From the publishers of THE HINDU
VOL.30 :: NO.10 :: Mar. 10, 2007
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From the publishers of THE HINDU VOL.30 :: NO.10 :: Mar. 10, 2007 |
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 News Update
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A World Cup of rare evennessThere is nothing obvious to this edition of the Cup, there are favourites but no chosen one like Australia was in 2003. Every team, sometimes it seems just to reassure itself, is bleating: this is anyone's cup. It also means no one has an excuse to fail, writes Rohit Brijnath.
Perfect blend of youth and experienceThe key is to do well in the first stage, where India often struggles to maintain form, so as to enter the second, better suited to India's traditionally spasmodic style of play, writes S. Ram Mahesh. CAPTAIN'S COMMENTS / RAHUL DRAVID 
'It is a fair format'"There are always ups and downs in any team in any sport but emotions in our country run to the extreme," says Rahul Dravid in a chat with Vijay Lokapally. COACH'S COMMENT / GREG CHAPPELL 
`We have to keep it simple'Greg Chappell stresses on the need for India to stay mentally positive. "We have to play our normal cricket, not allow the situations to get the better of us," he says in a chat with S. Dinakar. TEAM ANALYSIS / AUSTRALIA 
Adaptability is its forteAustralia has dominated world cricket for quite some time, thanks to its self-belief. Driven by a fierce desire to keep improving, it has stayed at the top with a stunning collective show. The team does not lack in individual brilliance, writes Vijay Lokapally. CAPTAIN'S COMMENTS / RICKY PONTING 
A good mix of playersHaving helped give Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer the ideal farewell from the Test arena with a 5-0 Ashes series whitewash, Ponting is also keen to send McGrath into international retirement with one more accolade, writes Andrew Wu. TEAM ANALYSIS/WEST INDIES 
Consistency elusiveOn the smaller grounds of the Caribbean, defending targets may not be easy. So the West Indies, not renowned for pacing its innings, would be better off batting second, writes S. Dinakar. CAPTAIN'S COMMENTS / BRIAN LARA 
In search of a winning formulaShould West Indies win the World Cup, it could signal the end of Brian Lara's one-day career. "If that happens, it would be a wonderful way to end my one-day career. I don't see any reason why I should continue after that," says the West Indian skipper in an interview with Valentino Singh. COACH'S COMMENTS / BENNETT KING Envisaging coronation Bennett King backs West Indies to win the World Cup. "Our form in one-day internationals over the past year is enough to see us as one of the favourites," says the coach to Valentino Singh. TEAM ANALYSIS / SRI LANKA 
A side with good balanceThe one significant advantage Sri Lanka has, going into the World Cup, is that none of its players are carrying injuries. The roster of casualties is long for other countries, particularly Australia, and for a side ostensibly loaded with geriatric men Sri Lanka isn't doing too badly, writes Vijay Parthasarathy. CAPTAIN'S COMMENTS / MAHELA JAYAWARDENE 
`Teamwork is crucial'Mahela Jayawardene is determined that Sri Lanka does not rely too heavily on star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. "I like to focus not on individuals but on teamwork and guys rising to the occasion," he tells Ben Rumsby. TEAM ANALYSIS / SOUTH AFRICA 
Attitude is the questionFour years ago, the South Africans got the Duckworth and Lewis arithmetic wrong on a rainy night in Durban; the team-management had blundered. This time Caribbean sun could shine on them, writes S. Dinakar. CAPTAIN'S COMMENTS / GRAME SMITH 
`We are a pretty settled one-day team'Graeme Smith and his men are confident of overcoming the demons created by South African sides of the past. "We know what mistakes were made and we won't make them again," the skipper says in a chat with Brenden Nel. TEAM ANALYSIS / PAKISTAN 
Enigmatic ensembleThere is reason to believe that Pakistan has a realistic chance of winning the World Cup. It may be an enigma, but it surely is a strong contender for the title, provided the players discover the collective way to dominate and not depend on individual brilliance, writes Vijay Lokapally. COACH'S COMMENTS/BOB WOOLMER Absence of key players fetters Woolmer Bob Woolmer is a high-profile coach. But what can he do with a Pakistan that so palpably lacks bowling muscle? TEAM ANALYSIS / NEW ZEALAND 
Peaking at the right timeStephen Fleming's New Zealand has the variety and the depth to mount a serious challenge in the World Cup. It is one of the strong contenders for a place in the semifinals. Nandita Sridhar takes a look at the team's chances in the Caribbean. CAPTAIN'S COMMENTS / STEPHEN FLEMING 
Learning from the pastStephen Fleming and his men are eagerly looking forward to the challenges in the Caribbean. "There is an excitement mounting in the team looking at the big goal," he tells Lynn McConnell. TEAM ANALYSIS / ENGLAND 
Vaughan's fitness vitalThe first World Cup final victory can be a turning point in the English game's history. It can obliterate the memories of more than 35 years in which they have underperformed and wipe out the dreadful defeats in Australia this winter, writes Ted Corbett. CAPTAIN'S COMMENTS / MICHAEL VAUGHAN 
Looking for self-beliefEngland needs to develop a winning culture again. "There is now the challenge for all the players and management to try and buy into a strategy, try to get some consistency together and build towards a good World Cup for us all." Michael Vaughan in conversation with Richard Gibson. Starspeak I want India to win. There is nothing like winning a world title and believe me, it will give the country great joy if these lads can come back with the Cup, as it happened in 1983. This team has immense potential and it is for the players to ... FEATURE All good things have to come to an end For quite a few maestros this will be the last World Cup. Over to S. Dinakar. Leading from the front Two World Cup-winning captains often given the short shrift are Clive Lloyd and Steve Waugh. Neither is, in public lore, a particularly innovative tactician. A feature on great captains by S. Ram Mahesh. Playing fields A peek into the grounds in the Caribbean that will stage the World Cup, beginning March 13, 2007. Advt Links: • Deutsches Ceeduu Web • Send Gift to India • Flowers to All Over India • Nascar Diecasts • Computer Terms & Definitions • Polaris World Properties • Deutsches Business Web • Mascara • Sportshop • IQ Tests, Liebestests und andere Quizzes • Sportreisen zu allen Sportevents • FunPike : Funny Videos, Games & Photos • Domain • German Business • Preisvergleich • Uhren and Schmuck • blog tools • IDEC Austria • Stadtindex • Projectors • USB Adapters • Soccer balls, goal & accessories
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