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Rassie van der Dussen shares tips on batting in the middle in T20s

Cricket News: Rassie van der Dussen shares tips on batting in the middle in T20s | Rassie van der Dussen on batting in positions 4 and 5 in T20s

Rassie van der Dussen, one of South Africa’s most consistent batsmen in recent years, along with the in form David Miller, led the Proteas to a morale-boosting seven-wicket win over India in the first T20I at Delhi. It was an innings that showed just the kind of player van der Dussen is, ensuring he didn’t panic along the way in a big run chase.

Earlier this year, Rassie gave some insight into what life is like batting in the middle in T20s. In an exclusive interview with CricBlog, he said that getting a feel for the game right away is crucial when batting in the number four and five positions.

“You firstly have to assess the intensity of the match and where it is”, he said. “You can obviously walk in in the second or third over, or walk in in the 17th or 18th over, so to be able to realise what’s needed of you in the moment; that’s something I always consciously do when I go in.

“I try to work out how many balls I’ve got left to face and plan my innings accordingly.”

You need to have the know how and the skill to be able to execute – Rassie van der Dussen

The South African batsman then spoke about the importance of executing your skills when batting in the middle. He said it’s one thing to assess where the game is at, but to act on it is a whole different challenge.

“You have to have the skill to adapt,” he said. “Whether it’s coming in against the new ball in the powerplay, you need to have the skill to clear the inner ring and negate the moving ball. If you’re coming in the middle overs, you need to be able to rotate spin from the get go and make sure your boundary options are lower risk but clear.

“And obviously if you’re coming in at the death, you need to be able to clear the ropes within three or four balls. Once you have these skills, it’s about the mental blueprint you need to find in your own mind in terms of when you enter the match.”

van der Dussen scored 71* off 46 balls against India in the 1st T20I in Delhi

After crawling to 30 off 31 balls, van der Dussen then exploded to hit 41 off his next 15 to guide South Africa to victory in their run chase of 212 in Delhi. Speaking to the media after the match, he said the dropped catch by Shreyas Iyer was his wake up call to get going.

“When Shreyas dropped it, I knew I had to make them pay because I took the balls to get myself in,” he said.

“I think I had put myself and the team under a bit of pressure by not being able to get boundaries early on in my innings,” van der Dussen said. “But it wasn’t through lack of intent, or lack of planning, or lack of clarity of mind. You know, sometimes it just doesn’t come off.”

However, the key was not panicking. With David Miller in career-best touch and going hard, van der Dussen knew that even 14 or 15 an over was gettable with the short boundary.

“We didn’t panic at all. We knew even if the asking rate got up to 14-15, we could use that one short boundary with the right-left combination. We knew we could target the bowlers.”

South Africa, who are considered contenders for this year’s World Cup, will take a 1-0 series lead into the second match against India at Cuttack. If the Proteas perform well again, more will take note of Temba Bavuma’s team as a real force in T20I cricket.

PAK vs WI 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

PAK vs WI 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | PAK vs WI 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Pakistan vs West Indies 2nd ODI Key Players | Multan Pitch Report

West Indies will be looking to come back strongly after suffering a crushing defeat in the opening One Day International (ODI) against Pakistan on Wednesday. The two teams will square off again for the second ODI at Multan on Friday. The touring team will have to win this encounter to stand any chance of winning the series. To be fair, both West Indies and Pakistan had put up a formidable batting performance in the inaugural game.

The Caribbeans piled up 305 runs on the back of a century by Shai Hope whereas Babar Azam’s ton and Khushdil Shah’s heroics helped Pakistan close the game out successfully. The prevalent conditions seem to be favouring the batsmen and hence the team that improves on the bowling front as compared to Wednesday will gain an edge in this particular contest.

PAK vs WI 2nd ODI Possible Playing 11

Pakistan would like to carry on their momentum and name an unchanged side for this particular encounter.

Pakistan: 1: Fakhar Zaman, 2: Imam-ul-Haq, 3: Babar Azam (C), 4: Mohammed Rizwan (wk), 5: Khushdil Shah, 6: Mohammed Haris, 7: Shadab Khan, 8: Mohammad Nawaz, 9: Shaheen Afridi, 10: Hasan Ali, 11: Haris Rauf.

West Indies will be temped to ring in some changes especially in their bowling unit. But the Caribbeans would do well provided they alter their strategies, inculcate some bowling discipline and go full throttle against the Pakistanis on Friday.

West Indies: 1: Shai Hope (WK), 2: Kyle Mayers, 3: Sharmarh Brooks, 4: Nicholas Pooran (C), 5: Brandon King, 6: Rovman Powell, 7: Romario Shepherd, 8: Akeal Hossain, 9: Alzarri Joseph, 10: Hayden Walsh Jr, 11: Jayden Seales.

Key Players To Watch/Key Stats

Pakistan:

  • Babar Azam is on a run of three consecutive centuries and he has already scaled this feat twice in his ODI career so far. He will be a no-brainer pick in any fantasy XI for this game.
  • Imam-ul-Haq showed some fine form in the last game as he played convincing strokes to steer to his half-century. The southpaw has scored 363 runs at an average and strike rate of 121 and 99.73 respectively in 2022 so far.
  • Shadab Khan was the pick of the bowlers in the first ODI as he conceded merely 36 runs in 10 overs and even dismissed Brandon King. He can trouble the Caribbeans with his spin-bowling skillsets and add some crucial runs with the bat late down the order too.
  • Shaheen Afridi has the raw pace and prowess to make the ball talk even on dead tracks. Him striking early on will hold the key for Pakistan’s fortunes as it could trigger a sudden fall of wickets in the West Indian batting line-up.
  • Haris Rauf is another player who possesses the ability to trouble batsmen even in unfavourable conditions. He took four wickets in the last game and has made a promising start to his ODI career by scalping 23 dismissals in merely 12 games so far.

West Indies:

  • The team will bank on Shai Hope to fetch them some runs at the top of the order. He has notched two centuries and a half-century in 10 innings this year.
  • Nicholas Pooran will have to shoulder some additional responsibility in this arguably inexperienced batting line-up. He could be instrumental in tackling Shadab and keeping the scoring rate upbeat in the middle-overs.
  • Sharmarh Brooks played a fine 70-run knock on Wednesday and had scored a century in West Indies’ preceding ODI vs Netherlands this week as well.
  • Alzarri Joseph has done an incredible job in taking 75 wickets in 46 ODIs so far. He managed to notch two dismissals for just 56 runs in 10 overs even in the first ODI when several Caribbean bowlers went for plenty with the ball. He should be Pooran’s strike bowlers especially in the conditions prevalent in Pakistan.
  • Romario Shepherd can deliver volatile returns but he has the all-round abilities to the turn the game on its heads at any point in the game. He could be a high-risk/high-return pick in the all-rounders category of the fantasy XI.

Other Stats & Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 135, Pakistan 61, West Indies 71, three ties.
  • Pakistan has won seven out of their last 10 ODIs vs West Indies.
  • West Indies is playing an ODI series in Pakistan after nearly 16 years.
  • Babar Azam has scored more ODI centuries vs West Indies (5) than any other country.
  • Nicholas Pooran averages only 14.67 in the six ODIs that he has captained West Indies in so far.

Multan Pitch Report & Weather

Viewers can expect yet another batting-friendly track in Multan for this game. The spinners from both the sides will be instrumental in plugging the flow of runs in the middle-overs. Raw pace along with hard lengths could help the pacers strike some wickets early on. The temperature is predicted to be around 45°C at the start of the game but weather will slightly ease out during the second innings in the evening.

PAK vs WI 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction 10 June 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:

PAK vs WI 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | PAK vs WI 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Pakistan vs West Indies 2nd ODI Key Players | Multan Pitch Report
PAK vs WI 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

PAK vs WI 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | PAK vs WI 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Pakistan vs West Indies 2nd ODI Key Players | Multan Pitch Report
PAK vs WI 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Shai Hope, Mohammed Rizwan
  • Batsmen: Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq
  • All-rounders: Shadab Khan
  • Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi, Alzarri Joseph, Haris Rauf

Match Prediction

Pakistan seems to have all their bases covered and look to be well-set to optimize the conditions for their benefit. West Indies will have to put up a significantly improved bowling performance to prevent the home team from taking a decisive 2-0 lead in the series. Cricblog predicts a victory for Pakistan in this game.

ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs New Zealand 2nd Test Key Players | Trent Bridge Pitch Report

England’s new era under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum began with a long-awaited victory, courtesy of the bowling attack and brilliant Joe Root. Along the way, Root became the second Englishman to notch 10,000 Test runs, as he led England to the third-highest successful run chase at Lord’s.

So, what does the Trent Bridge Test have in store for us? New Zealand, the World Test champions, have their backs against the wall after letting England off the hook a few times in the first Test. In further woe, Kane Williamson is out with COVID-19 and Colin de Grandhomme is unavailable due to a heel injury. They need to dig deep and keep England on the mat if they manage to pin them down.

Similar applies to the home side, despite their win at Lord’s. It was a match where both sides allowed the other back into the contest on numerous occasions, with England doing so first losing their 10 first innings wickets for 82 runs to surrender the advantage after rolling New Zealand for 132. Such a collapse is something England are still very much prone to, so the onus is on the Black Caps bowlers to prey on that, with the batsmen required to avoid collapses – the kind we saw at Lord’s – of their own.

ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Possible Playing 11

Jack Leach is available after suffering a concussion early in the first Test. England will go in with an unchanged XI.

England: 1. Alex Lees, 2. Zak Crawley, 3. Ollie Pope, 4. Joe Root, 5. Jonny Bairstow, 6. Ben Stokes (c), 7. Ben Foakes (wk), 8. Matthew Potta, 9. Jack Leach, 10. Stuart Broad, 11. James Anderson

Kane Williamson is out of this Test due to COVID-19. Tom Latham will lead the team.

Hamish Rutherford, who was on County duty for Leicestershire, could come in to open as Colin de Grandhomme is out with a heel injury. In good news for the Black Caps, the experienced Henry Nicholls is set to return.

New Zealand: 1. Tom Latham (c), 2. Hamish Rutherford, 3. Will Young, 4. Devon Conway, 5. Henry Nicholls, 6. Daryl Mitchell, 7. Tom Blundell (wk), 8. Kyle Jamieson, 9. Tim Southee, 10. Matt Henry/Neil Wagner/Ajaz Patel, 11. Trent Boult

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

England:

  • If he already wasn’t threatening enough for New Zealand, Joe Root returns to a ground he has great success at. The now world’s number two Test batsman has struck three centuries in six Tests at Trent Bridge, with a total of 607 runs at an average of 67.44.
  • Ben Stokes rode his luck at Lord’s, but scored a crucial half-century in the second innings. The key question here will be: can the England captain overturn a poor record at this ground? He has scored just 95 runs in six innings at an average of 15.83.
  • Ben Foakes completed five dismissals in the first Test and scored a crucial 32* to help lead England home. He is in good batting form of late, with scores of 132*, 45, 63, 48*, 16 and 91 in his last five County matches for Surrey.
  • The ageless James Anderson will be a factor once again. He has the most wickets of any bowler in history at Trent Bridge (68) at a superb average of 19.44.
  • Stuart Broad has the joint second-most wickets at Trent Bridge with 41 scalps at an average of 23.81. He has an excellent record against Tom Latham having dismissed him eight times for 124 runs in 275 balls.
  • How good was Matthew Potts on debut? He took seven wickets in the Test, including the wickets of Latham, Blundell and Mitchell. He has taken 35 wickets this County season at an average of 18.57.

New Zealand:

  • Tom Latham must deliver in the absence of Kane Williamson. He averages just 26.18 in six Tests in England. Also, he averages 33.75 in eight Tests as captain, with one score of 252 making up a significant portion of his 405 runs as skipper.
  • Devon Conway will also be key. He was looking relatively comfortable in the second innings at Lord’s before getting strangled down the leg side. He scored 306 runs in two Tests in England last year.
  • Daryl Mitchell scored a superb century at Lord’s, and will want to build on that here. Also, Mitchell may be required to bowl a few overs in the absence of de Grandhomme.
  • Tom Blundell also played beautifully for his 96 at Lord’s. Also, he executed four dismissals behind the stumps.
  • Kyle Jamieson has taken 16 wickets in three Tests in England at an average of 17.06. He was the bowler who kickstarted England’s remarkable collapse on day one at Lord’s.
  • Tim Southee had a disappointing second innings at Lord’s (0/87), but his 4/55 in the first innings is a reminder of his wicket-taking potential in English conditions.
  • Trent Boult has an impressive 58 wickets in 12 Tests vs England at an average of 24.10. In England, the average drops further to 21.80 (36 wickets in seven Tests).

Other Stats and Facts

  • England’s win at Lord’s broke a rut where they had won just one of their previous 17 Tests.
  • New Zealand are unbeaten in seven of their past eight Tests against England.
  • Joe Root struck scores of 64 and 109 against India at Trent Bridge last year.
  • Alex Lees has made six consecutive scores above 20 in Tests. However, 31 is his highest score.
  • Stuart Broad took his famous 8/15 vs Australia on this ground in 2015.
  • Tim Southee is eight away from 350 Test wickets. Only Richard Hadlee (431) and Dan Vettori (362) have more for New Zealand.

Trent Bridge Nottingham Pitch Report and Weather

Bright weather all week is great news for Test lovers. Also, the pitch has a green tinge to it in the lead up to this Test, which may prompt the captain who wins the toss to choose to bowl as batting conditions could be best on days two and three.

The average first innings score here in the past five Tests is 272.8, with three scores above 300. The average is brought down significantly by Australia’s infamous 60 all-out in 2015.

ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction 10 June 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:

ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs New Zealand 2nd Test Key Players | Trent Bridge Pitch Report
ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs New Zealand 2nd Test Key Players | Trent Bridge Pitch Report
ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Jonny Bairstow
  • Batsmen: Joe Root, Devon Conway
  • All-rounders: Ben Stokes, Daryl Mitchell
  • Bowlers: James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Tim Southee

Match Prediction

Runs on the board in the first innings will be crucial. Given the form of Joe Root and confidence of England after their win at Lord’s, England look likelier to win this Test. However, if New Zealand can get the better of Root, they will win.

“You have inspired millions of girls to take up this sport” – Tributes to Mithali Raj after announcing retirement

Cricket News: “You have inspired millions of girls to take up this sport” – Tributes to Mithali Raj after announcing retirement

Mithali Raj announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket on Wednesday. The move marks the end of an era for women’s cricket in India considering that Mithali has been a pioneer of the sport in the country. In a career lasting 22 years, she amassed 7805 runs at an average of 50.7 in 232 ODIs.

She also notched 2364 runs at 37.5 in 89 T20Is and maintained an impressive average of 43.7 to bag 699 runs in 12 Test matches. But her stature and prominence in the sport is way above all these numbers. Mithali has been the face of women’s cricket in India for the longest time.

Her inspirational leadership and incredible batting were instrumental to the Indian team’s heroic run to the finals of the 50-over World Cup in 2017. Several female cricketers in India hail her as the figure who encouraged them to take up the sport professionally in the country.

Mithali was perhaps the definition of the most perfect, textbook batter that the sport has ever seen. Her shots seemed to be taken straight out of the cricketing manual as the 39-year-old excelled in all formats, in every condition and against each opposition. Here are some of the finest takes and reactions on the news of her retirement from social media.

Reactions to Mithali Raj retiring from international cricket

“I feel now is the perfect time to call curtains on my playing career as the team is in the capable hands of some very talented young players and the future of the Indian cricket in bright. I’d like to thank the BCCI and Shri Jay Shah sir (Honorary Secretary, BCCI) for all the support I have received – first as a player and then as Captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team,” Mithali’s official statement read, as reported by Firstpost.

She added, “It was an honour to have led the team for so many years. It definitely shaped me as a person and hopefully helped shape Indian Women’s Cricket as well.”

Following her retirement, Harmanpreet Kaur has now been named the Indian captain in both ODI and the T20I formats.

IND vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

IND vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | IND vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs South Africa 1st T20I Key Players | Delhi Pitch Report

International cricket is set to resume in India with the home side taking on the touring South African team in the first T20I of the upcoming series in New Delhi. The two teams will play five matches in this series as they build up to the World T20 that is set to take place in Australia later on this year.

The Indian side was dealt with a major blow on Wednesday as KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav had to pull out due to groin and hand injuries respectively. Rahul was slated to lead India in the absence of Rohit Sharma in this series. Now, the captaincy mantle has been handed over to Rishabh Pant whereas Hardik Pandya has been named as his deputy on the back of his heroics with the Gujarat Titans.

On the other hand, the Proteas have a well-settled unit with no major injury concerns. They will be banking on the likes of David Miller and Quinton de Kock to fire after their promising displays in the IPL. The South Africans have also added the 21-year-old Tristan Stubbs in the squad, who was drafted into the Mumbai Indians squad as a replacement for Tymal Mills towards the fag end of the previous campaign.

IND vs SA 1st T20 Possible Playing 11

India might have to make some changes in the top-order in the absence of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Rahul. They are also likely to the put the finishing responsibilities on Dinesh Karthik.

India: 1: Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2: Ishan Kishan, 3: Shreyas Iyer, 4: Rishabh Pant (wk & c), 5: Hardik Pandya, 6: Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7: Axar Patel, 8: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9: Harshal Patel, 10: Yuzvendra Chahal, 11: Ravi Bishnoi.

The South African bowling will be bolstered with the express pace of Anrich Nortje and the skillsets of Kagiso Rabada. Their middle-order will have a solid look if the likes of Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen and Miller take charge proactively.

South Africa:  1: Quinton de Kock (wk), 2: Reeza Hendricks, 3: Rassie van der Dussen, 4: Aiden Markram, 5: Temba Bavuma (c), 6: David Miller, 7: Dwaine Pretorius, 8: Kagiso Rabada, 9: Keshav Maharaj, 10: Tabraiz Shamsi, 11: Anrich Nortje

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

India:

  • Hardik Pandya is fresh from his highly successful IPL campaign. Whilst, he may don a different role here, Pandya’s incredible abilities with both the bat and the ball makes him a fine pick for the fantasy team.
  • Ruturaj Gaikwad might have had an inconsistent IPL season (326 runs) but he is someone whom the team can rely on to fetch some definite runs at the top. He has the ability to play a long innings once he is set and will have to just bide his time through the powerplay overs for that.
  • Rishabh Pant will relish taking on the Protea spinners, particularly in the middle-overs. Moreover, he will bag some crucial points through dismissals from behind the wickets as well.
  • With 51 wickets in 30 games in the last two IPL seasons, Harshal Patel has arguably emerged as India’s premier death bowler in T20Is.The pitch in Delhi might suit his strengths and expect him to derail the South African innings towards the backend of the innings.
  • Yuzvendra Chahal took the highest number of wickets (27) ever scalped by a spinner in a single season of the IPL in 2022. He will surely carry on that rich vein of form against South Africa, who historically tend to struggle against the slower bowlers.

South Africa:

  • Quinton de Kock scored 508 runs in IPL 2022 and he looks all set to display a similar dominance against the Indian bowlers in the upcoming series. Moreover, he has a safe pair of hands behind the stumps and hence is likely to earn some crucial fantasy points there.
  • David Miller found form and that too in some serious style in the recently concluded IPL. He scored 481 runs in Gujarat’s title-winning campaign and played multiple match-winning knocks. This new revamped version of Miller is a force to reckon with for the Indian team.
  • Miller was particularly brilliant when chasing in IPL 2022. He hit 320 runs at a strike rate of 152.38, and was dismissed just twice.
  • Dwaine Pretorius fills in as an all-rounder in this South African XI. He delivered some encouraging performances in IPL 2022 and looks to have furnished his death-bowling skills in recent times. One can rely on him to get some key scalps in the death overs in the coming game.
  • Anrich Nortje had an injury-ridden IPL campaign but he still managed to pick nine wickets in merely six games for Delhi Capitals. The express pacer can trouble the Indian batsmen with his hard lengths and toe-crushing yorkers during every phase of an innings.
  • Kagiso Rabada took 23 wickets for the Punjab Kings in 2022 and he has consistently shown the capability to trouble the Indian batsmen with his imperious skillsets with both the new and the old ball. Moreover, Delhi is a favoured hunting ground for Rabada considering he spent some fruitful seasons with the Delhi Capitals over there.

Other Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-Head: Played 15, India 9, South Africa 6.
  • India is currently on a winning streak of 12 consecutive T20Is.
  • South Africa has never lost a T20I series in India. They won the series 2-0 in 2015 and drew 1-1 in 2019.
  • India played its first ever T20I against South Africa way back in 2006. Dinesh Karthik was the Man of the Match in that game. 15 years down the line, he is again expected to be an important part of the team in this series.

Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi Pitch Report and Weather

The Arun Jaitley Stadium usually delivers a slow and sluggish wicket but it can be expected to have more pace as the international season is just starting off and the curators will most likely deliver a fresh deck for this game. With respect to the weather, Delhi is battling some tumultuous hot weather currently. The temperature is expected to be around 41 °C during the time when the game will begin.

IND vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction 9th June 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:

IND vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | IND vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs South Africa 1st T20I Key Players | Delhi Pitch Report
IND vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IND vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | IND vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs South Africa 1st T20I Key Players | Delhi Pitch Report
IND vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base Team:

  • Wicket-Keepers: Quinton de Kock, Rishabh Pant
  • Batsmen: David Miller, Ruturaj Gaikwad
  • All-rounders: Hardik Pandya
  • Bowlers: Yuzvendra Chahal, Kagiso Rabada, Harshal Patel

Match Prediction

The chasing team should be well placed to win with a chance of dew. That said, India start as favourites at home despite the promise South Africa have shown over the past year.

SL vs AUS 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

SL vs AUS 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | SL vs AUS 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Sri Lanka vs Austealia 2nd T20 Key Players | Colombo Pitch Report

“It’s a pretty strong looking Sri Lanka team,” said Roshan Abeysinghe when reading out the lineup ahead of the first T20I. Such a statement was ageing nicely as the home side motored along to 100/1 to set themselves up for a big total. With Australia boasting a lineup consisting of in-form players including David Warner and Mitch Marsh, a large total was indeed important.

But, in what has become a familiar occurrence for Sri Lanka in T20Is on this ground, disaster struck. They collapsed badly to lose their last nine wickets for 28 runs, and in some good news (depending on how you see things), they have the chance to bounce back less than 24 hours later.

In addition to keeping this series alive, Sri Lanka really need some confidence in this format. They have lost 11 of their past 13 T20Is, and with another World Cup looming large, they need to find some rhythm and fast. For Australia, the response to the initial Sri Lankan onslaught yesterday would have been pleasing. Also, runs for Aaron Finch is a huge plus, along with Josh Hazlewood’s magnificent form. They will be after the same today.

SL vs AUS 2nd T20 Possible Playing 11

Will Sri Lanka stick with the same XI that collapsed so badly? It may be harsh to drop players after one match in this series.

Sri Lanka: 1. Danushka Gunathilaka, 2. Pathum Nissanka, 3. Charith Asalanka, 4. Kusal Mendis (wk), 5. Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 6. Dasun Shanaka (c), 7. Wanindu Hasaranga, 8. Chamika Karunaratne, 9. Dushmantha Chameera, 10. Maheesh Theekshana, 11. Nuwan Thusahara

Australia should look to stick with the same XI that won the first T20I by 10 wickets.

Australia: 1. David Warner, 2. Aaron Finch (c), 3. Mitchell Marsh, 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. Steve Smith, 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Matthew Wade (wk), 8. Ashton Agar, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Kane Richardson, 11. Josh Hazlewood

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Sri Lanka:

  • Danushka Gunathilaka looked good for more yesterday. His 15-ball 26 needs to be the catalyst for more in the second T20I.
  • Pathum Nissanka averaged 36.8 in five matches in Australia earlier this year and struck 36 yesterday. If he can set another platform, Sri Lanka’s middle order will be tasked with producing better.
  • Bhanuka Rajapaksa is the player who can elevate Sri Lanka to a big score, along with Charith Asalanka. In the recent IPL, Rajapaksa scored 206 runs at a strike rate of 159.68.
  • Wanindu Hasaranga had a tough outing in the first T20I (0/27 off two overs). This was his first wicketless outing against Australia. He took figures of 3/38, 2/33 and 2/22 in his previous three matches against them.
  • Also, Hasaranga recently took the second-most wickets of any spinner in a single IPL season. 18 of his 26 wickets came in the middle overs. If he bowls second, he needs more runs to play with.
  • Expect Dushmantha Chameera to target Warner with the short ball again. Whether it can come off remains to be seen. Chameera has the third-most wickets of any bowler in T20s on this ground (29 wickets in 26 innings) and will be aiming to bounce back after an expensive outing yesterday (0/48).
  • Maheesh Theekshana will be key upfront in breaking the Warner-Finch stand. He nearly dismissed Finch in the first T20I with deliveries both swinging and turning in. Also, Theekshana took six wickets in the powerplay in IPL 2022.

Australia:

  • It was another dominant display by David Warner in a T20I against Sri Lanka. He now has seven 50+ scores in 14 innings against them, with a total of 582 runs at an average of 64.66 and strike rate of 140.92.
  • Aaron Finch has struck two fifties in his last two T20Is. He was player of the match against Pakistan earlier this year and struck a 40-ball 61* yesterday.
  • Mitchell Marsh will be keen to get an opportunity to bat today. Australia’s number three has scored 1,432 runs at an average of 39.78 and strike rate of 138.09 since the start of 2021.
  • Glenn Maxwell has great numbers against Sri Lanka. He has smashed 424 runs in 10 innings vs SL at a superb average of 60.87 and strike rate of 181.19.
  • Josh Hazlewood blew Sri Lanka away yesterday. His 4/16 earnt him player of the match. He now has 12 wickets in just five matches vs SL, and recently took 20 wickets in 12 matches in IPL 2022.
  • Mitchell Starc has 13 scalps in eight matches on this ground at an economy rate of under seven. He will be key at the death once again.

Other Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 23, Sri Lanka 9, Australia 14.
  • Australia have won 10 of the last 11 matches between the teams.
  • Wanindu Hasaranga has dismissed Glenn Maxwell twice in 18 deliveries in T20Is (33 runs). Also, despite the tough outing yesterday, Sri Lanka will still back Hasaranga to perform well vs Finch: 23 balls, three dismissals, 40 runs in T20Is.
  • Glenn Maxwell smashed 145* and 66 in the 2016 tour of Sri Lanka. He opened the batting in that series.

R. Premadasa Stadium Colombo Pitch Report and Weather

Australia’s seamers dominated in the first T20I. The wicket was good for batting despite Sri Lanka’s collapse. Today, there is a chance of further rain which can contribute to the heavy outfield once again.

Sri Lanka’s 128 yesterday was in line with the T20I average first innings score on this ground last year (127.17).

SL vs AUS 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction 8 June 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:

SL vs AUS 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | SL vs AUS 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Sri Lanka vs Austealia 2nd T20 Key Players | Colombo Pitch Report
SL vs AUS 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

SL vs AUS 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | SL vs AUS 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Sri Lanka vs Austealia 2nd T20 Key Players | Colombo Pitch Report
SL vs AUS 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Bhanuka Rajapaksa
  • Batsmen: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Aaron Finch
  • All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Wanindu Hasaranga
  • Bowlers: Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc

Match Prediction

Weather permitting, Australia look good for a win once again.

Multan weather for PAK-WI ODIs: Temperatures to reach 45 degrees

Cricket News: Multan weather for PAK-WI ODIs: Temperatures to reach 45 degrees | Temperatures will reach about 45 degrees in Multan

Multan will receive its first dose of international cricket since way back in 2008. Pakistan take on West Indies in three ODIs starting from 8 June, in a series that was originally slated for the backend of 2021, but was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Windies camp.

However, it will be a tough outing for players and spectators. It is very hot in Multan at this time of year, with temperatures expected to touch 45 degrees, resulting in a later-than-usual start time of 4:00pm for all three ODIs. So, each match, should they last the distance, will finish past midnight.

Doing our best to acclimatise to the Multan weather – Babar Azam

Multan wasn’t the first pick, with Rawalpindi originally slated to host the series. However, political unrest in nearby Islamabad has forced the PCB’s hand in moving the series for safety reasons.

In a press conference in Lahore leading up to the series, Pakistan captain Babar Azam spoke of how his team is readying themselves for the challenge. The players have undertaken a conditioning and training camp in Lahore, where it also very hot.

“Definitely it is hot, but we are having a conditioning camp and acclimatising to the weather. We started our training camp earlier in the day from 2:30pm so that we could feel the heat and get ourselves ready for the matches,” he said.

“The temperate here (in Lahore) is similar to what we are going to experience in Multan, maybe one or two degrees more. We are already having our camps here and training in and out to get used to it.”

Babar also spoke of Pakistan’s experience in the UAE as an advantage for the home side. West Indies, who only finished their ODI series in cool conditions in the Netherlands a few days ago, will have a lot of adjusting to do.

“As a professional, you have to handle these situations. We do go out to other countries to play, and even during our time in the UAE, we used to face similar temperatures. I think it won’t be a problem and we will try to finish this series on a high note,” Babar said.

“Definitely it is hot, but we are having a conditioning camp and acclimatising to the weather. We started our training camp earlier in the day from 2:30pm so that we could feel the heat and get ourselves ready for the matches”

Babar Azam

PCB has made a big blunder moving series to Multan – Sikandar Bakht

Former cricketer Sikandar Bakht has criticised the PCB for selecting Multan as the venue for the series over Karachi. In addition to political unrest in Islamabad, the squares at the National Stadium in Karachi and Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore are undergoing construction.

“I can’t understand PCB’s mindset,” Bakht said to Geo Super. “Karachi must have been an alternative option to host this series. Didn’t PCB know weather conditions of Punjab region in June-July?”

“They [PCB] dug pitches in Karachi and then had to move matches to Multan in such a hot weather. I am in Karachi right now, weather is hot but sea winds make it slightly better than Multan. Whoever decided to dug pitches in Karachi at this point in time, made a big blunder,” he said.

A Geo Super production member was scathing in his assessment of the PCB’s decision.

“I don’t know why PCB took this risk. Putting players into play in such a weather is stupidity,” he said.

“Its not only about players. There are a lot of other people like us involved in organizing a cricket series. Who will think about us? It’s too hard and risky to work in this weather.

PAK-WI ODIs a key series in the World Cup qualification race

The three matches are of significant importance to both teams in the ongoing ODI Super League. West Indies, thanks to their 3-0 series sweep over Netherlands, have moved into fourth place on 80 points. However, they have played the equal-most matches (18), six more than hosts Pakistan who currently sit tenth with 60 points.

The ODIs will take place on June 8, 10 and 12 in Multan.

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

PAK vs WI 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | PAK vs WI 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Pakistan vs West Indies 1st ODI Key Players | Multan Pitch Report

Multan is back in the spotlight, and the heat is on the players. Figuratively and literally.

Temperatures of up to 45 degrees will greet the players, and the 4pm start is of little respite at this time of year. Home side Pakistan have been working hard to acclimatise to the conditions, while West Indies have much more adjusting to do after a series in cool Netherlands just a few days ago.

Figuratively speaking, both sides have the heat of World Cup qualification to contend with. The Windies have moved up to fourth on the Super League table, but have played the equal-most matches (18). Pakistan are in tenth after 12 games and need to get moving, and what a perfect opportunity to do so against a team that has a number of inexperienced players.

So, this series, originally slated for Rawalpindi in the Pakistani winter but postponed due to COVID-19, will carry significant importance. Political unrest in Rawalpindi has forced a shift to Multan, and the team quicker to adjust to the conditions can enjoy an advantage. All three ODIs are scheduled to finish past midnight, so sticking at it for the long haul will be on the agenda for both teams.

PAK vs WI 1st ODI Possible Playing 11

Asif Ali has been left out of Pakistan’s ODI squad, so Abdullah Shafique could get an opportunity. Shadab Khan, who missed the Australia series earlier this year with injury, is back.

Pakistan: 1. Imam-ul-Haq, 2. Fakhar Zaman, 3. Babar Azam (c), 4. Abdullah Shafique, 5. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 6. Khushdil Shah, 7. Iftikhar Ahmed/Mohammad Wasim/Mohammad Nawaz, 8. Shadab Khan, 9. Hasan Ali/Zahid Mahmood, 10. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11. Haris Rauf

West Indies have Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd available after they missed the ODI series vs Netherlands due to Visa issues.

West Indies: 1. Shai Hope (wk), 2. Kyle Mayers, 3. Shamarh Brooks, 4. Nicholas Pooran, 5. Brandon King, 6. Rovman Powell, 7. Romario Shepherd, 8. Akeal Hosein, 9. Hayden Walsh, 10. Alzarri Joseph, 11. Shermon Lewis/Jayden Seales

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Pakistan:

  • Imam-ul-Haq scored two centuries and a fifty in Pakistan’s most recent ODI series against Australia back in March/April. He made scores of 103, 106 and 83*, and will be looking to produce similar form here.
  • Babar Azam also cracked two centuries and a fifty in that Australia series. He finished with 276 runs at an average of 138.00 and strike rate of 102.22.
  • Babar has hit four centuries in seven ODIs against West Indies. The Pakistani skipper has struck 536 runs in seven ODIs against them at an average of 89.33 and strike rate of 93.87.
  • Mohammad Rizwan will be looking to transfer his superb T20 form to the ODI arena. The keeper-batsman has surprisingly scored just 58 runs in six home ODIs (avg. 11.60).
  • Shadab Khan is set to return to the Pakistan team. The leg-spinner has taken five wickets in four ODIs vs West Indies (avg. 29.80) and will be looking to build on his three wickets in two ODIs in Pakistan to date.
  • Can Shaheen Shah Afridi make inroads in the powerplay? The left-armer is famous for wickets in his first over, and he will look to exploit an inexperienced Windies top order.

West Indies:

  • Shai Hope will be key. The opener has struck 2,237 runs in ODIs at an average of 54.6 since the start of 2019. This includes 20 50+ scores in 46 innings.
  • In this period, Hope has scored 272 runs against left-arm seam at an average of 45.3 and strike rate of 107.1. Windies will be hoping for such form against Shaheen.
  • Kyle Mayers and Shamarh Brooks hit their maiden ODI centuries against Netherlands a few days ago. Can they replicate this against more experienced opposition in tougher conditions?
  • More will be required of Nicholas Pooran than what was the case in Netherlands. The Windies’ skipper struck 34* (19) in the 2019 World Cup game vs Pakistan and is coming off a promising IPL campaign.
  • Rovman Powell is also coming off a promising IPL campaign. The finisher struck 250 runs at a strike rate of 149.70.
  • Akeal Hosein is one to watch. His accuracy and ability to turn the ball sharply will be key in these conditions. He has taken at least one wicket in each of his past 13 ODIs, with a total of 26 scalps in these matches.
  • Alzarri Joseph has taken 43 wickets in his last 23 ODIs. He will be aiming to improve on his numbers against Pakistan (five wickets, avg. 48.40), although he last played them five years ago.

Other Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 134, Pakistan 60, West Indies 71, three ties.
  • The last time these two teams met in an ODI was in the 2019 World Cup. West Indies steamrolled Pakistan for 105. However, none of the Windies bowlers that day are available here.
  • This will be the first ODI at Multan since Pakistan and Bangladesh went head-to-head in 2008. Shakib Al Hasan scored a century and Salman Butt top-scored with 74 as Pakistan won by seven wickets.
  • Babar Azam averages 99.57 in nine home ODIs, with seven 50+ scores including four centuries.
  • Hasan Ali much prefers to bowl first in ODIs. He has taken 64 wickets at 23.8 when bowling first compared to 25 scalps at 45.6 when bowling second.

Multan Pitch Report and Weather

The match will start at 4pm local time due to the oppressive heat, with temperatures expected to reach 45 degrees throughout the day (details on the Multan weather). In domestic T20s on this ground back in October 2020, there were numerous scores in the region of 160-180+, highlighting the good batting conditions in Multan.

The heat may bring about dew at night, so the captain who wins the toss may choose to bowl first despite the heat.

PAK vs WI 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction 8 June 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:

PAK vs WI 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | PAK vs WI 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Pakistan vs West Indies 1st ODI Key Players | Multan Pitch Report
PAK vs WI 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

PAK vs WI 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | PAK vs WI 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Pakistan vs West Indies 1st ODI Key Players | Multan Pitch Report
PAK vs WI 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Mohammad Rizwan, Shai Hope
  • Batsmen: Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman
  • All-rounders: Shadab Khan, Kyle Mayers
  • Bowlers: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Akeal Hosein

Match Prediction

Pakistan to win.

IPL 2023-27 broadcasting media rights could go for US$5.1 to US$6.5 billion

Cricket News: IPL media rights could go for US$5.1 to US$6.5 billion | IPL broadcasting media rights value could be over US$5.1 billion

The Indian Premier League (IPL) broadcasting media rights for the next five years could go for a staggering INR 40,000 crore (approx. US$5.1 billion) to INR 50,000 crore (approx. US$6.5). According to The Hindu Business Line, a number of media giants, including big players in digital media, will go toe-to-toe in a media rights e-auction on Sunday June 12.

Star (now Disney) had picked up the IPL broadcasting rights for INR 16,347.50 crore (approx. US$2.1 billion) back in 2018. Viewing numbers were up by around 28% in 2020 due to COVID-19 and isolation factors, while the 2021 edition also saw big numbers due to similar reasons. TV viewership decreased by up to 35% throughout IPL 2022, but it is widely believed that IPL consumption away from television – including smartphones and tablets at the viewer’s convenience – is well and truly the norm.

IPL broadcasting media rights are steep, but bidders will fight for it

Sandeep Goyal, chief of advertising firm Rediffusion, said there will be strong competition at the e-auction despite the steep prices. He believes that sport can form the core of a digital media offering and leave competitors for dead, especially when it comes to a league as popular as the IPL.

“For media companies, sports rights are always considered to be the engine while everything else is like bogies of the train,” said Gopal. “The ascendancy of the media companies and groups is in many ways dictated by whether they have the IPL rights. For instance, for the years that Star India had the rights, they outdistanced all competitors by many more miles. Similar was the case with Sony.”

Shailesh Kapoor, founder and CEO of Ormax Media, has similar thoughts. “There is simply no other content with the kind of eyeballs that IPL gets,” he said.

Also, Kapoor said that the IPL is a huge driver of Hotstar’s revenue. In fact, it is estimated that 30 per cent of Hotstar’s total global revenue comes from India alone.

Can the BCCI sell all its sponsorship slots once again in IPL 2023?

For the first time ever, the BCCI sold all of its sponsorship slots for the 2022 tournament, bringing in an additional INR 1,000 crore plus (approx. US$128.6 million) of revenue. However, inflationary and margin pressures may put some potential advertisers in a state of limbo whether to commit to an IPL deal going forward.

So, the BCCI will have to come up with ways to offer value to advertisers, particularly from a digital media channels perspective. Also, the fear of viewership fatigue – that Ravi Shastri denies – is a possible factor in waning television numbers in 2022.

However, the IPL remains a huge prize for the winning media bidder. Gopal feels there are a few bidders who will go hardest, and picked his providers to watch out for.

“I feel the serious bidders will be Star India, Zee, Sony and the Viacom18-Uday Shankar-Murdoch campaign. It will be consolidated play not digital pure play. No one knows cricket like Shankar and he knows the art of monetisation far better than anyone else,” he said.

The e-auction will take place on 12 June, soon after the bidders went through a mock auction earlier this week.

I have learnt a lot from MS Dhoni – Dwaine Pretorius

Cricket News: I have learnt a lot from MS Dhoni – Dwaine Pretorius | Pretorius says MS Dhoni believes he can do anything

Dwaine Pretorius has taken abundant learnings from MS Dhoni through his stint with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the recently-concluded season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Dhoni’s nostalgic heroics in CSK’s successful chase vs Mumbai Indians on 21st April was perhaps the most iconic moment for the four-time IPL champions in an otherwise disappointing campaign.

Pretorius had played an instrumental role in that chase as he struck 22 runs off 14 deliveries including two terrific boundaries against Jasprit Bumrah in the penultimate over. Now, as the all-rounder reflects back on the season, he has a lot to talk about the art of finishing games off that he picked from Dhoni.

MS Dhoni made me believe the pressure is all on the bowler at the death – Dwaine Pretorius

“The biggest thing I learnt from him is how calm he is at the crease and how much he tries to take pressure off himself and put it onto the bowler. He made me realise that at the death, the batter isn’t under more pressure, it’s actually the bowler that is under more pressure,” Pretorius was quoted in a report by ESPNCricinfo.

“As a bowler, you can still lose the match if you have to defend 18 off the last three balls and as a batter you can win it. It was a fresh mindset. He doesn’t get too excited. He doesn’t get too down on himself. Anything is always possible and I love that about him. He is very optimistic. He believes he can do anything,” the all-rounder further heaped praise on the former Indian skipper.

Pretorius is now eager to inculcate these traits in his own gameplay as he is a part of the South African side that will take on the Indian team in a five-match T20I series starting from Thursday.

The 33-year-old is looking at becoming calmer and having the self-belief to win a game from any circumstance, much alike Dhoni. “I am going to try and bring that into my game: the calmness but also that self-belief that from any position, any game can be won,” Pretorius further told the aforementioned website.

He further termed the prevalent environment at CSK as ‘performance-oriented’. He said that the players are given the responsibility to come up with plans, prepare accordingly, believe in their work and subsequently execute the strategies on the field. He even explained that the franchise is looking to take the positives out of this disappointing campaign to build a good side going ahead.

“What was nice about the CSK franchise is that it is very experienced. We all understand that cricket doesn’t always go your way. It’s very important to just take the positives out of a bad season and try and build for a stronger future. It’s all about building for the next year or three years and trying to make sure a bad season is not a complete loss,” Pretorius further opened up about his tenure with the Dhoni-led team.

Pretorius is currently with the South Africa team ahead of their five-match T20I series in India.