Left field
The Reuters global sports blog
Cricket World Cup — live
Join us for coverage of the revamped Cricket World Cup on the subcontinent. Follow all the drama here with regular posts and some of the best photographs around. Comments welcome!
England v Australia, Twenty20 final — live
We’re blogging from the final of the World Twenty-20 cricket in the West Indies, with the clash between England and Australia building towards a climax.
England are doing surprisingly well, but who would write off Australia after their semi-final comeback against Pakistan? Stay tuned … and remember, comments are extremely welcome…
A cricket blog seems out of place amongst all the football blogs . I make this point because a radio programme was talking to a tennis star AND WAS SUDDENLY ASKING THE TENNIS STAR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORLD CUP FOOTBALL .Possibly i am wrong about that because i was trying to do other jobs and was not listening attentively enough to the radio .Please note that sports stars are often foreign and they may be able to cope with English language using words connected with their own particular sport. Asking the sports star questions about another sport is just “not on ” The star is giving up his or her time and to maintain star standard in journalism as well , i think it far better to stick to questions about that stars particular sport . Mixing a cricket report in with many footabll blogs might lead other interviewers to try “steering off “the main reason why the sports star has been chosen to give up his or her time ie the sports star is most likely expecting to be asked to talk about his/her own sport .Why give the sports star more hastle? Why give me this hastle ? I like headings and think they are important in life/There is no heading really to indicate the posts should be all about football so no mistake has been made but nevertheless it seemed important to make this point here ie a sports person is probably notdesirous of wasting time That sportsperson might consider it a waste of time if he or she is asked a question about another sport perhaps .
Don’t blame the maths for T20 farces
Paul Collingwood’s call for change to the Duckworth-Lewis system used to determine a target in rain-hit games was understandable, coming as it did after his England team lost a match despite scoring three times as many runs as their opponent.
It is not the calculation system that needs revisiting, however, but the broader set-up of Twenty20 tournaments.
Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis have publicly defended the calculation system that bears their names and while there is something grating about seeing West Indies win after scoring just 60 in six overs in response to England’s impressive 191 for five in the regulation 20 overs, it is not the maths that is to blame.
Over two hours of sunlight remained at a stadium that in any case has floodlights when the officials began reducing the overs for West Indies’ innings. A capacity crowd waited patiently for the chance to see a result and in the end saw just a further 3.3 overs of cricket – enough to deliver a formal result but a farcical end to a game when there was all evening left to play the full 20 overs.
Why is the Twenty20 World Cup set up in such a manner, allowing rain to reduce games to nominal results when they could be full-length battles? The simple answer is television. The three overs of excitement are better than a two-hour wait for resumption of play. Twenty20 cricket is perfect for broadcasters who like to have manageable slots for programming.
The demands of television, particularly Indian television, also explain why games are starting at 9.30 am in the Caribbean – on workdays. Twenty20 was designed in England to allow people leaving their workplaces to grab a chunk of exciting cricket action before heading home. With party stands set-up and floodlights in place, there is no shortage of people in Barbados wondering who exactly is supposed to be partying at breakfast time?
But just as the West Indies Cricket Board have reluctantly agreed to schedule games to suit TV, so the players have done a deal, figuratively at least, to perform in a format of the game that is made for television.
Yes agree it’s not too much to ask that despite rain interruptions most parts of the world do not have persistent monsoons such that a mere 2x 20 overs cannot be completed in one day. And yes let the TV producers re-schedule programmes. But please don’t let Duckworth Lewis off scot free. How on earth can they claim that their model for 50 overs holds true for 20 overs? West Indies won the game the other night for two reasons. First they had a powerplay which Duckworth Lewis does not calculate for – so come on DL factor in the powerplay and we’d have more respect for the mathematical model. Second – and here’s the tricky bit, the model does not factor in the artificial situation of a team having to go out after rain and have a good slog over a small number of overs to win an artificially reduced total. Well DL there’s only one way to make your model more credible in such a situation – as well as reducing the target number of runs for the team batting second, reduce the number of wickets that the team has in hand to complete the run chase. It’s not rocket science guys, but yes we need your big academic brains to work out for us just how many wickets in hand should be reduced. But here’s my prediction DL – your mathematical model can enjoy in T20 the same amount of credibility it does in the 50 over game. but until you reduce the wickets in hand for the team chasing a reduced total after rain, your model will never be credible for T20.
Ricky Rubio and the Sportswrap speed special
Ricky Rubio is the one that got away from the NBA. The number five draft pick opted to spend another year or two in Spain rather than join the Minnesota Timberwolves and FC Barcelona are understandably elated to have got him.
Click the video above to see Rubio celebrate his 19th birthday by helping Barcelona demolish Fenerbahce in the Euroleague. We also take a look at Jenson Button’s homecoming after his Formula 1 world title victory, and why batsmen the world over should be glad a certain Usain Bolt opted for track and field over cricket.
Back next week, same time same place, for more.
Usain Bolt: ultimate pace bowler
Usain Bolt has long said that his first sporting love was cricket and earlier this year he caused a stir at Sabina Park in Jamaica when he turned up for the first test match against England. But, until Sunday, no-one knew if the fastest man in the world was any good with a bat or ball in his hand.
Bolt was invited to play in a charity tournament organised by West Indies opening batsman and fellow Jamaican Chris Gayle and according to some of the players I talked to had been talking a good game before putting his pads on.
The triple Olympic and world champion, was an opening batsman and opening bowler with his high school, before his father persuaded him to focus on track and field, but his lack of time at the crease was evident in his first few shots as he played and missed at former West Indies paceman Courtney Walsh.
But when Gayle, who has used his off-spin regularly at international level, came on, Bolt had the capacity crowd at the Kaiser Sports Ground on their feet as he took a stride down the track and smashed Gayle for a straight six.
The enthusiastic crowd were disappointed when Bolt got out shortly afterwards for 13 but they had no idea what was to come when the double world record holder got hold of the ball.
Coming in off a full run, Bolt gave Gayle a true West Indian welcome with a sharply rising bouncer that had another quickie from the past Curtly Ambrose, roaring with laughter.
Bolt actually scored a very good goal today at the St. George’s College charity football match!
Caribbean cricket chaos could get nasty
The news that the West Indies squad for Thursday’s first test against Bangladesh have withdrawn their services, effectively announcing a boycott of the series, has thrown cricket in the once-proud Caribbean into further chaos and things could turn very nasty in the coming days.
The dispute regards contractual issues, payments that the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) insist are long overdue, and other matters of compensation. The WIPA say that their players have appeared in the last four series without any form of contract. The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) position, to summarise very briefly, is that the WIPA’s demands have been unreasonable. If you are interested in the details (and there are lots of them) then both sides have put their cases online:
West Indies Players Association statement West Indies Cricket Board response
On Tuesday, I spoke briefly to WICB president Julian Hunte who said that, as far as he was concerned, the first test against Bangladesh on Thursday in St. Vincent will go ahead. There are possible sanctions if the match is not played and the WICB will need to get 11 players on the field to avoid them.
Finding those 11 and getting them to St. Vincent in time will not however be an easy task. Hunte declined to confirm whether or not the WICB is seeking an alternative squad (which the WIPA will likely consider a ‘strikebreaking’ team) merely saying that “We need players to hold a Test match”. If players not originally selected are indeed being approached to play they face a tricky choice — turn down a chance to represent the regional team or risk upsetting the striking players.
It has to be said however, that there has yet to be any statement from the players themselves that indicate they would oppose an alternative team. They simply haven’t said a word about anything in this leaving all communication to former player and WIPA president Dinanath Ramnarine. They may find a weakened West Indies team without their key players is a sufficient protest.
In the middle of all this, one has to feel sorry for 19-year-old Trinidad batsman Adrian Barath, one of the most promising players in the region, who is due to make his Test debut on Thursday. Barath was not been involved in the previous series currently under dispute and wouldn’t have been part of the player meetings at the weekend which decided on the boycott strategy yet he may find himself in a tricky situation with senior players if he opts to play.
Sri Lanka to face Pakistan in Twenty20 final
Chris Gayle’s magnificent best was not enough to prevent Sri Lanka beating West Indies on Friday night and making it through to the World Twenty20 final, where they will face Pakistan.
Tillakartne Dilshan gave Sri Lanka a total and West Indies were undone by an astonishing first over that saw them lose three wickets…. There’s no coming back from that against a team that bowls as well as Sri Lanka. What an extraordinary tournament this has been, to provide something unexpected almost every game…
So what do you think? Pakistan or Sri Lanka? If Pakistan play like they can I think they’ll win, but if this tournament has taught us anything it is to expect the unexpected…
Let us know what you think…
PHOTO: Spectators try to catch a Chris Gayle six during the ICC World Twenty20 cricket semi-final match between the West Indies and Sri Lanka in London June 19, 2009. REUTERS/Philip Brown
You know what ever happend with srilanka coming to Pakistan or what not. But the main reason i fink Pakistan should win is that their always put down they get the blame for everything. By winning this it b dream come true. But you know what end of the day i am pakistani fan i truelly hope inshallah pakistan does win. But if they dont then what can you do becoz srilanka is a really good team nd i like malinga soo much. So lets jus see. U have 2 admit ppl pakistan was critized so much about how they going to loose to south africa but mashallah pakistan played good and for me and i fink for many pakistani fans the match with south africa had 2 b the best match every 1 was shocked. I dono if any 1 finks dis but england cricket team get payed sooo much for playin cricket dey get excellent training pakistan and sri lanka nd other teams prb dont gt half the pay but they better team. No matta what both teams r winners. but i jus hope inshallah pakistan wins tommrow. But if srilanka !
does den well done 2 dem 
x x
Pakistan stun South Africa to reach Twenty20 final
Pakistan bowled superbly to clinch an outstanding victory over favourites South Africa on Wednesday and reach the World Twenty20 final.
So, more disappointment for South Africa at the semi-final stage and further evidence that Umar Gul (the heroics of Afridi notwithstanding) is the best “death” bowler in this tournament. His spell at the end of the South Africa innings was beautifully delivered and certainly too good for the South Africans … and once again, it was the penultimate over that effectively decided this contest.
It’ll be West Indies or Sri Lanka to face them but they’ll be favourites for the final whoever it is… And who could have imagined saying that after that abject defeat by England earlier in the tournament?
PHOTO: Pakistan’s Mohammad Aamer celebrates after catching South Africa’s Grame Smith during their ICC World Twenty20 cricket semi-final match at Trent Bridge cricket ground in Nottingham, England June 18, 2009. REUTERS/Philip Brow
Feeble England still can’t get to grips with Twenty20
England may argue that they were unlucky to exit the World Twenty20 following a five-wicket defeat by West Indies but the simple truth is that they batted poorly throughout the tournament.
With the honourable exceptions of Ravi Bopara and Kevin Pietersen, the batsmen completely failed to get to grips with the art of scoring runs in this form of the game.
Call it lack of urgency, lack of innovation or lack of skill but the main problems were a shortage of power and the confidence to take calculated risks.
Dmitri Mascarenhas’s bizarre innings against India summed up England’s problem. The burly all-rounder has proved that he is capable of hitting sixes at international level. After a steady start to the innings against India he was promoted up the order to number four, specifically to take on the Indian slow bowlers and boost the run rate with a few lusty blows. Or so we thought.
Instead, Mascarenhas paddled the ball aimlessly around for ones and twos, facing 27 balls for his 25 runs. Far from actually clearing the ropes, he did not even once attempt a big hit. Momentum lost, Owais Shah, Paul Collingwood and James Foster, all far more suited to the type of supporting innings Mascarenhas was playing, perished trying to find the boundaries England so desperately needed.
Against India, England’s bowlers performed heroically to pull off an unlikely victory but 24 hours later the tournament hosts found themselves in a similar position against West Indies. A solid platform laid by Bopara and Pietersen simply cried out for sensible attacking batting to lift England to a formidable total. But England went some 50 balls without hitting a single boundary until Stuart Broad hit the last two deliveries of the innings for six and four. Again, England finished at least 20 runs short of a challenging total and West Indies took full advantage.
i thin it’s a question of technique. english players just don’t seem to be able to generate the required power to get the ball away. they need better coaching from a real expert.
India caught short by England in Twenty20 World Cup
In the end, few would have missed the irony. England, their feeble limited overs credentials torn apart after their opening defeat against Netherlands, knocking out holders India from the World Twenty20 with a brilliant execution of strategy.
India were pipped by three runs as England handed them their second defeat in the Super Eights on Sunday, eliminating them from the race for a semi-final berth.
West Indies, another team usually on the receiving end for their inconsistency, had caught the top order batsmen napping with short-pitched bowling to defeat India in their opening Super Eights fixture.
England proved they were quick learners with a near-perfect execution of a similar drill, leaving India struggling as they began chasing what appeared an achievable target of 154.
The hugely popular Indian team have turned villains overnight among fans and media back home. The Indian media has attacked skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who led the team to an unexpected win in 2007, for shuffling the team for the crunch game, for his leadership and his subdued batting.
There had been worries the players would be fatigued after the month-long Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament. Explosive opener Virender Sehwag was then ruled out due to a shoulder injury and finally England bowlers perfectly executed their plans.
India did not played upto their potential and Dhoni’s terrible captaincy just added upto the pressure. I think this suggests that their are no favourites in T20.
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Resident Left Field Expert
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Congratulation to all Indians! We have won the World Cup! I am overwhelmed by the outstanding performance of our team where Dhoni acted as an ideal captain and a true leader.But I am thoroughly disappointed by the decision made by the governing bodies where MS Dhoni was recognized as Man of the Match and Gautam Gambhir was completel…y ignored by everyone out there.He did not get individual recognition for a single moment.Where as the fact is if India won today,she won because of the outstanding and consistent performance of Gautam Gambhir.He was the one who layed the foundation on which India could make a history again.MS Dhoni could not have achieved it all alone.He made the strongest partnership with Dhoni and Virat.He was the one who held on the wickets and stuck on to the ground.When 2 giant and most reliable players got out unexpectedly, we all lost hopes and that time the team needed will power, motivation,Gambhir stepped in the groung in that tensed situation where he kept his cool, calmly but steadily performing and leading India closer to its goal.He took some calculated risk and gave some wonderful shots.I am highly disappointed with such an a decision.Dhoni was undoubtedly brilliant today but the recognition should have been shared between the two champions!