Steve Smith will recover in time for World T20: George Bailey

How good is it to see a global superstar so passionate about Test cricket: Pietersen on Kohli

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has lavished praise on India captain Virat Kohli for his passion to play and perform in Test cricket, especially at the time when the longer format needs “global superstars” to focus on it. “Kohli knows that to be considered a legend of the game, he needs to deliver in this format as well as in T20,” Pietersen wrote in his blog post for Betway. “That’s why he puts so much importance on this format and at a time when Test cricket needs all the love it can get, how good is it to see a global superstar so passionate about it,” he added. During his purple patch between 2018-19, Kohli became the first Indian batsman to score seven double-centuries in Test cricket and then led India to its first series win against Australia Down Under. Moreover, India were one of the finalists in the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship apart from New Zealand. India though suffered a defeat in the title clash against the Blackcaps. Under Kohli, India started off the WTC 2 cycle with the tour of England and presently lead the five-match Test series by 1-0 after drafting England in a nerve-wracking victory at Lord's. The first match in Nottingham ended in a draw after rain played spoilsport on the final day of the encounter while the visitors clinched a 151-run win in the second to go 1-0 up in the series. Talking about the series, Pietersen lauded India and said that they would have taken 2-0 lead if the Nottingham Test hadn’t ended in a draw due to rain. “It’s very difficult for subcontinental teams to come to England and perform, but they would probably be 2-0 up after two matches if it weren’t for the rain at Trent Bridge,” Pietersen said. The two sides will now face each other in the third Test in Leeds scheduled to begin on August 25.

CA CEO supports Justin Langer to continue till Ashes 2021 for 'incredibe job' of raising 'values'

Amid mounting criticism over Australia’s recent performances under his watch and his controversial coaching methods that have earned direct confrontation with the players, coach Justin Langer has earned direct support from the top brass of Cricket Australia. Cricket Australia’s CEO, Nick Hockley has thrown his weight behind the former opener who took charge of the side in the aftermath of the Newlands saga that erupted chaos in the administration circle. Hockley has said that Langer has done an “incredible job” of restoring faith in Australian cricket by “raising the culture, values and behaviours of the Australian men’s team”. He ruled out any changes in the coaching staff and said that Langer will continue to oversee the development of the Australian team through the two most important events of the year—World T20 and The Ashes. “Justin has done an incredible job in raising the culture, values and behaviours of the Australian men’s team since he took on the role in 2018. His efforts have restored public faith in the national team, which is a side all Australian’s can be incredibly proud of,” Hockley said in a statement. “He is contracted as head coach through to the middle of next year, with the focus now on a successful T20 World Cup campaign followed by the home Ashes defence in what is one of the most anticipated series and summers of cricket in Australia for many years. “Justin, his coaching staff and the leaders within the team have an equally important part to play in ensuring a successful summer ahead for the Australian cricket team.” Australia have suffered massive defeats at the hands of the West Indies and Bangladesh in the last two months and the pressure is truly on the shoulders of Langer to turn things around once again for Australia leading up to the World T20 and the homes Ashes series.

Smith, Warner, Maxwell, Cummins return to Aaron Finch-led Australian side for World T20

Australia have announced the 15-man squad for the upcoming World T20 scheduled to take place in October-November in the UAE and Oman. The side would be led by Aaron Finch who is presently recovering from a knee injury while Pat Cummins has been named his deputy. Former captain Steve Smith has also been included. Smith had missed out Australia’s recent fixtures against West Indies and Bangladesh as he is also recovering from an elbow injury. The likes of Pat Cummins, David Warner, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell and Kane Richardson have made a return to the side after the players had missed out the tours to Caribbean islands and Bangladesh. "We have some of the best players in the world in their respective roles combined with the collective experience to succeed against the very best T20 sides in the world," chairman of selectors George Bailey said. Australia have had some disappointing run in the T20I format after suffering defeats in the recent series against West Indies and Bangladesh away from home. Apart from this, Nathan Ellis who bagged a hat trick on his T20I debut against Bangladesh, Dan Christian and Daniel Sams have been named as the reserve players. The Aaron Finch-led side will begin the campaign on October 23 against South Africa. Squad: Aaron Finch (C), Pat Cummins (VC), Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Swepson

David Gower blames Joe Root for 'emotional tactics' during Lord's Test

When arguably the most stylish left-hander to have graced the game, David Gower says that the world has gone mad after the partnership between Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah in the Lord’s Test, most of us are bound to feel the same way. The reaction of Gower was abridging of every single person who had watched the final day’s play of the Lord’s Test. “The world has gone mad. The world has gone completely mad when you’ve got Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah sharing a partnership of 89 on the fifth morning. No one, not even their parents, or their close family, would have predicted that one,” Gower said. When the final day started, England was on the cusp of a victory with India just leading by 154 runs with just Rishabh Pant and the bowlers to follow. When they got Pant early in the day, things looked quite gloomy for India until a bizarre tactical move by Joe Root turned the game on its head. When Jasprit Bumrah came out to the crease, the English bowlers allowed their emotions to take control as they kept firing a barrage of short deliveries at Bumrah reminding him of the similar medicine which he had given to James Anderson at the fag end of Day 2. “How often do we say to people in one-day cricket, when the ball is flying everywhere, ‘how bout the yorker?’ How often when the yorker works, do we see the stumps rearranged. That’s the sort of delivery I think should be bowled in these circumstances more often. Aim at the stumps, full and straight, if you get it right, the tail-enders sometimes struggle with that,” Gower said. After getting hit on the head twice and dealing with the verbal volleys, both Shami and Bumrah became resilient and started to defy the English attack with their sensible style of play. With most of the fielders being pushed as boundaries riders, singles became as easy to get as getting newspapers by a roadside stall. Both Bumrah and Shami cashed in and started piling on the agony on the English bowlers. Their unbeaten partnership of 89 runs made sure that only two results were possible in the match, an Indian win or a draw. Taking nothing away from the efforts of the two tail-enders, Gower blamed Root for the ‘emotional tactics’ which eventually played into the hands of both Bumrah and Shami. “What was interesting about the final hour was that the passion and emotions got too much for England. Yes they’d been stirred up with the Bumrah and Anderson stuff, but it’s amazing how when your emotions take control, your carefully laid plans could become mislaid plans. Every Root had to admit that he got his tactics wrong,” Gower said speaking exclusively to Cricket.com, reviewing the Lord’s Test. “Captaincy is one of those things where sometimes you think you’re getting a hang of it. But then you have days like the final morning, and you realize that you’re still learning. In truth, you’re always learning - every day you’re captain of any national team. “But this is not the first time he’s been in such a situation. Those are the situations that can make or break a game. As we can now see very very vividly. That’s where a captain has to be able to say to himself and his players, ‘Look, this is our plan. Let’s not lose control.’ and that’s what I’m sure he regrets most,” Gower said.