Author: Bharath Ramaraj

England began the 2023 World Cup on the wrong note, losing their opening game against New Zealand by nine wickets. It turned out to be a nightmare of a match for the defending champions as New Zealand chased down the target of 283 in just under 37 overs. Just four days later, they are all geared up to take on a side which has the required depth in the spin department to not just trouble England but usurp them. Bangladesh versus England has a little bit of history too. In 2011, Shafiul Islam and Mahmudullah powered the Asians to a…

Just a mere glance at the scorecard of the Australia-India World Cup game in Chennai would show that all six bowlers employed by the home side ended up sharing the wickets. Even Hardik Pandya, who went for a few in his opening spell, returned to wrap up the innings. The central narrative in India snuffing out Australia for just 199 was the all-round strength in the bowling attack. Wrist-spin, finger spin, a little bit of pace and hit-the-deck skills, three-quarter-seam and a touch of swing – India had the raw materials and, if needed, something in reserve too. For a…

Bharath Ramaraj Virat Kohli (85) and KL Rahul (97 not out) shared a game-breaking alliance of 165 to help India wriggle out of early trouble and usurp Australia in their opening game of the 2023 World Cup in Chennai. India overhauled the target of 200 in the 42nd over for the loss of four wickets. Looking at the final scorecard, it seems as if it was all smooth sailing for India. However, the home side had lost their first three wickets for just two runs. Ishan Kishan could survive just one ball as he edged an away-swinger to Cameron Green…

Controlling the front elbow is said to be one of the essential parts of batsmanship. That particular aspect of batting was on full display during Aiden Markram’s exhibition of punchy drives against Sri Lanka in New Delhi. None more so than the first boundary he essayed off Dasun Shanka. The head went into the shot first and then the back foot loaded up. Subsequently, the front foot moved closer to the pitch of the ball and with an extension of arms, Markram played an on-the-up lofted drive through extra cover. The stroke was one for the cameras – As Markram…

In what turned out to be a high-scoring World Cup game in Delhi, South Africa prevailed over Sri Lanka by a sizeable margin of 102 runs. In great conditions for batting, it was South Africa’s collective might in this department that proved to be the difference. Quinton Deck (100), Rassie van der Dussen (108) and Aiden Markram (106) cracked hundreds. It turned out to be only the fourth such instance of three batters doing so in the same innings in an ODI. Markram also composed the fastest hundred (49 balls) in 50-over World Cup history. The only time Sri Lanka…

Sri Lanka and South Africa. Two teams with slightly contrasting fortunes in ICC tournaments. Both have lost knockouts, but Sri Lanka have 50-over and 20-over World Cups somewhere in a cupboard. And despite being a formidable force in more than enough World Cups in the past, South Africa have none. Ahead of their 2023 World Cup clash, neither of them is counted among the favourites, although South Africa look like dark horses. Despite losing out on the services of Anrich Nortje, one of the pace mainstays, and Sisanda Magala, better known for his bowling in the slog overs, South…

School exams were over and it was time for summer holidays. In 1994, cable TV was in its nascent stages in India, and it seemed like a surreal experience to watch live feed of cricket and other sports from the rest of the world. Around that time, India were touring New Zealand. So, the alarm clock had to be set in order to wake up very early in the morning as the time difference between India and New Zealand is 7 hours and 30 minutes. The anticipation was for India to take a 1-0 lead in the ODI series against…

The opening game of the 2023 World Cup between England and New Zealand, a repeat of that epic 2019 final, was expected to be a tight contest. Instead, it turned into a one-sided affair, with New Zealand thumping the defending champions by nine wickets. Rachin Ravindra (123 not out) and Devon Conway (152 not out) composed superlative hundreds as they chased down the target in just over 36.2 overs. As New Zealand began their chase, the key point to note was whether the ball would skid a little more in the second innings. It certainly did, as Ravindra and Conway…

February 14, 1996. On a Wednesday morning, the sun had peeked through as Michael Atherton and Lee Germon went out for the toss in the opening game of the ODI World Cup at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad. It was Atherton who won the toss, but England ended up losing the game. Nathan Astle, who credited a local pani-puri seller for his game-breaking hundred, turned out to be the difference between the sides. Looking back, New Zealand stuck to the virtues of getting the one per centers right — fielding and some good running between the wickets. England dropped enough…

There was tension in the air as New Zealand lost their ninth wicket in the Kanpur Test against India. Ajaz Patel, the last man, walked out to bat and within no time, was beaten twice in four deliveries. Ajaz somehow survived that over and it was time for Rachin Ravindra, Ajaz’s batting partner, to resume his innings. Ravindra was largely composed against the Indian Spin Triangle of Ravi Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Yes, a few deliveries kicked out of the rough and took the edge, but Ravindra seemed to have found a way to forget the previous offering…