Kohli was just expressing his opinion on three match final, never demanded for it: Ravi Ashwin

ENG W vs IND W | 3rd ODI: With nothing to lose, India Women look to be brave and fearless

The Indian Women team did improve a bit in terms of their approach towards the ODI game in the second of the three-match series against England Women but still ended up losing the match, courtesy of some brilliant character shown by young Sophia Dunkley with the bat. She was the prime reason to rob away the Indian eves of a potential victory, mainly owed to them by their bowlers. While the bowling did improve a bit, it is the batting that is slacking and continued to do so in the second game as well. Necessary changes were made with Jemimah Rodriguez taking Punam Raut’s place at the top of the order and Sneh Rana coming in for Pooja Vatsrakar. However, what didn’t go well was another Indian collapse in the middle order after a relatively better top-order performance. Asking for too many changes could be a problem, but this Indian team could really afford to be a bit realistic in the sense that it has already lost the series. Punam Raut as a batter is way better and can be the real anchor. Whether or not she can drop anchor is a question that has not been answered yet. However, India can really do with her at number three instead of Jemimah because of two things mainly. First, she has an impressive record and was carrying form on this England tour. Secondly, Rodriguez, who was fitted into her place, really doesn’t solve the jigsaw puzzle in the sense that she is out of form and hence equally slow, if not more. The only way India seem to solve this problem is by either taking Raut to open with Shafali Verma and playing Smriti Mandhana at three to keep up the tempo or by involving young Indrani Roy as the wicket-keeper batter in the team and playing her at number three or opener and removing Raut altogether from the setup. Whether or not India tries that combination is a thing of deliberation. As far s the English unit is concerned, it is running like a well-oiled machine with somebody or the other raising its hand to deliver in the moment of crisis. Be it Tammy Beaumont and Nat Sciver in the first game or Dunkley and Katharine Brunt in the second. However, now since the series is won, England could really afford to give the reserve players a chance. England Women vs India Women: Match Details Match Number- 3rd ODI Date and Time: 03 July 2021, 03:00 pm IST, 09:30 am GMT, 10:30 am Local Venue: New Road, Worcester Broadcast and Live Stream in India: Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV Pitch Report As of now, only five Women ODIs have been played on this ground, the latest of which was played in 2019. In those five games, the team batting first have won four games, giving a fair bit of idea about the nature of the wicket. The home ground of Worcester county is known to9 slow down as the game progresses. The average first inning score of 203 also suggests that it is tough to score runs on this ground. The average second innings score is just 175. Weather Forecast and Toss The weather forecast of Worcester might not be pleasing news for cricket lovers as there are forecasts of thunderstorms and the chances of rain are between 35-51% from 10 am to 5 pm, mostly the entire duration of the game. The day would remain cloudy and chilly with temperatures ranging between 14-15 degrees celsius. In such conditions, any team winning the toss would choose to field first. Team News England Women The likes of Brunt and Anya Shrubsole could take time off to prepare for the upcoming T20I series and so can the batters like Beaumont and Sciver who have got a good hit so far. The team can go as far as resting Dunbkley as well if they feel like it. With all these changes, those who have been part of the team but haven’t got an opportunity can get a go as well. Freya Davies, Mady Villiers and Emily Arlott can take the places of Brunt, Shrubsole and Sophie Ecclestone while the likes of Fran Wilson can be tries in the middle order. Probable XI Lauren Winfield Hill, Fran Wilson, Heather Knight (c), Natalie Sciver, Amy Ellen Jones (wk), Sophia Dunkley, Emily Arlott, Sarah Glenn, Mady Villiers, Freya Davies, Kate Cross India Women The Indian team could really do with the change in the wicketkeeper. Not because of the wicket-keeping skills because Taniya Bhatia is probably the best behind the stumps. However, her batting is doing no favours to the team at all and Indrani, sitting in the room in probably the form of her life is going no good at all for her or the team. Thus she must be tried in this game where is losing doesn’t even matter. The rest of the team can remain unchanged if it wishes to. However, Mithali carried an injury in the last game and didn’t take the field. But with two days’ rest, most hopefully she would have recovered. And if not, Raut could take her place as easily as possible. Probable XI Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Indrani Roy(wk), Shikha Pandey, Jhulan Goswami, Poonam Yadav Dream XI and Fantasy XI team Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Mithali Raj (c), Heather Knight, Natalie Sciver, Amy Ellen Jones (wk), Sophia Dunkley (vc), Sneh Rana, Kate Cross, Jhulan Goswami, Poonam Yadav

WI vs SA | 5th T20I Preview: Two giants take the ring for one final bout with all on stake

There is a reason why West Indies are considered to be one of the strongest and the most ruthless sides when it comes to T20 cricket. The side comprises players in the line up who have vast experience of the shorter format and have unleashed some brilliant performances in the past not just for West Indies but in the T20 leagues that they play. From Dwayne Bravo to Kieron Pollard and from Chris Gayle to Andre Russell, the Caribbean side is well equipped and an instance of this was witnessed during the fourth encounter of the five-match series against South Africa in Grenada when the two experienced customers chipped in with some valuable contributions and got their team out of trouble. First captain Kieron Pollard scored a brisk and unbeaten half-century and later Bravo scalped a four-wicket haul to anchor the side to a convincing 21-run win against the Proteas. But this was all about just one game. The hosts are facing issues with their middle order as they haven’t really gone all guns blazing barring one or two players. Aggressive batsman Chris Gayle and probably the most important man in the line up for West Indies in the T20 format has been struggling with form and hasn’t really been among the runs. This is surely one of the major issues that the West Indies side would focus on. Rest, the bowling department is pretty sorted for the Calypso side with Obed McCoy picking up some wickets in this series. On the other side, South Africa too have faced some similar issues. The middle order failed miserably in the last match. Opener and wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock is in some decent form while the fast bowlers are looking in some good shape. Apart from this spinner Tabraiz Shamsi’s economical bowling would also come as a boon for the team if he is able to replicate the match’s performance. Match details: Match: WI vs RSA, 5th T20I, South Africa tour of West Indies, 2021 Date: Saturday, July 03, 2021 Time: 11:30 PM Venue: National Cricket Stadium, St George's, Grenada Pitch Report The tracks in Grenada had something on offer for both the bowlers and the batsmen but the run drought and fall of wickets at regular intervals in the middle overs is something that the teams would look to rectify. Spinners would play a massive role in the middle overs. If you win the toss, bat first and post a good total on the board. Team News West Indies: Fabian Allen who has been in some good form had sustained an injury on his right shoulder while fielding in the fourth match didn’t return to the field. An update on his availability is still awaited but if he misses out in the XI, it would be a huge blow for the home side. Allen has chipped in with some quick runs at the death that has certainly helped West Indies to reach a decent total. Apart from this, the side looks pretty stable at the moment and the only cause of concern as mentioned above is Gayle’s form. The two of the most important players Pollard and Bravo are back in some good form. South Africa: South Africa have suddenly lost momentum in the series after etching wins in two matches on the trot. They have encountered a much similar situation as the West Indies. The Proteas’ middle-order performance pushed them on the backfoot in the penultimate clash and that is probably the missing piece in the puzzle. Probable XI West Indies: Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Kieron Pollard (c), Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Obed McCoy, Fidel Edwards South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi Fantasy XI Quinton de Kock, Evin Lewis, Temba Bavuma, Chris Gayle (VC), Rassie van der-Dussen, Jason Holder, Andre Russell (C), Obed McCoy, Kagiso Rabada, Dwayne Bravo, Anrich Nortje

Wahab Riaz still not giving hope of playing the T20 World Cup despite exclusion from England tour

Veteran Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz is not giving up hopes yet of being a part of the Pakistan squad for the ICC T20 World Cup slated to start in UAE and Oman from 17th October despite being excluded from Pakistan’s tour of England and West Indies which will serve as a preparation for the showpiece event. While the left-arm pacer is disappointed over his exclusion but is optimistic of making it to the World Cup squad despite being not aware of the kind of plans the current Pakistan selectors have in store for some of the senior Pakistan cricketers. “Obviously, I am disappointed at my exclusion from the England and WI tours after my recent performances. But criteria of selection is a question for the selection committee but I think whoever performs well should be selected,” Wahab told the media in Lahore. “They might have their reasons but as a senior performer I am disappointed at missing out,” he added. Wahab Riaz has been a star performer for Pakistan over the years. While his consistency has been an issue over a period of time, there is no denying the fact that he is one of the best in the business going around especially in the white-ball circuit. Some of his spells especially in the 2011 World Cup semi-final against India and the 2015 World Cup quarter-final against Australia stands out. He has so far played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs and 36 T20s for the national team with 237 wickets under his belt. “I have not given up hope of playing in the World T20 this year and I think senior players as long as they are fit and performing should be considered for selection,” he said. Wahab is not sure with what issues do the selectors have with some of the senior members of the national team. “I don’t know exactly what issue people have with senior players. Perhaps youngsters listen to what is told to them, while seniors always have their own say in matters and you have to convince them,” he said. Quite a few senior players have been shown the way by the current selection committee which is headed by Muhammad Wasim and head coach Misbah-ul-Haq. Players like Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir and Shoaib Malik has been ignored for a year and it remains to be seen what future lies ahead for them for the national team.

Tropical storm expected to hit St. Lucia, Australian team forced into lockdown

The Australian team that is on a tour of the West Indies will have to stay inside the hotel rooms for the next two days in St Lucia due to a tropical storm which is expected to hit the island in the next 48 hours. The island is expected to go under lockdown on Friday which means that the team would also cancel the training session at the Darren Sammy Stadium according to a ESPNCricinfo report. The storm which is known as Elsa has the potential to convert into a hurricane. "On the forecast track, the system will pass near Saint Lucia or over the Windward Islands on Friday and move into the Caribbean Sea late Friday," the advisory stated. "Elsa is expected to produce rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches or 76 to 152 mm with maximum totals of 10 inches or 254 mm across the Windward Islands on Friday. This increases the potential for landslides and/or flash flooding. Residents and motorists in areas prone to flooding and landslides are advised to take necessary precautions." Wicket-keeper batsman Alex Carey who is with the squad also confirmed that the team would have to take a day off. "Hopefully there's not too much damage and everyone is safe around St Lucia. At this stage we'll probably have the day off in terms of training and we'll see what result comes post-storm in the next 24 hours,” he said. Australia are scheduled to play five T20Is and three ODIs beginning on July 9.