Weekly Round Off !!!

The Week in NEWS:

> New Zealand takes a fairy tale route to final of the Champions Trophy 2009.

> Australia back to their best, enters Final.

> ICC Awards 2009 announced. Details below in the story of the week.

> England Local cricket matches are now reduced to 40 overs a side from 50 overs.

Quotes of the Week:

” If i had to last for twenty years, I would probably be batting in a wheel chair.”

- Ricky Ponting, on nearing Sachin’s record by reaching 12000 runs in ODI’s.

“I have never seen so many runs scored of the cut shot.”

- M.S. Dhoni on conceding lot of runs in backward square region against Pakistan.

Story of the Week: ICC Awards 2009

ICC Awards were announced last week for the year 2009. ICC managed to convince all the contries by distributing honors in a professional way, dissapointing none. Dhoni was probably most satisfied person at the end of the Event. He was leading both World Test and ODI Teams, an achievement in itself. Dhoni has impressively lead the Indian team during the last year to gain  this title. He was also adjudged best ODI player of the year, thanks to his many Not Out innings, which helped his average. Another Indian was awarded with Best Test player of the Year, that is Gambhir. He has been a revelation in Indian team this season, and scored many match winning and match saving innings.

Mitchell Johnson of Australia won the prestigous ICC Player of the Year. He has been consistently been able to di justice to his all rounding abilities. Often playing a crucial role in Australia’s resurgence to the top. Among the new sensation T20, Dilshan won the best player award. He has been consistent in his run making and maintaing the strike rate as well for Sri Lanka. He even invented a new shot which is now named after him as DILSCOOP. Peter Siddle of Australia won the Emerging Player of the Year.

Among the other awards, Aleem Dar has dethroned Simon Taufel to take the Best Umpire Award. New Zealand for their clean and professional cricketing habbits have won the Spirit of Cricket award for second time in row. Clare Taylor was named as the best woman cricketer of the year.

Test Team for year 2009:

Gautam Gambhir, Andrew Strauss, AB de Villiers, Sachin Tendulkar, Thilan Samaraweera, Michael Clarke,  MS Dhoni (Captain, Wicket Keeper), Shakib Al Hasan, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Broad, Dale Steyn.

12th Man: Harbhajan Singh.

ODI Team for year 2009:

Virender Sehwag, Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Yuvraj Singh, Martin Guptill, MS Dhoni (Captain, Wicket Keeper), Andrew Flintoff, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis, Umar Gul.

12th Man: Thilan Thushara.

ICC Awards Selection Panel:

Clive Llyod (Chairman), Anil Kumble, Stephen Fleming, Bob Taylor and Mudassar Nazar.