BCCI treasurer Arun Dhamal confirms that 2022 edition will be a 10-team affair

Cricket Australia offers full support to coach Justin Langer amid speculations of his ouster

Amidst the rumours going on in Australia that Justin Langer is on his last breaths as the coach of the national Men’s cricket team, the cricket governing body in the country, Cricket Australia has offered full support to the coach, trying to douse the proverbial fire. CA CEO Nick Hockley in a press statement said, “Justin (Langer) has done an incredible job in raising the culture, values and behaviours of the Australian men’s team since he took on the role in 2018. His efforts have restored public faith in the national team which is a side all Australian’s can be incredibly proud of.” “He is contracted as head coach through to the middle of next year with the focus now on a successful T20 World Cup campaign followed by the home Ashes defence in what is one of the most anticipated series and summers of cricket in Australia for many years,” he added stressing that there is going to bo no change of guard as far as coaching is concerned till the Ashes. Hockley also tried to shield Langer and players for the horror show in the last 10 months where they lost to India at home in a Test series and away to West Indies and Bangladesh in the T20I series in a very painful manner. “Like many in the community and around the world, the team has had an extremely disruptive and challenging 18 months during the pandemic. Despite those challenges, the side has had great success in One-Day, Test and T20 cricket when all players were available,” he said. The CEO further stressed that the association is confident in the leadership to deliver in the upcoming summer. “Justin, his coaching staff and the leaders within the team have an equally important part to play in ensuring a successful summer ahead for the Australian cricket team,” said Hockley.

Southern Brave's leading wicket-taker Jake Lintott among many drafted into fresh CPL 2021 squads

The Caribbean Premier League is all set to begin from August 26, however, due to the rescheduling of many international series and the change of status quo in Afghanistan, teams were forced to change their squads just ahead of the start of the tournament. While Jamaica Tallawahs signed Afghanistan spinner Qais Ahmad after they were denied the services of another Afghan Ibrahim Zadran, the Guyana Amazon Warriors also took in the Afghan pair of Naveen-ul-Haq and Waqar Salamkheil. Another player stuck in Kabul due to the Taliban take over of administration, Shafiqullah Ghafari will miss the CPL. He was signed by Barbados Royals. The Barbados team was forced to make another change as South Africa allrounder Chris Morris opted out of the tournament for personal reasons. New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips was signed as his replacement. The high octane fielder, known for his great outfield display and hitting abilities with the bat is currently representing Welsh Fire in The Hundred. He has regularly been part of the CPL, playing for Jamaica Tallawahs and remaining their leading scorer for three consecutive seasons since 2018. Due to the rescheduling of South Africa’s Sri Lanka tour, Proteas players in Anrich Nortje and Rassie van der Dussen will miss out and so would Sri Lanka's leg spin-bowling all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga. Similarly due to Zimbabwe’s tour of Ireland being rescheduled, all-rounder Sikandar Raza has been replaced by New Zealand wicketkeeper Tim Seifert in the Trinabago Knight Riders set up. The franchise also replaced Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane with Pakistan’s Yasir Shah. Jake Lintott, the leading Southern Brave wicket-taker in The Hundred along with Trent Rockets’ Samit Patel and London Spirit’s Ravi Bopara have won late contracts for Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Kitts respectively as well. In another replacement, Singapore’s Tim David’s good run is continuing as after his outing with Hobart Hurricane in BBL, followed by the one with Lahore Qalandars in PSL, he will now replace his Hurricane skipper Matthew Wade at the St. Lucia Kings after his season with Surrey in the English Blast and Royal London Cup. Another English domestic star, Netherlands' Paul van Meekeren will fill in for Nortje at the Patriots. The 33-match tournament will be played at Warner Park in St. Kitts and Nevis and fans will be allowed to fill up to 50% capacity of the 8,000-seat venue if they are able to furnish proof of vaccination against Covid-19.

When you are losing, everything is magnified: Aaron Finch on player-coach argument leaks

After Australia’s debacles in the tour of the West Indies and Bangladesh, questions are being raised on the coaching style of Justin Langer. Leaks of players arguing with him have gone viral in Australian media and cricket experts including former Aussie wicketkeeper turned commentator, Adam Gilchrist have ringed alarm bells over the current situation. Gilchrist has opined that matters be sorted otherwise it could go as far as derailing the Australian summer which includes the Ashes. The Australian limited-overs skipper Aaron Finch, who could not be part of the Kangaroos’ Bangladesh tour where they were humbled 1-4, feels that losses are magnifying even the things that could have previously gone unnoticed as part of the dressing room. The whole situation is telling given Australians were dismantled by a team against whom they had not lost a single T20I game previously. “All I’ll say is when you lose, everything is magnified and everything is highlighted,” Finch said on the issue of the leaks. Reasoning that bubble fatigue leads to frustration, the 34-year-old who underwent knee surgery just recently to get fit ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021, said, “With the players on tour with bubble fatigue and guys not having any escape while you’re on tour, you’re locked into cricket mode almost 24/7 because you can’t get out and go for a coffee down the road or you can’t go out for dinner somewhere else.” “You’re literally just confined to the hotel 24/7. When you’re just around cricket the whole time, that can consume you so you get a little bit of burnout from that as well. And when you’re losing that just adds multiple layers to it as well,” he added.

The Hundred | Welsh Fire vs London Spirit: When & where to watch Live, Probable XI, Fantasy XI

This game holds no relevance in the future of the tournament and its sole purpose is to determine which team would have the wooden spoon and finish last in the inaugural edition of The Hundred. Welsh Fire who had a great start to the season, winning their first two games, lost the plot after their star performer Jonny Bairstow was called for national duties, failing to win any game since. On the other hand, Eoin Morgan led London Spirit just couldn’t get going at any point in the entire tournament. The three points that they have to their name is courtesy of a washout and a win against a Manchester Originals side which too lost the plot after its captain Jos Buttler was called in for national duties. With nothing but saving grace to play for, it would be interesting to see if both Fire and Spirit are able to put their best foot forward or not. Welsh Fire vs London Spirit: Match Details Match Number- 32 Date and Time: August 18, 2021, 11:00 pm IST, 06:30 pm Local, 05:30pm GMT Venue: Sophia Gardens Cardiff Live Stream: FanCode Pitch Report The pitch at Welsh has been decent producing some good games, two of which the home team won as well. It has support for spinners too if they are able to hit the right lengths. But in general, a good cricket supporting wicket is expected. Weather Forecast After disturbing quite a few games, the rain gods seem to have now taken a break and want to enjoy the last leg of an interesting Hundred. In this game too, there are no predictions for rain and typical Welsh weather with temperatures in the low 20s are expected to welcome the Spirit from London. Welsh Fire Probable XI David Lloyd, Tom Banton (wk), Ian Cockbain, Ben Duckett (c), Glenn Phillips, Leus du Plooy, James Neesham, Graeme White, Qais Ahmad, Luke Fletcher, David Payne London Spirit Probable XI Adam Rossington (wk), Joe Denly, Josh Inglis, Joe Cracknell, Eoin Morgan (c), Ravi Bopara, David Wiese, Roelof van der Merwe, Blake Cullen, Bradley Wheal, Mason Crane Fantasy XI Adam Rossington (wk), Tom Banton, Eoin Morgan, Ben Duckett, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Roelof van der Merwe, Blake Cullen, Bradley Wheal, Qais Ahmad, David Payne Captain James Neesham Vice-Captain Bradley Wheal