If you do well at this level, selectors will notice: Dravid signals great opportunity for youngsters

SL vs IND | Unrealistic to expect everyone to get a game, says Rahul Dravid

India’s coach on the team’s Sri Lanka tour has confirmed that every player cannot get a game, contrary to what people believed was the mantra of his coaching. The 48-year-old also differentiated between the international level and Under-19 and A level saying that at those levels it was possible to give opportunities to all, but right now the important thing is to win the series. “It’s slightly different. When you’re at the developmental level, the goal is different from this,” he said. “We have a really good squad here, 20 players. It will be unrealistic to expect everyone to get an opportunity in this short series,” Dravid added. This is the first time that the former India skipper is involved with the senior team as a coach and he feels that youngsters, even if they don’t get playing time, could learn a lot from senior guys. “We’ll come up with what we think is the best combination to win the series. There are plenty of youngsters, even if they don’t play, it’s a great opportunity for them to learn from seniors like Shikhar,” he said. Saying that “It’s very different worlds - Under19 and A team and this,” Dravid also emphasised that the treatment of this series is going to be different from what we have seen from Dravid so far. The Indian team will play three ODIs and an equal number of T20Is on its Sri Lanka tour starting with the first match on July 13 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

WI vs SA |1st T20I: Hosts annihilate Proteas after Test series debacle

Following a drubbing at the hands of the Proteas in the two-match Test series, the Caribbean team came roaring back to form in a format where they feel comfortable with. Courtesy impressive bowling performance from Fabian Allen a breezy knock of 71 by Evin Lewis, the hosts thrashed South Africa by 8 wickts to g0 1-0 up in 5 match T20I series. With the resounding defeat, the T20I skipper Temba Bavuma has to ponder upon the team selection that backfired. Before the start of this match, West Indies had previously chased down 160 plus scores in home conditions only once before but on this occasion, they chased down the target of 161 runs with 5 overs to spare. Windies skipper Kieron Pollard won the toss and put the Proteas in. The skipper introduced the spinners right from the word go and though Kevin Sinclair conceded a few boundaries, Fabian Allen put the brakes on the Proteas as he bagged the wicket of Reeze Hendricks after a breezy start from the visitors. He bowled with guile and bamboozled the South African batting line-up with his impressive spell of 2/18 in his 4 overs spell. Quinton de Kock looked during his stay at the crease and was eventually dismissed on 37 of 24 deliveries by Andre Russell. Rassie Van der Dussen was South Africa’s top scorer as he stroked his way to a half-century as wickets fell around him. He struck 4 fours and a couple of sixes during his knock of 56 of 38 deliveries and was instrumental in taking the visitors overs the 160 mark. Allen and Dwayne Bravo were the pick of the bowlers with a couple of wickets each. The sort of start Evin Lewis and Andre Spiceman Fletcher provided to the hosts was more of a statement to the opposition about what they are capable of especially in this format. Both looked in a complete murderous mood and raced off to a 85 runs opening partnership in just 7 overs before the dismissal of Fletcher but by then the match was almost done and dusted. The hosts were bolstered by the return of Chris Gayle and Andre Russell and the two champion match-winner didn’t disappoint their fans. Gayle was at his usual self taking his time early on and then pressing on the launchpad. Evin Lewis on the other hand didn’t spare any of the South African bowlers and literally blew them away with an unbeaten knock of 71 of 35 deliveries. Lewis was eventually dismissed by Tabraiz Shamsi in the 12th over but the hosts needed just 30 odd runs and it was the big man Gayle and Muscle Russell who sealed the deal with 5 overs to spare. While Gayle remained unbeaten on 32, Russell was batting on 23 when the victory target was reached.

ENG W vs IND W: Shafali Verma becomes youngest Indian to feature in all three formats of the game

Indian Women opener Shafali Verma became the youngest Indian to feature in all three formats of the game after she was presented her ODI cap in the first game of the three-match ODI series against England. She is making her debut at 17 years and 150 days, which is the least for Indian cricketers, male or female. In the world, she is the fifth-youngest in a list that is topped by Afghanistan’s Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman, who featured in all formats of the game when he was just 17 years and 78 days old. Haryana born Verma, was also the youngest Indian to play in a T20I when she made her debut against South Africa Women in September 2019, aged just 15 years and 236 days old. Since then, the right haded batter who reminds people of Viredner Sehwaga with her attacking batting has played 22 T20Is and a Test, scoring a combined total of 776 runs. She was presented her ODI cap by India Women skipper Mithali Raj and became the 131st women to represent India in ODIs. India were asked to bat after England skipper Heather Knight win the toss and decided to bowl first. A shocking decision was in the offing as well when India decided to bench Sneh Rana, the bowling all-rounder who saved the Test match single-handedly with her brilliant batting effort.

WI vs SA | 2nd T20I: Proteas look to bounce back after getting blanked by ruthless Windies in first game

The current T20Is taking place in the West Indies which would involve the Caribbean side locking horns with South African, Pakistani and Australian units are being seen as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup in October-November this year. In that regard, the humbling defeat that South Africa were subjected to in the first game of their 5-match series against the hosts was more than just a wake-up call for Mark Boucher and his men to get into their grooves before it is too late to recover. While the batting of Temba Bavuma’s unit was still at par, it was the bowling that lacked discipline. They were simply all over, so much so that the Windies chased down 161 in just 15 overs. There seemed to be no plan against the likes of Andre Russell and Chris Gayle, two stalwarts of the T20 format. Even when the entire world knows that short balls and wide yorkers are their weak points, South Africa decide that was a good day to forget that plan. The West Indies on their part were quite professional in all departments, be it batting or bowling and even in the field, letting no chance slip away at all, apart from a few errors in the field. Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher, the two openers looked in supreme touch and then Gayle and Russell did the rest. The chase looked more like a statement to the rest of the world, ‘watch out, we are coming to defend the title’. For South Africa to make a comeback, they need to get in a plan and follow that. Moreover, they don’t have any genuine off-spinner in the side which is a problem against a left hand heavy West Indies batting lineup. But with the resources that they have, they got to back them and Temba Bavuma needs to lead by example if the team is going to get any success. West Indies vs South Africa: Match Details Match Number- 02 Time and Date: June 27, 2021, 11:30 pm IST, 06:00 pm GMT, 02:00 pm Local Venue: National Cricket Stadium, St. George’s, Grenada Live Stream: Fancode Pitch Report The pitch in the first game was absolutely terrific with the ball coming on the ball very nicely. A batting-friendly wicket predominantly, it also had something for the bowlers if the change of pace was applied with precision as was demonstrated by DJ Bravo and Russell. Weather and Toss The conditions are going to be extremely humid and there are slight chances of rain early in the match. The toss would be crucial as the team winning it would look to chase. Team News West Indies The openers did fantastically well and thus not playing Lendl Simmons did not turn out to be any bad decision. Whether Pollard would go with the same team is yet to be seen. Obed McCoy was great with the ball too, hence chances of a Fidel Edwards come back into the side are slim as well. More or less the same unit will be playing this game as well. Probable XI Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran(w), Kieron Pollard(c), Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Fabian Allen, Obed McCoy, Kevin Sinclair South Africa For the Proteas, it is a catch 22 situation, if they change the team right now, it would be too early as just by the performance of one game, the talent of a player cannot be determined. Bit if the same team plays and loses again, then changing it in the do or die third game of the series would be too late as well. Honestly, the only change they can make is to play another fast bowler in place of Linde, most probably Andile Phehlukwayo. Probable XI Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi Dream XI / Fantasy XI team Evin Lewis, Chris Gayle, Quinton de Kock(wk) (vc), Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andre Russell (c), Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kevin Sinclair