Pulsating Test Cricket in England says Joe Root

Vipin Darwade in Cricket Age, 3 September 2018, with this title “India-England series shows Test cricket is alive and kicking”

The hard-fought five-match series against India shows that Test cricket is still alive and kicking, said skipper Joe Root after England secured a 60-run win in the fourth rubber to take a series-clinching 3-1 lead. “I think it’s a really good sign for Test cricket. It shows that for me Test cricket is still alive and kicking — very much at the pinnacle of the sport,” Root said.

“Credit to India — they’ve played some really fine cricket throughout, not just this game but the whole series. It must have been great viewing for people at home to see the way that especially the first game and this one, how tight they’ve been, how it swung both ways.”

Pic from Getty Images

Advertisements

“A Floating Allrounder” — That is My Role and Goal says Ashton Agar

Sruthi Ravindranath, courtesy of ESPNcricinfo, 26 August 2018, where the title is

Ashton Agar wants to be as good as he can at everything. He wants to be adaptable, to be able to pad up at any time for his side, and be the floater who can go bang from the first ball.

Agar introduced himself to the world in 2013 as a 19-year-old left-arm spinner who smacked a 98 on Test debut, while batting at No. 11, on an Ashes tour. His career didn’t quite take off from there as expected. He has played only 26 international games so far, and has only become a limited-overs regular in recent times.

Ashton Agar played a solid innings Getty Images

Chop-Chop Kohli Selection Policy

Aakash Chopra, in Cricket Age, 14 August 2018, where the title is “Virat Kohli’s Team Selection Policy Bewildering”

As much as Virat Kohli is revered and will be remembered as one of the finest batsmen to grace this game, he’ll also be remembered as a captain who didn’t play an identical XI in two consecutive games for 37 games and counting, and also as someone who made some interesting choices!

A Miracle at Lords: England Down India in Thriller … Now, Now Where were you Then?

Melinda Farrell in ESPNcricinfo, 24 July 2018, “Where were you?”

Where were you when England won the World Cup?

Where were you on Sunday morning when the queues to get into the ground, half of them women and girls, stretched along Wellington Parade almost the entire way to St John’s Wood station? Were you in the excited, buzzing throng, ignoring the touts? Who could have imagined they would ever hear the slightly seedy muttering of “Buy or sell any tickets? Buy or sell any tickets?” on their way to a women’s match?

 Alex Hartley enjoys taking the wicket of Harmanpreet Kaur AFP

Ganguly criticises proposed new Ranji Trophy Structure

News Item in Cricket Age, 26 July 2018, …

Sourav Ganguly feels that the Ranji Trophy structure released by the BCCI for the upcoming domestic season can somewhat devalue first-class cricket. Ganguly heads the BCCI technical committee, which approved the inclusion of the North-Eastern states, Puducherry and Bihar during its meeting back in April. But the structure proposed by the technical committee wasn’t adhered to, when the domestic calendar was released.

The IPL Roller-Coaster: Many IFs … Now, 19th May

S Rajesh of ESPNcricinfo, May 2018 –-where the title is  IPL playoff qualification scenarios – Five teams fight for two spots

With four league games to go, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings have already qualified for the playoffs, while five other teams are fighting for the last two spots. ESPNcricinfo looks at how the qualification scenarios will be affected by the results of Saturday’s games between Rajasthan Royals (12 points, -0.403 Net Run Rate) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (12 points, 0.264 NRR), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (18 points, 0.319 NRR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (14 points, -0.091 NRR).

Dr. Rabada chastises his Paceman Son Kagiso rabada

Bipin Dani in The Deccan Chronicle Dr. Mpho Rabada has supported the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to penalize his son for Shikhar Dhawan send-off. The 22-year-old South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has been fined 15 per cent of his match-fees (and one demerit point) for giving Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan a send-off after he grabbed his wicket in the fifth ODI, which India won in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.   “(Shikhar) Dhawan send-off was unnecessary. The player has not only to be within the law but live in the spirit of the game which is a higher than the minimum standard,” said Kagiso Rabada’s father, Dr. Mpho Rabada. (Photo: BCCI). Port Elizabeth: Dr. Mpho Ra “Dhawan send-off was unnecessary. The player has not only to be within the law but live in the spirit of the game which is a higher than the minimum standard,” said Rabada senior. “The management used criterion to usher fines and we have to give them the benefit of doubts that they applied their minds and found a sanction that is in line with not living in the spirit of the game. I have faith in the administrators. Players say all kind of things. I am 100% against that. Let us let the ball do the talking.” Dhawan was looking in fine form as he scored at brisk pace against Morne Morkel and Rabada and had hit the young South African speedster for a four a ball before. However, Rabada managed to dismiss the Dhawan just when it looked like the Indian opener was going to take the South African attack to the cleaners. “(My son’s) action was unnecessary and uncalled for (even if there were words or actions from batsmen directed to him during play). A person is 100 per cent responsible for his own actions. The ultimate bar at the end is ALL has to be done in the greater spirit of the game,” said Kagiso’s father. “Young men and women have to always judge themselves against that threshold both on and off the field,” he signed off. Click here to Reply, Reply to all, or Forward 14.82 GB (98%) of 15 GB used Manage Terms – Privacy Last account activity: 16 minutes ago Details