The Cricket.com Weekly - Edition 40

Welcome to the 40th edition of our weekly newsletter, where everything cricket is covered, be it international cricket - men’s and women’s, domestic cricket or franchise cricket, you will find everything right here. 

While India toils away to another win in West Indies, the other countries have all played some exciting cricket, including a stunning innings from Zak Crawley. All of that and more 👇

Men’s International Cricket

Virat Kohli finally gets an AWAY 💯

December 14, 2018, Virat Kohli gets to his century in fine fashion against Australia in Perth. Since then, 36 innings have been passed without the right-hander scoring a century in the longest format away from home. While that frustration was evident, Kohli finally reached a three-figure mark against West Indies in the ongoing second Test at Port of Spain. 

And when Kohli got to his century, the celebration was muted before he pulled out his ring and showed his love. 

‘Do Sau’d Shakeel stars in Pakistan’s win

Ignore the pun, but this week has been such that Saud Shakeel’s innings have been the real eye-catcher. When Pakistan were in deep trouble, at 101/5, Pakistan needed Shakeel to dig them out of the trouble. And the left-hander did more than that, his innings put the visitors on a pedestal alongside Agha Salman. 

Shakeel first scored a century and then batted alongside Naseem Shah to bring up his double-century and, in return, help Pakistan to a famous win. 

Need help, Pakistan? Better Call Saud 📞

A monster named Zak Crawley

No one in modern-day cricket has been given a longer rope than Zak Crawley. Even when the right-hander was in the roughest batting patches, the message was loud and clear from Bazball camp: you are the man. It had to come off one day, and unfortunately for Australia, it came off in the fourth Test in Manchester. 

Let’s put it this way, Crawley’s innings wasn’t chanceless, but after his innings, Australia’s hopes of retaining the Ashes in Manchester almost became chanceless. Crawley smacked 189, and it was a literal smacking. You can bowl it anywhere; the result was the same, smack that all on the floor from Crawley. 

Akon must be a proud man 🎵🎶🎼

600th Test wicket for Broady

Stuart Broad had long passed Glenn McGrath’s record, becoming the second-best pacer in Test cricket history. But then there was this bigger target: 600 wickets. It was a feat that was only achieved by his bowling partner, James Anderson. The occasion couldn’t have been any better, as Broad brought up his milestone bowling from the Anderson end. 

His 600th Test victim: Travis Head. 

Broady surely will be celebrating, or celebrappealing? IYKYK!!!

India vs Pakistan, ACC Emerging Asia Cup Final

Hey hey, are you sleeping on Yash Dhull’s India A team? If you are, it is TIME TO WAKE UP AND GET IN. Some sharp work from Dhull with the bat (66 off 85) and a collective left-arm spin unit of Abhishek Sharma, Manav Suthar and Nishant Sindhu really toppled the fired-up Bangladesh A side. 

Read: Nishant Sindhu and Manav Suthar proving left is the new right

India couldn’t have afforded to take Bangladesh lightly, considering they lost a final against them back in 2020. So, revenge indeed is served but this time in Colombo’s sweat-parade weather. Now, for the big clash - India vs Pakistan - it can’t get better. Well, at least we will have to utter these lines once, given how the commentators repeated it a million times. 

Women’s International Cricket

England Women create history

We need a team to beat the Australian women’s team!!

The Team: England Women

England women started the Ashes 6-0 down, courtesy of a loss in the one-off Test against Australia. But from thereon, Australia even took a 1-0 lead in the T20I series, but then England, courtesy of some slam-bang cricket from Alice Capsey and Danni Wyatt, helped England to a famous 2-1 win over Australia. 

Then entered Nat Sciver-Brunt. The monster. Barring the one WODI, Sciver-Brunt smashed twin ODI centuries and ended a streak that lasted for a decade, handing Australia women their first ODI series loss since 2013.  

India make a comeback after shocking loss

“Ye Dukh Kahe Khatam Nahi Hota Bey”

That’s exactly how you would have felt had you watched the first ODI against Bangladesh. India were thoroughly beaten in the opener, where they went from 30/1 chasing 153 to going 7/91 within a few overs. Bangladesh spinners had a chokehold over the proceedings, leading the Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur to come out and slam the batting approach. 

But come the second ODI, Jemimah Rodrigues, who was looking to overturn her patchy form, smacked a brilliant 86 with a strike-rate of well over 100, taking India to 228/8, 108 runs more than what Bangladesh could manage to get. The ebb and flow of women’s cricket. 

Franchise Cricket

MLC garners plenty of attention

If you are in India and are still watching the Major Cricket League (MLC), we have no option but to salute your commitment. With matches starting at 2, 3 and 6 AM, it won't be surprising if your sleep cycles have been messed up. 

Don't miss it: MLC round-up: USA Cricket's new venture gets off to rollicking start

And, in case you have missed the entirety of MLC, don’t worry, we got it all covered right here. Yup, Andre Russell is the leading run-scorer in the league. And TSK’s Mohammad Mohsin is the leading wicket-taker, with eight wickets in four innings. 

Domestic Cricket

Vidwath Kaverappa leads South Zone to another title

The final of the 2023 Duleep Trophy was never going to be an easy clash for South Zone. With West Zone having a star-studded batting line-up at their disposal, it needed a lion-hearted effort from South Zone, who were chasing a Duleep Trophy title since 10 years now. 

Enter Vidwath Kaverappa, who rose perfectly to the occasion. Not one or two, but by picking seven wickets in the first innings, he broke West Zone’s back to leave them in a position of no return. Requiring 297 runs for a win, West Zone were put on the backfoot at 18/2. 

Anirudh asks the pertaining question: Can the promising trailer of Vidwath Kaverappa deliver a blockbuster?

The partnership between Cheteshwar Pujara and Priyank Panchal tilted the game partly in their favour, but the left-arm spin of Sai Kishore made the ultimate difference between the two teams, ending with four wickets in the second innings.