Reports: ECB to prepone start time of Birmingham Test between England and India
The timings for the fifth and final Test match between India and England have been reportedly changed because of the viewers from the Indian subcontinent. It must be noted that it is a rescheduled Test that will be played at the Edgbaston, Birmingham after the original fixture was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year in September.
As per reports in the Daily Mail, the England Cricket Board (ECB) has decided to start 30 minutes early as compared to their normal Test matches timings. The red ball matches in England start around 11 AM (local time), and 3:30 PM (IST) but the India-England fixture will start by 10:30 AM. This means that the first ball of a day will be bowled at 3 PM as per Indian timings with stumps to be called at 10 PM IST.
The fifth Test match between India and England will start on July 1
To note, the series decider between India and England will start on July 1 with the visitors leading by 2-1. At present, the home side England is taking on New Zealand in the third and final match of the series. The Three Lions have already won the series by winning the first two matches and will be looking to wrap up the series before taking on India.
In another development related to the series, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has tested positive for Covid-19 and has been isolated. The team management and selectors will have their task cut out to find a new skipper if the permanent captain Rohit does not recover from the virus.
At present, India is playing Leicestershire in a warm-up match with a day’s play left in the match. The visitors will then take on England in the last Test match before facing them in limited-overs formats. The three-match T20I series takes place from July 7 (Thursday) and then the same number of ODIs starting on July 12 (Tuesday).
Similarly, a second-string Indian squad has arrived in Ireland and will face the home side in the first T20I to be played on June 26 (Sunday) at The Village, Malahide, Dublin. The second and final match of the series will take place on June 28 at the same venue.
