Around the time that news broke from inside the corridors of the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai that Sanjay Bangar had all but lost his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-opener-vikram-rathour-set-to-replace-sanjay-bangar-as-indias-batting-coach-244929">position of batting coach</a> of the Indian cricket team, visuals of Bangar on the balcony at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at North Sound, Antigua were shown during the first Test against West Indies.

The former India allrounder sat between Bharat Arun and Ravi Shastri, India’s bowling coach and head coach respectively, each of whom have kept their jobs. Standing next to Shastri was India skipper Virat Kohli.

It is now known whether Bangar – who also serves as India’s assistant coach – knew at the time that he was, in all probability, out of a job come the end of India’s tour of the West Indies next month. The BCCI selection committee had unanimously chosen former India Test opener and national selector Vikram Rathour as the next batting coach of the national team. Only formalities remain to confirm Rathour, 50, as the man to coach India’s batsmen from the home series against South Africa in September until the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup.

Arun aside, the other specialist coach in the Indian team setup, fielding coach R Sridhar, also had his contract renewed for two years on Thursday.

That means that only Bangar lost his job.

When asked by reporters in Mumbai why Bangar, who has been with the Indian team as batting coach since 2014, when he joined Shastri, Arun and Sridhar in a clean-up job by the BCCI, the chief selector MSK Prasad did not provide a specific reason.

“In the last five years, there is definitely some amount of improvement. Looking ahead, with the Test Championship coming up and two T20 World Cups, we thought that there should be freshness in the department. That’s the reason why we went ahead with Vikram Rathour as first choice,” he said.

The obvious question is, was Bangar made the scapegoat for India’s batting frailties during the 2019 World Cup, which culminated in defeat to New Zealand in the semi-final?

The “freshness” in the batting theory, which Prasad touched upon but did not elaborate on, will not set well with everyone. Such decisions rarely do.

It can be argued that since Bangar, Arun and Sridhar all came on board together in 2014, under Shastri, why weren’t the other two assistant coaches removed from their roles?

CricketCountry has learnt that the decision to replace Bangar was taken because the selectors were in agreement that a new pair of eyes were needed on India’s current crop of batsmen. With regards to Arun, the overall feeling was that the rise of India’s fast bowlers since he took over as bowling coach augured extremely well and that relationship should be continued with. Indeed, there has never been a pace pool like Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav all in the same squad, and the success of these bowlers has helped India become No 1 in Tests.

India’s bowling unit is apparently closer to Arun than the batsmen are to Bangar, and there is a view within the management that coaching bowlers is more technical than coaching batsmen. Hence the decision to continue with the same rhythm in place.

In regards to Sridhar’s reappointment, the rising standards of India’s fielding – even though the team’s slip cordon in Tests has issues still – merited his continuation.

As it stands, India’s support staff will be finalised by the end of August but the catch is that Rathour has to declare any cases of a conflict of interest, otherwise Bangar will be re-appointed.

Rathour, who averaged 13.10 from six Tests and 49.66 from 146 first-class matches, had earlier this year been recommended to the BCCI by Rahul Dravid, the coach of India A and India Under-19s, who wanted the former Punjab batsman and qualified coach on board as a batting coach.

In February, Rathour was named as the batting coach of India A and U-19 teams and then in May, was roped in as the head coach of India A. But on both occasions, his appointment was cancelled by the Committee of Administrators (CoA) after the acting BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary sent a note of dissent citing the conflict of interest.

Rathour is the brother-in-law of Aashish Kapoor, the former India offspinner currently serving as chairman of India’s junior selection committee, and a cousin of Anurag Thakur, the former BCCI president and the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association president. Rathour, after his Punjab career ended, played for Himachal Pradesh.

It is learnt that Rathour’s case was apparently pushed by for Anurag Thakur, because on paper the former India opener’s CV does not make for impressing reading even though he is a qualified coach. On Thursday, the BCCI CEO Rahul Johri dismissed any conflict of interest claims, as you would expect him to.

As with Indian cricket, nothing is straightforward and the fate of Bangar and Rathour is not decided.

For now, keep an eye on Bangar if you spot him on TV again during the ongoing Test series.&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on Cricket Country. Read the <a href="https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/indias-batting-coach-vikram-rathour-over-sanjay-bangar-might-be-unanimous-but-its-not-straightforward-883102">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

Around the time that news broke from inside the corridors of the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai that Sanjay Bangar had all but lost his position of batting coach of the Indian cricket team, visuals of Bangar on the balcony at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at North Sound, Antigua were shown during the first Test against West Indies.

Around the time that news broke from inside the corridors of the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai that Sanjay Bangar had all but lost his position of batting coach of the Indian cricket team, visuals of Bangar on the balcony at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at North Sound, Antigua were shown during the first Test against West Indies. The former India allrounder sat between Bharat Arun and Ravi Shastri, India’s bowling coach and head coach respectively, each of whom have kept their jobs. Standing next to Shastri was India skipper Virat Kohli. It is now known whether Bangar – who also serves as India’s assistant coach – knew at the time that he was, in all probability, out of a job come the end of India’s tour of the West Indies next month. The BCCI selection committee had unanimously chosen former India Test opener and national selector Vikram Rathour as the next batting coach of the national team. Only formalities remain to confirm Rathour, 50, as the man to coach India’s batsmen from the home series against South Africa in September until the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup. Arun aside, the other specialist coach in the Indian team setup, fielding coach R Sridhar, also had his contract renewed for two years on Thursday. That means that only Bangar lost his job. When asked by reporters in Mumbai why Bangar, who has been with the Indian team as batting coach since 2014, when he joined Shastri, Arun and Sridhar in a clean-up job by the BCCI, the chief selector MSK Prasad did not provide a specific reason. “In the last five years, there is definitely some amount of improvement. Looking ahead, with the Test Championship coming up and two T20 World Cups, we thought that there should be freshness in the department. That’s the reason why we went ahead with Vikram Rathour as first choice,” he said. The obvious question is, was Bangar made the scapegoat for India’s batting frailties during the 2019 World Cup, which culminated in defeat to New Zealand in the semi-final? The “freshness” in the batting theory, which Prasad touched upon but did not elaborate on, will not set well with everyone. Such decisions rarely do. It can be argued that since Bangar, Arun and Sridhar all came on board together in 2014, under Shastri, why weren’t the other two assistant coaches removed from their roles? CricketCountry has learnt that the decision to replace Bangar was taken because the selectors were in agreement that a new pair of eyes were needed on India’s current crop of batsmen. With regards to Arun, the overall feeling was that the rise of India’s fast bowlers since he took over as bowling coach augured extremely well and that relationship should be continued with. Indeed, there has never been a pace pool like Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav all in the same squad, and the success of these bowlers has helped India become No 1 in Tests. India’s bowling unit is apparently closer to Arun than the batsmen are to Bangar, and there is a view within the management that coaching bowlers is more technical than coaching batsmen. Hence the decision to continue with the same rhythm in place. In regards to Sridhar’s reappointment, the rising standards of India’s fielding – even though the team’s slip cordon in Tests has issues still – merited his continuation. As it stands, India’s support staff will be finalised by the end of August but the catch is that Rathour has to declare any cases of a conflict of interest, otherwise Bangar will be re-appointed. Rathour, who averaged 13.10 from six Tests and 49.66 from 146 first-class matches, had earlier this year been recommended to the BCCI by Rahul Dravid, the coach of India A and India Under-19s, who wanted the former Punjab batsman and qualified coach on board as a batting coach. In February, Rathour was named as the batting coach of India A and U-19 teams and then in May, was roped in as the head coach of India A. But on both occasions, his appointment was cancelled by the Committee of Administrators (CoA) after the acting BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary sent a note of dissent citing the conflict of interest. Rathour is the brother-in-law of Aashish Kapoor, the former India offspinner currently serving as chairman of India’s junior selection committee, and a cousin of Anurag Thakur, the former BCCI president and the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association president. Rathour, after his Punjab career ended, played for Himachal Pradesh. It is learnt that Rathour’s case was apparently pushed by for Anurag Thakur, because on paper the former India opener’s CV does not make for impressing reading even though he is a qualified coach. On Thursday, the BCCI CEO Rahul Johri dismissed any conflict of interest claims, as you would expect him to. As with Indian cricket, nothing is straightforward and the fate of Bangar and Rathour is not decided. For now, keep an eye on Bangar if you spot him on TV again during the ongoing Test series. (This article was originally published on Cricket Country. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

India's batting coach: Vikram Rathour over Sanjay Bangar might be unanimous, but it's not straightforward

The World Cup is alive. Well, three of the top four look safe, but a few wins here and there and we may get a surprise fourth entrant. And hey, now that the rain has held off and we’ve had a several thrillers in the span of a few days, its actually turned out to be a pretty fun tournament.

Hosts and top-ranked England, touted as favourites well before the World Cup began, have been beaten by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the latter the upset of the tournament. Eoin Morgan‘s team now needs to win two of its remaining three matches to guarantee their place in the semi-finals. Their opponents? Australia, New Zealand and India.

The three teams that with them comprise the World Cup’s top four. New Zealand, who they last beat in a World Cup match back in 1992.

What works in England’s favour is that nobody else can win six matches in a row, so this keeps the home team in the green zone. They also have a good net run-rate (1.457). So, even one win out of three could be enough. On Tuesday, Eoin Morgan’s team plays defending champions Australia. A win for England here will be a big boost. A loss will throw the points table open wider.

Australia, second on the World Cup points table, also have a couple tough matches to play. England won’t be easy, New Zealand always punch above their weight and South Africa, their World Cup over, could be the banana peel. By the time Australia meet New Zealand at Lord’s on June 29, the Blackcaps may already have secured passage to the semi-finals if they beat Pakistan three days earlier at Edgbaston.

Kane Williamson‘s team, having just managed to beat West Indies at Old Trafford on Saturday, now need to win one of their remaining three matches – versus Pakistan, Australia and England – to make the semi-finals.

As they showed in tough chases against Bangladesh and South Africa, New Zealand have the stomach for a scrap. Ross Taylor did it against Bangladesh when the target was 245, Williamson stood up brilliantly to haul them to a last-over win when chasing 241 versus South Africa and against West Indies, both of them combined to put up a match-winning total, but just. For sheer drama, these three wins are right up there. New Zealand have escaped defeat thrice, so don’t expect them to buckle against England or India.

India, along with New Zealand the only team to not lose yet, squeezed past Afghanistan in Southampton. West Indies, Bangladesh, England and Sri Lanka remain. Virat Kohli‘s Indian cricket team must win twice to make it to the semis. Despite the loss of Bhuvneshwar Kumar for at least two matches – he is targeting the England game on June 30 – India have a very fine bowling attack and should make it comfortably. Questions hang over their middle order, which was exposed by Afghanistan’s spinners at The Rose Bowl.

Sri Lanka’s win over England has kept them in the hunt for the semi-finals. On six points, they have to win all three remaining fixtures – versus South Africa, West Indies and India – to get to 12. Two wins will give them 10 points, which may not be enough owing to the top four’s dominance. Other results will have to go their way.

One spot below Sri Lanka are Bangladesh, with five points. Today they play Afghanistan, who beat them at last year’s Asia Cup, India and Pakistan. If they beat Afghanistan in Southampton, Bangladesh will move to seven points. Getting past India will be tough, which means that their clash with Pakistan at Lord’s on July 5 could be make-or-break.

Pakistan, after beating South Africa by 49 runs at Lord’s, have five points. They still need to beat New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to finish on 11. For a team that oscillates from the awesome to the absurd, it is a nearly impossible task. But Mickey Arthur, their coach, believes it is possible, with a little help from other teams.

As things look today, Pakistan are competing with one of Australia and England for a spot in the final four. It may not require net run-rate, because England and Australia have even points to Pakistan’s odd.

West Indies, with just three points and games versus India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan to go, cannot make the semi-finals. South Africa and Afghanistan are eliminated. Each could do damage to others, provided they really lift their games.

Did anyone say this is a dull World Cup?

The World Cup is alive. Well, three of the top four look safe, but a few wins here and there and we may get a surprise fourth entrant. And hey, now that the rain has held off and we’ve had a several thrillers in the span of a few days, its actually turned out to be a pretty fun tournament.

The World Cup is alive. Well, three of the top four look safe, but a few wins here and there and we may get a surprise fourth entrant. And hey, now that the rain has held off and we’ve had a several thrillers in the span of a few days, its actually turned out to be a pretty fun tournament. Hosts and top-ranked England, touted as favourites well before the World Cup began, have been beaten by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the latter the upset of the tournament. Eoin Morgan‘s team now needs to win two of its remaining three matches to guarantee their place in the semi-finals. Their opponents? Australia, New Zealand and India. The three teams that with them comprise the World Cup’s top four. New Zealand, who they last beat in a World Cup match back in 1992. What works in England’s favour is that nobody else can win six matches in a row, so this keeps the home team in the green zone. They also have a good net run-rate (1.457). So, even one win out of three could be enough. On Tuesday, Eoin Morgan’s team plays defending champions Australia. A win for England here will be a big boost. A loss will throw the points table open wider. Australia, second on the World Cup points table, also have a couple tough matches to play. England won’t be easy, New Zealand always punch above their weight and South Africa, their World Cup over, could be the banana peel. By the time Australia meet New Zealand at Lord’s on June 29, the Blackcaps may already have secured passage to the semi-finals if they beat Pakistan three days earlier at Edgbaston. Kane Williamson‘s team, having just managed to beat West Indies at Old Trafford on Saturday, now need to win one of their remaining three matches – versus Pakistan, Australia and England – to make the semi-finals. As they showed in tough chases against Bangladesh and South Africa, New Zealand have the stomach for a scrap. Ross Taylor did it against Bangladesh when the target was 245, Williamson stood up brilliantly to haul them to a last-over win when chasing 241 versus South Africa and against West Indies, both of them combined to put up a match-winning total, but just. For sheer drama, these three wins are right up there. New Zealand have escaped defeat thrice, so don’t expect them to buckle against England or India. India, along with New Zealand the only team to not lose yet, squeezed past Afghanistan in Southampton. West Indies, Bangladesh, England and Sri Lanka remain. Virat Kohli‘s Indian cricket team must win twice to make it to the semis. Despite the loss of Bhuvneshwar Kumar for at least two matches – he is targeting the England game on June 30 – India have a very fine bowling attack and should make it comfortably. Questions hang over their middle order, which was exposed by Afghanistan’s spinners at The Rose Bowl. Sri Lanka’s win over England has kept them in the hunt for the semi-finals. On six points, they have to win all three remaining fixtures – versus South Africa, West Indies and India – to get to 12. Two wins will give them 10 points, which may not be enough owing to the top four’s dominance. Other results will have to go their way. One spot below Sri Lanka are Bangladesh, with five points. Today they play Afghanistan, who beat them at last year’s Asia Cup, India and Pakistan. If they beat Afghanistan in Southampton, Bangladesh will move to seven points. Getting past India will be tough, which means that their clash with Pakistan at Lord’s on July 5 could be make-or-break. Pakistan, after beating South Africa by 49 runs at Lord’s, have five points. They still need to beat New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to finish on 11. For a team that oscillates from the awesome to the absurd, it is a nearly impossible task. But Mickey Arthur, their coach, believes it is possible, with a little help from other teams. As things look today, Pakistan are competing with one of Australia and England for a spot in the final four. It may not require net run-rate, because England and Australia have even points to Pakistan’s odd. West Indies, with just three points and games versus India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan to go, cannot make the semi-finals. South Africa and Afghanistan are eliminated. Each could do damage to others, provided they really lift their games. Did anyone say this is a dull World Cup?

Cricket World Cup semi-final scenario: Pakistan stay alive, England vs Australia at Lord's key to shaping top four

As with the previous fixture at the County Ground a few days ago, inclement weather threatens to dominate Tuesday’s match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

The Sri Lankan team have been camped in Bristol since June 5, and have not had to take the field. On June 7, their match with Pakistan here was washed out without a ball bowled, which gave them one point. Coming after a loss to New Zealand and a narrow win over Afghanistan, Sri Lanka will be desperate to get any sort of match on Tuesday.

With the weather forecast looking bad for game day, even a T20 will do for both teams.

Over the last two years, in ODIs, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are level at 2-2. Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh’s skipper, did not choose to dwell on that a day before this match. For him, the talk about Bangladesh having beaten Bangladesh in the 2011 and 2015 World Cups amounted to zilch, because when the teams met last week his was on the wrong end of a heavy loss.

With two defeats in a row, Bangladesh are struggling to play catchup when it comes to the semi-finals. Mortaza spoke of how tough it is for the team to make it, because he expected to beat New Zealand. The situation is uphill for his team, and with the weather not looking promising the frustration could pile up on Bangladesh.

Match details

What: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh

When: Tuesday, June 11

Where: County Ground, Bristol

Weather: Rain is predicted all through a cold day, with a high of 14 degrees Celsius.

Team news

Sri Lanka

Jon Lewis, Sri Lanka’s batting coach, confirmed that fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep is out of this match after he dislocates a finger last week. This makes it likely that his place will go to Jeevan Mendis, the spin-bowling allrounder, considering there are no other pace options.

Lewis also clarified that Lahiru Thirimanne is fit for selection.

Sri Lanka likely XI: 1 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), 2 Kusal Perera (wk), 3 Lahiru Thirimanne, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Jeevan Mendis, 9 Isuru Udana, 10 Suranga Lakmal, 11 Lasith Malinga

Bangladesh

After the loss to England, Bangladesh need to rebound.

Pitch and conditions

The strip for this game is same as the one which was due to be played on in the last match. It remained covered on Monday on account of the rain around, so its anyone’s guess as to what lies beneath. Both teams trained under grey skies, before rain shortly before 3pm local time interrupted Sri Lanka’s training session and sent the players and coaches indoors.

Stats

Head to head in ODIs, Sri Lanka have won 36 of 45 ODIs against Bangladesh while losing seven. Two have been no results.

In two completed ODIs in Bristol, Sri Lanka have lost two.

Bangladesh won their only ODI here, against England in 2010.

Shakib Al Hasan needs 23 runs to become the second Bangladesh cricket, after Tamim Iqbal, to 6000 ODI runs.

Quotes

“I hope we will play a full match tomorrow. I think the team is fine. Yes, disappointing after two losses, but especially against New Zealand, but no, this sort of tournament, we knew that before the ending, you’re never sure, so still a lot of hope there. Boys really hungry to win matches, so team is fine. But again, expecting a full match.” – Mortaza

“It will be tough. Bangladesh have had a couple of decent results against Sri Lanka, but you know, this is a World Cup. The situation is very different. I think already, you’ve seen that maybe World Cup cricket isn’t the same as bilateral one-day tournaments. Yeah, no doubt at all that there’s a hell of a challenge ahead of us, but we also do have a lot of confidence in the players that we have in our dressing room and a lot of faith in them. So we are still confident.” – Lewis

(This article was originally published on Cricket Country. Read the <a href="https://www.cricketcountry.com/news/cricket-world-cup-2019-sri-lanka-bangladesh-hope-for-a-game-as-bristol-rain-threatens-washout-855007">original article</a>)

As with the previous fixture at the County Ground a few days ago, inclement weather threatens to dominate Tuesday’s match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

As with the previous fixture at the County Ground a few days ago, inclement weather threatens to dominate Tuesday’s match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. The Sri Lankan team have been camped in Bristol since June 5, and have not had to take the field. On June 7, their match with Pakistan here was washed out without a ball bowled, which gave them one point. Coming after a loss to New Zealand and a narrow win over Afghanistan, Sri Lanka will be desperate to get any sort of match on Tuesday. With the weather forecast looking bad for game day, even a T20 will do for both teams. Over the last two years, in ODIs, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are level at 2-2. Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh’s skipper, did not choose to dwell on that a day before this match. For him, the talk about Bangladesh having beaten Bangladesh in the 2011 and 2015 World Cups amounted to zilch, because when the teams met last week his was on the wrong end of a heavy loss. With two defeats in a row, Bangladesh are struggling to play catchup when it comes to the semi-finals. Mortaza spoke of how tough it is for the team to make it, because he expected to beat New Zealand. The situation is uphill for his team, and with the weather not looking promising the frustration could pile up on Bangladesh. Match details What: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh When: Tuesday, June 11 Where: County Ground, Bristol Weather: Rain is predicted all through a cold day, with a high of 14 degrees Celsius. Team news Sri Lanka Jon Lewis, Sri Lanka’s batting coach, confirmed that fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep is out of this match after he dislocates a finger last week. This makes it likely that his place will go to Jeevan Mendis, the spin-bowling allrounder, considering there are no other pace options. Lewis also clarified that Lahiru Thirimanne is fit for selection. Sri Lanka likely XI: 1 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), 2 Kusal Perera (wk), 3 Lahiru Thirimanne, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Jeevan Mendis, 9 Isuru Udana, 10 Suranga Lakmal, 11 Lasith Malinga Bangladesh After the loss to England, Bangladesh need to rebound. Pitch and conditions The strip for this game is same as the one which was due to be played on in the last match. It remained covered on Monday on account of the rain around, so its anyone’s guess as to what lies beneath. Both teams trained under grey skies, before rain shortly before 3pm local time interrupted Sri Lanka’s training session and sent the players and coaches indoors. Stats Head to head in ODIs, Sri Lanka have won 36 of 45 ODIs against Bangladesh while losing seven. Two have been no results. In two completed ODIs in Bristol, Sri Lanka have lost two. Bangladesh won their only ODI here, against England in 2010. Shakib Al Hasan needs 23 runs to become the second Bangladesh cricket, after Tamim Iqbal, to 6000 ODI runs. Quotes “I hope we will play a full match tomorrow. I think the team is fine. Yes, disappointing after two losses, but especially against New Zealand, but no, this sort of tournament, we knew that before the ending, you’re never sure, so still a lot of hope there. Boys really hungry to win matches, so team is fine. But again, expecting a full match.” – Mortaza “It will be tough. Bangladesh have had a couple of decent results against Sri Lanka, but you know, this is a World Cup. The situation is very different. I think already, you’ve seen that maybe World Cup cricket isn’t the same as bilateral one-day tournaments. Yeah, no doubt at all that there’s a hell of a challenge ahead of us, but we also do have a lot of confidence in the players that we have in our dressing room and a lot of faith in them. So we are still confident.” – Lewis (This article was originally published on Cricket Country. Read the original article)

Cricket World Cup 2019: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh hope for a game as Bristol rain threatens washout

For two teams coming off rejuvenating victories, match number 11 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 could end up a dampener.

The forecast for Bristol on Friday (June 7) is for heavy rain all through the day. At 10:30 am local time, when this match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is due to begin, the chance of rain is predicted for 80 per cent. It is not a situation either team will fancy, for a washed out game could end up hurting them in the back end of the tournament.

Locals reckon the rain won’t let up, so we could all be in for a frustrating day.

Sri Lanka have never beaten Pakistan in a World Cup match, but Dimuth Karunaratne is confident that his team can become the first to do so. After losing to New Zealand by ten wickets, Sri Lanka overcame a scare against Afghanistan to find some momentum, which Karunaratne said instilled a greater sense of belief in the squad.

Up against the most unpredictable team in the sport, Sri Lanka are ready for a fightback. In this World Cup, Pakistan were bowled out for 105 by West Indies and then made 348 to beat England. What Pakistan team turns up in their third match remains to be seen.

Twenty years separated Pakistan’s only two ODI matches in Bristol. During the 1999 World Cup, they beat West Indies here. Last month, they lost here to England by six wickets despite scoring 358.

Match details

What: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

Where: County Ground, Bristol

When: 10:30am local time (3:00pm IST)

Weather: Rain is predicted in scattered bursts from 1am until the late afternoon.

Team news

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka trained unbroken during the morning, under mostly grey skies, but the rain did not interrupt their practice session. Each member of the team practised, with Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis, in particular, getting more throw-downs. It was not surprising, given their poor scores in the World Cup.

Sri Lanka are not expected to make any changes to their last XI, with Karunaratne putting faith in the batsmen.

Sri Lanka likely XI: 1 Dimuth Karunarate, 2 Kusal Perera (wk), 3 Lahiru Thirimanne, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Nuwan Pradeep

Pakistan’s practice session was briefly delayed by rain. Sarfaraz Ahmed, the skipper, was the first to turn up on the ground and ran a couple laps on his own. The team appeared in good spirits as it began a game of football and the mood remained upbeat during fielding, batting and bowling practice.

Pakistan likely XI: 1 Imam-ul-Haq, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Hafeez, 5 Sarfaraz Ahme (capt/wk), 6 Asif Ali, 7 Shoaib Malik, 8 Shadab Khan, 9 Hasan Ali, 10 Wahab Riaz, 11 Mohammad Amir

Stats

Head to head in 134 ODIs, West Indies have won 71 matches and Pakistan 60. Three matches have been tied.

Pakistan’s record in ODIs at the Country Ground is one win and one loss.

West Indies have lost all four ODIs played here.

Quotes

“I definitely do sense quite a bit of confidence, especially, like, in the meeting we had this morning. Since we have won, well it took off a lot of the pressure definitely, having gone through those string of defeats. Psychologically, that lifts a huge weight from their shoulders.” – Grant Flower, Pakistan batting coach

“We just need a win. It always give us the confidence if you get a win, any team, with any team, that is what we want. Finally, we got that. After that, we did really good things in that particular match, and also we have some parts to learn more, many things about the batting.” – Dimuth Karunaratne

(This article was originally published on Cricket Country. Read the <a href="https://www.cricketcountry.com/news/cricket-world-cup-2019-bristol-rain-threatens-to-dampen-upbeat-pakistan-and-sri-lanka-fixture-853074">original article</a>)&nbsp;

For two teams coming off rejuvenating victories, match number 11 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 could end up a dampener. The forecast for Bristol on Friday (June 7) is for heavy rain all through the day.

For two teams coming off rejuvenating victories, match number 11 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 could end up a dampener. The forecast for Bristol on Friday (June 7) is for heavy rain all through the day. At 10:30 am local time, when this match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is due to begin, the chance of rain is predicted for 80 per cent. It is not a situation either team will fancy, for a washed out game could end up hurting them in the back end of the tournament. Locals reckon the rain won’t let up, so we could all be in for a frustrating day. Sri Lanka have never beaten Pakistan in a World Cup match, but Dimuth Karunaratne is confident that his team can become the first to do so. After losing to New Zealand by ten wickets, Sri Lanka overcame a scare against Afghanistan to find some momentum, which Karunaratne said instilled a greater sense of belief in the squad. Up against the most unpredictable team in the sport, Sri Lanka are ready for a fightback. In this World Cup, Pakistan were bowled out for 105 by West Indies and then made 348 to beat England. What Pakistan team turns up in their third match remains to be seen. Twenty years separated Pakistan’s only two ODI matches in Bristol. During the 1999 World Cup, they beat West Indies here. Last month, they lost here to England by six wickets despite scoring 358. Match details What: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Where: County Ground, Bristol When: 10:30am local time (3:00pm IST) Weather: Rain is predicted in scattered bursts from 1am until the late afternoon. Team news Sri Lanka Sri Lanka trained unbroken during the morning, under mostly grey skies, but the rain did not interrupt their practice session. Each member of the team practised, with Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis, in particular, getting more throw-downs. It was not surprising, given their poor scores in the World Cup. Sri Lanka are not expected to make any changes to their last XI, with Karunaratne putting faith in the batsmen. Sri Lanka likely XI: 1 Dimuth Karunarate, 2 Kusal Perera (wk), 3 Lahiru Thirimanne, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Nuwan Pradeep Pakistan’s practice session was briefly delayed by rain. Sarfaraz Ahmed, the skipper, was the first to turn up on the ground and ran a couple laps on his own. The team appeared in good spirits as it began a game of football and the mood remained upbeat during fielding, batting and bowling practice. Pakistan likely XI: 1 Imam-ul-Haq, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Hafeez, 5 Sarfaraz Ahme (capt/wk), 6 Asif Ali, 7 Shoaib Malik, 8 Shadab Khan, 9 Hasan Ali, 10 Wahab Riaz, 11 Mohammad Amir Stats Head to head in 134 ODIs, West Indies have won 71 matches and Pakistan 60. Three matches have been tied. Pakistan’s record in ODIs at the Country Ground is one win and one loss. West Indies have lost all four ODIs played here. Quotes “I definitely do sense quite a bit of confidence, especially, like, in the meeting we had this morning. Since we have won, well it took off a lot of the pressure definitely, having gone through those string of defeats. Psychologically, that lifts a huge weight from their shoulders.” – Grant Flower, Pakistan batting coach “We just need a win. It always give us the confidence if you get a win, any team, with any team, that is what we want. Finally, we got that. After that, we did really good things in that particular match, and also we have some parts to learn more, many things about the batting.” – Dimuth Karunaratne (This article was originally published on Cricket Country. Read the original article)

Cricket World Cup 2019: Bristol rain threatens to dampen upbeat Pakistan and Sri Lanka fixture

There’s a slight sense of déjà vu about New Zealand versus Sri Lanka in Cardiff, game three of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

In 2015, in the similarly nondescript surroundings of Hagley Oval in Christchurch, the two teams played the first match of the World Cup. Like Hagley Oval, Sophia Gardens is surrounded by a perimeter of thick trees, their dense foliage acting as a pleasant backdrop to a small ground which is, a day before the match, populated by the Sri Lankan and New Zealand cricket teams, a fistful of reporters, a few from the TV crew and of course an array of ICC support and hospitality staff.

For added effect, the sky above is nearing a slate grey much as it was a day before New Zealand and Sri Lanka began the last World Cup four years ago.

Yes, déjà vu alright.

But that’s where the similarities end, even though the Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson admits it is a bit of a coincidence that his team is again opening their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka.

Four years ago, Williamson played the World Cup under the inspirational captaincy of Brendon McCullum and had a fairly muted tournament with the bat. McCullum is of course retired and Williamson is the captain of New Zealand, with a 34-29-2 record in ODIs.

His batting has remained as classy and dependable as it was under McCullum, and now Williamson will lead New Zealand against Sri Lanka in their opening match at Cardiff on Saturday.

Asked to look back at 2015, Williamson found the situation different but could identify a similar rush of positivity.

“Naturally a little bit different just being different seasons, I suppose. The last campaign we were playing a lot of cricket in our home summer, I guess in some ways preparing for the World Cup which was also at home,” he told reporters on Friday.

“Being over in this part of the world heading into winter at home meant it was a little bit different. We had IPL guys who were playing cricket in different parts, which was a good thing, and so we were able to make sure we were getting cricket in. There was some cricket in Australia. Everybody was playing, which was nice. I guess the difference between playing months together and then going into World Cup versus perhaps not and guys being quite excited to get back together as a group is still a positive thing.

“It [2015 World Cup] was a lot of fun and we really enjoyed that tournament. I guess we come to now and so many things are different and have changed and different personnel on both sides. I guess it’s coincidence that we’re playing each other again in our first matches. But, yeah, the focus is very much on our team, the sort of cricket that we want to be playing, the attitudes we want to be taking into the first match, and that’s where we’ll place our importance.”

New Zealand go into the World Cup after gap of a few months, having ended their home season in February. This year, in ODIs, they have swept Sri Lanka and Bangladesh 3-0 and lost to India 1-4, all at home. Post the Bangladesh series, some of their players went to play in the IPL. They are back together in England, having beaten India and lost to New Zealand in their two World Cup warm-ups.

Their opponents, Sri Lanka, have in 2019 been whitewashed by South Africa 0-5 after the winless tour of New Zealand. Most recently, they won an ODI against Scotland. They are a team flying very low under the radar, chiefly because of poor form and inconsistency, chopping and changing and the fact that their new captain, Dimuth Karuraratne had, before the aforementioned Scotland match, not played an ODI since the 2015 World Cup.

Smart man that he is, Williamson did not go anywhere near venturing to say that New Zealand have the upper hand over an opponent they last lost an ODI to in … wait for it … 2015.

“I don’t know how much the past really counts as we come into a tournament. It is on the day,” said Williamson. “We know in this competition that any team can beat any of the other teams, so we’re certainly treating all our matches like that. We want to bring the focus back to the cricket we want to play day in and day out.

“Naturally when you go through the tournament you play one country and you might have two or three days, play another country on another surface, and you’re trying to, I guess, stay up-to-date with the different I suppose plans that you’re adjusting with the different opposition.

“But our focus is much about the cricket that we want to play. We know the Sri Lankan side is a little bit different to the one we played at home, but we have no doubt they’re a tough side.”

So far, the sense of déjà vu lingers. Whether Sri Lanka smash that on Saturday with victory over New Zealand remains to be seen.

(This article was originally published on Cricket Country. Read the <a href="https://www.cricketcountry.com/news/cricket-world-cup-2015-firmly-behind-kane-williamsons-new-zealand-as-they-reunite-with-sri-lanka-850269">original article</a>)

There’s a slight sense of déjà vu about New Zealand versus Sri Lanka in Cardiff, game three of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. In 2015, in the similarly nondescript surroundings of Hagley Oval in Christchurch, the two teams played the first match of the World Cup.

There’s a slight sense of déjà vu about New Zealand versus Sri Lanka in Cardiff, game three of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. In 2015, in the similarly nondescript surroundings of Hagley Oval in Christchurch, the two teams played the first match of the World Cup. Like Hagley Oval, Sophia Gardens is surrounded by a perimeter of thick trees, their dense foliage acting as a pleasant backdrop to a small ground which is, a day before the match, populated by the Sri Lankan and New Zealand cricket teams, a fistful of reporters, a few from the TV crew and of course an array of ICC support and hospitality staff. For added effect, the sky above is nearing a slate grey much as it was a day before New Zealand and Sri Lanka began the last World Cup four years ago. Yes, déjà vu alright. But that’s where the similarities end, even though the Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson admits it is a bit of a coincidence that his team is again opening their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka. Four years ago, Williamson played the World Cup under the inspirational captaincy of Brendon McCullum and had a fairly muted tournament with the bat. McCullum is of course retired and Williamson is the captain of New Zealand, with a 34-29-2 record in ODIs. His batting has remained as classy and dependable as it was under McCullum, and now Williamson will lead New Zealand against Sri Lanka in their opening match at Cardiff on Saturday. Asked to look back at 2015, Williamson found the situation different but could identify a similar rush of positivity. “Naturally a little bit different just being different seasons, I suppose. The last campaign we were playing a lot of cricket in our home summer, I guess in some ways preparing for the World Cup which was also at home,” he told reporters on Friday. “Being over in this part of the world heading into winter at home meant it was a little bit different. We had IPL guys who were playing cricket in different parts, which was a good thing, and so we were able to make sure we were getting cricket in. There was some cricket in Australia. Everybody was playing, which was nice. I guess the difference between playing months together and then going into World Cup versus perhaps not and guys being quite excited to get back together as a group is still a positive thing. “It [2015 World Cup] was a lot of fun and we really enjoyed that tournament. I guess we come to now and so many things are different and have changed and different personnel on both sides. I guess it’s coincidence that we’re playing each other again in our first matches. But, yeah, the focus is very much on our team, the sort of cricket that we want to be playing, the attitudes we want to be taking into the first match, and that’s where we’ll place our importance.” New Zealand go into the World Cup after gap of a few months, having ended their home season in February. This year, in ODIs, they have swept Sri Lanka and Bangladesh 3-0 and lost to India 1-4, all at home. Post the Bangladesh series, some of their players went to play in the IPL. They are back together in England, having beaten India and lost to New Zealand in their two World Cup warm-ups. Their opponents, Sri Lanka, have in 2019 been whitewashed by South Africa 0-5 after the winless tour of New Zealand. Most recently, they won an ODI against Scotland. They are a team flying very low under the radar, chiefly because of poor form and inconsistency, chopping and changing and the fact that their new captain, Dimuth Karuraratne had, before the aforementioned Scotland match, not played an ODI since the 2015 World Cup. Smart man that he is, Williamson did not go anywhere near venturing to say that New Zealand have the upper hand over an opponent they last lost an ODI to in … wait for it … 2015. “I don’t know how much the past really counts as we come into a tournament. It is on the day,” said Williamson. “We know in this competition that any team can beat any of the other teams, so we’re certainly treating all our matches like that. We want to bring the focus back to the cricket we want to play day in and day out. “Naturally when you go through the tournament you play one country and you might have two or three days, play another country on another surface, and you’re trying to, I guess, stay up-to-date with the different I suppose plans that you’re adjusting with the different opposition. “But our focus is much about the cricket that we want to play. We know the Sri Lankan side is a little bit different to the one we played at home, but we have no doubt they’re a tough side.” So far, the sense of déjà vu lingers. Whether Sri Lanka smash that on Saturday with victory over New Zealand remains to be seen. (This article was originally published on Cricket Country. Read the original article)

Cricket World Cup: 2015 firmly behind Kane Williamson's New Zealand as they reunite with Sri Lanka

Up front, seated a few feet away behind a table as he addressed the media gathered inside the basement of The Oval a day before the ICC Cricket World Cup begins, Faf du Plessis looks like he’s aged.

It’s not a slight. It’s in the context of his cricket; where he’s reached, what he’s gone through leading South Africa through some good times and some tough times, and of where he sits today. It is visible in the creases on his face and the way he his eyes slit when he emphasises certain words.

Du Plessis is only 34, but he looks like he’s been through a lot more.

In the context of where he and the South African cricket team are a day before the World Cup opener at The Oval against host and top-ranked England, du Plessis did not try and mask his emotions when asked about what he feels right now, about his career and his drive.

This is du Plessis’ third World Cup, and first as captain. Asked before the opener about about how he’s changed as a cricketer and individual, his answer was revealing: “Like anyone sitting here today, whether you’re playing cricket or in business or in life or in sport, it’s no different. You know, the older you get, the wiser you get. You know, being a father now, everything gets put into perspective.

“Cricket is a very important aspect of all of our lives, but it’s not everything. You know, life, there’s a lot more bigger things than winning and losing games of cricket. And that, perhaps, has changed for me. The fact that I’m no longer desperate; I want to win cricket games but I don’t need to win them.

“I think as a team, hopefully that can filter through, because no one taught me that four, five years ago, playing in these events, and hopefully that gives the guys on the rest of the team just a little bit more of a relaxedness to them; that the absolute worst-case scenario, you don’t make it, and that’s okay, life will go on. And if players are a little bit more free, and can just play their best version of themselves, then that’s great. That’s all I’m looking for.”

This should not come as bad news for South African cricket fans. Far from it. Du Plessis’ response reveals his state of mind, and it is refreshing. This is a game, after all, not war.

For du Plessis, winning cricket games at the World Cup is the target, definitely. The difference now, as leader and a senior statesman, is his outlook on the sport.

“As I’ve said, a lot of times my most enjoyable times playing cricket is when I do captain any cricket team, and especially this one,” continued du Plessis. “I’m just excited that it’s another opportunity for me to go and do that. You know, get my brain nice and active on the field and tactically thinking about the game all the time. I just feel that puts me in the space that I want to be playing cricket, so it’s just another opportunity for me for me to do it.”

South Africa have, surprisingly, flown under the radar in the buildup to the World Cup. Ever since their reintroduction to international cricket in 1992, not a World Cup has gone by where South African teams have not been spoken of highly. But from 1992 to 2015, their ending at the tournament has come in heart-breaking scenes.

This team is ranked third in ODIs. In 2019, they’ve swept Sri Lanka 5-0 and beaten Pakista 3-2, all at home. South Africa will be without Dale Steyn for game one of the World Cup, with the veteran fast bowler not 100% fit. The team is putting a lot of faith on the sturdy shoulders of Kagiso Rabada, ranked five in ODIs but playing his first World Cup. Hashim Amla‘s inconsistent form is not a worry, says du Plessis, after the veteran scored half-centuries in both World Cup warm-up matches.

There are younger players like Aiden Markram and Andile Phehlukwayo, whom South Africa want to use to their maximum potential in the tournament.

For du Plessis, keeping the mood in the camp positive and “fun” is more important than getting carried away with pre-tournament chatter and expectations.

“For me as captain, it’s about making sure that we can try and put the noise to one side and just relax as much as we can, try and have fun, control the things that we can do,” he said. “You know, practise hard. Practise well. Have a good culture, have a good language in our culture, and then completely release the outcome and hopefully that frees up the players to play their best cricket.

“It’s just about making sure — there is probably a little bit more noise around a first game; there’s probably a little bit more noise because it’s a World Cup.”

Du Plessis, as captain and pivotal middle-order batsman, is intent on keeping the mood upbeat. In contrast to former captain AB de Villiers’ talk during the 2015 World Cup, du Plessis is not talking about the weight of history of pressure to win the tournament. He is focused on keeping the mood upbeat.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Jamie Alter's report from ground zero ahead of the opening match between England and South Africa

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“Rreally, really excited to see the young guys, how well they are going to step up in this tournament, and then the older guys, yeah, as you said, some guys have stated that they finishing after this tournament, you know, but that’s not — that’s not the focus,” he said.

“For me, the focus on making sure that we can look at playing the style of cricket we want to do, and whether that guarantees success for some of the older guys or not, that’s not the focus. They are here to make sure that they enjoy every day as best as possible. I think when you get a little bit older, that becomes a little bit more natural. You take the pressure off. This is something I have to do or need to do to something that I love to do.

“So you go back to that younger version of yourself, so hopefully that will free some of the older guys up a little bit.”

Du Plessis’ statements today will draw mixed responses from fans of South Africa, but underneath what he says lies a refreshing positivity. Whether it remains positive is an aspect of this team that is sure to draw a lot of attention.

South Africa may be under the radar so far, but it won’t be the case from May 30.

(This article was originally published on Cricket Country. Read the <a href="https://www.cricketcountry.com/news/cricket-world-cup-2019-theres-a-lot-more-bigger-things-than-winning-and-losing-cricket-games-faf-du-plessis-849370">original article</a>)&nbsp;

Up front, seated a few feet away behind a table as he addressed the media gathered inside the basement of The Oval a day before the ICC Cricket World Cup begins, Faf du Plessis looks like he’s aged.

Up front, seated a few feet away behind a table as he addressed the media gathered inside the basement of The Oval a day before the ICC Cricket World Cup begins, Faf du Plessis looks like he’s aged. It’s not a slight. It’s in the context of his cricket; where he’s reached, what he’s gone through leading South Africa through some good times and some tough times, and of where he sits today. It is visible in the creases on his face and the way he his eyes slit when he emphasises certain words. Du Plessis is only 34, but he looks like he’s been through a lot more. In the context of where he and the South African cricket team are a day before the World Cup opener at The Oval against host and top-ranked England, du Plessis did not try and mask his emotions when asked about what he feels right now, about his career and his drive. This is du Plessis’ third World Cup, and first as captain. Asked before the opener about about how he’s changed as a cricketer and individual, his answer was revealing: “Like anyone sitting here today, whether you’re playing cricket or in business or in life or in sport, it’s no different. You know, the older you get, the wiser you get. You know, being a father now, everything gets put into perspective. “Cricket is a very important aspect of all of our lives, but it’s not everything. You know, life, there’s a lot more bigger things than winning and losing games of cricket. And that, perhaps, has changed for me. The fact that I’m no longer desperate; I want to win cricket games but I don’t need to win them. “I think as a team, hopefully that can filter through, because no one taught me that four, five years ago, playing in these events, and hopefully that gives the guys on the rest of the team just a little bit more of a relaxedness to them; that the absolute worst-case scenario, you don’t make it, and that’s okay, life will go on. And if players are a little bit more free, and can just play their best version of themselves, then that’s great. That’s all I’m looking for.” This should not come as bad news for South African cricket fans. Far from it. Du Plessis’ response reveals his state of mind, and it is refreshing. This is a game, after all, not war. For du Plessis, winning cricket games at the World Cup is the target, definitely. The difference now, as leader and a senior statesman, is his outlook on the sport. “As I’ve said, a lot of times my most enjoyable times playing cricket is when I do captain any cricket team, and especially this one,” continued du Plessis. “I’m just excited that it’s another opportunity for me to go and do that. You know, get my brain nice and active on the field and tactically thinking about the game all the time. I just feel that puts me in the space that I want to be playing cricket, so it’s just another opportunity for me for me to do it.” South Africa have, surprisingly, flown under the radar in the buildup to the World Cup. Ever since their reintroduction to international cricket in 1992, not a World Cup has gone by where South African teams have not been spoken of highly. But from 1992 to 2015, their ending at the tournament has come in heart-breaking scenes. This team is ranked third in ODIs. In 2019, they’ve swept Sri Lanka 5-0 and beaten Pakista 3-2, all at home. South Africa will be without Dale Steyn for game one of the World Cup, with the veteran fast bowler not 100% fit. The team is putting a lot of faith on the sturdy shoulders of Kagiso Rabada, ranked five in ODIs but playing his first World Cup. Hashim Amla‘s inconsistent form is not a worry, says du Plessis, after the veteran scored half-centuries in both World Cup warm-up matches. There are younger players like Aiden Markram and Andile Phehlukwayo, whom South Africa want to use to their maximum potential in the tournament. For du Plessis, keeping the mood in the camp positive and “fun” is more important than getting carried away with pre-tournament chatter and expectations. “For me as captain, it’s about making sure that we can try and put the noise to one side and just relax as much as we can, try and have fun, control the things that we can do,” he said. “You know, practise hard. Practise well. Have a good culture, have a good language in our culture, and then completely release the outcome and hopefully that frees up the players to play their best cricket. “It’s just about making sure — there is probably a little bit more noise around a first game; there’s probably a little bit more noise because it’s a World Cup.” Du Plessis, as captain and pivotal middle-order batsman, is intent on keeping the mood upbeat. In contrast to former captain AB de Villiers’ talk during the 2015 World Cup, du Plessis is not talking about the weight of history of pressure to win the tournament. He is focused on keeping the mood upbeat. Watch: Jamie Alter's report from ground zero ahead of the opening match between England and South Africa × “Rreally, really excited to see the young guys, how well they are going to step up in this tournament, and then the older guys, yeah, as you said, some guys have stated that they finishing after this tournament, you know, but that’s not — that’s not the focus,” he said. “For me, the focus on making sure that we can look at playing the style of cricket we want to do, and whether that guarantees success for some of the older guys or not, that’s not the focus. They are here to make sure that they enjoy every day as best as possible. I think when you get a little bit older, that becomes a little bit more natural. You take the pressure off. This is something I have to do or need to do to something that I love to do. “So you go back to that younger version of yourself, so hopefully that will free some of the older guys up a little bit.” Du Plessis’ statements today will draw mixed responses from fans of South Africa, but underneath what he says lies a refreshing positivity. Whether it remains positive is an aspect of this team that is sure to draw a lot of attention. South Africa may be under the radar so far, but it won’t be the case from May 30. (This article was originally published on Cricket Country. Read the original article)

Cricket World Cup 2019: There's a lot more bigger things than winning and losing cricket games, says Faf du Plessis

Patience is a virtue, so the saying goes. The men who matter in the realm of English cricket were patient with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/england-vs-south-africa-from-stunning-stokes-to-electric-archer-major-takeaways-from-world-cup-opener-222985#electric-archer-makes-his-mark-222974">Jofra Archer</a>, waiting for him to qualify to represent England after his success for Sussex and several T20 franchises apart from the Under-19 level for Barbados and West Indies.

As soon as the Barbados-born allrounder qualified to play for England this year, he was fast-tracked into the limited-overs squad. Next, into the World Cup squad. On Thursday, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-beat-south-africa-by-104-runs-in-cricket-world-cup-opener-222946">Archer made his World Cup debut</a> against South Africa at The Oval and, in his fourth match for England, struck three massive blows for the hosts as they steamrolled their opponents by 104 runs.

Promoted to new-ball duties alongside Chris Woakes, the 22-year-old began with a spell of 2/20 in five overs and later returned to get rid of Rassie van der Dussen for 50. He finished with figures of 7-1-27-3 to go with an unbeaten seven off three balls earlier in the afternoon.

Those figures, as good as they look, do not tell you about the intensity, accuracy and aggression with which Archer bowled in front of a near full house at The Oval. For starters, there was the bouncer that sent Hashim Amla off the field. The veteran South Africa batsman was beaten for pace and took a blow on the helmet, then received on-field treatment before leaving the field.

Archer kept bowling fast, and found his first wicket when Aiden Markram poked an edge to Joe Root at slip. The key here was a bit of bounce and extra pace. Archer jumped and punched the air as his team-mates ran towards him. In the stands, a sea of England fans were on their feet. A few beer-swigging men in the stands behind third man shadowed Root’s catch at slip with animation.&nbsp;

In his next over, Archer suckered South Africa captain Faf du Plessis into a pull. The ball was banged in, du Plessis chased it. But it had too much pace on it and he ended up top-edging it to Moeen Ali at fine leg. This time Archer stood his ground, pumped his fists and roared. You knew how much that wicket meant to him.

In the span of six balls, he had changed the tone of South Africa’s chase. Truly, moments like these are match-winning. They thrill the senses, lift a team’s mood. And they often come from players who, like Archer, have a certain je ne sais quoi about him.

Archer came back to bowl the 32nd over and struck with his fifth delivery, this time getting the well-settled van der Dussen to mistime a shot to mid-on. Yet again, Archer’s pace and a bit of bounce undid a South African batsman.

This is what England picked him for. This is what the fans expect of him. This is what could prove defining in England’s World Cup campaign. They are not ranked No 1 without reason, and now with Archer they appear an even stronger force.

The buzz about Archer – described by Ben Stokes as the most “naturally-gifted” bowler he has seen – was palpable, and after he returned from the IPL with 11 wickets, three catches and a couple vital cameos for Rajasthan Royals the cries for him to be included in England’s World Cup squad grew louder.

Andrew Flintoff urged the selector to drop “anyone” to get Archer in. Michael Vaughan vowed to take off his clothes if Archer wasn’t picked. In his second ODI last month, Archer conceded just six runs in four overs in a wicket-taking spell before rain washed out the game. The chants grew louder.

But Archer’s arrival into the England squad was not without criticism. Woakes, the man with whom Archer opened the bowling at The Oval, said that his selection so close to the World Cup would be “morally unfair”. &nbsp;David Willey questioned the logic of fast-tracking Archer into England’s ODI team. As it turned out, Willey was the man to make way for Archer in England’s World Cup squad, a decision which Eoin Morgan termed the toughest he’s been a part of as England skipper.

Tough, said Morgan, but the right call.

Thursday’s World Cup opener was a big statement from Archer, a cool-headed young player not overawed by the occasion. The patience is paying off for England, and Archer is justifying the hype.&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on Cricket Country. Read the <a href="https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/cricket-world-cup-2019-jofra-archers-impact-makes-england-an-even-tougher-force-849970">original article</a>)

Patience is a virtue, so the saying goes. The men who matter in the realm of English cricket were patient with Jofra Archer, waiting for him to qualify to represent England after his success for Sussex and several T20 franchises apart from the Under-19 level for Barbados and West Indies.

Patience is a virtue, so the saying goes. The men who matter in the realm of English cricket were patient with Jofra Archer, waiting for him to qualify to represent England after his success for Sussex and several T20 franchises apart from the Under-19 level for Barbados and West Indies. As soon as the Barbados-born allrounder qualified to play for England this year, he was fast-tracked into the limited-overs squad. Next, into the World Cup squad. On Thursday, Archer made his World Cup debut against South Africa at The Oval and, in his fourth match for England, struck three massive blows for the hosts as they steamrolled their opponents by 104 runs. Promoted to new-ball duties alongside Chris Woakes, the 22-year-old began with a spell of 2/20 in five overs and later returned to get rid of Rassie van der Dussen for 50. He finished with figures of 7-1-27-3 to go with an unbeaten seven off three balls earlier in the afternoon. Those figures, as good as they look, do not tell you about the intensity, accuracy and aggression with which Archer bowled in front of a near full house at The Oval. For starters, there was the bouncer that sent Hashim Amla off the field. The veteran South Africa batsman was beaten for pace and took a blow on the helmet, then received on-field treatment before leaving the field. Archer kept bowling fast, and found his first wicket when Aiden Markram poked an edge to Joe Root at slip. The key here was a bit of bounce and extra pace. Archer jumped and punched the air as his team-mates ran towards him. In the stands, a sea of England fans were on their feet. A few beer-swigging men in the stands behind third man shadowed Root’s catch at slip with animation. In his next over, Archer suckered South Africa captain Faf du Plessis into a pull. The ball was banged in, du Plessis chased it. But it had too much pace on it and he ended up top-edging it to Moeen Ali at fine leg. This time Archer stood his ground, pumped his fists and roared. You knew how much that wicket meant to him. In the span of six balls, he had changed the tone of South Africa’s chase. Truly, moments like these are match-winning. They thrill the senses, lift a team’s mood. And they often come from players who, like Archer, have a certain je ne sais quoi about him. Archer came back to bowl the 32nd over and struck with his fifth delivery, this time getting the well-settled van der Dussen to mistime a shot to mid-on. Yet again, Archer’s pace and a bit of bounce undid a South African batsman. This is what England picked him for. This is what the fans expect of him. This is what could prove defining in England’s World Cup campaign. They are not ranked No 1 without reason, and now with Archer they appear an even stronger force. The buzz about Archer – described by Ben Stokes as the most “naturally-gifted” bowler he has seen – was palpable, and after he returned from the IPL with 11 wickets, three catches and a couple vital cameos for Rajasthan Royals the cries for him to be included in England’s World Cup squad grew louder. Andrew Flintoff urged the selector to drop “anyone” to get Archer in. Michael Vaughan vowed to take off his clothes if Archer wasn’t picked. In his second ODI last month, Archer conceded just six runs in four overs in a wicket-taking spell before rain washed out the game. The chants grew louder. But Archer’s arrival into the England squad was not without criticism. Woakes, the man with whom Archer opened the bowling at The Oval, said that his selection so close to the World Cup would be “morally unfair”. David Willey questioned the logic of fast-tracking Archer into England’s ODI team. As it turned out, Willey was the man to make way for Archer in England’s World Cup squad, a decision which Eoin Morgan termed the toughest he’s been a part of as England skipper. Tough, said Morgan, but the right call. Thursday’s World Cup opener was a big statement from Archer, a cool-headed young player not overawed by the occasion. The patience is paying off for England, and Archer is justifying the hype. (This article was originally published on Cricket Country. Read the original article)

Cricket World Cup 2019: Jofra Archer's impact makes England an even tougher force

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