Ahead of the second leg of Indian T20 League 2021, several top cricketers have opted out of the remainder of the high-profile tournament due to either injury or bio-bubble fatigue. These developments have forced the Indian T20 League franchises to look for replacement players before the tournament resumes in UAE on September 19. 

As many as 15 replacement players have been officially announced by the franchises. They will have an opportunity to showcase their talent ahead of the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in Oman and UAE.

Virat Kohli-led Bangalore have witnessed the maximum pullouts among the franchises. Adam Zampa, Daniel Sams, Kane Richardson and Finn Allen have opted out of the remainder of the tournament and have been replaced by Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, George Garton and Tim David.

Bangalore will also miss the services of their injured Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar. Akash Deep has been named as Sundar’s replacement.

Inaugural champions Rajasthan suffered a massive blow as their star players Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler won’t feature in the second leg of the tournament. While New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman Glenn Phillips will replace Archer, South Africa chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi and Oshane Thomas have been named replacement players for Tye and Stokes. 

Meanwhile, Punjab have officially signed Australian pacer Nathan Ellis in place of his compatriot Riley Meredith while England leg-spinner Adil Rashid has been named Jhye Richardson’s replacement. The Punjab franchise has also been forced to add South Africa opener Aiden Markram in their squad after England’s David Malan decided to withdraw from the tournament.

Two-time champions Kolkata have named New Zealand pacer Tim Southee as a replacement player for their star fast bowler Pat Cummins, while Delhi have roped in Australia’s Ben Dwarshuis in place of England pacer Chris Woakes.

Full list of replacement players for Indian T20 League 2021 in UAE

Team	Injured / Replaced Player	Replacement Player
Delhi	Chris Woakes	Ben Dwarshuis
Bangalore	Adam Zampa	Wanindu Hasaranga
Bangalore	Daniel Sams	Dushmantha Chameera
Bangalore	Kane Richardson	George Garton
Bangalore	Finn Allen	Tim David
Bangalore	Washington Sundar	Akash Deep
Rajasthan	Jofra Archer	Glenn Phillips
Rajasthan	Andrew Tye	Tabraiz Shamsi
Rajasthan	Ben Stokes	Oshane Thomas
Rajasthan	Jos Buttler	Evin Lewis
Punjab	Riley Meredith	Nathan Ellis
Punjab	Jhye RichardsonÂ	Adil Rashid
Punjab	David MalanÂ	Aiden Markram
Hyderabad	Jonny Bairstow	Sherfane Rutherford
Kolkata	Pat Cummins	Tim Southee

Featured photo: ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP

After a thrilling three-wicket win over Pakistan in the first Test at Manchester, England will look to seal the three-match series with another victory in the second Test at Southampton. Players from both teams produced some solid performances in the opening Test but in the end, England fought back to beat Pakistan and take a 1-0 lead in the series. As we head into the second Test on Thursday, we have a look at a few players who could play match-defining roles in the game.  

Ollie Pope

Ollie Pope demonstrated all the class and poise that you would expect from a top-order English batsman in the first Test. After walking to the middle with his team in all sorts of problem in the first innings, Pope looked comfortable and dealt with the Pakistan attack with minimum of fuss up until his dismissal. His cool and controlled knock of 62 came at a strike rate of 52.99 and featured eight fours. Pope’s knock helped cut Pakistan’s lead in the first innings and even though he managed just seven in the second innings, the talented right-hand batsman could have a major say in the upcoming Test.

• Second England-Pakistan Test: Squads, Probable XI, Forecast and Prediction

Chris Woakes

One of the most underappreciated players of his time, it’s not easy to keep Chris Woakes out of the game. The Englishman has constantly contributed with bat and ball in recent years and was at it again in the last Test. He took four wickets, but his biggest contribution was his unbeaten match-winning 84 in the second innings. Walking into the crease with the score at 117 for 5 and a target of 277 to chase, Woakes showed no sign of nerves. Instead, he stitched together a crucial partnership with Jos Butler to lead his team to victory. His effort earned him the Player of the Match award and he will be eager to continue his rich vein of form in the second Test.

Shan Masood

Shan Masood top-scored with 156 in the first Test and will be disappointed that he still ended up on the losing side. The left-hand batsman was in fine form, hitting 18 fours and two sixes along the way. That said, with Test cricket being the great evener that it is, he could only manage a duck in the second innings. However, he will still be confident with runs in his kitty and will be itching to return to the crease and make amends as Pakistan look to claw their way back into the series.  

• England vs Pakistan: Three things we learned from Old Trafford Test

Yasir Shah

Yasir Shah was Pakistan’s most successful bowler in the first Test with four wickets each in both innings. The leg-break spinner picked up crucial wickets at pivotal junctures and is likely to be Pakistan’s go-to bowler whenever there’s a partnership building. Yasir has fond memories of playing in England having taken a match-winning 10-wicket haul at Lord's in 2016 and he will be keen to be among the wickets in a winning cause again unlike the first Test of the ongoing series in Southampton.

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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lee Smith

Chris Woakes is happy to be an unsung hero but the England paceman says he is as keen as any of his more high-profile colleagues to play in the first Test against Pakistan on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old bowling all-rounder was a key figure in England's recent 2-1 series win over the West Indies.

He took 5-50 on the final day of the third Test at Old Trafford, also the venue for the Pakistan opener in another three-match campaign.

But his fine return came on the same day that fellow England seamer Stuart Broad took his 500th Test wicket.

With the established new-ball pair of Broad and James Anderson, as well as express quicks Jofra Archer and Mark Wood vying for spots, competition for places in England's attack is fierce.

That is not even taking into account star all-rounder Ben Stokes, unfit to bowl in the West Indies finale because of injury, or Sam Curran, who played in the second Test against the Windies.

"I honestly really don't mind. I'm not one for being the centre of attention," Woakes told reporters on Monday.

"Don't get me wrong, I want to go out on the field and perform and I want to make match-winning performances for England but it really doesn't bother me if I'm first choice to write about or not, to be brutally honest."

'Good service'

Yet, with 81 Test wickets at 22 apiece in England, Woakes has a better home average than either Anderson or Broad. 

"My stats have been mentioned and they're very good in England," said Woakes, who has taken 106 wickets in 35 Tests overall.

"At my age and where I am now, at 31, it's unlikely that I'm going to go on and get 500 Test wickets like Jimmy and Broady but I still want to go on and get as many as I can individually.

"I still feel like I can provide really good services to England for many more years to come."

World Cup-winner Woakes said he hoped he had done enough to get into the starting XI for the first Test.

"But competition is high at the minute," he said. "We've still got two of England's greats charging in and taking wickets every time they play and we've got exciting fast bowlers as well."

Woakes enjoyed a breakthrough series against Pakistan in 2016, when he took 26 wickets, but it has been 10 years since England last won a Test campaign against Pakistan. 

"Pakistan are always a competitive team," he said. "They've got good experience and some exciting young players, as they always do."

Woakes's former Warwickshire teammate Jonathan Trott will be England's batting consultant for the series.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Martin Rickett

Alex Hales deserves a "second chance" with England after being sent into international exile as a result of recreational drug use, according to Chris Woakes. 

Opening batsman Hales was dropped from the World Cup squad shortly before last year's tournament after it emerged he had tested positive for drugs.

England went on to win the event on home soil in dramatic fashion without him and he has not played international cricket since. Despite his months in the wilderness, there is speculation Hales could be in line for a white-ball recall.

England are set to announce separate Test and one-day squads as they bid to complete a full international home programme against the West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and Ireland despite the coronavirus pandemic.

And the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia is still scheduled to take place later this year.

Read | Chris Woakes glad about training 'normality'

Warwickshire all-rounder Woakes, asked about the prospect of Hales playing for England again, told reporters on Friday: "I don't know 100 percent if it's the right decision, it's not my call. 

"I'm a believer that people serve their time, so to speak. He's gone through a tough time being left out of the World Cup and going on to see that team lift the trophy must have been difficult for him. 

"I think if people have gone away for a time and worked on their weaknesses they should be allowed a second chance."

Nottinghamshire's Hales was the second-highest run-scorer in Australia's most recent Big Bash and has three of the five highest scores in England's T20 history, including the highest of 116 not out against Sri Lanka.

His 171 against Pakistan at Trent Bridge in 2018 is second only to Jason Roy's 180 as England's highest individual score in one-day internationals.

Read | Stuart Broad gives glimpse into post-lockdown training

It was only earlier this month that England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan said Hales' behaviour had been "extremely harmful".

Nevertheless, Woakes said there was no questioning the 31-year-old's talent, adding that Hales could be re-integrated into the England squad.

"Alex is a world-class player," Woakes said. "I have played a lot of cricket with him from a young age actually. 

"In a way I felt sorry for him but I understand the decision from the management, captain and rest of the team. I don't 100 percent know what will happen but I'd be happy to see Alex back in England colours."

He added: "We have a culture and an environment in the England squad where we all try to pull in the right direction. 

"If Alex is willing to do that, then I imagine everyone would be happy to see him back playing for England."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Oli Scarff

England paceman Chris Woakes is glad to be suffering the 'normality' of familiar aches and pains following his first bowling net practice since the coronavirus lockdown.

Warwickshire's Woakes was back at his Edgbaston home ground in Birmingham on Thursday for an hour-long stint after being chosen for an individual session.

Batsmen and wicketkeepers are due to return from June 1.

The players are seeking to build up their fitness ahead of a three-Test series at home against the West Indies, which looks set to be rescheduled for July behind closed doors.

"It's what we know, it's what we do," Woakes told a conference call on Friday. "Obviously it's the job, so it was nice to have some form of normality going back to some training."

Read | Stuart Broad gives glimpse into post-lockdown training

England have selected 18 bowlers to take part in individual training sessions across seven grounds, with just a physiotherapist in attendance.

Under strict health measures, they are not allowed to use changing rooms and must work with a set of balls they alone can pick up.

"It looks a lot different to what we're used to," said the 31-year-old Woakes, an allrounder and veteran of 33 Tests.

"But at the same time, with what's everyone's been through, it was quite nice to be out there and do a bit of training and get the ball back in hand," the World Cup winner added.

"Obviously not having bowled for two months, there are a few things that are sore. The sides definitely woke up this morning knowing I'd had a bowl yesterday but it was nice to be back out there."

Despite the pandemic, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB ) still plan to stage a full international home season that also includes three Tests against Pakistan as well as limited-overs internationals against Australia and Ireland.

Officials from touring teams have made optimistic remarks about wanting to come to England, subject to health advice, and Woakes said: "First and foremost we just hope there's going to be some form of cricket.

"Obviously it's going to look different, with it being behind closed doors."

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison has warned a cancelled season could cost his organisation £380 million ($463 million).

"We've all seen the projections, that the ECB and the game, in general, could be in a bit of trouble if we weren't to play any cricket this summer," said Woakes.

"I think for everyone it'll be a bit of a boost, and obviously it'll be a boost for the game."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lakruwan Wanniarachchi

England all-rounder Chris Woakes has announced that he won't be playing for Delhi in the Indian T20 League this season because he wants to "get off for a bit of a breather".

Woakes, who is currently in Sri Lanka with England's Test squad, will return to Birmingham after the two Tests. He was signed by Delhi Capitals for �?.5 crore after his stints with Kolkata and Bangalore. 

"I just feel like I'd been on a bit of a treadmill and I needed to get off for a bit of a breather. From a mental point of view it's about recharging those batteries," Woakes said. 

In his early thirties, Woakes wants to continue playing for his country and therefore wants to be careful about his physical health. "I want to play for England as long as possible, that's still the pinnacle for me."

Apart from his longevity with the Three Lions, Woakes has also emphasised on the importance of spending some more time with the family. He added, "The league is great but I've been there and done it. That's not to say I don't want to do it again but at this moment England is the most important thing to me, as well as spending time at home with the family where I can. The schedule has just got busier and busier - the only breaks you really get in international cricket are at IPL time."

The 2019 World Cup winner has featured 33 times for the English Test side and with the West Indies, Australia, Pakistan and Ireland series coming up thick and fast right after the T20 World Cup, it is not surprising that he decided to take some time off. Given that he has not played a single T20I for England since 2015, it is almost certain that IPL will not grant him a spot for the World Cup. 

The busy cricketing schedule and the increase in number of international and domestic tournaments is giving the players very little time to recover from the fatigue. Indian players have been playing abroad for a long time and with the IPL kicking off right after the short series against South Africa, it leaves us to think, do they not need to "recharge the batteries" as well?

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lakruwan Wanniarachchi

 

Australia captain Tim Paine admitted he was having "a mare" after twice failing to review umpiring decisions in the fifth Ashes Test even though the challenges would have brought wickets.

England, seeking to level the series at 2-2, are firmly in control of the final Test with two days to go, 382 runs ahead with two second-innings wickets left.

Australia toiled in the field at the Oval on the third day of the match on Saturday and were not helped by Paine's misjudgments.

Read: Day 3: England in control as Australia wilt in fifth Ashes Test

Joe Denly, who went on to score 94, should have been out lbw to Mitchell Marsh when he was on 54 but Australia opted not to review the not-out decision.

Later on, the skipper, who is the team's wicketkeeper, failed to review a not-out decision against Jos Buttler after an appeal for lbw, with replays showing Nathan Lyon's delivery would have hit the stumps.

Buttler, then on 19, went on to score 47.

"I'm getting it wrong," said a tetchy Paine. "I don't know what else to say. We're having a mare (nightmare). We've got it wrong."

"It's fast," he added. "It's a tough job as I've said throughout the whole Test series. I've got a new respect for umpiring, particularly in Test cricket because it's a hard job."

When asked what he could do about it, he said sarcastically that he would enroll in "umpiring school" when he returned home to Australia.

Paine said after his side's defeat in the third Test at Headingley that he would be putting someone else in charge of the team's reviews.

Read: Australia captain Paine to review DRS role after stunning defeat

During the closing stages of that match, Lyon had a huge appeal for lbw against Ben Stokes, but the England vice-captain was given not out, and Australia could not challenge that verdict as they had used up all their reviews.

Their misery was compounded when replays revealed that Stokes would have been given out.

Paine said it was sometimes difficult to judge from behind the stumps, saying he was not sure where the ball hit Denly, for example.

The skipper said his team, guaranteed to retain the Ashes urn, still had a chance to win the series outright.

"The only thing that's been a bit upsetting this Test match is our catching and our referrals but that's not anything new," he added.

He described his top-scorer Steve Smith as a "freak" after he took a stunning diving slip catch late on to see the back of Chris Woakes. 

"Cricketers like him, I think Stokes is the same, they're just in the contest and in the game all the time," he said.

"That's what makes great cricketers great because they're always in the contest, they're always aware of what's happening. It was a pretty special catch."

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Glyn Kirk

England have dropped Jason Roy for the fifth Ashes Test against Australia that starts on Thursday, as they look to level the series at 2-2.

The World Cup winner has failed to impress in the first four matches of the series, either as an opener or when he dropped down the order at Old Trafford, where he made a top score of 31.

Paceman Craig Overton has also been left out for the clash at the Oval, with Sam Curran and Chris Woakes, who made way for Overton at Old Trafford, coming into the side.

JUST IN: Sam Curran has been named in the England XI for the final Test of the 2019 #Ashes. pic.twitter.com/vfP4v0z1j3

�?ICC (@ICC) September 11, 2019

The England and Wales Cricket Board also confirmed that Ben Stokes would play as a specialist batsman due to a shoulder injury.

England need a victory at the Oval to draw the series, although Australia have already retained the Ashes.

Captain Joe Root said Roy had missed out due to Stokes's injury, which meant the side needed re-balancing.

"It's always tough to leave guys out, but Stokesy obviously picked up a shoulder injury in the last game and won't be able to bowl the overs we normally expect him to," he said on Wednesday.

"With that we've had to change the balance of the side, and Jason's the unfortunate one to miss out.

"Jason's had an opportunity to come in and play Test cricket, get a feel for it and it's not quite gone how he would have liked.

"But I'm sure he'll go away and work extremely hard and come back again."

England team for fifth Ashes Test at the Oval:

Joe Root (C), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow (WK), Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Oli Scarff

England cricket has undergone significant changes since their 2015 World Cup outing. A limited-overs focused approach saw them lift the 2019 World Cup but in the meantime, their Test numbers have taken a beating. They are down to 4th in the ICC Test rankings and much of this is put down to a questionable selection approach.

Ed Smith, who has been their national selector for a while, has brought in a completely new approach to selections. White-ball players have increasingly been preferred in the longer formats of the game. Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid at one time and Joe Denly were all beneficiaries of this system. But the returns so far have been slim.

Even as Roy and Denly are being criticised for their dismissals this Ashes, England have made another questionable selection for the fourth Test against Australia at Manchester. They have dropped Chris Woakes from the Test team for the Test match, instead going for Craig Overton who was brought in as James Anderson's replacement to the squad.

Read: England call up Overton for fourth Ashes Test

What is surprising is that this is Woakes' best year in Test cricket. He has 15 wickets in 4 Tests this year at an average of 20.8 including a six-wicket haul to bowl Ireland out for 38 at the Home of Cricket in July. His averages in the three years before 2019 are 28.9, 51.4 and 25.1. This year, Woakes has been exceptional with the ball and has asked quite a few questions of batsmen.

At home, Woakes also averages 38.52 with the bat and has three half-centuries and a hundred. It is as such surprising that they decided to omit the all-rounder with the series interestingly poised at 1-1.

Even more surprising is Sam Curran's omission. The all-rounder has 18 wickets in 10 Tests at an average of 30.05, alongside having a uber excellent batting average (31.8) with three half-centuries. He was outstanding with bat and ball in the home Tests against India and Sri Lanka but has been handed a raw deal by the management.

Craig Overton has 32 wickets at an average of 21.34 in the County Championship season. Notably, even his brother, Jamie Overton claimed 26 wickets at 18.88 this season.

Woakes and Curran were both way ahead in the pecking order but have been ignored at a crucial stage of the Ashes. Overton is a pacer who hits the deck hard and generates lift and bounce. On the Old Trafford deck, these qualities would be a handful but he still needs to justify his inclusion to mitigate the outcry generated over the selections.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Adrian Dennis