ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 This Week(27th Feb. To 4th Mar.)

10th ICC Cricket World Cup started on 19th Feb, 2011 and since then lot of action happened on-field and off-field. Here is the summary of all the action happened during second week of the World Cup.

1.	2nd week of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 started with cracker of the contest between India and England at Bengalruru which ended in tie. It was only 4th tied match in the history of World Cup
2.	This time Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni locked horns with ICC over UDRS.
3.	UDRS once again created problems as Billy Bowden gave decision in favour of Ian Bell over LBW. Decision referred to the TV umpire and it was found that ball was hitting stumps but distance between hitting the pads and stumps was more than 2.5 cm. Billy Bowden stuck to his decision and ruled it in the favour of batsmen which received lot of flak from the cricket lovers and the experts.
4.	Ireland created big upset this week and finally wait for upset got over as England lost to the Ireland after scoring over 300 runs.
5.	Kevin O’Brien of Ireland scored fastest century of the World Cup as he scored his century in just 50 balls which eventually helped Ireland in beating England at Bengaluru.
6.	Kemar Roach picked up sixth hat-trick of the World Cup in the match against Netherlands while Lasith Malinga picked up 7th hat-trick of the World Cup in the match against Kenya. Both Roach and Malinga ended up with 6 wickets tally in their respective matches.
7.	Shahid Afridi lead Pakistan to the 3rd consecutive victory in the World Cup as he won all three matches on his bowling.  He picked up 3 consecutive 4 wickets haul in 3 matches played so far in the World Cup.  Pakistan became first team to beat Sri Lanka at Premdasa Stadium in Colombo. Pakistan also survived near scare of losing the match against Canada.
8.	As many as 386 Boundaries and 58 Sixes hit in the World Cup this week in 9 matches played so far in 2nd week
9.	India-England match fetched highest TRPs among all the broadcasts.
10.	BCCI and ICC once again locked horns over the UDRS system when MS Dhoni criticised the UDRS and BCCI backed him against ICC.
11.	Sachin Tendulkar scored his 47th ODI hundred against England and now he is 2 short of 100 centuries in International cricket and 3 short of 50 centuries in ODIs.
12.	Sachin Tendulkar became highest century maker in the World Cup after his century against England. Sachin now have 5 centuries to his name in the World Cups.
13.	Many umpires looked idiots when UDRS proved their decisions wrong. Daryl Harper was the worst hit by UDRS as his maximum decision reversed by the referrals.
14.	Shaihd Afridi is the leading the bowlers in this World Cup with 14 wickets under his belt which includes two 5 wicket hauls after 2nd Week.
15.	Andrew Strauss of England emerged as highest run scorer after 2nd Week with total of 280 runs.

Dull games continues in Cricket World Cup 2011: Today Its Sri Lanka V/s Kenya

I think its really pity on the part of the ICC associate  teams like Netherlands, Canada, Kenya,  and Ireland that they are losing matches one after another in the World Cup. Netherlands did raise some excitement against the England but failed to pull out any upset. Canada was expected of giving tough fight to the Zimbabwe but they also surrendered quite easily. So no upsets so far in this World Cup and the way associate countries performed so far also signals that there will be no major upset will happen in this World Cup.

Yesterday two matches played between Zimbabwe-Canada and West Indies-Netherlands but both ended as one sided affairs where stronger teams scored  more than 300 runs and bowled out opposition for paltry total. Apart from Kemar Roach's hat-trick nothing was interesting in both the matches. Roach picked up sixth hat-trick of the World Cup against Netherlands.  I think, decision taken by the ICC of reducing the teams from 14 to 10 in the next World Cup is correct because nobody likes to watch dull matches in the event like World Cup. There were hardly any spectators in the ground during these dull matches which is quite unique for the tournament like World Cup. One  can understand from the fact that out of the 49 World Cup matches 26   involves weaker teams, so more than 50% matches are useless in this World Cup. 

In earlier World Cups atleast one or two upsets happened but this time it looks like all the big teams are playing carefully and negating the chances of upset by learning from the earlier World Cups, but yet you can't predict anything about the teams like India and Pakistan who can lose match to any team. India lost to Bangladesh in last World Cup. Sri Lanka was defeated by Kenya in 2003 World Cup and went on to play semi-finals.So hopes are still alive but it is highly unlike that any upset will happen and  create some excitement.

In this World Cup New Zealand is the one team which does not look  strong on the basis of current form and looks vulnerable but they also played very well against Kenya in their first match and crushed Kenya badly. Today one more dull game going to happen and that is between Sri Lanka and Kenya. Cruel memories of 2003 World Cup must be fresh in the minds of Lankan players and they will definitely going to take revenge of that loss. It is also important from the Lanka's prospect to play this match with high intensity and beat Kenya by big margin in order to increase their run-rate after unexpected loss against Pakistan. Its important for Sri Lanka to try out few things in this match and they will be bolstered by the return of Lasith Malinga who is fit and likely to play today's match. Malinga will provide teeth to the Lankan pace attack and also get match-practice ahead of their remaining big matches against Australia and New Zealand. On the other hand Dilshan and Tharanga have a chance to fine-tune their batting skills because both the Lankan openers were clearly struggling in the matches played so far. Sri Lanka have to include Ajantha Mendis in this line-up because he is far better spinner than Rangana Herath. 

Squad:

Kumar Sangakkara(Captain/WK), Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Mahela Jayawardene(Vice-Captain), Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chamara Kapugedara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thisara Perera, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Tillakratane Dilshan. Trevor Bayliss(Coach)

As far as Kenya is concern, nothing going right in their favour so far in this tournament. They lost both the matches they played and will go in this match with lot of pressure. However they can take inspiration from the 2003 World Cup match against Sri Lanka. Tikolo, Ododyo and Collins Obuya are key players for Kenya and they have to fire in this match if their team have to do well. Kenya is capable team but somehow they don't look confident enough, like they were in earlier World Cups. I believe if they play as a unit and with some confidence then they ask few questions to the opposition. Lets hope today's match becomes exciting and Kenya give some fight to the Lankan team to break the jinx of dull matches which involves minnows.

Squad:

Jimmy Kamande(Captain), Thomas Odoyo, Tanmay Mishra, Peter Ongondo, James Ngoche, Elijah Otieno, Shem Ngoche, Maurice Ouma(WK), Rakep Patel, Steve Tikolo, Seren Waters, Alex Obanda, Collins Obuya, David Obuya(WK), Nehemiah Odhiambo. Eldin Baptiste(Coach)

Sri Lanka faced the unexpected as Pakistan won well fought contest

This was one of the match which Sangakkara and his team wants to forget as soon as possible. They trapped badly in their own plan. The ground which witnessed only Lankan victories became witness of Pakistan team's victory for a change. I think moment Sangakkara lost the toss on slow and sluggish pitch it was evident that day was not favourable for Sri Lanka.There was atmosphere at the R Premadasa from the off, music and noise for once. Pakistan's openers came out at Sri Lanka's bowlers and a game was on our hands. Soon there was comedy, in Mohammad Hafeez's run-out, when men lose their wits utterly to the occasion itself. Soon two more wickets fell and one of them was Kamran Akmal's who literally threw his wicket.

There was then intelligence and wisdom in the partnership of Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq. For those who lack an appreciation of subtlety, the middle overs are hell. But how beautifully the pair manipulated angles and found space, a dink here, a deflection there, and how hard they ran. With barely any boundaries, the pair put on a 108-run stand at near enough a run a ball and the pace never felt as if it was slacking. In all they ran 65 singles and ten twos, true descendants of Asif Iqbal and Javed Miandad. Simultaneously there was the very physical appreciation of Sri Lankans in the field. Inside the circle they zipped around, like flying fish, hungry. Sri Lanka missed Lasith Malinga badly in this game because he was one player who would have made huge difference in this match from the Lankan prospects.

There was individual genius. In the build-up to this game, Pakistan spoke of Muttiah Muralitharan as if he wasn't Muttiah Muralitharan. He's too old, we play him well enough, he doesn't take wickets against us as he used to. All of this is essentially correct. Pakistan have learnt to play Muralitharan well but he still turned the entire nature of their innings, with his bowling at the death. It was mesmerising stuff, a reminder of his quite immense brain, against a bright young talent, and a batsman set and in real form. Basically it was defence, but beautiful and actually a form of attack.

Two passages of action were outstanding. The first was Shoaib Akhtar, who even at this stage in his career, is capable of recreating the heat every now and again of his early years. As a spectacle, pinging back Mahela Jayawardene's middle stump was difficult to better and it probably turned the game. In the next over, Shahid Afridi's delicious undoing of Thilan Samaraweera effectively sealed matters. Pace at one end and leg-spin at the other: it is not an unusual combination any more but the richness of its choreography and the vast possibilities it contains has always been brought out best by Pakistan. 

Sangakkara once again lived upto his reputation and tried hard to win the game on his own but run-rate was mounting and that forced Sangakkara to play the shot which he would have avoided on most occasion. Later, we saw how men and collectives can fall apart. Pakistan do it often but there's always a strange calmness about how it happens. To the eye, it doesn't feel like anything is breaking down. No one is running about shouting or screaming, there are smiles and expressionless faces and bemused smiles. Yet easy catches are dropped, run-outs missed, misfields, wides and no-balls bowled, poor decisions made and so on. I think Kamran Akmal missed too many catches and everytime he drops the catch he comes under scrutiny after that  famous Sydney test match where he dropped too many catches and faced the charges of match-fixing.  Chamara Silva came close to pulling off the most cunning heist so that there was always punch and counter punch, so that for every wicket that fell late on, a boundary was the response, cricket in perfect balance as it should be. Of course the result sets the rest of the tournament up just right. Co-hosts and favourites beaten by dark horses is a story that sells and sells.

Its good to see Pakistan winning this match and this clearly show that they have forgot all the unfortunate happenings and approached this game with fresh and blank mind. I believe Pakistan can make a mark in this World  Cup and if they reach finals then it will not surprise anybody if they continue to perform like they performed against Lankan giants but they have to improve on their fielding and top-order batting which is becoming bit of worry for them. Important thing from Pakistan's aspect is the bowling of form of their captain Shahid Afridi who is leading the team from the front atleast with the ball. He looked unplayable at times and had two very good games with the ball. I think if he continues to perform like this then this will definitely inspire youngsters in the team to do well.

Sri Lanka have to erase this match from their memories and have to focus on the coming games and try to win all of them to sail smoothly into the quarters and I believe one loss does not make the worst team.

Preview: Sri Lanka V/s Pakistan. Battle for sub-continent kingdom begins

Mercurial Paksitan will take on Lankan Lions in their own den today. This will going to be a cracker of the contest and believe me both team will play for advantage. This match will also give some hint about Sri Lanka's journey towards World Cup finals. But it will be important match for both the teams and nobody will going to take it lightly as one mistake will result into the defeat.


Squad:

Kumar Sangakkara(Captain/WK), Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Mahela Jayawardene(Vice-Captain), Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chamara Kapugedara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thisara Perera, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Tillakratane Dilshan. Trevor Bayliss(Coach)


If we talk about Sri Lanka, they are considered favourite for the trophy alongwith Team India and it is also justified with their performances in the recent matches. They won their last series against West Indies and all their players are in supreme form. Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jayawardene will be their mainstay in the batting while bowling will revolve around Malinga, Muralitharan and Mendis. Sri Lanka have very balanced team. they have good batsmen in top-order, they have good all-rounders in Perera and Mathews and they possess lethal spinning warriors in Muralitharan and Mendis. They also have great advantage of playing at home and they have best suited team for the conditions and pitches in sub-continent. Remember they became champion in 1996 in sub-continent conditions. They are great fielding side  and probably best in sub-continent which is huge  advantage for  them over Pakistan

Squad:

Misbah Ul Haq, Shahid Afridi(Captain), Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal(WK), Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Abdul Razzaq,  Abdur Rehman, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Ahmed Shehzad. Waqar Younis(Coach)


As far as Pakistan is concerned their confidence is sky high after series win New Zealand and they also beat Kenya convincingly in their first match. Their middle-order got few runs under their belt as Misbah Ul Haq, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal and Kamran Akmal got half-centuries in the game against Kenya and had very good batting practice. Pakistan is always known about its bowling and this time also they possess one of the best attack in the tournament. They have Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar and Abdul Razzak at their disposal who will be  supported well by the off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and leg-spinner Shahid Afridi.  Pakistan had few controversies before the start of World Cup but now they forgot everything and focusing hard on the tournament. Opening pair is bit of concern for them as both their openers failed against Kenya so they have to correct it in the game against Sri Lanka. I think they must try Kamran Akmal in opening who was their regular opener few months back and move Hafeez at No.3 position.

I believe mouth-watering contest is in offer today and this match will definitely go till the last ball and that will be a treat for the cricket-lovers.

Team Sri Lanka: Analysis and Odds for ICC World Cup’11

Sri Lanka (Group A)

Group Rivals :-	Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya
Coach :-	Trevor Bayliss
Captain :-	Kumar Sangakkara
Best Performance in WC :-	Champions in 1996
Highest Score in WC :-	398-6 (50 Overs) v/s Kenya  in  WC’96
Lowest Score in WC :-	86 All Out (37.2 Overs) v/s West Indies in WC’75
Best Individual Score :-	145, Aravinda DeSilva v/s Kenya in WC’96
Best Bowling :-	6-25 Chaminda Vaas v/s Bangladesh in WC’03
Matches Won/Lost/Tied/NR :-	25-30-1-1
The Odds :-	9 - 6
ICC ODI Ranking :-	No.3

MAN TO WATCH Tillakaratne DILSHAN Tillakaratne Dilshan is one of the most explosive and innovative batsmen in the world. He has patented scoop shot in his name which is known as Dilscoop nowadays. Apart from good batsmen Dilshan is handy bowler and brilliant fielder as well. He is backbone of Sri Lankan batting line-up. Much of the Lanka’s success in this World Cup will depend on the performance of Dilshan as he is the one who will open the batting and if he clicks then nobody will stop Sri Lanka from posting huge total or chasing any total. He is quite similar to Virender Sehwag as far as batting is concerned with great hand-eye co-ordination. Potential match-winner for Sri Lanka. Career-best performance: Batting: 160* v/s India at Rajkot in 2009 Bowling: 29-4 v/s India at Dambulla in 2005

Suddenly 1996 looks far away but remember they won in 1996 that too in sub-continent and again going to play in sub-continent in this World Cup. There is no Ranatunga or Aravinda DeSilva or Sanath Jayasuriya this time round but what they have is brilliant captain in Kumar Sangakkara who is captaining lethal team of hard hitting batsmen and one of the lethal bowling combination of pace and spin. Sri Lanka have the  likes of Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga. Both of them are match-winning bowlers especially in sub-continental conditions and too back their bowling they have great batting line-up which comprises of Dilshan, Sangakkara, Jayawardene and handy all-rounder in Angelo Mathews and Thisira Perera.

Both Mathews and Perera are good bowlers and very explosive batsmen down the order. Sri Lankan team is the most balanced side and to their credit they don’t have significant injury problems. The Islanders are brilliant fielding unit as well probably best in Asia. I believe Sri Lanka is capable enough to win the World Cup looking at their current performances. Watch for Sri Lanka in this World Cup they will going to rock the World Cup 2011. Tough oppostion to beat in sub-continent.

It is last World Cup for great bowler Muttiah Muralitharan and he will definitely try to do well in this World Cup before his exit from the shorter version of the game.

Key Players for Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga