Author: Bharath Ramaraj

The Australian pace bowlers and Nathan Lyon whittled away at the batting unit with regular strikes, as India slid to a precarious 151 for 5 at stumps on day two in the World Test Championship (WTC) final played at the Oval. Australia currently have a substantial lead of 318 runs. The Australian pace bowlers bowled with persistence, and also extracted more from The Oval deck than their Indian counterparts. Pat Cummins, the Australia skipper, led the way by winning an LBW decision against Rohit Sharma. Rohit paid the price for getting caught in the crease against a scrambled-seam delivery. Shubman…

India bowled incisively and with more purpose in the morning session on the second day of the World Test Championship final at The Oval. However, at lunch, Australia still held the aces, having moved to 422 for 7 on a track that continued to offer just enough seam movement and variable bounce. Australia began the day with their two overnight batters, Travis Head and Steven Smith, eager to push on. Smith clipped two over-pitched deliveries off his pads to get to his 31st Test hundred, and ninth against India, in the first over of the day. On his part, Head…

Travis Head (146*) put the Indian attack to sword as Australia took command of proceedings by stumps on the first day of the World Test Championship final at The Oval. At close of play, Australia were for 327-3, with Steve Smith also closing in on three figures at a venue where he has two centuries from three previous Tests. Head shared a potentially game-breaking alliance of 251 with Smith, to ensure that Australia dominated the final two sessions. But when Head had first joined Smith at the crease, they were in a spot of bother at 76 for 3. Head,…

In conditions where the ball nipped off the seam consistently, Australia went into the lunch interval on day 1 of the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval as the happier of the two sides. At the break, they were 73 for 2. India, who opted to bowl in good conditions for pace bowling, immediately found movement off the seam to trouble the Australian openers – Usman Khawaja and David Warner. Mohammed Siraj was the one to strike as he employed the three-quarter-seam ball to nip one away from Khawaja and take the edge. KS Bharat duly pouched…

At midnight on December 31, 1999, there were massive celebrations at Sydney Harbour to welcome the new millennium. Around 1 million crowded the shores of the harbour and an estimated 20 tonnes of fireworks were lit up. It was certainly a party out there in Sydney. Just a couple of days later, India locked horns with Australia at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). India, who had already lost the series, looked listless as they were thumped by an innings and 141 runs. The only saving grace was VVS Laxman’s brilliant 167. Just watching the Indians go through the motions,…

Here is a question that is part of many cricketing discussions. What makes a good Test-match quick bowler? Waspish pace and finding nifty movement? Or perhaps, it is about pounding the deck hard in order to keep the batter on the back foot? Fitness and effort have to be a part of a fast bowler’s quiver as well. There is one more non-negotiable jigsaw piece, which needs to be fitted to complete the puzzle: Control, or the ability to hit a similar line and length time and again. Scott Boland, who has plied his trade for Victoria in the Sheffield…

As David Warner announced that he is all set to hang up his boots from the longest format at the end of the SCG Test against Pakistan next year, one particular memory came flooding back. To reminisce that fond memory, one has to travel back to a time when Warner was known more as a T20 specialist. And the first few deliveries he faced during the second innings of the Hobart Test against New Zealand in 2011 indicated that he was perhaps better suited for the shortest format. Even before opening his account, Warner was beaten on the outside edge a…

In 2021, at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, it was New Zealand’s date with destiny as they hoisted the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) trophy. India, who ended up second-best on that occasion, have since willed themselves to one more WTC final, against Australia, at The Oval. As Australia and India crank up their preparations, what could be the specific areas that both teams would look to work on? The obvious ones would be for batters and bowlers to adjust to the different conditions. But there is another crucial aspect of the game that would be of prime focus for…

Sometimes, the first impression is really the best one. Ollie Robinson, the England pace bowler, is one of those cricketers who can leave a lasting impression, the first time you watch him bowl. During the third week of September 2019, Sussex completed a rather disappointing County season, as they finished mid-table in Division 2. Around that time, Sussex Cricket had just released a video of all the wickets picked up by Robinson in the County season. Just a peek through the video, and one could notice Robinson’s unrelenting control and skill-set: Barring one strangle down the leg-side and a catch…

July 19, 2021. The Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) match between Kovai Kings and Salem Spartans ended in a no-result because of rain. Amid rains lashing the Chepauk Stadium, the TNPL seemed to have unearthed a rough diamond in the form of B Sai Sudharsan. After all, at the tender age of 19, Sudarshan had swept, slogged and lofted M Ashwin to compile an impressive 43-ball 87. That sparkling innings caught the eye of another Ashwin – R Ashwin – who basically wanted Sudarshan to be selected for the Tamil Nadu side after he had played only one TNPL game.…