In Case You Missed It: Debuts, comebacks, and throwbacks
Our best content from last week
ESPNcricinfo staff
08-Oct-2018
Imam-ul-Haq made his second Test fifty, against Australia in Dubai • Getty Images
If there was ever a week for trouncings, it's this one. Pakistan are grinding down on a diminished but determined Australia, India are pummelling West Indies in the heat of home, Shane Warne is carpet-bombing his former team-mates, and if the weather allows England and Sri Lanka will soon join the fray. It's open season out there on the pitches.
Pakistan grind Australia on first day of the Dubai Test
On a push and pull day of cricket, Pakistan dominated the first half thanks to a double-century opening stand by Mohammad Hafeez and Imam-ul-Haq, but Tim "Handshake" Paine's Australia, in their first Test series since the Newlands ball-tampering scandal, persevered to restrict Pakistan to only 56 in the final session on day one.
On a push and pull day of cricket, Pakistan dominated the first half thanks to a double-century opening stand by Mohammad Hafeez and Imam-ul-Haq, but Tim "Handshake" Paine's Australia, in their first Test series since the Newlands ball-tampering scandal, persevered to restrict Pakistan to only 56 in the final session on day one.
Mohammad Hafeez, comeback king
Here today, gone tomorrow, and back again, Hafeez has made enough comebacks for all of us to have a favourite. Osman Samiuddin picks his.
Here today, gone tomorrow, and back again, Hafeez has made enough comebacks for all of us to have a favourite. Osman Samiuddin picks his.
Which Test teams have had the worst post-crises line-ups?
Australia face Pakistan this week without the services of almost half of their first-choice team. Andrew Miller looks back at other Test campaigns that were affected by a spate of significant, and unscheduled, absentees.
Australia face Pakistan this week without the services of almost half of their first-choice team. Andrew Miller looks back at other Test campaigns that were affected by a spate of significant, and unscheduled, absentees.
West Indies get trounced as India storm to their biggest ever Test win
West Indies' terrible run with the bat in India continues. The star of India's stellar knock was teenager Prithvi Shaw, who made his Test debut with a stunning 134, and drew quite a few comparisons to Sachin Tendulkar.
West Indies' terrible run with the bat in India continues. The star of India's stellar knock was teenager Prithvi Shaw, who made his Test debut with a stunning 134, and drew quite a few comparisons to Sachin Tendulkar.
Quiz: How well do you know India's teenage debutants?
Prithvi Shaw's debut in Rajkot will make him the 30th teenager to play Test cricket for India. How well do you know these teenage sensations?
Prithvi Shaw's debut in Rajkot will make him the 30th teenager to play Test cricket for India. How well do you know these teenage sensations?
Shane Warne's No Spin doesn't hold back
From slamming then-captain Ricky Ponting's decision to bowl first in the legendary 2005 Ashes to calling Steve Waugh "the most selfish player I ever played with", the former Australian legspinner's new book is taking no prisoners.
From slamming then-captain Ricky Ponting's decision to bowl first in the legendary 2005 Ashes to calling Steve Waugh "the most selfish player I ever played with", the former Australian legspinner's new book is taking no prisoners.
The Briefing: Did SLC just call Angelo Mathews fat?
And how many cricket boards has Steve Rixon slagged off? Andrew Fidel Fernando answers these and other burning cricket questions in his monthly round-up.
And how many cricket boards has Steve Rixon slagged off? Andrew Fidel Fernando answers these and other burning cricket questions in his monthly round-up.
How Kookaburra balls came to rule the cricket world
The inventors of the white ball still dominate the market, but that might be changing, reports Snehal Pradhan.
The inventors of the white ball still dominate the market, but that might be changing, reports Snehal Pradhan.
What we remember: The Lahore attack
Osman Samiuddin recalls the time an international team came under terrorist fire, plunging Pakistan cricket into the wilderness for close to a decade.
Osman Samiuddin recalls the time an international team came under terrorist fire, plunging Pakistan cricket into the wilderness for close to a decade.
What we remember: The arrival of the DRS
Sambit Bal looks at the upheavals the Decision Review System brought - improving decision making but engendering acrimony and confusion.
Sambit Bal looks at the upheavals the Decision Review System brought - improving decision making but engendering acrimony and confusion.