In Case You Missed It: Covid, chaos, and condemnation
Our best content from last week
ESPNcricinfo staff
11-Sep-2021
The final England-India Test was called off just hours before play was scheduled to start • Getty Images
A week that began with a thrilling victory for India in the fourth Test over England ended in high drama after positive Covid results among the support staff and uncertainty among players resulted in the last Test of the series first being called off, then postponed indefinitely - you can follow the many twists and turns of that story here. In Afghanistan, the Taliban's crackdown on women's cricket has drawn backlash and put the men's team's future in jeopardy. Bangladesh stole a 3-1 victory over an inexperienced New Zealand side in the T20I series while Sri Lanka's triumphant home run continued as they beat South Africa in the ODI series. It's been a news-heavy week of cricket, so dive right in.
Jasprit Bumrah happens. And England's challenge ends
A match that could have gone anywhere until the last day swung decisively in India's favour after Jasprit Bumrah conjured up reverse swing from a tired Oval pitch and England lost 4 for 6 on the final afternoon that wrecked their resistance. George Dobell says England looked outgunned and outplayed at every stage, as India had players in Bumrah, Rohit and Jadeja that could do what the hosts could not.
A match that could have gone anywhere until the last day swung decisively in India's favour after Jasprit Bumrah conjured up reverse swing from a tired Oval pitch and England lost 4 for 6 on the final afternoon that wrecked their resistance. George Dobell says England looked outgunned and outplayed at every stage, as India had players in Bumrah, Rohit and Jadeja that could do what the hosts could not.
Nasum, Mustafizur hand Bangladesh series win
After Zimbabwe and Australia, it's New Zealand's turn to lose as Bangladesh's impressive home season continued with a win in the fourth T20I. The visitors were undone by the sharp spin and uneven bounce offered by the Mirpur pitch, which, Mohammad Isam argues, could do more harm than good to Bangladesh's T20 World Cup prep. New Zealand won the fifth T20I, played on a more batting-friendly surface and against a Bangladesh line-up missing some of their first-choice picks. Isam sees the hand of coach Russell Domingo in Bangladesh's back-to-back series victories as Bangladesh reap the rewards of continuity and camaraderie.
After Zimbabwe and Australia, it's New Zealand's turn to lose as Bangladesh's impressive home season continued with a win in the fourth T20I. The visitors were undone by the sharp spin and uneven bounce offered by the Mirpur pitch, which, Mohammad Isam argues, could do more harm than good to Bangladesh's T20 World Cup prep. New Zealand won the fifth T20I, played on a more batting-friendly surface and against a Bangladesh line-up missing some of their first-choice picks. Isam sees the hand of coach Russell Domingo in Bangladesh's back-to-back series victories as Bangladesh reap the rewards of continuity and camaraderie.
Debutant Maheesh Theekshana spins Sri Lanka to series victory
The mystery spinner took 4 for 37 as South Africa folded for 125 in 30 overs to give Sri Lanka their first ODI series win since February 2020.
The mystery spinner took 4 for 37 as South Africa folded for 125 in 30 overs to give Sri Lanka their first ODI series win since February 2020.
Heather Knight, Sophia Dunkley seal series for England with final-over victory
Knight marked her return from injury with a nerveless innings to help seal a nail-biting victory for England, and Dunkley hit the penultimate ball for four to clinch the T20I series against New Zealand 2-1.
Knight marked her return from injury with a nerveless innings to help seal a nail-biting victory for England, and Dunkley hit the penultimate ball for four to clinch the T20I series against New Zealand 2-1.
Cricket Australia will cancel Afghanistan Test if women excluded from sport
Men's cricket has continued in Afghanistan after the Taliban's takeover, but this week they indicated that women may not be able to take part. Cricket Australia has now said that they will cancel Afghanistan's first Test against Australia in November if the Taliban prohibit the participation of women in the sport. Watch: Sambit Bal, Andrew McGlashan and Shamya Dasgupta discuss the issues on this week's Newsroom. Meanwhile there was more upheaval within the team itself as Rashid Khan stepped down as captain in protest against the board's T20 World Cup squad selection.
Men's cricket has continued in Afghanistan after the Taliban's takeover, but this week they indicated that women may not be able to take part. Cricket Australia has now said that they will cancel Afghanistan's first Test against Australia in November if the Taliban prohibit the participation of women in the sport. Watch: Sambit Bal, Andrew McGlashan and Shamya Dasgupta discuss the issues on this week's Newsroom. Meanwhile there was more upheaval within the team itself as Rashid Khan stepped down as captain in protest against the board's T20 World Cup squad selection.
India's T20 World Cup squad: Why Rahul Chahar and not Chahal? How did Ashwin make the cut?
India announced the list of players that made it into the T20 World Cup squad this week and there were some surprising inclusions and omissions. Saurabh Somani looks at the reasons behind the selections of Ishan Kishan, Chahar, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy and Mohammed Shami.
India announced the list of players that made it into the T20 World Cup squad this week and there were some surprising inclusions and omissions. Saurabh Somani looks at the reasons behind the selections of Ishan Kishan, Chahar, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy and Mohammed Shami.
How R Ashwin tweaked his line and used dip, drift and changes of pace to become the world's best Test spinner
Himanish Ganjoo examines the change in Ashwin's bowling since 2015, and says he is a radically different, and better, bowler from the one he was before.
Himanish Ganjoo examines the change in Ashwin's bowling since 2015, and says he is a radically different, and better, bowler from the one he was before.
Does Jimmy Anderson hold the record for playing most Tests in one country?
And was Shardul Thakur's Oval fifty the fastest in England? Steven Lynch with all the answers to questions that have been bothering cricket fans this week.
And was Shardul Thakur's Oval fifty the fastest in England? Steven Lynch with all the answers to questions that have been bothering cricket fans this week.
Krunal Pandya: 'I don't want to be that player who occasionally turns up and does well for the team'
The Mumbai Indians allrounder talks to Nagraj Gollapudi about his desire to have a long career for India, and his favourite IPL matches.
The Mumbai Indians allrounder talks to Nagraj Gollapudi about his desire to have a long career for India, and his favourite IPL matches.
Ellyse Perry: 'You've always got to push to get better or else someone comes along who is going to jump you'
Perry spoke to Andrew McGlashan about the challenge of the upcoming India series, her outlook on the growth of women's cricket, coming back from injury and more.
Perry spoke to Andrew McGlashan about the challenge of the upcoming India series, her outlook on the growth of women's cricket, coming back from injury and more.