How good are India’s opponents in World Cup 2011 Cricket?

No matter how tough or weak a team is on paper, a lot of its fortunes depend on how strong or weak its opponents are. India are now in that kind of a position going into the 2011 World Cup Cricket.

No doubt Gary Kirsten’s men in blue start as favourites on paper to win the popular title but will the opponents stand in India’s way? Not badly enough as this time’s opposition is among the weakest for any defending champion since 1992.

Given the two key parameters of design and quality of opposition, it would be fairly safe to say India's World Cup challenge begins at the quarterfinal stage.

This will effectively means India would need to win three matches in a row to become the World Champions. That is where the big challenge will be for Kirsten's boys.

It is a fairly easy group for India, who should comfortably travel through to the last eight. After all, you only need to finish as the fourth best performer in your group to flow through. 

But, within the group battle, India should look to stop on top of the group as that would put them in a good position to face a weakfish opponent in the battle for semi finals. 

For that to occur, India will have to be on song from the word go. So, let us look at how India's probability could be impacted by their opponents in World cup 2011.

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Kirsten may join Mumbai Indians after India stint

Johannesburg, Jan 26 (PTI): India coach Gary Kirsten is not in the running for a similar job in the South African side but could be involved with Mumbai Indians in the IPL, a report said on Wednesday.

According to the report, Kirsten's good rapport with Sachin Tendulkar could lead to the former South African opener being appointed in a top position in Mumbai Indians which is to appoint a director of coaching before the IPL IV.

"Indian cricket had hoped to persuade Kirsten to change his mind about not renewing his contract, but gave up on it this week. Future options for Kirsten could involve the Indian Premier League," a report in The Times said.

"The close relationship that Kirsten has with Sachin Tendulkar may lead to co-operation between the two at the Mumbai Indians, who are expected to appoint a director of coaching before the next IPL season," it said.

"Kirsten could easily take up such a position while still developing his international academy that is in the planning stage at Claremont Cricket Club in Cape Town," it added.

Kirsten, who will quit as India's coach after the World Cup ends in April, is reluctant to take up the Proteas job when caretaker Corrie van Zyl steps down, also in April.

The report also said current India bowling coach Eric Simons could not be ruled out as a possible candidate to replace Kirsten.

"The Indian cricket board has not yet started a process to recruit a successor to Kirsten, but it is not unlikely that it will approach Simons as a candidate. Simons, a former Proteas all-rounder and national coach, was highly regarded by the Indian team when he came aboard this summer," the report said.

Meanwhile, the South African coaching job is likely to go to Duncan Fletcher. The former England coach has been advising the South Africans and it is understood he would be available.

Fletcher's coaching credentials would be hard to resist for Cricket South Africa, whose chief executive Gerald Majola recently promised a 'big name' for the job when Van Zyl's term ends, the report said.

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Sania Mirza getting qualifies for Australian Open

MELBOURNE: Sania Mirza booked a berth in the women’s singles key draw of the Australian Open with an easy straight sets victory over Canada's Stephanie Dubois on Sunday.

The 24th stone Indian triumphed 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 13 minutes in the third and final round of the qualifying contest.

Australian Open 2011

Sania had to go through the qualifying route due to low ranking as she has slipped to 145th spot due injuries last time of year.

Sania dropped her serve twice in the first set but the Canadian offered additional chances as the Indian converted four of five to put her nose ahead.

Sania cashed in on an unreliable Dubois, who faced seven breakpoints in the second set and the Hyderabad converted three of them to seal the win.

IPL 4 will be 10-team, 74-match affair

Mumbai, Jan 5 (PTI) With Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab being cleared to take part in the January 8-9 Indian Premier League players' auction in Bangalore by the Bombay High Court, the fourth season of the cash-rich Twenty20 league in April-May will be a 10-team event.

"The court has given a verdict. How can we stop them?" said Cricket Board sources when contacted after the IPL's Governing Council meeting on Wednesday.
This means IPL IV would comprise 10 teams, including the two new franchises, Kochi and Pune.
Sources also said that the format would be the same as was announced in September before the Board decided to terminate the contracts of RR and KXIP for non-compliance of terms which was challenged in the court by the two franchises.

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Shoaib Malik missing out of World Cup probables

Pakistan have left out experienced allrounder and former captain Shoaib Malik from the list of 30 probables for the 2011 World Cup. 

Malik had been under the scanner of the PCB's integrity committee and ultimately appears to have failed to gain clearance for selection.

Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, over whom there has been as much speculation, has, however, been selected.

Akmal was the subject of an ACSU notice earlier this year but has since asked for and received a written clearance from the ICC.

Malik has not been linked with any specific incident though he features regularly in the fevered speculation and gossip of Pakistan's cricket structure.
The world body extended the deadline for Pakistan from December 19 to January 5.
Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, provisionally suspended for their alleged role in the Lord's spot-fixing scandal, were never in the running for the squad.

"We are satisfied that we have selected the best squad from amongst the available players," chief selector Mohsin Khan said.

Squad: Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Taufiq Umar, Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Naveed Yasin, Kamran Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Salman Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Yasir Arafat, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Abdul Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanveer, Tanvir Ahmed, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Asad Ali

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Gold medallist Mo Farah named in English Commonwealth Games team

Farah, who won the 5,000m and 10,000m in Barcelona in July, is fixed by reigning European and Commonwealth triple jump champion Phillips Idowu.
Christine Ohuruogu, who won Olympic 400m gold in Beijing in 2008, will also protect her Commonwealth title. Lisa Dobriskey will look to duplicate her 1500m win from Melbourne in 2006.
The 26-year-old from Kent, who won her first major medal at the Commonwealths four years ago and added a silver at the World Championships in Berlin last year, will also fight in the 800m. But she missed out on a medal at the European Championships in Barcelona.
"To preserve my title would mean a lot to me and the more racing experience I can get in championship events the better," she said. "Other than next year's World Championships, there are extremely few such opportunities between now and London 2012."
Craig Hunter, chef de assignment for England in Delhi, added: "I'm delighted to welcome such a strong group of track and field athletes into the England team for Delhi and look forward to their performances there - especially after such a dramatic European Championships."
"After an wonderful season, two gold medals in the European Championships and a new British 5,000m record, I hope to finish a fantastic summer season with one more good performance in India," he said. He said: "It's been a great season so far and I look to go to India and win another gold medal."
England won six gold, four silver and eight bronze athletics medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. The 2010 Games run from 3-14 October and feature 17 sports.

Cristiano Ronaldo gives Pau Gasol some pointers facing the USA vs Spain game

Real Madrid footballer Cristiano Ronaldo spoke to NBA player Pau Gasol prior to the USA Senior Men's National Team against the Spain Senior Men's National Team game yesterday at La Caja Magica in Madrid, Spain.

USA won the warm-up game for the 2010 FIBA World Championships which begin in Turkey on August 28.

Gasol, who stands at 7ft tall, is the starting power ahead for back-to-back NBA champions the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers journey to London to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 4 as part of NBA Europe Live.

Credible Upholstery

England Beat Hungary 2-1

Steven Gerrard scored twice in four second-half minutes as England came from at the back to defeat Hungary in their first outing since their dreadful World Cup campaign.

England, by and great, received warm backing from the 72,024 inside Wembley, with clapping comfortably outweighing booing after a performance during which Fabio Capello's team produced some eye-catching attacking moves.
But the crowd voiced their disappointment when Phil Jagielka unfortunately guided a low cross into his own net after 62 minutes.
In truth, England had grounds for criticism that are sure to once again raise the subject of goal-line technology.
A Frank Lampard strike that clearly crossed the line was not awarded during England's humiliating 4-1 beat against Germany at the World Cup.
And at Wembley on Wednesday replays optional substitute Michael Dawson had cleared the ball before it had crossed the line.
The coach had moved away from the much-maligned 4-4-2 formation, opting in its place to play Barry, Gerrard and Lampard in a central midfield area, with Adam Johnson and Theo Walcott, who were both left out of the World Cup squad, providing the width as Rooney operated as a lone striker.

Ishant to ignore tri-series opener against Kiwis

Dambulla: India suffered a shake ahead of their tri-series opener against New Zealand as paceman Ishant Sharma was on Monday ruled out of the match due to an ankle injury.

The lanky Delhi bowler was to do the accountability with new ball along with state-mate Ashish Nehra.  "Ishant is not obtainable for tomorrow's match because of an ankle problem," India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said at the pre-match press conference.

India are previously without experienced pacer Zaheer Khan, senior spinner Harbhajan Singh and opener Gautam Gambhir. Zaheer had missed the just finished Test series against Sri Lanka due to a shoulder problem and flew to South Africa for treatment.

Harbhajan and Gambhir were rested all along with Sachin Tendulkar for the tri-series. Both Harbhajan and Gambhir had missed India's third Test against Sri Lanka due to injuries.

Jessica Ennis Calls Time on 2010 season

UKA today set that Britain’s reigning World and European Heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis has called time on her 2010 season in order to exploit her recovery time ahead of 2011.
The 24 year old, who came to close breaking the UK heptathlon record in winning her European Championship gold last week, made the decision beside her coach Toni Minichiello to ensure the long term plan including reaching 2012 in best possible shape was always the main priority.
At the same time as there are several high profile events remaining in the 2010 summer season, Ennis has reiterated that maintaining her fitness and giving herself the best possible approach to 2012, is the ‘right decision’. Ennis said,“I have had an wonderful season and to win the European Championships was just incredible, it was such a close competition but there was no way I was not going to win!

Sehwag takes solution Sri Lanka scalps

Third Test, Colombo (P Sara Oval):Virender Sehwag took two wickets early to put Sri Lanka under force in their second innings as India look for level the series in the third Test.
After India were dismissed for 436, Sri Lankan opener Tharanga Paranavitana could only make 16 before stitching Sehwag to wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni. Murali Vijay snared a catch from Tillakaratne Dilshan (13) off Sehwag (109), who had top-scored for India.
The tests have a 1-0 series lead after a 10-wicket win in the first Test.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA 425 & 45-2 

INDIA          436

Australia eligible for ABN AMRO FIH Champions Trophy final

Monchengladbach,Day 4 : Australia have qualified for Sunday’s final after beating Germany 3-1. All remaining five teams have still chances to grab the second spot. Spain drew with New Zealand 4-4 and England defeated the Netherlands 4-3.
On Saturday England face New Zealand, Netherlands play Germany and Australia compete with Spain.
Last minute goal secures Spain one point against the Black Sticks
New Zealand squandered a 4-2 lead. Miquel DELAS secured the draw when he converted Spain’s last penalty corner.

Germany v Australia 1-3 (1-1)
1-0 23’ Martin HÄNER (PC)
1-1 30’ Desmond ABBOTT (FG)
1-2 47’ Desmond ABBOTT (FG)
1-3 57’ Jamie DWYER (FG)

Dream Players Plans to play Together

The world’s No. 1 and No. 2 players, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, are plan to play doubles together in Toronto, according to the event's Facebook page. The Toronto sports radio station Fan 590, tournament director Karl Hale, who established the matchup, said that Djokovic arrived in Toronto yesterday and Nadal arrived today. It is the first U.S. Open warm-up for both players, so it makes intellect that they might want to get double the matches by adding doubles. Plus, the two of them split the same manager in Benito Perez-Barbadillo. Now if only Roger Federer and Andy Murray would team up.