Saturday, May 30, 2009

Most handsome Indian cricketers






All the reviews in this category are based on a player’s talent, but since I do not have too much knowledge of cricket I am giving you a girl’s perspective. What we basically like are the good
looking cricketers. So here is the list of five most handsome current Indian cricketers.

1. Zaheer Khan
If looks could kill, Zaheer would have murdered innumerable girls & batsman by now. Aggressive, slightly unshaved and with a good built he is the dream boy of many Indian girls. The way he stares at the batsmen after bowling a good ball can send chill down their spines.

2. Yuvraj Singh
A “Punjab Da Puttar” he is the perfect male model for Fair and Lovely cream. Heartthrob of many girls this guy is extremely stylish and has a great personality. Tall, handsome and powerful he is just the kind of boyfriend most girls crave for.

3. Irfan Pathan
Innocent looks, expressive eyes, childish smile and curly locks make Irfan handsome in a different way. Still looks like a schoolboy. Fresh as a lotus, he is the latest addition in the list of hot cricketers and also the new model for the various companies.

4. Rahul Dravid
He is the old wine among all these new young guns, but still getting better with the age. He is handsome in the classical context and broke the hearts of many girls the day he got married. His down to earth behaviour makes him even more adorable.

5. Ajit Agarkar
Cute cute cute. That’s the word that comes to my mind when I think of him. Not very muscular he has a very athletic and fit body. Doesn’t smile that often there is a kind of calmness on his face which doesn’t go away that easily.

Playing the leg glance tips


The leg glance is where the batsmen 'flicks' the ball from the stumps or the off-side, onto the leg side of the field. This shot is hard to play but with practice, it can become quite an easy shot to play. This shot isn't a powerful shot; however it is used as a run scoring shot. Generally the shot is used to turn the strike over, getting the singles. But it can also be used to score boundaries or two's as well. There are two ways to play the leg glance. You can either play it from the front foot or the back foot.

The front foot leg glance is played like a drive. This is usually played when the ball is pitched up reasonably full, hitting on the half volley. The other alternative is playing a back foot leg glance. This shot is played from the back foot, on or just slightly behind the crease.

The first step to playing a leg glance is to position the body behind the ball. For a full pitch ball, you stride out towards the pitch of the ball, like you would to play a drive. The head and the weight should be over the front leg, with eyes carefully watching the ball. For a short pitched delivery, the feet should step back and across the off-stump. The body should be positioned right behind the line of the ball. The head should be behind the line of the ball with eyes watching the ball, all the way onto the bat.

The front foot leg glance is played similar to a drive. The bat swings through facing the line of the ball. It is important to keep a high elbow through-out the shot. The ball should be played directly under the eyes. The batsmen's grip should have a strong top hand, with a relaxed bottom hand. The difference is when the ball strikes the cricket bat. Upon impact of the cricket ball, the bat needs to turn so that the angle once impacted on the bat is towards the leg side. This is achieved by flicking or rolling the wrists over.

The back foot leg glance is played like a back foot block shot, with the body positioned behind the ball. The difference is upon impact; the bat needs to be angled towards the leg side. This is done by the same way the front foot leg glance is played, with the wrists flicking or rolling over.

The front foot drive is more of a run scoring shot, where as the back foot leg glance is used to turn the strike over, picking up singles. These shots use the pace off the bowler's delivery, rather than creating power yourself.

Summary:

* Practice
* Position body behind the ball
* Play the ball late
* Watch the ball all the way onto the bat
* Roll or flick the wrist over upon impact, angling the bat face towards the leg side.

Playing Square Cut Shot tips


The cut shot is an attacking cricket shot which is designed as a boundary hitting shot. The square cut cricket shot is played when the bowler bowls a short ball, wide of off-stump. This is a power hitting shot as a full swing is made with the bat striking the cricket ball on a horizontal angle. This shot can be broken into separate segments. These include………

* Footwork (positioning)
* Impact
* Follow-through

Footwork (positioning):

The positioning of the body is the key to a successful cut shot. The first movement of the cut shot is the back foot moves across the off-stump. The bat is taken back above the back shoulder. Most of the body weight should be on the back foot. The head should be kept still, creating balance in the shot.

Impact:

The strike of the cricket ball should be made with a downward blow, with the arms at full extension. This will generate power, making the cut shot a run scoring shot. As impact is being made with the cricket ball, the wrists should roll slightly. This, with the downward strike of the cricket ball will keep it along the ground, taking away the chance of being caught. Keeping a still head will maintain balance through-out the shot.

Follow-through:

The bat should follow through over the front shoulder. The head should remain still, with the weight still on the back foot. This will enable the batsmen to remain balanced, producing a well timed, powerful cut shot.

Summary:

* Move the back foot back and across off-stump, with bat over back shoulder
* Keep the head still
* Downward strike, with arms at full extension
* Bat follows through over front shoulder

Friday, May 29, 2009

Every indian is crazy for cricket


Cricket is the game of passion and enthusiasm; almost every country participates in cricket; be it as a team or as a viewer every country has developed taste for cricket. In fact, it the charm of cricket which made it so popular all over the world; as a result popularity of cricket is increasing by leaps and bounces and tournaments like world cup and T-20 are getting incredible response. India is one of the most admired participant team in world cricket; Indian cricket has its own flavor in world cricket since legendry players like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Sunil Gavaskar are there to make it more wonderful.

Indian cricket is the great combination of national and regional cricket teams. Each state in India has its own regional cricket team and all these teams participate in many tournaments like Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy. The best players from these regional cricket teams move forward and get opportunity to prove themselves at international level. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the biggest cricket authority for India; it bear the responsibility of selection of national team and also undertake all other decisions regarding sponsorship and role determination of every player in national cricket team. Apart from BCCI, each state has its own cricket board that conducts and control state level teams and also prepares good players for future responsibilities. No doubt, that these state level cricket authorities play a vital role in deciding future of national team; in fact our team has now get many young and energetic players like Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh and Pathan with the effort of these state level authorities only.

Indian cricket team got approval as test team in 1932 that was a subject of great honor for every Indian; in the same year, the team played its first test cricket match against England at Lords and really proved their potential as a good test team. After that day Indian players never looked behind and went the on track of making and breaking records. In order to that, India won the cricket world cup in 1983 and T-20 world cup few months back this year. India got its first test victory against England at Madras in 1952; afterward the same year, the team won first Test series, which was against Pakistan. That was really an indescribable experience for entire nation and after their starting victories the team improved their game throughout the decade.

In 1971 the arrival of one day international cricket shaped a new dimension in the cricket world; initially India was not very much strong in ODIs, that caused consecutive loss of matches therefore, they did not manage to qualify for the second round in the first two cricket world cups. However, every Indian cricket fan knows that there is nothing that can stop the team from getting what it deserves; perhaps, it is their heartily wishes and support that made Indian team the world cup winner in 1983 and gave all Indians a reason to celebrate cricket.

Summary: Certainly, Indian cricket has everything that is needed to be the number one team of world and it is for sure that India will again get the honor of being the world cup winner.

Passion For Cricket


A common bond that can unite many people even with diverse views and beliefs is a passion for the game of cricket. In many countries like India, the game is more of a religion with the players assuming the role of idols. The outcome of a match can drastically turn around the way the fans view the cricketers, a win placing them on the pedestals while a loss can instigate extreme anger and disappointment in the players. Another important behaviour of the fans is their immense involvement in the game and the players and often the bond exists much beyond the field. A player’s personal life, performance on the field, statistics and records all matter significantly to an individual who has tremendous interest in the game.

Cricket has gone much beyond being just a gentleman’s game and has achieved much fan following and popularity around the world. Many new forms and format of the game like the twenty-20 have made an appearance and changed any form of boredom that might have been setting it. As new players emerge on the scene, the statistics and records undergo a massive transition and cricket fans are keen to keep a track of all these changes. One of the best ways to keep track and be updated about your favorite game and players is through the internet. It is the new medium of following the game of cricket with much greater consistency. Many internet sites, specifically devoted to the game are a storehouse of information and a great source of collecting data and knickknacks for the fans.

The online cricket related sites are one of the best ways through which you can keep track of a live match, as the scores are constantly updated on the site. Even if you are traveling and are far removed from the television and the computer, even then you can get live updates from these sites on your mobile phone. This ensures that a true cricket enthusiast is never far away from his passion and can follow a live match accurately. The sites are also the perfect location to gather all information and data about the cricketers and acquaint oneself with their statistics and records. The sites are also the best place to view photo galleries of the players’ photographs and even download your favorite ones.

So if you are truly a cricket fan, you can not only update yourself about the game through the internet but you can also enjoy cricketing stories and news, photographs and information through these sites. Also, the discussion forums on these sites are a big attraction for those interested in the game. Here you can air your views and get the opinions from fellow enthusiasts and learn much more about the game through interactive participation. So if cricket is your religion and the players are your idols then you are not alone, there are millions of fans across the world who shares your passion for the game in equal measure.

Summary:- If you are a true cricket fan then perhaps you should explore the cricket related websites that are a storehouse of information on this game.

Strategy For the 3 Point Shot in basketball


t the outset a coach must determine how much emphasis he will place on the 3-point shot. There are many extremes used in college basketball and a coach must consider his own personal coaching philosophy and the type of player he has before deciding what emphasis he will place on the shot. Will players be encouraged to take a lot of 3-pointers or will the emphasis still be on the inside-out game? The emphasis that will be placed on the 3-point shot will depend a great deal on the quality of 3-point shooters on the team. Obviously, a team with several good 3-point shooters will place more emphasis on the shot than a team with few 3-point shooters.

Some interesting statistics regarding the 3-point shot:

As a coach analyzes how much he will shoot the 3-point shot, he should keep the following statistic in mind: 33% SHOOTING FROM 3-POINT RANGE IS THE SAME AS 50%
SHOOTING FROM 2-POINT RANGE.



Another statistic that is important involves offensive rebounding. The 3-point shot increases a team's opportunities for the offensive rebound simply because the 3-point shot attempt tends to rebound longer than 2-point attempts. This can result in deceiving statistics as far as shooting percentage is concerned.

When will the 3-point shot be taken?

Will the shot be taken on the fast-break? Will the shot be taken early in the set offense, or will it be taken after working the ball in an effort to get it inside? Will special plays be run to get the 3-point shot or will the shot be taken only from a team's normal set offense?
A very important decision is whether or not the shot will be taken on the fast-break. Will players be allowed to take the 3-pointer when they outnumber the defense on a fast-break?
These decisions must be made by the Head Coach and conveyed clearly to the team. Any player attempting the 3-point shot must feel comfortable when shooting it and not have to worry whether or not the coach wants him to shoot it.

Who will take the shot?

It is extremely important to determine early in the practice season just who will be allowed to take the 3-point shot. During the first week or so of practice it is a good idea to let most of your players shoot the shot in practice drills so that you can chart results and use accurate statistics in deciding just who will be allowed to take the 3-point shot.
A word of caution. Most of your players will think they are 3 point shooters. They will begin practicing the shot on their own and neglect practice on other shooting essentials. You must demand that they avoid practicing the shot if they are not going to be given the opportunity to shoot it in a game.
Never leave who will take the shot up to the players. Determine it yourself with the use of accurate practice, and later, game statistics. Having accurate statistics to support you will add credence to your refusal to allow only certain individuals to take the shot.
As you make your decision as to who will shoot the shot, it is entirely probable that players will be given varying degrees of freedom. You may have one pure shooter on the team who you will give freedom to shoot at virtually any opportunity. You may also have one or two others players who you will allow to shoot the shot only when open, both feet planted, and with plenty of time.
Once you have decided when and who you will want to shoot the shot, you must encourage those players to look for the 3-point opportunity. Unless a player takes a very bad shot or at a time or situation during the game you had given instructions not to shoot it, you must avoid criticizing him for taking the shot and missing. Coaches who plan to be successful with the 3-point shot must encourage their designated players to shoot the shot, cheer them when they make it, and support them when they miss. This may require some adjustment in coaching philosophy for many coaches who have tended to curb outside shooters, but it is very difficult to be a good shooter when a player has to look over his shoulder at the coach.

Will you encourage post players to pass the ball back out?

Despite the use of the 3-point shot, most coaches will still emphasize getting the ball inside to good scoring post players. Once the ball gets inside, will you encourage the post player to pass it back outside to a 3-point shooter? As a general rule, if the post player is not double-teamed, he should go ahead and shoot the inside shot. Actually, a post player who can selectively pass the ball back outside to the right teammate will find that he will be double-teamed less often and that he will score easier when he gets the ball inside.

Players must know where the 3-point line is.

An important fundamental of offensive 3-point strategy is for players to "know where the 3-point line is", for it is actually a mistake for a player to shoot with a foot on the 3-point line. The extra inch or so closer to the basket a shooter is with his foot on the line is not worth losing the 3-point opportunity. In fact, it is questionable whether or not a player should shoot a shot within a foot inside of the 3-point line. The area from 18'9" to 19'9" in college basketball should become sort of a "no man's land" for a shooter.
It is important to point out that players must practice shooting behind the 3-point line so that they "naturally" know where the line is. Catching a pass and then having to look for the line could affect a shooter's concentration and reduce shooting proficiency.

Use a 3-point shooter as a decoy.

Coaches hate to give up the 3-point shot. Because of this they tend to constantly stress to their players to defensively attempt to stop the 3-point shooter. Therefore, the use of a good 3-point shooter as a decoy can achieve strategic offensive results. In both man and zone offensive patterns, encourage the good 3-point shooter to remain outside the 3-point line even though he may have little, if any, intention of shooting the ball. The defense will tend to stay out toward him and free up the middle for inside play. This decoy ploy has the effect of "stretching out the defense."

Penetration is effective weapon for a 3-point shooter.

A good offensive weapon that the 3-point shooter can use is to stay outside the 3-point line and, when he receives a pass, fake a shot to draw the defense, and then drive for the basket. This penetration can result in (a) the 3-point shooter passing off to inside players for easy baskets, or (b) passing back outside to another 3-point shooter for an easy attempt.
Penetration opportunities are available more when the defense "stretches out" to stop 3-point shooters. Therefore, 3-point shooters should spend practice time working on their penetrating ability to increase their total offensive ability. The player who can shoot the 3-point shot successfully and when closely guarded can penetrate without making mistakes is extremely difficult to guard.

Techniques for getting the 3-point shot.

There are a number of offensive techniques that a coach can include in his offensive play patterns to obtain a good 3-point shot:
1. Create Triangles
2. Penetrate And Pitch
3. Single Screens
4. Double Screens
5. Staggered Screens
6. Ball Movement Inside-Out
7. Skip Pass
8. Rear Screen And Step Out
9. Throw Back To Screener
10. Transition

Barcelona win the final:Champions League 2009


Cameroon international Eto'o struck after ten minutes and Messi added the second with a superb header 20 minutes from time.

United can have no complaints as they failed to find their usual fluency and defended hesitantly with many of their key performers well below-par.

Barcelona lifted the trophy for the third time in their history and matched United's own treble in 1999 as Pep Guardiola's men added Europe's premier competition to domestic League and Cup success.

The Catalan club scored with their first real attack after United started in electric fashion.

Andres Iniesta got past Anderson too easily and found Eto'o who cut inside Nemanja Vidic and toe poked the ball under Edwin van der Sar from close range.

Until then it had been all United.

After just two minutes Cristiano Ronaldo's 30-yard effort bounced viciously in front of Victor Valdes who spilled the effort and it required a superb block by former United defender Gerard Pique to deny Park Ji-sung a tap-in.

The Portuguese then volleyed just wide from 16 yards before United fell behind with Serb Vidic, named Barclays player of the year earlier in the day, culpable with a lackluster challenge.

Ronaldo looked to get his side back on terms and his run through on goal was ended by a Pique block for which he received a yellow card.

But Barca then began to boss the game and Messi came to the fore with a scorching drive just missing the top corner, with Van der Sar beaten, before Xavi curled a free-kick just over the top.

It was the 11th effort on goal in a frenetic opening half-hour.

United had an escape on the brink of half-time when Van der Sar spilled a low cross from Messi but there was no-one at the near post to capitalise and Sir Alex Ferguson gambled at the interval by replacing the ineffective Anderson with Carlos Tevez.

But Barca relished the extra space in midfield and twice came close to extending their advantage within the space of four minutes.

Iniesta sent Thierry Henry away down the left, in a big hole vacated by John O'Shea, and he turned Rio Ferdinand inside out before seeing his shot saved by the legs of Van der Sar.

Then a surging run from man-of-the-match Iniesta was ended a yard outside the penalty area by Vidic and Xavi curled the resulting free-kick around the wall and against the post.

United did regroup however and Ronaldo swung in a cross from the right which Yaya Toure completely missed only for the ball to bounce off the hard pitch and over the head of the unmarked Park six yards out.

Park was then replaced by Dimitar Berbatov as Ferguson threw caution to the wind with a 4-2-4 formation only to concede a second.

Patrice Evra hooked his clearance aimlessly to Xavi who picked out an unmarked Messi and the little Argentine climbed high to guide the ball past Van der Sar and into the far corner for his first goal against an English club.

United should have pulled a goal back almost immediately as the ball fell to Ronaldo at the far post only for Valdes to smother his shot.

Paul Scholes replaced Giggs and he was booked along with Ronaldo as United chased the game with the Premier League champions almost conceding a third when Carles Puyol's thumping header was saved by Van der Sar before the advancing Dutchman saved a shot from the Barca captain after the best move of the match.

Berbatov headed over from close range late on but there was no way back for United who failed in their bid to become the first team since Milan in 1990 to retain the European crown.

Victory for Barca also ended United's record 25-match unbeaten run in the competition and inflicted a first defeat in a European final on the Old Trafford club.

About UEFA Champions League


The UEFA Champions League (usually referred to as simply the Champions League or less frequently as the European Cup) is an annual football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It is the most prestigious club trophy in European football.

Prior to 1992 the tournament was officially called the European Champion Clubs' Cup but was usually referred to as simply the European Cup or European Champions' Cup. The competition was initially a straight knockout competition open only to the champion club of each country. During the 1990s the tournament began to be expanded, incorporating a round-robin group phase and more teams. Europe's strongest national leagues now provide up to four teams each for the competition. The UEFA Champions League is not to be confused with the UEFA Cup.

The tournament consists of several stages. In the present format it begins in mid-July with three knockout qualifying rounds. The 16 surviving teams join 16 seeded teams in the group stage, in which there are eight groups consisting of four teams each. The eight group winners and eight runners-up enter the final knockout phase, which ends with the final match in May.

The title has been won by 21 different clubs, 12 of which have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holder is Real Madrid, who have won the competition nine times, including the first five seasons it was contested. Barcelona are the current champions. Since the tournament changed name and structure in 1992, no club has managed consecutive wins.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

types of car racing


Auto racing (also known as automobile racing, motor racing or autosport) is a sport involving racing automobiles. It is one of the world's most popular spectator sports, it is also perhaps the most thoroughly commercialised.

History

The beginning
Auto racing began almost immediately after the construction of the first successful gas-fueled autos. In 1894, the first contest was organised by a Paris magazine, Le Petit Journal. The event, not a race, but a reliability test, was judged to select the car showing the best performance.

A year later, the first real race was staged, running from Paris to Bordeaux. It was won by Emile Levassor, who was however disqualified since he didn't drive in a required four-seater car.

City to city racing
With both automobile construction and racing dominated by France, the French automobile club, the ACF, staged a number of major international races, usually from or to Paris, connecting with another major city in Europe or France.

These races, very successful, came to a stop in 1903, when 8 fatalities among drivers and spectators caused the French government to forbid open-road racing.

(much more on this)

The Gordon Bennett Trophy

The 1930s
The 1930's perhaps started the radical differentiation of racing vehicles from high-priced road cars, with Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz constructing massively-powerful, streamlined vehicles that produced up to 450 kilowatts with the aid of multiple superchargers, and weighed less than 750 kilograms (the maximum weight permitted, in a rule diametrically opposed to current racing regulations). Extensive use of aluminium alloys was required to reach the light weight, and in the case of the Mercedes, the paint was removed to squeeze the vehicle under the weight limit.

Categories
Nowadays, there are many categories of auto racing. A classification:

Single-seater racing
Single-seater racing is perhaps the most well-known category with the public. The cars are especially designed to race with, and therefore only have one seat. The wheels of the car are not covered, and the cars are often covered with wings in order to 'stick' the car to the ground, allowing for greater speeds.

Single-seater races take place on specially designed closed circuits. Many of the single-seater races in North America are conducted on so-called ovals.

The best known single-seater racing class is the Formula One, which involves an annual world championship. This championship attracts major international car manufacturers, making it also a technological battle. In North America, there are two classes, the ChampCars? and Indy Racing League, which have the same nature but are technologically more restricted.

There are are variety of other categories of such racing, from kart racing (a low-cost category using minimalistic vehicles on miniature tracks) up.

Rally racing
Rally racing, or rallying, is conducted with upgraded production cars on public roads or through nature. A rally is typically conducted in a number of stages, in which each of the entrants drives a course, which they have been allowed to scout earlier. Based on notes taken by the co-driver during this reconnaisance, the driver can attempt to use as little as time possible for the course. Competition is based on time, though lately some head-to-head stages have emerged.

The main rally championship is the World Rally Championship (WRC), but there also some regional championships, while most countries have their own national championships.

Famous rallies include the Monte Carlo Rally and the Rallye San Remo. Another famous rally-like event (actually a rally raid) is the Paris-Dakar Rally.

Touring car racing
Like rallying, touring car racing is done with (upgraded) production cars, but it is conducted on closed circuits. The format in which touring car races are conducted varies, but all cars drive at the same time against each other.
As of now, there is no big international championship in touring car racing. Most countries have their own national championships, the most prestigious being the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM, German Touring Car Championship), and V8 Supercars in Australia.

Stock car racing
Stock car racing could be called the American variant on touring car racing. Usually conducted on ovals, the cars raced are superficially similar to production cars but are in fact purpose-built racing machines which are all very similar in construction (historical stock cars were much closer to production vehicles).

The main stock car racing series is the US NASCAR series. The most famous race in this series is the Daytona 500. Nascar also runs the Busch Series, a junior stock car league and the Craftsman Truck Series, a pickup truck race series.

Nascar also runs the Featherlite series of "modified" cars. The cars, as their name suggests are heavily modified from stock form. With powerful engines, large tires, and light open-wheel bodies Nascar's oldest series is arguably its most exciting one.

Drag racing
In drag racing, the objective is to complete a certain small distance, laid out of over a straight stretch of road, in the shortest possible time. The vehicles, often monstrously equipped with massive engines and wings, virtually explode upon the start signal. After completing the distance, usually in around 10 seconds, braking is done using parachutes.

Drag racing is often done in a head-to-head fashion, where two cars battle each other, the winner proceeding to the next round.

Drag racing is mostly popular in the United States.

Sports car racing
In sports car racing, production versions of sports cars and prototype cars compete with each other on closed circuits. The races are usually conducted over long distances, and cars are driven by teams of two or three drivers, switching every now and then. Due to the big difference between 'normal' sports cars and industrial prototypes, one race usually involves many racing classes.

Famous sports car races include the 24 hours of Le Mans and the 24 hours of Daytona.

Offroad racing
In offroad racing, various classes of specially modified vehicles, including cars, compete in races through off-road environments. In North America these reces often take place in the desert, for instance, the famous Baja 1000.

types of cricket

There are many types of cricket played in the modern day. Cricket is a game which is played between two teams, comprising of eleven players each. The teams have a few batsmen, a few bowlers and a wicketkeeper. The game is officiated by two on-field umpires and a match referee. Cricket matches are is played between international and national teams, and like most other sports, cricket is also a very well loved sport among the fans.

# County Cricket

# Beach Cricket

# Car Cricket

# Club Cricket

# First-Class Cricket

# French Cricket

# Indoor Cricket

# Kwik Cricket

# List A Cricket

# One-Day Cricket

# Short Form Cricket

# Test Cricket

# Twenty20 Cricket

# Women's Cricket

# Cricket For The Blind

Match Schedule Twenty20 World Cup 2009


Based on the performance in the first twenty20 World Cup - India have been awarded the easiest group along side Bangladesh and Ireland in this second Twenty20 world cup to be played in England in the month of June 2009.

12 teams are broken into group of 3 in first stage out of which - 2 teams will qualify for the second round where each team plays 3 more matches before qualifying for the semi-finals. .

World Cup twenty-twenty20 fixtures have a strange pattern where each qualifying team will play two teams which qualified at number 2 in their group whereas 1 match with winner of third group.. .

similarly - the team which qualifies 2nd in a group gets to play 2 matches against group winners & 1 match versus 2nd team of a group.

A 27 match tournament whose matches will be starting mainly at 2 different timings (5pm & 1.30pm according to UK timing) and to be played at only 3 stadiums across England.



Note that the final match will be played 2 hours earlier than usual night matches and Nottingham is the ground which is also known as Trent Bridge which is one of 3 venues in England hosting this cricket tournament.


Twenty20 World Cup 2009 : Match schedule and start timings
Dates Versus Venue Start Time
05 June England vs Netherlands Lords 5.30pm UK, 10pm India
06 June New Zealand vs Scotland The Oval 10am UK, 2.30pm India
06 June Australia vs West Indies The Oval 1.30pm UK, 6pm India
06 June India vs Bangladesh Trent Bridge 5.30pm UK, 10pm India
07 June South Africa vs Scotland The Oval 1.30pm UK, 6pm India
07 June England vs Pakistan The Oval 5.30pm UK, 10pm India
08 June Ireland vs Bangladesh Trent Bridge 1.30pm UK, 6pm India
08 June Australia vs Sri Lanka Trent Bridge 5.30pm UK, 10pm India
09 June Pakistan vs Netherlands Lords 1.30pm UK, 6pm India
09 June New Zealand vs South Africa Lords 5.30pm UK, 10pm India
10 June Sri Lanka vs West Indies Trent Bridge 1.30pm UK, 6pm India
10 June India vs Ireland Trent Bridge 5.30pm UK, 10pm India
11 June Group A2 vs Group D1 Trent Bridge 1.30pm UK, 6pm India
11 June Group B2 vs Group D2 Trent Bridge 5.30pm UK, 10pm India
12 June Group B1 vs Group C2 Lords 1.30pm UK, 6pm India
12 June Group A1 vs Group C1 Lords 5.30pm UK, 10pm India
13 June Group C1 vs Group D2 The Oval 1.30pm UK, 6pm India
13 June Group B1 vs Group D1 The Oval 5.30pm UK, 10pm India
14 June Group A2 vs Group C2 Lords 1.30pm UK, 6pm India
14 June Group A1 vs Group B2 Lords 5.30pm UK, 10pm India
15 June Group B2 vs Group C1 The Oval 1.30pm UK, 6pm India
15 June Group B1 vs Group A2 The Oval 5.30pm UK, 10pm India
16 June Group D1 vs Group C2 Trent Bridge 1.30pm UK, 6pm India
16 June Group D2 vs Group C2 Trent Bridge 5.30pm UK, 10pm India
18 June 1st Semi-final Trent Bridge 5.30pm UK, 10pm India
19 June 2nd Semi-final The Oval 5.30pm UK, 10pm India
21 June The Grand Final Lords 5.30pm UK, 10pm India


Note
Group A = India, Bangladesh, Ireland
Group B = England, Pakistan, Netherlands
Group C = Australia, Srilanka, West Indies
Group D = New Zealand, South Africa, Scotland

T20 Vs One day cricket match


Wasn't I satisfied with the existing two formats of cricket, i.e test match cricket and one day Internationals....??

I guess my is yes. I didn't really feel the need of another form of cricket match. I was quite happy watching my team play ODI series, tournaments and then few test series in an year but then, I was born in 1982 which means that One day cricket came lot before I was born. It was natural for me to get adjusted with this format of cricket. I am sure whoever heard first about them, must have hated it but as the time passed on, cricket fans got adjusted and found interest in them as well... and surely they were more fast and exiting than test matches..!!

Now here comes even faster and more exiting cricket format - Twenty20. BCCI, on 16th July 2006, formally announced that twenty20 cricket will now be played in Domestic circuit - in League formats, in which state teams will play twenty20 matches atTwenty20IsFast.jpg home and away basis. This means that exiting cricket is coming very near to our home. How many times you went to watch a Ranji match, but I bet you will be going for twenty20 matches between the same two teams at your nearest cricket stadiums as Twenty20 is really fun to watch and quick enough to finish in the speculated free time that we normally get.... so, on a Sunday evening, if you don't get the tickets for the latest movie released, try a Twenty20 cricket match...

Let me pen down the basic difference between One day International (ODI) cricket matches and Twenty20 cricket matches, just to make sure you get adjusted to this new idea easily..

1) First and foremost, Twenty20 is a 20 overs each side cricket match. So, each bowler is allowed to bowl a maximum of 4 overs whereas in ODI's, which were of 50 overs per side, 10 overs were maximum for any bowler.

2) When first Twenty20 cricket were started in England, fielding restriction were applied for first 6 overs whereas it were 20 overs for a full 50 overs ODI. But there has been news that when Twenty20 will be played at an International level, fielding restrictions will be applied for full period... this rule is yet to be confirmed as Indian team is yet to play a twenty20 game themselves but one rule is confirmed - a fielding captain can't have more than 5 fielders on the leg side at any moment of that twenty20 match.

3) The Time out Rule - usually, 3 minutes are given to a new batsmen to come to the wicket after a fall of wicket, but in Twenty20, this rule is changed to 1 minute and 30 seconds. Even the interval time for the break of innings is limited to just 15 minutes.

4) In ODI cricket, a no ball costs the fielding side 1 run and also the runs scored by the batsmen off that illegal ball... but in Twenty20 cricket matches, 2 runs are awarded to the batting side for a "foot no ball" bowled by their bowler. And also a free hit off the next delivery..

What is this free hit in Twenty20 cricket matches - well, a free hit means that the batsman can't be out off the next ball that that bowler bowls after he had bowled a foot no ball previously. This means that the batsman can slog anywhere and anyhow he wants, without the fear of being getting out, as he can't get out off that ball. BUT MIND YOU, he can be run out alright.

5) In ODI cricket, penalties were given to the teams who fails to bowl their quota of overs in the speculated time but in TWenty20 cricket rules, penalties are there for the team who bowls their overs quickly as well. Each team is given one hour and 15 minutes = 75 minutes to bowl their 20 overs. Which means 3.75 minutes for each over. Teams will be penalized if they fail to bowl at that rate, and also penalized if they go faster than that.... what a bizarre rule but its true friend..!!

6) Bouncers - Now here is no difference between one day internationals and Twenty20 cricket matches. Each bowler is allowed one bouncer each over.

7) If the match ends with the scores tied and there must be a winner, the tie is broken with a bowl out which means that five bowlers from each side bowling 2 balls at an unguarded wicket, very similar to what penalty shootouts in Football is. If the number of wickets is equal after the first 10 balls per side, the bowling continues and is decided by sudden death, which means that whichever teams bowler misses the wicket first, his team looses..!!

Although I have tried to include all the necessary difference between ODI and TWenty20 cricket matches, if you still have some doubts, I suggest you leave a question at forum.itsonlycricket.com and we are here to answer your query...

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Tips for to improve your shooting range


The shooting games were originally meant for the hunters to develop their skills. These shooting games have obtained international recognition and they are encouraged by the sports' associations. A great deal of co-ordination and discipline is needed for shooting. Shooting sports improves the confidence of the physically deprived people. The shooting game tests a player's skill in marksmanship and strategy. The rifle should be serviced regularly and the players should be thorough about the mechanical handling characteristics of the gun. Shooting sports like target shooting, skeet shooting, trap shooting and long range shooting requires a lot of practice. Pool shooting is a relaxing game and it could be fun when there is intense competition.

Safety Rules

The following safety rules have to be followed in target shooting:

* The muzzle of the gun should be monitored all the time. It should be ensured that the muzzle of the gun does not point at the fellow shooters or the guide.
* The gun should be loaded by the players only when it is their turn to shoot.
* The players should not only be sure of the target but also what is beyond it.
* It should be ensured that the barrel is clear of obstructions before shooting.
* Shooting glasses are essential for the players as they are exposed to the risk of target fragments falling on them.
* The players are also advised to use ear plugs in order to safeguard themselves against the loud noise.
* The gun should be returned to the vehicle when the players visit colleagues in the range.

Trap Shooting

Trap shooting is a game where a flying clay target is fired at with a shot gun. It is similar to golf except for the fact that a shotgun is used here instead of a club. Trap is considered to be an exciting and a challenging game. Trap shooting game is still considered to be a hidden sport though many people compete in trap sporting events. The myth that shooting trap only caters to the rich is being slowly expelled as ordinary people have also shown an interest in these games.

The three popular trap events are the singles, the handicaps and the doubles. The single event takes place when a single bird is shot at a close distance. Handicaps is shot at various distances depending on a person's ability. Two birds are launched simultaneously in the case of doubles. Doubles are enjoyable. The players have to hold two shells if they are shooting doubles.

Trap shooting is almost similar to rifle shooting with a shot gun. Proper gun fit is indeed very essential for trap. It is essential to identify the angle of the target and the gun should be exactly pointed at the place where the eyes are set. The gun should be raised to the level of the face and the shoulder to see if it fits. The Olympic trap has a different set of rules and layout so as to make the game more challenging. Trap shooting is widely recognized as a money spinning game though many shooters are interested in having some fun.

Skeet Shooting

The objective of skeet shooting is to shoot as many clay targets as possible with the minimum number of shots. The clay pigeons emerge from the trap as the shooter aims for them. The targets fly at 40 miles per hour in the case of skeet shooting. Skeet has a high house and a low house with traps inside. The field has seven stations arranged in a half circle and the eight station is positioned between the two houses. A squad comprises five shooters and a shooter first fires from one station before moving to the other station. A 12 gauge or a 20 gauge shot gun is recommended for the skeet shooting sport. The double-barrel and a single-barrel semi-automatic are the two most commonly used shot guns. Each shooter fires 8 different shots from their various positions on the skeet range. If 24 birds are successfully hit, the last shot would come from the middle position. The target for the last shot would come from the low house and it is considered very difficult to complete a perfect round.

This game is similar to trap. This game was developed and popularized by the trap shooters who desired a challenging game. Skeet shooting requires a shotgun which is capable of firing two shots very quickly. Shooters always opt for a double barreled shotgun while playing sleet. Skeet does not need any athletic finesse.

Long Range Shooting

Long range shooting requires a great deal of technical expertise. A good equipment is necessary for long-range shooting. Rifles with high velocity and match grade barrels are needed for long range shooting. The shooters have to decide if they are willing to use muzzle brakes. Muzzle brakes affect accuracy and they require ear protection. The shooters also require hand loads to get adequate long range accuracy.

Practice enables the shooter to get accuracy at long distances. The range finder is an essential equipment for long range shooting. The optical range finders are no longer available in the market. They are heavy to use. A quality bullet is necessary for long range shooting. The bullets should have high ballistic coefficient with a high velocity. A long range shooter relies on his optical equipment in order to place his target. The optical equipment also helps in determining the distance of the target. Spotting scopes and binoculars help a great deal in locating the target. The laser range finders assist in determining the distance of the target. The laser range finders enables the shooters to maintain a consistency. The rifle scope is utilized for precise shot placement. It should be remembered that the computer trajectory shots do not exactly provide accurate information. The shooters should be aware of the limitations of their rifles and ammunitions before attempting long range shooting.

Need of Sports Nutrition


Nutrition requirements of sports persons are different than that of normal people.
In most cases nutrition of the sports persons depends on the type of sport they are involved in. each sport has uses different parts of the body and requires different levels of physical fitness and energy requirement.
This is reason why sports nutrition is a science which requires proper study based on scientifically collected data.
Most of the sports persons have sports nutritionists who guide sports persons what are the immediate foods they should have after exercising as well as after their sports events. These foods generally are aimed at replenishing the lost energy to muscles.
Most of the times the above are carbohydrate foods which are absorbed immediately by the body and the body can maintain its energy levels. Sports nutritionists are available to guide all sports persons to educate them regarding what they should eat so that they can enhance their performance as well as maintain require fitness level.
For people who train in muscle building and physical fitness, sports nutrition is readily available in the market, this nutrition addresses their requirement for daily dose of required nutrients so that they can build muscle power along with getting adequate amount of energy and strength.
These sports nutrients have the power of nourishing and building muscle power with low fats and high calorie intake. These nutrients are available in the form of powders and bars. With powders you will require to mix these with water and drink after exercises and bars you can have them like any other chocolate bar. These are highly packed with nutrition.
Since these products are mixed with nutrients, these might not be liked by all; therefore, the companies have also taken care to make these nutrients in different flavoring. So sports persons should not have any difficulty in drinking or eating these nutrients.
Sports nutrition packs are made from several different types of raw materials like whey, oats, gram, etc. these materials provide nutrition as well as muscle building power. Sports nutrition packages are created by doctors’ consultation, several nutritionists decide compositions required by sports persons.
Sports nutrition should include proteins, carbohydrates, iron, and vitamins. Not just that these should also include adequate fiber and other nutritional elements that are required for a healthy body.
Sports nutrition also includes eating proper balanced diet so that nutrients normally required by the body are provided to the body.

sports man be perfect or not

Great athletes possess a burning desire to be the best. Their inner drive keeps them going when the going seems impossible. They continuously keep pushing themselves outside their comfort zone.

A very important part of their mental buildup is their dissatisfaction with mistakes and mediocre performances. Wanting to be nothing short of perfect, these athletes keep dwelling on their mistakes and try to keep correcting them on a continual basis.

Now, strengthening your weaknesses is a sure fire way of progressing towards perfection. Moreover, when you are not tolerant of mistakes, it helps you raise the bar on your overall performance. If you constantly expect yourself to be perfect, sooner or later you will be, right?

May be, may be not! Though there is nothing wrong with fixing your mistakes, there is something very wrong with being obsessed with being perfect! If your coaches, your parents and your friends keep telling you that you are doing well, and you tell yourself that you aren’t good enough, you are setting yourself up for big-time failure!

All great athletes know that perfectionism is a two-edged sword. When used positively, perfectionism can help you harness your strengths and open a path to your dreams. Healthy perfectionism will take you to personal excellence. However, when you are so obsessed with perfectionism, you fail to see the distance you have covered, the progress you have made, you are cutting your self-confidence and your self-esteem to shreds. You will stop enjoying your sport. You have to remember that all great men, whatever field they have excelled in, have had fun while striving for perfection. No fun, no excellence! It’s that simple!

Unhealthy perfectionism has three components, which you have to be careful of. 1. Do not focus on your failures so much that you forget what you did right. 2. Do not measure your imperfect performance against a perfect ideal that in reality does not exist. 3. Do not beat yourself up emotionally for your failures.

Your job when you make mistakes is to learn from, and then forget them. When you fail, you must forgive yourself and then leave that failure in the past. Accept the fact that you're going to make mistakes. Accept the fact that you can always be better. Accept the fact that there is no perfect. Accept your humanness. Strive to be perfect while at the same time forgiving yourself for your imperfections.

How to couch Junior Players in Tennis


Mini Tennis, Pee Wee Tennis, Tiny Tots Tennis, Little Mozzies! Coaching Junior Beginners has been called everything. The bottom line for tennis coaches is that having a strong beginner tennis coaching program is the key to a long term sustainable business operation.

Putting together an exciting and challenging tennis coaching program for the young player should be a priority for any serious coach. These young beginners also need some special coaching methods to teach them to love tennis and stay in the game.

Tip 1 - Sucess equals Confidence equals Fun! Tennis is in the recreation business and coaches are fighting to attract young athletes to the sport so that grass roots programs flourish and we produce players at the elite level. Be constantly positive; play fun games which all players can succeed; create an atmosphere at your club that parents and children can enjoy. Do your best to keep children in tennis for life.

Tip 2 - Use modified tennis equipment. This relates to tip number one because by using lower nets, softer tennis balls, lighter tennis racquets and fun equipment we can help our students succeed and therefore enjoy tennis.

Tip 3 - Use cones to position players. Use cones or spots to position students for games and activities. This will give them a reference point and prevent them from wondering off.

Tip 4 - Refer to the names of lines and areas of the court. Use the names of lines and parts of the court when giving directions. This will provide a "full" tennis education and help when playing matches later on.

Tip 5 - Demonstrate before you explain the drill. Young children are fantastic learners. They learn best from observing and copying; as well as experimenting and feeling how something works. In your tennis lessons give the players lots of visual coaching and have them shadow swing so they can feel the correct stroke. This will be far more effective than explaining to a child with a very short attention span who may not fully understand the meaning of your words.

Tip 6 - Don't get too technical! This relates to tip number five. Technical instruction is wasted on young children but they do understand simple distinctions. For instance using higher or lower; softer or harder; to the left or right are effective words to guide a young player. This is one reason why the use of targets and cones can be a very valuable coaching tool.

Tip 7 - Use targets for students to aim at. The reason for using targets is to compel the players to use control over power. Many young players will associate success with how fast and far they can hit the ball. Studies have shown that in sports that require both speed and precision (like tennis) it is far better to learn slow, controlled moves and then make them faster; than learn fast uncontrolled moves and them slow them down. By hitting accurate controlled shots our players will become better at rallying (which should be foremost goal of any program.)

Tip 8 - Don't take private lessons too early. While some parents will expect us to dress up in a clown suit and entertain a 4 or 5 year old in a private lesson it is inappropriate at this age. The children at this age enjoy the excitement of playing with their friends and social interaction - the coach will soon become weary and lose passion for their job.

Tip 9 - Progress the program. Keep giving the students a reason to come back to the game. Progress from a mini court to full court; a mini racquet to a graduate racquet; low compression balls to championship balls; a 30 minute lesson to a 45 minute lesson. Keep challenging the students or they will feel they are not improving and find another sports which offers a pathway.

Tip 10 - Let them play the game. As coaches we are trying to teach players the game of tennis. Once the fundamentals have been taught modified game play should become an emphasis. While at a young age hitting the ball over the net seems miraculous, and returning an impossible dream; let the students experiment with a modified rally. The coach can help or make special rules so it remains enjoyable and the students can experience some success.

Follow these tennis tips to success in your own junior tennis program!

Monday, May 25, 2009

Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010


New Delhi is beaming with pride to host the Commonwealth Games 2010. India's distinct culture, where the traditional is successfully combined with the modern, will make the Delhi Games special. Right now what you see and really experience are the infra structural changes that are taking place, to be honest, on daily basis. But now we even have news from across the country informing us about the preparation of athelets.

As in the words of Indian sports minister Suresh Kalmadi, "The colour, costumes, the traditions and heritage will be world class, the public will be welcoming and friendly and the flair of India is what will make the next Games really unique."

India will be only the third developing country to host the event after Jamaica in 1966 and Malaysia in 1998. This is only the second time the event will be held in Asia. The success of these games may also strengthen India's bid for 2016 Summer Olympics.

This will be the biggest multi-sport event conducted in the India. In past New Delhi has proudly experienced playing host to the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982 (Asiad). Preparations are in full swing Sand New Delhi is comfortably meeting all the target dates. Every venue event is getting ready for the important year.

The proposed dates for the Games are 3 - 14 October 2010 inclusive of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

The Delhi Games Village is to be constructed as a low rise medium development on a 40 acre site in the heart of the capital with a possible capacity for 8,500 athletes and officials. Existing and new stadium will be used to house the following sports:

The culture, infrastructure and sport all will be successfully combined to create yet another memorable experience for Commonwealth Games.

The 2010 Games will be staged in the heart of Delhi itself with existing venues and facilities being given a major facelift that includes construction of new venues like New Delhi games village.

Cricket history


History
The origins of the game of cricket are lost in the mists of time. There is a reference in the household accounts of Edward I in 1300 of a game like cricket being played in Kent.

It seems clear that the English game originated in the sheep-rearing country of the South East, where the short grass of the downland pastures made it possible to bowl a ball of wool or rags at a target. That target was usually the wicket-gate of the sheep pasture, which was defended with a bat in the form of a shepherd's crooked staff.

By the 17th century the game was quite popular as a rough rural pastime, but in the following century the leisure classes took up the sport, particularly in Sussex, Kent, and London. We know that an organized match was held at the Artillery Grounds, Finsbury, London, in 1730. By the middle of the 18th century cricket was being played at every level of society, from village greens to wealthy estates. However, the game lacked a coherent set of rules.

The first and most influential cricket club in the land was formed at Hambledon, Hampshire, in the 1760's. The club was sponsored by wealthy patrons, but the players were local tradesmen and farmers. The Hambledon club established techniques of batting and bowling which still hold today, and Hambledon claims a page in history books as the "Birthplace of Cricket".

The centre of power in the game soon shifted to London, most notably with the establishment of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which had its headquarters at Lord's ground. In 1835 the MCC gave cricket its first formal laws, which still stand largely intact today.

A major boost for the sport of cricket was provided by public schools such as Eton, Harrow, and Winchester. The sport proved so popular among the well-to-do students that an annual match called "Gentlemen vs. Players" took place at Lord's from 1806-1963. The amateur "Gentlemen" from the schools and universities played their semi-professional counterparts; the "Players" in a match that was a highlight of the season.

Major cricket matches can last as long as 5 days, with each side having two "innings", or turns at bat. A recent alternative to the longer matches are "limited over" matches. These events may take a relatively short 3-5 hours during the course of one day.

The game of cricket is now played worldwide, and despite occasional successes, it is fair to say that the real power in the game has shifted from England to nations such as South Africa, Australia, India, Pakistan, and the West Indies.

In England the major focus of the game is the county championships, with both four-day and one-day competitions running simultaneously during the summer months. But traditional village cricket is still played in towns and villages all across the UK.

Live french open 2009


The French Open is billed as the most challenging of all the grand slams and the 2009 French Open tennis tournament is sure to adhere to the rigours and robust competitiveness so typical of the second of the annual tennis 'majors'.
Hosted by one of the most romantic cities in the world, Paris, the 2009 French Open will run from May 24th to June 7th and this year's tournament is sure to unleash some of the most riveting grand slam tennis.

Time to reserve your seat on centre court, the famed Court Philippe Chatrier, by purchasing French Open tickets. Thousands more are expected to arrive at the spectacular Roland Garros French Open venue over the two weeks of the competition in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the fabled combatants of clay court tennis.

'King of Clay', Rafael Nadal, etched his name into French Open history after matching the record of the the legendary Bjorn Borg and the 1920's heroine of the Open, Suzanne Lenglen, with four consecutive titles apiece. Justine Henin was not there to defend her title due to her immediate retirement from professional tennis in May 2008. Ana Ivanovic claimed the 2008 women's singles title for the first time, and the world will be watching to see if she can defend her title at Roland Garros in 2009.

Over the years the French Open has epitomised the steel and resolve of the very best in tennis, and the Roland Garros Stadium is a more than apt venue - it is named after the World War I fighter pilot who gave his life for 'King and Country', and his bravery is remembered and celebrated on the dusty, challenging red clay courts every year.
Roger Federer has found the clay courts in Paris to be his nemesis, and he is in good company - Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors, Maria Sharapova and Martina Hingis are just a few of the tennis legends who have been denied by clay.
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