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England v India 2nd ODI Preview

Charbel Coorey
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Lord’s. The home of cricket, and hopefully, the home of a more competitive match than the first.

The one-sided nature of the first ODI has a silver lining, though. The hosts’ resolve is now being tested by arguably the best ODI side right now, and their credentials as a fine ODI side themselves will be put to the test against a quality side that is firing. It will be interesting to see how they respond.
Yes, I am talking about England. With Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar out at Trent Bridge, England benefited in the early stages to pick up seven an over in the first ten. England Cricket then tweeted about how many England could actually get. It was all looking rosy. But, in picturing a cyclist riding smoothly, then falling face first into the cement, they were well and truly second best for the rest of the game. Or, they were walking through the beautiful amazon (against Australia), and then tripped over a log named Kuldeep Yadav. A big response is needed today.
India sent a warning shot to not only England, but the other eight nations competing in next year’s World Cup at the same venue. Yes, conditions are warm and dry in the UK right now, but India have the resources and the know-how to do brilliantly in most conditions in this format. England have a wristspinner who is supposedly good in supposedly helpful conditions, don’t they? England now realise they are up against a quality outfit, one that should be considered favourites for next year’s World Cup.

Key to an England win

The manner of their defeat at Trent Bridge highlighted two key issues for England.
Of course, Kuldeep Yadav continues to give the batsmen nightmares, but what about the bowling lacking penetration? The truly great ODI sides can find ways to win when their batsmen don’t have the best of days, and England at the moment are falling short in that regard.
Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow need to again get through the first ten overs, and then England need to be positive against the spinners. By positive I mean even before the ball is delivered. England need to watch the ball out of the hand like a hawk to read which way it will go, and then use positive footwork to counter the excellent spinners India have. Easier said than done, of course, but it’s a must.
Also, can their bowlers get into India’s top order? They managed to do so in the 2nd T20I after losing the first, and they need to do the same here.

Key to an India win

India were absolutely superb in the middle overs at Trent Bridge, led by Kuldeep Yadav.
In one of my greatest jokes ever (very proud), I claimed I could read the entire Harry Potter series quicker than England can read Kuldeep Yadav. The key for India is to continue to play to those England doubts – if they can get a wicket or two in the first ten overs with their seamers, the alarm bells will be ringing with the spinners yet to bowl.
Also, some of the strokeplay from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had me in awe of their quality. They are in excellent form, and if they, along with Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul, can pile the pressure on England’s bowlers again, they can set or chase anything significant.

Possible teams

Sam Curran or Jake Ball could replace Mark Wood, who was more expensive than a gold digger on Thursday. Other than that, I see England sticking with the same team and backing them to do better this time. One player who will be better for the run is Ben Stokes, who struggled for his 50 at Trent Bridge. I joked that his fashion sense was off, showing up to Trent Bridge in his whites. However, not doubting his class!
England possible XI: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Jonny Bairstow, 3. Joe Root, 4. Eoin Morgan (c), 5. Ben Stokes, 6. Jos Buttler (wk), 7. Moeen Ali, 8. David Willey, 9. Adil Rashid, 10. Liam Plunkett, 11. Mark Wood/Jake Ball
For India, the one change they could make is Bhuvneshwar Kumar coming back after a back complaint. He would most probably replace Siddarth Kaul.
India possible XI: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. KL Rahul, 5. Suresh Raina, 6. MS Dhoni (wk), 7. Hardik Pandya, 8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar/Siddarth Kaul, 9. Umesh Yadav, 10. Yuzvendra Chahal, 11. Kuldeep Yadav

I joked Ben Stokes showed up in the 1st ODI in his white clothing

Stats and Facts

  • The last ODI bilateral series lost (excluding one off match v Scotland) was against India in January 2017. They have won seven straight since then.
  • If India win this clash, it will be their tenth straight bilateral ODI series triumph.
  • Kuldeep Yadav picked up the fourth best figures by an Indian in ODIs (6/25).
  • MS Dhoni still needs 33 runs to get to 10,000 ODI runs. I will stand and applaud in my living room when this happens.
  • Jos Buttler has crossed 50 in 12 of his last 19 innings across all formats (Rajasthan Royals T20s, Tests, ODIs, T20Is). Incredible player.

Prediction

England have to improve ten-fold if they are to turn things around here. They are capable, but India are on fire right now and I back them to win and take the series today.
As always, feel free to leave a comment. Thanks for reading!

England v India 1st ODI Player Ratings: Kuldeep and Rohit smash England

Charbel Coorey
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Oh how England wish Australia were still in town.

Everyone was buzzing.

The World Cup (cricket and football) was coming home, with talk of this England side being their “greatest” ever in ODIs. They were unstoppable. Don’t you dare question their favouritism for next year’s tournament!

Well, all that came crashing down in a disappointing 24 hours for England sport. I’m confident I could read the entire Harry Potter series quicker than it will take England to properly read Kuldeep Yadav, who will be the source of nightmares for many of the English batsmen over the next night or two.

A tough day for Michael!

The same English batsmen who were dreaming happily about Ashton Agar just a few weeks ago.

Then, after Yadav put in England in a spin, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli knocked them out with a dominant partnership.

In this cricket opinion piece, I will go through the player ratings from the 1st ODI. As always, I will try to get a smile or a laugh, and as always, feel free to leave a comment!

England

Jason Roy: Looked good. Looked so good that England Cricket started tweeting about just how many England could score. LOL. Threw it away after a good start, though. 6

Jonny Bairstow: Saw the ball pitch on leg stump and thought “you beauty”. Thing is though, he wasn’t facing Ashton Agar. Promising start ended prematurely. 6

Joe Root: I can definitely read the whole Harry Potter series, and watch the movies too, before Root reads Kuldeep Yadav. 1

Eoin Morgan: New potato chips are about to hit the supermarket shelves! I’m not sure the “Soft Chip” by Eoin Morgan will be a hit among the public, though. Awful shot to get out. 2

“The Soft Chip” by Eoin Morgan!

Ben Stokes: Poor Benny showed up in the wrong clothes! Tried his best to show everyone he is ready for the big Test series. Unfortunately, it was the wrong day to showcase those skills. 4

Ben Stokes was dressed in his whites


Jos Buttler: England’s best performer. Gave England hope that they could reach 300. Class player. Would have been so disappointed to get out to an innocuous ball at a key stage. 7.5

Moeen Ali: Decent cameo with the bat, expensive with the ball. 4

David Willey: Quiet day. 3

Adil Rashid: Good cameo with the bat and bowled an absolute peach to get Virat Kohli out. Needs to take more wickets for his team with the India spinners on fire. 6

Liam Plunkett: Needs some more variety to his bowling. 3

Mark Wood: More expensive than a gold digger. 1

India


Rohit Sharma: I see fans criticise Sharma quite a bit. Can we have him move to Australia? I’ll happily have him as opener of the Aussie team every single game in white ball cricket. 9.5

Shikhar Dhawan: Found some form after a quiet T20I series. Delivered a nice gift, wrapped in a royal blue ribbon for Moeen Ali, though. 7

Virat Kohli: Ever feeling sad? Just remember you are alive at the same time as Virat Kohli. Witnessing greatness. 9

KL Rahul: Cruisy day. Might have to get used to watching the action with his pads on, with Sharma and Kohli in great form. Took a catch and hit the winning runs. 6

Suresh Raina: Snuck in three pretty quiet overs with the ball, including a maiden! Indicative of India’s complete dominance. Again not needed with the bat. 6

MS Dhoni: Superb glovework by the great man to get the vital wicket of Buttler. Solid as ever behind the stumps. The wait for 10,000 ODI runs will continue. 7

Hardik Pandya: Expensive outing with the ball but showed decent variations at times, despite calls he is overrated. 4

Siddarth Kaul: Replacing Bhuvneshwar Kumar is never easy but I’m sure most fans would have taken an economy rate of 6.20 in ten overs. 5

Kuldeep Yadav: Despite the English claiming they know how to play Yadav after the 2nd T20I, he went ahead and proved that England are still in KulDEEP trouble against quality spin. What an amazing performance, from an amazing bowler. 10

Umesh Yadav: If I had the choice to buy a ten storey mansion or Umesh Yadav in the death overs, I’d pick the mansion. Less expensive. 4

Yuzvendra Chahal: Excellent in the middle overs for India. 1/51 is a good return. 7

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So, there are my player ratings for the first ODI. It will be interesting to see whether England bounce back in the 2nd ODI. Looking forward to it.
Thanks for reading!


Zimbabwe v Pakistan 1st ODI Preview

Charbel Coorey
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My sheer passion for cricket has enabled me to follow this series. These are dark times for Zimbabwe, and good ones for Pakistan. If this isn’t 5-0, I’ll be surprised.
Not only did the men in green recently win the T20I Tri-Series to further enhance their position as the number one T20I team, they now play five ODIs against a Zimbabwe side severely depleted through injury and other factors.
Yes, that is where Zimbabwe are at right now. Their two main hopes in the Tri-Series, Kyle Jarvis and Solomon Mire, are out with injury. They join Graeme Cremer, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza as the absentees. Had these players been in the side, we could have hoped for a competitive series. Now, it’s say a prayer and hope for the best.
Pakistan won’t be complaining, but all this will do is fuel the rival fans’ claims that Pakistan are enjoying success against lower ranked opponents. No doubt that Pakistan were deserved Champions Trophy winners last year, but they are still striving for consistency in the ODI format. In their only ODI assignment of 2018 to date, they were thumped 5-0 by New Zealand, so here is a significant opportunity to take their record to five wins and five losses in ODIs in this calendar year so far.
No Solomon Mire is a huge blow for Zimbabwe

Key to a Zimbabwe win

Can you imagine the social media meltdown if this happens? I know I’ll be all over it!
Solomon Mire was Zimbabwe’s best player in the Tri-Series, but his withdrawal due to a glute tear is a huge blow. So, who will stand up? For me, the onus is on Hamilton Mazakadza and Elton Chigumbura, two experienced players who were disappointing in the recent Tri-Series. 
Also, Zimbabwe found some joy in batting first in the T20Is, where they put on competitive totals and nearly defended them, against Pakistan and Australia respectively. With Blessing Muzarabani showing some potential, he will be called on to have a good day with the ball and lead the attack well. 
A huge test awaits, and I wish Zimbabwe all the best.

Key to a Pakistan win

Babar Azam returns for Pakistan to bolster their batting line up, and so too Junaid Khan and Yasir Shah to bolster the bowling stocks. Whether you agree with Azam’s ODI batting ranking or not, he has talent, and against the lower ranked sides, he puts his best foot forward. Also, Fakhar Zaman, deserved man of the series in the Tri-Series, will be keen to continue his form, along with the likes of Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Ahmed. 
In this game, Pakistan need to play attacking, ruthless cricket. They have an excellent bowling attack that will be sure to test the fragile Zimbabwe line up, and with the World Cup a year away, they’ll be wanting to get their combinations right.
Pakistan would be feeling good after their T20I Tri-Series success.

Possible teams

Your guess is as good as mine for the Zimbabwe team. A few uncapped players have been brought into the squad, but expect the Zimbabweans to go with at least a few experienced players.
Zimbabwe possible XI: 1. Brian Chari, 2. Chamu Chibhabha, 3. Hamilton Mazakadza (c), 4. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, 5. Malcolm Waller, 6. Elton Chigumbura, 7. Peter Moor (wk), 8. Tendai Chisoro, 9. Wellington Mazakadza, 10. Donald Tiripano, 11. Blessing Muzarabani
Pakistan look much more settled, and will be spoilt for choice in the bowling department.
Pakistan possible XI: 1. Fakhar Zaman, 2. Imam-ul-Haq, 3. Babar Azam, 4. Shoaib Malik, 5. Asif Ali, 6. Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), 7. Shadab Khan, 8. Faheem Ashraf, 9. Hasan Ali, 10. Mohammad Amir, 11. Usman Khan/Yasir Shah

Stats and Facts

  • Pakistan’s last ODI tour of Zimbabwe was in October 2015, where Zimbabwe managed to win the second match and take the game into a deciding third match. Pakistan won 2-1.
  • Pakistan have not won an ODI in 2018 – the only ranked ODI team not to do so.
  • Pakistan have all three matches at Bulawayo – by 104, seven and five runs respectively.

Prediction

I don’t think this series will be a tantalising one for the neutrals, and it does not promise to be competitive. However, one can only hope.
In this one, I back Pakistan to go 1-0 up.

Thanks for reading!

West Indies v Bangladesh 2nd Test Preview

Charbel Coorey
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0

West Indies win.

OK, Preview over?

No. Because Bangladesh have the talent to bounce back and put in a better performance after an awful first game. They have done it in the past in Tests – v Pakistan (2011), v Zimbabwe (2013) and v Sri Lanka (2017) come to mind. However, given the situation they are in here, you won’t be blamed if you think they have no chance of bouncing back in this series.

West Indies did in Antigua what many fans thought they could, with their bowling attack in good touch. They were simply far too good for Bangladesh’s sorry batsmen, finding the edge with alarming ease. Against Sri Lanka, the Windies threw a series victory away. Here, there should be nothing but ruthlessness in the minds of the hosts.

Well, what can I say about Bangladesh? I have already tried to say something, highlighting five key things they must do to improve. But, in the short term, it’s about showing mental strength and giving their fans hope that the future is indeed bright. Nurul Hasan, a Test rookie, was the only one to show some resemblance of fight with the bat in Antigua. That is an embarrassing, but also empowering message to the experienced players to pretty much step the hell up.

Tough outing for Shakib an co. in Antigua

Key to a West Indies win

There is little doubt the West Indian batsmen will again enjoy the Bangladesh bowling, but the Bangladesh batting is especially there for the taking. Could you imagine the self doubt among the Bangladesh camp, now? 
West Indies inflicted the second fastest dismissal of the opposition in Test history in terms of balls (112), and the key here is not to be complacent, but rather to stick to the processes that have worked well for their bowlers in recent weeks. 
Bangladesh will be relieved with Kemar Roach missing the second Test through injury, but the likes of Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder will most certainly have a say, as the second innings in Antigua showed.

Key to a Bangladesh win

Perhaps there is a greater chance of a Kardashian coming out and saying they won’t be stupid anymore.
Nonetheless, Bangladesh have the potential to surprise us, as they have shown over the years. For an improved performance in Kingston, their experienced players simply have to step up. In Antigua, Tamim, Mushfiqur, Shakib and Mahmudullah combined for just 52 runs, which is indicative of an absolute disaster of a Test.
Get runs on the board this time, and see what happens.

Possible teams

As mentioned, Kemar Roach will be out with injury. Alzuri Joseph is his replacement in the squad, but Keego Paul could get a chance as he has been waiting in the wings.
West Indies possible XI: 1. Kraigg Brathwaite, 2. Devon Smith, 3. Kieran Powell, 4. Shai Hope, 5. Roston Chase, 6. Shane Dowrich (wk), 7. Jason Holder (c), 8. Devendra Bishoo, 9. Miguel Cummins, 10. Shannon Gabriel, 11. Alzarri Joseph
Could Bangladesh pick an extra batsman after the shocker in Antigua? They could go with this option, as they have done this in the past. Imrul Kayes could come in. If they go with this option, they will struggle even more to take wickets. Things just look really bleak at the moment for the Tigers.
Bangladesh possible XI: 1. Tamim Iqbal, 2. Imrul Kayes, 3. Mominul Haque, 4. Mushfiqur Rahim, 5. Shakib Al Hasan (c), 6. Mahmudullah, 7. Liton Das, 8. Nurul Hasan (wk), 9. Mehidy Hasan, 10. Rubel Hossain/Kamrul Islam Rabbi, 11. Abu Jayed

Stats and Facts:

  • West Indies are on the verge of their first Test series win at home since 2014 (also against Bangladesh).
  • Shakib Al Hasan has stepped up in the past when Bangladesh have lost the first Test of a series heavily. He must again in this Test.
  • Mushfiqur Rahim will become Bangladesh’s most capped Test cricketer (62), going past Mohammad Ashraful.

Prediction:

Call me a crazy man, but I have a feeling Bangladesh will bounce back pretty well in this Test. I don’t think they will win, but it won’t be as easy as the first Test for West Indies. In saying that, West Indies should still take the series 2-0.

England v India 1st ODI Preview

Charbel Coorey
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0
Image credit: Getty Images

It’s not coming home! As expected.

Now, the often carried away English, led by their media, can get carried away on something else. Is the ODI series trophy “coming home” to England as well? India will be doing their all to ensure that’s not the case!

Now, with my trademark banter out of the way, it’s really time to focus on this series.

With England now out of the Football World Cup, this ODI series will rightly get the attention it deserves. Two of the top sides in ODI cricket will go head-to-head just a year out from the World Cup. So much talent will be on display, highlighted by key individual battles that will keep us on the edge of our seats. It promises to be a beauty.

England have had a great 2018 when it comes to ODI cricket, with the only blemish a shock loss to Scotland. They have won nine out of ten matches against Australia, and beat New Zealand 3-2 away from home. However, this promises to be their biggest test, with their opponents today possessing unbelievable know-how when it comes to the ODI format. England have the quality to win this, though, which will make for compelling viewing.

India sent a warning shot in the T20Is. However, the real gauge of success is here for India, with the ODIs and Tests a true indication of whether they will leave England with pure satisfaction written on their faces. The men in blue have won their last nine bilateral ODI series in a row, including a 5-1 demolition of South Africa earlier this year. There is no doubt they will be England’s biggest test of the year so far.

Like the excitement you get when you see your great food & drink come in a restaurant, the first ODI promises to satisfy our craving for great cricket!

Let the series begin! (Image credit: Getty Images)

Key to an England win

Looking at how good both sides are in this format, as well as how well fought out the T20I series was, this could come down to winning very small moments.
Much will depend on England’s top order to put pressure on India, especially with Jasprit Bumrah out. India will be missing arguably the best death bowler in the world, so it’s on the England top four to ensure they have a very strong launch pad for those death overs. Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow were England’s best across the Australia ODIs, and with Jos Buttler in the form of his life, England have plenty to play with.
Also, how can England limit India’s powerful batting line up? There are two possible avenues. One is early wickets, of course, but another is to keep the run rate at an acceptable rate heading into the last 15-20 overs, where they can ask questions of India’s middle order to finish effectively.

Key to an India win

There are so many positive India can take out of the recent third T20I. On a flat pitch and very small ground, India held their nerve without Bhvuneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav to restrict England to under 200 after such a manic start.
Indeed, the ODI format presents different challenges, but one thing India are fantastic at is nailing each stage of the innings with both bat and ball. It’s why they are successful in the ODI format from series to series, and why they are arguably favourites for next year’s World Cup.
With Bhuvneshwar Kumar possibly missing this game, the onus is on the inexperienced seamers to keep England in check in the opening ten. Then, the two wristspinners can work England over in the middle overs. And of course, the death is critical. Can India deliver in all three stages?
Also, Shikhar Dhawan is in need of runs after a quiet T20I series. Another thing India is in need of is Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul continuing their good showings from that series. The onus is on these four to provide a platform for the middle to finish well.

Three key players for India, as often the case

Possible teams

Joe Root made way for Ben Stokes in the third T20I, but it’s likely to be Alex Hales for the ODIs.
England possible XI: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Jonny Bairstow, 3. Joe Root, 4. Eoin Morgan (c), 5. Ben Stokes, 6. Jos Buttler (wk), 7. Moeen Ali, 8. David Willey, 9. Liam Plunkett, 10. Adil Rashid, 11. Mark Wood
For India, it remains to be seen whether Bhuvneshwar Kumar plays. He apparently didn’t train on the eve of the match, and with two ODIs and five Tests to come after this, India would be wise to wrap him in cotton wool. Siddarth Kaul would be the likely addition to the team in his place. Also, I believe KL Rahul has to play (he should bat four with Kohli staying at three), with a decision to be made on Dinesh Karthik or Suresh Raina.
India possible XI: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. KL Rahul, 5. MS Dhoni (wk), 6. Dinesh Karthik/Suresh Raina, 7. Hardik Pandya, 8. Siddarth Kaul, 9. Umesh Yadav, 10. Kuldeep Yadav, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal

Stats and Facts

  • Combined, India and England have won 17 of 22 ODIs this year.
  • England have lost just four of 21 ODIs in the last 12 months, and India have won their last nine bilateral ODI campaigns in a row.
  • The last time India lost a three-match series was against Bangladesh in 2015 (five such series since then have all been won by India).
  • England scored 481 v Australia on this ground (Nottingham) last month.
  • Virat Kohli averages 32.33 in 10 ODIs against England in England.
  • MS Dhoni is just 33 runs away from 10,000 ODI runs.

Prediction

Wow. What a tough one this is to predict.
If India had Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, I would tip them to win. However, without them, it remains to be seen how they go. For that reason, I will tip England (yes, even as an Aussie) to win. But, I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if this goes the other way.
P.S. Enjoy the cricket today with great food deals below! Thanks for reading!

Sri Lanka v South Africa 1st Test Preview

Charbel Coorey
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0

Ah, the post AB de Villiers era for South Africa. I was dreading you. So too many cricket fans around the world, except probably Sri Lankans, who are South Africa’s first assignment after the great man’s retirement.

It’s always exciting to see a non-Asian team touring an Asian nation for a Test series, as it makes for a compelling contest. Can the tourists effectively deal with the foreign conditions to pick up a Test victory? It’s incredibly difficult, as most non-Asian teams have found out over the last 5-10 years, but South Africa have a great opportunity to repeat their 2014 success in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka would be buoyed by their series-leveling effort in the West Indies recently. It was backs-against-the-wall stuff. In fact, their form since the 9-0 annihilation against India last year has been pretty good, winning 2-0 v Pakistan in the UAE, drawing two Tests in India, beating Bangladesh away, and drawing with West Indies with plenty of injury and suspension distractions. Can they push South Africa to the limit, too?

Life after AB de Villiers is here for South Africa. Still, they have the quality to do well here, with their batting line up possessing the patience to do well in these conditions, and the bowling line up one of the best in the world. With Dale Steyn returning the ground where he took 9/99 four years ago, to likely partner Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander, South Africa have a great mix of spin and reverse swing to trouble Sri Lanka. It will be interesting to see how they go.

But please, a message to both sides. NO BALL TAMPERING. Cheers.

Dinesh Chandimal has been excellent, but he is doubtful

Key to a Sri Lanka win

There is a strong likelihood that South Africa will go into the first Test with six specialist batsmen. 
This is an opportunity for Sri Lanka, with the top of six of South Africa possessing 48 Tests worth of experience in Asia. Take Hashim Amla out of the equation and it’s just 25.
A big question will be whether their spinners can get a hold of the South African batting. What makes this contest even more interesting is that if Sri Lanka produce a dry, rank turner, it could very well work against them, with South Africa possessing Keshav Maharaj and wonderful exponents of reverse swing. So, Sri Lanka’s spinners need to be accurate, smart and skillful.
Also, Sri Lanka’s batting looked quite fragile in the West Indies. Against the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn and Keshav Maharaj, the batsmen must hold their own. Which players in the top six can go big?

PS enjoy the cricket today with discounted food!

Key to a South Africa win

Six specialist batsmen represents an opportunity for Sri Lanka, but so too the Proteas.
Each batsman in that top six has extra responsibility on his shoulders, and overcoming the humid, subcontinent conditions is sure to be challenge. Can Aiden Markram build on his great series against Australia? Can Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla wear the bowlers down? What can Faf du Plessis deliver, after a very tough time of things in his last tour to the subcontinent in 2015? 
The lack of experience in the subcontinent needs to be overcome by patient, resilient batting.
But, if South Africa’s batting doesn’t quite go to plan, the have an excellent attack to turn to, which includes the returning Dale Steyn and number one Test bowler Kagiso Rabada. Keshav Maharaj is also one to watch out for on his first tour of the subcontinent, after a very promising start to his career.
The thing is – the Proteas can’t leave too much for their bowling to do.

Possible teams

Skipper Dinesh Chandimal is very doubtful to play, but Angelo Mathews returns for Sri Lanka. Dimuth Karunaratne is also back in the squad, and could return. Rangana Herath has hinted he will finish his career in November, so he will be hoping for a big game.

Sri Lanka possible XI: 1. Dimuth Karunaratne, 2. Danushka Gunathilaka, 3. Dhananjaya de Silva, 4. Kusal Mendis, 5. Angelo Mathews, 6. Kusal Perera, 7. Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8. Rangana Herath, 9. Dulruwan Perera, 10. Suranga Lakmal, 11. Lahiru Kumara

South Africa coach Ottis Gibson has spoken of his desire to have three pacers. This means Philander will probably bat at seven, with Lungi Ngidi to sit out with Dale Steyn to play. Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi could be the spin duo, but Shamsi needs to overcome the curse of the South Africa Test wristspinner.

South Africa possible XI: 1. Dean Elgar, 2. Aiden Markram, 3. Hashim Amla, 4. Faf du Plessis (c), 5. Temba Bavuma, 6. Quinton de Kock (wk), 7. Vernon Philander, 8. Keshav Maharaj, 9. Dale Steyn, 10. Kagiso Rabada, 11. Tabraiz Shamsi

Stats and Facts:

  • South Africa’s last tour of Sri Lanka was in 2014. It was also a two-Test series, which the Proteas won 1-0.
  • Dale Steyn took 9/99 in his last visit to Galle, in 2014.
  • Sri Lanka have won four, drawn four and lost just two of their last ten Tests. 
  • Of the probable South Africa XI, three (Markram, Maharaj, Shamsi) have never played a Test in Asia.
  • Since South Africa’s readmission to Test cricket in 1992, they have taken the least number of wickets by spin out of any nation (Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland excluded).

Prediction:

With rain a common occurrence in Galle in July, this match could sadly be affected. If we get a result, I’m confident it will be in favour of South Africa, but I will predict a draw.

PS you can enjoy the cricket today with discounted food below!
 

RANT: 5 things Bangladesh Cricket MUST do to improve

Charbel Coorey
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0

This one could have been a very long article. In fact, the length of time it would take you to read absolutely everything I want to say could be longer than the length of a Bangladesh Test innings.

But I won’t do that to you.

In this cricket opinion piece, I will highlight five key things Bangladesh Cricket needs to do to ensure they improve and have a strong future.

Background

As I’ve mentioned a few times in previous articles, I’ve been a big follower of Bangladesh cricket for 12 years. There have been some disappointing periods throughout those years, but the state Bangladesh currently find themselves in is arguably the worst.
Their abomination in the recent first Test against West Indies was a real worrying sign. This isn’t a one-off incident, but rather, a picture of how disappointing 2018 has been for the Tigers. With all due respect to Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and West Indies, these are teams you should not be beaten or struggling badly against, especially when there has been talk over the last few years of Bangladesh’s significant improvement.
2018 has been a shocker for Bangladesh

So, what are the biggest issues in Bangladesh Cricket right now, and how could they be sorted effectively? (Yes, deep down I hope this reaches someone in close contact to those associated with Bangladesh Cricket).

1. Managing emotions appropriately

To go forward, you need to be grounded in the good times and persistent in the bad. 
There is nothing wrong with celebrating a victory, but you need to a good winner. The nagin dance? I don’t like it. Focus on the next step. Celebrating before the winning runs are hit? Again, wrong approach.
Something Bangladesh need to work on.

2. Proper domestic focus

I don’t think there is enough done in properly preparing players from their young days to be truly equipped to handle international cricket, over the long term.
Sure, Bangladesh have produced some good batsmen like Shakib, Tamim, Mominul and Mushfiqur over the last decade, but that’s going to be a given with pitches either very flat or suited to spin bowling. They have all done well at home.
But, which fast bowlers are going to hold Bangladesh in good stead in the next five to ten years? Is enough being done to encourage young kids to pick up a cricket ball and bowl fast? It’s pretty back-breaking stuff at the moment. It’s got to a point where Bangladesh continue to pick Rubel Hossain, who averages 80 in 26 Tests.
I know I wouldn’t want to bowl fast in those conditions. I would want to pick up a bat or bowl spin. 
Also, that’s not where the buck ends. It is no surprise that away from Asian conditions, Bangladesh crumble badly. Last year’s South Africa tour was disappointing, and it looks like nothing has been learnt currently in West Indies. Management needs to implement a focus on producing pitches that encourage fast bowling and equip batsmen in playing this bowling type on helpful pitches. 
Otherwise, the same cycle will continue.

Nurture talents a lot better than the present

What’s with cricketers starting well in international cricket then fading out?
Yes, in the age of video and strategy, players can get found out, but coaches and management need to nurture these players a lot better than they are now. Over the years, far too many players have faded away after making such promising starts, and this is a concern.
Currently, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed are two at risk of this happening to them. These were two bowlers that three years ago were rightly touted as the future leaders and stalwarts of Bangladesh’s bowling attack. Instead, they have gone backwards, which is just so disappointing. Mustafizur’s development should not have been about bowling more cutters. It should have been developing an in-swinger to the right hander. Taskin needs to be nurtured, not constantly dropped, to ensure his confidence stays high.
For now, I want to question why so many players have seemingly fallen off the face of the earth after showing promising signs. What’s happened to Mohammad Shahid, who bowled eight maidens in a row to build pressure on South Africa on Mustafizur’s debut? What about Robiul Islam? Legspinner Jubair Hossain? What about Marshall Ayub, a player who is touted as a patient batsman? Why haven’t the likes of Nasir Nossain and Sabbir Rahman done proper justice to their talent? 
Getting to the international stage is one thing. Staying there is another.

4. Strategy

Nothing grinds my gear like a Test team pushing fielders to the boundary in a Test, earlier than necessary. Bangladesh need to realise that building pressure is vital in Test cricket, and that means stopping singles. Have a bowler bowl to one batsman and build pressure on him. If a four gets hit, that’s fine. Set the batsman up. 
Unfortunately, it happens too rarely.
This was the basis of my rant last year that Mushfiqur Rahim should be removed as captain. He was too defensive as a skipper. However, this is also reflective of team management. Bowling first in South Africa last year and then employing a spinner within the first six overs of the Test and spreading the field out is not proactive cricket.
To improve from the position they are in, the Tigers must devise better cricketing plans and strategies, and have a hunger to continue to score runs, field well and take wickets.
Mushfiqur was a very defensive Test captain

5. Post-Shakib plan

There is no post-Shakib plan.
He is one of my favourite ever cricketers, but he will retire someday. What will Bangladesh do?
Well, I put my two cents worth earlier this year. If they continue to stroll along without any planning, Bangladesh will actually fall further into the mire, just a couple of years after everything looked so rosy.
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So, Bangladesh are in the doldrums, and the first Test in Antigua surely had to be a massive wake up call to the BCB. Getting bowled out for 43 and continuing to be inconsistent is an injustice to their talent and the passion of the fans.
Now is the time to start getting things right.

England v India 3rd T20I Player Ratings: RoHITs doubters for six

Charbel Coorey
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A bittersweet day for an Australians like myself.

With Australia losing the final of the T20 Tri-Series in Zimbabwe to Pakistan, the next best result was England losing. They did. I can at least break into half a smile.

On a ground fit for an U-13 cricket match, England failed to reach 200, when 210 was par. 198 was never going to be enough. Then, Rohit Sharma his hit doubters for six, proving that it is no fluke that he is second only to Virat Kohli in limited overs cricket for India over the past few years.

Still has bigger boundaries than Bristol

England will finally meet a top class side with a lot at stake in the Football World Cup. In the cricket, it wasn’t too dissimilar, with England meeting a top class side in India, after hammering Australia 6-0 recently. Of course, gauging whether this is a successful tour for India depends mainly on the ODIs and Tests, but the Indians have fired a big warning shot with their eighth straight success in T20I series comprising of three matches.

In this cricket opinion article, I will go through my player ratings for the 3rd T20I. As always, it is an attempt by me to induce a few smiles and laughs. Feel free to leave a comment!

England

Jason Roy: Avoided getting out to Umesh Yadav for the third straight game, and struck the ball beautifully to all parts. His dismissal actually changed the momentum of the game. 9

Jos Buttler: Got bowled by a ball that should have been deposited into the stands. Looked dangerous, but would have liked to kick on. 7

Alex Hales: Shall I create a new nickname for Alex? I’ll call him “vacuum”, as he sucked momentum out of the innings. Scored 30, but helped India get a grip of things after a manic start. 6

Banter game strong

Eoin Morgan: MS Dhoni’s made more of an impact taking the catch (running into the stumps) than Eoin did in the whole series. 2

Ben Stokes: 14 off 10 and two economical overs with the ball on his return from injury. Reminiscent of his IPL 2018 campaign. 5

Jonny Bairstow: Played some glorious shots towards the end but needed to be there till the end to get England well over 200. 6

David Willey: Should buy Shikhar Dhawan dinner after the India opener clipped a legside half volley into the hands of short fine leg. Expensive outing. 3

Chris Jordan: An absolute freak in the field. Two amazing, but contrasting catches. Would have liked to be a little more economic with the ball, though. 5

Liam Plunkett: Tough day. More expensive than a regular RCB bowling performance at the Chinnaswamy. 1

Adil Rashid: Again, can’t complain with his economy rate. He has been bowling pretty well. Can he chip in with wickets in the ODIs? 7

Jake Ball: Went for 13 an over in three but still wasn’t the most expensive bowler in his team. 2

PS enjoy the cricket today with discounted food!

India

Shikhar Dhawan: Deserves a nice dinner on David Willey. See above. 2

Rohit Sharma: The man of the match, easily. Superb striking, and showed us that he simply has to be picked for any India limited overs team. 10

KL Rahul: Victim of an unbelievable catch, but still looks in terrific touch. 6

Virat Kohli: Those wrists… Some extraordinary shots from Kohli as he gears up for a huge ODI and Test series. 8

Hardik Pandya: Could argue he is more overrated than the Kardashians, but he bounced back brilliantly after conceding 24 in his 1st over. Finished with 4/38 and 33 not out off 14 balls. 9

MS Dhoni: I don’t often tweet in celebration of cricketers’ birthdays, but I had to for MS. What a cricketer and genius behind the stumps. Superb. 7

Suresh Raina: Not required with either bat or ball. 5

Deepak Chahar: I bet he would have much rathered made his T20I debut in Harare rather than in Bristol. Tough conditions for bowlers but didn’t stop trying. 3

Umesh Yadav: Just doesn’t like bowling at the death. Expensive outing. 2

Siddarth Kaul: Good exponent of the yorker, but should use it more. Should thank Jos Buttler for not hitting his length ball out of Bristol. Still, 2/35 is a good return. 6

Yuzvendra Chahal: Chosen as the wristspinner in this match with Kuldeep left out, Chahal was under pressure to perform. He helped slow down the run rate in the middle overs with quality, accurate bowling. Four overs for 30 is gold. 7.5

It all worked out well for the RCB boys!


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So, the stage is set for an awesome ODI series! As always, feel free to leave a comment and have a discussion.

PS enjoy the cricket today with discounted food below!

England v India 3rd T20I Preview

Charbel Coorey
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One of the most anticipated bilateral series in recent times is up and running. In the least significant series out of the three (at least I think so), we have already been treated to some wonderful cricket. I’m sure we will be treated to an awesome decider, and the fact it’s on at 11pm Sydney time instead of 2:30am means I get to watch some of the action!

First up in Manchester, India showed their class and gave a stern reminder to England that they are not a weakened Australia. Then, England bounced back in a low scoring thriller in Cardiff; an absolute cracker of a match and one that was full of drama. I can’t wait for what the decider at Bristol has in store for us.

England did the key things right to win in Cardiff. In the first game, they were tormented by spin. In the second, they stepped up. In the first game, India’s top order, led by KL Rahul, tormented them. In the second, they had India reeling. I described Alex Hales as putting in an audition for the Test side in Manchester, but he also bounced back brilliantly to see England home. Can England do it again in the decider?

India were well below their best on Friday but entered the final over right in with a chance of victory. Even on days where the men in blue aren’t at their best, they are difficult to beat, and they will be of excellent nuisance value once again. On a weekend where the belief is growing stronger that “it’s coming home” in the Football World Cup, India are again involved in a cracking limited overs series, so plenty of eyes will still be glued to this one.

Choosing a winner in this game is one tough ask.

Key to an England win

That England won the 2nd T20I without Jos Buttler firing is encouraging. Of course, England possess a side full of match winners in white ball cricket, but seeing others, namely Alex Hales, seeing England home would be a source of confidence heading into the decider.

England negotiated a tricky chase in Cardiff pretty well, and showed that they can avoid a “boom or bust” approach. The same composure is required in Bristol, with ideally Jos Buttler and Jason Roy getting them off to a flyer. They did in Manchester, but then the middle order crumbled. They didn’t in Cardiff, then the middle order prospered. A complete performance will be the order of the day today.

Also, how good were England in ripping through an excellent top three for India? That they allowed India to get to 148 would be a source of improvement, but more powerplay domination can set them up for a series victory.

Key to an India win

Is Bhvuneshwar Kumar a cause for concern among India fans? 
One of India’s finest seamers is having a little bit of a challenging start to the tour. With 12 required by England in the last over in Cardiff, Bhuvneshwar would have been backed by many to get India home. He is an excellent bowler for the occasion, but unfortunately got it wrong. India need to nurture him and keep his confidence up, and a deciding T20 is a fabulous occasion for him to show his class.  
Indeed, Umesh Yadav has been superb in the powerplay overs right throughout 2018, and he will be key along with Bhuvneshwar in getting into England’s line up. Also, can Kuldeep Yadav have a better day? He bowled quite straight in Cardiff, so it might be worth getting it outside the eyeline of the England batsmen this time around. The tactics of Virat Kohli’s men will be very interesting to see.
Also, Shikhar Dhawan is yet to get going in this series, and Rohit needs to rotate the strike more at the top. A powerplay like Cardiff could be fatal for India, but Dhawan, Rohit and KLR have the class and experience to bounce back, and I back them to.

Possible teams

Ben Stokes is back for England, and it remains to be seen who he comes in for. Before the series, my guess would have been Alex Hales. Now, that Hales has played a match winning innings for his side, it could be Joe Root, who maybe isn’t quite sure of his role in the side at the moment.
England possible XI: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Jos Buttler (wk), 3. Alex Hales, 4. Joe Root/Ben Stokes, 5. Eoin Morgan (c), 6. Jonny Bairstow, 7. David Willey, 8. Adil Rashid, 9. Liam Plunkett, 10. Chris Jordan, 11. Jake Ball
I expect India to go unchanged, but one change they could make is bringing in Krunal Pandya to add another dimension to their spin attack.
India possible XI: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. KL Rahul, 4. Virat Kohli (c), 5. Suresh Raina, 6. MS Dhoni (wk), 7. Hardik Pandya, 8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9. Umesh Yadav, 10. Kuldeep Yadav, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal

Stats and Facts

  • Rohit Sharma needs 14 runs to become the fifth player to 2,000 T20I runs, and second Indian after Virat Kohli.
  • Here’s a gem from @swapniltalks: Virat Kohli has now gone seven innings without scoring a T20I fifty. It is the joint most consecutive innings he’s played without a T20I fifty.
  • The last T20I game at Bristol was in 2011. Not a bad game to host after so long!

Prediction


Really difficult one to predict with both teams excellent in limited overs cricket. I will lean towards India as I back their top order to have a better outing.
Promises to be a great clash!

Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series Final Preview: Australia v Pakistan

Charbel Coorey
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In the early stages of the week, it seemed like the series was Australia’s to lose. However, as is often the case in triangular series and larger one day tournaments, the team who starts the strongest doesn’t always mean they finish that way.

Since Australia‘s annihilation of Pakistan then Zimbabwe, they have been a little shaky. A key underlying factor to this is two low scores for Aaron Finch, and when he was out early against Zimbabwe, a shock win for the host nation was on the cards. Australia need others to step up effectively, and while Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head put on an important stand on Friday, it all still looked a little unconvincing. To win today, the Aussies will need to lift, and that is something Aaron Finch is confident about.

Pakistan had their doubters after a humiliating loss to today’s opponents on Monday. However, they have bounced back very well. After a somewhat low key, unconvincing performance against Zimbabwe, Pakistan then really flexed their muscle in their second match against Australia, gaining revenge in emphatic fashion. With conditions slowing down in Zimbabwe as the week has progressed, Australia has struggled more, where the opposite is true for Pakistan.

Today, Pakistan start deserved favourites.

Key to an Australia win

I have two main concerns with Australia right now.
Of course, the first is the reliance on skipper Aaron Finch. Australia dominated the first two games thanks significantly to his power hitting, but since he has been dismissed early, the middle order has not provided too much confidence that they can deliver under pressure. Finch is certainly the key for Australia in this final – if he can fire, then there is enough batting to provide support and help Australia set or chase convincingly.
Also, another concern is Australia’s potency with the ball right throughout the 20 overs. Billy Stanlake has been picking up wickets at the start of the innings, and Andrew Tye at the end, but who has it in them to pick up important middle over wickets? What happens if Pakistan get a good start in the powerplay, as was the case in their win over Australia the other day?
In the last match against Zimbabwe, Australia had the hosts reeling at 44/3 at the end of the powerplay. The history of T20 cricket tells you that teams rarely win when losing three wickets in the powerplay, and Zimbabwe nearly did. The hosts ended up reaching 151 and had Australia sweating. 
Also, a lack of penetration at times during the loss v Pakistan needs to be rectified here. Fakhar Zaman is a key wicket at the top, to put pressure on the likes of Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik, who look in good touch.

Key to a Pakistan win

Shaheen Afridi has burst onto the Zimbabwe scene in this series and he was the key wicket taker of Aaron Finch in Pakistan’s big win over Australia.
In addition to Afridi, Pakistan have quality right throughout their bowling attack, and has been the cornerstone of their rise to the number one ranking. Since July 2016, Pakistan have best economy rate (7.06) among the top ten T20I teams, and with pitch conditions suiting them more and more as the series goes on, Australia face a tough test. If they dismiss Finch early, it will go a long way to victory.
Also, Fakhar Zaman is coming off a career-best 73 against today’s opponents, and he was excellent in his movements across the crease to put the Australians off. He targeted both the off and on side very well, which made him difficult to bowl to. If he can repeat this, Pakistan have enough players in good touch to back him up, and set or chase a good total.

Possible teams

Australia dropped D’Arcy Short for the last game against Zimbabwe as a result of his struggle to get going. He has struck at less than 100 in 90 balls faced this series, but considering his potential, Australia could bring him back after Alex Carey bagged a low score as opener on Friday. If it were up to me, I’d bring in D’Arcy Short for Nic Maddinson. It remains to be seen.
Australia possible XI: 1. Aaron Finch (c), 2. Alex Carey (wk), 3. Travis Head, 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. Marcus Stoinis, 6. Nic Maddinson, 7. Ashton Agar, 8. Jack Wildermuth, 9. Andrew Tye, 10. Jhye Richardson, 11. Billy Stanlake
An Aussie isn’t the only opener struggling in this series. How bad is Haris Sohail looking? It remains to be seen whether Pakistan stick with him for the final.
Pakistan possible XI: 1. Fakhar Zaman, 2. Haris Sohail/Mohammad Hafeez, 3. Hussain Talat, 4. Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), 5. Shoaib Malik, 6. Asif Ali, 7. Faheem Ashraf, 8. Shadab Khan, 9. Mohammad Amir, 10. Usman Khan, 11. Shaheen Afridi

Stats and Facts

  • No matter the result here, Pakistan will retain their number one ranking thanks to beating Australia the other day.
  • Both games between these two in this series have been one sided. Australia won by nine wickets with 55 balls to spare on Monday, and then Pakistan by 45 runs on Thursday.
  • Australia have played a tri-series in Zimbabwe before. It was an ODI Tri-Series involving Zimbabwe and South Africa in 2014, and lost in the final.

Prediction

Before the series started, I picked Pakistan to win. I went with my head, rather than my heart. 
I will stick with this, given Australia’s reliance on Finch and slower pitches now coming to the fore. With two one sided games between the two sides so far, this one could be close. 
Thanks for reading!

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