Kenya's Odhiambo - Going uphill or downhill ?
First things first. So the break up for the World Cup leading to the Quarter finals. India has every chance to be there in the Quarters as projected otherwise by some media and news channes just to increase their website hits or TRP ratings. But this site needs none and hence putting news first.
Kevin O' Brien (Everyone loves the Irish)
India may not qualify for the Quarter finals if Bangaldesh defeats South Africa, which is highly improbable. And if India defeats West Indies they are through like a yacht in troubled water. For suppoze, just, suppoze, WI defeats India, India still has 7 points. They only have to see that the NRR to be a maintained a tad above England, i.e, assuming Eng defeats WI. England has to defeat West Indies to stay in contention for the Quarters and to stand at 7 points after the victory. Currently they have 5 points from 5 matches. So if they do not defeat WI, they are out of the tournament because other teams are standing at 6 or 7 points. And as projected by expert analysts in the studios, one need not have to wait till the last league to finalize the group combination.
Imran Tahir (Interesting to find a good leg spinner in SA)
Wondering why I am taking so much pain to educate you challenged freaks, I just had an early dinner before 9 p.m and hence the energy. On to other side of the group, i.e, Group A in all possibility Pak & SL can occupy the 3rd and the 4th slots, which means India - Pakistan Quarterfinal clash is on, assuming India defeats WI and goes to 2 place in their respective group and Pak takes 3rd position in their group. Go through the points table and the matches left for each team and logically (which is a challenge in itself) predict the possible outcomes to validate my Pak & SL taking the third and fourth slots or vice versa.
Shahid Afridi - He is called 'Boom boom' for a reason
Folks who've said that this World Cup 2011 is boring even before the first ball is bowled eat their words, hats and socks. This has been a format so tailor made for the subcontinent teams especially to see that they atleast make it to the Quarter finals so that people will be coming to the stadiums or glued to their TV sets.
Highhlights:
1) Sachin scored century twice in this series so far and once India came close to losing but avoided it with a belt (read tie) and lost the second match where he registered a Nelson number.
Bottomline: You can safely bet India losing the match whenever the master blaster scores a ton.
2) Sachin gives his wicket to a Irish bowler who is bowling to the maestro for the first time in his career. Nothing new but for the 18 yr old Dockrell only has to tell this story to his grandfather.
3) Dhoni forced his fan to work beyond his capabilities in SA match sticking to Ashish Nehra in the last over. There is only so much limit with which a fan can operate. Bring in Ashwin and Raina in place of Chawla and Yousuf.
4) Ross Taylor's knock against Pakistan should be the knock of the tournament.
5) Kevin 'O Brien's ton stands second in their meticulous yet audacious run chase against England.
6) Kenya's cricket is at a dismal stage and you would hardly believe that they were once pitching for test status.
7) Bangla Tigers did their part in holding wins against the minnows to keep their hopes afloat and possibly expecting a miracle like they had it in 2007.
8) Look at the games that the famous Eden Gardens has got to host this WC. SA vs Ire, Ire vs Ned, Zim vs Ken.
9) Sourav Ganguly is making his debut as a commentator and he is ok. He is trying not to make many mistakes but clearly lacking a cricketing acumen like Sanjay Manjrekar.
10) Shahid Afridi had a dream start to this WC campaign as a captain and boy did he lead from the front. He only has to click in his batting to take his team to the semis.
11) No
12) Lot of tickets were given to the club members that is virtually impossible for an outsider to get a ticket for the finals. Some were sold in black, white and blue.
13) Watch out for the celebrities that grace the finals even if India is not playing it.
14) Some replays were deliberately cut short after a players dismissial if incase he was found using expletives.
15) Commentary exclusively in Hindi, in Star Sports? Imagine the revenues broadcasters wants to cash in airing these matches.
16) Australia are still continuing their unbeaten run despite not having the likes of McGrath, Warne, Waugh, Gilchrist etc.
17) We desis are all sadistic enough to see Aussies getting knocked before the finals. It is there in our blood to see them going home before the finals and it is there in Aussies blood to reach and win the finals.
18) Why does Bill Lawry and Richie Benaud not do commentary in the sub continent?
19) Why Navjot Singh Sidhu is still surviving with his commentary? Why don't the English rip his clothes for his English and the infamous quotes. Sidhu, taking a line out of your book, "It is better to prevent and prepare than repent and repair". I had indigestion that day after listening to it.
20) Plain old simple theory for the retards who are madly behind India for the WC glory - Countries hosting the World cup hasn't won the cup. Yet, for a friend of mine who is an eternal optimist like John Wright, Jai ho !
India's world cup squad for 2011
MSD has finally given a thrashing to his batsmen saying, play for the country but not for the gallery. Hopefully that will set things straight heading into the knock stages of the tournament.
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