GOOD WEEK, BAD WEEK: A century for Australia and a Test cap for Denly but none for Stoinis

It's that time again to have a look back at the past week's ups and downs. TOM EDWARDS picks which people or organisations have had a week to remember or forget...

Good

Joe Burns and Travis Head

It’s been a long four months for Australian cricket, but finally they ended their Test century drought. A bit like London buses too – you wait for one and two come along at the same time.

On the first day of the first ever Test held at the Manuka Oval in Canberra, Joe Burns brought an end to the drought as he scored his fourth Test century. Travis Head then joined him in the 2019 century club as he also went past three figures (for the first time in his career no less).

To make thing even better for Australia, it put them on the brink of their first Test series victory in over 12 months.

Joe Denly

One man’s loss is another man’s gain. Joe Denly made a belated Test debut for England in their second match against the West Indies in place of the out-of-form Keaton Jennings.

It has capped off a wonderful resurgence from the Kent batsman. First, he got back into the England white-ball setup after an absence of eight years when he played against Sri Lanka in October, and now he has made his Test debut

At 32, he is the oldest player to make his Test debut for England since Shaun Udal did at the age of 35 back in 2005. Though things didn’t go quite to plan as he was dismissed for just six, it will have been a wonderful moment for him.

^{Joe Denly was only able to score six on his debut}

Nepal

It was a historic day for Nepal cricket on Monday as their captain Paras Khadka scored their maiden ODI century to seal their first-ever series victory.

The 31-year-old scored 115 as Nepal beat the UAE by for wickets to claim the series. What makes the victory all the more remarkable is the fact that they won 2-1, having been 1-0 down after the first match.

This victory will have been even sweeter having followed hot on the heels of their 16-year-old batsman Rohit Paudel breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record to become the youngest batsman to score an international half-century.

Bad

Marcus Stoinis

Poor old Marcus. He must have thought this was it, he was finally going to get the chance to pull on the Baggy Green and become Australia’s 16th Test debutant since 2016.

Alas, the Australia selectors opted not to pick him for their second Test, despite including him in the squad and instead going with the same team which had won the first Test so convincingly.

Stoinis is a regular in Australia’s white-ball setup, and there is every chance that he might get another go – particularly if Mitchell Marsh continues to fail – but it must have hurt to get so close and just miss out.

Pakistan Cricket Board

The PCB’s response to the ICC’s decision to give Sarfraz Ahmed a four-match ban for making a racist comment to South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo has been perplexing to say the least.

First, they expressed their 'utmost disappointment' and then their chairman Ehsan Mani explained to ESPNcricinfo why they were so incensed about this decision.

Apparently, the fact that he had apologised should have been given more attention, and the PCB should have been left to issue their own punishment. Judging by the response of most Pakistan cricket fans on social media, Mani and the PCB should just stop digging.

^{PCB chief Ehsan Mani would be well-advised to stop talking about Sarfraz Ahmed}

Sri Lanka Cricket

Things have not been going well for Sri Lanka on the pitch in recent months. They have also not been going well off it either.

They are on the verge of being soundly beaten by Australia in their second Test, which will consign them to their third consecutive series defeat. Prior to this match, they made the bold call of removing head coach Chandika Hathurusingha from the selection panel.

This bloodletting has been played out against a backdrop which is not limited to poor performances on the field.

Allrounder Thisara Perera is currently engaged in a spat with his white-ball captain Lasith Malinga’s wife over accusations that he got help from the Sri Lanka sports minister to cement his place in the Sri Lanka squad.

Along with this, the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit is currently investigating the administration of the sport in Sri Lanka, with former chairman of selectors Sanath Jayasuriya being charged with corruption in October.

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