INDIA’S MENON IN ICC UMPIRES ELITE PANEL

NEW DELHI: India’s Nitin Menon became the youngest member of ICC’S Elite Panel of Umpires, replacing England’s Nigel Llong for the 2020-21 season. The 36-year-old, who has officiated in three Tests, 24 ODIS and 16 T20IS, is only the third from India to make it to the panel after S Venkatraghavan and S Ravi. Ravi was axed last year. England’s Michael Gough, 40, was the youngest in the current panel before Menon. A selection panel of ICC GM (Cricket) Geoff Allardice, Sanjay Manjrekar, and match referees Ranjan Madugalle and David Boon picked Menon, who was part of ICC International Panel of Umpires.

Root to miss WI Test, Stokes to lead England

LONDON: England skipper Joe Root is set to miss the opening Test against West Indies next week to attend the birth of his second child. Ben Stokes will lead the team for the first time in Root’s absence. The first game of the three-test series begins in Southampton from July 8 and Root’s wife is due around the same time. “He’s (Stokes) very well equipped to do a fantastic job for us,” Root told BBC calling Stokes a natural leader. Root is also doubtful for the second Test as the skipper will be required to undergo seven days of self-isolation before rejoining the team.