Eden Gardens will again be having its share of international cricket next month when India host Sri Lanka. After a three-T20I series, the two teams will square off at the Eden on January 12 for the second and penultimate ODI.

This year, when the Covid19 protocols were still in place, the Eden had hosted the West Indies for three T20Is before Qualifer 1 and the Eliminator of the IPL.

However, as per India’s home fixtures announced on Thursday, the iconic Eden has been allotted only one game of the 15 white-ball matches and four Tests India will be playing against Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Australia. Mumbai and Ahmedabad, on the other hand, have been slotted with two each.

The first T20I against Sri Lanka on January 3 and the opening ODI versus Australia on March 17 will be played in Mumbai. Ahmedabad will host the third and final T20I against New Zealand on February 1 and the fourth Test versus Australia from March 9-13.

Wood available

Multan: England brought in pacer Mark Wood and shrugged off Pakistan’s attempt to make the Multan pitch friendlier for spin in the second Test that starts on Friday. Wood replaced all-rounder Liam Livingstone, who returned home after injuring his knee during the first Test.

“Having someone in your squad who can bowl at 150kph is a massive bonus for any team,” England captain Ben Stokes said of Wood on Thursday.

AP/PTI