Indian team management keen to conduct warm-up matches before Test series against England
After losing the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand, the Indian team management is now keen to hold two or at least one first-class warm-up match ahead of the upcoming Test series against England, starting on August 4.
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials have confirmed the request for a practice match before the series. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah will speak to England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) President Ian Whatmore and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tom Harrison on the request of the Indian team for a competitive practice match, a board official said on Thursday night. A formal request in this regard is understood to have already been made to the ECB. Things will be finalized in a day or two after the BCCI secretary talks to the ECB officials.
It is noteworthy that the initial plan of the tour was for the Indian team to play India’s A team. Two first-class practice matches were to be played in Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, but the plan has now been shelved due to the current coronavirus situation in the UK and travel restrictions, and a camp has been set up in Durham instead.
When asked about the team’s preparation for the Test series against England, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said, “It doesn’t depend on us. We definitely wanted first-class warm-up matches, which I think have not been given to us. I don’t know what are the reasons for this, but yes, other than that I think our preparation time will be enough to get ready for the first test.
The lack of first-class practice matches against county clubs or England Lions is understood to be due to the Corona protocol implemented by the ECB. He will be included in the Bio-Bubble once the Indian team reaches Durham. At the same time, India’s situation before the Test series against England is not new. They are in a similar position to the other three teams touring England this summer.
New Zealand had no practice matches prior to their series against England, while Sri Lanka and Pakistan would not play county clubs to prepare for their limited overs series. Not only this, England also did not play any practice matches against first-class teams during the tour of Sri Lanka and India during the winter. His only practice match was an intra-squad match in Sri Lanka.
The lack of practice matches against county teams or Lions is understood to be a Covid protocol imposed by the England Board. When the Indian team gathers in Durham, it will be confined to a bio-safe bubble. Allowing the team to hang around other people would be a violation of the bio bubble. Anyone entering the bio bubble will have to undergo restricted isolation and testing.
