Twitter reactions to Australia collapse in T20I vs WI | Australia collapse vs WI: Australia lose 6/19 to concede first T20I against West Indies
Australia fans rejoiced as the national team took the field for the first time since February. The long wait seemed worth it as Josh Hazlewood led the way in pushing the star-studded West Indies lineup on the backfoot thanks to his superb spell of 3/12.
However, smiles were then turned upside down as Australia collapsed to lose by 18 runs, courtesy of mindless, stupid and ridiculous batting.
Sitting very pretty at 105/4 after 10 overs, and needing just 41 for victory, Australia then batted as if they needed 141. Their last six wickets – probably the same amount of brain cells that went into the batting effort – fell for just 22 runs to throw away a 1-0 series lead.
Credit must be given to the West Indian bowlers and fielders for executing their plans so well, after letting a series slip vs South Africa. However, Australia were the masters of their own downfall. It’s all well and good looking to play big shots in T20s, but there is a time and place for sensible batting, too. Australia needed four an over in the last 10. The only way Windies were going to win was with 10 wickets. Australia obliged.
Of course, when Australia collapse like this, Twitter is going to be all over it. Here are some of the Twitter reactions:
Hilarious….JL needs to remind batsmen that they are allowed to take singles….absolute crap batting
From being 108 for 4 to being all out for 127 is a display of how irresponsible some of these batsmen are. They are an embarrassment to the rich history of Australian cricket. Its disgusting that such collapses have become so regular for us. This one was among the worst. #WIvAUS
Reinstates the fact that you need a player like Smudge in the middle to avoid these kind of collapses. Bottled an easy victory there#WIvAUS
— Rishit_Sachinist •EF• #WearMask (@RishitShukla) July 10, 2021
Grasping at straws a little bit here. We were garbage at the end. Very clearly finishing innings is a hole in our arsenal and we’ll need to rectify that in these next few games otherwise we can kiss any WC aspirations goodbye
The right way to play would be the best way to win the game! Today, singles and sensible batting were required but they were in short order! A very, very poor loss.
What a Incredible Win by West Indies, What a Comeback. This is Brilliant from Windies bowlers. Australia at one point 108 for 4 In 10.3 overs and needs 37 runs from 57 Balls. But West Indies comeback own their styles. Remarkable Win by 18 runs against Australia. #WIvAUSpic.twitter.com/Vgh7hhY5pV
These batting collapses are becoming so normal for Australia…………. and they collapse irrespective of the venue, format and opposition….. Poor from Australia again with the pitch too getting better for batting in the second innings #WIvAUS
Australia will now have to pick themselves up for the second T20I which will be played 24 hours later. Places in the T20 World Cup squad are up for grabs, so performances must be better than what was on show on Friday evening.
ENG vs PAK 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs PAK 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Pakistan 2nd ODI Key Players | Lord’s Pitch Report
Cricket just doesn’t feel right without an unpredictable Pakistan. Faced with an England side that had their entire first team in isolation due to a COVID-19 outbreak, the Pakistanis were never in the game after slumping to 26/4. It was a batting performance that looked completely tentative – perhaps even complacent – against an England bowling attack consisting of players looking to make a mark.
The in-form Saqib Mahmood led the way, breaking the back of the Pakistan batting lineup early. Mahmood has come of age in 2021 after impressing in the first half of PSL 2021 earlier this year, and is now staking a strong claim to be part of England’s first-team setup given his wicket-taking abilities. Then, Dawid Malan and Zak Crawley were clinical and effective in chasing Pakistan’s paultry 141.
For England, they return to Lord’s for their first ODI since that memorable day, and will once again look to showcase their terrific white-ball depth. On a weekend where England aim to “bring football home”, the cricket side will be looking to make some more headlines of their own.
Knowing Pakistan, though, they can produce a blinder today. In fact, they have enjoyed success at Lord’s in the past, beating both South Africa and Bangladesh comprehensively in the 2019 World Cup, as well as winning their last two Tests against England there. The spotlight will undoubtedly be on the top order, who will be looking for a much better performance this time around.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
England:
Saqib Mahmood’s battle with the Pakistani top order will be fascinating to watch, especially given that cloudy and rainy conditions are forecast for Lord’s. He was man-of-the-match in the first ODI, with his 4/42 ripping Pakistan’s batting lineup apart.
Expect Craig Overton and Lewis Gregory, if picked, to enjoy the conditions. They took three wickets between them in the first ODI, finding a touch of movement both in the air and off the surface.
Dawid Malan now has two 50+ scores in four ODIs after his 68* in the first ODI. He also recently scored 76 off 48 balls vs Sri Lanka in a T20I.
Zak Crawley has been out of form in red-ball cricket recently, but his unbeaten half-century last game will do his confidence the world of good. He has scored 378 runs in three innings vs Pakistan across formats, as opposed to 384 runs in 22 innings against everyone else.
Ben Stokes returns to the ground where he produced a memorable knockto help England lift the World Cup. He has scored 237 runs in six ODIs at Lord’s at an average of 47.40, as well as 377 runs in nine innings vs Pakistan at an average of 53.85.
Pakistan:
Fakhar Zaman looked the best of the Pakistani batsmen in the first ODI. His 47 was cut short by a poorly-executed cut shot, but one can be confident in Zaman’s ability to produce another good knock today. He has scored 340 runs in eight ODIs vs England at an average of 42.50.
Eyes will be on Babar Azam after a duck in the first ODI. He has achieved two 50+ scores in three ODIs at Lord’s, as well as 639 runs in 17 matches vs England at an average of 42.60.
Imam-ul-Haq will be important, too. He has enjoyed past success vs England, with 278 runs in six ODIs at an average of 69.50. However, this includes a score of 151, which means that his remaining five knocks have yielded just 127 runs.
Mohammad Rizwan (500 runs, avg. 45.45) and Sohaib Maqsood (428 runs, SR 156.77) recently had superb PSL 2021 campaigns. Maqsood was looking in decent touch in the first ODI, before getting run-out for 19.
Shaheen Shah Afridi has enjoyed success at Lord’s. He has seven wickets in two matches, including a six-for vs Bangladesh in the 2019 World Cup. He was the only Pakistani bowler to take a wicket in the first ODI (1/22).
Stats and Facts
This match will be held at full capacity. This will be the first time that a match will have a full crowd in England since 2019.
Ben Stokes is set to play his 100th ODI. He will be the 25th England player to reach that mark.
Fakhar Zaman has scored 349 runs in four ODIs this year, with only Mushfiqur Rahim (407) and Paul Stirling (546) ahead of him.
Hasan Ali averages 45.42 with the ball in 12 ODIs vs England. He will be seeking an improvement.
Possible Playing 11
England will likely stick with the same team, unless they choose to rotate one or more of their seamers.
England: 1. Phil Salt, 2. Dawid Malan, 3. Zak Crawley, 4. James Vince, 5. Ben Stokes (c), 6. John Simpson (wk), 7. Lewis Gregory, 8. Craig Overton/Jake Ball, 9. Brydon Carse, 10. Saqib Mahmood, 11. Matt Parkinson
Pakistan could also stick with the same team. Their thinking may be to give the players a chance to redeem themselves.
Pakistan: 1. Fakhar Zaman, 2. Imam-ul-Haq, 3. Babar Azam (c), 4. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5. Saud Shakeel, 6. Sohaib Maqsood, 7. Shadab Khan, 8. Faheem Ashraf, 9. Hasan Ali, 10. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11. Haris Rauf
Lord’s Pitch Report and Weather
Rain is forecast in London, particularly in the morning. This provides some hope that conditions will clear enough in the afternoon to allow for a result. In such conditions, the new ball bowlers can certainly have a say, which puts the onus on the top-order players to perform. However, run-scoring on this ground has prevalent in the Vitality Blast, with the three teams batting first posting totals of 223, 183 and 166.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
ENG vs PAK 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
ENG vs PAK 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
Chasing could the preferred choice given the weather conditions. Pakistan will be after a much-improved performance, and they are capable of producing the goods. Pakistan to win.
WI vs AUS 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | WI vs AUS 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | West Indies vs Australia 1st T20I Key Players | St Lucia Pitch Report
Block out your calendars. Maybe chuck a small party with your family at home. Australia are finally back playing cricket. And, one of the toughest tests in T20 cricket awaits them.
Sure, West Indies are coming off a surprise 3-2 series defeat against South Africa, but Australia will still have to hit their straps straight away. With a number of first-team players not present on tour, it is an opportunity for a number of players to plug holes in the Australian team and make a case for a spot in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Indeed, Aaron Finch and Justin Langer will be hoping that the team fires right away against a side coming off five T20I matches in the quest to build confidence and nail some of the important combinations that are still unanswered from an Australian perspective.
From a Windies perspective, how quickly can they bounce back? We’ve listed four key areas for Pollard’s team to improve on from their series defeat to the Proteas, and no doubt they’ll use this series as a means to build confidence ahead of their T20 World Cup defence later this year. Powerplay wickets will be key against an Australian side that could still rely a lot on their top order, and it will be interesting to see how the home side approaches the middle overs with bat in hand.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
West Indies:
Evin Lewis was West Indies’ highest run-scorer in the recent series vs South Africa (178, avg. 35.60, SR 160.36). Also, he has a decent T20 record on this ground, with 237 runs at an average of 29.63 and strike rate of 141.07. Signs point to a 30+ score here.
Chris Gayle has enjoyed success against Australia in the past. He has scored 299 runs in eight T20Is at an average of 42.71 and strike rate of 159.89. Plus, Gayle has dominated teams at St. Lucia in T20s, with 397 runs at 66.17 and a superb strike rate of 175.66.
Kieron Pollard will have a key role to play. He played just the one significant knock in the recent South Africa series, so he will be after a more consistent performance. He has the fifth-most runs in WI-AUS T20Is, with 159 to his name (avg. 22.71, SR 157.42).
Also, Pollard has an unbelievable record at St. Lucia in T20s. In 15 matches, he has amassed 541 runs at an average of 90.17 and strike rate of 177.38. He has taken eight wickets, too.
Eyes will be on Andre Russell in this battle. He was well under par in the recent South Africa series, scoring just 62 runs at 15.50. His 82 runs in T20s on this ground come at an insane strike rate of 234.29 (avg. 27.33).
Dwayne Bravo recently finished with the most wickets in the WI-SA series (10), closely followed by the impressive Obed McCoy (9). Both will be key in limiting the Aussie batting lineup as Jason Holder will be rested.
Australia:
Skipper Aaron Finch needs to lead the way. He has played just the two T20Is vs West Indies (20 runs), and one can say he has come leaps and bounds as a white-ball player since 2014.
Matthew Wade much prefers batting first in T20s. When batting first, Wade has scored 1,946 runs at 36.72 (SR 149.12). When batting second, the numbers drop significantly to 17.71 and 115.89 respectively. He scored 52 off 34 balls in Australia’s second intra-squad warmup match.
Mitchell Marsh scored a 28-ball 56 in the first intra-squad match in this tour. He then followed it up with 31 off 21 balls in the next intra-squad match. He will be key batting at number three.
How will Josh Philippe adapt to a middle order role? The talented right-hander scored 67 off 43 balls a couple of days ago in the intra-squad match.
Welcome back, Dan Christian. The 38-year old will have a key role to play in solving Australia’s middle order worries. He was superb in the last BBL campaign, smashing 272 runs at a strike rate of 182.55, along with 15 wickets. He also scored 47 off 31 balls in the first intra-squad match.
Ashton Agar has taken 19 wickets in 11 T20Is since the start of 2020, including two five-fors. He will be key in conditions that can assist spin, along with Adam Zampa.
Mitchell Starc needs to lead the way for Australia, particularly at the death. He took six wickets in three games vs West Indies between 2012 and 2014.
Stats and Facts
Australia and West Indies will meet for the first time in a T20I since 2014.
Australia have a 100% win record in T20Is at St. Lucia (four wins).
Moises Henriques comes into this match in good touch, after scores of 51 and 36 in the recent warm-up matches.
West Indies: 1. Lendl Simmons, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Chris Gayle, 4. Shimron Hetmyer, 5. Kieron Pollard (c), 6. Andre Russell, 7. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 8. Dwayne Bravo, 9. Akeal Hosain, 10. Obed McCoy, 11. Fidel Edwards
Australia coach Justin Langer said that Mitchell Marsh will bat at three. Also, Dan Christian will play, along with Moises Henriques, Ben McDermott and Josh Philippe.
Australia: 1. Aaron Finch, 2. Matthew Wade (wk), 3. Mitchell Marsh, 4. Moises Henriques, 5. Ben McDermott, 6. Josh Philippe, 7. Dan Christian, 8. Ashton Agar, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Adam Zampa, 11. Riley Meredith/Josh Hazlewood
Darren Sammy National Stadium St. Lucia Pitch Report and Weather
Spin is expected to play a key role on a ground where 160 is usually par. In the last men’s T20s on this ground, back in 2019, there were four first innings scores in the 160s out of six matches. Spin is expected to play a role, so batting first could be tempting given that the cloudy weather could see dew not play a factor. Despite the clouds, a dry evening is forecast.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
WI vs AUS 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
WI vs AUS 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
West Indies start this match as favourites, given they have a strong T20 side and have been playing regularly in recent times. Australia will be looking to make a good start, as South Africa showed that the Windies are beatable. However, my pick is for WI to take out the first game in a tight one.
ENG-W vs IND-W 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG-W vs IND-W 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | England women vs India women 1st T20 Key Players | Northampton Pitch Report
After an incredible series win in the ODI format, England are all set to resume their rivalry against India in the shortest form of the game. England will be eager to continue their winning streak after winning the ODIs 2-1. India, on the other hand, will be aiming towards winning the series and ending their tour of England with joy.
Experienced players like Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma and Smriti Mandhana will have to shoulder more responsibility for the Indian team. The team will also be hoping for a fine knock from young talent Shafali Verma. The Indian batters were guilty of consuming too many dot balls in the ODIs, and it is something they can’t afford to do in the shortest format, so all eyes will be on who executes best.
On the other hand, the Heather Knight-led 2nd ranked T20I team England will be looking to dominate the guests in this format as well. No doubt the team will miss the services of star bowler Kate Cross and batter Lauren Winfield-Hill, but they will be happy to get Danni Wyatt and Mady Villiers as the replacements. Barring that, England is full of confidence and are ready to try and achieve more success.
An exciting contest is on the cards.
Match Details
Match: ENGW vs INDW, 1st T20I, India Women tour of England, 2021
Date and Time: Friday, July 09, 2021, 11:00 PM(IST)
Venue: County Ground, Northampton
Key Players/Key Stats
England:
England vice-captain Nat Sciver has rediscovered some fine form with both bat and ball. The 2nd ranked all rounder in T20Is will be a key player in the upcoming T20I series. Nat Sciver has scored 202 runs at a strike rate of 109 from her last 9 matches. Against India, she has scored 186 runs in 10 matches (avg. 23.25) and also scalped 3 wickets so far (avg. 53).
Tammy Beaumont is also in great form, with runs in the Test and ODIs. She has scored 222 runs from her last 9 T20Is at an average of 24 and a strike rate of 109. If she stays for 5-10 overs at the crease, she can destroy the opponent. She will be keen to improve her record vs India, with 208 runs in 11 innings at an average of 20.80.
Skipper Heather Knight has been outstanding in T20Is since the beginning of 2020. She has scored a total of 525 runs at an average of 37.50 and strike rate of 131.58.
Sophie Ecclestone has been an asset for the English team and is expected to continue her dream form. The top-ranked T20I bowler has scalped five wickets in four innings against India (part of 61 career wickets in just 42 T20Is) and will intend towards increasing this number of wickets. She is going to be one of the biggest threats for Team India.
England’s most experienced pacer Katherine Brunt is set to feature in her 90th T20I game against her favorite team to play against. She has been brilliant against India taking as many as 19 wickets in 14 games. She is the top wicket-taker in ENGvsIND T20Is.
Danielle Wyatt is a danger for India if not sent back early. She has a good record against India scoring 333 runs so far at a fine average of 30.27 and strike rate of 128.57.
Sarah Glenn has a superb record in T20I cricket (27 wickets in 18 matches at an average of 12.48 and econ. 5.43). She went wicketless in her only game vs India, back in 2020 (0/26).
India:
Top-ranked batter, 17 year-old Shafali Verma, is going to be a bad nightmare for hosts if she bats even just 10 overs. All know what she has done in her short career till now. Destroying the bowling lineup in the first powerplay will be the main task for her. She is an obvious pick if you are playing fantasy.
Fellow opener Smiti Mandhana can be that X-factor for India. She has the ability to accelerate at any moment she wishes, and loves to bat in 2nd innings and finish things for her team. She has scored 317 runs in 10 innings against England and has a strike rate of 140.26.
India’s skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has not been in the best of form recently. She is going through a bad patch as she made scores of 16, 19 and 1 in the ODI series. Kaur will target a big score in the 1st T20I as she looks to lead India from the front. She has 285 runs (avg. 23.75) and 2 wickets to her name while playing against England.
Deepti Sharma is going to be the key player for India in both departments – Batting and bowling. She has scored 72 runs in 6 innings (avg. 24) and scalped 9 wickets in 8 matches vs England.
Stats and Facts
Head to head: Matches 19, England 15, India 4.
Last 5 matches: England 3, India 2.
England women are yet to get defeated at Northampton’s County Ground. They have played 6 T20Is and won all of them.
In all 6 women’s games played at the venue, the team batting first has won. But in ENGW vs INDW HTH, the team chasing has won 14 times out of 19.
We can see the battle of ICC top ranked bowler (Ecclestone) vs Top ranked batter (Shafali) in the match.
Squads
England: Heather Knight (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Freya Davies, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Fran Wilson, Danni Wyatt.
County Ground Northampton Pitch Report and Weather
The cut-throat contest between batters and bowlers is expected to take place during the match. The pitch could provide some assistance for the bowlers up-front. Target between 150-165 promises to be a competitive score at this venue. The team who wins the toss could look to chase under lights.
New moon day. Partly cloudy skies overnight. Some showers may interrupt the game, but mostly perfect weather is expected for playing cricket.
Dream 11 Prediction
Option 1:
ENG-W vs IND-W 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
ENG-W vs IND-W 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
Tough to predict as both teams look well equipped. However, I think it is going to be 60-40 in favour of England.
4 areas West Indies need to fix ahead of T20 World Cup | 4 key areas that West Indies need to fix vs Australia & ahead of the T20 World Cup
Blessed with so many dynamic players throughout the lineup, West Indies is T20 cricket’s powerhouse in the eyes of millions around the globe. Therefore, cricket fans were surprised by their defeat at the hands of a South African side under transition in their recent home series.
With the T20 World Cup around the corner, the defending champions need to address their issues with absolute immediacy. In this article, I am going to throw some light on four such issues they had in their latest T20 series against South Africa and need to work upon in their upcoming face-off against Australia.
Batting in the middle overs
Good batting in the middle overs sets the stage for a strong finish at the death in T20 cricket. It is a bit of a tricky phase, where the batting team needs to score at a good pace while not losing too many wickets at the same time.
One of the chief reasons for the defeat of the West Indies against South Africa was their poor batting in the middle overs. The West Indies side had a run rate of a mere 6.8 and lost 3.4 wickets on an average in the middle overs phase in the series. The average and SR of the West Indies batsmen in this phase was 16.94 and 106.66 respectively. 39.62% of deliveries were dots, and they took 8.70 balls to hit one boundary in this phase. These numbers justify their poor returns in the middle overs in the series, which they need to work on against the Aussies.
Bowling in the powerplay
As a bowling unit, you need to keep things tight and not let the batting team score easy runs in the first six overs of the game. This, in turn, can create pressure on the batsmen and they might get dismissed while manufacturing shots in order to release the pressure.
However, the Windies bowlers let the South African batsmen regularly enjoy good starts. They conceded 251 runs and were able to pick up only six wickets during the powerplay phase in the series, with their bowling average and SR in the PP 41.83 and 30 respectively. Their collective economy rate was a not-so-impressive 8.36. They should surely want to improve these numbers in their upcoming series.
Performance of frontline spinners
Their frontline spinners disappointed for the defending champions in their recent encounter against the visiting South Africans. Kevin Sinclair, Fabian Allen and Akeal Hosein conceded 173 runs and took only four wickets with a collective economy of 8.23 in the series. Their average and SR was 43.25 and 31.5 respectively, which shows that they were able to neither pick wickets nor control the flow of runs efficiently.
On the other hand, South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi bowled exceptionally well on those tracks and turned out to be one of the major differences between the two sides. With the T20 World Cup scheduled in UAE, where the spinners are expected to play a big role with the progression of the tournament, West Indies should definitely look to work on their department of spin bowling.
Performance of the middle and lower middle order batsmen
Another thing that let the home side down in the series against South Africa was the performance of their middle and lower middle order batsmen. There were big names like Hetmyer, Pooran, Pollard, Russell and Holder, but nobody was consistent throughout the series.
The no. 4, 5, 6 and 7 batsmen of the Windies batting lineup had a collective batting average and SR of a mere 18.47 and 121.49 respectively. The monstrous hitters took 7.6 balls to hit a single boundary. This kind of ordinary collective performance was certainly the reason behind the failure of the West Indies team to chase thrice in the series.
Despite being one of the toughest T20I sides, I find these four reasons responsible for the defeat and expect them to make a grand comeback against the Aussies.
ENG vs PAK 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs PAK 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Pakistan 1st ODI Key Players | Cardiff Pitch Report
The first match of Pakistan’s tour of England is set to be played at Cardiff on Thursday, and it has taken a remarkable turn. After seven team members tested positive for Covid-19, England need to play the series with a newly announced squad consisting as many as seven uncapped players. Star all-rounder Ben Stokes will be making his comeback to International cricket in the 1st match, and he will lead Team England as well.
On the other hand, Pakistan – the well and fully equipped side – will look forward to grab the win over the hosts in the absence of their main players. Pakistan team management will be feeling a little bit more happy as they have a chance to clinch the series against the lesser-experienced team.
Recently, England defeated Sri Lanka by 2-0 in a 3 match ODI series – but with another squad – which is now in self isolation. However, with nine uncapped players in the current squad, the job for the hosts looks a bit challenging and especially for captain Ben Stokes. Pakistan also have won their last ODI series (2-1) they played against Proteas team back in April.
So this is going to be an interesting contest of inexperience but excitement against experience and talent.
Match Details
Match: ENG vs PAK, 1st ODI, Pakistan tour of England, 2021
Date and time: Thursday, July 08, 2021. 5.30 PM (IST)
Venue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Key Players/Key Stats
England:
Captain Ben Stokes has to be at his best to help his team hold well against a quite strong and experienced team. He will be making his return to Intl. cricket after a quite long gap of 3 months and he is set to captain his team in ODIs for the first time. Talking about Ben vs PAK in ODI’s, he has scored 377 runs in 9 innings at avg. of 53.85 and has also scalped a wicket. He is expected to perform brilliantly as an all rounder and hence to lead his side from the front.
England’s T20I specialist Dawid Johannes Malan is set to play his 4th international ODI on Thursday. He has scored 90 runs in 3 ODIs he has played till today. So he will look to get more runs through this series which might help him to cement his place in 1st choice ODI 11.
26 years old WK batsman Ben Duckett is set to make his return to ODI playing 11 since 2016 and will be aiming towards grabbing this beautiful opportunity. The talented lefty batsman has scored 123 with 2 50’s in 3 games. He is also expected to keep wickets for the hosts.
Lancashire man Saqib Mahmood, who made his ODI debut in early 2020, will be very happy to be back in the England fold. He has scalped 5 wickets in 4 matches he has played with economy 4.75. He also enjoyed a superb first half of PSL 2021 earlier this year.
Pakistan:
Mohammed Rizwan and Babar Azam set up fireworks for their respective teams in PSL and with them playing together, it could be a nightmare for the opposition bowlers. Both of them are the main pillars of Pakistan’s batting.
Rizwan has not been really good against England, but he is coming with great form and he can destroy the inexperienced England Bowling lineup. Whereas Babar has scored as many as 639 runs in 16 innings against England and will be looking to get more.
Imam ul Haq has really been good against England in ODis so far. He has played only 5 games against them and scored 278 runs at a brilliant average of 92.66. If he gets good starts then he has the ability to make those big ones which could be a worrying thing for hosts.
Hasan Ali will lead his team’s bowling attack. He could be that key factor for Pakistan who can change the game within an over or two. Besides that he has sent 14 Englishmen to the pavilion in a total of 10 innings. He can also provide some little cameos in the batting section.
England’s conditions will suit Shaheen Afridi, who could rattle the top order single-handedly with his pace and swing. He has taken 5 wickets in 3 innings that he played against England. He has quite a good record in England as well with 21 wickets in 8 innings, where he enjoyed a fine 2019 World Cup.
Haris Rauf is an underrated bowler who had a good series against South Africa, where he ended up as the joint leading wicket-taker with 7 scalps.
ENG vs PAK 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction: Babar will be key for Pakistan.
Stats and Facts
Head to Head:Matches 88, England 53, Pakistan 32, NR 3.
Last 5 matches: England 4, Pakistan 1.
Last time Pakistan won an ODI bilateral series against England was way back in the 2005-06 series.
Ben Stokes will be leading England for the very first time in ODIs.
England have won 8 matches out of 14 at Cardiff and 3 matches finished as a no result. On the other hand Pakistan have won 3 matches out of 5 they played there, where 1 was a NR.
This will be the first match after 2015 that England will play an ODI without Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler in the playing XI.
Ben Stokes’ total experience of 98 matches in ODIs is more than double of the other 17 members of the revised ODI squad (48 ODIs).
Squads
England
Ben Stokes (c), Jake Ball, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Phil Salt, Daniel Lawrence, Dawid Malan, James Vince, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Lewis Gregory, Craig Overton, David Payne, John Simpson, Danny Briggs, Matt Parkinson, Tom Helm and Saqib Mahmood
Pakistan
Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam ul Haq, Sohaib Maqsood, Haris Sohail, Agha Salman, Saud Shakeel, Hasan Ali, Usman Qadir, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain and Shaheen Afridi
Possible Playing 11
England: 1. Ben Duckett (wk), 2. James Vince, 3. Dawid Malan, 4. Ben Stokes (c), 5. Daniel Lawrence, 6. Will Jacks, 7. Lewis Gregory, 8. Craig Overton, 9. Matt Parkinson, 10. Jake Ball, 11. Saqib Mahmood
Pakistan: 1. Fakhar Zaman, 2. Imam ul Haq, 3. Babar Azam (c), 4. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5. Sohaib Maqsood, 6. Haris Sohail/Shadab Khan, 7. Faheem Ashraf, 8. Hasan Ali, 9. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 10. Shadab Khan, 11. Haris Rauf
Cardiff Pitch Report and Weather
The teams chasing have a history of winning more matches here. It’s a flat deck with a good carry and bounce. The bowlers should use the short balls very effectively on this wicket. However, the spinners could play a major role in the middle overs, especially with the pitch getting slower as the match progresses. Anything over 280 will be a competitive score.
There will be some periods of sun with a couple of showers throughout the day. The highest temperature will expectedly be around 21 degrees Celsius and dip to 13 degrees lowest. With this being a day and night fixture, both teams will ideally look to chase upon winning the toss.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
ENG vs PAK 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
ENG vs PAK 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction
(Tip: While selecting your fantasy team, make sure that you have selected all players who are part of playing 11’s. For that kindly edit it after the toss.)
Match Prediction
With advantage of more experience and confidence, I think Pakistan will take the lead of 1-0.
“Dhoni is there, he will handle it” | Fan tribute to the great MS Dhoni on his 40th birthday | Dhoni Hai Na, Sambhaal Lega
Usually, the streets in Ranchi are completely empty at night with pin-drop silence. But on the night of 2nd April 2011, Ranchi gathered at its heart to celebrate the victory of its prince when he hit that final six 1,724 kilometers away in the Wankhede Stadium.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a household name in India. The man who took Indian cricket to the heights of glory. Dhoni is arguably the most celebrated cricketer in India. All the birthday wishes for him not only from the cricket fraternity, but from everyone who celebrated his match-winning sixes, and who felt heartbroken when he failed, shows the immense love and respect Dhoni has earned.
Who would have thought that a long-haired boy from a small town like Ranchi will do things that no one has ever done before?
Dhoni as captain was one of the best in the history of cricket. He is the only captain in the history of the game to win all the three ICC trophies. India won the Asia Cup twice under him. India achieved the number one rank in Test cricket for the first time under Dhoni’s captaincy. Dhoni has 3 IPL titles to his name. He scored 10,000 runs in ODIs while batting at number 6 or below. The list of Dhoni’s achievements is indeed a very long one.
Be it the 2007 World T20 triumph against Pakistan when no one thought that India would even qualify for the knockouts, his iconic six to win the World Cup in 2011, or a young team built and led by Dhoni to win the ICC 2013 Champions Trophy, each of them was a special itself.
All the players who have played with him respect Dhoni immensely. The backing and support he gave to the players as the captain was his specialty. Backing Joginder Sharma to bowl the final over in 2007 World T20 or Ishant Sharma to bowl a very important overs when he was going for runs, or backing Ruturaj Gaikwad in the IPL after his string of low scores are some examples of that.
Dhoni’s international cricket career was very special. He inspired a lot of young kids like me, who grew up watching him do wonders on the cricket field. From witnessing his brutal hitting in the long hair to him just smiling and moving away after receiving the trophies, we’ve lived these moments with him.
Dhoni’s impact on Indian cricket is unparalleled. Indian fans used to shut off their TVs when Sachin got out. Dhoni made them glued to their TV screens until he was there no matter how bad the team situation was.
Dhoni’s legacy is people forgetting about all of their problems and celebrating like a festival on the streets all over India after his memorable six to win the 2011 World Cup.
Dhoni’s legacy is not the runs he scored, the sixes he hit, or the trophies he won, “Dhoni Hai Na, Sambhaal Lega” (Dhoni is there, he will handle) is his legacy. His legacy is the belief every Indian cricket fan had in him.
India will never get a player like Dhoni. He is special, one of a kind. Happy Birthday, Mahi.
Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.
Happy birthday MS Dhoni: Twitter goes into a frenzy | Happy birthday MS Dhoni: Fans, pundits and players wish MSD a very happy birthday
If you need a reminder of the impact of MS Dhoni, just check social media on two particular dates. The first is April 2, the date of MS Dhoni’s famous six that sent all of India into delirium as he then raised his arms and the World Cup. The second is July 7, his birthday.
10 years ago, India snapped their 28-year World Cup drought. 40 years ago, a man who would impact the lives of millions was born. The common theme is that he made millions and millions believe, and that the fight was never over as long as he was on the field. His impact as a batsman, wicket-keeper and captain will always be remembered. Fans are quick to send their birthday wishes when July 7 comes around, and grow in anticipation as the date draws closer. Today is especially special, as Dhoni turns 40.
Here are some of the reactions of fans, players and pundits on Twitter, with numerous hashtags trending, including #HappyBirthdayMS, #HappyBirthdayDhoni, #HappyBirthdayMSD and #HappyBirthdayMahi. In these hashtags, the impact of one man can truly be seen.
Wishing you a very happy birthday @msdhoni You have been a friend, brother & a mentor to me, all one could ever ask for. May God bless you with good health & long life! Thank you for being an iconic player & a great leader.#HappyBirthdayDhoni ❤️? pic.twitter.com/qeLExrMonJ
MS Dhoni turns 40. What a fantastic career MSD has had. A true leader who gave people the power to believe in their abilities. Here's his journey & some unheard stories #HappyBirthdayDhoni
#HappyBirthdayDhoni@msdhoni – The man who made me a crazy fan of the game and got me addicted to it. Not a single day goes by without thinking of him and his creed. If there's one who can stay far away and still inspire big time, it's MS Dhoni. Happy birthday, legend ? pic.twitter.com/okYjw77a0r
One day I'll meet you, hug you, probably cry, and speak to you for the first time ever, until that day comes, I will keep making edits, keep rewatching your knocks, keep defending you, keep sending love. Until we meet favourite ❤ @msdhoni#HappyBirthdayDhonipic.twitter.com/1rKkKfj7rf
Read somewhere recently that you don't necessarily remember all the stats and numbers but you can never forget how a player made you feel. You were that, MS! Happy Birthday @msdhoni! ?
ICC Trophies, IPL trophies weren't the biggest gifts Dhoni gave to India. You know what it was? It was belief, expectations and faith. He made us believe that any game can be won from any situation, and then it became a habit.❤
If there is one word to define MS Dhoni, it has to be "belief". When he used to play for India, he was able to induce the belief in 1.3bn people that "yes! We can still win this game". Mentally, India never gave up until Dhoni gave up! ❤️? #HappyBirthdayDhoni
— Praveen Kumar Chanda (@urspraveenhere) July 7, 2021
Imagine the world of cricket without him.. yep.. you just can’t. Living legend. Birthday wishes to MS Dhoni. What an incredible career he’s had. #HappyBirthdayDhoni
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) July 6, 2021
ZIM vs BAN Test Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ZIM vs BAN 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Today | Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh Test Key Players | Harare Pitch Report
One of international cricket’s regular rivalries resumes in the closed doors of the Harare Sports Club, as Zimbabwe look for Test success against Bangladesh.
On paper, the Bangladeshis look favourites. However, it doesn’t seem as simple as that once you take a deeper look. The Zimbabweans have won two of three Tests at home against Bangladesh since their readmission to the game’s longest format in 2011, with the last meeting between the sides on Zimbabwean soil ending in a 1-all stalemate in 2013. However, Zimbabwe have been dealt a big blow as Craig Ervine and Sean Williams are both out of this Test as they came in close contact with a confirmed COVID case.
Things are still somewhat similar since 2013, with the home side’s administration continuing to struggle with the financial and political burdens, further amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. For Bangladesh, inconsistencies remain, but they will be hoping that the presence of Shakib Al Hasan, perhaps fortunately from a discipline point of view, provides them with the edge they need to achieve their first Test win away from Asia since Harare, 2013.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Zimbabwe:
Brendan Taylor will undoubtedly be key for Zimbabwe, particularly given that Williams and Ervine are out. He has a great record against Bangladesh (1,066 runs, avg. 59.22). At home, the numbers are just unbelievable: 3 matches, 495 runs, avg. 123.75.
Zimbabwe will also need Regis Chakabva at his solid best. He has a good record vs Bangladesh (459 runs, avg. 35.30), and scored 33 and 80 in his last Test, against Pakistan.
Blessing Muzarabani has a key role to play. The tall seamer has never played against Bangladesh, but many can expect him to do well given he is having a fine 2021 so far (4 Tests, 15 wickets, avg. 20.26).
Zimbabwe could be well served playing Tendai Chatara. He has a fine record at Harare, with 13 wickets at 23.69.
Bangladesh:
According to reports, Mushfiqur Rahim should be fit to play. He has a superb record vs Zimbabwe (846 runs, avg. 60.42), including two fifties in his last Test in Zimbabwe back in 2013.
Mominul Haque also has a superb record vs Zimbabwe. He has scored 687 runs in seven Tests at an average of 57.25, with three centuries and two half-centuries. He scored 29 and 23 in Zimbabwe in 2013.
As always, Shakib Al Hasan will be one to watch. His 26 wickets vs Zimbabwe overall come at an average of 23.29 (eight wickets at 34 in Zimbabwe), and has scored 474 runs at 39.50 (223 runs at 37.16 in Zimbabwe). Like Mushfiq, Shakib scored twin fifties in his last Test in Zimbabwe.
Can Abu Jayed make an impact in non-Asian conditions? The accurate seamer will be hoping to move the ball in these conditions and build on his five wickets in two Tests vs Zimbabwe.
Here is a big opportunity for Taskin Ahmed to improve on his career average of 63.13. If he can get the ball in the right areas, he will be a handful for the Zimbabwean batsmen.
Stats and Facts
Zimbabwe have not won a home Test since 2013, where they beat both Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Bangladesh have won just one Test out of seven in Zimbabwe. This was a 143-run victory in Harare in 2013, after they lost the first Test of that series by 335 runs.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz will be out to improve his away bowling record. He averages 22.29 at home, compared to 61.15 away. His batting will also be key – he scored a century vs West Indies earlier this year.
Possible Playing 11
Sean Williams and Craig Ervine are out of this match. Brendan Taylor will lead the side.
Zimbabwe: 1. Kevin Kasuza, 2. Takudzwanashe Kaitano, 3. Timycen Maruma, 4. Brendan Taylor (c), 5. Milton Shumba, 6. Regis Chakabva (wk), 7. Luke Jongwe, 8. Donald Tiripano, 9. Wellington Masakadza/Tendai Chisoro, 10. Blessing Muzarabani, 11. Tendai Chatara/Richard Ngavara
According to reports, Tamim Iqbal is in doubt for this Test due to a knee injury. If he misses out, then both Shadman Islam and Saif Hassan could play. Also, Bangladesh could look to leave Taijul Islam out given that Shakib provides the left-arm spin option.
Bangladesh: 1. Tamim Iqbal/Shadman Islam, 2. Saif Hassan, 3. Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4. Mominul Haque (c), 5. Shakib Al Hasan, 6. Mushfiqur Rahim, 7. Liton Das (wk), 8. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9. Taskin Ahmed, 10. Shoriful Islam/Ebadot Hossain, 11. Abu Jayed
Harare Sports Club Pitch Report
Pakistan made a 400 and 500+ score on this ground earlier this year. Harare can offer some nice batting conditions after the ball gets a little older. One feels the new ball will be key for both sides, where there can be some movement in winter conditions.
However, the forecast is pleasant right throughout the match, with temperatures in the low 20s in sunshine expected.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
ZIM vs BAN Test Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
ZIM vs BAN Test Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
A difficult one to predict, given Bangladesh always start very slowly in Tests in Zimbabwe. However, the sheer experience in their side should be enough to overcome Zimbabwe without experienced players in Sean Williams and Craig Ervine.
Two new teams set to be added for IPL 2022, BCCI to earn close to Rs 5800 Crores from deal | 2 new teams set to enter IPL 2022 next year
Indian Premier League (IPL) is known for the high-quality brand of cricket it brings to the table and the money it brings along with it. This is one of the most profitable leagues globally and is comparable with many of the global leagues of other sports like football, Basketball, etc, and there is so much interest from cricket bettors.
The IPL run by BCCI has also set a benchmark for the rest of the cricket boards to follow and roll out their leagues over the years. This will get only bigger and better as the IPL is set to add two new teams to the already existent eight.
According to a report in Cricbuzz, the two new IPL teams that will be most likely added to the fold will be valued at around Rs 1850 Crores. It is being said the final bidding cost will be ranging anywhere between USD 300-400 million (which roughly means Rs 2200 Crores to 2900 crores).
This means that the richest cricket board in the world, BCCI, could earn close to 5800 crores with the addition of two new teams.
Among the current teams in the IPL, the 5-time reigning champions Mumbai Indians are the most valued team at Rs 2800 crores to 2900 crores. It is followed by Chennai Super Kings, which has a valuation of INR 2200-2300 crores. One of the most popular sides, RCB’s franchise value at 1855 crore INR.
With that being said, it is natural that the valuation of the new teams will be more than that of the current ones. This is what N Santhosh, a managing partner of a Mumbai-based LLP D&P Advisory, has exactly conveyed. He said that if a lesser popular franchise like the Rajasthan Royals is valued at USD 250 million (1850 crores), it is happy news for the BCCI.
“We always knew that the new teams would be upwards of USD 300-400 million. Look, we are talking of RR, which is not one of the highest-ranked franchises, going by different IPL parameters. If its value is USD 250 million, it is only good news for the BCCI,” N Santosh, the managing partner of D&P Advisory, said.
“In that perspective, the BCCI would be looking between USD 300-400 million. We were anticipating that six months back. With RedBird, that estimation gets reaffirmed. An average team now should cost USD 300 million, so the new team should be around 400 million (about Rs 3000 crore). If we also factor in the Ahmedabad point, the largest stadium in the world, there could be a chance of a huge gap between the price of the two new teams – one may go for USD 400 million and another for USD 350 million,” he added.
Those involved in the finances of the sale of teams have said each franchisee will earn more than Rs 150 crores as profit each year. This includes the central revenue, media, sponsorships, and gate collection.
“He can recover around Rs 150-200 crore out of that in the first 10 years when some losses are inevitable. He will keep making the moolah after 10 years. The key to getting a good price is telling the world that more parties have an interest. If a potential bidder is made known that the biggest business houses have purchased the tender document, the price will automatically shoot up. The media plays a big role in creating the hype. How the BCCI will manage the sale and orchestrate the hype is important,” the source explained.
India’s apex cricket board, BCCI, is looking to auction for the new teams in July 2021. One of the new franchises could likely be based out of Ahmedabad. This could be to take advantage of the newly built Narendra Modi Stadium in the city, and that could serve the purpose. It has to be noted that Gujarat Lions represented the city earlier in the IPL. The other team could be from the city of Lucknow as per the sources.
It is learned that many of the corporates have already put their hands on buying the franchises. The interested business tycoons include Gautam Adani (Adani Group), Sanjeev Goenka (Goenka Group), and Manpreet Singh Chadha (Chadha Group). Apart from them, entrepreneur Ronnie Screwvala and actor Mohanlal could also be in line to bid for the new teams.
