Cricket

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has hailed Indian skipper Rohit Sharma as a "brutal elegance at its best" for his explosive knocks in the ICC T20 World Cup. Hussain believes that a shift in India's game and mentality in T20Is occurred after their ten-wicket loss to England in the 2022 T20 World Cup semis.Rohit's 92 against Australia in the Super Eights match was a testament to this change. He smashed Pat Cummins for a 100m six on the first ball of the fifth over and took 29 runs off Mitchell Starc in the third over, including four sixes.Hussain praised Rohit's focus on the team's score and strike rate rather than a potential maiden T20 WC century. He also admired Rohit's takedown of Australian pacers, calling it "elegant, absolute brutal elegance at its best."Rohit's 92 helped India post 205/5 and restrict Australia to 181/7, despite Travis Head's counter-attacking 76. Australia's elimination from the tournament after Bangladesh's loss to Afghanistan highlights the impact of Rohit's leadership and the team's newfound aggression.In six matches of the tournament, Rohit has scored 191 runs at an average of 38.20, with a strike rate of 159.16 and two half-centuries. His best score is 92.

Jasprit Bumrah Shines in England Legends' T20 World Cup 'Team of the Tournament'In a surprising turn of events, Jasprit Bumrah emerged as the sole Indian representative in a 'Team of the Tournament' selected by renowned English cricket commentators Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain. The team, compiled based on performances in the group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup, notably excluded star Indian players Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Arshdeep Singh.Atherton and Hussain, now respected commentators, meticulously analyzed and justified their choices on Sky Sports Cricket. Despite Virat Kohli's status as the all-time leading run-scorer in T20 World Cup history, his meager five runs in the tournament thus far have left him on the outside looking in."We had Bumrah, obviously. He had to be in," Hussain remarked. Bumrah's exceptional performance in India's first three matches, including two Player of the Match awards against Ireland and Pakistan, earned him a well-deserved spot.The English duo also recognized the contributions of several unsung heroes of the tournament. Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Scotland's Brandon McMullen, and USA's Aaron Jones all made the cut.Gurbaz, fresh off his IPL 2024 triumph, has been a revelation, amassing 167 runs in four innings at a blistering strike rate of over 150. McMullen has been even more explosive, boasting a strike rate of 170.Australia's Marcus Stoinis was the lone all-rounder selected by Atherton and Hussain. Stoinis ranks third in the tournament's run-scoring charts with a remarkable strike rate of 190. His versatility extends to bowling, where he has claimed six wickets in four games at an economical rate of 5.77.The Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup commences on Wednesday, June 19, with hosts USA facing South Africa in Group II.

England's IPL Absence: A Blessing or a Curse Ahead of T20 World Cup?England's decision to withdraw their players from the IPL 2024 playoffs to prepare for the series against Pakistan has sparked a debate among cricket pundits. Former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized the England Cricket Board (ECB), arguing that the IPL would have provided better preparation than facing Pakistan.However, former England captain Nasser Hussain has praised the IPL for its role in developing players for big games. "They're a very balanced side, they've played in a lot of big games," Hussain said on Sky Sports. "We don't talk enough about the IPL and how that obviously sets you up as a cricketer but also sets you up in big games. And under pressure and big crowds and that's what you need going into a World Cup."Hussain believes that England's IPL experience will be crucial in the upcoming T20 World Cup. "They've done all that they could do," he said. "They've just got to be better than they were at that 50-over World Cup. They went into that with a lot of hope and it didn't start well and they didn't react well. So they need to have a Plan B."Despite their IPL absence, Hussain believes England are well-prepared for the T20 World Cup. "They're in a real good place," he said. "They just got to go and do it."

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled an illustrious commentary panel for the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup 2024, set to take place across nine venues in the USA and West Indies. This year's panel boasts a star-studded lineup of cricket legends and renowned broadcasters, promising an unparalleled viewing experience.Leading the commentary team are stalwarts Ravi Shastri, Nasser Hussain, Ian Smith, Mel Jones, Harsha Bhogle, and Ian Bishop. They will be joined by former Men's and Women's T20 World Cup champions, including Dinesh Karthik, Ebony Rainford-Brent, Samuel Badree, Carlos Brathwaite, Steve Smith, Aaron Finch, and Lisa Sthalekar.Former 50-over World Cup winners Ricky Ponting, Sunil Gavaskar, Matthew Hayden, Ramiz Raja, Eoin Morgan, Tom Moody, and Wasim Akram will lend their expert analysis to the tournament. American commentator James O'Brien, known as Jomboy, will make his World Cup debut, providing insights tailored to American audiences.Other prominent figures in the commentary team include Dale Steyn, Graeme Smith, Michael Atherton, Waqar Younis, Simon Doull, Shaun Pollock, and Katey Martin, alongside renowned broadcasters such as Mpumelelo Mbangwa, Natalie Germanos, Danny Morrison, Alison Mitchell, Alan Wilkins, Brian Murgatroyd, Mike Haysman, Ian Ward, Athar Ali Khan, Russel Arnold, Niall O'Brien, Kass Naidoo, and former West Indies skipper Daren Ganga.Aaron Finch, who led Australia to victory in 2021, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "This is a special event and one that promises a lot of excitement with 20 teams competing and many thrilling contests lined up. I look forward to bringing all my experience as a player to my commentary during the tournament.”Carlos Brathwaite shared his excitement about the tournament's location, stating, "The T20 World Cup is a tournament very close to my heart, and I'm thrilled this edition is being played in the West Indies and for the first time in the USA. I can't wait for my stint as a commentator at this event, and I hope this is a truly memorable one."Katey Martin highlighted the tournament's potential for surprises, "This tournament always promises a few surprises. With 20 teams participating, it will be exciting to see some of the Associate teams have a crack at the bigger sides. I am fortunate to be part of such a fantastic team of broadcasters, and I'm looking forward to an incredible event."Dinesh Karthik emphasized the unique aspects of this year's tournament, "This tournament will be different in many ways, which makes it even more exciting. With 20 teams, 55 matches, and some new venues, it's a thrilling combination, and I can't wait to dive in. Being part of such a high-class commentary team is a fantastic feeling, and commentating on players I have recently played with makes it even more interesting."Ebony Rainford-Brent praised the growing quality of ICC events, saying, "This is the year of ICC T20 World Cups, with an exciting 20-team men's tournament coming up and the women's tournament following in Bangladesh later. Sharing my views alongside the best from around the world is an incredible opportunity. I can't wait to get started!"Dale Steyn looked forward to the diverse tactics teams would employ, "The Men's T20 World Cup, with its new format and more teams competing, is a fantastic opportunity to spread the game. I'm sure both old and new cricket fans will be eager for the action to begin. I will be watching every team closely, and it will be fascinating to see the different tactics that come into play."The ICC's coverage will span 28 days, featuring pre-match shows, innings interval programs, and post-match wrap-ups. In collaboration with Disney Star, Quidich Innovation Labs, and NEP, ICC TV will introduce an AI-supported vertical feed for the T20 World Cup, marking a world first for cricket.The Men's T20 World Cup kicks off on June 1, with co-hosts USA facing Canada at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, setting the stage for an exciting and historic event in cricket.

Former England cricketer Nasser Hussain has praised India skipper Rohit Sharma for his exceptional performance in the recently concluded Test series against England. Hussain believes that Sharma's calm and composed demeanor on the field belies his immense skill and brilliance as a batsman.Sharma amassed 400 runs in the five-match series, including two centuries, at a strike rate of 64.21. Hussain noted that Sharma's ability to adapt his captaincy style to suit the team's needs was evident throughout the series."I think sometimes people confuse Rohit as a laidback cricketer who just lets the game drift," Hussain said. "There is a lot of skill, thought, and brilliance about his batting. And I thought he had an excellent series as captain."Hussain cautioned against comparing Sharma's captaincy style to that of his predecessor, Virat Kohli. "Don't confuse (Rohit with Virat's captaincy) because he has come off the back of Virat Kohli. In your face, aggressive captain. In the huddle at Lord's, saying let's unleash hell on the England batting lineup. Rohit is not quite the same sort of person. He has that fire burning within."Despite England's early 1-0 lead in the series, India fought back to win four consecutive matches and seal a 4-1 victory. Hussain attributed India's success to their ability to capitalize on England's mistakes and their resilience in the face of adversity."England had their chances, notably in Rajkot and Ranchi, but India came back strong on both occasions to win," Hussain said. "India showed great character and determination to come back from behind and win the series."Hussain concluded by highlighting the importance of Sharma's leadership in India's triumph. "Rohit has been a calming influence on the team," he said. "He has created a positive and supportive environment, which has allowed the players to perform to their full potential."

England's Bazball Approach Falters in India, Hussain Calls for Individual FocusFormer England captain Nasser Hussain has criticized the team's over-reliance on the "Bazball" approach, following their 4-1 series defeat to India. Hussain believes that individual performances must take precedence over the aggressive style of play advocated by Test coach Brendon McCullum."We just get lost with this term Bazball," Hussain wrote in his column for Sky Sports. "The team, the management does not like the term Bazball. They need to look at their own individual performances."Hussain pointed to the team's frequent batting collapses as a major concern. "Look at the opposition. Like in anything in life, try and learn. Why did we collapse? Why Crawley keeps getting starts and keeps getting out? Ben Duckett, got a brilliant 150, gave a charge when the ball was too new."Skipper Ben Stokes also came under fire for his poor batting performance in the series. "Ben Stokes had a poor series with the bat. Maybe because he is playing only with the bat. Just look at your own game and improve," said Hussain.Hussain praised James Anderson for reaching 700 Test wickets and R Ashwin for crossing 100 Test matches and 500 wickets. "The reason they end up as greats of the game is because they are constantly looking at improving in the game. Trying to improve," he said.Despite winning the first Test, England lost the plot in subsequent matches, often squandering their advantage. "In the third Test, England were in a position to try and get close to India but didn't and once you give them a lead then you are chasing the game. They had their chances in the fourth Test as well," Hussain noted."The batting collapses will be the main issue from this tour. There have been so many occasions where they have got off to decent starts and the middle order has then collapsed."This is England's first series loss under the McCullum-Stokes era. They last won a series in India in 2012. "It can happen in India but the pitches in this series have been brilliant so England can have no complaints about that. Plus, they won three tosses out of five," Hussain said."They will look at those collapses and say, 'what could we have done differently in those positions to make sure it doesn't happen again?' because it did happen again."

India's triumph over England in the ongoing Test series has cast a shadow over the much-hyped "Bazball" era, spearheaded by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. As the teams prepare for the final Test in Dharamsala, England faces the daunting task of salvaging a 2-3 series result.Former England captain Nasser Hussain has expressed concern over the team's performance, despite the entertainment value provided by their aggressive approach. He emphasizes that results remain paramount, and England's current position near the bottom of the World Test Championship table is a cause for worry.Hussain believes that England's win-loss ratio is the most crucial metric, and they must strive to improve it in Dharamsala. He acknowledges that the team has shown competitiveness throughout the series, but their inability to capitalize on opportunities has cost them dearly.The gulf between India and England, according to Hussain, is significant. A 4-1 defeat would only widen this gap and reinforce the perception of England's struggles in India. He urges the team to field their strongest XI in Dharamsala, regardless of future considerations, and to approach the match with the same intensity as if it were a series decider.Hussain's comments highlight the importance of results in cricket, even amidst the excitement generated by England's attacking style. As the series concludes, England will be determined to prove that they can compete with the world's best and that the "Bazball" era is not merely a flash in the pan.