Senior Test specialists join Team India

India recorded their firstever one-day series triumph against the Proteas in the three-match series in Belfast. Their one-off tie against Pakistan in Glasgow for the Friendship Cup, however, was washed out without a ball being bowled.

Thanks to heavy rain and biting cold, the Indian experienced some extremely difficult conditions in Belfast which will come in handy during their tough tour of England.

8220;Our Belfast experience will help because you won8217;t get conditions worse than that. It was absolutely freezing and the conditions were tough. I8217;ve never encountered anything like this in my entire career. This is something we are not used to, and experiencing that just before the series against England is wonderful,8221; remarked Sachin Tendulkar who completed his 15,000 one-day runs in the Future Cup series.

Mahanama, Madugalle named match referees

DUBAI: Sri Lanka8217;s Ranjan Madugalle and Roshan Mahanama have been appointed match referees for the upcoming Test and one-day international cricket series between India and England this month. While Madugalle will oversee the three-match Test series starting July 19 in London, Mahanama will be in-charge of the seven one-day internationals, the International Cricket Council said in a statement.

Australian umpire Simon Taufel and West Indian Steve Bucknor will stand in the first Test to be played from July 19 to 23 at the Lord8217;s. The second Test, at Trent Bridge from July 27 to 31, will be umpired by Taufel and South African Ian Howell. The third and final Test, at The Oval from August 9 to 13, will be officiated by Bucknor and Howell.