India vs England: India ‘class team’, but we are confident of bouncing back, says Jason Roy | Cricket News – Times of India

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AHMEDABAD: England opening batsman Jason Roy on Monday said he is pretty confident that the side would make a comeback in the third T20I against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday.
Roy has been in good form in the ongoing T20I series against India as he has recorded scores of 49 and 46 in the first two matches. The series currently stands level at 1-1 after India won the second T20I by seven wickets.
“I am very confident that we can bounce back. India is a class team, but the way we started the series in the first game, was a bit more comprehensive than what they gave us last night. I think going into the third game, we are full of confidence, in the last eight overs of our batting yesterday, we found it a bit difficult, we are a fast learning side so I am confident that we will bounce back,” said Roy during a virtual press conference on Monday.

“I learnt that I am staying on my shots a little bit more. You saw a couple of my reverse sweeps, I missed some of the balls but I rectified it during the course of my innings and it is just a pitch where you have to pick your bowler. Unfortunately, the bowler I picked got me out, Washington was the guy I was looking to target, unfortunately, it did not go my way. It was a slow and tough pitch, they made light work of it,” he added.
Roy scored 46 in the second T20I and he was looking set for a big one, but his vigil at the crease was ended by Washington Sundar and in the end, England was restricted to just 164 in the allotted twenty overs.

“I think the whole squad has played a huge amount of cricket in the sub-continent, playing in this five-match series and then the ODIs, it will hold us in good stead. Last night, we made a few mistakes, it was all fun. Still looking for that big score, those 40s are great, but to get a competitive total in T20Is, you need someone getting a big score. There is still a lot to improve on,” said Roy.
“I just think the last year has been a huge learning curve, everything that went on with Covid-19 and bubble life, with all this stuff that could cloud your judgment, it has been a huge learning curve. That is all behind me and I am looking forward to the next innings. I think that’s my target, my mindset is to get the best possible start for the team, put aside how I might be feeling, my job is to not mess around, really,” he added.

Further elaborating on his point, Roy said: “To score a hundred in the T20 format, you need to be ultra-aggressive. You are looking to face a maximum of 60 balls and then scoring a hundred, you need to be aggressive. It is a mixture of aggression and pretty calculated stuff if you want to get those big scores. If you live by the sword, you need to be willing to die by it.”
When asked about his take on ECB‘s rotation policy, Roy said: “It is quite an easy stance to take from outside of these bubbles. I think the rest side of the things is coming as the mental well-being of players needs to be looked at. We are here for three weeks, but the Test team first went on to Sri Lanka, and then it was here. That is mentally taxing on you and your family, so from my point of view, they are just taking a mental rest and it is not anything physical. This environment is quite demanding.”

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Kevin Pietersen wants England selectors and management to answer for Test series ‘debacle’ against India | Cricket News – Times of India

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RAIPUR: Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen has slammed the media for constant questioning of players on the rest and rotation policy adopted by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
In the recently-concluded Test series against India, England’s rotation policy came under severe criticism and the side has been accused of not prioritising the four-match series which the visitors lost 1-3.
And with the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 knockout stages almost clashing with the New Zealand Test series for England, the visiting players are been constantly asked what will be their plans for the English summer.
Pietersen wants the same set of questions to be asked from the selectors and management and not from the young players.
“So the PLAYERS are now being quizzed by media everyday about IPL and playing early Test matches in England. First the youngster, Curran & now Jos,” Pietersen tweeted.

“The questions should be at Harrison, Giles & Smith! Not seen them front up to India debacle?! Leave the players out of this,” he added.
England is scheduled to play a two-match Test series against New Zealand, starting June 2 while the final of the IPL will be played on May 30.
Earlier this week, Sam Curran said there is still a long way to go before the Test series against the Black Caps but the all-rounder admitted that if Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fails to qualify for the playoffs in the upcoming IPL, he will likely be available for the New Zealand series.
While star batsman Jos Buttler on Tuesday said right now there is no “perfect answer” to the question of him playing the Test series against New Zealand or not.
India and England are gearing up for the white-ball series and will face each other in the first of the five T20Is on Friday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.



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I prefer India as favourites for T20 World Cup: Jos Buttler | Cricket News – Times of India

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AHMEDABAD: England star batsman Jos Buttler feels the Virat Kohli-led side stands favourite for the ICC T20 World Cup scheduled to be played later this year in India.
The T20 World Cup is slated to be hosted in India this year in October-November. The venues for the tournament are yet to be revealed. Buttler feels as a host nation, Team India will have an advantage in the showpiece event.
“Going into World Cups, you probably look at hosts nations as strong as India who are gonna be favourites for that tournament. So it’s a great exposure for us to play against one of the best teams in the tournament in these conditions,” said Buttler in a virtual press conference shared by ECB.
“There are many excellent teams, in the last few World Cups hosts nations have performed very well. India is of course strong in every format and T20 is no different and especially playing at home I see India as the favourites,” he added.
India and England will face each other in the first T20I on Friday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and Buttler feels it’s a perfect opportunity for the visitors to get into the groove ahead of the World Cup.
“It’s vital for us to play and hopefully you wanna win that series and take that confidence and gel together as a group has that clarity ahead of the World Cup. So it’s a fantastic opportunity for us as a side to be playing against India in World Cup conditions,” said Buttler.
All the five T20Is will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium and Buttler sees this as a major advantage for the English side to learn the conditions before the T20 World Cup.
“This is a great benefit for us. Being here and to play in Ahmedabad in the brand new stadium which may play a big part in the World Cup and no one has played here before. So it’s a big advantage for us to learn about conditions,” said Buttler.
“We don’t know how the wickets are gonna play in this stadium but to play five matches on the same ground, the pitch might slow up and it may spin so that can be good exposure for us before the World Cup,” he added.

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Archer not playing final Test due to elbow injury, Stokes and few others have upset stomach | Cricket News – Times of India

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AHMEDABAD: England pacer Jofra Archer was not considered for the fourth Test against India due to a persisting elbow injury and some of the squad members including Ben Stokes also have an upset stomach, the ECB said on Thursday.
Archer had missed the second Test in Chennai due to the same issue.
“Jofra Archer is not playing in this Test match due to his ongoing right elbow issue. The ECB medical team will provide an update in due course,” read an update from the England cricket board.
“Ben Stokes has had an upset stomach, the same issue that has affected other members of the touring party. It is not expected to keep him off the field,” it said.
Archer returned to play the third Test in which he picked up a wicket.
Stokes made a fine 55 on day one of the final Test. Veteran James Anderson is the only frontline pacer in the playing eleven.
The team has conceded a 1-2 lead in the four-match series and is out of contention for a place in the World Test Championship final.

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