England have named the uncapped Aneurin Donald and Henry Crocombe in their squads for the white-ball series against Sri Lanka.
Opener Donald has been included in the 16-player squad for the T20 series, while seamer Crocombe makes the 16-man line-up for the one-day internationals.
England men's national selector Marcus North said the pair are "two promising players who have earned their places on the back of impressive performances in domestic cricket".
He added: "Aneurin has had an exceptional season for Derbyshire in the Vitality Blast and also with Trent Rockets in The Hundred while Henry is a player we have had an eye on all summer."
England all-rounder Jacob Bethell "underwent successful surgery on his injured knee earlier this week" and is targeting the white-ball series against Australia in November for his comeback.

#series #crocombe

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has called for a severe punishment following Brydon Carse's latest involvement in a nightclub incident, saying the ECB must take action strong enough to deter the entire England cricket setup from similar behaviour.

Carse became the latest England player to attract scrutiny after a video emerged showing the fast bowler handcuffed by police outside a nightclub. He was briefly arrested while out with Durham team-mates Ben Stokes and Matthew Potts, leading the England and Wales Cricket Board to investigate the incident.

Carse had been part of England's squad for two of the three Tests against Pakistan but was released to play for Durham after being left out of the XI for the first Test at Leeds. He contributed 26 runs and returned figures of 2-82 as Durham beat Derbyshire inside three days.

The 30-year-old then went out with his Durham team-mates to celebrate the victory, during which the incident occurred.

The ECB subsequently confirmed that Carse "will no longer be available for selection" for the second Test against Pakistan at Lord's on Thursday. Hampshire right-arm seamer Sonny Baker has been called up as his replacement.

Vaughan believes the latest episode requires a response that sends a clear message across English cricket.

"Someone is going to have to get a punishment that sends a shiver down the whole England cricket team and right down through the programme, so that everyone knows that if you misbehave or bring any kind of bad reputation on to this team, you know what's going to come," former England captain Vaughan said on BBC Radio. "It's the only punishment that will really hurt players."

Carse's case comes amid a series of off-field incidents involving England players over the past year. Last October, white-ball captain Harry Brook was punched by a bouncer outside a nightclub in Wellington, New Zealand, while Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue were also present.

During the Ashes tour of Australia, Ben Duckett was filmed apparently drunk during England's holiday in Noosa.

Then, in June, former Test captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson broke a team curfew and were present when a member of England's security staff was punched by Saracens rugby player in a London nightclub.

Vaughan acknowledged that Carse could feel hard done by if he is punished heavily in light of the wider pattern of incidents.

"I hope Carse is getting good support around him. He is a character who can be a little bit loose and if you give him a bit of rope he'll take a huge amount of it. He needs people around him who are giving him better advice.

"I would feel for Carse if he is the one who takes the rap for what has happened over the past nine months, but somewhere, somehow, something has to be done to set a precedent that they won't stand for that behaviour any more," said Vaughan.

#vaughan #nightclub

'Someone that I've looked up to': Jordan ******* recalls Virat Kohli's words before appearing vs Pakistan in 1st Test originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jordan ******* says Virat Kohli's advice will stay with him "forever" ahead of Pakistan Tests.
Cox will replace injured Jacob Bethell at No. 3 for England at Headingley.
Cox spent IPL 2026 with Kohli at RCB.
He recalled Kohli's support after a broken thumb ruled him out in 2024.

#jordan #tests

ENG vs PAK 1st Test predicted playing XI: Likely Pakistan and England lineups as Babar Azam remains doubtful originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Joe Root leads England against Pakistan for the first time since 2022 in the post-Ben Stokes era.
Jordan ****** is set to bat at number three with Jacob Bethell ruled out injured.
Babar Azam remains doubtful for the match after a hand injury scare in the warm-up game.
England begin their three-match Test series against Pakistan on August 19 at Headingley, with valuable World Test Championship 2025-27 points on offer as Joe Root takes charge for the first time since relinquishing the captaincy in 2022. It marks the start of the post-Ben Stokes era for the hosts.

#babar #azam #doubtful

England have received a boost ahead of their three-match Test series against Pakistan, with opener Emilio Gay reportedly expected to recover in time for the first Test at Headingley, beginning August 19. Gay suffered a shoulder injury while playing for Durham against Middlesex on Friday, but scans have reportedly shown no serious damage.

Gay made his Test debut against New Zealand earlier this year and scored two half-centuries in the three-match series. Despite some inconsistency, his partnership with Ben Duckett impressed England's management, who want to give him more opportunities after dropping Zak Crawley.

According to the Daily Mail Sport, Gay's scan on Saturday revealed no major injury, meaning he should be available to resume his opening partnership with Duckett against Pakistan.

The series will also be Joe Root's first official ******* ignment as England's Test captain since returning to the role. Newly appointed head coach Stephen Fleming has been involved in selecting the squad, while Marcus Trescothick will oversee the team as interim head coach for this series before Fleming takes full charge.
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England will be without top-order batter Jacob Bethell, who has been ruled out after suffering a knee injury during the team's recent 2-1 ODI series win over India.

England enter the series after losing 2-1 at home to New Zealand, while Pakistan drew their recent Test series in the West Indies.

England squad for first two Tests against Pakistan: Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan ******* , Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, and Josh Tongue.

#duckett #fleming

England have named a 16-member squad for the first two Tests of the three-match series against Pakistan, which begins later this month and is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.

The squad marks the start of a new phase for England after the retirement of Ben Stokes and the departure of head coach Brendon McCullum.

Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence and Sam Cook have all returned to the Test squad, while Jordan ******* is also back and is expected to bat at No. 3, according to The Guardian. ******* gets the opportunity after Jacob Bethell was ruled out of the series with an injury.

England are coming into the series after losing to New Zealand and will now begin life under returning captain Joe Root and interim head coach Marcus Trescothick.

Root, who was reappointed Test captain in July, will lead England for the first time since returning to the role. Fleming, who has been appointed as McCullum's replacement, will take charge from the Test series against South Africa in December.

The first Test begins at Headingley on August 19. England have named a 16-player squad, giving Root several options before deciding on the final XI.
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One of the main selection decisions will be how to balance the side without a genuine all-rounder following Stokes' retirement.

Shoaib Bashir remains England's main spin option in the squad, while Lawrence's recall is not only because he is the leading run-scorer in Division One of the County Championship. He is set to bat at No. 6, but his off-spin could allow England to field four frontline fast bowlers at Headingley.

England squad: Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan ******* , Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.

#test #squad #ollie #stokes

England have been dealt a major blow with Jacob Bethell ruled out of the Test series against Pakistan – with Surrey batters Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence recalled to the squad.
Bethell suffered a knee injury in the final ODI against India and is set to miss all three Tests in a major set-back for the young left-hander.
Jordan ***** , who made his Test debut against New Zealand earlier in the summer, will bat at No 3 in Bethell's absence, with Pope returning to the squad having been dropped during the Ashes to provide experienced batting and wicket-keeping cover.
England's Jordan ***** (left) will bat at No 3 against Pakistan (PA Wire)
Lawrence, meanwhile, is rewarded for an outstanding summer for Surrey that currently sees him as the second top run-scorer in Division One of the County Championship, and will bat at No 6.

#test

Surrey duo Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence have been recalled to the England squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan.
The pair have been named in a 16-man squad before the series opener at Headingley on Wednesday 19 August but Jacob Bethell will miss the entire series through injury.
The three-match series marks England's first Test outing since the retirement of captain Ben Stokes and sacking of head coach Brendon McCullum.
Joe Root will captain the side for the first time since being reappointed to the role in July, with Marcus Trescothick serving as interim head coach. McCullum's replacement, Stephen Fleming, will begin his tenure against South Africa in December.
England's 16-man squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan ****** , Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.

#first #tests

A curious summer for England will continue in August as Pakistan arrive for a three-Test tour with Marcus Trescothick in interim charge of the hosts.
Stephen Fleming has been installed as Brendon McCullum's successor with the Test team but will not take up his role until September, leaving Trescothick to join a reappointed Joe Root in trying to set a new direction after a bruising series against New Zealand earlier in the year.
While Fleming will have some say in selection, the indications are that Trescothick and Root will be prominent voices, too, alongside selector Marcus North – who is set to speak after the squad is unveiled next week.
The retirement of Ben Stokes leaves a significant hole with England apparently lacking a like-for-like replacement as a seam-bowling all-rounder, with the knock-on impacts perhaps significant for the composition of the rest of the attack.
There may be batting places to think about, too, with Jacob Bethell a slight injury doubt. Here are five key decisions to be made:

#marcus #august

NEW DELHI: India's stand-in bowling coach Sunil Joshi has urged everyone to keep the spotlight firmly on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's batting, lavishing praise on the teenage sensation after his record-breaking knock in the opening T20I against Zimbabwe while revealing that the youngster's bowling will be developed gradually at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE).

Sooryavanshi lit up the Harare Sports Club with a breathtaking 18-ball half-century, becoming the youngest player to score a T20I fifty. His whirlwind innings, featuring four fours and four sixes, turned India's chase of 126 into a one-sided affair as the reigning T20 World Cup champions sealed victory with 40 ****** to spare and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Ahead of the second T20I, Joshi said the teenager's explosive batting should remain the primary focus.

"I think the first thing is, let's focus on his batting. He's been sensational and I'm glad that he has done well. This is a happy hunting ground for him. He performed well in the U19 World Cup finals here. He had a good performance yesterday as well," Joshi told reporters.

The former India spinner also disclosed that Sooryavanshi's bowling is part of the long-term plan.

"Vaibhav has been very comfortable with his batting. Whenever we get time in his bowling, I'll work with him in the CoE. Whenever we see him bowling well, we'll definitely and quickly focus on that," he said.
Joshi also called for patience with emerging seam-bowling all-rounder Suryansh Shedge, who has drawn comparisons with established stars such as Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube.

The stand-in bowling coach insisted every player has their own journey and warned against making premature comparisons.

"Look, we shouldn't compare. Suryansh is making his place in the Indian team. Hardik has made his place. Shivam has also made his place. So, he's a rising talent. We have to persist with him. He's working on good things and good areas. That's what we want in the T20 format," he said.

Joshi also highlighted the bowling depth available in India's squad, pointing to top-order batters Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma, who can also contribute with the ball.

"I think all three are good bowlers and all-rounders, although Abhishek Sharma has improved a lot. The coaches always want him to improve every time for the better. We also have Tilak Varma with us. He's another optional bowler. We have conversations with him about not giving too many runs, bowling more dot ****** , and focusing on the basics," he further added.
Joshi also praised leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, revealing that a minor adjustment to his run-up helped him bounce back after a difficult outing against England earlier this month.

Bishnoi endured a forgettable spell of 0/60 in Manchester, where England batter Jacob Bethell smashed 29 runs in a single over. However, the leg-spinner responded impressively in Harare with figures of 1/24 from four overs.

According to Joshi, t

England great Alastair Cook has revived the debate over Jacob Bethell's IPL stint, saying international cricket should always come before franchise leagues.

His comments have resurfaced after Bethell was ruled out of this year's The Hundred with a knee injury, denying him valuable match practice ahead of England's Test series against Pakistan.

Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast alongside Mo Bobat and Dinesh Karthik, Cook doubled down on his earlier criticism of Bethell staying in the IPL despite limited opportunities.

"What I'm saying, I think this is where it's really important. I'm here for the Test match in a week's time, and one of our No. 3 players (is sitting on the bench)... I think it's really important that English cricket is more important than an IPL or a franchise. That's what I think, and apparently, I'm not allowed to think it, because the IPL is the best tournament in the world," the former skipper said.
— StickToCricket (StickToCricket)
Cook also questioned the value of Bethell spending another IPL season on the bench, adding: "So I'm taking it from Jacob Bethel, who sat on the bench the year before and learnt from all those players, who then also sitting on the bench is not playing. I'm sitting here going, my No. 3 to the side I actually really want to win, which is England, no disrespect to RCB and all those franchises, I want England to be the most successful side."

Cook's comments have gained fresh attention after Bethell suffered a knee injury during England's ODI series against India, forcing him to withdraw from The Hundred, where he was due to captain Birmingham Phoenix.

The setback has also raised doubts over his availability for England's upcoming Test series against Pakistan.
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Earlier this year, Bethell defended his decision to remain at Royal Challengers Bengaluru despite limited game time, saying there is "no right or wrong way" and insisting training in the IPL had helped his development even when he wasn't part of the playing XI.

#england #think

'English cricket is more important than IPL' - Alastair Cook and RCB director Mo Babat in heated debate over Jacob Bethell originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Alastair Cook renewed criticism of Jacob Bethell staying with RCB over England prep.
Mo Bobat defends Bethell, blaming scheduling clashes, not player choices.
Debate reignites after Bethell ruled out of The Hundred with injury.
England legend Alastair Cook has reignited a long-running debate around Jacob Bethell's decision to stay with the IPL despite limited playing time, insisting international duty should always take precedence over franchise commitments.

#bethell #jacob #debate #babat

England all-rounder Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the 2026 edition of The Hundred after sustaining a right knee injury during the recently concluded ODI series against India.

Bethell, who was retained by Birmingham Phoenix for GBP 340,000 ahead of The Hundred's inaugural player auction, had also been appointed captain for the upcoming season. However, an MRI scan conducted on Monday confirmed the extent of the injury, forcing the 22-year-old to withdraw from the tournament. He is set to begin his rehabilitation programme immediately.

The setback comes after a mixed white-ball series against India, where Bethell produced flashes of brilliance despite inconsistent returns. He struck an unbeaten 76 off 46 **** in the second T20I before finishing the ODI series with a composed 91 in the final match.
Birmingham Phoenix head coach Shane Bond admitted the franchise was disappointed to lose both its captain and one of its most influential players but stressed that Bethell's long-term recovery remains the priority.

"We're all incredibly disappointed for Jacob and gutted he won't be able to join us this year. It's frustrating to lose a player of his quality, not least your captain, this close to the tournament, but his long-term fitness has to be the priority. Everyone at the club wishes him the very best with his recovery and we look forward to seeing him back on the field as soon as possible, " Bond said in the official statement released by the franchise.

Bond also confirmed that Donovan Ferreira will take over the captaincy, backing the South African to lead the side.

"In Donovan Ferreira we have a real leader who knows what it takes to go deep into the competition. He's won it before and will be a great person for the younger members of the squad to learn from. We're lucky to have someone of his stature to step into the captaincy," he added.
Reacting to the injury, Bethell expressed his disappointment at missing the tournament, particularly the opportunity to play in front of Birmingham Phoenix supporters at Edgbaston.

"It's frustrating to miss out on The Hundred, especially representing Birmingham Phoenix in front of our supporters at Edgbaston. Unfortunately, I need to take the time to get back to full fitness, " Bethell said in the statement.
Jacob Bethell played a key role for Birmingham Phoenix during The Hundred 2025, featuring in eight matches as a middle-order all-rounder. He scored 122 runs at a strike rate of 143.53 while also picking up three wickets with his left-arm spin, impressing with his finishing ability and versatility. His performances in the tournament proved to be a springboard to international cricket, earning him selection for England's senior white-ball squads later that year.

#captain

England youngster Jacob Bethell has opened up about the unforgettable experience of opening the batting alongside Virat Kohli at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during his stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), describing the atmosphere as unlike anything he had experienced before.

Bethell, who joined RCB after being signed in the 2025 IPL mega auction, shared the dressing room with Kohli during the franchise's back-to-back ******* le-winning campaigns in 2025 and 2026. Although the young all-rounder had a mixed season with the bat, he said the opportunity to walk out alongside one of the game's modern greats remains a career highlight.
Speaking on the Super Over podcast on YouTube, Bethell admitted he was overwhelmed by nerves before his first home appearance in Bengaluru.

"That was crazy. I remember being really nervous before. It was only my first game in front of home fans. I was nervous to say the least. But as soon as I got onto the ground, I just felt a sense of excitement. I ran drinks for quite a lot of the competition. Looking at the atmosphere and wanting to get a piece of it,'' Jacob Bethell said.

"We were walking out to bat. I can only hear myself think... the place is bouncing, there is no gap in it. You feel like they are on top of you. Luckily enough, we managed to put on a few runs; I scored a few, he scored a few. I remember I hit my second ball for four and I have never heard a sound that loud," he added.
Bethell also shed light on Kohli's personality away from the spotlight, saying the former RCB captain is far more relaxed than his fiery on-field persona suggests.

"Away from cricket and off the field, he's actually a very chilled individual. Great to talk to, great to spend time around. But it's just that ability to then flip into that competitive nature in and around cricket or training, " Bethell revealed

Bethell's IPL 2026 campaign yielded 163 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 140.52, but the England all-rounder has previously credited Kohli, Rajat Patidar and Dinesh Karthik in a video posted by RCB on their official handle for helping him improve his game, particularly against spin, during his time with the Bengaluru franchise.

#england

The England Test players with the most to lose after Brendon McCullum's exit: Who stays and who could make way originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Brendon McCullum sacked as England Test coach; Andy Flower emerges as favourite replacement.
Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith and Jacob Bethell must perform or perish.
New coach might not hand them a bigger safety net.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting coach and mentor Dinesh Karthik believes Andy Flower would be an outstanding candidate to succeed Brendon McCullum as England's Test head coach but feels the Zimbabwean is unlikely to leave the IPL franchise because of his existing commitments.

England are searching for a new Test coach after McCullum stepped down from the role following a disappointing run in red-ball cricket. While he will continue to oversee England's white-ball teams, the Test side is looking for a fresh leader after the end of the 'Bazball' era.

Flower, who previously guided England to the top of the ICC Test rankings and their last Ashes triumph in Australia, has emerged as one of the names linked with the vacancy. However, Karthik believes balancing England's Test calendar with Flower's commitments at RCB would be extremely difficult.

"In all seriousness, I think he'll be a great candidate," Karthik said on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.

"He definitely should be one of the names thought of, but I would be very surprised if he took it, considering where England are and his packed schedule as well. He used to do a lot of leagues, and I'm sure that he didn't have time. I read an article which said that England will be happy to accommodate IPL and then the rest of Test cricket, but with the schedule being the way it is, [it'll be very difficult]. Like, when Jacob Bethell didn't come in for the first Test, Jofra Archer not being available, it kicked up a fuss, and there were plenty of people saying, 'Why? How come one of the players is not there?'"

Karthik also questioned whether England could accept their Test coach missing matches during the IPL, pointing to Flower's commitment with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

"With Andy Flower, with an already pre-signed contract with RCB, which would mean that he would miss parts of all those [Tests]. Will it be okay for England in the preparation for the Ashes if they don't have a coach for a Test match or two? I heard there's a Test match against Bangladesh in May next year, and if Andy Flower is doing RCB, that could be a challenge as well."

Despite those concerns, Karthik had no doubts about Flower's coaching credentials.

"Is he good? Definitely. He is probably one of the best in the world, if not the best. Will he have time? That's the question. I would be very surprised if the answer is a yes," he said.

Flower joined RCB ahead of the 2024 IPL season on a three-year deal and has remained a key figure in the franchise's coaching set-up. While he is among the leading contenders to replace McCullum, Karthik believes the demands of international cricket and franchise commitments make such a move difficult to envisage.

India's disappointing UK tour has continued to unravel on the field, but the latest ICC Men's T20I Rankings have provided a rare silver lining, with Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma holding on to the top two batting spots despite the team's struggles against Ireland and England.

India's white-ball campaign has endured a miserable run, beginning with a 2-0 series defeat to Ireland before Shreyas Iyer's side slipped to a 2-0 deficit against England in the ongoing five-match T20I series after the opening match was washed out. England's emphatic 125-run victory in the third T20I also went down as India's biggest-ever defeat in the format.

Yet, even amid the setbacks, India's premier T20I batters continue to dominate the global rankings.
The latest ICC rankings confirmed that Ishan Kishan remains the world's No. 1 T20I batter, with teammate Abhishek Sharma retaining the No. 2 position.

There was another positive for India in the form of new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, who enjoyed one of the biggest jumps of the week. After scoring 68 in the rain-hit opening game against England and following it up with 37 in the second T20I, Iyer surged an astonishing 425 places to joint 93rd in the batting rankings.

England, meanwhile, were richly rewarded for their commanding performances.

Jacob Bethell climbed seven places to No. 8 after his unbeaten 76 off 46 **** helped England secure victory in the second T20I.

Sam Curran also enjoyed a productive week, rising 12 places to No. 108 among batters after contributing an unbeaten 41 and climbing 12 spots to joint 71st in the bowling rankings following figures of 3/33. His all-round exploits also lifted him six places to joint 13th among T20I all-rounders.
Veteran leg-spinner Adil Rashid returned to the top three of the T20I bowling rankings after moving up one place to No. 3 thanks to his miserly figures of 2/14 in England's record win.
132261879

Second Twenty20 international, Emirates Old Trafford
India 190-7 (20 overs): Kishan 49 (40), Sharma 43 (24), Iyer 37 (22); Curran 3-33
England 191-6 (19 overs): Bethell 76* (46), Brook 39 (15), Banton 39 (32), Arshdeep 3-40
England won by four wickets, lead five-match series 1-0
Scorecard

Third Rothesay Test, Trent Bridge (day four of five)
New Zealand 438 (Conway 157, Latham 151; Stokes 4-70) & 288-9 dec: (Mitchell 100*, Ravindra 94; Archer 4-53)
England 354 (Duckett 113, Bethell 74; Smith 4-91) & 103-4 (Duckett 36; Foulkes 3-42)
England need 269 more runs to win
Scorecard

New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and elected to bat first in the decisive third Test against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Thursday. However, the visitors have been dealt a significant setback ahead of the winner-takes-all contest, with two key players ruled out through injury.

The three-match series is finely poised at 1-1. England claimed the opening Test at Lord's by 115 runs before New Zealand responded emphatically with a crushing 253-run victory at The Oval. With valuable ICC World Test Championship points on offer, the Trent Bridge encounter will determine the series winner.
New Zealand have been forced into major changes after pace spearhead Matt Henry and star all-rounder Glenn Phillips were ruled out of the final Test. Henry, who starred in New Zealand's victory at The Oval and recently climbed to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test bowling rankings, misses out with a calf injury. Phillips, meanwhile, has been sidelined due to a side strain.
England have also shuffled their lineup following the heavy defeat in the second Test, with captain Ben Stokes returning to lead the side after being rested at The Oval. Fast bowler Gus Atkinson also returns, while wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith is back after missing the previous Test following the birth of his child. Spinner Shoaib Bashir has been recalled to strengthen England's spin options.

Despite being declared fit, Ollie Robinson has not been included in the playing XI.
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Ben Sears, William O'Rourke

England: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (c), Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir

NEW DELHI: England have announced a 17-member squad for the five-match T20I series against India starting on July 1, with 22-year-old all-rounder James Coles receiving his first international call-up.

Harry Brook will captain the side, while Jordan **** , Sonny Baker and Saqib Mahmood return after missing the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Brydon Carse and Jamie Overton are unavailable because of injuries.

Coles, a left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder, has impressed in domestic cricket, the SA20 and with the England Lions. He was also the most expensive signing in the 2026 Men's Hundred and has scored over 1,300 runs in T20 cricket while taking 53 wickets.

National selector Marcus North said the youngster had earned his opportunity through consistent performances over the last year.

"James Coles is an exciting addition and has earned his place following his performances with the England Lions and in T20 competitions here and abroad during the past 12 months," said North.

"We have selected a larger squad to accommodate for the fact that this series will begin shortly after the Test series against New Zealand is due to conclude which allows us to be flexible."

England will have little time to rest before the India series, with Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell potentially playing the first T20I less than 48 hours after the conclusion of the third Test against New Zealand.

The five-match series begins in Durham on July 1 before moving to Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol and Southampton. Jos **** ler, Jofra Archer, Phil Salt, Will Jacks and Adil Rashid are among the key names included in the squad.

England squad vs India T20Is: Harry Brook (Captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos **** ler, James Coles, Jordan **** , Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue and Luke Wood

Henry Nicholls made an instant impact on his return to New Zealand colours, stepping in for the retired Kane Williamson and delivering a composed unbeaten century to push his side into a dominant position against England on day three of the Test at The Oval.

By stumps on Friday, New Zealand had reached 252 for 3 in their second innings, effectively stretching their overall lead to 352 after bowling England out for 291 just before lunch. Nicholls remained unbeaten on 119, anchoring the innings alongside Rachin Ravindra, who made a fluent 76 before his dismissal after tea.

The pair added 161 runs from 201 ******* , setting a new record for New Zealand's highest partnership at The Oval. Their stand first stabilised the innings, then steadily built control before shifting gears after tea, when they began scoring at nearly six an over with crisp timing and clean strokeplay.

New Zealand's position puts them firmly in charge of the match, with seven wickets still in hand and the opportunity to push towards a 500-run lead. That would leave England facing a steep fourth-innings challenge, especially given their history at the venue. Their highest successful chase at The Oval remains 263 against Australia in 1902, while their highest ever fourth-innings chase anywhere is 378 for 3 against India at Edgbaston in 2022 during the Bazball era.

Nicholls, who arrived in London only last Sunday after Williamson's shock retirement, admitted the transition was unexpected. "(Williamson retiring) was a bit of a shock to everyone," he said. "I've been lucky enough to play a lot of my cricket with Kane. I wasn't ever going to be able to replace him. I just really enjoyed being back in test cricket, you want to contribute. It was fun, the partnership with Rachin and with Daryl (Mitchell) at the end there."

Walking in early at 8 for 1, Nicholls faced Jofra Archer bowling at high pace and had to settle quickly. He survived the initial burst, then rebuilt after Devon Conway's dismissal alongside Ravindra, who played the more attacking role while Nicholls provided stability.

There were a couple of early alarms, including a dropped chance on 7 by debutant wicketkeeper James Rew, who endured a difficult outing behind the stumps. England's bowling struggled to break the stand through the middle session as the duo methodically drained energy from the attack and the crowd.

After tea, however, the tempo shifted dramatically. Nicholls reached his half-century from 72 ******* , with Ravindra following shortly after off 79 deliveries for his first fifty against England. Ravindra's innings ended on 76 when he was trapped lbw by Jacob Bethell, who once again proved decisive after taking three wickets in the first innings.

Nicholls brought up his century soon after, reaching the milestone off 133 ******* with his 14th boundary, driven through midwicket off Bethell. It was his 11th Test hundred in his 59th match and his second against England, having previously

First Test, day four, Lord's
England need one more wicket for victory
Tongue pins Blundell lbw; Conway, dropped on 24 by Brook, caught by Bethell off Stokes for 41; Atkinson removes Smith and Jamieson
New Zealand chasing a high unlikely 254 to win
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