Month: August 2022

Hardik Pandya justifiably cornered most of the glory after India’s win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup last night in Dubai. But two other aspects of India’s game stood out too. Firstly, Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s four-wicket haul, including the early dismissal of Babar Azam. And secondly, a sparkling backroom idea to send Ravindra Jadeja up to bat at No. 4. Though Bhuvneshwar’s heroics came first, let’s begin with Jadeja. Rishabh Pant,…

Adelaide Strikers Draft signings: Rashid Khan, Colin de Grandhomme, Adam HoseCurrent list: Wes Agar, Cameron Boyce, Alex Carey, Harry Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Ryan Gibson, Travis Head, Adam Hose, Henry Hunt, Rashid Khan, Thomas Kelly, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Matt Short, Henry Thornton, Jake Weatherald (16/18 filled) The least surprising move on draft night was Strikers using their retention card for Rashid Khan when Melbourne Stars made a bid for…

Related Netherlands evidence shows Pakistan can be better Hardik stays cool to ace a tense chase for India Pakistan’s strength is also their weakness in T20Is “They are so heavily dependent on Rizwan and Babar that you would want to separate them, I feel, when they bat first,” Uthappa said on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out programme after Pakistan went down to India in the Asia Cup opener. “You’d want to…

There was confusion over the status of Colin de Grandhomme in the BBL draft after he was selected by Adelaide Strikers, with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) saying they had not been approached by him to play in the tournament. Strikers took de Grandhomme as their second pick, with head coach Jason Gillespie citing his availability as a key factor. However, he is centrally contracted by NZC who, as of Monday…

Manchester Originals 154 for 6 (Salt 56, Howell 3-18) beat Birmingham Phoenix 75 (Smeed 31, Hartley 4-22) by 79 runs Manchester Originals won their fourth game in a row to set up a qualification decider against Oval Invincibles in the final fixture of the Hundred’s group stage, bowling Birmingham Phoenix out for 75 to silence a 20,836 crowd at Edgbaston. Originals’ 154, which owed much to Phil Salt‘s third fifty…

2.4 to Babar Azam, short ball, top edges to short fine leg, who takes the catch! Pakistan lose their captain early. Bouncer from Kumar and it got big on Babar as he looked to pull it to square leg. India draw first blood. 15/1 16.3 to Asif Ali, Holes out to Surya at long-off. Slower legcutter from Bhuvneshwar. Asif lofts in the air, does not get enough elevation. Picks out…

On Wednesday, on the eve of the second Test against South Africa, Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad were driving back to the team hotel after a round of golf at The Mere Golf Resort & Spa. It was here that Broad first heard he would not be taking the new ball at Emirates Old Trafford. He wasn’t told, expressly. Instead, his captain floated the idea to the 36-year-old, whose last…

Manchester Originals 122 for 6 (Lamb 30, Arlott 2-17) beat Birmingham Phoenix 104 (Elwis 32, Ecclestone 3-8) Manchester Originals left Birmingham Phoenix shellshocked by masterminding an 18-run victory at Edgbaston, successfully defending a total of just 122 to claim their second victory of the season. England internationals Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone led the charge for the visitors, ripping through the home side’s star-studded top order to leave them spluttering…

Liam Livingstone and Trent Boult were big early signings in the inaugural BBL overseas draft, but five of the 12 platinum players went unselected, including Andre Russell and Faf du Plessis, as clubs put a strong emphasis on availability while working within their salary caps. As expected, Rashid Khan was retained by Adelaide Strikers when Melbourne Stars picked him after Melbourne Renegades had taken Livingstone with the first selection of…

England’s injury crisis has deepened ahead of their seven-match T20I series in Pakistan and the T20 World Cup this winter, with Liam Livingstone becoming the latest to be ruled out of the final stages of the men’s Hundred. Livingstone was the MVP at the 2021 men’s Hundred as Birmingham Phoenix finished top of the table after the group stage, before losing in the final. But an ankle injury means it’s…