Latest news with #WTC2023
Times of Oman
3 days ago
- Sport
- Times of Oman
West Indies: Worst batting side of 2020s?
St John's: West Indies' batting will determine the result of the second Test against Australia at St George's following a crushing 159-run loss at Barbados despite some fantastic fast bowling performances. An interesting statistic has emerged regarding the West Indies' batting performance during the previous ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, 2023-25, which undoubtedly places them among the worst batting sides in the world currently. According to ESPNCricinfo, WI had the lowest collective batting average (20.96) and the lowest run rate (3.13) during the last WTC 2023-25 cycle. During the previous cycle, their top run-getters were Alick Athanaze (627 runs in 13 Tests and 25 innings at an average of 25.08, with four fifties and a best score of 92), skipper Kraigg Braithwaite (586 runs in 13 Tests and 26 innings at an average of 22.52, with three fifties and best score of 92) and Kavem Hodge (556 runs in 11 Tests and 22 innings at an average of 25.27, with a century and three fifties). Nobody in the lineup averaged 40 or more during the cycle, and only these aforementioned batters crossed the 500-run mark. The team finished in eighth place with three wins, eight losses and two draws. Even during the 2021-23 cycle, WI was second-worst in terms of average (24.28) and slowest in terms of their run-rate (2.66). Braithwaite was the top run-getter, with 994 runs in 13 Tests and 26 innings at an average of 43.21, with two centuries and seven fifties and a best score of 160. Jermaine Blackwood also averaged 31.39 in 13 Tests, scoring 722 runs in 24 innings with a century and three fifties and a best score of 102. Joshua de Silva was the third-highest run-getter, with 484 runs in 13 Tests and 22 innings at an average of 26.88, with a century and fifty and best score of 100*. Only two batters crossed the 500-run mark. The result, another eighth-place finish with four wins, seven losses and two draws. After a loss to Australia in the first Test, which saw them knocked down for 141 in pursuit of 301 runs and score 190 in their first innings, with Shai Hope's 48 being the highest score, skipper Roston Chase admitted that batting was indeed an issue, saying as quoted by ESPNCricinfo, "We are not the best batting side. We just need to find ways of getting at least 250 runs or 300 runs with the bowling line-up that we have. I think once we can do that regularly, we will become a competitive side. It is just for us to sit and talk and come up with ideas and ways that we can get that 250." Earlier, before the first Test, coach Daren Sammy had warned against the glorification of an average of 25 in Tests and expressed his frustrations with the poor first-class cricket system. This came as a response justifying the omissions of Kavem and Alick from the Test side for Australia. "I had the analysts dive into the top three teams in the world and the different batting positions, what the best of the top three are doing in those different positions, the roles they are playing and then we compared them to ours and what we are doing," Sammy was quoted as saying by The Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, as quoted by Wisden. "During that last Test World Championship [cycle], Kavem, I think, scored 500 runs at an average of 25. As Dominicans, we want our players to perform well, but we must not get emotional," he added. He also said that while neither player has been discarded altogether and doors are still open, he warned against glorifying averages of 25, saying that it would not bring the team success. "If you notice, these guys just played in the 'A' team series, so they have not been discarded, just that at this moment, the direction that the team is going, the roles that we see from the data collected that is required to play, they just do not fit that role at that moment. However, it is not the end of the road for them," Sammy said."I think we are doing Hodge and Alick a disservice by glorifying an average of 25 in Test cricket, thinking that myself Miles [Bascombe, West Indies' director of cricket] and Jamal [Smith, senior talent manager] have some personal vendetta against any player." "We are trying to create an environment that breeds success, breeds excellence and we need to keep on challenging, and it shows where our cricket is right now, when players averaging below 35 seem undroppable in our system and that shows how poor our system is, for us to be really talking about a 25 average, that will not bring us success," he concluded.
India.com
23-06-2025
- Sport
- India.com
Teams with most Test centuries in WTC history, Australia tops the list, England and India are at...
The World Test Championship started in 2019. Since then, a total of 327 centuries have been scored in this competition. The top teams to score centuries include England, Australia and India. Let's take a look at the top-5 teams. The fourth cycle of the World Test Championship has started. In the first three cycles, the batsmen scored lots of runs and this trend continues in the fourth cycle as well. So far, 8 centuries have been scored in only two matches. India has so far scored 50 centuries in the World Test Championship. India is the third team to complete 50 centuries in WTC. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant achieved this feat by scoring centuries in the first Test against England. Rohit Sharma has scored the most 9 centuries for India. The Australian team has so far scored a total of 53 centuries in the World Test Championship. This team is the winner of WTC 2023, is at second place in this list. Scott Boland Alex Carey Cameron Green Josh Hazlewood Travis Head Josh Inglis Usman Khawaja Sam Konstas Matt Kuhnemann Marnus Labuschagne Nathan Lyon Steve Smith Mitchell Starc Beau Webster The England team has scored the most 59 centuries in the World Test Championship. The latest century for the team was scored by Ollie Pope in the Leeds Test against India. Joe Root has scored the most 18 centuries for England and he is the batsman who has scored the most centuries in WTC history. The New Zealand team, which won the first title of the World Test Championship, has scored 33 centuries so far. Kane Williamson has scored the most 11 centuries for the Kiwi team. The Pakistan team has scored 43 centuries in the World Test Championship so far and is at number four in this list. Pakistan has not yet reached the WTC final. Babar Azam has scored the most 8 centuries for the team.
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
South Africa vs Australia Predicted Playing 11, WTC Final 2025: Players list, full squad for SA vs AUS
World Test Championship Final 2025, South Africa vs Australia Predicted Playing 11 Today Match, Full Squad: Temba Bavuma's South Africa will lock horns with Pat Cummins' Australia in the World Test Championship 2025 final at the Lord's in London. While it is the first time the former has reached the final of this tournament, the latter are the defending champions, having defeated India in the WTC 2023 at the Oval. On Tuesday, both sides announced their line-ups for the showpiece event. While there was a bit of speculation on who will be the third seamer for South Africa among Dane Paterson, Corbin Bosch and Lungi Ngidi they went with Ngidi. In Australia, there were a few questions about who would be the opener, and they have decided to push Marnus Labuschagne up the order. The conditions in Lord's usually are more conducive to seam bowling, and both sides have made an effort to have an extra seam bowling all-rounder on their side instead of going for the batting depth. For South Africa, it is Wiaan Mulder, and for Australia, it is Beau Webster. Although Cameron Green can roll his arm over, only time will tell how effective he can be with the ball since he is returning from injury. South Africa playing XI: Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi Australia playing XI: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood Squads: Australia Squad: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Matthew Kuhnemann South Africa Squad: Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma(c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne(w), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, Senuran Muthusamy, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch
Hans India
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
India and Australia Reign Supreme in Latest ICC Rankings Across All Formats
The Indian and Australian men's cricket teams have reaffirmed their global dominance in the latest ICC rankings across all three formats of the game — Test, ODI, and T20I — reflecting their consistent excellence over the past year. Test Rankings: Australia Ascendant Australia – Sitting comfortably atop the Test rankings with 126 rating points, the reigning World Test Champions (WTC 2023) have created a 13-point gulf between themselves and 2nd-placed England (113). South Africa – Ranked third (111) and set to face Australia in the WTC 2025 Final. India – Slipped to fourth place, followed by New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Ireland in that order. ODI Rankings: India Lead the Charge India – With 124 rating points, India hold the top spot, ahead of New Zealand and Australia (109 each). Chasing pack – Sri Lanka and Pakistan follow closely (104 points each), while South Africa, Afghanistan, England, West Indies, and Bangladesh complete the top 10. T20I Rankings: India's Reign Continues India – Champions of the latest T20 World Cup, India dominate with a staggering 271 rating points. Top contenders – Australia, England, New Zealand, and West Indies round out the top five. Also in the mix – South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan occupy ranks 6 to 10. BCCI's Grand Gesture In recognition of their Champions Trophy triumph, the BCCI has announced a ₹58 crore reward for skipper Rohit Sharma and his victorious squad — a testament to the value of India's resurgence on the world stage.
