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Saransh Jain Makes Test Debut at 33 After Decade-Long Domestic Wait
Saransh Jain has made his Test debut for India in the series-deciding second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, capping off a remarkable domestic career that has spanned more than a decade before finally earning international recognition at the age of 33. The Madhya Pradesh off-spinning all-rounder, who is also employed with India Post, made his first-class debut for the state all the way back in the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy against Tamil Nadu, claiming a five-wicket haul on debut. Since then, he has built a reputation as one of Indian domestic cricket's most reliable dual threats, a rare off-spinning all-rounder in a system that has traditionally produced far more left-arm orthodox options. If he takes the field, Jain will be the first India player to debut at age 33 since Robin Singh back in 1998. Jain's rise to a maiden call-up has been built on standout performances across multiple domestic competitions. He was the hero of Madhya Pradesh's maiden Ranji Trophy title in 2022, taking 13 wickets and scoring a half-century in the final. In the 2024 Irani Cup, he claimed a six-wicket haul against Mumbai, dismissing Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shardul Thakur and Shams Mulani in a single spell. His most productive season came in 2025-26, when he became one of only four Indian players to complete the rare double of 300-plus runs and 40-plus wickets in first-class cricket over a 12-month period, finishing with 518 runs at an average of 57.55 and 30 wickets at 20.43 in his last Ranji season alone, while also topping the wicket charts among all off-spinners in the country with 44 scalps. His stock rose further still in the recent Duleep Trophy, where he was named Player of the Series for Central Zone after scoring two half-centuries and taking 16 wickets across two games, including a match-winning 5 for 49 in the final against South Zone that sealed Central Zone's first Duleep title in nearly 11 years. That form, combined with a strong showing for India A in Sri Lanka, ultimately paved the way for his maiden Test call-up. Jain now gets his chance on the biggest stage, coming in for Kuldeep Yadav in a Sri Lankan spin-friendly setting tailor-made for his skill set.
Starc's 10-Wicket Haul Seals Innings Win for Australia, Series Levelled 1-1
Mitchell Starc produced a career-defining performance to seal a commanding win over Bangladesh in the second Test in Mackay, taking his fourth career 10-wicket haul in Test cricket as Australia won by an innings and 51 runs inside just two days to level the series 1-1. Bangladesh, who had stunned the cricket world with a 9-wicket win in the series opener at Darwin, were completely undone by Starc's new-ball burst on day one, bowled out for just 64 as he claimed 6 for 12 . Australia's reply was far from serene, stumbling to 165 for 8 at one stage as Shoriful Islam hit back with 6 for 35, before Cameron Green's gritty unbeaten 67 and useful support from the tail lifted the hosts to 210 all out , a lead of 146. Bangladesh's second innings brought little relief. Starc struck twice more early, and though Najmul Hossain Shanto (31) and Mushfiqur Rahim (29 not out) briefly offered resistance, the tourists were bowled out for 95 , handing Australia the win comfortably inside the second day. Starc finished with match figures of 10 for 51 , and Pat Cummins chipped in with 3 for 10 in the second innings as Bangladesh's batting fell away for the second time in the match. Mitchell Starc was named Player of the Match for his 10-wicket haul, and also collected the Player of the Series award for his all-round body of work across both Tests. It's a stunning turnaround after Bangladesh's historic win in Darwin, and the result levels the two-match series at 1-1, with both sides sharing the spoils in what turned out to be a dramatic, fast-moving contest played out largely across just three days combined.
2nd Test XI Changes: Saransh Jain Debuts for India, Sri Lanka Field Mishara and Sooriyabandara
Both India and Sri Lanka have made changes to their playing XIs for the second and final Test of the series at the SSC in Colombo, with the hosts forced into reshuffles through injury and India opting for a like-for-like spin swap. India have made one change, bringing in off-spin all-rounder Saransh Jain for his Test debut in place of Kuldeep Yadav . Kuldeep had a relatively quiet outing with the ball in Galle, and despite public backing from spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule during the buildup, the team management has opted to hand Jain his first cap. The rest of the winning combination from Galle has been retained, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, captain Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna all keeping their places. Sri Lanka have made two enforced changes to their XI. Kamil Mishara comes in for his first Test cap in place of Nishan Fernando, who had a quiet outing in Galle filling in for the injured Pathum Nissanka. The bigger change is enforced: Dinesh Chandimal misses out after entering concussion protocols following a blow sustained on day four in Galle, with the mandatory stand-down period ruling him out. Pasindu Sooriyabandara , who deputised for Chandimal as a concussion substitute in the first Test, has now been named in the starting XI on merit for Colombo. Sri Lanka remain without regular gloveman Kusal Mendis, sidelined by a hamstring injury, with Niroshan Dickwella continuing behind the stumps. With Sri Lanka needing a win just to keep the series alive, the changes reflect a squad under pressure from both form and fitness, while India have shown faith in personnel by making only the one alteration to a side that delivered a convincing 165-run win in the series opener.
Ravindra Jadeja Set to Become First Indian and Asian to Play 50 WTC Matches
Ravindra Jadeja is set to become the first Indian, and the first Asian, to play 50 World Test Championship matches , reaching the milestone in the second Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC in Colombo, starting August 23. Jadeja has been a mainstay of India's Test side since the WTC's inception in 2019, and his consistency across all three cycles so far has made him one of the format's most reliable performers. He remains only the second bowler in WTC history, after R Ashwin, to take 50 wickets in a single cycle, and became the first player to combine 2,000-plus runs with 100-plus wickets in the competition's history during last year's tour of England. His numbers across the WTC era reflect a rare blend of control with the ball and calm under pressure with the bat, qualities that have repeatedly bailed India out of tricky situations. The milestone comes at a significant juncture for India in the current cycle. Sitting fifth in the standings after a 165-run win over Sri Lanka in the series opener at Galle, India will be eager to seal a series win in Colombo and continue building momentum in a campaign that has been mixed so far. Jadeja's experience in Sri Lankan conditions, dating back to India's 2017 tour, makes him one of the more seasoned campaigners in the current squad alongside KL Rahul. Reaching 50 WTC appearances also underlines the remarkable longevity Jadeja has shown at the top level, spanning multiple head coaches, captains and eras of Indian cricket since the format's introduction. As India chase a series-clinching result in Colombo, all eyes will be on whether the veteran all-rounder can mark his landmark appearance with another significant contribution, the kind that has defined his career in whites for over a decade.
Starc's 6/12 Bowls Out Bangladesh for 64, Enters Top 10 Wicket-Takers as Australia Stumble to 50/3
Mitchell Starc completed a stunning spell to finish with 6 for 12 as Bangladesh were skittled for just 64 in 34 overs on day one of the second Test in Mackay, extending the destruction that had already left the tourists reeling at 35 for 6 at the lunch break. Starc struck with the first ball of the match for the fourth time in his career, removing Shadman Islam, and continued to run through the top and middle order as Bangladesh, who arrived in Mackay leading the series 1-0 after their historic Darwin win, endured a horror reply. Four batters, including Darwin centurion Tanzid Hasan and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, failed to open their account. It was the sixth-fastest five-wicket haul in Test history, with the six-wicket haul completing one of the most destructive new-ball spells seen in Australia in years. The performance moved Starc to 440 Test wickets , taking him into the top 10 wicket-takers of all time and past South African great Dale Steyn's mark of 439. He now sits just behind Nathan Lyon among Australians, with only James Anderson, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Stuart Broad and Glenn McGrath ahead of him on the all-time list, an extraordinary achievement for a bowler who came into the series just one wicket shy of Kapil Dev's tally. Australia were far from untroubled in their reply. Despite the huge first-innings advantage, the hosts stumbled to 50 for 3 at stumps, losing three wickets in the final session to leave the game finely poised heading into day two, only 14 runs ahead of Bangladesh's meagre total. Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw and Travis Head all fell relatively cheaply as Bangladesh's bowlers fought back after their batting horror show, keeping the tourists' hopes of a series-levelling turnaround alive on a lively Mackay surface being used for Test cricket for the first time.
WTC Table Update: England Climb After Win, Pakistan Drop to Last Place
England's innings-and-103-run thrashing of Pakistan at Headingley has shaken up the bottom of the World Test Championship 2025-2027 table, with the result lifting the hosts and dropping Pakistan to last place. England move to 50 points from 14 matches, with a points percentage climbing from 24.36 to 29.76 , though the win wasn't enough to shift them off 7th spot. Their overall record in the cycle now reads 5 wins, 8 losses and 1 draw, a reminder of how far off the pace England remain in this WTC cycle despite the resounding win to open Joe Root's second stint as full-time captain. The bigger shake-up came at the very bottom. Pakistan drop to 9th and last place in the table, their points percentage falling to 19.05 from 7 matches, with 2 wins and 5 losses recorded so far. The defeat sees them swap places with West Indies , who move up to 8th on 20.83 percent from 12 matches, having played far more Tests in the cycle without adding to their points tally in this particular update. At the top of the standings, there's no change: Australia continue to lead comfortably with 84 points and a 77.78 PCT from 9 matches, with South Africa (75.00), New Zealand (72.22) and Bangladesh (66.67) rounding out the top four. India remain 5th on 53.33 percent, and Sri Lanka hold 6th on 33.33 percent. With Pakistan now needing a response in the second Test at Lord's, starting next Thursday, and England looking to build on their strong start under Root, both sides have plenty to play for as they look to climb away from the foot of the table before the business end of the cycle arrives.
Pakistan Set Unwanted Record: First Team to Lose First Wicket for 0 in Both Innings
Pakistan set an unwanted new Test record during their innings-and-103-run defeat to England at Headingley, becoming the first team in Test history to lose their first wicket for 0 in both innings of the same match . The pattern was set inside the very first ball of the Test, when opener Azan Awais was dismissed by Ollie Robinson without scoring, becoming the first Pakistan batter ever to fall on the opening delivery of a Test match. Awais at least avoided a king pair, surviving Robinson's next over, but Pakistan slid to 0 for 1 for the second time in the match when Jofra Archer struck in the second innings, having Imam-ul-Haq caught behind for a duck as he tried to evade a short delivery. Archer completed a double blow soon after, removing Awais himself for 9 to leave Pakistan reeling at 13 for 2 in the second innings, a mirror image of their first-innings capitulation. From there, Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue once again did the bulk of the damage, having shared all 10 wickets in the first innings, this time combining for six more as Pakistan folded for just 135 in 37.3 overs, having managed only 171 first time round. The result rounded off a chastening return to Test cricket for Pakistan, who lost 20 wickets across the match in under 86 overs and have now gone 16 innings without adding 100 runs after losing half their side. It was also the joint-second fastest of Joe Root's 66 Tests as England captain, wrapping up in just three days as the hosts opened the new era under Root and interim coach Marcus Trescothick with a statement win. Ollie Robinson was named Player of the Match for his eight wickets, edging out Josh Tongue, who also finished with eight. Pakistan now face an anxious wait before the second Test at Lord's, which begins next Thursday, as they look to arrest a slide that has left their batting fundamentals under serious scrutiny.
Mitchell Starc's 5/11 Burst Leaves Bangladesh 35/6, Bowler Passes Dale Steyn's Wicket Tally
Mitchell Starc ripped through Bangladesh's top order on day one of the second Test in Mackay, taking 5 for 11 in just 22 balls to leave the tourists reeling at 35 for 6 at lunch, one of the most destructive opening spells of his career. Starc struck with the very first ball of the match, having Shadman Islam edge behind to gully, and barely let up from there. He removed both openers, then captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and wicketkeeper Litton Das for ducks to leave Bangladesh reeling at 12 for 5, before completing his five-for inside the opening hour. Pat Cummins chipped in from the other end, removing Mushfiqur Rahim for 5 on a pitch likened to a typical Gabba surface. It's the sixth-fastest five-wicket haul in Test history, with Starc himself holding the outright record, having taken five wickets in just 15 balls against West Indies in Kingston last year. The spell also carried him past a significant career mark. Starc entered the Mackay Test on 435 Test wickets, and his burst here takes him to 440 , moving him past South African great Dale Steyn's tally of 439 and into the top five fast bowlers in the history of the format, behind only James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Glenn McGrath and Courtney Walsh. It continues a remarkable few weeks for the left-armer, who had already gone past Rangana Herath to become the most prolific left-arm bowler in Test history, and past Kapil Dev to enter the top 10 wicket-takers of all time, both during the series-opening Darwin Test. Bangladesh arrive in Mackay leading the series 1-0 after a famous win in Darwin, but were made to pay for a horror start on a lively surface at Australia's newest Test venue. Mehidy Hasan Miraz (11 not out) and Hasan Mahmud (8 not out) steadied things briefly at the other end, but the tourists will need something special to recover from such an early collapse and keep the series alive.
England Thrash Pakistan by an Innings and 103 Runs in Root's Captaincy Return
England thrashed Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs inside just three days at Headingley, Leeds, to make the perfect start to the first Test of the series and, with it, Joe Root's first Test back as full-time England captain. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, but were skittled for just 171 , with Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson both claiming five-wicket hauls, the first time two England bowlers have taken five-fors in the same innings since Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar managed it back in 2006, also against Pakistan. England's reply was built around contributions right through the middle order. Harry Brook led the way with 91, Jordan Cox made 73, captain Joe Root chipped in with 66 on his first day back in charge, and Dan Lawrence added 51, as England posted 409 , a first-innings lead of 238. Mohammad Usman was the pick of Pakistan's bowlers with 5 for 92, showing plenty of fight despite the lopsided contest. Set an improbable task of avoiding an innings defeat, Pakistan folded again in their second innings, bowled out for just 135 in only 37.3 overs. Mohammad Rizwan was the top scorer with 41, but there was little else to shout about as Robinson (3/29), Tongue (3/43) and Jofra Archer (3/50) shared the wickets and wrapped up the innings before tea. Ollie Robinson was named Player of the Match for a superb all-round performance, finishing with match figures of 5 for 51 and 3 for 29. The win also saw Joe Root break the record for most catches by a fielder in Test history, moving past Steven Smith's mark of 218. With Pakistan left with plenty to ponder, attention now turns to the second Test at Lord's, starting Thursday, as Root's new-look England side look to seal the series.
Australia vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test Preview: Tigers Eye Series Win in Mackay
Australia and Bangladesh return to action on Saturday for the second and final Test of their two-match series, with Bangladesh leading 1-0 after a historic win in the series opener at Darwin. The second Test gets underway at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay , Queensland, marking the venue's first-ever men's Test match and its elevation to become Australia's 12th Test ground. Play begins at 10am local time and runs across five scheduled days, from August 22 to 26. Bangladesh's win in Darwin was a landmark result for the touring side, and they now have the chance to complete a first-ever series win in Australia if they can back it up in Mackay. A win, or even a draw, would seal the series for the Tigers, while Australia must find a way to level things up on unfamiliar territory to keep the series alive. Australia have made a change to their top order for the pink-ball-free red-ball assignment, recalling Matthew Renshaw in place of Jake Weatherald , who has been dropped following the opener. Renshaw arrives with a strong record at the Mackay venue itself, having previously scored first-class centuries there, and the hosts will be hoping his experience can help stabilise an opening combination that has been unsettled through the past few series. With home advantage and a venue debut on the line, the Mackay Test carries plenty of intrigue beyond just the series result. A new ground stepping up to Test status always brings its own storylines around pitch behaviour and conditions, and how both attacks adapt to a surface with little historical red-ball data will likely play a big role in how the match unfolds. Bangladesh will sense a genuine opportunity to complete a famous series win away from home, while Australia know anything less than victory ends their hopes of squaring the ledger.
Joe Root First Player to 3,000 WTC Runs as Captain
Joe Root has become the first player in history to reach 3,000 runs as captain in the World Test Championship , reaching the landmark during the first Test between England and Pakistan at Headingley, Leeds. The milestone came as England piled on the runs in reply to a below-par Pakistan total, with the hosts closing day two on 366 for 8 in their first innings, having earlier bowled Pakistan out for just 171 to seize control of the match. This is a different mark to the overall 3,000-WTC-runs landmark Root reached back in 2022, which counted all his runs across WTC cycles regardless of leadership status. This latest record is specific to runs scored purely in matches where Root was leading the side, underlining just how central he has been to England's Test fortunes across his various stints in charge. Root first took over the England Test captaincy in 2017 and led the side for the best part of five years before stepping down in 2022, handing the reins to Ben Stokes. Even after giving up the armband, Root has continued to captain England in select matches when Stokes has been unavailable through injury, adding further to his overall leadership tally and, evidently, his WTC runs column as captain. Root's numbers as a batter have remained extraordinary regardless of leadership duties. He continues to be one of the most consistent run-scorers in the world across formats, and this latest landmark adds another layer to a Test career already built on volume, longevity and a rare weight of runs across different eras of WTC cricket. With England well on top against Pakistan at Leeds, Root will be hoping to add plenty more to this new record before the innings, and the match, are done.
Manav Suthar Becomes Youngest Indian Spinner to Take 10-Wicket Haul in an Away Test
Manav Suthar has etched his name into the record books, becoming the youngest Indian spinner to claim a 10-wicket haul in an away Test, at just 24 years and 16 days . The left-arm orthodox spinner produced match figures of 10 for 131 in Galle, picking up 4 wickets in the first innings and a superb 6 for 55 in the second, as India sealed a 165-run win over Sri Lanka in the series opener. Suthar's feat takes him past Harbhajan Singh , who was 28 years and 28 days old when he took 10 for 153 against Sri Lanka at the same venue back in 2008. Ravichandran Ashwin also managed the feat in Galle, aged 28 years and 11 months, when he took 10 for 160 in 2015. Further back, Bishan Singh Bedi was 31 years and 3 months when he claimed 10 for 194 against Australia in Perth in 1977-78, while Bhagwat Chandrasekhar took 12 for 104 in the same series at the age of 32 years and 7 months. Suthar now stands as the youngest of this group of Indian spinners. It's worth noting the wider record among all Indian bowlers, not just spinners, still belongs to Irfan Pathan , who took 11 wickets against Bangladesh in Dhaka in December 2004 at 20 years and 44 days. Suthar's mark applies specifically to spin bowlers picking up a 10-wicket haul away from home. The Galle Test was only Suthar's second appearance in whites. He had already made a mark on debut against Afghanistan in June, taking a 7-wicket match haul including 6 for 33 in the first innings. With his 6-wicket second-innings return in Galle, he became just the second Indian bowler after Narendra Hirwani to take a six-wicket haul in each of his first two Tests, and the fourth Indian overall to pick up 10 wickets in a match within his first two Tests. Suthar now has 17 wickets from just two Test matches, at an outstanding average of 11.35. India captain Shubman Gill praised the youngster after the win, saying he had bowled magnificently both on debut against Afghanistan and again in Galle, calling him a promising talent who could play for India for a long time. Attention now turns to the series decider in Colombo, starting August 23, where Suthar will look to continue his remarkable start to international cricket.
Justin Greaves Named ICC Men's Player of the Month for July 2026
West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves has been named the ICC Men's Player of the Month for July 2026 , edging out fellow nominees Harry Brook and Tanzid Hasan after a month of standout performances with both bat and ball in Test cricket. Greaves' month began against Sri Lanka in North Sound, where the visitors had posted a daunting 549/9 declared in their first innings. With West Indies reeling at 144/4, Greaves walked out and produced a magnificent 180 , striking 14 fours and two sixes to steady the innings and help the hosts close the gap on Sri Lanka's total. His knock ensured West Indies batted out time to secure a draw, which was enough to seal a 1-0 series win at home and collect valuable WTC points. He also featured in two ODIs against New Zealand during the month, opening the batting and scoring 32 runs at a strike rate of 114.28, before returning to the Test arena for the series against Pakistan in Tarouba. There, Greaves delivered arguably his most complete all-round performance of the year, claiming his maiden Test five-wicket haul with figures of 5/27 in the first innings, including a remarkable spell of five consecutive wicket-maidens. He followed it up with 2/12 in the second innings to help West Indies close out the match. Across the month, Greaves finished with 215 runs from two Tests at an average of 71.66, and eight wickets at a superb average of 10.25. "I have had a memorable month playing at home, and to have contributed with both bat and ball against Sri Lanka and Pakistan has been particularly special for me," Greaves said after receiving the honour. He added that impactful Test performances in front of home fans were something he would always cherish. Greaves saw off competition from England's Harry Brook, who was outstanding across the home T20I series against India, and Bangladesh's Tanzid Hasan, who was the leading run-scorer in white-ball series against Zimbabwe. The award continues the ICC's monthly recognition series, running since the start of 2021, with winners chosen by a panel of respected journalists and former cricketers.
Harry Brook Reclaims No. 1 Test Batting Spot, Bumrah Stays Top Among Bowlers
Harry Brook has reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men's Test Batting Rankings, moving above Joe Root after a string of strong performances that have kept England's middle order firing. Brook now sits on 852 rating points , with Joe Root close behind in second on 840. It's the latest twist in what has been a closely fought battle for top spot between the two England batters over the past few months. Steven Smith holds third place with 833 points, followed by Travis Head in fourth on 819, though Head has slipped a place after a recent dip in returns. Temba Bavuma rounds out the top five for South Africa. Among Indian batters, Shubman Gill is the highest-ranked at 7th with 743 points, with Yashasvi Jaiswal at 9th and Rishabh Pant climbing to 13th on the back of his recent form in Sri Lanka. In the bowling charts, there's no change at the summit. Jasprit Bumrah continues to hold the No. 1 spot among Test bowlers with a rating of 870 , comfortably ahead of the chasing pack despite playing a reduced workload through careful management of his fitness. New Zealand's Matt Henry is closest in second on 861, with Mitchell Starc third on 826. Marco Jansen has been the standout mover, climbing to fourth on 825 points and edging closer to Starc's mark, while Pat Cummins has dropped to fifth after a quieter run with the ball. India's other frontline pacer, Mohammed Siraj , sits joint-14th alongside Kuldeep Yadav on 695 points. Both rankings remain fluid with a heavy Test calendar still to come, including India's series decider against Sri Lanka in Colombo and Australia's ongoing assignment against Bangladesh. Any big performances from the contenders below Brook and Bumrah could shake up the top of the charts before the year is out.
India Beat Sri Lanka by 165 Runs in Galle, Take 1-0 Series Lead
India wrapped up the first Test against Sri Lanka in style, winning by 165 runs in Galle to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Devdutt Padikkal was named Player of the Match for his twin knocks of 167 and 44 , a performance that shaped the game from the very first day. Sent in to bat after winning the toss, India piled up 462 in their first innings. Padikkal's 167 was the standout, but he had support all around him. KL Rahul made 82, Dhruv Jurel chipped in with 51, and Rishabh Pant added a brisk 39. Sri Lanka hit back through Prabath Jayasuriya , who picked up 4 wickets, but the total gave India a platform they never really gave up. Sri Lanka's reply fell well short. Sonal Dinusha was the one shining light with a fighting hundred, but the rest of the batting couldn't build around him, and the hosts were bowled out for 284, handing India a lead of 178 runs. India didn't let up in their second innings either. Padikkal's second-innings 44 and a quickfire 66 from Rishabh Pant helped set Sri Lanka a target of 372, well beyond what the hosts had shown they could chase on a wearing surface. Asitha Fernando was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with 4 wickets in that innings. Sri Lanka fought hard in the fourth innings. Dinusha made his second half-century plus fifty of the match, and Niroshan Dickwella played a lively 80 to keep India waiting. But Manav Suthar had other ideas, ripping through the tail with a maiden Test 10-wicket haul across the match to seal victory for India well inside the fifth day. The result puts India firmly in charge of the series with one Test to go. Attention now shifts to the second and final Test, starting August 23 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo , where Sri Lanka will look to level the series and India will aim to close it out.
India Climb to 5th in WTC Table After Galle Win Over Sri Lanka
India's 165-run win over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle has lifted them to 5th place in the World Test Championship 2025-2027 standings. The victory takes India to 64 points from 10 matches, with a points percentage of 53.33 , built on 5 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw in the cycle so far. It's been a mixed campaign for India in this WTC cycle, but the Galle result gives them some momentum with a second and final Test against Sri Lanka still to come. A win in Colombo would push their tally further and put them in touching distance of the top four, who currently occupy the spots that matter most heading into the business end of the cycle. At the top of the table, Australia continue to lead the way with 84 points from 9 games and a healthy 77.78 PCT, having won 7 of their 9 Tests. South Africa sit second on 75 PCT despite having played just 4 matches, while New Zealand are third on 72.22 PCT with 4 wins from 6. Bangladesh , buoyed by their recent form, are fourth on 66.67 PCT. Below India, Sri Lanka remain 6th on 33.33 PCT after the Galle defeat, with England , Pakistan and West Indies rounding out the table, all struggling to keep pace after a heavy run of Test defeats. With the cycle running through mid-2027 and plenty of cricket still to be played across all nine teams, the standings remain fluid. India's next Test, the series decider against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo starting August 23 , offers a chance to climb further before attention turns to the home season ahead.
Australia Drop Jake Weatherald, Recall Matt Renshaw for Second Bangladesh Test
Australia have made one change to their squad for the second Test against Bangladesh, dropping opener Jake Weatherald and bringing in Matt Renshaw as his replacement. The match starts Saturday at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, a venue making its Test debut. The call comes after Australia's shock nine-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the series opener in Darwin. Weatherald managed just 23 and a duck in the match, extending a lean run that has now cost him his spot after only one Test since his recall. His career average across 12 innings stands at 20.36. Renshaw, a left-hander like Weatherald, is set to open alongside Travis Head , breaking up the pairing that had put together strong stands during Australia's 4-1 Ashes series win. He has previously scored two first-class centuries at the Mackay venue, and remains in Australia's white-ball setup after making his ODI debut in October last year. Marnus Labuschagne keeps his place in the squad for now, though coach Andrew McDonald has said he needs more runs to secure his spot. Australia must win in Mackay to keep the series alive after Bangladesh's win in the opener. Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Renshaw , Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
Root Begins Second Stint as England Captain, Pakistan Turn to Salman Agha as Babar Sits Out
A new era begins for England as the three-Test series against Pakistan gets underway today at Headingley. It's the hosts' first Test assignment since Joe Root took over the captaincy again following Ben Stokes' retirement, marking the start of his second stint in charge of the side. Root already holds the record for the most Tests captained by an England player, with 64 in his first spell plus an interim game against New Zealand in June. A full run through to the next Ashes would take him level with Stephen Fleming's 80, third on the all-time list. Pakistan arrive without their own captain. Babar Azam has been ruled out of the opener with a right-hand injury picked up during the tour warm-up game, the same hand he was struck on during the West Indies series last month. Scans have ruled out a fracture, but he wasn't considered fit to play or lead the side in Leeds. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has handed the captaincy to Salman Ali Agha for the first Test. It will be his first Test as Pakistan captain, though he already leads the side in T20Is and has plenty of experience within the leadership group. Babar's absence is expected to be limited to this Test, with hopes he recovers in time for the second match at Lord's. Pakistan are playing a Test series in England for the first time in six years, having lost 1-0 on their last visit in 2020. Both sides go into the contest under pressure in the World Test Championship table, making the opening exchanges at Headingley an early litmus test for two teams in transition.
Rishabh Pant Becomes Fastest to 100 Test Sixes, First Indian to the Landmark
Rishabh Pant reached a landmark of his own during his 66 off 69 balls in the second innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. He struck two sixes in the knock, and the second of them took him to 100 sixes in Test cricket . It's a mark no batter has reached faster. Pant got there in just 89 innings , quicker than Adam Gilchrist, Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, the only other three men to hit a century of Test sixes. Gilchrist had been the previous benchmark, needing 130 innings and 6,578 balls to get to 100. Pant did it in only 4,918 balls. He's also the first Indian batter to reach three figures in Test sixes. Virender Sehwag was the closest an Indian had come before this, finishing his career with 91 sixes from 104 Tests. Six-hitting has become a defining part of Pant's Test batting. He has struck at least one six in 43 of his 89 Test innings, the best such ratio among batters with a minimum of 50 innings. His sixes have also contributed nearly a sixth of his total Test runs. Pant's innings helped India post 193 in the second innings and set Sri Lanka a target of 372. Asitha Fernando took four wickets and Prabath Jayasuriya picked up a four-wicket haul as India lost their last five wickets for just 19 runs.
Ravindra Jadeja Enters an Elite Test Cricket Club
🏏 Ravindra Jadeja Enters an Elite Test Cricket Club Ravindra Jadeja has added another remarkable achievement to his Test career, becoming only the fourth player in cricket history to score 4,000+ Test runs and take 350+ Test wickets. 🇮🇳🔥 This milestone puts Jadeja alongside three legendary all-rounders — Kapil Dev, Ian Botham and Daniel Vettori — highlighting his incredible consistency with both bat and ball. 📊 The Elite Club - 🇮🇳 Kapil Dev: 5,248 runs | 434 wickets | 131 Tests - 🏴 Ian Botham: 5,200 runs | 383 wickets | 102 Tests - 🇳🇿 Daniel Vettori: 4,531 runs | 362 wickets | 113 Tests - 🇮🇳 Ravindra Jadeja: 4,108 runs | 350 wickets | 90 Tests 💚 Jadeja's Test Legacy Jadeja reaching this landmark in just 90 Tests makes the achievement even more special. Over the years, he has established himself as a crucial part of India's Test team, contributing valuable runs in the middle and producing match-winning spells with his left-arm spin. His combination of batting, bowling and elite fielding has made him one of the most complete all-rounders of the modern era. 🏆 A Milestone Worth Celebrating From Kapil Dev's legendary career to Botham and Vettori's greatness, this exclusive club represents the highest level of Test all-round ability. Now, Ravindra Jadeja's name stands proudly alongside them. 🇮🇳💪 4000+ runs. 350+ wickets. One elite club. Class is permanent! 🔥 Follow Gameonfield – Field of Dreams for more cricket updates, records, stats and stories.
Bangladesh Stun Australia by 9 Wickets in Historic Darwin Test
Bangladesh pulled off one of the biggest results in their Test history, beating Australia by 9 wickets in the series-opening Test at Marrara Cricket Ground, Darwin. It's their first-ever Test win on Australian soil. Hasan Mahmud was named Player of the Match for his match haul of 9 wickets (6/55 and 3/56). Put in to bat after losing the toss, Australia never got going on a lively opening day. Mahmud ripped through the top and middle order, finishing with 6 for 55 , while Steven Smith's fighting 71 was the only real resistance as the hosts folded for just 198. Bangladesh's reply was built around a maiden Test century from Tanzid Hasan Tamim , who made 101 off 197 balls in only his second Test. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto supported him with 84, and useful contributions from Mominul Haque (49) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (65) took the total to 426 all out , a lead of 228. Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 6 for 89. Australia fought harder in their second innings, with Cameron Green striking a defiant 104 and Steven Smith adding 44. But Mehidy Hasan Miraz ran through the tail with a 5-wicket haul (5/56) , and support from Mahmud (3/66) bowled Australia out for 284, leaving Bangladesh a modest target of 57. Openers Shadman Islam (25*) and Mominul Haque (30*) knocked off the runs without much fuss to seal a 9-wicket win , sparking wild celebrations in the Bangladesh camp. It's just their third-ever Test appearance in Australia, and their first Test win in the country in any format history. Captain Shanto called it one of the proudest days of his career, while Mehidy credited the team's self-belief for turning around a tour that began with a warm-up defeat. Bangladesh will look to seal the series when the two teams meet again in the 2nd Test at Mackay, starting August 22 .
Sony Bags TV Rights for Afghanistan-India T20Is; ACB Requests Ganesh Chaturthi Fixture
Sony Sports Network has secured the linear television broadcast rights for the upcoming Afghanistan versus India T20I series, set to be played in Delhi in September. FanCode will hold the digital streaming rights for the three-match contest. ITW Universe, which holds the global media rights for the series, allotted the broadcast deal to Sony after discussions with other networks including JioStar, Zee and Unite8. The three T20Is are scheduled to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17, with Afghanistan officially designated as the home side for the series. Alongside the broadcast news, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has reached out to the BCCI requesting a modest schedule adjustment, seeking to have either the first or second T20I moved to September 14, which falls on Ganesh Chaturthi. ITW Universe founder Bhairav Shanth wrote to ACB CEO Naseeb Khan asking the board to consider the shift as a cultural gesture, noting that both proposed options would preserve the tight three-match window with only a minor change to the currently confirmed dates. The series marks a notable occasion, being the first time Afghanistan will formally host India in a bilateral series on Indian soil, and will also serve as valuable preparation for both sides ahead of the Asian Games in Japan later in September.
Afghanistan Complete 4-0 ODI Series Sweep of Ireland
Afghanistan completed a dominant 4-0 sweep of their ODI series against Ireland, sealing the whitewash with a five-wicket win in the fifth and final match at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast. Chasing Ireland's total built around a Harry Tector half-century, Afghanistan were rocked early as Ireland's McCarthy removed both openers cheaply inside the first six overs, dragging the scoring rate down below three an over. The innings was rebuilt through a marathon 201-run partnership between captain Rahmat Shah and Sediqullah Atal, who anchored the chase before Atal fell for 98 attempting to accelerate. Shah continued unbeaten, finishing the match on 143 off 133 balls to guide his side home, with Azmatullah Omarzai chipping in with a brisk 24 late in the chase before departing in the 47th over. The result extends a commanding tour for Afghanistan, who had already sealed the series with a 42-run win in the fourth match courtesy of centuries from Atal and Ibrahim Zadran. Ireland, playing their first ODI series in over 15 months under a new head coach, could not find enough with either bat or ball across the five matches to trouble the visitors, leaving captain Paul Stirling to admit his side had been "thoroughly outplayed" over the series.
India's 600th Test Coincides with Galle's 50th as SL vs IND Series Begins
India's tour of Sri Lanka begins with a landmark occasion at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, as the opening Test of the two-match series doubles up as India's 600th Test match overall. The fixture also falls on India's Independence Day, adding extra significance to the milestone. With this game, India become just the third team in the sport's history to reach 600 Tests, joining England and Australia, who remain the only two sides ahead of them on the all-time list. India's Test journey stretches back to 1932, when they made their debut against England at Lord's. The venue itself reaches a milestone of its own. Saturday's Test is also the 50th Test to be played at Galle, making it the first ground in Asia to reach that mark. Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva, who grew up playing school cricket at the venue, spoke of the pride in leading his side in the stadium's 50th Test. Shubman Gill leads India into the contest, calling it a huge honour to captain the side in such a historic match. The series carries added weight beyond the numbers, with both teams eyeing World Test Championship implications as India continue their build-up towards a possible WTC final appearance. India go into the series without premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah, handing opportunities to the rest of the bowling attack to step up on what are traditionally spin-friendly conditions at Galle.