21st Century ODI Cricket Quiz Part 4 (2015-2019) | ODI Cricket Quiz | ODI Cricket Quiz 2015-2019| 2015 Cricket World Cup Quiz
Once you are done with this quiz, answer more questions on 2019 ODI Cricket with a dedicated 2019 Quiz and;
Try the first three parts of CricBlog’s 21st century ODI quiz:
Part 1: 2000-2004
Part 2: 2005-2009
Part 3: 2010-2014
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21st Century ODI Cricket Quiz Part 3 (2010-2014) | ODI Cricket Quiz | ODI Cricket Quiz 2010-2014| 2011 Cricket World Cup Quiz
Test your knowledge with 30 questions in five questions from ODI cricket between 2010 and 2014, including the 2011 World Cup.
This is part three of CricBlog’s 21st century ODI cricket quiz. After this, try:
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21st Century ODI Cricket Quiz Part 2 (2005-2009) | ODI Cricket Quiz | ODI Cricket Quiz 2005-2009| 2007 Cricket World Cup Quiz
Test your knowledge with 30 questions in five questions from ODI cricket between 2005 and 2009.
This is part 2 of CricBlog’s 21st century ODI quiz. Also try:
Part 1: ODI Quiz 2000-2004
Part 3: ODI Quiz 2010-2014
Part 4: ODI Quiz 2015-2019
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4 Reasons Why Mumbai Indians edge Chennai Super Kings | MI vs CSK rivalry: Why MI win plenty of matches against CSK | MI record vs CSK
Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, a rivalry that would find its place at the top of sporting rivalries, never fails to stop the nation.
The top two teams in IPL history have an extraordinary seven titles between them. Termed as the “El Clássico” of IPL, the contest between these two most successful teams in franchise cricket is a guaranteed nail-biter.
The likes of MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and Jasprit Bumrah going face-to-face is the contest millions of cricket fans crave to see.
CSK has qualified for the playoffs in every season. They’ve played eight finals (the most) and won three times. Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, have played five finals, winning four, with three against CSK.
Here is the head-to-head records of both sides:
In this incredible rivalry, it is MI who have the wood over their nemesis: 18-12. The margin increased in IPL 2019 as MI finished on top in all four meetings against CSK.
But, incredibly, both these teams are so evenly matched that their average and average run-rate are almost the same against each other:
If the head-to-head statistics are so similar, then why are CSK unable to get past Mumbai in the IPL?
Here, we will explore four key reasons why this is the case:
CSK’s most important weapon and strength is their spin bowling, particularly on the slow Chepauk wicket; the fortress of MS Dhoni’s CSK side. Mumbai has been very successful in countering that. In fact, CSK has been below par against MI in their home ground.
Here is the head to head records of all teams against CSK at Chepauk:
You can see how dominant CSK at Chepauk. However, MI has been very successful against the men in yellow, winning six games out of eight played while no other team has won even three. In fact, MI is the only team to win more games than they have lost at Chepauk.
Players like Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya and Keiron Pollard are excellent players of spin, and they have been very successful in countering CSK’s spin attack. In fact, MI have scored at a run rate of 7.42 in the middle overs vs CSK, which is the fourth highest among active teams:
This is one of the main reasons why they are so successful against the Chennai Super Kings.
Death bowling has always been the area where CSK have struggled. When it comes to conceding runs in the death overs in recent seasons, CSK are up there.
On the other hand, Mumbai have some absolutely destructive finishers in Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard, who can go bonkers on their day. Interestingly, MI score most of their runs in overs 19 and 20 against CSK with a strike-rate of 191. They’ve hit most of their sixes too against CSK in the same period.
This shows that MI is very consistent against CSK whether it is in the middle or death overs, which plays a vital role in their dominance against CSK.
MS Dhoni is the backbone of CSK’s batting and we know how dangerous he is in the death overs. His numbers are remarkable: 2939 runs in overs 16-20 in IPL with a strike rate of 173.3.
He has won many impossible looking games single-handedly for CSK. But, MI has been very successful in stopping Dhoni from doing heavy damage in the death overs.
Why? Jasprit Bumrah.
Dhoni’s strike rate goes down significantly against Bumrah when compared with other bowlers:
As you can see, Dhoni just demolishes other bowlers but hasn’t been able to get going against Bumrah. This shows the impact of Bumrah, as Dhoni has a strike rate of 125 against him in overs 16-20, to go with three dismissals. Also, Dhoni has hit him for only two sixes and a four in this period.
This is arguably the most important thing in favour of Mumbai Indians over the Chennai Super Kings.
Also read: If IPL 2020 goes ahead, can CSK be successful again?
Rohit Sharma has to be the most important players for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. After all, he is the only skipper to win the title four times, which is incredible considering he was appointed captain in 2013.
A key reason for Rohit’s success as captain has been his tactical nous. He benches his overseas pace bowler to play an extra spinner on the slow wicket of Chepauk and it has given him results.
More impressive is the fact that Rohit has beaten CSK three times out of three in IPL Finals (2013, 2015 and 2019). Rohit has an incredible record of 12 wins and only five losses in 17 games against CSK as a skipper since 2013.
So it is clear that Rohit Sharma, the captain, plays a crucial role in MI’s prominence over CSK.
Although it’s very difficult to separate these sides statistically as they are undoubtedly the top two teams in franchise cricket, MI have some key edges over CSK that will continue to hold them in good stead.
Thanks for reading!
Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter
Also read: Should IPL go ahead in 2020, who are the leading Purple and Orange Cap contenders?
Funny Cricket Tweets March 2020 Edition | Funny Cricket Tweets | 15 Funny Cricket Tweets from March 2020
2020, aye? The year where April Fools should have been cancelled simply because what is going on in the world is scarcely believable.
It is also scarcely believable to think that there was cricket in March. India’s tour of New Zealand had come to a close, Australia were in South Africa, Zimbabwe were in Bangladesh, West Indies were in Sri Lanka and the PSL was rolling on. In what seems like an eternity ago, all cricket came to a standstill from mid-March onwards, as the COVID-19 pandemic wreaks havoc around the globe.
Social media use has skyrocketed, with many looking for some relief amid uncertainty, anxiety and social distancing. So, you are in the right place as I list 15 funny cricket tweets from March 2020. Enjoy.
I’m not one who supports fanwars, but this tweet from @double_century was both cheeky and hilarious.
Virat Kohli had a difficult tour of New Zealand. Linking his short stays at the crease with cooking two-minute Maggi noodles gives us all some nice tips for making the perfect noodles and a bit of a chuckle at the same time.
IPL 2020 was meant to be happening right now. Specifically, RCB were meant to be underachieving right now (sorry RCB fans).
So, with no IPL on, RCB fans finally have the chance to relax and not be stressed at this time of year. Well, at least @Jaswanth__R thinks so.
Ravi Ashwin’s tweet about staying safe sent Twitter into a frenzy. But, hours earlier, @MyKuhl delivered the goods, linking one of cricket’s most infamous moments to an important COVID-19 message. Creativity at its finest.
If RCB win the IPL Title, it is estimated that internet memes will decline by at least 25%.
Of course, that is a bit of satire, but one thing for certain is that RCB, unfortunately for they and their fans, are easy targets. So, when “social distancing” became a hot topic, @ladywithflaws pounced on the opportunity, highlighting how RCB were ahead of the curve. Creative.
If you don’t enjoy a chuckle or two during these times, you’ll cry.
COVID-19 is hovering over IPL 2020 like its vicious murderer, super glad that it’s gone. Very good memeing from @theesmaarkhan, uniting IPL fans who feel the same way.
Safe to say that when AB de Villiers decided to skip PSL 2020 ahead of IPL 2020, it didn’t go down too well with Pakistan fans.
So, with IPL 2020 postponed and a good chance of being cancelled, @PakistanCric10 pounced on the opportunity to bring up ABD’s decision. Funny.
While AB de Villiers is unhappy, Michael Holding is thrilled. A high-profile opponent of T20 cricket, @CSKManya has given us an accurate summary of Holding’s mood as IPL did not begin when scheduled.
Holding’s formula: Beautiful action + great career as player and commentator + no T20 cricket = happiness.
Darren Sammy has been an excellent captain over the years and is a player that has always punched above his weight. But, when it comes to calls for people to stay home, Sammy isn’t the best listener!
Genuinely thought it was him. Funny stuff from @MubbashirAbbas8.
The Daniel Alexander parody account, @Daniel86criket, is helping many get through these times of quarantine and self-isolation. One such gem is how many T20Is Sri Lanka have won in 2020.
If you are unaware of who Daniel Alexander is – he is a Sri Lankan fan and correspondent with a Twitter account that contains at least 85% of tweets about India in some negative way. A complete disregard for being unbiased.
Kanika Kapoor tested positive for COVID-19 for an incredible fifth time. @JavaidSpeaks didn’t miss the chance for a cricket-related response, with this well-and-truly looking likely to go into a seven-match series.
In all seriousness, though, I hope Kanika recovers quickly and does not catch the virus again.
One major positive out of a difficult March was “The Test” on Amazon Prime Video. In @Vitu_E’s words “they can cancel our sport, but they cannot cancel our memes” – great creativity here in highlighting England fans’ pain which brought out the laughs. Watch with sound on!
By the way, if you haven’t watched The Test yet, here are five reasons you must.
Amid all the uncertainty, one thing is for sure. You can bet your house that Steve Smith is shadow batting somewhere (at home, most likely). Thank you @itsashleeee_ for bringing some certainty into our lives during these times.
March has seen a record low for “he’s watching the cricket again” and “is that match still going?” I know this, as I am speaking from experience.
Kudos to cricket legend @sthalekar93 for an awesome sense of humour! Funny stuff indeed.
Jacques Kallis, Garfield Sobers and the like were good, but are they as good as this guy? All three disciplines in one ball; very funny stuff courtesy of Rajvender Singh, shared by @divyadutta25. Peak creativity in a time which calls for it!
@CSKian716 again. In these difficult times, you can turn to CSK fans as there is no chance of losing to their nemesis MI anytime soon.
CSK were meant to play MI in the opening game of IPL 2020, which gives them the best chance as MI rarely win their first game. But, CSK fans didn’t want to be taking chances. Funny stuff.
So, I hope this selection of tweets has provided some smiles and laughs in these times. Another edition will be out for April, so if you have something to share, do send to me or tag me on Twitter @cric_blog.
Thanks for reading!
Dream11 and Fantasy Cricket content for you to enjoy on CricBlog:
Top 10 Upsets in ODI Cricket History | Biggest Upsets in ODI Cricket | Top 10 Biggest Upsets in One Day Internationals
From a cricketing perspective, ODI cricket was not the priority in 2020. However, as the COVID-19 Pandemic continues to impact the world in many profound ways, ODI cricket takes an even further backward step in the list of priorities in 2020.
But, one cannot help to use this time to look back at some classics in the past, as ODI cricket has delivered some of the most memorable and stunning upsets. Unless it is against your own team, everyone loves an underdog. From Bangladesh to Kenya, this article will explore 10 of the best upsets in ODI history; results that shook the foundation of the game and had the cricketing world in total surprise.
England were flying. Ranked the number one ODI side and a great chance of lifting the World Cup a year later, they were expected to brush past Scotland.
Scotland, like other Associate nations, don’t get the opportunities they should to build their skills. So, surely it would have been an achievement just to compete with the world’s number one side?
Not quite. Led by Callum McLeod’s superb century en-route to a huge score of 371, Scotland won their first ever ODI against England in the most incredible circumstances, sending the 4000-crowd into raptures.
It might have not been a game that mattered in the context of the 1999 World Cup, but Bangladesh’s win over Pakistan sent shockwaves throughout world cricket.
Indeed, this was the game that catapulted Bangladesh into Test cricket. With a respectable yet highly-gettable 223 on the board, Bangladesh rallied with the ball to rip through the Pakistani top order. In the end, there was no way back for Pakistan, sending all of Bangladesh into raptures, in spite of rumours and allegations of possible match fixing.
It’s Bangladesh again. This time, eight years later at the 2007 World Cup.
Filled with a team of youngsters such as Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh did the unthinkable and all-but-knocked-out heavyweights India after the opening game. It was the bowlers who did the damage, getting the better of India’s very experienced lineup, before 17-year old Tamim lit up Port of Spain with some audacious strokeplay.
This shock result had consequences beyond just these two teams. With a short group stage followed by the longer Super Eights, the loss of India was a significant financial blow to the ICC. But, Bangladesh couldn’t care one bit, taking further steps in their development as a cricketing nation.
Another upset at the 2007 World Cup sent a subcontinent giant packing.
Like Bangladesh vs India, not many gave the underdog a chance of winning. However, Ireland’s win over Pakistan was a real shock, given that the Irish were an Associate nation fighting for opportunities to showcase their ability.
Like Bangladesh vs India, the bowlers did the job. Ireland blew Pakistan away for just 132, before scraping home to their revised target of 128 by three wickets to send shockwaves throughout the cricketing world and continue Pakistan’s hurt in World Cups since their triumph in 1992.
This remains one of the greatest ODIs of all-time.
It wasn’t the result itself that was a huge upset, but the manner of it. Looking all but gone at 111/5 in the 25th over chasing 328 for victory, Kevin O’Brien conjured up one of the greatest knocks ODI cricket has ever seen, smashing 113 in 63 balls to put Ireland on the brink of victory. Certainly would have racked up some brilliant fantasy cricket points!
John Mooney (33*) and Trent Johnston (7*) sealed the deal in the final over, executing what remains the highest successful run chase in ODI World Cups.
Was this the day cricket came alive in India?
David Frith, editor Wisden Cricket Monthly at the time of the 1983 World Cup, wrote: “Show me a person who gave Kapil Dev’s team any chance of winning the 1983 World Cup and I will show you a liar and an opportunist.”
India were widely written off against the world’s best team, West Indies, who had won the first two World Cups (1975 and 1979). But, the Indians drew great hope from their win over West Indies in the group stage, putting together the most incredible bowling performance they could to defend 183 against some of the best batsmen the game has ever seen.
Zimbabwe’s group of part-timers stunned one of the world’s heavyweight teams. Incredibly, this was Zimbabwe’s first ever ODI, which makes this result scarcely believable even to this day. To show just how big an upset this was, Zimbabwe went on to lose their next 18 ODIs in a row.
Duncan Fletcher, in his first of just six ODIs in his career, put together one of the great all-round performances in ODI history against a team backed to go far in the 1983 World Cup. He scored 69* (84) and took 4/42 in one of the most scarcely believable individual performances in ODI history to lead Zimbabwe to a famous win.
When Kenya and West Indies took to the field in the 20th match of the 1996 World Cup, a West Indies win was widely expected. When Kenya were bowled out for 166, a West Indies win was even more widely expected.
Rightly so when you have the likes of Brian Lara in your side.
But, West Indies were struggling in ODI cricket at that time. Kenya, with one professional cricketer in their ranks, still took advantage and conjured up an amazing result. They thumped their more established opponents, rolling them for just 93 in one of the many fine stories of Kenyan cricket spanning the next seven years.
One such great story was their 2003 World Cup journey, with the first World Cup match at Nairobi a very memorable one. Along the journey to an incredible Semi Final appearance, who could possibly forget such an incredible day against Sri Lanka?
Scenes of joy in the crowd, players jumping up and down in celebration of every wicket and growing belief that a new cricketing nation was here to stay made the occasion all the more special. Kenya’s score of 210/9 was competitive yet uninspiring, but their bowling and fielding effort was out of this world, dismantling a strong Sri Lankan lineup in one of the all-time upsets.
This result really shook the foundations of world cricket.
Sure, Bangladesh were a Test nation for five years at this point, but it wasn’t very merited. They had won only one match (which came in January 2005 vs struggling Zimbabwe) out of 35 Tests, with 20 defeats coming by an innings.
They didn’t fare much better in ODIs, either, boasting the worst record of any team at the time with nine wins in 107 matches. Only two were other than Zimbabwe or non-Test playing nations, and with just one individual ODI century by any player in their history, they were considered pretty much no chance against an Australia side boasting some of the world’s best ever cricketers.
But, that day in 2005 will never be forgotten. With Australia recovering to 249/5 after a shaky start, Mohammad Ashraful played a knock worthy of his incredible (but eventually unfulfilled) talent, hitting a run-a-ball century to guide Bangladesh to arguably the biggest upset ever in ODI cricket.
So, there are my top 10 upsets in ODI cricket. Do you have any games you think should be added?
Thanks for reading!
Dream11 and Fantasy Cricket content for you to enjoy on CricBlog:
21st Century ODI Cricket Quiz Part 1 (2000-2004) | ODI Cricket Quiz | ODI Cricket Quiz 2000-2004 | 2003 Cricket World Cup Quiz
Test your knowledge with 30 questions in five questions from ODI cricket between 2000 and 2004.
This is part 1 of CricBlog’s 21st century ODI quiz. Also try:
Part 2: ODI Quiz 2005-2009
Part 3: ODI Quiz 2010-2014
Part 4: ODI Quiz 2015-2019
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Top 10 Biggest Upsets in T20I Cricket History | Top Upsets in T20I Cricket | What is the biggest upset in T20 Internationals?
T20 cricket has divided opinion. Legends like Michael Holding have not grown to liking the game, whereas millions of other fans have.
But, whether you like it or not, T20 is well-and-truly here to stay. One impact of T20 cricket, compared to Test cricket in particular, is that it brings the two teams closer together. The shorter the match, the bigger the impact of momentum swings, and a number of T20Is have been testament to that.
Over 15 years of T20I cricket, there have been a number of eyebrow-raising results. From Associates to lower-ranked teams, this article will explore the top 10 upsets in T20 Internationals.
Quiz: How well do you know the World T20? Answer 35 questions in 7 minutes!
India may have been missing their big stars when they traveled to Zimbabwe in 2015. But, after winning the first T20I of that series so easily (54 runs), not many would have expected that Indian team, many of whom play regularly in the IPL, to lose the second and final match of the series.
After all, Zimbabwe had uncertainty regarding their administration, were missing key players such as Brendan Taylor and Kyle Jarvis, and had only won three in 29 against Full Member teams. But, after Chamu Chibhaba hit a solid 67 off 51, they mustered up the effort to defend 145 in Harare en-route to a morale-boosting victory.
And, for good measure, Zimbabwe beat India again a year later in another upset.
It is not often Zimbabwe go into a T20 match as favourites. It was certainly the case in September 2019 as they took on Singapore in a Tri-Series also involving Nepal.
The Zimbabweans were a tad shaky against Nepal in their first match of the series. Singapore, on the wrong end of a Paras Khadka onslaught, were then thumped by Nepal. So, it would only make sense that Zimbabwe would beat Singapore, right?
Wrong. In one of the biggest shocks in T20I cricket, Singapore, with a good team effort, mustered a fine score of 181; a score which proved four runs too many for Zimbabwe. The result heaped further hurt on Zimbabwe, who were barred from global competitions by the ICC at the time due to interference from the government in their cricket proceedings.
Ireland have largely struggled for consistency in T20I cricket. Heading into the 2016 World T20, they found themselves in a tough group which also included Bangladesh and Netherlands for a spot in the main stage of the tournament.
So, the game they were well-and-truly expected to win was against Oman. Ranked 29th in the world and playing in their first World T20 match, Oman stunned their more accomplished opponents, chasing 157 with two wickets and balls to spare. A shock result.
Given Bangladesh’s inconsistency in T20 cricket, Scotland would have felt quietly confident in a one-off T20I in 2012.
However, Scotland had to do something they had never done before: win a T20I against a Full Member nation. Led by Richie Berrington’s superb century, Scotland put on a clinic at The Hague, defending 162 with ease as they dismantled Bangladesh’s capable batting lineup which included Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.
Quiz: How well do you know the World T20? Answer 35 questions in 7 minutes!
With such great talent yet extremely disappointing returns, every opponent against Bangladesh in the mid-late 2000’s must have been wondering if it was going to be Mohammad Ashraful’s day.
Unfortunately for West Indies in the 2007 World T20, they found themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time. Ashraful, in partnership with another hot-and-cold player, Aftab Ahmed, pummelled the Windies bowlers all over Johannesburg.
In fact, Ashraful’s fifty of 20 balls was the then-fastest T20I fifty of all-time, lifting Bangladesh to a win with six wickets and two overs to spare.
Bangladesh have handed out upsets over the years. However, they have also been on the wrong end of the ledger, with a prevalent example being their shock loss to Hong Kong at home in the 2014 World T20 Qualifying Stage.
After losing 7/23 in 5.5 overs to be bundled out for 108, Bangladesh were in grave danger of missing the World T20 Super 10s at home. In the end, Hong Kong didn’t chase the target in the required 13.2 overs to get Nepal through, but that took nothing away from Hong Kong’s amazing achievement. They may have stuttered with the bat, chasing the total with two wickets in the bank, but it was a day no one associated with HK Cricket will ever forget.
It can be easy to forget how Afghanistan were still in their cricketing infancy as recently as 2016, such has been their remarkable rise.
After all, they beat West Indies 2-1 in a T20I series just a few months back. But, in 2016, they were still very much finding their feet as an Associate nation, so they were distant outsiders against a strong West Indies side. With just 123 to defend, their odds of victory had blown out even further.
But, their spin bowling display gave us a taste of what was to come in Afghanistan cricket. Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan led the way, with Amir Hamza not letting the Windies’ batsmen get going in a terrific bowling performance.
Make no doubt about it, this was a special win for Afghanistan against a side that went on to win that same tournament.
Netherlands achieved two remarkable feats in the 2014 World T20.
Firstly, they needed a miracle to qualify for the Super 10s. Against Ireland, they needed to chase down 190 in 14.2 overs to make it to the next round. Incredibly, they did so in 13.5 overs.
So, the fact they were even in the main stage was extraordinary. But, that wasn’t enough for the Dutch. They went on to thump England by 45 runs, dismantling their more-established opponents for just 88. Given England’s struggles, no result was out of the picture, but the manner of victory here was a shock to most.
Lightning had struck twice in 2014, after Netherlands pulled off an even bigger upset in 2009.
England were the hosts, gunning for their first ever global trophy. Netherlands had only played four T20Is in total before this match, and had to face the music at Lord’s. It was a mismatch on paper. Surely England would start their tournament off with a routine win?
Not quite. In one of the greatest upsets in history, the Associates stunned the hosts to leave Lord’s and the world stunned. They pulled England back after a strong century opening stand between Ravi Bopara and Luke Wright, but to chase 162 still needed some effort.
Led by Tom de Grooth, the Netherlands achieved one of their finest ever cricketing moments. They needed two to win off the final ball, and after Stuart Broad missed a run-out, Netherlands were in ecstasy.
The biggest upset in T20 Internationals.
Australia, winners of the 50-over World Cup three times in a row, were expected to be too good for Zimbabwe, albeit in a different format. After all, how could one expect differently with Australia boasting a full-strength side with the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee in their ranks?
After Australia slipped to 19/3, the Newlands crowd and the cricketing world started to wonder if Zimbabwe could actually pull it off. The Aussies recovered somewhat to post 138, but it proved too little as Zimbabwe, led by Brendan Taylor, who hit a four of the penultimate ball, pulled off a stunning upset with one ball remaining.
So, there are my top 10 upsets in T20I cricket. Do you have any others?
Thanks for reading!
Quiz: How well do you know the World T20? Answer 35 questions in 7 minutes!
World T20 Quiz: How well do you know the World T20? | Cricket Quiz | T20 Cricket Quiz | History of the World T20
When you are done with the World T20 quiz, try CricBlog’s 21st century ODI cricket quiz, divided into 4 parts!
Part 1: 2000-2004
Part 2: 2005-2009
Part 3: 2010-2014
Part 4: 2015-2019
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5 Reasons You Must Watch The Test on Amazon Prime | The Test on Amazon Prime Video | A look behind the scenes of Australian cricket
As cricket takes a backseat in these times of worry, uncertainty and social distancing, I, like millions of other cricket fans, have been seeking ways to satisfy our love for the game as the world stands still.
With no live action to look forward to and enjoy in the foreseeable future, the timing of “The Test” on Amazon Prime Video could not have been better. If you are yet to feast your eyes on The Test, this article won’t spoil any of it, but rather push you to wasting no more time and get watching.
If you have watched it like myself, then surely you can agree on my five key reasons, maybe add some of your own, and push fellow cricket fans who are yet to watch. Here goes.
It is not a spoiler to state that Justin Langer took over at a very difficult time in Australian cricket. The ball-tampering scandal rocked its foundations, and Langer was brought in to not only improve Australia’s cricket, but also their image in the eyes of their fans.
I now realise just how difficult his job was. 2018 was a terrible year for Australia: scandal, underperforming team, lack of confidence and players trying to find their way.
In 2019, Australia went a long way to turning things around, with Langer a key figure thanks to his sheer passion and knowledge of the game. Coming across as a man who focused on things such as “elite honesty”, Langer shocked viewers (as well as players and staff) with his reactions at times.
Riveting viewing.
Yes, Tim Paine has had some poor moments as captain. None more so than this day. But, overall, Paine has done a relatively good job as captain when you look beyond simply the action on the cricket field.
Unlike Langer, Paine was thrust into his role immediately out of nowhere. He was tasked with helping pick up the pieces, and over time, his leadership has grown. Yes, he may be the first one to admit that he would have liked to produce more match-defining performances, but his contribution cannot be understated.
His most defining moment was when he followed up the nightmare at Headingley with runs, as well as an inspired decision to bowl Marnus Labuschagne late on in the push for victory in the next Ashes 2019 Test at Old Trafford. You can see this all on The Test.
Check out amazing behind-the-scenes access to a roller-coaster of emotions.
See:
Also, get a glimpse into strategy sessions and team meetings to further enhance the truth that cricket is a mental game.
Such unprecedented access into a team’s efforts is one not to miss. It is a reminder that so much goes into the action we see on the field, and can make you fall in love with the game even more. It had that impact for me.
Was the ball-tampering incident one that was always coming? Yes.
Australia lost their way, highlighted most by the fact that such a good guy like Steve Smith, who loves and respects the game, didn’t put a stop to taking sandpaper out on the field in Cape Town.
Yes, winning is important, but it got to the point where it didn’t matter what measures were taken. The players were in such a bubble that the captain in Cape Town thought the incident could be brushed off pretty quickly; a far cry from what the Australian team should stand for.
But, in The Test, you get a glimpse into Australia’s new approach: Play hard but fair, enjoy the banter out on the field and answer crowd abuse by playing beautifully out on the field. Justin Langer and Tim Paine drilled this into the players, and over the course of the last year, Australia has become an enjoyable team to follow once again.
The pressures of international cricket can be stressful on all involved. But, there are moments throughout the series that bring out the laughs.
So, credit to the producers on balancing out the seriousness with laughter. From Justin Langer breaking out a smile to Mitch Marsh’s antics to Steve Smith’s shadow batting, The Test is sure to bring out a smile at the very least.
That’s all I’ll say.
Get a free trial on Amazon Prime Video today and enjoy The Test. You won’t regret it.
Thanks for reading!
