Australia name Darwin Test XI, Hundred finals race tightens, Porel arrested — cricket digest 12 Aug 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Australia confirm full-strength Darwin attack as Bangladesh focus on handling bounce

Australia have named the expected XI for the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin, with Josh Hazlewood preferred ahead of Scott Boland as Pat Cummins sticks with his established pace pecking order. Nathan Lyon returns after the hamstring injury that cut short his Ashes, and the first-choice attack of Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon will play together for the first time since the West Indies tour more than a year ago.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said coping with extra bounce from Australia’s tall quicks is the key challenge, but insisted the tourists are better prepared after arriving 10-12 days early and training on bouncier pitches at home. Bangladesh are coming off a collapse to 54 all out in a practice match against a Cricket Australia XI, though Shanto played it down as part of preparation; he confirmed Litton Das is fit and indicated Bangladesh could field both frontline spinners, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam, alongside three fast bowlers.

Hundred: MI London and Sunrisers Leeds set up shootout for men’s Eliminator place

The men’s Hundred table has left MI London and Sunrisers Leeds fighting over the final Eliminator spot, with Trent Rockets already through to the Lord’s final and Manchester Super Giants having locked in second place. Sunrisers slipped to third on net run-rate after being heavily beaten by Super Giants, who chased 128 without loss with 33 balls to spare.

MI London still have a route into the top three but need a sizeable win over Birmingham Phoenix to overhaul Sunrisers’ net run-rate: 59 runs if batting first, or a chase completed with at least 35 balls to spare if bowling first. If MI London don’t take four points, Sunrisers will progress; Welsh Fire are out of contention because their net run-rate is too poor to recover in one game.

Abishek Porel arrested in Kolkata in alleged sexual assault case

Bengal and Delhi Capitals wicketkeeper-batter Abishek Porel has been arrested in Kolkata in connection with a case involving allegations of rape and other sexual offences. He was arrested by Kolkata police on August 11 and brought before the High Court the same day; the case was filed on June 30.

In earlier proceedings, the court recorded submissions about the need to seize electronic devices said to contain obscene photographs of the petitioner, and directed police to continue efforts to apprehend the accused and secure devices to prevent dissemination of data. Porel has not played competitive cricket since the end of IPL 2026, where he featured in four matches for Delhi Capitals.

Sophie Devine targets WBBL return after calf tear ends Hundred stint

Sophie Devine is aiming to be back for the Women’s Big Bash League after suffering a severe calf tear that curtailed her Hundred campaign with Welsh Fire. Devine, 36, expects an eight-to-12-week recovery and said the WBBL is her next target as she focuses on getting the injury right.

Devine has remained with the Fire squad as they finish their season, and she highlighted the promise shown by younger players including left-arm spinner Sophia Smale, seamer Grace Potts and allrounder Grace Thompson, despite the team’s inconsistency across the tournament.

ILT20 signings: Klaasen and Miller join Gulf Giants; Allen to ADKR; Stoinis back with Dubai Capitals

South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller are set to make their ILT20 debuts after signing with Gulf Giants for the tournament’s fifth season, which starts on November 22. New Zealand opener Finn Allen will debut for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, while Marcus Stoinis returns to the league after three years and will play for Dubai Capitals.

Defending champions Desert Vipers have signed Mujeeb Ur Rahman and retained Shimron Hetmyer, Andries Gous and Dan Lawrence; Noor Ahmad has moved to Dubai Capitals, who have also retained Rovman Powell and Mustafizur Rahman. MI Emirates have kept Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan and Romario Shepherd and added Sherfane Rutherford, while Sharjah Warriorz retained Sikandar Raza and recruited Adam Milne, James Vince and Waqar Salamkheil, with Adrian Birrell appointed coach ahead of the October 1 auction.

In brief

  • Annabel Sutherland’s unbeaten 62 helped Sunrisers Leeds beat Manchester Super Giants by 41 runs in the women’s Hundred and book a place in Friday’s Eliminator.
  • Barbados Tridents began CPL 2026 by beating Jamaica Kingsmen by five runs after posting 206 for 3 and then holding off a late Andre Russell assault, with Daniel Sams taking 4 for 20.
  • Lancashire thrashed Somerset by 174 runs in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup after Keaton Jennings made 156 and 18-year-old Rocky Flintoff hit a 65-ball maiden century in a total of 443 for 6.
  • Joe Cracknell’s 128 powered Middlesex to a 92-run Metro Bank One-Day Cup win over Sussex and secured the county’s first List A semi-final place since 2019.
  • George Munsey marked his return with 138 as Nottinghamshire chased down Surrey’s 298 for 8 to win by six wickets and reach the Metro Bank One-Day Cup quarter-finals.
  • Derbyshire beat Hampshire by eight runs in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup after Martin Andersson’s 125 proved decisive despite Andrew Neal’s century in the chase.
  • Gloucestershire edged Northamptonshire by three wickets in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, with Joseph Eckland finishing 68 not out in a chase of 309.
  • Worcestershire beat Durham by 77 runs at New Road in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, though Durham still sealed a quarter-final spot.
  • Dom Bess and Ben Coad shared six wickets as Yorkshire beat Essex by seven wickets at Chelmsford to secure second place in Group B and a home quarter-final in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
  • Warwickshire beat Kent by 87 runs at Rugby School as Vaansh Jani top-scored with 98 and Ethan Bamber took 4 for 29 in Kent’s collapse.
  • Nottinghamshire said they were disappointed after chief executive Richard Kenyon confirmed he will leave Trent Bridge for the same role at Lancashire, less than a year into the job.
  • Moises Henriques will captain Portugal as they attempt to qualify for the T20 World Cup for the first time, a month after retiring from Australian domestic cricket.
  • The Abu Dhabi T10 is set for an overhaul ahead of its 10th season after the government acquired a controlling stake, with stability a stated priority amid past corruption issues.
  • Australia’s management are balancing Cameron Green’s long-term role with the challenge of keeping an ageing bowling group fit through a hectic year of Test cricket.
  • The Darwin Test marks Bangladesh’s first on Australian soil since 2003 and the city’s first Test in 22 years, as Australia begin a major 12-month stretch in the World Test Championship.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo