West Indies eye a home 'fortress' vs Pakistan, Key hints at Stokes return — cricket digest 01 Aug 2026
Chase targets another Pakistan win as West Indies push the 'home fortress' message
Roston Chase said West Indies are “very confident” and “exactly where we want to be” heading into the second and final Test against Pakistan, which starts in Port of Spain on Sunday. After two wins in three Tests across the past month, Chase wants the Caribbean to become a place where touring sides find it “very difficult” to win, with West Indies’ recent results lifting them on the World Test Championship table even though they are out of contention for the final.
Chase also suggested he could be available to bowl after a finger injury kept him from delivering in the first Test, saying he had managed a couple of overs in the nets and hoped to build up to “four to five overs consistently” by Sunday. With the Queen’s Park Oval surface expected to bring spin into the game more than Tarouba did, West Indies have Jomel Warrican as their frontline option, with uncapped left-armer Joshua Bishop also in the squad; Pakistan have Sajid Khan available alongside Salman Agha, after using Ali Usman as the lone spinner in the first Test.
Joseph hits back at Sammy over 'declined selection' line for Pakistan Tests
Alzarri Joseph said Daren Sammy’s claim that he had “declined selection” for the ongoing Pakistan Test series was “controversial, without context”, pointing instead to “personal reasons” cited in a CWI statement and his own concerns after a second stress fracture in his lower back. Joseph said that after returning from almost a year out, and coming through five back-to-back ODIs against New Zealand earlier this month, he felt his body “was not ready to go into another Test series”.
Asked about the public back-and-forth, Joseph said he would remain professional when he returns, adding that he represents West Indies rather than any individual. Chase declined to be drawn into the issue, saying Joseph is not in the current squad and that the focus is on maintaining morale, while adding he would be welcomed back when available.
Key keeps door ajar for Stokes Ashes comeback as Fleming settles in
Rob Key refused to rule out a Ben Stokes return in time for next year’s Ashes, saying “anything is possible with Ben” despite Stokes’ sudden international retirement during last month’s third Test against New Zealand. Key said he had received no indication that Stokes, now back playing for Durham, is reconsidering, but added it would be “a brilliant story” if he did.
Key also explained England’s decision to reappoint Joe Root as Test captain, arguing the job had come “too soon” for Harry Brook and that Stephen Fleming had input into the call. Australia coach Andrew McDonald, speaking earlier in the week, said the “fairytale” would be Stokes returning for “one more Ashes”, and suggested the new England head coach may look to have that conversation.
Key defends Flintoff as Lions coach amid criticism and BBL commitment
Key described Andrew Flintoff as an “unsung hero” and said criticism of his England Lions appointment had been “unfair” and “disrespectful”, backing the ECB’s decision to allow him to leave the Lions’ South Africa tour early to coach Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash. Flintoff, appointed Lions head coach in September 2024 after returning to cricket work following serious injuries in a Top Gear crash, will miss the tour’s two four-day fixtures in December with the ECB’s approval.
Key argued that Flintoff’s presence has helped persuade young players to commit to red-ball and 50-over programmes amid competing franchise opportunities, and said there is no requirement for the Lions coach to be a contender for the England head coach role. He added that the Test vacancy had come “too soon” for Flintoff, but suggested he could become a strong candidate in future with more head-coach experience.
In brief
- Finn Allen’s unbeaten 72 off 35 lifted Trent Rockets to a six-wicket win over Manchester Super Giants in the men’s Hundred at Old Trafford, despite another Jos Buttler half-century.
- Trent Rockets beat Manchester Super Giants by 31 runs in the women’s Hundred as Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Luff made fifties before Ashleigh Gardner took 4 for 16.
- Surrey beat Gloucestershire by 19 runs in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup after Dom Sibley’s 101 and Rory Burns’ 89 set up 311 for 5.
- Kent edged Somerset by two wickets with eight balls left in Joe Denly’s final professional match, after Daniel Bell-Drummond’s hundred and a chase that went to the wire.
- Worcestershire ended Middlesex’s perfect start to the One-Day Cup with a four-wicket win, Jake Libby’s 109 not out trumping Josh De Caires’ maiden List A century.
- James Fuller’s late hitting carried Hampshire to a three-wicket win over Essex in a 321 chase, after Noah Thain’s 109 for the hosts.
- Leicestershire cruised past Northamptonshire by eight wickets as Rishi Patel smashed 115 off 61 and Ben Mike finished the chase unbeaten on 71.
- Brooke Guest’s maiden List A hundred set up Derbyshire’s first One-Day Cup win of the campaign, a 44-run victory over Glamorgan at Repton.
- Yorkshire beat Durham by seven wickets in the One-Day Cup after Ben Cliff’s 4 for 38 helped dismiss Durham for 165 before James Wharton guided the chase.
- Imesha Dulani struck 101 not out as Sri Lanka chased 177 to beat Pakistan by six wickets and go 1-0 up in their women’s T20I series.
- Scott Edwards has stepped down as Netherlands captain after 56 ODIs in charge, with Bas de Leede set to take over for the remainder of CWC League 2.
- Pakistan face a balancing act for the second Test against West Indies with Shan Masood out, as questions grow over their batting make-up and whether Ubaid Shah will be tried.
- A look ahead to the ODI World Cup’s return to Africa considered the legacy hosts want to leave, with reflections from Makhaya Ntini, Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada.
- A profile piece revisited Ajinkya Rahane’s Boxing Day Test century against Australia in 2020 as a defining innings for his character and leadership.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo