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Six big predictions for England vs India Test series

Charbel Coorey
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Please keep me in your thoughts.

Writing prediction pieces is something I really enjoy, but I somehow have to come up with some predictions for this series. I’ve been thinking long and hard about these, and coming to a conclusion has been quite the challenge!

I’ve seen plenty of predictions floating around online, and plenty are different than the other. That’s what makes the upcoming England vs India Test series so exciting. Anything can happen.

India arguably have the best ingredients now to win overseas than they have ever had, but England at home, regardless of their away form, is always a huge challenge, especially over five Tests. A key point to note is that England have not lost a five match Test series at home since 2001, so India, as the number one side, have a big challenge on their hands.

In this cricket opinion piece, I will go through my six predictions for the series and try explain why I think that certain event will happen. Whether you agree or disagree, feel free to leave a comment!

Prediction #1: Leading run scorer – Joe Root (England)

Joe Root, for me, currently sits fourth in the “big four” also comprising of Steve Smith, Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson. Excluding his 58* in Sydney earlier this year, where he retired ill, Root has failed to convert any of his last nine fifties into hundreds. His conversion rate of less than 25% is too low for a player of his quality. 
However, I believe this will be the series where he gets it right. He remains a world class player, and his two hundreds in the recent ODI series will hold him in good stead. He has an excellent record in England (avg. 58.42) and India is his favourite opponent, averaging 68.87 against them in 11 Tests, with three centuries. 
I believe he will be the leading run scorer in this series.

It’s time for Joe Root to become the dominating batsman he should be

Prediction #2: Leading wicket taker – James Anderson (England)


This one is a really difficult pick. There is talk that James Anderson and Stuart Broad will be rotated throughout the series to ensure they stay fresh.

However, which bowler, from either side, screams out as a strong candidate for leading wicket taker? For India, Ishant Sharma will ask questions, but will he take big wickets? Will Umesh Yadav be consistent; or Mohammad Shami fit enough? Will it be a spinner who will surprise us in what’s been warm, dry conditions in the UK?

For me, even with the possibility of being rested throughout the series, James Anderson is my pick.

As an Aussie, I know all too well that Jimmy likes a word or two. He hasn’t been quiet in the lead up to this series, but he has the ability to back up his words.
Even though conditions have been mostly warm and dry in England, he will still be a major factor in this series. He will test India’s uncertain top order with swing, and has the ability to reverse the ball as well, if there is any on offer.
With Joe Root sure to call on Anderson to bowl plenty of overs, I back him to be in the wickets. He will top the charts.

James Anderson did well on very flat Australian pitches in the Ashes

Prediction #3: Virat Kohli will bury his England demons

It’s been well documented that Virat Kohli had a horror 2014 series, averaging 13.40 across the five Tests.
He was dismissed by James Anderson four times, struggling significantly against the outswinging ball.
However, Virat Kohli is a player that always works on his game. He focuses brilliantly on the one per-centers. He is smart and agile enough to know that adjustments always need to be made, and he will prove that he has come so far since the 2014 tour. 
I believe he will be India’s leading run scorer, and hit over 400 runs for the series. Big call, but I believe it will come true.

Prediction #4: Either of Shikhar Dhawan or Cheteshwar Pujara won’t play the full five Tests

Two concerns for me.

Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara are talented batsmen. There is no doubt about it. However, they have struggled overseas, and this was on show in the tour match against Essex.

Shikhar Dhawan averages in the 60s against West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, but 32 against South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and England. His pair against Essex surely won’t inspire too much confidence, even among Shikhar Dhawan’s biggest supporters.

Cheteshwar Pujara is a curious case. He is patient and loves to bat for long periods of time, but just hasn’t managed to do so outside Asia. His form is very patchy, but I believe India should persist with him for the first Test and back him to play the patience game, with a few adjustments in his technique.

Both could play in the first Test, but it’s very hard to see both of them playing all five given their form and history outside Asia.

India don’t want to have to look for a Plan B for Cheteshwar Pujara

Prediction #5: Selection of Adil Rashid won’t work for England

Adil Rashid’s selection in England’s Test squad has divided opinion. Lots of people, especially Michael Vaughan, have been scathing towards Ed Smith in selecting Adil Rashid, a player who opted out of red ball cricket. It is a selection decision that has been considered a kick in the teeth of the county game.
Rashid is a good limited overs legspinner. He is a vital cog to England’s World Cup plans.
However, Test cricket is a completely different game. As Afghanistan found out on their Test debut, building pressure in white ball cricket is totally different to building pressure with the red ball, and with Rashid playing his last first class game nearly a year ago, he could be underdone. A Test average of 42, with all of his Tests played in Asia, doesn’t elicit too much confidence.
Of course, I wish Rashid all the best, but I think he will average over 40 for the series. 

Prediction #6: Series result – England 2-2 India

Arguably the toughest prediction to make for this series. 
Who will win it? I think the series will be shared.
India now have the best ingredients they have had in years to win overseas, and with conditions warm and dry in the UK, India’s spinners will also have a say. Of course, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah are big misses for the early part of the series, but the likes of Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin will ask enough questions of the England batsmen.

England’s opening combination continues to give them headaches, and their middle order is prone to a collapse now and again. Can India capitalise throughout the series? I think so.

Also, with Virat Kohli primed for a big series, he can be counted on to lead the Indian batting efforts across the Tests. Can he get enough support? I predict he will, especially in the middle order.
However, I believe England won’t lose because India’s top order is a little fragile, and the Poms have the resources to get enough out of the conditions. Also, Joe Root, like Kohli, is primed for a big series, and so too the likes of Alastair Cook, who has a good record v India. Don’t count out Ben Stokes as well, who remains a quality all rounder for England.
With both sides evenly matched in these conditions, I will call a 2-2 series draw.
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So, there we have it!
Which predictions do you think will come true? Let’s discuss!
In the meantime, be sure to check out my funny player ratings from the 3rd West Indies v Bangladesh ODI, where a couple of the West Indies batsmen are desperate for Test form….
Thanks for reading!

WI v BAN 3rd ODI Player Ratings: Desperate for Tests…

Charbel Coorey
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Ah, so the Bangladesh meltdown from the 2nd ODI didn’t come back to haunt them. Mashrafe Mortaza may have wanted to throw some players out the window after the 2nd ODI, but he would have been proud after the 3rd.

Bangladesh picked up their first ODI series win away from home since 2009. It was their second in West Indies, despite what Mohammad Isam, Bangladesh’s ESPNCricinfo correspondent, said in his match report about it being Bangladesh’s first.

They were helped along the way with some interesting batting by West Indies. Chris gave the West Indies a start as fast as a Gayle and then Shai sucked all Hope out of a possible victory.

Take nothing away from the Tigers, though, who could have gone well into their shell after “doing a Bangladesh” in the 2nd ODI. Their 2018 has been one to forget, so this is a welcome change of fortune.

As with all my player ratings articles, I will keep it light hearted! I will rate each player out of ten for the match. As always, feel free to leave a comment!

West Indies

Chris Gayle: It was a pitch in St. Kitts that enabled a little more free flowing batting than Guyana, and Chris Gayle benefited. 54 of his runs came in 11 balls, meaning 19 were scored off his remaining 55 balls. Still, got West Indies off to a very good start. I’ve seen snails move faster than Chris in the field, though! 7.5

Evin Lewis: Ah, Evin. Not the right time to audition for an opening slot in the Test team. 2

Shai Hope: Nice of Shai Hope to help us relive his awesome Test performances last year, but like Evin Lewis, it wasn’t the right time to show it off. Unfortunately, Shai extinguished all Hope of West Indies winning their first bilateral ODI series since 2014. 5

A flashback to Shai Hope’s amazing 2017 in Tests


Shimron Hetmyer: Couldn’t go on as he did in the 2nd ODI but looked threatening. Had to force the issue with the innings momentum dropping faster than West Indies’ chances at next year’s World Cup. 5

Kieran Powell: No impact in this series. Disappointing run out an accurate representation. 2

Rovman Powell: When your number six hits an unbeaten 74 off 41 in pursuit of 302, the team should be winning. Wasn’t the case, thanks to poor middle overs batting by the Windies. Wonderful effort by Powell give the Windies hope at the end. 9

Jason Holder: Lost the battle against Mashrafe Mortaza, and no, Mortaza didn’t have a ball in his hand. His Test and ODI series were like chalk and cheese. 5.5

Ashley Nurse: Another decent outing with the ball. 6.5

Keemo Paul: Expensive outing. His plane ticket could be even more expensive for West Indies if he goes to the World Cup next year. Has potential, but needs to improve his execution. 2

Devendra Bishoo: Asked plenty of questions with the ball again, and could have had more wickets. Finished with just the one. 7.5

Sheldon Cottrell: Started very economically but a disappointing finish at the death. Even got hit for two fours by Sabbir Rahman. That’s as bad as it gets. 5

Bangladesh


Tamim Iqbal: Second century of the series, and deservedly man of the series. It was good to see Tamim a lot busier in this innings. 9

Anamul Haque: A player looking quite confused right now. In the second ODI, he hit 23 off 9 balls and tried to hit everything out of Guyana. In the third, he struggled to 10 off 31 balls. 2

Shakib Al Hasan: Again looked good with the bat, and again gave it away. 0/45 from ten with the ball a very good return. Fair outing. 7

Mushfiqur Rahim: Didn’t want anything to do with the death overs, even with his team setting a score, so threw it away with 20 overs remaining. 2

Mahmudullah: Played the role of finisher that Bangladesh desperately needed. Superb knock to get Bangladesh above 300. 9

Mashrafe Mortaza: Critical 36 off 25 balls. Saw that Sabbir Rahman was due to go in ahead of him and he was having none of it. Two wickets to boot as well. 7.5

Sabbir Rahman: Sabbir Rahman’s 12 off 9 has confirmed his spot for the 2023 World Cup. That Mashrafe sent himself ahead of Sabbir tells you everything you need to know. Also still struggling discipline wise. 3

Well said, sir…


Mossadek Hossain: Limited opportunities again, but hit a good unbeaten 11 off 5 balls to get Bangladesh above 300. 4

Mehidy Hasan Miraz: What a series Mehidy had with the ball. Super economical again, taking 1/45 off his ten. 7

Rubel Hossain: Bowled seven overs for 34. Typical Rubel. However, the last few overs of his spell are where he must improve. Didn’t need to bowl them in this game. 7

Mustafizur Rahman: Successful return from injury without being too spectacular. Remains an important part of Bangladesh’s limited overs plans. 4

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So, there we have it. A series victory to savour for Bangladesh, and more concerns for West Indies.
The T20I series promises to be fun. Stay tuned for my coverage on that series as well.
Thanks for reading!

Sri Lanka v South Africa 1st ODI Preview

Charbel Coorey
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Like the recent West Indies v Bangladesh Test series, the Sri Lanka v South Africa edition was one sided. In the West Indies, the ODI leg of the tour has proven to be much more competitive, and one hopes for the same in Sri Lanka.

If you had to list the semi-finalists of the World Cup right now, I believe both these two sides don’t get a mention. That is a concern for both sides, and a significant reason why this series is important; both teams have to start fine tuning their preparations for next year’s tournament.

Sri Lanka had a wretched 2017 in ODIs, winning five of 29 matches in the calendar year. This year, their only assignment has been a Tri-Series against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in January, which they won unconvincingly. So, getting a gauge of what to expect from the hosts in this series is a challenge. Also, with bans to Dinesh Chandimal and Danushka Gunathilaka, the players who will line up in the 1st ODI have a chance to impress.

It’s not all smooth sailing for South Africa, either. The retirement of AB de Villiers has put a huge dent into their World Cup chances, and their only ODI assignment this year was a 5-1 thrashing at home to India. What is concerning is that they were dominated by spin, namely Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, so they can be sure to expect another trial by spin in what’s been a very challenging tour so far.

Key to a Sri Lanka win

Spin has been the order of the day for Sri Lanka so far in this tour, and the same should continue.
There will be no Rangana Herath here but Sri Lanka will be sure to test South Africa through accurate, wily spin bowling that forms the basis of building pressure. Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav only had to look at the South African batsmen and they would take a wicket earlier in the year. The template is set, can the likes of Akila Dhananjaya and Lakshan Sandakan follow suit?
Also, even with players missing, Sri Lanka’s likely top five possesses solid experience. Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis and skipper Angelo Mathews must provide a solid platform for the likes of Thisara Perera to launch. The onus is on the batsmen as much as the spinners to perform well for Sri Lanka.

Key to a South Africa win

Batting coach Dale Benkenstein is looking at this ODI series as a great chance to conquer spin. 
How will they go about it? Picking the ball out of the hand.
It’s easier said than done, though. In the recently completed tour match v Sri Lanka Board XI, South Africa’s top order, apart from Faf du Plessis, failed to get going. Some excellent middle order performances from David Miller, Reeza Hendricks and Willem Mulder got the Proteas out of trouble, but it’s trouble they don’t want to find themselves in during the 1st ODI. Much is needed from the likes of Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla, who look out of touch at the moment.

Possible teams

Sri Lanka possible XI: 1 Kusal Perera, 2 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 3 Upul Tharanga, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt.), 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Akila Dananjaya, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Kasun Rajitha

South Africa possible XI: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Faf du Plessis (capt.), 4 Aiden Markram, 5 JP Duminy, 6 David Miller, 7 Willem Mulder, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Andile Phehlukwayo, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi

Stats and Facts

  • South Africa have won nine of the last 10 ODIs against Sri Lanka.
  • Hashim Amla averages 70.60 in ODIs in Sri Lanka, with two centuries. This is his best record in any country.
  • Thisara Perera had a good Tri-Series in January, hitting 134 runs at 44.66, with a SR of 154. Sri Lanka need him to show consistent form ahead of the World Cup.

Prediction

At home, Sri Lanka look a good pick. However, they are far from the completed side so expect South Africa to at least be competitive.
Thanks for reading!

West Indies v Bangladesh 3rd ODI Preview

Charbel Coorey
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Bangladesh are so good at beating themselves that this should be called “Bangladesh v Bangladesh 3rd ODI Preview.”

Thanks to Bangladesh “doing a Bangladesh” on Wednesday, the series has a deciding match at St. Kitts. It should have never been the case, with the tourists well on track to picking up an important series win after a shocking Test series, and in preparation for next year’s World Cup.

However, I should be careful not to take too much credit away from West Indies. Throughout the Bangladesh chase, the Windies always believed they could win, especially with the ball turning miles. Even when the seamers came back on in the final overs, they never gave in, highlighted by Jason Holder’s confidence in himself to defend seven off the final over after a tough outing up until that point. However, the day truly belonged to Shimron Hetmyer, who will once again be key to the West Indies cause.

Bangladesh not only break hearts, but also break the internet thanks to memes. They continue to make the same mistakes, mentioned post-match by skipper Mashrafe Mortaza, and now face a battle not only with West Indies, but with themselves. Their death bowling leaves plenty to be desired, letting West Indies get to 271 when less than 250 should have been the case. Then, we all know what happened with the bat at the death. So, how do Bangladesh ensure they get it right in the decider?

Key to a West Indies win

Shimron Hetmyer’s superb century was not only a positive for the future of West Indies cricket, but an immediate concern, also.
He was by far the shining light in the 2nd ODI, and had Shakib taken the catch when he was on 79, West Indies would have been lucky to get 240. More support is required, starting from the likes of Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis at the top, who have both been underwhelming to date. Apart from Hetmyer, only one other batsman reached 30, which is something West Indies need to improve on.
Also, despite the lack of wickets, West Indies have been good in the middle overs with the ball, putting the pressure on Bangladesh. In the opening overs of Bangladesh’s chase on Wednesday, the Windies bowled like my friend who had a little too much to drink – there was precious little consistency. Here, they would be right not to only rely on Bangladesh mistakes, but also bowl good deliveries that can get wickets. A wicket taking mentality is important.

Key to a Bangladesh win

Even had Bangladesh won the 2nd ODI, they are far from the finished package.
Their death bowling is awful at times, with Rubel Hossain’s 20+ run over at the end of the West Indies innings proving critical. This was after they couldn’t dislodge the last wicket pair in the 1st ODI. Can they continue the good work in the early and middle overs, and finish off well? Taking their catches and fielding well will also contribute.
Also, their batting just creates so much frustration at times. After seven overs at Guyana, Bangladesh were flying at ten an over. Soon, the run rate halved to below five, thanks mainly to Tamim Iqbal’s inability to rotate the strike. Bangladesh continue to struggle with this, but if they can get it right in the 3rd ODI, they will be poised for a good total. Of course, finishing well with the pressure on is vital as well.

Possible teams

Andre Russell has been ruled out of the third ODI due to a knee injury, but it remains to be seen if West Indies stick with the same side. The likes of Alzarri Joseph could be under pressure after a less-than-impressive outing on Wednesday. Shannon Cottrell is waiting in the wings.
West Indies possible XI: 1. Chris Gayle, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Shai Hope (wk), 4. Jason Mohammed, 5. Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Jason Holder (c), 7. Rovman Powell, 8. Ashley Nurse, 9. Devendra Bishoo, 10. Keemo Paul, 11. Alzarri Joseph/Sheldon Cottrell
For Bangladesh, all of Tamim, Shakib, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah contributed to the cause, but all threw their wickets away. Can they contribute well again and complete the job? Another concern is Sabbir Rahman, the “new Mohammad Ashraful”, who continues to underwhelm, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Bangladesh be dumb and drop someone else instead of him. However, expect Bangladesh to go in with the same team for the decider.
Bangladesh possible XI: 1. Tamim Iqbal, 2. Anamul Haque, 3. Shakib Al Hasan, 4. Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5. Mahmudullah, 6. Sabbir Rahman, 7. Mossadek Hossain, 8. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9. Mashrafe Mortaza, 10. Mustafizur Rahman, 11. Rubel Hossain

Stats and Facts

  • Bangladesh, with a win, will pick up their second ODI series win in West Indies, after their 3-0 victory in 2009.
  • This will be the first day ODI at Warner Park since 2012. 
  • The last time West Indies won a bilateral ODI series was in 2014, where they beat Bangladesh 3-0.
  • Mushfiqur Rahim has been dismissed five times in the last over of chases in the last seven years, and Bangladesh have lost on all occasions (two ODIs, three T20Is).

Prediction

The weather is expected to be good for the deciding match. 
After the second ODI, I am unsure of how well Bangladesh can fight back after grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory. Mentally, Bangladesh just don’t seem to be strong enough, and if West Indies take the game close, I expect them to win.
In the meantime, be sure to check out my funny player ratings for the 2nd ODI. Thanks for reading!

WI v BAN 2nd ODI Player Ratings: Bangladesh do a Bangladesh

Charbel Coorey
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If there was a World Cup for throwing wins away, Bangladesh would win it every single time. No doubt about it. No one will even come close.

It’s got to the point where not even 14 to win off 12 balls with six wickets in hand is a not a comfortable position. Following the game myself, and as an avid fan of Bangladesh Cricket, I had a feeling Bangladesh would blow it. That they did. I was not happy!

Today is #ThrowbackThursday indeed. A throwback to the famous Bangalore implosion v India at the World T20 in 2016.

At least Mushfiqur didn’t celebrate this time…

Instead of winning praise, Bangladesh are encouraging opposition fans to create winning memes on social media. Man, they just don’t learn. South Africa can breathe easy – world cricket has chokers and bottlers that not even Arsenal Football Club can match (hopefully things change under our new manager, Unai Emery).

For West Indies, the series is alive, and for me, they are favourites to win it. Teams know that Bangladesh can crumble under pressure, and credit to West Indies for staying in the fight in those middle overs. But goodness me, Jason Holder’s last over performance wasn’t even that impressive; it just goes to show how disappointing Bangladesh can be in tight chases.

In this piece, I will go through each player and rate them out of ten, including the awesome Shimron Hetmyer, who was deserving of his man of the match award.

West Indies

Chris Gayle: Dot, dot, four, six, dot, dot, four,six, dot, dot, dot, four, six, dot, dot, out, dropped catch, few tight overs. Repeat. 6

Evin Lewis: Two low scores now in the series. Decided he would be Shane Watson for the day and waste a review for his team. 3

Shai Hope: Dismissal reflective of his innings. Stop, start. Still waiting to hit the form we saw in the England Tests last year. 5

Shimron Hetmyer: The player of the day. This guy has fantastic leadership qualities, highlighted by his U19 exploits a couple of years back. Magnificent innings that got his team to 271. 10

Jason Mohammed: Not much to write about on this one. Tried to cut one too close. 3

Rovman Powell: Played well for his 44. Came in at a tricky time. Missed a juicy “hit me” ball from Rubel, though. 7

Jason Holder: Was having an ordinary day until his final over where he defended seven. Word on the street is that he plans to take the Bangladesh boys out for dinner as a thank you for gifting West Indies victory. 6

Ashley Nurse: Looked as convincing with the bat as Bangladesh in the final over of a chase. However, he offered plenty with the ball, turning the ball plenty. Could have had a few more wickets. 7

Keemo Paul: Some good moments, and some poor ones. Learning curve. 5

Devendra Bishoo: A bloke spinning the ball as much as Bishoo did should have taken more wickets. Having Chris Gayle at slip these days doesn’t help. He looked threatening right through his ten overs. 7

Alzarri Joseph: Remember when coaches would say “line and length”? Yeah, not much of that from Alzarri. All over the place. 3

Bangladesh:

Tamim Iqbal: “We had a poor Test series,” said Tamim after the game. “I proved to everyone that I can still play the format well.” After a fast start, Tamim slowed down inexplicably, which brought West Indies back into the game. ROTATE THE STRIKE, MATE. 6.5

Anamul Haque: The beautiful and the very ugly. “Screw it, I’m not blocking.” Some incredible shots but getting out when swinging is not a pretty sight. Tamim thought it was Test, Anamul thought it was a T20. 5

Shakib Al Hasan: Mostly tidy with the ball, but dropped a critical catch when Shimron Hetmyer was on 79. Played a composed innings with the bat before throwing it away like only Shakib knows how… 7

Mushfiqur Rahim: The meme man. Looking for meme opportunities? Mushfiqur can deliver. At least he didn’t celebrate this time… What’s so disappointing is that his dismissal overshadowed just how good his innings was up until that point. He kept the scoreboard ticking with the ball turning miles, but it was all undone with that fatal shot to deep midwicket… 7
Mahmudullah: “40 off 30 was too easy,” said Mahmudullah. “I wanted to make things interesting by running down the pitch when a run wasn’t there and cause mayhem.” He sure made things interesting. Again so frustrating after such a good knock in challenging conditions. 6.5

Sabbir Rahman: Another Mohammad Ashraful. Looks good, but doesn’t deliver. Please, Bangladesh, top picking this guy. Showed no match awareness and barely played a smart shot. Threw it away with 8 off 7 needed. 3

Mossadek Hossain: Expensive four overs with the ball and could barely get the ball off the square in the last over. To be fair to him, if the others weren’t so silly, he wouldn’t have been out there at the end… 3

Mashrafe Mortaza: Mashrafe is a miracle man for Bangladesh but not quite “six off his only ball to win the game” miracle man. If he didn’t break something in the dressing room and go absolutely crazy at his boys, then he has done wrong. Who could blame him if he wanted to pick up a few of the guys and launch them out the window? 6.5

Mehidy Hasan Miraz: Another fine day with the ball for Bangladesh’s talented off spinner. Three maidens! Please, Mashrafe, don’t launch him out the window. 7

Mustafizur Rahman: Steady day for the “Fizz” with late over wickets. Needed to target the stumps against Alzarri Joseph with West Indies nine down for below 250. 6.5

Rubel Hossain: One of the players Mashrafe could launch out the window. How many times has Rubel disappointed at the death? That over of 20+ at the end of the West Indies innings proved critical. Overshadows his three wickets. 5.5

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So, there we have it. Had I had the chance to write this straight after the game, I would have probably published a few swear words.
Thanks to Bangladesh’s incompetence in the death overs, West Indies have kept the series alive. It should be an interesting 3rd ODI.
Thanks for reading!

West Indies v Bangladesh 2nd ODI Preview

Charbel Coorey
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Ladies and gentlemen, we have a contest!

After a Test series that Bangladesh would like to believe never happened, they displayed just how much better they are in the ODI format. A comfortable 48-run win in the 1st ODI is a big confidence boost for the nation, after suffering from a disappointing 2018 so far.

West Indies proved they are really far from the completed package in ODIs. After a very nervy World Cup Qualifying campaign in Zimbabwe earlier this year, West Indies now need to set their sights on being competitive at next year’s World Cup. Their performance in the first ODI would not have instilled much confidence in their supporters, but with Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard considered possibilities for next year’s tournament, the players in the current side need to step up their game. That could be a big motivator for the rest of this series, at least.

For Bangladesh, Sunday was a welcome change from what has been a horrendous tour to date. Conditions in Guyana suit them, with the pitch playing quite slow, and their senior players stepped up to the task. Of course, there remains the concern that Bangladesh can’t quite nail the pace of their innings as they wish, given Tamim and Shakib’s inability at times to properly accelerate the scoring rate with wickets in hand. However, much will depend on them, as well as the bowlers, to wrap up the series.

Key to a West Indies win

On Sunday, the hosts lacked penetration with the ball and dropped catches as if the ball was a hotplate. That they let Bangladesh reach 279 would have been a disappointment to them, after working hard in the middle overs to keep the scoring rate down.
Middle over wickets and better death bowling could see a completely different result in the 2nd ODI, especially given Bangladesh’s dependence on Tamim and Shakib for runs. In the Tri-Series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in January, Tamim and Shakib contributed 44,57% of Bangladesh’s runs, which has to highlight a potential opportunity for West Indies. Get these two out early, and the game opens up.
Also, West Indies were very poor in rotating the strike in the 1st ODI. This Bangladesh team thrives on dot balls in the ODI format, and if West Indies rely too much on boundaries again, it paves the way for Bangladesh’s bowlers to continue getting into the wickets.

Key to a Bangladesh win

Bangladesh also have a similar problem to the West Indies in the sense that they too can rotate the strike better.
Tamim batted for 160 balls on Sunday, yet finished with 130. Shakib batted for 121 balls and finished with 97. Yes, batting conditions are a little slow, but rotation of the strike is vital. Had it not been for Mushfiqur Rahim’s brilliant launch at the end, Bangladesh may have struggled to reach 250 on a day where they had a 200+ run partnership. Of course, Tamim and Shakib remain key to Bangladesh’s chances, as always.
Also, I was really impressed with Bangladesh’s bowling. It still remains to be seen whether they can find the penetration required to be successful in English conditions at the World Cup, but their ability to keep the pressure on was encouraging. The inclusion of Mashrafe Mortaza in the side is such a huge bonus for Bangladesh, and he was supported well by the likes of Mustafizur Rahman and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. More of the same is needed in the 2nd ODI.

Possible teams

Kieran Powell and Keemo Paul could get a look in for West Indies, but there is a good chance they will give the same team a chance to redeem themselves. More is needed from the likes of Chris Gayle and Andre Russell, who can be damaging.
West Indies possible XI: 1. Chris Gayle, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Shai Hope (wk), 4. Jason Mohammed, 5. Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Jason Holder (c), 7. Rovman Powell, 8. Andre Russell, 9. Devendra Bishoo, 10. Ashley Nurse, 11. Alzarri Joseph
For Bangladesh, Liton Das could come in for Anamul Haque. A person in their sleep has more footwork than Anamul, and I just don’t know if he can get in the runs in the 2nd ODI. However, he does possess a decent record against West Indies.
Bangladesh possible XI: 1. Tamim Iqbal, 2. Anamul Haque/Liton Das, 3. Shakib Al Hasan, 4. Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5. Mahmudullah, 6. Sabbir Rahman, 7. Mossadek Hossain, 8. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9. Mashrafe Mortaza, 10. Mustafizur Rahman, 11. Rubel Hossain

Stats and Facts

  • If Bangladesh win this game, it will be their third ever series win over West Indies. They won 3-0 in 2009 and 3-2 in 2012.
  • Tamim Iqbal became the first Bangladesh player to register 10 ODI centuries.
  • Mashrafe Mortaza took at least four wickets for the eighth time in ODIs. He joined Rubel Hossain and Shakib Al Hasan who also have achieved this on eight occasions. Abdur Razzak is the leader, achieving this nine times.

Prediction

There is a forecast of rain, which I hope doesn’t ruin the match. My head says West Indies will bounce back, but my heart says Bangladesh will win the series in the 2nd ODI. I think I’m leaning towards my heart on this one…

Should be a competitive match, provided rain doesn’t intervene too much.

Cricket Opinion: 5 ways Test Cricket can be improved

Charbel Coorey
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Test Cricket. The beautiful game. The (still) pinnacle of cricket, in my opinion.

A competitive Test that has a great battle between bat and ball makes for enthralling viewing. Kevin Pietersen recently went to bat for Test cricket, stating it is still the premier form of the game, and he is right.

But, that’s only my opinion.

With the retirement of many greats over the last 10-15 years, as well as the rise of T20 Cricket, Test Cricket is constantly facing a battle to survive. More and more fans are drawn to the game’s shortest form, due mainly to shorter attention spans and the desire to see a result in a reduced amount of time.

T20 also offers greater financial rewards for players around the world, especially in poorer countries, so you can’t blame them for doing what they can to support themselves and their families. Players could earn hundreds of thousands of dollars for six weeks work in the IPL, as opposed to the hard graft that is Test cricket.

Test Cricket remains very strong in England and Australia, with high crowds and TV viewership testament to that. Broadcasters want to get in on the action, highlighted by Cricket Australia’s recent $1.2 billion TV rights deal.

However, this is not the case in other parts of the world, so how can Test cricket be improved to ensure it survives? Below, I will go through my five ways Test cricket should be improved. As always, feel free to start a discussion!

1. Better cricket pitches 

We are seeing plenty of one-sided contests in Test cricket.

West Indies rolled Bangladesh in a two-Test series that lasted the length of one Test, Sri Lanka drubbed South Africa 2-0 and India are having huge nightmares in England. There is no doubt that if these sides play each other in Bangladesh, South Africa and India, the results will be the opposite.

Test cricket is very skewed to the home side. There have been calls to get rid of the toss, but that’s not the solution. Why? Because a rank turner or green-as-the-outfield pitch can be prepared to even out the playing field.

So, what’s the solution? Not four-day cricket, but rather, improve the 22-yards the cricket is played on.

A closer look at the Australian pitches from the last few years…

I think the ICC should have independent personnel that judge pitches according to their ability in providing competitive battles between bat and ball. The key should be even bounce in the first few days, and a little bit in it for everyone. If they fail, penalties can be applied.

Leave the pitch preparation to the groundstaff. This is not the case at the moment, with various other stakeholders getting involved in the process.

Competitive Test matches is what will spark the Test arena. Competitive Test cricket will see an increase in viewership thanks to a better product, which means broadcasters will be keen to get involved to get a piece of the pie. This means more money. It’s not happening enough at the moment.

2. No T20Is – sell Test Cricket better

How significant are T20Is? Not to me, they aren’t.
So much so that I judged India’s success in England based on their results in the ODIs and Tests, not in the T20Is.
In an already packed cricketing calendar, with thriving T20 leagues around the world, T20Is just take up more room, providing little context. Yes, they make decent dollars, but the lack of time teams have to adequately prepare for Test series is hurting the game. 
Get rid of T20Is to make more room for Test matches, and make big efforts in selling Test cricket as you would a T20. Highlight the battles, get people in the mood. Free up some space in the cricketing calendar. Connect a player to the audience as you would in a T20. Put the effort in, cricket marketers. Make people want it. 
Even better, more room in the cricketing calendar means teams can play more tour matches in preparation for a Test series, and players can hone in on their skills in First-Class Cricket. Beautiful.

3. More Day/Night Tests

I am a big fan of Day/Night Test Cricket. 
Giving people the opportunity to head after a day’s work to watch Test Cricket is brilliant. It’s an exciting idea, but again needs to marketed better as per my point two, with more room in the cricketing calendar. 
Encourage fans to head out to the game. Promote discounted ticket prices for certain days or if you come in after dinner/stay the full day. Of course, with better cricket pitches and better marketing, the platform is laid nicely for Day/Night Test Cricket to thrive.

4. A better Test Championship

I love the idea of a Test Championship. It provides every game with a sense of context and rubs out the dead-rubber as it is a points-per-game system.
However, I am underwhelmed with the current proposal. It doesn’t get me excited. Certain teams won’t play each other, and certain teams play more than others. Yes, it comes down to the priorities of each board wanting to play more Test cricket, but I believe that comes with creating more space on the cricketing calendar and providing more competitive Test cricket.
Also, teams are rewarded for two-Test series. New Zealand, for example, would get the same amount of points by beating Bangladesh 2-0 than England would beating India 5-0. That reeks of unfairness, with the points system not proving who the best Test side is. 
Image credit: ESPNCricinfo
A better Test Championship format that properly rewards teams for superb performances will spark interest.

5. Better financial rewards for players

This comes from all the four above points combined.
Competitive Test cricket will see an increase in viewership, because what’s better than a closely fought Test? ODIs and T20s do not provide the tension and excitement that a close Test does. This then means more revenue which can ultimately go to the players.
It all starts with producing better conditions, making Tests more of a priority and selling the game a lot better.
I believe if we see these five things in action, Test cricket will thrive a lot more.
Thanks for reading!

Sri Lanka v South Africa 2nd Test Player Ratings – The Airport is that way guys!

Charbel Coorey
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South Africa’s effort on the fourth day was commendable. Theunis de Bruyn and Temba Bavuma withstood the spin onslaught from the Sri Lankans to put on a fantastic 123 run partnership, but it only delayed the inevitable.

Unfortunately, South Africa’s effort was like a lazy husband who tells his wife he will fix something broken, but does it after seven days, instead of straight away. The fight South Africa showed on the seventh day of the series was way too late.

Despite their fine effort on day four, they will not escape the wrath of my player ratings!

For Sri Lanka, though, this is a fine moment. Rangana Herath received a kiss on his hand as he left the field after taking six in the second innings. I’m jealous. I would love to kiss that man, too. He was the one to get Sri Lanka that important breakthrough, and there is no doubt that the Lankans will be dreading the day he retires.

Of course, there were other wonderful performances from the Sri Lankans, and not so great ones from South Africans, and I will go through each player in another edition of player ratings. As always, hope you enjoy and leave a comment!

Sri Lanka

Danushka Gunathilaka: I compared Danushka to Bradman when comparing Danushka to the South Africans after the carnage in the 1st Test. He is Bradman x2 in this Test. Two half centuries. Quality performance. 8.5

Dimuth Karunaratne: Deservedly man of the series. Up until South Africa’s second innings, Dimuth Karunaratne had outscored the entire South Africa team across one and three quarter Tests (356 to 323). Four 50+ scores. Completely dominated, did Dimuth. 9

Dhananjaya de Silva: Sri Lanka’s top scorer in the first innings. Set the game up nicely. Then decided to match the South Africans and get out to a spinner for a duck. 7
Kusal Mendis: “He loves me, he loves me not.” Remember that riddle? With Mendis, it’s “this sweep will go for four, this sweep will get me out.” Two starts, two disappointing ends. 5.5

Angelo Mathews: Went past 5,000 Test runs, and was the beneficiary of a lovely match situation for Sri Lanka in the second innings. For me, he still looks a shadow of the player he was a few years ago. 7

Roshen Silva: Mr. Silva was tasked with the job of putting everyone to sleep providing solidity in the middle order. With his team hundreds of runs in front, he enthralled us with a 99 ball 32. He is looking as confident as my father using a camera or smartphone. 5

Niroshan Dickwella: It’s 100 miles an hour or nothing when this bloke bats. But, very tidy behind the stumps. 5

Dilruwan Perera: I will now invent a new saying. “Smile as wide as Dilruwan Perera when he sees Dean Elgar facing up at the other end.” Another solid outing for Dilruwan, especially in the first innings. 7.5

Akila Dhananjaya: Big performance from the little man! Frustrated the life out of the South Africans with an unbeaten 43 in the first innings, then spun them into a massive web with a five-fer. 9

Suranga Lakmal: Test Cricket’s first ever specialist number 10 batsman! Bowled a mammoth two overs. Understandable. Led his team well. Keep the pressure on even with Faf du Plessis going after the bowlers in the first innings. 4

Rangana Herath: I could just hug and kiss this man. Seemingly spent more time at the crease than the entire South African line up in the first innings, and then was Sri Lanka’s go-to man when they were finally tested by South Africa’s batting. A legend. 9


South Africa:


Aiden Markram: “I’ve seen better days”, said Markram after the Test. “Those glory days of my Test career, starting off with Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at home.” All jokes aside, this kid has what it takes to be successful anywhere in the world. A big learning curve. 3

Dean Elgar: As pretty as the Zimbabwe v Pakistan series. Always gives the offspinners a chance with his technique. Showed decent fight in the second dig, but an underwhelming series from one of South Africa’s key players. 4.5

Theunis de Bruyn: Ah, what a fine century. Fight and determination, coupled with good technique in a second innings masterclass. He had no right to be the one who showed the most fight out of his teammates. The rest should take a good look at themselves, I reckon. 8

Hashim Amla: Batting average falling faster than Kim Kardashian’s IQ (OK, not quite. Kim’s IQ was never high to begin with). Reached 9,000 Test runs did Hash, but I fear his Test career is very close to the end. Another tough outing. 3

Faf du Plessis: “We ran off to the airport but I was reminded by the airport staff that we still have an ODI series”, said Faf du Plessis. “We had to collect our bags again and go back.” Faf showed good touch in the first innings, as he did in the first Test, but had a lack of support. His captaincy when the opposition tail is there for the taking though is just too passive. Also, selecting one spinner was stupid, but I’m sure that wasn’t only his decision. 5.5

Don’t leave Sri Lanka yet, Faf…


Temba Bavuma: Superb second innings performance that will only improve Bavuma further as a player. Excellent sporting effort. 7

Quinton de Kock: Quinton should pretend that Asian conditions is David Warner. There is no way the conditions will get the better of him! Somewhat underwhelming performance from a talented player. 5

Keshav Maharaj: Carried so much of the workload, which was plain wrong. Record-breaking nine wickets in the first innings, with 12 taken in the match. A fine effort from a fine spinner. 9

Kagiso Rabada: Tough Test for KG but has shown enough in this series that he will be a terrific bowler in all conditions. 4

Dale Steyn: The wait for 422 will continue. Not the Dale Steyn we know and love. Tough to expect that, though. 3

Lungi Ngidi: Still scratching my head about this selection. This is not to say Lungi is a bad bowler (he is a fine bowler), but surely another spinner should have played. Really good second innings bowling, though. 6

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So, there it is. A fine series victory for Sri Lanka.
In the meantime, be sure to check out 16 really funny cricket tweets that are to sure to give you a laugh, or 4 key things India need to get right to be successful in the England Tests. Or, why not catch my light-hearted Zimbabwe vs Pakistan ODI series review, or land an awesome sale below?
Thanks for reading!

Zimbabwe v Pakistan ODI Series Review – Less competitive than me vs. Usain Bolt in a race

Charbel Coorey
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1. Me vs. Usain Bolt in a race. Or Hamilton Mazakadza vs. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe.

2. Me and 10 friends on Twitter vs. Pakistan in an ODI match.

3. Royal Challengers Bangalore.

4. South Africa in Sri Lanka.

In case you’re wondering, that is a list of more competitive events than the recently completed (WOOHOO) Zimbabwe vs Pakistan ODI series.

The most competitive match of the series was the final ODI, and Pakistan won it by 131 runs. The whole cricketing world is happy this series is now over. Well, except Pakistan I guess, who were breaking all sorts of records, with some fans believing they are the greatest side ever. Fakhar Zaman is better than Viv Richards ever was. There is now no doubt that Joe Root replacing Babar Azam at no.2 in the ODI batting rankings was a complete joke. Bless.

If you want to be really positive, Zimbabwe actually won the series 3-2 in coin tosses. And Faf Du Plessis wants them removed from Tests. What next? ODIs? Depriving us of an amazing achievement in an otherwise forgettable series? What nonsense!

This series helped save time. I wrote the shortest ever cricket preview known-to-man after the 2nd ODI. I’m pretty proud of it. Another joined in!

My groundbreaking 3rd ODI Preview! How talented am I?!
Others getting in on the act, too!

No doubt, Pakistan did what they had to do. They were ruthless and professional, and we can’t bag them for it. Fakhar and Imam are superbly talented players, and represent a potentially very fruitful opening pair for Pakistan in ODIs. But, we can bag those supporters getting carried away, thinking Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq are the two best things since sliced bread after hammering a Zimbabwe side missing eight key players. That too on flat pitches. Be realistic, please.

Nonetheless, congratulations to Fakhar Zaman who became the fastest ever to 1,000 ODI runs, reaching the mark in 18 innings. 515 came in this series, but he is a breath of fresh air for the nation. However, when watching the cricket on offer in Bulawayo, I was so keen to fly over, put my batting gear on and have some fun. I’m a right hander and lower order batsman, but could have scored runs batting left handed. It was a net session where records were on offer. Same was the case for the Pakistan bowlers.

For Zimbabwe Cricket, it’s now really time to get their act in order. I believe they should withdraw from international cricket, if possible, until they get their sh*t together. Ultimately, a series like this does no one any favours, except the statistics of the opposition, and the egos of some of their fans. And perhaps also, hopeful kids from around the world thinking international cricket could be this easy.

The performances were good by Pakistan, but please, stop getting carried away…

Let’s call him “Sir” Fakhar Zaman. Geez Dennis…

So, what were the bright spots for the hosts? Apart from winning the coin tosses 3-2, I hope we see more of Blessing Muzarabani. He looks a really good prospect. So too Ryan Murray, who showed some fight in his debut series. Otherwise, with players not getting paid and no World Cup for next year, it all looks extremely bleak for Zimbabwe.

For Pakistan, I say show us what you’re made of from here on in until the 2019 World Cup. Any of the top ten ODI sides in the world would have won this series with ease. Looking at their 5-0 loss in New Zealand earlier this year, Pakistan still have to prove to me they can consistently match it with the big boys, despite winning last year’s Champions Trophy.

So, there we have it. A series known only for records being broken and nothing else. One where I went to bed last night pretending it never happened. I’ll no doubt be keeping a close eye on Pakistan in the months leading to the World Cup, seeing whether all the hype over beating a weakened and battered Zimbabwe is worth it.

Thanks for reading!

West Indies v Bangladesh 1st ODI Preview

Charbel Coorey
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Change of format. Thank goodness.

I’m very grateful the Test series was just two Tests in length, as the entire series lasted as long as one Test should. Time for a more competitive series, hopefully.

A year out from the World Cup, both sides would be keen to get their preparations up and running, given the limited opportunities in ODIs so far in 2018.

West Indies scraped into the World Cup by qualifying unconvincingly in Zimbabwe. Now, though, they can put the nerves aside and start focusing on putting together consistent performances, starting against Bangladesh in Guyana. There will be a few changes from the Test series, but one thing is for certain, they will be a big test for Bangladesh once again. They start as favourites.

Bangladesh have offered as much resistance as a leaf in a cyclone so far on this tour. Even more disappointing have been the revelations that players are not keen on playing Test cricket, so if they are poor again in the ODIs, even more serious questions will be asked. However, they will be boosted by the return of inspirational captain Mashrafe Mortaza, who was originally in doubt for the series due to his wife being ill. Can Bangladesh put a better showing in the coloured clothing?

Key to a West Indies win

West Indies will be without Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach in the ODIs, but the template of targeting Bangladesh with pace will surely be on show again.
Jason Holder has been in excellent form with the ball over the last 12 months, and will be supported by Keemo Paul, Alzarri Joseph and the returning Andre Russell. That is enough pace to send jitters down the spine of the Bangladeshi batsmen who were in all sorts of trouble in the Tests. Can the Windies break the back of the Bangladeshi batting line up?
Also, can West Indies get enough out of their top order? They’ll need to, with their middle order options perhaps looking a little thin in my opinion. Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis, two players who showed promising form in IPL 2018, will be key at the top.

Key to a Bangladesh win

A massive turnaround in attitude is required from Bangladesh. Their effort in the Test series was nothing short of a disgrace, and they simply owe it to their fans to put on a better showing in the ODIs.
Over the years, including during their successful 2015, Bangladesh have struggled to rotate the strike effectively. This results in the middle order being left with a bit too much to do to finish well. The “big four” of Tamim, Shakib, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah have a huge role in providing a strong platform for the others to thrive. If they fail, forget about a competitive match, let alone Bangladesh winning.
Also, Bangladesh’s bowlers will be happy to return to this format. It is the format they enjoy best, highlighted best by Rubel Hossain’s figures. In ODIs over the last 12 months, he has taken 14 wickets at 20.14, compared to an average of 157 in Tests in the same period. The return of Mashrafe, as well as the ODI know-how of the likes of Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan will give Bangladesh hope.

Possible teams

Andre Russell returns to the West Indies ODI squad after three years, and will be an excellent late order hitting option. He presents a huge danger to Bangladesh. Also presenting a huge danger to Bangladesh are Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis, as well as the Windies pace attack ready to go.
West Indies possible XI: 1. Chris Gayle, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Shai Hope (wk), 4. Kieran Powell, 5. Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Jason Holder (c), 7. Rovman Powell, 8. Andre Russell, 9. Devendra Bishoo, 10. Keemo Paul, 11. Alzarri Joseph
It will be interesting to see who gets the middle order finishing role for Bangladesh. Will it be the frustrating Sabbir Rahman, along with Mossadek? Shakib Al Hasan batted very well at three during the ODI Tri-Series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in January, and he should be there again.
Bangladesh XI: 1. Tamim Iqbal, 2. Liton Das, 3. Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5. Mahmudullah, 6. Sabbir Rahman, 7. Mossadek Hossain, 8. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9. Mashrafe Mortaza, 10. Mustafizur Rahman, 11. Rubel Hossain

Stats and Facts

  • Bangladesh played their last ODI on January 27.
  • West Indies won the last ODI series between the two sides in 2014 (3-0).
  • Evin Lewis needs 32 runs to reach 1,000 in ODIs. 

Prediction

There is rain forecast for the morning in Guyana, so hopefully we see enough cricket. If we do, then West Indies should pick up a win against a struggling Bangladesh side.
Thanks for reading!
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