From the publishers of THE HINDU
VOL.26 :: NO.11 :: Mar. 15 - 21, 2003
Published Weekly
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From the publishers of THE HINDU VOL.26 :: NO.11 :: Mar. 15 - 21, 2003 |
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The Sportstar Published Weekly |
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News Update
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On February 8, the day the eighth cricket World Cup was inaugurated, if you had ventured to predict that Kenya and Zimbabwe would play in the Super Sixes and that the second favourite for the Cup, South Africa, as well as the former champions West Indies and Pakistan — not to speak of the three-time finalist England — would not figure in the elite six-team league, few would have taken your word seriously.
The Napoleon of CenturionWe have been in awe of Sachin Tendulkar's sills, ready first of all to be enchanted by his youth, then to be respectful of his mighty figures, and now to be assured that, whatever Bradman achieved, whatever Gavaskar did, he stands on his own, writes TED CORBETT
A stunning transformationTHE transformation has been stunning. A team, which was savaged by the commentators and berated by the supporters after just one defeat, was now sought after by the same people.
Rain helps the home teamYet, when the curtains came down on the group stage, it was Zimbabwe and Kenya that made it after a rather remarkable sequence of events, even as the fancied South Africa found itself squeezed out of the race. WEST INDIES V KENYA 
Too much too lateTHE West Indies drubbed Kenya by 142 runs at the De Beers Diamond Oval. This was what it should have done against the other teams in its section and made sure of its qualification for the second stage of the ICC World Cup. THE NETHERLANDS V NAMIBIA 
The brilliant men in orangeA contest between the minnows can have its own charm. The battles are often fierce and there is much pride involved. It was no different in the Group `A' clash between the Netherlands and Namibia at Bloemfontein. The sides without a point had more than a point to prove to each other. SOUTH AFRICA V SRI LANKA The curse continues THE ghosts from the past returned to haunt South Africa at Kingsmead. The World Cup curse on the Proteas just refuses to go away. NEW ZEALAND V CANADA A Kiwi party: Davison has a say, too THE situation in Pool `B' was fluid. And New Zealand knew its destiny was not in its own hands. AUSTRALIA V ENGLAND Bichel strides like a colossus ANDY BICHEL was the surprise packet for Australia against England, with seven wickets and an unbeaten 34. INDIAN V PAKISTAN 
The maestro at his bestTHIS match was about Sachin Tendulkar and his obsession to bat at his best when the occasion is big. This was a match about a team's strong belief in itself. KENYA V BANGLADESH A small margin, but a big victory TO put it simply, this was the biggest game in Kenyan cricket history. A victory over Bangladesh would catapult the side into the Super Sixes. ZIMBABWE V THE NETHERLANDS 
Joint-host cruises throughIT is not often that Zimbabwe, with due credit to its often spirited and combative cricketers, begins a match as the favourite. The Group `A' game at Bulawayo was one such rare occasion. SRI LANKA V WEST INDIES 
Vaas strikes deadly blowsCHAMINDA VAAS made a strong claim to become a leading new ball operator and seamer in the world by claiming the wickets of four West Indian left handers, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Brian Lara and Ridley Jacobs. In the process Vaas won the match for his side and the `Man of the Match' award. AUSTRALIA V NAMIBIA Records galore It was a day when records tumbled and the Aussie captain Ricky Ponting was a happy man. SOUTH AFRICA V CANADA 
The host is rustyTHE beleaguered South Africans faced worrying questions after their 118-run win over Canada at East London. The top-order collapsed, catches were put down, and the Canadians even managed to last 50 overs.
Durban is the land of ZulusFebruary 24. Little India is another name for Durban. The South Africans of Indian origin have a tradition to live up to and they have for generations maintained their links with the country of their forefathers.
A few lessons from South Africa's defeatRain came down just when the Proteas believed that they had got into a position to launch the final assault on the target that the Lankans had set them.
Four phenomenal bowling featsTalented, gifted and intelligent bowlers have obliterated the records that stood for more than a quarter century in the premier event. Winston Davis and Gary Gilmour had revelled in the World Cup. The Australian left-arm seamer, Gilmour, had ...
The crack is quite visibleIt was a picturesque setting... blue sky, gentle wind, soothing greenery and friendly sun. It was ideal weather for cricket and the Pakistan cricketers set up a match among themselves at a private ground in Midrand, just outside Johannesburg.
We will really miss themIT was not until I saw Aravinda de Silva run out so dramatically in the game against West Indies at Cape Town that I realised just how many iconic figures were showing us their skills for the last time in this World Cup.
A mixture of light and shadeTHE first stage of the World Cup had its fair share of thrills and spills, although the fans would have been disappointed at the early exit of South Africa, West Indies and Pakistan. That's the way, the game goes sometimes.
THE rain that preserves the most unspoilt of our continents ruined South Africa's World Cup again.
Imran Khan pulled no vocal punches in acknowledging Sachin's masterly display against Pakistan.
'Sixes', success & excessIF "he batted like God" (as the London Times had it), touching — "in a trance of utter brilliance" — 50 (off 52 balls) with 8 fours and that Caddicky six over Nasser's England, it was in the earlier Group A match (against Namibia) that Sachin had served notice (on Pakistan via umpire Aleem Dar) about the shape of stings to come.
WHILE controversy still rages in Australia about the Shane Warne affair, the general opinion seems to be he hasn't taken performance drugs, but he hasn't also been totally honest or open about exactly how many "slimming" tablets he has taken.
Listen to an Indian player talk these days about Indian commentators and brotherhood is the last thing you get. Sarcasm, yes; bitterness, probably; dislike, unquestionably. 
The Artful RogerDon't be fooled. Switzerland's Roger Federer is a polite, introspective young man, but he plays a flamboyant, aggressive game that could carry him to the very top of the sport. By CINDY SHMERLER.
Juicy Quotes— Ricardo Mayorga, who knocked out Vernon Forrest for the welterweight title, when asked whether any of Forrest's punches hurt. "I'm used to getting booed. Nothing bothers me." — Tennis champion Serena ...
Tyson makes fighting demons his main ambitionDAMAGE is the new comedy. Self-loathing is this year's hottest Broadway ticket. You have to be there in the room to understand how Mike Tyson can hypnotise an audience not with what he does any longer, but what he says.
Winning breeds confidenceAT a time when our entire nation could see nothing beyond cricket and cricketers, Arjun Atwal made the golf fraternity sit up and take note of "an Indian" winning on the European Tour. That too, for the second time in a year.
Rajesh, Amit bag titlesFOR Sandeep Srikanth nothing could have been more satisfying than winning his maiden Laser Coastal National full rig title on home waters. As the most accomplished sailor of Royal Madras Yacht Club, the host, it would have been a dream finish for ...
Manipur reigns supremeTHE north-eastern powerhouse — Manipur — is fast acquiring the status of being the national giant in sports. Proficiency in diverse sports, save for cricket, has been the hallmark of this tiny State which has been producing champions ... 
Gritty Vandana triumphsVANDANA AGGARWAL is a true sports lover. Playing competitive hockey, basketball and also participating in athletics in her school days, she turned to golf more than a decade ago. For all practical purposes the Kolkata amateur golfer felt she had ...
`How can you surprise the goalkeeper if you do not, sometimes, surprise yourself?' Arsenal striker Thierry Henry talks to PATRICK BARCLAY. |
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