Australia will drop No. 3 Marnus Labuschagne for the Test series against New Zealand after an extended run of low scores. Chair of selectors George Bailey confirmed the decision.
9:45 PMESPN Cricket18 stories from 3 sources
Test cricket resets collided with selection upheaval and weather
Day’s Recap
Supporting Articles
Pakistan handed Test debuts to Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Arafat Minhas and Saqib Khan in the opening match against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka chose to bowl first.
11:29 PMESPN Cricket
Usman Khawaja rejects claims that his revelations about Australia's 2018 sandpaper scandal unfairly blamed former teammates. He says he has not thrown anyone under the bus.
5:04 AMBBC Sport Cricket
Khawaja said he promised Warner that he would tell the truth about the fiasco. He described Smith, Warner and Bancroft as victims who took responsibility for the wider team's actions.
12:41 AMESPN Cricket
Rain eliminated all play on the third day of the third four-day match between New Zealand A and India A. The lost day leaves the series increasingly likely to finish drawn and denies India's senior bowlers further match practice.
11:52 PMESPN CricketTilak Varma, Dhruv Jurel and Prasidh Krishna stood out for India A in Lincoln. Jasprit Bumrah returned to bowling in whites but went wicketless in a six-over spell.
1:14 AMESPN Cricket
Kavem Hodge scored his third Test century in Sylhet and attributed West Indies' improved batting to collective belief and camaraderie. He presented the rise as a team-wide change rather than an individual breakthrough.
8:25 AMESPN Cricket
A 61 from King helped West Indies reach 128 for 2 by lunch on the fourth morning, giving them a 98-run lead. The innings provided a stable platform as the match moved into its closing phase.
6:11 AMESPN Cricket9:45 PMESPN Cricket
Labuschagne dropped for New Zealand Test series
Summary
Australia will drop No. 3 Marnus Labuschagne for the Test series against New Zealand after an extended run of low scores. Chair of selectors George Bailey confirmed the decision.
Australia has ended Labuschagne's place in the top order, opening a vacancy at a pivotal
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The decision marks a major shift in Australia's batting selections and puts its No. 3 position under scrutiny.
11:29 PMESPN Cricket
Pakistan field four debutants for first Test; Sri Lanka opt to bowl
Summary
Pakistan handed Test debuts to Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Arafat Minhas and Saqib Khan in the opening match against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka chose to bowl first.
Pakistan has committed to a major personnel reset, placing four inexperienced players into a Test
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The match will test whether Pakistan's new group can absorb pressure before its established players set the tone.
5:04 AMBBC Sport Cricket
I haven't thrown anyone under the bus - Khawaja
Summary
Usman Khawaja rejects claims that his revelations about Australia's 2018 sandpaper scandal unfairly blamed former teammates. He says he has not thrown anyone under the bus.
Khawaja has reopened questions about responsibility for one of Australian cricket's defining scandals while insisting
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Khawaja's account keeps the scandal relevant by challenging how responsibility for it is remembered.
2 stories · 2 sources
12:41 AMESPN Cricket
Khawaja: Made promise to Warner I'd say the truth
Summary
Khawaja said he promised Warner that he would tell the truth about the fiasco. He described Smith, Warner and Bancroft as victims who took responsibility for the wider team's actions.
Khawaja is challenging the idea that the three players alone carried responsibility for the episode.
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The comments reopen questions about whether cricket's response punished a few players for a collective failure.
11:52 PMESPN Cricket
Bumrah, Jadeja and others miss out on bowling time as rain washes out third day
Summary
Rain eliminated all play on the third day of the third four-day match between New Zealand A and India A. The lost day leaves the series increasingly likely to finish drawn and denies India's senior bowlers further match practice.
The washout has removed a valuable competitive workload for Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and the
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The weather has cut into India's preparation more than its results, reducing meaningful match exposure before higher-stakes cricket.
1:14 AMESPN Cricket
Tilak, Jurel, Prasidh dazzle for India A in Lincoln
Summary
Tilak Varma, Dhruv Jurel and Prasidh Krishna stood out for India A in Lincoln. Jasprit Bumrah returned to bowling in whites but went wicketless in a six-over spell.
The performances strengthen the cases of Tilak, Jurel and Prasidh as India weighs its next
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
India gained selection momentum from its emerging players while Bumrah's workload remains the more consequential issue.
8:25 AMESPN Cricket
Kavem Hodge: There is a belief and shared mindset among WI batters
Summary
Kavem Hodge scored his third Test century in Sylhet and attributed West Indies' improved batting to collective belief and camaraderie. He presented the rise as a team-wide change rather than an individual breakthrough.
West Indies' batting progress now rests on a shared approach that has produced runs beyond
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
West Indies are trying to turn improved confidence into a durable batting identity.
6:11 AMESPN Cricket
Hodge 140* puts West Indies in command
Summary
A 61 from King helped West Indies reach 128 for 2 by lunch on the fourth morning, giving them a 98-run lead. The innings provided a stable platform as the match moved into its closing phase.
West Indies have turned a narrow position into a workable lead without losing early wickets.
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
West Indies now control the scoring rate and can shape the result through the size of their lead.
Other Developments
A curated list of other prominent stories from this day.
Steven Smith has undergone further assessment of the neck problem that ruled him out of the final Test in South Africa. He remains on course to return for Sheffield Shield cricket.
11:00 PMESPN Cricket
The latest scorecard records the state of the first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi.
7:00 PMBBC Sport Cricket
Babar Azam said team selection rests with the selectors and coaches, while his role is to provide input and help the chosen squad deliver match-winning performances.
11:16 AMESPN Cricket
Towhid Hridoy made a record 242 not out as Bangladesh recovered from 184 for 7 to reach 386 in Sylhet. He credited the lower order and argued that aggressive batting was necessary to escape the crisis.
11:07 AMESPN Cricket
Rahmat Shah's 173 gave Afghanistan a narrow first-innings lead after a record partnership in Sharjah. Zimbabwe then regained control through contributions from Brendan Taylor and Brian Bennett.
9:23 AMESPN Cricket
Pakistan and Sri Lanka enter their Test series after difficult recent runs, with neither side having much momentum. The contest is likely to be shaped by contrasting strategic responses as both teams try to rebuild.
8:13 AMESPN Cricket
Rajat Patidar has asked the BCCI to release him from the India A squad because of existing injuries. India have added Ayush Badoni for the Rising Stars Asia Cup.
7:23 AMESPN Cricket
Sri Lanka Test captain Kusal Mendis says his team is on a strong trajectory and backs its batting line-up ahead of the opening Test in Pakistan.
5:08 AMESPN Cricket
Unusually wet conditions across New Zealand have shaped the pitches used in the ODI series, with Hamilton facing the same uncertainty. The weather has made pitch behavior harder to predict.
12:52 AMESPN Cricket11:00 PMESPN Cricket
Smith sees specialist in New York, in line for Sheffield Shield return
Summary
Steven Smith has undergone further assessment of the neck problem that ruled him out of the final Test in South Africa. He remains on course to return for Sheffield Shield cricket.
Smith's return now depends on the specialist review confirming that the neck issue has settled
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Smith's availability affects Australia's batting plans, and the Shield offers the first practical checkpoint after his injury.
7:00 PMBBC Sport Cricket
Pakistan v Sri Lanka - first Test scorecard
Summary
The latest scorecard records the state of the first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi.
The scorecard provides the current match position rather than a new selection or governance development.
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The match position will shape the series momentum and each side's tactical choices.
11:16 AMESPN Cricket
Babar: 'Selection not in my hands, I simply give my inputs'
Summary
Babar Azam said team selection rests with the selectors and coaches, while his role is to provide input and help the chosen squad deliver match-winning performances.
Babar's comments draw a clear line between the captain's on-field responsibility and the selectors' authority
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The statement clarifies who controls Pakistan's squad and where responsibility will fall if the team fails.
11:07 AMESPN Cricket
Hridoy on his 242*: You 'cannot get out of a difficult spot without counterattacking'
Summary
Towhid Hridoy made a record 242 not out as Bangladesh recovered from 184 for 7 to reach 386 in Sylhet. He credited the lower order and argued that aggressive batting was necessary to escape the crisis.
Bangladesh turned a collapsing innings into a competitive total by attacking rather than trying only
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Bangladesh showed that counterattack, not caution alone, can rescue a Test innings from seven down.
9:23 AMESPN Cricket
Taylor, Bennett put Zimbabwe back in control after Afghanistan's record stand
Summary
Rahmat Shah's 173 gave Afghanistan a narrow first-innings lead after a record partnership in Sharjah. Zimbabwe then regained control through contributions from Brendan Taylor and Brian Bennett.
Zimbabwe absorbed Afghanistan's biggest challenge and shifted the match back in its favor through its
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The match has swung from Afghanistan's record-setting stand to a contest Zimbabwe now controls.
8:13 AMESPN Cricket
Pakistan and Sri Lanka begin their search for a way forward in Tests
Summary
Pakistan and Sri Lanka enter their Test series after difficult recent runs, with neither side having much momentum. The contest is likely to be shaped by contrasting strategic responses as both teams try to rebuild.
The series offers both sides a chance to reset, but neither can rely on recent
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
This is a rebuilding series in which the winner may establish the clearer path forward in Test cricket.
7:23 AMESPN Cricket
India A include Badoni for Rising Stars Asia Cup after Patidar opts out
Summary
Rajat Patidar has asked the BCCI to release him from the India A squad because of existing injuries. India have added Ayush Badoni for the Rising Stars Asia Cup.
Patidar's withdrawal reduces experience in India's squad and raises questions about his fitness ahead of
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The change tests India's depth while giving Badoni a direct opportunity to move up the selection ladder.
5:08 AMESPN Cricket
Kusal Mendis: 'I have no doubt in my batting line-up'
Summary
Sri Lanka Test captain Kusal Mendis says his team is on a strong trajectory and backs its batting line-up ahead of the opening Test in Pakistan.
Mendis has made batting stability the central message before a demanding away series. That confidence
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Sri Lanka's batting resilience will likely determine whether its positive momentum survives the first Test.
12:52 AMESPN Cricket
Hamilton ODI: more wet weather, more uncertainty around the pitch
Summary
Unusually wet conditions across New Zealand have shaped the pitches used in the ODI series, with Hamilton facing the same uncertainty. The weather has made pitch behavior harder to predict.
Persistent rain is becoming a competitive variable, not just a scheduling problem. Both teams must
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Unstable conditions can outweigh form and alter the tactical balance of the ODI.
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