Pakistan tour of New Zealand 2020-21 News

Australia’s star batsman Steve Smith has tipped Indian captain to become the second on the ICC Rankings for batsmen in Tests on the back of a superlative century in the Sydney Test against India. Smith was battling with bad form and had failed in the three innings of the first two Tests of the series, but his century helped Australia gain the ascendency in the game. Smith has gone up to 900 points while Kohli who has returned home for the birth of his first child is at 870 rating points. Smith’s fellow teammate Marnus Labuschagne consolidated his ranking at the number four position with his highest best career ration points at 866 on the back of scores of 91 and 73 in the two innings of the SCG Test. For India, Cheteshwar Pujara played a crucial role in helping India draw the SCG Test with the fifties in both the innings of the Test match, and his exploits with the bat helped him jump two ranks on the eighth position on the table. On the other hand, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson consolidated his domination on the ranking table with a jump to his and the career-best rating point for any Kiwi batsmen at 919. Williamson has been in sublime form in the home series against West Indies and Pakistan and plundered two double centuries against them over the course of two two-match Test series. Another Kiwi batsman who batted supremely against Pakistan in the last Test match of the series in Christchurch, Henry Nichols has broken into the top 10 batsmen of the Test format. He stands at the ninth position with 747 points to his name. For bowlers, Pat Cummins has consolidated his top position in the ICC player rankings for bowlers in Tests while Josh Hazlewood has jumped three places to fifth position on the table. Mitchell Starc looked off-colour and could get only one wicket across the two innings of the SCG Test and slid three places to number eight on the table. India’s Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah too lost some of their gains and slid two and one places respectively in the latest changes announced by the ICC in the players’ rankings.

Pakistan suffered a 0-2 loss to New Zealand in a two-match Test series away from home. Talking about the defeats, head coach Misbah-ul-Haq has said that the dropped catches were one of the major reasons for the team’s dismal show. “I think the biggest thing in front of us, that we have seen in the past with Pakistan cricket as well, is our dropped chances," the head coach said in a PCB podcast. "I think that has really affected our chances in this series. We missed a lot in both Tests, in which if we had grabbed them, we could have taken the Test further, but we missed them. We need to work on that." Misbah admitted that the Pakistan team created some chances for themselves but didn’t really capitalise on them. “On this tour we had opportunities, we created those by playing well but didn't cash in on them. We have to see why we are getting in positions where we can close Tests but are not being able to do it ultimately,” he further added. Pakistan lost the first match by 101 runs after New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson scored a fine hundred in the first innings. Williamson continued his form in the second match too and notched up a double ton as the home side etched a win by an innings and 176 runs. The Test series win handed New Zealand the top spot in the ICC Test rankings while captain Williamson has also moved up to the helm spot in the Test rankings for batsmen.

New Zealand achieved a perfect ending to their Test home summer by bowling out Pakistan for just 186 and consigning them to an innings and 176-run defeat. The day was always expected to be a tough one for the visitors as Kyle Jamieson had looked threatening on day 3 itself and the likes of Tim Southee and Trent Boult were expected to have an impact at some stage. The first wicket, as expected, was of the night-watchman Mohammad Abbas who nicked one from Boult to wicketkeeper BJ Watling. Surprisingly, Abbas decided to review, only to find out that he indeed got an edge. Then came the most promising partnership of the day, between Abid Ali, the overnight batsman and Azhar Ali. The two played some delightful shots and resisted the Kiwi attack for 86 balls, scoring 29 runs together. But a magnificent one-handed catch from substitute Will Young ended that partnership. Young dived to his right and took a slightly aerial square drive by Abid with his right hand, giving Jamieson his second. He also dismissed Haris Sohail later and Pakistan were 4-down for just 79. However, Azhar Ali was playing really well and Pakistan’s hopes rested on him. Unfortunately, New Zealand, especially Jamieson, adopted a new strategy against him. The tall left-armer came round the wicket and started bowling at Azhar’s ribs. Eventually, the tactic worked as the former Pakistan captain moved towards the off side and fended a ball into the wicketkeeper’s gloves. With Azhar gone, Pakistan were pretty much done and dusted. Captain Mohammad Rizwan received a peach of a delivery as Jamieson got one ball to swing into the right-hander a long way and go through his defences to shatter the stumps. Jamieson eventually ended with 6/48 which, along with 5/69 in his first innings, gave him his first 10-wicket haul in a match. Some late fireworks were provided by Zafar Gohar but they were only dying flickers of a doomed flame. The match ended with him getting out for 37 as New Zealand achieved the top spot in ICC rankings, for the first time in their history. This also meant that they won all their home matches this season. Skipper Kane Williamson won the Man of the Series Award while Jamieson took home the Man of the Match trophy.

India have announced the playing XI for the third Test against Australia in Sydney while New Zealand have attained the top spot in the ICC Test rankings. Here are the latest updates from the day. India announce playing XI for third Test The Indian team has made a couple of changes for the third Test against Australia slated to begin from Thursday in Sydney. Rohit Sharma who earlier named as the vice-captain of the side will be opening the innings with Shubman Gill. Apart from this, fast bowler Navdeep Saini is set to make his Test debut for India replacing injured Umesh Yadav. The four-match series is levelled at 1-1 with the third and fourth match scheduled to take place in Sydney and Brisbane respectively. Sourav Ganguly to be discharged on Thursday BCCI president Sourav Ganguly will be discharged from the hospital on Thursday. The former skipper was scheduled to be discharged on Wednesday but he had decided to stay back for one more day. "Ganguly will be discharged tomorrow as he wants to stay back one more day,” the hospital said on Wednesday. New Zealand move to number one spot New Zealand have attained the helm spot in the ICC Test rankings after completing a clean sweep in the two-match Test series against Pakistan at home. New Zealand defeated Pakistan an innings and 176 runs in the second encounter to seal the series. Kyle Jamieson followed his fifer in the first innings with a six-wicket haul in the second. Spectator at Boxing Day Test tests positive for COVID-19 A spectator at the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne has tested positive for COVID-19. “The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), as ground managers of the MCG, is aware that a person who attended Day 2 (Sunday, December 27, 2020) of the Boxing Day Test has since tested positive to COVID-19,” a statement said. “The MCG is being investigated as a potential source for the infection,” Victoria’s Department of Health said. “We’re encouraging anyone who was in The Great Southern Stand, zone 5 of the MCG between 12.30 pm and 3.30 pm on 27 December, to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.” Pravin Amre appointed Delhi Capitals assistant coach Pravin Are has been appointed as the assistant coach of the Delhi Capitals. “I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Pravin Amre back to the Delhi Capitals side,” said CEO Dhiraj Malhotra, on the latest development. Are thanked the franchise. “I am grateful to the Delhi Capitals management for having me on board. With the team having reached its very first IPL final in 2020, this is certainly an exciting time to be back there. I look forward to working with Ricky again, and all the players,” said Amre.

New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell who scored his maiden Test century in a match against Pakistan was thrilled and grateful at the same moment for reaching the greatest milestone in a batsman’s career. He thanked skipper Kane Williamson for not declaring early and letting him reach the hundred. “I was told that I had only two overs after Tea and I started swinging heavily. After the end of teh two overs, I thought my time was up. But then I was given some more time and I am very grateful to Kane and the coaching staff for allowing me that time,” said Mitchell who made 102 not out at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Praising the captain not only for allowing him to complete his hundred but also for scoring two double hundreds in two series continuously, Mitchell said that he was so glad that Williamson was finally unleashing his best. “I played against Kane when we were 14 and today I got the opportunity to play alongside him. He is a freak, Isn't he? He makes batting look so easy. It’s really cool how he is scoring these runs. He will probably go down in history as New Zealand’s greatest,” the 29-year-old said. Williamson made 238 to score the fourth double hundred of his career. On his way, he also became only the third New Zealander to go past 7000 Test runs in history.

Pakistan must have felt very happy about their first innings score of 297 going into the second day of the second Test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. Now, it was up to their very capable bowlers to make that total count on a pitch that was providing decent help to seam bowlers. The start to New Zealand’s innings though, was not as per the visitors’ wishes. Openers Tom Latham and Tom Blundell got through the early overs without much trouble. Mohammad Abbas was once again his usual metronomic self while Shaheen Shah Afridi too didn’t err in line and length. But no harm came to New Zealand till the 20th over, and up to the score of 52. Then a brilliant review by captain Mohammad Rizwan for a lbw appeal against Blundell did the trick. The incoming delivery from Faheem Ashraf was found to have struck the Kiwi opener in line and was going on to hit the stumps fully. Pakistan finally had the breakthrough. Suddenly, things started to happen. In the very next over, Shaheen got a ball to straighten just a little bit and the edge of Latham’s bat flew into the second slip’s hand. Even though the fielder there couldn’t grasp the catch, the rebound was taken by Haris Sohail at first slip to give Pakistan their second wicket. It was a bit of déjà vu for the hosts as once again, they were relying on their two best batsmen – Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson – to get them out of trouble against a spirited Pakistan attack. Williamson, recently anointed the best Test batsman in the world, was once again playing with great control and patience, watching the ball closely and playing it as late as possible. Taylor, as is his wont, was looking busy. However, his innings came to an end in the 30th over as Abbas also got a ball to straighten just enough to get an edge and a much-deserved wicket. Now, New Zealand were under serious pressure at 71/3. Then came the most important moment of the day, possibly even the match. At the score of 74, Henry Nicholls got a beautiful delivery from Shaheen, who was bowling in a good rhythm now, and was out, leaving his team in the doldrums. Only that he was not! The on-field umpire soon received a communication from the third umpire that Shaheen had overstepped. Nicholls, who has been dropped by fielders five times in this season already, got another life. And then, he had another narrow escape in the same over when another edge flew between the slips for four. After these lucky escapes, the left-hander settled down and, along with his captain, started to steady the ship. Then, in the last half-hour before the tea break, a curious bowling change occurred. Part-timer Shan Masood was brought in to bowl gentle medium-pacers. This allowed Williamson and Nicholls to deepen their roots at the crease and get settled. By the time Tea was taken, the Kiwis had reached 145/3. The pressure was now firmly back on the visitors. In the final session, things started to flow in New Zealand’s favour. First, Williamson got into his stride fully and started playing those elegant shots that are a feature of his batting. Nicholls too became more positive and the scoreboard began moving at a faster pace. Both batsmen reached their fifties and for the home team’s captain, another hundred seemed set for the taking. There were only two close calls in his innings. First, a rising delivery from Shaheen, bowled from round the wicket, took the edge but went between second slip and gully. Then, when he was in the 80s, a healthy edge went over the slips for four. But apart from this, the no. 1 Test batsman stood as stoutly against Pakistan’s attempts to break through as he did in the first Test. He reached his century with a delicate glance down to the fine leg boundary for four. By this time, Pakistan were deflated and New Zealand were coasting. Williamson offered another chance, this time to the fielder at gully, only to be dropped. The icing on the cake, or the salt in the wound was another dropped catch, off the bowling of Shaheen, when he got Nicholls to edge the ball to the keeper. Rizwan went with the reverse cup technique and grassed the opportunity. There was just one more trouble for the hosts to negotiate before the stumps. It was the sudden difficulty that Nicholls had with his calf. He took a long time in getting treated but carried on till the end of the day. Even the new ball couldn’t disturb the two batsmen. So, New Zealand ended day 2 on 286/3, trailing by just 11 runs, and with two set batsmen at the crease. Williamson is batting on 112 while Nicholls is eyeing another hundred, at 89 not out. Day 3 promises more pain for Pakistan, unless they break this partnership and then get through the remainder of the batting without much more damage. Day 1 The opening day of the Test saw the home side win the toss and put Pakistan into bat on another wicket promising help to the seamers. The day belonged to Kyle Jamieson as he picked up another five-for in his brief career. But the damage was first done by Tim Southee when he got a very full inswinger to hit Shan Masood on the toe, to have him lbw. Abid Ali and Azhar Ali started forming a good partnership when Jamieson swung into action by removing Abid first and Haris Sohail and Fawad Ahmed a little later. The ball that got Fawad was a near-unplayable delivery that roared off a length to take the glove of the left-hander as he tried to sway away. At 4/83, captain Rizwan joined Azhar and the two showed great grit to form an 88-run partnership. The Pakistan captain’s resistance was also broken by Jamieson. Then, a 56-run stand between Azhar and Faheem also threatened Pakistan. The former captain was denied a much-deserved hundred when he edged an away-swinger from Matt Henry to slip, to be out on 93. Even the debutant Zafar Gohar showed great fight alongside Faheem. But once Faheem was dismissed, by Jamieson who got his fifth, there was little left for Pakistan to offer. The innings of the visitors ended on 297 just before the close of play.