Make room for IPL
BCCI wants ECB to advance Tests, open window for rich league
London, 21: The BCCI has requested England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to advance the five-Test series by a week from its current August 4 start to give them a better shot at completing the remaining
31 matches of the nowpostponed Indian Premier League.
While no one from BCCI has officially confirmed the development, former England captain and renowned cricket writer Michael Atherton reported about the development in London’s The Times.
“The Board of Control for Cricket in India has enquired about the possibility of moving the final Test of the English summer in order to make room to complete the postponed Indian Premier League,” the report said.
“Informal discussions have been had between the respective boards as cricket continues to grapple with a schedule ravaged by Covid,” it added.
Indian team are looking at a potential gap of six weeks after the completion of World Test Championship final against New Zealand which is scheduled from June 18-22 in Southampton and start of the England series.
The five-Test series starts with first match at Nottingham (August 4-8), followed by Lord’s (August
12-16), Leeds (August 2529), Oval (September 2-6) and Manchester (September 10-14).
However, a potential start in the last week of July, with lesser gaps between the Tests would open the entire month of September in which BCCI can complete the IPL either in UK or more likely in the UAE. Atherton further wrote that ECB’s own calendar as well as those hosting counties, which have already sold tickets would be in a fix with this request from the BCCI. — PTI
Southee upbeat for WTC final
Southampton, May 21: Senior New Zealand pacer Tim Southee believes that the upcoming two-Test series against England would serve as “great preparation” for his team as it gears up for the marquee World Test Championship final against India here.
New Zealand are playing two Tests against England at the Lord’s (Jun 2-6) and Birmingham (Jun 10-14). The WTC final final is scheduled from June 18.
Asked if the focus will be on the WTC final, Southee said: “Anytime you get to play a Test match for New Zealand,
Anytime you get to play a Test match for New Zealand, it’s an amazing opportunity and I don’t think you treat them as warm-ups. But great to have the two-match series leading to the World Test Championship final. it’s an amazing opportunity and I don’t think you treat them as warm-ups. Our focus is first and foremost on the two match series against England.”
But the 32-year-old with 302 Test wickets didn’t deny that it was indeed a great opportunity to gear up for the big battle against India.
“.... but great
to
have those matches leading to the final. So for us, it’s great preparation for that final but we are looking at two-match series against a quality English side in their conditions,” Southee said.
Southee also didn’t feel that three Tests in three weeks will be much of a workload after a welcome break for many.
“It’s exciting to play three Test matches in a short space of time,” Southee said after his first training session at the Ageas Bowl following a three-day hard quarantine.
“It is something that the team doesn’t get to do that often. We’ve come off a bit of a break, which has been nice, and (we have) been able to get some conditioning into our bodies...,” Southee said.
He believes that they will be ready to cope with the rigours with some quality training sessions in the next two weeks.
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— TIM SOUTHEE New Zealand star pacer