Author: Bharath Ramaraj

Expectations By now, Cricket Australia’s trophy cabinet must be filled with a collection of ICC silverware. In 50-over cricket itself, Australia’s men’s team have won five World Cups. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they are one of the main contenders for the forthcoming 2023 World Cup. The current side may not have the aura of some of the great Australian teams of the past. But write off an Australian team in an ICC tournament at your own peril. Where they finished last time Semifinalists. Australia’s two losses in the league stage of the 2019 World Cup came…

Expectations England tasted glory in 2019 by winning their maiden 50-over World Cup. Four years later, can they defend the title and find a place in cricket’s folklore as one of the greatest limited-overs sides? On paper, England have selected a formidable squad for the World Cup to be held in India. The Jos Buttler-led set-up has an enviable batting line-up and a battery of all-rounders. Yet, there are a few question marks hanging over the side, which could act as a hurdle in their quest to hoist the 50-over World Cup trophy once again. Where they finished last time…

On a balmy night at Lord’s, the bubbling tensions on the field seemed to have a nail-gnawing effect on not just the players taking part in the game but also the fans. The Netherlands were playing England in the World T20 and they needed just two runs off one ball to secure a famous win. The Dutch side did cross over the finish line, with the duo of Edgar Schiferli and Ryan ten Doeschate running like their lives depended on it to steal a double. The iconic photo of a stunned Stuart Broad with his hand on his mouth and…

Expectations Golden Palms Hotel in Bengaluru was the venue. The occasion was the unveiling of the Netherlands’ jerseys. As the cameras zoomed in, the camaraderie and togetherness among the players made for unmistakable viewing. And that kind of team spirit was the secret behind their tremendous run during the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe. We can expect to see more of it during the course of the World Cup. Obviously, the expectations are low from the Scott Edwards-led side. They have been bolstered by the inclusion of Paul van Meekeren, Colin Ackermann, Roelof van der Merwe and the South…

In the Asian Games Men’s Team Badminton final between India and China, a single photo frame captured the essence of a player’s athleticism, passion and skill. Lakshya Sen and Shi Yu Qi were locked in an intense battle at 20-20. The next point was perhaps going to be crucial for Lakshya as his opponent seemed to have found some momentum. Neither of them were ready to give up and it turned out to be another of those pulsating rallies. Suddenly, Lakshya decided it was the right time to provide the finishing touches. He was airborne. The left leg was somewhere…

Colombo South were playing an Under-19 Provincial game in 2021. For a minute or two, it seemed just like any routine age-group match taking place somewhere in Sri Lanka. But scratch the outside coating, and you could visualise the sheer passion of a young cricketer. Dunith Wellalage, who has now become the toast of an entire nation, had sustained an injury but didn’t want to miss out on even a single game. “In one provincial match, he injured his finger, that match also he wanted to play, he always wants to play matches,” Chamila Gamage, who coached him at the…

In what turned out to be a high-scoring encounter, Glenn Maxwell’s four-for in his comeback game proved to be the difference as Australia posted a consolation win ahead of the World Cup. India mustered 286 in a chase of 353. For a period of time, India seemed to be in the hunt to overhaul the total, especially with Rohit Sharma (81 off 57 balls) providing a blazing start. The highlight of his stroke-play was how he tore apart Mitchell Starc by hitting him on the up and through the line. The left-arm pace bowler, who was returning from a groin…

Ever since Titas Sadhu took six wickets at 12.83 in the Under-19 World Cup this year, there have been whispers in Indian cricket circles that she was ready to lead the pace attack for the women’s team. It took just one delivery from Titas in the Asian Games final against Sri Lanka to suggest that such speculation wasn’t wide of the mark. It was a gentle outswinger that tempted Anushka Sanjeewani to go for the big shot, but all she could was spoon a catch to the fielder stationed at mid-on. More than the outswinger, the essence of that scalp…

Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer struck superlative hundreds while the bowlers chipped in with wickets at regular intervals as India clinched the three-match ODI series against Australia with a thumping 99-run win in Indore. In a rain-reduced game, Australia could manage just 217 in pursuit of a DLS target of 317. The highlight of India’s innings was the 200-run stand for the second wicket between Iyer and Gill. The duo joined forces with the score reading 16 for 1. At that stage of the innings, Josh Hazlewood was finding a hint of uneven bounce, and had just dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad.…

Mohammed Shami (5 for 51) and the batters made vital contributions as India registered a five-wicket win over Australia in Mohali, in the first ODI of the three-match series. India chased down the target of 277 with eight balls to spare. The bowling unit never allowed Australia to get away, and half-centuries from Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav and KL Rahul – stepping in as captain in the absence of the rested Rohit Sharma – ensured that the pursuit of a challenging target was achieved without undue alarm. In the second innings, with the ball skidding on a little…