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There is no dearth of cricketing action right now, as evident from the abundance of fixtures that have lined up in front of our very eyes. On one hand, we have the upcoming mouthwatering specials the India-Australia series, while we also have the Women's ICC World T20I going on in another part of the world. There is the ongoing Pak-NZ series as well, and we also have the Indian domestic season slowly kicking in, along with the much-awaited MSL.
In this special daily-running column here, we bring you the top cricketing news on and off the pitch every day. Right now, take a look at the stories that made the most headlines, in the past 24 hours.
#1 Kiwis completes a spectacular turnaround as ICC troll Pakistan fans
In a low-scoring thriller, visitors New Zealand managed to defend a target of just 175 runs, as Pakistan made yet another entry into their long history of slumping with a win at sight.
In the first Test of the Pak-NZ series held in Abu Dhabi, New Zealand could make just 153 batting first, owing to good bowling by the hosts, who then replied back with 227 runs. The Kiwis performed better in the second innings, scoring 249 runs, though the eventual target of 175 seemed easy for Pakistan.
Ajaz Patel, who picked two wickets in Pakistan's first innings, made his debut Test memorable with a fifer in the second chance, and that also earned him the match ball. Ajaz removed top-scorer Azhar and captain Sarfraz, while Babar Azam ran himself out, to see the scoreline reduced from a winning position of 130/3 to 154/6. That is when the Kiwis started hoping again as they ran through the rest of the Pakistan lineup while giving away 17 runs, eventually winning by just four runs.
The next Test will begin on 28th November 2018, in Dubai.
Meanwhile, the Women's World T20I is going on at the Caribbean, and India, Australia, West Indies and England have emerged semi-finalists after some hotly contested group stage encounters. The ICC's Twitter handlers hence decided to ask the fans how they thought the finals would pan out:
The poll did not exactly please fans from Pakistan, owing to the absence of their team in the list. But that was because they crashed out in the group stages itself, having secured no points apart from a solitary win over Ireland. The fans seemed to have confused the Men's team, who are no.1 in the format, with the Women's team.
The overload of replies finally made ICC respond and clarify the situation, while at the same time taking a massive dig at the ignorance of some fans out there:
What a folly to happen, that too in such public space. Everyone is going to remember this for a while.
#2 Pat Cummins has his say on Virat Kohli's "no-sledge" stance
In the past few days, Virat Kohli's words on his intention not to retort to sledges from his Australian counterparts garnered a lot of media attention. It is unlike Kohli to stay submissive to opponents' chants, and it is unlike of Australia to keep away from mind-games and open taunting. However, the Kangaroos' efforts to wear down the Indian captain using words, have only had an adverse effect in games till date, and it was assumed that they would no longer employ such means on him. That was when Kohli responded that he too would cut down on fiery actions and gestures mid-game.
But Aussie pacer Pat Cummins does not buy it. In a recent interview, Cummins said that he would be surprised if Kohli kept quiet, provided he is subjected to any verbal pressure.
“I think I heard him say in the media the other day he won’t, but I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t. He’s so competitive, he really thrives on that," were his exact words to Fairfax media upon asked about Kohli's newly adopted stance.
Before concluding, Cummins also added that they did not plan on treating the Indian skipper any differently and that the series would witness a lot of fire and passion from both sides.
#3 Ravi Shastri stresses on quality of game over sledging
Australia were always known to follow the "mental disintegration" pattern of Steve Waugh, which included competitive cricket with a liberal helping of sledging too, to win games. But following the infamous "sandpaper gate" scandal, critics lashed out at the attitude to win at all costs, and that has resulted in a mellowed-down approach by the side, ever since.
Ravi Shastri, the current Indian coach, is aware of all this, but still believes that even if so, it's the quality of game that wins matches more than any amount of sledging. Shastri also said that the team playing a better game will win the series, irrespective of all other interactions.
"At the end of the day, it's the cricket that talks. I didn't care if a McGrath or a Warne did say something or didn't say something, they would have still taken wickets. It's as simple as that. When you can do what you are good at and do it consistently, it doesn't matter, which side you are playing for. That cricketer will do well and so will the team," he said while speaking with the media in the opening interactive session ahead of the tour.
#4 Team India "keen to make a mark" Down Under, says Rohit Sharma
The current Australian side is reeling in the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner who were banned for ball-tampering earlier this year. Since then, the side has been performing at quite dismal levels, and it has not escaped the notice of an excited Team India, who may have sensed their best opportunity till date, to reap big rewards in the elusive lands.
The full fledged series will include 10 games - 3 T20Is, 4 Tests and 3 ODIs, in that order, and for the first time since the South African series in January and February, Rohit Sharma having made it to the T20 and Test squad, is likely to make it into all three squads.
India has not won a Test series in Australia so far, and for Rohit, a better chance would not have come by for the contingent to change its fortunes. It was on Saturday that South Africa became the first ever visiting team to take home both the ODI and T20I series from the Aussies, in the same tour.
"It's the one place that we want to leave our mark and do well as a unit. The last time we played Test series here, there were a few close games being played, though we didn't win any. We want to make it count this time around. There's a real good feeling inside the group in all three formats – the motivation of the team is to just try and seize all the moments and win tournaments," the limited-overs' deputy skipper said while speaking to cricket.com.au.
The first match of the series will be the first T20I at the Gabba in Brisbane, on November 21st, 2018.
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