| Strauss leads charge but bowling doubts remain | England vs South Africa 2009 Posted: 10 Nov 2009 06:53 AM PST On the start of what will surely be a long and gruelling tour, Andrew Strauss led by example with an unbeaten 117 to guide England to victory against the somewhat unnervingly titled Warriors in their second warm-up game. I have to admit I had my doubts as to whether Strauss could juggle the responsibility that comes with captaincy and maintain his form with the bat. I'm happy to say that I've been emphatically proven wrong time and time again. If anything his batting has improved with the extra responsibility and he showed his skills again at Kimberley, hitting ten fours and a six in his 119 ball innings.
Before we get too excited this was against average opposition, though they put up more of a challenge than the Eagles did last Friday. But cause for concern was the failure of openers Jimmy Anderson and Tim Bresnan to strike in their combined 19 overs. Adil Rashid and the recalled Sajid Mahmood were also expensive, prompting me again to wonder whether the side has the depth of bowling required to take 22 wickets in a Test match consecutively - Stuart Broad and Graham Onions were injured for this game remember. The one bowler who did rescue the day was Graeme Swann, taking 3-26 of his 10 overs. I feel Swann is England's most improved player over the past 18 months, cementing his place in the side with a consistent spells of tight and disciplined spin bowling to improve Englands cricket odds
With the bat, Strauss aside, there are also signs of promise. Eoin Morgan seems to be growing into the international scene along with Joe Denley, while Jonathan Trott is playing like a seasoned International veteran. Let's not forget Kevin Pietersen, who hopes to be back for the one-day matches after completing his rehabilitation from that nasty achilles injury.
All these and more will have to be their best to beat a very accomplished South African side on their own turf. But given the trials, trauma and tribulations off last year's winter cricket tour , it is just nice to be talking about matters on the field again rather than petty political squabbles off it.
By Tom Mallows |
| 2011 ICC Cricket World cup - Schedule and fixtures Posted: 09 Nov 2009 05:45 PM PST The final fixtures of ICC Cricket World cup 2011 has been announced with India taking Bangladesh in the opening match. India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be the hosts with Mumbai hosting the final of the World cup. It seems ICC took lessons from 2007 world cup and has divided the teams in two groups so that big teams qualify.
Group Division:
| Group A: | Group B | | Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada, Kenya. | India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands. |
Match no. |
| Date | Teams | Venue | | 1 |
| 19 Feb | India vs Bangladesh | Dhaka | | 2 |
| 20 Feb | New Zealand vs Kenya | Chennai | | 3 |
| 20 Feb | Sri Lanka vs Canada | Hambantota | | 4 |
| 21 Feb | Australia vs Zimbabwe | Ahmedabad | | 5 |
| 22 Feb | England vs Netherlands | Nagpur | | 6 |
| 23 Feb | Pakistan vs Kenya | Hambantota | | 7 |
| 24 Feb | South Africa vs West Indies | New Delhi | | 8 |
| 25 Feb | Australia vs New Zealand | Nagpur | | 9 |
| 25 Feb | Bangladesh vs Ireland | Dhaka | | 10 |
| 26 Feb | Sri Lanka vs Pakistan | Colombo | | 11 |
| 27 Feb | India vs England | Kolkata | | 12 |
| 28 Feb | West Indies vs Netherlands | New Delhi | | 13 |
| 28 Feb | Zimbabwe vs Canada | Nagpur | | 14 |
| 1 Mar | Sri Lanka vs Kenya | Colombo | | 15 |
| 2 Mar | England vs Ireland | Bangalore | | 16 |
| 3 Mar | South Africa vs Netherlands | Mohali | | 17 |
| 3 Mar | Pakistan vs Canada | Colombo | | 18 |
| 4 Mar | New Zealand vs Zimbabwe | Ahmedabad | | 19 |
| 4 Mar | Bangladesh vs West Indies | Dhaka | | 20 |
| 5 Mar | Sri Lanka vs Australia | Colombo | | 21 |
| 6 Mar | India vs Ireland | Bangalore | | 22 |
| 6 Mar | England vs South Africa | Chennai | | 23 |
| 7 Mar | Kenya vs Canada | New Delhi | | 24 |
| 8 Mar | Pakistan vs New Zealand | Pallekelle | | 25 |
| 9 Mar | India vs Netherlands | New Delhi | | 26 |
| 10 Mar | Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe | Pallekelle | | 27 |
| 11 Mar | West Indies vs Ireland | Mohali | | 28 |
| 11 Mar | Bangladesh vs England | Chittagong | | 29 |
| 12 Mar | India vs South Africa | Nagpur | | 30 |
| 13 Mar | New Zealand vs Canada | Mumbai | | 31 |
| 13 Mar | Australia vs Kenya | Bangalore | | 32 |
| 14 Mar | Pakistan vs Zimbabwe | Pallekelle | | 33 |
| 14 Mar | Bangladesh vs Netherlands | Chittagong | | 34 |
| 15 Mar | South Africa vs Ireland | Kolkata | | 35 |
| 16 Mar | Australia vs Canada | Bangalore | | 36 |
| 17 Mar | England vs West Indies | Chennai | | 37 |
| 18 Mar | Sri Lanka vs New Zealand | Mumbai | | 38 |
| 18 Mar | Ireland vs Netherlands | Kolkata | | 39 |
| 19 Mar | Australia vs Pakistan | Colombo | | 40 |
| 19 Mar | Bangladesh vs South Africa | Dhaka | | 41 |
| 20 Mar | Zimbabwe vs Kenya | Kolkata | | 42 |
| 20 Mar | India vs West Indies | Chennai | | 43 |
| 23 Mar | First Quarterfinal | Dhaka | | 44 |
| 24 Mar | Second Quarterfinal | Colombo | | 45 |
| 25 Mar | Third Quarterfinal | Dhaka | | 46 |
| 26 Mar | Fourth Quarterfinal | Ahmedabad | | 47 |
| 29 Mar | First Semifinal | Colombo | | 48 |
| 30 Mar | Second Semifinal | Mohali | | 49 |
| 02 Apr | FINAL | Mumbai |
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