WORLDSPORTS
APRIL 2014
CREDIBLE CONTENDERS
Pakistan batsman Younis Khan,
right, with captain Misbah Ul Haq
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Sri Lanka's Nuwan
Kulasekara, right,
with captain Dinesh
Chandimal
Tendulkar, who has scored 15,837
Test runs in 198 matches, is the only man
to score 100 international centuries and is
also the highest run-scorer in the history
of the World Cup, with 2,278 runs from
45 matches.
He thinks India are capable of becoming only the third nation to successfully
defend the title, after the West Indies –
who won the first two World Cups in 1975
and 1979 – and Australia, who claimed
three successive titles from 1999-2007.
“I think most of our guys have been
to Australia. They know what to expect,
they have played there already,” said the
legendary batsman, who along with Pakistan’s Javed Miandad is the only player to
have appeared in six World Cups.
“It would give so much happiness
to the entire nation. That is something I
would want, along with a billion-plus people who will also be expecting the same
thing to happen.”
Tendulkar admits New Zealand
conditions might be more difficult for
Indian players to adjust to, although the
team won their most recent away series
against the Kiwis 3-1 in March 2009.
Recalling a four-wicket World Cup
defeat by New Zealand in 1992, he said:
“I remember our match in Dunedin,
where it was extremely cold and windy.
Whenever a batsman hit the ball with the
wind, it would travel 10 yards further, but
when we had to play against the wind, the
ball travelled 10 yards less.
“As there is a tour to New Zealand
planned this year, it should give them
good exposure to the conditions there.”
India are in Pool B with South Africa,
Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland
and a qualifier.
England have been runners up on
three occasions, most recently in 1992
when the tournament was held in Australia and New Zealand.
They have been drawn in Pool A
with the two host nations, plus Sri Lanka,
Bangladesh, and two qualifying teams.
“We got close to winning our first
50-over ICC event finishing as runners
up in the Champions Trophy [this year]
“Along with India,
Pakistan and Sri
Lanka are also
good sides.”
– SACHIN TENDULKAR
INDIAN TOP CRICKETER
and will be working hard in the coming
months to ensure we give ourselves the
best possible opportunity to go one step
further in 2015,” said Cook.
“Playing cricket in Australia and New
Zealand is always a fantastic experience
and I have no doubt it will be another
great occasion both for the teams and
their supporters,” he said.
The tournament will start on 14
February 2015, when New Zealand host
Sri Lanka in Christchurch, and England
meet Australia in Melbourne. THE GAME
sports magazine t h e g a m e
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