Joe Root excited by pink ball possibilities as England aim to 'exploit' conditions

February 22, 2021

Joe Root believes a seam-orientated third Test could prove to be to England’s advantage and leaves them in “a great position” at the halfway stage of the series. While Root, England’s captain, was adamant the pitch in Ahmedabad would provide assistance to spin bowlers at some stage, he also suggested the fact that the game is a day-night encounter involving a pink ball could prove encouraging for seam bowlers. In…

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The Hundred to launch with women's fixture on July 21

February 22, 2021

News ECB aims to sell out The Oval on new competition’s opening night The Hundred will launch with Oval Invincibles vs Manchester Originals on July 21   The first match in the Hundred will be played between women’s teams on July 21, with the ECB targeting a sell-out at The Oval on the competition’s opening night. Fixtures for the ECB’s new 100-ball competition were released on Tuesday, after the inaugural…

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Cautious optimism from counties as government points to return of spectators

Relief and cautious optimism appear to be the dominant reactions from around the English game, after Boris Johnson announced the UK’s intended roadmap out of lockdown. With Prime Minister Johnson outlining his intention to lift all restrictions on social contact from June 21, English cricket can look forward to the realistic prospect of full-house crowds for the Test series against India (which starts in August) and the limited-overs series against…

February 22, 2021
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No umpire's call, permanent ban on saliva – options discussed at MCC's cricket committee meeting

The MCC’s World Cricket Committee will send the ICC a mixed bag of opinions on the ongoing debate about the umpire’s call aspect of the DRS, which was in the spotlight once again after Joe Root was not given out on review off an Axar Patel delivery during the second India-England Test in Chennai last week. In the first meeting of the MCC Committee – made up of former international…

February 22, 2021
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Hafeez, Zaman sparkle as Quetta sink to bottom of table

Report A 115-run stand made light work of a stiff target as Qalandars remain unbeaten Lahore Qalandars 179 for 1 (Zaman 82*, Hafeez 73*) beat Quetta Gladiators 178 for 6 (Gayle 68, Sarfaraz 40, Rauf 3-38) by nine wickets This might only have been a T20 game, but it felt like an epic by the time Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez chased Quetta Gladiators out of the contest. Ages ago,…

February 22, 2021
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MCC to consult on changes to bouncer regulations

News Guardian of cricket’s Laws launches global consultation on short-pitched bowling The MCC has announced a global consultation on the place of short-pitched bowling in the game. Cricket recently introduced allowances for concussion substitutions to be made, but now the guardians of the Laws will examine whether regulations governing bouncers should also be updated. The process will begin with an initial survey, to be distributed in March 2021, after which…

February 22, 2021
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Ben Stokes: England's seamers are 'licking their lips' to use pink ball

February 22, 2021

England’s seamers have been “licking their lips” at the thought of using a pink ball under floodlights in Ahmedabad, according to Ben Stokes. While England succumbed to a defeat by 317 runs in a second Test dominated by the spinning ball, Stokes believes the third could be “a completely different game” with the seamers expected to play a larger role. Indeed, Stokes claims the seamers’ net session under lights on…

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The Hundred – men's draft announcements

News Follow rolling news of updated squads for the ECB’s new competition The draft for the inaugural men’s Hundred was completed behind closed doors on Monday, with the ECB releasing squad lists for each of the eight teams in a series of staggered announcements on Tuesday. You can follow the updates here, as well as read about the confirmed schedule for the tournament – which will open with a women’s…

February 22, 2021
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Umesh Yadav added to Test squad, Shardul Thakur released

News Fast bowler cleared a fitness Test and will be part of the squad for both remaining games Umesh Yadav has been added to India’s squad for the third and fourth Tests against England after clearing a fitness test. Yadav, who had given the fitness test on Sunday, was formally added to the squad on Monday, two days ahead of the third Test, which will be a pink-ball day-night affair….

February 22, 2021
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Sreesanth bags five as Kerala win two in two

News Robin Uthappa and Sachin Baby makes fifties as Kerala go to eight points Fast bowler S Sreesanth was among the heroes for Kerala as they beat Uttar Pradesh by three wickets to register their second win in two games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The fast bowler took 5 for 65 as Kerala bowled UP out for 283, before fifties from Robin Uthappa (81 off 55) and Sachin Baby…

February 22, 2021
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