Xtra Time Web Desk: At last some good news for Virat Kohli and his boys ahead of the test series against England. The England and Wales Cricket Board is likely to organize a couple of warm up matches for Kohli and his boys which will be played at the Chester-le-Street.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had requested ECB to organize a couple of first class matches ahead of the test series after Indian captain Virat Kohli expressed his displeasure of not getting any first class warm up game before the test series.
“That doesn’t depend on us. We obviously wanted First-Class games which I believe has not been given to us. I don’t know what the reasons for that are,” Kohli had said after India’s eight wicket loss to New Zealand in the World Test Championship final at Southampton.
The England Cricket Board did not show any interest in the beginning as it was a late request from BCCI. But it is now learnt that ECB will accommodate two warm up matches for the visiting Indian team at Chester-le-Street. Kohli and his boys will play a four day practice game against an unmade county team and a three day warm up match against County Select XI. Notably, both the matches will be played in the northeast region as India will be based there during the initial fortnight of the tour.
The Indian players are now enjoying a break after the World Test Championship final. The players will assemble in London on July 14. They will travel to Durham on July 15 to attend a camp. Initially Kohli & co were supposed to play a couple of intra squad matches during the camp. The Indian team will leave for Nottingham on August 01 for the first test match at Trentbridge which gets underway on August 4.