ECB to make Ashes tour decision this week
The ECB will meet this week to decide on this winter's Ashes tour of Australia. The development came after the English players were presented with the proposed conditions for the tour on 3 October. Some cricketers have concerns over families’ travel, quarantine arrangements, and any 'bubble' they may have to live in or not.
Australia has some of the strictest Covid-19 protocols in the world, and the different states have their own regulations. The five Test matches, which will begin on 8 December and run till 18 January, are due to be played in five states.
Starc did not want to play cricket last summer: Healy
Alyssa Healy revealed her husband Mitchell Starc did not want to play cricket last summer. He had wanted to spend time with his father Paul, who died of cancer this February.
‘Mitch didn't want to be there playing cricket. He wanted to be sitting next to his dad and spending the last three months that he could possibly have with his dad. Paul didn't want that, he wanted Mitch to go out there, play for Australia and wear his baggy green with pride, Healy said in a video released by 7Cricket.
Healy further added Starc played last summer in Australia because his father wanted him to do so. ‘The only reason that Mitch played the cricket he did last summer is because Paul wanted him to.’
Umar Akmal leaves Pakistan for league cricket in America
Umar Akmal has left Pakistan to play league cricket in the United States of America. Umar has signed a short-term contract with the Northern California Cricket Association, where he will be representing California Zalmi in the ongoing Premier C league.
Akmal was recently allowed to play cricket again after completing his ban for breaching the PCB's anti-corruption code.
Delhi beat Chennai, reclaim top spot
Delhi Capitals beat Chennai Super Kings by three wickets in Match 50 of the IPL 2021 in Dubai to reclaim the top spot of the points table. They restricted Chennai to 136/5, and reached the target with two balls to spare.
Ambati Rayudu top-scored in Chennai's total, with an unbeaten 43-ball 55. Axar Patel returned 2-18, and R. Ashwin 1-20. Coming to the chase, Shikhar Dhawan's 35-ball 39 set the tone, but Delhi stumbled in the middle overs against the Chennai bowlers, led by Shardul Thakur (2-13). At No. 7, Shimron Hetmyer scored an 18-ball 28 not out to take Delhi past the finishing line in the 20th over.