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3 reasons why Australia will beat India in the WTC Final

Tarkesh Jha
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3 reasons why Australia will beat India in the WTC Final

Cricket News: 3 reasons why Australia will beat India in the WTC Final | WTC 2023 Final prediction: Why Australia will win

Australia are all set to take on India in the summit clash of the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The Pat Cummins-led side are looking at the WTC game as well as the forthcoming Ashes as an opportunity to seal their legacy as one of the most successful Test sides in the country’s cricketing history.

They delivered some impressive performances in the subcontinent recently and have been almost flawless at home. The England tour thus holds a lot of stake for them, and here CricBlog predicts three reasons why they are the favourites to beat India in the upcoming match.

Why Australia will beat India in the WTC Final 2023

1. Better adaptability to red ball cricket

A large chunk of the Australian squad was not involved the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL). Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc had opted out citing international commitments. The likes of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne were involved in the County Championship, preparing for the matches to come.

There is not much room for error in a one-off final. The shock that comes with a quick change of formats might not hit the Australian team as hard. They can gradually get into the groove and look to get in front in the early stages of the showpiece clash. 

The Indian team will arguably be rustier due to their engagements in the IPL compared to their Australian counterparts.

2. Bowling attack better suited to English conditions

Australia’s bowling unit is perhaps better suited to the prevalent conditions at the Oval. The trio of Starc, Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have been there, done that over in England many times together now. They are perfectly aware of exploiting the conditions and optimising the pitch and weather to their benefit. They can run circles around the Indian batting unit by striking together in tandem.

If Hazlewood isn’t picked, Scott Boland is more than capable of troubling the Indian lineup with his ability to hit consistent lengths and move the ball.

Compare that to the Indian bowling unit. There is still confusion around which bowler will feature in the final XI. Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, and Shardul Thakur are essentially battling it out for two bowling spots, confirming Australia have greater clarity with regards to who they will field in this match.

3. Meaty middle-order

The Australian middle-order is stacked with tremendous quality spearheaded by the duo Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. Cameron Green adds all-round quality lower down the order but the aforementioned duo’s rich vein of form, coupled with richer experience in English conditions, means they could put up a run fest whenever they come out to bat.

Smith averages 55.95 with six centuries on English soil. Labuschagne is the number one ranked Test batsman in the world. Green has demonstrated terrific adaptability to different conditions in recent times. Travis Head can score rapidly, and Alex Carey will be looking to rebound after a difficult tour of India.

If this middle order gets going, they can put serious pressure on the Indian bowlers.

ALSO READ: 3 reasons why India will beat Australia in the WTC 2023 Final

SL vs AFG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible 11 Pitch Report

Darpan Jain
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SL vs AFG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible 11 Pitch Report

SL vs AFG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible 11 Pitch Report | SL vs AFG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Hambantota Pitch Report

The first ODI painted a picture of where these two nations are situated in this format. Afghanistan are gearing for the World Cup, while Sri Lanka showed why they need to qualify in Zimbabwe.

The Afghans were clinical in more ways than one on Friday. Firstly, they made inroads into the Sri Lankan top order, before stifling them at the death. Then, as he has done previously, Ibrahim Zadran put the Lions to the sword, with his 98 paving the way for a very easy victory.

Yes, Sri Lanka were missing key players in Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera. However, they still had a capable team on paper and were clearly outplayed by a side missing one of their big guns in Rashid Khan. Now, they must win to keep this series alive – the kind of pressure they may face in what could be a very competitive tournament in Zimbabwe later this month.

Match Details

  • Date: 4 June, 2023.
  • Time: 10 am (local), 10 am (IST).
  • Location: Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota.
  • For more cricket fixtures around the world, visit Fixture Calendar.

SL vs AFG 2nd ODI Possible Playing XIs

Wanindu Hasaranga’s fitness is still in the air, while at least one of Dushmantha Chameera and Maheesh Theekshana may play.

Sri Lanka: 1. Pathum Nissanka, 2. Dimuth Karunaratne, 3. Kusal Mendis (wk), 4. Angelo Mathews, 5. Charith Asalanka, 6. Dhananjaya de Silva, 7. Dasun Shanaka (c), 8. Dushan Hemantha, 9. Lahiru Kumara, 10. Kasun Rajitha, 11. Matheesha Pathirana

Afghanistan might also stick with the same team.

Afghanistan: 1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2. Ibrahim Zadran, 3. Rahmat Shah, 4. Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), 5. Mohammad Nabi, 6. Najibullah Zadran, 7. Azmatullah Omarzai, 8. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 9. Noor Ahmad, 10. Fazalhaq Farooqi, 11. Fareed Ahmad Malik

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Sri Lanka:

  • Dimuth Karunaratne couldn’t score much in the last game. However, he is a quality, experienced player and will look to bounce back strongly. He averages just 22.44 in nine home ODIs.
  • Pathum Nissanka has 161 runs at an average of 53.66 against Afghanistan in ODIs. Even in the last game, Nissanka played well for his 38, and will be looking for more today
  • Angelo Mathews has 1006 runs at a sensational average of 67.06 and a strike rate of 87.86 in the second match of an ODI series. Mathews has also amassed six fifties and a century.
  • Charith Asalanka enjoys batting against Afghanistan. The southpaw has 184 runs at an average of 92 and a strike rate of 99.45 in the three innings against Afghanistan. In the last game, Asalanka was the top scorer for his team.
  • Dhananjaya de Silva provides points with both bat and ball, especially in the 50-over format. In the previous game, he scored 51 runs with the willow, and while he didn’t take any wickets, Dhananjaya gave only 44 runs in his 10-over spell.
  • Matheesha Pathirana would like to forget his debut game, where he conceded 7.50 runs per over. His expertise with the ball was on display during the IPL. He will look to improve himself and have a better outing this time.

Afghanistan:

  • Rahmanullah Gurbaz has 140 runs at an average of 35 and a strike rate of 85.88 against Sri Lanka in the ODIs. He has also scored two half-centuries. A good score can not be ruled out.
  • Ibrahim Zadran scores plenty of runs every time he plays against Sri Lanka. In the four innings, Zadran has 376 runs at a tremendous average of 94 and a strike rate of 100.53 against the Lankan side. The batter has also compiled one fifty and two centuries, including 98 on Friday.
  • Rahmat Shah played a decent knock of 55 runs in the last game. Rahmat has 261 runs at an average of 43.50 and a strike rate of 73.93 against SL in ODIs. He has also hit four fifties.
  • Hashmatullah Shahidi is a reliable middle-order batter of Afghanistan. He can play big knocks in the ODI format and is also consistent.
  • Noor Ahmad didn’t have a great last game. However, his quality as a bowler is well-known. Expect him to bounce back strongly.
  • Fazalhaq Farooqi has snared six wickets at a strike rate of 29.33 in the four innings against Sri Lanka in the ODIs. In the last game, he picked up two crucial wickets to derail Sri Lanka’s innings early in the innings.

Other Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head:Matches 8, Sri Lanka 4, Afghanistan 3, NR 1.
  • Kusal Mendis has 83 runs at an average of 16.60 in the six innings against Afghanistan. He will look to improve this record.
  • Pathum Nissanka in ODIs in 2023: 176 runs, 44 avg, 82.62 SR & 2 fifties.
  • Fazalhaq Farooqi has 19 wickets at an average of 24.26 and a strike rate of 27.84 in ODIs since 2022.

Hambantota Pitch Report and Weather

The average first innings score in the last three years here is 268. The pacers have taken 75% of the total wicket on this ground.

The temperature is expected to hover around 32°C, with clouds covering the sky.

SL vs AFG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today Match 4 June 2023

Option 1:

SL vs AFG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible 11 Pitch Report | SL vs AFG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Hambantota Pitch Report
SL vs AFG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today Match 4 June 2023

Option 2:

SL vs AFG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible 11 Pitch Report | SL vs AFG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Hambantota Pitch Report
SL vs AFG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today Match 4 June 2023

SL vs AFG 2nd ODI Match Prediction – Who will win?

Afghanistan won the first ODI comfortably, as they played quality cricket throughout. However, Sri Lanka are a decent unit, particularly at home. If they get a few of their key players back, they can win, but Afghanistan look good for another win.

Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.

3 reasons why GT could dominate the IPL in the future

Shahryaar Mirza
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3 reasons why GT could dominate the IPL in the future

Opinion: 3 reasons why Gujarat Titans (GT) could dominate the IPL in the future | Why GT can dominate the IPL in the coming years

Gujarat Titans (GT) may have lost the IPL 2023 Final in heartbreaking fashion, but their terrific season highlighted just how well set they are for the coming seasons. They have built a strong squad, with their balance the envy of other teams who are aiming to get back in the playoffs in IPL 2024.

Why GT can dominate the IPL in the coming years

With this in mind, here are three key reasons why GT can dominate the IPL for the next few years at least:

1. A good mix of youth and experience

Gujarat Titans have some highly talented youngsters in their setup, while also having a number of seasoned campaigners. In the game Wriddhiman Saha became the oldest ever to score a 50 in an IPL Final, Sai Sudharsan became the second youngest to do the same.

Noor Ahmad, who had played just three games for Afghanistan before this season of the IPL, had Rashid Khan to learn from and talk to when things went wrong. Sai Sudharsan, who is only 21 years old, had a vastly experienced Wriddhiman Saha to get guidance from. Joshua Little had Mohammad Shami and Mohit Sharma to learn a few tricks.

This is what the Indian Premier League has always been about, and this is how the Gujarat Titans are developing their players. The youngsters are constantly learning from those who have won it all in the past, and this may be one of the secrets behind their success.

2. Having the best players in each department

Whether it is opening batters in question or finishers down the order, pacers to bowl up front or spinners to choke the opposition, the Gujarat Titans have to their disposal the best in business. No matter what the category is, they have all bases covered.

In Shubman Gill, they have someone who is already being seen as the successor to Virat Kohli, and those are certainly not easy boots to fill. That is enough proof of the potential this man possesses.

In David Miller, they have one of the most experienced big hitters in T20 cricket. The left-handed batter averages a remarkable 75.2 when chasing for Gujarat Titans, while striking at almost 150.

In Mohammad Shami, they have one of India’s best pacers ever. His excellent seam position has given him success not only in red-ball cricket, but also in T20 cricket. The 32-year old proved his mettle in the 2023 season and won the Purple Cap.

Lastly, they have someone who has arguably cemented his status as the greatest T20 bowler ever at just 24 years of age, Rashid Khan. The spinner from Afghanistan has won games for every single team he has played for, and is a true asset for any side that he plays for.

3. A natural leader in Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya led Gujarat Titans to their maiden IPL title in 2022 in what was the franchise’s first season ever. He is someone who has shown constant improvement as a captain.

In terms of accomplishments, not many can come close to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, but purely on the basis of their styles of leadership, one can surely see a bit of Dhoni in Hardik Pandya. The way Pandya has matured over the last two years is simply commendable. He, like any other captain, has the desire to win games and championships. But, he has shown extraordinary calmness on the field.

Let us take the recently concluded IPL Final as an example. After Ravindra Jadeja hit a four off the last delivery to clinch the title for Chennai Super Kings, Pandya went up to hug Mohit Sharma with a smile on his face. He knew how well Mohit had bowled, and even though the last delivery was a freebie, he decided to acknowledge him for the good balls that he had bowled. Hardik could also be seen clapping and appreciating an Ajinkya Rahane shot that went for a six.

Just two years back, Hardik would have reacted very differently to a bad delivery from the bowler or a sloppy fielding effort. His development as a person, and as a leader, has been heartening to see. He has displayed sportsman spirit and composure of the highest order, be it by appreciating the opponents or by backing his own players. He is an entertaining character, and a natural leader.

Twitter reactions to Joe Root reaching 11000 Test runs

Charbel Coorey
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Twitter reactions to Joe Root reaching 11000 Test runs

Cricket News: Twitter reactions to Joe Root reaching 11000 Test runs | Joe Root becomes 11th player to notch up 11,000 Test runs

Joe Root became the second Englishman – and 11th player overall – to notch up 11,000 runs in Test cricket. England’s great batsman reached the mark on the stroke of tea on day two against Ireland at Lord’s, just after bringing up his half-century as the home side completely dominate the Test.

Root, who made his debut in 2012, has been a mainstay in the England lineup. Such is his class is that even when he had his conversion rate issues between 2017 and 2020, he regularly notched up half-centuries and contributed to the team’s cause. His ability to put pressure on the bowlers and keep the score ticking without taking too many risks has been a hallmark of his game, and one feels there is still plenty more to come given he is just 32 years of age currently.

Reactions: Joe Root becomes 11th player in history to reach 11000 Test runs

Fans have asked the question as to whether Root can surpass Sachin Tendulkar as Test cricket’s all-time leading run-scorer. There is still a fair way to go for such an achievement, but there is no doubt there is plenty left in the tank for England’s number four.

“He should stick around for Next 4-5 years. Should not announce Retirement at 33 just like Alastair Cook Did. He can Easily break Sachin’s record of both Most Runs and 100s,” one tweet read. Here are some reactions to Root reaching the landmark.

WTC 2023 Final broadcasters: Where can I watch the big match?

Shahryaar Mirza
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WTC 2023 Final broadcasters: Where can I watch the big match?

Cricket News: WTC 2023 Final broadcasters: Where can I watch the big match? | Where to watch the WTC 2023 Final around the world

Australia and India, who finished first and second respectively in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23, will be locking horns in the much anticipated WTC Final. The match is set to take place at The Oval, London on Wednesday, June 7.

Both the sides have named their squads, but selecting the best eleven remains a challenge. Regardless, millions around the globe will be watching the all-important clash, and when two giants of the cricketing world go head to head in such a vital clash, entertainment is guaranteed.

WTC Final broadcasters: Where to watch?

Where can you watch the action? Below are the broadcasters showing the WTC Final 2023 around the globe.

India: Star Sports Network, Disney+ Hotstar

Australia: Fox Sports, Kayo Sports, Channel 9, 9Now

USA: Willow TV, Hotstar, ESPN+

England: Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Go, Sky Now

New Zealand: Sky Sports, Spark Sports

Bangladesh: Gazi TV, RabbitholeBD

Pakistan: PTV Sports, Geo Super, Daraz, Yupp TV

Sri Lanka: Star Sports 1, Yupp TV

For India fans, the match will begin at 3:30pm IST. The first ball will be bowled at 8:00pm Eastern Australia time (6:00pm in Perth, 7:30pm in Adelaide and Darwin), with the day ending in the very early hours of the next morning.

The weather conditions at The Oval in London look promising, with mostly sunny conditions forecast right throughout the week. Broadcasters and fans alike will be happy with such news, with great cricket expected and the reserve day hopefully not required.

CHECK OUT OTHER CRICBLOG ARTICLES FOR THE WTC FINAL 2023:

“Want to bowl carrom ball like Ashwin” – Todd Murphy

Shahryaar Mirza
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“Want to bowl carrom ball like Ashwin” – Todd Murphy

Cricket News: “Want to bowl carrom ball like Ashwin” – Todd Murphy | Todd Murphy says he has learnt a lot from watching R Ashwin

Todd Murphy, who made his Test debut for Australia in February this year in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has said that he is working on developing and adding a Ravichandran Ashwin-esque carrom ball to his armoury.

The youngster was impressive in his debut series and consistently bowled in the right areas. Now, he wants to ensure he has enough variations to succeed at Test level. He admits that he is not quite there at the moment, but aims to master the art of bowling a carrom ball.

“I am still working on that but I am still a long way off being able to do it the way Ravi Ashwin can. It is simple in a way, and yet so difficult. It is just about being confident that you can execute it. I’d love to be able to add that myself one day. If you have a delivery that goes the other way, it just poses different challenges for the batsmen,” said Murphy to AAP.

The off-spinner also believes he cannot let his stock delivery lose its effectiveness in an attempt to develop the carrom ball variation. He wants to stick to the basics and rightfully so as a bowler’s stock delivery is their biggest strength. It is, after all, the delivery a bowler sends down the most.

“You are always looking at ways to tinker and add things to your kitbag but in Test cricket you have to make sure your fundamentals are really good and your stock ball is in as good a position as you can,” Murphy added.

Todd Murphy watched R Ashwin closely in the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy

In his debut series, Murphy notched 14 wickets across the four Tests against India, averaging a little more than 25. He dismissed Virat Kohli four times in four games, while also dismissing Cheteshwar Pujara on two different occasions.

Murphy, while in India, keenly observed and analysed how Ashwin bowled. The 36-year old from Tamil Nadu, Chennai, is indeed one of the modern day greats in red-ball cricket with a staggering 474 wickets in 92 Tests. Ashwin has the ninth most wickets in the history of Test cricket, and Murphy had the opportunity to have a close look at his grip, wrist position and most importantly his thought process in real time.

“That is the best part of analysis now that you have access to that the whole time. I was really interested in watching that sort of stuff and get a close-up look of his hand and wrist position, just to see how each ball was coming out and if it was behaving differently. In those conditions his skillsets are as good as anyone and it was amazing to just watch the subtle variations he is able to implement in sequencing throughout his overs,” said Murphy.

The attention has now shifted from T20 cricket to the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final, which begins on June 7. Australia will also be playing the Ashes less than a week after the WTC Final. Todd Murphy is unlikely to play a lot of games against India and England, keeping in mind the English conditions and the presence of Nathan Lyon.

But, he is keeping himself mentally and physically prepared to play whenever the team requires him to.

“Obviously at the moment Gaz (Lyon) is there and has been so good for so long. In a way I hope I don’t have to play a game on this tour because that means he is staying fit and on the park and our quicks are standing up as well.”

“It is a squad mentality. Hopefully I can add value to the squad, train hard and keep developing my skillset. If there is an opportunity that arises I have to make sure I am in a really good position to take it. I’ve got to be ready at all times. A lot of things can change and they can change fast,” Murphy concluded.

ICC ODI World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe 2023 – schedule and where to watch

Tarkesh Jha
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ICC ODI World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe 2023 – schedule and where to watch

Cricket News: ICC ODI World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe 2023 – schedule and where to watch | Format for ODI WC Qualifiers

The Qualifiers for ICC Men’s ODI World Cup will begin on June 18, 2023 in Zimbabwe. Ten teams will be participating in this tournament and they will be pitted in two groups of five each.

Group A will comprise Zimbabwe, West Indies, Netherlands, Nepal and the United States of America (USA). On the other hand, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Oman, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Scotland make up Group B.

Where to Watch?

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 will be televised live on the Star Sports Network and will be streamed digitally on the Disney+Hostar application and website in India.

ICC ODI World Cup Qualifier 2023 tournament format

Every team will play each side from their respective group once. The top three teams from both groups will progress to the Super Six stage. In the Super Six, teams will have to lock horns with opponents they did not face in the group stage. However, the points won in the group stages will be carried over to the Super Six round.

However, there is a small caveat here. Only the points that were won against teams that made it to the Super Six stage will be carried over. Further, the finalists from the both the teams will qualify for the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup that will be held in India October 5, 2023 – November 19, 2023.

The 34 qualifying tournament games will be held in four venues, namely Queen’s Sports Club, Bulawayo Athletic Club, Harare Sports Club and Takashinga Cricket Club. Harare Sports Club will host the final whereas the warm-up games will be held in the Old Hararians Cricket Club.

“With two former Men’s Cricket World Cup champions among the contenders as well as emerging cricket nations who are aiming to qualify for the first time, this unique event, featuring teams from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe will be a showcase of the global game,” ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice was officially quoted speaking about the tournament.

Schedule of the qualifier fixtures and the warm-up games:

Warm-up Fixtures:

Tuesday, 13 June

West Indies v Scotland, Harare Sports Club

Zimbabwe v Oman, Takashinga Cricket Club

Nepal v UAE, Old Hararians Cricket Club

Sri Lanka v Netherlands, Queen’s Sports Club

Ireland v USA, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Thursday, 15 June

Nepal v Oman, Harare Sports Club

West Indies v UAE, Takashinga Cricket Club

Zimbabwe v Scotland, Old Hararians Cricket Club

Ireland v Netherlands, Queen’s Sports Club

Sri Lanka v USA, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Main Tournament:

Sunday, 18 June

Zimbabwe v Nepal, Harare Sports Club

West Indies v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club

Monday, 19 June

Sri Lanka v UAE, Queen’s Sports Club

Ireland v Oman, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Tuesday, 20 June

Zimbabwe v Netherlands, Harare Sports Club

Nepal v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club

Wednesday, 21 June

Ireland v Scotland, Queen’s Sports Club

Oman v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Thursday, 22 June

West Indies v Nepal, Harare Sports Club

Netherlands v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club

Friday, 23 June

Sri Lanka v Oman, Queen’s Sports Club

Scotland v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Saturday, 24 June

Zimbabwe v West Indies, Harare Sports Club

Netherlands v Nepal, Takashinga Cricket Club

Sunday, 25 June

Sri Lanka v Ireland, Queen’s Sports Club

Scotland v Oman, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Monday, 26 June

Zimbabwe v USA, Harare Sports Club

West Indies v Netherlands, Takashinga Cricket Club

Tuesday, 27 June

Sri Lanka v Scotland, Queen’s Sports Club

Ireland v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Thursday, 29 June

Super 6: A2 v B2, Queen’s Sports Club

Friday, 30 June

Super 6: A3 v B1, Queen’s Sports Club

Playoff: A5 v B4, Takashinga Cricket Club

Saturday, 1 July

Super 6: A1 v B3, Harare Sports Club

Sunday, 2 July

Super 6: A2 v B1, Queen’s Sports Club

Playoff: A4 v B5, Takashinga Cricket Club

Monday, 3 July

Super 6: A3 v B2, Harare Sports Club

Tuesday, 4 July

Super 6: A2 v B3, Queen’s Sports Club

Playoff: 7th v 8th Takashinga Cricket Club

Wednesday, 5 July

Super Six: A1 v B2, Harare Sports Club

Thursday, 6 July

Super Six: A3 v B3, Queen’s Sports Club

Playoff: 9th v 10th Takashinga Cricket Club

Friday, 07 July

Super Six: A1 v B1, Harare Sports Club

Sunday, 09 July

Final, Harare Sports Club

Will The Oval pitch spin? Steve Smith thinks so

Shahryaar Mirza
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0
Will The Oval pitch spin? Steve Smith thinks so

Cricket News: Will The Oval pitch spin? Steve Smith thinks so | Steve Smith believes The Oval pitch may behave similar to the Indian pitches

Steve Smith recently spoke about the World Test Championship 2023 Final with cricket.com.au, and mentioned that at some stage of the game, they may face similarities to how the pitches in India behaved.

The WTC Final is set to take place at The Oval in London. Typically, the pitch is wonderful to bat on and has good pace and bounce on offer. However, Steve Smith believes that as the game progresses, spin may come into play. As a result, Australia may have to face a situation similar to the one they faced on the turning tracks of India earlier this year.

“The Oval can present itself with some spin occasionally, particularly as the game wears on so we could face some sort of similarities to what we had in India at certain stages of the game,” said Smith.

“But The Oval is a wonderful place to play cricket in,” he continued. “Lightning fast outfield, the square goes whole way across the ground so it is a nice place to bat when you get in and has some decent pace and bounce for an English surface. Should be an absolute cracker.”

The Oval pitch: Spinners could play a role if conditions are dry

If one was to go by Steve Smith’s analysis of the pitch, it surely brings Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon into play. There has been a lot of talk regarding the number of pacers both teams should play, and many think going with four pacers would be the right thing to do.

Although that would not be a surprise keeping in mind the English conditions, Steve Smith’s words may just make a case for Ravichandran Ashwin’s inclusion in the India team in particular.

Ashwin has taken 25 wickets in four games this year, averaging a brilliant 17.28. His Australian counterpart, Nathan Lyon, has taken 24 wickets in five games this year. His average of 25.50 in 2023 so far is his second best ever in a calendar year where he has bowled a minimum of 100 overs in Test cricket. So, both could play in this game.

ALSO READ: India possible playing XI for WTC 2023 Final

Steve Smith has a great record at The Oval

Steve Smith has scored 391 runs in three games at The Oval. The batter averages a phenomenal 97.75 at the venue.

In his brief interview ahead of the mega event, he also talked about how he is expecting massive crowds for the game. He thinks and hopes the two sides will produce an absolute belter of a game.

The ICC World Test Championship Final for the 2021-23 cycle commences on Wednesday, June 7. With the two sides in good form, we should have a cracker that does justice to all the hype around it.

3 key player battles that could help decide WTC Final

Tarkesh Jha
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3 key player battles that could help decide WTC Final

Cricket News: 3 key player battles that could help decide WTC Final | Key player battles to watch out for in WTC Final 2023

Jumping out of the thrilling Indian Premier League (IPL), it’s time for the highly anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) final starting from June 7 at The Oval. This is India’s second straight appearance in the summit clash of the tournament, whereas Australia will be looking to emerge victorious in this game to bring curtains down on an impeccable recent run in Test cricket.

Both teams are stacked with superstars and CricBlog puts together three key player matchups that can have a key role in determining the eventual outcome of this match.

1. David Warner vs Mohammed Siraj

Many presume that the current tour to England might be David Warner’s final major assignment in red-ball cricket. The southpaw has struggled in whites lately and has aggregated only 36 runs in four innings that he has played in 2023. Experience counts big in summit clashes and hence the Pat Cummins-led side seems to be banking on him to deliver the goods once the time comes.

However, Warner will face a stern test from Mohammed Siraj, who has excelled in all formats this calendar year. He has been sharp from the offset, hitting the right lengths throughout and the tinge of swing that he is able to extract will hold him in good stead to draw the first blood of the Australian innings.

Siraj has dismissed Warner twice in 70 balls in Tests, conceding just 36 in the process.

2. Virat Kohli vs Pat Cummins

Virat Kohli will be the glue that will hold the Indian batting order together at the crucial number four slot. His proficiency against pace and the moving ball will mean that the Indian team will rely on him to get a big score under his belt.

He will be wary of the Australian captain Pat Cummins though, who will be steaming in at full throttle to make inroads and secure breakthroughs in that Indian batting order. Kohli averages 16.4 at a strike rate of 33.4 against Cummins in Test cricket and has been dismissed five times by the Australian pace spearhead. Cummins is slightly different from his predecessors and lets the ball do all the talking. His bowling style will thrive at the conditions at the Oval and Kohli hence has to overcome a massive task in this game.

3. Steven Smith vs Ravindra Jadeja (& R Ashwin)

Steven Smith and Ravindra Jadeja have engaged in some intense battles since first locking horns in 2013 in Test cricket. Smith has at times been at a spot of bother against Jadeja’s left-arm spin. However, his skilfulness has been demonstrated by his ability to tackle the same efficiently and in a more refined manner every time to meet each other next.

Overall, Jadeja has dismissed Smith seven times in Tests, out of which three were in India’s recently-concluded 2-1 win against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year. The duo has never gone against each other in a neutral venue yet and hence Jadeja’s adaptation to the pitch at the Oval will be an interesting facet of this matchup. Regardless, this is one of the most instrumental player battles that could have a role in deciding the fate of the next WTC victor.

If Ashwin is picked for India, he could potentially trouble Smith. The offspinner has dismissed Smith eight times in Test cricket, with five coming since the start of the 2020 series at an average of 17.2.

Cricket News: 3 key player battles that could help decide WTC Final | Key player battles to watch out for in WTC Final 2023

India possible playing 11 for WTC 2023 Final

Shahryaar Mirza
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India possible playing 11 for WTC 2023 Final

Cricket News: India possible 11 for WTC 2023 Final | Possible playing XI for India for the World Test Championship Final

There has been a lot of debate regarding how India could line up for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final next week.

Ravichandran Ashwin or Shardul Thakur? Umesh Yadav or Jaydev Unadkat? Srikar Bharat or Ishan Kishan? These are just some of the tricky questions that the Indian thinktank face. Let us take a look at what could possibly be India’s playing XI.

India’s possible playing XI for 2023 WTC Final: 1. Rohit Sharma (c), 2. Shubman Gill, 3. Cheteshwar Pujara, 4. Virat Kohli, 5. Ajinkya Rahane, 6. Ravindra Jadeja, 7. Srikar Bharat (wk), 8. Ravichandran Ashwin/Shardul Thakur, 9. Umesh Yadav, 10. Mohammed Shami, 11. Mohammed Siraj

Key questions for India ahead of WTC Final

To begin with, India have a choice to make between Ishan Kishan and Srikar Bharat. Recently, Ricky Ponting, former captain of Australia, said that he would personally go with Ishan Kishan because he believes the youngster provides an X-factor.

However, Kishan is yet to make his debut in Tests, and was dismissed for eight runs in the only T20I he has played in England. Thus, it is unlikely that India take such a big risk in an important game. Even though Srikar Bharat averages just 20 in his Test career so far, he might get the nod because he was part of the side when India faced Australia earlier this year in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and has experience playing red-ball cricket at the highest level.

How many pace bowlers should India play?

The decision regarding the number of pacers to play will pose another challenge to Rohit Sharma and the management. In English conditions, India are surely going to play a minimum of three pacers, with Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj guaranteed starters. As for the third pacer, India will choose between Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur and Jaydev Unadkat.

India, having only one left-arm pacer in the squad, might consider giving Jaydev Unadkat a chance. But, with Umesh Yadav comes a lot of experience. The right-arm speedster has played 56 Tests for India, while Unadkat has played only a couple of Tests, one of them being in 2010. In the two Tests Umesh has played in England, he has taken nine wickets at an average just below 24.

If India is to play the fourth pacer, it will have to be in the form of Shardul Thakur, and this inclusion will be at the cost of Ravichandran Ashwin. Dropping Ashwin would be a huge call to make. With the likes of David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head and Alex Carey in the Australian side, the Indian off-spinner is probably going to be included in India’s XI due to the favourable match-up against left-handed batters and relatively dry conditions in London recently.

It will be interesting to see how India lines up for the massive game against Australia. The World Test Championship Final begins on June 7, and all eyes will be on the two sides to see who will be crowned champions.

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