Lyon kept on for Mackay Test, England tighten grip at Headingley, India-Bangladesh in doubt — cricket digest 21 Aug 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Australia stick with Lyon and recall Renshaw to open for second Bangladesh Test

Nathan Lyon has retained his place in Australia’s XI for the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay, despite Pat Cummins saying an all-seam attack had been discussed as the hosts look to level the series. Cummins confirmed Matt Renshaw will return to Test cricket at the top of the order, with Jake Weatherald dropped from the squad after scores of 23 and 0 in Darwin.

Australia delayed the final call while they assessed conditions at a ground hosting its first Test, but settled on keeping a frontline spinner within an hour, leaving Scott Boland on the bench. Curator Peter Kazakoff expects pace and carry early, with the surface likely to become better for batting and spin as the match goes on.

England extend control at Headingley as Cox and Root build, Usman takes five for Pakistan

England moved into a commanding position on a rain-delayed second day against Pakistan at Headingley, stretching their advantage to 195 runs with two wickets still in hand. Jordan Cox, batting at No. 3, made 73 and shared a 150-run stand with Joe Root (66), while Harry Brook’s 91 and Dan Lawrence’s 51 added further weight to the innings.

Ali Usman finished with his first Test five-wicket haul, but said Pakistan’s bowlers had leaked too many runs as a unit. He struck late, including the wicket of Brook, and felt the pitch was slowing and offering more for spin as the game progresses.

India’s Bangladesh tour faces another possible delay with boards still in talks

India’s limited-overs tour of Bangladesh, scheduled to begin on September 3, could yet be postponed again, according to BCB president Tamim Iqbal. The series had already been moved from August last year to September 2026, with three ODIs and three T20Is planned in Dhaka and Chattogram.

Tamim said the BCB and BCCI remain in discussions and that dates could shift “here or there”, noting an age-group tournament has been scheduled at Mirpur across August 28 to September 9 but could be moved at short notice if the India fixtures are locked in.

Cricket Canada begins hunt for new head coach after Desai’s interim stint ends

Monty Desai has left his role as Canada’s interim head coach after his three-month contract ended on August 15, with Cricket Canada inviting applications for a successor soon after the team returned from Scotland. Desai’s deal included a results-based extension clause, but he was not told whether it would be exercised before the search began.

Canada lost all three matches in a League 2 tri-series in Dundee during his stint and finished with one win and five defeats across two tri-series, amid reported visa issues that disrupted preparations in Scotland. Desai took over in a turbulent period for Canadian cricket, with the board currently suspended by the ICC.

In brief

  • England were 366 for 8 against Pakistan at Headingley, with Brook 91, Cox 73, Root 66 and Lawrence 51, before Usman’s 5 for 92 helped limit the lead to 195 after Pakistan were bowled out for 171.
  • Pakistan’s fielding came under fresh scrutiny on a difficult day against England at Headingley, with errors compounding the pressure as England’s lead grew.
  • Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons warned his players to expect Australia to come “harder” at them in Mackay as they try to back up the Darwin win and push for a series victory.
  • Bangladesh head into the second Test in Mackay aiming to turn their Darwin breakthrough into a series win, while Australia focus on squaring the contest.
  • Sam Curran has been ruled out for the rest of the English summer with a groin injury that will require surgery, while Will Jacks has undergone an appendix operation.
  • The ICC has overturned the demerit point given to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium pitch for the third ODI between Pakistan and Australia, while Toronto’s Maple Leaf Cricket Ground will keep three demerit points for an “unfit” League 2 surface for Canada vs Netherlands.
  • In the CPL, Antigua and Barbuda Falcons chased down 187 to beat St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by three wickets, with Shadab Khan leading the Falcons and Dasun Shanaka finishing 49 not out for the Patriots.
  • Somerset reached 348 for 5 against Essex at Taunton, with Josh Thomas making 110 and new overseas signing Henry Nicholls scoring 96 on debut.
  • Hampshire’s Kyle Abbott took 4 for 17 and Andrew Neal 3 for 50 as Yorkshire were bowled out for 173 at the Utilita Bowl, before Yorkshire hit back to leave Hampshire 60 for 4 in reply.
  • Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 184 at The Oval but Liam Patterson-White’s 76 not out led the recovery, and Surrey then slipped to 13 for 1 in response with Dom Sibley out second ball.
  • At Edgbaston, Sussex were 99 for 3 against Warwickshire on a rain-hit day, with Tom Haines making 49 and Michael Booth taking 2 for 5.
  • Glamorgan seized the initiative against Leicestershire with seven wickets on a shortened day, leaving Leicestershire 113 for 7.
  • Zak Crawley marked his return for Kent with 81 as they reached 299 for 6 against Middlesex at Merchant Taylors’ School, with Sam Northeast making 87.
  • Durham were 102 for 2 against Derbyshire at Derby, with captain Alex Lees unbeaten on 53 when bad light ended a rain-affected day.
  • Northamptonshire moved to 56 for 2 against Lancashire at Old Trafford on a heavily weather-affected day, with debutant Ben Walkden picking up his maiden wicket.
  • Worcestershire’s Ben Allison took 3 for 15 as Gloucestershire slipped to 107 for 5 at Cheltenham College before rain curtailed play, with Tommy Boorman ending unbeaten on 51.
  • A column argued that Test cricket is the wrong arena for batters to try to fix problems against a moving ball, pointing to how players once had to find solutions earlier in their development.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo