First T20, India vs New Zealand: Statistical highlights

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Posted by Snehsan

Following are the statistical highlights of the first Twenty20 International match between India and New Zealand on Wednesday.

• New Zealand's seven-wicket triumph is their second in as many matches against India.
• They had won the first game against India at Johannesburg on September 16 by ten runs.
• New Zealand's aforesaid win is their second best in terms of wickets - their best being by 9 wickets against Kenya at Durban on September 12, 2007.
• Brendon McCullum has extended his record for the highest run-aggregate in Twenty20 Internationals - 513 in 20 games at an average of 30.17, including three fifties.
• Martin Guptill (41), playing in his only second game, has posted his best ever score. In his only previous game against Australia, he had made a second-ball duck at Sydney on Feb.15, 2009.
• The match has produced 24 sixes, a record in Twenty20 Internationals, bettering the 20 recorded between India (10) and Australia (10) at Durban on September 22, 2007.
• Brendon McCullum, with three sixes in his innings, became the first batsman ever to register 20 sixes. He has now a tally of 22 in Twenty20 Internationals.
• McCullum became the first New Zealander to hit a fifty against India - 56 not out off 49 balls. He surpassed his own record for the highest individual innings against India, bettering his 45 off 31 balls at Johannesburg on September 16, 2007.
• McCullum and Taylor produced 50 runs - Nsew Zealand's highest for the third wicket against India, eclipsing the 17 by the same pair at Johannesburg on September 16, 2007.
• The fourth wicket unbroken partnership of 60 runs between McCullum and Oram is a record for New Zealand, surpassing the 58 between Brendon McCullum and Grant Elliott against Australia at SCG on February 15, 2009.
• India (162/8) registered their lowest score in a Twenty20I against New Zealand.
• Thirteen sixes in an innings is a record for India in Twenty20 Internationals.
• India's tally of 13 sixes is the second best in the history of Twenty20 Internationals, next only to Australia's tally of 14 sixes during their innings of 221 for five against England at Sydney on January 9, 2007.
• Suresh Raina registered his career-best score in Twenty20 Internationals - his maiden fifty.
  Raina's 61 not out off 43 balls is the highest ever score by an Indian against New Zealand, surpassing Gautam Gambhir's 51 off 33 balls at Johannesburg on September 16,2007.
• Raina's five sixes in an innings is an Indian record against New Zealand, bettering Virender Sehwag's tally of four sixes in Wednesday's game.
• Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh were involved in a 61-run eighth wicket stand, a new record in Twenty20 Internationals, eclipsing the 59 between Yusuf Pathan and Irfan Pathan against Sri Lanka at Colombo, RPS on Feb.10, 2009.
• Harbhajan Singh (21) has recorded his career-best score, surpassing his 7 against New Zealand at Johannesburg on September 16, 2007.

Indian Cricket Team's new jersey unveiled

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Posted by Snehsan

New Delhi (24/7 News Network) : Sahara India will continue to be the sponsor of Team India, but the Men in Blue have taken a new attire to change their look and get a perfect makeover yet again. This is the second time in two years Indian cricket team has gone for a change in jersey. The new jersey of Team India was unveiled in a glittering function in New Delhi today. The function was held on the eve of India's departure to New Zealand to play in 3 test matches, 5 ODIs and 2 Twenty20 games. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Karthik, Pragyan Oha and Rohit Sharma unveiled the new jersey. Former cricketers Venkatesh Prasad, Vinod Kambli, Robin Singh and Laxman Sivaramakrishnan were also present at this special occasion, but they wore the old jersey.

DHONI, KIRSTEN CONFIDENT OF DOING WELL IN NEW ZEALAND

Posted by Snehsan

It would require immaculate planning and perfect execution if the team is to win its first Test series in New Zealand in 40 years, Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Wednesday. "It's going to be a tough tour, but every place has its challenges. Foreign players come here and struggle against spin and bounce. We would focus on planning well and in executing those plans. The results will follow," said the wicketkeeper-batsman at a pre-departure media conference. Coach Gary Kirsten too expressed confidence in the team's ability to do well in conditions that are vastly different to what the players are used to at home. "We have a very balanced team -- in batting, pace and spin bowling. We are capable of playing in any condition. Conditions will be vastly different and the weather would be cold with a bit of rain. But we have the players to overcome these," Kirsten said. India have not won a Test series in New Zealand since their first and only triumph, by a 3-1 margin under Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi in 1967-68. They commence the 47-day tour with two Twenty20 Internationals which are to be followed by five ODIs and the three-Test series. The team is departing on Thursday morning.

I DO GET FRUSTRATED ON FIELD : DHONI

Posted by Snehsan

The frustration does not show but Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today said he does get upset at times when a teammate makes a fielding mistake. "I do get frustrated at times when a mistake is made on the field. But I feel there's no point in abusing him there. I prefer to go back into the dressing room and point out his mistake. That helps him more", Dhoni said after unveiling the Indian team's new one day kit -- bold blue in colour -- along with other teammates. Dhoni described the forthcoming tour of New Zealand as a tough assignment but said whether at home or away, international cricket was always a difficult proposition. "It's better to start as underdogs (in a series). It's going to be tough, but international cricket is tough whether at home or away. We have heard how beautiful it (New Zealand) is. We would enjoy the tour and hopefully would come back with a couple of trophies. "We don't bother whether we are playing Sri Lanka or any other country", he said.

Pakistan switch game from Karachi

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Posted by Snehsan

Security has been a major factor on recent tours of Pakistan

Pakistan's fifth one-day international against South Africa on Monday has been moved from Karachi to Lahore because of security concerns।

The South Africans did not want to play in Karachi after last week's bombing of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's convoy in which 139 people were killed।

"We deeply regret this decision, especially for the people of Karachi।

"But members of our contingent are not comfortable travelling there," said team manager Logan Naidoo.
"If possible, we will play in Karachi when we tour Pakistan next time।"

Bomb attacks in the city have disrupted previous series, with New Zealand flying home in 2002 after an explosion close to their hotel, which killed 14 people.