Cricket News Today:  Ishant Sharma likely to miss Christchurch Test, Glenn McGrath believes Brian Lara was slightly harder to bowl to than Sachin Tendulkar and more - 28th February 2020

Hello and welcome to the daily round-up of all the major stories happening in the cricketing world today.

First up is Ishant Sharma, who is likely to miss the Christchurch Test, followed by Glenn McGrath revealing why Brian Lara was a tougher batsman to bowl to than Sachin Tendulkar. Virat Kohli backs Prithvi Shaw despite the opener's unimpressive performance while Ravi Shastri is hopeful of the team learning from the Wellington defeat.

And lastly, a record attendance anticipated for the final of the Women's T20 World Cup 2020 with more than 50,000 tickets sold already.

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Here is a look at all those stories in detail.

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#1 Ishant Sharma likely to miss Christchurch Test

Ishant Sharma complained about pain in his right ankle and did not attend the nets on the eve of the Test

India pacer Ishant Sharma is all set to miss the second Test in Christchurch beginning tomorrow due to an ankle injury. According to reports, Sharma suffered pain in his right ankle on the eve of the second Test and didn't take part in the practice session.

The pain goes back to the ankle injury he suffered during his Ranji Trophy game recently for Delhi. In Sharma's absence, Umesh Yadav is set to be called in as a replacement in the playing XI. Sharma took a five-for in the first Test and looked like the only bowler who troubled the Kiwis. Yadav had an extended bowling session under the guidance of head coach Ravi Shastri and bowling coach Bharat Arun.

Full article: New Zealand vs India 2020: Ishant Sharma likely to miss Christchurch Test

#2 McGrath believes Lara was slightly harder to bowl to than Tendulkar

Brian Lara (left) and Sachin Tendulkar (right)

Former Australia great Glenn McGrath revealed that Brian Lara's fearless batting made him a tougher batsman to bowl to in comparison to Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar. McGrath stated that Lara continued with his aggressive style of batting and piled on the runs despite him taking the West Indian's wicket on many occasions.

He praised Tendulkar and spoke highly of him but picked Lara as the more difficult batsman to bowl to. McGrath had a love-hate relationship with both the players during their playing career and loved taking on challenges head-on presented by both of them.

“That was Brian (Lara). He never changed his game... I may have got him out 15 times, but he also scored big hundreds and double hundreds against us when both me and Warnie (Shane Warne) were playing together for Australia.”

“When it was his day, he could do absolutely anything. Sachin was equally as good, but there was something about Brian where he could just keep going and he was slightly harder to bowl to than Sachin. He was more fearless.”

Full article: Glenn McGrath believes Brian Lara was slightly harder to bowl to than Sachin Tendulkar

#3 Kohli backs Shaw despite the opener's unimpressive performance

Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw has got the backing of Indian skipper Virat Kohli after a string of unimpressive performances which brought him under the scanner. Shaw scored a total of 30 runs in the first match in Wellington which the visitors lost by 10 wickets.

Kohli stated that Shaw was as destructive a batsman as one would come across in international cricket but he needed to be crystal clear psychologically before he can score runs. Speaking ahead of the second Test in Christchurch tomorrow, Kohli explained that Shaw was a natural striker of the ball and knew how to score runs against all odds, but needed time at the international stage to prove his worth.

#TeamIndia covered all bases at the training session at the Hagley Oval ahead of the 2nd and final Test against New Zealand.#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/AxIRVayQKL

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 27, 2020

"It is just a matter of understanding the pace of the wicket and conditions as soon as possible. Again, when he (Shaw) is in a clear frame of mind, he is very, very destructive. Once he feels that he can do it, I think it will be a different ball game. The mind set can shift very quickly. We need to give him that time to get used to the conditions a little bit and once he starts scoring, he will feel more confident about it."

"He (Shaw) will figure out. He will find ways to score runs because he is a natural stroke-player and he scores runs. It is not that he gets small runs (when he gets them). He gets big runs and knows how to get runs."

Full article: New Zealand vs India 2020: Virat Kohli backs Prithvi Shaw despite the opener's unimpressive performance in the 1st Test

#4 Ravi Shastri is hopeful of team learning from Wellington defeat

Ravi Shastri believes India has the potential to bounce back in the second Test at Christchurch

India head coach Ravi Shastri spoke about the learnings from the defeat at the Basin Reserve in Wellington and backed his team to come good in the second Test in Christchurch beginning tomorrow.

Shastri explained that defeats were necessary for the Indian team to learn about the different mindsets needed to excel in the longest format of the game. He also praised all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin and backed him to come good with both the bat and the ball.

“We were outplayed in the first Test but I always believe that a shake-up like that is good. It opens your mindset."

“If you have not tasted defeat you can have a closed or fixed mindset. Here, when you see what has happened, it is good, it gives you opportunities to learn. You know what New Zealand are doing and what to expect. It’s a good lesson and the boys are up for the challenge.”

“He (R Ashwin) is a world class bowler. There is absolutely no doubt about it. But he will be disappointed in the way he has batted and he will need to improve that.”

Full article: New Zealand vs India 2020: Coach Ravi Shastri hopeful of team learning from Wellington defeat

#5 Attendance of over 50,000 expected for final of the Women's T20 WC final

That's good news for the game!

The ongoing Women's T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia is all set for a scintillating finale on March 8 in MCG with over 50,000 tickets already sold for the match, as per an ICC release. The record crowd attendance in a standalone women's match in Australia stands at 13,432 achieved recently in the opener between India and Australia. Pop star Katy Perry will perform at the pre and post-show in the final.

The 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup final between the USA and China boasts the record of most crowd attendance at a women's game, with 90,185 people attending the match.

Full article: Women's T20 World Cup 2020: Record attendance anticipated for final; more than 50,000 tickets sold