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CPL 2020 Match 4: GAW vs SKNP Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

CPL 2020 Match 4: GAW vs SKNP Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | GAW vs SKNP Dream11 Prediction Today | Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Kitts Nevis and Patriots Key Players | Tarouba Pitch Report

The Caribbean Premier League began with two scintillating encounters, as the matches went into the last over with all three results possible. The wait ended for millions of cricket fans across the globe as they saw their favourite stars back in action in the T20 format.

Trinbago Knight Riders and Barbados Tridents came out on top on the opening day at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, while Guyana Amazon Warriors and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots were on the losing side. The two teams now meet in Match 4 of the Caribbean Premier League and one of them will taste the first victory of the 6-team event.

Persistent rain meant that there was a delayed start to the inaugural match of the tournament, but once it did the Guyana Amazon Warriors put up a competitive total on the board as Shimron Hetmyer batted throughout the innings. He anchored with a 63 off 44 balls including a half century stand with Ross Taylor for the 3rd wicket, as the 5-time runners-up finished with 144/5 after being put into bat. But they let TKR get off to a great start with 58 off the first 7 overs and were behind in the course of the chase ever since.

The Warriors will hope that their bowlers will have a better day than the first, including star bowlers Tahir, Green and Shepherd, as he conceded at 10 RPO in his 4-over spell.

Unlike the Guyana Amazon Warriors, the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots had the upper hand in the game multiple times as they reduced the defending champions to 8/3, 79-6 and 101-7. However, they relinquished the advantage every time as the Tridents posted 153 on the board. Among the bowlers, Tanvir, Cottrell and captain Emrit got a couple of wickets, although they will hope that Joseph and Sodhi are more disciplined in their line and lengths.

Among the batsman, Ben Dunk and Joshua De Silva were impressive but the Patriots’ batters need to strike at a better rate as that’s what ultimately let them down in the chase against the Tridents.

CPL 2020 Match 4: GAW vs SKNP Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | GAW vs SKNP Dream11 Prediction Today | Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Kitts Nevis and Patriots Key Players | Tarouba Pitch Report
CPL 2020 Match 4: Can Brandon King deliver?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats:

  • Joshua De Silva: The keeper batsman scored a run-a-ball 41 against the Tridents, although he would have hoped to have a higher strike rate. But he is definitely the one to watch out for.
  • Brandon King failed in the first game, but he remains a threat as he was CPL 2019’s top performer with 496 runs.
  • Chris Lynn, who strikes at 144.00 in 185 T20s, will be crucial in giving St Kitts a fast start.
  • Ben Dunk: He has been one of the top performers in the T20 circuit since 2019, and with 21 ball 34 in the first game, he will be crucial again for the Patriots.
  • Sheldon Cottrell: The left arm pacer picked two wickets for 16 runs and his battle against the Guyana’s star batsman will be one to watch out for. He has the most wickets in Guyana-St Kitts matches (11).
  • Imran Tahir: The Proteas’ spinner looked a bit rusty and was taken to the cleaners by Narine before he had the last laugh, but against an inferior line-up of the Patriots, the leggie will fancy his chances. Tahir was the second-highest wicket-taker in CPL 2019 (16).
  • Nicholas Pooran: The southpaw is expected to be one of the biggest attractions of this year’s CPL, although he didn’t deliver in the first game and he will be expected to perform against the Patriots. He strikes at 143.48 in 128 T20s.
  • Shimron Hetmyer: The Warriors batsman was the lone star in the first game and it will be interesting to see whether he continues on the impetus.

Stats and Facts:

  1. Brian Lara cricket stadium has hosted 10 matches, and the side bowling first and batting first has won five matches a piece. This indicates that the toss isn’t a crucial factor.
  2. Warriors have won four out of the last five matches against the Patriots with all of them coming while batting second.

Squads and Possible Playing 11

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Squad: Chris Lynn, Ben Dunk, Evin Lewis, Nick Kelly, Sohail Tanvir, Ish Sodhi, Sheldon Cottrell, Denesh Ramdin, Rayad Emrit, Imran Khan, Alzarri Joseph, Joshua De Silva, Dominic Drakes, Colin Archibald, Jon Russ Jaggesar, Jahmar Hamilton.

Guyana Amazon Warriors Squad: Brandon King, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Ross Taylor, Nicholas Pooran(w), Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Keemo Paul, Chris Green(c), Odean Smith, Imran Tahir, Naveen-ul-Haq, Anthony Bramble, Ashmead Nedd, Jasdeep Singh, Kevin Sinclair, Kissoondath Magram

With just one defeat, it is unlikely that Green and the team management will tweak their XI.

GAW XI: 1. Brandon King, 2. Chandrapaul Hemraj, 3. Shimron Hetmyer, 4. Ross Taylor, 5. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 6. Sherfane Rutherford, 7. Chris Green (c), 8. Romario Shepherd, 9. Keemo Paul, 10. Naveen-ul-Haq, 11. Imran Tahir

The XI might not change although the Patriots might tweak their line-up.

SKNP XI: 1. Chris Lynn, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Ben Dunk, 4. Denesh Ramdin (wk), 5. Jahmar Hamilton, 6. Joshua Da Silva, 7. Sohail Tanvir, 8. Rayad Emrit (c), 9. Ish Sodhi, 10. Sheldon Cottrell, 11. Alzarri Joseph

Tarouba Pitch Report and Conditions

The tracks will be just like the first two games of the tournament. Gripping the ball did prove difficult on the opening evening of the tournament, so the team who wins the toss could prefer to chase. There is a chance of afternoon storms in Trinidad, which should hopefully clear ahead of this match.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

CPL 2020 Match 4: GAW vs SKNP Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | GAW vs SKNP Dream11 Prediction Today | Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Kitts Nevis and Patriots Key Players | Tarouba Pitch Report
CPL 2020 Match 4: GAW vs SKNP Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

CPL 2020 Match 3: GAW vs SKNP Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | GAW vs SKNP Dream11 Prediction Today | Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Kitts Nevis and Patriots Key Players | Tarouba Pitch Report
CPL 2020 Match 4: GAW vs SKNP Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

Although the Patriots had the upper hand in the previous game on a lot of occasions, the Warriors will be confident about their chances. But the match-up of the Warriors batsman against the pace attack of the Patriots will be decisive in the clash.

Written by Sarthak Karkhanis. Follow Sarthak on Twitter today.

Dream11 and Fantasy Cricket content for you to enjoy on CricBlog:

CPL 2020 Match 3: JT vs SLZ Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

CPL 2020 Match 3: JT vs SLZ Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | JAM vs SLZ Dream11 Prediction Today | Jamaica Tallawahs vs St Lucia Zouks Key Players | Barouda Pitch Report

The third match of the biggest party will be played between Jamaican Tallawahs and St. Lucia Zouks. Both teams had a poor 2019 season as they were the bottom two teams in the points table with St. Lucia finishing 5th and Jamaica finishing 6th. They’ll look to get on track this season.

Jamaican Tallawahs has assembled a very good squad this season, with arguably the most explosive batting order in the whole tournament. You know how good their batting lineup is when Carlos Braithwaite is expected to bat at 7. Andre Russell, Asif Ali, Rovman Powell, Glenn Phillips, Chadwick Walton and others can intimidate any bowling lineup.

They also have a fine spin attack with the duo of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Sandeep Lamichhane. Their main concern will be their death bowling which let them down last season and could do so again. The likes of Fidel Edwards, Oshane Thomas, and Carlos Braithwaite have to step up in the death overs.

St Lucia Zouks, on the other hand, are the underachievers of the CPL. They’ve always underperformed in the league and will surely want to change it this season. However, it will be a difficult task if you look at their squad. They have some good hitters in the batting order, but it looks to lack depth. It has improved a bit after the addition of Mohammad Nabi, but the likes Andre Fletcher, Rahkeem Cornwall, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, and Darren Sammy will have to perform consistently.

Their spin attack looks decent with quite a few options but lacks variety as Zahir Khan is the only bowler who can turn it both ways. The pace attack does look slightly thin with Scott Kuggeleijn, Kescrick Williams, and Obed McCoy being the main bowlers, but Chemar Holder is an exciting young talent in their squad.

Also read: CPL 2020 Match 4: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Preview, Stats and Dream11 Prediction

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

  • Andre Fletcher has the most runs (476) when these two teams play. He averages 47 against the Tallawahs, and is a very important player for the Zouks.
  • Andre Russell. We all know what he is capable of with both and ball. He strikes at 189.29 against the Zouks and has picked nine wickets against them.
  • Kesrick Williams has 11 wickets, the most when Zouks plays Jamaica.
  • Glenn Phillips has 209 runs against St. Lucia and he has been a consistent performer for the Tallawahs.
  • Spinners from both teams will thrive in these conditions, especially the likes of Mujeeb, Lamichhane, Nabi, and Zahir Khan.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 13, Jamaica Tallawahs 8, St Lucia Zouks 5.
  • St Lucia Zouks beat Jamaica Tallawahs twice in CPL 2019.
  • Both sides missed the playoffs in CPL 2019, with St Lucia finishing fifth and Jamaica sixth.
CPL 2020 Match 3: JT vs SLZ Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | JAM vs SLZ Dream11 Prediction Today | Jamaica Tallawahs vs St Lucia Zouks Key Players | Barouda Pitch Report
CPL 2020 Match 3: Andre Russell will be key

Squads and Possible Playing 11

Jamaican Tallawahs Squad:  Andre Russell, Sandeep Lamichhane, Rovman Powell, Glenn Phillips, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Asif Ali, Chadwick Walton, Fidel Edwards, Oshane Thomas, Ramaal Lewis, Veerasammy Permaul, Nicholas Kirton, Jermaine Blackwood, Ryan Persaud, Preston McSween, Nkrumah Bonner.

Possible Playing 11: 1. Glenn Phillips (wk), 2. Chadwick Walton, 3. Jermaine Blackwood, 4. Rovman Powell (c), 5. Andre Russell, 6. Asif Ali, 7. Carlos Braithwaite, 8. Mujeeb ur Rahman, 9. Sandeep Lamichhane, 10. Fidel Edwards, 11. Oshane Thomas.

St. Lucia Zouks: Darren Sammy, Andre Fletcher, Rahkeem Cornwall, Roston Chase, Leniko Boucher, Mark Deyal, Scott Kuggeleijn, Kavom Hodge, Javelle Glen, Chemar Holder, Kimani Melius, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Kesrick Williams, Saad Bin Zafar, Zahir Khan, Obed McCoy.

Possible Playing XI: 1. Andre Fletcher (wk), 2. Rahkeem Cornwall, 3. Kimani Melius/Leniko Boucher, 4. Najibullah Zadran, 5. Mohammad Nabi, 6. Darren Sammy (c), 7. Mark Deyal, 8. Scott Kuggeleijn, 9. Zahir Khan, 10. Kesrick Williams, 11. Obed McCoy.

Tarouba Pitch Report and Conditions

This will be the third consecutive game in the Brian Lara Stadium, which will make the pitch even slower and this wicket has been traditionally on the slower side as well. The spinners of both the teams will enjoy the conditions. The weather forecast looks good.

Also read: CPL 2020 Match 4: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Preview, Stats and Dream11 Prediction

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

CPL 2020 Match 3: JT vs SLZ Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | JAM vs SLZ Dream11 Prediction Today | Jamaica Tallawahs vs St Lucia Zouks Key Players | Barouda Pitch Report
CPL 2020 Match 3: JT vs SLZ Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

CPL 2020 Match 3: JT vs SLZ Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | JAM vs SLZ Dream11 Prediction Today | Jamaica Tallawahs vs St Lucia Zouks Key Players | Barouda Pitch Report
CPL 2020 Match 3: JT vs SLZ Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

Both sides have some good players for the given conditions, but Jamaica is looking more balanced than the Zouks. Zouks will need their big players to step up. It promises to be a great contest.

Thanks for reading!

Written by Robin Rounder – follow Robin on Twitter today.

Also read: CPL 2020 Match 4: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Preview, Stats and Dream11 Prediction

CPL 2020 Match 2: BT vs SKN Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

CPL 2020 Match 2: BT vs SKN Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BT vs SKN Dream11 Prediction Today | Barbados Tridents vs St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Key Players | Barouda Pitch Report

Also read: CPL 2020 Match 11, August 25 2020: BT vs SKN Preview, Stats and Dream11 Prediction

The T20 extravaganza is all set to take off in the Trinidad and Tobago islands as the Caribbean Premier League begins from the 18th of August. Barbados Tridents take on St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the second game of the tournament, which will follow the opener between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders.

Barbados Tridents are the defending champions in this edition of the tournament, having won the CPL 2019 by defeating Guyana Amazon Warriors in the final.

The Tridents have a settled core of the side with Jason Holder leading the team which comprises the world’s best spinner Rashid Khan and last year’s leading wicket taker Hayden Walsh Jr. The team also has left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner and their spin bowling department is arguably the best in the league. The batting has bedrock in the top order, with Shai Hope, Johnson Charles and Justin Graves. It will be an interesting battle between the pace bowling bowling attack of the Patriots and the top order of the Tridents.

The Tridents signed Marcus Stoinis and Alex Hales but both were ruled out of the season, and now the onus will be on Corey Anderson to ameliorate the side’s run rate in the middle overs.

On the other hand, the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots are one of the less fancied teams in this edition of the CPL, in spite of reaching the playoffs in the last two seasons. The team had retained its core of six players before the draft and signed some exciting prospects who will light up the tournament as they boast of the likes of Rayad Emrit, Chris Lynn, Ben Dunk, Evin Lewis, Sohail Tanvir, Sheldon Cottrell and Alzarri Joseph in their ranks.

However, the franchise will dearly miss the services of star all-rounder Fabien Allen, who missed the chartered flight coming into Trinidad and Tobago and hence missed the rest of the tournament.

SKNP can really bank on their top order batting trio of Dunk, Lynn and Lewis and their pace bowling options, Lewis, Tanvir, Cottrell, Joseph and the captain Emrit himself and they are arguably the best team in the league in both these departments.

However, they may find it difficult to counter the Trident’s spin attack and it will also be interesting to see the battle between the Barbados’ bowling and Patriot’s batting in the death overs as it is the weakness of both the sides.

Also read: CPL 2020 Match 11, August 25 2020: BT vs SKN Preview, Stats and Dream11 Prediction

Squads

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots: Chris Lynn, Ben Dunk, Evin Lewis, Nick Kelly, Sohail Tanvir, Ish Sodhi, Sheldon Cottrell, Denesh Ramdin, Rayad Emrit, Imran Khan, Alzarri Joseph, Joshua De Silva, Dominic Drakes, Colin Archibald, Jon Russ Jaggesar, Jahmar Hamilton.

Barbados Tridents: Rashid Khan, Jason Holder, Corey Anderson, Shamarh Brooks, Mitchell Santner, Johnson Charles, Shai Hope, Hayden Walsh Jr, Ashley Nurse, Jonathan Carter, Raymon Reifer, Kyle Mayers, Joshua Bishop, Nyeem Young, Justin Greaves, Keon Harding, Shayan Jahangir.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

  • Rashid Khan will be a part of the CPL for the first time since 2017 and will play a crucial role in the title defence of the Tridents. In the 2017 season, the Afghan spinner picked 14 wickets in 12 matches for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, including a hattrick against Jamaica Tallawahs, also the first hattrick in the history of the tournament.
  • Chris Lynn has played 3 seasons of the CPL for 3 different teams so far and has had contrasting returns. While he was poor in the 2015 and 2018 editions with just 288 runs in 18 innings across a couple of seasons, he was impressive in the 2016, with 454 runs while plying his trade for the Guyana Amazon Warriors and ended up as the leading run scorer. Alongside Lewis and Dunk, Lynn is a key component for SKNP.
  • Jason Holder, the captain of the Barbados Tridents, will be leading the pace bowling attack but his batting contribution will also be one to watch out for given that middle order batting is one of the shortcomings of his side this season.
  • Hayden Walsh Jr., The leg spinner was the leading wicket taker in the tournament last season and was a vital cog in the title win of the Tridents. It promises to be exciting as he teams up with Rashid Khan this season.
  • Mitchell Santner completes the spin trio of the Tridents and he is one of the spinners to watch out for. Considering the spin-friendly tracks in T&T, he will be an asset for the defending champions.
  • Joshua De Silva will be a sure starter for SKNP as Fabien Allen is ruled out of the 6 team event. The 22 year old can be a bright prospect for the batting, which his side really needs.
CPL 2020 Match 2: Rashid Khan brings plenty of T20 experience and quality.

Stats and Facts:

  • Hayden Walsh Jr. picked 22 wickets in 9 innings at an average of 12.68 and economy rate of 8.28 last season.
  • Johnson Charles was the top run getter for the champions last season with over 400 runs.
  • Rayad Emrit is the 3rd highest wicket taker in CPL history with 85 wickets while Cottrell has picked 69 wickets.
  • The Brian Lara Stadium played host to Qualifier 2 and the Final in CPL 2019. The first innings scores were 160 and 171 respectively, with the team batting first winning both times.

Probable XIs

Barbados Tridents: With a batting line-up with no real accelerators, Holder and Khan may well bat a place above than they usually do, to take the pressure off Anderson.

Playing XI: 1. Johnson Charles, 2. Shai Hope (wk), 3. Justin Greaves, 4. Jonathan Carter, 5. Corey Anderson*, 6. Jason Holder (c), 7. Mitchell Santner*, 8. Rashid Khan*, 9. Ashley Nurse, 10. Raymon Reifer, 11. Hayden Walsh Jr

SKNP: If Allen would have boarded the flight, you have expected him to be the most important part of this XI, but with him not being there it will be Silva, Hamilton and Ramdin in the middle order order

Playing XI: 1. Evin Lewis, 2. Chris Lynn, 3. Joshua da Silva (E), 4. Ben Dunk, 5. Jahmar Hamilton, 6. Denesh Ramdin, 7. Sohail Tanvir, 8. Rayad Emrit, 9. Ish Sodhi, 10. Alzarri Joseph, 11. Sheldon Cottrell

Tarouba Pitch Report and Conditions

The tracks are expected to be spin friendly for the majority of the tournament. It will be interesting to see how the pitch plays in the opening game of the tournament, which will be held on the same ground as this match.

Also read: CPL 2020 Match 11, August 25 2020: BT vs SKN Preview, Stats and Dream11 Prediction

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

CPL 2020 Match 2: BT vs SKN Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

CPL 2020 Match 2: BT vs SKN Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

Both the teams have their own share of weakness while having their strengths as well. But with strong fast bowling core along with a strong top three, SKNP look the better side as the Tridents can be over-reliant on their spinners. However, the Tridents certainly can’t be counted out especially in conditions that can suit them.

Written by Sarthak Karkhanis. Follow Sarthak on Twitter today.

Also read: CPL 2020 Match 11, August 25 2020: BT vs SKN Preview, Stats and Dream11 Prediction

Bangladesh top five best Tests since 2010

Written by Kristopher Hinz

Kris is also a commentator for Flashscore Cricket. You can follow their live ball-by-ball commentary for all international cricket and the IPL. Check them out on Facebook and Twitter

After gaining Test status in 2000, Bangladesh struggled to compete, let alone win, in Test cricket. However, the rise of the likes of Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim has helped Bangladesh improve significantly, leading to some memorable moments over the past 10 years.

Here, we have a look at Bangladesh’s best Tests since 2010:

1. England vs Bangladesh, Lord’s, 2010:

An eight-wicket loss might seem like an unusual inclusion in this list, but this Test will live on in the memory of the Bangladeshi fans who filled the public stands at Lord’s, thanks to the performances of Tamim Iqbal in particular.

In the form of his life, Jonathan Trott (226) pulverised Bangladesh as England piled on 505, with paceman Shahadat Hossain’s 5/98 the highlight for the tourists. In reply, Bangladesh could only muster 282, but Tamim Iqbal’s sparkling 55 from just 62 balls caught the eye. With his team following on, Tamim went one better in the second innings, striking 100 from only 103 balls, smashing 15 fours and two sixes in the process. England ultimately ran down their 163 run target with ease, but Tamim had more than made his mark upon the cricketing scene.

England 505 and 163/2 defeated Bangladesh 282 and 382 by eight wickets.

Embed from Getty Images

2. Bangladesh vs England, Mirpur, 2016:

In the first Test of this series, Bangladesh had fallen agonisingly short of their victory target, losing by only 22 runs. They exacted sweet revenge in the next Test, claiming a comprehensive victory thanks to spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

England were hapless against the youngster, who, playing in just his second Test, claimed 12 wickets. Tamim Iqbal (104) and Mominul Haque (66) produced the only scores of note, with no other batsmen crossing 20 in Bangladesh’s first innings. A more rounded effort from the English batsmen (with only opener Ben Duckett and no. 11 Steven Finn making single figures) ensured the tourists snuck a narrow 24-run lead. But Imrul Kayes (78), Mahmadullah (47) and Shakib Al Hasan (41) got Bangladesh close to 300, setting England a victory target of 273. Things looked cruisy for the visitors at 100/0, but when Mehedy removed Duckett for 56, the floodgates opened, with a dramatic collapse of 10/64 as the Tigers won their first Test against England.

Bangladesh 220 and 296 defeated England 244 and 164 by 108 runs.

Bangladesh's top five best Tests since 2010 | What is Bangladesh's best Test win? | A look back at the Tigers' best Test wins
Mehidy Hasan Miraz was superb in his debut Test series.

3. Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, Colombo, 2017:

With Sri Lanka having lost the services of Tilikaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, and Bangladesh boasting one of their strongest sides, it seemed like Bangladesh’s maiden win over Sri Lanka was on the cards.

And so it proved. Sri Lanka would have been reasonably confident after Dinesh Chandimal’s 138 took them to a first innings total of 338. But Shakib Al Hasan added to his glowing resume, striking 116, as he received contributions from Soumya Sarkar (61), Mushfiqur Rahim (52) and Mosaddek Hossain (75) as Bangladesh took a commanding 129-run lead. Even with a second innings total in excess of 300, Sri Lanka could only set Bangladesh a paltry victory target of 191. Thanks to a solid platform laid by Tamim Iqbal (82) Bangladesh overcame any nerves and triumphed with four wickets in hand.

Sri Lanka 338 and 319 lost to Bangladesh 467 and 191/6 by 4 wickets.

Also read:

2. Bangladesh vs West Indies, Dhaka, 2018:

As Bangladesh’s maiden innings victory, this Test was a sign of their encouraging development at home. Led by 136 from Mahmadullah, Shakib Al Hasan (80), Liton Das (54) and opener Shadman Islam all made more than handy contributions as Bangladesh tallied a huge 508. All batsmen reached double figures as the Windies were ground down over the course of 154 overs.

In stark contrast, only three West Indian batsman got to double figures, and their innings petered out after only 36 overs. Young sensation Mehedy Hasan Miraz (7/58) did the damage, as the Windies followed on after recording a paltry 111. Despite an impressive 93 from Shivron Hetmeyer, he found little support, as his side collapsed again for only 213, with Miraz (5/59) claiming 12 wickets and Man of the Match.

Bangladesh 508 defeated West Indies 111 and 213 by an innings and 184 runs.

1. Bangladesh vs Australia, Mirpur, 2017:

Touring Bangladesh for a Test series for the first time since 2006, Australia was in for a nailbiter in the first Test.  Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal top scored for Bangladesh with 84 and 71 respectively, with the rest of the order hardly mustering any resistance against Australia’s varied attack.

Chasing Bangladesh’s first innings total of 260, Australia couldn’t fare any better, with Shakib (5/68) to the fore. With Australia all out for 217, Bangladesh had snuck a vital 43 run lead. Tamim Iqbal (78) and Mushfiqur Rahim (41) were the lone hands in a Bangladeshi total of 221, which left Australia with a gettable 265 for victory. At 158/2, it looked like Australia were on the way to a hard-fought win, but Shakib Al Hasan (5/85) again stood up, chipping away with regular wickets.

Australia simply would not give up the ghost though, and pushed Bangladesh all the way before Taijul Islam had Hazelwood LBW for a duck, sending Dhaka wild with celebration.

Bangladesh 260 and 221 defeated Australia 217 and 244 by 20 runs.

Bangladesh's top five best Tests since 2010 | What is Bangladesh's best Test win? | A look back at the Tigers' best Test wins
One of Shakib’s greatest ever performances.

Written by Kristopher Hinz

Kris is also a commentator for Flashscore Cricket. You can follow their live ball-by-ball commentary for all international cricket and the IPL. Check them out on Facebook and Twitter

CPL 2020 Match 1: TKR vs GAW Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

CPL 2020 Match 1: TKR vs GAW Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | TKR v GAW Dream11 Prediction Today | Trinbago Knight Riders vs Guyana Amazon Warriors Key Players | Barouda Pitch Report

Cricket is coming back in full flow with the Caribbean Premier League. The first game will be played between the Trinbago Knight Riders and the Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. Despite there being no crowd, as well as the entire tournament being played in Trinidad and Tobago, one can still look forward to the exciting cricket that the CPL always offers.

So, who will get the win out of Trinbago Knight Riders and Guyana Amazon Warriors first up? Both sides have enjoyed some good times over the past few years, but it will be interesting to see who can hit the ground running straight away.

Also read: Barbados Tridents vs St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Preview, Stats and Dream11 Prediction

Squads

Trinbago Knight Riders Squad: Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Colin Munro, Fawad Ahmed, Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Khary Pierre, Tim Seifert, Sikandar Raza, Anderson Phillip, Pravin Tambe, Jayden Seales, Amir Jangoo, Tion Webster, Akeal Hosein, Muhammad Ali Khan.

Guyana Amazon Warriors Squad: Imran Tahir, Nicholas Pooran, Brandon King, Ross Taylor, Shimron Hetmyer, Chris Green, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Naveen-ul-Haq, Chandrapul Hemraj, Kevin Sinclair, Ashmeade Nedd, Odean Smith, Anthony Bramble, Jasdeeo Singh, Kissoondath Magram.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

  • Colin Munro has the most runs in TKR and GAW matches with 465 runs, followed by Darren Bravo (392 runs).
  • Kieron Pollard averages 107 against Guyana.
  • DJ Bravo (23) has most wickets when these two teams play with Sunil Narine (19) in second spot.
  • Chandrapaul Hemraj has performed with both bat and ball against TKR.
  • Brandon King was the highest run-scorer last season with 496 runs (average 55.1), followed by Lendl Simmons with 430 runs.
  • Imran Tahir was the second-highest wicket-taker in CPL 2019 with 19 wickets. Romario Shepherd and Chris Green had picked 13 wickets each in 2019.
CPL 2020 Match 1: TKR vs GAW Preview Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report Dream11 | TKR vs GAW Dream11 Prediction Today | Barouda Pitch Report
CPL 2020 Match 1: TKR vs GAW Dream11 Prediction – Kieron Pollard has played over 500 T20 games.

Possible Playing 11

TKR is the club of T20 superstars. The likes of DJ Bravo, Sunil Narine, Colin Munro, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo under the leadership of Kieron Pollard forms one of the strongest squads in the tournament and are one of the top contenders this season. The trio of DJ Bravo, Sunil Narine, and Kieron Pollard doesn’t need any introduction and we all know what they can do on their day. Their strength is their batting firepower and they’ll expect their batters to fire this season.

Trinbago Knight Riders: 1. Lendl Simmons, 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Colin Munro, 4. Darren Bravo, 5. Kieron Pollard (c), 6. Tim Seifert (wk), 7. Dwayne Bravo, 8. Fawad Ahmed, 9. Ali Khan, 10. Khary Pierre, 11. Jayden Seales

Guayana is the official runner-ups of the CPL.They have played five finals (2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2019) and lost every time. They’ve had a good squad always and have performed every season. This year too they have a very strong squad with the likes of Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Imran Tahir, Sherfane Rutherford, who are proven match-winners in the CPL. Chris Green will be leading the side this year. They have a very balanced squad and are again one of the top contenders this season.

Probable Playing XI: 1. Brandon King, 2. Chandrapaul Hemraj, 3. Shimron Hetmyer, 4. Ross Taylor, 5. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 6. Sherfane Rutherford, 7. Romario Shepherd, 8. Keemo Paul, 9. Chris Green (c), 10. Imran Tahir, 11. Naveen-ul-Haq.

Stats and Facts

  • Matches Played 19, TKR 10, GAW 9.
  • At Brian Lara Stadium: TKR 2, GAW 0.
  • In 2019, Guyana won every game except the Final, where they went down to Barbados Tridents by 27 runs.
  • The Brian Lara Stadium played host to Qualifier 2 and the Final in CPL 2019. The first innings scores were 160 and 171 respectively, with the team batting first winning both times.

Tarouba Pitch and Weather Report

The pitch at the Brian Lara Stadium has traditionally been on the slower side, helping the spinners and pacers who use variations. The weather report isn’t that promising but we will hopefully get to witness a full game. The average first innings score on this wicket is around 140-150.

Dream11 Prediction

Also read: Barbados Tridents vs St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Preview, Stats and Dream11 Prediction

This is the first match of the tournament so you have a high chance of winning if you pick your team smartly. There are plenty of options for this match but we’ll suggest you go with more bowlers and all-rounders in your team.

Round the Wicket Picks:

  • Ali Khan
  • Chandrapaul Hemraj
  • Romario Shepherd
  • Keemo Paul
  • Chris Green
  • Darren Bravo
  • Sherfane Rutherford

Captain & Vice-Captain Choices:

  • Kieron Pollard
  • Dwayne Bravo
  • Imran Tahir
  • Chris Green

Dream11 Team:

CPL 2020 Match 1: TKR vs GAW Preview Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report Dream11 | TKR vs GAW Dream11 Prediction Today | Barouda Pitch Report
CPL 2020 Match 1: TKR vs GAW Dream11 Prediction

*It’s advised to create your own team with the information provided

Dream11 and Fantasy Cricket content for you to enjoy on CricBlog:

Match Prediction

Both teams are very strong but death bowling is the weak link of Trinbago and that can cause problems for them. Looking at the squads, it will be a great contest between them, but it could be Guyana’s day.

Written by Robin Rounder – follow Robin on Twitter today.

Also read: Barbados Tridents vs St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Preview, Stats and Dream11 Prediction

Javed Miandad accuses Imran Khan of ruining Pakistani cricket

There’s controversy afoot within Pakistani cricket circles. The incident involves a war of words involving two of the legends of the game, one of them the most powerful man in the country.

Javed Miandad, the former Pakistan skipper, went public with some very explosive and accusatory opinions directed at Imran Khan, Pakistan’s Prime Minister.

Miandad stated that he believes that Khan is destroying the state of cricket within the country because he continues to appoint foreigners for key roles with the Pakistan Cricket Board over his Pakistani countrymen.

Before entering politics, Khan was an international cricketer and captain of Pakistan’s national cricket team. He led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup.

It’s believed that Miandad was specifically referring to Wasim Khan, the current CEO of the PCB. Although of Pakistani origin, Wasim Khan was born and raised in England. He became the first person of Pakistani/Asian origin who was also British to play professional cricket in England.

“All officials in the PCB do not know the ABC of the sport,” Miandad said on his official YouTube channel. “I will talk to Imran Khan personally about the sad state of affairs.

“I will not leave anyone that is not right for our country.”

Taking Imran Khan To Task

Never one to mince words, the always outspoken Miandad, 63, left no stone unturned as he lashed out at Imran Khan’s leadership.

“You appointed a foreigner on a key position,” Miandad continued before leveling unproven accusations at Wasim Khan. “What will happen when he flees the country after doing corruption?

“Is there a shortage of people in your own country that you had to bring people from abroad to work in the PCB?”

Described as one of the finest batsmen in the history of cricket, Miandad played 124 Test matches for Pakistan from 1975-93. He was named captain of the national team at the young age of 22.

Miandad is one of two players to appear in six Cricket World Cups and he was the first player to achieve this unique feat. After his playing days, he served three separate tenures as coach of Pakistan’s national team. He also served on the PCB.

In 1982, Imran Khan replaced Miandad as Pakistan’s captain and Miandad felt it necessary to point out to the Prime Minister which of them served in the role first.

“I was your captain, you weren’t my captain,” Miandad said. “I was the one who led you all the time, but you act like God now. It is almost like you’re the only intelligent person in this country, as if no one has gone to Oxford or Cambridge or any other university in Pakistan. Think about the people.

“I come from a different field. But I care about the world I live in, and I live among the people. And I’ve said this to Imran. I made him the Prime Minister.”

Miandad Considering Politics?

Javed Miandad accuses Imran Khan of ruining Pakistani cricket | Miandad launches verbal attack on Pakistani PM Imran Khan
Imran Khan and Javed Miandad were teammates on Pakistan’s national team. Photo by: @iamfahadomar (Twitter.com).

Miandad hinted that he might consider a run for office and the chance to challenge Imran Khan in the political field.

“I’ll come to politics and then I’ll talk to you,” Miandad said. “You don’t care about the country. You came to my home and went out as a Prime Minister. I challenge you to deny this.”

Miandad claimed that he held a better understanding of Pakistan’s people than his former teammate and current Prime Minister.

“What’s the meaning of being a Pakistani?” Miandad asked rhetorically. “To live and let live. Help your own. Be intelligent. I’ve echoed the nation’s voice. I know it is difficult for common people to raise their voice, but I’m at a position where I can raise their voice in front of the world.”

Miandad also criticized the way former Pakistan captain Sarfarez Ahmed was treated and disagreed with the country’s new regional system of cricket, again emphasizing that he felt these problems were so because of the influence of higher ups in the PCB who are not from Pakistan.

“Please do not bring people from abroad to manage our cricket,” Miandad told the Times of India.

“Believe in the people of Pakistan.”

Also read: England vs Australia to follow Pakistan Test and T20I series

BCCI slammed for poor response to MS Dhoni’s retirement

The BCCI’s social media efforts have come under criticism many times before, but this is something else. BCCI’s fan engagement is nothing compared to the likes of Cricket Australia, but this is something else. Fans and cricketers poured out their hearts in their tributes to Dhoni’s great career. But, the BCCI’s response was seriously something else.

As even rival nations shared their messages about one of India’s greatest ever cricketers, the BCCI, of whom Dhoni dedicated 15 years of incredible service to, hit an all-time low in terms of their social media and digital strategy.

Whoever thought a one-liner would suffice is clearly deluded. Some two or three hours after Dhoni announced his retirement on Instagram, the BCCI’s priority was driving traffic to a news story that everyone had already known about. There was no emotion about it at all. It’s as if it was a simple, every day news story.

At the time of writing, there has been no further activity from the BCCI account. This latest episode is an example of how out of touch the BCCI’s digital strategy is, where they spend far greater time suspending accounts rather than engaging them with quality content.

Surely Dhoni is worth more than an uncreative, useless one-liner? Where is mention of Suresh Raina, another excellent servant to Indian cricket? Don’t fans, who have helped BCCI become the powerhouse it is today, deserve a more heartfelt story about two of their favourite sons?

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Indeed, if any social media manager in the world, no matter the niche, implements a strategy such as that of the BCCI, they’d be out of a job. That the BCCI has a following of 12 million, when the likes of Virat Kohli have over 37 million, is evidence enough that millions of fans want more than live score updates and stale digital content that fails to create an emotional response.

The world of social media is moving fast, and the BCCI is stuck in the 2000’s. There was no video. No heartfelt tribute. No desire to satisfy desire for memories that will now last a lifetime. And fans noticed.

It’s now time the BCCI looks at its digital strategy. If not, fans will continue to feel disappointment towards the board’s lack of engagement. This latest episode is certainly one of its worst.

Also read:

BCCI slammed for poor response to MS Dhoni's retirement | BCCI's response to MS Dhoni retirement another example of poor digital strategy.

Twitter reactions: MS Dhoni announces retirement from international cricket

Twitter reactions: MS Dhoni announces retirement from international cricket

You may know something is coming, but it still shocks you when it happens.

MS Dhoni, a wonderful player and captain, not only had a great impact on his teammates, but on billions of people. So, when a single person has such a profound impact, his retirement from international cricket is inevitably going to see an outpouring of emotion, heartfelt thanks and how this represents the end of an era.

That was certainly the case on Twitter, after the news broke out that MS Dhoni announced his retirement on Instagram. There was no media speculation in the leadup. No major announcement. No major video press conference. Dhoni’s simplicity and calmness has been on show for well over a decade on the field, and has been exemplified in his retirement announcement, too.

The BCCI’s immediate reaction to Dhoni (and Raina’s) retirement was terrible. But, the millions of emotion-filled reactions showcased Dhoni’s impact. Here are some of the many reactions on Twitter to the news of MS Dhoni’s retirement.

#ThankYouDhoni

Fans and cricketers poured out their thoughts via heartfelt thank you’s, taking to Twitter to share how Dhoni had a profound impact on their lives. Of course, many shared that incredible, World Cup winning moment in 2011, but their messages went beyond just cricket.

#DhoniRetires

It was in the blink of an eye that hashtags #ThankYouDhoni and #DhoniRetires were trending. Such was the impact of the man.

The millions and millions of tributes were well deserved. Dhoni’s impact on billions of people is profound, and fans will certainly be looking forward to Dhoni going around in IPL 2020.

Disbelief and emotion

As Twitter overflowed with messages of heartfelt thanks, there were also messages of shock and sheer emotion. It has finally happened, and many couldn’t believe it.

Cricketers pay tribute to MS Dhoni

The likes of Virat Kohli, Adam Gilchrist, Sachin Tendulkar and many more paid tribute to India’s cricketing legend.

Who for India, after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma?

‘Virat and Rohit are the ones!’, exclaimed Sachin when asked as to who he thinks could break his batting records in the future. It was way back in March 2012 when Kohli had 11 ODI hundreds while the Mumbai lad had crossed the century milestone just twice.

This remark had drawn a round of applause from the audience but no one earnestly believed these claims to be prophetic. In the eight years since then, the Indian captain and vice-captain have redefined how the game of cricket is played, especially in the ODI format.

Virat burst onto the scene after he led India to U19 World Cup glory in 2008. He made his debut for the senior team in the same year, but was in and out due to his lackluster performances.

Then came the decisive period in Kohli’s career. On Christmas eve in 2009, India was chasing 317 against Sri Lanka with both Sachin and Sehwag back in the hut. Virat stitched a solid 224-run stand with Gambhir to win India the game. He scored his first ODI hundred and also showed glimpses of his exceptional chasing abilities. Remember, the 2011 WC was just a year away with India and MS Dhoni finalizing the team that would take a shot at lifting the title.

It was purely serendipitous that one of Sachin, Sehwag, and Gambhir was always injured or rested during the last 12 months before the mega event. This allowed Kohli to play almost all matches in the lead-up, and soon he became the permanent number four for India before the tournament. India went on to win the World Cup, with Virat scoring a century and playing 2-3 crucial innings, including his 35 in the Final, which came at a time when India was under immense pressure chasing 275.

Within a couple of years after that, he played several gems and single-handedly won India games. His scores of 133 off 86 against Sri Lanka in the CB series, 183 off 148 against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, and 100 off 52 against Australia in a bilateral series, all came when India was chasing targets well beyond 300. He proved himself as not just a good batsman, but someone who knew how to control a chase and finish games for India. There’s been no looking back for Virat since then. Barring England in 2014 and Australia in 2017, it’s hard to remember any series in the last 10 years where Kohli has not scored runs.

Who captains India after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma? | Who will lead India in the next few years, after Virat and Rohit retire?
Virat Kohli reacts after his 133* off 86 balls helped India chase 320 in less than 40 overs against Sri Lanka

Rohit, on the other hand, is undoubtedly one of the best openers this game has ever seen. It’s difficult to imagine how Rohit’s career would have transpired had Dhoni not asked him to open on the eve of India’s Champions Trophy opener in Cardiff in 2013.

India went on to win the tournament with Rohit scoring a decent 177 runs at an average of 35.40, including two fifties to his name. He didn’t perform exceptionally, but certainly proved that he with Shikhar could be one of the most potent opening pairs for India.

The turning point came when Australia toured India later that year. Rohit was given a continued run as opener after his good performances in CT’13. This time, he made the most of it. He scored two hundreds and a fifty, including a double century, and ended up as the highest scorer in the series with 491 runs in five matches.

Rohit stamped his authority as India’s opener and has never let anyone get a sniff of an opportunity at that position since then. The ‘hitman’ has scored 9,115 runs at an average of 49.30, including 29 centuries to his name, 4th after Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Ricky Ponting.

Who captains India after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma? | Who will lead India in the next few years, after Virat and Rohit retire?
Rohit Sharma reacts after scoring 200* against Australia in 2013

Rohit just turned 33, while Virat has hinted multiple times that he would consider dropping one of the formats after the 2023 WC. It won’t be inappropriate to admit that both of them have entered the final stages of their careers.

It’s highly probable that Rohit would never get a chance to captain India in either of the formats as his career is likely to come at a close before or with Kohli.

Virat and Rohit have been the biggest match-winners for India in the last 10 years. The question now arises as to who in the young generation can replace the two modern-day greats in terms of their batting prowess as well as undertaking the leadership responsibilities.

A look below at the players who can soak up the pressure of handling the most high profile job in Indian sport.

Shreyas Iyer

Who captains India after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma? | Who will lead India in the next few years, after Virat and Rohit retire?

Iyer is tailor-made for leading India’s ODI team post the 2023 WC. He is calm, cool-headed, follows pretty much Dhoni’s style of captaincy, and provides the much-needed stability to the Indian middle order. Though it’s still early days, Shreyas is someone who doesn’t easily buckle under pressure and has Kohli’s level of temperament when it comes to chases.

Glimpses of that were seen in the third ODI of India’s 2020 series against Australia at Bangalore. With India requiring 81 of 80 balls and Rohit walking back in the hut, the pressure was on India with the likes of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins steaming in. Australia peppered Shreyas with some short and nasty stuff expecting him to grovel. Iyer launched a counter-attack by making room and smashing those short deliveries, driving and cutting the ball to all parts on the off-side. He finished with a 35-ball 44 with the hosts cantering to a comfortable win.

In the not-so-long stint he has had with the Indian side, Shreyas has scored a century and eight fifties with an average of 49.87 in the 16 innings he has played. Images of India’s heartbreak at Manchester in the WC semifinal would haunt the team and the fans for a long time. It could have been avoided had Shreyas been given a longer rope as India’s number four when he was drafted in the side for the first time in 2017. India has learned its lessons with Virat mentioning in a recent press conference that the “team had paid a heavy price earlier” by meddling too much with the middle order.

The test of Iyer’s captaincy has been leading the Delhi Capitals in the IPL and he has passed with flying colors. In the 24 games he’s captained, DD has gone on to win 13 of those. Leading the side for the entire season in 2019, he led Delhi to quality for the playoffs for the first time in seven years. Assuming Iyer continues to perform the way he has for the next three years, he would have played close to 100 ODIs by then. With a perfect mix of experience and flamboyance, Iyer would be the most suitable candidate to take over the captaincy role.

Who captains India after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma? | Who will lead India in the next few years, after Virat and Rohit retire?

KL Rahul

Another candidate perfectly fit to handle the core of India’s batting and leading the side in the future is KL Rahul. From being dismissed playing a horrendous shot in his Test debut against Australia on Boxing Day to scoring two T-20 hundreds, to being suspended by the BCCI due to a controversy on the show ‘Koffee with Karan’, KL Rahul has seen it all.

Rahul’s career has been a rollercoaster ride, but finally he is doing justice to his much proclaimed talent. His match-winning performances recently have proved why he has been backed by MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli throughout his career.

KL Rahul reacts after scoring a hundred for India.

KL has scored four centuries and seven fifties, holding an average of 47.85 in 31 innings in the ODI format. His stats paint an even better picture when it comes to T-20s. He has been a prolific opener in the shortest format and has scored at a staggering average of 45.66. In all probability, the Karnataka lad has replaced Shikhar Dhawan as the opener in T-20s as he has the capability of playing his shots and providing the much-needed impetus at the top.

Rahul has delivered at all possible batting positions, be it opening the innings, providing the stability in the middle, or finishing the innings coming lower down the order. His best performance came in the 2nd ODI against Australia in Rajkot.

India were 0-1 down and had to win to stay in the series. Batting first, India were going smoothly with the ever-dependable Indian top-order scoring runs until Virat was dismissed when the score read 276-4 in the 44th over. India needed someone to provide the acceleration in the death overs, Rahul came out and scored a blistering 80 off 52 balls to take India to 340 in 50 overs. He proved to be the difference in the end, with Australia finishing with 304. India went on to win the next ODI as well, but Rahul’s innings was the turning point to tilt the series in India’s favor.

KL has also taken over the wicket-keeping responsibilities, providing the much-needed balance to the ODI and T-20 setup. He gives India the option of playing a proper batsman like Manish Pandey at number 6 with Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja to follow at number 7 and 8.

Recently, Rahul has been named captain for his IPL franchise and would be leading KXIP in the upcoming season. How he performs as a captain is yet to be seen, but he is the most experienced member in the side after Kohli and Rohit and is someone who should be looked upon by the selectors as an important cog in the wheel of India’s leadership group in the future.

Written by Parth Gera. Follow Parth on Twitter today.

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Australia tour of England confirmed: three T20Is and three ODIs

Australia tour of England confirmed: three T20Is and three ODIs

Australia’s limited overs tour of England has officially been confirmed. The tour will start with a three-match T20I series starting on September 4, followed by a three-match ODI series from September 11.

Both the England Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) have been working hard over the past couple of months to ensure this series goes ahead. Ashley Giles, Managing Director of England’s men’s team, was “quietly confident” about the tour going ahead, and now this has been confirmed.

The three T20Is, to be played on September 4, 6 and 8, will all be played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. The three ODIs to follow will all be played at Old Trafford, and will be part of the ODI Super League. The ODIs will take place on September 11, 13 and 16.

CA received government exemptions for the squad to travel to the UK for the six-game (three T20s, three ODIs) tour which will be played under biosecurity arrangements, as was the case for West Indies and currently, Pakistan.

Australia will be leaving for England via Perth on August 23, before they will need to undertake the appropriate testing and quarantine after arriving in the UK. Also, Australia will play four warmup games (three T20 and one 50-over) in Derby ahead of the T20I series.

Australia tour of England confirmed: three T20Is and three ODIs | Australia will tour England for limited overs series in September.
Australia tour of England: Smith and Warner will return to England.

Three uncapped cricketers in Australia’s 21-man squad

Australia have confirmed a 21-man squad to tour England. Uncapped cricketers Josh Philippe, Riley Meredith and Daniel Sams have been included, and could get a chance to represent their country in either the T20Is or ODIs.

This was cut down from the original 26-man squad named last month. Usman Khawaja and D’Arcy Short are the notable exclusions, along with Travis Head, Michael Neser and Ben McDermott.

Australia tour of England confirmed: three T20Is and three ODIs | Australia will tour England for limited overs series in September.
Australia tour of England confirmed: Josh Philippe made quite the impression in BBL 09.

Marcus Stoinis made the squad, after being dropped from Australia’s ODI and T20I teams at the backend of 2019. Glenn Maxwell, who took a break from cricket last year on mental health grounds, is also back. Selection chairman Trevor Hohns is excited about the squad, including the fact that Pat Cummins is vice-captain.

“It’s a squad with great depth and a sprinkle of some exceptional young players,” Hohns said. “After taking advice and reviewing the leadership of the squad we have decided to revert back to the traditional captain and one vice-captain set-up.”

“Alex remains a genuine leader within the squad and will continue to provide valuable support to Aaron as skipper. Pat [Cummins] is very much in the same category and someone the entire squad has immense respect for as a person and a player. This is not a reflection of succession planning, but rather a decision to return to the traditional leadership set-up that has served Australian cricket so well for generations.

“We now have quite an established and experienced senior playing group who all play an important role in the leadership of the team on and off the field. As has always been the case all senior players have a strong voice in all aspects of planning, preparation and playing.”

Australia’s 21-man squad for England tour: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Daniel Sams, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

England vs Australia schedule

September 4: 1st T20I, Ageas Bowl, Southampton

September 6: 2nd T20I, Ageas Bowl, Southampton

September 8: 3rd T20I, Ageas Bowl, Southampton

September 11: 1st ODI, Old Trafford, Manchester

September 13: 2nd ODI, Old Trafford, Manchester

September 16: 3rd ODI, Old Trafford, Manchester