The best quotes of the ICC World Twenty20

'I don't think there's time to choke'

Cricinfo staff

September 24, 2007

South African managed to fluff their lines at a major tournament yet again © AFP

While the on-field action in the ICC World Twenty20 was enthralling, the players offered some verbal wonders as well. Cricinfo presents a selection of the best quotes of the tournament.

"I don't think there's really time to choke, everything happens so quickly."
Shaun Pollock speaking before the start of ICC World Twenty20. Even old warhorses like Pollock learnt something new during the tournament

"Our top-order batting has been diabolical even in the practice matches and it was again tonight. It is a mental thing for us and we have to start respecting the game."
Ricky Ponting after Australia's loss to Zimbabwe in the opening round

"Once we've won again then they can have a full go."
Zimbabwe's coach Robin Brown, whose main concern after upsetting Australia was to ensure his team was focussed again for the game against England

"We have made the Super Eights in two big tournaments this year and it is about time they stop calling us a minnow. There is more to come from Bangladesh."
Mohammad Ashraful was full of confidence after Bangladesh knocked West Indies out

"There's a possibility of us humiliating Australia."
Kevin Pietersen unwittingly becomes Australia's motivational guru ahead of the crucial match against the old enemy

"Unless you can back them up they don't mean anything at all. If anything they were the ones who left humiliated today."
Ricky Ponting responds to Pietersen's barb after Australia steamrolled England yet again

"I told him to be free, and control his mind. He's like a computer, he just has to bowl one ball but he might be thinking of bowling 100 different deliveries."
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, on what he advised Sreesanth before the last over of the first round game against Pakistan

"When the match ended in a tie, only then did we come to know that this [bowl out] would happen."
Luckily for Shoaib Malik, Pakistan's ignorance of the rules didn't hinder their progress in the tournament

"The opening was a rude awakening because we didn't think there would be too many fours and sixes, then first ball and we were dancing."
While spectators were thrilled with the big-hitting during the tournament, Ian, one of the dancing cheerleaders, didn't seem quite as pleased

"I hope Twenty20 cricket will only be part of the landscape and not the future of the game. But I suppose we guys have to take this game seriously too."
Daniel Vettori provides only grudging support for Twenty20

"When I got hit for five sixes I got so many phone calls - nobody called me when I used to get a hundred and I got load of them making fun of me so I thought that wasn't right and I wanted to give it back."
Yuvraj Singh reveals the motivation behind the savage assault on the England bowling

"Shane Watson seems to have recovered very well from his hamstring injury."
Andrew Symonds decided to tempt fate. Shane Watson duly experienced hamstring trouble in his comeback game and has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series in India

"I guess we do find ways to get out of these tournaments."
Graeme Smith reflects on South Africa's ability to choke at big events

"We have to find out a solution to get over the line, I don't have a magic answer but I know we'll be ready the next time the chance comes."
Daniel Vettori is perplexed by New Zealand's inability to get past the semi-finals at big events

"A bit stuttery for us, wasn't it? A bad start and then a win and a loss and a win ... We never really got into a great rhythm."
Adam Gilchrist sums up Australia's campaign

"Before I start I should say I read an article by you in Cricinfo. You'd said Australia were the favourites. Today I think me and the boys, we proved you wrong."
Speaking to Ravi Shastri after India's victory over Australia in the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India's Twenty20 and ODI captain, tells all that he reads Cricinfo. And apparently it's inspired him.

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