England vs India: ECB mull warm-up games after late request from BCCI

India will square off against England in the five-match Test series, starting from August 4 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. A few days back Indian skipper Virat Kohli asked for practice games in England to help the players prepare for the Test matches mentally and physically. 

“That doesn’t depend on us. We obviously wanted First-Class games which I believe has not been given to us. I don’t know what the reasons for that are,” Kohli had said after India’s loss in the WTC final.

Taking cognizance of the request from the skipper, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) got in touch with England and Wakes Cricket Board (ECB) to see if any matches can be arranged for the players at the last moment. It is now learned that ECB are trying to alter their scheduled to accommodate a late request from India.

ECB will be making changes in their summer tour itinerary to ensure that India can play a four-day practice match with the England team. In addition, the visitors can also get a three-day contest against County Select XI. Notably, both the matches will be played in the northeast region as India will be based there during the initial fortnight of the tour.

ECB looking at options to conduct practice games between India and England

“We are working through the operations and COVID-19 protocols to ensure we are able to deliver this and will confirm in due course. The Indian Test team will report to Emirates Riverside, Durham for their pre-Test camp on July 15 and will prepare at the venue until August 1 before heading to Trent Bridge, Nottingham ahead of the first Test starting on August 4,” said an ECB spokesperson as quoted by the Dailymail. 

Both India and England will be entering the five-match Test series after losing their previous Test fixtures against New Zealand, who defeated India in the final of the World Test Championship at the Rose Bowl in Southampton by eight wickets. Before the WTC final, the Blackcaps faced England in the two-match Test series and scripted history by emerging victorious by 1-0.