IPL 2021: Shubman Gill expected to be match fit by the start of UAE leg

How did Mohammed Siraj overcome tragedy to make history for India, new book reveals details

From being a debutant at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the second Test of the series to becoming the spearhead of the attack by the final Test, the story and rise of Mohammed Siraj as a Test bowler has been nothing short of phenomenal. From the tragedies he endured in the tour Down Under to reaching the zenith of his life, Siraj “miyaan” is there to stay for some years. He has added a different variety to the Indian bowling line-up and his spell at the Lords was just a testimony of how good he is at the highest level. An eight wicket-haul at the Home of Cricket was a clear indication that the highs of the Australia tour wasn’t evanescent and this bloke is there to achieve something really big. A story of real grit and glory, Mohammed Siraj’s rise to the top is among the several stories in a new book on Indian cricket named ‘Mission Domination: An Unfinished Quest’ co-authored by Boria Majumder and Kushan Sarkar. Coming back to the Test match at Lord's, Siraj despite being the most inexperienced pacer in the side delivered for his skipper whenever he was handed over the ball. With the match meandering towards a draw in the final session of the day, Kohli handed over the ball to Siraj and he delivered with back to back wickets of Moeen Ali and Sam Curran. He then came back to dismiss Jos Buttler and James Anderson to script a historic win for India. The Indian team management always knew that Siraj belonged to this level after seeing him grind it out in the Australia tour and leading the pace attack in a matter of two Tests. It was the tour of Australia which could have turned his career in either direction. Having lost his father, Mohammed Ghaus during his stay in Australia, Siraj decided to stay back with the team despite the BCCI offering him to go back and be with his family. Siraj always wanted to fulfil his father’s dream and despite losing the pillar of his life, he decided to serve his nation. Siraj had lost his father during the fourteen day quarantine in Australia and with stringent protocols in place, none of his teammates could even go to his room and console him. They were on video call with him for the major part of the day fearing that he doesn’t harm himself. “At the time there were cops outside every room just in case the Indians tried to violate protocol. They were being guarded as prisoners who could export Covid to Australia!" "As a result, his teammates were on video calls with him all day and were concerned he wouldn't do something drastic or damaging to himself. Only the physio could go to his room to treat him, and Nitin Patel used the window to go and console the young man who was in mourning.” "Siraj broke down on multiple occasions, which is only natural but never gave up. He was steadfast and resolute. He wanted to fulfil his father's wish of doing his best for India and when the opportunity came his way at the MCG on the huge occasion of the Boxing Day Test, he just did not want to let it go,” an excerpt from the book reads. Before his Test debut in the Boxing Day Test, Siraj had got his break in international cricket having played a few white-ball games for the national team. However, he was far from his best and hardly made an impact in those games. Siraj even abused himself and tried to push harder for his maiden Test. Having dismissed the likes of Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head while playing for India A, Siraj wanted to replicate that in the highest level. Finishing as the leading wicket-taker for India in the historic Test series win, Siraj became an overnight sensation. "In fact, he said to us he was abusing himself for failing and coaxed himself to push harder on debut. 'I was telling myself that I had done nothing worthwhile in the white-ball games. And here are the same batsmen — Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne, who I had bowled to and had success against while playing for India A. Then why couldn't I do so at this stage? I had to. There was no turning back'." "Siraj did not turn back. 13 wickets later he ended up as India's highest wicket-taker. It was only fitting that his teammates handed him the tricolour during the team's victory march. He was so much more than a cricketer. He was a young boy who had turned into a man in the course of the two months in Australia,” some excerpts from the book further read.

Rumours of Danushka Gunathilaka & Kusal Mendis joining USA cricket baseless, clarifies manager

Kusal Mendis is serving a one year ban after breaching Sri Lanka Cricket’s bio-bubble during the team’s England tour in July this year. He has alongside him, another batter Danushka Gunathilaka and wicket-keeper Nisroshan Dickwell as company. Both these players are also guilty of the same fault. Suddenly rumours started doing rounds that among the three Mendis and Gunathilaka are planning to move to the United States of America and play for their cricket team. To diffuse them, Kusal Mendis and Gunathilaka’s manager had to step in and categorically deny any such move by the two batsmen, who, between them have so far played 55 Tests and 123 ODIs for the island nation. “Reports stating that Mendis and Gunathilaka are set to join the American team are false says the personal manager of Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka,” Danushka Arvinda, a sports journalist with Swaranavahini tweeted on Wednesday, August 18. The journalist said that the manager claimed that an organised group is behind spreading such rumours to harm the prospects of the players. Currently, all the top Sri Lankan players are taking part in the SLC Invitational T20 League, which is also acting as the premier domestic T20 tournament after the indefinite postponement of the Lankan Premier League this season.

New Zealand tour of Pakistan under threat with Taliban takeover of Afghanistan

The Taliban take over of Afghanistan seems to have an effect on neighbouring Pakistan, especially with foreign nationals visiting that country. In this regard, the New Zealand cricket team’s tour of Pakistan, a first in 18 years, looks under threat as New Zealand Cricket Players Association has expressed its reservations on several issues. “We’re very comfortable with the process we’ve got, but notwithstanding that, with events in Afghanistan in the last few days, it’s very sad what’s happening in that country and people are obviously asking questions of our security check processes,” NZPCA President Heath Mills was quoted as saying to Stuff, a New Zealand national news website. “That includes players, which is completely understandable. We just need to assure them of the process, and follow it, and reach a determination,” Mills added. According to the report, New Zealand Cricket’s independent security consultant Reg Dickason has taken it upon himself to visit Pakistan and make an independent analysis before the team invokes on the tour. “That will take him [Dickason] four or five days and then he’ll report back, and recommend whether the tour goes ahead, or it doesn’t for whatever reason... if there are changes to whatever the plan might be,” Mills said about the arrangements. New Zealand, who would be touring Subcontinent before and after the T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman, are scheduled to play three ODIs at the Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi and five T20Is at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore in September, after their Bangladesh tour.

Joe Root climbs to second spot in Latest ICC Test rankings, Kohli and Rohit hold onto their spots

England skipper Joe Root has climbed to the second spot in the latest ICC Test rankings for batsmen after playing a stellar role in the second Test in Lords. He smashed a sensational unbeaten 180 in the first innings to ensure England a 27 runs first-innings lead but his innings went in vain as England went down in the final day of the Test match to surrender a 0-1 lead to India. Root has been quite phenomenal in the season so far already scoring five centuries and is breathing down the neck of New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson who is currently the No 1 batsman in Tests. Root with 893 rating points is just eight behind Williamson. He has been head and shoulders above any other batsman in the English team having made another brilliant ton in the opening Test at Nottingham. Meanwhile, KL Rahul who was awarded the Player of the Match gained 19 spots to occupy the 37th spot after a sensational knock of 127 in the first innings. Rahul has grabbed his opportunity with both hands. Being tipped as a middle-order backup for the series, Rahul has made the opening spot his very own with a brilliant 80 odd in the first Test and a brilliant century in Lords. Among bowlers to make gains from this Test includes magic man James Anderson who climbed one spot to occupy the 6th position. Anderson continues to lead the English attack and bagged a fifer in the first innings of the Lord's Test while going wicketless in the second. Mohammed Siraj and Mark Wood also made significant gains and is currently occupying the 38th and 37th position respectively. While Wood gained five spots, Siraj took a leap of 18 places to occupy the 38th position. Siraj proved to be India's match-winner on the final day bagging four important wickets. He finished with a match haul of 8/128.