Sports
Argentina vs Brazil 2022: MCG to host a SuperClasico match in June
The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia will host a match between Argentina and Brazil, famously known as SuperClasico, on June 11 this year. This will be considered a friendly contest between the arch-rivals. As the five teams, including an inter-confederation playoff, confirmed last March, this Argentina vs Brazil 2022 match reportedly will not replace the suspended World Cup qualifier. This is expected to be a multi-million-dollar contest. The match details and squad information of Argentina vs Brazil 2022 match are discussed in this article.
Was there ever a match between Brazil and Argentina at the MCG?
Argentina and Brazil previously played a SuperClasico match at the MCG arena back in June 2017. The match was held on June 9 at the packed MCG stadium. The estimated crowd attendance was 95,579. This indicates how popular both Argentina and Brazil’s football teams are around the globe. There was a lot of enthusiasm among the local crowds regarding this fixture. Fans from other countries also visited Australia just to watch the showdown between the two heavyweight football nations. Tickets for this Argentina vs Brazil 2022 match will be up for grabs from April 21 (Thursday).
Read Madrid wins again despite Benzema's missed penalty kicks
Argentina beat Brazil in that match by a solitary goal. In the 45th minute, defender Gabriel Mercado scored the winning goal. Argentine sensation Lionel Messi did participate in the match, but Neymar was absent. Both Messi and Neymar are expected to play in the match, which will serve as a warm-up for their participation in the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
With this fixture, the Australian government is expected to generate the same kind of enthusiasm among football lovers in that territory. They also expect this match will boost their economy as there were strict health restrictions in Victoria State during the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Read 2nd phase of BPL Football begins Sunday
Argentina vs Brazil: Head-to-Head Record
Both sides have met each other on 109 occasions, in which Brazil have led head-to-head contests with 43 wins. On the other hand, Argentina have won 40 matches and 26 of them ended in a draw. Argentina scored 162 goals, while Brazil have netted 166 times against their arch-rivals.
Brazil and Argentina have met four times in the FIFA World Cup, where Brazil have won twice, Argentina have won once, and the other match ended in a draw. However, in Copa America, Argentina have won 16 times and Brazil have won 10 times in 34 meetings between them.
Read AFC Cup: Williams guides Mohun Bagan to group stage eliminating Abahani
Argentina vs. Brazil 2022: Squad Information
Both sides will be looking to put their best XI together in order to dominate the contest. Coaches will also give chances to certain players who are not confirmed for the World Cup 2022. So, this will be a great opportunity for them to showcase their talents against quality opposition. Let’s take a look at the probable starting XI for both teams.
Argentina (possible XI)
Emiliano Martinez (GK); Nahuel Molina (RB), Nicolas Tagliafico (LB), Cristian Romero (CB), Nicolas Otamendi (CB); Rodrigo De Paul (MF), Leandro Paredes (MF), Giovani Lo Celso (MF), Angel Di Maria (MF), Lautaro Martínez (FW), Lionel Messi (FW).
Read Leaked audios reveal deal between Piqué, Spanish federation
Brazil (Possible XI)
Alisson Becker (GK); Danilo (RB), Marquinhos (CB), Thiago Silva (CB), Alex Telles (LB); Casemiro (MF), Bruno Guimaraes (MF), Fabinho (MF), Vinicius Junior (FW), Rodrygo (FW), Neymar (FW).
Verdict
The forthcoming Argentina vs Brazil 2022 football match at the MCG in Melbourne will be a real showdown for football lovers. This match promises to be tightly contested as Brazil will be eagerly waiting to take revenge for their defeat to Argentina in the Copa America 2021 final at the Maracana Stadium.
Oppositely, Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina team are currently on a 31-match unbeaten streak and they need to remain undefeated for seven more games in order to surpass Italy’s 37-match unbeaten record. Overall, the MCG in Melbourne is a perfect venue to host a mega contest between two of the giants of football.
Read Liverpool vs Chelsea 2022: Who is the favourite to win the FA Cup?
Madrid wins again despite Benzema's missed penalty kicks
Not even an off-day for Karim Benzema was enough to keep Real Madrid from moving closer to clinching the Spanish league title.
Benzema missed two penalty kicks seven minutes apart in the second half but Madrid went on to earn a 3-1 win at Osasuna Wednesday to open a 17-point lead over second-place Atletico Madrid, which can no longer catch its rival as both teams have five games left to play. Barcelona is 18 points back but has seven games left to play, meaning it still has a theoretical chance to catch Madrid.
Also read:Benzema rallies Madrid past Sevilla, closer to league title
“It was another small step toward reaching our objective,” Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde said. “It was a difficult first half but we corrected our mistakes and finished playing well.”
Benzema went scoreless for only the second time in the last 11 games in all competitions. Both of his penalty kicks were saved by Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera in the 52nd and 59th minutes. He targeted both of his shots to the same side, with Herrera diving to his right to make the saves.
“It’s not a big deal,” Valverde said. “It can happen. He has scored many goals for us but today it wasn’t meant to be. We know that he will still score a lot in the remaining matches this season.”
Benzema is the league’s leading scorer with 25 goals and has netted 15 times in the last 10 matches in all competitions. The French striker scored hat tricks and decisive goals to help Madrid reach the Champions League semifinals.
Madrid defender David Alaba opened the scoring in the 12th minute after an assist by Benzema, and forward Marco Asensio added to the lead in the 45th after the hosts had equalized through Ante Budimir in the 13th. Lucas Vázquez sealed the victory in stoppage time.
Osasuna, sitting in ninth place and coming off two straight victories, had a goal disallowed for offside in the 32nd.
Alaba had to be substituted at halftime because of an injury, creating a concern ahead of Madrid’s first leg against Manchester City in the semifinals of the Champions League next week.
ATLÉTICO STALLS
Atlético Madrid’s struggles in attack continued in a 0-0 draw at home against relegation-threatened Granada.
It was the fourth time in the last five matches that Atlético failed to score. It had been winless in three games in a row before a last-minute 2-1 win against Espanyol on Sunday.
The result left Diego Simeone’s team in second place, one point ahead of both Barcelona and Sevilla. The Catalan club visits sixth-place Real Sociedad on Thursday, while Sevilla plays at second-to-last place Levante.
Also read:Leaked audios reveal deal between Piqué, Spanish federation
Atlético opened a four-point cushion over fifth-place Real Betis, the first team outside the Champions League qualification places. Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis lost 1-0 to Elche at home on Tuesday.
Granada had lost two in a row and had conceded 12 goals in its last four matches, but Atlético managed only one shot on target from 22 total attempts at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Granada coach Aitor Karanka made his debut. The team stayed in the relegation zone despite the draw, one point from safety in 18th place.
Atlético has only 11 points of 30 possible against the bottom five clubs in the standings — Mallorca, Cádiz, Granada, Levante and Alavés.
GETAFE MOVES UP
Getafe moved five points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win at Celta Vigo, with Borja Mayoral scoring a goal in each half.
It was the first away win for Getafe after 16 consecutive matches without a road victory, dating to last season.
Sitting in 14th place, Getafe is unbeaten in four straight league games.
Celta, in 11th place, lost its second in a row at home.
2nd phase of BPL Football begins Sunday
The 2nd phase of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football, the country's most prestigious soccer league, begins on Sunday in Rajshahi and Gopalganj.
In the 2nd phase opener, newcomers Swadhinata KS will play defending champions Bashundhara Kings at 3:30 pm at Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi.
Also read: BPL Football: Sk Russel beat Swadhinata KS 2-1
In the day's other match, Sheikh Jamal DC will play Uttar Baridhara Club, also at 3:30 pm at Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj.
On the following day (Monday), four matches will be held in Dhaka and other regional venues.
Six times champions Dhaka Abahani Limited will meet Muktijoddha Sangsad KC in Gopalganj while Saif SC will face Bangladesh Police FC in Rajshahi, both will kick off at 3:30 pm.
.In Monday's other matches, Chittagong Abahani will play Rahmatganj MFS at Sylhet District Stadium while Dhaka Mohammedan SC will encounter Sheikh Russel KC at Bashundhara Sports Complex in Dhaka, both will kick-off at 3:30 pm.
After the eleven- round first phase matches, last two times champions Bashundhara Kings comfortably maintained their solo lead in the league table securing 26 points while Dhaka Abahani Ltd followed them distantly with 22 points.
Also read:BPL Football: Kings play 3-3 draw with Sk Jamal; Dhaka Abahani beat Uttar Baridhara 5-2
Two teams-- Sheikh Jamal DC and Chittagong Abahani Ltd --were in the 3rd slot securing 21 points each.
Muktijoddha Sangsad KC and Swadhinata KS are struggling at the bottom places securing seven and six points respectively.
Sheikh Jamal, Legends of Rupganj in Pole Position to Win DPL 2022
Among the six teams in the Super League, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Legends of Rupganj have a good chance of winning the 2022 Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League. These two sides, along with Prime Bank Limited, won their respective Super League openers. Dhanmondi’s Sheikh Jamal is currently leading the points table with 20 points, followed by Rupganj with 16 points. With four more Super League matches to go, it's more likely that these two clubs will decide the DPL 2022 winner.
Which Club Has the Best Chance to Win the Dhaka Premier League 2022?
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi or Legends of Rupganj are the favourites to win the DPL 2022, according to current standings. Let's take a look at the Super League's scenarios for each team.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club
Sheikh Jamal team is on fire in this season's Dhaka Premier League. They have only lost one game out of eleven. They hold a four-point lead over second-placed Rupganj and may win the title in the next two games if other teams slip up in the standings. Saif Hasan has led the team with 435 runs, while Parvez Rasool has 23 wickets. So far, Parvez has taken the most wickets in the competition.
Read Mosharraf Hossain Rubel: The late cricketer's major achievements as a player
Remaining fixtures
Rupganj Tigers (April 21)
Prime Bank (April 24)
Abahani (April 26)
Legends of Rupganj (April 28)
Legends of Rupganj
If Rupganj is to win the title, they must win their remaining games. They will also be hoping that Sheikh Jamal loses points in the remaining games. Rupganj now has 16 points on the board after eight victories. They have lost three games this season. Naeem Islam has led the team with 782 runs, while CS Jani has the most wickets (18) for Rupganj.
Remaining fixtures
Prime Bank (April 21)
Abahani (April 24)
Gazi Group Cricketers (April 26)
Sheikh Jamal (April 28)
Read 2023 ICC Test Championship: Best batting and bowling performances thus far
Prime Bank Cricket Club and Abahani Ltd
Both Prime Bank and Abahani Ltd are six points behind league leader Sheikh Jamal, thus winning the title would be incredibly difficult. Both Abahani and Prime Bank have 14 points after 11 games, and to win the DPL 2022, they will have to rely on the outcomes of the other sides' games.
Anamul Haque has been a standout performer for Prime Bank this season. The right-handed top-order batter has scored 805 runs in 11 innings. Rakibul Hasan has been Prime Bank's most successful bowler with 22 wickets. On the other side, Mosaddek Hossain is Abahani's most successful batter with 542 runs, while Tanzim Hasan Sakib has the most wickets (16).
Remaining fixtures (Prime Bank)
Legends of Rupganj (April 21)
Sheikh Jamal (April 24)
Rupganj Tigers (April 26)
Gazi Group Cricketers (April 28)
Read Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2022: Meet the Favourites
Remaining fixtures (Abahani)
Gazi Group Cricketers (April 21)
Legends of Rupganj (April 24)
Sheikh Jamal (April 26)
Rupganj Tigers (April 28)
Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club and Gazi Group Cricketers
The Rupganj Tigers and the Gazi Group are both out of contention for the title. They are now competing to improve their point standings. The Tigers is in fifth place in the Super League, while Gazi is in sixth. The Rupganj Tigers' top batter is Zakir Hasan this season. He has a total of 503 runs. On the other hand, Mehedi Maruf has the most runs (447) for the Gazi team. Qazi Onik (17 wickets) has taken the most wickets for Gazi, while Mukidul Islam (17 wickets) has taken the most for Rupganj Tigers.
Remaining fixtures (Rupganj Tigers)
Sheikh Jamal (April 21)
Gazi Group Cricketers (April 24)
Prime Bank (April 26)
Abahani Ltd (April 28)
Read Bangladesh likely to tour Australia and England in the forthcoming ICC FTP fixtures
Remaining fixtures (Gazi Group)
Abahani (April 21)
Rupganj Tigers (April 24)
Legends of Rupganj (April 26)
Prime Bank (April 28)
Verdict
With Sheikh Jamal's current form, it's highly unlikely that any other team will win the championship this year. The Legends of Rupganj club is also in the hunt for the championship. However, Sheikh Jamal must drop points in their next three games if Rupganj is to win the championship. If that happens, the match between Sheikh Jamal and the Legend of Rupganj on Thursday, April 28 (Thursday) would be the DPL 2022 title decider.
Read ICC Test Championship 2023: Mominul Haque among the best all-around performances
Mosharraf Hossain Rubel: The late cricketer's major achievements as a player
Mosharraf Hossain Rubel was in the ICU a few days ago due to a serious illness. Rumors of his death started circulating in the cricket community. In the end, this left-arm spinner passed away on Tuesday (April 19) at 5 p.m. after a three-year battle with cancer. Rubel was taken to the United Hospital in the capital when his condition rapidly deteriorated. However, doctors at the hospital declared him dead. Let us reflect back on Rubel's major achievements as a professional cricketer in his remembrance.
Mosharraf Hossain Rubel's International Cricket Career Overview
Mosharraf Rubel made his international debut in a bilateral ODI series against South Africa in March 2008.
His last international appearance was in 2016, when he was called up abruptly for a series against Afghanistan and England. Before this series, he was out of intetnational cricket for more than eight years. Rubel played five One-Day Internationals for Bangladesh from 2008 to 2016. He was included in the national side as a slow left-arm orthodox spinner. Therefore, his primary responsibility was to provide service with the ball.
Read Shakib to play for Legends of Rupganj in Dhaka League
In his short international career, Mosharraf Rubel took four wickets. He appeared in three One-Day Internationals against South Africa, as well as one each against Afghanistan and England. Former South African international Alviro Petersen was his first international victim. Afghanistan's Nawroz Mangal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, and Mohammad Nabi were his other three victims. Rubel's best bowling figure was 3/24 in a bilateral series against Afghanistan in 2016. He was instrumental in helping Bangladesh win the ODI series against Afghanistan by a margin of 2-1.
International cricket career of Mosharraf Rubel
ODI
Wickets
BBI
Ave
Econ
SR
5
4
3/24
36.75
4.45
49.5
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/mosharraf-hossain-56017
AFC Cup: Williams guides Mohun Bagan to group stage eliminating Abahani
A brilliant hattrick by Australian booter David Williams guided Kolkata Mohun Bagan to qualify for group stage of the AFC Cup' 2022 eliminating Dhaka Abahani by 3-1 goals in the final play-off match the Yuvo Bharati (Salt Lake) Stadium in Kolkata on Tuesday.
With the day's feat, ATK Mohun Bagan earned rights to play in the Group D of the AFC Cup main competition alongwith Gokulam Kerala FC (India), Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh) and Maziya Sports and Recreation Club (Maldives).
It was the 2nd victory for traditional Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan against Dhaka Abahani in 3 meetings since 2017.
Dhaka Abahani also conceded 1-3 goals defeat against Kolkata Mohun Bagan in their away match of the AFC Cup Football in Kolkata in 2017 while their home match against the Mohun Bagan ended in a 1-1 draw in Dhaka in the same year.
In the day's match, striker David Williams made a hattrick scoring three goals in the 6th, 30th and 85th minutes while Russian World Cup playing Costa Rica booter Daniel Colindres netted the face saving goal for six times Bangladesh Premier League champions Dhaka Abahani Limited in the 61st minute.
Earlier. the popular sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Dhaka Abahani got walkover against Club Valencia of the Maldives in their first play-off match of the AFC Cup with the latter withdrawing the team in the last minute due to funds crisis.
On other hand, Mohun Bagan cruised past Sri Lanka's, Blue Star 5-0 in the second preliminary round of the 2022 AFC Cup last Tuesday with the Mariners thrashing their opponents courtesy of braces from Joni Kauko, Manvir Singh and a goal from David Williams.
National Hockey team for Men's Asia Cup, Asian Games Qualifiers announced
Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) on Tuesday announced a 20-member National Hockey team to compete in the Men's Asia Cup and Asian Games Qualifiers.
The BHF announced the same squad for both the tournaments, but named two separate captains for two tournaments.
Rezaul Karim Babu will lead the Bangladesh team in the Asian Games Hockey Qualifiers scheduled for May 6-15 in Thai capital Bangkok.
Khorshedur Rahman will lead the Bangladesh team in the eight- nation Asia Cup Hockey to be held in Indonesian capital Jakarta from May 23 to June 1.
Iman Gobinathan Krishnamurthy of Malaysia named as the head coach, Zahirul Islam Mitul as assistant coach and Mohammad Rafiul Haque as team leader of Bangladesh for both the tournaments.
Meanwhile, the cheque handover and team jersey unveiling ceremony of the team will be held on Wednesday (Apr 20) at 11 am at the Falcon Hall of Bangladesh Air Force.
Earlier, Bangladesh qualified for the Men’s Asia Cup as they clinched the fourth consecutive title of the Men’s AHF Cup last month.
READ: Junior Asia Cup Hockey: Bangladesh put in tough group A
Oman, who finished as runners-up in the meet, also qualified to play in the eight-nation Asia Cup with auto-qualifiers – India, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Korea, hosts Indonesia.
Bangladesh squad:
Goalkeepers: Biplob Kujur, Abu Sayeed Nippon,
Defenders: Khorshedur Rahman, Farhd Ahmed Shitul, Ashraful Islam, Mehedi Hasan, Rezaul Karim Babu, Shohanur Rahman Sabuj
Midfielders: Sarwar Hossain, Roman Sarkar, Naim Uddin, Fazle Hossain Rabbi, Prince Lal Samanta, Al Nahian Shubho,
Forwards: Rasel Mahmud Jimmy, Milon Hossain, Pushkor Khisha Mimo, Arshad Hossain, Deen Islam Emon, Rakibul Hasan Rocky (Jr).
Shakib to play for Legends of Rupganj in Dhaka League
Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan is set to play for the Legends of Rupganj in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League’s Super League phase.
The allrounder was initially roped in by the Mohammedan Sporting Club who failed to qualify for this stage of the event.
Also read: Masrahfe praises Shakib for his sacrifice
Mohammedan sources confirmed that they have issued a no-objection certificate to Shakib so that he can play Dhaka league for another club.
However, Mohammedan will be eligible to retain Shakib in the next season of the lageu, says AGM Sabbir, a director of Mohammedan.
Shakib did not feature for Mohammedan in any match. According to the laws of the league, if a player does not feature in the league for his team and if the team fails to qualify for a phase, the player can play for any team he wants.
The allrounder last played in the ODI series against South Africa. He had to return home ahead of the Test series due to a family emergency. He did not participate in the Test series.
Also read: Shakib Al Hasan’s approaching milestone ahead of SA vs BAN series 2022
Before Shakib, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz decided to play the Super League for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club. Both Mushfiqur and Mehidy were also part of the Mohammedand and they were also unable to feature for Mohammedan for their participation in the South Africa series.
A total of six clubs— Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, Legends of Rupganj, Abahani Limited, Prime Bank Cricket Club, Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club and Gazi Group Cricketers— will participate in this phase of the Dhaka league.
2023 ICC Test Championship: Best batting and bowling performances thus far
Half of the second edition of the ICC Test Championship has been completed with the completion of 68 matches. Some memorable batting and bowling performances were witnessed during this period of the 2023 ICC Test Championship. The ICC identified the best five best individual performances in both the batting and bowling departments in order to recognize the players' efforts. Let’s take a look at the best batting and bowling performances so far in the current World Test Championship.
Top five batting performances in the 2023 ICC Test Championship
There were a few worthy candidates to be named on the list. The ICC picked the best five batting performances after evaluating some of the splendid individual knocks.
Tom Latham (252) vs Bangladesh
New Zealand were under pressure after losing the first Test of a two-match series against Bangladesh. They needed a commanding batting performance in the second Test. Thankfully, Tom Latham rose to the occasion and made a 252-run knock in the first innings of the Christchurch Test. New Zealand eventually clinched the match by an innings and 117 runs.
Read Shakib to play for Legends of Rupganj in Dhaka League
Babar Azam (196) vs Australia
The target was 506 for Pakistan, and it apparently seemed impossible. But Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan's partnership almost did the impossible. The match eventually ended in a draw. However, Babar Azam’s 196 off 425 balls in his marathon innings was a remarkable effort.
Azhar Ali (185) vs Australia
Azhar Ali's 185 runs in the first innings of the series-opening Test in Rawalpindi against Australia was a magnificent effort. The match ended in a draw.
Read ICC Test Championship 2023: Mominul Haque among the best all-around performances
Joe Root (180) vs India
England captain Joe Root scored an undefeated 180* runs against India in the first innings of the second Test of the series at Lord's. This knock was significant because none of the other English batters had fared well in the innings. However, England were defeated by 151 runs in the contest.
Ravindra Jadeja (175) vs Sri Lanka
India’s Ravindra Jadeja produced a remarkable 175*-run knock in the first innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka last March. His effort helped India score a massive total in the first innings. Sri Lanka eventually conceded an innings defeat.
Read Bangladesh likely to tour Australia and England in the forthcoming ICC FTP fixtures
Top five bowling performances in the World Test Championship 2023
New Zealand's Ajaz Patel had the most noteworthy individual bowling effort, but he failed to inspire his side to win the contest. Patel is among the three spinners included in the list. Besides, Matt Henry is the lone pacer to make the top five charts.
Ajaz Patel (10/119) vs India
Ajaz Patel of New Zealand made history by taking 10 wickets in the first innings of the second Test against India at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium. He is only the third bowler in history to take ten wickets in a single innings. Despite the fact that New Zealand lost by 372 runs in the match.
Read Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2022: Meet the Favourites
Sajid Khan (8/42) vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh were all out for only 87 runs in their first innings in response to Pakistan's 300/4d in the second Test in Mirpur, Dhaka. Off-spinner Sajid Khan smothered Bangladesh's batting lineups with his spinning precision. He took eight wickets in that innings, and Pakistan went on to win the match by an innings and eight runs.
Matt Henry (7/23) vs South Africa
In the first Test of the 2-match series, South Africa were completely outplayed by the hosts, New Zealand, in the first Test. They were twice bowled out for a low total. In the first innings, medium-pacer Matt Henry rattled the Proteas batting order and picked up 7 wickets. New Zealand went on to win the contest by an innings and 276 runs.
Read IPL 2022: Delhi’s Mustafizur Rahman eyes to end his wicket drought
Keshav Maharaj (7/32) vs Bangladesh
Keshav Maharaj was brilliant for South Africa in the 2-match Test series against Bangladesh. In the first Test, Bangladesh had a target of 274 but Maharaj’s spin rattled the Bangladesh batting order. The visitors were bowled out for only 53 runs and lost the match by 220 runs. Keshav picked up 7 wickets in the fourth innings for the hosts.
Keshav Maharaj (7/40) vs Bangladesh
Like in the first Test, Keshav Maharaj did the same thing in the second Test against Bangladesh. The visitors came out to bat for the fourth innings to chase 413 runs. But they were bowled out for only 80 runs because of Maharaj’s brilliant spin bowling. The left-arm orthodox spinner once again bagged seven wickets in the fourth innings and showed his true potential as a bowler. Bangladesh lost the match by 332 runs.
Read ICC Cricket World Cup Super League: Bangladesh's Current Standings, Forthcoming Fixtures
Bottom Line
The batting and bowling performances stated above are among the finest in this edition of the competition thus far. Individual efforts by these players contributed to their respective teams' dominance over the opposition. The remaining fixtures of the 2023 ICC Test Championship are anticipated to offer even more spectacular and game-changing performances.
ICC Test Championship 2023: Mominul Haque among the best all-around performances
The second edition (2021–2023) of the Test Championship started on August 4, 2021, and the final match is likely to be held on March 31, 2023. According to the schedule, 138 matches will be played between the nine participating teams in the ICC Test Championship 2023. Half of the tournament is already over, with 68 matches completed and 70 more to go. On this occasion, the ICC revealed the best all-round performances so far in this two-year-long tournament. Let’s take a look at who made the cut in the top five all-rounders list.
Top five all-round performances in the ICC Test Championship 2023
The jury board had to go through a detailed analysis to identify the best performances in the all-round category. Because there were a number of brilliant performances and picking the best five is always a challenging task. Here are the best all-round performances picked by the ICC.
Read: Bangladesh likely to tour Australia and England in the forthcoming ICC FTP fixtures
Ravindra Jadeja vs Sri Lanka (First Test, 4-6 March 2022)
In the opening match of the two-match series in Mohali in March of this year, India's all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was ruthless against Sri Lanka. His all-round display helped India dominate the Lankan side all through the match. Jadeja made 175 runs after coming into bat at No. 7 and carried the first innings total to 574.
In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for only 174, in which Jadeja bagged a fifer. This time, India forced Sri Lanka to follow on, and this time they made 178. Once again, Jadeja was the main strike bowler for the Indian side and picked up 4 wickets. Overall, Ravindra Jadeja finished the match with 175 runs and a 9/87 bowling figure. India went on to win the contest by an innings and 222 runs.
Read Dhaka Premier League: Super League begins on Monday
Matt Henry vs South Africa (First Test, 17-19 February 2022)
New Zealand’s pace-bowling all-rounder Matt Henry produced a magical performance against South Africa in the first Test of their 2-match series in Christchurch. His 7-wicket haul in the first innings bowled South Africa out for only 95 runs. In reply, New Zealand made 482, in which Matt Henry played an important 58*-run knock.
The defeat was imminent for the Proteas side after a horrible first innings performance. They were bowled out for 111 in the second innings and lost the contest by an innings score of 276 runs. The sensational Matt Henry picked up 9 wickets apart from scoring a half-century in the match.
Read Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2022: Meet the Favourites
Shardul Thakur vs England (Fourth Test, 2-6 September 2021)
Shardul Thakur played an important role in India’s 157-run win over England in the fourth Test at the Oval, London. Shardul played a blazing 57-ball knock in the first innings and helped India get past the 150-run barrier. He also made an important 60 runs in the second innings, which helped India set a big target. Apart from scoring runs with the bat, Thakur also bagged 1 wicket in the first innings and 2 wickets in the second innings.
Keshav Maharaj vs Bangladesh (2-match series, 2022)
Spin bowling all-rounder Keshav Maharaj was outstanding against Bangladesh in the recently concluded 2-match Test series. He bagged 16 wickets at an average of 12.12 and made 108 runs with the bat. Maharaj’s best bowling figure in the series was 7/32, and he played an important 84-run knock in the first innings of the second Test. He was the most vital player in South Africa’s 2-0 clean sweep over Bangladesh.
Read: Anamul hits another fifty as Prime Bank beat Abahani
Mominul Haque vs New Zealand (First Test, 1-5 January 2022)
Captain Mominul Haque played an important role in Bangladesh’s historic Test match win over New Zealand at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui in January this year. Mominul made 88 runs in Bangladesh’s 458 runs first innings total. He also picked up two crucial wickets in the contest. Mominul removed two of the top scorers from New Zealand's first innings. Bangladesh eventually clinched the match by 8 wickets, where Mominul’s contribution was very much noticeable.
Bottom Line
The ICC recognized that the above-mentioned individual all-round performances were truly special. Most importantly, in all cases, the performances helped their respective sides to snatch a victory. As the tournament is heading towards an important stage, there is an expectation that more brilliant all-round displays will be witnessed in the remaining fixtures of the ICC Test Championship 2023.
Read Root quits as England test cricket captain after 5 years