Weekly CRICKET Review - LXXXiv | Another huge series defeat for England
Hello, fellow Cricket Enthusiasts,
You already know I am sharing a weekly wrap-up of what is happening within the Cricket community. It's the 84th edition now. After last week's post, the International Cricket has become much active! So, let's see what's going on!
Australia tour of Sri Lanka, 2025
After a hasty series with India and qualifying for the WTC Fina,l Austalia came to Sri Lanka without some key players for two Tests and 2 ODIs. Smith took the captaincy for the Test series. As I said in the last week we had a very humiliating defeat in the first match, the biggest defeat ever for us. The second was also we got the same result. Australia seal the series 2-0.
It was also held in Galle and the match was extra special for Sri Lanka. On one hand, Dimuth Karunaratne played his 100th Test match, and he is the seventh Sri Lankan player to cross that feet. And with that, he bid farewell to his international career. He has scored 7222 runs, and most importantly he took the captaincy in 2019 when we were in very poor form, and took the team through a very tough road. Eventhough he was out of form in the last matches, can't forget his service as an opener and a captain. Happy retirement champ!
- Sri Lanka started the batting and they could only score 257/10 with fifties from Chandimal, and Mendis. As the reply, the Aussies put a mammoth total of 414 runs. They lost the first three wickets for 91, but once again Smith and Alex Carey scored hundreds and put a partnership of 259 runs for the fourth wicket.
With 157 runs behind, Sri Lanka came to play the second inning. We put in another 231 runs only. So, Aussie chased the remaining 74 runs with 9 wickets remaining. Steven Smith was the player of the series.
- Anyway, we could start the ODI series with a win. Sri Lanka started the batting, and once again it was a sloppy start. We lost the first 4 wickets for 31, and the next wicket for 55 runs. But the captain, Charith Asalanka held the fort from one end and played the best inning of his career.
He had a 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Wellalage and, a 79-run partnership with Eshan Malinga for the 8th wicket. Asalanka scored 127 runs in 126 balls, and Eshan Malinga's contribution to secure the wicket was incredible. Anyway, Sri Lanka could only score 214 runs.
- Aussies also couldn't start the chase well. Asith Fernando took Matt Short in the second ball for a duck, and JFM in the third over. From there they could only have small partnerships in the middle, and couldn't recover. Australia was all out for 165 runs, securing a 49-run win for Sri Lanka.
England tour of India, 2025
It's a big red ball series of 3 ODIs, 5 T20s. Well, after a solid performance, Inda won the shorter format 4-1, and the ODI series also 3-0, just a few minutes ago.
England started the batting in the first match and had the perfect start. After scoring 75 runs for the first wicket in just 8.5 overs, they lost the momentum. Jacob Bethell and Butler got the fifties in the middle overs, and still, England could score 248/10.
India lost the openers early, but Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Axar Patel scored quick and magnificent fifties to chase the target in just 38.4 overs, with 4 wickets remaining.
In the next match England scored 304/10 runs with a solid batting performance. But things went in vain when Rohit Sharma found his form finally. He and Gill put in a 136-run partnership for the first wicket in 16.5 overs. Gill scored a fifty and Sharma with 119 runs in just 90 balls. From there it was an easy chase for them.
India won the third match even better. This time Gill scored a hundred, and it was followed by Kohli and Iyer with fifties. They put in a total of 356/10. Eventhough the top order of England could get starts, no one could anchor the inning. They were all out for just 214 runs in 34.2 overs. India won by 142 runs
Pakistan ODI Tri-Series, 2025
This is an interesting Tri-series between Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa. The Kiwis already advanced to the finals, and the next one will be decided soon. I will share details in the next report.
Now this is what the WTC table looks like.
2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship points table
- Australia tour of Sri Lanka, 2025
- England tour of India, 2025
- Pakistan ODI Tri-Series, 2025
- Bangladesh Premier League, 2024-25
- SA20, 2025
So, that's it for today!! Until the next time! Enjoy!
Thank you.
Best Regards!