From Darren Stevens’ heroics in the County Championship to Wriddhiman Saha’s verdict on Rishabh Pant, let’s take a look at important events from Friday, 21 May.
Sri Lanka cricketers refuse to sign new contracts
The Sri Lanka cricketers have refused to sign new annual contracts proposed by the apex cricketing board that see their payments fell by up to 40 per cent.
‘The players are not in agreement to sign unfair and non-transparent contracts and urge Sri Lanka Cricket to not hold the players at gunpoint,’ said lawyer Nishan Premathiratne, representing all 24 players who are offered a contract.
As per the new contracts, Angelo Mathews will lose USD 50,000, while Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne’s payment will plummet from USD 100,000 to USD 70,000. Even Dhananjaya de Silva and Niroshan Dickwella, the highest earners, have rejected the proposal.
Saha backs Pant as first-choice ’keeper
Wriddhiman Saha feels that Rishabh Pant’s exploits in the last few matches of the World Test Championship makes him favourite to don the wicketkeeping gloves for India in the upcoming tour to England.
Saha has recovered from the Covid-19 and is a part of the 20-member squad for India’s England tour. However, there are still concerns over his fitness, and the BCCI has added KS Bharat as standby.
Saha last played for Team India in the Adelaide Test, against Australia. He was dropped for the subsequent matches. Pant capitalised on the opportunities and cemented his name with a series of impressive performances.
‘Rishabh Pant played the last few matches of the World Test Championship. He’s done well and he should be our first-choice keeper in England,’ Saha said.
England series not warm-up for WTC Final: Southee
Tim Southee has stated that their upcoming two-match Test series against England is not a warm-up for their World Test Championship final against India: ‘Any time you get to play a Test match for New Zealand, it’s an amazing opportunity and I don’t think you treat them as warm-ups.’
New Zealand will square off against India in the final of the inaugural edition of the WTC. Team India will be departing to the UK on 2 June. Moreover, A five-match Test series against England is also lined up for Virat Kohli’s men.
Stevens, 45, smashes 190 before bamboozling Labuschagne
Kent's 45-year-old all-rounder Darren Stevens put on an age-defying show against Glamorgan. He smashed 149-ball 190 to propel Kent to a total of 307, after they lost eight batters for mere 128 runs. Stevens hit 15 fours and as many sixes in the innings.
Stevens forged a 166-run partnership with Miguel Cummins for the ninth wicket, of which Stevens scored 160 and Cummins 1.
Enjoy EVERY boundary from Darren Stevens' 190 😍
Watch him bowl LIVE: https://t.co/4ZkDAI69AU#LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/rgKdT0GtaT
— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 21, 2021
Stevens’ heroics came just a day after an anniversary of Ted Alletson’s iconic partnership with William Riley for Nottinghamshire in 1911. Alleston had contributed 93.42% of runs in a 152-run partnership with Riley, a feat John Arlott wrote about in Alletson’s innings.
In fact, yesterday was the anniversary of Alletson's famous innings.https://t.co/mvocOuLe2o
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@SachinAzharCT) (@ovshake42) May 21, 2021