The Buzz: Meg Lanning's Bradman challenge
All the bantz, the jousts, and little bit of eavesdropping from the social media playground and beyond
ESPNcricinfo staff
31-Aug-2020
All the world's cricketers walked into a bar. The LOLs, the chatter, and the occasional mini-brawls, they were endless. And the news cycle was never the same again! Welcome to ESPNcricinfo's Social Buzz, your go-to destination for all the bantz, the jousts, and little bit of eavesdropping from the social media playground and beyond.
September 4
A dust pan becomes a very handy bat in Meg Lanning's hands. Wonder if she tried a sweep. Ha!
Ben Dunk's race in the rain
Pouring rain might stop cricket but you can still have a contest. St Kitts and Nevis Pariots' Ben Dunk looks to race (or maybe wade) across the ground and back at Trinidad's Brian Lara Stadium. Ian Bishop provides running commentary, but he's not very impressed.
Bubble life
The best thing about Rajasthan Royals' quarantine period seems to be the lawn space the players had outside their hotel rooms in which to exercise.
How is life in the Royals' bubble in the UAE? All answers #HallaBol | #RoyalsFamily pic.twitter.com/eeL5yuE1LU
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) September 2, 2020
September 3
Virat Kohli freezes in Dubai
If they tell you at the Waldorf Astoria in Dubai that they are out of ice for your martini or cold coffee, you know whom to blame.
Proper session + proper humidity + great recovery = @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/Goi2iGflXm
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) September 3, 2020
Isolation workouts are still fun
Especially if you've got such an adorable ball fetcher. Norman, will we see you in the canine cricket cordon soon?
Putting away groceries might be an even more tedious chore than having to buy them. Not for Australia spinner Jess Jonassen, though.
The birthday boys
Hopefully biobubble protocols means no one gets cake facials anymore?
Given the shine on that "ball", Mohammed Shami will get some crazy swing this IPL, no?
The arrivals
The Kiwis are coming, woohoo: Kane Williamson, Jimmy Neesham and Trent Boult make their way to the IPL.
The welcome home
Getting to tour and play cricket is great but oh TFW after months of touring (in biobubbles), you see your family (and get to sleep in your own bed).
So nice to be back with family after over 2 months missed them a lot... @TheRealPCBMedia @TheRealPCB pic.twitter.com/xg1b0ote8V
— Azhar Ali (@AzharAli_) September 2, 2020
And this is who we do it for
— Wahab Riaz (@WahabViki) September 2, 2020
Great to be home back with family after a long 2 month trip
Family give you the best joy like no other pic.twitter.com/LqTOSOySkF
David Warner and Adam Zampa war over coffee
Look like the Australian team has several coffee klatches going in their biosecure bubble. There Cafe Warner, where you can have a cup of coffee for the price of getting your ear chewed off, Marnus Labuschagne's espresso bar, which sadly isn't as nice as David Warner's, and Adam Zampa's Love Cafe whose artisanal, handmade filter coffee can only be accessed by invitation, or if you're Marcus Stoinis, of course. Kane Richardson, who's bean there done that, dishes on the one he prefers. We're team Zoinis ourselves. You?
The coffee competition is getting out of hand in Australia's bio-bubble! #ENGvAUS pic.twitter.com/aykee52zsf
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 3, 2020
September 2
Meet Jimmy Neesham's packing assistant
You're wrong, Neesh. Gobs of saliva are even better protection for your luggage than bubble wrap.
Ashwin and Ponting are social-distancing
Social-distancing from R Ashwin is a good move... except if you're the non-striker when he's bowling!
September 1
Good advice, Rohit. We actually like to hit the gym like we're retired hurt and need a rest.
Hit the gym like it's a short ball pic.twitter.com/o5vuVT9QOD— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) September 1, 2020
The maestro
Anyone else thinking Naagin dance...?
Was throwing a basketball.. pretty sure it was a two pointer https://t.co/fHEJJZzKL4
— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) August 31, 2020
Virat Kohli: 'Didn't miss the game as much as I thought I might'
Virat Kohli talks about taking the time to slow down his life during the lockdown, bio-bubble precautions, and his impending fatherhood.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Up close and personal with Virat Kohli who talks about getting back on the cricket field after a long break, the feeling of welcoming a third member to his clan and much more! #PlayBold #IPL2020 #WeAreChallengershttps://t.co/mdWo6rbdh8
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) September 1, 2020</a>Inside Mumbai Indians' team room in Abu Dhabi
The Mumbai Indians squad is currently quarantining with families in the lead up to the IPL in Abu Dhabi, and to give them a little room to kick back, the management has turned the 15,000 sq ft ballroom of the St Regis Sadiyaat Island resort into a rec room that would put most gaming arcades in the shade.
August 31
Babar Azam gives the 411 on his cover drive
There's a lot blood, sweat and tears that's gone into the making of this beauty.
Australians' bio-bubble dance-off
Sure you're stuck with the same people for weeks on end in a bio-bubble, but on the upside, you can subject them to your dance moves every second of every day.
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wowee
The Aussies are keeping themselves entertained in the Southampton bubble! #ENGvAUS pic.twitter.com/agzNsMAYTE— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 30, 2020
David Warner is home alone
Not sure what's the more disturbing: hearing that Macaulay Culkin is now 40 years old or seeing David Warner in the body of eight-year-old Kevin McCallister.
Shane Watson's message of support for Suresh Raina
Chennai Super Kings batsman Suresh Raina chose to leave the 2020 IPL and return to India after ten members of the CSK contingent tested positive for Civd-19 while they were isolating in Dubai. It's understood that Raina's decision was based on apprehensions about living in a lonely, biosecure environment with news of his colleagues testing positive, combined with a personal tragedy. His team-mate Shane Watson posted a message on Instagram telling Raina how much he will be missed, wishing him the best, and hoping there won't be more such positive tests for the rest of the tournament.
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