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Joined March 2016
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A freelance sports writer and enthusiast.
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Putting the disappointments of the recently concluded T20 World Cup behind them, team India seems to be on a roll in the ongoing T20…
When we come across Marin Cilic, one attribute that we can always associate with the tall Croat is the tremendous fighting spirit that he…
In its inaugural edition as an ATP 500 tournament, St Petersburg Open (previously an ATP 250 event) witnessed a new champion as the home…
The champions always find a unique way to prove their doubters wrong, don’t they? The greatest virtue of any champion is that they adapt…
The top seed and the world number one Novak Djokovic played through pain in his quarter-final win over Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta as he…
In what was his historic 100th appearance at Roland Garros in Paris on late Tuesday evening, the defending and 12-time French Open champion Rafael…
Before the French Open 2020 began last Sunday, there were a lot of doubts surrounding Rafael Nadal and his chances of defending the title…
On November 25th, five years ago, the cricket world was shell shocked and faced its worst nightmare. In a Sheffield Shield contest between South…
It’s April, it’s summer time in India, and the Indian Premier League (IPL) is into its third week. The IPL first arrived on the…
As a young teenager, I was always fascinated by the No.4 in Test cricket. Watching the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Kevin Pietersen, Jacques Kallis…
Is this an ICC Champions Trophy or an ICC Upsets Trophy? Well, this edition of the ICC Champions Trophy has every reason to be…
South Africa's win in Wellington against New Zealand was perhaps their most defining Test victory since their mighty win over Australia in Perth last…
When you think about fast bowling, you immediately tend to think about the bowlers from West Indies from the 70s and 80s. The Holdings,…
The third Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham against Pakistan saw England captain Alastair Cook become the highest run-getter for England across all the three…
Alastair Cook and England put a full stop to all the doubts surrounding their inability to play spin, particularly leg-spinner Yasir Shah by registering…
Test cricket used to be cricket's bread and butter, though the traditional format of the game is unfortunately going through a process of slow…
Kevin Pietersen is a South African-born Englishman who, on his day, made batting look ridiculously easy. From being sublime on one day to being…
The World T20 has ended and it's time to play some club cricket. It is IPL time. As the time passes by and as…
The ICC World T20 2016, a tournament that started off under heavy criticism over being unfair to associates, was already a huge success by…
Having witnessed Australia's performance so far at World T20, it's clearly evident that Australia certainly have a huge conundrum of picking the right team.…
Nathan Lyon should have been in the squad and probably should have played all the four games. With Khawaja having a great summer with the bat and a great run at the top of the order in BBL, it was impossible not to give him the opening spot. But, if I was a captain, I would have never rotated Warner and he should have been partnering Khawaja at the top. Coming to your topic, True that Australia were pathetic with their bowling at the death, but it was Kohli’s genius that guided India over the line. He maintained his calm and composure throughout the innings and more so when Yuvraj was struggling while running between the wickets. He played shots in the gaps and exactly knew where the fielders were. There was no slogging in Virat’s batting, it was simply great, intelligent use of stroke play which Australia failed to consider while bowling at death.
There's NO WAY India should have beaten Australia
The best part of Virat Kohli’s batting is his maturity and authority. He hardly looks tentative at the crease and the way he paces his innings in chases is simply outstanding. And the best part of it is his consistency, to go out there, always play in a pressure cooker like situation when fellow team-mates are down and out and to do this again and again and again, is remarkable. His passion and dedication for the game and that willpower to win is beyond imagination.
Australia have no answers to Kohli's limited overs mastery
Openers are generally technically sound batsmen or at least have excellent hand eye co-ordination like Sehwag, Gayle, but, to be honest, in the case of Marsh, he seems neither technically sound nor a player who has excellent hand eye co-ordination. Moreover, with players like Warner, Finch and Khawaja doing really well at the top, I don’t think Australia should fancy Marsh to open the batting. Also, from my perspective, Australia should use Marsh as a bowling option more than a batting one as their bowling looks depleted off-late while they still possess a good batting strength.
Mitch Marsh should replace Watson as T20 opener
Australia is clearly missing its trump card in Mitchell Starc due to injury. Moreover, their approach of picking too many all-rounders and lack of specialists is hurting them big time. Where is George Bailey? He at least deserves a place in the World T20 squad considering his experience at Playing in the IPL. Coming tp Khwaja, he is having an incredible summer and undoubtedly is in the form of his life after coming back from the injury. As far as batting combinations are concerned, Warner and Khwaja should open the batting with Finch coming at No. 3. Finch surely deserves a place in the side. Watson, Smith and Maxwell can float at No.4, 5 and 6 to give Australian batting the required finishing touch in the death overs. Faulkner should retain his place while Marsh should be dropped, thanks to his inconsistency.
Usman Khawaja shows his teammates how to bat in T20s
Absolutely well said ROC. Australia have made a mockery of themselves lot of times now playing T20 Internationals. Appointing George Bailey as a captain of T20 side while he was on his T20 debut, sacking Finch when he was actually playing well are some of the examples which clearly defy cricketing logic. From my perspective, Warner and Finch should be back opening the batting for Aussies. I don’t see any future in Warner as a middle order batsman, his hard hitting abilities are just wasted batting down at No. 4. I think Khwaja with rich vein of form he is in, should bat at crucial No. 3 position, with Watson or Smith coming at No. 4. Actually, Smith, Watson and Maxwell can float at No. 4,5 and 6 positions depending upon the match situation. Faulkner, who is a proven finisher for Australia should retain his place in the side at the expense of inconsistent Mitchell Marsh.
Australia must drop Marsh or Faulkner for Finch
Any New Zealand team, especially representing at the global events reminds me of the concept of team building that was shown in the movie Moneyball. They may not have many players who show individual brilliance, but always show a immense teamwork that covers various bases of the game. They always seem to be temperamentally-strong, adaptable in any given conditions. Also, one more important thing as far as NZ cricket is concerned is that they have always been blessed with maverick and out of the box thinking captains like Fleming, McCullum. Williamson, the new captain as of now is looking promising as well.
What's with the Kiwi domination at the World T20?
No doubt that West Indies and West Indian players are a revelation in T20 cricket, but is Cricket dying rapidly in West Indies, at a much faster rate than previously thought of? Just couple of months back when they toured Australia, Calypso kings looked completely out of sorts, no one except Darren Bravo showed any intent to survive at the Test level. The big question that remains to be answered is that what will inspire these men coming from Island nations to step up and take other formats of the game seriously as well, especially Test Cricket. When will the conflict between the board and it’s players end and there would peace back in WI cricket, Cricket needs WI playing at it’s full potential in all the formats, just as WI needs Cricket. They might win this World T20 and there would be rejuvenation about their victory back home, but can this victory actually revive the fortunes of WI cricket? or it would be forgotten as the time passes by and it’s players begin their normal routine of playing in different T20 leagues all around the world. Wi cricket desperately needs a new Lloyd but the problem is that he can’t be seen anywhere at least as of now.
Twenty20 rejuvenates cricket in the West Indies