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Ravindra Jadeja Returns To Test Squad For Wtc Final England Tests Bhuvneshwar Kumar Ignored

Ravindra Jadeja returns to Test squad for WTC final, England Tests; Bhuvneshwar Kumar ignored

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has announced the squad for the inaugural World Test Championship final to be played against New Zealand in Southampton and for the five-match series against England away from home.

The team will be led by Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane will maintain his position as the vice-captain of the Test squad. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has made his return to the side after being forced out of the team due to a broken thumb. KL Rahul and Wriddhiman Saha’s selection is subject to fitness clearance.

Rohit Sharma will have the onus of opening the innings while Shubman Gill who had a good run on the Australian soil has also been given a call-up. Gill was recently included in the list of BCCI contracted players.

Mayank Agarwal has also been included in the squad despite a disappointing run in Australia.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant, who have played crucial knocks over the last few months in Australia and England series have retained their place in the WTC final.

Indian young bowling attack that included the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur, showed their mettle in Australia after the senior lads were injured and had to leave the series mid-way.

Owing to their overseas performance, both Siraj and Shardul have been named in the squad alongside Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav.

The spin department comprises R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. Patel had a fine debut against England at home while Jadeja is making a comeback to the team after he sustained a finger injury during the third Test against Australia.

Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan and Arzan Nagwaswalla are on the list of standbys.

India's squad: Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), Rohit Sharma, Gill, Mayank, Cheteshwar Pujara, H. Vihari, Rishabh (WK), R. Ashwin, R. Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Bumrah, Ishant, Shami, Siraj, Shardul, Umesh

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Ravindra Jadeja

AB de Villiers might return for West Indies series hints Graeme Smith

South African Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith has hinted at a possible comeback of the legend AB de Villiers in the national squad for the series against West Indies. The Proteas are slated to travel to the Caribbean shores next month for a two-match Test series and a five-match T20I series. ABD was in supreme touch during the 14th season of the IPL which had to be suspended indefinitely after several positive COVID cases came into the foray from respective bio-bubbles. Smith also added that with ABD, Imran Tahir and Chris Morris could also make a potential comeback for Australia in the lead up to the T20 World Cup. Mr 360 announced a sudden retirement from international cricket in 2018 after a Test series in Australia. Reportedly he was not happy with the team management and selection procedures which might have prompted him to take that decision. However, before the 2019 World Cup, he had offered to come out of retirement and play for the national team. However, his intentions were put to rest by the then skipper Faf du Plessis and the team management. During the IPL, ABD expressed his desire to don the national colours again and added that he has been in touch with the national team coach Mark Boucher and has been discussing with him a possible return to the national team. “We are lined up to have a chat sometime during the IPL. But yes, we've been talking about it already. Last year, he asked me if I would be interested. And I said, 'absolutely'. And come the end of the IPL, we will have a look at where we are at with regards to my form and my fitness,” ABD had said. Also, the situation with his team - he's got to look at his guys who have been performing well over the last while. If there's no space for me, so be it. If I can slot in there, it will be fantastic if all those things fall in place. Waiting for [the chat with] Bouchy towards the end of the IPL, and we will then plan accordingly," ABD said in a post-match presentation ceremony during the IPL.

South Africa to tour West Indies in June

South Africa is expected to travel to the Caribbean shores next month as all teams across the world start an intense build-up to the T20 World Cup which is originally slated to take place in India during October-November. However given the current scenario in India, there are high possibilities that the tournament is shifted out of India to UAE. The Director of Cricket South Africa and former Proteas skipper Graeme Smith made the revelation that the Rainbow nation will lock horns against West Indies in two Test matches and Five T20I’s. The tour will start in early June with venues not being finalised yet. If the series pans out, the Proteas players will directly travel to Ireland for a tour in July. In the lead up to the World Cup, they might also face Sri Lanka and India. Smith was of the opinion that the original tour of India which is slated to be played in September might clash with the resumption of IPL which was paused midway on Tuesday following several positive cases being reported inside respective bio-bubbles. "With what's happening in India with Covid and the IPL, we need to give the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) time to gather their thoughts. The challenges India are facing as a country are immense,” he further added.

Sri Lanka Cricket offers to host remainder of IPL 2021

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board has offered the BCCI to host the remainder of the IPL 2021. "Yes, we can certainly provide a window to host the IPL in the month of September", Prof. Arjuna de Silva, the chief of the managing committee of the SLC, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Colombo, said. De Silva further said that the board is planning to host Lanka Premier League in July-August so they can have the window in September. "We hear the UAE (United Arab Emirates) is their one option but Sri Lanka can not be ignored for all reasons". "We are planning to host the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in July-August and the grounds and other infrastructure will be ready for the IPL in September", he added. The BCCI President Sourav Ganguly had said that if the IPL 2021 is canceled then the board will have to bear a loss of Rs 2500 Cr approximately. "If we fail to complete the IP, the loss will be close to INR 2500 crore (USD 340 million approx.) That is going by early estimates''. This edition of the IPL was suspended indefinitely with immediate effect after there was a rise in the COVID-19 cases within the franchise teams. SRH’s Wriddhiman Saha, DC’s Amit Mishra, KKR’s Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrior and CSK’s bowling coach L.Balaji had tested positive for COVID-19.

Watch: Jofra Archer's exceptional nip backer shows he is inching back to full fitness

England speedster Jofra Archer yet again made everyone take notice of his ferocious speed and swing while plying his trade for Sussex in a Second XI game. In a video shared by Wisden India, Archer tailed in an inswinger and the batsman had no idea what so ever. It was a full delivery that nipped back sharply at an express pace and struck him on his pads. The swing of the ball might have taken it outside the leg stump but the onfield umpire had no hesitation in ruling it in favour of Archer and the bowling team. Archer who is an integral part of the England national set-up has been nursing injuries for the last few months. Despite not being fully fit, Archer played in the limited-overs series against India which might have aggravated his injury. He had to miss the Test series in India but he returned for the T20I series and despite bagging wickets, he failed to click the speeds which he has been known for since his rise in international cricket. Archer’s long-standing elbow injury has given him quite a few headaches in the past and it remains to be seen how he adjusts to the condition and returns to play for the national team. He had injured his right-hand middle finger in a fish tank accident which forced him to miss the 14th edition of IPL. Archer underwent surgery on his fingery and was in rehab for the next two weeks. The England and the Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said that Archer will return to training if he manages to bowl pain-free. Ever since his making his debut for the national team, Archer has been a revelation for England across formats. He remains the only bowler who is considered for all formats in the current crop of English fast bowlers. He will be eager to regain his full rhythm before the Test series against New Zealand in the lead up to the ICC Test Championship final between India and New Zealand.