Claire Taylor can still picture the 2009 Oval semifinal. Unbeaten on 76, everything she'd worked on — dominating attacks, building partnerships — came together in one innings. England won the T20 and ODI World Cups that year.

Fifteen years on, she sees a game she barely recognises. Full-time coaches, proper kit deals, access to the best grounds. Players don't have to choose between cricket and a roof over their heads.

Taylor made that choice herself. She left Procter & Gamble knowing there was no salary waiting on the other side. Years later she ran into old colleagues with mortgages and cars; she was still living with her parents. The gamble paid off in silverware, but the trade-off was real.

Sir Alastair Cook believes Joe Root isn't the long-term answer for England's Test captaincy, but he's confident Root can lead the side through the next year and prepare them for the home Ashes in 2027.

Root has been reappointed after Ben Stokes resigned. Cook, who captained England from 2010 to 2016, said Root looked refreshed and ready to take on the job again.

England host Australia in the 2027 Ashes.

Nottinghamshire have signed Pakistan white-ball international Tayyab Tahir on a short-term deal covering their next three One-Day Cup fixtures. The 28-year-old will join the county for matches against Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire.

Tahir has represented Pakistan in limited-overs cricket since his debut in 2023, and played in their recent white-ball series against New Zealand and Australia. His availability will hinge on national commitments during the English domestic season.

Nottinghamshire sit mid-table and need wins to reach the knockout stage.

Albie Morkel has been named head coach of Joburg Super Kings for the next SA20 season. The former South Africa all-rounder steps in after Stephen Fleming left to become England's Test head coach.

Gurjapneet Singh said Fleming and MS Dhoni made sure bowlers were used in roles that matched their strengths when he was at Chennai Super Kings. Fleming had already won five IPL titles with CSK before taking the England job.

Fleming won't be in charge for England's Pakistan series and will start preparing for the South Africa tour. Marcus Trescothick is handling the team in the meantime.

Rajat Patidar will lead Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy, with Rinku Singh as his deputy. The tournament starts later this month at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

Central Zone are the defending champions after beating South Zone in last year's final. Recent India debutants Harsh Dubey and Yash Thakur are also in the squad, along with Saransh Jain, who has been picked for the Sri Lanka Tests.

Patidar captains Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. Saransh Jain is expected to miss early matches while with the national team.

Sachin Tendulkar scored 241 not out against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2004, wearing an abdominal guard the whole time. The guard came from a former India player who mentioned it in a recent interview.

The choice showed how carefully Tendulkar handled fast bowling then. He wasn't taking chances on a pitch that already asked plenty of questions.

That innings still sits among his best in Australia, and the detail adds one more layer to how he managed the physical side of facing pace.

Ellyse Perry scored 68 and Alice Capsey made 51 as Birmingham Phoenix beat Welsh Fire by seven wickets in the women's Hundred. The win came with 15 balls to spare after Perry and Capsey put on 89 for the third wicket.

Phoenix had lost their first three games. The victory lifts them off the bottom of the table, while Welsh Fire have now lost four straight and face a scramble to reach the knockout stage.

Selectors have been urged to communicate directly with a pacer who has been overlooked since India's Champions Trophy 2025 triumph. The World Cup begins in Africa in October 2027, giving India more than a year to finalise squad composition.

Mohammed Shami played a key role in India's 2023 ODI World Cup campaign but has remained out of favour with selectors. The message of exclusion often arrives through silence rather than formal communication.

Indian cricket rarely tells its stalwarts that their time is up, with missed series gradually becoming permanent omissions.

Shan Masood won't play Pakistan's second Test against West Indies. He fractured the index finger on his left hand after a Jayden Seales delivery struck him during the first innings of the opening match at Brian Lara Stadium.

Masood had already posted a century in that game before Pakistan lost by 90 runs. The injury will also keep him out of the England tour that follows.

Fast bowlers Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad received separate ICC sanctions for Code of Conduct breaches during the first Test.

Scott Edwards resigned as Netherlands captain after leading the side in 56 ODIs over four years. The wicketkeeper-batter informed the board of his decision following discussions with coach Ryan Cook. Edwards guided Netherlands to 24 ODI victories during his tenure that began in June 2022.

Bas de Leede replaces Edwards as captain for the remaining ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 matches against Oman and UAE. The all-rounder has represented Netherlands in 47 ODIs and will combine batting and bowling responsibilities with leadership duties. Edwards remains available for selection as a player.

Netherlands need points from their remaining fixtures to maintain their position in the qualification race for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Finn Allen struck an unbeaten 72 as Trent Rockets beat Manchester Super Giants by six wickets in the men's Hundred. The win moved Rockets to the top of the table after they chased down a target of 138.

Allen anchored the chase with controlled aggression and formed key partnerships that kept the required rate manageable. His unbeaten knock proved decisive in leapfrogging Manchester Super Giants in the standings.

The result leaves Manchester Super Giants needing to regroup quickly in their remaining fixtures. Rockets now hold the advantage heading into the latter stages of the competition.

The ICC has announced that 12 venues across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will host the 2027 ODI World Cup. South Africa will host eight of the stadiums as the primary host nation.

Zimbabwe and Namibia join South Africa as co-hosts for the tournament scheduled for early 2027. The venue selection includes both established Test grounds and newer facilities.

The announcement follows months of planning by the three host nations' cricket boards. Final venue allocations and match schedules will be confirmed closer to the tournament.