Sachin's last World Cup and probably my last World Cup- Ponting

Bangalore - Australia captain Ricky Ponting is relishing the opportunity of another batting duel with Sachin Tendulkar in what will probably be their last World Cup

Ponting, 36, the tournament's second most prolific batsman behind Tendulkar, said he had always enjoyed playing against the world's leading runs scorer in test and one-day cricket.

"There is no bigger stage than a World Cup for all of us to stand up and perform well," Ponting told a news conference on Friday. "I am sure Sachin wants to have a good tournament. I am sure he wants to be a part of the World 

Cup-winning side, but hopefully he is not." "It probably will be Sachin's

last World Cup and probably my last World Cup as well. I guess we have been

lucky over the years to play a lot of cricket against each other. I have always

enjoyed the chance of playing against Sachin and playing against the Indian

team, especially under these conditions here. So, nothing will change over the 

next few weeks. We will enjoy and see who comes out on the top."

Ponting, who led Australia to victory in the last two tournaments, said he felt

there was no outright favourite for the Feb 19 - April 2 tournament in India,

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. "There are a number of very good cricket teams

out there at the moment," he said.

"Yes, we rank number one but we will not be thinking about being the number

one team in the next couple of weeks. We will be training as hard as anybody

else and preparing better than anyone else to give ourselves the best chance in

the tournament. That is all we can do."

Ponting said Australia would miss injured left-hander Michael Hussey, who was

Australia's best batsman in the losing Ashes series. "Losing Michael Hussey is a

big loss to our setup. There is no doubt about it," Ponting said. "His experience

and his knowledge of the game in tournaments like this are almost second to

none. We will miss him"

Sehwag wants to play max overs

"I think I never played 50 overs in one-day cricket, maximum I faced is 42-44 overs," a relaxed Sehwag said in Bangalore. "This time I'll try to bat 50 overs if I can. I have been trying for 10 years, I'm still trying." Emulating Sachin Tendulkar, who made the first and only double-century so far in the format when he played out 50 overs against South Africa last year, wasn't a target for Sehwag though. "Sachin has played 50 overs many times, not just once, but he could make 200 only once because it is not easy to make 200 in a one-dayer."

Nearly a third of Sehwag's innings have been single-digit efforts, a proportion he aims to reduce with a more measured approach early in the innings. "I have Yuvraj [Singh], MS Dhoni, [Suresh] Raina, [Virat] Kohli and Yusuf [Pathan] in the middle order, so I can go after the bowling straight from the first ball, but nowadays I'm a giving a little bit of respect for first 4-5 overs," he said. "Then I can take on the bowlers to make sure I give a good start so even if I get out the middle order can take their time and then go after the bowling."

This will be the first World Cup since Twenty20 become a big-money phenomenon, and Sehwag says the rise of cricket's newest format will mean teams batting first will have to set bigger targets to feel safe. "If you get a good batting track, 320 or 300 will be a par score in the World Cup," he said. "IPL changed a lot of batsmen's mindsets, because batsmen now think we can chase 10 run an over anytime. Before teams thought you have lost the game if they needed to chase 10 an over, but now with the power-hitters in the team, they will chase it and that will be very exciting to see in the World Cup"

Injuries and the team management's decision to rest him from some recent series has meant Sehwag goes into the World Cup not having played a one-dayer in more than five months. He missed the recent series against South Africa due to a shoulder problem, and though he is satisfied with his recovery, he is yet to start bowling. "I'm taking regular treatment, so hopefully it will be fine when the match comes," he said. "I don't want to bowl in the nets and get injured again, so when I feel my shoulder is better I can start bowling."

Shoulder trouble ruled Sehwag out of the past three global ICC tournaments - the Champions Trophy in 2009, and the previous two World Twenty20s - and India have had early exits in each of those, despite entering as title contenders. This World Cup, too, India are one of the front-runners. What lessons has the team learnt from past failures? "The only thing we learnt is that we are not favourites."

Consistency is our strength - Dilshan

Tillakaratne Dilshan, who will be playing his second World Cup, has said he is looking forward to playing a huge role as opener and help Sri Lanka win another world title. Dilshan made his tournament debut in 2007 but managed just one half-century, scoring 217 runs in nine innings.

"Everything is going well at the moment for us and we are looking forward to the World Cup," Dilshan said. "Whenever I get a chance I want to get a start and capitalize on that and get big runs. I am going to give 100% for the team and am looking forward to the games."

Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga had said that Sri Lanka's middle order was a concern ahead of the World Cup but Dilshan felt the middle order was coming through very well. "We are getting guys like Angelo [Mathews] coming through in the last year or so. Chamara [Kapugedera], Chamara Silva and Thilan [Samaraweera) are there too. At the moment everything is falling in line for us and we are looking forward to the tournament."

Dilshan, who started his international career in the middle order, felt his move up the order had transformed his career. "I batted at No. 7 from 1999 to 2008. I felt I could do more at the top of the order and I volunteered to open. I had a chat with Mahela [Jayawardene] and he said, 'okay you first play in the domestic season and let's see'. I got the Man of the Series in the domestic tournament and from there my game totally changed. The last two or three years have been my best in both Test and one-day cricket," Dilshan said.

Dilshan said that Sri Lanka's consistency in the ODI format leading up to the World Cup, would hold them in good stead for the tournament."If you take the last 15 months, we have played 27 ODIs and lost only six. Now, that's quite a good record. We are very consistent and it's a very good sign as well."

Dilshan, one of Sri Lanka's best fielders, said fielding would play a key role in the tournament. "We've had good fielding sides right throughout. We are doing a lot of practice with our fielding coach Ruwan Kalpage. We are training in some new fielding methods and the results can be seen in how we have done in the last couple of matches."

Yuvraj totally fit to go

Yuvraj Singh had a year to forget in 2010, with a loss of form and fitness costing him a place in the Test side, and briefly even his one-day spot. Hand fractures, a wrist injury, and a neck strain all contributed to his toughest year in international cricket, but Yuvraj has said he's now "100% fit" and primed for his third World Cup.

"I used to get thoughts like 'Should I quit the game' because I was getting injured all the time, and it was difficult to get back on the field and repeatedly getting injured," Yuvraj said in Bangalore. "It was a tough phase, I've gone through it, definitely my body is feeling better and I'm feeling 100% fit at the right time, which is the World Cup."

This will be Yuvraj's third World Cup, and he has been part of two contrasting campaigns - cruising to the final in 2003, and crashing out at the first hurdle in 2007. He was keen to erase memories of the debacle in the Caribbean four years ago, and focus on preparing for the challenge ahead. "We have definitely thought about the 2007 World Cup in West Indies and the reasons for not qualifying for the next round," he said. "We are preparing well for the first game against Bangladesh, we are charged up and raring to go."

With India likely to go in with only four specialist bowlers, Yuvraj will have to chip in with his left-arm spin, something he has done regularly over the past couple of years. "I don't think I am a specialist bowler. I just enjoy my bowling whatever situation I get, whatever results I get are great," he said. "The day I start thinking I'm a specialist bowler, I'll start getting hit."

Focus on process and preparation- Dhoni

The mantra was "focus on process and preparation" (and not results or other things like Gary Kirsten's exit as India coach), pressure isn't pressure anymore but responsibility, no opposition team was identified as a threat ("all teams are dangerous"), the Indian team had a good mix of experienced players ("who know how to handle pressure") and youngsters ("who can change the course of the game"). And, significantly, not winning the World Cup is not the end of the world.

"A lot of hype is created around the World Cup but every series that the Indian team plays we have a lot of expectation," Dhoni said in Bangalore. "We are supposed to win the World Cup, the atmosphere was same in 2007, it won't be right to consider this as one of the final frontiers, it's one of the big tournaments, the team needs to do well, (but) it's always the process and preparation that will help us achieve success, not thinking about what's coming and how big the tournament is."

Dhoni also sidestepped a question on the importance of the tournament for the one-day format. "I'm a big fan of fifty-over cricket. That doesn't mean I don't like Twenty20s or Tests. It's a big stage, big fan following and everybody is looking forward to it."

What was Dhoni's view on the prolonged World Cup, stretching over 43 days when its football counterpart typically picks out a winner in a month? "It is very difficult to form a perfect schedule and format. A tournament schedule will be either too long or too short but I am quite happy with the schedule. It will give us time to recover from small niggles."

India's first warm-up match is against Australia on Sunday, and it will be Ricky Ponting's first game in more than six weeks after being sidelined by a finger injury. Would India target him with short deliveries? "We'll see about the strategy later."

Today at least there was no visible strategy during the first official training session except that Virat Kohli got special attention from Kirsten, initially during the fielding drills, and later during the throw-downs. Kohli, one of the most prolific Indian ODI batsmen in 2010, would keep his fingers crossed to make his World Cup debut though the return of Gautam Gambhir in the top order has made his position uncertain. But today, Kirsten worked hard on the youngster's technique, trying to make sure the bat-swing was coming down straight before the point of impact with the ball.

It was not a simple day at work for Kohli , who earlier intently heard the pair of Kirsten and Dhoni explain to him the right body position while taking catches in close positions like slips. Both men laid emphasis on anticipation being the key. Whatever they said, Kohli underwent some anxious moments, dropping a couple of straightforward catches. But his seniors were patient and continued to correct his fielding stance.

In contrast to light-hearted practice on Wednesday, the Indians had a four-hour long rigorous training session with Kirsten and Dhoni supervising the batsmen while the pair of Eric Simons and Zaheer Khan taking care of the fast bowlers. Harbhajan Singh, after a short spell with the ball, enjoyed playing the axe-murderer alongside Dhoni, using the bat akin to golfers using their drivers. Nine days before the tournament opener against Bangladesh, the Indians appeared in the right frame of mind.

Eon morgan from england & sohail tanwir from pakistan to miss world cup

Eoin Morgan, England's star one-day batsman, has been ruled out of the World Cup due to a broken middle finger on his left hand, and Ravi Bopara has been brought into the squad in his place. England's coach Andy Flower announced the news at a press conference at Heathrow Airport on England's return from Australia, and confirmed that Morgan would undergo surgery that would keep him out of the entire tournament.

"His [Morgan's] finger needs to be operated on, so that's a serious loss to us," Flower said. "He's been a very influential limited-overs performer for us since he joined the England team. Ravi Bopara, who is a very exciting young cricketer in his own right, is going to be joining us and is flying back from the West Indies where he is playing with the England Lions. He'll be arriving in the country tomorrow and joining us on the flight to Dhaka."

And also Sohail Tanvir, the left-arm seamer, has been ruled out of Pakistan's World Cup campaign after failing to complete a full rehabilitation from surgery for a knee problem that has dogged him for two years. He will be replaced by the promising young left-arm fast bowler Junaid Khan.

A PCB medical panel, after looking into a management report, said that though "the recovery from a knee operation was good, during the [New Zealand] tour it was observed that quick movements and pickup with weight particularly on the operated knee is hindering his mobility and requires him to take a few extra steps to balance himself before throwing. The medical team and team management have opined that Sohail Tanvir still requires time to attain 100% fitness before he can compete at international level."

Tanvir returned to international cricket on Pakistan's recent tour to New Zealand, where he played in five of the six ODIs. Though he bowled some good spells at the death, he looked generally rusty, picking up just 4 wickets and going for over seven runs an over. Pakistan won the series 3-2.

My role is an attacking one - Lee

Brett Lee has said that he is looking forward to being the spearhead of the Australia attack in what will be his second, and most probably final, World Cup. Lee is the most experienced bowler in the Australia squad, and has taken 24 wickets in 21 games at an average of 31.54 in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the co-hosts of the tournament.

"We all have our roles to play and my role is an attacking one," Lee told one of the news channel. I want to be the enforcer of the group and be the leader of the attack. I will look to offer as much knowledge to the bowling group as possible."

The Australia attack is composed mostly of bowlers who are prone to leak a few runs in their search for wickets, such as Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait andJason Krejza. But Lee said that an attacking approach was essential on the subcontinent despite the wickets there not being conducive to bowlers.

"It's a terrifically well balanced squad and with Krejza back in the squad it adds a lot of variation and gives us all the options. I am really confident with the bowling group. Patience and variation are crucial, but you still have got to attack even though the pitches are slow and low. There is the opportunity to reverse the ball which does not always happen here in Australia. In India, the pitches seem to scuff the ball quicker and allow the quicks to reverse the ball."

Lee used these attributes to good effect during the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 held in India in 2009, helping New South Wales to the title with eight wickets at an impressive economy rate of 3.76. "It worked well for me in the Champions League, and it's something I am keen to get right in ODIs in the sub-continent."

Austraila's recent ODI series against England was the first since October 2009 for Lee, who is coming back from a long-term elbow injury, but he showed no signs of rust, topping the charts with 11 wickets at 24. His focus has been to enjoy playing in Australia colours as he nears the end of his career. "It's a privilege to play for your country, and I am focused on loving every minute knowing it could all come to an end one day."

Having also missed out on the 2007 World Cup with a damaged ankle, Lee is keen to make up for it now in a part of the world he likes. "It was hard to watch the World Cup after my ankle injury; with my leg in a boot, it was frustrating to watch the boys play knowing I could have been part of that.

"I've played a lot of cricket in India; Tests, one-dayers, Champions League and IPL. But to play in a World Cup for Australia excites me, and it would be a huge honour to hold the Cup in the air knowing I'm in a great place like India. I have been happy with how I've bowled in the last few months and now leaving the Australian shores I'm feeling confident of a successful tournament.

Praveen kumar out of world cup Sreesanth replaces...

Praveen Kumar, the India fast bowler, has been ruled out of the World Cup due to an injured elbow and will be replaced by Sreesanth. The decision comes a day after Praveen underwent a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore to gauge whether he had recovered from the injury sustained before the start of the one-day series in South Africa last month.

Praveen, 24 had been sent back immediately from South Africa as a precautionary measure to recuperate at the NCA. The recovery did not go as planned, however, and he consulted Dr Andrew Wallace, a London-based surgeon who has treated many Indian players including Sachin Tendulkar. Praveen has been a regular with the Indian one-day side for the past couple of years and was set to be a certain starter in the World Cup, but his injury healed too slowly to allow him to participate in the global tournament.

Sreesanth has established himself in the Test side but has been on the fringes of the one-day outfit. He has played only 51 one-dayers in more than five years since his debut in 2005, and has a bloated career economy rate of 6.01. But he proved effective in the two ODIs he's played over the past 12 months, bagging seven wickets for 77 runs.

Hussey, Hauritz out of World Cup

Australia's World Cup campaign has been dealt a blow even before the squad leaves Australia, with Michael Hussey and Nathan Hauritz ruled out due to injuries. Callum Ferguson and Jason Krejza will replace the pair in the 15-man squad, which flies out to India on Wednesday to defend the title under Ricky Ponting.

And if losing a key middle-order batsman and the first-choice spinner was not bad enough, Australia could not even opt for their second choices in each discipline, with Shaun Marsh and Xavier Doherty not considered due to injuries of their own. It has meant a rapid promotion for the aggressive offspinner Krejza, who made his ODI debut on Sunday, while the inclusion of Ferguson was less of a surprise given his solid performances at international level over the past couple of years.

Hussey in particular will be a massive loss, as he is the only Australian in the top ten of the ICC's one-day batting rankings, and he is a renowned finisher who can rescue the side after top-order trouble. However, the selectors decided they could not risk Hussey, who suffered a serious hamstring injury during the one-day series against England that resulted in surgery, and he conceded he would be unlikely to be fit for the first couple of World Cup matches.

Hauritz seemed a more likely candidate to make the cut, after he dislocated his shoulder while fielding during the one-day game in Hobart on January 21 and had surgery in a bid to be fit for the World Cup. He bowled in the nets on Monday and sent down a dozen deliveries at what he called 60 to 70%, but it was not enough to convince the selectors that he was worth the risk in such a big tournament

We have a very bright chance, probably it is our best opportunity to win the Cup -KUMBLE

Bangalore: Former Test captain Anil Kumble reckons it is India's best chance to lift the ODI World Cup after 1983 but fitness of players would be a major concern and ending the 28-year-old jinx would depend on whether the squad remains injury-free during the event. 

"My only concern is the fitness of the guys. If they can last the entire tournament without injuries, we could certainly regain the Cup," Kumble said ahead of the February 19 to March 2 mega-event to be held in the sub-continent. 

Kumble said along with India, defending champions Australia, South Africa, and Sri Lanka are the other favourites for the coveted trophy. "We have a very bright chance, probably it is our best opportunity to win the Cup," said Kumble. 

Kumble weighed the advantages that India had to win back the title, last won by Kapil's Devils in 1983. 

"We have lot of advantages going into the tournament. The form of the players is encourgaing. The quality of players is good. There are some all-rounders as well who can chip in with both bat and ball," emphasised Kumble, who was part of the Indian World Cup campaigns in 1996 (at home), 1999 (England), 2003 (South Africa) and 2007 (West Indies). 

India's most successful bowler feels the sub-continental dustbowls would be of great advantage to India. "Besides the form and quality of players, the pitches would suit our game. We know our conditions too well. We know what we can expect," said Kumble, who as president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, has dedicated his time for the conduct of the World Cup matches in the City. 

Talking about the disappointment of losing the 1996 semifinals and the 2003 finals, Kumble said: "We came very close to winning. It was disappointing that we could not get to do what we were capable as a team. Each time we got close and lost, we knew we had to wait for a long time as the World Cup is played only once in four years." 

Asked if Sachin Tendulkar, who will be playing his sixth successive World Cup, will be under pressure to deliver in front of the home crowd, Kumble said: "He has been around for 21 years. So there is no question of him being under pressure." 

"He is playing at his best that I have seen. He has looked relaxed in all the matches that I have watched. If he plays the World Cup like any other ODI, he should be scoring lots of runs," said Kumble. 

When India came close to winning the title but lost in the finals of 2003, Kumble said Tendulkar, like the rest of the team, was terribly disappointed. 

"Considering that we came very close to winning in 2003, I am sure Sachin will be looking forward to winning the one trophy that has eluded him. The entire team will also be striving hard to win back the Cup after five attempts (since 1983). 

Kumble said the expectations will be high as the entire nation will be looking upto the players to win the title. "The expectations will be there as everyone would want the team to triumph. But the players have the experience to cope with it," he said. 

Aside from the top teams, Kumble felt Pakistan would be the surprise package. "Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka will be front runners for the title along with India. But we cannot underestimate Pakistan, as you never know what they could do. They are an unpredictable side," said Kumble. 

Kumble's newly-elected committee has ensured that the players are given facilities that they richly deserve. The dressing rooms have been refurbished. The open-air media box has been air-conditioned. The entire Chinnaswamy stadium, which will host five World Cup matches, besides two warm-up games, has been given a fresh coat of paint. 

"The players deserve the best. Without them there would be no stadia, no crowd," said Kumble.