Gill stands by follow-on call as Sri Lanka cling on; Babar returns at Lord’s — cricket digest 28 Aug 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

India settle for 1-0 in Sri Lanka after Dinusha-led draw; Gill defends follow-on gamble

India’s bid to force a result in Colombo fizzled out as Sri Lanka batted deep to secure a draw, leaving the visitors with a 1-0 series win rather than the 2-0 clean sweep they had chased. Shubman Gill said he had no regrets about enforcing the follow-on, pointing to the heavy rain interruptions across the first four days and the need to keep pushing for World Test Championship points.

India bowled 243.4 overs in succession in their attempt to break Sri Lanka, but the SSC pitch did not deteriorate as expected. With lbw and bowled rarely in play for the spinners, India were largely left hunting catches around the bat; they began the final day needing four wickets but managed only three, with 17 overs left unbowled when the teams shook hands.

Pakistan choose to bowl at Lord’s as Babar returns; PCB lodges complaint over Sky interview

Pakistan won a rain-delayed toss at Lord’s and opted to bowl first in the second Test against England, with the start pushed back by an hour-and-a-half. England, 1-0 up in the three-match series after an innings win at Headingley, named an unchanged XI, while Pakistan brought captain Babar Azam back from a hand injury and made just one change, with stand-in skipper Salman Agha dropping out.

Off the field, the PCB made a formal complaint to Sky Sports after an interview with Imran Khan’s sons aired during the lunch interval on the first day of the Test. Cricinfo understands the board even considered asking Pakistan’s players not to take the field after the break in protest, and that the interview was not shown on PTV’s broadcast in Pakistan.

Anushka Sharma and Yastika Bhatia named India A captains for Australia A series; Deeya Yadav left out

Anushka Sharma will captain India A’s women’s T20 side for the home series against Australia A, with Yastika Bhatia set to lead the one-day and multi-day squads. Anushka, who previously led the A T20 group to a 2-1 series win over England A in June, has also been named Bhatia’s deputy for the 50-over and longer-format matches.

Sixteen-year-old Deeya Yadav, who played two T20s for India A against England A in June and has featured for Delhi Capitals in the WPL, was not selected in any of the squads. Niki Prasad is included across all three squads, while the T20 group features seam-bowling allrounders Jintimani Kalita and Simran Bahadur; the fixtures begin with three T20s in New Chandigarh from September 12.

Dravid and Sehwag sons included as India Under-19 name squads for Australia series

India Under-19 have named their squads for the home series against Australia Under-19, with Lakshya Raichandani set to captain the one-day side and Yashbardhan Chauhan his deputy, before swapping roles for the multi-day matches. The one-day squad includes Anvay Dravid and Aaryavir Sehwag, sons of former India captains Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag.

The three one-day games are scheduled for September 18, 21 and 23, followed by two multi-day fixtures from September 27 to 30 and October 5 to 8. All matches are in Rajkot except the second four-dayer, which will be played in Ahmedabad.

South Africa expand domestic red-ball programme for 2026-27; Division 1 to play ten matches

South Africa’s domestic teams will play more first-class cricket in 2026-27, with Division 1 sides moving up to ten matches each and Division 2 teams doubling their schedule to 12. Division 1 will be split into two groups of four, with home-and-away games inside the group and additional cross-group fixtures to complete the ten-match slate.

The season begins in September, pauses for South Africa’s early Test commitments, and is set to finish with a five-day final in April. On the white-ball side, the Division 1 CSA T20 Challenge has been scrapped in favour of a single Pro20 Cup featuring all 15 domestic teams plus a South African Emerging side, while the Pro50 will be played as a single round-robin starting in February.

In brief

  • Saim Ayub’s 58-ball 102 powered Jamaica Kingsmen to 182 for 7 and an 11-run win over St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, who replied with 171 for 6 despite late efforts from Andre Fletcher, Dasun Shanaka and Jason Holder.
  • At Chelmsford in County Championship Division One, Essex were 10 for 1 in reply to Surrey’s 183, with Sam Cook taking 3 for 41 and Ollie Pope also featuring after travelling from Lord’s.
  • Seventeen wickets fell on day one at Cardiff as Hampshire’s Sonny Baker struck twice in his first over after being subbed in, leaving Glamorgan 111 for 7 in reply to 162.
  • Henry Crocombe claimed a hat-trick and finished with 5 for 56 as Somerset were bowled out for 202 at Hove, with Sussex closing on 77 for 2.
  • Zak Crawley hit an unbeaten 82 as Kent reached 154 without loss against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road in County Championship Division Two.
  • Durham seized early control against Gloucestershire in Division Two after Kasey Aldridge’s 5 for 16 helped dismiss the visitors for 137, with Brydon Carse also picking up two wickets.
  • Glenn Maxwell accelerated after a watchful start to steer Belfast Wolves to victory over Dublin Guardians in the European T20 Premier League.
  • Gujarat Titans finisher Shahrukh Khan said he has embraced the volatility of his role after a tough spell of being dropped, and has rediscovered form in the TNPL while leading Kovai Kings into the final.
  • The latest World Test Championship permutations have tightened after India dropped points in Colombo and Australia’s campaign picked up with a heavy win over Bangladesh in Mackay, with five teams still realistically in the running.
  • A look at Sri Lanka’s women highlights how they are building depth beyond Chamari Athapaththu, with Harshitha Samarawickrama, Imesha Dulani, Nilakshika Silva and Vishmi Gunaratne among those adding balance.
  • Australia allrounder Aryan Sharma has outlined his ambition to push on towards Sheffield Shield and BBL debuts after coming through Under-19 cricket.
  • Mohammad Abbas’ seam bowling once again underlined his value for Pakistan on tour in England, continuing a theme of England’s batters being tested by his method.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo