In Case You Missed It: Cricket limbers up
Our best content from last week
ESPNcricinfo staff
08-Jun-2020
Not everyone's ready to go back to cricket just yet • Gareth Copley/Getty Images
As sport emerges cautiously from the Covid-19 lockdown, plans are already afoot for the first cricket tour in July - West Indies will fly to England as soon as this week to begin training for the Test series, albeit after quarantine and in a "bio-secure bubble". But is everyone ready to play yet? Elsewhere the world rages against racism and cricket voices have joined in the call for systemic change. Here's your catch-up on the week gone by.
Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul turn down call-ups for England tour
Last week the ECB announced proposed dates and venues for England's three-Test series against West Indies in July, but three Windies players have chosen to sit out the tour, citing health, family and security concerns.
Last week the ECB announced proposed dates and venues for England's three-Test series against West Indies in July, but three Windies players have chosen to sit out the tour, citing health, family and security concerns.
Daren Sammy, Chris Gayle raise voice against racism in wake of George Floyd killing
The cricket fraternity has joined sports personalities worldwide in the growing protests against racism, with Sammy, Kumar Sangakkara and Ian Bishop taking a stand on Twitter.
The cricket fraternity has joined sports personalities worldwide in the growing protests against racism, with Sammy, Kumar Sangakkara and Ian Bishop taking a stand on Twitter.
Two teams, one country
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the cricket calendar will need to be redrawn, and there will be a crush to fit in all the fixtures that were deferred. It has even been suggested that two formats could be played at the same time. It might not happen, but if countries had to field teams in two different formats simultaneously, what might those squads looks like? Greg Chappell, Mike Hussey and Brad Hodge each picked their Test and T20I XIs for Australia, while MSK Prasad, Ajit Agarkar and Kiran More scoured India's talent pool for their XIs. Where would Jofra Archer play for England? And would Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes make the Test or T20I squads? Ian Bell, Graeme Swann and Mark Butcher helped sort and slot 'em.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the cricket calendar will need to be redrawn, and there will be a crush to fit in all the fixtures that were deferred. It has even been suggested that two formats could be played at the same time. It might not happen, but if countries had to field teams in two different formats simultaneously, what might those squads looks like? Greg Chappell, Mike Hussey and Brad Hodge each picked their Test and T20I XIs for Australia, while MSK Prasad, Ajit Agarkar and Kiran More scoured India's talent pool for their XIs. Where would Jofra Archer play for England? And would Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes make the Test or T20I squads? Ian Bell, Graeme Swann and Mark Butcher helped sort and slot 'em.
Why this is the greatest age for fast bowling in 60 years
Test bowling has had its fast-bowling champions in every era, but as a collective whole, pace bowling has seldom had as good a run as at present. In the last 100 Tests, pace attacks worldwide have averaged 26.26 runs per wicket, which is among the best in any 100-match period in Test history Don't believe it? Stats editor S Rajesh has the numbers to prove it.
Test bowling has had its fast-bowling champions in every era, but as a collective whole, pace bowling has seldom had as good a run as at present. In the last 100 Tests, pace attacks worldwide have averaged 26.26 runs per wicket, which is among the best in any 100-match period in Test history Don't believe it? Stats editor S Rajesh has the numbers to prove it.
Who will be India's spinner for the Tests in Australia later this year?
Given the possibility of India touring Australia in the near future, who among R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav can take on the combined might of Steven Smith, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne? Ian Chappell muses.
Given the possibility of India touring Australia in the near future, who among R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav can take on the combined might of Steven Smith, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne? Ian Chappell muses.
Will they spray sanitiser at trophy presentations in the future?
Andrew Fidel Fernando tackles this and other vital issues are tackled in this month's Briefing.
Andrew Fidel Fernando tackles this and other vital issues are tackled in this month's Briefing.
Jeetan Patel: 'If I had one message to young spinners it would be this: bowl and bowl and bowl'
The New Zealand and Warwickshire offspinner looks back at his successful first-class career as he prepares to move into its next phase: coaching.
The New Zealand and Warwickshire offspinner looks back at his successful first-class career as he prepares to move into its next phase: coaching.
Downtime Diaries: Lockie Ferguson: 'My TikTok career is over'
In the last of our Downtime Diaries, New Zealand quick Ferguson tells us tells us that the lockdown won't make a social media star of him a la David Warner.
In the last of our Downtime Diaries, New Zealand quick Ferguson tells us tells us that the lockdown won't make a social media star of him a la David Warner.
Sam Billings: 'Don't want to be pigeonholed as a white-ball player. I'm better than that'
After a shoulder injury last year ended his World Cup hopes, the reinvention has begun for the wicketkeeper-batsman. He chats to Valkerie Baynes about his Test ambitions.
After a shoulder injury last year ended his World Cup hopes, the reinvention has begun for the wicketkeeper-batsman. He chats to Valkerie Baynes about his Test ambitions.
Kagiso Rabada: My wicket celebrations stem from 'passion'
Firdose Moonda speaks to the South Africa quick whose send-offs have often got him in trouble and who's now looking for ways to express himself differently.
Firdose Moonda speaks to the South Africa quick whose send-offs have often got him in trouble and who's now looking for ways to express himself differently.
Come to think of it: Did England waste the talents of Devon Malcolm?
He should have been England's designated match-winner throughout the 1990s, not their first-choice fall guy. Andrew Miller looks back at how England failed to make proper use of an extraordinarily rare asset.
He should have been England's designated match-winner throughout the 1990s, not their first-choice fall guy. Andrew Miller looks back at how England failed to make proper use of an extraordinarily rare asset.
When Imran Khan blew me away
Facing up to the legendary Pakistani allrounder in his prime took not a little courage. Mark Nicholas remembers watching and playing against him.
Facing up to the legendary Pakistani allrounder in his prime took not a little courage. Mark Nicholas remembers watching and playing against him.
The best of Bangladesh
Habibul Bashar picks an all-time Test XI from the Bangladesh players he played with.
Habibul Bashar picks an all-time Test XI from the Bangladesh players he played with.