England announces an eventful schedule for summer 2021

After announcing that they will be fulfilling their commitment to touring Pakistan in October 2021, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today set out plans to host international series across men’s, women’s, and disability cricket in 2021’s eventful summer.

All the matches would be played across various grounds in England and Wales next year, instead of the dual-venue affair, it was this summer.

The men’s team would host the three Asian teams in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka while the women’s team would be hosting South Africa and New Zealand.

A five-Test series against India would headline the English summer. However, the summer would start with matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. While England is supposed to take on Sri Lanka from 29^thJune in a three-match ODI series beginning with the first ODI in Emirates Riverside Durham.

This series would be followed by a limited-overs series against Pakistan, beginning with the first ODI in Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on Thursday 8 July. After the three match ODI series, the three-match T20I series would begin on Friday 16 July with the first T20I in Trent Bridge.

The next and most important series of the summer would be the five-Test affair with India in which the English Team would host Virat Kohl’s men over one month with the first Test beginning from 4^th August in Trent Bridge and the last being played in Emirates Old Trafford from 10-14 September.

England Women will play both ODI and T20I series against both South Africa and New Zealand.

All ticket purchasers for the summer will be provided with a Ticket Refund Promise to guard against the potential impact of Covid-19 next summer.

“We had an amazing summer of international cricket this year with some memorable performances, and we know how much enjoyment it brought to people whilst staying at home. Next year we’ve got another big international program to look forward to, with the thrill of a five-Test series against India as the centerpiece,” ECB Chief Executive Officer, Tom Harrison said in a Press Release.

Further plans of hosting New Zealand for two Tests and Sri Lanka for two tests and a T20I series are dependent upon the schedule of the World Test Championship Final, which would be played in Lord's next year.

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Indian head coach Ravi Shastri is back in business

Indian head coach posted a picture of him training with the players during an outdoor session for the team which is currently under quarantine after reaching Australia for an almost two-month-long tour. While players have been seen doing various net sessions, simulation training, and gym sessions and posting them on their social media accounts ever since they have landed in Sydney, it was the first activity on coach Shastri’s social media account after a long time. “Great to get back to business - with @hardikpandya7 @SDhawan25 @imShard #TeamIndia #AUSvIND,” the Indian coach wrote on his Twitter account posting photos from the training sessions with the likes of opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan, all-rounder Hardik Pandya and fast bowlers Shardul Thakur. While the ODI series between India and Australia begins on 27th November, the Test series which Team India won last time and created a record by becoming the first Asian team to win a Test series on Aussie land would begin from 17th December in Adelaide. "I'll tell you how satisfying it is for me (winning) World Cup '83, (winning) World Championship '85, this is as big or even bigger because this is in the truest format of the game, that's Test cricket which is meant to be the toughest,” Shastri had said after the 2018-19 Test series win for India, which they had won for the first time in their 71-year-old history.

Not a single month’s rest! Team India players' jam packed schedule in 2021

After a lean 2020, which mostly saw players chilling at home due to the pandemic, 2021 would be a hectic year for Team India. The Indian cricket team is scheduled to play a total of 14 Test Matches, 16 ODIs & 23 T20Is this year from January to December. All this is still a bilateral tournament. Apart from the bilateral tournaments, Team India would also play the Asia Cup T20 and ICC T20 World Cup. InsideSport has reported that BCCI is committed to honoring all commitments of canceled series, events in 2020, and in such a scenario the 12 months are all packed with continuous cricket which includes the Indian Premier League as well. “We understand it will be tough on the players but we are obligated to honor FTP (Future Tour Programs) commitments. We have a bigger pool of talent now and players we will make sure players get ample rest before called in for India duties. Rotation policy will surely come into play”, a BCCI official was quoted as saying. The team after returning from Australia in January will host England for four Tests, four T20Is, and four ODIs, in what would be an over two-month-long tour of India for the Poms. Once that gets over, the IPL 2021 would start in late March and go on till mid of May. This IPL might also see rejig as a mega auction is expected for 2021. In June Virat Kohli and Co. will travel to the island nation for a three-match ODI and five-match T20I series. Over there itself, the Men in Blue would defend their ACC Asia Cup T20 from June end to mid of July. Before traveling to England in late July, the bench strength of the Indian team would be tested as they would travel to Zimbabwe to fulfill their FTP commitments. In England, the team would play the five-match Test series over two months. This would also mark the start of the second edition of the World Test Championship. South Africa would be traveling to India as a preparatory before the T20 World Cup where the Indian team would play three ODIs and five T20Is in October. In November, the much anticipated ICC T20 World Cup would be played in India itself. Soon after the World Cup, India will welcome New Zealand for two Tests and three T20Is to be played between November and December. At the end of the year, The Indian cricket team will travel to South Africa for a series of three Tests and as many T20Is.

England confirms Pakistan tour, it's first ever in 16 years

England and Wales Cricket Board announced that the England limited-overs side will tour Pakistan in October 2021 for a two-match T20I series to be taken as a preparatory tour for the T20 World Cup scheduled to be played in India in November 2021. The two T20Is will be played in Karachi on 14 and 15 October 2021, while the team would land in Pakistan on 12th October and depart for India on 16th. It would be the first tour of Pakistan for the England team in 16 years as the ECB confirmed it Tuesday evening following last month’s invite by the PCB for a short tour in January 2021. Although England have played bilateral series with Pakistan in 2012 and 2015 that had taken place in UAE as the team last toured Pakistan in 2005 and played three Tests and five One-Day Internationals. “It’s a real pleasure to announce that the England men’s IT20 squad will be playing in Pakistan in October 2021. This will be the first time since 2005 that an England team has toured Pakistan and as such it represents a significant moment for both nations,” Tom Harrison, ECB Chief Executive Officer said in a Press Release. Stressing that both ECB and the Pakistan board have a strong relationship, Harrison said that the ECB was delighted to be able to play its part in ensuring the safe return of international cricket to the ‘wonderful nation of passionate cricket fans’. Wasim Khan, PCB Chief Executive was also happy with the announcement and said that it will serve as a watershed moment in international cricket's return to Pakistan. “I am delighted to confirm that England will be touring Pakistan to play two T20s in October 2021. This will open the door for both Test and White Ball tours in 2022-23. We also expect Australia to visit Pakistan for their FTP commitment in early 2022, with England returning for both Test and White Ball tours in 2022-23,” he said.

Sudeep Tyagi retires from all forms of cricket at 33

Former India and Uttar Pradesh paceman Sudeep Tyagi, who was once touted to be the next big thing in the Indian fast bowling department announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Tuesday, 17th November. Tyagi, who played four ODIs and a lone T20I for India is only 33, but injuries and lack of form led him to take such a drastic decision. “I want to thank each one of you who has supported me. I have achieved what is every player’s dream to represent the country and wear the Indian flag is a dream I lived,” he wrote in a note on Twitter. The Ghaziabad-born made his India debut in an ODI against Sri Lanka in December 2009 at the Feroz Shah Kotla on a pitch that was considered unsafe and the match was called off. In that game, Tyagi picked up a wicket as well. His last game in Indian colours came against South Africa in February 2010 in an ODI at Ahmedabad. The UP speedster came into the reckoning when he picked up a 10 wicket haul on Ranji debut and followed it up with a nine-wicket haul in his second game and was instrumental in taking UP to the finals of the 2007 Ranji season. A good season with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL in 2009 meant that he was drafted in the Indian team as a ‘great future prospect’. Tyagi thanked MS Dhoni the Indian captain under whom he made his debut. He also thanked UP stalwarts in Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, and RP Singh for their guidance in his parting note. “I want to thank M.S Dhoni under whom I played my first ODI. I thank my role models Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, RP Singh alongside whom I had the opportunity to debut my career for UPCA,” he wrote. Apart from UP, Tyagi also represented Hyderabad and Saurashtra in the Indian domestic circuit and in total took 109 First class and 31 List A wickets in a career marred with plenty of injuries.