The Pakistan Sri Lanka home Test series, which is set to begin tomorrow, may dampen spirits as it has been predicted that the opening match in the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium might be marred by rain. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain in the city from Thursday to Saturday, meaning the second, third and fourth day of the Test is likely to be affected by rain.It is interesting to note here that the first one-day international between the two teams in September in Karachi was called off after heavy rain brought the city to a standstill.Pakistan will stage its first home Test in a decade on Wednesday, when they take on the Islanders in Rawalpindi, since the 2009 attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore.That attack left six security personnel and two civilians dead and six players injured and saw Pakistan spend the next decade in the Test wilderness as teams refused to play there.Pakistan, who were forced to play their "home" Tests at neutral venues, will … [Read more...] about Sri Lanka home Test opener may see rain
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India Vs South Africa, 2nd Test Highlights: India wrap up series win with record thrashing of Proteas in Pune
Virat Kohli enforced the follow-on at the start of the penultimate day after the Proteas were bowled out for 275 in their first innings on Saturday in reply to 601-5 declared. 2nd Test, Day 4: Dominant hosts hammer tourists by an innings and 137 runs - As it happened South Africa's shortcomings with the bat were exposed again on Sunday as they were dismissed for only 189, suffering their heaviest defeat to India in the longest format. Umesh took 3-22 and Jadeja claimed 3-52, while Ravichandran Ashwin (2-45) also did damage as India sealed a record 11th consecutive series on home soil. India will be out to secure a 3-0 whitewash when the third Test gets underway in Ranchi next Saturday. India by an innings and 137, and they bring up 200 #WTC points. #IndvSA — Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) October 13, 2019 After losing the match, South African skipper, Faf du Plessis said the team didn't bat well in the first innings and that was the biggest difference between the two … [Read more...] about India Vs South Africa, 2nd Test Highlights: India wrap up series win with record thrashing of Proteas in Pune
Rival skippers excited as Pakistan, Sri Lanka set for historic Test
Pakistan's captain Azhar Ali thanked Sri Lanka on Tuesday for returning to Pakistan for the first Test tour there in a decade, after a fatal militant attack on their team in 2009 drove international cricket away.“It's a historic occasion and all the players are excited to be part of this,” Azhar, who has played 75 Tests — but, until now, none at home — said at a press conference in Rawalpindi with his counterpart, Dimuth Karunaratne.“We thank the Sri Lankan team for coming here. The last Test was also against them so their visit will send a strong message to the world that we need to support each other,” he said.Eight people were killed and several players and officials were wounded when militants opened fire on the Sri Lankan team bus travelling to a Test in Lahore in 2009.The attack plunged Pakistan into sporting isolation during its years-long battle with militancy, with all “home” venues played in the United Arab Emirates.But with … [Read more...] about Rival skippers excited as Pakistan, Sri Lanka set for historic Test
‘Bringing Test cricket home our biggest accomplishment’ – Shan Masood
11:31 AM GMTDanyal Rasool in RawalpindiFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintFor a man usually so measured with his words, Shan Masood couldn't help repeating himself. Looking ahead to the first Test against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi - Pakistan's first at home in over a decade - Masood stressed on the value of cricketers playing regularly at home, and the benefits he was sure it would bring for Pakistan cricket in both the short- and long-term."If you look at the best players in Test cricket, their home records are superior to away records," Masood said. "You are more familiar with the atmosphere, the pitches, and enjoy crowd support, and that was one thing that was missing from Pakistan cricket.ALSO READ: Unbeaten streaks and unexpected triumphs - Pakistan's high points from 2009 to 2019"Bringing Test cricket here is our biggest accomplishment. Test cricket as a whole suffered around the world, and in Pakistan, we've dedicated more to white-ball cricket. This is an … [Read more...] about ‘Bringing Test cricket home our biggest accomplishment’ – Shan Masood
Pakistan need their guard up in Test cricket’s emotional return
PAKISTAN'S TEST HOMECOMING by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on ShareTweet As much as this Test is about an emotional return for Pakistan, it will also be about what they can do © Getty A narrative tapestry of the kind this series presents doesn't come about every day. Test cricket in Pakistan certainly doesn't come about every day. So it's easy to get caught up in the moment. Not just for the fans, but for Pakistan's players too. The successful conduct of the limited-overs rubber against Sri Lanka in Karachi - a couple of months back - paved the way for their return, this time in whites, more than 10 years after a Sri Lankan team was attacked, leading to the exile. But as much as this occasion is about all of that, it's also about what Pakistan do on the day. It's about their onfield performance, which was absolutely woeful in Australia. Not only did it sour the start of Azhar Ali's captaincy reign, but it also got their WTC campaign off … [Read more...] about Pakistan need their guard up in Test cricket’s emotional return
‘Hopefully there’s some pace and bounce’ – Langer makes Perth Test pitch
12:41 PM GMTAndrew McGlashan in PerthFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintWhile maybe not the talk of the town, there is plenty of chatter about pitches in Australia. There was the abandonment of the Sheffield Shield game at the MCG and now the intrigue about what will be laid out for the second Test to be staged at the new Perth Stadium. For Australia coach Justin Langer, however, there is just one thing that matters: Test cricket can't afford flat surfaces.The scenes at the MCG over the weekend were sparked by a pitch that started too soft when the groundsman, Matt Page, went too far after the ground's recent problems with lifeless pitches. Langer sympathised with what they were trying to do because he believes the nature of surfaces are the biggest factor in the longer formats.ALSO READ: NZ brace for 'most extreme' Test in Perth"I see flat pitches as a huge problem for the health of cricket," he said. "I've said this for 10, 15 or 20 years, for the health of Test … [Read more...] about ‘Hopefully there’s some pace and bounce’ – Langer makes Perth Test pitch