‘Batting best, onus on bowlers’
Kolkata: Defending champions India have the best batting line-up and they should not lose heart after a winless build-up to the cricket World Cup, feels former speedster Javagal Srinath, who also urged the bowlers to make a difference in the mega-event. “We’ve the best batting line-up in MS (Dhoni), Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. They’re all absolute match winners and big match players. It’s a great line-up that we have,” the cricketer-turned-match referee said. Having landed in Australia in the last week of November in 2014, India are yet to win an official match and it took a World Cup warm-up game against Afghanistan on Tuesday to taste their first success.
laptops stolen from WC facility
Christchurch: New Zealand police say the theft of five laptop computers from a guarded Cricket World Cup accreditation center in Christchurch was not a security breach. Superintendent Gary Knowles told reporters at a news conference Wednesday the laptops contained “information of a very low level in relation to to vetting of volunteers and things.” He said “they contained no information that could breach security. They will not impact any way here or Australia in terms of security. They are securely passworded. We would just like to get those back.” The laptops were stolen from a building near Hagley Oval where the opening World Cup match between New Zealand and Sri lanka will be played on Saturday. The facility was being used as a base for volunteers and to issue accreditation passes.
lEhmann won’t try to curb Aussies
Melbourne: A day after the ICC vowed to crack down on excessive sledging between players at the cricket World Cup, Australian coach Darren lehmann said he will let his wards “play the game as they normally would”. “We’ll let them go play the game as they normally would. Nice, aggressive, fair and making sure they’re not crossing the line,” lehmann was quoted as saying by ‘news.Com.Au’. The tournament, in Australia and New Zealand, begins on Friday and ICC chief David Richardson yesterday said: “The penalties will be a bit more serious than before. For a first offence, you’ll likely end up with a fine which no player likes, handing back most of his match fee. “But a repeat offence will be punished with a suspension.” lehmann’s stance comes a day after New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden, who will officiate in matches at the World Cup, said there was nothing wrong with a bit of sledging as long as it was done in the right way. “You don’t want to clone them all into little choir boys. A lot of it is a lot of fun and a lot of banter,” Bowden said. “There’s all types of personalities out there. As long as it’s not aggressive or personal - there’s zero tolerance with that. Discipline, that’s where it counts - respecting the game, their opponents and umpires,” Bowden had said.
WC will depend on openers: Sohail
New Delhi: One of Pakistan’s finest opening batsmen and current chief selector, Aamer Sohail feels this World cup will heavily rely on openers and it will be challenging for them to perform under new rules on fast and bouncy pitches of Australia and New Zealand. One of the heroes of Pakistan’s 1992 title triumph, Sohail, who had scored 326 runs in 10 matches, said that good starts will be crucial for any team’s success in World Cup. “I think this WC will heavily rely on openers as they have to set the tone. It is not going to be easy for them on fast and bouncy pitches of Australia and New Zealand and they have to face two new balls under the new rules. It will be very challenging for batters,” Sohail said. When asked which team has the best opening combination in the tournament, Sohail named Australia and South Africa. “Australia and South Africa have best opening pairs and they are in form as well,” he added.
‘Bluffing key part of my bowling’
Melbourne: Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell on Wednesday said bluffing is a key weapon of his bowling and he tries to emulate spin legend Shane Warne in his bid to deceive opponents. The 26-year-old is expected to play a leading role in the co-hosts’ push for a record fifth title. “You can bluff. I think I’ve done that with my bowling beautifully,” Maxwell was quoted as saying by news.com.au. Maxwell have so far taken 28 wickets in 41 ODIs at an average of 38.03. “I don’t think I’m Shane Warne but I still seem to take wickets at some stages which is an absolute miracle to me,” he said. “If you can bluff people and exert that confidence that you are in form, it’s amazing how it turns around for you.” Maxwell said motivational pep-talks from former players Ian Healy, Geoff Marsh and Craig McDermott have inspired the team. “I can’t describe how exciting it is. Hopefully I can provide that little spark that Australia needs,” he said.
WC set for rousing start
Melbourne: The World Cup is set to start on a rousing note with capacity crowd expected at all the four venues across Australia and New Zealand over the weekend. Two matches have already sold out, while only limited tickets remain for the games in Melbourne and Hamilton, according to ICC. The tournament’s local Organising Committee chief executive John Harnden said he was delighted with the response of the fans. The tournament kicks off with double headers over the weekend. Agencies