India captain Shubman Gill is available for the first Test against Sri Lanka after missing the opening two days of the warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI as a precaution. Gill sustained an impact injury to his right ring finger during practice on Thursday. India's spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule confirmed that Gill has been absolutely fine and is very much ready for the Test match.

Gill returned to batting on the final day of the warm-up and scored 44 runs while opening the innings. He had a lengthy practice session in the nets before batting in India's chase of 207. Bahutule said Gill takes his preparation very seriously and understands the demands of the particular series.

The warm-up match was trimmed to three days at the last minute. India defeated Sri Lanka Cricket XI by six wickets after Mohammed Siraj smashed three consecutive sixes in the final over to seal the chase. Devdutt Padikkal scored an unbeaten 142 in India's first innings.

Sandeep Lamichhane has been appointed Nepal's new ODI captain ahead of the ACC Men's Premier Cup. The 26-year-old leg-spinner replaces Rohit Paudel, who took over the role in 2022 after Lamichhane's previous stint as captain in 14 ODIs.

Lamichhane holds 154 ODI wickets from 77 matches and became the fastest Nepalese player to reach 150 ODI wickets. He is also the first Nepal player to claim 100 T20I wickets. Paudel led Nepal to 11 wins in 12 ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 matches, securing qualification for the 2023 World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.

The appointment comes as Nepal prepares for the ACC Men's Premier Cup, with Lamichhane expected to lead the side in the tournament.

Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for 32 after a run-out mix-up with KL Rahul on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Rahul drove a flighted delivery from Keshara Nuwantha towards mid-on and called for a single. Jaiswal started but collided with the bowler, fell to the ground, then changed direction twice before both batters ended up at the same end. Rahul made his ground first, leaving Jaiswal short of the crease. Niroshan Dickwella removed the bails after consulting captain Dhananjaya de Silva. Jaiswal had struck five fours before the unusual dismissal. India won the toss and elected to bat first in their 600th Test match.

Liam Livingstone and Dewald Brevis shared a 103-run partnership to help London Spirit defeat Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred. Livingstone scored 66 off 30 balls, while Brevis contributed significantly in the stand that ended Spirit's losing streak at Lord's. The partnership included several large sixes and allowed Spirit to chase down the target with overs to spare. The result keeps Spirit in contention in the competition.

Sir Garry Sobers played for Norton Cricket Club in the North Staffordshire and South Cheshire League during the summers of 1964, 1965 and 1967 because overseas players could not easily join county sides at the time. His brother Gerry kept wicket for the club, and fast bowler Wes Hall also appeared as a guest.

Sobers toured England with the West Indies in 1963 and 1966. A local player recalled one of his sixes landing in the car park, which discouraged spectators from parking there during matches.

Sobers was described as approachable as he was gifted during his time at the club.

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald says the call on how many of their players can play the 2027 IPL will wait until after their five-Test tour of India. The schedule is heavy: 20 Tests and 14 white-ball games in the next twelve months, with the IPL window sitting between that tour and the World Test Championship final.

Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green and Travis Head are all on franchise lists, and Josh Inglis is with Lucknow Super Giants. McDonald made it clear the priority is managing the fast bowlers' workloads and keeping them fit through a long stretch of Test cricket.

The IPL stays an option, not a promise. Australia will look at each player's form and fitness, match by match, before making a call.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has warned more than a dozen former players of two-year sanctions after they played in an unsanctioned T20 league in Zambia. The Asian Legends League in Lusaka was stopped once the Zambia Cricket Union said it never approved the tournament.

Players who took part without the right approvals now face a two-year ban from getting NOCs for overseas leagues, and they won't be eligible for PCB or PSL assignments. Mohammad Hafeez, Sohail Tanvir and Umar Akmal pulled out once they heard approvals were missing.

Imran Nazir, Yasir Shah and Mohammad Irfan are among those understood to have played. Some returned without the payments they expected.

Ajinkya Rahane revealed he sent Yashasvi Jaiswal off the field during the 2022 Duleep Trophy final to prevent the youngster from receiving a four-match ban. The incident occurred when Jaiswal became involved in a heated altercation with South Zone batter Ravi Teja.

Rahane said the match referee had already prepared the suspension letter when he intervened as West Zone captain. The referee tore up the letter after Rahane took responsibility for removing his teammate from the field.

Jaiswal went on to score 265 in the match and made his India debut the following year. Rahane said he sensed the situation was spiralling and acted to protect his teammate's career from potential long-term consequences.

Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has been appointed as England Test coach, with Joe Root returning as captain. Fleming led Chennai Super Kings to five Indian Premier League titles during his 17-year tenure but has never previously worked as head coach of a national team.

Root, 35, captained England to a record 27 Test wins in 65 matches between 2017 and 2022. He replaces Ben Stokes, who retired from international cricket in June. Fleming will not be in charge for the Test series against Pakistan beginning August 19, with assistant coach Marcus Trescothick serving as interim head coach.

Fleming said the role is one of the most prestigious coaching positions in world cricket. Root described the appointment as a huge motivator and said Fleming has proved to be an exceptional leader. Fleming will begin preparations for the South Africa Test tour in December after spending time with his family in New Zealand.

Southern Brave's hopes of reaching The Hundred knockout stages ended after a 10-run defeat to Manchester Super Giants at Southampton. Moeen Ali and Tristan Stubbs produced two direct-hit run-outs to restrict the visitors, but the target proved just out of reach.

Super Giants lost eight wickets for 30 runs after reaching 119 for none, finishing on 149 for eight. Stubbs remained unbeaten on 53 in the chase, but Brave could not complete the required runs.

The result leaves four teams level on 16 points fighting for the final two knockout places, with Trent Rockets already assured of a top-three finish.

Charith Asalanka and Eshan Malinga took six wickets between them as Galle Marvels dismissed Jaffna Kings for 123 to win their maiden Lanka Premier League title. Galle's bowlers kept Jaffna under pressure all the way and struck regularly, never letting the Kings build any momentum. The low total left Jaffna well short in the final.

Jaffna had reached the title match on the back of strong showings earlier in the tournament, but their batsmen couldn't find any rhythm once Galle started to chip away.

Mitchell Santner scored an unbeaten 52 off 23 balls as Trent Rockets beat MI London by six wickets at The Oval. The win moved Rockets to 24 points, eight ahead of the four teams on 16 points.

Rockets chased 148 after MI London posted 147 for seven. Sam Curran top-scored with 72 off 46 balls for the hosts.

Rockets need only to avoid defeat in their final group match against Southern Brave to secure a top-two finish and automatic qualification for the Lord's final.