ECB probes Carse handcuff video, Cummins eyes SA ODIs as Test tune-up — cricket digest 24 Aug 2026

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ECB investigates Brydon Carse handcuff video as England-Pakistan build-up is hit

The ECB has opened an investigation after footage circulated on social media showing England fast bowler Brydon Carse in handcuffs being led away from a nightclub by police in Derby on Saturday night. Carse, a centrally contracted player, is in England’s squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan and was due to rejoin the group in London on Monday ahead of training at Lord’s, though his involvement is now uncertain.

Carse had been released to play for Durham in the County Championship, featuring in their win over Derbyshire, and was out celebrating when the incident occurred. The video shows him speaking to Durham team-mate Matthew Potts, with Ben Stokes also visible in the background; Durham declined to comment, and Derbyshire Constabulary was contacted for comment.

Cummins targets South Africa ODIs as Test preparation, with Zimbabwe leg in doubt

Pat Cummins says Australia’s late-September ODIs in South Africa will be used with the Test series in mind, and he has indicated he could miss the preceding three-match ODI trip to Zimbabwe. Cummins, Australia’s official ODI captain, has played only two one-day internationals since lifting the 2023 World Cup, with Steven Smith (now retired from ODIs), Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis captaining in his absence.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have also suggested they expect to play some part in the ODIs before the Tests, with Australia set to have a two-day practice match in Potchefstroom on October 3 and 4 before heading to Durban for the first Test. Cummins said the quicks came through the Bangladesh Tests without issues, and noted the planning element with the 2027 ODI World Cup largely scheduled for South Africa, plus matches in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Padikkal’s second straight Test hundred puts India on top, with Pant expected to bat

Devdutt Padikkal struck a second consecutive Test century as India reached 300 for 5 on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC in Colombo. Shubman Gill made 50 and Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler with three wickets.

India had a late concern when Rishabh Pant retired hurt on 3 after being struck on the left wrist while attempting a pull off Lahiru Kumara, but batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said he was expected to continue in the first innings. Kotak also said Kuldeep Yadav missed the match due to viral fever, with offspin-allrounder Saransh Jain handed a debut; Dhruv Jurel and Jain were at the crease at stumps.

Australia level Bangladesh series in two days, but Cummins flags batting worries and Labuschagne pressure

Australia’s innings-and-51-run win over Bangladesh in Mackay squared the two-Test series 1-1, with Mitchell Starc taking ten wickets in the match as Bangladesh were dismissed for 64 and 95. Despite the emphatic result, Cummins said the batting group had been below par across the series and felt Australia should have scored at least 300 on a surface he described as “very good”.

Cummins also acknowledged Marnus Labuschagne’s lack of runs after a series that brought scores of 1, 31 and 4, saying time was close to running out to turn promising signs into match returns, with selectors due to meet in the next week or two. Cameron Green was singled out as a bright spot, while Cummins said the group may need to look at methods and approach as they head towards South Africa’s pace-heavy challenge.

Shanto hails Bangladesh’s rise to No. 6 and looks to South Africa after Mackay lesson

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto called his side’s jump to No. 6 in the ICC Test rankings a “huge achievement” after their drawn series in Australia, while admitting they played poorly in the innings defeat in Mackay. Bangladesh’s Darwin win, their first Test victory in Australia in 23 years, helped lift them from No. 9 to No. 6, and they sit fourth on the World Test Championship table.

Shanto said the Mackay loss should help Bangladesh understand such conditions better and expressed a desire for more regular Tests in SENA conditions so players can adapt. Bangladesh tour South Africa for two Tests in November, in Johannesburg and Centurion, and Shanto said he hoped they could produce another landmark away win there.

In brief

  • Nathan Lyon’s place is set to be debated more often as Australia weigh pace-heavy attacks for South Africa and a home series against New Zealand, after Scott Boland briefly came into contention for an all-seam XI in Mackay.
  • Legspinner Karn Sharma, 38, has retired from international and Indian domestic cricket, finishing with four India appearances and as the only player to win IPL titles with three different teams.
  • Guyana Amazon Warriors stayed unbeaten in the CPL, beating Antigua and Barbuda Falcons by seven wickets after restricting them to 116.
  • Jack Leach took 5 for 81 as Somerset beat Essex by eight wickets to strengthen their County Championship Division One title push.
  • Dom Bess claimed 5 for 103 as Yorkshire edged Hampshire by 39 runs in a tight County Championship Division One relegation battle.
  • Ian Holland’s nine wickets across the match helped Leicestershire beat Glamorgan by 42 runs at Grace Road despite Kiran Carlson’s 99.
  • Worcestershire chased down their target to beat Gloucestershire by eight wickets at Cheltenham, powered by centuries from Dan Lategan and Jake Libby.
  • Northamptonshire thrashed Lancashire by 316 runs, with Ben Sanderson leading the bowling effort and Ricardo Vasconcelos making a century.
  • Kent beat Middlesex by 46 runs at Merchant Taylors’ School, with Matt Parkinson finishing it off after Joe Cracknell’s late resistance.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo