BCCI asks franchises to ensure full vaccination of all UAE-bound squad members

ENG vs IND | 1st Test: James Anderson rejoices 'unusual' early scalp of Virat Kohli

England pacer James Anderson scalped India skipper Virat Kohli’s wicket on the first delivery that the right-hander faced during the second day of the first Test in Nottingham. Talking about the dismissal after the day’s play, Anderson said that it was “unusual” to get Kohli out so early. “I feel like I’ve challenged Virat in that area before. He either played or missed or left it. He’s always been good enough to sort of get through and today it was just one of those days where he nicked it. Getting Kohli out that early was quite unusual,” Anderson said at the end of day’s play. Kohli nicked the ball while trying to push a full length delivery, bowled just outside the off-stump channel and Jos Buttler completed the catch quite easily. The right-handed batsman had faced some issues in the same area during the 2014 tour to England where he just managed to score 134 runs in five matches but made a roaring comeback in 2018 and notched up 593 runs in the five-match bilateral tie. India finished the day’s proceedings at 125/4, trailing England by 58 runs. The visiting team witnessed a batting collapse after openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma gave a steady start in the first innings. The two batsmen had put 97 for the first wicket before India were reduced to 125/4 with the likes of Sharma, Kohli, Pujara and Rahane back in the pavilion.

ENG vs IND | 1st Test: Rohit Sharma defends playing 'his shots' after wasting another start

India opener Rohit Sharma has said that he would play “his shots” if the ball is in his radar while defending his stroke that got him out on the second day of the first Test against England in Nottingham. Rohit had pulled a short delivery from Robinson and was caught in the deep by Sam Curran for 36. “Like you said it is my shot, so I have to play shots, as we saw in the first hour of play, we did not get any loose balls and their bowlers were quite disciplined,” Rohit said at the post-day press conference. “So, you have to take your odd chances when the ball is there, you got to punish them. Of course, you know, when it’s around the time of close of play, you feel disappointed and that is what I am feeling about it (the dismissal),” he added. India looked steady till the end of first session on Day 2 after Rohit and KL Rahul had put 97 for the first wicket. But the visitors then witnessed a collapse after the likes of Rohit, captain Virat Kohli, Cheteswar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were sent back in the hut before the play was halted due to rain. India were 125/4 before stumps were called, trailing England by 58 runs with Rahul and Rishabh Pant unbeaten at the crease.

Welsh Fire vs Trent Rockets: When & where to watch match Live, Probable XI, Fantasy XI

The Welsh Fire will meet the Trent Rockets in the 20th match of the inaugural edition of The Hundred to get back on the winning ways after missing their and England’s most prolific batsman in white-ball formats—Jonny Bairstow. The right-hander has gone to play for England in the Test series against India and the Fire have had to manage the campaign without him. Skipper Ben Duckett has picked up momentum with the bat but needs support from others such as Tom Banton, Glenn Phillips and James Neesham. The Trent Rockets, on the other hand, have been able to put a near-perfect show so far in the competition and won three out of the four games played this season. The presence of experienced players of T20 format such as Alex Hales, D’arcy Short and Rashid Khan are giving them a competitive edge over other sides. Welsh Fire vs Trent Rockets: Match Details Match Number- 20 Date and Time: 06 August, 2021, 11:00 pm IST, 06:30 pm Local, 05:30pm GMT Venue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Wales Live Stream: FanCode Pitch Report The pitch in Cardiff has traditionally been damp and it should not be any different for this game. The boundary size straight down the ground is not huge and batsmen would enjoy hitting the balls to the river outside the ground. Welsh Fire Probable XI Tom Banton (WK), Joshua Cobb, Ben Duckett (C), Glenn Phillips, Leus du Plooy, James Neesham, Matthew Critchley, Ryan Higgins, Qais Ahmad, Matt Milnes, Jake Ball Trent Rocket Probable XI D Arcy Short, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Samit Patel, Lewis Gregory (C), Tom Moores (WK), Rashid Khan, Luke Wood, Matthew Carter, Marchant de Lange, Timm van der Gugten Fantasy XI Tom Banton(WK), Tom Moores, D Arcy Short, Alex Hales(C), Dawid Malan, Ben Duckett (VC), Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Rashid Khan, Marchant de Lange, Timm van der Gugten

1st Test, Day 2 report: James Anderson halts India's dominance before rain plays spoilsport

If throwing away massive opportunity from the position of a lion in a game would have been an art, this Indian batting order under the leadership of Virat Kohli should be top-rated artists of it. Having started the day from 21/0 and then to 97/0 just before the lunch break, India gave a stiff competition to England in terms of collapse and slipped to 125/4 by the time rain arrived to frustrate both sides. Rohit’s familiar undoing Rohit Sharma was showing immense composure around his off stump, and even though he could not trap England bowlers to bowl straight to him, he was solid in his crease. He was mindful of England’s eagerness to induce him into driving through off side, and he did not take the bait for the longes part of his batting. The right-hander was looking set for a big one, but as they say, England’s newest talisman Ollie Robison tested the bounce off the pitch. Just minutes before his short ball to Rohit, Sky Sports commentators were discussing if England were one-dimensional in their approach and should they try short ball against Indian openers. On cue, Robinson got one to bounce high to Rohit’s right shoulder, and an impulsive hooker that Rohit is, hooked him straight to Sma Curran at deep square leg boundary to end yet another impressive innings that could well have been a career-defining one. It was not the first time Rohit went back to the pavilion in that manner. Earlier in the year, he had hooked Pat Cummins just minutes before the scheduled close of play to hand over the advantage to Australia. Rohit would do well to remember that getting starts in English conditions are the most difficult task for openers in Test cricket, and he should not be throwing his hard work and patience just for the poor application of shots. He should learn to deny himself the opportunity to go all guns blazing after picking up a short ball, and he would do well to remind himself that if only providing good platforms to the side was enough to leave a legacy, Cheteshwar Puajra would not have faced such critical observation every now and then. KL Rahul’s resurrection While Rohit threw away a good start and initial hard work, KL Rahul was in no mood to let go of the chance that came his way based on luck. He to was watchful around his off stump and their discipline compelled former England captain Andrew Strauss to say that “Indian batsmen are good to be watched at for a whole day”. He was vigilant but started cutting loose after the first hour of the day. He was eager to put bowlers under pressure and took full toll of overpitched deliveries from desperate England pacers. Sam Curran, used all the variations of his angle, to test his application, but after scoring crisp boundaries and regaining control around off stump, Rahul was ready with the front foot down the pitch of the ball to drive him down the ground and through the cover. He remained not out and his stay and score will dictate how far India will go in the game before unleashing Bumrah and Shami on the England batting group. Anderson wins first bout against Kohli Kohli was welcomed with resounding reception as a full house Trent Bride could sense what was coming. The duo has had a compelling history to excite fans of the game and the scrip did not look any different. Anderson was all over Kohli in the 2014 series, while the Indian skipper bounced back strongly in the next series in 2018. The contest between them started at a critical juncture of the game as England were looking to snatch the momentum back from India. The contest went fully in Anderson’s favour as an outstanding first delivery from the pacer drew Kohli reaching out away from his off stump and the ball caught the edge of his bat to leave England cock-a-hoop. Unarguably the most tenacious bowler to have ever played the game, Anderson brought England ahead in the game with two big wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara and Vira Kohli on two consecutive balls. Looking ahead to the third day The forecast for the third day does not seem to be too good compared to the second day of the game where the game was reduced to just one and a half sessions. However, if England would be able to see the back of one among Rahul or Rishabh Pant, they would feel confident of taking the first-innings lead. India would bank on Pant’s methods to cut down the current defect of 58 runs as quickly as possible and then building a lead over it to put the fragile England batting order under serious pressure. Rahuls’ composed presence at the crease will be critical for India as he can shift his gears according to changing situations of the game, and some half an hour of successful aggressive cricket can turn the tide back in India’s favour.