The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has shared that “no official request” has come from India yet to change the dates of the five-match Test series between England and India which is all set to take place in August and September. Earlier the news came that the schedule might be changed to host the rest of the Indian Premier League matches take place there as well. Notably, the series will begin on August 4 and conclude on September 14 as well.
“We talk to the BCCI on a regular basis about a wide range of issues especially as we address the challenges of Covid-19, but have had no official request to change dates and are continuing to plan for the five Test series as is scheduled,” said an ECB spokesman.
Meanwhile, moving the series could also clash with the launch of the inaugural edition of The Hundred competition as well. And, it might create difficulties for the host venues as well amid the crunch time of COVID-19 as well. On the other hand, Team India will take on New Zealand in the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) final before taking on England.
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Moreover, Team India have been in sublime form in the longer format for quite some times now. They have secured a convincing win against Australia in 2020 and then against England at home earlier this year. It is also noteworthy that they had played against Australia without their key players as many of them were injured whereas the regular captain Virat Kohli returned home for his paternity leave as well. It was their bench strength that did well and India’s Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara has admitted that this is the strongest ever bench he has seen as well.
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“The amount of talent in the Indian circuit is humongous. Be it our bowling or batting – we have the backup for the players. The Australia series earlier this year was an example. We had so many injuries, but the backup options did well for us to win the series. Everyone in this Indian team is hungry to do well and that’s the sign of a good side,” Pujara said in a recent interview with the Times of India.
