Tuesday June 11, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 29
India v West Indies, Champions Trophy, Group B, The Oval
INDIA, WEST INDIES LOOK TO GET CLOSER TO SEMI-FINAL TODAY ESPNcricinfo – It is a little surprising that these two sides, hugely popular among the expatriate population in England, haven’t faced each other in an ODI in England in the last 30 years. When India last played West Indies in an ODI in England, ODI cricket and West Indies were the kings. India upset West Indies that afternoon, became the new kings of ODI cricket, and paved the way for a whole new commercial explosion in the format. Thirty years later, as they face off in England again, India are the world champions and the No. 1 ODI side, but the format itself is fighting for relevance, at least in popular discourse. West Indies, knocked off their proud perch long ago, will like to believe they have begun the resurgence through Twenty20, the format that is supposed to be the premier limited-overs format. This Champions Trophy provides them a big opportunity to carry that resurgence into the ODIs. And if they can beat India, the only way to keep West Indies out of the semi-finals will be net run rate. The same holds
Kemar Roach charges in during a practice session (WICB) for India, who can perhaps afford to lose more than West Indies because they will be playing last in the group. These are teams built around batting might. The
new regulations might have made India sacrifice one of the seven batsmen they loved to play, but they still rely on their batsmen, who racked up 331 against South Africa. West Indies’ win might have come in a low-scoring game, but they played with just three specialist bowlers, with captain Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels and Chris Gayle left to share 20 overs between them. West Indies might add one bowler to the line-up, but it still remains a contest between the mighty batting units. IN THE SPOTLIGHT Before Shikhar Dhawan stunned the world with his back-to-back centuries in international cricket, he was discarded because he had failed against West Indies in the West Indies. Going through a phase of supreme form and high confidence, Dhawan now has a chance to set that record straight. Or do West Indies know how to bowl to him better than others do? India’s policy has been clear: play out the initial overs, and the batsmen coming in later can make up
South Africa win put Pakistan on brink BBC Sport - Hashim Amla’s 81 and a disciplined bowling display gave South Africa a 67-run win that pushes Pakistan to the brink of Champions Trophy elimination. Amla’s effort, along with 31 from AB de Villiers and 28 from Faf du Plessis, helped the Proteas to 234-9. But, chasing what was no more than a par score on a slowing Edgbaston pitch, Pakistan were restricted to only 167. South Africa could reach the semi-finals with a win over West Indies, while Pakistan must beat India. West Indies first meet India today, with the winner of that game well placed to secure a last-four spot. Both South Africa and Pakistan were defeated in their opening games of the tournament but, while the Proteas, and their bowlers in particular, showed great improvement at Edgbaston, Pakistan displayed familiar failings. Seam pair Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Ryan McLaren, who conceded 153 between them in the loss to India, went for only 42 in their combined 17 overs, while Chris Morris - in for the injured Morne Morkel - impressed on debut as the attack compensated for the batsmen’s earlier failure to capitalise on a sturdy start. After Amla shared stands of 53 with Colin Ingram and 59 with Du Plessis, the Proteas faltered badly, scoring only 112 runs in the final 22 overs - despite having nine wickets in hand. That was down both to sharp Pakistan fielding and another strong showing from a bowling unit that almost rescued Misbah-ulHaq’s side after they were bowled out for 170 in the defeat by the Windies. On that occasion, only Misbah and Nasir Jamshed reached
for the run rate if there are wickets in hand. Kemar Roach is a man who can put spanners in those works. He did so against Pakistan too, with 3 for 28. TEAM NEWS India had to make two choices going into the Champions Trophy, and both have come off. Rohit Sharma succeeded as opener, and Ravindra Jadeja as allrounder. Don’t expect any changes there Denesh Ramdin will not be available for selection after he was suspended for two ODIs by the ICC. Johnson Charles is likely to keep wicket, and either Darren Sammy or Tino Best will play. Charles had good wicketkeeping practice at The Oval on the eve of the game, first standing to Sunil Narine
Shikhar Dhawan (Getty Images)
and then having more drills from the fielding coach. PITCH AND CONDITIONS Conditions have been quite unpredictable. On the same Cardiff pitch that India scored 331, New Zealand and Sri Lanka lost 19 wickets for
277 runs. West Indies might have played a low-scoring thriller against Pakistan at The Oval, but you can’t surely say this game, too, will be difficult for the batsmen. A cool day with a 10% chance of rain is expected.
Paul named captain of E’bo U-17 cricket team Wakenaam all-rounder Kemo Paul has been named captain of the Essequibo U-17 team for the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) 50-over Inter County tournament; Parmesh Parasotam will serve as his deputy. The team batting seems strong with the likes of Travis Drakes, Akinie Adams and Keano Harry expected to support Paul and Parasotam at the top of the order. Paul and Latchman Dindyal are likely to share the new ball with back up from spinners Mahindra Balbadar, Miguel Jones and Akini Adams. The team will be managed by Nazeer Mohamed, while Andy Ramnarine will perform duties as the coach. The team reads Kemo Paul (Capt.), Parmesh Parasotam, Ryan Adams (wk), Travis Drakes, Keano Harry, David Williams, Mahindra Balbadar, Akini Adams, Latchman Dindyal, Newland Cadogan, Kevin Martinborough, Insaaf Dindyal, Nathan Persaud and Miguel Jones. Nazeer Mohamed
Kemo Paul
(manager) and Andy Ramnarine (coach). The Inter County competition is set to start on Friday and concludes on Sunday.
BOLT RANKED 40 IN TOP EARNING ATHLETES Hashim Amla gave South Africa a stable start (AFP)
double figures, and it was that pair on whom Pakistan again relied in Birmingham. Displaying an early caution that invited pressure, Pakistan saw Imran Farhat lose his off stump and Mohammad Hafeez caught on the hook - Morris the bowler on both occasions - before JP Duminy crept an offbreak through Shoaib Malik’s defence. Misbah joined Jamshed with only 48 on the board in the 18th over and the scoring rate was upped before Jamshed offered a return (Continued on page 27)
Jamaica Observer KINGSTON, Jamaica — Financial fortunes of legendary sprinter Usain Bolt have grown with his heightened status since the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the sprint king is now ranked 40th on Forbes Magazine’s Highest-Paid Athletes list with US$24.2 million (J$2.4 billion) in earnings last year. Bolt’s rank is 23 places higher than 2012 but more impressively his income is almost US$4 million more than last year. According to the magazine, the majority of the six-time Olympic champion’s earnings came from lucrative sponsorship deals with Puma, Samsung and local telecoms giant Digicel among others. The Forbes list is however
Usain Bolt
dominated by athletes from sports with greater sponsorship appeal such as American football, soccer, baseball and basketball. Golfer Tiger Woods with US$78.1 million returns to the top spot which he has held since 2001, before losing to boxer Floyd Mayweather last
year. Mayweather is now ranked 14th. Tennis star Roger Federer is second (US$71.5m), Kobe Bryant third (US$61.9m), LeBron James fourth (US$59.8m) and Drew Brees (US$51m) completes the top five. Brees plays football for the New Orleans Saints.