In a five-day game in which both teams play twice, the rookies play an important role in laying the groundwork. For the first hit team, you want your players to get off to a great start so that the others can take advantage of that and put pressure on the opponent. One of the most important roles in converting a team's fortune to test cricket is the starting batsmen. No wonder why the teams with the best beginners at their disposal are so successful in the longer format.In Test Cricket, if a beginner falls early, it gets really hard on the mid-ranking to driveRecovery against the red ball. Beginners play against the opposing team's best shootersFace the toughest spells in Test Cricket. Test cricket has, over the years, witnessed many world-class beginners who become an inspiration for the younger generation.Gautam Gambhir and Virender SehwagGautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag have been hailed as one of Test Cricket's Best Indian Opening Pairs. It was super fun to watch the two hit together, regardless of the format. The two share a great bond and played for Delhi Ranji Team. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir participated in several surprising opening partnerships during the period 2004-2012, where they wrestled together at the starting position in 87 events and scored 4,412 points with an average of 52.52. They participated in 11 federations of a hundred races in Test Cricket.Marvan Atapattu and Sanath JayasuriyaMarvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya ended their careers with a lot of jobs under their belt. Both scored numerous rounds in all formats and shared excellent Test Cricket partnerships. Together, they scored 4,469 points in 118 rounds when they began for Sri Lanka in the test. They scored matches with an average of 40.26 healthy and participated in 9 100 entries in the longest-running form of the game.Alastair Cook and Andrew StraussFrom 2006 to 2012, England was blessed with strong starting partner Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook. Both were prolific run-scorers for England. Alastair Cook is, in fact, England's number one run-scorer on auditions. Cook and Strauss scored many kicks together as beginners and contributed significantly to England's Test victories.They are currently the third-best starting pair on Test Cricket, having scored 4,771 passes together with an average of 40.96. Additionally, they shared 14 race partnerships when they opened for England in the test.Matthew Hayden and Justin LangerDuring the period 2000 and 2007, Australia was considered invisible. They boasted strong leadership, including a world-class starting pair of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer. Langer and Haynes had the ability to build a great partnership and tire opposing bowlers.Both leftists have enjoyed an excellent cricket career. They formed many associations that helped the team win matches. Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer are currently the second-best starter duo on Test Cricket. The duo fought together in 113 rounds, scoring 5,655 rounds with an average of 51.88.Gordon Greenidge and Desmond HaynesThe West Indies staring couple Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes are still the best starting duo in Test cricket. Greenidge and Haynes love to work together and have come together in numerous partnerships. Greenidge and Haynes played one of the biggest roles in making the West Indies a formidable test unit during the 1990s, starting together in 148 rounds, scoring 6,482 points with an average of 47.31. Sew up to 16 assemblies for hundreds of executions.Also Read: India vs Australia 1st Test | IND vs AUS Probable XI | Fantasy Playing Tips | More
ICC World Test Championship – Draw in India vs England 4th Test will take India to WTC Finals: The fourth series of the test match between India and England begins on Thursday. Virat Kohli, India will only need a draw to win the 4-match Test Series. The fourth-round draw may also preserve India's place in the WTC Finals.New Zealand had already booked their place in the World Trade Championships finals, and India's resounding 10-point victory over England in the third round eliminated England from the WTC Finals race.However, England could still play the India fatal plan if India were defeated in the fourth test match. In such a scenario, India would be eliminated and Australia would qualify for the WTC Finals.ICC World Test Championship Scenarios in DetailNew Zealand already qualifiedNew Zealand is currently top of the WTC ranking with 70.0 percentage points. The Black Caps are the only ones to qualify for the World Cup Final so far.WTC final scenario for IndiaIndia only needs a draw or win in the fourth round to confirm its place in the WTC Finals. They lost the first test, but came back strong in the second and third tests, as they advanced 2--1. Now they will have to win the event chain 2-1 or 3-1 to get to Lords.WTC final scenario for EnglandEngland is now out of the race. But if they manage to win the next event, India will also be wiped out.WTC final scenario for AustraliaAustralia, meanwhile, has completed its WTC assignments and will closely monitor the two tests in Ahmedabad. If the Test Series between India and England ends in a 2-2 or 1-1 draw, Men Down Under will pass. Also, England's 2-1 victory would end in Australia's favor.Distribution of points in ICC World Test ChampionshipMatches in seriesPoints for a winPoints for a tiePoints for a drawPoints for a defeat2603020034020130430151005241280Also Read: Road Safety World Series 2021: Full list of matches(timetable), venues, ticket booking
ICC T20 World Cup 2021, the seventh T20 Cricket World Cup, has been scheduled between October 17, 2021 and November 14, 2021 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman. Initially, the tournament was scheduled to take place in Australia from October 18 to November 15, 2020. However, in July 2020, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that the tournament would be postponed to 2021, due to the Covid pandemic. In August 2020, the ICC reaffirmed India's hosting of the 2021 tournament.ICC T20 World Cup 2021The International Cricket Council (ICC) has made the final decision on the host country for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 and has clarified that BCCI will retain the hosting rights regardless of where the event takes place. Due to the COVID pandemic situation in India, IPL 2021 second leg is shifted to UAE. BCCI will host the T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE & Oman. A final decision on the T20 World Cup 2021 venue has been taken. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that the tournament will take place in the the UAE and Oman.Tournament T20 World Cup Year 2021 Match Type Twenty-20 Host Country UAE Organizer ICC Starting Date 17 Oct 2021 Last match date 14 Nov 2021 T20 World Cup 2021 Stage, Group and Team Details:Stage Group Teams Round 1 Group A Sri Lanka, Ireland, the Netherlands and Namibia Round 1 Group B Bangladesh, Scotland, Papua New Guinea and Oman Super 12 Group 1 England, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, A1 and B2 Super 12 Group 2 India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan, A2 and B Also Read- ICC T20 World Cup 2021 complete schedule: India to face Pakistan on October 24 T20 World Cup 2021 ScheduleThere are 8 teams in round 1 playing matches into 2 groups. Group A has Sri Lanka, Ireland, the Netherlands, Namibia and Group B has Bangladesh, Scotland, Papua New Guinea, Oman. From each group, 2 teams will qualify. These 4 teams later will join already qualified 8 teams (India, West Indies, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Afghanistan) in Super 12. Semi-finals to be played on 10 and 11 November. ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 Final is likely to be played on November, 14. T20 2020 World cup was postponed due to the Covid-19 until 2022 but T20 World Cup 2021 schedule should be the same as announced.All the match start times (hours) are given in India Standard Time (IST)Round 1 Fixture:Match No Date Match Centers Time Venue 1 17-Oct-21 Oman Vs Papua New Guinea 3:30 PM Muscat 2 17-Oct-21 Bangladesh Vs Scotland 7:30 PM Muscat 3 18-Oct-21 Ireland Vs Netherlands 3:30 PM Abu Dhabi 4 18-Oct-21 Sri Lanka Vs Namibia 7:30 PM Abu Dhabi 5 19-Oct-21 Scotland Vs Papua New Guinea 3:30 PM Muscat 6 19-Oct-21 Oman Vs Bangladesh 7:30 PM Muscat 7 20-Oct-21 Namibia Vs Netherlands 3:30 PM Abu Dhabi 8 20-Oct-21 Sri Lanka Vs Ireland 7:30 PM Abu Dhabi 9 21-Oct-21 Bangladesh Vs Papua New Guinea 3:30 PM Muscat 10 21-Oct-21 Oman Vs Scotland 7:30 PM Muscat 11 22-Oct-21 Namibia Vs Ireland 3:30 PM Sharjah 12 22-Oct-21 Sri Lanka Vs Netherlands 7:30 PM Sharjah Super 12 – Group 1 Fixture:Match No Date Match Centers Time Venue 1 23-Oct-21 Australia Vs South Africa 3:30 PM Abu Dhabi 2 23-Oct-21 England Vs West Indies 7:30 PM Dubai 3 24-Oct-21 A1 Vs B2 3:30 PM Sharjah 4 26-Oct-21 South Africa Vs West Indies 3:30 PM Dubai 5 27-Oct-21 England Vs B2 3:30 PM Abu Dhabi 6 28-Oct-21 Australia Vs A1 7:30 PM Dubai 7 29-Oct-21 West Indies Vs B2 3:30 PM Sharjah 8 30-Oct-21 South Africa Vs A1 3:30 PM Sharjah 9 30-Oct-21 England Vs Australia 7:30 PM Dubai 10 01-Nov-21 England Vs A1 7:30 PM Sharjah 11 02-Nov-21 South Africa Vs B2 3:30 PM Abu Dhabi 12 04-Nov-21 Australia Vs B2 3:30 PM Dubai 13 04-Nov-21 West Indies Vs A1 7:30 PM Abu Dhabi 14 06-Nov-21 Australia Vs West Indies 3:30 PM Abu Dhabi 15 06-Nov-21 England Vs South Africa 7:30 PM Sharjah Super 12 – Group 2 Fixture:Match No Date Match Centers Time Venue 1 24-Oct-21 India Vs Pakistan 7:30 PM Dubai 2 25-Oct-21 Afghanistan Vs B1 7:30 PM Sharjah 3 26-Oct-21 Pakistan Vs New Zealand 7:30 PM Sharjah 4 27-Oct-21 B1 Vs A2 7:30 PM Abu Dhabi 5 29-Oct-21 Afghanistan Vs Pakistan 7:30 PM Dubai 6 31-Oct-21 Afghanistan Vs A2 3:30 PM Abu Dhabi 7 31-Oct-21 India Vs New Zealand 7:30 PM Dubai 8 02-Nov-21 Pakistan Vs A2 7:30 PM Abu Dhabi 9 03-Nov-21 New Zealand Vs B1 3:30 PM Dubai 10 03-Nov-21 India Vs Afghanistan 7:30 PM Abu Dhabi 11 05-Nov-21 New Zealand Vs A2 3:30 PM Sharjah 12 05-Nov-21 India Vs B1 7:30 PM Dubai 13 07-Nov-21 New Zealand Vs Afghanistan 3:30 PM Abu Dhabi 14 07-Nov-21 Pakistan Vs B1 7:30 PM Sharjah 15 08-Nov-21 India Vs A2 7:30 PM Dubai T20 World Cup 2021 Final & Semifinal Fixture:Date Teams Semi-Final | Final Time 10 Nov 2021 TBC vs TBC 1st Semi-Final 7:30 PM 11 Nov 2021 TBC vs TBC 2nd Semi-Final 7:30 PM 14 Nov 2021 TBC vs TBC Final 7:30 PM Also Read- Virat Kohli becomes first Indian batsman to score 10,000 runs in T20 format
Their preparations for the T20 World Cup off to a smooth start, and India will look to finalize their batting order for the tournament-proper when they face Australia in their second and final warm-up match on Wednesday. India will clash against Pakistan in their main event lung-opener on Sunday. The tournament will be Virat Kohli's last as skipper in the format besides being the swan-song for head coach Ravi Shastri. As Kohli pointed out before the preparation game against England on Monday, India's top three is already settled when KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma opening the batting and the skipper coming in at the crucial no.3 position. Having made a stroke-filled 70 before retiring in the seven-wicket win over England, the young Ishan Kishan has also staked his claim for a place in the playing eleven. Rishabh Pant (29 not out) was promoted ahead of SuryaKumar Yadav and it remains to be seen where the latter bats on Wednesday. Rohit didn't bat against England and come Wednesday the right-hander is expected to get a go against the Australians. The talking point, however, remains all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who did not seem comfortable in his short stint against England. With Pandya not bowling, it remains to be seen whether the Indian think-tank will play him purely as a batter. India will also miss the sixth bowling option if one of the five strong attacks has an off day on the field. Bhuvneshwar Kumar had one against England on Monday, but Jasprit Bumrah was at his best. Mohammed Shami picked up three wickets, while Rahul Chahar was taken to task by the England batters. And come Wednesday, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy are expected to get a look in before the main business begins. On recent form, since losing the home series against Australia 2-0 before the 2019 ODI World Cup, India was unbeaten in eight series in a row. Since the 2016 T20 World Cup, India have played 72 T20 matches and won 45. Australia also began with winning start to their preparations with Josh Inglis hitting two fours in the final over to help his team beat New Zealand by three wickets a warm-up match in Abu Dhabi on Monday. There was mixed news for Australia in their first warm-up as David Warner's horror run continued after he was dismissed for a first-ball duck. Adam Zampa (2/17) and Kane Richardson (3/24) impressed with the ball, but a middle-order collapse meant the Australians needed late cameos from Ashton Agar (23 off 18 balls), Mitchell Starc (13 not out off 9) and Inglis (8 not out off 2) to secure the win. The Aussies have never exactly been a huge force in the shortest format and it remains to be seen whether they are able to finally get thngs going at the biggest stage. Teams (from): India: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma (vc), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul Chahar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur. Australia: Aaron Finch (C), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (VC), Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.Also Read- Yuvraj Singh Arrested, Released on Bail Over Casteist Remark on Yuzvendra Chahal
Pakistan Television (PTV) has slapped a Rs 100 million defamation notice on former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar for walking out of a show on air last month after a heated argument with the host Nauman Niaz. Shoaib Akhtar had walked out of a PTV programme and resigned from his job as a cricket analyst after being told to leave the set by the host of the show at the state-owned channel while analysing Pakistan's victory over New Zealand at the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. PTV has now sent a defamation notice to the mercurial sports star as his on-air resignation violated the clause and also resulted in financial losses for the channel. "As per clause 22, both sides shall have right to terminate his agreement by serving three months' written notice or payment in lieu thereof. Whereas, Shoaib Akhtar resigned on air on October 26 which has resulted into huge financial losses to PTV," the notice read. "Shoaib Akhtar also left Dubai during T20 World Cup transmission without any prior information to PTVC management. Besides, appearance on an Indian TV show along with Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh, which also caused irreparable losses to PTV," the notice further added.Also Read- Babar Azam Becomes First Captain To Score 3 Fifties In T20 World CupAkhtar has been asked by the PTVC to pay an amount of Rs 100 million as damages along with an amount of Rs 33,33,000, equivalent to a three-month salary to the organisation, otherwise, PTC "reserves its rights to initiate legal proceedings" against Akhtar before the court of competent jurisdiction, said ARY News. "Utterly Disappointed. After miserably failing to safeguard my respect & repute while i was working for PTV, they have now sent me a Recovery Notice. I am a fighter & will not give up & fight this legal battle. My lawyer @SalmanKNiazi1 will take this forward according to law," Akhtar tweeted. Utterly Disappointed. After miserably failing to safeguard my respect & repute while i was working for PTV, they have now sent me a Recovery Notice. I am a fighter & will not give up & fight this legal battle. My lawyer @SalmanKNiazi1 will take this forward according to law.— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) November 7, 2021On Tuesday, October 26 Akhtar had been treated badly and insulted on air by the host on the show. Discussing the match on PTV Sports' 'Game on Hai', Akhtar credited the Pakistan Super League's Lahore Qalandars team for discovering Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf. Host Nauman Niaz took issue with Akhtar's comments and said: "You're being a little rude and I don't want to say this, but if you're being over smart, you can go. I am saying this on air." Akhtar, who was on the show alongside former players David Gower and Viv Richards, said he could not continue. "A lot of apologies guys, a lot of apologies," Akhtar said before storming off the set. "I am resigning from PTV. The way I have been treated on national TV, I don't think I should be sitting here right now.Also Read- Yuvraj Singh hints at comeback from retirement next year
The ongoing ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA has already provided high-quality action, memorable upsets, and standout performances.As the tournament progresses, here's a look at what each team needs to do to advance to the Super Eight stage.Group A Teams: India, United States, Canada, Pakistan, Ireland1. India (4 points | 1.455 NRR): With two wins and a strong net run rate, India is in a favorable position. A victory against either the USA or Canada will likely secure their progression.2. United States (4 points | 0.626 NRR): The USA has had a perfect start. Winning either of their remaining matches against India or Ireland should be enough to advance.3. Canada (2 points | -0.274 NRR): Canada needs to win their upcoming matches against Pakistan and India to stay in contention. Beating Pakistan is crucial.4. Pakistan (0 points | -0.150 NRR): Pakistan must win both of their remaining games against Canada and Ireland and improve their net run rate. They also need either India or the USA to lose their matches.5. Ireland (0 points | -1.712 NRR): Ireland needs to win against the USA and Pakistan and hope other results favor them, which is a tough ask given their current position.Group B Teams: Scotland, Australia, Namibia, England, Oman1. Scotland (5 points | 2.164 NRR): A win against Australia will confirm their progression. They might already have enough points to advance, depending on other results.2. Australia (4 points | 1.875 NRR): Another win, particularly against Scotland, will likely secure their spot in the next round.3. Namibia (2 points | -0.309 NRR): Namibia needs to win their remaining matches against Australia and England, which will be challenging.4. England (1 point | -1.800 NRR): England must win their remaining games against Oman and Namibia and hope for favorable outcomes in other matches, particularly the Australia-Scotland game.5. Oman (0 points | -1.613 NRR): Eliminated - Oman cannot progress but have shown competitive spirit.Group C Teams: Afghanistan, West Indies, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand1. Afghanistan (4 points | 5.225 NRR): One more win against either Papua New Guinea or West Indies will secure their spot.2. West Indies (4 points | 3.574 NRR): A win against either New Zealand or Afghanistan is needed for progression.3. Uganda (2 points | -4.217 NRR): Uganda needs a big win against New Zealand and other results to go in their favor.4. Papua New Guinea (0 points | -0.434 NRR): PNG is unlikely to advance but will aim to gain experience and potentially cause an upset.5. New Zealand (0 points | -4.200 NRR): New Zealand needs to win all their remaining matches against West Indies, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea.Group D Teams: South Africa, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Nepal, Sri Lanka1. South Africa (6 points | 0.603 NRR): Already in a strong position, South Africa is close to securing their spot in the Super Eight.2. Bangladesh (2 points | 0.075 NRR): Beating the Netherlands is crucial. Winning against Nepal could also secure their progression.3. Netherlands (2 points | 0.024 NRR): The Dutch need wins against Bangladesh and Nepal to advance.4. Nepal (0 points | -0.539 NRR): Nepal must win all their remaining matches to have a chance, which is challenging given their current form.5. Sri Lanka (0 points | -0.777 NRR): Sri Lanka needs big wins against Nepal and the Netherlands and must rely on other results to favor them.Also Read: T20 World Cup Broadcasters Announce Special Feed For Hearing And Visually Impaired Fans
Afghanistan has achieved unprecedented success in cricket, securing a spot in the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup. This milestone marks a remarkable journey for a team that only attained full ICC membership in 2017. Often labeled as underdogs in major tournaments, Afghanistan impressed with standout performances against teams like New Zealand and Australia to reach this stage.While credit primarily goes to the players for their exceptional performance under pressure, India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have played a crucial, albeit hidden, role in Afghanistan's ascent. Here's how India and BCCI contributed to Afghanistan's rise in world cricket:Providing a Home Ground: The Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida became Afghanistan's temporary home ground in 2015, thanks to the BCCI. This shift from Sharjah allowed Afghanistan to host international matches against Ireland in Greater Noida by 2017. Additionally, Afghanistan "hosted" a Twenty20 series against Bangladesh in Dehradun, further cementing their ties with India.Guidance from Indian Coaches: The BCCI facilitated Afghan cricket by providing top-notch facilities and coaching expertise. Former Indian players like Lalchand Rajput, Manoj Prabhakar, and Ajay Jadeja have coached the Afghanistan team, with Jadeja serving as mentor up to the ODI World Cup in 2023.Influence of the IPL: The Indian Premier League (IPL) has significantly bolstered the careers of Afghan players. Many Afghan cricketers participating in the IPL not only enhance their skills but also serve as inspirations back home. This exposure and financial support have been instrumental in their development and success.The strong collaboration between Afghanistan and India, facilitated by the BCCI, underscores the strategic support that has propelled Afghanistan to achieve remarkable feats in international cricket.Also Read: Not Gautam Gambhir, This India Legend To Be Team's Coach In Next Series: Report
