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.

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.

Jos Buttler scored 52 with four sixes as Manchester Super Giants posted 137 against Trent Rockets at Old Trafford. The England batter's innings came in a losing cause as Trent Rockets chased the target with six wickets and 12 balls to spare. Finn Allen remained unbeaten on 72 to guide the chase.

Buttler's half-century was his third consecutive score above fifty in the competition. The 36-year-old has now accumulated 178 runs at an average of 59.33 in the 2026 season. Manchester Super Giants have lost three of their five matches despite Buttler's contributions.

Trent Rockets moved to the top of the Hundred table with the victory. The result leaves Manchester Super Giants needing to win their remaining three matches to reach the knockout stage.

Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Luff both scored half-centuries to guide Trent Rockets to a 31-run victory over Manchester Super Giants in the Women's Hundred. The pair's batting efforts formed the backbone of Rockets' total and set up a defendable score. Rockets restricted their opponents after posting a competitive total.

Dunkley and Luff built a substantial partnership that shifted momentum in favour of Rockets during the middle overs. Their contributions proved decisive in the outcome at Old Trafford. Manchester Super Giants were unable to match the required run rate in the chase.

The result improves Rockets' standing in the women's competition following the men's side's earlier success on the same day. Both teams continue their campaigns with further matches scheduled.

Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Luff both scored half-centuries as Trent Rockets defeated Manchester Super Giants by 31 runs in the Women's Hundred. Their partnership formed the backbone of a total that proved beyond the visitors' reach.

Dunkley gave early momentum while Luff anchored the middle order. The result strengthened Trent Rockets' position in the group standings.

Manchester Super Giants struggled to match the required rate after losing early wickets and never recovered despite a late effort from their lower order.

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.

Saltburn Cricket Club has suspended the player at the centre of the 'Clicky Ponting' cheating allegations. The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League expressed genuine concern for the welfare of club members as it continues its inquiry. The incident involved a fielder accused of clicking his fingers to fake an edge during a local league match.

The video of the alleged incident has been viewed over 7.5 million times on X. Saltburn have said they are treating the allegations very seriously and the player will not feature again in the foreseeable future. The club has conceded Wednesday's second-team cup fixture.

The wicketkeeper's account remains a key element in the investigation according to BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew. The league continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the viral footage.

Ravichandran Ashwin believes Bhuvneshwar Kumar should be considered for India's 2027 ODI World Cup squad. The former India spinner said the veteran seamer's experience would benefit the team in challenging conditions overseas. Kumar last played an ODI in 2022.

Ashwin argued that Kumar's ability to swing the ball and bowl tight spells remains valuable. He pointed to Kumar's record in helpful conditions as a reason for a possible recall. The pacer currently plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL.

India have not announced their preliminary squad for the 2027 World Cup.

Ben Stokes will balance his commitments with Durham and franchise leagues according to England cricket sources. The England captain's schedule reflects the increasing overlap between domestic and T20 franchise cricket.

Stokes remains central to England's white-ball and red-ball plans. His dual role requires careful workload management across the international calendar and county obligations.

The arrangement allows Stokes to maintain his connection with Durham while participating in lucrative franchise competitions. England cricket officials have not set specific limits on his franchise appearances.

Jasprit Bumrah passed his fitness tests at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and will play both Tests against Sri Lanka next month. The fast bowler had been named in the squad subject to fitness after sustaining an impact injury to his left knee during the recent ODI series against England. He missed the third ODI at Lord's but featured in the first two matches of that series.

India's warm-up match against a local Sri Lankan side has been shortened ahead of the two-Test tour. The BCCI announced the fixture adjustment on Thursday as preparations continue in Bengaluru. Bumrah's availability gives India their first-choice pace attack for the series.

Kuldeep Yadav took four wickets and scored 32 runs as Yorkshire beat Durham in the One-Day Cup. The spinner's all-round contribution helped secure a comprehensive victory for his county side.