The form book was respected and Australia, the EPITOME OF CONSISTENCY and incidentally the defending champion, retained the trophy. In the final at Centurion, Australia defeated its Trans-Tasman rival New Zealand by six wickets.
Originally scheduled for 2008 in Pakistan, the sixth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy was postponed by a year. The venue, too, was overlooked owing to security concerns. South Africa hosted the event in 2009 and if change was the defining essence, be it with regard to the host or the year, conformity seemed to be the guiding principle when the actual cricket happened on the turf.
THE FORM BOOK was respected and Australia, the epitome of consistency and incidentally the defending champion, retained the trophy. In the final at Centurion, Australia defeated its Trans-Tasman rival New Zealand by six wickets. The result added to the aura of Ricky Ponting’s men.New Zealand suffered the vagaries of fate as its regular skipper Daniel Vettori pulled a hamstring and had to sit out, and Brendon McCullum had the unenviable task of taking the captaincy hot seat in a big final.
Australia remained undefeated through the tournament. Ponting’s men vanquished the West Indies by 50 runs; were locked in a no-result in a rain marred game against India; won a two-wicket thriller off the last delivery against Pakistan; crushed England by nine wickets in the semifinal and in the summit clash, rode on off-spinner Nathan Hauritz’s three for 37 and Shane Watson’s unbeaten 105 to humble New Zealand.
This story is from the June 3, 2017 edition of Sportstar.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 3, 2017 edition of Sportstar.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Tokyo Marathon Cancelled For Amateurs On Coronavirus Fears
Organisers in Japan cancelled the amateur portion of the Tokyo marathon, affecting around 38,000 runners, on fears about the spread of the new coronavirus in Japan.
Right Criteria To Pick The Tennis GOAT
What should the criteria be? What weight should be attached to each criterion? And what should not be considered as valid criteria?
The making of a batting behemoth
If Steve Smith dominated the Ashes in England in a dramatic, blockbuster fashion then his like for like a replacement, Marnus Labuschagne, is the Next Big Thing after an exciting summer of run-glut.
WHEN ACES WERE REWARDED...
It was an evening of nostalgia and celebration when the Sportstar Aces awards were given away in Mumbai.
A question of recognition
After a week of awards, one wonders if it’s only a departed player that one will be named after.
Thinking straight, thinking right!
“A lot depends on when I am bowling and what is required from me. That’s something I do when I play for India and I try to follow the same thing in the domestic circuit,” says Yuzvendra Chahal.
The Big Three and the Next Gen
Though the Big Three are very unlikely to retire during the same year, Judy Murray, mother of Andy, echoed the sentiments of many fans worried about the impact of their departures.
WAKING UP TO MENTAL HEALTH
Sport at large and cricket specifically has taken an inordinately long time to address the elephant in the room — the dark abyss of depression.
Like sunshine in a gloomy dressing room
Bangladesh quick Abu Jayed Rahi is new in the red-ball arena, but his swing brings back old memories — of James Anderson on green tops.
The league of the masses
With traditional clubs locking horns with the hard-working nurseries of the game, the I-League will continue to keep the beating heart of Indian football alive despite official apathy.
