In Case You Missed It: Australia draw first blood, Bangladesh land a record thumping
Our best content from the week gone by
ESPNcricinfo staff
24-Jun-2023
Bazball found its nemesis in Patman • AFP/Getty Images
It's Patball 1, Bazball 0 as the first Ashes Test lived up to its marquee billing with a match that went down to the absolute wire. Australia's un-Australian cool stared down England's fiery tactics and won the first round, but there are four more Tests to test both teams' mettle. Also breathing fire were Bangladesh, who delivered Afghanistan a beat-down to remember. The Women's Ashes have got off to a zinger of a start, and everything's at stake for the Associates and Sri Lanka and West Indies in the World Cup Qualifiers. It's been a full week of cricket and here's what you may have missed.
Pat Cummins rises to the occasion to seal two-wicket Edgbaston epic
The first Ashes Test delivered on its promise with an edge-of-the-seat last day that saw an ice-cool Pat Cummins steal a win for Australia in the final hour of play. Though backlash for the failure of England's Bazball tactics has been swift and predictable, Andrew Miller says it's a hard-nosed winning strategy, never mind the naysayers. Ian Chappell had prophetic words for England as the Test got underway - that Ben Stokes and his men would have to hold their nerve when plans went awry, as they did. Mark Nicholas wondered if England went too hard, and whether that was even the right question to ask. And the Switch-Hit podcast dissected the first Test and its many twists and turns.
The first Ashes Test delivered on its promise with an edge-of-the-seat last day that saw an ice-cool Pat Cummins steal a win for Australia in the final hour of play. Though backlash for the failure of England's Bazball tactics has been swift and predictable, Andrew Miller says it's a hard-nosed winning strategy, never mind the naysayers. Ian Chappell had prophetic words for England as the Test got underway - that Ben Stokes and his men would have to hold their nerve when plans went awry, as they did. Mark Nicholas wondered if England went too hard, and whether that was even the right question to ask. And the Switch-Hit podcast dissected the first Test and its many twists and turns.
Taskin Ahmed grabs four as Bangladesh annihilate Afghanistan in their biggest Test win
Bangladesh registered a massive 546-run win over Test rookies Afghanistan - the third-highest margin of victory by runs - after twin centuries by Najmul Hossain Shanto, who is experiencing an upturn in form after five years. The victory was all the more notable for Bangladesh in the absence of their key players, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, as the young batters and seamers stepped up to fill their shoes.
Bangladesh registered a massive 546-run win over Test rookies Afghanistan - the third-highest margin of victory by runs - after twin centuries by Najmul Hossain Shanto, who is experiencing an upturn in form after five years. The victory was all the more notable for Bangladesh in the absence of their key players, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, as the young batters and seamers stepped up to fill their shoes.
All you need to know about the World Cup Qualifier
It's a high-stakes tournament in Zimbabwe where the likes of UAE and Oman are pitting themselves against Sri Lanka and West Indies. Zimbabwe will hope to coast on home support, while USA are looking to create a legacy. Here's what's at stake in the Qualifiers.
Five years after Sandpapergate, what has changed in Australian cricket?
Cameron Ponsonby examines the ripple effect of Australia's Newlands misadventures and how it has shaped the game down under at every level - for instance, the amount of reverse swing on offer down under has dropped significantly, and so has the amount of sledging.
Cameron Ponsonby examines the ripple effect of Australia's Newlands misadventures and how it has shaped the game down under at every level - for instance, the amount of reverse swing on offer down under has dropped significantly, and so has the amount of sledging.
Ten years of the Women's Ashes: 'My brain was hurting after that day of cricket'
As the multi-format Women's Ashes completes a decade, Meg Lanning, Charlotte Edwards, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Megan Schutt relived a decade's worth of great matches and drunken antics with Raf Nicholson. How well do you remember the Women's Ashes? Take our quiz.
As the multi-format Women's Ashes completes a decade, Meg Lanning, Charlotte Edwards, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Megan Schutt relived a decade's worth of great matches and drunken antics with Raf Nicholson. How well do you remember the Women's Ashes? Take our quiz.
Succession: what next for India in Tests?
With a new cycle beginning in the World Test Championship, Nagraj Gollapudi looks at some crucial questions that could arise in the next few years, while Shashank Kishore looks to the future and the next generation of players who could debut for India in the upcoming cycle.
With a new cycle beginning in the World Test Championship, Nagraj Gollapudi looks at some crucial questions that could arise in the next few years, while Shashank Kishore looks to the future and the next generation of players who could debut for India in the upcoming cycle.
Has anyone played in more Ashes series than Jimmy Anderson?
And when was the last time three batters from the same team topped the ICC Test batting rankings? Steven Lynch answers the unlikeliest cricket questions.
And when was the last time three batters from the same team topped the ICC Test batting rankings? Steven Lynch answers the unlikeliest cricket questions.