Matchup Monday #11 - 🚨NEWS REPORT🚨

1. India Displaying Dominance in T20I Series vs SL

Gautam Gambir as coach and SKY as T20I captain, who would have imagined this even one year ago?

SKY was likely chosen as captain due to the fact that, who else would be chosen after Hardik’s horrendous IPL run with the Mumbai Indians? Bowlers wouldn’t be considered due to injury concerns and their consistency in squads isn’t as strong compared to batters.

BCCI’s probable interest is to develop and nurture Hardik Pandya as a player, rather than a leader as he is a vital factor to India’s success, as demonstrated by his contribution in India’s T20 WC Victory.

Not to speculate too far, but BCCI still wish to write a fairytale ending to Rohit and Virat’s career, signing off each format with a win in an ICC tournament, thus keeping Rohit as captain in ODI’s, with the hope of lifting the Champion’s Trophy in 2025 (and/or with the help with Jay Shah’s scriptwriting 👀), from which afterwards, SKY will be given the reigns for Indian white-ball cricket.

KEY MOMENTS IN THE SERIES

1. Parag’s inclusion in the squad is testament to the new mindset within BCCI, as they are recognising the significance of including batters that are also competent bowlers (looking at AUS’s Maxwell, Head, Stoinis, Marsh…). With the departure of Virat, Rohit and Jadeja from T20Is, there are more slots to fill, thus BCCI 🤝Gambir are forming a young, yet consistent team. If Parag continues to work on his bowling and his batting form, Shivam Dube will most likely have played his last T20 World Cup.

2. Samson’s opportunity to shine with Gill’s spasm has backfired with two golden ducks. A logical reason why BCCI is maintaining focus on Pant is because, we have observed throughout the history of BCCI’s squad selection, that they highly prioritise players that are able to play all formats (Pant demonstrating his capabilities in Test cricket). This is as players will be given their own time to perform, irregardless of form, and not be pressurised to perform in do-or-die matches, which is likely what Samson felt during the 2nd & 3rd T20I.

3. SKY carrying the positive intent that Rohit brought to the T20 team following the 2022 WC exit has been splendid to see, with SKY contributing to the 210+ score himself with his 58 off 26.

2. ENG vs WI Test Series

We all saw this coming, West Indies entering British conditions, they were always going to be the underdogs.

The decline of Test Cricket in the West Indies is nothing short of devasting to see.

From the likes of Brian Lara and Sir Vivian RIchards as a few of their stand-out batsmen and having a lethal bowling attack that the world feared, today’s cricketing world is now exposed to a West Indian bowling attack where we are unable to name their best bowler, if any.

Here are a few factors that are the cause of the decline in their Test Cricket.

1. Talent Drain: When a boy is gifted height in the Caribbean, instead of looking in the direction of becoming a menacing fast bowler with the natural athletic genetics that Caribbean people obtain, they are more interested in a career in the NBA, as it is fairly close to their homeland, as well as requiring less infrastructure to practice and hone their skills. Now, this now brings me onto my second point.

2. Economic Challenges: As cricket has a reputation for being called ‘The Gentlemen’s Game’, this comes with a suiting high price tag for an efficient system to be made to draw talent and interest within a region. In the cricketing world in itself, the money split is leanient towards the major 3 nations, India, England and Australia. Thus, these wealthier nations can afford to invest into more appealing opportunities and infrastructure that will lure more cricketers, creating a cycle for healthy cricketing competition. However this cycle is inversed in the Caribbean, where the lack of money shared is weaving out the

3. Prospect of T20 Cricket: With IPL taking the world by storm, leagues such as ILT20, PSL, BBL, TNPL, etc, are drawing West Indian cricketers as the financial incentive makes more sense for them, as people in the Carribean are primarily looking for financial stability, and playing for their nation may not deliver that as effectively as these leagues.

   Because of this, players such as Andre Russell ONLY practice for T20, degrade the quality in the Test side.

This is the latest news this week (no need to discuss the 30 from 30 curse of a chasing team against Team India, with Rinku and SKY bowling in the death), till the next week!