World Cup will be the last assignment for Kumar Sangakkara in one-day internationals and the Sri Lankan left-hander has ensured he will sign off on a high, at least on the personal front. Sangakkara, 37, scored 104 against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday for his third consecutive hundred in the World Cup and also became the second batsman after India's Sachin Tendulkar to cross 14,000 runs in the 50-over format.Considered by many as the most elegant left-handed batsman of the current era, Sangakkara is expected to continue playing test cricket for some time and his retirement will leave a big void in the Sri Lankan batting line-up. His statistics show that in both test and one-day cricket. He's an absolute gentleman, a lovely, lovely guy."
The vast, empty and silent terraces of the Melbourne Cricket Ground lay in anticipation on Saturday for Sunday's ICC Cricket World Cup Group B game between India and South Africa to electrify the vast hordes of fans enjoying a battle royale on what looks like a bald, hard pitch.
Any optimism around Sunday's match being a competitive battle would have been looked at with disdain. But the emphatic manner in which India secured victory over Pakistan in Adelaide as well as South Africa's less than convincing show against Zimbabwe in Hamilton last week have combined to heighten expectations of a keen battle. Some amazing friendships struck on the international circuit and in the much-maligned IPL notably MS Dhoni's association with Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli's bonding with AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn will be set aside on Sunday when the teams step on the field, wearing their respective colours and singing their own national anthems.There can be no doubt that South Africa are the better side on paper, with a series of explosive batsmen like de Villiers, du Plessis, David Miller, JP Duminy and Quinton de Kock to make the most of Hashim Amla's anchoring approach, a quality bowling line-up that can test the best of teams and an eagerness to make this World Cup their own.
ICC WORLD CUP CLARKE DETERMINED TO PLAY THROUGH PAIN
After much debate and much conjecture should he be back in Australia colours at the World Cup, Michael Clarke will be at the helm. Back where he belongs. Eight hours of rehab per day for the last month and a half, the Australian captain looked lean and hungry, and may I say focussed and determined when I met him at the team hotel on Wednesday morning. While Clarke was never in need of any extra motivation when it came to his cricket, his 'brother' Phil Hughes, cricket's worst tragedy in 2014, continues to inspire him 24x7, 365 days of the year.
After much debate and much conjecture should he be back in Australia colours at the World Cup, Michael Clarke will be at the helm. Back where he belongs. Eight hours of rehab per day for the last month and a half, the Australian captain looked lean and hungry, and may I say focussed and determined when I met him at the team hotel on Wednesday morning. While Clarke was never in need of any extra motivation when it came to his cricket, his 'brother' Phil Hughes, cricket's worst tragedy in 2014, continues to inspire him 24x7, 365 days of the year.
Ready for Australia to embrace pressure
World Cup-winning captain Allan Border has urged the Australian team not to be deterred by the expectations of the fans in the ICC World Cup. Australia last co-hosted a World Cup in 1992 where the team failed to go beyond the first round. Even though the Aussie team is going into the 2015 edition as red-hot favourites, experts have suggested that playing in front of home fans may just bring undue pressure and affect the team. Border, who led Australia to their first World Cup triumph way back in 1987, believes the team will do well to understand the importance of embracing pressure. Everyone's talking about playing at home that it's a very difficult situation, the extra pressure and expectation. Because it will help you in tight situations, when the crowd's in your corner it will make a difference.
World Cup-winning captain Allan Border has urged the Australian team not to be deterred by the expectations of the fans in the ICC World Cup. Australia last co-hosted a World Cup in 1992 where the team failed to go beyond the first round. Even though the Aussie team is going into the 2015 edition as red-hot favourites, experts have suggested that playing in front of home fans may just bring undue pressure and affect the team. Border, who led Australia to their first World Cup triumph way back in 1987, believes the team will do well to understand the importance of embracing pressure. Everyone's talking about playing at home that it's a very difficult situation, the extra pressure and expectation. Because it will help you in tight situations, when the crowd's in your corner it will make a difference.
MELBOURNE MATCH BANS AT 2015 WORLD CUP
The International Cricket Council will crack down on excessive sledging between players at the World Cup, saying first offenders can expect heavier fines while repeat offenders face suspension from matches. ICC chief executive David Richardson also said players with already poor records of on-field behaviour could face immediate match bans if found guilty of a single breach of the ICC's code of conduct during the February 14-March 29 tournament.
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