Depth around Australia cricket is not where it needs to be so there's some work to do: Ponting

Sourav Ganguly's brother Snehasish admitted to hospital

Former India captain and present BCCI President Sourav Ganguly’s brother Snehasish was hospitalised on Saturday. He had a stomach infection according to sources. “He has a stomach infection and his COVID infection has turned negative,” hospital sources told PTI. Snehashish who is currently CAB’s secretary at the moment had undergone angioplasty earlier this year. Another source close to the CAB secretary said that he was feeling unwell on Friday. "He started feeling uncomfortable on Friday evening and keeping in mind the fact that he had an angioplasty done a while back, it was felt best to get him admitted to the hospital and keep him under observation. Around 1 am he was taken to the Woodlands hospital as he also had a fever. He is doing fine now and there is nothing to worry about," the source said while talking to ANI. Snehasish has played cricket at the domestic level and represented Bengal in 59 first-class matches where scored 2534. He was also capped 18 times in List A matches and scored 275 runs for the side. Ganguly is presently in England with his wife but is keeping a track of the situation. The former left-handed batsman had also undergone angioplasty at Woodlands Hospital earlier this year.

IPL 2021 | ECB, Cricket Australia confirm players' availability, claim franchise CEOs

The Cricket Australia (CA) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have officially informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that the Australian and England players will be available for the remaining fixtures of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which will now be played in the UAE in September-October. The IPL COO Hemang Amin further informed the franchises about the development. “We have got a call from the IPL office and have been informed that the boards have no objection to their players' participation. It is now up to the players," Kasi Viswanathan of Chennai Super Kings told Cricbuzz. The likes of Moeen Ali, Sam Curran and Jason Behrendorff are a part of the CSK setup in the cash-rich league. ”Our Australian and English players (Jason Behrendorff, Sam Curran, Moeen Ali) are available," the CEO of the franchise added. The Punjab franchise has the Australian players, Riley Meredith, Moises Henriques and Jhye Richardson and a couple of England players, Chris Jordan and Dawid Malan in the ranks. Punjab Kings CEO also confirmed that the players have been granted the clearance to participate in the competition. “We've been told of the clearance. Now the team manager will contact the players individually," Punjab Kings CEO said. Apart from this, Australia opener David Warner has confirmed his availability to play for the SRH which also comprises England's Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy while former Australian skipper Steve Smith and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis will also feature in the remainder of the IPL for Delhi Capitals. The IPL 2021 was suspended on May 4, 2021 after a Covid-19 outbreak within the franchises.

ENG vs IND | 2nd Test: Playing at Lord's brings the best out of me, says James Anderson

England pacer James Anderson bagged another five-wicket haul at Lord’s, his seventh at the venue in his Test career. The right-arm bowler has said that Lord’s is “extra bit special” and brings the best out of him. “There’s something that is extra bit special about Lord’s, certainly for me. I do love it here. It just seemed to bring the best out of me,” said Anderson. Anderson’s scalps included the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah in the first innings. Talking about his career, the fast bowler said that he is hoping to play at Lord’s one more time. “The last few times I’ve been here you do think ‘is this the last time I’m going to play here?’ Hopefully, it’s not my last time here or my last time on the honours board,” he said. The visitors rode on some brilliant batting from KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja to post 364. In reply, England were 119/3, trailing India by 245 runs when the stumps were called on Day 2 of the second Test. Captain Joe Root was unbeaten at 48 while Rory Burns was dismissed for 49. Mohammed Siraj scalped a couple of wickets for India before the day’s play was concluded.

Rahane, Pujara are world-class players & know how to get back among runs: KL Rahul

India opener KL Rahul has put his weight behind Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara who are going through a rough patch for quite sometime now. Rahul who scored a brilliant century in the first innings of the on-going second Test at Lord’s against England has said that both Rahane and Pujara are world-class and experienced players and have helped India come out of a tricky situation on a number of occasions in the past. “Pujara and Ajinkya have done the job for India many times when we were in trouble. They are world-class and experienced players so they know how to come out of a couple of innings where they haven’t scored runs,” Rahul said at the press conference after the second day’s play. The right-handed batsman further put the onus on the conditions and said that it’s tough to get runs in England. “You have also to realise they are playing in tough conditions. In English conditions batting is always going to be challenging, you are going to get good balls. You can’t go out there and score runs in every innings, but if you get a start you make it count,” he added. While Rahane was dismissed for 1 in the first innings of this on-going Test, Pujara just managed to get 9 before he was sent back to the pavilion. However, India rode on some fine batting from Rahul, Rohit and Jadeja to put 364 before getting bowled out in the first innings. England on the other hand had a cautious start to the proceedings but eventually lost wickets to end Day 2 at 119/3 with captain Joe Root at the crease at 48 and Bairstow at 6, trailing India by 245 runs.