The Indian cricket team will begin its England tour with a warm-up match against India A. The match will be played on June 13 at Beckenham, which is a ground under Kent County Cricket Club. There were intentions to telecast the match, but the decision was reversed, and it will now be played behind closed doors.

Practice Matches Before the Test Series

Before the five-match Test series, India A will also tour England and will have two four-day matches against England Lions. The first of these will be between May 30 and June 2 at Canterbury, and the second from June 6 to 9 at Northamptonshire Cricket County Club.

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Indian Team's Travel and Preparations

After IPL 2025 is over, Indian players will get two weeks of rest and then go to England during the second week of June. There may be a few players going earlier based on their time table. Beckenham ground, located in southeastern London, is good and being used for practice before the Test series.

Issues related to selection and captaincy

The England series squad is expected to be announced in May, when the IPL will be at its peak. A part of the controversy is whether Rohit Sharma will continue to be the captain, subject mostly to how he performs during the IPL to assist the selectors in making their decision.

England vs India Test Series Schedule

This will be India's only practice game before the first Test at Headingley. As there are no practice games against local county teams, the intra-squad match will become the only preparation for the team.

Former England skipper Charlotte Edwards has been appointed as England Women's cricket team head coach, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Tuesday (April 1). Edwards, who represented England in more than 300 games and was captain of the team for a decade, succeeds Jon Lewis after England's embarrassing 16-0 Ashes whitewash against Australia earlier this year.

A Return to the Three Lions

"I am thrilled to be back as part of the England Women's cricket team leadership, and I am not looking forward to taking this team forward and pushing us to success," Edwards said. "It means the world to me to have the three lions on my chest again. Being captain of England was my life for 10 years, and I will always be passionate about this team and our heritage. We have such a great bunch of players, and I am looking forward to working with them and developing them as individuals and as a team."

Her immediate challenge will be two home series against West Indies and India, followed by the ICC Women’s World Cup in India later this year and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at home in 2026. She will also be responsible for restoring team morale after England’s recent poor performances, including their unexpected group-stage exit at the T20 World Cup in the UAE last October.

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A Decorated Career On and Off the Field

Through her 20-year career on the field, Edwards was a two-time World Cup and five-time Ashes series winner. Since retiring in 2017, she has lived a life of tremendous success as a coach. She took Mumbai Indians to two Women's Premier League (WPL) titles in three seasons and took Southern Vipers to five titles, two of which were in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, England's domestic T20 competition named for her.

Her coaching record also features taking Southern Brave to three Women's Hundred finals, claiming victory in 2023, and taking Sydney Sixers to the final of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) for 2022-23. Edwards will now leave her position with the Sixers and Hampshire Women.

ECB Supports a "Proven Winner"

ECB deputy CEO and England Women's cricket managing director Clare Connor welcomed Edwards' appointment: "She has the experience, passion, and expertise to take this team to success. The results she has achieved as a head coach in various environments since retiring as one of the greatest-ever England players is a relentless and high standard."

Connor also recognized Edwards's extensive understanding of the game at home and abroad and stressed the need to create a competitive but also supportive atmosphere for the national team.

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Transition in Leadership and Challenges Ahead

Edwards' appointment comes as England changes leadership, with Heather Knight retiring as captain. The ECB has not yet announced her replacement, although vice-captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is the favorite to take over.

On Wednesday, Edwards and Connor will speak to the media at Lord's to set out their vision for England Women's cricket. With the growing professionalization of the women's game and the recent struggles of England, Edwards is likely to introduce more stringent fitness and performance requirements to restore the team's competitive swagger.

As England prepares for a key stage in women's cricket, including the possibility of the sport being added to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Edwards' appointment promises a new dawn. The ECB will expect that her record as a player and coach is replicated internationally.

Joe Root has confirmed he is not in the running to become England’s next white-ball captain following Jos Buttler’s resignation after the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The 34-year-old batter, who led England’s Test team from 2017 to 2022, stated that his time as captain is over.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Root said, “I think that ship has sailed. I’ve done my time as a captain in an England shirt. I’m sure whoever gets the opportunity will be extremely proud and do a brilliant job.”

While Root never captained England in limited-overs formats, he returned to the ODI side this year and finished as one of the top performers in the Champions Trophy. He was England’s leading batter in the tournament, finishing as the fourth-highest run-scorer overall, and nearly took his team over the line in their final match against Afghanistan with a gritty century.

Despite his personal success, England endured a disappointing campaign, failing to reach the semifinals. Jos Buttler stepped down as captain shortly before their final group game against South Africa. Since then, England has yet to announce a new leader for the ODI side.

Among the contenders, vice-captain Harry Brook is currently seen as the front-runner. However, managing director Rob Key has hinted that Ben Stokes could be considered for the white-ball captaincy, potentially uniting both red and white-ball leadership under one figure. Brendon McCullum has not ruled out the option of having separate captains for ODIs and T20Is.

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Root acknowledged England’s recent struggles but remains confident in the squad’s potential. “We didn’t play anywhere near what we’re capable of. But there’s so much talent and so much more to come. This is a good opportunity to reset and move forward as a group.”

Despite not being a regular in England’s T20I squad since 2019, Root's form in franchise cricket has drawn attention. He impressed in this year’s SA20 tournament with the Paarl Royals, scoring 279 runs at an average of 55.80 and a strike rate of 140.20.

Looking ahead, Root turned his focus to the upcoming Test summer, starting with a five-match series against India at home from June 20. The series will kick off the new cycle of the World Test Championship.

“India coming over means there’s no hiding place. It’s a long series, and we’ll need to deliver match-winning performances consistently,” Root said.

With Root stepping aside from the leadership conversation, England’s white-ball future now rests on the next generation to take the team forward.

Ben Stokes, who last played an ODI in England's underwhelming 2023 World Cup bid, is still a top contender for the white-ball captaincy and Managing Director Rob Key commended Stokes' leadership, adding, "Ben Stokes is one of the best captains I've ever seen, so it'd be stupid not to look at him." Yet he conceded that Stokes had problems juggling Test and ODI captaincy.

England are also mulling over having different captains for the ODI and T20I sides. Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, and Harry Brook are the ones who have been touted as possible candidates. Key stressed the need to make the right choice instead of a hasty one. "We're searching for the best individual who can drive this forward," he said.

A Wake-Up Call for England

England's premature exit from the Champions Trophy laid bare critical problems in the squad. Heavy losses against Australia, Afghanistan, and South Africa hinted at defects in team balance and selection. England had opted for an all-pacing approach to subcontinental surfaces, which paid disastrous dividends. Brydon Carse and Mark Wood's injuries reduced the squad further. Adil Rashid was the lone specialist spinner from the start, and Rehan Ahmed was introduced later as an alternative.

ECB Director confirms England not ruling out the option to appoint Ben Stokes as the ODI captain. pic.twitter.com/TDTezdNzNJ

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 6, 2025

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Looking back at the team's travails, Key conceded, "We were very poor. We haven't been particularly good in white-ball cricket since Eoin Morgan's time. The batting, in particular, has fallen off a cliff."

Addressing the Decline

England's white-ball woes had been evident well before the Champions Trophy, with heavy losses in India in ODIs and T20Is. It was reported that only Joe Root trained in the nets during the ODI series, but Key refuted these reports. "That story wasn't true," he explained. "I saw the team in Pakistan, and they practiced hard. It wasn't a lack of preparation that caused poor performances."

With England seeking to rebuild, the choice for their new white-ball captain either Stokes or someone new will be important in deciding the direction of the team

The pokers greats in cricketing terms

In poker, the best players rely on a combination of skills, reading opponents, calculated risks, and the occasional well-timed bluff. If we translate that into cricketing terms, we would be looking for teams and players who exhibit tactical acumen, psychological resilience, and an ability to perform under pressure.

Australia – The Bold Risk-Takers
Australia is the brazen poker player that everyone knows is coming in way too aggressive to the table. Australia's Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, and Michael Clarke played for these Aussies; the Australians were always a team that played too hard in excess—taking risky chances to gain victory over other teams. Their mental fortitude and flexibility make them great poker players.

India – The Smart Planners
India would come to the table with some of the most calculated heads in cricket like MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. India would also enter with the calm, collective mentality of a poker player as Dhoni is known as 'Captain Cool;' he never showed stress and always knew how to read the game, making subtle yet grand gestures—the perfect traits a poker champion would need. Thus, India's ability to maintain consistency under high-stakes pressure makes them one of the best in a mind game like poker.

Pakistan – The Unpredictable Gamblers
Pakistan is equivalent to the high-reward wild card at the table. They could bluff big or go all-in like no one sees it coming. Wild-eyed, crazy decision-makers like Shahid Afridi and Wasim Akram would revel in the unpredictability and no-holds-barred atmosphere that would make the Champions Trophy a riveting game of poker.

England – The Patients Strategists
England's gameplay has always been about playing the long game like a conservative poker player waiting for the right hand before going for it. England has had great tacticians like Eoin Morgan and Joe Root; they are poker players who would go into the game with timed measurements of calculation instead of brute force.

South Africa – The Talented but unlucky players

Despite having the talent, however, South Africa has long been afflicted by bad luck in major tournaments. In poker, they’d be the player who always makes it to the final table but loses to a dramatic river card. Going by their squad, they have the talent including stalwarts AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis, but might be a victim of an exceptional turn of events.

The Final Hand: Who Wins?

World Champions Trophy as poker game the winner would no longer simply be the most talented team, but the one that best invades the space of strategy, patients and psychological warfare. Considering all this, India, led by the calmness and tactical genius of Dhoni, might have the best shot at hoisting the trophy. But Australia has shown that they can also wreak havoc on the table with their aggressive play and fearless attitude.

In the end, similar to in poker, luck would be a factor, but mental fortitude and strategy would decide who leaves with the trophy. What do you think? who would be the poker champion of cricket?

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England are a test away from completing a perfect Test summer. It has been going well for them with few challenges through the home season and Ollie Pope will be looking to finish with a good record as Captain in his first stint. 

ENG vs SL Match Details

Date: September 6th, 2024

Time:  3:30 PM IST

Venue: Oval, London

ENG vs SL Weather Report

The weather across London does not look to convincing with a lot of rain in the forecast across the Test.

ENG vs SL Pitch Report

With the season winding down the pitches could start being a little more worn. There will be some dryness and turn going around with pacers likely to have a role to play with seam and bounce rather than swing. Batting first could be a better choice.

ENG vs SL Predicted Playing XI

SL Playing XI

Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Prabath Jayasuriya, Kamindu Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando

ENG Playing XI

Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Josh Hull, Gus Atkinson, Olly Stone, Shoaib Bashir

See Also: Today’s Cricket Match Predictions – Cricket Winner

ENG vs SL Key Players

Josh Hull

The 20 year old, tall left arm seamer has been getting a lot of attention coming into the game. He had a good warm-up against Sri Lanka in a tour game and his potential looks really good with Josh Hull capable of getting the pace up.

Angelo Mathews

Mathews, the most experienced player in the line-up is one of the few survivors from Sri Lanka's last Test visit in England. He was the captain on that trip and returns with Sri Lanka still in a similar spot, struggling with their ever long transition from a golden phase before that 2016 tour.

ENG vs SL Match Tips

England could be favorites with home advantage and a talented line-up.

Match Prediction: England Will Win The Match

Stuart Broad, renowned pace bowler of the England National Cricket Team, has responded to recent rumors regarding the exclusion of Virat Kohli, the esteemed batting stalwart of the India National Cricket Team, from the lineup for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, slated for June in the West Indies and USA.

On Tuesday, March 12, reports surfaced indicating uncertainty surrounding Virat Kohli’s inclusion in India’s T20 World Cup squad. According to sources cited by ‘The Telegraph,’ the BCCI selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, harbors doubts about Kohli’s batting suitability for the anticipated conditions of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA, particularly with expectations of slower-paced pitches during the tournament.

Empowering the selection committee and team management to make strategic decisions aimed at breaking India’s ICC title drought, the BCCI may opt for a squad reshuffle to prioritize aggressive batting, possibly favoring players like Shivam Dube over Kohli, as per reports.

Broad Challenges Reports, Backs Kohli for T20 World Cup

Allegedly, Ajit Agarkar advised Kohli to adopt a more attacking approach in T20Is, a suggestion Kohli tested during his return against Afghanistan in January, where he posted a promising 29 runs off 16 balls in his initial match but faced dismissal without scoring in the subsequent game.

“This can’t be true. Just from a fan’s point of view of growing the game, the ICC putting games on in America, India Vs Pakistan in New York, Virat is the biggest draw of any player in the world. I’m sure he will be selected,” the England National Cricket Team bowling great posted.

Kohli’s stellar T20I record, boasting 4037 runs in 117 matches at an impressive average of 51.75 and a strike rate of 138.15, highlights his significance. His remarkable performance in the T20 World Cup 2022, where he emerged as the tournament’s leading run-scorer and delivered a memorable innings against Pakistan under immense pressure, further underscores his indispensability to the Indian squad.

In light of Kohli’s consistent contributions and past successes, Broad’s skepticism towards reports of his exclusion resonates with many cricket enthusiasts, who await official announcements regarding India’s T20 World Cup squad selection.

Acknowledging James Anderson’s remarkable achievement of claiming 700 Test wickets, the England Cricket Board (ECB) bestowed upon him a special painting. Anderson, aged 42, carved his name into the annals of cricket history by becoming the first pace bowler and third overall bowler, following Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, to achieve this feat during the Dharamsala Test.

ECB’s social media channels featured a heartfelt video wherein Richard Thompson, ECB Chair, commended Anderson for his unparalleled accomplishment. Thompson expressed his belief that Anderson’s record of 700 Test wickets would stand the test of time. As a token of appreciation, Anderson was presented with a picturesque painting of the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.

James Anderson’s Historic Milestone: Honored with a Special Painting by ECB

Adding another feather to his cap, Anderson dismissed Kuldeep Yadav against the backdrop of the Himalayan foothills during Day 3 of the 5th Test. This marked Anderson’s 187th Test match for England, a milestone unmatched by any other bowler. Despite England’s loss in the Test series against India, Anderson’s achievement will forever be etched in the annals of English cricket.

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Reflecting on Anderson’s illustrious career that began in 2003, Thompson praised the veteran’s legacy and expressed pride in witnessing history unfold. He emphasized the unlikelihood of Anderson’s record being surpassed and hailed his exemplary dedication to the sport.

Thompson concluded by presenting Anderson with the painting as a symbol of gratitude from English cricket, acknowledging his enduring inspiration and the indelible legacy he leaves behind.

Due to a shortage of players, England had to bring in assistant coaches Marcus Trescothick and Paul Collingwood to serve as substitute fielders in the current fifth Test against India at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.

In response, Trescothick and Collingwood, former players themselves, were drafted in as substitute fielders. This move mirrors a similar instance in 2020 when New Zealand enlisted an assistant coach as a fielder during an ODI against India.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, England, led by Ben Stokes, made a solitary change in their playing eleven for the final Test, with Mark Wood stepping in for Robinson.

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Assistant Coaches Trescothick and Collingwood Sub in as England’s Fielders

Despite a victorious start to the tour with a win in the first Test in Hyderabad, England succumbed to India’s resurgence, losing the subsequent three matches, which led to India securing an insurmountable 3-1 lead.

Stokes, acknowledging the challenges, emphasized the significance of representing the country and commended the team’s resilience, stating, “It’s another opportunity to represent our country. Great experience for the boys to be part of this series and they have shown great character in their fight.”

England’s Playing XI for the fifth Test comprised Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes (w), Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, Mark Wood, and James Anderson.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the lineup for the last Test in the ongoing series against India. With just one alteration from the previous match, where they endured a defeat in Ranchi, England seeks redemption in the fifth Test commencing at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Thursday, March 7.

Mark Wood steps in for Ollie Robinson, while James Anderson retains his spot despite featuring in three consecutive Tests, merely two wickets away from the coveted 700 mark.

Battling for Redemption in Dharamsala Amidst Series Defeat

Robinson’s lackluster performance in Ranchi saw him exit the XI, despite his notable contribution with the bat alongside Joe Root. The official statement from England Men confirmed the change, asserting the team’s readiness for the final showdown.

England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (C), Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, James Anderson, and Shoaib Bashir.

Ben Stokes, the England captain, accentuated the positives gleaned from their tour despite the series loss, highlighting significant improvements in fitness and overall performance.

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England’s journey in India saw debutants Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley showcasing promising bowling displays, with Hartley’s seven-wicket haul in the series opener being particularly notable. Despite such individual efforts, England’s quest for victory remains unfulfilled, conceding the series 3-1 to the hosts.