Latest updates from the cricket world
MI London secured a convincing seven-wicket victory against Sunrisers Leeds in the first match of the 2026 men's Hundred competition. Nicholas Pooran contributed a rapid 50 runs off 19 balls, while Sam Curran remained unbeaten with a 60-run innings. Their combined performance was key to MI London's dominant win in the opening encounter of the tournament. The match report detailing this performance is available to UK users on the BBC Sport website.
In the opening match of The Hundred cricket tournament, Liam Livingstone scored an impressive 69 runs off 40 balls, nearly securing a victory for London Spirit against Manchester Super Giants. Livingstone was bowled with only three balls left, and London Spirit fell short in their chase of the target of 139 runs. Despite Livingstone's efforts, the team could not complete a successful run chase in their first game. This event was reported about two hours ago and is available for UK users only.
Jos Buttler, the experienced English keeper-batter, expressed his admiration for Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma by sharing a photo of a signed India jersey from Sharma. Rohit concluded his England tour with a century in the third ODI at Lord's, scoring 138 runs and silencing retirement speculations. Despite India losing the match and the series 2-1, Rohit's form suggests he may remain in contention for the 2027 ODI World Cup. India is set to face West Indies in September for a home white-ball series as preparations for the 2027 World Cup continue, with Rohit expected to participate if he remains fit.
Joe Root is set to be reappointed as the England Test captain after Ben Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket in June 2026. Root had recently captained the team during Stokes' suspension for the second Test against New Zealand, although England lost that match. Reports indicate Root will lead the team ahead of the three-Test series against Pakistan starting August 19, 2026, and through the 2027 Ashes series at home. Root previously captained England in 65 Tests from 2017 to 2022, winning and losing 27 matches each. He remains England's highest Test run-scorer, nearing Sachin Tendulkar's record. Meanwhile, Marcus Trescothick is expected to serve as the interim Test coach following Brendon McCullum's dismissal from the role.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has publicly supported the student protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which are calling for the resignation of the education minister following NEET exam leaks that reportedly led to student suicides. Manjrekar condemned the government and mainstream media for suppressing and influencing the youth, emphasizing his solidarity with the protesters and their cause. Other cricket figures like Shubman Gill and Sachin Tendulkar have also expressed support, with Tendulkar highlighting the importance of integrity in education and encouraging collective action to prevent student disappointment. Additionally, players like Ishan Kishan, Yuvraj Singh, and Shikhar Dhawan, along with spouses of other cricketers, have shared their backing for the protests.
Sunil Joshi, former India spinner and stand-in bowling coach, commended 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his outstanding batting in the first T20I against Zimbabwe, where Sooryavanshi scored his maiden half-century and helped India win by 7 wickets. Joshi highlighted Sooryvanshi's aggressive batting style and plans to also develop his bowling at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Sooryavanshi became the youngest cricketer to score a fifty in international cricket and had a stellar IPL season with Rajasthan Royals, finishing as the leading run-scorer with 776 runs, winning the Orange Cap and MVP awards. India ended their 7-match winless streak with this victory and will look to continue their success in the upcoming game and series.
Jason Gallian has announced he will resign as chairman of Essex County Cricket Club following careful thought. Gallian had been serving as interim chairman since last year after Anu Mohindru resigned due to fabricating academic credentials. Gallian will remain on the Essex board while the club searches for a new chairman at its upcoming board meeting. At the recent annual general meeting, Gallian expressed his decision was motivated by a desire to focus on supporting the cricket programme and players' welfare. The club has had four chairs in the past five years including Gallian's interim term.
Cricket Australia (CA) does not have any plans to hold an Ashes Test match in India despite some speculation sparked by CEO Todd Greenberg's comments hinting at considering all options. While Greenberg mentioned openness to the idea during an interview, no formal discussions have taken place with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) about staging Ashes matches outside Australia and England. For an Ashes Test to be held in India, agreements between CA, ECB, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and local cricket bodies would be necessary, and such discussions could take a significant amount of time. The decision comes amidst CA's recent move to host the Big Bash League opener in Chennai, India, signaling their interest in expanding into global cricket markets but not immediately planning to relocate the Ashes series.
Ravichandran Ashwin has publicly questioned India head coach Gautam Gambhir's strategy of using bits-and-pieces cricketers as replacements for hard-hitting all-rounder Hardik Pandya in white-ball formats. Ashwin noted that this approach affects team balance and contrasted it with former coach Rahul Dravid's method of sticking with specialist players and adjusting batting order after Hardik's injury during the 2023 World Cup. He emphasized the necessity of a settled and clear squad, suggesting India should narrow its player pool to 17–18 players for better stability and preparation ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. Ashwin also remarked that the fascination with bits-and-pieces players has contributed to struggles in Test cricket, which demands specialists.
Former India spinner Piyush Chawla humorously addressed Virender Sehwag's viral comments where Sehwag claimed he did not consider off-spinners as bowlers due to his ease in facing them. On Star Sports' Cheeky Singles, Chawla pointed out that the highest wicket-taker in international cricket, Muttiah Muralitharan, was an off-spinner, and highlighted other top wicket-takers from India like Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh. Chawla also joked that Sehwag's son Vedant is an off-spin bowler, poking fun at Sehwag's statement. Ravichandran Ashwin added that Sehwag himself was a decent off-spinner, citing his respectable wicket tallies in Tests and ODIs. Chawla further explained that Sehwag's aggressive batting style put bowlers under pressure, making it hard for any spinner to dominate him, not just off-spinners.
Cricket West Indies has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan, scheduled from July 25 to August 6 in Trinidad. Roston Chase will captain the team with Jomel Warrican as his deputy. The series opener will be the first-ever Test match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, marking a historic event. The squad largely retains players from the previous winning team against Sri Lanka, while including newcomers such as bowler Joshua Bishop and batsman Kirk McKenzie, who replaces the injured John Campbell. Notably, fast bowler Alzarri Joseph is unavailable, placing additional responsibility on Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, and Shamar Joseph to lead the pace attack.
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Todd Greenberg has expressed openness to the possibility of hosting the prestigious Ashes Test series in India. While the Ashes traditionally takes place in Australia or England, CA is exploring options to engage the expanding Indian cricket market, particularly after deciding to open the 2026 Big Bash League in Chennai, India. Greenberg highlighted the strong relationships CA maintains with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), stating that hosting the Ashes in India is not currently planned but remains under consideration. This approach reflects CA's efforts to expand Test cricket's appeal globally and leverage the strong cricket interest in India alongside England and Australia.
Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has been ruled out of The Hundred 2026 tournament because of a Grade 1 tear in his right hamstring and an aggravated meniscus issue in his right knee. The injury occurred during Bangladesh's first ODI against Zimbabwe, forcing Rahman to leave the field early. With an expected recovery period of at least four weeks, Rahman will miss the entire season to focus on rehabilitation ahead of Bangladesh's Test tour of Australia in August. Although Birmingham Phoenix, who signed him for £100,000, have confirmed he will travel to Birmingham for medical assessment, his participation remains uncertain due to these injuries.
