Let us look at some of the most-discussed cricket stories on the news on 18 August.
England add Malan for the Headingley Test
England have recalled Dawid Malan for the third Test match against India, starting next week at Headingley. Malan, who replaced Dom Sibley, has only played one First-class match for Yorkshire this season, where he made 199 in his only innings.
Malan had last played a Test match back in August 2018. He is likely to bat at No. 3, while Haseeb Hameed is expected to become the new opening partner of Rory Burns.
England have also picked Ollie Pope and Saqib Mahmood for Zak Crawley and Jack Leach. Mark Wood, who suffered a shoulder injury during the second Test, has also been included in the roster.
England squad for the third Test versus India: Joe Root (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Rory Burns, Sam Curran, Jonny Bairstow, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson.
Afghanistan appoint Gunawardene as batting coach
The Afghanistan Cricket Board signed Avishka Gunawardene as their new batting coach for the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan, starting 1 September in Sri Lanka. Gunawardene replaces H.D. Ackerman for this role.
Gunawardene had previously worked as the Sri Lanka Men’s batting coach. He also coached the Sri Lanka A side and their emerging team. This will be his first major international assignment after being cleared of corruption charges by the Emirates Cricket Board's anti-corruption code during the T10 competition in the UAE, in 2017.
Gill expected to back in IPL’s UAE leg
As per Cricbuzz report, Shubman Gill is likely to be fit for the UAE leg of the IPL. Gill is undergoing rehabilitation at the NCA for two weeks, and is expected to be released well ahead of the IPL.
KKR CEO Venky Mysore confirmed the development: ‘We are quite hopeful that he will be available for the IPL’.
After returning from England due to a left shin injury, Gill stayed at home in July for healing before joining the NCA.
Difficult for England to come back: Strauss
Andrew Strauss admitted that England capitulation against a charged-up India in the second Test at Lord’s could hurt them even more in the remaining three matches.
‘They were favourites but let things slip before lunch [on Day 5] and then had another top-order collapse,’ Strauss told Sky Sports. ‘Every series with India, and particularly [Virat] Kohli, is feisty and as the match was on the line you expected nothing else.
‘India were exceptional and there were times when England looked like they were going to get out of jail but, in the end, you have to say that India deserved it, they did enough to win. England are going to be absolutely battered and bruised as a result of that.’
During the second Test, England were in a comfortable position in the morning session of Day 5, but ended up suffering a 151-run defeat.