Cricket Thread III

[Guest]

Woolmer says "Indians cant hook". Will that be the strategy tomorrow ??? It can certainly work against Saurav - but I think Viru/VVS/Rahul/Yuvi have the tools to counter this.. Saurav OTOH can take apart Afridi (Insha-allah ofcourse !)..

BTW how is the interest for this trophy in India ???

http://in.rediff.com/cricket/2004/sep/18woolmer.htm

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->SHOAIB AKHTAR

So where does Shoaib Akhtar come in. Does Woolmer expect him to do what Lee had accomplished for the Aussies?

"There is no batsman in the world who is comfortable against fast, short-pitched bowling, particularly when it is directed at the head. It's just not this generation of batsmen. You take any generation down the years, and they all had the same problem.

"Intimidation certainly comes in. The thing is no one likes playing short-pitched bowling -- some play it better than others, but no one is comfortable. Mohammad Sami is genuinely quick as well."

But, on the whole, Woolmer believes that one-day cricket is a completely different ball game and the result of a match will not hinge on the bowling alone. Batting, fielding and doing that tiny things, like running between wickets, well might make the difference between victory and defeat.

Considering Woolmer's contempt for the Indian batsmen's technique against short-pitched bowling one couldn't resist asking him which player has best technique against short-pitched bowling?

After a bit if hesitation, he replied: "Sachin Tendulkar."

Unfortunately for India, their greatest batsmen will not be there to blunt Shoaib Akhtar like he did during the 2003 World Cup.

Maybe, Woolmer's game plan will come out trumps tomorrow.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->