Selectors Abey Kuruvilla, Debasis Mohanty to accompany team to Sri Lanka

Ravindra Jadeja's selection backfired: Sanjay Manjrekar on India's WTC loss

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has pointed out the reason for the team’s defeat in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship against New Zealand in Southampton. Manjrekar said that the decision of selecting Ravindra Jadeja for his batting ability has backfired for the side in the final. “If you have to look at how India went about before the game started, picking two spinners was always a debatable selection especially when the conditions were overcast and the toss was delayed by a day," Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo. “They picked one player for his batting, which was Jadeja, and his left-arm spin wasn’t the reason he was picked. He was picked for his batting and that is something that I am always against." This is not the first time that Manjrekar has commented upon Jadeja’s selection in the side. Manjrekar had called the left-arm all-rounder ‘bits and pieces’ player after which he faced a lot of backlash on social media. India suffered a defeat against the Kiwis in the WTC final after they chased down a target of 139 runs on the reserve day, courtesy a fine half-century from captain Kane Williamson and an unbeaten 47 from Ross Taylor. Jadeja only managed to pick up one wicket in two innings while scoring 15 runs in the first innings and 16 in the second. The Virat Kohli-led side will now play a five-match Test series against England in August.

1st T20I Preview: Move over Test cricket, the Calypso are back in the hunt against South Africa

In a latest video on Instagram posted by the hard-hitting all-rounder Andre Russell, the batsman is seen smashing some deliveries out of the park in the nets. Well, to forget the nightmare that the West Indies side suffered during the Test series against South Africa earlier, the team does need to turn their fortunes in a similar way in the shorter format of the game which has become their forte in the last few years. They are set to host South Africa in a five-match T20I series in Grenada beginning on Saturday (June 26, 2021). The T20I squad though won’t be the same as the Tests and has the likes Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, captain Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Russell and Fidel Edwards. The Caribbean side is one of the lethal teams when it comes to T20I format. But on the other side, they are facing South Africa who are equally dangerous if not more. The Proteas do have some exciting batsmen in the ranks but it's their fast bowlers who are pretty dangerous on their day. The African team suffered a defeat in the last T20I series that they played against Pakistan and would be looking to change fortunes for themselves against West Indies. So, an exciting encounter can be expected when the West Indies batsmen face the South African pace attack. Match Details Match – West Indies vs South Africa – 1st match Venue – National Cricket Stadium, St George’s, Grenada Time – 11:30 PM IST, 06:00 PM GMT Where to watch live – Fancode Pitch Report The ground has hosted only one T20I so far and witnessed a high-scoring clash between West Indies and Ireland. There are chances of rain in the afternoon as well which might cause the delay. So going by the previous game at the venue and the chances of rain, the team that wins the toss should bat first and post some good amount of runs on the board. Team News West Indies: The home side is seeking to turn tables in the T20Is after they suffered a thumping defeat in the Tests. The side has the firepower in the batting department especially with Chris Gayle in the top-order and Russell, Pollard and Bravo in the middle. Apart from the batting, the conditions may help Pollard and Bravo with the ball as well. The two players have the ability to deceive the batsmen with their slower ones and instances of the same have been witnessed during the IPL. South Africa: South Africa suffered a blow ahead of the T20I series after all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius had tested positive for Covid-19. The cricketer didn’t travel with the squad to Grenada. Though, he was asymptomatic and is following the protocols. Meanwhile Wiaan Mulder has replaced Pretorius. Captain Temba Bavuma is also returning to the squad after he had missed the Test series first with a hip injury and then a dislocated finger. The South African team also has a strong batting line up but the eyes would be glued to the pacers in testing conditions and against a batting unit who is pretty dangerous. Probable XI West Indies: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Kieron Pollard (C), Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Hayden Walsh Jr, Oshane Thomas South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, George Linde, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Anrich Nortje Fantasy XI Quinton De Kock, Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle (VC), David Miller, Aiden Markram, Rassie Van Der Dussen, Andre Russell (C), Kieron Pollard, Sheldon Cottrell, Dwayne Bravo, Kagiso Rabada

Ishant Sharma gets multiple stitches on bowling arm; expected to recover before Eng series

India Test mainstay Ishant Sharma had sustained an injury on his bowling hand during the WTC final against New Zealand in Southampton. The injury required multiple stitches but the pacer is expected to be fit for the upcoming England series. “Ishant has had multiple stitches on his middle and fourth finger in his right hand. However, it is not very serious," a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity. “The stitches will be off in around 10 days and with six weeks left for the first Test against England, he is expected to recover in time." The Indian team is in the UK where they played the WTC final against the Blackcaps and are now slated to play a five-match Test series against England. The team members are on a break for sometime after they travelled from Southampton to London. “The squad travelled together to London. From here they can all leave for their respective destinations within UK for a 20 day break," the official revealed. “Some of them are tennis fans and if Wimbledon allows spectators, you might see them going for some of the show court matches. A few might be checking out if tickets for the Euro games at Wembley are available," PTI quoted the source said. India and England will lock horns in the Test series in August.

India likely to play two warm-up matches ahead of England series

The Indian team is likely to play two warm-up matches ahead of their five-match Test series against England. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCC) secretary Jay Shah would be talking to the England and Wales Cricket Board about the same. “Jay (Shah) will be speaking to ECB and its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tom Harrison to make an arrangement for two warm-up games before the five Test match series,” BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal told The Indian Express. “The secretary felt that the BCCI should request the ECB to give at least two warm-up games so that players can get in some good match practice before the series starts.” Skipper Virat Kohli had also emphasises on having at least one first-class match before going into the series. "We obviously wanted first-class games, which I believe have not been given to us. I don't know what the reasons for that are. But yeah, other than that I think our preparation time will be ample for us to be ready for the first Test,” Kohli had said. The Indian team didn’t really get any match practice before the final of the inaugural World Test Championship against New Zealand. India suffered a defeat after New Zealand chased down a target of 139 runs by 8 wickets on the reserve day of the match in Southampton. The Blackcaps captain Kane Williamson struck a vital half-century to see his side home. The Kiwis had played a two-match Test series against England and won it by 1-0 before the WTC final.