HomeNewsValentine's Day 2016: Much to love for the cricketing heart
Valentine’s Day 2016: Much to love for the cricketing heart
India and Sri Lanka will play the winner-take-all third Twenty20 International (T20I), South Africa and England face off for the series-deciding fifth One-Day International (ODI), and New Zealand and Australia will play Day Three of their first Test.
Valentine’s Day 2015 saw the best possible gift for any cricket lover: the start of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. The tournament was a massive success, with plenty of close games, excellent cricket all-round, more than a few upsets, and some heart-stirring moments. One year on, the occasion might not be quite as big, but cricket lovers can rejoice because there is no dearth of cricket on Valentine’s Day 2016. There will be one international match of every format: India and Sri Lanka will play the winner-take-all third Twenty20 International (T20I), South Africa and England face off for the series-deciding fifth One-Day International (ODI), and New Zealand and Australia will play Day Three of their first Test. READ: ICC Under-19 World Cup 2016: India unearths its next generation of superstars
Sri Lanka are a young, inexperienced side with a lot to prove. Their biggest players — arguably their greatest batsmen ever — have called it a day, together from T20Is and ODIs, and a year apart from Tests. They were not expected to offer India a challenge, much less win a match. But they did so, bowling India out for just 101 in the first T20I. For their part, India came back like true champions and thrashed Sri Lanka in the second T20I. The final match will decide the series. READ: Shikhar Dhawan finally finds his groove in T20Is
England have given South Africa the fright of their lives this tour. After a superb Test series, they looked set to wrap up the ODIs as well by winning the first two matches. South Africa batted wonderfully in the third ODI to come back into the series, but the fourth match looked like another England win till Chris Morris played the innings of his life to guide the Proteas to a 1-wicket win. The series is poised for a thrilling finale in the fifth match. READ: Darren Gough: Virat Kohli one of the top ODI players
Brendon McCullum is playing his 100th Test. He is the only man in history to play 100 consecutive Tests from his debut. He was out for a duck. His team folded up for a measly 183. Australia were still batting at stumps on Day Two, sitting pretty 280 runs ahead at 463 for 6. Usman Khawaja (140) scored a nigh flawless century and Adam Voges (176*) surpassed both Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar during the course of his innings. READ: Old-school Australia put New Zealand on backfoot right at the start of Trans-Tasman Trophy 2015-16
Then there is arguably the most important match of the day: the final of ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2016 between two teams at grossly opposing ends of the spectrum in terms of international cricket, India and West Indies. Another win will make India the only team in history to win four Under-19 World Cup titles. India are ranked in the top three in every format, while West Indies are among the worst ODI and Test sides in the world on current form. Their Under-19 teams will face off in what could be a future-moulding moment for West Indies, and a history-making one for India.
At a lesser level Assam are playing Saurashtra in one Ranji Trophy semi-final, while Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh are battling it out in the other. Mumbai are being shown the way by a 21-year-old named Shreyas Iyer who is already earmarked for great things. Assam have climbed the ranks in the most wonderful fashion and have reached the semi-final the hard way. Madhya Pradesh and Saurashtra are a far sight from their dominating sides of yore, but either team could make the final.
Valentine’s Day 2016 has thrown up enough reasons for the cricketing heart to fall in love with the game once again. Some love truly is eternal.
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