|
|
|
|
 |
 |
   |
Road to
World Cup title is hard and rocky for top-ranked ODI team England
need to surprise the world with their first ever World Cup triumph
Group Editor Sports Gul Hameed Bhatti feels the Proteas should not to be overawed by the big situations in the next few days. They have not been called world cricket's 'chokers' for nothing South Africa are now the highest ranked One-day International cricket team in the world. What still eludes them, however, is a World Cup title. On April 1, that was last Sunday, at the cut-off date for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Ranking to be formalised every year, their position at the top was reconfirmed -- they had already taken the lead from Australia at the end of the recent home series against Pakistan. Their captain Graeme Smith had already received the ICC ODI shield and their cash award was worth a whopping US$175,000. It was the first time a side had overtaken Australia in the ICC ODI Championship table since the listings began in October 2002. The confirmation makes South Africa officially the 'best' team in One-day Internationals, but finally winning the World Cup trophy will not only be their cricket's crowning glory but doubly ensure that they are the world's top team. The road to the World Cup title is hard, difficult and rocky. In the ongoing event in the West Indies, Australia -- champions three times already including twice in succession in 1999 and 2003 -- are still the favourites to take yet another trophy home. With a rampaging New Zealand also charging towards the semifinals, South Africa's appearance in the all important final doesn't seem to be a foregone conclusion. In their Group A matches at World Cup 2007, South Africa easily beat minnows Netherlands and Scotland, as predicted. But they succumbed to Australia, also as predicted, rather tamely in their last group encounter. The pattern of the group league was such that South Africa qualified for the Super Eights stage without much fuss, but only as the second-placed team after world champions Australia. Sri Lanka almost shattered their resolve in the first Super Eights match, South Africa eventually surving a menacing spell of fast bowling by Lasith Malinga, who sent four batsmen back in a matter of four balls, and attained a nerve-wracking victory by a solitary wicket margin. The win over Ireland, who owe their presence in the Super Eights to an incredible triumph over Pakistan in Group D, was rather easily obtained. Most probably, beating Bangladesh in yesterday's match would't have been too difficult either. Realistically speaking, from among the West Indies, New Zealand and England, South Africa may find only the Kiwis a somewhat difficult proposition.
SEMIFINALS DON'T BRING ANY HAPPY MEMORIES Most critics believe that South Africa's passage into the semifinals will really be smooth sailing, contrary to the general belief that it will not be quite comfortable as expected. Yet, it will be surprising if the Proteas are not among the last-four eventually. Semifinals though don't in fact bring any happy memories for them. South Africa weren't part of the first four World Cup competitions, from 1975 to 1987, because they were serving a sort of ban from international cricket, that lasted some 22 years, due to their government's long-standing policy of apartheid, or racial segregation. With a transfer to majority rule, the doors of international sporting exchange opened once again for South Africa. Their cricket team appeared in the 1992 cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. They reached the semifinals and then fell victim to the new, dreaded rule for rain-interrupted matches. At the Sydney Cricket Ground, after rain had forced the semifinal to a 45 overs a side affair, England totalled 252-6. Rain interrupted play again after five balls of the 42nd over when South Africa were batting. Two overs were lost. The target remained unchanged and South Africa needed an impossible 22 runs off the remaining one ball. They lost by 19 runs. In 1996, they didn't reach the semifinals at all. They had topped the Group B table though with wins in all their five matches. West Indies beat them by 19 runs in the quarter-final played at National Stadium Karachi. This also ended South Africa's run of 10 consecutive ODI wins. They were in the semifinals again in England 1999. They topped Group A with four wins and a defeat in five matches. Then, they were third behind Pakistan and Australia in the Super Sixes table and joined the last four. Their semifinal encounter was against Australia, the eventual World Cup champions, at Edgbaston. After having dismissed Australia for a modest 213 runs, South Africa appeared well on their way to the final. Then came that moment of extreme madness. Man of the Tournament Lance Klusener and last man Allan Donald ran a suicidal run, Donald was run out and the match ended in a tie. Two balls of the 50 overs still remained. Australia advanced to the final because they had finished higher than South Africa in the Super Sixes table! At the 2003 World Cup at home, South Africa could manage only the fifth position -- just above Canada and Bangladesh -- in the seven-team Pool B and didn't make the Super Sixes stage. This debacle prompted wholesale changes in the team, including the change of captain. Shaun Pollock was replaced by the virtual rookie Graeme Smith.
SOUTH AFRICA CRICKET HAS COME FULL CIRCLE That same wet behind the ears Smith, then only 22 years old, has helped South African cricket back on its feet and enabled the team come full circle in the last four years. They are once again sensing a World Cup victory, perhaps this time more realistically. But they still have a hell of a fight on their hands. Individually, the Proteas have so far done well in the Caribbean. The services of opening batsman Loots Bosman and pace bowler Roger Telemachus had not been required until Saturday morning. Fast-medium Andre Nel was chosen for only one game as was left-arm spinner Robin Peterson. Most others have performed their duties with conviction. In five visits to the crease, skipper Smith has contributed four half-centuries. Super all-rounder Jacques Kallis has a century and two fifties in four innings. AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs -- he excelled with a knock against Netherlands that included six sixes off one particular over, Ashwell Prince and wicket-keeper Mark Boucher have all made runs when required. The bowling has been led by the rather unlikely figure of Charl Langeveldt, with a total of 12 wickets, all-rounder Andrew Hall and the tried and tested Pollock. Makhaya Ntini and Justin Kemp have stayed mostly in the background, but their contribution has been noteworthy. The only thing that the Proteas should guard against is not to be overawed by the big situations in the next few days. They have not been called world cricket's 'chokers' for nothing in the past!
MEET THE SOUTH AFRICA PLAYERS Graeme Craig SMITH. Captain. Born Johannesburg February 1,
1981 (26 years old
Lungile Loots BOSMAN. Born Kimberley April 14, 1977 (29
years old at start of
Abraham Benjamin de VILLIERS. Born Pretoria February 17, 1984 (23 years old at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand batsman. Right-arm medium-pace bowler. Wicket-keeper. Test matches 28 (2004-07). One-day Internationals 36 (2005-07), 1,072 runs (ave 33.50), HS 92*, S/R 85.41, 8 50s, 15 catches. First selection for a World Cup competition. Herschelle Herman GIBBS. Born Green Point, Cape Town
February 23, 1974 (33
Justin Miles KEMP. Born Queenstown October 2, 1977 (29
years old at start of
Andre NEL. Born Germiston July 15, 1977 (29 years old at
start of World Cup 2007)
Robin John PETERSON. Born Port Elizabeth August 4, 1979
(27 years old at start of
Ashwell Gavin PRINCE. Born Port Elizabeth May 28, 1977 (29
years old at start of
***All figures are complete upto the morning of April 7, when South Africa played their Super Eights match in World Cup 2007, against Bangladesh at Providence Stadium, Guyana
PERFORMANCE INDICATOR Rank Team Points 1 Bangladesh 76 2 South Africa 75 3 Australia 72 4 Sri Lanka 69 5 New Zealand 58 6 Pakistan 52 7 England 46 8 West Indies 44 9 India 36 10 Zimbabwe 24
(a) Kenya 52 (b) Netherlands 33 (c) Scotland 30 (d) Ireland 25 (e) Canada 24 (f) Bermuda 23 Note: Matches taken into consideration were mostly played over the last one-year period. The quality of opposition has not been evaluated though
SOUTH AFRICA AT WORLD CUP 2007 MATCH SCHEDULE
WARM-UP MATCHES March 5 South Africa bt Ireland Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, Trinidad March 9 Pakistan bt South Africa Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, Trinidad
GROUP A MATCHES March 16 South Africa bt Netherlands Warner Park, St Kitts March 20 South Africa bt Scotland Warner Park, St Kitts March 24 Australia bt South Africa Warner Park, St Kitts
SUPER EIGHTS MATCHES March 28 South Africa bt Sri Lanka Providence Stadium, Guyana April 3 South Africa bt Ireland Providence Stadium, Guyana April 7 Bangladesh v South Africa Providence Stadium, Guyana April 10 West Indies v South Africa National Cricket Stadium, Grenada April 14 South Africa v New Zealand National Cricket Stadium, Grenada April 17 South Africa v England Kensington Oval, Barbados
SEMIFINALS AND FINAL April 24 1st Semifinal 2 v 3 Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica April 25 2nd Semifinal 1 v 4 Beausejour Stadium, St Lucia April 28 Final SF1 v SF2 Kensington Oval, Barbados
Group Editor Sports Gul Hameed Bhatti believes England don't have that killer touch and the finishing power to make them one of the front-rankers in ODI cricket England have been in the World Cup finals three times, but have never won the coveted trophy. In fact, after having been beaten by Pakistan in Melbourne in 1992, they have never even featured in the tournament's semifinals, as three successive competitions have gone by. In the West Indies currently, they didn't encounter any difficulty in making the Super Eights stage, but where do they go from here? The four favourites to enter the semifinals in World Cup 2007 are defending champions Australia, the top-ranked One-day International cricket team South Africa and most probably Sri Lanka and New Zealand as well. This anticipation virtually rules out England's ambitions to place their hands around the World Cup trophy for the first time in nine attempts. The question that arises is whether, individually or collectively, the England team has the talent and cricketing power to win a World Cup title after all. Their recent record in the realm of One-day International cricket is rather poor -- only 11 wins in their last 25 such matches. Yet, in February earlier this year, they beat hosts Australia to win the annual triangular series that also involved New Zealand. And this too after Australia had made a 5-0 clean sweep of the Ashes Test rubber just prior to the limited overs competition. Now, as they again come face to face with old enemy Australia in a World Cup 2007 Super Eights match in Antigua today (Sunday), they are not as confident as they might have appeared after having won the series two months ago. Today's game is just a solitary encounter, Australia are back in their top, unbeatable form and, by the end of the day, England may have ended as the side vanquished. Michael Vaughan's men started the World Cup event in the West Indies not on the most positive note. They were beaten by New Zealand in their opening Group C match but predictable wins against International Cricket Council (ICC) members Canada and Kenya took them into the Super Eights. What followed was a soft match against Ireland, which they won though not quite convincingly. Then came that cracker of an encounter on Wednesday against the 1996 World Cup winners Sri Lanka. The latter were still licking the wounds of a one-wicket loss to South Africa and now their game against England also went to the wire. Needing 236 runs, England saw the match taken to the last ball. With only three runs required, pace bowler Dilhara Fernando kept his nerve and clean bowled Ravi Bopara, who didn't. England had lost by just two runs. England may have been defeated, but they had a new hero in the London-born, 21-year-old Ravinder Singh Bopara. He came in at number seven with the score soon at 133-6 in 33.3 overs and Ian Bell (47), Kevin Pietersen (58), Paul Colingwood (14) and Andrew Flintoff (2) all gone. With another 103 required in less than 17 overs, Sri Lanka seemed destined to an easy win. Bopara was playing in only his fifth ODI. But he and wicket-keeper Paul Nixon had ideas of their own. The next 92 balls produced a seventh-wicket partnership of 87 runs. The total went up to 220 before Nixon (42 off 44 balls) was dismissed. Another 13 runs were added for the eighth wicket while Bopara reached fifty off 51 balls. His last-ball dismissal shattered England's hopes.
DO ENGLAND HAVE THE POWER TO SUSTAIN THE THRUST? England were surely one of the favourites for the inaugural World Cup title in 1975, when the ODI brand of cricket was still in its infancy. The first three World Cup events were all held in England and the host nation made the semifinals on each occasion, but got into the final only once. In 1975, Australia had the better of them in the semifinals and, in 1983, eventual champions India pushed them out. In 1979 they were in the final, but West Indies won their second successive World Cup trophy, beating England comprehensively by 92 runs. In 1987, when the World Cup event travelled to the Indo-Pak sub-continent, England got into the final. At the Eden Gardens in Calcutta, Australia beat them by the narrow margin of seven runs to lift their first World Cup trophy. England lost that memorable final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1992, in front of more than 87,000 spectators, when Pakistan beat them by 22 runs and became the toast of a grateful nation back home. But that was England's last instance of shared glory at the world stage. In 1996, they reached the quarter-finals after finishing fourth behind South Africa, Pakistan and New Zealand in the six-team Group B. In the last-eights match, Sri Lanka -- who were to later become the new champions -- defeated England by five wickets at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad. At both the 1999 and 2003 events, in England and South Africa, respectively, England failed to make the Super Sixes stage. On either occasion, lowly-rated Zimbabwe managed to attain that honour ahead of them. Sri Lanka and Pakistan were the other major teams left behind. Their previous record clearly shows that England don't have that killer touch and the finishing power to make them one of the front-rankers in One-day International cricket. Today's match against Australia will be crucial. If they can win here, they can destroy any other team too.
ENGLAND WILL HAVE TO LIFT QUITE A FEW NOTCHES They have the players perfectly suited to the one-day game but England will have to lift their game quite a few notches from here onwards. Skipper Vaughan has to get back among the runs to support the efforts of the likes of Collingwood and Pietersen. Similarly, opener Ed Joyce, Bell and Flintoff will all have to raise their individual standards considerably. The bowling is coming into its own, with Flintoff picking up wickets regularly. Pace bowler James Anderson and slow left-armer Monty Panesar have held on to their places in all five matches so far and the batting of Nixon and Bopara has been an inspiration. The form of Jamie Dalrymple and Liam Plunkett has not been encouraging but paceman Sajid Mahmood acquited himself well with four wickets against Sri Lanka. Andrew Strauss, who captained England 13 times last year, has not been able to gain a single cap due to poor form. But England's bits and pieces players policy may in fact give them the kind of boost that they had been waiting for years. Now, they have the specialists too and they need to surprise the world with their first ever World Cup trophy later this month.
MEET THE ENGLAND PLAYERS Michael Paul VAUGHAN. Captain. Born Manchester October 29,
1974 (32 years old
Ian Ronald BELL. Born Walsgrave, Coventry April 11, 1982
(24 years old at start of
Stuart Christopher John BROAD. Born Nottingham June 24,
1986 (20 years old at
James William Murray DALRYMPLE. Born Nairobi, Kenya
January 21, 1981 (26 years
Edmund Christopher JOYCE. Born Dublin, Ireland September
22, 1978 (28 years old
Paul Andrew NIXON. Born Carlisle, Cumberland October 21,
1970 (36 years old at
Kevin Peter PIETERSEN. Born June 27, 1980 Pietermaritzburg,
Natal, South Africa
Andrew John STRAUSS. Born Johannesburg, Transvaal, South
Africa March 2, 1977
***All figures are complete upto the morning of April 8 (today), when England were playing their Super Eights match in World Cup 2007, against Australia at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in St Peter's, Antigua
PERFORMANCE INDICATOR Rank Team Points 1 Bangladesh 76 2 South Africa 75 3 Australia 72 4 Sri Lanka 69 5 New Zealand 58 6 Pakistan 52 7 England 46 8 West Indies 44 9 India 36 10 Zimbabwe 24
(a) Kenya 52 (b) Netherlands 33 (c) Scotland 30 (d) Ireland 25 (e) Canada 24 (f) Bermuda 23 Note: Matches taken into consideration were mostly played over the last one-year period. The quality of opposition has not been evaluated though ENGLAND AT WORLD CUP 2007 MATCH SCHEDULE
WARM-UP MATCHES March 5 England bt Bermuda Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent March 9 Australia bt England Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent
GROUP C MATCHES March 16 New Zealand bt England Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia March 18 England bt Canada Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia March 24 England bt Kenya Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
SUPER EIGHTS MATCHES March 30 England bt Ireland Providence Stadium, Guyana April 4 Sri Lanka bt England Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua April 8 Australia v England Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua April 11 England v Bangladesh Kensington Oval, Barbados April 17 South Africa v England Kensington Oval, Barbados April 21 West Indies v England Kensington Oval, Barbados
SEMIFINALS AND FINAL April 24 1st Semifinal 2 v 3 Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica April 25 2nd Semifinal 1 v 4 Beausejour Stadium, St Lucia April 28 Final SF1 v SF2 Kensington Oval, Barbados |
|
at start of World Cup 2007). Left-hand batsman. Right-arm
off-break bowler. Test matches 54 (2002-07). One-day Internationals 109
(2002-07), 4,015 runs (ave 39.75), HS 134*, S/R 82.05, 6 100s, 26 50s, 51
catches, 16 wickets (ave 54.93), BB 3-30, R/O 5.39. Captain in 86 ODIs
(2003-07), won 48, lost 32, tied one, no-result 5, win % 59.25. First
selection for a World Cup competition.
Jacques Henry KALLIS. Vice-captain. Born Pinelands, Cape
Town October 16, 1975 (31 years old at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand
batsman. Right-arm fast-medium bowler. Test matches 107 (1995-2007). One-day
Internationals 252 (1996-2007), 8,848 runs (ave 45.60), HS 139, S/R 71.25, 15
100s, 61 50s, 98 catches, 226 wickets (ave 31.53), BB 5-30, 4w 4, R/O 4.81.
Captain in 3 ODIs (2006), all 3 won. Appearing in his fourth World Cup, the
previous three being in 1996, 1999 and 2003.
World Cup 2007). Right-hand batsman. Right-arm
medium-pace bowler. No Test matches. One-day Internationals 8 (2006-07), 202
runs (ave 25.25), HS 88, S/R 91.40, one 50, 3 catches. First selection for a
World Cup competition.
Mark Verdon BOUCHER. Born East London December 3, 1976 (30
years old at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand batsman. Wicket-keeper.
Right-arm medium-pace bowler. Test matches 102 (1997-2007). One-day
Internationals 238 (1998-2007), 3,704 runs (ave 28.27), HS 147*, S/R 83.89,
one 100, 22 50s, 340 catches, 18 stumpings. Captain in one ODI (2003), match
won. Appearing in his third World Cup, the previous two being in 1999 and
2003.
years old at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand
batsman. Right-arm slow-medium bowler. Test matches 84 (1996-2007). One-day
Internationals 203 (1996-2007), 6,482 runs (ave 35.42), HS 175, S/R 82.23, 16
100s, 28 50s, 86 catches. Appearing in his third World Cup, the previous two
being in 1999 and 2003.
Andrew James HALL. Born Johannesburg July 31, 1975 (31
years old at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand batsman. Right-arm
fast-medium bowler. Test matches 21 (2002-07). One-day Internationals 81
(1999-2007), 851 runs (ave 22.39), HS 81, S/R 74.32, 3 50s, 27 catches, 88
wickets (ave 25.59), BB 4-23, 4w 3, R/O 4.52. Appearing in his second World
Cup, the previous one being in 2003.
World Cup 2007). Right-hand batsman. Right-arm
fast-medium bowler. Cousin of DJ Callaghan (29 ODIs for South Africa
1992-2000). Test matches 4 (2001-05). One-day Internationals 74 (2001-07),
1,235 runs (ave 30.87), HS 100*, S/R 85.70, one 100, 8 50s, 28 catches, 32
wickets (ave 29.40), BB 3-20, R/O 4.60. First selection for a World Cup
competition.
Charl Kenneth LANGEVELDT. Born Stellenbosch December 17,
1974 (32 years old at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand batsman. Right-arm
fast-medium bowler. Test matches 6 (2005-06). One-day Internationals 43
(2001-07), 8 runs (ave 1.60), HS 3, S/R 26.66, 5 catches, 59 wickets (ave
28.03), BB 5-39, 4w 3, R/O 4.94. Appearing in his second World Cup, the
previous one being in 2003.
. Right-hand batsman. Right-arm fast-medium bowler.
Test matches 27 (2001-07). One-day Internationals 57 (2001-07), 51 runs (ave
8.50), HS 22, S/R 70.83, 15 catches, 73 wickets (ave 29.43), BB 4-13, 4w 2,
R/O 4.67. First selection for a World Cup competition.
Makhaya NTINI. Born Mdingi, near King William's Town July
6, 1977 (29 years old at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand batsman.
Right-arm fast bowler. Test matches 75 (1998-2007). One-day Internationals
148 (1998-2007), 165 runs (ave 9.16), HS 42*, S/R 64.70, 28 catches, 234
wickets (ave 23.21), BB 6-22, 4w 10, R/O 4.39. Appearing in his second World
Cup, the previous one being in 2003.
World Cup 2007). Left-hand batsman. Slow left-arm
orthodox bowler. Test matches 5 (2003-04). One-day Internationals 34
(2002-07), 139 runs (ave 12.63), HS 36, S/R 74.73, 7 catches, 16 wickets (ave
59.56), BB 2-26, R/O 4.72. Appearing in his second World Cup, the previous
one being in 2003.
Shaun Maclean POLLOCK. Born Port Elizabeth July 16, 1973
(33 years old at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand batsman. Right-arm
fast-medium bowler. Son of PM Pollock (28 Tests for South Africa 1961-70).
Nephew of RG Pollock (23 Tests for South Africa 1963-70). Test matches 107
(1995-2007). One-day Internationals 279 (1996-2007), 2,989 runs (ave 24.70),
HS 75, S/R 85.32, 11 50s, 103 catches, 377 wickets (ave 23.95), BB 6-35, 4w
17, R/O 3.72. Captain in 92 ODIs (2000-05), won 59, lost 29, tied 3,
no-result one, win % 64.83. Appearing in his fourth World Cup, the previous
three being in 1996, 1999 (vice-captain) and 2003 (captain).
World Cup 2007). Left-hand batsman. Left-arm slow
bowler. Test matches 29 (2002-07). One-day Internationals 47 (2002-07), 980
runs (ave 37.69), HS 89*, S/R 68.24, 3 50s, 25 catches, 0-3 as bowler, R/O
1.50. First selection for a World Cup competition.
Roger TELEMACHUS. Born Stellenbosch March 27, 1973 (33
years old at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand batsman. Right-arm
fast-medium bowler. No Test matches. One-day Internationals 37 (1998-2006),
73 runs (ave 6.08), HS 29, S/R 77.65, 4 catches, 56 wickets (ave 27.94), BB
4-43, 4w one, R/O 4.89. First selection for a World Cup competition.
at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand batsman. Right-arm
off-break bowler. Test matches 64 (1999-2005). One-day Internationals 82
(2001-07), 1,851 runs (ave 26.82), HS 90*, S/R 67.92, 15 50s, 25 catches, 13
wickets (ave 46.92), BB 4-22, 4w one, R/O 4.97. Captain in 56 ODIs (2003-07),
won 30, lost 20, tied 2, 4 no-result, win % 57.69. Appearing in his second
World Cup, the previous one being in 2003.
James Michael ANDERSON. Born Burnley July 30, 1982 (24
years old at start of World Cup 2007). Left-hand batsman. Right-arm
fast-medium bowler. Test matches 16 (2003-07). One-day Internationals 62
(2002-07), 89 runs (ave 7.41), HS 15, S/R 40.09, 13 catches, 92 wickets (ave
26.73), BB 4-25, 4w 6, R/O 4.77. Appearing in his second World Cup, the
previous one being in 2003.
World Cup 2007). Right-hand batsman. Right-arm
medium-pace bowler. Test matches 23 (2004-07). One-day Internationals 41
(2004-07), 1,299 runs (ave 36.08), HS 88, S/R 68.54, 9 50s, 8 catches, 6
wickets (ave 14.66), BB 3-9, R/O 6.00. First selection for a World Cup
competition.
Ravinder Singh BOPARA. Born Forest Gate, London May 4,
1985 (21 years old at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand batsman. Right-arm
medium-pace bowler. No Test matches. One-day Internationals 5 (2007), 98 runs
(ave 49.00), HS 52, S/R 105.37, one 50, one catch, 3 wickets (ave 23.00), BB
2-43, R/O 4.92. First selection for a World Cup competition.
start of World Cup 2007). Left-hand batsman. Right-arm
fast-medium bowler. Son of BC Broad (25 Tests 1984-89 and 34 ODIs for England
1987-88, including World Cup 1987; ICC Match Referee in 23 Tests 2003-07 and
87 ODIs 2004-07, including World Cup 2007). No Test matches. One-day
Internationals 5 (2006), 9 runs (unbeaten in 3 innings), HS 8*, S/R 60.00,
one catch, 5 wickets (ave 37.00), BB 3-57, R/O 5.18. First selection for a
World Cup competition (called up to replace J Lewis on April 4, 2007 as the
latter had to return home because of his wife's pregnancy complications).
Paul David COLLINGWOOD. Born Shotley Bridge, Co Durham May
26, 1976 (30 years old at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand batsman.
Right-arm medium-pace bowler. Test matches 20 (2003-07). One-day
Internationals 117 (2001-07), 2,905 runs (ave 35.42), HS 120*, S/R 75.02, 4
100s, 15 50s, 66 catches, 62 wickets (ave 37.25), BB 6-31, 4w 3, R/O 4.99.
Appearing in his second World Cup, the previous one being in 2003.
old at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand
batsman. Right-arm off-break bowler. No Test matches. One-day Internationals
26 (2006-07), 486 runs (ave 20.25), HS 67, S/R 72.97, 2 50s, 10 catches, 14
wickets (ave 46.21), BB 2-5, R/O 4.72. First selection for a World Cup
competition.
Andrew FLINTOFF. Born Preston, Lancashire December 6, 1977
(29 years old at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand batsman. Right-arm fast
bowler. Test matches 67 (1998-2007). One-day Internationals 119 (1999-2007),
3,029 runs (ave 32.92), HS 123, S/R 87.84, 3 100s, 16 50s, 38 catches, 131
wickets (ave 25.59), BB 4-14, 4w 6, R/O 4.36. Captain in 14 ODIs (2006-07),
won 4, lost 10, win % 28.57. Appearing in his third World Cup, the previous
two being in 1999 and 2003.
at start of World Cup 2007). Left-hand batsman.
Right-arm medium-pace bowler. Brother of DI Joyce (one ODI for Ireland 2006).
No Test matches. One-day Internationals 17 (2006-07), 471 runs (ave 27.70),
HS 107, S/R 66.43, one 100, 3 50s, 6 catches. First selection for a World Cup
competition.
Sajid Iqbal MAHMOOD. Born Bolton, Lancashire December 21,
1981 (25 years old at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand batsman. Right-arm
fast-medium bowler. Test matches 8 (2006-07). One-day Internationals 22
(2004-07), 85 runs (ave 9.44), HS 22*, S/R 86.73, one catch, 26 wickets (ave
38.15), BB 4-50, 4w one, R/O 5.81. First selection for a World Cup
competition.
start of World Cup 2007). Left-hand batsman.
Wicket-keeper. No Test matches. One-day Internationals 15 (2007), 230 runs (ave
20.90), HS 49, S/R 88.12, 16 catches, 3 stumpings. First selection for a
World Cup competition.
Mudhsuden Singh (Monty) PANESAR. Born Luton, Bedfordshire
April 25, 1982 (24 years old at start of World Cup 2007). Left-hand batsman.
Slow left-arm orthodox bowler. Test matches 13 (2006-07). One-day
Internationals 14 (2007), 6 runs (ave 6.00), HS 6, S/R 31.57, 2 catches, 13
wickets (ave 40.53), BB 2-31, R/O 4.39. First selection for a World Cup
competition.
(26 years old at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand
batsman. Right-arm off-break bowler. Test matches 23 (2005-07). One-day
Internationals 47 (2004-07), 1,809 runs (ave 56.53), HS 116, S/R 92.20, 3
100s, 14 50s, 22 catches, one wicket for 93 runs, BB 1-4, R/O 6.20. First
selection for a World Cup competition.
Liam Edward PLUNKETT. Born Middlesbrough April 6, 1985 (21
years old at start of World Cup 2007). Right-hand batsman. Right-arm
medium-fast bowler. Test matches 6 (2005-06). One-day Internationals 24
(2005-07), 287 runs (ave 26.09), HS 56, S/R 86.70, one 50, 5 catches, 31
wickets (ave 35.22), BB 3-24, R/O 5.80. First selection for a World Cup
competition.
(30 years old at start of World Cup 2007). Left-hand
batsman. Left-arm medium-pace bowler. Test matches 36 (2004-07). One-day
Internationals 74 (2003-07), 2,156 runs (ave 32.66), HS 152, S/R 76.26, 2
100s, 14 50s, 26 catches, 0-3 as bowler, R/O 3.00. Captain in 13 ODIs (2006),
won 4, lost 8, no-result one, win % 33.33. First selection for a World Cup
competition.