McCullum out as England Test coach, ECB back Key; India women close on Lord's — cricket digest 12 Jul 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

ECB remove McCullum from Test role, back Key and open up coaching search

Brendon McCullum has been removed as England men’s Test head coach, though he stays on in charge of the white-ball sides. The ECB cited the 2-1 home defeat to New Zealand, coming on the back of a 4-1 Ashes loss, as a key driver of the change, leaving England without a Test captain or coach after Ben Stokes’ retirement during the Trent Bridge Test.

Chief executive Richard Gould publicly backed Rob Key to continue long-term as men’s managing director and said the process to appoint a new Test coach has started immediately, with a shortlist already in place. The ECB will also consider candidates who want to combine the job with IPL work, a stance that could suit Andy Flower, while Gould indicated England are unlikely to load all-format captaincy onto one person as the next leadership call approaches.

Bhatia’s Lord’s hundred puts India women on the brink as England face 427 chase

Yastika Bhatia became the first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s, steering India towards a commanding position against England. India declared their second innings on 341 for 7 after Bhatia’s 113, with Mandhana adding 70 and Richa Ghosh finishing unbeaten on 50, setting England a target of 427.

England closed day three on 130 for 6 in their second innings, still needing 327 more, with Amy Jones 52 not out. Sophie Ecclestone took five wickets in India’s second innings, but India’s bowlers left England with a steep final-day task.

India reshuffle squads: Bishnoi in for injured Varun for Zimbabwe, Rana ruled out of England ODIs

Ravi Bishnoi has been drafted into India’s squad for the upcoming three T20Is in Zimbabwe, replacing Varun Chakravarthy, who needs more time to recover from a hamstring injury. The tour party is due to reach Harare on July 20, with VVS Laxman set to coach the side alongside Sunil Joshi and Hrishikesh Kanitkar.

In England, Prince Yadav will remain with the group for the ODI leg after Harshit Rana was ruled out with a Grade 1 hamstring injury, while Chakravarthy’s MRI showed a Grade 2 issue. India expect Jasprit Bumrah’s return to bolster their ODI pace options, with the selectors keen for him to play regularly as the 50-over World Cup approaches.

Pakistan set off for West Indies Tests with Masood backed to thrive after captaincy change

Pakistan Test coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has backed Shan Masood to keep contributing strongly despite no longer being captain, saying Masood’s attitude has been “excellent” even with a slight hamstring niggle. Masood will head into his first series without the armband after almost three years leading the side, with Pakistan having returned the captaincy to Babar Azam.

Sarfaraz said Pakistan’s preparation has been geared to West Indies conditions, including a four-day tour match in Trinidad ahead of two Tests on the island. He acknowledged recent struggles — Pakistan have lost 12 of their last 16 Tests — but said the team is targeting a series win before the summer continues in England.

In brief

  • Matt Critchley’s 3 for 16 and Michael Pepper’s unbeaten 71 helped Essex beat Surrey by eight wickets at the Kia Oval to book a Vitality Blast quarter-final spot.
  • Yorkshire tuned up for the Blast quarter-finals by beating Nottinghamshire by 18 runs, with Adam Lyth’s 52 and Andrew Tye’s 3 for 18 key in defending 193.
  • Will Smeed’s half-century set up Somerset’s 78-run win over Worcestershire at Taunton, sending the holders into the Blast knockouts.
  • Lancashire beat Durham by three wickets at Old Trafford, but their own knockout hopes were ended despite Keaton Jennings finishing 41 not out in the chase.
  • Hampshire chased down 186 to beat Sussex by four wickets at Hove, powered by a 112-run stand between Hilton Cartwright (70) and Ben Mayes (55*).
  • Kai Smith’s unbeaten 65, alongside Sam Hain, lifted Warwickshire from 49 for 5 to a five-wicket win over Northamptonshire with ten balls to spare.
  • Glamorgan posted a club-record 235 for 7 and beat Gloucestershire by 50 runs at Bristol, with captain Kiran Carlson leading the way with 73.
  • Middlesex closed their Blast group stage with a 14-run win over Kent at Canterbury after Luke Hollman’s late runs helped set up the defence led by Zafar Gohar.
  • Derbyshire beat Leicestershire by seven wickets as Akif Javed took 4 for 23 and Aneurin Donald struck 91, on a day Wayne Madsen announced his domestic T20 retirement.
  • Surrey beat Hampshire by six wickets in the women’s Blast, with Ryana MacDonald-Gay taking 3 for 13 before Phoebe Franklin’s 40* guided the chase at The Oval.
  • On senior debut, wicketkeeper-batter Skye Thomas hit 55 not out to steer Lancashire to a four-wicket win over Durham in the women’s Blast at Old Trafford.
  • Liberty Heap top-scored with 37 as Essex beat Somerset by 41 runs at Taunton to finish their women’s Blast campaign with a season-ending victory.
  • England Under-19s reached 40 without loss in pursuit of 386 against South Africa Under-19s at Beckenham, needing 345 more on the final day of the Youth Test.
  • Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor both made hundreds as West Indies beat Ireland by six wickets in Bready to go 2-0 up in their ODI series.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo