Author: Bharath Ramaraj

When India lock horns against England, there is always a sense of intrigue surrounding the contest. Not just because they are two of the better sides in the cricketing landscape, but also due to the history encompassing the two countries. So, what are the key matchups that could decide the fate of the two teams in the eagerly anticipated T20 World Cup semifinal in Guyana? Let’s have a peek into each one of them. Jofra Archer versus Virat Kohli The England pace bowler has made a fine comeback from his persistent elbow problem. Since his return to the national set-up,…

South Africa’s pace trio ripped through the heart of the Afghanistan batting unit, and in turn powered the side to their first-ever senior ICC World Cup final. Afghanistan could muster a mere 56 in tricky conditions for batting, with South Africa chasing down the target in 8.4 overs. Marco Jansen started the slide by dismissing the in-form Rahmanullah Gurbaz, with a mixture of short and fuller-length deliveries. The tall Jansen then accentuated the variable bounce on display by cleaning up Gulbadin Naib. Kagiso Rabada, the pace spearhead, put Afghanistan under even more pressure by picking up two wickets in a…

A little more than 15 years ago, Afghanistan were part of World Cricket League Division 5. If you time-travel back to the present, they have not only beaten a formidable opponent like Australia, but also progressed to the semifinals of the T20 World Cup. It is a remarkable achievement for a country ravaged by war. Can Afghanistan’s Cinderella-like story continue? Will they go all the way and lift the coveted trophy? For that to happen, first they have to overcome a South Africa-shaped hurdle. The best thing about Afghanistan is the variety in their bowling attack. There was a time…

Aiden Markram was at the other end when Bradley Dial hit the winning runs to steer South Africa Under-19 to their maiden World Cup triumph. He received a warm hug from Markram, the side’s captain, and in a few seconds, the rest of the South African players had sprinted their way to the middle to celebrate the momentous occasion. The year of this sweet victory was 2014. Markram became the only South African cricket captain to lift a World Cup trophy. He still holds that distinction. The statistic would merely say South Africa posted a convincing six-wicket victory. But there…

From round the wicket, all that Jasprit Bumrah offered was a hint of width while bowling his first ball of his second over, in a T20 World Cup game against Australia. And that is all Travis Head needed to slash it over point and collect a boundary. The very next ball, Head once more manufactured room. This time, Bumrah tried to follow him with an inward angle, but he hadn’t tucked him up enough. Not surprisingly, Head brought out the pull to add another four runs to his tally. Head had just negated the new-ball threat of the best all-format…

South Africa once again found themselves in a spot of bother. Eventually, they came out on top to book a place in the semifinals of the ICC T20 World Cup. The visitors chased down the rain-revised target of 123 against the West Indies in the final over. The hosts are out, which means there will be disappointment for fans at home. At the fall of Heinrich Klaasen’s wicket, the tourists needed just 46 runs in nine overs. However, David Miller, the experienced batter, struggled to find form and could eke out a mere 4 off 14 deliveries. Tristan Stubbs, who…

It was a redemption story for Afghanistan in St Vincent as they avenged their defeat in the ICC 2023 World Cup to Australia by downing the formidable side in an ICC T20 World Cup game. Australia could muster a mere 127 in a chase of 149. Gulbadin Naib was the star performer, bagging a four-for. The conditions were perfect for Afghanistan’s bowling attack as the track was staying low and slow. However, the bowlers have to still perform the task on hand, and that is where their execution was spot on. Travis Head’s wicket perfectly illustrates the point. The southpaw…

Saint Vincent is renowned for its resorts, gardens and sand-based beaches. Amid all the scenic surroundings, something else would be bothering the Australian team: Playing Afghanistan, in the ICC T20 World Cup, in what could be spin-friendly conditions at the Arnos Vale stadium. In the last two games played at this ground, South Africa just about defended a total of 115 versus Nepal, while Bangladesh pipped Nepal by 21 runs in another of those low-scoring matches. Needless to say, the spinners had a jolly good time playing on surfaces that provided enough assistance. There is no doubt that the Australian…

One of the perks of being in the field of cricket is that you get the opportunity to watch matches all across the globe – be it on Television or while covering it from the ground. The Sussex-Hampshire Vitality Blast game played in 2019 was one such encounter, where you had to follow it with a sense of purpose to pen a short report. In that match, Phil Salt, a 22-year-old youngster from Sussex, composed a quick-fire innings of 73. There was a sense of adventure in the way Salt played that day. And it seemed as if the buccaneering…

Historically, Australia have a tendency to peak at the right time in ICC events. The most recent example would be their memorable 50-over World Cup triumph in India. In the ongoing T20 World Cup, too, Australia would be looking to find some momentum in Super 8s, where they take on Bangladesh in their opening game in Antigua. And subsequently, chisel out a path to the semifinals and final. The good part for the Mitchell Marsh-led Australian side is that they won all their four games in the group stage of the tournament. Marcus Stoinis, the power-hitter, has been a game-breaker…