There are six spinners in the England party — Dom Bess, Jack Leach and Moeen in the main squad, supplemented by reserves Mason Crane, Matt Parkinson and Amar Virdi. Guramar Singh Virdi (born 19 July 1998), known as Amar Virdi, is an English cricketer. [4], Virdi was the leading English-born spin bowler in the 2018 County Championship with 39 wickets. An off-spin bowler, Virdi played in two Under-19 internationals for England against Sri Lanka in 2016. [11][12], In December 2020, Virdi was named as one of seven reserve players in England's Test squad for their series against Sri Lanka. Sri … Sri Lanka vs England: Jonny Bairstow back in Test squad for tour as Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer rested Agence France-Presse December 11th, 2020 21:27:39 IST London: England cricket selectors have rested Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer for next month's two-Test series in Sri Lanka but have named World Cup-winner Jonny Bairstow in the 16-strong squad. "Having that mindset of being ready to play that was important because these long trips get you a bit down. Learn more about Amar Virdi and get the latest Amar Virdi articles and information. Rory Burns will be back from paternity, and I’d pair the southpaw with Zak Crawley, bearing in mind Dom Sibley’s struggles with spin. Mason Crane, Matt Parkinson and Amar Virdi - would you pick any of these to play in the first Test against Sri Lanka? Virdi’s career-best figures of 14/139 came in July last year in a game against Notts where 37 out of the 40 wickets fell to spinners. He made his first-class debut for Surrey in the 2017 County Championship on 26 May 2017. Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer have been rested for England’s tour to Sri Lanka, while Rory Burns will miss the trip to be at the birth of his first child. Reserves: James Bracey, Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi Trending Holder stars as Windies take control against Sri Lanka (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images for Surrey CCC) The outside bet from all the spinners on this list, Amar Virdi … "It was a great experience," he admitted. As well as training alongside Jack Leach, Virdi was able to study Lasith Embuldeniya, Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin who collected 75 wickets between them and understand the standard that is required to succeed at international level. That he was on the fringes, behind Jack Leach and Dom Bess, mattered little to him. An off-spin bowler, Virdi played in two Under-19 internationals for England against Sri Lanka in 2016. [13] In January 2021, he was also named as a reserve player in England's Test squad for their series against India. NICK HOWSON: Struck inside the bio-secure bubble in Sri Lanka and India with no prospect of playing, the 22-year-old hopes to show the period wasn't for nothing, The Liverpool Victoria Years: When Mushtaq Ahmed and Mark Ramprakash reigned supreme, Masks, player testing and vaccine certificates: How county cricket will look in 2021, "Those guys aren't part of the squad. There are six spinners in the England party -- Dom Bess, Jack Leach and Moeen in the main squad, supplemented by reserves Mason Crane, Matt Parkinson and Amar Virdi. There were two or three players ahead of me who were going to play first. Dan Lawrence could bat at No.3. [14], Virdi is a practising Sikh. Naturally an attacking offspinner on surfaces that provide assistance, Virdi is looking forward to implementing a different strategy to find success. “You don’t see everybody at the same time, but I have introduced myself to everyone now. [15] He grew up in a sporting family: his father represented Kenya in junior tennis and his brother introduced him to cricket. Buttler may yet hand the gloves to Foakes in any case due to his supreme ability standing up to the wicket for the spinners, and he did score a hundred on debut in Sri Lanka in 2018 too. For both, however, dark turns have come early. [7] When Virdi returned to the Surrey team in mid-July for his first match of the season he took 14 wickets in the victory over Nottinghamshire: 8 for 61 and 6 for 78. I don’t think the duo should have missed the Sri Lanka Tests, but then I’m old-fashioned. "There is no room for errors and if there is it is very minimal," Virdi explained. ", Subscribe today and receive The Cricketer’s centenary issue – six issues for £19.21. Amar Virdi and Morne Morkel with the County Championship Division One trophy, September 27, 2019. He hasn't played a first-class match in April since Surrey's last title-winning campaign in 2018 when he claimed four second-innings wickets against Hampshire, who are visitors to The Kia Oval at the end of the month. Get Amar VirdiCricket rankings info, individual records, photos, videos, stats, and all about Amar Virdi "You take Axar for example, being able to land it in a certain area over and over again and just relying on the pitch or allowing the pitch to do the work seemed like the way forward. Nine weeks of going from London to Galle, Galle to Chennai, Chennai to Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad to London, full in the knowledge only complete disaster would see them parachuted into the selection conversation. [3] He made his first-class debut for Surrey in the 2017 County Championship on 26 May 2017. [1] An off-spin bowler,[2] Virdi played in two Under-19 internationals for England against Sri Lanka in 2016. I am always looking to attack and keep that mindset regardless of the conditions. "There wasn't any indication (I would be selected) but you always prepare just in case. In 2016 Virdi was selected for the England Young Lions squad – previously known as England Under 19s – and played in two internationals against Sri Lanka; in his first match he took 5 wickets. At least for some such a nomadic existence is broken up by regular matches, but others spend months away from home comforts knowing they are merely making up the numbers. ", Virdi spent nine weeks with England's Test team - but largely had a watching brief. Offspinner keen to continue development after "great experience" in India and Sri Lanka England. "Even when the conditions are in favour of the bowler you still need to have that consistency and I think that was one of their main strengths. Amar Virdi puts attacking spin on return to Surrey after winter in England bubble. Reserves: James Bracey (wk), Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi. He prepared for every Test like it would be his first, a level of professionalism that will stand him in good stead when the call finally comes, and something that helped him deal with life on the road. They've worked extremely hard and been a credit to themselves, improved all the time and they've continued to get better. As you've seen with a lot of cricket over the years things can change very quickly. crickettimes.com - Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua will host the third and final T20I of the three-match series between West Indies and Sri Lanka on Sunday.The … Amar Virdi hopes cricket can reach all communities. You never know when an opportunity can come. They've been here as part of the reserves squad. Nine weeks of going from London to Galle, Galle to Chennai, Chennai to Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad to London, full in the knowledge only complete disaster would see them parachuted into the selection conversation. The Surrey spinner had the next best thing to playing; being in close quarters to some of the best in his field. A back stress fracture followed swiftly after Crane’s Test debut, and an injection got him through a one-day final before the fracture bit back. "Getting insight and bowling at batters like Rooty (Joe Root) and Stokesy (Ben Stokes) in the nets is great practice and it has really helped my game. Amar Virdi was among six players who spent the entire Sri Lanka and India Test series as part of the reserve group. There are six spinners in the England party - Dom Bess, Jack Leach and Moeen in the main squad, supplemented by reserves Mason Crane, Matt Parkinson and Amar Virdi. There’s been a warm welcome.” Topics. Please ensure all fields are completed before submitting your comment. Amar VirdiCricket Player Profile from England at NDTV Sports. Virdi has not played a first-class game in April since 2018. "I know that I am younger than some of the other players I was still preparing as if I was going to play. Guramar Singh Virdi (born 19 July 1998), known as Amar Virdi, is an English cricketer. [15] His family originate from the Punjab, but his parents emigrated to the UK from Kenya and Uganda. It seems like consistency is very important and that was a big difference. "It was a long trip but it was very beneficial. "I was quite happy with how I went. You work out a few different game plan for these kinds of pitches. [5] He struggled with a stress injury to his back in January 2019, which kept him out of the opening weeks of the 2019 cricket season, and was asked by Surrey to lose some weight and improve his fitness while he recovered. Amar Virdi has 23 first-class games next to his name with a wicket tally of 69 and all of this at an ever improving average of 28.78. Joe Root's comments at the start were a tribute to their fortitude, yet it summed up their sad status on tour. In May 2017, in his introductory first class match for Surrey, and aged 19, he took three wickets against Essex in Chelmsford, two of which were in one over. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena. [15], "Amar Virdi: Surrey spinner believes he can win England Test place", "Specsavers County Championship Division One, Essex v Surrey at Chelmsford, May 26-29, 2017", "Amar Virdi substitute appearance for Surrey blocked by last-minute ECB ruling", https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/notts-doomed-as-amar-virdi-leads-spinning-show-xdfgz9m27, "Amar Virdi responding to tough love as Surrey seek improvement", "Amar Virdi claims 14 wickets for the match as Surrey crush Nottinghamshire", "England Men confirm back-to-training group", "Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett left out as England name 55-man training group", "England announce 30-man training squad ahead of first West Indies Test", "Moeen Ali back in Test frame as England name 30-man training squad", "Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer rested for England Test tour of Sri Lanka", "India v England: Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer return to Joe Root's squad for first two Tests in Ahmedabad", "Surrey's England graduates inspire Amar Virdi to set sights on higher honours", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amar_Virdi&oldid=1012232205, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 15 March 2021, at 09:13. The more experience you have under your belt it is only going to do you good. Click here, Edinburgh House, 170 Kennington Lane, London, SE115DP. I've got lots of things to work on and spending time at the county game as much as possible is the best way to keep preparing for those kinds of opportunities. Sri Lanka; West Indies; Zimbabwe; Dave Tickner; Dan Liebke; Alex Bowden; John Nicholson; Will Ford; C365 Says; Our Ethos; Competitions ; Home Countries England Amar Virdi hopes cricket can reach all communities. "It is a new experience for me because I haven't played on early-season pitches," he admitted. Amar Virdi was among six players who spent the entire Sri Lanka and India Test series as part of the reserve group. It is a case of finding other ways to attack. He added: "The mindset and the attitude was never that I'm not going to play. He made his first-class debut for Surrey in the 2017 County Championship on 26 May 2017. It might be through maybe a defensive mindset by bowling maidens and keeping things really simple and attacking in that way. "It was an opportunity to develop my game, get better at what I do, improve, add things to my armoury and come back and have a good county season. Touring life is not what it used to be. That was my outlook on it.". Moeen Ali has tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Sri Lanka and will be placed in quarantine for ten days, almost certainly ruling him out of the first Test in Galle. Fortunately for England, 22-year-old Virdi - who is only 28 matches into his first-class and senior career - is a willing worker. Guramar Singh Virdi (born 19 July 1998), known as Amar Virdi, is an English cricketer. There is some irony that Virdi's first chance to apply those learnings will come on green pitches in the County Championship. England in Sri Lanka - schedule and squads Bairstow has played 70 Tests for England, scoring 4,030 runs at an average of 34.74. England all-rounder Moeen Ali has tested positive for COVID-19 upon his arrival at the Hambantota airport in Sri Lanka, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement. [8], On 29 May 2020, Virdi was named in a 55-man group of players to begin training ahead of international fixtures starting in England following the COVID-19 pandemic. England's 16-strong party in Sri Lanka will be supplemented by seven reserves, including leg-spinners Mason Crane (Hampshire) and Matt Parkinson (Lancashire) and off-spinner Amar Virdi … Among the travelling reserves there are no less than three young spinners – Mason Crane, Matt Parkinson and Amar Virdi – who will be eager to impress during the five-day training camp in … I was preparing as if I could be playing and working at my game alongside that. ... Related Story: What does Moeen Ali’s positive test mean for England’s tour of Sri Lanka? thehindu.com - Security at churches across Sri Lanka have been beefed up ahead of Easter on Sunday, police said on Saturday, in the wake of the April 2019 … That can be a bit negative. [6] Surrey's director of cricket, Alec Stewart, called it "tough love". Amar Virdi LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 08: Amar Virdi of Surrey celebrates with Ben Foakes after taking the wicket of Sussex’s Ben Brown during day three of the Bob Willis Trophy match between Surrey and Sussex at The Kia Oval on September 08, 2020 in London, England. I couldn't be more pleased with their development and they'll be better players for this experience but they're not involved in the core squad.". Bio-secure bubbles, quarantine, hotel dwelling and relentless schedules mean that while travelling parties are bigger than ever, their liberty is severely compromised. Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. He is the youngest and least-experienced of the five specialist spinners in England’s 30-man training group, but Amar Virdi has insisted he is not at the Ageas Bowl to make up the numbers.. Virdi, 21, has only played 23 games in his first-class career, but has already been part of several England Lions squads and earned impressive reviews from his coaches at Surrey. [9][10] On 17 June 2020, Virdi was included in England's 30-man squad to start training behind closed doors for the Test series against the West Indies. For me, I am not putting myself under any pressure to play (for England) tomorrow, and when the opportunity does come hopefully I'll be ready for that.". [15] As a teenager, he turned down offers of scholarships from private schools because he didn't wish to board, and because he had been playing adult cricket since he was 13. People can get injured in warm-ups and before, you never know. Countries, cities and districts are now defined by bedspreads, wallpaper, socially distanced nets and empty seats rather than mountain ranges, open countryside, charming locals and bustling atmospheres. Surrey spinner Amar Virdi says the environment in the England camp is “a lot calmer” after the entire squad received negative Covid-19 tests. Add that experience to the misfortune of not actually being considered for selection, and you start to build a picture of what the life of the typical international cricketer looks like in the Covid-19 era. Being in an environment like that is where I want to be. "I find you always get a bit of grip when I've played so this year might be a bit different. "It is not just a case of being defensive - I wouldn't say I am a defensive bowler. Get you a bit down environment like that is where I want to be Lanka Tests but... 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