World Cup 2015: Short Notes - 14th Feb

After seemingly endless rounds of warm-up games (results of which were taken seriously by everyone except the teams concerned), during the course of which they even held the Opening Ceremony, the actual World Cup tournament has finally begun. And like the previous edition Slispstream Cricket is going to present the "Short Notes" featuring random notes on the games gone by and the occasional prediction. 

• The hosts have started their respective campaigns on similar emphatic notes. Bat first, score big and then knock-out the opponent.
• If England-Australia and Sri Lanka-New Zealand games are this one-sided, wonder what kind of massacre the games involving the minnows Associates will be.
• New Zealand have emphatically shown why they should be considered the tournament favourites - a solid top order combined with an explosive middle, and a made for conditions pace bowling attack with Vettori providing the spin variety. They are looking good to go all the way.
• Australia had small scares but their win was as emphatic as could be in an opener. Now only question remaining is how do they fit in Michael Clarke into the line-up? The potential names for the chop - Finch, Bailey & March all came in good, making them pretty much undroppable for the next game.
• Its a good idea to play the national anthems before the game, But it might not be such a good idea for the camera to pan in on the England's Irish captain Eoin Morgan during the rendition of "God Save the Queen".
• DRS issues came into the play sooner than expected. James Anderson being given run-out after referral on an LBW during which the ball had technically been dead. Again issue here was not DRS per se but the men using it. Cricket always teaches you new things. 
• Steve Finn gets tournament's first hat-trick and the first Michelle while Aaron Finch is the first centurion.

And now for tomorrow's games. Two sets of neighboring countries taking on each other. South Africa to win against Zimbabwe while as for the other one, watch this pre-game and lets say no more

What did he say?

Following excerpt is from a cricinfo article.

"I look back on this one-day tour [of India] as one of the worst tours for me as a New Zealand cricketer," Vettori said in Auckland. "That hurts a lot and it's embarrassing."

What does Dan the Man mean. How can losing 5-0 to India in ODIs be worse than losing 4-0 to Bangladesh?

Or maybe his mind has been numbed by the series of successive defeats that he doesn't know what he is saying.

Dan the Man

New Zealand Cricket announced the winners for the 2009-10 season in various categories. (Full list is here) And Daniel Vettori is once again the Player of the Year. Given the number of roles he performs for New Zealand cricket - Left arm spinner, middle order batsman, captain, selector, maybe even coach, NZC should start a totally new category, "the Daniel Vettori of the Year" award.