World Cup Cricket 2011

End of the campaign for Pakistan

It is the end of the road for the Pakistan cricket team in the World Cup. Defeat to India in the semi finals signaled the end of the campaign for the green team. A loss against arch rivals India does leave a bitter taste in our mouths but the fact of the matter is that we were outplayed by a better team on the day. I will analyze the match in brief.

A War Without Weapons

Never before in a World Cup had such hype of so much magnitude been created before the match. Being a Pakistan India match emotions on both sides of the continent were running high and there was huge pressure on both the teams. The media of both the countries were having shows with cricket experts being invited to give their comments and a constant mind games were being played by the media. The match was being treated as a war without weapons which in my opinion should not be the case. A match should be treated like one and one should realize that winning and losing are part and parcel of the game.

Catches Win Matches

Coming to the match itself as someone rightfully put it “Pakistan let it slip through their fterally”. Pakistan’s fielding in the match was atrocious. There are some rules in life you cannot defy, some batsmen you really cannot give a chance to. And if you give Sachin Tendulkar four chances - not one but four! - you cannot expect to win a game, no matter what else you do. It was one of Tendulkar's least fluent recent innings as well, but in the drops of Misbah, Younis Khan - their two best catchers -Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal, went the game. It is as simple as that.

It is sad - but also predictable - that ultimately it came down to Pakistan's fielding, for that is the one area they have really worked hard on in training and actually thought about methodically, making sure for once of placing the rigeht fielders in the right places. Younger players have come in who genuinely enjoy fielding, a couple of older ones have led the way.

Expect Miracles

There were other reasons for the defeat also, which included some horrid and rash strokes played by our well set batsmen to get out. Also included is the delay in taking the batting power play and the innings played by Misbah which remains a mystery to me. Like I said it is our poor fielding which has to take the cake. If they are skilled and contrary enough to get away with it against most sides and players, to expect to do so against the game's greatest modern-day batsman, in such a setting, is to expect miracles.

India favorites

India has to be given the credit for playing so well under extreme pressure. They handled their nerves in a very positive way and came out on top. I would say this is a different and improved Indian team compared to the 87 and 96 World Cups when they lost in the semi finals due to pressure expectations of the home crowd. They have defied the pressure this time and must be favorites to win the World Cup for a second time. Their victory over Pakistan and Australia in their last two matches have really made them battle hardened with their confidence being sky high.

Beyond Expectations

In conclusion I would like to congratulate Pakistan on reaching the semi final of the World Cup when no one had given them a chance. Winning and losing is a part of the game and the important thing is to learn from your mistakes and not to repeat them again.

I saw the match at Sind Club and all the youngsters present there were wearing the Pakistani jersey and with their faces painted in green. There was a feeling of expectation and people were cheering and partying before the match began. As the match drew to it’s conclusion a look of resignation and disappointment was visible on people’s faces.

Cricket is the winner

We have shown to be united as a nation supporting our team Pakistan. I hope and pray that not only cricket unites us but political issues including our ties with India. Seeing the two Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan watch the match together was very encouraging and cricket was the ultimate winner in the end.

World Cup Cricket 2011

End of the campaign for Pakistan

It is the end of the road for the Pakistan cricket team in the World Cup. Defeat to India in the semi finals signaled the end of the campaign for the green team. A loss against arch rivals India does leave a bitter taste in our mouths but the fact of the matter is that we were outplayed by a better team on the day. I will analyze the match in brief.

A War Without Weapons

Never before in a World Cup had such hype of so much magnitude been created before the match. Being a Pakistan India match emotions on both sides of the continent were running high and there was huge pressure on both the teams. The media of both the countries were having shows with cricket experts being invited to give their comments and a constant mind games were being played by the media. The match was being treated as a war without weapons which in my opinion should not be the case. A match should be treated like one and one should realize that winning and losing are part and parcel of the game.

Catches Win Matches

Coming to the match itself as someone rightfully put it “Pakistan let it slip through their fterally”. Pakistan’s fielding in the match was atrocious. There are some rules in life you cannot defy, some batsmen you really cannot give a chance to. And if you give Sachin Tendulkar four chances - not one but four! - you cannot expect to win a game, no matter what else you do. It was one of Tendulkar's least fluent recent innings as well, but in the drops of Misbah, Younis Khan - their two best catchers -Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal, went the game. It is as simple as that.

It is sad - but also predictable - that ultimately it came down to Pakistan's fielding, for that is the one area they have really worked hard on in training and actually thought about methodically, making sure for once of placing the rigeht fielders in the right places. Younger players have come in who genuinely enjoy fielding, a couple of older ones have led the way.

Expect Miracles

There were other reasons for the defeat also, which included some horrid and rash strokes played by our well set batsmen to get out. Also included is the delay in taking the batting power play and the innings played by Misbah which remains a mystery to me. Like I said it is our poor fielding which has to take the cake. If they are skilled and contrary enough to get away with it against most sides and players, to expect to do so against the game's greatest modern-day batsman, in such a setting, is to expect miracles.

India favorites

India has to be given the credit for playing so well under extreme pressure. They handled their nerves in a very positive way and came out on top. I would say this is a different and improved Indian team compared to the 87 and 96 World Cups when they lost in the semi finals due to pressure expectations of the home crowd. They have defied the pressure this time and must be favorites to win the World Cup for a second time. Their victory over Pakistan and Australia in their last two matches have really made them battle hardened with their confidence being sky high.

Beyond Expectations

In conclusion I would like to congratulate Pakistan on reaching the semi final of the World Cup when no one had given them a chance. Winning and losing is a part of the game and the important thing is to learn from your mistakes and not to repeat them again.

I saw the match at Sind Club and all the youngsters present there were wearing the Pakistani jersey and with their faces painted in green. There was a feeling of expectation and people were cheering and partying before the match began. As the match drew to it’s conclusion a look of resignation and disappointment was visible on people’s faces.

Cricket is the winner

We have shown to be united as a nation supporting our team Pakistan. I hope and pray that not only cricket unites us but political issues including our ties with India. Seeing the two Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan watch the match together was very encouraging and cricket was the ultimate winner in the end.

World Cup Cricket 2011

End of the campaign for Pakistan

It is the end of the road for the Pakistan cricket team in the World Cup. Defeat to India in the semi finals signaled the end of the campaign for the green team. A loss against arch rivals India does leave a bitter taste in our mouths but the fact of the matter is that we were outplayed by a better team on the day. I will analyze the match in brief.

A War Without Weapons

Never before in a World Cup had such hype of so much magnitude been created before the match. Being a Pakistan India match emotions on both sides of the continent were running high and there was huge pressure on both the teams. The media of both the countries were having shows with cricket experts being invited to give their comments and a constant mind games were being played by the media. The match was being treated as a war without weapons which in my opinion should not be the case. A match should be treated like one and one should realize that winning and losing are part and parcel of the game.

Catches Win Matches

Coming to the match itself as someone rightfully put it “Pakistan let it slip through their fterally”. Pakistan’s fielding in the match was atrocious. There are some rules in life you cannot defy, some batsmen you really cannot give a chance to. And if you give Sachin Tendulkar four chances - not one but four! - you cannot expect to win a game, no matter what else you do. It was one of Tendulkar's least fluent recent innings as well, but in the drops of Misbah, Younis Khan - their two best catchers -Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal, went the game. It is as simple as that.

It is sad - but also predictable - that ultimately it came down to Pakistan's fielding, for that is the one area they have really worked hard on in training and actually thought about methodically, making sure for once of placing the rigeht fielders in the right places. Younger players have come in who genuinely enjoy fielding, a couple of older ones have led the way.

Expect Miracles

There were other reasons for the defeat also, which included some horrid and rash strokes played by our well set batsmen to get out. Also included is the delay in taking the batting power play and the innings played by Misbah which remains a mystery to me. Like I said it is our poor fielding which has to take the cake. If they are skilled and contrary enough to get away with it against most sides and players, to expect to do so against the game's greatest modern-day batsman, in such a setting, is to expect miracles.

India favorites

India has to be given the credit for playing so well under extreme pressure. They handled their nerves in a very positive way and came out on top. I would say this is a different and improved Indian team compared to the 87 and 96 World Cups when they lost in the semi finals due to pressure expectations of the home crowd. They have defied the pressure this time and must be favorites to win the World Cup for a second time. Their victory over Pakistan and Australia in their last two matches have really made them battle hardened with their confidence being sky high.

Beyond Expectations

In conclusion I would like to congratulate Pakistan on reaching the semi final of the World Cup when no one had given them a chance. Winning and losing is a part of the game and the important thing is to learn from your mistakes and not to repeat them again.

I saw the match at Sind Club and all the youngsters present there were wearing the Pakistani jersey and with their faces painted in green. There was a feeling of expectation and people were cheering and partying before the match began. As the match drew to it’s conclusion a look of resignation and disappointment was visible on people’s faces.

Cricket is the winner

We have shown to be united as a nation supporting our team Pakistan. I hope and pray that not only cricket unites us but political issues including our ties with India. Seeing the two Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan watch the match together was very encouraging and cricket was the ultimate winner in the end.

Roger Federer: some of his amazing records

Roger Federer: Statistics

1. 1. Was the No. 1 ranked player in the world for a record 237 weeks.

2. Federer is the only male player in tennis history to win at least five consecutive titles at two different Grand Slam tournaments (2003–07 Wimbledon, 2004–08 US Open).^[5]

3. Federer is the only male player in tennis history to win the same two Grand Slam tournaments back to back for four consecutive years (2004–07 Wimbledon and US Open),^[2] surpassing the previous record of Borg for 3 consecutive years (1978-80 FO and Wimbledon)

4 . Federer's victory at the 2004 US Open marked the first time in the open era that any male had won his first four Grand Slam finals.^[6]He eventually won his first seven Grand Slam finals before losing to Rafael Nadal in the 2006 French Open final.^[7]

5 . Federer is the only male player in tennis history to win 6 Grand Slam titles in two years (2006–07), 8 in three years (2004–06, 2005–07), 11 in four years (2004–07), 12 in five years (2003–07, 2004–08), 14 in six years (2004–09), 15 in seven years (2003–09) and 16 in eight years (2003–10). 11 Grand Slam titles in four years is an all-time record, male or female.^{[citation needed]}

6. Federer's 16 Grand Slams in 8 years (2003–10) is an all time male record. Sampras won 14 Grand Slams in the span of 13 years (1990–2002).

7. By entering the final of the 2010 Australian Open, Federer has appeared in an all-time male record 22 Grand Slam finals, beating the previous record of 19 by Ivan Lendl.^[14]

8. Federer is the first male player to appear in more than 19 Grand Slam finals.

9. Federer is the only male player in tennis history to reach the final of all four Grand Slam tournaments in back to back calendar years (2006–07) and only the second in the open era to reach all four finals in a single year after Rod Laver in 1969. In 2009, Federer again appeared in all four Grand Slam finals, becoming the only male player in tennis history to achieve this feat three times in his career (2006–07, 2009).

10. Federer reached an all-time male record ten consecutive Grand Slam finals (2005 Wimbledon - 2007 US Open), breaking the previous male record of seven set by Jack Crawford in 1934 and won eight of them (except 2006 & 07 FO).^[15][16] The previous open era record was four, shared by Laver (1969) and Agassi (2000). During this streak, Federer was never runner up in two consecutive Grand Slams finals.

11. At the 2008 French Open, Federer began another streak of eight consecutive Grand Slam finals (2008 French Open - 2010 Australian Open).

12. Federer is the only male player to appear in eight consecutive Grand Slam finals twice in his career (2005 Wimbledon - 2007 U.S. Open and 2008 French Open - 2010 Australian Open).

13. Federer is the only male player in tennis history to reach at least three Grand Slam finals for four consecutive calendar years and five overall (2004, 2006–09).^[2]

14. Federer has reached an all-time record 18 finals out of 19 Grand Slam tournaments (2005 Wimbledon - 2010 Australian Open, excluding the 2008 Australian Open).^[17] and won twelve of these.

15. Federer (2003–09) is the only man in history to reach seven consecutive Wimbledon finals. During Open era, only Sampras (1993–95, 1997–2000), Becker (1985–86, 1988–90, 1991, 1995) and Federer has reached 7 Wimbledon Finals.

16. Federer is the second male player to reach seven consecutive finals at the same Grand Slam tournament (2003–09 Wimbledon), after Lendl who appeared in a record eight consecutive US Open finals (1982–89).

17. Only Federer (7 Wim & 6 USO finals), Borg (6 FO & 6 Wim finals) and Sampras (7 Wim & 8 USO finals) have appeared in 6 or more finals of two different Grand Slams.

18. During the open era, only Federer (2004–09, 6 years) have appeared in six consecutive US Open men's finals, second only to Lendl eight consecutive US Open Finals(1982–89, 8 years).

19. Federer is the only male player to reach at least six consecutive finals at two different Grand Slam tournaments (2003–09 Wimbledon, 2004–09 US Open).^[2]

20. Slam tournaments.

21. Federer is the only male player to reach the final of all four Grand Slam singles tournament at least four times.

22. Federer (2006–09) and Borg (1978–81) are the only male players to reach the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon back to back for four consecutive years.

23. Federer is the first male player to appear in the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open finals in a calendar year for four consecutive years (2006–09). Borg also reached the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open finals in a calendar year but only for three years (1978, 1980–81).

24. Federer is the first male player to appear in three consecutive Grand Slam Finals (French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open) in a calendar year for four consecutive years (2006–09).

25. Federer is the first male player to appear in Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open finals in a calendar year four times in his career (2004, 2006–07, 2009).

26. Federer is the first male player to appear in back to back Wimbledon and US Open finals in a calendar year for six consecutive years (2004–09).

27. Federer is the first male player to appear in two or more Grand Slam finals in a calendar year for six consecutive years (2004–09).^{[citation needed]}

28. Federer is the first male player to appear in record 5 AO finals (2004, 2006-07, 2009-10) during open era.

29. During open era, Federer is the first male player to appear in at least 5 finals of 3 different Grand Slams (5 AO, 7 Wim & 6 USO finals).

30. Federer is the all-time male record 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals holder, (2004 Wimbledon - 2010 Australian Open) breaking the previous male record of 10 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals shared by Ivan Lendl and Rod Laver.^[19] During this streak he has lost to only five players in the majors: Juan Martín del Potro, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Marat Safin, all top 10 players at the time they defeated Federer^[20] and all went on to win the competition in which they beat him. Robin Söderling brought the run to an end with a four set win at the 2010 French Open^[21]

31. Federer has reached seven consecutive Wimbledon semifinals (2003–09), which is an all-time male record.

32. Federer is the first player to reach seven consecutive semifinals in three Grand Slams events (2004–10 AO, 2003-09 Wimbeldon and 2004-10 US Open).

33. Federer is the only male player in the open era to reach five consecutive French Open semifinals (2005–09).

1. Federer has reached eight consecutive Australian Open semifinals (2004–11), which is an open era male record, two more than Lendl (1985–91, 1986 AO was not held due to change in month from Dec to Jan).

2. Federer is the only male player in tennis history to reach at least five consecutive semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments.

3. Federer went 450-75(.857) in sets during his 23 consecutive Grand Slam semis streak.^[23]

34. Federer was No. 1 for 237 weeks during the first period (February 2, 2004 - August 17, 2008) and was No. 1 for 48 weeks during the second period (6 July 2009 - 6 June 2010).

35. Federer is the first player to finish the year as a top two player in the world for eight consecutive years (2003–10).

36. Federer is the first player, male or female, to rank No. 1 for 285 weeks in total in only two periods.

37. Federer has been ranked in the top two in the world for a record 347 consecutive weeks (November 17, 2003 - July 4, 2010).

38. Federer has been ranked in the top two for 372 total weeks, as of Monday 24 January, 2010. Only Pete Sampras (376 weeks) has spent more weeks in total ranked in the top two in the world.^[36][40]

39. Federer is the only man to reach all four Grand Slam finals as both the number 1 ranked player (AO '06, FO '06, W '04, USO '04) and the number 2 ranked player (AO '04, FO '09, W '09, USO '08).

40. Federer has reached a record of 27 consecutive Grand Slam quarter finals.

Roger Federer: some of his amazing records

Roger Federer: Statistics

1. 1. Was the No. 1 ranked player in the world for a record 237 weeks.

2. Federer is the only male player in tennis history to win at least five consecutive titles at two different Grand Slam tournaments (2003–07 Wimbledon, 2004–08 US Open).^[5]

3. Federer is the only male player in tennis history to win the same two Grand Slam tournaments back to back for four consecutive years (2004–07 Wimbledon and US Open),^[2] surpassing the previous record of Borg for 3 consecutive years (1978-80 FO and Wimbledon)

4 . Federer's victory at the 2004 US Open marked the first time in the open era that any male had won his first four Grand Slam finals.^[6]He eventually won his first seven Grand Slam finals before losing to Rafael Nadal in the 2006 French Open final.^[7]

5 . Federer is the only male player in tennis history to win 6 Grand Slam titles in two years (2006–07), 8 in three years (2004–06, 2005–07), 11 in four years (2004–07), 12 in five years (2003–07, 2004–08), 14 in six years (2004–09), 15 in seven years (2003–09) and 16 in eight years (2003–10). 11 Grand Slam titles in four years is an all-time record, male or female.^{[citation needed]}

6. Federer's 16 Grand Slams in 8 years (2003–10) is an all time male record. Sampras won 14 Grand Slams in the span of 13 years (1990–2002).

7. By entering the final of the 2010 Australian Open, Federer has appeared in an all-time male record 22 Grand Slam finals, beating the previous record of 19 by Ivan Lendl.^[14]

8. Federer is the first male player to appear in more than 19 Grand Slam finals.

9. Federer is the only male player in tennis history to reach the final of all four Grand Slam tournaments in back to back calendar years (2006–07) and only the second in the open era to reach all four finals in a single year after Rod Laver in 1969. In 2009, Federer again appeared in all four Grand Slam finals, becoming the only male player in tennis history to achieve this feat three times in his career (2006–07, 2009).

10. Federer reached an all-time male record ten consecutive Grand Slam finals (2005 Wimbledon - 2007 US Open), breaking the previous male record of seven set by Jack Crawford in 1934 and won eight of them (except 2006 & 07 FO).^[15][16] The previous open era record was four, shared by Laver (1969) and Agassi (2000). During this streak, Federer was never runner up in two consecutive Grand Slams finals.

11. At the 2008 French Open, Federer began another streak of eight consecutive Grand Slam finals (2008 French Open - 2010 Australian Open).

12. Federer is the only male player to appear in eight consecutive Grand Slam finals twice in his career (2005 Wimbledon - 2007 U.S. Open and 2008 French Open - 2010 Australian Open).

13. Federer is the only male player in tennis history to reach at least three Grand Slam finals for four consecutive calendar years and five overall (2004, 2006–09).^[2]

14. Federer has reached an all-time record 18 finals out of 19 Grand Slam tournaments (2005 Wimbledon - 2010 Australian Open, excluding the 2008 Australian Open).^[17] and won twelve of these.

15. Federer (2003–09) is the only man in history to reach seven consecutive Wimbledon finals. During Open era, only Sampras (1993–95, 1997–2000), Becker (1985–86, 1988–90, 1991, 1995) and Federer has reached 7 Wimbledon Finals.

16. Federer is the second male player to reach seven consecutive finals at the same Grand Slam tournament (2003–09 Wimbledon), after Lendl who appeared in a record eight consecutive US Open finals (1982–89).

17. Only Federer (7 Wim & 6 USO finals), Borg (6 FO & 6 Wim finals) and Sampras (7 Wim & 8 USO finals) have appeared in 6 or more finals of two different Grand Slams.

18. During the open era, only Federer (2004–09, 6 years) have appeared in six consecutive US Open men's finals, second only to Lendl eight consecutive US Open Finals(1982–89, 8 years).

19. Federer is the only male player to reach at least six consecutive finals at two different Grand Slam tournaments (2003–09 Wimbledon, 2004–09 US Open).^[2]

20. Slam tournaments.

21. Federer is the only male player to reach the final of all four Grand Slam singles tournament at least four times.

22. Federer (2006–09) and Borg (1978–81) are the only male players to reach the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon back to back for four consecutive years.

23. Federer is the first male player to appear in the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open finals in a calendar year for four consecutive years (2006–09). Borg also reached the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open finals in a calendar year but only for three years (1978, 1980–81).

24. Federer is the first male player to appear in three consecutive Grand Slam Finals (French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open) in a calendar year for four consecutive years (2006–09).

25. Federer is the first male player to appear in Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open finals in a calendar year four times in his career (2004, 2006–07, 2009).

26. Federer is the first male player to appear in back to back Wimbledon and US Open finals in a calendar year for six consecutive years (2004–09).

27. Federer is the first male player to appear in two or more Grand Slam finals in a calendar year for six consecutive years (2004–09).^{[citation needed]}

28. Federer is the first male player to appear in record 5 AO finals (2004, 2006-07, 2009-10) during open era.

29. During open era, Federer is the first male player to appear in at least 5 finals of 3 different Grand Slams (5 AO, 7 Wim & 6 USO finals).

30. Federer is the all-time male record 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals holder, (2004 Wimbledon - 2010 Australian Open) breaking the previous male record of 10 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals shared by Ivan Lendl and Rod Laver.^[19] During this streak he has lost to only five players in the majors: Juan Martín del Potro, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Marat Safin, all top 10 players at the time they defeated Federer^[20] and all went on to win the competition in which they beat him. Robin Söderling brought the run to an end with a four set win at the 2010 French Open^[21]

31. Federer has reached seven consecutive Wimbledon semifinals (2003–09), which is an all-time male record.

32. Federer is the first player to reach seven consecutive semifinals in three Grand Slams events (2004–10 AO, 2003-09 Wimbeldon and 2004-10 US Open).

33. Federer is the only male player in the open era to reach five consecutive French Open semifinals (2005–09).

1. Federer has reached eight consecutive Australian Open semifinals (2004–11), which is an open era male record, two more than Lendl (1985–91, 1986 AO was not held due to change in month from Dec to Jan).

2. Federer is the only male player in tennis history to reach at least five consecutive semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments.

3. Federer went 450-75(.857) in sets during his 23 consecutive Grand Slam semis streak.^[23]

34. Federer was No. 1 for 237 weeks during the first period (February 2, 2004 - August 17, 2008) and was No. 1 for 48 weeks during the second period (6 July 2009 - 6 June 2010).

35. Federer is the first player to finish the year as a top two player in the world for eight consecutive years (2003–10).

36. Federer is the first player, male or female, to rank No. 1 for 285 weeks in total in only two periods.

37. Federer has been ranked in the top two in the world for a record 347 consecutive weeks (November 17, 2003 - July 4, 2010).

38. Federer has been ranked in the top two for 372 total weeks, as of Monday 24 January, 2010. Only Pete Sampras (376 weeks) has spent more weeks in total ranked in the top two in the world.^[36][40]

39. Federer is the only man to reach all four Grand Slam finals as both the number 1 ranked player (AO '06, FO '06, W '04, USO '04) and the number 2 ranked player (AO '04, FO '09, W '09, USO '08).

40. Federer has reached a record of 27 consecutive Grand Slam quarter finals.