Root back as England Test captain under Fleming, Archer shines in the Hundred — cricket digest 02 Aug 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Root says Fleming appointment helped lure him back to England Test captaincy

Joe Root has said Stephen Fleming’s appointment as England Test head coach was a major factor in his decision to return to the Test captaincy, four years after stepping down. The ECB confirmed Root and Fleming as the successors to Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, with managing director Rob Key saying Fleming’s input helped shape the move and that the vacancy had come too soon for vice-captain Harry Brook.

Root, England’s most-capped Test captain, said he feels a “hugely different” person to when he resigned in 2022 and that he will take inspiration from Stokes and McCullum’s leadership and mindset shift. England are due to name their squad for the three-Test series against Pakistan next week; with the Hundred finishing on August 16, they are set to have only two full training days before the first Test at Headingley on August 19. Marcus Trescothick will act as interim head coach for that match, with Fleming in New Zealand due to family commitments.

Bangladesh boost Australia tour squad as Litton Das returns from injury

Bangladesh have added Litton Das to their Test squad for the two-match series against Australia in Darwin and Mackay later this month, after he recovered from a left-calf injury. Litton had been sidelined since June and missed selection originally, with the squad also hit by injuries to fast bowlers Nahind Rana and Shoriful Islam.

The 31-year-old will fly to Darwin on Sunday and is in contention for the opening Test. Bangladesh’s first tour of Australia in 23 years includes a warm-up against a Cricket Australia XI from August 6 to 8, ahead of the first Test on August 13; the second begins in Mackay on August 22.

Patidar to captain Central Zone in Duleep Trophy title defence

Rajat Patidar will lead Central Zone as they begin their Duleep Trophy title defence, with Rinku Singh named vice-captain and fellow India internationals Harsh Dubey and Yash Thakur also included. Saransh Jain, part of India’s Test squad for the Sri Lanka tour, is set to spearhead the spin group alongside Dubey and legspinner Zeeshan Ansari, who recently returned to red-ball cricket on the India A tour of Sri Lanka after a five-year gap.

Central Zone, who have a first-round bye as defending champions, will enter at the semi-final stage on August 30 against the winner of East Zone vs North East Zone. The tournament begins on August 23 in Bengaluru, with the final scheduled from September 6.

In brief

  • Joe Root made 58 not out as Welsh Fire chased down 138 to beat Birmingham Phoenix by seven wickets in the Hundred men’s competition, with Phil Salt adding 46.
  • Jofra Archer took 4 for 9 as Southern Brave dismissed London Spirit for 105 before David Miller’s 39 not out guided Brave to a five-wicket win.
  • Southern Brave stayed top in the Hundred women’s table after chasing 115 to beat London Spirit by five wickets, with Sophie Molineux taking 3 for 7 and Maia Bouchier making 46.
  • Ellyse Perry’s unbeaten 68, alongside Alice Capsey’s 51, carried Birmingham Phoenix to their first win of the Hundred women’s season as they beat Welsh Fire by seven wickets with a ball to spare.
  • Guyana Amazon Warriors defended 85 to beat San Francisco Unicorns by six runs in the Global Super League final, with Dwaine Pretorius starring in a record low-scoring T20 title match.
  • A mid-season check-in on the Hundred women’s competition highlighted Smriti Mandhana’s power-hitting and Deepti Sharma’s catching, with Jemimah Rodrigues scoring steadily for Southern Brave while Richa Ghosh has struggled for runs for Manchester Super Giants.
  • West Indies were set up as favourites to try to wrap up a 2-0 series win over Pakistan ahead of the second Test, with their seam attack flagged as a potential difference-maker.
  • A piece reflecting on Ajinkya Rahane pointed to his Boxing Day Test hundred against Australia in 2020 as a defining innings for his character and leadership.
  • Another look back at Rahane’s career described a player who came close to greatness, noting his achievements including an IPL title, three World Cups and captaining India to a landmark Test series win in Australia.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo