England Test Cricket Fixtures 2021

The England Test cricket fixtures 2021 didn’t get off to the best of starts. New Zealand dominated their two-match series with Joe Root’s men, comfortably winning the second Test to claim a 1-0 series victory.

England had a difficult winter. Their batsmen were all at sea in the sub-continent. Returning to familiar conditions did not help. Rory Burns was the only English batsman to score more than 103 runs across the two matches. Technical deficiencies were once again on show as the elite New Zealand attack made England crumble under forensic examination.

Since starting with three straight wins in the sub-continent, England’s Test cricket fixtures 2021 have been brutal. They have lost four of five. Their batting performances have bordered on shambolic.

The fast bowling remains impressive, but the age-old questions about the spin department remain. Chris Silverwood, and the revamped selection group, opted not to name a spinner in the XI at both Lord’s and Edgbaston.

England v New Zealand 2021

The first two home England Test cricket fixtures 2021 were against New Zealand. Preparing for the World Test Championship final, the Kiwis were not at full strength in either match, yet they gave England a lesson in how to play Test cricket.

England were missing key players, too. It showed. The lack of the all-round capabilities of Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali caused balance issues. Jofra Archer’s X-factor was missed. Jos Buttler would have brought much-needed experience to the middle order.

The budget of the cricket boards and populations of the countries suggest this should be a matchup dominated by England. It was a stark contrast. New Zealand named batsmen with traditional techniques, and sturdy Test match toughness. The quirky England line-up was outclassed.

The importance of Stokes, Woakes and Moeen shouldn’t be downplayed, however. New Zealand were able to play five bowlers and fit in a spinner when England were muddled in selection.

Regardless of the results, the performances in England Test cricket fixtures 2021 so far gives little hope for the upcoming duel with India and the winter Ashes tour.

England v Sri Lanka 2021

Chris Woakes, David Willey and Liam Dawson were recalled for England v Sri Lanka 2021. Woakes, despite being an integral cog in the 50-over side, had slipped out of contention for T20 cricket.

England fans will be pleased for some white-ball respite after their Test struggles. While still missing some key men, they have sufficient depth to win this series.

India are the only team to beat England over their last 11 T20 series. Though missing Stokes, Archer and Reece Topley, Eoin Morgan has top class options at his disposal in all disciplines. Matt Parkinson missing out is a disappointment, however.

Sri Lanka has some new faces in Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya Lakshan and Ishan Jayaratne. There are familiar names in the Sri Lanka team, but they haven’t faced England in a T20 since a one-off match in 2018. They are ranked eighth in the world in the shortest international format, just ahead of Bangladesh.

This series is about preparation for this winter’s World Cup. The core of England’s squad is locked up, but there are places up for grabs on the periphery. Liam Livingstone, Woakes and Willey will be hoping to force their way into the group.

The England v Sri Lanka T20 series starts on June 23^rd in Cardiff. Match two is the following night at the same venue, before switching to Southampton for the 26^th. England are heavy favourites with the bookies and rightly so.

It’s been brutal watching the England Test cricket fixtures 2021, but the best white-ball team in the world are set to put on a show against Sri Lanka.

England V India 2021

This England team continues to display phenomenal resilience. They have made a habit of bouncing back from the doldrums, and it’s a good job, because they often find themselves at crisis point.

That’s exactly where they were after the calamitous final day at Lord’s. Joe Root’s team had blown a golden chance to win the match. Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah (two men with no batting pedigree) clobbered England all over the park. They took the Second Test away from the hosts with the bat.

The two then led India’s charge with the ball. England were skittled. Their batting was a shambles again.

Changes were inevitable. Dominic Sibley was taken out for the firing line for Dawid Malan. A niggling injury meant Mark Wood was unavailable. Missing five of their leading quick men, England recalled Craig Overton to slot in as third seamer and provide some useful batting at nine.

Perfect Headingley Display

Haseeb Hameed and Malan scored first innings fifties, as did Rory Burns. Root was, of course, the star of the show with another majestic 100, but England put in a complete batting performance at Headingley to take charge of the Test after the bowlers dismissed India for just 78.

Anderson was the spearhead of the attack, taking three early wickets for just six runs. Crucially, though, he was backed up exceptionally even with Wood, Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer, Chris Woakes and Olly Stone all sidelined through injury.

Ollie Robinson was monotonous with his line and length. Overton delivered exactly the spell England needed. Sam Curran took advantage of a swinging ball.  

Robinson backed his first innings effort up with five-for to seal the win in the second dig. He has been the breakout star of England Test Cricket fixtures 2021.

This captivating series heads to The Oval on 2^nd September.

In The Balance

England once again face uncertainty over the structure of their pace attack ahead of The Oval Test. James Anderson and Ollie Robinson could be rested with Wood and Woakes available to step in. Curran’s place is under scrutiny with the left-armer taking three wickets at an average of 79.33 in the series so far.

England Test Cricket fixtures 2021 have been packed in. It’s back-to-back-to-back Tests to close out the England V India series, putting significant strain on the fast bowling unit. Robinson and Anderson are tied for the most overs bowled in the series.

Spin could play a greater role in the final two matches. Calls for Jack Leach’s inclusion are frequent, though Root and Chris Silverwood appear content with the current balance of the side.

Buttler is unavailable at The Oval due to the imminent birth of his second child. Jonny Bairstow will likely take the gloves, leaving England with a choice of Ollie Pope or Dan Lawrence to bat at five.

India, looking to fight back from a humiliating loss in Leeds, have their own selection dilemmas. Ishant Sharma struggled mightily at Headingley – is it finally time for Ravichandran Ashwin?

Perhaps the tourists also opt to rotate their seam attack.

It has been a challenging summer for the England team. Despite numerous injuries, a Covid outbreak and some woeful performances, they could yet rescue this summer. A win at The Oval will guarantee at least a drawn series against the world’s best Test team.

Headingley was a mammoth psychological swing. England picked themselves up from the Lord’s debacle to put in complete team performance. India are suddenly carrying baggage into the final two England Test Cricket fixtures 2021.

England Test Cricket Fixtures 2021 – Update

The England cricket season has ended in a dramatic fashion on the 1st morning. The series finale at Old Trafford has been called off due to a Covid outbreak.

Reports from Sky Sports state, England and Wales Cricket Board believed the game would still go ahead. But after a number of the India team players tested positive on Thursday, and a member of the backroom staff. Unfortunately, on Friday 10th at 8:44 am the ECB announced the cancellation stating ” India are regrettably unable to field a team and will forfeit the match”.

This was later changed from India’s forfeiture, indicating that tense talks are taking place between the ECB and their counterparts in India at the Board of control of Cricket. Cancellation of this type now can leave the ECB with a 30M financial deficit from the loss of TV revenue. Plus the potential refund of 63.000 tickets that had sold for the last test match at Old Trafford.

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