Friday, June 3, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Road to Start ........
6.41 - Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina declares the World Cup 2011 open. Fireworks, music ensue.
6.26 - A bevy of ministers make long, impassioned speeches. This is a big moment for the country. Next up is Sharad Pawar, president of the ICC.
6.14 - Sonu Niigam is done singing ‘Let’s go for glory’. Let’s also go for a haircut?
6.05 - The loudest cheers were reserved for MS Dhoni and Shakib Al Hasan.
6.02 pm - Stumpy the elephant has done a round of the stadium. Now it’s the captains who are riding around the ground in rickshaws.
5.45 pm IST – The opening ceremony of the 2011 cricket World Cup is underway at the Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
There’s been a rendition of the Bangladeshi national anthem to kick off proceedings.
There’s a packed audience at the ground. Bryan Adams, Sonu Niigam, Shankar Ehsaan Loy are slated to perform today.
Get Ready for ........
"In those days it was ordinary white clothing with two or three slips and a gully," said Australian off-spinner Ashley Mallett, who bagged three wickets in the game. "There were no fielding circles. It was just played like a normal game of cricket."
England batsman Kevin Pietersen was not just playing a "normal game of cricket" when he switch-hit (right-hander batting like a left-hander) Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for a six in the 2006 Edgbaston Test.
Pietersen sparked a debate over the legality of the shot, which was cleared by the ICC. The shot wrongfoots the opposition because the field has already been set for a right-hander before he turns into a southpaw.
"Unbelievable as it may seem, the first time I played the switch-hit was in an international game, when Muralitharan was bowling at me at Edgbaston," Pietersen recently wrote in his column in an Indian newspaper.
"I was batting with Freddy Flintoff and there were not many on-side scoring opportunities what with Murali bowling a tight, uncompromising line. I decided to give the switch-hit a go and it paid off. Thankfully, I caught it sweet and I hit a six. Freddy came down and said 'What was that?' and laughed."
Pietersen, who said he had always been attracted to innovation, has also confounded the opposition with his 'flamingo' shot - pulled from wide of off-stump through mid-on while standing on one leg.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has found his own way of playing a yorker-length delivery over mid-on, leading the shot to be named as 'helicopter' because of rotation of the arms.
Zimbabwean Doug Marillier repeatedly scooped the ball over wicket-keeper's head for fours to sink India in a One-dayer in Faridabad in 2002. He came in to bat at number 10 when his side were facing defeat at 210-8 chasing a 275-run target, but turned the match upside-down with a 24-ball 56 not out to script an unlikely Zimbabwean victory.
The emergence of the Twenty20 cricket in 2005 has added new strokes to the vocabulary as batsmen do not hesitate playing high-risk shots. Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan plays the scoop over wicket-keeper's head with amazing consistency in both One-day and T20 cricket after being promoted as an opener. The shot was eventually named 'Dilscoop'.
He won the Twenty20 International Performance of the Year award in 2009 for his unbeaten 96 off 57 balls against the West Indies in the semi-final at the World Twenty20.
"It was a thrill for me to do well in England and do well for my team. I'm really proud of myself for having a new shot named after me (the Dilscoop)," Dilshan said after receiving the award.
A sweep now has many variations - paddle, reverse and slog - as batsmen try to become more unpredictable. Indian batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar has virtually mastered the paddle sweep to fine-leg, while many have started playing a slog-sweep, an aggressive leg-side shot.
Many captains have often found it difficult to set the field for a reverse-sweep, played on the off-side by a right-hander rather than to the leg like a conventional sweep.
But if not executed properly, the unorthodox shots can lead to disaster, like England captain Mike Gatting's reverse-sweep against Australia in the 1987 World Cup final in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
England were 135-2 chasing a 254-run target when Gatting attempted a reverse sweep off part-time spinner Allan Border, only to top-edge it for wicket-keeper Greg Dyer to take a catch. They eventually lost the match by seven runs.
INDIA is about to be Hit by A Work Productivity Loss of 768 Million Man Hours!
At least 10-12 million peoples' attention is going to shift to the ICC Cricket World Cup co-hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka from February 19 to April 2, according to a survey from the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India.
Here's how to be a part of this heady two-month South Asian sports party.
The big ticket
If you haven’t got your World Cup tickets yet, you need to pick up the pace.
Book fast-disappearing tickets on Kyazoonga.com, the official ticket hub online and be weary of fakers on the web.
Prepare to pay about 12 percent of the ticket fare in service, bank charges and taxes.
Kyazoonga writes a big “Woo hoo!” when your booking is confirmed. Nice touch.
There have however, been some complaints about overseas fans not having received their tickets yet. The reassuring bit is that the website has constant updates and email support for different crisis situations (but no way to track couriers) and getting in touch with the constantly congested helpline is a pain.
If you don’t find good seats online, which is a possibility at this point, officially appointed travel agents (see travel deals below) are your best bet.
These guys aren’t allowed to sell tickets minus a package, so a way around that for Mumbaikars is to get the transfer package that comes with a match pass, and stadium transfer. This will cost you more than face value, but that’s the price you pay for being a slow coach.
If all else fails, every Mumbaikar knows someone who knows someone who can score tickets. Hint: find a member of the Garware Club -- they get one to two tickets based on a computerized lottery system -- and start sucking up now.
Travel deals
If your World Cup watching involves travel, Cutting Edge Events (+91 9820027663/ +91 9819549724, www.cuttingedgeevents.info) is your best bet. Why? Most importantly, they have a ton of ticket packages available NOW, and tie ups with hotels that may appear to be out of rooms when you try booking online.
Also offering similar packages is Tui (+91 (0) 22 33005555, www.tui.in) which is pricier than the former. The base package for the final match at Cutting Edge Events starts at Rs 27,800, while the one at Tui is Rs 42,000.
If you’re travelling within India, book a domestic flight on Cleartrip.com and get the base fare free off your next domestic ticket (redeemable only on SpiceJet). Book before March 20 and use before April 11.
Online travel booking engine Yatra.com is running a similar deal with a free ticket redeemable on highly recommended budget airline IndiGo. Book before March 25 and use before April 15.
Travel agents say accommodation in smaller cities like Mohali and Nagpur is filling up fast, so if you have a ticket, figure out hotel arrangements quickly.
Note: India is issuing six-month multiple-entry visas, but a new rule means once you leave the country, you have to wait two months before returning, so no hopping in and out on a whim.
Best matches to attend
The most fun games to attend are the ones involving the hosts because that's when the stadiums will be brimming with fans.
1. Bangladesh vs. India in Mirpur (the opening game), February 19. Bangladesh knocked India out of the World Cup in 2007, and the Indians have still not gotten over it.
2. Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka in Colombo, February 26. Pakistan was supposed to hold 14 matches, including one semi-final but were stripped of their World Cup hosting rights in the wake of the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan national cricket team in Lahore.
3. India vs. England in Bangalore (the game was moved from Eden Gardens
to Bangalore because the legendary Kolkata stadium was not prepared in time for this match. #FAIL), February 27. Pakistan might be India’s most hated rival, but it never hurts to stick it to India's former colonial overlords.
4. Australia vs. Sri Lanka in Colombo, March 5. Sri Lanka beat Australia in the 1996 final. Australia trumped them in the 2007 final. And so it goes ...
5. Australia vs. Pakistan in Colombo, March 19. It's a weekend match between two of the most aggressively offensive sides in world cricket today.
6. India vs. West Indies in Chennai, March 20. This is the last game in Group B and there is a chance one of the two sides will need to win it to guarantee a place in the quarterfinals.
7. Final in Mumbai, April 2. A World Cup final in Mumbai, the cradle of Indian cricket. And if India is playing Pakistan (the only opportunity for the two teams to meet), it will be madness. And Bal Thackeray’s head might explode. You won't want to miss it for the world.
Bar hopping in the best host cities
Here’s where to fill your soul with beer at the best host cities this World Cup.
New Delhi: What could be more perfect than Howzzat, a cricket-themed bar that brews its own beer and has ginormous TV screens? Alternatively, cozy Red Monkey Bar has all-day happy hours on Mondays and Tuesdays, discounts on beer and sangria and stadium-like, true live sound system.
You should know: Locals say you should watch the match with 500 plus fans on giant screens at the DLF promenade. For free!
Howzzat, Galaxy Hotel, NH-8, Sector 15, Part II, Gurgaon; +91 (0) 24 4565000; Red Monkey, 47 Defence Colony Market; +91 9910808653.
Chennai: Start drinking at noon considering all bars shut at 11 p.m. at 10 Downing Street (a 15-minute drive from the Chepauk stadium), where an afternoon deal of Rs 250 will get you beer, the chef’s special and dessert.
You should know: Respected cricketed website Cricinfo.com calls Chennai spectators “the most knowledgeable cricket fans in the country” so don’t go challenging them to a game of World Cup trivia at the pub.
No.50, Kences Inn Boutique Hotel, North Boag Road, T.Nagar; +91 (0) 44 28152152, 28113004
Bangalore: A 10-minute walk from M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Guzzlers Inn is a convenient pre and post match watering hole.
You should know: A 2010 DNA story reveals that the tech hub of India and a big student town is increasingly resorting to hypnosis to deal with stress. Don’t look directly into those crazy fan eyes.
48, Rest House Road, Brigade Road; +91 (0) 80 25587336, +91 9844096185
Kolkata: Hookah, flavored shots, and a long, long bar at new club Nocturne that stays open later than most, until 3 a.m.
You should know: Kolkata is home to the largest Indian cricket stadium, Eden Gardens, and some notoriously fervid Indian cricket fans. Should you get into a pub brawl with a Bengali bloke, respectfully call him dada for instant calming effect.
Nocturne, 31, Shakespeare Sarani, HSBC Building, Elgin; +91 9831252442, +91 (0) 33 22903648
Mumbai: Special world cup offers and big TV screens at Sports Bar Express and Geoffrey’s.
You should know: Stroll through Shivaji Park for a glimpse into the birthplace of future pro Indian cricketers. Many greats including Sachin Tendulkar have been nurtured on this ground.
Sports Bar Express, ground floor, Regal Cinema Building, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Colaba, +91 (0) 22 66396682; Geoffrey’s, Marine Plaza, 29 Marine Drive; +91 (0) 22 22851212
Colombo: Sir Donald Bradman's memorabilia and lots of beer at Cricket Club Cafe, a bar housed in a pretty bungalow.
You should know: Hit one of the many casinos in Colombo, especially if you’re heading to India next, where gambling is illegal.
Cricket Club Cafe, 34, Queens Road; +94 (0) 11 2501384, thecricketclubcafeceylon.com
City to avoid: Ahmedabad. Two things: An alcohol-free, vegetarian Indian state. Enough said.
Trivia source: A new book on the history of world cup cricket
CNNGo scored some excerpts prior to the release of "The History of World Cup Cricket" by James Alter, just so you can show off. Silly points? Not.
1979: Viv Richards is the only person to have played World Cup football and World Cup cricket, having represented Antigua in qualifying matches for the 1974 finals.
1983: In 1983, a fielding circle was introduced, 30 yards away from the stumps. Four fieldsmen needed to be inside it.
1987: Courtney Walsh’s decision not to run out the last Pakistani batsman Salim Jaffer, who had completely backed out of his crease at the non-strikers end, potentially cost West Indies the World Cup that year.
1992: White balls and colored kits were not used until 1992. Prior to this, teams had dressed in white and used red balls.
1996: Ricky Ponting became the youngest World Cup centurion (21 years and 76 days) against West Indies at Jaipur.
CrickeTech: Podcasts, online gaming and live mobile streaming
Listen to cool World Cup podcasts featuring quick bites from players; play the new Fantasy Cricket League online by Zapak; Vodafone subscribers can watch live streaming of the match coverage; Google users are invited to mark all important points around match venues using Google Map Maker.
Jersey shore: Personalized Team India jersey
How about a blue Team India jersey with your name and favorite number on it?
Myntra and Nike team up to bring you customized jerseys that you can order online, preview your personalized details and have delivered to your doorstep, for Rs 895.
Place your bets: Bookies say India
International Cricket Council chief Haroon Lorgat has suggested legalizing sports betting in India in order to curb corruption in the game of cricket. FYI: Bookmakers hold India clear favorites to win this World Cup as they believe this is the best Indian side ever, and are too difficult a team to beat at home.
Monday, February 14, 2011
INDIA's Hope!
Despite performing well below their reputation now and then India's record in the World Cup is not one to be scoffed at. Champions once, runners up on another occasion and twice semi-finalists India are behind only Australia, West Indies and Pakistan when it comes to overall standings. They have maintained their reputation as one of the leading teams in the game and currently enjoy the No.2 spot in the ICC ODI rankings.
Based on this impressive record and enjoying home advantage is there any surprise that India are being installed as favourites even in what should be a hotly contested World Cup? Actually playing in your own backyard could be both an advantage and a disadvantage as the Indian team has discovered. Twice before in 1987 and 1996 playing before frenzied fan following and in familiar surroundings has not exactly helped as they were knocked out at the semi-final stage. Can the Indians go two better and lift the trophy this time? They also have a jinx to beat as only once in 1996 have the hosts (or in this case co-hosts Sri Lanka) won the trophy.
On paper the Indians have the same chance as almost half a dozen contenders in what is widely being perceived as a pretty open World Cup. A glance at the teams and it must be said that the Indians have an impressive line-up. But to be candid equally impressive are the line-ups from Australia, England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa. Each team has their own strengths and weaknesses and the dispassionate observer and keen and knowledgeable cricket follower will really find it tough to stick his neck out and predict the winner. Even some of the experts have expressed varying views while others have just said that it is an open World Cup.
The format for the tournament is another reason why half a dozen teams would appear to have equal chances. On form, reputation and rankings Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka (from group A) and India, South Africa, England and West Indies (from group B) should make it from the two pools and qualify for the quarter-finals. But with the knockout format taking over from here it is clearly a case of which team performs better and holds their nerves on a particular day. Whatever the pairings from here on no team can really be classified as no hopers.
It must be said though that the Indian team has some positive things going for them. The batting is arguably the strongest among all the participants and in sub-continental conditions this is a considerable advantage. Frequently this has helped cover up for the weaker aspect – the bowling. However it must be said in the same breath that now and then the much maligned and less glamorous bowlers have exceeded expectations and the Indian fan will no doubt hope that they will do so again on the biggest cricketing stage.
While the Indians are not exactly the best fielding side in the game today, the inclusion of youth has helped improve standards in this very important but sadly neglected aspect particularly in limited overs cricket. Ultimately in a close match more than the batting and bowling it is the fielding that can play a decisive role in the outcome and it is here that the Indians must perform above their level.
The leadership too will count in a big way and here the captain and the coach have a major role to play. Even a cursory glance at the champion teams over the years will underscore the inspirational role played by the captain in particular. So far Dhoni and Kirsten who obviously have a good working relationship have done an admirable job but for the World Cup they have a much bigger responsibility to shoulder. It was this lack of leadership with the coach taking over the dictatorial role and the captain looking on passively that was the main reason for the debacle in the Caribbean four years ago.
The team's think tank has the task of coming up with counter strategies and surprise tactics so very important in limited overs cricket. They will have to think out of the box, change the batting order depending upon the circumstances and adopt the horses for courses policy even if it means dropping an established player or a crowd favourite.
Ultimately how far the team progresses could well hinge on how the players perform under pressure. The unreasonable expectations of millions of cricket fans and the intense and sometimes unfair scrutiny by the media and the sponsors are unfortunately part of the package in Indian cricket.
Dhoni is aware of how important it is to overcome the pressure factor. In a recent interview he said that the Indian team was well equipped to handle the pressures of playing in a World Cup before home supporters. "Pressure is an added responsibility" said the 29-year-old Indian captain. "Whenever you play for India there is always pressure. But the good thing is we have a very experienced team. Most of the guys have been around for a long time and know how to handle pressure."
It is worth recalling however that the only time the Indian team has won the World Cup it was in a pressure–free ambiance with no high expectations and the result was that Kapil's Devils were able to perform in a relaxed manner being in a situation where they had nothing to lose but everything to gain.
Friday, February 11, 2011
ICC World Cup 2011 Ad Rates can Touch Rs 24 Lakh/10 Sec!
The broadcaster, which has reserved ad inventory of nearly 5-6 per cent for the last few matches, is keeping its fingers crossed and hoping India plays in the title round.
"If India does well and reaches the knockout stages, ad spot rates could jump up significantly, as high as five to six times of the existing rate," ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd Executive Vice President - Ad Sales & New Media Sanjay Kailash told media.
While he declined to comment on the existing ad spot rate, as per industry sources, the broadcaster is charging around Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakh per ten seconds spot.
If India, counted as one of the favourites to win the title this time by many cricket experts, features in the quarter finals and beyond, then the ad rates could be as high as Rs 24 lakh per ten seconds.
"If India makes it to the semis then increased demand will be seen from new advertisers who have not bought already. Rates will be more driven by the demand and ESPN will want to maximise given that they are already the last two or three matches," ZenithOptimedia, senior vice-president Naveen Khemka said. Cost efficiency can be overlooked if brand objectives are met, he added.
The company is also responsible for selling the ad spots for Doordarshan which will broadcast all the matches to be played by India plus the two semi finals and the final. "The inventory for DD is sold out. We have got a very good response," Kailash said, adding ad rates on DD is much lower compared to its ESPN Software India's channels (ESPN, Star Sports and Star Cricket) but did not specify details.
Companies like Hero Honda, Parle Products, ITC , Jaypee Cement, Reliance Mobile, Pepsi, Tata Motors and Pidilite Industries have signed up as sponsors on DD. Industry sources said ESPN is estimated to have garnered about Rs 75 crore from ad spots on DD, while it is targetting Rs 750 crore from the World Cup on its own.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Captain's Talk: Ashish Bagai, Canada
Buzz up!
"We discussed our expectations and goals as a team," theIndia-born Bagai told reporters in the Bangladeshi capital.
"We talked about getting into the second round. Winsagainst Zimbabwe and Kenya and an upset against any of theother four teams is our goal.
"We''re prepared. We have just come from a training campin Dubai and we''re looking forward to two warm-up games beforemeeting Sri Lanka in our first match."
Canada open their campaign at Hambantota in Sri Lanka onFebruary 20. The other teams in group A are Australia,Pakistan, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Kenya, with the top fouradvancing to the quarter-finals.
Bagai said the first game against Sri Lanka was crucial.
"It''s a new venue, even they (Sri Lanka) won''t know whatto expect, so it''s going to be tough," he said. "If we can getthrough a couple of their bowlers we have a good chance."
The Canadian captain said his side had a decent bowlingattack with Henry Osinde and Khurram Chohan leading the pack.
The North American cricket minnows first played at theWorld Cup in 1979 and their only win in the showpiece eventhas been against Bangladesh in 2003.
"I think that was a little older Bangladesh team," saidBagai. "Now Bangladesh have a very young side and they can bevery solid in home conditions."
The Canadian team play two warm up matches, againstBangladesh on Saturday and England on February 16, beforeheading to Sri Lanka for the main tournament.
Captain's Talk: Jimmy Kamande, Kenya
Captain's Talk: Elton Chigumbura, Zimbabwe
Athletic and well built, Chigumbura is confident that his team can produce a spectacular show in the World Cup though they start their campaign against the mighty Australians.
Chigumbura made his international debut when he was only 18 and has now played in 122 One-dayers.
"It is always good to make debut early because you get to play more games. I have played in over 100 One-dayers and this is my second World Cup. It is being played in totally different conditions from the last World Cup. For me, it is a big opportunity to use my experience" Chigumbura told Gulf News.
Zimbabwe will be training hard at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Global Cricket Academy for the next few days to make themselves stronger for the World Cup.
No pressure
Chigumbura, who bowls at 140kmph looks all set to lead from the front.
"I have maintained my fitness through sheer hard work. I've always work hard while preparing for an event. The end result will take care of itself," he said.
Does being a captain at 24 put a lot of pressure on him? "Not really. Since I have played long enough it does not put any pressure. I will take this opportunity and try and move the team to a better level," he said.