Pakistan close on series-levelling win against West Indies

Pakistan's spinners put their team on course for a series-levelling victory as the West Indies stumbled to 103 for six -- a lead of just 60 runs -– on an eventful third day of the second and final Test in Trinidad on Tuesday.

Abdullah Shafique's unbeaten 160 ensured the visitors did not completely squander an excellent overnight platform in eventually getting to a first-innings total of 387.

Sajid Khan then made his second meaningful contribution of the day in taking four second-innings wickets, while Ali Usman claimed two, including home captain Roston Chase caught-and-bowled off the final ball of the day.

First-innings top-scorer Justin Greaves will carry the fight for the West Indies into the fourth morning with uncertainty over the availability to bat of regular opener Brandon King.

On a deteriorating pitch offering sharp turn and variable bounce, West Indies left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican was as much in his element as 18 months earlier against these same opponents in Multan.

Here, his haul of six for 112, including three wickets in four balls to wrap up the Pakistan innings on the stroke of tea, would have been a portent of things to come.

Yet having started the day in the comfortable position of 266 for two and within sight of the West Indies first-innings total of 344, it took an error of judgement from Pakistan captain Babar Azam to trigger a gradual slide as the visitors' last eight wickets fell for 106 runs.

Having put the West Indies bowlers to the sword with delightful, confident strokeplay on the second afternoon, Babar was a picture of strokeless paralysis at the start of the day, as if the prospect of a first Test century in almost four years had gotten the better of him.

He managed to eke out a couple of runs to add to his overnight 86 before taking off for a non-existent single and, sent back by Shafique, dived desperately but in vain as the direct hit at the striker's end by King from point found Babar short of his ground.

West Indian delight at Babar's dismissal was transformed to concern over the welfare of King, who remained prone on the outfield after effecting the dismissal.

After several minutes of assessment of his situation he was stretchered off with what was later diagnosed to be back spasms.

That unexpected breakthrough triggered a mini-slide as three wickets fell for five runs, fast bowler Shamar Joseph and Warrican claiming a wicket each.

Khan offered a measure of stability with Shafique, the pair putting on 59 for the seventh wicket before another pacer, Jayden Seales, removed the lower-order batsman for 30.

With the door open to a vulnerable tail, Warrican wasted no time in wrapping up the innings, taking three wickets in four balls with Shafique stranded at the non-striker's end and leaving Pakistan to rue opportunities missed to earn a much more significant lead.

'Excellent' Warrican

Shafique's innings occupied more than seven-and-half hours during which he faced 323 deliveries, striking 15 fours and three sixes.

"Jomel was really excellent for us today, staying at the stumps and finishing off the innings well," said West Indies bowling coach Ravi Rampaul.

"At this stage though, and given the way the pitch is playing, if we can somehow push the lead to 150 we would have a chance."

Khan was at his most rampant in the final session, accounting for Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Amir Jangoo swiftly before adding Shai Hope and nightwatchman Seales to his list of victims.

Chase surveyed the carnage from the other end only to succumb to the constant pressure himself, the reaction of the home skipper to his demise almost a mirror of Babar's disconsolate trek to the pavilion more than seven hours earlier.

Usman also posed a constant threat, the left-arm spinner having earlier removed Kavem Hodge, whose 34 is the top score so far in an innings in danger of going into complete freefall. chickenroadslot.pro

Few things in cricket get people talking like the debate over the greatest batsman of all time. Is it Sachin Tendulkar? He carried the weight of a billion people on his shoulders. Or is it Virat Kohli? He is the modern run-machine who has made chasing targets look effortless. Then there is Sir Vivian Richards. He used to bat with a lot of aggresion. And what about Brian Lara? The elegant left-hander who could dismantle any bowling attack with grace.

Fans and experts have been arguing about this for years. Opinions often depend on the era you grew up in. Some value the format they watched most. Others are guided by personal loyalty to a favourite player.

At IceCric, we believe this debate is about more than just numbers. It is about legacy. It is about impact. It is about the unforgettable moments these players gave us. Those memories cannot be measured by statistics alone. As your cricket destination, we have ranked the best batsmen ever to play the game.

Top 5 IceCric Best Batsmen of All Time

We looked at everything from the classical style of earlier times to the power-hitting of today. In this feature, we highlight batsmen who didn’t just score runs but also changed matches and, in some cases, the very art of batting. Join us as we reveal IceCric’s definitive list of the greatest batsmen in cricket history.

1. Sachin Tendulkar (India)

Sachin Tendulkar. He is often considered the greatest batsman to ever play the game. His numbers are staggering. Across a 24-year career, he scored 34,357 international runs. He hit 100 centuries. That is a record that still feels untouchable. In Test cricket, he amassed 15,921 runs with 51 hundreds. In ODIs, he was the first player to score a double century. He finished with 18,426 runs in the format. He is also the leading run-scorer in World Cup history with 2,278 runs. But his legacy goes far beyond statistics. His humility made him loved by millions.

2. Virat Kohli (India)

Virat Kohli is the only active player on this list. And he is still going strong. Many consider him the greatest ODI batsman of all time. He has already surpassed Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries. He now has 51. He has scored 14,180 ODI runs at an average of 58. Across all formats, he has accumulated over 28,000 runs. He is widely regarded as the greatest run-chaser in white-ball cricket. In World Cups, he has scored 1,795 runs at an average of 59.83. Those are numbers that speak for themselves. He has made a habit of delivering on the biggest stage.

3. Sir Vivian Richards (West Indies)

Richards was a revolutionary figure. He used to bat with a lot of aggresion. He never wore a helmet and intimidated fast bowlers with his fearless strokeplay. He scored 8,540 Test runs at an average of 50.24. In ODIs, he scored 6,721 runs at a strike rate well ahead of his time. He achieved the highest-ever ICC ODI batting rating of 935 points. His dominance changed how the game was played.

4. Brian Lara (West Indies)

Brian Lara was a left-handed genius. He could dismantle any bowling attack single-handedly. On his day, there was no stopping him. He still holds the record for the highest individual score in Test cricket. 400 not out. That innings alone is enough to cement his place in history. Overall, he scored 11,953 Test runs at an average of 52.89. He hit 34 centuries along the way. In ODIs, he accumulated 10,405 runs in 299 matches. He scored big against the fiercest attacks of his era.

5. Ricky Ponting (Australia)

Ponting was a great batsman. He is arguably the greatest captain in cricket history. He is Australia’s leading run-scorer in international cricket with 27,483 runs. He scored 13,704 ODI runs with 30 centuries. He was a big-game player, scoring 140 in the 2003 World Cup final and 113 in the 2007 semi-final. He was a key member of Australia’s hat-trick of World Cup wins, captaining the team to victory in the last two. This is a feat unmatched by any other captain.

These five batsmen represent the pinnacle of batting excellence. The debate about who is the greatest will continue, but their legacies are secure.

FAQs

Q. Who is ranked as the greatest batsman by IceCric?

A. Sachin Tendulkar is ranked as the greatest batsman.

Q. Which active player is on IceCric’s list?

A. Virat Kohli is the only active player on the list.

Q. Who holds the highest individual Test score?

A. Brian Lara holds the record with 400 not out.

Q. Who captained Australia to two World Cup titles?

A. Ricky Ponting led Australia to two World Cup victories.

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India arrived in Colombo on Tuesday for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, but the squad travelled without young batter B Sai Sudharsan. The left-hander is currently recovering from a toe injury at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru and remains under the supervision of the board’s medical team.

The Shubman Gill-led side reached Sri Lanka ahead of its preparations for the series, which begins later this month. While the rest of the squad has started training in Colombo, Sudharsan will continue his rehabilitation programme in India before a final decision is taken on his availability.

According to sources, Sudharsan has made encouraging progress in his recovery. He has resumed batting in the nets and is spending more than an hour in each session at the Centre of Excellence.

Also Read: BCCI Pension Scheme: Eligibility, monthly payouts and other key details explained

However, the BCCI medical staff is not rushing his return and will continue to assess his condition over the next three to four days before deciding whether he can join the squad.

Sudharsan picked up the toe injury during the recent India A tour of Sri Lanka. Although the injury is not considered serious, the medical team wants to ensure that he is completely fit before he returns to international cricket.

The BCCI is being cautious with the youngster’s recovery to avoid any risk of aggravating the injury. The board does not want a repeat of situations where players returned too early and suffered fresh setbacks. The medical staff believes giving Sudharsan enough time to recover fully is the best approach for both the player and the team in the long run.

India will begin their preparations with a three-day warm-up match from August 7 at the Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo. The practice game will help the visitors adjust to the conditions before they travel to Galle for the opening Test, which starts on August 15.

The second and final Test of the series will be played in Colombo from August 23. There is still hope within the Indian camp that Sudharsan could be available for the second match if he continues to recover well over the coming days.

The 24-year-old has impressed across formats over the past year with his consistency in domestic cricket, India A matches and international appearances. His inclusion in the Test squad was seen as another important step in his development, but his recovery remains the priority for now.

India Test Squad:

Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, B Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi.

Sri Lanka Test Squad:

Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nishan Madushka, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha.

The 2007 Cricket World Cup is often remembered as a disaster. Some believe the tournament had several positive aspects that are often overlooked.

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The Case Against the 2007 World Cup

Many criticize the tournament for several reasons. It was too long with 51 matches played over 47 days. The ICC made questionable decisions, including banning music and atmosphere in the stands. Pakistan’s coach Bob Woolmer died during the tournament, and the subsequent investigation was handled poorly. India and Pakistan, two of the biggest draws, were eliminated in the first round. The final ended in controversial circumstances due to poor light. These factors contributed to the perception of disaster.

Two Favourites Out in the Group Stage

India and Pakistan were two of the strongest teams in world cricket at the time. India had stars like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sourav Ganguly. Pakistan had Inzamam-Ul-Haq, Younis Khan, and Mohammad Yousuf. Both teams were expected to perform well. However, they were knocked out in the group stage itself. Neither team even made it to the Super Eight round. This was a disaster for fans. Posters of star players were burnt in protest. Sachin Tendulkar called it the darkest phase of his career. With both teams gone, the tournament lost its excitement. Australia and Sri Lanka dominated the rest of the competition. Matches became one-sided and predictable.

Dry Pitches and Empty Stadiums

The pitches during the tournament were too dry. They offered little support for bowlers. Spinners and seamers struggled to make an impact. Adding to this, stadiums remained largely empty. Even matches involving the West Indies had vacant seats. The timing of the matches made it difficult for fans in the subcontinent to follow. Matches started at nearly midnight and ended around 7 am. As a result, TRP ratings hit an all-time low in the subcontinent. The 2011 World Cup is often praised for being better organized in comparison.

The Murder/Suicide of Bob Woolmer

Bob Woolmer was a top coach who had made South Africa a major force. He became the coach of Pakistan in 2004. Pakistan lost to Ireland on March 17, their second loss in two matches. The very next day, Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room. His body was discovered naked in the bathroom of his hotel room. Past medical records suggested a heart attack, but the police suspected murder. There were reports of a heated debate between Woolmer and captain Inzamam-Ul-Haq before his death. However, without proper evidence, the case was closed. This tragic incident cast a dark shadow over the entire tournament. Nothing like this has been seen in any other World Cup.

Bizarre Final

Australia and Sri Lanka were the top two teams in the tournament. They met in the final. Australia posted a massive total of 281 runs in 38 overs. Their bowlers then took quick wickets. However, confusion followed. Umpires suspended play due to bad light and announced Australia as winners. But just as Australia began celebrating, the umpires incorrectly insisted the game was only suspended. They said three more overs had to be bowled. After mutual agreement from both captains, Sri Lanka came out to bat again. Without night-vision cameras, it was almost impossible for the crowd to watch. This was an embarrassment for the officials. The final ended in chaos and confusion.

The Case For the 2007 World Cup

Despite the criticism, the tournament had many positive aspects. It was the most inclusive World Cup ever with 16 teams. The format was better than the ones that followed. All matches were meaningful, and lesser teams had a fair chance to progress. Bangladesh and Ireland played exceptionally well and grabbed their opportunities.

The playing conditions were also innovative. It was the first World Cup to use powerplays. This added a strategic dimension to the middle overs. There were several memorable matches. Lasith Malinga took four wickets in four balls against South Africa. Sri Lanka had a thrilling win over England. Zimbabwe and Ireland tied their match.

The tournament also showcased the brilliance of the Australian team, which is considered one of the greatest limited-overs sides ever. Complaints about the length of the tournament are often seen as unfair. The 2019 World Cup had a similar number of matches over a similar number of days. But is remembered more favorably because the big teams reached the final stages.

FAQs

Q. Why is the 2007 Cricket World Cup called a disappointment?

A. Many fans criticized its long schedule and controversial events.

Q. Which two teams were knocked out in the group stage?

A. India and Pakistan were eliminated in the group stage.

Q. What happened to Bob Woolmer during the World Cup?

A. Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer died during the tournament.

Q. Which teams played the 2007 World Cup final?

A. Australia and Sri Lanka played the final.

Q. Why was the 2007 World Cup final controversial?

A. The match ended with confusion because of bad light.

Get the Latest Cricket Updates at IceCric.News. Also, Follow Our Social Media for live updates on Facebook and Instagram.