Cricket News

Transfers, squad news, series previews and reaction from across international and franchise cricket.

Ellyse Perry retained by Birmingham Phoenix ahead of Women’s Hundred 2026

Birmingham Phoenix have received a major boost ahead of this year’s Women’s Hundred after confirming the retention of Ellyse Perry for a fifth consecutive season. Perry has been a central figure for Birmingham Phoenix since joining the franchise in 2022. Over the past three seasons, the Australian all-rounder has delivered consistent performances with the bat, scoring a total of 545 runs. Perry, who recently pulled out of the Women's Premier League, has…

Jan 8, 2026

Australia secure nervy win in fifth Test to clinch 4-1 Ashes series win

Australia capped off their Ashes campaign with a memorable five-wicket victory in Sydney on Thursday, sealing a dominant 4–1 series win after a final-day chase that in some ways tested their nerve. Chasing a relatively small target of 160 after England were dismissed for 342 in the morning session, Australia were challenged on a surface offering uneven bounce and late movement. Exploiting the conditions pretty well, England took early wickets, reviving hope in the…

Jan 8, 2026

Salman Agha provides update on injured Shaheen Afridi

Pakistan are set to take on South Africa in the first T20I on Wednesday in Dambulla, but they will do so without their premier pacer Shaheen Afridi, who is nursing a knee injury picked up in the Big Bash League. However, in the build-up for next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Pakistan are optimistic that star fast bowler Shaheen Afridi will be fit in time for the global showpiece. Captain Salman Ali Agha has struck a positive note regarding the left-arm pacer’s…

Jan 7, 2026

"You have to keep fighting": Ex-India batter advises Ruturaj Gaikwad after being left out of the NZ ODIs

Indian batter Ruturaj Gaikwad’s absence from India’s squad for the upcoming New Zealand series has triggered debate surrounding clarity in the BCCI selection process. His absence has drawn scrutiny because it comes on the back of Gaikwad’s impressive century in India's most recent ODI series against South Africa. The timing of Gaikwad’s omission is quite notable, as it coincides with the return of Shreyas Iyer to the team. Iyer missed the South…

Jan 7, 2026

"He didn’t quite put his heart and soul into finding out the problems": Sanjay Manjrekar on Kohli's retirement from Test cricket

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has sparked debate around Virat Kohli’s Test retirement, drawing a comparison with England great Joe Root’s continued success in the longest format. Manjrekar’s comments came after Root registered his 41st Test century during the fifth and final Test of the ongoing Ashes series. Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson have long been grouped together as the “Fab Four” of Test cricket.…

Jan 7, 2026

SL vs PAK, 1st T20I: Sri Lanka and Pakistan gear up to assess progress ahead of World Cup

Sri Lanka and Pakistan are set to lock horns in the first T20I of the three-match series on Wednesday at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla. The T20I series between both sides comes at the perfect moment, allowing them to assess their progress. The T20I World Cup 2026 is exactly a month away, and this bilateral series will help both teams acclimatise to the conditions because the global tournament is set to be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India.

Jan 7, 2026

Sri Lanka unveil squad for crucial Pakistan series

Sri Lanka have announced their squad for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan beginning on January 7. With the T20I World Cup set to begin on February 7, the series is crucial, offering the side a final opportunity to fine-tune their performance. Dasun Shanaka will lead the contingent. Around him, Sri Lanka have opted for experienced names such as Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera,and Dhananjaya de Silva. To sharpen their preparations…

Jan 7, 2026

New Zealand name T20 World Cup squad, Santner to lead

New Zealand have named their squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20I World Cup 2026 , set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026. All-rounder Mitchell Santner will lead the squad, with fast bowler Jacob Duffy also booking a place in the 15-man squad. Duffy has been rewarded for an exceptional 2025 season in which he took 81 international wickets. The squad also features experienced…

Jan 7, 2026

Australian batting legend Steve Smith climbs to second on Ashes run-scorers list, only behind Bradman

Australian batting great Steve Smith created a huge Ashes record on Tuesday, becoming the second-highest run scorer in the storied history of the rivalry. The landmark record was achieved by Smith on Day 2 of the fifth and final Ashes Test against at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Batting in Australia’s first innings, the ever-reliable Smith, slamming his 37th Test century, moved past England legend Sir Jack Hobbs to take second place on the all-time Ashes run charts.…

Jan 6, 2026

Shreyas Iyer to lead Mumbai in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Shreyas Iyer has been named captain of Mumbai for the remainder of their league campaign in the 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy. The decision comes after all-rounder Shardul Thakur was ruled out of the tournament due to injury, forcing a late change ahead of two crucial fixtures. Placed in Group C, Mumbai will play Himachal Pradesh on January 6 before wrapping up their league phase against Punjab on January 8. Both matches will be held in Jaipur. "Shreyas Iyer will take…

Jan 6, 2026

"Think about scoring runs": Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting backs struggling Suryakumar Yadav

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has backed India’s struggling T20 skipper Suryakumar Yadav , urging the batter to have confidence in his own game as he prepares to lead the defending champions, India, at the T20 World Cup 2026. Ponting admitted that Suryakumar has endured a difficult run with the bat over the past year. In 2025, Yadav managed just 218 runs from 19 innings at an average of 13.62 and a strike rate of 123.16. "That is as big…

Jan 6, 2026

"Why is he not there in the team": Ex-Indian batter slams Gaikwad's exclusion from ODI squad for NZ series

India unveiled their squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand , with a few notable names finding themselves on the sidelines. The squad made headlines following a number of high-profile omissions and a few unexpected inclusions that raised significant questions on the selectors’ thought process. The most shocking absences were those of Mohammed Shami , Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Hardik Pandya . Shami’s exclusion…

Jan 5, 2026