Ten Doeschate back with Knight Riders, England coaching search twists — cricket digest 29 Jul 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Ten Doeschate returns to Knight Riders in new group-wide strategy role after India exit

Ryan ten Doeschate has been appointed the Knight Riders Group’s head of cricket strategy in a long-term arrangement, taking charge of scouting, recruitment, squad planning and performance evaluation across Kolkata Knight Riders, Trinbago Knight Riders, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Los Angeles Knight Riders. The move was confirmed a day after his departure as India men’s assistant coach, a post he held for two years.

Ten Doeschate’s first assignment will be with Trinbago at CPL 2026 from August 7, and he will also serve as an assistant coach for TKR, ADKR and LAKR. At KKR he will link up again with head coach Abhishek Nayar, alongside senior staff including Shane Watson, with Dwayne Bravo also doubling as LAKR head coach.

Langer says ECB haven’t been in touch as England continue Test coach search

Justin Langer has said he has not been contacted by the ECB about England’s vacant Test coach role, pushing back on speculation linking him to the job since Brendon McCullum was relieved of his Test duties earlier this month. Langer, currently coaching Manchester Super Giants in the Hundred, described the talk as “rumours” while not ruling out considering the position if approached.

England are expected to return to split coaching, with McCullum staying on as white-ball coach. Candidates understood to be in the frame include Stephen Fleming, Richard Dawson, Jonathan Trott and Tom Moody, with Marcus Trescothick also being considered as an interim option ahead of the Test series against Pakistan starting on August 19.

McDonald urges bigger World Cup squads after ICC expands 2027 ODI format

Australia coach Andrew McDonald has called for larger squad sizes at the 2027 ODI World Cup, arguing teams will need more cover in a tournament that could demand at least 13 matches for the champions under the ICC’s expanded structure. The event, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, will include an initial ‘super series’ and a Super 7 stage before the semi-finals.

McDonald pointed to the complications of managing injuries with 15-player squads at recent World Cups, including Australia carrying an injured Travis Head through the early part of the 2023 tournament. Australia are also mindful of workload heading into 2027, with a heavy Test schedule in the 14 months before the World Cup.

In brief

  • Pakistan batter Shan Masood batted at No. 8 in the fourth innings against West Indies in Tarouba despite a fractured finger, after missing time in the field and not taking his usual No. 3 spot.
  • West Indies captain Roston Chase credited extra work and a pre-series camp for the side’s recent Test progress, and praised Justin Greaves and Jayden Seales after their decisive spells against Pakistan in Tarouba.
  • Chamari Athapaththu’s all-round display helped Sri Lanka complete an eight-wicket win over Pakistan to clinch the ODI series 2-1.
  • Sri Lanka have named uncapped Under-19 pair Sanjana Kavindi and Chamudi Praboda for the home T20Is against Pakistan, with seamer Rashmika Sewwandi returning and Hansima Karunaratne among those left out.
  • Offspin allrounder Saransh Jain has earned a maiden India call-up for August’s Tests in Sri Lanka, with Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan subject to fitness clearance.
  • At Headingley in the Hundred, Sunrisers Leeds chased down 181 to beat Manchester Super Giants by eight wickets after Mitchell Marsh, Zak Crawley and Harry Brook led the reply.
  • Smriti Mandhana made 88 not out as Manchester Super Giants beat Sunrisers Leeds by four wickets in the women’s Hundred at Headingley.
  • Lancashire made it six-wicket win over Kent in the Royal London One-Day Cup after Matty Hurst’s 55 and Mitchell Stanley’s 3 for 43 helped set up the chase.
  • Nottinghamshire went top of Group A in the Royal London One-Day Cup with a five-wicket win over Leicestershire, after Joe Pocklington’s 4 for 40 and Benjamin Martindale’s 50.
  • A draft of Sri Lanka Cricket’s new constitution has been handed to the sports minister, with proposals including a 14-member board and upgrades to coaching, umpiring and pitch curation.
  • Essex have appointed Rachel Lewis as the first female chair in the club’s 150-year history, succeeding interim chair Jason Gallian.
  • India top-order batter Pratika Rawal has signed with Warwickshire Bears until the end of the 2026 season and is set to be available from August 19.
  • Injury-hit Ireland have given seamer Jai Moondra a maiden ODI call-up for the home series against Afghanistan starting August 5, with Ben Calitz and Byron McDonough also included.
  • An English league match is under investigation after a fielder was accused of clicking fingers to mimic an edge for caught-behind appeals in a Saltburn CC v Norton CC second XI game.
  • London Spirit’s chair has warned that Lord’s alone cannot carry the Hundred, arguing the competition’s success depends on all franchises thriving despite the venue’s high valuation.
  • A feature on West Indies v Pakistan in Tarouba highlighted how the quicks dominated the contest, underlining where the sides’ paths may now be diverging.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo