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  • 2nd Test, Day 3: Fawad 124 lifts Pakistan vs West Indies

    Pakistan batsman Fawad Alam resumed an innings which started on day one and accomplished a century on day three of the second cricket take a look at in opposition to the West Indies on Sunday, guiding his staff to a powerful place in a severely rain-affected match.
    Fawad was 124 not out when Pakistan declared its first innings at 302-9 shortly after tea. The West Indies misplaced openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran Powell and Roston Chase earlier than stumps when it was 39-3 with Nkrumah Bonner 18 not out and nightwatchman Alzarri Joseph but to attain.
    Fawad had been 76 when he was pressured to retire damage on Friday with what gave the impression to be a extreme and recurring cramp in his left leg. With dangerous mild curbing the primary day’s play, then rain washing out all the second day and the primary session of the third day, Fawad, rehydrated and recovered, had an extended wait earlier than his innings may proceed.
    “It wasn’t easy,” Fawad mentioned. “The circumstances have been difficult.
    “On day one it was hot and we were 3-2. We needed to come back in this test match, we had to build partnerships as me and Babar (Azam, who made 75) did on the first day.”

    🗣️ @iamfawadalam25 displays on his gritty 124 not out on day-three of the second #WIvPAK Test#HarHaalMainCricket #AgainTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/kTLJASB8SK
    — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 23, 2021
    Pakistan resumed at 212-4 Sunday and had slumped to 231-7 when Fawad made his means again to the crease. He reached his fifth take a look at century _ all 5 coming in several international locations _ from 186 balls with 16 fours, turning into the anchor of the rest of the Pakistan innings. He discovered some help from Hasan Ali, who was run out for 9, and Shaheen who made 19 and added 35 for the ninth wicket.

    The Pakistan dressing room rises to cheer @iamfawadalam25 on his stellar century 👏👏👏#WIvPAK #HarHaalMainCricket #AgainTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/mIGiJpTUOq
    — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 22, 2021
    Jayden Seales claimed the primary Pakistan wicket to fall Sunday, trapping the in a single day batsman Faheem Ashraf lbw for 26 within the fourth over of the second new ball. The ball gave the impression to be passing throughout Faheem however straightened late and beat the within fringe of the bat.
    Jason Holder then dismissed Mohammad Rizwan and Nauman Ali (0) with consecutive balls within the 92nd over. Rizwan (31) fell lbw to a supply which reduce late and struck him excessive on the pad. He known as for a assessment which upheld the umpire’s name as replays confirmed the ball hitting the highest of leg stump.
    Nauman was shocked first ball by a supply which rose sharply from a near a size and took an outdoor edge earlier than carrying to wicketkeeeper Joshua Da Silva.
    Hasan fell making an attempt a misjudged second run, crushed by an outstanding piece of fielding by Nkrumah Bonner and Shaheen gloved a catch from a brief ball from Seales to Powell at brief leg.
    Seales completed with 3-31 whereas Kemar Roach, who bowled 27 overs, took 3-68 and Holder 2-46 from 23 overs.
    Shaheen dislodged Brathwaite and Powell in a fiery opening spell. The left-handed Powell fell lbw to Shaheen for the second time within the collection, crushed by a ball which straightened and took him on the knee roll in entrance of center and off, making a assessment futile.
    Brathwaite was bowled by a quick, in-swinging yorker which beat the West Indies captain for tempo. The West Indies had improved from 9-2 to 34 when Chase (10) was bowled by Faheem. After a number of balls went away from the right-handed Chase, Faheem introduced one again which stored low and handed between bat and pad.
    The West Indies lead the two-match collection 1-0 after profitable a tense first take a look at by one wicket.

  • England skipper Joe Root overshadowed by brother Billy in County conflict

    Billy Root claimed a bit of household bragging rights over older brother and England Test captain Joe Root on Sunday when the pair got here head to head within the County Championship.
    Glamorgan’s left-handed batsman Billy, aged 28 and virtually two years Joe’s junior, adopted up his first innings 43 with an unbeaten 110 within the Group 3 match towards Yorkshire at Headingley.

    Glamorgan batsman Billy Root offers @BBCSportWales his response to scoring a century within the drawn match towards his native Yorkshire, with brother Joe bowling as he reached three figures pic.twitter.com/NXiqFC3VTg
    — Nick Webb (@nickwebb2017) April 11, 2021
    Starting with an in a single day rating of 77, Billy accomplished his sixth first-class hundred with a double labored off Joe’s off-spin.He earned a well-deserved fist bump and a pat on the again from his huge brother as Glamorgan set Yorkshire 379 to win an hour into day 4.
    In response, Yorkshire have been rocked by three early wickets, with Joe falling for 13 shortly after lunch.
    But Adam Lyth and Harry Brook added 131 in a stable fourth-wicket partnership to halt Glamorgan’s cost and earn Yorkshire a hard-fought draw.

  • Despite Test win in Sri Lanka, England scuffling with bubble life

    England secured a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka within the first Test on Monday however there will probably be solely muted celebrations on the vacationers’ lodge as life in a bio-secure bubble continues to take a heavy toll, stated Jonny Bairstow.
    Bairstow hit the successful runs on the Galle International Stadium as England claimed the primary of the two-match collection, however gamers have little possibility however to have a good time again at their lodging close to the bottom, the place they’re hunkered down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
    “It is something that does take its toll because you’re going from a hotel to a cricket ground and back to the hotel,” he stated.
    The gamers needed to quarantine of their lodge rooms after arriving in Sri Lanka and return damaging COVID-19 checks earlier than being allowed to begin their pre-test preparations.
    “Unfortunately, the guys are not able to see their families, their kids, wives, girlfriends over long periods of time, which is tricky as well,” stated Bairstow.
    “I used to be completely satisfied that the Christmas break got here spherical as a result of I believe I’d had about six nights at house from the start of August till Christmas. I’m not going to lie about it, it’s powerful.
    ”Trying to create a household environment among the many gamers and workers was key, he stated, including that that they had spent quite a lot of time enjoying video video games.
    “That’s huge, it’s massive, I think the lads have become addicted to Call of Duty,” he stated.“But it is at times like this when you have something to celebrate that you miss those who support you the most.”

  • ‘That is what Test cricket is all about’: Justin Langer identifies India’s ‘greatest strength’

    Indian cricket staff stunned their critics with a stupendous efficiency in opposition to Australia within the second Test on the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After the debacle in Adelaide the place they have been dismissed for simply 36, many former gamers predicted a 4-0 thrashing of India within the four-match Test sequence. But with their backs to the wall, Team India below the management of Ajinkya Rahane managed to triumph in opposition to Australia to stage the sequence 1-1.The efficiency was lauded by many with gamers and followers alike as they praised the combating spirit of the Indian staff. Australia coach Justin Langer on Tuesday additionally counseled India, saying that they’ve been distinctly well-planned and disciplined, particularly in bowling, up to now whilst his aspect races to handle its batting woes forward of the third Test beginning right here on Thursday.READ| KL Rahul dominated out of ongoing Test sequence in opposition to Australia as a consequence of injuryAsked about Australia’s low-scoring within the present sequence and if that may be a concern, Langer cited varied elements, the largest being India’s deadly accuracy with the ball.“…their greatest strength over the last couple of series has been their discipline. They (India) have been so well disciplined…I have loved the last two Tests because the wickets have been a contest between bat and ball and you have got to work a bit harder and that is what Test cricket is all about,” Langer mentioned at a digital press convention.According to Langer, a former opening batsman, India have taken a straighter line to couple of their batters and have accordingly positioned their fields.“So, I think, there is the factor of the wickets that we have played on, there is certainly some seam movement, there was a little bit of swing in both those wickets. India have (has) taken a straighter line to a couple of our batters and set the fields accordingly,” he mentioned.He additionally praised India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for his efficiency up to now saying it’s troublesome to attain rapidly in opposition to nice bowlers.”…And let’s not low cost Ravi Ashwin, what number of has he taken 380 Test wickets? The nice bowlers are those who’re exhausting to attain in opposition to and (Jasprit) Bumrah is definitely up there for the time being, Ashwin is up there for the time being, we know it,” he mentioned.“We know how we like to play our cricket as Australians, but credit to India, very well-planned, as you would expect they have discipline in their bowling, the wickets that we have played on have been competitive, so we are aware of that and I’m not too stressed about it (scoring rate),” he added.READ | ‘He’s able to embark on a brand new chapter in his profession,’ Tom Moody believes India all-rounder can grow to be a ‘pure bowler and batsman’Langer additionally mentioned that they have been addressing the their batting considerations and dealing on methods to counter the Indian spinners.“I think we have got to look at our strategies against the Indian spinners. Ashwin is bowling in very well and we have worked hard on that last week or so,” the Australian head coach added.While Langer has at all times been effusive in his reward for Bumrah, he additionally lauded younger India seamer Mohammed Siraj for his efficiency in his debut Test at Melbourne.“Obviously, Bumrah is a world-class bowler and (Mohammed) Siraj coming in, he is a very skill-full bowler…I thought he (Siraj) bowled very well in his first Test match, his debut, so we are interested to see who comes in as their probably third quick (and) time will tell,” he mentioned.“We have only scored precisely 200 in that second innings (in Melbourne) but anytime in Test cricket when you are not scoring over 200s, you are looking at ways to improve,” he added.Langer concluded by saying that there was loads of expertise in Australia and it was all about alternatives.“Obviously, Davey (David Warner) coming back in after injury, you always welcome back your great players back into the team. There is plenty of batting talent in Australia and it is all about opportunities, obviously.“You fit six batsmen in at one time, so it is all about opportunities,” he identified.The four-match sequence is at the moment tied at 1-1. The third Test of the sequence shall be aired on Sony Six, Sony Ten 1 and Sony 3, from January 7 from 4.30am. (with PTI inputs)

  • ‘Not many slower balls, yorkers are going to be effective in Test cricket’: Natarajan’s coach

    About a month-and-a-half in the past, when India had launched into the tour of Australia, T Natarajan was within the celebration as a web bowler. He was subsequently drafted into the T20I squad adopted by the ODI aspect and performed for India in each codecs. Now Natarajan has been named within the Test squad because the injured Umesh Yadav’s alternative.
    Natarajan can be in rivalry to play the third Test in Sydney as India’s third fast bowler. On the face of it, being a left-arm seamer, he brings selection into the tempo assault. Bowling over the wicket, he can create footmarks exterior the right-hander’s off stump for Ravichandran Ashwin to manoeuvre. But the Indian workforce administration must take a name on whether or not he’s prepared for Test cricket in Australia, the place he may need to bowl all day and plan his wickets.
    If he performs, Natarajan will return house as a world in all three codecs. For somebody from Chinnappampatti, a village 36 kilometres off Salem in Tamil Nadu, it’s been a fairy-tale rise for the 29-year-old; he confronted hardship as a toddler and teenager and with out his distinctive cricket abilities, may have ended up being a porter or a weaver like his father. Natarajan is the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) reward to Indian cricket. A advantageous season with Sunrisers Hyderabad within the 2020 IPL noticed him improve his repute as a yorker specialist.
    With six wickets in three T20Is and one other couple in an ODI in Australia, Natarajan has made a seamless development to white-ball worldwide cricket. But Test cricket is a distinct ball recreation. It’s the final word check of a cricketer’s abilities, the place a medium pacer must transcend pinpoint yorkers, misleading slower deliveries and the cliché {that a} left-arm seamer will add selection. To begin with, Test cricket calls for swing from a tempo bowler other than different variations to get the higher of batsmen. Natarajan’s first-class profession continues to be in its formative stage with simply 20 matches and 64 wickets at 27.03, testifying that he’s not a red-ball thoroughbred but.
    “He (Natarajan) is a very good trier and I’m sure that working with (Bharat) Arun (India’s bowling coach), he will learn quickly. As a left-arm seamer, he has that natural angle (the ball that slants across the right-hander) and with the red ball, he could bring the ball in also. But it’s a learning process for him,” Tamil Nadu head coach Diwakar Vasu advised The Indian Express.
    Natarajan performs for Tamil Nadu in home cricket and Vasu has been working with him since final season. T20 cricket permits a bowler to be a tad one-dimensional. Yorkers and slower deliveries are staple for quick bowlers within the format the place batsmen attempt to pressure the tempo and commit errors. In Test cricket, batsmen put heavy worth tags on their wickets.
    Grabbing the chance
    “See, I am very happy for him and want him to play Tests and wishing him success. But I am not saying he is going to be immediately successful. He has to learn and I am sure he is a quick learner. We have to see if he is ready for Test cricket. It will depend on how he grabs the opportunity (if it comes),” Vasu mentioned.
    So, what are the facets Natarajan must be taught? “He needs to swing the ball. He needs to bowl a more consistent line. He also needs to cut the ball (off the seam). Test cricket is not easy. Not many of these slower balls and yorkers are going to be effective as far as Test cricket is concerned. And I don’t think that at his pace (around 130kph), bouncers could be a (wicket-taking) option. I think (if he plays), he needs to bowl up, work on his swing, work on his angles. That would be a better option for him,” the Tamil Nadu coach noticed.
    The potential disadvantages could make Natarajan a inventory bowler, a restrictive possibility. Vasu agreed. “Somebody who is making his Test debut, who is not express and who doesn’t swing the ball (much); you cannot expect him to be the strike bowler. There are other strike bowlers. He can be used as a bowler who comes in and bowls, and takes a couple of wickets.”
    Over the previous two seasons within the Ranji Trophy, Tamil Nadu performed nearly all of their house matches on turners. Natarajan didn’t play all of the video games final season, however Tamil Nadu batsman Baba Aparajith allayed fears just about his potential to bowl lengthy spells.
    “I have played with him for three-four years now, and he is a very hardworking bowler. He doesn’t get tired very easily. He can bowl long spells. He can come back and bowl at same pace,” Aparajith advised this paper.
    Aparajith captained Natarajan in Tamil Nadu’s Ranji Trophy match in opposition to Railways final season and used the seamer as a strike bowler. “Whenever I brought him back into the attack, the main aim was generally to get wickets,” Aparajith mentioned, insisting that Natarajan might be used as a strike bowler in Tests additionally. “He is very accurate and pretty sharp off the wicket as well.”
    Options for third seamer
    With Umesh Yadav dominated out of the Test sequence as a consequence of a calf muscle harm he sustained through the second Test, India have three choices for the third seamer’s slot – Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur and Natarajan.
    Navdeep Saini
    He was picked for all three codecs, however the BCCI knowledgeable that Saini had complained of again spasms forward of the ODI sequence, though he performed two matches. The right-arm fast was very costly, returning figures of 1/83 and 0/70 respectively and wasn’t picked for the T20Is. In a tour recreation in opposition to Australia A, Saini had 3/19 within the first innings however gave away 87 runs in 16 overs with out a wicket within the second. After Mohammed Shami suffered an arm fracture, the Indian workforce administration determined to choose Mohammed Siraj for the second Test and the latter vindicated the choice with a five-wicket match haul on his debut.Saini offers an out-an-out attacking possibility. He can go previous 145kph and when in rhythm, the 28-year-old will be fairly a handful for any batsman due to his tempo and skill to extract bounce. He is a hit-the-deck bowler, who can lower the ball into the right-hander off the seam other than making the odd supply straighten off a size. But Saini will be inconsistent together with his line and size, particularly when batsmen are in command. Restrictive bowling to maintain the batsmen below strain, particularly on unresponsive pitches, is a weak space in his bowling.
    Shardul Thakur
    Thakur was included within the Test squad as Shami’s alternative. He made his Test debut in opposition to the West Indies in 2018, which stays his solely Test but. A totally-fit Indian fast-bowling unit comprising Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Shami and Umesh leaves no emptiness for squad gamers. In Australia, nevertheless, the Indian tempo pack is severely depleted.
    A home cricket stalwart with 62 first-class matches and 206 wickets, the 29-year-old can swing the ball each methods at first rate tempo (round 135kph). He can reverse the outdated ball as properly. Thakur offers an all-round possibility when it comes to assault and defence.
    T Natarajan
    As Vasu mentioned, he might be higher used as a restrictive possibility. Also, as a left-arm seamer bowling over the wicket, Natarajan can create footmarks — with out operating into the hazard space — exterior the right-hander’s off stump — a possible goal spot for off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Traditionally, the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch assists spinners because the match progresses.