Chris Woakes believes that it would “be daft” if England were to move away from Bazball in the wake of their humiliating 1-4 defeat in the Ashes in Australia this winter.
England’s style of play under head coach Brendon McCullum unravelled spectacularly Down Under, with their players’ inability to adapt, soak in the pressure during crucial passages of play, and hammer down the advantage brutally exposed.
In addition to this, poor selection calls, abysmal on-field tactics, and a seemingly undisciplined team culture compounded their problems, leading to widespread calls for the sacking of the leadership group, including Director of Cricket Rob Key.
England shouldn’t undo Bazball – Chris Woakes
However, Woakes, while speaking to ESPNCricinfo, claimed that binning “Bazball” for a new approach would undo all the good work that McCullum and Stokes have done since taking over in the summer of 2022.
Woakes noted that England were a very poor side before Stokes and Baz took over, and while he admitted that the recent Australian tour was a disappointment, he put that down to the English players’ lack of experience of playing in Australian conditions.
He also feels that the inexperience in the bowling attack contributed majorly to their downfall.
“I think it’d be daft to kind of rip it up and start again. We have done so many good things over the last three years. We won some extremely exciting Test matches. I think people forget that before they took over, we were a pretty poor side. We were not winning games of cricket,” Woakes said.
“I think at the same time now, obviously, we’ve had a poor series in Australia and haven’t got quite over the line in the big series, but they’re close. To rip it up now would be a bit daft.
“It didn’t go really well in Australia, obviously. I think we had the team to be able to compete. The guys are extremely talented. I think maybe going to Australia for the first time for a lot of them, maybe got exposed a little bit to the conditions.
“Then you realise that you have to back it up day after day after day. They didn’t win those key moments. I think particularly as a bowling attack, they probably didn’t quite have the experience and the know-how to perform on those surfaces,” Woakes told ESPNCricinfo.
Woakes retired from international cricket at the end of the last English summer and is currently plying his trade in the Bangladesh Premier League. He hit a last-ball six to lead Sylhet Titans to a thrilling win over Rangpur Riders in the Eliminator.
Pakistan batter Babar Azam was visibly quite upset after his Sydney Sixers opening partner Steve Smith denied him a single on the final ball of the 11th over to keep strike for the first over of the Power Surge against Sydney Thunder.
Sixers skipper Moises Henriques has now revealed that it took a couple of days for the former Pakistani captain to “settle down.”
Speaking to Fox Cricket during the Qualifier bout against Perth Scorchers, Henriques put the situation down to cultural differences, adding that Azam was “absolutely fine” after it was explained to him that it’s a pretty normal thing in the Aussie cricket ecosystem.
Moises Henriques reveals discussions after Babar Azam was denied a single
Henriques revealed that he and head coach Greg Shipperd took it upon themselves to talk to Babar Azam. After the Pakistani international got to terms with it, he and Smith are back to being “friendly” again, according to the Sixers skipper.
“It took a couple of days for that to settle down. To be honest, think it’s just a bit of misunderstanding of culture of each other. It’s a pretty common thing in our culture, and maybe for [Babar], he wasn’t used to it and didn’t quite understand. Once it was explained to him, he was absolutely fine. They’ve kissed and made up, and it’s two of the greats back friendly again,” Henriques revealed.
“[We are] always trying to understand… We could visibly see he was quite upset with what happened on the field, so we needed to try and understand why he felt that way. Once we got to the bottom of it, it was okay,” he added.
Smith vindicated his call to turn down the single, as he went on to smash 32 runs in the following over. He was again reluctant to run a second on the final delivery of the 12th over but eventually decided to go for it. But it also meant that Azam’s stay at the crease came to an end, as he edged the ball onto his stumps on the first delivery of the next over following an attempted heave across the line.
He showed clear frustration as he headed to the dressing room and apparently stayed there even as players interacted with each other on the field after the conclusion of the match.
"Wasn't happy, Babar." 😳
Drama in the middle of the SCG after Steve Smith knocked back a run from Babar Azam, so he could take strike during the Power Surge. #BBL15pic.twitter.com/rTh0RXE0A5
Meanwhile, Azam was dismissed for a two-ball duck in Tuesday’s Qualifier against the Scorchers. The Sixers failed to chase down 148 and were dismissed for 99, with Smith top scoring with a 24-ball 37.
Just over a year after they ended India’s Test juggernaut at home with a convincing 3-0 victory, the New Zealand Men’s cricket team scripted another historic feat last night in Indore, as they clinched their maiden bilateral ODI series win on Indian soil after seven unsuccessful attempts.
As was the case in the first two ODIs, middle-order batsman Daryl Mitchell again proved to be India’s nemesis, as he smashed yet another hundred (137 off 131 deliveries). This time, he got great support from all-rounder Glenn Phillips, who struck a breathtaking 88-ball 106 to lift the Blackcaps to 8-337 in 50 overs. Indian spinners once again proved to be ineffective, with Ravindra Jadeja (0-41 in six) and Kuldeep Yadav (1-48 in six) failing to make any impact whatsoever.
However, a target of 338 on a flat pitch under lights against an inexperienced New Zealand bowling attack shouldn’t have been a problem, until it was. Poor strokeplay from four out of the top five meant that the hosts found themselves reeling at 4/71 by the end of 13 overs, with hopes of the nation firmly resting on Virat Kohli’s shoulders once again.
And Kohli, as he has done throughout his career, did not disappoint. The Indian run machine looked in imperious touch from the outset and went on to register his third century in the last seven innings and overall 54th in the format. He got great support from Nitish Reddy (53 off 57) and Harshit Rana (52 off 43), but it ultimately proved to be a bridge too far.
After Reddy and Rana fell against the run of play, Kohli got hamstrung with tailenders at the other end, and when he ultimately fell for a supremely well-made 108-ball 124, India’s fate had been sealed.
This is India’s second bilateral ODI series defeat in the last three rubbers, with their only win this season coming against South Africa (2-1) at home last month.
New Zealand register a 41-run victory in the decider and win the series 2-1
Fans lash at Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir following ODI home series defeat to inexperienced New Zealand
India continue to break their long-held proud records under head coach Gautam Gambhir. After being whitewashed twice at home in Tests in the last 15 months, the Men in Blue have now suffered a bilateral home series defeat on home soil to New Zealand for the first time.
Naturally, fans are disappointed with India’s decline under Gambhir, and the latest series defeat once again triggered calls for his removal.
Below are reactions from Indian fans on X (formerly Twitter) following the home side’s 1-2 defeat to New Zealand:
Gautam Gambhir as ICT coach:
– Lost BGT 4-1 after. – Lost odi series vs sri lanka. – Lost home test series vs nz. – Lost home test series vs sa. – Lost ODI series vs NZ C team. – First time white washed in home Test series.
— CA Nitin Kaushik (FCA) | LLB (@Finance_Bareek) January 19, 2026
𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 Under Gambhir in (𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁/𝗢𝗗𝗜𝘀)
– After 27yrs, Lost a Bilateral ODI Series vs SL – For 1st time, Lost 30 Wickets in a 3 match ODI Series – After 45yrs, India Remained Winless in a Calendar Year in ODIs – After 36yrs, India Lost Test v NZ at Home – After 19yrs,… pic.twitter.com/aP4Hc4dqZU
I think #gautamgambhir Must questionable and he's responsible for not 1-2-4 shameful searies lost in own soil which never happened before test, T20 and now ODI , What a disgrace #INDvsNZ
Australian chief selector George Bailey provided an update on Pat Cummins’ return status ahead of next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The biennial tournament will take place across eight venues from February 7 to March 8.
Cummins has been dealing with a back stress issue for the past several months. The injury meant that he could participate in only one Test during the recently concluded Ashes series. The Test and ODI captain is named in Australia’s 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, but he won’t travel to Sri Lanka with the rest of the squad ahead of the showpiece event.
Pat Cummins to join Australia squad during T20 World Cup
Instead, Cummins will join the squad after Australia’s second group-stage match (against Zimbabwe) on February 13, Bailey revealed today, according to Cricket.com.au.
The 2021 World Champions are placed alongside co-hosts Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Oman in Group B, and each of their four matches will take place in the island nation. The first two matches, i.e., vs. Ireland (February 11) and vs. Zimbabwe (February 13), will take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, while the other two, vs. Sri Lanka (February 16) and vs. Oman (February 20), will be held in Pallekele.
With the Lankan pitches known to aid slower bowlers, it will allow Australia to ease Cummins into the campaign before they travel to India for the business end of the tournament, should they qualify.
Like Cummins, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is also on a comeback trial, having missed the entire Ashes series due to a hamstring issue and Achilles soreness. He recently resumed training but, like Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, and Nathan Ellis, will not travel to Pakistan for the three-man T20I series that precedes the World Cup, as Australia aims for a cautious approach just as they did in the case of Travis Head during the 2023 World Cup.
“Part of that will certainly be how [Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood] are tracking and looking for the tournament, and if they’re both going well, then it’s just about covering any potential gaps that we may see throughout the tournament,” Bailey said. [H/T: Cricket.com.au]
Australia still have 12 days [January 31] to finalise their World Cup squad. Notably, they are yet to name travelling reserves for the tournament.
Moeen Ali spoke to Tawhid Qureshi for CricBlog about the Bangladesh Premier League, T20 World Cup plus whether there is a drinking culture in English cricket following their 4-1 Ashes defeat down under.
The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) was embroiled in more chaos after players boycotted two matches following Nazmul Islam’s disparaging comments about Bangladesh players past and present, especially Tamim Iqbal, who was labelled an “Indian Agent” by Nazmul.
Nazmul has since been removed from his position as BCB finance committee head, with his position as board director under review. However, despite agreeing to restart the tournament last Friday, the players remain firm on the need for a public apology.
“Keeping the greater interest of cricket in mind, we will resume playing tomorrow [on Friday]. They [the BCB] have assured us that they will reach out to him [BCB director M Nazmul Islam] and fulfil our demands as early as possible,” said Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) Mohammad Mithun, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Moeen also touched on whether there is a drinking culture in English cricket. England’s Noosa trip midway through the Ashes made headlines, while Harry Brook’s run in with a bouncer on the eve of a One Day International (ODI) also sparked concerns of the attitude within the camp.
Moeen Ali interview: Bangladesh cricket, England’s culture and T20 World Cup thoughts
Below is the audio of our interview with Moeen Ali, as well as the full transcript.
Dramas in Bangladesh cricket
Q: Lots been happening in Bangladesh in terms of Bangladesh cricket over the last week or two, I suppose. But, I mean, you’ve been at the BPL a few times. Has it been a bit of a different atmosphere, I suppose, with everything that’s going on in the background?
Moeen Ali: Yeah, a little bit. But you kind of expect these things to happen over here a little bit, to be honest with you. There’s always, even before in the previous years, there’s always something. It’s fine though I mean it’s been they’ve handled it really well in the end. Obviously there was a bit of a hiccup last week or last few days but it’s better now.
Q: Like you were saying, there was that one-day player strike on Thursday, just gone. You guys were supposed to be playing in that second game on Thursday, Sylhet Titans. What were you doing? Was it just a case of waiting around in the hotel, just kind of seeing what was happening?
Moeen Ali: Yeah, I woke up, I had lunch, thinking the game was on. And then as I was going down to the lobby, somebody was saying the game was going to be off, and then… That’s when it was a little bit like, a bit frustrating because obviously we’re in Dhaka and it’s a great city and stuff but sometimes you don’t go out much because of traffic and all that so the days then just become long, if that makes sense. But, it is what it is and, it’s a bit frustrating as a player but you kind of just get used to these things, I guess. It’s out of your hand, out of your control.
Q: And like you say, it was kind of resolved pretty quickly in the end. And just like the last kind of question on that is, you know, you’ve played in tournaments all over the world, like different franchise tournaments all over the world. Have you ever experienced like that sort of level of uncertainty where you sort of wake up on the day of a game and you’re not sure if it’s going ahead?
Moeen Ali: Yeah, I have done. Actually, when I first came to BPL years and years ago, I was playing for Rajshahi and there was all payment issues at the time. I think there was a few players, overseas players in our team that hadn’t been paid. So I think I kind of threatened to not get to the game and not play. And then as we got there, then the owner decided he was going to pay the guys the money and stuff. So it was a little bit all over the place then as well.
Q: These things happen in the BPL. Changing topic a little bit, but staying on the uncertainty theme. So, as you know, Bangladesh’s participation in T20 World Cup is still a little bit up in the air in terms of are they going to play in India, are they playing anywhere else? I guess the thing I wanted to focus on was the players involved. So there’s a couple of national team players you’re playing alongside… Nasum Ahmed, Parvez Emon. How does it affect those guys, that level of uncertainty?
Moeen Ali: I’m not sure. They’ve not really spoken too much about it. I mean, they’re obviously going to just go with what they get told in the end. But I guess it’s quite frustrating for them as well because… just the uncertainty sometimes can you know the preparation and stuff is becomes a bit difficult by news.
I guess it’s frustrating for everybody but there’s not a lot the players can really do the players just generally what happens in this situation is players just go and play. Just do what they’re told really.
Q: I guess from your point of view, are you a bit sort of surprised that it’s… Well, it seems to me it’s been taken… It’s taken, like, ten days to get this resolved and it’s still not resolved. Are you a little bit surprised that it hasn’t, you know, some sort of resolution?
Moeen Ali: I think… I’m sure they’re discussing things in the background and it’s been close to being sorted out. I do feel that… It’s just becoming harder and harder almost every year with these things. Not just with Bangladesh, but I think generally with teams who do have people from, I guess, Pakistani backgrounds, Bangladeshi backgrounds. Even I think England players not having a visa yet and stuff, it gets a bit frustrating.
England’s chances at the T20 World Cup
Q: I was reading something this morning. I think that might be resolved now for the England players. But like you say, it’s certainly a big issue. So just… quickly I guess moving focus onto the T20 World Cup and kind of looking at England’s chances obviously you know big kind of Ashes inquest still going on at the moment I suppose a bit of pressure for Baz McCullum being there in the white ball set up now as well how do you see England going?
Moeen Ali: I do think we’ve got a good chance. We have good players. We’ve got really good players. We’ve got really dangerous players. We just need everyone to play well, really. I think it’s super important for the team to do well.
It’s just guys turning up and playing well. Because, you know, there’s, I guess there’s pressure from everybody for England to do well. On players, management, coaches, whatever. So, we’ve got players like Jos Butler, Adil Rashid, you know, Phil Salt, many of those, Brookie [Harry Brook] and stuff. So, there’s some obviously world-class players there, just… Sometimes you just need everyone to just turn up and play well.
Is there a drinking culture within the England Cricket Team?
Q: And just on England in general, lots of criticism, I guess, over the Ashes, around preparation… You know, player behaviour, off the field, drinking culture and everything. Do you think some of that might impact, I know it’s a different squad, different format, do you think that might impact the team morale, I guess?
Moeen Ali: I don’t think it will do in the T20 stuff because, to be honest, there’s things that have also been blown a little bit out of proportion. I think, for example, there isn’t a drinking culture. Well, there hasn’t been one. If there is one, then it’s only just started in the Ashes. But there isn’t a drinking culture.
I think there’s some bad choices made, which everybody knows about. I’ve been in Ashes tour where the preparation’s also been five weeks and honestly you’re drained before you’ve even played the first game so I guess they were trying to go the other way with it.
I know what they were trying to do they probably got it slightly wrong but I think there is a little bit of pressure on everybody generally. There should be because that’s that’s what it is that’s what sport is and just playing under pressure is always the best thing to do anyway.
England at the U19 World Cup: Touching on young gun Isaac Mohammed
Q: I was actually covering the… the England-Bangladesh U19 series last September saw a lot of Isaac [Mohammed] playing [who is out of the World Cup due to injury]. I mean, I spoke to him, interviewed him a couple of times as well. I mean, the thing that struck me just watching him is, you know, obviously left-hander, very reminiscent of, you know, the bat swing, very reminiscent of you. What sort of influence have you had on his game, I guess?
Moeen Ali: I think more on the talking side of things, not really in terms of coach. I’ve done a few sessions with him, but it’s more from my father and my brothers who have coached him through the academy.
But he’s just worked hard. He’s put his head down. He’s very calm, very quietly confident, which is, I think, always a nice way to go about things. So, you know, he’s worked extremely, extremely hard.
He’s a quality player and he’s going to hopefully if he keeps going he’ll be a quality player. I’ve not had a massive amount I’ve just spoken to him quite a few times I’ve done a few sessions with him but that’s about it.
It’s disappointing for him [the injury]. But, you know, we’re also big believers that some things are just meant to happen and that happens for a reason.
What’s next for Moeen Ali?
Q: And then just throwing things things forward for you over the next few months looking into the the English summer as well. Have you got have you got many other sort of franchise tournaments coming up?
Moeen Ali: After this I’m hopefully going to be doing a bit of work as a coach with the England Lions team and then also doing a bit of punditry here and there and then PSL, Pakistan Super League, hopefully and then into the County season, get a County, try and put my name into the Hundred. Very busy still.
This is the 30th and final match of the league stage of SA20 2025/26. Paarl Royals (PR) will take on the Joburg Super Kings (JSK) on 19th January 2026 at Boland Park, Paarl. The match will start at 9 PM IST.
Paarl Royals are 3rd in the table with five wins in nine matches. They’ve already qualified for the playoffs, but they’ll look to win this game and finish in the second position. They lost their last game by 58 runs against the Durban Super Giants. The Royals have been in good form as a side, with the likes of Sikandar Raza, David Miller, and Dan Lawrence doing well. Rubin Hermann too has done well in the last few games.
The bowlers have also done a good job for Paarl, with Ottniel Baartman leading the pack. Overall, they’re in good form and will start as the favourites to win this game against a depleted JSK side.
Meanwhile, the Joburg Super Kings have lost track after winning their first three games. They are 5th in the points table and must win this game to qualify for the playoffs. But the biggest issue for them is that Donovan Ferreira has been ruled out of the season due to a shoulder injury in the last game, as confirmed by ESPNcricinfo. Faf du Plessis is already out with an injury, which has affected the side big time.
Their batting has failed miserably in the last few games, and it’s the main reason for their downfall. The bowlers have done a good job, and the batters must take responsibility if they are to qualify for the playoffs.
Joburg Super Kings: 1. Rivaldo Moonsamy (wk), 2. James Vince (c), 3. Leus du Plooy, 4. Matthew de Villiers, 5. Wiaan Mulder, 6. Dian Forrester, 7. Duan Jansen, 8. Akeal Hosein, 9. Prenalen Subrayan, 10. Daniel Worrall, 11. Nandre Burger
Boland Park Paarl Pitch Report and Weather
The wicket at Boland Park has traditionally been on the slower side, but this year it has been a good one for batting. The last game played here saw Paarl chase down 186 runs. It’s expected to be similar for this game, but the spinners will get some assistance.
Pacers who can hit the deck hard and have good variations will succeed here. Scores in the range of 160-180 are expected, with teams preferring to chase.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for PR vs JSK: Players to Watch/Key Stats
Top Wicket-Keeper Picks:
Rubin Hermann will be the best wicket-keeper pick for this game. He will bat at 3 and has been in good touch. Hermann is a good player of spin and can score big on his day. He has 191 runs at an average of 31.83, including a fifty, this season.
Key batter picks:
Lhuan-Dre Pretorius has 138 runs in eight innings at an average of 19.71, including a fifty. He has been below average this season apart from one innings. He’s a key batter for Paarl and will be a good fantasy pick despite his poor returns this season.
James Vince has 216 runs in five innings at an average of 43.20 and a strike rate of 153.19, including a couple of fifties. Vince will be a key batter for his team in the absence of Faf and Ferreira. He will be a top C/VC choice as well.
David Miller has 196 runs in 8 innings this season. He is a key batter for his team in the middle order. We all know how destructive he can be on his day, and it’s advisable to back him in your fantasy teams.
Leus du Plooy looked in good touch in the last game. He has played for JSK in the past and will be an important batter for them at number 3. He is a good player of spin bowling and will be a good differential pick.
Top all-rounder picks:
Sikandar Raza will bowl his full quota and will be a key player with the bat for Paarl in the middle order. He has 13 wickets in seven matches so far. Raza bowled well in the last game against JSK, and he will be a popular C/VC option, as he will fetch points from both batting and bowling.
Wiaan Mulder also becomes a valuable fantasy pick now considering JSK’s squad composition. He might get promoted while batting, and he’s bowled well till now. His batting form is not that great, but Mulder will be a good C/VC pick.
Dian Forrester has played a couple of good knocks for JSK. He has been very composed while batting and can bowl an over or two if required. Forrester will be a handy fantasy pick.
Key bowler picks:
Akeal Hosein has five wickets in four games at an economy of 7.15. He can bowl in any phase of the innings and is capable with the bat too. Try him as C/VC in some of your teams.
Ottniel Baartman is the current highest wicket-taker of this season with 17 wickets in 6 games. He’s picking up wickets for fun and will bowl the important overs for the Royals. Baartman will be a top C/VC choice.
JSK has struggled badly against spin this season, and Bjorn Fortuin can exploit that. He picked up a wicket and scored 35* in the last match. Fortuin will fancy his chances against JSK’s struggling batting unit.
Other Players to Consider for Your Fantasy Cricket Team
Matthew de Villiers
Jarren Bacher (if plays)
Nandre Burger
Daniel Worrall
Other Matchups and Facts
JSK has won only three games, that too in their first three matches. They are yet to register a win in their last six games (including two washed-out matches)
SA20 2025/26 30th Match: PR vs JSK Dream11 Prediction Today
Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.
Option 1:
SA20 2025/26 30th Match: PR vs JSK Dream11 Prediction Today
Option 2:
SA20 2025/26 30th Match: PR vs JSK Dream11 Prediction Today
SA20 2025/26 30th Match: PR vs JSK Match Prediction: Who will win?
The Joburg Super Kings are clearly not at their full strength, and on top of that, their batting has been abysmal lately. On the other hand, Paarl has played well as a team with their batters and bowlers playing. They have good depth and experience in their ranks.
Paarl Royals to win this game.
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes for Dream11 free contests in line with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The stats and writer’s views are 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.
All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo, Bigbashboard and Cricmetric.
Finn Allen is in sensational form. The Kiwi opener is the second-highest run-getter in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL), smashing 381 runs in nine matches at an outstanding strike rate of 189.55.
Allen, one of the most explosive players in T20s, geared up for the BBL playoffs with a recent century in Melbourne during Perth Scorchers’ away game against the Melbourne Renegades.
His performances have been one of the major reasons why the Scorchers ended the group stage at the top of the table. With Allen being named in the New Zealand squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, Kiwi fans are hoping he continues his good run in the ICC tournament too.
During an exclusive interview with Arvind Kalyana Krishnan for CricBlog, Finn Allen spoke about the comparisons with Brendon McCullum. He stated that he wants to do his own thing, and isn’t too bothered about being compared with anyone. Further on, he drew light on opening the batting with Mitchell Marsh, and spoke very highly of Australia’s T20I captain.
Allen also expressed his excitement about representing the Kolkata Knight Riders in the upcoming 2026 Indian Premier League after he was picked up in the auction. While mentioning that it’s always good to play in the IPL, he was looking forward to the opportunity to play for the three-time champions.
Finn Allen interview: Great to join KKR who have an experienced squad
Below is the entire conversation between Arvind Kalyana Krishnan and Finn Allen:
Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Finn, with the way you’ve been playing of late, the aggressive intent, a lot of fans compare you to Brendon McCullum. Any thoughts on that?
Finn Allen: I mean, I’m just trying to do my own thing I guess. There’s probably a lot of people you can compare aggressive batting to right? But I think for me, I’m just trying to stick to my processes and go about it my own way.
Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: And Mitchell Marsh as we know is an explosive player……So how it is to play alongside him? To open the batting?
Finn Allen: Yeah, it’s been great. Bison’s obviously an incredible player and extremely experienced so he’s been good fun to open with.
Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: In the Indian Premier League, KKR managed to get you. How excited are you to play with them?
Finn Allen: Yeah, obviously! Any time you get to play in the IPL it’s exciting and to be with a franchise like Kolkata, they’ve had a lot of success in the past and we’ve got an extremely experienced list as well and a good group of boys. So yeah, I’m excited to go over there and see what we can do.
The 29th match of SA20 2025/26 will be played between the Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) and the MI Cape Town (MICT) at St. George’s Park, Gqeberha, on 18th January 2026 at 9 PM IST. MICT won the last game played between the two sides by three wickets.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape are 3rd in the points table with four wins, three losses, and two washed-out matches. They lost their last game against MI by three wickets after a poor show with the bat. But they are in top form as a side with both bat and ball. Quinton de Kock, Jonny Bairstow, and Jordan Hermann have been the best batters for them, while Tristan Stubbs also showed glimpses of being back in form.
Marco Jansen (42 runs and two wickets) showed his class in the last game. This will be a huge boost for the SEC going into the playoffs. This is a crucial game, as they must win this to finish in the top two.
MI Cape Town kept their hopes alive after their victory over the Sunrisers in their last meeting. Trent Boult picked three wickets, and Corbin Bosch picked up four wickets for MI. Reeza Hendricks (41 runs), George Linde (31 runs), and Kieron Pollard (20 runs) saw their side over the line.
Boult and Bosch being back in form is a good sign for the defending champions. George Linde also showed his class with the bat, and he’s been bowling well. This is a must-win for MI to qualify for the playoffs.
SA20 2025/26 29th Match: SEC vs MICT Probable Playing XIs
Sunrisers Eastern Cape: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Jonny Bairstow, 3. Matthew Breetzke, 4. Jordan Hermann, 5. Tristan Stubbs (c), 6. James Coles, 7. Marco Jansen, 8. Lewis Gregory, 9. Senuran Muthusamy, 10. Adam Milne, 11. Anrich Nortje
MI Cape Town: 1. Rassie van der Dussen, 2. Ryan Rickelton, 3. Reeza Hendricks, 4. Nicholas Pooran (c & wk), 5. Jason Smith, 6. Kieron Pollard, 7. George Linde, 8. Corbin Bosch, 9. Dane Piedt, 10. Kagiso Rabada, 11. Trent Boult
St. George’s Park Gqeberha Pitch Report and Weather
A balanced pitch is expected for this game. The batters can play their shots, there will be help for the pacers with the new ball, and the spin bowlers have found success historically at Gqeberha. The average first innings score in 2025 was 160 runs. Expect scores in the range of 170-190 in this match.
Teams are expected to prefer chasing, but teams batting first have won 58% of T20 matches here in the last five years. A partly sunny day is expected during the game time with no chance of rain.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for SEC vs MICT: Players to Watch/Key Stats
Top wicketkeeper Picks:
Nicholas Pooran has 150 runs in eight innings this season at an average of 18.75. He has been in poor form throughout this season, but he’s a big match player and will look to lead his team from the front. You can back him for this game.
Ryan Rickelton is currently the highest run-scorer of the tournament with 335 runs in eight innings at an average of 47.85, striking at 162.62 with two centuries to his name. He’s been in good form, scoring runs consistently. Rickelton will be a top C/VC option.
Quinton de Kock has scored 272 runs in seven innings this season with three fifties to his name. He’s been in top form since this season and will be a must-pick. De Kock will have to be cautious of his matchup against Trent Boult.
Jonny Bairstow has been hot and cold this season, but he’s looked in good form at times. He can take down any bowling attack on his day and will fancy his chances against MI. Bairstow looked in good touch in the last game.
Key batter picks:
Jordan Hermann has scored 200 runs in six innings. He averages 40 this season at a strike rate of 145.98. He will be a good fantasy pick and will be a key batter for his side at number four.
Top allrounder picks:
George Linde picked up one wicket and scored a quickfire 31 when his side needed it the most during the last game. He is a utility player who will fetch points from both bat and ball. Try him as C/VC in some of your teams.
Kieron Pollard bowled two overs for nine runs and scored a crucial 20 runs in the last game. He’s a veteran and knows how to win games. Pollard will be a key player for MI and a top pick in fantasy cricket.
James Coles has been an excellent addition to SEC’s XI. He has 89 runs and three wickets in three games this season. He will be a key player with both bat and ball, and you can try him as C/VC too.
Marco Jansen scored 42 runs and picked up two wickets in the last game. He’s chosen the best time to return to form as he’s arguably the best all-rounder in the league. He will be an excellent C/VC choice.
Key bowler picks:
Anrich Nortje has13 wickets in eight innings at a strike rate of 11.76, and his economy is 6.94. He is mainly bowling in the middle and death overs for his team. Nortje bowls fast and has a heavy ball. He will be a good C/VC choice.
Other Players to Consider for Your Fantasy Cricket Teams
Kagiso Rabada
Trent Boult
Jason Smith
Matthew Breetzke
Senuran Muthusamy
Other Matchups and Facts
Quinton de Kock vs Trent Boult (T20s): 70 runs, 62 balls, 7 dismissals.
Matthew Breetzke vs Corbin Bosch (T20s): 9 runs, 13 deliveries, 2 dismissals.
SA20 2025/26 29th Match: SEC vs MICT Dream11 Prediction Today
Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.
Option 1:
SA20 2025/26 29th Match: SEC vs MICT Dream11 Prediction Today
Option 2:
SA20 2025/26 29th Match: SEC vs MICT Dream11 Prediction Today
SA20 2025/26 29th Match: SEC vs MICT Match Prediction: Who will win?
MI Cape Town were at their best with the ball in the last game. Trent Boult and Corbin Bosch did all the damage as they picked up seven wickets amongst themselves. Batting is still a concern for them, as no other batter has given confidence except for Rickelton. Pollard’s inclusion does add to their depth, but they’ll need their top order to do well.
Based on form and squad depth, Sunrisers Eastern Cape should win this match.
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes for Dream11 free contests in line with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The stats and writer’s views are 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.
All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo, Bigbashboard and Cricmetric.
New Zealand finally managed to defeat India in an ODI after 1,146 days, doing so in Rajkot to level the series. The Black Caps have toured India for ODI cricket on 16 different occasions and have never emerged winners at the end of any of those series.
After handing India a Test series whitewash last season, they will be hoping to break new ground in ODIs as well as they head into the decider in Indore.
New Zealand are likely to stick with the same winning combination.
New Zealand: 1. Devon Conway, 2. Henry Nicholls, 3. Will Young, 4. Daryl Mitchell, 5. Glenn Phillips, 6. Mitch Hay (wk), 7. Michael Bracewell (c), 8. Kristian Clarke, 9. Kyle Jamieson, 10. Zak Foulkes, 11. Jayden Lennox
Holkar Cricket Stadium Indore Pitch Report and Weather
Another run-fest appears on the cards in Indore. The ground is known for producing big totals, and the venue is expected to live up to its reputation.
Across the seven ODIs played at the venue, the average first-innings score stands at 331.7. Of those seven, five have been day-night ODIs, where the average first-innings score rises to 348.4. Much like Rajkot, data suggests that teams batting first have enjoyed greater success at the venue, with four of the five day-night ODIs being won by the side setting the total.
However, dew is expected to play a role during the evening, as Indore is witnessing misty conditions during mornings and nights.
“Final preparations for the pitch are on and we are doing the final touches. It will be a black soil pitch prepared at the centre of the stadium,” Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association chief pitch curator ManoharJamle said a couple of days ago. He added that the nature of the surface should once again favour scoring. “The Holkar Stadium pitch is famous for high-scoring games, and this one too is prepared for a run fiesta,” he said.
Source: Cricmetric
Left-arm orthodox spinners and wrist-spinners have been the most effective bowling types at this venue, while fast bowlers have struggled both to contain runs and take wickets.
The weather is expected to be ideal for cricket, with bright sunshine throughout the day.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for IND vs NZ 3rd ODI 2026 – Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Top wicketkeeper picks:
Devon Conway: After an early dismissal in Rajkot following a solid knock of 56 in Vadodara, Conway will want to finish the series on a high. He is the only top-order batter in the wicketkeeper category, and hence the safest bet.
KL Rahul: Although he bats lower down the order, he has scores of 29* (21) and 112* (92) in this series and is yet to be dismissed. He also now has a very high selection percentage, making it tough to leave him out of the team. However, if India are batting second, you could punt and leave him out.
Key batter picks:
Virat Kohli: Perhaps the law of averages caught up with Kohli as he was finally dismissed for a score under 50 after seven List A innings in Rajkot, but that only means the hundred he missed out on in Vadodara might be around the corner here in Indore.
Daryl Mitchell: The highest run-scorer of the series with 215 runs in two innings, he is the backbone of New Zealand’s ODI batting line-up and will be looking to propel the Kiwis to their maiden ODI series triumph on Indian soil.
Shubman Gill: The Indian skipper has eased into the series with consecutive scores of exactly 56 and has looked good on both occasions. He scored a century the last time India played in Indore and will be keen to replicate that in the series decider.
Rohit Sharma: He has made starts in both innings but has failed to convert them into big scores so far, something he will be keen to do in Indore.
Top allrounder picks:
Michael Bracewell: He bowled brilliantly to finish with figures of 10-1-34-1 in the second ODI, but the series is yet to see his batting pedigree. An odd wicket here and there, combined with his lower-order hitting, makes him a fine fantasy prospect.
Key bowler picks:
Harshit Rana: He bowls across all three phases of the game, is a genuine wicket-taker in ODI cricket, and is also steadily being groomed as a No. 8 batter, boosting his fantasy value compared to other Indian pacers.
Kyle Jamieson: The highest wicket-taker of the series, Jamieson is also the only bowler to average under 30 so far and has been a consistent threat, especially with the new ball. He is also the only bowler to have bowled multiple maidens in the series.
Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams
Shreyas Iyer: Like Gill, Shreyas also notched up a century the last time India played in Indore. He got a start in Vadodara but hasn’t scored big so far in this series and will be looking to end it on a high.
Kuldeep Yadav: Daryl Mitchell expertly nullified his threat in the last game, scoring 50 runs off him alone by stepping out, using sweeps and reverse sweeps, paddling, and essentially never letting him settle. He will once again be Kuldeep’s primary challenge. Even aside from that, there do appear to be some underlying concerns in Kuldeep’s bowling.
Glenn Phillips: His match-up against Kuldeep isn’t quite in his favour, but he can still be a dangerous lower-order batter, and as someone who can contribute in all three departments, he remains a viable selection for your team.
Mohammed Siraj: The leader of the pack, he has been the most economical bowler of the series and has probably been a little unlucky not to have more than two wickets to his name.
IND vs NZ 3rd ODI 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today
Top safe C/VC options: Virat Kohli, Daryl Mitchell, Shubman Gill
Top risky C/VC options: Shreyas Iyer, Devon Conway, Kuldeep Yadav
Given the likely nature of the pitch and conditions in Indore, it might be better to load your fantasy XI with more batters and all-rounders than bowlers.
I encourage you to build your own Fantasy XI using the insights provided in the article. Instead of giving you a ready-made team, I’ve offered a base team. Use it as a starting point to select the players you believe will lead you to victory!
Twice in recent years, Daryl Mitchell has stood between New Zealand and glory against India: a defiant 134 in the 2023 World Cup semi-final, nearly dragging his side to an improbable chase; and an unbeaten 131 in Rajkot to level an ODI series. He now has over 2,500 ODI runs at an average of 56.73 and is widely regarded as one of the world’s best ODI batters. Rewind the clock, though, and you find a player who waited patiently in the shadows. From teenage years in Western Australia to a decade spent grinding in New Zealand’s domestic circuit, Mitchell’s career has been defined by patience and resilience.
Daryl is the son of John Mitchell, a figure of immense stature in global rugby. John Mitchell’s career — as a relentless loose forward for Waikato and a coach for the All Blacks, England, the USA, and various Super Rugby franchises — created a home environment shaped by the ruthless standards of elite professional sport. Daryl has frequently cited his father’s career as a primary source of his own mental resilience.
Daryl Mitchell's ODI average since Jan 2024 is 65.06!
Only FM batter with 750 runs with an average over 60 in this period.
Daryl Mitchell’s Story: Early days in Australia has shaped his batting
The physical manifestation of this lineage is evident in Daryl’s nickname, “Moose”. Standing 6 ft 3 in with a broad, powerful frame, his athletic build resembles that of a rugby flanker more than a traditional cricketer. That physicality shows in his batting, built on a solid base and powerful forearms, much like a rugby player in contact.
When his father was coaching the Western Force in Perth, Mitchell spent five formative years in the Australian cricket system. He attended Hale School – a prestigious institution with a rich cricketing tradition – and played grade cricket under the leadership of Justin Langer for Scarborough Cricket Club. This period was instrumental in hardening Mitchell’s technique against pace and bounce. The WACA pitches, historically the fastest in the world, forced Mitchell to develop a robust backfoot game.
Daryl Mitchell represented Western Australia at the Under-19 and Under-23 levels and even trained at the Australian Centre of Excellence. This early exposure to cricket in Australia added a layer of steel to his character, though he has said that he “always” saw himself as a Kiwi despite the time spent there. When he returned to Hamilton in 2011 to join Northern Districts, he brought with him a hybrid cricketing identity: the humility of a Kiwi combined with the combative competitiveness of an Australian.
Meet Daryl Mitchell:
– Most ODI runs for NZ since debut – Most ODI runs since 2025 – Most runs at no.4 in ODIs since 2023 – 2nd Most runs by any non opener in ODIs since 2023 – Never scored a single Duck in his ODI career
How Daryl Mitchell’s six-hitting ability caught attention
Mitchell was initially categorised as a utility allrounder – a player capable of batting in the lower order and bowling decent medium pace. He averaged 54.53 in his second season, hinting at his potential, but struggled to maintain that consistency over time. His name shot to fame in the 2018/19 Super Smash season, where he amassed 323 runs and, more importantly, hit 19 sixes — the most by any batter that season — earning him the “Super Smash Player of the Year” award. Soon after, his unbeaten 170 vs Canterbury also caught the eye, showing the world that the T20 basher also possessed the defensive technique required for red-ball cricket.
However, he remained a fringe player on the sidelines, often carrying drinks for the national team and featuring only when senior players were unavailable. Around this period, he also made a move from Northern Districts to Canterbury in 2020.
2021 T20 World Cup: Mitchell’s turning point
The most dramatic and unexpected pivot in Mitchell’s career came at the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE. In a late tactical shift, Mitchell was pushed up to open the batting alongside Guptill — a position he had never occupied across his 116-match T20 career. He scored a crucial 49 off 35 against India, but the defining moment came in the semi-final.
Chasing 167 against England, Woakes removed Guptill and Williamson early. An 82-run fourth-wicket partnership followed between Conway and Mitchell, but the big man struggled to get going. When Conway was dismissed in the 14th over, Mitchell found himself on 36* off 31, with the pressure mounting as the required run rate crept close to 12.
Neesham teed off towards the end, bringing the equation down to 20 needed off the final 12 balls, leaving the weight of an entire nation on Daryl Mitchell’s shoulders. Mitchell backed his strengths. He sat deep in the crease, cleared his front leg, waited for the ball to arrive, and clobbered Woakes for two big sixes down the ground. In typical Daryl Mitchell fashion.
A year later, against the same team, Mitchell made history again. This time in a different format. He announced himself in Test cricket with a record-breaking series in England, smashing 538 runs in just three Tests at an average of 107.60, breaking Martin Donnelly’s 1949 record (462 runs) for the most runs by a New Zealander in a Test series in England. This series marked Mitchell’s transition from a “filling-in” all-rounder to a specialist middle-order batter of world-class pedigree.
Daryl Mitchell’s batting technique: The base of a strong game, especially in ODIs
The cornerstone of Mitchell’s batting, especially in white-ball cricket, is his vertical bat swing. He is extremely strong in the “V” down the ground, with notable power generated through his bottom hand. He also uses his reach brilliantly, which, combined with that strong bat swing, allows him to generate immense power even from lengths other batters might struggle against.
His reach makes him especially effective against spin, rare for a Kiwi batter. It allows him to get to the pitch of the ball and powerfully launch spinners down the ground for sixes. He can also score square of the wicket on both sides with sweeps and reverse sweeps, all of which makes it difficult for spinners to contain him or even set fields against him. He can also milk spinners effectively for singles. For this reason, he averages 67.4 against spin in ODI cricket.
Daryl Mitchell is easily one of the most cerebral cricketers going around, maximises his potential using his wonderful game awareness.
Case in point : One of the rare batters that is prepared to step down the wicket to spinners like Varun, Kuldeep etc.
ICC events seem to bring the best out of Daryl Mitchell. Much like in 2021, he was New Zealand’s standout performer at the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, scoring 552 runs and finishing as the tournament’s fifth-highest run-scorer. He smashed not one but two centuries against India, doing so against a red-hot Indian bowling unit when no other batter managed to score a hundred against them in the tournament.
Daryl Mitchell battled extreme conditions in Mumbai in the 2023 World Cup semi-final.
ODI cricket, in fact, has emerged as Daryl Mitchell’s best format. He even rose to the top of the ICC ODI batting rankings very recently – becoming the first Kiwi to do so since Glenn Turner in 1979 – and even now finds himself eerily close to the podium spot. As of now, with a 2,000-run cut-off, Mitchell’s ODI average is the second-best ever, just behind Virat Kohli. For any New Zealand player with a minimum of two innings, Mitchell’s ODI average in Asia (56.03) is the best ever.
There are few players in the world versatile enough to combine over 2,500 ODI runs at an average above 55, more than 2,000 Test runs at an average close to 45, and a T20 strike rate nearing 140 — all while remaining a useful option with the ball. Daryl Mitchell sits comfortably in that rare category.
Today, “Moose” doesn’t just fill a gap in the team sheet; he stands as a pillar of New Zealand’s team across formats one of the most complete players in the world.
