Cricket
Williamson’s and New Zealand’s throwback to an old Test match
When Pakistan makes pitches as flat as these, there’s only one thing to do. You can attack with the bat, with the ball, with the field, and with your declarations. If you really want to win, you should be ready to lose. Send in the Nighthawks and be random with how you change the bowling, how you choose your players, and how you set up the field. Attack the danger and move through the smog faster.
It sounds crazy and sometimes a little bit cocky. It can get itchy. But when Brendon McCullum’s team won the series 3-0, it was the first time a visiting team had ever done that in Pakistan. The fact that the series trophy was in England’s luggage was proof that this strategy worked. At the end of the day, a plan that works will always win, no matter how fancy and complicated Plans B, C, and D look on paper.
Kane Williamson, who took over as New Zealand’s Test captain after Brendon McCullum, is smart enough to know that his team, or Tim Southee’s team, doesn’t have the players to play as fast and sloppy as England. He might have also noticed that Pakistan is having trouble winning Test matches at home right now. Their batting order is changing, most of their best fast bowlers are hurt, and the debate over who should keep wicket has turned into a culture war that has little to do with cricket.
In the last week, the PCB got rid of one administration in the middle of its term and brought back an older one. They are busy accusing each other, defending themselves, counter-defending themselves, and making new accusations. In short, there is more than one way to beat Pakistan right now, and New Zealand doesn’t have to throw out the Test guidebook to threaten their hosts with a fifth straight loss at home.
On the third day, New Zealand just wanted to make sure that by the end of the day, they had passed Pakistan’s first innings score. On the fourth day, Williamson was well into the hundreds and batting with the last batters. There was a chance of morning fireworks as New Zealand pressed their advantage and gave themselves as much time as possible to bowl out Pakistan again. England had told us and shown us many times that this was the way to win here.
But it would take 18 balls to get the first run, and 50 balls to get the first boundary. Williamson and New Zealand didn’t want to take risks just for the sake of theater, and they didn’t feel like they had to play to anyone’s need for instant gratification. In fact, New Zealand has only won 15 Tests in Asia in the past 67 years. Twenty percent of those were in charge of by Williamson. Even though he has never played here before, he has Karachi under his control at this point, and he wants to put as much space between his team and Pakistan as possible before the final attack.
In the first 17 overs of the first hour, only 29 runs are scored; by lunch, only 79 runs had been scored. Currently, boundaries are as scarce as fully fit Pakistani fast bowlers, but wickets are much more scarce; this is the point. Equally disciplined, Ish Sodhi plays the innings of his life, facing over 21% of his career total of 180 balls. Over 70% of the 193 balls in the first session are defended or left alone by the pair. In front of mostly empty stands on a weekday, the cricket is not enthralling, but then again, well-played Test cricket can be difficult to watch, especially on sluggish surfaces. These wickets are quite abrasive, and New Zealand is performing exceptionally well in Test cricket here.
“When you’re up to bat, you want to be as well-prepared as possible and stick to your plans,” Williamson said. This was the focal point of this match. It was enjoyable to spend a great deal of time in the field with a number of men who made quite useful contributions. We understood that we wanted to bat longer and get more runs today, and Ish Sodhi’s effort with the bat was crucial. It was a good total for the first innings, but we have a lot of work to do and we know we must take a few wickets tomorrow.
“It’s difficult to say, but it was enjoyable for me to be a part of a number of relationships that were crucial to our achieving a competitive score. It has put us in a reasonable position, but we are aware that there is still much work to be done. As a batting team, we are delighted with the first innings total, but we know that so much can happen on the fifth day of any Test, and we eagerly anticipate it.”
New Zealand did not declare until after tea, just after Williamson had lofted Abrar Ahmed inside out with a superb stroke to reach 199, followed by a nudge to deep square to reach his fifth double-century. He has now surpassed McCullum and is the first non-Asian batsman to make a century in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the United Arab Emirates.
“It’s always difficult to bat in Asia,” Williamson said. “It’s also slightly different. All nations and opposition are distinct. I wouldn’t place them all in the same category, but as a team, we’re constantly attempting to adapt to the circumstances in order to achieve success. It’s been a good few days, but there’s still a lot of Test cricket to be played on day five, so we’re concentrating on that.”
It did not always feel that way when Williamson was batting. Even when New Zealand’s innings was winding down and he was running out of partners, there was little hurry to reach the personal milestone or ultimately get off the square to send Pakistan in to take 10 wickets. Williamson was willing to pad up to Nauman Ali’s legside drifters and even played out a maiden against Abrar, exposing Ajaz Patel to a full over, despite the umpires extending the middle session with New Zealand nine runs down. Time was being drained from the game on a clock that Pakistan was only too glad to see run down.
He stated, “We’ll have to determine if we declared late.” “We desired to score a few more runs, see how the pitch is degrading, and determine if spin was gaining some aid. As we observed during the latter half of our innings, the condition of the pitch has worsened significantly. As a batter, there were a few other factors to consider, such as the fluctuating bounce. To utilize the support underneath the surface as effectively as possible, we’ll need a lot of hard effort and patience beginning tomorrow.”
All of this is a far cry from the most recent visitors to these shores. New Zealand, though, does not appear overly concerned with pursuing the latest vogue; in fact, they did not appear too concerned with chasing a victory here. With Williamson’s characteristically modest mastery of the art of persuasion, they could yet wind up coaxing victory to their side.
Cricket
KL Rahul’s Fitness Update: Asia Cup Anticipation
Indian cricket player KL Rahul doing exercise
Get the latest KL Rahul Fitness Update as the Asia Cup draws near. With the tournament on the horizon, all eyes are on KL Rahul and his efforts to enhance his physical condition. This anticipation adds an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming Asia Cup, as fans eagerly await his progress and contributions on the field.
Unveiling the Remarkable Strides
“KL’s journey within our conditioning camp has yielded remarkable strides,” Dravid affirmed during an engaging conversation in Alur on a Tuesday. He further elaborated on Rahul’s intensive training regimen, highlighting the significant advancements achieved in alignment with the team’s envisioned trajectory. However, it’s important to underscore that Rahul’s participation will be limited to the earlier part of the tour, excluding the segment taking place in Kandy.
Amid this cricketing expedition, the responsibility of overseeing Rahul’s well-being in the upcoming days rests firmly on the shoulders of the National Cricket Academy (NCA). A comprehensive reassessment of his physical state is scheduled for September 4—a critical juncture that will shape the course of action moving forward. Encouragingly, Rahul’s journey so far is indicative of a promising future, marked by substantial progress and commendable breakthroughs.
Navigating Injury Setbacks and Selection Strategy
The meticulous composition of the Asia Cup team on August 21 took into careful consideration KL Rahul’s state of health. Ajit Agarkar, the discerning chairman of selectors, disclosed that Rahul had encountered a “minor niggle” after a complete recovery from a thigh injury sustained during the IPL 2023 season. While the medical team at the NCA expressed contentment with Rahul’s batting workload, concerns surfaced regarding his wicketkeeping prowess, particularly after he expressed fatigue following practice games.
Mastering the Art of Batting: Rahul’s Regimen
Intriguingly, Rahul’s batting prowess has showcased resilience during his practice sessions at the Alur nets. On the final day of India’s intensive six-day training camp, Rahul dedicated nearly 35 minutes to the crease, confronting an array of bowlers encompassing both pace and spin. While he refrained from partaking in bowling drills, his immersive practice was apparent.
Rahul’s training routine unveiled a multifaceted approach, with a special emphasis on handling spin bowling. Positioned as the No. 5 batsman, he skillfully employed footwork to counter leg spin, demonstrating meticulous shot selection. Moreover, his adaptability shone through as he engaged in full-blooded sweeps against the spin duo of R Sai Kishore and Manav Suthar, both known for their left-arm spin expertise.
Starting to feel like me again 🏃♂️🏟️ pic.twitter.com/8cECI7oRDZ
— K L Rahul (@klrahul) July 11, 2023
Strategizing for Excellence
As Rahul’s training regimen progressed, he navigated to the second net—a space dedicated to facing the new ball delivered by the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna. His unwavering attention was directed towards aligning his stance with the bounce, honing his ability to play straight, and judiciously utilizing pace to manipulate the trajectory of the ball. A post-session interaction with Coach Dravid and Virat Kohli underscored Rahul’s commitment to refining his skills.
Balancing Act: Skill Development and Preservation
Despite his fervent dedication, Rahul’s training routine has been carefully curated to prevent undue physical strain. The team management, vigilant about his well-being, has ensured that his wicketkeeping drills strike the right balance between intensity and preservation. His sessions, particularly those focused on lateral movement and spin, are calibrated to foster growth without compromising his physical resilience.
Rahul’s proactive participation extended to meaningful interactions with fellow cricketer Rishabh Pant. The duo shared insights and engaged in rehab and fitness drills alongside the team, underscoring the collaborative spirit within the Indian cricket fraternity.
A Glimpse of Squad Dynamics
As the cricketing spectacle approaches, India’s Asia Cup contingent boasts the presence of wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan. Additionally, Sanju Samson has been designated as the team’s travelling substitute, poised to step in when needed.
In Conclusion: The Path Ahead
In conclusion, KL Rahul fitness update and contribute significantly to the upcoming stages of the Asia Cup resonates as a central narrative. His ongoing progress, meticulously overseen by the NCA physiotherapy team, holds the promise of an impactful return to the field. The cricketing community eagerly anticipates his presence in the Super 4s phase, envisioning his role as a cornerstone in India’s pursuit of glory.
Ashwin doesn’t think India has a problem at No.4 or No.5 now that Dhoni and Yuvraj have left the team. He said that there is no question about India’s opening order.
India’s middle-order in ODIs is always a topic of discussion. When they lost in the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup, a big reason was that they didn’t have a good No. 4. Since Yuvraj Singh’s last ODI on June 30, 2017, India has tried more than 10 players in that position, but captain Rohit Sharma says they still haven’t found the right fit. The No. 5 spot is just the same. Even though the way teams think about batting in ODIs is changing quickly, flexible batting line-ups are now the rule. However, not having a bankable middle order has hurt many times. In the last couple of years, however, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul seem to have helped India find the right mix.
Ravichandran Ashwin says that if both Iyer and Rahul are ready to play, there should be no question about India’s No. 4 and No. 5 in the Asia Cup and World Cup. He is correct. Rahul and Iyer have the best numbers of any middle-order openers India has tried since the 2019 World Cup.
Ashwin even said that Rahul, who has scored 742 runs at a remarkable average of 53 and a striking strike rate of 99.33 since taking on the new role of keeping wickets and batting at No.5, has filled the middle-order spot with “expertise” since MS Dhoni and Yuvraj retired.
“India had been looking for a candidate for Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni since they left the team. Rahul has done a good job in that role. He will always bat at No. 5 and keep wickets for us,” Ashwin wrote on his YouTube account.
Ashwin, who didn’t make it to the Asia Cup, praised Rahul for taking over as keeper-batsman after Rishabh Pant got hurt.
“Before Pant got hurt, Rahul was next in line. Now that Pant is out, Ishan Kishan is the second goal, and he has jumped at the chance. Rahul has a minor injury, but he should be fine for the first game. If he isn’t, we have a travelling team of 18 people in Sanju Samson,” Ashwin said.
“India’s No.4 should not be up for debate”: Ashwin
Shreyas Iyer is similar. Iyer got 805 runs before he hurt his back again and again. His average was 47.35, and his strike rate was 94.37. The Mumbai right-hander’s ability to hit big shots against all types of spinners makes him an ideal No.4 in subcontinent conditions. He also has a double game. Iyer has shown that he can handle the pressure if a couple of wickets fall early and then use it to his advantage. If he comes in to bat after a good start, he can beat the spinners right away.
“Shreyas Iyer is just as important to this team as KL Rahul. He is a steady No.4 for India and one of their best players against spin. Whenever he has played at 4, he has been a key part of their success. “If he is fully fit to play, there shouldn’t be any debate about the No. 4 spot,” Ashwin said on his YouTube account when talking about India’s Asia Cup team.
Ajit Agarkar, the head of selectors for the BCCI, put to rest any doubts about Iyer’s health. He also said that Rahul has a new injury and might not play in India’s Asia Cup opener against Pakistan. Rahul and Iyer’s good health will be the most important thing for India in the Asia Cup and World Cup, not where they play in the XI. Ashwin has said that if Rahul and Iyer are both healthy, they will play at No. 4 and No. 5 respectively.
India’s 2023 Asia Cup Squad
September marks the start of the next Asia Cup competition. The Asian Cricket Council oversees this prestigious competition. There had been talk of Pakistan hosting the competition, but now it appears that plans have changed. When the ACC announces the final host and schedule, that will be it. There will be 13 games played in this major competition, according to the data.
Many cricket followers can’t wait for this massive ACC-run competition. Cricket fans in India are eager to learn about their team’s Asia Cup 2023 roster. The team for the forthcoming competition has not been announced as of yet.
Nonetheless, the following players will likely be included in the Indian squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023: KL Rahul, Venkatesh Iyer, Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal, Suryakumar Yadav, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan, Arshdeep Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, etc.
List of 2023 Asia Cup Participants
Six teams will compete in the 2023 Asia Cup, according to reports. There will be one-day matches in this competition. Sri Lanka won this prestigious competition in 2022 and is the current holder of the title.
The roster of participating players in the Asia Cup will be made public shortly.
1. Indian Squad: KL Rahul, Ravichandran Ashwin, Suryakumar Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Deepak Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Kuldeep Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, etc. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
💬 "Hopefully Sharma and Kohli can roll some arm over in the World Cup" 😃#TeamIndia captain Rohit Sharma at his inimitable best! 👌#AsiaCup2023 | @imRo45 pic.twitter.com/v1KKvOLcnq
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 21, 2023
2. Pakistan Squad: Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan, Khushdil Shah, Naseem Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed, etc. are all members of the Pakistan Squad. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
3.Bangladesh Squad: Mohammad Saifuddin, Ebadot Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Parvez Hossain Emon, Anamul Haque, Mahedi Hasan, Mehidy Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Naim, Mushfiqur Rahim, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Sabbir Rahman, Afif Hossain, etc. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
4.Afghanistan Squad : Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Nabi, Fareed Ahmad, Usman Ghani, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Noor Ahmad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Samiullah Shinwari, Najibullah Zadran, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ibrahim, Zadran, Afsar Zazai. Soon, we shall get more specifics about the actual team.
5.Sri Lanka Squad : Asitha Fernando, Nuwanidu Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Praveen Jayawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan, Madushanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Dasun Shanaka, Mahesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Jeffrey Vandersay, etc. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
6.Nepal Squad : Aarif Sheikh and Aasif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee and Sompal Kami and Lalit Rajbanshi and Sandeep Lamichhane and Karna KC and Gulsan Jha and Rohit Paudel and Bhim Sharki and so on. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
Schedule for the 2023 Asia Cup
The ACC will soon announce the dates of the upcoming matches. In September, you may watch this fascinating and important competition. Hong Kong qualified for the Asia Cup in the previous tournament. Nepal, however, beat out the United Arab Emirates in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup to earn entry to this year’s tournament.
To see how well this young team does in such a major competition would be thrilling. This tournament features a lot of big names and big players. The 2019 Asia Cup will include 13 total games between the six participating teams (split into two groups). They’ll be competing for the title of Asia Cup 2023 champion.
2023 India Asia Cup Team Captain
There has been no announcement made regarding who will lead the Indian team at the 2023 Asia Cup. However, Rohit Sharma is expected to lead the Indian team at the upcoming Asia Cup in 2023. In the ongoing WCC Finals, India is being captained by Rohit Sharma.
He is undoubtedly a top-tier cricket player. As a result, many people expect Rohit Sharma to lead the Indian team at the 2023 Asia Cup. When India last competed in the ACC event, Rohit led the team as captain.
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