Joe Root becomes England's leading run-scorer in international cricket

Bangladesh to host New Zealand for T20I series in September

Bangladesh are all set to host New Zealand for a five-match T20I series in September, confirmed the BCB. The Blackcaps are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on August 24 and will play a warm-up match on August 28 while the series begins on September 1 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. All the matches will be played at the same venue. The five-match bilateral tie will finish on September 10, nine days before the IPL 2021 resumption. Bangladesh are currently playing Australia at home in a five-match T20I series and lead 1-0. Earlier, the BCB and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had together postponed England's tour of Bangladesh to March 2023. Bangladesh had to host the English team for three T20Is and as many ODIs. “The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have mutually agreed to reschedule England’s planned tour of Bangladesh in September-October 2021 to March 2023,” a BCB release said earlier. “England were due to play three ODIs and Three T20 internationals in Bangladesh this year. According to the itinerary confirmed by the BCB and ECB, the England team will now tour Bangladesh in the first two weeks of March 2023 and play the best of three ODI and T20 international series’ in Dhaka and Chattogram,” it added.

Big India-Pakistan WT20 clash scheduled on October 24

India and Pakistan will face each other on October 24, 2021 in the upcoming World T20 in Dubai, confirmed the sources while talking to ANI. "Yes, the arch-rivals will clash on October 24,” the sources said. The International Cricket Council (ICC) had announced the groups for the tournament last month. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are in Group 2 alongside New Zealand and Afghanistan. Two other teams that will join this group would be two other qualifiers from Round 1. Group one comprises the defending champions West Indies along with Australia , England and South Africa and two other qualifiers. The competition is slated to be played from October 17 to November 14 later this year. "The groups , selected on the basis of team rankings as of 20 March 2021, see defending champions the West Indies pooled along with former champions England , Australia and South Africa in Group 1 of the Super 12s , with two qualifiers from Round 1 joining them," the ICC said in a statement earlier. India and Pakistan haven’t played each other in any bilateral series over a decade now but have locked horns in the ICC tournaments. The two teams last met each other during the World Cup 2019 clash. The Men in Blue won this particular encounter. India have never suffered a defeat against Pakistan in a World Cup match.

Rain plays spoilsport in Bravo’s last international match on home soil, Pakistan take series 1-0

Once again, the rain was the villain in anotherT20I between West Indies and Pakistan at Providence Stadium, Guyana as the fourth and final T20I was also abandoned due to rain and courtesy of its win in the second T20I, which was also the only completed match in this series, Pakistan took the series 1-0. More than the 1-0 series loss, the West Indies players were disappointed by the fact that one of the stalwarts of Caribbean cricket in the T20 format, Dwayne Bravo could not take any part in what would go down in history as his last international game on home soil. Just after the toss, Windies skipper Kieron Pollard had announced that it would be the last game for Bravio at home soil, indicating that the all-rounder would be retiring after this year’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in October-November in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, but would be hosted by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Only three overs could be bowled in the entire game where West Indies scored 30 without any loss after winning the toss and deciding to bat first. This was also the last white ball game of this summer for the West Indies at home and as per records, they lost the T20I series 2-3 to South Africa, won 4-1 against Australia and lost 1-0 against Pakistan. These two teams will now compete in the red-ball format with the first of the two Tests starting from August 12 in Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica.

Birmingham Phoenix vs Oval Invincibles: Where to watch Live, Probable XI, Fantasy XI details

The Birmingham Phoenix, having won two and lost two out of their four games are sitting pretty on the fourth position in the points table. While their both wins have come in home games, their losses were recorded away. Therefore they would be at an advantage when they welcome Oval Invincibles at Edgbaston on Wednesday, August 04. However, Oval is also coming on the back of a great win against Wesh Fire at home. Out of their three games, they have lost just once and that was an away game. Their other away game in the London Derby was washed out. Moeen Ali’s men would hence fancy to seize up Sam Billing’s side and win this contest to move ahead in the table. But will they be able to do it? Only time will tell. Birmingham Phoenix vs Oval Invincibles: Match Details Match Number- 18 Date and Time: 04 August, 2021, 11:00 pm IST, 06:30 pm Local, 05:30pm GMT Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham Live Stream: Fancode Pitch Report The pitch at Esdgabastobn has proved to be a true wicket with a lot of runs on offer and if bowled wisely, wickets are up for grab as well. Hence, a nice game is at hand in Birmingham if the weather permits. Weather Forecast According to BBC Weather, Edgbaston is likely to have sunny intervals and light winds, perfect weather for cricket. The temperatures would also remain in the lower twenties or below twenty range, thus providing a good atmosphere for the crowds to enjoy the game. Birmingham Phoenix Probable XI Finn Allen, Will Smeed, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali (c), Miles Hammond, Chris Benjamin (wk), Benny Howell, Adam Milne, Tom Helm, Patrick Brown, Imran Tahir Oval Invincibles Probable XI Jason Roy, Will Jacks, Sunil Narine, Colin Ingram, Jordan Clark, Sam Billings (c & wk), Laurie Evans, Tom Curran, Tabraiz Shamsi, Reece Topley, Saqib Mahmood Fantasy XI Finn Allen, Jason Roy, Sam Billings (wk), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Laurie Evans, Miles Hammond, Benny Howell, Adam Milne, Tom Curran, Saqib Mahmood Captain Moeen Ali Vice-Captain Sam Billings