In Case You Missed It: India, England's World Cup dress rehearsal, South Africa's away triumph
Our best content from the week gone by
ESPNcricinfo staff
20-Mar-2021
Suryakumar Yadav, the star of India's innings, announced his intent with the very first ball of the fourth T20I, hoicking it into the stands • BCCI
A T20 World Cup final before the World Cup? That's what players are calling today's final India vs England game, as the top two T20I teams go into it with the series level. India women haven't been nearly as lucky - they were handed a 4-1 drubbing at home by South Africa. Afghanistan came out on top in the thrilling second Test against Zimbabwe, levelling the series, and now the two teams face off in the format Afghanistan is the most dangerous in - T20Is. It's also been a crowded week of throwbacks - a year ago cricket hit pause as the pandemic first surged. Still further back, 20 years ago, India were sealing a famous victory over Australia in Chennai, while in 1996, Sri Lanka were heading to an improbable World Cup victory - revisit Andrew Fidel Fernando's archive piece on the fairy-tale win. Catch up on all that went down - past and present - in our weekly roundup.
Suryakumar Yadav, bowlers help India level series 2-2
Playing only his second T20I, Yadav's superlative 57 in 31 balls helped India post a competitive total before he was given out on a controversial catch. Much of the drama of the match revolved around umpiring decisions, with Virat Kohli and former England captain Michael Atherton questioning the point of a soft signal in the case of boundary catches. The final T20I will now be the decider, with England captain Eoin Morgan calling it the "closest thing to a World Cup final" given the actual event is just a few months away.
Playing only his second T20I, Yadav's superlative 57 in 31 balls helped India post a competitive total before he was given out on a controversial catch. Much of the drama of the match revolved around umpiring decisions, with Virat Kohli and former England captain Michael Atherton questioning the point of a soft signal in the case of boundary catches. The final T20I will now be the decider, with England captain Eoin Morgan calling it the "closest thing to a World Cup final" given the actual event is just a few months away.
South Africa women overcome national nemesis to beat India
Anneke Bosch, Mignon du Preez, Marizanne Kapp shone in the final ODI as South Africa took series 4-1, with Nadine de Klerk taking a three-for. Touring South African teams don't generally fare well against spin, but then they are not this team, says Firdose Moonda. For India, It was a wake-up call on how far behind they are in the format, while Lizelle Lee's fantastic form has seen her take the number one spot on the ODI batters' rankings.
Anneke Bosch, Mignon du Preez, Marizanne Kapp shone in the final ODI as South Africa took series 4-1, with Nadine de Klerk taking a three-for. Touring South African teams don't generally fare well against spin, but then they are not this team, says Firdose Moonda. For India, It was a wake-up call on how far behind they are in the format, while Lizelle Lee's fantastic form has seen her take the number one spot on the ODI batters' rankings.
Rashid Khan's 11 wickets set up series-levelling Afghanistan win
A thrilling second Test went the day of the hosts on the last day after Rashid Khan, bowling with a still-healing fracture, ran through Zimbabwe. Earlier, Sean Williams and Donald Tiripano looked poised to swing the match Zimbabwe's way as they extended their eighth-wicket stand to 187, before the Afghanistan legspinner took charge once again. Sreshth Shah lists the learnings from the two Test-series, including Afghanistan's over-reliance on Khan and the steady rise of Zimbabwe captain Williams.
A thrilling second Test went the day of the hosts on the last day after Rashid Khan, bowling with a still-healing fracture, ran through Zimbabwe. Earlier, Sean Williams and Donald Tiripano looked poised to swing the match Zimbabwe's way as they extended their eighth-wicket stand to 187, before the Afghanistan legspinner took charge once again. Sreshth Shah lists the learnings from the two Test-series, including Afghanistan's over-reliance on Khan and the steady rise of Zimbabwe captain Williams.
Sunil Narine and the fading of offspin
Osman Samiuddin traces Narine's journey since 2014 when his bowling action was brought under scrutiny and says he hasn't been the same bowler since.
Osman Samiuddin traces Narine's journey since 2014 when his bowling action was brought under scrutiny and says he hasn't been the same bowler since.
Wait till India have to tour England with their non-fast bowlers
Alan Gardner hatches a foolproof plan to exact revenge for subcontinental dustbowls in this month's Light Roller.
Alan Gardner hatches a foolproof plan to exact revenge for subcontinental dustbowls in this month's Light Roller.
Rishabh Pant has been handled well by India. Ollie Pope and Dom Bess not so much by England
Ian Chappell says the contrast tells you why the Test series turned out the way it did.
Ian Chappell says the contrast tells you why the Test series turned out the way it did.
The 20 most extreme pitches in Test cricket
The Ahmedabad pitch for the third India-England Test, the one that wound up in two days, was given a rating of "average" by the ICC. Anantha Narayanan examines that turner among several others to determine which were the most bowler- and batsman-friendly in Test history.
The Ahmedabad pitch for the third India-England Test, the one that wound up in two days, was given a rating of "average" by the ICC. Anantha Narayanan examines that turner among several others to determine which were the most bowler- and batsman-friendly in Test history.
Is Hashmatullah Shahidi's double-hundred the fastest for a team in Tests?
And did Sunil Gavaskar open the bowling in his debut Test? You asked and Steven Lynch answered.
And did Sunil Gavaskar open the bowling in his debut Test? You asked and Steven Lynch answered.
From 'total chaos', Mumbai become Mumbai again
Mumbai claimed their fourth Vijay Hazare title last week, a minor miracle given the team was in a shambles just before the start of the List A tournament. Shashank Kishore has the inside story of a champion team's phoenix-like rise to a seemingly impossible win.
Mumbai claimed their fourth Vijay Hazare title last week, a minor miracle given the team was in a shambles just before the start of the List A tournament. Shashank Kishore has the inside story of a champion team's phoenix-like rise to a seemingly impossible win.
India. Australia. Chennai. 2001
Twenty years ago an unforgettable series culminated in an incredible final day. Siddhartha Vaidyanathan relives it through those who were there.
Twenty years ago an unforgettable series culminated in an incredible final day. Siddhartha Vaidyanathan relives it through those who were there.
Dimuth Karunaratne: 'Everything about Kusal's knock was straight out of a batsman's fantasy'
The Sri Lanka captain wishes he'd played a recent innings that has already become legendary.
The Sri Lanka captain wishes he'd played a recent innings that has already become legendary.
Virus stops cricket
Last year, this week, the coronavirus pandemic forced cricket to a standstill. We trace a long year in pictures.
Last year, this week, the coronavirus pandemic forced cricket to a standstill. We trace a long year in pictures.
'Corruptors like weak governance and chaos because it allows them in'
The Anti-Corruption Unit general manager Alex Marshall spoke to Peter Della Penna about the extensive efforts being taken to clamp down on corruption in cricket.
The Anti-Corruption Unit general manager Alex Marshall spoke to Peter Della Penna about the extensive efforts being taken to clamp down on corruption in cricket.