CPL 2020 Match 21: JT vs TKR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | JAM vs TKR Dream11 Prediction Today 1 September 2020 | Jamaica Tallawahs vs Trinbago Knight Riders Key Players | Tarouba Pitch Report
CPL 2020 returns to Tarouba, and the final stretch of the group stage begins with a vital game.
Jamaica Tallawahs can create some significant breathing space between them and Barbados Tridents. The Tallawahs are currently on six points after six matches, and can move four points clear of the struggling Tridents, who are currently on four points. However, they have the most difficult test, needing to beat the undefeated Trinbago Knight Riders to further cement their top four spot.
JT are coming off a dominant victory against the St. Kitts Nevis and Patriots. Despite Andre Russell’s absence, they did well in that game, but will want more consistent performances as they are still somewhat dependent on Glenn Phillips and one or two others to score the runs. Asif Ali started the tournament impressively but hasn’t capitalized on it. Same with skipper Rovman Powell. Carlos Braithwaite and Chadwick Walton are yet to perform with the bat although Braithwaite is improving with the ball. Mujeeb and Sandeep, along with Fidel Edwards have performed brilliantly. They’ll need some good assistance from the batters in this game as they are against the unbeaten Knight Riders, of which their bowlers can increase pressure.
TKRare on a roll this season. They are the only unbeaten side in this tournament with six wins a row. Their last win was courtesy of the all-time great T20 knocks from Kieron Pollard, which highlights the incredible depth they have. Also, with Colin Munro, Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo all capable of performing even better, the picture is looking bright for TKR.
In addition, Jayden Seales, Kharry Pierre, and Fawad Ahmed have performed quite well in all six games. Can they keep the momentum going?
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Andre Russell is a beast against TKR. He has 515 runs and 20 wickets. He’s leading the batting and bowling charts when these two sides play. He averages 51.50 and strikes at 189.34 against TKR. Must pick in your Dream11 team if he plays.
Colin Munro has scored 450 runs against Jamaica and averages 64.29 – the highest in TKR vs JT matches.
Darren Bravo has 340 runs against JT. Also, Bravo has achieved three not outs in six innings in CPL 2020 (153 runs, avg. 51.00).
Glenn Phillips has 212 runs against TKR. He scored a brilliant 79 in the last game against the Patriots. He also scored 58 against TKR in the first match this season, and is the current top-scorer in CPL 2020 (207 runs, avg. 41.40, SR 127.77).
Kieron Pollard is in great form. He scored a brilliant 72 in 28 balls against the Tridents with nine sixes and two fours.
Mujeeb and Lamichhane will be a big threat to the TKR batters in this game. Mujeeb is having a superb tournament so far, taking the most wickets (13).
CPL 2020 Match 21: Mujeeb ur Rahman has been absolutely outstanding.
Stats and Facts
Head-to-Head: 17 Matches, Jamaica 9, TKR 8.
TKR won the last game against JT in The Brian Lara Stadium.
TKR is unbeaten in six games.
Possible Playing 11
It remains to be seen whether Sunil Narine will be fit for this match. Also, Dwayne Bravo missed TKR’s last game, so it remains to be seen if he plays, too.
TKR Possible Playing 11: 1. Lendl Simmons, 2. Tion Webster/Sunil Narine, 3. Colin Munro, 4. Darren Bravo, 5. Tim Seifert (wk), 6. Kieron Pollard (c), 7. Sikandar Raza/Dwayne Bravo, 8. Fawad Ahmed, 9. Akeal Hossain, 10. Khary Pierre, 11. Jayden Seales
Same applies to Jamaica Tallawahs star Andre Russell.
JT Possible Playing 11: 1. Glenn Phillips (wk), 2. Chadwick Walton, 3. Jermaine Blackwood, 4. Rovman Powell (c), 5. Asif Ali, 6. Nkrumah Bonner/Andre Russell 7. Carlos Braithwaite, 8. Mujeeb ur Rahman, 9. Sandeep Lamichhane, 10. Fidel Edwards, 11. Veerasammy Permaul
Tarouba Pitch and Weather Report
The CPL caravan is back in Tarouba and all the remaining matches will be played in The Brian Lara Stadium. The pitch as seen before will help the spinners and pacers with variations. This match will be after a week’s break on this ground so it may also have something for the batters but it will be on the slower side.
Also, there is a chance of thunderstorms during the day, so the team who wins the toss could look to chase.
Dream11 Prediction
Teams are focusing on player match-ups. So, Mujeeb, Lamichhane, Pierre, Akeal Hossain, and Sikandar Raza could be good picks for this game.
Option 1 (if Narine and Russell play):
CPL 2020 Match 21: JAM vs TKR Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
CPL 2020 Match 21: JAM vs TKR Dream11 Prediction
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Match Prediction
Both teams are coming off a win in their last game but Trinbago is looking very balanced and has performed consistently. Jamaica’s batters will need to step up in this game if they have to defeat this mighty TKR side. It will be a good contest between these two sides.
Written by Robin Rounder – follow Robin on Twitter today.
MS Dhoni – The Unsung Saviour in Tests: His top 5 away Test knocks | Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s best knocks in his Test career | Best India Test wicketkeeper
“Dhoni finishes it off in style! A magnificent strike into the crowd. India lift the world cup after 28 years.” These iconic words of Ravi Shastri strike our mind first whenever we think of MS Dhoni. We all know how crucial Dhoni was for the Indian team in limited overs cricket. But as a wicket keeping batsman, his achievements are more than decent in Tests. In this segment, let’s remind you of critical circumstances when MSD showed his capability as a Test batsman to rescue the team abroad.
This was a horrible overseas tour of the Indian team after they were crowned as the world champions. They got thrashed by the home side in the Boxing Day Test.
So, the second Test at Sydney was a must win game for India to gain some momentum.
But, they had a poor start to the match by losing their five batsmen for just 96 runs within 33 overs. All the Australian fast bowlers, especially Pattinson were looking deadly when Dhoni joined Sachin in the middle. Although he scored a modest 57, his back foot play was the highlight of the day. He easily played beautiful cuts and ferocious pulls against the Australian quick bowlers on a track that was helpful for seamers. Had he got some support at the other end, he surely would have made it big that day. His flamboyance on a tricky pitch against a good bowling attack prompted me to include this knock in this list. It was surely one of his finest displays of batting in an overseas test under pressure.
Dhoni introduced himself to international cricket as a hard-hitting batsman. So there were doubts going on how an aggressive hitter would perform in the traditional format of the game. In this match, Pakistan posted a mammoth total of 588 in their first innings. In reply, India had lost their first five wickets for 281 runs, and thus still trailed by 308 runs.
With Akhtar and Asif looking in rhythm and Kaneria getting turn from the surface, it literally needed an astounding effort from a young guy like Dhoni to help India stay in the game. But he shifted the pressure completely to the opposition by playing a brutal counterattacking knock. He pulled the fastest bowler in the world numerous times effortlessly. He stepped out and hit huge sixes over long on against the spin to Kaneria. Due to this knock, India went on to score even more than Pakistan in their first innings. His heroics were applauded even by the opposition crowd, which signifies how good it was.
3. 77 (96) vs England, Edbagston, 2011
MS Dhoni’s best Test knocks: Edgbaston is right up there for MSD.
This tour is probably one of the worst tours in the history of Indian cricket. India had already lost the first two Tests, and the morale of the team was seriously down before the next Test at Edgbaston.
After being asked to bat first, the Indian batters continued their poor run, reeling at 92 for 5. The duke ball was still 33 overs old and all the three English bowlers were breathing fire. In a situation like this, it was obviously not an easy task to negate the threat of a possible collapse and score runs as well. Dhoni dealt with the moving ball much better than all the experienced campaigners of the line up and later unleashed himself to score a fine 77 from just 96 deliveries. He played drives, powerful cuts, pulls and hooks and also some delicate shots by opening the face the bat with perfection. He was the lone warrior for India in this Test match as he scored another 74 in the second innings, as all others struggled once again.
2. 90 (106) vs South Africa, Centurion, 2010
Centurion 2010: One of MS Dhoni’s finest knocks.
South Africa is the toughest place to bat among the SENA countries according to numerous cricket experts. And if you are the skipper of a visiting side to South Africa, your responsibility is double.
India were in deep trouble as they needed 207 runs to avoid an innings defeat when Dhoni went to bat in the 2nd innings at Centurion. So as I have mentioned above, it was a very tough situation for him both as a batsman as well as skipper. He absorbed all the pressure and cooperated Sachin nicely to stitch a terrific partnership of 172 runs for the 7th wicket. On his way to a dominating 90 from just 106 balls, he hit 14 gorgeous boundaries. Although his efforts went in vain as India lost the game, his knock was highly appreciated by the cricket pundits and is regarded as one of his best innings in Test cricket in crunch situations.
This was MS Dhoni’s first England tour. In his debut knock in the country, he was dismissed for a duck. In the 2nd innings, India were given a steep target of 380 runs, and much depended on the top order to perform.
However, in reply, they were in a spot of bother as they lost five crucial wickets for 145 runs when Dhoni went to bat alongside VVS Laxman. Just when things seemed to be settled, Laxman lost his middle stump off a peach of a delivery from Tremlett. So the burden of saving the Test was completely on the young shoulders of MS Dhoni. In this kind of a situation, the world witnessed a completely different MSD, as he played with utmost responsibility aiming to save the Test. His patient innings of 76 from 159 balls well accompanied by the tail-enders ensured a valuable draw for India. It was indeed the very first sight of his calmness and composure on a cricket field.
So, this is my tribute to the legend in form of his 5 fine knocks in overseas tests under immense pressure. Have your say!
Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today.
ENG vs PAK 2nd T20I Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs PAK 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today August 30 | England vs Pakistan 2nd T20 Key Players | Old Trafford Pitch Report
Rain, rain, rain. It has been the sorry story of Pakistan’s tour of England so far, which is more difficult to handle given the touring side has had to spend more time in England than usual due to COVID-19 quarantine measures.
In the action we did get in the opening T20I, it was Tom Banton who lit up the show for England. He was dropped on 5, and then sent a timely reminder of his capabilities. However, England’s middle order collapse is an area they will like to rectify this game, as Pakistan look to build on positive aspects of their game. The weather for this match looks a lot more promising, so which of the two sides will take a 1-0 series lead?
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Tom Banton announced himself on the international scene with a swushbuckling 71 off 42 balls in the opening T20I.
Eoin Morgan has the second-most runs in England-Pakistan T20Is with 314. He averages 39.25 and strikes at 129.21.
Shoaib Malik is next with 234 runs (avg. 29.25 and SR 111.18). Can he deliver the goods for Pakistan in the middle order?
Jonny Bairstow failed in the opening game. However, he was in strong T20I form at the turn of the year, with his previous four scores reading: 47 (18), 23 (19), 35 (17) and 64 (34).
Dawid Malan was starting to find his feet last game before getting run out (23 off 23 balls). He has over 5,000 runs in 201 T20 matches. Also, Malan was superb in New Zealand last year, hitting 208 runs in four T20Is, including an unbeaten 103.
We will get to see the top-ranked T20I batsman, Babar Azam, in action. He has played two innings vs England in T20Is for 80 runs, including a top score of 65 achieved last year in Cardiff.
David Willey was man of the series recently vs Ireland, with eight wickets in three ODIs. Will he play this time?
Chris Jordan has taken 11 wickets in his last seven T20Is (vs New Zealand and South Africa).
Time to give Mohammad Hasnain a game? He was the highest wicket-taker in PSL 2020 (15).
Wahab Riaz was man of the match in Pakistan’s win on this ground in 2016 (3/18).
ENG vs PAK 2nd T20I Preview Dream11: Babar Azam will be key.
Stats and Facts
Pakistan have won three out of their past 11 completed T20Is since the start of 2019. They dropped from first to fourth in the rankings as a result.
England have won three of their past five completed T20Is against Pakistan. The last was in 2019, where they chased down a target of 174.
The chasing team has won the past two T20Is at Manchester (Pakistan in 2016 and India in 2018).
Possible Playing 11
England’s attack for the last game didn’t get the chance to prove themselves due to the weather. So, it remains to be seen if the same XI will get a chance today.
England: 1. Jonny Bairstow (wk), 2. Tom Banton, 3. Dawid Malan, 4. Eoin Morgan (c), 5. Moeen Ali, 6. Sam Billings 7. Lewis Gregory, 8. Chris Jordan, 9. David Willey/Tom Curran, 10. Adil Rashid, 11. Saqib Mahmood
Haris Rauf had an expensive outing last game. So, could Pakistan look to bring in Mohammad Hasnain or Wahab Riaz?
Pakistan: 1. Babar Azam (c), 2. Fakhar Zaman, 3. Mohammad Hafeez, 4. Shoaib Malik, 5. Iftikhar Ahmed, 6. Imad Wasim, 7. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 8. Shadab Khan, 9. Mohammad Amir, 10. Shaheen Shah Afridi/Wahab Riaz, 11. Haris Rauf/Mohammad Hasnain
Old Trafford Manchester and Pitch Report
The pitch for the opening T20I had something in it for everyone. It was condusive to beautiful strokeplay, but if the bowlers put the ball in the right areas, they were also rewarded.
The weather forecast is much more promising today, with next to no chance of rain.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
ENG vs PAK 2nd T20I Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
ENG vs PAK 2nd T20I Dream11 Prediction
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Match Prediction
An interesting game awaits. Pakistan’s spinners showed they are capable of making inroads, and if they can do so again, they are a chance of winning. England’s firepower at the top, if on show, could be the difference in this one.
CPL 2020 Match 19: SLZ vs BT Preview Dream11 Probable Playing 11 Pitch Report | BAR vs SLZ Dream11 Prediction Today | Barbados Tridents vs St. Lucia Zouks Key Players | Queen’s Park Oval Pitch Report
The defending champions Barbados Tridents will take on St. Lucia Zouks in the 19th game of the Caribbean Premier League 2020.
How do Barbados Tridents bounce back after heartbreak yesterday? They had the game against TKR in the palm of their hands, only to lose courtesy of an incredible onslaught by the great Kieron Pollard. Their loss yesterday came after they broke a three-game losing streak. Rashid Khan, Johnson Charles, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayors, Mitchell Santner have performed consistently for them while Raymon Reifer, Ashley Nurse have also showed good signs. Can they bounce back mentally?
St. Lucia Zouks have performed exceptionally well this season. They are second on the points table, winning four out of six. Their off-spinners are performing really well, as are their batsmen. Roston Chase, Mohammad Nabi, Scott Kuggeleijn and Kesrick Williams have been their star performers this season. Rahkeem Cornwall, Andre Fletcher, and Najibullah Zadran have also chipped in with few performances. They will expect their players to repeat the same in this game.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Mohammad Nabi is coming off a brilliant performance with the ball against the Patriots. He picked up 5 wickets for just 15 runs. He has also scored 120 runs in the league so far.
Rahkeem Cornwall strikes at 181.52 and averages 33.40 against the Tridents. He could be very dangerous in the powerplay.
Kyle Mayers has scored 22, 85 and 42 in his past three knocks in CPL 2020. He is currently the second-highest run-scorer in CPL 2020 with 203.
Andre Fletcher has the most runs in Barbados-St. Lucia matches. He has scored 444 runs.
Johnson Charles scored a quickfire 35(19) against the St. Lucia Zouks earlier this season. He is coming off 47 (37) vs TKR yesterday.
Roston Chase has 156 runs and 5 wickets to his name so far in CPL 2020.
Mitchell Santner (4-1-10-2 and 4-0-13-1) has played a very important role in his last two games.
Rashid Khan has the ability to perform with both, bat and ball. He has eight wickets in six games in CPL 2020.
Scott Kuggeleijn is enjoying an excellent season so far (11 wickets). Only Mujeeb ur Rahman (13) has taken more wickets.
Kesrick Williams (8 wickets in 6 games) has been one of the strong performers in CPL 2020. Also, Williams has a fine T20 record, with 124 wickets in 93 games.
CPL 2020 Match 19: SLZ vs BT – Can Jason Holder lead his team to victory?
Stats and Facts
Head-to-Head: Matches 15, Barbados 10, Zouks 5
This will be the first match between these two sides in the Queen’s Park Oval.
Zouks won the first game by DLS between these two sides in CPL 2020, by 7 wickets.
Possible Playing 11
St. Lucia Zouks: 1. Andre Fletcher (wk), 2. Rahkeem Cornwall, 3. Mark Deyal, 4. Roston Chase, 5. Najibullah Zadran 6. Mohammad Nabi, 7. Darren Sammy (c), 8. Javelle Glenn, 9. Scott Kuggeleijn, 10. Kesrick Williams, 11. Zahir Khan
Barbados Tridents: 1. Johnson Charles, 2. Shai Hope (wk), 3. Kye Mayers, 4. Jason Holder (c), 5.Corey Anderson, 6. Rashid Khan, 7. Ashley Nurse, 8. Mitchell Santner, 9. Raymon Reifer 10. Nyeem Young, 11. Hayden Walsh Jr.
Queen’s Park Oval Pitch and Weather Report
The pitch at the Queen’s Park Oval is assisting the spinners and the bowlers in variations. Scores of around 130 are par on this surface. Out of eight games at this ground so far in CPL 2020, the chasing team has won six.
The weather forecast shows that there is a chance of a shower or two throughout the day.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
CPL 2020 Match 19: SLZ vs BT Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
CPL 2020 Match 19: SLZ vs BT Dream11 Prediction
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Match Prediction
Both sides have some quality spinners in this game and it will come down to the batting performances of both sides. St. Lucia has performed consistently till now while Barbados looked good in the last game. It will be a great contest, but Zouks are the favourite going into this game.
Written by Robin Rounder – follow Robin on Twitter today.
CPL 2020 Match 18: JT vs SKN Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | JAM vs SKN Dream11 Prediction Today | Jamaica Tallawahs vs St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots Key Players | Queen’s Park Oval Pitch Report
After two of the most successful CPL sides do battle, attention will turn to the two bottom sides of the CPL 2020 table.
Jamaica Tallawahs and St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots will lock horns in a crucial game, as they look to keep alive their aspirations of a playoffs spot. Both sides have struggled significantly with the bat this season, with a lack of strike rotation and regular wickets a common theme. Now, as the season stretches into its second half, both sides now have very little room for error as the fight for the top four heats up.
CPL 2020 Match 18: JT vs SKN Preview Dream11 – A crucial game between the two bottom teams.
Mujeeb ur Rahman has arguably been the player of CPL 2020 so far. He has 12 wickets in five matches (most of any bowler), at an incredible economy rate of 4.05. His last three games: 3/18, 3/11, 3/14.
Mujeeb will likely be a handful for St. Kitts’ top order, particularly Chris Lynn, who continues to struggle against spin.
Sandeep Lamichhane is also enjoying a fine tournament (5 matches, 7 wickets, econ. 4.45).
Evin Lewis has a crucial role to play if St. Kitts are to be competitive in this one. He is currently the second-highest run-scorer in CPL 2020 (161 in five matches), and third-highest run-scorer in SKN-JT matches (294).
Can Glenn Phillips make an impact? He has a superb record in SKN-JT matches (341 runs, avg. 48.71).
Jermaine Blackwood has looked in decent touch so far in CPL 2020. Can he build on his scores of 23 and 28 in his two games?
Ben Dunk has been SKN’s most consistent batsman this season. His scores: 34, 29, 5, 22*, 33. Can he push on to a bigger score?
Rayad Emrit has taken seven wickets in CPL 2020 (5 matches). His legspinner, Imran Khan, is coming off an excellent 3/23 vs St. Lucia. Can he build on it?
Keep an eye out for SKN’s Jon-Russ Jaggesar. He has been a tricky customer with his variations, conceding at just 5.87 runs per over in four games (4 wickets).
It remains to be seen if Andre Russell will be fit for this clash. If he is, then he can turn the game in his team’s favour, as he is starting to find some form (last two scores: 52* off 37 balls and 23* off 20 balls).
CPL 2020 Match 18: JT vs SKN Dream11 Prediction: Jamaica will be hoping Andre Russell is available.
Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 11, JT 5, SKN 6.
SKN have won the past four matches against JT.
Both teams are currently sitting outside of the top four.
Possible Playing 11
It remains to be seen if Andre Russell is fit for this match, after missing the last game with an injury. If he does play, Jamaica could look to play an extra bowler as Russell struggles to cope with bowling.
St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots are desperate for their batsmen to put on a better show. Can Chris Lynn finally deliver?
St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots: 1. Chris Lynn, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Nick Kelly, 4. Denesh Ramdin (wk), 5. Ben Dunk, 6. Jahmar Hamilton, 7. Sohail Tanvir, 8. Rayad Emrit (c), 9. Alzarri Joseph, 10. Imran Khan, 11. Jon-Russ Jaggesar
This has the makings for a low-scoring game between two struggling batting teams. The average run rate in the first innings at Queen’s Park Oval in CPL 2020 (before TKR vs BT game) is a little over 6.30. Expect the spinners to have a big say once again.
The weather looks promising, with only a small chance of showers forecast during the day.
Suresh Raina has opted out of the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League, citing certain personal reasons. The southpaw has been an irreplaceable feature of the franchise since its inception. Moreover, Chennai Super Kings is a unit that has functioned with utmost focus on stability so far.
MS Dhoni believes in keeping the core of the team intact, regardless of any external opinions that underestimate the potential of the side. Hence, they have encountered an adverse situation currently. 12 members from their camp have tested positive for COVID-19. Furthermore, the duo of Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad are reported to have contracted the virus too.
Now, Raina’s departure has put the think-tank in a sudden spot of bother, a situation only someone as astute, clever and seasoned as Dhoni can overcome. Here, we pitch in three names that could possibly be considered to replace Raina.
It is important to note that it will be extremely difficult to find a player that brings in the value and possesses the caliber that the 33-year-old does. Yet, it is important to ensure that the squad has formidable reinforcements up their ranks.
The batsman from Bengal was in prolific touch in Ranji Trophy in the previous season, but unfortunately did not find any takers in the auction. Manoj Tiwary is not someone to bank on to provide a quick swashbuckling knock. But, he can be a very effective floater in the lineup, playing according to the demands of the situation.
The 34-year-old has the experience and understanding of the game to assess the crucial phases in an inning, and capitalize on them appropriately. He can tackle spin bowling brilliantly, thus potentially proving to be efficacious in the middle overs.
He shared the dressing room with Dhoni whilst playing for Rising Pune SuperGiant in IPL 2017, and scored 324 runs in 13 innings at an average of 32.40 and strike rate of 137.80.
Most importantly, he is a man in fine form and can thus be relied upon to structure a long knock if required. Maybe, it’s time for Manoj Tiwary to reunite with the skipper after sharing a profound camaraderie with him for the Pune-based franchise three years ago.
Dhruv Shorey was released by CSK ahead of the auction. However, this might be a good time to bring the talented batsman from Delhi back into the ranks. Shorey was associated with the Chennai-based franchise in 2018 and 2019, but found it difficult to attain consistent opportunities in the playing XI.
The 28-year-old has created a reputation for himself in domestic cricket in the past few years, thus emerging as one of the better batting talents in the nation. By the first looks of it, Shorey can maneuver and pounce upon the spinners brilliantly. It is a trait that will be very effective given the venue of this year’s IPL.
More importantly though, he is familiar with the dynamics of the team, the support staff and that will make it far more convenient for Shorey to enter the squad and play regularly rather than bringing a complete outsider to the setup.
1. Vishnu Vinod
Can Vishnu Vinod provide value?
Vishnu Vinod hails from Kerala and has a pretty solid record in T20 circuit to stake his claim in the CSK side. The MS Dhoni-led franchise already has the services of Narayan Jagadeesan, who can probably play a pivotal role for the side in the coming couple of months. But, Vishnu Vinod could seriously be considered as an alternative too.
The 26-year-old has an average of 28.92 and strike rate of 136.82 in 30 T20 matches. He has notched four half-centuries amongst these games too and seems to be adept to clear the ropes at will. The likes of him and Jagadeesan or Shorey also bring in a sense of youthful exuberance to the team, something that can add another dimension to CSK’s unit.
Raina’s departure opens up space at both the top and the middle-order of sorts, considering the team might even look to open with Ambati Rayudu now to make up for the void left by Raina upfront.
Dhoni usually takes some time in settling in before attempting the high-scoring shots, so the mantle to take over the important run-scoring is up for grabs. It remains to be seen whether the side opts for an uncapped player to don this role. If they do, they have a couple of promising options to put their bets on.
So, CSK have some thinking to do, as one of the IPL’s great players has withdrawn from the tournament. All three players can offer value, and it will be interesting to see which way CSK go.
Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter today.
The Indian Premier League is renowned for the sheer consistency that it has displayed in churning out remarkable domestic talents. It has been a stellar platform for starlets to prove their mettle.
The upcoming campaign, regardless of the circumstances that it will be conducted in, will serve as a major opportunity to certain individuals and aid them in making a case for them amidst the intense attention that the competition will garner from the masses. In this listicle, we look to ponder and elaborate on five such talents that one needs to look forward to in the thirteenth edition of the IPL.
A late bloomer, Pavan Deshpande could turn out to be a vital cog in Royal Challengers’ Bangalore’s unit this year. RCB have often lacked a core group of local players, but that pattern could change this time around. Pavan Deshpande is a familiar name for anyone who followed the Karnataka Premier League in the past couple of years.
The southpaw is an all-rounder, that is, he is a solid batsman lower down the order and can roll his arm overs for a useful couple of off-spin bowling. Deshpande has notched 438 runs in the past couple of KPL seasons for Shivamogga Lions and Bengaluru Blasters.
ESPNCricinfo states that the player has bagged 426 runs in 20 T20 matches, at an impressive strike rate of 149.47 and average of 47.33. Virat Kohli’s side has regularly invested all of their strength at the top, maybe, the likes of Deshpande and Shivam Dube could bolster their fortunes in the back end of the innings.
Top 5 domestic talents to watch out for in IPL 2020: Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore is a capable spinner.
The Chennai Super Kings might find themselves in the need for some youthful reinforcement at some point in the season. Having acquired Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore for merely INR 20 lakhs, they have enough quality in their spin bowling ranks. The left-arm orthodox off spinner might not seem to be a mysterious threat for starters.
However, he does everything that a classic bowler of his mould would do. Kishore manages to provide enough flight to the ball, the trajectory that has the potential to confuse the batsman.
Ravindra Jadeja tends to bowl rather quickly, whilst Mitchell Santner might not break into the XI as a part of the foreigner quartet. Kishore has bowled at an economy rate of 5.45 and has a bowling average of 16.4 in 22 T20 matches. He has claimed 25 dismissals too. MS Dhoni is the master in operating the spinners appropriately. Who knows? Maybe, R Sai Kishore could be the next rabbit he pulls off his rabbit.
3. Tushar Deshpande
Top 5 domestic talents to watch out for in IPL 2020: Tushar Deshpande is one to watch.
Delhi Capitals do not face dearth in talent in any department. However, a certain Tushar Deshpande can be quite lethal if utilized properly by the team management. The skipper Shreyas Iyer must be acquainted with the pacer’s abilities, considering both of them represent Mumbai in domestic cricket.
The 25-year-old’s has a regular knack to dismiss batsmen in T20 cricket. Deshpande has 31 wickets to his name in 20 games in the shortest format of the game. He has recorded an economy rate of 7.98 and a strike rate of 13.4.
The bowler can pull off yorkers quite well, and can possibly be a handy batsman in the later stages of the innings. At some point in the season, maybe Ricky Ponting and the think-tank can bank on him for a more varied role than say an Ishant Sharma carries out.
Top 5 domestic talents to watch out for in IPL 2020: Can Ishan Porel have a big season?
Ishan Porel has been a revelation for the Bengal state team in recent times. He is tall, lanky, quick and delivers the ball at an accurate line and length. Porel can extract some additional bounce off the surface, a trait that will benefit him in the dry and dusty pitches in the United Arab Emirates.
He will also manage to bowl at the bodyline, and the hard length deliveries will be difficult to dispatch for his adversaries from that angle. It remains to be seen whether the 21-year-old can add a few elements to his bowling that can make him even more proficient for the T20 game. In 14 T20s so far, he has nicked 16 wickets and managed to maintain an economy rate of 6.11.
Due to the presence of Mohammed Shami and Sheldon Cottrell, KL Rahul can actually afford to bowl out Porel in the opening and middle overs of the game itself.
1. Abdul Samad
Top 5 domestic talents to watch out for in IPL 2020: Abdul Samad is one to keep an eye on.
Abdul Samad hails from Jammu and Kashmir. The 18-year-old is one of the brighter prospects to have been roped in by Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the next season. He is primarily a batsman, but can be a useful leg-spinner too and apparently possesses a fine googly in his armory. Samad is flexible with respect to his batting position.
However, his ability to smack spinners out of the ground through sheer strength, timing and a robust bottom-hand combined with a deft footwork at times makes him the ideal candidate to take on the slower bowlers in the middle overs. The batsman has limited recorded experience, as he has notched 240 runs in 10 innings at an average of 40 and strike rate of 136.36 in T20 cricket.
His raw talent can provide SRH a fine cushion in the middle-order, which is an area wherein they have struggled in recent times. Abdul Samad surely has shown early signs of proving out to be a skilled player for them in possibly the most crucial phase of the innings. He can rotate the strike, go for the big shots when needed, and his ability to deal with quality pacers will appear more prominently if provided with a consistent stretch of matches in the league stages.
So, there are five Indian domestic talents to watch out for in this season’s IPL. Can they make an impact for their sides? They certainly have the talent to do so.
Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter today.
CPL 2020 Match 17: BT vs TKR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BAR vs TKR Dream11 Prediction Today | Barbados Tridents vs Trinbago Knight Riders Key Players | Queen’s Park Oval Pitch Report
Two of CPL’s most decorated franchises go head-to-head in an important clash in the playoffs race.
Barbados Tridents, the defending champions and two-time winners, have been up and down so far in CPL 2020, winning just two out of their first five matches. They are, however, on a high after thrashing Jamaica Tallawahs with ease, but will be looking for an improved batting display after Kyle Mayers played a blinder to propel Barbados from the depths of 90/6 to 148/7. Their spin brigade can make it difficult for any team to play freely against them, so if they get runs on the board, they will be tough to beat.
Trinbago Knight Riders, the three-time champions, are on a journey towards a fourth title. They have won all five of their games so far, with their last two wins without star all-rounder Sunil Narine. The key for TKR is that they have a number of players who can deliver on a particular day, with Khary Pierre the star man last time out against Guyana. Also, TKR will also take comfort in the fact that they beat BT earlier this season, scoring the highest total of the tournament in the process (185/3). Will they make it six from six?
Dwayne Bravo recently went past 500 T20 wickets, and has enjoyed a solid outing in each of his past two matches (2/7 and 1/23). His exploits at the death make him a wicket-taking threat.
Also, interestingly, Bravo has the most runs in BT-TKR matches with 260 (avg. 43), as well as the most wickets (14).
His brother, Darren Bravo, is next with 243. Also, Darren is the fifth-highest run-scorer in CPL 2020 (147), with three not outs in five knocks. This includes an excellent 54* (36) vs BT earlier this season.
Colin Munro was man of the match vs BT earlier this season (50 off 30 balls). He is coming off a golden duck vs Guyana, but his tournament still reads well (133 runs, avg. 33.25, SR 144.56).
Watch out for Kyle Mayers. His 85 (59) led BT to victory last game vs Jamaica. Also, he took two wickets in the previous game vs Patriots, which shows he can contribute with both bat and ball.
Johnson Charles has a key role to play for BT. He scored 52 (33) against TKR earlier this season.
Kieron Pollard smashed 41* (17) vs BT earlier in CPL 2020. Given he is starting to bowl more as well, Pollard’s all-round exploits could prove crucial (1/15 in three overs last game vs Guyana).
Rashid Khan has gone wicketless just once in CPL 2020 (against TKR). His figures: 2/27, 2/24, 0/24, 1/24, 2/33. Mitchell Santner took 2/10 (4) last game, and is a threat on the slow, turning pitches.
Hayden Walsh Jr. finally hitting his strides? He took his first wicket in four innings last game (1/17). Can he build on it?
If Sunil Narine plays, he will be one to watch as always. His CPL 2020 stats so far: three matches, 111 runs, SR 135.36, two fifties, four wickets, econ. 4.58.
Jason Holder is also a key player with both bat and ball. He is striking at 165.71 with the bat so far (avg. 29.00) and has four wickets in five games.
CPL Match 17: BAR vs TKR Preview Dream11 – Can Jason Holder inspire his side?
Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 15, BT 7, TKR 8.
TKR have won five of six matches vs BT at Queen’s Park Oval.
TKR beat BT earlier this season (19 runs), but BT beat TKR three times in CPL 2019.
Possible Playing 11
Barbados could stick with the same winning combination from the last game.
Barbados Tridents: 1. Johnson Charles, 2. Shai Hope (wk), 3. Kyle Mayers, 4. Corey Anderson, 5. Jason Holder (c), 6. Rashid Khan, 7. Mitchell Santner, 8. Ashley Nurse, 9. Raymon Reifer, 10. Nyeem Young, 11. Hayden Walsh Jr.
Ali Khan picked up an injury last game which means he could miss this match. Also, it remains to be seen if Sunil Narine will return after a minor injury concern.
Spin to win. That has been the case in CPL 2020, and the trend is set to continue. The average run rate in the first innings at Port of Spain this season is 6.32. The chasing team has won five of six matches, with Barbados the only team to successfully defend a score at this ground so far.
In terms of the weather, the forecast looks quite promising with only a small chance of rain during the day.
A very interesting game awaits. If there is a team who can challenge TKR, it’s Barbados. However, Barbados will have to improve their batting, as well as get the better of TKR’s strong top six. Knight Riders are the favourites, but this has the makings of a close battle.
A gritty century stand between England’s first change bowler Chris Woakes and under fire wicket-keeper-batsman Jos Buttler guided England to a famous three-wicket victory against a young and inexperienced Pakistan outfit in the first Test. It would be the only game that went on to produce a winner and loser throughout the series, with rain having the final say in both the second and third games.
The Pakistan side were well ahead of the English throughout the game after a splendid 156 by Shan Masood, assisted by a very flamboyant half century from their most talented player in Babar Azam. The two guided their side to a respectable 326 which, on a lively Manchester wicket, was above par.
In the first innings, a three-pronged pace attack consisting of the more experienced and highly skillful Mohammad Abbas, and the two young speedsters in Shaheen Afridi (20) and Naseem Shah (17), devastated the English top four, who only managed 26 runs between them.
We have lost three early wickets against the new ball.
Some minor resistance came in the form of the young Ollie Pope who top scored with a very mature and respectable 62 runs. The English were skittled out for 219 thanks to some aggressive spin bowling from Yasir Shah who claimed 4-66 in his 18 overs.
Not too many Test matches are lost with a lead over 100 runs going into the second half of the game, but if one side were to throw away such a position, it would have to be the Pakistanis. The English quicks, and Broad in particular were very good and along with some with very ‘immature’ batting and a couple of soft dismissals here and there, Pakistan were bundled out for a cheap 169. However, they were still well ahead of the game, but the door had been left open for an unlikely English victory.
At 117-5, with a bowler and wicket-keeper at the crease facing a hostile bowling attack, it seemed like this assessment was right. What unfolded over the next 40 odd overs can only be described as a ‘choke’ on the part of Pakistan. There was stilly plenty of time left in the Test match to produce a winner and loser, but the inexperience of the bowlers was really exposed. They became impatient and began to ‘search’ for wickets as opposed to simply executing the fundamentals consistently which served them well and ultimately got them into the position, they were in.
Having said that, credit must be given to Woakes and Butler who could have quite easily gone into their shell and looked to ‘ooze’ the required runs over a much longer period of time. Instead they looed to place the pressure back on the bowlers by showing positive intent in their batting. They respected the good deliveries, used their feet to the spinner and kept the scoreboard ticking. It was a phenomenal partnership and a victory they are unlikely to forget for a long time.
2. The 600 club
England vs Pakistan Test series review: James Anderson became the first fast bowler to take 600 Test wickets.
A 38-year-old Jimmy Anderson has once again silenced his critics that have been calling for his retirement for a number of years with 11 scalps at 23 a piece in the series. It is clear that Anderson not only still has what it takes to play Test cricket, but also to be highly competitive in the face of top opposition.
He is arguably the most talented fast bowler over the last two decades given his ability to extract conventional swing in both directions, at will. It is something we haven’t quite seen since the days of Wasim Akram and it is a tool that can be used to counter any left/right combination that a top order has on offer.
Over and above the 11 wickets picked up during the series, Anderson became the first fast bowler to join the elite 600 wicket club which is home to only Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble. It is a testament to his longevity, fitness and skill and given the direction that the modern game is heading, I believe it is a record that will stand the test of time.
The English selectors will need to make one or two very tough decisions in the near future when Ben Stokes is once again able to bowl as well as when the side tour India where they are likely to field an extra spinner. This could mean that two of the four current fast bowlers will lose their place in the side going into that series.
With a fast bowling arsenal consisting of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and Sam Curran, we may see England adopt a rotation policy in conditions not conducive to fast bowling.
3. Have England finally found their number three?
England vs Pakistan Test series review: Zak Crawley was superb.
It is common knowledge that England have struggled to establish a formidable top three since the days of Strauss, Cook, and Bell. A number of players and combinations have been tried over the last decade or so, all yielding mediocre results.
The recent inclusion of 24-year-old Dom Sibley and 22-year-old Zak Crawley has given the top order some much needed appeal. Dom Sibley looks a fantastic prospect. He is a traditional Test opener who likes to take his time and build an innings around a very solid defense. He looks particularly good through the onside and will undoubtedly develop a more well-rounded game as his career progresses.
Having said that, it was young Zak Crawley who really dominated the headlines with his superb 393-ball 267 in Southampton. England lost their opener Rory Burns relatively early which meant that Zak Crawley was tasked with surviving a very tricky period against some quality fast bowling. Once settled, Crawley dispatched the Pakistan bowlers to every corner of the ground with relative ease and I’d go as far as saying that I have not seen an Englishman dismantle a bowling attack in that fashion since the days of Kevin Pietersen.
What really caught my eye was not necessarily the amount of runs he accumulated, but rather how he accumulated them. At no point did he really open the front leg and look to have a whack over cow corner, but rather, he played very orthodox and traditional low risk strokes all around the ground. He completely nullified Yasir Shah with his footwork which will given the English selectors some confidence in his ability to bat at three in the upcoming away series to Indian where he will be met with far tougher conditions and arguably the best spinners that Test cricket has to offer.
4. The rise of Jos
England vs Pakistan Test series review: Jos Buttler felt his career was on the line.
In England’s four most recent series prior to Pakistan, Jos Butler averaged 30.20 against the West Indies, 16.42 against South Africa, 21.50 against New Zealand, and 24.70 against Australia. Hardly an impressive record for a player who has been tipped as the most destructive batsman in ODI cricket.
The calls for his dropping have come from all over the cricketing world with plenty of talented and younger up and coming players ready to take the gloves. I believe that that the initial plan of the English selectors was to mold Butler into an Adam Gilchrist type of role whereby he could come in after the foundation had been set up by the top six which would allow him to play his natural and highly effective game.
Adam Gilchrist was a powerful asset to the Australian side for the decade that he played. His ability to bat at 4-6 an over with relative ease gifted the Australians the opportunity to win matches that would be considered ‘dead rubbers’ by most other sides.
The difference between Adam Gilchrist and Jos Butler however is the top six that precede them. Jos has found himself at the crease far sooner than a wicket-keeper should be and he has had to evolve his approach to batting for the longer format.
As previously mentioned, England were a batsman light all series and Jos seemed to relish the extra responsibility. In his four innings, he managed 265 runs at 88.33 including a big hundred in the third Test. Also, he was far tidier with the gloves this series, taking one of the best catches I’ve seen from a gloveman in recent times.
I’m by no means making the argument that one or two innings absolves him from his underwhelming record, but I can say with dome degree of confidence that he seems to be finding his feet at the right time. As mentioned before, the conditions and bowlers in India will offer a far tougher contest than what they’ve experienced over the last month or so at home, but I believe that they will feel far more prepared, settled, and equipped to compete with the powerhouse that is Indian cricket than they were not too long ago.
5. Azhar Ali bounces back
England vs Pakistan Test series review: Azhar Ali played beautifully in the third Test.
For Pakistan to have been competitive throughout the series, they would have needed senior players to really put their hands up in key situations. Azhar Ali, Pakistan’s best batsman, is one of those senior players but who, in the first two Tests, failed to impress. He registered scores of 0, 18 and 20 which, in an already fragile looking top six, does not bode well for Pakistan cricket.
Having said that, I’m happy to attribute his lack of runs to simply not having played Test cricket against top opposition since November of last year. Azhar found his footing in the third and final Test after England’s mammoth 583/8d. The Pakistan players looked to be batting on a completely different wicket as Jimmy Anderson wreaked havoc with his 29th five-wicket-haul.
Ali stood firm for nearly seven hours and, in typical Ali-like fashion, showed us what valuing your wicket truly looks like. He finished his innings on 141 (more than half his teams runs) and ultimately bought Pakistan enough time to hold out for the draw and some much-needed points in the ICC Test Championship.
It was a true captains knock from one of my favorite players who looks all too alone in a middle order that is absent of Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq. Having said that, with the rise of Babar Azam, as well as some gutsy knocks from Mohammad Rizwan, in combination with the young and highly potent bowling attack, I believe that Pakistan cricket is in decent enough shape to compete with the best in the world.
Written by Daniel Orsmond. Follow Daniel on Twitter today.
Also read other Daniel Orsmond articles on CricBlog!
ENG vs PAK 1st T20I Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs PAK 1st T20I Dream11 Prediction Today August 28 2020 | England vs Pakistan 1st T20I Key Players | Old Trafford Pitch Report
It has been one unusual summer. The world of packed, noisy England stadiums are a thing of the past for now, as bio-secure environments, ODIs sandwiched between two Test series and social distancing have become the new norm.
One thing that has remained a constant, however, is the English rain. Rain ruined the last two Tests, after one of the great counterattacks. Unfortunately, rain is forecast in Manchester ahead of the first of three T20Is – a series that has its own narrative even with the T20 World Cup officially postponed.
England come into this series with plenty of exciting talent, which was on display against Ireland at the turn of the month. Even though they will be without Jason Roy, who has picked up a sidestrain, they still possess plenty of power hitting ability in their lineup. The likes of Tom Banton, Sam Billings and Dawid Malan will all be keen for an opportunity this series, and can go big to allow a capable bowling attack to do its thing with confidence.
For Pakistan, it’s about getting back to the top in T20Is. They have won just three of their past 11 completed matches since the start of 2019, which has resulted in a significant drop from first to fourth in the T20I rankings. Babar Azam leads a squad that possesses a mix of youth and experience, with some familiar names back in the reckoning. If the weather allows, can Pakistan take a 1-0 series lead and pick up their first win of the tour?
Eoin Morgan has the second-most runs in England-Pakistan T20Is (300). He averages 42.85 and strikes at 128.75 against the men in green.
Shoaib Malik is next best with 234 in 10 T20Is (avg. 29.25, SR 118.18, two fifties).
Jonny Bairstow has been in strong form in T20Is since the backend of 2019. His last four T20I scores are: 47 (18), 23 (19), 35 (17) and 64 (34).
The perfect opportunity for Dawid Malan? The top order batsman has over 5,000 T20 runs in 200 matches, averaging over 33. Plus, he was superb in New Zealand last year, hitting 208 runs in four T20Is, including an unbeaten 103.
Sam Billings was England’s go-to man in the middle order vs Ireland recently (67* and 46*).
Can Babar Azam, the top-ranked T20I batsman, fire right away? He has 80 runs in two T20Is vs England, with a top score of 65, achieved last year in Cardiff.
Adil Rashid will be one to watch in the middle overs, after taking five wickets in three ODIs vs Ireland a month ago.
Tom Curran and Haris Rauf were superb performer’s in last year’s BBL, and are proven wicket-takers. Curran took 22 wickets in the tournament, and Haris shot to fame with 20 wickets in 10 matches.
David Willey was man of the series recently vs Ireland, with eight wickets in three ODIs.
Chris Jordan has taken 11 wickets in his last seven T20Is (vs New Zealand and South Africa).
Mohammad Hasnain took the most wickets in PSL 2020 (15). Shaheen Shah Afridi was next with 13.
ENG vs PAK 1st T20I Preview Dream11: Can Babar Azam deliver in the opening T20I?
Stats and Facts
England have won three of their past five T20Is against Pakistan. The latest was in 2019, where they chased down a target of 174.
Pakistan won their last T20I at Old Trafford, smashing England by nine wickets in 2016. Wahab Riaz was man of the match with 3/18.
The chasing team has won the past two T20Is at Manchester (Pakistan in 2016 and India in 2018).
Possible Playing 11
Will Dawid Malan or Joe Denly get the first opportunity for England? Also, Jason Roy’s injury means that either Tom Banton or Sam Billings will likely open with Jonny Bairstow.
England: 1. Jonny Bairstow (wk), 2. Tom Banton, 3. Dawid Malan/Joe Denly, 4. Eoin Morgan (c), 5. Sam Billings, 6. Moeen Ali, 7. Tom Curran, 8. Chris Jordan, 9. David Willey, 10. Adil Rashid, 11. Saqib Mahmood
Can Mohammad Hafeez, who averages just 14.88 in nine T20Is vs England, make an impact? Eyes will also be on Iftikhar Ahmed, who is striking at 141.88 in eight T20Is so far. Also, Pakistan have a decision to make regarding their bowling attack, with a number of seam bowling options available.
Pakistan: 1. Babar Azam (c), 2. Fakhar Zaman, 3. Mohammad Hafeez, 4. Shoaib Malik, 5. Iftikhar Ahmed, 6. Imad Wasim, 7. Mohammad Rizwan/Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), 8. Shadab Khan, 9. Mohammad Amir, 10. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11. Haris Rauf/Mohammad Hasnain
Old Trafford Manchester Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
As was the case with the Tests at Southampton, rain could prove to be a factor at Old Trafford as some showers are forecast.
The average first innings score in the last three T20Is on this ground is 161.67. If the pitches at Old Trafford this summer are anything to go by, both the batsmen and bowlers can expect the wicket to have something in it for them.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
ENG vs PAK 1st T20I Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
ENG vs PAK 1st T20I Dream11 Prediction
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Match Prediction
Rain could have a say in this match. If so, the team who wins the toss would likely choose to bat, and could go on to win the match.
