One-day team selectionon Augugust 7
Mumbai: The Indian squad for the five-match ODI series against England, scheduled after the conclusion of the ongoing five-Test rubber, would be picked here on August 7 by the national selection panel headed by Sandeep Patil. “The selection committee meeting (to pick team for ODIs as well as the lone T20 game) will be held on August 7 at 2pm,” BCCI sources informed PTI on Friday. With the World Cup scheduled in Australia and New Zealand in February-March, 2015, the squad chosen for the ODI series in England would indicate to a large extent which of the players are in the selectors’ radar for playing in the mega event and defending the crown won by the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team in 2011. (PTI)
Bhuvneshwar has swollen ankle
Southampton: Seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s swollen ankle will certainly keep the Indian team management worried ahead of their fourth cricket Test against England at the Old Trafford starting August 7. With Ishant Sharma already out of the fourth Test with ankle injury, India’s most consistent bowler in the series, Bhuvneshwar’s injury will certainly give sleepless nights to Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Duncan Fletcher. (PTI)
Ojha replaces injured Saha
New Delhi: Wicketk-eeper-batsman Naman Ojha has been called up to join Team India in England as replacement for Wriddhiman Saha, who sustained an injury, for the fourth Test of the Investec series. According to the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, Ojha is expected to leave for England by August 4 to join the squad for the fourth Test, which starts from August 7 at Manchester. (UNI)
Pujara, Kohli slip in rankings
Dubai: South Africa’s AB de Villiers continues to head the Reliance ICC Rankings for Test batsmen while compatriot Hashim Amla returned to the top three. Poor performances from India’s Chetseshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli in the third Test against England saw them slip down in the rankings released on Friday. Pujara slipped two places down from eight to round off the top 10 while Kohli, who is having a nightmarish series in England, dropped one place to 15th. (IANS)