Cricket World Cup 2007 (1 Viewer)

[Zé Tahir]

This event deserves its own thread. So please discuss anything related to the Cup in here. I will start by posting some articles.

Edit: If you don't like cricket, don't feel forced to enter this thread. Simple as that. If you want to know about cricket, then refer to this thread: http://www.juventuz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9641&highlight=cricket

Cheers :thumbs:

Let the games begins

 

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[Zé Tahir]

Cricket's ninth World Cup has been officially opened with a spectacular Caribbean ceremony showcasing the best of West Indies' musical talent.

The three-hour, $2 million extravaganza at the Trelawny Stadum in Jamaica featured more than 2,000 singers, dancers and other performers.

It featured key speeches from West Indies captain Brian Lara and the legendary Sir Garfield Sobers.

The same island hosts the first match of the tournament on Tuesday.

That will see the host team take on Pakistan, in refurbished Sabina Park, Kingston.

Sixteen teams will play a total of 51 matches at grounds spread around nine different Caribbean nations, with the final in Barbados on 28 April.

nternational Cricket Council president Percy Sonn said: "All cricket lovers know about the riches the players from the West Indies have brought to this marvellous game.

"It is more than appropriate that the ICC Cricket World Cup is staged here for the first time.

"The names of Garfield Sobers, Vivian Richards, Clive Lloyd, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Lance Gibbs, Sonny Ramadin, Wes Hall, Courtney Walsh and Malcolm Marshall - plus a host of others - have helped make this game what it is today, one of the most popular sports in the world."

Organiser Chris Dehring told a jubilant crowd that the tournament marked "the moment of West Indian achievement" and was the reward for years of "sweat and tears, hard work and sacrifice".

There has been criticism over construction delays at the numerous new stadia being used for the competition but Dehring insisted the venues were "the finest collection ever assembled for any cricket World Cup".

He added: "Over the next 47 days and nights the world will see why we are so proud."

Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, whose country will host matches in the second round two years after being ravaged by a second devastating hurricane in as many years, said the nine Caribbean countries had shown they could "come together as a harmonious and committed unit".

Loud cheers were reserved for Jamaica Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and the island's renowned reggae artist Sean Paul.

The night ended with the 16 competing teams taking part in a parade.

Music was very much the main element of the show, with reggae legend Jimmy Cliff and Shaggy headlining.

Bands such as Third World and Sly and Robbie featured, along with local acts from all corners of the Caribbean.

They included Trinidad's Machel Montano, Jamaica's Sean Paul, Alison Hinds - known as the first lady of soca - from Barbados and St Vincent's Kevin Lyttle.

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/west_indies/6410751.stm

 

[Zé Tahir]

The ninth Cricket World Cup gets under way on Tuesday with hosts West Indies taking on Pakistan in Jamaica.

Sixteen teams will play a total of 51 matches at grounds spread around nine different Caribbean nations, with the final in Barbados on 28 April.

Australia, winners in 2003 and 1999, start as favourites despite having lost five of their last six matches.

But BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew says it is the most open and unpredictable tournament in memory.

The teams are split into four groups of four in the first two weeks of competition, with the top two in each group going on to the Super Eight phase.

Each team will then play each other once - except the side they faced in the group stage - with the top four teams from the Super Eight progressing to the semi-finals.

Michael Vaughan's England side face New Zealand, Canada and Kenya in Group C, with their first match on Friday against the Black Caps.



And Vaughan is confident that his inexperienced side can surmount the problems that have dogged them in one-day cricket since the last World Cup.

"What we do have is a fighting quality which showed in the one-day games in Australia," he says.

"If you get momentum in one-day cricket and get things going your way and get your players used to the conditions, it can take you a long way."

Bookmakers rate South Africa, who have never even reached the final, second favourites at 4/1.

India, winners in 1983, and Sri Lanka, who beat Australia in the 1996 final, are also tipped to perform strongly.

England have been in three finals without lifting the silverware and are 8/1 to break their duck this time, the same price as hosts West Indies.

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi/cricket/6442107.stm

 

[Zé Tahir]

The Pakistan cricket team have been banned from speaking in English at World Cup news conferences to prevent players from being misquoted.

The players will speak only in Urdu, said former player Pervez Mir, the team's press liaison officer.

The decision was also taken "because 2007 is our national tourist year and we are promoting Pakistan as well," said Mir in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

"This is the perfect platform to promote and expose our language."

He added that a Pakistan player had been misquoted in Trinidad following the gas leak that led to the team being evacuated from their hotel earlier in the week.

"A journalist spoke to Danish Kaneria and asked him what he thought about the gas leak and he tried to play the incident down and said 'It happens'.

"But when the report came out the journalist quoted him saying 'It happens at home as well'.

"So we would rather avoid these kinds of incidents and speak in Urdu at official times."

The team's coach, Englishman Bob Woolmer, is not a recognised Urdu speaker, and will presumably not be bound by the rules.

Pakistan play West Indies in the World Cup opener at Sabina Park, Jamaica on Tuesday in Group D.

Ireland and Zimbabwe complete the group.

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/pakistan/6440511.stm

No comment

 

[Zé Tahir]

Date: March 13
Time: 14:30 GMT
Location: Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica

Capacity: 20,000
Floodlights: No
End names: Blue Mountains End, Headley Stand End
Home team(s): Jamaica
Current local time 09:37, Mon Mar 12, 2007 (UTC -0500)

Profile

Sabina Park, the home of the Kingston Cricket Club, is situated in the driest part of Kingston and for many years the pitch was one of the hardest and fastest in the Caribbean. But in recent years the surface slowed, despite attempts to restore life by relaying it on more than one occasion.

In terms of size, Sabina Park was relatively small, but like other major grounds in the region it underwent a major renovation ahead of the 2007 World Cup, a process that was fraught with headaches and delays. The capacity was raised from 15,000 to 20,000, still 5,000 less than the Trelawny Stadium down the coast.

Locals were worried that the unique atmosphere of the old ground would be lost amid the mass of new concrete, and the acid test will come during the tournament.

The spectacular Blue Mountains, (home of the world famous Blue Mountain coffee) form a picturesque and spectacular backdrop to the north facing the George Headley Stand, with Kingston Harbour to the south.

Sabina Park's greatest moment in Test cricket was the 365 not out made by Garry Sobers against the Pakistanis that stood for many years as the highest individual test score. Conversely its worst moment was when the England - West Indies Test in 1998 was abandoned on the opening day due to an appalling pitch endangering the players.

 

[slaminator]

Come on Pakistan!! coupla centuries from Yousef should do it

 

[HelterSkelter]

I think we'd lose to the windies,but i do expect us to do well when we reach the later stages which i think we will.

 

[HelterSkelter]

That would be the 70's and 80's run.They went downhill in the 90's.Pakistan suck at the moment too though in terms of oneday form.

 

[Azzurri7]

I havent seen lot of Cricket games, but I hope I can follow some matches during this World Cup.

 

[Red]

This may be controversial but I like Scotlands chances against Australia

I'll be supporting the Windies, Dwayne Bravo is a class act.

Hope the English get humiliated:devil:

 

[china man]

who realy cares about cricket man???haiyo

 

[Zé Tahir]

who realy cares about cricket man???haiyo

It's people like you that piss me off! Did you read the first post half-wit? If you don't like cricket, than sod off, don't spam this thread with your comments.


As for West Indies..they were a power house like Australia is today, back in the 70's. But I'm not too sure about their chances in this World Cup. I think South Africa might be one to look out for. Pakistan would have been a good side but they don't have Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar, and Asif. Then again, Pakistan is the most unpredictable side in cricket.

 

[Hambon]

Tahir are you a Spin or Fast bowler...Yaarrr..

I love it when they yell "Hoy HooooY"

 

[Zé Tahir]

I'm a spinner bro. And what they say is "How was that!??" and what they're trying to do is to appeal to the umpire. But it sounds totally different

 

[HelterSkelter]

6 and a half hours to go before the 'Kick Off'.

Its amazing how little hype cricket generates when compared to Football

 

[AzherIqbal]

Come on Pakistan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[#10]

Come on England!!!

 

[Red]

Come on Pakistan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Windies win comfortably

 

[HelterSkelter]

Expected result.Now we'd beat Zimbabwe and Ireland,but not too convincingly,and then we'd advance to the Super 8 where we'd fire on all cylinders.

Us pakis usually need a kick in the nuts to wake us up

 

[HelterSkelter]

bhanchod ka bachay saray.bund maaron saroon kee.kuti ke bachay.