Weekly CRICKET Review - LXXViii | TEST CRICKET

Hello, fellow Cricket Enthusiasts,

You already know I am sharing a weekly wrap-up of what is happening within the Cricket community. It's the 78th edition now. After last week's post, many interesting series are going on now! especially the remaining matches of WTC. Now just there are three teams are in the race! So, let's see what's happening!!

Using Canva & Getty Images

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India tour of Australia, 2024-25

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• Well, two of the greatest Cricket nations right now are in charge of the Broder-Goverskar trophy, for 5 Tests. After India's historic win in Perth at the first Test, the Aussies came back with a bang at Adelaide Oval in the next match. The third one at the Gabba was thought to be ripper, but the rain ruined all the fun!

• Australia started the batting, and the first day was almost washed off. Eventhough they lost three early wickets, Smith and Head stepped up. It's good to see Smith back with a ton, after 25 innings, his longest gap. Ant Head, indeed I think he has some personal issue with India, he scored 152 from 160 balls. These two added a 241-run partnership. Later with a half-ton from Carey, Australia added 445/10. As always, Bumrah was the effective one with 6-wickets.

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• Anyway, India didn't respond that well, Starc once again got Jaiswal in the first over, and then wickets started falling. Only Rahul held one end, and then Jadeja helped with a half to. Anyway with the 41-run last-wicket partnership, India avoided the follow-on. They were all out for 260 runs.

• Anyway, the Aussies tried to play aggressively on the last day for a win, but India did well to control them and took wickets. When they declared the innings, the score was 89/7. Anyway with the interruptions from the rain, again and again, the match was drawn, after a few overs from India.

• With that match, Indian veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashvin retired from all formats of the game. He is one of the most underrated players, especially in Test Cricket. He has 537 Test wickets in 106 matches, with 3503 runs. He has 6 Test centuries, including 2-overseas, which is a huge achievement as a balling all-rounder. Happy retirement champ!
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravichandran_Ashwin#Records_and_achievements

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England tour of New Zealand, 2024

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• It's a 3-match Test series. After winning the first match, England won the second one even better and sealed the series. Anyway, the Kiwis took the final laugh at the last match.

• They started the batting and put a decent score on the board. The boys took starts but couldn't convert into three figures. Anyway, 347/10 was a good score on the board, considering England's innings.

• Kiwis showed a brilliant effort in balling and, bowled England out for just 143 and secured a massive lead. And they came up too hard in the next inning. It was Kane Williamson 156 runs and others around him. They put in a total of 453/10, giving a target of 568 for England.

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• England was never getting closer, and wickets fell regularly. There was a small partnership between Jacob Bethell and Root. But that was not enough. They were all out for 234a and New Zealand won by 423 runs. Brook was the player of the series.

• With that another one bid farewell to the international Cricket. Tim Southee ended his career with 776 international wickets (391 in Tests, 221 in ODIs, and 164 in T20Is). It's like the end of an era in NZ Cricket. https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/1057/tim-southee#!#profile

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Pakistan tour of South Africa, 2024 -25

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• Well, after finishing with Sri Lanka, the proteas next host Pakistan for a big series. 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20s. The two tests will be their decider for the Test Championship.

• Well, SA started the batting, and it wasn't the perfect start from them. Afridi got Dussen for a golden duck in the first overs and, Killer Miller came in style. He smashed a 40-ball 82 with 8 huge sixes and a cameo from George Linde at the end, SA managed 183/9. Babar got out for a duck once again, and Rizwan got stuck at one end being unable to score runs freely. Rizwan's fifty came to run a ball, and others didn't contribute well either other than Saim Ayub. Rizwan got 24 runs off the 17th over, but 3 wickets from Linde in the next over, did the deal for Proteas. Pakistan was 172/8 after 20 overs, resulting 11-run win for the hosts.

Miller

• The next match was all about the batters. Pakistan started the batting and, Saim Ayub carried the innings from one end. He smashed 98 runs in 57 balls, with 5 sixes. Unfortunately lost his hundred. Babar, Irfhan, and others helped him get a score of 206/5. Anyway, Pakistan's balling attack couldn't defend that total.

Reeza Hendricks scored his first T20I ton and he was smashing sixes pretty easily. With the help from van der Dussen proteas chase the target with 5 wickets and 3 balls, remaining. And they won the series as well.

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So, now this is what the WTC table looks like.

2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship points table

• India tour of Australia, 2024-25
• England tour of New Zealand, 2024
• Pakistan tour of South Africa, 2024 -25

So, that's it for today!! Until the next time! Enjoy!

Thank you.
Best Regards!