Big hitters to watch out for

The implementation of the new ODI rules - two new balls from either end and fewer fielders in the outfield - has already seen the record of fastest century broken twice in the last 13 months. If that is any indication, the 2015 ICC World Cup, comprising 49 matches in all, could see a few more records go to pieces. Cricbuzz draws up a list of big hitters who could do so in Australia and New Zealand.

1. Glenn Maxwell

The Australian batsman showcased his power-hitting in the 2014 Indian Premier League where he scored 552 runs at an awe-inspiring strike rate of 187.75 with the help of 36 sixes across 16 matches. While Kevin Petersen is credited with bringing the switch hit into the public eye, there is no doubt it's Maxwell who has it taken to another level. His no-holds-barred approach has made him a much-feared opponent. Even though Maxwell has failed to transfer his IPL batting into international cricket, it has to be said that he is a big threat to bowlers and that the World Cup could be his stage to run amok.

2. Corey Anderson

The New Zealand allrounder shocked the cricket world on January 1, 2014 by breaking Shahid Afridi's 17-year record of the fastest century in ODI history. Anderson took 36 balls against West Indies to outdo Afridi, who took 37 against Sri Lanka in 1996. The left-hander then further strengthened his reputation by scoring 95 not out off 44 balls to help Mumbai Indians reach the 2014 IPL play-offs. In light of New Zealand's small stadiums, Anderson appears a scary prospect.

3. AB de Villiers

If you thought Corey Anderson's feat was beyond imagination, de Villiers further raised the bar when he smashed a surreal 31-ball hundred against West Indies last month. South Africa's ODI captain eventually fell for a 44-ball 149 after hitting a record-equalling 16 sixes. Despite having been mostly favourites in the past, South Africa's best performances came in 1992, 1999 and 2007 when they reached the semis. Looking at de Villiers' form, this edition may turn out to be the end of their long wait for the World Cup trophy.

4. MS Dhoni

The India captain has not scored much of late but he is a big-tournament player. Who could forget his match-winning 91 not out against Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup final? The fact that he is playing his last World Cup is reason enough for Dhoni to be motivated. He has the knack of pulling off unexpected results, so don't be surprised if he once again succeeds in doing that - even though not many are willing to put their money on his team. Dhoni remains one of the best finishers in the game.

5. Chris Gayle

In form or out of form, you can't discount the big West Indian. The last year or so hasn't been very fruitful for Gayle on account of injuries but his recent match-winning scores of 77 and 90 in T20Is against South Africa have brought him back into reckoning. The pitches in Australia and New Zealand have true bounce and that makes him a dangerous customer. West Indies would hope that Gayle fires at the top because that's their only chance to put up a fight.

6. Brendon McCullum

McCullum has arguably become New Zealand's most important player in the last couple of years. His talent lies in the fact that he could shift gears. McCullum is capable of dropping or weighing anchor according to the situation and that makes him one of the most dangerous limited-overs batsmen in the world. Due to the home advantage factor, this edition is New Zealand's best chance in years to have a go at the title but for that dream to come true, the Black Caps captain has to be at his best.

7. Thisara Perera

The Sri Lankan allrounder has a consistency problem but on his day he can tear apart any bowling unit. Perera is heading into the World Cup in poor form after scores of 0, 5, 0, 2 and 20 in the recent ODI series against New Zealand, but he remains a vital cog in the team's plans. Sri Lanka are blessed to have two world-class big-hitting allrounders in him and Angelo Mathews.

8. Eoin Morgan

The England captain's ODI ton against Australia in the Carlton Mid Tri-Series recently highlighted his character a great deal. Out of England's 234, 121 came off the bat of the left-hander. The additional responsibility of captaincy seems to be working for him. While England's chances of a good show look very weak, no team can take them lightly thanks to the presence of Morgan.

WC Countdown #7: When Kapil Dev upstaged King Viv

The shot that led to the catch... 

An underdog punching above its weight is something that always fascinates followers of cricket. One of the earliest such stories, when it came to ODI cricket, happened during the 1983 World Cup when 'Kapil's Devils' overcame some of the best teams in the World to lift the trophy for the first time. It was a roller-coaster journey for the Indian team, one that concluded with skipper Kapil lifted the Prudential World Cup trophy high atop the Lord's balcony. One of the proudest moments for any Indian cricketer or the ardent followers of the game in the country was made possible by the captain himself, who took a terrific catch to send back 'King' Viv Richards, which completely changed the course of the final.
Apart from being one of the strike bowlers in the side, Kapil's batting and fielding prowess also came to fore in the third edition of the multi-team event. While Kapil had done a decent job with the ball throughout the tournament, his batting also went to new levels when he registered the highest individual score of the tournament - a match-changing 175 against Zimbabwe in the league stage. While that was one of the most important knocks by an Indian player, the catch he took to send back the dangerous Richards is an indelible moment etched in the memory of Indian cricket fans.
Batting first, India could only manage a feeble total of 183 as Andy Roberts, Malcom Marshall, Michael Holding and Joel Garner combined to do a fine job with the ball. Although West Indies lost Gordon Greenidge early in their reply and Desmond Haynes also fell cheaply, Richards was sending the Indian bowlers on a leather hunt at the other end, flaying them to all parts of the park. Having crossed 30 in quick time, with the help of seven boundaries, Richards was taking the game quickly away from the Indians and West Indies were looking favourites to lift a hat-trick of world titles.
Not many would have fancied India to stage a comeback when Richards was going great guns. However, the catch that Kapil took lifted their spirits and there was no stopping the team from the sub-continent after that. It was just past the 12th over when Richards, on 33, miscued a hook off Madan Lal and the ball travelled towards mid-wicket. Kapil, stationed at mid-on ran back, and across to his right, but it appeared as though the ball would land well clear of him.
Any other fielder, especially one from the sub-continent, might have taken it easy, realising that there was quite a distance to cover. However, Kapil did not think so. With both hands cupped text-book style, the Indian captain held on to the ball safely, and did so quite comfortably at the end.

What followed Kapil's brilliant catch was a spate of West Indian wickets going down. Larry Gomes, Clive Lloyd and Faoud Bacchus departed in quick succession, and from 57/3, West Indies slipped to 76/6. Jeff Dujon and Marshall tried to get the defending champions back on track, but they could not pull off anything special and India went on end West Indies' winning run in World Cup finals.

WC Countdown #6: Lasith Malinga's devastating four in four

The super-eight clash between South Africa and Sri Lanka during the 2007 World Cup in Providence was firmly in South Africa's grasp. Chasing 210 for victory, they were 206/5 in the 45th over with victory just a stroke away. However, Lasith Malinga produced an astonishing display of death bowling which almost gave Sri Lanka victory. Malinga's unprecedented feat of four wickets in four balls established his credentials on the big stage and his mantra of bowling fast, straight and in the yorker length became the blueprint for bowling at the death in limited overs.
In his first spell, Malinga had struggled for penetration and he finished with figures of 7-0-43-0. He was brought back in the 45th over and in the first four balls, he was hit for a boundary and a couple by Shaun Pollock. With just four needed, the game seemed dead and buried. Malinga changed it dramatically. In the fifth ball, he bowled a slower delivery that landed on a fuller length. Pollock played inside the line of the delivery and the ball crashed into leg stump. In the next ball, Malinga bowled yet another full, slow ball outside off and Andrew Hall scooped it straight to cover. At 206/7, some nerves were starting to show and there was anticipation in the air.
Chaminda Vaas conceded just one run in the 47th over, Malinga bowled a full and fast delivery outside off that lured Jacques Kallis, who was batting on 86, into a loose drive. He edged it to the keeper and Malinga became the fifth bowler to take a hat-trick in the World Cups. He went one step better and cleaned up Makhaya Ntini with a fast yorker on middle stump to take four wickets in four balls. At 207/9, the advantage was with Sri Lanka. His next ball to Charl Langeveldt just missed the off stump.
Vaas bowled a maiden in the 48th over and Malinga got one last chance to take the last wicket. However, Robin Peterson edged the second ball to third man and South Africa achieved victory by one wicket with 10 balls to spare. After the end of the match, Malinga said, "I am happy that I took a hat-trick. The old ball was reversing and I tried to get five in a row but unfortunately didn't get it. We are a team that fights till the end." 

Chennai Super Kings to be transferred to new subsidiary of India Cements

CSK will now be owned by a subsidiary of India Cements, Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd. 

Having been informed by the Supreme Court that he cannot contest Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) elections until he gives up ownership of Indian Premier League (IPL) team Chennai Super Kings (CSK), N Srinivasan-led India Cements will now transfer CSK to a new subsidiary, Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd.

In a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), India Cements said it has completed the required documentation for transfer of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise to Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd. "The board will consider at the meeting on February 11, 2015 reorganisation proposals relating to the said subsidiary," it said.

Earlier on September 26, 2014, the board of directors of the company had approved the proposal to demerge CSK into a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, by transferring its net assets at cost. It had also stated that the effective date of transfer will be January 1, 2015.

Last month, a Supreme Court bench of Justice TS Thakur and Justice FMI Kalifulla had assailed the amendment in BCCI rules permitting cricket administrators, like Srinivasan, to have any commercial interest by owing teams in IPL and Champions League, and said it would be conflict of interest.

The apex court had also directed that BCCI elections be held in six weeks "subject to the condition that no one who has any commercial interest in BCCI events (including N Srinivasan) shall be eligible for contesting the elections for any post whatsoever."

The rider in the judgement made it difficult for Srinivasan to become BCCI president, unless he quickly relinquished his interest in the CSK.

The need of the hour for India is pace: Brett Lee

Out here, India need quick bowlers, who can bowl good bouncers and have a good slower delivery in their armoury: Brett Lee,

Former Australia pacer Brett Lee feels India will need their pacers to be at the top of their game if they are to successfully defend the ICC Cricket World Cup. India come in to the quadrennial event with a number of headaches over their form and their bowlers' inability to trouble batsmen. Lee, who was part of the triumphant 2003 Australia World Cup squad, underlined Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav as the men who should take the lead role in the Indian attack.

"I think what India needs to do is ensure that the fast bowlers are fully fit. Ishant Sharma, to me, could be a bowler that could play a huge role along with someone like Yadav, who was rested for the recent match in Perth. Now whether he was injured or whether he was pre-rested to be ready for this World Cup campaign... the need of the hour for India is pace," said Lee.

"Out here, they need quick bowlers, who can bowl good bouncers and have a good slower delivery in their armoury along with the skills to bowl during the death overs. What I mean by bowl at the death is to be able to deliver fast 145kph yorkers that can knock out a team. This is because they are not playing on wickets like those in India that are dusty and the ball turns and swings. Here, they would be playing on wickets that are conducive to fast bowling. They need good, young fast bowlers," Lee added.

Lee refused to predict which team would clinch the Cup on March 29, the date of the summit clash, saying that the complete team in the mega-event would hold aloft the coveted trophy. 

"I've said it all along that the team that will win the trophy on March 29th will be the most complete team. So that doesn't mean on paper they are the best cricket nation, it doesn't even mean that that every player is a superstar in that team. What it means is that the team, which over the course of the seven weeks of World Cup, plays the best cricket on every particular match day is the champion. I think Australia has a great chance of winning the World Cup just like India, South Africa and New Zealand," he summed up.

Zaheer confident of India playing World Cup semis

Zaheer advised India's team management to open the bowling with Mohammed Shami. 

Zaheer Khan, the Indian fast bowler, feels India's performance in the recently-concluded tri-series in Australia where they failed to win a single match, will not affect the psyche of the players heading into the 2015 World Cup. India open their World Cup title defence against Pakistan on February 15, which will be preceded by two warm-up games against Australia and Afghanistan.

In an interview with PTI Bhasha, Zaheer said India could make the last four of the competition. "(The) World Cup is a new tournament and I don't think India's performance in tri-series will affect them. They have also got a long break after that and if you see the format also, I am sure India will play the semi-finals," Zaheer was quoted as saying.

"The Indian team had a long Australia tour and played at almost every venue. This can work to their advantage."

Zaheer, who has been nursing injuries as a result of which he had to miss out on the Indian domestic season, tipped Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as players who India would rely on during the course of the competition.

"Rohit and Virat's form will be crucial to India's World Cup chances," he said. "Rohit will be opening the innings with Virat coming at either Nos 3 or 4 depending on the match situation. Both have the ability to bat through the innings or even play the anchor, a role necessary in such a tournament."

Along with India, Zaheer said hosts Australia and New Zealand along with South Africa have the ability to last the distance as the "World Cup is a long tournament and injuries play a crucial role", but equally important is to have a "settled team and gain momentum at the right time",

"Injuries are part and parcel of the game but you have to find the right combination," he said. "It's not about bowling only. Cricket is a team game and batsmen also have to give their best. I am hopeful that India will deliver an all-round performance."

Zaheer assessed India had their bowling combination wrong during the tri-series, and suggested opening the bowling with Mohammed Shami. "If you ask my suggestion, they should give the new ball to Shami, who will set the tone. The first spell will be very crucial. I will only say that taking wickets is the only key to restrict run-rates."

He said the new rules of using two new balls and involving fielding restrictions applied to all and teams must have become used to them. "We have been playing with the new rules for a while now. As far as death overs are concerned, the bowlers must think clearly. I am sure they will do well," he said of the Indian pacers.

Pragyan Ojha cleared to play by BCCI

Pragyan Ojha's bowling action has been cleared by the BCCI.

Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who had been banned for a suspect bowling action, has been cleared by BCCI and is available to play in First-Class matches with immediate effect. Ojha had earlier been asked to report to the ICC-accredited testing centre in Chennai after he was reported in December, 2014. He had subsequently been withdrawn from Hyderabad's Ranji Trophy squad.

Ojha underwent official assessment in the Chennai testing centre on January 30, 2015 under the surveillance of high performance coaches from BCCI and biomechanic experts. Ojha is all set to feature in Hyderabad's Ranji fixture against Himachal on Friday.

The spinner, who has played 24 Tests and 18 ODIs for India, last made his international appearance way back in November 2013 as his action was under scrutiny. Hyderabad Cricket Association requested the BCCI to have Ojha's action tested after the bowler had taken some corrective measures with the help of coaches.

The latest test results have found that the left-arm spinner's action now satisfies the requirement, which means that he can resume bowling immediately.

"National level cricket player, Pragyan Ojha has been permitted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to bowl in domestic matches with immediateeffect. His elbow extension was found within the permissible limits in all deliveries bowled during the Test matches," stated a BCCI release.

A delighted Ojha thanked the BCCI for coming up with the decision to allow him to resume bowling. "I look forward to playing domestic matches. I am grateful to the BCCI for arriving at the decision in such a short time. I hope that I get the opportunity and honour to play for India soon and wish the Indian cricket team all the best for the World Cup."