Daily Cricket News, 16 August: Gilchrist gives his verdict on Langer, India go 1-0 up, more

Aug 17, 2021

Daily Cricket News, 16 August: Gilchrist gives his verdict on Langer, India go 1-0 up, more Image

Kusal Perera tests positive for COVID-19

Kusal Perera has contracted the Coronavirus, as confirmed by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Perera’s RT-PCR test was carried out ahead of Sri Lanka’s multi-format series against South Africa, including three ODIs and as many T20Is next month.

Perera earlier missed the home series against India due to a shoulder injury. He had led Sri Lanka in the ODI and T20I series in England before that, but Sri Lanka failed to secure a single win on the tour.

Perera was later sacked, and Dasun Shanaka replaced him as a captain. Under Shanaka, Sri Lanka lost the ODIs to India 1-2 but won the T20Is 2-1.

Gilchrist gives his verdict on Langer

The last few months have been tumultuous for Australian cricket. They lost back-to-back ODI series, against West Indies and Bangladesh. Justin Langer’s role as head coach has come under intense scrutiny.

Adam Gilchrist has opined that Australia should not delay if they want to move on from Langer. With the T20 World Cup and the Ashes to be held later this year, Gilchrist feels the team would be in a much better position if they can sort this quickly.

‘Justin is very aware of these perceived issues with his management style, and he’s going to keep trying to work with that, and I’m sure the players will try to work alongside that as well,' Gilchrist told SEN.

Roach hails Seales, calls him ‘star for the future’

West Indies sealed a terrific victory against Pakistan at Sabina Park to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series. It was a match for ages, where a 17-run stand between Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales propelled the hosts across the finishing line.

Seales also became the youngest Windies bowler to claim a five-wicket haul. He finished with eight wickets in the Test match. Seales’ mentor Roach heaped lavish praise on Seales: ‘He is a star for the future. His five wickets today speaks wonders about our cricket. All the best to him, and I wish him a great career!’

India go 1-0 up with sensational win at Lord's

India came from behind to script an improbable victory at Lord’s, thanks to an all-round effort from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami on Day 5. Bumrah and Shami added an unbroken 89 for the ninth wicket to swell India's lead to 271.

Bumrah and Shami then struck in their respective first overs to reduce England to 1/2. The English openers, Rory Burns and Dom Sibley, failed to score. Joe Root offered some resistance, making 33 before edging one to Virat Kohli.

Mohammed Siraj rounded things up by removing Jos Buttler and James Anderson in the space of three balls to wrap up England for 120. Siraj matched his first-innings tally of four wickets in the second dig as well.