Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
Not everything that has happened in the last few days of cricket has made for pretty viewing. However, it’s made for some nice talking points.
India predictably beat Australia in the first of three T20I’s, South Africa hammered Bangladesh and Pakistan and Sri Lanka are playing out another close fought Test.
India v Australia, 1st T20I, Ranchi
Australia + losing wickets at regular intervals is a better lovestory than Twilight, the Notebook, A Walk to Remember… you name it… except that the Australians are taking so many walks to the pavilion that they aren’t remembering each walk too well.
An all too familiar collapse in the middle overs left only the rain in India’s way of a comfortable victory. Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav were simply too good, picking up 4/33 in 7 overs between them.
– No Indian seamer has taken more wickets in T20Is than Jasprit Bumrah (36). Bumrah sits 2nd on the list of India T20I wicket takers, behind only Ravi Ashwin (52).
– Bumrah’s economy rate of 6.67 is the best among seamers in the top 10 list of Indian T20I wicket takers.
– Virat Kohli needs just 38 runs to become the second highest T20I runscorer. His average of 54.47 is easily the best among the top 10 runscorers. Next best is Jean Paul Duminy with 38.25.
South Africa v Bangladesh, 2nd Test, Bloemfontein
Thank goodness, one of the most one-sided Test series in recent memory is over.
Bangladesh were so bad that you just couldn’t figure out how good South Africa were. If you watched this match thinking your club teammates, your neighbour or even your 7 year old could bowl better than Bangladesh did throughout this series, you surely aren’t alone. They lacked strategy and belief.
As a big Bangladesh fan, I say this out of love – things need to change.
“I’m human. I make mistakes”, says soon to be ex-captain Mushfiqur Rahim. Mate, you’ve been making the same mistakes for three years. It’s time to give someone else a chance.
For South Africa, it is a scary thought realising that Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander are to come back to this side. There has to be room for Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj, too, who took their 100th and 50th Test wickets respectively in this series.
– In 3 innings, Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla and Faf Du Plessis amassed 1,124 runs. The entire Bangladesh team, in four innings, managed 729.
– Kagiso Rabada became the 5th youngest bowler ever to take 100 Test wickets.
– The innings and 254 run defeat was Bangladesh’s 4th biggest Test loss in their history.
– Bangladesh’s bowling average in this Test was 143.25. Batting average of 15.95.
Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Dubai
Another unpredictable, topsy-turvy Test Match, played in front of a crowd all dressed as blue seats (ha).
All jokes aside, this match is still anyone’s to be won.
Sri Lanka are currently struggling at 60/7, but with a decent lead of 280. Pakistan already have to better their first innings effort to win this. On a pitch starting to take plenty of turn, Sri Lanka’s spinners might be a little too hard to handle, especially considering SL have Herath and Pakistan’s batting looks very vulnerable.
Still, Sri Lanka would be very disappointed with their 2nd innings effort.
– First innings of the two Tests combined: Total runs – 1,585, Avg. – 39.63 runs per wicket
– Second innings of the Two Tests combined (so far): Total runs – 312, Avg. 11.56 runs per wicket
Promises to be a very exciting finish. Will Pakistan maintain their UAE record?