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Last Week’s Recap
Oct 12 - 18, 2026
Australia's South Africa win set the week's tone
Oct 12 - Oct 16across 5 daysImpact
Australia seize control against South Africa
Australia turned an early advantage into a 214-run victory, ending South Africa's unbeaten run and forcing changes to the home middle order. South Africa reshaped its lineup for Gqeberha, while Cameron Green's fitness and Kagiso Rabada's return remained important variables.
Bad light and rain repeatedly reduced the time available in the Australia-South Africa Tests, while a disputed pitch drew further scrutiny. Poor Durban attendance added a separate warning about the conditions and appeal surrounding Test cricket.
West Indies recovered from a series deficit to force a 2-2 T20I scoreline, with Shai Hope and Romario Shepherd driving the decisive win. India then lost its chance to reclaim the series when rain abandoned the fifth match and ended its 12-series home winning streak.
England split its Test and white-ball coaching arrangements, expanded its central-contract group, and refreshed its white-ball squads while managing workloads and Buttler's injury. The ECB also ended the Rooney Rule, making the broader recruitment process central to its new approach.
Sri Lanka secured a consolation T20I win, but Pakistan retained the broader advantage and later recovered from a mid-innings collapse to seal victory. Sri Lanka's selection was further complicated by Pathum Nissanka's hamstring injury as the teams looked toward World Cup preparation.
Zimbabwe turned Bangladesh's collapses and poor decisions under pressure into emphatic victories. Their recovery partnerships and effective use of difficult conditions shifted the balance of the contest decisively.
The Big Bash League will open its season in Chennai, extending the competition's international reach while taking on monsoon and reserve-day risks. Overseas recruitment and interest in buying a BBL team reinforced the league's expanding commercial profile.
West Indies rested Alzarri Joseph and Shai Hope for the Bangladesh Tests, prioritizing workload management and ODI World Cup preparation. The later replacement of Springer for Paul showed the touring squad continuing to change before the series.
Santner: 'Bhuvi will love these conditions in New Zealand'
Summary
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said India's Bhuvneshwar Kumar could be especially effective in the conditions for the T20I series opener in Christchurch. He also cautioned his team about India's top order and young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
The conditions could give India an early advantage if Bhuvneshwar finds swing and movement with
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Early movement and India's attacking batting could shape the series opener before either side settles into the contest.
Shami: 'I'm still at my peak, why would I give up hope of playing for India?'
Summary
Mohammed Shami says he remains fully fit and is bowling with good rhythm despite being left out of India's upcoming tour of New Zealand. He insists he is still at his peak and has not abandoned hopes of returning to the national team.
Shami's omission is now a selection question rather than a fitness explanation, at least by
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Shami's return prospects will test how India balances reputation and recent evidence when selecting its fast bowlers.
Bavuma epic drags SA back into Test - have they time to beat Australia?
Summary
Temba Bavuma's major innings brought South Africa back into contention in their Test against Australia. The length of South Africa's third day batting effort has raised doubts about whether they left themselves enough time to force a win.
Bavuma has changed the match from a likely Australian advantage into a contest South Africa
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The match now turns on whether South Africa can convert a captain's rescue innings into a result before time runs out.
Arafat Minhas follows fifty with six-for to crown matchwinning display
Summary
Pakistan recovered from 81 for four to post 302, with half-centuries from Nawaz and Minhas driving the revival. England fast bowler Sonny Baker took three wickets, but England's sloppy fielding allowed the hosts to rebuild their innings.
Pakistan turned early pressure into a competitive total because Nawaz and Minhas stabilized the innings
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Pakistan's recovery exposed the cost of England's fielding errors and leaves them facing a demanding chase.
Afghanistan stand in Bangladesh's way for spot in final
Summary
Bangladesh face Afghanistan in a decisive match for a place in the final after losing their opening game to Zimbabwe. They must win, and improve their margin substantially, to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Bangladesh no longer controls its fate through a narrow victory alone because the opening loss
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Bangladesh's route to the final depends on overcoming Afghanistan and repairing its net advantage.
New South Wales retained control as Edwards and Abbott sustained their advantage, while young allrounder Jake Scott's rapid half-century helped the visitors declare.
The declaration signals that New South Wales judged its position strong enough to shift the
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New South Wales now has both scoreboard control and time to attack for victory.
Brendon McCullum's successor, New Zealander Stephen Fleming, intends to make the development of English coaches a central part of his tenure as England Test coach.
Fleming is tying his appointment to a longer-term plan to build an English coaching pipeline,
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England is pairing an overseas head coach with a deliberate effort to develop domestic coaching expertise.
England bowl, Rashid and Curran in; Pakistan unchanged
Summary
England chose to bowl first in Rawalpindi, with Adil Rashid and Sam Curran included, while Pakistan named an unchanged side. Harry Brook said England expected dew to influence the chase.
England is betting that a wet ball later will make batting easier, while Rashid and
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The toss and conditions have made England's bowling execution and Pakistan's first-innings scoring the central contest.
Atal 102 and Rashid 4 for 17 seal Afghanistan's comprehensive win
Summary
Afghanistan bowled Zimbabwe out for 136 while defending 295, completing a 158-run victory. The result denied Zimbabwe the 196 runs they needed to reach the final.
Zimbabwe's failure to reach 196 turned a winnable qualification equation into a decisive defeat. Afghanistan's
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The result shows how Afghanistan combined a strong total with disciplined bowling to win both the match and the qualification race.
Chinmay Sutar scores 400* for Mizoram in Ranji Trophy
Summary
Mizoram batter Chinmay Sutar scored an unbeaten 400 in the Ranji Trophy. He became only the second India batter to reach a quadruple century after Bhausaheb Nimbalkar did so in 1948.
Sutar's innings places him in a remarkably small part of Indian cricket history and gives
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The record-breaking innings elevates Sutar and Mizoram while resetting expectations for the tournament's biggest individual scores.
Familiar foes get serious in ODI World Cup build-up
Summary
England enter the ODI World Cup build-up with confidence after making progress in 50-over cricket, while Pakistan carry momentum from their victory over Sri Lanka.
Both teams have strengthened their claims before the tournament, but neither has settled every selection
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The sides are moving from preparation into a credibility test, with early form likely to shape World Cup expectations.