Cricket

Kemar Roach, the veteran West Indies fast bowler, has been ruled out of the upcoming Test tour of England due to a knee injury. Roach, who turns 36 on Sunday, sustained the injury while playing for Surrey in the County Championship.Roach has been a key member of the West Indies Test team for over a decade, taking 270 wickets in 72 matches. He has been particularly effective in England, claiming 61 wickets in 16 Tests.Roach's absence is a blow to the West Indies, who are already without injured all-rounder Jason Holder. However, the team has called up uncapped fast bowler Jeremiah Louis as a replacement.Louis, 24, has impressed for St Kitts and Nevis in recent years. He has taken 50 wickets in 12 first-class matches, including 18 wickets in the ongoing West Indies Championship.West Indies lead selector Desmond Haynes said: "Kemar's skill and experience in English conditions will be missed. However, this opportunity has been long in the making for Jeremiah Louis. He certainly has the skill and experience to make an impact in England."The West Indies are scheduled to play three Tests against England, starting at Lord's on July 10. They will also play a warm-up match against a County Select XI in Beckenham from July 3-6.

South Africa's captain, Laura Wolvaardt, has expressed concerns about the spin-friendly conditions they anticipate for the upcoming one-off Test against India, beginning on Friday."We've been facing a lot of spin in the nets, preparing for a spin-friendly wicket," Wolvaardt said. "India has a significant home ground advantage, and winning a Test in India is extremely challenging."The South African team has been practicing extensively against spin bowlers in the nets, with opener Tazmin Brits facing only spin during her recent net session. Brits was observed going down the pitch and even playing a reverse-sweep.Wolvaardt emphasized the threat posed by India's spinners, particularly as the match progresses. "Their spinners will be our biggest challenge, especially as the match goes on," she said. "During yesterday's net session, the ball was staying low and turning quite a bit."South Africa recognizes the importance of adapting to the conditions and countering India's spin attack. "We've been facing a lot of spin in the nets the last few days," Wolvaardt said. "I think that'll probably be the biggest threat — their spinners."The South African team is aware of the challenges they face in India, but they remain determined to perform well. "I think this Test will be a huge challenge for us," Wolvaardt said. "Hopefully, we're able to adapt to the conditions well."

Former Indian cricketer Sudha Shah has called for a significant increase in the number of women's Test matches, advocating for a minimum of three Tests per series. She believes that this would not only enhance the quality of women's cricket but also foster a more competitive and engaging environment.Shah, who played in India's first official Test series in 1976, emphasized the importance of longer formats in developing players' skills and endurance. She suggested that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should mandate a minimum number of Tests for all member nations, similar to the World Test Championship (WTC) for men."I feel, in the first place, they should stop the one-off Tests. They should be playing at least three Tests. Minimum, three-Test series," Shah said. "And I think the other (national) associations should be educated about it. Maybe, ICC should say that they have to be playing (Tests) or introduce a Test Championship."Shah also expressed her preference for the now-scrapped inter-zonal multi-day tournament over the multi-day Challenger Trophy. She believes that inter-zonal tournaments foster a sense of regional pride and encourage players to perform at their best for their respective zones."I think they should be playing inter-zonal and not the Challengers. I feel Challengers finally turns out to be like selection matches. I feel they should have inter-zonal. "I think there are a lot of girls in each zone that have the potential to be playing for the zone. And you have five zones. Here, you have three teams for challengers. Maybe, four. "So, I feel inter-zonal will help the zones and the states. And frankly, like I said, Challengers, they play like it's a selection match. When you play inter-zonal, you feel like you belong to a zone, and you have to play and win for your zone. I feel that makes a difference."Shah's insights stem from her extensive experience in women's cricket. She has witnessed firsthand the challenges and opportunities faced by female players and believes that a more robust Test cricket structure would significantly benefit the sport.

India's women's cricket team is gearing up for their one-off Test against South Africa, buoyed by recent white-ball series victories. However, head coach Amol Muzumdar believes there's room for improvement in all departments."We have the momentum, but we're trying to focus on each game as it comes," Muzumdar said. "The demands of Test cricket are different, but the team is up for it."India last played a Test in December, beating Australia in Mumbai. They also won a one-off Test against England at home. Most of the top players also participated in the Senior Women's Inter-Zonal Multi-day Trophy in March-April.Despite having only five days to prepare for the Test, Muzumdar is confident that the players are ready for the challenge. "We're aware that red-ball cricket will be a part of women's cricket going forward," he said. "The inter-zonal tournament was critical in sending that message."The core of the team will remain the same, but Shubha Satheesh, Sneh Rana, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and Meghna Singh will be coming in for the Test. "They're very important players," Muzumdar said. "They've had a specific workload in the camp and are raring to go."Muzumdar also expressed support for a women's World Test Championship, similar to the men's format. "It's not a bad idea," he said. "Test cricket is always special, and every game is important."The team has also included 17-year-old uncapped medium pacer Shabnam Shakil. "She's a superb talent," Muzumdar said. "We're including her so she gets a feel of the team culture and atmosphere."

Test Cricket in the Caribbean: A Cause for ConcernFormer West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan has raised concerns over the dwindling interest in Test cricket in the Caribbean region. He fears that the rapid rise of T20 cricket and the preference of players for this shorter format may lead to a talent drain to the United States.Sarwan believes that the number of first-class matches played per season, which currently stands at a mere five, should be increased to a minimum of ten to provide players with more opportunities to hone their skills in the traditional format. He also highlights the scarcity of proper cricketing infrastructure in the region.The lack of emphasis on Test cricket and the temptation of lucrative T20 franchise leagues are affecting the format that Sarwan cherishes. He anticipates a significant departure of Caribbean players to the United States, where cricket has gained momentum following the hosting of the T20 World Cup and its inclusion in the 2028 LA Olympics program.Sarwan believes that a quick resolution to the challenges faced by Test cricket is unlikely to be found in the near future. He suggests that the ICC may need to intervene to limit the number of T20 tournaments played around the world.Despite the challenges, Sarwan remains optimistic about the future of Caribbean cricket. He sees potential in young talents like Guyanese fast bowler Shamar Joseph and Trinidadian batsman Nicholas Pooran. He also admires the skills of South African Hashim Amla and Indian stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has meticulously planned a series of seven red-ball matches for the Bangladesh Test team, signaling a shift in focus from T20Is to the World Test Championship (WTC) for the remainder of the year. Bangladesh has four crucial Test series remaining in their 2023-25 WTC cycle against Pakistan, India, South Africa, and West Indies.To prepare for these challenging encounters, the Test cricketers will engage in three four-day matches in Chattogram next month. These home matches will be followed by two four-day fixtures against Pakistan A in Darwin from July 19 to 29. The Bangladesh A team will then embark on a tour to Pakistan in August for two additional four-day matches against the same opponents. New Zealand A is also expected to tour Bangladesh in August or September.In addition to these matches, Bangladesh players have been diligently participating in training camps in Chattogram and Sylhet since May. BCB's cricket operations chairman, Jalal Yunus, expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Test players in these camps. He emphasized that the four-day games against formidable opponents will provide invaluable experience ahead of the WTC matches."We aim to provide the best possible preparation for our players before the demanding Test schedule in the coming months," Yunus stated. "The rest is up to the players. I have been closely monitoring the Bangladesh Tigers camp, and I am pleased with their progress."The Bangladesh senior men's team is expected to depart for Pakistan on August 17 for two Tests, with venues and dates yet to be announced. Following the Pakistan series, they will face India in two Tests in Chennai and Kanpur, accompanied by three T20Is.Bangladesh may potentially tour India twice in three months if the BCB accepts the Afghanistan Cricket Board's revised schedule for two white-ball series in late July. The ACB has proposed playing three ODIs and three T20Is in Greater Noida. This tour was initially postponed in March due to Bangladesh's busy schedule in 2024, but with the Champions Trophy now on their agenda, the BCB is considering the tour, given that they have only three ODIs scheduled between now and next February.Sources indicate that the series is still under discussion, as the BCB has reservations about playing in Noida during July due to unfavorable weather conditions.After the bilateral series in India in September, Bangladesh will host South Africa for two home Tests in October. They will then tour West Indies for a full series in November and December.

Virat Kohli's Test Cricket Journey: A Decade of DominanceThirteen years ago, on this day in 2011, Virat Kohli embarked on his illustrious Test cricket career at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. Fresh from India's ODI World Cup triumph, Kohli was handed his Test cap, becoming the 268th Indian to represent the nation in the longest format of the game.Although his debut innings yielded modest scores of 4 and 15, it marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey that would transform Kohli into one of the greatest batsmen of his generation. Over the past decade, he has amassed an astonishing 8848 runs in 113 Test matches, with a remarkable average of 49.15.Kohli's Test career has been adorned with 29 centuries and 7 double centuries, including an unbeaten 254, his highest score. He ranks fourth among India's all-time run-scorers, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.Beyond his batting prowess, Kohli has also established himself as a formidable leader. He succeeded MS Dhoni as Test captain in 2014 and has led India in 68 matches, boasting the highest win percentage among captains with at least 10 matches. Under his stewardship, India has triumphed in Test series in Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies.Kohli's unwavering belief in the importance of Test cricket has been instrumental in India's resurgence as a dominant force in the format. He has consistently emphasized the significance of technique, patience, and mental fortitude in the longest format of the game.In January 2022, Kohli relinquished the Test captaincy to Rohit Sharma, but his passion for Test cricket remains undiminished. As India faces Afghanistan in the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup, Kohli will be eager to make a significant contribution with the bat and add another memorable chapter to his illustrious Test career.

Curtly Ambrose, the legendary fast bowler, holds Jasprit Bumrah in high regard, despite the Indian spearhead's history of stress fractures. Ambrose believes that Bumrah's unorthodox action should remain unchanged, maintaining that all fast bowlers face the risk of injury when they step onto the field."I'm a big fan of Jasprit Bumrah," said Ambrose in an interview with PTI. "He's so unconventional but highly effective, and that's what I like about him. When you look at traditional fast bowlers, you wouldn't look at Bumrah, he's so unorthodox."At 30 years old, Bumrah possesses the ability to take wickets at any stage of a limited-over match. In Test cricket, he is equally effective with both the new and old ball, particularly when the ball starts to reverse swing. Widely considered the best all-format pacer in the game currently, Bumrah has encountered his share of back issues and underwent surgery in March of the previous year. Following an extensive rehabilitation period, he made his comeback prior to the ODI World Cup in India in November and has been in top form since then.Ambrose emphasized that Bumrah should maintain his current approach and technique, making no alterations to his bowling style. "He has done a great job for India and still doing a great job in all formats," said Ambrose. "He's someone I've always enjoyed watching because he's so different."Bumrah's unique bowling action, with his chest open at the point of delivery, can potentially put extra strain on his back. However, Ambrose believes that every pace bowler has to cope with certain risks associated with their craft. "From my little experience, there are no two bowlers who are exactly alike," said Ambrose. "In terms of his longevity, in terms of injuries, (for) every fast bowler, there is always risk of being injured. But at the same time you can't go out there thinking that wa."Ambrose, a towering figure at 6 feet 7 inches, consistently challenged the world's elite batsmen with his ability to generate extra bounce. However, he doesn't attribute the strain on Bumrah's back solely to his bowling action. "I've never been through it (stress fracture)," said Ambrose. "So it would be unfair for me to even try to say what to do. I will leave that for the medical expert. I don't think Bumrah's stress comes totally from his action."Ambrose also expressed concern about the increasing workload on players due to the packed global cricket schedule. "Too much cricket is being played as well," he said. "Players are leaving from one series to the next, there is franchise cricket as well. Guys could get burnt out."Despite the challenges, Ambrose believes that Test cricket remains the pinnacle of the sport. "I've always preferred Test match cricket over anything else," he said. "I believe at the end of a career, if you've been judged, if you want to become a legend, you have to play Test cricket. You would not become a legend playing ODIs or T20s."Ambrose concluded by expressing his admiration for the current generation of players, including Virat Kohli. "To dismiss them gives me more pleasure than dismissing numbers 9, 10, 11," he said. "You talk about these guys, they are great players (Kohli & Co). It would be nice to play against them but having said that, I've played against some greats in my time as well."

India holds a pivotal role in safeguarding the future of Test cricket, particularly in regions like the West Indies, according to Cricket West Indies (CWI) CEO Johnny Grave. Despite a demanding schedule, Grave commends the BCCI's unwavering commitment to the format. However, he emphasizes the need for the ICC to take proactive measures to protect Test cricket beyond the traditional strongholds of India, England, and Australia.In the current World Test Championship cycle, only three of the nine ICC Full Members (India, England, and Australia) will engage in five-match series. Three teams (Ireland, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe) have yet to participate in the championship since its inception in 2019.Grave believes India's influence and resources position them as a leader in promoting Test cricket. He highlights their support for the reintroduction of cricket into the Olympics, a move that has significantly benefited Associate nations.Regarding the financial challenges faced by the CWI, Grave advocates for centralized travel costs within the World Test Championship. He argues that the burden of travel expenses should be shared among participating teams, fostering a sense of unity and reducing the financial strain on individual boards.The upcoming T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the West Indies and USA, is expected to provide a significant economic boost to the region. Grave estimates a potential revenue of US$300 million, which will contribute to the CWI's financial stability.Grave also emphasizes the importance of equitable revenue sharing within the ICC, particularly regarding the distribution of hosting rights for major events. He believes that spreading these events across multiple nations will not only provide financial benefits but also create a more level playing field.