England announce record 39 central contracts and split coaching setups under Fleming and McCullum
England men’s team director Rob Key has unveiled a record 39-player central contract list for 2026-27 and confirmed split coaching structures with Stephen Fleming taking Tests and Brendon McCullum staying with white-ball. The 30 main deals and nine development deals include two-year extensions for Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jofra Archer and Jacob Bethell, a straight two-year call-up for Jordan Cox, and one-year deals for Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith and returning Ollie Robinson.
Matches
Mumbai crush Chandigarh for 78 as Tushar Deshpande takes hat-trick on 50th first-class match
Tushar Deshpande produced a fiery five for 17 including a hat-trick in his 50th first-class game as Mumbai bowled Chandigarh out for 78 and enforced the follow-on in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group D clash at Wankhede, building a 351-run lead.
Powell, Rutherford hit with ICC reprimands and demerit points for Ranchi T20I breaches
West Indies' Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford have been officially reprimanded and handed a demerit point each by the ICC after separate Level 1 code of conduct breaches during the second T20I against India in Ranchi.
Tushar Deshpande’s hat-trick demolishes Chandigarh as Ranji action delivers a day of big scores
Tushar Deshpande took a hat-trick and five wickets as Mumbai bowled Chandigarh out for 78, while centuries and near-misses shaped a busy day across the Ranji Trophy. Akshay Wadkar came within two runs of a double hundred for Vidarbha, and several other teams built substantial first-innings totals.
Renshaw's 82 and first Test wicket leave Australia six wickets from victory in Durban
Matt Renshaw followed his first-innings 190 with 82 and claimed his maiden Test wicket as Australia declared on 314-6, setting South Africa a would-be world-record 421. The hosts closed day four on 102-4, still 319 short with six wickets in hand, as Australia closed in on a statement win that would end Temba Bavuma's unbeaten run as captain.
Transfers & Teams
England announce record 39 central contracts and split coaching setups under Fleming and McCullum
England men’s team director Rob Key has unveiled a record 39-player central contract list for 2026-27 and confirmed split coaching structures with Stephen Fleming taking Tests and Brendon McCullum staying with white-ball. The 30 main deals and nine development deals include two-year extensions for Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jofra Archer and Jacob Bethell, a straight two-year call-up for Jordan Cox, and one-year deals for Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith and returning Ollie Robinson.
Glamorgan Begin Hunt for Fourth Head Coach in Five Years as Richard Dawson Joins England Test Set-Up
Glamorgan are searching for a fourth head coach in five years after Richard Dawson left Sophia Gardens to become assistant coach of the England Test team. Dawson, 46, guided the Welsh county to County Championship promotion and then a best-ever sixth-place Division One finish, but departs for a role he says he 'couldn't pass up'.
Rob Key says Brydon Carse can return as England expand central contracts to 39 players
England have announced an expanded 39-player central contract list for 2026-27, with 30 central deals and nine development deals. Ollie Robinson is recalled, Henry Crocombe receives an unprecedented two-year deal for an uncapped player, and Brydon Carse is retained despite an ongoing Cricket Regulator investigation. Director of cricket Rob Key said Carse could play for England again depending on the outcome of the charge.
People & Analysis
Spandana Somanna Reveals Six-Year Romance With Fiancé Varun Muniraju: 'I Am Here, And He Is There'
Kannada television actress Spandana Somanna has shared new details about her six-year relationship with fiancé Varun Muniraju, revealing that the couple were college classmates who never spoke, fell in love during the COVID-19 pandemic, and have spent years navigating a long-distance relationship across countries and time zones.
Pant ruled out of first two India A games; Kushagra steps in
Rishabh Pant will miss the first two matches of India A’s New Zealand tour after sustaining a left-side strain in the Irani Cup. Kumar Kushagra has been named as his replacement, while Pant’s availability for the third game will be reviewed later.