Cameron Green fit to return for Australia’s South Africa decider

Cameron Green fit to return for Australia’s South Africa decider

Cameron Green has declared himself fit for Australia’s series-deciding Test against South Africa in Cape Town, but is expected to return as a specialist batter while he awaits clearance to bowl. Green missed the first two Tests after an abdominal muscle injury and said his recovery had progressed faster than expected. He favours batting at No. 4 or No. 5 but is willing to adapt to the team’s needs.

Australia’s selectors face questions after the team was dismissed for 99 in the first innings of its innings-and-31-run loss in Gqeberha, which levelled the series at 1-1. Matt Renshaw, who scored 190 and 82 in the opening Test, is also in contention. The Guardian’s Martin Pegan reported that Marnus Labuschagne could be considered to open, with his run without a Test century now extending beyond three years.

Pakistan wear pink to raise breast cancer awareness

Pakistan wore pink in their ODI Tri-Series match against England in Lahore as part of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s efforts to raise awareness for breast cancer, The Independent reported.

England lost three wickets by the fifth over, with Tom Banton, Joe Root and captain Harry Brook dismissed, and Pakistan captain Shaheen taking two early wickets, according to The Independent.

Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy steer India to another New Zealand win

Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 51 off 26 balls and Nitish Kumar Reddy’s 26 not out carried India to a four-wicket win over New Zealand in Christchurch. India chased 180, recovering from 112 for six, and reached the target with a ball to spare. The victory gave India a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.

The pair added an unbroken 69 for the seventh wicket. Varma said the plan was to bat through the innings, work gaps and run hard against spin before taking on the pace bowlers. The Hindu reported that fans celebrated the two cricketers, who are from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, as “Telugu brothers.”

Jimmy Anderson confirms Lancashire exit after contract decision

Lancashire’s incoming director of cricket, Paul Farbrace, said the club had explained its decision to Anderson at a meeting with chief executive Richard Kenyon on October 19. The Guardian reported that Anderson took 50 Championship wickets in 2026 and had not said whether he would retire or play elsewhere.

India look to extend lead against injury-hit Zimbabwe

India went into the second women’s ODI against Zimbabwe seeking an unassailable series lead after winning the opener by nine wickets. Sportstar reported that Josephine Nkomo and Kelis Ndhlovu had missed the first match as Zimbabwe dealt with niggles and a busy schedule.

India also had selection questions of its own, including whether to rest wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh and bring in Yastika Bhatia. In the second ODI, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma scored hundreds as India reached 328 for six, according to Sportstar’s live report.

Afghanistan and Zimbabwe set for three T20Is in Sharjah

Afghanistan will host Zimbabwe for three T20Is at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 27, 29 and November 1, after beating Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the final of a tri-series that also featured Bangladesh. The matches are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. local time, Wisden reported.

Ibrahim Zadran will captain Afghanistan, while Sikandar Raza will lead Zimbabwe. Veteran Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi was left out, and Zimbabwe’s Brad Evans is set to play the first two matches before Kundai Matigimu joins for the third.

New Zealand rotate fast bowlers for rest of India T20I series

New Zealand will rotate its fast bowlers for the remaining three T20Is against India. Lockie Ferguson will miss the third match and return for the last two, while Matt Henry will sit out the rest of the series. Kyle Jamieson is available for the third match only.

Blair Tickner will join for the final three matches, Josh Clarkson for the last two, and Matt Fisher will travel as cover for the third. New Zealand coach Rob Walter said the squad had the depth to manage workloads amid a busy schedule. India lead the series 2-0 after winning the first two matches.

Sam Konstas scores another century to boost Australia recall case

Sam Konstas struck an unbeaten 149 off 131 balls to lead New South Wales to a 78-run One-Day Cup win over Western Australia at the WACA. NSW made 371 for eight, then bowled WA out for 293. Konstas’s innings included 15 fours and four sixes.

The century followed scores of 71 and 151 not out for NSW in the Sheffield Shield against WA. Wisden reported that Konstas had made four consecutive scores of at least 50, adding to discussion of a possible Australia recall ahead of the upcoming home Test series against New Zealand.

Padikkal and Sudharsan steady India A after early wickets

Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan put on an unbeaten 96-run partnership to help India A reach 106 for two in its second innings against New Zealand A. Padikkal was 56 not out and Sudharsan 39 not out at stumps on Day 2, with India A trailing by 98 runs.

Yashasvi Jaiswal made five and KL Rahul four before falling cheaply. Earlier, New Zealand A made 317, taking a 204-run first-innings lead; Anshul Kamboj and Auqib Nabi took three wickets each for India A.

Pakistan recall Salman Ali Agha and Ali Usman for Sri Lanka Tests

Pakistan have recalled Salman Ali Agha and left-arm spinner Ali Usman to a 14-player squad for two Tests against Sri Lanka. Babar Azam will captain the side, which includes uncapped batters Mohammad Taha, Sameer Minhas and Mohammad Suleman. The first Test begins in Rawalpindi on November 9, with the second in Lahore from November 17.

Mohammad Rizwan was left out, along with Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq and Saim Ayub. Sportstar reported that Rizwan is under inquiry over allegations of online betting, gambling and the leaking of dressing-room information, but has been allowed to play domestic cricket.

Tamil Nadu seek another outright Ranji win against Railways

Tamil Nadu will host Railways at the MAC Stadium looking for a second consecutive outright win in the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy. Tamil Nadu have eight points from two matches, including an innings victory over Uttarakhand, while Railways have taken two points from two draws.

Tamil Nadu coach Yo Mahesh said rain had limited the team’s practice and that he would assess the pitch and forecast before deciding whether to add a seamer. The side’s bowling attack, which dismissed Uttarakhand for 134 and 113, will again look to Sai Kishore, Ajith Ram and Gurjapneet Singh.

Nepal Premier League begins with repeat of last year’s final

The third Nepal Premier League begins on October 26 with defending champions Lumbini Lions facing Sudurpaschim Royals, the teams that contested last year’s final. The tournament features 32 matches, with eight teams playing a round-robin stage before the top four advance to the playoffs. The final is scheduled for November 21.

The matches will be played at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Wisden reported that Indian viewers can stream the tournament on Fancode, while Himalaya Sports TV and NetTV will provide coverage in Nepal.

BCCI shortlists 10 Uttar Pradesh players for WPL auction

Ten women cricketers from Uttar Pradesh have been shortlisted for the 2027 Women’s Premier League auction, The Times of India reported. The players are Ayushi Soni, Sonam Yadav, Varinka Singh, Sandhya Chhetri, Chandni Sharma, Sonali Singh, Bharti Singh, Kalpana Singh, Rekha Singh and Nisha Verma.

The auction is scheduled for October 28 in Kochi. The report said 146 players have been shortlisted, including 119 Indians, and that the fifth WPL season will run from January 14 to February 7, 2027.

Tim Southee backs Bhuvneshwar Kumar after India recall

Former New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee described Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s recall to India’s T20I side as well deserved and said he expected the experienced bowler to bounce back. Bhuvneshwar took one wicket across the first two matches against New Zealand, in which he conceded 49 and 50 runs from four overs.

Southee pointed to the batting-friendly pitches and lack of swing as challenges for the bowlers. In its comparison of the two Indian quicks’ T20I records, CricTracker reported that Jasprit Bumrah has more wickets and better career averages, economy and strike rate, while Bhuvneshwar has more four- and five-wicket hauls.

Usman Khawaja reveals rheumatoid arthritis battle kept secret during career

Usman Khawaja has revealed he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 22 and kept the condition private from teammates throughout his international career. He told ABC News that severe knee pain left him unable to walk 10 metres to the bathroom and that he feared he was going to die.

Khawaja said he informed medical staff, coaches and cricket administrators but did not want special treatment or the illness used against him. Regular injections helped him return to cricket about six months after his diagnosis. He is detailing the experience in his forthcoming autobiography, Sabr.

Usman Khawaja urges Australia to consider Matt Kuhnemann

Usman Khawaja has urged Australia to consider left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann for the deciding Test against South Africa. Khawaja noted that South Africa have several right-handed batters and said Kuhnemann, who has taken a Test five-wicket haul, deserved to be part of the selection discussion.

Khawaja also said Nic Maddinson could be better suited to the middle order than opening. Australia’s selection questions include how to accommodate Cameron Green as he returns from injury and where to bat Marnus Labuschagne.