Australia vs India 1st Test Preview + Dream11
The talk, over.
All off-field issues, put to the side.
The Australia-India Test rivalry, here again.
India’s much awaited Test tour of Australia is upon us, and they arguably have had no better chance than now to break their Test duck down under. Will this galvanise the tourists or will the pressure prove too much? On the flip side, will the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner hurt Australia? Will the batsmen hold their own, or will it be almost entirely up to the bowlers to be competitive?
It is all to play for in Adelaide, with each side needing to lay down a marker in the first Test to shape the series in their favour.
It has been a barren 2018 for Australia, only tasting victory in any format in the T20I Tri-Series involving England and New Zealand. They lifted the Ashes in January, but only because the series was won in 2017, before the events of Cape Town. Plenty of ideas have been thrown forward as to how Australia turn things around, and there is no better time than a series against arch-rivals India to lift the mood.
For India, there is indeed no better time than now. There is no better time to improve their record in SENA, as well as achieve their first ever Test series victory down under. Their seam bowling attack looks its most potent in years, and their batting line up is full of capable players looking to remind the Australian media that there is more to this Indian side than Virat Kohli. As great as he is, he can’t do it alone as the South Africa and England tours showed. Will he fire and get the support he needs, enabling India to get off to the perfect start?
Key to an Australia win
Steve Smith and David Warner have been the backbone of Australia’s Test success over the past few years, especially at home. The absence of these two in particular gives India a big chance in the series, which places the onus on the line up picked to deliver the goods.
Usman Khawaja has been touted as one of the players to watch out for this series, and he, along with Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb, must lead an inexperienced batting line up. If Australia leave too much for the inexperienced players to do, trouble awaits, with the Indians fielding a much improved pace attack since they last visited Australia. Sure, Marcus Harris has been in good form in FC Cricket and Aaron Finch and Travis Head were encouraging in the UAE, but Test experience is low, which makes regular partnerships most important for Australia.
However, Australia’s bowling personnel has not been impacted by Cape Town, and contains the ingredients required to cause India a hard time. Virat Kohli is the prize wicket, but the Australians need to ensure that they plan and execute well against an Indian line up that had the potential to perform to pile pressure on the Indian captain. Can Mitchell Starc get the ball swinging prodigously? How economical and effective will Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood be? Also, and very significantly, can Nathan Lyon continue India’s tendency to struggle against offspinners overseas?
Key to an India win
Josh Hazlewood has cheekily reminded India of the need to support Virat Kohli, and that is indeed key to India’s quest to go 1-0 up in the series. The brilliant Indian batsman will likely have a big say as he did in South Africa and England earlier this year, but will he get greater support?
The loss of Prithvi Shaw for the first Test is a blow to the young man and India, which puts the spotlight on the Murali Vijay, fresh off a tour game hundred, and the out-of-form KL Rahul. Also, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are two players who haven’t performed as best they can in 2018, and must help wear the Aussie bowlers down.
On the bowling front, India are in good shape, despite their less-than-convincing showing in the tour game. Much has been made of Ishant Sharma’s record in Australia, but his better, fuller length in recent times will be key for India here. Can Jasprit Bumrah cause problems with his pace? How quickly can Mohammed Shami find his rhythm? Also, can Ravichandran Ashwin win the battle against Nathan Lyon on an Adelaide pitch that could take turn later in the Test?
Possible teams
Mitchell Marsh, vice-captain of the Test side, has been left out as Australia have confirmed their XI.
Australia: 1. Marcus Harris, 2. Aaron Finch, 3. Usman Khawaja, 4. Shaun Marsh, 5. Peter Handscomb, 6. Travis Head, 7. Tim Paine (c & wk), 8. Mitchell Starc, 9. Pat Cummins, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood
For India, Prithvi Shaw is out with injury, which paves the way for Murali Vijay and KL Rahul to open the batting. The pitch in Adelaide is said to have some grass on it, but personal opinion suggests it is still unlikely India will pick Bhuvneshwar Kumar, especially given that the hot conditions in Adelaide will dry out the pitch.
India: 1. Murali Vijay, 2. KL Rahul, 3. Cheteshwar Pujara, 4. Virat Kohli (c), 5. Ajinkya Rahane, 6. Rohit Sharma, 7. Rishabh Pant, 8. Ravichandran Ashwin, 9. Mohammed Shami, 10. Ishant Sharma, 11. Jasprit Bumrah
P.S. be sure to check out my five big predictions for the series!
Dream11
The first Test of the big series! Below is my Dream11 team with a few pointers.
- Tim Paine will be primed for a big Test as captain. His glovework remains solid, and his batting down the order will be of great use to Australia.
- Virat Kohli captains my side, and Usman Khawaja vice-captains. Ajinkya Rahane has a good record in Australia, and Shaun Marsh, despite a very poor home record against India, is a key batsman for the Aussies.
- R Ashwin makes my side because the warm weather will dry out the pitch quicker, and likely make it conducive to spin as the Test goes on.
- India’s batting will be tested against Australia’s fine quartet. They all make my side, along with Jasprit Bumrah. Will Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami hit their straps straight away? What about KL Rahul? For me, the Aussie bowlers might get the early upper hand.
Stats and Facts
- Australia are unbeaten in their last nine home Tests (eight wins).
- India are the current holders of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, courtesy of a tight 2-1 win at home in 2017.
- Australia will be missing Steve Smith, who averages 84.05 in 10 Tests against India.
- India have never won a Test series in Australia, and haven’t won a Test down under since 2008 (nine Tests).
Prediction
Very excited for this series to begin.
Australia are without key players, but won’t let India win without a big fight. India, to be successful in this series, need a good start. It promises to be a good clash.
In home conditions, and in lovely Adelaide, I will pick Australia to take a 1-0 series lead on the back of a fine bowling display.
I could very well be wrong, which is the beauty of this series. Here’s to a good one!
Thanks for reading!
P.S. be sure to check out my five big predictions for the series!
Pakistan A vs England Lions 5th Unofficial ODI Preview + Dream11
Preview written by @JonSNOW26008605
Pakistan A and England Lions will take each other on in the series decider, after Pakistan A picked up their second 180+ run win of the series.
Conditions at the ICC Academy in Dubai are generally good for batting, and with the weather forecast looking fine, lots of runs can be expected.
Who will take out the series?
Key to Pakistan A win
A lot will depend on Shan Masood as they have lost their most consistent run scorer M Rizwan. Masood and Adil Amin will look to continue their good form while it is an opportunity for their new comers to make a statement.
However, Pakistan’s bowling is their strongest department, and will give England another tough test. If the batsmen provide enough support to their bowlers, they are a strong chance of clinching the series.
Key to England Lions win
England look a better side than their opponents on paper. But their batsmen have found it difficult to cope with the pacers and spinners of Pakistan.
The pitch seems to be a belter and England hopes of clinching the series will depend a lot on their batsmen.
On the bowling front, Wood and Gregory will be key and will hope the spinners do their job in the middle overs. If England exploit this new look Pakistan batting then they have a great chance to win the series.
Venue: ICC Academy, Dubai
Pitch & conditions
It is generally a very good batting wicket. Weather is expected to be fine, so we can expect a high scoring encounter for this one.
Expected Teams and Dream11 Fantasy Tips:
Pakistan A: Shan Masood (c), Mukhtar Ahmed, Adil Amin, M Hassan (wk), Israrullah, Zohaib Khan, Amir Yamin, Waqas Maqsood, Umaid Asif, Amad Butt, M,Irfan
- Rizwan will not play this match as he will join the Pakistan squad for Emerging Asia cup.
- Amir Yamin joins the squad for the final match after returning from T10 league . He is an excellent allrounder and can be your differential pick.
England Lions: Alex Davies(wk), Sam Hain, Joe Clarke, Liam Livingstone, Ollie Pope, Lewis Gregory(c), Dominic Bess, Nick Gubbins/ Cadmore, Danny Briggs, James Porter / Saqib , Mark Wood
- Since it is the series decider and the team lost badly the previous match they can ring in some unexpected changes. Only the place of Gubbins is risky.
Captain and Vice Captain picks:
Pakistan A:
- Shan Masood – Inform player and very consistent in domestic cricket
- Umaid Asif – Excellent fast bowler who did well for Peshawar in the last season of PSL.
- Alternative options – Amir Yamin , Adil Amin.
England Lions:
- Livingstone – Will bowl all his quota of overs and is a dangerous batsmen.
- Hain – He has been the most consistent batsmen for the Lions this year .
- Alternative options – Davies, Wood.
Prediction
England Lions to win the series on the back of Sam Hain.
Pakistan vs New Zealand 3rd Test Preview + Dream11
Preview co-written by @Abdushakoorcric.
Here are some truths you can’t deny:
1- Sun rises in the East
2- Earth is round
3- Pakistan team is unpredictable
You just don’t know what you’ll get with when watching a Pakistan match. They can eradicate your hopes when expected to win, and can prove you wrong in your Pakistan-to-lose predictions. One day they find it difficult to stay at the crease and on other occasions they take rest on the pitch for two days. That is the thing Pakistani fans can sometimes boast about when they come out to win the title out of nowhere like the ‘RKO’ of Randy Orton.
Will they come out and take the series or will New Zealand bounce back?
Pakistan gave fans a scare of a match draw (with possibly an end like ODI series), grinding their way to 418 in nearly two days. But they say “collapses start from ordinary/soft dismissals”, and New Zealand’s started with a drag on by Jeet Raval but not to take credit away from the Yasir Shah who spun a web around the Kiwis. He started to become better and better and unplayable for them, with Mickey Arthur in admiration of Yasir Shah post match. It was one of the finest spells you’ll ever see, which well-and-truly turned the series. Will he take centre stage in Abu Dhabi?
The rain was falling early on day three, and New Zealand were sitting pretty 1-0 up in the series in the changing rooms. The Dubai Test was about how would blink first, with both sides displaying significant patience over the first two days. Unfortunately for the Black Caps, it was they who blinked first, losing 10 wickets for 40 runs in an unforgettable period of play. There was improvement in the second innings, but was ultimately too late thanks to a bad period, which is something New Zealand must avoid in the decider.
Key to a Pakistan win
Pakistan’s batsmen sucked the life out of New Zealand in Dubai, but not before Mohammad Hafeez and Imam-ul-Haq continued their run of underwhelming scores. Hafeez has struggled after his fine comeback-hundred against Australia, not even hitting 50 in six innings since. The following batsmen were superb, though, with Azhar Ali, Babar Azam and Haris Sohail grinding the Black Caps down, which is something Pakistan will be after once again.
Also, another thing Pakistan would probably be keen for is not losing Azhar Ali to a run out. Azhar and runouts is arguably the world’s most beautiful love story right now – he’s involved in more runouts than Umar Akmal in controversies, and has to discuss running with his teammates to not gift New Zealand wickets.
On the bowling front, Pakistan were simply superb in Dubai. Before the start of the series, Hasan Ali had a lot of critics questioning his place in the XI but he has proved them wrong. He bowled some excellent spells of reverse swing and has gripped the dismiss-the-Grandhomme mission tightly. His partnership with the magnificent Yasir Shah will be of even greater importance in Abu Dhabi, with Mohammad Abbas ruled out with a shoulder injury. Yasir’s superb drift, turn and flight was something Mickey Arthur was so impressed with and would be keen to see in Abu Dhabi. Can he rip through New Zealand again?
Key to a New Zealand win
There is little doubt that New Zealand showed stomach for the fight for the most part in Dubai.
However, the short period in which they didn’t cost them the game. They say you can’t win a Test in a session, but you can lose it, which came to the fore in the 2nd Test, and is something the Black Caps must avoid in the decider. Ross Taylor showed his touch with runs, so too Kane Williamson who has had a series full of starts. Like the skipper, New Zealand need to convert their starts into hundreds to pile the pressure on Pakistan.
Also, what will the make up of New Zealand’s bowling attack look like? Colin de-Grandhomme, like fellow batting all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, is bowling quite well, with his batting the disappointing aspect of his game. Ish Sodhi bowled just 20 odd overs out of 167 in Dubai, which renders his position in the side questionable. Regardless of who is picked, New Zealand will need to find ways of penetrating a Pakistan line up that will again look to grind them down. Can the likes of Trent Boult and Ajaz Patel find greater success?
Possible teams
Pakistan are at sixes and sevens by the news of Mohammad Abbas’ shoulder injury. Although he has just two wickets this series, he has built pressure, enabling the other bowlers to pounce. Shaheen Shah Afridi is reportedly in line to make his debut, and Bilal Asif could be replaced by Faheem Ashraf.
Pakistan: 1. Imam-ul-Haq, 2. Mohammad Hafeez, 3. Azhar Ali, 4. Haris Sohail, 5. Asad Shafiq, 6. Babar Azam, 7. Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), 8. Bilal Asif/Faheem Ashraf, 9. Hasan Ali, 10. Yasir Shah, 11. Shaheen Shah Afridi
For New Zealand, Tim Southee could come in for Ish Sodhi, who isn’t having the best of times.
New Zealand: 1. Jeet Raval, 2. Tom Latham, 3. Kane Williamson (c), 4. Ross Taylor, 5. Henry Nicholls, 6. BJ Watling (wk), 7. Colin de Grandhomme, 8. Tim Southee/Ish Sodhi, 9. Neil Wagner, 10. Ajaz Patel, 11. Trent Boult
Dream11
Pakistan’s batting to set things up well again? Below is my Dream11 side with a few pointers.
- BJ Watling continues to be a solid cog in New Zealand’s batting lineup.
- Kane Williamson is a due a score, and is an option for C or VC. I have gone with Azhar Ali, who looked to be near his best in Dubai.
- Mohammad Hafeez is also due a score. Bilal Asif is a chance of being replaced by Faheem Ashraf, so stay clear of Bilal.
- Yasir Shah is my captain, with Hasan Ali in the side thanks to his excellent bowling this series.
Stats and Facts
- Pakistan’s win in Dubai was their first against New Zealand in five Tests.
- Yasir Shah is five away from becoming the fastest ever to 200 Test wickets. The current record is 36 Tests by Clarrie Grimmett. Yasir Shah has 195 in 32 Tests.
- If Pakistan win this Test, it will be their first Test series win v New Zealand since 2010/11.
Prediction
This has the makings of a very competitive series decider.
Do New Zealand have anything left in the tank? Can Pakistan put one final big effort? I think they will and take the series 2-1.
Thanks for reading!
5 big predictions for Australia vs India Test Series
The big Test series is upon us.
Australia will play their second Test series since Cape Town, looking to rediscover the winning feeling in what has been a barren 2018 to date. It will be a big test without Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, with the former captain and vice-captain particularly key to Australia’s successes at home in recent years.
For India, it is their third big away tour of the year, and after defeats in South Africa and England, India will be hoping for a better time in Australia.
Many pundits believe this is India’s best chance to win in Australia for the first time ever. Dean Jones has gone as far to say that “if India don’t win this series, they’ll never win in Australia.” Their tour game has not gone exactly to plan, with their bowlers struggling and losing 19-year old whiz kid Prithvi Shaw to a nasty ankle injury.
On the other side, Australia’s bowling attack is good enough to cause India’s batting line up problems, but will the batting hold its own? In a series between two great rivals, who will gain the upper hand? Below are my five big predictions for the series. As always, feel free to leave a comment!
Prediction #1 – Leading run scorer: Virat Kohli (India)
Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting came out and said Usman Khawaja will top the charts. However, it is just too difficult to go past Virat Kohli.
This man has arguably had his best year to date. Tours to South Africa and England provided the ultimate test for batsmen in bowling friendly conditions, and Kohli stood head and shoulders above the rest. He scored in excess of 70 more than the next best in South Africa, and a huge 244 more than the next best in England.
This goes with his magnificent tour of Australia in 2014. He is the best batsman in the world, and will top the run scoring charts.
Prediction #2 – Nathan Lyon will show why he’s the premier Test offspinner in the world
Nathan Lyon vs Ravichandran Ashwin has been a topic on many fans’ lips over the last few years. Personally, there is little doubt that Nathan Lyon is the world’s best offspinner, thanks to his ability to adjust to a range of conditions.
He conquered Asia in 2017, and has been superb in Australia. Ravi Ashwin, on the other hand, has already made clear he won’t look to bowl like Lyon, and his desire to bowl with lots of variations (as his disappointing Southampton Test earlier this year showed) could continue to render him ineffective in Australia.
Nathan Lyon will outbowl Ashwin, continue some of the problems India have with offspinners overseas, and finish with more wickets.
Prediction #3 – Leading wicket taker: Patrick Cummins (Australia)
Both sides possess seam bowlers that can do well in this series, so picking who will be the leading wicket taker is a tough ask.
However, it is hard to go past the brilliant Pat Cummins. Mitchell Starc will have a say, so too Josh Hazlewood and Jasprit Bumrah, but Cummins’ attributes will hold him in good stead. Pace and consistency is so important in Australia these days, and Cummins has both.
Prediction #4 – Australia’s leading run scorer: Usman Khawaja
Usman Khawaja might not do enough to outscore Virat Kohli, but he will be Australia’s best and the series’ second highest run scorer.
Superb in the UAE, Khawaja is a key cog in the Aussie line up, and possesses a superb record at home. He is in for a big series.
Prediction #5 – Winner: Australia (2-1)
The big one.
This series is likely to be very closely fought, with Australia possessing a good bowling attack at home, and India keen to pick up their first ever series win.
However, will it be different for India’s batsmen this time as they look to improve their SENA record? The loss of Prithvi Shaw for the first and possibly second Test is a blow, and I believe Australia’s bowlers have enough in them to get Australia home, backed up by a batting line up that has largely done well in Australian conditions.
Australia will win a closely fought series 2-1.
——
So, there are my five predictions.
What are yours? Would love to hear them!
Thanks for reading!
Bangladesh vs West Indies 2nd Test Preview + Dream11
History was made in Chittagong. Recent history in Test Cricket held true.
Bangladesh won their first ever Test against West Indies on home soil, on the back of a strong first innings effort, where they took a crucial lead not far off the margin of the result. The toss proved critical, and Mirpur will likely prove the same, with both sides struggling in recent times to compete in matches where they lose the toss.
Can Bangladesh pick up their first Test series win since 2014, or will the Windies bounce back to level the series?
The Chittagong pitch suited Bangladesh perfectly. Their spin attack proved too much for the Windies batsmen, who were victim of nerves against spin, which saw top order collapses in both innings. The return of Shakib Al Hasan was a significant boost, combining beautifully with Taijul Islam and the two off spinners to make life difficult for the Windies’ batsmen. Will Bangladesh stave off their own regular batting collapses on the way to a 2-0 series win?
West Indies had never lost a Test in Bangladesh before in Chittagong, and will rue loose bowling in the first half of day one. Bangladesh plundered their way through the first half thanks to Mominul Haque’s fine century, and through Shannon Gabriel, who won’t be available for this Test, the Windies fought back. It proved too little, too late, so the Windies have to cut down the number of poor moments throughout the Test in their quest to avoid becoming the first ever side other than Zimbabwe to lose a Test series in Bangladesh.
Key to a Bangladesh win
Four of Bangladesh’s top five reached at least 20 in the first innings at Chittagong, with Mominul Haque scoring his sixth century in eight Tests at the venue. Bangladesh’s start on day one was a welcome change from their regular top order collapses in recent times, but the challenge will be to maintain this consistently in Test cricket. Bangladesh, albeit on a difficult track, gave the Windies a sniff via a first innings collapse and second innings effort that contained questionable shot selections. Can Mominul fire again, this time with more input from the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim (if selected, as he is in doubt with a finger problem)?
However, it is with the ball where Bangladesh’s best chance lies. Bangladesh’s four specialist spinners shared all 20 wickets in Chittagong, with Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan enjoying five wicket hauls. Against a Windies batting line up comprehensively outplayed in their last three Tests across India and Bangladesh, an opportunity awaits for the Bangladesh bowlers to keep the pressure on.
Key to a West Indies win
No Jason Holder and no Shannon Gabriel in this Test represents a huge challenge for the West Indies. The absence of these two places significant onus on the top six, who were largely blown away in Chittagong, which included being reduced to 11/4 in the second dig. Of utmost importance to the tourists is not getting out to straight balls, which was the case at times in the 1st Test, thanks to a fear of the sharply turning ball. Kraigg Brathwaite’s lack of runs needs to be addressed, to help hold the innings together for his side, to pave the way for the likes of Shemron Hetmyer, Sunil Ambris and Shane Dowrich to continue on from their promising 1st Test efforts.
But, the batting doesn’t represent the only challenge for the Windies in Mirpur. The absence of two key bowlers leaves a huge hole that needs to be filled by disciplined, patient bowling. The Bangladeshis are known to display a lack of patience at times, and it is up to the Windies bowlers to test it. Devendra Bishoo and Jomel Worrican grew into the game at Chittagong, and will be critical to whether the Windies level the series. Also, what impact can Kemar Roach have after an expensive outing last week?
Possible teams
Mirpur tracks have taken significant turn in Tests in the last couple of years, so expect Bangladesh to go in with just the one seamer again. Imrul Kayes is out with injury, which leaves Bangladesh in a bit of a tricky situation. Soumya Sarkar needs to step up after twin failures in Chittagong, and is set to be partnered by 23-year old Shadman Islam, who does have a fine FC record. Also, Mushfiqur Rahim has picked up a finger injury in the lead up to the test, and is in doubt. Liton Das is on standby.
Bangladesh: 1. Shadman Islam, 2. Soumya Sarkar, 3. Mominul Haque, 4. Mohammad Mithun, 5. Shakib Al Hasan (c), 6. Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7. Mahmudullah, 8. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9. Nayeem Islam, 10. Taijul Islam, 11. Mustafizur Rahman
For the Windies, Shannon Gabriel is out after picking up a suspension for making contact with Imrul Kayes. Shermon Lewis or Keemo Paul could replace him.
West Indies: 1. Kraigg Brathwaite (c), 2. Kieran Powell, 3. Shai Hope, 4. Sunil Ambris, 5. Roston Chase, 6. Shimron Hetmyer, 7. Shane Dowrich (wk), 8. Jomel Worrican, 9. Keemo Paul/Shermon Lewis, 10. Kemar Roach, 11. Devendra Bishoo
Dream11
Spin to win. Below is my updated Dream11 team with a few pointers.
- Shannon Gabriel troubled Mushfiqur Rahim significantly in Chittagong. Gabriel is not available, so picking Mushfiqur with confidence was the way to go. However, he is in doubt with a finger injury, and it is probably best to not risk him. Shane Dowrich promised in Chittagong, and will be key for West Indies again.
- Shadman Islam has a fine first class record of 3,023 runs at 46.50. His strike rate of 45 suggests he is a patient player, too.
- Shimron Hetmyer, despite throwing his second innings wicket away badly, is a threat to Bangladesh. Mominul Haque has two centuries in his last two Tests.
- I previously had Kraigg Brathwaite, but Roston Chase is too promising to ignore.
- All four Bangladesh spinners make my side, with the in-form Taijul (25 wickets in his last three games) my captain.
- Both specialist West Indies spinners make my side. Plenty of turn expected!
Stats and Facts
- Bangladesh’s win at Chittagong was their first ever Test win against West Indies at home.
- Taijul Islam needs six wickets to become the third Bangladeshi to take 100 Test wickets.
- Shakib Al Hasan became the first Bangladeshi to take 200 Test wickets. Only one other bowler, Mohammad Rafique, has reached 100. In the process, he became the quickest to the 3000 runs-200 wickets double in Tests.
- West Indies have lost their last three Tests.
- Mushfiqur needs eight runs to become the second Bangladeshi after Tamim Iqbal to reach 4,000 runs.
- Mominul Haque has scored as many centuries as Virat Kohli in 2018 (4). No other player has three.
- Nayeem Hasan became the youngest ever Test cricketer to take a five-wicket haul.
Prediction
Again, the toss will prove crucial to the result.
Like the first Test, my prediction will be based on which side is likelier to do well if they need to bat second. Bangladesh at home look too good for West Indies, and it could prove to be the case again.
Bangladesh to win the series 2-0.
Thanks for reading!
Funny Cricket Tweets 2018 edition nine
It has been a while since one of these!
The full on cricketing calendar over the last month has delivered some good cricket, but even better tweets.
Below is my selection of 17 tweets that had me laughing, and screenshotting to put in my latest funny tweets article. Enjoy!
1. Off to a great start
Jasprit Bumrah was nailing cover drives and some of the best shots you’ll see, but @mahisush1 was having none of it. Poor Shardul Thakur. Brilliant tweet!
2. “Wait till later to smack him.”
Today marks a week since Pakistan’s famous collapse to lose the Abu Dhabi Test to New Zealand. A highlight was Hasan Ali’s almighty slog that had us believing he needed to hit a six to win the World Cup for Pakistan. Here is @imsgshinde with arguably the best caption/image combination in recent times!
3. Easiest before/after photo ever
Shared the trophy before the series. Shared it after. As an Aussie fan, I’ll take it. If only all before/after photos could be so simple. Funny stuff @akshaypasu!
4. “Crap”
Mitchell Johnson got to Twitter (already risky) to engage in banter aimed at Virat Kohli (even riskier). The result was this. @cricfreakz had me in a good chuckle on the morning train!
5. The tough life chooses you
Marcus Stoinis went for 22 in one over soon after being picked up by perennial IPL underachievers Royal Challengers Bangalore. The RCB life has chosen its unlucky victim. Too good @TheLyrebird1001!
6. Easy way to learn the alphabet
Niroshan Dickwella appeals even when a batsman middles it. Shahid Afridi with his trademark celebration and who could ever forget the “frog in a blender” Paul Adams? @suneerchowdhary with tweeting gold!
7. A great pack to get you started
Another one sure did bite the dust in Abu Dhabi last week. @CrickPotato1 with one of the finest starter packs in recent memory. You can now be your very own Ramiz!
8. “How did I fail that?”
Pat Cummins was the victim of many memes during and in the aftermath of the 2nd ODI of South Africa’s recent tour of Australia. @abdushakoorcric nailed a caption contest, with a caption that hit home as a former (thankfully) university student. Pat clearly failed an easy test!
9. Virat Kohli, watch out.
Penalty runs was the hot topic over the last week or so, with Pakistan docked against India in the Women’s World T20, and so too Sri Lanka against England. @suneerchowdhary with the goods once again!
10. Number three problem solved for England?
Penalty runs was all lined up to bat at three for England, until Jonny Bairstow was called up at the 11th hour. A good chuckle from @pavilionopinion!
11. Easy answer!
@Petrivz delivered another brilliant reply after one on AB de Villiers earlier this year. That 1999 semi final still hurts. But, if it means you continue tweeting fire and make others laugh, by all means.
12 “You can survive”
Brilliant creativity from @SonejiMubin! Azhar Ali nearly got Pakistan home in the first Test last week, but exposed the tail too much. Of course, a couple of the shots were inexplicable, so much so the Mickey Arthur facepalm came out.
13. Just so much fun
Ajaz Patel rolled his arm over looking forward to what came of it by the time it reached the 22-yard mark. Pakistan well and truly did a Pakistan in the first Test, and @Sajjanlaunda put it perfectly.
14. What a transformation!
Khaleel Ahmed upon landing in Australia met the team at the hotel after an appointment at the plastic surgeon. Taking advantage of a broadcaster error in great fashion, @SonejiMubin!
15. That’s really unfair!…
…. on your mother. The Dubai Test has been a challenging watch so far, and @YASH385 put it bluntly. Just make sure she doesn’t see this, otherwise you’ll be grounded!
16. Forking out the big bucks!
Commonwealth Bank reported a record loan taken out at a cricket match. @spartytalkback knows all about the pain of buying food at sporting events!
17. Always eluding his grasp!
Will end the article with a brilliant tweet from @strangerr_18. One of my favourites. Poor Rohit!
——
So, there are 17 funny tweets from the last few weeks.
Have any yourself? Send them through!
Thanks for reading!
Australia vs India T20I Series Player Ratings
| Image credit: Getty Images |
For the second time in a row, an Australia-India T20I series ended in a 1-1 draw.
The last one was in India, and this one felt the same, with seas of blue at Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The fans didn’t end up disappointed, with the Indians picking up a deserved victory in the final game. To be fair, Australia can’t be disappointed either, with the Melbourne game perhaps a lucky escape where India had the upper hand.
I said I’ll take another 1-1 series draw before the series started, and I stick by it against a good Indian side. The key difference was India stuck to the basics, whereas Australia tried to be too fancy. In this article, I will look at each player in this series and put forward a light-hearted review. Each player will be put under the microscope and rated out of ten.
As always, feel free to leave a comment!
Australia
Aaron Finch: Take us back to Zimbabwe. Finchy hasn’t quite hit his straps since then, and Australia hopes that he will in the upcoming Tests. 5
D’Arcy Short: Put him in a Hobart Hurricanes jersey when he plays for Australia. 4
Chris Lynn: Put him in a Brisbane Heat jersey when he plays for Australia. Some fine moments at the Gabba, but like his Australian career, not sustained for long enough. Was sent in much later at Sydney. 5
Glenn Maxwell: Excellent with the bat in the first game, and excellent with the ball in the last. Not a great deal in between. Needs more consistency, otherwise his name might need to be changed to the ‘Part Time Show’. 6.5
Marcus Stoinis: Won’t be ashamed to admit he’s my new man crush, but the 22 off his over in the final T20I could give him a nightmare or two. Defended 13 off the final over in Brisbane, and good with the bat in the first and third matches. 7
Alex Carey: Knocked the bails off in Brisbane and thought the batsman hit wicket. Was he being elite honest? Looked decent with the bat in the final game, and will continue to be a key player for Australia as the new Vice-Captain. Full of composure, Carey is set for big things. 5
Ben McDermott: Didn’t get run out once. Extraordinary. Looked in fine touch in Melbourne to get Australia to some semblance of respectability. Disappointing golden duck to finish the series. 5
AJ Tye: A steady economy rate of 11.85. As many boundaries conceded as Mr. Tye has variations. A yorker or two would help. 3
Adam Zampa: Australia’s best performer this series. Will the selectors finally get the message that he needs to be the first spinner picked for white-ball cricket? Stick with him like you do with a few batsmen in this side… 8
Jason Behrendorff: Mighty unlucky to be kept out of the side for the final T20I. The Andrew Tye obsession in full flow. Expensive in the first game, but he is a player that can deliver the goods, as he showed in India last year. 2
Billy Stanlake: Everyone loves big Billy. Everyone feels down when big Billy gets hurt. Will continue to offer a good edge to Australia’s T20 attack. Just the one game. 3
Nathan Coulter-Nile: “Anything AJ Tye can do, I can do better”, said Coulter-Nile after the Sydney game. Three overs for 40 in Sydney – his only overs for the series. Good with the bat, though. 2
Mitchell Starc: Brought in for the final game, and bowled well. Finding his rhythm is Starc. Gave us a brilliant laugh after the game, too! 6
| Mitchell Starc’s best ever delivery? |
India:
Rohit Sharma: *Insert West Indies and Sri Lanka joke here*. 3
Shikhar Dhawan: Superb. Surprisingly didn’t fire against the Windies recently in eight white-ball matches at home, but he was on fire in this series. Will be dreaming about Nathan Coulter-Nile tonight. 9
KL Rahul: In breaking news, KL Rahul has replaced Internet Explorer as the slowest thing in the world. Not a series for the strike rate for Mr. Rahul… Also missed a key run out in the first match. 2
| Not the best series for KL Rahul. |
Virat Kohli: To all India fans, cherish and appreciate Virat Kohli. Sure, he can make some errors tactically as captain, but he is the master of the run chase. India were in control in Sydney as long as Kohli was there. Superb comeback after a tough night in Brisbane. Were the Virat Kohli detractors nervous about him getting out in the third T20I? I bet they were. 7
Rishabh Pant: Two dismissals softer than my sleeping pillow. Disappointing from a powerful player. 3
Dinesh Karthik: The killer. Killed the nagin dance in the Nidahas Trophy in March, and then helped kill Australia’s hopes of a first T20I series win over India. Excellent series. 8
Krunal Pandya: Tough first game, superb next two games. Man of the match in Sydney. 7.5
Kuldeep Yadav: Bet the Australians would rather read a boring book than trying to read Kuldeep Yadav. Absolutely brilliant in all three matches. Economy rate of just 5.50 with four wickets. 8.5
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: 2/68 in 10 overs for the series are figures not surprising for Bhuvneshwar. Steady for the most part. Excellent in Melbourne. 6
Jasprit Bumrah: The best white ball bowler in the world. Everyone has a tough day, which was Sydney for Bumrah. Don’t @ me. 7
Khaleel Ahmed: Memorable wicket celebrations. Not so memorable economy rate. Lots of promise with this guy, though. 6.5
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An exciting series comes to an end.
As always, and Australia-India series provides plenty to be excited about. Hope you enjoyed this piece, with a few laughs.
Time to bring on the Tests!
Thanks for reading!