India Win Cricket World Cup 2011!

India Win ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 - See Photos!

This has been an amazing Indian win in the Cricket world Cup!

For me the moments of the World Cup that stand out are

• Dhoni coming out to bat at No 4 in the Finals after a torrid time throughout the World Cup and taking the team to a Wow win!
• Kohli and Gambhir 80 odd runs partnerships after the glam openers were out
• Zaheer Khan containing the dangerous Lankan openers
• Yuvraj getting Sangakkara's wicket

and more moments from the month long World Cup

• Yuvraj's fifties and gritty century before getting his fluency back against the Aussies
• Yuvraj and Raina's partnership against Australia in the Quarter Finals
• Zaheer Khan's bowling
• Tendulkar batting throughout the Competition
• Munaf Patel and Ashish Nehra's astonishing bowling spells against Pakistan in the Semi finals
• Sehwag's 175 against Bangladesh
• Sehwag and Tendulkar blitzkrieg against South Africa

Well done India!

Who Will Make the Last 8 in Group B in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011?

Is India sure of a last 8 berth in the ICC World Cup 2011? Contrary to belief it is possible for India to miss a Quarter Finals berth in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011! India just lost to SA by 3 wickets in a Group B match.


The Group B table stands like this

Group B
Teams Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts Net RR

India 5 3 1 1 0 7 +0.768
West Indies 4 3 1 0 0 6 +2.206
South Africa 4 3 1 0 0 6 +1.352
England 5 2 2 1 0 5 +0.013
Bangladesh 4 2 2 0 0 4 -1.241
Ireland 4 1 3 0 0 2 -0.444
Netherlands 4 0 4 0 0 0 -2.728

This is how India can NOT go to the Quarter Finals.

* Bangladesh Beats Netherlands on 14th March
* SA beats Ireland on 15th March
* England beats WI on 17th March
* SA loses to Bangladesh on 19th March
* India loses to WI on 20th March

The points table will look like this

Group B
Teams Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts

India 6 3 2 1 0 7
West Indies 6 4 2 0 0 8
South Africa 6 4 2 0 0 8
England 6 3 2 1 0 7
Bangladesh 6 4 2 0 0 8



All the above results look to be a distinct possibility as of now (except maybe the Bangladesh vs SA tie). In this eventuality - India and England will tie on 7 points each and India will need to have a better NRR to go to the Quarter Finals.

For Bangladesh to make it - they have to beat at least one team (Netherlands or SA) and hope England loses to WI. If Bangla beats just Netherlands and England wins over WI - then the Tigers will be out.

For England to make it - they desperately need to beat WI. In case they fail to beat WI - India will be through and Bangladesh will just need one victory in their remaining matches.

For WI to make the last 8 - they need to pull of just one more victory over either India or England - or hope Bangladesh falters once. They have the advantage of a high NRR so far.

SA has two easy games next. Four out of the five teams still in contention will be going to the last 8. As you can see - it is still anybody's game!

How is the NRR calculated?

The NRR is calculated by the difference between the average runs per over scored against a team and the average runs per over scored by a team. Even though India has a superior NRR as of now, it could change with one big win by England or a big loss by India.

Bottom line - India needs to win against WI on 20th March to make a comfortable entry to the Quarter Finals. Though of course the Group B situation maybe be untangled by then!

(Also see this article at Xomba.com http://www.xomba.com/cricket_world_cup_2011_it_possible_india_not_go_quarter_finals)

Google Crisis Response on Japan Earthquake

Google has created a crisis response page for the japan Earthquake. The page gives local emergency numbers to dial, missing person finder for the Japan Earthquake 2011, latest alarms and warnings on the earthquake, transportation status like latest flight status, public transportation status, electricity blackout status on the disaster affected areas.

Please go the page for the latest information and update on the earthquake. The site has links to maps and videos on the earthquake and disaster message boards

I eel more than the sharing of news, this a really beneficial way to harness the technology available to help the disaster affected regions in Japan.

http://www.google.com/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html

Day 1 Experience at a Fitness Camp

Bootcamp - Day 1 Experience at a Fitness Camp

(Article originally published at www.xomba.com)

I had a sudden and unexplained notion to join a fitness camp recently. I guess not so unexplained since I am a huge fan of the Biggest Loser show. I googled for fitness camps in my locality and it came up with a solution which I thought was the perfect answer to all my fitness prayers. A fitness camp right near my home with perfect timings! The camp gives something called HIIT or High Intensity Interval Training.

Today was my first day at the camp. After getting up in the morning at the unearthly hour of 5 am I made my way in pitch black darkness to the campsite. I am sure I left behind my husband with amusing dreams of my losing my way, gasping on runways or fumbling on ropeways and treadmills!

Frankly, I had zilch idea of what to expect. Maybe some cute laps, a few stretches, sit ups and push ups like they do in aerobics class and some games. Like I said – I had a real vague idea. But this is what I got.

After a few stretches, the coaches gathered all for an innocuous sounding “fitness assessment test”. Fitness assessment, eh? For all my 165 pounds – I consider myself relatively fit. And assessment seemed a good idea – so I thought, till they started on it.

The group was divided into two and one group had to run back and forth for a distance of 100 mts or so for 10 times in sets of three – punctuated with squats, push ups, sit ups. Whew. My assessment of my fitness levels went for a toss. On the last stretch I had one of the coaches running along with me shouting – you can do it, cmon all the time as I panted, slobbered, gasped till I fell dead at the finishing line. Then I had the dubious pleasure of seeing my partner doing the same thing in less than half my time while I kept count.

The next bootcamp assignment started. The coaches showed us some markers around the huge field that seemed to stretch for miles. However it was just 200 mts we were informed. And we had to take 4 laps around the markers. The first lap went okay in the boggy and dark ground. The second lap, I just walked. The third I stuttered and by the fourth lap – I found all the participants lined up and shouting c’mon you can do it – as I dragged myself along to the finishing line. I was not last though. Not in a long way. I proudly left behind two stragglers. I felt like a dirty zombie at the end of it all – walking dead with mud splattered all over and blackened elbows and knees.

I did expect some tough fitness regime. Wish I was aware how tough! And I wish even more I never get these brilliant ideas!

Cricket World Cup Biggest Upsets - Who Will Provide the Upset in 2011 Cricket World Cup?

Greatest Cricket World Cup Upsets - Who Will Provide the Upset in 2011 Cricket World Cup?

(This article was initially published at www.xomba.com)

Who will provide the customary upset in this Cricket World Cup 2011?

The ICC Cricket World Cup is from February 19 - 2nd April 2011. No Cricket World Cup in recent times has escaped a major upset. Some of them have been really really shocking - like the one Ireland gave Pakistan in the 2007 World Cup. The teams causing the upsets have been Zimbabwe, Kenya, Bangladesh and even Ireland! Here are some major World Cup upsets in the last three editions of the World Cup.

2007 World Cup Upsets

Ireland shocked Pakistan and shell shocked the nation with a win in the preliminary rounds. Set a target of just 132 - Ireland reached the target much to the horror of Pakistan fans. This horror ended in tragedy with the death of high profile Pakistan Coach Bob Woolmer (a death first speculated to be homicide by media - but later confirmed to be from natural causes). The only light Pakistan fans saw at the end of the dark tunnel was India getting upset and ousted out of the Cup by Bangladesh!

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/247465.html

Bangladesh beat the high profile Greg Chappell coached Indian team in a dismal match for the nation. Bangladesh needed 192 and got it without much ado. India were virtually out. Bangladesh made it to the Super 8.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/247464.html

2003 World Cup

Kenya defeated Sri Lanka in a shocker played at Nairobi to the delight of home fans. It was ironic that Sri Lanka in the same tournament had bowled out Canada for just 36 - the lowest ever World Cup score! A team comprising of stalwarts like Jayasuriya, Murali, Attapatu, Tilakratne, Jayawardene and Sangakkara first let Kenya reach 210 and then managed to score just 157 while chasing. Kenya even made it to the Super Six by virtue of this dramatic win!

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65258.html

1999 World Cup

Zimbabwe was the suprise package for the 1999 Cricket World Cup. It beat more fancied opponents India (India had already lost to South Africa) and South Africa to make the Super Six, ahead of defending champion Sri Lanka and England!

The India vs Zimbabwe was a scorcher with India first conceding 252 runs thanks to some generous bowling by Ajit Agarkar and then falling short by just 3 runs by getting all out in the final overs!

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65200.html

Zimbabwe defeated South Africa for the first ever time in ODIs in that World Cup in a stunning victory

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65218.html

While all these upsets have caused setbacks to some regular team - no upset has caused as much havoc or change in World order in Cricket as cthe 1983 World Cup Finals! It is a memory still cherished and treasured by every Indian who watched the game or loves cricket, when real minnows India actually walked away with the trophy after upsetting the mighty West Indies team. India defended a miserly total of 183 against an overconfident and complacent West Indian team to lift the Prudential Cup on June 25 in 1983.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65090.html

Here is a list of the greatest World Cup upsets as listed at Wiki down the years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket_World_Cup_teams

Who will cause the upset this World Cup? My bet is on Bangladesh. They look determined to not only get into the last 8 stage - but maybe go a few stages further! Bangladesh Captain Shakib Al Hasan leads a side where the highest age of a player is 28. It just needs a couple of good days to make good. A team which could score 283 chasing a total of 370 under such pressure of a home crowd must have a few surprises in store.

I can't wait for the Cup to get on!

Update

As I write this - Netherland have scored a massive 292 runs against England - the highest ever by an Associate member. Though England look set to comfortably overtake that score - it signals that Associate nations are not at the World Cup just to make up the numbers

Watch India Vs Bangladesh Live Score Online on 19 Feb 2011 - ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

What does India vs Bangladesh have in store? A very exciting match I am sure! Cant wait for the ICC World Cup to start.

Watch India Vs Bangladesh Live Score Online on 19 Feb 2011 - ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

Watch Steelers Vs Packers (Super Bowl 2011) - Highlights Videos Online

Watch Super Bowl 2011 Highlights online streaming here.

Watch Steelers Vs Packers (Super Bowl 2011) - Highlights Videos Online