Cricket Team Profiles
Written by admin on January 17th, 2007 in Cricket, Games, Sports.
Cricket Team Profiles
Australia, England, India, New Zeeland, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe
Australia Cricket Team
The Australian Cricket Team is the Champion of One Day Cricket as well as current ICC Test Champions. Australia has won 376 of the 671 ODI (One Day Internationals) till March12, 2006, the day when history was created in ODI version of game of cricket. In this ODI international at New Wanderer Stadium at Johannesburg, the world champions scored a record historic total of 434 runs in 50 overs only to be broken by South Africa who scored 438 runs with just a ball to spare. Today, Australia is considered the most professional and formidable cricket team in the world.
The Australian Cricket Team has produced a number of legendary cricketers including Sir Don Bradman, Dennis Lillee, Tom Moody, David Boon, Allan Border, Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and many more. Today, Australian Cricket Team plays some of the outstanding players the game of
cricket ever produced, including Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee. The Australian Cricket Team has performed exceptionally well in most of the world cup matches and their track record is simply superb. They were runners-up in 1975 and 1996 world cups, and were winners of ICC Cricket World Cup in 1987, 1999 and 2003.
The world champion Australia is the most favorite contender to lift the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup in the West Indies. Australia is placed in Group A of the ICC World Cup 2007 groupings, along with South Africa, Scotland and the Netherlands. The team will start its 2007 World Cup
campaign against Scotland on March 14, 2007 in St Kitts and Nevis.
England Cricket Team
The English cricket team is one of the oldest and best cricket teams in the world. England is regarded as the inventor of the sport of cricket and is the founding nation of both versions of the game - Test cricket as well as One-day international. England was one of the first nations to play in the first Test match against Australia in Melbourne in 1877, and also the first one-day international against Australia in 1971, this too at Melbourne. The England Cricket Team represents England and Wales, operating under the auspices of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
The England cricket team is one of the most challenging and dominant cricket teams in the world, at present ranking second after Australia in the ICC Test cricket ratings. The team has done reasonably well in all cricket world cups, and reached to finals on three occassions in 1979, 1989 and 1992 but missed the cup by little margins. The England cricket team has played some of the world’s most outstanding players like Jim Laker, Mike Denness, Tony Greig, David Gower, Ian Botham, Graham Gooch, Alec Stewart, Graeme Hick, Allan Lamb, Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussian to name a few. The current English team plays some of the leading cricketers of the world, including the captain Michael Vaughan, Paul Collingwood, Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Flintoff and Andrew Strauss. England is placed in Group C in the ICC World Cup 2007 groupings, along with New Zealand, Kenya and Canada. The team will start its World Cup campaign against New Zealand on March 16, 2007 in Saint Lucia.
India Cricket Team
The Indian Cricket Team is the official cricket team of India. Cricket is not just a game but a religion in India, with millions of Indian fans at home and abroad praying for the success of the Indian Cricket Team. The Indian Cricket Team is one of the strongest and most challenging cricket teams in the world, rated at par with teams like Australia, South Africa, England and Pakistan. The Indian cricket team is the highest paid (in terms of sponsorships) sports team in the world.
India has produced several outstanding cricketers of the world, who have become legends of the game itself. Among Indian cricketing legends include the names of players like Vijay Merchant, CK Naidu, Lala Amarnath, Erapalli Prasanna, Vinoo Mankad, Farokh Engineer, BS Chandrasekhar, Bishen Singh Bedi, Gundappa Viswanath, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Mohinder Amarnath, Mohammed Azharuddin, Anil Kumble, and the world’s most popular living cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who’s also a part of the India’s ICC World Cup 2007 squad.
The Indian Cricket Team has participated in all the ICC Cricket World Cups since 1975. India won the 1983 World Cup, beating the then World Champions West Indies in a low socring final match. The team reached to the World Cup semi-finals in 1987 and 1996, and were runners-up in the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa. The Indian cricket team has been rated as one of the favorite contenders to lift the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in the West Indies. India is placed in Group B of the ICC World Cup 2007 groupings, along with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bermuda. The team will start its World Cup 2007 campaign against Bangladesh on March 17, 2007 in Trinidad and Tobago.
New Zealand Cricket Team Profile
The New Zealand Cricket Team, popularly referred to as the Black Caps, is one of the best cricketing teams in the world today. One of the oldest cricket playing nations, New Zealand appeared in its first Test way back in 1930 against England in Christchurch, and won their first test in 1956 against West Indies at Eden Park, Auckland. New Zealand played its first One-day International against Pakistan on February 11, 1973 at Lancaster Park, Christchurch. The New Zealand Cricket Team has produced several legendary cricketers, including John R. Reid, Geoff Howarth, Ian Smith, Sir Richard Hadlee, Martin Crowe, Danny Morrison and Chris Cairns. Stephen Fleming, the current captain of the New Zealand cricket team, is the most succeesful cricket captain of New Zealand. John Bracewell is the coach of the New Zealand ICC World Cup 2007 squad.
The New Zealand cricket team has taken part in all cricket World Cups since 1975. They reached up to semi-finals on four occasions in 1975, 1979, 1992 and 1999 cricket World Cups, but lost to opponents on all occasions. Today, New Zealand cricket team is rated as one of the strongest and most challenging teams in the world, and it has the potential to upset any team in the world. The current New Zealand cricket team has several outstanding cricketers, including the captain Stephen Fleming, and all-rounders Chris Harris, Nathan Astle, Scott Styris and Craig McMillan. Shane Bond is one of the fastest bowlers in the world today. New Zealand is placed in Group C in the ICC World Cup 2007 groupings, along with England, Kenya and Canada. The team will start its 2007 World Cup campaign against England on March 16, 2007 in Saint Lucia.
Pakistan Cricket Team
The Pakistan Cricket Team is rated amongst leading cricket teams in the world. Pakistan is a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) having Test as well as One-day International (ODI) status. Pakistan was granted the Test match status on 28th July 1952, and played its first Test match against India in Delhi the same year in October. One of the most challenging and unpredictable teams in the cricket world, Pakistan went on to win the 1992 Cricket World Cup, fighting back from a position where other teams lose hope. The cricket matches between Pakistan and arch rival India bring lots of excitement for cricket lovers all around the world. Pakistan has played 95 ODI’s against India (till April, 2006) and has won on 58 occasions.
Pakistan has produced several outstanding players, the game of cricket has ever seen. The country has produced several world-class bowlers such as Fazal Mahmood, Sarfaraz Nawaz, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar. Among cricket legends of Pakistan include Hanif Mohammed, Asif Iqbal, Sarfaraz Nawaz, Zaheer Abbas, Imran Khan, Wasim Bari, Mohsin Khan, Javed Miandad, Salim Malik, Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar and Shoaib Akhtar. Pakistan has participated in all cricket World Cups since 1975. The Pakistani cricket team reached up to semi-finals in 1983 and 1987 World Cups, and won the 1992 ICC Cricket World Cup by deafeating England in the final. Pakistan is placed in Group D of the ICC World Cup 2007 groupings, along with the West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland. The team will play in the opening match of the ICC World Cup 2007 against the host West Indies on March 13, 2007 in Jamaica.
South Africa Cricket Team
The South African Cricket Team is one of the top ranking teams in the world, rated at par with the world champions Australia. Also known as The Proteas, South Africa is one of the strongest contenders to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in West Indies. The Proteas became the third Test playing nation in the world, when they played its first Test match way back in 1889 against England. South Afirca produced several world-famous cricketers, such as Hansie Cronje, Allan Donald, Gary Kirsten, Kepler Wessels, Jhonty Rhodes and Shaun Pollock.
The South African cricket was isolated from the international cricket, as a result of ban by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1970, because of its government’s apartheid policies. It was the period when South Africa was emerging as the top test-playing nation in the world, after purging the powerful Australians 4-0 with ease. South Africa was readmitted to the international cricket in 1991, and became full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and one-day international status. They played their first ever One-day international against India on November 10, 1991.
South Africa surprised the cricketing world in their first ever world cup appearance in 1992, when they reached up to the semi-finals. In the ICC World Cup 1999, South Africa again reached to the semi-final but lost to Australia, as a result of tie. Today, the South African team has emerged as one of the most elite teams, competing with Australia for the acknowledgement as the best cricket team in the world. South Africa is placed in Group A of the ICC World Cup 2007 groupings, along with Australia, Scotland and the Netherlands. The team will start its world cup 2007 campaign against the Netherlands on March 16, 2007 in St Kitts and Nevis, West Indies.
Sri Lanka Cricket Team
The Sri Lankan Cricket Team is rated among strongest and most challenging sides in the world. Though a relatively new entrant to international cricket, Sri Lanka today has the potential to upset any international side. They surprised the cricketing world in the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996, when they defeated the mighty Australians in the final. They reached up to the semi-finals in the 2003 ICC World Cup. In the recently held Natwest Series 2006, they stunned England in their own home, making a 5-0 whitewash, the heaviest home defeat for English side in 13 years.
The Sri Lankan Cricket Team made its first international appearance in the first ICC Cricket World Cup in 1975. It became the eighth Test playing nation in the world, when it was accorded Test status in 1981 by the ICC. Sri Lanka has produced several famous cricketers such as Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan.
In the ICC World Cup 2007 groupings, Sri Lanka is placed in Group B, along with India, Bangladesh and the debutant Bermuda. The team will play its first warm-up match against Scotland on March 05, 2007 at 3Ws stadium in Barbados, and will start its 2007 World Cup campaign against Bermuda on March 15, 2007 in Trinidad and Tobago.
West Indies Cricket Team
The West Indian Cricket Team, popualry referred to as The Windies, is the national cricket team of the English-speaking Caribbean nations. The West Indian side dominated cricket scene throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, but today it’s struggling to regain its lost glory. The team won the first two editions of the ICC World Cup in 1975 and 1979, and lost to India in the 1983 World Cup final in a low scoring match.
The West Indies played its first official international Test match way back in 1928, and the team has produced several world-renowned cricketers in its 78 years of international cricket. The list of the most popular West Indian cricketers include the names of Garry Sobers, Rohan Kanhai, Clive Lloyd, Joel Garner, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Malcolm Marshall, Viv Richards, Carl Hooper, Courtney Walsh, and Brian Lara.
West Indies will host the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007, which would be biggest cricket event the world has ever seen. The host team is placed in Group D in the ICC team groupings, along with Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland. West Indies will play its first warm-up match against Kenya on March 05, 2007 in the Trelawny Stadium in Jamaica. The team will also play in the opening match of the ICC World Cup 2007 against Pakistan on March 13, 2007 in Sabina Park, Jamaica.
Zimbabwe Cricket Team
The Zimbabwe Cricket Team is the national cricket team of Zimbabwe, and has been rated as the second best team in the African continent after South Africa. Zimbabwe was elected an associate member of the ICC in July 1981, and has participated in all the ICC Cricket World Cups since then. The team played its first Test match in 1992, becoming the ninth Test playing nation in the world. Today, Zimbabwe is a full member of the International Cricket Councilwith Test and one-day international (ODI) status.
Though a relatively poor performer in the international cricket, the Zimbabwean Cricket Team has a very good record in ICC Trophy tournaments, winning the trophy in 1982, 1986 and 1990. Zimbabwe Cricket Team has produced several world-class cricketers such as John Traicos, David Houghton, Eddo Brandes, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Heath Streak and Tatenda Taibu. The wicket-keeper cum batsman Andy Flower was at one point rated the best batsman in world cricket.
Zimbabwe is placed in Group D in ICC World Cup 2007 grouping, along with Pakistan, the West Indies and Ireland. The team will play its first warm-up match against the world champions Australia on March 06, 2007 in Arnos Vale Stadium in St Vincent. Zimbabwe will start its 2007 World Cup campaign against Ireland on March 15, 2007 in Trelwany Stadium in Jamaica.
