Durham, Jul 20 (Cricket news) In an interesting development, India's fringe players Avesh Khan and Washington Sundar turned up for ECB's 'Select County XI' against their own country after the home team lost players due to injury and COVID-19- related isolation.

Avesh in fact bowled 9.5 overs before sustaining a thumb injury which looks like dislocation and is unlikely to take any further part in the three-day first-class game.

"The ECB made a request to the Indian team management to let two players from the Indian contingent play for County Select XI after some of their players were deemed to be unavailable either due to injury or close contacts of a Covid-19 positive person.

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"Accordingly, Washington Sundar and Avesh Khan have been made available to play for their team," BCCI said in a statement.

In fact, Washington was seen avoiding the County XI huddle and only just fist bumped the bowlers who took wickets.

Players turning up against their own teams during practice games or warm-up games is not new and Washington, till the match nearing tea on first day, wasn't given a chance to bowl as captain Will Rhodes preferred his own team bowlers.

The most famous "reserve fielder" was a 14-year-old Sachin Tendulkar, who had once in 1987 fielded for Imran Khan's Pakistan against India during a match at Brabourne Stadium.

Tendulkar was one of the ball boys and came into the field as Abdul Qadir was not on the field.

Incidentally, he nearly had a hand in Kapil Dev's dismissal but his diving effort didn't result in a catch.

News source: PTI