Biggest name in world cricket: Ian Botham lavishes huge praise on Ben Stokes

SA vs ENG: Ahead of the first T20I, Morgan still not sure of his best XI

England captain Eoin Morgan is not sure of his best XI going into the T20I series against hosts South Africa, starting with the first T20I in Newlands, Cape Town. The problem is not of shortage but of plenty, as after the covid-19 break, this is the first time that the full England squad is at the display for his choosing. “No, I don’t know my best XI. There are probably seven or eight guys who are strong candidates (for the remaining places). With a full-strength squad here there is so much to discuss around team selection,” Morgan said on the eve of the first T20I. “We are playing what we think is our best XI to beat South Africa here and now. But also think, looking ahead to the World Cup, that we will need the option of two spinners,” added the 34-year-old captain. However, one thing was made certain that Sam Curran would get the preference over fellow all-rounder Moeen Ali in the playing XI, mostly because the conditions in South Africa are seamer-friendly. Talking about Curran, who had a brilliant IPL season, with an otherwise dull Chennai Super Kings, Morgan said, “Sam has certainly grown in confidence, probably even more so with the bat than the ball. He was certainly thrown in all sorts of circumstances and had all sorts of challenges but came out the other side glowing, which is great.” “If we have the luxury of two all-rounders in the side in Ben and Sam, that’s huge,” added the Dublin born, who plays for Middlesex in the England domestic competition. Morgan also said that Jofra Archer might get a game or two but wouldn’t play often considering the workload and the idea of keeping him fresh before the World Cup. . “He’s one of the best in the world, he is coming off the back of being named MVP at the IPL,” said Morgan. But I don’t think we will have him that often in between now and the World Cup,” he said.

I thought Rohit would be fit, when he played IPL: Kohli sparks controversy

The Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli has added fuel to the fire in the ongoing Rohit Sharma injury conundrum, saying that he thought Rohit was fit when he played the Indian Premier League Playoffs. Reacting to the news of both the senior pros Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma might not be available for the upcoming test series which begins with the first Test in Adelaide, Kohli said, "[They] would've been better if they had traveled to Aus with the team and done their rehab.” The 32-year-old, speaking particularly on Rohit’s injury, looked as baffled as any other Indian fan and said, “I thought Rohit would be fit when he played in IPL.” Kohli, who has sought paternity leave from the BCCI and will not be available for the Test series post the first match, said that the only information he and the team have is that NCA will further assess Rohit on Dec 11. He termed the situation of the Indian team as per the injuries as having ‘a lot of confusion’ without any clarity. This statement of the captain has come on the eve of the first match of the tour when the Indian team would play Australia in the first ODI of the three-match series at Sydney. Earlier Rohit said that he had always kept the BCCI in the loop about his injury and its progress and hence he was amused that there was so much confusion about the issue.

Devon Conway looks forward to potential debut by ‘staying in the moment’

Having piled up runs both in the first class and in the Super Smash, the domestic T20 competition of New Zealand, the only thing that Devon Conway, the South Africa born Wellington star was looking forward to was a New Zealand debut. This wish of his is most likely to be fulfilled once the kiwis take on the West Indies in the first-ever T20I of the three-match T20I series in Eden Park, Auckland. Sitting on the cusp of the debut, the 29-year-old said, "It's all very exciting that it's happening. I'm just looking forward to getting out there for a potential debut.” He further said that he is looking forward to the opportunity no doubt, but by still staying in the moment and not thinking too much about it. "To be honest, I don't listen too much about the expectations people have for me. I think about staying in the moment and to focus on the task at hand. Whatever else happens. I try to get away from that sort of thing.” Saying that one never knows as to when an opportunity is going to come, so he prefers to be ready for it and not look too far ahead. “It's been pretty special - being with this group of players, and the environment and culture they have, getting to know them better. That being said, I'm still waiting for the final XI for tomorrow to be announced,” Conway added. There is no doubt that the South Africa-born is looking to cement his place in the team for the T20 World Cup next year and he talked about it in detail as well. "With the T20 World Cup coming up in 2021, it's about working out all the positions and the best XI. And learning to execute your roles, be it in New Zealand conditions, Australian conditions, or Indian conditions,” he said. Conway played against some of the Windies bowlers in a first-class game as part of New Zealand A squad and reckons that the time in the middle against the opposition will boost his confidence. "Having the opportunity to play against some international bowlers was a big boost. Having the time out in the middle, I can take the confidence into the T20s as well, even though it's a different format,” said Conway who scored 46 not out, and 41 in two innings. Speaking on the issue of the Black Lives Matter, Conway, who leads the charts in the current Plunkett Shield with 410 runs to his name in just seven innings at an average of more than 47, said that his captain Tim Southee and the management have briefed the team about the issue and he is excited to be able to support the Caribbean team and the entire community in its struggle. “It was awesome to hear about [how] we can support and get behind them tomorrow. It's a really good initiative that is creating awareness worldwide. Now it's all about backing that decision and supporting it any way we can," he said.

ECB brings 3 more measures to make English cricket more inclusive, diverse

The process of rooting out racism and discrimination in the English cricket is well on track as the England and Wales Cricket Board has announced three new comprehensive measures under the flagship Inspiring Generations strategic plan. The three new policy measures such as structuring of a new commission for equality in Cricket, a forum for the race in cricket, a new equality code of conduct were approved by the board on 24 November and these will set precedent for the better and new equality, diversity and inclusion Plan over the course of next few months to tackle and weed out any form of racism and inequality in the English Cricket. Independent Commission for Equality in Cricket This commission will be headed by an independent chairman and will comprise of independent members who will help the ECB in the evaluation of inequalities and discrimination of all forms in English cricket. Forum for Race in Cricket The ECB has decided to set up a forum for discussion on race in cricket in order to facilitate itself in listening to people across the game who have had a variety of living and learning experiences. The forum will provide the board with a confidential, safe space to listen and learn from those lived experiences in order to foresee challenges and chart out a plan of action for better development of the game. Equality Code of Conduct The ECB has mandated this new Equality of conduct for all cricket organisations under its jurisdictions and has asked all of them to implement it before the 2021 season. The board has asked its member organisations to treat discriminatory behaviours in their jurisdictions through disciplinary processes set out by this new code of conduct. Shedding light on the Inspiring Generations strategic plan, ECB Chairman, Ian Watmore said that the board aspires to make the game more inclusive and that there are many more efforts underway to achieve that broader goal. He reaffirmed the stance of ECB that all discriminatory behaviour is unacceptable, and that it is fully committed to driving it out of the game. “The primary aim of the ECB’s Inspiring Generations strategy is to make cricket a game for everyone and many actions are well underway and helping to make cricket more diverse and inclusive. While continuing with this work and increasing its impact, we are equally clear that all discriminatory behaviour is unacceptable, and are committed to driving it out of the game through better governance, education, training, role modelling and behavioural change, but also through disciplinary action when necessary. Continuing to listen to the experiences of people, whether positive or negative and engaging with independent expertise will help to inform, strengthen and challenge our thinking and plans as we move forward. Taken together, these steps will ensure that the ECB achieves lasting change,” Watmore said. On the other hand, the ECB CEO, Tom Harrison said that the board has tried to listen to as many people as possible who have had the experience of facing and dealing inequalities and exclusivity and it will carry on the path to make the game even more inclusive and diverse. “This year we have listened to many people from across the game and beyond, to understand where we must be better in making our sport inclusive and diverse, and tackling discrimination. The measures we have announced today, and the broader Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan we will launch, build on and accelerate the work we have already done in recent years. We will continue to learn how, as a game, we become more representative of the communities we strive to serve,” Harrison said. Moreover, the ECB will launch its full Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan for 2021-24 next year with the objective of making cricket a game for everyone irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, sexuality, social background or disability.