by jbouncer | Jun 24, 2023 | Uncategorized
The West Indies winning steak under the leadership of coach Daren Sammy continues. The victory over Nepal, by 101 runs was convincing, though not flawless. It was. however , enough to put the team at the top of the tables in group A by a superior net run rate.
At the top of the order, Kyle Mayers and Johnson Charles fail to impress; together they scored 1 and 0. This is a major problem and must be corrected immediately. Against higher ranked teams, they may not get away with it. Also they have to minimize bowling wides and no balls; especially when a batter should have been dismissed ; only to see the umpire’s out stretched arm. The fielding an catching; left much to be desired. but for the magnificent catch by Keacy Carty on the boundry line. .
On a brighter note, the two magnificent centuries by skipper Shai Hope 132 from 132 deliveries and the other by former skipper Nicholas Pooran, 115 from 94 deliveries , help the Windies pass the three hundred mark. The total of 339 was more than enough for the hapless Nepal team.
WI will take on Zimbabwe next, this is going to be a must stay awake early Saturday morning for all WI/ Zimbabwe supporters and will determine the table leader.
I have seen some marked improvement , but the WI has much more progress to make to be world beaters again.
Compiled by Leon Francis
by jbouncer | Jun 24, 2023 | Uncategorized
Half-way ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifier, West Indies, and Zimbabwe, the 2 undefeated teams in group “A” are leaders. Both teams have almost identical match statistics, and the winner of their group match scheduled for Sunday, will book one of the first slots in the Super Six stage.
At any rate, very likely Zimbabwe and the West Indies are on track to advance… If Netherlands defeat Nepal in their next match, Netherlands will advance as both Nepal and the United States will mathematically be eliminated.
In group B, Ireland and UAE are the winless teams after 2 matches. Thus, Oman, Sri Lanka and Scotland are mathematically and on current forms are the teams likely to advance from this group. At this stage, after 10 qualifier matches, we have witnessed excitement, drama, outstanding individual and collective team performances. So, stay alert and expect much more to come.
The Women’s Ashes single test Match is underway. Australia at close of play on day one, has scored 328 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. England has bowled 85 overs despite rain interruption. Good going England. Australian batter, Elyse Perry’s unfortunate dismissal on 99 runs, together with Tahlia McGrath (61 runs), Ashleigh Gardener (40 runs) and Annabel Sutherland (39 runs) not out, have generated much excitement for Australia.
On the English side, Sophie Ecclestone (3/71) and new teammate, Lauren Filer (2/65), have kept the Australians in check. Australia appears likely to resume their innings tomorrow, and work to add at least another 100 runs to their total. The Women’s Test matches are now played over 5 days. Stay watchful and alert, more excitement is in the cards.
Complied by Dennis Heath,,
by jbouncer | Jun 21, 2023 | Uncategorized
The first Test Match is over, and Australia are the victors, winning by 2 wickets in front of hushed English supporters, exuberant Australian supporters, and appreciations from others. This was an exciting first test, measured in part by the fact that there was no visible rush for the exits as the final ten overs were in play.
The first innings scores were a virtual tie. The result depended on the second innings performances. England were all out in the 62nd over for 273 runs. Joe Root, Harry Brooks, and captain Ben Stokes contributed the lion’s share (mid 40’s) of the runs scored. Australian Captain, Cummins (4/63) and Nathan Lyon (4/80), destroyed the English batters.
The target for Australia Was 282 runs, and despite the rain interruption and delay, Australia had more than enough playing time and overs to complete the task. With England’s ace-in-the hole, Moen Ali, hampered by his finger injury, Captain Ben Stokes marshalled his troops, and the fall of each Australian wicket, signaled a new battle. Bowlers-in-chief, Broad (3/64) and Robinson (2/43), lit the fuse and fired the grenades. But, for all the explosions and noise around him, one Australian stood resilient and became the anchor that withstood the volleys. Usman Khawaja (65 runs), batted like a retaining wall holding back the relentless onslaught. At one time in a 2-hour partnership period, Usman contributed a low total of approximately 16 runs.
When Usman dragged a Stokes delivery onto his stumps in the 72nd over, Australia had scored 209/7. Carey followed 18 runs later. And the English fans had visions of the English fighters at the top of the Australian wall. In a rear-guard action, battle tested Australian Captain Cummins led the fight to hold the battle line. Twenty overs and 54 runs later, Cummins (44 runs not out) and Lyons (16 runs not out), had brilliantly strategized to repel the fearsome English bowlers. The battle was won by the Australians, by 2 wickets.
Congratulations to Australia, and, I am mindful of my day 1 rebuke of Ben Stokes “silly” declaration that set this climactic final day in motion. Commiserations to Ben, I hope that the lesson was not lost on you.
Compiled By Dennis Heath
by Dennis Heath | Jun 17, 2023 | Uncategorized
England won the toss and chose to bat on this opening day of an important test match series. Australia drew early reward with England on 22 after 4 overs. Duckett caught for 12 runs. England’s middle order rallied, and Joe Root was majestic with a display of total command, including 2 comfortable boundary six hits from reverse sweeps.
Bairstow and Root passed the century mark partnership with dynamic hitting and stroke plays. Sadly, Bairstow’s (78 runs) ridiculous attempt, charging a Lyon delivery, resulted in his dismissal. Moen Ali struck a giant six hit boundary and showed that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. He, likewise, chose to tread where Bairstow failed. Another idiotic charge to a Lyon delivery, and he suffered the same fate as Bairstow. He was out stumped for a score of 18 runs.
Seasoned test cricketers with notable and quotable test innings, should surely be punished for such amateurish display of lunacy. England may regret not taking advantage of a dry and slow track. At close of play, with Joe Root on 118 not out, Stokes made a terrible decision to declare the England’s innings closed at 393 for 8 wickets.
More realistically, England should expect the track to be spin friendly by day 5, so the task should have been to work hard to put runs on the board, then invite Australia to overcome a 500 plus run target. This silly declaration now gives momentum to Australia. Bat for 2 days and set England a 550 to 600 runs target. And with England now facing a deficit of approximately 200 runs, Australian spinners could have an inspiring day 4.
by Dennis Heath | Jun 14, 2023 | Uncategorized
Post the final of the World Test Championship 2023. In truth, the official postmortem results are not yet available. However, there is no shortage of unofficial reports. First up, was it a catch or not a catch?
Shubman Gill, not willing to accept reality, gave his version of the DRS review. Gill’s vision differed from the official verdict, and for his short sightedness, clearly visible on social media. He was fined the entire amount of his match fee. It appears that Gill did not believe that his supporters and fans on social media saw what the rest of us saw.
Although the DRS reviewer had the benefit of numerous camera angles and closeup shots, team captain Sharma and a few others added their 20/20 vision that the DRS umpires should have seen more of the catch. It is odd that you campaign for a DRS system because you don’t trust the vision of the on-field umpires. Then you raise doubt about the system that worked well when a decision is in your favor, but demand justice when the decision is not in your favor.
India was defeated in two successive WTC finals, and that has been embarrassing and evokes questions, supposition, and what ifs? The cry is that Australia had plenty of time to rest, recuperate and prepare. And team India? Well, the entire Indian Team Players had only 20 days to prepare, says Shastri, Rohit and Kohli. And the reason for the preparation time available was due to IPL players being involved in the IPL play-offs and final matches. Who is responsible for this, The BCCI? The IPL? Cricket Australia? Or The ICC? Ravi, Rohit, and Virat, please tell us when you have the answer.
Actually, notwithstanding his previous comments, Rohit appears to know exactly why team India was humiliated. Indian batters did not lack concentration, they simply wanted to bat in a different way, he is reported to have said. NO, no, that is not the answer he corrected himself, we lost because the World Test Championship Final was played in June. We must schedule the final for March. Better still, we must play the final in another venue away from England. And for good measures, make the final best of three.
If the answer to losing or (winning) was so obviously known to so many, including Rohit. Why did team India lose? I will wait for the official postmortem results.
by Dennis Heath | Jun 12, 2023 | Uncategorized
The World Test Cricket Championship 2023 final has been decided. Australia takes the title of Champions, the crown, and the rewards. Congratulations to the Aussies and commiseration to the losing Indian Team.
Sometime, maybe a year from today, when the dust settles, we can see the full picture. The postmortem for this 2023 Test match final, the examiner might give us the results of his yearlong review of the playing facts. Questions, what did happen, why did it happen, who is to blame and can this cricket tragedy, for such it must be seen through Indian eyes. Could this have been avoided?
The Australian eyes will see the 2023 test final through tears of joy and happiness as they recall the last two test match series when the Indian team creamed and pulverized the Australians, leaving their undergarments exposed. Yes! Revenge is sweet, and in this 2023 final, very sweet for the Australians whose prize was twice as nice because it was rivals team India on the losing side.
What happened? We are aware of the idiom that hindsight is 20/20. Indian Captain, Rohit Sharma and his team of advisers must be regretting the decision to invite Australia to bat first. It is conceivable that with no pressure nor anxiety, India’s batters may have produced, and their bowlers turn the table on Australia.
Why did this happen? Arguably, there are those in the camp who would say that this match is indicative and suggestive that test cricket is alive. That it is well, and it is growing. But is the reverse true? Is the popularity of the white ball cricket echoing the demise of the red ball version. The casual observer would have noted that team India’s batters appeared to be more prone to the cricket shot selections that is a staple in the white ball version of the T20 format. Those shot selection choices did not work well for the Indian batters in this final.
Who is to blame? Well, I have deliberated, but in truth, one man cannot deliver. So, I am waiting with patience for the jury panel to deliver a verdict.
Could this tragedy (for India) be avoided? The simple answer is yes, it could be avoided. But don’t ask me to tell you how. Cheers, felicitations, well done and well played to Australia. Commiserations to team India, thank you for at least showing up.
