Finals (QF's, SF's and Finals)

Yup Sam, Inshallah

I am back to my country. Watching cricket was not the best experience I have had on international stadiums. the cricket was not of the top quality either. I expected much better - it delivered less than it promised.

Sachin will never ever play that poorly again - not even if he goes out for a duck. Afridi's captaincy baffled me - he never kept the pressure on the new batsmen and allowed theme easy runs. Should never have bowled Gul again. Gul is a rhythm bowler and he had no rhythm that day. Both India and Pakistan did poorly in the first innings - India should have scored in excess of 300 with the start they got and Pakistan should have had India under 200 by holding on their catches.

And that is where they lost it. Taking nothing away from the Indian bowlers who bowled with discipline - they hardly got a wicket by bowling good. the wickets were mostly gifted. Younus and Misbah were the main culprits - and the pressure got to the other batsmen who in the effort to try and up the run rate lose their wickets. And it seemed that the pitch was not an easy one to bat once the ball got old - it was low and slow - as I expected it to be. Looks like both Younus and Misbah have played their last one day games - unless of course Misbah returns as Pakistan captain.

The Indian crowd was by and large nice towards the Pakistan fans. But I got a seat away from the PAkistani fans - and that did not go well. I was booed for cheering my team - and even abused and it got on my nerves. Had a verbal fight with three to four Indian fans and the Police had to intervene. they snatched some Pakistan flags and walked on them abusing Pakistan. That was certainly not required - and it left a bad taste.

But all is not lost I must say, Pakistan had a fine World Cup - exceeding the expectations of many. And there were some silver linings too.

Edited by zuhair_abbasi - 01 April 2011 at 7:39am

I wish Haneef was still playing - none of these Indian bowlers would have got him out - as for Hafeez, indeed it was a horrible shot.

Umar Akmal's was not a doosra as I saw later in the highlights - it just went on with the angle and skidded through after pitching - the pace variation did Umar Akmal. This is where we missed Malik and Yousuf - two names I have been shouting from day othat they will be missed in bigger matches specially in India.

I'm very sorry to hear of the heckling at the game Zuhair , that's never much fun.  In a crowd of 28,000 there are always idiots - I've experienced it myself and what should be a great day is ruined.   I've seen my team win and lose (the latter a lot more often!) and I've always cheered them , no matter what. 99% of fans accept it and enjoy the banter , but there are always exceptions.   I just hope that the great majority of Indians treated you with the respect that any genuine cricket fan deserves - it's still only a game.

Edited by Sledger - 01 April 2011 at 1:11pm

Angelo Mathews out of WC final due to injury sustained in semi-finals. Big blow this, such a crucial player for the Lankans.

For India Nehra has been ruled with a fractured finger in his right hand caused during the semis.

The positives are Murali and Gambhir could be available in all likelihood for their respective teams. 


Edited by vote4peace - 01 April 2011 at 1:52pm

 So the wait is almost over.. In another 19 hours the most important match in the life's of many cricketer's about to commence. The most alluring battle between the greatest modern day batsman and one of the greatest spinner will be one show for one last time in the international arena ( the biggest of em all). Who among the two will get that fairy tale ending?

Only time will tell (Gulp)...

Really hard to choose between the two. India will enter as the bookies favourite, but only just.
The fact that India will be playing at home will be negated by the fact that only one team among these two has played on this newly laid pitch. Sri Lanka played their league game to NZ @ this pitch and should have the slight upper hand on the know-how's of the pitch.

India reached the ground on Thursday and had their first practice session today. The members looked upbeat, but I do fear that having come on the back of two very tough games( more mentally ) they would have run out of steam come the finals. I hope not, no repeat of the '03 finals please.

Lets hope for another humdinger ( too taxing on the fans though ) the best end that this WC deserves. Hip Hip Hurray!!!!


Edited by vote4peace - 01 April 2011 at 2:22pm

Matthews absence is a big blow. SRL middle order apart from Mahela has not done much in the tournament - it will be a great test. I expect it to be a thriller and clearly the two most deserving teams are playing the final which is good for the game.

So it is 274!!! What a knock from Mahela - real gem. It will take some doing if India are to chase this one down. Why on earth did Dhoni not pick Ashwin and played Sresanth instead? Irrespective of the match result - this is pathetic selection. At this point, I would say favorites Sri Lanka - as they have a more than decent total on the board.

What celebrations it has been on the road.People of all age groups had come out midnight with flag and shouting patriotic slogans. Crackers being burst without a care. I just don't have words  to describe what I have witnessed, the emotions after the victory.

Take a Bow Ladies and Gentlemen...  Champions coming Through!!!

First things first Congrats to MSD and his Champions!!! Congratulations to all my fellow Indians and all other well wishers!!! 

Thank You Team India for the Cup, Thank You for conquering the world and  making us Champions. Thank You for making us cry, laugh, roar and go absolutely kcrrazzzy . And Thank You for giving us the wildest and biggest street party in the globe. India was definitely the place to be On April 2nd and 3rd. I took to the streets a little after mid-night soon after we lifted the cup and returned home 12 HOURS later.  It's the biggest  longest most tempestuous party that I've ever been part of. Never seen anything like it before. The streets were really crowded till noon, crackers were non-stop and deafening, the skies were lit with fireworks, the night was bright as day and I ain't talking of Mumbai. I'm talking of a much more reserved and conservative Kochi, where life usually ends by 10pm.  I'm really proud to have been there while history was been made. We walked for almost 20 km to the nearest beach determined to watch the 1st sun-rise as World Champions, but we were so delirious and out-of-out-freaking-minds that we missed it. I was up awake for 32 Hours.

The party went on non-stop till the wee-hours of this morning I hear. Right now back at work, carrying on with life still inebriated, exhilarated, fuzzy and blurred and it still hasn't sunk it that ...

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!!!!! 

 Now getting down to the nitty-gritty of the match, it wasn't all hunky dory for India, and SL showed that they were there to fight, and a strong fight they did put, making this match every bit worthy of a finals. Must confess like Zuhair even I had though that SL were in the driver's seat at the end of the 1st half and by the 6th over of the 2nd  had almost resigned to the fact that we may have lost the cup.

And that's where this team showed why they deserve to be champions. Which other team, tell me, would've been capable of such a fight back. Agreed this team has come out triumphant from more precarious situations in the past, but this match a small matter of being the WC FINALLE  savvy.. What a time to get your worst opening stand.. What a time to lose your best  two batsmen , who'd done the bulk of the scoring till then, that early and cheap. Gambhir in my books have gone up by many notches. This man seems to relish the Big stages( ditto in the finals of the T20 WC). Also it did help a great deal that it was two youngsters (in Gautam and Kohli, who dint carry the baggage of 2007) out there to do the rebuilding job. And as for Dhoni his cult status has just reached the stratosphere. Here is a man who just cannot be fretted, a man who ain't afraid to stick his neck out, a man who would rather perish threading the perilous path to attain glory than take the safe route just to stay afloat.  Respect!!

Spare a thought for Mahela who on any other day would've walked home with the MOM and more importantly with the tag and medal of the 'World Champions'. This man is not only one of the best batman in Lankan cricket but also one of the best produced in the history of this game. Respect!!

Hats off to another champion Murali, how had wished that you would've got those two wickets to be the joint leading wicket-taker, no matter you still The Best!!! Último Respecto.

Respect to Yuvi for the Ultimate comeback towing himself from the trough to the summit. Truly movie-like stuff over there. Surely the bollywood directors racing each other to come out first of the pack.

Also Thank You Gary for bringing in whatever you bought into this team. All I know is that it worked and the players adore you and love you like a father. Gracias!

And Then finally that fairy-tale end that not only Sachin had graved for but the whole country and many others all over the globe. The Gods have been kind on him. Oh what I'm I saying He is GOD!!

I've got tears in my eyes even now as I write this thinking of those moments when Yuvi, Sachin Paaji, Mahi, Viru ( Ya Viru), Bhajji had cried like 8 yr old .  In fact I've been sheding tears ever since, at the sight of those replays, whenever the queen's 'We are the champions' number was played, why even when my boss asked me how my weekend went (lil embarrassing that).  


 Seriously Hats off to you guys. The pressure that this team has undergone for the past two months is out of your or my realms of imagination. Not any teams who have entered the WC as favourites has gone on to win the cup. The only to teams I can remember were the Windies of the 70's and the Aussies of the 00's. Both these teams were the best in the history of the game, were invincibles . Shows that you need to be that tough to win as favourites. I'm sure though that neither of those team would've had to carry the same pressure or burden of expectation as this team has had to.  Also this is the 1st Host nation to win it at home. Almost everyone was confident they would falter (even I had my doubts, never again though never again).

So India won and are deservedly World Champions. To chase 274 after losing Sehwag for 0 and then Tendulkar for 18 shows just why they're the best side in the world.  Like many others , I thought Sreesanth's selection bordered on madness - not played since the 1st match and was rubbish in that one as well!  Offsetting that was the inspired decision by the captain to move up to 5 in the batting order.  The 3 Lankan offspinners were causing lots of problems and it made sense that a right hander should try and nullify them. It was an even braver decision when you realise that Yuvrah had been so good throughout the tournament.   Gauti also played a crucial role and showed admirable restraint - he knew he had to stay there and was unfortunate to not make a hundred.  Jawawardene showed his class - it was a very special innings almost without blemish and he didn't deserve to finish on the losing side. 
                Congratulations to the Indian team , support staff and fans - the best side won. Commiserations to Sri Lanka - a fine effort and a score that would have beaten any other side on the planet.
                Finally , well done Gary Kirsten , you transformed a decent side into a terrific one - the team spirit you helped build is the major reason behind India's success.  SA have approached him , but he'l be taking a well deserved break before deciding on his future.  He can write his own cheque now and I expect SA to appoint a temporary coach with Gary taking over when he feels the time is right.


Edited by Sledger - 04 April 2011 at 8:28am

Gambhir played absolutely magnificently. Never let the pressure show on him and never put too much pressure on the new comers. They never let the required run rate touch 7 an over for most part and that sealed the deal. Despite the masterful innings that he played and the player that he is, I am still not sure about some of his on field tactics and team selection. He certainly does lead the finest side in the world at the moment though.

Yes Zuhair, he leads a finest side in the world w.r.t Test but not ODIs. Taking nothing away from Indian ODI side, they have the exceptional  batting line up, but they do implode like 9 pins sometimes, don't they?. Yes they have an good bowling lineup. This side is nothing like ODI team what Ricky Ponting inherited who had 99% reliable ODI batting and bowling lineup. Earlier Aussie teams (2001-2007/8) was far superior , it did'nt need a captain/coach at all unlike current Indian team. Time and again Dhoni's captaincy has come to fore in choking the runs, rotating the bowlers,feild settings and even changing batting line up has clicked and they have often snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Edited by MalhotraRaj84 - 04 April 2011 at 9:58am

 True the future of ODI cricket all of a sudden does look bright as to the general view prior to the WC. This WC in my conviction has been the honeymoon period of ODI cricket. Has clearly brought a new lease of life, an added impetus to the format.

And as for Dhoni the skipper I do agree at times he gets lucky but a winner makes his own luck. His field placing has been the highlight of his captaincy more so in this WC. He maynot have had the same bowling attack of many other teams, but he has managed to get the most out of his unit esp in this WC knock-outs where it mattered the most. He forced the batsmen to play to his field and never let the opposition feel in total control in majority of the innings. He's also renowed to be a calming influence on his team-mates by the admission of his coach and senior players.  

He does gamble a lot and we just love it when it goes right, don't we. Like when he played Raina over Yusuf Pathan when the whole world thought otherwise. His decision to keep Ashwin away from the team till the B-end of the tournament helped in building the hunger within the young lad which was evident against WI and more crucially against AUS. Then again his decision to remove him of the attack turned out in his favour even though he did accept he'd misread the wicket.  Yes the gamble does turn into tosh too at times like his sreesanth play in the final. But then he's just human and doesnt have the divine right to always be right. More often than not though his bizarre gambles seem to pay off. 
And all's good that ends well I suppose.


Edited by vote4peace - 04 April 2011 at 10:29am