A new white ball at each end — trick or treat?

How well thought out was the move to start every One-Day International innings with two new balls, one from each end?  

The idea was to combat the white ball’s loss of colour. What was sought to be done previously with a mandatory change of ball after 34 overs was now being tried with the use of two.

Return to the ’90s

Earlier, a ball of similar wear and tear would be used from the 35th over. Now each of the two balls would still be hard, with minimal discolouration and only 25-overs old at the end of the innings. This was also a return to the early ’90s, when two new balls were used before the practice was discontinued.

ICC chief executive Dave Richardson termed the changes, including the reduction in the number of fielders in the outfield, as something that would make “the game more attacking and more exciting.”

There was a chance that in good batting conditions, the harder ball would be easier to score off.

There are, however, those who feel that the bowlers could profit too, with the ball not losing shine for longer periods although there was a chance of reverse-swing disappearing.

For long, anything that was termed bowler-friendly applied by default to the faster bowlers, and this move seemed no different. The spinners, yet again, felt left out.

The feeling was that spin bowling, which had found itself under a sustained onslaught in the shortest format of the game — the T20 — was being cheated even in the ODIs.

Pacemen hold the aces

With two new balls, more men inside the circle and favourable bowling conditions, like those in some venues in Australia and New Zealand, the pacemen could dictate a game.

Just imagine Tim Southee and Trent Boult, or Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel bowling in tandem after the 34th over.

The spinners, who are most effective when the ball is scuffed, lose any little advantage they might have otherwise had.

But, it could also work another way. The spinners will be used defensively, but with more men inside the circle, it might choke the runs and put pressure on the batsmen to clear the boundary.

On the big Australian grounds, milking singles is a well-known middle-overs strategy. Can this be stalled to a certain extent? These are also the days when more and more spin bowlers are being used upfront.

External factors

Perhaps in no game do external factors — like the weather, the state of the pitch, the ground conditions, etc — challenge skills the way they do in cricket.

But, players over time have evolved, adapted and ultimately found a way out. It might just be the case here too.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/world-cup/a-new-white-ball-at-each-end-trick-or-treat/article6893537.ece

Always a force to reckon with

‘Mercurial’ is a word that sits best alongside Pakistani cricketers. Capable of conjuring some of the most astonishing of deeds at once and equally capable of lowly and insipid performances, the Pakistani side always interested fans. Quite often a neutral’s favourite it has a rich history in the tournament too: one title, one runner-up finish and four semifinal appearances.

However, since its run to the final in 1999, it has had only one semifinal finish and that came in 2011. So, the desire in 2015 would be go one step further.

But the 1992 champion arrives Down Under after a string of below-par performances in ODIs in the recent past. It has now lost back-to-back ODI series to New Zealand and would be keen to get its act together in time for its opening clash against India on February 15.

Apart from skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi, the side is inexperienced. Saeed Ajmal’s withdrawal from the squad, to work on his bowling action, after he was suspended in September, is a big blow. Along with that Mohammad Hafeez and Junaid Khan were out due to injury.

This has blunted what looked a sharp bowling attack which also included Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz. To what extent will Shahid Afridi and Yasir Shah be able to fill the gap remains to be seen. Over the years, Pakistan has always boasted of strong bowling units. And these were more often than not supplemented by capable batting line-ups. It might not be the case this time. Most members of the team have not played any international cricket in Australia. Opener Ahmed Shehzad, Ehsan Adil, Haris Sohail will all be on their maiden visits.

In that light Younis’ selection might make sense for he is a vastly experienced campaigner. But the 37-year-old, who will be playing his last World Cup, was nowhere in contention until a few months ago. His inclusion was bolstered by his run-feasts against Australia and New Zealand in the UAE.

But southpaw Fawad Alam’s exclusion, possibly to include Younis Khan, is still being debated. Considered an excellent ODI player, he had a good 2014 with a century, two half-centuries and two 30-plus scores in eight innings. But two poor outings against Australia last October were all it took for the selectors to axe him. Much will also depend on Umar Akmal. One of Pakistan’s exceptionally talented players, he hasn’t lived up to the expectations. For a while he used to double up as a wicketkeeper too and was given a certain leeway when his batting form dipped. But now that the gloveman Sarfraz Ahmed is also part of the squad, Akmal might just be reduced to a specialist batsman and hence will be closely watched.

Yet, nobody can write Pakistan off. Inexperience might be a genuine worry but history shows that Pakistanis revel in such situations. Its batsmen are an ambitious lot and in skipper Misbah-ul-Haq they have the perfect man to lead them.

Getting out of the group stages might not be tough ask, though a passage beyond that will be tough to find. Another semifinal slot can be termed a success. But with the men in green, you never know.

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THE CAPTAIN PREFERS A DEFENSIVE APPROACH

Misbah-ul-Haq, the 40-year-old captain, is Pakistan's biggest strength. The wealth of experience he has equips him to lead a young team whenever it finds itself in a spot of bother. "I would rather win a game with a defensive approach rather than lose it by being aggressive," Misbah has often said, but his recent 56-ball century against Australia brings to the fore his versatility.

Its biggest weakness will be in the bowling department. What looked until recently a fearsome attack which included Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz, the loss of Saeed Ajmal due to suspect bowling action and Junaid Khan will definitely hurt. With Mohammad Hafeez's action also being called out, Shahid Afridi has to shoulder much of the responsibility though Yasir Shah, a leggie, is an option too.

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ahmed Shehzad: Pakistan cricket is full of promise. In that scheme of things Ahmed Shehzad's is a highly regarded name. He is all of eight Tests and 56 One-day International matches old but the 23-yearold opener already has three Test and six ODI centuries to his name. Entrusted with the job of giving his team solid starts, this will be his first major test.

Umar Akmal: His cricketing ability has been obvious ever since he, as a 19-year-old, started his career with a brilliant 129 in Dunedin against a New Zealand attack which had Shane Bond in it. But how long can Pakistan wait for him to become a consistent run-hungry batsman? This World Cup might well answer that. In 2011, he finished as the second- highest run scorer for his team with 240 runs at an average of 48. Will he do better now?

Mohammad Irfan: At seven feet and one inch he is the world's tallest bowler. Not since the days of the legendary Joel Garner has anybody delivered the ball from such a height which makes him extremely awkward to face. In the last two years the left-armer has had a few breakdowns but he has emerged stronger each time and will look to the World Cup to make his biggest mark yet.

Shahid Afridi: When AB de Villiers broke Afridi's record for the fastest ODI century recently, it seemed to signal one thing: the erasure of the last remnants of him as a batsman. In the squad, primarily as a bowling all-rounder, this World Cup, if he is to be believed, will mark the end of his career. Is he still capable of a brilliant match-winning moment?

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THE TEAM

Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Ehsan Adil, Haris Sohail, Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Irfan, Rahat Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Sohaib Maqsood, Sohail Khan, Umar Akmal (wicketkeeper), Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah and Younis Khan.

http://www.sportstaronnet.com/tss3808/stories/20150221510004000.htm

It is a do or die World Cup

There was a time in the 1990s and early 2000s when Zimbabwe cricket was on the upswing. It boasted of cricketers like Andy Flower, Alistair Campbell, Neil Johnson, Heath Streak et al who were considered among the best in the world.

More than a decade since then, the country’s cricket structure has been wrecked by a political turmoil and the team is barely recognisable. And late last year, in the lowest of lows, it was blanked 8-0 across Tests and ODIs in Bangladesh.

This prompted the handing over of the reins to former skipper Campbell, who has been appointed the Managing Director, and Sri Lanka’s World Cup winning coach Dav Whatmore.

“After this World Cup, we no longer automatically qualify unless we are in the top eight,” Campbell told ESPNCricinfo. “We will have to go to a qualifying tournament and if we don’t qualify, that will have dire consequences for the game in Zimbabwe. So we need to create viable player pathways so that we identify talent and make sure that we are nurturing that talent.” For this, he has put in place an eight-year plan and the 2015 World Cup is the first step in that.

In spite of the tough times, one can indeed spot some positives. In the home triangular series last August, where it hosted South Africa and Australia, the side did put up stiff resistance but often found it tough to sustain it. Playing at a consistent level through the match should be one among its goals in Australia-New Zealand. The accomplished Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza will take much of the batting load. The former will also don the wicket-keeping gloves. And for players like Sean Williams and Stuart Matsikenyeri, the tournament will be their comeback vehicle.

Among the bowlers, Prosper Utseya, who has been banned from bowling off-spin because of an illegal action, has remodelled himself as a medium-pace bowler and Whatmore believes he could be the “difference between winning and losing.” Much will also be expected of captain and all-rounder Elton Chigumbura, Tawanda Mupariwa and Tinashe Panyangara.

“I am always an optimist,” said Whatmore. “But I am going in with my eyes wide open. They can play and they are tough enough. They’re just looking for more of what they need to perform.

“I hope to make a difference in terms of getting their performances to improve,” he said.

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CAMPBELL-WHATMORE COMBO AT WORK

The side's strength is perhaps the fact that not many expect it to do well and this takes all pressure off it. After a period of turmoil, things seem to be looking up for Zimbabwe cricket. In former skipper Alistair Campbell (right), who has been roped in as the Managing Director, and Dav Whatmore (extreme right), the head coach, it has the two of the best-possible people to lead them out of cricketing oblivion. In the months leading up to the tournament Zimbabwe hasn't had the number of matches it would have liked. And given that since its Test comeback in 2011, it has managed to only win around a quarter of the ODIs it has played, it's definitely not a good sign.

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

Brendan Taylor: A lot of time has passed since the day Brendan Taylor carried Zimbabwe to an incredible win over Australia in a World T20 match in 2007. But his stock hasn't dimmed. The 28-year-old, who has the most number of ODI runs in the squad, will perhaps be Zimbabwe's most important cricketer at this World Cup where he will also don the wicketkeeping gloves.

Tawanda Mupariwa: Way back in 2008, Tawanda Mupariwa became the fastest Zimbabwe bowler to take 50 ODI wickets. He got there in 28 games, nine fewer than Eddo Brandes. But since 2009, he has been in wilderness until now. Known for his accuracy and his ability to swing and seam, the 29-year-old's role will be crucial in a weak bowling attack.

Elton Chigumbura: Zimbabwe's captain in the 2011 edition, Chigumbura is now in the saddle again. With more than 3000 runs and close to 100 wickets he is the team's premier all-rounder.

Hamilton Masakadza: He made his debut as early as 2001 but is yet to feature in a World Cup match. The 31-year-old, a veteran of 144 matches, is considered to be at his peak now and hence will want to optimise his opportunity.

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THE TEAM

Elton Chigumbura (captain), Regis Chakabva (wicketkeeper), Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Solomon Mire, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tinashe Panyangara, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor (wicketkeeper), Prosper Utseya and Sean Williams.

http://www.sportstaronnet.com/tss3808/stories/20150221509002700.htm