The big news: India coach backs Parthiv Patel

India coach Anil Kumble backed Parthiv Patel after critics across the board slammed the decision of bring back the Gujarat player into the Test team after a gap of eight years. Many felt that Rishabh Pant would have been a better choice. But Kumble said that Patel’s experience and superior wicketkeeping skills earned the recall for the 31-year-old. Patel was picked because Wriddhiman Saha was injured and will miss the third Test against England at least.

“Parthiv has been really consistent both with his ’keeping as well as his batting. That’s why Parthiv was chosen,” Kumble said. However, he backed Saha to be the first-choice. “I think it’s unfortunate that Saha is missing out in this Test match. He suffered a strain on the final day of the Test match. We wanted him to play,” Kumble said. “He was obviously in the starting the line-up but yesterday’s scans showed there was a little bit of tendinitis. That’s why it was better that we gave him a break from this Test match,” he added.

Other top stories

  1. West Indies will be gutted after their one-run loss against Sri Lanka in Bulawayo on Thursday. However, they have a chance of bagging the final berth if they beat Zimbabwe on Friday. Sri Lanka are already into the final with their win over the West Indies. 
  2. After winning the first Test in Christchurch, New Zealand will look to continue their good run against Pakistan in the second Test in Hamilton on Friday. However, the visitors are capable of springing a surprise. 
  3. South African skipper Faf du Plessis smashed an awe-inspiring ton against Australia in the third Test in Adelaide under the night sky. After being accused of ball-tampering in the second Test, Du Plessis had the motivation required to answer back and boy did he do it in style. The Proteas were struggling at 44/3 when the captain walked in. He took his team to 259/9 with a brilliant unbeaten ton of 118 before declaring the innings. Australia ended the day at 14/0 at end of day’s play.
  4. The Board of Control for Cricket in India gave its approval to the Indian women’s cricket team to participate in the Asia Cup beginning in Bangkok on Thursday. The BCCI, however, did not specify whether India will play against arch-rivals Pakistan in the tournament. India are scheduled to face Pakistan on November 29 after their tournament opener against hosts Thailand on Sunday.
  5. Former Indian women’s team skipper Diana Edulji slammed the BCCI’s decision to not play Pakistan in any bilateral tournament. The move cost the team a chance to directly qualify for the 2017 ICC World Cup in England. “This is quite ridiculous. When the Indian hockey team can play Pakistan then why is cricket being stopped?” she told Hindustan Times. “The irony is that the Indian women’s team, who will leave tomorrow for Thailand, is set to play Pakistan in the Asia Cup. I can understand that there cannot be any bilateral series considering the Indian government’s policy with cross border tension, but this was not a bilateral series. It was an ICC championship. The BCCI could have agreed to play at a neutral venue. It is a real shame. Sports and politics should not be mixed,” Edulji said.      
  6. Former Australian commentator and cricketer Richie Benaud will be the face of a 50 cent coin in Australia. The limited-run coin salutes his career on and off the field, and features iconic fan group The Richies, reported BBC. 
  7. South African skipper Faf du Plessis has decided to launch an appeal against his guilty verdict for ball-tampering, reported ESPNcricinfo. The case will be taken up by a judicial commissioner who will either find Du Plessis not guilty, or amend the sentence, which puts the South African skipper at risk of a one-match suspension.