Australia are keeping their final playing XI under wraps ahead of the first Test against South Africa in Durban, with Cooper Connolly and Nic Maddinson competing for a place in the middle order following Cameron Green's injury. Connolly attracted attention after leaving Australia's final training session in a separate vehicle from his teammates while wearing a mask, having reported symptoms of a head cold. The young all-rounder had trained normally earlier in the afternoon, and it remains unclear whether the illness will affect his chances of featuring in the opening Test. Speaking ahead of the match, captain Pat Cummins confirmed that Australia had a combination in mind but wanted to assess the Kingsmead pitch once more before making a final decision. Connolly, who has played just one Test, against Sri Lanka in early 2025, is among the leading candidates to replace Green. Maddinson, meanwhile, has earned a surprise call-up despite not having played first-class cricket since March 2025. Connolly's Spin Could Give Him the Edge Connolly's left-arm spin could prove valuable as the Durban surface is expected to offer increasing assistance to spinners as the match progresses. However, Australia could also consider selecting both Connolly and Maddinson, potentially leaving Beau Webster out of the playing XI. "We're just trying to work out what we think is the best batting line-up for those conditions, obviously Cam Green's out," Cummins said. "Everyone brings something a little bit different to it, and it's just trying to work out what the combo is." South Africa, in contrast, have already confirmed their playing XI, opting for two frontline spinners in Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer. Cummins Wants Australia to Adapt to Slower Conditions Beyond the selection dilemma, Cummins has stressed the importance of Australia adapting to different match conditions, particularly if the Durban Test develops into a slower contest. Australia have played three two-day Tests over the past 10 months, including two against England and one against Bangladesh. Those matches have often been characterised by aggressive batting and quick bursts of wickets rather than prolonged periods of patient cricket. However, Cummins believes his side must be prepared to grind out results when conditions demand a more measured approach. He had raised similar concerns following Australia's defeat to Bangladesh in Darwin, where the batters struggled to adjust to a slower, flatter surface. "We haven't played too many of those [slower] Test matches in the last few years, particularly in Australia, they've been quite fast-paced," Cummins said. "I think a lot of our success has come off these big moments, with a Travis Head hundred or Starcy running through the top order, but I think we've got to get a little bit better at getting to the grind." The Australia captain emphasised that his team must be comfortable scoring patiently and building pressure over long periods rather than relying exclusively on attacking bursts. "It might not be the glamorous stuff, but it's that grinding out of session, going for two runs an over, not these major falls or not these whirlwind innings at times," he added. Labuschagne Under Pressure to Deliver Marnus Labuschagne will also be under scrutiny as Australia prepare for the series. The batter has gone nearly three years without a Test century, increasing the pressure on him to justify the selectors' continued faith. With Green, Australia's leading run-scorer against Bangladesh, unavailable for at least the Durban Test, and Matt Renshaw still finding his feet after returning to Test cricket, Labuschagne's contribution could be crucial. The right-hander scored a rapid century in Australia's warm-up match against the CSA Invitational XI in Potchefstroom. He had also produced strong performances in domestic cricket before earning a recall for the previous Ashes series. Cummins maintained that Labuschagne was approaching his best form but acknowledged that good performances in practice do not always translate into success in international cricket. He urged the batter to simplify his approach and focus on his scoring areas rather than overthinking his technique. "For someone like Marn, who is so skilled, it's actually zeroing in… you don't need to go too wide with all your different shots and all your different thoughts, you can always think about it too much," Cummins said. He added that Labuschagne needed to focus on surviving difficult periods, rotating the strike and building an innings rather than attempting to find the perfect batting formula. Cummins Confident Ahead of South Africa Series Meanwhile, Cummins has expressed confidence in his fitness after returning to international cricket against Bangladesh following a back stress fracture that restricted him to just one Test during the previous Ashes campaign. The Australia captain has been carefully managed ahead of the South Africa series, bowling only five overs in the final ODI and eight overs during the two-day warm-up match. Despite the limited workload, Cummins said he was feeling physically fresh and was satisfied with his preparation. "Physically I feel really fresh, I feel great," he said, adding that the warm-up match had helped him regain confidence and rhythm. He also stressed that he was no longer concerned about his back or his bowling workload and was ready to focus on the challenge ahead. With the final team combination still undecided, Australia's selection call between Connolly and Maddinson remains one of the key talking points before the Durban Test. The decision will depend on the balance of the batting line-up, the conditions at Kingsmead and Connolly's fitness ahead of the series opener.

New Zealand's promising power-hitter Bevon Jacobs is set to make his Big Bash League (BBL) debut after signing a short-term deal with Brisbane Heat for the upcoming season. Jacobs will join compatriot Tim Robinson at the franchise, replacing English all-rounder Tom Curran, who will miss the start of the competition due to family commitments. Jacobs is scheduled to feature in Brisbane Heat's opening match against Sydney Sixers at home on December 15, followed by away fixtures on December 17 and December 21. Curran is expected to join the squad ahead of the Boxing Day clash against his former team, the Sydney Sixers. The BBL commitments will overlap with New Zealand's domestic red-ball competition, the Plunket Shield, forcing Jacobs to miss Auckland's four-day match against Central Districts, which begins on December 15 in Napier. He will return to Auckland duties after completing his stint in Australia. Tim Robinson Opts for Casual Contract While Jacobs will join Brisbane Heat for a limited period, Tim Robinson has committed to the franchise for the entire BBL season after giving up his domestic contract with Wellington to sign a casual deal. Robinson's decision means he will miss the entire Super Smash season, New Zealand's domestic T20 competition, as well as one Plunket Shield fixture. Following Robinson's departure from his full-time contract, Wellington have handed a permanent deal for the 2026-27 season to 20-year-old fast bowler Ryan Tsourgas. The youngster represented New Zealand at the 2024 Under-19 World Cup and has been part of Wellington's wider squad over the past two domestic seasons. Jacobs Brings Extensive Franchise Cricket Experience Although Jacobs is yet to feature in the BBL, he has already built an impressive record in franchise cricket around the world. His experience includes stints with Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL), MI Emirates in the ILT20, Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League, Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the Caribbean Premier League and Desert Vipers in the Global Super League. The right-handed batter also enjoyed a remarkable run during the previous Super Smash season, scoring five consecutive half-centuries. The achievement saw him equal Devon Conway's record for the most successive fifties by a New Zealand batter in domestic cricket. Jacobs has also demonstrated his ability to perform in Australian conditions. During the 2024 T20 Max competition, he smashed a century off just 40 balls, attracting the attention of the Mumbai Indians' scouting network. More recently, he toured Australia with New Zealand A for the Top End T20s in Darwin in August. Jacobs scored 58 off 30 deliveries against a Hobart Hurricanes Academy attack featuring fast bowler Billy Stanlake and ambidextrous spinner Nivethan Radhakrishnan, helping New Zealand A secure victory. Brisbane Heat Excited to Welcome Jacobs Queensland Cricket's general manager of high performance, Bennett King, expressed excitement about Jacobs joining the franchise, highlighting the batter's power-hitting ability and versatility. "Bevon has been on our recruiting lists since he showed his power and skill in the KFC T20 Max a few seasons ago and it's been exciting to see him earn his first international caps since then," King said in a statement. He added that Jacobs had demonstrated his ability to contribute both at the top of the order and as a finisher, expressing confidence that he would make a valuable contribution to Brisbane Heat. India T20Is First on Jacobs' Agenda Before heading to Australia for the BBL, Jacobs will turn his attention to international cricket. He is part of New Zealand's squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against India, which begins in Christchurch on October 22. The series will provide Jacobs with another opportunity to strengthen his credentials in the shortest format before taking on his new assignment in the BBL. Brisbane Heat Squad Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Tom Curran, Lachlan Hearne, Bevon Jacobs, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matt Kuhnemann, Michael Neser, Nathan McSweeney, Matt Renshaw, Tim Robinson, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen and Jack Wildermuth.

Australia secured a convincing seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the opening match of the three-match women's ODI series, thanks to Annabel Sutherland's impressive four-wicket haul and Phoebe Litchfield's explosive half-century at Allan Border Field. Bangladesh, playing their first women's ODI in Australia, were bowled out for 166 after struggling against Australia's disciplined bowling attack. Sutherland claimed four wickets for 30 runs, while Megan Schutt picked up two wickets to put the visitors under pressure early in the innings. In reply, Australia chased down the target in just 25.4 overs, finishing at 167 for three with 24.2 overs remaining. Litchfield led the charge with a rapid 77 off 43 balls, helping Australia take a 1-0 lead in the series. The victory also extended Australia's unbeaten ODI record at Allan Border Field in Brisbane to 22 matches. Bangladesh Struggle Against Australia's Bowling Attack After electing to bat first, Bangladesh suffered an early setback when Schutt dismissed Fargana Hoque on the first ball of the innings. She soon trapped Sarmin Sultana leg before wicket, becoming only the third Australian woman to reach 150 ODI wickets. Sutherland further dented Bangladesh's hopes by dismissing Sharmin Akhter with a well-directed bouncer. Bangladesh lost three wickets inside the first powerplay and soon slipped to 48 for four. Captain Nigar Sultana attempted to stabilise the innings but struggled to score freely. She made 29 runs off 83 deliveries, while Bangladesh managed only 35 runs in approximately 15 overs during a difficult middle phase. The visitors eventually found some momentum through Ritu Moni and Shorna Akter. Moni played an aggressive innings, scoring 45 off 63 balls, including several well-timed sweeps against the Australian spinners. However, cramps affected her movement, and she was eventually run out. Shorna also contributed with some positive stroke play, but Sutherland's variations and slower deliveries restricted Bangladesh's scoring opportunities. The visitors were ultimately dismissed for 166. Litchfield's Explosive Knock Seals the Chase Australia began their chase positively, with Litchfield and Georgia Voll attacking the Bangladesh bowlers from the outset. The pair struck five boundaries in the first five overs to give the hosts a flying start. Bangladesh's 17-year-old debutant Habiba Islam provided a brief breakthrough by dismissing Voll with a sharp bouncer. Habiba later removed Beth Mooney with an excellent delivery, followed by a diving catch from Fargana Hoque at midwicket. However, Litchfield ensured that Bangladesh could not build on those breakthroughs. She struck Marufa Akter for three consecutive boundaries in the seventh over before hitting Habiba over mid-on for the match's only six. The left-hander continued to dominate with her trademark reverse sweep and reached her half-century in just 35 balls. Her aggressive approach kept Australia firmly in control of the chase. Litchfield shared an 89-run partnership for the second wicket with Ellyse Perry, who contributed 15 runs off 23 deliveries. Litchfield's innings finally ended at 77 when she stepped out to drive Rabeya Khan but hit the ball straight to the cover fielder. Habiba Provides a Bright Spot for Bangladesh Despite the defeat, Habiba delivered an encouraging performance on her ODI debut. The young fast bowler troubled Australia's batters with her pace and movement, claiming the wickets of Voll and Mooney. Her performance offered Bangladesh a positive takeaway from an otherwise disappointing outing, although Australia's dominant batting display left little room for a comeback. With Sutherland excelling with the ball and Litchfield dominating with the bat, Australia wrapped up a comprehensive victory and moved ahead 1-0 in the three-match ODI series.

India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first against the West Indies in the opening T20I of the five-match series in Lucknow. It was Iyer’s 14th toss victory in 17 matches as India captain, while the West Indies were still waiting for their first toss win on their fourth international match of the tour. India made one significant change to their batting combination, opting for an extra specialist middle-order batter and leaving out young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The decision meant India moved away from the three-opener combination they had used during the Asian Games in Japan under stand-in coach VVS Laxman. Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan retained their places alongside Abhishek Sharma, while Naman Dhir was handed another opportunity after making a strong impression on his ODI debut earlier in the tour. India went in with three specialist bowlers in Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav. The all-round options were Axar Patel, Shivam Dube and debutant Naman Dhir, giving the hosts additional depth in both batting and bowling. The West Indies, meanwhile, strengthened their T20 squad after losing the preceding ODI series 2-1. They handed a T20I debut to 30-year-old right-handed opener Kamil Pooran, who earned his place following a successful Caribbean Premier League campaign. The visitors opted for an additional seam-bowling option, with Shamar Joseph, Shamar Springer, Matthew Forde and Romario Shepherd included in the playing XI. Akeal Hosein and Roston Chase were the two specialist finger spinners. India Playing XI Abhishek Sharma Sanju Samson (wk) Ishan Kishan Shreyas Iyer (capt) Tilak Varma Shivam Dube Naman Dhir Axar Patel Kuldeep Yadav Mayank Yadav Arshdeep Singh West Indies Playing XI Shai Hope (capt & wk) Kamil Pooran Shimron Hetmyer Rovman Powell Sherfane Rutherford Romario Shepherd Roston Chase Matthew Forde Shamar Springer Akeal Hosein Shamar Joseph With India choosing to bowl first, the spotlight will be on the West Indies' revamped batting line-up and debutant Kamil Pooran, while the hosts will look to their pace attack and spin duo to make early inroads.

India have recalled veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, marking his return to the national side nearly four years after his last international appearance in the format. The 36-year-old last played a T20I for India during their tour of New Zealand in November 2022. His return comes after an impressive IPL 2026 campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he played a key role in the team's successful title defence. Bhuvneshwar finished the IPL 2026 season with 28 wickets from 16 matches, making him the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, just one wicket behind Purple Cap winner Kagiso Rabada. He was particularly effective in the knockout stages, claiming four wickets against Gujarat Titans — two in Qualifier 1 and another two in the final. The experienced seamer had also impressed during the 2025 IPL season, when he picked up 17 wickets. Overall, Bhuvneshwar has represented India in 87 T20Is, taking 90 wickets at an average of 23.10 and an economy rate of 6.96. Varun Chakravarthy Makes Comeback Legspinner Varun Chakravarthy has also returned to the India squad after recovering from a side strain. The injury was suffered during the home T20I series against Afghanistan in September and subsequently ruled him out of the one-off match against Japan as well as the Asian Games. Varun had only recently returned from a hamstring injury when he picked up the side strain in the opening match against Afghanistan. His return provides India with another experienced spin option alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. However, Ravi Bishnoi has been left out of the squad after being included in India's team for the ongoing T20I series against the West Indies. Hardik Pandya, Harshit Rana Remain Unavailable India will continue to be without all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who suffered a fresh shin injury in late September. The injury also forced him to withdraw from India A's ODI series against Australia A. Fast bowler Harshit Rana is another notable absentee as he continues to recover from an injury sustained during rehabilitation in early September. Apart from the returning Bhuvneshwar and Varun, the squad largely remains unchanged from India's ongoing T20I series against the West Indies. India Squad for New Zealand T20Is Shreyas Iyer (captain) Abhishek Sharma Sanju Samson Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Ishan Kishan Tilak Varma Axar Patel Shivam Dube Nitish Kumar Reddy Naman Dhir Prince Yadav Mayank Yadav Arshdeep Singh Bhuvneshwar Kumar Varun Chakravarthy Kuldeep Yadav Bhuvneshwar's recall adds experience to India's pace attack, while Varun's return strengthens the spin department as India prepare for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.

Smriti Mandhana has been appointed India's new all-format women's captain, succeeding Harmanpreet Kaur, who stepped down from the role after nearly a decade at the helm. Mandhana, who has been part of the Indian team since 2013, served as Harmanpreet's vice-captain for much of her tenure. She has previously led India in four ODIs and 18 T20Is and has also captained Maharashtra in domestic cricket and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women's Premier League (WPL). The 29-year-old's first assignment as India's all-format captain will be the upcoming limited-overs tour of Zimbabwe. The series will begin with three T20Is in Raipur from October 16. Mandhana was also part of the selection meeting on Tuesday, chaired by former India cricketer Amita Sharma, to finalise the squad for the Zimbabwe tour. Mandhana Acknowledges Harmanpreet's Contribution Reacting to her appointment, Mandhana described the new responsibility as a "special honour" and paid tribute to Harmanpreet for her contribution to Indian women's cricket. "I would also like to acknowledge Harmanpreet and the contribution she has made as captain over the years," Mandhana said, as quoted by the BCCI. "She has led the team with great commitment and has been an important part of our journey." Mandhana also acknowledged the responsibility that comes with leading India and said she was looking forward to working with the team and learning in the process. "I understand the responsibility that comes with this role and look forward to working with the team, learning along the way and giving my best to take Indian cricket forward," she said. Appointment Comes After Review Meeting Mandhana's appointment follows a review meeting held in Guwahati on Monday. The meeting was chaired by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and attended by Mandhana, Harmanpreet and head coach Amol Muzumdar. The meeting focused on India's future roadmap, with major tournaments on the horizon, including next year's inaugural Women's Champions Trophy in February, as well as the 2028 T20 World Cup and Los Angeles Olympics. Mandhana's Record Strengthens Her Claim Mandhana's elevation to the captaincy comes after several years of establishing herself as one of India's most important all-format players. Earlier this year, she led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their second WPL title and finished as the team's top scorer in the final. In September, Mandhana surpassed Mithali Raj to become the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket across formats. Her 18 international centuries are also the most by any player in women's cricket. She is additionally the first Indian woman to score centuries in all three international formats. With a wealth of international experience and leadership exposure behind her, Mandhana will now take charge of India's women's team across Tests, ODIs and T20Is as the side begins a new chapter under her leadership.

Shreyas Iyer smashed his maiden T20I century as India cruised to a commanding victory over the West Indies, extending their winning streak in T20 internationals to 10 matches. Chasing 172, India overcame an early wobble to race home in just 14.4 overs. Iyer produced a breathtaking assault at the end of the innings, scoring 57 of his final 18 balls and finishing with a spectacular unbeaten hundred. The West Indies had posted 171 after half-centuries from Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford. However, India's three-pronged spin attack played a decisive role, claiming eight wickets between them. Axar Patel set the tone during the powerplay with a double-wicket maiden. Kuldeep Yadav recovered from an expensive over to pick up two wickets, while T20I debutant Naman Dhir emerged as India's surprise hero. After being hit for a six, Dhir responded immediately with a wicket on three occasions, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 31. Hope and Rutherford revive West Indies After losing the toss, West Indies were sent in to bat, with Shai Hope once again opening the innings. Hope, who had enjoyed a prolific ODI series, continued his excellent form and raced to four boundaries against Mayank Yadav in the second over. Arshdeep Singh then began to pull things back with a series of yorkers. His persistence paid off when Kamil Pooran played on, giving India their first breakthrough. Axar Patel then produced a decisive fourth over. Shimron Hetmyer was run out after his bat bounced up during a dive, while Rovman Powell was bowled after failing to connect with a straight delivery. West Indies finished the powerplay at 44 for 3, leaving India firmly in control. However, Hope and Rutherford mounted a strong recovery. Rutherford attacked Kuldeep Yadav with two sixes, while West Indies collected 18 runs from Axar's 11th over. With India forced to turn to their fifth bowler, Naman Dhir stepped up. Hope struck him for a six early in the over, but Dhir responded by slowing the pace and having Hope caught at deep midwicket. Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer also fell to Dhir's variations as the debutant repeatedly responded to boundaries with wickets. West Indies, who had reached 100 for 3 after 11 overs, eventually finished on 171. India stumble before Iyer takes charge India's chase began aggressively but suffered an unexpected setback when openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson were dismissed by the West Indies spinners. Roston Chase and Akeal Hosein extracted enough assistance from the pitch to trouble India's top order, reducing the hosts to 36 for 2 after four overs. But the West Indies could not maintain the pressure. Ishan Kishan attacked Chase, while Iyer took on Shamar Joseph with a series of boundaries. India reached 62 for 2 at the end of the powerplay and appeared to have regained control. At the halfway stage, Iyer was batting on 45 from 25 balls, with Kishan on 25 from 16. India needed 70 runs from the final 10 overs. Iyer unleashes brutal assault What followed was a remarkable display of power hitting. Iyer suddenly shifted gears, smashing six sixes in the next 18 balls he faced. He tore into Matthew Forde during the 14th over, collecting 24 runs from it as India's chase turned into a procession. Kishan played the supporting role brilliantly, rotating the strike and allowing Iyer to remain on the attack. The right-hander eventually brought up his maiden T20I century with a series of clean, flat sixes, completing a remarkable turnaround after India's early setbacks. Iyer's explosive innings ended the contest with India reaching the target in just 14.4 overs, underlining their dominance and extending their T20I winning streak to 10 matches. For West Indies, the performances of Hope and Rutherford offered plenty of encouragement, but their lack of bowling options on a challenging Lucknow surface ultimately proved costly.

India batter Shreyas Iyer has made a huge jump in the latest ICC men's T20I rankings after his stunning maiden century in the format helped India defeat the West Indies in the series opener in Lucknow. Iyer surged 18 places to No. 7, the highest ranking of his T20I career. He smashed an unbeaten 102 off just 43 balls, producing a match-winning innings that propelled India to victory. Iyer is now the third-highest-ranked Indian batter in the T20I rankings. Ishan Kishan continues to occupy the top spot after scoring an unbeaten 37 off 27 balls, while Abhishek Sharma remains at No. 2 following his quickfire 21 off 10 deliveries. Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan, England's Harry Brook and Jos Buttler, and South Africa's Dewald Brevis are positioned between the top two and Iyer. West Indies batter Sherfane Rutherford was another notable mover. After scoring a 34-ball 56, Rutherford climbed 10 places from No. 47 to No. 37. Rashid Khan Regains No. 1 Spot There was also a change at the top of the T20I bowling rankings, with Afghanistan's Rashid Khan reclaiming the No. 1 position from Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed. Abrar, who finished with figures of 0 for 29 in the Asian Games semi-final and 1 for 29 in the final, slipped to second place. For Rashid, it marks the eighth occasion on which he has reached the summit of the T20I bowling rankings. The Afghanistan spinner has also spent more time at No. 1 than any other bowler in the history of the rankings. India all-rounder Axar Patel made a significant jump as well. After taking four wickets in two matches at the Asian Games and returning figures of 2 for 26 against West Indies, Axar climbed 16 places to reach No. 7. Bangladesh spinners Nasum Ahmed and Mahedi Hasan also moved up the rankings, with Nasum rising three places to No. 8 and Mahedi making a 10-place jump to No. 9. Shubman Gill Extends Lead in ODI Rankings In the ODI rankings, India's Shubman Gill strengthened his position at the top of the batters' table following his unbeaten 223 in the second ODI against West Indies. The double century, Gill's second in ODI cricket, helped him extend his lead over New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell to 47 rating points. Mitchell moved up to No. 2 after Virat Kohli slipped to third. Kohli had scored a century in the opening ODI but followed it with scores of 29 and a duck in the subsequent matches against West Indies. West Indies captain Shai Hope also made significant progress after his match-winning unbeaten 162 in the third ODI. The innings lifted him two places to No. 6. India wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul, who scored a century in the same match, climbed seven places to break into the top 10 at No. 10, despite his innings coming in a losing cause. Among ODI bowlers, West Indies pacer Jayden Seales entered the top 10 after taking three wickets in the third ODI against India. He jumped 12 places to reach No. 10. The latest ICC rankings reflect a strong showing from Indian batters, with Iyer's breakthrough T20I century and Gill's commanding ODI performances driving major movement at the top of both charts.

  Former England opener Tammy Beaumont has committed her playing future to The Blaze after signing a two-year contract extension that will keep her at the club until the end of the 2028 domestic season. The 35-year-old announced her international retirement earlier this year following England’s historic first Women’s Test at Lord’s against India in July. Beaumont finished her England career with 7,327 runs across all three formats. A key figure in England’s 2017 Women’s World Cup triumph, Beaumont began her senior career with Kent in 2007. She moved to the East Midlands in 2020, joining Lightning during the post-Covid regional era, and has remained with the side through its rebranding as The Blaze in 2023. The team is expected to undergo another change next season, with the side set to come under Nottinghamshire. Beaumont has scored more than 2,600 runs in all formats across 78 appearances for Lightning and The Blaze. She enjoyed an outstanding 2025 domestic campaign, scoring more than 900 runs in 35 matches as The Blaze completed an unprecedented domestic treble across the County Cup, T20 Blast and One Day Cup. She played crucial innings in both limited-overs finals, scoring 74 in the One Day Cup final and an unbeaten 54 in the T20 Blast decider. "I'm so excited to be here for another couple of years as we hopefully try to defend some of our trophies we won this year," Beaumont said. "It's been an amazing four years here, with so many special memories at Trent Bridge, and particularly this year, winning the treble. "Trent Bridge is a really special place for me, and I have so many memories with my team-mates, our staff, and the fans, over many years. I really can't wait to keep playing at Trent Bridge and stay part of the family for a while longer yet." Beaumont, who was born in Dover, spent 12 years with her home county Kent before also representing Surrey Stars and Southern Vipers in the Kia Super League. She has also enjoyed an extensive franchise career. In The Hundred, Beaumont has represented three teams and holds the competition's highest individual score across both the men's and women's tournaments, having smashed 118 off 61 balls for Welsh Fire in 2023. She has also played for three teams in Australia's Women's Big Bash League. The Blaze head coach Craig Cumming welcomed the extension and praised Beaumont's continued importance to the squad. "We're absolutely delighted that Tammy has agreed to extend her contract for another two years," Cumming said. "It's great news for us as a team because we can continue to call upon one of the highest-quality players of this generation, who continues to be an incredibly important part of our squad. "She's shown the world over many years exactly what she can do, and now she's stepped away from internationals, we're very excited to have her as a full-time member of our group." With her international career now behind her, Beaumont will continue to play a central role in The Blaze's domestic ambitions, with the club aiming to build on a historic treble and defend its titles over the next two seasons.

Stafanie Taylor produced a landmark all-round performance as West Indies defeated Zimbabwe by eight wickets in the third T20I in Harare, completing a clean sweep in the series. Taylor became only the fourth woman in T20I history to reach the milestone of 3,000 runs and 100 wickets, achieving the feat in style with both bat and ball. After being asked to bat first, Zimbabwe posted 142 for 6, with opener Kelis Ndhlovu leading the way. Ndhlovu scored an impressive 63 from 48 deliveries, hitting six fours and three sixes, to register her fifth T20I half-century. Zimbabwe reached 40 for 1 during the powerplay before Taylor was introduced into the attack. The veteran all-rounder made an immediate impact, dismissing Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano with her second delivery to claim her 100th T20I wicket. Taylor returned later to remove Chiedza Dhururu lbw, finishing with excellent figures of 2 for 8 from her four overs. Jahzara Claxton also claimed two wickets, restricting Zimbabwe's scoring opportunities despite a late surge. Zimbabwe managed 41 runs from the final four overs, with Ndhlovu and Christine Mutasa putting together a 40-run partnership from just 27 balls for the fifth wicket. Mutasa remained unbeaten on 24, helping the hosts reach a competitive 142 for 6. West Indies, however, made light work of the chase. Claxton provided the early momentum, scoring 38 from 37 balls and forming a crucial 71-run second-wicket partnership with Taylor. Her innings ensured the visitors remained in control despite the loss of a wicket in the middle overs. Taylor then completed the chase in commanding fashion, smashing an unbeaten 64 from just 39 balls, including 11 fours. West Indies reached 143 for 2 in only 17 overs, securing an eight-wicket victory with 18 balls remaining. The difference between the two sides was particularly evident during the middle overs. Zimbabwe managed only 61 runs for the loss of three wickets between overs seven and 16, while West Indies scored 85 during the same period, losing only Claxton, who was bowled by Beloved Biza. Taylor's historic milestone and match-winning contribution capped a dominant series for West Indies, who completed a comprehensive T20I sweep over Zimbabwe

South Australia opener Jake Weatherald has been ruled out of the opening Sheffield Shield match against Victoria after suffering delayed concussion symptoms following a head-first collision with a boundary advertising hoarding at the Junction Oval. The incident occurred during the 24th over on the opening morning when Weatherald chased a cover drive from Victoria batter Ollie Peake towards the boundary. Attempting to save runs, the South Australian opener dived head-first but was unable to stop his momentum. Weatherald slid several metres beyond the boundary rope before hitting the back of his head against the base of a metal advertising hoarding positioned near the boundary. He was immediately helped to his feet by a teammate and initially showed no obvious signs of injury. Despite the collision, Weatherald continued to field for the remainder of the day. He also opened the batting when South Australia faced an eight-over spell late in the day after Victoria were dismissed for 244. However, his return with the bat lasted only six deliveries. Weatherald edged Victoria debutant Harry Hoekstra through to the wicketkeeper for a duck. On the morning of the second day, Weatherald was withdrawn from the match after reporting concussion symptoms that had developed overnight. South Australia have brought in former New South Wales wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Gilkes as Weatherald's concussion substitute. Gilkes, who recently joined South Australia, will be available to bat in the state's second innings. Weatherald will now undergo the required concussion monitoring process and must remain symptom-free before he can return to competitive cricket. His availability for South Australia's second-round Sheffield Shield clash against Queensland in Adelaide, beginning on October 19, remains uncertain. The setback comes at a difficult time for Weatherald, who is attempting to rebuild his career after being dropped from Australia's Test side in August. He managed only one half-century in 12 innings across his first six Tests. However, Weatherald had made an encouraging start to his domestic campaign, scoring an unbeaten-looking 92 in his only One-Day Cup appearance for South Australia before returning to the Sheffield Shield. South Australia will now hope their opener makes a full recovery before the next round of the competition.

Former New Zealand international cricketers Martin Guptill and Andre Adams have joined interim head coach Dean Brownlie’s support staff for the White Ferns’ upcoming three-match T20I series against Australia. New Zealand Cricket confirmed on Thursday that Guptill will take on the role of specialist batting and fielding support, replacing Craig McMillan, who is currently recovering from back surgery. Guptill, one of New Zealand’s most-capped men’s cricketers with 367 international appearances between 2009 and 2022, said he was excited about working with the women’s team and contributing to the development of the players. “I’m really excited to be joining the White Ferns and looking forward to working with such a talented group of players,” Guptill said. “The White Ferns have achieved a huge amount in recent years and there’s a lot of exciting talent coming through. If I can help add a few extra tools to the players’ games and support their growth, then that’s something I’ll be really proud of.” Adams, meanwhile, will serve as an assistant to Brownlie. The former New Zealand allrounder, who played 47 internationals between 2001 and 2007, returns to the White Ferns setup after previous involvement with the team in 2017 and 2023. Adams, who is currently an assistant coach with the Otago Volts, recently worked with Birmingham Phoenix in the women’s Hundred. “It’s great to be back involved with the White Ferns,” Adams said. “Having worked with the team before I know what a special environment it is and how much pride the players and staff take in representing New Zealand.” Brownlie was appointed interim head coach after Ben Sawyer stepped down in September following a review of New Zealand Cricket’s women’s high-performance structure. His appointment currently covers only the upcoming three-match T20I series in Australia. The White Ferns will depart for Australia on October 12. Before the T20I series, they are scheduled to face a Governor-General’s XI in a warm-up match on October 25. The three T20Is against Australia will be played at North Sydney Oval on October 18, 20 and 22. New Zealand T20I Squad for Australia Tour Melie Kerr (captain) Eden Carson Flora Devonshire Maddy Green Brooke Halliday Bree Illing Polly Inglis (wicketkeeper) Bella James Jess Kerr Rosemary Mair Nensi Patel Molly Penfold Georgia Plimmer Hannah Rowe Izzy Sharp