Former England opener John Edrich passes away at age 83

Robin Jackman, former England fast bowler and renowned commentator, passes away

Former England cricketer and a long-time commentator of the sport, Robin Jackman has passed away at the age of 75. Jackman was a seamer who made his international debut in 1974, in an ODI against India. His Test debut came much later, in 1981, against West Indies at Bridgetown, Barbados. After his retirement, Jackman became a leading television commentator and was a regular voice during South Africa's home matches. In 2012, he was diagnosed with cancer but was able to recover and even resume his commentating work. Born in colonial India, in Simla, Jackman plied his trade in both England, his home country, as well as South Africa. Due to his time playing domestic cricket in apartheid South Africa, his place in the English touring party for the 1980/81 tour of West Indies became a highly contentious issue. Originally, Jackman wasn't in the squad but was picked when Bob Willis sustained an injury, as the latter's replacement. The Government of Guyana, where the second Test of the series between the two teams was to be played, revoked his visa and the game had to be cancelled. However, after much behind the scene activity, Government of Barbados, the venue of the third Test, allowed Jackman to remain and the tour continued. Jackman ended up playing just four Tests and picked up 14 wickets at an average of 31.78. He also represented England in 15 ODIs where he earned 19 wickets. The demise of Jackman came on the same day as the death of another former English cricketer, John Edrich.

Indian team has shown sense rather than sensitivity in selection

India look rock solid on paper with as many as four changes to the playing eleven, but promise needs to be translated into performance.

South Africa vs Sri Lanka Test series: 5 big factors that will decide the series

Last time Sri Lanka toured South Africa, the world witnessed one of the most unexpected outcomes from a Test series. First, Kusal Perera played an all-time classic innings to achieve a most unexpected victory for his team in the first Test and then, a clinical performance in the second gave the Lankans their first-ever Test series win in South Africa. Now, as the Sri Lankans return, the Proteas are still trying to recover from the devastation caused to them in the year 2019 and, in the first half of 2020 also. Following the upset loss to Lanka at home, the South Africans performed poorly in the World Cup, got whitewashed in India and were thoroughly beaten at home by England. South Africa are in desperate need of a good win to get themselves back on track. Sri Lanka are a good team to start this attempt as resurrection. But the Proteas would know better than anybody not to take the islanders lightly. This will also be the first series for Quinton de Kock as Test captain. He is up against a team that, in the last few years, has never looked like a dangerous side. But somehow, the Sri Lankans were able to turn the tables in the last series. Before that two-match contest in South Africa, the Lankans had hosted South Africa and had pulverised them on spin-friendly pitches. So, South Africa would be looking for revenge and finally, putting an end to the winning streak that Sri Lanka have against them. Let's look at the five biggest factors on which the outcome of the series would hinge. South Africa's Batting When the Proteas lost at home against Sri Lanka, the biggest culprit was their very poor batting. Against a very ordinary looking bowling attack, the home side failed to put up big scores. The batting woes continued for them in the tour of India and also the series at home against England. So, the South African batting would again be in focus. For becoming a top side again, they would have to raise their performances with the bat. Quinton de Kock has been the most consistent performer for his team. But he hasn't got much support from others. du Plessis hasn't done well for an extended period of time in this format. Dean Elgar has played good innnings but has been inconsistent. Only Rassie van der Dussen has shown himself to be up to the challenge in the last couple of years. Against Sri Lanka, South Africa's hunt for batting strength will continue. Whether they find the answers or not may decide the fate of the series. Struggles Against Spin When South Africa were the no. 1 Test team in the world, they had Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, and AB de Villiers in their batting line-up. These three were exceptionally good players of spin bowling also, apart from their other great traits. Now, with all three of them gone, the ability to play spin has become an even bigger weakness for the Proteas side. In 2018, they were dismantled by the Sri Lankan spinners on turning pitches, which the Proteas camp felt were unfair. However, this criticism seeemd meaningless when in 2019, they lost to the same team at home, and again conceded a fair amount of wickets to spinners. Against India, they again looked inept when playing the turning ball and allowed even Dom Bess and Joe Root to pick up wickets in South African conditions earlier this year. While Sri Lanka don't have any world-beating spinnners at the moment, there are big question marks against Proteas batsmen's skills playing tweakers. Whether they get over their weakness or not will also be an important factor in this series. Will Embuldeniya Shine Again? Sri Lanka have a very weak bowling attack, at least on paper. But in their last few series, it's been Lasith Embuldeniya who has been making an impact. He has been a regular wicket-taker. Now, Sri Lanka have been seeking a successor to Rangana Herath since his retirement. Will Embuldeniya be the one? Others such as Dilruwan Perera haven't risen to the occassion. If Embuldeniya is to be a long-term prospect for Sri Lanka, he has to show his mettle again. This series will give us a good idea of his abilities. Pressure on Ngidi South Africa are going into this series without their leading paceman Kagiso Rabada. This means it would be Lungi Ngidi who would be the leader of the attack. He made his debut in January 2018. This would be a big Test for the pacer. He has been impressive in his career but can he shoulder the responsibility of leading the bowling charge for his team? That's a big question that would form a sub-plot of this series. Faf on Trial Faf du Plessis is the most high-profile batsman in the South African team. However, his form has diminished in recent times. He has quit captaincy and even took a break in international cricket. He is now back in the team but if he has another bad series, the former captain may consider quitting Test cricket altogether. His friend and former teammate AB de Villiers quit international cricket all of a sudden and has decided to ply his trade in T20 leagues. If he doesn't succeed again, du Plessis may follow the same route.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Test series: 5 compelling reasons to watch this contest

The Test series between New Zealand and Pakistan is not going to grab the headlines as the one between India and Australia, taking place across the Tasman Sea is doing. However, if you are a genuine cricket fan with an avid interest in the game, there are plenty of good reasons why you should tune into this upcoming contest. Despite the depleted nature of the Pakistani team, and their weakness when touring to this region of the world, there are many facets of the team that are worth looking out for. There are also some existing questions which both teams are facing and the answers to whom would form a very important sub-plot to these two upcoming matches. So, let's prep up your appetite for this series by looking at five most important things to watch out for in this battle. World Test Championship The most important sub-text of the series is its role in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC). New Zealand suddenly found themselves with a very good shot at making it to the final of the tournament because of changes in the points system, brought about due to the COVID pandemic and cancellation of several series. If New Zealand win both these Tests, and many would be betting on them to do so, they would put India, their closest challengers for a spot in the Lord's Final, to be played next year, in a near-impossible scenario for reaching the summit contest. A 2-0 victory for the hosts would mean that India will have to win five out of their next seven Tests to overtake New Zealand at the no. 2 position in the current standings. This won't be easy as three of those matches are in Australia. So, this series will she the Kiwis not just playing against Pakistan but also having a spot in the WTC Final at stake. It makes these matches all the more important. Blundell's Test While the batting line-up of the Blackcaps is well settled otherwise, there is an issue right at the top. New Zealand have been searching for Tom Latham's partner for a long time. They have tried many, from Martin Guptill to Jeet Raval, but nobody has made the spot his own. The current incumbent is Tom Blundell. He made a name for himself by scoring a hundred in the Boxing Day Test last year, in Australia, and despite being a wicketkeeper, has been made the opener. He needs another good score to keep the faith of the team and management. Blundell hasn't done much since that hundred. If he fails in this series also, that would make his place in the team doubtful. That's why this is a very crucial series for the right-handed batsman. Shah's Challenge When Yasir Shah debuted in 2014, after Saeed Ajmal got banned for chucking, Shane Warne immediately recognised great potential in him. Yasir has justified that praise by becoming the fastest bowler to 200 Test wickets in the history of the game. However, his record outside Asia isn't very impressive. Except for England and West Indies where he has had great success, his other tours havent's yielded great results. Australia has been a veritable nightmare for the leggie. The tour to New Zealand gives Yasir an opportunity to prove that he is not a dustbowl bully and can succeed in adverse conditions. The pitches in New Zealand are likely to be very green. This would make it difficult for him to find any help. He would have to use his skills to the fullest to get wickets. If he does, he would establish himself as a bowler of true high-class quality. Can Abbas Turn the Tables on Kiwis? Pakistan are going into the series with serious handicaps. They are missing their premier batsman Babar Azam, also the captain, for at least the first Test. If there is any chance for them to upset New Zealand, it may depend on how Mohammad Abbas bowls. Not a man with rapid pace, Abbas made a big mark in international cricket in 2018 with his nagging line and length that proved deadly in United Arab Emirates. He raced to 50 Test wickets in no time and seemd to possess amazing skills of seam bowling. However, his place in the team was lost due to the arrival of young, exciting, and pacy bowlers. But he has been picked in the Test team again and has a golden opportunity in this series. The reason is simple. New Zealanders usually prepare green tops against teams from Asia. Even the last series against West Indies saw the Kiwis having lush green strips for both the Tests. On such pitches, Abbas, with his precise line and the ability to get the ball to move just enough, may prove deadly. Hence, New Zealand will be wary of him. If he manages to rip through the home team's batting line-up, that could give Pakistan a decent chance. Spotlight on Naseem and Shaheen Pakistan have one of the most exciting group of young fast bowlers in the world. However, the likes of Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi endured a miserable time in Australia when David Warner smashed them around mercilessly. But the two were able to recover in home conditions against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Now, as they head to New Zealand, the spotlight would be again on them. Their young age and prodigious talent would be talked about. Getting wickets at home, against relatively weak batting line-ups is one thing. But to take on New Zealand in their home conditions would be a challenge far more tough. If these two men succeed in this series, that would justify the faith of those who regard them as future of Paksitan's seam bowling. A failure would raise doubts about that proposition.