New Look Afghan Face On Zimbabwe Challenge

            This as been a long season for Zimbabwe so far, starting with their tour to Pakistan in may they had played 5 Odi series in a row. They went very close in most of the matches against all the oppositions they have played,the series stats would have been much different if the matches had gone in their favour.
           But against Ireland they made it over the line to clinch the series by fighting hard till to the end. Now they face on the new visitors Afghanistan in a 5 match Odi series, they hope to continue their form against them.
            For the first time in this  season they start as the favourites with the associate's. But things has to be improve from Zimbabwe's perspective they got the chance to win the match. They couldn't capitalised on the good  things, they made a habit of picking wickets early on but later on they couldn't put the opposition in much pressure as possible.
           They also struggled with the bat early in the timings by losing too many wickets up front and made it difficult for the middle order.
             On the other face of the coin Afghanistan played their last Odi against England in the world cup, now they enter in to the series as underdogs which will help them to perform to  most of their abilities.
             They do  have the tendency to surprise the appostiions with their game which is quietly proven in the world cup, although Zimbabwe enter favourites in to the series it's not gonna be easy against fighting Afghan team.
             Inzamam who was appointed as the new head  coach of the team look to take his experience forward to built the Afghan team,they are with now new hope under him to surprise world cricket.
           

Proteas Look To Continue As India Search For Momentum

          The first Odi ended in a thriller for the visitors with the enthusiastic crowd at khanpur but it is the opposite when it comes to Indians. The brilliance of the batting showed by rohit as to poured down in a vain after losing by 5 runs.
           At the beginning of the series the spot light is on msd  and he as to been after the loss with his unconventional way of batting with scoring a single boundary in his 30 delivers. But India have to address a lot of things that they think, moving on to the second ODI. Kohili's poor run streak in Odis continued at khanpur, even though he haven't batted where he used to be , but should have done better by his standards.
          The pace department is the one remained an concern after the end of world cup it hasn't been up to the mark, pacers failed to pick wickets up front which allowed apposition to take  over the game. Shami's  absence surely felt by the Indians at the death where he was instrumental in picking up wickets at the death.
           The another worrying problem for India is Stuart Binny who is yet to make his mark as an all rounder in the team. To add this problems Ashwin's injury made even worse ,who as been the crucial bowler for the team in all the formats.
         With the way south Africans are playing in the series , the question raised where do they really playing in ? south Africa or in India ? . The reason is that they are making the conditions most of it in their favour, all thanks to IPL for making it so interesting for the fans but problematic for the players at the same time.
            Credit has to be given to the south Africans on all the 3 occasion ,but the thing that separated both the teams is the pace department of the Protea who are consistent enough through out the innings.
             Tahir on the other face is yet likely to perform up to his standards, where it will be even more complicates for the Indians. .Batting has been consistent for the proteas till now with few wrinkles here and there with the spin.
             The series 1-0 leading with the visitors where both teams face on Wednesday at Indore where India seems to have a formidable record at this ground, wining all the 3 matches played here. But now they face on a formidable Proteas which would be a new story altogether.
             The conditions suits to the spinners and you normally expect bulk of runs at this venue.
             Haribajan is likely to make a way in place of ashwin in the team, where Gurkeerat Mann is unlikely to wait for his Odi debut. The only area south Africans are struggling is about their fifth bowling option , which  is the only weakness they have to go with.
            So Indians want to make a comeback in the series by not allowing the Proteas to take a 2-0 lead in the series, which will become even harder to fight back.
               

Rebuilding Nations Are Eager To Perform

           Having been lost the previous two test series at home srilanka are desperate to perform well against the tumbling west Indies. The hosts look for refreshing performance after the retirement of sangakara.
          Things that went wrong during the past two series are worrying the islanders, the top order remain a concern for their losses. Herath who used to in at no.2 in test rankings in the beginning of the year dropped significantly to no.9  which added concerns to the team with his injuries and lack of match wining efforts.
        Herath role will be crucial than ever before in this series to take them on a high. There will adequate changes in the batting order after the sanaga's era. The batting now heavily dependent on lites of Mathews, Chandimal and Thirimanne. Kusal Perera showed good intent in his debut test which will boost the batting.
             On the other hand west Indies are building up a test squad, this series in subcontinent with an young team never gone be easy. Holder has been given new responsibilities to take the team forward,with lot of inexperience left in the bowling department.
              Darren Bravo, Samuels and Ramdin have a bulk of batting to do in the series, the challenge lies playing spin in these conditions. After their controversial replacement of coach a head of these series questioned about stability of their team in world cricket.
              Now it's a new beginning for both the teams with chandrapaul being left out for west Indies and kumara sangakara's retirement, srilanka  can't bear any losses under their belt especially at home. They are eager to improve their game under the new coach and  west Indies want to left all of their controversy aside and hope  for a new beginning in test cricket.

Challenge With The Heat For England

            England who are a confidence growing side after wining the ashes,they are now up to face a new challenge under a new batting consultant which they think could be helpful in the conditions that they are not so relevant to.
            Certainly the myth has been changed during this summer with lot of things going on their way. But these conditions in subcontinent will be a new challenge they have to adopt to with some new young talents in the side.
              They toured subcontinent for a test series back in 2012/13 season where they won the series by 2-1 against India,but it is largely with the help of spinners in which Swan and Panesar played a vital role to clinch the series along side with Cock and Peterson match wining innings with the bat.
               Things have been changed a lot for England over the past few years,but now they don't have a front line spinner in the attack. Although Moeen Ali proved to be vital impact in the ashes and also the  against India.
               Where a lot of batsmen had taken chances against him to their cause and  Adil Rashid yet to make his test debut who is likely to make in these series. It  will be a challenge for their in experienced  spin department against the adopted hosts who are formidable in these conditions.
              The addition of shoaib malik to the test squad only had  strengthened their batting unit and also adds lot to the team with his spin and his experience.
              But the selection of the Pakistani side really came as a surprise with only two front line spinners involved in the squad,so malik has a lot of work to do, with Hafeez being suspected for his bowling action. Yasir shah proved to be a young prospect for the team with his performances in  Srilanka. Although england have the experience in the batting to counter the spin. But the series will depend on the Day 4 and 5 wicket where spinners come more in to the play,  will decide the result.
              

Getting Over The Line Hasn't Been Easy

               It has not been easy for the Zimbabwe to get over the line in recent times they fought till to the end but at the end couldn't cross it over. The second international between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at Harare is one of them, it is not easy to get over but eventually made it with some sort of luck on their way after reaching till to the end to many times.
               It was one of the thrilling encounters one has seen,thanks to shoaib who decided to stay alive till to the end. You won't want to see Cricket matches end in that fashion, but nothing can be done with out nature's support and cricketing rules.
               Zimbabwe are doing well with rattling the appostion top order so early many a times but failed to continue from there. Even though Zimbabwe will take that to level the series and look to perform much more effective in the final.
                Pakistan would be disappointed with the things that gone away from their favour even though played till to the end. They haven't bowled well at the death which is unusual with  them.
                 But both teams eager to finish on a high on Monday which us going to be the final of the series. Zimbabwe need to improve their bowling in the middle overs and also at death, top order hasn't been consistent enough through out the monsoon. Pakistan look  to finish on a high before facing on England in UAE.