New Zealand Cricket scraps Major League Cricket franchise plan

New Zealand Cricket scraps Major League Cricket franchise plan

New Zealand Cricket has ended its bid to launch a Major League Cricket franchise in 2027, stepping back from its partnership with US company True North Sports Ventures. The plan had been announced in April last year, with Toronto and Atlanta among the cities considered for a team and a second franchise potentially in 2031.

Chief executive Geoff Allott said the American market had potential, but NZC did not think the timing was right. He said the organisation’s immediate priority was strengthening cricket in New Zealand and improving its high-performance environment. Allott also confirmed NZC had invested no capital in the partnership.

South Africa close in on series-levelling win over Australia

South Africa moved within two wickets of a series-levelling win in the second Test at St George’s Park, with Australia 272 for 8 in its follow-on innings and still 60 runs short of making South Africa bat again. Wiaan Mulder removed Pat Cummins and Scott Boland late on day five, while Alex Carey was unbeaten on 21. The Guardian reported the final-day action.

Australia had been bowled out for 99 in its first innings and finished day four at 156 for 4 in the follow-on, 170 runs behind. Marco Jansen took 5 for 33 in the first innings, and Kagiso Rabada claimed two second-innings wickets. Travis Head was unbeaten on 87 at stumps on day four; Steve Smith, who had made 28 in the first innings while struggling with a neck injury, did not bat again. NZ Herald and Sportstar reported the day-four position.

Australia’s Megan Schutt accepts two-match suspension for medication breach

Australia fast bowler Megan Schutt has accepted a two-match suspension for failing to follow requirements on prescription medication under Cricket Australia’s Sports Science and Sports Medicine guidelines. CA said the breach involved a single incident outside competition and was not for performance-enhancing purposes.

Schutt apologised and said she accepted the penalty and was responsible for following the guidelines. The ban applies to international and domestic cricket. The Guardian reported that she served the first match of the suspension when Australia’s T20 international against New Zealand was washed out; Sportstar said she was set to miss the final T20I and Adelaide Strikers’ WBBL opener against Melbourne Stars on October 31.

Harry Brook makes England’s first ODI double century and breaks fastest-record mark

England captain Harry Brook became the first England batter to score an ODI double century, making 202 against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. He reached 200 in 114 balls, three deliveries faster than the previous record of 117 balls set by India’s Shubman Gill. Sportstar and CricTracker reported the record-breaking innings.

Brook’s 202 surpassed Ben Stokes’ England record of 182. CricTracker reported that England finished on 429 for 4, the highest ODI total posted in Pakistan, and that Brook hit 21 fours and 10 sixes before being dismissed off the final ball of the innings.

Jalaj Saxena matches Bishan Bedi’s Ranji Trophy five-wicket-haul tally

Kerala beat Odisha by an innings and 36 runs in Thiruvananthapuram, taking seven points. Jalaj Saxena took 5 for 34 as Odisha were dismissed for 143 in 23.3 overs on the fourth morning, before rain arrived. The Hindu reported that Aditya Sarvate and Vaisakh Chandran also helped maintain pressure on Odisha’s batters.

The five-wicket haul was Saxena’s 35th in the Ranji Trophy, drawing him level with Bishan Singh Bedi for the joint fifth-most in the competition’s history. Times of India reported that Odisha became the 20th Ranji team against which Saxena has taken five wickets.

Lancashire decline to renew James Anderson’s contract

Lancashire will not offer James Anderson a contract for the 2027 season, leaving the 44-year-old’s professional future uncertain. The Guardian reported that Lancashire’s new leadership told Anderson on Monday that he was not in its plans; the club has not commented, and Anderson has not announced his retirement.

Anderson took 50 County Championship wickets in 2026 and captained Lancashire, who finished near the bottom of Division Two. He played his final Test for England in 2024 and has taken 704 Test wickets. BBC Sport reported that 443 of his 1,193 first-class wickets came for Lancashire.

Pakistan veterans barred from playing in International Masters Cricket World Cup in India

Pakistan’s over-50s team will not take part in the International Masters Cricket World Cup in India next January after the Pakistan Cricket Board refused permission to travel. The team won the previous edition in Sri Lanka.

Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association head Fawad Ijaz said organisers had been told to arrange a replacement. He said the organisers and host nation had assured the association about visas and security before it sought permission from the PCB and government ministries. Ijaz said interior minister and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi told them the team could not play in India.

Gary Stead says home advantage has faded in international cricket

Former New Zealand coach Gary Stead said teams can no longer rely on home advantage as opponents have become better equipped to adapt to conditions. Stead, now coach of Andhra, pointed to India’s improved pace attack and New Zealand’s quality spin options during its 2024 Test series win in India.

Stead said the two Tests between New Zealand and India would be played at Hagley Oval and Wellington, grounds known for bounce and carry, and that the contest could turn on the batting sides. He also urged the ICC to consider more multi-format tours, saying longer series could help sustain interest.

India beat New Zealand after Abhishek Sharma sets T20I six-hitting record

India beat New Zealand by four wickets in the opening T20I at Hagley Oval, chasing 226 with two deliveries to spare, NZ Herald reported. Glenn Phillips made an unbeaten 82 from 40 balls as New Zealand scored 225 for 4; India’s Sanju Samson led the chase with 67 from 33 balls.

Times of India reported that Abhishek Sharma hit a six from the first ball he faced, taking his total to seven such sixes in T20Is and moving past Afghanistan’s Shafiqullah Shinwari. Abhishek made 29 from 12 balls, and his opening stand with Samson reached 93 in 5.5 overs.

Western Australia hold out New South Wales for Sheffield Shield draw

Western Australia escaped with a draw after injured opener Joel Paris and No. 11 Curtis survived 28 overs together at the crease. Paris batted with a runner after injuring his hamstring, ESPNcricinfo reported.

New South Wales were unable to take the final wicket and remain winless at the start of the Sheffield Shield season, Cricket Australia reported.

Rain washes out final Australia-New Zealand women’s T20I

Rain abandoned the third T20I at North Sydney Oval after New Zealand reached 14 for 2 in 2.4 overs. Australia won the series 2-0 after victories in the first two matches, and retained the Rose Bowl, CricTracker reported.

The second match ended in a 40-run Australia win, with Ash Gardner named player of the match after scoring 84 from 45 balls and taking 2 for 17. CricTracker reported that Gardner was player of the series across the two completed games.