Starc rips through Bangladesh, Cross sets retirement date, Dravid on Sooryavanshi — cricket digest 22 Aug 2026
Starc blitzes Bangladesh as Australia strike back in Mackay
Mitchell Starc produced a stunning opening-day burst in the second Test at Mackay, racing to a five-wicket haul in just 22 balls and then finishing with six as Bangladesh were dismissed for 64. Pat Cummins, who opted to bowl first after winning the toss at the Great Barrier Reef Arena, also chipped in with three wickets as the visitors slumped to their fourth-lowest Test total.
Australia had made one change from Darwin, bringing in Matt Renshaw for Jake Weatherald while keeping their established attack intact, including Nathan Lyon. Bangladesh recalled left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam for Ebadot Hossain after his hamstring recovery, with Tanzid Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim both passed fit to play.
Cross to retire at the end of the season after 21 years with Lancashire
Kate Cross has announced she will step away from professional cricket when the current season ends. The 34-year-old former England seamer, who signed a one-year extension with Lancashire after losing her ECB central contract last summer, will finish with 102 international caps and a two-decade association with the county that began when she debuted aged 13.
Cross made her England debut in 2013 and was a key figure in the 2013-14 Women’s Ashes, taking match figures of 6 for 70 on Test debut in Perth. She has taken 239 wickets for Lancashire and was part of their 2025 trophy double, while also winning the Hundred with Northern Superchargers last year.
Dravid urges balance and patience as Sooryavanshi begins Duleep Trophy stint
Rahul Dravid has said India need players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to be able to play across formats if Test cricket is to grow, while stressing the importance of managing the 15-year-old’s development. Speaking in Dublin at the launch of the ETPL, where Dravid co-owns the Dublin Guardians, he said Sooryavanshi should keep gaining white-ball experience without losing sight of the red-ball game.
Sooryavanshi is set to feature for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy, a run of red-ball cricket Dravid believes will be particularly valuable given the teenager’s limited continuity in the format. Sooryavanshi has played eight first-class matches so far, averaging 17.25, and could also be in line for further red-ball opportunities if India A host Australia A for two unofficial Tests in September.
Agha concedes England were better in every department after Headingley defeat
Pakistan stand-in captain Salman Agha offered no excuses after the first Test loss to England, saying his side were “outplayed in every department” and lacked the consistency required in English conditions. He pointed to shortcomings in batting, bowling and fielding, and said Pakistan’s broader away form was a concern.
Agha suggested the tour build-up left little time to acclimatise, despite Pakistan arriving 12 days before the Test and playing a three-day practice match at Beckenham. He added that Babar Azam’s finger injury was improving and indicated he would welcome his return to both the XI and the captaincy.
Rabada hamstring issue disrupts winter training as South Africa await assessments
Kagiso Rabada has suffered a right hamstring injury during South Africa’s winter training, with Cricket South Africa saying the issue has disrupted his programme and that further assessments are planned. It is not yet clear whether it will affect his availability in a season that includes a major home summer.
Rabada was already being managed out of the travelling squad for the Namibia tour, alongside most frontline bowlers and both captains, Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram. South Africa host Australia for ODIs and three Tests from September, with further red-ball series against Bangladesh and England scheduled between November and January; CSA also confirmed Senuran Muthusamy has been ruled out of South Africa A’s first unofficial Test against Bangladesh A with a lower back spasm.
In brief
- England sealed a three-day innings win over Pakistan at Headingley, with Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue sharing eight wickets apiece across the match and Jofra Archer also among the wickets in the second innings.
- Michael Hussey said he is open to joining Stephen Fleming’s England Test coaching staff but will take time before deciding on the offer.
- Kamil Pooran’s unbeaten 81 and Matthew Forde’s five-for helped St Lucia Kings beat Jamaica Kingsmen by six wickets in the CPL after Jamaica recovered from 71 for 6 to post 169 for 9.
- Matt Milnes took a five-for as Kent moved into a strong position against Middlesex at Merchant Taylors’ School, leading by 139 with two second-innings wickets down.
- George Bartlett’s 92 gave Northamptonshire a competitive 284 at Old Trafford before Lancashire replied with 68 for 2, leaving the hosts 216 behind.
- Ben Stokes made 53 and took 2 for 14 as Durham dominated Derbyshire, who closed day two on 127 for 6 in reply to 283.
- Somerset tightened their grip at Taunton after making 469 against Essex, who were then 59 without loss in the follow-on but still 252 behind.
- Olly Stone’s 6 for 44 helped Nottinghamshire seize control against Surrey at The Oval, with Notts leading by 169 after reaching 147 for 3 in their second innings.
- Yorkshire led Hampshire by 111 in a low-scoring contest after Adam Lyth’s 51 and George Hill’s five-for, with Yorkshire 135 for 5 in their second innings.
- Sussex held a 79-run advantage over Warwickshire at Edgbaston with Tom Haines 32 not out in their second innings after a seam-heavy day two.
- Leicestershire led Glamorgan by 78 at the halfway stage of their match, with Ben Mike and Ian Holland taking four wickets apiece in a bowler-friendly game.
- Rehaan Edavalath’s 63 helped Worcestershire take a 55-run lead over Gloucestershire at Cheltenham after Ben Allison’s five-for helped bowl the hosts out for 150.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo