Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Sachin back into top 10 ODI batsmen rankings

Sachin Tendulkar

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar has moved back into the top 10 of the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings for One-Day International (ODI) batsmen. In the latest rankings issued on Monday, Sachin moved up three places to sit at joint 9th, alongside Chris Gayle of the West Indies.

He is the only Indian batsman in the top 10. Vice-captain Yuvraj Singh is at 15th place, while captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni occupies the 16th position.

On the debit side of the ledger, however, former captain Rahul Dravid has slipped seven places and is now lies in 22nd place. India's highest-placed bowler in the relevant table is Harbhajan Singh, down in 29th position.

Australia's Andrew Symonds is within touching distance of top spot in the ODI batsmen rankings.

The powerful right-hander, who bludgeoned a brutal 107 from just 88 balls against India in Nagpur on Sunday, has rocketed up six spots to second place and is now just eight rating points behind his captain and team-mate Ricky Ponting.

That rise is a reflection of his outstanding form during the ongoing series as he is the leading run-scorer from either side with 365 runs at an average of 91.25 and a strike-rate of 110.94 runs per hundred balls.

Symonds, who has reached a career-high tally of rating points, forms an impressive Australian 1-2-3 at the top of the batting table, behind Ponting but ahead of Matthew Hayden, the winner of the ODI Player of the Year award at the ICC Awards in September and the second highest run-getter in the current series.

Three other Australians are in the top 11 - Michael Hussey (5th), Michael Clarke (8th) and Adam Gilchrist (11th).

The news is just as good for Ponting's men in the bowling list with left-arm wrist spinner Brad Hogg breaking into the top 10 on the back of being joint leading wicket-taker (alongside team-mate Mitchell Johnson) in the India series with 11 victims.

Hogg is one of three Australia bowlers in that top 10 with Nathan Bracken (3rd) and Brett Lee (9th) also featuring.

Source : cricket.indiatimes.com

All eyes on Dravid but India plans to pound Pakistan with a young team aided by big weights

Rahul Dravid
A big debate is going on Dravid. While the debate is on, young Indian team equipped with the T20 triumph and a respectable show against the Aussies are ready to take on the Pakistan team that looks weaker than normal.

Sandeep is seeking Pawar's intervention in bringing Dravid back. But BCCI is adamant. They want to rest Dravid for now. A message is being sent all Indian crickets. It is simple and clear – ‘perform or quit.’

Indian team is not affected by these controversial political maneuvers. They are determined to take on the Pak Team.

The team got further excited as they were greeted by the PM Manmohan Singh and Indian President.

It is a young team with a young outgoing dashing captain that resembles Kapil Dev in the past. India performs the best when such non-conventional non text book style cricketers dominate the scenes.

This team will be aided by the experience and guidance of Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly. Very soon, trust me, Dravid will be back after resting a little bit and getting things together for him.

Source : indiadaily.com

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