now d best team in this world has finally got,wat they really deserve for a past 2 years.SA IS NO.1.i thnk they deserve it.bcoz they r simply outstanding in batting,bowlin,n their fieldin is outstanding.they hv d winning % more thn 90 for d 2 years.they hv beaten every team last year includin australia.A NEW ERA HAS BEGUN
RE:SOUTH AFRICA ROCKS
by Ian Chappel on Feb 19, 2007 08:01 PM
SA can't win the cup bcos they don't have the bowler like Donald nor they have world class spinner like Harbhjan or Anil...
The lake the leadership qulities of Hency Croniye(forget about the rubbish he has done off the field)...He is still the best skipper SA have ever produced..
Also the nature of slow wickets will put them on backfut!!!
RE:RE:SOUTH AFRICA ROCKS
by sweta satpathy on Feb 20, 2007 09:31 AM
u all r blindly supportin aus,ind.u all actually dont know d potential of sa.polly,nel,ntini can destroy every battin line up.and about their captain..SMITHY IS SUPERBBBBBBBBB.just wait n watch...
RE:RE:RE:SOUTH AFRICA ROCKS
by tirumala rao on Feb 20, 2007 09:30 PM
hansie is far better captain then smith. i too feel that SA is better team than AUS. Indians came very close TO OVER COME AUS,THEY DIDNT FINISH OFF REALLY ,LACK OF INCONSITENCY AND SELF BELIEF.
RE:SOUTH AFRICA ROCKS
by shah khan on Feb 19, 2007 06:18 PM
not yet buddy. Don't count Australia out yet. They are still the favourites going into the world cup. south africa always tend to choke during the world cup. Remember the last world cup and the 1999 world cup??
Hussey is better than Dhoni, there is no doubt. Hussey averages about 80 and has won many matches for his country. Dhoni still has a long way to go.
India's recent success main reason is Ganguly and Zaheer. Since their return India seems to have found confidence from their performence. Ganguly should be the captain, under his leadership India did very well.
RE:from khan
by Ian Chappel on Feb 19, 2007 07:13 PM
Agree Mr.Khan !!! But don't u agree that Dhoni's avreg and strike rate is still the best in Indian team!!! By the way I only talked about Imran and Wasim not about Waqar !!! As u said u r a fast bowler u must admit this fact that there is two kind of sportsman(not just cricketer),one who develop their skill with intence hard work and the second who have God gifted ability to play better then the first one!!! Thats the difference was between Mark Waugh(who was naturally talented) and Steve Waugh(a not naturally talented but a hard working player)!! Dhoni is first kind of player!! isn't it mate!!
RE:from khan
by Govind Raj on Feb 19, 2007 09:40 PM
Hussey and Dhoni play for two different teams. The overall strength of Australians makes the job of Hussey much easier. There are people like Hodge, White, Lee and Bracken to follow Hussey. The problem Dhoni faces very often is lack of support at the other end. If we remember the Second ODI against Sri Lanka, after the fall of Karthick, Harbhajan and Kumble not only wasted precious balls but fell playing stupid shots. All they had to do was get singles by hook or crook. India's chronic problem is the brainless batting of our middle and lower order when faced with some target. If only Pathan, Agarkar and Zaheer show some kind of guts to hold on, Dhoni can be as effective as Hussey. If we have to compare any Indian batter to Hussey, it is Yuveraj. He is more likely to be the fulcrum of our middle order batting during the WC-07 But yes, Hussey is a more finished product whereas Dhoni has perhaps another year or so to reach the level of Yuveraj or Hyssey.
Mates !!! I think this time in the world cup we will see the clash of two greatest newcomer talent..!!
For Hussey what can any one say I think he is far better then Bevan becos he not only fight till the end but also he got the range of shots which Bevan don't have !!!!
I think Aussies are very unfortunate to miss the player like him for so many years, once because of Mark and Steve and after bcos of Bevan !!!!
I will not go into the stats because I believe in Sidhu's words that they r like bikini which reveal more then hide%u2026..!!! I believe in players ability to finish matches !!!!
Indian wicketkeeper MS Dhoni is really a tremendous talent like Hussy, Don't u think India or it will be bit exaggerated comment that subcontinent has find this kind of natural talent only after Imran, Wasim Akram, Kapil dev or Tendulkar..???? I know it is too erly to compare him with these legends but I have a gut feeling that he deserve that comparison because he is that better player !! isn't it !!
If u go into the stats I know only one stats that in one day batting ratting(since it started), no player(exept Tendulkar) reach the milestone of No. 1 spot in that short time. He still hang on there in top three positions!!!
His match finishing abilities and confidence In himself is amazing and it's more amazing to see Indian and Australian teams relying on both these newcomers as if they r seasoned one!! It shows the ability of these players!!!
I think this kind of players comes in centuries!!!
RE:game of uncertainty
by Ian Chappel on Feb 19, 2007 07:48 PM
Ya mate!! But they can't win the cup !!! Only 1 of the top eight teams will win the cup...
its just a mind game if u are confident that u can beat some one the noting can stop from beating any tea in this world may be australia or some on else
All my dear friends & cricket fans - Lot of people attacked Ian as you can see from the last few pages. But Ian is right. Simply defending our team will not make our team work. The selectors, politicians and the media to blame. Dont worry about the performance of Australia; worry about yourself. A series win against Sri Lanka does not speak anything. You big dreamers fail to understand till today all our star batsmen (Saurav, Rahul, Tendulkar, etc.) are still behaving like underdogs with no consistency. Look at SA and Australians, they have less failures than Indian batsmen. They fail to perform consistently and unless there is an element of luck, the current Indian team will not see the semi-finals. I feel very sorry for the Coach, Greg Chappel... Kudos to Ian Chappel for exposing the Indian side. and THANK YOU.
RE:Let us rethink on our rhetoric - Rahul Menon
by nithyanandhan on Feb 19, 2007 02:44 PM
Dear Rahul,
Atleast to try to think possitive about our team. Such a people like u in india always talking like this. Try to be in the ground with the thousands audians lets see how u r reacting.
RE:RE:Let us rethink on our rhetoric - Rahul Menon
by ALIRIO SALDANHA on Feb 19, 2007 03:23 PM
What will "Atleast to try to think possitive about our team" do to the team? Think Day Dreams, Wet Dreams, which ever way you want to think, it ain't gonna do our roller-coaster team no good, friend!
I kept on THINKING POSITIVE (with eyes wide OPEN, and fully awake too)in that 2nd Lanka match, and they lost by 5 runs. Singles, singles, singles, Dhoni the smasher, think positive, next ball 4, next ball 6er! Could not finish the game.
One day up, one day down, and next day OUT!
"Try to be in the ground with the thousands audians lets see how u r reacting."
V are in the ground, with the whole team, Veeru, Vengsarkar, and the rest of the Venerable Team, including thousands audians. All of us are THINKING POSITIVE.
RE:Let us rethink on our rhetoric - Rahul Menon
by Prabhat on Feb 19, 2007 04:11 PM
thats why ganguly was adjuged the man of the series.forget going to semis the team will win the world cup.robin uttapa,yuraj singh,virender shewas and the trio u mentioned will do very well.
RE:Let us rethink on our rhetoric - Rahul Menon
by shah khan on Feb 19, 2007 05:14 PM
What should India do, give up. World cup matches are always surprising, anything can happen. I do think tendulker doesn't perform well in big matches but they are still good. Support India, they have good chance.
Every team can be beaten even the aussies. But the aussie team has awesome record for the last decade. But they are still the favourite for the world cup. Under Ricky ponting they will be tough. But I think India have good chance, I don't think India has beaten Aussie many times during the world cup.
the so called bench strength seems to be weak for the aussies. absence of three frontline players means a third rate aussie team?. to lose two matches consecutively (mind! one a ten-wicket win and another a record run chase) means there is some trouble. aussies have been reduced to mortals and i believe they r beatable.
RE:where is the bench strength?
by sameerbhaga on Feb 19, 2007 02:04 PM
Here it is. Except for hussey others arent regular as yet B Haddin c and b Vettori 49 61 5 2 80.33 *M Hussey c Taylor b McMillan 105 84 8 6 125.00 (as a captain) B Hodge not out 97 86 10 2 112.79 C White not out 42 19 3 2 221.05
This time it didnt happen, but in bolwing as well they ve got the bench strength. In another 2/3 games tait and co will get there
RE:RE:where is the bench strength?
by sivaram kumar on Feb 19, 2007 02:36 PM
u mean to say, the frontline let aussie down? that's an interesting fact, that i didn't notice. take a bow!
RE:end
by vijay baskar on Feb 19, 2007 01:09 PM
never that will happen dude ! They are the all time hero in cricket..jus remember they miss all frontline players in the series here..else kiwis are kicked away..the same kiwis were smashed just a month before by the orignial australian team.. the main backbone is resting..what they have beaten is just a part of the body of a giant called australia
RE:RE:end
by Tariq Zishaan on Feb 19, 2007 01:38 PM
why do you forget this that when ENG beated Aus in the CB series finals they had all their frontline players playing only Symonds was missing......... Now what you have to say ??
RE:RE:RE:end
by vijay baskar on Feb 19, 2007 02:16 PM
i do agree australis can lose once in blue moon..like what india wins once in blue moon..buttelling australis is all over is not a proper word for the legends
RE:RE:RE:end
by raj arora on Feb 19, 2007 07:15 PM
Tariq why do people make so much noise when the Aussies lose 4 games in a row look at their win rate its 75 percent,other teams have so many losses yet no one makes any comments ,the Aussies are fighters and deep down below ,every one knows they gonna be back ,hence every one enjoying for the moment.If they champs they champs no two ways about it.
Winning big games is an art mates !!! Aussies know this art very well !!! There was a time when WI knows this art so they dominated that era !!! Even Pakistanies know this art when Imran and Miandad played in their team !!!
SA doesn't know this art that's why they have choked in big games !!!
U got to believe the mindset of winning big games is totally different from winning other matches !!! Ask any great names wether it is Clive loyad, Imran Khan or Steve Waugh . All these players and there teams know this art of winning big game !!! They will always say "skill can't make any big difference because the team u r playing is equally good skill wise"!!! The only difference is thinking that I CAN WIN and I WILL WIN and u have to raise the level of games which somehow Indians and South Africans not able to do dispite being a brilliant teams !!!!
Aussies KNOW they WILL win and Indians THINK they CAN win !!!!
But I guess India can turn the tables this time after their previous experiences in world cup final !!!!
RE:Winning Big Games is an Art !!!!
by ALIRIO SALDANHA on Feb 19, 2007 12:28 PM
Intelligent writing mate Ian Chaps! I like brains.
Comment of the day : "Aussies KNOW they WILL win and Indians THINK they CAN win !!!!"
You could help your Bro.Greg a bit, with some aussie wisdom! Maybe it is that Greg is too subjective, being embroiled in indian crico-politico, and you are very objective sitting in the commentary box. A word with him off and on, will do Team India good.
To sum up what you said : That's why the Aussies have that spunk called -KILLER INSTINCT!
And let no one have doubts about their bench-strength. Within no time, after the old trusted horses are gone, watch the young blooded colts show their fire power.
Here we have to give the Shewags 25 chances to come good, and he was the vice-captain of the team! Gangs had to stay away from the game for 18 months! And Sachs has slowed down - everyone must agree. He is no longer that old fiery self. More reserved and circumspect in his play. Of course, on his day, he will still sing a swan song.
Let's hope that they can turn the tables on themselves! Come on India - show them you THINK that you CAN win!!!!
RE:RE:Winning Big Games is an Art !!!!
by Ian Chappel on Feb 19, 2007 05:34 PM
Thanks mate ALIRIO!! I guess u also think openly and out of box like me!!! I always belive and I guess u must believe it too that if u r unbiased and think from mind rather than hart u will always find things more interesting and u can easily see the truth!! isn't it mate!!!
RE:Winning Big Games is an Art !!!!
by sweta satpathy on Feb 19, 2007 05:54 PM
hey u actually cont know d potential of south african team.they r d best.
RE:Winning Big Games is an Art !!!!
by sweta satpathy on Feb 19, 2007 05:54 PM
hey u actually cont know d potential of south african team.they r d best.
RE:Winning Big Games is an Art !!!!
by sweta satpathy on Feb 19, 2007 05:55 PM
hey u actually cont know d potential of south african team.they r d best.
RE:RE:Winning Big Games is an Art !!!!
by Ian Chappel on Feb 19, 2007 07:57 PM
SA can't winthe cup bcos they don't have the bowler like Donald nor they hav world class spinner like Harbhjan or Anil...
The lake the leadership qulities of Hency Croniye(forget about the rubbish he has done off the field)...He is still the best skipper SA have ever produced..
Also the nature of slow wickets will put them on backfut!!!
RE:Winning Big Games is an Art !!!!
by Amit Sharma on Feb 19, 2007 12:18 PM
You are absolutely right in saying that.Self belief is the thing that creates wonders. As you said correctly Indian team believes that "It can win the game" and not "It will win the game".
This is where the difference lies, between a great team and an ordinary team.
