As England and Australia return for the final Ashes Test at The Oval, the week brings along an exciting tenure for the cricket faithful. Right from the commencement of the Tri-series between Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, Virat Kohli’s Team India will return to home soil to take on Quinton de Kock’s South Africa in a three-match T20I series.
In such instances, dilemma regarding the selection of the right squad for the NostraGamus Fantasy Managers is all but obvious. Well, think no more. Just have these players in your team and your week will be set for a massive roar.
STEVE SMITH
Country: Australia
Match: England vs Australia | Fifth Ashes Test
Highest Test batting averages (Min 6K Test runs scored) #Cricket
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) September 8, 2019
99.94 - Bradman (6996)
64.81 - SteveSmith (6870)
58.67 - Barrington (6806)
58.45 - Hammond (7249)
57.78 - Sobers (8032)
57.40 - Sangakkara (12400)
*Sangakkara scored 9283 runs with an ave of 66.78 as batsman only
Topping the chart of most runs scored in Tests in 2019 has been a cakewalk for Australia’s Steve Smith. Well, as spectators it seemed so. Despite missing seven months of Test cricket this year, Smith has accumulated 671 runs in a mere five innings, and if that doesn’t excite you to go ahead with him, we don’t know what will.
Most consecutive 50+ scores in #Ashes
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 7, 2019
9*- Steve Smith (Aus)
6 - Mike Hussey (Aus)
5 - Peter May (Eng)/John Edrich (Eng)/Graham Gooch (Eng)/Mike Hussey (Aus)#Ashes2019#EngvAus #AusvEng
PAT CUMMINS
Country: Australia
Match: England vs Australia | Fifth Ashes Test
With Smith being at the centre of all the hurrahs, a certain Pat Cummins has silently acquired the top spot of the newly announced ICC Test bowler rankings. Cummins has been a doom for Australia since the beginning of the Ashes 2019, having scalped 24 wickets in the first four Tests.
Over 100 wickets in just 24 tests with an average of 21. And a stroke rate of 45!! Pat Cummins for me is the best test fast bowler. Unerring lengths and relentless pressure. No wonder he's the number 1 rank as well. Impressive cricketer. Gives his heart out everytime. #Ashes2019
— Rishabh Bhargava (@Engineereed) September 8, 2019
RASHID KHAN
Country: Afghanistan
Match: Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe | Tri-nation series
Despite being just three Test matches old, 20-year-old Rashid Khan already has two five-wicket hauls in the format. Soon after his Test tenure though, the all-rounder will return to his familiar T20 format, where Afghanistan will lock horns with Zimbabwe in a Tri-nation series in Bangladesh. Well, there are several reasons to pick him ahead of anyone else, with the first and foremost being his bowling average and strike rate of just 11.56 and 11.5 respectively in the format.
VIRAT KOHLI
Country: India
Match: India vs South Africa | First T20I
After becoming his country’s most successful Test captain, Virat Kohli will now switch his attention from the longest format to the shortest format, with South Africa scheduled for a three-match T20I tour. However, known for his adaptability across all three formats, a certain Kohli, who averages 49.35 in T20Is, is a no brainer for the fantasy gamers.
QUINTON DE KOCK
Country: South Africa
Match: India vs South Africa | First T20I
If there’s one South African you’re looking to get into your team, captain Quinton de Kock is your man for the job. Captaining his team for the T20I tour, the 26-year-old’s fearless striking and handy glovework is sure to get you several bonuses from the first game.
Don’t waste your time, log on to NostraGamus and start building your team.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Dibyangshu Sarkar
