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Home > Cricket > World Cup 2003 > Columns
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March 23, 2003 |
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For and Against
Daniel Laidlaw presents a quick outline of the reasons for and against each team emerging World
champions in a few hours.
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March 21, 2003 |
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Left arm over -- and out
Ashish Nehra is the poisoned arrow in the Indian quiver, says Prem Panicker.
Tendulkar, Dravid hold key to India's fortunes
Vivian Richards says every team is due a hiccup in a tournament. Will Australia hang on for one
more game?
Fast and short
Whether it lasts a few balls or a few overs, the Lee-Sachin battle will be the high point of the eighth
World Cup, says Peter Roebuck.
Give as good as you get
Our cricketers are loved, revered, even deified by one and all. Do they have the sensitivity and the
humility to give back something in return, asks Sunaad Raghuram.
You don't win silver, you lose gold
Sourav Ganguly will need to think out of the box if India is not to end as the No.2 of the World Cup,
says Suresh Menon.
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March 19, 2003 |
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The most boring World Cup ever?
Where are the nerve-tingling chases and fightbacks that are the hallmarks of a great championship,
asks Krishna Prasad.
Aussies deserving finalists
Daniel Laidlaw says Australia had too much team spirit, too much firepower to outdo the Sri
Lankans.
The walk that talked
Adam Gilchrist has reminded all and sundry that cricket is only a game, and winning, although
important, is not the only consideration, writes Peter Roebuck.
Lee is raring to go
Glenn McGrath says the batsmen are relieved get off the Port Elizabeth wicket.
The Aussie juggernaut rolls on
It is obvious that India are one of the two teams that have showcased themselves well here, says
Barry Richards.
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March 13, 2003 |
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Waugh and Ganguly have a lot in common
Peter Roebuck says this World Cup has confirmed the vital part played by captains in the formation and outlook of their teams.
India must stick to its winning combo
Vivian Richards says India are peaking at the right time and must maintain the momentum.
Goodbye and Godspeed
'Sunsets in the world of sport take away with them the stars themselves, dumping them somewhere in the netherworld of obscurity and leaving the sky, dark and ashen.' Sunaad Raghuram on Allan Donald & Co
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March 11, 2003 |
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Aussies relishing the challenge
Peter Roebuck on Australia's escape to victory at St. George's Park.
The early bird gets the sofa
The game was done in half an hour. Was this the greatest match of our lives, asks Alfred Satish Jones. - Diary
The medium is the message
Fans, followers and fanatics owe a small debt of gratitude to the TV commentators who spurred the team on with their caustic comments, says Pritam Sengupta. - Diary
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March 7, 2003 |
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Plaudits for Ponting
Peter Roebuck pays tribute to the remarkable rise of Australia's one-day captain.
India could put pressure on Aussies
How the Australians would react to that pressure is a largely unknown factor for it is not a situation they have experienced very often, says Asif Iqbal
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March 01, 2003 |
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The greatest one-day innings ever!
Sachin Tendulkar has produced the most astonishing innings seen in 50-over cricket since the matches began, says Peter Roebuck.
India, Pakistan and America
On the Rajasthan stretch of the international border, the rumour mills are whirring that mobile transmission units are active on the other side, just to disturb Doordarshan's relay of Saturday’s match.
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February 28, 2003 |
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Exclusive: When Sachin played for Pakistan
Sachin Tendulkar, India's pride and joy, first stepped on to an international field for Pakistan, says Hemant Kenkre.
Pride by Proxy
When Tendulkar bats, tell yourself: 'Unhappy the country that has no hero'. If Tendulkar gets out, adds Siddhartha Deb, tell yourself: 'Unhappy the country that needs a hero'.
India peaking at the right time
'India can boast the best pace attack they have ever had and on wickets that give assistance to swing and seam, they could cause Pakistan's heavily out of form batsmen problems,' says Asif Iqbal.
India was the team of the week
And Ashish Nehra the best bowler, says Peter Roebuck.
War in pajamas
The Indians, says Sujata Prakash, go into the match against Pakistan as favorites, but only slightly.
'India-Pak game could restart peace process'
Pakistan team manager Shahryar Khan on sporting contact between India and Pakistan.
India has the upper hand: More
Former India 'keeper, now selector, on the atmosphere when India and Pakistan meet.
Riding the Brandwagon
An India-Pakistan encounter become something more than a cricket match when the media-marketing combine realised that patriotism could sell toothpaste, cars and referigerators, says Suresh Menon.
Who cares about the other side?
Anita Nair explains why watching India playing on TV is special for her.
The Global Reality Show
India versus Pakistan: Who will win? Who will lose? Who cares, says Pratik Kanjilal.
'Gentlemen, Play!' says GenNext
One is Indian, the other is Pakistani. Vinutha & Zebunnisa are young girls studying in England. And both want to exorcise the baggage of history.
War minus the shooting
Sport has nothing to do with fair play; it is bound up with hatred, jealousy and violence, says Sunaad Raghuram.
Sambar Power
What happens when an Indian stirs up the potent brew for his Pakistani room-mate five years running? Both parties survive and develop a healthy disrespect for the 'kachra' dished out by experts and ex-players.
Puppets On A Chain
Never mind the stereotype. On the playgrounds, cries of 'Shoaib, Shoaib' can change into cries of 'Sachin, Sachin' all in the space of a over, discovers Sundar Sarukkai.
The view from within
In the madrassas of Bangalore, cricket fever catches on -- and team loyalty is the talking point.
India's confidence will be the key: Atherton
Former England captain Mike Atherton feels India can easily beat Pakistan.
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February 27, 2003 |
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Pakistan will come hard at India
The Pakistanis, says Vivian Richards, play with more guts, more desperation and more aggression when they meet India.
'I say, what a match'
Albert Botelho relives the moments of India's victory over Pakistan in the 1996 World Cup match in Bangalore.
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February 26, 2003 |
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Warne fails the larger test
The Aussie's suspension, says Daniel Laidlaw, should serve as a lesson that sportspeople cannot afford to be too insular.
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February 25, 2003 |
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The Chinaman cometh
Nothing is more enjoyable than to see a top batsman bamboozled by a wrist spinner. Brad Hogg won the battle against Andy Flower, says Peter Roebuck.
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February 23, 2003 |
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Davison's day
'Davison soared for a day, a firework lighting the skies before returning to earth. It was splendid and
unforgettable.' Peter Roebuck on the fastest World Cup century.
India's batting vs Pakistan's seam attack
How the teams perform under pressure holds the key in the crunch match, says Bob Woolmer.
Against all odds
Sunaad Raghuram on cricketers who have overcome disease and deformity in their quest for
excellence.
Real women can't watch cricket
...and real men don't play it, says Dhanu Nayak.
What's the score da?
Alfred Satish Jones captures the mood of US-based Indian fans watching the World Cup.
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February 22, 2003 |
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It's raining on Australia's parade
Peter Roebuck watches Zimbabwe struggle for survival off the field -- and earn free points on it.
Pressure on Pollock
The burden of expectations, as well as the responsibilities of leadership, are affecting Pollock the bowler, says Barry Richards.
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February 21, 2003 |
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A tale of two captains
Heath Streak has risen to the challenge of a World Cup in Africa. Shaun Pollock must show that he is not merely a fine player but a great African, writes Peter Roebuck.
Pakistan has to lift its batting
Why not bring in Wasim Akram at No 3 asks Asif Iqbal.
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February 17, 2003 |
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Stumping Ms Goretti
Ashish Magotra checks out how much the television presenter knows about cricket.
Indian batsmen seem mentally fatigued
Vivian Richards says the tour of New Zealand was not the proper preparation for the World Cup.
This commentary circus
Sunaad Raghuram is upset at the television channel which has the overall rights for the World Cup.
Remember the opposition
Talking of the genius of our players is ultimately self-defeating because the only way of measuring their ability is in conditions not in their control, against teams that don't act as the script demands, says Siddhartha Deb.
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February 16, 2003 |
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Captain clueless
Prem Panicker demands some answers from Sourav Ganguly.
Aussies awesome
Daniel Laidlaw says Australia produced an outstanding display of intense one-day cricket against India that emphatically stated their 2003 credentials.
Why should India win all the time?
Why does a nation of spineless, riskfree coasters expect victory from its cricketers each time they step on the field, asks Krishna Prasad
Gillespie was outstanding
Glenn McGrath says the problem with India against Australia was they tried too hard.
Men in blue beaten black and blue
India's dismal showing against Australia has even irked fans on the American east coach, says Mark Bradshaw.
The World Cup is resembling a soap opera
Bob Woolmer says the list of banned substances should take into account the parameters of cricket.
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February 14, 2003 |
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PIOs set to flunk 'Tebbit Test'
In spite of Lord Norman Tebbit’s stern lesson to prove patriotism on the
playground, the love for their "home team" is being passed down to younger
British Asians, says Vinutha Mallya.
The Former Sheikh of Tweak
Shane Warne's plight shouldn't confound us. He always carried one extra bit
of equipment -- the sword of Damocles -- in his kit, says Sunaad Raghuram.
Slowlee, softlee, catchee monkee
Nerves taut before the big day tomorrow, boys? Sujata Prakash has the prescription..
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February 11, 2003 |
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Why India can win this World Cup
Ashok Karanth presents a very possible scenario that can unfold.
Lala XI Vs Dada XI
Raju Bharatan pits 11 players of yesteryear, who have not played a single one-dayer,against those of the current India side.
The all-rounder we ignore
Has India set foot on South Africa without its most potent 'spinner' and 'striker', asks Sundar Sarukkai.
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February 10, 2003 |
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Shoaib, Wasim have to do it for Pakistan
'Pakistan's notoriously unreliable batting means a score of anything in excess of 220 could be difficult to get, so Shoaib and Wasim have their work cut out,' says Asif Iqbal.
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February 8, 2003 |
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'Lufflay shaaat machi'
Unable to sum up India's chances at the World Cup? No worries. Alfred Satish Jones is having the same problem.
South Africa ready to make amends
Barry Richards says South Africa's bowling plan is vital for their success.
Windies dangerous enough to produce a good finish
Barry Richards previews the World Cup opener between South Africa and the West Indies.
Cricket is Life
The score is already a depressing 1 for 6 even before the first ball is bowled in the World Cup. Still, why does cricket hold everybody from taxi drivers to techies, rickshaw-pullers to rowdies in such thrall, asks Sunaad Raghuram
The home disadvantage
Six editions of the tournament have passed, but no host-country has ever won the World Cup on its soil. Will South Africa break the jinx? Pritam Sengupta provides nine easy excuses if they don’t.
'Windies will give South Africa a scare'
Veteran journalist Trevor Chesterfield gives his take on the opening match of ther World Cup.
The guys are ready for the real thing
If Carl Hooper and his boys win this opener, Vivian Richards says, it will be a huge onfidence boost for the side.
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February 7, 2003 |
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Pitch report
Bob Woolmer's take on the conditions and pitches in South Africa.
Hoping to rediscover old magic
Former West Indies captain Vivian Richards expects a winning performance from his team at the World Cup.
Am ready to bowl at my best
Glenn McGrath says the recent injuries to Australa's key bowlers won't affect the team's performance.
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February 5, 2003 |
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Averting a racial split
Former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal lauds the ICC's decision to go ahead with the World Cup matches in Zimbabwe and Kenya.
1992 World Cup: The Big Irony
Madhav Pai recounts how Imran Khan's Pakistan pulled of an amazing triumph.
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February 3, 2003 |
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Choices in black and white
That India has no quarrel with the government of Zimbabwe reflects poorly on its own society, says Ashwin Mahesh.
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January 23, 2003 |
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Lost in England
Former India captain and umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan on India's campaign in the 1975 World
Cup.
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January 7, 2003 |
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Should India Play in Zimbabwe?
If cricket shouldn't be played in Zimbabwe on account of its human rights record, then why is Pakistan any different? asks Roshan Paul.
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December 31, 2002 |
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Plugging the loopholes
This World Cup is going to be one long bad day for India unless they make amends in every aspect of their game, says Sujata Prakash.
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December 10, 2002 |
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Gambling on ambush marketing
Legislating against it could simply force it underground and make its creators even more creative, says Neil Manthorp.
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November 21, 2002 |
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Making a case for Kartik - Diary
After the spinner's fine showing in the ODI series against the Windies, it will be difficult for the selectors to drop him.
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November 13, 2002 |
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Talking averages
Ravi Abhyankar recommends a team for the World Cup purely on statistics.
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