World Cup final musings…

They want to kick out the Associates to have a competitive World Cup.
The only way the World Cup can be made competitive if you kick out Australia.

Even if Winnie the Pooh led the Australians, they’d win the World Cup.

Thank you Ranatunga and Dhoni!
Otherwise Australia would have won 6 straight World Cups from 1996-2015.

Thank God that Australia has never won the T20 World Cup otherwise world cricket would have gone into total boredom for all non-Australians.

Australia, New Zealand and India all lost just one match in the World Cup.
One is the champion, one a runner up and one a semi-finalist.

Progress of New Zealand…
1975-2007—Choked in all knockout matches.
2011—Choked in the semi-final.
2015—Choked in the final.

Let’s face it—The Aussies are hands on favourites to win the ODI World Cups of 2019 and 2023.

These versions by Sunil Rajguru

When ODI World Cup history repeated itself…

In his first ODI World Cup as captain, Kapil Dev prevented Clive Lloyd from getting his third title in 1983. He failed in his title defence when India couldn’t chase in the semis and in the final Australia beat England which has never won an ODI World Cup till date. In between India also won the mini World Cup.

In his first ODI World Cup as captain, MS Dhoni prevented Ricky Ponting from getting his third title in 2011. He failed in his title defence when India couldn’t chase in the semis and in the final Australia beat New Zealand which has never won an ODI World Cup till date. In between India also won the mini World Cup.

© Sunil Rajguru

India World Cup musings…

ODI World Cup.
T20 World Cup.
Champions Trophy.
Asia Cup.
Test No. 1 Ranking.
ODI No. 1 Ranking.
T20 No. 1 Ranking.
So much won from 2007-13.
‪#‎ThanksTeamIndia‬

Olympic hockey golds (1948, 52, 56, 64, 80).
Hockey World Cup (1975).
Cricket World Cups (1983, 2007, 2011).
All won only when Congress was in power.

During leagues Dhoni wanted to take LED stumps but wasn’t allowed.
Organizers said they would allow if he won semi-final.
Hopefully in another tournament then!

Now we need a Section 66A in Indo-Australia matches to prevent sledging from going totally out of control.
‪#‎IndVsAus‬ ‪#‎CWC15‬

India has many Ishant-Rohit-Jadeja jokes.
South Africa has many chokes.
‪#‎NZVsSA‬ ‪#‎CWC15‬

If you are on deputation for 6 months abroad you become an NRI.
The Indian cricket team is currently in its 5th month in Australia.
‪#‎IndVsAus‬ ‪#‎CWC15‬

Before…
Half the Indian cricket team is from Mumbai.
Then…
Half the team is from Karnataka.
Now…
Half the team is from Chennai Super Kings.

© Sunil Rajguru

Cricket kab paida hua, kab jawaan hua aur kab mar gaya…

cricket-724616_640Test cricket England main paida hua, Australia main jawaan hua aur India ke foreign Tests main mar gaya.

ODI cricket England main paida hua, India main jawaan hua aur phir England main gharwaapsi karke mar gaya.

T20 cricket England main paida hua, India main jawaan hua aur phir IPL main dher saara paise daalke ventilator aur oxygen pe jee raha hai.

First Class cricket kab paida hua, kab jawaan hua aur kab mar gaya ye kisi ko ab tak pata nahin.

Women’s cricket England main paida hua, kabhi kabhi TV World Cup coverage pe jeeta hai aur generally mara pada rahata hai.

Cricket England main Gentleman’s Game bana, Australia main Sledger’s Delight hua aur India main aake Corrupt Crorepati bana aur woh gentleman kab ka mar chuka hai.

These versions by Sunil Rajguru

When New Zealand thrashed West Indies in the quarters…

World Cup runs scored by Shahid Afridi in 12 years and 19 matches…
232
World Cup runs scored by Martin Guptill in 3.5 hours…
237*.

Progression of 1Day 2Hundred…
1971-2009: 0.
2010-11: 2 by 1 country.
2013-14: 2 by 1 man.
2015: 2 in 1 World Cup.
Next: 2 in 1 match?

After 30 overs…
New Zealand—160.
West Indies—250.
Bas, thoda wicket column main maar khaa gaye Windies!
PS—You can double your score after 30 overs.

Economy rate of New Zealand bowlers…
Anderson—12.
Milne—10.5.
Southee—10.25.
Vettori—8.92.
And New Zealand won by 143 runs!

West Indies…
1983 World Cup—140 all down in 52 overs.
2015 World Cup—250 all down in 30.3 overs.

Still the most unique ODI double centurion…
Rohit Sharma (264) beat Sri Lanka (251).

These versions by Sunil Rajguru

The real reason why Pakistan lost to Australia in the quarters…

India has beaten Pakistan in a World Cup match in every possible format and stage of the tournament.

Beaten in…

Final—T20 2007.

Semi-final—ODI 2011.

Quarter-final—ODI 1996.

Super Six stage—ODI 1999.

Open League format—ODI 1992.

7-Group League—ODI 2015.

3-Group League—T20 2007.

So the “quota” for semi-finals is full and we may meet in a 4-league format in the 2016 T20 WC or a 5-league format in the 2019 ODI WC.

India won the quarters first and thereby blocked Pakistan’s entry.

© Sunil Rajguru