2nd England vs New Zealand Test at Edgbaston to have 18,000 spectators at ground

Henry Nicholls rates Indian trio of Ishant, Bumrah, Shami on par with Southee, Boult and Wagner trio

New Zealand middle-order batsman Henry Nicholls said that the World Test Championship final against India will an ‘exciting challenge that the Blackcaps are looking forward to as it will be a contest of two equally dominating bowling attack. Nicholls also commended the variety of the Indian bowling lineup that is comprised of ‘proven’ seamers and ‘experienced seamers. He also rated the Indian pace trio of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah at par with the trio of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner. "India have a very good seam attack and also have the experienced spinners like Ashwin and Jadeja. They have been consistent in all parts of the world (of late) and bring quality (to attack)," Nicholls, told PTI in an interview. "Mohammed Shami along with Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma have proven their quality over the years which is similar to our seamers (Tren Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner) on whom we really pride ourselves on. "So if you are facing that kind of a line-up, it’s an exciting challenge and as a group we are expecting it to be tough but also looking forward to the challenge,” Nicholls added. India’s last game in whites against New Zealand came in early 2020 when Virat Kohli-led team were decimated by Kane Williamson-led Blackcaps. India’s number three in Tests, Cheteshwar Pujara recently downplayed the outcome of the series and had said that as the WTC final will be played at a neutral venue, it will not give an extra advantage to either India or New Zealand. Nicholls agreed to Pujara’s sentiment but with some exception and said that the neutral venue for the WTC final has neutralised any sort of advantage for teams and they will compete in a ‘level playing field.’ "It’s an exciting challenge as finally, we will be playing a Test match at a neutral venue. So that for both sides kind of levels the playing field,” Nicholls said. He differed from Pujara’s assertion on the point of confidence and said the Blackcaps will carry a lot of confidence from their series win against India in 2020. He also acknowledged that the Indian team have been on an upward curve and a contest between the top two sides are bound to be closer and riveting. "We beat them 2-0 a season back (2019-20). But we know and accept that it’s a different challenge but as a group, we take a lot of confidence from that series win against India. Obviously, Number one and two playing the final is a challenge too," he said. New Zealand have arrived in England early as they have to play a two-match long Test series against hosts England starting June 02 before competing against India in the WTC final in Southampton from June 18.

BCCI dismisses claims of non-payment to four Women cricketers

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dismissed the reports suggesting that four Indian Women cricketers, previously on the central contracts list have not been paid for eight months, the period in which the entire team was without a retainer contract. "This is absolutely false. Every player is paid in accordance with the terms of the contract with the BCCI,” ANI quoted a board official on the conditions of anonymity. A report in United Kingdom’s daily The Telegraph claimed on May 25 that four Indian players i.e. Veda Krishnamurthy, Hemalatha Dayalan, Anuja Patil and Ekta Bisht, who have not been named in BCCI’s 2021-22 central contract list for India Women, would not be paid their salaries from October 2020 to May 2021. The basis for the claim was the fact that it was the same period in which the Indian Women’s contract had ended and BCCI renewed it only in May this year. Since the renewed contract didn’t feature these players’ name and neither were they part of the only series the team played during this period, hence they would receive no payment from BCCI. Refuting these claims, the BCCI official said, “The payments have been made for the contracted period. The claim made in the story essentially assumes that a contract existed for almost eight months for which they would not be paid. This is incorrect, and I can only conclude that this is on the back of incorrect advice.” "If a contract ended in September 2020 and the payments have been made in relation to that contract, it is wrong to imply otherwise," he added. The Indian Women are currently under quarantine in Mumbai preparing for their tour of England, for which they will leave with the Men’s team on June 2.

Will Young discusses 'batsmanship' with Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor ahead of England Tests

New Zealand young batsman Will Young has been in top-notch form in the County Championship before joining the Blackcaps squad in Southampton where the tourists play an intra-squad game to get acclimatised to the conditions before the series against England. On the eve of the game, Young talked to reporters and expressed his expectations from the intra-squad game and discussing the ‘ebbs and flows’ of the game at the highest level. Young recalled the discussion with the ‘the two legends of New Zealand cricket’—Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor and said that they discussed the different phases of the game at the Test level. Young said that the conversation was focused mostly around the identification of tough and relatively easier phase of the play to bat and not on technique-related issues. “It’s interesting. You’re talking to two legends of New Zealand cricket right there. It wasn’t so much about technique, it was more about batsmanship and what it takes to score runs at the international level,” Young said to reporters. “Some of the messages that came out were identifying the periods that are tough to score and periods where it might be fractionally easier and sort of understanding you can go through such ebbs and flows and playing a long game.” Discussing the need and how the Blackcaps squad is gearing up to play the intra-squad game, Young said that the opportunity to bat in the open will allow players to get back into rhythm after spending time in quarantine and travelling. Sort of. At home, you relish the opportunity to play against these guys domestically and in camps where everyone is naturally very competitive. So, feels like a game sort of gently better when you are at the nets with these guys. It’s interesting to play this intra-squad game and get a feel of batting in the open again in the confines of nets and getting into the rhythm again. Hopefully, we will build up going into the Tests. Young’s performance in the ongoing County Championship has made the selection of the New Zealand top order very competitive with the return of Ross Taylor. The first Test between England and New Zealand will be played at Lord’s from June 2 followed by another Test in Birmingham and the World Test Championship final against India in Southampton.

Halliday, Mackay, McFadyen land maiden White Ferns contract as Thamsyn Newton is recalled

New Zealand cricket offered central contracts to its Women’s team called the White Ferns. The list included three fresh names who were getting the central contracts for the first time in their career. All-rounder Brooke Halliday, wicketkeeper batter Jess McFadyen and opening batter Frankie Mackay. Experienced bowling all-rounder Thamsyn Newton is the only face in the contract list that has made comeback after putting in brilliant performances. She was part of the White Ferns’ central contract list from 2016-18. The team’s head coach Bob Carter believes that the players picked for the retainer are the right mix that is required for the team going into the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, which will be played in New Zealand in 2022. “I would like to congratulate those players returning but especially those receiving a contract for the first time,” he said. A Northamptonshire and Canterbury First Class and List A player himself, Carter believes that new wicketkeeper McFadyen’s form could be utilised to groom her for the future. “Jess McFadyen is an exciting prospect and had strong campaigns in both the Dream11 Super Smash and Hallyburton Johnstone Shield,” he said. “We need to develop our wicket-keepers and Jess has shown ability over several seasons now. She has a wise head on her shoulders and will be an asset to the group, I’m sure,” the coach added about the 29-year-old who has two centuries and an average of over 36 in her 48 List A games. Katie Perkins, Holly Huddleston, Anna Peterson and Natalie Dodd were the ones who missed out on the list. While Halliday came to the limelight with her back to back half centuries against England Women, McKay has so far played more than 51 games for White Ferns. McFadyen though is still to make her international debut. White Ferns contract list Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr, Frankie Mackay, Jess McFadyen, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Thamsyn Newton, Hannah Rowe, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu