The Cricket.com Weekly - Edition 2

International cricket

- International cricket was ruling the roost this week. The most prominent was the culmination of the T20I series between India and South Africa, which was the last T20 assignment for both teams before the World Cup. The remaining two T20Is were high-scoring affairs. India won in Guwahati, putting up 237 runs on the board. Yet, it was David Miller who grabbed the limelight with a splendid hundred. South Africa retorted with the UNO Reverse Card, clinching the dead rubber in the same manner. This time, it was Rilee Rossouw with a ton. 

- Across the border, England completed a 4-3 series win over Pakistan. It was an anti-climactic end to the humdinger of a series - England won by 67 runs. The series had pros and cons for both sides with respect to their World Cup preparations.

- On expected lines, Australia crushed West Indies in the 2-match T20I series at home. West Indies pushed the hosts to the hilt in the first game. In the second game, however, Australia eased their way to a 31-run win. 

- After the T20Is, the India-South Africa bandwagon moved to a 3-match ODI series. Remember when South Africa defeated India 3-0 at home earlier this year? Well, they have continued on that road, beating a second string Indian side by 9 runs in Lucknow. Don’t go by the margin. It was pretty much a one-sided contest. 

- Putting the series defeat against England behind, the Men in Green have already started their next assignment. Pakistan, Bangladesh and the hosts, New Zealand are locking horns in a tri-series as a dress rehearsal to the T20 World Cup. Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 21 runs in the tri-series opener on Friday (October 7). 

- We haven’t forgotten Women’s cricket. New Zealand Women have clinched the 5-match T20I series in the Caribbean, beating the hosts 4-1. The fourth match went right down to the wire. The White Ferns won the Super Over, thanks to Sophie Devine’s two sixes. 

- The Women’s Asia Cup in Sri Lanka has seen a couple of surprising results. Thailand Women registered a big win, beating Pakistan Women by 4 wickets. Pakistan made a strong comeback within 24 hours, beating the title-favorites India by 13 runs. India, however, are still at the summit of the points table. 

Franchise Cricket

- Not much on the franchise cricket front since the 2022 season of CPL was wrapped up. In the only development, SA20, South Africa’s upcoming franchise competition has been confirmed to begin on January 10. The latest season of Women’s Big Bash will begin October 13 onwards. Also, the Women’s Pakistan Super League is confirmed by the PCB. 

Domestic Cricket 

-In the Irani Trophy, the Rest of India side breezed past Saurashtra, the 2019/20 Ranji Trophy winners. Mukesh Kumar’s 4/23 on Day 1 bundled out Saurashtra for 98 which paved the way for an 8-wicket win. Sarfaraz Khan’s 138 off 178 balls ushered ROI to a 276-run lead. Saurashtra fought hard with the bat in their second innings but it could only circumvent an innings defeat. 

Let’s Talk!!!

What created buzz in the cricketing circles this week? Well, it was a shot from Kyle Mayers. The left-hander cracked a decent delivery from Cameron Green over covers for a six, off the back foot. Such was the timing, the ball went to the second tier. The numbers on the tweet below will tell you about the virality of the stroke.

WOW!

Incredible six from Mayers - over cover! #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/xBEaPYgFzN

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 5, 2022

A fellow left-hander, Adam Gilchrist approved the stroke 

I’m sure there has been a better shot in the history of the game, but I just can’t remember it! 😳👌😂 https://t.co/4KAN8ue9xn

— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) October 5, 2022

And so did Gautam Gambhir, we already have a parade of left-handers. Royalty. 

You are not allowed to do this! @kyle_mayers 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/StFx5N2Wb3

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) October 5, 2022

In other news, bizarrely in 2022, West Indies have dropped Shimron Hetmyer from their World Cup squad because the southpaw missed his flight to Australia.

Articles in focus

Axar Patel, more than just a Ravindra Jadeja clone

For the longest time, Axar Patel’s identity has been reduced to merely being Ravindra Jadeja lite. The general consensus being that he is basically Ravindra Jadeja, but worse. Is this true? Well, not exactly. 

Anirudh Suresh’s dissects the dynamics of Axar Patel’s all-round brilliance 

Sarfaraz Khan - not just knocking the door, but breaking it wide open

Runs haven’t stopped coming for Sarfaraz Khan for a while now. Away from the glamours of Indian Premier League, he has piled on runs, as is his wont, to deliver one masterclass after another. 

Bastab K Parida sheds light on Sarfaraz Khan’s hot streak in domestic cricket

Amidst the T20WC hullabaloo, a do-or-die ODI series for South Africa

By pulling out from the ODI series against Australia in January 2023, South Africa have awarded all 30 points of the three-match series to the Aussies. With that, South Africa have only 49 points in 16 matches in the Cricket World Cup Super League. 

Anirudh Kasargod tells us why this ODI series, which might feel like a misfit, is critical for the Proteas. 

Watch This!!

What’s your take?

Who will finish as the top ranked batter in T20Is post the 2022 T20 World Cup? 🤔#CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup

— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) October 8, 2022