the big hitting abilities of Moeen and Bairstow

Moeen Ali generally bats at 7 or 8 for England in test match Cricket, but in the first Ashes game at Gabba, the England think tank decided to push him up to no. 6 which was quite a surprising move.

Yes Ben Stokes was not there, but in his absence the ideal man to bat at the no. 6 position was the wicketkeeper batsman Jonny Bairstow. The simple reason to that is he has got a better technique than Moeen and in test match Cricket, if you have a better technique than someone, you bat ahead of him.
Continue reading “the big hitting abilities of Moeen and Bairstow”

Stuart Broad comments on Day and Night Test Matches

Stuart Broad reckons that the hardest bit of day night test matches is the time when the natural light starts fading and the artificial light takes over.


When there is the complete influence of sunlight, seeing the ball is not that much of a problem and it’s the same when the artificial lights comes to their full effect as well, but, it’s the period in between which poses the real challenge.

Broad believes that during that in between period, it’s the responsibility of the batsman who has got himself set to ensure that he remains at the crease because if a dismissal happens at that time and a new man walks in, he may find himself all at sea and that may let the opposition break open the door and get into your batting and that may change the complexion of the game. Continue reading “Stuart Broad comments on Day and Night Test Matches”

SOUTH GETS ANOTHER WIN IN NORTH-SOUTH SERIES

South have completed a 3-0 series victory over the North in the North-South series.


Hampshire leg spinner Mason Crane was the star man of the match, helping the winners to a 20-run lead in Abu Dhabi. The 20-year old cricketer finished 4-39 as the North chased their 228-8.

Bowler for the North Mark Wood returned from his ankle operations to take 2-38 but the North’s 208 could not stop the South from winning the third one-day match in the series.

The series is a warm-up for the players ahead of international cricket and the Royal London One-Day Cup. It also helps the payers prepare for the county cricket tournament. Eight players from the counties in eitherside make up a team while the rest are added by the England selectors. Continue reading “SOUTH GETS ANOTHER WIN IN NORTH-SOUTH SERIES”

Alex Hales investing Time to Play for First Class Cricket

While it was disappointing news for Alex Hales that nobody bought him for Indian Premier League, he is trying to find solace in the fact that he can invest that time playing first class Cricket now which can help him make it back to the England side in the longest form of the game.


The right hander is, however, not going to present his case as an opening batsman this time. He has had a discussion with his county coach who is of the view that he can be a better test player batting second or third down than batting at the top of the order and Hales also feels the same.

As per Hales, while opening the innings, he had to curb his instincts a bit too much and that affected his game, but, if comes to bat when the ball loses its shine, he can go with his instincts and can play the way he knows to play and that’s when he believes he would be able to deliver his best. Continue reading “Alex Hales investing Time to Play for First Class Cricket”

ENGLAND STILL HAS HOPES OF A STRONGER COMEBACK

The last time England was beaten so badly on any of their tour, was back during their whitewash at the Ashes, which ensured that several careers of different Test players were effectively ended, such as the likes of Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Swann.


Their current 3-0 whitewash in their fourth Test Indian series at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai has been one of their most terrible so far, and has also seen the Indian squad and team break a lot of records.

However, the England Cricket Team might still have a last shot at redemption when they meet India in the Final test of the Indian series to be played at Chennai by Friday.

And it would not be an easy one for them considering ViratKohli, who will be hoping to score his fourth double century of the year, and equal Michael Clarke’s record, while still going ahead to break some more records. Continue reading “ENGLAND STILL HAS HOPES OF A STRONGER COMEBACK”

Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes can play together

Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes can play together if England is ready to sacrifice a batsman.


Normally, England plays with two spinners and three fast bowlers out of which two are the specialist fast bowlers and one is a fast bowling all-rounder which leaves the space for only one of Woakes and Stokes and not for both.

Mostly, Stokes plays for his dynamism and Woakes is more of his understudy who fills for him when he leaves the position vacant.

But, after the first game of the series against Sri Lanka, the England coach Trevor Bayliss might trust Woakes more now in terms of what he can do with the bat as his 96 was as good a One Day knock as any you will see in the lower order.

Woakes’ first class stats actually qualify him as a better batsman than Stokes. Stokes is about aura and heroism. You never have any idea what is coming off him. He can take his brilliance to the ridiculous levels, but, the sense of stability is always missing with him.

Woakes, however, doesn’t surprise you. There is no fanciful quality. But, what Stokes doesn’t give you, Woakes does and that is the stability and that’s why, he can bat even in top 5, not only in ODIs, but, in tests too. In fact, he has batted at 6 in tests before. Continue reading “Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes can play together”

Alex Hales has been picked by England

Alex Hales has been picked by England for their upcoming test series against Pakistan.

Hales had been a heavy run scorer in the recently finished English county season, but, after his dismal showings in the One Day International games against Australia, it was believed he might be overlooked in favour of somebody else for the Pakistan tests.

The selectors, however, did not take Hales’ limited-over form into account that much and rewarded him for his numbers in domestic Cricket.

Hales can turn out to be a bit of an enforcer for England at the top of the order. He is an explosive batsman by nature and he plays the same way in red ball Cricket too.

However, in Emirates, his biggest challenge will be to tackle the spin bowling. He would not have seen too many of turning pitches so far in his career and would not have faced the quality of spin either which Pakistan would dish out to him.

He is considered a good player of spin though when he plays domestic Cricket in England. He uses his feet well to loft the ball and also, likes to sweep, but, to execute these shots when the ball is turning square is no child’s play.

Another uncapped player who has been named in England’s touring party is Zafar Ansari. Continue reading “Alex Hales has been picked by England”