Number Uno!!

Even if it's for a day or two, South Africa is now No.1 in ODI Ranking.There is a neck to neck fight for the spot as Australia will be playing their next game against arch rival NewZealand on Sunday and they can again retain their number 1 position provided they are in the mood for winning.
Beating Australia comprehensively by 4-1 in Commonwealth Bank series, The Proteas have shown their utter determination which they started at the beginning of test series.Oz’s could only managed to win second game of the series by 5 runs and undoubtedly been surpassed in all aspect of the game by them.
All round performances from Albie Morkel and new sensation of SA “Duminy” once again carried battle on their shoulders with greats like Kallis, Boucher and captain smith missing in the side. Standing captain Johan Botha made it very clear from the word go to keep up the good work that team had done in test series.
The other front runners are “Men in blue” yes Team India who currently are on their juggernaut with 6 consecutive ODI win. They still have 4 games to play against Sri-Lanka.
Shams & Wags will come with another update on India vs SriLanka series after second game to be played on 31st Jan’09 at Premadas Stadium(D/N). Stay tuned!!

Ending the year on a high!!

The Proteas ended the year on a very high note by defeating the Kangaroos in their home ground. It took 16 years of unbeaten run in the home series and that too at the end of the year, spoiling the Boxing Day test match ending up into a loss and to add to it, a series loss.
It has been an outstanding performance by the South Africans winning the first two matches at Perth and Sydney. All praises for the debutant Duminy .The way he played in the first match was commendable. Even in the first innings of the second match, he scored an amazing 166 runs. T he way he has displayed the talent; it’s an announcement of the great player in the making.
They have also a world class captain in Smith. He plays the captains knock when the team needs the most.

Perth has always been the ground where the Australians are known to win under any circumstance. It was India, and now South Africa who broke the shackles at Perth and defeated Australia in Perth.

No doubt the Australians have been the rulers over the decade at the number one positions, but they have been given quality competition by word class team like India and South Africa, and they run neck in neck for the number 2 position and with this kind of form the Aussies are into, the Kangaroos losing the top spot is most certain.

Punter seems to have regained the form but the entire team has to contribute in the event the team wants to keep winning.
With Brett Lee not up to his mark, Shane Watson out coz of the back stress fracture and no one as good as Warney in the Bowling department, the Australian bowling attack has already depleted. They are sorely missing the likes of the Gillispies and the McGraths.

The batting department looks very pedestrian as again Hayden not playing havoc at the top, trying to find his form in what one could call the concluding matches of his career, its only Hussey who is performing consistently. The Aussies have lost the charm. It’s about time that some of the other teams’ would take over the number one slot.

All credit to Smith & Co and here’s Shams & Wags wishing the very best to the Proteas for the third match and may the series end up in a White Wash.