Posted by DhiRajje
cricket,
world,
worldsports
3:49 AM
Johannesburg: South African cricketer Morne van Wyk feels the close One-day series against India has helped them prepare well for the tough World Cup battle ahead.
South Africa won the series 3-2 after winning the decisive fifth match, in which van Wyk scored a crucial half-century for his side.
"The victory definitely boosted our confidence, but even if we lost, it would not have been the end of our Cup chances. It`s better that we had to struggle rather than win the series 4-1 or 5-0, because in that way we have been forced to find answers to some tough questions," Van Wyk told a channel on Monday.
However, the wicket-keeper batsman says past results won`t count when the ICC flagship event begins next month in the Indian sub-continent since there are many contenders for the title.
"The tournament is something completely different and each of the teams starts on an equal footing, irrespective of their recent results," he said.
van Wyk is aware that he may not feature in the playing XI regularly since experienced Jacques Kallis will return to side after recovering from his injury but is still in positive frame of mind.
"Jacques is the kind of player that no team can afford to leave out. Of course I don`t wish injury or poor form on any of my team-mates, but it`s a long tournament and anything is possible," he said.
"I don`t care where I have to walk out in the batting order, and whether I have to stand behind the wickets or in the field. I have even started working on my bowling again just in case the team may need me in that role," he added.
Posted by DhiRajje
cricket,
world,
worldsports
3:41 AM
With 25 days to go for the 2011 World Cup, Ratnakar Shetty, the tournament's director, has dismissed concerns about the preparedness of venues for the event.
There had been worries over the redevelopment of grounds in India and Sri Lanka, which had overshot their initial deadlines on November 30 and December 31, but Shetty said they were now on track.
"I think the concerns are more in the media than anything else," Shetty said following the ICC's inspection on Monday of the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, one of the grounds that was running behind schedule. "As far as we are concerned, all the 13 venues which are going to stage the World Cup are coming up very well and we don't see any reason of concern."
The ICC team, comprising their stadium consultant Eugene van Vuuren, the body's general commercial manager Campbell Jamieson and events manager Chris Tetley, will next visit Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday to check out its status. While the Wankhede has had all its stands completely rebuilt, Eden Gardens had two stands renovated.
The tournament kicks off on February 19, with India taking on Bangladesh in Mirpur. The Wankhede will host the final on April 2, in addition to league games on March 13 and 18. Eden Gardens will host four matches, with the first one scheduled for February 27.
