The Cricket Corollary

Brendon McCullum Interview

2009-10-06T13:45:00.000+02:00

When did you come to know that Daniel Vettori will not be able to play the all important final?

After we came to the ground, Daniel said that he won't be able to play.

Which means you did not get ample time for preparation to lead in the final?

It was a bolt from the blue that our captain will not be able to take the field. It was really a huge blow for the whole team.

Did you miss him as a bowler? More than anything else, we missed him for captaincy. He has a great knack for inspiration. How will you explain the opening spell of Bond and Mills?

Excellent. We wanted to create pressure on them. We wanted to reach to their middle order quickly. If we could have five wickets for 100 runs the game could have gone to for different directions. But our total of 200 runs was not enough. We should have scored at least 250.

How will you analyse the Australia's performance? Incredible, they have got a good mixture of youth and experience. One of the Australia's plus point is their pretty good batting depth and they also know how to play under pressure.

But your team also fought? Yes we did. Especially, when we had only 200 runs on the board. The way the whole team fought, I am proud for our team.

Could you tell us something about Shane Watson?

He took the game away from us. He has improved like anything. I dropped a crucial catch. If I would have held that catch at that time, certainly it would have been a different story. I am responsible for that miss. I started running back but was short by a couple of meters.

Shane Watson Interview

2009-10-06T13:39:00.000+02:00

What makes you a special player during the ICC Champions trophy? I did not do exactly well in 2007 as I was overawed with the atmosphere. This time, I was determined to do well. Did you remember Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist while opening the innings for Australia?

Both of them are big match players. It is difficult to maintain their consistency. Yet, I am trying my level best to win matches for Australia. I really love batting with new ball. I have enjoyed that thoroughly in this tournament.

You came into reckoning during the first IPL for Rajasthan Royals?

I can not deny that. IPL has helped me a lot. It is a massive turning point for my life.

What is your biggest strength? I only know to get maximum whenever you are in the best of form. So I am trying to make most of it. How do you rate the man-of-the-match award during the Final of the ICC Champions Trophy? It is very–very special, indeed .I am lucky that I got the opportunity to open the innings for Australia.

Jonty Rhodes' blog

2009-10-06T13:27:00.000+02:00

The writing was on the wall for New Zealand the moment that Daniel Vettori was forced to withdraw from the final. Then again, most of us thought that the writing was on the wall when Jacob Oram was injured, and then Darrel Tuffey, and Jesse Ryder…!

It won’t be any sort of consolation but, when they reflect on their achievement in reaching the final, the Black Caps should – and hopefully will – feel very proud of themselves.

Even during the final when things once again looked bleak and their backs were to the wall, they carried on fighting and refused to give up. We’ve all been in situations which seem hopeless – and we all have some experience of escaping from them and winning games which had surely seemed lost. Every run might be vital and that’s the way you have to play, either batting or fielding. Treat every run you score, or save, as though the match depends on it.

Australia, on the other hand, oozed confidence from the first day of the tournament until the last. Ricky Ponting’s men might not be able to repeat the feats of Gilchrist, Hayden and McGrath on the field but they can copy the body language of their great predecessors and learn to play like winners.

Personally I really enjoyed watching the top orders battle against the new ball on a pitch which offered the fast bowlers seam movement. It may have been said a hundred times already but that’s no reason not to say it again: Cricket is a contest between bat and ball and when conditions are loaded unduly in favour of one above the other then it is no longer a contest. At least, not a fair one.

Opening batsmen should have to work hard in the early stages of any game before conditions become a little easier. That’s why I batted in the middle order!

No doubt the debate and discussion will continue about the future of the 50-over format but, in my opinion, this tournament has done more than enough to remind people that there is still a place for all three formats of the game. I would happily entertain the idea of reducing ODIs to 40 overs and using up all power-plays by the 35th over but it doesn’t have to happen as a matter of urgency, if at all.

It may not have been a ‘classic’ tournament or one which will stick in our memories for years to come but it was still a fine tournament, well organised and well supported. You cannot hope for a classic race every time, even when the best teams in the world are involved.

As a batsmen I have to say that watching a man score an unbeaten hundred to win a match is one of the most satisfying things you can hope to see. Goodness only knows how satisfied Shane Watson must feel after doing it twice in consecutive matches!

Yuvraj Singh Interview

2009-10-06T05:32:00.000+02:00

How are you coping with the finger injury?

I feel better now. The doctor in South Africa told me that recovery would take at least 5-6 weeks. There is no pain now. I will have to go NCA (National Cricket Academy) for a check-up.

In 2006, a knee injury ruled you out of the ICC Champions Trophy. This time around, it's the finger.

Injuries are part and parcel of any sportsperson's life but for me the bad luck is that it came at the wrong times. It is a bit unfortunate.

How are you planning to use the much-needed break?

Actually, I didn't require it. After the tour to West Indies, we were given a two-month break. So this has become like a prolonged break for me. I would start batting again, once I recover from this injury. At the moment, I am just oncentrating on the India-Australia series.

The injury has cast a shadow over your participation in the series against Australia.

Nothing can be done. The doctor has told me to just rest and let the recovery happen. It also depends on me on how fast I recover. I want to work on my fitness and get fitter. I want to be in a great frame of mind before returning to the field.

What do you make of India's early exit in the ICC Champions Trophy?

It was one bad match against Pakistan that led to the exit. It's sad. It doesn't depend on one person. We can think of a hypothetical situation where one person guides a team to victory. It's a collective responsibility and everybody has to work for victory.

Celebration Pics

2009-10-06T05:24:00.000+02:00

JP Duminy Interview

2009-10-05T11:26:00.000+02:00

How do you view the chance to playing in the Champions League?
It is a big tournament for me, especially considering that the third edition of IPL is going to be held in India. So I hope to build a sound platform for IPL by getting to know the sub-continent conditions through the Champions League.

How different is playing in the CL from playing for the Mumbai Indians?
It will be a new experience for me in terms of playing in India as we will be playing in front of a different sort of crowd. While playing for the Mumbai team I had a chance to interact with players from different parts of the world. But here I will be playing with the guys I have known for years. Whether it is for South Africa or Mumbai or for Cobras my aim is to help my team win.

You are a key player for Cobras. Does that put any pressure on you?
Not really. I am not worried about expectations that people have from me. Obviously, it will be big challenge for me to play and excel in a tournament like the CLT20, but that is something I am eagerly waiting for. Here I have to adapt quickly to the sub-continent conditions as they differ from what we get in South Africa. I really feel confident about the tournament and our chances in the Champions League.

Have you assessed your first opponents, the Royal Challengers Bangalore?
Well, they definitely are a good side. That they were runners-up in the IPL shows their strength. They have some exceptional players in their ranks like Dravid and Kumble But Cobras are right up for the challenge.

Does the absence of Graeme Smith affect your chances?
It will be tough to replace a guy like Graeme. But I feel we have enough depth in our ranks to seriously challenge our opponents. I think we have a very good skipper in Andrew Puckett who has good experience of the intricacies of T20 format. We just need to focus on our strengths and a good start will go a long way in boosting our chances in the CL.

There is a lot of talk about T20 affecting the future of Tests and one-dayers. Your take?
I feel Test cricket is going to stay no matter what. We have seen huge crowds in the Australia vs South Africa series in both the countries and the Ashes too draw a lot of viewers. So there will be crowd for good and tight contests. It (T20) might affect the one-dayers, unless the authorities come up with some modifications to the existing format. I guess it will need a special effort to keep the one-dayers going.

Do you think playing in tournaments like CL will help South African domestic cricket?
Oh yes. It will be a good experience for many guys in the team, especially the young ones who will get a hang of different conditions. But the process will take some time to come into full effect.

Boeta Dippenaar Interview

2009-10-05T11:24:00.000+02:00

Coming into the Airtel Champions League tournament, are you happy with the team's preparations?

Yes, we are really well prepared going into the tournament. We feel that we stand a good chance. We have come here early so that we can get the maximum number of warm-up matches and can adapt to the conditions and pitches faster and better.

Diamond Eagles are generally up against the domestic teams of South Africa. How difficult would it be to compete with the domestic teams of other cricketing nations in a tournament of international stature?
It is obviously going to be challenging for us but we have tried to collect as much of information as possible about the other teams and have come well prepared to deal with it. Out main focus, though, would be on our own game. We have done very well as a team and we are fully aware of our strengths and weaknesses. We will play accordingly and try to give our best on the field.

Your team doesn't have too many big stars as compared to the other teams in the tournament. Do you think that is going to be a disadvantage?

No, I don't think so. Since we are a young side, the other teams wouldn't know much about us. That will be an advantage for us as we can spring some real good surprises. However, we are one of the two top teams in South Africa and I think we are a strong unit. Moreover, we always seem to have exceeded people's expectations and this time also we hope and plan do the same. Most importantly, we will have to play well as a unit and we look forward to doing just that.

Which team do you rate as the most difficult to beat in the Airtel Champions League Twenty20 2009?

There are so many good teams that it is very difficult to pin-point just one of them. Most teams are very strong, so I don't think I can single out any particular side that can pose a bigger threat to us than the others. We would have to be on guard against each one of them.

What do you think about the concept of top domestic cricketing teams contesting in a tournament?

I think it is a great concept. With so much cricket being played these days all year round, the supporters are actually looking forward to something different. And this particular concept offers something very new to cricket-lovers. Obviously, people support their respective national teams but here they will get to make a choice about which team they would want to go with. It's unique and interesting.

Do you think with no national interest at stake, this concept is going to work here in India?

Yes, absolutely. Indians are very passionate about their sports, especially cricket, and I have no doubt that they would appreciate watching some quality cricket and support the team of their choice in this Airtel Champions League Twenty20 competition.

How will your own experience of playing international cricket help the team consisting of all youngsters, who do not have much experience of playing outside South Africa?

It is not just me who will help the youngsters to get used to the conditions. In fact, we had a fruitful session with Allan Donald and now Sourav Ganguly will also join us in a couple of days to share his valuable experiences with us. That is something all of us are looking forward to. The boys are going to benefit a lot in the long run from these quality sessions with such great players.

On a personal note, do you miss playing international cricket?

Yes, of course I do. There is no better place to be other than international cricket for sure.

Do you think the Airtel Champions League Twenty20 will give you similar opportunities as international cricket used to? How much are you looking forward to it?

I am very excited. In fact, not just I - the whole team is very excited and upbeat about playing in India. They are all looking forward to get out there.

Although you could never cement your Test place in the South African squad, you always managed to find a place for yourself in the ODI team for most of your international career. Would you say that your style of play is more suited to the shorter version of the games?
Although, the international records suggest that, I don't think so. I have always enjoyed the longer version of the game more and according to me, scoring runs in a Test match or a four-day game is always more satisfying as a batsman than hitting runs in one-dayers or T20s. No doubt Twenty20 cricket is very good, but Test cricket is obviously the best format of the game.

SuperSport Series

2009-10-05T11:06:00.000+02:00

I've been keeping an eye on the Domestic Series. News is that starting October 28 our MTN ODI series will include the new trial changes. Overs will be reduced to 40 overs each, allowing 12 players a side and allowing the batting side to pick Powerplays. However while the teams can pick 12 players, only 11 can bat and field. The first Powerplay will extend up to 10 overs and the second for five and both must be taken before the 35th over. For one, four fielders will be allowed outside the ring, and for the other three. Also for rain delays overs will be deducted immediately, and matches will be played over a set period regardless of the weather. There will be substantial prize money and bonuses for players and franchises.

"CSA believes the new format will be a dynamic alternative to the dull periods that have crept into the 45-over version by providing added excitement and playing intensity. This change is part of CSA's vision of giving fans the excitement and action they want without losing any of the basic skills that are an integral part of the game. At the same time, we will also be preparing our players for the 50-over international version if that does not change. And if it does become shorter, then we will have a head start."- Gerald Majola, CSA chief executive.

The SuperSport series has already started. The Proteas returned to their domestic teams after SA's early exit from the CT. Lets take a look how they are doing:

Lions vs Warriors -Match Drawn

Prince 34(92)

Botha 88(184) 19-3-61-0-3.21

Parnell 33(99) 23-1-122-4-5.3

Tsotsobe 7(18) 19-5-60-1-1.35

Ntini 0(6) 21-4-57-1-2.71

Dolphins vs Titans -Match Drawn

Amla 27(101)

Hall 48(122) 12-5-21-1-1.75

Abdulla 1(11) 15.4-3-62-5-3.95

M Morkel 1(11) 25-4-71-1-2.84

A Morkel 8(13) 19.1-5-70-4-3.65

Harris 0(18) 11-2-23-2-2.09

Rudolph 39(95)

Bella

Jonty Rhodes' blog

2009-10-04T18:00:00.000+02:00

There is an old saying in cricket – and probably in all team games – that the best players don’t necessarily make the best team. In fact, I’d say it was almost a rarity for the best team to have all the best players, especially at international level.

And I feel absolutely confident that I would not offend New Zealand’s players or their supporters by suggesting that it is primarily their team work and commitment as a unit which has got them into the Champions Trophy semi final.

I wonder how many of the Black Caps would make a current World XI? Certainly a few more now than would have been the case at the beginning of the tournament but even right now I suspect most people wouldn’t look too far beyond Daniel Vettori although mentions would be made of Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and Shane Bond. And two of their best players, Jesse Ryder and Jacob Oram, are injured! It has been a fantastic achievement.

On the one hand it is hard to qualify – and certainly quantify – the term ‘team spirit’. Often it just happens naturally but, on the other hand, a captain or a coach can try enhance it by telling his players to support each other, physically and emotionally. When somebody takes a great catch, run to him quickly from wherever you have been fuilding and make sure he knows how much you appreciate it.

When a bowler is tired and hurting, tell him that you understand, and look in his eyes when you do it so he believes you. Tell him that you’d happily share the pain if you weren’t so useless.
Remember, at all times, that nobody drops a catch on purpose, nobody deliberately bowls a half volley, run outs happen even to the most experienced partnerships and everybody plays a bad shot from time to time. Empathy and encouragement with team mates goes a lot further towards improvement than criticism.

And then, of course, there is appreciating what skills you and your colleagues do have rather than regretting what you don’t have. Grant Elliott is a classic example of a player performing to the very maximum of the parameters he has set himself. He knows exactly what he is capable of and concentrates on doing that rather than becoming distracted by something he can’t do.
Take a close look at the New Zealand players during the final, if you are lucky enough to be able to watch it. See how the fielders support and encourage each other, how the bowlers are made to feel special and nobody allows either their own head or a team mate’s head to drop.

New Zealand’s cricket teams, of course, have always felt like a special ‘band of brothers’ because there are so few of them in the first place and maybe the team spirit they have at the moment has just happened naturally. It doesn’t matter either way but it is what has got them to the final. And if they win I can’t think of anyone who would begrudge them the title.

AUS vs NZ

2009-10-04T15:29:00.003+02:00

Who will lift the trophy?

The lists

2009-10-04T09:14:00.000+02:00

There are 2 lists on this site. The TTC's top players, which is for players who "wowed" me (Brandon). The other one is a list of players that I am not very fond of. Please remember that these are my own personal lists.

TOP PLAYERS:
This is the first time that I removed all Saffers. Honestly, they did not preform well and they're not playing at the moment so I took them off. If they preform well again I might add them.

DON'T LIKE:
Have you ever noticed that I took Jacques Kallis of the list. The reason being that he has lost a lot of weight and I am very proud of him. The other reason is that he has his own charity trying to make children's lifes better. How can I hate him?
I took Graeme Smith of the list once, thinking I should give him the benefit of the doubt. Well, he has earned his place back on.

If you disapprove of the list then you are welcome to try and switch my mind, but come well armed. I am open to anyone who can convince me to add or remove a player.

They did it

2009-10-04T08:51:00.000+02:00

Finally, a team I've been rooting for has secured their place in the final. I better not jinx them.

Eliminating the bad fish

2009-10-03T08:34:00.000+02:00

I am getting desperate here. How the hell will we get rid of Smith? He is such an embarrassment. I don't care anymore who'll replace him as captain.

As much as I want it to be Botha, it's not going to happen, he is not in the Test squad. Parnell? He is only 20. I doubt Kallis or Bouch will take over. I'm sorry to all you baby AB lovers but I can't see him as captain. So who is left? Gibbs, well, that's never going to happen. Duminy? Maybe. I'd prefer Petersen, but he is always on the bench.

Mike Procter, that bloke who left Morne out of the squad, thinks that the South African one-day cricket side needs more specialists.

“We probably placed too much emphasis on all-rounders and did not have enough specialists. Perhaps we should return to a side that is almost like a Test line-up, with six specialist batsmen, four bowlers and a wicketkeeper. In the bowling department, in particular, we were short of another specialist. Another batsmen in the middle order could have held things together when the wickets were falling. Mark Boucher can get 30 or 40 runs at No 6 in the order, but we needed another specialist there.”

He also thinks that ROFL and Albie should bat at #3. But Graeme Smith disagreed: “You have world class batsmen in Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers batting at No 3 and 4. They have all the shots in their repertoire to benefit from such a situation and I don’t believe a big hitter would have fared any better."

What is your plan with baby AB? He is in the squad as a batsman. Do you want to move him up the order to #1? Then I agree. Both Mickey Arthur and Procter believes Cape Cobras swing bowler Charl Langeveldt should come into the equation when he is fit.

“We will keep a close watch on the SuperSport games over the next few weeks to ensure we pick the right squad to take on England,” said Procter.

We know what this means. They will start from scratch.

Luke is a little sh*t

2009-10-03T08:09:00.000+02:00

Yes, I've said it. After praising his hobbit ass and calling him the player to watch, the little shit didn't preform in the ICC CT. That is until yesterday. But it's still not good enough. I'll be watching you in the Champions League, buddy.

England had faith in him. I thought they would have replaced him already. But I will give the man a second chance. He hates Smith and that makes it okay.

Dilshan on the Dil-scoop

2009-10-03T07:01:00.000+02:00

Why are you trying to take this scoop shot regularly?

(Laughs) To score runs at faster pace. Why should I give dot ball to the bowlers?

When did you start taking this stroke regularly?

During the ICC World Twenty20.

Why?

Because I was asked to open the innings during the ICC World Twenty20.

How did you master the stroke?

I used to take this stroke sometimes back home but I spoke to myself and decided to go for it. Accordingly, I started practising in front of bowling machine which gave me lot of confidence. Firstly, I did practice with less speed. Gradually I prepared myself for regular stroke.

Lot of ex-cricketers are of the opinion that you might lose your teeth if you miss any of the scoop shot. Are you aware of this?

Yes, some amount of risk is there. I am trying to reduce the risk by practicing it regularly. Risk is everywhere in life, yet man has to go ahead.

People have named it the Dil-scoop.

Yes I know this. I think the media used this name during ICC World Twenty20.

How do you manage the scoop from a Yorker delivery?

Again, I would say by practicing only. Yorker delivery can fetch wicket for bowler and I decided to counter it by the Dil-scoop.

Will you be able to scoop against a bouncer?

I will go for hook for the bouncers.

LOL Pic

2009-10-01T16:01:00.000+02:00

Follow Tim Bresnan on twitter.

AB out of Champions League

2009-10-01T15:47:00.000+02:00

Another one bites the dust... AB de Villiers is out of the Champions League. Cricket South Africa has withdrawn him because he complained about his lower back pain. Bad luck for his domestic team, the Nashua Titans.

"AB de Villiers developed left lumbar pain four weeks ago, during preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy tournament," Despite extensive physiotherapy combined with anti-inflammatory and analgesic medication, his symptoms persisted and an MRI scan was done. He has severe left lumbar spasm and without medication was unable to move freely during the ICC Champions Trophy tournament. We have thus decided to withdraw AB from all cricketing activities for the next four to six weeks in order to allow for proper management of his condition and prevent further injury." -Shuaib Manjra, chairman of CSA's medical committee.

"I am obviously disappointed to miss the Champions League," he said "and I wish the Daredevils all the best for the tournament."-AB de Villiers

Jonty Rhodes' blog

2009-10-01T15:34:00.002+02:00

Who would have thought that India, Sri Lanka and South Africa would all fail to make the semi finals? In many ways, the unpredictability of the tournament makes it work. If the Champions Trophy continues to develop a reputation for being unpredictable and throwing up surprises (there has been a different winner in every tournament so far) then it will go from strength to strength.

It still bemuses me that some people say there is no room in the calendar for a two-week gathering of the eight best teams in the world and high-paced scrap for a trophy that is, to all intents and purposes, a ‘mini World Cup.’

It has been a delight watching New Zealand and England cruise to semi-final places against seemingly impossible odds. The Black Caps lost no less than three key players to injuries in the group stage but still managed to reach the last four. Daniel Vettori has been a delight to watch, as a bowler, a captain and a person. His recalling of Paul Collingwood after the second run out fiasco of the tournament was certainly the right thing to do but still deserves enormous credit for cool thinking under pressure. It’s all too easy to let things slip. You only have about 60 seconds to make a decision and time flies when the eyes of the world are focussed on you.

England, too, have defied the odds. It’s hard to believe they lost six in a row to Australia and arrived in South Africa with even Andrew Strauss admitting that there were “serious concerns” about their one-day cricket.

It’s hard to know what to say about Pakistan…! Habitually written off because of their inconsistency and volatile temperament, they still rise to the big occasion more often than not. Nobody ever seems to know what makes them tick. I wonder if they know. Nonetheless, they are brilliant individuals and when they ‘click’ as a unit then they are a match for anybody, though the shorter forms of the game seem to suit them better.

I’m not surprised to see Australia in the semis and I won’t be surprised to see them in the final, either. And I certainly won’t be surprised to see them win it. They must be regarded as the favourites now and, after the disappointment of losing the Ashes, they aren’t lacking in motivation to give their supporters every form of consolation they can. A win here would go a long way to appeasing the hurt of their supporters. Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and Brett Lee have the experience and determination to make that happen.

Every team goes through highs and lows and sometimes there are very good reasons – or bad reasons – for their loss of form. But there are also times when practical and unavoidable factors play their part, like injuries, lack of match practise and plain luck!

If a team loses 12 out of 15 one-dayers then there is clearly a long term problem, but when teams as good as Sri Lanka, India and South Africa are castigated and threatened with sacking the coach and captain after losing two out of three games then I can’t help feeling that there is a bit of an over-reaction taking place.

There are winners and losers in sport. That’s how it works now and that’s how it has always worked. And sometimes the underdogs win, which makes it even better.

KP Desperate For SA Tour

2009-09-30T16:59:00.000+02:00

New Brylcreem Boy

"I am trying to get as fit as possible as quick as I can. I have had a few setbacks and I am really frustrated. It will be a couple of weeks before it totally heals over - the next 10 to 14 days - then I can start working really hard. The timescale is difficult but I will definitely be doing everything I can to get on that first plane to South Africa, which is at the end of October. I might be a few days off that but I will certainly be in the Test squad. The One-dayers I am really pushing for but the Twenty20s might be a rush. For obvious reasons, it is a very important trip for me. For the team as well after the Ashes to take the momentum forwards. We want to have our best team out there," -Kevin Pietersen

Majola Fed Up With Proteas

2009-09-30T15:24:00.000+02:00

Gerald Majola is fed up. The Cricket South Africa chief executive and Mickey Arthur issued a statement on the Proteas being knocked out of yet another ICC tournament.

"There will be a brutally honest analysis of the Proteas' early demise in the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy and other failures of this nature in knock-out competitions to ensure that it does not happen again...If mistakes have been made, then they must be acknowledged and remedied before the next World Cup. All credit must go to the Proteas for being ranked as the world's top Test and ODI team. However, this must not overshadow the urgent need to bridge the gap between these ratings and the failure of the Proteas to reach the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy on home soil as well as other major knock-out tournaments elsewhere.

The best systems available have been put in place, such as:
* A broad base of outstanding players which is the envy of the cricketing world
* Variety and balance in key playing positions
* Full-time support specialists in all relevant fields
* An efficient high performance programme
* Loyal and committed sponsors
* A large and enthusiastic supporters' base

With these basics on hand, a way must surely be found to get the Proteas to take their winning ways into knock-out tournaments. The analysis and remedial process is to begin immediately and a report on the way forward will be presented to the Board of Directors of Cricket South Africa by the National Coach at its next Board meeting on the October 30."

Smith out of Champions League

2009-09-29T21:33:00.000+02:00

What is really going on here? ...Graeme Smith has been withdrawn from the Nashua Cape Cobras squad for the Champions' League tournament starting in India next week... Are you saying that Biff wasn't fit for the CT? We could have had Captain Botha?

Cricket South Africa announced the decision on Tuesday on the advice of CSA's medical committee.

"After much discussion and deliberation, the Proteas' management together with the medical committee of Cricket South Africa headed by Dr Shuaib Manjra have made a decision to withdraw Graeme from the upcoming Champions League in India," commented national team manager Dr. Mohammed Moosajee.

"This decision is based on Graeme's current upper limb dysfunction," he added.
Team physiotherapist Brandon Jackson said that it was important for Smith to be withdrawn from playing cricket for the next four to six weeks to get him through what was going to be a very long season.

"We need to work on strengthening his muscles around the shoulder area and continue his post-operation rehab," commented Jackson.

"The elbow operation was 100 percent successful and I am confident that he will be ready for action by the start of the England series in November."
Smith said he was very disappointed not to be leading the Cobras in India.

"It is very important for South African cricket that the two franchises representing us in India should do well," he commented, "and, like all the national players, I enjoy playing franchise cricket whenever national circumstances permit."
"I would like to wish the Cobras all the best and I am confident they will represent our country with pride."

More Rain Forecasted

2009-09-29T07:58:00.000+02:00

Johannesburg 53% rain for the ENG vs NZ match

Daryl Tuffey has been ruled out of the match because of a broken hand. Jacob Oram is still out, Jesse Ryder is out after he suffered a groin injury.

Team manager Dave Currie told Radio Live here from South Africa that Tuffey suffered his injury while fielding."He broke a bone in the back of his hand. He needs to get back to New Zealand now to have surgery,"

Tuffey will be replaced by Ian Butler who is available for selection again after being down with a stomach illness.Meanwhile, batsman Aaron Redmond who was rushed to South Africa to replace Ryder is unlikely to be considered for the match as flight delays mean he will only arrive a few hours before the game begins. New Zealand need to win this match to qualify for semi's.

Jonty Rhodes' blog

2009-09-29T07:46:00.000+02:00

Another disappointment for South Africa in an ICC world event but what unexpected joy and delight for the England players and their supporters who have had precious little to cheer in one-day cricket for some time.

It’s natural to talk about where the game was ‘won’ and where it was ‘lost’ depending on your allegiance but, as poorly as South Africa bowled, the third wicket partnership of 163 between Owais Shah and Paul Collingwood was superb and deserved to be the match-winning contribution.

The difference between the England team of ten days ago and the one which played Sri Lanka and South Africa in the Champions Trophy is hard to believe let alone explain. I didn’t watch much of the one-day series against Australia but every time I did tune in all I saw was players who appeared to lack conviction, belief and intensity. Perhaps they were just tired. Or tired of playing Australia!

I have no idea what the catalyst was for the change but it has worked wonders. The tentativeness which characterised their six successive losses to Australia had disappeared by the time they arrived in South Africa and they were positive – even aggressive – against Sri Lanka.

Sometimes it can be a blessing when you are genuine underdogs in a two-horse race because it allows you to relax without the weight of expectation of victory and that seems to be what happened with Andrew Strauss and his team. It’s like when a batsman losses form – he can either try to graft his way back to form or, if that fails, smash his way back to form.

There comes a point when you just get fed up with losing and throw caution to the wind in a desperate bid to turn things around. Perhaps there has been an element of that in England’s change of fortunes.

Andrew Strauss’s refusal to allow Graeme Smith a runner will no doubt come in for some scrutiny but, obviously, he was within his rights to do that because Graeme had cramp rather than an injury and the playing conditions are quite clear.

The England captain could have agreed to the request and probably would have done in many other circumstances – it’s not uncommon for a batsman with cramp to be granted a runner in a first-class match or even a Test match but with so much at stake, including a guaranteed place in the semi finals and the little matter of $2 million for the winners, he decided to play by the rules. Perhaps he thought he used up his quota of good sportsmanship by recalling Angelo Matthews after the run out mix-up against Sri Lanka!

The tournament rolls on, however, and England – incredibly given their pre-tournament odds – must now be regarded amongst the favourites having qualified for the semis with a game to spare. Who would have thought it 10 days ago.

Graeme Smith's blog

2009-09-29T07:44:00.000+02:00

SA's final ICC Match

Graeme Smith

It’s not pleasant having to explain and deal with another early exit from an ICC event just three months after the T20 disappointment in England but we have to deal with whatever life throws at us and move forward in a positive frame of mind.

There are reasons for our failure to reach the semi finals of the Champions Trophy but there are no excuses. We weren’t good enough over three games and we accept that. It hurts – it hurts a lot – but it’s happened and we have to do everything in our power to improve and make sure we are contenders in the next T20 World Championship in the West Indies next year and also at the 2011 World Cup on the subcontinent.

We always knew that our schedule might be a problem coming into this tournament because we had not played any hard, international cricket for over two months but we did everything we could to prepare and overcome that. We had two hard training camps and played warm-up matches but there simply is no substitute for the real thing.

Bowlers take longer than batsmen to shake off the rust and get back into the rhythm and we conceded over 300 in two of the games as a result. I’m proud of the way we chased a huge score against England but would have been a lot prouder if we had managed to get over the line.

I was a bit surprised and disappointed that Andrew Strauss refused to let me have a runner for the final five overs when I was suffering from cramp but that is something he will live with. The world is round which means things come back to you.

The inconsistency of the runner situation is a problem. Sometimes the runner is allowed and sometimes not. Most captains agree to a runner in that situation but Andrew decided to stick to the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law. Once again, it is not an excuse and I am not saying it would have made the difference.

As much as we have ourselves to blame and can look at the things we did wrong, or poorly, we have to pay due credit to Owais Shah and Paul Collingwood for the way they laid the platform for Eion Morgan who played some audacious shots which probably took the game away from us. England played superbly and deserve credit far more than we deserve criticism.

Sri Lanka are also one of the best one-day sides in the world and they, too, have been eliminated before the semi finals. Anything can happen in a sprint format like this involving the best teams in the world. India are also under pressure to qualify which means that the three ‘favourite’ teams could all miss the semis.

We have a lot of domestic cricket to play before England come back in November and I expect us all to be battle-hardened and ready to do justice to our status in both forms of the game. We had high expectations for the Champions Trophy but we have not lived up to them. The challenge now is to use the pain of defeat and disappointment as a tool to inspire an even more determined drive to win and consolidate our position at the top of world cricket.

I am deeply sorry for all those supporters who hoped and believed we would do it this time, but please don’t think for a moment that we won’t get the job done. We still strongly believe in our ability as individuals and our ability to win as a team. We will get the job done.

Worth Every Penny

2009-09-28T19:08:00.001+02:00

England has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its 22-run victory over South Africa.

Match Referee Roshan Mahanama imposed the fines after Andrew Strauss's side was ruled to be one over short of its target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration. In accordance with the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code of Conduct regulations governing over-rate penalties, players are fined five per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.
As such, Strauss was fined 10 per cent of his match fee while each of his players received a five per cent fine.

In other news the CSA chief executive, Gerald Majola said on Monday that South Africa's loss to England in their final Champions Trophy group match in Centurion on Sunday was "deeply disappointing".

"There are some hard questions to be answered. At no stage did the team look anything like a team that is the world No 1 in both Tests and one-day internationals.They certainly were way off where they should be at this stage, and I will be speaking to Mickey and the team management to find out what went wrong."

But Majola said there were no plans at this stage to fire either the captain or the coach.
"That's not going to happen, but we definitely want answers. The team's performance in this tournament was just not good enough. I don't want to pick out individuals, but there were problems with the bowling and the batting, and the team's body language was not that of the world's best team." -We just can't get rid of them, can we?

Former Pakistan Test Captain, Javed Miandad is very unhappy calling the pitches being used at the Champions Trophy in South Africa "dangerous".

"(With) the sort of scary pitches they have prepared for such a big event it is not going to help the International Cricket Council (ICC) or its members keep interest in one-day internationals alive," Miandad told Reuters.

"Some of the pitches they have played on can be ranked as dangerous. The bounce is inconsistent. Balls are kicking up from a good length. All this is not good for the survival of ODIs."

"The pitches at Centurion have made matches one-sided with the side winning the toss having the advantage. The ICC is quick to monitor the pitches in member countries but they also need to talk to their curators about the pitches in the Champions Trophy," he said.
The ICC moved the Champions Trophy to South Africa due to security concerns after it was postponed from its original date in Pakistan last year.

Dinesh Karthik Interview

2009-09-28T11:03:00.000+02:00

I found this recently at cricinfo, Interview by Nagraj Gollapudi

Are you tired of carrying drinks yet?
A little bit, but I prefer carrying drinks for the Indian team than being anywhere else.

Any funny experiences as a drinks carrier?
The first time I carried drinks was during the 2004 Champions Trophy. It was a wet outfield and I was running with the drinks and I couldn't stop myself and just went sliding into Sourav Ganguly, who was giving a team chat in the huddle.

We've heard Daniel Vettori gifted you a motorbike during this year's IPL?
He won the Man of the Match in our first game. He doesn't like motorbikes and he probably thought I was a good guy. I've kept it back home in Chennai and ride it sometimes.

Name an interesting thing you own.
I have a St Bernard dog. They are very tough to take care of in the tropical wetather in Chennai. They usually are found in mountains and the snow.

If you were a coach how would you keep Sreesanth quiet?
Send him to dance class every day.

Are you talkative?
Hmm, yes, I am.

Are you punctual?
I've overslept a couple of times.

Do you swear in Hindi or English on the field?
Hindi - the other teams don't understand it.

If you could change one thing in cricket, what would it be?
I would change 50-overs cricket into two innings each of 20-overs.

Are you a walker?
Not really.

You seemed to have finally settled on a name after changing it a few times. How many have you had?
My mom asked me to change it the first time. I had an extra "a" in my last name , and it then became an extra "c" as well, and then the extra "a" without the "c", and I don't know how many times I had to change it. But now it's back to normal: Karthik.

Did you have to change your signature, too?
No.

Name one disadvantage of having your wife on tour.
It's very tough to have a boys' day out.

Tell us about a cricketing souvenir you treasure.
The 2007 Twenty20 World Cup shirt, signed by the whole team.

Who was your favourite Tamil movie hero as a kid?
It was Rajnikant, and it will be Rajnikant. I also like Surya, the present-day superstar, who is a good guy.

What is your favorite Rajni line of dialogue?
"Naan oru thadava sonna nooru thadava sonna mathiri" [If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times].

What would you do if you're stuck at a airport?
I don't Twitter, and I'm done with Sudoku, so probably read a book or chat with someone.

Have you ever given MS Dhoni a wicketkeeping tip?
I don't remember giving him any tips, but I gave him my pads during the finals of the tri-series in Sri Lanka recently. He tried to stop a ball that was going down and he tried to slide, but the straps of his pads came off and he had to use mine. We won the game!

Was there ever a cricket role you wanted to enact when you growing up?
I heard a lot about Ian Botham's Ashes, in 1981. Everybody still talks about his performance. I always wanted to do be an allrounder. I don't know why I picked keeping. I really wish I could contribute with both bat and ball, just like he did.

Jonty Rhodes' blog

2009-09-28T06:04:00.000+02:00

Miss a game at your peril

Jonty Rhodes

Just about every game is a knockout from here onwards which is a fantastic endorsement of the format of the tournament because there's no cruising for the players and no blinking for the supporters. Miss a game at your peril - you might not see your favourite team again.

I've thoroughly enjoyed the tournament so far although I have the feeling that we've only seen the support act so far and the real thing is about to burst onto stage. It only takes a couple of brilliant individual performances or a really close game, a classic contest and suddenly everyone is talking cricket.

It looks very obvious to me that the tournament is being played in a great spirit and there are plenty of smiles on the players' faces. I wonder whether that might become a feature of the ICC Champions Trophy. With $2 million at stake for the winners I'm not suggesting for a moment that the players won't be taking it seriously but it's not the ICC World Cup and, perhaps, this tournament can provide an opportunity for players to remember the spirit of cricket.

Andrew Strauss set a great example in that regard when he called the batsman back when he was run out after colliding with the bowler. That sort of gesture sets an example that thousands of kids might, one day, decided to copy. Just as kids can swear and spit and do other nasty things if they see their heroes doing them, so they can mimic the good stuff.

England were very good indeed against Sri Lanka and if they pitch up in the same frame of mind against South Africa on Sunday then they could well ruin the hosts' party. Supersport Park in Centurion is very different to the Wanderers, however, and a dry surface has favoured the spinners more than the seamers. Up until now the ball hasn't really swung at Centurion - if anyone can make it happen I guess James Anderson would be a contender.

Herschelle Gibbs is available for the Proteas once again although it was interesting to hear Graeme Smith speculating about the possibility of Hashim Amla retaining his place at the top of the order. Hashim is playing well and is probably a more ‘reliable' option than Herschelle but it would take a brave man to leave Hersch out. He's unique – capable of playing more audacious innings than just about anyone else. And he's still got the X factor in the field, even at the ago of 35.

It is still possible that at least one semi-final place could be decided on net run-rate. In my opinion the players shouldn't even consider that until well into the game. Get yourself into a winning position and take it from there. If you take anything for granted, if you assume victory, you will lose. Then run-rates are irrelevant anyway!

Ricky Ponting's blog

2009-09-28T06:01:00.000+02:00

I am looking forward to playing India

Ricky Ponting

It's been a challenge for Australia to come straight into this tournament with no acclimatization or practise. True, we were in the heat of battle during the recently-concluded one-dayers against England, but conditions here are vastly different from the ones we had gotten used to in England.

Our opening game was played in really difficult conditions, and the pitch at the Wanderers was borderline dangerous when we started our innings. Paine got a few sharp raps on his knuckles as the ball was moving and rising dangerously. Mitchell Johnson help us get to a very good total on that track, which helped us win quite comfortably in the end. The devils in the wicket had been laid when the sun dried out the wicket, and we had to defend our total in much more batsman-friendly conditions.

The tournament has been a little bit of a lottery especially in the day games. Sri Lanka got a rough one when they batted against England in very difficult conditions. It's early summer in South Africa and early starts, particularly at the Wanderers should have been avoided.

The Indians have been hit hard by the absence of Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag. These guys are really good in conditions like those at Centurion, and MS Dhoni felt their absence during India’s game against Pakistan. That said, it was a close game and India were in with a chance till the last 10 overs.

The loss to Pakistan makes tomorrow’s game a must-win for India. We are pretty confident going into this game primarily because all our players are fit and we have a full squad to pick from.

Michael Clarke, who was struggling with his back, has a good chance of being match-fit tomorrow, and that will be a big boost for us. It also helps that this is a day-night game, which means the match will be better balanced. However, there was a bit of dew in the evening, which was a bit hard for the spinners.

It's been a long time since we have played a one-dayer against the Indians, and I am looking forward to playing them. This tournament is a lot more open than many of the earlier editions. There are quite a few teams that fancy their chances of winning and India is certainly one of them. However, with the injuries list including some key players, there is a lot of pressure on their others at the moment, and we need to capitalize on this.

Smith vs Strauss

2009-09-28T05:49:00.000+02:00

"I was cramping quite badly and I requested a runner...Andrew spoke with the umpires and turned it down. He felt that if you score a hundred, you're going to be tired. From my perspective, it felt a touch inconsistent. Guys have got runners for cramps in the past, so there needs to be a degree of consistency there. This is the frustration that we have. I'm not going to sit here and slag Andrew and say that he should have done this or that. The decision rests with the umpires as well. From my perspective, it's just about putting it behind me now. The thing I've learned from this game is that the world's round. It's going to come back somewhere in the game, at some period of time in his captaincy. It'll be interesting to see how he handles it again." -Graeme Smith

"He asked me for a runner because he was cramping. The umpires were not particularly keen to give him one. I felt that at the end of a long game, after a long innings, you're going to be tired. Cramping to a certain extent is a preparation thing. To a certain extent, it's a conditioning thing. I didn't feel that he merited having a runner at that stage. You just go with each situation as it comes. I think the umpires were very uncomfortable with it as well. My personal view is that you shouldn't get a runner for cramps, full stop. That's something for the ICC to look at. I didn't feel he was cramping that badly either. He was still able to run. That was my view." -Andrew Strauss

That's the wrong finger.

Same sh*t, different day

2009-09-28T00:00:00.000+02:00

South Africa got knocked out of another major ICC tournament... Blah-blah-blah, what else is new?
Biff is back, leaner and meaner and he is coming to get Strauss.

Now that SA is out who will we support? I'll feel like a traitor if I support England. So it will be either Sri Lanka or New Zealand then. Who ever will make it to the semi's will gain some Saffer support.

From Hero To Zero

2009-09-27T23:52:00.000+02:00

You've guessed it. I'm talking Strauss. This is coming from someone who doesn't even like Graeme Smith and who has nothing against the England team. Let me say one thing, if their roles were reversed I would be posting the exact same thing on Biff...I am very dissapointed.

It wasn't a very smart thing to do either. You are still in the country, staying at the Sandton Hotel, right? If I were you, I'd think twice about eating the breakfast that the proudly South African waiter will bring you.

Shoaib Malik Interviews

2009-09-27T08:44:00.001+02:00

Will you accept the fact that Pakistan could have lost the match, if Suresh Raina and Rahul Dravid would have played a bit longer?

There was little threat. But we knew they would get caught. They tried very hard but we knew our bowlers could have broken the partnership. Actually it is our partnership which made the difference between the two teams.

Is it your best hundred?

It would be a memorable one. The team won and I have played a small role which is really very very satisfying.

What would be your target for this tournament?

I want to carry on the current form in the remaining matches of ICC Champions trophy.

Why did you start slowly?

I wanted to consolidate the situation by being cautious, not losing any wicket. Actually that is my game. After I settle down I normally try to accelerate later.

That’s what it had happened on Friday against India. You took 70 balls to score 36 runs. But the next 70 run came in 40 balls?

Team needed that blocking. We did not want to invite any pressure by losing wickets early.

Were you surprised when Virat Kohli came into bowl?

Yes, I was. I think Harbhajan would have been brought then. Dhoni then wanted to finish the quota of the fifth bowler by bringing Kohli and Yousuf.

You got maximum runs by putting the ball in the backward point area?

Initially the Indian bowlers were bowling straight. Gradually they attacked the off stump line. Naturally I had to play in that area and collect solid runs.

Daniel Vettori Interview

2009-09-27T08:03:00.000+02:00

Do you think the loss in the first match would create a major problem in the ICC CT?

It doesn't make a lot of difference to us. We know we still have to turn up and play pretty well to beat a strong South Africa side. Sri Lanka played exceptionally well in the first match. We're under no illusions about how hard it is going to be.

What would be your impression about the wicket here in SA?

The wicket is a lot better than we expected it to be. Not sure we're going to play on the same one or we've got a new block. It was a slow deck and suited the Sri Lanka more than the South Africans and it brings the question whether we play two spinners and what's the best tactic on a wicket like that.

Will you support of keeping 2 spinners in the side?

In the past if you look at how balanced South Africa line-up, is that they play two spinners. I think they will adapt pretty quickly to the conditions and they know them pretty well. It won't hurt us coming out of Sri Lanka for last six weeks. We've played on wickets like this and hopefully we're ready for that. But it'll be a tough ask.

What is your impression about the ODI cricket?

I think it's great. The format of the ICC Champions Trophy is also nice. It feels like every game is relevant. In the past ICC Champions Trophy there's probably been a few almost warm-up like games you've been able to get yourself into the tournament. You have to turn up here ready to play and ready to win, otherwise you can get knocked out quickly. For me personally, the relevance of the ODI game, the easiest solution is to play less games. I don't think we need to tinker around with the format. I think we've played so much people get a bit sick of seeing it so if you reduce the amount of games that is a quick fix solution.

Lot of talk about tinkering...

So much talk about tinkering and there has been in the past, for me personally, it is a good format and it has produced an array of good cricketers and different styles as well. With the ODI format you can still get a number of different cricketers who can succeed. If we take that away and keep tinkering with it we'll lose those styles of cricketers. We're lucky in cricket that we have three formats and people can enjoy all three. If we keep changing we might lose some of the fanbase. As long as we don't overload the public we can get a nice balance between the three.

Tell us something about the preparation for the ICC CT.

We know coming here that we have to beat quality teams. England has come off a tough series against Australia. But all teams in the group will be wary of each other. We had mixed results in the warm-ups. We lost to a first-class team and then played really well against India. Hopefully we can take the confidence of the India game into our first game. Particularly it's our batting department where we've struggled a lot. But a couple of guys stepped up. To make 300 against an Indian side is always something that makes me happy as captain and pleases the team as well. Challenge is to put a score on that board and defend it as a bowling unit.

The Must Win Scenario

2009-09-27T07:55:00.000+02:00

South Africa will have to beat England today at Centurion to make it through to the semi-finals.

Don't shit on my parade.

"The most important thing for us tomorrow is to win, to focus on our basics and to carry out our game plan well...We can't be worrying about run-rates. The important thing for us is to win and to get to four points on the log. If we get to 40 overs and we are close to winning the game, then we will definitely up the tempo a bit. It is a massive game for us. We normally come off when the pressure is there and we need to win. The same thing happened at the 2007 World Cup when we had a 'must win' game against England and we managed to do it then and pull through.The Wanderers wicket suited them (England). In addition they have just come out of a tough series at home and managed to win the last one there where they had similar conditions. But they (England) played extremely well against a very strong Sri Lankan side and deserved their win. It is going to be a tough group for us and I think it is going to come down to net run-rate. " -AB de Villiers

We're buddies :D

The Black Caps will have to beat England on Tuesday.

Bouch is preparing Baz

Graeme Swann is sporting a new hairstyle:

Sleek

Calling on the Black Caps

2009-09-26T07:36:00.000+02:00

I went prowling in Purna's mind and just realised that England winning has caused South Africa to fall to 3rd place on their Group B log. This means that the Proteas & the Black Caps will need to murder England. Oh shit! Come on Dan, Baz & Taylor, don't let us down.

TCC would like to thank Luke Wright for playing like shit.

Smith will never change

2009-09-26T07:21:00.000+02:00

Who would resist?

LOL Pic

2009-09-25T22:18:00.000+02:00

Do you see the spaceships?

LOL Pic

2009-09-25T15:29:00.002+02:00

Kumar Sangakarra Blog

2009-09-25T15:28:00.000+02:00

Our bowling attack has been firing well

There was a time in the not-so-distant past when Asian teams were routinely labelled underdogs for tournaments like the ICC Champions Trophy, particularly if it was being held in South Africa. To be fair, we often lived up to that pre-tournament billing with uninspiring displays, and struggled with the alien conditions.

Fortunately, things have changed for Asian cricketers, who travel better these days and Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan all have real ambitions of winning the tournament.
Non-Asian teams have become much better at playing spin on the subcontinent and we, similarly, have adapted to playing pace on bouncier and quicker pitches. Some of that stems from improved skills and technique but mostly from our growing mental strength and confidence. Our aim was to learn how to win in all conditions against any opposition and we now believe we can achieve that.

While India must have been disappointed with their early exit from the ICC World Twenty20 in England, Sri Lanka and Pakistan kept the Asia flag flying. In the end, the variety of our bowlers and the natural flair of our batsmen made the best use of the conditions, albeit on pitches at Trent Bridge and the Oval that were quite slow and spin-friendly. The same could happen in South Africa.

It's very early to be playing international cricket in South Africa and you'd expect fresh pitches and pace bowlers running amok. But this is an international tournament rather than a bilateral series and the curators will have been given clear instructions to produce batting surfaces. With the modern technology of greenhouse pitches available to ground staff these days, as well as the dry highveld climate in Johannesburg and Pretoria, I don't think batsmen need be too worried aside for the odd late thunderstorm.

We've played both India and Pakistan in recent times and I think we have managed to close the gap that was between us with regard to the one-day format. After being in the doldrums for a while, Pakistan have been slowly getting their house in order while India are, deservedly, perched at the top of the ICC ODI rankings after a very impressive run since their ICC World Cup disaster.

India looked a little bit rusty at times during the recent tri-series back home - where the third team was New Zealand - but they saved their best performance for the final and we were outplayed fair and square. That win was fashioned from the blade of Sachin Tendulkar with a brilliant century, a master class in how to construct a match-winning century in a high-pressure final.

While India certainly have some talented players coming through, I think his presence, coupled with the return of Rahul Dravid, stiffens their batting line-up. Their vast experience and battle-hardened techniques, especially against fast bowling, gives them a more solid feel, especially in the absence of Virender Sehwag.

Sehwag, who has an excellent record in South Africa, is a huge player for India and he'll be sorely missed. The likes of Sehwag - or, for us right now, Tillekeratne Dilshan - are initiative-snatching players. They unsettle bowlers, pressurizing them into making mistakes. Within a few overs they've gifted you momentum and made the job for the rest of the batsmen so much easier. So, yes, Sehwag is a loss. Fortunately, though, India have plenty of batting stars and this facet of their game remains their strength.

Their bowling is strong, especially when Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh are fit and in form, but it is their batting that makes them so formidable. Their fielding, like ours and Pakistan's, remains an area that needs plenty of work. The fielding of both India and Sri Lanka during the earlier-mentioned tri-series was well below acceptable standards.

M.S. Dhoni is a captain I enjoy playing against and he's obviously a natural leader, a man that likes to lead from the front and a captain whose calm and unflustered demeanor feeds his players with confidence. He follows his instincts as a decision-maker and seems to be willing to make the tough choices that a captain sometimes needs to make.

Pakistan have a similarly charismatic leader in Younis Khan and seem to have gelled into a pretty cohesive side. We outplayed Pakistan in our recent Test series and also in our first three one-dayers to take that ODI series. However, they finished the tour on a high with three powerful performances that showed just how dangerous they can be when on-song. There is no doubt they are a mercurial bunch, totally and dangerously unpredictable. That makes them a team no one can make the mistake of taking lightly.

We, as a team, are also evolving quite nicely. We have been going through a period of transition in our one-day cricket for some time now and the results of that rebuilding are starting to be seen. We have a strong core of players to take us forward to the World Cup in 2011. After a few inconsistent performances in recent ODI tours and series I think we are improving.

The most promising development has been the growing strength of our middle-order. We were too reliant on our top-order and vulnerable if we lost early wickets but the reintegration of Thilan Samaraweera into the side has given it some stability and two youngsters, left-hander Thilina Kandamby and all-rounder Angelo Mathews, have impressed me with their attitude, commitment and mental strength.

Our bowling attack has been firing well for a while now. We have a great variety in our attack with different types of pace bowlers and spinners. We are blessed to have unique and unorthodox talents like Murali, Mendis and Malinga who give us a bit of the 'X-factor' in a tournament like this. Our bowling was excellent during the ICC World Twenty20 and I am hoping the same combinations will be similarly effective here.

Proteas Blog

2009-09-25T15:25:00.000+02:00

Thursday's Game

Wayne Parnell

Cricket gives you the biggest ups and downs, and so close together! It was horrible after Tuesday when we played so badly against Sri Lanka and then just 48 hours later we were celebrating victory over New Zealand.
I couldn’t have imagined losing and being eliminated from the tournament so early, especially after bowling poorly in the first game. I started alright with the new ball but I became a bit tentative in the middle and lost my rhythm completely at one stage. It was the most pressure I’ve felt in my international career but I got through it and I know I’ll be a better player and a better person because of it.
Graeme could have changed the plan and given the ‘death’ overs to somebody else because I’d gone for more runs in both games than I should have but he showed faith in me and I really, really appreciate that. There’s nothing better than having a captain who backs you and trusts you not to let the team down. Fortunately I was able to repay him with five wickets, including the vital one of Ross Taylor which probably made the difference between chasing 250 and 215.
Some cricketers never get to play in an ICC event and others have to wait years to get the chance – and there’s me playing in two world events within three months at the age of 20. I am very, very lucky and I know it!
Herschelle and Makhaya have too much energy at the best of times but when they aren’t playing they are like two fireworks in the changing room. But it was a great relief to have them there on Tuesday night because they refused to let anybody feel ‘down’ and they were so positive, constantly reminding us that we could win the next two games and the defeat wouldn’t matter.
People probably imagine that we have two days ‘off’ between matches but it doesn’t feel like that with practise sessions, physio and various functions that we attend for the BCCI or sponsors. The time will go very quickly until we play England on Sunday which is a good thing because I’m raring to go and can’t wait to get back on the field again.

Sri Lanka Match

Johan Botha

There is no doubt that a lack of hard, international match practise counted against us on Tuesday but we did everything we possibly could to prepare for the tournament and we certainly cannot have any excuses.
Sri Lanka came straight from a tough triangular series against India and New Zealand and they hit the ground running. It also helps that they have one of the most talented and well balanced squads in the tournament!

SA were in complete control

Jonty Rhodes

The prospect of South Africa being eliminated from the tournament after three days was too horrible to contemplate - so I didn't! I was always confident that they would be too strong for New Zealand even though the Black Caps have some dangerous players.
The Proteas have not only stayed alive but did some useful work in repairing the damage which Sri Lanka inflicted on their net run rate. It didn't look like they were deliberately trying to score quickly which pleased me because you don’t take liberties with the game of cricket at any level, but certainly not in a tournament involving the best eight teams in the world.
Having bowled and fielded brilliantly to dismiss New Zealand for just 214, it would have been unforgivable if South Africa had assumed that the hard work was done and taken victory for granted.
It was an absolute pleasure watching them construct the run chase in the methodical and clinical way they did and, although the people around me in the Standard Bank hospitality box became a bit nervous when wickets fell, I always thought they were in complete control. It was a comprehensive win and will give the team's collective confidence a vital boost after the shock of the Sri Lanka game.
The only thing which didn’t work for the guys was their throwing at the stumps. JP Duminy must have had a dozen unsuccessful throws while AB de Villiers tried even more often from backward point without making contact once! It reminded of the last guy to spend a lot of time at backward point for South Africa, that Rhodes guy. He was hopeless at hitting the stumps.
Actually, there is quite a lot of luck involved and sometimes it’s just not your day. We always learn to throw at the base of the stumps when the 'keeper can't get there and sometimes the ball hits a piece of turf and defelects away - or bounces straight over the top. You just have to console yourself with the fact that you’ll hit them all the time in the next game.
I said after the heavy loss to Sri Lanka that South Africa’s habit of starting quickly and fading may be about to turn around. If they can maintain the intensity they showed against New Zealand and win again against England on Sunday, then they should reach the semi finals with huge momentum piled up behind them.
For now, though, I think we can all breath a collective sigh of relief (apart from Kiwis, of course) because the tournament might just have felt a little flat if the hosts had been eliminated before half the teams had even played a game.

Win with the ICC Champions Trophy

2009-09-24T19:35:00.000+02:00

Going to an ICC Champions Trophy Match? Click on the images for more info.

Still In It

2009-09-24T19:29:00.000+02:00

Smith is at it again...poor Roelof...

It has been a fantastic day at Centurion. I've been worried about AB de Villiers' form but he seems to be on track now. Parnell, well...uhm... 5 wickets but he still got smashed.

A good question is: Why did they take the powerplay so late in the game? Trying to steal the shine from Boucher, maybe?

I always enjoy watching SA beat the shit out of NZ. Tomorrow Sri Lanka is taking on England. I will be wearing my blue and yellow shirt. I am not sure if Team Luke will play but I am still rooting for SL.

Duminy did it again

2009-09-24T19:02:00.000+02:00

Botha tackled Baz

2009-09-24T17:50:00.004+02:00

Bella

LOL Pic

2009-09-24T17:48:00.002+02:00

Bella

Shahid Afridi Interview

2009-09-24T08:05:00.002+02:00

Gradually you have become the captain of Pakistan?

I know for sure that I am the vice-captain of Pakistan Team. The deputy of Younus khan as far as the Test and One-day cricket is concerned but captain of Twenty20 team.

Do you feel any pressure to perform the duty of a skipper?

Pressure? Each and every player has to swallow pressure in international cricket. You must know how to perform under pressure situation. I am enjoying every moment in the cricket field. Life is full of struggle and if you remember you are representing 16 crore people, you will have special feeling. I am really lucky and honored indeed, to have played for Pakistan.

What is your experience so far playing for Pakistan in the last thirteen years?

Every player has to go through success and failure. So did I, I have no hesitation in announcing that I cried more than laughing in the cricket field.

How do you see the fortune of Pakistan team in this ICC Champions Trophy?

We have got a very balanced side which gives us tremendous confidence of winning the trophy here as well.

Why are you so confident this time?

It has got many reasons. First of all, our bowling department. They are very sharp. If you go to the history of Pakistan cricket, you will notice that our bowlers have done a great job for Pakistan. I am sure, they will do a great job this time here also. We are ready to challenge any team.

Will you not be relieved to have Mohd. Asif in your team?

Oh, Yes. Asif is a match winner. He served his ban period till 22nd September 2009. So he will be available. He is fit and raring to go. And trust me he is very hungry to play in international cricket which would be a major plus point for our team's strength.

Since you won the World Twenty20, people are expecting that you would do well in ICC Champions Trophy as well. Do you agree?

The entire nation would be disappointed if we fail to deliver. We have our self belief which should be transformed into action in the middle. We can only assure you that we are all focused to do well.

Mugshots

2009-09-24T07:51:00.002+02:00

Who was the photographer? These are aweful. Shiny foreheads, visible blemishes. I know they're not supermodels but still.

Bella

Collingwood: "No booze cruise"

2009-09-24T07:27:00.000+02:00

I haven't read Andrew Flintoff's quotes in full, but I am told he has likened the 2006/07 Ashes tour of Australia to a 'booze cruise', which surprises me.
Again, I don't know the complete context of his remarks, but I can say that in all my time playing for England we have been very professional individually and as a team in our preparations.
If that's his opinion, so be it, but I do not think we have been unprofessional. I take playing for England very seriously and prepare for each game as if it will be my last.
Each person is an individual, and they do different things on tour. Some people will go for a meal and have a couple of drinks, while others might stay in their hotel room.
From my point of view I have always thought the England team to be very professional.
On a lighter note, I had a belter of a question when we spoke to the media earlier on Wednesday. I was talking to several television crews when a lady from Indian TV asked if we should have more sex as cricketers.
I was a bit taken aback and thought I had heard her wrong, but it turns out that India coach Gary Kirsten has come out with a dossier saying your testosterone levels drop if you don't have sex.
She wanted to know if we had a similar dossier, but I can confirm it doesn't enter into the England gameplan!
We flew in to South Africa on Tuesday for the ICC Champions Trophy and had a runaround to get the journey out of our legs, and are just off for some proper training now.
Although we haven't got any warm-up games ahead of our first match against Sri Lanka on Friday, I don't think a lack of match practice will be a problem after seven one-dayers against Australia!
We will have a look at the wicket between now and Friday, and the only other thing we have to cope with is the altitude up here in Johannesburg.
We have to take as much confidence as we can from the last one-dayer against Australia.
It is easy to be negative, but we can beat anyone on our day and if we can build on a superb bowling performance we can definitely win.
Sri Lanka looked awesome against South Africa, and they have two quality spin bowlers in Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis who will be a real challenge.
We are without Kevin Pietersen for this tournament and we are all hoping he will be fit for the Test series against South Africa.
Of course you miss a world class batsman like KP, but we have just won the Ashes without him, and if he is not available there will be players ready to step up and fill the void.

Graeme Smith Interview

2009-09-23T12:23:00.002+02:00

Proteas Blog

2009-09-23T12:20:00.001+02:00

My first ICC experience

HASHIM AMLA

The Champions Trophy is my first experience of an ICC world tournament and I can promise you it has felt very different, and very special from the moment the squad gathered. In a bilateral series against another country there is inevitably a sense of familiarity that comes after three or four games. You only need to prepare once for the bowlers you will be facing and the batsmen you will be bowling to. Here we face three very different teams in the group stage, although – to use an old cliché - we really are taking it one game at a time!
Even the veterans of seven or eight of these ICC tournaments say that this time it feels more like a ‘sprint’ than ever. We could, in theory, be out of the tournament after three days if we lose our first two games. Some teams won’t even have played a match by then! It will feel like a 100 metre sprinter being disqualified for making a false start.
But that sort of tension is good, it keeps you on your toes and mentally sharp. We cannot afford a false start and everybody knows that. It would be going too far to say we are relaxed, but we are all confident in our own ability and in the skills of all team mates in the squad. Nobody has any doubts.
Although I started as a ‘reserve’ in the squad I’m looking forward to making an impact. I really enjoyed my run in the ODI side last season against Australia and I was fortunate to make a couple of match-winning contributions, so I know I can do it. I love the big stage as much as anybody and, with luck, I’ll be able to take the chance offered to me by Herschelle’s injury.
It’s never a happy time watching a team mate lose his place tp injury, especially when they are as keen and determined as Herschelle is, but there isn’t a single player in the squad who hasn’t suffered that fate or taken advantage of it, so we all accept it as part of the game.
Sri Lanka pose a unique threat in world cricket because of the extreme unorthodoxy of the ‘three Ms’- Malinga, Murali and Mendis. Batsmen have virtually no chance against all three of them on first sighting, but the element of surprise has gradually been worn away now and we all have experience of facing them. It doesn’t necessarily get any easier, but at least we now know what to expect. Well, most of the time…!
There is huge excitement in the Proteas squad but definitely no nervous tension, not of the negative variety anyway. If people say we are the favourites then that must mean we are quite good. And we’d rather people thought we were quite good than quite bad!

The future of the ICC champions trophy

JONTY RHODES

Some of the talk concerning the status and future of the ICC Champions Trophy has amused me. The people who have said and written that its future is in jeopardy because of a lack of interest clearly haven’t been talking to the players.
When the top eight teams in the world get together to play for a trophy, you can call it whatever you like and play over as many overs as you like, you won’t be able to compromise the effort and determination of a cricketers representing their countries.
Personally I think the balance is perfect between the three ICC world tournaments. The T20 World Championship and the Champions Trophy are both ‘sprints’ which will only enhance the reputation of the 50-over World Cup which is a longer tournament requiring sustained form and endurance for over a month.
There are four Majors in tennis and golf – why can’t cricket have three? When all the major cricket nations gather in one place the level of competition and interest is bound to intensify. If cricket has a problem with too many fixtures, then they are the tours and games which Graeme Smith earlier this week called the ‘meaningless’ ones, not the pinnacle of international competition.
ICC events are very special occasions for the players. I’ll never forget the 1992 World Cup when I was just a boy but mingling with the likes of Imran Khan and Ian Botham, it was an incredible experience. The same applies today when I see the looks on the faces of young players when the walk past Sachin Tendulkar or Jacques Kallis in the lobby of the hotel. Try telling them that the Champions Trophy isn’t special or important!
I’m not saying that the balance between ODIs and T20 fixtures is perfect, or that it won’t change – it probably will. But, for all the power of television, sponsors and advertisers, and the influence of the people who pay money to watch, I am quite certain that one-dayers will never disappear. The players enjoy the contest too much and, provided there is no ‘overkill’ of the 50-over game, crowds will continue to enjoy them, too. But in moderation. I suspect that administrators in England are beginning to realise that a seven match ODI series after the Ashes was completely excessive. Less is more!
Nobody will be surprised that I’m tipping South Africa to win. But it’s not just about the quality in their squad, it’s also that I can see too many things holding back the other teams! The West Indies are fearfully under strength, England and Australia will be too tired to keep their eyes open, Pakistan can be slow starters and, as I said, this tournament is a sprint. India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand all look well balanced and will obviously be hard to beat – but I’m banking on home ground advantage to help the Proteas cross the line first on October 5th.

SA's First Game

GRAEME SMITH

We have faced greater adversity than this before so, although we’re very disappointed, we know we can still get things back on track with victories over New Zealand and England in our last two group games.
We were very tentative with the ball, especially the first 20 overs. We didn’t do the basics well and, despite preparing as well as we possibly could, the lack of hard match practice in the last three months showed quite clearly. It’s no excuse – we did as much as we could to be match-ready but there’s no substitute for the real thing.
Ajantha Mendis obviously had a huge impact once Jacques and me had tried to lay the platform for what was always going to be a tough run chase. He’s very different to most spinners. It was the first time we’ve seen him live – and it’s very different seeing a guy like him during a video analysis session and actually facing him. He bowled well. Very well. He has some unique skills and should be applauded and celebrated for that.
Our final two games are now ‘must-win’ matches which brings a different sort of pressure but, once again, not something we are unfamiliar with. We all know that the best way to succeed is to relax and trust yourself and your team mates. It doesn’t do any good worrying and stressing about the result. It’s the next delivery that counts.
At the same time it’s vital that we are honest with ourselves as individuals and as a team and face up to why it went wrong against Sri Lanka and how we can improve. It’s a very quick turnaround between games and but we will be doing everything in our power to ensure we do ourselves justice on Thursday.
Despite the overall success of the last 18 months there have been low moments when we have underperformed and let ourselves down. One of the key ingredients to bouncing back from those days is to acknowledge your mistakes and accept the responsibility for putting them right.
We started that process straight after the game and will discuss it further on Wednesday morning. Then we will do the ‘practical’ in the nets at Centurion in the afternoon.
Having said all that, it would be wrong to concentrate purely on our shortcomings without paying proper credit to Sri Lanka. Tillekeratne Dilshan made a brilliant century and the innings by Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene were world class.
We know we are capable of performing a lot better and we are certainly capable of beating both New Zealand and England if we play to our potential, but we have to get ourselves to that level very quickly.

Graeme Swann Interview

2009-09-23T11:57:00.000+02:00

I know that a lot of people don't like Graeme Swann but I like him. He is a funny man. He has that dry crude English humour that I get.

If you were to bet on Andy Murray winning the Wimbledon or England the Ashes, which one would you fancy?
England winning the Ashes, because Andy Murray is Scottish, so I don't care if he wins Wimbledon or not.

What is the funniest thing someone ever said about you?
I read in the newspaper the other day that I've matured a lot.

What's the worst headline you read about yourself?
I don't know about the headline, but there are sometimes fans who shout words that are a bit tedious at times. Sometimes they shout that my last name shouldn't be Swann, it should be Duck, which is just appalling. Then there was someone shouting out the other day that I've got Swann flu and not swine flu. That is not very clever.

Do you like intellectual things?
I like to do the crossword in the Times, but it tends to be I can't finish it, so I end up making my own words to fill in.

What's the best book you ever read?
1984 by George Orwell - a super book. I tend to read on tours and I end up reading Tom Clancy and Frederic Forsyth and Patrick Robinson rather than [Fyodor] Dostoyevsky and [Frederick] Nietzsche.

Who's sledged you the most?
Dominic Cork

And who have you sledged most?
Cork again. I used to reply to everyone, but I soon realised the best way is to just shut up and get on with it.

What kind of batsman is most difficult to bowl to?
Unpredictable players, because you don't know what they are gonna do next. They normally happen to be down the order.

What would you write on the whiteboard in the dressing room?
"Enjoy yourself."

Your band is called Dr Comfort and the Lurid Revelations. What's behind the name?
Dr Comfort was actually a psychologist in the 1970s, and he released a book of lurid revelations about the women who visited him. Apparently at the time it was quite shocking. It made us chuckle, so we thought we we'd go with that.

Do you see yourself as a rock star?
No, not at all. I'm a charlatan. I've sung in front of at most 200 people.

If not a cricketer what would you be?
I wish I could've been a fighter pilot. When I was at school there was a US airbase not far from us, and when we were playing rugby the planes used to dogfight over the top. And after watching Top Gun every schoolboy in England wanted to be a fighter pilot.

Tell us something we don't know about you.
Some people are just cat people, some people are just dog people, but I love both. At the moment I have two cats.

You seem outrageous by all accounts. Did you ever fancy being a streaker?
No. But they always make me laugh, and it is a shame people get arrested for doing it. I think there are too many killjoys in the world.

What do you think of Duncan Fletcher?
Excellent coach.

Have you ever tested your IQ?
I got it tested at school. It'd probably be in the high 150s.

What's the one question the media should be banned from asking you?
The media should be allowed to ask anything, but they should be prepared to get any sort of reply back. It can't be one-way traffic. You can't say exactly what they want you to.

What has been your best dismissal to date?
[Sachin] Tendulkar lbw in the Mohali Test last year, specially after he got the hundred in the Test match before, and also being the best player by miles in the world. A week before, in Chennai, we'd bowled so much at him trying to get him out. It was like banging our heads against a brick wall, and all of sudden I get him in Mohali, so it was the relief the moment that was the best thing about that wicket.

What's the best compliment you've ever got?
Mushy [Mushtaq Ahmed] once told me it's nice to see me always smiling in the dressing room.

One thing you would like from Muttiah Muralitharan?
His doosra.

Follow him on Twitter

Utter Hocus Pocus

2009-09-23T11:36:00.000+02:00

Enthusiastic, eager determined...

Uh-oh!

When I realised all was lost

What happened? Who must get the blame? The bowlers? The batsmen? The captain? All of them.They all talked the talk but couldn't walk the walk.

I am a very honest person and I will say that Sri Lanka deserved winning and South Africa deserved the humiliation.

Usually I am not someone for suppostitious hokum. But I have been thinking about the chokers tag. Could SA have broken their bad luck streak? Can this be SA's year? In the previous tournaments SA won all their matches but only lost the the knock-out games. Seeing that this time around they lost their first game, could it be that they might have broken the vicious circle? We will have to wait and see.

Graeme Smith's blog

2009-09-21T20:16:00.000+02:00

Could it be? GS has slimmed down?

I think so. Shirt not so figure-hugging, anymore.

"The ICC Champions Trophy is our first competition after a long, and well-deserved break, from international cricket. The boys are rested, refreshed, in-form and raring to go especially if our 200-run win over the West Indies in a warm-up the other day is anything to go by.

Many of the teams have already played a few internationals and India and Australia will be coming into the tournament with wins under their belts, and so will be feeling very confident.

I know South Africa are seen as one of the favourites, but that is not something we will be focusing on. We do have some things in our favour though - we are going in as the top team in both ODIs and Tests and the fact that we are familiar with the conditions may give us a slight edge over the others.

We play our first match against Sri Lanka, who have not had a good run recently. So that will perhaps be another thing going for us as teams from the sub-continent are not really comfortable with South African conditions. What may make it harder for Sri Lanka to adjust is the fact that they have not played an ODI in South Africa since the 2003 ICC World Cup.

Having said that, however, we have to keep in mind that Sri Lanka have a formidable batting and bowling line-up, and that they do well in multi-team tournaments - they reached the finals of both the 2007 ICC World Cup and the ICC World Twenty20 this year.

In the recent tri-series, where New Zealand and India were the other teams, Thilan Samaraweera and Thilina Kandamby stood out for them, and if they, Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya, who can really anchor an innings, dig their heels in, Sri Lanka can really make an impact. Plus they have Murali back from injury and he's always raring to go. And he is part of the "Four M's" of the tough Sri Lankan bowling attack, the others being Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews and Ajantha Mendis - all of them dangerous on their day.

I am happy with the composition of our team, though. It is a well-balanced side with a fine mix of experience and young, exciting talent. We have the best-allrounder in the world in Kallis, the best Test bowler in Dale Steyn, and AB de Villers, who is one of our most consistent players. Amongst the youngsters we have Van der Merwe, Parnell, Duminy and Amla, who have all done well, and Johan Botha was a revelation last season.

We have good bowling options - the right-hand, left-hand pace of Steyn and Parnell, and the right-arm, left-arm spin of Van der Merwe. Besides, we also have a deep batting line-up, and if the openers give the team a good start, it will take the pressure of the likes of Kallis, Boucher, Gibbs, De Villiers and Duminy who can then take us to a very competitive total.

I know we have not won a major tournament since the ICC Champions Trophy in Bangladesh in 1998, but this is not putting any more pressure on us. As I've said before we can only focus on the job at hand, and do the best we can on the day. We also have England and New Zealand in our group, and though they have not had the best of outings in ODIs recently, we will not be taking then for granted. We will take it one match at a time, concentrate on topping the group and getting to the semi-finals, which is our first aim.

I know this is not a gala event like the World Cup, or a glamour event like the IPL, but we are still approaching this with all the seriousness that an ICC tournament deserves. We may not have played an ODI in nearly five months, but after that win over the West Indies, no one can say we are rusty. In fact, it seems like we have never been away, and that is the attitude that we are going to carry into, what will hopefully, turn out to be another very successful season for us."

The Spirit of Cricket

2009-09-21T15:55:00.000+02:00

Behind the Proteas

2009-09-21T12:34:00.001+02:00

“This has been an incredible sporting year for South Africa and now it’s cricket’s turn to host a global sporting showcase with the ICC Champions Trophy coming to South Africa in the wake of the British and Irish Lions tour and the Confederations Cup. The Springboks very closely follow the fortunes of our cricket and soccer teams and we’ll be cheering the Proteas every step of the way. Graeme Smith has an outstanding collection of talent at his disposal and after their successes of the past 12 months, I know they’ll be looking to start their new season with a bang. The fact that the ICC has chosen South Africa to step in and host the tournament is a great feather in the cap for our country as well, and proves once again what an outstanding venue South Africa is when it comes to hosting the world’s most prestigious sports events,” - John Smit, Springboks Captain

“I think most South African sports people like to support each other. Coming from an individual sport like swimming, that’s very important. Events like the Champions Trophy are great because they show the public what talent is out there. We don’t have many big events like that in swimming in South Africa where people can see the best in the world in action. It’s one thing watching it on TV, but it’s so much better to be able to watch it live. I think South Africa’s chances are pretty good – I’ll definitely be supporting them. I’ve been told Graeme Smith is my look-alike so I’ll be hoping he keeps our image high” - Cameron van der Burgh, SA Swimming World Record-holder

“I’m going to watch South Africa against New Zealand on Thursday and I’m really looking forward to it. With so much history and diversity in our country, I think it’s very important that the national teams support each other. I think it’s fantastic that we’re hosting an event like the Champions Trophy which gives the public a chance to see all these top teams,” -Marsha Marescia, SA Women’s Hockey Captain

“During the Confederations Cup we saw a lot of new faces in the stadiums and I think with big events like that, and the ICC Champions Trophy, the public really get behind the team. Everyone likes to win – it doesn’t matter what sport it is. We’re the favourites to win it and playing at home which makes a huge difference – that’s what we experienced in the Confederations Cup. I think that without a doubt, events like the Champions Trophy are a showcase for the country and just add to the numerous events that we have hosted successfully. I think the football officials will be watching very closely and maybe learning from this ahead of hosting the biggest sports event in the world next year.” -Matthew Booth, Bafana Bafana Player

Did you know?

2009-09-21T11:58:00.000+02:00

I'm a fricken genius. I took my holiday so that I can watch all the ICC Champions Trophy games.

Whenever I visit my parents, my father always greets me in a Pakistan shirt.

Paul Collingwood has his own blog.

You can win with the Nashua Cape Cobras

I think Jesse Ryder is scary.

Australia is now #3 on the ICC ODI rankings.

AB looks better with darker hair.

Smith Interview

2009-09-20T21:31:00.000+02:00

Quotes of the Day

2009-09-20T17:31:00.006+02:00

"I think, in the next two years, we will be bringing home the trophies. It will be our time." -AB de Villiers

"We are a process-driven side and as long as we keep working as a team I am happy, the team has enjoyed successes together for some time now and as long as they all produce in their roles, we will do well. Whichever team strings five good performances together during the event will win. We are extremely comfortable with the two venues the tournament will be played at (Supersport Park, Centurion and The Wanderers, Johannesburg) We've had some good results at both stadiums in the past and we receive lots of local support there as well." -Mickey Arthur

"They know the conditions better than anyone else and, given their performances of late, they will have a lot of crowd support. They would have probably have wanted to play two or three one-day games to be really firing, especially since almost all the other teams have been in action recently. While I would have said that would work in favour of other teams, I think its negated by the fact that South Africa are at home. I think there are seven out of the eight teams who could stand a chance of winning (He did not want to make public which team he thought was not going to be in contention.). But I do think the four semi-finalists will be South Africa, Australia, India and Sri Lanka. Then again you underestimate New Zealand at your peril and depending on which Pakistan team shows up, they could be dangerous as well. It will definitely mean something for them to win and it certainly counts more than any normal series. Doing well in the competition will certainly give them confidence ahead of the 2011 World Cup," -Shaun Pollock

AB de Villiers Interview

2009-09-19T19:29:00.000+02:00

I don't recall posting this before. In this video AB took the Delhi Daredevils to a Super 14 rugby match during the IPL in SA.

Injuries The Good & The Bad

2009-09-19T18:36:00.000+02:00

Lets start with the bad. News just in is that Herschelle Gibbs will miss the first match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Gibbs sustaned a rib injury but is likely to recover in time for the other games.

"Herschelle suffered a minor rib and intercostal injury in the warm-up match against the West Indies at Potchefstroom on Friday," Brandon Jackson, the South African physiotherapist said.

"We will reassess his position after Tuesday's match with the aim of getting him back on the field either for the New Zealand match on Thursday or the one against England next Sunday."

Who will replace him? I'm betting on Amla.

The good news is that Team Luke is available for the ICC Champions Trophy. He has been passed as fit and will be flying over on Monday.

AB on SA Sports Illustrated

2009-09-19T16:20:00.000+02:00

How did Bella miss this? AB is on the latest SA Sport Illustrated.

The latest Men's Health Magazine

Ntini Yogi Sip Ad

2009-09-19T14:52:00.002+02:00

What happens when you place a cricketer and a rugby player in a 'drinking yogurt' ad?
This:

New ICC Champions Trophy Ad

2009-09-19T14:41:00.002+02:00

Graeme Smith gets pranked

2009-09-19T14:32:00.003+02:00

Another old video. Graeme Smith gets pranked by Darren Simpson.

Biff's book signing

2009-09-19T14:26:00.002+02:00

Q & A with JP Duminy

2009-09-19T14:22:00.000+02:00

Duminy, Smith Lays Ad

2009-09-19T14:20:00.002+02:00

Botha KFC Ad

2009-09-19T14:17:00.001+02:00

AB pranks his brother

2009-09-19T14:10:00.003+02:00

Q & A with Biff

2009-09-19T14:04:00.003+02:00

CSA launch party

2009-09-19T13:47:00.013+02:00

Finally that selfish bastard (*wink Brandon *wink) is back and made me an administrator. I've had some photos of the Cricket South Africa launch party for some time but Mr Brandon wanted to go on vacation and never answered my messages.

Morras, not happy

Stand up straight, guys

Still not happy

Gibbs injured

2009-09-19T10:21:00.000+02:00

After scoring 38 runs off 40 balls during the recent warm-up match against West Indies, Herschelle Gibbs had to retire from the match due to an abdominal side strain.

Fuckface smiling in the background

Graeme Smith seems to be back, producing 83 from 74 deliveries, Jacques Kallis scored 89 off 90 and JP Duminy smacked 80 off only 49 balls. Mark Boucher followed in Duminy's footsteps by adding 55 from 27. SA produced 388/4 in their 50 overs after they had won the toss and opted to bat first. Spinner, Roelof van der Merwe bagged 4/34 helping SA beat the Windies with 188 runs

Yikes!

Proteas adding hope with 6's

2009-09-19T10:05:00.000+02:00

Every time a Protea hits a 6 at Super Sport Park, during the ICC Champions Trophy, KFC will donate R20 000 to add to the SOS Children’s Villages as part of their Add Hope initiative.

Super Sport Park, Centurion, is known for high scores and the average number of sixes hit by South Africa at the Wanderers is 2.75 while the average for Centurion is 3.28. In the 2006 Champions Trophy, 54 sixes were hit throughout the tournament.

Feel like making a donation? Click here.

And you thought England sucked

2009-09-19T09:40:00.000+02:00

It's official New Zealand suck! They lost a warm-up game against a South African Domestic Team. The Warriors have not won a trophy in the last 6 years, but they managed a 2 wicket win with 6 balls to spare.

The Black Caps lost the toss and were sent in to bat. Martin Guptill made 78 off 97, Ross Taylor hit 51 from 70 and Grant Elliott contributed 47 off 48, but their last six wickets fell for only 27 and they were dismissed for 237.

Seam bowler Juan Theron, was the star of the show, getting 5/42. Davey Jacobs scored 54 off 56. Ian Butler did what he could getting 4/53, and Daryl Tuffey, took 3/49.

Not gonna happen

You've guessed it

2009-09-19T09:12:00.000+02:00

I'm back!

Swann the comedian

2009-09-13T15:25:00.000+02:00

I thought this is something worth sharing. BTW I love Nando's!

Leave of Absence

2009-09-13T10:32:00.000+02:00

It has been a long week and I've decided to take a leave of absence. I'll be working extra hours because my holiday starts on Thursday. It is the perfect time to go camping. This weekend I would like to go visit my family and take my parents for a game drive at a National Wildlife Park. So I leave you with some old photos of Shane Warne visiting the Kruger National Park with the Rajasthan Royals. There is also one of the Proteas taking a hike somewhere in the Cape.

England's woes

2009-09-12T22:14:00.000+02:00

Although I despise Brett Lee, I will admit that he did a fine job for Australia, 5 for 49, even I am impressed. Not only that, but I stand corrected. Tim Paine might be useless as a keeper but he can actually bat, he made his first international half century.

Luke only made 12 runs with the bat, bowled 6 overs for 26 and didn't take any wickets. Why didn't Strauss let him bowl his full 10 overs? Australia finished with 38 balls to spare, that's why.

We are so fucked

Awe, look at the little baby

I present: The Blowfish

Lee can be such a Paine

LOL Pic

2009-09-12T15:13:00.000+02:00

Heeheehee...that tickles

Botha vs Smith

2009-09-11T12:17:00.000+02:00

Is it possible that Graeme Smith might not be fit to play the first half of the ICC Champions Trophy? He did not play the recent warm-up games against the Lions. I sure hope so. Lets give Captain Botha the lead.

"Graeme's elbow is healing well post surgery," Jackson was quoted as saying in Cricket South Africa's official website. "He is in week 11 of a structured 13-week return to full activity programme. He is currently batting against tennis balls and against underarm bowling with a cricket ball, together with intensive gym strengthening and boxing."

LOL Pic

2009-09-11T11:44:00.000+02:00

Headbutt!

I was only kidding!

Must Kill Broad

2009-09-11T11:36:00.000+02:00

How can I get rid of Stuart Broad? He is a bad influence on Luke Wright. Since Pixie's been sitting on the bench for a neck injury, little Luke has flourished on the field. Luke, Pixie is not your friend.

Don't just stand there KP, make yourself useful!

LOL Pic

2009-09-10T19:29:00.001+02:00

My balls!

Win a Protea Reebok Replica Shirt

2009-09-10T11:47:00.003+02:00

Would you would like to win a Protea Reebok Replica Pajama shirt? Then you should head off to Facebook. Join the Cricket South Africa group . You will have to make sure that you become a nuisance by adding your favourite cricket photos and videos. You will need to constantly write on their wall telling them just how much you love AB's singing voice, Bouch's blue eyes, Team Botha and Biff's love-handles.

Time is of the essence. You have to get cracking because the group is buzzing with fans. The winner will be announced this friday at 14:00 CAT.

Are you from SA and would like to buy one? Good news because they are currently in stores. Go have a look at these retailers.

Accurate fielding

2009-09-10T10:51:00.001+02:00

LOL Pic

2009-09-09T23:47:00.001+02:00

Don't you dare fart!

Team Luke For The Win

2009-09-09T23:39:00.000+02:00

Okay, so England really sucked. But Luke Wright bowled his little heart out. He bowled 7 overs, taking 1 wicket and only 16 runs were made. This leaves us with wondering why Strauss didn't let him bowl 10?

Next time concentrate on the batting

Another ICC Champion's Trophy Ad

2009-09-09T19:04:00.000+02:00

Did you notice that in the previous ads there were no Indian players? Well look what I found. This time they are quite prominent.

Such a Paine

2009-09-09T10:55:00.001+02:00

Is it just me, or is Tim Paine the worst wicket keeper, ever? Is it his mamma's boy face that pisses me off? Maybe. But honestly, for the last few games I kept my eye on this little child. He is terrible.

Where's the ball?

Broad still injured

2009-09-08T20:30:00.005+02:00

I haven't used my evil laugh in such a long time. This seams to be appropriate, though. Stuart Broad will not be playing in the 3rd ODI against Australia. Now you might think I'm insane, because the man played a vital role in England's quest, regaining The Ashes. Don't confuse me for an English fan, friends. Just because I am a follower of Team Luke Wright doesn't mean I am all for England. I do admit that I enjoy seeing Australia suffer. Like I have mentioned to Purna, it is imprinted in my DNA to side with Australia's opposition.

The Wright Man For The Job

2009-09-08T19:59:00.002+02:00

With Kevin Pietersen & Andrew Flintoff out of sight for the moment, our favourite Englishman, Luke Wright, will have to assume more responsibility for England's current suffering batting order. -It's time for you to shine.

Even though England has struggled in the opening two ODI games against Australia, Wright did his part by scoring 38 off 27 balls at the Brit Oval and 20 off 19 at Lord’s. But there is a lot more to this man. He even bowled 10 overs for the last game.

Having been tried as an opener with limited success, Wright is enjoying a more familiar role lower down the order, but insists he would play the same way regardless.

The KP & Flintoff absence:

“I have been fortunate in that I’ve always been told to go out and play my natural game in one-day cricket - to go out, strike the ball and have a lot of intent - so from my point of view it doesn’t really matter if I am up the top or down the order...It is not something that has put extra pressure on me...You are always going to miss those guys, as we have seen all summer...As soon as you take those guys out of any team you are going to miss them. I am not sure it is going to add any pressure on me or not. I will just play the way I play and hope it comes off well.”

This is his plan of action:

“With the powerplays coming in, you need to be able to hit boundaries at the end...We have seen the Australians have played the powerplay at the death, so it is something you need to do at the end. I have just got to try to stay in that little bit longer to take advantage.” -Just don't underestimate Lee & Johnson.

India beware

2009-09-08T19:31:00.005+02:00

For the first half of Sri Lanka's innings we all considered that NZ will win once again. But a fantastic come-back from SL changed everything. Dan's nightmare became a reality.

Now for those who have wondered what my deal is, this is your day. So I'm proudly South African, the Proteas will always be my #1 team. Secondly whenever South Africa is not playing, I tend to side with Team Luke Wright, Sri Lanka & New Zealand. This is why the outcome of todays match didn't bother me that much.

Should I cry or rejoyce?

Will NZ slaughter SL?

2009-09-08T11:21:00.003+02:00

Our take on Lee

2009-09-07T17:26:00.003+02:00

Yes, I'm not impressed by Lee for getting Luke's wicket

Almost did it, Luke

2009-09-06T21:48:00.002+02:00

Even though Stuart Broad was on the bench, our favourite Englishman just couldn't bag a win for England. Did you see him bowl? He was magnificent at first. At one stage his figures were 7-0-27-2 (Econ. 3.8). You impressed us, alright.

Here, have some pixie dust.

Look at my apple butt.

Cricinfo Wallpapers

2009-09-06T07:32:00.002+02:00

Cricinfo has some awesome wallpapers.Go check them out:

Click me! Click me!

Can Luke Save Middle-Earth

2009-09-05T18:56:00.006+02:00

You carry the fate of us all, little one.

As the battle for Middle-Earth continues, we are left wondering if our hero once again will be called upon to save the day.

ICC Champion's Trophy Ads

2009-09-05T13:42:00.001+02:00

AB 'S Men's Health Photoshoot

2009-09-05T11:47:00.004+02:00

Calling all ladies.... All Access went behind AB de Viliier's photoshoot for Men's Health Magazine.

Warning: He brought his guitar along.

Video: AB de Villiers

A Hobbit Tries To Save The Day

2009-09-04T21:43:00.007+02:00

As England battled out the fight victory was immanently clear for Australia. It was in this moment, when all hope had faded, a young Hobbit, Luke Wright, was sent in to try and save Middle-Earth (If you are from the UK then go look in your Atlas, you will find that the British Isles are in the middle of the World Map).

Eagerly, this brave Halfling took on the battle and slayed 38 Orcs by his sword with only 27 slashes. But it was too much for the Hobbit, he alone could not save Middle-Earth. This fight had been lost but the war isn't over, yet.