Australia’s ODI World Cup planning, India-Afghanistan opener fallout, Stars land Overtons — cricket digest 14 Sep 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Australia’s ODI World Cup defence planning begins with middle-order and balance questions

Australia’s Test calendar may be grabbing most of the oxygen, but their ODI World Cup title defence is not far away, and the next fortnight’s series against Zimbabwe and South Africa is set to shape the blueprint. Since the last World Cup they’ve won 13 of 28 ODIs and only three of eight bilateral series, leaving clear work to do ahead of a tight runway of just 12 ODIs before next year’s tournament.

With Steven Smith retired and Marnus Labuschagne currently out of the picture, the focus is on bedding down the No. 3 to No. 7 roles and finding finishing options once associated with Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis. Cameron Green looms large, while Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Matt Renshaw, Oliver Peake and Joel Davies are among those in the mix; the wider balance also hinges on how Australia cover Maxwell’s second-spinner value alongside Adam Zampa, and how much ODI cricket Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins can realistically play amid their Test workload, with Nathan Ellis next in line.

India’s near-perfect start leaves Afghanistan searching for answers and India eyeing their fifth-bowler issue

India’s first T20I against Afghanistan in Delhi was one-sided, with Abhishek Sharma’s 32-ball 82 powering a chase of 156 completed with seven wickets in hand and 38 balls to spare. Afghanistan’s innings was punctured by unforced errors, including a run-out for captain Ibrahim Zadran, before Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi rebuilt with an 83-run stand to lift them to 156 for 8.

Afghanistan coach Richard Pybus admitted his side made “fundamental mistakes” and said they would review their execution and decision-making, adding that rain-affected preparation and a long gap since their last T20I had not helped. For India, the frontline bowlers dominated but the support overs were expensive: Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shivam Dube went at 17 an over, keeping the spotlight on the fifth-bowler balance as the series moves swiftly into a must-win second match for Afghanistan.

Zimbabwe reshuffle for Australia ODIs: Raza to captain as Ngarava misses out; Taylor and Cremer return

Zimbabwe will be without regular ODI captain Richard Ngarava for the three-match series against Australia in Harare, with Sikandar Raza named to lead as Ngarava continues to recover from a lower-back injury. Blessing Muzarabani will spearhead the attack, with Brad Evans and Newman Nyamhuri also included, while Tanaka Chivanga is unavailable with an Achilles concern.

Brendan Taylor is back in the ODI squad and will share wicketkeeping duties with Tadiwanashe Marumani, while legspinner Graeme Cremer is set for his first ODIs since 2018 after returning from an arm injury. The series begins on September 15 and marks Australia’s first ODI visit to Zimbabwe in 12 years.

Melbourne Stars reunite the Overton twins in a first for the Big Bash

Melbourne Stars have signed both Jamie and Craig Overton for the upcoming BBL, reuniting the twins at the same club again after years on different county paths. Jamie arrives from three seasons with Adelaide Strikers, while Craig will play in the BBL for the first time following a strong northern summer with Somerset and Trent Rockets.

The Stars said the double deal will be the first time twins have played in the Big Bash, and it adds to a revamped list that already features Finn Allen and Australia offspinner Todd Murphy.

Salman Agha answers Test axing with an unbeaten 300 on domestic return

Salman Agha responded to his recent removal from Pakistan’s Test set-up by hammering an unbeaten 300 off 336 balls for Kingsmen Academy against Markhor IT Solutions in the President’s Trophy at Abbottabad. It was his highest first-class score, surpassing his previous best of 169, and came a fortnight after he was sent home early from England during a wider shake-up.

Agha said he had made “slight adjustments” to his batting after a lean run in international cricket, and his innings helped Kingsmen Academy reach 565 for 7 declared. The knock also underlined the PCB’s renewed push for internationals to play domestic first-class cricket, with new central-contract requirements mandating minimum red-ball appearances for key categories of players.

In brief

  • Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana set up India Women’s eighth Women’s T20 Asia Cup title as they beat Sri Lanka Women by 72 runs in the final in Dubai.
  • India Women coach Amol Muzumdar said there is “scope for improvement” after his side dropped five catches in the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka Women, while praising G Kamalini’s late cameo after she came in for Pratika Rawal.
  • Marcus Trescothick is set for talks about his future role in England’s Test set-up, with Stephen Fleming due to arrive soon to take over as full-time head coach after England’s 3-0 series win over Pakistan.
  • England Lions beat Sri Lanka by nine wickets (DLS) in a rain-affected T20 warm-up at Beckenham, chasing a revised target with 10 balls to spare.
  • Barbados Tridents beat Guyana Amazon Warriors by six wickets in the CPL after bowling them out for 99, setting up an Eliminator meeting with Kingsmen.
  • In the WCPL, Barbados Tridents edged Jamaica Empress by three runs, with Suzie Bates and Maddy Green leading the batting before Qiana Joseph closed out the final over.
  • Anneke Bosch made another fifty as South Africa Women beat Zimbabwe Women by 64 runs to go 2-0 up in Bulawayo.
  • South Africa completed a 3-0 sweep of Namibia by chasing 157 with nine wickets in hand, with Bjorn Fortuin taking a career-best 4 for 33 and Jordan Hermann and Connor Esterhuizen adding 150.
  • Afghanistan head into the second T20I against India needing a response after being outplayed in the opener, while India have little reason to change their XI and still have Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the bench.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo