Time for Sri Lanka to Rise the Bar with Series on the Line

                  So far it has been England's dominance in this tour, alongside some characteristic patchy performance from the Lankans. While the stage is now well set for an opportunity to Lankans to level the series and later to face a decider, as they face England to square the series at Oval on Wednesday.
                But Lankans seemed no where near the par score at Bristol, even with overcast and skiddy conditions. It might be a good thing for them with the rain made no chance of a result and for England it might be another one sided contest, where they found their grooves with the ball and now they need start again to clinch the series with an match to spare.
                 Meanwhile it has became a routine for Lankas in giving up after an promising starts with the bat and no one not quite able to make an match lifting knock, in order to make the hosts to chase a challenging total. Although lack of depth in the bowling making them difficult to defend par totals and it has to be their batting depth to alter the things in favour.
                On the other hand the hosts quite intact with tactics by picking wickets at regular intervals, where they failed to make breakthroughs in earlier series. Although their batting haven't tested enough with moderate scores to chance and with an top order collapse in the opener.
               The pitch at Oval as an tinge of grass covering and will be helpful for seamers with overcast conditions on offer on Wednesday. Where batsmen will be tested early on, but also eases up for stroke play later on.
                Even with the series on the line Lankans unlikely to change the combination of the squad, which gives young batsmen’s  a few more  opportunities. While England likely to persist without Ali with conditions on offer at Oval.
              So it's time for Lankans to show their true credentials in order to get some pride back by staying alive in the ODI series, But it all lies on how Lankan batsmen turn the starts into Tons against an stabilizing England bowling unit.

Injuring Sri Lanka Seek to find Balance, as England Mounting high

                  England were set up the tone high with an enthralling win against Lankans in the 2nd ODI  in all accepts of the game to live up to the expectations hobbling on them. Although they wouldn't mind about untested batting order, but they still know the real rest yet to be faced.
                While Sri Lanka have discovered new concerns with adding hamstring injuries to their premier batsmen's alongside their injury concerns to bowlers earlier in the tour. But these new concerns altering the balance of the team and making things much more complicated than earlier ones.
               Once again top order batsmen failed to capitalize on the good starts and made life difficult for middle order batsmen, although their middle shown some sort of fight but not enough to challenge the hosts. Where Taranga's position in the order as to be addressed considering the role assigned to him with his experience and strengths.
               On the other hand the hosts capitalised on the concerns of visitors alongside, their dominance with the bat where Hales and Roy made new records with guiding the team home. While with their standards in the field in the spot, the hosts showed improved effort with couple of run-outs alongside disciplined bowling performance.
                 Meanwhile moving into the 3rd ODI at Bristol on Sunday the hosts possess the much needed edge over the visitors in terms balance and also in terms of psychological factor.
                The pitch at Bristol has been emulating to that of Edgbaston with runs and dryness, but with the rain around the corner looking to spoil the sport. Although it will be about variations from the bowlers that will test the batsmen.
                While England may not think tank to alter the combination of the squad and Sri Lanka will wait for the fitness levels of Chandimal and Mathews till to the start of the game, and also consider bringing in Fernando in place of expensive Maharoof.
                 At the end it all going to be finding a perfect balance for Lankans considering the hamstrings, where for hosts it's about mounting on momentum. Even Though with considering the combinations and conditions, the contest will determine on how swallowed Lankan bowling restrict England batting depth.

Windies, Proteas face Knockout to Play in the Final

                The Tri-Nation series so far turned team's momentum from heads to tails and it turned teams to face Knockouts at the penultimate stage of the series. Where the winner on Friday at Barbados likely to face on Australia in the final, as hosts and Proteas face up each other in a Knockout Contest.
                The hosts made the series much competitive than expected defeating No.1 and No.3 teams once a piece, but their fortunes would have been much better if their captain hadn't gone through the hamstring against Australia. Where Samuels Ton and Ramdin’s vital knock lost in vain.
               While the hosts looked they are dependent heavily on Narine for wickets and they struggled to restrict appositions most often than not when he hadn't found in wickets column. Although pacers got to do much work on the pitch where it producing true bounce, alongside consistency from their batsmen will be tested in an must win game.
                Meanwhile Proteas too struggled for consistency like other teams, but they moved the radar quite high as the series progressed and now they are in a position where they can extract their best game. Alongside the situation the momentum is in Proteas favour, where they trashed the hosts in all departments at Basseterre in their previous encounter.
               The pitch at Barbados has some pace to work for both batsmen and pacers, while it may not assist for spinners but larger boundaries will keep variations in check.
                Although on the all important Holder's fitness will be in check and if doesn't make it, it allows them to consider for an additional pacer. While Proteas likely to stick with the same playing XI that featured in the rain altered ODI.
                Even Though both sides have a win apiece against each other, it might depend on fielding standards of both the sides where the players struggled to acclimatise with the different conditions on offer in the series so far. At the end the contest determines on how Windies batsmen score against Proteas bowlers.

Both sides seek to Start from Knot

                After an pulse altering tie in the opener of ODI series England have relieved their fortunes by a six of the last ball, but Sri Lanka in two minds with the fact that they fought so hard and couldn't finish rightly against England so far in this tour. Where Sri Lanka with the loss are in a position to win in all their remaining matches to stay alive in the points column.
                 While England may feel happy with the tie with the way things have gone, but they showed an uncharacteristic display to their approach with the bat early on. On the other side England bowling figures have showed, they are short of an additional bowling option with stokes injury.
                 Although Woakes and Plunkett made their presence felt, especially with the bat under pressure situation. But they couldn't offer to repeat the same with the brand of Cricket they have adopted since an year and they seek to live up to expectations with considering it as an early glimpse of overwhelmed approach.
               On the other side of the coin Sri Lanka would have been Registered their first win against England on the tour with an much more effort in the field. Although they have missed an additional spinner alongside Prasanna in assessing the conditions and an mild hamstring to in rhythm Mathews made them to bank on Shanka and Maharoof to fill the overs.
                 Meanwhile Lankans may have lost early wickets with the bat, but it seemed they have plenty in the tank to offer on their given day and with added depth in the batting they hope to make full use of it this time around. The Lankans will be very aware of England destructive nature with the bat, so it's important for them to make as many as possible to challenge them.
                The pitch at Edgbaston is hurling with runs in shorter format and might get some help for spinners with it's dryness. While England have lost in 4 matches out of last 5 recent appearance at this Venue.
               So with a tie both teams got to share a point each, which indeed made Sri Lanka to win all their remaining games to stay in the hunt. While the Lankans are not likely to focus on points, but they would like to win as may as games on this tour.
                While coming to playing XI England won't mind in going with the same squad which produced more depth with the bat, in the meantime Lankans hope Mathews to recovery from hamstring other than that they might itching to bring an additional spinner. At the end the contest gonna lie between the fielding standards and bowling depth of either sides.

Windies Seek to stop Aussie to Make easy Roads

                 The rain gods made Australia to go through into an must win game on Tuesday with the fluctuating results so far suffered the fortunes of the team and the rain made it even hard to strive forward. But a win against Windies will place them in the final with nothing to look for.
                But Windes on the other hand still posses an extra match on the back, where they won't want to make it as an decider for them either. So it's pretty important game for both the sides with the points are not too far by each other.
               So far it has been the series that produced uneven results in every match, where the top.4 batsmen had the things to set up the innings for a win in all the victories. While with the ball both seamers and spinners had enough saying with wickets tumbled in an effortless fashion.
              Meanwhile Australia's fielding as taken the talking point in their last loss, where it proved to be an uncharacteristic effort from their fielding standards. Although batting struggled to get  through when the surface on the slower side.
              On the other hand Windies unable to crack early breakthroughs with the ball, where they often found out of the context when Narine hadn't found in the wickets column. While batsmen struggled for consistency apart from some patchy knocks from Samuels and Charles batting still to fire as an unit.
                The pitch at Barbados as been known for runs with true bounce on offer for seaners and with overcast conditions on Tuesday will offer some assistance for pacers early on with the new ball.
                 At the end it's a must win game for Aussie and Windies won't want to face a decider on Thursday either. So with pressure building up on both sides to the existing drawbacks, the contest determines on how Windies batsmen handle the Aussie pacers.

Building Sri Lanka desperate to Cling Onto Momentum

                it's time to turn around things for both the teams as they return to the shorter format, with quite dissimilar results in the longer format when compared with Sri Lankans previous visit. But now the visitors seem to have acclimatised with the conditions to give some sort of fight, as they face on England in the first ODI at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.
               Sri Lanka couldn't have asked for a better performance against Ireland in build up to the ODI series against England, where they have found more  depth with bat and ball with return of Maharoof, and the young lad Shanka showing he is up to the mark at this level.
                 Although Mathews and Co should find a perfect combination against the red hot England in this format, where they have to restrict some blizarant batsmen in the hosts line up with a weakened bowling attack in the absence of their bowling triumphs.
                On the other hand hosts would have complacent with 3-0 in the longer format, but the their shorter format form is riding high with expectations accordingly with their performance over an year. It will be another opportunity for the hosts to rise up in the rankings with the home advantage, although finding balance between bat and ball will be the new challenge in absence of Stokes.
                 Alongside Stokes absence Morgan tally with the bat will be on radar after a poor show in past 5 months, while batting is their go to strength in recent past and it may not be any different with inform Roy, Hales and Bairstow, alongside Buttler and Root.
                Meanwhile both sides have their narrowing concerns with the ball with few injuries and it is altogether a different team in terms of standards playing against England after trashing Ireland at Dublin for visitors.
               The pitch at Trent Bridge has been an high scoring Venue in recent times, but the weather seems to have other ideas with showers over past week and might help seamers with moisture on the surface.
               At the end it's all about finding balance for both sides in unpredictable conditions on offer and the contest lies between the bowling units of either sides with the presence of batting depth.

Zimbabwe seek to Lift the Bat to Square the Series

                India won the first ODI at Harare convincingly outplayed the hosts in all departments, in other terms the inexperienced side made an early statement about their standards. While Zimbabwe won't want to look back, as they seek to square the series up front on Monday.
                The way India bowled as an unit, it made batsmen to chase the target with ease even with singles. Where Bumrah led the attack with grabbing four scalps and spinners made both ends tight in middle overs, after early breakthroughs provided by pacers.
               While KL Rahul made things easy alongside Rayudu by hitting the winning shot to six, which helped him to bring his maiden Ton on debut. But India's batting hardly tested on Saturday, where they won by 9 wickets and it's important for India to test their credentials later on with the bat.
                On the other hand Zimbabwe won't be complaining about their bowling much, but their batsmen could have done better than what they showed. Apart from Chigumbura others couldn't bat long, after adapting to the conditions for a while in the middle.
                Although Lance Klusener the batting coach was optimistic about their standards and he believes they will come back hard enough to square the series. While it's not gonna be easy either for bowlers either , if they don't make early breakthroughs provided the talent India poses with the bat.
              The pitch at Harare produced enough assistance for pacers throughout the Innings and the slowness later helped the spinners. Once again it will be hard work for the batsmen to score, given the conditions and bigger dimensions of the ground.
               Meanwhile India may not think tank with the playing XI, but with young legs on the bench may consider few changes in the bowling unit. On the other hand the hosts consider bringing in experienced Sean Williams to strengthen the batting.
              At the end it will test the batsmen patience and shot making with the swing around, as the contest once again lies between the Zimbabwean batsmen and Indian bowlers.

Aussie look to Make Starts, as Proteas Seek to Convert starts into big

                  The Tri-Nation series moves from Guyana to Basseterre, well it's almost moving from subcontinent to overseas in terms of conditions on offer. While with a win on their back teams look to start  fresh altogether, as Proteas face on Australia to find a spot at the top on Saturday.
                  So far it has been test for batsmen with their shot selection and adapting to the conditions at  Guyana, but the smaller dimensions and fast track will bring pace bowlers ,and batsmen more at ST KITTS.
                Australia won a game and lost a game convincing with an bonus point against West Indies and South Africa respectively, where on both occasions bowlers made work tough for appositions and at the same time it has been tough work for their batsmen as well.
              While Finch and Warner stared in each game, but the remaining batsmen had nothing to do, with Khawaja, Smith and Maxwell yet to make a start in the series. It will be tough time if their batsmen doesn't fire as an unit.
               On the other hand Proteas had starts at the top, but couldn't convert them into big scores. Although their premier batsmen has to step up to the occasion, as all teams placed relatively at the same phase in the table.
               Meanwhile bowling attacked as an unit in earlier occasions, where Rabada and Tahir led from the front. While Duminy’s performance will be under the radar, as Dean Elgar replaced injured Rile Rossouw in the squad.
                The pitch at ST KITTS offers enough assistance for pacers and batsmen likely to make big runs with smaller dimensions, although spin will be an underlying factor to threat batsmen as the game progress.
               So with the change in venue Aussie look to strengthen their pace attack bringing in rested Starc a head of front line spinner, while Proteas too likely to bring in Morkel in place of Phangiso and Duplessis makes a way in place of injured Rossouw.
                At the end It has been all about spinners at Guyana and regardless of batsmen, although with change in conditions it won't any easy for batsmen, as the contest lies between perimeir batsmen's of either sides.

Inexperienced Indians earger to Establish against Underperforming Hosts

                  A month from now will be a year when India toured Zimbabwe with an underrated squad with some experience in it, but this time around it's more an inexperienced side which is looking to produce the same result against under performing high profiled Zimbabwe. Where Harare once again set to host the series with an opener on Saturday.
                 The tour to Zimbabwe as been an assignment to find the missing link in the regular Indian squad with giving opportunities for young players and as well as an comeback series to the players who are up in the ranks.
                While this time it's not any different with the lites of Fasal, Mandeep, Nair, Chahal and Jayant eager to make a debut alongside Rahul who is settling in the test squad, but they got to complete with Manish and Rayudu who are already up in the ranks.
                Although bowling attack had an glimpse of their presence in international cricket, so it is touch experienced than of batting unit and it's gonna be tough work for Ms to find specific positions for batsmen in  the order. It will be interesting to see whether he goes with their strengths in first class Cricket or with IPL.
                On the other side Zimbabwe haven't had a great season from past a year an half, which led to sacking of Captain Masakazda and coach Watmore a head of this series. While they have to address more issues with their performance, where they unable to continue the gained momentum throughout the match.
                Meanwhile they have picked an high profiled team with much needed depth with bat and ball, but they need a match turner who can exploit through their patchy moments. The situation is that it doesn't allowing Zimbabwean’s as favourites with their performance in recent times and also making unable to consider Indian inexperienced side as underdogs with their profile in domestic circuit.
              While the pitch at Harare offers enough assistance for pacers early on and with the progress it will test batsmen patience with it's slowness, where spinners will be handy to exploit it more.
               At the end the series will be important for both the sides, where India can figure out missing link in the regular squad and Zimbabwe can consolidate their poor form in recent times. But the strengths shows that hosts have decent bowling to challenge the inexperienced Indian batting, while the contest lies on how hosts batsmen handy stabilizing Indian bowlers.

Young Players eye to Settle down

                  The tour to Zimbabwe is an much anticipated series for young players in recent times with the challenges that gives them, the best chance in making roads into the national side and for some players who are up in the ranks is about stabilising their spot in playing XI in the larger context.
                 This time it's not any different either as selectors set to test young players credentials away from home, by picking an relatively inexperienced squad. This time the focus will be on the middle order batsmen more, as India underperformed with their middle order in recent times.
               But with the quality of players in the squad it also allows pretty good backups for top order as well, the lights of Mandeep, Nair and Fazal yet to make debuts and their form in domestic circuit made them to bid a place. While Nair has been instrumental with the bat in Delhi franchise.
                While the lites of Jadhav, Rahul, Manish and Rayudu in the frame of setup will look to establish themselves, Where Manish’s maiden century in Australia will be handy to take make into playing XI.
                 Moving down the order   Bowling is pretty the same in terms of establishing their place in the playing XI, but touch experienced at the highest level in recent times. Where Bumrah, Saran and Rishi Dhawan made debuts during Aussie tour, although Bumah has been spotted as an regular after that series followed by Asia cup and WorldT20.
                 Meanwhile kulkarni and Unadkat has been in and out with lack of opportunities, while Kulkarni also as been impressive with in IPL 2016 season with making the charts of top.5 leading wicket takers. Well in the spin department Axar has been on the bench with regulars Ashwin and Jadeaja making the mist, but Axar as done well with the limited opportunities to be in contention of a spinner in the team.
               On the other side Jayant and Chahlal are pretty young in their careers and yet to cap in the Indian squad, although Chahal has been leading RCB with the ball from past 2 seasons and Jayant has been impressive with his economical spells in his maiden IPL season.
                 So the Zimbabwe tour has been known for foundation of careers for some players and also an comeback ones for few to establish themselves in the squad.
               But it will be interesting to see what roles they will be assigned in the batting and if they gell well what roles they will fill on larger context.

Ms Presence may not give much Hope to young Players

               The tour of Zimbabwe is round the corner for India and it has lot to tell about the squad that chosen, it's clear that with a just a couple of limited overs assignments for India in the next 15 months. The selectors picked a much younger squad to give them some sort of taste at the highest level and it also given regulars of longer format a much needed break ahead of consecutive assignments.
               Coming back to the selection of the squad early on it's not clear whether Ms will be available for the tour or not, but the limited overs skipper given optimism with being available for the tour and to lead young players in Zimbabwe. Actually it's quite a good move from him and young players can get help from the  experienced captain.
                 But their lies the underlying concern with MS in the squad for this particular tour, since it's only the low profile series for India in an calendar year. The heavy competition in  between young players for a place as been tough going, with the form they are going with in domestic circuit and also in recently concluded IPL.
               So with already the completion lies between them, now they got a place inadequate with Ms being the captain and wicketkeeper as go to man in the playing XI. Which means the back up wicketkeeper Kedar Jadhav in the squad as to play as an proper batsmen, completing with the lites of Mandeep, Rahul, Nair, Rayudu and Manish.
                The other side of the story is that India hardly play with an backup wicketkeeper when they play at home or even most often in aboard as well in limited overs format. So it's a tough going to find a place in the squad with Dhoni being there and high profile series being played, and given that India doesn't alter the combination much in the batting.
               So with this kind of scenario it's important that a backup wicketkeeper should have some sort of experience playing at the highest level at least in low profile series with his gloves on, In order to replace Ms for the future or at times of Injury.
               It will be interesting to see what type of tactics thus Captain cool employ in this series ? With giving enough opportunities to young players in the squad. Adding to the above concern India need to find consistent players in the middle order, who can play the waiting game and at the same time going hard when needed.

Contest of the Series is Up, as Batsmen face another Spin Challenge

                  The conditions in caribbean offering the same as it is in subcontinent with the slowness and spinning, but the recent series in subcontinent haven't produced the turn to this extent and the slowness making it tougher to bat through the overs. While the contest of the series is up as spin making the rules, with Australia face on South Africa at Providence on Tuesday.
                Smith have thought the performance should have been more clinical, but the win with a bonus point against Windies shows they are up with conditions to adapt the slowness. Where Warner continued his prolific form of IPL with an unbeaten fitfty, although earlier it was Zampa and Lyon who made easy road for the chase.
               While Starc returned with some fire works early on and looked he hasn't loosed any rhythm, where he left with an Injury. Eventhough the batting needs some more depth in this conditions and Maxwell will be key in the middle order, as well as through the middle overs with the ball.
               On the other side Proteas couldn't make use of the conditions with batting first against the hosts, where they lost wickets in a cluster at the end overs. But Tahir and Phangiso made life tough for the hosts, where the hosts almost lost the grip in chasing a par total.
                So it's more about Batting from Proteas, where they seek to improve as an unit against in form Aussie. Although Duminy with the ball will be crucial as Aussies posses 2 left handed batsmen at the top and the middle order will be the determining factor for them.
               Meanwhile Proteas may consider replacing Abbott with Morkel and Aussie will consider strengthening their middle order with  bringing in Bailey, and also look to replace Hastings or Faulkner in place of Hazelwood.
               While the pitch at Providence as been on the slower side with enough offering of spin in the previous encounter, it will get even tough for batsmen on Tuesday.
               Australia may have won their previous encounter against Hosts, but the both sides struggled in spining and slowing conditions in earlier contests. So with the spinners of either sides taking the game away from the batsmen, the Contest lies on playing spin for the batsmen of either sides.

Windies Seek to continue Momentum against Aussie giants

                 Windies started their campaign with a win against the Proteas, who struggled against the spinning ball and adapting to conditions becoming an vital factor to be on the right side of the coin. Windies now with momentum will face on big Aussie boys on Sunday at Guyana.
                 The Aussie camp is boosted with the return of Starc  and Counter-Nile and got the much needed depth with Zampa and Lyon in these conditions. Although test awaits for their batsmen to adapt against the spinning ball, where spinners dominated proceedings in the opener.
               Naraine has been the comeback story in the opener, where he claimed his career best figures on a slow turning track. While Windies has been patchy with the bat in chasing an par total, where Pollard got things under control to take them home.
              Meanwhile it's interesting to see with the combination Aussies go with, where pace off the ball troubling the batsmen. While Windies likely to stick with the same playing XI, to continue their momentum.
              The pitch at Guyana has been turning and slowing down more with progress in overs and on Sunday it will be the same for batsmen, to work hard for the runs.
             Windies known for their patchy performance, so they should be careful in continuing it. At the end it's all about the contest between the batsmen of either to score runs.

          

Windies Seek hope in ODI Cricket with Tri-Nation Series starter

                ODI Cricket returns to Caribbean after nearly a two year gap, as West Indies set to host tri-nation series with featuring Australia, South Africa and West Indies. The series set to kick start with the hosts facing on Proteas at Guyana on Friday.
              While ICC announced fixtures for CT17, where Windes couldn't find a place with their poor run in ODI Cricket in recent past. The decline in the rankings made them to disqualify for the event, but Windies seems to have much bigger problems to solve to relocate their structure.
             Although after a successful campaign at world T20 in India, Windes made pretty big changes in the squad to the tri-series. While playing at home will be an advantage for Windes in terms of conditions, but it is not going to be easy against top ranked teams.
              On the other side Proteas had a good ODI record in recent times with the series win against India and England and new players adding more value to the team in pressure situations. While Proteas exit at WT20 in the league phase would hunt them, but ODI cricket altogether a different ball game  proteas hope for a fresh start.
              Both sides played a T20 at Nagpur in world T20, where Proteas undone by the spin and slowness of the surface. Meanwhile the surface at Guyana will not be any different in terms of slowness, but may not offer spin to that extent and it will be hard work for the batsmen to score runs on this pitch.
            So a win or loss against top ranked teams may alter Widies place, but competing will alter their confidence even more. At the end of the day it’s all about handling formidable batting order of Proteas for Windies bowlers.