| Author |
Message |
    
Biryani
Yavvanam Kaatesina Bewarse
Username: Biryani
Post Number: 1449
Registered: 10-2010
Posted From: 167.121.100.3
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 01, 2011 - 8:45 am: |
|
Brief profiles of the India and Sri Lanka captains in Saturday's World Cup final at the Wankhede Stadium.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India), aged 29
Dhoni's rise to the top of his chosen sport mirrors the rocketing popularity of Twenty20 cricket and the fusion of sport and entertainment in India.
Dhoni's ability to destroy attacks in one-day cricket thrust him initially into the spotlight and he was put in charge of an inexperienced Indian side for the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.
India won the tournament, beating Pakistan in the final, and a year later Dhoni took over as test captain from Anil Kumble.
His initially rudimentary wicketkeeping technique was not seen as a handicap and under his increasingly assured leadership India have risen to the top of the test rankings. He averages a creditable 40.06 in test cricket while his average is close to 50 in the one-day game.
Off the field, Dhoni is an advertising posterboy and a wealthy man as the result of his cricketing activities. Captaining his country to a second World Cup triumph would place him among the pantheon of Indian sporting greats.
Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), 33
Sangakkara is an assured, eloquent leader befitting his training as a lawyer and one of the most elegant batsmen in world cricket.
Sangakkara's test average of 57.25 places him among the most accomplished batsmen ever and he has flourished since giving up his wicketkeeping duties in five-day cricket.
Like Dhoni, Sangakkara is not a natural wicketkeeper but sufficiently skilled to perform the job at the top level in both forms of the game.
Sangakkara's suave image off the field belies his fierce competitiveness on the field where he gives at least as good as he gets in the verbal exchanges. |
Biryani
Yavvanam Kaatesina Bewarse
Username: Biryani
Post Number: 1448
Registered: 10-2010
Posted From: 167.121.100.3
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 01, 2011 - 8:45 am: |
|
Here are the thoughts of some former players on how the first all-Asian final will play out.
Imran Khan, captained Pakistan to 1992 World Cup triumph: "The pressure of playing in a semi-final is greater than a final. As India and Pakistan faced off in the semis-finals ... India have gone through the test by fire. India will go on to win with the great self-belief they have built up."
Steve Waugh, captained Australia to 1999 World Cup title: "A script writer could not have written a better story for Sachin (Tendulkar) as he gets to play a World Cup final in his hometown. History beckons for this Indian team."
Arjuna Ranatunga, captained Sri Lanka to 1996 World Cup win: "I am a bit concerned about Sri Lanka's middle order ... it is struggling a fair deal. But my heart still says Sri Lanka will win."
Clive Lloyd, captained West Indies to 1975 and 1979 Cup wins: "The team that gets all the disciplines right will have the edge in the final. I am tilted towards India."
Allan Border, captained Australia to 1987 World Cup title: "I believe Sri Lanka have the ability to upset India. They have a strong spin attack. Indians showed their susceptibility in facing quality spin bowling in (the semi-final) in Mohali."
Kapil Dev, captained India to 1983 World Cup title: "Being an Indian with the final taking place in our country, I will definitely favour India to win. But all the Sri Lankan players are dangerous and they are playing as a team."
Mark Waugh, former Australia batsman: "Indian bowling is coming together well, almost peaking superbly as the tournament has gone on and that should augur well for the side."
Dilip Vengsarkar, former India captain: "The way they are playing, India will definitely beat Sri Lanka. I will make it 60:40 in India's favour." |
Biryani
Yavvanam Kaatesina Bewarse
Username: Biryani
Post Number: 1447
Registered: 10-2010
Posted From: 167.121.100.3
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 01, 2011 - 8:44 am: |
|
Key clashes in Saturday's World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka (* denotes India players).
LASITH MALINGA V *VIRENDER SEHWAG
Malinga (11 wickets/economy rate 5.74) will get an opening burst against Sehwag (380 runs/54.28 average) and Sachin Tendulkar (464/58.00), although in the semi-final against New Zealand it lasted only six balls.
He is the fastest bowler on either side by some margin although his real danger to the Indian batting will come later in the innings where his vicious, inswinging yorkers can defeat any batsman however well set.
On his day, Sehwag can take the game away from the opposition as he did against Bangladesh and threatened to do against Pakistan in the semi-finals.
MUTTIAH MURALITHARAN V *YUVRAJ SINGH
Muralitharan (15/4.00) will drive his failing body through one last 10-over stint in the international game before he retires with the most wickets in test and one-day cricket.
If his deliveries lack the snap and fizz of his vintage days, the mind is still as sharp as ever and the will as strong.
Left-hander Yuvraj (341/85.25) is the key man in the Indian middle order, although he was dismissed first ball against Pakistan, and has won four man-of-the-match awards for his all-round ability.
*ZAHEER KHAN V TILLAKARATNE DILSHAN
Zaheer (19/4.67) is a master of his craft with the new ball and the old. He can swing and cut the new ball and reverse swing the old while possessing an infinite number of pace variations.
Dilshan (467/66.71) is in wonderful form and tops the tournament's batting aggregates. He has the enviable Sri Lankan knack of finding the boundary without exerting undue effort.
*HARBHAJAN SINGH V KUMAR SANGAKKARA
Harbhajan (8/4.41) was back to his best against Pakistan when he dismissed Pakistan's two most dangerous strikers Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi. He remains the fulcrum of India's spin attack.
Sangkakkara (417/104.25) is a master craftsman who keeps the scoreboard ticking over when the bowlers are on top and accelerates without apparent effort when the time is ripe. |
Biryani
Yavvanam Kaatesina Bewarse
Username: Biryani
Post Number: 1446
Registered: 10-2010
Posted From: 167.121.100.3
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 01, 2011 - 8:43 am: |
|
Head-to-head record:
India lead 67-50 (NR: 11)
In the World Cups: Sri Lanka lead 4-2
In the sub-continent: India lead 59-46 (NR: 9)
Results in last five head-to-head ODIs
22 Jun 2010 (Dambulla): Sri Lanka won by seven wickets
24 Jun 2010 (Dambulla): India won by 81 runs
16 Aug 2010 (Dambulla): India won by six wickets
22 Aug 2010 (Dambulla): Sri Lanka won by eight wickets
28 Aug 2010 (Dambulla): Sri Lanka won by 74 runs
* At the Wankhede, they are tied at 1-1. India won the first encounter by 10 runs in 1987. In 1997 Sri Lanka beat India by five wickets.
* Both teams finished second in their respective groups. Sri Lanka (WWWW,NR,WLW) lost to Pakistan and had a washed out tie against Australia. India (WWWLWWTW) lost to South Africa and tied against England.
* Besides the hiccup against Pakistan, Sri Lanka beat Canada by 210 runs, Kenya by nine wickets, Zimbabwe by 139 runs and New Zealand by 112 runs. They thumped England by 10 wickets in the last eight before defeating New Zealand again in the semi-finals by five wickets.
* India have had a more bumpy ride as they enjoyed two comfortable wins -- beating Bangladesh by 87 runs and West Indies by 80 runs -- were stretched before beating second tier teams Ireland and Netherlands by five wickets, tied with England and suffered a three-wicket loss to South Africa. However, a five-wicket win over four-times champions Australia and a 29-run win against Pakistan in the knockout rounds will have boosted them.
* As the Indians have been tested, they are likely to withstand pressure better than Sri Lanka, whose middle order, till the semi-finals, had faced a total of 29 balls in six games.
* The top order of both the teams dominate the run scoring charts. Sri Lanka have their top three batsmen in the Top 5 run scorers of this World Cup, with Tillakaratne Dilshan (467 runs) leading the tally. Kumar Sangakkara (417 runs) and Upul Tharanga (393 runs) at numbers four and five respectively.
* For India, Sachin Tendulkar is once close to being the leading run scorer as he is three runs behind Dilshan (464 runs). India have two more batsmen in the Top 10, with Virender Sehwag (380 runs) and Yuvraj Singh (341 runs) at numbers six and eight respectively.
* India have two more batsmen, Gautam Gambhir (296 runs) and Virat Kohli (247 runs) at numbers 15 and 20 respectively, they have no other batsmen in the Top 30.
* India will need to take wickets as the Sri Lankan top order have stunning averages -- Sangakkara topping the league with 104.25, and Dilshan (66.71) and Tharanga (65.50) not doing badly either.
* Sri Lanka will have to curb the rate of run flow at the top of the batting order with Sehwag scoring at a strike rate of 123.37.
* On the bowling front, Zaheer Khan (19 wickets) and Yuvraj Singh (13 wickets) have led the way for India. Muttiah Muralitharan (15 wickets) and Lasith Malinga (11 wickets) have provided Sri Lanka the breakthroughs when they needed it. Dilshan (seven wickets at an average of 14.14) has bowled very well in the last few matches
* Where Sri Lanka seem to have a distinctive edge is in the economy of their bowling figures. Ajantha Mendis at 3.14 RPO, Dilshan at 3.80, Muralitharan at 4.00, Rangana Herath at 4.27. Harbhajan Singh with an economy of 4.41, heads the list for India but is at a lowly 36th ranked place.
* More teams batting first (11-6) have emerged victorious at the Wankhede. |
Biryani
Yavvanam Kaatesina Bewarse
Username: Biryani
Post Number: 1445
Registered: 10-2010
Posted From: 167.121.100.3
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 01, 2011 - 8:41 am: |
|
BATTING
* Overall: Too close to call
-- India have scored more runs overall (2194 at an average of 274 runs per innings to Sri Lanka's 1933 at an average of 242 runs per innings) at a better run rate (5.80 versus 5.70)
-- However, India have lost more wickets (58 v 40), providing a much healthier average per wicket for Sri Lanka (48.3 v 37.8)
* Openers: Slight advantage to Sri Lanka
-- The teams feature the two outstanding opening pairs in the tournament
-- The average opening stand of Sri Lanka (97.9) overshadows the Indian average (53.9)
-- The rate at which the openers have got the runs is where India have an advantage (strike rate of 102.6 for India v 90.1 for Sri Lanka)
* Middle Order (Numbers 3, 4, 5): Slight advantage to Sri Lanka
-- Both teams have the same strike rate of 86.5 although Sri Lanka have scored more runs per wicket lost (56.2 vs 41.6)
-- The Indian middle order have had more time in the middle (874 runs from 1010 balls compared to Sri Lanka's 731 runs from 845 balls)
* Lower Middle Order (Numbers 6, 7, 8): Better performance by India
-- India's lower middle order has had more time in the middle (304 runs from 390 balls) compared to Sri Lanka's (172 runs from 205 balls)
-- India have a better average per wicket (23.4 runs vs 15.6 runs) although a slightly inferior strike rate (77.9 vs 83.9)
* Powerplay performance: India lead, despite losing more wickets
-- Due mainly to the performance of their opening batsmen, India have a slightly superior runs per over rate during the powerplays, although Sri Lanka (14) have lost less wickets than India (22).
-- On average, India are scoring at 6.4 runs per over during the powerplays, compared to Sri Lanka's 6.1.
-- Sri Lanka average 61.2 runs per wicket compared to India's 43.5
Conclusion:
-- India are likely to score quicker although they are losing wickets in the process - drying up the runs will be the key challenge for the Sri Lankan bowlers.
-- Sri Lanka's top-order batsmen are valuing their wickets - getting to their lower middle order is the key challenge for India's bowling attack.
BOWLING
* Overall: Sri Lanka clearly ahead
-- Sri Lanka have conceded fewer runs (1328 runs in 7 innings at an average of 190 runs per innings) than India (1996 runs in 8 innings at an average of 250 runs per innings) at a distinctly more economical run rate (4.4 runs per over vs 5.2).
-- However, both teams have taken the same number of wickets (9) per innings on average
* Fast Bowling: Slight edge to Sri Lanka
-- Sri Lanka have bowled far fewer overs of pace compared to India (113 overs vs 157 overs) and have picked up fewer wickets (23 wickets to Sri Lanka vs 33 wickets to India)
-- The average and strike rate for the fast bowlers is nearly the same (Indian average and strike rate: 24.9 and 28.5 respectively compared to Sri Lanka's 23.7 and 29.4 respectively)
-- However, the Sri Lankan economy rate of 4.83 is distinctly better than the Indian economy rate of 5.23
* Spin bowling: Sri Lanka clearly ahead
-- The economy of Sri Lankan spinners (3.79) is better than India's (4.86)
-- The average for Sri Lanka is also better (20.4 vs 37.9), as is the strike rate (32.3 vs 46.9)
* Backup bowling: Sri Lanka ahead
-- Although Sri Lanka have relied less heavily on non-specialist bowlers (only 57 overs compared to India's 105 overs), they have done much better in terms of economy (4.26 vs 4.97), average (20.3 vs 34.8) and strike rate (28.5 vs 42.0)
* Powerplay performance: Sri Lanka ahead
-- Again, the economy rate of Sri Lanka (4.5) and average runs per wicket (26.7) is distinctly better than India's economy (5.4) and average (33.1)
* Conclusion:
-- India will have to bowl out of their skins to compete with Sri Lanka's varied batting order and the Indian batsmen will have to apply themselves better against one of the most successful bowling attacks of the World Cup.
-- Sri Lankan bowlers will need to execute the gameplan that has succeeded for them so far and will have to be prepared with backup plans in case they are seriously tested for the first time in the tournament.
* OTHER DISCIPLINES
-- Running between wickets: Both teams have had five run outs each
-- The Indian bowling attack has been more disciplined in terms of conceding extras (106 runs conceded at an average of 5.3% of the total runs conceded) as compared to Sri Lanka (89 runs at 6.7%)
-- Despite the popular perception that Sri Lanka have a superior fielding outfit, India's fielders have performed better. They have had more run outs (6 versus 2), and have taken more catches (35 versus 31)
-- Use of the Decision Review System: India have used the DRS better than Sri Lanka. The Indians have had 3 successful reviews out of 14 appeals, while Sri Lanka have only had 1 successful review out of 10 appeals
* CONCLUSION
-- India have played in a number of close matches compared to the relative ease with which Sri Lanka have brushed aside their opponents, suggesting that Sri Lanka are the slight favourites.
-- However, India may have a slight advantage having survived the pressure of several big matches. |
|
Archives - 2011