Warner drink-driving plea, Sixers appoint Mott, Pakistan tune up for WI Tests — cricket digest 22 Jul 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Warner pleads guilty to drink-driving as Thunder captaincy comes under scrutiny

David Warner has pleaded guilty to a mid-range drink-driving charge after being stopped in Sydney’s east on April 5, when he returned a reading of 0.104 at Maroubra Police Station. He was not required to appear in court on Wednesday, and sentencing has been set for August 18.

The admission has put his position as Sydney Thunder captain in doubt, with the club contacted for comment. Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon reiterated the organisation’s stance on safe driving, noting Thunder, the Sixers and the NSW Blues are part of a state government anti drink-driving campaign.

Sixers turn to Matthew Mott as BBL coach; WBBL vacancy to be filled this week

Sydney Sixers have appointed Matthew Mott as their new BBL head coach on a two-year deal after James Hopes’ quick exit to Queensland. Mott was an assistant with the men’s program last season and had been the club’s WBBL head coach since last year.

The Sixers decided against combining the two roles, citing the tight and potentially shifting BBL and WBBL windows, and will name a new WBBL coach later this week. Mott’s coaching CV includes major success with Australia Women and a T20 World Cup title with England’s men.

Pakistan’s tour match ends in draw after Babar and Awais tons, Mohammad Ali five-for

Babar Azam and opener Azan Awais both struck centuries as Pakistan dominated long stretches of their four-day tour game against a West Indies Select XI in Port of Spain, before the match finished as a draw. Mohammad Ali underlined his readiness for the Test series with a five-wicket haul as the hosts were dismissed for 279 in reply to Pakistan’s 455 for 4 declared.

Pakistan then used the remaining time to shuffle the order and give extra batting time, declaring again on 219 for 4. The fixture was the tourists’ only warm-up ahead of the first Test against West Indies, which begins in Tarouba on July 25.

Zimbabwe bring back Madhevere and Nyamhuri for home T20Is against India; Tsiga earns first call-up

Zimbabwe have recalled Wessly Madhevere and fast bowler Newman Nyamhuri for the three-match home T20I series against India, while wicketkeeper-batter Tafadzwa Tsiga has been picked in the format for the first time. The trio replace Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa and Tashinga Musekiwa from the squad that faced Bangladesh earlier this month.

Nyamhuri returns after a niggle curtailed his involvement in the preceding ODI series, but Tanaka Chivanga—who had come in for him and played the third ODI—keeps his place. All three matches will be at Harare Sports Club on July 23, 25 and 26.

Sammy defends fast-tracking of teenage wristspinner Lawes, with Chase expected fit for Pakistan Tests

West Indies coach Daren Sammy said the decision to pick 19-year-old left-arm wristspinner Vitel Lawes—despite him having no senior games—was backed by a rigorous development process, and praised the teenager’s return of eight wickets in five ODIs against New Zealand. Sammy also highlighted the work done by the coaching staff, including former West Indies spinner Nikita Miller, who joined the group ahead of the series.

With West Indies now turning to a home Test series against Pakistan, Sammy said red-ball captain Roston Chase’s injured right index finger was still “puffy” but he expected him to be ready for the first Test in Tarouba.

In brief

  • Shimron Hetmyer’s unbeaten 69 and Sherfane Rutherford’s 61 carried West Indies to a two-wicket win over New Zealand in the fifth ODI in Bridgetown, after New Zealand posted 268 for 9.
  • In the series finale in Bridgetown, West Indies won the toss and chose to bowl against New Zealand, bringing Hetmyer in for Amir Jangoo while New Zealand handed Kristian Clarke his first game of the tour in place of Matt Fisher.
  • MI London opened the men’s Hundred with a seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Leeds at The Oval, with Sam Curran (60*) and Nicholas Pooran (58*) completing the chase after Richard Gleeson took 4 for 25.
  • Phoebe Litchfield’s 43 set up Sunrisers Leeds’ seven-wicket victory over MI London at The Oval in the women’s Hundred, after MI were held to 107 for 8.
  • Sunrisers Leeds’ women began with a win at The Oval but Kate Cross suffered a shoulder scare while fielding, with the extent of the injury due to be assessed over the next 24 hours.
  • Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the Hundred with a right-knee injury picked up during England’s ODI series against India, and his availability for the Pakistan Tests is now uncertain.
  • Ben Stokes hit an unbeaten 108 to steer Durham to a five-wicket Metro Bank One-Day Cup win over Derbyshire at Derby after the hosts made 256 for 9.
  • Nathan Fernandes’ maiden List A hundred powered Middlesex to a 41-run Metro Bank One-Day Cup victory over Essex at Radlett.
  • Tom Prest’s century and Ashutosh Sharma’s 3 for 48 helped Hampshire beat Yorkshire by 50 runs at Scarborough in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
  • Surrey began their Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign with a seven-wicket win over Lancashire at Sedbergh School, chasing down 281 with Adam Thomas finishing 82 not out.
  • Nottinghamshire chased 259 to beat Somerset by six wickets in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, with Freddie McCann (70) and Haseeb Hameed (66) leading the pursuit.
  • Northamptonshire made it two from two in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup with a five-wicket win over Warwickshire at Wantage Road, built around Nathan McSweeney’s 88.
  • Jamaica Kingsmen have signed a strong Pakistani contingent for CPL 2026, including Saim Ayub, Maaz Sadaqat, Usman Khan and Hunain Shah, alongside USA-based Pakistan-born players Hassan Khan and Shayan Jahangir plus rookie batter Tayyab Arif.
  • Hashmatullah Shahidi has resigned as Afghanistan’s ODI captain with immediate effect after leading the side in 55 matches since January 2022.
  • The BCCI has updated domestic playing conditions to impose stricter punishment for deliberate front-foot no-balls and non-landing full tosses, and has also adopted the MCC’s revised wording on wicketkeeper positioning at the point of delivery.
  • A new Rock & Roll It podcast episode revisits the England-India ODI series, including the Rohit Sharma retirement rumours and India’s continued omission of Kuldeep Yadav.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo