The ICC ODI World Cup Super League, which was originally scheduled to begin in May, will kick off on July 30 when England take on Ireland in the first of three ODIs.
How does the Super League work?
The Super League will feature 13 teams – the top 12 and Netherlands, who qualified by winning the ICC World Cricket Super League 2015-17. Each team will play four home and away three-match ODI series, with a points system in place (10 for a win, five for a tie or no result, none for a loss). The top seven sides (except India) will gain automatic qualification to the 2023 World Cup, to be hosted by India.
The ODI Super League has been brought in to add greater relevance to ODI cricket, as the format has suffered somewhat over the years due to a plethora of context-less matches. Also, at the same time the ICC postponed the T20 World Cup, they also decided to push back the 2023 World Cup to later in the year, as it allows for more time for the Super League to be completed.
“The league will bring relevance and context to ODI cricket over the next three years, as qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is at stake,” Geoff Allardice, ICC’s general manager (cricket operations), said in a statement. “The Super League gives cricket fans around the world even more reasons to watch as the drama of league cricket unfolds.
“The decision last week to move the World Cup back to late 2023 gives us more time to schedule any games lost due to Covid-19 and preserve the integrity of the qualification process, meaning it will be decided on the field of play, which is important.”
Ireland skipper Andy Balbirnie said it is an honour to be part of the first fixture of the ICC ODI Super League. He has acknowledged that it will be a huge challenge against world champions England, but he has called for Ireland to give their best.
“It’s a privilege to be playing in the inaugural series of the ICC Men’s World Cup Super League. It is obviously going to be a huge challenge taking on the team that won the World Cup just a year ago but we have prepared well and have taken confidence from our form over the early months of 2020,” said Balbirnie in a statement.
“I look forward to the Irish side putting on a good performance in the upcoming series as we start our campaign for World Cup qualification.”
The England vs Ireland ODIs will take place on July 30, August 1 and August 4, all at the Ageas Bowl at Southampton.
ENG vs IRE 1st ODI Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs IRE 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Ireland 1st ODI Dream11 | ENG vs IRE 1st ODI Key Players | Southampton Pitch Report
Cricket post the enforced COVID-19 break is certainly something different. The first dose of ODI cricket since March is sandwiched between two Test series, where split squads, often spoken about hypothetically for discussion purposes on social media, is now reality. To add to that, the ODI World Cup Super League is about to begin.
England, the world champions, wouldn’t have expected that their first ODI at home since the World Cup triumph would be quite like this. New faces, no crowds and a series fighting for attention right in between two Test campaigns is an agenda no one could have possibly imagined a year ago. However, skipper Eoin Morgan is at the helm, and there are still some familiar faces in what remains an exciting squad.
For Ireland, this series is a welcome boost given that their cricket season has been postponed due to the pandemic. While they will have hope in the fact that England will be without familiar faces, a significant challenge still awaits as they look to compete against the world’s number one ODI side. So, can Ireland, led by Andy Balbirnie, compete?
Eyes will be on Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow – a prolific opening pair. They have over 1,000 runs in partnership together, at an average of over 60.
Also, Roy and Bairstow are prolific at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. Roy has 332 runs in seven ODIs at avg. 55.33; Bairstow has 237 runs in three matches at avg. 118.50. Bairstow was also superb in the recent tour match, scoring 127 (88).
Eoin Morgan has a superb record against Ireland, the country of his birth: 5 matches, 269 runs, avg. 67.25, SR 101.51.
Also, Morgan loves batting at the Ageas Bowl: 14 matches, 610 runs, avg. 76.25, SR 91.25. He has the most ODI runs of any player at the ground.
Harry Tector: Key for Ireland if he debuts? He has 20 T20I caps at the age of 20, and has scored half-centuries in each of his last three List A matches.
William Porterfield has the most runs in England-Ireland ODIs: 281 runs, avg. 31.22, SR 64.15, 1 50, 1 100.
Ireland skipper Andy Balbirnie will be crucial for his team. He has been strong in ODIs since the beginning of 2018: 30 matches, 1,153 runs, avg. 41.18, SR 79.79.
Tom Banton scored 56 in the second England intra-squad warm up. His T20 strike rate of 157.33 in 30 matches makes him a dangerous proposition.
Moeen Ali will be one to watch. His ball-striking in South Africa earlier this year was something to behold, striking at 272.22 in the T20I series.
Simi Singh was excellent with the ball in West Indies earlier this year (six wickets in three ODIs, avg. 20.16). On what could be slowish pitches in England, Singh will have a key role to play.
Josh Little took 4/45 vs England in an ODI last year.
Adil Rashid has the most wickets in England-Ireland ODIs of any current player (eight wickets, avg. 17.25). Also, Rashid was player of the match in England’s last ODI.
Can Tom Curran produce in the powerplay and death overs? He has proven to be a strong wicket-taker in limited-overs cricket, including finishing third for wickets in the last Big Bash League.
Stats and Facts
Head-to-Head: 10 Matches, England 8, Ireland 1, NR 1
Ireland’s only win vs England was the all-time classic in the 2011 World Cup. Kevin O’Brien hit a memorable century. However, now, can improve on his average of 26.55 vs England?
In five completed ODIs at Southampton in 2019, the average first innings score was 259.6. The team batting first won three of the five matches.
Possible Playing 11
There are new faces in the 14-man England squad, but they can still form a strong XI thanks to a solid core comprising of the likes of Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan and Moeen Ali.
Tom Banton batted at five in the ODI series in South Africa earlier this year, so it would make sense for him to get another chance there.
James Vince got the nod, and will likely bat at three. Also, it remains to be seen if England play Sam Billings as the keeper-batsman, or give the gloves to Jonny Bairstow.
Reece Topley, Lewis Gregory and Richard Gleeson are part of a pace brigade in the squad and will be aiming for an appearance during the series.
England: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Jonny Bairstow, 3. James Vince, 4. Eoin Morgan (c), 5. Tom Banton, 6. Sam Billings (wk), 7. Moeen Ali, 8. Tom Curran, 9. David Willey, 10. Adil Rashid, 11. Saqib Mahmood
Ireland have named their 14-man squad. Their last ODI was in January vs West Indies, part of a three-match series where they should have won the second match. They should look to go with experience where they can, but all-rounder Curtis Campher and batsman Harry Tector could be in line for an ODI debut.
Ireland: 1. Paul Stirling, 2. Gareth Delany, 3. Andy Balbirnie (capt), 4. Harry Tector/William Porterfield, 5. Kevin O’Brien, 6. Lorcan Tucker (wk), 7. Simi Singh, 8. Curtis Campher, 9. Andy McBrine, 10 .Barry McCarthy, 11. Josh Little/Boyd Rankin
Jason Roy will be keen to fire in the return of ODI cricket.
Ageas Bowl Southampton Pitch Report and Conditions
ODI pitches in England have usually been excellent for batting since 2015. This track should be quite easy-paced, as was the case in the recent England-West Indies Test.
The weather forecast for Thursday is quite good – mostly sunny.
Dream11 Prediction
Looking for more fantasy cricket tips for this match? Check out our special article here.
Option 1 (if England bat first):
ENG vs IRE 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction
Option 2 (if Ireland bat first):
ENG vs IRE 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
England, despite missing key players such as Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer, still look a strong ODI side. They are a good pick for a win in the 1st ODI against Ireland.
Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh’s star-all rounder and best-ever cricketer, has spoken out about how he “made mistakes” over the past few years. These mistakes he referred to have led to his current ban from international cricket.
Shakib recently spoke about this topic in an interview on ESPNcricinfo’s Cricketbaazi series. The Bangladesh Test and T20I captain accepted three charges handed down by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit, for failing to report corrupt approaches. These occurred on two occasions in an ODI Tri-Series in 2018 and in an IPL match playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“You have to be honest,” said Shakib. “You just can’t lie to the people and pretend different things. Whatever happened has happened. People are bound to make mistakes. You are not 100%. The important thing is how well you can come back from those mistakes. You can tell other people not to make those mistakes. Tell them the path so that they never take those paths.”
Shakib then stressed the importance of other players learning from him. Now, the 33-year old wants to move forward and do things right in the future.
“It could have happened to someone else and I would have learned from him, but it happened to me so other people can learn from me. I wanted to be honest from the first day. I didn’t hide anything from the guys when they were asking me questions. I will say the straightforward things. I made mistakes. It shouldn’t happen for a player like me. I apologised for it, and I want to move forward, I want everyone to learn from it and never make these mistakes.”
Shakib says he wants others to learn from his mistakes
Shakib has never been far away from a controversy or two. He also spoke about some difficult moments back in 2009 and 2010, where he felt BCB weren’t clear on who they wanted as full-time captain, after Mashrafe Mortaza and Mohammad Ashraful suffered injury and form problems respectively. As a result, he lasted seven months in the role, hampered by a disappointing 2011 World Cup campaign and series losses to Zimbabwe.
“I never had to face difficulties due to senior players,” Shakib said. “It was never a problem. We were a team struggling to win consistently, so our focus was to improve our game. Off the field, there were always issues. If you say something in the media, it diverted into another direction. I feel that I needed those things in that time, and it helped me to bring me where I am now.”
Shakib is due back in international cricket from October 29. So, he could feature in Bangladesh’s postponed Test tour of Sri Lanka, as both the BCB and SLC are working to confirm the tour.
The Indian Premier League is all set to begin from the 19th September in the UAE. According to Brijesh Patel, IPL Governing Council chairman, there is no set date on when the final will be played. It will take place on either 8 or 10 November, with a definitive decision expected soon.
Earlier this week, it was all but official that the lucrative league will be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to the rising Covid-19 cases in India. Sri Lanka had also offered to host the 8-team extravaganza but the BCCI went ahead with UAE because the country had already hosted the 1st leg of the tournament in 2014.
Also, what works in favour of playing the tournament in the UAE is that the quarantine rules are a little more relaxed. Currently, anyone flying into the UAE needs to test negative before flying and then again after landing. If negative, there is no need for quarantine. However, if you don’t take a test before flying, then you will need to quarantine.
IPL 2020 will comprise of 60 matches and over 50-odd days (51 if final is played on November 8). IPL was originally scheduled to start on the 29th of March before it was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The September-November window opened up due to the postponement of the ICC World T20.
The details of the schedule and plans of departure will be discussed in the IPL Governing Council next week.
Going Round the Wicket: ENG vs WI 3rd Test Fantasy Tips | Get all the fantasy tips you need for ENG vs WI 3rd Test | ENG vs WI Tests
Now that cricket is back after the long break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fantasy cricket players on Dream11 or any other platform have finally got something to test their skills and earn some rewards in return.
Here, we are going to provide you some round the wicket suggestions that might help you select a good team and win some cash. We won’t go very deep with the stats and the like. If you haven’t collected the stats, then you can read Cricblog’s match preview which has everything you need to know about the game.
The Pitch
Although it’s a different wicket which is to be used, we can expect it to play the same way as in the first Test. Batters will enjoy the first 2-3 days and then spinners can work their magic. However, don’t expect it to be a rank turner as rain is forecasted on just about all days.
Now let’s talk about the players:
Wicketkeeper is a very tricky and important section in this match and can give you an added advantage over other players. Shai Hope is not keeping but he is in the keeper’s section. His form is also not good but his record in England is. Shane Dowrich performed in the first Test and then failed miserably in the second. Jos Buttler is also struggling with the bat.
In terms of the batsmen, Sibley, Braithwaite, and Root will be in everyone’s team. Blackwood and Brooks have been selected by a good number of players. Rory Burns and Zak Crawley have been ignored by the majority of players. Same with Ollie Pope.
Ben Stokes, Jason Holder and Roston Chase are default all-rounders. While Stuart Broad, Alzarri Joseph, and Dom Bess have 50% +selections. Gabriel, who is in doubt of playing, also has about 43% selections. While Archer and Anderson have been selected by very few, their selection percentage will increase after the toss if any of them plays.
These players will be in probably everyone’s team:
ENG vs WI fantasy tips: common players
So now let’s look at what are the different options you have to be different from others and increase your chances of winning:
CASE-1
This is very risky but you can drop Jason Holder and pick any two of Shamarh Brooks, Jermaine Blackwood, Rory Burns, and Zak Crawley. All-rounders will be Ben Stokes and Roston Chase, with Stuart Broad as the fixed bowler. You can wait for the toss and select the remaining bowlers. Rahkeem Cornwall can be a vital pick if he plays. This team will have most of the important batters covered from both sides which is important as the average first innings score (mentioned in the preview) is quite high at Old Trafford.
ENG vs WI fantasy tips: alternative options
CASE-2
You can go with Joe Root, Kraigg Braithwaite and Dom Sibley as the batters, Jos Buttler/Shane Dowrich/Shai Hope as the keeper, Ben Stokes, Jason Holder, and Roston Chase as the all-rounders, and Stuart Broad with any two bowlers in the bowling section. With one spot now remaining, you can take either an extra keeper or a bowler or a batter. This will be a safe and common team. You still can take risk by picking two keepers as most of the players won’t have two keepers in their side.
As rain is forecasted in the Test, try to take more batters of the team batting first and more bowlers of the side bowling first. So if there’s a rain interruption and the game ends in a draw, you’ll probably be in the lead against your opponents.
Some Differential Picks which can be vital:
Rahkeem Cornwall can be a good pick if he plays.
There are less chances of a full fourth innings to be played so you can drop Jermaine Blackwood, who has performed in the 4th innings in both Tests.
Joshua da Silva can be included in the Windies XI. He scored a century in the practice game.
Kemar Roach can be your punt in this Test.
James Anderson and Jofra Archer will be must-picks if they play.
Captain and Vice-Captain
Now comes the most important part – selecting the Captain and Vice-captain of your Fantasy side. Ben Stokes will be the universal captain and it’s advised not to look anywhere else for that role. Roston Chase is currently the vice-captain of 35% of users. Although you should go with these two you can also try Dom Sibley as the Vice-Captain if England bats first or Kraigg Braithwaite if Windies bat first. Stuart Broad will be a very good choice too. Jason Holder will be the vice-captain of many players.
So, these were some fantasy tips for selecting your team for the third test of The Wisden Trophy between England and West Indies. We hope it’ll help you guys pick your team and win some great rewards.
Thanks for reading!
Note: These are just suggestions and doesn’t guarantee a win on any fantasy sports platform.
Written by Robin Rounder – follow Robin on Twitter today.
Every once in a while, a rare talent emerges in cricket. Rewind back to Sachin Tendulkar in the late 1980s, Shane Warne in the early 1990s and AB De Villiers in the early 2000s. The 2010s saw the “Fab Four” reach an unprecedented peak. The 2020s could well be ruled by India’s latest talent – Shubman Gill.
Sourav Ganguly recently stated that Gill was a mix of Brian Lara and Kane Williamson. Not a bad accolade to receive at such a tender age.
But how did Shubman Gill rise to fame and what does the future hold for this immensely talented superstar?
Under-19 World Cup Heroics
Shubman Gill first rose to fame after starring in India’s Under-19 World Cup triumph in 2018. He scored 372 runs – the second-highest among batsmen. Plus, he recorded the highest batting average in the tournament – a whopping 124. As a result of such excellent performances, Shubman Gill was awarded the player of the tournament.
More importantly, the timing of his runs proved to be crucial. Gill blasted a 94-ball century in the semi-final to help India cruise past Pakistan. In the final, Gill shared a 60 run partnership with Manjot Kalra to help India defeat Australia by 8 wickets. He proved to be a big-match player at the tournament – stepping up when his side needed him most.
Full Marks For First-Class
Highest First-Class Batting Averages In History (minimum 50 innings)
Player
FC Batting Average (min 50 innings)
Sir Donald Bradman
95.14
Vijay Merchant
71.64
George Headley
69.86
Pathum Nissanka
67.54
Ajay Sharma
67.46
Shubman Gill (only 34 innings)
73.55
Unsurprisingly, Sir Donald Bradman leads the list for the highest first-class batting average in history. Shubman Gill has only played 34 first-class innings. However, he has a superlative batting average of 73.55.
If he were to keep up such form for both India A games and in the Ranji Trophy, he could comfortably occupy a slot in the top five, once he passes the 50 innings mark.
Shubman Gill is primarily seen as a backfoot player. He has a small shuffle against the fast bowlers from middle and leg-stump to middle and off stump. He is technically very correct and often plays the ball very late, right under his eyes. This allows him to account for any lateral movement of the ball. His shuffle is perhaps not quite as pronounced as players such as Jacques Kallis or Steve Smith, but fewer moving parts make it easier to be in sync.
Gill scored a fantastic 204 not out against New Zealand A in February 2020. This was prior to India’s Test series against New Zealand. He scored 83 in the first innings at Christchurch, before backing up with the double-century in the second innings. The bowling attack included New Zealand’s test match spinner – Ajaz Patel.
Is Shubman Gill India’s next superstar?
IPL Superstar
Shubman Gill has played 27 Indian Premier League matches. He has scored an impressive 499 runs at an average of 33.26. His strike of 132.36 is equally good, considering that he is more of a technical player, rather than a power opener.
Shubman Gill has scored four half-centuries in the IPL and all have come against strong bowling attacks that include international bowlers. His highest score of 76 came against the Mumbai Indians in 2019 at the Eden Gardens. This bowling attack included Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga.
Perhaps fittingly, he scored 15 runs in the final over against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. This was against Shakib Al Hasan and it included two towering sixes to help the Kolkata Knight Riders win the game.
This tells us that this kid really is a superstar. Shubman Gill has the touch game and also the finishing game. To score 15 in four deliveries against Shakib Al Hasan – an experienced bowler requires composure and a cool head. These are two traits that Shubman Gill has proven he has in abundance.
What Next For Shubman Gill?
Test Cricket/ India A/ FC
As a result of all these feats that he has achieved till date, it is hard to fathom that Shubman Gill is only 20 years of age.
He has only played two One-Day Internationals for India and is yet to feature in either Test or T20I cricket. In those two games, he scored only 16 runs but it would unfair to judge him on such a small sample size, given how his domestic career has panned out.
Some forget that in the second unofficial test, Gill also scored 136 against New Zealand A. It is without a doubt that he will be in India’s Test match team at some point or another. Currently, India’s team is very strong but it is likely that Gill will continue touring with the squad and playing in India A games. This will undoubtedly help him to gain more exposure closest to the highest level of cricket. Plus, if an injury occurs or a player has a bad run of form, Gill could easily slot in from India’s A side into the national team.
IPL Continuity
In T20 Cricket, the IPL is proving to be the perfect platform for Shubman Gill. He faces international quality bowlers throughout the tournament and tests himself in a variety of conditions.
Given that Sunil Narine had a poor 2019 season with the bat, Gill will probably be opening the batting consistently for KKR. This should help his growth no end and a place in India’s T20I side could be up for grabs very soon.
Shubman Gill is already a superstar. He just requires the right time and patience to help him fulfil his true potential for India. Gill could very easily form the heart of India’s batting for years to come!
Written by Varun Desai. Follow Varun on Twitter today.
Bangladesh could tour Sri Lanka in October 2020, soon after the three-match Test series was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, with the T20 World Cup now postponed by a year, a window has opened for this series to potentially go ahead. Both boards are reportedly keen to make it happen. Also, the BCB are reportedly attempting to send its squad to train in Sri Lanka, given that only individual players can train at Mirpur’s high-performance centre, located in a COVID-19 hotspot.
BCB CEO said that the postponement of the T20 World Cup allows Bangladesh to work on their international calendar. He also mentioned that Bangladesh would be keen on matches away from home, given the situation at home at the moment.
“The ICC’s announcement of the three major tournaments has provided what window we can work with, as now that we know that the tournament dates are fixed, we can work around with our schedule,” Chowdhury told ESPNcricinfo.
“Both boards are positive about the Test series going ahead later this year. We are in talks with SLC. Sri Lanka is in a better condition [in terms of Covid-19 caseload] than any of the other sub-continent countries at the moment, and since the situation is not favourable here, we are more keen on the away matches.”
However, the BCB is hopeful of soon discussing visits by Australia and New Zealand to Bangladesh, which were both due this year. But, both were postponed due to the pandemic, and the BCB will need to wait for the situation in Bangladesh, currently dire, to improve.
“We will be in talks with Cricket Ireland as well, though the weather in Ireland is going to be a factor. We will also discuss in due time, when Australia and New Zealand can tour Bangladesh,” said the BCB CEO.
Discussions are ongoing between SLC and BCB for the Test series in June. If the series goes ahead, it will be Bangladesh’s first three-match Test series since hosting Zimbabwe in 2014. Shakib Al Hasan entered the record books in that series, becoming the third cricketer to score a century and take a 10-wicket haul in the same Test.
The India cricket team has been on a strong-willed mission since the conclusion of the ICC World Cup 2019. The tournament in England signaled the end of a critical phase for the Virat Kohli-led unit, where they were left agonizingly short of claiming a title that they were deemed to be one of the favorites for. Much has been pondered upon the fallacies committed by the team management in that competition, so it makes little sense to chart that path yet again.
However, it needs to be noted that the journey since the tour to Caribbean in August 2019 had been focused towards forming a team that could clinch the titles in the two World T20s from 2021. There have been calls from several quarters to adopt an all-out, expansively aggressive approach towards the shortest format of the game. Such desires cannot always be fulfilled, primarily because the cricket that a country plays has some resemblance towards the nature of the people of that nation.
Indians usually come across as a bunch of individuals who prefer a safety-first perspective towards life.
They aspire to have a firm control over the activities that they are engaged in, and at times detest the free-wheeling attitude that must be prevalent in people belonging to other regions. There is arguably nothing wrong in that, as behavior of a group of persons is determined by several socio-economic factors that could be studied in detail for whichever province one wishes to indulge into.
The point we are trying to make over here is that one cannot expect the Indian team to completely surrender the thought process that has taken them ahead for so long, so much. It will be a gradual evolution whenever it happens, just like it has been over the years. No amount of exaggerated hullabaloo will compel the management to radically disrupt the whole mentality and the play-say the way the Windies do.
However, one can expect some improvement after a thorough assessment of the performances from the past. It is integral to not fall into traps that one has succumbed to previously. Refraining from doing so demonstrates a leader’s captaincy mettle, as making mistakes aren’t uncommon. But, it is the tendency to identify those errors and totally sideline it from the one’s approach thereafter that separate the special character from an ordinary one.
And, you require such unusual, exceptional men in-charge to triumph over the big tournaments. With regards to the World T20 though, a postponement has been confirmed. Talks have been doing the rounds for long, and it seemed only be a matter of time before an official announcement was made.
Can Kohli lead India to T20 World Cup success?
Dissecting India’s T20I record since CWC 2019
In 19 T20Is played after World Cup 2019, India has emerged victorious in 15 of those games. They have lost thrice: once each against South Africa, Bangladesh and West Indies, whereas one of the games against Sri Lanka couldn’t bear any result. Two matches out of these 19 had initially ended in a tie, but India sailed through towards a victory in the super over. On the other hand, the nature of the contests that they have competed in should be taken into consideration too.
The Indian team was initially slated to play 34-36 T20Is in a span of almost 14 months to prepare for the World T20 that was originally scheduled for October, 2020. It is a tremendously laid out plan of action to ensure that no stone is unturned in the process of formulating the team for a major tournament; especially when one started off on a new note more or less.
If one looks at the opposition that India encountered, it paints an intriguing picture. Kohli’s men faced the world champions West Indies in six T20Is. They won five of them, which is an encouraging sign. However, it needs to be noted that the men from Caribbean seemed to be utterly below-par in all of the contests. The pitches on offer in the tour to USA and then the West Indies were unpleasant, excruciatingly slow and gave result to extremely underwhelming encounters.
The Indian side rolled over the Bangladeshis after suffering a shock defeat in the first match, perhaps due to their own complacency. The series against Sri Lanka was a one-sided affair too. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be a long shot to claim that the series’ that they had indulged prior to the tour to New Zealand were relatively easier rides for the team. It isn’t an attempt to brush off the Indian team’s victories, but a deeper observation will solidify the notion the Kohli’s side doesn’t lose much in the buildup to the tournament.
India won matches even with Rohit Sharma rested
This is because there is little doubt of the quality that is present in the team. However, the fact that has hit them severely in recent times during critical stages of a major tournament is the inability to polish off a major weakness, the underbelly of the batting order. Hence, the way in which India proceeds towards a World Cup should arguably be assessed in the manner in which they polish off their drawbacks and not merely by the number of victories that they have acquired.
The Indian middle order hardly had opportunities to bat for enough deliveries and combat difficult scenarios as the team progressed to the 2019 World Cup. It was attributed to the overwhelming excellence of the top-order. Kohli seemed to have taken notice of it and hence the Indian captain has not batted in his coveted number three spot in eight of the 19 T20Is played since August 2019.
Instead, the likes of Shivam Dube, Shreyas Iyer and even Rishabh Pant were promoted to the one drop slot, whereas Rohit Sharma batted there in the fifth T20I against New Zealand in order to allow Sanju Samson to open the batting with KL Rahul. In fact, a rotational policy was adopted due to which Kohli sat out of the series against Bangladesh and the vice-captain was rested against Sri Lanka in order to provide adequate opportunities to the other batsmen on the bench.
What has the team gained out of it?
Bharath Ramaraj, a sub-editor from Cricbuzz stated, “Maybe the team should focus on middle order slots. (Shreyas) Iyer, (Manish) Pandey, (Shivam)Dube, (Hardik) Pandya, (Rishabh) Pant. Of course, a couple are certainties of they are fit. But what about Dube? He failed in NZ. What about Dinesh (Karthik)? Is his career over? What about Pant… And then think of perhaps (Ravindra) Jadeja and (Shikhar) Dhawan’s positions.”
Manish Pandey is one of the players to have surprisingly sprung up because of his encouraging outings in recent times. The 30-year-old has played 10 matches out of the 19-game spell that we have taken into consideration. Credit where it’s due, Pandey has played quite a few very impactful knocks in this time span. His unbeaten knock of 50 runs propelled the Indian side to progress ahead from 88/6 in the 12th over to 165/8 and eventually procure a victory.
However a case could be made for the fact that he is batting a couple of positions too low in the order. This is reflected in some of Pandey’s impressive short bursts so far: 11* and 14* of four and six deliveries respectively against the Kiwis, 31* of 18 against Sri Lanka and 22* of 13 against Bangladesh.
These numbers might appear miniscule at first, but having notched them in the dying stages of the innings whilst batting at number six infuses major influence in the innings. Such knocks often turn out to be decisive factor at the end of a T20 match. Pandey has recorded a strike rate of 145.68 in 10 games since the post-WC 2019 period.
In fact, he played all the three games in the tour to Caribbean in August 2019. As stated earlier, that series had put forth slow and sluggish pitches with the average first innings total being 136 runs. To his credit, Pandey has racked up these numbers after playing those three games and not the series’ against South Africa and Bangladesh at home which provided favorable batting conditions and the average first innings total was 151.6 runs in those five games.
If we remove the tally of the tour to Caribbean from Pandey’s tally, his strike rate in this period shoots up to an excellent 161.36 in seven games since the conclusion of the 2019 World Cup.
Manish Pandey doesn’t boast an excellent T20 record, but a difference of +18.06 in his scoring rate in T20Is between the pre and post-World Cup 2019 period suggests that he has added new dynamism to his approach and is arguably an experiment that has worked well so far for the Indian team management.
Being comfortable against pace and spin alike, Pandey could be touted to succeed against the tougher sides like England and Australia whom India were initially supposed to play for a combined six T20Is before the World T20.
Manish Pandey: Answer to India’s middle order questions?
Discussing Washington Sundar
Another experiment tried out was inducting Washington Sundar into the setup. He was given the mantle of opening the bowling and to be fair, the lad did a decent job as his innate disciplined line and length ensures that he isn’t taken for cleaners in the field restriction overs. In 15 T20Is that the off-spinner has played since the conclusion of the World Cup 2019, Sundar has recorded an economy rate of 6.88 in 52 overs. Considering the overs that he has operated in, it’s quite a commendable statistic.
Furthermore, the 20-year-old’s progressive economy rate has never exceeded beyond 6.95 in the 22 T20Is that he has bowled in. It demonstrates that the lad has been consistent with his most formidable strength, i.e. the ability to hold an end up with persistently disciplined efforts. Interestingly, his ER reached 6.95 in the fourth T20I which one of the few instances in which Sundar wasn’t provided the new ball to open the bowling.
Hence, one wonders whether the player’s strengths are too limited for him to become a mainstay in the shortest format of the game. Sundar’s batting style is more classical, which could arguably be optimized if he opens the batting and attains an opportunity to make use of the field restriction overs. However, given the plethora of talent that is prevalent in the top-order for India, opening the batting with the all-rounder is simply not an alternative.
Secondly, he has notched merely nine wickets in 15 innings. His bowling strike rate of 24 indicates that Sundar bags a dismissal per game, and does so whilst conceding 27.74 runs.
These are fairly good numbers, but a frontline bowling option should be inducing a rather wicket-taking dynamic into the game. Otherwise, the maverick T20 batsmen could in all probabilities eventually find a way to take on conventional off-spinners as per their whim and fancy. Hence, it puts forth an issue to ponder upon whenever the final preparations for the imminent World T20 resumes.
Shardul Thakur’s name propped up only in the series against Sri Lanka in January this year. The pacer faces a tremendous amount of backlash but the team management has trusted in him by inducting the lad in all five T20Is against the Kiwis. Thakur isn’t your ferociously incisive quick bowler, or a sure-shot bet for the death overs. Yet, the CSK player has managed to scalp wickets at a regular rate.
The 28-year-old has bagged 13 wickets in seven matches since his return to T20Is in January 2020. His economy rate has been rather decent: 8.65 in 23 overs this year. Batting depth has been a debate that has invited radical opinions from all quarters, with some vouching for it whilst the others blatantly calling it a fallacy. However, Thakur knows a thing or two about wielding his willow and has yielded productive results in T20Is through it.
In the third T20I against Sri Lanka in Pune in January, Thakur arrived to bat with two balls to spare in the 17th over and India’s score being 164/6 after having lost Kohli and Sundar in successive deliveries. The former RPSG player whacked his way to a knock of 22 runs in eight deliveries and added 39 runs combined to the team total along with Manish Pandey in the last 20 deliveries of the innings.
Then in the fourth T20I in front of New Zealand, Thakur again joined Pandey at a precarious situation on the crease. The team was stuck at 88/6 with three deliveries remaining in the 12th over itself. The fast-bowler weathered the collapse by sticking around for another five overs, adding 20 runs to his individual tally in 15 balls. The team’s total had increased by 43 runs in the time being and stimulated the setup to further shoot up to 165 runs from a position where achieving such a target looked implausible nine overs ago.
The Indian team emerged victorious in both these encounters. In addition to his exploits with the bat, Shardul further contributed by claiming four wickets in seven overs with an economy rate of 7.42 in these two matches. Those four scalps included the two extremely critical wickets in the final over against New Zealand of Ross Taylor and Daryl Mitchel that propelled the team to tie the game and eventually win it in the super over. In the game against Sri Lanka, he got rid of Avishka Fernando and Dasun Shanaka, two important cogs of the Lankan lineup.
Shardul Thakur might not be a prodigiously talented pacer but his dogged spirit and ability to come up with such impactful contributions at critical stages of the game are quite noticeable. Such performances tilt the game in one side’s favor in the most important overs of a T20 game and Thakur has enabled that to happen towards India’s advantage since January.
He could arguably not be a starter with the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah or even Deepak Chahar around. However, contrary to the popular opinion, the team management should not be lamented for persisting with Shardul Thakur. He has earned that right.
Nikhil Bapat, a senior scribe who covers the sport extensively from Mumbai remarked, “After the failure to win the 2019 ODI World Cup, India shifted its focus on the 2020 T20 World Cup and accordingly played number of T20s as the format is different. They tried out different combinations, gave chance to youngsters including the likes of Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini among others. With a set team, under Virat Kohli, they are now a force to reckon with.”
Already, plenty of talk has surrounded the likes of Pant, Iyer, the senior Pandya and Jadeja. Hence, to focus on them in this analysis wouldn’t have provided any new perspective. We decided to focus on the trio that we discussed and intricately breakdown their performances in the international T20 matches since the Indian team set on a reboot mission. Kohli and company cannot be faulted towards not experimenting or providing ample opportunities to newbies this time around. Of course, there have been some drawbacks that can be discussed later on.
However, the mindset has been on an appropriate path more or less. The initiation of KL Rahul at the top of the order was long coming and has injected completely new dynamism to the lineup. India have played plenty of T20Is without the services of their coveted stars such as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Bumrah, Hardik Pandya who have missed matches due to injuries. This provided them an opportunity to widen their viewpoint to an extent and certain unexpected consequences acquired through the same were elaborated upon this article.
What role can Shardul Thakur play for India going forward?
Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter today.
ENG vs WI 3rd Test Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs WI 3rd Test Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs West Indies 3rd Test Preview Dream11 | ENG vs WI 3rd Test Key Players | Old Trafford Pitch Report
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It’s been quite the rollercoaster, hasn’t it?
After a superb display in the opening Test, West Indies came crashing back down to earth with a poor performance at Old Trafford. However, take nothing away from England, who, led by the superb Ben Stokes, reliable Stuart Broad and fighting Dom Sibley, levelled the series in style even with a day plus lost to rain.
Now, a series is on the line. The Windies have enjoyed success over England in recent times, so will need to bring that belief to the fore. England, with a series against Pakistan to come, will be looking to gain further points in the World Test Championship. Both sides have improvement in them, but both also have things going for them, which certainly gives this match an unpredictable feel.
Who other than Ben Stokes? If you thought his 2019 was good, his 2020 is right up there as well. Since the beginning of the year, Stokes is averaging 76.50 with the bat and just 20.29 with the ball.
His performance at Old Trafford (254 runs, three wickets) is the first time in history that an England player achieved 250+ runs and 3+ wickets in the same Test.
Now, Stokes is the number one ranked all-rounder in Tests. This has to hurt for Jason Holder, who will be keen for a big game. Despite a quiet game in the second Test (one wicket), Holder still posed a threat. His 61 wickets since the start of 2018 at 15.54 makes him one to watch, as always.
Kraigg Brathwaite continues to perform well in England. In five Tests in the country, Brathwaite has scored 439 runs at 43.90, with three fifties and a century.
Dom Sibley showcased his incredible patience in the second Test. His 372-ball 120 was his second career hundred, achieved in his eighth Test. It will be interesting to see if he can back it up with another big effort.
Joe Root made two starts in the second Test – a picture of his career over the past few years. However, his record at Old Trafford is still superb: Six Tests, 640 runs, avg. 71.11.
Shamarh Brooks is coming off two half centuries in the second Test (68 and 62). Can he build on it?
Jermaine Blackwood (55) showed he is capable of producing runs in the second innings, as he did in the first game. However, West Indies’ strong performer was Roston Chase, who took a five-for in the first dig, along with a half century.
Will James Anderson and Stuart Broad play together for the first time this series? Both have strong records at Old Trafford: Anderson 28 wickets at 21.78 and Broad 24 wickets at 26.16.
Also, Broad is coming off a superb performance in the second Test (3/66 and 3/42).
Has Kemar Roach finally turned a corner? After going wicketless for over 60 overs this series, he ended up taking four wickets in the second Test.
It remains to be seen if Shannon Gabriel will be fit for this Test. If he is, it will be interesting to see how he bounces back after a tough second game.
Rakheem Cornwall could make a return to the Windies team, and will be one to watch on what is expected to be another dryish pitch.
ENG vs WI 3rd Test: Ben Stokes is playing beautifully.
Stats and Facts
The trend of high first innings scores at Old Trafford continued. England’s 469/9d was slightly above the average first innings score of the previous five Tests: 425.4.
England have lost just two Tests at Old Trafford since 2001. Their loss against Australia last year was their first defeat at the ground in 12 Tests.
Eyes will be on Shai Hope, if he plays. His struggle in Tests has continued. He averages just 19.28 since the start of 2019. Zak Crawley will be keen for a better game, after two failures last match.
Possible Playing 11
With England boasting excellent depth in their seam bowling stocks, they have more key decisions to make in the decider. Head coach Chris Silverwood vows to pick the strongest attack, so does that mean Anderson, Broad and Archer? Also, the head coach has backed Jos Buttler and Dom Bess, which suggests they both could play.
England: 1. Rory Burns, 2. Dominic Sibley, 3. Zak Crawley, 4. Joe Root (c), 5. Ben Stokes, 6. Ollie Pope, 7. Jos Buttler (wk), 8. Dominic Bess, 9. Jofra Archer, 10. Stuart Broad, 11. James Anderson
Shannon Gabriel looked out of sorts in the second Test, after a man-of-the-match display at Southampton. He looked to be struggling physically, which might mean he misses out in this Test. West Indies could look to bring in Rakheem Cornwall, given that the Old Trafford track did provide turn. Also, Windies have a decision to make regarding the out-of-form Shai Hope and John Campbell.
Old Trafford Manchester Pitch Report and Conditions
This will be the second Test at the ground, four days after the completion of the previous match. Expect the track to be similar to that of the first Test, where it will be key for the teams to use the new ball well. Plus, the dry nature of the pitch will allow spin.
Unfortunately, though, there is a chance of rain throughout the Test, which has the potential to significantly impact the match.
Dream11 Prediction
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ENG vs WI 3rd Test Dream11 Prediction
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ENG vs WI 3rd Test Dream11 Prediction
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The weather forecast doesn’t look particularly promising, which might result in a draw. However, if you are able to get momentum as a bowling side, you can make great inroads, as England showed last game.
England start this match favourites and look a good pick to win the series.
Ace New Zealand pacer Trent Boult didn’t train on day two of New Zealand’s (both men and women) cricket camp at Mount Maunganui. The North New Zealand players are in the middle of the camp at the Bay Oval from July 19 which will continue up to July 24.
Trent Boult was unwell and was absent as a precaution. “I think he’s just tired from his eight overs bowling at us yesterday. Obviously, with what’s going around, you’ve got to be a bit smart around things like that. Hopefully, he’s fine and raring to go tomorrow,” Ross Taylor jokingly said.
As cricket resumes post the coronavirus pandemic, New Zealand is conducting six national camps for its players; three each in Northern and Southern islands. The first half of the north camp is attended by Kiwi internationals like Colin de Grandhomme, Ross Taylor, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner along with White Ferns star cricketers like Anna Peterson, Katie Perkins, Lauren Down, Holly Huddleston, Hannah Rowe, Rosemary Mair and Natalie Dodd. While the second half will consist of the likes of Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, Jimmy Neesham, Will Somerville and Will Young.
“Geographically, with the way things are set out, we’ve got more [players training] on the North Island. We split this camp into two for that reason. For now, it’s a temporary [tented] structure, we’ve got two nets. The bigger structure will come in next year. We want to make sure we maximise our time with the guys, give them every opportunity over three days, and then we have the second group coming in later in the week,” said bowling coach Shane Jurgenson while explaining the reason of the division of the camp into two parts.
“We’re trying to adjust to potential new rules, in my department, with the bowling. We’ve got to look after the ball in a different way now, we’ve got to come up with some new deliveries. So this week’s been a good starting point,” Jurgenson added.
