Brian Devine banned for two years as Saltburn is relegated after cricket cheating scandal

Brian Devine banned for two years as Saltburn is relegated after cheating scandal

Brian Devine, dubbed “Clicky Ponting,” has been suspended from cricket under the England and Wales Cricket Board’s jurisdiction until September 29, 2028, after an investigation into footage of him clicking his fingers to imitate the sound of a ball edging a bat. The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League said Devine and Saltburn Cricket Club admitted the charges.

Saltburn’s second XI was relegated to Division Three, fined £300 and given a 60-point deduction for the 2027 season. The league said its investigation included player interviews and a review of video footage.

Mohammed Shami retires from Test cricket with 229 wickets

Mohammed Shami has retired from Test cricket after taking 229 wickets in 64 matches for India. The Hindu reported that the fast bowler, who made his Test debut in 2013, said farewell to the format at age 36 while remaining available for white-ball cricket.

Shami’s career included a best Test innings return of 6-56 in Perth in 2018, according to Sportstar. Wisden highlighted his second-innings spells against South Africa, including a 10-over effort in which he conceded only 10 runs and took three wickets.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi named Bihar captain for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will captain Bihar for the first time in senior cricket, leading the 17-member squad for its opening two Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches, the Bihar Cricket Association announced on November 6. Suraj Kashyap was named vice-captain.

Bihar begin their campaign against Saurashtra in Indore on November 14. Sooryavanshi is expected to play the opening two games before joining India A for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament in Doha.

Harshit Rana set for one Delhi match before India A call-up

Harshit Rana is set to return to competitive cricket for Delhi in one Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match before joining India A for the Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha. His expected return is against Jammu and Kashmir in Indore, where Delhi’s campaign begins on November 14.

Rana missed the T20 World Cup with a knee injury and later sustained a hamstring injury and a rectus femoris strain. Ayush Badoni will captain Delhi, whose squad also includes Mayank Yadav and Ishant Sharma.

Pakistan names three debutants for Sri Lanka Test series

Pakistan have given batter Muhammad Tayyab Arif and fast bowlers Ali Shabbir and Saqib Khan their maiden Test call-ups for the two-match home series against Sri Lanka. All three featured in a practice match against Sri Lanka in Islamabad, Sportstar reported.

Aamir Jamal and Salman Agha return to the squad, while Ali Usman and Abdullah Fazal have been released after being included in the initial 14-player group. The first Test is scheduled to begin in Rawalpindi on November 9.

India bowlers put New Zealand under early pressure in Wellington

New Zealand reached 7-1 after five overs against India in the second ODI in Wellington, matching the team’s lowest score at that point in an ODI since it had seven or fewer runs against India in the 2019 World Cup semifinal, the Times of India reported.

Arshdeep Singh opened with a maiden, and Auqib Nabi took his first ODI wicket when Tim Seifert chipped a delivery to Anshul Kamboj at mid-on. India captain Shubman Gill had elected to bowl.

Gurnoor Brar takes four wickets as India beat New Zealand

Gurnoor Brar took 4-30 as New Zealand were bowled out for 134 in the second ODI in Wellington. India won by four runs under the DLS method after reaching 113-7 when heavy rain ended play, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, Hindustan Times reported.

Gill praised Brar’s pace and bounce, saying consistency with line and length would be key as he gains experience. Brar said he had kept his plan simple, hitting his lengths and using the bouncer at the right moment.

Abu Dhabi T10 begins November 7 with six teams

The 10th Abu Dhabi T10 begins on November 7, with six teams playing a double round-robin league before the top team advances to the final and the next two compete in a qualifier, Wisden reported. All 32 matches are scheduled for Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

The league stage is due to finish on November 19, with the qualifier and final set for November 20. Wisden listed Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Philip Salt, Trent Boult and Andre Russell among the players expected to feature.

Brisbane Heat beat Hobart Hurricanes for second straight WBBL win

Brisbane Heat beat Hobart Hurricanes by four wickets in the Women’s Big Bash League on November 7, reaching 119-6 in 18.2 overs in pursuit of 117. Annie O’Neil finished unbeaten on 32, while Grace Harris made 24 and Yastika Bhatia scored 22.

Hobart made 116-9, with Lily Bassingthwaite taking 3-16 and Lucy Hamilton 3-24 for Brisbane. The result left Hobart without a win from its first three matches, according to CricTracker.

ECB forecasts losses of up to £50 million in 2027

The England and Wales Cricket Board is forecasting a 2027 deficit of as much as £50 million despite hosting the Ashes, The Guardian reported. The projected shortfall follows a £12.6 million profit in 2025 and reflects media revenue cycles and the ICC’s decision to withhold part of its broadcast payments to members due in 2027.

ECB sources believe the eventual loss could be closer to £35 million, although the ICC amount has not been confirmed and the board has time to pursue additional commercial and event revenue. The Guardian reported that 10 of the 18 first-class counties recorded losses in their latest accounts and most rely on ECB funding.

Yashasvi Jaiswal scores second straight century for India A

Yashasvi Jaiswal made 102 from 138 balls as India A reached 227-2 against New Zealand A on the first day of the third unofficial Test in Lincoln. Rain ended play early, with Sai Sudharsan unbeaten on 77 and captain Dhruv Jurel on 12.

Jaiswal shared a 175-run opening stand with Sudharsan and followed an unbeaten 155 in the previous match with another century. India A lost Devdutt Padikkal for 15 before rain stopped play, Hindustan Times reported.

Usman Khawaja says Australia team knew about sandpaper use

Usman Khawaja has claimed that the entire Australia touring party knew about the use of sandpaper to alter the ball during the 2018 South Africa series, and that it was used in the Port Elizabeth Test before the Cape Town scandal. “It was all of us,” Khawaja told Nine newspapers, according to The Guardian.

Cricket Australia had previously found that Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were responsible, and the three were the only players sanctioned. Former coach Darren Lehmann said he did not believe everyone would have known and denied personal knowledge of the discussions.

Ravi Shastri says Mohammed Shami deserved another Test chance

Former India coach Ravi Shastri said Mohammed Shami could have taken another 30 to 40 Test wickets and should have been considered for India’s tour of New Zealand. Shastri said Shami’s regular domestic appearances and workload for Bengal addressed questions about his fitness.

Shami retired from Test cricket after 64 matches and 229 wickets, but will continue in white-ball cricket. Shastri said the fast bowler had played every game for Bengal and bowled 15 to 20 overs, asking what more a player needed to do to prove his fitness.