ICC Cricket World Cup 2007

The Sri Lankan Cricket Team is rated among strongest and most challenging sides in the world. Though a relatively new entrant to international cricket, Sri Lanka today has the potential to upset any international side. They surprised the cricketing world in the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996, when they defeated the mighty Australians in the final. They reached up to the semi-finals in the 2003 ICC World Cup. In the recently held Natwest Series 2006, they stunned England in their own home, making a 5-0 whitewash, the heaviest home defeat for English side in 13 years.

The Sri Lankan Cricket Team made its first international appearance in the first ICC Cricket World Cup in 1975. It became the eighth Test playing nation in the world, when it was accorded Test status in 1981 by the ICC. Sri Lanka has produced several famous cricketers such as Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan.

Labels: 2007, cricket, icc, ICC World Cup 2007, Sri Lanka Cricket Team, west indies, world cup

The South African Cricket Team is one of the top ranking teams in the world, rated at par with the world champions Australia. Also known as The Proteas, South Africa is one of the strongest contenders to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in West Indies. The Proteas became the third Test playing nation in the world, when they played its first Test match way back in 1889 against England. South Afirca produced several world-famous cricketers, such as Hansie Cronje, Allan Donald, Gary Kirsten, Kepler Wessels, Jhonty Rhodes and Shaun Pollock.

The South African cricket was isolated from the international cricket, as a result of ban by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1970, because of its government's apartheid policies. It was the period when South Africa was emerging as the top test-playing nation in the world, after purging the powerful Australians 4-0 with ease. South Africa was readmitted to the international cricket in 1991, and became full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and one-day international status. They played their first ever One-day international against India on November 10, 1991.

Labels: 2007, cricket, icc, ICC World Cup 2007, South Africa Cricket Team, west indies, world cup

The New Zealand Cricket Team, popularly referred to as the Black Caps, is one of the best cricketing teams in the world today. One of the oldest cricket playing nations, New Zealand appeared in its first Test way back in 1930 against England in Christchurch, and won their first test in 1956 against West Indies at Eden Park, Auckland. New Zealand played its first One-day International against Pakistan on February 11, 1973 at Lancaster Park, Christchurch. The New Zealand Cricket Team has produced several legendary cricketers, including John R. Reid, Geoff Howarth, Ian Smith, Sir Richard Hadlee, Martin Crowe, Danny Morrison and Chris Cairns. Stephen Fleming, the current captain of the New Zealand cricket team, is the most succeesful cricket captain of New Zealand. John Bracewell is the coach of the New Zealand ICC World Cup 2007 squad. The New Zealand cricket team has taken part in all cricket World Cups since 1975. They reached up to semi-finals on four occasions in 1975, 1979, 1992 and 1999 cricket World Cups, but lost to opponents on all occasions. Today, New Zealand cricket team is rated as one of the strongest and most challenging teams in the world, and it has the potential to upset any team in the world. The current New Zealand cricket team has several outstanding cricketers, including the captain Stephen Fleming, and all-rounders Chris Harris, Nathan Astle, Scott Styris and Craig McMillan. Shane Bond is one of the fastest bowlers in the world today. New Zealand is placed in Group C in the ICC World Cup 2007 groupings, along with England, Kenya and Canada. The team will start its 2007 World Cup campaign against England on March 16, 2007 in Saint Lucia.

New Zealand
ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Probables

Stephen Fleming (Captain)
Nathan Astle
Craig McMillan
Chris Harris
Brendon McCullum
Jacob Oram
HJH Marshall
Shane Bond
James Franklin
KD Mills
Scott Styris
Daryl Tuffey
Daniel Vettori
Lou Vincent
JS Patel
MJ Mason
JM How

Coach: John Bracewell
Support Staff: 5

Labels: 2007, cricket, icc, ICC World Cup 2007, New Zealand Cricket Team Profile, west indies, world cup

The Indian Cricket Team is the official cricket team of India. Cricket is not just a game but a religion in India, with millions of Indian fans at home and abroad praying for the success of the Indian Cricket Team. The Indian Cricket Team is one of the strongest and most challenging cricket teams in the world, rated at par with teams like Australia, South Africa, England and Pakistan. The Indian cricket team is the highest paid (in terms of sponsorships) sports team in the world.

India has produced several outstanding cricketers of the world, who have become legends of the game itself. Among Indian cricketing legends include the names of players like Vijay Merchant, CK Naidu, Lala Amarnath, Erapalli Prasanna, Vinoo Mankad, Farokh Engineer, BS Chandrasekhar, Bishen Singh Bedi, Gundappa Viswanath, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Mohinder Amarnath, Mohammed Azharuddin, Anil Kumble, and the world's most popular living cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who's also a part of the India's ICC World Cup 2007 squad.

Labels: 2007, cricket, icc, ICC World Cup 2007, India Cricket Team Profile, west indies, world cup

Trinidad and Tobago is one of the 9 host venues for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in the West Indies. The Queen's Park Oval Stadium in Trinidad is one of the 12 stadia that will see live actions of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in West Indies. Trinidad and Tobago is also building the new Brian Lara Stadium to meet the challenges and requirements of the greatest edition of the ICC World Cup in the Caribbean. While the Queen's Park Oval Stadium will host the First-stage Group B Matches of the ICC World Cup 2007, the Brian Lara Stadium will stage four of the Warm-up Matches between South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Scotland.

The Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad is the largest and oldest cricket ground in the Caribbean, with a permanent seating capacity for 25,000 spectators. Once completed, the Brian Lara Stadium will have a seating capacity for 15,000 spectators. The Queen's Park Oval Stadium is located on Tragarete Road, just north of Woodbrook, Ports of Spain,

Fast Facts: Queen's Park Oval, Ports of Spain

Established: 1896
Seating Capacity: 25,000
Matches: First-stage Group B Matches
Location: Tragarete Road, just north of Woodbrook, Ports of Spain

Labels: 2007, cricket, icc, ICC World Cup 2007, Queen's Park Oval, west indies, world cup

St Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the nine host venues for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in the West Indies. Although St Vincent and the Grenadines will host only 4 warm-up matches of the ICC World Cup 2007, the beautiful island nation is taking its preparation for the cricket's greatest event very seriously. Major renovations are being done in its Arnos Vale Stadium in Kingston to meet the challenges of the ICC World Cup 2007.

The Arnos Vale Stadium in St Vincent will stage 4 of the Warm-up matches of the ICC Cricket World Cup, between England, Bermuda, Zimbabwe and Australia on Mon 5 March, Tues 6, Thurs 8 and Fri 9 March. The stadium has a permanent seating capacity for 12,000 spectators, and is one of the largest in the Caribbean. The size of the stadium and playing conditions meet the standards for both One-day internationals and Test matches. The first Test on Arnos Vale Stadium was hosted in 1997.

Fast Facts: Arnos Vale Stadium in St Vincent

Established: 1996
Seating Capacity: 12,000
Matches: Warm-up Matches
Location: South of the island close to the airport

Labels: 2007, Arnos Vale stadium, cricket, icc, ICC World Cup 2007, west indies, world cup

The picturesque St Lucia in the Caribbean is one of the nine host venues for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in the West Indies. St Lucia will host the First-stage Group C Matches, and one of the Semi-finals on April 25, 2007. Cricket is a big craze in St Lucia, and the nation is upgrading its Beausejour Stadium in Gros Islet to meet the challenges and requirements to hold the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 matches.

The Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia has a permanent seating capacity for 12,000 spectators that would be increased to 20,000 for the ICC Cricket World Cup matches. The stadium will host 6 first-stage Group C matches between England, New Zealand, Kenya, and Canada, as well as one of the semi-finals on April 25, 2007. The size of the stadium and playing conditions meet the standards for both One-day internationals and Test matches.

Fast Facts: Beausejour Stadium, St Lucia

Established: 2001-2002
Seating Capacity: 12,000 (20,000 for ICC Cricket World Cup)
Matches: Group C matches, Semi-final
Location: Gros Islet, St Lucia

Labels: 2007, Beausejour Cricket Ground, cricket, icc, ICC World Cup 2007, west indies, world cup

St Kitts and Nevis is one of the nine host venues for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in the West Indies. St Kitts and Nevis will host the First-stage Group A Matches from March 14-24, 2007. The world champions Australia will its 2007 World Cup campaign against Scotland on 14 March 2007 at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium in Basseterre, St Kitts.

Though the Warner Park has never hosted international matches, it has previously hosted international teams, since it was a regular stop for warm-up matches for visiting sides to the Caribbean. The stadium will host its first international matches in May-June 2006, when India will play a Test and a one-dayer on their 2006 West Indies Tour. The Warner Park Cricket Stadium in St Kitts offers one of the most picturesque views in the Caribbean and in the world.

The new Warner Park Cricket Stadium will have a permanent seating capacity of 8,200 that would be increased to 10,000 for ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 by way of additional temporary seating. . The new and improved Warner Park Stadium also has new facilities for media and players. The playing conditions at the stadium meet the international standards for holding both One-day internationals and Test matches.

Fast Facts: Warner Park Cricket Stadium

Established: Brand New Stadium (March 2006)
Seating Capacity: 8,200 (10,000 for ICC World Cup)
Matches: Group A Matches
Location: Basseterre, St Kitts

Labels: 2007, cricket, icc, ICC World Cup 2007, Warner Park Stadium, west indies, world cup

As the venue for the opening ceremony, the new Trelawny Multipurpose Stadium, on the outskirts of Montego Bay, is under construction and is scheduled for completion by November 2006. In addition, Kingston’s Sabina Park with its rich cricketing heritage, is also undergoing major renovations in preparation for March 2007.

Fast Facts: Trelawny Stadium, Greenfield

Established: 2006, Brand New Stadium
Seating Capacity: 25,000 (10,000 permanent seats)
Matches: Opening Ceremony, 4 Warm-up Matches
Location: Kingston, Jamaica

Labels: 2007, cricket, icc, ICC World Cup 2007, Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium, west indies, world cup

The Providence Stadium in Guyana will be the largest stadium in Guyana and is built for the 2007 Cricket World Cup. Seating 20,000 people, Providence Stadium will easily dwarf any other sports complex in the country. The entire complex will include a mall and luxury apartments. Buddy's Hotel will be located adjacent to the stadium, and will have numerous luxury guest rooms. The stadium is located along the Demerara River and is just outside Georgetown. It is conveniently located along the East Bank Highway. Providence Stadium is a short ten minute drive from the city center of Georgetown and only a 30 minute drive from Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

Fast Facts: Providence Stadium, Guyana

Established: Brand New Stadium (October 2006)
Seating Capacity: 20,000
Matches: Super-8
Location: East Bank Damerara, Providence, Guyana.

Labels: 2007, icc, ICC World Cup 2007, Providence Stadium, west indies, world cup

Labels: 2007, cricket, icc, west indies, world cup