In Case You Missed It: West Indies showcase depth, England-Australia make case for more Women's Tests
The best content from the week gone by
ESPNcricinfo staff
05-Feb-2022
The big draw: Women's Tests couldn't have asked for a better advertisement • Getty Images
In a thrilling week of cricket, Australia women retained the Ashes after winning their first ODI while the only Test of the series went down to the wire. England and West Indies broke records aplenty in the pursuit of a T20I series win, while India beat Australia to make their fourth consecutive Under-19 World Cup final, where they face off against England. Catch up on the action and the best stories of the week in our round-up.
Test ends in thrilling draw after brave England score record fourth-innings total
The clamour for more women's Tests got a whole lot louder after a thrilling last-day draw in the only Test of the Ashes. Chasing 257 to win, England made the highest fourth-innings score in women's Test history. With two overs left in the final day, England needed 13 runs and Australia just one wicket. In the first innings Heather Knight's 168 not out made history as the highest score by a visiting batter in Australia in women's Tests. Is it the highest score by an England women's captain in a Test? Steven Lynch had the answer.
The clamour for more women's Tests got a whole lot louder after a thrilling last-day draw in the only Test of the Ashes. Chasing 257 to win, England made the highest fourth-innings score in women's Test history. With two overs left in the final day, England needed 13 runs and Australia just one wicket. In the first innings Heather Knight's 168 not out made history as the highest score by a visiting batter in Australia in women's Tests. Is it the highest score by an England women's captain in a Test? Steven Lynch had the answer.
Jason Holder's four-in-four puts seal on West Indies' series
Holder became the fourth bowler to take four wickets in four balls in T20Is and Akeal Hosein picked up another four wickets as England were derailed in series decider. The T20I series also saw a number of records tumble, including for the most sixes in a bilateral T20I series, and also served as a reminder of West Indies' depth of short-form talent. Matt Roller looks at the lessons England can take from the T20I series defeat on their death bowling, fringe batting and how to defend, and says they haven't suddenly become a bad T20I side by any means.
Holder became the fourth bowler to take four wickets in four balls in T20Is and Akeal Hosein picked up another four wickets as England were derailed in series decider. The T20I series also saw a number of records tumble, including for the most sixes in a bilateral T20I series, and also served as a reminder of West Indies' depth of short-form talent. Matt Roller looks at the lessons England can take from the T20I series defeat on their death bowling, fringe batting and how to defend, and says they haven't suddenly become a bad T20I side by any means.
Langer's future still in limbo after eight-hour CA board meeting
Cricket Australia has confirmed it will now enter into confidential discussions with Langer over his future, but Alex Malcolm says CA can't kick the Langer can any further down the road.
Cricket Australia has confirmed it will now enter into confidential discussions with Langer over his future, but Alex Malcolm says CA can't kick the Langer can any further down the road.
Yash Dhull - controlling the controllables, following the Kohli plan, raising the bar
As India head into their fourth straight U-19 World Cup final, Sreshth Shah says the team captain, in bouncing back from Covid-19 and doing his job with aplomb, has shown tremendous character at the World Cup.
As India head into their fourth straight U-19 World Cup final, Sreshth Shah says the team captain, in bouncing back from Covid-19 and doing his job with aplomb, has shown tremendous character at the World Cup.
How Brendan Taylor got into a fix
The former Zimbabwe captain last week announced that the ICC was expected to announce a multi-year ban on his career for failing to report a corrupt approach. Nagraj Gollapudi has details of the former Zimbabwe captain's dealings with the corruptor "Mr S".
The former Zimbabwe captain last week announced that the ICC was expected to announce a multi-year ban on his career for failing to report a corrupt approach. Nagraj Gollapudi has details of the former Zimbabwe captain's dealings with the corruptor "Mr S".
The future is tall
The great batters have historically been on the shorter side. T20 is changing that. Tim Wigmore looks at why.
The great batters have historically been on the shorter side. T20 is changing that. Tim Wigmore looks at why.
Virat Kohli and Joe Root: a tale of two contrasting captains
Ian Chappell looks at the two captains' legacies - one burned with the desire to win and excel at Test cricket, the other has been the epitome of poor leadership, compounded by bad luck.
Ian Chappell looks at the two captains' legacies - one burned with the desire to win and excel at Test cricket, the other has been the epitome of poor leadership, compounded by bad luck.
India need a white-ball philosophy that doesn't revolve around their best batters
Aakash Chopra takes apart India's white-ball methodology and says they do not have a distinct and well-defined approach, like England have, and that has hurt them.
Aakash Chopra takes apart India's white-ball methodology and says they do not have a distinct and well-defined approach, like England have, and that has hurt them.
India in the Un19 World Cups: 'Seeing that team win the tournament under Virat was massive'
Mandeep Singh, Shreevats Goswami, Reetinder Sodhi, Harshal Patel and Ishan Porel look back at the U-19 World Cups they have been part of and talk about the tournament's impact on their careers.
Mandeep Singh, Shreevats Goswami, Reetinder Sodhi, Harshal Patel and Ishan Porel look back at the U-19 World Cups they have been part of and talk about the tournament's impact on their careers.
IPL keeper-batter watch: Kishan, de Kock, Bairstow and more
The IPL mega auction is a little more than a week away and Gaurav Sundararaman and Nagraj Gollapudi have a list of players to trigger fierce bidding wars on February 12 and 13.
The IPL mega auction is a little more than a week away and Gaurav Sundararaman and Nagraj Gollapudi have a list of players to trigger fierce bidding wars on February 12 and 13.
Players don't need privacy. They need to say more stupid things on stump mics
Andrew Fidel Fernando is all for more stump-mic leaks, as he looks at all the hot topics in cricket, including the Nigerian princes writing emails to Brendan Taylor, in this month's Briefing.
Andrew Fidel Fernando is all for more stump-mic leaks, as he looks at all the hot topics in cricket, including the Nigerian princes writing emails to Brendan Taylor, in this month's Briefing.
Fakhar, Babar, and Rizwan: How can Pakistan fit three into two?
All three have proven to be more than competent openers, but with only two slots available, who will make way for the T20 World Cup? Danyal Rasool takes a look.
All three have proven to be more than competent openers, but with only two slots available, who will make way for the T20 World Cup? Danyal Rasool takes a look.
Harshal Patel: 'I learnt how to express myself in games without worrying about whether I'm going to play the next match'
How did an "impatient, immature" youngster sort his mind and his game to go on to become the top wicket-taker in the IPL? He tells Shashank Kishore.
How did an "impatient, immature" youngster sort his mind and his game to go on to become the top wicket-taker in the IPL? He tells Shashank Kishore.
'At times I think: one day this will be over, and if I get picked for India, can I make a difference?'
Jaydev Unadkat, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Faiz Fazal talk about what it's been like for fringe India players missing nearly two Ranji seasons now.
Jaydev Unadkat, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Faiz Fazal talk about what it's been like for fringe India players missing nearly two Ranji seasons now.