An analysis of all the team's performances against Australia

Cricinfo's stats editor S Raejsh brings us some very interesting statistics on the eve of the most awaited Border Gavaskar trophy. Australia has been invincible. They have thrashed team after team and even a draw in Australia is considered an achievement. Apparently India has the most impressive record playing against Australia. The statistics being discussed here cover only tests played against Australia since 2000. It also includes the super test between Australia and the world XI. The rankings in which India is at number one is done on basis of difference in batting and bowling averages.

India has played 12 tests, has won 4 matches and lost 5. India is the only team with a batting average of over 30. The figure is 33.18. The bowling average is 39.12 and the difference between the batting and bowling averages is only -5.94. Other teams have a bad record. England is just after India and they have won 4 matches compared to 14 losses with a batting average of 28.47 and a bowling average of 43.49. The difference is -15.02. Among the other Asian teams, Srilanka is at number three with no win and six losses. Their batting average is 28.47, bowling average is 42.50 and the difference is -15.05. Pakistan is at number six with zero wins and six losses. Their batting average is 20.78 and bowling average is 41.98. Difference is -21.11.

Among batsmen with the best records against Australia, three out of top four are Indians and there are four Indians in the top ten list. No points for guessing that at the top of the list is Laxman with an astounding average of 61.61. Rahul Dravid is number 2 at an average of 56. KP takes third position at an average of 53.50. Virendra Sehwag has an average of 49.76 and is at number four. Sachin Tendulkar is at number seven with an average of 47.41.

In bowlers Shoaib Akhtar tops the list with an average of 22.40 with 20 wickets. Harbhajan Singh is second with an average of 22.55 and 54 wickets. It may be noted that 53 of those wickets have come in India and he has picked only one wicket in Australia in the only one match he played in Australia. Andrew Flintoff is at number three with an average of 29.59 and 11 wickets. The Indian captain Anil Kumble is at number four with an average of 29.82 and 8 wickets.

S Rajesh also goes on to show that its a left arm chinaman bowler who has troubled the Indian batsmen the most. The list of the most successful spinner against India been compiled on basis of least difference between career average and average against India and Paul Adams tops the list. Hogg being a left handed chinamam bowler himself, will be inspired by this. He might want to see some video footage of Adams bowling to the Indians. But notably for him, is ex-colleague and arguably world's best leg spinner ever is at the bottom of the list.

Read the full story here.

'I'm always thankful to Dalmiya' - Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar must have been dissapointed for the washed out match against India. He was supposed to make his come back with that. In an in an Asian News International report , he has said that he is thankful to Jagmohan Dalmiya for supporting him when he was going through the chucking controversy. Dalmiya was the president of ICC then.

"The first time, in 1999-2000, was awful. I'm always going to be thankful to Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, the then ICC president, for his support."

Shoaib also went on to justify the his position on the doping issue:

My own countrymen shunned me, with some even refusing to look at me. It was a terrible period. Everybody's body mechanism isn't the same and certain levels are higher in my body compared to others. My hormone level fluctuates. I didn't take drugs to enhance my performance. I don't need to. I don't know why I was treated so badly. The test didn't show I was an evil person. I've always been misunderstood. I've never seen myself bigger than the game.

Well, I wonder how Akhtar and Afridi are giving so many interviews when the PCB has clearly asked all the players not to give any public statements and to stay away from the media.

Reference: cricinco.com

Bravo Pakistan

Its good to see Pakistan get back to winning ways straight away. Its wasn't a joke for them to beat the world cup finalists at this time. They not only won the first match, but also are doing a fine job at the moment in the second one. The team is spirited, has nothing to lose and have a point to prove.

They are scoring at a rate of over 6.3 at the moment with 20 more overs to spare and seven wickets in hand. isn't that a cool position to be in? Also good to see Salman Butt score some runs at the top. Opening has been Pakistan's biggest problem and once openers start doing well, they will find winning relatively easier to come.

Imran Farhat punished

This was coming for sure. A few days ago, when the PCB selectors overlooked Farhat while deciding the team for the upcoming series against Srilanka, his father-in-law stormed into the selectors and thrteatened them. You can follow the story here. Farhat also expressed his annoyance over the matter. Then he susequently apologiged.

Now, Farhat has been punished for that. He has been kept on probation for six months in which his conduct will be watched and he will be fined half of his next match fee. His aplogy made the PCB take a softer approach.

Story on BBC

Related stories:

Imran Farhat's father-in-law in war with PCB selectors?

Imran Farhat's father-in-law in war with PCB selectors?

Well, this one is quite a shocking news from "The Daily Times" from Pakistan. Imran Farhat's father-in-law Mr. Mohammad Ilyas is a former Pakistani test player. He perhaps didn't like it much when the selectors over looked his son-in-law for the latest team. Selector Shafqat Rana said that

Ilyas, father-in-law of Imran, entered the room of selectors and said: “thank you very much for not selecting Imran. Now the war is on.”

This is very interesting. I had never heard anything like this before. I wonder how much he helped Farhat's future prospects.

Whats International cricket for Imran Nazir?

Quite an interesting start to the world cup, isn’t it? The result was as expected but a few things in the middle were not. Though Pakistan bowled well, West Indies made a very good come back showing that they have taken their lesson from the collapse in the warm-up matches. But you still can’t trust that batting line up; they sort of get hypnotized and launch into a suicide mission at times. I hope not to see one of those in this tournament as I personally would love to see them lift the cup- if India doesn’t.

Now about the Pakistan innings, openers are killing them. Imran Nazir plays the way we play gully cricket in India. The kids just go out there playing a 10 over match and throw their bat at whatever they see. But no, wait, even the kids in gully cricket do it more carefully. Pakistan has been having opening problems for a long time. They need openers that can play sensibly. Is it really that difficult for a Nazir to understand that? He came in, hit a handsome six and made himself look like a hero and next ball he said bye bye. Its not about talent, its about attitude.

Pakistan’s biggest strength for this world cup is their middle order. It didn’t look very good in this match though. They attempted a rescue mission but fell short. This middle order is the most precious asset that Pakistan holds and if they don’t play to their potential, Pakistan’s chances of making it to the semis look slim.

Sabina Park

Thats where the first match between Pakistan and host West Indies will be played. Speculations are on and every kind of opinions are pouring in. Where Pakistan's injury depleted team looks innocuous, West Indies showcased a range of its weaknesses in the warm-up match against India. Its a tough call now. But this match will sure set the tone for the world cup. I believe West Indies has the edge here. Its their backyard and they have the players to do it. All they need is some sensible approach. Good luck to both teams.

Inzamam has no plans to retire

Pakistan captain Inzamam Ul-Haq has made it clear that he has no plans of retiring now.

“I intend to continue playing till I feel that my performance is good for the team. I believe there is never any deadline for a player (to retire) especially if there is any cricket left in him.- Inzamam

He is a fine batsman and there is no reason for him to retire now. I would love to watch him play for a few more years.

Here is the full story on The News of Pakistan.

Shahid Afridi

Read an interesting interview of Shahid Afridi just before the first match in the world cup.

Is it difficult for you to then adjust to be more patient?
Not actually. Batsmen like myself, [Virender] Sehwag, [Adam] Gilchrist, [Sanath] Jayasuriya, [Nathan] Astle, play our own way and if we click then on our day we can beat any team and can make big runs.

Which are the batsmen you've enjoyed watching?
I like to watch Sehwag: he can make or break things within moments. [Mahendra Singh] Dhoni's open style of batting is attractive. Then there is [Brian] Lara, [Sachin] Tendulkar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Gilchirst - players who play in an open way.

Afridi is not playing in the next two matches as he is in the middle of a four match ban.

Read the full interview here.

'The South Africans are my personal favourites' - Bob Woolmer

Pakistan's coach Bob Woolmer says in this article in cricinfo that the South Africans are his personal favorites. I am not very sure if this comment will go down very well with the Pakistani cricket fans.

Hindustan Times predicts loss for Pakistan

The astrologers are in action. Hindustan Times, the second biggest English daily in India is perheps taking opinions of Anita Nigam for the world cup. And she says that for the starter between Pakistan and West Indies, the hosts are the favorites. She believes that Pakistan will lose the match by a narrow margin. But then she keeps it open saying that if Pakistan bats second, they have a chance of winning as well.

You can read the story here.

I believe the team that plays well will win the match. If the heavenly bodies can fix matches, why cant Azharuddin and Cronje?

Pakistani players will addresses media conferences in Urdu

Coach Bob Wooler has said that Pakistani players will address all media conferences in their national language Urdu.

"The Pakistani players feel comfortable in their national language. They can express themselves freely in Urdu and they are proud of their language and their country. Our media manager Pervez Mir will act as interpreter during the press conferences."- Bob Woolmer

Most Pakistani players are not comfortable with English. One would remember that during the Daryl Hair controversy when the umpire forefeited the match, this issue had surfaced in a major way. There were opinions that the Pakistani players including captain Inzamam did not realise the seriousness of the situation as umpire Hair was speaking in English.

I think it will be better as the players will be able to speak more freely. Read the complete story here on fox sports.

Naved-ul-Hasan and Pakistan have a reason to worry

Fine, Pakistan has won the first warm-up match against Canada. But there is one point that attracted my attention - the bowling figures by Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. Naved gave away 43 runs in 7 overs at an economy rate of 6.14. In a match in which Canada made a total score of less than 200 runs, this economy rate stands out as a less than ordinary performance by Rana.

Shahid Afridi also conceded at a rate of 5.33 which is niot very impressive. While Rana got one wicket, Afridi got none.

The worry for Pakistan is that if the bowlers are not able to bowl tight against the weak batting line-up of Canada, will they be able to do it against stronger sides?