Home Blog Page 218

Herschelle Gibbs not a fan of The Hundred

Tarkesh Jha
-
0
Herschelle Gibbs not a fan of The Hundred

Cricket News: Herschelle Gibbs not a fan of The Hundred | Former Protea Herschelle Gibbs provides thoughts on The Hundred

The Hundred has entered its second season with some incredible excitement over the tournament. Each team has played at least three games so far in this campaign whilst the majority of them are done with at least four matches.

The format wherein teams compete against each other in 100-delivery games has gained popularity and acceptance amongst the masses in recent times.

Herschelle Gibbs struggling to see value in The Hundred

However, former South African star Herschelle Gibbs has taken a distinct view of the competition. He believes that The Hundred has very little differentiating value as compared to the traditional T20 format.

A veteran of 90 Tests and 248 ODIs, Gibbs argued that it isn’t a version of the game that will hold its ground once the other forms of the sport are going on simultaneously.

“Quick observation, 2nd season of this 100 league and still can’t see any value in it. Still the same dynamics of a t20 just a few balls less. Wouldn’t be missed with all the other cricket on the go.#sscricket,” Gibbs put down his observations on the format on Twitter.

Southern Brave had won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2021. Moreover, a ‘Player of the Series’ performance by Liam Livingstone had helped the middle-order swashbuckler cement his spot in the English batting line-up.

There have been several debates on the sustainability of the format and whether it could be expanded to wider avenues and countries.

The Hundred was designed and conceptualized with a view of bringing the kids and mothers to the stadiums during their summer holidays. The format has a host of different rules. For instance, there are overs of five deliveries each and a captain can take a call on letting a bowler bowl two consecutive fives (two overs of five deliveries each).

Any team that fails to complete its quota of overs in the stipulated time will have to bring an extra fielder inside the inner ring until the end of that innings. This slight penalty is imposed in order to ensure that the pace of the games is expedited. Each match of the Hundred is supposed to conclude in two-and-a-half-hours.

It can be argued that some quirky rules were introduced in order to present The Hundred differently vis-à-vis T20s. In the larger scheme of things, there’s possibly very little to separate both the formats.

Does Herschelle Gibbs have a valid perspective with regards to this issue? Let us know on Twitter by tagging us @cric_blog.

ENG vs SA: Head-to-head record in Tests & who will win?

Charbel Coorey
-
0
ENG vs SA: Head-to-head record in Tests & who will win?

The cricket summer season is well underway…

Summer is a key time in the sporting calendar and for sports like cricket, it is the season where most of the best action takes place. The South Africa tour of England is underway and there are a series of matches planned between the South African and England teams later this month.

Following on from the tour match that took place on 9 August in Canterbury, the 1st Test at Lord’s will take place from 17 – 21 August. The 2nd Test at Manchester will commence on 25 August until 29 August before the 3rd Test at The Oval between 8 to 12 September.

Naturally summer is a very busy time for cricket both at home and internationally with cricket teams playing Test matches over the summer months. Between May 2022 and September 2022, 15 Tests, 54 Twenty20 Internationals matches, which includes the 2022 Asia Cup, and 68 One Day Internationals, have been played or scheduled for play this season.

What is the performance history for ENG vs SA Test Matches?

South Africa is one of the few countries that began professional cricket in the 19th century and so they are one of England’s oldest opponents having played their first game together in March 1889.

Answering the question of who is the better team between England and South Africa is no easy feat. Both teams have their strengths and weaknesses and the results do vary somewhat between the different competitions.

It appears that historically, England have been more successful in test matches against South Africa. However, when comparing limited overs, the opposite can be said with South Africa clearly coming out on top.

Overall, (before the 2022 summer season) the two teams have gone head to head a total of  238 times and England has won 103 matches and South Africa have won 74 matches.

These teams have played one another many times and so generally they know what to expect from their opponents and the skill level they are set to encounter during games, helping both teams to be prepared.

For test matches, England have won 64 times and South Africa have won 34 out of 153 matches played. In ODIs, SA came out on top having won 31 compared to England’s 29 wins.

Finally, for T20Is, England has won 11 and South Africa has won 10 out of the 22 T20I matches played over the years.

What can we expect from England and South Africa this season?

There are three upcoming matches to look forward to, including those on 17 August, 25 August and 8 September. But how are the current favourites to win the Test matches between these two countries?

England are currently the favourites to win but at this point it is all still to play for.

England being the favourites for the Test matches has a lot to do with their previous successes against South Africa and the incredible team line up they are currently working with.

Why has Jonny Bairstow been so good in Tests in 2022?

Vaibhav Tripathi
-
0
Why has Jonny Bairstow been so good in Tests in 2022?

Cricket News: Why has Jonny Bairstow been so good in Tests in 2022? | A look at why Jonny Bairstow has been great in Tests in 2022

2022 has been a superb year for Jonny Bairstow, culminating in a euphoric rise in Test cricket. Since England’s white-ball transformation in 2015, Bairstow’s Test game suffered at times as he became one of the centrepoints of England’s brilliant ODI and T20I game.

Although he showed glimpses of what he is capable of in Test cricket, he failed to cement himself as a regular member, due to a struggle to adjust across formats. In particular, Bairstow would find himself in big trouble against deliveries coming back into him, failing to cover the line effectively enough to counter for movement.

However, this year, no one can dare question Bairstow’s ability as a Test cricketer. Watching the Yorkshireman in whites in 2022, it seems like he is batting in autopilot mode, with no mood to stop. Be it any opposition, any ground, or any given condition, Bairstow has bailed England out of challenging situations on more than one occasion.

Cricket News: Why has Jonny Bairstow been so good in Tests in 2022? | A look at why Jonny Bairstow has been great in Tests in 2022
Jonny Bairstow is at his best when he is dealing with the incoming delivery. Source: Flickr

Jonny Bairstow’s struggle before 2022:

Jonny Bairstow’s Test career has been topsy-turvy. It was long back in 2016 when the Yorkshire-based cricketer enjoyed a stellar run with the bat in Test cricket.

After it took him 22 Tests and three-and-a-half years to register his first century, he went on to establish himself as a leading red-ball keeper-batter in 2016. In 17 Tests that year, he scored over 1400 runs, averaging an astonishing 58.80 with three centuries.

In June 2017, he took on the role of an ODI opener, and then Bairstow’s rise as one of the best white-ball batters coincided with a downturn in his returns in the red-ball format. From 2017 to 2019, Bairstow averaged 27.98 in Test cricket from 32 games and lost his place in the side.

He didn’t play a single Test in 2020 but earned a shock recall for the Test tour of Sri Lanka in 2021. In that year, England played a lot of cricket in the subcontinent; first against Sri Lanka and then against India. Bairstow couldn’t make most of his Test recall as he ended another disappointing year with an average of 24.44.

Cricket News: Why has Jonny Bairstow been so good in Tests in 2022? | A look at why Jonny Bairstow has been great in Tests in 2022
Jonny Bairstow had a nightmare series in India in 2021.

The rise of Jonny Bairstow in 2022

However, the new year saw the rebirth of Bairstow, the Test batter. In the first Test of the year, he scored a fighting hundred (113) against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) which was his first hundred since 2018. What was most impressive is that he came in at 36/4 with England having not scored a single run in over ten overs against a rampant Aussie attack.

That innings ignited some belief. In the next away tour to West Indies, he scored another century at Antigua and averaged 45.20 in six innings, further solidifying his place for the English summer.

However, the disappointing 1-0 series defeat to struggling West Indies saw the ECB overhaul the Test team and management. Former swashbuckling New Zealand keeper-batsmen Brendon McCullum was appointed as the new head coach of the side while Ben Stokes took over as captain.

This new leadership and management group seems to have awakened the beast mode of Jonny Bairstow. The 32-year-old dominated the current World Test Champions – New Zealand in the three-match Test series.

In that series, Bairstow went on to score 394 in six innings; he batted at an average of 78.80 and an unbelievable strike rate of 120.12.  He produced two of the all-time classic counter-attacking Test innings to help his team chase totals in the last two Tests of the series in Trent Bridge and Headingley.

Bairstow continued to excel in the longest version of the game as he scored twin tons to help his team beat India at Birmingham in the all-important rescheduled fifth Test match. In Test cricket so far this year, Bairstow has managed to score 994 runs at an average of 76.46 and a healthy strike rate of 76.24 including six hundreds and one fifty which makes him the highest run-getter to date.

What has changed for Jonny Bairstow? Is it the technique or Bazball effect?

Well, nothing has really changed for Bairstow as far as technique is concerned. He’s always been a solid batter who has the ability to score equally well square on both sides and straight down the ground.

The main weakness, exposed by Jasprit Bumrah in 2021, was his struggle against the incoming delivery. Earlier, he was tentative to play the ball off his stumps and often left huge a gap between bat and pad.

Now, Bairstow is far more proactive when the bowlers are trying to attack his stumps. His application and focus on putting the pressure back on the bowler with good cricketing shots has reaped significant rewards thus far, with New Zealand and India, both excellent bowling attacks, copping the full extent of Bairstow’s strokeplay.

Next up is South Africa, and that promises to be a superb battle against the Proteas’ potent pace attack. One thing is for sure – Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes will encourage Bairstow to go about his game the way he has this year. Should it come off, England will be in a strong position to win their third consecutive Test series, a huge turnaround from the previous period where they won just one of 17 Tests pre-Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes.

NED vs PAK 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
-
0
NED vs PAK 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

NED vs PAK 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | NED vs PAK 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Rotterdam Pitch Report

For the first time since 2003, Netherlands and Pakistan will meet in a One Day International. Such an occasion would usually be met with joy and excitement, particularly for those in orange, but, as you may have heard, ODI cricket is currently at a crossroads.

This series, part of the ODI Super League, is squeezed in among the plethora of short-form cricket going on around the world. Pakistan themselves will embark on an Asia Cup starting in just 12 days’ time as preparation for this year’s T20 World Cup. However, that has not stopped them from picking a strong squad as they look to plug any holes in their ODI cricket.

The Dutch will be missing a number of their first choice due to other commitments. However, they can hold hope in Pakistan’s reliance on their top three in ODIs. In fact, Imam, Fakhar and Babar have contributed well over 60% of the team’s runs since the 2019 ODI World Cup. If there is an area to focus on for Netherlands, as difficult as it is, that is it.

NED vs PAK 1st ODI Possible Playing XI

Netherlands are depleted for this series. A number of their players are currently at The Hundred or Royal One Day Cup in England.

Fred Klaassen, Colin Ackermann, Roelof van der Merwe, Timm van der Gugten (Hundred) and Paul van Meekeren, Shane Snater and Brandon Glover (Royal One Day Cup) are unavailable.

Wesley Baressi and uncapped 20-year old allrounder Arnav Jain are in the squad.

Netherlands: 1. Max O’Dowd, 2. Vikramjit Singh, 3. Tom Cooper, 4. Bas de Leede, 5. Scott Edwards (c & wk), 6. Wesley Baressi, 7. Teja Nidamanuru/Arnav Jain, 8. Logan van Beek, 9. Aryan Dutt/Ryan Klein, 10. Vivian Kingma, 11. Shariz Ahmad

Pakistan look a lot more settled. However, Shaheen Shah Afridi will miss at least the first ODI as he is being managed ahead of the Asia Cup.

Pakistan: 1. Imam-ul-Haq, 2. Fakhar Zaman, 3. Babar Azam (c), 4. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5. Khushdil Shah, 6. Shadab Khan, 7. Mohammad Nawaz, 8. Mohammad Haris, 9. Haris Rauf, 10. Naseem Shah, 11. Mohammad Wasim Jr/Shahnawaz Dahani

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Netherlands:

  • Max O’Dowd will be key at the top. The opener averages 51.75 in 13 home ODIs (621 runs), which includes seven half-centuries.
  • Vikramjit Singh has looked good in almost every innings he has played in ODIs so far. Against New Zealand, West Indies and England, Singh hit scores of 19, 31, 25, 47, 46, 54, 13, 10 and 6.
  • Tom Cooper’s experience will be crucial for the Netherlands. He averages 45.60 in 25 ODI knocks, and made three starts in the June series vs England (23, 17, 33) that he will be aiming to build on.
  • Scott Edwards is having a brilliant year. The new Netherlands skipper hit three fifties in a row against England in June, part of 537 runs in 12 ODIs at an average of 48.81 with seven half-centuries in 2022.
  • Logan van Beek is Netherlands’ top wicket-taker in ODIs this year. He has taken 12 wickets in nine matches at an average of 37.50 and economy rate of 6.00.
  • Vivian Kingma took five wickets in two ODIs against Scotland on this ground in 2021.

Pakistan:

  • Imam-ul-Haq is Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in ODIs this year (497) at an average of 99.40. He has struck a 50+ score in all six innings, including two centuries.
  • Babar Azam has made five 50+ scores in six ODIs this year, including three centuries. Overall, he has scored 457 runs at an average of 91.40.
  • Babar has a good record in ODIs in Europe: 27 inns, 1,212 runs, avg. 50.50, SR 91.47.
  • Fakhar Zaman has not had as good a year as Imam and Babar (165 runs, avg. 27.50). However, he has a brilliant record in away ODIs: 27 matches, 1,490 runs, avg. 64.78, SR 98.67.
  • Shadab Khan scored 86 (78) and took 4/62 in his last ODI, against West Indies in June.
  • Haris Rauf typically enjoys bowling first in ODIs. In eight such matches, he has taken 17 wickets at an average of 25.17, compared to six wickets in five ODIs bowling second at an average of 37.50.

Other Stats and Facts

  • This will be the first ODI between Pakistan and Netherlands since the 2003 World Cup.
  • Netherlands have been swept by New Zealand, West Indies and England this year. Pakistan have beaten Australia (2-1) and West Indies (3-0) in their last two assignments.
  • Pakistan’s top three have contributed nearly two-thirds of the team’s runs in ODIs since the 2019 World Cup.
  • Babar Azam averages 60.92 in 41 innings batting first and 57.38 in 46 innings chasing.

Hazelaarweg Rotterdam Pitch Report and Weather

Last year, Netherlands and Scotland contested two ODIs on this ground. The first was affected by rain, and Netherlands scored 163/8 in 33 overs and won by 14 runs. The next day, Netherlands were bowled out for 171, and Scotland chased down the target with 47 balls and six wickets to spare.

Conditions are expected to be cloudy and a touch windy, which may assist spinners with their drift. There has been some rain of late in Rotterdam, so the pitch may be on the slower side.

NED vs PAK 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction 16 August 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:

NED vs PAK 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

NED vs PAK 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base Team:

  • Wicket-Keepers: Mohammad Rizwan, Scott Edwards
  • Batsmen: Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq
  • All-Rounders: Shadab Khan, Bas de Leede
  • Bowlers: Haris Rauf

NED vs PAK 1st ODI Match Prediction: Who will win?

Weather permitting, Pakistan should be too strong.

List of squads for the 2022 Asia Cup

Tarkesh Jha
-
0
List of squads for the 2022 Asia Cup

Cricket News: List of squads for the 2022 Asia Cup | Squads for all the teams at Asia Cup 2022 in UAE

The 2022 Asia Cup is set to commence from 28th August in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will be competing in the upcoming edition that will be held in the T20I format. The games will be played in Dubai and Sharjah. There will be six matches in the group stages that will run till 2nd September.

The Super 4s will be played from 3rd September-9th September and the final will be eventually contested in Dubai on 11th September. Most of the sides will be heading to the UAE in the coming 10 days to step up their preparations.

Squads for 2022 Asia Cup

The Asia Cup serves them an ideal opportunity to prepare for the T20 World Cup set to be held in Australia later on this year. In that backdrop, let us take a look at the five squads for the Asia Cup and delve deeper into what they have to offer.

India

Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dinesh Karthik (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan.

Verdict: The Indian squad has quite a few highlights. Firstly, it marks the return of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul to the T20I setup. The duo will most likely assume the top-order responsibilities unless the team management opts to further experiment with these spots. Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel have missed out from the roster due to their respective injuries.

It provides an excellent chance to Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan to cement their spots in the build-up to the World Cup. In the larger scheme of things, it is likely that only one of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravi Bishnoi might make it to the final squad for the World Cup. The Indian XI appears to be pretty well-settled currently and certain important clarifications might be attained by the end of the Asia Cup. 

Pakistan

Babar Azam (C), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir.

Verdict: The Pakistani batting will rely on the top-order duo of Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan, much alike the last year’s T20 World Cup. Naseem Shah makes an entry to the T20I setup in place of Hasan Ali and it will be interesting to witness the young pacer’s adaptation to the white-ball game.

The likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf will be holding the key with the ball but it will be instrumental for the middle-order to step up to support Babar and Rizwan. The likes of Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali and Asif Ali will be looking to get in good groove to get rid of Pakistan’s arguable over-reliance on their opening batsmen.

Bangladesh

Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (C), Anamul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Ebadot Hossain, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Taskin Ahmed.

Verdict: Bangladesh will come into the Asia Cup on the back of an embarrassing 2-1 defeat in their recent T20I series vs Zimbabwe. The squad seemingly looks light on paper but the team has a tendency to spring up surprises occasionally in the Asia Cup. They have finished as the runners-up in the previous two editions of the tournaments in 2016 and 2018 respectively. They also reached the final in 2012.

With the core of the squad still intact, the team will be eagerly hoping to go one step ahead this time around. Unfortunately, the team faltered in all departments in the T20Is vs Zimbabwe so a holistic revamp in their form is mandatory for them to spark a turnaround in the Asia Cup. However, a moment of brilliance from one of the senior pros could serve as an inspiration for this seemingly talented setup to perform to their potential.

Afghanistan

Squad: Mohammad Nabi (C), Najibullah Zadran (vc), Afsar Zazai (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Farid Ahmad Malik, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Karim Janat, Mujib ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Naveen ul Haq, Noor Ahmad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rashid Khan, Samiullah Shinwari

Verdict: Afghanistan have sprung a surprise by recalling 34-year old Samiullah Shinwari into the squad.

On paper, particularly with the ball, Afghanistan can provide a challenge in every match they play in familiar UAE conditions. However, whether their batting can hold up against some strong attacks remains to be seen.

Note: Sri Lanka are yet to name their confirmed squads for the Asia Cup. This article will be updated once they are announced accordingly.

IRE vs AFG 4th T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
-
0
IRE vs AFG 4th T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

IRE vs AFG 4th T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | IRE vs AFG 4th T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Belfast Pitch Report

After two defeats, Afghanistan fought back to keep the series alive with a 22-run win in the third T20I. It was a relatively efficient performance from the tourists, who have taken their time to hit their straps after playing just three T20Is in six months before this series.

The arrival of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and the two Zadrans – Najibullah and Ibrahim – makes the fourth T20I against Ireland a mouthwatering prospect. Time at the crease for Hazratullah Zazai – albeit scratchy – is something to build on. Also, wth the seamers and Mujeeb ur Rahman finding wickets, the final piece of the puzzle is Rashid Khan, who has surprisingly gone wicketless in the opening three matches.

For Ireland, some of the old failings resurfaced, apart from the brilliant 74-run stand between George Dockrell and debutant Fionn Hand. Early wickets – four in the powerplay – and a lack of intent left them with too much to do, and how they bounce back today will make for interesting viewing. Indeed, the way Dockrell is playing, a good platform laid by the top order can put Afghanistan’s death bowlers under significant pressure.

IRE vs AFG 4th T20 Possible Playing XI

Ireland: 1. Paul Stirling, 2. Andy Balbirnie (c), 3. Lorcan Tucker (wk), 4. Harry Tector, 5. Gareth Delany, 6. George Dockrell, 7. Curtis Campher/Andy McBrine, 8. Mark Adair, 9. Fionn Hand, 10. Graham Hume/Barry McCarthy, 11. Josh Little

Afghanistan: 1. Hazratullah Zazai, 2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3. Ibrahim Zadran, 4. Najibullah Zadran, 5. Mohammad Nabi (c), 6. Usman Ghani, 7. Rashid Khan, 8. Azmatullah Omarzai/Karim Janat, 9. Naveen-ul-Haq, 10. Mujeeb ur Rahman, 11. Fazalhaq Farooqi

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Ireland:

  • Lorcan Tucker has made scores of 78, 0, 50, 27 and 31 in his past five T20Is. In the third T20I, he struck four fours and a six in 21 balls even as wickets fell early.
  • Paul Stirling, on the other hand, is going through a bit of a rough patch in T20Is. The opener has scored 18, 28, 31, 4 and 0 in his past five matches. But, he remains the top scorer in IRE-AFG T20Is: 20 inns, 578 runs, avg. 28.90, SR 138.27.
  • George Dockrell is in good touch. The batting all-rounder has made scores of 43, 3, 10*, 25* and 58* in his last five matches. This series, he has not been dismissed yet (93 runs) and is striking at 152.45.
  • Andy Balbirnie missed out in the third T20I (1) after scores of 51 and 46 in the first two matches. He has been dismissed twice by Mujeeb and once by Farooqi in this series.
  • Josh Little continues to impress, especially on this ground. The left-arm seamer has a total of 14 wickets in just seven T20Is at Belfast at a strike rate of 12.0.

Afghanistan:

  • Hazratullah Zazai struggled for fluency after returning from illness (39 off 40 balls). He can be better for the run, though, as he has an incredible record vs Ireland: 8 inns, 450 runs, avg. 64.28, SR 173.07. This includes a score of 162*.
  • Rahmanullah Gurbaz struck his highest score against Ireland in the third T20I (53 off 35 balls). He now has 185 runs in six IRE-AFG T20Is at an average of 30.83 and strike rate of 141.22.
  • Ibrahim Zadran (36 off 22) and Najibullah Zadran (42 off 18) got Afghanistan to a big score in the last match. Both continued on from their good form in the 2022 Shpageeza Cricket League. Ibrahim hit 318 runs (avg. 53.00, SR 148.59) and Najibullah smashed 397 runs (avg. 56.71, SR 163.37) in that tournament.
  • Naveen-ul-Haq recently took the second-most wickets in the T20 Vitality Blast (24 wickets in 14 matches). He has taken that form into this series, where he has five wickets in three matches.
  • Will this be the day Rashid Khan takes wickets? After 34 wickets in his first 13 T20Is against Ireland, Rashid has gone wicketless in all three matches this series. On a ground where a decent amount of cricket has been played recently, Rashid could find some grip.
  • Mujeeb ur Rahman has taken four wickets in three matches this series. He has dismissed Balbirnie twice, Lorcan Tucker once and Mark Adair once. Overall, the spinner has 16 wickets in 10 T20Is vs Ireland at a strike rate of 14.2.

Other Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 20, Ireland 6, Afghanistan 15.
  • Ibrahim Zadran’s strike rate of 154.71 is the highest among players who have faced at least 50 balls in this series. George Dockrell is next with 152.45.
  • Harry Tector in T20Is vs Afghanistan: 6 inns, 130 runs, avg. 32.50, SR 136.84.
  • Fionn Hand took 1/29 and scored 36 (18) on T20I debut. Ireland could look to send him up the order.
  • Mohammad Nabi is taking a wicket every 13.5 deliveries in this series.
  • Before this series, Rashid Khan had never previously gone two consecutive T20Is without taking a wicket.

Civil Service Cricket Club Stormont Belfast Pitch Report and Weather

The pitches at Belfast have helped produce some competitive cricket. Batsmen who get in can score well, while bowlers have been in the game, too. The average first innings score in this series is 159.67, with the chasing team winning two of the three matches.

Thunderstorms are forecast throughout the day in Belfast. According to AccuWeather, there could be 7.7mm of rain during the day.

IRE vs AFG 4th T20 Dream11 Prediction 15 August 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:

IRE vs AFG 4th T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | IRE vs AFG 4th T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Belfast Pitch Report
IRE vs AFG 4th T20 Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IRE vs AFG 4th T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | IRE vs AFG 4th T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Belfast Pitch Report
IRE vs AFG 4th T20 Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base Team:

  • Wicket-Keepers: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Lorcan Tucker
  • Batsmen: Hazratullah Zazai, Najibullah Zadran
  • All-Rounders: Mohammad Nabi, George Dockrell
  • Bowlers: Josh Little, Naveen-ul-Haq

IRE vs AFG 4th T20 Match Prediction: Who will win?

If the weather allows, Afghanistan look good for a win as they are starting to find their stride.

First ever Women’s IPL set to kick off in 2023

Charbel Coorey
-
0
First ever Women’s IPL set to kick off in 2023

Cricket News: First ever Women’s IPL set to kick off in 2023 | BCCI planning for Women’s IPL for 2023

The much anticipated and highly spoken about Women’s Indian Premier League (WIPL) is set to see the light of day in March 2023.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already made changes to its women’s domestic calendar to make room for the showpiece tournament, with the season to begin in October rather than the usual November. It will begin with the T20 competition on October 11, ending with a one-day competition in February, soon before the Women’s IPL.

BCCI working to launch first ever Women’s IPL in 2023

Earlier this year, both BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and BCCI secretary Jay Shah spoke positively about the possibility of a WIPL tournament.

“We are at the level of formulation to have a full-fledged WIPL. It is certainly going to happen,” Ganguly previously said. “I strongly believe that next year (2023) will be a very good time to start a full-fledged women’s IPL which will be as big and grand a success as men’s IPL.”

Shah pointed to the excellent response the BCCI has received from stakeholders, increasing confidence that the Women’s IPL will be a financial success right away.

“I am thrilled at the kind of response we have got from stakeholders. Multiple existing IPL teams have enquired and expressed serious interest in owning WIPL franchises,” said Shah. This includes the owners of Rajasthan Royals and Barbados Royals.

WIPL would be huge step for women’s cricket

Women’s cricket continues to grow and an IPL can help fast-track that growth even further. For India in particular, who continue to suffer near misses on a national level including the Commonwealth Games 2022 Final, a tournament of this scale can provide a great platform for players to learn their trade.

Also, with the quality of overseas players that will play, the standard of cricket will be high in what is expected to be a five or six-team tournament.

Such an event is one not to miss. That could be the case for retired Indian legend Mithali Raj, who has kept the door open for a possible return.

“I’m keeping that option open,” said Mithali on the ICC’s 100% Cricket podcast. “I’ve not yet decided. There are a few more months to go before the Women’s IPL happens. It would be lovely to be part of the first edition of the Women’s IPL.”

Who will captain India in the Zimbabwe ODI series?

Tarkesh Jha
-
0
Who will captain India in the Zimbabwe ODI series?

Cricket News: Who will captain India in the Zimbabwe ODI series? | Who will lead India in their ODI tour of Zimbabwe?

KL Rahul has been cleared fit by the medical team of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The 30-year-old will thus lead India in the upcoming three-match One-Day International (ODI) series in Zimbabwe that will begin from 18th August.

Earlier, Shikhar Dhawan was named as the captain for the tour. However, he will now take a backseat and assume the vice-captaincy duties upon Rahul’s return to the setup.

Rahul has battled multiple injury concerns after the 15th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has dealt with a groin injury, hamstring issues, sports hernia and even Covid-19 over the past couple of months.

KL Rahul set to play first match for India in six months

Rahul last played for India way back in February this year. He had to miss India’s tours to England and the Caribbean last month. Meanwhile, impressive performances by the likes of Deepak Hooda and Suryakumar Yadav in the time being were arguably adding pressure on Rahul’s spot in India’s T20I playing XI.

Cricket News: Who will captain India in the Zimbabwe ODI series? | Who will lead India in their ODI tour of Zimbabwe?

However, the move to reinstate him as the skipper for the Zimbabwe tour has further emphasized that he is firmly included in the team’s plans for the T20 World Cup later on this year. Rahul is a part of India’s squad for the Asia Cup and the series in Zimbabwe will give him an ideal platform to get back into his groove with the bat.

Other mainstays like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested for the aforementioned series. Dhawan had led India to an emphatic 3-0 ODI series victory against West Indies last month. However, Rahul was the captain in the ODI leg vs South Africa back in January this year and rightfully takes back that place in Rohit’s absence in Zimbabwe.

The three ODIs will be played on 18th, 20th and 22nd August in the Harare Sports Club.

India squad for Zimbabwe series: KL Rahul to captain

KL Rahul (c), Shikhar Dhawan (vc), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohd Siraj, Deepak Chahar

WI vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
-
0
WI vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

WI vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | WI vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction | Jamaica Pitch Report

The fielding was spectacular and so too was some of the hitting. New Zealand prevailed in the opening T20I, but not before West Indies provided a reminder of the kind of cricket they can play in this format.

However, it was another defeat for the home side, following on from their 4-1 series loss against India. Their finish with the ball – where they conceded 23 runs and dropped a crucial catch in the final over – was costly, as was a period where they lost three quick wickets either side of the powerplay. To win here and level the series, the Windies need to build on their good moments for longer periods.

For the Black Caps, it was a largely efficient performance with a number of players contributing. Mitchell Santner was particularly brilliant with the ball, but New Zealand will want an improved showing at the death after the Windies got closer than expected after needing 62 off the final three overs.

WI vs NZ 2nd T20 Possible Playing XI

With a deep batting lineup that has Odean Smith listed at nine, the Windies could look at using he or Romario Shepherd as a floater. Also, West Indies may be tempted to play another spinner over one of the specialist batsmen.

West Indies: 1. Kyle Mayers, 2. Shamarh Brooks/Brandon King, 3. Nicholas Pooran (c), 4. Devon Thomas (wk), 5. Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Rovman Powell, 7. Jason Holder, 8. Romario Shepherd, 9. Odean Smith, 10. Hayden Walsh, 11. Obed McCoy

New Zealand may look to stick with the same XI. However, they could play another spinner.

New Zealand: 1. Martin Guptill, 2. Devon Conway (wk), 3. Kane Williamson (c), 4. Glenn Phillips, 5. Daryl Mitchell, 6. James Neesham, 7. Mitchell Santner, 8. Tim Southee, 9. Ish Sodhi, 10. Lockie Ferguson, 11. Trent Boult

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

West Indies:

  • Odean Smith produced the kind of all-round performance he is capable of in the first T20I (3/32 and 27* off 12). Now, consistency is key for him.
  • Windies need more from Nicholas Pooran. The skipper struck two fours and a six in seven balls in the first T20I, before miscuing a Mitch Santner delivery.
  • The same applies to Shimron Hetmyer, who has scored just 34 runs in four innings vs New Zealand (avg. 8.50, SR 80.95). The left-hander recently scored a half-century against India.
  • Obed McCoy will be key especially in the powerplay and death overs. He has taken 35 wickets in 18 T20s in 2022.
  • McCoy’s battle against Guptill will be interesting. The NZ opener strikes at just 112.67 in 655 deliveries against left-arm seam in T20s, with 26 dismissals.
  • Romario Shepherd is a genuine impact player that can influence the game with bat and ball. He was expensive two days ago (0/35), but his 16-ball 31* was a reminder of his batting capabilities.
  • Windies would be well served using Shepherd as a floater. He struck three sixes and a four at a strike rate of 193.75 in the first T20I.

New Zealand:

  • Kane Williamson made a successful return to T20Is with a 33-ball 47 in the first T20I. That was his top score against West Indies (7 inns, 155 runs, avg. 25.83, SR 132.47).
  • Devon Conway looked in fine touch, striking at 148.27 for his 29-ball 43 in the first match. In 11 T20s this year, Conway has struck 376 runs at an average of 41.77 and strike rate of 143.51.
  • Glenn Phillips has an average of 44.00 and strike rate of 186.44 in six T20I innings vs West Indies. This includes a century. Also, he has the third-most runs in T20s at Sabina Park: 453 runs, avg. 37.75, SR 145.69.
  • Jimmy Neesham’s finishing was crucial to New Zealand’s victory two days ago. The left-hander has scored 113 runs in five innings vs West Indies at a strike rate of 194.82.
  • Mitchell Santner will be key once again. He took a brilliant 3/19 that won him player of the match in the first T20I. Expect the left-arm spinner to hit a good length and force the Windies batsmen to hit square.
  • Tim Southee has the most wickets in NZ-WI T20Is (19) with a strike rate of 15.6. Lockie Ferguson has even better numbers, with eight wickets in four T20Is at an average of 11.12 and strike rate of 9.7.

Other Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 17, West Indies 5, New Zealand 10, 2 N/R.
  • New Zealand have now won eight of the past nine completed T20Is against the Windies.
  • Can Martin Guptill hit his strides against West Indies? The opener averages just 18.27 in 12 T20Is against them at a strike rate of 123.31.
  • Rovman Powell averages just 9.80 in five T20I innings vs NZ. The right-hander needs a big innings, and he has the experience on this ground: 13 inns, 340 runs, avg. 34.00, SR 158.88.
  • Trent Boult was expensive at the death in the first T20I, so he will be aiming for a better display. He has taken seven wickets in four T20Is vs Windies at a strike rate of 13.7.

Sabina Park Kingston Jamaica Pitch Report and Weather

Spin played a key role in the first T20I, as it has in the past on this ground. The average first innings score in the last four T20Is at Sabina Park is 146.75. In CPL 2019, however, the runs flowed, with an average first innings score of 194.2.

In that tournament, the team batting first won three of the five matches. As did New Zealand two days ago.

Rain is expected to have a say with an 88% chance of precipitation during the day.

WI vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction 12 August 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:

WI vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | WI vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction | Jamaica Pitch Report
WI vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

WI vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | WI vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction | Jamaica Pitch Report
WI vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base Team:

  • Wicket-Keepers: Nicholas Pooran
  • Batsmen: Devon Conway, Kyle Mayers
  • All-Rounders: James Neesham, Odean Smith, Mitchell Santner
  • Bowlers: Obed McCoy, Trent Boult

WI vs NZ 2nd T20 Match Prediction: Who will win?

Weather permitting, New Zealand have the depth to seal another victory.

Ross Taylor provides details on racism in New Zealand cricket

Tarkesh Jha
-
0
Ross Taylor provides details on racism in New Zealand cricket

Cricket News: Ross Taylor opens up on racism in New Zealand cricket | Ross Taylor speaks out about racism in New Zealand cricket

Ross Taylor has come out with allegations of racism in New Zealand cricket in his autobiography named ‘Black and White’. Taylor opened up on the ‘dramatic under-representation’ of the Polynesian community and even mentioned that cricket is a ‘pretty white sport’ in the country.

“Cricket in New Zealand is a pretty white sport. For much of my career I’ve been an anomaly, a brown face in a vanilla line-up. That has its challenges, many of which aren’t readily apparent to your team-mates or the cricketing public,” Taylor wrote, as reported by the New Zealand Herald.

He added, “Given that the Polynesian community is dramatically under-represented in the game, it’s probably no surprise that people sometimes assume I’m Maori or Indian.”

The details of the racism Ross Taylor experienced in his playing days

Taylor has a Samoan heritage from his mother’s side. In the book, the 38-year-old revealed that comments on ethnicity were considered to be a part of banter in the dressing room. He also explained that there was no pushback against these kinds of remarks given that a white person couldn’t relate to such situations.

“In many ways, dressing-room banter is the barometer. A team-mate used to tell me, ‘You’re half a good guy, Ross, but which half is good? You don’t know what I’m referring to.’ I was pretty sure I did. Other players also had to put up with comments that dwelt on their ethnicity,” Taylor’s words were quoted by Cricbuzz.

“In all probability, a Pakeha [white New Zealander] listening to those sorts of comments would think, ‘Oh, that’s okay, it’s just a bit of banter.’ But he’s hearing it as white person and it’s not directed at people like him. So, there’s no pushback; no one corrects them. Then the onus falls on the targets,” he further explained about the matter.

However, Taylor also dwelt considerably on the defence of developing a thick skin to let go off such incidents. He said that disclosing these details would lead to him bring accused of playing the race card. “You wonder if you should pull them up but worry that you’ll create a bigger problem or be accused of playing the race card by inflating harmless banter into racism. It’s easier to develop a thick skin and let it slide, but is that the right thing to do?” the 38-year-old wrote.

Taylor hung his boots from international cricket in April this year as New Zealand’s highest run-scorer in Tests (7683) and ODIs (8607). He played 450 international matches for the country across formats and even led the national team for a considerable time during his 16-year-long career.

A few months into his retirement, the veteran player has opened up a can of worms that will surely strike a blow to New Zealand Cricket (NZC). The NZC came out with a quick clarification reiterating that it deplores racism and staunchly supports the NZ Human Right Commission’s ‘Give Nothing To Racism’ campaign. They expressed disappointment over Taylor being subjected to such behaviour and assured that they will reach out to him for further discussions on this matter.

1...217218219...497Page 218 of 497