It's that time again to have a look back at the past week's ups and downs. The Cricketer picks which people or organisations have had a week to remember or forget…
The South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman is enjoying a healthy run of form in the ODI arena, hitting five consecutive scores of 50+ - the second time he has managed that feat in his career.
De Kock’s run includes an 83 against against Pakistan at Cape Town, followed by a run of 81, 94, 121 and 51 in four ODIs against Sri Lanka.
He’s got five more to go if he’s to beat the record for most successive ODI fifties, held by Pakistan’s Javed Miandad, who posted nine in a row in 1987.
Jonty Rhodes (2000/01) and Kepler Wessels (1985-1991/92) are the only other South Africa batsmen to register five on the bounce.
Last Friday Usman Khawaja hit his maiden ODI hundred, on Wednesday he hit his second. In between those he hit 91 at Mohali as Australia levelled the ODI series against India, setting up a win in the decider and a remarkable comeback from 2-0 down.
Khawaja finished the series with 383 runs at 76.60 - two hundreds, two fifties - and has put himself right in the mix for Australia’s World Cup XI.
Against Bangladesh at Wellington, Ross Taylor hit his first Test hundred since December 2017. He didn’t stop there, doubling up for a 200 - which included 19 fours and four sixes - as New Zealand won by an innings and 12 runs.
That hundred took Taylor passed Martin Crowe’s 17. Now only Kane Williamson (20) has scored more Test centuries for New Zealand.
Having taken a 2-0 lead in the five-match series with wins at Hyderabad and Nagpur, India were derailed by the green and gold of Australia.
Virat Kohli’s second century inside four days, and 41st in ODIs was not enough to chase Australia’s 313 at Ranchi.
The series was levelled at Chandigargh, with Usman Khwaja (91), Peter Handscomb (117) and Ashton Turner ( 84* from 43) leading the tourists to their highest ever ODI run chase.
The series ended with Khawaja’s second hundred of the series and a disciplined bowling display by Australia as they defended 272 to win their first one-day series in India since 2009.
Australia won their first one-day series in India since 2009
If you’re a Test purist, you may wish to divert your eyes from this next passage…
The MCC World Cricket Committee has recommended the introduction of free hits into Test cricket.
The suggestion comes in an effort to reduce the number of no balls being bowled in the Test game.
The Committee's reasoning was explained in a statement: “The system is used in the white-ball formats and the added deterrent results in there being fewer no balls than in Tests.”
Durham have been dealt a blow this week as Cricket Australia and Western Australia have requested that Cameron Bancroft attends an end-of-season awards dinner which will cause him to miss the County Championship opener.
Having served a nine-month ban for his role in the ball-tampering scandal, Bancroft will join Durham this summer and is available to play in all formats. However, it seems unlikely he will be with the county in the for their fixture at Derbyshire on April 5.
Durham chief executive Tim Bostock told The Telegraph: “He was persona non grata when we signed him in July. We took a chance on him and Western Australia and Cricket Australia should recognise that fact. He recognises it and has pushed strongly to get here on time.
“I can understand players missing games for international duty but to miss a game because of an awards dinner is ridiculous.”
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.