Kevin Pietersen ruled out of World Cup

Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the World Cup due to his hernia and will return home immediately to undergo surgery. He complained of further soreness following an eight-over spell during England's six-run victory over South Africa in Chennai and Eoin Morgan has been confirmed as his replacement

"I fly home tonight. Out of the WC & IPL. Absolutely devastated!!" Pietersen said on his Twitter page on Monday morning. Morgan's call-up to the World Cup completes a full turnaround for the left-hander who was intially ruled out of the tournament with a broken finger picked up in Australia.

However, after being told he needed surgery the injury didn't prove as severe as first thought and Morgan has followed the same route as Michael Hussey, who replaced Doug Bollinger for Australia after recovering from his hamstring injury, into a tournament that appeared to have passed him by.

Pietersen, meanwhile, will be out of action for around six weeks after surgery, which means he will struggle to be fit in time to take up his contract with Deccan Chargers in the IPL, but he is expected to return in time for the first Test of the home season against Sri Lanka, in Cardiff, on May 26. Pietersen's injury was confirmed after the team returned from Australia last month and revealed on Saturday, although the original intention had been to manage the problem through the rest of the World Cup.

Reacting to the news, England's coach, Andy Flower, reiterated his belief that Pietersen could have made it through the tournament with careful management, and remarked that the player might have tried to "bite the bullet". "Unfortunately he says the pain is too debilitating, and he can't go on like that," added Flower. "So it's a pretty simple decision to replace him."

On a spinning wicket in Chennai, England had no option but to turn to Pietersen's offbreaks in a bid to force their crucial victory over South Africa and the decision to send him home was made after the game. He had picked up a groin strain during the one-day series in Australia but only missed one match. However, with only three days back at home between that tour and leaving for the World Cup there was little time for players to overcome any injury concerns.

Pietersen had taken on a new role at the World Cup, having been promoted to open the batting alongside Andrew Strauss. He had looked in good form during his first three innings with scores of 39, 31 and 59 before edging to slip for 2 in the first over of the match in Chennai. Pietersen spent time off the field during Ireland's famous run-chase on Wednesday and looked hampered during the tense final stages of the South Africa victory.

Before the World Cup there was a report that Pietersen was planning on quitting ODI cricket after the tournament and although he denied the story there is a strong chance he has now played his last international in the format. England's next ODIs after the World Cup are against Sri Lanka in June.

There are various options to replace Pietersen at the top of the order with most of England's batsmen having had time in the role. Matt Prior was opening in Australia before reverting to the middle order, Ian Bell was touted as an option for the World Cup while Ravi Bopara, who returned to the side with a Man-of-the-Match 60 against South Africa, is another possible solution.

Muttiah Muralitharan, Keen on World Cup Revenge over Australia

Sri Lanka legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is keen to take revenge over Australia on Saturday’s World Cup clash. Sri Lanka was defeated in the edition of World Cup finals in 2007, after four long years Murali ready to take on the challenge.

Sri Lanka lost the finals of World Cup 2007 in a controversial manner, where Australia was celebrated their third Consecutive World Cup win. Australia has defeated all the sub continent teams in last three world cup finals. Australians are the World Champions and every team will play their tail up against them. Sri Lanka is very desperate to win over Australia said Muralitharan.

Australia has the upper hand over Sri Lanka; both the teams have played 72 ODIs in which Sri Lanka have won only 23 matches. Muttiah Muralitharan is playing in his fourth World Cup and it is the final one. Australian batsmen are able to handle spinners on the sub continent pitches, but newly laid wicket at Premadasa Stadium will provide some assistance to spinners at the same it would be batting friendly.

Murali feels that the Sri Lanka and Australia fight might not be a high scoring game. If the team is really batting well they can score 300 runs, but in the Indian small grounds and fast outfield 350 runs is easily achievable. In Sri Lankan conditions 280 to 290 is a wining total.

Muttiah Muralitharan will retire from international cricket after World Cup; he announced his retirement from Test cricket in July last year. Muralitharan holds the record of 800 Test wickets and 513 one day international wickets.

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ICC criticism of Dhoni out of line - India

The BCCI has objected to ICC general manager Dave Richardson's comments about MS Dhoni after the India captain questioned the Decision Review System (DRS) in the wake of India's tied game against England in Bangalore. It has also reiterated its concerns over the use of the system in the ongoing World Cup and says the DRS's "inadequacy has been exposed" during the tournament.

In a letter to ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat, and released to the media, N Srinivasan, the board secretary and president-elect, said that "for ICC's representative to criticise a player for his post-match press conference while the World Cup is being played [is] tantamount to pressuring the player. Mr. Richardson has no right to do so. BCCI has strong reservations about the statement made by Mr. Richardson. He should be instructed not to react in this fashion."

Richardson made the comments after Dhoni had called the system an "adulteration" of technology with human judgement in the aftermath of a reprieve for Ian Bell. Dhoni had asked for a review of a not-out decision, and television replays appeared to show the ball hitting a forward-stretching Ian Bell low on the pad with the ball in line with middle stump. Bell even began to walk off the field, but umpire Billy Bowden did not declare him out because the distance between the point of impact and the stumps was shown to be 2.5m.

Richardsontold the Indian news channel, CNN-IBN, that Dhoni should be aware of the rules before passing judgement. "There are a set of rules along with the Hawk-Eye to assist in making the decision when UDRS is implemented ... Most of the time, a player is not fully aware of all the rules. If MS Dhoni is made aware of the specifications of these rules, then I am sure that he will accept the decision that was made."

Lorgat also defended the system, telling ESPNcricinfo that Dhoni's characterisation of it wasn't exactly accurate.

The ICC's DRS rule pertaining to the Process of Consultation, No. 3.3 (i), states that if a 'not out' decision is being reviewed on the 'point of impact' issue, the third umpire must tell the on-field umpire whether the ball is past 2.5m or not and then pass on the following information: the distance from the wickets of the point of impact with the batsman, the approximate distance from the point of pitching to the point of impact, and whether the ball is predicted to the hit the stumps. According to the explanation given on the ICC's website, along with the 2.5m rule, should the distance between point of pitching and point of impact with the pad be less than 40cm, "the umpires are not obliged to follow the normal rules for using Hawkeye to determine whether the batsman is out or not and shall have a discretion in determining whether or not to overturn their original not out decision."

The letter also said that the BCCI had been consistently opposed to the use of the review system, and that its inadequacy had been exposed at the World Cup, specifically citing the need of the 2.5m rule as proof of its failing. "ICC in consultation with Hawk-Eye formed playing conditions which specifies when the umpire can rely on Hawk-Eye and when he cannot. This itself is an admission on the question of the reliability of the system, including ball tracking technology."

Afridi desperate to avoid repeat of upsets

Pakistan face Kenya in their opening World Cup match tomorrow, desperate to atone for their tragedy-hit 2007 tournament.
Four years ago, Pakistan suffered an embarrassing three-wicket defeat by Ireland and crashed out in the first round. Captain Shahid Afridi said his team will take all opponents here seriously.
“There have been so many upsets in the World Cup in the past, like the one against Ireland four years ago,” said Afridi. “So we have that in mind and we will be on our toes in every match, be it Kenya or Sri Lanka.”
Waqar staying clear of controversy
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said that the spot-fixing scandal, which sparked lengthy bans for three players, will not haunt his embattled team at the World Cup.
“I don’t think it will haunt Pakistan at all,” said Waqar. “We all know that we have been through tough times in the recent past but that does not mean that we don’t have talent. “Despite the problems we are a good enough team to beat anybody.”
Meanwhile, Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said his team was looking forward to their first real test in the World Cup against Pakistan after crushing Canada in their opening match.
“We’re looking forward to our next match against Pakistan who are a very good side,” said Jayawardene. “Pakistan have got some great individual players and we know how dangerous they can be, so we have to prepare ourselves and go in with a very positive mindset.”

Netherlands VS England aiming to prove associates belong in World Cup

We are still waiting for a close game in the World Cup and England will be fervently hoping that this pattern remains. On Tuesday they take on the Netherlands in one of those matches that the professionals dread. Victory is expected, but never applauded. Defeat would be a calamity. The usual truism on these occasions is that the minnows have "nothing to lose" and therefore they have the luxury of a pressure-free game.

This is not quite the case on Tuesday.. There has already been much debate and considerable opposition to the fact that the next World Cup will comprise 10 teams rather than 14. The associate sides feel locked out. The Netherlands coach, Peter Drinnen, has explained their position. "The gains of playing against full members are significant. It is so important that we keep getting those opportunities as that only enhances our development and increases our progress."

To justify playing in the World Cup, however, the matches have to be competitive. So far Kenya and Canada have been thrashed so decisively that the games have offered a dreadful spectacle, albeit a brief one in Chennai where New Zealand beat Kenya with 252 balls to spare. So, curiously, there is an unusual pressure on the Netherlands for this game: to fly the flag for the little teams.

An alternative view – and apparently a minority one, which happens to be mine – is that the World Cup, a tournament whose attractions have withered over the past decade, is so diminished by so many one-sided contests that its very existence is jeopardised. Cricket cannot afford many more of these mis-matches.

The Twenty20 World Cup is a more appropriate place for associate sides to play the big boys and that is what is planned. Moreover, an arrangement that required the full member countries to play a certain number of 50-over games against associates would be a much better way of giving the minnows experience.

Andrew Strauss, speaking at the out-of-town stadium, which is expected to be very sparsely populatedfor the match, stressed that his side will give the Netherlands "due attention and respect. We will take nothing for granted".

For these games the backroom analysts earn their corn. The England players will know a bit about Ryan ten Doeschate of Essex and Alexei Kervezee of Worcestershire; Tom Cooper has one-day experience – and success for South Australia. Peter Borren and Wesley Barresi have full time contracts with the Netherlands. Otherwise, the opposition are amateurs. Those analysts may not dwell too long on the fact that the Netherlands famously defeated England at Lord's in the first match of the World Twenty20 in 2009, an outcome that is much more likely the shorter the game.

Strauss was determinedly upbeat ahead of the game, despite the recent exertions of his team. "We are very excited. The World Cup is one of those events that capture the imagination, especially in India. And arriving in a new country is a good way of refreshing."

Strauss has a new opening partner in Kevin Pietersen. "We have been thinking about that idea for a while, especially in the subcontinent," he said. "He did not need any persuading to do it; in fact he was very keen."

Another key player for England over the next six weeks should be Graeme Swann, who arrived in India on Sunday after witnessing the birth of his first child, Wilfred. "He's a bit jetlagged – and elated – and like everyone else is available for selection," said Strauss.

England are eager for the penetration that Swann might bring to the middle overs on pitches around India and Bangladesh that are bound to favour spinners. It would be very surprising if Swann were not pitched into the team straightaway for two good reasons: he needs the practice and England need his flair.

Strauss has one dilemma when selecting his best team. He must choose between the doughty Michael Yardy and the flighty Ravi Bopara. It is an interesting choice, leaving aside the different attributes of the two. Does he go for the archetypal, gritty old pro, who is solidly dependable, or the more gifted, but more wayward Bopara? It should not make much difference against the Netherlands, but it might later in the tournament.

India Vs Bangladesh - Cricket World Cup 2011

The first match of World Cup Cricket 2011 is being played between India and Bangladesh. The teams belong to group B of world cup cricket teams.

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field first. Fielding decision was decided for taking benefit from dew while batting in headlights. Both Captains had admitted before the start of the match that the game was going to be affected due to dew in evening.

While batting first, Virendra Sehwag scored an impressive 175 runs on behalf of India. Virat Kohli was the other man to chase 3 figure of runs. Dhoni at the place of Suresh Raina chose Kohli; Kohli proved that Dhoni was correct in his decision. The Little Master, Sachin Tendulkar, lost his wicket while running with Sehwag. He made 28 runs. Gambhir scored 39 runs; Mohmudullah bowled him out. Sehwag scored 175 runs when Bangladeshi bowler bowled him out. At the end of their innings, India scored 370 runs against Bangladesh. Bangladeshi crowd could not greet their team due to the Indian domination of the match.

In reply to Indian inning, Bangladeshi bowlers took an impressive start. Sri Santh was the most expensive bowler up to the 5th over of Match. He gave 24 runs in fifth over of the Bangladeshi Inning. Bangladesh had crossed 50 run mark in first five overs of the game. Tamim Iqbal was the top scorer with a score of 70 runs. Shakib Al Hassan who scored 55 runs followed him.