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Reactions: England pull off stunning win on awful Rawalpindi pitch

Cricket News: Reactions: England pull off stunning win on awful Rawalpindi pitch | England defy Rawalpindi pitch to beat Pakistan

Who would have thought that the highest-scoring five-day Test in history would be so thrilling? In further evidence of their revolution under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, England have pulled off one of their greatest victories on one of the poorest Test pitches in recent memory.

With light fading fast after the seamers inflicted all the damage, Jack Leach beat Naseem Shah’s inside edge to trap him in front and send England into delirium. Ollie Robinson (4/50) and the ageless James Anderson (4/36) were magnificent on an unforgiving pitch, while Ben Stokes (1/69) proved why he was a born leader.

Stokes’ brave declaration on day four with his team just 342 ahead breathed life into a Test that was on life support. On a Rawalpindi featherbed that resembled a day one surface right throughout the match, England’s seamers utilised reverse swing perfectly to pick up the seven of the eight wickets they needed on day five, while keeping Pakistan in check.

This indeed could be a watershed moment in Test history. With the game at a crossroads given international cricket’s hectic scheduling, England have provided a template on how to win on benign pitches. They scored at a rapid rate – the holders of the most runs ever on day one – to give themselves a shot at victory, and pulled it off some thanks to brilliant bowling and field placements.

Reactions: England pull off incredible win against Pakistan on flat Rawalpindi pitch

Here are some of the Twitter reactions to England’s magnificent victory. Remember, a number of their players were down with illness right before the match. Superb.

ALSO READ:

Will Pat Cummins play in the 2nd Test vs West Indies?

Cricket News: Will Pat Cummins play in the 2nd Test vs West Indies? | Pat Cummins speaks about his chances of playing 2nd Test

Australian skipper Pat Cummins said he is a good chance to bowl in the second Test vs West Indies after a small strain on his right quad prevented him from rolling his arm over in the second innings of the first match in Perth.

“If it [the match] got a bit tighter I was going to have a bowl, but I’m pretty happy I managed to not bowl to give myself a good chance,” Cummins was quoted in a report by the Sydney Morning Herald.

He added, “It’s just a small strain so normally about a one-weeker. If you bowl and make it worse it can make it longer, but I’ll spend the next few days rehabbing, getting it right and think it’s a pretty good chance I’ll be good for Adelaide.”

Australia’s second Test against the visiting Caribbean unit will commence on 8th December in Adelaide. Cummins will have to pass a fitness test to make it to the playing XI of that match. Pacer Scott Boland will replace him in the team in case he fails to do that. Steven Smith will be leading the side under such circumstances.

Australia need Pat Cummins to be fit for matches after 2nd Windies Test, too

Australia will face the touring South Africans for a three-match Test series before heading to India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after the conclusion of their on-going assignment against West Indies. These three series’ are critical for Australia’s prospects of qualifying for the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23.

They are currently placed at the top of the standings. Post that, they will have to prepare for the One Day International (ODI) World Cup in India in October 2023. Cummins has acknowledged the necessity to manage his workload amidst such a tiring international schedule. The fast bowler also pulled out of the 16th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) citing the same reason.

“I don’t really want to turn a one-week injury into a three- or four-week injury and you potentially miss the summer. So we’ll weigh all that up. As I said, I felt pretty comfortable out there. Give it a few days. It already feels pretty good,” Cummins explained.

He further quipped, “The physio might be less optimistic, but I think I’ll be fine. I’m sure I’ll have running and a bit of bowling to make sure I’m right.”

Australia won the first Test vs West Indies by 164 runs, overcoming some stern Windies resistance to win on the fifth day. Top-order batsman Marnus Labuschagne was adjudged as the ‘Player of the Match’ for his 204 runs in the first innings and an unbeaten knock of 104 runs in the second one.

KL Rahul unsure why Rishabh Pant was released from ODI squad

Cricket News: KL Rahul unsure why Rishabh Pant was released from ODI squad | KL Rahul speaks after BAN vs IND 1st ODI

Indian vice-captain KL Rahul has revealed that he is unaware of why wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was released from the One Day International (ODI) squad for the series vs Bangladesh as the former donned the gloves in the first match in Mirpur on Sunday.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Rahul explained that batting in the middle-order and keeping the wickets are roles that he has always been asked to be prepared for in the 50-over format. The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain, who top-scored with 73 off 70 in an otherwise disappointing loss for India, pointed that he had carried out these responsibilities in 2020 as well.

“Actually, we haven’t played a lot of ODIs in the last 6-7 months, but if you look at since 2020 or 21, I have kept wickets in the one-day format and I have batted at number four and five in the middle order,” Rahul said as he addressed the media after Bangladesh won the opening ODI by putting up a partnership of over 50 runs for the last wicket.

ALSO READ: KL Rahul press conference after BAN vs IND 1st ODI – all the quotes

He added, “It’s a role that the team has asked me to do before, and when it comes to Rishabh, I’m not really aware to be honest. I just found out today in the dressing room that he has been released. I don’t know what the reasons are; the medical team will be in a better position to answer that question.”

Rahul has in fact batted at number five in 11 innings, i.e. 25 per cent of his total number of times that he has batted in ODI cricket. He averages a fantastic 58.44 with a strike rate of 112.39 in the position with five half-centuries and a ton to his name. In fact, his highest score in ODIs, i.e. 112, came whilst batting at number five against New Zealand at Bay Oval in February 2020. The team management certainly found it appropriate to try him out in this role in the absence of Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant.

Regarding Pant, Rahul disclosed that there was an air of uncertainty over his release form the squad and refrained from divulging further details regarding the same.

“This is a role that the team has always has asked me to be ready for in white-ball cricket. I’ve done it before, and whenever the team wants me to play this role, I will play this role,” the 30-year-old quipped. He added, “I didn’t seem him [Pant] in the dressing room. We asked what happened and he has been released, but we had to focus on the game, so we did not ask too many questions.”

Rahul is likely to play at number five for the remainder of the series as well. The second and third ODIs of the series will be played in Mirpur and Chattogram on Wednesday and Saturday respectively.

What is the IPL Impact Player rule & how does it work?

Cricket News: What is the IPL Impact Player rule & how does it work? | Details about the IPL Impact Player rule

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to introduce the ‘impact player’ system in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 2023 onwards. The tactical substitution concept will allow captains to replace a member of the playing XI with another player from the bench during the course of the game itself.

The topic was brought up in discussion during a meeting of the IPL Governing Council on Thursday and the franchises have been sent a note regarding the same as well.

IPL Impact Player rule details

Any team will be allowed to name four pre-decided substitutes and one of them can be introduced to the field. However, this change to the playing XI can only be made by or before the end of the 14th over of a team’s innings.

The impact player can only be brought in at the end of an over. There is an exception though. Provided that there is an injury in either team, the player could be introduced to the field after the fall of a wicket as well.

The player brought into the game freshly can bat and even bowl his entire quota of overs. On the other hand, the subbed out will be disallowed from taking any further part in the game, even not in the capacity of a substituted fielder.

“From IPL 2023 Season, a tactical/strategic concept will be introduced to add a new dimension to IPL, wherein one substitute player per team will be able to take a more active part in an IPL match. The regulations pertaining to the same will be issued shortly,” a note from the BCCI read, as reported by Business Today.

“The matter has been discussed at the IPL GC meeting and BCCI will share the details soon,” a source from an IPL franchise was quoted in a report by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

The BCCI had incidentally introduced this rule in the recently-concluded season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Indian domestic cricket’s premier T20 competition, last month.

BAN vs IND 1st ODI – KL Rahul press conference: His form, Pant & more

Cricket News: BAN vs IND 1st ODI – KL Rahul press conference: His form, Pant & more | Transcript of KL Rahul press conference

Freelance journalist Tawhid Qureshi, who is in Bangladesh covering India’s tour for CricBlog, was at the KL Rahul press conference following the home side’s thrilling win.

KL Rahul press conference transcript

Below is the transcript of the Rahul press conference, which includes Bangladesh’s tight win, his form and Rishabh Pant’s removal from the squad.

On Bangladesh’s tight win…

KL Rahul: “That’s cricket, right? You have to expect the unexpected sometimes. We’ve seen it so many times; as long as cricket has been played I think these kinds of results keep happening. You’ve never won the game until the last ball or until the last run has been scored.

They [Bangladesh] fought really well, fought till the end. That innings from Mehidy… a couple of dropped chances as well, but he batted really well. Like I said, they fought till the end and they wanted it.”

On his innings of 73 off 70 balls…

KL Rahul: “It was just one of those days where out of everybody else I looked like I was timing the ball better, and the shots that I picked fortunately for me went to the boundary or every option that I took just went my way. Something that I’ve been working on even the last couple of sessions that we’ve been here in Bangladesh; the pitches even at the back have been quite similar to what we got in the middle today, so I tried to challenge myself.

All the preparation obviously happens before the game. Quite pleased with such innings; it really gives you joy as a batter because you are challenged and you have to really put your hand up when your team requires.

I enjoyed my batting today, but I ideally would have liked 30-40 more runs towards the end. I did fancy 230, 240. If I batted till the end… Siraj was batting well with me, so if I could have batted another ten overs and got 35-40 runs, it would have been the difference.”

On Mehidy’s innings and India’s mistakes…

KL Rahul: “Towards the end, it was only one way they [Bangladesh] could have won. I think Mehidy Hasan [Miraz] played a phenomenal innings and he took a few chances… took some big risks, which he had to at the end; he had to take those big risks and play those big shots. He found the boundary and when you only have 30-35 runs, one or two big shots also puts pressure on the opposition, and he did that really well.

Also, a couple of dropped chances didn’t help us. It happens in cricket and today I think Bangladesh like I said fought really hard until the end, and they’ve won the game today, but we made a few mistakes, so we’ll learn from it and come back stronger.”

On whether he feels Bangladesh understands ODI cricket better than other formats…

KL Rahul: “This is home for them so obviously playing here they understand their conditions a lot better. I don’t know, I haven’t played too many one-day games against Bangladesh. I’ve only played a few games… I remember 2019 World Cup, and I haven’t played against them too many times to answer that question.

But, whatever we’ve watched on TV and how they play at home, they obviously understand their conditions really well and they’re a really good team at home. Even away, they have always been a competitive team, and they challenge the opposition. Every team at this level is a good team and will always challenge each other. It’s international level, you have to be good to be at this level.”

On India’s injuries and depth…

KL Rahul: “Yes we do have a lot of injuries in our team which is unfortunate. But, having said that, the youngsters in the team have a lot of experience. Maybe IPL and they’ve played quite a lot of cricket, so it’s a good opportunity for them, and they’re all excited for whoever comes into the team. These are the games where you try out a few new players and unfortunately due to injuries, you have to field different players.

Having said that, it’s a good opportunity for all of them. We will learn as we play more cricket together, as they get more experienced, they’ll only get better. It’s all a learning experience, and we have a bigger goal in mind, and we need to keep getting better as individuals and as a team.”

On Rishabh Pant’s removal from the ODI squad and India’s keeping role…

KL Rahul: “Actually, we haven’t played a lot of ODIs in the last 6-7 months, but if you look at since 2020 or 21, I have kept wickets in the one-day format and I have batted at number four and five in the middle order. It’s a role that the team has asked me to do before, and when it comes to Rishabh, I’m not really aware to be honest. I just found out today in the dressing room that he has been released. I don’t know what the reasons are; the medical team will be in a better position to answer that question.

This is a role that the team has always has asked me to be ready for in white-ball cricket. I’ve done it before, and whenever the team wants me to play this role, I will play this role.

I didn’t see him [Pant] in the dressing room. We asked what happened and he has been released, but we had to focus on the game, so we did not ask too many questions.”

List of players with base price of 2 crore in IPL 2023 Auction

Cricket News: List of players with base price of 2 crore in IPL 2023 Auction | Players with 1, 1.5 and 2 crore base price

The auction for the 16th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to be held in Kochi on 23 December. A total of 991 players have put their name in the pool, which includes 185 internationally capped cricketers and a whopping 786 uncapped ones. 20 players belonging to associate cricketing nations have also put their name in the list.

Out of them, only 19 are capped Indian players whereas there are 166 capped international stars. There are 94 uncapped cricketers, including merely three foreigners, who were a part of the previous seasons of the IPL. 604 uncapped Indians make up for almost two-thirds of the entire auction pool but it remains to be seen whether they attract abundant interest from the franchises as most teams have only minor gaps to plug this time around. 

Here, let us see a breakdown of the players according to the price bracket that they have placed themselves in.

Rs 2 crore

Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Tymal Mills, Jamie Overton, Craig Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Ben Stokes, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Kane Williamson, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Rilee Rossouw, Rassie van der Dussen, Angelo Mathews, Jason Holder, Nicholas Pooran

The Rs 2 crore price band includes a host of England internationals who lifted the T20 World Cup in Australia this year. However, the key attraction will be in-form all-rounders like Sam Curran, Ben Stokes, Cameron Green and even Jason Holder to an extent. New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and Caribbean star Nicholas Pooran, both released by the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), are a part of this list as well.

Rs 1.5 crore

Sean Abott, Riley Meredith, Jhye Richardson, Adam Zampa, Shakib Al Hasan, Harry Brook, Will Jacks, Dawid Malan, Jason Roy, Sherfane Rutherford

The Rs 1.5 crore bracket has some interesting games of players who are arguably unlikely to get picked by any of the sides in the auction. Most teams are already packed with their share of international stars and there are fewer probabilities of them going after names who aren’t necessarily big guns especially in a mini auction. The likes of Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Shakib al Hasan and Sherfane Rutherford amongst others from this pool might not be the right fit for most of the teams under current circumstances and could very well end up being unsold at the end of the entire process.

Rs 1 crore

Mayank Agarwal, Kedar Jadhav, Manish Pandey, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Moises Henriques, Andrew Tye, Joe Root, Luke Wood, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Heinrich Klaasen, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kusal Perera, Roston Chase, Rakheem Cornwall, Shai Hope, Akeal Hossein, David Wiese

Meanwhile, the Rs 1 crore bracket comprises players who have a fairly better chance of being in the wishlist of multiple franchises’. For example, ex-Punjab Kings skipper Mayank Agarwal could be a great addition to the top-order of certain teams like SRH and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) whereas Manish Pandey, Kyle Jamieson, Rakheem Cornwall are some of the other names to keep an eye out on.

Afghan stars like Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb ur Rahman can find some takers as well as Joe Root has also put his name in the mix after opting out of the auction for the last few years.

But overall, most teams are likely to target players belonging to the topmost bracket of Rs 2 crore along with inboarding some promising young stars who have made heads turn with their consistent and impressive performances in the on-going domestic season.

BAN vs IND 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

BAN vs IND 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs IND 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Mirpur Pitch Report

As a large contingent of Bangladeshis follow the likes of Argentina and Brazil in the ongoing FIFA World Cup, their national cricket side will do battle against India in what is often an intriguing battle in the ODI format.

One of those battles was a memorable series for Bangladesh in 2015. Led by Mustafizur Rahman who had burst onto the scene with his cutters, the Tigers sealed a 2-1 win against a full-strength India team. Since then, Bangladesh have continued to be solid in ODI cricket, qualifying for the 2023 World Cup with ease thanks to series wins even away from home against South Africa and West Indies earlier this year.

For India, there is the need to nail combinations as well as understand their bench strength. They were poor in the ODIs in New Zealand recently, but the return of a few key players is a welcome boost in conditions that will be similar to those in next year’s World Cup.

Rohit Sharma’s team start as favourites, but Bangladesh are a chance. When it comes to ODIs on home soil, the Tigers are a tough nut to crack.

BAN vs IND 1st ODI Possible Playing XIs

Captain Tamim Iqbal has been ruled out of the series due to an injury. Details here. So, Litton Das should open.

Also, Taskin Ahmed is out of the first ODI at least due to a back injury.

Bangladesh: 1. Anamul Haque, 2. Litton Das, 3. Shakib Al Hasan, 4. Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5. Mahmudullah, 6. Afif Hossain, 7. Mosaddek Hossain/Yasir Ali, 8. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9. Hasan Mahmud, 10. Ebadot Hossain, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli are all back in the India ODI squad. Given that Hardik Pandya is rested, India may go into this match with just the five bowling options. Umran Malik has replaced Mohammed Shami in the squad.

India: 1. Rohit Sharma (c), 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Virat Kohli, 4. Shreyas Iyer, 5. KL Rahul, 6. Rishabh Pant (wk), 7. Washington Sundar, 8. Axar Patel, 9. Deepak Chahar, 10. Shardul Thakur/Umran Malik, 11. Mohammed Siraj

BAN vs IND ODI Head-to-Head Stats & Key Players to Watch

Bangladesh:

  • Shakib Al Hasan returns to ODI cricket. The all-rounder has right half-centuries in 17 innings against India, with a total of 591 runs at an average of 36.93.
  • Shakib is the third-highest run-scorer in ODIs at Mirpur. He has scored 2,553 runs at an average of 38.10 and strike rate of 85.04, along with 122 wickets.
  • Litton Das has had a terrific year in ODIs. He has struck 500 runs in ten matches at an average of 62.50 and strike rate of 85.91. This includes four 50s and one century.
  • However, Litton has a poor record in ODIs at the Shere Bangla National Stadium: 15 inns, 233 runs, avg. 15.53, SR 65.63.
  • Mushfiqur Rahim vs India: 21 inns, 628 runs, avg. 34.88, SR 76.02. Also, Rahim has the second-most runs in ODIs at Mirpur: 86 inns, 2,616 runs, avg. 36.33, SR 79.65.
  • Mustafizur Rahman loves bowling on this ground. The left-arm seamer has taken 47 wickets in just 21 ODIs at an average of 14.12 and strike rate of 21.4.
  • Mehidy Hasan Miraz also has good numbers at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. In nine matches, the off-spinner has taken 18 wickets at an average of 18.22 and economy of 3.82. However, how effective he will be remains to be seen given India have a lot of right-handers.

India:

  • Virat Kohli has enjoyed a fine 2022 in white-ball cricket. He will be looking to finish the year with a bang against a team whom he loves playing against: 12 inns, 680 runs, avg. 75.55, SR 99.27.
  • Also, Virat has a magnificent record on this ground: 13 inns, 786 runs, avg. 78.60, SR 98.86. He has hit an incredible four hundreds and three fifties.
  • Rohit Sharma is in need of runs. The skipper also has good numbers against Bangladesh: 13 inns, 660 runs, avg. 60.00, SR 93.35.
  • Shreyas Iyer has been a shining light for India in ODIs this year. The right-hander has scored 615 runs in 12 innings at an average of 61.50 and strike rate of 95.49.
  • KL Rahul has struck four fifties and a century in ten innings at number five in ODIs. Overall, he has scored 453 runs at an average of 56.63 and strike rate of 113.82 in this position.
  • Washington Sundar struck scores of 37* (15) and 51 (64) against New Zealand. He will also be key against Bangladesh’s left-handers, namely Shakib and Afif Hossain.
  • Mohammed Siraj has had a strong year in ODIs. In 12 matches, the seamer has taken 18 wickets at an average of 24.00 and economy of 4.45.

Other Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 36, Bangladesh 5, India 30, 1 N/R.
  • India have won the last five ODIs between the teams.
  • Rohit Sharma in ODIs at Shere Bangla National Stadium: 10 inns, 297 runs, avg. 33.00, SR 80.92, three 50s.
  • Shikhar Dhawan has struck three fifties in five ODIs on this ground. Overall against Bangladesh, Dhawan has scored 317 runs in eight matches at an average of 39.62 and strike rate of 88.05.
  • Mahmudullah is averaging 59.80 in 10 ODI knocks this year (299 runs). At Mirpur, he has scored 1,773 runs at an average of 35.46 and strike rate of 79.04.

Shere Bangla National Stadium Mirpur Dhaka Pitch Report and Weather

Perfect weather is forecast in Mirpur, with sunny conditions and a top of about 29 degrees.

The Mirpur pitch is often tough to bat on in T20Is, but offers more opportunity for strokeplay in ODIs. In the last five ODIs since the start of 2021, the average first innings score is 211.8, brought down significantly by a second-string West Indies who made scores of 122 and 148.

In the ODI series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in 2021, the average first innings score was 263. The team batting first won all three matches. But, there is a strong chance of dew given this match is in December.

BAN vs IND 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today 4 December 2022

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 (To be updated. Replace Shami with Chahar or Malik):

BAN vs IND 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs IND 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Mirpur Pitch Report | Dream11 Prediction Today | BAN vs IND 1st ODI Fantasy | BAN vs IND Pitch Report Today
BAN vs IND 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

BAN vs IND 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs IND 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Mirpur Pitch Report | Dream11 Prediction Today | BAN vs IND 1st ODI Fantasy | BAN vs IND Pitch Report Today
BAN vs IND 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base Team:

  • Wicket-Keepers: Mushfiqur Rahim
  • Batsmen: Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer
  • All-Rounders: Shakib Al Hasan
  • Bowlers: Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammed Siraj

BAN vs IND 1st ODI Match Prediction: Who will win?

This has the makings of an interesting clash. India, with their batting experience, should win. But, don’t be surprised if Bangladesh get a good score should India play with five bowlers.

Why is Tamim Iqbal out of the BAN vs IND ODI series?

Cricket News: Why is Tamim Iqbal out of the BAN vs IND ODI series? | Tamim Iqbal ruled out of BAN vs IND ODI series

Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal has been ruled out of the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series against India due to a groin injury. The setback has also put in doubt his participation in the Test series between the two countries slated to start off from 14th December in Chattogram.

The 33-year-old suffered this injury during a warm-up match on Wednesday. “Tamim has a Grade 1 strain on his right groin which has been confirmed following an MRI. We will maintain a conservative treatment protocol for him for two weeks after which his rehab will begin.”

“Unfortunately it means he will not be available for the ODI series and will be doubtful for the Test series,” Bangladesh team physio Beyjedul Islam Khan was quoted in a report by ESPNcricinfo.

Tamim Iqbal joins Taskin Ahmed on the sidelines

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has called up Shoriful Islam from their ‘A’ squad as a back-up for Iqbal. The board hasn’t named a replacement for the southpaw yet but the squad will be regretting another key player biting the dust for this ODI series after Taskin Ahmed was ruled out of the first ODI on 4th December in Mirpur due to a back injury.

The 27-year-old pacer has been taking a pain-killer injection to cure the injury that he suffered during a Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) match on 20th November.

This follows the shoulder setback that ruled him out of international action earlier this year. Ahmed has come up as a prominent force in the pace bowling department since his comeback to international cricket in 2021. In 2022, he has taken 12 wickets in nine ODIs at an impressive economy rate of 4.88.

The first two ODIs will be played in Mirpur on 4th and 7th December, with the final one to be played in Chattogram on 10th December.

Talent or hard work? The key to becoming a good cricketer

Whenever we think about great cricket players like Sir Don Bradman, Brian Lara, Sir Viv Richards, or any other exceptional cricketer, we always think if they had any special talents or was hard work enough to make them among the greatest players of all time. It is a long debate, and everyone has different views about it. So, we will elaborate on a few points to clarify what it requires to be a good cricket player.

The importance of talent for a cricketer

Talent is important in a cricketer’s life as it gives a smooth head start. When a player is born gifted with a special talent, they can perform well in that part of the game. For instance, it can be a special batting shot or bowling action.

Additionally, this talent helps selectors to identify the better players in the early stages of their cricketing careers. Coaches can create great players by selecting the talented ones and polishing them.

What is the importance of hard work in a cricketer’s life?

Talent might be important in a cricket player’s life, but hard work is also very important. Even when a player is not born gifted with a special talent, he or she can still achieve some skills through hard work that polishes their abilities.

All players need the right coaching, and they can improve significantly by working hard. However, it needs more input from the players when they don’t have a god-gifted talent. Hard work will push a player to the limits of the best performance.

Your daily routine never stays the same

Speaking of hard work in a cricket player’s life, it is not only about them playing. Good cricketers must work hard throughout their day. Here are some routine activities that every hard-working cricketer follows during the day:

  • Body workout for 2 hours
  • Working on cricketing skills for 3 hours
  • Monitoring sleeping time
  • Monitoring diet, etc.

Is there anything else that you need from talent and hard work?

You might have the talent, hardwork or both. To become a good cricketer, these may not be enough. Sometimes, it becomes the state of mind that overcomes physical abilities. So, having the following is necessary for everyone who wants to be a good cricket player:

  • Passion for the sport
  • Determination to achieve the success
  • Talent and hard work
  • Dedication and commitment to yourself

When you combine your physical abilities, talent, and hard work, with a state of mind, determination, and passion, there will be no stopping you.

Bonus Tip:

It is important that you always stay positive and motivated. There will be some good days and some bad days in your career. With a positive mindset and necessary motivation, you can use your skills and abilities to their fullest and perform well.

Final Verdict

Some cricket players are born gifted with a special talent, while some are self-polished players. However, it is safe to say that nobody is born in their best form. While talented players get a slight edge in their early days, if they work hard enough, they can also achieve the same heights of success. Lastly, talented ones who use hard work to polish themselves are always the best.

5 incredible records England broke on day 1 vs Pakistan

Cricket News: 5 incredible records England broke on day one vs Pakistan | Records for England on day 1 of Rawalpindi Test

Test cricket on flat pitches are often forgotten in a hurry. How many of you remember the bore draw between Pakistan and Australia at Rawalpindi earlier this year?

However, England’s first day of Test cricket in Pakistan since 2005 was one that will be remembered for years to come. Under the guidance of the attacking Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, England’s batsmen produced a record-breaking day to leave Pakistan in a position where they can only scramble for survival.

5 records England broke on day 1 of Rawalpindi Test vs Pakistan

England belted 506/4 in just 75 overs in a merciless display. Along the way, they broke some incredible, long-standing Test records. Here are some.

Most runs scored on day 1 of a Test match

In scoring 506, England set a new record for the most runs scored on day one of a Test. They went past Australia’s 494/6 against South Africa, set way back in 1910.

ALSO READ: List of most runs scored on day one of a Test match

Most hundreds on day 1 of a Test

In over a century of Test cricket, never before had four centuries been scored on the first day. Zak Crawley (122), Ben Duckett (107), Ollie Pope (108) and Harry Brook (101*) all passed three figures. Out of the four, only Duckett finished with a strike rate below 100; a meagre 97.27. How dare he.

Most runs scored in the opening session of a Test

England’s newest Test opening combination wasted no time in setting the record straight. After slamming 174 runs in the opening session, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett set a new world record for most runs scored in the first session of a match.

Fastest double-century opening stand in Tests

Crawley and Duckett weren’t done. They hit 233 for the opening wicket at an incredible run rate of 6.53. This is the fastest double-century stand for the first wicket in history, going past Australia’s 6.29 by Joe Burns and David Warner against New Zealand in 2015.

In that game, Australia went into their second innings with a massive lead of 239.

Fastest century by an England opener

After months of difficulties, Crawley enjoyed one of his best days. In bringing up his century off just 86 balls, he became the holder of the fastest Test hundred by an England opener in history.

Harry Brook also had a blinder, achieving England’s third-fastest century in any position (80 balls).