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  New Zealand is currently taking on England in a two-match Test series and after that, they will take on India in the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship in Southampton from June 18. While many thought this series will help the Kiwis for the summit clash, India’s former wicket-keeper batsman Deep Dasgupta said that the same could be a disadvantage for them. As the first Test has ended in a draw and the second will begin from 10th June and end on 14th, New Zealand players will get three days in between for the start of the much-awaited WTC final. Thus, Dasgupta feels the fast bowlers of New Zealand could be a bit tired after the second Test match and it could give an advantage for India as they will start afresh. He said that while talking to YouTube channel Xtra Time, “There is a talk that New Zealand has an advantage because they are playing two Test matches before the WTC final. Yes, it is an advantage definitely but it can be a disadvantage as well. There i...

  Former India player and selector MSK Prasad during his tenure had brought several quality players like Hardik Pandya or Rishabh Pant in the Indian setup and he gets the credit for that as well. But the issue between him and Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli is well known and in a recent interaction with cricket.com, Prasad was asked about this too. While replying this, Prasad said that both of them are professionals and they understand what is best for the team as well. He also shared that all three engaged in arguments. “You ask them what kind of arguments we had. Sometimes, we didn’t want to see each other (after meetings) but the beauty of them is that the next morning when we would meet, they would recognize and acknowledge that there is (merit in the) point we made,” Prasad shared. “Virat and Ravi will tell you about that (how we used to have heated debates). Just because we didn’t have differences publicly doesn’t mean that we were succumbing to them. Who knows how we have c...

  Former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has applauded India’s young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who has been in sublime form and the veteran believes that his new-found confidence will help him to play well. Hesson further added that Rishabh Pant will bat at No. 6 in the inaugural World Test Championship final, which will take place between India and New Zealand in Southampton from June 18 and he is likely to impress everyone there also. However, Rishabh Pant too had faced rejection earlier as he was dropped from the squad and only returned after India’s rather forgetful defeat in the first Test against Australia. He then left his mark by playing match-winning knocks there and then maintained his rich form in the England series at home as well not only with the bat but also with the gloves. “I think he’s more confident, more settled on the international stage now. Therefore, he’s able to play the way he wants to play. He has earned enough credit within his team as well,...

  Veteran New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor hopes the experience of playing county cricket for a long time will help him to do well in the upcoming Tests. He further added that playing alongside England pacer Stuart Broad will work to his advantage during their two-Test series against England. Nottinghamshire pacer Broad’s 10 dismissals of Ross Taylor in 16 games are the most by any bowler against the veteran batsman as well. On the other hand, England’s rotation policy means there are no guarantees that Stuart Broad or James Anderson would play together - the duo are the hosts’ two most successful Test bowlers as well. But the experienced batsman is looking to make the most of his 2018 English season spent playing alongside Broad for Nottinghamshire as well which he believed will be helpful. “I had the fortune to play with him at Notts and saw the way he went about things, I heard him talking to bowlers and I asked him a few questions,” Taylor told reporters ahead of the Test....

  Team India is ready to fly England for the much-awaited World Test Championship final and then a five-match Test series against England as well. While the families of players and support staff of the teams will be allowed to accompany them, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah wouldn’t be present the World Test Championship final due to the strict quarantine rules, a senior BCCI source shared on Tuesday. “Yes, it’s good news that players will have their families during the tour of UK. Ditto for the women’s team who can also have their families around. These are times when mental well-being of players is paramount. The BCCI understands that we need our players and support staff to be in a good head space,” the source told PTI.   “As far as I know, the ECB didn’t grant permission to them (Ganguly and Shah). Normally, administrators go before the Test match but as per quarantine rules, since they are not playing members, they would have had to undergo hard q...

  India pacer Mohammed Siraj on Tuesday has revealed how he wants to dismiss New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson in the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final if given a chance. He said that he will try to frustrate him with dot balls in the summit clash which begins on June 18 in Southampton as well. “I will try to bowl in a particular spot tirelessly. I will focus on bowling dots against Kane Williamson, the best batsman in New Zealand line-up, to create pressure on him. It will provoke him to go for shots and there will be a high chance of getting him out,” said Siraj a day before the India squad fly for England. The right-arm pacer, who made headlines on India’s tour of Australia last year and played an important role in helping the team win the Test series 2-1, where they had played without a few of their key players, has said that he will try to draw batsmen on to the front-foot in England since the pitches will be different from those in Australia s well. “Austra...

  Team India are all set to tour England for the inaugural World Test Championship final as well as a five-match Test seies against England. While they will take on New Zealand in the summit clash starting from June 18 in Southampton, they will play against England after that as well. However, before the much-awaited final, former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum has predicted the winner of the World Test Championship final. While the final will take place in England, the English conditions would give New Zealand a big advantage over the Virat Kohli-led India, believes the veteran and he said on Monday as well. “The match practice that New Zealand are going to have leading into the final could just tilt it in their way. I think it’s going to be close. Just as New Zealand respects India, as a fan, I will respect India, knowing how good they are and the fighting spirit they have,” Brendon McCullum has said to Sports Today. “I think we are in for a ripping World Test Champio...

  Former India cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra has said that the absence of Pat Cummins might not affect much to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team when the IPL 2021 will resume. While the rest of the games will take place in the UAE during the September-October window this year, Cummins has announced his decision not to take part in it further as well. However, he didn’t share any reason specifically; the reason could be the hectic international schedule after the tournament as well. Recently, in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that Pat Cummins' absence might not be pose a big deal for KKR if Lockie Ferguson is available, as the latter is one of the best in the business too. "KKR already have Lockie Ferguson. And in my opinion, if you have to pick one of them just as a T20 bowler, I will pick Lockie Ferguson ahead of him (Cummins). If Lockie is available and plays, it is absolutely fine. I don't think they are going to miss Pa...

  While the discussion going on about New Zealand having an advantage over India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final next month as they will play two Tests against England before the summit clash, former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar is no different as he also believes the same. The Kane Williamson-led New Zealand will play against England in the first Test from June 2-6 at Lord’s, London, and then they will take on each other in the second in Birmingham from June 10-14. After that, they will take on India in the WTC final from June 18-22 in Southampton as well. “The pessimists are suggesting that playing two Tests before the WTC finals will be a huge plus for the Kiwis as they will be match ready and better acclimatised to the conditions,” Gavaskar wrote in a column in The Telegraph. “The flip side of playing those two Tests is that New Zealand could get beaten and thus be low on morale when they take on India and there could be some injuries and niggles to some of the...