Month: February 2021

Ben Stokes, James Anderson and Joe Root – presumably – talk tactics © BCCI Joe Root has given the strongest hint yet that England could make multiple changes to the team that won the first Test against India. With just three full days between games, England are juggling their plans for rotation against some injury concerns within the squad. At present, Root has confirmed two changes, with Ben Foakes set…

Shakib Al Hasan is not part of the ongoing Dhaka Test against West Indies © AFP via Getty Images Shakib Al Hasan will miss Bangladesh’s tour of New Zealand later this month as the BCB granted him paternity leave for the duration of the entire tour. According to BCB cricket operations chairman Akram Khan, board president Nazmul Hassan spoke with Shakib before the decision was made. “Shakib is not going…

Shaun Marsh could be back in the IPL. He is part of the 2021 auction with a base price of INR 1.5 crore (US ,000 approximately) © Getty Images Senior Australia batsman Shaun Marsh, New Zealand allrounder Corey Anderson and former South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel are part of the 17 new names to feature among the 292 players shortlisted for the 2021 IPL auction, scheduled in Chennai on…

Ben Foakes celebrates his maiden Test hundred © Getty Images You can understand why Ben Foakes is feeling some nerves ahead of his return to international cricket. It’s been almost two years since he represented England, after all. And on that occasion, having won the player-of-the-match award on his ODI debut, he was dropped. By then, England had already dropped him from the Test team. Not because he had done…

Jofra Archer will miss the second Test in Chennai, starting on Saturday © BCCI Jofra Archer, England’s strike bowler, has been ruled out of the second Test in Chennai after receiving an injection in his right elbow. Archer was instrumental in England’s 227-run victory in last week’s first Test, claiming three wickets in the match including both of India’s openers in a fiery new-ball spell in the first innings. But…

Joe Root’s attainment of new heights as a Test batsman is a vindication of his continued omission from England’s T20I plans, according to the national selector, Ed Smith, who believes that the ECB’s focus on player rest and rotation is a key reason for the team’s successes across all three formats. England’s 227-run victory in the first Test against India in Chennai has carried Root’s men to the top of…