The Cricket.com Weekly - October 14th

It’s Monday and we are here with another edition of the newsletter.

Controversies

Babar, Shaheen, Naseem dropped for last two England Tests

Now, you can’t really call this a controversy, but anything happening in Pakistan cricket is a controversy these days. In an extraordinary development, Pakistan have dropped their three biggest guns - Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah - for the final two Tests of the ongoing three-Test series against England.

Pakistan have not won any of their last 11 home Tests. They lost the first Test against England by an innings and 47 runs in Multan and all three of them had a horrendous outing. While Babar posted scores of 30 & 5 in the first Test in Multan, Naseem and Shaheen combined registered figures of 3/277, going at close to five runs per over between them. 

Litchfield's LBW call being suspiciously overturned

In the Women’s T20 World Cup clash between India and Australia, a controversy brewed surrounding a ‘controversial’ LBW decision. In the 17th over of the Australian innings, Phoebe Litchfield was struck right in front of the stumps. However, there was a catch. 

The left-handed batter had turned into a right-hander in an attempt to reverse sweep the off-spinner Deepti Sharma. While she was struck right in front of the stumps, the ball was pitching outside the off-stump. Shouldn’t it be in line because she turned into a right-hander? No. 

According to Marylebone Cricket Club’s law 36.3, the off-side of the striker’s wicket is determined at the point of run-up, and at that point, Litchfield was still batting as a left-hander, which means that it was still pitched outside the off-stump. “The off side of the striker’s wicket shall be determined by the striker’s batting position at the moment the ball comes into play for that delivery,” reads MCC’s law. 

ED question Mohammad Azharuddin in money laundering case

Former India skipper and Congress politician Mohammad Azharuddin was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on October 8 related to alleged financial irregularities in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) during his time at the helm. 

According to PTI, the money laundering case stems from three FIRs and charge sheets filed by the Telangana anti-corruption bureau (ACB) for alleged criminal misappropriation of Rs 20 crore of HCA funds. 

What’s happening at the Women’s World Cup? 

India will need a couple of things to go their way to qualify for the semis of the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE. The Women in Blue lost their final group game against Australia by nine runs and lost control of their fate in the tournament. 

For them to progress further, India need Pakistan to beat New Zealand on October 14. But at the same time, they don’t want Pakistan to win by 50 runs or within 11 overs in the run chase. If that happens, Pakistan will qualify for the semis alongside Australia.

In Group B, Bangladesh and Scotland are out of the race, but England, South Africa and the West Indies are very much alive. If England win, they will be through alongside South Africa. If the West Indies beat England, they will be through. Then, depending on their NRR, one of England or South Africa will qualify.

Weekly recap

In the spotlight

India smash many records in Hyderabad

What the Men in Blue did to Bangladesh in the third T20I in Hyderabad was nothing sort of a massacre. India not only smashed the highest T20I total (297/6) by a full-member nation but also hit the most boundaries in an innings (47) in T20Is. Meanwhile, Sanju Samson smoked the second-fastest T20I ton for India.

Here are all the records India broke in the third T20I.

Major updates for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

There’s a lot of cricket to be played before the blockbuster Border-Gavaskar Trophy but no one seems to be interested in that. Everyone is focusing on the upcoming five-match Australia-India Test series, starting on November 22, and you can’t really blame them. 

On October 14 (Monday), a couple of big news came out of Australia. All-rounder Cameron Green has opted to have surgery to recover from the back stress fracture and will be out of action for close to six months. Meanwhile, Australia have also decided to push Steven Smith back to No.4 after opening the innings in four Tests.

Bumrah to be India VC for New Zealand Tests

India’s ace paceman Jasprit Bumrah has been appointed the vice-captain for the three-match Test series against New Zealand after the position was left unoccupied during Bangladesh Tests. His appointment is crucial in the context of Rohit Sharma being in doubt to play the first Test against Australia in Perth due to personal reasons.

Performers of the week

Stat of the week

Editor’s picks

Saurabh Tiwary Interview: “Ishan Kishan is the future of Indian cricket”

How bad are Santner’s numbers in Tests? Way worse than you think

Badani Interview: ‘Tamil Nadu won’t win Ranji Trophy unless they have good pacers’

Nitish Reddy has well and truly arrived at the international stage

Three ways Australia can tackle Green's absence in India Tests

Sheffield Shield: How did the Australian Test stars fare in round one?

Colin Munro interview: ‘I wish I’d played more Tests for New Zealand’

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