Knight bows out after Lord’s Test, India strike back in ODIs, Australia WNCL hit — cricket digest 15 Jul 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Heather Knight ends 16-year England career after Lord’s Test

Heather Knight has confirmed her retirement from England duty, bringing down the curtain on a 16-year international career after the one-off Test against India at Lord’s. Knight said she had wanted to give everything to this summer but felt it was the right time to step away, admitting there were tears when she told team-mates in the dressing room.

Nat Sciver-Brunt, who succeeded Knight as captain, paid tribute to her long-time team-mate and the partnerships they shared. Knight will move into her next role as general manager of London Spirit’s women’s team in the Hundred, which begins next week.

India open ODI series with six-wicket win at Edgbaston as big names return

India began the three-match ODI series in Birmingham with a six-wicket victory over England, powered by Shubman Gill’s 80 and an unbeaten 57 from Axar Patel in a chase of 259. England had been put in to bat by Harry Brook, and were steadied by an unbroken stand between Joe Root (76 not out) and Liam Dawson (68) after a collapse, but India got home with 262 for 4.

The match also marked the return of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah to India’s XI, while Jacob Bethell opened for England for the first time and Josh Tongue made his ODI debut. Jos Buttler played his 200th ODI, receiving his cap from Eoin Morgan.

Australia’s WNCL set for fewer international stars as calendar squeeze bites again

Australia’s leading women are unlikely to feature heavily in the 2026-27 Women’s National Cricket League, with international commitments and the WPL expected to keep many of the best players away from the domestic 50-over competition. Cricket Australia’s fixture release leaves limited windows, with only two WNCL matches scheduled before October’s Bangladesh and New Zealand tours, which overlap the start of the WBBL.

A mid-December block offers some opportunities, but the WPL in January and the women’s Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in early February further compress the season, before a March ODI series against New Zealand and a mooted South Africa tour. The WNCL final round clashes with the third ODI against New Zealand, and the final is set for March 20; an Australia A multi-format tour of India also overlaps the WNCL’s opening round.

In brief

  • Jasprit Bumrah’s return to ODI cricket was highlighted at Edgbaston, with India’s premier quick again underlining his impact even when batters know what’s coming.
  • Zimbabwe’s T20I series opener against Bangladesh comes with the tourists under strength, missing Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mahmudullah and the injured Mustafizur Rahman.
  • Northern Territory Cricket head curator Jake Pavlich is preparing Darwin’s first Test pitch in 22 years ahead of Australia hosting Bangladesh on August 13.
  • A podcast episode dissected England’s decision to remove Brendon McCullum as Test head coach while retaining him in charge of the white-ball teams.
  • A column reflected on the end of England’s Bazball era, linking Ben Stokes’ exit and Brendon McCullum’s departure as Test coach.
  • A Hindi-language analysis argued India’s women’s Test win over England at Lord’s should not be seen as a surprise, pointing to differences in red-ball domestic infrastructure.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo