ICC Champions Trophy 2009 - 2nd Semi-Final

New Zealand vs Pakistan

Date: October 3rd Time: 12:30 (GMT)

Pakistan. A big semifinal. Ring any bells? Minds race back to Eden Park, 1992 and the match to find the World Cup finalist to play England in Melbourne. New Zealand, with captain Martin Crowe in the form of his life, hit 262 for seven, roared on by a full house. Pakistan were behind the play until a large, and largely unknown, young man put down his cream doughnut, ambled out and belted 60 in 37 balls to rip the game from a shattered home side. The legend of Inzamam-ul-Haq, wonderful batsman, hopeless runner between the wickets and champion eater, was born. Two other semifinal contests: at Old Trafford in 1999, New Zealand's 241 for seven was no match for the outstanding Saeed Anwar and the long forgotten Wajahatullah Wasti who carried Pakistan to 242 for one. But at Nairobi in 2000, New Zealand beat Pakistan in the Champions Trophy semifinal - 255 for six overtaking 252 - en route to winning the title. New Zealand would be advised not to peruse too closely the country's ODI record on neutral turf against Pakistan. There are six wins against 18 defeats in 24 matches. A couple of the losses were abysmal, both in Sharjah which, while technically neutral, was decidedly Pakistan's patch, with conditions more to their liking, and backed by a large expatriate community. In 1986, New Zealand were rolled for 64 in 35.5 overs. Evan Gray got 17; no one else made double figures, as Abdul Qadir and Wasim Akram did for them. Four years later, same place, same opposition, same outcome. Andrew Jones made 47 out of 74. There were eight extras. Martin Crowe was next highest with five. Akram and Waqar Younis had a field day. Those two scores remain two of New Zealand's three worst in ODIs. Some days were better than others. Their first clash on neutral turf, at the World Cup in 1983 at Birmingham, produced a 52-run win in a game in which Pakistan's chase began from the unpromising 0 for 3. Pakistan has contributed its share of greats to the game. Imran Khan, among cricket's finest allrounders, was an immensely stabilising influence, most notably when he steered Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup. Quick bowlers like Akram and Younis, the legspin genius Qadir, terrific batsmen such as Hanif Mohammad, Majid Khan, Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, big Inzy and, of the present team, Mohammad Yousuf - formerly Yousuf Youhana - sit comfortably in the highest company. When the 1995 team arrived in New Zealand from Australia, they had two decent wicketkeepers, Rashid Latif and Moin Khan. Moin had played in the first two tests in Australia, both of which were lost. Latif came in for the final match at Sydney, and snapped up six catches and two stumpings as Pakistan won by 74 runs. Upon arrival in Christchurch, a senior player opined to a New Zealand journalist that their chances were good because "at last we have put the right wicketkeeper in the team". On the record, too. Divisions, whether based on where players hailed from, or simply built on strong personality differences, meant there were often undercurrents at work. Match-fixing and ball-tampering claims have blighted Pakistan's name from time to time, but should not hide the fact that, along with plenty of lows, they have had their glittering moments. So have New Zealand. Neither country might rate among the heavyweights, either in financial or playing terms down the generations, compared with Australia, England, South Africa and, more latterly, India. But both have frequently punched above their weight, and both have relished bloodying big brother noses. One of them will get another chance to do that in Tuesday's final. Source: www.nzherald.co.nz Let's watch who will be the winner...

ICC Champions Trophy 2009

(1st Semi-Final)

Australia vs England

Date: October 2nd Time: 12:30 (GMT)

If Test cricket is the sport's pinnacle and Twenty20 the future, it's timely the 50-over game had its pulse checked.

The Champions Trophy tournament has put the 50-over game back to the forefront of world cricket the past fortnight, but it's clear the game faces an uncertain future compared to the other two formats.

Critics of the middle version argue it needs rejuvenaton to reduce the predictability of quick start, tedious middle and slog at the finish.

Some, like Shane Warne, have called for the abolition of the one-day game, which was first played in the early 1970s and became an international staple in the 1980s.

It is the format many fans grew up on, and the wheel that keeps television money spinning.

But at its worst it is utterly forgettable, with too many formulaic games and too many meaningless tournaments outside the World Cup.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who has spent almost a whole year of his life playing one-dayers for his country, has noticed the International Cricket Council (ICC) trying to boost the format given the surge in Twenty20's popularity.

"They're trying to pump up the 50-over game which right at the moment it probably needs," Ponting said at the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

"The Twenty20 being as successful as it has been for the world game, I think it's important that the administrators do as much as they can to promote the game, but more importantly the players play the game the right way as well."

Most players argue there is a place for one-day games, but administrators have provided an insight into the changing view of the 50-over game.

The England and South African boards have moved to scrap the format from their domestic competitions, and instead favoured 40- and 45-over competitions respectively.

Cricket Australia has no plans to follow, but no longer hosts a triangular one-day series each international summer after it became too drawn out.

Short and sharp are the buzz words in world cricket now, and to that extent, the sixth Champions Trophy has been successful.

Having the world's best eight teams in two groups of four meant all pool matches mattered.

Spicing things up further were upsets, as New Zealand and England reached the semi-finals and South Africa and India missed out.

But attendances have been low despite all the games being staged in South Africa's populous highveld and organisers making tickets cheap - entry to pool games cost 35 Rand (about $A5) and the most expensive tickets to Monday's final are 120 Rand (about $A20).

Low crowds are a far cry from this year's Twenty20 world championship in England, where packed stadia made for a great atmosphere amid slogging.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the game's controlling body believed there was a place for 50-over cricket amid a tight schedule, and was confident the format could attract new fans.

"Provided we've got quality and the best cricketers competing, you will attract spectators," he said.

Lorgat said the ICC was always considering innovations, but ruled out introducing major changes before the 2011 World Cup.

To look at the schedule would not raise any concern over the future of 50-over matches, as games are constantly scheduled.

But before this tournament began, South Africa captain Graeme Smith said it was vital the number of meaningless matches were reduced so not to dilute the game's attraction.

So maybe a short, sharp tournament comprising the best sides is not the right time to check the one-day game's pulse.

Perhaps it would be more accurate to assess the 50-over game's worth during the monotony of too many games with little riding on results, such as Australia's recent 6-1 series over England.

Ponting felt seven games between cricket's oldest rivals was too many.

How must he feel about playing the seven against India starting late October?

© 2009 AAP

Let's watch who will be the winner...