3 Fantastico Battles that could Impact the 3rd T20I between Ind and SL

The Sri Lankan youngsters managed to topple the experienced Indian line up on a green pitch in Pune which provided their pace bowlers plenty of movement of the deck and in the air. But on a dry Ranchi track the Indian spin bowlers strangulated the Sri Lankan batsmen after their batsmen had posted a mammoth 196 batting first. The third T20I will be played at Visakhapatnam and I doubt that the pitch will support the fast bowlers.

Let us look at 3 Fantastico Battles that can make a huge impact on the outcome of the 3rd T20I:

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma Vs Kasun Rajitha

The entire top order was literally blown away by the debutant Kasun Rajitha in Pune where he found ample swing and movement to trouble all the Indian batsmen but on a dry track in Ranchi he struggled to find the correct line and length and was made to pay. He was taken for 45 in his 4 overs as Dhawan and Rohit both laid into him. Rajitha will be looking to get his own back in this final match and his battle with the Indian openers will make for a fascinating viewing.

Dushmantha Chameera Vs Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh

Chameera hustled the Indian batsmen on a green-top in Pune but surprisingly he kept them on their ties in Ranchi as well. Although he went for 38 in his four overs, he was very difficult to negotiate for the Indian batsmen and several of those runs came via outside and inside edges. He was their best bowler and got both Dhawan and Rohit to slow the Indian charge. He will be looking to dismantle the Indian middle order with his aggressive bowling which has not been in the best of form recently. He is also a superb fielder, having taken flying catches off Rohit in both the T20I's.

R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja Vs The Lankan Middle Order

R Ashwin followed up his 3-0-13-2 at Pune with an even better 4-0-14-3 at Ranchi. He had managed to trouble even their best batsmen, Kumar Sangakkara, when India had toured Sri Lanka for the Test series last year. He is relishing the opportunity to have a crack at the young Lankan middle order which has seemed too overawed by his variations and skills. Milinda Siriwardene played him the best in both the matches and Sri Lanka might consider giving him a promotion. Dasun Shanaka also played a peppy little knock in the last match hitting three sixes against the Indian spinners. Jadeja has not been that effective in the two matches and the Lankan batsmen might have to take extra risks against him if Ashwin manages to keep them quiet.

The 3rd and the final T20I between Sri Lanka and India will be crucial in deciding the outcome of the series and it will also give the winning side a mental uplift ahead of the two bigger events coming up, the T20 Asia Cup and the ICC WT20!!

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Impact of Pakistan Spin Bowlers in the WT20 2016, India

Spinners are expected to dominate the ICC World Twenty20 in India as the Indian pitches will surely aid them in getting turn and as the tournament goes on, the pitches will wear out and tire, further assisting the slower bowlers and making spin bowling a huge factor in the mega event. Pakistan have picked a strong pace bowling unit for the event but their spin bowling department lacks the bite as they have opted to place their faith in part timers rather than go for a specialist spinner.

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi, at 36 years of age is still the greatest crowd puller that Pakistan has ever produced. Call him whatever you like – a mindless slogger, a showman, an inspirational leader or just a freak – one thing is for certain, Afridi has always played the game will all his heart and though he may have done a bit better if he had utilized his brain too but that is just pure conjecture on our part.

In addition to being the captain of the Pakistan team, he will be leading the Pakistani spin bowling attack as their premier spin bowler. He has all the variations in his armoury; a big turning leg break, dangerous googly, a deadly faster one and when all is combined with the natural drift that he so easily seems to achieve, he becomes a viable threat to any batsman facing up to him.

He is also capable of winning them matches with his authoritative batting, which is audacious and nerve-tingling to say the least. He was their star performer in 2009 when Pakistan went on to win the World T20 in England, putting in stellar performances with both the bat and the ball in the knock out phase. He is certainly their most impact player and if he gets in his groove early, then he surely will make Pakistan rock!!

Impact Rating – 8/10

Imad Wasim

Imad Wasim is a slow left arm bowler who is also a capable middle order batsman. He made his debut just last year and impressed me with some very good performances against the Sri Lankan side. He has played 8 T20I’s for Pakistan and has an impressive economy rate of just about 6 runs per over while also striking the ball at an impressive strike rate that is touching 160.

Impact Rating – 5/10

Mohammad Nawaz

Mohammad Nawaz has been a revelation in the ongoing PSL where he has bowled several match turning spells with his slow left arm orthodox bowling. He is also a handy lower order batsman who can score runs if needed by the team. Although he only has 17 wickets in 31 T20 matches but his economy rate of less than 7 is much more eye catching.

Impact Rating – 4/10

With Yasir Shah out for 4 months for a doping offence and Hafeez banned from bowling due to an illegal action, Pakistan has lost two genuine spin bowling options and hence opted to go in without any specialist spinner in their squad. They will be banking on their Fantastico captain and eccentric leg spinner Shahid Afridi to carry the spin bulk-load on his shoulders and lead them to glory.

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Impact of Pakistan Pace Bowlers in the WT20 2016, India - Part II

In this Part – II of the ‘Impact of Pakistani Pace Bowlers in the WT20 2016, India’, we look at three bowlers who are young but astoundingly talented – one on a comeback trail after serving a 5 year ban for spot-fixing, one trying to establish himself in the pecking order and another who will be looking to make his debut and get a chance to impress if given a chance to play.

Mohammad Amir

Mohammad Amir arrived on the world stage as a teenage pace sensation and immediately made a strong impact on anybody who saw him bowl. He was not only quick but could move the ball both ways, with either the new or the old ball in hand. He was one of their lead actors in Pakistan’s maiden and only World T20 trophy win in 2009 held in England. He bowled quite a hostile spell for them throughout the extravaganza, the most memorable being his taming of the tournaments highest run getter, Tillakaratne Dilshan, in the final, peppering him short balls and finally getting him in the first over for a 5 ball duck.

By the time 2010 arrived, Amir had become of one the world’s best pace bowlers and he had a stellar tour to England when he became the youngest bowler to reach 50 test wickets. But soon after he became embroiled in the spot-fixing scandal and was banned for 5 years upon being found guilty of the heinous offence. He has just made his return but seems to have lost neither his pace nor his swing. He had a fine tour to New Zealand picking up regular wickets with his movement and speed and he has been amongst the wickets in the ongoing PSL as well, having also claimed a hat-trick. He has made a grave mistake in the past, but I hope that he is reformed because the talent that he possesses is rare and it would be a shame to lose a bowler of his calibre to the lure of money.

Impact Rating – 8/10

Anwar Ali

Anwar Ali made the world sit up and take notice when in the 2006 U19 World Cup Final against arch rivals India at Colombo, he sliced through the Indian batting line up with pace and swing, to leave them reeling at 6-9, Pakistan ultimately winning the match by 38 runs even though they were bowled out for just 109 batting first. He has been in good form recently, picking up wickets in New Zealand and the ongoing PSL. He is also a very capable lower order batsman with a strike rate of over 140 in the 15 T20I’s that he has played for Pakistan. He is adept at making the ball talk and he provides the right hand variation amongst all the left arm pacers that Pakistan has picked for the mega event.

Impact Rating – 7/10

Rumman Raees

Rumman Raees is also a left arm medium pace bowler who has been picked up as a back bowler after a strong showing in the ongoing PSL. He has been miserly in the PSL and is amongst the most economical bowler on show.

Impact Rating – 4/10

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Impact of Pakistan Pace Bowlers in the WT20 2016, India - Part I

Pakistan has always managed to produce quality fast bowlers at the drop of the hat. They have picked up a strong pace bowling line up that will look to trouble the opposition batsmen with their speed, precision and movement. Pakistan, currently have a plethora of exceptional left arm pace bowlers coming through their ranks and even though it may seem one dimensional to the naked eye, all the left arm pacers bring something different to the table.

Wahab Riaz

Wahab has all the qualities of a tearaway quick bowler, high pace, aggression and the ability of move the ball but he has lacked consistency for most part of his career. He took 5 wickets in the Semi Final against arch rivals India in the 2011 World Cup but it was not enough to prevent a loss for Pakistan. He was at his very best in the Quarter Final of the 2015 World Cup as well, where he bowled a memorable and devastating spell to Shane Watson – that spell surely ranks as one of the greatest ever in ODI cricket – although, as luck would have it, it was again not enough to win Pakistan the game.

He has a quick bouncer and a nasty late swinging yorker and he has been in splendid form in the ongoing PSL where he has snaffled 10 wickets in only 6 matches. He is also a very handy lower order batsman capable of using the long handle to good effect. A total team man, he will always give his 100% and his high impact bowling will certainly test more than a few batsmen from around the world.

Impact Rating – 8/10

Mohammad Irfan

Rarely do you get a bowler who is almost 7’1’’ in height and when a bowler with that height generates pace touching 140-145 kph, then it becomes a serious issue for any batsman trying to negotiate him.  Irfan, with his extra height, generates disconcerting bounce even off a good length and when combined with his high pace and his ability to move the ball he becomes almost demonic.

His career has been riddled with injuries and he played only a couple of ODI’s on Pakistan’s recent tour to New Zealand. He has just returned to cricket and is currently playing for the Islamabad team in the PSL. It will be treat to watch Irfan if he is fully fit and bowling with gas. He has the ability to make the batsmen hop even on dead pitches and negotiating him will be a severe test of a batsman’s ability and character.

Impact Rating – 7.5/10

Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan are definitely the key bowlers in the Pakistan pace bowling line up and Pakistan will require both of them to be fit and firing for the ICC World Twenty20 2016 to be able to go deep in to the tournament. Both are capable of bowling match winning spells and their 8 overs will be a test for any opposition especially under lights when the pitches might just do a little bit.

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4 Uncapped Players in Pakistan 15 Man Squad for ICC WT20 2016 and Asia Cup

Pakistan named their 15 man squad for the ICC WT20 2016 and the Asia Cup T20's and there are quite a few surprising choices and plenty of new faces that they have opted for. They have gone in with four uncapped players in the T20I format - batsmen Babar Azam and Khurram Manzoor, all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz and left arm seamer Rumman Raees - in addition to the lanky pacer Mohammad Irfan who returns to the squad after missing the New Zealand T20I's due to an injury.

The selection of Khurram Manzoor, an opening batsman who has played 16 tests and 7 ODI's for Pakistan, the last of which was way back in 2009, was the most baffling selection as his stats are modest to say the least and he does not have anything going for him to warrant a selection. The exclusion of Ahmed Shehzad was almost a foregone conclusion after a string of failures and low scores during the last year but there might have been a better option for Pakistan than Manzoor, in Mohammad Rizwan, Fawad Alam or Haris Sohail, all both of whom are exceptional fielders and can bowl too.

Pakistan might push the busy wicket-keeper bat Sarfraz Ahmed to open alongside Hafeez as he has often been left stranded with the bowlers. He is one of their best players of both pace and spin and hits the ball cleanly and is also a good runner between the wickets which is an added advantage.

The pace bowling attack of Pakistan seems to be in excellent health as usual with left arm seamers Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz all in the squad along with new comer Rumman Raees to complement right hander Anwar Ali. Rumman has been drafted in, on the back of a splendid showing in the PSL so far where he has been both economical and also amidst wickets. This bunch of exceptional fast bowlers will surely have an impact on Pakistan's fortunes in the WT20 as bowling has always been their strongest suit.

Strangely though, Pakistan have not named a single specialist spinner in the squad, rather showing faith in their part timers like Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim and the uncapped Mohammad Nawaz who had been the standout performer with the ball in the ongoing PSL. This decision was perhaps forced as Yasir Shah, their premier leg spinner is banned for four months for a doping offence. Hafeez remains unavailable to bowl since getting banned for an illegal bowling action.

The squad will be captained by the maverick Shahid Afridi who is their most impact player both with the bat and the ball and he will be hoping to lay his hands on the silverware that Pakistan last won under Younis Khan, way back in 2009.

Pakistan 15 Man Squad for the ICC WT20 2016: Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Khurram Manzoor, Rumman Raees

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Impact of South African Pace Bowlers in the WT20 2016, India

South Africa is a country that is blessed with a never ending pool of pace bowlers and they have picked up 3 very good fast bowlers for the upcoming World T20 2016. The fact that there is no place for a bowler like Morne Morkel in their 15 man squad speaks volumes about the depth and the quality of fast bowling reserves that the Rainbow nation seems to have at its disposal. They have, in their basket, the best fast bowler of our generation and two rising stars who have a long and bright future ahead of them.

Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn is right up there with the crème de la crème of fast bowling greats that the game of cricket has ever produced. Bowling at a furious pace and generating generous out swing to a right handed batsman, he is virtually unplayable when the conditions offer him even an iota of support. Even otherwise he has a quiver full of tricks to get the best batsmen in the business out. Reverse swing, accurate bouncer, deceptive slower ball – he has them all in his armoury but his greatest asset is the precision of the ball release, the correctness of it, which makes the ball talk, both in the air and off the pitch.

Although his test record is on a different plane altogether, his T20I record is one to envy as well. With 55 wickets in just 38 matches at a strike rate of under 15 and an economy rate of under 7, you have an out and out match winner right here! He will be the greatest asset of this Protea team and the impact that he can have on the batsmen is colossal.

Impact Rating – 8.5/10

Kasigo Rabada

Kasigo Rabada is just 20 years of age but he is already being talked about as the next big thing in world cricket. Regularly clocking above 140kph he makes life difficult with the movement that he is able to generate and the extra bounce that he is able to extract of any deck. He is in sizzling hot form at the moment having scalped 22 wickets in just 3 tests against England in the recently concluded series while also having taken 6 wickets thus far in the three matches of the ongoing ODI series. How effective he can be on the Indian pitches remains to be seen but he has enough talent and skill to excel on the supposedly dead pitches that he will encounter during the tournament.

Impact Rating – 7/10

Kyle Abbott

Abbott has the pace and is highly accurate, traits which he has in common with both Steyn and Rabada. He can move the ball like Steyn and he has a deadly yorker which he uses in the death overs. He has been in splendid form against the English in the ongoing ODI series having picked up 7 wickets in just 3 games while also keeping the runs down. He can play a vital role if called upon to play in the WT20 with his aggressive bowling.

Impact Rating – 7/10

The South Africans surely have all the components to make for a successful event with impact pace bowlers in their ranks who will look to intimidate the batsmen with their pace, aggression and accuracy!

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Impact of South African Spinners in the WT20 2016, India

Spin bowling is expected to play the biggest role in India for all the teams that will be competing in the upcoming ICC World T20 event in March-April later this year. South Africa has gone in for two spinners who can be very good on their day but who can also leak runs aplenty on other days. The South African team management will hope that their spinners can play a pivotal role in their campaign.

Imran Tahir

The very definition of a journeyman cricketer, Tahir has played for no fewer than 28 teams in his 20 year long career. He can be a maverick with the ball in hand, possessing a big turning leg break while also possessing the googly and a faster one. But his problem has always been his lack of control; he has been guilty of bowling a lot of full-tosses and as a result not being to build any pressure on the batsmen for any period of time. Tahir can certainly have an enormous impact on the South African campaign and he has it in him to single-handedly take the Proteas all the way in the World T20 but he will have to be consistent and keep up his radar.

Impact Rating – 7.5/10

Aaron Phangiso

Aaron Phangiso a slow left arm orthodox bowler who, after plying his trade in the domestic competition for years was finally rewarded with a call up to the South African team after a splendid show with the Lions in the Champions League T20 tournament in 2012. He is not a huge turner of the ball but relies more on subtle changes of pace and varying his flight. He also possesses a quicker ball which often hurries the batsmen in to making an error.

His economy rate of only 6.87 runs per over in T20’s shows his capabilities and he will be a difficult proposition for the opposition batsmen if he can be consistent in his line and vary his pace for which he is known for.

Impact Rating – 6/10

JP Duminy

Jean Paul Duminy is essentially a classical middle order batsman but in recent times he has developed his off break bowling to take it a notch above what one would be usually be called as a part timer. He has a golden arm and the captain uses him quite frequently in the shorter formats of the game. On pitches providing a bit of assistance he can easily get away with a couple of overs while also picking up the occasional wicket. He did very well in the ICC WT20 in 2014 in Bangladesh where the pitches aided him and on similar Indian pitches he can play the supporting role to Tahir and Phangiso on a regular basis. He is also a brilliant fielder anywhere inside the circle and a safe catcher to boot.

Impact Rating – 6/10

The South African fans will hope that this bunch of spinners will prove to be the collective answer to South Africa’s long awaited ‘How to win a major trophy?’ question.

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