SL vs IND | 1st ODI: India bring back 'Kul-Cha' after two years

We’ll pick whoever we feel can do well: Shikhar Dhawan ahead of series opener against Sri Lanka

Indian skipper on their tour to Sri Lanka, Shikhar Dhawan, didn’t throw open his cards till the very last dice is rolled as he refused to disclose the playing XI for the first ODI between the hosts and the visitors at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, July 18. "We haven't really discussed who gets how many games," Dhawan said in a pre-match virtual press conference in Colombo. "The first goal is to win the series and we will play the best XI to win. We will pick whoever we feel can do well [on a given day]. it's not like we have to play everyone just because we have brought them here. That is not the thought process,” the skipper added. The main curiosity for tomorrow’s Indian lineup is about the opening slot and the 34-year-old skipper too agreed that there is a lot of competition for the opening spot in the Indian team. In fact, to bat along with Dhawan, Devdutt Padikkal, Prithvi Shaw and Ruturaj Gaikwad, all of whom did exceedingly well in the recently IPL would be vying for one place. "There is competition for the opening slot and it's a very good thing. Whoever plays, the goal is to do well as a team. Along the way, if we also do well, then these things [selection] take care of themselves,” said Dhawan. The Delhi born didn’t shy away from saying that he is open to trying who so ever the team management wants to with respect to their T20 World Cup campaign strategy. "As of now, I haven't had any specific chat with Virat or Ravi bhai (Ravi Shastri, India Head Coach), I'm sure they may have spoken to Rahul bhai (Rahul Dravid, India’s interim coach for Sri Lanka tour), or the selectors and that message will be conveyed to us,” Dhawan said about the demands to play any special player. “Whoever it is, the focus is on the T20 World Cup. If selectors or team management come to a mutual understanding that we need to play someone specifically, this is a great platform to have a look at them," he added. Although Dhawan said that the team has a bunch of spinners and that they are all very fine in terms of skills, but he clearly mentioned that Yuzvendara Xghahal and Kuldeep Yadav would be the team’s first priority. "They both share great chemistry and have won so many matches and series for us," Dhawan said about the spin duo.

Watch: Root’s decision to not run out Lancashire’s Steven Croft in T20 Blast sparks new controversy

Should a batsman going down while running be run out? Especially if he swivels and moans in pain crutching his one leg and a physio is asked to come out and treat him? Your cricketing spirit would say that he must not be run out, but practicality says that he must, especially if the batting team needs 15 off 18 balls and the players batting in the middle are the last recognised batters. Joe Root, the England Test captain and Yorkshire CCC captain in the Vitality T20 Blast, England and Wales’ domestic 20-over competition, chose cricketing spirit over practicality as he refused to run out Lancashire’s Steven Croft when he twisted his back heel and fell down while going for a run in the 18th over. However, when the physio attended the player, then instead of going to the dressing room, as many expected, he rather decided to continue. It was at this moment that the Sky Sports commentators Rob Key and Mark Butcher had different viewpoints and controversy was sparked. According to Butcher, Yorkshire and Root should have run Crodft out and let the umpires decide the best course of action, but Key on the other hand resorted to the spirit of cricket and complimented Root for the path he took. The 36-year-old Croft, who remained there batting on the crease as the ball on which this bizarre incident took place was declared dead, went on to see his team home by four wickets at the end. With this win, Lancashire qualified for the Quarterfinals of the 2021 season of the Blast. Yorkshire, who had already made it to the last eight even before this match began, would go back home once again without a win at the Old Trafford in a Roses clash eight years in a row. Apart from Yorkshire and Lancashire, Nottinghamshire have also qualified from the North Group of the Blast. There is still one place remaining from this group which would be decided after Worcestershire play their match against Leicestershire and Birmingham play its game against Northamptonshire. Booth these games take place on Sunday, July 18th.

ENG vs PAK | 2nd T20I: With Buttler back in Squad, England look to stretch it to the finale

The England team was not in its elements whatsoever during the first T20I against Pakistan at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Apart from a blizzard or flood (in coherence with conditions prevalent in western Europe) in the form of Liam Livingstone that rocked Pakistan, no other batter was able to stay at the crease and do anything important to propel the three lions towards victory. On the other hand, for Pakistan, it was a totally opposite scenario. After being drubbed ion the ODIs 3-0, the Men in Green waled in the T20I series with the definite resolve of improved showing. To everybody’s surprise, they went one notch above and instead of just improving the standards, they rather achieved the best, registering their highest ever total in T20Is. Even the Pakistani bowling was better in that small ground and they caught brilliantly too. But there is always a doubt in every Pakistan’s supporter’s mind, can thor team repeat the good work? Jos Buttler is back: Is it a good thing for England? But, with Paul Collingwood, England’s Assistant Coach confirming that Jos Buttler has recovered from his calf strain and is ready to take the field in the next game, the interesting thing to notice would be, who goes out? Ideally, it would be Dawid Malana as he was asked to open the innings and Livingstone and Moeen Ali were both asked to bat in the middle. In this very competitive English limited-overs side, even one mistake could prove dire as far as a place in XI is concerned and Malan, the number one ranked T20I batter might have to bear the price of that one failure. Livingstone’s hundred meant that he would not be going out and captain Morgan publicly announcing that he would keep giving as many chances as possible to Moeen to prove his credentials in the middle order, keeping in mind the spin-friendly conditions of the World Cup, it is very unlikely that he would lose his place in the team. Which Pakistan will turn up on Sunday? The Pakistan team is the most consistent side at being inconsistent. It is a truth that nobody can deny and hence on any given day, even if they had been in their best form in the previous match, one can never say with surety that they will play well in the very next game as well. So keeping that in mind, it would be hard to guess if Pakistan would be able to really power up their game and get done with the series even before it stretches to the final game. Both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwanare in form as is evident through their last two partnerships in the third ODI and the first T20I. The Pakistani bowling also seemed to have improved a bit especially the way Mohammad Hasnain bowled. The abilities of Shadab Khan to pick wickets makes it a wholesome attack with the presence of Shahen Afridi and Imad Wasim as left-arm options against a right hand heavy English batting lineup. Will Hasan Ali play in place of Haris Rauf is yet to be seen. England vs Pakistan: Match Details Match Number- 2nd T20I Date and Time: July 18, 2021, 07:00 pm IST, 01:30 pm GMT, 02:30 pm Local Venue: Headingley, Leeds Broadcast and Live Stream: Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV Pitch Report The average score at Headingley in Leeds over the past two years in T20s has been in the range of 170-190 giving a fair idea of why it is going to be a high scoring affair at this ground. The teams batting first agave although won 65% of the games, chasing isn’t a bad option either, especially in a day game. Bowlers, much like in Weather Forecast and Toss The weather at Leeds is going to be perfect for cricket on Sunday, July 18 with the temperatures ranging between 26-25 degrees Celcius throughout the game time. There are no predictions of rain and it would rather remain sunny throughout the day. Any captain winning the toss would look to bowl first, except Pakistan. Pakistan aren’t good at chasing and they would like to bat on their strength that is defending the totals. Team News England The English side is most probably staring down at least three changes with Chris Jordan, Buttler and Adil Rashid coming in places of Saqib Mahmood, Malan and Matt Parkinson respectively. Even Tom Curran could make way for his brother if things permit. Probable XI Jason Roy, Jos Buttler (wk), Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Eoin Morgan (c), Lewis Gregory, David Willey, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Tom Curran/ Sam Curran Pakistan As far as the Pakistan team is concerned, disturbing the winning combination is not something that they would like to do. However, they can afford one change where Haris Rauf goes out and Hasan Ali comes in. Probable XI Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shoaib Maqsood, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf/ Hasan Ali Dream XI team Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shoaib Maqsood, Liam Livingstone (vc), Shadab Khan, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Shaheen Shah Afridi

ECB prepares to protect The Hundred from Covid-19, asks individuals to avoid places of high risk

In wake of increasing Covid-19 cases in the cricketing circle, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has told all the players who will be participating in the inaugural edition of The Hundred to avoid exposure to places where chances of contracting the virus are higher, ESPNcricinfo reported. Such places include pubs, shops and restaurants and to ensure all these norms are followed there has been an appointment of a Covid compliance officer for each of the teams participating in the tournament. However, the board is not strict about the biosecure bubble as life at large in England are coming back to normal and ECB’s chief had said that the players must learn to “live with the virus”. The players will be allowed to go back to their homes but players and individuals involved in the tournament have been advised against going to high-risk places. The ECB is not taking any chance to jeopardise the inaugural edition of its flagship event and is desperate to ensure that it goes as planned in wake of rising cases in the country. The ECB suffered a direct impact of Covid-19 after seven members of the senior men ODI side tested positive for the virus and it led to the whole side becoming close contacts and they had to select a completely different side to face Pakistan. Hence, a proactive approach is understandable on the part of the ECB as it has invested a lot of human resources and capital in The Hundred tournament.