England name squad with 9 uncapped players to face Pakistan after Covid-19 crisis in camp

Suryakumar Yadav promises same old approach against 'completely different challenge' in Sri Lanka

With the well-established batsmen of the Indian white-ball sides being in England for the Test series, the upcoming series against Sri Lanka offers a near perfect opportunity for players such as Suryakumar Yadav to press forward their claims in the side. Yadav has been a prolific run-getter in the Indian domestic cricket but he rose through the ranks on the back of the bulk of runs for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He has formed a formidable batting lineup of Mumbai that never relents attacking the opposition bowler and so far Yadav has not shied away from unleashing the same pattern in his short international career. Now, as Yadav is eyeing a probably long stint with the Indian side, he is all but ready to do what he has been doing best with the bat. He has said that the approach of his batting will be very similar to what it has been and it won’t be dependent on his batting position against Sri Lanka. “I think I have been doing the same thing that I have been doing for my franchise back in the IPL. Even in my debut series, I did not do anything different. I have been enjoying that (attacking) role really well in whatever position they tell me to bat. I will stay the same. I will just go out there and express myself like I always do. I enjoy doing that,” Yadav said from Colombo, where the India side is putting up for the series. He started his T20 career with a characteristic six off Jofra Archer and stamped his authority on the game with crisp timing and immaculate placements. He hit a berserk fifty against England on debut and followed with another substantive score to help India clinch the series. However, he said that the series against Sri Lanka will be a different proposition and he will look forward to starting from scratch. He conceded the pressure of expectations he brings with himself but expressed confidence in using it to his own and India’s good effect. "I think that was a completely different challenge. Like for a batter, every time you go in or play a different game, you start from scratch. So this also I've to start from zero. This is a different series, but the challenge remains the same - I've to go out and perform the same way I did. So the pressure will be there because if there's no pressure, there's no fun. It'll be a great challenge and I am really looking forward to it,” Yadav added. Yadav also downplayed the inexperience in the India squad in the backdrop of comments made by Sri Lanka’s world-cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who had called the Shikhar Dhawan-led side a ‘second-string’ Indian team. Yadav said that the team is not bothered about outside opinion and that their goal from the series is to take away positives and play series with the right spirit. "Not really [thinking about it]," Suryakumar said. "Everyone is completely focused. The way the practice sessions are going, the way the game went yesterday, it's going completely fine and we're really excited about the challenge. We're not thinking about that. We're just here to have some fun, enjoy this series completely and take a lot of positives from here,” Yadav added. The ODI series between India and Sri Lanka will commence on July 13 in Colombo and the rest of other ODIs and a subsequent T20 series too will be played in Colombo only.

Mithali Raj attains top spot in ICC Women’s ODI player rankings

India captain Mithali Raj has regained the top spot in the ICC rankings for women’s in ODIs after she had a brilliant run with the bat against England in the recent fixtures. The right-handed batter who became the top run-scorer in women’s cricket recently struck three half-centuries against England on the trot. “Mithali Raj had started the tour in eighth position but her series-topping aggregate of 206 runs has helped her reclaim the top position, which she had last occupied in February 2018. The first time she reached number one position was in April 2005,” a statement from the ICC read. It was England’s Janette Brittin who attained the number one position for the first time in 1984 and the last time in 1995. Apart from this, New Zealand’s Debbie Hockley has been the only cricketer in women’s cricket to take number one spot more than 10 years apart. She first achieved the feat in 1987 and then in 1997 for the final time. Apart from Raj, India opener Smriti Mandhana is also in the top ten list for the batters in women’s cricket. She is at number 9 position at the moment. Mithali is followed by Lizelle Lee and Alyssa Healy at number two and three respectively. The right-handed batter’s unbeaten 75 in the last ODI handed India a win by 4 wickets while chasing 220 in Worcester.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar sees no change of role, offers mental health help after elevation to Vice-captain

As senior players are there on the tour of England, India selected a fairly young squad with a mixture of experienced players such as Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the tour of Sri Lanka. Both have been named captain and vice-captain of the side that will be managed by Rahul Dravid as the head coach. However, Bhuvneshwar downplayed the talks that the tag of vice-captain will change his role in the side which was always centred around helping young players in ways of improving their game and mental abilities. “Yes, on paper, it is my role (vice-captain), but I don’t think things will change. I think being a senior player my role is to do things that help other players in improving their skills and mental health,” Bhuvneshwar told Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has suffered long and rigorous injuries in the last few years that put him out of contention for the longest format and the upcoming England tour. However, his prowess and variety in the white-ball formats are as good as any in the game. India would be looking forward to having him in a dual role of both striking with the new ball and containing in the latter half of the bowling innings. He always had the ability to swing the ball and with new additions in his arsenal such as the knuckle ball, Bhuvneshwar has become a potent threat for opposition batsmen.

Seven England squad members test Covid-19 positive, Stokes to captain England against Pakistan

Seven members of the England squad in the series against Sri Lanka have tested positive for Covid-19 that includes four support staff. The remaining all members of the squad have been deemed ‘close contacts’ as per the statement issued by the England and Wales Cricket Board. "In collaboration with Public Health England, Public Health Wales and Bristol Local Health Authority, those impacted will now observe a period of self-isolation from July 4 following the UK government's protocol on quarantine. The remaining members of the party have been deemed close contacts and will also isolate,” ECB said. As a result, all of the England players who played in the series against Sri Lanka will not take further part in the English summer when England are due to host Pakistan. The ECB has said that the series with Pakistan will go ahead as planned and England will plate under the leadership of Ben Stokes while the new squad will be announced in a few hours time. "The ECB have confirmed the Royal London ODIs and the Vitality IT20s against Pakistan will go ahead. Ben Stokes will return to England duties and captain the squad - which will be named in the next few hours,” ECB added. Just yesterday, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had announced lifting off of the Covid-19 related restrictions in the country and the latest development in the England camp might come as a fresh setback for the ECB.