Tom Banton called-up for third ODI against Sri Lanka

Lord's to have 100 percent attendance during 2nd ODI between England & Pakistan

The second ODI between England and Pakistan scheduled to take place at Lord’s will have 100 per cent attendance. "We have been in consultation with Public Health England and our local Safety Advisory Group on the arrangements for the match and we are pleased to confirm that we have been granted permission to operate at 100 percent seating capacity for this match," read an official statement on the website of the Lord’s Cricket ground. There are certain guidelines for the spectators as well. If the ticket holders are aged 11 or above, they will be required to have proof of a negative LFD, proof of full vaccination and proof of natural immunity. Social distance won’t be required while on the ground but the masks are required when moving in the ground, for instance while using bars and food outlets. Earlier, as a part of the UK government’s Events Research Programme, Edgbaston had also allowed 80 per cent attendance during the third ODI between England and Pakistan. "It's fantastic for sport in the West Midlands that so many cricket fans will be able to enjoy another blockbuster fixture in England versus Pakistan at Edgbaston," said Chief Executive of Warwickshire cricket Stuart Cain. The two teams are slated to play a three-match ODI series and as many T20Is. The ODI series begins on July 8 in Cardiff.

Coming into a period of time now where rest and rotation is put behind us: Joe Root

England Test captain Joe Root has opened up about the ‘rest and rotation’ policy and has said that it should be ‘put behind us’. “We are coming into a period of time now where rest and rotation is put behind us,” Root was quoted as saying by ‘ESPNcricinfo’. “Hopefully, if everyone is fit, we are going to have our best team available for what is to follow. That’s really exciting and something I’m very much looking forward to.” Root further added that the side is slated to play ten matches against two of the finest oppositions and it is a great opportunity for the team to play some strong cricket. “We have ten very hard Test matches against two brilliant opposition coming up but it is a great opportunity for us to play some strong cricket and if everyone is fit and available we will have a good team ourselves.” England are scheduled to play a five-match Test series against India at home and travel to Australia in December for the Ashes series. The right-handed batsman has also said that the Test series against India would be a preparation for the Ashes. “I’d like to think that, over the next five Test matches, we’ll be trying to play our strongest side or have our strongest squad available for those games. This is, I suppose, what you do it for: to ready yourself for this lead-in and for in particular that Ashes,” Root said.

Australia appoint Jeff Vaughan, Michael Di Venuto as assistant coaches

Australia have included Michael Di Venuto and Jeff Vaughan as the national side’s assistant coaches and the two will join the coaching staff headed by Justin Langer later this year. Di Venuto has worked with the Australian team earlier as well in 2013 as a batting coach and is presently with the squad in St Lucia. He was also appointed as the senior coach for the T20I series against India in 2016 after the then head coach Dareen Lehmann wasn’t available due to illness. The 47-year-old has also served as the head coach of Surrey and led the side to their first county title in 16 years in 2018. Di Venuto expressed delight at his appointment. "I'm excited to be rejoining the Australian team full time. I have spent some time around the group over the last month and really enjoyed being back with them," Di Venito said. "Since my last stint, I've gained terrific experience being Head Coach of Surrey CCC before COVID hit and also spent time with the Adelaide Strikers, Hobart Hurricanes and Tasmania more recently,” he added. Former South Australia player Vaughan also expressed his joy and said that his appointment is the " highlight” of his career. Australia are slated to play a five-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series against West Indies away from home. The first T20I takes place on July 9 at St Lucia.

Australian players likely to be available for remainder of IPL 2021: Report

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has received a major boost as the Australian players are likely to be available for the remainder of the Indian Premier League slated to take place in the UAE as per a Cricbuzz report. Australia have a pretty schedule beginning in October. They would first lock horns with Sri Lanka ahead of the World T20 scheduled to be played in the UAE and Oman in October-November and this would be followed by a packed home summer. But despite a busy schedule, some of the Australian players would be available for the remaining fixtures of the IPL. The likes of Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Marcus Stoinis and Daniel Sams had made themselves unavailable for selection for the West Indies tour. In fact, captain Aaron Finch had expressed his disappointment at the players’ pulling out of the tour and said that it would be hard to justify going back and playing the second half of the IPL. “I think they would find it hard to justify going back and playing that second half of the IPL. Just purely based on the workload coming up with a T20 World Cup and a huge home summer. It's really tough. It's a tough situation that everyone has been put in, but personally, I would find it hard to do that knowing how difficult it is and how challenging it is mentally, and on your family as well. That's what I would think,” Finch had said. The IPL was suspended on May 4 after there was a rise in Covid-19 cases within the franchises and will now resume in UAE in September-October. The schedule of the tournament is yet to be announced.