The Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi has been reinstated as an international venue with effect from January 1, the ICC has said. This means it is formally cleared to host the four World Cup matches scheduled at the ground next year.
The decision follows an inspection by Andy Atkinson, the ICC's pitch consultant, who observed the pitch first-hand during a Ranji match between Delhi and Gujarat over the past week.
The DDCA, to protect the pitch, has decided minimise cricket at the venue ahead of the World Cup, including shifting the next two scheduled Ranji matches out of the Kotla. "We want to keep the wicket in good shape, so [we thought] why not move the Ranji games to other grounds that are available," Venkat Sundaram, the chairman of the BCCI's grounds and wickets committee, told Cricinfo. "There are 12 days of cricket scheduled for this track before the World Cup and they can lead to a lot of wear and tear on the wicket, with players running onto it with spikes. "
He also said the onset of winter meant the grass won't grow very quickly, so it would be better to let the turf settle rather than have a lot of cricket on it before the World Cup.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Hosts to play World Cup knockouts at home
The three teams jointly hosting the 2011 World Cup - Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh - will get to play their knockout matches, should they make it that far, at home venues irrespective of where they finish in their group. However, if two of the host nations draw each other in the knockout stages, the team placed higher in the pre-tournament seeding - frozen about a year ago - will get preference.
If, for example, India make it to the quarters, they will play their match in Ahmedabad (one of the four venues) even if they draw Sri Lanka because India were better placed better when the teams were seeded. With the final scheduled in India, it ensures they will play at home in whatever knockout matches they qualify for.
Sri Lanka will play India away, but Bangladesh and other teams at home. Bangladesh will play away if they are to draw any other host nation in the quarter-finals, but will get a home game if they are playing any other team.
These rules imply that the match schedule for the knockout stages will not be known until the fate of the three host teams becomes clear. An ICC source said that the knockout schedule, as it is planned, has the potential to affect the tournament's logistics and other organisational aspects. "The knockout stages can't be sorted out until the last group game, which is India versus West Indies in Chennai on March 20. Everything will be clear only after that," the source said.
Two of the four quarter-finals are scheduled to be played in Mirpur, and one each in Ahmedabad and Colombo. If all three hosts make it to the quarters, and don't draw each other, the scheduling will be simple: India's match in Ahmedabad, Sri Lanka's in Colombo, Bangladesh's in Mirpur, and the fourth quarter in Mirpur as well.
The league stage will feature two groups of seven each, with the top four from each progressing to the quarters. India and Bangladesh are in the same group, so they will not meet each other in the quarters.
The traditional formula will be followed to determine who plays whom in quarter-finals, wherein the team finishing at the top of Group A meets the team finishing fourth in Group B (by extension A1 v B4, A2 v B3, A3 v B2, A4 v B1).
Mohali and Colombo will host the semi-finals, and there too the host teams will have the preference of playing at home. The match-ups will be decided according to the schedule, and the winner of the first quarter-final will meet the winner of the third quarter-final. The winners of the quarter-finals in Mirpur will face each other in one of the semi-finals, and the other two winners in the other. So, in a hypothetical scenario, if India and Sri Lanka play their quarter-finals in their respective countries and win their matches, they will play each other in Mohali.
The format is similar to the 1992 World Cup where New Zealand would have had to travel to Sydney had they drawn Australia for the semi-final. As it turned out, Australia failed to make it that far, and New Zealand played their semi in Auckland.
However, the 1996 World Cup, played in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, didn't have any such provision in place: the match-ups and venues were pre-decided. India finished third in their group with a lead of two points over fourth-placed West Indies. Had India finished fourth, they would have had to travel to Karachi to play the third quarter-final, against South Africa who finished first in their group. As it turned out, India drew Pakistan in the second quarter-final, scheduled for Bangalore.
In the subsequent World Cups, Super Sixes and Super Eights replaced the quarter-finals concept. In 2007, the ICC made sure the schedule of the Super Eights wouldn't change according to where the teams finished in their group stages, thus making it simpler for the fans to book tickets for their teams' matches well in advance.
If, for example, India make it to the quarters, they will play their match in Ahmedabad (one of the four venues) even if they draw Sri Lanka because India were better placed better when the teams were seeded. With the final scheduled in India, it ensures they will play at home in whatever knockout matches they qualify for.
Sri Lanka will play India away, but Bangladesh and other teams at home. Bangladesh will play away if they are to draw any other host nation in the quarter-finals, but will get a home game if they are playing any other team.
These rules imply that the match schedule for the knockout stages will not be known until the fate of the three host teams becomes clear. An ICC source said that the knockout schedule, as it is planned, has the potential to affect the tournament's logistics and other organisational aspects. "The knockout stages can't be sorted out until the last group game, which is India versus West Indies in Chennai on March 20. Everything will be clear only after that," the source said.
Two of the four quarter-finals are scheduled to be played in Mirpur, and one each in Ahmedabad and Colombo. If all three hosts make it to the quarters, and don't draw each other, the scheduling will be simple: India's match in Ahmedabad, Sri Lanka's in Colombo, Bangladesh's in Mirpur, and the fourth quarter in Mirpur as well.
The league stage will feature two groups of seven each, with the top four from each progressing to the quarters. India and Bangladesh are in the same group, so they will not meet each other in the quarters.
The traditional formula will be followed to determine who plays whom in quarter-finals, wherein the team finishing at the top of Group A meets the team finishing fourth in Group B (by extension A1 v B4, A2 v B3, A3 v B2, A4 v B1).
Mohali and Colombo will host the semi-finals, and there too the host teams will have the preference of playing at home. The match-ups will be decided according to the schedule, and the winner of the first quarter-final will meet the winner of the third quarter-final. The winners of the quarter-finals in Mirpur will face each other in one of the semi-finals, and the other two winners in the other. So, in a hypothetical scenario, if India and Sri Lanka play their quarter-finals in their respective countries and win their matches, they will play each other in Mohali.
The format is similar to the 1992 World Cup where New Zealand would have had to travel to Sydney had they drawn Australia for the semi-final. As it turned out, Australia failed to make it that far, and New Zealand played their semi in Auckland.
However, the 1996 World Cup, played in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, didn't have any such provision in place: the match-ups and venues were pre-decided. India finished third in their group with a lead of two points over fourth-placed West Indies. Had India finished fourth, they would have had to travel to Karachi to play the third quarter-final, against South Africa who finished first in their group. As it turned out, India drew Pakistan in the second quarter-final, scheduled for Bangalore.
In the subsequent World Cups, Super Sixes and Super Eights replaced the quarter-finals concept. In 2007, the ICC made sure the schedule of the Super Eights wouldn't change according to where the teams finished in their group stages, thus making it simpler for the fans to book tickets for their teams' matches well in advance.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Gautam Gambhir to lead, Wriddhiman Saha to keep wickets in place of Dhoni
The first batch of the Indian contingent for the Test series against South Africa will leave on December 6. But skipper MS Dhoni, who has been rested for the first two ODIs against New Zealand, is unlikely to be one of the early birds. Dhoni may leave with the second batch — which is scheduled to fly after the ODI series ends — on December 12.
The exact list of the players in the two batches is not known, but it is understood that vice-captain Virender Sehwag, too, will be part of the first batch. The other players could be the Test specialists — Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Pragyan Ojha, Cheteshwar Pujara, Zaheer Khan and Sachin Tendulkar. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce the list.
What is, however, emerging is that Gary Kirsten may be part of the first batch. The coach wanted the team to fly early and his request seems to have been accepted. This effectively means that the ODI team will miss the services of the coach for the last few matches.
The last ODI is on December 10 and the first Test against South Africa starts in Centurion on December 16.
Meanwhile, the Test (for the South Africa series) and ODI (for New Zealand series) squads have a few surprises. The selectors, who had a long meeting with skipper Dhoni in Nagpur, acceded to his demand for rest, but included Suresh Raina, whose case the India skipper had pleaded for. Gautam Gambhir has been made skipper for the first two ODIs, but it is not clear if Dhoni will be brought back to lead the squad for the last three ODIs.
Kris Srikkanth & Co have also rested Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan besides Sachin Tendulkar. The BCCI said these players were not “considered due to injury concerns which require attention and rehabilitation”. Wriddhiman Saha has made a surprise return to the national squad. The Bengal wicketkeeper has also found berth in the South Africa-bound tour party which also includes Vidarbha pacer Umesh Yadav. The 17-member Test squad also comprises Saurashtra left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat.
Squads:
For first two ODIs vs NZ: G Gambhir (C), M Vijay, V Kohli, Y Singh, S Raina, S Tiwary, W Saha (Wk), R Ashwin, P Kumar, V Kumar, M Patel, Y Pathan S Sreesanth, R Jadeja
For SA Tests: MS Dhoni (C), V Sehwag (VC), G Gambhir, R Dravid,
S Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, S Raina, H Singh, Z Khan, I Sharma, S Sreesanth, M Vijay, C Pujara, W Saha, J Unadkat, U Yadav, P Ojha
The exact list of the players in the two batches is not known, but it is understood that vice-captain Virender Sehwag, too, will be part of the first batch. The other players could be the Test specialists — Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Pragyan Ojha, Cheteshwar Pujara, Zaheer Khan and Sachin Tendulkar. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce the list.
What is, however, emerging is that Gary Kirsten may be part of the first batch. The coach wanted the team to fly early and his request seems to have been accepted. This effectively means that the ODI team will miss the services of the coach for the last few matches.
The last ODI is on December 10 and the first Test against South Africa starts in Centurion on December 16.
Meanwhile, the Test (for the South Africa series) and ODI (for New Zealand series) squads have a few surprises. The selectors, who had a long meeting with skipper Dhoni in Nagpur, acceded to his demand for rest, but included Suresh Raina, whose case the India skipper had pleaded for. Gautam Gambhir has been made skipper for the first two ODIs, but it is not clear if Dhoni will be brought back to lead the squad for the last three ODIs.
Kris Srikkanth & Co have also rested Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan besides Sachin Tendulkar. The BCCI said these players were not “considered due to injury concerns which require attention and rehabilitation”. Wriddhiman Saha has made a surprise return to the national squad. The Bengal wicketkeeper has also found berth in the South Africa-bound tour party which also includes Vidarbha pacer Umesh Yadav. The 17-member Test squad also comprises Saurashtra left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat.
Squads:
For first two ODIs vs NZ: G Gambhir (C), M Vijay, V Kohli, Y Singh, S Raina, S Tiwary, W Saha (Wk), R Ashwin, P Kumar, V Kumar, M Patel, Y Pathan S Sreesanth, R Jadeja
For SA Tests: MS Dhoni (C), V Sehwag (VC), G Gambhir, R Dravid,
S Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, S Raina, H Singh, Z Khan, I Sharma, S Sreesanth, M Vijay, C Pujara, W Saha, J Unadkat, U Yadav, P Ojha
Nagpur Test: New Zealand 24/1 after India declare at 566/8
The dying daylight lengthened the shadows that eventually crept on to the pitch Rahul Dravid was batting on. It didn’t seem to dim the resolve of the untiring player, though.
This had been one of the many better times Dravid had spent at the crease. Having batted for most part of the sunny day and taken India to a winning position, he fell at 191 and walked back in the shade of the gigantic roof over the south end stand here at the VCA Stadium.
The shadows are not new for Dravid and it wouldn’t be outlandish to say it is possibly metaphorical of some of his big innings. Dravid’s highest Test score of 270, at Rawalpindi in 2004, was overshadowed by the blistering triple hundred Virender Sehwag scored in Multan in the same series. His unbelievable 180 in the second innings against Australia at Eden Gardens in 2001 was eclipsed by his even more unbelievable batting partner VVS Laxman. And there have been a few more.
When play began on Monday, the third day of the Test, it was not meant to be his day. Sachin Tendulkar, resuming from overnight 57, was expected to score his 50th hundred.
Dravid, overnight 69, was on his way to the three-figure mark. However, on the to-be-a-historic-day, his knock was meant to be a footnote.
However, Tendulkar fell to the third ball he faced. Debutant Andy McKay may have been praying for a chance to play the Test but he got a bonus. He bowled one short of length that was angling away. The batsman was on his toes trying to defend but the outside edge went straight to the wicketkeeper.
At stumps, New Zealand, in their second innings, were 24-1, trailing India’s first innings total by 349, after Dhoni had declared at 566/8.
Earlier, Tendulkar departed even before those spectators who had brought in the “100” placards could settle down in the stands. It is unlikely that India will bat again in this series. The 50th hundred will have to wait till South Africa.
When Tendulkar departed, the sun had just begun to shine. Dravid soon pulled McKay to the boundary. He was not going to be a footnote.
On the afternoon of Day Two, Dravid had shown the form he was in when he drove Tim Southee straight down the wicket for a four. He had one more classic drive reserved for Southee. A ball of good length on the leg, he elegantly sent it to the boundary between mid wicket and long on. He reached his 31st hundred with two runs playing Vettori off his pads.
While Dravid played in his inimitable classical style, captain MS Dhoni, at the other end, was brutal. He sent Mckay over long on for a six and in the same over, whacked one straight down to the fence. Struggling with cramps in his legs, he perished on 98.
Soon, Dravid failed to equal Brian Lara’s record of six double hundreds, when he lofted one to long on fielder, trying to up the scoring.
This is his second hundred of the series. Not so long ago, people were skeptical about his place in the team, but with this knock and South Africa looming large, Dravid has cleared those shadows.
This had been one of the many better times Dravid had spent at the crease. Having batted for most part of the sunny day and taken India to a winning position, he fell at 191 and walked back in the shade of the gigantic roof over the south end stand here at the VCA Stadium.
The shadows are not new for Dravid and it wouldn’t be outlandish to say it is possibly metaphorical of some of his big innings. Dravid’s highest Test score of 270, at Rawalpindi in 2004, was overshadowed by the blistering triple hundred Virender Sehwag scored in Multan in the same series. His unbelievable 180 in the second innings against Australia at Eden Gardens in 2001 was eclipsed by his even more unbelievable batting partner VVS Laxman. And there have been a few more.
When play began on Monday, the third day of the Test, it was not meant to be his day. Sachin Tendulkar, resuming from overnight 57, was expected to score his 50th hundred.
Dravid, overnight 69, was on his way to the three-figure mark. However, on the to-be-a-historic-day, his knock was meant to be a footnote.
However, Tendulkar fell to the third ball he faced. Debutant Andy McKay may have been praying for a chance to play the Test but he got a bonus. He bowled one short of length that was angling away. The batsman was on his toes trying to defend but the outside edge went straight to the wicketkeeper.
At stumps, New Zealand, in their second innings, were 24-1, trailing India’s first innings total by 349, after Dhoni had declared at 566/8.
Earlier, Tendulkar departed even before those spectators who had brought in the “100” placards could settle down in the stands. It is unlikely that India will bat again in this series. The 50th hundred will have to wait till South Africa.
When Tendulkar departed, the sun had just begun to shine. Dravid soon pulled McKay to the boundary. He was not going to be a footnote.
On the afternoon of Day Two, Dravid had shown the form he was in when he drove Tim Southee straight down the wicket for a four. He had one more classic drive reserved for Southee. A ball of good length on the leg, he elegantly sent it to the boundary between mid wicket and long on. He reached his 31st hundred with two runs playing Vettori off his pads.
While Dravid played in his inimitable classical style, captain MS Dhoni, at the other end, was brutal. He sent Mckay over long on for a six and in the same over, whacked one straight down to the fence. Struggling with cramps in his legs, he perished on 98.
Soon, Dravid failed to equal Brian Lara’s record of six double hundreds, when he lofted one to long on fielder, trying to up the scoring.
This is his second hundred of the series. Not so long ago, people were skeptical about his place in the team, but with this knock and South Africa looming large, Dravid has cleared those shadows.
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