Virat Kohli and the Indian cricket team will not get any warm-up games with the County sides ahead of the five-Test series against England that will begin on August 4.
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The India cricket team has begun their three-week break in the United Kingdom. Virat Kohli’s side will look to recover from their loss against New Zealand in the ICC World Test Championship final. In another ICC heartbreak at Southampton, India was hammered by eight wickets against New Zealand. The Indian cricket team will reconvene on July 14 in Durham to prepare for the five Tests against England.
However, behind the scenes, there is some development in the aftermath of the ICC World Test Championship final loss. The India cricket team has requested some warm-up games with the County teams in order to prepare for the five Tests. However, in a report on PTI, the England and Wales Cricket Board has said no to the request of the warm-up games.
When asked as to why England counties cannot play a warm-up game against India, the spokesperson said, “Due to COVID-19 protocols, they will play two intra-squad four-day matches before the first Test in August.” A BCCI official also stated that since the County cricketers are not in a bubble, adjusting to the bio-bubble and initiating a new one might involve a potential breach.
Thus, if the latest speculations are to be believed, India will play two intra-squad matches in Durham when they meet on July 14. The Indian cricket team had played an intra-squad warm-up game before the ICC World Test Championship final. However, it was not deemed to be an ideal way to build-up for such a big event.
The fact that the BCCI and India are requesting warm-up games in times of the coronavirus situation is not ideal. New Zealand did not get a single warm-up game when they arrived in England for two Tests. Sri Lanka has not gotten any warm-up match before their T20I and ODI series that is currently underway.
When England went to India in February 2021, no warm-up games were organised due to the coronavirus situation. The logistical hassles and the bio-bubble maintenance in the case of warm-up games might be too hard to handle. With the Delta-plus variant now spreading in the UK, the Indian team might want to alter their travel plans.
After they arrive in Durham, they will be in a bio-bubble from July 14. In the last 24 hours, the UK has seen over 15,000 cases. India A’s tour is postponed as the country is still in the red list for travel. This means there is no direct flight connection from India to England. This has also meant that the chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma and selector Sunil Joshi will not be able to go to the United Kingdom.
In the past, Indian teams had warm-up games prior to the Test series. Be it in 2011, 2014 and 2018, the Indian team had played one or two warm-up matches. In 2011, they had played Essex. Under MS Dhoni, they also had some warm-up games but the quality of opposition came under the scanner.
With most county sides fielding their B or C team, it is not a ideal indicator for India to get practice against such opponents. Even in Australia, the quality of the warm-up matches came under massive scrutiny. In the times of excessive cricket in a packed calendar, the availability of several key stars for their Counties or state sides is next to impossible.
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