Henriques calls time on Australian domestic career, Stokes set for Durham return — cricket digest 16 Jul 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Henriques retires from Australian domestic cricket, plans to keep playing for Portugal

Moises Henriques has announced his retirement from Australian domestic cricket, ending his time with New South Wales and the Sydney Sixers. The 39-year-old, the most-capped player in Big Bash history and across Australia’s domestic formats, will continue playing Associate cricket for Portugal, his country of birth, after becoming eligible for World Cup qualifiers.

Henriques retired from first-class cricket in March 2025 but played List A cricket for NSW last summer and captained the Sixers to the BBL final in January. He was not offered a new Sixers contract and chose to finish as a one-club player despite interest from other BBL sides, closing out a domestic career that included 154 BBL matches and 420 Australian domestic appearances overall.

Durham expect Stokes back in 50-over cricket next week after England retirement

Durham are preparing for Ben Stokes to make his first 50-over appearance in three years when they face Derbyshire in the Metro Bank Cup next Tuesday. Stokes, who retired from international cricket three weeks ago, is set to be available for the One-Day Cup and the County Championship run-in, fitness permitting.

Head coach Ryan Campbell said Stokes is back training with the squad, with Durham mindful of managing his workload. Durham lead Division Two of the County Championship and have named a strong one-day group including Alex Lees, Emilio Gay and Ollie Robinson, with fixtures also taking them to outgrounds at Gosforth, York and Darlington.

Australia’s women set for limited WNCL time as international and franchise calendar tightens

Australia’s leading women are unlikely to feature heavily in the WNCL in 2026-27, with the domestic schedule squeezed by tours against Bangladesh and New Zealand, an ODI series in Sri Lanka, the WPL in India and the women’s Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka. Cricket Australia’s newly released fixtures leave only two WNCL matches before October’s international commitments begin to overlap with the WBBL.

CA’s head of scheduling Peter Roach said the women’s program is increasingly resembling the men’s, making it difficult to create windows for domestic cricket. Australia A’s multi-format tour of India also clashes with the WNCL’s opening round, while the final round and final sit alongside Australia’s March ODI series against New Zealand.

ICC admits Mauritius, puts France Cricket ‘on notice’ and approves West Indies loan

The ICC has admitted Mauritius as its 111th member and placed France Cricket “on notice” after determining it breached membership criteria, without announcing further sanctions. The decisions were among a set of governance and membership measures agreed after the ICC’s annual meetings in Edinburgh.

The board also approved a USD 12.82 million loan for Cricket West Indies and set out reinstatement conditions for the suspended Cricket Canada board, which remains suspended. Sri Lanka Cricket’s progress towards a revised constitution was noted, but the ICC reiterated elections should be held as soon as possible and confirmed SLC will remain unable to attend ICC board meetings until further notice.

Netherlands bring back Pringle and Zulfiqar for World Cup League 2 ODIs at Utrecht

Netherlands have recalled allrounders Tim Pringle and Saqib Zulfiqar for their next World Cup League 2 leg, featuring four ODIs against Nepal and Namibia at Kampong in Utrecht. Zulfiqar last played ODI cricket at the 2023 World Cup, while Pringle’s most recent ODI was in 2022 against Pakistan in Rotterdam.

Scott Edwards will captain a 15-man squad that also includes Max O’Dowd, Vikramjit Singh, Bas de Leede, Logan van Beek and Roelof van der Merwe. Netherlands sit third on the League 2 table behind USA and Scotland, with the top four progressing to the 2027 ODI World Cup qualifying tournament.

Ashwin urges India to treat Kuldeep as a key ODI weapon despite batting-heavy balance

R Ashwin has called for Kuldeep Yadav to be given “better treatment” after the wristspinner sat out three of India’s last four ODIs, including the series opener against England at Birmingham. India instead picked finger-spinners Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, both of whom contributed unbeaten half-centuries in a six-wicket chase of 263, while Axar also took 4 for 62.

Ashwin argued that, looking ahead to the 2027 ODI World Cup in Africa, India will need Kuldeep’s attacking skill set alongside a finger-spinner who can bat, and suggested there may ultimately be room for only one of Axar and Sundar in the long-term XI. He also said India still do not have a “first-class replacement” for Hardik Pandya, while backing the continued use of Shivam Dube in Pandya’s absence.

In brief

  • Washington Freedom chased down 267 to beat MI New York by six wickets in Oakland, with Andries Gous and Steven Smith making hundreds after Nicholas Pooran’s century in a record-breaking T20 run-fest.
  • Los Angeles Knight Riders edged San Francisco Unicorns by seven runs to reach the MLC final, with Rovman Powell’s 50* off 15 and Andre Russell’s unbeaten 62* proving decisive despite Matthew Short’s 94*.
  • Northamptonshire beat Gloucestershire by eight wickets in their Vitality Blast quarter-final, David Willey steering the chase after Ben Sanderson’s 4 for 20.
  • Nottinghamshire booked a Vitality Blast Finals Day place by beating Surrey by seven runs at Trent Bridge, Jack Haynes’ 75* holding up their innings after Jason Roy’s 76 in the chase.
  • Hampshire thrashed Essex by 75 runs to reach another Vitality Blast Finals Day, James Vince hitting 125 before Sonny Baker took 5 for 24.
  • Yorkshire beat Somerset by two wickets in a tense Vitality Blast quarter-final, surviving Craig Overton’s 79* in Somerset’s chase of 162.
  • Stafanie Taylor’s second ODI hundred in a row set up West Indies’ 64-run win over Ireland at Bready to complete a 3-0 series sweep, with Afy Fletcher taking three wickets.
  • Zimbabwe defended 170 to beat Bangladesh by 32 runs in Bulawayo and go 1-0 up in the T20I series, with Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava taking four wickets each.
  • Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bowl against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, calling up Taskin Ahmed after Mustafizur Rahman’s injury.
  • Jonathan Trott has joined Ireland’s men as a short-term consultant ahead of next month’s ODI series against Afghanistan, amid links with the vacant England Test coach role.
  • The ICC has confirmed a new 2027 ODI World Cup structure featuring a Super Series before the group stage and a Super 7 round ahead of the semi-finals.
  • The men’s T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2028 will use a revamped format that includes two eliminators before the semi-finals, with a first round of five groups of four teams.
  • R Ashwin said it was “about time” Chennai Super Kings looked beyond Stephen Fleming after the franchise announced a mutual parting, while calling Fleming’s tenure “beyond excellent” and backing MS Dhoni as a strong option to take over.
  • England head to Cardiff needing a quick ODI response as India look to press their advantage in the series, with selection—particularly seam-bowling balance—under scrutiny.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo