ICC Cricket World Cup Thread

[Mumsafan]

Then he's a fool

[saveferris]

I am sure its one of plenty of reasons as to why Nasser Hussain is a fool

[Neil Young]

I guess you remember cricket in it's heyday when the likes of W G Grace were playing.

Nothing compares to those times


happy days, happy days

It IS tedious though. Still, I suppose that's the nature of cricket.

It'll all be over by Christmas. Probably.

[Shaggy]

Fair play to Bopara, Mahmood and Panesar. They chose England first.

Unlike Nasser, the rumour being England were his third choice after being rejected from India forst then Pakistan, hence his "late" introduction to the England fold.

But Bopara, Mahmood and Panesar were all born in England.

[lfc4ever]

But Bopara, Mahmood and Panesar were all born in England.

English - tick
Of Asian background - tick
Tebbit's Cricket Test - passed.

[SouthAfricaRed]

The BCCI's reaction to India's early exit from the World Cup, and its bitter fallout with senior players voicing their displeasure over the team leadership, has been swift and strong. The working committee, meeting in Mumbai today, took several key decisions aimed at bringing senior players into line, including replacing the graded system of contracts with a standard fee for all and imposing stringent curbs on player endorsements.

It also appointed Rahul Dravid team captain for the next three tours, to Bangladesh, Ireland and England and asked the selectors to pick a "young side" for the first of those tours. Dravid's retention of the captaincy had been under question, with senior players airing their opposition to him.

"All of us are very disappointed that the team was knocked out in the first round and the captain and coach admitted that the whole team was responsible for the loss", N Srinivasan, the BCCI treasurer, said. "But it is not the end of the world. We have to move forward and I am sure we will do well in future. By retaining Dravid as captain, we want to send out a signal that there is no cause for panic."

The board has gone further in backing Dravid by acting on his suggestions on coaching personnel for the upcoming Bangladesh tour. The hole left by Greg Chappell's exit will be filled by specialists for each department: Robin Singh, the former allrounder, has been appointed fielding coach, while Venkatesh Prasad, the former fast bowler, will take over as the bowling coach. Ravi Shastri, one of the former captains invited to the meeting on Friday, will go as cricket manager.

Another move that will send out a message to the senior players is the decision to issue notices to Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh, asking them for an explanation of recent comments made by them in the media.

Announcing these decisions, Srinivasan said the Board had also decided to do away with the zonal system of selection in a year's time; they will be replaced by fulltime selectors chosen on the basis of their elgibility based on factors including stature as a player .

The subject of player earnings appeared to be the main focus of the meeting, and it was decided to replace the system of graded contracts with a standard fee for all, and additional bonuses for series wins. However, no figures were mentioned in this regard. This effectively means that seniors and juniors all earn the same, the difference being in what they earn from endorsements.

There, too, the board has cracked down: each player will be allowed a maximum of three endorsements a year but will not be allowed to shoot any commercials up to two weeks prior to any series. Also, not more than two players can endorse the same product. However, Srinivasan stressed that these were decisions taken looking ahead, as a plan for the future.

With a view to improving domestic cricket, it was decided that all international players would play a specified number of domestic games every season; the Ranji Trophy Elite group would be reduced from 15 teams to 10 by 2008-09; all state associations have asked to prepare "fast and lively" wickets; the home and away rotation system has been scrapped for all tournament semi-finals and finals; these venues will be chosen by the board.

"We have instructed the selection committee to send a young team to Bangladesh with an experienced captain," BCCI treasurer N. Srinivasan told reporters at the end of a two-day review of the World Cup performance.

"It's a sport after all and there will be wins and defeats."

Main features


Rahul Dravid to captain team for next three tours


Performance based payment structure


Players can do a maximum of 3 endorsements


Ravi Shastri appointed Cricket Manager, Venkatesh Prasad as bowling coach, Robin Singh as fielding coach for Bangladesh tour


The frequency of under-19 tours will be increased


All state associations to have academies to develop young talent by April 2009


Cricket advisory committee set up with Sharad Pawar as its head and including seven former captains who attended Friday's meeting

Finally The BCCI showing some Balls

[lfc4ever]

Finally The BCCI showing some Balls

Shame the ECB have lost theirs along the way.

[lfc4ever]

No-one talking about Bang Vs SA then?

Bang 251 for 8 off 50 overs, not bad

SA 70 for 4 after 20 overs ! C'mon Bangladesh!!

[lfc4ever]

SA 87 for 5 after 26.4

[lfc4ever]

SA 87 for 6, he's on a hat-trick!

[lfc4ever]

SA 135 for 7.

115 needed off 13 overs, and Nel is batting, massive upset on the cards.

RR needed is 9 an over.

[lfc4ever]

And that's Nel out by a soft C&B!!

137 for 8.

[lfc4ever]

SA have 10 overs left, 111 required, 2 wickets remaining at 11 an over.

Anyone remember Kenya not long ago, well this will be bigger!

[lfc4ever]

SA 165 for 9, Bang are going to gub them big time by bowling them out!

[lfc4ever]

SA 184 all out, bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha, gerrinthere!!

No1 team beaten by rank outsiders, gives England a little sniff of reaching the semis for sure.