Tag Archives: world cup

Year 2011 in Review

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As 2011 winds down to a close tomorrow, let me go over some of the major happenings this year.

India’s World Cup Win

Teams have up and down years, but whatever happened during the rest of the year, winning the World Cup is forever. After more than a generation, India lifted the World Cup again! Sweet memories for those who had seen the 1983 win and a first-time glorious moment for those who had not. It was a fitting tribute to Sachin Tendulkar in his last World Cup. For those who doubted India could do it (that includes me), Dhoni’s India peaked at the right time after wobbles against England and South Africa. After India’s campaign, the best memories of the World Cup were Ireland’s incredible win against England and the guaranteed (but maybe won’t happen this time) South African choke.

England as No. 1 Test Team

England have always been underrated as a cricket team because of their abysmal ODI form, but I never imagined that they would reach the No. 1 Test ranking after beating both Australia (3-1) and India (4-0) to a pulp. I am now amazed that Sri Lanka only lost 0-1 in a 3-Test series and that after a freak third innings collapse.

The Rise and Fall of Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Around the mid-point of this year, Dhoni was on top of the world. Under him, India had won the T20 World Cup, the ODI World Cup (with Dhoni hitting the winning six) and the #1 Test Team ranking. He captained his IPL team Chennai Super Kings to two IPL championships and the Champions League Trophy. Then hiccups as India failed to win two Test matches in West Indies that they could have and should have won. And a full-blown disaster as India got wiped out in England, failing to win a single match and losing their Test top spot. Then CSK crashed out early in the 2011 Champions League. After gaining back some ground with a trashing of England in home ODIs and an almost whitewash of the West Indies, things seem to have slid back with a defeat to Australia in the final Test of the year. Dhoni seems human, after all.

Pakistan’s Incredible Year

Q at WellPitched can explain this much better than I do.

Bangladesh’s Terrible Year

Name the only team (including Zimbabwe) to have not won a single Test this year. There is no excuse for Bangladesh having Test status when teams like Ireland are out. All bravado and no result, despite having a few talented players.

Zimbabwe’s Return

Won their first Test on return. Made New Zealand sweat for a win. Zimbabwe is a country with a deep cricket tradition. And these are good signs for the long-term.

South Africa Throwing Series Leads

South Africa continues to throw away series leads after owning the opposition (India, Australia and Sri Lanka). Seriously, how do you look at yourself in the mirror after losing to the opposition one Test after bowling them out for 47 or winning by an innings? South Africa reminds me of the navigator in the boat race asking his team members to slow down because he never thought they would be in front and so hadn’t studied the map.

Miscellaneous

Yes, please don’t say Test cricket is still alive. We get it: You love Test cricket like cats love fish or something like that. On the other hand, I cannot remember many ODIs (other than those in the World Cup) or T20s. Some of the Test matches were suspiciously good. And by that, I mean only three players went to jail.

Happy New Year! And hope you don’t have a long wait to see Tendulkar’s 100th century.

 

The Best Opponents in World Cup Knockout Matches

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Question: What happens when two immovable objects meet each other?
Answer: The one with the bigger reputation stays where it is.

In the match between perpetual WC knockout match losers, South Africa finally removed the thorn from their side. It is not fun when New Zealand shares the top spot for giving it up when it really matters. And after having some laughs, the Saffers went from 108/2 to 172 all out, losing by a staggering 49 runs chasing 222.

So here is the record: Won 30 of 42 group-stage matches. Won zero of 5 knockout matches.

To rewind, the tragic performances of South Africa at the World Cup:

1992: South Africa needed a plausible 22 off 13 balls to beat England in the semi-final. Rain interrupted play, and when it resumed, the rain rule converted the target to an impossible 21 runs off 1 ball.

1996: A masterpiece from Lara and South Africa lose by 19 runs. Remember that the West Indies had a terrible tournament: winning only 2 matches in the group stage, albeit one versus Australia, losing against Kenya and ending up as the last qualifier in their group.

1999: The drop that cost them the match against Australia in the Super Six which meant that the crazy run-out that lead to the tie against the same opponent in the semi-final ended their tournament.

2003: Tight loss against West Indies, Stephen Fleming, inability to understand the D/L target and Kenya’s surprising surge (aided by NZ’s forfeit) meant that South Africa failed to qualify for the knockouts in the tournament it was hosting.

2007: I guess they ran out of gas as demonstrated by their loss against Bangladesh and in any case, ended up against Australia again in the semi-finals, losing by 7 wickets and almost 19 overs remaining.

2011: In case you forgot, South Africa topped the group with 5 big wins (7 wickets, 231 runs, 131 runs, 206 runs and even the 3 wicket win against India chasing close to 300). Their only loss came against the maverick fighting-for-their-lives England team who they had already dispatched for just 171. Among the possible qualifiers from Group B, New Zealand seemed to be the most harmless until it all ended in a few crazy overs.

Delayed Humor of the Week

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I meant to post this at the time (October 6), but better late than never. From Achettup (SOAL):

Heads of boards representing England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies announced moments after the Champions Trophy’s closing ceremony that they were withdrawing from the ODI format. When pressed by every reporter present on whether the decision had been influenced in anyway by Australia’s undisputed dominance of the format, all eight shouted in unison “NO!”

Maybe they should have an ODI tournament that does not have Australia playing. Or start placing some cricket balls in strategic positions when the Australians are in practice. Even at this early stage, I cannot see why Australia could not win a fourth World Cup in succession.