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Saeed Ajmal, the Pakistan offspinner, has said he will ensure that there are enough quality spinners to replace him in the national side when he retires. Ajmal, the top-ranked spinner in the ICC rankings in both Tests and ODIs, also said that he was optimistic of playing till the 2015 World Cup.”I hope by the time I am ready to walk out, another Ajmal would be ready to take my place,” Ajmal told ESPNcricinfo. “I will ensure this and it’s my responsibility to do so. Pakistan has very talented players and there is no dearth of spin bowlers. There are a lot of good spinners. (Abdur) Rehman is playing and Raza Hasan is a talented boy heading in the right direction.”Ajmal, 34, made a late entry into international cricket at the age of 30 but has earned a reputation for being one of the best spinners in the world. Ajmal didn’t play his first Test till he was almost 32 but has since picked up 107 wickets in 20 Tests. He said that he did not worry about having lost so much time before he got the chance to play international cricket.”Age definitely plays a key role but I have no regret for being late into international cricket,” Ajmal said. “Who knows if I had played earlier I might not have been the same Ajmal. What I am today is more important for me.”I am currently 34 and I know my age won’t let me play perhaps more than three years. But it’s also a matter of fitness that can actually extend a player’s life. I am optimistic that I can play at least till the 2015 World Cup before calling my time from the game.”Ajmal hoped that he had inspired enough young players to take up spin bowling. He is also planning to launch a cricket academy next year in his city Faisalabad. Ajmal recently wrecked England with his doosras and off-breaks and finished with 24 wickets in the three-Test series in the UAE.”A lot of bowlers around the world are so much keen about the doosra and I love to help. Being a quality spin bowler is tough and it takes time to obtain results. You need to be very patient.”A spin bowler normally does not inspire kids as compared to a fast bowler who creates an instant impact with the youngsters who want to play cricket. But I think I have inspired a lot of youngsters to play the game.”Edited by Abhishek Purohit

فرض التعادل الإيجابي بهدف لكل فريق كلمته على مباراة فريقي الإسماعيلي وغزل المحلة.

المباراة أقيمت على ملعب استاد الإسماعيلية في خضم منافسات الجولة التاسعة عشر من عمر الدوري المصري الممتاز.

الإسماعيلي يعلن تمديد تعاقد مدافعه

افتتح عماد حمدي التسجيل للإسماعيلي في الدقيقة 54 من عمر اللقاء، قبل أن يتعادل عبد الرحمن عاطف “أجويرو” للمحلة في الدقيقة السادسة بعد التسعين.

بتلك النتيجة يرتفع رصيد غزل المحلة إلى النقطة 27 محتلًا المركز السابع في سلم ترتيب الدوري.

أما الإسماعيلي فارتفع رصيده إلى 14 نقطة محتلًا المركز السادس عشر في ترتيب الدوري. أهداف مباراة الإسماعيلي والمحلة

Sahara India Parivar have announced they are withdrawing their sponsorship of the Indian team and the IPL franchise Sahara Pune Warriors

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Feb-2012Sahara India Parivar has cut its ties with the BCCI, withdrawing its sponsorship of the Indian team and ownership of the Pune Warriors IPL franchise. The decision was announced on Saturday morning, an hour before the IPL 2012 auction – which went ahead without any representation from Pune Warriors.In its formal statement, Sahara referred to several points of dispute with the BCCI, dating back to its first sponsorship deal in 2001 but largely relating to the IPL. It said it would “continue paying the sponsorship money” to the BCCI for a period of “2-4 months” it would take to find a new sponsor. The group had won the bid for the Indian team sponsorship most recently in May 2010.In its initial response, IPL governing council chairman Rajeev Shukla said that the BCCI had yet to receive anything in writing from Sahara about the withdrawal of sponsorship.The group, which has sponsored the Indian team for 11 years, had cited several reasons for its sudden pull-out, its most recent differences with the BCCI concerning its involvement in the IPL.The latest dispute arises around a request by Sahara to be allowed to add Yuvraj Singh’s price into its auction purse for the February 4 auction after it was learnt that Yuvraj could not take part in the IPL as he is undergoing medical treatment for a tumour in his lung. When the request was refused, Sahara said it was “yet again” a case of the BCCI denying them “natural justice.”The differences between Sahara and the IPL began in 2008 when Sahara’s bid for one of the first eight IPL franchises was “thwarted” following disqualification on what it calls, “a small technicality on the whims and fancies of BCCI.” In March 2010, the group had successfully bid $370m for the Pune franchise when the IPL had opened up the league to two new teams.Sahara had asked for a refund of what it called its “extra bid money” stating that its bid price had been calculated on the basis of 94 matches to be played in the IPL’s fourth season. It said it had been denied, “on the basis of strict rules.” Other requests, like opening up the auction to all players once again in order to to achieve a “level playing field” or allowing one extra foreign player for the two new teams were also turned down.”We are withdrawing from all cricket under BCCI,” the group stated. “However, we don’t want to give any problem to the BCCI and we also feel that the players should not suffer. BCCI will definitely take 2-4 months to get a new sponsor and we will continue paying the sponsorship money till then. All other IPL team players, coaches and other such associates will definitely get their due this year, in case they do not get a chance to play.”The sudden turn of events took the Indian cricket fraternity by surprise. It appears even players of the franchise were not aware of the developments, with several tweets expressing surprise.

Someone tell me what has happened to my Pune!

— Mitch Marsh (@mitchmarsh235) February 4, 2012

@alfonsothomas Mate heard nothing other than cricinfo… Amazing scenes!! @GraemeSmith49 @WayneParnell #BiffWillSortIt

— Callum Ferguson (@calferguson12) February 4, 2012

This Sahara pullout comes a day after Kochi Tuskers Kerala, the other team which made its IPL debut with Pune last year, announced it would take the BCCI to court for terminating its contract. The 2012 IPL was reduced to nine teams as a result. Another sponsor, Maxx Mobiles, has reportedly withdrawn as strategic time-out and official play-off sponsor of the IPL. It had signed a three-year contract for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasonsOver the past six months, the BCCI has terminated the Kochi franchise as well as its broadcast deal with Nimbus Communications, who were the rights holders for all cricket played in India.Conventional wisdom suggests Sahara India’s decision to end its ties with the BCCI, and the IPL, will have little material effect on the world’s richest cricketing body. There will be enough sponsors lining up to clamber on the gravy train that is Indian cricket. But these are not conventional times, and Saturday morning’s dramatic announcement – made an hour before the IPL auction was due to start – comes at a particularly awkward moment for the board. It is now without a TV rights holder, a main sponsor, an IPL franchise and a buyer for its internet rights. None of these on its own is an insurmountable problem but together they weaken the BCCI’s hitherto omnipotent position.They also reveal the inherent problems within the administration of the game in India that had been papered over by first the dazzling financial success of the IPL and then by the team’s rise to the top of the Test match rankings and its World Cup win. In the months since that heady evening in Mumbai in April, the game in India seems to have taken several steps back. The 2011 IPL returned the lowest TV ratings for any of the four seasons; not good news for a tournament whose revenues are based on eyeballs. A few months later the sight of empty stands in Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai during an ODI series in which India beat England 5-0 added to the sense of disquiet. That series also saw signs of tension between the BCCI and Nimbus, the TV rights holders, which eventually led to the contract being terminated.Saturday’s events will be particularly embarrassing for the BCCI as they impact the IPL, its flagship tournament and the basis for its global clout. Sahara’s reasons remain allegations for the moment but they emphasise the common perception – one that has existed since the days of Lalit Modi – that the IPL is run in an ad hoc manner. The tournament’s fifth season, already down to nine teams following Kochi’s contentious exit, is now in a state of confusion for players, for administrators and presumably the broadcasters too. When the BCCI sneezes, the cricket world catches cold; it must now act fast to restore credibility before the confusion goes viral.
Jayaditya Gupta

MatériaMais Notícias

O atual campeão da etapa de J-Bay do Circuito Mundial de surfe, Filipe Toledo, se destacou mais uma vez na competição. O paulista conseguiu pontuar 9,17, nesta segunda-feira, depois de surfar dois tubos em uma onda. Além dele, mais quatro brasileiros venceram suas primeiras baterias: Gabriel Medina, Willian Cardoso, Yago Dora e Wiggolly Dantas. Com os resultados, os atletas passaram para a terceira fase da etapa sul-africana.

Com 13,84, Filipinho superouWiggolly Dantas(10,67)e o australiano Matt Wilkinson (12,14), enquantoMedina, com 11,83 pontos, derrotouTomas Hermes (9,20) e Miguel Pupo (6,93), em uma bateria composta apenas por brasileiros.Filipe Toledo é vice-líder do Mundial e Gabriel medida ocupa a quarta posição no ranking da temporada, que tem o australiano Julian Wilson no topo.

Ítalo Ferreira e Ian Gouveia não conseguiram avançar. Eles se juntaram a Hermes, Pupo e Wiggolly na repescagem. Wiggolly levou a melhor com 11,77 pontos e voltou vivo para disputar a próxima fase.

Yago Dora foi o melhor na sua bateria que ainda contou com Adriano de Souza e Adrian Buchan. O catarinenseconseguiu pontuar 13,23 graças as duas últimas ondas que pegou, ficando em primeiro lugar. O surfista também avança para a terceira fase.

Veja as baterias da primeira rodada

1. Frederico Morais (POR) 11,93 x Jordy Smith (AFS) 10,17 x Michael February (AFS) 7,24
2. Michel Bourez (TAH) 14,03 x Sebastian Zietz (HAV) 13,67 x Ian Gouveia (BRA) 6,66
3. Ítalo Ferreira (BRA) 11,94 x Kanoa Igarashi (JAP) 13,50 x Kelly Slater (EUA) 8,73
4. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 11,83 x Tomas Hermes (BRA) 9,20 x Miguel Pupo (BRA) 6,93
5. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13,84 x Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 12,14 x Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 10,67
6. Julian Wilson (AUS) 9,90 x Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10,10 x Matthew McGillivray (AFS) 9,86
7. Willian Cardoso (BRA) 12,30 x Ezekiel Lau (HAV) 11,76 x Keanu Asing (HAV) 11,06
8. Owen Wright (AUS) 12,73 x Conner Coffin (EUA) 16,14 x Joan Duru (FRA) 15,57
9. Kolohe Andino (EUA) 14,87 x Mikey Wright (AUS) 13,26 x Patrick Gudauskas (EUA) 6,00 (interferência)
10. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11,67 x Adriano de Souza (BRA) 11,23 x Yago Dora (BRA) 13,23
11. Griffin Colapinto (EUA) 13,63 x Wade Carmichael (AUS) 12,23 x Jessé Mendes (BRA) 10,94
12. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 10,96 x Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15,80 x Conor O’Leary (AUS) 15,07

Confira as baterias da repescagem

1. Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.43 x 13.50 Matthew McGillivray (AFS)
2. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 9.73 x 11.77 Wiggolly Dantas (BRA)
3. Michel Bourez (TAH) x Miguel Pupo (BRA)
4. Jordy Smith (AFS) x Kelly Slater (EUA)
5. Owen Wright (AUS) x Ian Gouveia (BRA)
6. Michael Februray (AFS) x Adrian Buchan (AUS)
7. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) x Keanu Asing (HAV)
8. Wade Carmichael (AUS) x Joan Duru (FRA)
9. Adriano de Souza (BRA) x Patrick Gudauskas (EUA)
10. Mikey Wright (AUS) x Jesse Mendes (BRA)
11. Ezekiel Lau (HAV) x Connor O’Leary (AUS)
12. Tomas Hermes (BRA) x Matt Wilkinson (AUS)

continua após a publicidade

England have claimed the No.1 ranking for the first time under the current rankings system which has been in place since 2003

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Aug-2011England’s route to the top

July-August 2008 – Lost to South Africa 1-2
December 2008 – Lost to India 0-1
February-March 2009 – Lost to West Indies 0-1
May 2009 – Beat West Indies 2-0
July-August 2009 – Beat Australia 2-1
Dec-Jan 2009-10 – Drew with South Africa 1-1
March 2010 Beat Bangladesh 2-0
May-June 2010 – Beat Bangladesh 2-0
July-August 2010 – Beat Pakistan 3-1
November-January 2010-11 – Beat Australia 3-1
May-June 2011 – Beat Sri Lanka 1-0
July-August 2011 – Lead India 3-0

England have claimed the No. 1 spot for the first time under the current rankings system which has been in place since 2003, thanks to an unassailable 3-0 lead in the ongoing Test series against India at home. England, who were No. 3 at the start of the series, had to win the series by a margin of two Tests to become No. 1, and their three straight wins – all of them by big margins – have dethroned India, who reigned since December 2009.The climb to the top received a boost in 2009 when England reclaimed the Ashes at home after suffering a series defeat to West Indies in the Caribbean. They drew a series in South Africa after that, beat Pakistan comprehensively at home and retained the Ashes with a 3-1 win in Australia in 2010-11. Prior to beating India, they won 1-0 against Sri Lanka at home. Since May 2009, they’ve won 19 out of the 30 Tests they’ve played with just four defeats and without conceding a series.The ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat led the praises for Andrew Strauss’s team. “On behalf of the ICC, I would like to congratulate Andrew Strauss, Andy Flower and the whole team for becoming the number-one ranked Test team in the world,” Lorgat said in a release that was issued seconds after England’s innings win at Edgbaston. “I know they were determined to be number-one and through careful planning and a series of clinical performances, they have deservedly achieved their goal. They were clearly the most consistent side in the world over the past few years.”The rankings table will be updated after the Oval Test which will end on August 22. If England win the Test, India will drop to third place – to 117 points from 119 currently, with South Africa moving to second. A win or a draw for India will keep them at No. 2. At the end of the series, England will be presented with a mace for reaching the top spot.

Kumar Sangakkara needed to take a few days to decide whether to accept the captaincy for the final Test against England in place of the injured Tillakaratne Dilshan

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jun-2011

Kumar Sangakkara needed to take a few days to decide whether to accept the captaincy for the final Test against England in place of the injured Tillakaratne Dilshan. Sangakkara stood down controversially after the World Cup final, but has agreed to resume the role for the good of Sri Lanka according to team-mate Mahela Jayawardene.Sangakkara took charge in the field during England’s second innings at Lord’s, but Thilan Samaraweera captained the Sri Lankans in their tour match against Essex over the weekend with Sangakkara wanting to focus on his batting after a lean tour. There was a suggestion he remained reluctant to captain the side again although he remained the logical choice as Sri Lanka try to level the series at the Rose Bowl.”He had to think about it for a few days, because he only stood down from the job back in April, but I think he felt that you have to take responsibility in a situation such as this,” Jayawardene told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s a Test match, we’re one-nil down, and it’s an important opportunity to level the series. In the end he decided that for the team and for the country, it was the right thing to do.”It was unfortunate that we didn’t appoint a vice-captain for this tour, because we never anticipated a situation like this arising. However, Kumar was always the guy to look after things if they went wrong. He didn’t lead the side against Essex last week but that was simply because he needed a break and a chance to concentrate on his batting. Being such a class act, you always know he’ll come good after failing in a few games, and sure enough he batted really well for a big hundred. It’s not a big deal now, and everyone’s looking forward to the last Test.”However, Jayawardene admitted that Dilshan’s absence would be a major loss for the tourists after he scored a magnificent 193 at Lord’s to enable Sri Lanka to regain pride after the embarrassing defeat in Cardiff. Dilshan knew he was struggling to make this match as he sat out the final two days at Lord’s, but such is his importance to Sri Lanka they were clinging to hope that he would recover.”We gave him a chance to get back to full fitness, but he’s still not 100%, and after being struck on the thumb three times already, the doctors felt he would be risking a long-term injury if he was hit there again in this match,” Jayawardene said. “We took the call probably last evening knowing that his finger hadn’t recovered properly. They’ve decided it would be better to give him time to recover, and hopefully he will be fit for the one-dayers.”It’s a big loss, but we were never going to take any chances with our captain. The swelling on his thumb was pretty bad last week, although that has now gone down and his movement was pretty good in the nets the other day. But you don’t want to go in with the mindset that your finger is not 100%. I don’t think anyone wants to take that risk, especially someone as important to our team as Dilshan.Jayawardene, though, insisted it wasn’t a case of Sri Lanka prioritising the forthcoming one-day series – their first ODIs since the World Cup final – ahead of the last Test. “First and foremost, the Test was the most important thing,” he said. “We’ll wait for the one-dayers to see how he’s recovered, and I don’t think we will risk him if he’s not fit initially. We do have a pride in all forms of the game, not just one-day cricket, but with our recent form at the World Cup we want to continue that.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Avaí volta a campo neste sábado para encarar o Figueirense, às 16h30, no Orlando Scarpelli, em mais um clássico de 2018, desta vez pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, da Série B. Motivado para este compromisso, o meia André Moritz pediu atenção total dos visitantes durante os noventa minutos.

– É um clássico, diante de uma grande equipe, e que sempre cresce muito atuando diante do seu torcedor. Temos que ter o máximo de atenção para buscarmos um resultado positivo fora de casa. Vamos lutar muito para isso. Será uma partida complicada e decidida em detalhes – disse.

Ainda para o atleta, em um jogo como esse qualquer vacilo pode custar o resultado positivo para o time da Ressacada, entretanto acredita em confronto equilibrado das equipes.

– Em um confronto como esse qualquer erros pode nos custar o resultado positivo. Tenho certeza que será um jogo equilibrado. Vamos trabalhar para que possamos fazer um jogo perfeito, sem erros, para sairmos desta rodada pontuando – completou o jogador.

RelacionadasFigueirenseFigueirense fecha parceria com cervejaria para o Orlando ScarpelliFigueirense10/05/2018AvaíDe olho no clássico, treinador do Avaí faz treino técnico nesta quarta-feiraAvaí09/05/2018

MatériaMais Notícias

O dérbi entre Ponte Preta e Guarani é só no próximo sábado, mas as equipes já aquecem o confronto. A Macaca e o Bugre realizarão treinos abertos à torcida, nesta sexta-feira, mas em horários diferentes: o primeiro fará suas atividades, às 17h, no Moisés Lucarelli, enquanto o segundo, às 18h, no Brinco de Ouro.

Para o Guarani, será o primeiro treino aberto aos torcedores após longo tempo. A última vez que fez este ato foi na reta decisiva da Série C do Brasileiro, em que conquistou o acesso à Série B e ficou com o vice-campeonato.

Pelo lado Alvinegro, no comunicado divulgado pelas redes sociais e à imprensa, o clube alegou que pediu permissão ao Batalhão de Ações Especiais de Polícia (Baep) de Campinas e aguarda a confirmação de que o evento será realizado, apesar da vontade do Guarani ser a mesma. A polícia já confirmou que não pretende fazer a segurança para os clubes.

A localização próxima dos dois estádios, além dos recentes atos de violência envolvendo torcedores dos dois times, coloca em dúvida a realização dos treinos abertos na véspera do jogo.

O dérbi campineiro está marcado para sábado, 19h, no Brinco, pela quarta rodada da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro.

RelacionadasFigueirenseMesmo com a derrota, Milton Cruz passa confiança e usa como liçãoFigueirense01/05/2018Atlético MineiroCom retorno de Leonardo Silva e Cazares, Larghi divulga relacionadosAtlético Mineiro01/05/2018

A Ponte Preta fará um treino aberto para a torcida nesta sexta (4), às 17h! A solicitação para o BAEP já foi feita há mais de uma semana e a Macaca aguarda a confirmação. A informação está sendo divulgada em virtude do grande número de torcedores perguntando a respeito. pic.twitter.com/zzLaTrKwuD

— A. A. Ponte Preta (@aapp_oficial) 2 de maio de 2018

TODOS CONTRA FOME!

Na próxima sexta-feira (04), a SERVATHON estará presente no treino aberto à torcida com intuito de receber doações de alimentos para o combate à fome. O Guarani Futebol Clube apoia está causa. Doe você também! #StopHunger pic.twitter.com/OZMJRJzo1q

— Guarani FC (@oficialguarani) 1 de maio de 2018

MatériaMais Notícias

Entre os 40 clubes que participaram da votação que elegeu Rogério Caboclo como presidente da CBF para o próximo quadriênio, apenas três não deram seu voto ao dirigente no pleito para sucessão de Marco Polo Del Nero. Andrés Sanchez, presidente do Corinthians, votou em branco, Celso Petraglia, do Atlético-PR, se ausentou, o Flamengo, por meio de um representante, se absteve.

Após a votação, o presidente do Vasco, Alexandre Campello, se mostrou contrário ao sistema imposto na eleição, alegando que o peso 3 dos votos das federações tira o poder do púlpito.

– A eleição foi quase unânime. Penso que esse peso dado às federações tira muito poder do púlpito. Nessa eleição, cada federação tem três votos que contam como peso 3. Ainda que todos os outros 40 miúdos tivessem uma posição contrária, a eleição seria dada a uma chapa por meio dos votos da federação.

O mandatário cruz-maltino defende que a participação dos clubes na eleição deveria ser revista, já que o espetáculo nos estádios é proporcionados pelos times que disputam a bola em campo e afirma que os representantes dos clubes não concordam com as alterações no estatuto promovidas pela CBF em 2017, que deu ainda mais poder às federações estaduais.

– No meu modo de ver, deveria existir um equilíbrio maior em que os clubes de futebol tivessem um peso maior nessa votação, porque afinal de contas, são os clubes que promovem o espetáculo. A gente pode divergir do estatuto, mas está de acordo e alinhando com a forma com a qual ele está sendo conduzido. Sou favorável à condução correta, não concordo com o peso dado na eleição é isso deve ser fruto de discussão.

Após a apuração das urnas, o diretor executivo de gestão Marcelo Aro comemorou a eleição do presidente da Federação Mineira de Futebol, Castellar Guimarães, mencionando a importância que o cargo ocupado representa para o estado de Minas Gerais e mostrou apoio à Rogério Caboclo.

– Deu 17 clubes da Série A e 20 da Série B. Ficou de bom tamanho! Rogério eleito presidente e Minas Gerais também contemplada na vice-presidência através do presidente da federação Castellar Guimarães. É uma vitória não só para o Brasil, mas sobretudo para o estado de Minas Gerais. O Rogério é um homem de desafio, sempre aceitou essas oportunidades que surgiram para ele. Cumpriu todas de maneira muito bem feita, então estamos confiantes em seu trabalho.

Questionado sobre o envolvimento de Del Nero no escândalo de corrupção envolvendo a CBF, Marcelo Aro, que é autor do Código de Ética da entidade, evitou dar espaço para a polêmica envolvendo o atual presidente afastado e justificou o direito de defesa do mesmo como cidadão comum.

– Se um presidente está respondendo em todas as instâncias, ele tem o direito de se defender como qualquer outro cidadão comum. Então fica para todos nós diretores e funcionários da CBF a torcida para que ele consiga dar resposta para aqueles que o questionam e seguir em frente. A vida continua. CBF continua. É uma instituição maior do que todos e hoje de maneira especial, com a eleição do Rogério para presidente – finalizou.

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ESPNcricinfo previews the game between Australia and New Zealand in the 2011 World Cup

The Preview by Sriram Veera24-Feb-2011Match FactsFebruary 25, Nagpur
Start time: 09:30 local time (04:00 GMT)
Where are the runs hidden?•Associated Press

Big PictureIt’s almost as if there is malicious glee that follows Australia’s so-called decline. Ashes lost? Yay! Ricky Ponting accidentally breaks a TV set? What irresponsible behaviour! Australia are struggling against spinners? Wonderful! In some ways, it’s human nature to gloat at Goliath’s fall. At the centre of the storm is Ponting, trying hard to regain his batting form, trying to hide the Ashes blot in his CV with another World-Cup triumph. In Australia’s previous victorious campaigns, Ponting has led from the front with the bat but this time a question mark hovers around that possibility. Australia’s campaign in this edition of the World Cup could well revolve around Ponting’s form at No. 3. He got couple of hard-earned fifties in the warm-up games and looked to be slowly progressing towards recovering his touch.The bowling is led by another ageing campaigner, Brett Lee, who is scripting a remarkable comeback. Much has been written about Australia’s attack which stands out for its naked violence. The feeling is that they will either scythe through the opposition or fail to control the run-flow on these batting tracks.On the other side, there is New Zealand, who are playing this game under the grim background of the Christchurch earthquake. “For a lot of the guys, coming to training has allowed them to take their mind off things,” Daniel Vettori said. New Zealand have had a poor build-up to the World Cup, but they started the tournament with a crushing win against Kenya. Their batting line-up looks quite strong with the likes of Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor and Scott Styris and it’s their bowling which looks a bit iffy. Will their seamers be able to adapt to these tracks? Much will depend on spinners Vettori and Nathan McCullum, who is likely to open the bowling with the new ball. New Zealand will hope that the pitch will take some turn and they can poke at Australia’s vulnerability against spin on these slow tracks. It should be an interesting battle.Form guide (Most recent first for the last five completed games)
Australia: WWWWL
New Zealand: LWLLL
Watch out for… Shane Watson’s revival began here in India during the inaugural edition of the IPL. He adapted brilliantly and transformed himself into a smashing opener and took that form and confidence to the international stage. On Indian tracks, he likes to get on the front foot and scythe through the line. With Brad Haddin yet to learn the art of converting starts and with Ponting yet to get a regain his form completely, much will depend on Watson to set a solid platform.Nathan McCullum is not a bowler who causes sleepless nights to batsmen but he could play a crucial role if Vettori decides to give him the new ball. He is accurate and spins the ball just enough to pose some problems. How he handles the pressure of bowling against Watson, Haddin and co might well decide how New Zealand fare with the ball.Team newsNew Zealand have chosen their playing 12. Kyle Mills, Kane Williamson, and Luke Woodcock will miss out.New Zealand (probable): 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Brendon McCullum (wk), 3 Jesse Ryder, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 James Franklin, 6 Scott Stryis, 7 Jacob Oram, 8 Daniel Vettori, 9 Nathan McCullum, 10 Hamish Bennett, 11 Tim SoutheeAustralia (probable) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Brad Haddin (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 David Hussey, 6 Cameron White, 7 Steve Smith, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Jason Krezja, 10 Brett Lee, 11 Shaun Tait..Stats and trivia Ricky Ponting is the player who has played the most World Cup games. He has played 40 matches, going past Glenn McGrath’s 39 appearances. He has also led Australia 23 times, the second-highest by any World Cup captain, after New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming (27). Australia are yet to lose a World Cup game under Ponting. In the game against Zimbabwe, Ponting became the fourth batsman in the World Cup to be run out on five occasions. The others are: Inzamam-ul-Haq (9), Asanka Gurusinha (6) and Javed Miandad (5) Australia have faced New Zealand 123 times and have won 84 games. In India, these two teams have played against each other seven times, with Australia victorious in all seven.Quotes”Nothing really changes from any team you’re playing in the subcontinent, you try and bowl straight at the wickets and you know you’re going to have to score a lot of runs. There’s no mystery to what we’re going to try to do, but the key when you come up against these big teams and big players is having the presence of mind to execute time and time again. That’s the toughest thing when you’re coming up against good players.”