The warm up matches for the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa threw up expecting results, but it may also have resulted in a couple of injuries too.
Herschelle Gibbs suffered an abdominal muscle strain, inflicted by South African captain, Graeme Smith, during South Africa’s warm up match against the West Indies. While the extent of Gibbs’ injury is yet to be determined, Pakistan are feeling the stress of their captain, Younis Khan, who has suffered what is apparently a finger fracture even as the team won their warm up against Sri Lanka.
Australia are getting real match practice in England, although the quality of the opposition has been lower than expected. While their victory in the seventh and final ODI tomorrow will be a great way to sign off after the disappointment of the Ashes, Australia will be arriving full of confidence unless England who cannot seem to get their bearings right.
But other teams have been warming up in view of the big ICC event. The hosts showed their strength as well as that of the West Indies team as they notched up a colossal 388 in their innings and then, had WI losing the match by 188 runs.
Elsewhere Pakistan, who are looking to their match up against India as an opportunity to seek revenge from their neighbours who have out beaten them in ICC tournaments, had a more comfortable outing against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka appear to have lost their way soemwhat during the Compaq Cup and it was not surprising that their top order was struggling for runs again.
New Zealand though had the Compaq Cup expose them completely which is unfortunate given that the southern hemisphere nation has generally boasted of a strong limited overs unit. Their game against domestic team, Warriors, saw them lose six wickets for ten runs after building a good foundation and subsequently lost the match!
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s fears about the Indian bowling and fielding will be further tested, then again perhaps not, against New Zealand in their unofficial official one day match tomorrow.
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