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Will try reach 2023 ODI World Cup in India: Ross Taylor

Charbel Coorey
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Will try reach 2023 ODI World Cup in India: Ross Taylor

Keen to play 2023 World Cup in India: Ross Taylor | NZ batsman Ross Taylor aiming to play until the 2023 ODI World Cup at least

Ross Taylor has dropped a hit of not retiring before the ICC 2023 ODI World Cup as he feels it will be “definitely on the radar” for him. In a media interaction after the New Zealanders landed Auckland, the captain said that 2023 is going to be a stretch for him.

“I think, at the best of times, when it was (supposed to be held in) February and March. And now, the World Cup has been dragged out to October and November ’23, it’s another six or seven months to hang around. You’ve got to have short-term goals and long-term goals and the one-day World Cup is definitely on the radar. I might have to trim things back leading into that – I’m not getting any younger. It doesn’t mean I will make it, but, it’s definitely one of my goals”, he said.

The 36-year-old is also about to hit another milestone in the coming days. In five games, he will be the country’s most capped international player crossing Daniel Vettori’s 437-game mark. NZ is gearing up for home series against West Indies, wherein the teams will clash for three T20Is and two test matches.

“I was really happy to play one or two games for New Zealand,” he said. “I’ve still got to get there first, but my mentor, Martin Crowe, always used to say records are meant to be broken for the next guy to come beat. Whatever number of games I end up on, hopefully, Kane [Williamson, who has 291 caps] and whoever comes through can beat that and keep setting the bar higher.”

If the 2020 calendar would have turned out as planned, he would have already reached the milestone. Talking about the long break from the hectic schedule imposed due to the pandemic, Taylor feels desperate to get back to playing. “When you’re a parent, it’s nice to have your kids around, but you’ve normally got a little bit of your mind on the game you’re playing in a couple of days’ time,” he said. “To have a complete break away from that and not have the excuse to that you’ve got a game in a couple of days’ time and to be present with my family was something I’ll never forget.

“But, at the same time, you’re only a cricketer for a certain period of time, and I’m not getting any younger, so I’ve got to make the most of every opportunity I can.”

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

England will visit India for four Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is

Charbel Coorey
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England will visit India for four Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is

England will visit India for four Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is | India set to host England for Tests, ODIs and T20Is in early 2021

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly recently revealed that England will most likely visit India for a full-fledged tour early next year. Though the complete itinerary hasn’t been announced, there are talks about Ahmedabad hosting a day-night Test match. In a virtual press conference, Ganguly said that the board has to keep assessing the situation, as care needs to be taken as a lot of people are talking about the second COVID-19 wave.

“England is touring India for four Test matches, three ODIs, and five T20Is. It is easy to have bilaterals as there are just two teams”, he said to the media. The T20Is are planned as it will give a good boost for both the teams to prepare for the upcoming ICC World Cup.

Talking about scheduling IPL 2021 in India, the President said that they are trying their best to arrange it in the country itself. “We are trying to have the next IPL in India. It’s a tournament for India. I always tell people that they need to be here to see what IPL means to India”, he said.

Meanwhile, Indian team is in Australia for Down Under series, wherein they will engage with the home team for three ODIs, three T20Is, and four Tests. The first ODI will be played on Friday at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on November 27.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

Australia will stay away from verbal volley – David Warner

Charbel Coorey
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Australia will stay away from verbal volley – David Warner

David Warner says Australia will stay away from verbal battles with India | Australia will stay away from verbal volley – David Warner

Australian batsman David Warner is looking forward to the upcoming duel against India starting from November 27.

The Aussies have a long history of sledging and playing mind games with their opposition. However, this year Warner has said that the team would try not to engage in any kind of verbal volleys.

After last India’s Test victory, the series has urged interest in all the cricket fans. However, Virat Kohli’s exit after the first Test match, as well as injuries to Ishant and Rohit, puts pressure on the visitors. “For me, personally it’s about getting in the contest, so that’s basically when you’re out there, you’re trying to feel for something,” Warner said.

“Last summer, I was coming off the back of the England tour, so I really had to knuckle down and try and concentrate as much as I could, and try and get into a battle out there and contest with the opposition. I managed to find that in a different way and it worked, and for me, it’s about trying to find that balance again when I’m out in the middle.”

Talking about Ajinkya Rahane taking over the team’s captaincy after Kohli leaves, Warner said that his calm, collected and measured attitude will push them to perform too. “It’s like chalk and cheese with two of them two and as a player to try and engage him on the field, as we’re talking about engaging, and getting into that contest as players, we obviously got to think about how to do that especially with Ajinkya as captain. The great thing from India’s perspective is that you’ve got three if not four very good players who could captain the team at any time. With him, he’ll bring a calm and measured approach with his nature”, he added.

Initially reports suggested that Rohit Sharma will be able to return just in time for the Test matches. But now the possibility of him reaching Australia looks tricky. Warner also mentioned that Sharma’s absence is a big loss for the team India. “He’s a big piece of their team they’re going to be missing, but they’ve got great in-form guys, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, and Mayank [Agarwal],” Warner said. “These guys played in the IPL, so you’ve got guys in good touch and great talent and depth in Indian cricket to take that position of Rohit. He’s a big hole in their team up the top, but you’ve got guys who can replace him who is in a form that will do a good enough job, if not better, as we saw in India.”

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

Shahid Afridi misses his flight ahead of LPL campaign

Charbel Coorey
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Shahid Afridi misses his flight ahead of LPL campaign

Shahid Afridi misses his flight to Sri Lanka ahead of the LPL campaign | Shahid Afridi expected to miss first 2 games of LPL after missing flight

Shahid Afridi, captain of Galle Gladiators, missed his flight to Sri Lanka for the Lanka Premier League (LPL) campaign. Afridi tweeted about this incident by saying “Nothing to worry, I’ll be reaching soon to take part in the LPL for Galle Gladiators”.

The Gladiators have their first match on November 26 which means that the captain is likely to miss the first two matches. Once he reaches Sri Lanka, a three-day isolation is a must before he joins the bio-secure bubble.

This is the second setback that the team management had to take on in a week’s time. Initially, Lasith Malinga, who was the captain of GG, withdrew his name from the tournament on short notice. Then it was Sarfaraz Ahmed who was picked by the team but he also dropped out of the league after his selection in the national team for the New Zealand tour.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa who is the vice-captain of the team is likely to take charge until Afridi reaches the country.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

Rohit & Ishant Sharma to miss Test series – Reports

Charbel Coorey
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Rohit & Ishant Sharma to miss Test series – Reports

Rohit & Ishant Sharma to miss Test series – Reports | Concern for Indian cricket team as Rohit and Ishant are doubtful for the Australia Test series

According to reports on Tuesday, Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma are likely to miss the Australia-India Test series, as the recovery from their respective injuries is seeming to take more time than originally planned.

The first Test is scheduled at Adelaide on December 17. The 14-day quarantine period imposed by the Australian government makes it mandatory for Rohit and Ishant to prove their fitness and leave in the coming two-to-three days. However, going by the media reports, setbacks in Rohit’s hamstring injury and Ishant’s ribcage injury makes their trip doubtful.

There has been no communication between the National Cricket Academy and Indian team management regarding their return yet. Indian coach Ravi Shastri said of Rohit speaking to ABC Sports that things could get difficult if he’s asked to wait for too long because then you’re talking of the quarantine again, which might make it really tough for even him to come just in time for the Test series.

“He was never going to play the white-ball series, they were just looking to see how long he needed the rest because you can’t afford to be resting for too long,” Shastri said on Rohit not being part of the limited-overs squads. “If you need to play in the Test series or any red-ball cricket, you’ve got to be on the flight in the next three or four days. If you aren’t, then it’s going to be tough.”

While updating the squads for the Australia tour, the BCCI had said: “The BCCI Medical Team has been monitoring Rohit Sharma’s fitness and has briefed All-India Senior Selection Committee on the same. In consultation with Sharma, it has been decided to rest him for the ODIs and T20Is in Australia to regain full fitness and he has been included in India’s Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.”

If Rohit misses the Test series, it would put the Indian team in a tricky spot considering skipper Virat Kohli’s return after the first Test match. Though the team has KL Rahul as a back-up opener, India will still miss the quality that Rohit delivers.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

Cricket Australia confirms full fixture for BBL 10

Charbel Coorey
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Cricket Australia confirms full fixture for BBL 10

CA confirms full fixture for BBL 10 | Cricket Australia announces schedule for Big Bash League 2020 | BBL 10 schedule

Cricket Australia (CA) has finally announced the schedule for the second-half of the Big Bash League, after announcing the December schedule a few weeks ago. The cricket board announced that Perth, Melbourne and Sydney will see extensive cricket and every club will play in front of their home fans this summer.

This news comes as CA has had to keep an eye on COVID-19 developments around the country, which look promising as the states are doing their best to keep things under control.

CA’s Head of Big Bash League, Alastair Dobson, described the BBL 10 fixture as “the boldest schedule in Australian sport since the pandemic began. This schedule is a testament to the strength of the League and ensures our fans around the country will get the chance to see their KFC BBL clubs in action on home soil,” Dobson said.

Earlier, CA had confirmed venues for matches that were put in line for December at that point due to uncertainties imposed by the pandemic. In today’s full fixture they have confirmed that five matches will be played at Perth’s Optus Stadium, including four Perth Scorchers games, while Sydney will host eight games as well as the 11 in Melbourne.

“On top of what had previously been announced for December, there are also three additional matches for the Adelaide Oval, two more at the Gabba, four more at the Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium and another two at Blundstone Arena in early January. The BBL will roll into Melbourne from January 14 when the Melbourne Renegades host the Brisbane Heat in the first of five games at Marvel Stadium. The summer’s first Melbourne Derby clash will see the MCG will host its first BBL|10 match on January 17, with the fixture to be repeated at Marvel three days later on January 20”, said the official statement.

Cricket Australia (CA) has finally announced the schedule for the second-half of the Big Bash League, after announcing the first half schedule a few weeks ago. The cricket board announced that Perth, Melbourne and Sydney will see extensive cricket and every club will play in front of their home fans this summer.

This news comes as CA has had to keep an eye on COVID-19 developments around the country, which look promising as the states are doing their best to keep things under control.

CA’s Head of Big Bash League, Alastair Dobson, described the BBL 10 fixture as “the boldest schedule in Australian sport since the pandemic began. This schedule is a testament to the strength of the League and ensures our fans around the country will get the chance to see their KFC BBL clubs in action on home soil,” Dobson said.

Earlier, CA had confirmed venues for matches that were put in line for December at that point due to uncertainties imposed by the pandemic. In today’s full fixture they have confirmed that five matches will be played at Perth’s Optus Stadium, including four Perth Scorchers games, while Sydney will host eight games as well as the 11 in Melbourne.

“On top of what had previously been announced for December, there are also three additional matches for the Adelaide Oval, two more at the Gabba, four more at the Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium and another two at Blundstone Arena in early January. The BBL will roll into Melbourne from January 14 when the Melbourne Renegades host the Brisbane Heat in the first of five games at Marvel Stadium. The summer’s first Melbourne Derby clash will see the MCG will host its first BBL|10 match on January 17, with the fixture to be repeated at Marvel three days later on January 20”, said the official statement.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

David Warner supports Joe Burns as opening partner

Charbel Coorey
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David Warner supports Joe Burns as opening partner

David Warner supports Joe Burns as opening partner | David Warner says he has built up a good combination with Joe Burns

David Warner has backed Joe Burns as his most effective opening partner for the upcoming Test series against India. Chairman of Selectors Trevor Hohns has made some new admissions after the success of Will Pucovski. Ever since his debut news broke, the talks about who will be open with David Warner has become a point of discussion.

Recently while talking to the media, Warner mentioned how his bond with Joe Burns has only grown over time, as he had with Chris Rogers.

“I know you guys would like an answer. For me to be honest I’ve had over a dozen opening partners and it’s never been quite stable. I think they gave me the opportunity to ask me who I feel comfortable with, and when I was batting with Rogers we had a great partnership, and we bonded really well together out in the middle,” Warner said. “I think with me and Joe, we’ve done that over the past few years.”

Hohns had made it clear though that Warner’s choice would be given preference especially after their strong performance seen in the Test team last summer. “I’ve known Joe for a long time, we’ve played out in the middle together, we know each other’s game very well, but it’s upon the selectors to pick the right person to fit that position. If they go the way of Will, he’s batting fantastic, he’s been in and out of the Test squad and he removed himself with some sad times with his mental stuff. So for him, he’s in the right frame of mind at the moment, it probably is an opportunity for him to come into the team”, Warner said.

Warner also mentioned that Hohns has not spoken to him yet on this matter, and if they do he will be honest about the comfort he shares with his “good friend” off the field as well.

“I know last year we were both quite nervous when we were going into that first Test and then for him coming back into that team, not getting the opportunity in England, there are a few nerves that float around. But we obviously know how to get off strike with each other, but that’s just normally what you do anyway as a cricketer – if Will’s there he’s not going to do anything different. So it’s about building that bond and relationship and we’re the two that go out there together all the time when we face up, so you’ve got to have that bond and partnership”, he added.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

West Indies a chance to tour Bangladesh in January

Charbel Coorey
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West Indies a chance to tour Bangladesh in January

West Indies a chance to tour Bangladesh in January | West Indies could tour Bangladesh in January 2021 for Tests

West Indies team might visit Bangladesh in January 2021 for a Test series amid the Covid-19 pandemic worries. In an exclusive interaction between Cricket West Indies president Ricky Skerritt and Dhaka-based Maasranga TV, he admitted that the pressures that Covid has brought to world cricket are significant in terms of revenue. Bangladesh is among very few Full Member teams that have not participated in any international cricket since March.

Initially, Bangladesh had proposed for three Test matches, but there are talks to reduce it to two matches. BCB Chief Executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury and Skerritt both have confirmed this to the media.

“I just want to assure you that we will always send the best available team to any tour that we undertake, including Bangladesh. We believe a tour to Bangladesh is always a challenging tour because it is an environment that’s very different from our own conditions. But we have always done well in Bangladesh. Our players enjoy playing against Bangladesh. At the moment we are fairly evenly matched and it is always a good series between West Indies and Bangladesh. We are doing everything we can to participate in tours abroad and at home. The Covid-19 pandemic is making it extremely difficult to implement our plans”, Skerritt said.

Chowdhury also mentioned that CWI is concerned about the prolonged length of the bio-secure bubble in Bangladesh. Hence, they have requested to reduce the series to Test matches. “It is not final yet. The West Indies cricket board has requested us, as staying inside bio-bubble for a long time is tough for players,” Chowdhury had said. “They requested to consider if it is possible to shorten the duration of the series. In that case, one of the options is to reduce one Test match. We are still discussing the issues, nothing is finalised yet.”

West Indies were the first team to tour out of their homeland after the pandemic (vs England) and Bangladesh has so far participated only in a domestic tournament, the President’s Cup.

“We want to be sure that the protocols established in Bangladesh meet the requirement that we have established so far in the various tours we have been on,” Skerritt said. “There are case studies to benchmark from. This is not going to be the first overseas tour. As you know, we did the first overseas tour to England. Certain standards were set, certain learnings were achieved, and I think once Bangladesh can meet those standards, I don’t think there’s going to be any major problem. We just have to verify in our own way that the situation will be safe for all concerned.”

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

Good news for Adelaide Test as restrictions set to be relaxed

Charbel Coorey
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Good news for Adelaide Test as restrictions set to be relaxed

Good news for Adelaide Test as restrictions set to be relaxed | AUS vs IND Adelaide Test set to go ahead as planned due to lockdowns lifted

The Australia-India Day/Night Test will happen as scheduled in Adelaide as the state has received a timely boost with the short lockdown that will be lifted after the weekend. Cricket Australia released a statement in which South Australia police commissioner Grant Stevens indicated that of the latest COVID-19 cluster in Adelaide could be contained as hoped, and the broader restrictions with Victoria might be eased from December 1.

“Victoria’s Shield schedule also changed over time, after they were forced to spend two weeks in lockdown when entering South Australia last month. ODI and Twenty20 players and staff from Western Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland who were in Adelaide for the Shield bubble have also had to fly to Sydney early this week to avoid a quarantine period”, said the CA statement.

South Australia has recorded three new Covid-19 cases today and all of them has been isolated in medi-hotel quarantine. Travis Head is the only Test player that has moved out of Adelaide to prepare for the summer matches in Coffs Harbour. “You have to be adaptable, that’s the main focus of the summer,” Head said. We were on a golf course three days ago and now we’re in Coffs. We have already come out of one bubble so we have experienced that already”, he added.

All associated with Cricket Australia were on high alert after 17 cases of COVID-19 sending panic throughout the suburbs of Adelaide. This prompted a sharp, six-day lockdown by the South Australian government, which will soon be lifted as they are confident of containing the spread of COVID-19.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

Tiring out Jasprit Bumrah crucial – Josh Hazlewood

Charbel Coorey
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Tiring out Jasprit Bumrah crucial – Josh Hazlewood

Tiring out Jasprit Bumrah crucial – Josh Hazlewood | Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood says it’s crucial to tire out Jasprit Bumrah

The Australia vs India Test series has not started yet but has garnered a lot of eyeballs, already. The 2018-19 performance by the Indian team, especially Jasprit Bumrah’s 21 wickets, has the tourists believing they can perform well again.

And now after his splendid performance in IPL 2020, there has been a lot of anticipation regarding Jasprit Bumrah in the upcoming Test series. Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood has called Bumrah probably the key player of the series in a recent interview.

“Bumrah is probably the standout. He is unique with his action. He maintains pace very well throughout the day and the whole series. He is probably the key. He can take wickets up front or with the old ball. I guess it’s about getting a lot of overs into him, try to tire him out in the first couple of games. That will be the key,” Hazlewood said.

Also read: What makes Jasprit Bumrah so special?

The Australian pacer took 13 wickets in the last series against India, though he admitted that in the last couple of years Indian pacers have improvised their skills in a significant way. “They out-bowled us the last time they came. That went a long way for them in winning the series. They have most bases covered with their quicks. If Ishant Sharma gets here at some point it will add to their strength. They are all a little bit different. For the last 10-15 years, Indian pacers have kept improving. Our batters will have to be on their toes to counter that”, he added.

Australia-India has a long history of cricket rivalry and it has been a matter of interest for all cricket fans. The last Test series was the first time that Aussies had lost a home series to India, which speaks for itself. However, this year it’s going to be tricky as the captain of the Indian team Virat Kohli has taken paternity leave after playing the first Test match in Adelaide. His aggression on the field is something that acts as a key motivation in Test cricket especially when the opposition is this strong.

“Australia-India rivalry is up there with the Ashes. India has probably added to it, the last time when they came here and won. That was some tight series. We don’t lose too many series in Australia. That certainly hurt at the time. We know the guys who were at that time. I will remember that. It gives motivation this time around,” the pacer said.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

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