IND vs ENG / India play intra squad practice match before test series against England says ECB

IND vs ENG | Team India will play two intra-squad matches at the Riverside ground in Durham before the five-match Test series against England. Virat Kohli's players are unlikely to get any first-class practice matches against county teams. For this reason, Team India will play intra-squad matches among themselves. Indian captain Virat Kohli has expressed his displeasure over not getting any first-class matches ahead of the series against England starting in Nottingham from August 4. An England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) spokesperson told PTI on Friday, ' According to the Kovid-19 protocol, they will play two four-day matches by forming two teams of their players before the first Test in August.

The Cricket Board of India (BCCI) had requested the ECB to hold some practice matches but due to the COVID-19 situation, such a plan would be difficult to fulfill. Asked if there was a possibility of hosting any matches against county teams, the spokesperson said, "No." Players from various county teams in England are being regularly tested for COVID-19 but are not kept in a bio-bubble. The Indian team will assemble in London on 14 July and leave for Durham after which it will again be in the Bio-Bubble. A BCCI official, who did not wish to be named, said, “The domestic players in England are not in the bio-bubble, it is definitely an issue. Therefore matches in Durham will be played by dividing the players of the team into two teams.

The Indian team is currently with 24 players (20 official team and four reserves) so that they can play by forming two teams of players of the team. However, great player Sunil Gavaskar raised questions on this and said that how can the team prepare for such matches. In the past, touring teams played several first-class matches with county teams. In matches played by making two teams within a team, if a player is dismissed early, he can bat again but in a first class match this cannot happen.

 Chief selector Chetan Sharma and another senior selector Sunil Joshi will not be traveling to England for the five-match Test series due to the stringent quarantine rules being a hindrance.

India is one of the Red List countries from where there is no direct flight to the UK. If someone goes from India, he will either have to travel by charter flight as the team had gone or else he will have to first go to countries which will not be included in the UK Red List and then stay there in Quarantine and go to England from there. Will have to take a flight. A BCCI source informs, “Yes, Debu (Debasish Mohanty) and Abe (Kuruvilla) are going to Sri Lanka where the limited overs team will play six matches. He is currently in quarantine with the team in a hotel in Mumbai. But none of the selectors are going to the UK.