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

There probably won’t be a game: SA's CMO warns before the first T20I

The Cricket South Africa’s Chief Medical Officer has warned the media and the people that if more positive cases are reported in the Proteas camp, then there might arise a situation when no game would take place between the hosts and England, the touring party. Addressing the Press ahead of the first T20I in Newlands, a part of the three-match T20 series, CMO Shuaib Manjra said, "There probably won't be a game.” Already two South African players have tested positive for the virus and have been isolated from the rest of the team members. "If you've got lots of positives you've got a quarantine context," Manjra said. "We cannot bring in a player from the outside without testing them at least twice before we bring them into this space,” he added. However, the doctor was still positive that too many cases won’t result positive and hence it would be possible to conduct the series. “If a large group of people tests positive we wouldn't have adequate opportunity to bridge people into the bio-bubble. But we've got a squad of 24. Hopefully, we can put a team together," he said. The South African players have tested in the morning on Thursday and results are expected by the evening.

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.