Pakistanis 3 for 336 (Babar 157*, Shafiq 119*) v Australia A

Pakistan's sublimely talented Babar Azam belied an infamously poor 50s to 100s conversion rate by gliding to a masterful century against Australia A in a high quality tour contest under lights at Perth Stadium.

In a fixture billed as a selection trial for six Australian batsmen duelling for two spots in the Test top six, a successful call at the toss allowed the tourists first use of a Perth surface that proved more docile than the pitch prepared for last year's Test against India.

This combined with a pink Kookaburra ball that lost its hardness through the middle of the day to allow Azam and Asad Shafiq the chance to get themselves into Test match rhythm after a horrid Twenty20 series that should have finished 3-0 to Australia. Their unbeaten stand was worth 276 by the close, frustrating the aspiring Test batsmen opposed to them but also heartening the touring party.

Azam made a typically effervescent start after the Pakistanis had slipped to 3 for 60 before lunch, but in contrast to so many of his first-class and Test innings he knuckled down after the early flurry to turn an attractive cameo into a truly substantial score. Shafiq proved the ideal partner, as the pair pushed through into the evening, floodlit session and successfully negotiated the second new ball despite some nifty late swing from Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser.

Helping Pakistan was the fact that the Australia A attack operated in two distinct halves. Richardson and Neser worked away tidily in the fashion of seasoned red ball bowlers, whereas Riley Meredith - albeit with an early spell that reaped two wickets for his raw pace - Sean Abbott and Travis Head were notably expensive.

The inability of the hosts to apply consistent scoreboard pressure across the day, in conditions where blasting the opposition out was proven to be an unsustainable approach, will provide food for the thinking of the Australian selectors Trevor Hohns and Justin Langer.

A more fire and brimstone day for the touring batsmen had looked briefly in the offing on a warm Perth afternoon, in scenes spookily reminiscent of Pakistan's home away from home for much of the past decade, the similarly cavernous and often uninhabited Dubai International Stadium.

Shan Masood was dropped in the slips by Marcus Harris off Neser in the day's third over, though the Queenslander did not have long to wait for a victim as the touring captain Azhar Ali shuffled across and was deemed lbw to a delivery that may have gone on to hit leg stump.

Meredith's entry to the match, having seen his cause aggressively pursued by Shane Warne among others, brought plenty of speed but not much control. The wild variety was enough to bewitch Haris Sohail into vague prod wide of the off stump for an edge through to the Australia A captain Alex Carey. Then, there was undoubted venom to the bouncer that trapped Masood on glove or bat handle from around the wicket for a gently lobbed catch to Abbott running in from point.

But Azam and Shafiq were more difficult to intimidate, cuffing no fewer than 37 boundaries between them in a partnership that endured all the way through to lunch, then tea, then stumps. Twenty-four of them raced from Babar's blade, in a demonstration of class that will not have been lost on Langer, the Test captain Tim Paine nor Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. As for Shafiq, this was an innings to remind all present and a few absent of his heroics at the Gabba four years ago - an encore now looks plausible.

Three weeks down, three different No. 1 teams.

In this edition, it's the Los Angeles Lakers who, despite seeing their seven-game win streak snap Sunday night against the Toronto Raptors, climb to the top, thanks to a 1-3 week by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Throughout the regular season, our panel (ESPN's Tim MacMahon, Andre' Snellings, Royce Young and Bobby Marks, and The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball and which teams are looking most like title contenders.

Previous rankings: Week 3 | 2 | 1 | Training camp | Free agency | Post-Finals

1. Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 7-2
Week 3 ranking: 2

Kyle Kuzma's play has been up and down since his return to action after he missed the start of the season because of a foot injury. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 9.0 points on 37.5% shooting from the field and 13% shooting from 3-point range entering Sunday's loss to Toronto. But he showed the makings of a breakthrough with 15 points -- his second game scoring in double digits -- five rebounds and three 3-pointers against the Raptors. The defeat was L.A.'s first since opening night against the Clippers. -- Spears

This week: @PHX, GS, SAC, ATL

2. LA Clippers
Record: 6-3
Week 3 ranking: 3

Load management dominated the conversation around the Clippers this week and prevented a real look at what a Bucks-Clippers Finals might look like, as Kawhi Leonard sat. He played a night later, scoring 18 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter to ice Portland. Blazers coach Terry Stotts had the appropriate response: "He looked well-rested." The expectation is that Paul George will return this week, which means that when the Clippers decide to rest Leonard again, there'll have an available star. It also means we'll finally see how this team looks when fully operational. -- Young

This week: TOR, @HOU, @NO, ATL

3. Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 7-3
Week 3 ranking: 4

The Bucks continue to play well but not flawlessly, beating a Kawhi-less Clippers team on the road but losing on a buzzer-beater to the Jazz in Salt Lake City. Their defense is rounding into form, though, allowing opponents to shoot only 41.8% from the field (fifth in the league). The defensive unit is led by Giannis Antetokounmpo (top three in defensive rebounds per game), as expected, with strong contributions from Brook Lopez (top 10 in blocks per game). -- Snellings

This week: CHI, @IND

4. Boston Celtics
Record: 7-1
Week 3 ranking: 5

The Celtics' seven-game win streak is a side note compared to Gordon Hayward's fracturing his hand in a win against San Antonio on Saturday. Heading into the Spurs game, Hayward was having an All-Star-type season, averaging 20.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists on 56.4% from the field and 44.4% from deep. With Hayward out, head coach Brad Stevens will likely insert Marcus Smart into the starting lineup and rely on 26-year-old Javonte Green coming off the bench. Green had six points in 13 minutes after Hayward left the game with his injury. -- Marks

This week: DAL, WSH, @GS, @SAC

5. Utah Jazz
Record: 6-3
Week 3 ranking: 6

Bojan Bogdanovic's four-year, $73 million contract looks like a bargain for the Jazz so far. He has averaged 21.8 points in his first eight games for Utah -- sitting out a loss to the Lakers because of a sore ankle -- in extremely efficient fashion. He's a field goal shy of the exclusive 50/40/90 territory. He's shooting 45.5% from 3-point range, including the buzzer-beater from the corner that beat the Bucks and put the exclamation point on his 33-point performance. -- MacMahon

This week: @GS, BKN, @MEM

6. Denver Nuggets
Record: 7-2
Week 3 ranking: 7

Despite a solid start to the season as expected, the Nuggets aren't exactly acing the eye test. They won in overtime but went scoreless in the final 6:23 of the fourth quarter on Sunday, blowing a 16-point lead. Nikola Jokic hasn't consistently played like himself (despite his hitting a couple of game winners this week), and as a team, the Nuggets are struggling to make shots (27th in true shooting percentage). All that aside, they're 7-2, and they put away wins against Miami, Philly and Minnesota this week. If this is "bad," then the Nuggets are very good. -- Young

This week: ATL, BKN, @MEM

7. Toronto Raptors
Record: 7-2
Week 3 ranking: 10

The Raptors remain one of the best teams in the NBA this season, even with Kawhi Leonard playing for the Clippers, with their only losses coming on the road against the Celtics and Bucks. The Raptors have arguably the best defense in the NBA, and with Pascal Siakam continuing to flirt with averages of 30 and 10 through three weeks, they still have an MVP candidate as their foundation. Their depth will be tested in upcoming weeks, though, with Kyle Lowry dealing with a fractured thumb. -- Snellings

This week: @LAC, @POR, @DAL

8. Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 6-3
Week 3 ranking: 1

After starting the season 5-0, Philadelphia dropped three straight -- to Phoenix, Utah and Denver -- before getting back in the win column against Charlotte. Although we can point to the Joel Embiid suspension in the loss to the Suns and the Ben Simmons shoulder injury suffered in the Utah game (that caused him to miss the Denver game as well), there are many reasons for the mini slide. In the loss to the Nuggets, the 76ers' offense became stagnant, scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter and getting outscored by 22. Much of that failure was a result of the 76ers' relying on the 3-ball instead of attacking the basket. The past week also reiterated the question heading into the season: Who is the closer? Embiid and Tobias Harris went a combined 1-for-8 in the fourth quarter against Denver. -- Marks

This week: CLE, @ORL, @OKC, @CLE

9. Miami Heat
Record: 6-3
Week 3 ranking: 8

The Heat got reality checks in Denver and L.A. this week, but the bizarre situation with Dion Waiters is what people are paying attention to. The optics of those kinds of situations can swing based on if a team is winning or losing, and fortunately for the Heat, the week ahead is a favorable one: Pistons, Cavs, Pelicans. -- Young

This week: DET, @CLE, NO

10. Houston Rockets
Record: 6-3
Week 3 ranking: 11

A sore right shoulder was a factor in big man Clint Capela's slow start, hampering his ability to dunk hard with one hand and snatch rebounds. Capela told ESPN that he injured the shoulder playing for the Swiss national team over the summer and has been working to strengthen the muscles around it. "Getting better slowly," he said. He was much better the past two games, averaging 17.5 points, 18.0 rebounds and 5.0 blocks in a pair of wins. -- MacMahon

This week: @NO, LAC, IND, @MIN

11. Dallas Mavericks
Record: 6-3
Week 3 ranking: 13

Luka Doncic has consistently played at an All-Star level so far this season. Kristaps Porzingis has been frustrated that he hasn't and admits that he has pressed at times. As disappointed as he was to lose to his former team, Porzingis was encouraged by his 28-point performance against the Knicks. "I just tried to relax out there," he said. "Be aggressive but be relaxed at the same time. I've been kind of overthinking a little bit, and that's when you don't make the best decisions." Porzingis will get another shot at his former team on Thursday when the Mavs visit MSG. -- MacMahon

This week: @BOS, @NY, TOR

12. Phoenix Suns
Record: 6-3
Week 3 ranking: 17

Suns head coach Monty Williams' 6-3 start matches the best start by a first-year coach in franchise history. Alvin Gentry, Terry Porter and Paul Westphal accomplished the same feat. The Suns were 2-7 through their first nine games last season. -- Spears

This week: LAL, ATL

13. San Antonio Spurs
Record: 5-4
Week 3 ranking: 9

LaMarcus Aldridge's inconsistency is an issue for the Spurs, who need him to perform like the All-Star he has been in seven of the past eight seasons. Aldridge has scored at least 20 points in four of San Antonio's five wins, including a 39-point performance Thursday against the Thunder. He has been held to single digits in three of the Spurs' four losses, including Saturday against the Celtics. Last season, the Spurs were 37-10 when Aldridge scored at least 20 and 11-24 in the rest of their games. -- MacMahon

This week: MEM, @MIN, @ORL, POR

14. Indiana Pacers
Record: 6-4
Week 3 ranking: 16

The Pacers have found their stride after a slow start, despite a spate of injuries that have Myles Turner, Jeremy Lamb and Goga Bitadze joining All-Star Victor Oladipo on the bench. Domantas Sabonis has been a catalyst for the strong play of late -- despite also missing two contests because of injury -- averaging 19.6 points, 14.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists in his past five games. -- Snellings

This week: OKC, @HOU, MIL

15. Brooklyn Nets
Record: 4-5
Week 3 ranking: 15

We are only three weeks into the season, and the identity of the Nets' offense has been established: high-percentage shots at the rim or beyond the 3-point arc. In Brooklyn's two wins this week, against New Orleans and Portland, 143 of the 191 field goal attempts were either within 5 feet or from long range. The Nets' offense that finished last season ranked 19th in offensive rating now ranks seventh. Much of that of course has to do with the play of Kyrie Irving, who is No. 3 in points per game (30.0), including a career high of 6.4 free throw attempts. -- Marks

This week: @UTAH, @DEN, @CHI

16. Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 5-4
Week 3 ranking: 12

The Timberwolves were thumped by the Bucks in the second game of Karl-Anthony Towns' suspension and were ambushed by the Grizzlies in his first game back. They came back to win an overtime thriller over the Warriors on Friday, led by 40 points from the quietly streaking Andrew Wiggins, but failed to complete a late comeback against the Nuggets on Sunday. Wiggins is averaging 24.6 points through the first nine games of the season, which is on pace for a career high and huge bounce back after his disappointing efforts the past two seasons. -- Snellings

This week: @DET, SA, WSH, HOU

17. Portland Trail Blazers
Record: 4-6
Week 3 ranking: 14

It might be justifiable because of injuries, but the Blazers have been in a rut (not even 60 from Damian Lillard could cement a win Friday). Although it's November and only game No. 10, their Sunday night overtime win against the Hawks felt significant. It snapped a four-game losing streak, which is key in the hyper-competitive West in which falling too far behind means falling out altogether. The Blazers are a team ripe to make a move, and they might need it sooner than later. -- Young

This week: @SAC, TOR, @SA

18. Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 4-6
Week 3 ranking: 21

Before the season, there was strong belief within the Thunder organization that this team might be better than some thought. Through 10 games, their record might be about what was expected, but it's an extremely competitive group. A few bounces here, a few breaks there, and the Thunder would be on the other side of .500. They've lost five of their six games by five points or fewer and have had a chance to win all of them in the final minutes. With one of the tougher opening schedules in the league, if the Thunder can hang in there, they might start winning some of the close ones. -- Young

This week: @IND, PHI

19. Atlanta Hawks
Record: 3-6
Week 3 ranking: 18

Newcomer Jabari Parker has helped ease the loss of forward John Collins following his 25-game suspension for a positive drug test. Parker had season highs of 27 points and 11 rebounds in an overtime loss to Portland on Sunday. The journeyman has averaged 23.3 points and 8.0 rebounds in his past three games. -- Spears

This week: @DEN, @PHX, @LAC, @LAL

20. Detroit Pistons
Record: 4-6
Week 3 ranking: 20

The Pistons have split their past four games, winning both home contests but losing twice on the road. They have been treading water with Blake Griffin injured, but the All-Star forward is expected to make his season debut on Monday against the Timberwolves and should give the entire team a boost. Derrick Rose has also missed the past four games after starting the season strong, but the former MVP returned to practice Sunday and could be rejoining the team this week as well. -- Snellings

This week: MIN, @MIA, @CHA

21. Orlando Magic
Record: 3-7
Week 3 ranking: 19

The Magic have dropped five of six, with their lone win coming as a home blowout of the Grizzlies on Friday. Orlando's bright spot during this stretch was third-year forward Jonathan Isaac, who is starting to live up to his sixth overall pick status from two years ago. Since the calendar flipped to November, no player has more blocks per game than Isaac's 3.2. -- Snellings

This week: PHI, SA, WSH

22. Charlotte Hornets
Record: 4-6
Week 3 ranking: 22

It's a three-week sample, but backup guard Devonte' Graham has already put his name near the top of the list for the Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improved awards. In four games last week, Graham averaged 23.3 points, including a career-high 35 in a comeback win against Indiana. -- Marks

This week: MEM, DET, @NY

23. Cleveland Cavaliers
Record: 4-5
Week 3 ranking: 25

After losing three straight games, Cleveland recorded back-to-back double-digit road wins against the Wizards and Knicks. One sign of growth has been the team's ability to take care of the ball. In three games this week, Cleveland's young backcourt of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland combined for only 10 turnovers. This season, the Cavaliers are fourth in fewest turnovers per game. -- Marks

This week: @PHI, MIA, PHI

24. Sacramento Kings
Record: 3-6
Week 3 ranking: 28

The Kings are finally shaking off their slow start to the season by winning three of their past four games, including two on the road. What's the difference? Sacramento allowed only 101 in three recent wins, including 92 at New York. Big man Harry Giles also made his season debut on Saturday at Atlanta, scoring four points after being sidelined by a sore left knee. -- Spears

This week: POR, @LAL, BOS

25. Chicago Bulls
Record: 3-7
Week 3 ranking: 23

The Bulls have made 31% of their 3-pointers so far this season to rank fifth-worst in the league. Chicago also missed 28 of 32 3-point attempts in a loss to Houston on Saturday. Head coach Jim Boylen, however, wants his Bulls to keep shooting from deep. -- Spears

This week: NY, @MIL, BKN

26. New Orleans Pelicans
Record: 2-7
Week 3 ranking: 24

Brandon Ingram is having a breakout offensive season, averaging 25.9 points per game while shooting 53.7% from the floor and 46.9% from 3-point range. The Pelicans, who rank second-to-last in the league in defensive rating, have bled points with Ingram on the floor. The Pelicans have allowed 117.6 points per 100 possessions in Ingram's 289 minutes, compared to 100.6 points per 100 possessions in 148 minutes without him. -- MacMahon

This week: HOU, LAC, @MIA, GS

27. Washington Wizards
Record: 2-6
Week 3 ranking: 26

There were positives early, with the Wizards looking to be a scrappy, semi-enjoyable, hard-playing group, but they have lost five of six, including the past two by double digits to the Pacers and Cavs. They are an absolute defensive apparition, 28th in the league in points allowed per 100 possessions. They were never expected to be good, but after last season, they need to at least be competitive while developing some young players. These are the season objectives: Get Rui Hachimura good, and keep Bradley Beal happy. -- Young

This week: @BOS, @MIN, @ORL

28. Golden State Warriors
Record: 2-8
Week 3 ranking: 27

The injury-plagued Warriors have used eight starting lineups this season -- Glenn Robinson III is the only player to start every game. There is some hope that Draymond Green (finger sprain) could be back soon. -- Spears

This week: UTAH, @LAL, BOS, @NO

29. Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 2-7
Week 3 ranking: 29

The Grizzlies are going to great lengths to protect prized rookie point guard Ja Morant. The 20-year-old sat out Saturday's loss to the Mavericks because the team opted to rest him on the second night of a back-to-back. Morant has played more than 30 minutes in a game only once, logging 32 minutes during his 30-point, nine-assist night in an overtime win over the Nets. -- MacMahon

This week: @SA, @CHA, UTAH, DEN

30. New York Knicks
Record: 2-8
Week 3 ranking: 30

The win Friday at Dallas was thought to be the turning point of the season. Instead, the one-game winning streak led to an embarrassing 21-point loss to Cleveland two nights later. After the loss to the Cavaliers, president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry took the rare step of addressing the media after the game. New York's 2-8 record comes with the league's second-worst point differential. -- Marks

This week: @CHI, DAL, CHA

Britain’s world trail champion takes on the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships at the end of a busy year

Most of the competitors in Saturday’s World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships will be running on relatively fresh legs powered by months of specific training. That certainly won’t be the case for Britain’s world trail running champion, Jonathan Albon.

The Norway-based runner has just completed a season of skyrunning, the last race of which was followed by three world-class obstacle course races (OCR) on the previous two weekends.

Recently Albon placed fourth in the Skymasters event in Limone, Italy, and finished third overall in the Migu Run Skyrunner World Series rankings. Doing so involved running, scrambling and climbing his way around 233km of the toughest terrain on the planet in five races over a six-month period.

“For the last five years my legs have always been a bit screwed … I’m always a bit tired,” said the runner who had won the OCR World Championships Short-Course the week before Limone. “With obstacle racing, it’s that pounding on your body. It’s really harsh.”

He added of the world mountain championships: “I’m sure most of the athletes would have trained all summer and autumn for that race and I’m coming off the back of a pretty hefty running season.”

Yet the man who only came into running when he entered an OCR at the age of 20 would have it no other way. He believes the variety boosts his running not only physically but also mentally.

“In the sense of race nerves, last weekend I was having to think about a set of obstacles, hypothermia, swimming, all this stuff that can go wrong,” said the 30-year-old, who last year was one race away from winning a $1million bonus in Spartan OCR.

“In skyrunning there is a lot more to think about with this in terms of a road marathon, but this is like one foot in front of the other, eat some gels, run as hard as I can, I’m going to finish. It’s a lot less to think about, so in that sense I’m more relaxed.”

When he doesn’t have monkey bars and mountains in his way, Albon is respectable on the roads too, with a 2:26 marathon in Bergen – with plenty of twists and turns and more than 500m of ascent – to his name.

He is intrigued to see if he could beat 2:20 on a good course but said: “I don’t think I could put myself through that restrictive training because I love to be out running and if [a coach] said, ‘you’re not allowed to run today because you have to run these intervals on the track tomorrow’, I don’t think I’d enjoy that.”

However, he admitted: “I’m not the absolute best in the world at any type of running, but I think I can do all types of running pretty good. So I think in a sport like skyrunning or obstacle racing I can get by and perform well because you need a wide range of skills.”

Talking of that road marathon, he will be on much more familiar ground when it comes to the global mountain event over 42km in Villa La Angostura, Argentina, on November 16. The course is a similar distance to that on which he took the world trail win in Portugal this year.

“I’ve heard it’s pretty runnable, especially at the beginning and it turns a bit more mountainous in the second half,” he said. “It’s
a really similar course to the trail world champs, I think. I went well there and let’s hope I can go well again.”

Under-fire Saracens have been dealt a new blow with the loss of injured Ralph Adams-Hale for the rest of the season.

The 22-year-old prop left the field on a stretcher after suffering an ankle injury in Saturday's win at Gloucester.

After undergoing initial surgery on Sunday, he will have a second operation "in the next couple of days".

Sarries' next match is this Sunday's trip to France to play Paris-based Racing 92 in the first group game of this season's European Champions Cup.

Saracens, who are in the midst of appealing against their 35-point deduction for Premiership salary cap offences, were still without most of their England Rugby World Cup contingent for Saturday's trip to Kingsholm.

But prop Mako Vunipola, as well as Owen Farrell, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Elliot Daly, George Kruis and Billy Vunipola, may all be back in contention in Paris.

Jose Mourinho knows what it takes to win a Premier League title and believes Liverpool are as good as champions unless they suffer an injury curse later in the season.

The Portuguese was at Anfield on Sunday watching Liverpool beat Manchester City 3-1 to open up an eight-point gap over Leicester City and Chelsea and nine over reigning champions City.

"From my position, I think it's done unless something, something dramatic happens in terms of an injury situation that breaks the team," Mourinho, a three-times Premier League title winner with Chelsea, told Sky Sports on Sunday.

"I think this Liverpool team... it's adapted to the quality of the players and the puzzle is complete. City are capable of winning seven, eight, nine in a row, but I can't see how Liverpool can lose this advantage."

Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, part of the team that claimed back-to-back titles over the past two seasons, said there is a great deal to admire in Liverpool.

He added, however, that the Premier League is "geared for drama" and said it is not a done deal yet.

He believes Liverpool's schedule over the next five weeks could cause problems. They face 12 games in five weeks including the FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar.

"They have games all over the world," Kompany said. "City will be there until the end in my opinion."

Former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness said Liverpool are "odds on" to win their first title since 1990.

"What could go wrong? Injuries to key players," he told Sky Sports. "To be at their best they all have to be high energy. Injuries would hurt them. When you don't get much rest between matches you can get muscle injuries.

"This period is vital for them. I would suggest that might be an issue going forward."

West Indies chose to bowl v Afghanistan

West Indies captain Kieron Pollard opted to bowl in the third and final ODI in Lucknow as they look to complete a whitewash. Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan said he anyway would have liked to bat.

West Indies made two changes to their playing XI: they handed a debut to Brandon King, who was the top run-getter in CPL 2019, and included Keemo Paul. They replaced Jason Holder and Sheldon Cottrell, who were both rested.

Afghanistan handed a debut to Ibrahim Zadran. The 17-year-old opener had impressed on his Test debut against Bangladesh by scoring 87, and holds an average of over 40 in List A cricket. He came in for Javed Ahmadi, while Yamin Ahmadzai replaced Naveen-ul-Haq.

West Indies won the first two ODIs easily despite Afghanistan threatening at times on both occasions. Afghanistan will not only be looking to avoid the series sweep but also bring an end to their 11-match losing streak in ODIs.

Afghanistan: 1 Hazratullah Zazai, 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Ikram Alikhil (wk), 5 Najibullah Zadran, 6 Asghar Afghan, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Sharafuddin Ashraf, 9 Rashid Khan (capt), 10 Yamin Ahmadzai, 11 Mujeeb Ur Rahman

West Indies: 1 Evin Lewis, 2 Shai Hope (wk), 3 Brandon King, 4 Shimron Hetmyer, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Roston Chase, 7 Kieron Pollard (capt), 8 Keemo Paul, 9 Romario Shepherd, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Hayden Walsh Jr

Their first bilateral ODI series win since 2014, their first away ODI series win since 2011, and a few youngsters stepping up as the main performers to help West Indies take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series against Afghanistan - captain Kieron Pollard is understandably upbeat.

Pollard, in his first ODI series as captain, praised two players who have both played fewer than 25 games in the format: Nicholas Pooran, for showing the "maturity" lower down the order, and Roston Chase, for his "cleverness" as a bowler.

"Very happy to win an away series since I think 2011, a series in itself since 2014," Pollard pointed out after winning the second ODI, by 47 runs. "It's a great achievement for us. At the end of the day, we ask the guys to do certain things and they've responded pretty well and the results show the way that we prepare for the matches."

West Indies won the opening game after bowling out Afghanistan for 194, and then chasing it down with solid half-centuries from Shai Hope (77*) and Chase (94) for a seven-wicket win. In the second ODI, they defended 247 on the back of three-fors from Sheldon Cottrell, Chase and Hayden Walsh Jr.

Pollard was, however, also appreciative of the fact that West Indies had beaten a team ranked lower than them.

"So far, what has gone well is guys are sticking to the plans, sticking to what we actually want to do, and it's actually coming off," Pollard said. "The longer we do that and more consistently we do that, we're going to put up consistent performances. Yes, it's against Afghanistan but Afghanistan has beaten us recently.

"A lot of people say, 'it's just Afghanistan', but we take pride in what we want to do and the guys have shown by effort even off the field and then coming onto the field and trying to deliver the goods."

Chase has taken five wickets for 61 runs in his 20 overs in the series so far, with an impressive economy rate of three per over. He was also the first-change bowler in the second game and removed opener Hazratullah Zazai, Asghar Afghan and Ikram Alikhil to put Afghanistan in trouble at 109 for 5.

"Roston, two games consistently he has played his role to perfection," Pollard said. "Yes, he didn't get many with the bat today, but again he showed with the ball the experience that he has, the cleverness, changing of pace, setting the fields in different aspects, trying to get the results.

"The bowlers have been doing a very good job, limiting Afghanistan to 194 in the first ODI and then coming tonight, again just over 200, I think it was a fantastic effort by them, led by Sheldon and Jason [Holder], opening the bowling, getting the early wickets, those are the things we asked for."

West Indies got good starts with the bat in both games, but it was Pooran's 50-ball 67 in the second ODI that helped them put on a competitive score when as no other batsman could score as quickly on a pitch that was not as easy to bat on.

"If you look how we set up, our first four batsmen are guys who we want to just bat and bat long, and then from No. 5 Pooran, coming down, again changing that tempo and trying to clear the boundaries as well, as per the roles the guys have been given," Pollard said. "He came in, he got his eye in, it was not a wicket where the ball was coming on to the bat, and he stayed there till the end. We needed one guy staying till the end or getting that one fifty for us, and he did it.

"He hasn't played many games and he's showing that level of maturity as an individual, but again we're not surprised by the results because of the work he's been putting on and off the field."

Shreyas Iyer came into the T20I series against Bangladesh in decent, but not spectacular, form from the Vijay Hazare Trophy. But after two cameos - 22 off 13 balls and 24* off 13 balls - in the first two T20Is, he changed the complexion of the decider with 62 off 33 balls in Nagpur, and feels the innings "really stated that I can bat under pressure as well".

The 24-year-old from Mumbai has been in the mix as a middle-order option for India in white-ball cricket for a while, and pressed his claims to a regular spot in ODIs with innings of 71 and 65 in Port-of-Spain (from No. 5) in August this year, and might now have done the same in T20Is.

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"There is a lot of competition currently going on in the team, and I personally feel that I compete with myself. I don't want myself to be judged with anyone or when you say this position is empty in the team. I am really open-minded and I can bat at any number at a given point," he said at the press conference after the match-winning effort on Sunday. "So I just like to back myself in tough situations, and today's innings I think really stated that I can bat under pressure as well. So, yeah, it was really important for me, and the team."

Iyer has a huge reputation in the Indian domestic circuit, and has been talked up as a potential first-teamer for the national team at least in white-ball formats, for the long term. He said that he had the backing of the team management to go strut his stuff.

"It has been a really important last few series for me, to set the benchmark at the No. 4 position, which all of us are competing [for] at the moment," he said. "I think, for me personally, they (team management) have given me a heads-up that, you know, 'you'll be there at No. 4, so just back yourself and really believe in yourself; we need someone who, even if [Virat] Kohli or Rohit [Sharma], when they get out, we need someone to finish the game and bat till the end'.

"If the ball is pitching in my area, I am not going to control myself, I am going to let instincts back me"

"And I think that role is of a No. 4. That's what I was trying to replicate today, and it worked out really well for me, I am really happy on that."

On Sunday, Iyer walked out at 35 for 2 in the sixth over after Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan had fallen and he was expected to play a big part if India wanted to set Bangladesh a substantial target. KL Rahul (52 off 35) and Iyer added 59 for the third wicket before Rahul was dismissed, and Iyer carried on till the 17th over, having set the platform for Manish Pandey to tee off.

The highlight of Iyer's innings was when he hit offspinner Afif Hossain for three sixes in a row in the 15th over of the Indian innings, all of them down the ground.

Asked if that changed the script of the game, Iyer said, "Yes, I would say that, because the over in which I got three sixes, I think that changed the momentum completely, otherwise we would have finished at 150 or 155, which would have been a really tough total to defend on this wicket, when there was a lot of dew and the wicket was getting really better in the second innings after the roll.

"So, yeah, I would really give myself credit for playing that role, and also KL gave us the start. It was really important [for] one of the top three batsmen to stay till the 15th over, and he played his role really well."

Iyer had scored nine runs from the first 12 balls he had faced before opening up, smacking legspinner Aminul Islam for a straight six, the first of five he hit in the game, to go with three fours.

"We have planned, as a team, the support staff and everyone, they have given me the freedom - not only me, but all the batsmen - that you need to have that intent when you go in there, and you should feel very positive when you're batting. And I feel personally that if the ball is pitching in my area, I am not going to control myself, I am going to let my instincts back me. And yes, it turned out really well," he said.

"First few balls, it was really tough for me to get to know the wicket, it was playing a bit quicker than the pitch reacted. So I took a little bit of time, I said I am going to take at least ten balls to get settled in, and after that I am going to back myself and… when you really believe that you're going to score in the later half of the innings, it really works out well for me. So I backed myself."

What happens when Virat Kohli returns to the side remains to be seen, but Iyer might have done enough in his last few international innings - 62, 24*, 22, 5, 16*, 65 and 71 since going to the Caribbean - to make a strong case for himself for the ODI side, as well as, with a T20 World Cup coming up, in that XI.

Australian cricket's new overseer of national teams Ben Oliver admits the game still has a lot to learn about dealing with the mental health of its players, coaches and staff in the wake of the withdrawals of Glenn Maxwell and Nic Maddinson from national duty over the past few days.

As one part of a two-man high-performance team - the other being former Olympian Drew Ginn - that replaced Pat Howard earlier this year, Oliver's commission is to work closely with the national men's and women's teams and their coaches Justin Langer and Matthew Mott.

He quickly surmised that closer and better management of people would be critical to the role, whether those in the national set-up or others working in the state system. To that end, the bravery of Maxwell and Maddinson to pull back from playing the game in order to look after their own wellbeing, rather than suffering in silence as many past generations have done, has been welcomed, but Oliver agreed that in the tension between a highly competitive sport and the wellness of its practitioners, Cricket Australia was trying to develop better understanding.

"Each individual person will have a whole range of different circumstances and that presents a challenge but it also means we can't make a broad-brush statement about this or in fact a broad-brush approach to it," Oliver told ESPNcricinfo. "Just because people are going through different challenges in their life doesn't mean they're also not able to perform at a really high level and so our aspiration is to make sure we're giving our players and staff the best chance to thrive on and off the field.

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"I'm incredibly proud of both Glenn and Nic in feeling as though they could share what they were experiencing and really be open and honest about that. Equally proud in terms of our response to that. The coaching and support staff response and their care and empathy for both Glenn and Nic. And more broadly my view is it's a really complex issue, something that all of society is grappling with and, as a sport, we're part of society.

"We're not immune to it, and we've got to continue to find ways to understand the issues and we're doing all we can and applying our support and resources around players and staff on their own health and wellbeing. There's lots to do, I think there's lots to understand and we're really committed to making sure we give our players and staff the best possible support we can."

Australian players currently have the option of reporting mental health problems or spiralling feelings via the wellness apps used to track their physical and mental wellbeing, but are also able to discuss their state of mind with coaches, medical staff and team psychologists.

"We've got some systems in place where players are tracking their experience," Oliver said, "but equally, we've got a whole range of coaching and support staff who are working with players on a daily basis and get to understand them very well.

"I don't think there is any one effort that is better or worse in terms of understanding where a player is currently at, I think it's a combination of those aspects that will ultimately allow us to better understand where a player is at and provide support at any given time. We've got a couple of ways in which we are trying to understand where a player is at and how to respond."

In his former role with Western Australia, Oliver dealt with numerous instances of players and staff battling mental health and wellbeing issues. Ashton Agar is one WA cricketer who has spoken publicly about learning how to "ride" the peaks and troughs of personal wellness, having taken time out of the game for that reason in the past.

"It's certainly clear to me and important to me coming into this role that Australian cricket is prioritising its people, players and staff" Ben Oliver

"I spent six or seven years in WA and we had a whole range of challenges on and off field for players and staff and that's a reflection of the world we live in and some of the challenges people are going through," Oliver said. "And it reinforced to me the great opportunity we have as a sport to really lead the way and show how we can care and support our people. Whether it was with WA or this role or other states and territories from a cricket perspective, we're all increasingly aware of the challenges people are going through and we're learning how they go through that.

"Certainly not the first time this has come up, I'm sure it won't be the last, and our obligation is to really make sure we're understanding the issues and supporting our people. If and when they're going through different challenges we provide them with the best care and support. I don't think they're necessarily mutually exclusive, there's certainly opportunity for us to continue to perform at a high level on the field and support people off it.

"It's just a case of building really strong relationships with our players in this case around how they're travelling, what they're experiencing and making sure we're supporting them in that, helping them prepare, and ultimately go out and perform."

Oliver has built up plenty of respect over time as a calm and considered presence in cricket administration, having previously held roles with Cricket Victoria, CA and also the ICC prior to moving to WA. In joining CA less than a year after the announcement of damaging findings from the cultural review that followed the Newlands scandal, he is well attuned to the attitude of listening and learning that so many of the governing body's partners had demanded.

"It's certainly clear to me and important to me coming into this role that Australian cricket is prioritising its people, players and staff," Oliver said. "So that becomes a really important part of what we stand for as an organisation. That's been really clear that is a priority, an important part of what the future looks like, and I've been really pleased with the endeavour going in to understand how we best do that. Really proud of the players and their willingness to be open and honest about what they're experiencing.

"One of my initial observations coming into the role is the intensity of international cricket and the complexity of the schedule and those things are obviously real challenges for us to find the best possible solutions for. That's all part of what players, coaches and staff are experiencing and mechanisms for that. Really comfortable that players are feeling confident to be open and honest and really proud of our staff for being able to care and support them when they do present that way."

One set of fresh information about the mental health of Australian cricket is set to land early next year, with the results of a study begun three years ago by the youth mental health consultancy Orygen to be handed to CA in February.

India women 104 for 0 (Verma 69*, Mandhana 30*) beat West Indies women 103 for 7 (Nation 32, Deepti 4-10) by 10 wickets

A day after they recorded India's highest partnership in women's T20Is, openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana put on yet another stellar display to chase down a small target of 104 against West Indies in St Lucia to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

The win, however, was set up by offspinner Deepti Sharma, who ran through West Indies' middle order to finish with her career-best T20I figures of 4 for 10.

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Opting to bat first, West Indies lost Stacy-Ann King and Shemaine Campbelle within the powerplay, where they made just 17 runs.

While fast bowlers Pooja Vastrakar and Shikha Pandey sent West Indies' openers back, the spinners caused most of the damage after that. The hosts' only bit of fight came from Chedean Nation and Natasha McLean, who put up a 32-run stand for the fourth wicket, but Sharma came back for her second spell in the 16th over to remove both of them.

She produced another double-strike in the 20th over, removing Chinelle Henry and Sheneta Grimmond off consecutive deliveries, as West Indies limped to 103 for 7.

India wasted no time in their reply, as 15-year-old Verma slammed six fours in the first two overs of the innings, off Henry and King. She was the aggressor in the partnership, hitting six more fours and two sixes, while Mandhana hit four fours on her way to a 28-ball 33 not out.

Verma finished with an unbeaten 35-ball 69 as the duo sealed the chase in just 10.3 overs.