Wriddhiman Saha recovers from COVID-19, set to be part of England tour

Indian wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha who had contracted COVID during the truncated 14th edition of the Indian Premier League has recovered from the deadly virus and will be part of the 20 man squad for the England tour.

Saha who was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad in the IPL returned two negative tests during his quarantine period. One of the finest modern-day wicket-keepers, Saha had contracted the virus just a day before the tournament came to a halt abruptly on 4th May.

The wicket-keeper batsman was included in the 20-member squad for the World Test Championship final against New Zealand and the five-match Test series against England subject to his fitness clearance. Now that he has recovered in time, he in all likelihood will board the flight to the UK.

He will join the rest of his teammates where they will be quarantining in Mumbai before leaving for England. The Indian players and all the support staff have been allowed to travel to the UK along with their family members where they will be spending more than three months.

The stumper had confirmed last week that he had tested positive in one of the two mandatory RT-PCR tests during his quarantine period. However, after his clearance, Saha will be India’s second wicket-keeper for the England tour with Rishabh Pant expected to retain his place in the XI.

"My quarantine period is still not over. As a part of the routine check-up, 2 tests were done, out of which 1 was negative and the other one came as positive. Otherwise, I am doing much better. Requesting everyone not to spread misleading stories/information without the whole context," he had said in a social media post.

The No 1 ranked Test side in the world, India will go head to head against New Zealand in the ICC Test Championship final between 18 and 22 June.

After a month-long gap where they will lock horns against England in a five-match Test series which will be part of the next Test Championship fixture.

While the players in the Test squad will be practising in UK for the whole of July, a specialist limited-overs team will visit Sri Lanka for a five-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series.

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Umesh Yadav expects a tough game for the Test Championship final, have plans for Williamson

Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav who is a part of the Indian Test squad for the upcoming World Test Championship final and the five match Test series against England feels that Kane Williamson will be the key player for New Zealand and if they pick his wicket early then chances of India winning the inaugural Test Championship will brighten up. Umesh might have to warm the benches atleast for the final as the pace attack looks settled and raring to go. “We do have a fair idea about Kane’s game, though I don’t think he has too many weaknesses,” Umesh was quoted as saying by Telegraph. “Of course, any quality batsman can fall to a good delivery, so as a fast bowler, you should look to stick to your strong points and bowl more of those balls which can fetch you wickets. And yeah, we need to get Kane out as early as possible as that’ll surely benefit the team,” he added. Both teams look very balanced on paper. Despite India’s dominance in the Test Championship, they will have their task cut out against a well oiled New Zealand unit that boasts of a sensational bowling attack and a world-class batting line-up. Kane Williamson has handled the mantle of leadership very well and though his numbers outside New Zealand in the Championship is not something which he will be proud of but Williamson can prove to be a nemesis for India given his exploits in seam friendly conditions at home. Umesh though admits that New Zealand are a well-balanced team and he expects a tough contest. “New Zealand are a strong side, they bat deep and their pacers are quite experienced and lethal. So it will be a tough game,” he said. The English conditions are another challenge and the team that is disciplined in each session will be the one that will emerge victorious. English conditions are also a big challenge for us and so is playing against a team like New Zealand,” Umesh further added. In the era of T20 cricket, it is very important for the Test specialists to keep themselves in the best of shapes. Umesh who hardly plays limited-overs cricket these days feels that as Test cricketers it is important to be disciplined in each and every aspects of the game. “But being Test players, we need to play with discipline and make sure we remain disciplined right throughout in all aspects of the game. The team that maintains such discipline in each and every session will prevail,” Umesh quipped. The UK bound Indian cricketers will start assembling in Mumbai very soon and that will be the destination from where they will be departing for the three-month-long tour of England. The players are currently on a break after the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League got suspended midway through the tournament. “It’s difficult to say whether the IPL getting suspended was good or bad because in any case, cricket has reduced due to the pandemic,” Umesh said.

Priya Punia's mother passes away due to Covid-19

Indian women’s team player Priya Punia suffered a huge loss after her mother passed away due to COVID-19. Priya shared the news on her official social media handle. “Today I realized why you always told me to be strong. You knew that one day I would need the strength to bear the loss of yours. I miss you so mom! No matter the distance I know you are always there with me. My guiding star, my mom. Love you always. Some truths in life are hard to accept. Your memories will never be forgotten! Rest In Peace Mom. Please follow the rules and take precautions. This virus is very dangerous. Wear a mask, maintain social distancing, stay safe and stay strong,” wrote Punia on her IG handle. Earlier, another Indian women’s team cricketer Veda Krishnamurthy lost her mother and sister after both of them succumbed to Covid-19. Punia was named in the Indian squad which is scheduled to play a one-off Test and three-match ODI series against England away from home. The side would be led by Mithali Raj. The Test match is slated to begin on June 16 in Bristol while the ODI series starts from June 27 at the same venue. The remaining two ODIs will be played on June 30th and July 3rd in Taunton and Worcester respectively.

Ian Chappell feels Bancroft's future chances will be numbered after recent revelations

Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell is of the opinion that Cameron Bancroft’s recent revelations on the infamous sandpaper gate saga won’t do him any benefit as it might go onto decrease his future chances of representing the national team. In a recent interview to the Guardian, Bancroft hinted at the fact that the bowling cartel was aware of the ball being scruffed up with sandpaper. "Yeah, look, all I wanted to do was to be responsible and accountable for my own actions and part. Yeah, obviously what I did benefits bowlers and the awareness around that, probably, is self-explanatory," Bancroft told the Guardian. His remarks prompted Cricket Australia’s Integrity Unit to reach out to him in order to gather any additional information on the particular incident. However, a report in the Sydney Morning Herald says that Bancroft has backtracked on the issue claiming that he doesn’t have any new information to give. Chappell felt that while it is not ethical to pick and choose players on the basis of likes and dislikes but this has been going on for some time now. When asked whether selection happens on basis of likes and dislikes, Chappell said, "The answer should be 'No,'" Chappell was quoted as saying by Wide World of Sports. "But does like and dislike come into selection? It shouldn't, but it does. Do selectors sometimes pick players, or not pick them, for reasons other than cricket ability? I think it happens occasionally. "It's definitely happened as far as Warner and leadership is concerned," he concluded. Back in March 2018, the tainted trio of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft was involved in the ball-tampering incident at the Newlands in Cape Town. On the insistence of the then captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner, Bancroft applied sandpaper on the ball. Getting caught on TV, Bancroft panicked and shoved the small piee of sandpaper inside his trousers. While Warner and Smith was handed one year ban, Bancroft had to be out of competitive cricket for nine months after accepting the charges in the post day presser.

Bancroft backtracks on ‘bowlers’ involvement’ remark in the Sandpaper gate

Cameron Bancroft, who put fresh fuel to an almost dead fire of the Sandpaper gate saga of Australian cricket by saying that bowlers’ involvement and prior knowledge of what was happening on the ground is self-explanatory, has now backtracked on his claims. The 28-year-old said that he is satisfied with the investigation carried out by Cricket Australia into the 2018 issue. Sydney Morning Herald quoted sources to report that Bancroft called into the Cricket Australia’s integrity committee and explained that he has no substantial or additional proof and that what he said was actually a case of confusion due to the barrage of questions hurled towards him. The Western Australia cricket is further supposed to have contacted the bowers and made a truce with them over the inflammatory allegations. In the interview that Bancroft gave to UK’s Guardian, speaking about the Newlands incident he had said, “Yeah, look, all I wanted to do was to be responsible and accountable for my own actions and part.” On being asked about the bowlers’ involvement in the infamous incident, Bancroft, who is currently playing county cricket in England, said, “Yeah, obviously what I did benefits bowlers and the awareness around that, probably, is self-explanatory.” “I guess one thing I learnt through the journey and being responsible is that’s where the buck stops [with Bancroft himself]. Had I had better awareness I would have made a much better decision,” added Bancroft who has played 10 Tests and solitary T20 for Australia. His statements totally contradicted Cricket Australia’s findings which said, “prior knowledge of the incident was confined to three players, Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft."