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5 Indian Seamers to Watch Out For in IPL 2020

Sarthak Karkhanis
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5 Indian Seamers to Watch Out For in IPL 2020

5 Indian Seamers to Watch Out For in IPL 2020 | Indian pacers who can make a strong impact in the IPL 2020 season

The Indian Premier League returns to action on Saturday as it is the repeat of last year’s final between the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings at Abu Dhabi. After the lucrative league was postponed during the usual summer window, it’s finally time for cricket’s gargantuan carnival to return on our TV screens.

Over the past decade, the eight-team league has gifted a lot of talent to Indian cricket and some of the fast bowlers have also made their mark in the IPL. Ahead of the upcoming season, here are some of the Indian pacers to watch out for as we list out a few reasons why they are worth keeping an eye on.

1. Jasprit Bumrah

5 Indian Seamers to Watch Out For in IPL 2020 | Indian pacers who can make a strong impact in the IPL 2020 season | IPL 2020 Preview
5 Indian pacers to watch out for in IPL 2020: Jasprit Bumrah is crucial to MI’s chances.

Expectedly, the first person in our list is India’s ace pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah. After making his debut in 2013, Bumrah has been a vital cog of the Mumbai Indians set up which has won four titles in the last seven years. He was the leading wicket-taker for MI in IPL 2019, with 19 wickets at an economy rate of 6.63 and was the man of the match in the Final against CSK.

Although Malinga missed the IPL in 2016 and 2018, Bumrah was never the leader of the MI bowling attack. Now, in MI’s quest to defend the title, Bumrah will have to lead the attack, especially in the death overs in place of Malinga who has pulled out of the tournament.

Bumrah was injured in the latter half of the 2019 and wasn’t as impressive as the standards he has set on his return. Post the enforced COVID-19 break, MI will hope that Bumrah is back to his best. It will be interesting to see how things pan out for Bumrah in the next 50 days.

2. Deepak Chahar

5 Indian Seamers to Watch Out For in IPL 2020 | Indian pacers who can make a strong impact in the IPL 2020 season | IPL 2020 Preview
5 Indian pacers to watch out for in IPL 2020: Can Deepak Chahar make a big impact for CSK?

Next on our list is another India regular, Deepak Chahar. Like Bumrah, Chahar too was injured before the COVID-19 break and was aiming to make a comeback in the 2020 edition. However, after the team reached the UAE, the pacer tested positive for the virus and was quarantined for a week. Fortunately, he recovered and will be available to play in the opening game against the Mumbai Indians.

In the 2019 edition, Chahar was the leading wicket-taker among pacers for CSK with 22 wickets and was also the tournament’s leading wicket-taker in the powerplay phase. With the T20 World Cup postponed to 2021, the Indian team may try new bowlers and Chahar has to make sure that he is retained in the Indian T20 team.

3. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

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Another bowler who has faced persistent injury issues over the past 18 months has been Bhuvneshwar Kumar. This season, the SRH bowler has a chance to prove his mettle and put the disappointment of the last two seasons behind him, where he took only 22 wickets in 28 matches.

SRH will hope that on the slowish tracks in UAE, Kumar comes good and will be a lethal force in the death overs like he was 2016 and 2017 IPLs where he won the Purple Cap.

In regards to the Indian team, Kumar has slipped down the pecking order in the recent past, and he will use his experience to make a comeback in the upcoming edition of the tournament.

4. Kamlesh Nagarkoti

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Kamlesh Nagarkoti’s name in this list may come as a surprise to few, but it won’t be to those who saw him trouble batsman with his raw pace and accuracy in the 2018 U-19 World Cup.

Since then, life has been cruel for the young pacer as he underwent a couple of ankle surgeries. His takers in the 2018 IPL auction, Kolkata Knight Riders, have persisted with him in this journey and hopefully, Nagarkoti will make his debut and will be a regular feature in KKR’s XI in the 2020 IPL.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti is touted by many as a future India prospect and this year’s IPL will be crucial to the pacer’s future.

5. Prasidh Krishna

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The last name, also an uncapped Indian bowler, is Prasidh Krishna. Krishna has shown glimpses of his potential in the past for KKR but is yet to have a successful IPL in entirety.

Krishna announced his arrival with a bang in the 2018 edition with 10 wickets in seven matches but he took only four wickets in 11 matches in 2019. However, he also has had his share of injuries in the past year or so and will be aiming to make a comeback.

Last year, Kohli mentioned Krishna’s name as someone who could have been a wildcard in T20 World Cup in Australia. Can Krishna knock the door down on an Indian call-up?

So, there are five key Indian seamers to watch out for in their respective franchises. Who else do you think could make a significant impact?

Written by Sarthak Karkhanis. Follow Sarthak on Twitter today.

England Chris Woakes soars in ICC ODI rankings

Charbel Coorey
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England Chris Woakes soars in ICC ODI rankings

Chris Woakes has hit his career best, by reaching the fourth rank in ICC ODI rankings for bowlers. Following Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah and Mujeeb Ur Rahman from the top, Woakes jumped to fourth spot after taking six wickets and scoring 89 runs in the three match ODI series against Australia. Woakes has also moved to second rank on the list of ODI allrounders.

In a great summer for Woakes personally, the bowler impressed everyone with his performance both with bat and ball. His fellow England bowler, Jofra Archer, has moved 18 spots upward to enter top 10 ranking. Woakes and Jonny Bairstow were the major gainers in the ICC rankings after ODI series against Australia, although England lost the series by 2-1.

Bairstow had a fantastic end to the series with 112 in the decider. However, his efforts couldn’t help England lift the trophy as the team lost the match with three wickets. England captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and chose to bat. England started the game with a few hiccups of their own as they lost two wickets in the first two balls. However, Jonny Bairstow’s 112 took them to 302/7 after 50 overs.

Then, after England broke the match-winning partnership between Glenn Maxwell and Alex Carey, Australia needed just 14 runs in the last two overs. Starc entered with Australia needing 10 runs from the last over, and the nail-biting climax made the win even more entertaining. Smashing the first ball for six off Rashid, it was just a matter of a couple of singles and a boundary, and England lost their first ODI series at home since 2015.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

David Willey tests positive for Covid-19

Charbel Coorey
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David Willey tests positive for Covid-19

England all-rounder David Willey has tested positive for Covid-19. Yorkshire had announced on Wednesday that along with Willey, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Josh Poysden, and Matthew Fisher would be unavailable for the remaining Vitality Blast group games. While the speculations were roaming around, Miller confirmed it on Twitter that he has contracted the virus.

“Thank you for all the kind messages. My wife & I received positive COVID test results. Gutted to be missing the remaining games. Even more devastated that having been in contact with the other 3 lads Sat morning (before we had symptoms) means they’re at risk & unavailable too”, he wrote.

Their absence has left a dent in the team’s squad as Fisher Poysden and David Willey were the leading wicket-takers in the Blast. Moreover, the team captain Willey and vice-captain Kohler-Cadmore missing the game would require an urgent replacement too.

According to ESPNCricinfo reports, Kunwar Bansil, Yorkshire’s lead physiotherapist said, “Although it is disappointing that we will be without four key players, we have a duty of care to the wider squad and others. The health and well-being of the players and support staff is the club’s primary responsibility, as well as protecting the opposition, the integrity of the competition and playing our part in keeping the wider community safe.”

After Monday’s game, Andrew Gale, Yorkshire’s head coach, said that they were hoping that one of the four lads would have their test back, which would have enabled the rest of them to play. “With the guidelines in place, the physios and club doctor said they couldn’t take part in the game unless that one person tested negative. Unfortunately, it didn’t come through. I fully expect it to be negative, but you just don’t know – you have to be careful”, he said.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

IPL 2020 Match 1: MI vs CSK Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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IPL 2020 Match 1: MI vs CSK Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IPL 2020 Match 1: MI vs CSK Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MI vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today September 19 2020 | Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

After months of speculation amid the coronavirus and T20 World Cup, Sourav Ganguly’s aim to get IPL 2020 up and running is fulfilled. While the tournament won’t have the spine-tingling atmospheres of a usual IPL, the 2020 edition shapes up to be one of the most open tournaments yet. All eight teams are capable of producing wonders on their day, which makes a good start crucial to a franchise’s hopes.

This is an area where the great Mumbai Indians have historically struggled. The defending champions, who have a record four IPL Titles to their name, have won just four of their 12 opening matches. It is a record that makes for quite the opener, as Chennai Super Kings can’t seem to get the better of their rivals in recent times, with four straight defeats to Rohit Sharma’s men in 2019.

So, what does the tournament opener have in store? Can MI overcome their habit of starting with a loss, as well as their even-year jitters? What about CSK, the IPL’s most consistent side, who have faced nothing but hurdles in the build up to the tournament? Some believe that this is the year they finally miss the playoffs, while others believe they are always a factor as long as the great MS Dhoni is at the helm.

Both sides possess experience and quality that other franchises crave – a key reason why MI and CSK are far-and-away the most successful sides in IPL. While the tournament opener is too early to make conclusions about both side’s chances in IPL 2020, it serves as an opportunity to boost confidence and quickly adapt to the environment that is the IPL bubble.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

  • Kevin Pietersen says MS Dhoni is a key player to watch in IPL 2020 (details here). With Suresh Raina unavailable, Dhoni has an even more crucial role to play. He has been superb since Chennai’s return to IPL since 2018: 871 runs, avg. 79.18, SR: 142.55.
  • Also, Dhoni has the most runs for Chennai against Mumbai (627, avg. 36.88) after Suresh Raina’s 730.
  • Who could forget Shane Watson’s superb 80 in the IPL 2019 Final with a bloodied knee? The experienced opener will also be key to CSK’s chances.
  • Rohit Sharma has the most runs for Mumbai against Chennai with 646. The MI skipper will be keen for a big season with the bat, after a bit of a lean couple of years.
  • Kieron Pollard vs Chennai: 449 runs, avg. 34.54, SR: 167.54. Also, Pollard recently struck at a SR of over 200 in the recent, low-scoring CPL.
  • Pollard and Hardik Pandya will be key. Hardik was superb last season for Mumbai, scoring 402 runs at SR 191.42.
  • Suryakumar Yadav was man of the match in IPL 2019 Qualifier 1 vs CSK (71*). Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah were the top players in the other three meetings between the teams in IPL 2019.
  • Imran Tahir took the most wickets in IPL 2019 (26), and was effective in the recent CPL, with 15 wickets in 11 games.
  • Deepak Chahar, CSK’s go-to man in the powerplay, will look to make inroads into MI’s strong top order. He took 3/26 in last season’s Final.
  • Watch out for Rahul Chahar. He will be key to MI’s spin attack in IPL 2020, and has a very commendable record vs CSK so far: 3 wickets, avg. 20.00, econ. 4.29.
  • The Trent Boult-Jasprit Bumrah combination is a key strength for MI, and it will be interesting to see their impact in match one. Bumrah was man of the match in the IPL 2019 Final (2/14).
  • Piyush Chawla has 24 wickets in 20 matches vs Mumbai Indians.
IPL 2020 Match 1: MI vs CSK Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MI vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today September 19 2020 | Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report Weather Report
IPL 2020 Match 1: MI vs CSK Preview Dream11: MS Dhoni will be key.

Stats and Facts

  • CSK have a positive win record against all IPL teams except MI. MI lead 18-12 in the head-to-head.
  • MI have won eight of the past nine matches against CSK.
  • Interestingly, Quinton de Kock doesn’t fare too well vs CSK (8 matches, 140 runs, avg. 17.50). However, his quality is there for all to see, and was the third-highest run-scorer in IPL 2019 (529, avg. 35.26, SR 132.91).
  • Imran Tahir has a solid record against Kieron Pollard in T20s. He has got his wicket four times in 16 matches, with a dot-ball percentage of 50.
  • MS Dhoni has scored just 39 runs in 33 balls in the death overs (16-20) vs Jasprit Bumrah in IPL cricket, with three dismissals.
  • CSK have taken the most powerplay wickets in IPL since 2018 (56), with Chahar taking 25 of them.

Possible Playing 11

Mumbai Indians look quite settled. However, their spin depth is an area of possible weakness in IPL 2020, so Rahul Chahar and Krunal Pandya will be key first up. Lasith Malinga is out of the tournament (details here), but MI still have strong options to choose from in their pace brigade, most notably Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah.

Mumbai Indians: 1. Rohit Sharma (c), 2. Quinton de Kock (wk), 3. Suryakumar Yadav, 4. Ishan Kishan, 5. Kieron Pollard, 6. Hardik Pandya, 7. Krunal Pandya, 8. Rahul Chahar, 9. Mitchell McClenaghan/Nathan Coulter-Nile, 10. Trent Boult, 11. Jasprit Bumrah

Chennai Super Kings have had very rocky preparations for IPL 2020. Suresh Raina pulled out for personal reasons, followed by Harbhajan Singh. Also, there was an outbreak of COVID-19 within their squad, which included Deepak Chahar, who has now recovered. Their playing XI could see two overseas openers followed by an Indian core in the middle. Another option would be to leave du Plessis out and play Lungi Ngidi as another seam option (Josh Hazlewood is also reportedly available). The likes of Ambati Rayudu and Kedar Jadhav, who endured poor campaigns in 2019, will be key in 2020 with the absence of Raina. Expect to see big signing Piyush Chawla line up.

Chennai Super Kings: 1. Shane Watson, 2. Faf du Plessis, 3. Murali Vijay, 4. Ambati Rayudu, 5. Kedar Jadhav, 6. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 7. Dwayne Bravo, 8. Ravindra Jadeja, 9. Deepak Chahar, 10. Piyush Chawla, 11. Imran Tahir

Abu Dhabi Pitch and Weather Report

UAE surfaces are always on the slower side. This will be the case again, with batting earlier in the tournament expected to be easier before the squares become tired due to plenty of action. The average run rate in T20 Internationals at Abu Dhabi is 7.00, so if the team batting first can muster a score of 150+, they will be well in the game.

The match will start at 6:00pm local time on what will be a hot day. No rain is expected whatsoever.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Match Prediction

MI struggle in opening matches. CSK struggle against MI. This match has a fantastic backstory, which makes it difficult to predict. However, given how settled they look, MI start this match as favourites against a CSK side that is banking on their middle order to play at their best. MI to win in a close one.

Thanks for reading!

BCCI signs Sportradar to detect irregular betting activities in IPL

Charbel Coorey
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BCCI signs Sportradar to detect irregular betting activities in IPL

The BCCI has signed UK based company Sportradar to detect betting activities in the upcoming IPL season. According to PTI, the Sportradar’s Integrity Services will monitor betting irregularities.

“Sportradar will also provide a risk assessment to the BCCI, driven by intelligence and data-driven insights. Furthermore, the BCCI will be able to call upon Sportradar’s Intelligence and Investigation Services during the term of the partnership, if required”, the report said.

Moreover, the agency has already found a few betting patterns during state T20 leagues – Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) and Goa football league. “Sportradar has very recently red flagged at least half a dozen games in the Goa football league that came under a fixing cloud. They have also worked with FIFA, UEFA and various leagues across the globe. It’s Fraud Detection System (FDS) “is a unique service that identifies betting-related manipulation in sport. This is possible due to the FDS’s sophisticated algorithms and constantly maintained database of odds, which are leveraged for the purpose of detecting match-fixing”, read a PTI report.

The company has set up a sophisticated model of mathematical algorithm that detects fraud detection and studies betting patterns during the event. “There are 25 live alerts, which instantly identify irregular betting in the marketplace,” the Sportradar website says. “The mathematical model uses calculated odds, which runs alongside bookmakers’ odds, in order to highlight if the odds during a specific minute or time is out of line, and therefore, potentially suspicious.”

The company has also set up 44 detailed pre-match alerts which are based on off movements observed during the operations. It sends an alert in FDS when any kind of odd activity is happening.

This news comes as India continues to fight against match fixing in the country, with calls to criminalise this activity.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

Master Tactician MS Dhoni: How MSD led from the front

Vaibhav Tripathi
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Master Tactician MS Dhoni: How MSD led from the front

Master Tactician MS Dhoni: How MSD led from the front | How MS Dhoni was more than just a captain, but a great leader for India and CSK

World cricket has seen so many great captains across eras. From Clive Lloyd to Steve Waugh, fans have seen different styles of captains leading their team, different personalities, and different approaches.

A captain is one who expects his team to produce results, but a leader is one who’ll lead from the front. And as the leader of the team, you’ve to take care of maintaining balance in the team, be it in terms of temperament or focus. Captains can make or break a good game. Indian cricket in particular was blessed to have good leaders like Kapil Dev, M. Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly. But, the one name which stands out from the others is MS Dhoni.

Inarguably the greatest ever Indian captain, his record as a captain and achievements speak volumes about his understanding of the game.

MS Dhoni’s international career as a captain

Master Tactician MS Dhoni: How MSD led from the front | How MS Dhoni was more than just a captain, but a great leader for India and CSK.
Master tactician MS Dhoni: Dhoni always led from the front.

Dhoni was appointed as the captain of the Indian Test team overtaking Anil Kumble, just a year after he took over the skipper role in limited-overs cricket. And since then, there was no stopping to Dhoni and his team.

Dhoni led his team as the full-time skipper from 2007 to 2016. His first appearance as the Indian captain was a washout against Scotland in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 2007. And it was a script written by MSD that India against the odds went on to emerge as champions of the inaugural World T20.

That was the first real impression of MS the Captain and at that very moment, people thought that he’ll bring more glories to Indian cricket.

MS was exceptional during his tenure as a Captain. Indeed, a leader of his quality is tough to find in modern days.

MSD was a leader who always used to take the onus on himself. The quality of a good leader is how you manage your players, including how you back them even if they were going through a bad phase. Dhoni would often give them a pat on the back and will make them realise that yes you belong to this level, that’s why you’re in the team. That was his biggest quality as a leader. Because he believed that one should focus on the process rather than results; that’s how you can get the best out of your player. Virat, Rohit, Raina all are prime examples of that.

Adding to his leadership traits, his ability to read the game, make things happen, out of the box thinking, and a cool head on his shoulders with a computerized brain made Dhoni the incredible leader that others can follow on the journey.

He’s the best example of handling the success and failure. He rarely used to show his emotions on the field, as his composure in tight situations was the biggest plus with him. In a country like India where the fans are so passionate about the game, where cricket is celebrated as a festival, it takes more effort than climbing an Mt. Everest for an Indian captain to lead and produce results for his country. And Dhoni did it brilliantly.

MS Dhoni’s record as an international captain

Master Tactician MS Dhoni: How MSD led from the front | How MS Dhoni was more than just a captain, but a great leader for India and CSK.
Master Tactician MS Dhoni: Dhoni was simply superb for India.

Dhoni led India in 332 games – the most by any captain in international cricket. The next best in the list is the Australian great Ricky Ponting with 324 matches.

In the red-ball format, he has played 60 games as the captain, winning 27 matches with 18 in the losing cause and 15 ending in a draw. Dhoni fared better as the leader of India, averaging 40.63 with the bat with 3,454 runs in the longest form of the game.

In ODI Cricket, he captained the team in 200 games with 110 wins under his belt and two ICC 50-overs trophies. As a captain, he scored 6,641 runs at an astonishing average of 53.55.

In T20Is, Dhoni captained the most number of matches (72), with the most number of wins in the shortest format (41) and highest win percentage (59.28) for a captain with 50+ matches. Add to that over a thousand runs (1,112) at an average of 37.06 with the bat while leading his team.

Achievements:

  • Dhoni is the only captain lead his team to titles across all three formats- ICC WT20 in 2007, ICC World Cup 2011, ICC Champions Trophy in 2013, and World number one Test ranking.
  • 2008 CB series win in Australia.
  • The first Indian captain to win the Test mace in 2009.
  • 2009 Test series win in New Zealand.
  • Whitewash over Australia in 2012-13 Border-Gavaskar series (4-0).
  • Winning a Test at Lord’s after 28 years.

MS Dhoni’s career as an IPL captain

Master Tactician MS Dhoni: How MSD led from the front | How MS Dhoni was more than just a captain, but a great leader for India and CSK.
Master Tactician MS Dhoni

It all started in 2008 when MS Dhoni was picked by Chennai Super Kings, emerging as the hottest property on the show. And since then, he forged a treasurable bond with CSK. His fame grew through the years and then fans started calling him ‘Thala’, quickly becoming one of the most popular figures in the state.

He led the team to title wins in 2010, 2011, and 2018, played 174 games, and holds a win percentage of 59.8. Under him, CSK is the only team to qualify for playoffs every season. In the two seasons that CSK were not a part of IPL, he was part of Rising Pune Supergiant (2016-17) where he took the role of captaincy in 2016. After a bad season by his standards, where his team didn’t make it to the playoffs, Steve Smith was named as the captain for the tenth season of the IPL.

Even after retiring from international cricket, he still has much to offer to his IPL team, CSK. And his fans will be hoping that he’ll make it four titles when the tournament starts on 19th September.

Achievements:

  • 2010, 2011, and 2018 IPL Trophy.
  • Only captain to take his team (CSK) to playoffs in every season they took part in.
  • Only captain to retain the IPL title. He did that in the fourth edition of the IPL.

It’s hard to lead a team for such a long time and it’s even harder when your primary role is to play as the wicketkeeper-batsman. But he did everything with ease and that makes him an all-time great; an absolute legend of the game. He was the pioneer of India’s success since he took charge of the men in Blue in 2007. The exemplary leader will go down as one of the very best captains ever to enhance the game.

Written by Vaibhav Tripathi. Follow Vaibhav on Twitter today.

Rajasthan could have an advantage: Andrew McDonald

Charbel Coorey
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Rajasthan could have an advantage: Andrew McDonald

Rajasthan could have an advantage: Andrew McDonald | RR coach Andrew McDonald says a lot of his squad is battle-hardened and ready for IPL 2020

Indian Premier League is just about to hit the grounds in UAE, and the fans are very much ready for the world’s premier T20 league. Andrew McDonald, who is now the head coach of Rajasthan Royals, talked about how well BCCI and the cricket community has come together to make this season happen amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Though the team’s roster is not fully ready yet as some of the Australian and England players will quarantine due to the recent series, the coach is hoping for a good season. Talking about Ben Stokes, who was the star of England’s triumph in the 2019 World Cup, the coach said that his availability is uncertain after his father was diagnosed with brain cancer in the month of August.

“First and foremost, thoughts with the Stokes family. It’s a difficult scenario, so we’re giving him as much time as he needs, and connecting with him as best we can. So yeah, we’re not sure where Stokesy’s at right now, but once it has played out, then we can make our decisions from there. But I don’t want to second-guess what will happen with him just yet”, he said while talking to ESPNCricinfo.

Even without Stokes, Rajasthan Royals is about to have an ‘England’ influenced team with Tom Curran, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer. McDonald said that the fact that they have played lots of cricket lately could be quite the advantage.

“Definitely, match-hardened players will have an advantage. We’ve had to be creative to overcome the restrictions on practice games, but with a significant percentage of our group had already played, it positions us quite well. Then again, they’ve had the challenges of the bubble in England already, so when they come into another bubble, that might well be something that we need to manage along the way. This tournament is going to be all about managing the individual,” said McDonald.

“The collective team goal is at stake, obviously, but we will have to assess all 25 players and tailor their individual programs for individual needs, and individual time away. And that includes the coaching staff too. Sometimes we forget that coaches are going through exactly the same thing, so we’ll need to have an understanding of where everyone’s at throughout the tournament. If we can manage that well, it might give us a slight advantage. Who knows?”, he said.

Rajasthan will play their first game of IPL 2020 against CSK on September 22.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

ENG vs AUS Series Review: 7 Talking Points to Discuss

Charbel Coorey
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ENG vs AUS Series Review: 7 Talking Points to Discuss

ENG vs AUS Series Review: 7 Talking Points to Discuss | ENG vs AUS Series Review: Talking points from a thrilling white-ball tour

One of the big questions ahead of England’s summer were how the players would cope with the bubble, as well as whether the absence of crowds would negatively impact the cricket. By the end of it, it is safe to say that the players coped well with some fantastic cricket on show.

This applies especially to the England-Australia white-ball series. Each of the six matches (T20Is and ODIs) were closely fought, with a magnificent finale as Australia won the ODI series from a position of distress. As is always the case in battles between two of cricket’s oldest nations, there are talking points to discuss, many of which will have important ramifications heading into the future.

1. Well done to all involved

Well done to England cricket for executing an excellent summer of cricket in these unprecedented times. Well done to the West Indies, Ireland, Pakistan and Australia for helping make it happen, adhering to all the bubble requirements, which can certainly be a challenge. Cricket fans around the globe got their glorious cricketing fix, after a COVID-enforced break spanning four months.

2. What to make of Australia’s middle order and Warner away from home?

ENG vs AUS Series Review: A mix of the sublime and ridiculous.

When victory looked certain, Australia’s middle order made hard work of it and eventually the game was lost. When victory looked just about gone, Australia’s middle order delivered victory.

It is an interesting and unique situation. At 117/5 in the first ODI, it was Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell who rescued Australia. The brilliant Maxwell was at it again in the third and deciding ODI, combining with Alex Carey for a superb stand, rescuing Australia from the depths of 73/5 chasing 303. However, sandwiched between those efforts was an almighty collapse in the second ODI, to go with losing the unloseable in the first T20I.

So, is the inconsistency a worry? Can Australia afford to go into big tournaments with a middle order that can be so on one day and off the next? With Glenn Maxwell in particular so capable of producing such brilliance, how could Australia leave him out going forward, despite his own inconsistencies? This is an especially important question as David Warner continues to be up and down away from home – another issue Australia would want rectified over the next 12 months. Jofra Archer, who was outstanding all series and arguably bowled the best he ever has, had his measure.

3. Eoin Morgan’s risk vs reward

ENG vs AUS Series Review: Eoin Morgan has been brilliant for England over the years.

There is no doubt that Eoin Morgan has been central to England’s white-ball rise since 2015. His excellent captaincy, on show in the T20Is and second ODI, has enabled England to reach the heights of a prolonged #1 ODI ranking and World Cup Trophy. It is Morgan’s desire to back his own decisions that rubs off on his players, who feel enabled to play with freedom.

But, with that freedom can come some risk. In the final ODI, Morgan backed his instinct, choosing to bowl Adil Rashid in the final over instead of Mark Wood. With lower order batsmen often preferring to swing away against spinners, Mitchell Starc enjoyed the move, all but sealing the series for Australia in the first ball of the 50th over with a six over long on.

Given Morgan’s personality and desire to play with freedom, this series loss won’t be too damaging to he and his team. However, it will be interesting to see whether the skipper turns to a spinner again in such crucial situations in future matches, such as those in the subcontinent, where the 2023 World Cup will be held (India).

Also read: “Not many bowlers can stop Maxwell on his day” – Aaron Finch

4. Both teams need to improve on slower pitches

The absence of crowds was a significant contrast to the rocking atmospheres of past England-Australia battles. However, the cricket on show was as gripping as the surfaces were, with so many ebbs and flows that you could have mistaken the proceedings for a classic Test match.

In all three ODIs, the team who eventually won was in a losing position, fighting to stay alive in the contest, let alone seeking to win. This signified the fighting qualities of both sides, with Australia never known to give up and Chris Woakes commenting on how England are finding new ways to win.

However, what this series also showed is that both teams would be seeking improvement on slow pitches. England captain Eoin Morgan spoke on the eve of the series about improving on these pitches, and mentioned it again post game. Australia are in a similar boat. With both sides often losing clumps of wickets throughout the series, often struggling to find full rhythm on slower tracks, it is an area for improvement over the coming years if these two sides want to be there fighting for the World Cup in India in 2023. Effective strike rotation, rather than constant big hitting, could very well be the need of the hour in big matches in conditions similar to those in Manchester, along with better fielding, particularly by England.

5. Adam Zampa is crucial to Australia’s plans going forward

ENG vs AUS Series Review: Adam Zampa was superb.

Adam Zampa’s loss of form in the 2019 World Cup hurt Australia badly. Nathan Lyon did a commendable job, but Zampa in the 50-over format provides Aaron Finch with many dimensions via his control and variations in equal measure.

In 2020, Zampa has taken 20 wickets in 10 ODIs at an average of 24.00. He has played good sides in the format as well (India, South Africa, New Zealand and England), and has come up trumps. In this series, he took 10 wickets in three games – the most of any bowler – and further confirmed his importance for Australia moving forward. If Zampa maintains his prolific performances over the coming years, Australia will benefit greatly.

6. Who does Ben Stokes come back in for in the ODI side?

Jason Roy and Joe Root endured poor series. However, their career records remain outstanding, and it would be unfair for England to discard them after a bit of a lean run of form. So, that leaves Sam Billings as the player who will most likely make way when Ben Stokes eventually returns to the England lineup.

This would certainly be harsh on Billings, who has taken his opportunity this summer with open arms. He often plays sporadically for England such is their excellent depth, but in an extended run in the side this summer, he impressed with 315 runs in six ODIs against Ireland and Australia at an average of 78.75 (SR 95.74). He was particularly superb in run-chases, and England will be feeling confident in the fact that they have a player of his quality in their setup.

7. Dawid Malan: Permanent feature in England’s T20I team moving forward?

Dawid Malan is now the world’s premier T20I batsman, according to the rankings. It has been quite the rise for Malan, who now surely can’t be left out of England’s T20I team moving forward. This isn’t the best news for Joe Root, but 682 runs in 17 T20Is (avg. 48.71, SR 146.66) suggests that Malan deserves an extended run in the team.

So, there are seven key talking points from Australia’s white-ball tour of England. Attention now moves onto the IPL, where a number of players from both sides will be seeking success with their respective franchises.

Thanks for reading!

Finch says not many bowlers can stop Maxwell on his day

Charbel Coorey
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Finch says not many bowlers can stop Maxwell on his day

Glenn Maxwell and Alex Carey drove Australia to a thrilling win against England in Manchester. After a collapsing batting performance in the second ODI, the Aussies looked prepared for any damage that could occur. At 73/5 in the third ODI when things looked very tricky, Maxwell and Carey produced a splendid performance with their bats, scoring 108 and 106 respectively.

England captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and chose to bat. England started the game with a few hiccups of their own as they lost two wickets in the first two balls. However, Jonny Bairstow’s 112 took them to 302/7 after 50 overs.

Australia were in all sorts of trouble in the chase, leading Finch to praise Maxwell on his performance. “An incredible game of cricket. When you’ve got Pat Cummins behind Maxwell you’re in trouble but Maxi can counterattack and that partnership with Alex was outstanding,” said Finch.

“The work they’ve put in has paid off. There are not many bowlers who can stop him [Maxwell] when he’s having one of his days. Maxi can play all around the ground, and the way he navigated that innings and took it deeper, and I think they fed off each other with the right/left combination was incredible”, he said.

After England broke the match-winning partnership, Australia needed just 14 runs in the last two overs. Starc entered with Australia needing 10 runs from the last over, and the nail-biting climax made the win even more entertaining. Smashing the first ball for six off Rashid, it was just a matter of a couple of singles and a boundary, and England lost their first ODI series at home since 2015.

With a couple of fielding mishaps from England, it highlights the fact that it is one section which needs improvement. “We’ve learned quite a lot about the group playing on slower wickets. Having an opportunity to play on them for three games in a row is a rare one for us. It hasn’t gone our way, but certainly we have addressed an area of our game that is our weakest. We now have time to take it and work on it. We have seen the guys show belief and fight. Australia have outplayed us but sometimes when you do win easily you take things for granted. But these contests have been so tight we’ve learned a huge amount”, Morgan said.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

Top 5: MS Dhoni’s Best ODI Knocks

Vaibhav Tripathi
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Top 5: MS Dhoni’s Best ODI Knocks

Top 5: MS Dhoni’s Best ODI Knocks | Remembering the best knocks – which innings is MS Dhoni’s best ever ODI knock over his career?

When you make a list of all-time great one day players, MS Dhoni should be there. If not, it would be incomplete. Such was his impact on this particular format.

Often regarded as one of the best finishers world cricket has ever seen, Dhoni’s ODI numbers justify his impact, with over 10,000 runs in the format at an average of 50.58. It’s amazing for a batsman, who has batted mostly in the middle-lower order for his team, to have that kind of record, which tells you a lot about his ability.

Whether it was setting up a total or chasing a score, Dhoni was always up for the task. Here, we look at the top five innings of the former Indian captain in ODIs.

Also read: Twitter tributes flow after MS Dhoni announced his international retirement

5. 113* (125) vs Pakistan, Chennai, 2012

Top 5: MS Dhoni's Best ODI Knocks | Remembering the best knocks - which innings is MS Dhoni's best ever ODI knock over his career?
MS Dhoni’s Best ODI Knocks: Dhoni played a superb knock vs Pakistan in 2012.

India was up against their arch-rivals Pakistan in a three-match ODI series in 2012. The first match was at Chennai. After winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bowl first, and that decision was proven right by the opening spells of Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan, who ran through India’s batting lineup and reduced them to 29-5.

And then walks Dhoni, who initially took his time to settle in, taking calculative risks. Batting with the tail, he took India to a respectable total of 227. He made sure that India batted the full quota of 50 overs and eventually ended up with 113 not out off 125 balls. His efforts went in vain as Pakistan went on to win the game, but this innings proved his expertise to build an entire team’s batting effort on his own.

4. 72 (46) vs Pakistan, Lahore, 2006

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Many believe that this tour was the breakthrough series for MS Dhoni. In the third ODI, Pakistan scored 289 while batting first in a jam-packed Gaddafi Stadium. Against the pace battery of Pakistan, this was always going to be a tough task and India’s chase was derailed when they lost two quick wickets early on.

With close to a hundred runs still to chase, Dhoni came in at 7 when Kaif got out for a single-digit score. MSD produced a brilliant half-century in just 35 balls. A partnership of 102 runs between Dhoni and Yuvraj made sure that India chased down the target with 14 balls to spare. Dhoni finished the game with a boundary off Razzaq’s bowling. MS scored an unbeaten 72 off 46 balls which included 13 fours and was awarded as the player of the match.

3. 124 (107) vs Australia, Nagpur, 2009

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The second game of the seven-match series between India and Australia at Nagpur saw Dhoni play a vital 124-run knock off 107 balls to take the Indian score to 354-7 in 50 overs. The opening pair of Sehwag and Gambhir gave a brisk start and when Dhoni came in, he immediately took matters into his hands.

Dhoni hit three sixes and nine fours in his innings of 124. India eventually won that match by 99 runs, but it was Dhoni’s century that had done the major damage. This was the same match when Johnson collided with the Indian skipper and then he went berserk against the visitors. He won the Man of the Match award as well for his splendid innings. In the process, he became the first Indian captain to hit an ODI ton against Australia.

2. 183* (145) vs Sri Lanka, Jaipur, 2005

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After already leading the seven-match ODI series 2-0, the Indian team was confident of making it 3-0 against the Marvan Atapattu-led Sri Lanka team. Chasing a challenging total of 299, India lost the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar for a single-digit score, before Dhoni walked in at 3.

He didn’t take much time before launching himself against the Lankan bowlers. Sehwag uncharacteristically was playing the supporting role, and even after Sehwag’s dismissal, Dhoni continued to attack from one end and went on to score his second ODI hundred. Dhoni’s innings of 183 off 145 balls made sure that India chased down the target with 23 balls still left in the bank. This was one hell of a knock from him, as he never looked out of control and this innings will always be remembered for his clean ball striking.

1. 91* (79) vs Sri Lanka, Mumbai, 2011

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A full house at the Wankhede. The Final. Scoreboard pressure. Confident Sri Lankan team. There is not a shred of doubt that Dhoni’s 91* in the 2011 ICC World Cup Final is his greatest knock ever.

Sri Lanka posted a challenging total of 275 runs to chase for the Indian team. And they suffered a huge blow when Sehwag was given out LBW for a duck, followed by Sachin’s departure, who was caught behind off Malinga’s bowling. Dhoni, who didn’t have a great World Cup before that match, bravely promoted himself ahead of Yuvraj Singh, who was in the brilliant form right through the tournament. This gamble paid as his 91* off just 79 deliveries helped India win their first ICC World Cup in 28 years. What probably was the biggest match of his international career, that innings was even more special because of the occasion.

”DHONI Finishes Off In Style!! A Magnificent strike into the Crowd…India lifts the World Cup after 28 years. The party started In the dressing room and It’s The INDIAN CAPTAIN who has been absolutely magnificent in the night of the FINAL.”

Iconic words which will be there in the hearts of every Indian cricket fan.

So, there are five of MS Dhoni’s best ODI knocks. Do any others come to mind?

Written by Vaibhav Tripathi. Follow Vaibhav on Twitter today.

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