Australia has announced a 13-man squad for the upcoming two-Test home series against Bangladesh, featuring the return of captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon from injury. The series, part of the World Test Championship, sees competition for fast bowling spots with Scott Boland's strong performance, while Jake Weatherald and Cameron Green retain their places despite recent struggles. The squad aims to solidify Australia's top position in the WTC standings.
Australia is under pressure to secure a decisive victory in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay to level the two-match series, following an embarrassing nine-wicket loss in Darwin. The team has made personnel changes, including recalling Matt Renshaw, and is looking for a strong bounce-back performance. Meanwhile, Bangladesh, buoyed by their historic win and a successful shift to a pace-centred bowling attack, is confident of continuing their strong form and potentially sweeping the series.
Pakistan's top-order batter Shan Masood has been ruled out of the second and final Test against West Indies after fracturing his index finger during the first match, an injury sustained despite scoring a first-innings century.
Joe Root equalled Sachin Tendulkar's record of 68 Test fifties against Pakistan, adding another milestone to his remarkable career while returning as England captain.
India's two-Test series against hosts Sri Lanka will be played in Galle and Colombo from August 15 to 27.
Joe Root has been reappointed as England's Test captain, marking his return to the leadership role, while former New Zealand batter Stephen Fleming has been named the new head coach, following the departures of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
India's squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka is expected to be announced next week, with fitness concerns surrounding pace leader Jasprit Bumrah.
With Kuldeep Yadav looking ineffective, India could look towards including off-spinner Saransh Jain in the playing XI in the second Test in Colombo, especially looking at three left-handers in the Sri Lankan top seven.
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar expressed his bewilderment at how the current generation of cricketers, primarily raised on T20 cricket, has managed to seamlessly adapt to the rigorous demands of Test cricket. He compared their transition to pop singers mastering classical ragas, highlighting the significant technical and mental adjustments required. Manjrekar's comments come as young Indian players, many with IPL backgrounds, are actively participating in Test series, showcasing their versatility across formats.
West Indies have announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming two-Test home series against Pakistan, featuring a maiden call-up for left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop and the return of Kirk McKenzie. The squad sees some changes due to injuries and personal reasons, with the series set to begin on Saturday.
New Zealand defeated England by 160 runs at Trent Bridge to clinch the three-Test series 2-1, as Ben Stokes' international career ended in defeat following his surprise retirement announcement during the match.
Former head coach Rahul Dravid believes India have 'fallen behind' in the World Test Championship final qualification race, highlighting the upcoming New Zealand series as a significant challenge for the young team.
West Indies head coach Darren Sammy has revealed that pacer Alzarri Joseph declined selection for the upcoming two-Test home series against Pakistan, despite being chosen.
Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue claimed five wickets each to dismiss Pakistan for 171 in the first Test at Headingley, before Joe Root's unbeaten 37 guided England to 112-2.
Batting great Cheteshwar Pujara believes veteran spinner Ravindra Jadeja's recent shift to a more aggressive, wicket-taking mindset in red-ball cricket will make him a vital player for India during the upcoming two-Test series in Sri Lanka.
Eran Wickramaratne, chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket's interim committee, has called for a revision of the ICC's Future Tours Programme to allow Sri Lanka to play more Test matches against cricketing powerhouses like India, England, and Australia, citing the financial dependence on India and the desire to excel in the format.
England captain Joe Root has announced there will be no team curfew for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan, expressing trust in his players to act responsibly. This decision comes amidst recent scrutiny over the team's culture following several off-field incidents and player suspensions. Root, who returned to captaincy after Ben Stokes' retirement, believes players should be self-policing.
Pakistan faces a daunting chase in the opening Test against West Indies in Tarouba, grappling with a recurring batting collapse issue that has plagued them over the last 10 months. After being bowled out for 282, losing seven wickets for 38 runs, they now hope their pace attack can limit West Indies' lead.
Manav Suthar delivered a standout performance in just his second Test, taking 10 wickets as India beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the opening match of the series.
India is on the verge of a comprehensive series-sweeping victory against Sri Lanka in the second and final Test, despite a defiant 115-run partnership between Pasindu Sooriyabandara (92) and Kamindu Mendis (55) in Sri Lanka's follow-on innings.
A maiden Test century is never just about three figures. It is a reflection of patience, perseverance, self-belief and the courage to wait for the right moment.
Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has issued a stern warning to the Indian team ahead of their crucial Test series against Sri Lanka.
Indian selectors face a selection dilemma for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, with Washington Sundar unlikely to be fit for the first Test, while senior all-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to return to white-ball cricket from August after recovering from injury.
Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Farveez Maharoof believes rookie pacer Gurnoor Brar could be the 'X-Factor' for India in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah during the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, suggesting he would be tempted to hand the 26-year-old his debut.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel is at a critical juncture in his Test career, with his performance in the upcoming Sri Lanka series crucial for his future, especially given his struggles against spin and the presence of Sarfaraz Khan.
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc dethroned Jasprit Bumrah to reach a career-high No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings for bowlers, after a stellar 10-wicket haul against Bangladesh.
England fast bowler Brydon Carse has been dropped from the squad for the second Test against Pakistan following an investigation by the Cricket Regulator into an incident at a club in Derby. Carse, who was reportedly seen in handcuffs but not arrested or charged, will be replaced by Sonny Baker. This incident follows a series of off-field controversies involving England cricketers, prompting renewed scrutiny of player conduct.
Sri Lanka has announced two changes to their squad for the upcoming second and final Test against India, bringing in all-rounder Sahan Arachchige and batter Kamil Mishara. These changes come as Sri Lanka aims to level the series after losing the first Test.
Legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble reflected on the 36th anniversary of his international debut, expressing deep gratitude for his 'truly special journey' that began with his first Test wicket, Allan Lamb.
Already, the knives are out for Gautam Gambhir because of his poor record as coach in Test matches, and a potential defeat in Sri Lanka could prove to be the killer blow.
England have called up pacer Sonny Baker to their squad for the second ICC World Test Championship clash against Pakistan, replacing Brydon Carse, who has been omitted while the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) investigates an incident from the weekend.
India retained a firm grip on the second and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, despite Sonal Dinusha's unbeaten 85, with the hosts still facing the prospect of a follow-on after rain and bad light ended play early on day three.
Bangladesh savoured their first taste of Test cricket in Australia for 23 years on Thursday as they skittled the world's top-ranked side for less than 200 and went to stumps in command at 96 for one on the first day of the series-opener in Darwin.
'We're going to play in a lot of different conditions over the next 12 months. It's going to require different efforts. It may not look like the traditional thing all the time.'
Top-order batter B Sai Sudharsan has not joined the Indian team in Colombo for their two-Test series against Sri Lanka due to a toe injury. He is undergoing recovery at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, with his availability for the series to be decided in the coming days.
Bangladesh secured a historic nine-wicket victory over Australia in Darwin, marking their first-ever Test win on Australian soil, powered by Tanzid Hasan's century and Mehidy Hasan Miraz's five-wicket haul.
India's premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, has received clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence to participate in the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. Bumrah had been recovering from an impact injury sustained during the recent ODI series against England, which forced him to miss the third ODI. His return is crucial for India's World Test Championship aspirations.
Brendon McCullum's four-year stint as England Test coach has come to an end after the ECB decided to part ways with him.
Saransh Jain, the 33-year-old Madhya Pradesh all-rounder, made his India Test debut against Sri Lanka, replacing the injured Kuldeep Yadav, a testament to his consistent domestic performances.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant trained with former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in Ranchi ahead of the challenging Test tour of Sri Lanka.
