.jpeg?im=Resize,height=373 "Road Safety Series: AUS-L vs BAN-L Match Preview, Key Players, Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips")
Road Safety Series: AUS-L vs BAN-L Match Preview, Key Players, Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
SL-L vs AUS-L Match Preview, Key Players, Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
PSL 2021 | PSZ vs LHQ: Malik’s half-century in vain as Rashid, Tim David once again lift Qalandars to win
David Weise, Dunk and Zaman take Lahore home in a thriller against Karachi
It was a David Wiese show at the National Stadium Karachi as he hit six boundaries in nine balls to take Lahore Qalandars home in a thriller against Karachi Kings. Wiese arrived at the crease when 34 runs were needed off 16 balls and Dan Christian had removed a settled Fakhar Zaman. He took three balls and to hit just one four and just when fans thought that the chasing would get tougher for Qalandars, the South African got going, hitting his next six balls for 25 runs. Wiese was lucky no doubt. In the Mohammad Amir over, a miss-timed hook went over the keeper’s head for four while on the very next ball, a yorker got undercut by his bat to beat a wrong-footed Joe Clarke’ diving away to his left to go for another four. Surviving these two shots, he then hit Amir for six over mid-off and tilted the game in Qlanadars favour. Just when 10 runs were needed off the last over, Wiese was offered a length ball which he hit over’s the bowler’s head for a huge six, before hitting a four of the next ball to win the 11th game in a row for a team chasing in this year’s PSL. The Qalandars did not start the chase of 187 in the right manner with skipper Sohail Akhtar failing once again, getting run out even without facing a ball. Even Mohammad Hafeez, who had been an amazing form prior to this game also got out early today. Joe Denly was cleaned up by a classic inswinger by Mohammad Amir who was on fire in his first spell. It was then that Fakhar Zaman was joined by Ben Dunk, who had been a bad form before this game. The two then added 119 runs for the fifth wicket, taking the game close, which was finished by Weise. Earlier in the evening, Karachi, who were put to bat first did not have a good start as Shaheen Afridi cleaned up Pak skipper Babar Azam with a breathtaking inswinger. Sharjeel who was dropped by Akhtar at mid-on made good use of the chance and scored a 39 ball 64 with some brilliant shots including a Nataraja six off Ahmed Daniyal. From struggling at 37-3, Karachi made it to 113-4. Mohammad Nabi and Dan Christian also made useful contributions to take the total to 182 at the end of the 19th. In the last over, Shaheen Afridi gave away only three runs and picked up two wickets to end with match figures 3-27. He was awarded Man of the Match for this performance of his. This was Qalandar’s third win in four games at the National Stadium in Karachi and it pushed them to the second spot on the Points Table.
Daily Round up | Jan 13: Langer blames IPL, Vihari silences critics
Sri Lanka have announced the squad for the Test series against England at home while Justin Langer has blamed IPL for the injury concerns for both India and Australia. Here’s a look at the latest updates from the cricketing world. Justin Langer blames IPL Australia coach Justin Langer has said that the timing of the IPL 2020 has been a reason behind the players’ injuries. India have suffered a huge blow after the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Hanuma Vihari have been ruled out of the deciding Test against Australia slated to take place in Brisbane from Thursday. “It is really interesting how many injuries (it) has been throughout this summer. I can’t help and think that the IPL this year (2020)...probably wasn’t (having) ideal timing for anyone, certainly for such a big series like this,” Langer said at a virtual press conference. Earlier, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, and Umesh Yadav were ruled out after sustaining individual injuries. Sri Lanka announces squad for England series The Sri Lankan Cricket Board has announced the squad for the two-match Test series against England at home. Angelo Mathews and Nuwan Pradeep have been included in the team. Mathews was a part of the Sri Lankan squad but had to withdraw his name after he suffered a hamstring injury in a domestic T20 competition. The two-match Test series between England and Sri Lanka begins on Thursday. Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Kusal Janith Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Oshada Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella, Minod Bhanuka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Lasith Embuldeniya, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Dasun Shanaka, Asitha Fernando, Roshen Silva, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Ramesh Mendis Ben Dunk leaves Melbourne Stars mid-way The BBL franchise Melbourne Stars has decided to part ways from Ben Dunk. "My time with the Stars has come to an end and it's time for me to focus on other playing opportunities around the world," Dunk shared on social media today. It's been a great journey and there are so many people to thank. Marcus Harris to open Australia head coach Justin Langer has said that if Will Pucovski isn’t fully fit then Marcus Harris is going to open the innings with David Warner in Brisbane. Pucovski has dislocated his shoulder only partially earlier. "Will had a sore shoulder before he fell, he was actually going to have a scan after that day's play anyway, just to see what was happening," Langer was quoted as saying during a virtual press conference. Hanuma Vihari’s witty response to critics India batsman Hanuma Vihari came up with a witty reply to singer Babu Supriyo’s tweet. Supriyo in a tweet wrote, “Playing 109 balls to score 7 !That is atrocious to say the least•Hanuma Bihari has not only killed any Chance for India to achieve a historic win but has also murdered Cricket.. not keeping win an option, even if remotely, is criminal. PS: I know that I know nothing abt cricket.” Vihari later reacted on the tweet and corrected Supriyo for the spelling error that he made in his name. “*Hanuma Vihari,” replied the Indian batsman.
BBL 10: Melbourne Stars part ways with Ben Dunk midway through the season
In an unforeseen turn of events, the Melbourne Stas have decided to part ways with explosive batsman Ben Dunk midway through the KFC Big Bash League 10. Releasing a statement on that behalf, the Melbourne Stars quoted that the decision to release Dunk midway through the season was “mutually agreed”. His contract was slated to expire at the end of the next season. Before returning to his hometown Hobart, Dunk informed about the same to his teammates. Dunk stated that his time with the Melbourne Stars comes to an end as he looks forward to new opportunities across the world. "My time with the Stars has come to an end and it's time for me to focus on other playing opportunities around the world," Dunk shared on social media today. It's been a great journey and there are so many people to thank. "Eddie (McGuire), Clint (Cooper), Stephen (Fleming) and Trent (Woodhill) gave me a wonderful opportunity to play for a great club for a long period of time. Unfortunately, I haven't made the most of those opportunities but that is cricket. "To the fans of the Stars, you guys are amazing and I'm sure in time, you will get the ultimate success you deserve. To my teammates from over the years, I thank you, and I look forward to seeing you all at some point in the near future,” he further added. The southpaw was roped in by the Melbourne Stars in 2017 after he had a sensational time with the bat for the Adelaide Strikers in the previous season. He had scored 364 runs in the tournament at an impressive average of 52. Meanwhile, he was also a star performer for the Hobart Hurricanes in the 3rd season of the BBL where he was named as the Player of the Tournament before he was traded to the Strikers ahead of the 2016 season.
Reinforced Hurricanes eye win against mercurial Stars
The match between Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars is a crucial contest for both teams. Both teams have been inconsistent in the season so far and are looking to get some momentum going as the tournment enters into a more tense stage. Stars, under the captaincy of Glenn Maxwell, are facing a slight wobble mid-tournament. Losing their last match to Sydney Thunder by a big margin would not have done them any good. But with the nature of T20 cricket being very fickle, and plenty of match-winning players in their squad, Stars can easily get back into winning form. For Hurricanes, a season that started brilliantly is now throwing some problems at them. From being at the top of the table, the team has now come down to third. But they are still doing better than most other teams and need to keep the ship steady to book their place in the play-offs. Maxwell's Stars Need Boost With Glenn Maxwell and Nicholas Pooran in great form, scoring big runs shouldn't be a problem for the Stars. But there are some problems with the top order. Andre Fletcher hasn't got going in this season. His partner Marcus Stoinis has been hitting the ball well but hasn't gone on. Even Hilton Cartwright and Nicholas Maddinson have been underwhelming. But the lack of runs from these batsmen have been compensated for, to some extent, by Maxwell, Pooran, and Ben Dunk's batting. Like many other teams, the Stars have benefitted enormously from leg-spin. Adam Zampa has shown his match-winning abilities in this season already. However, the ban on him would leave a big hole in the team. Nathan Coulter-Nile and Billy Stanlake are capable bowlers with varying styles. The former relies on swing while the latter uses extra bounce. The nature of the pitch would decided who gets the preference. Hurricanes Looking Solid Hobart Hurricanes scored a victory in their last match by the slimmest margin - 1 run. But their overall performance in that match and the season, so far, hasn't been bad. There had been some issues with the batting line-up but they have been sorted out due to the arrival of Dawid Malan, world's premier batsmen in T20Is. The shifting of Ben McDermott to the opening slot has re-inforced the top order. D'Arcy Short is always a big threat at the top of the innings. McDermott, Short, and Malan will be the power center of the batting order. Colin Ingram and Tim David could help lift the score late in the innings. The bowling of Hurricanes has got a big boost due to the arrival of Sandeep Lamichhane. The spinner from Nepal has been an impact player in T20 leagues around the world. With spinners like Mujeeb and Rashid proving to be trump cards for their respective teams, Sandeep's arrival is very important. Faulkner's absence would leave a big void. But Scott Boland has been impressive. Riley Meredith has genuine pace but hasn't fully capitalised on it. Much was expected of Nathan Ellis and Keemo Paul but both have been disappointing till now. Stars vs Hurricanes: Match Details Venue: Blundstone Arena, Hobart Date and Time: January 2, 11:35 AM IST, 5:05 PM Local, 6:05 AM GMT Broadcaster: Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV Pitch Report Hobart will be hosting a BBL match after a gap this season. In the previous matches, the pitch looked good for batting. But when the conditions were favourable, seamers also came into action. With many matches having been played so far, one wonders whether the pitches will show signs of wear and tear. The weather may also play a part in determining the nature of the contest. Weather and Bat Flip Clouds are expected to hang around on the day of the match. This could help the swing bowlers in both the teams. If the skies are fully overcast, the temptation to bowl first will be there for the captain who wins the bat flip. Probable XIs Stars: Sam Billings, Ben Dunk (Wk), Hilton Cartwright, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell (C), Nicholas Pooran, Nick Maddinson, Liam Hatcher, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Billy Stanlake, Zahir Khan Hurricanes: D'Arcy Short, Ben McDermott (Wk), Dawid Malan, Peter Handscomb (C), Colin Ingram, Tim David, Johan Botha, Nathan Ellis, Riley Meredith, Scott Boland, Sandeep Lamichhane
BBL 10 | Stars vs Thunder: Match Preview, Predicted XI, and more
Melbourne Stars would take the field again on Saturday in the ongoing 10th season of the Big Bash League (BBL) after their match against Brisbane Heat on Friday. The second match for the Stars in as many days will be against Sydney Thunder and would have an early start, giving the Glenn Maxwell-led side even less of a time to recover. The match against Thunder should be an exciting contest. Riding high after a comfortable victory in their opening game, Stars would be upbeat. But Thunder also have a talented squad. For the Melbourne-based team, Nathan Coulter-Nile has already hit his stride by getting four wickets against Brisbane Heat. His contest against the likes of Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, and Callum Ferguson would be worth watching. On the other hand, Thunder also have a decent bowling attack with Adam Milne providing the pace, Daniel Sams the death-overs bowling skill, and others in supporting role. Against such an attack, the big hitting prowess of Glenn Maxwell and co. would be fully tested. Thunder in Canberra The signing of New Zealand speedster Milne is a good one but whether it works or not depends on how much control the fast bowler has on his line and length. Since the Manuka Oval in Canberra is a small ground, any error by the Kiwi bowler would give the batsmen an opportunity to utilise the pace and clear the boundary. The man most likely to do so is the captain of the opposition, Maxwell. He has regained his form and was hitting the ball beautifully in the recent series against India. A contest between him and Milne will be worth watching. All eyes would also be focussed on Sams. After a very impressive season last year, he fumbled badly when given an opportunity to shine at the international level. In the recently-concluded T20I series against India, he went for quite a few runs and failed to defend 14 runs needed by India in the final over of one of the matches. Whether that was a case of slipping on the big stage or a deeper problem would be found out this season. It would be very exciting if Thunder pick 18-year old Tanveer Sangha, the leg-spinner who impressed earlier this year in the Under-19 World Cup. Throwing such a young and inexperienced player in the deep end is a risky proposition. But it could also give an insight into his character. Overall, Thunder look good going into their first game. They haven't been much affected by the withdrawal of foreign and even Australian players. While Alex Hales is back in the team, so is Usman Khawaja. Can Stars Recover in Time T20 cricket isn't as demanding as the longer formats, still one wonders whether the Melbourne-team can get themselves geared up again less than 24 hours after finishing another match. Whatever be the case, it would be Maxwell again around whom Stars' batting would revolve. The good innings played by Hilton Cartwright shows that the middle order has another capable players. Both these batsmen should get some support from the likes of Marcus Stoinis and Ben Dunk, despite these two failing in the first match of the season. Another player to watch out for would be Andre Fletcher. The West Indian has been chosen to open the innings. A failure in the first match is a bad start, but not the end of the world. It's the bowling where Stars' seem to be well endowed. With Coulter-Nile getting four wickets in the opening match, the team would feel a boost. Adam Zampa has been in great form this season. He would be a big asset for his team and a strike bowler at that. Billy Stanlake can be quite handy on his day. Overall, the bowling seems to be the stronger suit for Stars. Their batting is yet to fully hit its stride. Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder: Match Details Venue: Manuka Oval, Canberra Broadcasters: Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV Time and Date: December 12, 10:35 AM IST, 4:05 PM Local, 5:05 AM GMT Pitch Report The pitch at Canberra has been flat and batsman-friendly this season. However, in the Stars and Brisbane Heat match, bowlers played a key role. This suggests that some assistance for the bowlers has been added to the wicket. Perhaps, the ball may swing a little. This could again help Coulter-Nile. Weather and Toss While there isn't much chance of rain in Canberra, clouds are expected to be in the sky, interspersed with sunny spells. So, there isn't much chance of weather playing a big part in the game. Once again, what the captains do on winning the toss depends on whether the team wants to defend or chase. Stars may prefer the latter option after their success in the first match. Probable XIs Melbourned Stars: Marcus Stoinis, Andre Fletcher, Hilton Cartwright, Ben Dunk (Wk), Glenn Maxwell (C), Nick Larkin, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Clint Hinchliffe, Adam Zampa, Billy Stanlake, Dilbar Hussain Sydney Thunder: Alex Hales, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson (C), Alex Ross, Matthew Gilkes, Arjun Nair (Wk), Ben Cutting, Daniel Sams, Jonathan Cook, Adam Milne, Chris Tremain
BBL Matchday 2 Preview | Melbourne Stars take on depleted Brisbane Heat
The second match of Big Bash Legue would feature Melbourne Stars taking on a depleted Brisbane Heat side. The latter team would be without its regular opening batsman Tom Banton as he withdrew from the tournament. Joe Burns and Marnus Labuschagne are also missing due to their place in the Australian Test squad. On the other side, Melbourne Stars too would be missing key players in the form of Jonny Bairstow and Will Pucovski. While Bairstow, like his compatriot Banton, withdrew from the league, Pucovski was supposed to be away playing for Australia A but sustained a blow on the head which ruled out of that match as well. Luckily for Stars, their other key players are ready to go, including Glenn Maxwell, the captain whose red-hot form would be a big plus for the team. The spin bowling attack of Heat has been completely defanged due to both Mitchell Swepson and Mujeeb Ur Rahman not ready to play. This means that even in the bowling department, there is a clear edge for the Melbourne team. Batting Disparity Stars clearly have an advantage when it comes to the batting department. Despite not having Bairstow in the line-up, they still have Maxwell, whose prowess in limited-overs cricket is renowned. To assist him, Marcus Stoinis would be in the line-up as well. Stoinis' batting abilities have come into full view in recent times, especially in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The pair of Maxwell and Stoinis could wreak havoc in the middle overs if they get going. Another exciting player in the Stars' line-up is West Indian Nicholas Pooran. Supremely talented, he has scored runs both in T20 leagues as well as international level. Another West Indian, wicketkeeper-batsman Andre Fletcher, is another powerhouse. Though he hasn't enjoyed the level of stardom that many of his compatriots have. Compared to this, Heat would be disproportionately reliant on Chris Lynn. Considering the fact that he hasn't been in good form this year, both in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and IPL, the Brisbane-based team will have to bat out of their skins to match their opponents. Bowling Strength The bowling attacks of both teams would be exciting to watch. Here, we have a more even contest. Brisbane have brought in Morne Morkel. He could be the difference maker for his tea. Alongside him, there will be the experienced Ben Laughlin. Mitch Swepson and Mujeeb ur Rahman, the spinners in the squad, are both unavailable currently. On the other side, Stars have a very skillful pair of new ball bowlers in Nathan Coulter Nile and Billy Stanlake. While the former is good at swinging the ball, the latter has the ability to get some extra bounce. To make things even better for Melbourne, they will also have the services of their leading spinner Adam Zampa. Coming off a good series against India, his confidence would be high. Stars have another spinner in their squad, chinaman bowler Zahir Khan. As of now, Zampa will be picked ahead of him. But if the pitch is dry, perhaps both can play. Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat: Match Details Venue: Manuka Oval, Canberra Broadcasters: Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV Date and Time: December 11, 1:45 PM IST, 7:15 PM Local, 8:15 AM GMT Pitch Report The pitch in Canberra was used recently for the India vs Australia ODI and T20I series. As expected, it was flat and produced a whole heap of runs. Lenght balls were punished mercilessly by batsmen and only the best yorkers seemed to be safe. Another high-scoring match can be expected. Short boundaries will also mean more sixes. Weather and Toss Clouds may come over in the evening but they are not likely to be rain-bearing. Otherwise, it would be a cool and comfortable time for both teams. What the captains decide at toss will have more to do with their teams - whether they are more comfortable chasing or defending. Probable XI Melbourne Stars: Nic Maddinson, Ben Dunk, Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Glenn Maxwell (C), Nicholas Pooran, Andre Fletcher (Wk), Adam Zampa, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Billy Stanlake, Jackson Coleman Brisbane Heat: Max Bryant, Chris Lynn (C), Dan Lawrence, Sam Heazlett, Tom Cooper, Jimmy Peirson (Wk), Lewis Gregory, Matthew Kuhnemann, Ben Laughlin, Morne Morkel, Xavier Bartlett