cricket

Preview of Third Test Match

admin — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 16:08:59 +0000

England Vs West Indies

Test Match 3

Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester

For the first time in the history of English Cricket, two consecutive Test matches will be played on the same ground.

Pitch Report

Since 2002, the Old Trafford has proved to be a batting paradise for the home team (England). Not just for English batsman, but even the bowlers have used their home condition to their best potential. Records England’s winning streak on this ground since 2002 was put on a hold by the mighty Australians last year. Since 2002, England had won 9 out of 13 matches with 2 draws and two ending as a losing side.

Team Preview

England: England will be keen to bring back their trio James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer. It will be the first time that these three pace attackers will play together. It will be interesting to see how they perform. We are expecting Jofra Archer to step up and become a key bowler to watch forward. Ben Stokes could have been rested if England had won 2 out of their 2 test matches. With series on stake, England is expected to play with their full-strength team.

Expected XI

1) Rory Burns

2) Dominic Sibly

3) Joe Denly / Zak Crawley

4) Joe Root

5) Ben Stokes (C)

6) Ollie Pope

7) Jos Buttler (WK)

8) Dominic Bess

9) Jofra Archer

10) Stuart Broad

11) James Anderson

West Indies: The West Indies team will again be depending on their bowling department. The team’s batting appears to be weak in front of the experienced England batsmen. A likely replacement for out of form Alzaari Joseph is Raymon Reifer. Shai Hope and John Campbell are yet to show their true colours. We are expecting them to fire in this match.

Expected XI

1) Kraigg Braithwaite

2) John Campbell

3) Shai Hope

4) Shamarh Brooks

5) Roston Chase

6) Jermaine Blackwood

7) Shane Dowrich (WK)

8) Jason Holder (C)

9) Kemar Roach

10) Raymon Reifer

11) Shanon Gabriel

Our Fantasy Cricket Team choice:

Batsmen

1) Shamarh Brooks

2) Ollie Pope

3) Joe Root

All Rounder

1) Ben Stokes (C)

2) Jason Holder

3) Roston Chase

Bowlers

1) Jofra Archer

2) Kemar Roach

3) Raymon Reifer

4) James Anderson

Wicket Keeper

1) Shai Hope

- Written by Harshit Aggarwal (@HarshitChesser)

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3TC Solidarity Cup Preview

admin — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 09:10:32 +0000

Venue: South Africa

For the first time in the history of Cricket, three teams will participate in a single match. Like everyone, we are also excited and here to help the Fantasy players with their teams and combinations.

Each of the three teams will play eight players in the match. We never knew that Gully Cricket Rule (last batsman bats alone) will apply in any recognized match. So, now it is the responsibility of every Gully Cricket player to watch and participate (through Fantasy League) in this match.

Teams Preview:

1) Quinys Kites

- Quinton De Cock (C) (WK) 

- David Miller 

- JJ Smuts 

- Temba Bavuma 

- Dwaine Pretorious 

- Anrich Nortje 

- Beuran Hendricks 

- Lutho Sipamla

2) Kagiso Rabadas Kingfishers

- Heinrich Klassen (WK)

- Faf Du Plessis (C)

- Reeza Hendricks

- Janeman Malan

- Gerald Coetzee

- G Stuurmaan

- Tabraiz Shamsi

- Thando Ntini

Kagiso Rabada is ruled out.
Chris Morris is ruled out.

3) AB Devilliers Eagles

- Kyle Verreyene (WK)
- AB Devilliers (C)
- Rassie Van

- Aiden Markram
- Andile Phehlukwayo
- Lungi Ngidi
- Junior Dala
- Bjorn Fortuin

Sisanda Magala is ruled out.



Fantasy Team

Wicket Keeper

1) Quinton De Cock (C)

Batsman

1) Faf Du Plessis
2) AB Devilliers (VC)
3) Aiden Markram


All Rounders

1) Andile Phehlukwayo
2) Dwaine Pretorious

Bowlers

1) Lungi Ngidi
2) Junior Dala
3) Lutho Sipamla
4) Glenton Stuurmaan
5) Thando Ntini

- Written by Harshit Aggarwal (@HarshitChesser)

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Preview of second Test Match

admin — Sun, 12 Jul 2020 10:16:58 +0000

England Vs West Indies

Test Match 2

Date: 16 July, 2020

Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester

One of the most beautiful places to play cricket in England is Old Trafford, Manchester.

Pitch Report

Since 2002, the Old Trafford has proved to be a batting paradise for the home team (England). Not just for English batsman, but even the bowlers have used their home condition to their best potential. Records England’s winning streak on this ground since 2002 was put on a hold by the mighty Australians last year. Since 2002, England had won 9 out of 12 matches with 2 draws and one ending as a losing side.

Team Preview

England: England will be keen to bring back their experienced Stuart Broad and leaving out Mark Wood will be an ideal option. If England bowls first, all the three pacers (Anderson, Broad and Archer) will be their key bowlers. However, there is a possibility that Archer would be more troublemaker for the West Indies squad as they surely would be better prepared against the duo of Anderson and Broad. Joe Root will be back and bat at number four position. Joe Denly must need to pull up his socks as there is a high possibility of him getting replaced soon.

Expected XI

1) Rory Burns

2) Dominic Sibly

3) Joe Denly / Zak Crawley

4) Joe Root

5) Ben Stokes (C)

6) Ollie Pope

7) Jos Buttler (WK)

8) Dominic Bess

9) Jofra Archer

10) Stuart Broad

11) James Anderson

West Indies: The West Indies team will again be depending on their bowling department. The team’s batting appears to be weak in front of the experienced England batsmen. Kemar Roach who was off-colour in the first test might be dangerous on this ground. We expect Roach to get Burns wicket early in both the innings. Alzaari Joseph would be crucial on this wicket. Overall, we are expecting the test match to end in a draw.

Expected XI

1) Kraigg Braithwaite

2) John Campbell

3) Shai Hope

4) Shamarh Brooks

5) Roston Chase

6) Jermaine Blackwood / Nkrumah Bonner

7) Shane Dowrich (WK)

8) Jason Holder (C)

9) Kemar Roach

10) Alzaari Joseph / Raymon Reifer

11) Shanon Gabriel

Our Fantasy Cricket Team choice:

Batsmen

1) Dominic Sibly

2) Shamarh Brooks

3) Joe Root

All Rounder

1) Ben Stokes

2) Jason Holder

3) Roston Chase

Bowlers

1) Jofra Archer

2) Kemar Roach

3) Alzaari Joseph / Raymon Reifer

4) Stuart Broad

Wicketkeeper

1) Shai Hope

- Written by Harshit Aggarwal (@HarshitChesser)

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What should Sports fans seek during the lockdown?

admin — Sun, 17 May 2020 17:04:06 +0000

With no sports around the corner due to the coronavirus lockdown, the Sports fans are finding it hard with no live match on TV and with no mobile apps used for checking the scores. So how can Sports fans pass their quarantine time?

Here are the few activities that we listed out and as a sports fan, you can indulge in-

1. What’s better than a daily exercise and meditation schedule to start your day. It’s very important to stay fit no matter what the situation is and if not gym, you can still watch fitness videos of your favourite celebrity or sportsperson and can follow their fitness regime.

2. Enjoy the live Instagram, Facebook or Twitter videos of your favourite sports personalities. These days, the Sportspeople are interacting with their fans, their fellow players and giving interviews online which are being broadcasted live on social media. This is a great platform to interact with the players and ask them queries to enhance your sports-related skills. We recently saw the Nadal and Federer broadcast video on Facebook, AB De Villiers and Virat Kohli’s live video on Instagram and many interviews of domestic cricketers and other sports personalities happening on the Sports channels, IPL teams’ pages, Sports website pages etc.

3. Watch the TikTok videos of your favourite sports player. We know that this might sound lame especially for those who don’t use this app. However, if you come across David Warner’s TikTok videos on Instagram, they are a treat to watch! Also, Chahal’s videos are going viral all over the internet and receiving enormous reviews.

4. Watch the Insta stories/videos of sportspeople while they are training hard at home, playing with their kids, cooking new recipes etc. A true fan would like to catch up and know what are their favourite players up to!

5. Watch the Test on Amazon Prime video which will give you a close insight of the Australian cricket team journey right from the Sandpaper gate to the Ashes 2019. As a sports fan, you would witness the struggle of the coaches, management and players during a difficult period.

6. Last but the most important one, watch the old matches and highlights on Hotstar and Youtube and revive the old memories

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Review of The Test

admin — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 17:13:16 +0000

It’s a difficult period which we are trying to survive not just as a cricket fan but as a human being. The coronavirus scare has put our world into a halt. All meetings, matches, shows, movies everything has been cancelled and suspended for future. As a cricket fan though we are still left with The Test that was released on Amazon Prime Video at just the right moment. Being an Australian cricket team fan, this was a big treat for me on a Saturday when I couldn’t go out due to shut down of literally everything.

It comprises of eight episodes summarizing the journey of Australian cricket team from the Sandpaper cheating scandal to retaining the Ashes. Every cricket fan who has been curious to know more about the cricket players, their management, coaches and support staff beyond the game of cricket would love to watch this show and will fulfil their childhood fantasy. You will know the Australian team beyond the cricket ground. You will move on from hating Tim Paine for just being lucky of getting the captaincy without deserving it to respecting this lad who led the team at a crucial time when Australian cricket was in crisis with no great players by his side.

You have always admired Justin Langer as a player who was a part of the best cricket team of the history but you will start respecting him more knowing and understanding his journey as a coach of an inexperienced squad. By looking at their emotions, hard work and growth in the game would make you relate with each player of the Australian team!

This is an honest show that displayed both the victories and defeats of the Australian team equally. It was a bit strange to see not so aggressive and emotional Australian team but you would connect with them easily. They appreciated Kohli, Stokes and every good cricketer that made this show completely unbiased. It has everything, right from the feeling of patriotism to loving this game of cricket, from bromance and bonding between Zampa and Stoinis, Steve and Marnus to the concussion episode that shook every cricket fan. Whether it was the nightmare at Headingly when Stokes and Jack Leach final wicket partnership ruined the chance of Australia to win the Ashes to becoming better in the game, it kept me glued to the show! It is for every cricket fan who is emotionally connected to the game of cricket and not just a show only for Australian fan!

It shows the journey of Steve Smith from being called a cheater to being applauded by the same English audience! His mindset dealing with the abuses from the English spectators taught everyone that he is completely focused towards his game and there is nothing that can break his talent and hard work. David Warner was a bit vulnerable in the starting during his return to the squad but he managed to excel once he started believing in himself and stopped fearing.

The most important character in the whole series is of Justin Langer. From Handling a fearful, vulnerable squad to making them better at their game, this man was the best choice for Australian’s coach. He is the hero of the show; his anger, emotions, determination, hunger for a win, everything was so real about him and not like actors who imitate!

Watch it to celebrate cricket, to celebrate hard work and to celebrate the growth of Australian cricket.

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The Cricket World Cup 2003

admin — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 17:58:15 +0000

When my studies were becoming important, Cricket was becoming more important for me. There was no T20 format back then and I enjoyed watching ODI’s whole day along with solving maths problems.

The World Cup 2003 fell during my final examinations and since it was held in South Africa, the matches used to end during a late night in India. My parents allowed me to watch the matches only up to a limited time so that I could sleep on time and wake up on time to give my exams. The first thing that I used to do after waking up was to get the newspaper from the main gate of my house to see the match results. Sometimes I had to turn the newspaper pages directly to the Sports page to check the results. The craze of Cricket was at its peak during that time.

South Africa and Australian Cricket team were my favourite team by that time. I still remember the face of captain Shaun Pollock holding his head with his hand; that photo was on the front page of the newspaper that I saw just after waking up. I had my Hindi paper on that day and my mood was completely ruined when I came to know that my favourite team was out of the tournament. It was an unlucky result for the South African team especially because the team tied the match due to rain. There was a misunderstanding when the South African team misinterpreted the target. Instead of winning, they just managed to equal the total given by Duckworth-Lewis which they thought was the target! It broke my heart and started my journey of becoming the biggest fan of the Australian cricket team.

The World Cup 2003 story continues….

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Alex Carey – The number 7 batsmen for Australia

admin — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 18:11:46 +0000

When will Australia change Alex Carey’s batting order?

From the past four years, Australia’s batting has been hugely dependent on David Warner, Aaron Finch and Steve Smith. The top order has been a backbone of Australian batting while the middle order is known for their early collapse in matches. Nothing has changed with Australian batting in this World Cup except the presence of Alex Carey that made a big difference. This player has restored the faith in Australian batting after the dismissal of the top order. In this World Cup, the Australian score is being dependent on this man.

In his 8 innings so far, Carey has scored 329 runs with an average of 65.8. He has so far scored three half-centuries batting at number 7. You can imagine the number of overs he usually gets to score runs and even in that, he managed to outperform.

When we see players like Khwaja and Stoinis struggling with the bat in this World Cup, this man is a ray of hope. He looks so confident even when the Australian scoreboard displays six down! He plays his shot well and technically more sound than other players in the team who bat higher in order.

With only a year of experience playing for the Australian cricket team, he is promising and confident in his game. Changing his batting order and bringing him higher would certainly help the Australian team to bring more runs on the scoreboard especially if the team loses either Finch, Warner or Smith early in the match.

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Is the New ICC Cricket World Cup format a hit or flop?

admin — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 04:48:45 +0000

This year’s ICC Cricket World Cup is a bit different. It’s not only about rains ruining the matches but also about the length of the tournament.

When the England team destroyed the Afghanistan bowling line up in the recently concluded match of the World Cup, I blamed this new format for this. The question here is for how long a new team like Afghanistan would be humiliated in 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup?

This tournament is played in a round robin format where every team has to play against nine other teams. Due to this, the relatively weak teams like Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have to play their matches against seven strong teams. If we think about the 4 or 5 cricket teams that are comparatively stronger than the rest, then they are also playing their matches against 5 or 6 weaker teams! That means, multiple records will be broken and we would be witnessing more boring matches in this Cricket World Cup. Also, thanks to non-ending English rains for that.

The ICC Cricket World Cup is supposed to be an interesting tournament where every match must be crucial for each team. Every game must be played as a knock-out match for cricket teams.

In the previous seasons, the competition had been quite intense where many weak teams like Kenya, Bangladesh knocked out strong teams from the tournament. This all happened due to the pool playing format where the competition was extremely tough. Every team in each match had the capability to knock out the other based on their day’s performance. This no longer will happen in this format. This Cricket World Cup, each team will continue to play until everyone becomes sure that they are better or weaker than then rest nine teams of the tournament. That sounds boring, Isn’t it?

Such a format (Round robin) works well in a T20 tournament where every game is unpredictable until the last ball is bowled. However, that doesn’t happen in 50 over matches. Here, few games are enough to decide which one is a better team and consistent to perform well. Then why there is a need to keep proving it again for n number of times? Also, the team which is weak, why they have to keep getting humiliated until everyone knows that they are actually the weakest in the tournament.

Below are the advantages and disadvantages of the round-robin format of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019:

Disadvantages:
1. Long and boring tournament.
2. No unpredictability in the tournament. All matches are not interesting and the tournament is becoming quite straight forward.
3. Humiliating to the weaker teams to keep losing.

Advantages:
1. Opportunity for cricket teams to play against every other team and gain exposure.
2. Only the best teams are moved to the semifinals. No scope of others.
3. Opportunity for teams to break more records.

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RAJASTHAN ROYALS – Pre-tournament (IPL-2019) Analysis

admin — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 08:25:58 +0000

Rajasthan Royals, the winner of that era when teams were still figuring out the strategies and tactics to progress in the format of T20 cricket. During those days of T20 Cricket, a team having 160 runs to defend was considered as favourites. With the change in time, now the IPL teams are more developed and familiar with T20 format. During the time, there has also been a shift in fortune for Rajasthan Royals as well. From being the winner of season 1 to a team who finds it difficult to make into playoffs. Surely, there is something that went wrong especially with a settled team combination.

Let us get into the analysis of Rajasthan Royals and figure out the right team combination to survive the competition.

IPL 2019 SQUAD

1. Steven Smith

2. Ben Stokes

3. Jos Butler

4. Jofra Archer

5. Ish Sodhi

6. Ajinkya Rahane ©

7. K Gowtham

8. Sanju Samson

9. Shreyas Gopal

10. Aryaman Birla

11. S Midhun

12. Prashant Chopra

13.Stuart Binny

14. Rahul Tripathi

15. Dhawal Kulkarni

16. Mahipal Lomror

17. Jaydev Unadkat

18. Varun Aaron

19. Oshane Thomas

20. Shashank Singh

21. Liam Livingstone

22. Shubham Ranjane

23. Manan Vohra

24. Ashton Turner

25. Riyan Parag

Assuming that all the above players are available for 1st Leg of Indian Premier League.

Rajasthan Royals will play four matches in the 1st leg of Indian Premier League. It will be hard for them to choose a team of 11 players out of 25 contenders. We will try to figure out the best 11 according to the playing conditions and recent form of the players.

Recommended Team for Home Game (Jaipur)

1. Jos Butler (Foreign)

2. Liam Livingstone (Foreign)

4. Sanju Samson (WK)

5. Ben Stokes (Foreign)

6. Mahipal Lomror

7. Krishnappa Gowtham

8. Shreyas Gopal

9. Jaydev Unadkat

10. Varun Aaron

11. Oshane Thomas (Foreign)

Notes:

-Use Oshane Thomas after 6 overs.

-Picked Oshane Thomas over Jofra Archer.

-No Steve Smith in team -Rahane at No 3 due to the top form of English openers.

-No Kulkarni as Jaydev is there for variations.

Recommended Team for Away games (Hyderabad)

Fresh Hyderabad wicket is expected to be in favor of bowlers with the ratio of 51:49

1. Jos Butler

3. Steve Smith

4. Sanju Samson

5. Ben Stokes

6. Mahipal Lomror

7. Krishnappa Gowtham

8. Jofra Archer

9. Shreyas Gopal

10. Dhawal Kulkarni

11. Jaydev Unadkat

Notes:

-Smith over Liam Livingstone because experience is given preference over aggression in these conditions.

-Jofra over Thomas because bowler having experience must be preferred on this wicket.

-Kulkarni preferred over Aaron.

Recommended Team for Away Game (Chennai)

As we are in Lions (MSD) Den we must be very careful with our tactics and strategies.

1. Ajinkya Rahane

2. Sanju Samson

3. Jos Butler

4. Steve Smith

5. Ben Stokes

6. Rahul Tripathi

7. Riyan Parag

8. Jofra Archer

9. Krishnappa Gowtham

10. Dhawal Kulkarni

11. Jaydev Unadkat

Notes:

-This combination is preferred as we need more depth in batting and bowling at Chepauk.

-Riyan Parag will play as an all-rounder.

-Sanju Samson to open due to his experience in Southern pitches.

Note: We would prefer Ish Sodhi over Oshane Thomas at home if it is an Afternoon game.

That is all. If you want to give any suggestions or share us your combination, please comment below. You can also reach at our Twitter handle to share your teams.

- Written by Harshit Aggarwal (@HarshitChesser)

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Interesting cricket facts about MS Dhoni

admin — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 11:26:56 +0000

MS Dhoni has created and broken multiple records as a batsman, wicketkeeper and the captain of the Indian cricket team. Out of those, there are certain cricket facts related to him that are unique and amazes us a lot. Let’s have a quick look at such interesting facts of MS Dhoni as the captain of the Indian team.

We can call it a beginner’s luck or his leadership capabilities, MS Dhoni as a captain in his every first series has never disappointed us with the result.

1st T20 World Cup series- Won

He led India to the ICC World Twenty 20 in South Africa, with a victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in an intensely fought final in September 2007, and became the second Indian captain to have won a World Cup in any form of cricket, after Kapil Dev.

1st ODI World Cup series - Won

Under Dhoni's captaincy, India won the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. India played their final against Sri Lanka, chasing 275 runs. Dhoni scored 91 not out off 79 balls handing India the victory for which he was awarded the Man of the Match.

1st Asia Cup - Won

The 2010 Asia Cup was the tenth edition of the Asia Cup cricket tournament, which was held in Sri Lanka in June 2010. India defeated Sri Lanka by 81 runs in the final to win a record 5th Asia Cup title.

1st Triangular Series - Won

The 2007–08 edition of the Commonwealth Bank Series was a One Day International cricket tournament held in Australia. It involves the national teams of Australia, India and Sri Lanka. India under the leadership of Dhoni won the series with a 2–0 sweep of the hosts in the final series.

1st Test series - Won

After taking up the Test captaincy in 2008, he led the Indian team to series wins in New Zealand by 1-0 in three-match test series in 2009. 1st Bilateral series - Won He took over the ODI captaincy from Rahul Dravid in 2007 and led the team to its first-ever bilateral ODI series wins in Sri Lanka. India won the 5-match series by 3–2 and Dhoni was awarded the Player of the series award.

1st Champions League - Won

The 2010 Champions League Twenty20 was the second edition of the Champions League Twenty20, an international Twenty20 cricket tournament. The tournament, which was held from 10 to 26 September 2010 in South Africa, featured 10 domestic Twenty20 teams from India, Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, the West Indies and South Africa. The Chennai Super Kings led by Dhoni, emerged the winners of the tournament, defeating the Warriors in the final.

2nd Champions Trophy - Won

Under his captaincy, in June 2013, when India defeated England in the final of the Champions Trophy in England, Dhoni became the first captain to win all three ICC limited-overs trophies (World Cup, Champions Trophy and the World Twenty20).

India Vs Sri Lanka Test Series 2017 in India

The first time it happened in a cricket match in India that the first 19 wickets taken by Indian bowlers involved no spinner. It included the 1st Test and the 1st inning of the 2nd Test.

- Written by Harshit Aggarwal

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