Is there a better team in international cricket today than India? They’re certainly doing their best to send a message to their rivals, presumably written in no uncertain terms on a ball and delivered via the bat of Rohit Sharma.
Sharma has been a revelation in his country’s recent outings. Central to India’s spectacular run chases in the recent One Day Internationals against Australia, he has carried his form into the his Test debut against the West Indies in Kolkata.
After reducing the West Indies to 234 all out inside the first day’s 80 overs, a masterful 177 from Sharma, helped along steadily by 124 from Ravi Ashwin propelled India to a total of 453 after an early wobble. By the end of day three, the match was won, the hosts taking ten wickets for 168, securing victory by an innings and 51 runs.
Smiles all round in India, then, ahead of the second Test in Mumbai, and the farewell of the talismanic Sachin Tendulkar.
This week also saw revelations from England’s Ashes preparations in the form of a leaked England Cricket cookbook. The volume reportedly boasts 200 recipes, micro-planned to the smallest of details for peak nutrition. Great British Cuisine in the traditional sense, this is not.
The players have found home comforts elsewhere, though, with the second and third days of their final warm-up game ahead of the Ashes series washed out completely. Rumours of the England Cricket official playlist boasting Crowded House’s ‘Always Take The Weather With You’ remain unconfirmed. This follows an excellent day from Alastair Cook and Michael Carberry, who fired England to a wholemeal muffin fuelled 318-0 in the first day at Hobart.
Pakistan and South Africa have continued to do battle too, trading victories in their ODI series. The visitors lead 2-1 with two matches remaining, and the recent introduction of short-term Nottinghamshire legend Hashim Amla to the team will only propel them further. We’ll choose to gloss over the 10 he made in the previous match, which South Africa won by a single run. At least he didn’t get nine.
It’s been busy on the domestic front, too. Nottinghamshire have been active, with new deals for Alex Hales and James Taylor, who was also confirmed as the new Outlaws captain.
There has also been activity across the other English & Welsh counties, led by recently-crowned LV= County Champions Durham, who were incredibly keen to sign up Phil Mustard for another three years, as well as a two-year extension for Keaton Jennings.
Somerset have announced Alviro Petersen’s return for the 2014 season, while Sam Robson and Adam Rossington have agreed new deals with Middlesex. Stefan Piolet has opted for the south coast and Sussex after being released from the final year of his deal in the West Midlands and Warwickshire. Steve Magoffin has also opted to stay with Sussex for another year.
In Division Two, Derbyshire announced a new deal for captain Wayne Madsen, while the BBC erroneously reported that Reservoir Dogs star Michael Madsen had committed to the County Ground.
In a predictable turn of events, Monty Panesar confirmed a permanent deal with Essex, and fellow spinner Shaaiq Choudry has been offered another year to impress with Worcestershire.