If you are wondering what that headline is, it’s a part of what the England Cricket Twitter account tweeted when England astonishingly won the third Test match with a wicket, and probably a few vowels, to spare. From 67 all out in the first innings and then 286/9 in the second while chasing 359 for victory, Ben Stokes wowed everyone to take the home side… erm… home.
It was against the odds. And quite odd. And a fitting name for this weekly column.
NRAIUBHGFIVUDSAHPGPUAISHFPOAUWHFVPASDICNSDOAHBC!!!!!!!!!!OEWIFHOEWQIHWEF'QWEJF!!!!!#Ashes
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 25, 2019
Back on the field, Stokes’ heroics left the Ashes in the balance at 1-1. England will be buoyant with Stokes and the lethal Jofra Archer in their ranks. This will add to their recent success in Tests, having won 11 of their last 16 matches (with four losses and a draw). That loss at Leeds would drain the Aussies some of their confidence. The once-mighty team would be reminded of their last 14 matches, where they have won just four, lost seven and drawn the rest.
With Steve Smith likely to play the fourth Test, and probably not at a hundred 100 percent, and Archer probably raging for his head again, it should set up for a fierce battle to take the lead in the series.
WATCH OUT FOR:
- Steve Smith, if he isn’t 100 percent, then Australia could suffer.
- Jofra Archer’s early strikes. Because if that doesn’t happen, expect his workload to raise along with potential injuries.
Feathering the Lion
It’s apt that Sri Lanka is shaped like a teardrop. The country has lost eight of its last nine T20I matches and a good cry would let that sink in. It’s also apt that it’s the monsoon season in the country, with dark clouds hovering in the sky, often making it grey and gloomy. Much like the outlook when they face New Zealand later this week.
If home advantage is anything to go by, then they’d cry a river with a single victory in their last five matches in front of their merry-turned-weeping fans. With just four victories - two of them against Bangladesh - in their last 20 T20I games, you’d be excused to expect Sri Lanka to drown in their sorrows.
New Zealand, meanwhile, would appreciate the prospects. But then again, the Kiwis haven’t quite taken off either. The Blackcaps may have won three of their last four T20I games but that extends to only four in their last 14. Their recent form, particularly in the World Cup - yes, it’s not exactly T20 but reaching a final of a global event works wonders for sentiments - may just allow them to get the upper hand when the two sides take the field.
With neither side tasting a lot of T20I success, it’s setting up as a clash of equals, almost, in that regard. And that translates into their head-to-head as well, with New Zealand bagging eight and Sri Lanka seven when the two have met, with the former winning their last three encounters.
WATCH OUT FOR:
- Lasith Malinga. He may have a paunch but he can still be lethal on his day.
- Ross Taylor seems to do well at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, 151 runs at 37.75 and a strike rate of 136.03
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Feature Image Courtesy: AFP / Paul Ellis
