t20 world cup

Adam Zampa becomes Australia’s leading wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history

Danijones5 months ago05 mins

Australia’s Adam Zampa tosses a ball while bowling against Namibia during an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup cricket match at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. | Photo Credit: AP Australian spinner Adam Zampa surpassed pacer Mitchell Starc to become the country’s leading wicket-taker in ICC T20 World Cup history. Zampa accomplished this milestone during his side’s ICC T20 World Cup clash against Namibia at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. In the game, Zampa delivered a destructive spell of 4/12 in four overs at an economy rate of 3.00 that caused the Namibian side to fall apart. His scalps included the star all-rounder David Wiese. Now in 17 matches, Zampa has taken 31 wickets at an average of 11.93 and an economy rate of 5.96, with the best bowling figures of 5/19. He has surpassed Starc, who has taken 29 wickets in 22 matches at an average of 24.72, with the best figures of 3/20 and an economy rate of 8.43. The top three leading wicket-takers in T20 WC history are: Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan (47 wickets in 38 matches), former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi (39 wickets in 34 matches) and former Sri Lankan pace legend Lasith Malinga (38 wickets in 31 games). Zampa on June 12 also became the first Australian to take 100 wickets in T20Is. Now in 83 games, he has 100 wickets at an average of 21.46 and an economy rate of 7.20, with the best figures of 5/19. Zampa also secured his fifth ‘Player of the Match’ award in his T20 WC career, tying with stars like Chris Gayle (West Indies), Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) and Shane Watson (Australia) for clinching the honour second-highest amount of times. Indian batting icon Virat Kohli has the highest ‘Player of the Match’ award wins in the tournament history, with seven. Coming to the match, Australia won the toss and put Namibia to bat first. Except for skipper Gerhard Erasmus (36 in 43 balls, with four boundaries and a six), no other batter made an impact and Namibia was skittled out for just 72 runs in 17 overs. Zampa (4/12) was the top wicket-taker for Australia. Josh Hazlewood (2/18) and Marcus Stoinis (2/9) also did fine with the ball. Pat Cummins and Nathan Ellis got a wicket each. In the run-chase, Australia chased down the total in just 5.4 overs, with Travis Head (34* in 17 balls, with five fours and two sixes) and David Warner (20 in eight balls with three fours and a six) and skipper Marsh (18* in nine balls, with three fours and a six) playing destructive knocks. Zampa became the ‘Player of the Match’ for his marvellous spell. In Group B, Australia is at the top with three wins in three matches, giving them six points. Namibia is in the third spot with a win and two losses, giving them two points.

T20 World Cup: What happens to Group A ‘Super 8’ qualification scenarios if USA upset India | Cricket News

Danijones5 months ago04 mins

At the end of the T20 World Cup match between India and USA scheduled for later on Wednesday, Group A will have one of its two qualifiers for the ‘Super 8’ phase of the tournament.The 2007 champions India are primed to register a hat-trick of wins to advance to the next stage; but USA’s giant-killing run can’t be taken lightly.T20 WORLD CUP: Schedule | Points TableAhead of the T20 World Cup, USA defeated Bangladesh to win a historic bilateral series — their first against a Test-playing nation.It followed an even bigger upset, shocking Pakistan in their second group match of the T20 tournament. In between, the US team defeated neighbours Canada in the tournament opener. With two wins in as many matches, USA, like India, are unbeaten in the tournament; but face their biggest test against Rohit Sharma & Co.USA’s stay at the top of the group after back-to-back wins didn’t last for long as India won the battle against the archrivals Pakistan, beating them by six runs in a thrilling contest.The win took India (2 matches, 4 points, NRR +1.455) to No. 1 spot in Group A, followed by USA (2 matches, 4 points, NRR +0.626), Pakistan (3 matches, 2 points, NRR +0.191), Canada (3 matches, 2 points, NRR -0.493) and Ireland (2 matches, 0 point, NRR -1.712). Here’s a look at how the result in India vs USA match on Wednesday will affect the ‘Super 8’ qualification scenario of the five teams in Group A:IF INDIA WINA victory for India will mean that the former champions will advance to the next stage, where they will join South Africa and Australia — the two teams so far to have made it to the ‘Super 8s’. That result will also breathe new life into Pakistan’s campaign that stayed alive after their win over Canada. However, Pakistan will hope that India register a big win over USA and seriously dent the net run-rate of the American team, which at present is better than that of Pakistan’s.But even if USA lose to India, they will have a chance to progress to the ‘Super 8s’ with a win over Ireland in their last match, which will make all other remaining games in the group irrelevant and eliminate the other three teams. IF USA WINIn case USA’s dream run in their tournament debut continues with another upset win, they will go through to the ‘Super 8s’. However, that result will not favour Pakistan, Canada and Ireland.If India lose to the US and win their last match against minnows Canada, they will join the co-hosts as the two teams in ‘Super 8s’ from Group A, putting the remaining three out of the race.

Babar Azam worried as kid starts crying more after he gifts him gloves: ‘I saw him in India vs Pakistan match…’

Danijones5 months ago04 mins

Pakistan captain Babar Azam shared a wholesome moment with a boy during the T20 World Cup matches against India and Canada at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in New York. Pakistan started their campaign in Dallas, Texas, where they suffered a shock defeat to the USA and then moved to New York for their next two matches against India and Canada. That is where the boy attracted Babar’s attention. Pakistan captain Babar Azam tries to console a kid Babar said he first met the boy during the match against India. He noticed him crying during the national anthem and tried to comfort him. “I met this kid during the India vs Pakistan match. After the anthem, he came to me and started crying. I got worried. I asked if anyone said anything to him. Then he said he is a fan,” Babar told presenter Sanjana Ganeshan in an interview for ICC. Date mein Crickit, late mein Crickit! Catch the game anytime, anywhere on Crickit. Find out how The Pakistan captain said the boy did the same thing in the match against Canada. “He did the same thing today (against Canada). He was standing in the line and crying. We all have experienced this. When you meet a star, the excitement is at a different level.” When Sanjana, who is also the wife of India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, asked about his gesture of gifting his gloves to the kid, Babar said: “I thought if he is such a big fan then I should also have some responsibility to give him something as a gift. Something memorable. I had my gloves in my hands. I gave him that. He got very excited and started crying even more. I told him not to worry. Then, while crying, he requested me to sign it,” Babar added. Babar Azam was relieved to have logged their first win in the T20 World Cup on Tuesday, and said they couldn’t complete their chase of 107 in lesser number of overs because of a difficult pitch. Having suffered back-to-back defeats against USA and India in their first two Group A matches, the game against Canada was a must-win tie for Pakistan. Chasing a modest target, Pakistan rode on Mohammad Rizwan’s run-a-ball unbeaten 53 and Babar’s 33 to get over the line in 17.3 overs. “Good for us, we need this win. We started well with the bowling, in the first six overs we know we had to be up to the mark,” Babar said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan equals Rohit Sharma’s big T20I record | Cricket News

Danijones5 months ago02 mins

NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s top-order batter Mohammad Rizwan equalled India captain Rohit Sharma‘s remarkable record of most half-centuries as an opener in T20 internationals on Tuesday. Rizwan achieved the feat during Pakistan’s commanding seven-wicket triumph over Canada in the T20 World Cup encounter at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.T20 World Cup Schedule | Points TablePakistan’s prolific wicketkeeper-batter Rizwan and India’s illustrious skipper Rohit have both amassed an impressive tally of 30 fifties as openers in the dynamic 20-over format.Rizwan achieved this significant milestone in just 71 innings, while Rohit required 118 innings to reach the same landmark. During Pakistan’s emphatic win over Canada, Rizwan also inadvertently set an unwanted record in the T20 World Cup as he registered the slowest fifty (by balls faced) in the prestigious event. The 32-year-old veteran consumed 52 deliveries to reach his half-century on Tuesday against Canada in New York. South Africa’s hard-hitting batsman David Miller had the unwanted record before him, having scored a 50-ball half-century against the Netherlands in this year’s T20 World Cup. Pakistan’s charismatic captain Babar Azam occupies the third position on the chart, having scored an outstanding 28 fifties as an opener in T20Is. Meanwhile, Australia’s explosive batter David Warner has smashed an impressive 27 half-centuries as an opener after featuring in 98 T20I innings.(With inputs from ANI)

Culture, client…all the reasons India-Pakistan match was a packed house in US | Cricket News

Danijones5 months ago06 mins

For many Indians the matches are an opportunity to provide their kids first-hand experience of a game they once-adored but could no more experience liveNASSAU COUNTY (New York): Even the most die-hard fan of cricket won’t spend $6000 (roughly rupees 5 lakh) to watch just one over of India-Pakistan match. But for some Indians who flew from all corners of the US for the Sunday match, game was a key but not the only reason to be present in the stadium.Ashish Agarwal, a marketing executive with an insurance tech startup, had flown in from Louisville, Kentucky, along with his two sons, Adit and Arav.He had spent almost $1,600 (roughly Rupees 1.32 lakh) each for the tickets, purchased from the ticket sales company Vivid Seats.T20 WORLD CUP: Schedule | Points Table“We are hoping that it doesn’t get rained out,” he said, as the three stood in a long line in front of a food stall during the rain break. Rain had interrupted the game after one over of Indian innings.Agarwal, whose extended family lives in Mumbai, had only watched one cricket match live in the United States, a college match, during the more than two decades he has lived in the US. For Adit, a student at Indiana University, and Arav, a high schooler, both born in the US, it was their first cricket experience. “I don’t know much about cricket, I am here for the overall experience,” said Adit, who played American football in school.“I think, for these kids, it is more about … being part of the Indian community and Indian culture,” Agarwal said. “It is as much a sporting event as cultural, and let the best team win today. That’s what I told some of my Pakistani friends.”Like the Agarwals, a significant portion of the crowd was there for the cultural connection and the experience. New Jersey businessman Ramesh Parikh came to watch the match with his son Deep. Growing up in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Parikh’s cricketing idols were former Indian stars Polly Umrigar and Chandu Borde. After moving to the United States in 1969, he had stopped following the game he loved. The father and son were there to celebrate the elder Parikh’s 78th birthday, which falls on June 10, the day after the match.Business executives consisted of another major section of the crowd. One reason tickets were prohibitively expensive, even for an average resident of the world’s largest economy (with a per capita income of more than $85,000), was the rush from companies to scoop them up. Since New York is a global corporate hub, a strong presence of business executives was expected. Businesses, particularly those with ties to India, viewed the match as a chance to entertain their clients and guests. One such company was the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.“We had more than 50 guests and business associates from around the world join us for the event,” said Prakash Mehta, a partner at the firm, who mainly focuses on investment management.Mehta, a member of the board of directors of the U.S.-India Business Council, said that his firm hosted parties for clients and guests in Manhattan on two successive nights prior to the match. The two other organizations with a big presence in the stands and boxes were Washington Freedom, a Major League Cricket team owned by Indian American businessman Sanjay Govil, and Indiaspora, the influential diaspora network founded by San Francisco investor MR Rangaswami.Notably, the Indiaspora group arrived at the stadium from Manhattan on two buses adorned with the organization’s logo. Among the prominent passengers was former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, proudly wearing an India jersey.(Asif Ismail is publisher of The American Bazaar and DesiMax)

T20 World Cup: Australia hammers Namibia by nine wickets to secure Super 8 spot

Danijones5 months ago02 mins

Australia’s Adam Zampa (right) celebrates the dismissal of Namibia’s Zane Green (partly seen) during the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2024 group B cricket match between Australia and Namibia at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda on June 11, 2024. | Photo Credit: AFP North Sound (Antigua) Australia annihilated Namibia by nine wickets to qualify for the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup here on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Also read: T20 World Cup: The American dream faces litmus test from The Men In Blue Australia put up a complete bowling performance to dismiss Namibia for a meagre 72 before gunning down the target in 5.4 overs with Travis Head and skipper Mitchell Marsh remaining not out on 34 and 18 respectively. Josh Hazlewood (2/18) removed the Namibian openers Michael Van Lingen and Niko Davin before leg-spinner Adam Zampa (4/12) got into the act to run through Namibia, who ended with their lowest total in T20 Internationals. Opening the bowling alongside Hazlewood, Marcus Stoinis (2/9) also took a couple of wickets while skipper Pat Cummins and Nathan Ellis chipped in with a wicket each. Gerhard Erasmus top-scored for Namibia with 36 off 43 balls. Reeling at 43 for eight, Namibia managed to cross the 50-run mark courtesy a lone hand from Erasmus. Brief Scores Namibia 72; 17 overs (Gerhard Erasmus 36; Adam Zampa 4/12; Marcus Stoinis 2/9, Josh Hazlewood 2/18) lost to Australia 74/1; 5.4 overs (Travis Head 34 not out, Mitchell Marsh and 18 not out) by nine wickets.

T20 World Cup: India wait on Shivam Dube to deliver on big stage | Cricket News

Danijones5 months ago06 mins

Big-hitter has struggled to get going so farNEW YORK: There aren’t too many areas that may concern India as they go into their game against the United States, the form of Shivam Dube being an exception. T20 WORLD CUP: SCHEDULE | POINTS TABLEBut then, the pitch at the Nassau County Ground hasn’t been batter-friendly and the big Chennai Super Kings basher hasn’t exactly been brought into this World Cup to play sheet anchor.But what should be a real worry for the team management was the sitter that Dube dropped off Mohammed Rizwan on Sunday at fine-leg, a spill that came close to taking the game away from India.It smacked of self-doubt. Is there a lack of confidence that is hurting the 30-year-old, who has struck a bit of a lean patch since his name was announced for the T20 World Cup? He struggled in the back-end of the IPL and now with the World Cup moving into higher gear, the man with long levers has to step up.What exactly is prompting captain Rohit Sharma to persist with the Mumbai cricketer? From the few interactions that he had with the media in New York, it seems quite evident that the skipper, after the disappointment of the ODI World Cup final, has come here with some set plans.Prime on his agenda is “flexibility in the batting lineup”, whereby no one else other than Virat Kohli and Rohit himself, has a fixed slot. “I have told them that it will be a case of horses for courses. Barring the opening slot, anyone can come anywhere,” Rohit said.He walked the talk in the Pakistan game, when Axar Patel was sent ahead of Dube, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. The move did pay dividends, to an extent.The two players who can replace Dube in the XI – Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson – are primarily top three batters and Rohit, probably, is a little reluctant to curtail his flexibility.The second important factor, which Rohit prefers to keep a secret, is his plan for the West Indies, where India will play from the Super-8s. As per the skipper’s calculations, the spinners will call the shots in some of the Caribbean venues and that’s where a batter like Dube might be the most dangerous.His monstrous hitting against slower bowlers was one of the talking points of the first phase of the IPL and Rohit, one feels, is trying his best to build Dube’s confidence.In India’s nets sessions at Cantiague Park, another important aspect is the amount of bowling that Dube has done. Owing to the ‘impact sub’ rule, he didn’t get too many chances to bowl his medium-pace in the IPL, but the team management wants to keep him ready as a back-up option for Hardik.“Four allrounders (Hardik, Axar and Jadeja being the three others) allows the team to have a lot of flexibility. I have a lot more options to choose from, which is very important in today’s T20 cricket,” Rohit had said.It’s this template that the skipper has set in his desperation for the elusive ICC silverware that is helping Dube’s cause for the time being.One feels he will get a little more time – specifically the games against USA and Canada – to hit some form so that India can stick to the plans and push for ultimate glory.

India Vs USA: EXCLUSIVE: 18 years later, USA all-rounder Nisarg Patel aims for reunion with Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja | Cricket News

Danijones5 months ago011 mins

NEW DELHI: USA all-rounder Nisarg Patel was a mere 18 years old when he travelled to Sri Lanka for the Under-19 World Cup in 2006. The tournament had prominent players from various nations, including the likes of current Indian captain Rohit Sharma and star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.The USA team, placed in Group B with Australia, the West Indies, and South Africa, played three matches but unfortunately lost all of them, leading to an early exit from the tournament.T20 World Cup Schedule | Points TableDespite the disappointing outcome, Nisarg had the opportunity to meet the entire Indian squad, exchanging greetings with Rohit and Jadeja before returning to the United States.Now, 18 years later, Nisarg, who is part of the senior USA team, is eagerly anticipating a reunion with Rohit and Jadeja. India and the USA are set to face off in their ICC T20 World Cup 2024 match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Wednesday.With two wins in two matches, India are well placed to make the Super Eights, while the USA will have to win one of the two remaining matches – vs India or Ireland – to move to the next stage of the mega event. TimesofIndia.com caught up with Nisarg, who played 41 ODIs and 21 T20Is for the USA so far and spoke about meeting young Rohit and Jadeja during the U-19 World Cup, cricket in the US, drop-in pitches, clash against India, and much more…The USA’s performance in the T20 World Cup has been remarkable…We are very excited. We have a big opportunity to represent the US on such a grand stage. There’s nothing bigger for players than representing their country in the World Cup, and we are doing just that. We have the chance to play against big teams – Pakistan and now India. We have played against Ireland many times and also against Canada. But this is a different experience altogether. This is special for us.How does cricket’s popularity fare in the USA, a nation renowned for its passion for NBA, Baseball, and NFL?People have come in huge numbers to witness our matches. There is a lot of buzz. It is an opportunity to bring the whole community together. As players, we just want to go and play cricket and enjoy every moment. That’s it. It’s the first time we have got the opportunity to play in such a big event like this, and we are giving our best. All I want to say is that we all (the US team) are enjoying our cricket. US cricket is doing really well. USA all-rounder Nisarg Patel (AFP Photo) After defeating Pakistan, the USA’s upcoming match is against India. Do you have your sights set on any specific Indian player’s wicket?I don’t specifically target players. As a player, I love to contribute to my team’s victory. It’s a very short format game. Whether it’s keeping it tight, bowling good overs, taking crucial wickets, putting brakes on runs, scoring runs, inflicting runouts, or keeping a batsman in check, I just love it. Obviously, I’d love to dismiss Virat Kohli or take Rohit’s wicket. But it all depends on when I’ll be bowling – in the Powerplay or after. I thrive in all situations. I met and interacted with Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja during the 2006 U19 World Cup and now look forward to meeting them again.Could you highlight two pivotal players from the Indian squad?Rohit Sharma. He can perform anywhere. And in bowling, none other than Bumrah. Give him any condition or situation, he will take wickets and win you the match. He’s that type of player.Your India connection?My cricketing journey started in India. I was born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and studied in a boarding school in Vapi. I played most of my cricket in Ahmedabad before relocating to the US in 2003. I began playing cricket in the US and received my first major opportunity to represent the USA in the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2006. I had the chance to compete against teams like Australia and South Africa, facing players such as David Warner, Aaron Finch, Matthew Wade, and many more. During the World Cup, I had the privilege of meeting and interacting with Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja as well. Experiencing international cricket at such a young age was invaluable. Subsequently, I was selected for the senior USA team and have since played around 70-80 matches for them. I aspire to continue representing the USA team for as long as possible.Who is your inspiration and why?I started playing during the era of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and Rahul Dravid. Initially, I admired Dada (Ganguly). He was my inspiration and a true leader. As time passed, I witnessed the era of players like MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, and Virat Kohli. I greatly admire MS Dhoni. I appreciate the way he conducts himself on and off the field, how he handles players, and his ability to turn matches with his batting prowess. He is simply amazing and incredibly down-to-earth. He has contributed immensely to cricket.In cricket, being an all-rounder, I look up to Ravindra Jadeja. I play a similar role to him, being a left-arm spinner and a middle-order batsman. I closely watch and follow his game. I am eagerly looking forward to meeting him.Could you share insights from your meeting with batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and the legendary Shane Warne?When the Legends Masters League took place in the USA, the great Shane Warne and the legendary Sachin Tendulkar were part of that league. We had the opportunity to meet them and learn valuable cricket lessons. I served as a net bowler in that league, bowling to the likes of Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, and many other legendary players. I learned a lot from their experiences.What are your thoughts on the drop-in pitches?I’ve never played on drop-in pitches before. This is our first time. All I’ve heard is that they are true wickets. They benefit…

We wanted to win before 14 overs but pitch was difficult: Babar Azam

Danijones5 months ago03 mins

Pakistan’s Babar Azam plays a shot during a T20 Cricket World Cup match against Canada at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on June 11, 2024 in New York. Photo: Getty Images via AFP Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is relieved to have logged their first win in the T20 World Cup New York on June 11, and said they couldn’t complete their chase of 107 in lesser number of overs because of a difficult pitch. Having suffered back-to-back defeats against USA and India in their first two Group A matches, the game against Canada was a must-win tie for Pakistan. Chasing a modest target, Pakistan rode on Mohammad Rizwan’s run-a-ball unbeaten 53 and Babar’s 33 to get over the line in 17.3 overs. “Good for us, we need this win. We started well with the bowling, in the first six overs we know we had to be up to the mark,” Babar said at the post-match presentation ceremony. “It was in our mind (to get over USA’s net run rate), to win before 14 overs but the pitch made it difficult.” After making a run-a-ball 33, Babar was out caught in the slips while trying to guide a delivery down to third man, and the dismissal left the Pakistan skipper angry. “Because I got out with the same shot twice (against India)! This is my shot but sometimes you need success. I’ll try my best.” India are currently placed atop Group A with two wins from as many matches with USA following with same number of victories. Pakistan have climbed up to the third spot with two points from three games ahead of Canada and Ireland. Canada captain Saad Bin Zafar felt it was a difficult wicket to bat early on. “Definitely, it was a bit disappointing. We wanted to play a positive brand of cricket and I think the wicket was not very helpful. It was difficult to bat early on – not a good toss to lose. We were about 25 to 30 runs short,” he said.

T20 World Cup: Taking cricket to America involves a difficult culture transfer

Danijones5 months ago07 mins

Representational image of U.S. cricket fans waving flags prior to a ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup match in Dallas, Texas. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP In the 1950 football World Cup, US, a minor power in the game defeated England 1-0. US was characterised as “a team of lower-league dropouts and amateurs.” The win barely registered at home. There was a lone US reporter present and the result was received “with massive indifference,” according to a later writer. It did not signal a football revival nor was it the starting point of a popular upsurge in the game. To be fair, it wasn’t hyped thus, unlike the T20 World Cup which many see as the game coming home to the country where the first international was played in 1844. Following the U.S. win over Pakistan, the New York Times headline said, US Scores Historic Cricket Win, but only Pakistan Notices. Once again America seemed oblivious to a sporting feat. A special advisor to the Yankees, the professional baseball team, said the India-Pakistan match reminded him of the Dominican baseball league. It may have been a compliment, but I am no expert on baseball, just as the local reporter who said India beat Pakistan 119-113 is no expert on cricket. Not yet ready It might be politically incorrect to say this, but America isn’t ready to embrace cricket yet. The picture of a young boy in Michigan or New York putting his oval football away forever and carrying a cricket bat is a difficult one to conjure up. For starters, the International Cricket Council needs to market the game better, take it to the grassroots with more passion, and explore all avenues including making the commentary and visual presentation more attractive and inclusive. Right now it seems to have a single-focus policy: India versus Pakistan. Much of the criticism of the drop-in pitches could have been avoided had the ICC paid more attention to the amount of time required to nurse these to international standards. Low-scoring matches make T20 interesting, but the possibility of injury doesn’t. As former England captain Michael Vaughan said, “Trying to sell the game in the States is great, but for players to have to play on substandard surfaces is unacceptable.” To attract an American crowd (as opposed to an immigrant one), cricket should be presented in a manner Americans can identify with. It can start with television which is basically for the converted who can put up with the inanities and irrelevancies of the Indian commentators. Special set of skills Americans need more statistics, more background, more excitement (as opposed to loudness) and better conversation generally. To transfer a culture and a philosophy from an established community to one that is emerging requires a special set of skills. Just as the ICC must first coach the coaches who can then take the game forward in the US, it must spend time with the TV channels on how best to attract a new audience without losing the old one. When the American magazine Sports Illustrated sent a baseball writer to England in 1961 to write about this game called cricket, he wrote, “To appreciate cricket, an American must first understand it.” Over six decades later, that is still key. Decades of American jokes (“Cricket is basically baseball on Valium,” said actor Robin Williams) have to be countered in the public imagination with a suggestion that those who can’t enjoy the game are philistines. The ICC might have missed a trick in not involving Hollywood and sports stars in a celebrity-obsessed society. Genuine cricket lovers like Mark Wahlberg (“I love the sport, could have played it professionally”) and Gerard Butler, both of whom had stakes in teams in the Caribbean Premier League in the early days, John Hamm, Daniel Radcliffe, Ed Sheeran, Russell Crowe are some examples. Perhaps NBA and NFL stars could have been requisitioned too. Lebron James as brand ambassador? Just a thought… After scoring the winning goal for the US against England, Haiti-born Joe Gaetjens returned to his country and soon disappeared. He was killed, it is believed, by the death squad of his country’s President. Saurabh Netravalkar, hero of the Super over in US’s defeat of Pakistan, will return to his Oracle office in California when the World Cup stint is done. The difference is significant; not for the first time, sport is writing a chapter in our history.