Monday 15 February 2021

Day 46: Ireland eye up an action packed summer

The news coming out of Ireland today was positive for both the men’s and women’s game. Ireland announced three series for this coming summer including ODI and T20 series against South Africa and Zimbabwe across July and August. A trip to the Netherlands for three ODIs in June will proceed their home internationals.

International teams at Ireland’s level need to be getting regular cricket. Since their elevation to Test status, they have been in a limbo between the established Test sides and the associate nations they have levitated above.

The news from the women’s game was an announcement about when the domestic fixtures would take place. With Ireland gunning to qualify for two World Cups this year, it will be important for Ireland’s best players to be in a position to compete not just in qualifiers but be ready to play on the biggest stage.

England looks on the verge of defeat in the second Test against India at Chennai. Going into day four they are 429 runs short of victory with seven wickets left. It would take a monumental effort to get anywhere close to a win.

One thing in England’s favour is the late reprieve that Joe Root seemed to receive. India reviewed a decision that appeared to show Root plumb lbw. The technology found in favour of the batsman much to the surprise of everyone watching. It would still take something special from the England captain to turn things around.

Ravichandran Ashwin with an innings of 106 in India’s second knock deflated the England attack. Although it did prove that batting wasn’t as tricky as suggested on the first couple of days.

England will have to reassess the side that they field in the next Test. It will be a game under lights with a pink ball which might mean that we see James Anderson and Stuart Broad on a Test side for the first time this year.

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