The World of International Cricket deviation

Hi this is Jim Nariel from cricketbatwillow.blogspot.com

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Cricket Twenty20 2010 Clips

Cricket and the discussion over the Twenty 20 Lottery

Twenty20 cricket is often described as being a lottery. Is this a fair description? Does it do the game justice?

Cricket is one of the oldest games on the planet. As with every great sport it seems (cricket, tennis, golf) the English invent it and then the rest of the world beat them at it. It's just a matter of time.

The same thing happened with cricket's newest form of the game - Twenty 20. The English invented it and it was first showcased on the county circuit. Since its inception there have been two Twenty20 world cups with the victors emerging from the subcontinent - India winning in the inaugural event in 2007 and Pakistan emerging victorious in England in 2009. With the third twenty20 world cup in the Caribbean only a few days away it's time to make a few predictions on the potential outcome of the tournament...

Here's the thing. The cricket purists of the game don't like Twenty20 that much. There is a perception that Twenty20 cricket tips the game even further in the favour of the batsmen and against the bowler. Furthermore, many suggest that the shorter format of the game reduces it to a bit of a lottery. In just 20 overs either side can win and it just comes down to who can ride their luck the most.

Now I'd be the first to admit that I love test cricket. For my money it is the pinnacle of the game that should be the measure of any cricketer. But at the same time there is great beauty in the Twenty20 game. Bit hitting makes those people that don't even consider themselves cricket fans stand up and take notice. We've seen a level of excitement in the game that looked like perennially waning. T20 cricket has seen the advent of some of the most innovative shots to ever be seen - the most notable is of course the Dilscoop, but we've also seen the constant evolving nature of both the reverse and conventional sweep. It's all testament to how multi faceted cricket is and just how great a game it truly is.

But is it really that much of a lottery? There's a school of thought out there to suggest it isn't. Here's why. Spin has played a prominent role. Bowlers actually win matches as well as batsmen (whilst their figures don't look good in conventional terms). And finally, teams that have more matchwinners in their sides over the course of a tournament tend to go further.

Of course there is a flipside, but can we truly call Twenty20 cricket a lottery?

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Siddall

The mongoose Cricket bat inventor

The world of Cricket bats

Cricket bats are the key tool used in cricket other than the ball. Bats are described as paddle shaped, flat on one side but V shaped on the opposite side. This is said to improve airflow around the bats making them swing faster and with more power. The material bats are made from is willow wood, this is the wood of choice for the bats because it is tough, light weight and shock resistant. The bats are also treated with linseed oil, this is used to provide additional protection and also creates more friction on the ball giving batters more control while playing cricket.

Before the 18th century cricket bats were shaped similarly to current day hockey sticks. This suggests that early games of crickets were played using shepherds crooks as the bats. Although there is not a great deal of evidence about the very early cricket there is still a bat in existence from 1729 and this is representative of the early shape of the cricket bat.

When purchasing new cricket bats it is imperative that proper care is taken to ensure the bat is well prepared for the game of cricket to last a great deal of time. Before a brand new cricket bat is ever used it should be knocked in. The process of knocking a bat in is done by hitting the bat with either a cricket ball repeatedly are using a special cricket mallet. The process of knocking in a cricket bat will compact the fibres in the willow wood making it stronger, so when it first used it will not break. The process of knocking in can take anything from 3 to 6 hours and will often consist of the bat being hit 8000 to 9000 times. Pre-knocked bats are available on the market at a slightly higher price but this saves the time of the player having to knock the bat in, installing confidence when playing that the bat will stand up to the task in hand.

Law 6 of cricket says that cricket bats must be no more than 97 centimetres in length and no more than 10.8 centimetres in width. Importantly it states that the hand holding the bat is considered part of the bat, therefore the hand hits the ball it counts as a hit. Also the rule states that bats may be made of no material other than wood.

When selecting the type of cricket bats you wish to use you must carefully consider the type of player you are, whether it is a big hitter or someone who likes to pick and choose their strokes while batting. Also you must consider the size and weight of the cricket bats before purchase as all too often players performances are hindered by picking a bat the is too small or large or that weighs too much. It is recommended that a lighter bat be used, especially at a young age, to help with the control of the ball when playing.

Established in 1973, Morrant Group Ltd is a family run business with over 35 years experience in mail order team sports equipment. Father, Daughter, Son and staff are working hard every day to ensure that our company achieves its aim. We sell a range of sports gear, including cricket bats and other goods. Please visit our website at http://www.morrant.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shantelle_Hynes

Sri Lanka Cricket World Cup

The world of IPL in the moden Cricket game

The Style of IPL
To begin off, the IPL is now firmly established on both the Indian and the world cricket scenario. The entire procedure including auctions, glamour, filmstars, hype and media fervor adds to the excitement and charm and it feels like watching cricket in a bullfight arena.

The Indian Premiere League is a decidedly different experience than the kind of cricket we used to see in our childhood, with the lone batsman playing ball after ball, refusing to give ground or leave the wicket. I remember how frustrated the entire crowd used to get at those snail pacers who were only after creating personal records at the cost of team victory.

One-Day Cricket Saves the Day but Still Insufficient for Today's Pace
It of-course started with Australian millionaire Kerry Packer's concept of bringing cricket to the arena of professional sports from the arena of amateurs. However, Kerry Packer's initial proposals met with contempt from those opposed to change, people who did not ignore reality found a middle-way and One Day Cricket was born. It became an instant hit. The frenzy and popularity made it clear to sports organizers that sports lovers and cricket fans loved it. One-Day Cricket, being of limited duration brought all the energy and capital together in a short and brilliant spurt. It opened the new age of cricket. The T20 came as a logical step to take cricket into the fully professional squad.

IPL Is the Best Bet to Save Indian Cricket
I think the Indian Premiere League is an excellent concept because professional management, big industry investment and involvement, and high fees of players negate the possibilities of match fixing. Simple cricket fans like us can watch honest games, and relax knowing market dynamics is creating the best possible fun combination on the cricket fields.

The Actual Official Website and Online Store of IPL
However, it remains that the IPL having gained fame will become the target of those trying to make a quick buck. I have seen several websites on the Internet, which seem to be entirely dedicated to the Indian Premiere League, and also trying to sell dubious merchandise for cricket fans at unreasonable prices.

If we feel that IPL is good for Indian Cricket, and the Indian Premiere League 2010 needs our support to pull through the blames of discrimination cast upon it, it is also our duty to avoid spurious businesses that try to cash in on the popularity of IPL.

IPL Merchandise - Infibeam.com is an exciting new online destination and community that focuses on selling latest Mobiles, Books, Cameras, Apparels, Jewellery, Beauty Products and Best Books Online in India at guaranteed lowest price.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doshi_Rahul

Cricket Information

What you need to play cricket

There is a range of cricket ground equipment needed to play a successful game of cricket. The equipment used must fulfill specific requirements in regards to the rules and regulations of the game of cricket.

When setting up the cricket ground equipment the first few basic items required are the boundary and the sight screen. The boundary has 2 primary uses within cricket. Firstly the boundary is simply used to mark out the edge of the playing field, marking out the area of play. Secondly the boundary is used for the scoring of runs within the game of cricket, where a four is when the ball reaches the boundary, but a six is when the ball is hit clean over it. A sight screen is another very important piece of cricket ground equipment that must be set up before playing a game of cricket. The purpose of a cricket sight screen in crickets is to aid the visibility of the ball. The sight screens are placed at each end of the cricket ground opposite to the wickets, the colour of the sight screens makes seeing the cricket ball easier for the batsman. The sight screen also helps block out any distractions through light or otherwise that the bowler or batsman may face, which in turn help improve player performance.

The third piece of cricket ground equipment that is needed before starting to play cricket is the stumps and bails. The stumps are 3 wooden polls that are placed vertically in the ground directly behind the batter at each end of the pitch. Stumps are no more than 28 inches tall and have a spike at the end to be easily put into the ground. The bails are two small pieces of wood that sit on top of the stumps to link them together. In a game of cricket the batter is out when the stumps are broken apart, with one or both of the bail's leaving the stumps. This can happen through the ball hitting the wicket, the batter hitting the wicket with their bat or if a fielder hits the wicket with the hand the ball is in.

The final two pieces of cricket ground equipment needed to begin your game of cricket is a ball and a bat. A regulation cricket ball has a cork base, and is wrapped in twine which is covered with leather. Cricket balls are also normally red or white, and very hard making them a potentially dangerous object when playing a game. A regulation cricket bat is often made from either Kashmir or English willow. A cricket bat has a long handle and on smooth face, with the other face in a triangular shape. Regulations also state that bats can be no longer than 38 inches and no wider than 4.25 inches.

With the amount of cricket ground equipment needed it is very important not only to purchase high quality items that will last but also affordable to save on major costs. Should you have any questions about the equipment available always to be sure to ask a customer representative at your cricket ground equipment supplier and they will always be willing to help.

Established in 1973, Morrant Group Ltd is a family run business with over 35 years experience in mail order team sports equipment. Father, Daughter, Son and staff are working hard every day to ensure that our company achieves its aim. We sell a range of sports gear, including cricket ground equipment and other goods. Please visit our website at http://www.morrant.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shantelle_Hynes

How to put on a Cricket bat Grip

How Cricket bat grips can improve your game

For all levels of cricket players, from the guy that plays professionally down to the weekend cricket player that has just begun playing, there is a desire to work to improve one's game. Some of this work comes from practice, specifically batting practice to work on batting technique and timing. With practice, a batter can be able to easily score runs off even the best bowler. However, there are many other ways to work on one's game. One of these is trying out various cricket bat grips to find the one that works the best for you.

What is the Cricket Bat Grip?

The grip of the cricket bat is the area where they batter holds the bat. The grip is made of a number of different materials including rubber and leather. As technology has evolved for the sport of cricket, cricket bat grips have come a long way since the inception of the modern cricket bat. The grip has two critical jobs that require a very specialised material. A grip must cushion but still allow good control. The cushioning, or anti-shock effect, allows the batter to more comfortably hit repeatedly. The shock of the bat making contact with the ball, over the course of a game, can cause fatigue in the hands of even the most hardened batter. By adding a grip made of anti shock material, it reduces this fatigue. The other job of the cricket bat grip material is to provide a surface that has sufficient friction to ensure that the bat doesn't go flying with a really hard swing.

Choosing the Right Grip Material

There are many different options and opinions as to what is the best grip material for a cricket bat. Some emphasise the anti-shock properties while others emphasise how well the grip sticks. The two need to be balanced, but that balance will vary depending on the person. However, the extremes can be discussed. A grip that offers truly superior anti-shock properties at the expense of all else will be hard to hold onto and can even make the bat twist slightly when it makes contact with the ball. In other words, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. However, someone with a lot of hand strength that squeezes the grip tightly will need more anti-shock material than someone that doesn't hold the bat as tightly.

The amount of grip that each type of grip material offers too, can be too much. Something really sticky may ensure a good grip on the bat but could also cause pain and blisters with repeated use. On top of this, a truly sticky grip material would become less and less sticky as dirt, skin contact and skin oils all work to stop the grip from being as sticky. Most people find that they prefer a texturised grip of some sort that offers grip through friction. Some purists still use leather as well because it cannot be beat for those that have sweaty hands or for those playing in wet conditions. However, proper care of the leather and there being products with better anti-shock properties, make some choose a rubber-based grip instead.

Are you looking for Cricket Bat Grips for your sports club or just for your hobby? If so then speak to Sckub Sports. For more information on the company please visit the website at http://www.sckub.co.uk/epages/Store2_Shop1043.sf

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harry_Worthington

Imran Khan the cricket Legend

Cricket bowling legend Imran Khan

Inspirational leader, mentor, genuine all-rounder and talented cricketer describe a true Pakistan legend. Imran Khan was certainly one of the greatest Pakistan cricketers ever and one of the best all-rounders in the game of cricket. Such a legend was Imran Khan that he defined the term world-class all-rounder. That he was an inspirational captain who transformed Pakistan into a formidable Test team and World Cup Champions in 1992 augmented his value.

Born in Lahore, Pakistan on November 25th, 1952, Khan made his First class debut as a teenager in the 1969/1970 domestic season. His immense talent was immediately apparent, precipitating his selection to the Pakistan Test team in 1971- at the tender age of 19. Khan- an exponent of fast swing bowling and an accomplished batsman- became a fixture on the Pakistan team in a career that spanned two decades. In a Pakistan team that placed emphasis on youth, Khan's durability was a mark of his class.

Khan was the first true star of Pakistan cricket. He possessed qualities that made him a very marketable cricketer and raised the profile of the game in Pakistan. Many young Pakistanis looked up to Imran Khan as a role model- leading to more interest in fast bowling on a spin-dominated sub-continent. Khan was a pioneer for fast bowling in Pakistan- inspiring other pace bowlers like Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram.

Khan's statistics at the highest level indicated that he was not merely an exceptional all-rounder. As a batsman, he was well above average. However, he was also a genuine strike bowler with figures that are the envy of specialist bowlers. From 88 Tests, Khan garnered 3,807 runs at a fine average of 37.69. He scored six Test hundreds- more than some specialist batsmen do in their careers. If Imran's betting was good, his bowling was great. Khan plucked an amazing 362 Test scalps at a metronomic average of 22.81. His strike rate of 53.7 was the hallmark of a genuine front-line bowler.

In ODIs, Khan's figures were equally remarkable. From 175 matches, Khan took 182 wickets and was parsimonious with an economy rate of 3.89. His ODI batting average of 33.41 with a strike rate of 72 demonstrated his pivotal role in Pakistan's lower middle order.

Imran Khan spent a considerable amount of time on the English county circuit- more than he spent in Pakistan's domestic leagues. He played for teams like Worcestershire and Sussex of England and had a couple of seasons with Australian side New South Wales in the early 80s. Khan's First class career- spanning 22 years- was illustrious. He played 382 First class matches from 1970 to 1992, scored more than 17,000 runs and took 1287 wickets.

Khan's career ended in glory- the type of end that befitted a legend. He was captain on the side that defeated England by 22 runs to capture Pakistan's first World Cup title. Since his retirement from competitive cricket, he became a cricket administrator and politician. No scriptwriter could have scripted Imran Khan's story any better. He left as a legend and with the title of world champion. Indeed, Imran Khan was a champion in his own right- one of cricket's finest.

Darrell Victor is a freelance writer and cricket enthusiast from the West Indies. For articles on West Indies cricket, read: Reasons for the decline of West Indies cricket: http://www.helium.com/items/1264594-west-indies-cricket. A West Indian Perspective on Test cricket: http://www.helium.com/items/1258936-test-cricket

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darrell_Victor

How to bowl the perfect delivery in Cricket

How to Bowl the Perfect Cricket Wicket Taking Delivery

So you want to improve your bowling? Worry not as there are a few techniques and measures you can take to improve your bowling figures.

Firstly, before you start to engage in any bowling, it is always a good idea to ensure you warm up. These are your general muscle warm ups to make sure that you do not pull or tear anything.

Once you have warmed up its now time to ensure that you have a proper run up. You can do this by going to the crease and imitating your run up in reverse. This will enable you to make sure you have the correct number of steps and may even help you eliminate bowling the dreaded no ball. This is quite common and you will often see many bowlers doing this. For those of you that don't know, this is why they grab a bit of sand and place it on the ground as this is their marker.

So, now we get on to the run up. The run up is crucial which helps to deliver speed and power to your wicket taking delivery. Initially start with small steps and then start to take bigger strides until you are in full motion. The run up should be quite comfortable and this is where marking your steps will help. Your head should be straight, still and focussed on where you want to bowl.

As you approach the crease, you need to think about where you will be bowling, where your fielders are placed and also trying to get as close to the crease as possible without giving away any extras. As you bowl your wicket taking delivery ensure that you completely follow through to get maximum power and to avoid injury.

All the above are crucial in helping you bowl the perfect wicket taking delivery. There is one main point left which is the ACTUAL place where you should bowl. In cricket, if you want to make it as a top flight bowler, then line and length are probably the most crucial elements that one needs to master. Bowlers such as Australia's Glen McGrath is world renowned for consistency bowling line and length each and every time. Even through times of injury, he always came back to be ranked in the top.

So what is line and length? The line is the route of the ball in accordance with the batsmens stumps. The length is where the ball bounces and pitches. As batsmen do not need to hit every ball, the bowler needs to invite the batsmen to hit the ball which will in effect increase their chances of taking a wicket. Cricketing legend Geoffrey Boycott calls this area the 'corridor of uncertainty' as the ideal place to bowl. The key is to create doubt in a batsmen's mind whether to play on the front or back foot and whether to play the shot at all. Ideally, this should be based around the 'off stump' region, not too wide and not too tight.

So in summary, a good posture and run up are important but the main ingredient of a top class wicket taking delivery is line and length. Keep practising and working on this and you can't go wrong.

Z Fazal has been writing articles for many years. His website Cheap Hotels Benidorm can be found at http://cheaphotelsbenidorm.com/ which helps people looking for accommodation in this popular Spanish town.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zaheer_Fazal

Cricket IPL match one day old RR vs DC

Top reasons why the Cricketing IPL league is glamour and much more

T20 has given a new meaning to cricket. Cricket started with test matches and went till one day and now, its brand new format is twenty20. With the victory in Twenty20 World Cup Cricket Tournament in South Africa, this format has become India's beloved game. After seeing so much praise, BCCI has tried and given it a new dimension in India with IPL T20.

Indian premiere league proved itself last year. In order to start this idea BBCI has taken the support from cricket boards of various countries, so that they allow their players to play in the IPL Cricket League. They are being paid heavy sums for doing so.

Auctions of the players and the state teams have attracted many big business houses, bollywood stars and millionaires from all around the world. These big names that are paying certainly do make a difference in the game.

In India, people consider cricket as a religion than just a sport. This passion for the game has written the success story of this format and league. This league has not given only cricket but lots of entertainment also through Bollywood stars, cheerleaders, music, etc.

In this league there are eight teams representing various regions of India and these teams are combined with international cricket stars and domestic players. They play matches in the twenty20 format against each other. Every team will be playing two matches against another team and the four highest winners will be playing two semifinals. The semifinal winners will then play the finale of the game. This gives the lot of action to the cricket lovers all around the world.

IPL T20 is a league which gives a chance to the domestic players to improve their game and learn from their seniors. In this, every team has to play only 20overs. This is shortest form of cricket which has given tallest of height to cricket.

Sonal Arya has completed her Ph.d in Archeology. She is an author and offering advice for quite some time. She provides useful advice through her articles that have been found very useful. Please visit here to information on IPL T20 [http://www.indiancricketleagues.co.in], Indian cricket league, live score [http://www.indiancricketleagues.co.in/icl_live_score.php] and ICL cricket league.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sonal_Arya

The best cricket in Barbados

Top Cricket in Barbados

Cricket in Barbados usually takes place in the Kensington Oval stadium in Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados. The national sport of Barbados is cricket and is a favourite sport in the Caribbean in general as the fans of The West Indies team flock to the world-class matches at the Kensington Oval. Barbados cricket is also hosts matches with some of the worlds top players such as batmen Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gaylle. Some of the best & fastest bowlers that play are Pedro Collins and Tino Best. Many guests that stay at Crossbow Villa love to have a day out at the cricket!

Cricket in Barbados has become that important that it is often regarded as being one of the international cricket capitals and even largely contributes to the West Indies team with famous Barbadian players such as Wes Hall, Sir Garfield Sobers, the late Keith Boyce, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes and David Allen. Some of the more famous current players are Corey Collymore and Ian Bradshaw.

You can visit the Kensington Oval to see a good game of Barbados cricket at almost any time. It's only a short drive away from Crossbow Villa too! There are all sorts of different Barbados Cricket matches taking place including the international Test Match, One-Day games, first division matches or beach friendly games as well as fun cricket games on the village green or local open pasture field. Whatever you choose to do and wherever you go on a day out from Crossbow Villa, you'll find Barbados Cricket matches a joyous occasion!

Crossbow Villa Barbados is located in St James, Westmoreland, a lovely area with beautiful sea views located just five minutes from the famous Barbadian West Coast.Crossbow Villa has eight bathrooms and six bedrooms, a formal 12 seater coral carved stone dining room and has just undergone a complete refurbishment.If you are looking to rent out any villas in Barbados or find out further information about holidaying in Barbados, please visit our website at http://www.luxuryvillasbarbados.com for detailed reviews, news and photos.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_R_Freeman

Sachin Tendulkar in the Mumbai Indians Team

IPL 3 Twenty20 Cricket Fever - Are You Ready?

If you are an ardent fan of the modernized cricket and you enjoyed the glamor and excitement that came along with the Indian Premier League - Then you have a reason to cheer about. The much awaited IPL is back to make the country go crazy in 2010.

There are 97 players who have registered for the IPL 2010 auction. The list of players includes a maximum of 26 players from Pakistan, 17 from Sri Lanka, 12 from South Africa, 9 from New Zealand, 9 from Australia, 8 from West Indies, 8 from England, 2 from Bangladesh, 2 from Zimbabwe, 2 from Canada, 1 Ireland and 1 from the Netherlands. The players will be listed in the January 19th auction if the franchises express interest in them. Last year in 2009, out of 100 that registered 50 were in auction.

Several individuals and companies have shown a growing interest in owning IPL teams, such as actors Ajay Devgan, Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt, and the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group.

Bidders will be offered a choice of 8 to 10 cities that can be made their home team venues and they will be allowed to bid for any number of cities. The highest two bids will be chosen and companies will use the name of that city as their home base and sport their team brand.

The final schedule of IPL 2010 which is to be played in India rather than an international location has been announced. The first match will be held between the defending champions Deccan Chargers and the Kolkata Knight Riders. The IPL 2010 will begin on 12th March and the final match will be on 25th April, 2010. A few new venues - Vishakapatnam, Ahmedabad and Dharamsala have been added apart from the existing 8 home venues of each of the teams. This time no new teams will be added but new players including the former ICL players will be available for auction for IPL 3.

Initially, the craze started when top Industrialists like Mukesh Ambani and Celebrities like Shah Rukh khan participated in the auction and successfully won the bids for owning franchises in the Indian Premier League. The highest amount in this auction was for the Mumbai team. This team was successfully bid for an astonishing amount of $111.9 million or Rs. 503.5 Crores by Reliance Industries' Chairman Mukesh Ambani. The next highest was for the Bangalore team which was successfully bid for $111.6 million or Rs. 502.2 Crores by the liquor king Vijay Malaya.

This huge amount of money was never seen in the history of cricket. The prize money announced was three times the prize money of a cricket world cup. This is the main reason why the cricketers from all around the world are trying to make their place in the Indian Premier League. IPL has managed to squash everything in its way & create history in the world of cricket.

Cricket is considered to be more like a religion in India than just a sport. And the God of cricket is here. So it's going to be yet another season full of enthusiasm, excitement, glamor, & fun. The pre- IPL craze says it all. It is going to be a success story all over again. So gear yourself up and get ready for IPL 2010. You surely wouldn't want to miss it, would you?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rama_Swamy

Some more great cricket test match highlights

Cricket Test match England vs Bangadesh test number 2

England 496 and 209 for 1 (Cook 109*, Pietersen 74*)
beat Bangladesh 419 and 285 (Shakib 96, Tamin 52, Tredwell 4-82) by nine wickets

What was at times a fluctuating contest turned into a comfortable victory for England as Alastair Cook finished his first tour in charge with a controlled, unbeaten 109 and Kevin Pietersen continued his return to form with a 74 to complete a nine-wicket victory and a clean sweep. England remain the only team to have an unbeaten record against Bangladesh, but have been made to work hard for their success by a home side that showed signs of development but still frustrated with fundamental mistakes.

It was particularly satisfying for Cook to guide his side home with his 12th Test hundred, having copped plenty of criticism for some naive captaincy through the tour. It was, as ever, more efficient than spectacular, as he picked off the generous offerings from a tiring Bangladesh attack. His toe-ended cut to bring up three figures and slog-sweep through midwicket to seal the result were both fitting as he proved captaincy would not affect his dogged batting.

Before a ball had been bowled on this tour Cook was left out of England's preliminary Twenty20 squad, but in every match since he's shown how his game has developed. Adding a touch of adventure to his steely temperament he ended as the leading scorer in the series after making a career-best 173 in the first Test and demonstrated an authority that had been missing during his struggle form form last year.

Needing 209 at almost four an over after Shakib Al Hasan's fighting 96 kept England in the field until after lunch, Bangladesh had a chance to squeeze the visitors, but they couldn't muster the resolve. Shakib looked exhausted, having made 141 runs and bowled 66 overs in the game. He wondered around the field with his arms folded and, rather than open with himself, allowed Shafiul Islam and Abdul Razzak to gift England an easy start.

The openers had strolled to 40 before there was any trouble - albeit through another dubious umpiring decision. Jonathan Trott was given run out by the third umpire when the only replay available showed the stumps broken only after Trott had made the crease. It only added to the catalogue of poor decisions in this game, but unlike the previous ones had no bearing on the match.

If anything it only hastened Bangladesh's demise as Pietersen demonstrated the flair that separates him from the rest of his England team-mates. Using his feet to drive the spinners beautifully and unfurling the occasional switch hit, he appeared to recover the swagger that made him such a force before his Achilles injury. He will face sterner examinations soon, but can head off to the IPL in good spirits.

For moments on the final day, like periods throughout the series, Bangladesh offered stubborn resistance, only to crumple when more something substantial could have been built. On his 23rd birthday, Shakib bristled with intent as he tried to carry his side to a position of safety. Needing to both extend the lead and take time out of the game he shunned the cautiousness his opposition favour and took the game to England.

Almost from the off he made his intentions clear, chipping down the crease to the quick bowlers and scything cuts and drives through the off side regularly. At the other end Shafiul Islam blended defence with purpose as the pair added 60 in 14 overs. England looked ragged but rather than stick with their captain, Shakib's team-mates were unable to resist the flighted temptation of James Tredwell with Shafiul and Naeem Islam both gifting their wickets at crucial moments.

It meant the momentum Shakib created was wasted and he was marooned with the last-man Rubel Hossain when still 14 short of a deserved hundred. Again Shakib backed aggression to get him through, taking 10 from the first five balls of Tredwell's opening over after lunch. But, just one shot away and with a field set tantalising tight in on the single, Shakib couldn't resist running down the wicket and having an enormous swipe. He missed and despite a forlorn dive was stumped to end hopes of a hundred and Bangladesh's chances of forcing a draw. It was a deflating end that killed off both Shakib and his team's heart for the fight

How to bat like Viv Richards - if you dare to dream

One of the best Batsman in the World of Cricket

You knew when he was coming. The outgoing batsman would already have disappeared into the pavilion, and the expectation of what was to follow filled the air. Viv kept you waiting ... time to ponder.

Then he appeared, sauntering, swaggering, arms windmilling slowly. He would take guard, and then, head tilted back slightly and cudding his gum, he would walk a few paces down the pitch to tap it while looking the bowler in the eye. It was calculated menace and magnificent theatre from arguably the most devastating batsman of all time. How to bowl to him? Get him to the other end, perhaps. Hold your nerve, do not take what might follow as personal. Occasionally he was vulnerable early on if his desire to dominate overwhelmed him. But he had no weakness until his eyesight infinitesimally, but inevitably, started to let him down and those eye-shots became harder. His strengths were on the front foot.


So far forward could he get that he was able to plant that left foot outside the line of off stump, at once eliminating lbw and creating his own leg-stump line from where he would flick bowlers relentlessly through midwicket. Or he might send a similar ball skimming through extra cover. Straighten the ball down the line of the stumps and the bowler stood a chance, but he rarely missed and they ran a terrible risk. His power was awesome, he hooked devastatingly and never wore a helmet, rocking back from his front-foot base to take the ball from his eyeline in front of square. Occasionally, for no apparent reason, he would block an over in immaculate fashion, seemingly in defensive position before the ball had left the bowler's hand. Then, refreshed, off he would go again.

See the best swing bowlers in cricket

How to perform swing bowling in Cricket

Joys of Swing Bowling:

In Swing bowling the ball deviates as the ball moves in the air either towards (in swinger) or away (out swinger) from the batsman. Key factor that invokes the swing is the release of the ball in mid air to take a parabolic action rather than dig it in short. Holding the seam position upright is essential to generate swing. Further effort should be to bowl from as close to the stumps with a high arm action and head steady and level. Richard Hadlee's action was found to be closest to perfect bowling action. Anyone taking up swing bowling seriously would do a lot good to review his action in great detail. Do not trade speed for good length at early age as without speed it is not possible to generate decent enough swing and almost no reverse. Further the acceleration in the run up should be gradual. Windy conditions aids swing bowlers. If the wind is blowing east to west it is better to get the best out swing bowler with his out-swing following the wind direction and making it more difficult for the batsmen to negotiate. Deviation in swing bowling is induced by the bowlers whereas in seam bowling the deviation is random and not induced by the bowler.

Outswing Bowling: Seam position is held near the traditional slip with the shiny side inside (right) and rough side outside (left). Aerodynamics bring to action laminar air flow on the shiny side and turbulent air flow on the rough side as the turbulent air flow is later than the laminar flow the ball moves in the direction of the turbulent or rough side making the ball move away for the right hander.

Bowlers use this delivery to generate false shots - Edge to the wicket keeper or slip region early in the innings by pitching the delivery on or around the off stump and generating enough swing, inducing errors in the batsman's mind - The region around the off stump is also termed as corridor of uncertainty by many players. Key Exponent: Past: Andy Roberts, Kapil Dev, Dennis Lillee, Richard Hadlee, Glenn Mcgrath, Botham, Curtly Ambrose, Allan Donald. Present: Shaun Pollock, BretLee, James Anderson, Jacques Kallis.

In-Swing Bowling: Seam position is held near the leg slip region with the shiny side out (left) and the rough side inside (right). The flow in this case is turbulent on the right side and movement towards the right hander after pitching. An in swinger becomes potent when it is bowled as an in swinging Yorker.

Bowlers use this delivery to great advantage against left handers as the ball would move away for a left hander and induce edges.

Also when there is variable bounce, bowling an in swinger to a right hander would get wickets when the ball keeps low and the batsmen in unable to get his bat in time and gets bowled or trapped in front. Otherwise with normal bounce it is far easier to play an in swinger for a new batsman than an outswinger. Key Exponent: Past: Imran Khan, Courtney Walsh, Whispering Death (Michael Holding), Wasim Akram. Present: Shoaib Akhtar, Lasith Malinga, Irfan Pathan, Mathew Hoggard, Makhaya Ntin .

Bala
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Balachander_Subramanian

The countdown for the Cricket World Cup in India

The wonder of the Cricket World Cup

Cricket - the national sport of the British that has known to become a favorite of many nations with its sensational field action, the high energy vibes and the electrifying audience. It adds much life to this otherwise boring game that was known only to the 'men in white'. What initially was a drag of a game played at idle to enjoy the sunny weather and is played all over the world, around the year, be it sunny, cloudy, cold or sweaty.

This game spread over consecutive days was made succinct, by introducing the new strategy of one-days involving fifty overs to score, for both the participating teams. White uniforms gave away to colorful attires matching the national colors of the countries. The banal red ball was switched for an exclusive white one and the speculators now encompass of virtually the entire world.

With the advent of the one-days came the world cups; the thrills, the chills, the oomph and battle. With nations trying to slaughter on ground the opponents with their wit, acumen, skill, endeavor and patience. Held after every four years; this is one event the world waits and enjoys to its best, celebrating action with a vigor and style.

The celebrations are unique and dynamic on their own, from official sound tracks to complete advertising campaigns; the ambience depicts to its best the epic world cup fever. It is the time for making, breaking and remaking new records. It all began in the year 1975, when the first world cup was held in England, with eight participating teams who played fifteen matches in fifteen days. The first three tournament are sometimes referred to as the 'Prudential Cups' as they were sponsored by the Prudential Plc., a financial service company. The final match was held between West Indies and Australia in the Lord's stadium, during the first world cup.

It was in 1992 that the colored uniforms were introduced. The cricket world cup is considered to be the world's third largest and most viewed sporting event, according to one survey. On the record, Australia has won the cricket world cup three times, with West Indies close behind by winning it twice. However, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have won the world cup once.

With more nations trying to strive to win the honor of achieving the world cup to take back home, the competition has become ferocious. Even the team players work hard to be a part of the refined skill pool that makes a world cup playing team. This leading tournament organized by the international Cricket Council offers much perks to its participating teams and the viewers across the globe and entails outstanding performances that one can cheer for.

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India vs Sri Lanka in Cricket Twenty 20

Twenty-20 cricket - a game for specialist cricketers

Twenty-20 is the compact version of cricket that has taken the World by storm. The shortened format means the onus is on entertainment. The games are intense affairs that are fast paced with lots of drama. Initially T20 was not welcomed with open arms especially by lovers of test cricket. However, whether people like it or not the 20 over brand of cricket is here to stay.

Because of the short duration Twenty-20 cricket is a game for specialist cricketers. There is simply not enough time to adapt to playing conditions. Players need to hit the ground running and make an immediate impact. To be successful in Twenty-20 matches, players need to be able to improvise and think on their feet. A good cricket brain is a must and will help to outthink opponents.

In test cricket batsmen have the luxury of playing themselves in. This gives them a certain amount of time to see the ball. In many ways, the 5 day format is the opposite of Twenty-20 cricket. There is no time to adjust the eyesight as batsmen are expected to score runs quickly rather than merely occupy the crease.

The all-rounder is a valuable commodity in the shortest form of the game. The ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes these players important members of the team. Some of the best teams have now recognised this. Including several all round performers will give the side strength and balance. It also gives the captain plenty of bowling options in the field.

Bowlers are just as important and some would say they earn their money more than the other players. A maiden over is a rarity in the hectic Twenty-20 arena but the ability to bowl dot balls or keep the run rate down to a run a ball makes the difference between winning and losing. By bowling a consistent line and cutting out the odd poor delivery, bowlers can make it difficult for the batsmen to score sufficient runs.

Twenty-20 cricket is a game for specialist cricketers and most cricket playing nations have now realised this. Players who are regulars in their countries test or one day squads can no longer expect to be included. In twenty over cricket, only players that can make valid contributions should be included.

The author is passionate about all forms of cricket particularly at international level. He is a contributor to the Cricket News Blog website that features all the latest cricket news and comment. He earns a living from trading all forms of cricket on the betting exchanges. He is the author of the popular Cricket Betting System which covers his methods in detail. The publication shows how to become a successful cricket trader.

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How to perform the very best cricket catches

2 best Simple But very effective cricketing drills for fielding

When it comes to playing Cricket, alot of people focus on preparing their batting and bowling skills before any match. However players tend not to focus on their fielding all that much which can really be the difference between a winning and losing side.

After all, good fielding can not only contribute to taking more wickets either by good catching techniques or making the most of a run out opportunity, but it can also contribute enormously by saving runs. We will discuss some very effective fielding drills that can help with improving your fielding techniques.

Slip Catching Drill

A fielder in the slips needs to have pretty good reflexes when it comes to taking catches that come to them. An effective slips catching drill involves a few players. One throwing the ball, another holding a cricket bat and the remaining players are there for catching the ball.

The idea is for the person holding the cricket bat to vary the angle of the bat on each throw such that the ball deflects to different players that are preparing to catch the ball.

This is an effective drill to recreate a catch in the slips.

Fielding Drill

In this case we have a wicket keeper near the stumps, a player holding the bat ready to hill the ball in the outfield, and several players queued in a line ready to field the ball. The idea here is for the wicket keeper to throw the ball to the batsmen, this player then hits the ball high into the outfield for the fielder first in line in the queue to chase down and first hopefully catch the ball.

This fielder then gets the ball and throws the ball over the stumps to the wicket keeper and goes to the back of the queue. There can be several variations to this drill, but this is a good example of high catching and throwing.

These are just two examples of fielding drills to improve your fielding skills.

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The best bowling from the fastest bowlers in the world of cricket

11 best ever fast bowlers in Cricket

In cricket's history, many bowlers terrorized and troubled batsmen with sheer speed and guile. So many past and current quick bowlers excelled at their craft that picking the best of them guarantees that some greats are omitted. To make the subjective task of picking the best easier, one must use relevant criteria. These criteria should be both subjective and objective, with due emphasis on statistics. The best fast bowlers must have:

Impressive Test statistics: Test matches are the yardstick by which fast bowlers are measured

Genuine pace: able to bowl at 140 kph/86 mph

A good career average: Below 25.00 for this list

Number of matches/ number of wickets: The best should have either at least 50 Tests or 300 Test wickets (not necessarily both)

Bowling strike rate: The best fast bowlers are genuine strike bowlers (maximum 55)

These criteria rule out good quick bowlers who played a limited number of matches and many good quick bowlers from the 19th and early 20th century. Still, the all time fast bowling eleven (who satisfy all the criteria) has instantly recognizable names in the cricket world. The best fast bowling eleven (in random order) are:

1) Glenn McGrath (Australia)

As the leading pace bowler on the all-time Test wicket-takers list (563 wickets), Glenn McGrath is indisputably one of the best. Apart from fulfilling all criteria, McGrath has regularly dismissed top batsmen of his time like Mike Atherton (19 times), Brian Lara (15 times), Sachin Tendulkar (6 times).

2) Richard Hadlee (New Zealand)

This fast bowler carried the fortune of his team on his shoulder. He took 36 5-wicket innings hauls and nine ten-wicket match hauls. His Test wicket tally of 431 wickets from only 86 Tests was phenomenal. Whether Hadlee bowled in Asia, the Antipodes or Europe, his figures in all conditions are astonishing.

3) Wasim Akram (Pakistan)

Wasim is the best fast left-arm fast bowler to have played cricket. His variations, pace and guile made him a dangerous fast bowler on any surface. This master of reverse swing was adept with both the old and the new ball- enabling him to take over 400 Test wickets.

4) Waqar Younis (Pakistan)

Known for toe-crushing in-swinging Yorkers and the ability to swing the ball both ways, Waqar Younis would even make a top-five list of best fast bowlers. His Test bowling strike rate of 43.4 puts him far above most fast bowlers on the list. That he often bowled on the flatter sub-continental pitches makes Waqar's achievements even greater.

5) Curtly Ambrose (West Indies)

This giant of West Indian fast bowling terrorized batsmen with pace and steep bounce in the 90s. Curtly Ambrose bowled with an aggression that you could discern beyond the boundary. He created bunnies out of batsmen like Mike Atherton, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh and Graeme Thorpe.

6) Imran Khan (Pakistan)

Before Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, there was Imran Khan. This fast bowler raised the bar for Pakistan fast bowlers with a series of match-winning performances. 362 wickets from 88 Test matches cements Imran Khan's place among the all-time best.

7) Malcolm Marshall (West Indies)

Malcolm Marshall was highly rated by all batsmen who faced him- including Indian batting legend, Sunil Gavaskar. As the best of the demonic West Indian fast-bowling quartet on the 80s, Malcolm Marshall's strike rate of 46.7 puts him in the fast bowling stratosphere.

8) Dennis Lillee (Australia)

Dennis Lillee's destruction of the West Indies in the 1975/76 series Down Under inspired the creation of the West Indies' fearsome fast-bowling quartet. Lillee was dangerously quick and effective. He was the fastest fast bowler to reach 300 Test wickets (by matches). His aggregate of 355 wickets from only 70 Tests declare his greatness.

9) Allan Donald (South Africa)

The 'White Lightning' from South Africa kept batsmen on their toes. His Test bowling strike rate of 47.00 in taking 330 wickets from only 72 Tests made the 'White Lightning' a daunting proposition for batsmen.

10) Joel Garner (West Indies)

Joel "Big Bird" Garner was a metronomic West Indian fast bowler. Although he did not scalp 300 Test wickets, it was because he played only 58 Test matches. His strike rate of 50.8 was impressive and he averaged 20.97 with the ball- the mark of a great fast bowler.

11) Fred Trueman (England)

Fred Trueman set the fast-bowling standard back in the 50s an 60s. He was the first fast bowler to break the 300 test-wicket mark. Even decades after he graced the field, cricket pundits mention his name as one of the greatest of all time.

Naturally, many great names are omitted from this list. The competition was so tough that Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Shane Bond and Dale Steyn- among others- are not on the final XI. However, Steyn- still an active Test cricketer in 2009- has the chance to displace another great in the near future.

And now you can read brief profiles of some of the best spinners that the game of cricket has ever seen:

http://www.helium.com/items/1516046-best-spin-bowlers-in-cricket

How Pakistan Won the 20 20 Cricket World Cup

8 Important Tips to Win at Cricket Test Match on Betting Exchange

Betting exchanges are an innovative new addition in the world of online betting industry. One great advantage of using betting exchanges is that there are no bookies, which ultimately results in notably better-priced odds.In addition, on betting exchanges, you may opt to BACK (bet on), or LAY (oppose), which means that you can be either a punter or a bookie. Betting exchanges are specifically good for betting on cricket matches.

Tips for Betting Exchanges on Cricket (Test Match):
Efforts of test match cricket players on the field offer some outstanding betting odds in betting exchanges, as cricket is a custom-made game for such type of gambling.

Tip 1 - Logically, all betting patterns on betting exchanges for cricket depend on numbers. Therefore, the more "numbers" linked with the game, the better it becomes for you to bet.

Tip 2 - To begin with cricket betting on betting exchanges, it is better to consider the most tremendously betted market in cricket, which is the runs market.

Tip 3 - At the beginning of a Test match, betting bookies will provide a market on expected runs in each innings. For example, in a summer Test match between New Zealand and England, if England wins the toss and elects to bat first, then reckoning on the prevailing climate conditions and batsmen picked, you can quote a total of 320-335 for England.Next, if you believe that England might score more than 335, buy at that sum for per run and if you believe that they might score less than 320, then sell that figure for per run.

Tip 4 - Next, if you buy and England's total score exceeds the expected 335 score, then you win the difference per run between the final total. In addition, if you trade and England scores less than 320, then also you win the difference per run between the final total.

Tip 5 - The runs market is very unpredictable. However, it is imperative to remember that the opening quote is updated constantly all through the innings. If England fails to make a good start and lose early wickets, then the opening quote might decline.

Tip 6 - Next, if they make a good start, the quote will rise. You may close your bet before time by using new quotes at any time.For example, if you buy at 335 and England makes fast 60 runs without losing any wickets in the initial 10 overs, then the opening quote will inflate to around 365-380 mark.

Tip 7 - Thereby, if you had bought at 335, you are now able to sell at 365 for a quick 30 times your bet per run profit. In addition, remember, with betting exchanges for cricket you always purchase at high and trade at low.

Tip 8 - Due to the instability feature of the runs market, opportunities keep on popping up regularly. One vital tip to remember is that, dealers on betting exchanges in cricket are at times a bit slow to respond, if a team starts losing early wickets and that too quickly.

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How Darren Gough scores a hat trick in Cricket

England Fast bowler in Cricket -- Darren Gough

Darren Gough's nicknames - Rhino and Dazzler - represent his personality as a cricketer and as a person. He was called 'Rhino' because of his aggressive, ebullient approach to life and the game of cricket. 'Dazzler' was derived from his showmanship- on and off the cricket field. Gough even won a dancing competition- unsurprising for the man who likes to 'gallery' himself and acts like the life of the party.

In his playing days for England, Darren Gough was a premier strike bowler- even when bowling in tandem with new-ball partner, Andy Caddick. Gough was just short of 6 feet, but possessed enough passion and skill to succeed on the field. He was always willing to try new things and it was his use of swing and variations that brought him many wickets at international and domestic level.

Born in Yorkshire on September 18th, 1970, Darren Gough- a proud Yorkshire man- made his First-class debut in 1989 for his native county. He went on to play 248 First-class matches for England, Essex and Yorkshire between 1989 and 2008. Gough scalped 855 wickets at an average of 27.15. He may have even fancied himself an all-rounder, having scored a First-class century and 20 half-centuries.

Gough's bowling was an asset to England- even helping the team rise from being an average team to a consistent, winning team at the turn of the 21st century. In his 58 test matches, Gough took 229 wickets at an average of 28.39. His batting was not crummy either.

Gough scored 855 runs at an average of 12.57. His first two half-centuries were scored early in his career- with his first half-century in 1994 (65 against New Zealand) remaining his best score. His counter-attacking 51 against Australia also gained him the approval of Aussie fans- who considered him an Australian at heart.

Gough also had a lengthy ODI career as well. He played 159 ODIs- a lot for an English player- and took 235 wickets at an average of 26.42. Gough's ODI economy rate is 4.39. He even managed to stay around the England team long enough to play two Twenty20 International matches for England.

A knee injury abbreviated Gough's Test career in 2003. However, he was reluctant to give up on his international career with England and continued paying the shorter form of the game. Gough's last few years in international cricket were characterised by a series of comebacks. When he was not selected for the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, Gough had to accept that his playing days were over. Ever the fighter, he remained in the headlines until he announced his retirement from the First-class game in 2008; after many successful years for county and country.

And now you can read brief profiles of some of the best spinners and fast bowlers that the game of cricket has ever seen:

The best spin bowlers in cricket history: http

How to Bowl a Googly in Cricket

How to Bowl a Googly in Cricket

The googly is a cricket delivery that turns like an off spin stock delivery but is bowled with a leg spin action. In other words it looks like a leg spin delivery but spins from the off side to the leg side. This is achieved by releasing the cricket ball from the back of the hand as opposed to the front like a normal leg spin delivery. The googly was invented by Bernard Bosanquet, an English cricket player who played during the turn of the previous century. The effectiveness of this delivery is obvious as the ball is turning in the opposite delivery as what the batsman is expecting.

The grip is exactly the same as the leg spin stock delivery. The leg spin bowling grip is the little finger and ring finger down and the middle and index finger up. Two fingers up and two fingers down and the seam running between the up fingers. The ball has to sit comfortably but firm in the hand. The ring finger is the spinning finger. The thumb can be on or off the cricket ball, whatever feels the most comfortable.

The wrist in the reverse position from what it is in the standard leg spin stock delivery. For the googly, at the point of release, the back of the wrist should face the batsman and the palm should face back to the bowler. The seam should be facing toward the leg-side in the direction of leg slip. The ball is released over the wrist out of the back of the hand.

The action is the same as the standard leg spin stock delivery. The shoulders, hip and feet should be aligned with the target. The front arm leads and steers the action and pulls down driving the action forward. As the front arm pulls down the right shoulder will come forward generating the power in the delivery. The right shoulder should rotate towards the target and finish with that shoulder facing the stumps. The googly should be bowled outside off-stump, encouraging the batsman to drive or go on the back foot to cut. The surprise of the ball spinning in the opposite direction that expected will be enough to cause the batsman to miss the ball or make a mistake.

If the pitch is turning big, it will be OK to drop this delivery short once in a while to try to get the batsman to cut the delivery. If the batsman is not picking your googly this will surprise him and there is a very good chance he will play the ball onto his wickets when trying to cut the shorter googly. Not too short, but slightly shorter than drivable length is OK on a spinning pitch. Do not bowl this delivery at the stumps as it will just continue harmlessly behind the batsman leg. The line should always be outside off stump.

A great cricket tip is to develop two googlies. One that is very easy to spot by the batsman and one that is very well hidden. Bowl the googly that is easy to spot until you are confident that the batsman thinks he can spot your googly. Then surprise him with the googly that you hide very well. He will not suspect it at all as he thinks he can pick your googly!

Checkout my site for much more information on cricket spin bowling: http://www.spinbowlingtips.com

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How to Master off spin bowling in Cricket by Shane Warne

How Shane Wayne Changed the Face of Cricket with the ball of the century

The Ball of the Century refers to the leg spin delivery that Shane Warne bowled to Mike Gatting in the 1993 Ashes series at Old Trafford, Manchester. It was the first ball Shane Warne ever bowled to the English batsmen. The ball spectacularly bowled Mike Gatting and became significant not only in the context of the match itself or even the series but in actually helping to revive the lost art of wrist spin bowling.

The UK's Channel 4 ran a poll in 2002 to find the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments. This delivery came in at number 92.

Background

The 1993 Ashes Series saw England field a full strength team again for the first time since the suspension of quite a few players touring South Africa during the Apartheid era. Australia took the Ashes Urn in the 1990/91 season but England looked to seriously challenge Australia and reclaim the Ashes.

Old Trafford tradionally favours spin bowling and England picked two spinners, Phil Tufnell and Peter Such, while Australia picked the unexperienced Shane Warne as their only spin bowler. Although Shane Warne had shown promise at the start of his career it was nothing spectacular and many experts saw wrist spin bowling as a redundant art in the modern game.

Graham Gooch sent Australia in to bat and Australia made 289 runs with Mark Taylor scoring a century. England responded well and Mike Gatting came in at number three with England on 71/1. At this point Australian captain, Allan Border, brought on the young Shane Warne. Mike Gatting was already a legend of the game and well known for his expert batting against spin. No one expected Shane Warne to cause him any trouble.

The delivery itself

Shane Warne ran up to the wicket in his slow relaxed style and delivered what seemed like a normal leg spin delivery. Initially the ball seemed to be travelling straight down the track. However, halfway in its travel the ball started to rapidly drift towards the leg side. This drift caused the ball to pitch a foot outside of leg stump. Mike Gatting simply padded up to the ball not expecting to be troubled. Even if the ball spun back he did expect to be given LBW as the ball pitched outside leg stump. However, the ball spun and bounced back so sharply that it shot past a bemused Gatting and hit the top of off stump.

The aftermath

Australia went on to win the test by 179 runs with Warne picking up the man of the match award.

Warne continued hos devastating bowling throughout the series and took 34 wickets at an average of 25.79 sharing the man of the series award with Graham Gooch.

Legacy

The ball of the century started a decade or more of dominance by the Australian cricket team. Warne went on to become a legend of the game and voted as one of the five cricketers of the 20th century. The art of leg spin also became popular again and is yet again firmly rooted in the modern game as an essential skill for any team to have.

Check out my site for a complete source on cricket spin bowling and tips. http://www.spinbowlingtips.com

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How Brian Lara scored 153 as the worlds greatest batsman in cricket

How Brian Lara became the worlds greatest batsman

Brian Lara is undoubtedly one of the best batsmen of all time and certainly one of the best of the modern era. The former left-handed West Indian batsman mesmerised cricket fans and bowlers alike with his batting ability. You know that a batsman has left an indelible mark on the game when he has a signature shot. In Lara's case, he had a few signature shots.

Brian Lara will be remembered in the cricketing world for much more than his unique, stylish batting and huge scores. As at 2010, he is the world record holder for the highest individual scores in both Test and First class innings. His Test-best is 400 not out, while his First Class best is 501. What is even more remarkable is that he reclaimed the record for the highest individual Test score mere months after Australia's Matthew Hayden captured it. So far, he is the only man in Test history to reclaim that Test batting record.

After his international debut in 1990, Lara was recognised as an emerging talent in world cricket. He stamped his authority with his maiden Test century against Australia at Sydney in 1992. He compiled a huge score of 277. The score itself wasn't the marvel for many cricket pundits. It was the way in which he dominated the Australian bowling- attacking, but never offering a chance. He was only dismissed by the run-out route- a testament to the quality of his innings.

His early fame and prima donna-like behaviour after he first broke the world record in 1994 made his relationship with cricket and fans a bittersweet one. He was revered but disliked by many. Some probably liked and disliked him simultaneously. A lot of his detractors probably never understood the kind of scrutiny and non-cricketing pressure that his worldwide fame (at age 23) brought. Brian Lara assumed the West Indies captaincy for the first time in 1998. After what he termed "moderate success and abject failures" as West Indies captain, he resigned the captaincy in the early part of the year 2000.

Lara had been the captain of the West Indies team on three occasions. Each stint ended in somewhat controversial circumstances. His last stint as captain actually ended with his resignation from international cricket at the age of 38- an age where he was still in top form. His departure came at the end of the West Indies' World Cup campaign in 2007. Lara still managed to play a couple First-class games for Trinidad and Tobago in the 2007/2008 season, where he piled on a massive score against Guyana. His season ended prematurely when Lionel Baker of the Leeward Islands team fractured his forearm with a bouncer.

Lara played for several major teams since he made his First-class debut for Trinidad and Tobago in the 1987/1988 season. His ODI debut for the West Indies came two years later against Pakistan. Other teams that Lara played for include Northern Tranvaal (RSA), Warwickshire (England), Mumbai Champs (India) and the ICC World XI.

At the end of his career, Brian Lara has healthy averages in Test, First-class and ODI matches. He also accumulated over 22,000 international runs in his 18 years of international cricket. Undeniably, Brian Lara is a living legend of the game of cricket and the greatest West Indian batsman. Whether the criterion is run scored, style or averages, Lara has to be considered as one of the top. For his cricketing exploits, he remains an inspiration to many young cricketers, particularly batsmen, in Trinidad and Tobago.

Darrell Victor is a freelance writer and former insurance advisor. To read his latest articles visit http://www.helium.com/user/show_articles/338815

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The greatest Cricketers of ALL time

9 Greatest Cricketers of ALL time

Throughout the history of cricket there have been those that were special, who were slightly different to their fellow cricketers and made the crowd sit up whenever they arrived on the pitch. Of course every game has its heroes and cricket is no exception. And every nation has its own cricketing legends that they believe were better than those of other teams. This article will introduce you to 9 of the world's great cricketers from past and present.

Imran Kahn was a great Pakistani cricketer who played at the highest level for over twenty years from his debut in 1971. He was a great all rounder who led the Pakistan team to their first world cup just before he retired. Always elegant in both action and speech he was one of the best all-rounders that the game has ever had. He is now a politician in Pakistan and the leader of a major political party. He played in 88 tests with a batting average of 37.69. He took 362 wickets with an excellent bowling average of 22.81.

Shane Warne is an Australian spin bowler who is one of, if not the, greatest spin bowler the game has ever seen. He was born in 1969 in Victoria and has played test cricket since 1990, retiring in 2007. He has taken more test wickets than any other player in history. He was also the first player to take more than 600 test wickets. He played in 140 tests and has taken 685 wickets with a bowling average of 25.25.

Gary Sobers was a highly talented cricketer who was born in Barbados in 1936. He played 93 tests for the West Indies and scored an impressive 8032 runs. He had a batting average of 57.78. He was also a very good slow left arm bowler, taking 235 test wickets, with an average of 34.03. He is best known for being the first batsman ever to score six sixes in one over in 1968 in a first class cricket match while playing for Notts against Glamorgan.

Ian Botham was a great English all-rounder. He was the scourge of bowlers with his prodigious batting ability and he was just as adept as a fast medium paced bowler. He was born in Cheshire in 1955 and played mainly for Somerset. He was very much a true all rounder as he was as good at bowling as batting. He played in 102 test matches and scored 5200 runs, with an average of 33.34 and he took 383 wickets with an average of 28.40.

WG Grace is thought by many to be the most influential cricketer the game has ever seen. He was born in 1848 at a time when cricket was not the massive sport that it is today. He is one of the reasons, with his great batting ability, that cricket became so popular. When he was out first ball at a match once, he refused to go telling the umpire that, "the crowd are here to watch me bat and not to watch you umpire!". There were not many test matches then so he played only 22 and scored 1098 runs with an average of 32.29. He took 9 wickets with an average of 26.22. This average is low even though he was playing into his late fifties!

Allan Border was born in 1955 in Sydney and was Australian captain. He still has the world record for the greatest number of uninterrupted test matches. He also had the record, at the time, for the most runs in test matches at 11174 in 156 tests. He was also one of the most prolific hitters of centuries with 27 in test matches. He also took 39 wickets with an average of 39.10.

Shaun Pollock is a South African medium fast bowler who is well known for his accuracy and reliability. He is also a very good batsman who has scored over 3406 runs in 100 test matches with an average of 31.24. He has taken 395 wickets at an average of 23.25. He is South Africa's most prodigious wicket taker in both one day international and test matches.

Viv Richards is one of the all time greats of West Indian cricket. He was a very successful captain to one of the best West Indian sides ever. He was a powerful batsman and scored an average of 50.23, scoring 8450 runs in 121 matches. He only lost 8 matches in the 50 that he captained.

Don Bradman was born in 1908 in New South Wales and was not only the best Australian but is thought, by many, to be the best batsman of all time. His batting skill was so good that the England cricket team in the 1928-1929 tests resorted to bowling at the batsmen rather than the wickets in order to try to win. This was known as the bodyline series. The dispute from this was so bad that it nearly caused a diplomatic dispute between England and Australia. He played in 52 tests and scored 6996 runs so he had an incredible average of 99.94. These statistics make him the best batsman ever.

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1st Test Match Cricket Day 1 Highlights of India vs Bangladesh

9 important dates for the Cricket Match Series Between South Africa and India

Amidst the war to retain number one position in five day test matches, India is really keen to play with its nearest competitor - South Africa. The plan was made on a very short notice. BCCI (Board of Cricket Control of India) requested South Africa board for this series. South Africa also showed its interest for the competition and they decided for a series in India.

Now, the schedule has arrived and these two nations will play two test matches and three one dayers between Jan 31 and Feb 27. They will also play couple of practice matches in the meantime.

The entire schedule follows:

Jan 31: South Africa (SA) team arrives in Mumbai

Feb 1: SA team travels to Nagpur for the first test match

Feb 2-Feb 3: SA team plays two day practice match at Nagpur

Feb 6-Feb 10: First Test Match in Nagpur

Feb 14-Feb 18: Second Test Match at Eden Gardens at Kolkata

Feb 21: First One Day International (ODI) between India and RSA in Jaipur (Day/ Night match)

Feb 24: Second ODI between India and RSA in Kanpur

Feb 27: Third ODI between India and RSA in Ahmedabad (Day/ Night match)

It is apparent that whoever wins the Test Series will retain the pride of being number one in the 5 day test matches. India has advantage of playing on home ground, but South Africa is known for their strength to challenge teams at their home turf too. We look forward for another exciting series where both the teams are likely to play with their full strength.

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5 major Spin Bowling tips to greatly improve your bowling

Learning bowling from the Cricket legends

In today's day to day unfolding world of cricket spinning and bouncing have become a common trend of Indian cricket players. Cricket is the mere game of a team and not a victory of an individual rather playing for just their own motherland. It's the combination of a bat and ball in pure terms of batsman and the bowlers. Glancing on the two parts it's the hard and solid efforts of both for steeping the ranking and purchases the accomplishment. Neither lone bat makes to conquest nor ball; it's the tough combining of the rare two in a perspective way that achieves to the goal.

A term bowling can be measured in two terms - Fast bowlers and quality spinners. From the very times Indian cricket team has been losing the quality spinners and fast bowlers. Still the dearth of bowlers never led to its down fall as its standing by effort made it to remain a supreme power.

Various bowlers depend on rate of knots, spin and flight to achieve their motive. The recognition of bowlers is certainly based on various strategies and criteria's. The criteria's may particularly include their discrepancy, past records, performance, Ever breaking hits, career events, number of matches played not to hit but to win.

There was a time when India was possessed with quality bowlers and was threatened on the vision of their retirement only. But in a usual manner, as the topmost line of every cricketer becomes "INJURY", countryside relics with no option.

A country like India has obsessed, competent, stupefying and outstanding players like Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, Bhagwath Chandrasekhar, and Anil Kumble. In the here period Harbhajan Singh has become the leading power just followed after an all rounder Anil Kumble. No doubt to the case Bhajji is not regarded as fast bowlers but ever remained a noteworthy off spinner in recounting globe of cricket.

In the here period Harbhajan singh has become the leading power just followed after an all rounder Anil Kumble. No doubt to the case Bhajji is not regarded as fast bowlers but ever remained a noteworthy off spinner in recounting globe of cricket.

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How to bowl leg-spin like Shane Warne

The 4 crucial steps to leg spin Bowling

Leg spin bowling is a style of spin bowling in cricket. It is a delivery bowled by a right hand bowler and will, after landing on the cricket pitch, spin from the leg-side to the off-side.

The grip. The leg spin grip for the normal stock ball delivery is a very simple one. The ball must be held firmly in the hand but not too tight and deep in the palm - otherwise the ball will get stuck during delivery and the bowler will generate less spin. The seam of the ball must run underneath all the fingers (opposite of a fast bowler grip). The index and middle finger must be up and on top of the ball and seam and the ring and little finger must face down. The side of the ball must rest against the ring finger. The best way to describe the leg spin grip is to hold the ball with two fingers up and two fingers down.

The action. The action for the spin bowler is as important as the grip and release. The action can be side on or a bit more open chested but the important thing is that the left arm (for a right handed bowler) arm drives the actions forward. The left arm must throw your body forward by pointing it in front of the bowler and pulling it back strongly during the delivery stride.

During the action the body must rotate so that the bowling shoulder ends up facing the batsman. This must happen whether or not the bowler is using an open chested or side-on action. The importance of this is that the bowler rotates his or her body against the landing foot in order to swivel the body. In cricket jargon this is called to pivot on the bowling foot.

The pivot. To pivot the bowler must both turn the body and push up on the toes of his or her landing foot. This does two things: It helps the bowler swivel the body against the grip on the foot - creating more turn when the ball pitch - and it also helps in the bowler releasing the ball from higher - resulting in more bounce.

The release. The whole hand must work together as one when released. Do not move some fingers independently of others. The hand and wrist must be one. The ball must be released with the seam facing upwards and aiming towards first slip.

During the release the wrist must also be cocked at the start. In other words, the arm and hand must not run in a straight line. Watch some clips of great leg spin bowlers as they start off with their run-up, the bowling wrist is always cocked. So another top cricket tip is that the bowling wrist for the leg-spinner must always be cocked as it helps to impart more spin.

A really good cricket tip you can give a young spin bowler is to tell him or her that as much of the spin is generated in the action as in the release. Another great cricket tip is that bounce is as important for a spin bowler as turn - this is why pivoting on the landing foot is so crucial.

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