The Cricket.com Weekly - Edition 3

International Cricket

The India-South Africa bandwagon moved to a three-match ODI series, which was touted to be crucial for the visiting side in their bid to secure qualification for ODI World Cup in 2023. After securing a 1-0 lead in the series courtesy of a nine-run win, South Africa were at the receiving end of a batting masterclass from Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan in the second outing in Ranchi. While the vice-captain of the side smashed a blistering hundred, the local lad contributed with a stroke-filled 93 to power the team to a seven-wicket win. 

The decider in Delhi promised to be a blockbuster with two riveting sides fighting for the title. However, Men in Blue showcased bowling prowess to bundle out the opposition for 99 runs and canter to an easy series win. 

Ahead of the much-awaited T20 World Cup Down Under, New Zealand hosted Pakistan and Bangladesh in a tri-series as a build-up to the mega event. Two of the most consistent sides in the league stage of the tournament, Pakistan and New Zealand, locked horns in the summit clash of the series, with the visiting side recording a comprehensive five-wicket win courtesy of a quick-fire 38 from Mohammad Nawaz in the run chase. 

On the other hand, Bangladesh endured a tournament to forget as they were winless in their four league matches and produced a below-par performance heading into the World Cup. 

A couple of days after defeating Pakistan 4-3 away from home, England locked horns against their arch-rivals Australia for a three-match T20I series. In a high-scoring opening clash, Jos Buttler and Alex Hales produced a batting masterclass to power England to 208 runs in the first innings. While David Warner's 73 off 44 deliveries threatened to take the game away from England, the visiting side managed to hold their nerve and get over the line by eight runs. 

With the series on the line, Australia yet again crumbled under the pressure of a run chase and fell short by eight runs in pursuit of 179 runs. Dawid Malan was the star of the show for England with a match-defining 82 off 49 deliveries that helped his team set a formidable first-innings total. The third match of the series was abandoned due to relentless showers, helping the home team survive a whitewash. 

The eighth edition of the Women's Asia Cup is underway, and we are at the business end of the tournament, with India and Sri Lanka all set to feature in the final. 

After suffering a shock defeat against Pakistan in their league stage, India bounced back in a commanding fashion to dismiss Thailand for 37 runs, their lowest in women's T20 international. However, the big news from the tournament was Thailand advanced to the final four and joined India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as the four teams vying for the coveted trophy. Despite their spirited performance against India in the semi-final, they lost by 74 runs. In the other semi-final, Sri Lanka edged past Pakistan by one run to secure their place in the final after 14 years. 

Franchise leagues

The eighth edition of the Women's Big Bash League kickstarted amid growing fanfare, with Brisbane Heat locking horns with Syndey Sixers in the inaugural game. Ellyse Perry, who has been struggling to break into the playing XI of the Australian side in the shortest format, smashed a crucial half-century to help the Sixers get off to a winning start in the competition. 

In the second game, Hobart Hurricanes produced a dominant performance with the ball to restrict the Syndey Thunder to 106 for nine, resulting in a 19-run win in the second league game. 

Domestic Tournaments

The Indian domestic tournament kickstarted in full flow with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Fringe Indian players like Devdutt Padikkal, Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana are making the most of their time in the domestic T20 tournament as they are the top-three leading run-scorers in the competition.

Plying his trade for Karnataka, Padikkal smashed an unbeaten 124 against Maharashtra to help his team secure an emphatic 99-run win. In the other clash, Venkatesh Iyer further showcased his skills as an all-arounder to power his team to a win. The southpaw smashed 62 off 31 deliveries in the first innings for Madhya Pradesh before returning to rattle Rajasthan with six wickets to bundle out the opposition for 135 runs. 

In less than 24 hours after India's series win against South Africa, Rututaj Gaikwad joined his Maharastra teammates in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for their second league game against services. The right-handed batter scored a classy 112 to help get back some form after his dismal outing in his debut outing. 

Let’s talk!!

The inaugural edition of the Women’s IPL is all set to commence in March 2023, with the BCCI planning to start a five-team affair. The teams will play two league matches against each other before the top team progresses to the final, and the number two and three ranked teams play the Qualifier. Do you think that is too low for a league, befitting the richest cricket board in the world?

While we still await the official update from the BCCI in regards to the same, we will have a clear idea about it after the AGM meeting of the Board. The other big talking point ahead of the meeting is that Sourav Ganguly will not continue as a BCCI President. Roger Binny, who was part of the World Cup-winning team in 1983, is set to replace him. 

Articles in focus

Timing of Siraj's white-ball resurgence a boon for India

Siraj is nowhere close to the bar Bumrah has set. Not many bowlers are, but the Hyderabad seamer has provided a glimmer of hope that the Men in Blue won’t be taking a complete shot in the darkness while naming a replacement. 

Here's Shubh Aggarwal's piece of the timing of Siraj's white-ball resurgence that makes his the front-runner to replace Jasprit Bumrah

T20 World Cup 2022: Can Zimbabwe and Ireland spring a surprise or two?

Zimbabwe have always turned up at big global events and left a mark more often than not. As painful as not even getting an opportunity to compete in the T20 World Cup last year due to their ban would have hurt, Zimbabwe will look to make amends. 

Ireland started off the year with a come-from-behind 2-1 ODI series win against the West Indies in the Caribbean. What made it special was the fact their skipper Andy Balbirnie, missed the last two games and had to rely on a special all-around effort from Andy McBrine to pull off a heist.

Here's Pramod Ananth's detailed preview of the two sides as the road to the T20 World Cup beckons. 

Dhawan’s spot under threat, but how do you now leave out Iyer?

After India's emphatic series win against Proteas earlier in the week, Hardik Worah analysis some of the major talking points from India's win and how the ODI team is shaping up, keeping the home World Cup in mind next season.

Ruben Trumpelmann: Playing in a World Cup is always a big motivation

Ruben Trumpelmann was brought into the Namibian system to provide the side with pace and the ability to penetrate the batting line-up with his swing. An opportunity to play in a World Cup is what every cricketer dreams of, and Trumpelmann, who is set to play his second T20 World Cup in as many years, is one of the four left-arm seamers Namibia possesses in their armour. 

Here’s Pramod Ananth’s detailed interview with one of the stars of Namibia’s last World Cup campaign. 

Watch this!

What’s your take?