Arun, Saha, and Easwaran Re-Join India Squad after Isolation
The Indian team was re-joined on Saturday in Durham by reserve batsmen Easwaran wicketkeeper Saha and bowling coach Bharath Arun, after they had completed a quarantine of 10 days in keeping with the Covid-19 protocols in the UK. According to those protocols, the three players had to complete the quarantine period in London while the rest of the support staff and squad went to Durham for a practice game against a County Select XI, ahead of the first test.
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Easwaran, Saha, Arun Forced to Isolate as Close Contacts of Support Staff
They were identified as close contacts of Dayanand Garani, the training assistant/ net bowler after the latter test positive on July 14. The Indian squad, which is yet to be re-joined by Garani, was also joined by Rishabh Pant following this recovery after testing positive for COVID-19.
Pant, Saha, Easwaran Available for Selection to Play in First Test
The three cricketers, Easwaran, Saha and Pant, will be available for selection to play in the first test match starting on fourth August, even though none of them featured in the three-day practice match. In the absence of Pant, KL Rahul was India’s keeper in the warmup match that ended in a stalemate, Rahul top scored for India making 101 (retd.) in the first innings. M Siraj and Umesh Yadav came up with wicket taking performances in the game.
Washington Sundar, Avesh Khan Ruled out of Tour
Meanwhile, according to a press release by the BCCI, Washington Sundar will not take part in the rest of the tour after injuring the bowling finger on his right hand, during India’s practice match against the County Select 11. Another victim of injury in the warmup game, paceman Avesh Khan hurt his left thumb on the first day of the match. An x-ray done on the thumb revealed a fracture. Both Khan and Sundar had played for the countryside in the warmup game. Earlier a stress reaction sustained on the left shin by opener Shubman Gill during the WTC final versus New Zealand had ruled out the player from the test series versus England.
Suryakumar Yadav, Prithvi Shaw Confirmed as Replacements
The selection committee led by Chetan Sharma discussed the matter with India’s head coach Ravi Shastri before deciding to send Suryakumar Yadav and Prithvi Shaw as replacements. BCCI has since confirmed that Yadav and Shaw will join the Indian squad as replacements by flying directly to the UK from Sri Lanka where they had already played in some matches of the white ball series for the India squad led by Dhawan. Team India had reportedly asked for a third player; however, the BCCI has not provided any update on the subject.