SL vs WI | 2nd Test | Day 4: Dhananjaya de Silva’s ton puts Sri Lanka in front

Perth Scorchers rope in Tymal Mills as Brydon Carse's replacement for upcoming Big Bash League

The Perth Scorchers have roped in England’s left-arm pacer Tymal Mills as the replacement for his countryman Brydon Carse for the upcoming season of the Big Bash League. Notably, Mills too has suffered serious injuries in the past and most recently was ruled out of the action midway through the T20 World Cup in the UAE. The Scorchers, however, are banking on his “calibre” and “world-class” bowling performances for England other sides he has represented in the recent past. "We're really excited about getting Tymal in after Brydon's unfortunate injury," Scorchers’ Head Coach Adam Voges said. "To be able to get someone of the calibre of Tymal - we saw the impact he had for England over in the World Cup and his last 12-24 months have been outstanding. He's a world-class performer, and he'll obviously be really important for us at the back end of the innings. In the death overs, I can see him and AJ Tye being a really good combination." Mills also expressed his immense excitement about the opportunity to play for the Scorchers, whom he rated as a “great” side with a great list of players. He also opened up on his keen interest in meeting new people and getting along with a fresh bunch of people. "When they got in touch, I was extremely keen," Mills said. "They're a great franchise with some great players. It's exciting to get the opportunity to play in big competitions, and when you join a new franchise, it's a great chance to meet new people and get in with a great group of guys."

IND vs NZ | 2nd Test: Will have to adapt to weather conditions, says Tim Southee

With Mumbai receiving some showers, India and New Zealand would need to look into the team combination and prepare the final XIs accordingly. The Blackcaps pacer Tim Southee has admitted that the unseasonal rain has certainly got the teams to go back to drawing board and further added that the players need to adapt to the conditions now. "It'll probably be under covers again today and that's something we're gonna have to look at when we get down to the ground tomorrow. Hopefully Gary [Stead] and Kane [Williamson] can have a look at the look at the wicket this afternoon,” he said. “But yeah, it's a different lead in to what we're all expecting. No one was expecting too much rain in the leadup but that's just something we're gonna have to adapt to going forward over the next next five six days," Southee added. The change in the weather conditions might help the seamers during the course. "We won't know if it's going to swing until we're out there. So that's just something we're going to have to adapt to as bowlers,” he said. The first match of the two-Test series ended in a draw in Kanpur and the sides will now lock horns with each other in the second and final game in Mumbai. India Test and ODI captain Virat Kohli will be back in action after he was rested for the T20I series and the first Test against the Kiwis.

IND vs NZ | 2nd Test: Curators shave off grass from Wankhede pitch as India eye 'home advantage'

In a welcome development for the hosts India, layers of grass have been shaved off the good length area of the pitch to be used for the second and final Test of the series against New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, TOI reported. The city has received heavy monsoon rains and hence having a tinge of grass on the pitch would have helped the tourists more than the home side who are clearly better off playing on surface assisting spinners. Furthermore, the groundsmen, under the experienced watch of BCCI’s chief curator Ashish Bhowmick, were also seen roughing up the surface using a brush as per the same report. India have not liked the idea of playing home Test matches on wickets that doesn’t offer assistance to their spinners and take a lot of time away from the game before breaking up. Hence, the first Test in Kanpur would have left the team management, especially, captain Kohli pretty disappointed with the slower and lower nature of the surface in Kanpur. Both India and New Zealand were to contend with only four points after the drawn first Test and Kohli would be desperate to gain 12 points with a win over the Blackcaps in Mumbai.

India tour of South Africa likely to be postponed, BCCI to ask CSA to cut short Test series: Report

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to request Cricket South Africa (CSA) to postpone the Indian team’s tour to the African nation, according to a TOI report. The cricketing activities have once again be affected after the detection of the new Covid-19 variant. “We might request CSA to postpone the series by a week and and will then declare the schedule,” top BCCI sources said on Thursday The Indian team is scheduled to travel to South Africa for three Tests, three ODIs and four T20Is between December and January. Though, there is no official announcement of the postponement of the tour. The Indian team is presently playing the Test series against New Zealand at home. The first game of the two-match series in Kanpur ended in a draw while the second is slated to begin on Friday. India Test and ODI skipper Virat Kohli will be back in action after he was rested from the T20Is and the first Test against the Kiwis.