Bumrah ruled out as Auqib Nabi gets India Test call; Pakistan gamble on spin — cricket digest 03 Aug 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Injury rules Bumrah out of Sri Lanka Tests as Auqib Nabi earns first India call-up

India have replaced the injured Jasprit Bumrah with Jammu & Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi for the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka. The 29-year-old is in strong domestic form, with 104 wickets across the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, including 60 in 2025-26 as J&K won their maiden title, and he also took six wickets in two first-class games on a recent India A trip to Sri Lanka.

Bumrah has not recovered from a left knee niggle picked up in Cardiff during the second ODI against England last month, and was officially ruled out on Monday. India are already without Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy, while Washington Sundar will miss the first Test and Akash Deep remains sidelined; the squad flies to Sri Lanka on Tuesday ahead of a three-day warm-up match in Colombo from August 7 and the first Test in Galle on August 15.

Pakistan leave out Abbas and add spin as West Indies reach 239 for 5 on slow Port of Spain pitch

Mohammad Abbas was the headline omission from Pakistan’s XI for the second Test against West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval, with captain Babar Azam saying it was “down to conditions” as the visitors opted for an extra spinner. Sajid Khan came in alongside Ali Usman, while Awais Zafar and Ubaid Shah made their Test debuts and Abdullah Shafique returned in place of the injured Shan Masood.

West Indies, unchanged after winning the first Test, chose to bat and ended a rain-affected opening day on 239 for 5. Amir Jangoo said the hosts were “right on our way” and felt 350-plus would put them in position as the surface deteriorates; Justin Greaves finished unbeaten on 64 with captain Roston Chase 36 not out, after Brandon King’s brisk 46 set the tone.

Ghosh takes over as India men’s fielding coach ahead of Sri Lanka tour

Subhadeep Ghosh has been appointed India men’s fielding coach, replacing T Dilip ahead of the two-Test series in Sri Lanka. Ghosh, 57, previously worked with India Women for two years and has also coached India A and Assam’s senior men.

Dilip’s contract ended after a one-year stint that followed his earlier spell from 2021 through the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and he was not given an extension. The Sri Lanka series begins on August 15 in Galle, with a three-day practice match in Colombo from August 7.

Markram cools talk of taking over at LSG as captaincy decision waits

Aiden Markram played down suggestions he is set to captain Lucknow Super Giants next season, saying the franchise has other “quality leaders” and that he is not fussed about who gets the role. LSG are yet to name a successor after Rishabh Pant stepped down in May following a bottom-place finish and was later traded to Delhi Capitals for Kuldeep Yadav.

Markram, who has captained South Africa in T20s and led other RPSG Group sides, was speaking after skippering Manchester Super Giants in The Hundred. He said he is enjoying the tactical challenges of the 100-ball format and noted Jos Buttler’s support around the group.

In brief

  • Tilak Varma has been named South Zone captain for the season-opening Duleep Trophy, with Ricky Bhui appointed vice-captain.
  • India have picked Prema Rawat in a largely unchanged squad for the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, with Yastika Bhatia again left out as the selectors persist with 18-year-old G Kamalini.
  • Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by six wickets to clinch the series, chasing 176 with 2.2 overs to spare as debutant Sanjana Kavindi top-scored with 46 and Chamari Athapaththu made 40.
  • Trent Rockets edged Sunrisers Leeds by five runs in The Hundred men’s competition after Ben Duckett’s 64 and Aneurin Donald’s 40 set up 146 for 4, with Mohammad Amir taking 2 for 20 at the death as Sunrisers finished on 141 for 4.
  • Manchester Super Giants beat MI London by six wickets in The Hundred women’s competition after bowling the hosts out for 92, then reaching 95 for 4 with Meg Lanning making 43 and Smriti Mandhana 34.
  • Trent Rockets beat Sunrisers Leeds by five runs in The Hundred women’s competition, with Sophia Dunkley’s 56 and Nat Sciver-Brunt’s support helping them defend 139 for 7 against 134 for 5.
  • Sophie Ecclestone’s use with the new ball drew attention after her early impact for Manchester Super Giants at The Oval.
  • Northamptonshire beat Lancashire by 67 runs in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup after Gus Miller’s maiden first-team century (115) powered 347 for 6 and Yuzvendra Chahal took 4 for 60 in the chase.
  • Kent chased down 294 to beat Nottinghamshire by five wickets with four balls left, led by Harry Finch’s 88 and Sam Northeast’s 78 after Lyndon Martindale hit 101 for Notts.
  • Middlesex beat Yorkshire by 35 runs at Lord’s in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup as Jack Nelson struck 76 and Zafar Gohar claimed 4 for 24.
  • Warwickshire beat Gloucestershire by six wickets at Rugby, with Rob Yates making 132 and Oliver Price scoring 122 in a losing cause.
  • Essex beat Worcestershire by 107 runs after Tom Westley’s 129 and Matt Critchley’s unbeaten 102 powered 376 for 5.
  • Leicestershire thrashed Somerset by 164 runs as Ben Cox (89) and Ian Holland (77) set up 289 for 8 before Somerset were bowled out for 125.
  • Derbyshire hammered Sussex by 188 runs, with Wayne Madsen making 104 on his 100th List A appearance for the county.
  • Durham beat Hampshire by nine wickets after Emilio Gay’s unbeaten 104 led a chase of 247 with 11 overs to spare.
  • A fresh argument has been made that cricket needs more specialist squads, warning that expecting most players to thrive across all formats is no longer realistic.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo