Third Test in jeopardy as riots spread to Birmingham

The third Test between England and India, which kicks off at Edgbaston on Wednesday, is in jeopardy with violence and looting spreading to Birmingham. While Team India manager Anirudh Chaudhary told CNN-IBN that everyone was safe, there are growing concerns about staging the Test as the violence stretched to its third night. [caption id=“attachment_56979” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Violence and looting raged across London and spread to three other major British cities on Tuesday. Karel Prinsloo/AP”] [/caption] The Indian players have been asked to stay in their hotel rooms till the situation improves and their security has been beefed up. Indian batsman Suresh Raina tweeted that the team was safe. “Every thing safe here guys don’t worry thanks for your concern….focus on 3 Test can’t wait to wait for the match,” he tweeted. “Police vans all around Birmingham where we are right now. Either @alexhales is in town or these riots are spreading,” he added. England batsman Kevin Pietersen wrote: “They have just locked our hotel in Birmingham. Riots just started here. Insane!” Tim Bresnan said on his Twitter account: “Just seen the rioters in Birmingham fleeing down the main street followed by a load of police in the full get up. What’s going on?” Allrounder Stuart Broad added on his Twitter page, “Police vans all around Birmingham where we are right now.” Meanwhile, violence and looting raged across London and spread to three other major British cities on Tuesday, as authorities struggled to contain the country’s most serious unrest since race riots set the capital ablaze in the 1980s. Karel Prinsloo/AP It may be recalled that England were touring India during the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai and promptly flew back mid-way through the series. They returned after a couple of weeks to play the Test matches in Chennai and Mohali. A similar arrangement cannot be ruled out this time if the rioting does not stop. However, till an official confirmation comes through on the status of the game, England wil harbour hopes of a third straight win over an injury-plagued India that will give them both an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the four-match series and see them rise to the top of the ICC’s Test Championship table.