Josh Hazlewood suggests alternate venue for opening Test vs India

When the limited-overs series ends between Australia and India on 8^th December, all the players would move to Adelaide for the first Test. But the recent rise in covid-19 cases in the city has cast doubts over the hosting of the first Test of the Australian summer, a day/ night affair.

Josh Hazlewood, the Australian quick believes that if the Test could not be hosted in Adelaide due to any reason, then it should be relocated to the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia’s historical opening Test venue.

"The longer we wait the hotter it gets up there (Brisbane), so the quicks would all be happy to get that game done in December," Hazlewood was quoted as saying to cricket.com.au. "We obviously have a really good record up there and it's a great place to start," he added.

The 32-year old further went on to say that the first Test could be converted into a red ball affair because any other pitch apart from Adelaide is not conducive for Pink Ball Test.

"[It] Could be a red ball (first Test in) Melbourne or Brisbane or somewhere, then we head back to Adelaide later on in the summer. He (curator Damian Hough) has got the wicket perfect at Adelaide for a pink-ball Test," he said.

"A few grounds around Australia are too abrasive or too hard, such as the Gabba or Perth. Those wickets are too hard for a pink ball, it goes quite soft after a certain amount of time,” the Tamworth born reasoned about why the Pink Ball Test should only be held in Adelaide.

However, the perfectionist of ‘Line and Length’ was still hopeful that the Test would eventually happen in Adelaide and even if it did not, the Australian team had no problem in adapting.

“From all reports, we're still good for Adelaide but it can always change. Hopefully, they can get on top of it in the next week or two," He said.

"We're adapting pretty quickly to whatever is being thrown in front of us," the New South Wales pacer added.

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Aus vs Ind: Andrew Tye replaces Kane Richardson in the Aussie squad

As Kane Richardson, the original choice bowler decided to stay away from cricket and spend time with his family, especially the newborn son, Australian selectors have called on Andrew Tye as his replacement. "It was a difficult decision for Kane to make but one which has the complete support of the selectors and the entire playing squad," national selector Trevor Hohns said about Richardson’s decision. Richardson, 29, who has taken 61 wickets in 46 limited-overs game for Australia wanted to remain in Adelaide and was hence allowed by the Australian selectors to opt-out of the tournament as all the players had been removed from Adelaide or the states bordering South Australia to a safe place in New South Wales, due to fresh cases being reported in the city. "Kane wanted to remain in Adelaide with Nyki and their newborn son. We will always support our players and their families; even more so given the challenging environment, we are in. We will miss what he brings to the team but completely understand and support his decision," added Hohns. Although not even having a state contract from Western Australia, Tye is still being preferred by the Australian selection committee over the likes of James Pattinson and Nathan Coulter Nile. This showcases how highly rated the 33-year-old, who has 49 wickets in just 33 games for Australia is. "AJ is incredibly skilled in both forms of the short game. He impressed in the UK with his high work ethic and his positive energy around the squad. He is a great player to be able to call on," said Hohns.

Cricket Australia trying to reinvent a wheel that’s not broken: Shane Watson

Cricket Australia is known for its innovation with cricket, be it the Pink Ball, the World Series, or allowing the use of Mongoose bat. However, it’s new rules introduced especially for this season of the Big Bash League are being termed as ‘fixing a wheel that’s not broken’ by former star all-rounder Shane Watson. The new rules which are namely power surge- ‘Power Surge’, the ‘X Factor Player’ and the ‘Bash Boost’ have been called by Watto as nothing but ‘gimmick’ of Cricket Australia. “I read today that the BBL is introducing these new gimmicks, such as the ‘Power Surge’, the ‘X Factor Player’ and the ‘Bash Boost’ in a misguided attempt to reinvigorate the tournament. I just can’t seem to get my head around why there are people out there who are trying to reinvent the wheel when the wheel was not broken,” the 39-year-old wrote on his blog. Calling the new rules a ‘science experiment’ the former Sydney Thunder player pointed out that since it hasn’t been tried and tested at lower levels of cricket, it might come off as pure facepalm moment for the administrators as let alone audiences, even players and coaches would find it hard to understand and implicate initially. Suggesting what could have been the best way forward, Watson said, “The simple game plan in my mind is to get the world’s best cricketers playing on world-class pitches and guess what, you will get world-class cricket to watch for the cricket lovers out there and we will all be on the edge of our seats admiring the feats of these amazing cricketers.” The Big bash begins on December 10 with the first match being played between Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Sixers at the Blundstone Arena in Hobart.

KFC Big Bash: Keemo Paul inks deal with Hurricanes, Stars sign Zahir Khan

West Indian Keemo Paul has been signed by Big Bash side Hobart Hurricanes on the advice of Ricky Ponting. The Guyana born will join England's Dawid Malan and another undecided foreign star at Hurricanes as their international import. South Africa's Colin Ingram and young English batsman Will Jacks has been named as International replacements by the Island team. "I have spoken to Ricky here at the IPL about Hobart and Tasmania and he has spoken really positively about the team and the competition," Paul said about his signing with the Hobart team. The fast bowler also said that he has had a talk with the team’s fast bowling coach as well. "I also caught up with Griff (Coach Adam Griffith) after our game recently, and it was great to hear more about the very exciting squad this year," said Paul. Paul, who could not get a chance to play in the IPL while being a part of the Delhi Capitals star-studded lineup, could only join Hurricanes after the end of West Indies' second Test against New Zealand, starting on December 11. As such, he will end up missing the Hurricanes' first three matches. At the same time, Melbourne Stars also signed Afghanistan spinner Zahir Khan as a replacement for Sandeep Lamichhane. Zahir represented Brisbane Heat last season.

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 29th June 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 4th 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.