Twitter reactions to brilliant 141* by Quinton de Kock | Twitter reactions to fantastic knock of 141* by Quinton de Kock in 1st Test vs West Indies
No captaincy, no worries for Quinton de Kock. The class of South Africa’s keeper-batsman shone through on the second day of the first Test against West Indies, seemingly batting on a different surface to everyone else. And, most importantly for South Africa, he looked a completely different player with the burden of captaincy off his shoulders.
de Kock’s sixth Test hundred – only AB de Villiers has more as keeper-batsman for South Africa – is certainly a sweet one. Coming in at a tricky stage late on day one, de Kock steered South Africa from 119/4 to a position of dominance, even while needing to bat with the tail.
And he was certainly dominant. He pounced on anything loose, and created scoring opportunities even off good deliveries from the capable West Indies attack. His strike rate of 82.94 on a tricky surface is proof of his quality, and all associated with the Proteas will be thrilled he is back in the runs.
Quinton de Kock was certainly thrilled, smiling from ear to ear as his teammates shouted with joy from the dugout when he reached his century. He then went on to make 141*, which is now his highest Test score. And now, South Africa can look forward to taking a 1-0 series lead after leaving West Indies trailing by 143 with just six wickets remaining.
Well played, De Kock – unbeaten on 141 runs from 170 balls including 12 fours and 7 sixes at a strike rate of 82.9 – he came when South Africa was leading by just 22 runs with 6 wickets in hand and finished with a lead of 225 runs in first innings. Top knock, QDK. #WIvSApic.twitter.com/WAoKuTWzv3
A six to bring up the three figure mark. What a century from Quinton de Kock. He is a different player without captaincy. Quinny is back!!! #WIvSApic.twitter.com/xethVwYfsW
— NIGHT WATCHMAN? #MI ? (@I_stan_proteas) June 11, 2021
Some of you wanted QDK dropped from the test team ????? no other batsmen in this country can do what he does in terms of taking the game away from the opposition in a single session
— Sabeeha Majid ? #FreePalestine (@SabeehaMajid) June 11, 2021
What a brilliant century from QDK ?. Been a terrific knock under difficult circumstances pic.twitter.com/yaVVDz8MuT
PSL 2021 Match 19: PES vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | QUE vs PES Dream11 Prediction Today | Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
It’s nearly must-win territory for Quetta Gladiators. The restart to their PSL 2021 campaign was horrendous, suffering a record-breaking defeat to Islamabad United, courtesy of Colin Munro’s eye-catching and remarkable 36-ball 90 not-out. It was the biggest margin of victory in terms of balls remaining (60) in PSL history, and Islamabad’s 97 in the first six overs is the highest powerplay score in PSL history, too.
How do Sarfaraz Ahmed’s men bounce back the next day after such a disastrous outing? Their batting didn’t inspire, with only Jake Weatherald and Azam Khan providing any sort of meaningful resistance in a team consisting of Faf du Plessis and Andre Russell. So, while the bowlers will be looking to bounce back quickly, more will be required of the batsmen, who huffed and puffed their way to 133 in 20 overs yesterday.
Peshawar Zalmi will also be looking for a recovery. They were on the end of a Rashid Khan storm two days ago, as the star Afghan legspinner took 5/20 to derail Zalmi’s chase of 171. Shoaib Malik’s excellent form continued, but to concede 170 after restricting the Qalanders to 25/4 in 7.3 overs will be an area of improvement for Zalmi in their quest to stay solid inside the PSL’s top four.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Peshawar Zalmi:
Kamran Akmal has the most runs in PES-QUE matches (400, avg. 23.53). He scored 3 (8) vs Quetta in the Pakistan leg of PSL 2021, so he will be looking for a big performance today.
Haider Ali was player of the match against Quetta earlier this season (50 off 29 balls). Overall, he has scored 114 runs in three outings vs QG at an average of 38.00 and impressive strike rate of 140.79.
Shoaib Malik is in fine touch. Like a fine wine, he continues to get better with age. He is coming off 73 (48) last game vs Lahore, after a 33-ball 59 in a warm-up match before the tournament restart. Also, he has a good record against Quetta Gladiators, with 340 runs in 11 innings at an average of 37.78 and strike rate of 139.92.
Wahab Riaz has taken nine wickets in five matches in PSL 2021. Also, he loves bowling against QG, with a superb tally of 31 wickets in 16 matches against them.
Fabian Allen will be key with both bat and ball for PZ. He took 2/36 in his last game but was dismissed for a duck. Can he bounce back?
Quetta Gladiators:
Sarfaraz Ahmed to deliver in a time of need? The skipper scored 81 off 40 balls vs PZ earlier in PSL 2021. Overall, he has scored 347 runs in 14 innings against them at an average of 26.69 and strike rate of 142.21.
Faf du Plessis has been in good touch in T20 cricket this year. And now, Quetta need him to perform. His only innings against PZ was earlier in PSL 2021, where he scored a 26-ball 37.
Jake Weatherald showed the most resistance for Quetta yesterday. He is coming off 43 of 35 balls, and will be looking to build on that.
Azam Khan scored a 26-ball 47 against PZ earlier in PSL 2021. He and Andre Russell will be key in the middle order. Russell has a poor batting record against Peshawar, with just 25 runs in four innings at an average of 8.33.
Zahid Mahmood and Mohammad Hasnain have taken the most wickets for Quetta this season (6). They need to lead the way as the Gladiators have struggled with the ball this season.
Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 17, PZ 8, QG 8, NR 1.
Peshawar Zalmi won a thriller against Quetta Gladiators earlier in PSL 2021. QG scored 198/7, which was chased down in stunning fashion in 19.3 overs by PZ.
The Gladiators currently sit bottom of the league. A defeat here will put them too far behind given their already-bad net run rate of -1.662.
Quetta Gladiators: 1. Usman Khan, 2. Faf du Plessis, 3. Jake Weatherald, 4. Sarfaraz Ahmed (c & wk), 5. Azam Khan, 6. Andre Russell, 7. Mohammad Nawaz, 8. Jack Wildermuth, 9. Khurram Shahzad, 10. Mohammad Hasnain, 11. Zahid Mahmood
Sheikh Zayed Stadium Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather
The average first innings score on this ground in PSL 2021 is 155.5 in four matches. Interestingly, the two scores of 170+ have been winning totals, with totals of 133 and 143 have been chased easily. Anything in the region of 160 will be a competitive score.
Shakib comes in for criticism after actions in Dhaka Premier League | Shakib Al Hasan criticised by fans after lashing out at stumps in DPL
Star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, undoubtedly Bangladesh’s greatest ever cricketer, has come under criticism for his latest indiscretion. Playing for Mohammedan Sporting Club against Abhani Limited in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL), Shakib lashed out twice at the stumps in a single game, one after an LBW decision didn’t go in his favour and another when the umpires called on for the covers as rain began to fall.
Shakib was then seen having a war of words with Abhani coach Khaled Mahmud, who is also a BCB Director. Mahmud actually then had to be pulled away in a shouting match against the Mohammedan camp, which will surely cast some doubt as to the future relationship between Mahmud and Shakib.
The all-rounder then took to social media to apologise for his actions. “Dear fans and followers, I am extremely sorry for losing my temper and ruining the match for everyone and especially those who are watching from home,” the statement read.
“An experienced player like me should not have reacted that way but sometimes against all odds it happens unfortunately. I apologise to the teams, management, tournament officials and organizing committee for this human error. Hopefully, I won’t be repeating this again in the future. Thanks and love you all.”
The worrying thing is that this is not Shakib’s first indiscretion, and the words “it happens” and “hopefully” has even cast doubt into some fans as to whether the apology itself is genuine. Also, there are calls for a long suspension/ban.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions to what happened in the DPL:
It's been the problem with Bangladeshi Players, there are various occasions including Mushfiqur Rahim's attack on his own player, misbehaving in U19 worldcup matches. Shakib is a role model of that particular country and he should be banned for atleast 2 years for this behaviour
Couple of weeks???,his career is over,he will not be allowed to involve in any game from now onwards….ICC will take strict action for sure…this is just not violating rules,its high order of violence
Bangladeshi cricketers need to understand some basic sense before playing!! They are doing again and again the same mistake of losing Cool or for some stupid immature celebration!
Reason why they are not successful as a team even having talented players!!!
No excuses. Ban him. Fine him. I can't believe cricketers expect to get away with this. Or maybe this live broadcast thing for the first time is giving us a clear view of what happens in the Bangladesh domestic circuit.
Should be banned for minimum 5 years..He lost his control several times in int. cricket too..
— Prakash SHUBHAM ?? (@BeingPrakash13) June 11, 2021
This isnot the first time Shakib has behaved in this manner on a cricket field.He should be banned and also fined by BCB for this outburst.Already umpires are under pressure due to rule changes and increased involvement of technology and then they have to deal with unruly players
Strongest case for yellow/red cards in cricket. Use it rarely, but stuff like this, at any level, is unacceptable. Shakib should’ve been sent off/dismissed immediately. https://t.co/k7zFLaVYgg
Shakib should not be allowed to play cricket for a long time. If most of us behaved like this at work, we wouldn't be working there for much longer. https://t.co/2YJ81kB6Sr
Bad behaviour on social media from 10 years ago has consequences. I’d be shocked if Shakib goes unpunished for this. Unacceptable! https://t.co/CBztMueAyI
#ShakibAlHasan apologises for his on-field behaviour during #DhakaLeague match wherein he was seen kicking the stumps and arguing with umpire after failed appeal.
— Subhayan Chakraborty #MaskUp (@CricSubhayan) June 11, 2021
For someone who’s one of the best players from his country this reaction from Shakib Al Hasan is shocking. Shakib is a role model for many pic.twitter.com/cNxjfU5sd3
That's horrible. He might be the best player of the Ban team, but I'm pretty sure Bangladesh fans might not even count him as the best until and unless he doesn't respect the game. The guy deserves some ban. Shameful.
So, what happens from here? There are allegations that there is fixing in the league, which prompted Shakib to act in such a way. However, such behaviour certainly warrants a lengthy suspension, and it will be interesting to see how the BCB responds.
India’s WTC journey: 3 biggest finds for the Indian team | Looking at the 3 best finds for the Indian team throughout their WTC journey
The World Test Championship (WTC) has been one remarkable journey for the Indian cricket team. Right from leading the charts in the initial phase, to encountering a major stumbling block in the middle and then finishing it off in style, they managed to qualify for the showpiece game against New Zealand in some style and swagger.
In this wild trip, they have managed to unearth some precious gems; players who might not feature for them in the final vs the Kiwis but could be vital cogs in the setup for the times to come. So, let us elaborate on these individuals, whom we would like to refer to as the biggest finds for the Indian Test team in the past couple of years.
Hanuma Vihari
India’s WTC journey: 3 biggest finds for the Indian team – Hanuma Vihari
India’s perpetual search for a reliable middle-order bat led them to rely on the Hyderbad-based Hanuma Vihari during the team’s tour to the West Indies in 2019. Vihari had already made his debut in England a year prior to that and played a gritty knock at the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne in late 2018. However, he started getting a regular run only from that series in Caribbean onward.
Vihari did well to strike a century in that series itself and earned himself a consistent run thereafter. Since then, he has at times been in and out of the XI depending on the combination that the skipper decides to go with. If there’s the need of any extra batsman, Vihari fills that slot seamlessly at number six.
His highly impactful, gritty and valourous performance in the crucial draw vs Australia in Sydney late last year, where he played inspite of an injury, is enough to show the tremendous character and attitude that the batsman possesses. He might or might not play the WTC finale but will continue to behold some serious importance in the Indian team’s scheme of things in the coming times.
Mohammed Siraj
It is said that the Indian domestic circuit hones and prepares players for the tumultuous time ahead in international cricket like nothing else. Well, Mohammed Siraj’s story is a true testament to that fact. The pacer was roped in to the squad as a potential replacement to Ishant Sharma in the tour to Australia. Even then, many were pinning on Navdeep Saini to get the nod over Siraj.
By the end of the series, Siraj was spearheading the Indian attack, and he was doing it in some style. The pacer’s absolutely comfortable adaption to the conditions in Australia, despite battling a terrible personal loss, is a story for the ages. He has scalped 16 wickets in five Test matches so far, but Siraj’s performances and overall impact speak for much more than that.
He donned the responsibility of leading the Indian bowling attack at India’s most crucial juncture in the WTC journey, and for that he deserves all the applause in the world. Again, his place in India’s playing XI for the WTC finale is uncertain, but Siraj is set to play a key role in India’s journey in Test cricket from hereon.
Washington Sundar
India’s WTC journey: 3 biggest finds for the Indian team – Washington Sundar was excellent.
Washington Sundar’s debut for India in the whites was purely by chance, but people who manage to make the most of any given opportunity undoubtedly stare at a successful career ahead. After four Tests, the off-spinning all-rounder is perhaps looking forward to a more defined role as a batsman in the side in the future.
The fact that Sundar is pretty handy with the willow was never in question even before he made his way to international cricket.
However, the fact that he can display his skills at the most toughest of situations, in the most demanding of situations, against arguably the best bowling attack in their own backyard, that’s what came as a surprise for many as he put on a fantastic show in the first innings of that game vs the Aussies in Brisbane.
Sundar maintains an average of 66.25 in six innings with three half-centuries to his name in Test cricket so far. In this Indian team, players tend to capitalize on even the slightest of openings available to them. It is undoubtedly a testament to the terrific quality that is flowing through the ranks currently.
Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter today.
Wisden name possible India XI for World Test Championship Final | Wisden list their possible India XI for the WTC Final against New Zealand
A decade ago on their 2011 tour of England, India started the series ranked number one in Test cricket as they are today. However, they looked quite toothless in the bowling department. Fast forward to 2021, India are number one again, but this time have a big call to make regarding their pace attack.
With Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja both likely to be in the XI at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, India have to try fit the capable Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammad Siraj and Ishant Sharma into three spots. Wisden Cricket, in naming their possible XI ahead of the Final, have made the big call that Ishant Sharma could be left out.
Wisden’s possible India XI for the World Test Championship Final
1. Rohit Sharma
2. Shubman Gill
3. Cheteshwar Pujara
4. Virat Kohli (c)
5. Ajinkya Rahane
6. Rishabh Pant (wk)
7. Ravindra Jadeja
8. Ravichandran Ashwin
9. Mohammed Shami
10. Mohammed Siraj
11. Jasprit Bumrah
India’s top six decides itself. Ajinkya Rahane was India’s leading run-scorer in the World Test Championship, with 1,095 runs at an average of 43.80. The likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant were outstanding in India’s superb triumph in Australia at the start of the year. With Ashwin and Jadeja both skilled spinners, as well as very capable batsmen, it gives the Indian side greater balance.
Conditions are expected to be cool in Southampton for the WTC Final, but some breezy conditions will assist in drying out the surface the spinners to have an effect later on in the Test. However, fans disagreed at the notion that Ishant could be left out of the side, given the fact he has been on three tours of England in the past and has been a force in red-ball cricket especially since 2017/18.
Me too dont think Ishant will left out…He has experience of 3 tours and his numbers even better than Bumrah And Shami since 2018…Ishant has to play…Siraj only will come only as 4th seamer ..
Twitter reactions as South Africa pace brigade roll West Indies for 97 | West Indies 97 all out: Twitter reactions as Nortje and Ngidi rip through West Indies in 1st Test
In what looks to be a competitive Test series started in the most uncompetitive fashion. South Africa, via the strength of their talented pace attack, ripped through West Indies on a record-breaking first day at St. Lucia.
Lungi Ngidi, who was singled out by South Africa fan Dan Osmond on The CricBlog Podcast as a key pacer for this series, took his second career five-wicket haul. Anrich Nortje, who continues his meteoric rise, blew away the top and middle order to set things up and take his own four-wicket haul. Kagiso Rabada, who was arguably the key Protea from a bowling point of view, took a backseat as his two other fast bowling partners wreacked havoc.
Never before have the West Indies been bowled out for under 100 in the first innings of a home Test. 97 is their lowest ever score vs South Africa, beating the 102 against the same opposition back in 2010. Plus, only Jason Holder crossed 20. Carnage.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions to carnage on day one of the first Test:
This is the FIRST time ever West Indies were bowled out for an total below 100 in the first innings of a home Test match.#WIvSA
Five wicket haul for Lungi Ngidi and four-wicket haul for Anrich Nortje bundled out West Indies for just 97 runs in the first innings – it was breathing fire by South Africa pacers in St Lucia. #WIvSApic.twitter.com/bIky9kxG6P
— Chennai Super Kings – Mask P?du Whistle P?du! (@ChennaiIPL) June 10, 2021
West Indies have just been bowled out for their second two-figure score since 2004. England have managed eight in that period, which is exceptional #WIvSA
West Indies are bowled out for 97 against South Africa. Lungi Ngidi picks up fifer, but at the top some top class display of fast bowling by Anrich Nortje who picked 4 wickets. Superb bowling performance by Saffer pacers. Only Jason Holder could manage 20 score for Windies.
West Indies today registers their lowest ever total in Test Cricket against South Africa. Some serious bowling was going on at start from Anrich Nortje which made this happen.
West Indies then took four wickets of their own to stay alive in the first Test. However, it still is a long way back, and need a near-perfect day two to have a chance of achieving an amazing turnaround.
5 crucial South Africa players in the Test series vs West Indies | 5 key South Africa players to watch out for in the Test series against West Indies
To the delight of all cricket lovers around the globe, cricket in the Caribbean Islands is back as South Africa are going to face the West Indies in the Test series starting Thursday.
West Indies have been fabulous at home and it really will need a monumental effort from the South Africans to defeat them in their own den. There are certain players whose performance will define the fate of the visiting side in the series. In this article, I am going to mention five such key South African players to watch out for in this series. Here we go.
Rassie van der Dussen
You might be surprised to see this name in this list, but I am really a big admirer of Rassie van der Dussen and I really have high hopes from him in this series. He has amazed all of us in limited overs cricket and he played 3 good knocks of 51, 68 and 98 against a top-class English bowling attack in Centurion, Cape Town and Johannesburg respectively in his debut Test series as well.
As far as what I have observed, he is definitely a good player of pace and bounce. If he tackles the movement well in the West Indies, then I don’t see any reason of him failing in this series. He has the calibre and the selectors have showed faith in him by persisting with him ahead of promising young guys like Raynard van Tonder. So it’s high time that Rassie proves himself in the longest format of the game.
Temba Bavuma
Bavuma is one of the most senior players of the touring South African side. The middle order of this South African team is a bit inexperienced and therefore the role of Temba Bavuma becomes much more significant. Talking about his current form, Bavuma had two superb consecutive series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan recently. He scored 252 runs in 6 innings at an excellent average of 50.4 in both the series combined. He is supposed to act like a glue and prevent the South African middle order from destruction by the fiery fast bowling line up of the West Indies.
Aiden Markram
If I ask who the most stylish batsman in the current South African team is, then most probably you would answer Aiden Markram. Markram is definitely one of those gorgeous batsmen in world cricket right now. He is rightly said to be the future of South African cricket.
Markram has done much better in Tests than ODIs. He is technically solid and will play a key role against the new ball at the top for South Africa in this series. Talking about his current form, he had fabulous outings in both of the recent series played by South Africa against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. He amassed 336 runs with the help of one century and two half centuries at a splendid average of 56 in both the series combined. So it is quite evident that he has been in good touch this year and I expect him to maintain his rhythm in this series, especially considering South Africa need him to remain consistent as the captaincy is surely not too far away for him.
Dean Elgar
Dean Elgar belongs to the rare breed of “old school Test batsman” in an otherwise dynamic batting lineup of South Africa consisting of guys like Markram, Dussen and de Kock. He has the image of a tough, gritty bloke in the international circuit and has proved himself time and again by scoring vital runs against quality opponents on challenging tracks.
Against a good bowling attack of the West Indies, his role at the top will be to blunt the new ball and make the path easier for the middle order. I expect him to hold the South African batting lineup with his utmost determination. Recently, he had a fantastic series against Sri Lanka at home as he smashed 253 runs at a Bradmanesque average of 126.50. Also, he has been given the duty of captaincy. So, his role is going to be extremely crucial for the Proteas both as a batsman and a leader.
Kagiso Rabada
South Africa are touring the West Indies after more than a decade with a completely new squad. Although their fast bowlers other than Rabada have the skill set, they lack experience. Rabada brings the experience into the table with him and we all know what he is capable of. He is the best South African seamer and I expect him to be the leader of their bowling attack. Although he hasn’t been at his best for quite a while, I believe he will enjoy bowling on the West Indian decks. His performance will be a key determinant of how the South Africans perform with the ball as a unit.
This is my list of five South African players whose performance will determine the fate of the Proteas in this series. Have your say!
ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | NZ vs ENG 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction Today | New Zealand vs England 2nd Test Key Players | Edgbaston Pitch Report
The first Test ended in a somewhat dull draw, which drew criticism from the likes of David “Bumble” Lloyd. England were favourites before the match started, but were behind the eight-ball for pretty much the entire game. The caravan now moves to Edgbaston for the 2nd and final game of the series.
There were a few excellent performances from both the teams. New Zealand’s Devon Conway stole the show with his double-century on debut that too at the iconic Lord’s cricket stadium. Now, he’ll be required to put in another big display, with Kane Williamson officially ruled out due to an elbow injury. Tim Southee also picked up 7 wickets while Kyle Jamieson was very impressive in his first test on the English soil.
For England, we witnessed a redeeming knock from Rory Burns who ensured that England didn’t completely lose their way in the first innings. Ollie Robinson despite having a controversial debut, was very impressive as he picked 7 wickets in the game along with 42 runs at a crucial stage.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
New Zealand
Devon Conway scored a brilliant 200 in the first innings of the first Test. He played very confidently and was the best batsman from the Kiwi side. He will play a very important role for his team in the 2nd Test as well.
Henry Nicholls scored 61 and 23 in the first game. He looked solid in the first innings and is a consistent performer for the Kiwis in the middle-order.
Ross Taylor too failed with the bat but he’s an experienced campaigner and knows how to bounce back. Taylor averages 39.7 in 33 innings against England. He has scored 1192 runs.
Tim Southee was exceptional in the first Test. The veteran pacer picked wickets at crucial stages of the match to keep his side in the game. This included an excellent five-for in the first innings.
Kyle Jamieson impressed a lot in the first Test. He bowled excellent lines and lengths and made life hard for the English batsmen. Jamieson picked 3 wickets at Lord’s and again will be very lethal with the duke ball coupled with his height and ability to swing the ball.
Neil Wagner too bowled really well. He also bowled good length balls instead of the short balls he’s known for. He also contributed with the bat and the team will expect the same from him.
England
Rory Burns scored a brilliant 132 in the first innings which kept England in the game. The southpaw will again have the responsibility to take his team off to a good start.
Skipper Joe Root scored 42 & 40 runs in the two innings of the first Test. Root too will need to take responsibility especially in the absence of Ben Stokes & Jos Buttler. He averages 60.12 at Edgbaston (481 runs).
Ollie Pope will again get the chance to show his class in the international arena. He’s a very exciting young talent and should grab his opportunities before it’s too late. He scored 21 and 40 in the first game, and will be keen to overcome his habit of being out LBW.
Dom Sibley scored a 60* in the 2nd innings after getting out for a duck in the first. Sibley likes to hold one end and England will want the same from their opener in this game too.
James Anderson & Stuart Broad had a quiet outing in the first test. Anderson picked 2 while Broad picked only one wicket in the first game. Both are champion players and can go through any batting lineup on their day.
Anderson and Broad love bowling at Edgbaston. No bowler has taken more wickets on this ground than Anderson (44, avg. 22.02), with Broad close behind on 35 (avg. 23.62).
Stats and Facts
New Zealand hasn’t won a Test series in England since 1999.
James Anderson needs 6 more wickets to reach the milestone of 1000 FC wickets. If he plays this Test, he will break Alastair Cook’s record of 162 Tests for England. He also needs 2 more catches to reach 100 catches in Tests.
After the first Test, New Zealand have now won 5, lost 30 and drawn 20 Tests against England in England.
Possible Playing 11
Ollie Robinson has been dropped from this game. Craig Overton is set to replace him in the XI.
England: 1. Rory Burns, 2. Dom Sibley, 3. Zak Crawley, 4. Joe Root (c), 5. Ollie Pope, 6. Dan Lawrence, 7. James Bracey (wk), 8. Craig Overton, 9. Stuart Broad, 10. Mark Wood, 11. James Anderson
Mitchell Santner is out from the second test due to finger injury. Trent Boult is available and could replace him directly, but with the news Kane Williamson is out, New Zealand could look to lengthen their batting to cater for his absence. Also, Tim Southee, among others, may be rested as well.
New Zealand: 1. Devon Conway, 2. Tom Latham (c), 3. Will Young, 4. Ross Taylor, 5. Henry Nicholls, 6. BJ Watling (wk), 7. Colin de Grandhomme, 8. Kyle Jamieson/Doug Bracewell, 9. Ajaz Patel/Ruchin Ravindra, 10. Tim Southee, 11. Neil Wagner/Trent Boult
Edgbaston Pitch Report and Weather
A full 5 days of cricket is expected with warm weather throughout, day 2 will be cloudy and there may be a little rain. The pitch is expected to have decent carry early on, with the warm weather then providing an opportunity for the pitch to take turn later in this Test. Likely to be a bat first track.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
Kane Williamson’s absence and New Zealand’s focus on the WTC Final perhaps gives England the edge. Also, England have a good record at Edgbaston, so England will take this match and series 1-0.
PSL 2021 Match 15: LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction Today | Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
After much deliberation and hard work on the part of the Pakistan Cricket Board, the official PSL 2021 restart is here. After COVID-19 put a pause to the campaign back in March, the PCB has been working to great lengths to get the tournament back up and running. To their credit, it’s back, this time in the UAE, where we could see a plethora of cricket in the coming months.
PSL 2021 restarts with two sides looking to take top spot on the league table. Both Lahore Qalanders and Islamabad United sit on six points with three wins from four games, and will look to start where they left off.
However, they will need to do so with a few squad changes. Alex Hales, Lewis Gregory and Phil Salt are unavailable for the restart, with the absence of Hales in particular a big blow for Islamabad. However, the addition of a motivated Usman Khawaja can work wonders. For Lahore, the experience of Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez will be crucial in their quest for victory.
PSL 2021 Match 15: LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction: Hafeez has been in super form in the last 12-18 months.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Lahore Qalandars
Fakhar Zaman – Zaman (83 of 54 balls) was the star of the chase in his last PSL game against Karachi and controlled the innings well after Qalandars were crawling at 33/3. He would like to make most of his form and get back on the national side. Against United Zaman has played 7 games and scored 181 runs at an average of 25.86.
Fakhar had scored 189 runs in his first four matches of PSL 2021 at an average of 63.00 and strike rate of 143.89 (two fifties).
Sohail Akhtar has been good with captaincy but he has been equally bad with the bat. In his last match, he got run-out without facing a ball. Akhtar showed a good run of form in the T10 league earlier this year, so he is capable of turning around his form.
Mohammad Hafeez scored 181 runs in four matches earlier in PSL 2021 at an average of 90.50 and strike rate of 175.72. Incredible numbers.
Ben Dunk – There was a huge sigh of relief in Qalandar’s camp up when Dunk (57 of 43 balls) showed up in the last match after previously missing out in the previous outings. Dunk has played 4 games against United and scored 98 runs with a best of 49*. He will be key here with his experience.
Shaheen Afridi continues to impress and has 5 wickets in his 3 games against United. He took nine wickets in four matches in the first leg of PSL 2021.
Rashid Khan will be a big asset for the Qalanders. On this ground, Rashid has taken 16 wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of just 5.92.
Islamabad United
Keep an eye on Usman Khawaja. He is now playing in the league of his country of origin and will be looking to make a big impact.
Colin Munro will be looking to make an impact as he has also been picked up by United. He has done well against Qalanders in the past, with 104 runs against them at an average of 52 and strike rate of 138.67.
Faheem Ashraf– Ashraf loves playing against Qalandars. He has 14 wickets in just 5 games against them. He will be a must-pick and a good option of C/VC in Grand Leagues as he got a 3-fer in his last game as well.
Shadab Khan – United Skipper has contributed with both bat and the ball against Qalandars. He has 10 wickets and 138 runs in 8 games.
Zafar Gohar took 3 wickets against Qalanders in the only game he has played against them.
Hasan Ali has13 wickets in 8 games against Qalandars and the way he is bowling, he would like to make most of his purple patch. He took six wickets in four matches in the first leg of PSL 2021.
Both sides currently sit in the top four, with three wins each out of four matches.
Predicted Playing 11
Lahore Qalandars squad: Sohail Akhtar (Captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Ben Dunk, Callum Ferguson, Dilbar Hussain, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, James Faulkner, Maaz Khan, Mohammad Faizan, Mohammad Hafeez, Rashid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Seekuge Prasanna, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sultan Ahmed, Tim David, Zaid Alam, Zeeshan Ashraf
Lahore Qalandars: 1. Fakhar Zaman, 2. Sohail Akhtar (c), 3. Callum Ferguson, 4. Mohammad Hafeez, 5. Ben Dunk (wk), 6. Tim David/James Faulkner, 7. Zeeshan Ashraf, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 10. Ahmed Daniyal, 11. Haris Rauf
Islamabad United squad: Shadab Khan (Captain), Ahmed Saifi Abdullah, Ali Khan, Akif Javed, Asif Ali, Colin Munro, Fawad Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Akhlaq, Musa Khan, Rohail Nazir, Usman Khawaja, Zafar Gohar, Zeeshan Zameer
Islamabad United: 1. Usman Khawaja, 2. Colin Munro, 3. Rohail Nazir (wk), 4. Shadab Khan (c), 5. Asif Ali, 6. Hussain Talat, 7. Iftikhar Ahmed, 8. Faheem Ashraf, 9. Hasan Ali, 10. Mohammad Wasim Jr, 11. Zafar Gohar/Fawad Ahmed
Sheikh Zayed Stadium Abu Dhabi Stadium Pitch Report and Conditions
The pitches in Pakistan for the first leg of PSL 2021 were batting belters. The chasing team was dominating. So, it remains to be seen if the batsmen can enjoy the same success on typically slower pitches in the UAE, with Abu Dhabi often offering assistance to pace off the ball.
The conditions are very hot at this time of the year in the UAE, which sees the matches start at a later time. Temperatures nearing 40 degrees are expected throughout the day.
NED vs IRE 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | NED vs IRE 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Netherlands vs Ireland 3rd ODI Key Players | Utrecht Pitch Report
After a disappointing but thrilling defeat in the first ODI, Ireland came roaring back to level the series 1-1 thanks to an emphatic win in the second ODI. Josh Little and Craig Young were once again the chief destroyers, taking eight wickets between them to roll the Dutch for 157. Then, Andy Balbirnie, who has struggled for form in 2021, spent important time in the middle to lead his team to an easy eight-wicket win.
So, the question ahead of the deciding ODI is which team will hold their nerve? Netherlands have shown promise this series, but after promising opening stands, they have fallen away badly with the bat. Here, they should try avoid relying on the late order for runs, which puts onus on the likes of Pietar Seelar and Scott Edwards to deliver in the middle order. Can they overcome the threat of Josh Little and co. this time around?
Max O’Dowd has struck two starts in this series (23 and 36). Netherlands, given their batting struggles, need O’Dowd to go on and make a 50+ score. He has made three 50+ scores in his six ODIs to date (total of 294 runs at 58.80).
Stephan Myburgh has made four double-figure scores in four ODIs vs Ireland without crossing 35 (35, 22, 20, 11). Will today be the day he makes an impactful contribution?
Pietar Seelar has taken eight wickets in six ODIs vs Ireland, including four in two matches in this series.
Logan van Beek and Tim van der Gugten are crucial for Netherlands in terms of their all-round ability. van Beek has struck scores of 29 (48) and 22* (36), along with three wickets. van der Gugten was man of the match in the opening ODI.
Ireland:
Paul Stirling has struck consecutive half-centuries this series (69 and 52), carrying on his excellent ODI form since the start of 2019. In this period, Stirling has struck 1,472 runs in 27 innings at an average of 56.62.
Also, no other cricketer in history has more ODI runs against Netherlands than Stirling. His 407 runs come at a fine average of 50.87, with four 50+ scores in eight ODIs against them.
Andy Balbirnie returned to some form in the last game, with an unbeaten 127-ball 63. It was all about time at the crease for Balbirnie, which can do him plenty of good ahead of this game. Before the last game, Balbirnie hit just 85 runs at an average of 14.16 in 2021.
Watch out for George Dockrell if he gets the chance to bat. Since 2017, he has averaged 101.28 in Ireland’s List A competition. He has bowled just three overs in this series so far, so batting is more of the focus for Dockrell.
Only four bowlers have taken at least 10 ODI wickets in 2021, and Simi Singh is one of them. He went wicketless in the second ODI, but the turn available and his batting form (45 in opening ODI) makes him an important player for the Irish.
Josh Little is on fire. He has taken seven wickets in the two matches this series (3/32 and 4/39), and the Netherlands’ batsmen are struggling for answers against him. In fact, he was player of the match in the second ODI.
Craig Young has also taken seven scalps this series (3/34 and 4/18). He will be key once again.
Netherlands’ opening partnerships have been promising this series (32 and 44). However, the middle order collapses are a worry, caused mainly by Ireland’s Josh Little.
Ireland are ninth (20 points) and Netherlands are tenth (10 points) in the ODI Super League table. A crucial game awaits.
Possible Playing 11
Netherlands could look to bring in Vivian Kingma for the expensive Brandon Glover this series. Kingma took five wickets in two ODIs vs Scotland recently.
Netherlands: 1. Stephan Myburgh, 2. Max O’Dowd, 3. Ben Cooper, 4. Bas de Leede, 5. Pieter Seelaar (c), 6. Scott Edwards (wk), 7. Saqib Zuilfiqar, 8. Logan van Beek, 9. Timm van der Gugten, 10. Fred Klaassen, 11. Brandon Glover/Vivian Kingma
Will Ireland bring Kevin O’Brien into their XI? He could replace William Porterfield at the top.
Ireland: 1. William Porterfield/Kevin O’Brien, 2. Paul Stirling, 3. Andy Balbirnie (c), 4. Harry Tector, 5. George Dockrell, 6. Lorcan Tucker (wk), 7. Simi Singh, 8. Andy McBrine, 9. Barry McCarthy, 10. Josh Little, 11. Craig Young
Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd Utrecht Pitch Report and Weather
Scoring rates have been low in this blast-from-the-past ODI series. The tracks for the two ODIs have certainly been on the slower side, with the spinners hard to get away and seamers rewarded for good lengths. We can expect a similar kind of match in similar conditions, with beautiful weather (sunny and 24 degrees) expected to greet the players.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
Option 2:
Match Prediction
Fans can hope for a more competitive match than the second ODI as the series is up for grabs. Ireland start as favourites as they look to have found their feet, and their experience can count for plenty.
