Hit For Six: England set to ring the changes for Second Test with India

Hit For Six returns after wet weather denied us a classic Test match and The Hundred provided moments of class and laughter.

Silverwood warns batsmen, Ali recalled

Chris Silverwood has warned England’s under-fire batsmen they will be dropped unless they improve quickly.

Skipper Joe Root fought a lone hand with scores of 64 and 109 in the drawn openingTest with India as nobody else in the top seven managed more than 30.

It is the latest in a long line of batting failures for England, who have been overly reliant on Root for too long.

Silverwood stopped short of saying there will be changes for the next game, starting on Thursday, with the top three of Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley and Zak Crawley all coming under intense scrutiny.

He said: "I think we do need to step up. Joe's been phenomenal for the last six months, really. 

"But what we need to do is make sure that the guys that are batting with him are coming to the party as well. We need the guys around Joe scoring some more runs to take the pressure off him.

"It's one thing which we're talking about in the dressing room constantly. I'm encouraging conversations between the players and the coaches to try and find a solution for this to try and help them get better.

"We have to address and accept we are not getting those runs so we have to look at why. 

"It's not through lack of effort. It's not a lack of hard work. It's just a case that we have to try and find a formula that works. That's a work in progress at the moment.

"We need to do something. Ideally, we get the guys scoring runs again and get the confidence back in them. 

"But if that doesn't happen obviously I have to have a look. Does that mean there will be changes? It's something we've got to consider constantly. We have to make sure we've got the right people on the park.

"Ultimately, if it isn't working I have to take a view on why and how do I change that. I have invested in these guys. I would rather be accused of giving somebody one too many chances than not enough. But at some point I will have to make a decision."

One change that looks certain to happen at Lord’s is the return of Moeen Ali.

After scoring a sparkling 59 for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred on Monday night, Ali was recalled to the Test squad this morning.

It looks like Ali will be thrown straight into the XI — and he was excited at the prospect at the end of the Phoenix’s victory over Welsh Fire.

He said: "Of course if you get the call-up, then playing for England is the highest thing you can get. If I get the call then I'll be available.

"It's a win-win for me, things are going really well for me here and the team."

Cricket and the Olympics

Cricket is aiming to break into the big time and become an Olympic sport when Los Angeles hosts the 2028 games.

Not since 1900, when Great Britain played France, has cricket been involved in the event — but that could all change soon.

The ICC have been actively trying to get the sport played in big global events in recent years and it will be part of next year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

And with the 2028 version being held in the USA — a market the ICC would dearly love to crack — a working party has been set up to lobby for involvement.

Chariman Greg Barklay said: "Our sport is united behind this bid. 

"We see the Olympics as a part of cricket's long-term future. We have more than a billion fans globally and almost 90 percent of them want to see cricket at the Olympics.

"Clearly cricket has a strong and passionate fanbase, particularly in South Asia where 92% of our fans come from, whilst there are also 30 million cricket fans in the USA. 

“The opportunity for those fans to see their heroes competing for an Olympic medal is tantalising."

Unsurprisingly, USA Cricket are supporting the bid, which has the backing of the ECB and BCCI — the two most important national governing bodies.

USA Cricket's Paraag Marathe said: "USA Cricket is thrilled to be able to support cricket's bid for inclusion in the Olympics, the timing of which aligns perfectly with our continuing plans to develop the sport in the USA.

"With so many passionate cricket fans and players already in the USA, and a huge global audience and following for the sport around the world, we believe that cricket's inclusion will add great value to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and help us to achieve our own vision for establishing cricket as a mainstream sport in this country."

Viral Hundred hitting right spots

There will have been delight in ECB towers over the past two days with The Hundred producing widely shared moments of joy — and pain.

After the First Test between England and India was washed out at Trent Bridge earlier on Sunday, a reduced 65-ball game was played between Oval Invincibles and Trent Rockets in South London.

Though Jason Roy’s 59* was brutal, it was two moments of misfortune for Alex Hales that captivated social media.

Hales was floored when left-armer Reece Topley’s ball missed the bat and crashed into his box.

That saw him roll on the floor in pain as giggling opposition players, umpires and the crowd watched on.

After checking everything was still OK, Hales returned to the crease ready to face the next ball.

And lightning struck twice.

If the giggles were obvious the first time he was struck, nobody could contain their laughter the second time.

Thankfully, no damage was done and Hales went on to make 25 runs as the Rockets failed to chase down the Invincibles’ total.

If that viral content was unfortunate, Imran Tahir’s hat-trick to round off the Phoenix’s victory over Welsh Fire on Monday was pure theatre.

Known for his exuberant celebrations, Tahir ran around the outfield with his arms aloft after bowling David Payne.

The roar as Payne’s stumps were dismantled showed a home crowd quick to take the Phoenix to their heart, while it was a moment of magic that lit up the end of a one-sided game.

Qais Ahmad and Matt Milnes were the other two victims of Tahir’s hat-trick as he claimed five wickets on the night.

There are another nine group games left as the inaugural tournament closes in on its first knockout stage.

Aussie embarrassment

While England’s batting woes at Trent Bridge led to much introspection, fans can at least take pleasure in Australia’s struggles.

A stinging 4-1 T20 series defeat in Bangladesh was rounded off with a harrowing defeat in which they were bowled out for just 62 — their lowest ever international score.

Shakib Al-Hasan returned the best figures taking 4-9 as just Matthew Wade (22) and Ben McDermott (17) made double figures for the Aussies.

The innings lasted just 13.4 overs, meaning it is the shortest an Australia men’s international side has ever faced.