25 Years

25 years 
Nehru Cup Final
Glory at a six team tournament in India
The modern day equivalent of a Champions Trophy 
IK's second biggest achievement in the shorter form 

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/65932.html

On this day Pakistan lost to South Africa by 1 run. Defeat from nowhere. 2013.

On this day Pakistan won the 2011 Hong Kong Sixes.

Focus Exclusively on One Day Cricket Now For England - Winning the 2015 World Cup

With the five Test matches against India finished, England's focus turns to ODI cricket with an eye on winning their first global ODI trophy at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup down under. England reached the semi finals or better during the first five Cricket World Cups, but in the last five they have failed to do so. They are yet to triumph in any of the 10 Cricket World Cups or 7 Champions Trophies, the only major team who are yet to win one of the two, despite reaching several finals and hosting the competitions more than anyone else. 

Can they break the 40 year ODI drought early in the new calendar in their quest to finally get their hands on a major ICC ODI title? Here I look at reasons for genuine optimism for England fans. Indeed, last time an Essex man led in a World Cup in that part of the World, they had their best World Cup campaign, reaching the final against Imran Khan's side under Graham Gooch in front of 87,000 at the MCG. 

Why England Are One of the Contenders

1) Conditions: England have played plenty of cricket in Australia over the years and conditions shouldn't be an issue. They know what to expect. They would have learn't from their experiences. 

2) Preparation: No Test Matches in the next five months unlike previous World Cups where England have had a taxing schedule to contend with, playing an away Ashes series and the World Cup in the same winter. All the focus is very much on one day cricket now. Surely England will benefit from this? Moreover, they are playing a triangular series in Australian conditions prior to the showpiece tournament early next year. 

3) Modern Playing Regulations: If there is one team that has benefited from the reintroduction of 2 new balls, 5 fielders in the circle at all times, no more Bowling Powerplay, 2 bouncers an over, it is England. Games aren't high scoring, almost a mini Test Match and the Champions Trophy was evidence of that. They have orthodox conventional batters at the top of the order to combat the threat of 2 new white balls. They have the bowlers who can utilise it effectively with seam and swing. They have the finishers who can cause immense destruction in the last 10 overs with only 4 men allowed out with the likes of Eoin Morgan, particularly with England's strategy built around wicket preservation in order to cash in during the latter stages of the innings. 

4) Prioritizing: No away Ashes so for a change the World Cup wouldn't be a consolation prize added on to the end of a long winter. England have played 10 consecutive Ashes Tests in order to ease the burden for their players in the 2014/15 World Cup season. One day cricket and a successful 2015 World Cup has become a leading priority. All the hype doesn't just surround the Ashes like previous times when a World Cup has been fast approaching. While some may argue that playing an Ashes series and a World Cup didn't affect the Australians when they won the competition in 2003 and 2007, one must remember they were a formidable force with truly great players and also they were playing the Ashes series at home too. 

5) Form Guide: They were finalists in the last major ODI tournament - The Champions Trophy. The were number 1 on the ODI rankings as recently as 2012. Alastair Cook has won more ODIs than any other England Captain. He has beaten nine different sides in ODI series during his tenure. 

6) Competition Format: All major teams are bound to reach the quarter finals. Both times the World Cup has seen a quarter final structure in place this has been the case in 1996 and 2011. No upsets have happened in terms of a major side eliminated early in those. It's effectively a 3 match knockout after a long qualification process. The best and most consistent side in the long qualifying round doesn't necessarily win i.e. South Africa in 2011, rather the one that handles pressure best and peaks at the right time and before you know it - you are in the semi finals. 

Final Word

England have their best chance of success at the World Cup since 1992 in the 44 day Australasian carnival. There are genuine reasons to be optimistic for the originators of domestic one day cricket. They are a overdue a global title in 50 over cricket. In an open tournament, they can't be written off. Triumphing in Melbourne in late March to become the sixth holder of one day cricket's biggest prize? It's not beyond them. 

21 Pointers - The Lack of ODI century - Who Cares?

Scoring 50s in small scoring games are often worth more than 100s in high scoring games where anybody can make runs for fun

Scoring 50s consistently is better than scoring a 100 and not doing much around it

Man of the match awards and top scoring in a team innings is more impressive than centuries.

Thilan Samarawera got 2 ODI tons, but no 50. Centuries are not everything if you lack consistency around it. 

It's like a team consistently reaching finals, but not going on to win the trophy. Not a bad position to be in by any means. Losing finals isn't a bad thing. 

It's like a student consistently getting As across all academic subjects, but not managing to bag that golden A+. 

Dhoni/Razzaq never got a T20 50, do you see them being targeted?

Tendulkar's last 3 ODI tons never resulted in an Indian win

Weak tail, often left stranded

Has been not out many times, therefore harsh to count the conversion rate against him

Has got 11 List A Centuries, scored many in professional cricket still 

50 in wins are better than 100s in defeat

Best ODI player without 100 - not a bad tag to have 

Most 50s without 100, consistent nonetheless

Most runs without 100, consistent nonetheless 

Many didn't get an ODI ton: Michael Vaughan, Graham Thorpe, Dwayne Bravo, Angelo Matthews, Andrew Jones

Far too long is spent dwelling on personal milestones in a team game

If centuries are the criteria, then Hafeez and Rameez Raja are two of Pakistan's best ODI players

Often has to resurrect the innings and therefore bide his time and patiently compile his first 50 runs

He is predominantly a middle order player, therefore not all that unusual 

Pakistan's matches don't tend to be very high scoring - a 160-240 type team, hence don't need to score as many runs and score as quickly 

23rd June 2013

The only time you would have heard Michael Holding commentate in a 20 over game! This day last year at Edgbaston. 

India won the 2013 ICC World Twenty20 (I mean the Champions Trophy with a 20/20 final!)

They won all five matches on their journey to glory against five different opposition. They defeated South Africa at Cardiff, India at the Oval and Pakistan at Edgbaston during the group stages. They then defeated Sri Lanka in the semi final in Wales before going on to hold their nerve to take out the title in the final against England in Birmingham. Prior to the tournament they won both warm up fixtures against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston and bowled out Australia for double digits at Cardiff. 

Today, a year on from their championship glory, they are arriving in England for five test matches, five one day internationals and a T20 fixture at Edgbaston to conclude the international summer.

It was fitting that in the week surrounding the 30th anniversary since the historic 1983 World Cup win, that India won another eight team trophy in the same month, same country and similarly like 1983 managed to scrap to defend a low total in the final. In both games it was highly entertaining bowling dominant drama. Like the 1983 World Cup final, an Indian all rounder bagged the man of the match in the final. Ravi Jadeja was a revelation as a canny left arm spinner, athletic fielder and handy lower middle order batsman. The CSK man was the leading wicket taker, although narrowly missed out on the man of the series award behind Dhawan. 

India achieved the treble in doing so. Being World champions in three ICC ODI titles simultaneously. The World Cup, U-19 World Cup and they could now boast of a Champions Trophy, too. This was their fifth ICC title since just 2007, adding the 2007 World T20 and 2008 U-19 World Cup triumph under Virat Kohli. They became the first team after Australia to be holding the World Cup and Champions Trophy at the same time. Talking of Australia, India now shared the joint highest tally of Champions Trophy titles with them having won the 2013 edition under the calm leadership of MS Dhoni, who could add the ICC Champions Trophy to his impressive CV of international achievements. India were fast establishing their status as white ball kings. They were closing in on Australia in terms of equaling the record for the most ICC major competition titles to their credit. This was their 8th adding the 1983 World Cup, 2000 U-19 and the 2002 Champions Trophy final in Sri Lanka where the trophy was shared after two days of persistent bad weather. It's highly impressive how they have won so many different high profile global crowns in different conditions for a team who are not known to travel well, particularly outside the subcontinent. 

It was heartbreak for England who were unable to break their 38 year ODI drought without a global title to speak of, the only major force remaining to have not won a World Cup or Champions Trophy, despite hosting many and reaching finals. Like 2004, losing a Champions Trophy home final in a game they were controlling. It was exactly the same date when they lost the 1979 World Cup final against Clive Lloyd's West Indies. They bottled it again. 

The tournament was significant for India for two main reasons. It followed a controversial IPL. It was India's first visit to England after the 2011 8-0 winless debacle. India needed to do well. 7-0 this time, including the televised warm ups. The men in blue were invincible, they were clinical. The fact that the team only had 3 players in the final XI that featured in the 2011 World Cup final, was a reflection of how far the youth was progressing in the country which owned the biggest franchise money making domestic league in the game. 

Like the 2002 Natwest final, India won a decisive game when they were up against it. Self belief was paramount. They beat England in the 1983 World Cup semi final. And they won the 2013 Champions Trophy. Clearly, they had the upper hand over England in important ODI championship fixtures in England and they confirmed that by winning the Champions Trophy final in front of a populated Indian crowd on a damp day in Birmingham.

India would have taken plenty of confidence from their undefeated championship glory going into the 2015 Cricket World Cup and given the conditions they did it in and the young resources at their disposal, perhaps even as far as the 2019 World Cup to be hosted by England. They certainly took plenty of confidence from their Champions Trophy showing for an impressive run in Bangladesh for the 2014 World T20 where they were the dominant side leading up to the final and for all money looked like they were going to complete the treble of the three most popular ICC competitions at the same time, before being beaten in the grand final at Dhaka. They certainly can take hope going into the forthcoming England tour from the way they played here in 2013 to banish those forgettable memories of 2011.

India carried on their upward form following the Champions Trophy in ODIs. They won a tri series in the Caribbean. They beat Zimbabwe 5-0 with a second string side. They won home ODI series against Australia and the West Indies. They had a year to remember and not just in ODIs, rather on the whole, but the Champions Trophy was undoubtedly the highlight with the 4-0 whitewash of Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series at home a close second. 

It was a rare overseas success for them in recent times, but one they can be very pleased with nevertheless. The most pleasing aspect was that they did it with the exuberance of youth. Their fielding and running between the wickets in particular surprised many who hadn't been connected with the latest developments of Indian cricket in the UK. Of course, they would have preferred to do it in a full 50 over final, but it was not to be, with the absence of a reserve day. 

It was a TEAM performance. Jadeja, Dhawan, B Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Ashwin were the architects of lifting Indian cricket at a time of need with their spirited showings under the backing of Dhoni. The bowling led the way. They restricted West Indies brilliantly at the Oval, they humiliated Pakistan with the ball, they restricted an experienced Sri Lankan batting line up in the semi final for fewer than 200 albeit on a wicket which was offering plenty for the seamers early doors, before successfully defending 130 odd against the hosts in the final on a turning wicket. India's bowling has been severely underrated when it really matters in white ball cricket. Their bowling has been a central reason behind their successes in multinational carnivals and this 7th Champions Trophy best typified that. Indeed, several of their bowlers featured in the official competition XI.  

A short concentrated world championship in the country that has the most experience in hosting international cricket competitions and it was MS Dhoni and India who took the honours. The word was that it was going to be the last competition of its kind. But thankfully at the beginning of the year following the ICC proposals with the Big 3 takeover, it's restored and in 2017 it will return instead of the proposed World Test Championship. 

It was a better and more comprehensive win than any other ICC Trophy India have won from a cricketing point of view above all else. They were not favourities. They had a young side. They were clinical. There were no associates or minnows along the way. Sometimes in ICC Events the best team doesn't necessarily triumph, but it certainly was far from the case here. 

India in England Successes

Won the 1983 World Cup
Won a Test Series in 1986
Won the Natwest final 2002
Won a Test series in 2007
Won a Champions Trophy in 2013

India in England Failures

1999 World Cup
2004 Champions Trophy
2009 World T20
2011 Tour

19th June - England ODIs at the Oval

2012 win = http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-west-indies-2012/engine/match/534210.html Gayle's international return 

2013 win = http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-champions-trophy-2013/engine/current/match/566946.html Gary Kirsten's last game in charge 

39 ODI Wins as Captain

Just seen an interesting stat that Alastair Cook has the most ODI wins by an England Captain

Misbah ul Haq has 39 ODI wins as Pakistan Captain

That's more than any England ODI Captain

4th most by a Pakistan ODI Captain 

Misbah's ODI Record vs West Indies

Misbah has 9 half centuries in 15 innings against the West Indies.
Only one of those have come in defeat, that by 2 wickets too only.
96* last time he played against them in a world tournament.

Next game
21st February
Venue: Christchurch in NZ
Day Game

Prediction: Misbah MOM

Call in Mid 2012

https://twitter.com/maza786/status/219734184388853760

Pro Mohammad Hafeez ODI Post

Mohammad Hafeez did not score a single half century in 5 ODIs against South Africa and was previously dropped from the test squad. Hafeez at this point had 2 half centuries in 18 innings excluding minnows this year in ODIs. He had gone 9 international innings without a half century. Later that week he bagged 2 ducks in a T20 series against South Africa. Later that month he bagged two low scores in South Africa during an ODI series. Many were angry and calling for his head. 

Mohammad Hafeez had a struggling ICC Champions Trophy with the bat, averaging 12.66 from 3 innings. Earlier that year, he averaged 7 from 6 innings during the test series in South Africa and did not fare much better in the ODIs which followed. Hafeez also bagged a duck in the resumption of Indo-Pak ties during the 1st ODI in Chennai during the final fixture of 2012. 

1st ODI Cape Town Half Way Prediction

4th ODI Half Way Point

3rd ODI Half Way Point

South Africa ODI Status By Me on PCT in April

2nd ODI Half Way Point Verdict

Misbah vs Younis

Very strange to see Younis Khan complaining about being surprised about not being granted a place in ODIs !

You always get comments from fans 'that if Misbah is in the ODI team then why not Younis.' HERE IS WHY. I have to do this when ever the team is announced for ODIs and have been doing it for a long time. ITS BLINDING OBVIOUS.

Misbah: 11 half centuries in his last 18 ODI innings
Younis: 3 half centuries in his last 18 ODI innings

World Cup Average
Younis : 23
Misbah: 50

Champions Trophy Average
Misbah: 54
Younis: 15

Career Average
Younis: 32
Misbah: 45

Average as ODI Captain
Misbah: 50
Younis: 22

Average in WINS:
Misbah: 57
Younis: 40

This Year:
Younis: No half century in 7 innings (out every time)
Misbah: 11 half centuries in 21 innings with 5 not outs

Anyone who is capable of distinguishing between different formats should be able to reach the conclusion that Younis should not be in the ODI team and his continual exclusion from this format is totally justified. It's disappointing that Younis himself has not retired from ODIs after the 2011 World Cup, 2012 Asia Cup or after the 2012-13 series in India which would have been an appropriate time to go.

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/605727259472977

Why England Are Favourites for ICC Champions Trophy 2013

Why England Are Favourites for ICC Champions Trophy 2013

Home Record: Unbeaten at home in a bilateral ODI series for 8 series in a row. They are an in form outfit who are tough to get past on home shores.

Home Advantage: This has been crucial in world events in recent times. The hosting nation has not disappointed. We live in an era where home advantage is paramount. Many sides are a dominant force at home. England is one of them. Barring South Africa in the previous 3 summers in white or red ball cricket, no side has managed to beat them in the two longest forms of the game.

New Playing Regulations suiting them the Most: Skilful swing bowlers and stodgy risk free top order batsmen to benefit the most of 2 new white balls at each end. They have the type of bowlers who bowl a full length and can test the batsmen on the 4^th stump channel consistently and regularly get the early breakthroughs and bring the slips and LBW into the equation by shaping it away or nipping it back such as Jimmy Anderson and Steve Finn. Cook, Bell, Trott are orthodox traditional battlers at the crease who are unworried about biding their time, reigning themselves in, judging movement watchfully and backing their calm resolve at all costs. They can combat the new ball, play themselves in conventionally & overcome the opening exchanges unharmed. Additionally, 5 men in the ring at all times including in non power play overs ably suit a player like Jonathan Trott who is a worker and builder through churning out singles. He is able to knock the ball around, pierce the gap and cope with the pressures of a more attacking field set. As Nasser Hussain and Nick Knight have repeatedly emphasised, ODIs are more like a mini test match now and this is where England have the upper hand. They can almost field their test match XI. Big hitting, power and innovation, unorthodox spinners, crafty death bowlers are still useful to have, but they are not imperative and those are areas why England have not done well in ODIs for the last decade. They do not need to rely on them as much anymore as conventional old fashioned line and length and steady accumulation does the trick, particularly at home.

ODI Record under Cook: The Essex man has captained against Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand in bilateral series and has only been defeated by India & that too in India when they were fielding a 2^nd string squad and resting many of their best players. They did beat them at home in the year the men in blue triumphed at the World Cup, though.

2004 ICC Champions Trophy: Last time it was held in England they reached the final and lost it from the jaws of victory at the Oval and will be determined to get over the line this time more than ever.

Due to win one: They are the only team not to have won a 50 over world event. Surely they are due one, especially when they have been building up to this global trophy with an impressive form guide.

Prioritising the event: They have been focussing on this for a year and are well aware of their golden chance to win an ICC 50 overs event in front of their home supporters. After the quarter final elimination at the 2011 World Cup, a lot has been made of England in one day cricket and a lot has changed. How far they have come will be examined in the forthcoming mini World Cup. The Captain, Wicket Keeper, Coach have all changed since the 2011 debacle where they were defeated by Bangladesh, Ireland & thumped by Dilshan and company in Colombo during the quarter final.

Finishing Limited Over Matches Author: Analyst Maaz; Views: 1387; Date: 20-03-2013, 13:10;

What FINISHERS try and Often Achieve:

Be there at the end

Knock off the winning runs

Guide the team over the line

Remain unbeaten

Take on the responsibility of seeing their side home

Last the duration

Bat the bulk of the overs and make a score of note and make most of it, go on and on

Back themselves to take the game to the death and win it at the death

Know the right moments when to stick and twist

Soak up the pressure when wickets are falling around them and the rate is climbing

Refuse to panic

Be clinical and professional in low scoring games

Qualities

Calmness

Self Belief

Perseverance

Versatility

Dependability

They are interested in

Being not out

Having a high average

Not scoring in lost causes

Winning most of their matches when batting 2^nd

Having a stronger chasing record than 1^st innings record

Barely scoring many career 50s in lost causes

Receiving man of the match when chasing a score

 How they build an innings

- Knock it around

- Build partnerships

- Change gears in between

- Keep their cool when they get closer

- Establish a price on their wicket, unless you get me OUT you can’t win type analogy

BELOW DATA AS OF 15TH MARCH 2013 

 Below is February 2012 data:

Two of the best ways to judge the calibre of a batsmen is in their ability to save test matches and finish one day matches. Misbah has consistently shown his credentials in the two. He has/can dig deep, bat long, block out the game in a test match and be there at the end, remain unbeaten and keep his cool to close out run chases in the one day format.

2013 ICC Champions Trophy Fixtures Released Author: Maaz; Views: 4761; Date: 1-06-2012, 03:44;

The 2013 Champions Trophy will be held in England. It will be the last CT with ICC looking to have one competition per format from now onwards with an eye on having an ICC Test championship in place between the top 4 ranked test sides. The ICC CT will be held from the 6th - 23rd June with Cardiff, Edgbaston & the Oval being the venues for the event. Edgbaston will also host the final on the 23rd with the semi finals being on the 19th & 20th at Oval & Cardiff respectively. The last time the ICC CT was held in England, West Indies were the winners, beating England in the final during a cold September day at the Oval in 2004.

Previous Winners

1998=South Africa

2000=New Zealand

2002=India & Sri Lanka

2004= West Indies

2006= Australia

2009= Australia

2013= left to be decided

ICC Champions Trophy schedule

Thursday June 6: India v South Africa (Day) - Cardiff
Friday June 7: West Indies v Pakistan (Day) - The Oval
Saturday June 8: England v Australia (Day) - Edgbaston
Sunday June 9: Sri Lanka v New Zealand (Day) - Cardiff
Monday June 10: Pakistan v South Africa (Day/Night) - Edgbaston
Tuesday June 11: India v West Indies (Day) - The Oval
Wednesday June 12: Australia v New Zealand (Day/Night) - Edgbaston
Thursday June 13: England v Sri Lanka (Day/Night) - The Oval
Friday June 14: West Indies v South Africa (Day) - Cardiff
Saturday June 15: India v Pakistan (Day) - Edgbaston
Sunday June 16: England v New Zealand (Day) - Cardiff
Monday June 17: Sri Lanka v Australia (Day/Night) - The Oval
Tuesday June 18: Rest day
Wednesday June 19: Semi-final A1 v B2 (Day) - The Oval
Thursday June 20: Semi-final A2 v B1 (Day) - Cardiff
Friday June 21: Rest day
Saturday June 22: Rest day
Sunday June 23: Final (Day) - Edgbaston

2 Decades Today Photo Collection & Summary Author: Maaz; Views: 717; Date: 25-03-2012, 08:06;

Pakistan Winning the 5th CWC down under

- Aamir Sohail giving Botham a send off

- Miandad's reverse sweep

- Imran’s mighty 6 clubbed over long on

- Miandad & Imran anchoring the innings with determined half centuries

- Inzamam & Wasim with quick fire cameos at the death to swift the momentum

- Wasim Akram castling Allan Lamb from around the wicket

- Wasim Akram cleaning up Chris Lewis first ball with a big in ducker

- Mushy trapping Hick in front with the perfectly pitched googly

- Rameez taking the winning catch from the last delivery Imran sent down at top level cricket

- MCG turned into a sea of green