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England v Australia 2nd ODI Preview

Charbel Coorey
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As the 2nd ODI kicks off in Cardiff, both teams will be keen to put in a better display than what we saw at The Oval. It’s safe to say England and Australia were not at their best, and with a game in the series complete, we could see more polished performances. Both teams need to improve a year out from the World Cup, and this series will continue to be an opportunity to get things right.

England bounced back from their shock loss to Scotland, but somewhat surprisingly, it was on the back of their bowlers. The seamers kept things relatively tight in the first ten, and then the spinners took charge. England could very well target Australia with spin again, but can their batting fare a little better? Are they able to play the situation a little more convincingly? It will be interesting to see if they can deliver an all-round performance at Cardiff, a ground where they have lost three of their last five ODIs.
It is no secret Australia have their issues against spin, but to let Moeen Ali dominate as he did (with all due respect to Moeen), is a big disappointment. Tim Paine delivered a nice gesture before the game with the handshakes, but it wasn’t an invitation for the top order to hand out niceties as well. No player in the top five reached 25, and while the bowlers did a great job in almost pulling off a miracle defence of 214, the batting must improve. 

Key to an England win

If both teams are at their best, England win. They clearly have the better side on paper given Australia’s absentees, but their first ODI performance didn’t quite reflect that. It was a bit of a nervy chase, and if England are to translate their rise in limited overs cricket since 2015 into tangible success, more complete performances are required.
There is no doubt though that they would have been thrilled with their bowling effort. On the same day, New Zealand’s 17-year old Amelia Kerr hit 232* v Ireland, which was more than the whole Australia team could muster. Can England hammer Australia’s top order once again, exposing a longish tail?
Moeen Ali delivered in the 1st ODI

Key to an Australia win

Despite a batting performance riddled with concern, the efforts of Glenn Maxwell and Ashton Agar would have been hugely encouraging. However, these two need to be provided with a proper platform instead of trying to rebuild an innings on life support. 
The onus is on the top order to deliver a lot more, and one way of achieving is not surrendering so meekly to the likes of Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid.
Also, Australia would be encouraged by the efforts of an attack missing Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Patrick Cummins. The depth in the pace attack is a real strength for Australia, with Billy Stanlake and AJ Tye continuing on from their promising showings in the IPL. A repeat effort is needed.
Glenn Maxwell’s long wait for an ODI fifty ended at The Oval

Predicted teams

England will most likely stick with the same team that won at The Oval, and would have been encouraged by the performances of the likes of Eoin Morgan, David Willey, Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali. A better team performance is required in Cardiff, though.
England XI: 1 Jonny Bairstow, 2 Jason Roy, 3 Alex Hales, 4 Joe Root, 5 Eoin Morgan (capt), 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Moeen Ali, 8 David Willey, 9 Liam Plunkett, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Mark Wood

I don’t think Australia will go in with the same line up. I would bring D’Arcy Short in for a seam bowler because Australia’s batting looked short at The Oval. Kane Richardson could make way. Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head could fill in with some overs. 

Australia XI: 1. Travis Head, 2. D’Arcy Short, 3. Shaun Marsh, 4. Aaron Finch, 5. Marcus Stoinis, 6. Glenn Maxwell, 7. Tim Paine (c & wk), 8. Ashton Agar, 9. Michael Neser, 10. Andrew Tye, 11. Billy Stanlake

Stats and Facts


  • England have won five of six ODIs against Australia in 2018.
  • Eoin Morgan needs 41 runs to become England’s all-time leading run scorer, overtaking Ian Bell.
  • Adil Rashid needs two wickets to reach 100 ODI wickets.
  • Australia have won just two of their last 14 completed ODIs.
  • Glenn Maxwell’s fifty at The Oval was his first ODI fifty since January 2017.

Prediction

Who is your pick if both teams improve? 
England for me. They have the experience and quality in their team to make it 2-0. Hopefully, Australia can put a good showing and make this series a really interesting one. 
We’ll see.

West Indies v Sri Lanka 2nd Test Preview

Charbel Coorey
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For Sri Lanka, their version of the 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place in West Indies. They were desperately disappointing in the first Test, but take nothing away from West Indies, who are now poised to win just their second Test series in their last 12 attempts.

Yes, West Indies displayed the patience and skill required to win a Test match, and completely outplayed their opponents in Port of Spain. They put the all important first innings runs on the board, and from there, they were always playing from in front. It was a well-rounded performance, and Jason Holder and co will be confident of a sweet series victory.

A 226-run loss to a struggling Test side isn’t Sri Lanka‘s only worry. Angelo Mathews (personal reasons) and Lahiru Gamage (injury) have flown back to Sri Lanka, stretching their already thin resources even further. They’ll have to dig very deep to keep their hopes alive of winning their first Test series in the Caribbean.

Key to a West Indies win

West Indies were 147/5 in their first innings in Port of Spain, but still managed to put immense pressure on Sri Lanka with both bat and ball. West Indies’ batting approach on the second day may have frustrated a few, but 414 was a magnificent score after losing half their side for 147. 
Seven players crossed 30 in the first innings, but only Shane Dowrich scored 50+ in his second Test hundred. The key for West Indies would be for their batsmen to convert starts to mount the pressure on Sri Lanka.
Also, in the first innings, West Indies’ seamers took charge. In the second, the spinners did. It was encouraging to see, and a repeat will be the order of the day.

Key to a Sri Lanka win

Kusal Mendis was the only player to score over 50 for Sri Lanka in Port of Spain, and he even offered two chances that the West Indies missed.
Their batsmen were decimated against a West Indies attack that has been modest at home over the last few years, despite their potential. In addition, the bowlers lacked bite, and couldn’t take advantage of having West Indies 147/5 on the first day.
Sri Lanka need to remain positive, despite the big loss in particular of Angelo Mathews. I would keep Kusal Perera in the side, moving him down the order. Whether Dilruwan Perera gets a game over Akila Dananjaya remains to be seen.
Whatever they go with, they need to have a better game.

Predicted teams

Devon Smith had a tough time of it in the first Test but West Indies could give him another chance. Otherwise, no changes to a winning formula.
West Indies: 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 Kemar Roach, 10 Shannon Gabriel

Dhananjaya de Silva could return to sit at number three, and will give Dinesh Chandimal a bowling option. I would also think Sri Lanka will go with Akila Dananjaya to provide more attacking off spin.

Sri Lanka: 1 Kusal Mendis, 2 Mahela Udawatte, 3 Dhananjaya de Silva, 4 Roshen Silva, 5 Dinesh Chandimal (c), 6 Kusal Perera, 7 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8 Rangana Herath, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Akila Dananjaya, 11 Lahiru Kumara

Stats and Facts:

  • West Indies haven’t won back-to-back Tests since beating Bangladesh 2-0 in 2014.

  • Rangana Herath has 418 Test wickets. Only Anil Kumble, Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan have more wickets among spinners.
  • Three of the five Tests at Gros Islet have been draws.

    Prediction

    Sri Lanka entered this series on the back of a good run in Test cricket, but after the first Test, they are really up against it.
    Anything can happen, but I will back West Indies to win and take the series 2-0 ahead of the third Test.

    India v Afghanistan Only Test Preview

    Charbel Coorey
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    History. And what beautiful history will be made at Bengaluru on Thursday.

    In what is a rare occurrence in Test cricket, the result here doesn’t matter. There is something much more significant. Afghanistan make their Test debut against India, and what an amazing achievement it is.

    Afghanistan‘s journey to this stage is what makes this occasion super special. Ten years ago, they were competing in ICC’s World Cricket League Division Five tournament, where they beat Jersey in the final. It was their first ICC event outside Asia. Ten years into the future, their goal may have been to secure ODI status and compete well at that level. That turned out to be too easy a goal for amazing Afghanistan. Just ten years later, they are now here, on the Test stage.

    Their spin attack certainly has the talent to test India throughout this Test. However, the challenge is maintaining it over long periods of time, as some of their most talented cricketers have mastered the T20 format. Afghanistan have dominated at Associate level in the longer format, but this is a new challenge altogether. They have passed obstacle after obstacle throughout their cricketing journey, and if you believe they will seldom find success at Test level, they’ll prove you wrong.

    For India, this is the beginning of a huge season. It’s easy to get caught up in the occasion of Afghanistan’s first Test, or even look forward to England, so the challenge for the world’s no.1 Test team is to remained focused on the job.

    In saying that, in a time where Australia refused to host Bangladesh, hosting Afghanistan for their first ever Test is brilliant. What a great, historic occasion it promises.

    Key to an India win

    The Indian batsmen are excellent players of spin, and they’ll need to be on their game against a spin attack that I bet is the envy of many other cricketing nations.

    There will be no Virat Kohli to lead India this time, but Ajinkya Rahane will put his stamp on things, in somewhat contrasting fashion to Kohli. India’s line up is still full of class players, and if they are ruthless in keeping Afghanistan out in the field working hard for their wickets, it will go a long to sapping the energy out of the Afghans.

    Also, India’s attack impressed in South Africa. Sure, conditions will be very different here but they can build on the confidence of knowing they can put together a well-rounded bowling performance. Their best here will be too good for their debut opponents.

    Cheteshwar Pujara will be keen to get in the runs after a tough 2018 so far

    Key to an Afghanistan win

    Kabul and the rest of Afghanistan won’t be the only place of celebration if this happens – I’ll be sure to run down the street screaming hysterically.

    Afghanistan possess a very unique spin attack; one that focuses on speed through the air rather than flight. It’s what makes them so difficult to face in limited overs cricket. However, in the Test format, will they be able to make adjustments according to the conditions and situation? Batsmen won’t be as eager to score runs in Test cricket as opposed to T20 cricket, so the key is patient, strategic bowling.

    Surely their best chance is causing headaches to India’s batting line up.

    Also, Test cricket is about sometimes giving an hour or two to the opposition when they are bowling well. Can Afghanistan display some of the patience required to compete at this level? This will also be key.

    Afghanistan enter this Test on the back of a 3-0 T20I series win v Bangladesh

    Possible teams

    Wriddhiman Saha and Mohammad Shami, along with Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvi Kumar will be missing for India. However, such is their depth in talent, they will still field a quality outfit. Again, there will be the question of trying to fit three into two opening spots, but if India are indeed looking to the near future, KL Rahul and Murali Vijay is the best opening combination option, in my opinion. Also, it remains to be seen whether India go with two or three pace options (including Hardik).
    India possible XI: 1. Murali Vijay/Shikhar Dhawan, 2. KL Rahul, 3. Cheteshwar Pujara, 4. Karun Nair, 5. Ajinkya Rahane (c), 6. Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7. Hardik Pandya 8. Ravichandran Ashwin, 9. Ravindra Jadeja, 10. Umesh Yadav, 11. Ishant Sharma/Kuldeep Yadav
    What an amazing moment for Afghanistan. Their squad has quite a bit of talent, and they’ll be hoping to transfer it onto the field in their first ever Test.
    Afghanistan possible XI:  1. Hashmatullah Shahidi, 2. Javed Ahmadi, 3. Azghar Stanikzai (c), 4. Nasir Jamal, 5. Mohammad Nabi, 6. Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 7. Rahmat Shah, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10. Yamin Ahmadzi, 11. Sayed Shirzad

    Stats and Facts:

    • The last time an Asian team played their first Test (Bangladesh in 2000), India were also the opponents.
    • No team has ever won their first Test since Australia in 1877 v England (this was the first ever Test).
    • Ajinkya Rahane captained India to a 4th Test win against Australia last year to take the series 2-1. This will be his second Test as captain.
    • Rashid Khan has taken 35 wickets in four First Class matches at 15.
    • Mujeeb Ur Rahman is set to become the first Test cricketer to be born in the 21st century.

    Prediction:

    What an occasion this is, and I’ll be sure to keep my eyes glued to this match. India are overwhelming favourites and will win this Test, but it’s a time to be so proud of Afghanistan.
    Here’s to a good Test.

    England v Australia 1st ODI Preview

    Charbel Coorey
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    With the World Cup just a year away, the England v Australia ODI series has quite a bit of relevance. When you then add on what’s happened in 2018 from an Australian perspective, this series will be an interesting measure of Australia’s capabilities to fight back from some adversity. England, on the other hand, will be keen to prove they deserve the no.1 ranking as part of their preparation for next year’s World Cup at home.

    It’s not the build up and intensity of the Ashes, but there is plenty to play for in this series.

    Three days ago, England suffered a shock loss to Scotland – the first time ever that the no.1 ODI side lost to an Associate nation. It was an England-like result in a way, putting in disappointing performances at times in matches where they are overwhelming favourites. They will be favourites again here, though not to the extent v Scotland, and need a much improved performance against a team looking to prove a point.

    Australia’s World Cup hopes have taken a huge hit, even over a year out from the tournament. David Warner and Steve Smith, two mainstays in the Aussie line up, won’t have a lot of time to prepare when they return. Also, they’ve been hit hard with injuries to key bowlers including Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Patrick Cummins. It is time for others to step up, and if they can be competitive in England, they’ll gain plenty of confidence.

    Key to an England win

    England were all over the place v Scotland, both with the ball, and then collapsing from a winning position to eventually lose the match.
    England remain an excellent ODI side, but their preparation for the World Cup needs to be based on avoiding these lapses as much as possible. A complete performance is the order of the day, here.
    What does a complete performance involve?
    For starters, their bowlers leaked runs like no tomorrow against Scotland, and while the Associate nation should be so proud of their performance, England’s execution was simply nothing short of horrendous. Mark Wood was down on pace, went for over seven an over, and now averages over 46 in ODI cricket. David Willey, Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett were also punished. England’s tough day was highlighted by the fact that Moeen Ali was their most economical, going for a still expensive 6.60 an over.
    England can’t repeat this against Australia. If they can contain Australia’s new look line up, England have what it takes to score enough runs against an attack missing key personnel.
    Jonny Bairstow is in great form

    Key to an Australia win

    Legend wicketkeeper/batsman Adam Gilchrist has spoken about the “awful lot of challenges” that Australia will face.
    While this is true, there is an opportunity for others to make a mark, and show us that 2018 is actually a blessing for Australian cricket. 
    Who will be Australia’s Calum McLeod? What about Mark Watt? The onus is on the likes of D’Arcy Short, Travis Head and Shaun Marsh to get Australia off to a good start with the bat. Also, if selected, Glenn Maxwell must come out of his form slump to add vital impetus to the Aussie innings. If they don’t get enough runs on the board, you can kiss chances of victory just about goodbye.
    Australia’s attack also possesses a bit of excitement, with quite a bit of pace. England conditions for ODI cricket over the last few years have been difficult for seamers, but if Australia can pick up regular wickets, they can restrict a strong England batting line up who will continue to go hard. A player to be especially weary of is Jonny Bairstow, after a superb 105 off 59 balls v Scotland on the weekend, his third consecutive ODI hundred.
    How much will Australia miss Warner and Smith?

    Predicted teams:

    Jos Buttler returns for England after being rested for the ODI against Scotland. He has been in scintillating form of late, dominating the latter part of IPL 2018 and scoring well in the Pakistan Tests. It will be interesting to see whether England make changes to the bowling attack that lined up against Scotland.
    England XI: 1 Jonny Bairstow, 2 Jason Roy, 3 Alex Hales, 4 Joe Root, 5 Eoin Morgan (c), 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Adil Rashid, 9 Liam Plunkett, 10 Tom Curran/David Willey, 11 Mark Wood

    For Australia, there are various possibilities. The key will be to pick a side with the mindset of taking the game to England, rather than playing safe. I would pick Maxwell and back him to get out of his bad patch, but whether Australia go with that option, I’m not sure.

    Australia XI: 1 D’arcy Short, 2 Travis Head, 3 Marcus Stoinis, 4 Shaun Marsh, 5 Aaron Finch, 6 Tim Paine (c & wk), 7 Ashton Agar, 8 Michael Neser, 9 Jhye Richardson/AJ Tye, 10 Kane Richardson, 11 Billy Stanlake

    Stats and Facts:

    • England beat Australia 4-1 in Australia earlier this year. David Warner and Steve Smith were playing.
    • Australia have won just two of their last 13 completed ODIs.
    • England losing to Scotland was the first time ever the no.1 ODI team lost to an Associate nation.
    • If Jonny Bairstow scores a century today, he will join Kumar Sangakkara and Amy Satterthwaite as the only two cricketers to score four consecutive ODI hundreds. Also, skipper Eoin Morgan needs 110 runs to become England’s leading run scorer in ODIs, overtaking Ian Bell.
    • England won six bilateral series in a row before losing to Scotland. 

    Prediction:

    I believe England’s loss to Scotland was a big wake up call for them, and with Australia fielding quite a new look side, I expect England to take a 1-0 series lead.
    However, how good would this series be if Australia took a surprise 1-0 lead? May the best team win!

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    If you have some spare time, be sure to catch my tribute to Afghanistan ahead of their first ever Test.

    Opinion: Why 2018 is a blessing for Cricket Australia

    Charbel Coorey
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    From the outside looking in, it might very well seem that this has been the year from hell for Cricket Australia, and that recovery will take a long while.

    The focus on the actual cricket has been as minimal as former New Zealand cricketer Chris Martin’s focus on batting. Ball tampering scandal, suspensions to key players, concerns over their mental health, coach resigning, CEO resigning, and I haven’t even mentioned the disappointing Test series loss in South Africa, or disappointing home ODI series loss to England. People who have no idea about cricket in this country were talking about cricket.

    However, among all this is a shining light. The ODI series in England represents a fresh start for this team – a chance to clean the slate and rebuild their reputation in the eyes of the Australian public. That is most important. It look a ball tampering saga to get to this point, but the ball tampering saga is eventually going to be looked at as a blessing. You’ll see.

    What other fans think of Australia isn’t as important as what the Australian public thinks. Other fans can dislike Australia all they like, and Australia can dislike them. It’s all part of the awesome rivalry of international cricket. However, Australia are often disliked for reasons other than cricket, and that has to change.

    I have been called anti-Australia on Twitter a few times, but I have never been anti-Australia. I went in all guns blazing the day after the ball tampering scandal, seeing it all unfold in the early hours of Sunday morning Sydney time, but it has never been anti-Australia. It is anti-Australia behaviour for me. Anti-Australia cricket team culture. The ball tampering issue, and the fall out from it, was not a surprise to me. It was coming.

    When we choose a sporting team to follow, it is not always because they are the local team, but because their values are similar to our own. We are proud to associate ourselves with them. A team that has a “victim”, “win at all costs” and “better and bigger than the world” culture that chooses when and where the “moral line” is drawn is something many Australians didn’t want to emotionally associate themselves with. I was part of the list.

    Now, there has been the change that has been needed for three or four years. Management is now aware of the need to throw hypocrisy outside the window, whilst encouraging humility and competition within the spirit of the game.

    What do I mean by “hypocrisy”, you ask? You can’t sledge then complain when someone does it to you. Nor can you give send-offs then complain when someone does it to you. You can’t ask the fans to make sure a player “goes back home crying”, and then complain when someone does it to you. You can’t have a go at someone ball tampering, and then try mastermind it yourself.




    South Africa exposed Australia, and I know Australia will be much better because of it.

    It was time for a change in mindset and personnel, and the year 2018 so far has driven just that. Darren Lehmann is gone. So too James Sutherland. Justin Langer and Tim Paine have have filled me with optimism, and while Australia start as outsiders in England, I will be following them religiously hoping for a win. Steve Smith will return and continue to be prolific, especially at home. Cameron Bancroft could come back, too. If David Warner is to return, he’ll especially need to buy into Australia’s new culture they want to create and maintain.

    Australia have always sledged, and will continue to sledge, which is perfectly fine. In my latest article for Last Word on Cricket, I highlight that sledging is part of the wonderful game of cricket. A cricket field is not a place to stay silent. However, personal sledges and taunts are hopefully going to be a thing of the past, and what’s happened in 2018 can truly be a catalyst for change.

    It would have been ideal (and correct) to invite Bangladesh in July, and show them the respect they deserve. That would have been a big step to getting the public onside.

    However, it wasn’t to be, but I am looking forward to Australia beginning a new chapter in England. It’s time to show the fight that is consistent with what it means to be Australian. The issues that have plagued Australian cricket this year is actually a blessing, and we’ll see this in the near future.

    Here’s to a good rest of 2018 and beyond.

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    Have some spare time? Be sure to also catch my tribute to Afghanistan ahead of their first ever Test.

    Afghanistan… you’re an inspiration

    Charbel Coorey
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    A nation whose news hurts us all. A nation unfortunately ravaged by violence and unfortunate events. Just a few weeks ago, a blast at a cricket match killed eight and injured 45. With 57% of the population under the age of 18, and also more than half living on less than a dollar a day, it is only with passion, commitment and fight that Afghanistan rises on the global stage in any sport.

    Cricketing facilities and opportunities left, right and centre? No.

    Natural talent and commitment? Yes.

    When the Afghanistan Cricket Federation (now Afghanistan Cricket Board) was formed in 1995, there were no proper cricket pitches, or even cricket equipment. The sheer passion for the sport, from what they saw in refugee camps Pakistan, got them going.

    I am in awe of the Afghanistan cricket team, and any time they win, I think of how happy their people are. Players in this Afghanistan side had to flee violence in their country, living in refugee camps in Pakistan. The people of Afghanistan don’t have it easy. It is a struggle to get education. Who knows where the next meal comes from. A lot of much more fortunate people around the world spend their time complaining about nothing. Just think of what these people go through, and it becomes much easier to appreciate what you have.

    But, in what’s truly unique in sport, this Afghanistan team is the hope of a nation. It’s what people look forward to and take pride in. They get together and cheer their boys on, often in uncomfortable environments, but it doesn’t matter. It is a break away from the everyday struggle.

    Lack of electricity is no deterrent for Afghanistan fans. Photo credit: @PamirNews

    Rashid Khan is the sporting hero of the nation. Mohammad Nabi, Shapoor Zadran, Samiullah Shenwari and Azghar Stanikzai are some of the stalwarts that been there since the very early stages of Afghanistan’s cricket journey. Youngsters like Mujeeb Ur Rahman, along with Rashid, rise through the ranks and they perform brilliantly on the world stage, in tournaments such as the IPL. Mujeeb Ur Rahman is set the be the first Test cricketer born in the 21st century. They play with nothing but self belief.

    This time just ten years ago, Afghanistan were competing in the World Cricket League Division Five tournament, their first ICC event outside Asia, beating Jersey in the final. They were attempting to qualify for the 2011 World Cup. If someone in 2008 had said that Afghanistan would play Test cricket in ten years time, you would have asked them if they had suffered a heavy knock to the head.

    However, ten years later, they will play their first ever Test, against mighty India, and it’s been an incredible journey. Such has been Afghanistan’s incredible rise, no one can question that they deserve it, and being a nation that suffers a great deal, this is truly inspirational.

    Their recent 3-0 T20I series win over Bangladesh was a superb achievement, and highlights just how threatening this team is, especially in subcontinent conditions. This team has what it takes to trouble quite a few sides in Test cricket, boasting a spin attack that many nations around the world could only dream of.

    Their success here is indicative of the hard work they have put along their journey. They are all about overcoming obstacles. After winning Division Three, Four and Five titles from 2008, they continued their meteoric rise. In 2010, they secured their first ever World T20 birth, and chased down 494 against Canada in the I-Cup, needing over 450 on the final day. Then, Afghanistan really impressed as an Associate side from 2013, and picked up some magnificent wins along the way. In three Intercontinental Cup tournaments, they won 16, drew four and lost just one game.

    But that wasn’t enough for this side.

    In 2014, they beat Bangladesh in the Asia Cup, held in Bangladesh. They won their first ever World Cup match in 2015. They have won four T20I series against Test opposition, and also beat eventual champions West Indies in the 2016 World T20. They drew an ODI series 1-1 v West Indies in 2017. In the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers, they looked gone. Yet, they went on a winning streak, qualified for the World Cup and eventually beat West Indies in the final. They have just continued to rise.

    This week is a special week not only in cricket, but for an entire nation as well as outsiders who are inspired by the Afghanistan story. Test cricket will be a big challenge for Afghanistan, but they have overcome every challenge thrown to them, both on sporting and personal fronts. They have what it takes to be very competitive at this level in the coming years.

    Good luck, Afghanistan. I’ll be cheering for you.

    Women’s Asia Cup 2018 Preview: India v Bangladesh

    Charbel Coorey
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    Six-time champions v maiden appearance in a final. Seventh Asia Cup final appearance in a row v maiden appearance in a final. A rematch of arguably the best game of the tournament so far. This one has a nice backstory.

    Bangladesh have made superb strides in this tournament, defeating two-time runners up Pakistan and six-time champions India. After being thrashed by Sri Lanka in their opening game, Bangladesh reaching the final would have been a long afterthought. However, on the back of some awesome individual performances, they are here, and I bet you they won’t back off without a fight.

    In terms of India, well, it’s no surprise we see them in the final. However, what would work in their favour is handling the pressure of a virtual knock-out against Pakistan really well. They showed their might, restricting their arch-rivals to just 72/7, and with this being their seventh straight Asia Cup final, they will be quite difficult to beat.

    Key to a India win

    Can India imprint their status as the best team in Asia? Can they bully Bangladesh (cricket wise)?
    These will be key questions ahead of the final. They will certainly be favourites, but the excellent performance against Pakistan will be a blueprint for success in the final.
    India’s bowlers will want to hold Bangladesh down better than they did in their other meeting in this tournament. The team in blue are in good bowling form though, highlighted in all but Jhulan Goswami taking at least one wicket v Pakistan, led by Ekta Bisht’s awesome 3/14. Also, India have the batsmen to get on top of Bangladesh, so partnerships will be key in a pressure game.

    Key to a Bangladesh win

    Unlike their male counterparts, the Bangladesh women’s team is making significant strides in the T20 format. 
    What should give them a lot of heart is their performances in pressure situations in this tournament. This was evident most in the game against India, where Rumana Ahmed led Bangladesh to their first ever win over their opponents today.
    The key for Bangladesh will be to play a fearless brand of cricket, not overawed by the occasion. Can they restrict the India batting line up, and forge enough partnerships to get sufficient runs on the board? These are the key questions.

    Possible teams:

    India XI: 1. M. Raj, 2. S Mandhana, 3. DB Sharma, 4. H Kaur (c), 5. AA Patil, 6. T Bhatia (wk) 7. E Bisht, 8. S Pandey, 9. P Yadav, 10. J Goswami, 11. V Krishnamurthy
    Bangladesh XI: 1. S Sultana (wk), 2. A Rahman, 3. F Hoque, 4. S Islam, 5. F Khatun, 6. R Ahmed, 7. J Alam, 8. K Tul Khubra, 9. N Akhter, 10. S Khatun (c), 11. N Sultana

    Stats and Facts:

    • This is Bangladesh’s maiden appearance in a Asia Cup final. This is India’s seventh appearance in a row.
    • India possess two of the top three runscorers in the competition (H Kaur 159 and M Raj 135).
    • Rumana Ahmed sits in the top three wicket takers with eight, and concedes just 3.48 an over.

    Prediction:

    India are super experienced, Bangladesh are super excited. That’s not to say India aren’t excited either, but they have been on this stage many times before and know what it takes.
    I’m hoping Bangladesh can mount a strong challenge, but I back India to win on the back of their know-how at this time of the tournament. May the best team win!

    Top 5 performances of Women’s Asia Cup 2018 so far

    Charbel Coorey
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    We are reaching the business stage of the Women’s Asia Cup 2018 tournament.

    There have been some terrific performances across this tournament, and the highlight for me was Bangladesh getting their first ever win against India in all formats. Thailand should also be proud of picking up a victory in the tournament, and with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka all vying for a top two spot, it promises to be an exciting finish to the tournament.

    Here are my top five performances of Women’s Asia Cup 2018, so far:

    5. Mithali Raj 97* (69), India v Malaysia

    Classy India opener Mithali Raj began her Asia Cup 2018 campaign in style, scoring 97* in India’s total of 169/3, that proved to be 142 too many for Malaysia.
    Raj hit 13 fours and a six, striking at a superb 140 runs per 100 balls. This remains the highest score of the tournament to date.

    4. Bismah Mahroof 60* (41), Pakistan v Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka and Pakistan were considered two sides with a good chance of finishing in the top two, so this game was vital.
    Pakistan skipper Bismah Mahroof held the innings together in true style, elevating her team to 136/4. Pakistan eventually won the game by 23 runs, so her contribution was vital. She also backed this up with 62 off just 37 against Malaysia, to give Pakistan extra momentum ahead of the huge game v India.
    The innings v Sri Lanka is an innings fans will look back on with great joy if Pakistan end up making the final.

    3. Fargana Hoque 52* (46), Bangladesh v India

    Bangladesh were 49/3 chasing 142 against mighty India. Bangladesh have never beaten India in any format, so it would have been easy to dismiss their chances. Following the live score of this game, I just about dismissed their chances too.
    But wrong I was. Fargana Hoque held things together, and played a superb knock of 52* to see Bangladesh home in one of their famous ever wins. 

    2. Nida Dar 5/21 (4), Pakistan v Sri Lanka

    In the same game as Bismah’s fine knock, Nida Dar spun Sri Lanka into a web, taking 5/21, which was such a key performance in a tight game.
    At 48/0 after 7.5 overs, Sri Lanka were right in with a chance of victory, but then Dar worked her magic to cause a Sri Lanka collapse, in which they ended up with 113/9.
    Nida Dar helped Pakistan overcome Sri Lanka in a superb bowling effort

    1. Rumana Ahmed 3/21 (4) and 42* (34), Bangladesh v India

    Hoque was superb for Bangladesh against India, but Rumana Ahmed stood above the rest in an amazing all round performance.
    Rumana kept things tight in the field, restricting India to 141, which was OK from a Bangladesh perspective. Three wickets and a run out is a good day in itself.
    However, she partnered with Fargana Hoque for an unbeaten stand of 93 (the highest for Bangladesh in T20Is) to stun India and give Bangladesh a huge chance of a top two finish, given they are playing bottom placed Malaysia, and India and Pakistan play each other.
    This, for me, was the best performance by any player in the tournament so far.
    Bangladesh upset India by 7 wickets
    Realistically, it is between India, Pakistan and Bangladesh for a top two spot, which will be decided on Saturday.
    India and Pakistan will be a beauty of a match (virtual knock out for a finals spot), and Bangladesh should be too strong for Malaysia, which would book their place in the final.
    All to play for!

    Afghanistan v Bangladesh 3rd T20I Preview

    Charbel Coorey
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    The cricketing world is so proud of Afghanistan, and it’s beautiful to see. A source of respite to their fellow citizens who go through all kinds of things each day, the Afghanistan cricket team have given reason to smile. Their progression in international cricket has been spectacular.

    Led by a superb spin attack, they have simply been too good for a team more established than them. Both T20Is have been super one-sided, and if Afghanistan can develop a ruthless mentality in this kind of situation, it will only help progress their development even further.

    What can I say about Bangladesh? As a big Bangladesh cricket fan of over 12 years myself, I am concerned for what the future holds for their cricket. Their bowling attack continues to underwhelm, and when facing good spin or seam bowling, their batsmen don’t often seem to have the stomach for the fight. When cricketers burst onto the international scene, they often quickly fade away, and are forgotten.

    I will explore Bangladesh’s struggles in a little further detail in a separate piece in the next day or two, but can they at least salvage some pride here? The evidence so far suggests not.

    Key to an Afghanistan win

    Before the series, all the talk was about Afghanistan’s spinners. Oh how they’ve delivered.

    Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have combined for 12/100 off 23 overs, completely dismantling the Bangladesh line up. Only on one occasion has a bowler not taken a wicket in the innings for Afghanistan this series (Mujeeb took 0/15 off 4 overs, going for just 3.75 an over in the 2nd T20I).

    The key will be spinners choking Bangladesh once again, in addition to some strong power hitting from the top and middle order.

    Afghanistan are on fire!

    Key to a Bangladesh win

    Bangladesh are a mess, and the blame game is being played. BCB President Nazmul Hassan has criticised Shakib Al Hasan and Bangladesh’s senior players for not displaying proper leadership in the absence of a coach. My question is – why the hell has it taken eight months to find a coach, and why is no accountability being taken?
    Bangladesh look like a team of individuals at the moment, and the only way they can salvage a whitewash is if they display a collaborative effort. Shakib Al Hasan needs to go back to number three and own the innings, as do Bangladesh’s experienced players, including Tamim Iqbal who batted 48 balls for 43 on Tuesday. Partnerships with both bat and ball is key.
    A tough ask awaits, but they simply need to restore some pride.

    Predicted teams

    Afghanistan are in a position to give other players a chance, if they wish.
    Afghanistan possible XI: 1. Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 2. Usman Ghani, 3. Asghar Stanikzai (c), 4. Najibullah Zadran, 5. Mohammad Nabi, 6. Samiullah Shenwari, 7. Shafiqullah, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Karim Janat, 10. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 11. Shapoor Zadran
    Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to the make up of the Bangladesh team. One thing is for sure, though – their lack of T20 know-how has been ruthlessly exposed.
    Bangladesh possible XI: 1. Tamim Iqbal, 2. Liton Das, 3. Shakib Al Hasan (c), 4. Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5. Mahmudullah, 6. Sabbir Rahman, 7. Soumya Sarkar, 8. Mehidy Hasan, 9 Abu Hider, 10. Rubel Hossain, 11. Nazmul Hossain

    Stats and Facts:

    • If Afghanistan win this match, all their wins against Test opposition in T20Is would have been clean sweeps (3 v ZIM, 1 v BAN).
    • Rashid Khan’s economy rate and bowling average are identical this series (3.57).
    • Shakib Al Hasan still needs one wicket to reach the double of 10,000 runs and 500 wickets in international cricket. Shahid Afridi and Jacques Kallis are the others to achieve this feat.

    Prediction:

    Anything other than an Afghanistan win would be a surprise. Afghanistan to win and make it 3-0. They look the far better T20 side in these conditions.

    West Indies v Sri Lanka 1st Test Preview

    Charbel Coorey
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    When you saw the packed  cricket calendar for 2018, did you highlight this one with a big red pen and say “I can’t wait?”

    Probably not, but these are two sides who have suffered a slide in Test cricket over recent years, and will be looking forward to an opportunity for success.

    This series could set the record for most spectators dressed as stadium chairs, competing with the UAE, which is a shame. However, it should be a competitive one.

    West Indies are desperately longing for Test success. They don’t quite know what it means anymore, with their biggest stars dominating T20 tournaments around the globe. With one Test series win in their last 11 attempts, and their best top order average being 38, I wouldn’t blame anyone for crying when thinking about where West Indies are in the white clothed format. They welcome Sri Lanka for a Test series for the first time since 2008, and they would back their chances, considering Sri Lanka are also not as strong as they once were.

    But, Sri Lanka perhaps have a little more to be optimistic about. Since October 2017, they won a series against Pakistan in the UAE, drew two Tests in India and beat Bangladesh in Bangladesh, where the Tigers have beaten England and Australia in Test matches. The Lions have never won a Test series in the Caribbean, and will probably never get a better chance than now. Who knows how much longer Rangana Herath will go on for, and captain Dinesh Chandimal was in very good Test form last year, which Sri Lanka hope he can continue to build on.

    Key to a West Indies win

    West Indies have players who have had good moments in Test cricket. The likes of Kraigg Brathwaite, Shai Hope and Roston Chase have shown spurts of quality, but unfortunately for West Indies, it just hasn’t been often enough. Highlighted in their averages of 37.43, 33.20 and 38.03 respectively, they are yet to play enough match turning knocks for their country.
    Against a Sri Lanka attack that leaves a lot to be desired, the onus is on the West Indies batting to get runs on the board, and give their bowling attack, which includes the talented Kemar Roach and Devendra Bishoo, breathing space.
    Shai Hope was superb for WI in England & Zimbabwe last year

    Key to a Sri Lanka win

    Sri Lanka, like West Indies, possess an uncertain top order. The key is to make the West Indies line up toil, just as they made Pakistan, India and Bangladesh do at times in their most recent Test assignments. 
    Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews have a combined 118 Tests between them, and are the glue of the Sri Lankan batting line up. They need to be like super glue here, either pushing on from the good work of the top order, or arresting a collapse, if it occurs.
    Also, how well can Rangana Herath perform at age 40? Against West Indies, he has 23 wickets in seven Tests at 25, which is a good return. Can the other bowlers pull their weight in and contribute to a collaborative bowling performance?
    What impact can Rangana Herath have?

    Predicted teams

    Devendra Bishoo is the only specialist spinner in West Indies’ squad, so he’ll surely play. The seamers will have to find ways to break down the Sri Lanka batting line up.

    West Indies XI: 1. Kraigg Brathwaite, 2. Kieran Powell, 3. Shimron Hetmyer, 4. Shai Hope, 5. Roston Chase, 6. Shane Dowrich (wk), 7. Jason Holder (c), 8. Devendra Bishoo, 9. Miguel Cummins, 10. Kemar Roach, 11. Shannon Gabriel

    It is unsure whether Dhananjaya de Silva will take his place in the Test team, after arriving back to the West Indies following the sad death of his father. If he doesn’t play, Kusal Perera could be placed there. Also, with Dimuth Karunaratne injured, 31 year old Mahela Udawatte could make his debut at the top of the order.

    Sri Lanka XI: 1. Kusal Mendis, 2. Mahela Udawatte, 3. Kusal Perera, 4. Roshen Silva, 5. Dinesh Chandimal (c), 6. Angelo Mathews, 7. Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8. Dilruwan Perera, 9. Rangana Herath, 10. Suranga Lakmal, 11. Lahiru Gamage

    Stats and Facts:

    • Sri Lanka have lost just one of their last seven Tests. This includes two series wins, against Pakistan and Bangladesh.
    • West Indies have only won one Test series out of their last 11. This came against Zimbabwe last year.
    • Dinesh Chandimal averages 48.50 in his 10 Tests as captain. 
    • Sri Lanka have only played six Tests in the West Indies. The last was in 2008.
    • West Indies, in addition to their lack of series wins, have won just two of their last 12 Tests at home.

    Prediction:

    Two sides with so much improvement in them makes this one hard to predict, but I will go with Sri Lanka to win thanks to more experience in their line up.

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