English all rounder Andrew Flintoff inspiring his team-mates to be ruthless against Australia

One of the exciting cricket series, Ashes, between England and Australia is going to start from tomorrow at Cardiff. England cricket team is hoping to reclaim the Ashes trophy. To do it, they have to be ruthless as like Australian. English all rounder Andrew Flintoff understands the importance of being ruthless. That is why, he asks his team-mates to be brutal if they want to snatch the Ashes trophy from Australia. He also asks his team-mates to put pressure over the opponent teams.

Andrew Flintoff is just 31-year-old player. He was out of twenty20 world cup 2009 due to his injury. Now, this best all rounder is fully fit to play for England. Australian cricket team is not in their prime form. So, England can hope to win the Ashes. England got Ashes trophy in 2005 under the captaincy of Michael Vaughan. However, Michael Vaughan is out of Test cricket due to his injury. He has taken retirement from all forms of cricket game. Let us see how England team can perform without him.

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guardian.co.uk

Rahul Dravid has been selected in the preliminary squad

Former Indian captain Rahul Dravid has been selected in the preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy. Champions Trophy will start in September in South Africa this year. It is expected that senior batsmen will make their return with this tournament. Rahul Dravid was out of international cricket for long time. We last saw him playing cricket in 2007. However, after that we didn’t see him in any format of cricket in a regular basis. Sachin Tendulkar will also make his return in this tournament. He opted his name from ODI squad to play against West Indies. Virender Sehwag has been recovered from shoulder injury. Due to his injury, he could not play the last month’s ICC T20 World Cup 2009. 
Indian Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Abhishek Nayar, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik, Munaf Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Murali Vijay, Amit Mishra, Ajinkya Rahane, Dhawal Kulkarni, Subramaniam Badrinath, Ashish Nehra, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Wriddhiman Saha, Pankaj Singh. 
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REUTES 

India has taken a 2-1 lead over West Indies

India has won the third ODI match against West Indies by 6 wickets which was played at the Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia. Skipper MS Dhoni led his team in a rain curtailed game. Winning the match, India took a 2-1 lead of this four-match ODI series. To ensure their first ODI series victory in Caribbean ground, they will have to win one more game.
India won the toss and elected to field first. After being invited to bat first, West Indies scored 186 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. It is sure that three top order batsmen ensured India’s victory. It was not an easy chase because India got victory in the last over. When India came to bat then rain started again and the match was reduced to 22 overs. Both Dinesh Karthik and Gautam Gambhir respectively scored 47 and 44 runs. MS Dhoni remained not out 46 off 34 balls. In his innings, he hit two boundaries and a six.
Now, West Indies will look for the final ODI match to make the series equal. Let us see if MS Dhoni’s fatigue India can snatch the title or not.

Ricky Ponting is upset for Michael Vaughan’s retirement

The retirement news of former England captain Michael Vaughan has shocked the cricket fans. It seems that they could not take it easily. Yes, it was really unexpected not only to the English cricket members but also to the cricket fans. Ricky Ponting, the opposite team’s captain in Ashes series, has been shocked also when he heard this news. He was the winning captain of 2005 Ashes Series. The 34-year-old Michael Vaughan was an exceptionally skilled and talented. He could have continued his career for long time. His absence is a big loss for England team. Who do you think can replace his position? He has been selected in the list of contracted players and was supposed to play in the Ashes series but his knee-injury forced him taking such kind of pathetic decision. He thinks that some promising new comer will get chance to show their ability and talent in his place. Ravi Bopara can be the most probable player who can replace him in Ashes Test series.

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AFP

Michael Vaughan has opted his name from Ashes 2009

Cricket world will always remember former English captain Michael Vaughan because under his successful guidance in 2005 Ashes series. Under his captaincy, England got the Ashes trophy. If you are the fan of England team or citizen of European city then this day will be memorable in your mind all the time. England bet Australia by 2-1. However, Ashes series will start from 8^th July and continue till September 20. Both teams will play 5^th Test matches following 7-ODIs.

It is unthinkable that English cricket team will be without their most successful Test captain Michael Vaughan. This veteran player will take retirement from all international crickets. He is now 34-year-old player. He has become aged and it is the perfect time to take retirement. His right-knee makes some trouble and he can not field all day. That is why, he has taken decision not to block the place which could be replaced by promising new comer. He has opted his name from 16-man test squad. We didn’t see Michael Vaughan to play any cricket after he resigned from captaincy in last August. He was supposed to see in England cricket team this summer where he would face Australian regaining the Ashes.

Related Article:

Telegraph.co.uk

India vs West Indies 1st ODI 2009: India has been installed as the favorite team to win the opening match

Indian cricket team is going to face host West Indies team to play their first ODI match of the four-match ODI series which will kick off from 26th June, 2009. This ODI series has great importance to the Indian players. This ODI series will not only give them chance to take revenge for their defeat in T20 tournament but also can put them in the top list of ICC ODI rankings. However, if we look India’s past history in Caribbean ground then we can find the truth is that they are always helpless in this seam condition. In their past ODI series they were being beaten by 4-1 margin. But when you heard that bookmakers have installed India as the favorite team to win the opening match then you will be surprised. Do you think it is possible? I am confusion about it. They will take on the field without some key players. Injury problem has created some pressure over captain MS Dhoni. Will he be able to handle this pressure easily? You will get this answer today when you will see the game live on Ten Sports channel. 
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BETUS 

India vs West Indies 1st ODI 2009: Weak India can make any new record?

Indian cricket team is going to face West Indies tomorrow to play their first ODI match at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. India will be eyeing to take a revenge for their defeat in ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2009. Their recent squad is considered as fatigue and weak squad than any of their previous squad. But West Indies captain Chris Gayle is concern about this squad because of India’s good performance in last few months. This team has chance to move in the top position of ICC ODI rankings if they can beat West Indies. However, India could not show any good form in Caribbean venue. Some key players will not be seen in this tournament. It seems that swine flu has become the big threat for both teams’ players. I think it is the best time for India team to make a new record in Caribbean field. India has very good one-day side. This team got many wins both in home and abroad under the guidance of MS Dhoni.

Ramnaresh Sarwan said that the lack of Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan will help them to make strong protest against buoyant Indian cricket team. India’s last tour of West Indies was three years ago in 2006 where tourist team was being beaten by 4-1 at the hand of host team.

No doubt, West Indies team could perform well in the shortest version of cricket game. They moved to the semi-final round where they faced Sri Lanka and being beaten by them. You should know that ODI is different kind of game. So, let us see how West Indies team can perform in their home ground.

Do you think Indian batsmen can play well in seam condition? It always seems a big problem for India team when they tour any country. Time will say the answer. This match will start at 26^th June which will kick off at 14:30 GMT (9:30 Local).