The Hundred 2021 sees an outflux as Williamson, Finch make way for Faf du Plessis & Fin Allen

The initial season of The Hundred seems to be getting as messy as it can before it finally begins as several cricketers have opted out of the unique 100 balls per innings tournament owing to injury, COVID-19 and national duties. While New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was forced to withdraw due to his injury, Birmingham Phoenix was forced to let go of Pakistan star bowler Shaheen Afridi due to national duties. It needs to be noted that initially, The Hundred was scheduled to have its inaugural tournament in 2020, but was pushed back for a year after several deliberations.

This has presented an opportunity for the likes of the Kiwi pair of Finn Allen and Adam Milne to replace Williamson and Afridi respectively. South Africa’s Imran Tahir has also signed up at Birmingham Phoenix after his impressive run in the Pakistan Super League. Among the domestic signing for the Edgbaston based side, Somerset's Will Smeed would replace injured Henry Brookes.

Former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis would replace Australian limited-overs skipper Aaron Finch as Northern Superchargers captain. The latter chose national duties above the inaugural addition of ECB’s Marquee tournament. du Plessis was excited to play alongside Ben Stokes and other cricket superstars.

"It is a real honour to lead Northern Superchargers in their first season. Playing alongside the likes of Ben Stokes, Adil Rashid and Chris Lynn alongside a number of talented young players will be really exciting. I can't wait to get going in a few weeks' time,” the Superchargers skipper was quoted as saying by Sky Cricket.

Among other changes, England seamer Ollie Robinson, who has been in the limelight for mostly wrong reasons has been signed by Manchester Originals to replace the retired Harry Gurney.

Another player benefiting from a good PSL is Kiwi Colin Munro, who has signed for Manchester Originals. Kiwis are actually represented in large numbers with Devon Conway, Jimmy Neesham already signed and now Glenn Phillips being added as a part-time replacement for Kieron Pollard at the Welsh Fire until the West Indian captain comes back from national duties.

Among the changes in The Hundred Women, South Africa’s Suné Luus joined Welsh Fire while Rachel Priest replaced Elyse Villani at Trent Rockets. Two other South Africa Women included in the tournament are Laura Wolvaardt and World number two T20I bowler Shabnim Ismail. While Wolvaardt replaced Australian wicketkeeper batter, Alyssa Healy, in the Superchargers women's team. Ismail replaced Rachael Haynes at Oval Invincibles.

Ismail was excited about being part of the innovative league and wished she could bowl the first ball of the tournament ever as she will be part of the first game of The Hundred Women when Oval Invinclbels take on Manchester Originals on July 21.

"I'm absolutely buzzing to take part in The Hundred. To play in London will be really special. In particular, I cannot wait to play in the opening fixture of the whole competition on July 21 at The Kia Oval, and maybe bowling the first-ever ball in The Hundred," she said.

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SLC hits back at Ranatunga, says touring Indian team is not second string by any measures

Sri Lanka Cricket, the administrative body running the game in the island nation has hit back at its former captain for demeaning the touring Indian side by calling it a second-string side. “Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce that despite claims by various parties as reported in the Media, the National White-Ball team of India currently touring Sri Lanka is a strong squad,” the SLC said in a statement released on Friday, July 02nd. The board further enumerated the achievements of the team in various formats to counter the claims of various people calling it a low for Sri Lanka to invite a second-string team to play its national team. “Out of the 20-member India squad, 14 players have represented India across all formats or in some form. (Test, ODI, or T20i), and not a ‘second-string team,’ as claimed," the board said. The top players of the Indian team led by regular skipper Virat Kohli are in England for a Test series and the Sri Lankan board presented it as a fact of how things are going to go in this world ridden by the pandemic. “This is the latest norm in the cricketing world, especially the full ICC Member countries, as they maintain specialist squads and players for each format of the game. The aim of such arrangements is to be competitive in each format of the game by maintaining specialist players and squads,” the board reiterated. “Apart from it, maintaining separate squads enable cricketing boards to fulfil their international commitments unhindered, such as the ICC Future Tours Program,” it added. Earlier, Ranatunga, the former World Cup-winning skipper of Sri Lanka said, “This is a second-string Indian team and their coming here is an insult on our cricket. I blame the current administration for agreeing to play with them due to television marketing needs.” The series between India and Sri Lanka would begin with the first ODI at the R Premadasa on July 13th.

Lord's to host ENG vs PAK ODI will full capacity as a part of research study

Known as the “Mecca of Cricket”, the Lord’s cricket ground will be buzzing with full capacity when the home team takes on Pakistan in the second ODI of the three-match ODI series starting on 10th July. The decision to host the match with full capacity is due to the fact that the event will be monitored by the British Government under it’s ‘Event Research Programme’. In an order to gather evidence on how crowds can make their way back into stadiums after the pandemic subsides, the UK government is organising the match will full capacity. “The fixture falls before the planned relaxation of Government restrictions on 19 July and MCC has been working closely with ECB, DCMS, Public Health England and Westminster Citybehind Council on obtaining the green light to allow more supporters into the Home of Cricket for this match," read a press release. “The Government’s science-led Events Research Programme is conducting scientific research studies at all events to gather the evidence that will inform how crowds can be returned to live events as safely as possible. The results of studies will be used to help shape policy and future guidelines,” it further read. For spectators coming to watch the match, strict protocols are in place. They will need to produce proof of vaccination or negative RT-PCT test results at the time of entry. “We are heartened to be able to welcome full crowds into Lord’s for the forthcoming encounter between England and Pakistan. To have England men’s first ODI at the Home of Cricket in almost two years and in front of a capacity crowd, will be truly memorable,” Guy Lavender, Chief Executive and Secretary of MCC said. “There has been tremendous work going on behind the scenes and we are grateful to ECB, DCMS, Public Health England and Westminster City Council for their support and cooperation in achieving this outcome. We look forward to welcoming cricket fans back to the Home of Cricket, for what will be a full weekend of sport and most importantly with crowds,” he further added.

Kohli was just expressing his opinion on three match final, never demanded for it: Ravi Ashwin

New Zealand were crowned the inaugural world Test champions when they defeated India by 8 wickets in Southampton to lift the ICC Test Championship mace. Following India’s below-par performance in another knockout game, Indian skipper Virat Kohli expressed his views and said that he would have been happier had the final been a three-match affair as it gives both teams equal opportunities to stage a comeback even if they lose the opening Test. "I am not in absolute agreement of deciding the best Test side in the world over the course of one game," Kohli had said after his team's eight-wicket loss in Southampton. "If it is a Test series, it has to be a test of character over three Tests - which team has the ability to come back in the series or totally blow away the other team. It can't just be pressure applied over two days of good cricket and then you suddenly you are not a good Test side anymore. I don't believe in it,” he added. Several former cricketers have said that this is not a feasible option and big games are always one-off. Defending him, ace off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who was one of the standout bowlers for India in the final said that Kohli only expressed his opinion and what he thinks is the best way going forward and never demanded the format to be changed. "I happened to hear people saying that Virat Kohli asked for three Tests to be played for the WTC final but it is ridiculous. After the match got over, (former England player and renowned cricket writer) Michael Atherton had asked what he could have done differently in the WTC. Virat replied in a particular context that if three matches are played, then adaptability and comeback for a team are possible. But he never demanded something," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. The Indian contingent who are currently in England are enjoying their time in the country away from the bio-bubble and will reassemble again on July 14 to start preparing for the five-match Test series against the home team beginning in Nottingham from 4th August. Ashwin who is expected to play a pivotal role in the upcoming series said that the break is very important for the entire team. "We were in the bubble throughout. So, after a long time, we are able to get some fresh air and step out,” Ashwin said. After their victory, New Zealand celebrated to their heart’s content till midnight and it was a pill difficult to swallow for the whole of the Indian team. "After the match, New Zealand have this custom of celebrating with the trophy and a few drinks in the dressing room. It was tough to see it. I think it is the flip side of having a room above the ground. They celebrated until 12. They even arrived at the pitch, and it sounded like a war cry to express their happiness. It was quite upsetting to see as we couldn't make it," Ashwin concluded.

ENG W vs IND W | 3rd ODI: With nothing to lose, India Women look to be brave and fearless

The Indian Women team did improve a bit in terms of their approach towards the ODI game in the second of the three-match series against England Women but still ended up losing the match, courtesy of some brilliant character shown by young Sophia Dunkley with the bat. She was the prime reason to rob away the Indian eves of a potential victory, mainly owed to them by their bowlers. While the bowling did improve a bit, it is the batting that is slacking and continued to do so in the second game as well. Necessary changes were made with Jemimah Rodriguez taking Punam Raut’s place at the top of the order and Sneh Rana coming in for Pooja Vatsrakar. However, what didn’t go well was another Indian collapse in the middle order after a relatively better top-order performance. Asking for too many changes could be a problem, but this Indian team could really afford to be a bit realistic in the sense that it has already lost the series. Punam Raut as a batter is way better and can be the real anchor. Whether or not she can drop anchor is a question that has not been answered yet. However, India can really do with her at number three instead of Jemimah because of two things mainly. First, she has an impressive record and was carrying form on this England tour. Secondly, Rodriguez, who was fitted into her place, really doesn’t solve the jigsaw puzzle in the sense that she is out of form and hence equally slow, if not more. The only way India seem to solve this problem is by either taking Raut to open with Shafali Verma and playing Smriti Mandhana at three to keep up the tempo or by involving young Indrani Roy as the wicket-keeper batter in the team and playing her at number three or opener and removing Raut altogether from the setup. Whether or not India tries that combination is a thing of deliberation. As far s the English unit is concerned, it is running like a well-oiled machine with somebody or the other raising its hand to deliver in the moment of crisis. Be it Tammy Beaumont and Nat Sciver in the first game or Dunkley and Katharine Brunt in the second. However, now since the series is won, England could really afford to give the reserve players a chance. England Women vs India Women: Match Details Match Number- 3rd ODI Date and Time: 03 July 2021, 03:00 pm IST, 09:30 am GMT, 10:30 am Local Venue: New Road, Worcester Broadcast and Live Stream in India: Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV Pitch Report As of now, only five Women ODIs have been played on this ground, the latest of which was played in 2019. In those five games, the team batting first have won four games, giving a fair bit of idea about the nature of the wicket. The home ground of Worcester county is known to9 slow down as the game progresses. The average first inning score of 203 also suggests that it is tough to score runs on this ground. The average second innings score is just 175. Weather Forecast and Toss The weather forecast of Worcester might not be pleasing news for cricket lovers as there are forecasts of thunderstorms and the chances of rain are between 35-51% from 10 am to 5 pm, mostly the entire duration of the game. The day would remain cloudy and chilly with temperatures ranging between 14-15 degrees celsius. In such conditions, any team winning the toss would choose to field first. Team News England Women The likes of Brunt and Anya Shrubsole could take time off to prepare for the upcoming T20I series and so can the batters like Beaumont and Sciver who have got a good hit so far. The team can go as far as resting Dunbkley as well if they feel like it. With all these changes, those who have been part of the team but haven’t got an opportunity can get a go as well. Freya Davies, Mady Villiers and Emily Arlott can take the places of Brunt, Shrubsole and Sophie Ecclestone while the likes of Fran Wilson can be tries in the middle order. Probable XI Lauren Winfield Hill, Fran Wilson, Heather Knight (c), Natalie Sciver, Amy Ellen Jones (wk), Sophia Dunkley, Emily Arlott, Sarah Glenn, Mady Villiers, Freya Davies, Kate Cross India Women The Indian team could really do with the change in the wicketkeeper. Not because of the wicket-keeping skills because Taniya Bhatia is probably the best behind the stumps. However, her batting is doing no favours to the team at all and Indrani, sitting in the room in probably the form of her life is going no good at all for her or the team. Thus she must be tried in this game where is losing doesn’t even matter. The rest of the team can remain unchanged if it wishes to. However, Mithali carried an injury in the last game and didn’t take the field. But with two days’ rest, most hopefully she would have recovered. And if not, Raut could take her place as easily as possible. Probable XI Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Indrani Roy(wk), Shikha Pandey, Jhulan Goswami, Poonam Yadav Dream XI and Fantasy XI team Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Mithali Raj (c), Heather Knight, Natalie Sciver, Amy Ellen Jones (wk), Sophia Dunkley (vc), Sneh Rana, Kate Cross, Jhulan Goswami, Poonam Yadav