Preview: Spin, rain loom for Trans-Tasman duel

Preview: Spin, rain loom for Trans-Tasman duel

Ashton Agar may be late inclusion in Australia's WT20 opener against New Zealand
The overview While Australia are yet to put the key in the ignition this tournament, New Zealand are flying in fifth gear. The Black Caps made a huge statement in their opening clash against tournament heavyweights India, humbling the hosts at their own game with an all-out spin assault that left MS Dhoni's men bamboozled and soundly beaten.

Australia watched all this unfold in their northern perch in Dharamshala – home of Friday's match – and will now likely mimic their trans-Tasman rivals in the spin department, even though the curator says speed is the key. While every match is a must-win encounter, the fixture means more to Australia than it does New Zealand. With one win already under their belt, the Black Caps need to realistically win only two more matches to qualify for the semi-finals. Australia, on the other hand, are working with a clean slate, so a first-up win is crucial to avoid three sudden death matches on the trot. But, and there's always a but, rain could have the major say in Friday's match if the weather forecast stays true.

Dharamshala was pelted with rain on Thursday, and more is predicted on match day, meaning the points could be spilt. What that means in the overall context of Group 2, well, it probably means sudden death for the Aussies from there on out.

Not ideal for Steve Smith's charges.

The teams

New Zealand made a gutsy call to drop twin spearheads Trent Boult and Tim Southee for Tuesday's clash against India, and after the dividends the bold move paid, it would be hard to see them changing tact. That said, if rain does cause havoc and reduces the match to a five-over per side shoot out, one of those quicks might get a run to capitalise on the new-ball swing. Australia will likely go in with three spinners, meaning Ashton Agar gets a call-up, while Mitchell Marsh might be the one to miss out, as Test paceman Peter Siddle suggested on Optus Sports' The Unplayable Podcast.

If it's a full Twenty20, Usman Khawaja could get a run to counter the Black Caps spin attack, but if the match is reduced and an old fashioned slog-fest is in order, expect Aaron Finch to take his place at the top of the order, Marsh return and Australia back their fire power with the bat.

Possible NZ 20-over team: Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (c), Colin Munro, Corey Anderson, Ross Taylor, Mitchell Santner, Grant Elliott, Luke Ronchi, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi

Possible NZ 5 over team:Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (c), Colin Munro, Corey Anderson, Ross Taylor, Mitchell Santner, Grant Elliott, Luke Ronchi, Nathan McCullum, Trent Boult, Adam Milne

Possible Aus 20-over team: Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Ashton Agar, Peter Nevill, Nathan Coulter-Nile, John Hastings, Adam Zampa 

Possible Aus 5-over team: Shane Watson, Aaron Finch, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, James Faulkner, Steve Smith (c), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, John Hastings, Peter Nevill

The contest

It's all about spin. Aaron Finch conceded in South Africa that Australia has not performed well against the turning ball and that opposition teams will target them in that area. While Nagpur is the only pitch to spin dramatically so far in the Super10 phase, the games in the qualifying stage at Dharamshala saw heavy turn. It's a huge test for the Australians, but if India can struggle against spin, who's to say the men in black won't be able to succeed?

The history

It's grim reading for the Black Caps in global limited-overs tournaments against Australia.

In 14 matches, Australia lead 11-3 – the most recent clash being last year's Cricket World Cup final in Melbourne where Australia won by seven wickets. But it's been six years since the two sides met in a Twenty20, and with only a handful of players in each squad remaining, there's an air of the unknown surrounding this clash. 

The forecast

Bad. Thunderstorms and a top of 15 degrees Celsius, with precipitation at 80% and humidity 82%. Most of the rain is predicted to fall in the morning, which means we could get a game at some stage. How to watch Watch the broadcast live and free on Channel Nine's Wide World of Sport from 8pm AEDT (check local guides) and Fox Sports.

Courtesy : http://www.cricket.com.au

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World Twenty20 2016: Sri Lanka see off Afghanistan challenge

World Twenty20 2016: Sri Lanka see off Afghanistan challenge

ICC World Twenty20, Group 1, Kolkata:
Afghanistan 153-7 (20 overs): Stanikzai 62 (47 balls), Thisara 3-33
Sri Lanka 155-3 (18.5 overs): Dilshan 83 not out (56 balls)
Sri Lanka won by six wickets

Scorecard and standings

Defending champions Sri Lanka produced a strong batting display to see off a spirited Afghanistan side and claim victory in their World Twenty20 opener.

Captain Asghar Stanikzai's 62 from 47 balls had fired the underdogs to 153-7, having been 51-4 with nine overs left.

But Tillakaratne Dilshan hit 83 after a solid opening with Dinesh Chandimal, while some poor fielding helped Sri Lanka reach their target in Kolkata.

The 2014 winners have struggled of late but won with seven balls to spare.

Stanikzai shines for underdogs

Afghanistan, coached by former Pakistan batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq, reached the Super 10s with three wins out of three in the first round, including a 59-run victory over closest competitors Zimbabwe.

The Central Asian side only began playing Twenty20 internationals against ICC members in 2010, and are ranked ninth in the world, one behind Sri Lanka.


One of their most impressive performers in qualification was Mohammad Shahzad, but here the opening batsman was out cheaply, top-edging an Angelo Mathews delivery to Dushmantha Chameera having made eight runs from 12 balls.

From there it looked as though Sri Lanka would go on to force a critical advantage, with Rangana Herath claiming two wickets as three batsmen fell for just 15 runs and Afghanistan slumped to 51-4.

But then stepped forward Stanikzai and Samiullah Shenwari, who scored five sixes between them to move Afghanistan forward at an impressive rate in a vital partnership of 61.

Even with Shenwari out for 31 from 14 balls, Stanikzai continued to bat superbly, the highlight of his highest T20 international total a soaring six off Thisara Perera as Afghanistan scored 106 off their last 10 overs.

Champions re-finding their form?

Sri Lanka were crowned champions in Bangladesh in 2014 but have since had to rebuild their Twenty20 squad following the retirements of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

They won just one of four matches at the Asia Cup in the build-up to the tournament - against the United Arab Emirates - but remain the best-performing team at the World Twenty20 since its inception in 2007, now with 22 wins from 32 matches.

Here they were also missing Lasith Malinga, the fourth most prolific wicket-taker in Twenty20 internationals, who was not fit to play, and their best performances came with the bat.

Openers Dilshan and Chandimal steamed ahead with a partnership of 41, the former delighting the crowd with his trademark scoop shot before the latter was out cheaply, caught at mid-wicket.

After Thirimanne fell to 17-year-old Rashid Khan - the second youngest player to appear at a World T20 after Pakistan's Mohammad Amir - Thisara was moved up the order and made 12 before being run out for 85-3.

At that stage the Afghans might well have believed they were still in with a fighting chance, but Dilshan continued to score and several errors in the field allowed boundaries to creep through and relieve any pressure.

And fittingly it was 39-year-old Dilshan who secured the win with a boundary to square leg, the final flourish in his third highest international Twenty20 total.

What they said

Man of the match Tillakaratne Dilshan: "I needed runs because I got two ducks in the warm-ups. I'm really happy with how I batted.

"150 was a good total. We still had to bat smart because they have quality bowlers. When you come to these tournaments, I always think the first match is important. Our senior guys have to stand up and do it for the team."

Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai: "We felt we were 10-15 short but Dilshan took the responsibility and played very well.

"We also missed a few in the field and made some big mistakes, we need to improve that."

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews: "It was a much-needed victory, we haven't played that well in the recent past. The bowlers bowled pretty well but credit should go to the Afghan batters.

"We're not looking too far ahead, if we click we can do wonders as a team, but we're just taking one game at a time."

Courtesy : http://www.bbc.com

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ICC World T20 2016: ‘Mauka Mauka’ is back to stoke India-Pakistan rivalry

ICC World T20 2016: ‘Mauka Mauka’ is back to stoke India-Pakistan rivalry

Mauka Mauka’ was immensely popular advertisement campaign run by Star Sports during the ICC World Cup 2015, and they are back with yet another series ahead of the India-Pakistan match on the 19th of March. India are reeling from their 47-run loss against New Zealand and will surely be fired up for the game, played at Eden Gardens. The protagonist, Vishal Malhotra, who plays a Pakistani fan is now a middle-aged man with grey hair and is seen giving a message to Shahid Afridi, his skipper.

The match was moved to Kolkata because of simmering tensions in Himachal Pradesh. The Pakistani side were also hesitant to travel to India because of several political parties in the country threatening them with dire consequences. After touching base in the country, Afridi has gone on record saying that the Pakistani cricketers receive more love from across the border than their own country. This sparked off a huge controversy in Pakistan and several ex-cricketers have slammed the 36-year-old for his comments. Afridi stood by his statements but elaborated on it, saying that he didn’t want to hurt anyone. Lahore High Court went a step further and slapped with him with a case. Afridi can answer his critics by hearing the words of the Mauka Mauka man, “To show the world how to hit a six”.

Courtesy : http://www.india.com

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India vs New Zealand: In World T20 opener, New Zealand spin trio hand India shock defeat

India vs New Zealand: In World T20 opener, New Zealand spin trio hand India shock defeat

Kane Williamson’s gamble to compromise on speed and pick three specialist spinners paid off as New Zealand humbled hosts India by 47 runs in a spin-dominated Super 10 contest of the World Twenty20 on Tuesday.
Opting to bat first, New Zealand posted 126-7 in the Group Two contest on a prodigiously turning track at Nagpur’s VCA Stadium, seemingly a below-par total against the host nation who are famed for their proficiency against spin bowling.
New Zealand’s three-pronged spin attack, however, ensured it was more than enough as Mitchell Santner (4-11), Nathan McCullum (2-15) and the Indian-born Ish Sodhi (3-18) wrecked the hosts who folded for 79 in 18.1 overs.
Williamson said it was not an easy decision to drop the pace duo of Tim Southee and Trent Boult to accommodate the spinners.
“Obviously that was tough, they are world class bowlers,” the Kiwi captain said.
“But at the same time we are looking to do the best we can in these conditions. Certainly the spinners paid off today. The wicket spun a lot and they bowled very well on it.”
The first three balls of the match contained the kind of drama and excitement that fans would be expecting from the sixth edition of the tournament in cricket’s emotional and financial home in India.
After Williamson won the toss and decided to set a target, Martin Guptill nonchalantly hit the first delivery from Ravichandran Ashwin over the bowler’s head for a six.
The off-spinner settled score in the very next ball, trapping the batsman leg before with a delivery that, replay suggested, would have gone over the stumps.
New man in Colin Munro reverse hit the next ball for a six but threw his wicket in the next over.
As wickets kept tumbling at the other end, Corey Anderson (34) tried to steady the innings and it was Luke Ronchi’s (21 not out) 11-ball cameo that took them past the 125-mark.
The Indian fans expected the chase to be a stroll in the park but Santner, who was adjudged man-of-the-match, and McCullum had other ideas.
They blew away India’s top order, reducing them to 26-4 in the fifth over to derail their chase.
Virat Kohli (23) resisted the onslaught for a while but Sodhi struck a crucial blow with his very first ball to send back the Indian batting mainstay.
Home captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni waged a lone battle with a run-a-ball 30 but the celebrated ‘finisher’ could not get his team over the line.
New Zealand beat India at their own game with their spinners claiming nine of the 10 wickets but Dhoni insisted the defeat was more down to his team’s careless batting.
“It was our batting that let us down,” the home captain said after India’s fifth futile attempt to beat New Zealand in Twenty20 Internationals.
“There were quite a few soft dismissals. It was not like the deliveries got a lot of batsmen out. Maybe it was our shot selection… there was no partnership also,” Dhoni rued.

Courtesy : http://indianexpress.com/

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ICC World T20 2016: India vs New Zealand - Player Ratings

ICC World T20 2016: India vs New Zealand - Player Ratings

New Zealand

Martin Guptill – 3/10

New Zealand's opening batsman has been in fine form recently and began the Super 10 stage of the ICC World T20 with a bang - hitting a six off the first delivery. But he was dismissed off the very next ball as he attempted to sweep Ashwin.

Kane Williamson – 6/10

The Kiwis’ skipper never got going and could manage just 8 from 16 deliveries. He struggled to find the middle of the bat during his time in the middle. But his captaincy was absolutely fantastic as he rotated his bowlers brilliantly.

Colin Munro – 2/10

Coming into bat after just two balls, Munro continued from where Guptill had left off and reverse swept Ashwin for a huge six off just the second ball he faced. In the next over, though, he attempted to go after Nehra but perished for 7.

Corey Anderson – 8/10

Anderson came in early and steadied the ship for New Zealand. His innings of 34 might have come at a strike-rate of less than 100, but he played a big part in ensuring that his team wasn’t bowled out.

Ross Taylor – 3/10

Taylor, coming back to international cricket after missing the home series against Australia, also struggled on the turning pitch. He was dismissed by Raina for 10 (14) after backing up too much at the non-striker’s end.

Mitchell Santner – 10/10

It was a stupendous performance from the 24-year-old. During New Zealand’s batting, he provided some crucial runs to the team’s total and, later on, was fantastic with the ball in hand. He ended up with figures of 4/11 from his 4 overs and was named the Man of the Match.

Grant Elliot – 5/10

Although Elliot’s score of 9 with the bat and bowling figures of 0/9 might not look impressive, he also made an useful contribution to New Zealand’s cause. He made sure the lower order of the Blackcaps wasn’t exposed. When it came to his bowling, he finished with an economy rate of less than 6.

Luke Ronchi – 9/10

Ronchi was probably the only batsman in the entire match who looked comfortable from the word go. His unbeaten 21 from just 11 balls was perhaps the best innings of the match and his wicket-keeping was top notch on what was a tough wicket.

Nathan McCullum – 8/10

McCullum was given the new ball and he repaid his captain’s faith by picking up the wicket of Dhawan in the first over. He picked up 2 wickets and conceded just 15 runs in his 3 overs.

Adam Milne – 6/10

New Zealand’s opening fast bowler didn’t have much to do and was introduced only after the Powerplay overs ended. He kept things tidy and also managed to dismiss Nehra, which was the final wicket of the match.

Ish Sodhi – 9/10

Another New Zealand spinner who was fabulous during the match. He got the big wicket of Kohli off the first delivery he bowled and there was no stopping Sodhi after that as he ended with figures of 3/18 from his quota of 4 overs.
India

Rohit Sharma – 1/10

Sharma has had a very good year with the bat so far but he was one of many batsmen to fail on this pitch. He was beaten by a beautiful delivery by Santner and was stumped for just 5 (7).

Shikhar Dhawan – 2/10

The left-handed batsman lasted just 3 deliveries and walked back to the pavilion in the first over of India’s innings. He contributed to Elliot’s run-out while in the field and that sees him earn an extra point.

Virat Kohli – 6/10

A lot was expected from Kohli and it looked for a while that he will deliver. New Zealand’s leg-spinner Sodhi, though, had other ideas and drew the Indian batsman into a false shot which saw the latter dismissed for 23.

Suresh Raina – 6/10

Most would expect Raina to contribute more with the bat than with the ball, but at Nagpur, it was his bowling that stood out. He bowled 4 overs, picked up a wicket, conceded just 16 runs and also executed a brilliant run-out off his own bowling. Later on, he would fall for just 1 to Sodhi.

Yuvraj Singh – 1/10

The southpaw from Punjab came into bat in just the 3rd over of India’s innings and was dismissed two overs later. It was a surprise that he wasn’t given the ball considering how the pitch was a paradise for spinners.

MS Dhoni – 7/10

Dhoni has performed a lot of miracles in finishing off matches for India, but even by his standards, it was an impossible task today. He was India’s top-scorer, scoring a run-a-ball 30 while he kept losing partners at the other end.

Hardik Pandya – 1/10

Pandya has been one of India’s best finds in recent times but he failed miserably with the bat in hand. He managed just 1 run from 7 deliveries, having conceded 10 runs in his solitary over earlier on in the day.

Ravindra Jadeja – 5/10

Jadeja made good use of the pitch and picked up 1 wicket for 26 runs during his spell with the ball. He couldn’t contribute much while batting and was dismissed for just 1 after a brilliant catch by Sodhi off his own bowling.

Ravichandran Ashwin – 5/10

Ashwin’s first over was one of the highlights of the match as he conceded two sixes and also got the wicket of Guptill. He was on the expensive side, going for 32 runs in his 4 overs and India would have expected much more from their premier spinner on this pitch. He was one of only three Indian batsmen to reach double figures.

Ashish Nehra – 5/10

There wasn’t much swing on offer for Nehra but the experienced bowler was clever and dismissed the dangerous Munro in his first over. He ended with figures of 1/20 from 3 overs.

Jasprit Bumrah – 7/10

Bumrah continued from where he left off in the Asia Cup, with the New Zealand batsmen finding it hard to put his yorkers away. He dismissed Taylor with a trademark yorker and conceded just 15 runs from his 4 overs.

Courtesy : http://www.sportskeeda.com

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India vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup 2016: What was worse, Nagpur's pitch or India’s batting?

India vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup 2016: What was worse, Nagpur's pitch or India’s batting?

The first match of ICC World T20 2016 between India and New Zealand was too short a game to assess what was actually wrong: the wicket or India’s batting.

Glenn Maxwell did not call this pitch ‘diabolical’. But Ben Stokes for some reason termed it worse than the ‘astro turf pitch with cigarette burns on a length at my old school’. Certainly, England, Australia and every single side that struggles against spin traditionally would have closely followed the India versus New Zealand T20 World Cup 2016 opener. Who knows, they might come across one of such tracks sometime in the tournament. India may have massacred South Africans the last time they played at Nagpur, but they getting a similar treatment at the same venue throws up a pertinent question: what was worse? The VCA Stadium pitch in Nagpur or India’s batting?

The answers could be divided equally in the favour of the two options. The pitch had a lot for the spinners. Mitchell Santner spun the ball more dangerously than India’s star spinner in Ravichandran Ashwin. Santner wasn’t hit for a six throughout his four overs, while Ashwin was clobbered for two in his very first. And with the bat, New Zealand crawled to 126/6, which proved way too many for India, who were bowled out for mere 79 in 18.1 overs. The top-scorer of the game, Corey Anderson, made a laborious 42-ball 34, studded with 3 boundaries.

It was too short a game to assess what was actually wrong: the wicket or India’s batting. New Zealand would not have thought that a modest target of 127 will be more than enough for India. And on their part, India would have laughed had they been told before setting out for their chase that they will be shot out for 79 in 18.1 overs.

The debate over the pitch at Nagpur may continue to rage on, especially with the ICC giving a mandate that it had to be a batsmen-friendly deck. Despite the instructions, both New Zealand and India struggled to score runs, had long spans in which boundaries were not hit, and sixes became rarity in a T20 game.

As rare as an overseas Indian win in Test cricket. Really.

It is a fact that India batted horrendously, but so did New Zealand. Kane Williamson decided to bat but he was the first one to struggle. He consumed 16 balls opening the innings for his side, managing to pierce the fielders at cover only once, by luck. Corey Anderson swung and got too many inside edges, luckily none crashed into his wickets. The rest did not bat long enough with which their struggles could be determined.

India looked in a hurry when they were chasing. Rohit Sharma was lazy — he played two risky strokes in air that landed safely. He ventured out of the crease to hit Santner without having middled a single stroke, and it will makes you wonder what exactly he was trying to do. Suresh Raina’s trait of moving across the crease always has the possibility of the ball taking the leading edge. Shikhar Dhawan has been inconsistent for far too long to list out his mistakes.

It will be a shame if critics jump the gun, and compose another piece on Dhoni, terming him a spent force. Dhoni tried to weather the storm — there was none actually. He tried to hold fort from one end and launch an attack when the storm had passed. But the trouble was invited by the Indians for themselves, with soft dismissals of Raina, Yuvraj Singh and even Virat Kohli hurting them hard. Dhoni ran the risk of running out of partners, and that eventually happened.

There are no doubts that Nagpur pitch for this game had vicious turn, and had this been even a one-day contest, the venue might have ended up attracting further wrath of the cricket fraternity. But Indians spoiled their own party with poor show with the bat.

Courtesy : http://www.cricketcountry.com

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New Zealand, sans Brendon McCullum, poised for bumpy ride ahead

New Zealand, sans Brendon McCullum, poised for bumpy ride ahead

THE OUTLOOK

Brendon McCullum's New Zealand went a long way in shattering their team's 'also-ran' reputation in major ICC events as they advanced to their first-ever final in the 50-over World Cup in 2015. However, with McCullum announcing retirement ahead of the World T20 in India, New Zealand's chances of repeating their enthralling performances have taken a severe beating. It'd be unfair to write off a squad filled with the likes of Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Tim Southee and Trent Boult, but without McCullum's early onslaught, the squad, especially the batting unit, will be left with a lot of work to do.

To their relief, the conditions will suit the batters but to their dismay, it will not be quick enough for the likes of Adam Milne and Matt Henry to blitz the batsmen with their pace. They will need to be more accurate than quick, and therein lies the challenge.

ICYMI

Just months ahead of the World T20, Brendon McCullum decided to bring down the curtains on his spectacular international career, expressing his desire to bid adieu in the two-Test series against Australia. The move came as a surprise to most, given that New Zealand could've pushed to better their 2015 World Cup performance, where they finished second-best to Australia. McCullum let go a chance to unleash his carnage in batting-friendly conditions, in exchange for a chance to walk away from the game to a hero's farewell in front of his home fans in New Zealand.

FIVE KEY POINTS

The Brendon McCullum-shaped void: New Zealand arrive in India with a gaping hole in their squad, making life in the Group of Death (involving India, Australia, Pakistan and Bangladesh) a lot tougher. McCullum's all-out-attack approach in predominantly batting-friendly wickets would've made them firm favourites to make it to the semis and even challenge for the title.

Strength: There seems to be a new-found belief in the New Zealand camp since their World Cup outings Down Under, one that could hold them in good stead in the sub-continent. New Zealand will also hope to bank on the vast experience that the likes of Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill bring to the table. Taylor, particularly, comes with the reputation of a big-match player and could hold the aces for New Zealand's chances.

Weakness: In conditions where batsmen are bound to dominate, matches could be won and lost by the impact made by the spin department. In a format like T20, effective tweakers are capable of turning matches around in just a span of a few deliveries. New Zealand, as it turns out, are lacking in this department. Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner, the two spinners in the squad, have played a combined tally of just 10 T20Is. They will be under severe pressure to create instant impact and complement their batters' efforts.

IPL, PSL and T20 familiarity: New Zealand's fine run in the group stages of World Cup 2015 came entirely in home conditions. The first match that New Zealand played away from home was the final, where they deservedly finished second-best. However, the likes of Taylor, Southee and even Williamson will walk in with their experiences of playing in India in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Even Grant Elliot's foray in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) would've have helped him sharpen his T20 skills. This set of players will be fully aware of what to expect and could benefit from such familiarity.

Form: The silver lining for New Zealand is their excellent form that they carry into the tournament. The Williamson-led side blanked Pakistan in a three-match T20I series at home, including a comprehensive 10-wicket win in chase of 170.

SPOTLIGHT'S ON:

Kane Williamson has had a rollicking couple of years with the bat. He has been one of the most pleasing batsmen to watch operate, and comes across as the last remaining strand that connects the cricketing world of today - the audacious 360-degree stroke-making batsmen - to the one of yesteryear - where helicopter were used to refer to the aerial vehicle only. Even with his 'correct' methods, Williamson have proven to be quite a competitor in the shortest format of the game. The wiry-framed New Zealander has all that it takes to be considered one of the world's best, but now comes a big challenge, that of leading his side in a major event. The standards set by McCullum are immensely high and it will be interesting to see how far Williamson can go in inspiring his team and lifting their performances to a similar level.

Schedule

Mar 15, Tuesday: vs India, Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

Mar 17, Saturday: vs Australia, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala

Mar 22, Wednesday: vs Pakistan, Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali

Mar 26, Sunday: vs Bangladesh, Eden Gardens, Kolkata

EXPERT OPINION

"New Zealand is the team that can beat India. I am worried about their batting. If India bat first and score 200, New Zealand are capable of chasing it down." - Virender Sehwag rates Kane Williamson & Co. highly.

BOTTOMLINE

Plying their trade in the Group of Death will not be easy for New Zealand. With India peaking before the tournament, Australia chasing their elusive T20 title, Pakistan eyeing a second trophy as a token of 'returns on investments' from the inaugural edition of PSL, and Bangladesh aiming to hit a new gear, New Zealand will have to play out of their skins to go past the Super 10 stage.

Courtesy : http://www.cricbuzz.com

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INDIA FAVOURED TO KEEP ASIA ON TOP IN WORLD T20

INDIA FAVOURED TO KEEP ASIA ON TOP IN WORLD T20

 The World Twenty20 has provided a stage for Asian sides to flourish in its short history and host India's scintillating form leading up to the tournament will only fuel local hopes that the trend will continue.

India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have won three out of the five stagings of the biennial tournament, while the 2010 final was the only one that did not feature a team from South Asia.

Former players and pundits have been united in endorsing India, who won the 50-over World Cup at home in 2011, as favourites to add a second World Twenty20 title to their cabinet and given the side's run of form, it is hardly surprising.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men have won 10 of the 11 Twenty20 contests they have played this year, including a 3-0 win in Australia, and have looked supremely balanced with their often-soft bowling attack also showing plenty of bite.

The only worry for India's fanatical cricket following will be that the team have peaked too early and they will be desperately hoping that the law of averages catches up with them after the final at Kolkata's Eden Gardens on April 3.

While India have enjoyed a relatively trouble-free build up to the tournament, it has been far from smooth sailing for fellow Asian contenders Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan, the 2009 champions, arguably have the most potent pace attack with left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Amir seamlessly integrating into the side after a five-year spot-fixing ban.

But Shahid Afridi's men have had troubles with their top-order, prompting the selectors to twice tinker with the squad and a row over security leading to a venue change for the highly charged India match will not have helped matters.

Defending champions Sri Lanka have failed to adequately replace retired batting stalwarts Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene after their 2014 World Twenty20 triumph and were forced to install Angelo Mathews as their new captain on Tuesday.

The island nation have lost recent series against New Zealand, India and a woeful Asia Cup display led to the sacking of the entire selection panel.

The team and their supporters will keep their fingers crossed on the fitness of pace spearhead Lasith Malinga, who relinquished the captaincy due to the slow recovery of his injured knee but insists he can still play a part.

AUSTRALIA'S T20 CONUNDRUM

Australia will look to end their lack of success in the format and add the T20 title to their 50-over World Cup triumph on home soil last year, banking on their explosive batting line-up to make up for the lack of a potent spinner.

They have not left anything to chance though, replacing Aaron Finch with test and one-day international skipper Steve Smith to lead the side, who have had a number of players plying their trade in the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the years.

Another side hoping the experience of playing in the IPL will come in handy for their players will be South Africa, who once again will be determined to shed their 'chokers' tag at another global championship.

AB de Villiers, believed by most to be the most destructive batsman in world cricket, has often entertained crowds in India during the IPL with his 360 degree batting and South Africa will hope the 32-year-old can end their wait for a World Cup title.

FEARLESS ENGLAND

Jos Buttler, Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan will believe they can be match de Villiers' pyrotechnics for England but the 2010 champions' bowling attack appears short of experience.

They also have a powerful striker in Ben Stokes and the dependable Joe Root with the willow but it is to be seen if the batting can gloss over their bowling shortcomings.

Fellow contenders New Zealand may have a few psychological issues to resolve if they are to overcome their tendency to come up short on the big stage.

Their preparations have been overshadowed by the recent death of former captain Martin Crowe while the retirement of Brendon McCullum has robbed them of an exceptional reader of the game with unbridled batting firepower.

Darren Sammy will also have to inspire an understrength West Indies team, who just weeks ago were planning to boycott the tournament over a contractual dispute, if the 2012 champions are to stand any chance of winning a second title.

Courtesy : brecorder.com

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Stars who can set the World T20 alight

Stars who can set the World T20 alight 

Predicting the ultimate winner of the upcoming World Twenty20 could be as risky as guessing the London weather, but it requires no rocket science to conclude that the champions’ campaign would be propelled by some electrifying star performances.  Not only the winner, every side in the March 15-April 3 cricket extravaganza has players who have the potential to emerge as heroes in the battle between the willow and the leather.

For India — the hosts who won the inaugural edition of the tournament back in 2007 — top-order talisman Virat Kohli is on a scoring spree of late. The aggressive man has struck four 50s in his last seven T20 outings with an unbeaten 90 against Australia being the cherry on the cake. The Delhi boy would be raring to carry his brilliant form into the World T20 and help his side better the runners-up finish in the previous edition.

Teammate Rohit Sharma has a somewhat incredible up-and-down graph. He might delightfully smash a delivery right into the stands, but could end up edging the next ball behind the wicket. He has, however, come off age in the last year and a half and India would require his services to win the trophy again. In the previous five editions, Rohit batted in 20 innings where he has made 585 runs at an impressive average of 48.75.

Youngsters Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya have it in them to shine with the ball. The former has been difficult to pick because of his action and has reaped rich rewards for it. On the other hand, Pandya can hit the long ball and is a spritely fielder who latches on to anything that flies around.

If neighbours Pakistan, who arrived for the tournament after a lot of hoopla, are to win, their fast bowler Mohammad Amir has to deliver. The left-arm seamer, who returned to international cricket after a five-year ban for spot fixing, has taken the world by storm. Be it a hat-trick in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), or cleaning up Rohit and Ajinkya Rahane against India in the Asia Cup, he has done everything right and will be Pakistan’s trump card for the tournament.

Coming to Australia, who have never won this title before, one would look up to captain Steve Smith to lead the charge. Smith is a brilliant player of spin and therefore would be the fulcrum of the Australian batting. All-rounder James Faulkner could also be quite a handful with his slower deliveries on the flat-belters.

Defending champions Sri Lanka look a depleted outfit, especially after the retirement of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara who were instrumental in their triumph in Bangladesh two years back. If the islanders are to replicate their success, all-rounder Angelo Mathews has to play a key role. He is a wily cricketer who plans according to situations. Though his teammate Lasith Malinga has lost a bit of his sharpness of late, he loves the world stage. And if he is fit, the man with the ever changing hairstyle can indeed be lethal with his yorkers.

For England, Alex Hales might be the show-stealer. If Hales fires more often than not and with the likes of Joe Root to support him, the 2010 winners could make the last four. Hales has an average of 33.94 in the format with a strike rate of 135.12.

The West Indies, who dominated world cricket in the 1970s, had won the trophy back in 2012 and they have a team to go the distance this time as well. However, their talisman Chris Gayle needs to be at his best. The burly Jamaican is capable of turning a game on its head with a few huge hits into the stands.

The World T20 has eluded South Africa and this time they would want to grab it at any cost. AB de Villiers and spinner Imran Tahir would have to play key roles if they are to win. The likes of all-rounders JP Duminy and David Miller, who have been part of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises, can be a handful too.

For New Zealand, who played the final of the 50-over World Cup last year, Brendon McCullum’s loss would be irreplaceable. Captain Kane Williamson would not only have to be a major contributor, he has to bind the team together with his words too. In the last year or so Bangladesh have been impressive. The unfancied ‘Tigers’ have the likes of pacer Mustafizur Rahman and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan who can grab the limelight at the big stage.

Courtesy : http://www.freepressjournal.in/stars-who-can-set-the-world-t20-alight/802921

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Aaron Finch and Josh Hazlewood set to be shock omissions from Australia’s ‘best XI’

Aaron Finch and Josh Hazlewood set to be shock omissions from Australia’s ‘best XI’

AARON Finch and Josh Hazlewood could be the two high-profile omissions from Australia’s first-choice line-up for the World Twenty20.

Selectors are set to stack the side with as many all-rounders as possible and that thirst for versatility spells trouble for the world’s No.1-ranked batsman Finch and Australia’s best Test bowler, Hazlewood.

Shane Watson is certain to open the batting and selectors’ preference to maintain right-hand, left-hand combinations at the top of the order could see Usman Khawaja oust Finch in the most contentious call still to be made ahead of the tournament opener against New Zealand next Friday.

Left-handed Khawaja has said he believes he will be asked to make way for the more experienced man, but News Corp understands selectors still hold concerns over Finch’s ability to fire in difficult conditions overseas.

Finch is still very much in contention for the first game, both on the strength of his brilliant international record and the fact the Dharamsala pitch where they will face the Black Caps is expected to play nicely for batting.

However, if Khawaja can continue his hot form on spinning sub-continental decks, he remains in the box seat to partner Watson at the top and make Finch a controversial casualty.

Courtesy : http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au

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Bangladesh vs Ireland Free Live Cricket Streaming Links

Bangladesh vs Ireland Free Live Cricket Streaming Links: Watch ICC World T20 2016, BAN vs IRE online streaming at Starsports.com

Considering the winning momentum Bangladeshi Tigers are in, it will be an easy outing for them to get the better of Ireland.

Catch the live streaming of ICC World T20 2016 Qualifiers, 8th match, First Round group 8, between Bangladesh and Ireland at starsports.com. A must-win game for both the teams will be played at Dharamsala. The previous clash between Netherland and Oman at the same venue was washed off due to rain, storming Netherland out of the ICC World T20 2016. Though it has stopped raining, the forcecast appears to be bleak. Bangladesh and Ireland will be praying to Rain Gods and hoping to get some action. Cricket fans from Bangladesh, Ireland and all over the world can get the live scorecard at the following link.Bangladesh vs Ireland, Match 8, First Round Group B

Earlier this week, Oman pulled off a stunning upset by beating Ireland in their first qualifier of ICC World T20 2016. Though Ireland managed to put 154 runs on the board, they couldn’t contain the onslaught from the Oman batsmen. Oman’s brand of attacking cricket left the Irish cricketed stunned and surprised. If they edge past the in-form Bangladesh in today’s encounter, they stay alive in the tournament. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will try to seal the deal tonight. Unquestionably, they will book a place in the next round if they outplay the Irish. Live Cricket Updates: Bangladesh vs Ireland, Match 8, First Round Group B
Considering the winning momentum Bangladeshi Tigers are in, it will be an easy outing for them to get the better of Ireland.

Courtesy : Cricketcountry

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India vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2016, Live Cricket Streaming Online

India vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2016, Live Cricket Streaming Online: Free Live Telecast of IND vs WI on Starsports.com

Watch the Free Live Streaming of India vs West Indies, ICC World T20 2016, Warm up match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday. The IND vs WI warm up match wont be telecast on any channel. However free live streaming of the match for Indian audiences will be available on starsports.com.

India’s frontline pacer less than a year back, Shami is struggling to return following a surgery on his troubled knee and failed in his brief attempt during the Australia tour earlier this year when he pulled a hamstring. His fitness will be assessed during the course of the two warm-up fixtures, against the West Indies and South Africa in Mumbai on March 12. Jasprit Bumrah along with old warhorse Ashish Nehra have formed a potent pace attack with seaming allrounder Hardik Pandya and the bowling attack has left skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni ‘relieved’.

Bumrah and Pandya shared 25 wickets between them in 11 matches. During this period, India have lost just one game and won a bilateral T20 series in Australia, against Sri Lanka here and lifted their sixth Asia Cup in Bangladesh recently. Boasting a healthy strike rate of 147.61, Pandya is also proving to be handy with the bat and is often promoted up the order.
There will also be opportunities for the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Harbhajan Singh and Pawan Negi who have often warmed the bench with their winning combination in place. (PTI).
Squads-
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni(w/c), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah, Harbhajan Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Pawan Negi, Mohammad Shami.
West Indies: Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin(w), Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy(c), Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Jerome Taylor, Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Johnson Charles, Evin Lewis.

Courtesy : india.com

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World Twenty20 2016: Bangladesh edge past Netherlands

World Twenty20 2016: Bangladesh edge past Netherlands

ICC World Twenty20 Group A, Dharamsala:
Bangladesh 153-7 (20 overs): Tamim 83, Van der Gugten 3-21
Netherlands 145-7 (20 overs): Myburgh 29, Borren 29
Bangladesh won by eight runs
Scorecard & standings
Bangladesh beat a spirited Netherlands side by eight runs in their first match of the World Twenty20 in Dharamsala.

Tamim Iqbal batted through the Tigers' innings, hitting three sixes in his unbeaten 83 from 58 balls, but lacked any meaningful support as they posted 153-7 from their 20 overs.

Opener Stephan Myburgh and captain Peter Borren both made 29, but the Dutch left themselves too much to do.

Tight bowling at the death left them tantalisingly short on 145-7.

Captain Mashrafe Mortaza was Bangladesh's hero with the ball as his four overs cost only 14 runs, just when the Dutch were looking to press the accelerator.

Relive Bangladesh v Netherlands with in-play highlights clips.

One team from Group A, which also includes Ireland and Oman who meet later on Wednesday, will qualify for the Super 10 stage when the eight major teams enter the competition.

Courtesy : BBC

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World Twenty20 2016: India-Pakistan World T20 venue changed

World Twenty20 2016: India-Pakistan World T20 venue changed

The venue of the India-Pakistan World T20 group match has been changed from Dharamsala to Kolkata (Calcutta) due to security concerns, organisers say.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Wednesday that the decision was taken after consultations with Indian and Pakistani authorities.
The ICC said there were "warnings of demonstration and attempts to disrupt the match" in Dharamsala in northern Himachal Pradesh state.
The match is scheduled for 19 March.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) welcomed the change of venue, but said it would send its team to India only after receiving a security assurance.
"The PCB has also today conveyed to ICC and BCCI [Board of Control for Cricket in India] that our government is expecting an assurance to Pakistan against specific threats to the Pakistan team from various political parties and groups during the tour," it said in a statement.
ICC chief executive David Richardson told media that "the safety and security of the event is of paramount importance to the ICC".
"I would like to confirm that the ICC has been assured by all relevant state authorities that all adequate security measure are in place and will be implemented to ensure that the event is staged in a safe and secure environment for all stakeholders," he said.
Mr Richardson added that ticket holders for the Dharamsala match would get either a full refund or a ticket to watch the game in Kolkata.
A Pakistani security team was sent to India on Tuesday to assess the situation at the original venue.


Indian media reports said that there had been local opposition to the game being played in Dharamsala in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh since the area was home to some of the soldiers who died in a militant attack on the Pathankot air-force base near the Pakistan border.
India has blamed Pakistan-based militants for the attack.
The state chief minister had refused to guarantee security for the visiting cricket team, despite an assurance by the federal government.
Pakistan-India cricket matches are always keenly anticipated games. The two teams have played six T20 matches against one other.
There has been no full series since 2007 because of diplomatic tensions. The neighbours have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947.

Courtesy : BBC

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Can India win the World T20 cricket tournament?

Can India win the World T20 cricket tournament?

The question is a short one: Can India win the World Twenty20?
The answer is even shorter: Yes.
But such are the vagaries of the format that you can change the name of the team to Pakistan, England, South Africa, Australia, and the answer would remain the same.
It is no coincidence that the first five editions of the tournament produced five different winners.
The shorter the game, the greater the chances of it becoming a lottery.
It would be wonderful to see Bangladesh, one of the most passionate cricketing nations on earth, win this tournament.

The hurdle for lower-ranked teams is not that they cannot beat the top ones. It is that they will struggle to do so consistently.
Bangladesh, for example, can qualify from Group A, but then in the Super 10 stage they will be in a group with Australia, India, New Zealand and Pakistan.
They will have to win two matches and hope for results favourable to them from the others, as two teams progress to the semi-finals.
The other eight teams have all either won or been in the finals of ICC world events. That kind of experience cannot be easily countered.

India are best qualified to win in India, although that line of argument didn't get them anywhere in 1987 or 1996 when the 50-over World Cup was played there. The pressure of playing at home got to them each time. The jinx was finally broken in 2011.
If India are to win the World T20, they will have to break another jinx. No host country has ever won the title.
Still, India go into the tournament overwhelming favourites. They are the International Cricket Council's number one team, and have no discernible weaknesses.
The team is well balanced. Their one worry, Yuvraj Singh in the middle order, has been given the time and space to play himself back into form.

Perhaps Shikhar Dhawan at the top of the order needs to find his touch. But that is being greedy, since his partner Rohit Sharma has been batting like a dream, topped only by the command and authority that Virat Kohli has brought to the crease.
Kohli showed in his innings of 49 against Pakistan in the Asia Cup - as India were chasing 84 - that he has plugged some of the technical shortcomings so ruthlessly exposed by bowlers in England.
He also keeps demonstrating that runs can be made in the format while playing an orthodox game without succumbing to desperate hitting or ugly, everything-goes batsmanship.
That India could do without Manish Pandey, brilliant fielder and maker of a one-day international century in Australia, is testimony to the depth in their batting, where apart from Kohli, Suresh Raina is in the top five in the world.
With the discovery of Jasprit Bumrah and the rediscovery of Ashish Nehra, the bowling looks capable of taking early wickets as well as restricting runs.

Bumrah has learnt the art of bowling the telling yorker from the master himself, Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga who is a team-mate at Mumbai Indians in the IPL, and has emerged more confident and aggressive.
There is also Mohammed Shami, out of action for a while, and India's best in this format.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will have the problem of too much choice, which is the best kind of headache to have.
The search for a medium-pacer who can bat yielded Hardik Pandya, and surely that is a bonus.
India's main bowlers will continue to be the spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
There is a balance in the team which makes it superior to the one which won the inaugural World T20 in 2007.
India were the least fancied to win then, as much for their public criticism of the format as for their dismissive attitude towards it.
But it was a win which changed the face of modern cricket, giving birth to the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other leagues across the world, money undreamt of even a generation ago, and bringing to the format a respectability that only millions of dollars can.
In 2011, the Indian team went into the World Cup saying they wanted to "win it for Sachin". That was clearly going to be Sachin Tendulkar's final World Cup.
If players feel they should win it for Dhoni this time, it wouldn't be out of place.

Courtesy : BBC

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