Cricket Takes

Hmm Rabada 9fa or Markram century as MOM?

#testcricket #AUSvSA #WTCfinal

Wowee. I feel like since he’s come in to the international level there has been a feeling around Markram that he has underachieved.

Not today. Not in the most important test match of his career.

What. A. Knock.

#WTCfinal #AUSvSA

If they do manage to win this match, where will Bavuma rank in South African test captains?

He’s gotten better with the bat since becoming captain and has won games with far less cattle than previous protea captains.

#testcricket #WTC25

Ohh, that feels like the first ✨moment✨ in this match. A session of Head and South Africa might never recover.

Wonderfully poised at lunch.

#testcricket #WTC25

Oft. Rabada and Jansen have come to play. This has been some kind of opening spell.

#testcricket #WTC25

Perpetually jealous of the cricketing culture in England. Although I feel like it’s getting better in Australia every year.

That is what test cricket is all about as well.

An upset in a T20 is a sugar hit, an upset in a test match is a legacy.

God I’ve missed test cricket

#testcticket #WTC25

Aside from lower nations playing more games, I think the best change to the World Test Championship would be to rotate the final venue to the previous winners nation.

#testcricket #WTC25 #AUSvSA

It rewards lower nations, yes, but why shouldn’t it? The answer to this is not to scrap the competition or for the big three to play less, but to ensure every other nation plays more often.

I don’t want to hear any arguments against this final. The test championship is the best thing that’s happened to test cricket in a generation.

It provides the format with relevance and a goal. South Africa have managed, against all odds to make the final this time.

#WTC25 #testcricket

The only other disappointment is that this is a 2-match series. A third test would have been great to decide the contest!

When Welch and Williams were batting together on day 1, everything looked so promising, but they never recovered from Welch going off injured.

Their bowling was also a little indisciplined at times as they struggled to deal with the patient approach by the Tigers.

To win without runs from Shanto, Monimul, Mushfiqur or Jaker was so important and shows some depth for the Tigers going forward.

Zimbabwe on the other hand were very disappointing after such an impressive effort in the first test.

I think Bangladesh took that home loss to Zimbabwe personally…

Every aspect of their game that failed in the first test delivered in the second. Taijul in the wickets, Shadman and Mehidy with hundreds and good fielding helped them topple the disappointing Zimbabwe team.

#cricket #BANvZIM

They need one of their experienced players in Shanto, Monimul or even Shadman or Joy to stand up and say enough. This team has the talent, but it too often lacks the IQ to win.

🇿🇼

On the flip side, it was an opportunity missed by Bangladesh. Taijul struggled for rhythm in the first innings.

But as has been the issue for this team over the last 3 years, a few of their batsmen got past 50 but failed to make a genuine impact on the outcome of the game.

Add to that the runs into young gun Bennett at the top of the order and I’m praying the ICC gives these nations more of a chance to show their wares. We will all be rewarded for it.

🇿🇼

Every time I see Blessing Muzarabani play I’m aghast that he has only been able to play 11 tests in his career. I stand by the assertion that he is the best bowling talent out of Zimbabwe in a decade. In his 11 tests he’s taken 50 wickets @ 20.

There’s been a lot of chat about how ‘unfair’ the test championship is. I’d hazard a guess that England, Australia and India, the teams who play the most cricket in the tournament would rather be playing 30+ tests every cycle than the measly 5 that Zimbabwe has played in the last 2 years.

🇧🇩 v 🇿🇼

Just let them play @icc please.

Another great test match between two lower nations as Zimbabwe got their first test win away from home in 7 years and only their 4th overall.

#cricket #BANvZIM #ICC

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It ends with a whimper, I’m not entirely sure what Pakistan learnt on this tour except that they need to be more disciplined in the white ball format

Too often they were getting caught, too often their bowlers would stray in line and length. They need to find their confidence

#cricket #NZvPAK

They maybe lack one more quality death bowler but have so many options at the top who can take early wickets.

I think the only player we haven’t seen who might get more of a go next year is Ashok.

The real excitement for this team though is the white ball depth. A few years ago the kiwis had steel in their team but probably lacked some quality power hitters. Now with Phillips and Mitchell as well as other players like Seifert, Abbas, Chapman, Robinson and Allen they have much more depth.

The exciting thing is the discovery of depth for this team though with new faces like O’Rourke, Hay, Smith, Foulkes, Robinson, Kelly, Abbas and Mariu all getting rewarded for domestic form.

Add to that the reemergence of Duffy, Chapman, Seifert and Jamieson and the future looks good for the kiwis.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw some changes to the test team next summer with someone like Mariu getting a chance at the top over Conway who might even move down the order, Jamieson will slot nicely back into the team with Henry and O’Rourke while Hay might finally get a go over Blundell.

🇳🇿

So ends a strange old summer for the kiwis with a shocker of a test series against England, a history making 3-0 win in India then a dominant white ball series vs Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Add to that a final appearance in the champions trophy and it’s not a terrible 6 months.

#cricket #NZvPAK

The way that 24yo Hay took control of the last 5 overs, piling on 56 runs will be the most pleasing outcome from this match.

Also very happy to see Mariu get his cap, absolute start in the making.

🇳🇿

This has truly been a summer of discovery for New Zealand as they have blooded players and found depth that I don’t even think they thought they had.

Important innings from Hay and Abbas and a great bowling performance as O’Rourke, Duffy, Smith and Sears took control.

#cricket #NZvPAK

Players are losing their head trying to hit the ball too hard and bowlers and trying to utilise raw pace rather than skill to get wickets.

This group has enough talent, but they need a coach who can control the dressing room and help these players grow.