Let us look at some of the significant cricketing development that took place on 1 June.
Muzumdar succeeds Powar as Mumbai Coach
Amol Muzumdar will succeed Ramesh Powar as head coach of the Mumbai Senior Men’s team for 2021-22. A domestic stalwart with more than 11,000 runs to his name, Muzumdar was picked ahead of the likes of Wasim Jaffer, Sairaj Bahutule and six other candidates.
Mazumdar’s name was finalised by the three-member Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC), headed by Jatin Paranjpe. Notably, the same committee had chosen Powar over Muzumdar a few months ago.
Having served as a batting coach for Rajasthan Royals and South Africa when they toured India in 2019, Mazumdar comes with a great deal of experience under his belt.
Powar, head coach of India Women, will leave for England with the squad today.
Raj backs Verma to do well in Test and ODIs
India Women Test and ODI captain Mithali Raj is confident of Shafali Verma’s ability to carry on her form in T20 cricket to both Tests and ODIs. Verma, the top-ranked T20I batter in the world, is yet to cement her place in the other two formats.
Verma was overlooked by the selectors for the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa. However, in the T20I series that followed, she emerged as the leading run-getter, striking in excess of 150.
‘She [Shafali] is someone who takes the game seriously. It is good to have her in all three formats. I really hope that she carries her T20 form in other formats also,’ said Mithali.
India’s next assignment is a tour to England, which starts with a Test match in Bristol, followed by three T20Is and three ODIs.
Broad named vice-captain for New Zealand Test series
Stuart Broad will be filling in as the Joe Root’s deputy for England’s two-Test series against New Zealand. Root himself confirmed that Broad will be taking over as vice-captain in the absence of Ben Stokes.
The first Test match starts today in Lord’s, while the second is slated to take place in Edgbaston from 10 June. England will be missing several of their first-choice players, including Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer.
Gloucestershire’s James Bracey is set to make his international debut after Ben Foakes suffered an unfortunate injury by slipping on his socks.
ICC announces more teams for T20 and ODI World Cups
In a quest to enlarge the horizon of the game, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has expanded the T20 World Cup for 20 teams, and ODI World Cup to 14 teams from 2027.
The Men’s ODI World Cup will have 14 teams divided into two equal groups, followed by the Super Sixes – same as the format used in 2003. For the T20 World Cup, five pools of four teams will be made, and the top two from each pool will qualify for the Super Eights.
Further, the Champions trophy has been reintroduced. The first edition since 2017 will be staged in 2025, and the next one four years later. The World Test Championship will be held every two years.