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England Test captain Ben Stokes has thrown his full support behind Harry Brook as his successor, saying the Yorkshire batter is the natural choice to take over the leadership role following his stint as vice-captain. Brook, who currently captains England’s white-ball teams, was overlooked for the captaincy during the second Test at The Oval when Stokes was unavailable due to disciplinary reasons. Instead, former skipper Joe Root returned to lead the side for the first time in more than four years, although England suffered a heavy defeat. According to ESPNcricinfo, England’s management is cautious about placing the burden of captaincy across all three formats on a single player. If Brook is appointed as Test captain, he is expected to relinquish leadership duties in at least one of the white-ball formats. Sam Curran and Jacob Bethell have emerged as potential candidates to take over in the limited-overs setup. Stokes, however, believes Brook has all the qualities needed to lead the Tes...

India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has backed the team’s decision to remain patient with teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, insisting the 15-year-old will have to “bide his time and wait” for his international debut despite an extraordinary IPL campaign. Sooryavanshi earned a maiden India T20I call-up after a record-breaking IPL 2026 season in which he amassed 776 runs in 16 innings at a staggering strike rate of 237.30, finishing as the tournament’s Player of the Tournament. His performances prompted national selectors to fast-track him into the squad, but he has yet to feature in the playing XI during India’s recent T20I series against Ireland. Speaking after the series, ten Doeschate made it clear that while Sooryavanshi is ready for international cricket, the management is unwilling to disrupt an established batting unit based on just two disappointing matches. “He’s absolutely ready to play international cricket, there’s no doubt about that,” ten Doeschate sai...

New Zealand have suffered a major setback ahead of the decisive third Test against England, with key players Matt Henry and Glenn Phillips ruled out due to injuries. The match at Trent Bridge carries huge significance, with the series level and both teams eyeing a crucial victory. Henry, who starred in New Zealand's memorable victory at The Oval with an 11-wicket match haul, has been sidelined after scans revealed a low-grade calf strain. Early assessments indicate a recovery period of two to four weeks, making his absence a significant blow to the visitors' pace attack. Phillips, meanwhile, misses out with a side strain suffered during the second Test. The all-rounder was in excellent form, having scored a maiden Test century in New Zealand's series-leveling win, and his absence weakens both the batting lineup and fielding unit. The injury concerns come on top of New Zealand's decision to rest fast bowler Kyle Jamieson , meaning two of their leading wicket-takers ...

The Texas Super Kings have suffered a significant setback in their Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 campaign after South African left-arm pacer Nandre Burger was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament due to a recurring lower-back injury. Medical assessments revealed a pre-existing lumbar stress reaction, forcing the fast bowler to return home for an extended period of rest and rehabilitation. Burger's absence leaves a major gap in the Texas Super Kings' bowling attack, as the 30-year-old is known for his pace, swing, and ability to strike early with the new ball. The franchise will now need other bowlers to step up as they look to revive their MLC 2026 campaign and stay in contention for the playoffs. The injury is another frustrating chapter for Burger, who has shown immense promise across international and franchise cricket but has also faced several injury setbacks during his career. Texas Super Kings management is expected to evaluate replacement options as the to...

India have suffered a major setback ahead of the Ireland T20I series as young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out with a quadriceps injury. The 23-year-old sustained the issue during the recent ODI series against Afghanistan, and medical assessments have confirmed that he will miss the upcoming matches in Ireland. His availability for the subsequent white-ball tour of England also remains uncertain. Reddy's absence leaves India without a key seam-bowling all-rounder, forcing the team management to consider replacement options ahead of the Belfast T20Is. The injury adds to a series of fitness concerns that have interrupted the talented youngster's progress over the past year.

England have received a major boost ahead of the series-deciding third Test against New Zealand, with captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson returning to the squad for the match at Trent Bridge starting on June 25. Both players were unavailable for the second Test but have now been reinstated following the conclusion of an ECB disciplinary review. Stokes will resume his role as captain after Joe Root led England in the second Test. England suffered a heavy 253-run defeat at The Oval, allowing New Zealand to level the three-match series at 1-1 and set up a winner-takes-all finale in Nottingham. The return of Stokes adds balance and leadership to the side, while Atkinson strengthens England's pace attack with his ability to strike at crucial moments. Both players received written warnings after breaching team conduct guidelines but were cleared to return after the investigation found no grounds for further sanctions. With the Crowe–Thorpe Trophy now on the line, Englan...