#UCL:'Zero' Madrid

Genola and George Weah silenced Bernabeu 25 years ago and since then Real Madrid had the edge over the French club, but it's changing times in Real right now. Disasterclass displays predominate in a club, which is regarded as the best in history.

The problem exists from shot-stopper to defence to midfield to forward.

Just look at the gap between defence and midfield of Real Madrid, where none existed to counter PSG players in the middle. Even when Toni Kroos stepped up, he was dribbled past 4 times for the first time in his Madrid career. Casemiro was left alone, but he could do little with a fragile backline and an overhyped keeper.

Where is the structure Zidane?

Meanwhile, Real Madrid failed to put a shot on target after 587 games, which leave us thinking about the signing of Eden Hazard, as it required a search team to figure out his existence on the pitch. This is not Chelsea Mr. Hazard. This is Real Madrid, where you need to perform like a Hercules.

Zidane's credibility as a manager is under threat. Surely, he was brought back to fix the problems which emerged last season, but nothing has been fixed so far. The problems persist and frustrations continue to devour the fans worldwide.

I am annoyed that Real Madrid were humiliated in this fashion.......

- I was not happy with the signing of Courtois.

- I was not satisfied with the signing of Hazard. I would stick to my thought, he's not a Real material. Some flashes against lower-ranked La Liga sides won't prove anything.

- They let Navas go, which was total shit.

- More than Hazard or Courtois, quality centre backs and midfielders were much needed. Eriksen and Beek were there for the taking, but they wasted time on Pogba. They did not hunt for de Ligt and Koulibaly. Modric, Kroos, Ramos, Marcelo, Carvajal, Isco etc are fading. Accept it.

- They did not break the bank for Neymar and Mbappe.

Well, such outcomes were evident.

Hard to accept, but this is the reality.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

Victory for England

In the end, the final test of the Ashes 2019 turned out to be a matter of salvaging pride rather than winning the Ashes. England did not let the opportunity slip from their grip and bounced back from the Manchester defeat to draw the series 2-2. It had been a fantastic summer of Test cricket, which helped to cut short the hangover of the World Cup.

Tim Paine raised a few eyebrows by bowling and for the first half, Australia's performance suggested that the Old Trafford celebrations might have been a touch more exuberant than the two out of ten Justin Langer suggested. Yet they surged back into the ascendancy through a man playing his first match of the series as Mitchell Marsh bagged 4 for 35 with some brilliant swing bowling only to be stopped in their tracks when Jos Buttler flicked the one-day switch.

So much fitted to type for England as they slid from 170 for 3 to 226 for 8 and it appeared they wouldn't bat out the day. But all of a sudden, Buttler changed gear - perhaps deciding to live by the two-letter expletive on his bat handle - with a pair of straight sixes off Josh Hazlewood on the way to his first half-century of the series and alongside Jack Leach added an unbroken 45 for the ninth wicket. It made things look a little better for England, but in reality, it was a rescue mission that shouldn't have been needed.

On Day 2, England had resumed on 271 for 8 with Jos Buttler and Jack Leach taking their stand to 68 before the innings was wrapped up by Mitchell Marsh's first five-wicket haul in Tests.

Australia experienced a shaky start.

The major shift in the innings came after tea when Australia lost 4 for 27 - including the scalp of Smith - with Curran producing a terrific six-over spell of left-arm swing which accounted for Tim Paine and Cummins in consecutive deliveries.

Archer then claimed his fifth wicket to halt a troublesome ninth-wicket stand, with a brilliant slower ball to remove Nathan Lyon, before a spectacular catch at gully by Burns rounded up Australia. It left Archer, who didn't bowl his fastest but had excellent control, with 6 for 62 to follow his 6 for 45 at Headingley.

To no one's surprise, Smith top-scored but this time fell for 80 - his lowest score of the series - when he was lbw to Chris Woakes, the moment when England probably believed they could end the innings with an advantage. While Smith was there, even with the tail, anything was possible and England would have feared the worst when Joe Root dropped him at slip on 66.

Neither was it a quiet end to the day with Joe Denly, who was late to the ground on the second day after the birth of his daughter, dropped in the slips by Marcus Harris and against the final delivery Rory Burns - having already been clattered in the grille by Pat Cummins - was given lbw to a ball which DRS showed had pitched well outside leg stump. A day of solid batting - and that's far from assured from either side in this series - and England will have a share of the series in their sights.

Marnus Labuschagne continued in his role as Smith-lite but either side of that pair there were familiar problems for Australia with the openers again dispatched cheaply - David Warner with a hint of DRS controversy - and the middle-order failing to offer the support Smith needed.

It was Archer who sparked England early in the afternoon with a hostile spell to Labuschagne who took a painful blow on the right arm before being pinned lbw, a plan coming to fruition for Archer who had probed away for such a dismissal - similar to how he removed him in the second innings at Old Trafford. After tea he would strike again, having Marsh caught at long leg off a poorly controlled half-hearted pull following another series of short deliveries which had also seen a rare error from Smith when he top-edged short of the deep square.

Matthew Wade wanted to be positive but was beautifully set up by Curran who sent down a series of away swingers before bringing one back into the pads which Wade played across.

That was just a prelude from Curran when, after tea, he produced trademark left-arm dismissals by slanting one across Paine then swinging one back into Cummins' boot in a spell that would read 6-4-6-2. There is a feeling no one really knows what sort of cricketer Curran will become, and how to best fit him in an England Test side, but the bare facts are he has won six out of six Tests at home and played a key role in most of them.

For a short while it looked more likely that he would run out of partners than be dismissed, but the first ball of a new spell from Woakes brought the moment England have strived so hard for when Smith missed a straight one.

By the close of Day 3, England led by 382, anchored around the 127-stand between Denly and Stokes then supplemented by more runs from Jos Buttler. Australia's attack remained wholehearted and took six wickets during the final session, but the overall demeanour was of a weary group who had peaked with the emotional high of last week in Manchester.

Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood kept pounding away, yet had 1 for 112 to show for it, and Nathan Lyon battled against uncertain form and a painful spinning finger to finish with 3 for 65, but there wasn't a match-turning spell. The verbals went up a level as well with the umpires briefly stepping in during the morning session.

On Day 4, For the first time since 1972, there was a drawn Ashes series as England prevailed by a convincing 135 runs at The Oval with Stuart Broad and Jack Leach taking four wickets apiece alongside two for Joe Root who enjoyed a good day as captain. Matthew Wade struck a fantastic century, which included a compelling duel with Jofra Archer, but England shifted Steven Smith for 23 and Wade could not find anyone to stay with him long enough to bring the target within sight.

After what happened at Headingley just a few weeks ago - and because Australia have the best since Bradman - even with a target of 399 it didn't quite feel like a foregone conclusion when the chase started early on the fourth day. However, with Broad continuing his stranglehold over Australia's openers - getting David Warner for the seventh time in the series - and returning to have Smith caught at leg gully (and plan 774-runs in the making) it was 85 for 4 with the feeling the end could come swiftly.

Wade then added stands of 63 with Mitchell Marsh, 52 with Tim Paine and 44 with Pat Cummins, each time England nabbing the breakthrough before things got troublesome. He and Archer went toe-to-toe during an hour of thrilling cricket after tea - Archer touching 95mph but staying wicketless during an eight-over spell - with Wade reaching his hundred from 147 balls before being stumped off Root which heralded the end.

Note: Input from ESPNcricinfo

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer as CSdesk on 15/09/2019 Victory for England

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

#Ashes: Victory for England!

Victory for England!

The series is levelled 2-2.

The  #Ashes has not witnessed a drawn series since 1972 when Ian Chappell's Australia discovered themselves in a familiar position in the fifth Test at the Oval.

They were down 2-1, but Dennis Lille, Ian and Greg Chappell and Keith Stackpole helped Australia to level the series. They lost the Ashes, but gained the confidence to regain it, which England experienced in a rather ruthless fashion two years later Downunder.

Will it be Joe Root's turn next time when England tour Australia? 

A great series has come to an end. It gave us so many moments to relish and most importantly we could witness greatness at it's very best - Steve Smith has elevated himself to a level, which a Virat Kohli, Joe Root and Kane Williamson can only dream off. 774 runs at an average of 110.57 against such a competent bowling attack and under testing circumstances, is nothing but a Superman-like-achievement.

He was out for 23 today. England put a short fine-leg-leg-slip and entice Smith with a middle and leg line from a short of a length. It worked. Joe Root's reactions said it all of how big a wicket that one was.

Smith left, but nevertheless, he was greeted with a loud cheer from the Oval crowd. You can't hate a great, can you? We the Brazilian fans still can't hate Diego Maradona for his derogatory remarks on Pele and Brazil. As a true sports-lover always salutes and respects a genius. 

Australia were nowhere near achieving the target. Stuart Broad set jitters in the Australian batting line-up. David Warner's horrendous series came to an end. Certainly, outside Australia, Warner is a soft target. Then the rest followed cheaply. Except for Matthew Wade, who kept on fighting only to prolong England's wait.

It was a hundred, which had a lot of character and skill. The battle between a fiery Jofra Archer and Wade would be etched in my memory forever. Jofra sent down 90 mph cannonballs and gave looks at which Wade did not give a damn - mate, why did not we have a sixth Test here? You just want more and more of such cracking battles between red-hot fast bowler and a stubborn batsman.         

Wade departed and Australia's innings folded quickly.

It had been only the second Ashes series in which five different bowlers have taken more than 20 wickets (Archer, Broad; Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon).

Previously, in the six-Test series in 1978-79 (Hogg, Hurst, Botham, Willis and Miller) such happened.

As usual, give the bowlers the opportunity, Test cricket would be fascinating

Thank You
Faisal Caesar 

#Ashes: Sam Curran, Jofra Archer and Of Course, Steve Smith......

The deck did not offer enough swing, but Sam Curran's persistence with full-length paid off. He created angles while bowling from over the wicket and most importantly, he generated pace to unsettle the Australian batsmen. His inswingers to the right-handers are deadly, they are skiddy - comes straight after pitching, moves late and traps the batsman lbw. Surely, he gave the English attack the cutting edge at the Oval.

Then there was that young Jofra Archer, who rediscovered his mojo at the Oval and bowled with an excellent rhythm to bag six wickets. Interestingly, Stuart Broad failed to create an impact early on. he leaked runs while his length, in my opinion, was pretty much on the goodish area rather than full. The same can be stated about Chris Woakes as well.

But when two young guns are bowling in a fantastic rhythm, it really does not matter.

The Australian batting lineup was all about Steve Smith, yet again. It has been his series and in each innings, he is taking his batting to the next level. That pull on the onside by sitting on his knee was one of the shots of the day for me. It was the Smith way of executing a pull shot - unorthodox, a touch of ultra-modernism and surely, not to please the eyes of the purists.

But, this is the cricket of the modern era. They are acceptable if they are executed with perfection to define greatness in a different way on the canvas of Test cricket.

Thank You
Faisal Caesar 

#Ashes: A day with ups and downs

I was pretty surprised when Tim Paine won the toss and elected to field first. Since 2001, as numbers say, 4 times a team has elected to bowl first after winning the toss at the Oval. Normally, you bat first at the Oval after winning the toss.

Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood were nagging and incisive as usual - swung the ball with a Spartan line and length. It was, as usual, testing times for English openers and the resistance broke soon. Who else but Cummins.

Joe Root and Rory Burns stabilized things, but that Hazelwood showed up again. Burns departed attempting a pull shot, which lacked intent.

Root - reprived thrice today - cashed in.

Root was looking good. He played the ball late than previous Tests of this series and it hinted of something big. For a while, his conversion rate against Australia  hasn't been encouraging. This time around, the fans and experts felt, he would make good use of luck and his new ploy to get behind the line of ball late.

He reached his fifty, but before that he reached the milestone of scoring 7000 runs in white clothes. The hope of a big knock faded as Cummins, his nemesis, outweighed him with another beauty.

Ben Stokes, promoted to number 4, looked good, but ended up the ghost while attempting a half-hearted pull, which was repeat of Rory Burns's one.

Then Root departed.

The conversation rate remained the same.

England collapsed from 170 for 3 to 226 for 8 - a similar story of previous 4 Tests.

Jos Buttler and oh yes, that man Jack Leach put up a resistance. England added 45 more runs for 9th wicket without further damage.

The hero of the day had been Mitchell Marsh, whose inclusion was blasted by Australian critics. Obviously, his previous records did not support his selection for the sake of Travis Head, but Marsh shut the mouth of critics with pace and effevtive yorkers - 4 wickets under his bag and he added the extra cutting edge to this Australian attack. Indeed, a bit more faith in a player, who's suffering from a low-esteem can deliver better results.

Thank You
Faisal Caesar 

Bangladesh cricket: Perhaps the wheel has completed it's circle

One of the articles had been written in 2016 while the other in 2018 by me.

Majority of the current players are not interested to play Test cricket and emphasize on ODIs and T20.

If that is the case then why so much effort was put to achieve Test status in 2000? Bangladesh's reluctant attitude towards Test cricket is evident and it is an insult to the format.

The current players don't even realize the importance of this Test status and take it for granted. Then there are those opportunist celebrities, who script whatever their bosses want them to write and convey the wrong messages to fans, who unleash hell in social media to justify those wrong messages.

Mate, you guys have done enough damage with your abusive words, emotional displays and ultra-patriotism, which bear little value.

Everything in Bangladesh cricket is run by emotions which are built on the basis of messages conveyed by these so-called celebrated customers, who claims themselves as modern thinkers of the game and say, for the sake of business shorter formats should be emphasized more.

Well, India, Australia, England or New Zealand don't think this way though.

I am sure, these so-called celebrated experts of Bangladesh don't understand the business better than the countries mentioned above.

Few people like us, I think it's only me, who used to write such articles, but who am I? Just a bloody cricket fan of 80s and 90s, who dreamed of Bangladesh playing Test cricket one day.

Bangladesh do play Test cricket now, but without paying enough respect to the format.

I tell you, the future is bleak.

Perhaps, the wheel has completed it's circle.

I rest my case.

Thank You
Faisal Caesar 

Glory for Afghanistan but disgraceful day for Bangladesh

 

“If a team can’t survive one hour then surely their credibility in the 5-day format comes under the scanner”

 Afghanistan were playing their third Test against a nation that has acquired enough experience in the last 19 years in this topsy-turvy world of Test cricket. The records are not satisfactory for Bangladesh in the last 19 years, but since the arrival of Chandika Hathurusingha, the Test record of the Tigers started to get the right direction and under Steve Rhodes, things were still not a mess. Well, it seems, Bangladesh have returned to the shoddy past.                                                                  

Okay, just wait – I am bored of dishing out the past again and again and searching a way to defend Bangladesh, which really does not help at all – let me be loud and clear – in Test cricket, Bangladesh have not learned anything, or it might be appropriate to state that, the current players in the team are not at all interested to play the longer version of the game. At least their body language says it all.

Whereas they completely forget, because of this Test status, they have gained the access to play against quality sides – if anytime, the International Cricket Council decides to impose the Two-Tier system in Test cricket, Bangladesh would be the sufferer and they would lose their foot on the ground they are standing right now.

 The rain-affected Test match was going nowhere until the umpires decided to give the visitors 18.3 overs to shine while Bangladesh just needed to survive one hour, which should not be a tough ask for a team that has recently peaked in the 5-day format.

In the final hours of the Test match, Afghanistan scripted glory, while Bangladesh ended up with eggs on their face.  

Zahir Khan had Shakib Al Hasan caught behind off the first ball in the final session after they made a second restart. Shakib tried an unnecessary cut shot against wide delivery whereas what the skipper needed was to survive.

Rashid Khan picked up his fourth wicket by trapping Mehidy Hasan lbw - against a delivery that required quick reactions and astute footwork - before completing his ten-wicket haul with the wicket of Taijul Islam.

Taijul's wicket made Rashid the first cricketer to take a 10-wicket haul and score a fifty on his captaincy debut. Overall, he is the third captain to do the double, following Imran Khan and Alan Border.

Rashid took the final wicket to fall, Sarkar caught at short leg.

While Afghanistan celebrated by running around the ground and then gave some of the Afghans who turned up, a victory lap, the home team was left pondering what went wrong regarding this 224-run thrashing against a nation who are new-bees in the Test arena.

The Afghans have always been a fascinating side to watch and their victory has been the result of appropriate planning and hard work.

In the period since the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) handed the captaincy to Rashid Khan, and when Phil Simmons left as the head coach, they put Andy Moles, the chief selector, in his place temporarily.

 Afghanistan have shown over the years that they tend to make the best of whatever resources they have. In fact, their ability to compete despite limited resources is what motivates them to punch beyond their weight.

Back in July, the Afghanistan A team toured Bangladesh and it proved to be a big learning curve.

They had dominated that series, winning the unofficial Test series 1-0, and then rain deprived them of the one-day series triumph, with Bangladesh A salvaging a 2-2 draw in the five-match series.

They exploited the experience at Chattogram, meanwhile, Bangladesh kept on surprising every day.

From their decision to go with an all-spin attack and deciding to field first to melting under pressure in a lacklustre fashion on the final day – deserves clarification from the think tank of Bangladesh cricket.  

The blame game, time and again have never helped any teams in Test cricket.

And, most importantly, what does Bangladesh wish to do?

Do they wish to play Test cricket or not?

If a team can’t survive one hour then surely their credibility in the 5-day format comes under the scanner.

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsocer on 09/09/2021 Glory for Afghanistan but disgraceful day for Bangladesh

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

Australia retain the Ashes

The opportunity at Leeds might have been bagged by the heroics of Ben Stokes but at Old Trafford, it was a different story altogether. In the end, it was the dominance of Australia that all mattered in one of the thrilling Test series of the year till now. Australia have retained the Ashes and even if they lose at the Oval, it would not change the outcome – Australia will take the urn back Down Under.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat first.

Stuart Broad bowled with an aggressive intent- nailing David Warner for the fifth time in seven innings, and for his sixth single-figure score of a desperately poor series, before Steven Smith and his super-sub-turned-automatic pick, Marnus Labuschagne, continued their own fine runs of form with another brace of half-centuries - for both men, it was their fourth in as many innings in this campaign, and Smith's eighth in a row against England since the 2017-18 rubber.

But then the weather had the ultimate say on a day that also featured a maiden home Test wicket for Craig Overton, a player rather surprisingly recalled to England's attack on account of the ticker he showed in adversity Down Under two winters ago, and who lived up to that reputation with a very timely late incision after a three-hour rain delay, his sharp in-ducker bursting through Labuschagne's gate to bowl him for 67 and end a determined third-wicket stand of 116.

For about two overs on the second day at Old Trafford, Steven Smith looked fallible as he resumed his comeback innings after yesterday's preamble half-century. Stuart Broad found his edge with his first ball of the day, then induced that rarest of aberrations, a waft outside off from his second.

Smith was unable to settle immediately, and three balls into Jofra Archer's first over of the day, he pumped a low full toss at a catchable height through the bowler's outstretched fingers and away to the boundary for four. A final, flighty fence past leg stump followed – and then the master class started.

For the remainder of his 263-ball, 497-minute stay, Smith batted as if he had never been away - which, but for that delivery from Archer at Lord's, he might indeed never have been.

Once again, he encountered an opposition that ran out of plans and patience in equal measure, as he found sufficient support from, first, Tim Paine and then Mitchell Starc to leave England praying for more rain to assist the series-extending draw that is surely now the limit of their ambitions.

By the time he eventually fell for 211, reverse-sweeping the part-time spin of Joe Root (having frog-marched England's frontline bowlers to the brink of that inevitable declaration), Smith had racked up a nonsensical haul of 589 runs in four innings, at an average of 147.25 that would have been closer to 200 but for his brave but unwise decision to resume that Lord's knock while displaying the early signs of concussion.

By the close of another rain-shortened third day, the discipline and endurance shown by Joe Root and Rory Burns in the course of their four-hour stand of 141 was fading as fast as the bad light that eventually spared England any further examination. They limped to the close on 200 for 5, still, 98 runs shy of saving the follow-on - or, more realistically, still two batting sessions shy of ensuring Australia run out of time to turn the screw in the fourth innings.

Rory Burns scored 81 off 185 balls - was arguably his finest innings of the series to date - he had certainly required more luck in the course of his Edgbaston century, as this time he proved equal to Australia's short-ball approach, judging the length early and swaying late when needs be, to eat up deliveries with a voracity that no other opener in this series has come close to replicating. Indeed, in the course of his innings, he became both the first non-Alastair Cook England opener to face 700 balls in an Ashes series since Root in 2013, and the first England opener of any type to score three fifties in a series since Cook against Pakistan in 2016.

But in the end, Hazlewood proved simply too good - ripping the ball off Burns' edge as he cramped him for room from over the wicket, for Steve Smith to cling on low at second slip. And one over later, Root was gone as well - pinned on the crease by a delivery so full and straight that he could barely bring himself to look at umpire Dharmasena as the finger went up, let alone burn a review.

Root's innings of 71, hot on the heels of his 77 at Headingley, was - tellingly - his first back-to-back Test fifty since the 2017-18 Ashes, a fact which doubtless mitigated his disappointment at once again failing to convert a start.

After scoring Hot on the heels of his 211 in the first innings, and into the teeth of a frenzied bowling onslaught from Stuart Broad and a reinvigorated Jofra Archer, Smith made light of Australia's pre-tea scoreline of 44 for 4 to wane, and poke and smashed his way to an indomitable 82 from 92 balls on Day 4.

It was Smith's lowest score of the series may be, but incredibly, for the fourth time in five dismissals this summer, his departure was more or less self-inflicted. With a lead of 345 already in the bag and Australia straining for a late-evening declaration having bowled England out for 301 in their first innings, Smith's inside-out carve picked out Ben Stokes at deep extra cover to complete a match aggregate of 293 runs - a tally which accounted for more than three-quarters of England's eventual target of 383.

On Day 5, Australia retained the Ashes on English soil for the first time since 2001.

Survival was the ambition of England, but as the tension tightened in another nail-shredding final session, it took an unlikely hero to unlock the resistance of a familiar cult figure. At 178 for 8 in the 76th over shortly after tea, Jack Leach - promoted to No.10 after his role in England's third Test miracle - joined the nerveless Craig Overton, and saw off the new ball with guts and determination in a ninth-wicket stand that spanned the best part of 15 overs.

So Tim Paine, Australia's captain, chose an unlikely means to pick the lock. With men crowded round the bat, he tossed the ball to the part-time legspinner Labuschagne, who was given licence to give it a rip and see what he could achieve out of the ever-deepening footholes.

Sure enough, he was able to spit one out of the rough and thump the left-hander's glove for Matthew Wade to snaffle the crucial catch, to send Leach on his way for a valiant 12 from 51 balls.

The resistance didn't last much longer. Back came Australia's senior seamers, and down - at the last - fell Overton, pinned on the knee by another nip-backer from Josh Hazlewood, and though he rolled the dice on England's final review, it was all a formality.

Australia celebrated the Ashes victory on English soil.

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer as CSdesk on 09/09/2019 Australia retain the Ashes

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

#Ashes: It was another memorable and classic Ashes Test match

Persistence. Patience. Boldness. Fightback. Attack. Keep on attacking. Keep holding on. Attack again. The final day of the fourth Test at Manchester had been all about this. There was a shade of Leeds. England answered at Leeds, while Australia did it at Manchester.

Pat Cummins - the number 1 Test bowler in the world - dished out an unplayable delivery to beat Joe Root's defence yesterday when the shadows were getting taller, which automatically shattered the confidence of English dressing room. The Australian pacers transformed into a pack of wolves and on the final day, they won't leave any stones unturned to finish things off as quickly as possible.

And their intensity was the same on Day 5. They attacked the top of off. Varied the line and length. Dished out the short-stuff. But the pack of wolves and their partner - Lyon were tested against the defiant resistance put up by the English lower middle-order and tail-ender.

Hit the top off. Oh yes, Australia are the masters at it and when Jos Buttler and Craig Overton were hanging on to save the Test, that man Josh Hazlewood nipped one back, which hit the top of Buttler's off - Australia bounce back.

But Jack Leach was there. Overton and Leach held on. Blocked. Blocked. And Blocked. The English fans cheered, while the Australian fans started to give up hope.

Well, Tim Paine did not give up.

On a turning deck, he realized that a legspinner can be the best option to exploit the footmarks better than a finger spinner. He opted for Marnus Labuschagne. He delivered the ball quickly and on the rough. One particular delivery jumped. Kissed the bat of Leach and the Labuschagne-move is now a part of Ashes folklore. 

It was a long walk to the crease for Stuart Broad, who should have been sent to bat at number 9 instead of Jofra Archer. He was at the non-striker's end, when Hazlewood nipped another one back, which trapped Overton lbw. He reviewed, but it was plumb, and guess what, the ball was again hitting the top of off and middle.

Australia win and retain the Ashes.

England fought bravely. But today, Australia's persistence, attacking intent and a smart move at the fag end of the day, defeated the English resistance.

 It was another memorable and classic Ashes Test match.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

#BRACOL: Brazil fail to shake Colombia

A Brazil vs Colombia affair can never be termed as friendly, but physicality takes over. I could hardly witness any football out there as hot-temper existed most of the times. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Alex Sandro was a flop. He was responsible for both conceding bothy the goals. This is not the Sandro of 2016-17. These days he is the shadow of past and this demands an opportunity for either Renan Lodi or Alex Telles.

The left flank of Brazil remains a headache. Only Felipe Luis used gave some sort of stability when he was playing.

The frontline of Brazil seemed saturated with too many number 10s. It was reminiscent of Mexico 1970, where, except for Clodoaldo, the rest of the five players up front were genuine number 10.

But those were an extraordinary bunch of boys, but this team is just good and thus, Tite needs to put the right player in the right place.

Putting all the number 10s up front was a bold try and I appreciate it. If this plan is nurtured, it may make these good boys into something better and even best.

Neymar is back. Despite being the victim of rough treatment on the pitch, which forced him to limit his dribbling abilities, he was the reason why Brazil could salvage a draw. He assisted one goal, while scored one.

The second goal was a treat - Philippe Coutinho dropped down in the centre midfield and provided a long ball on the right flank to Dani Alves, who cut through the Colombian defence and passed in the centre where Neymar beat the keeper to equalize. That goal in the 58th minute calmed down Tite, who looked anxious when Colombia went 2-1 ahead.

Not the kind of football one would enjoy and as a Brazil fan, I was expecting Brazil to shake Colombia. But they could not do such. Brazil looked disorganized and let just say, it may happen after a long break and against a physical side like Colombia, the possibilities of such disorganization is more likely to happen. 

Thank You
Faisal Caesar 

#Ashes: Josh Hazlewood makes it Australia's day

Joe Root's school teacher at primary level in Yorkshire said, while Root batted in school days, he resembled like a tiny Rahul Dravid. It was hard to beat his defence and concentration. At a very young age his composure earned the accolades from everyone. It has not changed until today, but has matured with time.

He was at his defensive best at Manchester on Day 3. The Australian bowlers were not targeting the top of off that much while Nathan Lyon bowled straighter enough with a leg gully. Root exploited the opportunity provided - runs leaked through square on the offside against pace and leg against spin.

When the line improved he displayed his concentration better. But there comes a time when the wall is breached by the persistence of someone like Josh Hazelwood. His Spartan line and length brought the end of a defiant resistance put up by Root and Rory Burns. Then Jason Roy was undone by a beautiful nip-backer.

Just when England thought they can end the day safely, Hazelwood ripped through in the span of a few overs. Another exhibition of persistence when it mattered the most. Certainly, Hszkewood means business like the tough Australian boys of past.

Again, it turned out to be Australia's day.

Thank You
Faisal Caesar 

Abdul Qadir is dead: A sad day for cricket

 "Qadir was a genius. Number don't justify his abilities, but those who saw him in action would always regard him as one of the best spinners Pakistan have ever produced"

Absolutely shocked to know about the death of Abdul Qadir. In our school days, Qadir was a household name and the best legspinner in the world. We enjoyed watching his finger-licking-swaying-dancing-bowling style. His googlies were lethal.

In the 80s, Qadir became Imran Khan’s major weapon especially against the mighty West Indies, who were tested and mesmerized by Qadir’s leggies and googlies. The Imran and Qadir partnership gifted Pakistan so many moments to relish.

It was Imran Khan, who fought with the Pakistan selectors before the England tour in 1982 regarding the inclusion of Qadir. While the selectors stated, Qadir would be of no use in England and lacks the cutting edge to challenge top batsmen of world, Imran's point was, legspinners are a blessing for any side and Qadir's flippers and googlies would prove handy against modern-day batters of his time.

Qadir had an average tour in England despite picking up crucial wickets and Imran had to face criticisms from the section of Karachi press. But Imran stuck with Qadir. In the home series against Australia Qadir unleashed his true colours and he never looked back. 

Imran and Qadir developed a lethal partnership in the 80s when Pakistan had little support from others.

Sarfraz Nawaz had passed his best. Wasim Akram was still young, while Saleem Jaffer, Tahir Naqqas, Azim Hafeez and Mudassar Nazar were like stock bowlers. Meanwhile, Tauseef Ahmed was unpredictable. Qasim Omar was in and out of the side. Ejaz Faqih was another stock bowler.

Imran and Qadir had to take the load for a Pakistan team, which was in a transition period.

Imran studied the mighty West Indies and came to realize, only a leggie can halt their progression. And he unleashed Qadir against them. In 1986 and in 1988 - West Indies were left at bay by the magic of Qadir and guile of Imran.

Until injuries took a heavy toll on his body, Qadir gave Pakistan memorable victories, be it with the ball or with the bat. Realizing Qadir's batting abilities Imran used Qadir as a floater in ODIs. Whenever he noticed a bit of turn in the wicket, Imran sent Qadir to bat high up the order and Qadir never let Imran down.  Moreover, in those days, Imran used to bring Qadir early to bowl within the first 15-20 overs - very few captains dared to do such as in limited-overs formats, a leggie was considered as a luxury.

Qadir was a genius. Number don't justify his abilities, but those who saw him in action would always regard him as one of the best spinners Pakistan have ever produced.   

A sad day for cricket.

Note: This blog has been posted at Cricketsoccer on 06/09/2019 Abdul Qadir is dead: A sad day for cricket

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

#Ashes: You can't forget Jack Leach, can you?

You know what, there is nothing to say about Steve Smith. Words fall short to describe a Hercules. has made a come back with a bang and in each Test innings, he is reaching towards greatness. The best deliver against the best and that is how greatness is achieved. He is the best batsman in the world right now. No one comes even closer to him.

But, I do have something to say about Jack Leach.

He is a special character. He won't make you forget him so easily - either from a positive point of view or negative.

Not so long ago, he out-batted the English top-order with a patient innings against the Irish and then showed his determination with the bat, yet again in one of the most thrilling Test matches ever played in the history of Test cricket.

That single at Leeds during that nervy run-chase along with Ben Stokes ensured him stardom and now in the 74th over of Australia's innings today, he delivered a no-ball, which denied England the most precious wicket of Smith.

Smith went on to script his third Ashes double ton leaving England pondering what might have been the scenario had Leach not over-stepped! A moment of joy turned into despair when the umpires called Smith back to the crease.

Leach hit the headlines again. Leach is the talk of the town. Leach is trending in social media.

Australia have gifted England a huge scoreboard pressure, which demands a fightback and I think, Leach might come into action yet again, with the bat to help England.

You can't forget Leach, can you? 

Thank You
Faisal Caesar 

#Ashes: Australia dominate on Day 1

In a stop-start day Australia dominated. The third wicket stand of 116 between Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschange was a treat for me.

Fluency and resolve came together at the wicket and you could just spend whole day watching them bat. It seemed that Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid were batting together.

David Warner was exposed again. Stuart Broad is treating Warner like Glenn McGrath did to Michael Atherton once upon a time. Broad is just targeting the outside edge of Warner consistently and surprisingly, I think, Warner is letting him exploit his weakness.

Now, if you walk down the wicket with an angled bat it becomes easier for batters to dismiss you.

Jofra Archer was not at his best. Pace is his strength and if it drops down, be can't pose a threat. Smith dominated Archer in a much awaited battle.

Thank You
Faisal Caesar 

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq is not the wrong choice

Misbah-ul-Haq has been appointed as the head coach and chief selector of Pakistan for 3 years. I think this is a very good move.

Pakistan is a talented unit, but always lacked discipline and stability. They need a good man-manager who can ensure both and right now, Misbah is that ideal person.

As history suggests, the Pakistanis are so talented that coaches hardly mattered for them, but their downfall has always been due to waywardness. And for which, someone like Misbah would be highly influential. I see him more as a manager than a coach. 

Again, as a coach, I don't think he is the wrong choice. Misbah has learned his cricket through hard ways and such customers know better about fixing failures than others.

I also admire his appointment as the chief selector. This is a very smart move. The head coach knows what team he wants and if he is given the job of a chief selector, then it becomes easier for him to deal with things better.

I am not expecting Misbah to take Pakistan to the top, but at least, Pakistan can be a competitive unit under him and not a wayward Ferrari in the coming days. 

One needs to give him time and have patience.     

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

#Ashes: When Ian Botham made England smile at Old Trafford for the last time

The last time England smiled at Old Trafford against Australia was way back in 1981. Since then Manchester has been a happy hunting ground for Australia. Even when they came close to lose a Test in 2005, in a nervy-affair, Australia prevailed.

However, England is also on a good run at the venue having not lost any of its previous 11 Tests (W9 D2) since a defeat to Pakistan in 2001, where Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis ensured a great comeback after that defeat at Lord's in the first Test.

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Who else but Ian Botham made England smile at Manchester against their arch-rivals.

It was the fifth Test after the epic encounter at Edgbaston and as it turned out, it was a must-win for Australia to survive in this series as they were trailing by 2-1.

Despite the greenish-tinch on the wicket and overcast skies above, Mike Brearley decided to bat fast and were in all sorts of trouble against Dennis Lillee and Terry Alderman.

Chris Tavare's 69 off 293 balls helped to glue the batting line-up, but the rest stayed at the wicket for a shorter period. At 175 for 9, Australia thought of ending the innings below 200. Sadly, Paul Allot and Bob Willis put up a defiant resistance, which frustrated a fiery Lillee. 56 runs were added for the last wicket and England ended at 231 - a fighting total given the nature of the deck.

Bob Willis, Paul Allott and Ian Bothan rolled through the Australian batting line-up. Had Queensland's Martin Kent not showed the courage to stand against the pace and movement of English bowlers, the total might not have reached 130. Kent would play his final Test at the Oval and would not feature anymore.

Moreover, Australia scored at a rate of 4.28 runs per over, but such an attacking intent backfired as an amalgamation of caution and aggression was the order of the day.

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England's reply in the second innings was scratchy until Ian Botham decided to show his class when England were reeling at 104 for 5.

It was one hell of a swashbuckling innings where Botham cut the Australian attack into pieces like a butcher. Powerful strokes all over the ground, especially the cuts through offside and square of the wicket were an indication of a player who had no fear and anxiety about facing the fury of Lillee and Alderman. Then Alan Knott and John Emburey added insult to the injury by scoring half-centuries. The match went out of Australia's control.

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It was impossible to chase down 506 in the fourth innings. At least they could salvage a draw to keep the sixth Test alive.

Graham Yallop and Allan Border gave them hope on Day 5. Yallop and Border notched up hundreds, while Rod Marsh and Dennis Lille tried their level best to support Border, who was not willing to give up so easily.

Willis, Allott, Botham and Emburey maintained their persistence.

Border was left stranded not out at 123 as the English pacers and spinners targeted the rest - Australia lost by 103 runs and the Ashes.

Ian Botham was the match of the match.

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England have the Botham of the modern era. 

Perhaps, he might break the Manchester-jinx this time around. After that mind-blowing hundred at Leeds, Stokes is already in the zone, where is capable of achieving the most impossible targets. In simpler words, he is in the mode of Ian Botham 1981. And for which, England can dream big of retaining the Ashes.         

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer as CSdesk on 03/09/2019 #Ashes: When Ian Botham made England smile at Old Trafford for the last time

Thank You

Faisal Caesar