ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 | Sportzwiki

ICC World Test Championship 2021-23

England Image Credit: Twitter
England Image Credit: Twitter
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England To Tour South Africa And New Zealand In Early 2023

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England will tour South Africa and New Zealand in early 2023. In the original version of the Future Tours Programme (FTP) for 2018-23, the men’s 50-over World Cup was due to be staged in India in February-March 2023 but the postponement of the 2020 men’s T20 World Cup to October-November 2022 shifted that tournament back to an October-November window.
The ECB confirmed in August that England’s tour of Bangladesh, which will feature three ODIs and three T20Is, had been pushed back until March 2023, filling part of the gap in their schedule, and it is understood that England will also complete tours of South Africa and New Zealand at the start of the year.
England, PTI
England, PTI

England To Tour South Africa In Early 2023 After The 2020 Series Was Postponed At Last Minute

The tour of South Africa will feature three ODIs and forms part of the World Cup Super League, with the series initially set for December 2020 until a Covid-19 scare in the England camp prompted a last-minute postponement. The series will now be played in late January.
South Africa Cricket Team (Image Credit: Twitter)
South Africa Cricket Team (Image Credit: Twitter)
England will then travel to New Zealand for a two-Test series in February, which does not form part of the World Test Championship and reciprocates New Zealand’s tour immediately before the WTC final in June this year.

England To Play Bilateral Series In 5 Different Countries In The 2022-23 Winter

England is now due to play men’s bilateral series in five different countries in the 2022-23 winter, as well as the T20 World Cup in Australia. Their winter is scheduled to start with seven T20Is in Pakistan from late September, then three T20Is and three ODIs in Australia on either side of the World Cup. They then tour Pakistan again for three Tests in December 2022 before the tours of South Africa, New Zealand, and Bangladesh in early 2023.
Pakistan AFP / Lindsey Parnaby
Pakistan AFP / Lindsey Parnaby

Originally in the Future Tours Programme (FTP) for 2018-23, the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup was scheduled to begin in 2023 in India in the February-March window. However, due to the postponement of the 2020 edition of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to October-November 2022 the marquee tournament has been shifted to an October-November window.

The England tour of Bangladesh which will consist of three T20 International games and three One Day Internationals games has been pushed back until March 2023. Meanwhile, England’s winter is set to commence with seven T20 Internationals in Pakistan from September after which they will play three T20 Internationals and as many as One Day Internationals in Australia and then tour South Africa, New Zealand, and Bangladesh next year.

England’s withdrawal from the tour of Pakistan right after New Zealand’s pull-out from a limited-overs series at Pakistan after several years had left the entire Pakistan cricketing fraternity infuriated. England later announced an extended fixture list for the tour of Pakistan, committing to a multi-format assignment for next year that will additionally include two more T20Is.

England will play the 7 T20I matches in September/October next year. They will then return to Pakistan in November/December at the back of the T20 World Cup in Australia to play three Tests, which will form part of the ICC World Test Championship. Tom Harrison had flown to Pakistan to meet Ramiz Raja in a bid to mend relations that were damaged by the cancellation of last month’s tour.

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Shakib Al Hasan (Image Credit: Twitter)
Shakib Al Hasan (Image Credit: Twitter)
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Shakib Al Hasan Has Been Ruled Out From Participating In At Least 1st Test Against Pakistan

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Shakib Al Hasan will not be available for the opening match of the Bangladesh vs Pakistan Test series, BCB chief selector Minhajul Abedin confirmed today.

In a chat, Minhajul Abedin stated that Shakib Al Hasan had not fully recovered from his hamstring injury. As a result, he will miss at least the first Test of the upcoming series against Pakistan.

Shakib Al Hasan (Image Credit: Twitter)
Shakib Al Hasan (Image Credit: Twitter)

Shakib Al Hasan Ruled Out From Playing At Least 1st Test Against Pakistan

Shakib Al Hasan has played 58 Tests amassing 3933 runs averaging 39.33 runs with the bat and 215 scalps averaging 31.06 with the ball. His last Test was against Zimbabwe in July 2021. He has played only 2 Tests in 2021, none in 2020, and 1 in 2019 when he was banned for not reporting corrupt approaches.

Shakib Al Hasan played 8 matches for KKR in IPL 2021 and picked 4 scalps bowling 26 overs and managed 47 runs.

Minhajul Abedin said: “Shakib will miss the first Test, that’s for sure. He is yet to recover from injury. After assessing the physiotherapist’s report, we can say whether he will be available for the second Test.”

Shakib Al Hasan Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images
Shakib Al Hasan Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

Shakib Al Hasan sustained a hamstring injury while playing against West Indies in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. The all-rounder missed Bangladesh’s last two matches of the Super 12 round against South Africa and Australia and was also ruled out of the home T20I series against Pakistan.

Shakib Al Hasan Played Only 1 Match During The 2019-21 WTC Cycle

Bangladesh will aim to register its first win in the ICC World Test Championship in the upcoming series against Pakistan. The Bangladeshi team failed to win a single match in the previous cycle. The team’s veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan played only one match during the 2019-21 WTC cycle, scoring 68 runs. He bowled six overs but could not pick up any wickets.

Tamim Iqbal (Image Credit: Twitter)
Tamim Iqbal (Image Credit: Twitter)

Shakib Al Hasan will look forward to recovering soon and donning the whites for Bangladesh again. The Bangladesh vs Pakistan Test series will start this Friday-26th November. Dhaka will play host to both matches of the series. With Shakib Al Hasan not playing, Pakistan has a golden chance of winning an away series in the new WTC cycle 2021-23. It will be interesting to see which Asian team comes out on top.

Meanwhile, Pakistan won the T20I series against Bangladesh in a dominating manner by 3-0 and the Test series between the teams is all set to begin from Friday in Chattogram. Opener Tamim Iqbal has also opted out of the Test series against Pakistan and New Zealand due to an injury.

Bangladesh has added uncapped duo Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Rejaur Rahman Raja to the squad. Mahmudul Hasan Joy performed really well in the National Cricket League, smashing two centuries, and Rejaur Rahman Raja picked 33 wickets in 10 first-class games.

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ECB chief executive Tom Harrison Getty Images
ECB chief executive Tom Harrison Getty Images
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Tom Harrison Flies To Pakistan To Mend Relations With PCB After October 2021 Tour Cancellation Hurt PCB

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Tom Harrison, England and Wales Cricket Board Chief Executive, has flown to Pakistan to meet PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja in a bid to mend relations that were damaged by the cancellation of last month’s tour.

According to sources in the PCB, besides meeting Ramiz Raja, Tom Harrison is also due to call Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad before he flies out to Dubai for the final of the T20 World Cup and the ICC Executive Board meeting on November 17.

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison. (Credits: Twitter)
ECB chief executive Tom Harrison. (Credits: Twitter)

Tom Harrison’s Decision To Go To Pakistan Came After It Was Announced Australia And West Indies Would Tour Pakistan In 2022

After New Zealand decided to abandon its tour of Pakistan right ahead of the first ODI, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had announced that its men’s and women’s tour of Pakistan would not go ahead as planned.

The England men’s team was set to tour Pakistan in October for the first time since 2005, while their women have never played in that country. However, ECB had cancelled both the series, citing the “mental and physical well-being” of players and security concerns, a decision that was met with heavy criticism.

Australia
Australia. Image Credits: Twitter

Tom Harrison’s decision to come to Pakistan comes on the heels of the announcement by Cricket Australia that it will be touring Pakistan early next year. Australia’s confirmation to send its team to Pakistan had come days after the West Indies board announced it would be touring Pakistan in December for a white ball series.

Australia’s men’s team is set for a three-format tour of Pakistan in March-April 2022, playing in the nation for the first time since 1998. The Pakistan Cricket Board announced details for the seven-match tour on Monday.

The campaign will comprise three ICC World Test Championship matches through march, three ICC Cricket World Cup Super League ODIs (29 March to 2 April), and one T20I (5 April). Australia’s last tour of Pakistan was in 1998-99, which in turn was their first series in Pakistan since 1959-60.

Ramiz Raja Would Be Taking Up The Case Against New Zealand Cricket And ECB At ICC Board Meeting

The confirmation by the two boards has come as welcome news for the PCB, which was shattered by the decision by New Zealand Cricket to pull out its team from the tour of Pakistan in September because of security threats and later the ECB’s decision also not to send its teams for white-ball matches.

Ramiz Raja. (Credits: Twitter)
Ramiz Raja. (Credits: Twitter)

But one PCB source made it clear that while Tom Harrison’s visit was welcome, and so was his assurance that England would make a full tour of Pakistan late next year, Ramiz Raja would be taking up the case against New Zealand Cricket and ECB strongly at the ICC board meeting.

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New Zealand (File Photo) - GETTY IMAGES
New Zealand (File Photo) - GETTY IMAGES
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New Zealand Include 5 Spinners In 15-man Test Squad For India Tour

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New Zealand will begin their ‘World Test Championship” title defense with a Test series against India later this month, a few days after T20I World Cup concludes. New Zealand included five spinners in a 15-man Test squad to tour India later this month in the Black Caps’ opening series of their World Test Championship defense.

New Zealand won the inaugural World Test Championship 2019-21 after defeating India in the final at Southampton in June 2021, with the next cycle of matches continuing until 2023.

New Zealand's Kane Williamson celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the final of the ICC World Test Championship. Photograph: John Sibley/Reuters
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the ICC World Test Championship final. Photograph: John Sibley/Reuters

New Zealand Coach Gary Stead Said Success Of Kiwi Spinners On Recent Tours To Sub Continent Has Been Encouraging

Coach Gary Stead said selectors had tailored the squad to spin-friendly conditions. The spin-heavy attack makes sense since conditions in the series-opener (Kanpur, November 25-29) and the second Test (Mumbai, December 3-7) are expected to suit the slower bowlers.

“The success of our spinners on recent tours to the sub-continent has been encouraging and we hope they can once again feature prominently,” he said.

Ajaz Patel (Photo Credit: ICC/Twitter)
Ajaz Patel (Photo Credit: ICC/Twitter)

Veteran Mitchell Santner will lead the slow-ball attack, supported by Ajaz Patel, Will Somerville, rookie Rachin Ravindra, and part-timer Glenn Phillips.

Glenn Phillips has been selected in the Test squad for the first time since debuting against Australia as a late replacement in 2020 when the Blackcaps camp was struck by illness on the eve of the New Year’s Test in Sydney. The 21-year-old Rachin Ravindra made his New Zealand debut in a T20I against Bangladesh in September, and although he toured England with the Test side earlier this year, he is yet to play in the longest form of the game.

Gary Stead: Touring India One Of The Greatest Experiences In Cricket

Pacers Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, and Kyle Jamieson have also been included, although Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme both chose to skip the tour. Gary Stead said the Black Caps were fired up about defending their title.

“Touring India is one of the greatest experiences in cricket and I know our guys are really looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

“It’s fair to say we’re expecting spin-friendly conditions and it’s great to have a range of options in this department.”

New Zealand head cricket coach Gary Stead. (Photo| EPS)
New Zealand head cricket coach Gary Stead. (Photo| EPS)

New Zealand will play two Tests in India, the first in Kanpur from November 25-29 and the second in Mumbai from December 3-7. There will also be three Twenty20 matches on November 17, 19, and 21 featuring the same Black Caps squad currently contesting the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

This will be the first meeting between the two teams in Test cricket since the inaugural World Test Championship final in June, in which India lost by eight wickets. New Zealand suffered a 0-3 humiliation against India on their last tour in 2016.

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (capt), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Will Somerville, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Will Young, Neil Wagner.

Get all details about India vs New Zealand Schedule.

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World Test Championship, India
Indian test team[photo: Twitter]
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India Are A Powerhouse In Their Own Conditions, Says Tim Southee

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Tim Southee, the experienced New Zealand pacer, feels India is a “powerhouse” in their own backyard. However, the traveling Black Caps will need to adapt quickly to the country’s spin-friendly conditions to have any hope of upsetting the hosts in the upcoming two-Test series.

This will be the first meeting between the two teams in Test cricket since the inaugural World Test Championship final in June, in which India lost by 8 wickets. New Zealand suffered a 0-3 humiliation against India on their last tour in 2016.

Tim Southee Source Black Caps/ Twitter
Tim Southee Source Black Caps/ Twitter

Tim Southee: It’s Been A Long Time Since New Zealand Played Against And In India, So They Need To Adapt To The Conditions Quickly

The first Test of the upcoming tour will be played in Kanpur from November 25 to 29, followed by a match in Mumbai from December 3 to 7. The Test matches will be preceded by three T20Is to be played in Jaipur (November 17), Ranchi (November 19), and Kolkata (November 21).

“It’s been a long time since we played India in India…they are a powerhouse in their own conditions. Such foreign conditions we are not used to, so we need to adapt to the conditions as quick as possible,” Tim Southee said after New Zealand announced a 16-member squad for the tour.

NZ pacer Trent Boult (File Photo | AFP)
NZ pacer Trent Boult (File Photo | AFP)

New Zealand on Thursday announced the Test and T20I squad leaving out left-arm pacer Trent Boult all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme from the Test squad after the duo spent a considerable amount of time in bio-secure bubbles and managed isolation. Tim Southee said the inaugural WTC crown won by his country is a thing of the past now as their new Test cycle of WTC 2021-23 begins with the India tour.

“New cycle is exciting. A great place to go on tour and test yourself against a very good opposition and in trying conditions. It’s great to be part of the last cycle. We hit the reset button and looking forward to the next 2 year cycle,” Tim Southee said.

“There is something special about Test cricket. It’s incredible to be part of the Test side. Over the last number of years the success we had not only at home but overseas been incredible to be part of,” he said.

“Test cricket is something I absolutely love and any chance to get to play is a special moment. Representing your country at the highest level is truly an honour,” Tim Southee said.
Tim Southee said tours have drastically changed for cricket teams due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Not only touring life, life in general has changed for a number of people and as cricketers we also had to adapt to that. Lot of times in bubbles, lot of time in quarantine, so it’s changed the way we have travelled. One of the positive side is we spent a lot of time together as a team.”
New Zealand left-arm pacer Trent Boult has made himself unavailable for the upcoming two-match Test series against India. The reason behind Trent Boult’s and pace allrounder Colin de Grandhomme’s unavailability for the Tests against India has been due to the prospect of further time in bio-secure bubbles and managed isolation.

Kyle Jamieson: Playing India In India One Of The Greatest Challenges

Tim Southee’s young pace colleague Kyle Jamieson said playing India in India is one of the “greatest challenges” for any Test-playing nation.

“We have got one of the greatest challenges coming up, playing India in India. So for me, that’s got me out of bed every day and challenging myself against the best in the world in tough conditions. Different challenge in India, that’s what you want to do in international cricket you want to challenge yourself in different conditions and formats,” he said.

Kyle Jamieson (File Photo) | AP
Kyle Jamieson (File Photo) | AP

The 26-year-old lanky right-arm fast bowler, too, feels that a sportsman’s life has changed due to COVID.

“It’s certainly been a challenge over the last 6-8 months around. Different series, different countries and being away from home in bubble life, so it’s not easy. You try and separate them as much as you can. It’s a massive learning process.”
Kyle Jamieson, incidentally, was Man of the Match for picking 7 wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the WTC Final. In just eight Tests, Kyle Jamieson has picked up 46 wickets at a scary average of 14.17. He made the Indian batsmen dance to his tunes in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The tall speedster took a fifer in the first innings and triggered an Indian batting collapse that saw them get bundled out for just 217.
NZ squad for Tests: Kane Williamson (captain), Tom Blundell (wicketkeeper), Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Will Somerville, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner and Will Young

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BCCI (File Photo| PTI)
BCCI (File Photo| PTI)
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Manchester Test Postponed Indefinitely Amid Covid-19 Fear; BCCI, ECB Will Reschedule The Test Later

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Manchester Test- the fifth and final Test in the ongoing series has been postponed indefinitely in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak within the India squad. In a statement released on Friday, the BCCI said it was in talks with the ECB over conducting the Manchester Test at a later date.
Soon after it emerged that the fifth Manchester Test between England and India at the Old Trafford was getting cancelled – which the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) first called forfeiture but soon changed it & the BCCI called postponement – the big talking point so far has been whether this series has ended up being 2-2 in favour of England and India or 2-1 in India’s favour, which was the result after the first four Tests.
Manchester Test: The message on the scoreboard after the fifth Test was called off PA Photos/Getty Images
Manchester Test: The message on the scoreboard after the fifth Test was called off PA Photos/Getty Images

Manchester Test To Be Rescheduled: BCCI And ECB Will Work Together

It remains to be seen how the boards can work out a window for the Manchester Test, though one could possibly be carved out when India returns to England next year for a scheduled limited-overs series.

This development seems to have ended the possibility of India having to forfeit the Manchester Test match, though further developments are awaited. News that the Manchester Test match wouldn’t begin as originally planned came in hours before the scheduled toss. The development came on the back of intense discussions between the BCCI and the ECB after India’s assistant physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar returned a positive Covid-19 test on Wednesday.

“The BCCI and ECB held several rounds of discussion to find a way to play the Manchester Test Match, however, the outbreak of Covid-19 in the Indian team contingent forced the decision of calling off the Old Trafford Test Match. The BCCI has offered to ECB a rescheduling of the cancelled Test match. Both the Boards will work towards finding a window to reschedule this Test match.”
BCCI, ECB Logo
BCCI, ECB Logo
More than one India player had expressed concerns about taking the field in talks between the BCCI and the team management over the last two days. The entire India squad returned negative RT-PCR tests on Thursday, but results of the second round of testing performed on Thursday are still awaited.
It is understood that the players and both boards suspect another case emerging from this round of tests, and hence the BCCI told the ECB that India would struggle to put out a playing XI for the fifth Manchester Test, which was to be played at Old Trafford from September 10 to 14.
A sense of confusion had spread among the Indian camp in the last two days even as the BCCI was in discussions with ECB over whether to carry on with the series or cancel the final Test. While the discussion carried on through the middle of Thursday night, the Indian contingent remained unaware of what decision the BCCI was going to take.
However, it is understood the BCCI did ask the players to keep their bags ready to fly out to the UAE for the IPL well ahead of the scheduled departure date of September 15, when the bulk of the India and England players were to board charter flights to join their franchises.

Yogesh Parmer’s Close Contacts Couldn’t Be Identified As He Was Training A Wider Group Of Players

After the entire squad returned negative RT-PCR tests on Thursday, it is understood that during one of the meetings with the BCCI, several players grouped into one room for the virtual discussion. Yogesh Parmar had only taken charge midway into the fourth Test at the Oval after lead physio Nitin Patel went into isolation after being identified as a close contact of India head coach Ravi Shastri, who tested positive for Covid-19 on the third evening of the fourth Test at The Oval.
While three members of the contingent – Nitin Patel, bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar – were identified as immediate contacts of Ravi Shastri, it was far more difficult to determine who the close contacts of Yogesh Parmar were, considering he was treating a wider group of players. These players have been mingling among the wider group, which has made identifying close contacts even more complicated.
Ravi Shastri. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Ravi Shastri. (Photo Source: Twitter)
In their chats with the BCCI, the players were also concerned about the situation having an impact on their families. Most of the Indian players are travelling with their families. The key concern, though, for the BCCI was it did not want the UAE leg of the IPL 2021 to be impacted considering it is starting in nine days’ time.
With that in mind, the BCCI discussed cancelling the final Test, but the ECB is understood to have made it clear that it would interpret any refusal to play the Manchester Test as forfeiture. The BCCI was keen to avoid such a scenario, as not only would it see England square the series, but it could expose the BCCI to claims of lost revenue from broadcasters and the venue.
The World Test Championship competition terms state that a Covid-19 outbreak within a team is an acceptable reason for a Test to be abandoned – and not forfeited. With the WTC points system now calculated on the basis of the percentage of points contested, a four-Test series instead of five would not adversely impact a side’s points total.

“Following ongoing conversations with the BCCI, the ECB can confirm that the fifth LV= Insurance Manchester Test between England and India Men due to start today at Emirates Old Trafford, will be canceled.  Due to fears of a further increase in the number of COVID cases inside the camp, India is regrettably unable to field a team.”

Had the boards not agreed to the postponement, the series result could have gone into the hands of the ICC match referee Chris Broad based on whether the ECB accepted India’s fears of a larger outbreak in their camp as “acceptable non-compliance” as per the WTC regulations. Cancellation would have given India a 2-1 series victory, and a forfeiture led to a 2-2 draw. Currently, India has pocketed 26 WTC points from the series while England has 14 out of the available 48 points.

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India National Cricket Team.
India National Cricket Team. Image Credits: BCCI
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India Will Return To England Next Summer To Play 3 ODIs And 3 T20Is

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India will return to England next summer to play six white-ball games, the ECB confirmed on Wednesday (September 8). While announcing the schedule for their 2022 home summer, the ECB also confirmed that they will be hosting New Zealand and South Africa too apart from India.

Even though England hosted New Zealand for a couple of Tests earlier this year (New Zealand won 1-0) in June before the World Test Championship final, they will host them again for three Tests this time to kickstart their summer. This series involving the hosts and the defending World Test champions will come under the 2021-23 World Test Championship cycle.

New Zealand's Kane Williamson celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the final of the ICC World Test Championship. Photograph: John Sibley/Reuters
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the final of the ICC World Test Championship. Photograph: John Sibley/Reuters

India Will Return To England To Play 3 T20Is And 3 ODIs In July 2022

Following the conclusion of the three Tests, England will play 12 limited-overs games in the month of July. The T20I series against India kicks off on July 1 at Old Trafford in Manchester following which the teams move to Edgbaston and Southampton for the next two games. The T20I series will be followed by a three-match ODI series that concludes at Lord’s on July 14.

India will play three T20Is and as many ODIs next English summer.
India will play three T20Is and as many ODIs next English summer. © Getty

Joe Root’s Test side begins their series against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 2 before heading to Trent Bridge (June 10-14) and Headingley (June 23-27). A white-ball series against India follows in July, with three T20s taking place before three ODIs from July 1 to 14. England then welcomes South Africa for the biggest series of the summer, featuring three ODIs, three T20Is, and concluding with three Tests.

England Will Also Play New Zealand In 3 Tests Starting June And A Full Fledged All Format Against South Africa From July-August

England will then host South Africa for a full series from July 19 that will see the visitors play three ODIs, three T20Is, and three Tests. England’s home summer will conclude with the final Test against South Africa scheduled to begin on September 8 at The Oval. The Test series will carry more significance since the teams will be vying for vital WTC points. The ECB also confirmed that the T20 Blast Finals Day will be staged at Edgbaston on July 16.

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison Getty Images
ECB chief executive Tom Harrison Getty Images

“It has been a scintillating summer of cricket and so good to see crowds backpacking out venues later this summer,” ECB Chief Executive Officer, Tom Harrison, said. “For next summer, I am pleased to be able to confirm three high-quality men’s international touring teams for 2022, starting with a three-Test LV= Insurance Series against World Test Champions New Zealand.”

Tom Harrison is the chief executive officer of the England and Wales Cricket Board. He confirmed the home schedule for the men’s team for 2022. Tom Harrison also confirmed that discussions are in progress regarding England Women’s home schedule as well as the 2022 domestic season.

“We also look forward to India returning for two white-ball series before we host South Africa for what promises to be hard-fought series across three formats”

Lord’s will host the first Test (17-21 August) against South Africa before the series moves to Edgbaston (August 25-29) and The Oval (September 8-12).

England’s 2022 home summer schedule

vs New Zealand

Match Date Venue
1st Test June 2-6 Lord’s, London
2nd Test June 10-14 Trent Bridge, Nottingham
3rd Test June 23-27 Headingley, Leeds

vs India

Match Date Venue
1st T20I July 1 Old Trafford, Manchester
2nd T20I July 3 Trent Bridge, Nottingham
3rd T20I July 6 Ageas Bowl, Southampton
1st ODI July 9 Edgbaston, Birmingham
2nd ODI July 12 The Oval, London
3rd ODI July 14 Lord’s, London

vs South Africa

Match Date Venue
1st ODI July 19 Riverside, Chester-le-Street
2nd ODI July 22 OldTrafford, Manchester
3rd ODI July 24 Headingley, Leeds
1st T20I July 27 Bristol
2nd T20I July 28 Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
3rd T20I July 31 Ageas Bowl, Southampton
1st Test August 17-21 Lord’s, London
2nd Test August 25-29 Edgbaston, Birmingham
3rd Test September 8-12 The Oval, London

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Shaheen Afridi celebrates after taking a wicket (L) and Fawad Alam acknowledges the crowd after scoring a century. Photo: AFP
Shaheen Afridi celebrates after taking a wicket (L) and Fawad Alam acknowledges the crowd after scoring a century. Photo: AFP
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Fawad Alam And Shaheen Shah Afridi Achieved Career-Best Positions In ICC Test Player Rankings

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Fawad Alam, a left-handed batsman and left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi have achieved career-best positions in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings after helping Pakistan win the second Test against the West Indies in Kingston to draw their two-match ICC World Test Championship series 1-1.

Fawad Alam’s unbeaten 124 in the first innings has helped him shoot up 34 places to 21st position. Shaheen Shah Afridi has gained 10 slots to reach the eighth position after a 10-wicket match haul that helped seal a 109-run victory and won him the Player of the Match award.

Fawad Alam (Photo-Twitter)
Fawad Alam (Photo-Twitter)

Fawad Alam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan Gain Positions In ICC Test Ratings

Fawad Alam, who has struck four centuries since his return to Test cricket in August last year, had a previous best of 47th position attained in May this year while Shaheen Shah Afridi’s 18th position before this Test was his highest.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, who also finished as the Player of the Series with 18 wickets, had started the series in 22nd position. Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed 4-43 to add to his career-best figures of 6-51 in the first innings as West Indies were dismissed for 219 on the last day to give Pakistan victory by 109 runs.

Shaheen Shah Afridi returned 6 for 51 in 1st innings to help bowl West Indies for 150.© AFP
Shaheen Shah Afridi returned 6 for 51 in 1st innings to help bowl West Indies for 150.© AFP

Captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, the two Pakistan players ahead of Fawad Alam in the batters’ list, have also gained.  Babar Azam’s scores of 75 and 33 have helped him advance one slot to the seventh position, two below his career-best fifth position in August last year, while Mohammad Rizwan is back in the top 20 with scores of 31 and 10 not out.

Jason Holder Advanced 6 Places

Left-arm spinner Nauman Ali is another one to gain in the latest weekly update to the men’s rankings that is carried out across formats on Wednesdays. His three-wicket haul in the second innings has helped him progress from 48th to 44thposition.

West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder
West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder (Photo | AP)

For the West Indies, all-rounder Jason Holder has advanced six places to 37th among batters with scores of 26 and 47. Fast bowler Jayden Seales, the most successful after Shaheen Shah Afridi with 11 wickets in the series, has moved up four slots to 54th after his three first-innings wickets.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, the Pakistan pacer was the hero, finishing with a match haul of 10 wickets as West Indies folded against a well-rounded attack. It meant they will have to wait a few more years to record a first Test series win over Pakistan since 2001.

Pakistan 302 for 9 dec (Alam 124, Azam 75, Roach 3-68) and 176 for 6 dec (Butt 37, Azam 33) beat West Indies 150 (Bonner 37, Afridi 6-51) and 219 (Holder 47, Afridi 4-43, Nauman 3-52) by 109 runs

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India, England
Image Credit: Twitter
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England And India Docked 2 Points Each From WTC Tally For Slow Over-Rate In The 1st Test

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England and India have been docked two points each from their World Test Championship tally for slow over-rate in the first Test at Trent Bridge. Both the sides were also fined 40 per cent of their match fees for the aforesaid offence by match referee Chris Broad.

The ICC has imposed a 40 per cent penalty on match fees for both England and India teams along with a deduction of two ICC World Test Championship points each for maintaining slow over-rates in the first Test in Nottingham.

England(AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)
England(AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)

England And India Docked 2 Points Each For Slow Over Rate In The 1st Test

ICC match referee Chris Broad imposed the sanctions after both the sides were ruled to be two overs short of their targets after time allowances were taken into consideration.

“In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offenses, players are fined 20 percent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. In addition, as per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, aside is penalized one point for each over short,” ICC said in a release.

England captain Joe Root and India captain Virat Kohli hold the series trophy (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
England captain Joe Root and India captain Virat Kohli hold the series trophy (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

The two captains – Joe Root and Virat Kohli – pleaded guilty and accepted the sanctions. As a result, there was no need for a formal hearing. The charges were laid by on-field umpires Michael Gough and Richard Kettleborough, third umpire Richard Illingworth and fourth umpire David Millns.

England And India’s First Test Ended In A Draw With 5th Day’s Play Washed Out With Incessant Rain

The first Test between England and India at Trent Bridge ended in a draw. With the game evenly poised, both teams were left frustrated on the final day as the game was called off without a ball being bowled. That meant the teams were both allotted four points each.

KL Rahul. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
KL Rahul. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
According to the points system of the 2021-23 cycle of the ICC World Test Championship, a team can claim a maximum of 12 points for winning a Test, with six points available in the event of a tie, and four points for a draw.   The first Test of the series ended in a draw with rain playing spoilsport on the final day. India was 52 for 1 in their second innings in pursuit of 209. The second Test of the series will commence on August 12 at Lord’s.
Cheteshwar Pujara scored 4, Indian Captain Virat Kohli was dismissed on duck and Vice-Captain Ajinkya Rahane got out on 5. Still, KL Rahul stood on one end and helped India get the lead in the first innings. KL Rahul who was asked to open after Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill’s injury smashed brilliant 84 runs against England’s fiery bowling unit. Meanwhile, in the second innings, he scored 26 runs.Jasprit Bumrah picked a wicket in the very first over of the Test match. Also, he didn’t stop there as he went on to pick a 4-wicket haul in the first innings of the match. Just like Joe Root, he did even better in the second innings and converted his 4 wicket haul into 5 wicket haul.In the first innings, England’s batting failed against the strong pace battery of India as they scored only 183 runs. Meanwhile, among the 183 runs, 64 were contributed by captain Joe Root. No England batter touched the 30 runs marks in the first innings of the match. Meanwhile, in the second innings, Joe Root smashed a sensational 109 to help England get the lead of 209. Meanwhile, he was awarded Player of the match for his excellent century.

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Azhar Ali Expressed His Desire To See Pakistan Win 2nd WTC Title During His Career

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Azhar Ali, a former Pakistan Test skipper expressed his desire to see his country win the World Test Championship during his career. Pakistan had a torrid time in the inaugural WTC as they finished fifth in the table with four wins, five losses, and three draws from 12 matches. Pakistan will start their 2021-23 WTC cycle with their two-match Test series against the West Indies.

Azhar Ali has been a prolific run-scorer for the nation in the purest format, having notched 6579 runs at an average of 43.28 with 18 tons and 33 fifties. Even as he hasn’t played T20 cricket for the Men in Green, his last ODI for Pakistan came way back in January 2018 against New Zealand.

Azhar Ali
Azhar Ali. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

Azhar Ali Admits The WTC Is A Valuable Addition And He Wants To See Pakistan Win WTC During His Career

Azhar Ali put forth his wishes prior to Pakistan’s upcoming Test series against the West Indies that starts on Thursday, August 12. Both matches of the red-ball series will take place at Sabina Park, Kingston in Jamaica.

“The ICC World Test Championship is a valuable addition and has helped make this format more competitive. I want to see Pakistan win the Test championship in my career. Test cricket is the pinnacle format and this format is still entertaining fans around the globe. Fans in Australia, England, and New Zealand still wait for a Test match,” Azhar was quoted as saying in a press conference.

Pakistan Cricket Team
Pakistan Cricket Team (Credit: Getty Images)

After a poor outing in the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship, Pakistan Cricket Team will be desperate to bounce back in the second cycle of the Test supremacy. The Men in Green failed to secure a place in the top 5 and recorded only four wins in 12 matches. Pakistan ended the competition in sixth place with 43.3% points.

The first West Indies-Pakistan Test will be played at the Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica from August 12. The 2nd Test will be at the same venue and will get underway from August 20.

Azhar Ali Admits A Caribbean Tour Isn’t An Easy One

Prior to the series, Azhar Ali felt the upcoming games will pose their fair share of challenges to the visiting team. Pakistan has won seven out of 26 Tests in the West Indies while losing 12 and drawing seven games. Azhar Ali also said that with the likes of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Abid Ali, and Fawad Alam in their ranks, Pakistan has a power-packed batting lineup.

“A Caribbean tour is never an easy one and we are preparing for the challenges ahead here in Guyana. The West Indies have a good bowling line-up but our batters are in a good shape,” he stated.

Azhar Ali And Fawad Alam Photo: AFP
Azhar Ali And Fawad Alam Photo: AFP

“Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are in good knick and they have shown their pedigree in the white-ball matches leading up to the Tests. Among the Test batters, Abid Ali and Fawad Alam are also performing consistently from the last couple of series,” Azhar added.

The visitors will play against West Indies in a two-match Test series that gets underway from August 12. The 11 players who left for Barbados on July 26th were Abid Ali, Ali, Fawad Alam, Imran Butt, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shahnawaz Dahani, Yasir Shah, and Zahid Mahmood.

Azhar Ali has amassed 6579 runs from 87 Tests averaging 43.28 with 18 tons with a highest of unbeaten 302. Fawad Alam played 3 Tests in 2009 before being recalled in 2020 to play against England. He has scored 3 tons in each of the last three series against New Zealand, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Pakistan will open its World Test Championship campaign in August 2021 against the West Indies cricket team. Initially, the series was supposed to have three Tests, but both boards agreed to have only a two-Test series. After the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, Pakistan will visit Bangladesh to play a two-Test series against the home team. The series is likely to take place in November 2021.

The Australian cricket team will play an away Test series against Pakistan in the first quarter of 2022. The series will comprise three Tests, with either Pakistan or the United Arab Emirates playing host to the fixtures. Babar Azam’s men will play their final away series under the new WTC cycle against Sri Lanka in July and August 2022.

Like the series against Bangladesh and West Indies, the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test series will also consist of two matches. World Test Champions New Zealand will play two Tests against Pakistan in November 2022.  The England cricket team led by Joe Root will travel to Asia to compete in a three-Test series against Pakistan.

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