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How long will the IPL be in the next Future Tours Program (FTP)?

Tarkesh Jha
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How long will the IPL be in the next Future Tours Program (FTP)?

Cricket News: How long will the IPL be in the next Future Tours Program (FTP)? | Next FTP to accommodate various T20 leagues around the world

A near-final draft of the Future Tours Program (FTP) of the International Cricket Council (ICC) highlights glaring adjustments to accommodate various T20 franchise leagues in the coming years.

The document, as accessed by ESPNCricinfo, confirms an extended two-and-a-half-month window for the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already proposed increasing the number of IPL games per season gradually from 74 in 2023 to 94 in 2027. BCCI secretary Jay Shah had confirmed this developed post the sales of the media rights for the upcoming five years of the league back in June.

Longer IPL in the FTP, space for BBL and Hundred too

Cricket Australia (CA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have also made windows in their home seasons for the Big Bash League (BBL) and the Hundred respectively.

This will mean that Australia and England will not be engaging in international assignments simultaneously with these tournaments as has been the case thus far. However, international cricket will come to a near-halt only during the IPL and not in any of the other mentioned tournaments.

For example, there is a three-week gap from international cricket across July and August in every English summer as per the given draft FTP. This will allow top English players to take part in the Hundred more proactively. Similarly, Australia’s FTP has been cleared from international limited-overs assignments in every coming January barring 2024. However, Test cricket might not be compromised for the same as far as the Aussies are concerned.

Accordingly, spaces have also been made for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in August-September and January respectively. Cricket South Africa (CSA) have made windows clear of international cricket in the Januarys of 2025 and 2026 as they are set to launch their new franchise T20 league early next year. However, they still might have to work their way around visits from India and England for full-fledged Test tours during the same period in 2023-24 and 2027 respectively.

PSL could go head-to-head with the IPL

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has a more complex task in hands in order to accommodate their flagship Pakistan Super League (PSL). They have left windows open in February-March (2023), January-February (2024) and December-January (2026-27) for the PSL. Reportedly, there has been a conscious effort to not clash with the month of Ramzan as the ad-spends are heavy during this period and it directly influences the money spent on the PSL.

They have a big issue boiling up during the 2024-25 season as a home World Test Championship (WTC) series vs England, followed by series in Australia, Zimbabwe, New Zealand and South Africa have packed up their international schedule.

There will an ODI tri-series with New Zealand and South Africa shortly afterwards before the ICC Champions Trophy that Pakistan will be hosting. Accordingly, the PSL could potentially have to be pushed ahead to the extent that it could even become the first league to get into a direct encounter and be held simultaneously with the IPL in 2025!

The final draft of the FTP is likely to be published after the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the ICC that will take place on the 25th and 26th of July in Birmingham.

Australia announce ODI squads for Zimbabwe & New Zealand

Charbel Coorey
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Australia announce ODI squads for Zimbabwe & New Zealand

Cricket News: Australia announce ODI squads for Zimbabwe & New Zealand | Will Pat Cummins play against Zimbabwe and New Zealand?

Australia have announced a strong squad for their ODI matches against Zimbabwe and New Zealand to be played in far north Queensland. These matches – three each against the Zimbabweans and Kiwis – will kick off a huge home season that also includes five Tests and a T20 World Cup.

Australia ODI squad for Zimbabwe and New Zealand series

Aaron Finch, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Adam Zampa back, Pat Cummins rested

Test captain Pat Cummins has been rested for these two assignments. It has been a big year so far for the pace bowler, leading Australia to an Ashes series win, 1-0 triumph in Pakistan and 1-1 draw recently in Sri Lanka.

According to national selector George Bailey, it is important Cummins takes this time off to get ready for the big season ahead. The pacer is “being managed through a period of rehabilitation and physical preparation for the upcoming summer.”

Legspinner Adam Zampa returns after missing the Sri Lanka tour due to the birth of his first child. Sean Abbott and Ashton Agar are back after a fractured finger and side strain respectively.

Kane Richardson, who suffered a hamstring injury back in March, has missed out on selection.

“These series against New Zealand, the world’s number one ranked ODI side, and Zimbabwe will be good contests and provide an opportunity to play some great cricket in the lead-up to the home summer,” said national selector George Bailey.

“The team is excited to be marking the start of a huge summer with these matches in North Queensland,” he continued in a statement.

Australia vs Zimbabwe & New Zealand ODI series schedule

Australia vs Zimbabwe ODI series schedule:

  • 1st ODI, Townsville, August 28
  • 2nd ODI, Townsville, August 31
  • 3rd ODI, Townsville, September 3

Australia vs New Zealand ODI series schedule:

  • 1st ODI, Cairns, September 6 (D/N)
  • 2nd ODI, Cairns, September 8 (D/N)
  • 3rd ODI, Cairns, September 11 (D/N)

Following the ODIs, Australia will play T20Is against West Indies and England ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup, that gets underway in mid-October.

Where will the 2022 Asia Cup be held?

Charbel Coorey
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Where will the 2022 Asia Cup be held?

Cricket News: Where will the 2022 Asia Cup be held? | What format will the 2022 Asia Cup be?

The 2022 Asia Cup is set to be moved from Sri Lanka to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to the political and economic situation in the island nation. According to ESPNCricinfo, the decision was made at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting earlier in the week, with the significant shortage in fuel in Sri Lanka considered a major concern.

Asia Cup 2022 set to be moved to the UAE

Dubai and Sharjah are set to host the 2022 Asia Cup between August 27 and September 11 after the tournament was originally scheduled for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will still be the official host, and while they were previously confident – as recently as last week – of hosting the tournament, the ongoing unrest makes it difficult to host such an event.

The news comes as Sri Lanka successfully hosted Australia for a full-fledged tour and are currently playing Pakistan. However, hosting a bilateral series is different to this Asia Cup, where as many as nine teams will participate.

Ashley de Silva, CEO of SLC, confirmed this in an interview with ESPNCricinfo on July 17. “Hosting two teams is not the same as hosting ten teams. You have to provide ten buses with fuel for all of them,” he said.

de Silva continued, “You have to give every team a luggage van with fuel, and transport for the managers. You also have to give the sponsors transport and ensure that they are getting the mileage that they want from their sponsorship. The fuel for the generators to run the floodlights will also have to be found.”

Asia Cup 2022 schedule to be announced on July 22 in a T20 format

The Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. This will be the first such instance of the UAE hosting a T20 Asia Cup, after the region hosted the tournament in an ODI format in 2018, where India prevailed over Bangladesh in a thrilling final in Dubai.

The schedule, to be announced on July 22, is set to have two Pakistan vs India matches in the league phase. Such a fixture is always going to bring the big crowds, and the situation in Sri Lanka would be a significant hurdle.

“There are also two India vs Pakistan matches, and there will be people who want to travel and watch those matches. People might not be happy to travel to Sri Lanka because of the situation.” de Silva said.

ENG vs IND 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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ENG vs IND 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

ENG vs IND 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs India 3rd ODI Key Players | Old Trafford Pitch Report

Who thought the bowlers would be this dominant in an ODI series consisting of two strong batting lineups in England? Well, that is exactly how it has transpired, with an average of just 20.53 per wicket, only made better thanks to India’s 114/0 in the first match.

Which batting lineup will stand up and be counted? Much of the focus remains on Virat Kohli’s lack of runs, but the focus for India needs to be more partnerships. They began to string partnerships together at Lord’s, only to be cut short en-route to a disappointing 146-all out in pursuit of what looked a very gettable 247.

For England, the bounce back was terrific. They have been accustomed to winning high-scoring matches over the years, but the ability to defend a sub-250 total – courtesy mainly of Reece Topley’s remarkable 6/24 – is cause for confidence. However, like India, they regularly strung small partnerships together without carrying on to make the bigger scores.

On a warm day in Manchester that may aid swing and drift, a good start will be crucial with the bat for both sides in the decider.

ENG vs IND 3rd ODI Possible Playing 11

Craig Overton was steady in the second ODI, but England could look to give Sam Curran an opportunity.

England: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Jonny Bairstow, 3. Joe Root, 4. Ben Stokes, 5. Jos Buttler (c & wk), 6. Liam Livingstone, 7. Moeen Ali, 8. David Willey, 9. Craig Overton/Sam Curran, 10. Brydon Carse, 11. Reece Topley

In addition to whether India can seal this series, a lot of focus is on Virat Kohli’s form. Pakistan captain Babar Azam showed support to Kohli, who is short of runs.

India: 1. Rohit Sharma (c), 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Virat Kohli, 4. Rishabh Pant (wk), 5. Surykumar Yadav, 6. Hardik Pandya, 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Mohammed Shami, 9. Jasprit Bumrah, 10. Yuzvendra Chahal, 11. Prasidh Krishna

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

England:

  • Jonny Bairstow showed glimpses of his best form in the second ODI (38 off 38 balls) but couldn’t go on. He has an outstanding record in ODIs at Manchester, with 425 runs in eight matches at an average of 60.71. This includes two fifties and two centuries.
  • Joe Root is also yet to influence this series. He averages 49.26 in 20 ODIs vs India, but will be seeking an improvement on his record at this ground: 7 inns, 186 runs, avg. 26.57, SR 78.15.
  • Jos Buttler’s average of 20.27 in 18 ODI knocks against India remains a concern. He struck a memorable 110* against Australia on this ground in 2018.
  • Reece Topley was outstanding in the last match. His 6/24 was just the second time an England men’s player took a five-wicket haul in ODIs at Lord’s. His battle against Rohit in particular could make for good viewing.
  • Incredibly, David Willey is England’s leading run-scorer in this series (62). His lower order runs could be of importance in a decider.
  • Willey’s battle with India’s top three is also of significance. In ODIs, he has dismissed Rohit once in 39 balls (22 runs), Dhawan twice in 87 balls (54 runs) and Kohli in the last match.

India:

  • Rohit Sharma struck a memorable 140 on this ground against Pakistan in the 2019 World Cup. His battle with England’s left-arm seamers could be key to the result. If he gets through the initial phase, he can go big as he loves batting in England in ODIs: 26 inns, 1,411 runs, avg. 67.19, SR 90.68.
  • It has been the case of a few good shots then out for Virat Kohli. One innings can be all it takes to find his stride again. He has struck two fifties in three ODIs at Old Trafford, so can this be the day he gets a big score?
  • Hardik Pandya’s battle with England’s hard-hitters will make for riveting viewing. After setting a record in the first T20I, Hardik then displayed glimpses of his all-round ability in the last ODI (2/28 and 29).
  • India will aim to have Mohammed Shami bowl to Jos Buttler. He dismissed the star cheaply in the second ODI, which is the fifth time he has dismissed Buttler in 52 balls in ODIs.
  • Shami has taken an impressive 17 wickets in seven ODIs against England in England (avg. 17.64). In 10 ODIs overall in England, Shami has 26 scalps at an average of 16.30.
  • Yuzvendra Chahal was brilliant in the second ODI (4/47). He hasn’t had the best of outings at Old Trafford, with three wickets in three ODIs at an average of 51.67 and economy rate of 6.46.
  • Jasprit Bumrah has taken eight wickets in this series and 30 scalps in 16 ODIs in England. Overall at Old Trafford, Bumrah has figures of 3/100 off 24 overs.

Other Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 105, England 44, India 56, ties 2, N/R 3.
  • Should India send Suryakumar Yadav up to number four? He recently scored a brilliant century in the third T20I and was looking in decent touch in the second ODI (27 off 29 balls).
  • Prasidh Krishna has taken 20 wickets in nine ODIs at an average of 19.00 and economy rate of 5.05. This includes two four-wicket hauls.
  • Jason Roy has scored just 92 runs in six ODIs at Old Trafford at an average of 15.33. He scored 63 in one of the innings.
  • Ben Stokes also has moderate batting numbers on this ground: 5 inns, 86 runs, avg. 21.50.

Old Trafford Manchester Pitch Report and Weather

Sunday will mark the beginning of a string of very hot days in Manchester. Temperatures are expected to reach degrees in this day game, with cloud cover forecast. This may assist swing in the early overs. No rain is expected.

The last time an ODI was played on this ground was in 2020. Australia played three ODIs behind closed doors in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The average first innings score in that series was 275.67, with the team batting first winning two of the three games.

ENG vs IND 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction 17 July 2022

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.

Option 1:

ENG vs IND 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs India 3rd ODI Key Players | Old Trafford Pitch Report
ENG vs IND 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

ENG vs IND 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs India 3rd ODI Key Players | Old Trafford Pitch Report
ENG vs IND 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base Team:

  • Wicket-Keepers: Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler
  • Batsmen: Rohit Sharma, Joe Root
  • All-rounders: Hardik Pandya
  • Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Reece Topley

ENG vs IND 3rd ODI Match Prediction: Who will win?

If there was ever an unpredictable match, this is it. Both teams have shown that they can dominate with the ball, and both sides are also capable of clicking with the bat.

Ultimately, a total of 270+ can be a tough chase with both bowling attacks in good touch.

World Test Championship WTC Fixtures for 2025-27

Tarkesh Jha
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World Test Championship WTC Fixtures for 2025-27

Cricket News: World Test Championship WTC Fixtures for 2025-27 | Draft of 2025-27 WTC Fixtures announced

ESPNCricinfo has acquired a near-final draft of the Future Tours Program (FTP) of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The schedule broadly lays out the matches to be played out by the 12 Full Member nations between March 2023-April 2027. It includes the fixtures for the coming two cycles of the World Test Championship that will be held from 2023-25 and 2025-27 respectively.

As of now, the draft only comprises the countries against which the nine Test-playing countries will play home and away matches against in the coming WTC cycles.

2025-27 WTC fixtures

Australia will battle it out against New Zealand, Bangladesh and England at home in the 2025-27 tourney of the WTC. They will have away tours to India, South Africa and West Indies during this time period.

Bangladesh will face England, Pakistan and West Indies at home whereas they will play Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa as a part of their overseas assignments.

England will be hosting New Zealand, Pakistan and India and they will visit Australia, Bangladesh and South Africa for their away series’ during the 2025-27 WTC cycle.

India will play home series’ vs South Africa, West Indies and Australia. Their overseas tours will be at England, Sri Lanka and New Zealand respectively.

New Zealand, as evident from the previous paragraph, will host India along with Sri Lanka and West Indies. The Kiwis will be touring Pakistan, England and Australia.

Pakistan will be hosting the trio of South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Their away tours will be at West Indies, Bangladesh and England.

South Africa will play home series’ against Bangladesh, Australia and England. The Proteas will have subcontinental tours to India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka is scheduled to host Bangladesh, South Africa and India whereas they will tour Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand.

Finally, West Indies will be hosting Australia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan and the men from the Caribbean will be touring India, New Zealand and Bangladesh during the 2025-27 WTC cycle.

Further details from the aforementioned draft document will be shared in upcoming articles in CricBlog.

Which teams will compete in the 2022 T20 Men’s World Cup?

Charbel Coorey
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Which teams will compete in the 2022 T20 Men’s World Cup?

Cricket News: Which teams will compete in the 2022 T20 World Cup? | List of the 16 teams that will compete in the 2022 T20 World Cup

Zimbabwe and Netherlands have booked their place in the 2022 T20 World Cup to be played in Australia after winning their respective Semi Finals in the World Cup Qualifier B tournament.

Hosts Zimbabwe prevailed over Papua New Guinea by 27 runs, overcoming Tony Ura’s brilliant 66 off 35 balls. PNG’s most prolific batsman had Zimbabwe worried for a period of time, bringing back memories of the African nation’s heartbreaking defeat against UAE in the 2018 ODI World Cup Qualifiers.

This will be Zimbabwe’s first appearance at global ICC event since the 2016 T20 World Cup. They missed out on qualification for the 2019 ODI World Cup and were unable to compete in the 2021 T20 World Cup due to a suspension handed down by the ICC.

Things were more straight forward for Netherlands, who will make their fifth appearance at a T20 World Cup. The Dutch eased past United States of America, winning by seven wickets after restricting them to 138. Bas de Leede starred with both bat and ball as he scored 91* and took 2/23 in a brilliant all-round display.

16 teams confirmed for 2022 T20 Men’s World Cup

Zimbabwe and Netherlands join Namibia, Sri Lanka, Scotland, Ireland, West Indies and United Arab Emirates (UAE) in round one of the World Cup. These teams will be split into two groups, with the top two in each group moving onto the Super 12 stage.

The Zimbabweans and Dutch will face off in the T20 World Cup Qualifier Final on Sunday to decide which group they will be in. The winner will join Ireland, Scotland and West Indies and the loser will join Sri Lanka, Namibia and UAE.

List of teams in the 2022 T20 Men’s World Cup

Teams in the Super 12s:

  • Afghanistan
  • Australia
  • Bangladesh
  • England
  • India
  • New Zealand
  • Pakistan
  • South Africa

Teams in round one (four will qualify to the Super 12):

  • Sri Lanka
  • West Indies
  • Namibia
  • Ireland
  • Scotland
  • UAE
  • Zimbabwe
  • Netherlands

The tournament will kick off on Sunday, 16 October. Sri Lanka will face off against Namibia in Geelong.

Babar Azam backs Virat Kohli: fans praise the Pakistan star

Tarkesh Jha
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Babar Azam backs Virat Kohli: fans praise the Pakistan star

Cricket News: Babar Azam backs Virat Kohli: fans praise the Pakistan star | Babar Azam throws support behind Virat Kohli

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has backed Virat Kohli to recover from his current run of indifferent form. Kohli scored 16 off 25 deliveries as India succumbed to 146 whilst chasing a modest target of 247 runs in the second One Day International (ODI) of the India-England series at Lord’s.

The 33-year-old has been under fire from all quarters due to his waning returns with the T20I and ODI World Cups nearing in the coming year. Former cricketers like Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag and Venkatesh Prasad have publicly stated their thoughts on bringing in some new blood particularly in India’s T20 setup.

Now, the former India skipper seems to have found an unlikely seconder in Azam. In a short but significant tweet, the 27-year-old wrote, “This too shall pass. Stay strong. #ViratKohli.” He also put up a picture of the duo from the India-Pakistan game from the World T20 last year.

Babar, Rohit back Virat Kohli to come good

Kohli and Azam seemed to share a warm camaraderie during and after the aforementioned T20 World Cup match in Dubai.

Amidst all the hullaballoo, captain Rohit Sharma has repeatedly reposed his faith on Kohli’s abilities and highlighted his incredible contribution so far towards Indian cricket. “Why is this discussion happening? I can’t understand this,” he responded to a journalist probing about Kohli’s form in the press conference after the second ODI.

Rohit added, “He [Kohli] has played so many matches. He is playing for so many years. He is such a great batsman so he does not need reassurance. I pointed to this in my last press conference, too: form goes up and down, that is part and parcel of any cricketer’s career.”

“So, a player like him, who has played for so many years, who has made so many runs, who has won so many matches, he only needs one or two good innings [to bounce back]. That is my thinking and I am sure all those who follow cricket will think similarly.”

Meanwhile, Kohli has been rested from the upcoming T20I series in West Indies that will commence from 29th July. Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal have also been given a break whereas KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion in the squad are subject to their fitness.

India will face off against England in the series-deciding third ODI at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground on Sunday. The team will then head off to the Caribbean for the limited-overs contests that will begin with the first game of the ODI series in Port of Spain on 22nd July.

Fans praise Babar for support of Virat

When asked about his tweet, Babar said, “Virat Kohli is one of the best players of all time, he knows how to come out of this, it takes time but we should back him”.

How many people play fantasy cricket in India?

Charbel Coorey
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How many people play fantasy cricket in India?

Cricket News: How many people play fantasy cricket in India? | A look at the growth of fantasy cricket in India

By the end of 2022, India will be home to approximately 150 million fantasy sports players. According to a survey by Indiacasinoinfo.com in 2020, 71% of fantasy players participate in cricket, which is easily the most popular. Football is next with 54%.

A look at the growth of fantasy cricket in India in the digital age

Cricket’s foray into fantasy sport can be traced back to 2001. ESPN launched its Super Selector platform, which had approximately 500,000 users during the 2003 Cricket World Cup, won by Australia in South Africa.

Nearly 20 years later, Dream11, India’s leading fantasy platform, became the title sponsor of IPL 2020, beating some of India’s leading technology companies to the post. The rise of smartphones and COVID-induced lockdowns saw a significant shift towards gaming, with growth of 40% in 2020.

In fact, fantasy cricket was gaining significant traction even prior to the pandemic. A report by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) revealed that fantasy sports grew by more than 100% in 2019, representing remarkable growth as fans have taken to the added dimension fantasy sports gives to the viewing experience.

How does fantasy cricket work?

If you have never played fantasy cricket before, it is quite a simple concept. For each match, you pick a team of 11 players whom you think will perform well. Points are awarded for a player’s performance (i.e. runs, wickets, catches), and the better a player performs, the more points you can earn.

Typically, you need to pick a minimum of one wicket-keeper, three batters, one all-rounder and three bowlers.

What are the risks associated with fantasy cricket?

Because players invest money in the fantasy app with the aim of winning more prize money, there is a financial risk involved. If done responsibly, fantasy cricket can a fun and rewarding experience. However, if not enough care is taken on the part of the player, it can be quite stressful.

To minimise the risk of significant financial and mental harm, it is important all players follow these tips:

  • Don’t simply choose all matches in the hope of winning. Pick the matches you are most confident in.
  • Don’t place all your money in one contest. Spread your funds around in a strategic manner to give yourself a better chance of success.
  • Set a spending limit and stick to it.
  • Research. Take the time to become familiar with head-to-head stats, player matchups, pitch conditions and more. CricBlog’s comprehensive fantasy cricket previews can help you make some informed decisions.

The rise of fantasy cricket has certainly changed the viewing experience for fans. With the appropriate research and understanding of the game, fantasy cricket provides an opportunity for fans to gain even more knowledge on cricket. And it will only continue.

Manchester weather forecast for ENG vs IND 3rd ODI

Charbel Coorey
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Manchester weather forecast for ENG vs IND 3rd ODI

Cricket News: Manchester weather forecast for ENG vs IND 3rd ODI | Weather forecast for 3rd ODI between England & India

England and India will contest the ODI series decider in very warm conditions at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday. According to AccuWeather, Sunday will be the start of a heat wave in Manchester, with temperatures expected to touch 30+ degrees celsius.

Manchester weather forecast for ENG vs IND ODI series decider

Conditions could favour swing bowling at Old Trafford. Cloud cover of 66% is forecasted throughout the day, coupled with warm weather that is often the recipe for movement in the air. However, wind gusts of about 30 km/h might limit any swing, and may bring the spinners into the game with drift.

The heat is also on the batting teams as the bowlers have dominated the ODI series so far. In what was anticipated to be another high-scoring ODI series in England, both the English and Indian bowling attacks have stood up to deliver victory.

In the first match, Jasprit Bumrah took the best ever figures by an Indian against England in ODIs to bundle the home side out for just 110 at The Oval. Reece Topley then responded with a superb six-wicket haul at Lord’s to lead England’s comfortable defence of 246.

ALSO READ: Reece Topley, Jason Roy and Laurie Evans share secrets on England and Surrey teammates in funny interview

Both teams to seek winning return to Old Trafford

The last time India were in Manchester for ODIs was in the 2019 World Cup. It was a case of a high followed by a low, as India beat arch-rivals Pakistan but then lost the Semi Final in heartbreaking fashion to New Zealand.

England’s last ODIs at Old Trafford were in 2020. The home side lost 2-1 to Australia in a series played behind closed doors and a strict bio-secure bubble in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schedule and dates for BBL 12

Tarkesh Jha
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Schedule and dates for BBL 12

Cricket News: Schedule and dates for BBL 12: All the matches and dates for the BBL 2022/23 season | When will BBL 2022/23 start?

The upcoming 12th season of the Big Bash League (BBL) will commence from 13th December, 2022. The season finale will take place on 4th February, 2023 with a total of 56 games to be played in the group stages.

Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars will battle it out in the opening match of the campaign at Manuka Oval.

Defending champions Perth Scorchers will kick-off their season on 17th December by facing off against Sydney Sixers at Optus Stadium.

Eight teams; Adelaide Strikers, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Stars, Melbourne Renegades, Brisbane Heat, Sydney Sixers, Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers will participate in this season of the BBL.

BBL 12 schedule and dates

The group stage fixtures will run from 13th December-25th January. There will only be a single off day, i.e., on 25th December due to Christmas, during this time period. The eliminator, qualifier and knockout games are scheduled to be held on 27th January, 28th January and 29th January respectively.

Thereafter, the Challenger will take place on 2nd February. The summit clash is slated to be played on 4th February. The venues for the playoff encounters have not been finalised yet.

“We’ve been clear since the end of last season given the disruption of two years that rebounding really strongly this season is such a critical thing for us to achieve. This season is one of if not the most important seasons we’ve had in recent years,” BBL general manager Alistair Dobson was quoted in a report by the ESPN Cricinfo.

Accordingly, the BBL has returned back to its traditional mid-December start date along with a seven-game home schedule for each of the sides after two Covid-affected seasons.

The coming campaign also received a boost through Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) withdrawal from their scheduled three-match ODI series in January. Most of Australia’s top stars will now be free from international assignments after the New Year’s Test in Sydney from 4th January-8th January.

Players like Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey and Usman Khawaja amongst others are likely to feature for their respective clubs at some or the other point of the season.

“Every player that represents Australia is someone the BBL would love to have playing and given the majority of those centrally contracted players are already part of the BBL, it’s such an exciting part of the competition,” Dobson opened up on this issue, as reported by cricket.com.au.

He added, “Now that we have clarity on the BBL season and international schedule, it gives us and our clubs the opportunity to have another conversation with those players around whether they’re able to participate and whether they’ve got the capacity given such a hectic (international) schedule they’ve got for the next 12 to 18 months.”

Three new venues including the Lavington Sports Ground in Albury, the North Sydney Oval and the Cazalys Stadium in Cairns will be a part of the 17 stadiums that will host the BBL games this season. 45 games will be broadcasted live by Seven whereas there will be complete coverage by Foxtel and Kayo for all the 61 matches.

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