MS Dhoni underwent surgery on his left knee in a Mumbai hospital on Thursday.
Dhoni, who led Chennai Super Kings to their fifth IPL title, had flown to Mumbai from Ahmedabad after the final on Monday and consulted renowned sports orthopaedic surgeon Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, who is also on the BCCI medical panel and has performed surgeries on a number of top Indian cricketers, including Rishabh Pant.
“Yes, Dhoni has had a successful knee surgery at the Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai on Thursday,” a CSK source was quoted as saying by PTI. “He is doing fine and will be released in a day or two. He would be resting for a few days before his extensive rehabilitation starts. It is now expected that he would have enough time to get fit to play in the next IPL.”
Dhoni had played the entire IPL season with a heavily strapped left knee and although he looked absolutely okay while keeping, more often than not he batted as late as No. 8 and didn’t look swift while running between the wickets. After leading the side to their fifth IPL title, though, Dhoni had said he would return for “at least” one more season for the fans, if his body allowed it.
“If you circumstantially see, it’s the best time to announce retirement.” Dhoni had said. “The easy thing for me to say is thank you and retire. But the hard thing to do is to work hard for nine months and try to play one more IPL season. The body has to hold up. But the amount of love I have received from CSK fans, it would be a gift for them to play one more season.
“The way they’ve shown their love and emotion, it’s something I need to do for them. It’s the last part of my career. It started over here and full house was chanting my name. It was same thing in Chennai, but it will be good to come back and play whatever I can. The kind of cricket I play, they feel they can play that cricket. There’s nothing orthodox about it and I like to keep it simple.”
On Wednesday, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan had said that it was “completely Dhoni’s call” when asked if the captain will decide against playing next season and thus free up a purse of INR 15 crore for the mini-auction.
“Frankly, we are not even thinking along those lines as we haven’t reached that stage,” Viswanathan had said. “It will be completely Dhoni’s call. But I can tell you, in CSK, we haven’t entertained those thoughts.”
MS Dhoni, CSK captain, undergoes knee surgery in Mumbai
As part of a new revenue-distribution model, India are set to take home 38.5% of the $600m earnings over the next four-year commercial cycle. The ECB are the next highest earners in the proposed model, potentially earning $41.33 million (6.89%) with Cricket Australia next highest with $37.53 million (6.25%).
The PCB is projected to make over $34.51 million (5.75%) leaving the remaining eight Full Members with below 5% of the earnings. Of the $600 million projected pool, the 12 Full Members will get $532.84 million (88.81%), with the remaining $67.16 million (11.19%) going to the Associate Members.
“When you see where that value is created, I think it’s understandable,” Gould said on the latest episode of The Final Word podcast. “There may be tweaks in the margins here or there, but the dominant position India is in is based on India’s ability to drive revenues and drive the sport forward. One point four billion people, one sport, ten [IPL] teams, one international team.
“I get it (the financial inequality). But I also understand how important India is, because without them we wouldn’t have the kind of revenues that are coming into the game.”
Richard Gould
“What I’m also fascinated by is India’s determination also to assist the world game. You look at the percentages and go ‘Well, that’s not fair it should be split equally’. But we’ve got to look at the size of the market. India play as many international fixtures as any other team in the world. And they do that because they know when they tour as an international team, they bring interest and revenue to that home side. I think it’s important to see things in the round, in that regard.
“I get it (the financial inequality). But I also understand how important India is, because without them we wouldn’t have the kind of revenues that are coming into the game. And I do think India make huge efforts to be responsible partners in this when I see the amount they travel around the world, taking India everywhere. I do think it is a balance.
“I think there is collective decision-making, both in India and within the ICC, and I think there is a real determination and understanding we need [for] cricket to be expanding and we need it to be healthy around the world.”
Gould suggested that the money could be better shared around the game if boards pay touring sides, a shift from the current situation where host boards retain all revenue generated. Over the last few years, that situation has served to highlight inequalities throughout the game’s various markets, particularly when it comes to Test cricket.
Full members like West Indies, South Africa and New Zealand are in the process of backtracking from red-ball cricket given the costs incurred to host Tests are not worthwhile as far as their own domestic deals are concerned, particularly at the expense of limited-overs fixtures. Gould sees no reason why that should be the case and feels countries like England, where Test cricket thrives, must do more.
“When somebody tours England, we don’t pay them a fee, we don’t pay their players,” Gould said. “The way that it’s done in bilateral cricket at the moment is you retain your own home domestic revenues. And when you travel away, they received their domestic revenue. That’s where the disparity of markets comes in. That’s something we will want to and will need to look at in terms of encouraging people not just to play Test but make sure they can pay their players, and pay them well, so that they want to play Test cricket again.”
More cricket being played around the world a ‘good thing’
On the subject of franchise cricket, the former Surrey chief executive regards the increase in T20 competitions around the world as an example of cricket’s growth. Moreover, he is of the belief the upcoming Major League T20 in the United States can help the game reach new, high-yield markets.
“You look at the T20 franchises and all these leagues that are being created – there is more cricket being played around the world now than there ever has been before. That has got to be a good thing.
“And then there are mother markets in play. The States is an interesting market. What happens if we get cricket in the Olympics, which is in the States (Los Angeles, 2028)? There’s another key, pivotal moment for it. There will be some bumpy patches along the way in terms of what direction we take, but never mind that. Let’s look at the overall big picture – the game is growing.”
Regarding the Hundred, the ECB’s own short-form competition, Gould held firm on previous comments that the competition is here to stay. He also doubled down on talk of a change from 100 balls to T20, saying the unique format helps the competition stand out among the crowd and in turn heightens the debate around the English game, allowing it to stay relevant. Now in its third year, and tied to a bumper broadcast deal that expires in 2028, Gould was unequivocal that English cricket needs the Hundred to compete effectively with the rest of the world.
“You could argue it gives us a point of difference, in a very crowded market,” he said. “It is a point of difference.
“You see the competition that we’re in globally now. Every country needs to have a super, primetime white ball domestic comp. We have invested very heavily in the Hundred over a number of years, both emotionally and financially. We need to make it bigger and better. We also have the Blast which we need to make bigger and better.
“We are not going to take the Hundred out. We are going to make it bigger and better. We are going to make the whole of cricket, bigger and better. That is our aim. We want to do it in a really collaborative fashion where everyone feels they have a role, they have purpose and they have something to gain from this.
“The format is not something that is on my agenda, in this regard, because Sky have been really supportive in driving it forward. It’s given us that point of difference. Everybody around the world, in the cricketing world, has heard of the Hundred. That’s a good thing. That’s a good thing – we like debate. When you look at sport, more than 50% of the coverage that we get is about the politics and the machinations of the sport rather than the sport itself. That’s a good thing too – as long as people are talking about the game, I’m pretty happy.”
Vithushan Ehantharajah is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo
ECB CEO backs India to be responsible partners amid revenue-disparity concerns
Josh Tongue was quick to talk up Worcestershire’s role in him winning his first Test cap for England against Ireland at Lord’s this week, but it remains to be seen if he will still be at the county in 2024.
Tongue is the first Worcestershire player to make a men’s Test debut for England since Moeen Ali in 2014, and said on Tuesday that his debut would be “a massive thing” for the club. “There are a lot of people at Worcester who have influenced my career,” he added.
But Tongue is among a number of Worcestershire players whose deals with the county are due to end this year and June 1, the day of his debut, also marks the date when county cricketers whose contracts expire at the end of a season are free to talk to other clubs.
Jack Haynes, the 22-year-old batter, is also out of contract this season, and losing either player would be a significant blow for Worcestershire. Both Haynes and Tongue are graduates of the club’s academy, and were part of England Lions’ tour to Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Worcestershire have enjoyed a strong start to the 2023 season on the pitch: they are joint-third in Division Two of the County Championship with two wins from six and have won all three of their T20 Blast games to date.
But off it, they are in a state of flux. The club reported an annual loss of just over £200,000 for 2022 and their financial health is dependent on ECB distributions, which account for around 60% of their annual income.
The club announced an intention to appoint a director of cricket in July 2022 but the position remains vacant, with Paul Pridgeon – the head of their ‘cricket steering group’, an unpaid role – in charge of contract negotiations with players and their representatives.
Elsewhere, a number of players who have been part of recent England squads are out of contract. James Bracey and David Payne’s deals with Gloucestershire are up at the end of the year, while Dan Lawrence – who was today released from the England Test squad for T20 Blast duty – is in the final year of his Essex deal and Jordan Cox is in the same situation at Kent.
Matt Parkinson, who made his Test debut a year ago this week, dropped out of Lancashire’s Championship side earlier this year and is also in the final year of his contract. He is now free to speak to other counties as he weighs up his future.
Parkinson played one game on loan at Durham earlier this year, but they are understood to have lined up his twin brother Callum as their main spin-bowling target, having relied on overseas spinners in the Championship this season.
The opening of county cricket’s ‘transfer window’ comes at a time when player contracts are up for discussion, with directors of cricket recently calling for an “urgent” review into the standard 12-month contract due to the proliferation of English players involved in franchise tournaments around the world.
County news – Can Worcestershire keep Tongue tied down?
England won the toss and chose to bowl under overcast skies in their one-off Test against Ireland at Lord’s.
Josh Tongue, the Worcestershire seamer originally drafted into the squad as injury cover, was presented with England cap No. 711 by James Anderson, whose Ashes preparations are being carefully managed along with those of Ollie Robinson after the duo recently suffered groin and ankle issues respectively.
Jonny Bairstow makes his return to international cricket after nine months, having recovered from a horrific leg fracture sustained in a freak fall while playing golf. His stellar performance during 2022 was a hallmark of England’s Bazball resurgence.
Ben Stokes, England’s captain, said: “It looks pretty good conditions to bowl in, we’re looking forward to getting out there as a group. I’m excited to see him [Tongue] go out and see what he’s got to offer, he’s obviously a good enough player to be here in the first place. It’s a great opportunity for us to see him.”
Ireland, playing just their seventh Test, have handed a debut to Fionn Hand as their third seam bowler, with Craig Young missing out. Hand, 24, played a key role in Ireland’s T20 World Cup victory over England in Melbourne last year, claiming Stokes’ wicket with a fine delivery that bowled him through the gate.
The last time these sides played a Test at this ground, the hosts received a scare, bowled out for 85 in the first innings before running through Ireland for just 38 in the fourth innings to win by 143 runs.
Andy Balbirnie, Ireland’s skipper, said Hand was “fired up” about making his debut. “He’s a great character, he’s earned that debut and hopefully he can enjoy himself. The wicket looks pretty good. If we can get through that tricky first hour hopefully we’ll have a good day with the bat.”
England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Matthew Potts, 10 Josh Tongue, 11 Jack Leach
Ireland: 1 James McCollum, 2 PJ Moor, 3 Andy Balbirnie (capt), 4 Harry Tector, 5 Paul Stirling, 6 Lorcan Tucker (wk), 7 Curtis Campher, 8 Andy McBrine, 9 Mark Adair, 10 Fionn Hand, 11 Graham Hume.
Recent Match Report – Ireland vs England Only Test 2023
Rashid Khan has been ruled out of the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka with a lower-back injury. The Afghanistan Cricket Board stated that “he will remain under full medical observation, and is expected to return for the final ODI on June 7”.
The three-match series begins on June 2, with the second game to be played two days later at the same ground. Just seven days after the ODI series, Afghanistan are scheduled to play a one-off Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram.
Noor also had a successful IPL stint for Titans, grabbing 16 wickets from 13 games at an economy of 7.82. However, he has played only one ODI and one T20I for Afghanistan.
Last month, Afghanistan announced a strong 15-member squad, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, for the Sri Lanka ODIs.
Having sealed direct qualification for the upcoming ODI World Cup, Afghanistan will be looking at this series to get their preparations going for the marquee event. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will treat it as a build-up for the Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe, starting on June 18.
Rashid Khan out of first two ODIs against Sri Lanka with lower-back injury
Southern Vipers 115 for 6 (McCaughan 42, Adams 36) beat Thunder 111 by four wickets
Ella McCaughan capitalised on Southern Vipers’ England exodus to score 42 to help her side to a four-wicket victory over Thunder in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.
Batter McCaughan hadn’t featured in Vipers’ opening three matches but made the most of Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt’s England call-ups with five boundaries on her way to her highest T20 score for Vipers.
Vipers’ chase of 111 – after a good bowling performance led by Linsey Smith‘s 2 for 16 – never looked in much doubt, with Georgia Adams joining McCaughan in a 52-run stand in front of almost 3,500 fans.
“It was nice to get an opportunity at the top of the order,” McCaughan said. “I’ve been working hard behind the scenes to be ready for the chance and I’m really pleased with the way I contributed.
“We have a strong side and depth here so it is really hard to get into the team. I’ve been working hard to get in and it was nice to get out there today.”
The bonus-point victory put Vipers in command of third place after their defeat of The Blaze, while Thunder remain fourth.
Thunder chose to bat first with both sides shorn of their England contract players, with Lauren Bell, Wyatt, Charlie Dean, Bouchier, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, and Emma Lamb all called up for red-ball training ahead of the Ashes Test.
Thunder’s batters collectively struggled to make the most of starts, with Liberty Heap, Deandra Dottin, Ellie Threlkeld and Danni Collins all scoring between 15 and 24 but none could turn them into innings-defining scores.
They were throttled by accurate bowling from the experienced Vipers bowlers Anya Shrubsole, Smith, Adams and, on her birthday, Georgia Elwiss – none of which went for more than 6.25 runs per over.
But Thunder self-sabotaged with four run-outs of varying degrees of barbecuing and mix-ups, which accounted for the wickets of Fi Morris, Seren Smale, Steph Butler and Olivia Bell.
A used pitch made flowing shot-making difficult although they totted up 47 for 2 in the powerplay, aided by Heap’s quartet of boundaries.
West Indian Dottin showed some flair with a vicious cut and flail over cover combo off Mary Taylor before slog-sweeping Adams for six.
But the belt tightened, Elwiss went for 14 off her for overs while Shrubsole, Smith and Adams picked up two wickets each as the last seven wickets fell for just 30 runs.
In reply, Vipers’ new-look opening pair of Nicole Faltum and McCaughan effortlessly put on 33 together before the Australian cut to point and Taylor joined the run out party.
Left-arm all-rounder Naomi Dattani had pilfered the first wicket, and the first two overs with impeccable figures of 2-2-0-1.
But Adams and McCaughan took control. Adams started slowly with 15 coming from her first 17 balls before tearing into former team-mate Tara Norris with three successive fours before bring up the fifty stand by carting Bell into the stands.
She departed two balls later attempting another big shot before Freya Kemp and McCaughan were bowled by Bell.
Nancy Harman became the sixth run out victim but Elwiss whacked a six back over Bell’s head to win it with 23 balls to spare.
It’s not often you get to the eve of the Test summer and an England captain likens himself to a Chelsea footballer. But such are the demands on a modern cricketer like Ben Stokes, the comparison made sense.
“I played a little bit of a John Terry role winning the IPL,” the allrounder joked during press commitments at Lord’s a couple of days after Chennai Super Kings won a thrilling final in Ahmedabad. Terry famously lifted the Champions League trophy in 2012 dressed in his full Chelsea kit despite missing the final against Bayern Munich through suspension. While Stokes did not go fully yellow, a winner’s medal is on its way to a player who made just two appearances despite joining the franchise for INR 16.25 crore (£1.6 million approx). The last of those was on April 3.
Stokes has been back in the UK for two weeks and watched the Ravi Jadeja-inspired victory over Gujarat Titans on his phone in the bar of the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, where England are staying for the Ireland Test. He will likely bag a win bonus, too, and any other extras the owners wish to bestow upon the playing group after a fifth IPL title.
Perhaps Ledley King would be a more accurate England centre-back to draw parallels with, considering where Stokes is at right now. A Tottenham Hotspur legend, King was blighted by issues to his left knee throughout his career, not too dissimilar to what the Test skipper has been dealing with since 2017. King managed his issue by limiting training between games. Stokes is following suit.
Taking cues from the 40-year-old James Anderson, Stokes has opted to limit his bowling between Tests. He has not bowled at all this week, believing there are a finite number of overs left in a body with much more than its 31 years on the clock.
“Before I didn’t have to worry about that,” he said on Wednesday. “I could just bowl and bowl and bowl and turn up pretty fresh. Now I’m probably not able to do that, so in between games is probably the most important bit of managing anything correctly.
“The thing about me is that I don’t need much bowling for the rest of my body to tick over. I can have quite a lot of time off and then build up quite quickly. It’s not doom and gloom if I do or don’t bowl in this game.”
Nevertheless, he declares himself fit enough to bowl at Lord’s if required and to send down however many overs required of him throughout the Ashes, too. Even at face value, it is a huge improvement in attitude above all else. He was deflated by his knee at the end of February after the New Zealand series, and that in turn was affecting his batting. To go by his net sessions this week, that is no longer the case.
There had been fears before his IPL stint that Stokes would return from India more broken than before, but those did not eventuate. Instead, the lack of playing time meant he ended up using the world’s premiere T20 competition as a glorified training camp.
“I think I would much rather have been playing,” Stokes said. “I’ve then seen that as an opportunity to train as opposed to playing and then topping yourself up as the tournament goes along. Once you get into the tournament it’s like play, travel, all that kind of stuff. So, I was actually able to turn a disappointing situation into a positive one because I was able to concentrate on properly being able to train, whether that be technical stuff with the bat or fitness stuff, stuff in the gym and being able to concentrate on something else.
“And that was a really good way to get through that long period of having something else to focus on, as opposed to being disappointed I wasn’t playing. So looking back on it, you might say it’s disappointing to only play two games but I was able to then do something else. Sitting here today, I’m actually thinking it could have been a blessing in disguise – every cloud has a silver lining.”
The work put in is noticeable. Though you’d never say he was overweight – certainly not to his face – Stokes’ more pronounced cheekbones suggest he’s back to the sort of lean figure that marked his stellar year in 2019. Considering a bowler of his pace will put around eight times his body weight through that troublesome left knee at the moment of delivery, it will help him deliver as a functional allrounder this summer.
Given the game’s direction of travel, you might regard Stokes’ use of the IPL as a training camp as a crass victory for the diehard traditionalists, though only a player of his stature has the privilege to do such a thing. His lack of playing time will not have affected his stock with CSK, who have an eye on him leading them in the future when MS Dhoni decides to call time. But they may think twice about extending it on the same terms in 2023.
To have arrived back primed for the red ball, even in lieu of a run-out in the County Championship for Durham, means Stokes is something of an outlier, albeit a very specific one given his situation. Ahead of a home season in which the longest format is considering its very existence, as franchise competitions multiply and encroach on previously sacred turf, Stokes – a self-proclaimed “huge advocate of the Test format” -acknowledges both codes are up against each other. Though not necessarily in a bad way.
“The whole landscape and the whole game of cricket is literally just changing in front of everyone’s eyes so quickly. I see T20 and Test cricket being able to keep being successful and progress side by side.
“Look at what T20 has done for the game in general, the amount of attraction it’s brought, new fans, new players it’s brought into playing cricket regardless of the format. And also what T20 has been able to bring in terms of Test cricket. The transition between the two games is so different but at certain periods in Test matches you do see that T20 side come out, which is only because the players have been playing it. So, I don’t see a world where T20 and Tests aren’t being played in the future.”
He cedes that commitment to a brand of cricket reliant on ignoring risk and blue-ticking fear may be a little trickier given the excitement around the five-Test series against Australia just around the corner.
“It’s hard to ignore and not see,” he said of the anticipation. “I don’t know what this build-up period before the Ashes is like compared to 2005, no idea, it’s very hard to ignore and not be able to see the excitement.”
It is Ireland first, however. A one-off four-day fixture even the visitors regard as a distraction given their own bigger carrot of June’s World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe. A reminder that whatever trepidation there may be of the new world, the old one was far from equal.
Vithushan Ehantharajah is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo
Ben Stokes reaps rewards of IPL gymwork after playing John Terry role at CSK
Josh Little’s appearance in front of over 100,000 Indian fans in the IPL final on Monday night will be every bit as important to the development of cricket in Ireland as the Test team’s opportunity to play at Lord’s, according to their captain, Andrew Balbirnie.
Speaking at Lord’s on the eve of his team’s one-off encounter with England, Balbirnie acknowledged the immensity of the challenge that awaits Ireland this week – not simply in facing down an opposition that has won 10 of its last 12 Tests in thrilling style, but in putting to one side the crucial World Cup Qualifiers that are looming in Zimbabwe later in June.
Little will be back with the Ireland squad for that 10-team campaign, which also features two former World Cup winners in West Indies and Sri Lanka. However, he is resting up for now after finishing as a runner-up with Gujarat Titans in a gripping IPL final that spilled into the small hours of Tuesday morning in Ahmedabad.
And while Little’s absence has attracted ire, particularly from Ireland’s performance director, Richard Holdsworth, Balbirnie insists that his star bowler is still doing his bit to put Irish cricket on the world map and that, given the direction of travel for international cricket, it may not be long before more of his best players are in similar demand elsewhere on the franchise circuit.
“That is something that happens above me and I’ve got to support what’s best for Josh,” Balbirnie said. “Do I want him in my team? Of course I do. He’s a brilliant bowler in the white-ball format. We’ve seen that on the biggest stage.
“Josh is Josh. We as a team want to promote Irish cricket as best we can when we’re on the pitch, but he’s also doing that himself with what he’s achieving on the world stage. What he is doing at the moment is only good for Irish cricket, and the development of players coming up through the ranks.
“I’m sure he does [want to play Test cricket], but I know how busy he is and the pressures that the IPL brings. He doesn’t want to get back from a game in front of 100,000 people with me saying, ‘Do you fancy 12 overs next week at Lord’s?’ You need to give him his space as well, and make sure that he’s in a good frame of mind.”
Little finished his maiden IPL campaign with seven wickets in ten matches, and fought his way back into the starting line-up for the play-offs and final, even after missing a fortnight in early May to play in Ireland’s ODI series against Bangladesh.
“He’s yet to play a Test match, but we know he’s pretty adaptable and he’s had a hectic schedule,” Balbirnie added. “I understand completely that he’s got to focus on resting up and getting ready for our World Cup Qualifier, which we head off for next week.”
But, as Balbirnie conceded, success on the international stage – whether that comes through qualification for the 50- and 20-over World Cups, or through individual feats at Lord’s this week – may well come with spin-off benefits for the players involved, even if it’s not entirely in the interests of Ireland’s international ambitions.
Citing the example of Lorcan Tucker – who picked up a deal with MI Emirates in the ILT20 last winter (and so missed a T20I tour of Zimbabwe) after his impressive displays in the T20 World Cup in Australia – Balbirnie admitted that further raids on Ireland’s playing pool would be a “knock-on effect of playing good cricket”, and therefore will need to be factored into the team’s long-term development.
“The T20 World Cup opened a few doors to people. Lorcan played in that ILT20 at the start of the year and impressed a lot of people.
“I can’t have any qualms about that because we are trying to play and entertain people and promote our game. The knock-on effect of that is these guys are going to get exposure to [franchise] leagues.
“Who knows what is going to happen in the next couple of years? We have to create a player-base in our country so if that does happen, and certain players miss certain Irish games, we have to make sure that there isn’t a drop in standard when we bring a player in.
“We don’t have the numbers that England, Australia, India have – in my career I don’t think we ever will. But in our small pool of players, we have to make sure they are all up to speed with what we are trying to do
“Things like this will continue to happen. Josh played in an IPL final in his first IPL appearance, I’m not stupid, he’s going to get picked up by other leagues and we are going to have this situation again, but he still wants to play for Ireland. I’ve spoken to him and he still loves playing for this team.
“But there are opportunities for him, and there will be for others. We just have to make sure that whoever comes into our group is up to speed and ready to go.”
Andrew Miller is UK editor of ESPNcricinfo. @miller_cricket
Andrew Balbirnie – Franchise raids on Ireland players will be ‘knock-on effect of good cricket’
Former South Africa allrounder Lance Klusener has signed as consultant with the Tripura Cricket Association for India’s upcoming domestic season.
Klusener, 51, is contracted to work with them for 100 days in a year. Besides working with the Ranji side, he will help the state’s eight teams in both men’s and women’s sections in various age groups.
Tripura Cricket Association vice-president Timir Chanda said Klusener would arrive in the state capital, Agartala, on Saturday to work with the state cricketers for overall development. In the first phase, Klusener will stay in Agartala for 20 days and will watch and guide the cricketers.
“We hope the cricketers will benefit from his vast international experience,” Chanda said. “Our cricketers are also excited to work with Klusener.”
Klusener, who played 49 Tests and 171 ODIs for South Africa, was also Delhi’s consultant coach for the 2018-19 season. He is currently the coach of the Durban Super Giants in the SA20 tournament. He has previously worked as batting coach of South Africa and Zimbabwe, and was the head coach of Afghanistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Earlier this year, he withdrew his application to become South Africa’s next white-ball coach. He was among the six candidates interviewed by Cricket South Africa but chose to pull out of the process and concentrate on T20 franchise roles instead.
Lance Klusener joins Tripura as consultant ahead of India’s domestic season
Western Storm 150 for 3 (Gibson 62, Wilson 58*) beat Sunrisers 149 for 6 (Gardner 37*, Macleod 34) by seven wickets
Dani Gibson struck a blistering 62 off just 46 balls as Western Storm chased down 150 to beat Sunrisers by seven wickets and record their second win in this year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup.
Storm lost two early wickets, but vice-captain Gibson blazed seven fours and a six to keep Storm well ahead of the run rate throughout a 115-run partnership in 13 overs with former England batter Fran Wilson, who finished unbeaten on 58.
Although Gibson fell with Storm still needing 19 to win, Wilson and skipper Sophie Luff saw their side home with 10 balls to spare.
Sunrisers had posted their highest total in this year’s tournament thanks to an eventful 37 not out from Jo Gardner. Gardner who was dropped off consecutive deliveries (on 17 and 20) struck four boundaries in a sixth wicket partnership of 48 with Amara Carr to rescue Sunrisers after a mini mid-innings collapse when three wickets fell for 16 runs, two of them to Chloe Skelton.
It arrested Sunrisers’ progress after Lissy Macleod and Cordelia Griffith had also put on a 48-run stand to give the Sunrisers a strong platform of 84 for 2 at the halfway stage.
Earlier Luff opted to bowl first to make the most of overcast conditions and her decision was immediately vindicated. Despite Mady Villiers taking two boundaries off Claire Nicholas’ first over, the England spinner was bowled off an inside edge attempting a late cut.
Irish international Orla Prendergast bowled a tight consistent opening spell, but her figures took a dent when she conceded five wides and Macleod cut her square for four as Sunrisers finished the powerplay strongly on 48 for 2.
Macleod drove Sophia Smale through the covers for four and took consecutive boundaries off Filer, hitting her off her hip over fine leg and edging her down to third.
Griffith largely played a supporting role. She took a step down the wicket to hit Skelton over mid-off for four but fell to the same bowler when she was sharply stumped by Nat Wraith. Macleod’s innings then ended when after stroking Gibson through the covers, she struck the next delivery straight to point.
Grace Scrivens perished when the ball flew off her inside edge to Luff at midwicket off Skelton while Carr stuck around to supported Gardner in a sixth wicket stand in 6.3 overs before she fell to a stunning one-handed catch by Gibson off her own bowling.
When Storm batted, Villiers struck in the first over, her drag-down pulled straight to mid-on by Wraith. Prendergast was then run out via a fortunate rebound off Scrivens’ palm as she fielded the ball in her follow-through but from that point, at 16 for 2, Storm did not look in any trouble with the experienced Wilson combining with Gibson in a match-winning stand.
Gibson went on the attack against the leg spin of Abtaha Maqsood and hit seamer Kelly Castle for consecutive boundaries including one high over deepmidwicket to take Storm to 82 for 2 after 10 overs, just two runs short of Sunrisers at that stage.
Gibson struck a huge six over deepmidwicket off Gardner to reach her half century off 33 balls, before taking another four off her next delivery.
Wilson meanwhile cut and pulled Scrivens for consecutive boundaries and pulled and reverse swept Abtaha Maqsood for two more before driving Eva Gray through cover to bring up her half-century off 36 balls.
Gibson eventually fell caught in the deep off Castle but by then the winning line was almost in sight.
“So Ben, what does the Ashes rivalry mean to you?”
No disrespect was intended to England’s actual opponents in tomorrow’s one-off Test against Ireland, but nor was there any point in playing the question – which came in the opening seconds of Ben Stokes‘ first press conference of the summer – straight back whence it came.
The Bazball Ashes, to give its inevitable monicker, gets underway in barely a fortnight’s time. And if that is the year’s “Pinnacle Event”, to use the newly-minted vernacular, then there’s no shame in endorsing the opinion of Richard Holdsworth, Ireland’s performance director, that this preamble is anything but.
What it is, however, is a Lord’s Test, an occasion that glisters even if it is not gold. “When you walk through the Grace Gates, it hits you pretty quickly how big an occasion this is,” Andrew Balbirnie, Ireland’s captain, said.
And as the sun threatened to break through on Wednesday afternoon, the old ground bore all the familiar signs of an impending major event: boundary markers in place, sponsors logos on the outfield, replay screens flickering into life, takeaway outlets lined up around the Nursery Ground. Everything starts to feel more real the closer you get to the action.
None of the above should come as any surprise, of course. Except, in the case of Ireland’s Test cricketers – invidiously compromised even as they take it upon themselves to shore up their country’s very relevance as an international cricket team – all of this is the very epitome of exceptional.
Four years ago, Ireland played their first Test at Lord’s, and briefly looked like landing the biggest upset in the sport’s history. Four years later, they hadn’t played another game, until they squeezed in three in a row in Asia last month, predominantly as a means to guard against embarrassment on their return to the big time.
And three weeks ago, Ireland’s most recent international encounter was a surreal three-match ODI “home” series against Bangladesh in Chelmsford – a valiant bid to leapfrog into the World Cup’s last automatic qualification spot which, even as it failed in front of a sea of ecstatic Bangladesh fans, couldn’t help but highlight the team’s nomadic, impecunious status.
Ireland are entitled to feel deeply let down by a sport that invited them to the top table in 2017, only to clear away the dinner plates at the precise moment that they pulled in their chairs. But at least they are here, and ready to savour the occasion as best they can, even if – like an invite to Buckingham Palace on the eve of a colonoscopy – their flight to Zimbabwe next week for the World Cup qualifiers is the single most important date in their diaries right now.
“That’s the hand we’ve been dealt, and we have to be grateful to have these opportunities,” Balbirnie added. “They’ve got a huge summer ahead of them in the Ashes. We’re very lucky that we’ve got in here for this Test. I can’t be too greedy. These are Tests that I never dreamed that we would get, and this is my second time here, and this time as captain, so we’re very grateful.”
England, too, may need to avoid getting too greedy. Stokes batted away any suggestion that his team might push for a win inside two days – a not-outrageous notion for a team that managed 506 for 4 in a single day against Pakistan – and yet the team’s new philosophy hasn’t yet been tested in conditions where they have quite been such overwhelming favourites as this.
At times in recent contests, Stokes’ pedal-to-the-metal approach has invited mild censure, most particularly in their one-run loss to New Zealand in February, where a less bombastic approach from a position of clear dominance would surely have delivered an comfortable win.
His answer to all such doubts has been consistent and clear: Test cricket needs to set out to entertain if it is to compete in the T20 era, and that England has a duty as one of its foremost proponents to lead from the front in that regard, so that other teams – not least Ireland – can reap the benefits of a renewed interest.
To that end, it is unlikely to serve the greater good if England end up meting out a humiliation this week, or even if they make the sort of instinctive decisions (looking at you, Nighthawk) that could in the circumstances be construed as disrespectful.
Ultimately, though, it’s just another Test that needs to be won and lost – and for all the huge privileges that England enjoy compared to their opponents, it’s not exactly a perfectly settled side that will take the field on Thursday morning.
From Zak Crawley at the top of the order, to the recently run-shy Harry Brook in the middle, to the returning Jonny Bairstow – on that horribly broken leg that won’t be tested over five days at least until the Ashes begin – to Stokes himself, and that wounded knee that has become an eternal management issue, there are weaknesses running from top to toe of the team.
Joe Root has barely struck a ball in anger since New Zealand (although his social-media work for Rajasthan Royals has been a sensation), and without the go-to pairing of James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, let alone the absent speedsters Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Olly Stone, a bowling attack led by the defiantly ageless Stuart Broad and two up-and-at-em rookies in Matt Potts and the debutant Josh Tongue is clearly a less daunting prospect for Ireland’s batters than they might have envisaged.
They’ll believe they can stick one on England – they’ll have to believe – then they’ll leap on their plane to Zimbabwe and get on with their main business of the summer. As, indeed, will their hosts.
Form guide
England LWWWW (last five Tests, most recent first) Ireland LLLLL
In the spotlight: Josh Tongue and Harry Tector
A “big strong lad … a rough diamond” is how Brendon McCullum described Josh Tongue after his late addition to the squad as injury cover. Now England men’s Test cap No. 711 is set to be unleashed for a debut that promises, if nothing else, to keep one corner of the seam attack anchored very much in the present, even if the team’s collective thoughts cannot help but drift towards a rather higher-octane encounter at Edgbaston in two weeks’ time.
Quite apart from being the first Worcestershire debutant since Moeen Ali in 2014, Tongue’s tale is remarkable for his resilience. This time last year, he was in the midst of a 15-month lay-off that he feared would end his career. But he bounced back in style this winter with impressive displays on Sri Lanka’s flat decks with England Lions. The promise of more sharp pace and bounce is music to the England management’s ears.
Given the fuss surrounding Josh Little’s world-class attributes, it’s hardly a surprise that Ireland’s team management are keen to keep Harry Tector‘s tekkers under close wraps. But despite their best efforts, word is beginning to seep out that, at the age of 23, they might just have found the real deal – a potential heir to Eoin Morgan, albeit one whose levers have more in common with Kevin O’Brien.
Tector had a quiet time of it at the T20 World Cup in October, but since the turn of the year, his returns have gone into overdrive – 803 runs at 50.18 across formats, including three half-centuries in six Test innings, and a startling 140 from 113 balls against Bangladesh this month that featured no fewer than 10 sixes. If Ireland intend to take the fight to Bazball, he’ll surely be in the thick of the action soon enough.
Team news: Tongue to debut as Bairstow returns
It’s tough luck on Chris Woakes, the Lord of Lord’s, who rather assumed he was inked in for his first home Test in two years, especially at a venue where he averages 61.20 and 11.33 with bat and ball respectively. Instead, it’s Worcestershire’s Tongue who gets first dibs in this Ashes summer.
Like his fellow seamer Matt Potts, who himself debuted in the Lord’s Test against New Zealand 12 months ago, Tongue gets his opportunity in part due to the absence of Ollie Robinson, who is being rested alongside James Anderson for sterner challenges to come. The top-order is unchanged from the winter, but Jonny Bairstow is back as wicketkeeper, nominally at No. 7, although that could yet be up for debate given his exploits last summer. Stokes joked in his press conference that McCullum was looking to demote him, but the match situation could determine the final look of the batting order.
England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Jack Leach, 10 Josh Tongue, 11 Matt Potts
Ireland’s build-up has been overshadowed by the absence of their star bowler, Josh Little, who was playing in the IPL final on Monday night but has not bowled a red ball in anger in years. But they may also glance wistfully up at the honours board in their dressing-room, where Tim Murtagh – who took a ten-wicket haul for Middlesex against Kent only last month – offers a permanent reminder of the greatest single day in their Test history.
Nevertheless, they still have the dogged Mark Adair – Murtagh’s foil four years ago – while Craig Young will be a welcome recall if he is deemed fit after his recent injury issues. Ireland’s batting, however, is their relative strength, with each of their top seven boasting strong recent form, whether that be from the Test tour of Sri Lanka, the ODI series against Bangladesh, or in the case of the openers, James McCollum and PJ Moor, their 232-run opening stand against Essex last week.
Ireland (possible): 1 James McCollum, 2 PJ Moor, 3 Andy Balbirnie (capt), 4 Harry Tector, 5 Paul Stirling, 6 Lorcan Tucker (wk), 7 Curtis Campher, 8 Andy McBrine, 9 Mark Adair, 10 Graham Hume, 11 Craig Young.
Pitch and conditions
Twenty-four hours out, there’s a tinge of green on a slightly off-centre wicket, although as ever at Lord’s, the well-drained surface is sure to be fairly true. The real intrigue will be injected by the overhead conditions. To that end, London is in the midst of a deeply peculiar spell of weather, with the forecast promising sunshine and clear skies even while the cloudy chill-factor begs to differ.
It could prove to be a bowl-first day if more of the same is in store on Thursday, although to judge by England’s love of a run-chase, it might also make no difference to Stokes’ decision if he wins the toss.
Stats and trivia
Ireland have lost all six of the Tests that they have played since their debut in 2018, including two by an innings against Sri Lanka last month.
In return, however, Ireland were bowled out for 38, the eighth-lowest total in all of Test history. The overlooked Chris Woakes starred with 6 for 17.
Joe Root needs 52 runs to reach 11,000 in Test cricket, a mark reached by only ten players before him, among them Alastair Cook (12,472), the only other Englishman on the list.
Stuart Broad is set to make a Test appearance in his 16th consecutive home season. Since his first Test on home soil in 2008, he has claimed 370 wickets at 25.73 in 92 home Tests.
Andrew Balbirnie, Ireland’s captain, is the only player to have featured in all six (soon to be seven) of his country’s Test matches.
Stokes needs six more wickets to reach 200 in Tests. However, his fitness as a bowler remains in doubt in the lead-up to the match.
Quotes
“One thing I have learnt over the last year is just not to plan too much, because you don’t know what will happen. All bowlers who are in contention have been told to treat every week and every build-up period like they will play. You try to plan things well in advance and then something goes wrong, then all those plans are out of the window, so it is pretty pointless to do anyway.” Ben Stokes advocates the laissez-faire approach to England’s injury issues
“I’m very fortunate this is going to be my second Test match at Lord’s and that’s an amazing thing for an Irish cricketer to say they’ve achieved. So, certainly, as a Test team it is our pinnacle event. We’re not sure when our next Test is as a team, so we have to enjoy this and try our very best to get a result and create a bit of history.” Andrew Balbirnie, Ireland’s captain, puts the talk of priorities to one side and embraces the Lord’s occasion
Andrew Miller is UK editor of ESPNcricinfo. @miller_cricket
Match Preview – England vs Ireland, Ireland in England 2023, Only Test
Ben Stokes says his fitness levels are back to their 2019 best and hopes to come good on a promise to his team-mates to fulfil his role as an allrounder this summer.
A chronic left knee injury has left England’s Test captain managing his bowling output in recent years, in turn dulling the balance he brings to an XI. That came to a head at the end of the winter in New Zealand when Stokes admitted to feeling “incredibly frustrated” at being unable to operate as a fourth seamer, sending down just seven overs across two Tests.
Stokes left the second Test in Wellington vowing to get right during a stint in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings, receiving a cortisone injection in the knee before travelling out to India. He only made two appearances for the eventual champions, bowling just one wicketless over which went for 18.
While frustrated at the lack of game time, particularly as a marquee INR 16.25 crore (£1.6 million approx.) signing for the franchise, Stokes used time on the sidelines to regain fitness in conjunction with CSK’s medical team and their ECB equivalents. And he believes his body is in the best possible place to contribute more with the ball, starting with Ireland on Thursday and into the five Ashes Tests this summer.
“I’ve been away in India for nine weeks and made a promise to myself and team-mates, in particular the bowlers, that I will be doing everything I possibly can to be in a position to fulfil that role,” Stokes said. “I’ve done that.
“The knee is obviously in a much better place than was in Wellington. I’ve been in India for the IPL over the last nine to 10 weeks but what I have done is get myself into a position where I am not able to look back and regret or say I have not given myself the best opportunity to play a full role with the ball this summer.
“I have worked incredibly hard with the medical team in Chennai, who were liasing with the ECB guys, and got myself into a place where I feel like I am back at 2019, 2020 space in terms of my own body and fitness. I have definitely given myself the best opportunity, but the mind and body are different things. But yeah, I have given myself the best chance.”
While by no means a prolific wicket-taker in 2019’s 2-2 draw, with just eight dismissals at 45.25 apiece, Stokes’ 95.1 overs held England’s attack together. His 24.2 overs in Australia’s second innings of the famous Headingley Test were most notable, though a spell of 3 for 56 that restricted the visitors to a lead of 358 was understandably overshadowed by the unbeaten 135 that followed.
Stokes has not ruled out further injections to get him through what will be a taxing period of six Test matches in eight weeks. There is a clear motivation to make amends after the last year and leave no stone unturned as he bids to operate at full capacity throughout the summer to replicate previous exploits.
“It has been a frustrating period for me, especially with the knee injury that has been hanging around. I know I won’t look back on this series and regret any decisions that I had in the build-up period, because I’ve worked my nuts off.
“I’ve tried a lot. Especially over the winter. But the great thing that sport and being out in the arena gives you is adrenaline. So it gives you stuff you’re able to do in a game that you probably would not be able to do with training. I might turn up every day and bowl like I have before this little niggle turned up.”
Josh Tongue’s ‘X-factor’ gave him selection edge
Meanwhile, Stokes explained the decision to go with uncapped Worcestershire seamer Josh Tongue over Chris Woakes as a chance to discover more about an unknown quantity.
Woakes, the Warwickshire allrounder, looked set to make the XI for the Lord’s Test, particularly with his averages of 61.20 and 11.33 with bat and ball respectively at this venue. Tongue, however, has impressed in training, particularly with his pace from a greater point of release. After a strong showing on the recent Lions tour of Sri Lanka, he will become England men’s Test cap No.711 on Thursday.
Stokes regards the 25-year-old as an ‘X-factor” cricketer and wants to use the upcoming week to gauge Tongue’s aptitude for this level. Though Woakes has not played a Test since March 2022, missing the whole of last summer with a left knee issue of his own, England did not feel the need to push him into action this week given what is to come.
“It was a hard decision to make,” said Stokes. “We know Woakesy is a very experienced player and what he will offer this team when he plays. We see this as a great opportunity to see someone like Josh Tongue go out and play in a Test. We might need someone like him throughout the summer.
“It gives me an opportunity to see what his character is like and what he is like to operate with as a captain. Woakesy completely understood that. We won’t plan too much because we don’t know what will happen, but all the bowlers know they need to be prepared to play every game this summer. It’s exciting we’re able to see another pace bowler come through the ranks.
“Tonguey has been someone who has been spoken about even since he first came on and played for Worcestershire. He is someone who possesses a bit more pace than most of the guys who have been spoken about as the next guys in line and he’s started off pretty well this year with Worcestershire as well.
“Having someone who is able to bowl with that extra pace so he can come on and change the way the game is going and have that ‘X-factor’, is always great to have in your side. I am looking forward to getting him involved and watching him get his Test cap tomorrow.”
Vithushan Ehantharajah is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo
Ben Stokes knee injury – Will England captain bowl in Ashes?
MS Dhoni will be seeking expert opinion from sports orthopaedics in Mumbai on the state of his dodgy left knee before taking a call on his treatment, Chennai Super Kings’ CEO Kasi Viswanathan said on Wednesday.
Dhoni had played the entire IPL season with a heavily strapped left knee and although he looked absolutely okay while keeping, more often than not he batted as late as No. 8 and didn’t look swift while running between the wickets. After leading the side to their fifth IPL title, though, Dhoni had said he would return for “at least” one more season for the fans, if his body allowed it.
“Yes, it is true that Dhoni will be taking medical advice for his left knee injury and accordingly decide,” Viswanathan told PTI. “If surgery is advised, it can only be ascertained after reports come out, it will be completely his call.”
Is there a possibility that Dhoni will decide against playing next season and thus free up a purse of INR 15 crore for the mini-auction? “Frankly, we are not even thinking along those lines as we haven’t reached that stage,” Viswanathan said. “It will be completely Dhoni’s call. But I can tell you, in CSK, we haven’t entertained those thoughts.”
Asked if the franchise owner N Srinivasan addressed the players after the fifth IPL trophy and if celebrations were in the offing.
“He is very happy but there were no celebrations,” Viswanathan replied. “The players dispersed for their respective destinations from Ahmedabad only. Also if you have seen CSK, we are never big on celebrations.”
Talking about the team’s fifth title, which came despite a spate of injuries to its top players, Viswanathan said: “It’s all about team spirit and every player knowing his role which is very well defined in our set-up.
“Even a player of Ben Stokes‘ stature, his nature was brilliant around the group and the youngsters looked up to him. This has been possible because of our captain.”
What has been CSK’s hallmark over the years which enabled them to reach the final in ten of the 14 editions that they have been a part of?
“I have been associated with CSK since season one and we have never deviated from our process. The key has been to keep things simple and explain to every player what is expected of them. In our franchise, the skipper keeps everything uncomplicated.”
‘MS Dhoni will take medical advice for knee injury’ – CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan
Anil Kumble and Robin Uthappa are among just a handful of cricketers who have expressed their anguish at prominent Indian wrestlers being “manhandled” by the police in Delhi, India’s national capital.
Tweeting on Tuesday, two days after disturbing images of Vinesh Phogat, among other wrestlers, being dragged away from the site of their protest in central Delhi emerged, Kumble said, “Dismayed to hear about what transpired on the 28th of May with our wrestlers being manhandled. Anything can be resolved through proper dialogue. Hoping for a resolution at the earliest.”
A day later, on Wednesday, Uthappa said he was “saddened” by the developments, and that he was “certain there is a better way to have this addressed in a peaceful manner”.
Delhi Police acted against the wrestlers when they breached the security barriers and started to march towards the new parliament building, which was being inaugurated by Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, at the time. The protesters were pushed into buses and taken away, and police personnel cleared the protest site – not far from the parliament building not long after.
Apart from Kumble and Uthappa, there was a message from Irfan Pathan, who tweeted “I’m so sad to see the visuals of our Athletes” on Sunday night itself. And from Manoj Tiwary, now a Member of the Legislative Assembly in West Bengal, who offered his support to the wrestlers.
Dismayed to hear about what transpired on the 28th of May with our wrestlers being manhandled. Anything can be resolved through proper dialogue. Hoping for a resolution at the earliest.
Saddened to hear about what’s happening with our wrestling heroes. I’m certain there is a better way to have this addressed in a peaceful manner. I pray it happens soon.
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) May 31, 2023
I’m so sad to see the visuals of our Athletes…. Please solve this ASAP
The tweets from Kumble, Irfan and Tiwary came around the time of the IPL 2023 final, which Chennai Super Kings won off the last ball against Gujarat Titans.
The morning after the final was completed – after rain in Ahmedabad caused long delays over two days – Sakshi Malik had even tweeted out a jibe of sorts directed at the Indian cricket community.
Congratulations MS Dhoni ji and CSK. We are happy that at least some sportspersons are getting respect and love they deserve. For us, the fight for justice is still on
Not long after that, Malik, Phogat and Bajrang Punia made public statements saying that they would be immersing their medals, earned at competitions around the world including the Olympic Games and the World Championships, into the River Ganga, something they have since opted against.
The wrestlers’ protest started in January.
They have alleged that Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Indian wrestling federation chief, sexually abused and exploited women wrestlers – including a minor – over the past decade. That was after Delhi Police agreed to investigate the charges against Singh a week after the complaint was first filed and only after the wrestlers moved the Supreme Court for action. But the wrestlers’ larger mission has been to remove Singh from his position, and to draw attention to the charges against him.
“Will they ever get justice,” Kapil had asked at the time in an Instagram post with a photograph of Phogat, Punia and Malik – the latter two Olympic medalists – who have been the faces of the protest. They were part of a group of 30-odd wrestlers at Jantar Mantar in January, too, when they made public the allegations against Singh, a member of parliament from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
“You do come forward to congratulate us when we win something. Even the cricketers tweet when that happens. Abhi kya ho gaya [What has happened now]? Are you so afraid of the system? Or maybe there’s something fishy going on there too?”
Vinesh Phogat, on April 28
Following that, the union sports ministry, of which former BCCI president Anurag Thakur is the man in charge, tasked its oversight committee to investigate the matter and submit the findings by February. The committee included, among others, boxer MC Mary Kom and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, both Olympic Games medallists (Mary Kom is also a former member of parliament). Reports say that the findings of the oversight committee have not been made available to the wrestlers.
Support for the wrestlers from the cricket community had been extremely limited all along, and Phogat had even issued a plea of sorts to the Indian cricket community, asking why they had been silent on the plight of their fellow sportspersons.
“The entire country worships cricket but not even a single cricketer has spoken up,” the Indian Express quoted Phogat as saying. “We aren’t saying that you speak in our favour, but at least put up a neutral message and say there should be justice for whichever party. This is what pains me… Be it cricketers, badminton players, athletics, boxing…
“It’s not like we don’t have big athletes in our country. There are cricketers… During the Black Lives Matter movement in the US, they showed their support. Don’t we deserve even that much?
“You do come forward to congratulate us when we win something. Even the cricketers tweet when that happens. Abhi kya ho gaya [What has happened now]? Are you so afraid of the system? Or maybe there’s something fishy going on there too?”
Wrestlers’ protest – Anil Kumble, Robin Uthappa, Irfan Pathan, Manoj Tiwary ask for quick resolution
