Published 11:29 IST, January 27th 2021

Harsha Bhogle accuses England of belittling Test cricket for IPL and T20 World Cup 2021

Cricket analyst & commentator Harsha Bhogle has expressed his anguish over the ECB's decision to rest key players ahead of the upcoming Test series vs India.

Reported by: Jatin Malu
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England are set to travel to India for a two-month-long tour where cricketing giants will lock horns across four Tests, three ODIs and five T20 internationals. England Cricket Board (ECB) recently anunced  England squ for India 2021 for first two Tests. tably, Jonny Bairstow who is one of most important parts of ir batting line-up was rested.

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Harsha Bhogle baffled with ECB's decision to rest key players

decision to rest Bairstow hasn't gone down well with a lot of former cricketers including Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen among ors. Englishmen hit out at ECB for t selecting best team for first two Tests of series. w, cricket analyst and commentator Harsha Bhogle has expressed his anguish over ECB's decision.

veteran analyst took to Twitter and said that he is baffled with England's decision to rest players from a series that is crucial to ir chances of making it to World Test Championship (WTC) final. He accused ECB of belittling importance of WTC, which has been conceptualised to give more context and priority to Test cricket. Bhogle furr said that he is er to kw if players have been rested because y wanted to or needed to.

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According to Bhogle, if players have been rested despite m wanting to play, n ECB is ending up making m insecure which he reckoned isn't an ideal state of mind to be in for anybody.  59-year-old reiterated that Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow are a crucial part of England's limited-overs set up, who will also be available for IPL 2021. Elaborating on same, Bhogle said that he feels England are prioritising winning T20 World Cup, which will be held in India later this year, rar than World Test Championship, for which final will co-incidentally be hosted by England in June. In end, Bhogle also expressed his concern about Test cricket's future.

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England squ for India 2021 (first 2 Tests): Joe Root (Captain), Ben Stokes (Vice-captain), Jos Buttler (Wicket-keeper), Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, James Anderson, Dom Bess, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Stuart Bro, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Dom Sibley, Jack Leach

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Kevin Pietersen Slams England For t Fielding Best Team Vs India

With anuncement of England's squ for first two Tests against India opening floodgates for selectors, Pietersen has also criticised manment for t fielding best team against India. Englishman opined that it is 'disrespectful' to fans and BCCI as well to t play best team. He also ded that 'best players' would prioritise IPL rar than early seasons of Tests.

Taking to Twitter on Sunday, former swashbuckling batsman asserted that Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Bro and James Anderson have to play first two Tests against India which is slated to begin from February 5 in Chennai. Bairstow, who seems to be in phemenal form in Sri Lanka Test series which is currently underway, has been rested for first two Tests. Moreover, Pietersen stated that one should prioritise playing international cricket for country only as a youngster and t when one is 'best player'. Here's Pietersen's outlook on selection debacle: 

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SOURCE: HARSHA BHOGLE INSTAGRAM

11:29 IST, January 27th 2021