Double Wicket World Championship 2003 in the West Indies.

[Donny]

As the Double Wicket World Championship features All-rounders, Sir Garfield Sobers has agreed to put his name to the Player of the Tournament Award which will be called the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy

Confirmed Players


Wasim Akram, Grant Flower, Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle,
Greg Blewett, Adam Hollioake, Chris Cairns, Carl Hooper,
Allan Donald, Ridley Jacobs, Steve Elworthy, Mahela Jayawardene,
Andrew Flintoff, Justin Kemp, Andy Flower, Jacob Oram,
Aravinda de Silva, Heath Streak.

[Donny]

World's top all-rounders prepare for new challenge
Andrew Hall - 3 April 2003

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Friday sees the first day of a weekend of cricket on the stunning West Indian island of St Lucia. The innovative Double Wicket format should immediately catch the eye – 8 teams of top international players, 8 overs per pair, lose 10 runs for losing a wicket, with the competition over in the space of 3 days. The round-robin stages take place on Friday and Saturday, with the semi-finals and finals on Sunday. The players who will be gracing the Beausejour Stadium include Wasim Akram, Andy Flintoff, Aravinda de Silva and Chris Cairns.

It is astonishing that such a competition hasn't been tried before. Young players around the world are familiar with batting in pairs for limited numbers of overs, but the format has never yet been built into a high-profile international competition. That will all change on Friday when the first ball is bowled in the new Double Wicket World Championship.

Committed to the Championship for the next ten years, the St. Lucians want to create an annual event that raises the profile of the island, and attracts cricket fans in increasing numbers. The island already has a proven track record in creating regular, popular events that drive tourism. The annual three-day jazz festival, which takes place in May each year, attracts some of the world's biggest jazz names, and fills hotel rooms with American and European tourists.

St Lucia's new-found commitment to international cricket will surely have an effect on the island's chances of claiming the great prize of a number of World Cup 2007 matches. Indeed, such is the extent of the island's ambition that Director of Tourism Peter stated that the island wishes to lay claim to the World Cup final.

The effect on local cricket should also be positive. St Lucia is the only Caribbean island never to have produced a West Indies cricketer. Cricket nevertheless has a strong presence here, and the long stereotype of Caribbean kids playing cricket in the streets with improvised bats is still much in evidence throughout the island. Indeed, driving past Ti Roche primary school, which boasts a brand new basketball court, I noticed a number of games of cricket going on. 30 or so children played cricket on the rough gravel on either side of the court, while only four kids were using the new facility to play basketball.

The competition itself should be a keenly-contested one. Pakistan's pairing of Wasim Akram and Shahid Afridi is perhaps the most eyecatching of the teams, while England's Andrew Flintoff and Adam Hollioake offers two genuine all-rounders capable of penetrative bowling and attacking batting. New Zealand's pairing of Chris Cairns and Jacob Oram could capitalise on their Max experience, and Zimbabwe should be competitive fielding Heath Streak and Grant Flower. The tournament will also provide spectators with the chance to see Aravinda de Silva and Allan Donald. Guest wicketkeepers are Andy Flower and Ridley Jacobs.

The action starts at 10am on Friday 4th April when hosts West Indies face England. CricInfo will be providing regular score updates and reports throughout the event. Although there is no live TV coverage, reports from the can be seen on Sky Sports during their coverage of Australia v West Indies First Test next week.

[Donny]

The Australian team is Greg Blewett and John Davison.

Interesting.

Davo represents two countries in the one year. I wonder if that's been done before?

[HAL]

Would you like to know more?

[Donny]

Always, HAL.

[HAL]

""? Me, MAGFAN8 ?

[Donny]

Group 1 Points Table

West Indies 2 2 0 4
Pakistan 1 1 0 2
England 1 0 1 0
Zimbabwe 2 0 2 0

Group 2 Points Table

New Zealand 1 1 0 2
Australia 2 1 1 2
Sri Lanka 2 1 1 2
South Africa 1 0 1 0

[Donny]

Double Wicket World Championship Semi-finals preview
Andrew Hall - 5 April 2003

The Double Wicket World Cup in St. Lucia comes to a climax tomorrow at the Beausejour cricket ground. The two semi-finals will take place over 10 overs, with the winners progressing to the final, which starts at 2:45 local time.

10:15: West Indies v Sri Lanka
Carl Hooper and Chris Gayle will start as favourites in the first semi-final. West Indies supporters had only the briefest glimpse of their heroes today due to Pakistan forfeiting their match, so spectators should arrive early to make the most of Hooper and Gayle. The West Indies have not yet lost a wicket in the Championship, and if they continue their safety first approach, they should progress to the finals.

Sri Lanka have done well to reach the finals following victories over Australia and South Africa. Aravinda de Silva has played the lead role in these wins, making important contributions with the ball (3-26 and 2-26 against South Africa). His batting is also well suited to the Double Wicket format, and he looks in excellent touch.

Key man: Aravinda de Silva

12:30: Pakistan v New Zealand
The outcome of this final rests on the man of the tournament so far, Shahid Afridi. Injured on Saturday afternoon as he attempted yet another big shot, Afridi has been clearly the man of the Championship so far. His clean striking of the ball, combined with his more-than-useful leg spin, have made him an overnight star in St. Lucia. His team-mate Wasim Akram has also proved consistent throughout, and it will be his incisive bowling that is the more capable of reducing New Zealand's total.

New Zealand have perhaps been the surprise package of the tournament to date, with both players making telling contributions. Vettori was the star against Sri Lanka (3-28 and 42) while in Saturday's games, Jacob Oram (48 and 33) hit straight and powerfully. The New Zealand pair looks well-suited to the single wicket format, and look as capable as anyone of beating the favourites.

Key man: Shahid Afridi

[Donny]

Oram leads New Zealand victory march in inaugural Double Wicket final
Derrick Nicholas - 6 April 2003

Having gone through the series without losing a match, New Zealand were determined to maintain that unblemished record.

Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat first in the finals of the inaugural Double Wicket World Championship. The Sri Lankans from the start of their innings (extended to 12 overs for the finals), were mixing aggression with caution.

Experienced Sri Lankan batsman Aravinda De Silva led the charge, hitting out to all parts of the ground. In doing so however, he lost his wicket twice and finished with a score of 47. Meanwhile, his partner Mahela Jayawardene gave solid support in scoring 22. The Sri Lankans at the end of their innings must have felt reasonably satisfied, having managed 70 runs. Bowling for New Zealand, Vettori had figures of two for 49, while Oram ended with figures of one for 50. There was one extra in the Sri Lankan innings.

New Zealand wanting to preserve their unbeaten record in the competition were all aggression at the start of their innings. Jacob Oram in particular was merciless on the Sri Lankan bowlers. He hit 13 towering sixes in his innings of 106, and in the process became the only centurion of the competition. His 50 came up off 17 balls, and his century off of 40 balls.

The result of the finals was never in doubt, as the New Zealanders marched steadily toward their target. At the end of 12 overs, New Zealand were 149, with Oram 106, and Vettori 37. There were six extras in the New Zealand innings.

Bowling for Sri Lanka, De Silva ended with figures of none for 82, and Jayawardene two for 84. New Zealand therefore won by 79 runs, and became the first winner of the Double Wicket World Championship, which will be held at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St. Lucia for the next 10 years.

Scores: Sri Lanka 70 (De Silva 47, Jayawardene 22, Extras 1)
Bowling: Vettori two for 49, Oram one for 50

New Zealand: 149 (Oram 106, Vettori 37, Extras 6)
Bowling: De Silva none for 82, Jayawardene 2 for 84
Result: New Zealand won by 79 runs