IND vs ENG 1st T20: Rishabh Pant does it again; now reverse scoops Archer for six

Ind-Eng T20I series to have 50% crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium

The T20I series involving India and England at the Narendra Modi Stadium would have 50% audiences allowed for the entire five-match series. “We are going to allow only 50% of the seating capacity to be used for the T20 series against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium due to the Covid-19,” Gujarat Cricket Association vice president Dhanraj Nathwani was quoted as saying to TOI. All the games of the five-match series which begins tonight, 12th March would be played at the same venue before both the teams move to Pune for the three-match ODI series. “Considering #COVID19 pandemic, @GCAMotera has decided to use only 50% capacity of #NarendraModiStadium in #Ahmedabad for the 5 #INDvENG T20 matches to be played from 12th-20th Mar'21,” Nathwani tweeted. Nathwani also maintained that all precautions related to Covid-19 have been taken care of. “All COVID-19 precautions&SOPs are being taken to ensure the safety of spectators @BCCI @JayShah.” India won the preceding Test series 3-1 and qualified for the World Test Championship.

Back to form Prithvi Shaw reveals Tendulkar's advice after getting dropped from Test

The world came crashing down for Prithvi Shaw when he was dropped from the Indian Test team following twin failures in the first Test against Australia. His technique was ridiculed by cricket fans on social media and there was immense scrutiny of his technique which was ripped open by the Australian bowling attack. The torrid tour of Australia seems to be a long way back now as Shaw has come raring back into form in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy where he has plundered more than 750 runs with an astounding average of 188.5. And now, Shaw has opened up on his feelings while going through a rough patch and the right-hander has said that he stood once in front of the mirror to remind himself of his qualities irrespective of what the press critics were making him look like. “I was a bit confused, I was asking myself what was happening? Is there a problem with my batting? What is the problem? To pacify myself, I told myself it was a pink ball game against one of the finest bowling attacks in the world. The question was why was I getting bowled (Mitchell Starc in the first innings and Pat Cummins in the 2nd). I was down for sure. I stood in front of the mirror and said to myself ‘I am not as bad a player as everyone is saying I am’,” Shaw has said in an interview with The Indian Express. Shaw also said that he endured sleepless nights after facing the axe from the team, and he kept on telling him that ‘hard work defeats talents’ and that it was the time to pull up socks to resurrect batting technique and form. He also revealed the conversation he had with the batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, who suggested him to make a minor change in batting style and asked him to play the balls with the bat closer to his body. “I met Sachin sir (Tendulkar) after I came back, he said don’t make too many changes and to just play as close to the body as I could. I was late on the ball. So during the entire Australia tour, I worked on that part. Maybe it was because I had gone to Australia after playing in Dubai (IPL),” Shaw said further in the interview. The path of return to the Indian Test team looks tough for Shaw as of now, but the confidence after coming back among runs will be a welcome boost for the right-hander as India are set for a long haul of Test cricket in the season following IPL 2021.

WI vs SL: Angelo Mathews to fly back home

Angelo Mathews, who captained Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series against West Indies in the absence of regular skipper Dasun Shanaka, will be flying back home from the team’s West Indies tour, to attend family matters. The veteran was the backbone of the Sri Lankan batting line-up, although he got run out in the first ODI played on Wednesday. In the game, the Sri Lankan team got out for 232 after Dhanushka Gunathilaka, running in great form was controversially given out obstructing the field. The Windies team chased it down easily thanks to a brilliant hundred from Shai Hope. The second ODI would be played on Friday at the same venue- Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound. The final would also be played there on Sunday before the two-match Test series begins on 21st March.

Kraigg Brathwaite appointed West Indies Test captain in place of Jason Holder

Kraigg Brathwaite has been named the new captain of the West Indies Test team replacing the all-rounder Jason Holder, Cricket West Indies said in its statement. Braithwaite recently led Windies on a triumphant tour of Bangladesh when the then captain Holder and other senior players decided to opt-out of the series citing Covid-19 threat. Backed by excellent performances from youngsters, Windies ended up winning the Test series 2-0 against the hosts. Until now, Braithwaite has led Windies in seven Test matches in his career and also has been a long time deputy to Holder in the longest format. “It is a huge honour to be given the Captaincy of the West Indies Test team. I feel extremely proud and humbled that the Board and Selectors have given me the opportunity and responsibility to lead the team. The recent Test Series win in Bangladesh was a fantastic achievement and I’m really looking forward to the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka and I’m excited about what I believe this team can achieve in the future,” Braithwaite said in CWI release. The Test series between West Indies and Sri Lanka will begin on March 21 for which the squad will be selected on March 12 by the selection committee under the chairmanship of Roger Harper.