England’s fast bowler, Tom Curran, faced disappointment on Sunday as his appeal over a four-match ban in the Big Bash League (BBL) for intimidating an umpire was unsuccessful. Cricket Australia highlighted that umpires are an essential component of the cricket ecosystem and underlined the need for respect for officials.

The incident that led to Curran’s ban occurred during a pre-match encounter against the Hobart Hurricanes earlier this month. The umpire had to reposition to avoid a collision with Curran during a practice run, prompting the subsequent punishment.

Alistair Dobson, General Manager of Cricket Australia, underscored the significance of officials in the sport, stating,

“Umpires are part of the lifeblood of cricket, and it is essential they are respected and appreciated by players at all levels of the game.”

Cricket Australia expressed acknowledgment of Curran’s remorse but maintained the decision to uphold the ban.

Rachael Haynes, the head of the Sydney Sixers, confirmed that the club had sought to appeal the original decision, emphasizing that Curran did not knowingly or intentionally intimidate a match official. However, following the ruling, the club accepted the punishment.

Haynes elaborated, saying,

“While not disagreeing that Tom had breached the code through his conduct, we felt that the charge was inconsistent with other offenses. Following the ruling, we respect that not to be the case.”

Despite the setback, the Sydney Sixers look forward to Curran’s return to action, expressing hope of seeing him back in Sixers colours after serving the ban. It is crucial to play cricket with respect to authority figures and the game’s integrity, as the event serves as a reminder.

England’s coach, Matthew Mott, has affirmed that test captain Ben Stokes and speedster Jofra Archer will be afforded every opportunity to prove their fitness ahead of the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup. Despite Stokes undergoing knee surgery last month and Archer grappling with a string of injuries, Mott is optimistic about their potential contributions to the squad.

“In terms of Jofra, you’ve just got absolute box-office pace, change of pace, bowl any over in the innings. Bowl your Super Over, bowl your last over when they need to. Him on the park is massive, everyone would agree with that,”

Mott expressed, highlighting Archer’s multifaceted skills.

Mott emphasized the significance of Stokes beyond his match-winning abilities, citing his role as a seam bowler in the top six and offering valuable options for team balance.

As England, the defending champions, gear up for the T20 World Cup, they find themselves in a crucial T20 series decider against West Indies later on Thursday. The uncertain fitness status of Stokes and Archer adds an element of suspense to England’s preparations for the prestigious tournament.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has raised a red flag for the national team as they approach the imminent five-Test series in India. He voiced concerns that their aggressive Bazball strategy, coined after head coach Brendon McCullum, could face a serious setback against India’s potent spin attack, potentially leading to it being “absolutely destroyed.” Despite Bazball’s recent success in Bazball, propelling the team to victory in 13 of their last 18 red-ball games, Vaughan highlighted England’s struggles against Australian spinner Nathan Lyon during the Ashes, casting doubt on the strategy’s effectiveness in Indian conditions.

Vaughan underscored the inherent challenges of playing in India, harking back to Australia’s 2-0 lead in the Ashes when Nathan Lyon was in prime form. He humorously quoted Lyon, who declared himself “2-nil up against Bazball,” citing the challenges faced in the Edgbaston five-for, where England played imprudent shots against Lyon.

Looking ahead to the Test series commencing on January 25 in Hyderabad, Vaughan expressed skepticism about England’s prospects, particularly against spinners like Ashwin, Jadeja, and Axar Patel on turning Indian wickets. Despite acknowledging the entertainment value of England’s bold style, he suggested that facing three quality spinners might prove formidable, akin to Lyon’s success in English conditions.

In preparation for the series, England unveiled a squad featuring four specialist spinners: Jack Leach, teenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, and the uncapped duo of Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir. Test matches will unfold in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Ranchi, and Dharamsala, with the cricketing world eager to witness how England navigate the spin-centric challenges of the Indian subcontinent.

Sam Curran made a stunning comeback, delivering a match-winning bowling performance as England secured a six-wicket victory over the West Indies to level the One Day International series in Antigua on Wednesday. In the series opener, Curran faced a harsh reality, conceding 98 runs off 9.5 overs in a four-wicket defeat, marking the worst-ever performance by an England bowler in ODI cricket. However, the left-arm seam and swing bowler redeemed himself brilliantly, claiming three of the first four wickets as the West Indies were dismissed for 202 in 39.4 overs during the day/night fixture.

Will Jacks played a pivotal role in England’s response, scoring 73 at the top of the order, while Jos Buttler, the England captain, found his form again, guiding the team to victory with an unbeaten 58 in an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 90 with Harry Brook (43 not out).

Reflecting on his performance at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Curran said:

“It was tough the other day but we just have to keep moving forward and try to bounce back.”

Curran’s opening spell, supported by Gus Atkinson, reduced West Indies to 23 for four. Despite a 129-run fifth-wicket partnership between captain Shai Hope (68) and Sherfane Rutherford (63), the West Indies faced a collapse. Spinner Liam Livingston contributed three wickets, including the crucial dismissals of Hope and Rutherford, while Atkinson and frontline spinner Rehan Ahmed took two wickets each.

West Indies displayed recklessness at the crease, their innings folded with ten unused overs showcasing extravagant strokeplay attempts.

In response, England’s openers, Jacks and Phil Salt, raced to 50 by the sixth over. However, facing considerable assistance from spinners on the pitch, Gudakesh Motie claimed two victims and at 116 for four, England had work to do. Buttler and Brook eased concerns, with Buttler’s first half-century in 15 innings taking him past the 5,000-run mark in ODIs, making him the fifth Englishman to achieve this milestone.

“I’ve been searching a bit for some form so it was great to spend some time in the middle,” said Buttler.

“I was really getting fed up with the way things were going so it’s pleasing to get back to something like the player I know I am.”

For Hope, the home side failed to respond to the early challenge and he emphasized the need to be ready for the final game at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday, followed by a five-match T20 International series.

Virat Kohli, a cricket legend, suffered his first-ever World Cup duck during India’s clash with England in Lucknow. He faced nine deliveries without scoring and was eventually dismissed by David Willey.

Chasing a back-of-the-length delivery from Willey, Kohli attempted a big shot but miscued it, resulting in a simple catch for Ben Stokes at mid-off. His departure left India at 27/2 in 6.5 overs, with Shubman Gill (9) already falling to Chris Woakes.

In his 32 innings leading up to the England match, Kohli had amassed 1384 runs at an impressive average of 53.23. This marked his 16th duck in ODIs, with a third against England. His initial ODI duck against England occurred in Kolkata in 2011, followed by one in Dharamshala in 2013.

Defending champions England, who have struggled in the tournament, won the toss and chose to bowl. They secured an early breakthrough when Chris Woakes dismissed opener Shubman Gill with a full-length delivery.

England’s captain, Jos Buttler, emphasized playing for pride as they faced possible elimination. India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, preferred batting first and fielded the same team as in the previous game, highlighting the importance of securing the two points.

When the schedule for the 2023 World Cup was revealed, the spotlight immediately turned to the matchup between India vs. England match was highly anticipated. It was expected to be an exciting clash, as these two teams have a history of thrilling encounters in white-ball cricket. However, the upcoming match in Lucknow on Sunday might not follow the same script.

England’s performance in this tournament has been far from impressive. They’ve lost four out of their five matches, and their net run rate is only slightly better than the Netherlands. Their chances of making it to the next round are slim and they need a miraculous turnaround, starting with their upcoming match against table-topping India.

England’s defending champions have struggled in every aspect of the game, evident as early as the first powerplays in their recent matches against New Zealand, Afghanistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. In contrast, India have been dominant, often looking poised for victory at the halfway stage of their matches.
Key players like Captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah have been the driving force behind India’s success in this World Cup. Rohit’s aggressive batting at the top of the order has put fear into opposition bowlers, and his leadership on the field has been exemplary.
Speaking about Rohit’s captaincy, former cricketer S. Badrinath commented:

“His captaincy has been very good. He’s backed the right players and shown confidence in Shardul Thakur. His relationship with the team and he’s a big brother type of captain.”

While Hardik Pandya’s absence due to injury is a significant loss for India, they have a strong all-rounder in Jadeja. However, Rohit may need more options if England’s batting lineup starts performing.

Regarding this, Badrinath suggested,

“I will go with a bowler who can bowl 10 overs since Shardul may not be able to do that consistently. Hardik’s absence is a big miss, but the team needs to find a balance.”

One aspect to watch is India’s middle order, which hasn’t been tested due to the strong performances of Rohit and Kohli at the top. Badrinath cautioned against a repeat of the 2019 situation where the middle order failed in a crucial semi-final match against New Zealand. He stated,

“It’s not a concern, but we hope the 2019 demons don’t haunt India in this tournament.”

In summary, England faces an uphill battle to qualify, while India’s strong team, led by Rohit Sharma, is in excellent form. Hardik Pandya’s absence is a challenge, and India needs to ensure their middle order is ready for any situation. The stage is set for a potentially one-sided encounter in India’s favor this Sunday.

In the fast-paced world of T20 cricket, the clash of big scores and the thrilling climax it offers is a defining feature. But the formula turned into a daunting challenge when it extended over to a possible 100 overs.

England’s recent performance in Mumbai painted a gloomy picture. They faced difficulties in batting, bowling, fielding, and strategic thinking, resulting in a crushing 229-run defeat. The disappointment was palpable, devoid of the usual glee that follows an English debacle.

We should not blame the originators of the game or its modern reinventors, driven by the bromantic spiritual movement known as Bazball. They put their all into meltdown, even contemplating whether knowing the toss conditions (hot and humid) would have influenced their choice to bat first.

Our own high expectations played a significant role. We assumed the ODI World Cup would deliver riveting matches and even speculated that the match at Wankhede, played before a near full-house crowd, would be one for the ages. However, the result was a hopelessly one-sided contest that could almost be classified as propaganda.

South Africa’s total of 399 set the stage for this game, but they were not alone in producing substantial scores. Other matches in the competition featured scores of 428 in Delhi, 311 in Lucknow, 367 in Bengaluru, 364 in Dharamsala, and Pakistan chasing down Sri Lanka’s 344 in Hyderabad. These are just a few examples of the ten 300-plus totals in 21 matches.

The scoring rate in the 2023 World Cup is unprecedented, with a galloping 5.84 runs per over. The 266 sixes hit so far surpass the totals of 2011 and equal that of 2003. It’s on track to exceed the record 463 sixes from 2015.

While high scoring and big hitting are exciting, close finishes have been noticeably absent. Even a Pakistani chase in Hyderabad ended with ten balls to spare and five wickets in hand. In the tournament’s first 20 matches, teams batting first won with an average margin of 110 runs, while second-batting teams secured victories with about seven wickets and ten overs to spare. The challenge of one-day cricket lies in trying to recreate the T20 excitement over 100 overs. This endeavor has fallen short, as the odds of achieving thrilling climaxes with such high totals are slim. Teams well-versed in T20, make short work of these targets, as demonstrated by India against Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

To rekindle the fading allure of one-day cricket, one should embrace what sets it apart: a day-long compressed Test cricket experience. Achieving this means leveling the playing field and ensuring fair conditions, especially in the face of dew, heat, long tails, and oversized bats.

One of the most riveting contests of this World Cup was the opener between India and Australia in Chennai. The drama extended beyond India’s 2 for 3 score in the chase of 200. The real tension unfolded in the first innings, with Australian batsmen grappling with a challenging turner, creating an atmosphere where something had to give, and it was the Australian batting lineup that did.

The charm of ODI cricket lies in the tension it offers, rather than just tall scores. The two greatest one-day matches of all time, the tied semi-final of 1999 and the tied final of 2019, had scores of 213 and 241. Unfortunately, the 2019 final was marred by administrators imposing T20-style deciders, like a super-over and a boundary countback.

This column deeply appreciates contemporary power-hitting. For instance, at Wankhede, South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen put on a remarkable display with 143 runs in the final ten overs, rivaling even T20 standards. The physical toll, symbolized by Klaasen’s cramping, resembled the endurance challenges of Test cricket. ODIs need not rely on extreme weather to stand out from T20. A pitch with some nuance can make the difference. The “average” rating given to the Chennai pitch in the Australian game by the ICC drew criticism for favouring spin. Rahul Dravid aptly questioned the need for anything else when T20 caters to those who wish to see fours and sixes, a sentiment echoed by a man known for his impeccable defensive skills.

Following England’s unexpected 2023 World Cup loss to Afghanistan, famous Indian opener Virender Sehwag made light of former England captain Michael Vaughan in a lighthearted social media interaction.

After England faced their second defeat in the ODI World Cup in India, Vaughan took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to make a bold claim, stating,

“England in the World Cup semis.”

Vaughan’s statement gained significant attention on the microblogging site.

Sehwag, known for his wit, responded to Vaughan’s post with a reminder of England’s performance in previous 50-over World Cup editions. He playfully pointed out that England had only made it to the World Cup semifinals once in eight attempts, with a string of unsuccessful campaigns from 1996 to 2023.

The banter unfolded after Afghanistan’s remarkable performance, where they overcame the defending champions, England, in a historic victory. Playing at Arun Jaitley Stadium in match No.13 of the ICC World Cup, Afghanistan posted a formidable total of 284 in 49.5 overs.

In response, England’s batting lineup folded for 215 in 40.3 overs, marking their first-ever loss to Afghanistan in the 50-over format of the World Cup. This loss also signifies a historic moment in World Cup history, as England conceded eight wickets to spinners for the first time. Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan teamed up to claim six of those wickets. Rahman, in particular, proved instrumental by dismissing crucial players including Joe Root, Harry Brook and Chris Woakes, earning him the well-deserved Player of the Match title for his stellar performance.

Within a few days, Afghanistan’s bowler Naveen ul Haq went from being a divisive character to a hometown hero, winning over the devoted supporters of Virat Kohli at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium. The tide shifted for Naveen, who faced considerable criticism during India’s World Cup 2023 match against Afghanistan last week, as he buried the hatchet with Indian batting sensation Virat Kohli. The feud, rooted in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season earlier in the year, has now found closure.

The embrace between Naveen and Kohli followed India’s dominant eight-wicket triumph over Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi just last Wednesday. The atmosphere in Delhi took a warmer turn on Sunday during Afghanistan’s third match in the World Cup 2023, as they faced off against reigning champions England.

Afghanistan etched their names in history on Sunday, clinching their inaugural ODI World Cup victory, stunning Jos Buttler’s England by an impressive 69 runs. Naveen played a pivotal role, securing a crucial 1/44, including the prized wicket of England’s skipper, Jos Buttler, who was cleanly bowled for a mere 9 runs. The spirited support for Naveen from the Delhi crowd reverberated across social media platforms, with a video capturing the fervor going viral.

In the midst of his journey at the ODI World Cup 2023 in India, England’s Harry Brook has chosen to speak candidly about his series of underwhelming performances. His scores of 25 and 20 against New Zealand and Bangladesh, respectively, left much to be desired, with neither innings extending beyond 25 balls.

As he prepares for the upcoming clash against Afghanistan, Brook doesn’t shy away from addressing his disappointment with his contributions to the team’s performance. He calls for patience from fans and cricket enthusiasts, emphasizing that he’s still adapting to the intricacies of this relatively unfamiliar format.

“Obviously, I’ve had a couple of starts. If I had continued, it would have been lovely. I’m very inexperienced in this format. It does make a big difference having not played it. But yeah, hopefully, I can pick it up fairly quickly, and if I get another go then I’ll try and make a big score,” Brook shared with The Guardian.

Acknowledging the need for improvement, Brook has turned to seasoned campaigners within the squad for guidance.

“Everyone has simply stated, you’ve got a lot more time than you think. I’ve played so much Twenty20 cricket over the past several years that if I see the ball go past my eyeline, I get excited and want to smack it.Just give myself a little more time,” the cricket player from Keighley stated in the closing.

Ben Stokes’ unavailability due to a hip injury shortly after England’s arrival in India unexpectedly propelled Brook from being a reserve batter to a significant role in fixtures against New Zealand and Bangladesh. The abrupt elevation presented challenges for the young cricketer, but he remained steadfast in his determination to absorb the lessons from each match and gradually elevate his performance on the grand international stage.