Semi final Analysis: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka cricket teams in 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup
by admin on March 27, 2011
in World cup 2011
World Cup win/loss record of New Zealand vs Sri Lanka:
- Total matches played: 8
- New Zealand cricket team won: 3
- Sri Lanka cricket team won: 5
One day international win/loss record of New Zealand cricket team against Sri Lanka:
- Total matches played: 73
- New Zealand cricket team won: 35
- Sri Lanka cricket team won: 33
- No result: 4
- Tied: 1
1st semi-final of 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup is going to be played between New Zealand and Sri Lanka on March 29, 2011 at Colombo, Sri Lanka. In quarter-finals, New Zealand cricket team defeated South Africa in a close but low scoring match whereas Sri Lanka cricket team won its match against England to qualify for the semi-finals. Sri Lanka has always been the favorite for this world cup while New Zealand has made its way to semi-finals keeping itself under the radar. Let’s have an analysis of strengths and weaknesses of both teams.
New Zealand’s Batting Strength and Weakness:
New Zealand cricket team’s batting strength relies on the performance of its top ace batting players like Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor; these four players must perform if New Zealand wants to qualify for final of 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. Weak middle of New Zealand cricket team is concern for them and if it gets exposed early then Kiwis will find themselves in deep trouble. New Zealand has pinch hitters like James Franklin and Jacob Oram who can accelerate the run-rate at any time.
New Zealand’s Bowling Strength and Weakness:
New Zealand has a very average bowling line-up but it has been very consistent and hard-working in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. Tim Southee is the leading wicket-taker for New Zealand with 15 wickets. Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum; the spinners have also done good job with the ball for New Zealand in crucial matches.
Sri Lanka’s Batting Strength and Weakness:
Sri Lanka’s top order is supreme batting form currently. Kumar Sangakkara, Tilakaratne Dilshan and Upal Tharanga are one of the leading run-scorers in this tournament. Sri Lanka has the capability of pilling huge targets and chasing targets too. Sri Lanka cricket team managed to win its quarter-final against England cricket team without losing any wicket. Sri Lanka might face problems if their middle-order is exposed early.
Sri Lanka’s Bowling Strength and Weakness:
Sri Lankans is one of the best bowling sides in this tournament. They have great variety to offer. Legend off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is in top-form but he is struggling with fitness which might become a problem for Sri Lanka cricket team. Lasith Malinga has been very successful with his yorkers in this world cup; he can prove to be a magician with his reverse–swing deliveries. Other bowlers like Kulasekara, Perera, Mathews and Mendis have been contributing well for the winning cause.
Sri Lanka has the advantage of home ground but it will be creating pressure on them. New Zealand cricket team is in high morale as they have beaten world’s top side South Africa in the quarter-finals. So, it is very hard to predict about any team as favorites as both teams are equally balanced
Quarter final Analysis: South Africa vs New Zealand cricket teams in 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup
by admin on March 22, 2011
in Team records in ICC Cricket World Cups, World cup 2011
World Cup win/loss record of South Africa vs New Zealand:
Total matches played: 5
- South Africa cricket team won: 2
- New Zealand cricket team won: 3
One day international win/loss record of South Africa cricket team against New Zealand:
Total matches played: 51
- South Africa cricket team won: 30
- New Zealand cricket team won: 17
- No result: 4
The 3rd Quarter-final of 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup will played between South Africa cricket team and New Zealand cricket team at Dhaka on March 25, 2011. South Africa topped Group B with winning 4 matches and losing just 1 against England. New Zealand remained on fourth position in Group A after being defeated by Australia and Sri Lanka. Despite these defeats New Zealand managed to win against Pakistan convincingly. Following are the main strength and weakness of these teams.
Batting Strength and Weakness:
South Africa cricket team has one of the best top-order batting line-up in this world cup. Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers; they all have been performing well with the bat. But the problem for South Africa is their weak middle-order which consists of players who are new to top cricket. There are more concerns in the New Zealand squad because of their overall weak batting line up. The New Zealand cricket team’s batting mainly rely on players like Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor, if these don’t fire then New Zealand will find itself in deep trouble. New Zealand has got pinch hitters like James Franklin and Jacob Oram who can change the course of match in few overs.
Bowling Strength and Weakness:
Bowling can be considered as the main strength of South African cricket team. This can be evaluated from the fact that in group round South Africa has bowled out its opposition in all matches. South Africa has one of the best line up of fast bowlers. Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel have been able to destroy batting line up of all major teams. In the spinner’s department, South Africa has the option of Imran Tahir, Johan Botha and Robin Peterson; all three spinners have performed well in the current world cup. Robin Peterson of South Africa cricket team is the 2nd highest wicket-taker of this tournament. On the other hand, New Zealand has an average bowling attack; Tim Southee, Kyle Mills and Daniel Vettori are the main striker bowlers for New Zealand cricket team.
Conclusion:
Both teams are highly capable, both have high talent and recourses. South Africa cricket team is famous for choking in key matches while New Zealand has also the tendency of losing knockout matches in major tournaments. So, let’ see what happens in the match.
Famous players of New Zealand cricket team: Martin Guptill
by admin on February 25, 2011
in Famous cricket players profiles
New Zealand is country to have had produced some very good batsmen through out their history but the opening spot has always been very turbulent since playing the new ball is an art that only a few players have been polished themselves in doing. Martin Guptill, is the Kiwi answer to the world for a strong headed, well equipped opener in both forms of the game.
Born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1986, Martin Guptill is a right-handed opening batsman of New Zealand cricket team who has come through the ranks playing some memorable innings in the junior and the first class sides. Making his ODI debut against the West Indies in 2009, the tall youngster Guptill has represented his national side in 44 ODIs thus far. Scoring at a respectable average of 34.47 Martin Guptill of New Zealand cricket team has a total of 1,310 runs to his name with 9 fifties and an emphatic century, 122*, which also happens to be his highest ODI score. The thing worth a note here is the fact that this century came in his debut, which distinguishes him as the first kiwi batsman to score a hundred on his ODI debut. Apart from the immense talent he possesses with the bat, Guptill is a very good fielder, may it be in the ‘slips’ or the out field, he gives his 100%.
With the kiwis not known for their liking to the spinners, Martin Guptill seems to be an exception since in the recent tour of Pakistan to New Zealand he seemed comfortable playing the class spin attack from the sub continent and amassed decent runs against them.
With 2011 Cricket World Cup being his first big outing, Martin Guptill would surely try and live up to the expectations, of his selectors and the nation who have unfortunately been through excruciating times owing to the earth quake, and score some big runs.
Famous cricket players of New Zealand: Stephen Fleming
by admin on February 19, 2011
in Famous cricket players profiles
Though, often regarded as an underperforming batsman, Stephen Fleming of New Zealand cricket team is most definitely the best captain who has ever led the New Zealand cricket team. He debuted against the Indians in 1994 and played his last ODI against the Sri Lankans in 2007. During this 13 year career, the left hander played a total of 280 ODIs and scored 8037 runs at a respectable average of 32.40.
Born in Christchurch in 1973, Stephen Fleming is to date the longest serving captain in the ODIs for New Zealand cricket team and scored a total of 8 centuries and 49 fifties. He was always a subject of scrutiny for his poor conversion rate but every now and then played an inning which would lead his team out of trouble and help them secure a memorable win. One such inning comes to the mind when he scored a blistering 134 of just 132 deliveries against the South Africans in the 2003 ICC Cricket world cup which helped his side not only progressed forward but against the expectations of every one, crashed the mighty South Africa out of the tournament.
During the 3 world cups that he represented the Kiwis, he had a decent record but never played to his full potential apart from a few occasions. He resigned from the ODI captaincy following the defeat at the hands of the Sri Lankans in the 2007 Cricket World Cup and subsequently from all forms of international cricket in 2008.
Stephen Fleming now spends majority of his time with his family with infrequent commentary on tours to New Zealand. He would without a shout of a doubt be regarded as a good ODI player and a leader who led a relatively weak side and achieved out of them what very few people could.
Famous cricket players of New Zealand: Scott Styris
by admin on February 19, 2011
in Famous cricket players profiles
Born in Brisbane, Australia in 1975, Scott Bernard Styris is a less known all rounder of New Zealand cricket team who is a right handed batsman and a medium fast bowler. He made is ODI debut back in 1999 against India and was lucky to bag Sachin Tendulkar as his first wicket. Since then he has had a roller coaster ride in his career with a few sparks of brilliance on the way.
As a valuable member of the New Zealand cricket team squad, Scott Styris has scored 3743 at an average of 31.99 in the 160 matches that he has represented New Zealand in. He has scored 4 centuries and 23 fifties along the way with his highest ODI score being 141. A useful medium pacer, Styris has often been a partnership breaker and has 125 wickets to his name in the ODIs at an average of 33.84 with a best bowling of 6 wickets for 25 runs.
Having made a comeback to the ODI team in 2010 after spending almost 2 years in hibernation, Scott Styris has been a revelation and made a name for himself in the game with consistent performances and winning the right to be selected for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup squad travelling to the Sub Continent.
With the 2011 edition of the world cup surely being the final world cup for Scott Styris, he will try and ensure that he would utilize his potential to the fullest and perform in line with the expectations of his team mate and his country men.