Two UAE players slapped with bans for breaching ICC Anti-Corruption Code

Team India fined 20% match fees for slow over-rate in 2nd T20I

The Indian team has been fined 20 % of their match fees for slow over-rate in the second T20I that took place at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, 14th March. Javagal Srinath, the match referee in the game ruled that India were one over slower than what they should have been in the allotted time. “In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time,” an ICC statement summarising the fine said. “Kohli pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing,” the statement added. It were the on-field umpires Anil Chaudhary and K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan, along with third umpire Virender Sharma that levelled the charge against the men in blue. India went to win the game with 13 balls remaining and levelled the series 1-1 with the third match to be played on Tuesday, 16th March.

Jason Roys laments lack of big scores; urges England to be on top against 'classy' India

Having squandered the opportunity to put serious pressure on the hosts India, England will be desperate to get back to winning ways in the third T20I of the series. England were outclassed in all the departments by India, who had to deal with a similar treatment in the first game. Indian batsmen batted with more freedom and fluency than the Englishmen, while the bowlers picked suitable lines and lengths for the pitch much better than English bowlers and the tourists were hurt by dropping easy chances off batsmen to get back in the game. With the series standing at a square 1-1 position, it makes up for a three-match series going forward and the team winning the next game will have some sort of psychological advantage. Having seen England struggle with the bat on a sluggish pitch, it is unlikely they will get any better pitch to bat on in the next game, but the confidence in the English camp has not deterred by the big loss in the last game. Instead, they are taking heart from their equally big win over India in the first game, and are itching to get on the filed to take the snatch the lead away from India. "I'm very confident we can bounce back. It's easier said than done, India are a class team. But the way we started the series in that first game was more comprehensive than what they gave to us on Sunday, so I think going into the third game we're still full of confidence,” England opener Jason Roy said in the pre-match press conference on Monday. He pointed out the difference in batting in the early overs of the game where the England batsmen including himself could manage to score runs a bit more fluently that during the latter phase of the game where they struggled to time the ball and boundaries were dried up. But for Roy, the England side is filled with quick learners and they must have got into adjusting their batting styles as per conditions and that impact will be seen in the next game. "We found the last eight overs of our batting a little bit difficult but I think the boys will bounce back - we're a fast-learning side so I don't think there's been a huge amount of wind out of our sails to be honest,” Roy added. Roy has been the shining light for England batting order as he has been belting bowlers around against the new ball. He was a dominant force with the bat while chasing a low score from India in the first game, while his second innings was a mixed with graft, struggle and mishits. His 35-ball-46 in the second game kept England in the hunt but his wicket in the 12th over broke the back of England batting. He conceded that lack fo big scores from the top order is the need of the hour for England and that scores of 'forties' which he has produced in the last two games look great on scorecards but don’t provide impetus to set competitive totals on the scoreboard. "I'm still looking for that big score. Those forties are great and look good on the scoreboard but to get 180s, 190s and very competitive totals in T20, you need someone to go on and get a big score. So as happy as I am there's still a lot to improve on,” Roy added. Roy was looking desperate to take on Indian spinners and attempted reverse sweeps off Chahal on numerous occasions before pulling off two in the ninth over of England innings. He then attempted to take the game to Washington Sundar who until that point had bowled brilliant in the powerplay. He thought of taking a calculated risk against the off-spinner but it did not work out as he had planned. "What I learned was just to make sure I was staying on my shots a little bit more," he added. "I was a bit out of position with a couple of my reverse-sweeps, and then rectified that during my innings. But it's a pitch where you've got to pick your bowler. Unfortunately the bowler I picked got me out. If that over had gone for a few runs, it would have swayed the momentum of our innings quite a bit. Roy conceded that he went out of his comfort zones in terms of choosing shots to attack spinners and that but has no regret of failing in the attempt of pushing for big runs as the T20 format demands batsmen to live on the edge where they have to put their wickets on the sword. "It was a calculated risk but didn't go my wayIf I hadn't got out, then a big score was probably around the corner. That's just the way T20 goes. If you live by the sword, you've got to be willing to die by it." Roy has been one of the mainstays for England in the white-ball formats and his success in the next three games of the series will matter for the fortunes of England in the ongoing series. Also, his success on Indian pitches will also give England confidence about their preparation for the World T20.

Fault in our ken: BCCI's unwillingness to abide protocols deprive fans of Ind vs Eng T20Is

The rise in COVID-19 cases in Gujarat and in the country has forced the remainder of the T20I series between India and England to take place behind the closed doors in Ahmedabad. The Vice President of the Gujarat Cricket Association Dhanraj Nathwani has in fact said that the refunds would be made to the fans who had bought tickets for the T20I fixtures. Here’s a look at how the spike in COVID-19 cases altered BCCI’s plans of having fans in the stands. Inauguration of the largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad and bio-bubble breach The Narendra Modi Stadium witnessed the first ever clash when India took on England in the third Test of the four-match series. The BCCI had allowed a 50% crowd in the stadium. While the match ended in the home side’s favour, the “external” factors didn’t seem to be much appreciable. Ahead of the match, BCCI Honorary Secretary Jay Shah and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju were seen in the stadium premises without masks. The two even faced some backlash on social media as well. Later, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was seen felicitating India fast bowler Ishant Sharma who made his 100th Test appearance without wearing a mask. The third Test between India and England began on February 24. The country recorded over 16000 new COVID-19 cases on this particular day. Fan enters the field The third Test between the two sides was the Day-night Test. Another controversial visual from the match came out when a fan breached the security and came onto the field to meet skipper Virat Kohli. Though, a GCA official made the most predictable negotiation on the matter and said that the board will “look” into the matter. "We will look into the matter and we will find out who the fan was. Some sort of action we will take as the matter is serious and the safety of everyone is of utmost importance.” While the GCA official tagged the matter as “serious” and emphasised that the “safety” of everyone kept the utmost important, the BCCI continued to allow 50% of the crowd in the next Test as well the first T20Is. The fourth and final Test began on March 4 while the country saw more than 16000 new COVID-19 cases on this day and over 17000 cases a day before. Amid the difficult situation, India won the Test series to march into the WTC final. T20I series begins with FANS CONTINUING TO STAY IN STANDS The T20I series started in a disappointing manner for India as England grabbed an easy win in Ahmedabad. But what was more disappointing? The presence of “50%” spectators in the stands which of course never looked like one despite the COVID-19 graph rising with each passing day. The first T20I between the two teams took place on March 12 while the country had more than 19000 new cases a day before and over 20000 new cases on the match day in the country. ‘We won’t put masks on’ No this wasn’t a recorded statement by anyone but it seemed as if the fans in the stands wanted to convey this message. There have been pictures on social media of the spectators without masks during the second T20I between India and England. The match was held on March 14. March 13 and 14 are probably the two dates that have seen the most rise in the number of new COVID-19 cases. While the country had more than 25000 new cases on the 13th March, 14th March witnessed over 26000 new cases. We do agree that the fans and spectators do make a difference when the cricket season is on but the pandemic has changed few things for one and all. If the boards plan to hold matches with crowds then they need to have proper arrangements to abide by the protocols and make the fans do the same.

Sarah Taylor back on cricket field; joins Sussex' coaching staff

Sarah Taylor, the former English wicket-keeper-batswoman has joined Sussex as a member of the coaching staff for the upcoming season. She would work with the professional squad and the Sussex Cricket Pathway on a part-time basis. “I’m really pleased about working with the club’s wicketkeepers. From Ben Brown and Phil Salt in the professional squad and down through the pathway, we have a really talented group of keepers at Sussex who I am looking forward to working with immensely, ‘ said the dashing right-hander. Sarah, 31, had quit all forms of cricket in Septemeber 2019 after suffering from anxiety issues. The Whitechapel born wicketkeeper played 126 ODIs, 10 Tess and 90 T20Is for the English women’s team in her 13-year long career, scoring over 7000 international runs. “I want to share my experience and expertise to help them get the most out of their game. I’m a big believer in keeping things simple and perfecting the basics so that players can enjoy and express themselves with the gloves,” added the most successful wicketkeeper in the women’s game with 231 scalps in 226 games in all formats. Along with Taylor, Ashley Wright a professional coach who has coached in County, BPL and has a four-year experience of coaching the Gurnsey national team has also joined the Sussex support staff. Sarah after retiring in September 2019, became a sport and life coach at Bede's School in Eastbourne. Also before her move to Sussex as a coaching staff, she helped in the launch of the Sussex Cricket Mental Health & Wellbeing Hub, an online resource set up by the club. Ian Salisbury, Sussex’s joint men’s head coach welcomed Taylor and Wright saying, “As with everything we do, the decision to add Sarah and Ash to our coaching staff is based on our strategic aim to produce homegrown or ‘Sussex-fied’ players who will ensure the club is competing in all formats and providing as many players for England as possible in the future.”