The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sources revealed that the Indian cricket team will reassemble in Durham in 15 days to prepare for the upcoming five-Test series against England beginning on August 4 at the Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

It is being said that the Indian players will be in and around London to spend the break after the conclusion of the ICC World Test Championship final in Southampton on Wednesday (June 23).

The reports also suggested that the eight players who were not part of the WTC 2021 Final squad had dispersed from Southampton once the WTC Final got underway against New Zealand last week.

ENG v IND 2021: BCCI wants two warm-up games for Indian team before the England Test series

After the WTC loss to New Zealand, BCCI and Virat Kohli requested the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to arrange a couple the first-class games for Team India in the build-up for the upcoming Test series against India, but the ECB is reportedly reluctant to deviate from the existing plans.

According to the current plan, the Indian team will play two intra-squad games at the Riverside Ground in Durham before they travel to Nottingham for the first Test from August 4.

A BCCI source told Times of India: “The itinerary was made keeping the COVID-19 protocols in place. It’s difficult to get County teams in the same bubble as the Indian team. The ECB is very careful about the safety of the players. The Indian team bubble will be made in Durham.”

Noteworthy, the ECB will have County championships alongside the T20 Vitality Blast and the inaugural season of 'The Hundred' during July and they have to manage the venues at the same time and it can be the reason behind their reluctance to give India first-class games before Test series.

(With TOI inputs)