England needed to win today and they did it. The last few overs have almost wiped my memory of the rest of the game. England continues to amaze all of this. This was by far their most entertaining match. A while ago I thought I'd have to write something like..."England's campaign comes to a miserable close." The moment was the "catch" Trott didn't take. It's still not clear whether it was a six or catch but the umpire gave it a six. Trott indicated he caught it. Russell was the man, West Indies needed 40 runs to win before the six. I've seen one such instance earlier and the fielder was believed at that time. But nevertheless, all is well that ends well. When West Indies needed 22 runs, Tredwell sent Russell packing, which brought hopes back. I can't tell how degrading that six was and how ecstatic the victory has made us all, the players and English fans. A lot of bloggers and writers think England don't deserve to go through, including Russel Arnold. Are they kidding me? True, Ireland and Bangladesh beat England but South Africa, India and West Indies couldn't. Now, England moves to the 3rd spot in Group B. The only way they could go out is if West Indies defeat India and Bangladesh defeat South Africa. Cheers!

Shahzad is out with a stomach bug, Strauss and Swann have recovered. All these was already all out on twitter, though there were also rumours of Wright opening, but that isn't happening. West Indies, meanwhile, have Chris Gayle back in place of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and legspinner Devendra Bishoo makes his ODI debut, in place of Nikita Miller. England won the toss and opted to bat first.


England team:
A Strauss
M Prior
J Trott,
I Bell,
E Morgan,
R Bopara,
L Wright,
T Bresnan,
G Swann,
J Tredwell,
C Tremlett

Related post: Road to Quarterfinals: England face Windies hurdle... 

Today is the day when many expect to witness a thrilling battle. Why? Because, England, the most erratic, entertaining and engaging team of this World Cup takes on the degrading West Indies. England have to win today, to avoid the embarrassment of being ousted in the first stage. And, of course, also to give themselves a chance to make history, which comes once every 4 years. If England don't make it through, they will be missed immensely, not just by English fans but even by the fanatics who have some hatred against England. For, they are the team which has produced the most thrilling contests.

England started with a win against Netherlands, followed by a tie against India, a loss to Ireland, thrilling win against South Africa and finally, losing to Bangladesh in a see-saw battle. So their campaign reads like this - win, tie, lose, win, lose, which indicates today's clash is going to be a tie or an England win. At the moment, West Indies and Bangladesh have 6 points each, England 5. Today's win will take England's tally to 7, a tie to 6 points. Bangladesh and West Indies can still send England packing by beating South Africa and India respectively, but as we all know, it is unlikely. Also to be noted, West Indies have a net run rate of +2.206, England +0.013, Bangladesh -0.765. So, in case these teams finish on equal points, Bangladesh will not qualify.

I expect England to triumph comfortably, unless the games comes to a halt due to reasons like rain. England towers over West Indies in each game they play, in all formats. The match will be held at Chennai, where England succeeded in defending 171 against South Africa earlier this month. Ajmal Shahzad is doubtful while Strauss and Swann are recovering well from illness so they are likely to play. News of James Anderson's exclusion have been doing the rounds, but in case Shahzad doesn't play, Jimmy certainly will. He is a key player, not because he is expected to perform but because, though he has bowled well at times, he tends to give shed loads of runs at other times. At Chennai, vs South Africa, he took 2/16 in 6 overs, so there is a good chance he'll have a role to play. I seriously hope Strauss attacks if England manage to trouble Windies.

Andrew Strauss is upbeat despite suffering from a stomach bug:

We have been on the road for a long time, but fatigue is the last thing on our mind. Potentially we have got four more nice games to play before a nice, long break. 

Shoaib Akhtar all set to retire
After a career filled with injuries, drugs, fiery bowling spells, heroic performances, indiscipline, ban and many other controversies, the colourful character has announced retirement from International cricket after the World Cup.

That's all I had to say for now, tune in to England vs West Indies at 02:30 pm IST (09:00 GMT). Cheers.
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• Another jolt in English cricket: Kevin Pietersen o...
• My dream World Cup 2011 

KP: Out of World cup and IPL due to soreness after bowling 8 overs during SA vs England

After a series of injuries, a tie against India, a loss to Ireland, a close win against South Africa, England have added another shock in their 2011 book. The team is now threatening Pakistan's long held most unpredictable side title as it keeps us all on toes. The media and experts inform me a lot of times of "The darkest day in English cricket", which was the innings defeat to West Indies in '09 (England were all out for 51), the ICC World Twenty20 '09 loss to Netherlands, the recent loss to Ireland and many others. I've not been too bad at taking these losses, I am more distraught when England loses from winning position or doesn't win because of rain/duckworth-lewis. So yeah, victory gives me a lot more pleasure than the dullness losses give. I can't be disappointed when they don't try (6-1 losses to Australia, one day, after Ashes '09 and '10) or when they are never in command.
Coming back to the current scenario, as opposed to what a lot of people are criticizing - the pitch at Chennai (England vs South Africa), I'd like to say that we need variety, all 300+ games will bore us. Not only that, low scoring games can be a lot more competitive because it's no longer mainly a matter of runs, it's about both runs and wickets.
England's matches have been some of the most enjoyable ones this World Cup. It's because of England that Group B is wide open. And now that KP, who opened for the first time for England at the start of this tournament, England have applied to play Eoin Morgan. They are also in search of a new opener, once again. Knowing them, I can say anyone may open. Ravi Bopara has already failed as an opener so I hope at least it's not him. I was disappointed to see England without Paul Collingwood. Strauss has shown an unbelievable faith in Yardy. Months ago England lost 2 early wickets in a game against Australia and Yardy was sent. Strauss has given him a chance to take wickets in batting powerplay and he also bowls a lot of overs. But, all in vain. Even Sussex doesn't give him so many opportunities. England must do away with him. For one moment I thought Strauss has given away the game by preferring Kevin Pietersen and Michael Yardy over James Anderson and Stuart Broad when South Africa had only 3 wickets remaining. Anderson and Broad have been superb throughout the tournament. Anderson has given away some, but he has mostly bowled well, at times fortune was against him.
Will England lose to Bangladesh and defeat West Indies by 200 runs or 10 wickets? To find out, watch the drama unfold: England vs Bangladesh, Chittagong, March 11, 08:30 GMT and England vs West Indies, Chennai, March 17, 09:00 GMT. Today, due to the stretched World Cup schedule for a reason which only BCCI could understand, only Canada vs Kenya is in progress. Kenya 181/8 (45.1 overs).
Related posts:

• My dream World Cup 2011
• England's WC Campaign: Dramatic so far 
• Are England back to old ways or better than ever?  
• Rain a concern as England aim to take lead in Ashes
• How KP fared up at SA and who knocked out Jimmy Anderson

Firstly, here is how I want the world cup to go:
Quarterfinal 1: England beat Australia
Quarterfinal 2: South Africa beat Netherlands/Ireland
Quarterfinal 3: Pakistan beat India
Quarterfinal 4: Bangladesh beat New Zealand
Semifinal 1: England beat South Africa
Semifinal 2: Pakistan beat Bangladesh
Final: England beat Pakistan

I decided all this without considering the groups and obviously this isn't possible since South Africa, Ireland and Netherlands are in the same group. Thus, South Africa would beat Sri Lanka. I don't like Sri Lanka but too many minnows in quarters may make matches one-sided and thus, boring. In fact, in Group B, I only really like Pakistan and New Zealand. But at least, Australia is lively and has a great rivalry with England. Pakistan is far better than New Zealand because they have got more skills, passion and unpredictability. New Zealand is a side which has only shown potential for years and disappointed, their inferiority complex makes their cricket dull. I have no love for Canada, Kenya or Zimbabwe but at least I've no hatred for them. So I wouldn't mind if they crush Sri Lanka. Here's how teams need to stand in the group stage:
Group B
South Africa
England
Bangladesh
India
Group A
Pakistan
New Zealand
Australia
Canada/Sri Lanka

The reason for choosing Bangladesh as a semifinalist is that their players and fans are very enthusiastic. And the world cup is being held at their home too. They'll cherish every win. India will be humiliated to finish 4th in the group stage. Losing to arch rivals Pakistan, to whom they have never lost a world cup game, will be an icing on the cake.

Hello there, it's right after the Ireland game. It's that time when the cricketing fraternity is soaked in a pool of thrill. It couldn't ask for more cricket. Since England began their campaign, it has kept media, experts and everyone else puzzled. Before the India-England tie, Bangladesh could advance to the quarters by beating West Indies or England, according to Indian newspapers. It was the highly anticipated game and did it live up to the expectations? Well, it couldn't have been better.

An Indian fan with the name of England's new opener painted on his arms

India vs England 
Scoring 338 gave India an edge. Sailing smoothly made England favourites. Everyone has been referring to Zaheer Khan's 3 wickets as the turning point. But in reality, the 42nd over, in which England only managed 2 runs, turned it all around. The wickets were just the presentation of it. Before it all happened, I thought they need not take the powerplay as opposed to what Sunil Gavaskar suggested. Wickets have been lost a lot of times in the batting powerplay. You just don't need to change anything when everything is going your way. It's not only that the struggling 42nd over prompted England to take the powerplay. It was more like England scored only 2 runs because they were going to take the powerplay. Anyways, it was an even battle and losing for any team, wouldn't have been anything less than humiliation. But now, England shall be more satisfied. Why? Because they didn't let India defend 338, that too at home. And in the end, when it seemed like England's boat was sinking, it was the three 6s by Swann, Bresnan and Shahzad that turned a loss into a tie. That does give you a lift.
England vs Ireland
All 3 matches England has played so far, have been hard fought. The India one was the most thrilling and against Netherlands, though they gave a fight, England was never going to lose it. And today England's performance was disappointing and the result, shocking. From 111/5 in 24.2 overs, needing over 8 runs per over, Ireland came back to stun England. Every World Cup has it's fair share of upsets and this was one of it.