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1st T20I Preview: Move over Test cricket, the Calypso are back in the hunt against South Africa

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In their latest video on social media posted by the Cricket West Indies, hard-hitting all-rounder Andre Russell is seen smashing some deliveries out of the park in the nets. It's a classic West Indian move, in the face of adversity, smash it out of the park, turn the game on its head. And Russell is not alone, across the world, there is enough evidence to suggest that the West Indian flair in the shortest format of the game is well revered.

The advent of the T20 series helps in the context too. West Indies are in familiar territory now and they finally get a chance to, well, forget the nightmare that the Caribbean side suffered during the Test series against South Africa earlier. 

They are set to host South Africa in a five-match T20I series in Grenada beginning on Saturday (June 26, 2021). 

The T20I squad though won’t be the same as the Tests and has the likes of Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, captain Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Russell and Fidel Edwards. The Caribbean side is one of the lethal teams when it comes to T20I format. 

But on the other side, they are facing South Africa who are equally dangerous if not more. The Proteas do have some exciting batsmen in the ranks but it's their fast bowlers who are pretty dangerous on their day. 

The African team suffered a defeat in the last T20I series that they played against Pakistan and would be looking to change fortunes for themselves against West Indies. 

So, an exciting encounter can be expected when the West Indies batsmen face the South African pace attack. 

Match Details

Match – West Indies vs South Africa – 1st match

Venue – National Cricket Stadium, St George’s, Grenada

Time – 11:30 PM IST, 06:00 PM GMT

Where to watch live – Fancode

Pitch Report

The ground has hosted only one T20I so far and witnessed a high-scoring clash between West Indies and Ireland. Ireland who batted first posted 208/7 in 20 overs after riding on a 47-ball 95 from Paul Stirling. In reply, West Indies just fell of the score by 4 runs and ended up with 204/7 on the board. 

There are chances of rain in the afternoon as well which might cause delay in the game. 

So going by the previous game at the venue and the chances of rain, it could get tricky for the teams to choose if they want to bat or bowl first. Losing the toss won't hurt, but if possible, just going by the sheer amount of runs scored in the last encounter. Bat first.

Team News

West Indies: The home side is seeking to turn tables in the T20Is after they suffered a thumping defeat in the Tests. The side has the firepower in the batting department especially with Chris Gayle in the top-order and Russell, Pollard and Bravo in the middle. 

Apart from the batting, the conditions may help Pollard and Bravo with the ball as well. The two players have the ability to deceive the batsmen with their slower ones and instances of the same have been witnessed during the IPL. 

South Africa: South Africa suffered a blow ahead of the T20I series after all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius tested positive for COVID-19. The cricketer didn’t travel with the squad to Grenada. Though, he was asymptomatic and is following the protocols. Meanwhile, Wiaan Mulder has replaced Pretorius. 

Captain Temba Bavuma is also returning to the squad after he had missed the Test series first with a hip injury and then a dislocated finger. The South African team also has a strong batting line up but the eyes would be glued to the pacers in testing conditions and against a batting unit that is pretty dangerous. 

Probable XI

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Kieron Pollard (C), Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Hayden Walsh Jr, Oshane Thomas

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, George Linde, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Anrich Nortje

Fantasy XI

Quinton De Kock, Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle (VC), David Miller, Aiden Markram, Rassie Van Der Dussen, Andre Russell (C), Kieron Pollard, Sheldon Cottrell, Dwayne Bravo, Kagiso Rabada

Discover more

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India likely to play two warm-up matches ahead of England series

The Indian team is likely to play two warm-up matches ahead of their five-match Test series against England. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCC) secretary Jay Shah would be talking to the England and Wales Cricket Board about the same. “Jay (Shah) will be speaking to ECB and its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tom Harrison to make an arrangement for two warm-up games before the five Test match series,” BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal told The Indian Express. “The secretary felt that the BCCI should request the ECB to give at least two warm-up games so that players can get in some good match practice before the series starts.” Skipper Virat Kohli had also emphasises on having at least one first-class match before going into the series. "We obviously wanted first-class games, which I believe have not been given to us. I don't know what the reasons for that are. But yeah, other than that I think our preparation time will be ample for us to be ready for the first Test,” Kohli had said. The Indian team didn’t really get any match practice before the final of the inaugural World Test Championship against New Zealand. India suffered a defeat after New Zealand chased down a target of 139 runs by 8 wickets on the reserve day of the match in Southampton. The Blackcaps captain Kane Williamson struck a vital half-century to see his side home. The Kiwis had played a two-match Test series against England and won it by 1-0 before the WTC final.

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3rd T20I Preview: England to experiment with combination, SL forced to make alterations

England have been in some top form in the on-going T20I series against Sri Lanka at home. The hosts have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series after winning by 5 wickets in a rain-curtailed encounter in Cardiff. Unlike the first match, the home side had a nervy start to the chase in the second after suffering blows during the chase but a steady stand between Sam Billings and Liam Livingstone and a late surge from Sam Curran took England home while chasing 103 in 18 overs (DLS method). The Sri Lankan bowlers gave a good fight despite the batting unit’s failure to put up a good total. The Kusal Perera-led side hasn’t been in form especially with the bat in this series. In the first game too, they were restricted to 129/7 in 20 overs before Jason Roy and Jos Buttler took on the Lankan bowling attack. While the 2-0 lead has provided England with the chances of making few changes and experimenting with the combinations, Sri Lanka on the other hand would be looking to win this last T20I to gain some confidence and might be forced to make alterations in the final XI. Match Details Match: ENG vs SL, 3rd T20I, Sri Lanka tour of England, 2021 Date: Saturday, June 26, 2021 Time: 7:00 PM Venue: The Rose Bowl, Southampton Pitch Report The conditions and the track in Southampton had something on offer to the fast bowlers during the WTC final. Well, something similar could be expected as England take on Sri Lanka at The Rose Bowl. The fast bowlers from both the ends are in some good form and can have a slight edge. So, if you win the toss, bowl first. Team News England: England at present look pretty steady with their combinations. The batsmen have been among some runs and the bowlers have been in top form thoroughly in the series. Openers Jason Roy and Jos Buttler showed some class with the bat in the first match while the middle-order chipped in with some valuable contributions when there were early hiccups. The presence of someone like Sam Curran in the lower middle-order adds to the advantage. The youngster has been a brilliant customer with the ball for England so far and can also fetch quick runs at any given stage of the game. Nevertheless, with World T20 in mind later this year, the hosts are likely to make some changes in the final XI and experiment with the combinations. Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka are struggling with their batting. The batsmen have been unable to put up a fighting total which has eventually ended them up on being on the losing side. But there have been certain positives for the visitors as well in the series. The bowlers did show some mettle in the second match and didn’t let the match slip away easily. Now with nothing to lose, the Lankan lions would also be looking to make the alterations in the playing XI. Probable XI England: Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Eoin Morgan (c), Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid Sri Lanka: Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera (c & wk), Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep Fantasy XI Jos Buttler (c), Kusal Perera, Jason Roy (VC), Kusal Mendis, Liam Livingstone, David Willey, Dasun Shanaka, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Isuru Udana, Chris Woakes

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Sri Lanka's batting woes continue as England take unassailable 2-0 lead in the series

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PSL 2021 | Final: It's like we've found a new Shoaib Akhtar; Azhar Mahmood can’t praise Dahani enough

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