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AUS vs PAK 1st Test Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey

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November 20, 2019 at 9:22 am

AUS vs PAK 1st Test Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AUS vs PAK 1st Test Prediction Today | Australia vs Pakistan 1st Test Dream11

A new Australian men’s summer is about to kick off!

Oh wait, it already has. Remember?

Cricket Australia’s poor focus aside, fans will be treated to Steve Smith, along with David Warner, for the first time in a Test on home soil in nearly two years. Australia’s successful Ashes team has the chance to keep the momentum going, against a Pakistan side that has vowed to play fearless cricket in the quest of a breakthrough series win downunder.

Also read: Keen Blogger/Writer? A 2020 Guide into Writing Cricket Blogs

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Key to an Australia win

David Warner averages nearly 60 at home. The average sneaks up to over 60 in Brisbane. After a wretched Ashes campaign, Pakistan are plotting his downfall, seeking an opportunity to target Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith as early as possible.

As good as those two were in the Ashes, Australia can’t afford to always rely on them. Warner and Joe Burns will be key in overcoming the guile and pace of Pakistan’s attack, paving the way for the brilliant Steve Smith in particular to go about his business. Can Australia set a strong platform for their middle order to pounce?

AUS vs PAK 1st Test Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AUS vs PAK 1st Test Prediction Today | Australia vs Pakistan 1st Test Dream11 — AUS vs PAK 1st Test Preview Dream11: Steve Smith is back home.

Also, Australia welcomes home their excellent bowling attack. World number one, Pat Cummins, fresh off 29 wickets in an incredible Ashes campaign, has the Pakistani batsmen in his sight. So do Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who have been in excellent red-ball form of late. Can the Aussie seamers, along with Lyon, dismantle Pakistan’s best players, including Babar Azam, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq?

Key to a Pakistan win

A few big questions await Pakistan. The first, and very pressing, is whether they can get the better of Steve Smith. Coach Misbah has instructed his team to target his ‘blind spot’, but actions speak louder than words.

Rhythm and consistency is so crucial for Pakistan on a ground where touring teams can go for quick runs. Mohammad Abbas is key to that, with his pace-partners out to provide the fireworks. If Pakistan can get to Australia’s middle order early enough, who knows what may happen.

However, another big question is how Pakistan’s batting lineup will handle the Australian attack. There were a few hiccups from the top order in their recent tour games, relying on Babar Azam and Asad Shafiq to pile on the runs. Such an occurrence here can lead to disaster, so the onus is on the top order to pave the way for Babar in particular to have a big one.

Possible Playing 11

Whether he is the best since Bradman is up for debate, but one thing for sure is that Steve Smith is pivotal to Australia’s Test team. He and Warner return for their first Test on home soil in nearly two years. Also, Joe Burns is set to open, with Head and Wade to take up two spots in the middle order.

Australia: 1. David Warner, 2. Joe Burns, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Travis Head, 6. Matthew Wade, 7. Tim Paine (c & wk), 8. Pat Cummins, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood

Also read: Keen Blogger/Writer? A 2020 Guide into Writing Cricket Blogs

Naseem Shah is set to make his debut. Iftikhar Ahmed could slot in at six, with skipper Azhar Ali to open.

Pakistan: 1. Shan Masood, 2. Azhar Ali (c), 3. Haris Sohail, 4. Babar Azam, 5. Asad Shafiq, 6. Iftikhar Ahmed, 7. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 8. Yasir Shah, 9. Naseem Shah, 10. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11. Mohammad Abbas/Imran Khan

Pitch and Conditions

Brisbane was impacted by severe thunderstorms in the past week. But, the forecast for the Test is all clear. In regards to the pitch, expect to see pace and bounce, as often the case at the ‘Gabba. Seamers who pitch the ball up with a hint of movement could have plenty of success.

Stats and Facts

Australia have not lost a Test at the ‘Gabba since 1988. Pakistan have never won a Test series downunder, and have lost their last 12 Tests in Australia.
Steve Smith in Brisbane: 5 Tests, 571 runs, average: 71.88. Incredibly, he averages 77.25 in 29 home Tests. Also, he needs 27 to reach 7,000 in Tests. He has six innings to break the record for fastest to the mark.
Nathan Lyon enjoys Brisbane’s bounce: 8 Tests, 33 wickets, average: 27.70.
Pat Cummins fares even better: 2 Tests, 14 wickets, average: 12.14.
Shan Masood and Babar Azam held their own as Pakistan were beaten 3-0 in South Africa in January. They scored a combined 429 runs.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Also read: Dream11 content for you to enjoy on CricBlog:

Match Prediction

Australia have not lost a Test in Brisbane since 1988.

Much of Pakistan’s lineup wasn’t even born then. While they have plenty of talent, Australia’s experience and familiarity in these conditions should hold them in great stead. Australia to win.

Thanks for reading!

Also read: Keen Blogger/Writer? A 2020 Guide into Writing Cricket Blogs

IPL 2020 Auction: 5 Players RCB Can Target for IPL 2020

Robin Rounder

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November 19, 2019 at 10:50 pm

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IPL 2020 Auction: 5 Players RCB Can Target for IPL 2020

5 Players that RCB can go for in the IPL 2020 Auction | How could the RCB squad look like for IPL 2020 season? | 5 Players RCB can Buy for IPL 2020

This article is part of an IPL Auction series, where we explore each team. Also check out the players CSK, DC, KXIP, KKR, SRH and RR could look at buying!

Royal Challengers Bangalore, in an attempt to stem the underachievement, have released the most number of players this year (12). Of course, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers remain crucial to their chances, but they need to rely on them less.

Indeed, they have to build a balanced squad with plenty of good players. With a heavy purse available before going into the auction, let’s take a look who are the top five players they can go for:

5. Deepak Hooda

Yes, You saw that right, Deepak Hooda! Hooda can be a very good pick for RCB as he is known for batting aggressively down the order. Moreover, he can also chip in with few overs and wickets with his gentle off spinners.

Hooda, being an local player in the IPL, can give Virat Kohli freedom of playing any specialist overseas player while worrying less about the late hitting duties. In addition, Hooda is also a very good asset in the field.

Deepak Hooda could be given lots of freedom to fire at RCB

4. Pat Cummins

The recent form of Pat Cummins is absolutely amazing in all formats. He is taking wickets for fun and can be very good choice for RCB considering bowling is their weak suit. His performance against India in India earlier in 2019 was very good (he was the highest wicket taker from Australia).

The addition of Cummins can be a massive plus for RCB.

5 Players that RCB can go for in the IPL 2020 Auction | How could the RCB squad look like for IPL 2020 season? | 5 Players RCB can Buy for IPL 2020 — Pat Cummins has had a superb 2019.

3. Chris Morris

The South African all-rounder is a very good option for RCB as he can take wickets and has the ability to hit the ball long. He can be very valuable seeing the problems that RCB has had in past few seasons with finishing the innings on both the batting and bowling fronts.

2. Chris Lynn

We all know how destructive Chris Lynn is. After released by KKR, along with 30-ball 91 very recently, he is a great choice for RCB at the top of the order. With Parthiv Patel capable of batting down the order, Lynn and Virat can go berserk in the powerplay.

1. Chris Jordan

The biggest problem for RCB has been their bowling, especially at the death. They have tried many options, but have fallen short time and time again in the crunch overs.

With Mitchell Starc ruling himself out of the IPL Auction, Chris Jordan would be a great choice for RCB to pursue. His performance for the English team has been phenomenal and he can also hit the ball well, to go with his amazing fielding. He can be an ideal pick for RCB looking at their squad and previous year performances.

Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.

This article is part of an IPL Auction series, where we explore each team. Also check out the players CSK, DC, KXIP, KKR, SRH and RR could look at buying!

Thanks for reading!

NZ vs ENG 1st Test Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey

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November 19, 2019 at 9:25 pm

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NZ vs ENG 1st Test Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | NZ vs ENG 1st Test Dream11 Match Prediction Today | New Zealand vs England 1st Test Dream11 Prediction

Ah, New Zealand and England. England, the heart-breakers. New Zealand, the fighter that suffered heartbreak but will continue to come back for more.

The rivalry has one more chapter in 2019. Test cricket.

Now, this series is not part of the World Test Championship. Who knows why. But, New Zealand, the world’s second-ranked Test side, have a score to settle. In a format they are very good at. So good that they have lost just three Tests out of 18 since the beginning of 2017, including demolishing England for 58 a year-and-a-half ago.

England, on the other hand, are perennial slow starters. Including their difficult outing in Auckland in March 2018, England have lost the first Test in four of their eight Test assignments. Moreover, the games they did win were shaky, such as Ireland (85 all-out) and India (saved by Sam Curran). They will be after a big start in Mount Maunganui.

Also read: Which 5 players should CSK go for in the IPL 2020 Auction?

Key to a New Zealand win

New Zealand’s Test success over the past few years has been around keeping together a core group of players. Tom Latham, who enjoyed a superb series in Sri Lanka this year, along with Jeet Raval, will be tasked with negotiating the England onslaught early.

It is a tough ask with Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer so prolific in the recent Ashes series. But, if New Zealand are to ensure Kane Williamson has an impact, their best chance is reducing the pressure on him as much as possible. With Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls and BJ Watling also in the middle order, skipper Williamson has plenty of cushion around him.

NZ vs ENG 1st Test Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | NZ vs ENG 1st Test Dream11 Match Prediction Today | New Zealand vs England 1st Test Dream11 Prediction — NZ vs ENG 1st Test Preview Dream11: Kane Williamson will be key.

Arguably New Zealand’s biggest avenue to victory, however, is preying on the inexperienced England batting. Tested to the full by the Australians, Rory Burns did walk out of the Ashes with his reputation enhanced. Joe Denly fought as hard he could. Those two, along with likely debutant Dominic Sibley, make up a top three that the Black Caps will target with swing bowling to savour.

With England often relying so much on their middle order, particularly Root and Stokes, New Zealand will be out to target them as early as possible.

Key to an England win

Joe Root, batting at three in the Ashes, was effectively an opener for most of the series. How England’s top three handles the swing and guile of New Zealand’s pacemen will make for interesting viewing. Indeed, if they can weather the original storm, the likes of Root, Stokes, Ollie Pope and Jos Buttler can build on the platform.

Also, while New Zealand can claim to have a fine bowling attack, so can England. Even without James Anderson, England possess threat and pace in equal measure, in the form of 467-wicket veteran Stuart Broad and the rested Jofra Archer. Can it be England who find their way to New Zealand’s middle order faster than the Black Caps can get into theirs?