In Case You Missed It: Afghanistan's maiden win, and records galore in the CPL
Our best content from last week
ESPNcricinfo staff
16-Sep-2019
No crying in the rain for Rashid Khan • BCB
It's been a blockbuster week in cricket even as the Ashes wrapped up 2-2, with Australia conceding the last Test to England. In the CPL, batsmen have been ringing up monstrous totals with records tumbling every match, while Afghanistan continued to grind Bangladesh into the dust after recording their second-ever Test victory in a rain battered match a few days before.
Broad and Leach secure series-levelling win despite defiant Wade
Matthew Wade struck a brilliant 117 but England removed Steven Smith for just 23 - his lowest score in this series - and wrapped up a convincing 135-run victory.
Matthew Wade struck a brilliant 117 but England removed Steven Smith for just 23 - his lowest score in this series - and wrapped up a convincing 135-run victory.
Rashid Khan bags 11 as Afghanistan use small window to seal big win
Rashid led from the front in a historic debut as captain, giving Afghanistan their second Test win, against Bangladesh. Their historic victory showed how well they had planned after their disastrous World Cup, using their limited resources, says Mohammad Isam. Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, the blame game has begun, with Shakib Al Hasan and BCB chief Nazmul Hassan laying the responsibility on the other's shoulders.
Rashid led from the front in a historic debut as captain, giving Afghanistan their second Test win, against Bangladesh. Their historic victory showed how well they had planned after their disastrous World Cup, using their limited resources, says Mohammad Isam. Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, the blame game has begun, with Shakib Al Hasan and BCB chief Nazmul Hassan laying the responsibility on the other's shoulders.
Sri Lanka Cricket to reassess security in Pakistan after terror threat
Sri Lanka's tour of Pakistan, slated to begin in less than two weeks, has run aground after the Sri Lankan prime minister's office warned of a possible attack on the team, and ten frontline Sri Lanka players withdrew from the series. But PCB chairman Ehsan Mani is confident the tour will happen, and said Pakistan is not exploring shifting it to a neutral venue.
Sri Lanka's tour of Pakistan, slated to begin in less than two weeks, has run aground after the Sri Lankan prime minister's office warned of a possible attack on the team, and ten frontline Sri Lanka players withdrew from the series. But PCB chairman Ehsan Mani is confident the tour will happen, and said Pakistan is not exploring shifting it to a neutral venue.
Strauss and Boycott to be awarded knighthoods
The former England openers were honoured by former prime minister Theresa May as she stepped down from office, but the decision to award Boycott a knighthood has generated considerable criticism, with a senior female MP calling for a review of honour in wake of a domestic abuse conviction in 1998. Boycott, though, says he "doesn't give a toss" about the criticism.
The former England openers were honoured by former prime minister Theresa May as she stepped down from office, but the decision to award Boycott a knighthood has generated considerable criticism, with a senior female MP calling for a review of honour in wake of a domestic abuse conviction in 1998. Boycott, though, says he "doesn't give a toss" about the criticism.
Records tumble as Trinbago Knight Riders smash 267 to beat Jamaica Tallawahs
TKR batsmen ran riot during the tenth match of the CPL 2019, drumming up the highest team total in franchise cricket and the second-highest match aggregate in all T20 cricket. Just two days earlier, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots had completed the second-highest successful T20 chase of all time in their match against the Jamaica Tallawahs, who had just run up what was then the highest CPL total of 241.
TKR batsmen ran riot during the tenth match of the CPL 2019, drumming up the highest team total in franchise cricket and the second-highest match aggregate in all T20 cricket. Just two days earlier, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots had completed the second-highest successful T20 chase of all time in their match against the Jamaica Tallawahs, who had just run up what was then the highest CPL total of 241.
Dhoni - present and absent in Kohli's India
Dhoni's not retired. Or injured. He is not rested. Nobody dares utter the word "dropped". All anyone knows is, he's not in Dharamsala, and yet he is. Sidharth Monga ponders Dhoni's omnipresence in his absence.
Dhoni's not retired. Or injured. He is not rested. Nobody dares utter the word "dropped". All anyone knows is, he's not in Dharamsala, and yet he is. Sidharth Monga ponders Dhoni's omnipresence in his absence.
Paine train's uncertain final destination
From helming a team during its darkest days to now fielding congratulations from the Australian prime minister, for Tim Paine, who was all but retired from the game in 2017, this whole phase of his career feels like a bonus, says Daniel Brettig.
From helming a team during its darkest days to now fielding congratulations from the Australian prime minister, for Tim Paine, who was all but retired from the game in 2017, this whole phase of his career feels like a bonus, says Daniel Brettig.
Ian Chappell: The Ashes have shown again how important bowling pairs are in Tests
As Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have proved, bowlers working in tandem can dramatically impact a series.
As Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have proved, bowlers working in tandem can dramatically impact a series.
Stokes' summer, Smith's Ashes
Melinda Farrell on England and Australia's two heroes who will be forever linked to this extraordinary Ashes series and remarkable English summer.
Melinda Farrell on England and Australia's two heroes who will be forever linked to this extraordinary Ashes series and remarkable English summer.
Who are the best bowlers of each decade?
Anantha Narayanan looks at which bowlers dominated the five-day format, from its start in the late 19th century.
Anantha Narayanan looks at which bowlers dominated the five-day format, from its start in the late 19th century.
'Coming right-arm around to you'
Sidharth Monga looks at how right-arm quicks have made life hell for left-hand batsmen in the last five years.
Sidharth Monga looks at how right-arm quicks have made life hell for left-hand batsmen in the last five years.
The style was the thing with Abdul Qadir
Some of it was make-believe, some real: the greatest legspinner of his time had style in spades. Osman Samiuddin pays tribute to the incomparable Qadir, who passed away early this month.
Some of it was make-believe, some real: the greatest legspinner of his time had style in spades. Osman Samiuddin pays tribute to the incomparable Qadir, who passed away early this month.
The brat, the bully, the bleedin' Aussie bogeyman
For an England fan, it was hard not to feel antagonistic towards Ricky Ponting however much you liked his belligerent batting. Alan Gardner tries to decipher his feelings towards the former Aussie captain.
For an England fan, it was hard not to feel antagonistic towards Ricky Ponting however much you liked his belligerent batting. Alan Gardner tries to decipher his feelings towards the former Aussie captain.
'If you go searching for wickets in T20, you're playing into the batsman's hands'
T20 spin bowling coach Samuel Badree talks to Nagraj Gollapudi about the importance of being versatile enough to bowl in the Powerplay and at the death.
T20 spin bowling coach Samuel Badree talks to Nagraj Gollapudi about the importance of being versatile enough to bowl in the Powerplay and at the death.