This year, teams playing in the County Championship have benefited from a more relaxed set of rules surrounding substitutes and when they can be used. Prior to a trial which started at the beginning of the 2026 season, substitutes were only permitted in the event of a player being concussed or receiving an international call-up.
Pakistan have begun an inquiry into “discipline and conduct” in the latest twist on a turbulent tour of England. Already 2-0 down in the three-match Test series, Pakistan last week sent seven players home, called up seven more and replaced head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed with New Zealander Mike Hesson. During the second Test at Lord’s,
Out-of-form Marnus Labuschagne has been named in the Australia squad for next month’s three-Test tour of South Africa. Number three Labuschagne, 32, who was born in South Africa, has failed to score a century since 2023 and struggled in two Tests against Bangladesh last month. Having scored one, 31 and four, he was then left
Surrey have signed Durham and England Lions leg-spinner Nathan Sowter on a “multi-year” white-ball contract. The Australian-born bowler is familiar to the Kia Oval, having played there in the past five seasons of The Hundred, both for the Oval Invincibles and MI London. Sowter, 33, told Surrey’s website, external: “When the opportunity to move to
Middlesex captain Leus du Plooy will leave the club at the end of the season, after opting to recommit in international cricket to his native South Africa. His deal, which was due to expire in 2027, relied on him being qualified as a local player, and he had previously expressed an interest in playing for
England have appointed former Ashes-winning batter Kevin Pietersen to their white-ball coaching team in the build-up to the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup. Pietersen, 46, joins as a specialist mentor and will start in the role for the upcoming T20 and one-day matches against Sri Lanka. He will also be involved in this winter’s tours