WORLD CUP - TEAM WATCH

[rahul_parab2006]

Ireland hoping against hope

DUBLIN: World Cup debutants Ireland will rely on their big-hitting batsmen to steer them to respectability in the Caribbean after their bowlers came under fire at the recent World Cricket League (WCL) in Kenya.

In that tournament, they were on course for a famous victory over the experienced hosts when, after scoring 284-4, they had the Kenyans on the rack at 231-9 with six overs left. But the home side put on 55 for the final wicket to claim an unlikely win.

A tournament record in the WCL, of just one win in five games, was a mediocre return although the Irish recovered some pride by then heading to the Middle East where they crushed the UAE by an innings and 170 runs to reach the Intercontinental Cup final. The stars of the match for Ireland were Eoin Morgan (209 not out, the highest score in Irish cricket history) and Andre Botha (157).

The two left-handers put on 360 for the third wicket as Ireland amassed a huge first-innings total of 531-5 declared.

Ireland’s Australian-born skipper Trent Johnston believes that kind of performance will stand the team in good stead in the World Cup where they have been grouped with the West Indies, Pakistan and Zimbabwe in the opening round.

“In Kenya, we weren’t disciplined enough. But it wasn’t that bad. We lost by the narrowest of margins and in cruel circumstances,” he says. “The World Cup is a different stage.”

Morgan is one of three players who make their living in the English county championship. He’s with Middlesex while fiery wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien is on Kent’s books but is likely to feature for Northants next season alongside right-hand batsman Andrew White.

Ireland play two warm-up games in Trinidad against South Africa and Canada, before moving on to Jamaica, where they will play Zimbabwe on March 15, Pakistan on March 17, and hosts West Indies on March 23.

Trent Johnston, 32, captain

The strapping fast bowler learnt his cricket the hard way in Australia where he turned out for New South Wales in 1998-99 before being dumped due to poor form. He chose to play for Ireland in 2004

Kyle McCallan, 31

The all-rounder made an amazing start for Ireland with a wicket off his first ball and scored a half-century in his very second match. One of the key players for the minnows

Andre Botha, 31

The Johannesburg-born all-rounder learnt his cricket in South Africa before opting to play for Ireland

Jeremy Bray, 33

Like his captain, also grew up in New South Wales. The left-hander is a key batsman for his team

Kenneth Carroll, 23

The Irishman earned a World Cup call despite playing just two ODIs where his highest score was 28. Has yet to show his wares as a leg-spinner in the shorter version of the game

Peter Gillespie, 32

A part of the well-known North West cricket family where a number of Gillespies have played for his home town of Strabane. Has yet to score a run or bowl after four ODIs
Dave Langford-Smith, 30

Another Australian in the Irish ranks who will be leading the pace attack

John Mooney, 25

An all-rounder of promise who bats lower down the order

Paul Mooney, 30

Hopes to contribute to the Irish cause after three lacklustre matches

Eoin Morgan, 20

Has played for English county Middlesex, which makes him a player with promise. Recently smashed 209 not out in a match against the UAE, the highest score in Irish cricket history

Kevin O’Brien, 22

The all-rounder has been chosen for the MCC Young Cricketers team. Has a best of 142 in ODIs, a feat not many batsmen in established teams can boast of

Niall O’Brien, 25

Brother of Kevin and the team’s wicketkeeper. Also a useful lower order batsman

William Porterfield, 22

A top order batsman whose average of 78.20 in seven matches shows he will not be a pushover at the World Cup

Boyd Rankin, 22

Played for Ireland in the under-19 World Cup in 2004 and was considered good enough to be offered a contract by Derbyshire for the next English county season

Andrew White, 26

His all-round abilities helped Ireland qualify for the World Cup. Scored 152 on his first-class debut for Ireland against the Netherlands

 

[rahul_parab2006]

Zimbabwe aiming for an upset

HARARE: Zimbabwe will pin their faith in the unpredictable nature of one-day cricket at the World Cup. “Anything can happen in one-day cricket, and when it does it’s up to your players to perform on the day,” Zimbabwe coach Kevin Curran says. “We’ve had the players to do so in the past.”

Although they are perennial underdogs and have won just eight of their 42 World Cup games, Zimbabwe have a history of upsetting fancied opponents. They beat Australia by 13 runs in their first World Cup match in Nottingham in 1983.

But they had to wait nine years, during which they lost 18 consecutive World Cup games, for their next win, which came against England by nine runs in Albury, Australia.

Expected victories over Kenya followed in 1996 and 1999, but Zimbabwe also shocked India by three runs in Leicester in 1999. They followed that up by beating South Africa by 48 runs in Chelmsford, a result that was instrumental in South Africa’s elimination after they tied their semifinal with Australia.

An easy win over Namibia in Harare in 2003 was overshadowed by the black armband protest mounted by Andy Flower and Henry Olonga to “mourn the death of democracy in our beloved Zimbabwe”.

England then refused to play in Harare and Zimbabwe won by a walkover before victory over the Netherlands in Bulawayo and a washout against Pakistan put them into the second round. But they buckled under the pressure generated by the black armband protest, and slipped to an embarrassing defeat against Kenya in Bloemfontein.

In 2004, captain Heath Streak was sacked, prompting a walkout by 14 other players, who objected to what they said were racially-biased policies. Their Test status was suspended until the end of 2004 and on their return they were beaten by Bangladesh.

At this year’s World Cup, Zimbabwe will take on Ireland in Group D before facing Pakistan and West Indies.

Prosper Utseya, 21, captain

An off-spinner of promise, he was suddenly brought into the national team when the rebels withdrew and then made captain to replace Tatenda Taibu. Faces a tough task to rally his troops


Gary Brent, 31

One of the more experienced Zimbabwe bowlers who has not justified his potential and hence had an on-off career. Bowls a useful inswinger and slower ball

Chamu Chibhabha, 20

An all-rounder who bats up the order and bowls useful seamers. A product of Zimbabwe’s development programme


Elton Chigumbura, 20

Another player who was fast-tracked into the national side when the rebels withdrew. An aggressive batsman and the team’s fastest bowler

Keith Dabengwa, 26

A hard-working left-handed batsman who bowls left-arm spin, he is a product of the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy
Terry Duffin, 24

A solid opener, the left-hander also hails from the ZCA. Played for the under-19 sides till 2000

Anthony Ireland, 22

A tall all-rounder from the Midlands area of Zimbabwe, he is a promising seamer and useful batsman. Will spearhead the attack

Friday Kasteni, 18

The reserve wicketkeeper and left-hand batsman is a surprise inclusion for the World Cup after just one limited-overs appearance where he scored nine


Stuart Matsikenyeri, 23

Expected to lead the batting despite a modest record. Also bowls useful off-spin

Christopher Mpofu, 21

The tall seam bowler could be a threat only if he became a bit more consistent

Tawanda Mupariwa, 21

A seam bowler of promise, he now gets a chance to cement his place in the team after an indifferent start. Was a wicketkeeper in his younger days but took to seam bowling on the advice of his coaches

Ed Rainsford, 22

A tall fast bowler, he is another one make the national team following the withdrawal of top players. He has developed a good yorker. Recovered recently from a crippling stress fracture in the back

Vusi Sibanda, 23

The team’s batting revolves around this opening batsman, who missed the Champions Trophy in India to play grade cricket in Australia

Brendan Taylor, 21

The real all-rounder — he bats, bowls and also keeps wickets. He will be Zimbabwe’s first-choice wicketkeeper and provide the thrust to the batting in the middle overs

Sean Williams, 20

Widely regarded as one of Zimbabwe’s most promising cricketers, a left-handed top order batsman and a useful left-arm spinner

 

[rahul_parab2006]

Outside chance for Kenya

The African nation stunned the cricket world by reaching the semi-finals in 2003 even if their progression was partly due to New Zealand refusing to play in Nairobi for safety reasons. Captain Steve Tikolo, 35, has played in 91 one-day internationals including the wins over Sri Lanka and West Indiesin previous World Cups. Kenya, coached by West Indian Roger Harper, won the World Cricket League earlier this month when they beat Scotland in the Nairobi final by eight wickets. They have named the same 15-man squad for the World Cup where they will face New Zealand, Canada and England in Group C.

Top stars -

Steve Tikolo, 35

Right-hand batsman

91 matches, 2452 runs @ 29.90, two centuries, 18 fifties, 46 catches.

He has been Kenya’s main batsman for the last 10 years who two centuries. Leads the team that stunned the cricket world by reaching the semi-finals of the previous World Cup in South Africa in 2003.

Thomas Odoyo, 28

Right-arm medium pace, rigth hand batsman

90 matches, 1677 runs @ 24.30, 6 fifties, 23 catches. 97 wickets @ 31.08, 4-25, 4.67.

Like his captain, the all-rounder has also been a regular since making his debut as a 17-year-old in the 1996 World Cup. His powerful hitting and seam bowling earned him the nickname of ‘the black Botham’. Needs three wickets to reach the 100 mark.

Collins Obuya, 25

Right-hand batsman, right-arm leg-spin bowler

49 matches, 567 runs @ 17.18, 1 fifty, 19 catches. 26 wickets @ 46.26, 5-24, 5.22.

The leg-spinner was Kenya’s hero at the last World Cup where he picked up 13 wickets, including an incredible 5-24 against Sri Lanka, to lift his team into the semi-finals. It earned him a one-year contract with English county Warwickshire but he has not lived up to his potential since.

Peter Ongondo, 30

Right-arm fast medium

47 matches, 50 wickets @ 26.32, 5-51, 4.38.

The fast-medium bowler will spearhead Kenya’s attack after finishing as the leading wicket-taker at the World Cricket League for non-Test nations earlier this year.

Rest of the squad:-

Ravindu Shah, Tanmay Mishra, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Maurice Ouma, Malhar Patel, Hiren Varaiya, David Obuya (wicketkeeper), Rajesh Bhudia, Jimmy Kamande, Tony Suji, Lameck Onyango.

 

[rahul_parab2006]

Watch out for the Lankans

Sri Lanka would be keen to maintain their recently-acquired reputation of doing consistently well away from home when they begin their World Cup campaign in the Caribbean.

None of the three other sub-continent sides can match the impressive record of Mahela Jayawardene’s Sri Lankans, who won more than 50 percent of their ODIs in 2006. That included a rare 5-0 whitewash in England and a shared series in New Zealand. Those results underline the fact that Sri Lanka will not be a soft side, although they received a wake-up call in their 2-1 defeat in India earlier this month.

It is a nice blend of experience and youth that has made Sri Lanka the team to watch out for, especially under Australian coach Tom Moody who knows a thing or two about World Cup having figured in three editions.

Batting remains their strength, though their bowling has improved considerably, with Lasith Malinga capable of doing unpredictable things with the new ball. They were always considered a two-bowler team of left-arm paceman Chaminda Vaas and ace off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who have a total of 802 wickets between them in ODIs.

The Lankans, who played the first two World Cups as a non-Test-playing nation, were the champions in 1996 and semifinalists in 2003.

Mahela Jayawardene, 29, captain
A fine technician with an excellent temperament, he has settled in as captain after Marvan Atapattu was injured. Under him, Sri Lanka have become a well-knit unit capable of going all the way

Kumar Sangakkara, 29, vice-captain
A classy batsman and a superb wicketkeeper, he’s one of the most influential figures in the side. Will prove to be a major factor in their campaign

Sanath Jayasuriya, 37
Age has not diminished either his skills or enthusiasm for the game. He is in prime form with the bat and ball, just as he was 11 years ago when Sri Lanka won their only World Cup title

Russel Arnold, 33
A tall, patient accumulator of runs, he lost form and his place in the side before forcing his way back with a string of good displays for Sri Lanka ‘A’. He is also an athletic fielder in the circle

Marvan Atapattu, 36
The former captain is one of the most experienced players in the side and an elegant batsman at the top of the order

Chaminda Vaas, 33
Sri Lanka’s most successful new ball bowler is back to trouble batsmen, just as he did at the previous World Cup in South Africa. The pace spearhead’s form will determine how far the team goes in the tournament

Muttiah Muralitharan, 34
The spin wizard appears to be getting better with age and remains the biggest threat to rival batsmen. Spins the ball on any surface due to his flexible wrist that has generated a lot of controversy

Malinga Bandara, 27
The leg-spinner may not get a chance to play in the World Cup due to the presence of Muralitharan unless conditions demand a second specialist spinner

Tillakaratne Dilshan, 30
One of the most under-estimated cricketers despite proving his worth with both bat and ball. A solid middle-order bat, a good off-spinner and great fielder

Dilhara Fernando, 27
The injury-plagued fast bowler goes to the World Cup fitter than ever and will lend firepower to the attack

Nuwan Kulasekara, 24
The youngster generates lively pace and moves the ball both ways

Farveez Maharoof, 22
The typical bits-and-pieces cricketer so useful in one-day cricket. Needs to fire with both bat and ball if Sri Lanka are to do well

Lasith Malinga, 23
The speedster with the slinging round-arm action is described as the ‘X-factor’ of the team by Sangakkara. Works up hostile pace with both the new and old balls. The man to watch

Chamara Silva, 27
The exciting middle-order batsman may be hard to keep out of the team after scoring an unbeaten century against India in Sri Lanka’s last one-dayer before the World Cup

Upul Tharanga, 22
The talented left-handed opener has forged a successful combination with Jayasuriya at the top of the order. Can be on his own on his day