Vitality Blast 2021 | Ben Stokes set to return, Samit Patel earns special milestone

England star all-rounder Ben Stokes is all set to return to the cricketing action in a game for Durham against the Birmingham Bears in the ongoing edition of the Vitality Blast T20 tournament.

Stokes was ruled out of the action in the early part of the Indian Premier League when he broke his hand while attempting to catch a ball fielding at long-on playing for the Rajasthan Royals.

He was ruled out of the remainder of the IPL and England coach Chris Silverwood had last month said that Stokes’ return will begin with the Vitality Blast tournament.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Outlaws all-rounder Samit Patel has registered his name in the record books of T20 cricket. He has become the first English cricketer to claim 200 wickets in T20 and 5000 runs in the format. He already had more than 5,000 runs in his career and took two wickets in the last game to go past the 250-wicket mark.

He reached the dual landmarks in the last game against Derbyshire where he put on an all-round performance to win his side an important game. He first scored a sublime half century with the bat to help Notts post a good total on the board and picked up two wickets with the ball to help them defend the score.

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Milkha Singh death | Indian cricketers pay rich tribute to 'The Flying Sikh'

Indian team playing the final of the World Test Championship wore black armbands to express sorrow and pay tributes to former Indian athlete Milkha Singh, after his demise. Singh, who was fondly remembered as ‘flying Sikh’ succumbed to Covid-19 complications in Chandigarh earlier last night. Wishes and tributes outpoured for Milkha Singh and cricketers across the country flocked to Twitter to celebrate the outstanding legacy of Milkha Singh.

Misbah-ul-Haq likes idea of playing against top teams to better prepare for ICC World T20

Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq has said that playing against big T20I teams like England and West Indies will help the side prepare for the upcoming World T20. "England is without doubt a top team ... as is the West Indies," Misbah said in the presser. "My belief is ... I also have the experience that if you play against good teams, your preparation would be better, you can judge yourself correctly as to where you stand,” he said. Misbah admitted that the side might face some difficulties but it would also help the team understand the real potential. "Even if there are difficulties, we will get to know our real potential ... where do we stand. As far as concerns over forms, those concerns are there but we have time on our hands to work on certain things,” he added. Pakistan are slated to travel to England for a three-match ODI series and as many T20I series. The first ODI begins on July 8 in Cardiff, while the second match takes place on July 10 at Lord’s and this would be followed by the third encounter on July 13 in Birmingham respectively. The T20I series will be played between July 16 to July 20. The first match will be held in Nottingham, the second at Headingley and the final clash will be played in Manchester.

Smriti Mandhana bats for more Test matches to help India Women mature at playing under pressure

India women’s team opener Smriti Mandhana was dismissed at the stroke of lunch on Day 3 of the one-off Test against England in Bristol while the visitors were following on in the second innings. The left-hander batsman has said that the slight pressure of staying unbeaten till the end of the day might have played the part. “Definitely, a slight pressure of ending the day ‘not out’, might have played a part (in the loss of wickets in a heap) and that will come with experience,” Mandhana said. “The more we play Test matches, the more we’ll get used to the conditions – one over before lunch or one over before the day’s end and all those sessions, so we can be more mature about (approaching them) and not take pressure,” she added. India had a brilliant start to the proceedings in the first innings after Mandhana and debutant Shafali Verma put up 167 runs for the first wicket in reply to England’s 396. But Verma just fell short of her maiden Test ton after she miscued a stroke off Kate Cross and was caught by Shrubsole for 96. Mandhan soon followed her for 78 and the left-handed batter’s dismissal saw a flurry of wickets. India were soon reduced to 197/8 to eventually get bowled out for 231. The home side enforced the follow-on later in the day. Ecclestone bagged four wickets for England. India on the other hand were 83/1 with Verma scoring yet another half-century when stumps were called.

WI vs SA | 2nd Test | Day 1: Dean Elgar, de Kock resurrect Proteas after early jolts by Windies pacers

South Africa captain Dean Elgar was back in form after he scored 77 against West Indies in the first innings of the second Test at St Lucia. Batting first, the visitors didn’t really have a great start after they lost some early wickets to get reduced to 37/3. Opener Aiden Markram was the first one to depart without troubling the scorers off Shannon Gabriel while Keegan Peterson and Rassie van der Dussen followed him. Peterson only managed to score 7 before Jayden Seales removed him while Der Dussen was undone for 4 after he was cleaned up by Kemar Roach. Elgar was then joined by Kyle Verreynne in the middle and the two provided some resistance to the Proteas to put 87 for fourth wicket before Verreynne was sent back in the hut for 27. Gabriel scalped his second wicket after Verreynne was caught by Joshua Da Silva off him. Wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock replaced Verreynne and joined hands with the skipper to steady the ship for the visitors once again. The two batsmen stitched a partnership of 79 for the fifth wicket. Elgar eventually got out while in-form De Kock continued his good run in the series to notch up a half-century before the stumps were called. South Africa were 218/5 with De Kock and Wiaan Mulder at the crease at stumps. For West Indies, it was Gabriel who made a comeback in this Test had a couple of dismissals while Roach and Mayers had a wicket apiece. The Dean Elgar-led side lead the two-match series 1-0 after they thumped the hosts in the first match by an innings and 63 runs at the same venue.