A blunt Indian bowling attack stood exposed as Sri Lanka Board President's XI put up a mammoth 432 for five on the opening day of the three-day warm-up game in Colombo on Tuesday. The Sri Lankan top order treated the Indian attack disdainfully and opener Upul Tharanga (116), Thilina Kandambi (101) and Thilan Samaraweera (102) smashed quick-fire centuries to have the number one Test side on the mat.
South African pacers blew away the top half before Abhishek Nayar (100) and Shikhar Dhawan (70) resuscitated Board President's XI with a 181-run seventh wicket stand on the opening day of the two-day practice match in Nagpur on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka's practice match against Board President's XI was on Friday called off without a ball being bowled due to unsuitable ground conditions. Two days of play had already been lost after unrelenting rains lashed the city since Wednesday, and the visitors were not willing to take the field on the third and final day as some parts of the ground were still damp.
The second day's play in the three-day practice game between the visiting Sri Lankan team and the Board's President's XI has been called off due to wet condition of the ground.
The first day of Sri Lanka's tour opener against an Indian Board President's XI at the Bandra Kurla Complex, was washed out by rain on Wednesday.
Snubbed by the selectors, Rohit Sharma (105) unleashed his pent-up frustration on the Australian bowlers, while Virat Kohli too raised his stake with an identical ton as Board President's XI finished day one of the warm-up match on a respectable 371 for six wickets in Hyderabad on Thursday. Rohit's effervescent 105 off 144 balls was studded with 12 boundaries and four sixes. Kohli's identical 105 came off 146 deliveries, including 14 fours and a six.
Team director Ravi Shastri will join the Indian cricket team in Colombo on Friday night ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka beginning in Galle on August 12.
Sri Lanka Board President's XI took their first innings total to 500 for five declared on the second day of their three-day match.
The Irani Cup will provide fringe players an opportunity to secure a berth in the teams that will play two three-day matches against the touring Kiwis.
The left hander was unbeaten on 135 as the Board President's XI reached 320 for five, a lead of 94, on the second day of the tour match against South Africa.
The England captain will sit out of the three-day tour match against Board President's XI due to recurrence of a knee injury
With nothing really to lose and a lot to gain, Team India hopefuls, under the leadership of Yuvraj Singh, will try every trick in the book to pull off an upset when Board President's XI take on Australia in a four-day warm-up match, starting in Hyderabad, on Thursday.
A total of 138 Indians, including 132 crew and 6 passengers, were among the 3,711 people on board the quarantined ship that arrived at the Japanese coast earlier this month. Three Indians were among the 218 people infected with COVID-19 on the ship.
Rain may wash out the opening day of the tourists' three-day match against the BCCI President's XI in Bangalore on Saturday.
Scored 86 off 96 balls with 12 fours and a six in his debut ODI v England at Indore in 2005-06.
The weather forecast is not bright for Himachal Pradesh as Pakistan gear up for their tour game in Dharamshala.
England opener Alastair Cook top-scored with 63 as the tourists three-day practice game against a Sri Lanka Board President's XI petered out into a draw on Thursday.
Play was abandoned on the opening day of Sri Lanka's three-day tour opener against the Board\nPresident's XI following wet ground conditions.
Four batsmen scored half-centuries to take Sri Lanka to 411 for six on Day 1 of their two-day warm-up against Board President's XI in Kolkata.
The visitors were 165 for 5 at close on day 1 of the three-day match against the BCCI President's XI.
The BCCI President's XI had the visitors reeling at 150 for 8 in their second innings, only 15 runs ahead and 17 overs left in the day.
South Africa declared their first innings on 226 for five on day one against an Indian Board President's XI.
The England captain would have to wait 48 hours to see if his injured knee has improved sufficiently for him to play in the first Test against India.
Vikram Rajvir Singh and Munaf Patel, considered to be among the quickest bowlers in India, have been picked for the Board President's XI to play England.
Spinners Amit Mishra and Kulamani Parida shared seven wickets as the Board President's XI Sri Lankans' match ended in a draw.
The third and final ODI between Sri Lanka and England was abandoned on Sunday.
For Sri Lanka captain Rangana Herath, the two-day game against Board President's XI may be a warm-up game but for home team skipper Sanju Samson, it is an opportunity to gain experience of facing one of the best spinners in world cricket.
The start of play was delayed by roughly an hour due to bad light.
The South African all-rounder may miss the first Test against India due to a side strain.
The match against the Board President's XI would provide the visitors the perfect opportunity to start the tour on the right note.
With the national selection committee and the team management deciding to promote Rohit as an opener, keeping his spunky strokeplay in mind, the next five Tests could be a make or break for the 32-year-old stylish right-hander.
Sri Lanka have been buoyed by the news that their quickest pace bowler is ready to make a comeback to international cricket after injury.
'The intrusion in Chumar, during and beyond the Chinese president's visit, is unprecedented and has qualitatively changed the tone of the India-China relationship,' says Jayadeva Ranade, a member of the National Security Advisory Board.
