Let's take a look at some important developments from the cricketing world, on 16 June.
Du Plessis ruled out of PSL due to concussion
Faf du Plessis will be missing the rest of the Pakistan Super League 2021 due to a concussion he endured while fielding for Quetta Gladiators. Du Plessis collided with Mohammad Hasnain in the seventh over of the game.
He walked off the ground immediately after the collision and was rushed to the hospital for a scan. He confirmed from his hotel room that he had a memory loss for a brief period after the incident.
Du Plessis was in fine form for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, but he only played two matches for the Gladiators in the PSL.
Rana, Sharma bring India back into the game in Bristol
India were made to toil hard throughout Day 1 at Bristol before Sneh Rana (3-77) and Deepti Sharma (2-50) brought the visitors back in the game with a series of quick wickets late into the third session.
England were 230/2 at one point (their first three partnerships had yielded 69, 71, 90). They were then reduced to 251/6, and finished Day 1 on 269/6.
Tammy Beaumont became the Rana’s first Test wicket, when she was caught one-handed by debutant Shafali Verma at short leg. Heather Knight was unlucky to miss out on her century by five runs.
Gavaskar backs both Jadeja and Ashwin for WTC final
In a day’s time, India and New Zealand will be up against each other in the much-awaited final of the World Test Championship. The match will take place in Southampton, where the maximum temperature shot up to 25 degrees over the last few days.
Sunil Gavaskar wants India to pick both Ashwin and Jadeja for the playing XI as the sun-baked dry pitch will favour them. However, there is a significant chance of rain on the first day of the Test match, as per the weather department.
Gavaskar further reasoned that both batters are handy with bat as well, which will help with the team balance.
BCCI lift ban on spinner Chavan
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has cleared Ankit Chavan to play competitive cricket after his ban ended a year ago in September. S Sreesanth had already got his copy of the order last year, and has been playing for Kerala since. Chavan has to request Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to get his order from the BCCI.
Chavan was among three cricketers to be slapped with a lifetime ban for his alleged involvement in spot-fixing, while playing for Rajasthan Royals in 2013.