The Indian cricket workforce will play two intra-squad matches on the Riverside Ground in Durham forward of the five-match Test sequence towards England as Virat Kohli’s workforce is unlikely to play first-class warm-up matches towards county groups.
Indian captain Virat Kohli has expressed displeasure over not being given any first-class matches forward of the England sequence beginning in Nottingham on August 4.
“Due to the COVID-19 protocols, they will play two intra-squad four-day matches before the first Test in August,” an ECB spokesperson instructed PTI on Friday.
While it’s understood that the BCCI had requested the ECB for some follow video games, the COVID-19 scenario wouldn’t permit any such plan to go forward.
Asked if there’s a chance of matches towards county groups, the spokesperson stated, “No.
In England, cricketers from completely different counties are repeatedly being examined for COVID however not being put in a bubble.
The Indian workforce will as soon as once more be in a bubble after gathering in London and heading to Durham on 14 July.
“England domestic cricketers not being in the bubble is definitely an issue. So the games in Durham will be intra-squad ones,” stated a BCCI official on circumstances of anonymity.
India are presently touring with 24 gamers – 20 within the official squad and 4 in reserve – which is able to permit them to play intra-squad video games.
However, legends like Sunil Gavaskar have questioned the quantity of preparations {that a} mock match can provide to the workforce. The touring groups have performed a number of first-class matches towards county groups previously.
In mock matches, a participant might bat once more if he’s dismissed early, not like in a correct first-class match.
National selector Chetan Sharma not going to England
National selectors chairman Chetan Sharma and one other senior selector Sunil Joshi are usually not going to England for the five-Test sequence as strict quarantine guidelines have change into a hindrance.
It is known that India is within the Red List nations, there are not any direct flights to the United Kingdom.
Anyone touring from India should both journey on a constitution flight as a workforce or first fly to a rustic that’s not on the UK Red List, quarantine there after which take a connecting flight to England .
“Yes, Debu (Debasish Mohanty) and Abhay (Kuruvilla) are going to Sri Lanka, the place the white-ball workforce will play six matches. He is in quarantine at a resort in Mumbai together with the remainder of the workforce. But not one of the selectors are going to the UK.
It is known even within the 12 months of a T20 World Cup, it’s extra essential to look at the younger crop of gamers in Sri Lanka fairly than the tried and examined automated choices within the UK for the standard format.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
