The Surfer
Marlin becomes part of Hayden's Caribbean catch
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Just when you thought Matthew Hayden’s World Cup couldn’t get any bigger he has out-done himself by landing a marlin. The game’s biggest angler was asleep when the 136kg fish took his bait and suffered a similar fate to many bowlers.
“We had about 80 people there to greet us when we got to shore,” he said in The Australian. “It was just magnificent. My arms are sore. I might have to get a massage later this afternoon."
Full postHow many fingers am I holding up?
South Africa's comprehensive nine-wicket victory over England, which guaranteed them the fourth spot in the semi-final, had the newspapers of the country churn out advice on what to do next - South Africa meet Australia in the semis - and how the
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
South Africa's comprehensive nine-wicket victory over England, which guaranteed them the fourth spot in the semi-final, had the newspapers of the country churn out advice on what to do next - South Africa meet Australia in the semis - and how the players' binge drinking is OK.
Michael Doman wonders in the Independent Online whether Makhaya Ntini should be brought back for the semis or straight into the final:
At grounds short on pace and bounce, Ntini has struggled to make an impact at the 2007 World Cup, claiming only six wickets at an average of 48.83 runs each in seven matches. It has been his inability to strike with the new ball which has been of concern to the selectors.
t will be a strong consideration to bring Ntini back should the Proteas reach the final in conditions which suit him. Should he replace Kemp, though, and weaken the batting, or can South Africa use wicketkeeper Mark Boucher at No 6 in the order, as they have often done in the past? It is hard to see Ntini replacing any of the four frontline seamers, all of whom have been performing well.
Neil Manthorp writes in Supercricket website that as long as the players are in control of their compromised sense after a night out drinking there is no need to make a fuss about it.
Full postEnd of Fletcher?
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
As England were booed off the Kensington Oval yesterday after their feeble elimination from the World Cup, Duncan Fletcher may well have been mulling over the thought that Saturday's dead rubber against West Indies will be his last game as their coach, writes Lawrence Booth in The Guardian.
In the same newspaper David Hopps reports on how scores of England and South Africa fans were stranded in Grenada after their cruise liner to Barbados was cancelled without explanation at the last minute.
Full postCritics line up Sri Lanka's tactics
Michael Holding, Arjuna Ranatunga and Ricky Ponting were surprised by Sri Lanka’s tactics to rest Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas against Australia to improve their prospects of reaching the final
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Michael Holding, Arjuna Ranatunga and Ricky Ponting were surprised by Sri Lanka’s tactics to rest Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas against Australia to improve their prospects of reaching the final. Holding’s worries about the consequences of the move in betting circles are reported on www.news.com.au
“What it does is allow people who know what is happening to get a head start if they are gambling. I have an account with Betfair and I watch a lot of different markets. Before the game started, Australia was 1-2. As soon as the toss went to air, when (Betfair) found out, Australia went to 1-5 because Muralitharan wasn't playing, Malinga wasn't playing, Vaas wasn't playing."
In The Age Chloe Saltau writes about Nathan Bracken, who picked up 4 for 19 against Sri Lanka.
Full postGive Venky time
Former Indian fast bowler Javagal Srinath hails the appointment of Venkatesh Prasad, his former new-ball partner, as India's bowling coach
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
Former Indian fast bowler Javagal Srinath hails the appointment of Venkatesh Prasad, his former new-ball partner, as India's bowling coach. Writing in Hindustan Times, Srinath hopes Prasad will be given time to grow into the role, one that will be crucial to India's prospect in the coming years.
Full postAll eyes on the Catapult Kids
Robert Craddock writes in The Australian about “the Catapult Kids” – Shaun Tait and Lasith Malinga
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Robert Craddock writes in The Australian about “the Catapult Kids” – Shaun Tait and Lasith Malinga. The pair met for the first time before the Australia-Sri Lanka game, but their opening on-field exchange was ruined by Malinga's ankle injury.
The cricket world - Tait included - marvels at Malinga's round-arm action, which he developed playing rubber ball cricket in the dusty back streets of his home town of Galle.
England get an Irish pointer for crunch match
"In what has already proved a bizarre tournament the real possibility exists that by tonight England, having played consistently poor cricket since they arrived in the Caribbean, will have secured a place in the semi-finals of the World Cup," writes
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
"In what has already proved a bizarre tournament the real possibility exists that by tonight England, having played consistently poor cricket since they arrived in the Caribbean, will have secured a place in the semi-finals of the World Cup," writes Mike Selvey in The Guardian. "To do so they have to beat South Africa, a team that veers from sublime to ridiculous on a match-by-match basis, on the paciest pitch in the competition."
"When Fred [Flintoff] is on form, just about anything is possible. When he isn't England are insipid. With England's vital match against South Africa on the horizon this observation may pile the pressure on Flintoff's once broad shoulders, but it's the stark reality," says Vic Marks in The Guardian.
In the The Independent, Angus Fraser writes that "England are dangerous, as they proved in Australia during the Commonwealth Bank Series when they produced a remarkable victory, but they will struggle to live with the South Africans at their best. In Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and Paul Collingwood, England possess potential match-winners, but Smith's side have twice as many."
Full postZimbabwe's Sibanda plans new life in Sydney
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Vusi Sibanda tells the Sydney Morning Herald’s Alex Brown how he plans to walk away from international cricket in Zimbabwe to play for a Sydney club side.
There is little joy in Sibanda's voice when he outlines his intention to retire aged 23 in pursuit of what would seem an inverse sporting dream. Sitting in the pavilion at Bankstown Oval, a fortnight after playing at the World Cup, Sibanda wearily details the social and sporting decline of his homeland.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2007
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
Here are two editorials from West Indian newspapers that project contrasting veiws on the World Cup - ticket pricing, the ICC, the local organising committes and the final.
The Nation, published in Barbados, tells its readers that the event will be an enduring legacy for the country. It also chides those harping on the negative issues like high ticket prices and asks them to look at the positives - money spent on developing the Kensington Oval, massive road expansion and general enhancement that has been undertaken by the government.
Full postToss crucial on Grenada's 'compost heap'
Ian Smith has called the pitch in Grenada, where Australia will play Sri Lanka on Monday, a “compost heap”
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Ian Smith has called the pitch in Grenada, where Australia will play Sri Lanka on Monday, a “compost heap”. Robert Craddock reports in the Daily Telegraph the toss could be crucial.
Muttiah Muralitharan finds Australians the toughest players to bowl to, according to Ricky Ponting in The Australian.
In the Sydney Morning Herald Chloe Saltau speaks to Arjuna Ranatunga, who thinks Sri Lanka are the only team that can beat Australia.
Full post