The series begins on March 7 in Lucknow starting with three ODIs followed by five T20Is

Shashank Kishore27-Feb-2021Allrounder Shikha Pandey and wicketkeeper Taniya Bhatia have been left out of India’s limited-overs squad for the women’s home series against South Africa in Lucknow. Also out of favour are Veda Krishnamurthy, Ekta Bisht and Anuja Patil. The series begins on March 7 starting with five ODIs followed by three T20Is.Pandey was India’s second-highest wicket-taker during their previous international assignment: the women’s T20 World Cup in March last year. In fact, her numbers were third-best – after Australia’s Megan Schutt and England’s Anya Shrubsole – among all fast bowlers in the competition. Her seven wickets in five games came at an average of 19.42 and economy of 6.85.Related

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The ODI squad consist of two frontline wicketkeepers: the returning Sushma Verma, also part of the T20Is, and uncapped Sweta Verma. The team management can also use the services of Nuzhat Parveen or 16-year old Richa Ghosh as a wicketkeeping option, if required for the T20Is. Both Ghosh and Parveen are relatively inexperienced, though, having featured in just three T20Is so far.Sushma played the last of her 38 ODIs in April 2018, while her previous T20I appearance came even earlier, at the Asia Cup in Thailand in December 2016. While her wicketkeeping wasn’t in question, she was eventually left out due to her batting form. Sushma has a highest of 41 in 21 ODI innings, while her T20I best is 12 in six innings. Meanwhile, this is Swetha’s maiden call-up. She represents Uttar Pradesh in the domestic circuit.The ODI squad, captained by Mithali Raj, also has Mansi Joshi returning to the mix after a series of stress fractures. Joshi, a fast bowler, returns to the squad for the first time in over 15 months. She wasn’t part of the Women’s T20 Challenge last November because she tested Covid positive prior to departure. Batter Yastika Bhatia, and legspinner C Pratyusha along with left-arm seamer Monica Patel are the three uncapped players in the mix.Hard-hitting 17-year old top-order batter Shafali Verma has only been picked for the T20Is, along with batters Harleen Deol, Ayushi Soni and medium pacer Simran Bahadur. That squad will be captained by Harmanpreet Kaur.The entire contingent is currently serving a five-day quarantine in Lucknow. All of them will have to clear two Covid-19 tests during this period before they can begin training.On Friday, it was confirmed that the contracts of head coach WV Raman, along with the rest of the coaching staff, had been renewed. This is India’s first assignment since their runners-up finish at the T20 World Cup last year.India Women’s squad for ODI series: Mithali Raj (Capt), Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Punam Raut, Priya Punia, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), D Hemalatha, Deepti Sharma, Sushma Verma (wicket-keeper), Swetha Verma (wicket-keeper), Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jhulan Goswami, Mansi Joshi, Poonam Yadav, C Prathyusha, Monica PatelIndia Women’s T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Harleen Deol, Sushma Verma (wicket-keeper), Nuzhat Parveen (wicket-keeper), Ayushi Soni, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Mansi Joshi, Monica Patel, C. Prathyusha, Simran Bahadur

Captain hopes to have full squad to choose from as Archer makes progress from elbow injury

George Dobell10-Mar-2021There will be no complaints from Eoin Morgan, irrespective of the conditions England encounter during the T20I series in India.Morgan, England’s limited-overs captain, accepts the tour is likely to prove “a challenge” for his players but, with a T20 World Cup to be played in India towards the end of the year, he knows it presents an excellent opportunity to gain experience in such conditions.In particular, he is relishing the chance for his team to get to grips with playing on turning surfaces. All five matches in this series will be played on the Ahmedabad square which proved so helpful for spinners during the two Tests at the venue, so Morgan is anticipating – and welcoming – the prospect of low-scoring matches.”We’ve been in great form in T20 cricket,” Morgan said of his No.1-ranked side. “We’ve had some confidence along the way and picked up some serious wins over the last two years, which is great.”But also we need to develop our game and go into a World Cup with as few weaknesses as possible. I think having the strongest squad available to us, which doesn’t really happen that often, allows us to play around with any plans we might foresee using in the World Cup as well.”I wouldn’t say we’re hoping for similar pitches to the Test series. I’d say [we’re hoping for] turning pitches.”Morgan recalled England’s experiences at the last World T20 in India in 2016, where his side progressed to the final in spite of an array of challenging surfaces along the way – not least in a close-fought contest at Delhi, where they survived a trial by Afghanistan’s spinners to progress by 15 runs.”Going back to the 2016 [T20] World Cup, we didn’t necessarily play on big turners. There were some really, really low-scoring games – New Zealand turned over India and India and Afghanistan turned over West Indies on really dry surfaces – so depending on fixtures for the World Cup we want to go through that ourselves.”We know when we play on a really flat surface, our batting department is equipped, our bowling department is still learning and it’s more challenging the better the wicket we play on. But in low-scoring T20 games we do need to get better, so we’re looking forward to the challenge.”Day four or fay five [Test] pitches aren’t going to be ideal playing a T20 game on, but a turning pitch like we witnessed in 2016 – where
120 plays 90; very low-scoring games in this day and age – it’s an area we need more experience in because we’ve not played in a lot of games like that.Jofra Archer should be fit to play in the series despite elbow problems•ECB

“Would we welcome the learning experience that extreme conditions could bring? Yes. It’s not the sole purpose for being here, but we are going to use it that way.”I think this tour is going to be a challenge for everybody – batting, bowling and fielding – but one that we’re really looking forward to.”While Morgan is among those in the England squad to have suffered with sickness in recent days, he is hopeful of having a full squad
from which to select ahead of the first game on Friday. That includes Jofra Archer, who had emerged as an injury worry with a recurrence of elbow pain in recent days.”I wouldn’t say I’m 100%, but I’m way better than I was five days ago,” Morgan said. “And I am hopeful Jofra will be fit for the whole series. If the game was tomorrow he’d be fit. We obviously have two days of training to come through, but hopefully he’s good.”Obviously we’re playing five games on the same ground. We don’t know yet if we’re playing on the same surfaces twice or a number of times. But I imagine our team selection will evolve as we see it.”Game on game, if we think of anything that might arise down the line that we think is worth running through or simulating here, we’ll do it. Everybody’s available for selection.”Related

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Morgan also expressed his confidence in the bio-bubble put in place for the series in India, comparing it favourably with what he had witnessed in South Africa before Christmas when England abandoned their tour having lost faith in the integrity of the safety protocols.”I think one thing we did learn [from the tour to South Africa] is probably that level of expectation, in terms of what was said would be achieved and the protocols adhered to, weren’t necessarily monitored the whole time,” he said. “So having a constant assessment of what is going on within the bubble and not taking for granted that things are being done [is important].”Here and in Sri Lanka, from the feedback, everything is being done within everybody’s power to try and restrict the number of cases. There’s always been an instance where if there is a positive case, there is a way of dealing with it, where you can limit your exposure by being very diligent and disciplined.”South Africa was a unique case. From the very first day the bubble was broken. They had a positive test and the guy had been integrating in their team and in our team. What followed, in terms of positive tests, there was a sense of inevitability about it.”

Former PE teacher will be available from start of Championship on April 8

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Mar-2021Warwickshire’s off-spinning allrounder Alex Thomson has been farmed out to Durham on a two-month loan.Thomson, who put a career as a PE teacher on hold to try to make it in county cricket, faced limited first-team opportunities in the Championship following Warwickshire’s signing of Danny Briggs from Sussex.He will return to Edgbaston at the end of May and, as well as contesting a place in the Vitality T20 Blast, he can be expected to step in during the Royal London Cup when Briggs joins a tranche of county professionals committed to the inaugural season in The Hundred.Warwickshire’s spin resources have also been strengthened by the arrival of left-arm wrist spinner Jake Lintott, who formerly had stints with Somerset and Hampshire, after Lintott made a positive impression for the county during last year’s T20 Blast campaign.Paul Farbrace, Director of Cricket at Warwickshire CCC, said: “We think a lot of Alex and this loan move represents the best opportunity for him to get first team cricket during this early part of the season, with Danny Briggs confirmed as our starting spinner.”This loan move gives Alex an excellent opportunity at Durham to play some competitive games and to continue his development at Durham after starting all five First Class fixtures last year. We will certainly be closely monitoring his progress.Thomson, a former Cardiff MCCU graduate, and product of Minor Counties side Staffordshire, made his red ball debut for Warwickshire in 2018 against Yorkshire at Headingley.Since then, he has made 14 First-Class appearances, claiming 20 wickets with a best of 6 for 138 against Hampshire. He has taken 43 wickets across all formats.Thomson will be available for Durham’s opening Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on April 8.

There are close to 40 Australians in the IPL bubble comprising players, coaching staff and commentators

Daniel Brettig04-May-2021A mass exodus of Australian players, coaches and support staff to the Maldives is the expected remedy to a dilemma created by the postponement of the 2021 IPL and the current closure of the Australian border to citizens currently in India during its rampant Covid-19 outbreak. There are close to 40 Australians in the IPL bubble comprising players, coaching staff and commentators.The likes of Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Ricky Ponting, Simon Katich and company are expected to join the commentator Michael Slater, who had already headed to the Maldives as a temporary post in the wake of blanket bans on entry to Australian citizens who have recently been in India, a state of play that will exist until at least May 15.The exceptions will be the likes of allrounder Dan Christian, who has a deal to play in the UK later this year. But the UK is currently allowing only its citizens and residents to fly in from India, so it remains to be seen what route he will take as Dubai – often a stopover between India and the UK – is not allowing flights from India either.Related

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• Kane Richardson and Zampa manage to make flight to Australia

“Once we flew out of Australia we knew we’d signed up for 14 days quarantine coming home so you feel a bit further from getting home, but when the hard border shut no one has ever experienced that before,” Cummins told on Fox Sports. “[It has] added a bit of anxiety for the Aussies over here but we signed up to play the tournament until the start of June so hopefully it all reopens on May 15 and we can get back.”Think we are all hoping we can get home like we would normally plan and the borders open on May 15, whether it’s [a] private [flight] or not we wouldn’t be allowed back in [at the moment]. Cricket Australia have been brilliant along with the ACA, they are working closely with the government to get the latest information, if we can’t get home it won’t be for lack of trying from all those involved.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Cricket Australia’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley, team performance chief Ben Oliver and the Australian Cricketers’ Association CEO Todd Greenberg were all in urgent meetings on Tuesday night aimed at clarifying the situation for the freelancing players.”Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association understand the decision of the BCCI to indefinitely postpone the 2021 Indian Premier League for the safety and wellbeing of all participants,” a joint statement from CA and ACA said. “CA is in direct contact with the BCCI as they work through plans to ensure the safe accommodation and repatriation of Australian players, coaches, match officials and commentators back home to Australia. CA and the ACA respect the decision of the Australian Government to pause travel from India until at least May 15 and will not seek exemptions.
CA and the ACA thank the BCCI for their efforts and cooperation for the safe repatriation of all participants at the IPL.”On April 27, Hemang Amin, the interim chief executive officer of the BCCI, had sent an email to all eight franchises saying the IPL understood players and support staff would be “apprehensive” about returning home. But he reassured them saying: “the BCCI will do everything to ensure that you reach your respective destinations seamlessly. Be rest assured that the tournament is not over for BCCI till each one of you has reached your home, safe and sound.”On Tuesday the BCCI was busy working out with franchises what was the best and safest way for players to reach home. On Monday, Hockley had stated that there had been “no suggestion at the moment” of a charter flight for the Australians in the IPL.On Monday Slater had condemned the Australian government’s decision to bar all travelers from India, including its own citizens until May 15. “If our government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home,” an indignant Slater wrote on Twitter, addressing the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison. “It’s a disgrace!! Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out [the] quarantine system. I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect.”And for those who think this is a money exercise, well, forget it. This is what I do for a living and I have not made a penny having left early. So please stop the abuse and think of the thousands dying in India each day. It’s called empathy. If only our government had some.”Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson and Andrew Tye had been among the Australian cricketers who had managed to exit India before the IPL was paused and the Australian border shut. Morrison called for patience from citizens currently locked outside their own country on a television interview with Nine on Tuesday morning.”I thank all of those who are in this difficult situation for their patience and their understanding,” Morrison said. “I am working to bring them home safely. I am going to take decisions that I believe will protect Australia from a third wave and help me to be able to reach out and bring more Australians safely home from places where they are in difficult situations.””I’d just ask them [the cricketers], like the many Australians that are in India at present, to be patient and understanding. This is a two-week pause. It’s not a permanent pause, it’s not a four-month lockdown.”New Zealand players at the IPL
New Zealand recently lifted its travel ban for India but there are limited flights between the two countries, and the New Zealand players will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine whenever they get home. NZC issued a statement saying it was liaising with different authorities to find a solution.”NZC remains in contact with the New Zealand contingent in the Indian Premier League. The players are in a relatively safe environment and those within affected teams are in isolation,” the statement said. “We’ll continue to liaise with the BCCI, the ECB and New Zealand government authorities in terms of managing their situation – but at this juncture it’s too early to discuss potential options.”

ACU clears five participants due to “insufficient evidence”

Nagraj Gollapudi17-May-20213:19

Alex Marshall: Fundamental weaknesses in Al Jazeera’s allegations

The ICC has concluded a three-year long investigation into allegations aired on a TV documentary in 2018 linking England and Australia players being involved in spot-fixing in two Test matches in India, in 2016 and 2017, calling them “implausible”. The ICC’s anti-corruption unit (ACU) has also cleared five individuals, including two former cricketers, of any charges due to “insufficient evidence”.In 2018, TV channel Al Jazeera released two documentaries titled , which portrayed various forms of corruption in cricket. In the first part, released in May 2018, the channel alleged that during parts of the Chennai Test between India and England in 2016 and the India-Australia Test the following year in Ranchi, some England and Australian batsmen scored at a rate specified by fixers for the purposes of betting.In October 2018, Al Jazeera released the second part of the documentary, which alleged 15 international matches in the 2011-12 period had been subject to spot-fixing. Of the 15 matches Al Jazeera claimed were subject to spot-fix attempts in the 2011-12 period, seven involved England, five Australia, and three Pakistan. Among the matches mentioned were all three Tests of Pakistan’s series against England in the UAE in early 2012.On both occasions, the ICC had sought access to all the evidence including “unedited and uncut” versions of the film recording.The central character in both parts of the documentary is a person identified as Aneel Munawar, an Indian national who is said to work for crime syndicate D Company. In the first part, Munawar is seen naming three England and two Australian players to an undercover reporter as being part of the fix. The instruction, the channel claimed, was for the batsmen to score slowly so that the actual runs scored would be lower than what the illegal betting market was placing bets on. The channel claimed Munawar’s information on run-scoring during the certain passage of play in both matches was accurate.However, the ICC disagreed. “The programme alleged that two matches were fixed: India vs England in Chennai in 2016 and India vs Australia in Ranchi in 2017,” the ICC said in a media release on Monday. “To assess whether the passages of play highlighted in the programme were unusual in any way, the ICC engaged four independent betting and cricketing specialists to analyse the claims. All four concluded that the passages of play identified in the programme as being allegedly fixed were entirely predictable, and therefore implausible as a fix.”The ICC said its ACU had conducted a “comprehensive” investigation “focused” on three main areas: the claims made by the programme, the suspects who were part of it, and how the programme gathered evidence.Alex Marshall, the ACU’s general manager, said that there were “fundamental weaknesses” in each of the areas of the Al Jazeera allegations. Consequently, all the five participants named in both parts of the documentary were not charged because of “insufficient evidence based on the normal thresholds” under the ACU code to lay any charges.Among the five participants were former Sri Lanka allrounder Dilhara Lokuhettige and former Pakistan batsman Hasan Raza. The other three participants were Jeevantha Kulatunga and Thanridnu Mendis (both provincial coaches employed by Sri Lanka Cricket) and Indika Tharanga, an assistant manager at Galle International Stadium.”We welcome the reporting of alleged corrupt activity within cricket as there is no place for such conduct in our sport, but we also need to be satisfied there is sufficient evidence to sustain charges against participants,” Marshall said. “In the case of the claims aired in this programme, there are fundamental weaknesses in each of the areas we have investigated that make the claims unlikely and lacking in credibility, a viewpoint that has been corroborated by four independent experts.”On the basis of the programme, the participants to the code who were filmed appear to have behaved in a questionable manner, however, we have been unable to assess the full context of the conversations that took place beyond what was seen on screen versus what the participants claim actually happened. This combined with the absence of any other credible evidence means there are insufficient grounds to bring charges under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.”Should any new substantial evidence come to light, I will re-examine the case. But at present I am comfortable with the conclusion of the investigation and the thoroughness with which it was undertaken.”ICC report a ‘whitewash’, says Al Jazeera
*
“We stand by our investigation and see this report as whitewash,” Al Jazeera said in its response to the ICC report, also hinting at possible “conflict of interest” on the part of the global governing body of cricket.In a series of tweets on May 18, Al Jazeera said, “The @ICC says it carried out a ‘comprehensive’ investigation but was unable to pursue it beyond what was seen on screen. Some players we exposed have since been banned for corruption. Why did the ICC ignore this? We stand by our investigation and see this report as a whitewash.”The I-Unit refused to hand over any extra evidence to ICC over integrity concerns revealed in our film. Instead, we handed a dossier on match-fixer Munawar to @metpoliceuk who passed it to @Interpol.”When the governing body of a sport – which earns billions – takes responsibility for investigating its own misdeeds, then questions of a clear conflict of interest are apparent.”The ICC knew about Munawar as long ago as 2010, but failed to take action.”The @ICC says that a person in our film ‘claimed’ he could arrange fixes. But our second powerful exposé, The Munawar Files, which the ICC did not even address, establishes beyond doubt that Munawar is a significant figure in the fixing world, part of an organized crime group.”*

South Africa coach confident of team’s showing after series win against West Indies

Firdose Moonda04-Jul-2021Conditions at the T20 World Cup in the UAE will be similar to what South Africa experienced in Grenada, according to coach Mark Boucher, who expects the tournament to be tough for batters but successful for spinners. Although it was always expected that the event, initially scheduled to be played in India but moved to the Emirates because of Covid-19 concerns, would present unfamiliar and challenging territory to South Africa, their 3-2 series-win in the West Indies has showed them what they need to do to be competitive.Related

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“We are probably going to be playing in conditions like this in the UAE. The wickets after the IPL are going to be a bit dry. It’s not the same as we’re used to back in South Africa where you can go out and bash your way to 180 to 200 runs. You’ve got to be skillful here; you’ve got to be smart,” Boucher said.Scores at St George’s were between 160 and 170 for each of the five T20Is, and the team batting first won four of them. Run-scoring became noticeably more difficult as the day went on, and even as each innings developed as a result of a softer ball on a drier pitch and heavier outfield, and thanks to bowlers who were able to take pace off the ball. Obed McCoy, Dwayne Bravo and Fabian Allen kept South Africa’s finishers to under seven runs an over in the last five overs across the series, while Tabraiz Shamsi and George Linde frustrated West Indies’ middle-order. Boucher expects that trend to continue into the T20 World Cup.”If anything, it’s going to go even further into subcontinent conditions, on the extreme side. They are playing the IPL there, there’s not a lot of grounds and those wickets are going to be worn so scores will probably go even further down,” he said. “It’s going to be tough to bat on especially at the back end, like we saw here. We will have an idea of what scores are going to be by watching the IPL and then taking a look and assess how the wickets are playing during the beginning part of the World Cup. I suspect spinners will play a massive role.”That could mean South Africa approach the T20 World Cup with a team that looks more like the one that won the final match – which had five specialist batters, two allrounders, two quicks and two specialist spinners – than the one that won the second, which had only five bowling options and one allrounder. Whichever option they go for, Boucher recognised that they need to get the lower middle-order firing even if they won’t be able to score at the same rate as they do at home.David Miller, in particular, is out of form and scored just 52 runs in five innings. Though Boucher did not single him out, he indicated that he hopes the upcoming contest against Ireland will help to get Miller, and others, back to their best. “There are a couple of guys out of form but if you are winning series against a strong team with a couple of guys out of form, you must be doing something right,” Boucher said. “We need to get some guys in form. Maybe there is an opportunity for us to get those guys in form so we can finish off innings better.”If South Africa can get that right, Boucher sees them being able to post slightly higher totals, which could be the key to success in the UAE. “If we can get all the guys firing on all cylinders, we’ve got an idea of what could be our strongest line-up and once that happens, then you end up finding an extra 15-20 runs which, in these conditions it becomes a very difficult total to face, especially when it’s so dry,” he said.On the other hand, Boucher was largely satisfied with the way South Africa’s attack adapted to the conditions and with new captain Temba Bavuma’s use of his bowlers. “We’ve got to get guys playing a lot smarter and we saw that in our bowling,” he said. “Our bowling throughout the whole series was fantastic and Temba has had a fantastic series managing the bowlers apart from one or two gambles that didn’t pay off.”One that immediately comes to mind was using Aiden Markram to open the bowling in the fourth T20I for an over that cost 20 runs, but apart from that, Bavuma managed his attack well in mostly one-over spells throughout the series. He also inspired a revival in South Africa’s fielding, where standards had slipped in the last few months.Still, South Africa’s series win was not what they may call a complete performance. There are still strategic questions for them to answer, especially if they are going to commit to an XI which could include as many as three frontline spinners. That would be a big, but ultimately necessary, departure from the norm for South Africa and this tour of West Indies showed them they can do it, successfully.

Several senior players who are not part of the white-ball set-up are now without deals after SLC withdrew offer of annual contracts

Andrew Fidel Fernando07-Jul-2021Sri Lanka’s men’s limited-overs cricketers have signed tour contracts that cover the forthcoming series against India. But Sri Lanka Cricket’s decision to withdraw its offer of annual contracts had caused substantial dismay among players.Angelo Mathews, who was offered a tour contract for the India series, is the only member of a group of 30 who declined to sign. Although an SLC release said Mathews had asked to be relieved from national duties owing to “personal reasons”, Mathews’ disillusionment with the contract offer and the general situation within Sri Lanka Cricket is understood to have informed his decision.SLC CEO Ashley de Silva confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that the board would only offer a succession of tour contracts until the end of the year, because “the players had enough time to sign the central (annual) contracts but they didn’t”. Essentially, this is the board’s way of penalising players for making demands over their central contracts.Related

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Unsurprisingly, this decision by SLC has caused significant distress among players. Firstly, those players who are not within the limited-overs frame have been left without contracts of any sort. Senior players such as Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne, Suranga Lakmal and Dinesh Chandimal may not see a contract from SLC until November, when they are next due to play Tests.Secondly, players who were holding out for better central contracts are now unhappy with those who agreed to sign SLC’s temporary tour contract – a move that essentially ended the contracts negotiation, because to sign the tour contracts was to concede to SLC.”I don’t know how there can be unity in the team while all this is going on,” one player told ESPNcricinfo. “Some players are being blamed for being the first to sign the tour contracts, and others are defending themselves for doing that.”Part-way through the England tour, the players had apparently decided to sign the annual contracts that SLC was offering. This was after SLC had provided the methodology on how the new contracts scheme was drawn up – the players’ main objection always having been the lack of transparency in the new scheme. However, by the time the team returned from the UK on Monday, SLC had already made the decision to withdraw the central contracts it had offered. A first group of players then signed the tour contract for the India series on July 6, before the remainder of the squad followed.de Silva said SLC would revisit the men’s central contracts again in 2022.

Get your dose of analysis, stats and colour from Trent Bridge on ESPNcricinfo’s live blog

Sidharth Monga07-Aug-2021

All set up for big finale

7pmHectic finish. Look at Cheteshwar Pujara’s strike-rate. He is 12 off 13. Just what he needed perhaps. England getting desperate for a wicket instead of bowling line and length, and he managed to get some runs there. And runs are at a premium. India end the day at 52 for 1 needing another 157 to win this Test. They will fancy themselves. And after the bluff by the weather forecast today, I am not even looking at what is in store tomorrow. Instead I will leave you with a teaser from the end-of-the-day report

Joe Root and Jasprit Bumrah combined on the fourth day to set up a grandstand finish for the Trent Bridge Test, the series opener. Having fallen behind by 95 in the first innings, England roared back on the back of a colossal 21st century from Root, but just when they were slipping out of India’s grasp, Bumrah put in an immense five-for to rise above a tiring bowling unit to keep the target down to 209. India knocked 52 of those off in the awkward 65 minutes they got at the end of the day for the loss of just one wicket.England began the day 70 behind with all their wickets in hand, but it was believed they needed rain or Root to rescue their fledgling batting unit. The promised rain never arrived, but in the best batting conditions of the Test, Root batted with assured positivity to make sure England never went into a shell and put the pressure of runs on India. However, Dom Sibley, Dan Lawrence and Jos Buttler gifted their wickets away to keep India in the contest by the time the new ball arrived. Bumrah blew them away with it.

Broad too good

6.43pmIt is Stuart Broad’s first wicket of the match, but it has come just when it was all looking too flat for them and India had put on 34 for the first wicket. And it is a beauty too. There is not much KL Rahul can do with this. On a length, on off, extra bounce, holds its line. Just too good. What an amazing Test for Rahul though: coming in at the last moment, he scored 84 in the first innings, and made them bowl the best they could to get him out in the second innings.What a stat from Sampath Bandarupalli: “Before KL Rahul’s dismissal, Stuart Broad had not taken a wicket vs India in 60.2 overs since Virat Kohli at The Oval in 2018.”India 34 for 1, Rahul gone for 26 off 38, Rohit unbeaten on 7 off 27. India need 175 more to win.

India need 209 to win

5.43pmGetty Images

A couple of balls after being hit in the helmet grille, Robinson swings hard at a length ball, and India have the fly slip in place. The new ball has brought India 31 or 4. Twice in a row India have run through the England lower order. And just look at what the new ball has done. England through careless batting have lost the chance of using the second new ball. Whatever they have to do they have to do with the old one.The man of the moment, though, is the immense immense Jasprit Bumrah, who finally got the wicket of Joe Root, and then Sam Curran and Stuart Broad in two balls.We have got 65 minutes of play today. Heavy roller will come out to settle the pitch down again. India failed to chase two sub-200 scores on the 2018 trip, but will fancy themselves now because the pitch has looked flat in the third innings and because there are Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja in the lower middle order to go with a similar top order.

Toes for Broad again

5.33pmBumrah. What a bowler. He has knocked back Stuart Broad’s wicket with a straight ball following Broad as he backs away, and it ricochets onto his wicket. First ball that too. Robinson in danger of not even getting a chance to farm the strike. One more ball left this over. Bumrah on a hat-trick.He attempts the yorker on the hat-trick, but it falls just short of it, and Anderson keeps it out. Oh it is a no-ball. Torture for Anderson. The newt ball is a 140kmph offbreak, and somehow misses the edge.What a huge spell from Bumrah. 3-0-9-3 when it looked like England could just nose ahead. That’s a five-for for him. A 10-for in sight.Now the field will spread for Robinson.5.28pm

Bumrah keeps India’s noses ahead

5.28pmSam Curran and Ollie Robinson have decided they won’t just stand there and provide Bumrah target practice. They have actually gone ahead and targeted Shami at the other end. The partnership is 20 off 21, but Bumrah has bowled another beauty to get rid of the dangerous Curran. This one comes from round the wicket, pitches and jags back in to cramp Curran up, who is on the lookout for the runs. Mid-on takes the catch. England 295 for 8 in 84.4 overs, Curran gone for 32 off 45, Robinson unbeaten on 13 off 7. England effectively 200 for 8. They would have dearly loved for Curran to have been there with Broad and Anderson, but Bumrah has bowled an excellent spell with the new ball here to keep India ahead.

Bumrah stands up

5.09pmIn the first over of the new ball, Jasprit Bumrah produces the ball to finally get the edge from Joe Root. A colossal innings, but a big moment in the Test. Bumrah has stood up with the Test in the balance. England still can’t feel comfortable. They are 274 for 7 in 81 overs, effectively 179 for 7. Root is gone for 109 off 172, Curran unbeaten on 24 off 30.It is just that angle from Bumrah that makes you play at balls you don’t want to play, and then at the last moment this length ball holds its line to take the edge. Huge reception for Root as he walks off.

New ball

5.05pmThe ball is taken as soon as it becomes available, and India turn to Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami now. Thirty-seven runs in those 10 overs for the bonus wicket of Buttler. England 272 for 6 in 80 overs, Root 108 off 168, Curran 23 off 28. England effectively 177 for 6.Big spell coming up for Bumrah and Shami. If England don’t lose a wicket in these 10 overs, they could feel they are in control. India can still break this Test open right here, right now.

RoooooooooooooooooooT

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4.42pmJoe Root is carrying the Test side on his back, and this time he has done long enough to bring up his 21st Test century, his first in England in three years. Under fire from every corner, England began the day needing Rain or Root to come to their aid. The rain didn’t show up, but Root did. A fluent, aggressive, precise knock in the best batting conditions of the Test so far. He has been let down by three of his partners, at least one of whom should have been here with him to put India under pressure, but Sam Curran it is who gets the congratulatory hug.After missing out on two boundary balls earlier in the 75th over, he drives one straight down the ground, and raises his arms as the ball goes past the bowler for four. Whole of Trent Bridge stands with him. England 253 for 6 in 75 overs, Root 102 off 156, Curran 10 off 10. England effectively 158 for 6. New ball available in five overs.

India have not been at their best

ESPNcricinfo Ltd

4.30pmThe thing about the Buttler wicket is that we were just discussing how India have presented boundary balls today a little more easily than on their good days. That should irk England more than they have not made India pay for it. Here is some findings from Shiva Jayaraman:

India bowlers have been guilty of bowling boundary balls to England batters fresh at the crease in this innings. Jos Buttler, who didn’t get off the mark in his first dig in this match, hit three fours in the first-ten he faced in this innings. England batters collectively hit as many as 11 boundaries (from shots that they were in full control of) in the first 20 balls faced by them in their second innings. In comparison, the England top order had hit only four boundaries in the first innings.

England gift another wicket

4.17pmJust back from tea, and it is Jos Buttler’s turn to giftwrap his wicket with a tiny bow on the top. Before tea also he survived a close lbw shout when padding up to a reversing ball. He leaves one again, and this time the gently paced Thakur gets full access to the top of off. England’s collapse in the first innings featured a few soft wickets, but you might have been okay with it given the conditions. But in flat conditions, against tiring bowlers, England have thrown away three wickets, and that is a bigger problem. This is the sixth time in Test cricket that Buttler has got out leaving the ball, four of them bowled. England 237 for 6, effectively 142 for 6.

Tea on day four

3.56pmA slightly longer middle session comes to an end. In flatter conditions, with Joe Root batting beautifully, India will be glad with the two gifts they have been given by Sibley and Lawrence. England will be disappointed because they really had a chance to bat India out of this Test in this session. Old ball, tired bowlers, Root looking immovable, freebies finally arriving, but Sibley played a poor shot and Lawrence was dozy to reverse swing. England scored 116 for 3 in that session in 30 overs. Nearly four an over tells you the pitch has eased out. And that the pitch has eased out tells you that England won’t be happy with the 180-190 targets they won with in 2018.New ball available in 10 overs. So that is another turning point to watch out for in the next session. England 235 for 5 in 70 overs, Root 96 off 138, Buttler 15 off 20. England effectively 140 for 5. See you soon.

Dozy Lawrence

3.32pmThakur was looking ordinary in this over giving leg-side offerings, not bowling high pace, but to the fifth legal ball of the over, Lawrence played for the straight ball when the ball is clearly reversing. This is just the window India needed, just the moment of dozy cricket that could cost England the Test just when it looked like England had access to tired bowlers. You just don’t plant your front foot across to the reversing ball. Lawrence is out plumb lbw for 25 off 32. England 211 for 5 in 64.5 overs, effectively 116 for 5. Root unbeaten on 90 off 125. In comes Jos Buittler, on a pair.And India sense something and have gone back to Jasprit Bumrah. Big 20 minutes to tea coming up.

Reverse swing

3.25pmIn the 64th over of the third innings, for the first time we saw signs of reverse swing in this Test. Dan Lawrence saw the shiny side outside, set himself up to play to leg, and the ball moved away to beat his edge. The next ball, with the shiny side out, took his outside edge, but it fell short. And then Mohammed Shami flipped the shine to try the inswinger, and it went, but went down the leg side, and Lawrence got a tickle for four to fine leg.England 202 for 4 in 64 overs, Root 90 off 124, Lawrence 17 off 26. England effectively 107 for 4.Good news for India; Shardul Thakur is bowling, but he has started with a no-ball. Only his eighth over in this innings. Jadeja has bowled more.

Is Shardul Thakur fine?

3.10pmIn the 60th over of the England innings, Shardul Thakur gave chase at deep third man, and he looked slow. Nagraj Gollapudi tells me he was pointing to the inside of his knee sometime ago. He also spent some time off in this session. He was also seen talking to the physio. And he hasn’t bowled at all in this session. In case he is injured, it is an illustration why you play five bowlers.England 188 for 4 in 60 overs, Root 87 off 120, Lawrence 6 off 7, effectively 93 for 4.

Bairstow finds the sweeper

3pmThis is a pull shot nailed off the absolute meat of the bat, but Bairstow has not bothered to keep it down, and Siraj has had a man back just in front of square for him all the while. And they have chosen the right man too, Ravindra Jadeja. Bairstow just can’t believe he has found the man. This looks like a wicket that has an element of fortune to it, and it is because this short ball is not even an effort ball, but India have also been looking to bowl short to Bairstow with a field for it, and the best fielder in place. Siraj is shushing Bairstow with a finger on the lip. England 177 for 4 in 57.3 overs, Bairstow gone for 30 off 50, Root unbeaten on 83 off 112. Effectively 82 for 4.

Afternoon drinks

2.47pmJonny Bairstow has come in and counterattacked even under overcast skies. The partnership between him and Root is 36 in 9.1 overs, but Bairstow has scored 26 of those. It has helped that Shami and Siraj started their current spells with looseners on which he pounced, hitting two of his four bundaries. It has allowed Root to go a little easy here. England 171 for 3 in 55 overs, effectively 76 for 3, Root 81 off 107, Bairstow 24 off 40.In case you are wondering about the weather, it is drizzling somewhere in Nottingham, but it seems it is going to miss the Trent Bridge ground. It is dark and overcast at the ground so it should help India.

Sibley loses his patience

2.05pmAnd with that his wicket. A really poor shot given how he has batted. After 132 balls of watchful batting for just 28 runs he has wafted at a wide length ball. It might even have been just short of a length. And it is overcast with floodlights on. The ball nips back in after pitching, takes the inside edge and Pant takes the catch diving to his left. This is inexplicable from Sibley. even if this ball doesn’t seam, Sibley is not going to make a good connection with this one because it is so far away from him. The partnership ends at 89, and India have a new batter in with the ball just beginning to move around.England 135 for 3, effectively 40 for 3, Sibley gone for 28 off 133, Root unbeaten on 71 off 92.

Root looks to score

The difference in Root’s intent as captured by our scorers. Second innings updated till lunch•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The above image is self-explanatory. In the second innings, Joe Root has cut out the leave and looked to score off those deliveries. He has still respected the good balls as he has defended the same amount in a much shorter period, but he has attacked more and looked for the ones and twos more.1.47pmJadeja has been taken off after just one over, and Mohammed Siraj is now joining Bumrah in the attack.

We are back

1.40pmAnd India have surprisingly chosen to start with Ravindra Jadeja. Wonder if they have decided they need to block one end up and have their fresh quicks at the other end? I can tell you that clouds have rolled in so if the ball does something for Jasprit Bumrah at the other end, we will have two quicks on.

Root, Sibley hold India off

1pmAFP/Getty Images

England were 49 behind when these two came together, but going into lunch they lead by 24 runs. Contrasting styles there. Root looking to score of every opportunity he gets, Sibley looking to survive. Root 56 off 74, Sibley 27 off 116.The interesting thing is that England’s control percentage has gone down during this partnership. That’s cricket, though: Root feels the conditions are slightly easier and he can get away with mistakes. And he has. India will come back hard at the start of the next session. At this moment, you’d still want to be in the Indian camp, but they wouldn’t want this partnership to keep growing. Back after the break

Fifty for Root

12.55pmIt was rain or Root for England at the start of the innings. The rain hasn’t arrived, but Joe Root is keeping them alive with an unbeaten 51 off 68 balls. This has been a slightly streaky hand as he has looked intent on playing for the runs and not just time. He has been in control only of three balls in four. He has taken his chances, and has been excellent on the cover-drive and the late-cut. That is why England are in the lead. India can’t just attack here. They have to think about the runs too. England effectively 19 for 2.

India will bat again

12.35pmJoe Root and Dom Sibley have gone through a nervous period and have added 49 for the third wicket to level the scores. England have already lost two wickets in the process. Now England will hope to convert this into some pressure for England. There’s five-and-a-half sessions left in the Test now. England effectively 0 for 2 in the third innings.

India have a third man for Root

12.30pmGetty Images

The image there is the reason why. four of Root’s 11 boundaries in the first innings came through third man. And now, with England getting close to making India bat again, runs are at a premium. So India don’t want to give away any cheap boundaries to third man. England 91 for 2 in 31 overs, still trail by 4 runs.

India’s hour

NoonTime for the first drinks break of the day, and India have made vital inroads. Wickets of Rory Burns and Zak Crawley for the addition of 46 runs in conditions that have probably been the best for batting all Test. Joe Root has already edged twice, once wide of slips and once short of them. Another inside edge has travelled safely. England still trail by 24 runs.India have induced 28 mistakes in 25 overs of bowling this innings: a mistake ever six balls or so. In the first two innings, it was happening once every four balls.

India on their way

11.30amJasprit Bumrah makes it a double breakthrough by teasing Zak Crawley in the channel, bowling one he has to play at. It holds its line and takes the edge. The only way he surrives this is if Crawley strides forward. England down at 46 for 2. They still trail by 49.When this innings began, there was a remark made: only Root and rain stand in India’s way. The rain has disappeared. And Root is here. India will be very intense in this spell of play.

First break for India

11.20amGetty Images

Mohammed Siraj’s coaches will tell you his biggest threat is how often he can make left-hand batters play at the away-going delivery. He can just keep pitching it in the blind spot again and again, and make them push at it. There is also the threat of the odd ball that holds its line. This time, in conditions that look more settled than in the first innings, he makes Rory Burns play at one leaving him. The edge is taken, and India are on the board.And the first ball that Zak Crawley gets tells you possibly why people keep playing at him. This one holds its line against the angle to the right-hand batter Zak Crawley, and the edge flies of the slips.Also Shiva Jayaraman comes up with the numbers for Siraj to left-hand batters: “Early days in his career, but Mohammed Siraj seems to have done better against left-handed batters in comparison with right handers. At the fall of Rory Burns’ wicket, Siraj averaged 18.28 against them (7 wickets, strike rate of 38) as opposed to 34.18 against right handers (11 wickets, strike rate of 74).’England 37 for 1 in 15.1 overs, Burns gone for 18 off 49, SIbley unbeaten on 13 off 47. England still trail by 58.

Here we go

10.45amWelcome to the Live Report of Day 4. Great news for India: it is nice and sunny as we speak, and we are starting on time. We have a maximum of 196 overs left in this Test. England have all their 10 second-wickets in hand, but they are still trailing by 70 runs. If there is no further rain, you’d assume England will need to bat close to four sessions to save this Test. India will back themselves here should there not be any more rain.In the 11.1 overs bowled in the second innings on the third day, the ball moved less than it did in the first two innings. It showed in how India deployed only two slips and a gully. Is that a sign of things to come? Or will the conditions change again?India’s wish: Clouds but no rain.England’s wish: Either rain or a sunny day.

Rhodes, Yates tons heap woe on Lancashire as conference system phase-out looms

George Dobell29-Sep-2021The LV= Insurance County Championship is set to remain a conference-based competition in 2022. But that will be the final season of the arrangement before a return to two divisions in 2023.That is the basis of an ECB recommendation sent to the counties on Wednesday. The counties will then be required to vote on whether they accept the proposal in the next few days. It currently seems they are likely to do so.While there had been an increased desire from the counties to return to two divisions with promotion and relegation for the 2022 season, it is understood that a meeting of the county chairs at Lord’s on Wednesday accepted there were decent reasons for waiting an extra 12 months. In particular, there is a concern that a further spike in Covid – which appears to be anticipated for the winter of 2021-22 – might render a move to two-division cricket more challenging and encourage the regionalised conference schedule which has been used this year.Finishing positions in the 2022 season would, in such a scenario, define the make-up of the divisions in 2023. That means the finishing positions achieved at the end of 2019, when Gloucestershire and Northants were among those who achieved promotion, would be void. It is anticipated that there would be 10 teams in division one and eight in division two.It is understood there was no mention of the Bob Willis Trophy during the meeting, but it seems unlikely it will be played in 2022.Related

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That maybe something of a relief to Lancashire. We are yet to reach the halfway stage of their Bob Willis Trophy match this year, but it has already been a chastening experience for them. Having been bowled out for 78 on day one – even that represented something of a recovery from 12 for 6 – they have spent the best part of five sessions since chasing leather around St John’s Wood. By the end of the second day, Warwickshire had extended their lead to 386. It has been brutal.From a Warwickshire perspective, of course, it has been perfect. Not only have they recorded the highest score at Lord’s this season – in county cricket, a side had only reached 300 once in 2021 – but they have reached 400 themselves for the first time this year.Their total has been built upon centuries from Will Rhodes and Rob Yates. While Rhodes, the captain, went on to record the bigger score, it may prove to be Yates’ contribution which is more relevant. Paul Farbrace, the Warwickshire director of cricket, has long argued that Yates has the game – in particular, the temperament – to play at a higher level and has ensured the England scouts (notably, James Taylor) have been kept abreast of his development. Farbrace, at least, believes Yates should go to Australia on either the full England tour or as part of the Lions side.On the evidence of this performance, it is hard to disagree. Compact, calm and capable of putting away anything overpitched or short, Yates recorded his fifth first-class century of the summer during this innings; nobody else has more than four. For a young man who doesn’t finish university until June and who only celebrated his 22nd birthday a week ago, it is an outstanding start to his career.It was a big day for his captain, too. While Rhodes has, with bat, ball and in the field, contributed throughout the Championship campaign, he prides himself on his ability with the bat and was more than a little frustrated not to have previously reached a century. To do so here, with the TV cameras present, will send him into the winter feeling substantially more contented with the world. For a Warwickshire side who have already decided not to sign an overseas batter for the Championship programme next year – their logic is that conditions in early-season England are so different and demanding that few if any overseas batters will be able to cope – it will also have been reassuring.Sam Hain also impressed briefly for Warwickshire. But, despite having passed 50 eight times in first-class cricket this season, he has only recorded one century. His dismissal here, bowled by one which appeared to hold its own despite the slope, was no doubt the result of a fine delivery. But a straight bat might well have avoided it.Matt Parkinson was, by some distance, the pick of the Lancashire bowlers. Despite little assistance from the conditions, he finished the day with three wickets and, in conceding 2.36 runs per-over, gave his captain a measure of control. The wicket of Michael Burgess, neatly stumped by Alex Davies having been drawn down the pitch and beaten by turn, was his 100th in first-class cricket.Burgess, it might be noted, will retain the gloves for Warwickshire at the start of the 2022 Championship, despite the arrival of Davies, who has just signed from Lancashire. But Davies is keen take them from him. You suspect, therefore, he rather enjoyed this dismissal. Warwickshire’s other targets were Phil Salt, who subsequently signed for Lancashire, and Dan Worrall, who subsequently signed for Surrey.In between times, Yates was brilliantly caught by Luke Wells, at slip, off Parkinson as he attempted to up the pace, while the same pair also accounted for Tim Bresnan, who edged a leg-break. Matt Lamb was beaten by a nice one from Wells, the second leggie in the side, which clipped his off bail, while Danny Briggs edged his attempted force. Warwickshire lost three wickets for 17 runs in that little wobble. But when you have a lead in excess of 300 and three days to play, you can probably cope with such issues.

England allrounder might be a doubt for the final Ashes Test, in Hobart from January 14

Andrew Miller06-Jan-2022Ben Stokes is unlikely to bowl again in the ongoing fourth Test, and could be a doubt for next week’s Ashes series finale in Hobart, after sustaining an injury to his left side on the second day of play at SCG. On Thursday, he managed just five balls of his fourth over before leaving the field, clutching his side, whereupon Mark Wood delivered the final ball of the over.For now, the England management has held off sending Stokes for a scan, and having returned to the field soon after his assessment he would be free to bat at No. 5 if he is fit to do so. However, he spent much of the rest of the day fielding in the slip cordon – a position that allowed him not to run as much as he might have elsewhere on the field, but one from which he has been shielded in recent times, in the aftermath of the recent finger injury.Related

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In his absence, England’s seam burden was shared between James Anderson, Wood and Stuart Broad, who was the standout performer with figures of 5 for 101.”He’s one of the toughest blokes I’ve ever met, the toughest cricketer I’ve ever met,” Broad said at the close. “For him to go off and not bowl… it’s obviously sore. But he’s icing it at the moment. We’ve no information on what’s happened in his side.”Hopefully we give him a lot of rest tomorrow. Twelve-24 hours in cricket is quite a long time. It gives the body a lot of time to heal. We’ll wait and see. He stayed on the field so he could bat in his usual position. He’s a tough character. He’ll be out there if it’s not torn to shreds. We as England fans and team-mates hope it’s not as bad as him not bowling again on this trip.”Stokes, who came into the Ashes after a lengthy break during the English season to manage his mental health in the wake of a broken finger, has struggled to make an impact on the series so far, with 101 runs at 16.83 and four wickets at 71.50 in the first three-and-a-bit Tests. However, with the ball, he has been consistently used in an enforcer’s role by Joe Root, tasked with bowling lengthy spells of short-pitched bowling to unsettle Australia’s batters.