England vs India: Fifth Test rescheduled to July 2022
The fifth Test between England and India, which was canceled owing to COVID-19 scare, has been rescheduled to July 2022. Now, the five-match series will resume with India leading 2-1. Meanwhile, the Test will be played at Edgbaston instead of Manchester. The development comes following an agreement between the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the BCCI. Here's more.
Here is the official statement of ECB
"Due to the complexities in the schedule, the fixture cannot be staged at Emirates Old Trafford owing to clashes with pre-planned events at the venue, which will leave insufficient time to prepare a Test pitch," the ECB stated in a media release.
Tom Harrison announced the schedule
"We are very pleased that we have reached an agreement with BCCI to creating a fitting end to what has been a brilliant series so far," Tom Harrison, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said. "I'm very grateful to all the venues involved for the cooperation they've shown in allowing us to reschedule this match. I'd also like to thank Cricket South Africa for their support."
Manchester Test was canceled over COVID-19 concerns
In September, the final Test between England and India was canceled after the Indian players expressed health concerns over taking the field. Some of them had written a letter to the BCCI discussing health issues due to a COVID-19 case in the Indian camp. Team India's training session on the eve of Manchester Test had to be canceled after physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar tested positive.
Four support staff members, including Ravi Shastri, had tested positive
On September 6, Indian head coach Ravi Shastri had tested positive for COVID-19. Along with him, three members of the support staff, Bharat Arun, R Sridhar, and Nitin Patel, were placed under quarantine. Shastri missed the fourth Test as India defeated England at The Oval.
A look at the revised schedule
The fifth Test will now be held with the white-ball series in England next year. India are scheduled to play three ODIs and as many T20Is in England in 2022. According to the revised schedule, the T20I series will begin on July 7 at the Ageas Bowl. Meanwhile, the ODI series will now start on July 12 at The Oval.
India lead the five-match series 2-1
At present, India lead the five-match Test series by a 2-1 margin. After a draw in the rain-hit first Test, India won the Lord's game by 151 runs. England bounced back in the third Test, winning the same by an innings and 76 runs. The visitors scripted a famous 157-run win at The Oval next to take the lead again.
Why does it matter?
The fate of Manchester Test was hanging in balance. It was reported that the ECB pushed ICC's Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) to treat the canceled Test as forfeiture. In case of forfeiture, England would have leveled the series 2-2. However, India would have won the series 2-1, had the game been abandoned. India now have an opportunity to win the series 3-1.
