In Case You Missed It: India Women win their first World Cup, South Africa take series but England snap losing streak
Our best content from the week gone by
ESPNcricinfo staff
04-Feb-2023
On top of the World Cup: the victorious India Under-19 squad celebrate their win • ICC/Getty Images
India Women's long wait for a world title is finally at an end with the junior squad picking up the trophy in the first Under-19 Women's World Cup. The senior Women's World Cup is less than a week away, and Valkerie Baynes has a comprehensive guide to who's playing, who are favourites, the numbers you need to know and more. Elsewhere, India have pummelled New Zealand in the T20I series, and England reclaimed the last ODI against South Africa, if not the series. Here's the lowdown on what you may have missed this week.
Dominant India win inaugural U-19 Women's T20 World Cup
India bowled England out for 68 in 17.1 overs in the final of the first Women's U-19 T20 World Cup. For captain Shafali Verma, it was a chance to reclaim glory after the heartbreak of the senior World Cup at the MCG in 2020, while still continuing to learn on the job. Raunak Kapoor has a primer on the girls who made the win happen for India, and also the players to keep an eye on from the other squads who are likely to become household names in the future.
India bowled England out for 68 in 17.1 overs in the final of the first Women's U-19 T20 World Cup. For captain Shafali Verma, it was a chance to reclaim glory after the heartbreak of the senior World Cup at the MCG in 2020, while still continuing to learn on the job. Raunak Kapoor has a primer on the girls who made the win happen for India, and also the players to keep an eye on from the other squads who are likely to become household names in the future.
Stunning Gill sets up record demolition of New Zealand
India steamrolled New Zealand in the deciding final T20I by 168 runs - the largest margin of victory in a T20I involving two Full Member teams. In the process Shubhman Gill brought up his maiden T20I hundred to complete the full set in all three formats. Among other takeaways from India's last two T20I series: Hardik Pandya's star turn in his new role and Ishan Kishan's disappointing run.
India steamrolled New Zealand in the deciding final T20I by 168 runs - the largest margin of victory in a T20I involving two Full Member teams. In the process Shubhman Gill brought up his maiden T20I hundred to complete the full set in all three formats. Among other takeaways from India's last two T20I series: Hardik Pandya's star turn in his new role and Ishan Kishan's disappointing run.
Jos Buttler, Dawid Malan tons, Jofra Archer six-for snap England losing streak
England dented South Africa's World Cup Super League standing with a thumping win in the third ODI after losing the first two. South Africa are now in ninth place, after losing one more point to slow over-rates. England are also behind on their World Cup studies, Andrew Miller says, but there's still plenty of time to cram, even if they lost five ODIs in a row. For Temba Bavuma, it was a return to form and he's now found himself a place with Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 after missing out the first time.
England dented South Africa's World Cup Super League standing with a thumping win in the third ODI after losing the first two. South Africa are now in ninth place, after losing one more point to slow over-rates. England are also behind on their World Cup studies, Andrew Miller says, but there's still plenty of time to cram, even if they lost five ODIs in a row. For Temba Bavuma, it was a return to form and he's now found himself a place with Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 after missing out the first time.
Failing fitness tests by seconds is not a simple numbers game
Just days before the Women's World Cup, South Africa's long-time captain Dane van Niekerk was dropped from the World Cup squad after she failed a fitness test. Firdose Moonda says failing a fitness test is a complex and multi-layered problem. Should it be so strictly applied and is it the only or best measure of these things?
Just days before the Women's World Cup, South Africa's long-time captain Dane van Niekerk was dropped from the World Cup squad after she failed a fitness test. Firdose Moonda says failing a fitness test is a complex and multi-layered problem. Should it be so strictly applied and is it the only or best measure of these things?
If India keep Smith and Lyon quiet, they have the edge against Australia
Ian Chappell writes about how Australia are boosted by good performances at home, but India are always near-impossible to beat in India. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has grown into one of cricket's most anticipated and storied rivalries - Andrew McGlashan has a cheat sheet for all the India-Australia series this century and how the two sides have fared, with a side of drama and controversy. India's former selector, Sunil Joshi, also has thoughts on which of the two spinners - besties Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal - will have more of an impact against Australia and who should make the World Cup squad.
Ian Chappell writes about how Australia are boosted by good performances at home, but India are always near-impossible to beat in India. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has grown into one of cricket's most anticipated and storied rivalries - Andrew McGlashan has a cheat sheet for all the India-Australia series this century and how the two sides have fared, with a side of drama and controversy. India's former selector, Sunil Joshi, also has thoughts on which of the two spinners - besties Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal - will have more of an impact against Australia and who should make the World Cup squad.
Was Ishan Kishan's double-hundred against Bangladesh the fastest in ODIs?
And which team has played the most international matches in a single calendar year? Steven Lynch answers all your stats and trivia questions.
And which team has played the most international matches in a single calendar year? Steven Lynch answers all your stats and trivia questions.
Do you even ronsbu, bro?
Get all the hip new cricket nomenclature and much more in this month's Briefing by Andrew Fidel Fernando.
Get all the hip new cricket nomenclature and much more in this month's Briefing by Andrew Fidel Fernando.
Alyssa Healy is a sore loser and she won't apologise for it
The Australia keeper-batter spoke to Nagraj Gollapudi about being driven by competitiveness, her performances in recent World Cups, and life with her better half, Mitch Starc.
The Australia keeper-batter spoke to Nagraj Gollapudi about being driven by competitiveness, her performances in recent World Cups, and life with her better half, Mitch Starc.