Tag Futebol

In 2019, Pant has scored just one half-century across 21 appearances for India in white-ball games

Sruthi Ravindranath09-Nov-20190:56

Kumar Sangakkara analyses Rishabh Pant’s keeping technique

Rishabh Pant has been the topic of a lot of debate in recent times and Rohit Sharma, for one, feels the young wicketkeeper-batsman must be “allowed to do what he wants to do on the field” and be left alone.After criticism about his shot selection, Pant the wicketkeeper came under scrutiny after he fluffed a chance to stump Liton Das in the second T20I when he collected the ball marginally in front of the stumps, which resulted in the delivery being called a no-ball.”There’s a lot of talk happening about Rishabh Pant, every day, every minute,” Rohit said on the eve of the third T20I in Nagpur. “I just feel that he needs to be allowed to do what he wants to do on the field. And I would request everyone to just keep your eyes away from Rishabh Pant for a while.He is a young guy, probably 21-22 now, trying to make his mark in international cricket, every move he makes on the field, people start talking about it.”While that might be Rohit’s position on Pant, other senior members of the Indian team set-up haven’t shied away from speaking about the youngster in the recent past. Ravi Shastri had called for a “rap on the knuckles” for Pant for his reckless batting, Vikram Rathour had spoken about the importance of being fearless without being careless, and captain Virat Kohli had called on him to read situations better.”I think it’s not fair, I think we should just allow him to play his cricket, which he also actually wants. And yes, focus on him a lot more when he is doing good things also, not just the bad things,” Rohit said. “He has kept well, he is learning every game, and yes, he is just doing whatever the team management wants him (to do). He is a very fearless cricketer, and we want him to have that freedom. And if you guys just keep your eyes a little bit away from him, it will allow him to perform even better.”Since the start of the year, Pant has scored just one half-century across limited-overs internationals, making 195 runs in 12 matches at an average of 21.66 in T20Is and 188 runs in nine games at 23.50 in ODIs. He played all three formats in the West Indies in August, but though he was retained in the T20Is against South Africa, he was replaced by Wriddhiman Saha for the Tests.While former players including Yuvraj Singh have backed Pant, India’s selectors have also made it clear that they want to persist with him across formats.On being asked what would be his piece of advice to youngsters like Pant – and Shreyas Iyer – Rohit said: “Both of them (are) very talented, have great abilities in whatever they do, and yes, definitely the future of Indian cricket, for sure. And they have proved it whenever they have played for their franchise, domestic cricket. They are just trying to make their mark in international cricket.Rishabh Pant exchanges notes with Rohit Sharma in the nets•Getty Images

“All I would tell them is (to) just understand their game, which is very, very important in whatever format you play, and feeling confident about yourself is very important. I think they are working hard towards their game, and I don’t see any reason why they can’t get the results on the ground. They have everything that is required to be successful at the international level. They work really hard on their games and yes, at the same time they are learning also. They are very new to this set-up. They are learning every game and with experience in a year or two, you will see them batting differently.”All we want them to do is to just go out there and enjoy, and be fearless. That would be the message from my side. Because as a young player when you are coming into the side, that is what you look forward to, having that freedom from the management. That is what we are here to assure them, that ‘you have all the backing that you need, you have all the freedom that you need, so just go out there and express yourself’. That is when players like these give you the best performance.”Over to the bowling unit, and while India have been attempting to give more and more players a chance in the lead up to the T20 World Cup next year, not all of them have grabbed their chances yet. Khaleel Ahmed, for one.”This is the time for youngsters to learn. We always say that playing domestic cricket is important and learn more. Till you don’t play international cricket you won’t know where you stand as a bowler,” Rohit said. “I think this is a good challenge for our bowling group because you’re playing against an international team. They will always challenge you, batsmen will play shots and challenge you. You won’t know where is your bowling until you’re put under pressure. I think for these bowlers it’s a good time to know where they stand.”

MCC to emulate SCG’s pink Test, and honour memory of Andrew Strauss’s wife, who died in December of cancer

Matt Roller16-Jul-2019Lord’s will transform from a smattering of egg-and-bacon into a sea of red on the second day of the second Ashes Test – on August 15 – in a show of support for the Ruth Strauss Foundation, set up this year as a tribute to former England captain Andrew Strauss’ late wife, who died after a battle with a rare form of lung cancer.The move will see the players of the two teams wear red caps and red stumps being used, with fans in attendance encouraged to wear red. It’s an almost direct parallel to Pink Stumps Day at the SCG in honour of the Jane McGrath Foundation.”The one huge opportunity you have as an ex-cricketer is to use that platform to raise awareness for what you’re trying to do,” Strauss, who served as ECB’s director of cricket after finishing up as a cricketer, said. “As soon as you go down that train of thought you think about the incredible work the McGrath Foundation has done in Sydney, and you think is that possible to replicate in this country.”I’ve played all my cricket here [for Middlesex] at Lord’s, and it’s an Ashes Test – you just think ‘wow, if the MCC are willing and able to make this happen, are willing to support it, we can put this together’.”Strauss said he had been “blown away” by “the incredible wave of support from the cricket family and fraternity” since his wife’s passing on December 29 last year.”This is the embodiment of that,” he said. “Doors have been opened that usually wouldn’t be opened and everyone’s said, ‘yeah, let’s do it, let’s make it a special day’.”I’m hopeful that it’s going to be a successful day for the foundation and a great spectacle – an addition to what’s going on on the pitch – it’s an incredibly important game and incredibly important day.”Strauss met his wife-to-be in a Sydney bar in 1998 while playing grade cricket during the winter, and were married five years later. Ruth, a non-smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017, and Strauss stepped away his job as England team director to care for her at the time, though he formally resigned only in October 2018.Strauss played in one of the earliest Pink Tests in the 2010-11 Ashes, which England won to seal the series 3-1.”My recollection of the Pink Test was how keen all the players were to support Glenn McGrath and support him, and what the charity was doing,” he recalled. “It added an extra dimension to the Test match and maybe a moment to pause and reflect and go ‘it’s an Ashes series, we’re all at each other’s throats and desperately want to win, but in the greater scheme of things there’s more important things out there’.”I loved the day, I thought they did it brilliantly, and I loved the way the Australian public connected and bought into that as a concept.”McGrath and Strauss have been in regular discussion about the personal aspect of dealing with grief while in the public eye, as well as the day itself. “He’s a great man,” Strauss said, “and it’s incredible to see how successful that foundation has been in Australia.”Strauss has spoken publicly about dealing with grief in a handful of newspaper interviews, and the effect Ruth’s passing has had on his two sons, Sam and Luca.The World Cup final on Sunday coincided with Luca’s 11th birthday, and Strauss said that it had been a bittersweet moment. “Time has passed by so quickly,” he said. “It’s been so incredibly busy for me and the boys – a lot of distraction there which has been great, but there are touch points where it really hits you.”Sunday was an incredible day for him to come and watch the World Cup final and how it unfolded, but the night before and the mornings were moments where it hit you that there were three of us there rather than four. Grief is not something that dies overnight – it hits you forever, but it evolves and changes.”

The 20-year-old pace bowler is highly-rated and tipped to have a future with England

George Dobell07-Jun-2018Josh Tongue, the Worcestershire seamer, could be out of action until mid-August having suffered a “stress reaction” in his left foot.Tongue, 20, toured with the England Lions training camp over the winter and had an excellent chance in featuring in their squad this summer. He claimed nine wickets in his most recent Championship match and came relatively close to a call-up during the Ashes as injuries bit deep into England’s seam-bowling resources. As one of the most talented seamers in the England game, he has every chance of playing at the highest level.With Worcestershire hoping Tongue will be fit to return for their final six Championship matches of the season, it is possible he will only miss three games in the competition. Already established as a key bowler in their Championship side – he has a first-class bowling average of 24.52 after 20 matches – he was not certain to feature in their T20 side and had already been rested from several of their Royal London games.Tongue first felt pain in his foot while warming up ahead of the Royal London match against Nottinghamshire. A subsequent scan showed the stress reaction in the fifth metatarsal, which is the long bone on the outside of the foot that connects to the little toe.”It is a blow to lose Josh who showed last season how much potential he has got,” head coach Kevin Sharp said.”But there is nothing you can do about injuries. We just have to get on with it and hope we will have Josh back for the final part of the season and those final six Championship matches which is still a lot of cricket.”If his rehabilitation progresses as Worcestershire plan, they hope Tongue will be available for the match against Yorkshire in Scarborough in mid-August. That would also give him several weeks to impress the England scouts ahead of the selection for the winter tours.Tongue’s place in the Worcestershire side for their key Royal London match at Edgbaston was taken by 19-year-old Dillon Pennington. Like Tongue, he is a highly-rated young fast bowler who has made his way through the club’s youth system and impressed with England U-19s. The Edgbaston match is his first-team debut.

The Mumbai Cricket Association and Maharashtra Cricket Association have moved the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order that ruled that May’s IPL matches be moved out of Maharashtra

Arun Venugopal22-Apr-2016The Mumbai Cricket Association and Maharashtra Cricket Association have moved the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order that ruled that all IPL 2016 matches scheduled to be played in Maharashtra in May should be moved out.The Mumbai Cricket Association’s plea, according to PTI, was put before a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh, who listed the matter for hearing on April 25. The association said in its plea it will not use potable water for the pitches but treated sewage water instead.”Both of us [the MCA and the Maharashtra Cricket Association] have filed separate petitions. [Our contention] is that there is loss of revenue and diminishing of job opportunities,” MCA joint-secretary Unmesh Khanvilkar told ESPNcricinfo. “We are challenging it on that [ground] only because we are ready to use [treated] sewage water for the matches. Even without the IPL, we use the water to maintain the grass.”

PIL against IPL games in Jaipur

The Rajasthan High Court, according to reports, asked the state government on Thursday why IPL 2016 matches should be held in the state where the water situation is worse than in Maharashtra. The query was put forward after a PIL questioning the decision to shift IPL matches into the state was filed a day earlier. The state government has to reply by April 27.
The court also issued notices to the Rajasthan Cricket Association and the state’s Public Health Engineering Department. According to ANI, there have been protests in Jaipur against the matches being moved into the city.
Mumbai Indians had opted for Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium as their alternative home venue, after the Bombay High Court ruling that matches be moved out of Maharashtra. Rising Pune Supergiants, the other franchise based in Maharashtra, had listed Visakhapatnam as their alternative venue.

Khanvilkar said that while they haven’t used treated sewage water in the past, they have started doing so for a month now. According to the , senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Mumbai Cricket Assocation, told the apex court that the association is not against the suffering people of Marathwada who are reeling under drought.The Bombay High Court’s ruling had come after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) questioned the hosting of IPL matches in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur while severe drought persisted in Maharashtra. The court had sought an explanation from the BCCI and the state associations on why water should be “wasted” on hosting the games when the state faced one of its worst ever droughts, before delivering a ruling that originally affected 13 matches, including the final which was to be held in Mumbai on May 29.But the court later granted permission to conduct the match between Rising Pune Supergiants and Mumbai Indians in Pune on May 1, after the BCCI had sought permission for the same citing logistical difficulties due to a short turnaround time from the match between Supergiants and Gujarat Lions on April 29 at the same venue. So, eventually, Pune will miss out on five matches, including the Eliminator and the second Qualifier, while no games will be held in Nagpur.

Table-toppers Ireland, who have 40 points from their first two matches, will take on Papua New Guinea in the third round of the Intercontinental Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Dec-2015

Fixtures

Intercontinental Cup
Hong Kong v Scotland, Mission Road, January 21-24
UAE v Netherlands, Abu Dhabi, January 21-24
PNG v Ireland, Townsville, January 31-February 3
Afghanistan v Namibia, TBC, April 10-13
World Cricket League
Hong Kong v Scotland, Mission Road, January 26 and 28
UAE v Netherlands, Abu Dhabi, January 27 and 29
Nepal v Namibia, Kathmandu (subject to infrastructure/security assessment), April 16 and 18
PNG v Kenya, TBC, April/May

Table-toppers Ireland, who have 40 points from their first two matches, will take on Papua New Guinea in the third round of the Intercontinental Cup. Their match will be held in Townsville from January 31 to February 3. PNG, who have one win and a loss from their first two games, are currently fifth on 20 points.Netherlands, in second place on 26 points, will travel to Abu Dhabi to take on beleaguered UAE, who are rock bottom with two defeats from two games. Afghanistan, in third place with 21 points, have a long wait ahead of them before their next Intercontinental Cup fixture, against Namibia from April 10 to 13.In the 50-over World Cricket League, meanwhile, four teams are tied on top of the table with six points each from four matches. Two of those four teams, Hong Kong and Scotland, will face off twice against each other, at Mission Road on January 26 and 28. Nepal and Namibia, meanwhile, have a chance of climbing out of the bottom half of the table when they face each other in Kathmandu on April 16 and 18.

It took just 16.5 over for defending champions, Assupol TUKS, to outscore Loughborough Marylebone Cricket Club University and win the Red Bull Campus Cricket World title by eight wickets at the Abhimanyu Cricket Academy, Dehradun on Saturday.

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Oct-2015It took just 16.5 over for defending champions, Assupol TUKS, to outscore Loughborough Marylebone Cricket Club University and win the Red Bull Campus Cricket World title by eight wickets at the Abhimanyu Cricket Academy, Dehradun on Saturday.TUKS had a poor start to the tournament and lost their first Group match against International College of Business and Technology by two wickets on October 19.The loss didn’t dent TUKS’ confidence as they regrouped to win three-straight matches to lift the title for the second-year running.TUKS won the toss and put their opponents from England in to bat first. Their opening bowlers, Corbin Bosch and Lungi Ngidi, kept a strong LMCC top order in check.Anish Patel, LMCC’s captain, fell in the third over for just eight. Irfan Karim and Nitish Kumar then added 31 runs for the second wicket, before the latter departed in the seventh over.LMCC hoped to build partnerships thereafter, but they failed, as medium-pacer – Vincent Moore – ran through the middle-order by claiming three wickets. Dustin Melton added to LMCC’s woes and picked up two wickets.Karim was LMCC’s top-scorer with a solid 42. His departure in the 17th over cost his side, who managed just 120 in their 20 overs.TUKS batsmen, buoyed by a strong show by their bowlers, began confidently. Openers Aiden Markram and Murray Coetzee added 88 runs for the first wicket.When Markram departed in the 11th over, TUKS was just 32-runs adrift from winning the title. Coetzee remained unbeaten and took his side home in the 17th over.

Sachin Tendulkar will return as the Mumbai Indians captain for the sixth edition of the IPL, which will commence on April 3

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Feb-2013Sachin Tendulkar will return as the Mumbai Indians captain for the sixth edition of the IPL, which will commence on April 3. Tendulkar, who will turn 40 during the course of IPL 6, had given up the Mumbai franchise’s captaincy after IPL 2011 and his India team-mate, Harbhajan Singh, had taken over.ESPNcricinfo understands that Tendulkar agreed to lead the team this year after Harbhajan, who had captained the franchise owned by the Reliance Industries Ltd in the Champions League 2011 and IPL 2012, expressed his inability to continue in the role.The development on the eve of the player auction puts to rest all speculation that Mumbai Indians are likely to go all out for Ricky Ponting or Michael Clarke during Sunday’s auction, as a captaincy candidate.Tendulkar, who missed the first seven games of IPL’s inaugural edition due to injury, was at Mumbai Indians’ helm since its inception. After he passed on the reins to Harbhajan, Mumbai Indians won their maiden title when they claimed the Champions League T20 title in 2011. In IPL 2012, under Harbhajan, Mumbai Indians made it to the knockouts where they lost to Chennai Super Kings in the Eliminator.

West Indies have included batsman June Ogle-Thomas in their squad of 13 for the first three one-dayers when South Africa arrive to play five ODIs and two Twenty20s in January. The squad is led by Merissa Aguilleira

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Dec-2012West Indies Women have included June Ogle-Thomas, a 26-year old batsman from Guyana, in their squad of 13 for the first three one-dayers, when South Africa Women arrive in the Caribbean to play five ODIs and two Twenty20s in January next year. West Indies will be led by Merissa Aguilleira, under whom they reached the semi-finals of the Women’s World Twenty20.The squad includes vice-captain Stefanie Taylor, who was adjudged the ODI Player of the Year at the ICC Awards in September. In the World Twenty20, Taylor scored 74 runs in four matches and was the joint third highest wicket-taker in the competition, with six wickets. Deandra Dottin, the only player to have scored a century in a women’s Twenty20 international, will also bolster the batting. Experienced offspinner Anisa Mohammed will lead the bowling line-up.Batsman Britney Cooper and allrounder Stacy Ann-King, who were part of the Women’s World Twenty20 squad, have been excluded.West Indies last played an ODI in April 2012, when Sri Lanka had visited the Caribbean to play three matches. They won the series 2-1, thanks to productive contributions from batsman Shanel Daley, who scored 150 runs in the series, and Mohammed, who took seven wickets.”We have a good team and we are really focused on the upcoming series against South Africa. We have done very well against them in recent years and as a team we strongly believe we can beat them in this series as well,” Aguilleira said. “We always enjoy playing at home and we are especially comfortable in St Kitts, where we will start the series. Warner Park has been a good hunting ground for us, so that’s the perfect place to get going. We look forward to a good series as we prepare for the World Cup in India.”The series, to be played in St Kitts, Dominica and St Lucia, will serve as preparation for the World Cup in India in January and February.Squad: Merissa Aguilleira (capt), Stefanie Taylor (vc), Shemaine Campbelle, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Kycia Knight, Anisa Mohammed, Subrina Munroe, Juliana Nero, June Ogle-Thomas, Shakera Selman, Tremayne Smartt, Shaquana Quintyne.

Kian and Michael Blignaut, twins and sons of former Zimbabwe allrounder Andy Blignaut, also feature in the squad

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Dec-2025Simbarashe Mudzengerere has been named the captain of Zimbabwe’s 15-member squad for the men’s Under-19 World Cup, which takes place from January 15 to February 6.Mudzengerere, a right-hand batter and medium pacer, has captained the Under-19 national side since making his debut for them against Ireland, in Harare, on April 10 this year. He bowled a tidy spell of 1 for 28, before returning to make 37 from the middle order in a successful chase.Their squad also features Kian and Michael Blignaut, who are twins and the sons of former Zimbabwe allrounder Andy Blignaut.The U-19 coach, Elton Chigumbura, said: “We are going in with a winning mindset. This group can compete with, and beat, the best teams. Success will come from executing our processes, staying disciplined and sticking to our roles. If we do that consistently, we give ourselves a real chance to go all the way.”Zimbabwe are co-hosts of the tournament, alongside Namibia. Harare Sports Club and Takashinga Cricket Club in Bulwayo, and the Queens Sports Club in Harare, will be hosting matches played in the country. On the pressures of playing at familiar venues, Chigumbura said: “Playing at home is an advantage – we understand the conditions and we will have great support behind us.”The tournament features four groups, consisting of four teams each, with each side facing the three others as part of their group stage fixtures. Zimbabwe have been placed in Group C: they will be playing Scotland on 15 January, England on 18 January, and Pakistan on 22 January. After a Super Sixes stage, the top four teams then face off in the semi-finals on February 3 and 4, before the winners play in the final at Harare on February 6.Zimbabwe begin their preparation with warm-up matches against United States of America on January 10, followed by New Zealand at Masvingo Sports Club on January 12.Zimbabwe squad for U-19 World CupSimbarashe Mudzengerere (c), Kian Blignaut, Michael Blignaut, Leeroy Chiwaula, Tatenda Chimugoro, Brendon Senzere, Nathaniel Hlabangana, Takudzwa Makoni, Panashe Mazai, Webster Madhidhi, Shelton Mazvitorera, Kupakwashe Muradzi, Brandon Ndiweni, Dhruv Patel, Benny Zuze

The battle for supremacy in Group C of the T20 World Cup heats up

Sreshth Shah07-Jun-20241:03

Is Kane Williamson’s lack of match practice a worry for NZ?

Match details

New Zealand vs Afghanistan
June 7, Providence, 7:30pm local

Big picture: NZ face a tricky start

Since 2015, no team has been more successful in making it to the knockout stages of a World Cup than New Zealand. They’ve made the semi-finals in each of the six white-ball events since – including three finals – and yet, the trophy cabinet is empty. But if they don’t hit the ground running right away in a group that also includes co-hosts West Indies, their current campaign could very well end early.They take the field for the first time on Friday and a challenge awaits them straightaway. Guyana has been the most spinner-friendly venue of T20 World Cup 2024 and Afghanistan are arguably the strongest spin-bowling outfit in the world. When you take into account New Zealand’s less-than-ideal prep with no official warm-up games played, one wonders if they will turn up undercooked against a unit that has Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi and potentially Noor Ahmad.However, one of the reasons why New Zealand did not play a warm-up was because many of them were at the IPL, and those franchise regulars like Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner and Trent Boult could make a difference. They are also boosted by the return of Finn Allen and Devon Conway from injury, and their various right-left batting options gives them various batting strategies.New Zealand have a few spin weapons of their own too. The West Indies is Santner’s favourite place to bowl in, where he averages 16.83 with an economy of 5.50 in T20s. Across the last two T20 World Cups, no bowler has had a higher average release point (2.27m) than Santner. This uniqueness and his ability to vary his release speed and angle will keep all teams on their toes this World Cup.The left-arm spin of Ravindra and the offspin of Phillips gives them flexibility, allowing them to field a strong side without Ish Sodhi in the XI. Factor in the swing of Boult, the pace of Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson, and a string of other seam options, and New Zealand are still very much a threat. For Afghanistan’s batting, that remains the biggest challenge on Friday. They’ll look at the settled opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran to put up a strong platform in pursuit of a second win in two games.

Form guide

New Zealand LWWLL (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Afghanistan WWWLW

In the spotlight – Williamson, Conway and Farooqi

Kane Williamson and Devon Conway are two of New Zealand’s top-three batters with next-to-zero game time recently. Conway missed the IPL with a finger injury that needed surgery while Williamson got only two games for Gujarat Titans. Neither have played a T20I game since January, but their experience is irreplaceable, especially if conditions are once again tricky for batting. Conway is proficient in scoring against all kinds of spin, however, Williamson could get bogged down by those who turn their stock ball away him, striking at only 106 since the T20 World Cup 2022.1:37

McClenaghan floored by Afghanistan bowling attack

Fazalhaq Farooqi showed against Uganda in Afghanistan’s first game that it’s not all about spinners in their team. In Providence, where this game will be played as well, he found significant deviation off the pitch and swung the ball nearly 2.5 degrees in the powerplay, more than twice that of the other bowlers. His 5 for 9 against Uganda was the fourth-best bowling figures in T20 World Cups, and Afghanistan will look for breakthroughs from him early so that the spinners could apply the squeeze sooner.Related

• Jimmy Neesham: 'I've embraced walking towards pressure in big moments'

• Williamson: 'Afghanistan have one of the better bowling attacks in the T20 World Cup'

• New Zealand battle rain and jetlag ahead of crunch World Cup opener

Team news: NZ assessing combinations

There are no injury concerns on either side. Afghanistan are likely to field the same XI while New Zealand will be considering their spin vs seam balance. Their resources are plenty: even if they keep out Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Tim Southee and Sodhi, they still have eight bowling and eight batting options.New Zealand (probable): 1 Devon Conway, 2 Finn Allen (wk), 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Mark Chapman/Rachin Ravindra, 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 James Neesham, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Lockie FergusonAfghanistan (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Najibullah Zadran, 4 Mohammad Nabi, 5 Gulbadin Naib, 6 Azmatullah Omarzai, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Karim Janat, 9 Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Pitch and conditions: Spin and rain on the radar

The pitch in Guyana has been sluggish, making chasing the preferred way to go. Since 2022, teams chasing have won 19 of the 27 games and two of the three games in this World Cup. The average first-innings winning score is around 184, however, chances of a shortened game are high with some rain forecast through the evening in Providence.

Stats that matter

• Spinners have an economy of 5.28 in Guyana at this World Cup and have taken 17 wickets, averaging 17.82 apiece. No other venue has seen more than seven wickets to spinners.
• Boult has only three T20I wickets in 13 innings across 26 powerplay overs since 2022, averaging a surprising 67.33 in the phase.
• In matches between Full Members since the last T20 World Cup, Afghanistan’s spinners have the best average (19.45) and economy (6.72).

Quotes

“I think we saw in the 50-over World Cup we’re able to compete with any side in the world. And that’s our philosophy here. So, every game that we play, we expect to put ourselves in a winning position. Or fight to win every single game. So tomorrow that’s no different.”
“We’ve been predominantly training in the day and there are some large differences between day and night in terms of conditions. But from the couple of matches that have been played, it looks like a reasonable wicket, a good wicket, a fair wicket at the same time. Bit there for the bowlers but equally decent for the batters.”