Kusal Mendis, Gunathilaka, Dickwella likely to be banned for one year for bio-bubble breach

Explained: New points system for second cycle of World Test Championship

The upcoming cycle of the ICC World Test Championship will see a change in point allocation and unlike the inaugural cycle where points were allotted depending upon the number of matches the teams were playing in a particular series, the ICC has decided to award 12 standardised points for every win during the second WTC cycle. A draw will fetch one-third of the total points which is four while a tie will fetch 6 points. The second cycle will begin with the five-match Test series involving England and India starting from August 4. Just like the previous edition where the eventual top two teams were decided on the percentage of points after several series were postponed and cancelled due to the COVID pandemic, this cycle will also be decided on the percentage of points. “Instead of each series being worth the same number of points, 120, irrespective of whether the series is played over two Tests or five Tests, the next cycle will see each match being worth the same number of points - a maximum of 12 per match," an ICC board member was quoted as saying by the PTI. "Teams will be ranked on the percentage of available points they won from the matches they have played. The changes in the points system will have to be ratified by the ICC chief executives committee in the coming weeks. "The aim was to try and simplify the points system and to allow teams to be meaningfully compared on the table at any point, though they may have played differing numbers of matches and series," the board member further added. The inaugural edition of the competition saw a disparity of matches being played among the 9 contesting teams and that will be no different in the second cycle. Only the big three of modern cricket India, England and Australia will get to play more than three matches in a series while the rest of the teams will only play a maximum of a three-match Test series. The value for each series last year was 120. While a win in a two-match series gave the winning team 60 points, 40 points were allotted for a win in a three-match Test series. The number came down to 30 and 24 in case of a four-match or a five-match series. The ICC acting chief executive officer Geoff Allardice pointed out the reason behind the change in the points system. He feels that teams playing a lesser number of matches should also get a chance of being compared to anyone in the competition at any given point of the two-year cycle. "Instead of each series being worth the same number of points, 120, irrespective of whether the series is played over two Tests or five Tests, the next cycle will see each match being worth the same number of points - a maximum of 12 per match. Teams will be ranked on the percentage of available points they won from the matches they have played. The aim was to try and simplify the points system and to allow teams to be meaningfully compared on the table at any point, though they may have played differing numbers of matches and series,” Alliance was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricinfo. England will play the most of number of matches in the cycle (21) followed by India (19) and Australia (18). South Africa will play a total of 15 matches while world Test Champions New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies will play a total of 13 matches. Meanwhile, Pakistan will play 14 matches in the cycle.

Still have something to give to this game, both on & off field: Ross Taylor

New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor who played a significant role in the side’s winning triumph during the final of the inaugural World Test Championship has said that he just wants to continue playing the game. “At this stage, I just want to keep on playing cricket, whatever level that is, for as long as I can. “A lot of players, past players, tell me you’re a long time retired, and a lot of them told me they felt like they retired too early.” Talking about his batting and technique, the right-handed batsman admitted that there are certain things that are talked about at his age but feels that he still has something to offer to the game. “When you come to my age, there’s always going to be things said about you, about your age and whatnot,” said Taylor. “But it is what it is, I still love playing the game of cricket, I still feel like I’ve got something to give to this game, both on and off the field,” he added. Taylor stitched an important and unbeaten stand of 96 runs for the third wicket with captain Kane Williamson during the reserve day of the WTC final in Southampton. Chasing, 139 in the second innings, the Blackcaps went over the line by 8 wickets after Williamson notched up a half-century while Taylor scored 47*.

Pataudi series to kick off WTC 2 cycle, India to play 19 matches by the end of the cycle

The second cycle of the ICC World Test Championship will kick off with five match Patuadi Trophy involving England and hosts that is slated to be played from 4th August. The Indian contingent is already in England enjoying their time out of the bio-bubble. They will rejoin a fortnight before the first Test to start their preparation for the series. Along with that series, the Ashes slated to be played in Australia in December will be the only other series comprising of five Tests in the second WTC cycle. Australia is scheduled to tour India for a four match Test series in 2022 which will be the only four match series in the competition. In total, there are 13 two match Test series, seven three match Test series and two five and a solitary four match series. The venue for the final of the event if yet to be decided by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Just like the inaugural edition of the WTC, all the top 9 teams will fight it 6 Test series each with three at home and three away. None of the series which was postponed or cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be carried forward to the next cycle of the championship. Once again there will be a big difference between the number of matches played among all the 9 teams. India, England and Australia regarded as the Big 3 of modern cricket will be the only three teams contesting in four and five-match series. All the other teams will only play a two-match or a three-match series. England will play the most number of matches in the league phase by the end of this cycle with 21 matches followed by India and Australia with 19 and 18 matches respectively. South Africa will play 15 while the inaugural world Test champions New Zealand will only play a total of 13 matches which is also equal to what Sri Lanka and West Indies will play in this phase. Meanwhile, Pakistan will play 14 matches while Bangladesh will be the only team in the competition to play two-match series in each of their six scheduled series. In order to ensure that there is no disparity in point allocation which hurts the teams, the ICC has decided to allot an equal number of points for each match. Under the new proposed system which is expected to get a go-ahead at the next chief executive’s committee meeting, each match in the 2nd WTC cycle will comprise a total of 12 points. A win will fetch all 12 points while a draw will fetch one third which will be 4 points and a tie will fetch 6 points. Teams with slow over rates will also be docked one point for every over they fall behind. The ICC acting chief executive officer Geoff Allardice said that the point system was changed from the inaugural edition to make sure that all teams despite playing different number of matches can get a chance to be compared with anyone at a given stage of the tournament. "Instead of each series being worth the same number of points, 120, irrespective of whether the series is played over two Tests or five Tests, the next cycle will see each match being worth the same number of points - a maximum of 12 per match. Teams will be ranked on the percentage of available points they won from the matches they have played. The aim was to try and simplify the points system and to allow teams to be meaningfully compared on the table at any point, though they may have played differing numbers of matches and series,” Alliance was quoted as saying by the ESPN Cricinfo.

Enough is enough: Bangladesh umpire quits after players' misbehaviour

Bangladesh umpire Moniruzzaman has taken a decision to quit after another disappointing incident took place during the Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier League T20 that involved Mahmudullah. Moniruzzaman was the TV umpire in one of the matches between Gazi Tank Cricketers and Prime bank Cricket Club when Gazi Tank Cricketers’ captain Mahmudullah lied down on the adjacent track after an appeal was turned down. The right-handed batsman in fact refused to continue with the game and was later found guilty of committing a level-2 offence . "Enough is enough for me and I don't want to do umpiring anymore," a dejected Moniruzzaman told Cricbuzz on Tuesday. "I have some self-respect and want to live with it." he added. "Umpires can make mistakes but if we are treated in this manner, there is no point in doing it anymore because I am not in it just for the money." In an earlier incident during the tournament, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan had misbehaved with the on-field twice. Moniruzzaman though wasn’t a part of this game but expressed disappointment on Shakib’s behaviour. "I was not involved in Shakib's game. The way he behaved was something very hard for me to digest. In the Mahmudullah match I was the TV umpire and watching the episode closely. It left me numb and at that point, I decided not to carry on with umpiring," he said.