ICC World Twenty20
Srilanka 2012

Lankans shift loyalty

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene sets himself up to execute a reverse sweep as Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal looks on during the sides' World Twenty20 semifinal at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday.Photo: AFPAfp, Colombo

For the first time in the World Twenty20 the home fans turned their back on Pakistan here Thursday, naturally so because their semifinal opponents were none other than the hosts Sri Lanka.
Pakistan had received good support, even in their Super Eights match against arch-rivals India in Colombo on Sunday, but R Premadasa Stadium reverberated for Mahela Jayawardene's team, aiming to lift their first major trophy since winning the 1996 World Cup.
"This Cup is ours," said sisters Malissa and Belinda, who have come with a group of girls from Colombo college, all dressed in yellow and blue Sri Lankan shirts. "We want the title and we are going to snatch it from other teams."
The semi-final, a repeat of World Twenty20 final which Pakistan won in 2009, is a sell-out with the home fans outnumbering the travelling Pakistanis.
Among the Pakistani fans is Zaman Khan, famous as Chacha (Uncle) Twenty20 cricket.
"I will shout my throat out," said Zaman, a driver in Dubai who is in Sri Lanka to support Pakistan since the event started. "Up until now the Sri Lankans had supported our team but it's natural that they will not do that today."
Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez had said the crowd turning their backs will not matter to his team.
"We are now quite used to it as we don't play any cricket in Pakistan for the last three years," Hafeez said on the eve of the match. "I hope the fans support good cricket by both the teams."
Pakistan have been forced to play all their home cricket on neutral venues like United Arab Emirates and England since the March 2009 attacks on a Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore.
"I hope international cricket resumes in Pakistan so that we could play before our home fans," said Hafeez, whose counterpart Mahela Jayawardene also hoped a festive atmosphere will add to the charm of the match.
"It's good to be back in Colombo," said Jayawardene, whose team played earlier matches at Hambantota and Pallekele. "We have enjoyed playing here, I am sure the crowd will turn out in big numbers and support us."
Shops in the near-by markets were shut down early in the evening and traffic was diverted to allow the fans to reach the stadium in time for the start.
"I had to close my shop at noon because I had to prepare for the match," said Mohammad Azim, owner of a grocery shop. "As a Muslim I will be supporting Pakistan a bit but my prayers are for Sri Lanka to win."
Inside the stadium fans chanted slogans in the local language, blowing trumpets on a good start by Sri Lanka, who won the toss and batted.
The final is scheduled for Sunda

ICC World Twenty20
Srilanka 2012

A chance to break new ground

West Indies superstar Chris Gayle (L) and Marlon Samuels take a break from practice in Colombo on Thursday.Photo: AFPBishwajit Roy from Colombo

In recent times it has been always Australia that has called the shots in their wonderful historic rivalry against West Indies, but history will not count when the two meet in the second semifinal of the ICC World Twenty20 at the R Premadasa International Stadium today.
Instead of their storied rivalry, it was the prospect of the explosive Chris Gayle being pitted against the in-form Shane Watson that took centre-stage in discussions before the high-voltage battle which will start at 7.30pm Bangladesh Standard Time. Adding a bit of intrigue to an already enticing prospect, Gayle was the point of discussion not just for his murderous batting on the field but also for some off-field issues. Gayle and teammates Andre Russell, Fidel Edwards and Dwayne Smith attracted the attention of police bodyguards during a late-night party in their hotel rooms, an incident that saw three British women being escorted from the players' rooms and briefly arrested.
The relaxed West Indian skipper Darren Sammy however was not willing to talk about the issue, which was resolved with no charges made and the women released on bail; he was instead looking forward to a team effort while talking at the pre-match press conference at the P Sara Stadium yesterday.
“Next question please,” was the answer from the smiling Sammy when he was asked about the mood in the camp following the incident before a crucial knockout battle.
“It's not only Chris (Gayle). Obviously he sets the momentum for us at the top of the order, but it's about everybody. To win this game it will take a total team effort. In any cricket match you will have one individual winning the man-of-the-match for doing something brilliant, but it will take a collective effort, like you saw in the games before, to win the semi final,” he opined.
The West Indies captain was excited to renew their rivalry against Australia and expressed his optimism that they will come out on top to take a giant step forward towards their dream of winning their first global tournament since the Champions Trophy in England in 2004.
“We have always had good games against Australia. We have always scored heavy against them. We back our guys; their attack seems to favour us. Our game against Australia (in the first round) was shaping up to be a very exciting one. It's fair to be playing them in the semifinals, hopefully we will have another exciting game and we will come out on top,” said Sammy, referring to their rain-interrupted first-round game which Australia won by 17 runs through the Duckworth-Lewis method.
Australia skipper George Bailey however was very much wary of the Gayle factor but was also confident about his team's chances of reaching the final and clinching their first trophy in the game's shortest version's mega event.
“If he (Gayle) has an outstanding game, then he will make it difficult for us but we can come back through (Shane) Watson, (David) Warner and (Michael) Hussey,” said Bailey. Middle-order batsman David Hussey may also come back into the side, having missed out on the early stages of the tournament.
“In Twenty20, we have these games within games. The West Indies' strength is their batting but we have the confidence that we can chase down anything they set or we can put up a good score. Confidence is a huge thing. Once you get to these knockout games you know there are no weak teams or weak players left. It's all about winning on that day. India got knocked out after winning four out of five and the West Indies have sneaked in with a few less (victories). That's the format of the game. Once you get to the knockout stages, you have to play the best you can,” he added.
The Australian skipper was also very much conscious of the West Indian spin attack as Sunil Narine, Samuel Badree and Marlon Samuels can be a vital force for Sammy on the Premadasa surface.
West Indies were named favourites by many prior to the tournament and while they haven't always played like the team to beat, the Caribbean cricketers have done enough to justify expectations while the brand of cricket Australia, who are no longer the unstoppable force it used to be across all formats, have played for most of the tournament -- their big loss to Pakistan in their last Super Eights match being the exception --clearly showed that they are here to add another feather to their cap.
While Australia have not yet translated their erstwhile dominance in Tests and ODIs to the newest format, West Indies have not won a world event, save for the 2004 Champions Trophy triumph, since 1979 when they won the second of their ODI World Cups.
So today is the day for either team to take a step towards ending their respective droughts.

Peter Siddle

Peter Siddle Australia Full Name: Peter Matthew Siddle Date of Birth: Nov 25, 1984, Traralgon, Victoria Major Team: Australia, Australia A, Victoria Playing Roll: Bowler Batting Style: Right Bowling Style: Right-arm fast-medium Nick Name: Vicious, Dermie Height: 1.87 m

International Debut: 2008

Batting and fielding records M Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St   Test 33 47 8 632 43 16.21 1279 49.41 - - 69 6 15 - ODI 17 4 2 21 9* 10.50 18 116.67 - - 1 - 1 - T20I 2 1 1 1 1* - 1 100.00 - - - - - - Bowling records M Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Eco SR 4W 5W 10W   Test 33 60 6869 3514 122 6/54 8/113 28.80 3.07 56.30 3 5 - ODI 17 16 751 581 15 3/55 3/55 38.73 4.64 50.07 - - - T20I 2 2 48 58 3 2/24 2/24 19.33 7.25 16.00 - - - Career Statistics Test Debut: India v Australia at Chandigarh, 17-21, Oct 2008 ODI Debut: Australia v New Zealand at Brisbane, Feb 13, 2009 Twenty20 Debut: Australia v New Zealand at Sydney, Feb 15, 2009

Shane Harwood

Shane Harwood Australia Full Name: Shane Michael Harwood Date of Birth: Mar 01, 1974, Ballarat, Victoria Major Team: Australia, Victoria Playing Roll: Bowler Batting Style: Right Bowling Style: Right-arm fast-medium Nick Name: Stickers Height: 1.83 m

International Debut: 2007

Batting and fielding records M Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St   ODI 1 1 0 0 0 - 4 - - - - - - - T20I 3 1 1 0 0* - 0 - - - - - - - Bowling records M Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Eco SR 4W 5W 10W   ODI 1 1 60 57 2 2/57 2/57 28.50 5.70 30.00 - - - T20I 3 3 72 113 3 2/21 2/21 37.67 9.42 24.00 - - - Career Statistics ODI Debut: Australia v South Africa, Apr 13, 2009 Twenty20 Debut: Australia v England, Jun 09, 2007

David Warner

David Warner Australia Full Name: David Andrew Warner Date of Birth: Oct 27, 1986, Paddington, New South Wales Major Team: Australia, Australia A, Australia Under-19s, Delhi Daredevils, Durham, Middlesex, New South Wales, Northern Districts Playing Roll: Batsman Batting Style: Left Bowling Style: Legbreak Nick Name: Lloyd Height: 1.70 m

International Debut: 2009

Batting and fielding records M Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St   Test 10 18 2 632 180 39.50 902 70.07 2 1 74 7 13 - ODI 35 34 0 1050 163 30.88 1283 81.84 2 5 106 13 8 - T20I 41 41 1 1108 89 27.70 795 139.37 - 8 105 51 21 - Bowling records M Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Eco SR 4W 5W 10W   Test 10 7 144 102 3 2/45 2/45 34.00 4.25 48.00 - - - ODI 35 1 6 8 - - - - 8.00 - - - - T20I 41 - - - - - - - - - - - - Career Statistics Test Debut: Australia v New Zealand at Brisbane, 01-04, Dec 2011 ODI Debut: Australia v South Africa at Hobart, Jan 18, 2009 Twenty20 Debut: Australia v South Africa at Melbourne, Jan 11, 2009

John Maclean

John Maclean Australia Full Name: John Alexander Maclean Date of Birth: Apr 27, 1946, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland Major Team: Australia, Queensland Playing Roll: Wicket Keeper Batting Style: Right Nick Name: Ogo

 

Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke Australia Full Name: Michael John Clarke Date of Birth: Apr 02, 1981, Liverpool, New South Wales Major Team: Australia, Hampshire, New South Wales Playing Roll: Batsman Batting Style: Right Bowling Style: Slow left-arm orthodox Nick Name: Pup, Clarkey Height: 1.78m

International Debut: 2003

Batting and fielding records M Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St   Test 84 140 13 6129 329* 48.26 11255 54.46 19 22 687 27 95 - ODI 226 204 44 7473 130 46.71 9487 78.77 7 56 601 49 88 - T20I 36 29 5 502 67 20.92 493 101.83 - 1 29 10 13 - Bowling records M Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Eco SR 4W 5W 10W   Test 84 54 2076 1023 29 6/9 6/9 35.28 2.96 71.59 - 2 - ODI 226 99 2471 2060 56 5/35 5/35 36.79 5.00 44.13 1 1 - T20I 36 16 162 227 7 1/2 1/2 32.43 8.41 23.14 - - - Career Statistics Test Debut: India v Australia at Bangalore, 06-10, Oct 2004 ODI Debut: Australia v England at Adelaide, Jan 19, 2003 Twenty20 Debut: New Zealand v Australia at Auckland, Feb 17, 2005

Adam Voges

Adam Voges Australia Full Name: Adam Charles Voges Date of Birth: Oct 04, 1979, Subiaco, Perth, Western Australia Major Team: Australia, Nottinghamshire, Western Australia Playing Roll: Batsman Batting Style: Right Bowling Style: Slow left-arm orthodox Nick Name: Kenny, Hank Height: 1.85 m

International Debut: 2007

Batting and fielding records M Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St   ODI 15 14 5 392 80* 43.56 430 91.16 - 2 24 7 2 - T20I 4 3 1 63 26 31.50 52 121.15 - - 6 - 2 - Bowling records M Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Eco SR 4W 5W 10W   ODI 15 8 150 159 1 1/22 1/22 159.00 6.36 150.00 - - - T20I 4 1 12 5 2 2/5 2/5 2.50 2.50 6.00 - - - Career Statistics ODI Debut: New Zealand v Australia at Hamilton, Feb 20, 2007 Twenty20 Debut: Australia v New Zealand at Perth, Dec 10, 2007