It may not quite signal his arrival at Test level, but Keaton Jennings rewarded the selectors’ patience with a big step forward in Galle

George Dobell in Galle08-Nov-2018These are the rewards for patience and persistence. Not just the patience and persistence of Keaton Jennings, who took 76 overs – and almost two years – to reach the second century of his Test career, but patience and persistence him.By the end of the English summer, it seemed unthinkable that Jennings could be selected for this tour. He had, after all, gone 10 Tests in succession without a half-century – a record for an England opener – and averaged just 19.20 in six matches since his recall. Almost unbelievably, he had averaged just 1.33 against deliveries that would have hit the stumps from seamers in the five-Test series against India and went through a spell of dropping chances in the cordon that hinted at a frazzled mind. Twice he was dismissed leaving a ball and it seemed the selectors would leave him, too.Jennings admitted to doubts, too. With the pervasive effects of the media – both social and professional – allowing him no escape from the pressures of the job, it got to the stage where he admits he had to “bluff himself” into believing he was good enough to prosper at this level. By the end of day three in Galle, he had everyone fooled.”When you’re waking up at 6.30am, having a cup of coffee and reading about your technical deficiencies, it’s not human to say it wouldn’t affect you,” Jennings said as he reflected on the last few months. “I’ve been waking in the night panicking, stressing and going through some tough times.”You read things and that doubt gets created. The pressure gets created to the point where I suppose you wake up and doubt what coffee you’re having in the morning. Something as simple as that. So you try to ask yourself ‘where is this pressure coming from?’ And it’s just from a lack of runs.”You have to keep believing. Whether it’s daft of yourself to believe or not, as a sportsman there are times you need to bluff yourself into thinking you’re capable of it. The thought did cross my mind during the India series that I might not make this tour.”ESPNcricinfo LtdAhead of The Oval Test against India, Ed Smith, the national selector, justified Jennings’ continued inclusion by pointing out that his average across the English summer was about the same as all the other openers involved in the Test season. And while that was, at the time, broadly speaking correct, it was followed by Alastair Cook making 71 and 147, and KL Rahul 149, in that final Test.Beyond that, though, Smith pointed out that Jennings’ record against spin made a strong case for his inclusion in the squad to Sri Lanka. Jennings had made a century on debut in Mumbai and, while he seems overly-reliant upon the sweep and reverse-sweep (with which he brought up that maiden century), he has not been dismissed in Test cricket playing either shot. Indeed, as CricViz pointed out ahead of this innings, he has been dismissed once every 78 defensive strokes against spin at this level – compared to once every 25 defensive shots against seam bowlers – and never by a ball that turned less than 4.5 degrees.The ECB system deserves some credit for that. Jennings feels the breakthrough in his batting against spin came when he was sent to the UAE as part of a Lions tour. There he worked on his game with Graham Thorpe and Andy Flower – both fine players of spin themselves, of course – and was subsequently called up to the Test tour to replace the injured Haseeb Hameed. That century in Mumbai followed soon afterwards.”I suppose I’m going to get slated at some point for playing a stupid reverse sweep,” he said. “But I see it as a big strength of mine. I see it as a shot that, in a way, gets me out of jail.”I think at times on turning surfaces, like day one here, if you play with a straight bat you feel like you’re going to nick balls and get out. I felt that reverse sweeping or sweeping was less of a risk.”The team management liked Jennings’ apparently equable character, too. While many players – think of Jonathan Trott or, perhaps, Mark Stoneman towards the end of his spell in the side – allowed the inevitable failures that occur at this level to eat away at their confidence, Jennings has the unusual ability to shrug off failures and remain as calm and positive as ever.That temperament was on display here. There were times he was beaten on the outside edge, but you would hardly have known it: he simply settled for the next delivery and attempted to play it on its merits.The roots of that calm nature may well have been born in crisis, however. After his first spell in the side ended with him being dropped, Jennings realised he needed to recalibrate his life. He started to appreciate that cricket, while important, was not the only way he should be defined and that there were many joys to be had away from the game. It’s not that he doesn’t care – far from it – it’s just that in order to be at his best, he needed to find a way to release the pressure.

I felt a lot more happy in my life away from cricket this year compared to last. I didn’t feel like the stress of selection was hanging over me all the timeKeaton Jennings after his Galle hundred

“I’ve been guilty of feeling the pinch in the way I [just] see myself in terms of runs,” he said. “But cricket is a job. You do it from 8am until 7pm and then you go home enjoy a beer, a rum and coke and time with your niece and nephew. You spend time with your family and actually have a life outside of cricket.”I should say a big thank you to the people – my mum and dad, my uncle – who have stuck with me over the last 18-months backed me through some tough times. I felt a lot more happy in my life away from cricket this year compared to last. I didn’t feel like the stress of selection was hanging over me all the time. I did the previous year.”At times, this year and last year, it’s kept me sane. It lets you feel stable. Hopefully I can continue to bubble myself in that sort of environment.”There was context, too. Had Cook not retired, had Hameed not suffered a catastrophic loss of form, had most viable alternatives not already been tried and discarded, it seems unlikely England would have persisted with him. But they didn’t want to thrust two debutant openers into the fray, they didn’t want to force one of their middle-order batsmen into the position and there weren’t obvious candidates making irrepressible cases for inclusion.So, for this specific tour and in these specific circumstances, there was some logic in his inclusion. And the selectors deserve credit for seeing it. This was Jennings third Test in Asia and he has scores of 112, 54 and 146 not out among them.But a couple of generations of former England batsmen – the likes of Tim Robinson (who averaged 66 after 10 Tests), Alan Butcher (who scored 22,000 first-class runs and won one Test cap), Alan Jones (who made 1000 runs in a season 23 times in succession without winning a Test cap), Hugh Morris (who played two of his this three Tests against a West Indies side containing Marshall, Ambrose, Patterson and Walsh), Kim Barnett (player of the match in his only ODI), Graeme Fowler (final three Test innings: 201, 1 and 69) – could be forgiven for wondering what they might have achieved had they been shown such confidence and support. Jennings knew he was a little fortunate to win this opportunity.The reverse-sweep was a productive outlet for Keaton Jennings•AFPThere was little fortunate about this innings, though. While he survived one leg-before shout on 58 that would have been out had Sri Lanka called for a review, he generally looked admirably solid. Putting to one side the aggression that characterised the batting of England’s top-order in the first-innings, he settled for crease occupation and the unhurried accumulation that befits a side starting their second innings on the second day of a Test.There were 59 singles and just six boundaries in his century and, while he did not come down the pitch to the spinners until he had reached three figures, he swept (both reverse and conventionally) with such assurance that it appeared it was sometimes used as a defensive ploy and played irrespective of the field.Some caution is required, though. There may be several openers in the county game – the likes of Sam Robson (who looks a fine player of spin), Adam Lyth, Stoneman, et al – who would make a century every 10 games or so if given the opportunity. This innings, admirable though it was, does not signal Jennings’ arrival as a Test player. No, the players who can sustain a career at this level, have to produce runs with some degree of consistency.This was a large step forward for Jennings, but he has played 10 Tests in England, not made a half-century and averaged 17.72. Like the sombrero bought in Mexico or the kaftan worn on holiday in the Middle East, what works abroad doesn’t always sit so comfortably at home. England won’t play three spinners at home; it’s possible they won’t play Jennings, either.”This is just a starting point,” he acknowledged. “You have to make sure you do it over and over again. Look at Alastair Cook: he scored 33 Test hundreds and played 161 matches yet there were still doubts about his place at times.”I’ve got to make sure I put it this in context, come out again tomorrow and continue to try and get better. It’s been a tough 18 months, but I sit here tonight really proud.”

Also: are there any current players whose batting average has never gone below 40?

Steven Lynch19-Feb-2019Roston Chase took eight wickets in the second innings of the first Test against England, but did not take another in the series. Is this some sort of record? asked Jerry Powell from Barbados

West Indian offspinner Roston Chase took 8 for 60 in the second innings of the first Test against England in Bridgetown last month, but no other wickets in the rest of the series, in which his combined figures were 0 for 163. This performance is indeed unique.Five men have taken seven wickets in a Test innings and no other wickets in the series, but four of them played in only one match: Tom Emmett (7 for 69 for England in a one-off Test against Australia in Melbourne in 1878-79; he took only two wickets in six other Tests); William “Gobo” Ashley (7 for 95 for South Africa v England in Port Elizabeth in 1888-89, his only Test); Bill Lockwood (7 for 71 for England v Australia at The Oval in 1899); and Franklyn Rose (7 for 84 for West Indies v South Africa in Durban in 1998-99). The man who played in two matches was James Langridge, a left-arm spinner, who collected 7 for 56 for England in the second innings against West Indies at Old Trafford on his Test debut in 1933, but failed to strike in the first innings, or his other match in that series.Australia’s Albert Trott took nine wickets in the 1894-95 Ashes series, eight of them (for 43) coming on his debut in Adelaide, while Bernard Bosanquet, the man credited with the invention of the googly, took nine in the 1905 Ashes, including 8 for 107 at Trent Bridge.I know Javed Miandad’s Test batting average never dipped below 50. Are there any current players who have never gone below 40? asked Zafar Hasan Ali from Pakistan

You’re right that Javed Miandad’s Test batting average never went below 50 during his distinguished 124-Test career – the lowest it reached was 51.75 (he finished on 52.57). The only man who can better this is the England opener Herbert Sutcliffe, whose average went down to 60.73 in his 54th Test, in 1935, at which point – presumably disgusted – he retired.Given a qualification of 30 innings, there are only 18 other players whose Test batting average never fell below 40 throughout their career. The list includes two current players: Mominul Haque of Bangladesh has never seen his average drop below 41.60, while the lowest for South Africa’s captain Faf du Plessis is 40.60.The list includes four other Englishmen – Denis Compton (a lowest of 42.94), David Gower (40.53), Geoff Pullar (41.62) and the recently retired Alastair Cook (40.88). There are four Australians – Herbie Collins (45.07), Adam Gilchrist (43.50), Bill Lawry (40.29) and Doug Walters (47.03) – and four West Indians: Conrad Hunte (40.92), Alvin Kallicharran (44.31), Lawrence Rowe (43.00) and Frank Worrell (49.49). Three Indians made the list – Mohammad Azharuddin (43.96), Sourav Ganguly (40.42) and Sunil Gavaskar (47.70) – plus one Sri Lankan, in Thilan Samaraweera (40.04).In Javed Miandad’s 124 Tests, the lowest his batting average fell to was 51.75•PA PhotosSome 80 players have represented South Africa in T20Is since the format was introduced. Which country has used the most players? asked Savo Ceprnich from South Africa

South Africa’s 80 different men in T20Is, since the first one was played in Auckland in February 2005, puts them joint-fifth on the list, alongside Pakistan, who have also capped 80 players. Well in front are Australia, who have so far used 93 different players; England and New Zealand come next with 82. India, Sri Lanka and West Indies have all used 78 players, Zimbabwe 51, Ireland 44 and Afghanistan 36.Shoaib Malik remains the only man on this list to have played more than 100 T20Is; he reached three figures in Harare last July, and now has 111 caps. Shahid Afridi retired after 99 T20Is, but two Indians are poised to join the 100 club: MS Dhoni has so far played 96, and Rohit Sharma 93.There were 38 wides during the third Test between West Indies and England. What’s the record? asked Victor Dubuisson from Jamaica

That total of 38 runs from wides during the recent match in St Lucia was actually the highest number in any Test. The previous record was 34, in the match between West Indies and Australia in Bridgetown in 2008. Successive matches in Johannesburg between South Africa and India, in 2013-14 and in 2017-18, produced 31 and 33 runs from wides . It should be noted that these figures show the total number of runs accrued from wides, not necessarily the amount of wide deliveries called (if a wide reaches the boundary it goes down as five extras). In the match in St Lucia there were only 18 actual deliveries that were deemed to be wides.I noticed that George Ulyett played in both Australia and South Africa’s inaugural Tests. Has anyone else achieved such a double? asked Rajiv Radhakrishnan from England

Yorkshire’s George Ulyett played for England in Australia’s first Test, in Melbourne in 1876-77, and South Africa’s first, in Port Elizabeth in 1888-89. That Melbourne game was also England’s first Test, so you could argue that Ulyett appeared in three countries’ inaugural matches!Using that logic, the other 21 players at the MCG in March 1877 also played in the inaugural Test for two countries. The most likely other candidates for this particular distinction were Englishmen in the period between the two World Wars, which featured maiden Test matches for West Indies (in 1928), New Zealand (1929-30), and India (1932), all of which came against England. As it turns out, no one appeared in all three, but Wally Hammond, Douglas Jardine and Herbert Sutcliffe all played against West Indies at Lord’s in 1928, and against India, also at Lord’s, in 1932 – while Frank Woolley appeared against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1929-30 and against India at Lord’s in 1932.There was an addition to the list, though: Many years later, Zimbabwe played their inaugural Test against India in Harare in 1992-93, while Bangladesh also started against India, in Dhaka in 2000-01. Sachin Tendulkar and Javagal Srinath played in both those matches.Use our feedback form or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

He gave up a contract with Northern Districts and turned freelancer. It’s a decision that could give his international career a second wind

Deivarayan Muthu12-Jan-2019It is the dream of every street cricketer to open the batting and bowling. Anton Devcich has been doing that in top-flight cricket unlike anyone else.Since the start of 2016, nobody has opened both the batting and bowling in more T20 matches than Devcich (14) has, and nobody has hit more runs than his 393 at a strike rate of 157.83 while doing so. Devcich also has 16 wickets at an economy of 7.28 – the best among four players (Joe Deny, David Willey and Shane Watson being the others) who have pulled off the double in 10 or more games.Oh, and he’s a brilliant fielder to boot. Have you watched catch of the T10 league? How’s that for a T20 – or a T10 – package?In his last T20 international, in 2014 against Pakistan in Dubai, Devcich had starred while opening both the batting and bowling to lead New Zealand to a series-levelling victory. After setting up New Zealand with 21 off 20 balls on a two-paced pitch, he plucked out two top-order wickets in a Man-of-the-Match performance to wind up with 2 for 16. He then suffered shoulder and tendon injuries, and his subsequent dip coincided with the surge of Martin Guptill, Colin Munro and Kane Williamson.ALSO READ: Devcich opts out of domestic contract with Northern DistrictsDevcich hasn’t represented New Zealand in T20Is since, but has sharpened his skills by risking a secure income with Northern Districts and turning into a T20 globetrotter. Having played in nearly every league around the world and established himself as a two-in-one player across various conditions, Devcich hopes to break into the New Zealand squad for the 2020 World T20 in Australia.Opening with bat and ball most often in T20s since the start of 2016•ESPNcricinfo LtdA key step towards that could be his upcoming maiden Big Bash League stint with Sydney Thunder. He is set to occupy one of two slots left vacant by Jos Buttler and Joe Root, who are away on national duty.”I haven’t spoken yet to New Zealand Cricket about where I’m sitting at the moment,” Devcich tells ESPNcricinfo. “But in terms of performance, putting numbers on board, my style of cricket and my experience, I think I’m much closer to playing for New Zealand again. I don’t think I was as consistent maybe two years ago. I am well and truly trying as hard as I can to get into the squad for the 2020 World Cup in Australia. This Anton of 2019 has a far better chance of playing for New Zealand than I was a couple of years back.”Opting out of a central contract with Northern Districts, for whom he is the top scorer and wicket-taker in T20s, was a difficult decision at the time, but Devcich believes it was the “right” call.”My wife was pregnant when I gave up the contract with Northern Districts, and from having a secure income, I went to having no income in a space of 24 hours,” Devcich says. “At that phase, I wanted to play T20 cricket, and the only way to get ahead of New Zealand’s top three – Munro, Guptill and Williamson – is I had to get better. I thought my only way to get better quickly was to test myself in these leagues. My main objective of playing all these leagues is purely to gain experience and to fast-track progression really.”Luckily for me, almost immediately after I declined my contract, Shane Bond from the Sydney Thunder called me up to the side. It was a massive relief financially, but also an exciting time, because the BBL is one of the best T20 tournaments. Everyone in New Zealand wants to play there, and I’m among four or five guys to have the opportunity.”Devcich’s ability to adapt and adjust to different conditions bodes well for him. Where he was able to muscle the ball away back home in the Super Smash and in the leagues (PSL, APL and T10) in the UAE, he came up against extremely slow tracks in the 2018 Caribbean Premier League.With Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis manning the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots top order, Devcich was tasked with batting out of position in the middle order. He admits to struggling on the sluggish, turning pitches in the early half of the tournament, but picks his 22-ball half-century in a steep chase against Jamaica Tallawahs in the Eliminator as innings that gave him confidence.He displayed excellent footwork in that match – whether twinkling down the track and launching Samuel Badree down the ground, or jumping back and pulling his Northern Knights teammate Ish Sodhi.”I guess the CPL wickets in particular were very slow, even more so than the ones in Dubai,” Devcich says. “I initially struggled in the tournament a bit, I batted in the middle, and then against Jamaica I batted well and helped my team get over the line. From that point onwards [the confidence came]; when I came to Dubai and Sharjah, it was a bit skiddy and I had the knowledge of playing on slow tracks. The Global T20 wickets were also slow. The CPL helped me to get used to different conditions.”

“I think I’m much closer to playing for New Zealand again. I don’t think I was as consistent maybe two years ago. I am well and truly trying as hard as I can to get into the squad for the 2020 World Cup in Australia. This Anton of 2019 has a far better chance of playing for New Zealand than I was a couple of years back.”Anton Devcich

As a Croatian-New Zealander, Devcich has fond memories of Goran Ivanisevic winning the Wimbledon, but Brian Lara has always been his cricketing idol, and the CPL stint with Trinbago Knight Riders in 2016 – his first with a T20 franchise – gave him a chance to have dinner and drinks with him.”Brian is a Trinidad boy and he hosted us for dinner and drinks,” Devcich says. “Brendon [McCullum] was also there with me at TKR and helped me through the CPL. Brian’s good friend Dwight Yorke was there as well then – he’s obviously a legend in football.”Brian was a big role model for me growing up, watching his one-day cricket. I’m lucky to have met him; not everyone meets their idol. He was the player for whom I could stop whatever I was doing and just watch him bat.”Devcich also reckons that his bowling is coming along well. He doesn’t turn the ball much, banking instead on attacking the stumps with arm balls and drifters. They fetched him 4 for 27 in the Knights’ opening win in the Super Smash last month.”I have just simplified things when it comes to bowling,” he says. “I don’t turn the ball much at all. Some days the ball also swings and creates challenges in itself. I don’t try too much and just look to bowl dot balls. And that seems to have worked in the last couple of years. I haven’t bowled much in leagues outside of Super Smash and I’m hoping to do so in the future leagues.”Sure, Devcich has been there and done that in many other leagues, but can he bring the Thunder across the ditch?”I don’t really have aspirations pinpointed as such in the BBL,” he says. “I just want to get stuck in and be who I am. I’m lucky enough that I’ve played a few leagues. I don’t feel nervous anymore because I’ve played with and against some of the world-class players. It’s still hard for a player to get into a new environment, but I’m going to try my hardest, and hopefully, we can get a few wins and make the finals.”

Which players should you pick for your fantasy team? Who are the budget buys? Look no further than our daily fantasy cricket blog throughout the World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff30-May-2019

Game 38, England v India, Birmingham

You know the song. You’ve seen the memes. But the tables have turned. It is the Indian fans who are singing “It’s coming home.” The big game is finally here. The two favourites go head-to-head in a high-stakes clash that has been the most anticipated of this World Cup. Edgbaston is the setting as England face a must-win scenario against a firing Indian side who’ll be decked up in a new kit.

Your five must-haves

• Rohit Sharma – The Rohit Sharma show has gone a bit quiet since his blistering start to the World Cup. He might have been unfortunate to be dismissed against West Indies and will be eager to make amends. He averages 44 against England and if you have to choose between him and Kohli, Rohit might be your differential pick. A slow track will also ease him into the game and you know what he’s capable once he gets the feel of things.
• Joe Root – When the two teams met just over a year ago, two hundreds in three ODIs from Root gave England a terrific series win. With two hundreds and three fifties in the World Cup so far, Root is not just a must-have, he could be your best pick for captain. A slow surface is perfect for Root, the master of rotating the strike. And he is not a bad player of spin either, is he?
• Kuldeep Yadav – England will not have fond memories of his six-for in Nottingham in the series last year. With spin coming into play in Birmingham, Kuldeep will be itching to let that ball rip. He has not had the best of World Cups, but with his economy rate of 4.93 in that series and the potential to put pressure on England, you can see points everywhere.
• Mohammed Shami – Picking the player in the hottest form is the fundamental rule of fantasy sports. The fire emoji has been beside Shami’s name ever since his first ball of the World Cup, and two four-wicket hauls in two games are enough reason to give him a spot in your team.
• Jos Buttler – India’s superior bowling unit will be hunting for some wickets and Jos Buttler could be in before you know it. He loves a game against the Asian sides, but India have not been his favourite so far. Despite his below-par record against India, Buttler gets the nod just on recent form, his expertise against spin and his ball-striking prowess on home conditions

The budget buys

• Moeen Ali and Kedar Jadhav – Both allrounders in their own right, Moeen more than Jadhav since he bowls a lot more. Both spinners who have conditions to be hopeful about. Both batsmen who can get you the runs when things don’t go right at the top. Potential for points is plenty and therefore both are good picks in a high-stakes game which could be decided by small margins.

What we are watching out for

England against the India spinners. We know they have good players of spin, but can they do it under pressure against an unbeaten, in-form India side? Here we go.

Game 36, Afghanistan v Pakistan, Headingley

Pakistan lost their warm-up game against the Afghans, but the tournament’s gone in different directions for the two sides since then. For Pakistan, this is the first of two must-win league fixtures to give themselves the best shot at a semi-final spot, what with England going up against India and New Zealand in the run-in. They wouldn’t want too much drama here, but Gulbadin’s men have promised to “take you down along with us”. Will today be the day?

Your five must-haves

• Babar Azam – Babar finally made good on all those eye-catching starts he’s had all tournament, on a day when it truly mattered, against New Zealand. Afghanistan’s ramshackle bunch offer a chance to build on that form.
• Mohammad Amir – He’s been one of the best bowlers of the tournament, and has found his mojo after a prolonged lull which saw him pick up just five wickets since the start of 2018. A must-have whenever Pakistan are playing.
• Mohammad Nabi – When Afghanistan beat Pakistan in the warm-up game, it was not Rashid Khan or Mujeeb Ur Rahman who troubled them, but Nabi with his canny offbreaks and pace variations. He hasn’t been among the wickets in the last couple of games, but is dependable on most days. And if Pakistan run through the Afghanistan top order, Nabi could be the rock with the bat too.
• Shadab Khan – Afghanistan have the second-lowest batting average against legspin since 2017, a struggle that has been a theme throughout this World Cup too. When Shadab has done well, Pakistan have too, so he is a fairly obvious pick for this game.
• Haris Sohail – Pakistan’s somewhat belated surprise package. Few of their batsmen have struck the ball as sweetly as he has in the past two games, at a run-a-ball or better that too. Keep him in your XI on the basis on current form alone.

The budget buys

• Najibullah Zadran – Our fantasy blog has been willing him on to come good for the past few games, ever since he returned from being benched. He hasn’t found the runs as he did at the start of the tournament, but remains Afghanistan’s most prolific middle-order batsman in recent years. Continues to strike it well, so runs should possibly not be far away.
• Shaheen Afridi – Bowled the best new-ball spell by a Pakistan pace bowler in a while, against New Zealand, en route to a match-winning 3 for 28. You wouldn’t want to keep out a fast man from Pakistan on current form.
• Wild Card – Mohammad Hasnain has been warming the bench throughout the league phase. As a young, exciting fast bowler who has breached the 150kph mark, there is word he could be unleashed on Afghanistan and, potentially, Bangladesh. He could be your x-factor, so watch out for team news at the toss.

What we’re watching out for

Will Headingley continue to be the banana-peel venue? Having thrown the World Cup wide open with Sri Lanka’s win over England, could there be another improbable upset on offer? Sri Lanka would sure hope so.
Lockie Ferguson bowls as Hashim Amla looks on•Getty Images

Game 37, New Zealand v Australia, Lord’s

The Trans-Tasman rivalry resumes and the winner would stake claim for first spot. Who are the players likely to shine?

Your five must-haves

• Mitchell Starc – Starc took four wickets against England and used his yorkers to great effect. He also took six wickets against New Zealand in the group-stage match in the 2015 World Cup. Starc has 18 wickets at 19.11 against the Kiwis and would be looking to add to the tally. Early pictures of the pitch indicate a good day for the quicks.
• Lockie Ferguson – New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker so far, Lockie has shown how raw pace can help claim wickets in the middle overs. He could play a big role against a slightly weak Australian middle order. Has flown under the radar with Trent Boult and Matt Henry around, but been the most effective of them all.
• Kane Williamson – Has 414 runs in the tournament and been New Zealand’s go-to man through this World Cup. Barring him, New Zealand’s batting has underperformed so far, so much that Williamson’s services have often been needed from the first over. He’s only been dismissed once off pace in the entire tournament, and has a good record against Starc (never dismissed in 58 balls faced). Pat Cummins has taken his wicket twice in 85 deliveries, so if he can survive the opening spell, he will be in a good position to pile up another big score.
• Aaron Finch and David Warner – The law of averages has not affected this pair so far. They have added more than 100 on four occasions and both of them have two centuries each. They play cautiously up front and set up the platform required for Australia to rack up those big scores. They average 76.6 per dismissal this tournament, the best among any Australian opening combination in World Cup history. In fact, these two have scored more runs than New Zealand, Bangladesh and West Indies’ openers put together. One of them is likely to score big, and in fantasy cricket, it is best to have both rather than hedging with one of them

The budget buys

• Trent Boult – Boult’s World Cup seems to have just begun. The last two games have been his best so far and he is coming up against opponents he does very well against. He has two five-wicket hauls against the Aussies and averages 18 and strikes once every 21 balls. If the conditions at Lord’s are similar to what we saw in the Australia-England game, Boult could be a serious threat early on. Who knows, he could be the one putting an end to the Australian openers’ hot streak.
• Martin Guptill – The leading run-getter of the 2015 World Cup seems to be struggling for form – 138 runs at an average of 27 and two first-ball dismissals sum up his tournament. Sheldon Cottrell and Mohammad Amir dismissed him early and with Mitchell Starc and Jason Beherendorff starting for Australia, Guptill could be in for some tough early overs facing left-arm swing and pace. For once, he would be looking to give Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor a platform.

Game 35, South Africa v Sri Lanka, Chester-le-Street

More than a year after England successfully chased 310 against Australia, cricket returns to the Riverside in a contest of no little interest. Both sides are bruised, but one is coming off the upset of the World Cup that has woken the tournament from its slumber. The other, unfortunately, is out of the reckoning. Hard to pick a favourite here, but Sri Lanka are certainly roaring, screaming and are up and about, unlike their opponents.

Your five must-haves

• Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis – They are not just South Africa’s two leading run-scorers this World Cup, they were also the two leading run-scorers when the two sides met just over three months ago. South Africa swept that series 5-0 and boy, was de Kock rocking. A sequence of 81, 94, 121 and 51 is no mean feat and that makes him one of the best captain picks for this game. Du Plessis had a great series as well, and if South Africa want to take anything away from their World Cup campaign – as they must – du Plessis will have to lead from the front.
• Lasith Malinga – A confident, raging fast bowler against a side that has had its worst World Cup is a dream combination. South Africa’s middle-order batsmen David Miller, Aiden Markram and JP Duminy have all had terrible tournaments, and with Malinga at the death, they may need more than a bit of skill. Expect a few wickets.
• Kusal Mendis – After two wretched games, we finally saw the Kusal Mendis we know against England. Not at his fluent best, but he showed enough to breathe some oxygen to a batting line-up that has lacked any kind of energy this World Cup. He is not the best fantasy option there is, looking at his strike rate, but if there is a top-order failure, Kusal Mendis could be the man to get you the runs.
• Rassie van der Dussen – An average of 71 from 13 ODI innings does sound nice, but pick him for his World Cup form alone. With two half-centuries and a 41 to his name, we saw the best of van der Dussen against the New Zealand attack. He kept his cool, and even took on Lockie Ferguson in the final over. Sri Lanka, who don’t boast of great middle-over bowling options, might just be the attack to spur him on to get a big one.

What do you do if you’re an Indian expat in China? You get yourself to an Indian-owned bar that’s showing the game on a big screen

Avtar Singh17-Jun-2019″What is going on?”The young women behind us are genuinely mystified. One is Italian, the other Hungarian, communicating as expats abroad tend to do, in English. We hear the question and turn to answer. The bar we’re in is convivial and people talk to each other across tables. But there is no easy reply when you’re watching cricket with newbies. Not any old game, either: India against Pakistan in the World Cup.That we’re sitting in Beijing just makes it that much harder to process. For the young women held hostage by the large screen across the room; and for us.

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There are about a dozen of us watching the cricket pretty seriously. We all belong to the Beijing Ducks Cricket Club, or know someone in it. The members enjoy playing the game, but the camaraderie around it is just as important. There are Aussies, Brits, Kiwis, South Africans, a fair sprinkling of subcontinentals; a Zimbabwean in the recent past, a Malaysian, a few American converts.The bar we’re in, Side Street in central Beijing, is owned by an Indian who belongs to the group. I walk in through the intermittent drizzle that has cooled Beijing down this summer day. There are drinks deals laid on for the Ducks and the mood is festive when I arrive. Rohit and Rahul are making hay.”How’s the pitch,” I ask.”Flatlining.””What’s the word?””Pakistan are playing for D-L.””Bit early, surely? Has it rained yet?””Nope. But they’re getting hammered. And Manchester is going to do what Manchester does.”Our local Liverpudlian is prescient. (He grudgingly admits that Old Trafford is a super ground to watch cricket in. You can see the effort it takes.) The bar is still full of non-cricketing patrons and there is no commentary from the screen. The driving music serves as a bizarrely fitting counterpoint to what already feels like a procession, even though India’s innings isn’t half-done. Even the green-clad fans the feed regularly cuts to in Manchester seem disconnected, looking intently at their devices. The Indian fans in their hideous store-bought turbans leap about in silence. is how you enjoy a vuvuzela, I suddenly realise.ALSO READ: India-Pakistan match produces an atmosphere that exceeds the hype”Where are the Pakistani boys,” I ask.I had been hoping for a more bipartisan turnout. is better enjoyed as a cocktail, after all, and not straight up. But the others shake their heads. A few places are mooted and dismissed. I turn to my phone. WeChat rules in China. I reach out in a few groups.It turns out a few Pakistanis were watching the game at a place in the suburbs, but their team’s limp fielding and turgid bowling has served to send them all home already. “This bloody team puts you through the emotional wringer like no other,” one WeChat acquaintance says ruefully. The gulf is too vast, notes another later, in a different chat.The resignation is telling. But in Side Street, a couple of fellows in front of us cheer every breakthrough Pakistan make, and later, every blow they strike to the fence. One is English, the other American, but they’re redressing the balance on behalf of a Pakistani friend who can’t be there. Even though they’re not all that busy, it is still a nice gesture.

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Behind us, the young women fretfully enquire how a team accumulates points. You run, we tell them. Unless you hit it to the fence. Or fly it over.”Like that?” Our necks snap around to the screen, where Rohit has just flayed someone over cover.A number of expat fans from all over the cricket-playing world, and some from further afield, congregated at the Side Street bar in Beijing•Huizhong Wu”Just like that.””And they’re called runs?””Yes.””But you don’t always run them?”

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The rain arrives, as advertised. Some of the other patrons in the bar are getting energetically drunk. One man in tattoos and a sleeveless vest comes up to me.”Three hundred, mate,” he bellows in my ear. He’s clearly Antipodean. With his voice, he doesn’t need a phone to speak with his family at home. “Your lads don’t even have to come out and finish up. Pakistan’s not getting that many. Not with this line-up.”He’s loud, but he’s not wrong. Once the Indian innings has meandered to its conclusion, Pakistan’s openers come out and play as if they’re in quicksand. When Bhuvneshwar Kumar pulls up lame, Vijay Shankar, whom you might politely label a makeweight seamer, has Imam-ul-Haq miss a ball by the proverbial mile to have him plumb in front. Not reviewing is the one good decision Imam makes.”Pakistan haven’t turned up,” is the verdict. One by one, the cricket-watchers leave. Behind us, the young women are still googling the game and its rules.”Stupid game,” says one with finality. “Who started playing it anyway?””The English.””Ah.”Babar Azam falls to an otherworldly delivery from Kuldeep Yadav. The green army on the screen silently check their phones. I’m the last Duck left in the bar.I waddle off as well, the rain gentle on this quiet night in Beijing.Necropolis

Afghanistan’s younger crop of players will have a lot to prove if Rashid sits out of the final

Mohammad Isam in Dhaka23-Sep-2019The question mark hanging over Rashid Khan’s availability for the T20I tri-series final on Tuesday could shift the focus on a related – and important – question for Afghanistan. Aside from their most experienced cricketers, can the team withstand big-match pressure? The answer might surprise you.Sharafuddin Ashraf, the 24-year-old big-hitting allrounder who bowls left-arm spin, is being considered as a potential replacement for Rashid. Ashraf is making a comeback into the Afghanistan side, having played three matches earlier this year. He doesn’t have a formidable international record yet – he has played 23 limited-overs matches for Afghanistan – but is among those who impressed during Afghanistan A’s tour to Bangladesh in July.”I think we have the back-up,” Rashid said. “We have quality spinners like Mujeeb [Ur Rahman] and [Mohammad] Nabi, and there’s also Sharafuddin, the left-arm spinner. He is a good allrounder.”ALSO READ: Preview – Injury cloud over Rashid Khan as Bangladesh look to correct poor finals record at homeAshraf is not on par with Rashid’s class or quality yet, but his potential selection appears to be in line with the management’s decision to give more opportunities to newcomers in Afghanistan’s first tour following their disastrous World Cup campaign. The objective is to find more match-winners and take some pressure off the more established players, like Nabi and Rashid.It is hard to put together an Afghanistan side without either of these mainstays but if Rashid is unavailable on Tuesday, the management is primed to implementing a plan of action they had been drafting over the past two years: to hand responsibility to a new crop of players.Afghanistan’s ongoing tour of Bangladesh has seen some of these newcomers make a statement. Ibrahim Zadran, who was picked on the back of an impressive showing during the A tour of Bangladesh, batted them into a winning position in the second innings of the one-off Test in Chattogram, with a gritty 87. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Fareed Ahmad and Naveen-ul-Haq have held their own in the tri-series, with Gurbaz oozing an impressive measure of style in his strokeplay. Though Hazratullah Zazai and Mujeeb are from an earlier batch, both have established themselves in the T20I side and some of the franchise T20 leagues, too.IDI/GettyIn Rashid’s view, one of the reasons for both the Afghanistan Test and T20I sides doing well in Bangladesh is down to the separate skillsets brought into play by their batsmen. The Test team is built on Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Asghar Afghan, with Ibrahim and Afsar Zazai also making contributions in the Chattogram Test.As far as the T20I side goes, Zazai, Nabi and Najibullah Zadran shoulder the bulk of the responsibility with the bat, while the likes of Gurbaz, Najeeb Tarakai, Shafiqullah, and Usman Ghani chip in from time to time. Rahmat and Shahidi have done well in ODIs, but neither is part of the T20I set-up, the former having never played a T20 international and Shahidi’s only T20I appearance coming in 2013.”We only have three guys who play both formats – me, Nabi and Asghar,” Rashid said. “We have learned how to switch between formats, given our experience. You have to know that as an international cricketer and adjust yourself as soon as possible because you play all three formats in one tour.”Our T20 guys had a good camp back home. They were already in form. The Test guys had a camp in Abu Dhabi. It is good to have different teams for different formats, and it is good to see that Afghanistan is able to do it. [That] makes it easier for captains and coaches. We don’t need time to adjust to T20s. It is certainly pleasing me as a captain.”Rashid underscored that the Bangladesh tour gave them plenty of positives, especially in the form of newcomers like Ibrahim, Gurbaz and Naveen. “I am really happy with how Ibrahim played in the Test debut,” Rashid said. “I am pretty happy with how Rahmat Shah and Asghar Afghan batted in that game. We also gave debuts to Zahir Khan and Qais Ahmed.”Also the way Rahmanullah Gurbaz played in his maiden series…he showed his talent. Fareed bowled exceptionally well in the first two games. Naveen-ul-Haq also delivered brilliantly in the last game against Bangladesh. He is also a wonderful fielder, as well as a good bowler. We still have to improve in some areas but the way the youngsters took the responsibility and showed the talent, it was good for us.”Rashid said that a number of cricket academies have come up in Afghanistan in the recent past but even though facilities are not state of the art, young players have been trying to make the most of it.”It is just about love of the cricket,” Rashid said. “We don’t have the facilities or proper ground but we have natural talent in all three departments. We are having more academies [these days], so there are a bit more facilities. Youngsters work hard back home. They are making the best use of it, whether there’s grass on the ground. They always want to play for the national cricket team.”The uncertainty over Rashid’s availability could be a boon to Bangladesh. It might, however, also throw up a surprise for Afghanistan, in Ashraf and the other young players waiting to make their mark in the absence of their MVP.

In a country already battling an economic meltdown, the suspension has made hundreds of people unemployed and affected several thousands more

Liam Brickhill23-Jul-2019Why were Zimbabwe suspended?The ICC met in London last week and, among other things, decided to immediately suspend Zimbabwe for, officially at least, failing to provide a process for free and democratic elections, and failing to ensure that there is no government interference in its governance.ALSO READ: Zimbabwe suspended by ICC over ‘government interference’This ruling came as a result of the decision by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) to suspend the entire Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) board after elections that the SRC claimed were unconstitutional (while also raising various other issues and objections), in June. The SRC called for a financial audit of ZC, reached out to the ICC for help and guidance, and put in place an interim committee to run cricket in the country until fresh board elections, which were to be held in September next year.What does the suspension mean in effect?Zimbabwe’s funding has been cut off, and the representative men’s and women’s sides have been barred from taking part in ICC events. But given the financial state of ZC, not to mention the country of Zimbabwe, the suspension means that all professional cricket in Zimbabwe has ceased. ZC has said that Zimbabwe will no longer take part in a scheduled tri-series in Bangladesh in September, players won’t be paid salaries or match fees, and even the upcoming domestic season cannot be staged.
In a country already battling an economic meltdown, the suspension has made hundreds of people unemployed and affected several thousands more. The women’s team has been the first, and hardest, hit.ALSO READ: Zimbabwe not to travel to Bangladesh for T20I tri-seriesWhat is the Sports and Recreation Commission?The SRC is a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament in Zimbabwe in 1991 – a sort of parastatal that is guided by Acts of Parliament, and appointed by the minister of sport, but does not actually form part of Zimbabwe’s government. Its mandate is to regulate all registered sporting associations in the country, ensuring they adhere to their registered constitutions, among other things. It is chaired by Gerald Mlotshwa.Who is Gerald Mlotshwa, and why is that important?A lawyer by profession, Mlotshwa has, for a couple of years now, shown a keen interest in Zimbabwean sport. His firm, Titan Law, sponsors both rugby and polo teams; he chairs an organising committee for the Sables, the national rugby team; and his connection to Zimbabwean cricket goes far beyond his chairmanship of the SRC board. He is also the son-in-law of Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and not without power.In April last year, amid the fallout following Zimbabwe’s failed World Cup qualifying campaign, Mlotshwa wrote to the SRC with a list of grievances aimed at ZC – the same as were taken up when he himself became SRC chairman. At the same time, Mlotshwa was the legal representative of the centrally-contracted players seeking their unpaid salaries from ZC, and according to communications leaked to the local press, was also thought by some players to be a good candidate to help them as they sought to unionise. He also represented former national coach Heath Streak in his defamation case against board chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani, and in Streak’s liquidation suit against ZC.Getty Images/AFPSo it was Mlotshwa who kicked the battle between the SRC and ZC off?Actually, this isn’t the first time that the SRC has attempted to alter Zimbabwean cricket’s course. In January 2004, the SRC dissolved ZC’s board in the midst of the so-called ‘rebel’ crisis, putting in place an interim committee to run cricket for six months. Again, in 2006, the SRC stepped in and dissolved all five of the existing provincial boards. In 2013, the SRC issued a directive that only former players could become national selectors, escalating a row over power and politics in the game in Zimbabwe. Ironically, it was the SRC’s dissolution of a previous ZC board that originally allowed Mukuhlani to rise to the vice-chairmanship of the ZC board under Peter Chingoka, before Chingoka retired in 2014. He later deposed Wilson Manase at the helm in 2015, having announced his candidature for the chairmanship on the morning of the election.ALSO READ: ICC bars four Zimbabwe women cricketers from Global Development SquadSo, the SRC’s move to dissolve the ZC board in June was hardly unprecedented. It was, however, one of the first actions taken by the new SRC board after Mlotshwa was appointed chairman in May. Having previously made clear his desire to get stuck into Mukuhlani’s ZC board under the guise of his legal practice, Mlotshwa made good on his plans almost as soon as he took up his SRC chairmanship. But he insists it’s “nothing personal”.If the SRC have stepped in before, why is this time any different?Good question. A quick look at the other Full Members shows that some government involvement in cricketing affairs is hardly rare. And if you’ve been following Zimbabwean cricket over the years, previous instances of government – or at the very least, politically motivated – meddling in ZC are easy to find. So, why was this time seen as so bad? One sticking point appears to be the unilateral nature of the actions taken by the SRC, the lengthy term of the proposed interim committee (15 months) and the fact that they invoked the powers of the SRC Act before meeting ZC in court (where, incidentally, ZC’s appeal was dismissed “with costs”). But while they won’t admit it publicly, the ICC also appear to believe that the SRC’s move would have led to the looting of funds coming in to ZC.So the ICC suspended Zimbabwe Cricket in order to stop the Zimbabwean government from getting its hands on ICC money?That seems to be part of it, yes. While it is true that Zimbabwe is in the midst of a serious financial crisis, it might be asked on what evidence it could be claimed that the SRC move was a front for a government money-grab. It’s unclear what exactly convinced the ICC of such, or what they have made of prior claims that ZC was already being mismanaged. But there appears to have been a complete breakdown in trust. All funding to Zimbabwe was immediately frozen when the current board was suspended, and they will receive no further funding while under suspension. ZC have called for the results of SRC’s forensic audit to be released, and said they would welcome another audit if the ICC so wish.ICC/Getty ImagesWas the SRC’s interim committee filled with government plants?The ICC’s argument against government meddling might hold a little more water were it not for the impeccable credentials of the committee set up by the SRC. Headed by David Ellman-Brown, who is a former national team manager, ZC chief executive, ICC Finance Committee member, Honorary Life President of ZC, and Honorary Life member of the MCC, the committee also included former ICC match referee (and ZC vice-chairman), Ahmed Ebrahim, and a diverse cast of experienced administrators – none of whom are politicians or civil servants. The SRC was also quick to point out that any persons recommended by the ICC could also join the interim committee.How do they compare to the elected ZC board?The board elected under Mukuhlani includes many familiar names, particularly in education and sports administration, but it cannot be said to be in quite the same league as the interim committee with regards to experience. Many of the board members have been retained, having been elected in 2015 or previously, and most have experience as provincial chairpersons, or in provincial structures. But the ZC board is not free from its own connections to government and the civil service, and it’s worth noting that Mukuhlani himself ran for the Mhondoro-Ngezi constituency as a Zanu-PF candidate last year, and is also clearly politically involved. Politics aside, why can’t the ICC let the team continue to play in ICC tournaments, as has been the case for Nepal?The ICC’s stance is that Zimbabwe’s breach was more serious than Nepal’s, and that there was a cumulative effect from the long-running saga of inconsistencies around cricket administration in the country. Zimbabwe will still technically be able to play in bilateral series, although under suspension there is no way that they could afford to host any team, or pay their players.ALSO READ: Sounds like ICC have had enough with Zimbabwe cricket – Grant FlowerSo, what now?It’s hard to escape the feeling that the ICC has finally grown weary of the perennial sagas at ZC, and has simply decided to cut them loose – at least one former player sees things that way. There appears to be no recovery plan, beyond the ICC’s directive that Mukuhlani and his board be reinstated before they look at the matter again at their October meeting. In the meantime, Zimbabwe’s men’s and women’s sides have been left without a roadmap, or much hope.Allrounder Solomon Mire has announced his international retirement, and more could follow him unless a solution is found soon. While under suspension, the women’s side will miss the 2020 T20 World Cup qualifiers next month, and the men will miss the October edition, cutting off a vital lifeline in the form of their participation in global tournaments.The ZC leadership has offered to work with the SRC to find an “amicable” solution to the crisis, but whether or not Zimbabwean cricket will be able to recover from this latest, and deepest, crisis is unclear.

Here’s a list of players who could impress at the upcoming Under-19 World Cup

Sreshth Shah16-Jan-2020Vriitya Aravind (wicketkeeper-batsman, UAE)Born in India but raised in the United Arab Emirates, Aravind is one of the few players in the tournament to have already played senior-level ODI cricket. His 53 against New Zealand in the warm-ups helped UAE upset their more fancied opponents and he followed it up with 98 against Japan to put himself in a good frame of mind going into the tournament proper.Tilak Varma (batsman, India)The left-handed batsman from Hyderabad was the top-scorer at the quadrangular series India played just before the World Cup warm-ups and has scored half-centuries in each of his last four games. He bats at No. 3, is a wristy batsman and isn’t afraid to take on quality spin either. He first entered the limelight during the domestic U-16 tournament two years ago, where he finished as the highest run-scorer with 960 runs for Hyderabad.ALSO READ: All you need to know about the Under-19 World CupJordan Cox (wicketkeeper-batsman, England)He joined Kent at the age of 10, and at 18 he collected his professional contract at the county. He made his first-class, List A and T20 debut in 2018 and is one of the most experienced members of the England squad. The right-hander carried his bat for 122 in a 50-over match for the side against Bangladesh in the summer of 2019 and went on to be the second-highest run-scorer in the winter tri-series in Antigua, with another classy century against Sri Lanka.Mackenzie Harvey (batsman, Australia)The Australia captain, nephew of former international player Ian Harvey, first garnered global attention when he was selected for the Prime Minister’s XI for a one-dayer against an England XI, where he thumped senior international bowlers like Mark Wood, Liam Plunkett and Chris Woakes for an unbeaten 48-ball 59 as a 17-year old in 2018. Since then, he has created some buzz in the Big Bash League as part of the Melbourne Renegades squad, when they won the title in 2019. He scored 55, 54* and 83* against New Zealand in his first outing as Australia captain.Towhid Hridoy (batsman, Bangladesh)If his average of 55 in the 2018-19 Dhaka Premier Division T20 tournament isn’t impressive enough, Hridoy enters the competition having gained useful experience at the 2018 edition of the World Cup in New Zealand. His last nine scores read: 51*, 73, 8, 82*, 123*, 115, 111, 53 and 36. He’s also a handy offbreak bowler and is the side’s vice-captain.Jonathan Bird (allrounder, South Africa)Bird, a top-order batsman who bowls left-arm spin, has earned praise from Mkhaya Ntini, who called him “one of the greatest young players in South Africa.” On his List-A debut for Western Province, he struck a century, showing he has the technique and temperament to play long innings. The left-hander is strong against the short ball and possesses a drool-worthy cover drive.Dane Schadendorf (wicketkeeper, Zimbabwe)The subject of one of the first viral cricket videos of 2020, Schadendorf follows the footsteps of elder brother Jayden who represented Zimbabwe in the 2018 edition. The younger sibling is acrobatic behind the stumps and has shown his ability to apply himself in the lower middle-order during the qualifiers. Case in point: his 81 against India earlier this week took Zimbabwe close to a win in a warm-up game last week.Kartik Tyagi (bowler, India)With 17 wickets in his last 10 youth ODIs – including back-to-back three-wicket hauls in the warm-up games, Tyagi is a fast bowler who is menacing with the swinging ball. He has a front-on action and has a bowling action reminiscent of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He’ll be high on confidence after collecting an IPL contract with Rajasthan Royals, and will lead the attack for the defending champions. A warning for batsmen: protect your toes when this teenager from Uttar Pradesh runs in to bowl.Adithya Ashok (bowler, New Zealand)The tall, classical legspinner has taken eight wickets in his last three matches and gets the ball to turn menacingly with his Ish Sodhi-esque action. He’s not afraid to flight the ball, and his height allows him to generate extra bounce as well. He also possesses the slider and the wrong’un, so batsmen will have to be wary while facing him. He’s most dangerous when batsmen are looking to attack him, and will be used as New Zealand’s primary wicket-taking option in the middle overs.ALSO READ: Gayle to Gill: stars of U-19 World Cups pastShoriful Islam (bowler, Bangladesh)The lanky left-arm pacer from Panchagor in Bangladesh will be potent in conditions that offer something for seam bowlers. He set the U-19 stage on fire after taking a five-wicket haul against New Zealand in Lincoln late last year and has followed it up with a four-for against Australia in the warm-ups. He is one of the most experienced players in the World Cup, having played eight first-class games and 26 List-A matches, where he averages 22.50 and 24.93 respectively.Charlie Peet (bowler, Scotland)Against teams that are not familiar with top-quality spin, left-arm orthodox bowler Peet can be a handful. Against Jersey last year, he claimed 7 for 12 in Amsterdam and in the warm-ups finished with ridiculous figures of 6 for 2 against Japan. Not many opponents have seen Peet bowl, so the surprise element may find batsmen wanting. He’s also very accurate, never conceding more than 35 runs in his youth ODI career.

Ten (unlikely) pairs who may or may not have played in the same T20 XI in the last decade

Srinath Sripath01-Jan-2020By our count, there have roughly been two T20 games played every day of the last decade – over 7000 matches in all. And that’s without counting leagues not sanctioned by the ICC, which don’t go into official T20 records. All this T20 cricket has often brought together players we never thought we’d see in the same XI. Did we expect Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh to be celebrating together in a blue jersey? Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting opening the batting? Jonny Bairstow and David Warner, Ashes rivals, hugging it out in the sweltering Hyderabad heat?Here, then, are ten combinations from this decade, some of whom played together and some that have been cooked up by us. The rules:1. This decade runs from Jan 1, 2010 to Dec 31, 2019
2. “T20 games” refers to all “official” games as mentioned above, covering international and domestic competitions
3. These players should have featured in the same team in a T20 game during this decade.The quiz will appear below. Please give it a few moments to load. If it doesn’t, try refreshing or click here. More in the decade in review, 2010-19

After struggling to 20 off 20 balls, India’s captain fired himself up and finished on 94 off 50, his highest score in T20Is

Deivarayan Muthu in Hyderabad07-Dec-20191:32

Our discipline with the ball let us down – Kieron Pollard

Rohit Sharma has just holed out to deep midwicket for 8 off 10 balls. India are chasing 208 in the series opener against West Indies in Hyderabad. Enter Virat Kohli. The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium raises itself to a massive roar. Left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell, however, immediately hushes the packed crowd by zipping a 139.6kph short ball across the shoulder of Kohli, who swings and misses.Then, with twin midwickets in place – a catcher and another at the edge of the circle – Cottrell nails an inswinger. Kohli has a bigger swing at it this time around, but all he manages is an inside edge. He admonishes himself. Cottrell follows up with a 106kph cutter, challenging Kohli to clear the longer boundaries. The India captain can only stab the ball to the leg side.ALSO READ: I don’t come to entertain people by hitting in the air – KohliKohli keeps trying to smash the leather off the ball and keeps missing his target. The self-admonishment continues. While KL Rahul settles into his shot-making stride at the other end, Kohli tiptoes to 20 off 20 balls. Rookie legspinner Hayden Walsh Jr. then unfurls a quick fizzer, which Kohli nearly drags back onto the stumps. Walsh Jr. has his hands on his head, wondering what might have been.Jason Holder tests Kohli with a slower short ball, tucking him up for room. Kohli gets away with a top-edged six. The next ball is a full-toss which he shovels away for four, to the left of long leg. After fighting himself in the early exchanges, Kohli now picks a fight with the umpires for not deeming it a beamer.ALSO READ: Imperious Kohli writes off Williams and West IndiesIn the next over, Kohli runs into Kesrick Williams. Almost literally, as they aren’t too far away from brushing shoulders. Kohli exchanges verbals with Williams. There’s a bit of history between these two and Kohli will even recall it at the post-match presentation. We’ll get to that in a bit.Kohli is angry with himself. He’s angry with the umpires. He’s angry with Williams. The anger that’s simmering just below the surface is ready to erupt, and it does, like a volcano blowing its lid. With India needing 69 off 36 balls, Kohli blasts Holder into the second tier beyond long-off. The next ball is scythed to the left of short third man for four. The Hyderabad crowd gets behind him, chanting “Kohli! Kohli! Kohli!”Virat Kohli lofts the ball over cover•BCCIHello, again, Kesrick. He comes from around the wicket, but misses his yorker. Kohli doesn’t miss his target this time and whacks it over Williams’ head for four. Then comes moment of theatre. Williams shifts to over the wicket and although he doesn’t miss his length by a big margin, Kohli shovels a six with his powerful bottom wrist over midwicket. He immediately mimics Williams’ ‘notebook signing’ celebration. Except this is the angry Kohli version of it.Williams just about affords a wry smile as more than 32,000 spectators roar in approval of their captain’s transformation after he’d struggled to time the ball earlier in the evening.”It happened to me in Jamaica [in 2017] when he got me out, so I thought I’ll tick a few in the notebook as well,” Kohli later says at the post-match presentation.Rishabh Pant falls for 18 in the next over, but the game is all but sealed, with India needing just 26 off 18 with seven wickets in hand. Kieron Pollard then brings himself into the attack and Kohli whips him for six second ball. Kohli throws his opposite number a death stare, and Pollard returns to his mark, declining to engage in any theatrics.Kohli vs Williams isn’t done yet, though. In the 19th over, Williams goes wide of the crease and full, but Kohli lines him up and clatters him over extra-cover. Just as the ball sails over the fence, Williams slumps to his knees. Two balls later, Kohli seals Williams’, and West Indies’, fate with another six.He points repeatedly to the back of his jersey and unleashes an animated fist-pump.From 20 off 20, Kohli has cranked it up to finish on 94 off 50, his highest score in T20Is, securing India’s second-highest successful chase in the format. He ultimately laughs off the confrontation with Williams, and they exchange high-fives, but the bottom line remains clear: you just can’t mess with Kohli.After blowing off the steam, Kohli stands in the middle of the pitch and soaks in the applause. He might as well reward himself with a big, carb-heavy meal and a chocolate shake for yet another masterclass.