Former Coach Buchanan sees Australia in final for Ponting

John Buchanan, who coached Australia to the last two of their three successive World Cup wins, has backed Ricky Ponting to lead them back into the final again in 2011 despite their recent Ashes humiliation.

Buchanan, a giant of Australian cricket, believes beleaguered skipper Ponting, however, needs fewer duties to worry about before he can take his team back to the one-day game's summit.

Buchanan still supports Ponting as captain and recommends a more selfish approach to help rediscover the kind of batting form that saw him crack a scintillating unbeaten 140 from just 121 balls in the 2003 World Cup final against India.

The quietly-spoken 6ft 4in coach nicknamed "Buck" succeeded Geoff Marsh as Australia coach in 1999 and quit the post in 2007 after leading them to World Cup wins in 2003 and 2007, a world record 16 straight test wins -- twice -- and a 5-0 Ashes whitewash in 2006-07.

England sealed a 3-1 series win this month with each victory by an innings as the Australians slipped to fifth in the test rankings after 15 years of world dominance, losing six of their last eight tests and six of the last 12 one-day games.

Buchanan, though, pointed out they are still the world's top-ranked team in 50-over cricket and believes they will reach a fifth straight final at the Feb 19-April 2 World Cup, to be held in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

"The Ashes is finished with," Buchanan, 57, told Reuters in a phone interview from his Brisbane home, which had been spared any flooding that has ravaged much of Queensland.

"The World Cup is a one-off tournament and it really doesn't matter what happens in Australia or other lead-up games elsewhere around the world. 

"The conditions they will experience will be different; they will be facing new teams every third day, so it's now just about what is required to win the World Cup."

Cynics might suggest his exit was timely. Australia's current travails come during a transitional period as the team continues to adjust to life without a raft of now retired world-class players who came together in one golden era.

Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist have all gone.

One of those remaining, Ponting, who has played in the last four World Cup finals -- the last two as captain -- has suffered the backlash of the team's form dip more than most.

"He's the best man for the job as long as physically he maintains his skills -- there is no question of his batting ability," Buchanan said.

"He has been allowed to take on way too much in this so-called rebuilding phase. His principal skills are in and around the team, leading on the field and leading with the bat. 

"Provided that is all he is asked to do -- and I think a World Cup will allow him to do that -- that will give him a clearer direction on what he has to do in the short term."

Buchanan had forgettable spells with English county team Middlesex and Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata, but was highly successful with Queensland and then Australia.

His intent to be at the forefront of change, sometimes using left-field theories, divided opinion.

He favoured psychology more than the baseball glove and bowling machine. Warne was a frequent critic, while ex-Australia captain Ian Chappell has rarely supported the role of a coach at elite level.

Some observers undermined Buchanan's achievements, claiming anyone could have been successful with such a talented group to work with.

"Buck", though, pointed out Warne was not part of the 2003 or 2007 World Cup wins, while McGrath was not as influential at the latter two World Cups as '99.

"I never took this position with the idea I was going to tell Warne, McGrath, Hayden, Ponting how to play cricket," Buchanan said.

"I could provide questions and an environment that would challenge them but ultimately your principal role is to make sure they are their own best coach and that they know their own games inside out." 

Little has changed in his outlook on coaching in his current role as a motivational speaker, which accounts for most of his work nowadays.

While Ponting and Co. seek glory in the sub-continent, Buchanan may also be in India; not coaching cricketers, but inspiring those from the corporate world.

"I basically take the principles and lessons I learned from cricket," he said.

"If I visit an accountancy firm I will ask them where they want to be. Do they want to be the best accounting firm in Worcestershire, or the South East of England, or the UK or Europe? Where are they going?"

Although Buchanan opts to support his three sons and two daughters in their chosen fields in his spare time now, cricket remains his passion. When asked to predict the World Cup finalists, his patriotism is clear.

"I'm still an Australian through and through," he added, "Australia has played well over there in one-day tournaments and they're number one. So I will go for either an Australia-Sri Lanka or Australia-India final."

Courtesy: Reuters.com

Shane Watson to be the Highest Paid Australian Cricketer

The rise and rise of Shane Watson has been so remarkable that the blue-chip allrounder who used to break down more times than an old Kombi van will soon unseat Ricky Ponting as the highest paid player in Australia.

The Courier-Mail can reveal that Watson will claim the No. 1 ranking when Cricket Australia announces its new 25-man contract list.

He is poised to sign a new deal worth up to $2 million, which includes a marketing component, to reflect his stature as the country's most valuable player.

The rankings are kept a closely guarded secret but Test skipper Ponting has been the highest-paid cricketer in the country for many years.

Sources say there was a brief period when Glenn McGrath usurped his Test captain Steve Waugh as the nation's most expensive cricketer but Test skippers have traditionally had a stranglehold on the top-dollars figure.

That is all set to change in April when Watson cashes in on his stunning career sea change, which has seen him go from injury crock to match-winning superstar in an incredible few years.

The CA contracts are assigned on an arithmetic system in which players are ranked on their Test, one-day international and Twenty20 performances. The numbers are fed through a weighting formula to come up with an overall ranking. Accordingly, Australian players who play all three formats tend to get a higher ranking than those who don't, and Ponting and Clarke have retired from Twenty20 cricket.

And there is no doubt Watson will receive a higher Test ranking - the format of cricket which is weighted the highest in determining the overall CA contracts - than Ponting and Clarke.

Last year Watson averaged 42.7 with the bat in Test cricket compared to the 36 of both Ponting and Clarke.

But it is Watson's arrival as a genuine star with the ball (19 Test wickets at 27 last year) that will be the key element that propels him to becoming our highest-paid cricketer.

Given he is one of the few rolled-gold marketing stars in Australian cricket, Watson would have the potential to more than double his cricket earnings through sponsorship and endorsement deals, which would see his overall salary inflate to somewhere between $4 and $5 million.

It's extraordinary when you consider that Allan Border's last contract, in 1993-94, was worth $95,000.

Few would begrudge Watson raking in the big bucks considering he is the one player who has really shone for Australian cricket as it goes through some of its most troubled times.

It wasn't that long ago that Watson was a fringe international player, behind former all-rounder Andrew Symonds in the Australian pecking order. His long catalogue of injuries made everyone wonder whether he could consistently perform on the big stage.

There was never any doubt he had the talent but even Watson concedes he is struggling to come to terms with how much his star has risen.

"No, I can't believe it ... I can't believe the things I've been a part of and the things I've been able to achieve," Watson said on January 19, 2011.

Australian Cricket Squad for World Cup 2011

The four times champion defending Australia unveiled their squad on January 18, 2011 for next month's World Cup, banking on the fitness of a pair of injury-prone pacemen and elder statesmen Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey.

Veteran Brett Lee and enigmatic short-form specialist Shaun Tait were both included in the 15-man squad for the tournament in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, which they are trying to win for the fourth successive time.

Ponting was named as skipper, but is still recovering from a broken finger, while Hussey made the squad but is a major doubt after a severe hamstring tear in the six-wicket win over England at the MCG on January 16, 2011.

Hussey is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks, with Australia's first game on February 21, and chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch conceded he was a doubt for the showpiece event.

Players can be replaced before the tournament.

By selecting Lee and Tait, as well as erratic duo Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger, Australia will rely heavily on their pace bowlers to be at their best.

Lee performed well in Australia's win over England on January 16, 2011 but the 34-year-old and Tait are both on the comeback trail after serious elbow injuries.

The game of January 16, 2011 was Lee's first one-day international for Australia since October 2009 and he missed the 2007 World Cup triumph due to injury.

Tait, who played in the 2007 final but mainly plays Twenty20 cricket these days, was ruled out of last Sunday's game with a back problem.

The 27-year-old has only played three ODIs since February 2009, but taken eight wickets in those three matches.

Hilditch said the squad was perfectly balanced.

The shock selection was Victorian all-rounder John Hastings, who has played just two one-day internationals, while David Hussey, Mike's younger brother, also made the squad.

Tasmanian wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine, touted by many as a future Australian captain, is part of the 15.

Victorian paceman Peter Siddle was not included, despite being one of the better Ashes performers for Australia with ball and bat.

SQUAD

Ricky Ponting (Captain), Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, John Hastings, Nathan Hauritz, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Tim Paine, Steve Smith, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson, Cameron White.

2011 CWC trophy visits Australia marking 40th anniversary of first ODI

Cricket's greatest prize, the ICC Cricket World Cup, will visit Melbourne this weekend on the final leg of its global journey to the big event, which starts in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka next month.

Fans will be given the chance to enjoy a rare close-up view of the 2011 trophy which will be displayed at several public events in Melbourne on Sunday 16 January and Monday 17 January.

The trophy and ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat will be welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Hon. Robert Doyle, at a public function at Federation Square's main stage in the city between 1000 and 1100. International cricket legend Dean Jones, who was part of Australia's World Cup-winning team in 1987, will join in the celebrations by sharing his memories of past Cricket World Cups and having his photo taken with fans and the trophy.

The trophy will then make its way to the MCG prior to the start of the One-Day International between Australia and England, where it will be displayed outside Gate 1 between 1230 and 1430. The match will coincide with celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the first-ever ODI, which took place at the same venue between the same teams in 1971.

On Monday 17 January, the trophy will travel to Melbourne International Airport from 1200 for fans to get one last glimpse before it departs for Mumbai that evening.

Mr Lorgat said that the ICC was delighted to be bringing the 2011 trophy to Australia, the reigning world champion and the team that has held the trophy since 1999 having won the past consecutive three editions of the tournament.

"This is cricket's flagship event and it is fitting to be here in Australia, a country that has enjoyed so much success having won the Cricket World Cup four times, more than any other country," said Mr Lorgat.

"This year is shaping up to be one of the most exciting of all the ICC Cricket World Cups. It is open and unpredictable and it won't be easy for Australia to win it yet again but it also won't be easy for any other team to wrestle the trophy from the defending champions. It promises to be an enthralling Cricket World Cup and the ICC is looking forward to an exciting competition among the 14 teams.

"In recent months we have seen some truly great Test cricket around the world but now it's time for the one-day format to take centre stage and I can't wait to be in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka next month," he said.

The 2011 Cricket World Cup trophy, designed by a team of craftsmen from Garrard and Co., the British Crown jewellers, is made from silver and gold. It stands at 60cm in height and weighs 11kg. The design features a golden globe held up by three silver columns. The columns, shaped as stumps and balls, represent the three fundamental aspects of cricket --- batting, bowling and fielding --- while the globe also signifies a cricket ball.

The public events to see the 2011 Cricket World Cup Trophy are:

Sunday 16 January - 1000-1100, Federation Square main stage, 1230-1430, outside Gate 1 of the MCG at the Ponsford Stand,

Monday 17 January - 1200-2000, Melbourne Airport T2 Terminal (International Departures).

Thrills over CWC 2011 as 34 days left to kick off

Cricket fans flocked to the picturesque and world famous V and A Waterfront in Cape Town on 31st December 2010 (Friday) evening to celebrate 50 days to go before the start of the game's flagship event, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

The tournament begins in Mirpur, Dhaka, on 19 February with the much-anticipated opener between co-hosts Bangladesh and India.

Joining the many followers of the game in Cape Town were Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat and South Africa and India captains, Graeme Smith and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The full version of the official promotional film for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 was also revealed at the press conference. This promotional film will be part of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 television marketing campaign that will go on air this month.

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 trophy was later displayed at the function which concluded shortly after midnight with a spectacular fireworks display.

The celebrations continued till 1st January 2011 (Saturday) at the V and A Waterfront Shopping Centre with the fans having an opportunity to be photographed with The Cup that Counts.

Ms Zille, in her welcome address, said: "2010 will always be remembered as the year of a successful and exciting FIFA World Cup in South Africa. It is a fitting way to conclude 2010 by welcoming the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy to Cape Town."

Mr Lorgat said he was delighted to see so much interest and excitement building up amongst the players and followers of the game.

"With 50 days to go before cricket's flagship event starts, key players are starting to think and talk a lot more about the World Cup".

"The players will soon start with their World Cup focus and preparation and the related anticipation across the world will escalate with each passing day."

With the three host nations busy with extensive preparation and recognizing that a few venues were behind schedule, Mr Lorgat urged everyone to continue with the hard work required to successfully stage a world-class event.

"We must do our utmost to complete all the necessary work to deliver another memorable event," said Mr Lorgat.

He also thanked the host countries and the ICC's commercial partners for their excellent work to date.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith, whose side opens its campaign against two-time winner West Indies in New Delhi on 24 February, shared his excitement when he said: "I can't believe that the World Cup is only 50 days away! The spectacular way that 50 days to the World Cup was marked is a pointer to the magnitude of the event.

"As a unit, we are looking to make sure we head into the showpiece with the best preparation possible."

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he can feel the World Cup buzz around him.

"With just 50 days remaining before we launch our campaign to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, I can clearly feel and sense the tremendous excitement which is gripping the cricket fraternity," he said.

"It is not a surprise to me as it doesn't get any bigger than the World Cup. It is the ultimate dream of every cricketer to represent his country in this competition and win the glittering trophy at least once in his career.

"Every one of us in the India dressing room wants to lift that cup, not only for ourselves, but also for the billions of fans supporting us around the globe. It will require a lot of hard work, self belief and also a positive approach which Team India is capable of displaying at the highest level."

Commenting on his side's preparations for the World Cup, Dhoni said: "I'm happy with our preparations so far as we have gelled well, we have backed each other all the way and have played some excellent cricket lately. But we are also aware that we need to peak at the right time and maintain a winning momentum as the competition will be tough and every team will enter the event fancying its chances.

"Each team and match will bring a fresh challenge and we will have to play to our potential every time we take the field."

The charismatic India captain urged the spectators to play their part in making the event the most successful ever.

He said: "I also take this opportunity to urge the India public and spectators to support the tournament and all the teams taking part in it. I would love to see every stadium packed to capacity even when we are not playing.

"With billions of eyes following the World Cup on television, this would be another great opportunity for us to showcase our love and passion for this great sport. Let us all unite and make the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in the subcontinent the best ever."

However, only 34 days is left to take the craze and test of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 scheduled to begin on 19th February 2011.    

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Cricket India continues as number one in ICC test ranking

India Cricket holds its position as Number One in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Ranking for the last 13 months. Before this, Australian Cricket  had continued their success as Number One in ICC Test Ranking for incessant 72 months. 

ICC Test Ranking was first published in June 2003 and from then Australia performed their untouchable record of being Number One till July 2009. 

Beginning with 129 rating score in June 2003, Australia achieved maximum 143 score in November and December of 2007. However, 2007 and 2008 was the most performing period for Australia in test cricket as per rating sore achieved this time.

       

In latest, India beginning from December 2009 till now has been carrying the position of Number One in Test Ranking.

In the latest Matches published in December 5, 2010, India achieved the position on Number One in the ICC Test Ranking scoring 129 rating playing 38 matches and grabbing 4893 points.

Then South Africa achieved second position in the ICC Test Ranking scoring 116 rating playing 32 matches and grabbing 3712 points.  

England achieved third position in the ICC Test Ranking scoring 112 rating playing 39 matches and grabbing 4355 points.  

Australia achieved fourth position in the ICC Test Ranking scoring 110 rating playing 37 matches and grabbing 4061 points.  

Sri Lanka achieved fifth position in the ICC Test Ranking scoring 109 rating playing 27 matches and grabbing 2951 points.  

Pakistan achieved sixth position in the ICC Test Ranking scoring 88 rating playing 26 matches and grabbing 2275 points.  

West Indies achieved seventh position in the ICC Test Ranking scoring 85 rating playing 25 matches and grabbing 2128 points.  

    

New Zealand achieved eighth position in the ICC Test Ranking scoring 80 rating playing 29 matches and grabbing 2318 points.  

    

Lastly, Bangladesh achieved ninth position in the ICC Test Ranking scoring very trifling 7 rating only playing 19 matches and grabbing 131 points.