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Dawid Malan -“How well you do is what matters, not how many big bombs you hit,”

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Dawid Malan

A penny for Dawid Malan’s thoughts as he stood on the sidelines at the MCG in November and watched as a senior England batter led a World Cup-winning run chase against Pakistan with a calm 52 not out from 49 balls.

Ben Stokes, who is the Red Adair of England’s run chases, was the man in question. After 18 months away from the T20I team, he was flown back in and showed once again that he has the best temperament in big games.

Still, Malan’s name could have been all over that game. With a target of 138 and two wickets lost early on, the new player had every right and reason to take things slowly. This is what you would expect from a former world No. 1 who has played at No. 3 in 44 of his 55 T20Is for England.

On the other hand, Malan didn’t get the best ending. He had to leave the tournament early because he hurt his groin during England’s tense win over Sri Lanka in the group stage. He thought he had done enough to be brought back for the final game against Pakistan, but it wasn’t to be.

At first, we talked about just treating the symptoms, but the day before the World Cup final, I had to get a scan even though I thought I was fine.

“I did the wellness test and all the other things that was requested from me, and I had the option to do everything in a more than two hour meeting with a tiny bit of piece of pounding.

“In any case, when Jos [Buttler] and Motty [Matthew Mott] called me in after the instructional course, they said, ‘Look, despite the fact that you passed everything, there’s as yet a gamble.'”

Malan says that the issue boiled down to the size of the MCG and the gamble of harming his niggle as well as that of Imprint Wood, who was likewise a vital participant yet didn’t play despite the fact that he appeared to have moved past the hip flexor issue that kept him out of the India semi-last.

“In the event that we were playing at a more modest ground like Bangalore, where you can’t depend on running threes and twos and pursuing down balls in the outfield, it would have been worth the gamble,” he says.

“However, playing at the MCG when each run would have included in a World Cup last… as a cricketer, you need to take care of your inner self at times, regardless of whether you’re crushed by the choice. There’s actually no need to focus on putting your own pride in front of the group. The objective is to win the World Cup collectively. Despite the fact that it’s difficult to do, that is the proper thing to do. We won the World Cup since we didn’t gamble with two players who were near being fit. All the other things is history.”

That set of experiences currently shows that Britain are the simultaneous 50-and 20-over World Cup support, the principal men’s group to accomplish such an accomplishment. And keeping in mind that Malan was not engaged with the legendary 2019 mission, he has been an essential individual from the T20 in the middle between whiles, including the side that surrendered in the semi-last in the UAE a year prior to the MCG win – a mission that he expresses accompanied fundamentally more assumption than the one recently gone.

“The failure of losing that semi in 2021 was there so that everybody might see,” he says, reviewing a penultimate-over misfortune to New Zealand in Abu Dhabi. “With what we had accessible collectively, we were destroyed that we didn’t win the World Cup that year, however I surmise assumptions likely weren’t as high this time around. We clearly needed to win, yet I didn’t figure it would be practical.”

Dawid Malan
In the summer, Dawid Malan hits a six over the leg side against South Africa.

There were many things that made her shy. After Eoin Morgan left the team, England had a summer of change. They didn’t win any of the four white-ball series they played at home against India and South Africa, and key players like Jofra Archer and Jonny Bairstow were hurt, so they weren’t the favorites they had been in past ICC tournaments.

Malan says, “We could definitely win if we played our best, but I didn’t think there was as much pressure on us as a team after the summer we had.” ” Australia and India were in better shape than we were.

“But the group has come a long way since Morgs took over in 2015 and Jos and Motty are now in charge. At first, I watched from the outside how they ran their business, but they haven’t changed in seven years. Everyone in the country believed in them, and it’s amazing that they’ve won two World Cups in the last few years.

Still, it seems like Malan would have liked a little more praise for the way he played during England’s last trophy-winning season. Over the three innings of the tournament, he hit 56 runs on 68 balls. This included a slow 35 from 37 balls against Ireland, which helped them lose, and a cameo of 3 not out from one ball against New Zealand, after he was moved down to No.8 to make room for players who were thought to hit harder.

Malan has done some amazing things for England, like scoring 1000 T20I runs in a record 24 matches and scoring a century in 48 balls against New Zealand in 2019. However, he has always had to deal with criticism. Especially the idea that he takes a while to get going.

In Twenty20 Internationals, Malan has made 30 scores of 30 or less, which is less than one run per ball (97.05). Once he gets going, though, few opponents can keep up with him. This is shown by the fact that his strike rate jumps to 165.56 on the 15 times he’s gone past fifty.

Mike Hussey, England’s batting consultant, talked about this point when he gave Malan a cap to mark his 50th appearance at the World Cup. Hussey focused on Malan’s “BASRA,” which is no longer just a port in southern Iraq but also a way to judge a player’s “batting average and strike rate combined.” Malan’s “BASRA” is currently 174.55 (38.84 and 135.71), which is only behind England players Kevin Pietersen and Jos Buttler.

Malan says, “I had never heard of it before.” But hearing praise like that from someone like that gives you a lot of confidence and makes you feel like you can do anything.

“Batting at 3 in T20s is hard,” he says, “because if you want to be positive and go for it in the first over of the game when you’re 0 for 1, and you get out, you’re 10 for 2, and you’re probably not going to score the 180 runs you need to on that wicket.” Then, sometimes you walk in during the last over of a power play or the eighth over with all the fields out, and the match-up is different from what you’re used to.

“When you get to bat first, you can always play the same way. It’s the simplest thing. When you hit third, you have a little bit more to do. Yes, that was sometimes hard for me, but leaders like Morgs and Jos have given me the confidence to play the way I think is best, which is huge for me because then I can ignore the criticism.

“There is always criticism, and sometimes it’s fair and sometimes it’s not, but as players, we’re big enough to admit when we’re wrong. You may feel like you always talk about the same things, but that’s because people are looking at numbers instead of what’s right in front of them.

Malan is still interested in one more number, though. Most of the time, he’s on the team that wins. In fact, he has won 33 of the 55 Twenty20 Internationals he has played in. This makes him the second-best England player with 50 or more caps, behind only Sam Curran, who was the Player of the World Cup Final and the top pick at the IPL auction.

Malan says, “We’re not here to make the highlight reel; we’re here to win cricket games.” ” So many people think that you have to hit the ball 130 meters to get on Instagram. That’s not important. How well your team does is how it is judged. Players are judged by how many games they win, not how many big bombs they hit.

“I’d rather average 20 with a strike rate of 130 and win every game than hit a few good sixes at 160 and do nothing else. That’s not how you win cricket games.”

Dawid Malan
Dawid Malan drive through covers

He will have a lot of chances to get better at what he does in the coming months. Even though Malan took a rare break in December and spent Christmas at home for the first time in five years, he is already back on the road. In the Bangladesh Premier League, he will first play for Comilla Victorians. Later this week, he will join World Cup winners Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore at Sharjah Warriors. Chris Benjamin of Warwickshire will also be there.

Malan says, “We have a group of English guys and a few Afghan guys, so it’s going to be great.” ” It’s great when a franchise has a tournament. But the level of play is so much higher because each team can have so many players from other countries.

“It’s a good time. Since the IPL is putting money into the ILT20, it’s likely to have the most money for players and draw the biggest names. And I think that, in the end, what brings players to different tournaments is not just the type of cricket or the conditions, but also how much they get paid. It looks like a great tournament could happen.”

Malan could have another big year because England will be defending the 50-over World Cup in India in the fall. Even though he has only played in 12 ODIs so far, he seems to be in the right place at the right time. Morgan’s retirement and Stokes’ withdrawal from the format have opened up spots for both new and experienced players. In response, he scored two centuries in his six matches in 2022, including one against Australia in Adelaide that earned him the Player of the Match award. He thinks that his style fits well with what England needs.

“It’s a strange one,” he says. “You’re good enough to play Twenty20 cricket, but not for the 50-over team. But as people have left this group, there have been more chances. I want to be a part of it, so I hope I’ve made the most of my chances in the last few series. I want to play in the 50-over World Cup, and Motty and Jos have given me some good advice on what to do next.

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1000 Runs in ODIs: Kohli’s Cricket Legacy

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1000 Runs in ODIs: Kohli's Cricket Legacy

On Thursday, November 2, Virat Kohli achieved an accomplishment. He became the batsman to surpass 1000 runs in ODIs in 2023, following in the footsteps of Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. Not that,. He also joined Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Pathum Nissanka as the fourth players to achieve this impressive record in the 50-over format within the same year.

Stepping into History with 1000 Runs in ODIs

Virat Kohli celebrating 1000 Runs in ODIs with a jump on the field

Entering the realm of history, Kohli’s unwavering determination and exceptional skills were put on display during his match in 2023. Notably, the cricket maestro, now 34 years old, made an indelible impact by surpassing Sachin Tendulkar‘s record, securing the most number of years with 1000 runs in ODIs. Kohli’s consistent ability to perform at such an exceptional level has been a defining characteristic of his illustrious career, as he had previously achieved this monumental milestone in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019, before accomplishing it once again in the present year of 2023.

An Unforgettable Journey

In an intense World Cup 2023 clash against Sri Lanka at the renowned Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Virat Kohli’s pursuit of this historic milestone was realized with an impressive 34 runs. Despite facing challenges, including a rare duck against England at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, his overall performance throughout the year has been nothing short of spectacular.

Kohli’s memorable journey was highlighted by an unbeaten century during India’s triumphant seven-wicket victory against Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune. Adding to his illustrious record, he solidified his stature with a brilliant 95 runs, making a significant contribution to India’s thrilling four-wicket win over New Zealand led by Tom Latham at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Pune.

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Shaheen Shah Afridi: Fastest to 100 ODI Wickets

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Shah Afridi celebrating a wicket

Shaheen Shah Afridi, on Tuesday, October 31, achieved a remarkable feat, becoming the third fastest bowler to secure 100 wickets in ODIs. His outstanding performance during Pakistan’s World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh at the renowned Eden Gardens in Kolkata led to this historic accomplishment.

A Landmark Moment

In the thrilling encounter, Shaheen clinched his 100th wicket in only his 51st match, dismissing Tigers’ opening batter Tanzid Hasan Tamim. The left-arm fast bowler displayed exceptional skill as he struck Tamim on the pads, prompting the on-field umpire to raise his finger. Despite Tamim’s referral to the third umpire using the Decision Review System (DRS), the replays confirmed the ball crashing into the stumps, upholding the on-field decision. Bangladesh lost their first wicket with the scoreboard reading 0 in just 0.5 overs.

Surpassing Preceding Records

Shaheen Shah Afridi not only secured this feat in record time but also outshone the accomplishments of esteemed bowlers preceding him. He surpassed the record of the fastest pacer, previously held by Mitchell Starc, who attained the milestone in August 2016 during an ODI against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Legacy of Excellence

Moreover, Shaheen shattered the long-standing record held by Saqlain Mushtaq, becoming the fastest Pakistani bowler to claim 100 wickets in ODIs. Saqlain had set this record on May 12, 1997, during an ODI against Sri Lanka in Gwalior. It is notable that among the Pakistani fast bowlers, the accomplished Shaheen Shah Afridi follows in the footsteps of the legendary Waqar Younis, who achieved the 100-wicket mark back in February 1993 against Zimbabwe in Sharjah.

Beyond ODIs

Demonstrating his prowess beyond ODIs, Shaheen has made significant contributions in Tests and T20Is as well. Since his debut in 2018, he has garnered 105 wickets in Tests and 64 wickets in T20Is. His exceptional journey began with a strong performance in the U19 World Cup in New Zealand. Notably, he played a pivotal role in Lahore Qalandars’ consecutive victories in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

A Testament to Talent and Dedication

Shaheen Shah Afridi’s rapid rise to 100 ODI wickets within 51 matches underlines his exceptional talent and unwavering dedication to the sport. As he continues to leave an indelible mark on the cricketing world, his journey serves as an inspiration for aspiring cricketers worldwide. With his remarkable achievements, Afridi has solidified his place in the annals of cricket history, etching his name as one of Pakistan’s most formidable and promising fast bowlers.

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ICC World Cup: Shoaib Akhtar says, ‘Mai India ki tareef kyu na karu’

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Shoaib Akhtar, former Pakistani fast bowler

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has recently expressed admiration for India’s dominant performance in the ongoing 2023 ICC World Cup. With India securing victories in all six matches, Akhtar highlighted the team’s exceptional display across various aspects of the game. Although the recent batting performance against England in Lucknow was relatively modest, India’s fierce bowling attack, led by Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, proved instrumental in securing a remarkable win. This triumph not only solidified India’s leading position on the points table but also exacerbated England’s struggles in the tournament, leaving them virtually eliminated.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah laughing together on the field

India’s Remarkable Bowling Transformation

In his analysis, Akhtar emphasized the transformative impact of Shami’s inclusion in India’s playing eleven following Hardik Pandya’s injury. Acknowledging Shami’s outstanding performances against New Zealand and England, Akhtar credited India’s ability to win matches through their bowling prowess, showcasing a shift from their traditional reliance on batting strength. He commended the collective effort of the Indian bowling unit, particularly recognizing the strategic brilliance of fast bowler Bumrah.

The Indian cricket team is standing for the national anthem at the ICC World Cup

India’s Path to World Cup Glory

Looking ahead, Akhtar voiced his confidence in India’s potential to secure their third ODI World Cup trophy, highlighting the team’s upcoming matches against Sri Lanka, South Africa, and the Netherlands. Expressing optimism, he emphasized the significance of maintaining their unbeaten streak en route to the final, setting the stage for a potential historic ICC World Cup victory. However, Akhtar cautioned against compromising the successful bowling unit once Pandya returns to full fitness, warning against the potential detriment of a partially fit Pandya’s inclusion at the expense of a bowler.

Akhtar’s Praise for India and its Response to Criticism

Addressing skepticism surrounding his praise for the Indian team, Akhtar reiterated the exceptional nature of India’s performance, particularly in their ability to defend a modest total with a significant margin of victory. Undeterred by criticism, Akhtar reaffirmed his admiration for India’s exceptional cricketing prowess, urging acknowledgment and appreciation of their commendable achievements.

Virat Kohli gives a hand gesture on the field during a match

Shoaib Akhtar’s Perspective on Virat Kohli

Shifting focus, Akhtar’s history of praise extends beyond team performances to individual players, notably including former Indian team captain Virat Kohli. Reminiscing on Kohli’s resilience during a challenging phase in his career, Akhtar highlighted the pivotal role played by Kohli’s consistent century-scoring performances, leading to India’s victories. Recognizing Kohli’s contribution to the team’s success, Akhtar emphasized the significance of Kohli’s monumental centuries during crucial chases, solidifying his status as a crucial asset for the Indian cricket team.

In a comparison between Kohli and the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Akhtar acknowledged Tendulkar’s status as one of the greatest batsmen while highlighting the challenges Tendulkar faced as a captain. Drawing parallels, Akhtar expressed confidence in Kohli’s eventual resurgence, expecting him to return to his prolific scoring form once he finds his equilibrium.

In summary, Akhtar’s acknowledgment of India’s exceptional performance and his recognition of individual players’ contributions underscore the team’s formidable presence in the 2023 ICC World Cup, setting the stage for a potential historic triumph in the coming days.

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