Corey Anderson retires from International cricket; signs up for US-based league

Australia vs India | 2nd T20I: Match Preview, Predicted XI & Dream11 Fantasy Picks

After handing out a defeat to the hosts in the first T20I, the Virat Kohli-led Indian team will now travel to Sydney - where the tour had begun, with a couple of dismal outings for the Indian team. Virat Kohli's men got their campaign back on track where they played as a solid unit to turn their fortunes around on the tour and averted a clean sweep in the ODI series and started the T20 series on a winning note. To be fair to the batsmen, they always kept the team in the game in the two matches that India lost in the series, but the bowlers left them with too much to do with the bat while chasing, but as the pressure increased, the bowlers, too, came back to their own and resurrected the side from the position where it all looked like a complete sweep was just a matter of formality. Although the batting looked jaded at the top of the order, flourishing finishes have handed Indian the momentum to bowl with sort of confidence they were lacking in while the bowling unit is now looking like a well-oiled machine and the initial poor outing just symbolise off days instead of a grim picture that the critics were painting about it. Virat Kohli will be pleased to set the agendas and tactics in the coming T20 matches as the tourists are one shot ahead of hosts who are now depleted with a hip injury of Aaron Finch, potentially ruling him out of the T20 series. This could not have come at a worse time for Australia given Warner's absence. All in all, Virat Kohli’s men have turned around their tour in a matter of a couple of matches, exactly the number of matches their horrible performances had put question marks on the viability of tactics being followed by the side. On the other hand, the hosts will have to look hard at their batting tactics in the middle overs which will be dominated by spinners. The spinning pair of Yuzvendra Chaha and Washington Sundar choked theme for runs by denying them loose balls to be hit for boundaries. The inability of batsmen in the Australian lineup to rotate strike made the case worse for the hosts as they lost all the momentum the openers D’arcy Short and Aaron Finch had provided with a fluent start. The Australian bowlers in the first T20 game looked sharp early on, but the Pandya-Jadeja partnership threw all of that out of the window and made the hosts' attack look puzzled and short of confidence. Bowlers of Josh Hazlewood’s calibre have been found guilty of bowling full deliveries on off stump line with mid-off up in the ring in the last over while the experience of Jadeja and Pandya has made Sean Abbott’s impressive domestic record meaningless by proving him to ineffective underpressure. Coach Justin Langer will have his tasks cut out to bring back focus and confidence in the group after the hammerings the bowlers have received in the last five overs of the last ODI and the first T20. The team management will have to keep the team away from focussing on off-field stuff as well as a majority of them including Langer himself went sulking after India brought Yuzvendra Chahal into the XI after Jadeja felt dizzy on receiving a blow to his helmet. They will have to combine as a team and focus on the on-field performances rather than worrying about off-field affairs that are beyond their reach. AUS vs IND: Match Details Match No. - 2nd T20I Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Broadcast: SonyLIV, Sony Ten Network, DD Sports Date and Timing: 06 December, 01:40 pm IST, 08:10 GMT Pitch and Weather The pitch at the SCG is expected to be a flat one and batsmen will be looking to make merry of the true nature of the pitch. There is lack of clarity on the nature of the pitch, but if the first two ODIs of the tour are anything to go by, it will be another run-fest where bowlers on either side will be put to the sword and will live on the mercy of batsmen. The average 1st inning total at the SCG is 164 and out of six matches played at this ground, the team batting first has won only two matches while the team chasing has won the games on four occasions. The stat will determine the decision of the captain who will win the toss but Virat Kohli should not be reluctant to bat first, and back his spinners to come good if the SCG pitch will show any signs of wear and tear in the second innings. The weather conditions in Sydney are likely to be perfect to play cricket as the temperature will hover around the 30-degree Celsius mark while the humidity, too will be around 30 per cent. There is no chance of rain and that would mean there will be a complete 40 overs of entertainment in the second T20 of the three-match series. Team News Australia Captain Aaron Finch has reported a niggle in hip and may well miss out from the remainder of the series and that may well bring the duo of D’Arcy Short and Matthew Wade together at the top of the order, a role they have been successfully doing for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League. All-rounder Cameron Green has been released by the hosts to play for the Australia A team and the off-spinner Nathan Lyon has been added to the T20 squad. Another all-rounder Ashton Agar remains unfit for the second T20 while the uncertainty over the recovery of Marcus Stoinis remains as the hosts too have a fair share of injury concerns to ponder over as they face a must-win situation in Sydney tomorrow. In case Aaron Finch misses out from the XI, Glenn mAxwell is likely to take over the reins to lead the team in efforts to square off the series. Expected XI D'Arcy Short, Matthew Wade, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell (C), Alex Carey (wk), Moises Henriques, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood India All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja who had scripted a comeback for the tourists with whirlwind innings late in the piece has been ruled out of the remainder of the series due to concussion he faced after facing a blow from Mitchell Starc’s bouncer. Shardul Thakur who impressed everyone with a three-wicket haul in the final ODI of the ODI series has been added into the T20 squad. Yuzvendra Chahal, who came into the match as a concussion substitute and garnered a lot of headlines will replace the all-rounder having produced a match-winning performance on the back of three-wicket haul from our overs. Expected XI Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul (wk), Virat Kohli (C), Manish Pandey, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, T Natarajan, Yuzvendra Chahal AUS vs IND 2nd T20: Dream11 team and suggestion KL Rahul, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Moises Henriques, Shikhar Dhawan, Glenn Maxwell, Hardik Pandya, Mitchell Starc, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, T Natarajan Captain: KL Rahul Vice-captain: Glenn Maxwell

Moises Henriques questions Chahal's place as Jadeja's concussion substitute

Australian all-rounder Moises Henriques questioned if Yuzvendra Chahal was a ‘like-for-like’ replacement of Ravindra Jadeja after the hosts lost the game by a margin of 11 runs in the first encounter of the T20 series. Chahal made the crisis that emerged for the team into a perfect opportunity for himself as he took three big wickets that included captain Aaron Finch and Steve Smith. Henriques, however, does not doubt either the credibility of the tourists’ claims on substitute and the seriousness of Jadeja’s concussion problems after the left-hander was hit on the helmet by Mitchell Starc or the concussion rules put in place by the International Cricket Council (ICC). "There was no doubt that Jadeja was hit on the helmet and there could have been a concussion. A decision was taken that there was a concussion and a replacement was made. We are not doubting that. But was it a like-for-like replacement? That is the question. Jadeja was more of an allrounder and he had done his batting. Chahal is a bowler," said the 33-year old who scored 30 and took three wickets for 22 during India innings. The sides will now travel to Sydney where the tour had started to play the final two T20s of the series.

BBL 2020 Team Preview: Will it be the third time lucky for Dawid Malan-strong Hurricanes!

Hobart Hurricanes along with Melbourne Stars are the only two teams in an eight-team strong Big Bash League tournament that haven’t won a single final yet, even after being consistent throughout all campaigns in the last three years. It has always ended up getting too difficult for Hurricanes in terms of chases in the finals, be it the 2013-14 season or the 2017-18 season. The foreign signings This time around though, the planning is different as they have signed up World Number one T20I batsman in Dawid Malan, and he has been a master when it comes to chasing. In the 11 innings that he has played while batting second, the 33-year-old has remained not out in two of them and has scored more runs (451) in the second innings than the first. His average in the second innings is also above fifty with five half-centuries coming while chasing as compared to four while batting first. Over the years he has proved in various leagues across the world that he is worth the chance. In 213 T20 games, Malan has 5852 runs at a healthy average of 33 and a brilliant strike rate of 130, which has kept on growing as his recent international form suggests. And Malan is not the only one that Hobart will be banking on. They have recruited the Nepalese talisman spinner Sandeep Lmichchane, who is a great asset, considering his exploits in the BBL so far. In 20 innings, the leggie has 26 scalps with an economy of under 8. Sandeep, 20, has a knack for picking wickets as is evident through his superb record of 117 wickets in 88 T20 games in leagues across the world. He alongside the young teenager from Victoria, Will Parker signed up this year by the Hurricanes, combined with the occasional wrist spin of D’Arcy short and off-spin of Tim David could be the combination that Hobart had been looking for for years to provide semblance to their bowling unit. Even coach Adam Griffith believes in his abilities. “We have seen how Sandeep can change a game with his mystery spin, and he can bowl at any stage of the innings. He’s a proven wicket-taker who will add yet another dimension to our bowling group,” Griffith said on signing the Nepal star. Keemo Paul is as strong addition as there could be, although he would not be available for the initial games. The West Indian is a proven talent and alongside the express pace of Scott Boland and Nathan Ellis, he could turn out to be the wicket-taker, as suggested through his record in the T20s ( 60 wickets in 62 games, for a bowler coming first change) Paul is no muck with the bat either, he is rather a capable lower batter and the Aussie conditions would suit both his batting and bowling as it’s ‘hit the deck’ hard that he is good at. Hobart Hurricanes BBL|10 Squad Scott Boland, Tim David, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, James Faulkner, Peter Handscomb, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, David Moody, Mitchell Owen, Tim Paine, Will Parker, D'Arcy Short, Matthew Wade, Nick Winter, Mac Wright. Overseas players: Dawid Malan, Sandeep Lamichhane, Keemo Paul. Overseas replacement players: Will Jacks, Colin Ingram Support Staff: Head Coach- Adam Griffith Senior Assistant Coach- Jeff Vaughan Assistants- Ben Rohrer, Allister de Winter, Wade Townsend, Xavier Doherty, Matt Clark, Daniel Salpietro Left will turn it right for Hurricanes The Hobart team has got a host of left-handed superstars in the form of Dawid Malan, last season hero, and skipper Matthew Wade, Malan’s replacement Colin Ingram and the destructive opener from Western Australia D’Arcy Short as well. Even in the bowling department, they have experienced left-handers in James Faulkner and Nick Winter. It is these players who would be banked on and who would have to turn it right for the team. Wade (351 runs) and Short (357 runs) are proven BBL talents while there is no questioning of Malan. Even Ingram has had a terrific outing for Adelaide strikers in past seasons. In fact, In 25 games for the Strikers, the powerful left-hander plundered 610 runs at an average of 30.5 and strike rate of 138.95. Underlining Ingram’s importance, Griffith said, “Although he won’t be with us for the whole tournament, he will provide stability and explosive power to our batting order before Dawid joins the group.” Hobart success story will need all-rounders as heroes Any t20 team would find it hard to be successful for a long time without having quality all-rounders. Hobart, this time around have actually got a ‘pool’ of quality all-rounders, led by Vitality Blast MVP England’s Will Jacks, who have only recently developed a knack of picking wickets with his orthodox off-spin. Jacks, playing for Surrey, which was the runners up in the competition, scored 306 runs in 13 games alongside picking 13 wickets. Then there is the old fox James Faulkner who has 25 wickets in 20 games for the Hurricanes, and although hasn’t got much opportunity to prove himself with the bat, his recent hundred and fifty for Tasmania University are signs that he is itching to let loose with the willow. Added to this list the Hurricanes have the West Indian Keemo Paul and Australia-born Singapore international Tim David as two all-rounders as well. “Keemo uses different types of slower balls and loves bowling at the death. He's also a hard-hitting batsman that can clear the fence, adding more power to our lower-middle order to finish off an innings," Griffith had said on the Guyanese signing with the Hurricanes. Along with these Short and Jake Doran’s (if he plays) bowling skills could be utilized as well. Not available full time! Hurricanes' biggest worry The biggest problem that the Hurricanes might face is the non-availability of key platters at crucial times. Tim Panie and Wade, two of the most experienced players for Hurricanes would not be available until the 9th round for the team. Similarly, Malan and Lamichchane, the most important pillars in the Hurricane hopes would also not be available before the 4th round, neither would be Keemo Paul, posing a great threat to ‘great start’ as the fans might be expecting. Talent will win you games, camaraderie the tournament Hurricanes have all the right recipes for a perfect blend and just so that they don’t get too dependent on those stars, a natural dose of struggle (initial absence of star players) has been injected as well. Most of the players in the Hurricanes squad are here to get their hands on a trophy, most having been witness to the saying ‘close yet so far’ would be raring to win it this time. This is where the character, team spirit, and camaraderie play an important role, and Griffith the coach, Piane and Wade the senior pros know it. If the team gels together, which looks like a will, they are right at the top of the contenders’ list.

Continuous Abuse of Sanjay Manjrekar is Petty, It Has to Stop!

We know how much Indians love cricket. But as the extremely high number of crimes committed by jilted lovers in this country shows, intense passion could manifest itself in perverse forms. This applies to cricket fans also. The love Indians have for the game of cricket is admirable, except when it leads to behaviour that is lacking in grace and dignity. One's mind goes back to the booing of Lasith Malinga at Wankhede Stadium in 2011. His crime was doing his job and getting the wickets of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar in the World Cup final. Malinga, a bowler who played without a scowl or foul temper, apparently, had become hateful just for doing what he is supposed to. Something similar has been going on in India for more than an year. Sanjay Manjrekar, former India batsman and a leading commentator, has been repeatedly trolled in social media. What really about Manjrekar angers cricket fans is unclear. Of late, it has been his supposed tiff with Ravindra Jadeja that originated during the World Cup 2019. Despite Manjrekar humbly accepting that he was wrong in his assessment of Jadeja, Indian fans have been continuously abusing and insulting the broadcaster. On Friday, after India's victory where Jadeja starred with the bat, there was again a spike in mentions of Manjrekar on Twitter. Again, Indian fans were doing their best to mock the former India batter. This has to stop! Manjrekar has been a dedicated commentator who has covered cricket as a broadcaster for more than two decades. One can have a divergent view as to how good or bad he is at his job, but to continuously ridicule a man is downright petty. Besides, far from being biased against Jadeja, Manjrekar over the years has been among his biggest admirers. Besides, which commentator hasn't been occassionally wrong about a player or two in his broadcasting career. The late Dean Jones once remarked that he thinks Ajantha Mendis will pick up 600 wickets in his international career, Ravi Shastri kept asserting that Suresh Raina's short-ball problem is only temporary. There are multiple examples. Also, what exactly has the former Mumbai batsman done to continuously draw this opprobrium. Is it that he is meticulous in his commentary? Is it because he has an independent mind and, unlike a Harsha Bhogle, doesn't shape his views to stay on the good side of public opinion? Is it because he doesn't fill his commentary with anodyne comments. Some may argue that he was an ordinary player in his day, so doesn't have the right to criticize others. This view just doesn't hold up. By that logic, neither Akash Chopra nor many of his colleagues have the right to criticize anyone, and certainly not Harsha Bhogle! And for those who think Manjrekar was an average batsman, here are some facts for you. He scored a hundred in West Indies, on the fastest wicket of the region - Barbados - against a bowling attack that included Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, and Ian Bishop. For all his bat-twirling, Jadeja hasn't come remotely close to facing such an attack on such a surface. On India's tour of Pakistan, in 1989 - Sachin's debut series, Majrekar raked up more than 500 runs in the series. It was that performance which earned him the moniker - The Wall - before Rahul Dravid earned it later. He was, in that sense, the Proto-Wall before the arrival of the actual Wall. To mock and ridicule such a player continuously shows, not just a lack of respect, but lack of manners. In 2013, when England toured Australia for the Ashes, an overzealous Australian newspaper decided that it won't publish Broad's name because of him not walking during the previous series, in England. That was obviously an act of imbecile petulence. So is continuously making fun of a completely respectable commentator without any provocation.