Cricket News: Twitter reactions to Virat Kohli finally reaching his 71st century | Virat Kohli 71st century reactions: fans, players, pundits praise the star player
Indian stalwart Virat Kohli finally notched his 71st international century after a nearly three-year wait since his last ton. The former skipper scored 122 runs off 61 deliveries against Afghanistan in the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday.
Opening the batting in the absence of Rohit Sharma, Kohli remained unbeaten in a knock that brought a sigh of relief to millions of fans of the Indian cricket team.
The 34-year-old has appeared to be in good touch throughout the Asia Cup but he finally broke from his shackles to bag 12 boundaries and six sixes in an innings laden with flair and flamboyance.
The cricketing world reacted vehemently to Kohli’s knock as several stars, ex-players and noted personalities showered praise on him for finally reaching his much-awaited milestone.
You can delay class all you want to, don't even think of denying it. That ton? Worth it's weight in gold. That smile? Priceless. Shine on, champ. @imVkohli
It’s been a while, but happy to see Virat Kohli back in international century scoring mode. First T20i hundred, and hopefully a precursor to bigger tasks ahead.
Virat Kohli said, "communication from Rohit Sharma and team management was clear to let me bat. The space everyone gave me, kept me relaxed in that phase".
Virat Kohli to Bhuvneshwar Kumar after yesterday's century – "Abhi baki hai cricket (Cricket is still left in me)" – Virat Kohli is True Champion, True Fighter.pic.twitter.com/tyKu4qGmMK
Current and former Pakistan players also praise Virat Kohli on notching up 71st ton
There was a lot of talk about Kohli getting back into his groove prior to the Asia Cup. He had drawn support from several Pakistani cricketers with Babar Azam even putting out a tweet regarding the same last month. Quite a few players from across the border yet again put out their tweets of assurance and appreciation as soon as Kohli brought up his century against the Afghans.
Overall, India capped off a convincing 101-run victory in their final game of the tournament. The Indian team has endured a disappointing campaign and were knocked out of the competition owing to their consecutive losses in the Super-4 stage.
However, Kohli’s form was a major talking point heading into the Asia Cup and the management can take solace from those concerns being answers over the course of the last five games. Under-fire pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar too delivered excellent figures of 4-1-4-5 as he helped wipe off the Afghan batting line-up to secure a consolation victory for the team.
The future of cricket is one of the hottest topics in the game right now. Amplified by the rise of T20 leagues, international retirements and crammed scheduling, conversations around cricket’s future are almost impossible to miss.
To get a feel of what fans believe the future looks like, CricBlog ran a poll focusing on cricket’s current landscape plus what the game will look like in 15 years, including leagues, Olympics and Test cricket.
Future of cricket: Where do fans see the game in the next 10-15 years?
Out of over 4,700 respondents, 37.4% believed that cricket will be a regular feature in the Olympic games. This is the case for 2028 in Los Angeles, and the hope is that cricket continues to be a part of the Olympics.
44% of respondents expect women’s cricket to go from strength to strength. The Women’s IPL kicked off in 2023, and will see the game flourish even more as the best cricketers from India and around the world compete. Also, with the WBBL achieving record numbers in 2021, fans expect to see more women’s leagues around the world.
Also, 75% of respondents believe that IPL franchise owners can hold more power than cricket boards in the future. In April 2023, a report suggested that such owners have approached England players to offer lucrative T20 contracts for millions of pounds per year, making franchises the players’ employer rather than boards or county. Plus, Cricket South Africa is set to take a weakened Test squad to New Zealand as the SA 20 is prioritised given the investment in the league from IPL franchise owners.
Future of Test cricket safe for now in the eyes of the fans
A huge 89.3% of respondents said that Test cricket will still be alive in 2038. The game’s most traditional format, which has delivered endless memories over the years, is also at a crossroads given the rise of domestic leagues around the world. However, fans believe the format still has a place as it is the ultimate test of skill and can balance out the incredible pace at which white-ball cricket moves.
But, Tests are expensive to host for boards around the world. Whether they are financially feasible enough for nations other than England, Australia and India remains to be seen. Perhaps there is a need for the ICC to step in and make Test cricket as accessible as possible for fans. In fact, a number of respondents said there must be a more equal distribution of funds to ensure Tests are financially feasible for nations. Other respondents called for more day/night Tests, more affordable tickets, a reduction in T20Is and better marketing.
Some key Test cricket findings:
46.12% of respondents called for the away team to make a decision to bat or bowl first.
25.11% said less white-ball bilaterals will allow for more build up to and excitement for Tests.
17.36% are in support of four-day Tests.
Will ODI cricket survive the next 10-15 years?
Also 65% of respondents believe that the IPL and T20 leagues will take up 6-9 months of the year. As a result, such a crammed calendar leaves international cricket in a vulnerable place. A number of players, including Usman Khawaja, Moeen Ali and Ravichandran Ashwin, have spoken of the threat facing One Day Internationals (ODIs).
A number of players have retired from ODIs and many others skip series which has prompted even greater discussion as to how ODIs fit in the calendar going forward. While there are plenty of one dayers scheduled in the 2023-27 FTP, 31.9% of respondents believe there will be no more ODIs in the next 10-15 years.
Also, 49.1% of respondents said ODI cricket should go if they had to drop a format to reduce pressure on scheduling, compared to 42.2% for T20Is and just 8.7% for Tests.
Some key ODI cricket findings:
58.47% of respondents said that limiting the number of T20 Internationals will revitalise ODI cricket.
38.76% said there needs to be more set windows for ODIs throughout the year.
36.85% called for more sporting wickets that seam and spin.
29.92% believe only one ball should be used rather than one from each end.
SLK vs BR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: CPL 2022 Match 11 | SLK vs BR Dream11 Prediction Today | St Lucia Pitch Report
Welcome back, Barbados Royals. After two lean seasons after their triumph in 2019, the Royals have won three from three, led by the all-round brilliance of Kyle Mayers. Also, skipper David Miller’s excellent year is continuing, making for a top order to die for alongside Quinton de Kock. Trinbago Knight Riders were the team to feel the heat most recently, conceding 194/4 with the top three scoring 156 on their own.
St Lucia Kings, who went down to Barbados earlier this year, need a win to solidify their position in the top four. In that game, they crumbled to Mayers, with Faf du Plessis (47* off 20) and Alzarri Joseph (29* off 18) turning things around to eventually just fall short by 11 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method.
St Lucia Kings: 1. Johnson Charles, 2. Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 3. Faf du Plessis (c), 4. Ackeem Auguste, 5. Roston Chase, 6. Tim David, 7. Roshon Primus, 8. David Wiese, 9. Alzarri Joseph, 10. Scott Kuggeleijn, 11. Jeavor Royal
Barbados Royals: 1. Kyle Mayers, 2. Quinton de Kock (wk), 3. David Miller (c), 4. Azam Khan, 5. Corbin Bosch/Harry Tector, 6. Jason Holder, 7. Devon Thomas, 8. Justin Greaves, 9. Hayden Walsh, 10. Obed McCoy, 11. Oshane Thomas
SLK vs BR Head-to-Head Stats & Key Players
St Lucia Kings:
Johnson Charles was player of the match yesterday against Jamaica thanks to his 39-ball 62. The opener has the second-most runs on this ground, with 728 at an average of 30.33 and strike rate of 135.32.
Faf du Plessis struck 47* off 20 balls against Royals earlier this season. Overall against the Royals, du Plessis has scored 181 runs in four matches at an average of 60.33 and strike rate of 152.39. This includes 84* last season.
It has been a slow start to the season for Roston Chase (25 runs, 0 wickets). In five matches against Royals since the start of 2020, Chase has scored 72 runs at an average of 18.00 and taken four wickets.
In 48 white-ball matches this year, Tim David has hammered 1,034 runs at an average of 27.90 and superb strike rate of 175.9. Last year against Royals, David hit scores of 34 and 13 at a strike rate of 162.07.
David Wiese took 5/25 against Royals last season. Last match, he took two wickets in the final over, and he will be key at the death once again.
Alzarri Joseph (7 wickets in 3 matches) and Scott Kuggeleijn (6 wickets in 3 matches) are two of the top three wicket-takers so far in CPL 2021. Joseph is conceding just 6.25 per over, and includes figures of 2/31 vs Royals.
Barbados Royals:
Kyle Mayers is having a season to remember. He is the leading run-scorer (161), with two fifties in three matches at a strike rate of 157.84. Also, he took a memorable 4/4 against St Lucia earlier this season. He dismissed Charles, Deyal, Chase and Primus in two overs.
David Miller has made a mark on CPL 2022. The skipper smashed 60 off 36 balls against TKR yesterday. This year, Miller has scored 766 runs in 32 innings at an average of 42.56 and strike rate of 139.27.
In T20 leagues this year, Quinton de Kock has hit 691 runs at an average of 30.00 and strike rate of 136.6.
Jason Holder has the equal-most wickets in SLK-BR matches (11) at an average of 33.27 and economy of 8.82. He has also scored 172 runs against St Lucia at an average of 28.67 and excellent strike rate of 150.88.
In 25 T20 matches in 2022, Obed McCoy has taken an impressive 44 wickets at an average of 18.29 and strike rate of 12.05.
Other Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 19, Barbados 12, St Lucia 7.
The Royals are the only unbeaten team so far in CPL 2022.
St Lucia Gros Islet Pitch Report and Weather
Yesterday, Barbados smashed 194/4 batting first, and won easily against TKR by 80 runs on the D/L method. In the following game, St Lucia chased 164, but had their issues as Faf du Plessis, Ackeem Auguste and Roston Chase were all dismissed cheaply.
A relatively clear evening is forecast. Expect the captain who wins the toss to choose to chase.
SLK vs BR Dream11 Prediction Today 8 September 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.
CPL 2022 Match 11: SLK vs BR Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
CPL 2022 Match 11: SLK vs BR Dream11 Prediction
Fan2Play Prediction
Base Team:
Wicket-Keepers: Quinton de Kock
Batsmen: Faf du Plessis, David Miller, Kyle Mayers
All-Rounders: Jason Holder, David Wiese
Bowlers: Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy
CPL 2022 Match 11 SLK vs BR Match Prediction: Who Will Win?
This should be a cracker. St Lucia look to have a more experienced middle order, but Barbados have the form. The Royals to win.
Cricket News: Shami sitting at home baffles me – Ravi Shastri | Shastri says India should pick Mohammed Shami in T20I squad
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has expressed bafflement at Mohammed Shami’s exclusion from the Indian T20I squad. Shastri claimed that the side needed an additional element amongst the pacers amidst the prevalent playing conditions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Rohit Sharma-led side headed into the Asia Cup with three frontline pacers in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh. Hardik Pandya has been slotted in as the third or fourth-choice fast-bowler according to the team combination. However, Avesh’s illness meant that Hardik has had to come in as the third pacer for the majority of the competition.
The management had the choice of calling in Deepak Chahar as Avesh’s replacement given that the former has been training with the squad. However, they opted to wait for the Lucknow Super Giant (LSG) pacer to recover. Shastri has hit hard on the think-tank for ignoring Shami as he said, “When you need to win, you got to prepare better. I think the selection could have been better, especially for the fast bowlers. You know the conditions here. There’s not much in it for the spinners. I was quite surprised that you came here with just four fast bowlers [including Hardik].”
I’m seeing something different for Shami to be ignored – Shastri
He added, “You needed that extra one… Someone like Mohammed Shami sitting at home and cooling his heels baffles me. After the IPL he had, for him not to be able to make the cut is… Obviously, I’m seeing something different.”
Shami has not been involved in the team’s scheme of things in the T20I format ever since last year’s World T20. He was the leading wicket-taker (20) for champions Gujarat Titans in the previous edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, Shami’s economy in the powerplay (6.62) was a stark contrast to the same in death overs (9.63). India’s issues in the last two games have mainly been concerned around a lack of incisiveness towards the fag end of the innings. Yet, Shastri was adamant that Shami’s presence could have worked in India’s favour as well.
“No one ever wishes to sit out. Of course, there is something called workload management. I would agree with it, to an extent, but at times I think there are some minus points in it as well. I feel that at times when you are in good form and in great rhythm, you shouldn’t stop playing. Of course, at times, I feel, for the sake of recovery, you need to take a break. You have to do it smartly,” the former head-coach explained, as reported by ESPNCricinfo.
India could have gone with an extra pacer in the squad
India has four spinners in the squad of 15, namely: Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja/Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi and Yuzvendra Chahal. Shastri believes that they could have gone with an extra pacer in place of one of these spinners. “You don’t want to be caught in a situation where one guy has a fever and then you have no one else to play. You have to play another spinner, which can be embarrassing in the end,” the former head coach further added.
India will now be facing Afghanistan for their final Super-4 encounter, which will be a virtual dead rubber, on Thursday. The Rohit Sharma-led side will be playing six T20Is, including three apiece vs Australia and South Africa, before kicking off their T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan on 23rd October in the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Twitter reactions to Naseem Shah’s sixes & Afghanistan heartbreak | Twitter reactions to thrilling Pakistan vs Afghanistan match in 2022 Asia Cup
Pakistan triumphed over Afghanistan in an absolute nail-biter in their Super-4 tie in the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
The Afghan bowlers made life difficult for the opposition despite only defending a modest target of 130 runs. It required two sixes in the 20th over by young pacer Naseem Shah to help Babar Azam’s men seal the game. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Fareed Ahmed struck three wickets each whereas Rashid returned with a couple of scalps to his name.
Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed top-scored for Babar Azam’s men with 36 and 30 runs respectively. Pakistan’s victory has effectively put India out of the competition. The viewers arguably seemed to enjoy the close contest between the arch-rivals. Many of them expressed their views on Twitter post the match.
Afghan players put right back into their place by 19 year old kid Naseem Shah. Unforgettable match against people we have loved & supported always. Lekin bat tamizi aur arrogance nay un no foran neecha dikhaya.
Did anyone notice how angrily hassan ali came out running from dressing room when fareed was misbehaving with asif ali? Also hassan ali was so angry that he was the first one to come in the ground to celebrate the win with naseem shah. The unity in our cricket team is beautiful.
Dear Naseem Shah! @iNaseemShah You made us all proud today. What a Remarkable innings, you have played that led Pakistan Team to an unforgettable Victory, which will be remembered for long. Keep shinning and keep holding Pakistan Flag aloft. Pakistan Zindabad. ???????????? pic.twitter.com/0uC8Z30hJB
Well done Naseem Shah. Despite our worries because of floods, green shirts bring smiles to our faces. Exciting cricket. I commiserate with Aghan cricketers for excellent and improving performances in the last few years.
Afghanistan is a young and passionate team and their rise has been meteoric as compared to Bangladesh or even Sri Lanka. You will be a powerhouse of cricket but know where this passion originated from, in the streets of Pakistan a country that gave you home when no one else would https://t.co/naTBaCbEBr
Many many congratulations to team Pakistan ?? very well played boys…@iNaseemShah your sixes will be remembered ??????outstanding boys.Hard Luck @ACBofficials team but you too played good cricket. #PakvsAfg#AsiaCupT20
You're just 19, you're passionate, you're from the mountains of Dir, you see your senior getting badly abused moments ago, what do you do? Even if Naseem had a golf stick in his hands, he still would have sent it packing. Pakistan vs Afghanistan is the new Pakistan vs India. pic.twitter.com/iKiLP2VGOR
Tensions boil over in Afghanistan vs Pakistan clash
There was also physical altercation between Asif Ali and Fareed Ahmed in the penultimate over of the game. Ahmed’s send-off after dismissing Asif took an ugly turn as the batsman appeared to be pushing the pacer back. He even raised his bat in an indication of actually hitting the Afghan bowler as tensions rose with the game hanging in fine balance at that point in time.
This is stupidity at extreme level by Asif Ali and should be ban from the rest of the tournament, any bowler has the right to celebrate but being physical is not acceptable at all. @icc@ACCMedia1pic.twitter.com/3ledpmM3mt
Shameful behavior of some Afghan players. What was the name of that bowler misbehaving with Asif Ali? Don't even know his name but look at the attitude. Losers!
Accordingly, the final of the Asia Cup will now be contested between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the Dubai International Stadium on 11th September. India and Afghanistan will be facing off for their Super-4 match on Thursday evening.
Meanwhile, both Dasun Shanaka and Babar’s men are on a roll right now as an exciting conclusion awaits to this closely-contested edition of the Asia Cup.
IND vs AFG Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: Asia Cup 2022 Match 11 | IND vs AFG Dream11 Prediction Today | Dubai Pitch Report
Heading into the Super 4, both India and Afghanistan could have viewed this match as an avenue towards the Asia Cup 2022 Final. Instead, both teams are out of the running and only have pride to play for after close, heartbreaking defeats in recent days.
Most recent was Afghanistan’s gut-wrenching defeat to Pakistan last night in Sharjah. They looked odds on to keep their campaign alive when the 20th over of Pakistan’s over began, but Naseem Shah’s dream run caused nightmares for Mohammad Nabi’s team. Now, they must get up for this clash quickly as they have another opportunity to build confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Similar applies to India. Yes, defending totals in the UAE is mighty difficult, but 2022 has been a year where India have struggled to defend anywhere and across formats. In the wake of their damaging defeat to Sri Lanka, skipper Rohit Sharma said his team are still searching for answers. Today is an opportunity to help answer some of those, with KL Rahul’s form, the team’s finishing with the bat, and death bowling all under the spotlight.
Afghanistan could stick with the same XI that nearly beat Pakistan yesterday.
Afghanistan: 1. Hazratullah Zazai, 2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3. Ibrahim Zadran, 4. Najibullah Zadran, 5. Mohammad Nabi (c), 6. Karim Janat/Usman Ghani, 7. Rashid Khan, 8. Azmatullah Omarzai, 9. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10. Fareed Ahmed, 11. Fazalhaq Farooqi
IND vs AFG Key Players to Watch & Stats
India:
Rohit Sharma scored an excellent 41-ball 72 two days ago on this ground against SL. Last year at Abu Dhabi, he hit 74 off 47 balls against Afghanistan.
KL Rahul is in need of runs. He scored 69 (48) against Afghanistan last year. In T20s at Dubai, Rahul has scored 801 runs at an average of 50.06 at a strike rate of 142.78.
Virat Kohli has struck scores of 35, 59*, 60 and 0 in this Asia Cup, all on this ground.
Hardik Pandya smashed 35* off 13 balls against Afghanistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup. He will be looking to bounce back after two under-par games against Pakistan and Sri Lanka (13 runs and one wicket in these games).
Ravichandran Ashwin was steady without being spectactular against SL. The offspinner took 2/14 against Afghanistan last year, including the dismissal of the left-handed Najibullah Zadran.
Afghanistan:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz has the best strike rate of any player (165.21) with least 80 runs in Asia Cup 2022. He has smashed scores of 40 (18) and 84 (45) at Dubai in this tournament.
Ibrahim Zadran in Asia Cup 2022: 4 inns, 132 runs, avg. 44.00, SR 102.32.
Najibullah Zadran has scored 72 runs in this Asia Cup at a strike rate of 180.00. Can he play a big knock today?
In the IPL, Rashid Khan has dismissed Rohit thrice in 21 balls, conceding just 23 runs. In T20Is, Rohit has the upper hand with 20 off eight balls without dismissal. Also, Rashid has dismissed Kohli twice in 46 balls in the IPL (54 runs).
KL Rahul has been dismissed in the powerplay twice in four matches in this Asia Cup. Fazalhaq Farooqi has taken eight wickets in 24 overs in the powerplay in 2022.
Fareed Ahmed took 3/31 yesterday, with two wickets coming at the death. If India aren’t switched on at this stage, Fareed can strike especially with the longer square boundaries.
Other Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 3, India 3, Afghanistan 0.
Rashid Khan has taken 15 wickets in 14 T20Is this year at an economy of just 6.3.
India have won all of their last six games where they scored 185+ batting first. In the last four they scored below this, they won just once.
India’s pacers have taken just three wickets in the powerplay in Asia Cup 2022 (avg. 58.66, econ. 8.06).
Suryakumar Yadav in T20Is in 2022: 13 inns, 561 runs, avg. 40.07, SR 181.55.
Dubai International Stadium Pitch Report and Weather
There have been plenty of 170+ scores in recent matches at Dubai. However, the chasing team continues to dominate, with all matches not involving Hong Kong won by the side batting second. Here, the team batting first needs 185+ to feel they have a better chance.
More hot and clear conditions are forecast.
IND vs AFG Dream11 Prediction Today 8 September 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:
Asia Cup 2022 Match 11: IND vs AFG Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
Asia Cup 2022 Match 11: IND vs AFG Dream11 Prediction
Fan2Play Prediction
Base Team:
Wicket-Keepers: Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Batsmen: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli
All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya
Bowlers: Rashid Khan
Asia Cup 2022 Match 11 IND vs AFG Match Prediction: Who will win?
AUS vs NZ 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | AUS vs NZ 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Cairns Pitch Report
There’s just something about particular matches in certain locations. Whether it’s Manchester United vs Arsenal at Old Trafford or Australia vs New Zealand in Australia, the result always seems to swing towards the home team’s favour no matter recent form and how the match transpires.
Australia snuck home in a memorable victory on Tuesday, reaching the 233-run target after plunging to the depths of 27/4 and 44/5. Such a comeback is reason for optimism, but a second consecutive top order collapse is cause for concern. Aaron Finch’s form continues to dominate the headlines, especially given the captain looks all at sea against left-arm seam. Time is running out for him, and if he is dismissed early again, New Zealand will be aiming to make similar inroads as they did in the first ODI.
For the Black Caps, while the result was disheartening, the performance was encouraging. The new ball burst by Trent Boult and Matt Henry was a thing of beauty, and now it’s on the change bowlers to keep that pressure going. Also, Alex Carey and Cameron Green displayed the kind of intent that New Zealand batsmen didn’t, so the Black Caps’ approach today will make for interesting viewing.
Cameron Green was struggling towards the end of the first ODI. The all-rounder had leg and arm cramps. He is in doubt given this match is less than 48 hours than the first.
Australia: 1. David Warner, 2. Aaron Finch (c), 3. Steve Smith, 4. Marnus Labuschagne, 5. Alex Carey (wk), 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Glenn Maxwell, 8. Cameron Green/Ashton Agar/Sean Abbott, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Adam Zampa, 11. Josh Hazlewood
New Zealand may look to play Tim Southee given the pitch for the first ODI had some movement for the quicks.
New Zealand: 1. Martin Guptill, 2. Devon Conway, 3. Kane Williamson (c), 4. Tom Latham (wk), 5. Daryl Mitchell, 6. James Neesham, 7. Michael Bracewell, 8. Mitchell Santner, 9. Matt Henry, 10. Lockie Ferguson/Tim Southee, 11. Trent Boult
AUS vs NZ ODI Head-to-Head Stats & Key Players
Australia:
David Warner was stuck at one end as wickets tumbled in the first ODI. The opener will be hoping for support as he is in some good touch after hitting 94 against Zimbabwe last Saturday.
Warner averages 45.28 in 14 ODIs against New Zealand (634 runs) with two fifties and two centuries.
After two unbeaten scores of 40, Steve Smith has been dismissed LBW and bowled against deliveries on a good length. He will be looking to bounce back today against a NZ side he has a decent record against: 12 inns, 365 runs, avg. 36.50, SR 85.88.
Alex Carey (85 off 99 balls in the first ODI) continues to impress. His approach against spin in particular is fantastic to watch, and he will be key in the middle and backend overs.
If picked, Cameron Green will be one to watch. He recently took eight wickets in the Zimbabwe series and followed it up with an outstanding 92-ball 89* in the first ODI against New Zealand.
Glenn Maxwell took 4/52 two days ago, with three of the wickets coming at the death. He dismissed Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham and Michael Bracewell.
Interestingly, Maxwell has a poor batting record against NZ in ODIs: 9 inns, 59 runs, avg. 7.37, SR 73.75.
Josh Hazlewood is bowling beautifully, as he often does. He took 3/31 in the first ODI, with all three scalps coming at the death. Also, Hazlewood could be key against Williamson (79 balls, 43 runs, two dismissals) and Latham (41 balls, 23 runs, three dismissals).
New Zealand:
Martin Guptill has scored just 137 runs in his past five ODIs against Scotland, West Indies and Australia. He has the most runs of any current player in AUS-NZ ODIs (831) at an average of 33.24 in 26 matches. Can he impact today’s game?
Kane Williamson spent time in the middle in the opening ODI (71 balls), but limiting the dot balls will be key as the skipper struck at 63.68. He averages exactly 40 in 15 ODIs against Australia (520 runs).
Tom Latham (scores of 69 and 43 in his last two ODIs) will also be key against spin in the middle overs. He, along with Devon Conway and Williamson, hit 40+ scores in the opening match.
Trent Boult (4/40 in the first ODI) was at his brilliant best with the new ball. He dismissed Finch for the fifth time in 40 balls in ODI cricket, so Boult will be keen for that battle right away.
Boult has an incredible 33 wickets in just 13 ODIs against Australia at an average of 18.12 and strike rate of 21.7.
Matt Henry (2/50 in the first ODI) will also be relishing an opportunity to bowl at the shaky Australia top order once again. Henry has an excellent ODI record in the first ten overs of an innings, with 53 wickets in 56 matches at an average of 19.6.
Mitchell Santner went wicketless in the opening ODI, but he still has a good record against Australia: 10 inns, 15 wickets, avg. 25.00, econ. 4.61. The left-arm spinner was player of the series in New Zealand’s recent ODI series in West Indies: 4 wickets, econ. 3.42.
Other Stats and Facts
Head-to-Head: Matches 139, Australia 93, New Zealand 39, 7 N/R.
New Zealand have not won an ODI in Australia since 2009. They have played eight completed matches in that time.
Tim Southee averages 62.40 with the ball in 19 matches against Australia. Worse, he averages 85.20 in eight ODIs in Australia. But, he could play if the pitch looks similar to the first match.
Cazaly’s Stadium Cairns Pitch Report & Weather
After the match, Alex Carey spoke to Fox Cricket about how the pitch sped up under lights. So, expect the captain who wins the toss to field first for the opportunity to chase.
However, the new balls did swing more under lights, so a score of 250 batting first can be a very competitive one. The wicket for the first ODI was on the slower side for most of the game, with movement and turn available for the bowlers. We can expect a similar kind of surface for this match.
A warm and mostly clear day is forecast, with a top of about 29 degrees. The chance of rain is only 5% according to bom.gov.au.
AUS vs NZ 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today 8 September 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:
AUS vs NZ 2nd ODI 2022 Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
AUS vs NZ 2nd ODI 2022 Dream11 Prediction
Fan2Play Prediction
Base Team:
Wicket-Keepers: Alex Carey
Batsmen: David Warner, Kane Williamson
All-Rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green
Bowlers: Trent Boult, Adam Zampa
AUS vs NZ 2nd ODI Match Prediction Who Will Win?
Australia have the wood over New Zealand in home ODIs. Australia to win.
Cricket News: Will Alex Hales play for England in the T20 World Cup? | Update on Alex Hales and whether he will play for England
English opener Alex Hales is set to make a comeback to the T20I squad amidst Jason Roy’s poor run of form and Jonny Bairstow’s recent leg injury. Hales was a critical part of the white-ball setup prior to failing a recreational drugs test in the build-up to the 2019 ODI World Cup. Eoin Morgan labelled the incident as a complete ‘breakdown of trust’ and Hales was removed from the England setup.
However, the 33-year-old continued to prove his prowess in T20 leagues across the world. The tide finally appears to be turning in his favour in the wake of Morgan’s retirement from international cricket earlier this year. England men team’s managing director Rob Key has asserted that Hales has served his time as the dynamic opening batsman eyes a potential comeback in the T20 World Cup next month.
Experience in Australia key to an England return for Alex Hales
The news comes as Jos Buttler’s men are not heading into the upcoming T20 World Cup in the most ideal of circumstances. They have lost seven of the 11 T20Is they have played this year and are dealing with a host of injury concerns. The batting lineup has misfired with the likes of Roy and Buttler averaging merely 18.73 and 14.50 respectively in T20Is in 2022.
Bairstow has been in fine touch in recent months and his injury has dealt another major blow to the team combination. Newbies like Will Jack and Phil Salt have emerged as potential contenders to replace Bairstow.
However, the think-tank seems to be eager to consider calling back Hales given his experience particularly in Australian tracks. He averages 33.16 at a strike rate of 151.34 in 60 innings in the Big Bash League (BBL) so far. The batsman has scored 12 half-centuries along with a century and was even the top-scorer with 543 runs in 15 innings in the 2020-21 edition of the tournament.
Alex Hales has plenty of experience playing in Australia.
Key will be naming Bairstow’s official replacement in the T20 squad this week and it remains to be seen if Hales manages to pip the likes of Jack and Salt for a spot in the final 15.
It will also put the spotlight on his equations with the senior pros in the squad. Skipper Buttler was one of the key players to have supported Morgan’s decision of sidelining Hales in the aftermath of the aforementioned incident in 2019. He is also reportedly not in the best of terms with Ben Stokes ever since the two of them were involved in a street brawl in Bristol in November 2017.
“I try and pick people on their ability as a cricketer really. He did the crime, he served his time, forgive, move on. He gets in that long line that Eoin mentioned. It’s a bit easier for him now because there is no Morgan, there is no (Ben) Stokes in 50-over cricket. There are a couple of opportunities,” former England skipper Nasser Hussain was quoted in a report by Sky Sports.
“But obviously at the top of the order you do have Will Jacks, you do have Jason Roy, you do have Phil Salt, you do have Will Smeed. But you cannot tell me from what we’ve seen in domestic franchises around the world that Alex Hales is not a serious cricketer. Try and pick your best side. But they may know something else. That inner core of senior players may not want him,” Hussain further opened up on the issue.
Cricket News: India searching for answers ahead of World Cup – Rohit | India captain Rohit Sharma speaks after defeat to Sri Lanka in Asia Cup
India’s shock defeat to Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2022 Super 4 tie has led to skipper Rohit Sharma admitting that the side is still searching for some answers.
The Lankans, led by Dasun Shanaka, completed a clinical 174-run chase as India succumbed to consecutive losses in the tournament. Rohit reflected upon the team combination in the post-match press conference.
He refused to press the panic button and highlighted their terrific record in T20Is since last year’s T20 World Cup. However, the captain expressed that the management now has a fair idea of the side’s standing whilst playing with only five frontline bowlers.
“I was happy with three seamers. Unfortunately, Avesh hasn’t turned up well in the fitness tests. He didn’t respond well because he was quite sick. Ideally, the combination we would play is four seamers, but three seamers was something we wanted to try before the World Cup,” the 35-year-old was quoted in a report by Firstpost.
He added, “We need to find answers as a team, like where we are with five bowlers. We know now where we stand with this combination.”
India did not capitalise on first 10 overs – Rohit Sharma
The Indian innings faltered after a fantastic partnership by Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav. The skipper scored 72 runs off 41 deliveries whereas Surya played an ideal foil to him by notching 34 from 29 balls. India’s score stood at 110 runs when the third wicket fell in the 13th over.
However, the middle-order comprising of Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant and Deepak Hooda were unable to maximize the aforementioned start as the team could score only 63 runs in the last 7.4 overs. Rohit attributed this as a major reason behind the team’s defeat in the presentation ceremony.
“We just ended up on the wrong side, as simple as that. We could have capitalised on the first half of our innings. We fell 10-15 runs short. The second half wasn’t good for us. The guys who were out in the middle can learn about what shots can be played. These things can happen. Losses like these will make us understand what works as a team,” the captain explained.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar conceded 14 runs in the penultimate over, which left Arshdeep Singh with only eight to defend in the 20th. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, under-fire for his recent insipid outings, fared fairly better as he scalped three wickets for 34 runs in his four overs. Rohit claimed that the duo has been doing their job for a while but he is seeking answers from the younger crop of players.
“Chahal and Bhuvi are the senior pros and have been doing it for a while. I need to get answers from the younger ones. With the ball, it was a good effort to take it to the last over considering the start they had. The spinners bowled aggressively and got wickets in the middle overs, but Sri Lanka held their nerve,” he further added.
India has been on an upward surge in T20Is regardless of the recent couple of defeats. The side has won 22 out of the 28 T20Is that they have played since the previous World T20. It includes series victories against West Indies (twice), Sri Lanka, South Africa and even England. Rohit pointed at that to paint an optimistic picture though India’s chances in the current Asia Cup rests with Afghanistan defeating Pakistan in Wednesday’s encounter.
“No long term worries, we have lost only two games back to back. Since the last World Cup, we haven’t lost too many games. These games will teach us. We wanted to put ourselves under pressure in the Asia Cup. We are still looking for answers,” the skipper signed off.
PAK vs AFG Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: Asia Cup 2022 Match 10 | AFG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today | Sharjah Pitch Report
The stakes are high. These two teams have produced classic matches in the last two World Cups. Afghanistan are not just here to win hearts, but go as far as they can in this tournament. Pakistan are going about their business nicely. This should be good.
In the 2019 ODI World Cup, Pakistan won a thriller. Last year, some classic Asif Ali hitting saw the men in green sneak home with six balls to spare in a Dubai thriller. What the 2022 edition of Pakistan vs Afghanistan has in store is anyone’s guess, and that’s the beauty of this contest with the Asia Cup Final on the horizon.
The battle of the spinners headlines this clash. Both sets of tweakers have been terrific so far in the 2022 Asia Cup, with the latest evidence Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan putting the brakes on India’s scoring on Sunday.
At the time of writing, Pakistan can put one foot in the Final with victory. Afghanistan must win after their close loss to Sri Lanka. How well Mohammad Nabi’s team can handle the pressure will make for interesting viewing, and a strong performance can hold them in great stead with a World Cup campaign to follow.
Mohammad Rizwan suffered a nasty landing against India, but he batted well afterwards. The move to bat Mohammad Nawaz at four was a masterstroke, and Pakistan could look at that option again if the situation arises.
Pakistan: 1. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 2. Babar Azam (c), 3. Fakhar Zaman, 4. Mohammad Nawaz, 5. Khushdil Shah, 6. Asif Ali, 7. Iftikhar Ahmed, 8. Shadab Khan, 9. Haris Rauf, 10. Mohammad Hasnain, 11. Naseem Shah
Afghanistan could stick with the same XI that lost to Sri Lanka. However, Samiullah Shinwari’s role in the team is in question after he neither batted nor bowled in the last game.
Afghanistan: 1. Hazratullah Zazai, 2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3. Ibrahim Zadran, 4. Najibullah Zadran, 5. Mohammad Nabi (c), 6. Karim Janat, 7. Rashid Khan, 8. Samiullah Shinwari, 9. Naveen-ul-Haq, 10. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 11. Fazalhaq Farooqi
PAK vs AFG Stats and Key Players
Pakistan:
Mohammad Rizwan is the leading run scorer in Asia Cup 2022 with 192 runs at an average of 96.00. The opener has struck two fifties in three matches.
Also, Rizwan has a good T20 record at Sharjah: 12 inns, 359 runs, avg. 51.29, SR 125.96.
Babar Azam is in need of runs. The skipper has scored just 33 runs in three matches so far in this tournament. He scored a 47-ball 51 against Afghanistan in last year’s World Cup.
Mohammad Nawaz is having a tournament to remember. He has taken the most wickets (7) and smashed a 20-ball 42 in a player of the match performance against India. He will be key on a slow pitch.
Shadab Khan has figures of 6/58 in 10.4 overs in this Asia Cup. The legspinner will be crucial once again. He took 1/22 in four overs against Afghanistan last year, where he dismissed Najibullah Zadran.
Naseem Shah has taken the second-most wickets of any seamer in Asia Cup 2022 (5) at an average of 15.80 and economy of 7.90.
Afghanistan:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz is in magnificent touch. The opener has belted 135 runs at an average of 45.00 and strike rate of 166.66 in the 2022 Asia Cup. Last match, he scored a memorable 45-ball 84 against Sri Lanka.
Najibullah Zadran can be Afghanistan’s gamechanger. He smashed 43* off 17 balls against Bangladesh on this ground earlier in this tournament.
In 22 T20s in 2022, Najibullah has scored 697 runs at an average of 46.47 and strike rate of 158.77.
Mohammad Nabi has scored the third-most runs of any player at Sharjah (522) at an average of 26.10 and brilliant strike rate of 160.62. The Afghanistan captain scored an unbeaten 35* (32) against Pakistan in last year’s World Cup.
Also, Nabi has the second-most wickets at Sharjah: 32 inns, 24 wickets, avg. 28.63, econ. 6.93, SR 24.79.
The spotlight is on Rashid Khan after a tough match against Sri Lanka. The legspinner has taken the most wickets at Sharjah (28) at an average of 17.11 and economy of 6.13. He bowled beautifully against Pakistan last year, taking 2/26, including the wicket of Babar Azam with the googly.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been outstanding so far in the 2022 Asia Cup. The spinner has taken seven wickets in three matches at an average of 10.00 and economy of 5.83. He was player of the match on this ground against Bangladesh (3/15).
Other Stats and Facts
Pakistan have won both T20Is against Afghanistan.
Babar Azam in T20s at Sharjah: 13 inns, 389 runs, avg. 35.36, SR 121.56.
Shadab Khan took 4/8 against Hong Kong on this ground earlier this tournament. Mohammad Nawaz took 3/5 in the same game.
Asif Ali scored 25 off seven balls to lead Pakistan to victory over Afghanistan last year.
Fazalhaq Farooqi in the powerplay in T20Is, 2022: 11 inns, 7 wickets, avg. 16.00, econ. 5.09.
Sharjah Pitch Report and Weather
Sharjah is typically one of the slower pitches in the UAE. Before Pakistan hit 193 against Hong Kong, the average first innings score in the previous 22 T20s was 143.09, with the chasing team winning 12. Another hot evening is forecast, with dew a possibility.
PAK vs AFG Dream11 Prediction 7 September 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:
Asia Cup 2022 Match 10: PAK vs AFG Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
Asia Cup 2022 Match 10: PAK vs AFG Dream11 Prediction
Fan2Play Prediction
Base Team:
Wicket-Keepers: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Rizwan
Batsmen: Najibullah Zadran, Babar Azam
All-Rounders: Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz
Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naseem Shah
Asia Cup 2022 Match 10: PAK vs AFG Match Prediction Who Will Win?
This promises to be a cracker. The chasing team may have an advantage, but Pakistan’s experience may come up trumps in this one.
