Should India have forfeited the 5th Test against England?

[AMSS]

Ok

Did the Surrey Squad all Jet off to UAE in the next 24 hours?

How's that relevant? The match was cancelled then. The match is cancelled now.

 

[Rana]

How's that relevant? The match was cancelled then. The match is cancelled now.

Lol

I don’t know what to say really. I hope for your all’s sake this match is declared a draw or whatever.

 

[MenInG]

India captain Virat Kohli said it is unfortunate to “end up here early" for the IPL after a COVID-19 outbreak led to the cancellation of the fifth Test against England and hoped for a “secure" bio-bubble in the league to tackle the “uncertain" times.

Kohli, who will again lead Royal Challengers Bangalore in the tournament, along with other Indian players refused to take the field in the fifth Test against England at Old Trafford, after junior physio Yogesh Parmar became the fourth close-contact support staff to test positive for COVID-19.

“Unfortunate that we had to end up here early, but with COVID in place, things are very uncertain," Kohli told the RCB’s digital media platforms.

“Anything can happen at any time. Hopefully, we’re able to maintain a good, strong, and secure environment, and have a quality IPL.

“It’s going to be an exciting phase and a very important one for us at RCB and then for the Indian team at the T20 World Cup," the Indian captain said.

The IPL begins on Sunday and RCB will play their first match on Monday.

The RCB will have some exciting new additions to their squad including leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga and Singapore batter Tim David. The skipper is looking forward to meet the new recruits.

“I’ve been in touch with everyone. We’ve had discussions over the last month or so, a little longer than that with the replacements, who’s coming and who’s not. Eventually, we ended up replacing our key players with some top-quality cricketers," the RCB skipper said.

He believes that replacement players will fit into the system perfectly.

“Our key players will be missed, and they are a part of the family, but the people coming in as well have great skill sets, especially for these conditions.

“So, I’m very excited to see them, with the whole group at practice and certainly very excited to resume a very good season that started last time around," he said.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Its clear you have no respect for professionals, I guess you are one of those who self treat yourself rather than going to the hospital to seek professional advise?

For the rest of the sane minded people its quite simple Indian players ignored professional advise and decided they would rather not play the last test match at this stage and run to IPL. The explanation from BCCI is even more dodgy which basically said players got scared and did not want to play but wanted to catch the first flight to IPL.

If I was an Indian fan I would be really worried that my country men decided t play IPL instead of playing for the country. But I guess we are living in an increasingly money driven word and players like Virat who has a lot to say is for public consumption only.

I am a qualified doctor. But when i counsel my patient for any procedure, i explain the risk and advantages to him or her. And the final decision is his. I have seen many patients choosing to go under general anaesthesia for procedures that can be done under spinal. Its their choice.

Thats called informed consent.

Players have every right to decide to not play if there is a chance that the player he is going to be with may turn covid positive. Its easy to say that they should have played despite the risk, because you are not at the risk of exposure.


Again, you have no proof regarding your IPL claims.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Ok

Did the Surrey Squad all Jet off to UAE in the next 24 hours?

Why jetting off to uae is an issue? It means you are getting away from those who are exposed.

 

[cricketjoshila]

ECB likely to negotiate a settlement with BCCI, behind close doors.

 

[Rana]

India captain Virat Kohli said it is unfortunate to “end up here early" for the IPL after a COVID-19 outbreak led to the cancellation of the fifth Test against England and hoped for a “secure" bio-bubble in the league to tackle the “uncertain" times.

Kohli, who will again lead Royal Challengers Bangalore in the tournament, along with other Indian players refused to take the field in the fifth Test against England at Old Trafford, after junior physio Yogesh Parmar became the fourth close-contact support staff to test positive for COVID-19.

“Unfortunate that we had to end up here early, but with COVID in place, things are very uncertain," Kohli told the RCB’s digital media platforms.

“Anything can happen at any time. Hopefully, we’re able to maintain a good, strong, and secure environment, and have a quality IPL.

“It’s going to be an exciting phase and a very important one for us at RCB and then for the Indian team at the T20 World Cup," the Indian captain said.

The IPL begins on Sunday and RCB will play their first match on Monday.

The RCB will have some exciting new additions to their squad including leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga and Singapore batter Tim David. The skipper is looking forward to meet the new recruits.

“I’ve been in touch with everyone. We’ve had discussions over the last month or so, a little longer than that with the replacements, who’s coming and who’s not. Eventually, we ended up replacing our key players with some top-quality cricketers," the RCB skipper said.

He believes that replacement players will fit into the system perfectly.

“Our key players will be missed, and they are a part of the family, but the people coming in as well have great skill sets, especially for these conditions.

“So, I’m very excited to see them, with the whole group at practice and certainly very excited to resume a very good season that started last time around," he said.

Ah, it is unfortunate that we are here in a 5* hotel about to play pyjama cricket for millions of dollars during the dangerous and uncertain covid 19. It is unfortunate that we didn’t go home to stay safe, rather we unfortunately came to the UAE to play cricket instead

 

[Rana]

Why jetting off to uae is an issue? It means you are getting away from those who are exposed.

But they were all exposed to Ravi Shastri as well, I think they should have jetted off at that time

 

[Rana]

ECB likely to negotiate a settlement with BCCI, behind close doors.

Where are you getting this from?

 

[fitCricFan]

Ah, it is unfortunate that we are here in a 5* hotel about to play pyjama cricket for millions of dollars during the dangerous and uncertain covid 19. It is unfortunate that we didn’t go home to stay safe, rather we unfortunately came to the UAE to play cricket instead

What is your gripe!!! that ECB declined to extend the start or that the match didn't happen or that the Indians are playing another
session of their successful league or that they are lodged in 5 star hotels. If its the last, its too bad if our own players are not extended the same hospitality.That would be a question for the PCL administrators

 

[MenInG]

Many still believed that Ravi Shastri's book launch where around 150 unmasked guests mingled freely was the source of the infection which directly or indirectly led to the cancellation of the fifth and final Test between England and India at Old Trafford, Manchester last week. (More Cricket News)

But India head coach, who will step down after the ICC T20 World Cup later this year, said that he has "absolutely no regrets". "They’re not bothered if there is Covid or not. They just want you to win, and score runs,” he told The Guardian.

Shastri tested positive on the third day of the fourth Test at Oval. Then bowling and fielding coaches Bharath Arun and R Sridhar, deemed as close contacts, had to be isolated. The duo also later tested positive and all of them finished their 10-day isolation on Wednesday.

However, the fifth Test at Old Trafford had to be cancelled after Indian players led by skipper Virat Kohli refused to play with junior physio Yogesh Parmar also testing positive. Parmar was the only physio treating the players since head physio Nitin Patel also had to isolate being a close contact of the coaching staff.

Shastri was widely criticised for his conduct but the former all-rounder said that "There were about 250 people there and no-one got Covid from that party."

“It was funny because in my 10 days I didn’t have a single symptom barring a little sore throat. I never had any temperature and my oxygen level was 99% all the time. I didn’t take any medication through 10 days of my isolation, not a single paracetamol. I tell the guys: ‘Once you’re double jabbed, it’s a bloody 10-day flu. That’s it.’”

“They tried to make it that way but I wasn’t worried because incubation probably takes weeks. There were about 250 people there and no-one got Covid from that party. I’ve not got it at my book launch because it was on the 31st [August] and I tested positive on 3 September. It can’t happen in three days. I think I got it in Leeds. England opened up on 19 July and suddenly the hotels were back, lifts were back. No restrictions,” the 59-year-old added.

Shastri also said that England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) would "not lose a penny" from the abandoned Test as India will return to play.

"The ECB have been outstanding and their relationship with Indian cricket is tremendous. I don't know if it's a stand-alone Test next year or they give them an extra two T20 games, but the ECB will not lose a penny because of the relationship that exists. In 2008 when we had the (terrorist) blast in Mumbai, England came back and played the Test. We don't forget that."

Shastri also confirmed that the T20 World Cup would be his last assignment as the head coach of the Indian cricket team.

“I believe so because I’ve achieved all I wanted. Five years as No 1 [in Test cricket], to win in Australia twice, to win in England. I spoke to Michael Atherton earlier this summer and said: ‘For me, this is the ultimate – to beat Australia in Australia and win in England in Covid times.’ We lead England 2-1 and the way we played at Lord’s and the Oval was special.

“We’ve also beaten every country in the world in their own backyard in white-ball cricket. If we win the [T20] World Cup that will be the icing on the cake. There is nothing more. I believe one thing – never overstay your welcome. And I would say that, in terms of what I wanted to get out of the side, I’ve over-achieved. To beat Australia away and to lead the series in England in a Covid year? It is the most satisfying moment of my four decades in cricket,” Shastri added.

https://www.outlookindia.com/websit...h-says-no-one-got-covid-from-the-event/394973

 

[AMSS]

Based Shastri has chalked the ENG series as a win for India. EoD, I guess.

 

[MenInG]

India’s white-ball vice-captain and batting mainstay Rohit Sharma has no idea about the status of last month’s abandoned fifth Test against England in Manchester but he is quite clear in his mind that his team “won" the hard-fought series 2-1. The fifth Test in Manchester was abandoned after Team India’s junior physio Yogesh Parmar tested positive for COVID-19 and was found to be in direct contact of players. This was after some senior members of the Indian support staff also found to be infected.

The BCCI has agreed to play the fifth Test in July, 2022. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has said that it will be an extension of this year’s series and not a one-off game that England want. “I don’t know what’s happening with the last Test match. Whether we are playing a one-off Test (next year) but in my mind we have won the series 2-1," Rohit said during sports apparel giant Adidas’ promotional campaign ‘Impossible Is Nothing’.

Asked if the England series, where he scored more than 400 runs with a hundred and two fifties in four games is a milestone series for him, he replied: “It was a good one considering where I was standing in my Test career." But the soon-to-be T20 captain refused to call it his best series. “It’s not my best series. I feel my best is yet to come. I utilised the time before the World Test Championship final in Southampton (to fgure) what sort of technique and mindset is required. I was pretty happy and would like to take it further." Rohit has been actively involved with the ‘Save the Rhinos’ campaign and also for a plastic free sustainable planet. He spoke about his experience thus far.

“It was in 2014 when I went to Kenya and was really sad knowing about the condition of rhinos. India and Africa are two places where we have the maximum rhino population. “I often thought that why don’t I carry my cause on to the field," Rohit said about the company’s specially designed cricket shoes which carry the message of saving the rhinos.

https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/...-england-series-2-1-rohit-sharma-4282250.html

 

[MenInG]

The fifth match of the LV= Insurance Test Series between England Men and India Men has been rescheduled and will now take place in July 2022.

The match, which was due to take place last month at Emirates Old Trafford, was called off when India were unable to field a team due to fears of a further increase in the number of COVID-19 cases inside the camp.

With India leading the series 2-1, the concluding fifth match will now take place from July 1, 2022, at Edgbaston, following an agreement between the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Due to the complexities in the schedule, the fixture cannot be staged at Emirates Old Trafford owing to clashes with pre-planned events at the venue, which will leave insufficient time to prepare a Test pitch. Instead, Emirates Old Trafford will now host the second LV= Insurance Test against South Africa next summer, starting on August 25, 2022. This match was previously due to take place at Edgbaston.

Given the rescheduling of the fifth Test, the Vitality IT20 Series and Royal London Series between England and India will now start six days later than originally planned. The IT20 series will begin on 7 July at Ageas Bowl with Edgbaston and Trent Bridge hosting the 2nd and 3rdgames of the series respectively on 9 and 10 July.

The Royal London One Day Series starts on 12 July at the Kia Oval. Lord’s will host the 2nd game of the series on 14 July and the series will wrap up at Emirates Old Trafford on Sunday 17 July.

Ticket holders do not have to take any action as all tickets will remain valid for the equivalent rearranged matchday at their host venue. Host venues will communicate the new fixture details to ticket purchasers and the options available to them, including the timeframe for requesting a refund if they are not able to attend the new match day.

Tom Harrison, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are very pleased that we have reached an agreement with BCCI to creating a fitting end to what has been a brilliant series so far.

“I’m very grateful to all the venues involved for the cooperation they’ve shown in allowing us to reschedule this match. I’d also like to thank Cricket South Africa for their support and understanding to allow these changes to be possible.

“We would like to apologise again to fans for the disruption and disappointment of September events. We know it was a day that so many had planned long in advance.

“We recognise that accommodating this extra match means a tighter schedule for the white ball series. We will continue to manage our players’ welfare and workloads through next year while we also continue to seek the optimum schedule for fans, players and our partners across the game."

Mr Jay Shah, Honorary Secretary, BCCI, said: “I am delighted that the England-India Test series will now have its rightful conclusion. The four Test matches were riveting, and we needed a fitting finale.

"The BCCI recognizes and respects the traditional form of the game and is also mindful of its role and obligations towards fellow Board Members. In the last two months, both BCCI and the ECB have been engaged in discussions and our efforts were aimed at finding a suitable window. I thank the ECB for their understanding and patience in finding an amicable solution.”



Revised Dates and venues

Rescheduled 5thLV= Insurance Test v India, Edgbaston - 1 - 5 July

Vitality IT20 Series v India

1st Vitality IT20, Ageas Bowl - 7 July

2nd Vitality IT20, Edgbaston - 9 July

3rd Vitality IT20, Trent Bridge - 10 July

Royal London Series v India

1st Royal London ODI, Kia Oval - 12 July

2nd Royal London ODI, Lord’s - 14 July

3rd Royal London ODI, Emirates Old Trafford - 17 July

2nd LV= Insurance Test v South Africa, Emirates Old Trafford - 25-29 August

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Lol

I don’t know what to say really. I hope for your all’s sake this match is declared a draw or whatever.

The match is rescheduled now. No forfeit.
The Power of BCCI comes to the fore.

 

[Rana]

The match is rescheduled now. No forfeit.
The Power of BCCI comes to the fore.

I thought the Power of BCCI was that 5th Test would be a standalone test that has no bearing to his series )

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

I thought the Power of BCCI was that 5th Test would be a standalone test that has no bearing to his series )

Well you made a lot of hu haa about forfeit and how relationship with ECB will get sour and BCCI will have enemies and what not ?
What is the end result. PCB made two more enemies with NZ and ECB, no forfeit and India gets to play more cricket at home and abroad.
All in all, a sweet deal. NZ is touring this year, Australia next year and England will tour again down the line.
Keep dreaming up your scenarios of causing hurt to BCCI. It will always end up in tears like the MOU case.

 

[Saj]

Following discussions with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Edgbaston has agreed to step in and host the rearranged fifth LV= Insurance men’s Test match, which was originally scheduled to be played in September 2021, due to the unavailability of the original venue.

As a result, the need to accommodate the India Test Match has had a knock-on effect to Edgbaston’s schedule:

The scheduled ODI between England and India at Edgbaston on Saturday 9 July will now be played as a T20I, start time to be confirmed.The Test match between England and South Africa in 2022 will now be held at Emirates Old Trafford.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Lol do you think this is Shootout at Waddala or something )

Looks like BCCI held all the guns as usual.
They decide when and where the trigger gets pulled, and how the matches are rescheduled. ECB just followed the orders.

 

[IMMY69]

This makes a mockery of test cricket.

Either India should have taken the series 2-1 or forfeited so it would end 2-2...

Playing an additional match 10 months later makes no sense whatsoever from a cricketing perspective

 

[Rana]

Well you made a lot of hu haa about forfeit and how relationship with ECB will get sour and BCCI will have enemies and what not ?
What is the end result. PCB made two more enemies with NZ and ECB, no forfeit and India gets to play more cricket at home and abroad.
All in all, a sweet deal. NZ is touring this year, Australia next year and England will tour again down the line.
Keep dreaming up your scenarios of causing hurt to BCCI. It will always end up in tears like the MOU case.

Obsessed with Pakistan lol

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Obsessed with Pakistan lol

You made half of the posts on thread related to India's match
Also, there was some obsession about how much money is wasted in IPL on some players.
So, the jury can decide who is obsessed.

 

[Rana]

You made half of the posts on thread related to India's match
Also, there was some obsession about how much money is wasted in IPL on some players.
So, the jury can decide who is obsessed.

But this is a 'Pakistan fans' forum. I am simply participating in discussions as I would for other countries as well. All of your posts, threads are bashing Pakistan. Not only that, you resort to casual racism as well by mocking the religion of Pakistanis. I dont resort to that thankfully

 

[Mesozoic]

Heartfelt condolences to the 'forfeit' gang who were desperate to not see India win a Test series in another SENA country... )

Now get ready for 3-1 at Edgebaston..

 

[Saurav]

This makes a mockery of test cricket.

Either India should have taken the series 2-1 or forfeited so it would end 2-2...

Playing an additional match 10 months later makes no sense whatsoever from a cricketing perspective

covid times. Many series/tournaments have been played in parts.

Either of those results would have been unfair

 

[Devadwal]

Yet another humiliation for certain fans .yar ye dukha kai ko khatam ni hore h unke

 

[Saurav]

Heartfelt condolences to the 'forfeit' gang who were desperate to not see India win a Test series in another SENA country... )

Now get ready for 3-1 at Edgebaston..

the forfeit is on. On 24th

 

[Robert]

This makes a mockery of test cricket.

Either India should have taken the series 2-1 or forfeited so it would end 2-2...

Playing an additional match 10 months later makes no sense whatsoever from a cricketing perspective

May suit England. If they get Stokes and a couple of quickies back, they can halve the series.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

But this is a 'Pakistan fans' forum. I am simply participating in discussions as I would for other countries as well. All of your posts, threads are bashing Pakistan. Not only that, you resort to casual racism as well by mocking the religion of Pakistanis. I dont resort to that thankfully

For me it is a cricket forum where is discuss cricket, mostly Indian but other cricket related things as well. Rest, is your opinion and you are free to have one.

 

[Saurav]

May suit England. If they get Stokes and a couple of quickies back, they can halve the series.

Archer will be back too. Plus India won't have much time acclimatizing.

Advantage England

 

[Buffet]

For me, the series is done.

One two months delay with the same squad would have been fine. One year later - players in different forms, different players as well... it's not really part of the series.

 

[Mesozoic]

Archer will be back too. Plus India won't have much time acclimatizing.

Advantage England

Archer is trash in tests. They won't pick him unless they run out of options. Jimmy too will most likely be retired by then.

Just hope we go there early and play at least 2 intra squad practice games before the game. 3-1 is there for the taking..

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Good way for India to finally win a test series in England, just cancel the decisive test saying we have a Covid outbreak! There will always be a cloud hanging over how India won this series with fans pointing out the last test was cancelled. England at least now know how Pak felt where so many tours have been cancelled. As Pak nether plays India nor in the IPL it doesn't bother me if it was to ensure the IPL is not effected.

Obviously a very popular narrative and very conveinent to float a few boats.
If not for the rain ,we'd be 3-1 leading into the final test.
And if the WTC championships were played then, i guess we'd have given a better show. Endof the day , we lost on the SIXTH day of a 5 days test match coming in off the cold straight away into the wtc.
And also, whilst at it we lost the WC-19 semis on a second reserve day when the pitch had become sluggish.
On both occasions its was not as if we choked or we were plastered, it was narrow victories both ways on both occasions,
howz that for a narrative?

 

[Saurav]

Archer is trash in tests. They won't pick him unless they run out of options. Jimmy too will most likely be retired by then.

Just hope we go there early and play at least 2 intra squad practice games before the game. 3-1 is there for the taking..

We played 2 intra squad games before WTC finals too

 

[Mesozoic]

We played 2 intra squad games before WTC finals too

Yeah but that was NZ. We'd most likely lose to NZ even in a 5 match series in England. They're just too good for us in these conditions.

England aren't anywhere close to their quality even if Stokes is back.

 

[dravidthewall]

Lol don't worry fans. It's July month and it's in England. Match gonna washout due to rain

 

[Robert]

Archer is trash in tests. They won't pick him unless they run out of options. Jimmy too will most likely be retired by then..

Wood, Robinson, Woakes and Stokes would be best for Edgbaston next year.

 

[Robert]

Lol don't worry fans. It's July month and it's in England. Match gonna washout due to rain

Height of summer?

 

[IMMY69]

covid times. Many series/tournaments have been played in parts.

Either of those results would have been unfair

Test cricket is different to an ODi series or a domestic tournament.
Like Robert says, England could have Stokes and Archer back by then.
Conversely India may have a different Captain by then or some major injuries.
Form can change over the course of ten months.

Then you have the conditions. A usual English summer will start of wetter and get drier towards mid end august... All these things make for a fascinating series if played in one season.

This is just my opinion.

 

[IMMY69]

May suit England. If they get Stokes and a couple of quickies back, they can halve the series.

I completely agree.
Who knows what anyones form will be like in ten months time.

 

[ChennaiFan]

Archer will be back too. Plus India won't have much time acclimatizing.

Advantage England

Yes, advantage England. The pitch could aid seaming more in July compared to what happens in August/September. England batters and seamers will be better prepared to exploit the conditions.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

India are slow starters, so I don't think we have any chance at a one off test. Not like BCCI will spend money on sending them weeks earlier for players to acclimatize or even the players would bother going 10-15 days early to play a practice game for a one off test.

So England, congratulations on levelling.

While on record it will be a 2-2 series, for me it will go down as a historic series win in the same year we won in Aus, nothing beats that!

 

[cricketjoshila]

According to some reports, they already have written to ICC. There plan is simple,

Get the forfeit result

Claim the full insurance cover

Equal points on WTC

You were saying?

 

[Snowflake]

For me, the series is done.

One two months delay with the same squad would have been fine. One year later - players in different forms, different players as well... it's not really part of the series.

This. In what sense is this test a part of the series? Form, players combination, momentum... nothing is being carried forward except the scoreline. On principal, India should have forfeited as England had nothing to do with the decision and that India signed up for this willingly.

You cannot expect Indians to accept or follow this logic, given how they are, but to any non-Indian person, forfeit is the most logical result here.

 

[IMMY69]

This. In what sense is this test a part of the series? Form, players combination, momentum... nothing is being carried forward except the scoreline. On principal, India should have forfeited as England had nothing to do with the decision and that India signed up for this willingly.

You cannot expect Indians to accept or follow this logic, given how they are, but to any non-Indian person, forfeit is the most logical result here.

The players all left for IPL even though we're all negative.
Logically they should have definitely forfieted the game

 

[James]

That’s 3-1 in the series to India then. Lol

Seriously — it’s the right decision to play a fifth Test.

 

[PakLFC]

Obviously a very popular narrative and very conveinent to float a few boats.
If not for the rain ,we'd be 3-1 leading into the final test.
And if the WTC championships were played then, i guess we'd have given a better show. Endof the day , we lost on the SIXTH day of a 5 days test match coming in off the cold straight away into the wtc.
And also, whilst at it we lost the WC-19 semis on a second reserve day when the pitch had become sluggish.
On both occasions its was not as if we choked or we were plastered, it was narrow victories both ways on both occasions,
howz that for a narrative?

Rain is beyond human beings where as not playing the match when you had enough fit players was a clear indication of fear. You will not be granted a series victory and rightfully so because India chickened out. I don't know what U-19 matches have to do with so your narrative is crap!

 

[MenInG]

The rescheduled fifth Test between India and England got underway on Friday at Edgbaston, Birmingham. At stumps on Day 1, India's score read 338/7 after a brilliant fightback by Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja that saw the former scoring 146 runs off just 111 balls. At one stage, India were 98/5, but Jadeja and Pant put a 222-run stand for the 6th wicket. The fifth Test was rescheduled after the final game last year had to be pushed back after a few positive COVID-19 cases within the Indian camp.

Ravi Shastri, who was the coach of the Indian team till November last year, has explained why India were "justified" in what they did last year.

"See, at that time, it is very easy to jump the gun and say go out there and play. But there were a lot of players with young families. The word on COVID was not a 100 per cent certain coming from anywhere. Anyone could have gotten it, if someone would have got it in the middle of a Test match, then that would have been even worse. As opposed to now, where that fear factor of getting COVID and being isolated is not the same. People know that they have to get on with it, if that mindset was there earlier and it could not have been there eight months ago because even the authorities did not know if they had the right to say that get on with it, nothing is going to happen, it's just a flu," Shastri told Sky Sports on Friday.

"Today people say it is just a flu, get on with it, no matter what happens. At that point of time, they were justified to do what they did because of the mindset. Today if that happens, the game has to move on. Even then, I wasn't in the dressing room but I tell you, I had half the mindset of probably thinking what you were thinking of getting the reserves out there and finish this series. But it was a tough one, had anyone tested positive during the Test match, it would have been a big problem," he added.

Last year, India had taken a 2-1 series lead after winning Tests at Lord's and Oval.

If India manage to win or draw the ongoing Edgbaston Test, then they would win the series in UK for the first time since 2007.

Coincidentally, in 2007, the now head coach Rahul Dravid was the captain of the Indian team.

Talking about the series that got underway last year, Shastri said: "I think it was a fabulous series. I think the entertainment that was provided by both teams was fabulous to see. When you have couple of Test matches going into the 5th day and you have a result on the 5th day, it is fabulous to see."

"Lord's, Oval and England bouncing back at Leeds. Unfortunate, it could not be completed for obvious reasons, COVID what it was eight months ago, the mindset of the players as opposed to the way they treat it now, it is chalk and cheese. But I am glad that this series would end here," he added.

https://sports.ndtv.com/england-vs-...i-on-5th-test-being-postponed-in-2021-3120566

 

[daytrader]

Glad to see some competitive test cricket. This is better then another India vs Sri Lanka series

 

[James]

If there are no particular barriers to moving the fixture into the next English summer, then I think we should have a rearranged match.

I don’t think England should chase a forfeiture and a win by default, it would be a cheap way for the series to end and not a result to be proud of.

The series should be played to its conclusion, and both sides given the opportunity to improve the scoreline for themselves.

Glad that we now have a game.

Hopefully the rain blows away after today and there are enough overs to get a result.