Virat Kohli criticised, Ravi Shastri's request and more - Cricket News Today, 14th September 2018

Ravi Shastri wants warm-up matches ahead of Australia tour

He also added that he has already put in a request with the BCCI about the same

Many bemoaned India's lack of preparation ahead of a crucial Test series against England. Ahead of the final Test, Indian captain, Virat Kohli admitted that playing warm-up matches against weak opponents is of no use. But Indian coach Ravi Shastri admits that he has requested for a couple of warm-up games in Australia before the start of the Test series later this year.

"If you have two or three games against weaker sides we don't mind because it is a game. But when you have a schedule as tight as this and when you have a memorandum of understanding that has already been formulated, with a choc-a-bloc calendar, there is very little you can do. Now, we have requested for a couple of [warm-up] games in Australia before the Test series," he told Cricinfo.

When asked about whether he was against warm-up matches, he said: "Absolutely not. Why would we be? You can only see the results. Every time after the second Test we have improved. You can still get better. But why can't we be in that position in the first Test match?"