Samson's aid for Kerala victims, Pant's possible debut and more - Cricket News Today, 17th August 2018

With the third Test between England and India beginning tomorrow, it does not come across as any surprise that all the attention is transfixed on Trent Bridge. The visitors are expected to make at least a couple of significant changes in a bid to overturn their dire fortunes.

Meanwhile, England have already announced their playing eleven. Maverick all-rounder Ben Stokes will get a golden opportunity to restore focus back on his cricket. The team management dropped a promising seam all-rounder who had claimed a Player of the Match award in the series.

In other major news, wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson has offered a glimpse into his benevolent side by donating INR 15 lakhs to Kerala's flood relief fund. Here are all the latest developments from the cricket world.

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#5 Bumrah and Pant set to bolster beleaguered India

Rishabh Pant is likely to make his Test debut at Nottingham

Captain Virat Kohli's streak of not fielding the same playing eleven is set to extend from 37 to 38 as India look set to ring in the changes for the must-win third Test against England at Trent Bridge. While Rishabh Pant is likely to receive his maiden Test cap, seamer Jasprit Bumrah should take the place of Kuldeep Yadav.

Leading up to the game, Dinesh Karthik was seen feeding balls to Pant during the wicket-keeping drill. The woefully out of form 33-year old, who managed a combined tally of 21 runs from four innings, faces an uncertain future. If selected, Pant's explosive batting ability could strengthen the insipid lower middle-order.

With a heavy cloud cover predicted at Trent Bridge, Bumrah is expected to replace left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Kohli all but confirmed the right-arm seamer's inclusion by affirming, "Very excited with Jasprit getting fit again. He is one guy who is aggressive and makes the batsman feel uncomfortable in the middle. That has been his biggest strength and he relishes the challenge whenever given the opportunity."

#4 Stokes return confirmed as Curran misses out

Sam Curran will make way for the much more experienced Ben Stokes

England have confirmed their playing eleven for the third Test. All-rounder Ben Stokes, who managed to emerge unscathed from the recently completed affray trial, will take Sam Curran's spot in the lineup.

Skipper Joe Root reasoned, "He's (Curran) unfortunate to miss out but what he's done so far has been nothing short of high-class. He (Stokes) told me that he's desperate to get out there; he wants to put in performances and concentrate on his cricket now. We obviously assessed his fitness over the course of the two days and made that call."

England's Playing XI for Trent Bridge Test - Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Joe Root (c), Ollie Pope, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad and James Anderson

#3 Jamshed receives ten-year ban by anti-corruption tribunal

Nasir Jamshed's stagnant playing career is effectively over

When Nasir Jamshed hammered back to back centuries to shape Pakistan's famous ODI series victory on Indian soil in 2012/13, comparisons with the great Saeed Anwar began to do the rounds. More than five years later, his playing career is effectively over at a meagre 48 appearances in the 50-over format.

Jamshed has received a ten-year ban from all cricket by an independent anti-corruption tribunal. Having been found guilty of five breaches of PCB's Anti-Corruption Code, he was termed 'linchpin' of the spot-fixing scandal in the 2017 edition of the Pakistan Super League.

The 28-year old, who last played for Pakistan in the 2015 World Cup, faces the danger of being 'kept away from cricket' by the PCB even after the completion of his ten-year ban.

#2 Samson donates INR 15 lakhs for Kerala flood relief

Sanju Samson's benevolent gesture should set an example for all cricketers in the country

Even as incessant rain is threatening to ravage the beautiful state of Kerala, cricketer Sanju Samson has set a splendid example for his prominent peers. The 23-year old has donated INR 15 lakhs to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund.

An unusually high amount of monsoon rain in the state has resulted in extreme over-flooding. The natural disaster has claimed at least 173 lives so far whilst leaving almost two lakh people stranded in makeshift relief shelters.

"I think my action will prompt several other people to come forward and support the flood-hit people. It's time for everyone to join hands and make whatever contribution they can to help those affected by the flood", Samson told Khaleej Times.

#1 Kohli urges misfiring Indian batsmen to stay in the present

Virat Kohli has called upon his fellow batsmen to take responsibility

There is an increasing speculation that the team management's frequent chop and change policy has resulted in key batsmen losing confidence at the wrong time. When asked if he had sent an ultimatum to his misfiring peers, skipper Kohli dismissed such a line of thought as 'bizarre' and reiterated that his message was to urge them to stay in the present.

Addressing the media ahead of the third Test, Kohli asserted, "We are not thinking whether someone’s career is on the line or what is going to happen to their future. Everyone has had their time in the past; no one can play forever. But that day is not today. We need to focus on this Test and not think about whether someone’s career is on the line. That is quite a bizarre thought to have."

Considering their recent struggles, the captain has also admitted to exploring the option of inducting an extra batsman at Trent Bridge. However, should the surface demand five bowling choices, he called upon his fellow batsmen to take responsibility to put runs on the board.