The world of sport, mostly cricket was dealt a deadly blow in the final week of November when the 25-year old Australian batsman Philip Hughes died after a bouncer stuck him on his head in a freakish accident.
The cricketer with a hard-working attitude and smile on his face who was about to unleash himself on the world of cricket has touched many a heart not just in death but in life as well.
Rest In Peace PHILLIP JOEL HUGHES
Australian batsman Phillip Hughes died aged 25 on 27th of November, two days after being struck on the top of the neck by a ball during a Sheffield match in Sydney.
Australia team doctor Peter Brukner said he passed away in hospital, never regaining consciousness. Hughes, who also played for Hampshire, Middlesex and Worcestershire, was hit by a delivery from bowler Sean Abbott. Hughes played 26 Tests and 25 one-day internationals, famously making 115 and 160 in only his second Test, against South Africa at Durban. He had been in line to return to the Australian Test team for the forthcoming series against India, and had made his way to 63 when he missed a hook against Abbott. The world of cricket was in mourning following the tragic death which was one of the saddest times in the history of the game. The funeral is scheduled to be held in his home town Macksville on December 3rd. The left-handed opening batsman and who kept wickets occasionally, became the 408th player to receive a coveted Baggy Green cap when he was called up to the country’s Test match team in 2009. May the turf lie gently on PHILLIP JOEL HUGHES!
Bangladesh clean sweep Zimbabwe 5-0
Bangladesh defeated Zimbabwe by 6 wickets in the final ODI of the five-match series to complete a whitewash at Mirpur.
This was the second time Bangladesh whitewashed Zimbabwe in an ODI series and the fourth clean sweep in Tigers’ history. Bangladesh previously whitewashed Zimbabwe back in 2006. Leg-spinner Taijul Islam got a hat-trick on debut. Earlier in history, Bangladesh whitewashed Kenya, Zimbabwe and New Zealand.
New Zealand tie series with an innings and 80-run win over Pakistan
New Zealand registered a resounding innings and 80-run victory against Pakistan with a day to spare in the third and final test to level the series 1-1 on November 30th.
Asad Shafiq fought a lone battle with a career-best 137 off 148 balls as Pakistan was bowled out for 259 in 63.3 overs after the Black Caps set a new national record score of 690 for a massive lead of 339 runs. Brendon McCullum made a robust 188-ball 202 studded with 21 fours and 11 towering sixes.
Sri Lanka triumph despite Moeen Ali century
Moeen Ali’s sublime maiden ODI century could not prevent England losing the opening match with Sri Lanka by 25 runs in Colombo on 26th November.
In only his sixth ODI, the 27-year-old left-hander hit 11 fours and five sixes in 119 from 87 balls. Ravi Bopara was last out for 65 as England were dismissed in the 48th over for 292 to trail in the seven-match series. TM Dilshan hit 10 fours in his 88 as Sri Lanka posted 317-6, their highest home ODI score against England.
All-round Sri Lanka thump England by 8 wickets
Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara hit unbeaten half-centuries and shared an unbroken 149-run partnership to lead Sri Lanka to a 8-wicket win over England in the 2nd ODI on 29th November in Colombo to lead the series 2-0.
Chasing a modest 186 to win the match, which was shortened to 45 overs per side because of rain, Sri Lanka lost two wickets for 37 before Jayawardene and Sangakkara combined to take their team to victory in only 34.2 overs. Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis earlier took three wickets to dismiss England for an unimpressive 185 after choosing to bat first. Spinner Dilshan and seam bowler Dhammika Prasad also took two wickets to end England’s innings in 43 overs.
1st Test between Australia and India shifted to Adelaide
Australia’s four-Test series against India will now start in Adelaide on December 9 after Cricket Australia reworked the schedule following the tragic death of Phillip Hughes.
The opening clash between the teams was due to start on Thursday at the Gabba in Brisbane on December 4th, but was put off following the death of Hughes with skipper Michael Clarke admitting his players were emotionally shattered.
Injured Gayle out of South Africa Tests
Left-handed Devon Smith has replaced Chris Gayle in the West Indies squad for their three-Test series in South Africa, which gets underway on December 17 at Centurion, after Gayle was ruled out of “due to injury”. Gayle last played for West Indies in September in the home series against Bangladesh, but was not a part of the curtailed tour to India because of a lower back injury.
Younis Khan returns to the Pakistan ODI fold
Pakistan batsman Younis Khan has made a return to the ODI squad for the first two games of a 5-match series against New Zealand, starting on December 8 in Dubai. Younis had been dropped from Pakistan’s ODI side for their series against Australia a couple of months back, leading Younis to hit out at the Pakistan selectors and threaten quitting from international cricket altogether.
Since then, Younis has been in a rich vein of form, amassing 717 runs from five Tests at an average of 89.62, and has rightly earned a chance to cement his spot in the ODI set-up ahead of the all-important World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Pakistan squad for first two ODIs: Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Bilawal Bhatti, Haris Sohail, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Irfan, Nasir Jamshed, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Younis Khan, Zulfiqar Babar.
