The much-awaited tour of India by the England cricket team would begin with the longest format, with the first Test in Chennai beginning on 5th February next year. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), along with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), made a joint announcement about the 51-day long tour.
Apart from the first Test, the second one will also be hosted by Chennai before the bandwagon moves to the grand 110,000-seater Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad. The town in Gujarat will host the third and fourth Tests. The Third Test will also be the second-ever day-night Test to be played in India, the first one having taken place at Eden Gardens in 2019.
Apart from the two Tests, Ahmedabad will also host a five-match T20I series which will begin on 12th March and would go on till the 20th. The third and final leg of the tour will see three ODIs, to be played in Pune, starting on 23rd March and ending on the 28th.
Jay Shah, Honorary Secretary of the BCCI, was upbeat about the announcement, saying that the two boards will leave no stone unturned to ensure the success of the tour as well as the safety of the players.
"The BCCI prioritizes the health and safety of both teams and will leave no stone unturned to make sure that the tour is held adhering to all safety protocols agreed by the BCCI and ECB medical teams.
Saying that it will be India's first bilateral series at home since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Shah hoped that the home season will bring back joy to cricket fans.
“Both Boards have worked closely to put together an exciting series that promises to provide high-octane action between two powerhouses of world cricket,” he added.
Tom Harrison, CEO, ECB, while feeling happy that England would be the first foreign team to play in the ‘magnificent’ stadium of Motera, said, “We have been delighted with the planning that has been undertaken by the BCCI to ensure the three venues in Chennai, Ahmadabad, and Pune will be ready to host international cricket in a bio-secure environment.”
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