India set to play two intra-squad games in Durham before England Test series

After India’s loss against New Zealand in the inaugural World Test Championship final, the team and management are keen to leave no stone unturned as a tough Test series against England comes closer. In the same light, the BCCI officials had requested a first-class game as a warm-up for the England Test series, which gets underway at Trent Bridge, Nottingham from August 4.

It is learned that the Indian Test squad will now reassemble in Durham in 15 days to prepare for the five-Test series as they will be playing two intra-squad games at the Riverside Ground in Durham before leaving for Nottingham. While the BCCI was in talks with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to ensure two fixtures against county sides, different challenges due to Covid-19 and the maintaining of bio-bubble means that the same cannot be provided.

“The itinerary was made keeping the Covid protocols in place. It’s difficult to get County teams in the same bubble as the Indian team. The ECB is very careful about the safety of the players. The Indian team bubble will be made in Durham,”, a BCCI source confirmed to Times of India.

Warm-up games were not a part of the initial plan

Notably, Indian skipper Virat Kohli recently revealed that despite asking for a first-class warm-up game before the Test series, they have not been provided with any. “That doesn’t depend on us. We wanted first-class games but that’s not been given, I don’t know the reason. We have ample time for the first Test, we should be ready for it,” he said.

India had to play the WTC final the same way. The team touched down in the United Kingdom on June 3, which was followed by a mandatory 10-day quarantine. Unlike New Zealand, India had to do with only an intra-squad game, which many deemed not sufficient practice.

For the England tour, practice games have not been a part of the plan ever since the start. ECB’s reluctance regarding warm-up games, however, is understood, as allowing county players to enter India’s bio-bubble and mix with the team might lead to a risk of exposing the visitors to Covid-19.