Lasith Malinga - The destroyer

Lasith Malinga became the first ever player to take 4 wickets in 4 balls. He joins the list of World cup Hat-trick takers which includes Saqlain Mushtaq, Chetan Sharma and Brett Lee.

image: smashersports

Facts about Bob Woolmer

-Born: May 14, 1948, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
-As an all-rounder, played in over 300 first-class matches for Kent, England, Natal and Western Province
-Made his Test debut for England against Australia at Lord's in 1975 and played his 19th and last Test against Australia, again at Lord's, in 1981
-Had interrupted his Test career by signing for World Series Cricket in 1977, before effectively ending it forever by joining the rebel English South African tour of 1981-82.
-Voted Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1976
-Began his coaching career at Warwickshire before taking charge of South Africa where his pioneering use of computers aided two World Cup campaigns including a semi-final appearance in 1999.
-Following a spell as the ICC's high-performance manager, he was appointed coach of Pakistan in June 2004 and was contracted until the 2007 World Cup where Pakistan became the first country to be eliminated after defeat by Ireland on Saturday.
source:rediff.com

Coach dies, Captain Retires. Dull day for Pakistan cricket

Saturday was a forgettable day for Pakistan after losing to Ireland. Sunday wasn't any better. Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq on Sunday announced his retirement from one-day cricket after his team's humiliating exit from the World Cup in the West Indies.
Inzamam made his debut on the international circuit in the 1992 World Cup in Australia. It was there that his sizzling knocks in the semifinal and final helped Pakistan to their maiden win.
Inzy, as he is fondly called, has scored 11,663 runs in 376 ODIs for Pakistan, slamming 10 centuries and 83 half centuries. He has also played in 118 Tests scoring 8,812 runs with 25 centuries and 46 half centuries.
"I will be willing to serve Pakistan cricket in any capacity and would be playing Test cricket, if needed, as a player," he said.
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer died in a Jamaica hospital after he was found lying unconscious in his hotel room. Sports Minister of Pakistan, Mian Shamim Haider confirmed that Woolmer's death was due to a heart attack. He was 58 years old.

source: ibnlive

Javagal Srinathi - ICC referee this time!

Javagal Srinath, has been selected as an international match referee by the ICC. Srinath, who has been selected for the second tier of part-time match referees, will join former West Indian captain Clive Lloyd and Australian Alan Hurst on the panel.
Other than Srinath, the BCCI had recommended Dilip Vengsarkar, Robin Singh, Kiran More and Shivlal Yadav for the post. However, Srinath with 236 wickets in 67 Tests at an average of 30.49, and claimed 315 scalps at 28.08 in 229 one-day internationals was selected.
"it's a great honour to be selected in the panel of match referees. It will definitely give me a chance to see the game from a macro level. I know it is quite a responsible job which will call for a few big decisions if such a situation arises. I will have to concentrate more than I did during my playing days." Srinath said to PTI

source: cricinfo

World Cup 2007 - The fun begins

World Cup 2007 begins as the crowd cheers for their respective countries in the West Indies. Nine independent states from the West Indies will host 51 games involving 16 teams. The competition will last for 47 days leading up to the final on April 28 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. More than 2000 singers, dancers and performers, including several of the Caribbean's top reggae and dancehall performers, participated in the opening at the new stadium close to Montego Bay on the northern coast of Jamaica.

source: theage.com

Quicket 3

Here we present, the third edition of Quicket.
All answers to be sent to: pressmartquiz@gmail.com
In the subject line, Please mention Quicket 1 or Quicket 2 and so on as the case may be.
Each correct answer will be awarded 1 point
There is no negative marking
All points may be carried forward till the last quiz (until WC ends)

1. At which venue did Sourav Ganguly score his 183 against Sri Lanka?
2.Who was the Man of the series in the 1987 World Cup?
3.Which new Zealand bowler took 20 wickets in the 1999 World Cup?
4.Which Indian player was a part of the 1983 World Cup winning squad but never played a match?
5.Who hit the first century in ODI’s for Canada against West Indies?
6.Which world cup finals venue is named after a African leader?

The Answers for Quicket 1 are as follows:

1.Who took the highest number of wickets in the 2003 World Cup held at South Africa?
CHAMINDA VAAS
2. At which venue did Kapil Dev score his career best score of 175 against West Indies in the 1983 World Cup?
TURNBRIDGE WELLS
3. Against which country did Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly put up a partnership of 318, the highest for any wicket?
SRI LANKA
4. Which ground holds the record for hosting the most number of World Cup matches?
HEADINGLY, LEEDS (12 matches)
5. In World Cup 2003, Bangladesh batsman Talha Jubair broke Sri Lankan Sudath Pasqual’s record. What was the record?
YOUNGEST PLAYER TO PLAY IN A WORLD CUP
6. Who has appeared in the most editions of the World Cup and how many?
JAVED MIANDAD (6)
7. Visual: GARY GILMOUR
8. Visual: ASANKA GURUSINGHE

Quicket 2 visuals:
7. RUDI VAN VUUREN (NAMIBIA)
8. ANDY BICHEL (AUSTRALIA)

Ireland scares South Africa

South Africa gasped for breath as DT Johnson of Ireland took 4 for 40 in their opening warm-up match. South Africa were reduced to 192 after the magical spell. But, Andrew Hall produced a superb and timely allround performance to save South Africa's in their opening World Cup warm-up match against Ireland at the Frank Worrell Ground in Trinidad. Hall rescued his side twice, first with an unbeaten 67 from No. 9 after South Africa, the new World No.1s, had been reduced to 91 for 8 in the first innings; then with a spell of 3 for 30 from nine overs to set up a tight 35-run win.

Now, Do we have another contender for the top 8 spots?

In picture: David Trent Johnson
source: cricinfo