Scotland and Ireland, with Pakistan looming as their next serious challenge.
That's assuming they get there, with security fears over the volatile nation set to dominate cricketing discussions in coming weeks, and Sri Lanka and South Africa on standby as backup venues.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive Justin Vaughan admitted last week that "a fair number" of players had expressed concerns to him about visiting Pakistan for three one-dayers in August and the subsequent Champions Trophy.
New Zealand Cricket Players' Association head Heath Mills went a step further yesterday.
"I have no doubt that if the tournament takes place in Pakistan a number of players will pull out. That includes New Zealanders," Mills told the Herald on Sunday.
Vaughan and the players are awaiting security reports on Pakistan from the International Cricket Council (ICC), being tabled at the current executive meeting in Dubai.
He urged New Zealand players not to make hasty decisions on their availability until the reports were seen.
Safety concerns aside, Vettori felt after his side's 51-run win victory over England at Lord's marked them as worthy No 3 side in the world on official ICC rankings.
With big-hitting opener Jesse Ryder and allrounder James Franklin still to return from injury, and Chris Martin still seen as an ODI option, Vettori felt they could make a splash at full strength.
"It's a good one-day team, we cover most of the bases with what you need in a one-day set-up; we've got some good hitters, good bowlers and we're a good fielding side on our day," Vettori said.
"We've got the makings of a team that can compete at the Champions Trophy. Now it's about time we go away trying to win these tournaments as opposed to just maintaining that third ranking."
New Zealand have their names on the Champions Trophy, their only major tournament victory when Stephen Fleming's side won it in Nairobi in 2000.
Vettori said world champions Australia were always the obvious favourites but the retirements of Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and key spinner Brad Hogg had helped their opponents.
"Hopefully they come back to the pack but Australia always seem to have a knack of lifting for those big tournaments.
South Africa: the world's best ODI team
CSA CEO Gerald Majola said in a statement the victory confirmed the Proteas status as the world's best ODI team.
"Although it is now a dead rubber, the Proteas will be going all-out to stretch their lead in the world log even further with victory in the final match on Friday at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg," he said.
"The win is a personal milestone for century-maker Herschelle Gibbs, who has overcome several recent set-backs to reach the top again and to justify CSA s faith in him. It is also wonderful to welcome newcomers Wayne Parnell and Roelof van der Merwe into the Proteas ranks".
CSA would also like to thank and congratulate Graeme Smith and Johan Botha for their leadership and performances which have seen the Proteas beat Australia both at home and away to take top world ODI honours.
They were backed by a committed management team under Mickey Arthur, who has grown extraod inarily in stature as national coach. "The Proteas supporters, sponsors and suppliers have also been superb and the players have responded with unprecedented performances that have enhanced both their sport and their nation," said Majola. PTI
Australian blitz shatters Indian dream
Johannesburg, March 23
India’s World Cup dreams were shattered by a savage batting assault from holders Australia who reaffirmed their status as the best one-day side with a comprehensive victory in the final here today for a record third title.
Ricky Ponting led his side to a 125-run victory with a blazing captain’s knock of 140 not out that propelled Australia to its biggest-ever one-day score, a virtually unassailable total of 359 for two, also the highest in any World Cup final.
The 1983 champions India, handicapped with the first-over dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar, fought hard till the 40th over but managed only 234 runs. Virender Sehwag kept India in the hunt for some time with a sparkling innings of 82 but the target proved too much.
The Indian pace attack, which had been highly impressive in this tournament, let the team down in the most important match after Saurav Ganguly had elected to field on a pitch that offered substantial help to the seamers.
The trio of Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra, who have a combined tally of 49 wickets in this tournament, were together plundered for 211 runs from 27 overs without any success.
Apart from Ponting, who smashed eight sixes and four fours in his 121-ball knock, Damien Martyn and Adam Gilchrist also helped themselves to fine half-centuries. Martyn, who was associated in a record 234-run unbeaten partnership with Ponting, made 88 not out while Gilchrist scored 57 from just 48 balls.
Matthew Hayden, who made 37, was the only batsman not to have registered a half-century in Australia’s run-feast which saw the team emulating the West Indies in winning back-to-back World Cup titles.
Australia remained unbeaten in this tournament, an unprecedented achievement, and extended their one-day winning streak to 17. Faced with a target that has never been chased before, the Indians were under pressure right from the start. Their biggest shock came in the fifth ball of the first over when Tendulkar, who had amassed 669 runs in this tournament from 10 previous innings, was dismissed by Glenn McGrath for just four runs.
Tendulkar, who struck a boundary in the fourth ball of the over, miscued a pull shot in the next delivery to give a simple return catch to McGrath, who finished with three wickets for 52 runs.
Sehwag and Saurav Ganguly lived on the edges in a 54-run partnership for the second wicket with India, who had successfully chased two 320-plus totals last year, looking totally helpless by the enormity of the task.
Both of them survived some close calls, with Sehwag even being caught off a no-ball, but continued with their policy of attacking the opening bowlers, McGrath and Brett Lee. Ganguly hit three fours and a six in his 25-ball 24 before skying a Brett Lee delivery to Darren Lehmann at mid-on. A third-ball dismissal of NatWest final hero Mohammad Kaif, who failed to score, reduced India to 59 for three in the 11th over.
Sehwag, who struck 10 fours and three sixes in his 81-ball innings, kept India’s slim hopes alive with some big hitting when the Australians, sensing rain, introduced Bradd Hogg and Darren Lehmann in a bid to quickly complete 25 overs, the minimum required for a valid match.
Rain did interrupt the proceedings with India placed on 103 for three in 17 overs but only for 23 minutes as sun came out again much to the disappointment of the partisan Indian crowd at the stadium which was frantically hoping that rains would wash out today’s play forcing the match to be played all over again on the reserve day tomorrow.
But that was not to be and play resumed without any reduction in the number of overs. Sehwag and Rahul Dravid, who made 47, put together a 88-run partnership for the fifth wicket in 13 overs before Sehwag was run out while going for a quick single.
The dismissal of Sehwag also dashed India’s hopes as a defeat became inevitable. PTI
SCOREBOARD
Australia:
Gilchrist c Sehwag b Harbhajan 57
Hayden c Dravid b Harbhajan 37
R. Ponting not out 140
D. Martyn not out 88
Extras: 37
Total: (2 wkts, 50 overs) 359
FoW: 1-105, 2-125.
Bowling: Zaheer Khan 7-0-67-0, Srinath 10-0-87-0, Nehra 10-0-57-0, Harbhajan Singh 8-0-49-2, Sehwag 3-0-14-0, Tendulkar 3-0-20-0, Mongia 7-0-39-0, Yuvraj Singh 2-0-12-0.
India:
Tendulkar c and b McGrath 4
Sehwag run out 82
Ganguly c Lehmann b Lee 24
Kaif c Gilchrist b McGrath 0
Dravid b Bichel 47
Yuvraj c Lee b Hogg 24
Mongia c Martyn b Symonds 12
Harbhajan c McGrath b Symonds 7
Zaheer c Lehmann b McGrath 4
Srinath b Lee 1
Nehra not out 8
Extras: 21
Total: (all out, 39.2 overs) 234
FoW: 1-4, 2-58, 3-59, 4-147, 5-187, 6-208, 7-209, 8-223, 9-226.
Bowling: McGrath 8.2-0-52-3, Lee 7-1-31-2, Hogg 10-0-61-1, Lehmann 2-0-18-0, Bichel 10-0-57-1, Symonds 2-0-7-2.
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