International cricket has come back to life with the three-match Test series between England and the West Indies. The cricket-starved fans who were direly waiting to witness some live action from the past three months have also seen some light after a tough phase due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

International cricket has come back to life with the three-match Test series between England and the West Indies. The cricket-starved fans who were direly waiting to witness some live action from the past three months have also seen some light after a tough phase due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As cricket resumed with a new look, fans inside the stadiums were a major missing as empty seats glared at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. England became the first country to host international cricket after the prolonged break but The Barmy Army, who has become synonymous to England cricket over the years, was nowhere to be seen filling the seats and creating iconic atmosphere with their chants and flags, given the restrictions and health guidelines in place. As The Barmy Army has been emphasizing on their social media platforms that they may not be there in person but they are there in spirit while continuing to support the hosts from whatever available options on social media. Over their 25-year-long rich history, The Barmy Army has witnessed some unforgettable moments. The group has faced everything. Be it Ashes wins, World Cup wins, many tough defeats, The Barmy Army has witnessed it all. However, one thing they continue to do, since the Ashes 1994-95, is get back behind the team whenever they take the field to represent England. And that sums up their passion for the game and their love for the England cricket team. While no artificial sound can replace the atmosphere that The Barmy Army creates, the new rules are such that matches have to be played behind closed doors, adhering to the government guidelines due to the pandemic. In an exclusive interview with WION, Chris Millard – Managing Director for The Barmy Army and Adam Cannings talked about how the fan group is coping with matches being played behind closed doors, the future for cricket fans, their iconic chants, how the group has grown in stature over the years, meeting Virat Kohli for The Barmy Army awards, and much more. × Here are the excerpts: Subhayan Chakraborty: Welcome to WION, Chris and Adam. How are you guys doing? Chris Millard: We are good! We are alright. We are sat at home, working from home, not being able be in the ground and watching cricket but we are enjoying as much as we can. It’s great that we are seeing some Test cricket again and be good as we can be. SC: International cricket has resumed from England but no supporters are allowed inside the stadiums. It must be a strange feeling for you all…So how are you all coping with it? Adam Canning: It is a strange feeling. Ideally, we would at the ground, getting behind the lads. We had sold a lot of tickets this summer and there was a lot of excitement around English cricket after a great summer last year. England are world champions, did well in South Africa, and there is a lot of excitement around. So very strange situation returning into Test cricket this summer with no fans in the ground. But we are doing all we can, to keep fans engaged on our digital channels across social media. We are in touch with the ECB and Sky to make sure there is something from the crowd in the action. SC: Chris, there have been talks about the scattered crowd being allowed in the near future. Will you be able to produce the sort of atmosphere that The Barmy Army is famous for? What’s the feeling in the camp? Chris Millard: It is still very early stages in the UK. We are making sure that safety is the priority. Everyone has worked so hard at the ECB to get the game on and I think we are still a few months away from getting fans back inside the stadiums, at least in the UK, might be different elsewhere. We are more concerned for the everyone’s safety for now and when the time is right for us to get back into the stadium then we will look into whether or not we can generate atmosphere. Maybe two-three seats apart from each other and I am sure that won’t be a problem. We can make atmosphere wherever we go whether it is two people or two thousand people, we are the experts of creating atmosphere and very knowledgeable about how that might go even if there are restrictions in place but safety first at this minute. We are nowhere looking at being back in the stadium for the foreseeable future I think. SC: Cricket has come back with a host of changes in the rules. Be it ban on the usage of saliva or COVID substitutions but still the fans are being missed. Artificial crowd sound is being pumped in but it can never replicate the live atmosphere. So what’s your take on the artificial noise? Adam Canning: Obviously it is not the same without the fans and supporters. Even if you go into our social media platforms, we get comments from so many fans, not just English fans but Indians, Pakistanis saying that watching cricket is not the same without being able to listen to The Barmy Army chants in the background. Our guys have been following the team all around the world and they are missing being there. And we have listened to the players in interviews that we have done in the summer in our podcasts and they have admitted that The Barmy Army pushes their performance by 5 to 10 per cent. So don’t think it is the same for them as well without us being in the ground. Big session this... Dig in lads 🏏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/jOEKmcSOUw — England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) July 11, 2020 × SC: So Chris, The Barmy Army recently completed its 25 years in what has been a roller-coaster ride. So how did it all start? Chris Millard: While I wasn’t in the official starting tour back in the day. It started with the three founders, David Peacock, Paul Burnham and Gareth Evans back in 1994/95 in Australia. The first tour they ever went on and the name came from a bunch of England fans getting badly sunburnt and singing songs all day and being there every day of the Test match when the team would get absolutely thrashed, which is typically very British. I know Indian fans don’t like to see their team lose and often leave the ground, same with the Australian fans are exactly the same. But the English fans are very patriotic and even stay when the team is playing rubbish. The Australian press branded them The Army Army – they were Barmy because of being together in the sun and getting burned while watching England team lose and they were Army because they were so many of them. So it got the ground from there and 25 years later now we are a company with 10 staff and we run a travel company that helps fans get to overseas. We do a lot of good stuff on social media as well. It is a bigger organization now with a professional outfit but we have a very humble root from 94/95. SC: Another important aspect of The Barmy Army is the love they have received from players. Starting from Mike Atherton to now Joe Root, love has always flown in for the group. So does it motivate you to improve with every series or tour? Chris Millard: Yes, for sure! It is very inspiring. But our main goal is to optimize the cricket team in an active not passive manner. Everyone who signs up to be a Barmy Army member is all on that journey to create the best possible atmosphere possible for the England team and another thing which we do is try and help the England team take a wicket. Once that happens, I think that’s job done. We have been chatting with a lot of players and they can’t really put into words how much admiration they have for The Barmy Army for what it has given to cricket in all these years. It is really nice to hear when they go on record and say how our support helps and enhance their performance sometimes and give them the lift they needed. And I am sure they are missing it right now. SC: So are the chants prepared in advance or it is all spontaneous? Adam Canning: It is a mix of both really. There are fans who travel all around the world with the team and there are times when they are thinking of a new song or tunes in between a series. But the magic happens when we get in the ground and have talks with musicians a night before or in the build-up to the series. So yes, some of them are pre-prepared and some of them are on the spot like the Mitchell Johnson chant – “he bowls to left, he bowls to the right…” – so it depends on the match situation as well. But we have quite a few creative people in the group and even people on social media send us songs all the time and there are many who don’t want to watch cricket and just listen to our songs. So a lot of variety is there on the table. SC: Chris, I will come to you for this question. You have a special connection with Joe Root. Can you tell something more about it? Chris Millard: We have been childhood friends, we have grown up together. Played cricket, football and every other sport together. We have been good friends and it is quite unique that he is the captain of England and I run The Barmy Army. He has had a helping hand in making sure that the company that tours around the world watching cricket. And it is so great to be able to tour around the world, watching a fantastic sportsman and a fantastic captain and when he is your mate then it makes your job a real dream. Honestly, we try and separate the working style when he is in the ground and doing nets, I don’t go over to him like a best mate, so there has to be respect for the England captain. But outside the working environment, we are really good mates and it is so nice to have that relationship. SC: So coming back to The Barmy Army, did you ever think it will reach the stature it has attained today? Adam Canning: Well, even our co-founders have told us that they never imagined what it has reached today. We have been a beast really. It is a global brand – The Barmy Army – everyone in the world has heard of The Barmy Army. You go to New York and mention the Barmy Army, people would have heard about it. It is unimaginable the growth we have achieved over the years. We have seen a huge growth in our digital channels, we run a really successful podcast. But supporting England and watching cricket all around the world is our absolute priority. For me growing as a fan for the last 10-15 years and now working for The Barmy Army, it is a dream. SC: But with the travel restrictions in place due to pandemic or even if it opens up a bit. Do you guys think it will be a challenge to support England and its cricket as it used to do? You will have to evolve with time…what’s your take on that? Chris Millard: Everyone has to evolve, isn’t it? The landscape is always changing. There have been so many developments in the business world, sport, music industry. People are adapting to survive and we are no different. We will be adapting we conduct our business but also how we support the England team while making sure we adhere to the guidelines set by the ECB and government. One thing I keep banging the drum is about the safety of all our members and of the entire cricket community. And we are ready to do everything for that be it support the team from the ground or away from it on the social media. SC: Another important part of your group is The Barmy Army awards. Virat Kohli has been a recipient of it. So how was it like to meet him in person and hand over the award? Chris Millard: It was our membership secretary who met Virat and he was very welcoming. He has won it two years in a row – overseas player of the year – and he was extremely welcoming to receive the award. So only good things to say about Virat. I know he is very fond of The Barmy Army, he has gone on record to say how much he loves The Barmy Army chants and how much good it does for the England team. A good bloke in my book. SC: Coming back to chants, in the Ashes 2010-11 where The Barmy Army literally rattled up Mitchell Johnson. But then he came back pretty strong in the 2013-14 Ashes. So what’s your take on the chants when opposition player gets motivated by it or get better mentally? Adam Canning: It is an interesting point. Like you mentioned earlier about the preparation behind the chants. A lot goes behind the scenes as to which player reacts how. So there’s a bit of study that goes behind. David Warner, for example, always fails when he comes to England with Stuart Broad getting LBWs and caught behinds within 10 minutes into the play. So we know we can get stuck into David Warner, he doesn’t react too well to it. Whereas Steve Smith, who got a bit of stick in the opening Test, grew into it and people started to say ‘leave him alone’. The more stick and banter we give it to him, the better he seems to bat. So we passed the Ashes as he didn’t exist and he was a bit of freak honestly. So yes, we definitely think about it in-depth. SC: I will go back to Ashes 2019 as you touched upon it. The Barmy Army came up with posters and banners about sandpaper. So is it all banter or something serious goes in the background? Adam Canning: Well, it is banter for sure. But we make sure we never cross the line and keep the principles of cricket in mind to enhance the atmosphere of Test cricket. So we try and create an atmosphere that people enjoy. We are a self-policing organization and we have got a strong group of people who ensure that we never cross the line. It is always banter and light-hearted, and we make sure it is never personal or abuse. Chris Millard: And what Adam said about self-policing, we operate on a code of conduct. If you are to signup as The Barmy Army member, you are a student of the game and adhere to all the rules we have put out to make sure we never cross the line. England fans in football have got a bad reputation for overseas support and we never want to be tarnish our reputation, so we have to be strict and honest with people to keep everyone in check. SC: As you spoke about self-policing, we have been seeing the support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Michael Holding, Ebony Rainford-Brent, Nasser Hussain, Mike Atherton and everyone have been brutally honest about racial discrimination on live television. So how do guys stop or react if a fan crosses the line? Chris Millard: It is a really good point. We are always looking at diversification, we are England fans and typical English fans have certain stereotype and we are looking to address that. But there are cricket fans from all different backgrounds and cultures and no matter who you are, which background, which religion, which culture you belong to, you are welcome as just as long as you are England cricket fans because that’s what we are. And we are going to make sure that we are inclusive to all the communities that we are blessed to have in the UK. And we are looking to address certain policies and make sure we are inclusive to everyone. I think a lot of sports businesses are looking at the same. "They keep on telling me there's nothing called white privilege. Give me break."#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/YYPD060MEV — Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 8, 2020 × SC: So how is The Barmy Army looking at the future? Will the support be the same? Chris Millard: We will have more fans! If we are allowed to, then we will take more supporters and if we can then we will take more fans as people are really missing cricket and the England team. We came on the back of a really successful tour of South Africa where we took our own chartered plane from Heathrow to Cape Town, so that is an example of what we can do. So I really think if the India tour goes ahead or the Ashes, then it will be the biggest one ever. SC: What will be your message to the fans all around the world, who are missing being inside stadiums? Adam Canning: We are on the same boat. Sometimes people take things for granted and realise its role in your life later. People of The Barmy Army and the supporters are hopeful that we will get back to the stadium soon and support Test cricket at home or one of our future tours. We have a massive year lined up as long as COVID allows us to. We are going to go to Amsterdam for a tour and as Chris said hopefully we will be able to go for the Ashes. So it will be worth a wait. Chris Millard: I pretty much agree with Adam on that. Sit tight, we will be back before you know it. We will be back bigger and better, The Barmy Army. We are doing everything we can to enhance your experience in the UK or overseas. Stay safe, we will get through these difficult times.

Interview: 'We will be back bigger and better' - The Barmy Army

<p>With the resumption of international cricket with the three-match England vs West Indies series, England captain for the first Test, Ben Stokes, dropped veteran Stuart Broad to give a massive selection surprise at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.</p>

<p>England went with the troika of James Anderson, Jofra Archer while Mark Wood made the cut in the playing XI. However, both Archer and Wood were as the former went wicket-less while Wood picked up just a solitary wicket.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After Archer went wicket-less, former West Indies pacer Tino Best took to social media platform Twitter to criticise the Barbadian-born English speedster but Archer was quick to respond to the former pacer and took a dig at the 38-year-old.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/famed-india-cricket-stadium-to-be-used-for-coronavirus-quarantine-312546" hreflang="en">Famed India cricket stadium to be used for coronavirus quarantine</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">With all this knowledge how are you not a coach yet ? <a href="https://t.co/AU0m4LdgVU">https://t.co/AU0m4LdgVU</a></p>
— Jofra Archer (@JofraArcher) <a href="https://twitter.com/JofraArcher/status/1281691991139594241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Don’t address me personally Young man , the fact remains your bowling toothpaste and u haven’t bowled Quickly since ASHES , now go sleep and get some rest for WI to beat ya ball in the second innings bye 👋🏾 Jorfa 🙏🏾 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SleepTight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SleepTight</a></p>
— Tino95 (@tinobest) <a href="https://twitter.com/tinobest/status/1281703741327052800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-contacts-20-clubs-over-need-for-distancing-during-matches-312541" hreflang="en">Premier League contacts 20 clubs over need for distancing during matches</a></strong></p>

<p>Broad, who was England’s highest wicket-taker in the last two Test series, ended up being frustrated and angry over his exclusion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I’m not a particularly emotional person but I’ve found the last couple of days quite tough.To say I’m disappointed would be an understatement - you get disappointed if you drop your phone and break your screen,” Broad said in the Sky Sports Player Zone.</p>

<p>“I’ve been frustrated, angry and gutted because it’s quite a hard decision to understand. I’ve probably bowled the best I’ve ever bowled in the last couple of years. I felt like it was my shirt, having been in the team through the Ashes and going to South Africa and winning there,” he said.</p>

<p>Archer, who has been mighty impressive across formats for England, has been subjected to criticism following a couple of inconsistent innings and was targeted after he went wicket-less in the first innings of the Southampton Test against the Windies.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, England have started the second innings strong and the opening pair of Dom Sibley and Rory Burns have stitched a 70-run partnership on Day 4 at the Rose Bowl. However, they still trail by 50 runs.</p>


With the resumption of international cricket with the three-match England vs West Indies series, England captain for the first Test, Ben Stokes, dropped veteran Stuart Broad to give a massive selection surprise at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

With the resumption of international cricket with the three-match England vs West Indies series, England captain for the first Test, Ben Stokes, dropped veteran Stuart Broad to give a massive selection surprise at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. England went with the troika of James Anderson, Jofra Archer while Mark Wood made the cut in the playing XI. However, both Archer and Wood were as the former went wicket-less while Wood picked up just a solitary wicket. After Archer went wicket-less, former West Indies pacer Tino Best took to social media platform Twitter to criticise the Barbadian-born English speedster but Archer was quick to respond to the former pacer and took a dig at the 38-year-old. ALSO READ: Famed India cricket stadium to be used for coronavirus quarantine With all this knowledge how are you not a coach yet ? https://t.co/AU0m4LdgVU — Jofra Archer (@JofraArcher) July 10, 2020 × Don’t address me personally Young man , the fact remains your bowling toothpaste and u haven’t bowled Quickly since ASHES , now go sleep and get some rest for WI to beat ya ball in the second innings bye 👋🏾 Jorfa 🙏🏾 #SleepTight — Tino95 (@tinobest) July 10, 2020 × ALSO READ: Premier League contacts 20 clubs over need for distancing during matches Broad, who was England’s highest wicket-taker in the last two Test series, ended up being frustrated and angry over his exclusion. “I’m not a particularly emotional person but I’ve found the last couple of days quite tough.To say I’m disappointed would be an understatement - you get disappointed if you drop your phone and break your screen,” Broad said in the Sky Sports Player Zone. “I’ve been frustrated, angry and gutted because it’s quite a hard decision to understand. I’ve probably bowled the best I’ve ever bowled in the last couple of years. I felt like it was my shirt, having been in the team through the Ashes and going to South Africa and winning there,” he said. Archer, who has been mighty impressive across formats for England, has been subjected to criticism following a couple of inconsistent innings and was targeted after he went wicket-less in the first innings of the Southampton Test against the Windies. Meanwhile, England have started the second innings strong and the opening pair of Dom Sibley and Rory Burns have stitched a 70-run partnership on Day 4 at the Rose Bowl. However, they still trail by 50 runs.

'How are you not a coach...' - Jofra Archer gets involved in online spat with ex-Windies pacer Tino Best

<p>Kolkata's legendary Eden Gardens&nbsp;cricket stadium is to be used as a quarantine centre for Indian police who have the coronavirus, officials said Saturday.</p>

<p>With the city's hospitals under growing pressure, hundreds of beds are to be set up in the 80,000 capacity stadium that was used for the 1987 World Cup final.</p>

<p>Nearly 550 Kolkata police have tested positive for the coronavirus and two have died.</p>

<p>"It is our duty to help and support the administration in this hour of crisis. The quarantine facility will be used for police personnel who are COVID-19 warriors," said Cricket Association of Bengal president Avishek Dalmiya.</p>

<p>The beds will be put in galleries around the seating and not on the pitch that was last used by India for a day-night Test against Bangladesh last November.</p>

<p>"Such areas would be thoroughly segregated as a safety measure," added Dalmiya.</p>

<p>The stadium is also used by the Kolkata Knight Riders Indian Premier League side but this year's tournament has been repeatedly postponed because of the pandemic.</p>

<p>India's nationwide coronavirus toll rose Saturday to 820,916 cases with 22,193 deaths</p>


Kolkata's legendary Eden Gardens cricket stadium is to be used as a quarantine centre for Indian police who have the coronavirus, officials said Saturday. With the city's hospitals under growing pressure, hundreds of beds are to be set up in the 80,000 capacity stadium that was used for the 1987 World Cup final.

Kolkata's legendary Eden Gardens cricket stadium is to be used as a quarantine centre for Indian police who have the coronavirus, officials said Saturday. With the city's hospitals under growing pressure, hundreds of beds are to be set up in the 80,000 capacity stadium that was used for the 1987 World Cup final. Nearly 550 Kolkata police have tested positive for the coronavirus and two have died. "It is our duty to help and support the administration in this hour of crisis. The quarantine facility will be used for police personnel who are COVID-19 warriors," said Cricket Association of Bengal president Avishek Dalmiya. The beds will be put in galleries around the seating and not on the pitch that was last used by India for a day-night Test against Bangladesh last November. "Such areas would be thoroughly segregated as a safety measure," added Dalmiya. The stadium is also used by the Kolkata Knight Riders Indian Premier League side but this year's tournament has been repeatedly postponed because of the pandemic. India's nationwide coronavirus toll rose Saturday to 820,916 cases with 22,193 deaths

Famed India cricket stadium to be used for coronavirus quarantine

<p>West Indies captain Jason Holder said "my Test is far from over" after he rocked England with a career-best six-wicket haul on the second day of the series opener at Southampton on Thursday.</p>

<p>Holder, the world's top-ranked all-rounder, took 6-42 as England were dismissed for 204 to surpass his previous Test-best of 6-59 against Bangladesh at Kingston two years ago.</p>

<p>It was the sixth time in his last 10 Tests that the towering paceman had taken five or more wickets in an innings, with Thursday's return including the prize scalp of rival all-rounder and stand-in England captain Ben Stokes.</p>

<p>West Indies have not won a Test series in England since 1988 but they hold the Wisden Trophy after a 2-1 success in the Caribbean last year -- when Holder made an unbeaten double century in an opening win at his Barbados home ground.</p>

<p>"I have done a good job so far but my Test is far from over," Holder told reporters after bad light forced an early close with West Indies 57-1, a deficit of 147 runs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I have a massive contribution to make with the bat," the 28-year-old added.</p>

<p>Holder had been struggling with an ankle injury in the lead-up to the series -- the first Test campaign since lockdown -- but still troubled England with his accuracy and late movement.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>- 'Big wicket' -</h2>

<p>He also led from the front.</p>

<p>West Indies had twice dropped Stokes, second in the Test all-rounder rankings, before Holder had him caught behind for 43, the top score of the innings, to end a stand of 67 with Jos Buttler (35).</p>

<p>"It was a big wicket to get," said Holder. "We put down two chances and he was looking to make us pay.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"His partnership with Jos was starting to blossom into something that could really hurt us.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"But I was getting just enough movement to keep him at bay, keep him playing and eventually got the edge."</p>

<p>Holder added he had a particular reason for wanting to do well in England this time.</p>

<p>"I really wanted to get on the honours board at Lord's," Holder said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We were scheduled to play there but then due to COVID they shuffled it around," he added of a series where the bio-secure grounds of the Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford, the venue for the last two Tests, are being used instead.</p>

<p>"One of the things I have always strived to do is to score a hundred in England and get a five-wicket haul. I've ticked one box, now it's time to knuckle down and get a hundred."</p>

<p>England opted to leave out veteran paceman Stuart Broad and deploy fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood together for the first time in a Test.</p>

<p>But although both Archer and Wood topped speeds of 90 mph, it was James Anderson -- England's all-time most successful Test bowler -- who took the lone wicket of John Campbell.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think they are on top," said Wood of the West Indies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"They have done really well today, bowled really well, showed us the way to go."&nbsp;</p>

<p>But Wood said the fact West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel took 4-62 meant he didn't have to cut his pace.</p>

<p>"Gabriel got four wickets and he bowls quick, so that doesn't mean me and Jofra need to bowl slower."</p>


West Indies captain Jason Holder said "my Test is far from over" after he rocked England with a career-best six-wicket haul on the second day of the series opener at Southampton on Thursday.

West Indies captain Jason Holder said "my Test is far from over" after he rocked England with a career-best six-wicket haul on the second day of the series opener at Southampton on Thursday. Holder, the world's top-ranked all-rounder, took 6-42 as England were dismissed for 204 to surpass his previous Test-best of 6-59 against Bangladesh at Kingston two years ago. It was the sixth time in his last 10 Tests that the towering paceman had taken five or more wickets in an innings, with Thursday's return including the prize scalp of rival all-rounder and stand-in England captain Ben Stokes. West Indies have not won a Test series in England since 1988 but they hold the Wisden Trophy after a 2-1 success in the Caribbean last year -- when Holder made an unbeaten double century in an opening win at his Barbados home ground. "I have done a good job so far but my Test is far from over," Holder told reporters after bad light forced an early close with West Indies 57-1, a deficit of 147 runs. "I have a massive contribution to make with the bat," the 28-year-old added. Holder had been struggling with an ankle injury in the lead-up to the series -- the first Test campaign since lockdown -- but still troubled England with his accuracy and late movement. - 'Big wicket' - He also led from the front. West Indies had twice dropped Stokes, second in the Test all-rounder rankings, before Holder had him caught behind for 43, the top score of the innings, to end a stand of 67 with Jos Buttler (35). "It was a big wicket to get," said Holder. "We put down two chances and he was looking to make us pay. "His partnership with Jos was starting to blossom into something that could really hurt us. "But I was getting just enough movement to keep him at bay, keep him playing and eventually got the edge." Holder added he had a particular reason for wanting to do well in England this time. "I really wanted to get on the honours board at Lord's," Holder said. "We were scheduled to play there but then due to COVID they shuffled it around," he added of a series where the bio-secure grounds of the Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford, the venue for the last two Tests, are being used instead. "One of the things I have always strived to do is to score a hundred in England and get a five-wicket haul. I've ticked one box, now it's time to knuckle down and get a hundred." England opted to leave out veteran paceman Stuart Broad and deploy fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood together for the first time in a Test. But although both Archer and Wood topped speeds of 90 mph, it was James Anderson -- England's all-time most successful Test bowler -- who took the lone wicket of John Campbell. "I think they are on top," said Wood of the West Indies. "They have done really well today, bowled really well, showed us the way to go." But Wood said the fact West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel took 4-62 meant he didn't have to cut his pace. "Gabriel got four wickets and he bowls quick, so that doesn't mean me and Jofra need to bowl slower."

Windies skipper Holder says he has more to do after six-wicket England haul

<p>While international cricket has resumed with the three-match Test series between England and West Indies, there is still unclarity surrounding the much-talked-about <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020</a>. While the Asia Cup 2020 has been officially postponed, the T20 World Cup is on the verge of postponement amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, the question remains what happens to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">IPL</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per a report, some of the franchises are growing frustrated due to lack of clarity while losing hope for a full-fledged season of IPL 2020. And many of them, as per the report, feels that IPL 2020 has now started to look impossible.<br />
One of the IPL franchise CEO mulled over the lack of clarity as he said that it has started to hurt the interest of franchises, players and the sponsors.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gutted-broad-sought-future-reassurance-after-southampton-snub-312358" hreflang="en">'Gutted' Broad sought future reassurance after Southampton snub</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>We are still unsure about IPL season this year: CEO of one IPL franchise</strong></h2>

<p>“We are still unsure about IPL season this year. Our foreign players have been sending messages for clarity on the season but like everyone else, at this stage, we don’t have any answers. BCCI has been updating us, but with each passing day we are losing hope now on IPL 2020.”, said Chief Executive Officer of one of the IPL franchise to InsideSport.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/windies-skipper-holder-says-he-has-more-to-do-after-six-wicket-england-haul-312194" hreflang="en">Windies skipper Holder says he has more to do after six-wicket England haul</a></strong></p>

<p>Another major issue for the franchises are the reduction in commercial incomes and that has led to some of the sponsors becoming jittery. One of the officials from a Southern India-based franchise said that one of their jersey sponsors have moved out and due to the uncertainty, they can’t approach other sponsors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Sponsors are really jittery at this stage, they have now started losing patience. They also want to negotiate on the previous deals. One of our Jersey sponsors also has moved out. We cannot go to the market and speak to the new sponsor as the IPL window is yet to be finalized. We want IPL 2020 to happen but it’s not looking too good at this stage”, said one of the top official representing Southern India based IPL franchise.</p>

<p>While the speculation is rife that the BCCI is looking at the September-November window for the IPL, the venues and fixtures are officially yet to be decided.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


While international cricket has resumed with the three-match Test series between England and West Indies, there is still unclarity surrounding the much-talked-about Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.

While international cricket has resumed with the three-match Test series between England and West Indies, there is still unclarity surrounding the much-talked-about Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. While the Asia Cup 2020 has been officially postponed, the T20 World Cup is on the verge of postponement amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, the question remains what happens to the IPL. As per a report, some of the franchises are growing frustrated due to lack of clarity while losing hope for a full-fledged season of IPL 2020. And many of them, as per the report, feels that IPL 2020 has now started to look impossible. One of the IPL franchise CEO mulled over the lack of clarity as he said that it has started to hurt the interest of franchises, players and the sponsors. ALSO READ: 'Gutted' Broad sought future reassurance after Southampton snub We are still unsure about IPL season this year: CEO of one IPL franchise “We are still unsure about IPL season this year. Our foreign players have been sending messages for clarity on the season but like everyone else, at this stage, we don’t have any answers. BCCI has been updating us, but with each passing day we are losing hope now on IPL 2020.”, said Chief Executive Officer of one of the IPL franchise to InsideSport. ALSO READ: Windies skipper Holder says he has more to do after six-wicket England haul Another major issue for the franchises are the reduction in commercial incomes and that has led to some of the sponsors becoming jittery. One of the officials from a Southern India-based franchise said that one of their jersey sponsors have moved out and due to the uncertainty, they can’t approach other sponsors. “Sponsors are really jittery at this stage, they have now started losing patience. They also want to negotiate on the previous deals. One of our Jersey sponsors also has moved out. We cannot go to the market and speak to the new sponsor as the IPL window is yet to be finalized. We want IPL 2020 to happen but it’s not looking too good at this stage”, said one of the top official representing Southern India based IPL franchise. While the speculation is rife that the BCCI is looking at the September-November window for the IPL, the venues and fixtures are officially yet to be decided.

'We are still unsure': Few franchises 'losing hope' of IPL 2020

<p>An “angry and gutted” Stuart Broad sought reassurance about his England future after being dropped for the ongoing series opener against West Indies, the 34-year-old quick said on Friday.</p>

<p>England’s decision to go with James Anderson, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood for the first test in Southampton snapped Broad’s run of 51 consecutive home tests.</p>

<p>“I’m not a particularly emotional person but I’ve found the last couple of days quite tough,” the right-arm paceman told Sky Sports.</p>

<p>“To say I’m disappointed would be an understatement: you get disappointed if you drop your phone and break your screen.</p>

<p>“I’ve been frustrated, angry and gutted - because it’s quite a hard decision to understand.</p>

<p>“I’ve probably bowled the best I’ve ever bowled in the last couple of years. I felt like it was my shirt having been in the team through the Ashes and going to South Africa and winning there.”</p>

<p>Broad said stand-in skipper Ben Stokes had explained his omission for the first match of the three-test series against West Indies.</p>

<p>“Stokesy told me just that they’re going with extra pace in these conditions,” said Broad.</p>

<p>“I wanted clarifications on the future going forward and I was given pretty positive feedback going forward.</p>

<p>“I spoke to (national selector) Ed Smith last night and he said he’s involved in picking the 13 and this was picked purely for this pitch.”</p>

<p>Broad acknowledged competition was intense for a place in the pace department.</p>

<p>“We’re in quite a unique position this summer: very rarely do you get all your bowlers fit like we’ve got at the minute and all your bowlers ready to go,” he said.</p>

<p>“I don’t think I’ve got anything to prove - England know what I can do, the selectors know what I can do - and when I get that opportunity again you can bet I’ll be on the money.”</p>


An “angry and gutted” Stuart Broad sought reassurance about his England future after being dropped for the ongoing series opener against West Indies, the 34-year-old quick said on Friday.

An “angry and gutted” Stuart Broad sought reassurance about his England future after being dropped for the ongoing series opener against West Indies, the 34-year-old quick said on Friday. England’s decision to go with James Anderson, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood for the first test in Southampton snapped Broad’s run of 51 consecutive home tests. “I’m not a particularly emotional person but I’ve found the last couple of days quite tough,” the right-arm paceman told Sky Sports. “To say I’m disappointed would be an understatement: you get disappointed if you drop your phone and break your screen. “I’ve been frustrated, angry and gutted - because it’s quite a hard decision to understand. “I’ve probably bowled the best I’ve ever bowled in the last couple of years. I felt like it was my shirt having been in the team through the Ashes and going to South Africa and winning there.” Broad said stand-in skipper Ben Stokes had explained his omission for the first match of the three-test series against West Indies. “Stokesy told me just that they’re going with extra pace in these conditions,” said Broad. “I wanted clarifications on the future going forward and I was given pretty positive feedback going forward. “I spoke to (national selector) Ed Smith last night and he said he’s involved in picking the 13 and this was picked purely for this pitch.” Broad acknowledged competition was intense for a place in the pace department. “We’re in quite a unique position this summer: very rarely do you get all your bowlers fit like we’ve got at the minute and all your bowlers ready to go,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve got anything to prove - England know what I can do, the selectors know what I can do - and when I get that opportunity again you can bet I’ll be on the money.”

'Gutted' Broad sought future reassurance after Southampton snub

<p>New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has dismissed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/new-zealand-offers-to-host-ipl-after-uae-and-sri-lanka-confirms-bcci-official-311116">reports stating</a> that it has offered to host the postponed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL)</a> 2020, terming it as “speculation”. NZC spokesperson Richard Boock said that the board has not expressed any interest to host the IPL nor they have been approached to do so.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 13th edition of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">IPL</a> was to be held in March but was postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19 pandemic. Boock’s statement comes after a BCCI official said that New Zealand have joined the UAE and Sri Lanka in the race to host IPL 2020 given the money-spinning tournament is shifted abroad due to rising cases of coronavirus in India.</p>

<h2>The report is simply speculation: New Zealand Cricket spokesperson on hosting IPL 2020</h2>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/interview-i-want-to-leave-a-legacy-and-set-fresh-benchmarks-sreesanth-311099" hreflang="en">Interview | I want to leave a legacy and set fresh benchmarks: Sreesanth</a></strong></p>

<p>"The report is simply speculation. We have not offered to host the IPL nor have we had an approach to do so," NZC spokesperson Boock was quoted as saying by Radio New Zealand.</p>

<p>The BCCI is eyeing a September-November window to host IPL 2020 in place of the T20 World Cup, which is set to be postponed due to growing cases of the dreaded virus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It will not be the first time the IPL is taken out of India as the 2009 edition was hosted by South Africa because of general elections in India, whereas the 2014 edition was partially hosted by the UAE.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/questions-will-be-raised-if-ipl-2020-happens-but-t20-world-cup-is-postponed-inzamam-ul-haq-311059" hreflang="en">Questions will be raised if IPL 2020 happens but T20 World Cup is postponed: Inzamam-ul-Haq</a></strong></p>

<p>As per reports, the T20 World Cup is all set to be postponed when ICC officials meet on Friday (July 10) to discuss the showpiece tournament. The tournament, which was scheduled to be hosted by Australia in October-November, may get pushed back to 2022 as India are to host the 2021 edition with the 50-over World Cup in 2023 also set to be played in India.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has dismissed reports stating that it has offered to host the postponed Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, terming it as “speculation”. NZC spokesperson Richard Boock said that the board has not expressed any interest to host the IPL nor they have been approached to do so.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has dismissed reports stating that it has offered to host the postponed Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, terming it as “speculation”. NZC spokesperson Richard Boock said that the board has not expressed any interest to host the IPL nor they have been approached to do so. The 13th edition of the IPL was to be held in March but was postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19 pandemic. Boock’s statement comes after a BCCI official said that New Zealand have joined the UAE and Sri Lanka in the race to host IPL 2020 given the money-spinning tournament is shifted abroad due to rising cases of coronavirus in India. The report is simply speculation: New Zealand Cricket spokesperson on hosting IPL 2020 ALSO READ: Interview | I want to leave a legacy and set fresh benchmarks: Sreesanth "The report is simply speculation. We have not offered to host the IPL nor have we had an approach to do so," NZC spokesperson Boock was quoted as saying by Radio New Zealand. The BCCI is eyeing a September-November window to host IPL 2020 in place of the T20 World Cup, which is set to be postponed due to growing cases of the dreaded virus. It will not be the first time the IPL is taken out of India as the 2009 edition was hosted by South Africa because of general elections in India, whereas the 2014 edition was partially hosted by the UAE. ALSO READ: Questions will be raised if IPL 2020 happens but T20 World Cup is postponed: Inzamam-ul-Haq As per reports, the T20 World Cup is all set to be postponed when ICC officials meet on Friday (July 10) to discuss the showpiece tournament. The tournament, which was scheduled to be hosted by Australia in October-November, may get pushed back to 2022 as India are to host the 2021 edition with the 50-over World Cup in 2023 also set to be played in India.

New Zealand offering to host IPL 2020 is speculation: NZC spokesperson

<p>The BCCI is all set to part ways with its chief executive officer Rahul Johri, whose long-pending resignation was accepted on Thursday.</p>

<p>While the top bosses in the BCCI remained tight-lipped about the development, a senior official in the know of things told PTI that they have decided to accept his resignation letter sent on December 27.</p>

<p>"Rahul Johri's resignation has been&nbsp;accepted. He was earlier given an extension till April 30 but this time it has been accepted," a BCCI veteran told PTI on the condition of anonymity.</p>

<p>It could not be ascertained why the BCCI suddenly decided to accept his resignation.</p>

<p>Johri, who joined the BCCI in 2016, had earlier put in his papers after the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) had made way for the Sourav Ganguly-led set-up to run the world's richest cricket board.</p>

<p>He was then asked to continue till the end of his contract, which is due to expire in 2021.</p>

<p>However, once the BCCI got back its administration, Johri was increasingly marginalized with his domain of work, including matters related to ICC, being handled by secretary Jay Shah.</p>


The BCCI is all set to part ways with its chief executive officer Rahul Johri, whose long-pending resignation was accepted on Thursday. While the top bosses in the BCCI remained tight-lipped about the development, a senior official in the know of things told PTI that they have decided to accept his resignation letter sent on December 27.

The BCCI is all set to part ways with its chief executive officer Rahul Johri, whose long-pending resignation was accepted on Thursday. While the top bosses in the BCCI remained tight-lipped about the development, a senior official in the know of things told PTI that they have decided to accept his resignation letter sent on December 27. "Rahul Johri's resignation has been accepted. He was earlier given an extension till April 30 but this time it has been accepted," a BCCI veteran told PTI on the condition of anonymity. It could not be ascertained why the BCCI suddenly decided to accept his resignation. Johri, who joined the BCCI in 2016, had earlier put in his papers after the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) had made way for the Sourav Ganguly-led set-up to run the world's richest cricket board. He was then asked to continue till the end of his contract, which is due to expire in 2021. However, once the BCCI got back its administration, Johri was increasingly marginalized with his domain of work, including matters related to ICC, being handled by secretary Jay Shah.

BCCI CEO Rahul Johri's resignation accepted

<p>Former England captain Nasser Hussain wants the ICC to revisit its regulations related to bad light which has affected Test matches over the years.</p>

<p>The officials on Wednesday were forced to call off the opening day of the first Test between England and the West Indies due to bad light and rain which saw only 17.4 overs being bowled.</p>

<p>ICC leaves it "solely for the umpires together to decide" whether bad light mean that "it would be dangerous or unreasonable for play to take place."</p>

<p>Hussain, who has scored 5764 runs in 96 Tests for England, feels perhaps the umpires can keep the players on the ground longer even if light might be considered poor.</p>

<p>"It's one thing you have to try and explain to somebody new to the game. You spend a lot of money on lights, turn the lights on and go off for light. On this occasion, they've gone off for rain. It is something eventually that I'd like the ICC to change really," Hussain said on Sky Sports Cricket.</p>

<p>"They might say 'You're a retired player' and (talk about) stats, but look at that, the lights are on. If it wasn't raining now, maybe the players could buy into the fact that the game needs to keep selling itself and if you can stay on, do stay on."</p>

<p>The bad light laws have come for criticism in the past.</p>

<p>In 2013 Ashes series, chasing a target of 227, England required 21 off 24 balls with five wickets in hand when play was halted by the umpires due to bad light.</p>

<p>The bad light laws were again brought into question during the India vs Australia match at SCG in January last year when umpires called off play on the fourth day after ruling that light was poor to continue.</p>


Former England captain Nasser Hussain wants the ICC to revisit its regulations related to bad light which has affected Test matches over the years. The officials on Wednesday were forced to call off the opening day of the first Test between England and the West Indies due to bad light and rain which saw only 17.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain wants the ICC to revisit its regulations related to bad light which has affected Test matches over the years. The officials on Wednesday were forced to call off the opening day of the first Test between England and the West Indies due to bad light and rain which saw only 17.4 overs being bowled. ICC leaves it "solely for the umpires together to decide" whether bad light mean that "it would be dangerous or unreasonable for play to take place." Hussain, who has scored 5764 runs in 96 Tests for England, feels perhaps the umpires can keep the players on the ground longer even if light might be considered poor. "It's one thing you have to try and explain to somebody new to the game. You spend a lot of money on lights, turn the lights on and go off for light. On this occasion, they've gone off for rain. It is something eventually that I'd like the ICC to change really," Hussain said on Sky Sports Cricket. "They might say 'You're a retired player' and (talk about) stats, but look at that, the lights are on. If it wasn't raining now, maybe the players could buy into the fact that the game needs to keep selling itself and if you can stay on, do stay on." The bad light laws have come for criticism in the past. In 2013 Ashes series, chasing a target of 227, England required 21 off 24 balls with five wickets in hand when play was halted by the umpires due to bad light. The bad light laws were again brought into question during the India vs Australia match at SCG in January last year when umpires called off play on the fourth day after ruling that light was poor to continue.

Nasser Hussain wants ICC to change its 'bad light' laws

<p>Real Betis have appointed former Real Madrid and Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini as their manager from next season on a three-year contract, the La Liga side said on Thursday.</p>

<p>Pellegrini, who won the Premier League with City in 2013-14 as well as two League Cups, returns to Spain where he had successful spells with Villarreal and Malaga.</p>

<p>The Chilean, 66, led Villarreal to the 2006 Champions League semi-finals and led Malaga into Europe’s premier club competition for the first time in 2012, leading them to the quarter-finals a year later.</p>

<p>"Real Betis has signed Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini to take up the reins of the first team next season. The contract between Pellegrini and the club is until June 2023," the club said in a statement.</p>

<p>Pellegrini replaces coach Rubi who was sacked last month after Betis failed to win any of the first three matches in their return to action. Sporting director Alexis Trujillo was placed in interim charge until the end of the season.</p>

<p>Pellegrini’s last job was with Premier League side West Ham United, who sacked him in December after a string of poor results.</p>

<p>One of Spain’s best-supported clubs with more than 50,000 season ticket holders, Betis are currently 13th in the league with 41 points, 12 points above the relegation zone.</p>


Real Betis have appointed former Real Madrid and Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini as their manager from next season on a three-year contract, the La Liga side said on Thursday.

Real Betis have appointed former Real Madrid and Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini as their manager from next season on a three-year contract, the La Liga side said on Thursday. Pellegrini, who won the Premier League with City in 2013-14 as well as two League Cups, returns to Spain where he had successful spells with Villarreal and Malaga. The Chilean, 66, led Villarreal to the 2006 Champions League semi-finals and led Malaga into Europe’s premier club competition for the first time in 2012, leading them to the quarter-finals a year later. "Real Betis has signed Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini to take up the reins of the first team next season. The contract between Pellegrini and the club is until June 2023," the club said in a statement. Pellegrini replaces coach Rubi who was sacked last month after Betis failed to win any of the first three matches in their return to action. Sporting director Alexis Trujillo was placed in interim charge until the end of the season. Pellegrini’s last job was with Premier League side West Ham United, who sacked him in December after a string of poor results. One of Spain’s best-supported clubs with more than 50,000 season ticket holders, Betis are currently 13th in the league with 41 points, 12 points above the relegation zone.

Manuel Pellegrini named new Real Betis manager on three-year deal

<p>The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Thursday officially announced the postponement of the much-talked-about Asia Cup 2020, which was scheduled to be held in September 2020, due to travel restrictions, country-specific quarantine requirements and health risks amid COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The announcement by ACC comes after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday said that the tournament stands cancelled. Clearing every doubt, ACC officially announced the postponement of the Asia Cup 2020 on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ACC, in a press release, said that conducting the event in a responsible manner remains the topmost priority of the ACC with the Board being optimistic of holding the event in 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-2020-stands-cancelled-confirms-bcci-president-sourav-ganguly-311703" hreflang="en">Asia Cup 2020 stands cancelled, confirms BCCI president Sourav Ganguly</a></strong></p>

<p>Notably, the PCB has exchanged hosting rights for the tournament with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wit the rescheduled Asia Cup now expected to be held in June 2021 in Sri Lanka with Pakistan hosting the event in 2022.</p>

<h2><strong>Asian Cricket Council’s statement on Asia Cup 2020:</strong></h2>

<p>"The Executive Board of the ACC has met on multiple occasions to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Asia Cup tournament scheduled in September 2020. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"From the onset, the Board was keen on organising the tournament as per the original schedule. However, travel restrictions, country-specific quarantine requirements, fundamental health risks and social distancing mandates have posed as substantial challenges to the holding of the Asia Cup. Above all, the risks related to health and safety of participating players, support staff, commercial partners, fans and the cricketing community were deemed to be significant. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"Accordingly, the Board, after careful consideration of all the above factors, has determined that the Asia Cup 2020 be postponed. Conducting the event in a responsible manner remains the priority of the ACC and the Board is hopeful that the tournament will be held in 2021. The ACC is currently working towards securing June 2021 as a suitable window for the same.</p>

<p>"It may also be noted that the hosts for the Asia Cup 2020, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has exchanged hosting rights for the tournament with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Through this arrangement, the SLC will now host the rescheduled Asia Cup expected in June 2021 while the PCB will host the Asia Cup 2022."<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Thursday officially announced the postponement of the much-talked-about Asia Cup 2020, which was scheduled to be held in September 2020, due to travel restrictions, country-specific quarantine requirements and health risks amid COVID-19 pandemic.

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Thursday officially announced the postponement of the much-talked-about Asia Cup 2020, which was scheduled to be held in September 2020, due to travel restrictions, country-specific quarantine requirements and health risks amid COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement by ACC comes after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday said that the tournament stands cancelled. Clearing every doubt, ACC officially announced the postponement of the Asia Cup 2020 on Thursday. ACC, in a press release, said that conducting the event in a responsible manner remains the topmost priority of the ACC with the Board being optimistic of holding the event in 2021. ALSO READ: Asia Cup 2020 stands cancelled, confirms BCCI president Sourav Ganguly Notably, the PCB has exchanged hosting rights for the tournament with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wit the rescheduled Asia Cup now expected to be held in June 2021 in Sri Lanka with Pakistan hosting the event in 2022. Asian Cricket Council’s statement on Asia Cup 2020: "The Executive Board of the ACC has met on multiple occasions to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Asia Cup tournament scheduled in September 2020. "From the onset, the Board was keen on organising the tournament as per the original schedule. However, travel restrictions, country-specific quarantine requirements, fundamental health risks and social distancing mandates have posed as substantial challenges to the holding of the Asia Cup. Above all, the risks related to health and safety of participating players, support staff, commercial partners, fans and the cricketing community were deemed to be significant. "Accordingly, the Board, after careful consideration of all the above factors, has determined that the Asia Cup 2020 be postponed. Conducting the event in a responsible manner remains the priority of the ACC and the Board is hopeful that the tournament will be held in 2021. The ACC is currently working towards securing June 2021 as a suitable window for the same. "It may also be noted that the hosts for the Asia Cup 2020, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has exchanged hosting rights for the tournament with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Through this arrangement, the SLC will now host the rescheduled Asia Cup expected in June 2021 while the PCB will host the Asia Cup 2022."

Official: Asia Cup 2020 postponed, Sri Lanka to host tournament in 2021

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">England National Cricket Selectors have named a 24-strong ‘behind-closed-doors training group’ who will go into camp at the Ageas Bowl on Thursday 16 July ahead of the three-match ODI series against Ireland starting on Thursday 30 July.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">The group, along with a separate white-ball management team, will live, prepare and train on-site at the Ageas Bowl. Two intra-group warm-up matches will take place on 21 July and 24 July. A final England squad for the Ireland series, plus a number of reserves, will be named at a later date.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)"><strong>IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/england-west-indies-take-a-knee-in-first-test-as-cricket-returns-in-slightly-different-look-311689">England, West Indies take a knee in first Test as cricket returns in slightly different look</a></strong></p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)"><strong data-ogsc="rgb(34, 34, 34)">England's Behind-Closed-Doors ODI Training Group:</strong></p>

<p>Eoin Morgan (captain),&nbsp;Moeen Ali,&nbsp;Jonathan Bairstow,&nbsp;Tom Banton,&nbsp;Sam Billings,&nbsp;Henry Brookes,&nbsp;Brydon Carse,&nbsp;Tom Curran,&nbsp;Liam Dawson,&nbsp;Ben Duckett,&nbsp;Laurie Evans,&nbsp;Richard Gleeson,&nbsp;Lewis Gregory,&nbsp;Sam Hain&nbsp;(Warwickshire),&nbsp;Tom Helm,&nbsp;Liam Livingstone,&nbsp;Saqib Mahmood,&nbsp;Matthew Parkinson,&nbsp;Adil Rashid,&nbsp;Jason Roy,&nbsp;Phil Salt,&nbsp;Reece Topley,&nbsp;James Vince,&nbsp;David Willey.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Pat Brown (back), Chris Jordan (right arm) and Dawid Malan (right calf) were not considered for selection due to injury.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Commenting on the selection of the group, National Selector Ed Smith, said:</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">“Even with several multi-format players unavailable for the Ireland ODIs due to their Test commitments, there is real depth to England’s white ball-playing talent.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">“Again, everyone at England cricket would like to thank all the county coaches and support staff who have helped these players in the lead up to the behind-closed-doors training camp.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)"><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-fans-celebrate-the-return-of-international-cricket-engvwi-on-twitter-311965" hreflang="en">Cricket fans celebrate the return of international cricket #ENGvWI on Twitter</a></strong></p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">“We now look forward to hosting Ireland and continuing to develop our white-ball strength in depth.”</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">The England and Wales Cricket Board have also confirmed the white-ball coaching team for the ODI series against Ireland.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">England Assistant Coach Paul Collingwood will assume the Head Coach role for the three-match series. He will be supported by Marcus Trescothick as batting coach, who has been seconded from Somerset. England Young Lions Coach Jon Lewis will be the Pace Bowling Coach and is supported by Neil Killeen from Durham.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Former Durham Head Coach and former Sri Lanka Batting Coach Jon Lewis will join the coaching set-up as Batting Coach working alongside Trescothick. Former South African left-arm spinner Claude Henderson has been appointed Spin Bowling Coach and former Essex wicketkeeper James Foster will take responsibility for the wicketkeepers.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">ECB Performance Director, Mo Bobat, added: “As was the case with our Test preparations, the support that we have received from counties during our ODI return to training phase has been fantastic. Running concurrent training programmes across formats for a large pool of players has been a novel challenge and we are very appreciative of the commitment that counties have shown towards the national cause, particularly as they have been managing their own return to training.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">“Paul’s (Collingwood) coaching team has an exciting feel to it with a number of coaches possessing rich international experience. Marcus (Trescothick) spent time with our England white-ball squads during the winter and Jon (Lewis) brings with him World Cup experience from his stint as Sri Lanka’s batting coach. Similarly, Claude (Henderson) has recently worked with the South African national team and brings real spin bowling expertise. From a pace bowling perspective, our players will be in safe hands with both Jon (Lewis) and Neil (Killeen), who over the years have fulfilled a number of important roles within our international pathway, working with many of the players in our senior sides today. James (Foster) completes the set and with his extensive experience of franchise competitions, will add significant value.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">“We’re grateful where counties have released their coaches to join us behind closed doors and with Test cricket now underway, we’re all looking forward to progressing our preparations for the return of ODI cricket.”</p>

<h2 data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)"><strong data-ogsc="rgb(34, 34, 34)">England vs Ireland - ODI Series: Full Schedule</strong></h2>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">1st ODI v Ireland: Thursday 30 July at The Ageas Bowl&nbsp;</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">2nd ODI v Ireland: Saturday 1 August at The Ageas Bowl&nbsp;</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">3rd ODI v Ireland: Tuesday 4 August at The Ageas Bowl&nbsp;</p>


England National Cricket Selectors have named a 24-strong ‘behind-closed-doors training group’ who will go into camp at the Ageas Bowl on Thursday 16 July ahead of the three-match ODI series against Ireland starting on Thursday 30 July.

England National Cricket Selectors have named a 24-strong ‘behind-closed-doors training group’ who will go into camp at the Ageas Bowl on Thursday 16 July ahead of the three-match ODI series against Ireland starting on Thursday 30 July. The group, along with a separate white-ball management team, will live, prepare and train on-site at the Ageas Bowl. Two intra-group warm-up matches will take place on 21 July and 24 July. A final England squad for the Ireland series, plus a number of reserves, will be named at a later date. IN PICS | England, West Indies take a knee in first Test as cricket returns in slightly different look England's Behind-Closed-Doors ODI Training Group: Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Henry Brookes, Brydon Carse, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Laurie Evans, Richard Gleeson, Lewis Gregory, Sam Hain (Warwickshire), Tom Helm, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, James Vince, David Willey. Pat Brown (back), Chris Jordan (right arm) and Dawid Malan (right calf) were not considered for selection due to injury. Commenting on the selection of the group, National Selector Ed Smith, said: “Even with several multi-format players unavailable for the Ireland ODIs due to their Test commitments, there is real depth to England’s white ball-playing talent. “Again, everyone at England cricket would like to thank all the county coaches and support staff who have helped these players in the lead up to the behind-closed-doors training camp. ALSO READ: Cricket fans celebrate the return of international cricket #ENGvWI on Twitter “We now look forward to hosting Ireland and continuing to develop our white-ball strength in depth.” The England and Wales Cricket Board have also confirmed the white-ball coaching team for the ODI series against Ireland. England Assistant Coach Paul Collingwood will assume the Head Coach role for the three-match series. He will be supported by Marcus Trescothick as batting coach, who has been seconded from Somerset. England Young Lions Coach Jon Lewis will be the Pace Bowling Coach and is supported by Neil Killeen from Durham. Former Durham Head Coach and former Sri Lanka Batting Coach Jon Lewis will join the coaching set-up as Batting Coach working alongside Trescothick. Former South African left-arm spinner Claude Henderson has been appointed Spin Bowling Coach and former Essex wicketkeeper James Foster will take responsibility for the wicketkeepers. ECB Performance Director, Mo Bobat, added: “As was the case with our Test preparations, the support that we have received from counties during our ODI return to training phase has been fantastic. Running concurrent training programmes across formats for a large pool of players has been a novel challenge and we are very appreciative of the commitment that counties have shown towards the national cause, particularly as they have been managing their own return to training. “Paul’s (Collingwood) coaching team has an exciting feel to it with a number of coaches possessing rich international experience. Marcus (Trescothick) spent time with our England white-ball squads during the winter and Jon (Lewis) brings with him World Cup experience from his stint as Sri Lanka’s batting coach. Similarly, Claude (Henderson) has recently worked with the South African national team and brings real spin bowling expertise. From a pace bowling perspective, our players will be in safe hands with both Jon (Lewis) and Neil (Killeen), who over the years have fulfilled a number of important roles within our international pathway, working with many of the players in our senior sides today. James (Foster) completes the set and with his extensive experience of franchise competitions, will add significant value. “We’re grateful where counties have released their coaches to join us behind closed doors and with Test cricket now underway, we’re all looking forward to progressing our preparations for the return of ODI cricket.” England vs Ireland - ODI Series: Full Schedule 1st ODI v Ireland: Thursday 30 July at The Ageas Bowl 2nd ODI v Ireland: Saturday 1 August at The Ageas Bowl 3rd ODI v Ireland: Tuesday 4 August at The Ageas Bowl

ENG vs IRE: England announces 24-man training group for ODI series against Ireland

<p>Former West Indies cricketer turned commentator Michael Holding didn’t hold back his words as he delivered a powerful message against racism on Wednesday while saying the black race has been “dehumanized” and its accomplishment wiped off from a history “written by people who do them harm”.</p>

<p>Holding, who wishes to retire from the commentary box at the end of next year, spoke about racism before the start of the much-awaited England vs West Indies first Test in Southampton. The entire cricketing world tuned in to witness international cricket come back to life after 117 days and it was a perfect opportunity to send a strong message against racism, which Holding and co-commentator and former England captain Nasser Hussain did.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"...when I say education I mean going back in history. What people need to understand, these things stem from hundred years ago," the former pace great said on Sky Sports.</p>

<p><strong>IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/england-west-indies-take-a-knee-in-first-test-as-cricket-returns-in-slightly-different-look-311689" hreflang="en">England, West Indies take a knee in first Test as cricket returns in slightly different look</a></strong></p>

<p>"The dehumanization of the black race is where it started and people will tell you that's a long time ago, get over it. No, you don't get over things like that and the society has not gotten over something like that," he said.</p>

<p>While players, support staff, umpires took a knee before the start of Day 1’ play, everyone including the commentators and broadcast team had BLM logos engraved on their shirts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Holding further said that people have been brainwashed over the years by an education system that portrayed black race negatively while refusing to credit them for contributing to humanity’s advancement.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="West Indies take a knee" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d71df332-451c-482f-ab16-f836fdad1626" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1UU006.jpg" /></p>

<p>"History is written by the conqueror, not by those who are conquered, history is written by people who do them harm, not by those who get harmed...We are being brainwashed, not just black people, white people are being brainwashed in different ways," he said.</p>

<p>"Think about religion ... Look at Jesus Christ, the image that they give of him: pale skin, blond hair, blue eyes. Where Jesus came from, who in that part of the world looks that way but again this is brainwashing to show this is what perfection is.</p>

<p>"If you look at the plays of those days, Judas who betrayed Jesus, he is a black man, again brainwashing people into thinking he is a black man, he is the bad man."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/new-zealand-offering-to-host-ipl-2020-is-speculation-nzc-spokesperson-311880" hreflang="en">New Zealand offering to host IPL 2020 is speculation: NZC spokesperson</a></strong></p>

<p>While citing the recent incident where a white woman called the police on a black bird-watcher in New York, Holding said her actions were based on established perception.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"...by the time he (the black man) proves he is not guilty, he might be dead. she had that thing in her mind from day one. That's why she said and did what she did," Holding said.</p>

<p>"They keep telling me there is nothing called white privilege, give me a break, I haven't seen white people go into a store and being followed. A black man walks in, and someone is following him everywhere he goes, that is basic white privilege," he explained.</p>

<p>"Whether that white person ends up robbing the place or not, he is not being thought in that way, and things like that have to change," he asserted.</p>

<p>Talking about how the achievements of black people have been ignored over the years, Holding said: "...everybody knows Thomas Edison invented the light bulb with a paper filament, can you tell me who invented the filament that makes these lights shine throughout? Nobody knows because he was a black man, it was not taught in schools.</p>

<p>"Lewis Latimer invented the carbon filament, who knows that. Everything should be taught. I was never taught anything good about black people and you cannot have a society that is brought up like that, both black and white, that only teach what is convenient."</p>

<p>While the light bulb was discovered by Edison but Latimer invented the carbon filament which was used to create longer-lasting bulbs.</p>

<p>Former England skipper Naseer Hussain, who was also present during the discussion on racism, said it's been too long that people have been looking away.</p>

<p>"I sat there six weeks ago and I watched a black man being killed in front of my eyes. My natural reaction is to look away ... the next time, it came on, because of the protest, I forced myself to watch, because I felt something inside me tell that Naseer you have been looking away for too long," he said.</p>

<p>"We all have been looking away for too long. The players should be proud of wearing these badges but really, it's 2020 and we have to wear a badge saying black lives matter, really?"</p>

<p>Asked if he had ever faced racism in his life, Hussain said: "Of course, I have (faced racism), with my surname growing up ... with an Indian dad and an English mom, probably getting a bit from both sides."</p>

<p>"While fielding in the boundary in various parts of the world and people say 'hey Saddam'," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Inputs from PTI)</em></p>


Former West Indies cricketer turned commentator Michael Holding didn’t hold back his words as he delivered a powerful message against racism on Wednesday while saying the black race has been “dehumanized” and its accomplishment wiped off from a history “written by people who do them harm”.

Former West Indies cricketer turned commentator Michael Holding didn’t hold back his words as he delivered a powerful message against racism on Wednesday while saying the black race has been “dehumanized” and its accomplishment wiped off from a history “written by people who do them harm”. Holding, who wishes to retire from the commentary box at the end of next year, spoke about racism before the start of the much-awaited England vs West Indies first Test in Southampton. The entire cricketing world tuned in to witness international cricket come back to life after 117 days and it was a perfect opportunity to send a strong message against racism, which Holding and co-commentator and former England captain Nasser Hussain did. "...when I say education I mean going back in history. What people need to understand, these things stem from hundred years ago," the former pace great said on Sky Sports. IN PICS | England, West Indies take a knee in first Test as cricket returns in slightly different look "The dehumanization of the black race is where it started and people will tell you that's a long time ago, get over it. No, you don't get over things like that and the society has not gotten over something like that," he said. While players, support staff, umpires took a knee before the start of Day 1’ play, everyone including the commentators and broadcast team had BLM logos engraved on their shirts. Holding further said that people have been brainwashed over the years by an education system that portrayed black race negatively while refusing to credit them for contributing to humanity’s advancement. "History is written by the conqueror, not by those who are conquered, history is written by people who do them harm, not by those who get harmed...We are being brainwashed, not just black people, white people are being brainwashed in different ways," he said. "Think about religion ... Look at Jesus Christ, the image that they give of him: pale skin, blond hair, blue eyes. Where Jesus came from, who in that part of the world looks that way but again this is brainwashing to show this is what perfection is. "If you look at the plays of those days, Judas who betrayed Jesus, he is a black man, again brainwashing people into thinking he is a black man, he is the bad man." ALSO READ: New Zealand offering to host IPL 2020 is speculation: NZC spokesperson While citing the recent incident where a white woman called the police on a black bird-watcher in New York, Holding said her actions were based on established perception. "...by the time he (the black man) proves he is not guilty, he might be dead. she had that thing in her mind from day one. That's why she said and did what she did," Holding said. "They keep telling me there is nothing called white privilege, give me a break, I haven't seen white people go into a store and being followed. A black man walks in, and someone is following him everywhere he goes, that is basic white privilege," he explained. "Whether that white person ends up robbing the place or not, he is not being thought in that way, and things like that have to change," he asserted. Talking about how the achievements of black people have been ignored over the years, Holding said: "...everybody knows Thomas Edison invented the light bulb with a paper filament, can you tell me who invented the filament that makes these lights shine throughout? Nobody knows because he was a black man, it was not taught in schools. "Lewis Latimer invented the carbon filament, who knows that. Everything should be taught. I was never taught anything good about black people and you cannot have a society that is brought up like that, both black and white, that only teach what is convenient." While the light bulb was discovered by Edison but Latimer invented the carbon filament which was used to create longer-lasting bulbs. Former England skipper Naseer Hussain, who was also present during the discussion on racism, said it's been too long that people have been looking away. "I sat there six weeks ago and I watched a black man being killed in front of my eyes. My natural reaction is to look away ... the next time, it came on, because of the protest, I forced myself to watch, because I felt something inside me tell that Naseer you have been looking away for too long," he said. "We all have been looking away for too long. The players should be proud of wearing these badges but really, it's 2020 and we have to wear a badge saying black lives matter, really?" Asked if he had ever faced racism in his life, Hussain said: "Of course, I have (faced racism), with my surname growing up ... with an Indian dad and an English mom, probably getting a bit from both sides." "While fielding in the boundary in various parts of the world and people say 'hey Saddam'," he added. (Inputs from PTI)

Michael Holding on racism: 'Until we educate the entire human race, racism will not stop'

<p>It was a moment of celebration for cricket fans across the world as they witnessed the return of international cricket after three months. It was clear that the match being played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, United Kingdom, between England and West Indies, was about more than just the game. It was also about the sheer joy of live cricket.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Twitter became the perfect sports companion for cricket fans as it united them, encouraging public conversation and dialogue, in the true spirit of the game.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Welcome back, cricket!<br />
<br />
You've been missed ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/G5HOBL44GE">pic.twitter.com/G5HOBL44GE</a></p>
— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1280102403312963584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>The hashtag #ENGvWI made it to the top of India trends chart as Indian cricketers and fans celebrated the return of cricket. Indian cricketers like Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane,&nbsp;R.Ashwin and many others, shared their joy in Tweets.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-monty-panesar-on-england-vs-west-indies-series-ben-stokes-new-norms-and-more-311445" hreflang="en">Exclusive: Monty Panesar on England vs West Indies series, Ben Stokes, new norms and more</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Cricket is back 😃Positive scenes coming out from UK. So good to finally see some cricket being played. Wishing both teams the best. Can’t wait to be out there myself 🤞 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EngVsWI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EngVsWI</a></p>
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImRo45/status/1280869910860582913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Cricket is BACK! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvWI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvWI</a> <a href="https://t.co/rlL5Qu5CxK">pic.twitter.com/rlL5Qu5CxK</a></p>
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/englandcricket/status/1280923818333212675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">So nice to see that cricket is back!<br />
Good luck to both the teams!<br />
Can’t wait to get back on the field again<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvWI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvWI</a></p>
— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) <a href="https://twitter.com/ajinkyarahane88/status/1280890256644993030?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">“Whatever happens from here on in, cricket will be the winner”<br />
The above statement has been used so many times in the past, today is one day where it will fit in perfectly. Good luck to both the teams. 👍🏻👍🏻 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cricketisback?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cricketisback</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvsWI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvsWI</a></p>
— Ashwin (During Covid 19)🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) <a href="https://twitter.com/ashwinravi99/status/1280877939173842944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Live cricket returns today. Here's hoping for a successful and safe series. And hoping it leads the start of live cricket all over the world with precautions of course. Good luck to both teams. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvWI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvWI</a></p>
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) <a href="https://twitter.com/WasimJaffer14/status/1280757204111560704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Not only cricketers but fans were also left ecstatic by the return of international cricket after 117 days. Fans posted photos from the match, images of Kemar Roach opening the bowling for the West Indies and even Dom Sibley departing for a duck.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Finally , Cricket is Back and Its Trending No.1 in india . Good Riddance from those Racist , Negative &amp; sometimes Paid No.1 trends we have been seeing since past 4 months . Sports is a Healer .<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvWI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvWI</a> <a href="https://t.co/bXE37mbMbq">pic.twitter.com/bXE37mbMbq</a></p>
— Vivek Sharma (@IMViiku) <a href="https://twitter.com/IMViiku/status/1280857783110217733?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We have seen numerous tosses in Cricket, but this one will be surely remembered forever 🙌<br />
<br />
Welcome back, Cricket! ❤<br />
You have always been there in our minds, just missed you at the ground 😍<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvWI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvWI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cricketisback?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cricketisback</a> <a href="https://t.co/0sXOidaeTt">pic.twitter.com/0sXOidaeTt</a></p>
— North Stand Gang - Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) <a href="https://twitter.com/NorthStandGang/status/1280925563440545796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Welcome Back Cricket 😊☺️ we've Missed you 🤗🏏🏏 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvWI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvWI</a> <a href="https://t.co/uTZP18RcYK">pic.twitter.com/uTZP18RcYK</a></p>
— Adil Rasheed🇮🇳 (@imadilr) <a href="https://twitter.com/imadilr/status/1280857965948547072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Even though rain gods played spoilsport on Day 1 of the Southampton Test, fans were jumping in joy as Windies and English players walked onto the Ageas Bowl to start the proceedings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>England on Day 1 lost Sibley for a 10-ball duck before Shannon Gabriel wreaked havoc to the scalp two more on Day 2 - Rory Burns and Joe Denly - as the hosts found themselves in a spot of bother after opting to bat first.&nbsp;</p>


It was a moment of celebration for cricket fans across the world as they witnessed the return of international cricket after three months. It was clear that the match being played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, United Kingdom, between England and West Indies, was about more than just the game.

It was a moment of celebration for cricket fans across the world as they witnessed the return of international cricket after three months. It was clear that the match being played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, United Kingdom, between England and West Indies, was about more than just the game. It was also about the sheer joy of live cricket. Twitter became the perfect sports companion for cricket fans as it united them, encouraging public conversation and dialogue, in the true spirit of the game. Welcome back, cricket! You've been missed ❤️ pic.twitter.com/G5HOBL44GE — ICC (@ICC) July 6, 2020 × The hashtag #ENGvWI made it to the top of India trends chart as Indian cricketers and fans celebrated the return of cricket. Indian cricketers like Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, R.Ashwin and many others, shared their joy in Tweets. ALSO READ: Exclusive: Monty Panesar on England vs West Indies series, Ben Stokes, new norms and more Cricket is back 😃Positive scenes coming out from UK. So good to finally see some cricket being played. Wishing both teams the best. Can’t wait to be out there myself 🤞 #EngVsWI — Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) July 8, 2020 × Cricket is BACK! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏏#ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/rlL5Qu5CxK — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 8, 2020 × So nice to see that cricket is back! Good luck to both the teams! Can’t wait to get back on the field again#ENGvWI — Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) July 8, 2020 × “Whatever happens from here on in, cricket will be the winner” The above statement has been used so many times in the past, today is one day where it will fit in perfectly. Good luck to both the teams. 👍🏻👍🏻 #cricketisback #ENGvsWI — Ashwin (During Covid 19)🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) July 8, 2020 × Live cricket returns today. Here's hoping for a successful and safe series. And hoping it leads the start of live cricket all over the world with precautions of course. Good luck to both teams. #ENGvWI — Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) July 8, 2020 × Not only cricketers but fans were also left ecstatic by the return of international cricket after 117 days. Fans posted photos from the match, images of Kemar Roach opening the bowling for the West Indies and even Dom Sibley departing for a duck. Finally , Cricket is Back and Its Trending No.1 in india . Good Riddance from those Racist , Negative & sometimes Paid No.1 trends we have been seeing since past 4 months . Sports is a Healer .#ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/bXE37mbMbq — Vivek Sharma (@IMViiku) July 8, 2020 × We have seen numerous tosses in Cricket, but this one will be surely remembered forever 🙌 Welcome back, Cricket! ❤ You have always been there in our minds, just missed you at the ground 😍#ENGvWI #cricketisback pic.twitter.com/0sXOidaeTt — North Stand Gang - Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) July 8, 2020 × Welcome Back Cricket 😊☺️ we've Missed you 🤗🏏🏏 #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/uTZP18RcYK — Adil Rasheed🇮🇳 (@imadilr) July 8, 2020 × Even though rain gods played spoilsport on Day 1 of the Southampton Test, fans were jumping in joy as Windies and English players walked onto the Ageas Bowl to start the proceedings. England on Day 1 lost Sibley for a 10-ball duck before Shannon Gabriel wreaked havoc to the scalp two more on Day 2 - Rory Burns and Joe Denly - as the hosts found themselves in a spot of bother after opting to bat first.

Cricket fans celebrate the return of international cricket #ENGvWI on Twitter

<p>South African speedster Lungi Ngidi received some flak from former South Africa cricketers, Boeta Dippenaar and Pat Symcox after he urged the South African cricket team and board to support the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Both Dippenaar and Symcox replied to a Facebook post by Rudi Steyn, who posted an article about Ngidi urging South African cricketers to take a stand on the BLM movement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Steyn, while posting, said: “I believe the Proteas should make a stand against racism, but if they stand up for “black lives matter” while ignoring the way white farmers are daily being “slaughtered” like animals, they have lost my vote.”</p>

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<p>I believe the Proteas should make a stand against racism, but if they stand up for "black lives matter" while ignoring the way white farmers are daily being "slaughtered" like animals, they have lost my vote.</p>
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rudi.steyn.52">Rudi Steyn</a> on&nbsp;<a href="https://developers.facebook.com/rudi.steyn.52/posts/3274880342567207">Tuesday, 7 July 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Dippenaar, who represented South Africa in 38 Tests and 107 ODIs, said “all lives matter” while adding that the Proteas quick should support farmers’ issues in the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I am afraid to say “Black Lives Matter” have become nothing more than leftist political movement,” Dippenaar said. “I would suggest that Lungi Ngidi listens a bit more to likes of Thomas Sowell, Larry Elder, Walter Williams and Milton Friedman.</p>

<p>“All lives matter. If you want me to stand shoulder to shoulder with you Lungi then stand shoulder to shoulder with me with regards to farm attacks.”</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-wi-1st-test-day-2-live-score-and-updates-gabriel-bags-brace-as-denly-departs-england-go-2-down-311909" hreflang="en">ENG vs WI, 1st Test Day 2, Live Score and updates</a></strong></p>

<p>Whereas, Symcox, who played 20 Tests and 80 ODIs for the Proteas, said that Ngidi should stop &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; “trying to get the Proteas involved in his belief”.</p>

<p>“What nonsense is this,” Symcox said. “He must take his own stand if he wishes. Stop trying to get the Proteas involved in his belief. Besides the fact that right now Cricket South Africa should be closed down. A proper dog and pony show with cricket being dragged through the mud daily. Buy popcorn and watch.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Stay strong Lungi Ngidi and stand firm by your beliefs. Many of the current and former South African cricket players will show their true colours one by one. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackLivesMatter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlackLivesMatter</a> <a href="https://t.co/6hiY8XXiPY">pic.twitter.com/6hiY8XXiPY</a></p>
— Blacks in Whites (@BlaqsInCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlaqsInCricket/status/1281103600274604032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>“Now when Ngidi has his next meal perhaps he would rather consider supporting the farmers of South Africa who are under pressure right now. A cause worth supporting.”</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/michael-holding-on-racism-until-we-educate-the-entire-human-race-racism-will-not-stop-311900" hreflang="en">Michael Holding on racism: 'Until we educate the entire human race, racism will not stop'</a></strong></p>

<p>Earlier, Ngidi had expressed the need for the South African cricketers to take a solid stand on Black Lives Matter movement while suggesting South Africa’s painful history with apartheid and racial discrimination made it necessary for the players to take a stand.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“As a nation, we have a past that is very difficult, with racial discrimination, so it’s definitely something we will be addressing as a team and if we are not, it’s something I will bring up,” Ngidi had said during a virtual press conference.</p>

<p>“It’s something that we need to take very seriously and like the rest of the world is doing, make the stand.”</p>

<p>Meanwhile, England and West Indies players, staff and umpires took a knee in support of the BLM movement just before the start of the first Test at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Wednesday.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


South African speedster Lungi Ngidi received some flak from former South Africa cricketers, Boeta Dippenaar and Pat Symcox after he urged the South African cricket team and board to support the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.

South African speedster Lungi Ngidi received some flak from former South Africa cricketers, Boeta Dippenaar and Pat Symcox after he urged the South African cricket team and board to support the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Both Dippenaar and Symcox replied to a Facebook post by Rudi Steyn, who posted an article about Ngidi urging South African cricketers to take a stand on the BLM movement. Steyn, while posting, said: “I believe the Proteas should make a stand against racism, but if they stand up for “black lives matter” while ignoring the way white farmers are daily being “slaughtered” like animals, they have lost my vote.” I believe the Proteas should make a stand against racism, but if they stand up for "black lives matter" while ignoring the way white farmers are daily being "slaughtered" like animals, they have lost my vote. Posted by Rudi Steyn on Tuesday, 7 July 2020 × Dippenaar, who represented South Africa in 38 Tests and 107 ODIs, said “all lives matter” while adding that the Proteas quick should support farmers’ issues in the country. “I am afraid to say “Black Lives Matter” have become nothing more than leftist political movement,” Dippenaar said. “I would suggest that Lungi Ngidi listens a bit more to likes of Thomas Sowell, Larry Elder, Walter Williams and Milton Friedman. “All lives matter. If you want me to stand shoulder to shoulder with you Lungi then stand shoulder to shoulder with me with regards to farm attacks.” ALSO READ: ENG vs WI, 1st Test Day 2, Live Score and updates Whereas, Symcox, who played 20 Tests and 80 ODIs for the Proteas, said that Ngidi should stop “trying to get the Proteas involved in his belief”. “What nonsense is this,” Symcox said. “He must take his own stand if he wishes. Stop trying to get the Proteas involved in his belief. Besides the fact that right now Cricket South Africa should be closed down. A proper dog and pony show with cricket being dragged through the mud daily. Buy popcorn and watch. Stay strong Lungi Ngidi and stand firm by your beliefs. Many of the current and former South African cricket players will show their true colours one by one. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/6hiY8XXiPY — Blacks in Whites (@BlaqsInCricket) July 9, 2020 × “Now when Ngidi has his next meal perhaps he would rather consider supporting the farmers of South Africa who are under pressure right now. A cause worth supporting.” ALSO READ: Michael Holding on racism: 'Until we educate the entire human race, racism will not stop' Earlier, Ngidi had expressed the need for the South African cricketers to take a solid stand on Black Lives Matter movement while suggesting South Africa’s painful history with apartheid and racial discrimination made it necessary for the players to take a stand. “As a nation, we have a past that is very difficult, with racial discrimination, so it’s definitely something we will be addressing as a team and if we are not, it’s something I will bring up,” Ngidi had said during a virtual press conference. “It’s something that we need to take very seriously and like the rest of the world is doing, make the stand.” Meanwhile, England and West Indies players, staff and umpires took a knee in support of the BLM movement just before the start of the first Test at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Wednesday.

White former South African players hit back at Lungi Ngidi's BLM opinion

<p>Batting great Brian Lara has said West Indies’ best chance of victory against England is to race out to an early lead and secure the win inside five days.</p>

<p>All-rounder Jason Holder is part of the tourists’ impressive bowling attack but questions remain about their batting ahead of the series opener beginning in Southampton later on Wednesday.</p>

<p>“They have to be able to pounce immediately,” the former West Indies captain told BBC Sport.</p>

<p>“England are not beaten very easily at home and are overwhelming favourites.</p>

<p>“They have to hit the road running and stamp their authority on England.</p>

<p>“I don’t think they can last five days, so they have to take these games in four days. They have to establish a lead and keep it.”</p>

<p>The three-test series, to be played in a bio-secure environment and without spectators, marks the resumption of international cricket after the coronavirus shutdown.</p>

<p>“It’s going to be a series that’s watched all around the world and everybody is hoping to see a competitive series,” said Lara, whose 400 not out against England remains test cricket’s highest individual score.</p>


Batting great Brian Lara has said West Indies’ best chance of victory against England is to race out to an early lead and secure the win inside five days. All-rounder Jason Holder is part of the tourists’ impressive bowling attack but questions remain about their batting ahead of the series opener beginning in Southampton later on Wednesday.

Batting great Brian Lara has said West Indies’ best chance of victory against England is to race out to an early lead and secure the win inside five days. All-rounder Jason Holder is part of the tourists’ impressive bowling attack but questions remain about their batting ahead of the series opener beginning in Southampton later on Wednesday. “They have to be able to pounce immediately,” the former West Indies captain told BBC Sport. “England are not beaten very easily at home and are overwhelming favourites. “They have to hit the road running and stamp their authority on England. “I don’t think they can last five days, so they have to take these games in four days. They have to establish a lead and keep it.” The three-test series, to be played in a bio-secure environment and without spectators, marks the resumption of international cricket after the coronavirus shutdown. “It’s going to be a series that’s watched all around the world and everybody is hoping to see a competitive series,” said Lara, whose 400 not out against England remains test cricket’s highest individual score.

West Indies must try to win inside four days, Brian Lara says

<p>Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers is hoping Jamie Vardy's late equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw at Arsenal on Tuesday will prove a turning point as the Foxes try to cling on to a place in the Premier League top four.</p>

<p>Rodgers's men have now won only once in six games since the English season restarted last month, but made the most of Eddie Nketiah's red card 15 minutes from time at the Emirates.</p>

<p>Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's strike gave the Gunners a well-deserved first-half lead, but Kasper Schmeichel in the Leicester goal ensured Arsenal failed to add to their advantage.</p>

<p>And after Nketiah saw red, Vardy slotted home from Demarai Gray's cross to open up a four-point lead on fifth-placed Manchester United, who travel to Aston Villa on Thursday.</p>

<p>"I think it's huge for us," said Rodgers. "The second half we were outstanding. We were much quicker in our play and even 11 v 11 we were the better team.</p>

<p>"I was really pleased with how we managed 11 v 10. We got a deserved goal and if we had made the final pass we could have gone on and won the game. We take a point and it could be a very important point for us."</p>

<p>Arsenal's own chances of a top-four finish appear gone as they remain nine points adrift in seventh.</p>

<p>But after a poor start to the restart with back-to-back defeats at Manchester City and Brighton, there were more promising signs from Mikel Arteta's men as his reign at the Emirates begins to take shape.</p>

<p>"We lost two points today that in my opinion we completely deserved," said Arteta. "You can see the effort, intensity, and desire the players are putting in. I am extremely proud.</p>

<p>"You have to learn, when you play against this opposition you have to kill them."</p>

<p>Bukayo Saka has flourished since Arteta replaced Unai Emery in December and the 18-year-old was again at the heart of an excellent first 45 minutes from Arsenal.</p>

<p>Saka created the opening goal as he latched onto a defence-splitting pass from the outstanding Dani Ceballos and teased Jonny Evans into falling over his own feet before laying Aubameyang's 20th Premier League goal of the season on a plate.</p>

<p>But for Schmeichel in the Leicester goal, the hosts would have been out of sight before half-time as the Danish number one produced an incredible low save to deny Alexandre Lacazette in between further smart stops from the French striker and Saka.</p>

<p>Arsenal were far less potent as an attacking force after the break, but Lacazette's frustrating night in front of goal was rounded off when he did turn in from David Luiz's flick-on only to be flagged offside.</p>

<p>Seconds after Lacazette was replaced by Nketiah, the Gunners were down to 10 when the young striker's late lunge on James Justin was deemed worthy of a red card by referee Chris Kavanagh after he came to the side of the pitch to review the incident.</p>

<p>Rodgers immediately threw on an extra attacking option in Gray and his cross was the service Vardy had been seeking all night as turned home to regain his two-goal advantage over Aubameyang in the race for the Golden Boot.</p>


Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers is hoping Jamie Vardy's late equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw at Arsenal on Tuesday will prove a turning point as the Foxes try to cling on to a place in the Premier League top four.

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers is hoping Jamie Vardy's late equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw at Arsenal on Tuesday will prove a turning point as the Foxes try to cling on to a place in the Premier League top four. Rodgers's men have now won only once in six games since the English season restarted last month, but made the most of Eddie Nketiah's red card 15 minutes from time at the Emirates. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's strike gave the Gunners a well-deserved first-half lead, but Kasper Schmeichel in the Leicester goal ensured Arsenal failed to add to their advantage. And after Nketiah saw red, Vardy slotted home from Demarai Gray's cross to open up a four-point lead on fifth-placed Manchester United, who travel to Aston Villa on Thursday. "I think it's huge for us," said Rodgers. "The second half we were outstanding. We were much quicker in our play and even 11 v 11 we were the better team. "I was really pleased with how we managed 11 v 10. We got a deserved goal and if we had made the final pass we could have gone on and won the game. We take a point and it could be a very important point for us." Arsenal's own chances of a top-four finish appear gone as they remain nine points adrift in seventh. But after a poor start to the restart with back-to-back defeats at Manchester City and Brighton, there were more promising signs from Mikel Arteta's men as his reign at the Emirates begins to take shape. "We lost two points today that in my opinion we completely deserved," said Arteta. "You can see the effort, intensity, and desire the players are putting in. I am extremely proud. "You have to learn, when you play against this opposition you have to kill them." Bukayo Saka has flourished since Arteta replaced Unai Emery in December and the 18-year-old was again at the heart of an excellent first 45 minutes from Arsenal. Saka created the opening goal as he latched onto a defence-splitting pass from the outstanding Dani Ceballos and teased Jonny Evans into falling over his own feet before laying Aubameyang's 20th Premier League goal of the season on a plate. But for Schmeichel in the Leicester goal, the hosts would have been out of sight before half-time as the Danish number one produced an incredible low save to deny Alexandre Lacazette in between further smart stops from the French striker and Saka. Arsenal were far less potent as an attacking force after the break, but Lacazette's frustrating night in front of goal was rounded off when he did turn in from David Luiz's flick-on only to be flagged offside. Seconds after Lacazette was replaced by Nketiah, the Gunners were down to 10 when the young striker's late lunge on James Justin was deemed worthy of a red card by referee Chris Kavanagh after he came to the side of the pitch to review the incident. Rodgers immediately threw on an extra attacking option in Gray and his cross was the service Vardy had been seeking all night as turned home to regain his two-goal advantage over Aubameyang in the race for the Golden Boot.

Rodgers hopes late leveller at Arsenal sparks Leicester revival

<p>The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday confirmed that the Asia Cup 2020, which was slated to be played in the UAE in September, has been cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.</p>

<p>While the fate of the tournament was hanging by a thin thread, Ganguly pulled the curtains off to confirm the cancellation of the tournament. Ganguly’s comments come days ahead of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting scheduled to take place on July 09.</p>

<p>Ganguly, who turned 48 on Wednesday, confirmed the news during an Instagram live session with Vikrant Gupta. &nbsp;"Asia Cup has been cancelled," said the BCCI president. The former Indian captain further said that it is still unclear when the Indian players will return back to action.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/sourav-and-virat-it-is-time-to-deliver-for-india-in-covid-19-times-311647" hreflang="en">Sourav and Virat, it is time to deliver for India in COVID-19 times</a></strong></p>

<p>The BCCI president even congratulated the ECB and Cricket West Indies for going ahead with the three-match Test series, which also has become the first international rubber to be played post the COVID-19 break. International cricket, like every other sport, witnessed an unprecedented halt due to the coronavirus outbreak.</p>

<p>Team India was last seen in action during the Test series against New Zealand with their three-match ODI series against South Africa in March getting postponed mid-way after the washed-out first game in Dharamsala. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/england-west-indies-take-a-knee-in-first-test-as-cricket-returns-in-slightly-different-look-311689" hreflang="en">England, West Indies take a knee in first Test as cricket returns in slightly different look</a></strong></p>

<p>"It's difficult to say which will be India's first international series. We've done our preparations but we can't do much till we know the government rules. We are not in a hurry because the health of players is of the utmost importance. We are monitoring things monthly," said Ganguly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ganguly further spoke about the importance of IPL for the financial structure of the BCCI. While he didn’t go in-depth about the money-spinning T20 tournament, it seems like the window is clear for the IPL 2020 in September-November.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday confirmed that the Asia Cup 2020, which was slated to be played in the UAE in September, has been cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday confirmed that the Asia Cup 2020, which was slated to be played in the UAE in September, has been cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. While the fate of the tournament was hanging by a thin thread, Ganguly pulled the curtains off to confirm the cancellation of the tournament. Ganguly’s comments come days ahead of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting scheduled to take place on July 09. Ganguly, who turned 48 on Wednesday, confirmed the news during an Instagram live session with Vikrant Gupta. "Asia Cup has been cancelled," said the BCCI president. The former Indian captain further said that it is still unclear when the Indian players will return back to action. ALSO READ: Sourav and Virat, it is time to deliver for India in COVID-19 times The BCCI president even congratulated the ECB and Cricket West Indies for going ahead with the three-match Test series, which also has become the first international rubber to be played post the COVID-19 break. International cricket, like every other sport, witnessed an unprecedented halt due to the coronavirus outbreak. Team India was last seen in action during the Test series against New Zealand with their three-match ODI series against South Africa in March getting postponed mid-way after the washed-out first game in Dharamsala. IN PICS | England, West Indies take a knee in first Test as cricket returns in slightly different look "It's difficult to say which will be India's first international series. We've done our preparations but we can't do much till we know the government rules. We are not in a hurry because the health of players is of the utmost importance. We are monitoring things monthly," said Ganguly. Ganguly further spoke about the importance of IPL for the financial structure of the BCCI. While he didn’t go in-depth about the money-spinning T20 tournament, it seems like the window is clear for the IPL 2020 in September-November.

Asia Cup 2020 stands cancelled, confirms BCCI president Sourav Ganguly

England, West Indies take a knee in first Test as cricket returns in slightly different look

<p>Rain delayed the start on Wednesday of the first Test between England and the West Indies at Southampton, the first international match since March.</p>

<p>The eagerly anticipated fixture marks the sport's global return from months of coronavirus-enforced lockdown.</p>

<p>But as the players warmed up on the outfield under grey skies, there was sufficient rain for the Ageas Bowl pitch to remain fully covered and prevent the toss taking place at 0930 GMT as scheduled.</p>

<p>No spectators will be allowed to attend the three-Test series, which concludes with two matches at Old Trafford.</p>

<p>Players and officials are staying at on-site hotels to stop the spread of COVID-19, with bowlers unable to use saliva to shine the ball as a health measure.</p>

<p><strong>LIVE |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-vs-west-indies-1st-test-day-1-live-updates-toss-delayed-due-to-gloomy-weather-311592" hreflang="en">England vs West Indies 1st Test, Day 1 Live Updates: Toss delayed due to gloomy weather</a></strong></p>

<p>International travel restrictions mean that, for the first time since 2002, both on-field umpires came from one of the competing teams, with English officials Richard Kettleborough and Richard Illingworth in the middle.</p>

<p>Match referee Chris Broad could find himself presiding over a match involving his son Stuart if the England paceman is selected in the hosts' final XI.</p>

<p>But any disciplinary issues are set to be referred to a remote referee.</p>

<p>Ben Stokes will captain England for the first time, with regular skipper Joe Root missing the match because of the birth of his second child.</p>

<p>West Indies have not won a Test series in England since 1988 but they hold the Wisden Trophy after a 2-1 series win in the Caribbean last year.</p>

<p>Jason Holder's side have gone ahead with the tour even though Britain has the highest virus toll in Europe, with more than 44,000 deaths.</p>


Rain delayed the start on Wednesday of the first Test between England and the West Indies at Southampton, the first international match since March. The eagerly anticipated fixture marks the sport's global return from months of coronavirus-enforced lockdown.

Rain delayed the start on Wednesday of the first Test between England and the West Indies at Southampton, the first international match since March. The eagerly anticipated fixture marks the sport's global return from months of coronavirus-enforced lockdown. But as the players warmed up on the outfield under grey skies, there was sufficient rain for the Ageas Bowl pitch to remain fully covered and prevent the toss taking place at 0930 GMT as scheduled. No spectators will be allowed to attend the three-Test series, which concludes with two matches at Old Trafford. Players and officials are staying at on-site hotels to stop the spread of COVID-19, with bowlers unable to use saliva to shine the ball as a health measure. LIVE | England vs West Indies 1st Test, Day 1 Live Updates: Toss delayed due to gloomy weather International travel restrictions mean that, for the first time since 2002, both on-field umpires came from one of the competing teams, with English officials Richard Kettleborough and Richard Illingworth in the middle. Match referee Chris Broad could find himself presiding over a match involving his son Stuart if the England paceman is selected in the hosts' final XI. But any disciplinary issues are set to be referred to a remote referee. Ben Stokes will captain England for the first time, with regular skipper Joe Root missing the match because of the birth of his second child. West Indies have not won a Test series in England since 1988 but they hold the Wisden Trophy after a 2-1 series win in the Caribbean last year. Jason Holder's side have gone ahead with the tour even though Britain has the highest virus toll in Europe, with more than 44,000 deaths.

Rain delays international cricket's return in England-West Indies Test

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Key worker heroes from across the cricket family were on Wednesday honoured by having their names displayed on the training shirts of the England Men’s Test team ahead of the start of the first #raisethebat Test against the West Indies.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">The three-Test series, taking place behind closed doors, is honouring and celebrating the heroes who have been going above and beyond to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Today, the England Men’s players and coaches took to the pitch at The Ageas Bowl, Southampton, wearing the names of key workers on their training shirts before the start of the match. The people named on the shirts were all nominated by their local cricket clubs and include teachers, doctors, nurses, carers and other vital professions.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Each key worker will now receive the shirt bearing their name, signed by the player who wore it, to thank them for the work they’ve been doing. Their names and photos will also be highlighted in broadcast partners’ Sky and BBC’s coverage and displayed across the ground on the big screens and LED banners.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)"><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-vs-west-indies-1st-test-day-1-live-updates-stokes-and-holder-face-off-as-international-cricket-returns-311592" hreflang="en">England vs West Indies 1st Test, Day 1 Live Updates: Stokes and Holder face-off as international cricket returns</a></strong></p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Ben Stokes, who is captaining England in the first Test while Joe Root is away for the birth of his second child, took to the pitch wearing the name of Durham-local Dr Vikas Kumar, a specialist in anaesthetics and critical care at Darlington Memorial Hospital.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Through the pandemic, Dr Kumar, a keen cricketer who plays at Cowgate Cricket Club in Newcastle and the Gilli Boys Amateur Club in Darlington, has been working on the frontline while also being there for his family at home.</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)"><strong data-ogsc="rgb(34, 34, 34)">Ben Stokes said:</strong>&nbsp;“We’re only able to play this Test match because of the amazing job that key workers up and down the country have done to help us through this pandemic. Wearing their names is a real honour for us, and is a small sign of our appreciation for the incredible work they have done. They have truly gone in to bat for us all, and it makes me proud of how the whole cricket family has responded to help us get through these unprecedented times.”</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)"><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-wi-1st-test-weather-updates-and-forecast-for-day-1-in-southampton-311576" hreflang="en">ENG vs WI 1st Test: Weather updates and forecast for Day 1 in Southampton</a></strong></p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)"><strong data-ogsc="rgb(34, 34, 34)">Dr Vikas Kumar, whose name featured on Ben Stokes’s shirt, said:</strong>&nbsp;“The past four months have been very difficult, but it was a wonderful surprise to find out that Ben Stokes of all people is wearing my name on his training shirt. So many of my colleagues at work and at the cricket club have been working so hard and made big sacrifices, so this is for them as well.”</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">The other key workers being celebrated today include:</p>

<ul data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">
	<li data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Dr Samara Afzal, a GP in Birmingham, who shared the moment with Chris Woakes, also a West-Midlands local. Dr Afzal is a chief medical adviser to the National Asian Cricket Council and last year supported a successful pilot which used cricket as a way to get her female patients from the South Asian community more action.</li>
</ul>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<ul data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">
	<li data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Sussex-based paramedic Joe Wheatley is one of those honoured, with Sussex player Jofra Archer wearing the Barcombe Cricket Club member’s name on his training shirt. Joe offers fantastic support to those he treats and their families, often being a patient’s first contact with medical staff during an emergency. When he’s not driving an ambulance, he’s manning the heavy roller as Barcombe’s groundsman and has kept the pitches maintained throughout the postponement of recreational cricket.</li>
</ul>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<ul data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">
	<li data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Chris Tall is a pillar of his local cricket club, Newark Ransome &amp; Marles Cricket Club, where he volunteers as groundsman, coach and on the committee. He had to step away from his club as the pandemic developed, however, to focus his attention on caring for the residents in the care home at which he works. His efforts and sacrifices at such a crucial time led to his teammates nominating him. This morning he featured on the shirt of Stuart Broad who plays for Chris’s home county of Nottinghamshire.</li>
</ul>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<ul data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">
	<li data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Pace bowler Mark Wood will recognise local hero Susan Bainbridge on his training shirt. Susan is a volunteer at the North East Ambulance Service but in her spare time runs Zumba classes for older people throughout Teesdale. During the pandemic, the Middleton-in-Teesdale cricketer has taken her exercise classes online through Zoom to ensure the community can keep active.</li>
</ul>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)"><strong data-ogsc="rgb(34, 34, 34)">Tom Harrison, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said:</strong>&nbsp;“Along with fans up and down the country, we are very excited that our England Men’s players are back on the cricket field today. However, we will never forget those we’ve lost and the sacrifices made by so many people during this pandemic. Key workers and volunteers across the country have often put their own lives on the line to keep us safe, and it’s right that today we say a small thank you to some of those from the cricket family who have done us so proud.”</p>

<h2 data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)"><strong>English players wearing the name of key workers:</strong></h2>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Ben Foakes – Emily Blakemore, Nurse</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Ollie Robinson – Dr Nasir Ali, Emergency Medicine Consultant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Jofra Archer – Joe Wheatley, Paramedic</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Jack Leach – Ollie Clarke, NHS volunteer</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Olly Stone – Holly Buxton, Organiser of the COVID-19 Community Workforce for the elderly</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Dominic Bess – Wendy Morris, Nurse</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Mark Wood – Susan Bainbridge, NEAS Ambulance Volunteer</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Stuart Broad – Chris Tall , Care Home Worker</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">James Anderson – Tom Field, Nurse Practitioner</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Dan Lawrence – Richard Freeman, Police Officer</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Joe Denly – Anna Tunnicliff, A&amp;E Sister</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Zak Crawley – Debi Armstrong, Specialist Nurse</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Craig Overton – Dale Hardy, Head Teacher at Sir Robert Pattinson Academy</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">James Bracey – Harikrishna Shah, Clinic Coordinator</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Chris Woakes – Dr Samara Afzal – Doctor</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Ben Stokes – Dr Vikas Kumar, Specialist in Anaesthetics and Critical Care</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Saqib Mahmood – Kishan Aghada, Physiotherapist</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Sam Curran – Victor Hinds, Hospital Distribution Officer</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Ollie Pope – Yahya Hafejee, Support Leader at Department for Work and Pensions</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Rory Burns – Sharmyn Kennedy, Teacher</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Jos Buttler – Dr Jamasp Kaikhusroo Dastur, Surgeon</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Dom Sibley – Mohammed Banaris, Operations Manager for G4S and ran COVID-19 testing centre</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Chris Silverwood – Matthew Rammell, Respiratory Physiotherapist</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Graham Thorpe – Dr Chris Boyson, Doctor</p>

<p data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">Phil Scott – Chantel Jacklin, Healthcare Assistant&nbsp;</p>


Key worker heroes from across the cricket family were on Wednesday honoured by having their names displayed on the training shirts of the England Men’s Test team ahead of the start of the first #raisethebat Test against the West Indies.

Key worker heroes from across the cricket family were on Wednesday honoured by having their names displayed on the training shirts of the England Men’s Test team ahead of the start of the first #raisethebat Test against the West Indies. The three-Test series, taking place behind closed doors, is honouring and celebrating the heroes who have been going above and beyond to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the England Men’s players and coaches took to the pitch at The Ageas Bowl, Southampton, wearing the names of key workers on their training shirts before the start of the match. The people named on the shirts were all nominated by their local cricket clubs and include teachers, doctors, nurses, carers and other vital professions. Each key worker will now receive the shirt bearing their name, signed by the player who wore it, to thank them for the work they’ve been doing. Their names and photos will also be highlighted in broadcast partners’ Sky and BBC’s coverage and displayed across the ground on the big screens and LED banners. ALSO READ: England vs West Indies 1st Test, Day 1 Live Updates: Stokes and Holder face-off as international cricket returns Ben Stokes, who is captaining England in the first Test while Joe Root is away for the birth of his second child, took to the pitch wearing the name of Durham-local Dr Vikas Kumar, a specialist in anaesthetics and critical care at Darlington Memorial Hospital. Through the pandemic, Dr Kumar, a keen cricketer who plays at Cowgate Cricket Club in Newcastle and the Gilli Boys Amateur Club in Darlington, has been working on the frontline while also being there for his family at home. Ben Stokes said: “We’re only able to play this Test match because of the amazing job that key workers up and down the country have done to help us through this pandemic. Wearing their names is a real honour for us, and is a small sign of our appreciation for the incredible work they have done. They have truly gone in to bat for us all, and it makes me proud of how the whole cricket family has responded to help us get through these unprecedented times.” ALSO READ: ENG vs WI 1st Test: Weather updates and forecast for Day 1 in Southampton Dr Vikas Kumar, whose name featured on Ben Stokes’s shirt, said: “The past four months have been very difficult, but it was a wonderful surprise to find out that Ben Stokes of all people is wearing my name on his training shirt. So many of my colleagues at work and at the cricket club have been working so hard and made big sacrifices, so this is for them as well.” The other key workers being celebrated today include: Dr Samara Afzal, a GP in Birmingham, who shared the moment with Chris Woakes, also a West-Midlands local. Dr Afzal is a chief medical adviser to the National Asian Cricket Council and last year supported a successful pilot which used cricket as a way to get her female patients from the South Asian community more action. Sussex-based paramedic Joe Wheatley is one of those honoured, with Sussex player Jofra Archer wearing the Barcombe Cricket Club member’s name on his training shirt. Joe offers fantastic support to those he treats and their families, often being a patient’s first contact with medical staff during an emergency. When he’s not driving an ambulance, he’s manning the heavy roller as Barcombe’s groundsman and has kept the pitches maintained throughout the postponement of recreational cricket. Chris Tall is a pillar of his local cricket club, Newark Ransome & Marles Cricket Club, where he volunteers as groundsman, coach and on the committee. He had to step away from his club as the pandemic developed, however, to focus his attention on caring for the residents in the care home at which he works. His efforts and sacrifices at such a crucial time led to his teammates nominating him. This morning he featured on the shirt of Stuart Broad who plays for Chris’s home county of Nottinghamshire. Pace bowler Mark Wood will recognise local hero Susan Bainbridge on his training shirt. Susan is a volunteer at the North East Ambulance Service but in her spare time runs Zumba classes for older people throughout Teesdale. During the pandemic, the Middleton-in-Teesdale cricketer has taken her exercise classes online through Zoom to ensure the community can keep active. Tom Harrison, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said: “Along with fans up and down the country, we are very excited that our England Men’s players are back on the cricket field today. However, we will never forget those we’ve lost and the sacrifices made by so many people during this pandemic. Key workers and volunteers across the country have often put their own lives on the line to keep us safe, and it’s right that today we say a small thank you to some of those from the cricket family who have done us so proud.” English players wearing the name of key workers: Ben Foakes – Emily Blakemore, Nurse Ollie Robinson – Dr Nasir Ali, Emergency Medicine Consultant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Jofra Archer – Joe Wheatley, Paramedic Jack Leach – Ollie Clarke, NHS volunteer Olly Stone – Holly Buxton, Organiser of the COVID-19 Community Workforce for the elderly Dominic Bess – Wendy Morris, Nurse Mark Wood – Susan Bainbridge, NEAS Ambulance Volunteer Stuart Broad – Chris Tall , Care Home Worker James Anderson – Tom Field, Nurse Practitioner Dan Lawrence – Richard Freeman, Police Officer Joe Denly – Anna Tunnicliff, A&E Sister Zak Crawley – Debi Armstrong, Specialist Nurse Craig Overton – Dale Hardy, Head Teacher at Sir Robert Pattinson Academy James Bracey – Harikrishna Shah, Clinic Coordinator Chris Woakes – Dr Samara Afzal – Doctor Ben Stokes – Dr Vikas Kumar, Specialist in Anaesthetics and Critical Care Saqib Mahmood – Kishan Aghada, Physiotherapist Sam Curran – Victor Hinds, Hospital Distribution Officer Ollie Pope – Yahya Hafejee, Support Leader at Department for Work and Pensions Rory Burns – Sharmyn Kennedy, Teacher Jos Buttler – Dr Jamasp Kaikhusroo Dastur, Surgeon Dom Sibley – Mohammed Banaris, Operations Manager for G4S and ran COVID-19 testing centre Chris Silverwood – Matthew Rammell, Respiratory Physiotherapist Graham Thorpe – Dr Chris Boyson, Doctor Phil Scott – Chantel Jacklin, Healthcare Assistant

ENG vs WI: Ben Stokes leads tribute with key worker names featuring on his team’s shirts as first Test gets under way

<p>The BCCI president, Sourav Ganguly turned 48 on Wednesday as wishes poured in for the former Indian skipper from all corners of the world. Known to be as one of the most daring captains, Ganguly changed the landscape of Indian cricket with his aggressive nature and hunger to win matches for India. Not only did he pulled India out of the grim scenario pertaining to match-fixing scandals in the late 90s, but the swashbuckling left-handed batsmen also formed a young team and went on to achieve great heights for the Men in Blue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and many others took to social media platform Twitter to post wishes for Dada on his 48th birthday.</p>

<p>“Happy birthday Dadi! Hope our off-field partnership keeps going strong like our on-field ones. Wish you a blessed year ahead,” wrote Tendulkar on Twitter.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-monty-panesar-on-england-vs-west-indies-series-ben-stokes-new-norms-and-more-311445" hreflang="en">Exclusive: Monty Panesar on England vs West Indies series, Ben Stokes, new norms and more</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy birthday Dadi!<br />
Hope our off-field partnership keeps going strong like our on-field ones. Wish you a blessed year ahead. <a href="https://t.co/jOmq9XN07w">pic.twitter.com/jOmq9XN07w</a></p>
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1280724561227444224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Whereas Kohli posted a short and sweet message for Ganguly as the current Indian skipper wrote: “Happy birthday dada. God bless you @SGanguly99”</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy birthday dada. God bless you 😇 <a href="https://twitter.com/SGanguly99?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SGanguly99</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y5knMuTpci">pic.twitter.com/Y5knMuTpci</a></p>
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1280742845205237760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Yuvraj Singh, who like many others made his debut under Ganguly’s leadership, wrote: “Happy Birthday to the undisputed Dada of Indian Cricket Birthday cake You have always led from the front, showing us what it means to be a true leader. I have learnt a lot from you &amp; hope to become to others what you are to me. You are our eternal captain @SGanguly99 #HappyBirthdayDada”</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy Birthday to the undisputed Dada of Indian Cricket 🎂 You have always led from the front, showing us what it means to be a true leader. I have learnt a lot from you &amp; hope to become to others what you are to me. You are our eternal captain🙇<a href="https://twitter.com/SGanguly99?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SGanguly99</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayDada?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayDada</a> <a href="https://t.co/MJKAwgGw1r">pic.twitter.com/MJKAwgGw1r</a></p>
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) <a href="https://twitter.com/YUVSTRONG12/status/1280742157578461190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy Birthday Dada💙<a href="https://twitter.com/SGanguly99?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SGanguly99</a> 🎂🎂<br />
The man who revolutionalized Indian cricket 🇮🇳<br />
Your contribution to cricket both as a player, and a captain will be admired by the generations to come!<br />
Have a fabulous year ahead🙏 <a href="https://t.co/QRM29CdN6C">pic.twitter.com/QRM29CdN6C</a></p>
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImRaina/status/1280719736502775808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy birthday dada <a href="https://twitter.com/SGanguly99?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SGanguly99</a> wish you the best going forward.. <a href="https://t.co/RGfoKPoYct">pic.twitter.com/RGfoKPoYct</a></p>
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) <a href="https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/1280737225341153280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Enough said. ❤<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayGanguly?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayGanguly</a> <a href="https://t.co/jzD7F5sCzQ">pic.twitter.com/jzD7F5sCzQ</a></p>
— North Stand Gang - Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) <a href="https://twitter.com/NorthStandGang/status/1280753769907539969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Ganguly represented India in 113 Tests and 311 ODIs scoring 7212 runs and 11,363 runs respectively. Furthermore, Dada also picked up 32 and 100 wickets in Tests and ODIs respectively.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The BCCI president, Sourav Ganguly turned 48 on Wednesday as wishes poured in for the former Indian skipper from all corners of the world. Known to be as one of the most daring captains, Ganguly changed the landscape of Indian cricket with his aggressive nature and hunger to win matches for India.

The BCCI president, Sourav Ganguly turned 48 on Wednesday as wishes poured in for the former Indian skipper from all corners of the world. Known to be as one of the most daring captains, Ganguly changed the landscape of Indian cricket with his aggressive nature and hunger to win matches for India. Not only did he pulled India out of the grim scenario pertaining to match-fixing scandals in the late 90s, but the swashbuckling left-handed batsmen also formed a young team and went on to achieve great heights for the Men in Blue. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and many others took to social media platform Twitter to post wishes for Dada on his 48th birthday. “Happy birthday Dadi! Hope our off-field partnership keeps going strong like our on-field ones. Wish you a blessed year ahead,” wrote Tendulkar on Twitter. ALSO READ: Exclusive: Monty Panesar on England vs West Indies series, Ben Stokes, new norms and more Happy birthday Dadi! Hope our off-field partnership keeps going strong like our on-field ones. Wish you a blessed year ahead. pic.twitter.com/jOmq9XN07w — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 8, 2020 × Whereas Kohli posted a short and sweet message for Ganguly as the current Indian skipper wrote: “Happy birthday dada. God bless you @SGanguly99” Happy birthday dada. God bless you 😇 @SGanguly99 pic.twitter.com/Y5knMuTpci — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 8, 2020 × Yuvraj Singh, who like many others made his debut under Ganguly’s leadership, wrote: “Happy Birthday to the undisputed Dada of Indian Cricket Birthday cake You have always led from the front, showing us what it means to be a true leader. I have learnt a lot from you & hope to become to others what you are to me. You are our eternal captain @SGanguly99 #HappyBirthdayDada” Happy Birthday to the undisputed Dada of Indian Cricket 🎂 You have always led from the front, showing us what it means to be a true leader. I have learnt a lot from you & hope to become to others what you are to me. You are our eternal captain🙇@SGanguly99 #HappyBirthdayDada pic.twitter.com/MJKAwgGw1r — Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) July 8, 2020 × Happy Birthday Dada💙@SGanguly99 🎂🎂 The man who revolutionalized Indian cricket 🇮🇳 Your contribution to cricket both as a player, and a captain will be admired by the generations to come! Have a fabulous year ahead🙏 pic.twitter.com/QRM29CdN6C — Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) July 8, 2020 × Happy birthday dada @SGanguly99 wish you the best going forward.. pic.twitter.com/RGfoKPoYct — Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) July 8, 2020 × Enough said. ❤#HappyBirthdayGanguly pic.twitter.com/jzD7F5sCzQ — North Stand Gang - Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) July 8, 2020 × Ganguly represented India in 113 Tests and 311 ODIs scoring 7212 runs and 11,363 runs respectively. Furthermore, Dada also picked up 32 and 100 wickets in Tests and ODIs respectively.

Happy Birthday Sourav Ganguly: From Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli, wishes pour in for 'Dada'

<p>International cricket is finally back with England and West Indies set to lock horns in the first Test at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton after a break of more than 115 days. However, things might not be so rosy for the players and fans as rain gods are set to play spoilsport throughout the course of the series opener in Southampton with the weather forecast predicting light to heavy showers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While strict safety measures, social distancing guidelines and new rules such as saliva ban and COVID substitutions are ready to be tested in the international circuit, no one can help when it comes to the wrath of nature.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The match will be played without fans in the stadiums and fake crowd noise and music to enhance the atmosphere will be implemented in the stadium.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-monty-panesar-on-england-vs-west-indies-series-ben-stokes-new-norms-and-more-311445" hreflang="en">Exclusive: Monty Panesar on England vs West Indies series, Ben Stokes, new norms and more</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>Rain to play spoilsport in Southampton?</strong></h2>

<p>For fans, who have been eagerly waiting for the three-match Test series, the Day 1 and Day 2 of the Southampton Test might very well be interrupted due to rain. While the entire day is not expected to be washed out, frequent breaks could happen due to the rain gods making their presence felt. On Wednesday morning, it was a stop and a go for the rain gods in Southampton but media present there said they expect around 50 overs to be played on Day 1.</p>

<p><img alt="Southampton weather update" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bac17e6f-0e88-4949-b9e4-29b458e820c8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Rain.JPG" /></p>

<p>Dark clouds are predicted to make way for sunny spells with temperatures set to tickle between 9-24 degrees Celcius. Humidity could be around 83 per cent.</p>

<p>The pitch is expected to be on the slower side but with moisture expected to creep in, pacers could have fun on the Ageas Bowl track.&nbsp;<br />
England go into the series as favourites and will bank on their bowling attack to do much of the damage.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


International cricket is finally back with England and West Indies set to lock horns in the first Test at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton after a break of more than 115 days.

International cricket is finally back with England and West Indies set to lock horns in the first Test at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton after a break of more than 115 days. However, things might not be so rosy for the players and fans as rain gods are set to play spoilsport throughout the course of the series opener in Southampton with the weather forecast predicting light to heavy showers. While strict safety measures, social distancing guidelines and new rules such as saliva ban and COVID substitutions are ready to be tested in the international circuit, no one can help when it comes to the wrath of nature. The match will be played without fans in the stadiums and fake crowd noise and music to enhance the atmosphere will be implemented in the stadium. ALSO READ: Exclusive: Monty Panesar on England vs West Indies series, Ben Stokes, new norms and more Rain to play spoilsport in Southampton? For fans, who have been eagerly waiting for the three-match Test series, the Day 1 and Day 2 of the Southampton Test might very well be interrupted due to rain. While the entire day is not expected to be washed out, frequent breaks could happen due to the rain gods making their presence felt. On Wednesday morning, it was a stop and a go for the rain gods in Southampton but media present there said they expect around 50 overs to be played on Day 1. Dark clouds are predicted to make way for sunny spells with temperatures set to tickle between 9-24 degrees Celcius. Humidity could be around 83 per cent. The pitch is expected to be on the slower side but with moisture expected to creep in, pacers could have fun on the Ageas Bowl track. England go into the series as favourites and will bank on their bowling attack to do much of the damage.

ENG vs WI 1st Test: Weather updates and forecast for Day 1 in Southampton

<p>Two of the world's best all-rounders in Ben Stokes and Jason Holder will be captaining their respective sides when England face the West Indies in the first Test at Southampton starting Wednesday.</p>

<p>Holder tops the ICC's Test all-rounder rankings, with fellow paceman Stokes in second place as international cricket resumes for the first time since March 2 following the coronavirus lockdown.</p>

<p>They both average in the 30s with the bat, with Holder's bowling mark of 26.37 slightly more economical than Stokes' 32.68.</p>

<p>But while Holder, 28, is a seasoned skipper, Wednesday's match will be the first time the 29-year-old Stokes has captained a cricket team since he was a teenager.</p>

<p>England's talisman has been thrust into the role, with regular skipper Joe Root missing the series opener to attend the birth of his second child.</p>

<p>Pace-bowling all-rounders Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff saw their individual games decline with the cares of the England captaincy.</p>

<p>The concern is that something similar will happen to Stokes, a key figure in England's World Cup triumph last year when his spectacular century also saw the team to a remarkable win over Australia in an Ashes Test at Headingley.</p>

<p>It appeared any chance of Stokes becoming England captain disappeared when he was charged with affray following an incident outside a Bristol nightclub.</p>

<p>But after being found not guilty at a 2018 trial, he regained a position of responsibility as Root's vice-captain.</p>

<p>"After that happened it was 'right, what am I going to do from this point forward?," Stokes said last week. "I'm quite proud to say I'm in this situation (of being England captain) through hard work and determination."</p>

<h2>- 'Get on top of Ben' -</h2>

<p>Holder was made captain of the West Indies' one-day side aged just 23.</p>

<p>A year later he was put in charge of the Test side against a backdrop of administrative chaos that included bitter rows between senior players and administrators.</p>

<p>Sympathy for his plight has sometimes overshadowed recognition of his cricketing skill.</p>

<p>Holder, however, showed his class with an unbeaten double century against England in the first Test at his Barbados home ground during a 381-run win last year that sent the West Indies on the way to a series victory.</p>

<p>"Hopefully Jason can do what's necessary to get on top of Ben in this first Test," said West Indies coach Phil Simmons.</p>

<p>"Jason has played enough Test cricket now to know what he's working on and, mentally, he's where he wants to be.</p>

<p>"I think Ben is one of them who leads from the front. That's to be shown by all his exploits before in cricket and we will have to make sure that we get on to him very early, because he likes to do what is necessary for his team."</p>


Two of the world's best all-rounders in Ben Stokes and Jason Holder will be captaining their respective sides when England face the West Indies in the first Test at Southampton starting Wednesday.

Two of the world's best all-rounders in Ben Stokes and Jason Holder will be captaining their respective sides when England face the West Indies in the first Test at Southampton starting Wednesday. Holder tops the ICC's Test all-rounder rankings, with fellow paceman Stokes in second place as international cricket resumes for the first time since March 2 following the coronavirus lockdown. They both average in the 30s with the bat, with Holder's bowling mark of 26.37 slightly more economical than Stokes' 32.68. But while Holder, 28, is a seasoned skipper, Wednesday's match will be the first time the 29-year-old Stokes has captained a cricket team since he was a teenager. England's talisman has been thrust into the role, with regular skipper Joe Root missing the series opener to attend the birth of his second child. Pace-bowling all-rounders Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff saw their individual games decline with the cares of the England captaincy. The concern is that something similar will happen to Stokes, a key figure in England's World Cup triumph last year when his spectacular century also saw the team to a remarkable win over Australia in an Ashes Test at Headingley. It appeared any chance of Stokes becoming England captain disappeared when he was charged with affray following an incident outside a Bristol nightclub. But after being found not guilty at a 2018 trial, he regained a position of responsibility as Root's vice-captain. "After that happened it was 'right, what am I going to do from this point forward?," Stokes said last week. "I'm quite proud to say I'm in this situation (of being England captain) through hard work and determination." - 'Get on top of Ben' - Holder was made captain of the West Indies' one-day side aged just 23. A year later he was put in charge of the Test side against a backdrop of administrative chaos that included bitter rows between senior players and administrators. Sympathy for his plight has sometimes overshadowed recognition of his cricketing skill. Holder, however, showed his class with an unbeaten double century against England in the first Test at his Barbados home ground during a 381-run win last year that sent the West Indies on the way to a series victory. "Hopefully Jason can do what's necessary to get on top of Ben in this first Test," said West Indies coach Phil Simmons. "Jason has played enough Test cricket now to know what he's working on and, mentally, he's where he wants to be. "I think Ben is one of them who leads from the front. That's to be shown by all his exploits before in cricket and we will have to make sure that we get on to him very early, because he likes to do what is necessary for his team."

All-rounders Stokes and Holder to lead from the front

<p>Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is back making headlines with his absurd claims as in his latest episode, the former all-rounder went back to his nine-year-old statement and said that Sachin Tendulkar was scared of facing Shoaib Akhtar.</p>

<p>Afridi said that Tendulkar won’t accept that he was scared to face Akhtar but added that he witnessed Tendulkar struggle against Akhtar during some of his spells.</p>

<p>“Dekhiye Sachin Tendulkar aapne muh se toh nahi kahega ki main dar raha hu. (Sachin obviously won’t say it himself that ‘I’m scared’) There were some spells from Shoaib Akhtar in which not only Sachin but some of the world’s best also got shaken up.</p>

<p>“When you are fielding at mid-off or covers, you can see it. You can sense the body language of a player. You can easily understand that a batsman is under pressure, he is not at his usual best. I’m not saying that Shoaib has scared Tendulkar always but there have been some spells from Shoaib that have pushed some of the world’s best including Tendulkar on to the backfoot,” Afridi told Zainab Abbas when he was asked about his statement in 2011 that Tendulkar was scared of facing Akhtar.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhonis-39th-birthday-proves-why-dhonism-is-permanent-311397" hreflang="en"><strong>MS Dhoni's 39th birthday proves why 'Dhonism' is permanent</strong></a></p>

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<p>In 2011, Akhtar, in his book ‘Controversially Yours’ had claimed that the Master Blaster was scared to face him and Afridi had backed his teammate’s claim. &nbsp;“He (Tendulkar) was scared of Shoaib. I have seen it myself. I was fielding at square leg and saw his legs trembling when Shoaib came on to bowl.”</p>

<p>Afridi further said that Tendulkar was scared of facing Saeed Ajmal during the World Cup.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-wi-ben-stokes-to-follow-joe-roots-advice-and-captain-england-his-way-311411" hreflang="en">ENG vs WI: Ben Stokes to follow Joe Root's advice and captain England 'his way'</a></strong></p>

<p>“It’s not a big deal, players do feel the pressure at times and it becomes difficult,” Afridi, who has scored 1524 runs in 67 ODIs and 709 runs from eights Tests against India.</p>

<p>Interestingly, Tendulkar holds a brilliant average of 41.60 against Akhtar in Test cricket while scoring 416 runs. Akhtar, on the other hand, dismissed him thrice. Whereas in ODIs, Tendulkar has scored 864 runs at an average of 45.47 and a strike-rate of 90.18 with the Rawalpindi Express dismissing the Master Blaster five times in 19 ODIs.</p>


Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is back making headlines with his absurd claims as in his latest episode, the former all-rounder went back to his nine-year-old statement and said that Sachin Tendulkar was scared of facing Shoaib Akhtar.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is back making headlines with his absurd claims as in his latest episode, the former all-rounder went back to his nine-year-old statement and said that Sachin Tendulkar was scared of facing Shoaib Akhtar. Afridi said that Tendulkar won’t accept that he was scared to face Akhtar but added that he witnessed Tendulkar struggle against Akhtar during some of his spells. “Dekhiye Sachin Tendulkar aapne muh se toh nahi kahega ki main dar raha hu. (Sachin obviously won’t say it himself that ‘I’m scared’) There were some spells from Shoaib Akhtar in which not only Sachin but some of the world’s best also got shaken up. “When you are fielding at mid-off or covers, you can see it. You can sense the body language of a player. You can easily understand that a batsman is under pressure, he is not at his usual best. I’m not saying that Shoaib has scared Tendulkar always but there have been some spells from Shoaib that have pushed some of the world’s best including Tendulkar on to the backfoot,” Afridi told Zainab Abbas when he was asked about his statement in 2011 that Tendulkar was scared of facing Akhtar. ALSO READ: MS Dhoni's 39th birthday proves why 'Dhonism' is permanent × In 2011, Akhtar, in his book ‘Controversially Yours’ had claimed that the Master Blaster was scared to face him and Afridi had backed his teammate’s claim. “He (Tendulkar) was scared of Shoaib. I have seen it myself. I was fielding at square leg and saw his legs trembling when Shoaib came on to bowl.” Afridi further said that Tendulkar was scared of facing Saeed Ajmal during the World Cup. ALSO READ: ENG vs WI: Ben Stokes to follow Joe Root's advice and captain England 'his way' “It’s not a big deal, players do feel the pressure at times and it becomes difficult,” Afridi, who has scored 1524 runs in 67 ODIs and 709 runs from eights Tests against India. Interestingly, Tendulkar holds a brilliant average of 41.60 against Akhtar in Test cricket while scoring 416 runs. Akhtar, on the other hand, dismissed him thrice. Whereas in ODIs, Tendulkar has scored 864 runs at an average of 45.47 and a strike-rate of 90.18 with the Rawalpindi Express dismissing the Master Blaster five times in 19 ODIs.

Sachin Tendulkar was scared of facing Shoaib Akhtar, Saeed Ajmal: Shahid Afridi strikes with absurd claim

<p>Ben Stokes on Wednesday will become the latest captain to lead England in Test cricket as the ace all-rounder will replace Joe Root for the first Test against West Indies in Southampton. Root is set to miss the opener to attend the birth of his second child. Ahead of the Southampton Test, Stokes said he will follow Root's advice and lead England in his own way.</p>

<p>Stokes revealed that he received a message from Root when he got his official photos for the Test series done in the blazer. Root simply left a message on the hanger which said 'Do it your way'.</p>

<p>"The best message that I have received was when I got my photos done yesterday (Monday) in the blazer," said the star all-rounder. "Rooty just left a message on the hanger which said 'Do it your way'.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-vs-west-indies-preview-international-cricket-returns-to-life-311385" hreflang="en">England vs West Indies Preview: International cricket returns to life!</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>Just because Joe is not here doesn't mean I am not going to use him: Ben Stokes</strong></h2>

<p>Stokes is even open to contacting Root if required during the course of the Test as the all-rounder said that with Root not being present with the squad doesn't mean England won't use him. Stokes further said that he was sure Root will always be available on call if needed.</p>

<p>"Just because Joe is not here doesn't mean I am not going to use him," said Stokes, who will be captaining a team for the first time since he was a teenager.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/all-rounders-stokes-and-holder-to-lead-from-the-front-311301" hreflang="en">All-rounders Stokes and Holder to lead from the front</a></strong></p>

<p>"With Joe and his personal situation, it's been about letting him deal with that. "I haven't been on him too much but I am sure when the Test match starts, I know for a fact he will be at home watching and I know that his phone will always be available for me to get in contact with him if I need to."</p>

<p>The first Test in Southampton, which will take place behind closed doors, will mark the return of international cricket after a prolonged break due to COVID-19. And Stokes is of the view that precautions taken by England and the West Indies could serve as a model for other sports.</p>

<p>"There are obviously a lot of rules and regulations that have been put in place for this to happen," said Stokes.</p>

<p>"I feel as though a lot of respect has been shown from both sides to make sure this works. Because if you get one thing wrong, it might blow this whole 'get the sport back on to the radar of people' further back.</p>

<p>"We'll be doing everything we can to make sure we don't mess it up."</p>

<p>Stokes said the absence of spectators would be no reason for England to let their standards slip in what will be a "massive occasion".</p>

<p>"We can't use that as an excuse to not feel up for this game because we know we have hundreds of thousands of people following us and wanting us to do well back home watching us on TV."</p>

<p>England and the West Indies will wear Black Lives Matter logos on their shirts in support of the campaign against racial injustice and Stokes said Tuesday his side planned a further "gesture", although he did not specify if this would mean taking a knee.</p>

<p>"We aren’t in any way shape or form showing support towards any political matters on the movement," said Stokes. "We are all about equality through society and sport."</p>


Ben Stokes on Wednesday will become the latest captain to lead England in Test cricket as the ace all-rounder will replace Joe Root for the first Test against West Indies in Southampton.

Ben Stokes on Wednesday will become the latest captain to lead England in Test cricket as the ace all-rounder will replace Joe Root for the first Test against West Indies in Southampton. Root is set to miss the opener to attend the birth of his second child. Ahead of the Southampton Test, Stokes said he will follow Root's advice and lead England in his own way. Stokes revealed that he received a message from Root when he got his official photos for the Test series done in the blazer. Root simply left a message on the hanger which said 'Do it your way'. "The best message that I have received was when I got my photos done yesterday (Monday) in the blazer," said the star all-rounder. "Rooty just left a message on the hanger which said 'Do it your way'. ALSO READ: England vs West Indies Preview: International cricket returns to life! Just because Joe is not here doesn't mean I am not going to use him: Ben Stokes Stokes is even open to contacting Root if required during the course of the Test as the all-rounder said that with Root not being present with the squad doesn't mean England won't use him. Stokes further said that he was sure Root will always be available on call if needed. "Just because Joe is not here doesn't mean I am not going to use him," said Stokes, who will be captaining a team for the first time since he was a teenager. ALSO READ: All-rounders Stokes and Holder to lead from the front "With Joe and his personal situation, it's been about letting him deal with that. "I haven't been on him too much but I am sure when the Test match starts, I know for a fact he will be at home watching and I know that his phone will always be available for me to get in contact with him if I need to." The first Test in Southampton, which will take place behind closed doors, will mark the return of international cricket after a prolonged break due to COVID-19. And Stokes is of the view that precautions taken by England and the West Indies could serve as a model for other sports. "There are obviously a lot of rules and regulations that have been put in place for this to happen," said Stokes. "I feel as though a lot of respect has been shown from both sides to make sure this works. Because if you get one thing wrong, it might blow this whole 'get the sport back on to the radar of people' further back. "We'll be doing everything we can to make sure we don't mess it up." Stokes said the absence of spectators would be no reason for England to let their standards slip in what will be a "massive occasion". "We can't use that as an excuse to not feel up for this game because we know we have hundreds of thousands of people following us and wanting us to do well back home watching us on TV." England and the West Indies will wear Black Lives Matter logos on their shirts in support of the campaign against racial injustice and Stokes said Tuesday his side planned a further "gesture", although he did not specify if this would mean taking a knee. "We aren’t in any way shape or form showing support towards any political matters on the movement," said Stokes. "We are all about equality through society and sport."

ENG vs WI: Ben Stokes to follow Joe Root's advice and captain England 'his way'

<p>There was a time Mahendra Singh Dhoni used to be active on social media platforms. Fans have witnessed his witty side on micro-blogging platform Twitter and some of the tweets on Ravindra Jadeja or Chris Gayle are a testament to that. However, in the last few years, Dhoni has simply walked away from social media. Even though his official accounts still get unprecedented traffic and mentions, Dhoni doesn’t tweet or post about anything, no matter what the situation is. And that is absolutely fine. He broke the records on the field and continues to do so off-the-field.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sir jadeja doesn't run to take the catch but the ball finds him and lands on his hand</p>
— Mahendra Singh Dhoni (@msdhoni) <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni/status/321544297390436352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Life is all about taking the right decision,seeing Gayle bat today I think I took the right decision of being a wicket keeper.</p>
— Mahendra Singh Dhoni (@msdhoni) <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni/status/326671233901019136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thala...what a man, what a journey! The Mahi Way brought to you with an exclusive song 'Mahi Ve' in Hindi and Thamizh! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayDhoni</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> 🦁💛 <a href="https://t.co/ps1TpL6QZQ">pic.twitter.com/ps1TpL6QZQ</a></p>
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/1280474477915107329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Dhoni was never a media-savvy guy, his relationship with media has mostly been through press conferences or rare interviews in past, and he is someone who doesn’t bother to garner attention through media. His appearances on social media platforms are little glimpses through Instagram live sessions of his wife Sakshi Dhoni or when Chennai Super Kings post something about him. But that is it for Dhoni and his presence on social media.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">2.1Million+ tweets in 24 hours span 🔥<br />
<br />
8.8B Potential Reach 💥<br />
5M Engagement 🎯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayDhoni</a><br />
<br />
Happy Birthday THALAIVA. <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MSDhoni</a> ♥️ <a href="https://t.co/O7NKWgpuSr">pic.twitter.com/O7NKWgpuSr</a></p>
— DHONIsm™ ❤️ (@DHONIism) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHONIism/status/1280479836721442816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">You are My God MS DHONI<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayDhoni</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a></p>
— Sharukh MSD™ (@StanMSD) <a href="https://twitter.com/StanMSD/status/1280479194867052544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Retweet if you’re proud fans of <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a>. 🙏🏻😇<br />
<br />
🚁 National Helicopter Day 🚁<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayDhoni</a> <a href="https://t.co/X8SdPsh3ZU">pic.twitter.com/X8SdPsh3ZU</a></p>
— MS Dhoni Fans Official (@msdfansofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/msdfansofficial/status/1280439954665947136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>However, such is the love for Dhoni that on his 39th birthday, hashtags like #HappyBirthdayDhoni, #HappyBirthdayMahi, #HappyBirthdayMSDhoni were top of the trending charts. The love for Dhoni is never-ending. Whatever he has achieved for Team India and Chennai Super Kings is historic and a benchmark for every cricketer but is there anyone who can be as cool as Dhoni?</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Highest Number of Authors Participated in the Cricketer's Brithday Tag<br />
<br />
1. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayDhoni</a> - 45.2K 💥<br />
2. HappyBirthdaySachin - 15.5K<br />
3. HappyBirthdayRohit - 13K <a href="https://t.co/CLvgMa1WOf">pic.twitter.com/CLvgMa1WOf</a></p>
— DHONIsm™ ❤️ (@DHONIism) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHONIism/status/1280482299688022019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>When India crashed out of the ICC World Cup 2019 after the heartbreaking defeat to New Zealand, rumours of his retirement started to follow. And in a blink of an eye, hashtags like #MSDhoniRetires and #DontRetireDhoni were an instant trend.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Whenever Dhoni’s immense fanbase miss the former Indian captain, #MissYouDhoni, #MissYouMSD are seen on the trending section of Twitter.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Most Celebrated Name <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayDhoni</a></p>
— P A N T H E R™ (@CricSurya07) <a href="https://twitter.com/CricSurya07/status/1280461905379971072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>#HappyBirthdayDhoni touched 2.1 million tweets in a span of 24 hours. The potential reach stands at a staggering 8.8 billion with around 5 million engagements. On his 39th birthday, Dhoni’s official Twitter handle @MSDhoni was mentioned for around 1.6 million times and it is again a testament to how much fans love Dhoni.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">1.6 MILLION Mentions for <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MSDhoni</a> twitter account in last 24 Hours. 🤩♥️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayDhoni</a> <a href="https://t.co/tAh5g4WmFc">pic.twitter.com/tAh5g4WmFc</a></p>
— DHONIsm™ ❤️ (@DHONIism) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHONIism/status/1280484076705574918?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Wicket-keeper ✅<br />
Goalkeeper ✅<br />
<br />
Join us in wishing <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> a very <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthday</a> 🎂🥳<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeroISL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeroISL</a> <a href="https://t.co/2ROJybYpEh">pic.twitter.com/2ROJybYpEh</a></p>
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndSuperLeague/status/1280359533651439616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Playing blockbuster knocks, finishing matches off in style, leading India to all ICC trophies, captaining CSK to three IPL trophies and much more. It is yet to be seen whether Dhoni will return to Indian colours or not but one thing for sure, his fandom and aura are just getting started. Imagine what will happen, if he simply tweets again!&nbsp;Again, happy 39th birthday MS Dhoni.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


There was a time Mahendra Singh Dhoni used to be active on social media platforms. Fans have witnessed his witty side on micro-blogging platform Twitter and some of the tweets on Ravindra Jadeja or Chris Gayle are a testament to that.

There was a time Mahendra Singh Dhoni used to be active on social media platforms. Fans have witnessed his witty side on micro-blogging platform Twitter and some of the tweets on Ravindra Jadeja or Chris Gayle are a testament to that. However, in the last few years, Dhoni has simply walked away from social media. Even though his official accounts still get unprecedented traffic and mentions, Dhoni doesn’t tweet or post about anything, no matter what the situation is. And that is absolutely fine. He broke the records on the field and continues to do so off-the-field. Sir jadeja doesn't run to take the catch but the ball finds him and lands on his hand — Mahendra Singh Dhoni (@msdhoni) April 9, 2013 × Life is all about taking the right decision,seeing Gayle bat today I think I took the right decision of being a wicket keeper. — Mahendra Singh Dhoni (@msdhoni) April 23, 2013 × Thala...what a man, what a journey! The Mahi Way brought to you with an exclusive song 'Mahi Ve' in Hindi and Thamizh! #HappyBirthdayDhoni #WhistlePodu @msdhoni 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/ps1TpL6QZQ — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) July 7, 2020 × Dhoni was never a media-savvy guy, his relationship with media has mostly been through press conferences or rare interviews in past, and he is someone who doesn’t bother to garner attention through media. His appearances on social media platforms are little glimpses through Instagram live sessions of his wife Sakshi Dhoni or when Chennai Super Kings post something about him. But that is it for Dhoni and his presence on social media. 2.1Million+ tweets in 24 hours span 🔥 8.8B Potential Reach 💥 5M Engagement 🎯#HappyBirthdayDhoni Happy Birthday THALAIVA. @MSDhoni ♥️ pic.twitter.com/O7NKWgpuSr — DHONIsm™ ❤️ (@DHONIism) July 7, 2020 × You are My God MS DHONI#HappyBirthdayDhoni | @msdhoni — Sharukh MSD™ (@StanMSD) July 7, 2020 × Retweet if you’re proud fans of @msdhoni. 🙏🏻😇 🚁 National Helicopter Day 🚁#HappyBirthdayDhoni pic.twitter.com/X8SdPsh3ZU — MS Dhoni Fans Official (@msdfansofficial) July 7, 2020 × However, such is the love for Dhoni that on his 39th birthday, hashtags like #HappyBirthdayDhoni, #HappyBirthdayMahi, #HappyBirthdayMSDhoni were top of the trending charts. The love for Dhoni is never-ending. Whatever he has achieved for Team India and Chennai Super Kings is historic and a benchmark for every cricketer but is there anyone who can be as cool as Dhoni? Highest Number of Authors Participated in the Cricketer's Brithday Tag 1. #HappyBirthdayDhoni - 45.2K 💥 2. HappyBirthdaySachin - 15.5K 3. HappyBirthdayRohit - 13K pic.twitter.com/CLvgMa1WOf — DHONIsm™ ❤️ (@DHONIism) July 7, 2020 × When India crashed out of the ICC World Cup 2019 after the heartbreaking defeat to New Zealand, rumours of his retirement started to follow. And in a blink of an eye, hashtags like #MSDhoniRetires and #DontRetireDhoni were an instant trend. Whenever Dhoni’s immense fanbase miss the former Indian captain, #MissYouDhoni, #MissYouMSD are seen on the trending section of Twitter. Most Celebrated Name @msdhoni #HappyBirthdayDhoni — P A N T H E R™ (@CricSurya07) July 7, 2020 × #HappyBirthdayDhoni touched 2.1 million tweets in a span of 24 hours. The potential reach stands at a staggering 8.8 billion with around 5 million engagements. On his 39th birthday, Dhoni’s official Twitter handle @MSDhoni was mentioned for around 1.6 million times and it is again a testament to how much fans love Dhoni. 1.6 MILLION Mentions for @MSDhoni twitter account in last 24 Hours. 🤩♥️#HappyBirthdayDhoni pic.twitter.com/tAh5g4WmFc — DHONIsm™ ❤️ (@DHONIism) July 7, 2020 × Wicket-keeper ✅ Goalkeeper ✅ Join us in wishing @msdhoni a very #HappyBirthday 🎂🥳#HeroISL pic.twitter.com/2ROJybYpEh — Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) July 7, 2020 × Playing blockbuster knocks, finishing matches off in style, leading India to all ICC trophies, captaining CSK to three IPL trophies and much more. It is yet to be seen whether Dhoni will return to Indian colours or not but one thing for sure, his fandom and aura are just getting started. Imagine what will happen, if he simply tweets again! Again, happy 39th birthday MS Dhoni.

MS Dhoni's 39th birthday proves why 'Dhonism' is permanent

<p>No fans in the stadiums, COVID substitutions, no usage saliva, no hugging, no high-fives and hand santizers placed nearby the boundary ropes. Cricket will be back on July 8 (Wednesday) in a different look, but the players and fans will be eager to get back into the action, albeit with a change.&nbsp;England and the West Indies are set to be the first two sides to restart international cricket following a prolonged break due to COVID-19 outbreak as the Ageas Bowl in Southampton will witness the red cherry swing again.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Both England and West Indies have been staying and practising in the much-talked-about ‘bio-secure bubble’ and so far, it has reaped rewards with zero cases of the coronavirus among both the teams.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We have been following 6️⃣ of our men’s and women’s players on the Road to Return from lockdown to international cricket! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏏<br />
<br />
Watch Episode 1 with <a href="https://twitter.com/MAWood33?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MAWood33</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/chriswoakes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chriswoakes</a> 👇<br />
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w/ <a href="https://twitter.com/RL_Cricket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RL_Cricket</a></p>
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/englandcricket/status/1280094390266953730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>While the cricket community has been deprived of any sort of live-action for more than three months now, the fact that the gentlemen’s game is returning with its longest format of the game will also be fruitful for the traditional format with billions of eyes tuning in to see the likes of James Anderson, Kemar Roach, Ben Stokes, Jason Holder and others in action.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvWI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvWI</a> Wonder if we can expect to see a celebration dance from the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MenInMaroon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MenInMaroon</a>? 👀🕺🏽🌴<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewNorm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NewNorm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayingSafe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayingSafe</a> <a href="https://t.co/b8tZDm8adT">pic.twitter.com/b8tZDm8adT</a></p>
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/windiescricket/status/1280457073910841344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/all-rounders-stokes-and-holder-to-lead-from-the-front-311301" hreflang="en">All-rounders Stokes and Holder to lead from the front</a></strong></p>

<p>The build-up to the series has been on a really cautious note with regular tests, all safety measures in place. The warm-up matches gave an insight on how cricket will be played post the COVID-19 era.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The mere fact that we are getting the opportunity to play cricket, you know I think we should cherish it. Many organisations around the world are taking pay cuts, cricketing organisations as well and we've suddenly got an opportunity now to continue to make money. So, a lot of things to be thankful for and I think in the context of the situation now, we've just got to be thankful and make sure that we relish the opportunity and grab it with both hands,” said Windies captain Jason Holder ahead of the series opener in Southampton.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Get in the mood for our series against <a href="https://twitter.com/windiescricket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@windiescricket</a> starting tomorrow by watching back <a href="https://twitter.com/jimmy9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jimmy9</a>'s best Test bowling figures of 7/42! 😍 <a href="https://t.co/gnqwHstZ8e">pic.twitter.com/gnqwHstZ8e</a></p>
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/englandcricket/status/1280396440729194496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>In what can be termed as another major change, the neutral umpires rule has been temporarily scrapped while keeping the logistical challenges in mind. And yes, there will be three DRS reviews instead of two in each innings.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-vs-pakistan-ecb-announces-full-fixtures-for-test-and-t20i-series-311132" hreflang="en">England vs Pakistan: ECB announces full fixtures for Test and T20I series</a></strong></p>

<p>West Indies defied the odds and handed a series defeat to England in the Caribbean in 2019 and would be hopeful of replicating the same kind of form when they take to the field on Wednesday.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">TRAINING DAY: The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MenInMaroon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MenInMaroon</a> put in some WORK today! 💪🏾WI are finalizing preparations for the first test of the Sandals Tour of England 2020, starting on Wednesday! 🙌🏿<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CricketIsBack?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CricketIsBack</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MenInMaroon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MenInMaroon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WIReady?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WIReady</a> 🌴🏏 <a href="https://t.co/ZPzYbzA05p">pic.twitter.com/ZPzYbzA05p</a></p>
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/windiescricket/status/1280256046636900353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Another major aspect of the much-awaited series will see the players join the Black Lives Matter movement with both the sides set to sport BLM logos on their collars in solidarity with the global fight against racism.</p>

<p>The outcome of the series will only be clear after it is concluded but one thing is for sure, cricket is back and everyone is thankful for it. &nbsp;</p>


No fans in the stadiums, COVID substitutions, no usage saliva, no hugging, no high-fives and hand santizers placed nearby the boundary ropes. Cricket will be back on July 8 (Wednesday) in a different look, but the players and fans will be eager to get back into the action, albeit with a change.

No fans in the stadiums, COVID substitutions, no usage saliva, no hugging, no high-fives and hand santizers placed nearby the boundary ropes. Cricket will be back on July 8 (Wednesday) in a different look, but the players and fans will be eager to get back into the action, albeit with a change. England and the West Indies are set to be the first two sides to restart international cricket following a prolonged break due to COVID-19 outbreak as the Ageas Bowl in Southampton will witness the red cherry swing again. Both England and West Indies have been staying and practising in the much-talked-about ‘bio-secure bubble’ and so far, it has reaped rewards with zero cases of the coronavirus among both the teams. We have been following 6️⃣ of our men’s and women’s players on the Road to Return from lockdown to international cricket! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏏 Watch Episode 1 with @MAWood33 @chriswoakes 👇 w/ @RL_Cricket — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 6, 2020 × While the cricket community has been deprived of any sort of live-action for more than three months now, the fact that the gentlemen’s game is returning with its longest format of the game will also be fruitful for the traditional format with billions of eyes tuning in to see the likes of James Anderson, Kemar Roach, Ben Stokes, Jason Holder and others in action. #ENGvWI Wonder if we can expect to see a celebration dance from the #MenInMaroon? 👀🕺🏽🌴#NewNorm #StayingSafe pic.twitter.com/b8tZDm8adT — Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 7, 2020 × ALSO READ: All-rounders Stokes and Holder to lead from the front The build-up to the series has been on a really cautious note with regular tests, all safety measures in place. The warm-up matches gave an insight on how cricket will be played post the COVID-19 era. "The mere fact that we are getting the opportunity to play cricket, you know I think we should cherish it. Many organisations around the world are taking pay cuts, cricketing organisations as well and we've suddenly got an opportunity now to continue to make money. So, a lot of things to be thankful for and I think in the context of the situation now, we've just got to be thankful and make sure that we relish the opportunity and grab it with both hands,” said Windies captain Jason Holder ahead of the series opener in Southampton. Get in the mood for our series against @windiescricket starting tomorrow by watching back @jimmy9's best Test bowling figures of 7/42! 😍 pic.twitter.com/gnqwHstZ8e — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 7, 2020 × In what can be termed as another major change, the neutral umpires rule has been temporarily scrapped while keeping the logistical challenges in mind. And yes, there will be three DRS reviews instead of two in each innings. ALSO READ: England vs Pakistan: ECB announces full fixtures for Test and T20I series West Indies defied the odds and handed a series defeat to England in the Caribbean in 2019 and would be hopeful of replicating the same kind of form when they take to the field on Wednesday. TRAINING DAY: The #MenInMaroon put in some WORK today! 💪🏾WI are finalizing preparations for the first test of the Sandals Tour of England 2020, starting on Wednesday! 🙌🏿#CricketIsBack #MenInMaroon #WIReady 🌴🏏 pic.twitter.com/ZPzYbzA05p — Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 6, 2020 × Another major aspect of the much-awaited series will see the players join the Black Lives Matter movement with both the sides set to sport BLM logos on their collars in solidarity with the global fight against racism. The outcome of the series will only be clear after it is concluded but one thing is for sure, cricket is back and everyone is thankful for it.

England vs West Indies Preview: International cricket returns to life!

<p>As the clock struck 12 o'clock in the midnight, entire cricket fraternity, fans from all over the world started wishing the legendary Indian cricketer MS Dhoni a very happy birthday. From Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Chennai Super Kings, the BCCI to millions of cricket lovers showered their love for Dhoni by wishing him on his 39th birth anniversary.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In fact, the #HappyBirthdayDhoni and #HappyBirthdayMSDhoni started trending on social media platform Twitter hours before midnight as fans geared up to wish ‘Thala’ on his special day. Such is the aura of Dhoni that even Cricket Australia posted a video compilation of some of the biggest sixes smashed by ‘Mahi’. The newly-released song by West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo makes the day even more special.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ms-dhoni-turns-39-check-out-some-of-his-coolest-records-311213">IN PICS |&nbsp;MS Dhoni turns 39! Check out some of his coolest records</a></p>

<h2><strong>Wishes pour in on MS Dhoni's 39th birthday:</strong></h2>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy b'day Mahi bhai. Wish you good health and happiness always. God bless you 🙏😃 <a href="https://t.co/i9zR4Zb5A3">pic.twitter.com/i9zR4Zb5A3</a></p>
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1280358762608422912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">One man, countless moments of joy! 🇮🇳🙌<br />
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Let’s celebrate <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a>'s birthday by revisiting some of his monstrous sixes! 📽️💪<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayDhoni</a></p>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1280208652020768768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>While Dhoni last took to the cricket field in the semi-final of ICC World Cup 2019, fans have been waiting to catch a glimpse of MSD smashing it all over the park. In normal circumstances, Dhoni would have played in IPL 2020 and might have again taken CSK to the playoffs, which has become a regularity.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Cooling off with Mr Cool. Happy birthday <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a>. <a href="https://t.co/fZQgGGRcD4">pic.twitter.com/fZQgGGRcD4</a></p>
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImRo45/status/1280393851933351938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A heartfelt letter to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Thala?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Thala</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> from none other than namma <a href="https://twitter.com/JadhavKedar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JadhavKedar</a>! 🦁💛 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayDhoni</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/InsideCricket07?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@InsideCricket07</a> <a href="https://t.co/df4VhwF2Sb">pic.twitter.com/df4VhwF2Sb</a></p>
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/1280390173486837761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chennai's Super Kids launch their own helicopters! 🚁 Watch the full video on <a href="https://t.co/GNjiqx4ZhM">https://t.co/GNjiqx4ZhM</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayDhoni</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> 🦁💛 <a href="https://t.co/TurKiweLHO">pic.twitter.com/TurKiweLHO</a></p>
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/1280363959363592192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>However, despite Dhoni being out of the field for almost a year now, his fandom seems to be on a never before seen rise. Wishes, tributes and love for Dhoni followed and will continue to follow throughout the day.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Lions roar in their wishes and recount their favourite memory with this ever-favourite man! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayDhoni</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> 🦁💛 <a href="https://t.co/UBlPU5BSvc">pic.twitter.com/UBlPU5BSvc</a></p>
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/1280211506680872961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Unique stats, fan letters, well-articulated threads are a small token of gesture by the fans to Dhoni for fulfilling the dreams of more than a billion people. Be it winning all the ICC trophies or taking India to No. 1 Test spot, Team India, under the leadership of Dhoni, has witnessed an epic rise and continue to reap the rewards to date.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A level-headed human being who always places the team ahead of his individual milestones - a true definition of a visionary leader.⠀ ⠀<br />
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Happy birthday <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> bhai! Wishing you a helicop'terrific' year ahead. 🚁🙌🏻<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayDhoni</a> <a href="https://t.co/uEkKMb7r1o">pic.twitter.com/uEkKMb7r1o</a></p>
— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/mayankcricket/status/1280389062524678144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">MS Dhoni: India's Mr. 360! Behind point, behind square, down the wicket... Thala's 359 international sixes have covered all parts of the ground! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayDhoni</a> <a href="https://t.co/XsHg7rAxMd">pic.twitter.com/XsHg7rAxMd</a></p>
— 🏏FlashScore Cricket Commentators (@FlashCric) <a href="https://twitter.com/FlashCric/status/1280387324069711872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">One of the biggest hitters we've ever seen!<br />
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MS Dhoni turns 39 today, and here are his best sixes in Australia! 🥳 <a href="https://t.co/AtBBFMib3F">pic.twitter.com/AtBBFMib3F</a></p>
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketcomau/status/1280306360714838016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Whether Dhoni will return to Indian colours remains a mystery but one thing for sure, the legend of Dhoni will live forever. And keeping aside all the speculations, we all can just enjoy the ride. If you are missing seeing Dhoni in action, just switch the tabs and witness how he hammered it while he was training for CSK at the Chepauk before the lockdown was implemented. Happy 39th birthday, MS Dhoni.&nbsp;</p>


As the clock struck 12 o'clock in the midnight, entire cricket fraternity, fans from all over the world started wishing the legendary Indian cricketer MS Dhoni a very happy birthday.

As the clock struck 12 o'clock in the midnight, entire cricket fraternity, fans from all over the world started wishing the legendary Indian cricketer MS Dhoni a very happy birthday. From Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Chennai Super Kings, the BCCI to millions of cricket lovers showered their love for Dhoni by wishing him on his 39th birth anniversary. In fact, the #HappyBirthdayDhoni and #HappyBirthdayMSDhoni started trending on social media platform Twitter hours before midnight as fans geared up to wish ‘Thala’ on his special day. Such is the aura of Dhoni that even Cricket Australia posted a video compilation of some of the biggest sixes smashed by ‘Mahi’. The newly-released song by West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo makes the day even more special. IN PICS | MS Dhoni turns 39! Check out some of his coolest records Wishes pour in on MS Dhoni's 39th birthday: Happy b'day Mahi bhai. Wish you good health and happiness always. God bless you 🙏😃 pic.twitter.com/i9zR4Zb5A3 — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 7, 2020 × One man, countless moments of joy! 🇮🇳🙌 Let’s celebrate @msdhoni's birthday by revisiting some of his monstrous sixes! 📽️💪#HappyBirthdayDhoni — BCCI (@BCCI) July 6, 2020 × While Dhoni last took to the cricket field in the semi-final of ICC World Cup 2019, fans have been waiting to catch a glimpse of MSD smashing it all over the park. In normal circumstances, Dhoni would have played in IPL 2020 and might have again taken CSK to the playoffs, which has become a regularity. Cooling off with Mr Cool. Happy birthday @msdhoni. pic.twitter.com/fZQgGGRcD4 — Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) July 7, 2020 × A heartfelt letter to #Thala @msdhoni from none other than namma @JadhavKedar! 🦁💛 #HappyBirthdayDhoni @InsideCricket07 pic.twitter.com/df4VhwF2Sb — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) July 7, 2020 × Chennai's Super Kids launch their own helicopters! 🚁 Watch the full video on https://t.co/GNjiqx4ZhM. #HappyBirthdayDhoni #WhistlePodu 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/TurKiweLHO — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) July 7, 2020 × However, despite Dhoni being out of the field for almost a year now, his fandom seems to be on a never before seen rise. Wishes, tributes and love for Dhoni followed and will continue to follow throughout the day. The Lions roar in their wishes and recount their favourite memory with this ever-favourite man! #HappyBirthdayDhoni #WhistlePodu 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/UBlPU5BSvc — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) July 6, 2020 × Unique stats, fan letters, well-articulated threads are a small token of gesture by the fans to Dhoni for fulfilling the dreams of more than a billion people. Be it winning all the ICC trophies or taking India to No. 1 Test spot, Team India, under the leadership of Dhoni, has witnessed an epic rise and continue to reap the rewards to date. × A level-headed human being who always places the team ahead of his individual milestones - a true definition of a visionary leader.⠀ ⠀ Happy birthday @msdhoni bhai! Wishing you a helicop'terrific' year ahead. 🚁🙌🏻#HappyBirthdayDhoni pic.twitter.com/uEkKMb7r1o — Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) July 7, 2020 × MS Dhoni: India's Mr. 360! Behind point, behind square, down the wicket... Thala's 359 international sixes have covered all parts of the ground! #HappyBirthdayDhoni pic.twitter.com/XsHg7rAxMd — 🏏FlashScore Cricket Commentators (@FlashCric) July 7, 2020 × One of the biggest hitters we've ever seen! MS Dhoni turns 39 today, and here are his best sixes in Australia! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/AtBBFMib3F — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) July 7, 2020 × Whether Dhoni will return to Indian colours remains a mystery but one thing for sure, the legend of Dhoni will live forever. And keeping aside all the speculations, we all can just enjoy the ride. If you are missing seeing Dhoni in action, just switch the tabs and witness how he hammered it while he was training for CSK at the Chepauk before the lockdown was implemented. Happy 39th birthday, MS Dhoni.

Happy Birthday MS Dhoni: World unites to celebrate as wishes and tributes pour in for MSD

<p>West Indies are set to field their latest fast-bowling quartet during this week's first Test against England in Southampton, with the likes of Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach, captain Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph all vying to make an impact.</p>

<p>The Caribbean has a long and proud history of producing top-class fast bowlers.</p>

<p>AFP Sport looks back at some previous West Indies pace attacks in England:</p>

<h2>1980: Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Colin Croft</h2>

<p>-- The original 'fearsome foursome' revolutionised world cricket under the captaincy of Clive Lloyd by ensuring there was no respite for batsmen even when the shine had gone off the ball.</p>

<p>Although all capable of being genuinely quick, the guile of Roberts, the speed through the air of Holding, the steepling bounce and crushing yorkers of the 6ft 8in Garner and the awkwardness of Croft, from wide of the crease or around the wicket, meant they each posed different problems for batsmen.</p>

<p>Meanwhile this series also saw Malcolm Marshall, arguably the greatest West Indies fast bowler of them all, start to establish himself in the side.</p>

<p>Even so, the West Indies only won the series 1-0, with Roberts taking eight wickets in a two-wicket win in the opener at Trent Bridge before the other four matches were all drawn largely due to weather interruptions.</p>

<h2>1984: Marshall, Garner, Holding, Eldine Baptiste</h2>

<p>-- The 'Blackwash' team hammered England 5-0. The writing was on the wall for the hosts when Marshall struck debutant Andy Lloyd on the head with a bouncer in the series opener, with the batsman never playing another Test.</p>

<p>Marshall's mastery was evident when he took seven for 53 in the third Test at Headingley despite a broken thumb an he finished the series with 24 wickets at 18.20 despite missing a match through injury. Barbados team-mate Garner took 29 wickets at 18.62.</p>

<h2>1988: Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Winston Benjamin/Patrick Patterson</h2>

<p>-- West Indies won 4-0 in a series where England's disarray was summed up by the fact they got through four captains.</p>

<p>Marshall, capable of both sheer pace and late movement, led the way with 35 wickets at a staggeringly low average of 12.65 apiece, with Ambrose -- soon to become the leader of the attack -- and Walsh offering excellent support.</p>

<h2>1995: Ambrose, Walsh, Kenny Benjamin, Ian Bishop</h2>

<p>-- With the likes of batting greats Gordon Greenidge and Vivian Richards having now both retired, the West Indies found themselves held to a 2-2 draw in a six-Test series.</p>

<p>But all four frontline bowlers still took more than 21 wickets each.</p>

<p>Nevertheless there were signs the West Indies were not the force they had been and in 2000 England beat them in a series for the first time in 31 years.</p>


West Indies are set to field their latest fast-bowling quartet during this week's first Test against England in Southampton, with the likes of Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach, captain Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph all vying to make an impact.

West Indies are set to field their latest fast-bowling quartet during this week's first Test against England in Southampton, with the likes of Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach, captain Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph all vying to make an impact. The Caribbean has a long and proud history of producing top-class fast bowlers. AFP Sport looks back at some previous West Indies pace attacks in England: 1980: Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Colin Croft -- The original 'fearsome foursome' revolutionised world cricket under the captaincy of Clive Lloyd by ensuring there was no respite for batsmen even when the shine had gone off the ball. Although all capable of being genuinely quick, the guile of Roberts, the speed through the air of Holding, the steepling bounce and crushing yorkers of the 6ft 8in Garner and the awkwardness of Croft, from wide of the crease or around the wicket, meant they each posed different problems for batsmen. Meanwhile this series also saw Malcolm Marshall, arguably the greatest West Indies fast bowler of them all, start to establish himself in the side. Even so, the West Indies only won the series 1-0, with Roberts taking eight wickets in a two-wicket win in the opener at Trent Bridge before the other four matches were all drawn largely due to weather interruptions. 1984: Marshall, Garner, Holding, Eldine Baptiste -- The 'Blackwash' team hammered England 5-0. The writing was on the wall for the hosts when Marshall struck debutant Andy Lloyd on the head with a bouncer in the series opener, with the batsman never playing another Test. Marshall's mastery was evident when he took seven for 53 in the third Test at Headingley despite a broken thumb an he finished the series with 24 wickets at 18.20 despite missing a match through injury. Barbados team-mate Garner took 29 wickets at 18.62. 1988: Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Winston Benjamin/Patrick Patterson -- West Indies won 4-0 in a series where England's disarray was summed up by the fact they got through four captains. Marshall, capable of both sheer pace and late movement, led the way with 35 wickets at a staggeringly low average of 12.65 apiece, with Ambrose -- soon to become the leader of the attack -- and Walsh offering excellent support. 1995: Ambrose, Walsh, Kenny Benjamin, Ian Bishop -- With the likes of batting greats Gordon Greenidge and Vivian Richards having now both retired, the West Indies found themselves held to a 2-2 draw in a six-Test series. But all four frontline bowlers still took more than 21 wickets each. Nevertheless there were signs the West Indies were not the force they had been and in 2000 England beat them in a series for the first time in 31 years.

West Indies unleash latest 'Fab Four' in England

<p>Sreesanth is all set to make his comeback to the cricket field after a seven-year-break. The 37-year-old's aspiration to be back on the field was bolstered by Kerala coach Tinu Yohanan's words of motivation and the right-handed seamer is looking forward to hitting the ground running and help Kerala win trophies in the domestic circuit. With lofty goals and passion, Sreesanth is gearing up to bridge the lost gap while learning and sharing his experience with the young guns of Indian cricket.</p>

<p>In an exclusive chat with WION, Sreesanth opened up about life in lockdown, training phase, what goals he has set for himself, changing landscape of cricket, IPL 2020, Michael Jordan's mental conditioning coach Tim Grover, his ultimate Team India XI (present) and much more.</p>

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<p><strong>Subhayan Chakraborty: </strong>Thank you Sreesanth for your time, how did the lockdown phase go for you?</p>

<p><strong>Sreesanth:</strong> It’s treating me well. I did say that people need to stick to their house to curb the spread and honestly, there are certain jobs which can be done from home. But imagine me, I have been in lockdown for close to seven years now. I missed the thing I love – play cricket. But thankfully, it is during the coronavirus pandemic that I got a green signal from Kerala Cricket Association so it has been a blessing in disguise.&nbsp;</p>

<p>I am spending a lot of time with my family. I love to read and write and I am reading a lot now, and trying to get my values right. I have been training in my home and I will be back again at the nets soon. But I urge people to stay indoors and as a wise man once said, ‘you have to win the war and small battles matter a lot’. I am not a wise man but I say that to be a national hero, stay indoors and if you really need to go out then take all the precautions. Don’t be lazy when it comes to hygiene.</p>

<p>I am writing something on whatever has happened in the last couple of months, I am writing on the lines of ‘loneliness is equal to geniuses’. The emphasis is on meditation and focus will be on ‘enjoy yourself during this time.’ Another thing I learned is painting and I am thinking of starting a YouTube channel.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>SC: </strong>How has your body been responding to the resumption of practice and full-fledged training for cricket?&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Sreesanth: </strong>God has been extremely kind. A 37-year-old is trying to make a comeback to international cricket. I think the break has been a blessing in disguise for my body as it helped me to freshen up my mind, I try to think positively. I did a couple of movies which helped remain in good shape but when it comes to cricket, the Celebrity Cricket League helped me be into cricket. I worked with Dilip Vengsarkar sir there. So being a bowling coach helped me a lot in keeping my fitness in check. I was 100-102 kgs before I went to Bigg Boss but with no food there, it helped me lose some weight (laughs). Ayurveda and Indian food has helped me keep my fitness intact and I would advise everyone to at least try it. It is miraculous.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For match fitness, yes, I have to play a lot and I am looking forward to it. I am fresh and raring to go. Some players who used to play with me have retired because they are mentally and physically tired but that is not the case for me as I haven’t played for the last seven years. So yes, I am there for the long run now.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Sreesanth" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="762b8e60-d6b0-4833-955b-fa0fda66aa06" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del143706.jpg" /></p>

<p><strong>SC:</strong> But let’s be honest here, playing one match is a different thing but playing an entire season is a different ball game. Do you think your body is ready to sustain that sort of pressure?</p>

<p><strong>Sreesanth: </strong>Absolutely! When you are a youngster, an under-19 cricketer, you can afford to not sleep in time and eat healthily. But at my age, you have to be very particular about how you maintain your lifestyle. I am enjoying a healthy lifestyle now. In my opinion, it is all about mindset. I am not physically or mentally exhausted. After this long break, I am feeling like a youngster. I am not here for a season, I am here to sustain four or five seasons. My goal is to help Kerala win and help youngsters grow and then move to some of the smaller teams. I don’t want to hold onto a youngster’s position and rather would pass on my experience for them to learn from it.&nbsp;<br />
During this break, I have learned about different types of training, recovery training and all. So that will help me a lot. I am a positive person and Sreesanth was never a realistic person. I will defy all the odds again. And my message to all, don’t think about age, just lock on a target and work on that.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>SC:</strong> Cricket has completely in these last seven years. Are you prepared to learn and grasp things from youngsters and be a better bowler?</p>

<p><strong>Sreesanth:</strong> The way I look at this is that it will be a debut match for me. It is all about the experience. You have to accept that there are better players. Yes, I have to learn a lot about the changed rules. I didn’t know that there were two new white balls and I have no shame in accepting that. Thanks to Sachin Baby, Sanju Samson, Basil Thampi and others, they all have way more experience in the last seven years. They have played the IPL and know modern cricket. I have so many things to learn from them. I still have that out-swinger, I can still bowl toe-crushing yorkers. I still have that in-cutter from which I got Sachin paaji (Sachin Tendulkar) out in 2005.</p>

<p>But yes, I do accept that I have so many things to learn from the younger players. I am not worried about spit-ban, just bowl your heart out. If you have proper priorities, you won’t have any problem in life. I want to leave a legacy and set fresh benchmarks.</p>

<p><strong>SC:</strong> Kerala’s performance wasn’t up to the mark but the pace attack with the likes of Basil Thampi, KM Asif looks pretty decent on paper and your addition could further bolster it. Do you look at it as competition for places?</p>

<p><strong>Sreesanth:</strong> We have fast bowlers who could represent the country at any given day. I am not here to compete. Something I have written ‘everybody knows what they want to be but most of them don’t know what they want to become’. I exactly know who I want to be. I can never get my seven years back but I am so grateful that I got to learn so much thing about life. There is no ego now, there is no competition. I am here to help. I will be starting Sreesanth Sports Academy soon, and that will be a small contribution to help the youngsters from my side. I will help each and everyone to better than me and then only I can be better than them. And if I end up with good performances, then hopefully I will be back playing for the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Sreesanth" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4729c061-8f6c-4685-bec9-184a46de0931" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del465036.jpg" /></p>

<p><strong>SC: </strong>What about your aspirations for IPL?</p>

<p><strong>Sreesanth:</strong> I will definitely put my name if my association allows. I think I am a good enough bowler and if any franchise contacts me before the auctions then I would love to be back in IPL. I have done decently in these last seven years. I have done movies, reality shows and I have continued to earn for my family. But I am not worrying about the results that is something I am preaching. Seven years is a long time for the season but for me, it was like a life sentence and I am ready to help and learn.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>SC:</strong> How was your time learning from Michael Jordan’s mental conditioning coach Tim Grover?</p>

<p><strong>Sreesanth: </strong>What he was teaching is being unapologetic. I learned a lot about how Michael Jordan created his legacy. Again coronavirus has been a blessing in disguise, otherwise, I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to learn from him. He is brute honest, something I learned from him. Being yourself, being your own competition is something which he taught me. That is what Tim Grover taught me but equally, Ramji Srinivasan has been a big help for me. He was the one who told me to run for 30 minutes or else I wouldn’t survive the physical intensity of the sport.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>SC:</strong> A chat with Sreesanth is incomplete without that South Africa tour. Almost everyone knows about the Andre Nel incident but not many how Jacques Rudolph triggered you.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Sreesanth:</strong> Every day you learn. I have to thank Dada (Sourav Ganguly). Initially, I had no clue about how to bowl to left-handers. I just used to release the ball and hope that the batsman would get LBW or bowler. But it was Dada who told me ‘I know you struggle against left-handers so let’s practice’. So I used to bowl him in the nets. He helped me with the angle, release point and other technicalities. You know, when you bowl to the best, you become the best. When there are legends like Dada, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir are there in the dressing room and for that matter Murali Vijay, Dinesh Karthik have good technique.</p>

<p><img alt="Sreesanth" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="130ffd56-a672-47db-8f0f-32b63b7efeb5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV1020215.jpg" /></p>

<p>So I have to thank these people behind my success there. It was not easy to be part of that team but again I am thankful to them for making me learn so much. I know a lot of people laugh after I hit Andre Nel for that six but they don’t realise that he was saying all the wrong things about me and my country. I just wanted to tame him. And even know I am obsessed with the game. Jacques Rudolph said that there is nothing to worry about Indian bowling apart from Zaheer Khan, who is also making his comeback. And since then he faced me four times, and all the time he got out for ducks.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>SC:</strong> On a final note, what will be your Indian team with you included in the XI.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Sreesanth:</strong> Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, KL Rahul, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Sreesanth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>I firmly believe in one team for all formats. Suresh Raina is someone who deserves a lot more appreciation. And with all due respect to Virat, Rohit will captain in T20s and Kohli can take the captain’s band in all other formats.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Sreesanth" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fec71dc7-a36a-4544-a1dc-8c951cc3dc2b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV1013110.jpg" /></p>

<p>And before I leave, I wanted to say something: Whenever you face a situation be it difficult, easy, super easy, impossible. Change, adapt and improvise. Make sure, you are doing it physically, mentally and spiritually. Another thing I wanted to say, when you do all these things together, it changes the look like a walk in the park. Every battle out there is a victory. Don’t even lose the battle. Don’t give up. Stick to your plan and you will achieve greatness. God bless you all. If I can, anybody can. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Sreesanth is all set to make his comeback to the cricket field after a seven-year-break. The 37-year-old's aspiration to be back on the field was bolstered by Kerala coach Tinu Yohanan's words of motivation and the right-handed seamer is looking forward to hitting the ground running and help Kerala win trophies in the domestic circuit.

Sreesanth is all set to make his comeback to the cricket field after a seven-year-break. The 37-year-old's aspiration to be back on the field was bolstered by Kerala coach Tinu Yohanan's words of motivation and the right-handed seamer is looking forward to hitting the ground running and help Kerala win trophies in the domestic circuit. With lofty goals and passion, Sreesanth is gearing up to bridge the lost gap while learning and sharing his experience with the young guns of Indian cricket. In an exclusive chat with WION, Sreesanth opened up about life in lockdown, training phase, what goals he has set for himself, changing landscape of cricket, IPL 2020, Michael Jordan's mental conditioning coach Tim Grover, his ultimate Team India XI (present) and much more. × Subhayan Chakraborty: Thank you Sreesanth for your time, how did the lockdown phase go for you? Sreesanth: It’s treating me well. I did say that people need to stick to their house to curb the spread and honestly, there are certain jobs which can be done from home. But imagine me, I have been in lockdown for close to seven years now. I missed the thing I love – play cricket. But thankfully, it is during the coronavirus pandemic that I got a green signal from Kerala Cricket Association so it has been a blessing in disguise. I am spending a lot of time with my family. I love to read and write and I am reading a lot now, and trying to get my values right. I have been training in my home and I will be back again at the nets soon. But I urge people to stay indoors and as a wise man once said, ‘you have to win the war and small battles matter a lot’. I am not a wise man but I say that to be a national hero, stay indoors and if you really need to go out then take all the precautions. Don’t be lazy when it comes to hygiene. I am writing something on whatever has happened in the last couple of months, I am writing on the lines of ‘loneliness is equal to geniuses’. The emphasis is on meditation and focus will be on ‘enjoy yourself during this time.’ Another thing I learned is painting and I am thinking of starting a YouTube channel. SC: How has your body been responding to the resumption of practice and full-fledged training for cricket? Sreesanth: God has been extremely kind. A 37-year-old is trying to make a comeback to international cricket. I think the break has been a blessing in disguise for my body as it helped me to freshen up my mind, I try to think positively. I did a couple of movies which helped remain in good shape but when it comes to cricket, the Celebrity Cricket League helped me be into cricket. I worked with Dilip Vengsarkar sir there. So being a bowling coach helped me a lot in keeping my fitness in check. I was 100-102 kgs before I went to Bigg Boss but with no food there, it helped me lose some weight (laughs). Ayurveda and Indian food has helped me keep my fitness intact and I would advise everyone to at least try it. It is miraculous. For match fitness, yes, I have to play a lot and I am looking forward to it. I am fresh and raring to go. Some players who used to play with me have retired because they are mentally and physically tired but that is not the case for me as I haven’t played for the last seven years. So yes, I am there for the long run now. SC: But let’s be honest here, playing one match is a different thing but playing an entire season is a different ball game. Do you think your body is ready to sustain that sort of pressure? Sreesanth: Absolutely! When you are a youngster, an under-19 cricketer, you can afford to not sleep in time and eat healthily. But at my age, you have to be very particular about how you maintain your lifestyle. I am enjoying a healthy lifestyle now. In my opinion, it is all about mindset. I am not physically or mentally exhausted. After this long break, I am feeling like a youngster. I am not here for a season, I am here to sustain four or five seasons. My goal is to help Kerala win and help youngsters grow and then move to some of the smaller teams. I don’t want to hold onto a youngster’s position and rather would pass on my experience for them to learn from it. During this break, I have learned about different types of training, recovery training and all. So that will help me a lot. I am a positive person and Sreesanth was never a realistic person. I will defy all the odds again. And my message to all, don’t think about age, just lock on a target and work on that. SC: Cricket has completely in these last seven years. Are you prepared to learn and grasp things from youngsters and be a better bowler? Sreesanth: The way I look at this is that it will be a debut match for me. It is all about the experience. You have to accept that there are better players. Yes, I have to learn a lot about the changed rules. I didn’t know that there were two new white balls and I have no shame in accepting that. Thanks to Sachin Baby, Sanju Samson, Basil Thampi and others, they all have way more experience in the last seven years. They have played the IPL and know modern cricket. I have so many things to learn from them. I still have that out-swinger, I can still bowl toe-crushing yorkers. I still have that in-cutter from which I got Sachin paaji (Sachin Tendulkar) out in 2005. But yes, I do accept that I have so many things to learn from the younger players. I am not worried about spit-ban, just bowl your heart out. If you have proper priorities, you won’t have any problem in life. I want to leave a legacy and set fresh benchmarks. SC: Kerala’s performance wasn’t up to the mark but the pace attack with the likes of Basil Thampi, KM Asif looks pretty decent on paper and your addition could further bolster it. Do you look at it as competition for places? Sreesanth: We have fast bowlers who could represent the country at any given day. I am not here to compete. Something I have written ‘everybody knows what they want to be but most of them don’t know what they want to become’. I exactly know who I want to be. I can never get my seven years back but I am so grateful that I got to learn so much thing about life. There is no ego now, there is no competition. I am here to help. I will be starting Sreesanth Sports Academy soon, and that will be a small contribution to help the youngsters from my side. I will help each and everyone to better than me and then only I can be better than them. And if I end up with good performances, then hopefully I will be back playing for the country. SC: What about your aspirations for IPL? Sreesanth: I will definitely put my name if my association allows. I think I am a good enough bowler and if any franchise contacts me before the auctions then I would love to be back in IPL. I have done decently in these last seven years. I have done movies, reality shows and I have continued to earn for my family. But I am not worrying about the results that is something I am preaching. Seven years is a long time for the season but for me, it was like a life sentence and I am ready to help and learn. SC: How was your time learning from Michael Jordan’s mental conditioning coach Tim Grover? Sreesanth: What he was teaching is being unapologetic. I learned a lot about how Michael Jordan created his legacy. Again coronavirus has been a blessing in disguise, otherwise, I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to learn from him. He is brute honest, something I learned from him. Being yourself, being your own competition is something which he taught me. That is what Tim Grover taught me but equally, Ramji Srinivasan has been a big help for me. He was the one who told me to run for 30 minutes or else I wouldn’t survive the physical intensity of the sport. SC: A chat with Sreesanth is incomplete without that South Africa tour. Almost everyone knows about the Andre Nel incident but not many how Jacques Rudolph triggered you. Sreesanth: Every day you learn. I have to thank Dada (Sourav Ganguly). Initially, I had no clue about how to bowl to left-handers. I just used to release the ball and hope that the batsman would get LBW or bowler. But it was Dada who told me ‘I know you struggle against left-handers so let’s practice’. So I used to bowl him in the nets. He helped me with the angle, release point and other technicalities. You know, when you bowl to the best, you become the best. When there are legends like Dada, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir are there in the dressing room and for that matter Murali Vijay, Dinesh Karthik have good technique. So I have to thank these people behind my success there. It was not easy to be part of that team but again I am thankful to them for making me learn so much. I know a lot of people laugh after I hit Andre Nel for that six but they don’t realise that he was saying all the wrong things about me and my country. I just wanted to tame him. And even know I am obsessed with the game. Jacques Rudolph said that there is nothing to worry about Indian bowling apart from Zaheer Khan, who is also making his comeback. And since then he faced me four times, and all the time he got out for ducks. SC: On a final note, what will be your Indian team with you included in the XI. Sreesanth: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, KL Rahul, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Sreesanth. I firmly believe in one team for all formats. Suresh Raina is someone who deserves a lot more appreciation. And with all due respect to Virat, Rohit will captain in T20s and Kohli can take the captain’s band in all other formats. And before I leave, I wanted to say something: Whenever you face a situation be it difficult, easy, super easy, impossible. Change, adapt and improvise. Make sure, you are doing it physically, mentally and spiritually. Another thing I wanted to say, when you do all these things together, it changes the look like a walk in the park. Every battle out there is a victory. Don’t even lose the battle. Don’t give up. Stick to your plan and you will achieve greatness. God bless you all. If I can, anybody can.

Interview | I want to leave a legacy and set fresh benchmarks: Sreesanth

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