In Case You Missed It: India take on Australia in the drama cup, the Women's T20 World Cup kicks off
Our best content from the week gone by
ESPNcricinfo staff
11-Feb-2023
Better than the Ashes? Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins front up for that other great rivalry • Getty Images
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has only just begun and it's already spawned several conversation pieces - the state of the pitch, what's on Ravindra Jadeja's finger - but it's got a ways to go to top the drama quotient of Australia's last tour of India. The Women's T20 World Cup kicked off yesterday and the question on everyone's mind is: is there a challenger to invincible Australia? There's also Bazball vs New Zealand later this week, and West Indies travelling to South Africa next week. Here's your round-up of this week's big stories.
Rohit Sharma's Test captaincy faces its first huge test
The mantle of Test captain comes to Rohit Sharma at a crucial time, with a World Test Championship final on the line. Karthik Krishnaswamy asks if Rohit, who has played just two Tests since he became captain and now faces his toughest challenge in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, can shepherd India through this time. And what do Australia need to do to negate India's spin challenge at home? Shane Watson had ideas on how Australia could tackle Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar, not just to survive, but thrive. S Rajesh also has the key battles to watch: Lyon vs Pujara and Kohli, and Ashwin vs Warner and Smith. Alex Malcolm boils it down to something simpler - Australia must avoid getting punched in the mouth because an India tour is not just another tour, it's possibly the hardest one in world cricket.
The mantle of Test captain comes to Rohit Sharma at a crucial time, with a World Test Championship final on the line. Karthik Krishnaswamy asks if Rohit, who has played just two Tests since he became captain and now faces his toughest challenge in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, can shepherd India through this time. And what do Australia need to do to negate India's spin challenge at home? Shane Watson had ideas on how Australia could tackle Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar, not just to survive, but thrive. S Rajesh also has the key battles to watch: Lyon vs Pujara and Kohli, and Ashwin vs Warner and Smith. Alex Malcolm boils it down to something simpler - Australia must avoid getting punched in the mouth because an India tour is not just another tour, it's possibly the hardest one in world cricket.
An indicator of the lay of the land and a boost for South Africa, the country
It's a good time to be a female cricketer and even better for South Africa, who are hosting two World Cups back to back. Firdose Moonda has a preview of the senior Women's World Cup that's just kicked off. How do the teams stack up? Australia are clear favourites in Group A; can any other team rattle them? And with India and England in Group B, the competition in the knockouts is fierce. It's also been three years since that iconic 2020 T20 World Cup. How well do you remember tournaments past? Take our quiz and test your knowledge.
It's a good time to be a female cricketer and even better for South Africa, who are hosting two World Cups back to back. Firdose Moonda has a preview of the senior Women's World Cup that's just kicked off. How do the teams stack up? Australia are clear favourites in Group A; can any other team rattle them? And with India and England in Group B, the competition in the knockouts is fierce. It's also been three years since that iconic 2020 T20 World Cup. How well do you remember tournaments past? Take our quiz and test your knowledge.
Switch Hit: Bazball goes back to its spiritual home
Osman Samiuddin and Andrew Miller join Alan Gardner to look ahead to England's upcoming tour of New Zealand.
Osman Samiuddin and Andrew Miller join Alan Gardner to look ahead to England's upcoming tour of New Zealand.
Hathurusingha 2.0: what's changed, and what hasn't?
A familiar face is back in the Bangladesh dressing room but much has changed since Chandika Hathurusingha's last stint as head coach. Mohammad Isam looks at what's different this time around.
A familiar face is back in the Bangladesh dressing room but much has changed since Chandika Hathurusingha's last stint as head coach. Mohammad Isam looks at what's different this time around.
Shaun Tait: 'As coach, if you use your ears more than your mouth, that serves you well'
The fast-bowling coach, who worked with Pakistan over the last year, spoke to Danyal Rasool about Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, and what went wrong in the England series.
The fast-bowling coach, who worked with Pakistan over the last year, spoke to Danyal Rasool about Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, and what went wrong in the England series.
Is Shubman Gill the quickest and youngest player to score hundreds in all three formats?
And how many players have scored an ODI double-hundred only to end up on the losing side? Steven Lynch has the answers in this week's Ask Steven.
And how many players have scored an ODI double-hundred only to end up on the losing side? Steven Lynch has the answers in this week's Ask Steven.
Watch: Which team-mate's scoop shot would Eoin Morgan steal to build the perfect batter?
The former England captain picks shots from his colleagues, some stalwarts and a countryman to build his ideal batter.
The former England captain picks shots from his colleagues, some stalwarts and a countryman to build his ideal batter.
Mignon du Preez may have quit internationals but she's still in cricket full-time
The former South Africa batter and captain looks back at her career, ahead to the World Cup in her country, and league life after.
The former South Africa batter and captain looks back at her career, ahead to the World Cup in her country, and league life after.
Chamari Athapaththu: 'I have a big responsibility, but I love that pressure'
As Sri Lanka's most experienced and most successful T20I player, she has been carrying the team almost on her own but feels that with a lot of youngsters coming through, she can play freely now.
As Sri Lanka's most experienced and most successful T20I player, she has been carrying the team almost on her own but feels that with a lot of youngsters coming through, she can play freely now.
Watch: Would Suzie Bates rather face Lea Tahuhu or Hayley Jensen?
We also asked the New Zealand allrounder to pick between the Smash sisters and the Kerr sisters, batting with Sophie Devine or Amy Satterthwaite, and more.
We also asked the New Zealand allrounder to pick between the Smash sisters and the Kerr sisters, batting with Sophie Devine or Amy Satterthwaite, and more.