The Reverse Sweep

Arrogant ICC takes the magic out of the World Cup by killing the Associates

 

To make a dreadful decision once that provokes an outcry of disgust from the people that follow your sport is bad enough.

To do it again having seemingly agreed to review your erroneous decision is not only unforgivable but downright arrogant and stupid.

Everyone agrees that the Cricket World Cup is too long and that the last three editions have had too many meaningless matches.

But getting rid of the Associate nations and depriving them even of the chance to try and qualify for the tournament is not the answer.

It is the decision of a corrupt, out of touch and money grabbing organisation that wants to make the World Cup an exclusive old boys network – if you are not a full member you will be summarily removed and evicted for a minimum of eight years.

As we’ve written before, one of the ICC’s main objectives should be to spread the game of cricket worldwide.

Instead the decision to limit participation in the next World Cup to its 10 full members effectively makes cricket a closed shop.

Some of the most memorable moments in World Cup history have seen David upset Goliath.

Sri Lanka beat India in 1979 and were subsequently awarded Test status. In 1983, Zimbabwe stunned Australia at Trent Bridge. Kenya beat West Indies in 1996 and then triumphed over Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe en route to the semi-final in 2003.

And who can forget Ireland? In the last two tournaments they have beaten Pakistan, Bangladesh and England as well as achieving a tie with Zimbabwe – who they are actually higher than in the ICC’s own ODI rankings.

Of course it was Ireland’s success in 2007 as well as Bangladesh surprising India that has inadvertently caused the ICC to act in this heinous manner.

The ICC was not prepared to tolerate the likes of India and Pakistan being knocked out in the group stages.

It hit them where it hurts grubby administrators most – in the pocket.

Hence the two groups of seven in the recently completed World Cup.

Even if one of the Associates managed to surprise a full member – as Ireland memorably did to England, the chances of them progressing to the quarter-finals were still thin as they would need to beat at least one other full member.

It’s called taking the magic out of the cup.

The ICC should expand the tournament not contract it.

It’s quite simple really. Four groups of four with the top two in each group going through to the quarter-finals.

Not only does it help spread the wonderful game of cricket worldwide, it also produces a shorter tournament with 31 matches instead of the 49 we had this time.

And it means every game matters.

By losing to Ireland, England would probably have been knocked out if they had been in a group of four. And they would have deserved it.

So instead of seeing the story of Irish cricket develop and the probable debut of Afghanistan in the World Cup (and who wouldn't shed a tear if that happened), we will be subjected to a members only dirge.

It stinks.

So, please follow the advice of cricketwithballs and tell the ICC exactly what you think about their shameful decision. You can contact them by email at [email protected] or you via Twitter @cricketicc.

Go on, your World Cup depends upon it.

Where next?

Our best XI of the 2011 World Cup

Bruce Springsteen was born to run, MS Dhoni was born to lead

Netherlands 1 ICC 0

REVEALED: The ICC's plans for the 2015 Groundhog Day Cricket World Cup 

An XI of unlikely World Cup heroes and a not so heroic 12th man

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Our best XI of the 2011 World Cup

 
As the celebrations in India doubtless continue, it is time to select our Reverse Sweep World Cup 2011 XI based on performances over the six years weeks of the tournament:

Virender Sehwag (380 runs at 47.50, 1 100, 1 50, SR 122.58)

He may not have scored as many as others, but the impact of his runs was the most dramatic. In our view, Sehwag’s whirlwind cameo in the semi-final in the end proved the difference between the sides.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (500 runs at 62.50, 2 100s, 2 50s, SR 90.74; 8 wickets at 15.75 ER 4.06)

The tournament’s leading run scorer takes his place as the apprentice in our opening partnership to Sehwag’s sorcerer. Dilshan’s bowling was more than useful too – just ask Andrew Strauss – and he ended up with only one fewer wicket and a better economy rate than Harbhajan Singh.

Sachin Tendulkar (482 runs at 53.55, 2 100s, 2 50s, SR 91.98)

Is it sacrilegious to push the Little Master down the order to accommodate our choice of opening partnership? Maybe, but Tendulkar is clearly good enough to bat anywhere and is the ultimate team man. His longevity is astounding.

Kumar Sangakkara (465 runs at 93.00, 1 100, 3 50s, SR 83.78)

King Kumar was serenity personified throughout the tournament and he captains our side (although it was a wrench to leave out Dhoni). Is there a more underrated batsman in world cricket?

Mahela Jayawardene (304 runs at 50.66, 2 100s, 1 50, SR 100.00)

His impeccable hundred in the final leapfrogged Jayawardene above AB De Villiers in our XI. A great strike rate and but for the prolific Sri Lankan top three restricting his time at the crease, would have scored more runs in the tournament.

Yuvraj Singh (362 runs at 90.50, 1 100, 4 50s, SR 90.50; 15 wickets at 25.13, ER 5.02)

Lazarus. A cricketer reborn. And a decent pick as the player of the tournament. Yuvraj left his annus horribilis of 2010 behind to take the World Cup by the scruff of the neck. Without his masterful composure in the quarter-final against Australia, India would have suffered an ignominious exit. Also proved to be more than the pie chucker he was famously tagged by Kevin Pietersen.

Shahid Afridi (21 wickets at 12.85, ER 3.62; 84 runs at 12.00)

His batting was dire, but his excitable captaincy and devastating leg breaks galvanised Pakistan and propelled them to the semi-finals. He may not have added to his wicket tally in Mohali, but his incredible haul and impressive economy rate mean his selection for this side was automatic.

Dale Steyn (12 wickets at 16.00, ER 4.15)

This lionheart deserved better than to be part of a fragile side that reverted to type in the quarter-final against New Zealand. Others may have opted for Brett Lee, Umar Gul, Tim Southee or Kemar Roach who all had impressive tournaments, but none of these could have turned the game around against India as Steyn did in their group game.

Zaheer Khan (21 wickets at 18.76, ER 4.83)

Tied with Afridi as the tournament’s leading wicket taker and initially carried the Indian attack on his shoulders until his influence had a more positive effect on those around him in the knockout stages. Equally as dangerous at the start, middle and end of an innings and a master of reverse swinging the white ball.

Lasith Malinga (13 wickets at 20.76, ER 5.54)

Malinga was expensive at times, but was always a threat with that unplayable yorker and subtle changes of speed. So close to being the hero in the final when snaring Sehwag and Tendulkar, and always likely to get you a wicket.

Muttiah Muralitharan (15 wickets at 19.40, ER 4.09)

The final proved a match too far for Murali’s battered and bruised body, but even on one leg Murali still had a stunningly influential World Cup and the departing hero just pips Imran Tahir and Ray Price for the final spot in our XI.

Where next?

Who writes Muttiah Muralitharan's scripts?

The renaissance of Yuvraj Singh

An XI of unlikely World Cup heroes and a not so heroic 12th man

Bruce Springsteen was born to run, MS Dhoni was born to lead

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Mahendra Singh Dhoni - A born leader

 
History is littered with examples of abysmal leaders: Edward II and Henry VI were catastrophically bad English Kings, Gordon Brown a dismal Prime Minister, and in cricket Ian Botham was a particularly poor England captain. 

MS Dhoni is an entirely different case. Put simply, the Indian captain is a born leader.

Many thought him a brash and unlikely captain when he replaced Anil Kumble as skipper across all formats, but they have been proved comprehensively wrong.

Leadership has matured Dhoni. His own performances have been generally of a high standard, and the positive impact he has had on his troops is obvious. For one, India have developed a resilience that was hitherto non-existent.

He had already captained India to the inaugural World T20 crown in South Africa in 2007 and since then led them to the number one ranking in Test cricket; he even captained Chennai Super Kings to the IPL crown in 2010.

But have no doubt, trying to lead India to the World Cup in their own country was his biggest task yet.

Every move, word or action he has made over the last six weeks has been scrutinised by a critical Indian press and one billion fervent supporters.

Promoting himself above Yuvraj Singh in the batting order in yesterday's final was an extremely bold move. The game was in the balance and Yuvraj had been the Player of the Tournament - already winning four man of the match awards. Dhoni's own form with the bat had been scratchy.

But good leaders take responsibility. And that is exactly what Dhoni did. He played himself in and then launched into his trademark flamboyant strokeplay. In the end, it was fairly routine for India and the six that finished the game was clearly a tremendous release for Dhoni.

Bruce Springsteen was born to run, Dhoni is emphatically born to lead.

Where next?

Cricket Heroes: Mahendra Singh Dhoni

An XI of unlikely World Cup heroes and a not so heroic 12th man

The renaissance of Yuvraj Singh

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Sri Lanka vs India in the World Cup Final - Preview and Prediction

 
Back before the World Cup started, which seems like 1995, The Reverse Sweep predicted that India and Sri Lanka would meet in the final - see the links at the bottom of this post if you don't believe us!

It’s not often we get things right here at The Reverse Sweep, so the fact that we did on this occasion leaves us feeling slightly too smug and self-satisfied.

Even Bollywood couldn’t have scripted it any better: Sachin Tendulkar will go for his 100th international hundred in the World Cup final in his home city of Mumbai whilst Muttiah Muralitharan plays his final international match.

So who will be smiling come Saturday evening? Sachin or Murali?

We tipped Sri Lanka to win the trophy beforehand and the form of their top four means we could end up being right. Dilshan is the leading run scorer in the tournament and Sangakkara and Tharanga are fourth and fifth respectively. If the top four don't fire though, there isn't much to follow.

Sangakkara also has the most balanced attack in the competition available with Malinga’s pace and yorkers dovetailing with the wily spin of Murali, Mendis and co.

However, Angelo Mathews has been ruled out of the final – and even though cricketwithballs will doubtless claim that because he doesn’t exist, it won’t matter; Mathews is actually a key member of the side.

Although India have an injury concern with Nehra, they look in good shape coming into the final. But can they cope with the added pressure of winning on home soil – something no other host in World Cup history has achieved?

Sachin and Sehwag are crucial for them. If Sachin does register his 100th hundred the other players will visibly relax, and if Sehwag gets going then Sri Lanka will be in real trouble especially with the likes of an in-form Yuvraj to follow.

India’s bowling has been a bit hit and miss, but was much improved in the semi-final and Zaheer Khan is an inspirational leader of the attack.

It will probably come down to the fine margins and the toss could prove crucial – without stating the bleeding obvious, chasing under lights to win a World Cup would be a tall order for either side if the other has put decent runs on the board.

But we’ll stick with our original prediction and tip Murali to win the day over Sachin – whatever happens, let’s hope it’s a classic.

Where next?

India: Glory or effigies?

Sri Lanka: Will lightning strike twice?

An XI of unlikely World Cup heroes and a not so heroic 12th man

The renaissance of Yuvraj Singh

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

World Cup Podcast: Preview of final and England autopsy

 
The Reverse Sweep was delighted to take part in this week's 'One Hand, One Bounce' podcast organised by our good friends at World Cricket Watch in Melbourne.

After picking through the bones of England's ignominious exit, we surmised what may happen with the England ODI captaincy. We also covered the resignation of Ricky Ponting, yet another choke by South Africa and previewed tomorrow's World Cup Final between India and Sri Lanka.

If you fancy a listen, click on the Play button below...

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Don’t miss a single episode of the One Hand One Bounce Podcast. Automatically get each new episode by subscribing via iTunes or subscribing to the RSS feed.

Where next?

Ashes Podcast: Two Poms vs Two Aussies - Part 1

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Who writes Muttiah Muralitharan's scripts?

 
Not content with taking his 800th wicket with his final ball in Test cricket, Murali took a wicket with his final ball in an ODI on Sri Lankan soil against New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final today.

Who writes Murali’s scripts indeed. Whoever wins the second semi-final between India and Pakistan may as well not turn up for the final.

Where next?

800 wickets for Murali - what a way to go

World Cup Team previews: Part 10 - Sri Lanka: Will lightning strike twice?

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

India vs Pakistan in the World Cup Semi-Final - Who will we be supporting?

 
Tomorrow’s semi-final between India and Pakistan is about as big a game of ODI cricket that it is possible to get.

With England finally being put out of their misery in this World Cup, The Reverse Sweep will be able to watch the action unfurl tomorrow as a complete neutral.

It should be a cracker.

The key duel will be between India’s batsmen and Pakistan’s varied and canny bowling line-up.

Indeed, we’ve written a post before surmising that an XI combined of India’s batsmen and Pakistan’s bowlers would be pretty unstoppable.

Obviously MS Dhoni rather than Kamran Akmal would wear the gloves.

Apart from a few overs against New Zealand, Pakistan have been magnificent in this World Cup with Shahid Afridi being both bowler supreme and a galvanising force as captain.

And they have done it without two of their best bowlers and their most experienced opening batsman.

It would be like India being without Tendulkar or Sehwag and Zaheer and Munaf Patel – okay Indian fans would probably be quite happy to be shot of Munaf.

And it is for this reason that we’ll be supporting Pakistan tomorrow. They are the clear underdog. They are the away side. And the renegade and mischief maker in us quite likes the idea of Shahid Afridi lifting the World Cup trophy.

As we said, it should be a cracker.

Where next?

Historic India-Pakistan summit flounders due to cricket diplomacy 

Revealed: New Pakistan Player Code of Conduct

Cricket Zeroes: Salman Butt

The renaissance of Yuvraj Singh

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

South Africa choke in the World Cup - Part V

 
Whilst credit should go to New Zealand for ruthlessly exposing the mental fragility and brittleness of the opposition, this had to be the worst choke of all in a World Cup history littered with chokes for South Africa.

To put it bluntly, South Africa couldn’t have self-asphyxiated any better if they had all been wearing suspenders, put oranges in their mouths and tied a belt around their throats.

South Africa has still to win a knockout match in the World Cup.

In 1992, they were plain unlucky.

In 1996 they won their group and were then stunned by the fourth placed team from the other group in the quarter final (sounds familiar?). But in their defence, it took a hundred by Brian Lara at the peak of his powers to defeat them.

Three years later they had two chances to extinguish Australia. Herschelle Gibb’s infamous drop and a superlative hundred from Steve Waugh in the first game and keystone cops running between the wickets by Allan Donald and Lance Klusener in the semi-final saw the Proteas splutter once again.

When they hosted the tournament in 2003, South Africa exited at the group stages after fatally misunderstanding Duckworth Lewis.

And then in 2007, it was old nemesis Australia again in the semi-final and a right royal thrashing.

But even with that chequered history, Friday was something special.

South Africa were on easy street at 108/2 with only 114 needed from 26 overs.

They faced a New Zealand attack of Nathan McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram and Tim Southee; which with all deference to Vettori is hardly the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Even when Jacques Kallis was out, South Africa should have eased to victory.

But they didn’t.

What unfurled can only be described as mental disintegration. How else can you explain the run out of AB De Villiers?

And that is why the South African cricket team will continue to be tagged as chokers.

Sounds fair enough to us.

Where next?

Lay off England after World Cup proves a bridge too far

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

World Cup Zeroes: Herschelle Gibbs

South Africa: Don't mention the 'C' word...

An XI of unlikely World Cup heroes and a not so heroic 12th man

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Lay off England after World Cup proves a bridge too far

Two days later and England’s thumping defeat against Sri Lanka in the World Cup quarter final doesn’t feel any better.

Defeat by ten wickets with 63 balls still remaining is about as comprehensive as it gets.

Whilst England’s batsmen looked like they were batting on treacle, Dilshan and Tharanga never looked in any trouble as they cruised to victory.

The recriminations are in full swing. Whispers about Strauss’ future as ODI captain and the wholesale replacement of others abound.

The painful truth is that England simply weren’t good enough. They blundered through the group stages and failed to put in even one commanding performance.

But whilst the likes of Willis, Botham and Boycott will no doubt baulk at the idea, England never had a chance of success at this World Cup because of the ridiculous poisoned chalice of a schedule they were handed this winter.

Sure, England lacked match-winners and key players like Anderson underperformed, but these guys were dead on their feet.

Whoever agreed to a schedule that saw some players spend just three days at home between arriving back from Australia and embarking to the holding camp in Dubai for the World Cup needs to be summarily sacked.

Lest it not be forgotten, England won an Ashes series down under for the first time in 24 years this winter. The successful campaign was meticulously planned and ruthlessly executed.

But not unsurprisingly, these efforts had a physical, mental and emotional strain on the players.

Fatigue leads to injuries and England’s one day squad doesn’t have the strength in depth to cope with the absence of the likes of Broad, Pietersen and Shahzad.

Of those that remained, Anderson was a virtual imposter such was the emptiness of his tank and the likes of Bell, Prior and Swann all fell significantly from the peaks they reached during the Ashes series.

Perhaps with hindsight, England’s first choice players should have flown home for a much needed break immediately after the Ashes series finished in Sydney.

Then a second-string ODI squad could have battled for the final World Cup squad places in the utterly pointless seven match series with Australia.

But contracts between the cricket boards of Australia and England doubtless prevented that.

The schedule is not an excuse for England’s failure, but it is a reason. England aren’t good enough at ODI cricket either – especially in a World Cup in sub-continental conditions, which negated their main strengths further.

But before casting stones at Strauss, Flower and co, do remember that the main prize this winter – the urn – has been secured and whilst yet another World Cup campaign has ended in disappointment, it was always going to be a bridge too far.  

Where next?

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

Heroes: Bob Willis

An XI of unlikely World Cup heroes and a not so heroic 12th man

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

The renaissance of Yuvraj Singh

 
2010 was an unadulterated disaster for Yuvraj Singh. Injury, loss of form and gluttony led to him losing his place in the Indian Test side, a disastrous season with Kings XI Punjab and questions as to his place in the Indian World Cup squad.

Indeed 2010 wasn't just a bad year for Yuvraj; it was an annus horribilis.

Yuvraj's troubles didn't go unnoticed at The Reverse Sweep and we wrote a post accusing him of being over-rated, arrogant and with an ego the size of Jupiter.

Whilst we stand by with most of what we wrote - especially where Test cricket is concerned - let's give credit where credit is due, Yuvraj has been absolutely outstanding in this World Cup.

It's difficult to imagine a more pressurised situation than the one that confronted Yuvraj in yesterday's quarter-final with Australia. When Dhoni fell, India still required 74 runs off 75 balls with just five wickets left. With the last recognised batsman Raina joining him at the crease, the onus was on Yuvraj to lead India home. Defeat would have led to the usual recriminations and burning effigies.

But Yuvraj took it all in his stride. He cajoled Raina to produce the goods, led from the front himself and he used his arrogant demeanour to stunning effect.

As it stands, Yuvraj is arguably the player of the tournament of the World Cup thus far. He is the fourth highest run scorer with 341 runs at 113.66 with one hundred and four fifties from his six innings. And with the ball, Yuvraj has been India's outstanding bowler after Zaheer Khan with 11 wickets at 25 at an economy rate of just under five runs per over.

No one would have predicted that Yuvraj would be in the running for the player of the tournament, not even his biggest supporter - namely himself.

Where next?

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

The worst Test XI of 2010

Ricky Ponting's "up yours" message to Cricket Australia

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Ricky Ponting's "up yours" message to Cricket Australia

 
Like many other blogs, The Reverse Sweep has not missed the opportunity to poke fun recently at Ricky Ponting’s expense.

Whether it has been form slumps, spats with umpires, smashed televisions or his general Mr Grumpy demeanour, Ponting has provided plenty of material over the last few months.

But let’s be clear, we have the utmost respect for Ponting here at The Reverse Sweep whom we rate as the best Australian batsman since Bradman.

His powers may have receded somewhat with age, but his appetite for a scrap remains undiminished.

We enjoyed his hundred today in the World Cup Quarter-Final. It was a real “up yours” response to the cowards within Cricket Australia.

It was an innings of grit and courage that is simply beyond the capabilities of his likely successor – the precious metrosexual Michael Clarke.

And it could yet lead to effigies being burnt across India tonight.

But even if Australia loses today to relinquish their crown and Ponting his captaincy, then at least he will have the satisfaction of having had the final word.

Good on you Punter. 

Where next?

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

India: Glory or effigies?

The real reason why Ricky Ponting smashed that television

Michael Clarke joins Linkin Park?

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

What have we learned so far from the Cricket World Cup?

 
Finally, it is over. The Hundred Years War lasted for less time than the group stages of the World Cup; or so it seemed anyway.

But what have we learned so far?

• No-one seems to want to win the tournament – there is no outstanding side and several mediocre ones
• South Africa look the best balanced team and appear to be marginal favourites – but can they win their first knockout match ever in a World Cup? Or will the ‘c’ word raise its ugly head again?
• England are the most exciting, entertaining and unpredictable side in the tournament – eat your heart out, Pakistan.
• Shahid Afridi has proved to be a much better captain and galvanising force than anyone could ever have predicted.
• Given the batting collapses against England, South Africa and West Indies, India seem to be feeling the pressure of winning on home turf.
• Love him or loathe him, but Ricky Ponting is probably only one defeat away from retirement.
• Two groups of seven was a very bad idea. Keep the minnows and have four groups of four instead.
• England are the only side left in the competition who are unbeaten against the other quarter-finalists – just don’t mention Ireland and Bangladesh.
• Being the coach driver of the victorious opposition is an extremely hazardous vocation in Bangladesh.
• Don’t bowl filth to Ross Taylor and expect to get away with it.
• Ryan ten Doeschate is the next South African on Andy Flower’s wish list.
• George Dockrell is the next Irishman on Andy Flower’s wish list.
• You wouldn’t want a wounded Kevin Pietersen next to you in the trenches.
• Matt Prior is not a good choice to open the batting.
• James Anderson is knackered.
• Bob Willis and Jonathan Trott are not on each others Christmas Card list
• Asking Graeme Swann to bowl with a wet ball is worse than telling him that his cat is stuck under the floorboards.
• Kamran Akmal really is the worst wicketkeeper in the history of cricket.
• This World Cup is very difficult to predict, but here goes. Pakistan, India, South Africa and England (it would be folly to bet against them at the moment and yes, we know we predicted Sri Lanka would win the World Cup at the outset) to make the semi-finals.

Where next?

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

Heroes: Bob Willis

Zeroes: Kamran Akmal

An XI of unlikely World Cup heroes and a not so heroic 12th man

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Save Shiv

 
West Indies may have scraped into the quarter-finals of the World Cup, but there can’t be much confidence that they will progress any further – even if their next opponents are unpredictable Pakistan.

Darren Sammy’s side should have beaten England and India, having fought back to get into winning positions in both matches.

We’re still scratching our heads here at the Reverse Sweep at the way West Indies handed England a World Cup lifeline – it’s not often that you see a team needing 22 runs off 52 balls losing their last four wickets for two runs.

Yesterday’s defeat against India wasn’t quite as dramatic, but it still featured another horrendous batting collapse.

At 154 for two, West Indies needed less than a run a ball off of the last 20 overs.

It should have been a routine win, but the wicket of Devon Smith precipitated a collapse that saw the last eight wickets fall for just 34 runs.

If Smith had been replaced at the crease by Shivnarine Chanderpaul, then it is likely that West Indies would have sauntered to victory.

But Chanderpaul was inexplicably left out of the side against England and India.

So now the tail effectively starts at five with Kieron Pollard.

Pollard is great against weak attacks when a few quick runs are required in the latter overs, as evidenced by the carnage he inflicted on the Irish and Dutch bowlers.

But he is probably the last batsman you want coming in against Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh when what is required is a no frills approach and plenty of ones and twos.

Chanderpaul provides this in spades; Pollard doesn’t.

Chanderpaul may not have had a great World Cup thus far, but West Indies can ill afford to leave him out.

If they get into a similarly good position against Pakistan, then it is a good bet that Chanderpaul would lead them over the winning line.

The ‘Save Shiv’ campaign starts today.

Where next?

Read about our cricket heroes and zeroes

Heroes: Darren Sammy

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

An XI of unlikely World Cup heroes and a not so heroic 12th man

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

An XI of unlikely World Cup heroes and a not so heroic 12th man

 
We had a go at naming a composite Associates/Zimbabwe XIearlier in the tournament, which we posted with especially poor timing just hours before Kevin O’Brien committed GBH on the England bowlers in Bangalore.

This XI is different. It is a team of unlikely heroes (and an even more unlikely and much less heroic 12th man) who have mostly starred for the Associates during the World Cup and shown exactly why their presence in the ICC’s premier limited overs tournament should be absolutely mandatory. There are a couple of ringers in there too from full members, but neither would look out of place in an Associate side.

They came, they saw, they mostly didn’t conquer, but they added fun and colour to an otherwise tedious and elongated opening group phase.

Hiral Patel (Canada) – Faced with the heavy artillery of Tait, Lee and Johnson, 19 year old Patel came out with all guns blazing to compile an exhilarating 37 ball 50. The kind of guy who'd happily take a bullet for you.

Paul Stirling (Ireland) – Not only impressed with a 70-ball hundred against The Netherlands and his useful off-breaks, but also has the best jingle on Test Match Sofa. That alone earns him hero status.

Ashish Bagai (Canada)– Looked reasonable with the gloves, but it was his batting that really impressed with 225 runs at 45 including 84 against New Zealand and 64 not out against Kenya to earn his side their solitary win.

Ryan ten Doeschate (Netherlands)– The man they call “Ten inches” started the tournament with an unlikely ODI average in the high sixties and amazingly maintained it with a truly marvelous hundred against England. Also scored a ton against Ireland and finished with 307 runs at 61.40.

Collins Obuya (Kenya) – A really unlikely story. Impressed as a young leg-spinner in Kenya’s march to the semi-finals in 2003, and then reinvented himself as a top order batsman after getting the yips. Scored 242 runs at 60.50 despite playing in the worst side in the tournament and the fact that he finished on 98 not out against Australia, if anything, makes his story more heroic.

Kevin O’Brien (Ireland)– Came to the crease against England as a fat bloke with pink hair and then proceeded to morph into the bastard child of Gary Sobers and Viv Richards with his memorable never-to-be-forgotten 50 ball hundred. Surely, the IPL awaits.

Peter Borren (Netherlands)– If there is ever a remake of Robocop, Borren should be cast in the title role as he looks one mean and moody geezer. We daren’t leave him out, would you?

Darren Sammy (West Indies) – We like Sammy at The Reverse Sweep – he is definitely the coolest and most relaxed skipper at the World Cup. But let’s face it if he wasn’t captain, he wouldn’t be in the side. But Sammy doesn’t care and happily opens the bowling and promotes himself up the order. And we love that.

James Tredwell (England)– England’s erstwhile drinks waiter was pitched into battle in the do or die conflict with the West Indies and promptly proved that he could do more than mix a mean gin and tonic by snaring the rampaging Chris Gayle with his fifth ball – his first ODI wicket – and grabbing three more wickets thereafter.

Harvir Baidwan (Canada) – His 13 wickets in the tournament place him joint 3rd on the leading wicket takers list. That warrants selection alone. The fact that he got Shane Watson out in the nineties seals it.

Nehamiah Odhiambo (Kenya)– Murali is known for his winning smile, but it is easy to grin when you can tease and torment batsmen at will. Odhiambo only has a modicum of Murali’s talent, but if anything has an even bigger smile. He made us smile too when he got Shane Watson's wicket and Michael Clarke out in the nineties in the game against Australia.

12th Man – Kevin Pietersen (England)– Despite a long term of duty and several war wounds, Pietersen bravely pitched up at the World Cup and battled through England’s first four matches. Finally, with Andy Flower’s praises ringing in his ear, KP went home early for an emergency operation and some deserved convalescence. The wimp.

Where next?

England's World Cup of total and utter anarchy

Read about our cricket heroes and zeroes

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

England's World Cup of total and utter anarchy

 
Before this tournament we predicted that the Group Stages of the World Cup would be a long, drawn out and predictable affair; and as far as Group A is concerned – Ricky Ponting’s increasingly bizarre histrionics aside – we have been proved correct.

Group B on the other hand has been completely different and it has almost entirely been down to the efforts of a schizophrenic England side.

Earlier in the week, we wrote that England had more noble aims for this World Cup than actually trying to win the bloody thing.

We still stand by this, but it would also seem that instead of the usual fare of bland R&B or drab Dad rock usually found on the dressing room stereo, England have had the Sex Pistols “Never Mind the Bollocks…” on continual repeat.

This can be the only conclusion drawn from a World Cup campaign that smacks of complete and utter anarchy.

Before yesterday’s do or die match with the West Indies, we doubted whether it was possible for the game to equal what had come before.

How could anything beat the squeaky bums win over The Netherlands, the thrilling tie with the hosts, the defeats snatched from the jaws of victory against Ireland and Bangladesh and especially the come from behind triumph over South Africa?

But yesterday’s match was even more dramatic, bizarre and frankly downright anarchic.

It started with the selection of England’s two drinks waiters Luke Wright and James Tredwell, whilst the West Indies inexplicably dropped Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Then we saw Jonathan Trott playing the role of the pinch hitter and club cricketer Wright salvaging the innings whilst debutant Devendra Bishoo and Andre Russell (in only his second ODI) wreaked havoc at the other end.

When West Indies replied we saw Tredwell finally prove that he could bowl as well as serve a mean gin and tonic, Ravi Bopara taking wickets and bowling maidens in the Powerplay and the last four West Indian wickets fall for just two runs.

Phew! We have only just emerged now from the dark room after a much needed lie down.

What happens next is anyone’s guess.

Where next?

Read about our cricket heroes and zeroes

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

The real reason why Ricky Ponting smashed that television

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England obviously don't want to win the World Cup; so what are they trying to do?

 
Due to our recent sojourn back to the UK, we haven’t seen much World Cup action in the last ten days, but it is inexplicably clear that England are the most entertaining (if some distance from the best) side in the tournament.

Indeed, it would seem that unlike the other 13 teams battling it out on the sub-continent, England are the only side not trying to win the bloody World Cup.

England’s aims are much more noble:

1. Save ODI cricket

With Twenty 20 threatening to surpass and eventually replace its more sedate 50 over cousin, England seem to be on a one-team mission to save it from extinction. Whether it is squeezing past The Netherlands, sensationally tying with India, coming back from the dead against South Africa or snatching defeat from the jaws of victory against Ireland and Bangladesh, no cricket fan dare take their eyes off England in this World Cup. Who needs the IPL?

2. Save the Associate Nations from a World Cup cull

With Ricky Ponting stating his opposition to the presence of the Associates, Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower would appear to have not been able to resist yet another opportunity to wind up the hapless Australian skipper. In conceding 292 runs to The Netherlands and then allowing Ireland to reach a victory target of 329, England have shown up the ICC’s decision to cull the Associates from the next World Cup as an inept and foolhardy move. They even managed to make Canada look good in the warm-up before the tournament - and that takes some doing.

3. Make friends with David Attenborough  

It’s a little known fact that as well as being the world’s most foremost naturalist, David Attenborough is also a patron of the Optimum Population Trust (OPT) think-tank. The OPT believes that the population of the UK should be 20 million (rather than 60+ million) and argues that population growth represents a far bigger problem to the world than global warming (and they are not wrong there). Strauss and Flower obviously agree. The number of heart attack victims that must have resulted from the photo-finishes to each of England’s five matches thus far must now be touching 5 million. Another close finish against West Indies and Attenborough could be bringing out the bunting.

4. Be awarded the tag of the great entertainers

Let's face it before the tournament started no-one would have had England down as the most flamboyant and exciting side. A Pakistan side always prone to self-destruction? Yes. India's stellar batting line-up? Maybe. Australia's all-out pace attack? Possibly. But surely not a normally steady and efficient England side containing the likes of Strauss, Trott and Collingwood in its batting line-up? It just goes to show how wrong you can be. England are now like the French rugby team - brilliant one minute, woeful the next. And who'd have thought that?

Where next?

Read about our cricket heroes and zeroes

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

The 'real' home of cricket? Not quite, as it turns out...

 
The Reverse Sweep and his brood were back in England last week looking at property and crèches in and around Haslemere in Surrey. Yes, after six years in the South of France the triple realities of a meaningful career, schools and easy access to a support network plus an unhealthy addiction to county cricket mean that we are likely to move back to Albion at some point this summer.

We picked a good week to visit the UK. For once, the weather was better than it was in Cannes, and we also got to miss England’s embarrassing capitulation against Bangladesh in the World Cup – more of which later.

Now Mrs Reverse Sweep is quite keen on living in a picturesque English village, so off we went to Chiddingfold, a quintessential Surrey village a couple of miles outside the town of Haslemere fully equipped with a gastropub, private school, village green, golf course and the all important cricket club.

Bingo!

So having placed Chiddingfold right at the top of our list of places we want to live (yes, it really was that beautiful) we headed north towards Witley.

And then The Reverse Sweep almost crashed the ridiculously cumbersome hire car we were driving.

Not because of a fox, peacock or any other type of suicidal wildlife, but because the road sign said that we were one mile from Hambledon.

Yes, that Hambledon – arguably the real home of cricket and site of the foremost cricket club of the 18th Century.

What better than to combine our twin loves of cricket and history and stop off to touch the hallowed turf.

Or so we thought.

Despite a nagging doubt in our minds that the Hambledon Cricket Club in question was actually in Hampshire and not Surrey, we ignored any negative thoughts and trawled the roads of the small and inconsequential hamlet in a desperate attempt to find the cricket ground.

When we did that nagging doubt turned into crushing disappointment. There was no way that the ramshackle cricket pitch in front of us could be the home of the Hambledon Cricket Club. There was no pavilion. There was no memorial to commemorate the scene of Hambledon’s former glories.

Sadly, this was irrefutably not the real home of cricket.

And at the same time as The Reverse Sweep trudged back in disappointment to the aforementioned hire car uttering more expletives than Graeme Swann to Daryl Harper, Mahmudullah and Shafiul Islam were applying the final rites to England’s World Cup hopes in Chittagong.

Double disappointment doesn’t even go near enough.

Where next?

Cricket Zeroes: Daryl Harper

Read about our other cricket heroes and zeroes

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

World Cup Heroes: Viv Richards

At the risk of upsetting at least a billion souls, we’ll happily declare that Sir Vivian Richards is the not only the most destructive batsman we have seen with our own eyes at the Reverse Sweep, but the greatest.

No collection of World Cup Cricket Heroes would be complete without the presence of Richards, who with apologies to Ricky Ponting in 2003 and Adam Gilchrist in 2007 played the best knock ever in a World Cup final – Richards’ 138 not out against England in 1979.

Whether it was his cocksure strut to the crease, the fact that he batted nonchalantly without a helmet or that his sole mission in life seemed to be to destroy the opposition bowling attack, Richards was pure theatre.

There will be those who will counter that Tendulkar or Lara of batsmen of the last 30 years are greater, and we know that there are many arguments to suggest they are better than King Viv.

But memorable events from your childhood always seem better and whether it was pounding the England attack at Lord’s in the 1979 Final or obliterating England again with a 56 ball hundred (the quickest ever in Tests) at Antigua in 1986 then the name of Viv Richards is always uttered in awe in the Reverse Sweep household.

Finally, whilst it may not have been a World Cup match, Richards in our view played the greatest one day innings of them all at Old Trafford in 1984. West Indies slipped to 102 for seven and then 161 for nine, but Richards coaxed Michael Holding into a last wicket stand of 106 from the final 14 overs of the innings. Richards scored 93 of these runs to finish on 189 not out from 170 balls.

Simply devastating. Simply heroic. Simply King Viv.

Where next?

Read about our other cricket heroes and zeroes

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

The best 30 batsmen ever - Part 1: 30-21, Part 2: 20-11, Part 3: 10-1

Cricket's top ten master blasters

An all-time West Indies Test XI

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

World Cup Heroes: Duncan Fletcher

 
Most England supporters would probably concur that Duncan Fletcher is a bit of a hero for the salvage job he did as coach of the England team.

In partnership first with Nasser Hussain and then Michael Vaughan, Fletcher took England from the bottom of the pile to second in the Test rankings. Series were won in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and South Africa, and of course England also triumphed over Australia in the truly historic 2005 Ashes.

But ODI cricket and especially World Cups. Why would Fletcher deserve hero status for that?

With England he doesn’t. Fletcher never fully cracked the 50 over format as a coach and England’s performances in the 2003 and 2007 tournaments over which he presided were nothing to write home about.

No, we have to go back to our childhood to explain why Fletcher is a World Cup hero.

Rewind back to the 1983 tournament and Zimbabwe are about to play its first international match ever against a powerful looking Australian side at Trent Bridge.

No-one gave Zimbabwe much chance and with the likes of Lillee, Border, Hughes, Marsh and Thomson in the visitors dressing room that was hardly a surprise.

But Zimbabwe’s skipper Fletcher, showing some of the steely determination that was later the hallmark of his coaching, decided to impersonate Gary Sobers for a day.

With the bat, he stroked a quickfire unbeaten 69 to lead his side to a competitive 239 for six and he then took the first four Australian wickets to fall as the Baggy Greens stumbled to ignominious defeat.

Unfortunately neither The Reverse Sweep nor our father was the punter in the crowd who reportedly bet £100 on a Zimbabwean victory at odds of 200/1, but all the same this was a game that will forever resonate in our cricketing brain.

For embarrassing the hun, Duncan Fletcher is a deserving World Cup hero.

Where next?

Read about our other cricket heroes and zeroes

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

Cricket Zeroes: John Buchanan

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Cricket Heroes: Henry Olonga

Henry Olonga was a decent(ish) bowler for Zimbabwe around the time when they reached their peak as a test playing nation at the end of the 1990s, taking 68 wickets at 38.5. But it is not his feats as a slightly wayward fast bowler that make him a Reverse Sweep hero. Nor is it his music, which isn't quite to our taste.

No, Olonga is a real authentic hero for the stand that he took, along with Andy Flower during the 2003 World Cup, which took place in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Their decision to wear black armbands to mark the 'death of democracy' in Zimbabwe was the most memorable moment of what was an overlong and fairly tedious World Cup.

It certainly provoked fury amongst President Mugabe and his shadowy henchmen. Olonga bore the brunt of the repercussions including excommunication from the team, death threats and subsequent exile. But he bore his fate with customary decency and with a smile on his face. As we said, a true hero.

Where next?

Heroes: Andy Flower

Read about our other cricket heroes and zeroes

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep