England hit by illness ahead of key Windies clash

[Muhammad Waleed]

Chennai, March 15 (AFP): England captain Andrew Strauss and off-spinner Graeme Swann are doubtful for the key World Cup clash against the West Indies after missing training on Tuesday with stomach problems.

Meanwhile struggling fast bowler James Anderson was seen receiving treatment for a problem with his right shoulder during training but a team spokesman said he remained available for selection.

"They're two key players and would be in anybody's team," England batsman Jonathan Trott said of Strauss and Swann.

"I'm pretty confident they will be all right. These things are normally 24 or 48 hours. I'll give you a better idea on Wednesday if they train."

"It's one of those things. You go from sweating on the field into cold air conditioning and stuff like that. I'm not 100 percent today but I should be tomorrow."

England must beat the West Indies at Chennai's Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday to have a chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals, and even then they will need other results to go their way.

Defeat would see England, already beaten by Ireland and Bangladesh, crash out of the World Cup before the knockout phase.


http://cricket.yahoo.com/cricket/news/article?id=item/2.0/-/story/cricket.yahoonews.com/england-hit-illness-ahead-key-windies-clash-20110316/

[asad100101]

I hope they get fit it is gonna be a close contest. I can't wait tomorrow. This a mother of all matches a lot is at stake for England and Bangladesh.

[Khan88]

Ouch, Strauss and Swann? ;/

Hope they recover, wouldn't be right if England got knocked out without their captain and best bowler playing.

[Rana]

This is a big match for pakistan, we could well be playng Bangladesh in the QF's.

[iRfaN_LA]

If England loses this game, Pakistan vs Australia will become really interesting. Both teams will give 200% to play BD in the QF.

[Free Hit]

they still will lose even all fit

[pakistan_pride1]

they are out of the wc
INSHALLAH
amir, asif revenge

[lipton]

I think whole England team fixed this world cup.

[Hando]

World XI making excuses already

[mastermind_quad]

they are out of the wc
INSHALLAH
amir, asif revenge

how come this ...yaar ..:13:

[cricwiz]

If England loses this game, Pakistan vs Australia will become really interesting. Both teams will give 200% to play BD in the QF.

provided NZ also loses its match against Sri Lanka... otherwise NZ would be the table toppers...

[ads101]

Anderson quite frankly should be booted out. He is a great ODI bowler, but he's not performing. I'm also questioning his mental toughness too. If he's mentally exhausted out there as the commentators are saying, he shouldn't be playing. Bring Tremlett in now. I've been very disappointed with Anderson this world cup.

Swann and Strauss are England's key players in this world cup. If they're not playing, England's chances of winning plummet dramatically. West Indies are much poorer against spin really, and going in without a specialist spinner (which England will have to do if Swann is out, they've only got both yardy and tredwell who are really just part timers/all rounders) is terrible. In fact since it's West Indies, I'd even play Yardy or Tredwell as well as Swann and drop a batsman.

[Ahsan_8]

Would be lovely to see England out of the WC . Have been utterly hating them since those pathetic comments about Pakistani Cricketers by "Barbie"

[LegendsXI]

Situation getting worse for the English. The T20/ashes winning side dumped in the first round:)))

[KingKhanWC]

World XI making excuses already

Yep, it's getting tedious hearing all these excuses from England. Just get on with it get back to Heathrow.

[freelance_cricketer]

Really under the hammer now, good luck to them tomorrow :viv

[ZenBowman]

they are out of the wc
INSHALLAH
amir, asif revenge

Revenge for?

[iHammad]

Come on the Windies! :gayle :pollard

[farazaidi]

provided NZ also loses its match against Sri Lanka... otherwise NZ would be the table toppers...

Australia will top the group if they win the last game, NZ-SL match will have no bearing on that

[khankhan]

I really hope they lose. Will love to see them out of this world cup.