Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Ivan Iutkin and Aldiyar Abzhan set to meet in the final of the ITF Pakistan AJ Towers World Junior Tennis Championship after winning their semifinals at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex, Islamabad on Thursday. The 5th Seed Aldiyar Abzhan (KAZ) struggled hard to win his semi final against unseeded Nikita Bortnichek from Russian in an exciting three sets match. In the first set, both the players held their respective serves till 6-6 all and the set was decided in a tie break, which was won by Abhan by taking the early break in the tie break at 7-2. In the second set, Nikita changed the pattern of game and broke the 8th game of Abhan to take the lead 5-3 and then played some excellent shots down the line to hold the serve and leveled the match 1-1 set all. In the final set, both the players played excellent long rallies; after losing the 3rd game of final set, Abzhan came back aggressively and did not allow his opponent to settle down and hit couple of aces in the set and finally broke the 6th game of Nikita and by holding the 7th game, took the lead 5-2. In the 9th game, Abhan played some excellent cross court shots to confirm a place in the final. In the second Semi-final, Ivan Iutking of Russia played excellent tennis throughout the match and his opponent from Poland Maciej Zarebski was unable to match his excellence. The match lasted 59 minutes. In the Girls event, top seed Andra Izabella Sirbu of Romania proved too good against her opponent 4th Seed Olga Sorochkina of Russia to seal a place in the final. She won the match 7-5 and 6-2. In the second semi-final, Tamara Ermakova of Russia beat Melisa Ugur of Turkey in a thrilling see-saw match which lasted 2 hours 12 minutes. The final score-line was 4-6, 6-1 and 7-5. Melisa Ugur (TUR) played very measured and calculated game till 4-4 games all, and broke the 10th game of Tamara to win the 1st set. In the second set, Tamara fought hard to draw level before Melisa regained control and took the set comfortably 6-1. The deciding set saw some exhilarating tennis as both the players reached 5-games all and then in the 12th game Tamara played some excellent shots and broke Melisa to seal her place in the final. In the Boys Doubles; Nikita Bortnichek (RUS) & Ruslan Serazhetdinov (RUS) caused a major upset to defeat top seed Iranian duo Amirali Ghavam and Yunes Talava in an exciting three sets encounter 6-4 4-6 10-7. In the second Semi-final, Dev Kanbargimath (ROU) & Aril Kayra Tuna (TUR) also upset the 2nd seed Russian pair of  Ivan Iutkin and Nikita Safonov in a straight sets match 7-6(6) 7-5. In the Girls Doubles; Munisa Ashurkekova (UZB) & Melisa Ugur (TUR) proved too good to Taira Abildayeva (KAZ) & Artina Gashi (GBR) in a one sided affair 6-0 and 6-2. Results: Boys Singles Semi Finals Ivan Iutkin (RUS) beat Maciej Zarebski (POL) 6-2, 6-1 Aldiyar Abzhan (KAZ) beat Nikita Bortnichek (RUS) 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-3 Girls Singles Semi Finals Abdra Izabella Sirbu (ROU) beat Olga Sorochkina (RUS) 7-5, 6-2 Tamara Ermakova (RUS) beat Melisa Ugur (TUR) 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 Boys Doubles Semi  Finals Nikita Bortnichek (RUS) & Ruslan Serazhetdinov (RUS) beat Amirali Ghavam (IRI) & Yunes Talavar (IRI) 6-4, 4-6, 10-7 Dev Kanbargimath (ROU) & Arila Kayra Tuna (TUR) beat Ivan Iutkin (RUS) & Nikita Safonov (RUS) 7-6(6), 7-5 Girls Doubles Semi Finals Munisa Ashurekova (UZB) & Melisa Ugur (TUR) beat Taira Abildayeva (KAZ) & Artina Gashi (GBR) 6-0, 6-2 Andra Izabella Sirbu (ROU) & Olga Sorochkina (RUS) beat Sa Rang Lim (KOR) & Seo Hyeon Park (KOR) 6-2, 4-6, 11-9.

SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT Lausanne, Switzerland:-A scintillating first half performance from India; a resilient response from South Africa; a calm shoot-out performance from the Netherlands; and a first FIH Hockey Pro League point for France. This was how Day Two FIH Hockey Pro League action panned out in Potchefstroom, South Africa. India men marched on with a 10-2 victory over South Africa, to add to the 5-0 victory they enjoyed over France the preceding day. The win moves them to third in the FIH Hockey Pro League table. All the damage was done in the opening quarter as two fantastically taken penalty corners were sent home by Jugraj and then Abhishek added a fourth goal. Four more goals in the second quarter saw Jugraj seal his hat trick before Gursahibjit, Dilpreet and Mandeep all added to the score sheet. The fourth quarter saw India regain a little of their first half pace and Dilpreet scored India’s final goal to take his team into double figures. After the game, Player of the Match Jugraj said: ‘Jugraj Singh: 'I am really happy to have scored a hat trick. I was feeling good when I got the opportunity to take the penalty corners.' In the second match France could have been forgiven for lacking confidence after their 5-0 loss to India the previous day. However, the men in blue came out to challenge the Netherlands and their aggressive approach and willingness to run at the Dutch paid dividends. The first goal was scored by France, from the stick of Stanislaus Branicki. The Dutch team rallied and started to make forays into the French circle but it was one of those days when shots went wide, passes were misplaced and the French goalkeeper Arthur Thieffry was on top of his game. The equaliser came in the second quarter when captain Thierry Brinkman was on hand to slam the ball home after some good build up by Jorrit Croon. At this point, observers would have expected the Netherlands to ramp up their attack but for every period of Dutch domination, the French responded with their own attacking play. The third quarter was goalless as was much of the fourth quarter. Then, the deadlock was broken by an absolute cracker of a goal from Koen Bijen. The Dutchman received an aerial in the centre of the French circle, pulled it under control and then volleyed it into the French net. The result keeps Netherlands at the top of the FIH Pro League table and France move to fifth place. Player of the Match Thierry Brinkman said: ‘That was not so good for us. The first quarter we were not aggressive enough in our 1v1s. We made too many mistakes both on the ball and defensively. There is a lot to improve for us. France played very well.’ Results: RSA 2-10 India Player of the Match: Jugraj Singh (IND) Umpires: Annelize Rostron (RSA), Ayden Shrives (RSA) Wanri Venter (RSA - video umpire) France 2-2 Netherlands (Netherlands won 4-2 in the shoot-out) Player of the Match: Thierry Brinkman (NED) Umpires: Wanri Venter (RSA), Sean Rapaport (RSA), Ayden Shrives (RSA - video umpire)

Bipin Dani Former Australian top order batsman and the ICC match referee David Boon, who will be officiated in the upcoming five T-20I matches between Australia and Sri Lanka will meet the team management of both sides before the commencement of the series scheduled on 11th February to decide on the duration of the drinks- interval, it is learnt. The ICC has announced that an optional drinks break of two minutes and thirty seconds might be taken at the midpoint of each innings subject to agreement between Members at the start of each series. "Reduction of time is optional and is not decided yet but will be discussed before the series begins", one of the sources in Australia, said exclusively.  "The drinks interval between the two innings is 20 minutes but the match-referee can reduce it up to 15 minutes", the source further added.  According to the former ICC umpire Daryl Harper, who now also officiates as a match-referee in domestic matches in Australia, the duration of drinks interval in each session is immaterial.  "The players have access to drinks at virtually any time in the match as it is currently between overs and also at the fall of a wicket", he said. India's veteran cricket umpires say, the duration of 2 minutes and 30 seconds will be "dicey to handle and implement". India's Vinayak Kulkurni, who has coached the umpires and was a Development Manager for the Indian umpires, said, "150 seconds is too less for drinks to reach the middle, which is on an average 65 yards, and more at some other venues like Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia". "It may not be impossible but too tight for the drinks-men to reach there and come off the same distance and also allowing the on-field umpires and field players to get hydrated".    "The decision may have been taken to hasten the T-20 matches. Ideally it should have been four minutes, which is generally the case in the Tests and ODIs". "Considering the average over rate, a 4-minute drink interval is given and in no circumstances, it exceeds 5-minutes", he added.

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-The selection committee of Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC), headed by Mohammad Bilal Satti (Chairman Selection Committee) and comprising Masood Jan and Ibrar Shah (members), has announced the national blind cricket team for the South Africa series, scheduled to be commenced from February 28 at Karachi. According to an official of PBCC, South Africa will play three One-Day International matches in Karachi, 1st ODI will be played on 28th February 2nd ODI on 1st March and 3rd ODI on 3rd March 2022. All ODI matches will be held at Southern Club Cricket Stadium, Karachi. The Committee selected the national team after observing the trials from 31st January to 2nd February 2022 at Lahore and named the Pakistan Blind Cricket Team for the home series against South Africa. PBCC has included 6 new players in the team to give opportunity to young players to debut in international cricket in home conditions. Pakistan team for T20 International will be announced later on.  Worthy Chairman PBCC, Syed Sultan Shah has approved the team and also announced Team Officials for the ODI Leg. Nisar Ali and Zafar Iqbal will be the Captain and Vice-Captain respectively. Names of players: B1 (Totally Blind Category): Zafar Iqbal, Riasat Khan, Muhammad Shahzaib, Mohammad Salman, Kashif Siddique, B2 (Totally Blind Category): Nisar Ali, Shahzeb Haider, Matiullah, Ahtesham ul Haq, Naseeb Ullah B3 Partially Sighted Category: Mohammad Rashid, Mohsin Khan, Kashif Siddique, Faisal Mehmood, Akmal Hayyat, Israr ul Hassan Reserves: Fakhar Abbass (B1) Moain Aslam (B2) Sanaullah Khan (B3) Team Officials: Ali Dino (Manager), Mohammad Jamil (Coach) and Masood Jan (Trainer)

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-Pakistan cricket selectors today announced 16 players and five reserves for the three Tests against Australia, which will be played in Rawalpindi (4-8 March), Karachi (12-16 March) and Lahore (21-25 March). From the series against Bangladesh, three changes have been made in the national squad. Haris Rauf, who was in the side for the South Africa and Zimbabwe Tests in 2021, has returned to replace off-spinner Bilal Asif, while Shan Masood, who last played in New Zealand in the 2020-21 season, has taken over from Abid Ali, who is completing his rehabilitation after being diagnosed with Acute Coronary Syndrome. Yasir Shah has been added to the reserve pool. Test players who are not involved in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2022 will assemble in Karachi on Wednesday, 16 February, for a training camp that will be held at the National Stadium. Names of players: Babar Azam (Captain-Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shan Masood (Balochistan), Zahid Mahmood (Sindh) Names of Reserves: Kamran Ghulam (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Abbas (Southern Punjab), Naseem Shah (Southern Punjab), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh), Yasir Shah (Balochistan). Chief selector Mohammad Wasim said: “We have opted for consistency for the important home series against Australia and changes have only been made where absolutely necessary. This is to give the boys confidence, reward them for their impressive performances in the longer version of the game in 2021 and continue to build the side for the future. “These are the best available, most talented and in-form players in the domestic circuit. I am confident they will put up an impressive performance against a formidable Australia side.” Players' Support Personnel: Mansoor Rana (manager), Saqlain Mushtaq (head coach), Shahid Aslam (assistant to head coach), Mohammad Yousuf (batting coach), Shaun Tait (bowling coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Drikus Saaiman (trainer/strength and conditioning coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Emmad Ahmed Hameed (media and digital manager), Col (retd) Usman Anwari (security manager), Talha Ejaz (analyst) and Malang Ali (masseur).

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-ITF Pakistan AJ Towers World Junior Tennis Championships moved into the semi finals phase, as Wednesday saw close contest in the quarterfinal stage that held here at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex, Garden Avenue, Islamabad. Major upsets were made when both top & second seeds were eliminated in well contested matches.  The unseeded Russian Nikita Bortnichek toppled top seed Amirali Ghavam from Iran in a one sided affair of the day 6-2 7-5. Nikita served and returned well easing his way to move into the semi final stage. In the second quarter final, another unseeded Russian Ivan Iutkin sidelined the 2nd seed Yunes Talavar from Iran and confirmed his spot for the semi final. In the third quarter final, Macheij Zarebski from Poland struggled hard to win his encounter against Sami Zeb Khan from Pakistan in a thrilling three set match of the day 6-4 2-6 6-3 whereas talented 5th seed from Kazakhstan Aldiyar Abzan won his match against 4th seed Ruslan Serazhetdinov of Russia in a well contested three set match 6-2 0-6 6-2.  In the Girls Singles, Top seed Andra Izabella Sirbu (ROU) proved too good against her opponent Renata Garaeva (RUS) and qualified for the semi final without conceding a single game 6-0 6-0, whereas 2nd Seed Tamara Ermakova (RUS) proved her metal against Tatyana Chsherbakova (KAZ) in a straight set match 6-4 6-2.  Results: (Boys Singles) Quarter Finals: Ivan Iutkin (RUS) beat Yunes Talavar (IRI) 7-6(5), 6-1 Amirali Ghavam (IRI) beat Nikita Bortnichek (RUS) 6-2, 7-5 Aldiyar Abzhan (KAZ) beat Ruslan Serazhetdinov (RUS) 6-2, 0-6, 6-2 Maciej Zarebski (POL) beat Sami Zeb Khan (PAK) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 Results: (Girls Singles) Quarter Finals: Abdra Izabella Sirbu (ROU) beat Renata Garaeva (RUS) 6-0, 6-0 Tamara Ermakova (RUS) beat Tatyana Chsherbakova (KAZ) 6-4, 6-2 Melisa Ugur (TUR) beat Avrora Volkova (RUS) 6-3, 6-4 Olga Sorochkina (RUS) beat Munisa Ashurbekova (UZB) 6-2, 6-4 Results: (Boys Doubles) Quarter Finals: Dev Kanbargimath (ROU) & Arila Kayra Tuna (TUR) beat Esref Kaan Kacar (TUR) & Mehmet Onur Turgut (TUR) 6-3, 3-6, 11-9 Ivan Iutkin (RUS) & Nikita Safonov (RUS) beat Aldiyar Abzan (KAZ) & Mohammad Zaryab Khan (PAK) 7-5, 3-6, 10-8 Nikita Bortnichek (RUS) & Ruslan Serazhetdinov (RUS) beat Hasheesh Kumar (PAK) & Huzaima Abdul Rehman (PAK) 7-5, 7-6(3) Amir Ali Ghavam (IRI) & Yunes Talavar (IRI) beat Hamid Israr Gul (PAK) & Maciej Zarebski (POL) 3-6, 7-6(5), 10-5 Results: (Girls Doubles) Quarter Finals: Taira Abildayeva (KAZ) & Artina Gashi (GBR) beat Amna Ali Qayum (PAK) & Sajid Sheeza (PAK) 6-1, 6-3 Andra Izabella Sirbu (ROU) & Olga Sorochkina (RUS) beat Aleksandra Bortnichek (RUS) & Renata Garaeva (RUS) 6-3, 1-6, 10-6 Sa Rang Lim (KOR) & Seo Hyeon Park (KOR) beat Tatyana Chsherbakova (KAZ) & Tamara Ermakova (RUS) 3-6, 6-3, 10-7 Munisa Ashurekova (UZB) & Melisa Ugur (TUR) beat Valda Budkina (RUS) & Avrora Volkova (RUS) 2-6, 7-6(3), 10-3.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Australia’s Ellyse Perry is back at the top of the list of all-rounders in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings after a fine show in the second ODI of their three-match series against England. The 31-year-old scored a steady 64-ball 40 and took three for 12 in seven overs to win the Player of the Match award in Melbourne. The performance helped her move 47 rating points ahead of England’s Nat Sciver to the number one position. Perry had conceded the top spot to Sciver after holding the top spot for 1,535 days from 12 July 2017 to 24 September 2021 and has not been out of the top two in terms of all-rounders in ODI cricket since November 2014. In the latest weekly update that considers the first two matches of the Australia-England series as well as the third and fourth South Africa versus West Indies matches and comes less than a month ahead of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in New Zealand, Australia batter Beth Mooney and England spinner Sophie Ecclestone too have made significant gains. Mooney’s innings of 73 in the first ODI has helped her up into the top three for the first time in her six-year career. She started the series in eighth place and is now in the top three in both ODI and T20I cricket as she is placed second in T20Is, just two points behind India opener Shafali Verma. Ecclestone is another player featuring in the top three in both lists. Despite England losing the first two ODIs, the left-arm spinner bowled economically and is now up to third with a career-best 717 rating points. She currently tops the T20I rankings with 761 points, 39 clear of team-mate Sarah Glenn.

Aamir Ali Janjua DUBAI-UAE:-The nominees for ICC Players of the Month for men’s and women’s international cricket have been announced here. Featuring in the men’s category are Under-19 future star Dewald Brevis from South Africa, Ebadot Hossain from Bangladesh, and Keegan Petersen from South Africa. The women’s category, features captain of the Sri Lankan T20I squad, Chamari Athapaththu, West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin, and captain of the England squad Heather Knight. Dewald Brevis - South Africa Nicknamed Baby AB, South Africa’s Dewald Brewis left a mark in the recently concluded ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup. In the course of the tournament, Brewis made a magnificent 65 against India, followed by a century against Uganda, a 96 against Ireland, a 97 against England and a sublime 138 against Bangladesh to round his tournament. With a total of 506 runs in the tournament, he finished as the leading run-scorer of the tournament at an average of 84.33 and now holds the record for the most runs in a single edition of the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup. He was also adjudged as the Player of the Tournament.   Ebadot Hossain – Bangladesh Eleven Tests, 18 wickets and a career-best of 6 for 46, made Ebadot Hossain the newest sensation of Bangladesh cricket. The 27-year old’s maiden five-wicket haul helped Bangladesh inflict a huge historic eight wicket win over the ICC World Test champions New Zealand in the first Test at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui last month. Ebadot Hossain came into the Test match with 11 wickets in 10 games after making his international debut against the Kiwis in 2019. In the first innings, Hossain picked just one wicket for 75 runs but when the Kiwis batted for a second time, Ebadot Hossain delivered his career best performance, as the right-arm pacer dismissed Will Young, Henry Nicholls and Tom Blundell within a space of 11 balls to put Bangladesh on top at stumps on Day 4. Keegan Petersen – South Africa Keegan Petersen steered South Africa to a stunning Test series win over India last month. Petersen scored a superb 82 as South Africa completed a seven-wicket victory in the third Test and a 2-1 series win over India on a spiteful Newlands pitch having chased down their challenging target of 212. Petersen, who was the leading scorer in the series with 276 runs, was the anchor for the home side on a difficult wicket for batting and was also adjudged the Player of the Series. Chamari Athapaththu – Sri Lanka In the ICC Commonwealth Games Qualifiers held in Malaysia last month, captain Chamari Athapaththu struck 57 off just 29 balls to lead Sri Lanka to a nine-wicket win on day three of the tournament earning her also the title of the Player of the Match. Athapaththu was also the leading run-scorer in the ICC Commonwealth Games Qualifier in Malaysia as Sri Lanka won all four of their matches. Deandra Dottin – West Indies Deandra Dottin smashed her career best ODI score of 150 from just 158 balls – a superb innings with 18 fours and four sixes. In doing so, she set West Indies women up in the opening ODI against South Africa in Johannesburg. Her 186-run third wicket stand with Hayley Mathews took the team past 200. Mathews fell after her half-century, but Dottin carried on pushing West Indies to 234 for 3 in the 46th over before rain intervened. The second ODI between West Indies Women and South Africa ended in a pulsating tie and a Super Over was played to decide the winner. Opener Deandra Dottin scored a quickfire 37 off 31 balls at the top of the order, whilst Chedean Nation helped herself to 35. And a super over was played to break the tie and decide the winner. Off the first delivery of the Super Over, Dottin scored a couple. The second delivery was bowled on off stump, and Dottin played the scoop as the ball went past short fine leg for four. The right-hander smashed the third delivery over the bowler’s head and the ball sped away to the boundary. Then came a massive six over Long On. The bowler, Shabnam Ismail bowled a slower delivery, but Dottin had spotted it early and sent the ball soaring into the stands earning her instant praise from the global cricket community. Heather Knight – England Last month Knight played a single Test against Australia as part of the Women’s Ashes Tour. An unbeaten hundred from Heather Knight, her second test century had helped England stay afloat on day two of the only Women's Ashes Test at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. Having lost openers Lauren Winfield-Hill and Tammy Beaumont early, England were 23/2 when Heather Knight and Nat Sciver looked to put on some resistance and bring some stability to the innings. In between several dismissals, Knight continued to score runs, finding boundaries including a slog sweep for six. At tea, England were still at risk, needing 67 more runs to avoid a follow-on. While Charlotte Dean resisted for a bit, putting on a 30-run stand with Knight, Australia struck twice in six overs before Knight and Ecclestone joined hands and revived the innings a bit with a half-century stand. By the time Anya Shrubsole was dismissed, Knight had gone into the nineties. With Ecclestone appearing more at ease than the rest of the batters, Knight grew in confidence and attained her second Test century.

Sports Bulletin Report Lausanne, Switzerland: Both the Netherlands and India men's teams showed master-classes in their particular styles of hockey in the first of a series of FIH Hockey Pro League matches taking place in Potchefstroom, South Africa. India tormented France with their free running and swift changes in the direction of attack, while the Dutch were the epitome of elegant, clinical and relentless hockey as they contained and then overwhelmed the ambitions of South Africa. The national men’s team of India men hit the ground running in their first match of Season Three in the FIH Hockey Pro League. A cagey first quarter was followed by 45 minutes of creative, controlled and entertaining hockey that left France with few opportunities to open their own scoring account in their first FIH Pro League outing. Head Coach Frederic Soyez explained ahead of the match that his team had only had limited time to prepare for their entry into the competition but his players were very aware that this is an invaluable learning opportunity ahead of a World Cup and a home Olympic Games (Paris 2024) Certainly, the India side put on a masterclass in attacking hockey during this encounter. The damage was done in the second quarter. Harmanpreet Singh opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a beautifully taken penalty corner that evaded the outstretched foot of Arthur Thieffry in the France goal. Speaking after the game, India captain Manpreet Singh said: ‘We are really happy because France are a good team and we knew we couldn’t give them any opportunities. In the first quarter we were a bit sloppy but after that we played a good game and scored goals. With that, we grew in confidence.’ Player of the Match Thijs van Dam (NED) said: 'Today we played a really great match. We have been here 10 days already and we have trained hard and finally we can play some matches.' Results put Netherlands on the top of the table, one point ahead of Belgium. India, with one win from one match sit in fourth place. FIH Hockey Pro League Result:  Men’s FIH Hockey Pro League France 0-5 India Player of the Match: Akashdeep Singh (IND)) Umpires: Annelize Rostron (RSA), Wanri Venter (RSA) Sean Rapaport (RSA - video umpire) South Africa 1-11 Netherlands Player of the Match: Thijs van Dam (NED) Umpires: Sean Rapaport (RSA), Ayden Shrives (RSA) Annalize Rostron (RSA - video umpire)

Sports Bulletin Report LONDON:-England Men's selection panel, consisting of Sir Andrew Strauss (interim managing director of England Men's Cricket), interim head coach Paul Collingwood and head scout James Taylor, have named a 16-strong squad for the three-match Test tour of the Caribbean starting next month. Surrey wicketkeeper Ben Foakes returns to the squad for the first time in under a year when he played the fourth Test in Ahmedabad last March against India. Eight players – James Anderson, Dom Bess, Sam Billings, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Haseeb Hameed and Dawid Malan - who featured in the recent Ashes series, have missed out on selection. Andrew Strauss said: "With the start of a new cycle, it has allowed the selection panel to refresh the Test squad with a particular focus on competing away from home. "We felt that it was time to draw a line after the Ashes defeat, look forward and give some impetus with an influx of new players. "In respect of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, I want to emphasise this does not mean the end for them as England players. We feel that it is important to look at some exciting new bowling potential and give some added responsibility to other players who have featured previously. No one doubts the quality and experience that James and Stuart bring to the England set-up. It will be up to the new managing director and permanent head coach to decide on whether they will be involved this summer and beyond. "This selection of this squad is the start of a process and a journey to get England Test cricket back to where it needs to be, and the hard work starts now." The three-match Test series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship. Joe Root's team will be looking to climb the rankings after a disappointing start to the second edition of the Championship. At the end of the two-year cycle, the top two teams will compete in the ICC World Test Championship Final due to be staged in 2023. Names of selected players: Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain, Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Matthew Fisher (Yorkshire), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Alex Lees (Durham), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Craig Overton (Somerset), Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham). Durham opener Alex Lees and Yorkshire seamer Matthew Fisher are called-up for the first time.  Schedule: March 1-4 – Four-day warm-up match at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua March 8-12 – 1st Test, West Indies v England at Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua March 16-20 – 2nd Test, West Indies v England at Kensington Oval, Barbados March 24-28 – 3rd Test, West Indies v England at National Cricket Stadium, Grenada