All posts by h716a5.icu

Astros Activate All-Star Third Baseman Ahead of Crucial Series With Mariners

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

With an absolutely cardinal series against the Mariners looming, the Astros are ready to redeploy one of their best young talents.

Houston is activating third baseman Isaac Paredes from the injured list ahead of the team's three-game series against the Mariners, it announced Friday. Paredes, 26, has not played since July 19 due to a hamstring injury.

When he hurt himself, the two-time All-Star was slashing .259/.359/.470 with 19 home runs and 50 RBIs. As noted by Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, each of those last two figures led the team at that time.

The Astros acquired Paredes from the Cubs on Dec. 13 in the trade that sent Chicago star right fielder and designated hitter Kyle Tucker. The transaction has worked out for both teams in the near term, as Paredes, Tucker and Houston right fielder Cam Smith have all provided their share of contributions to their new teams.

With nine games remaining, both the Astros and Seattle have 84–69 records. Houston is seeking its fifth straight American League West title, while the Mariners haven't won their division since 2001.

Marlins Staff Celebrated for Classy Move Towards Phillies Fan After Awkward HR Fracas

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

It has been a rough few days when it comes to sports fans acting normally when gifted a souvenir from an athlete.

At the U.S. Open, a man was spotted snatching the hat of Kamil Majchrzak out of the hands of a child. While Majchrzak made things right the next day, it was still an odd moment to behold.

On Friday night at LoanDepot Park, that awkward moment got its sequel. After Phillies centerfielder Harrison Bader hit a solo shot to put his team up 5–1 over the Marlins, a mini fracas broke out in the stands.

One Phillies fan hustled to retrieve the ball, nabbed it after a brief moment on the ground, and went back to his seat to give the ball to the young fan he was sitting with, presumably his son. But another fan, whose seat was closer to the initial landing spot of the ball, took issue with the move, and went over to give the fan that got the ball the business. Eventually, the fan who got the ball appeared to say, “fine, okay, whatever sheesh” and gave the ball back.

You can watch the scene unfold below.

On the one hand, we cannot see the moment that the ball was initially possessed, so it is possible that there were some dastardly moves done behind the seats that would offer more clarity to the scene. On the other hand, once a kid has the home run ball, it’s usually best policy to let the kid keep the home run ball.

Thankfully, the Marlins’ stadium staff went out of their way to make things right, hooking up the fan who was briefly without the home run ball with a new ball and a prize pack.

After the game, the Phillies made sure to give the fan an unforgettable moment as well, with Bader coming out to meet the family and offer up a signed bat.

A great gesture by the Phillies, but really a huge shoutout to the Marlins staff for acting in the moment to make sure everyone left the stadium with a happy memory instead of an awkward one. Seeing one team make such a gesture for opposing fans is just a nice reminder that a love of baseball can transcend a particular fandom or rooting interest.

All of that said, please, if you or a loved one happens to be in the stands when a home run ball is hit, or a player offers a fan their hat, or anything of the sort occurs and puts you in a position to possibly nab a souvenir, please just be normal about it.

Ranking the Best Managerial Job Openings of the MLB Offseason

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The 2025 MLB playoffs are heating up as teams battle for a shot at the World Series title.

While 12 teams entered the postseason bracket, 18 went home early. Of those teams on the outside looking in, eight are in search of new managers. What follows is a look at all the available managerial openings across the league, ranking them by their attractiveness to potential applicants.

8. Colorado Rockies

There is not much here to love, and manager Bud Black was mercifully let go in the middle of the season.

The Rockies lost 119 games in 2025 and had the worst run differential (-424) MLB has seen since 1899. The team has lost 100-plus games in three straight seasons and has a .356 winning percentage over the past four years. The bad part? The Rockies haven't taken advantage of their awful play to build for the future. MLB Pipeline ranks their farm system 24th in baseball, meaning there isn't much help on the way.

Catcher Hunter Goodman had an excellent season, so there's a plus, and former first-rounder Charlie Condon isn't too far away. But this year's first-rounder, Ethan Holliday, is just 18 and likely years from the big leagues, and the team's ownership doesn't seem interested in spending to improve the current roster. This isn't quite a dead-end job, but any manager taking it would be smart to get long-term job security.

7. Minnesota Twins

The Twins sold hard at the deadline and wound up finishing 70-92, and looking like a team trending in the wrong direction. Rocco Baldelli was fired following the season, but, honestly, this was not his fault.

There isn't much to be excited about here. Byron Buxton hit 35 home runs, Luke Keaschall had a nice debut season, and Joe Ryan has become a real frontline starter. Top prospect and former No. 5 overall pick Walker Jenkins is in Triple-A and clearly not far from making his debut. Beyond that, the Twins do have a deep farm system ranked No. 2 in baseball, but it will take time to see that come to fruition.

The biggest issue here is the unstable ownership situation. The Pohlad family tried to sell the franchise for about a year, then all of a sudden flipped a switch and opted to keep it. Instead, they took on minority owners in an attempt to pay down more than $425 million in debt. The roster might be better in the future, but right now things up and down the franchise look bleak.

6. Los Angeles Angels

The Angels are this high simply because the other two spots are abysmal right now. Ron Washington is out after a 72-90 season, but he didn't have much to work with. Owner Arte Morenos's club has one of the worst farm systems in baseball, the worst contract in the sport, and already has $126.9 million committed for 2026 for a roster that isn't any good.

The Angels had a bad season, and don't have much to be excited about. Mike Trout had the worst year of his career, Taylor Ward hit 36 home runs but doesn't offer much upside, and Rendon is still an active major leaguer and will make $38.6 million in 2026 to essentially be an empty uniform. Fans can get excited about 24-year-old shortstop Zach Neto, but… yeah, that's about it.

Moreno's franchise needs a complete overhaul from top to bottom.

5. Washington Nationals

The Nationals aren't close to winning a title, but there are a lot of solid building blocks in place. Washington should have been better than 66-96, which is why Dave Martinez lost his job in July.

James Wood, C.J. Abrams, and Dylan Crews can create the core to a really nice middle of the order, third baseman Brady House should hit once he's adjusted to the bigs, and with the right guidance, MacKenzie Gore could turn into a legit No. 1 starter. Meanwhile, righty Travis Sykora and shortstop Seaver King should supplement that group soon.

On top of that, the team only has $47.2 million in payroll committed for 2026, but $32.8 million of that is going to Stephen Strasburg, who retired in August of last year. Yikes. They currently only have $14.4 million committed to their active roster, which is the lowest in baseball. There's plenty of room to add here.

4. San Francisco Giants

The Giants looked like a playoff team for a chunk of the 2025 season, then they traded for Rafael Devers and fell apart. A late-season run almost got them into the postseason, but it didn't save Bob Melvin's job. There's some good stuff here. Devers, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, and youngster Bryce Eldridge fill out what can be a dangerous lineup, while Logan Webb and Robbie Ray are expensive, but can still get it done on the mound.

The issue here is depth: San Francisco doesn't have it. With Eldridge moving to the big leagues, the team's best prospects are all years away from joining him. The franchise has money and isn't afraid to spend, which means free agency could be the route to contention.

3. Texas Rangers

This job has been filled by Skip Schumaker, but it's worth going over the positives here. This is a team ready to compete now, but the future doesn't look great. The Rangers won the World Series in 2023, but have struggled to a .491 winning percentage over the past two seasons. Bruce Bochy parted ways with the franchise after the 2025 season.

The lineup boasts some juice with Corey Seager, youngster Wyatt Langford, and Marcus Semien, while the rotation is led by Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom. Evan Carter and Jack Leiter are both young talents who could emerge more consistently as well.

The downside here is that the Rangers' system boasts the No. 6 prospect in baseball, Sebastian Walcott, and not much else. The future third baseman or corner outfielder could reach the big leagues next season, but 2027 is more likely. Other than that, help is most definitely not on the way, so Texas will need to look outside the franchise to find the help it needs.

2. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles were the most disappointing team in baseball during the 2025 season, which is why Brandon Hyde was fired in May. Despite a rough season that ended with a 75-87 record, there's a reason expectations were so high.

Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, Coby Mayo, and uber-prospect Samuel Basallo combine to create the best young core in the game. On the mound, Trevor Rogers, Dean Kremer, Grayson Rodriguez, and Kyle Bradish front a crop of excellent starters. Talent is not the problem here.

It's also worth noting, new owner David Rubenstein seems willing to spend to win, which should come in handy when the team needs to supplement its roster. Don't be shocked if Baltimore is active this offseason.

1. Atlanta Braves

Injuries played a big part in the Braves flopping to a 76-86 record in 2025, but the team never seemed to get off the ground, even when healthy. Brian Snitker retired at the end of the season and will move into an advisory role as a result.

Still, with a rotation fronted by Spencer Strider, backed up by Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, and Grant Holmes, good things should be coming in the near future. On offense, Matt Olson remains an All-Star slugger, rookie catcher Drake Baldwin looks like a cornerstone, and the team still has Ronald Acuna Jr. and Austin Riley.

While that all sounds great, there are some downsides. One is the $214 million in payroll already committed for 2026, which likely limits the team's ability to build. The 28th-ranked farm system in baseball is also a drag on the organization. But any manager taking this job knows he has an excellent general manager in Alex Anthopoulos. This is a job where a new hire could win quickly.

Being a team, and not chasing personal glory, does the trick for Bangladesh

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

They didn’t have a batsman or bowler in the top five, but they have the trophy, which is what matters

Sreshth Shah in Potchefstroom10-Feb-2020At the end of the Under-19 World Cup 2020 final, India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal (400 runs) and Ravi Bishnoi (17 wickets) finished as the most successful batsman and bowler of the competition respectively, but the title of world champions went to Bangladesh. That’s because, on the big day, it was teamwork that made Bangladesh’s dream work.Like in the whole tournament, Jaiswal and Bishnoi were the best individual performers on the day, the opening batsman scoring 88 and the legspinner picking up a four-wicket haul to give India a sniff. But there were at least five performances from the Bangladesh players, none of which as sparkling as Jaiswal’s or Bishnoi’s, but added up to more on the day.When Bangladesh captain Akbar Ali walked out to bat in their chase of 178, Bangladesh were 65 for 4 – all four wickets going to Bishnoi – and in the midst of an epic Indian comeback. Entering the match, Akbar had scored only 26 runs in three games and Bishnoi was turning the ball sharply both ways. Akbar had to not only get himself in, but navigate the game while protecting the lesser batsmen at the other end. He did so for 6.5 overs, guiding bowling allrounders Shamim Hossain and Avishek Das, but when both of them were sent back in quick succession, Bangladesh were tottering again at 102 for 6.ALSO READ: Akbar Ali, and a slice of Bangladesh historyBut Akbar had one trump card in his ranks. Parvez Hossain Emon, the opener who had retired hurt on 25 due to cramps in the 13th over, had looked in control against the new ball. And he was going to come out if needed. When they met in the middle following Das’ dismissal, they could see the clouds overhead turning greyer by the moment. They needed 76 more, and Akbar and Parvez had to score most of them. So they went for the counter-attack with Bishnoi out of the attack. Helped by wides and byes from the Indians, they eked out 41 runs in the next nine overs. As Bangladesh went ahead of the game again, they went from aggressive to defensive. And so, when Jaiswal, the part-timer, was introduced, Parvez looked to break the shackles, only to be caught at cover to depart for 47. But Bangladesh were 143 for 7 by then.”Emon showed his character,” Akbar said after the game. “He wasn’t even at his 30%. When Emon came to the dressing room during cramping, that was the crunch moment with two new batsmen and India dominating. After the sixth wicket when Emon returned, the way he batted… I am really proud of him.

Shoriful’s 40th over changed the climate. Was a fantastic bowling effort to restrict India below 180. At the toss, we would’ve accepted anything under 220Akbar Ali

“We wanted to keep things simple in the chase. Wanted to maintain the process. [Openers] Tanzid Hasan and Emon gave us a very good start, but Ravi bowled exceptionally well, so need to give credit to him.”When I entered the chase, I knew we needed one big partnership from us. And we came to the party. When I was batting, the plan was to not lose many wickets since rain was around, so had to keep one eye on the DLS.”But it wasn’t over. In walked Rakibul Hasan at No. 9, his previous highest score in top-flight cricket being 1 not out. With the team ahead of the DLS par score – albeit marginally – and plenty of overs to go, the objective changed for Akbar and Rakibul – stay put. The 35 runs needed, a win would come if they played their cards right. So, through the next 11 overs, Akbar blocked and blocked and blocked. He ran only if he could take twos, and if things went according to plan, Rakibul would not face more than one delivery per over.Over by over, Akbar and Rakibul inched closer to the target. As the partnership grew, so did Rakibul’s confidence, and Akbar began to rely on his partner a bit more. From facing one ball an over, Rakibul was facing three – he even played out a whole over from the dangerous Bishnoi. Every run took Bangladesh closer to the target, and they were all met with applause that increased in intensity.A joyous Bangladesh team after winning the Under-19 World Cup•ICC via GettyWith 15 runs to win and the team 18 ahead of the DLS par, the rain came down – in the 41st over. But that worked in Bangladesh’s advantage because of how slow India’s over-rate was. When the teams returned, eight runs were shaved off Bangladesh’s target. They came on cue, from Rakibul, and sent the Bangladesh crowd – and players – into ecstasy. For his composed batting in the midst of pressure he had never faced before, Akbar collected the Player-of-the-Match award along with the big trophy.”In the first half of the tournament, I wasn’t getting much runs. In the final, opportunity came to me. I had to be the chase-man, the finisher, so happy to do that for my team,” he said.Akbar also praised Bangladesh’s bowling attack, particularly left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam, who finished with 2 for 31 and ran Bishnoi out, doing the job in his follow through as the Indians were looking to steal a single in the 44th over. Two overs before that, Shoriful had delivered a double-blow, dismissing Jaiswal and Siddhesh Veer in consecutive deliveries. It triggered a collapse of epic proportions with the defending champions losing seven wickets for 21 runs to fold for 177.”After winning the toss, we wanted to take early wickets,” Akbar said. “We got the opener (Divyaansh Saxena), but Tilak Varma and Jaiswal had a very good partnership.”In the middle of the innings, we thought we had to chase 240, but Shoriful’s 40th over changed the climate. Was a fantastic bowling effort to restrict India below 180. At the toss, we would’ve accepted anything under 220.”It was this teamwork and togetherness than helped Bangladesh clinch the crown. Bangladesh’s highest-run scorer of the tournament – Mahmudul Hasan Joy – finished at No. 15 on the list of highest run-scorers. But, importantly, Nos. 18 and 19 were also from Bangladesh – Tanzid and Shahadat Hossain, respectively. Their highest wicket-taker, Rakibul, finished joint sixth on the list of highest wicket-takers with 12 strikers, but Shoriful had nine, Tanzim Hasan Sakib had seven and Shamim Hossain five.The Bangladesh players didn’t necessarily produce performances that would dominate the World Cup highlights reel, but you don’t need be there to be champions. That’s what worked for them and, perhaps, proved the difference between victory and defeat for India.

Georgia Adams: From a farmer's field to an Edgbaston final in 12 months

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Southern Vipers captain on England radar after leading RHF Trophy run charts

Matt Roller25-Sep-2020In May, eight weeks into the UK’s lockdown, Georgia Adams didn’t expect to play any cricket until 2021. Three months later, she will captain her Southern Vipers team in a televised 50-over final, which she goes into with 420 runs in her last six innings.”It’s been a bit of a whirlwind,” she laughs. “I got very pessimistic, which isn’t like me. I was convinced we weren’t going to get any cricket. Even when we got our retainer contracts and go the OK to train, we were still very much unsure what was actually going to go ahead.”Instead, the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy has been a major success. All players have been paid to play, fixtures have been held at men’s county grounds, and live streams on YouTube have attracted nearly half a million views. With an average first-innings total of 220 across the season, runs have been easier to come by, with better pitches giving players value for shots.”Last year in a county game, we turned up and were playing in a farmer’s field with no sightscreen,” Adams says. “The jump from that to playing at the Ageas Bowl, Hove, The Oval is amazing for us. You get more reward for playing your shots; you’re not worrying as much that a ball is going to take off and fly over your head.”County cricket has always been a decent standard in terms of the players in it, but on some pitches 120 won you the game. That’s not what anyone wants to watch, and not what anyone wants to play in. It’s been great to see across the board that people have cashed in at these grounds.”Adams herself has been in the form of her life. She is leading the run charts heading into Sunday’s final against Northern Diamonds, and has scored consistently throughout the competition: 37 on the opening day is her lowest score, and only four other players in the tournament have even half as many runs as her 420.In a must-win game against Western Storm, she played the innings of the tournament, hitting 154 not out off 155 balls at the Ageas Bowl. “I was trying to bat and bat and bat,” she explains. “And then after I reached 100, every time I tried to hit the ball it just seemed to ping off the middle. Days like that don’t happen very often.”Her form has not gone unnoticed. Adams has consistently been involved in England development and academy squads, but is yet to make an international debut. She knows Lisa Keightley, the England head coach, from her time in those squads, and was name-checked by Heather Knight in a recent interview with ESPNcricinfo.But as Adams sees it, the major boost to women’s cricket this year is that international selection is no longer the be-all and end-all: she looks certain to be awarded a full-time contract next month, which will ensure she no longer has to work part-time as a coach alongside her playing career.Georgia Adams has captained Southern Vipers into the final•Getty Images”[Playing for] England is something that I’ve always had one eye on,” she says. “It’s always been my dream, my end goal, and if the opportunity does come around, hopefully I’ll be ready to take it.”But it’s such a tough side to get into: you look at the calibre of batters they’ve got in the side, and it’s phenomenal. They’re such a strong unit, and they’re only getting better and better.”In the last year or so, I’ve just thrown myself into enjoying the game and making the most of it. It’s an amazing thing for people to now be able to say: ‘well, I didn’t play for England, but actually I was a professional cricketer’. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever be able to say that, so it’s a dream come true that I can, however clichéd that sounds.”Adams says that batting has not been the only area of improvement for her this season; she says she has “grown as a captain tenfold” thanks to the influence of head coach Charlotte Edwards. She has been impressed by the speed at which young, amateur players have developed their tactical understanding, and is enthusiastic when speaking about their young stars.They include 17-year-old Ella McCaughan, who has opened the batting when Danni Wyatt has been away with England, No. 3 batter and gun fielder Maia Bouchier, and Charlie Dean in the middle order. Their new-ball bowlers in the final will be the tall 19-year-old Lauren Bell – who swung the ball prodigiously on KSL Finals Day last summer – and left-armer Tara Norris.Adams admits that she is not overly concerned by the fact her father, the former England batsman Chris, will be unable to attend on Sunday, with the game played behind closed doors at Edgbaston. “Apparently he’s the worst at watching games ever: he gets so nervous, pacing round, so it’s probably better that he’s at home and not stressing anyone else out,” she explains.And how special would it be to come out on top? “It would mean so much,” she says. “The type of cricket we’ve been playing, we deserve to lift the trophy. We want to inspire girls in our region to play, and lifting the trophy would really tick that box.”

Glenn Maxwell's masterpiece hatched in Melbourne lockdown

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The allrounder is now very clear on what his role is for Australia after plenty of time chatting with captain Aaron Finch

Daniel Brettig17-Sep-2020Melbourne’s lockdown, in the cause of stemming the Covid-19 pandemic, has taken much away from a previously vibrant city. One thing it has gifted Australian cricket, however, is clarity about the role Glenn Maxwell is playing for the ODI team, a little more than a year after the absence of same contributed to a deeply disappointing World Cup campaign.It has been demonstrated in devastatingly effective fashion for Australia on the road against the world champions, inflicting England’s first ODI series loss at home since 2015. In games one and three in Manchester, Maxwell produced a pair of counter-attacking innings from No. 7 that left Eoin Morgan’s side without a riposte, and at the same time confirmed that yes, Maxwell does have a highly significant and consistent part to play for Australia over the next four years to the 2023 World Cup in India.In partnership with Alex Carey, who also shored up his flagging international fortunes since a productive World Cup, Maxwell unleashed a century of power but also presence of mind, demonstrating a level of peace and self-knowledge that had appeared absent from his game for much of the preceding few years. It was the product of careful consideration with limited-overs captain Aaron Finch.ALSO READ: Bursting of England’s bubble shows how long the road to 2023 will beShorn of scheduled series against Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and West Indies, plus the postponement of the T20 World Cup, Australia’s Melbourne-based cricketers have had little else to do other than talk a lot between small-scale net sessions in Cricket Victoria’s Junction Oval base. For Maxwell and Finch, that meant hours to discuss exactly how the leader saw the role of his longtime friend and international team-mate.Shuffled up and down the batting order ad nauseum, dropped and recalled, and also having taken a break for mental health reasons early last season, Maxwell was clearly in need of some simple instruction. As the many conversations rolled on, the desired description emerged – not unlike that traditionally assigned to a wicketkeeper. From No. 7, Maxwell would be able to counterattack when Australia were in a hole, while Finch reserved the right to promote him in the order if those above him were able to set the right launchpad for the final 20 or so overs.”The really good thing is even in the lockdown period I was training with Finchy and we were able to talk about my role and certain things,” Maxwell said. “I just had so much clarity of what he expected of me in that role.”I think I was able to take the game on, with the clarity he gave me before the tournament, and was able to ride on that momentum as well. Just knowing I had the backing of him is awesome. He’s been great for this group over here, he’s kept us all together, all 21 of us in the hub here, and he’s done a great job. Whether in the field or with his batters, he’s been outstanding.”Finch had likewise articulated a specific, consistent role for Maxwell in his comments at the post-series presentation: “Maxi is in the team to do a specific role and that’s be able to take the game away from oppositions when you are having a good day but also be that guy who can counterattack and try and swing momentum. England had all the momentum at 5 for 70-odd and he dragged it back.”That partnership with Alex was fantastic, I’m really proud of both of them, they deserve a lot of success and a lot of credit. Not just for this win but how hard they’ve been working on their game.”What makes him [Maxwell] so damaging is he can play all around the ground, I don’t think there are many bowlers who can trouble him when he’s having one of those days but the way he navigated that innings, took it deeper and deeper, of course you have to take your chances chasing seven an over from a long way out and he did that perfectly. They fed off each other having the left-right hand combination, it was pretty special.”

So even amid the wreckage of Australia’s slide to 73 for 5 early in their innings, Maxwell had a clear head about what he was in the team, and in the middle, to do. It is the sort of mind frame in which he can do great things, whether it is for Australia, the Melbourne Stars or a host of domestic T20 teams overseas. Call it freedom, call it license, call it trust – it makes all the difference.”I was probably thinking we haven’t got much to lose, so I had a bit of freedom to try and take the bowling on and put a bit more pressure on them,” Maxwell said. “I thought if I could make the most of that short boundary as much as I could early on and just back my bat swing, there was a fair bit of a breeze heading that way as well, so I just tried to get it up in the air and was able to get a couple pretty clean early on in the innings and then start to build a partnership with Alex.”Coming it at 5 for 70, it’s probably hit or bust at that stage. I suppose just having heaps of trust in my own technique and trust in my partner at the other end, myself and Alex have had some good partnerships over the last few years, so really enjoyable to be with him at the other end.”Then I knew once I started to get into the innings they’d start to bowl a bit differently to me and I might be able to cash in on some loose balls. Everything pretty much went to plan tonight, the way our partnership built was outstanding. I feel like I’ve always batted better for Australia when we’ve been in a bit of trouble, and to be able to get us through that and get us to a position where we could win the game was really pleasing.”

Maxwell had plenty of time and gratitude for Carey, who in eight ODI innings since the World Cup had cobbled 126 runs at 15.75, causing the likes of Adam Gilchrist to start talking up the prospects of the younger Josh Philippe. Carey had at least managed to make a start during the previous game, albeit amid Australia’s unseemly collapse, and brought a little momentum to the middle to build an Australian ODI record partnership for the sixth wicket.”It ranks pretty highly. I really enjoyed the partnership,” Maxwell said. “Batting with Alex, seeing him get his first ODI hundred is pretty special, knowing how hard he’s worked. To see him get the rewards at the other end was extremely special, and to top off and beat the No. 1 team on their own soil was even more special. They didn’t really give him much to score on to the short boundary, and he had to work a little bit harder for his runs. I just thought the way he got through every challenge he faced, he was able to do it calmly and with great temperament the whole time.”There will still be some fine-tuning for Maxwell and Australia. The most challenging thing for Finch will be to judge when is the best moment to unleash Maxwell amid an innings that is going well. But it is an easier problem to solve in an atmosphere of trust and confidence about Maxwell’s mindset.Australia’s players now fly home, either directly or via the IPL, into a home season of many uncertainties, and with Melbourne still locked down. Plenty of certainty, though, was written all over the face of Maxwell, having finally sorted out exactly what he is in the Australian team to do, and do brilliantly.

Gloucestershire, Sussex seek to stop Surrey strutting into a home quarter-final

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Lack of clear favourite in South Group promises intriguing quarter-final race

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jun-2021EssexLast season: 5th in South Group
Coach: Anthony McGrath
Captain: Simon Harmer
Overseas players: Harmer, James NeeshamChampionship contrast: The leading red-ball side in the country over the last few years, Essex have been inconsistent in T20 – perhaps in part because they rely on a similar group of players having to make the switch between formats. The likes of Alastair Cook and Nick Browne will make way, with Varun Chopra coming in to add power at the top of the order, probably alongside Tom Westley. Jimmy Neesham’s all-round ability should help balance the side, while youngsters like Aron Nijjar and Ben Allison could get opportunities.Key man: Ryan ten Doeschate will turn 41 at the end of the month but he continues to show that age is one of the least-significant numbers for the analysts to crunch. Having helped Essex to lift their maiden T20 title in 2019, he had his best campaign in several years last summer, finishing as Essex’s top-scorer and with a strike rate above his career average. Championship form has been middling but the Blast might help free him up.Ryan ten Doeschate is still flying the 40-plus flag•Getty ImagesOne to watch: The latest young Essex seamer to catch the eye is Jack Plom, a neat-and-tidy right-armer who claimed seven wickets in his five appearances last year, to go with an impressive economy of 7.74. The 21-year-old is a former England Under-19 and comes into the competition in wicket-taking form for Essex in the 2nd XI T20 competition.Verdict: Squeeze into the quarter-finals and, like in 2019, who knows what might happen?Bet365: 12/1GlamorganLast season: 5th in Central Group
Coach: Matt Maynard
Captain: Chris Cooke
Overseas players: Marnus Labuschagne, Colin Ingram, Michael NeserChampionship contrast: Colin Ingram is the key addition, while Prem Sisodiya’s left-arm spin should be effective in the Powerplay again, but the core of players is largely the same. Marnus Labuschagne is expected to play ahead of Michael Neser in the second overseas spot.Key man: Colin Ingram, Glamorgan’s all-time leading run-scorer in T20 cricket, returns to Cardiff after missing last year’s Blast. He was not at his best in the Big Bash and the PSL earlier this year and turns 36 towards the end of the group stage but is undoubtedly the key man in their batting line-up, not least with last year’s leading run-scorer, Andy Balbirnie, not returning.Labuschagne has limited T20 experience•Getty ImagesOne to watch: Marnus Labuschagne’s presence brings intrigue: he has played only 16 T20s in his career with a middling record, though was effective as an anchor and leggie in a handful of games for Brisbane Heat in early 2021. He is available throughout after logistical concerns denied him a spot in Australia’s enlarged white-ball squad to tour the Caribbean and has openly targeted a place in the T20 World Cup squad later this year.Verdict: Plenty of spin options but Cardiff tends to favour seamers, where they are lighter. Quarter-final hopes depend heavily on Ingram, Labuschagne and Chris Cooke’s runs from the middle order. Bet365: 33/1GloucestershireLast season: 1st in Central Group, semi-finalists
Coach: Ian Harvey
Captain: Jack Taylor
Overseas players: Glenn Phillips, Graeme van Buuren, Daniel WorrallChampionship contrast: Jack Taylor and Benny Howell come into the side while Ian Cockbain, Tom Smith and George Scott are all better-suited to the shorter format and Daniel Worrall’s new-ball swing bowling should be effective. After consecutive innings defeats in the Championship, a change in formats comes at the right time.Key man: Gloucestershire were dominant last season before losing an 11-over shoot-out in the semi-finals, and Glenn Phillips could be the missing piece in the jigsaw. An ultra-attacking middle-order batter who has cemented his spot in New Zealand’s T20I side, he has honed his game against spin across four seasons playing for Jamaica Tallawahs in the CPL, and is likely to keep wicket with James Bracey on England duty.Dent’s T20 reinvention took everyone by surprise last summer•Getty ImagesOne to watch: Chris Dent had not played a T20 since 2016 and had a dreary record in the format heading into last summer, but teed off at the top of the order, striking at 153.30 and finishing second to Cockbain in Gloucestershire’s run charts. Training using weighted bats with the power-hitting coach Julian Wood appears to have transformed his white-ball game.Verdict: Dark horses no more, after reaching Finals Day for the first time since 2004 last summer. For a squad filled with canny and underestimated T20 operators, anything less than a second visit to Edgbaston in a row would be a failure. Bet365: 16/1HampshireLast season: 6th in South Group
Coach: Adi Birrell
Captain: James Vince
Overseas players: Kyle Abbott, Colin de Grandhomme, D’Arcy ShortChampionship contrast: The core of the team is the same. James Vince is captain in both formats and forms part a strong spine alongside Sam Northeast, Liam Dawson, Lewis McManus and Kyle Abbott, with the likes of James Fuller and Chris Wood adding power and nous. D’Arcy Short was a success at the top of the order for Durham two seasons ago, Colin de Grandhomme can play the finisher’s role and provide useful overs, and Mason Crane’s legspin should be a trump card.James Vince was the second-highest run-scorer in the 2020-21 Big Bash•Getty ImagesKey man: Vince is one of the leading T20 batsmen in the world – over the last two years, only Alex Hales has scored more runs than him in the major domestic leagues, during which time he has twice helped Sydney Sixers to the Big Bash title. A member of the Hampshire golden generation that won the tournament in 2010 and 2012, Vince’s ability to set the tone could be key for the current side.One to watch: Crane was the side’s leading wicket-taker last season and seems forever on the fringes of international selection (when fit). Having spent the winter touring as a reserve with England, the Blast provides an ideal opportunity to press his credentials again after limited opportunities in the early stages of the Championship.Verdict: Serial Finals Day attendees a decade ago, Hampshire only won two games last year. Improving shouldn’t be hard but a return to the glory days seems less straightforward.Bet365: 10/1KentLast season: 3rd in South Group
Coach: Matt Walker
Captain: Sam Billings
Overseas players: Qais Ahmad, Adam Milne, Heino KuhnChampionship contrast: Depleted four-day squad will be bolstered by return of Matt Milnes and Harry Podmore from injury, and Fred Klaassen from international duty. Alex Blake is on a white-ball contract, while Joe Denly and Daniel Bell-Drummond will relish a change in formats. Sam Billings’ availability may be limited by England duty. Will there be room for Darren Stevens, whose last T20 game for Kent was in 2017?Denly will be Kent’s most important allrounder•Getty ImagesKey man: Joe Denly missed two Championship games for personal reasons last month but made a fluent 63 in his return last week. He will likely anchor the innings with Daniel Bell-Drummond – who enjoyed a breakthrough T20 season last summer, with 423 runs at a strike rate of 154.94 – given licence to go hard, and in the absence of the retired Imran Qayyum, his legspin will be relied upon in the middle overs and possibly in the Powerplay too.One to watch: Mohammad Amir’s 11th-hour withdrawal means Adam Milne returns for a fourth Blast season as the spearhead of Kent’s attack, and his record for the club – 38 wickets at 19.10, with an economy rate of 7.34 – is testament to his effectiveness in all three phases of an innings, bowling at speeds in excess of 90mph/145kph. His recent form has won him a T20I recall, but careful management will be required, given his injury history.Verdict: Consistently quarter-final contenders and should challenge again despite Qayyum’s retirement leaving a hole to fill. Bet365: 12/1MiddlesexLast season: 4th in South Group
Coach: Stuart Law
Captain: Eoin Morgan
Overseas players: Chris Green, Daryl Mitchell, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Paul StirlingChampionship contrast: A break from four-day cricket is possibly just what Middlesex need, after six defeats in eight in the Championship. Eoin Morgan is available for the start of the competition and there will be a familiar face donning T20 pink again as Paul Stirling returns to his old county for the first five games as an overseas signing. Steven Finn, having played just two Championship fixtures, is likely to deputise as captain when Morgan is with England, and youngsters such as James Cracknell, Luke Hollman and Blake Cullen will come into contention.Key man: Legspinners are high up the list of must-haves in T20, and Middlesex could field two in Hollman – who also offers with the bat – and Nathan Sowter. The latter is Middlesex’s senior spinner in white-ball cricket, and his T20 record is solid; over the last two Blast seasons, Matt Parkinson and Simon Harmer are the only spinners to have had more success.Max Holden acknowledges his maiden T20 hundred•Getty ImagesOne to watch: Max Holden was dropped from the Championship XI after averaging 14.77 from 10 innings, but he seems set to be given a chance to rediscover his spark in the shortest form. Holden scored a maiden T20 hundred from 59 balls at Chelmsford last year and his opening partnership with Stevie Eskinazi could be key.Verdict: A middle-of-the-pack side on paper but Morgan’s presence and some decent overseas signings could lift them into contention. Bet365: 12/1SomersetLast season: 4th in Central Group
Coach: Jason Kerr
Captain: Lewis Gregory
Overseas players: Devon Conway, Marchant de LangeChampionship contrast: Max Waller brings a wealth of experience with his flat legbreaks, but the core of the squad is the same.Key man: Tom Banton was county cricket’s breakthrough white-ball player in 2019 but has struggled over the last year and opened up about the stress of quarantine and long Covid to ESPNcricinfo last month. He should be freed up by the opportunity to target Taunton’s short boundaries, and with Babar Azam not returning (Devon Conway arrives after the World Test Championship final) there is pressure on him to pile on the runs.Tom Banton will be looking to fire back in a Somerset shirt•Getty ImagesOne to watch: Death bowling has been Somerset’s Achilles heel ever since Alfonso Thomas’ retirement so Marchant de Lange, their full-season overseas signing, has a big role to play. He is best used as a middle-overs enforcer, but has some pedigree bowling at the death for Glamorgan, and a career economy rate in the last four overs of 9.41 is serviceable.Verdict: Conway’s arrival should boost their quarter-final prospects. Bet365: 9/1SurreyLast season: 1st in South Group, finalists
Coach: Vikram Solanki
Captain: Jade Dernbach
Overseas players: Hashim AmlaChampionship contrast: Jason Roy, Sam and Tom Curran return from the IPL and will be available for the start of the competition, while Laurie Evans, Will Jacks, Dan Moriarty and Gareth Batty will play greater roles. Reece Topley, Liam Plunkett and Sean Abbott are all injured.Key man: Laurie Evans is among England’s best uncapped white-ball batters and was vital in Surrey’s run to the final last year, averaging 45.37 and striking at 153.16. He was the second-highest run-scorer in the LPL over the winter, with a remarkable strike rate of 182.35 against spin while playing for Colombo Kings. At 33, he should be at his peak.Evans is among England’s best uncapped white-ball players•Getty ImagesOne to watch: Jamie Overton leaked more than 10 runs an over with the ball in his first Blast season for Surrey but was dubbed “our Andre Russell” by Gareth Batty after striking at 194.33 in his five innings as a finisher. Injury crisis among seamers may see him required to bowl more regularly again but his potential with the bat gives them two finishers in him and Jordan Clark.Verdict: Bowling attack is reliant on triple spin threat of Jacks, Moriarty and Batty but the same formula helped them top the group last summer. Should stay in quarter-final race throughout group stage. Bet365: 13/2SussexLast season: 2nd in South Group
Coach: James Kirtley
Captain: Luke Wright
Overseas players: Travis Head, David Wiese, Rashid KhanChampionship contrast: Significant overhaul, with Luke Wright, David Wiese, Ravi Bopara, Chris Jordan, Will Beer and Tymal Mills added to the group and Phil Salt set to return from injury. James Kirtley, the assistant coach in the Championship, takes the reins from Ian Salisbury for the Blast.David Wiese returns for his sixth Blast season•Getty ImagesKey man: David Wiese returns for his sixth Blast season as an overseas player rather than a Kolpak, and has been in the country for a month preparing. He was the picture of consistency last year in a volatile finishing role, averaging 40.14 while striking at 145.59, and forms part of an imposing engine room from Nos. 3-6 alongside Travis Head, Delray Rawlins and Ravi Bopara. Will play less of a role with the ball this year.One to watch: George Garton was rested from the Championship side last week to prepare for the Blast and warmed up with 30 not out off seven balls in a 2nd XI fixture. He had a breakthrough T20 season in 2020, taking 14 wickets spread across the Powerplay and the death overs, and won a game against Middlesex almost single-handedly from No. 8. Sussex also rate him as the club’s best fielder.Verdict: Bowling attack lighter than usual with Jofra Archer injured and limited availability for Rashid Khan and Jordan – but still very much in contention to top the group. Bet365: 10/1

England have looked outgunned and outplayed by India

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

In Bumrah, Rohit and Jadeja, India had players who could do what the hosts could not

George Dobell06-Sep-2021The gas holder still stood one side of the ground and Archbishop Tenison’s School to the other, but something surely had changed.This was the surface on which England’s bowlers had laboured for almost 150 overs in India’s second innings, after all. It was the surface on which James Anderson, one of the most skilful bowlers the country has ever produced, said he had tried everything to gain some movement but to no avail. It was the surface on which Jasprit Bumrah – who came into the game with a career average of 4.81 – had driven Chris Woakes through extra-cover with a confidence that suggested even batters of modest pretensions had nothing to fear on this wicket.But now it looked different. Now, as England lost four wickets for six runs, as four of their middle-order contributed seven between them, as India’s spinner choked the scoring and India’s seamers found late movement, it looked almost unrecognisable. In less than 24 hours, it seemed a pitch transported.That’s nonsense, of course. The truth is, in Bumrah India had a bowler with the pace and skill to extract life from the surface and the ball which was almost completely absent to his England counterparts. His figures of 2-27 do no justice to an outstanding spell of fast bowling which highlighted a key difference between the sides: he was able to hit the pitch harder than anyone in the England side and he was able to gain movement that England could not.But it wasn’t just about Bumrah. In Rohit Sharma, India had the one batter in the match to convert a start into a match-defining score, while in Ravindra Jadeja they had a spinner who could apply pressure and threaten. It is telling that his economy rate was 1.66 per over and his opposite number on the England side, Moeen Ali’s, was 4.54. Ultimately, India were just better than England.Related

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There is no disgrace in losing to this India side. Even with Virat Kohli enduring a prolonged run of modest form, even with their long tail, even without R Ashwin, they are a formidable side blessed with the talent and temperament to beat the best. Throughout this series, either with their top-order batting or their seam bowling, they have given England a lesson in playing in their own conditions. While it’s true this series could yet be drawn, it is worth remembering that, but for poor weather in Nottingham, the score line in this series would probably be 3-1 at present. Again, India just look the better side.With that acknowledged, perhaps we have to temper our criticism of England. And maybe they may consider themselves a little unfortunate, too. Perhaps the warmer weather over the last couple of days had helped the playing surface dry out and offer some reverse. Perhaps the footmarks outside the left-hander’s off stump had grown, too.But England had benefited from helpful conditions when they bowled first and reduced India to 127 for 7. You can’t have it both ways. They must know they played a part in their own downfall. They might accept that their catching, so poor for so long, is an accident waiting to happen. They might accept their first innings total of 290 was, perhaps, 100 fewer than they could have scored had they taken a more ruthless approach to their batting. And they might accept that, in losing 10 for 110 in their second innings, they showed a fragility that had become wearingly familiar. Joe Root, who has scored six Test centuries this year, won’t always be able to bail them out. The rest of his team have one between go them.England’s options for Emirates Old Trafford are not plentiful. Anderson, Woakes and Ollie Robinson looked exhausted long before the end of the India second innings and may all be considered high-risk options for Manchester. While Mark Wood will freshen up the seam attack, Saqib Mahmood and Brydon Carse are the latest options to have been struck by injury and Craig Overton sustained a nasty blow on the elbow which must render him a doubt. Two spinners might be one option, but Sam Curran and Gloucestershire’s David Payne could also win call-ups.Dawid Malan after being run-out, as Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant celebrate•AFP/Getty ImagesIt won’t make any difference who England pick if they cannot hold their catches, though. Six chances were squandered in this game, with Rohit reprieved on 6 and 31. It’s hardly surprising England’s seamers look tied: they’re effectively required to claim 25 wickets a game. The ECB scouting network holds vast amount of data, we are told. It seems incredible that an ability to field in the slips doesn’t appear to have been included in such calculations.Equally, Jonny Bairstow has now gone 18 Tests (that’s 34 innings) and almost three years without a century. In that time, he is averaging 21.40 with a top score of 57. This was his sixth duck in that period. It doesn’t say much for the production line of county cricket that he has been able to retain his place.It must also be recognised that England are without Ben Stokes, Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler – who is expected to return for the final Test having celebrated the arrival of a daughter – all of whom might be considered first-choice picks. But coping with injuries comes with the territory in sport. And maybe Stokes, in particular, has masked England’s deficiencies for too long. Perhaps it will, in the long-run, do them no harm to be exposed.For England are now facing the prospect of losing two Test series in a home summer for the first time since 1986. Given that they recently lost in India and next face the mother of all challenges in Australia and the possibility of four consecutive series defeats is real. The positions of captains and coaches are bound to come under question. But it’s far higher up the food chain, where decisions about scheduling and priorities are made, that questions should really be asked.That’s not the say the management do not have questions to answer. For too long, England have relied on Anderson and Broad to do the bulk of their seam bowling, in the knowledge they will utilise the Dukes ball and the English pitches very well. As a result, there has been little forward planning and almost no acknowledgement of the statistics that suggest that Anderson, in particular, is now struggling to back up performances in the second innings. It sometimes seems that the personalities involved are so powerful, nobody in the team management has the courage to make tough decisions.In the greater scheme of things, there was a fair bit to celebrate from The Kia Oval. We had a sell-out crowd for five days in succession, after all and, on the last day in particular, when tickets were priced at £20, there were many families and children in attendance. Let’s never forget how wonderful it is that, at cricket at least, the supporters of both sides (and it appeared as if there was a pretty even split of India and England supporters) can sit side-by-side for hours without falling out. We have a fantastic sport.But, in retrospect, it seems naive to have thought England could have pulled off a record run-chase against this India side. Akin to thinking Frank Bruno could beat Mike Tyson after he caught him with that left hook. In general, they have looked outgunned and outplayed. They have it all to do to pull-off a series-levelling victory at Emirates Old Trafford.

Michael Leask: Resilience is something 'every individual in Scotland cricket has'

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The Scotland allrounder on winning his 100th cap, and working for a building supplies company during lockdown

Shashank Kishore18-Oct-2021When the Covid-19 pandemic brought cricket to a worldwide halt, players from Associate nations, who were already faced with a shrinking calendar, were affected more gravely than most. With Scotland not playing a game between December 2019 and May 2021, the allrounder Michael Leask had to find a way to sustain himself – not just financially, but also mentally and emotionally.Where Chris Greaves, Scotland’s match-winner in their T20 World Cup opener against Bangladesh, worked as a delivery executive for Amazon, Leask found work at a building supplies company.”It’s something [resilience] that every individual in Scotland cricket has,” Leask said at a press conference on Monday. “Like how Chris has done delivery driving, I also worked, quite a few other guys do part-time work outside of cricket. It takes your mind away from cricket.”At times during lockdown it wasn’t easy for anyone, and Chris had to find another job to help him at the time. He’s now reaping the rewards from that, I think that time actually helped him take his mind away from cricket at the time. Now he has full focus on his cricket and he’s delivering for Scotland which is absolutely amazing to see.”I worked at a building supplies company, I also did some delivery driving at the time, to be able to do a little bit extra, not just sit at home and let time pass away. I always had something going on during the time, it was good taking your mind away from cricket during the tough time.”Leask is not new to bouncing back from adversity. In 2017, he had seriously stepping away from the game after Somerset ended his county contract. A chat with Scotland’s then coach Grant Bradburn changed his mind, and his career began to flourish.Kyle Coetzer won his 200th Scotland cap on the day Leask won his 100th•Getty ImagesHe played a key role in Scotland beating a Full Member team, contributing an unbeaten 38-ball 59 to set up victory over Zimbabwe in an ODI in Edinburgh in June 2017. The following year, Leask was part of the history-making Scotland team that defeated England for the first time in an ODI.On Sunday, Leask won his 100th cap for Scotland (this includes matches outside official ODIs and T20Is), a landmark that showed just how far he had come since grabbing the cricket world’s attention with a 16-ball 42 against England in his third ODI, back in May 2014. Sunday’s game was also the 200th in Scotland colours for their captain Kyle Coetzer, with whom Leask has had a long association.”I’m absolutely honoured to have represented Scotland for 100 caps, always been a dream getting the first cap, I never thought this day would even come,” he said. “To make it alongside Kyle making his 200th [is amazing]. I played alongside the guy since I was 4-5, we played for the same club. I idolise the guy, he’s an incredible guy who epitomises what it means to be Scottish. If you watched him on the park he plays with pride and passion, it just flows through the team. It’s amazing to see what he has done for Scottish sport.”Sunday’s win over Bangladesh was sweet in many ways for Scotland. First, they were up against a side that had recently beaten Australia and New Zealand at home. Then, having been put in, they were tottering at 53 for 6. To emerge from that to not just post a competitive total but also tie down an accomplished batting line-up spoke volumes about the preparation Scotland put in before the tournament.Unusually, Scotland also got through a packed fixture schedule before the tournament began. Shortly after a home T20I series against Zimbabwe, Scotland arrived in Oman late last month for a series of WCL League 2 fixtures as well as T20Is against Papua New Guinea and Namibia, and the warm-up games for the T20 World Cup.”We were here three weeks ago playing back-to-back 50-over games, so that has stood us in really good stead to be fitter, stronger and ready for this T20 World Cup, even though it’s a lot faster and more energetic,” Leask said, when asked about adapting to the heat of Oman. “We’ve had two 50-over games on the bounce which are very energy-sapping, so we’re actually ready to go. The boys are fit and ready to go.”‘We know bubbles can be difficult, and we’re trying to get away from using that word and be good around the way we handle ourselves as a group’ – Michael Leask•Peter Della PennaFor the moment, Scotland’s mantra is to take this T20 World Cup a game at a time, even if the tantalising prospect of the Super 12s is within their sights. Leask and his team-mates are fully aware that Papua New Guinea, their opponents on Tuesday, could do to them what they did to Bangladesh.”We’re trying to keep our feet on the ground and not look too far ahead,” he said. “If it [qualifying for the Super 12s] does happen, we believe it will, great. No team can be underestimated in T20 cricket, the beauty is, on any day someone can get big runs, take five wickets, do anything. Every member of this squad believes they can do it, that’s what stands us in good stead now.”They pose challenges very different to Bangladesh, but I think now we’re looking to take it game by game, day by day, stay in the moment, and try and get into the nuts and bolts of what we want to go in the next game before taking on Oman.”In a hectic tournament where teams can potentially be shown the exit door within 48 hours of taking the field for the first time, Scotland have tried to keep themselves away from external pressures. Spending time together has been the motto of their time in Oman so far, bubble or no bubble. Leask, for one, is missing being home watching his daughter take her first steps, but he’s happy to be where he is, on the world stage.”We obviously want to spend as much time together as a group. We know bubbles can be difficult, and we’re trying to get away from using that word and be good around the way we handle ourselves as a group,” he says. The morale is absolutely amazing, the way people are handling themselves, constructing themselves at training has been second to none.””You can almost take it for granted at times but having international cricket again has been great. We got a taste of cricket once again after a long break when we took on Holland [in May]. The squad found it exciting, it gave us a new lease of life. It almost makes you appreciate how lucky you are to one in the position you’re in. We’re on a roll, so we’re taking it day by day. We are really grateful to be in the position we’re in at the moment.”

Where does Bangladesh's win rank among the greatest upsets in Tests?

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

A comprehensive, numbers-based look at the greatest upsets in Tests, taking into account team strengths, recent form and result margin

Anantha Narayanan05-Jan-2022At the beginning of 2021 I had come out with an in-depth article in which I had determined the greatest upsets in Tests and ODIs. Now, after Bangladesh’s fantastic win in Mount Maunganui, it’s time to revisit that piece, because this win breaks into the all-time top five.Normally a selection like this is done using subjective ideas, often from memory. However, I determined these matches through totally objective methods, quantifying all relevant factors.Before looking at the updated list, here are the factors I have considered. To know more about the methodology used, please read the original article.1. Team Strength Index (TSI) differential between the two sides. This takes into account the teams’ strengths based on the location (home/away for each team)
2. Recent overall form of the winning (weaker) team. This is based on the results of the last 10 Tests, across venues, with a point for a win, half a point for a draw and none for a loss. That is the Result Index, and “10-RI” is the value taken for this parameter. Thus, a team which has lost a lot recently gets a higher score, which boosts the overall Upset Index total.
3. Recent location-specific form of the winning team. The same process as above, applied to the most recent five home/away matches
4. Recent overall form of the losing (stronger) team. In this case, the RI value is taken as is
5. Recent location-specific form of the losing team
6. Team Performance Points of each team in the Test. A total of 10 points is allocated between the two teams, depending on the margin of the result.
7. Location of the match (away, neutral, home): five points for an away win, three for a win at a neutral venue, and one for a home winSince that article was first published, we have had two great upsets, both good enough to breach the table featuring the top 12. Bangladesh’s eight-wicket in in Mount Mounganui, their first in New Zealand, comes in fifth place. The relevant parameter values for Bangladesh are given below.TSI Differential: 30.8 (42.8-73.6)
Recent Overall form – Bangladesh: 7.5 (LLWLDLLWLL)
Recent away form – Bangladesh: 3.5 (WLDLL)
Recent Overall form – New Zealand: 8.0 (LDWWDWWWWW)
Recent home form – New Zealand: 5.0 (WWWWW)
Team Performance Points – Bangladesh: 6.85 (a rather easy eight-wicket win)
Match location – away win: 5.0Total points: 66.65Anantha NarayananThe aggregate of 66.7 Upset Index points puts Bangladesh’s win in the fifth position, just behind Afghanistan’s amazing away win against Bangladesh in Chattogram. A very well-deserved position for what was, inarguably, Bangladesh’s greatest win and one of the greatest team achievements ever.Let us not forget that the win was achieved without Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal. And the cherry on top was the margin of the win, with the match not going past lunch on the fifth day.The top 10 also has another recent match, which happened just after the piece was originally published in January last year. That game was India’s Brisbane win, which is now in eighth position, with 64.5 Upset Index points. India, with its depleted team, managed to upset the rampant and strong Australia, with a strong and unexpected fourth-innings chase.

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