Fleming sets out England Test reset, Brook’s No.1 T20 push, Cremer returns — cricket digest 20 Sep 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Fleming outlines England’s Test priorities: identity, WTC focus and a push for No. 1

Stephen Fleming has promised “evolution not revolution” as he begins his stint as England men’s Test head coach, saying he wants to blend the positive intent of the McCullum era with sharper decision-making in key moments. Speaking at Old Trafford, Fleming also made clear he wants England to treat the World Test Championship with greater seriousness, with an ambition to take the side back to No. 1 in the Test rankings for the first time since 2012.

Fleming, appointed in July on a deal running to September 2030, said he has begun work on refining the team’s identity and reconnecting with the county game after a tour of Championship fixtures. He has been in contact with Test captain Joe Root ahead of his first assignment in South Africa this winter, and said it would not be his place to press Ben Stokes on reversing his international retirement.

Brook challenges England to hold on to T20I top spot after Sri Lanka whitewash

Harry Brook has urged England to stay ruthless after a 3-0 T20I sweep over Sri Lanka lifted them back to No. 1 in the ICC rankings. England’s rise under Brook has brought 23 wins in 26 completed matches, and he said the ranking should be used as motivation, particularly with England playing fewer T20Is than some rivals.

The series finished with England chasing down 125 in 9.4 overs at Old Trafford, with Jos Buttler ending unbeaten on 62. With the next T20 World Cup not until 2028, Brook acknowledged the coming squeeze on all-format players as Fleming’s Test programme begins to overlap with England’s limited-overs commitments.

Cremer returns after eight years as Zimbabwe choose to bat in final ODI against Australia

Zimbabwe opted to set a target in their last home international of 2026, with Sikandar Raza choosing to bat first after two unsuccessful chases earlier in the series. Australia already lead the three-match ODI series 2-0 and are using the match as preparation for three ODIs in South Africa next week.

Graeme Cremer, who turned 40 on Saturday, is back in Zimbabwe’s XI for his first ODI since 2018, while Ernest Masuku also comes into the attack as Wellington Masakadza misses out with a niggle and Newman Nyamhuri is rested. Australia have rested Josh Hazlewood and are without Billy Stanlake after a side strain in game two; Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett return, with Cameron Green still sidelined by a shoulder problem.

Jhye Richardson targets a Test route back via Australia A in India

Jhye Richardson says he still feels strong as he turns 30 and looks to push back towards Australia’s Test plans, starting with two four-day matches for Australia A against India A in Puducherry. Richardson has endured repeated injury setbacks and recently lost his central contract, but remains focused on staying fit and performing in red-ball cricket.

He last played a Test in December 2025 at the MCG during the Ashes, and has since completed a county stint at Yorkshire and a run in the Global Super League in Guyana, with his shoulder holding up. Richardson said the immediate aim is to get through the India A games, with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India next year a longer-term target.

Siraj named Hyderabad captain for opening Ranji fixtures

Mohammed Siraj will captain Hyderabad for their first two Ranji Trophy matches of the season, with CV Milind appointed vice-captain and set to step in if Siraj is unavailable. Siraj is currently in India’s ODI squad for the three-match series against West Indies, which ends on October 3 in New Chandigarh.

Hyderabad open their Ranji campaign on October 11 against Tripura (venue to be confirmed) before facing Andhra in Vizianagaram from October 18. The squad includes Tanmay Agarwal, Rahul Singh, wicketkeepers Rahul Radesh and Sai Pragnay Reddy, plus Tanay Thyagarajan among the allround and bowling options.

In brief

  • Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 62 finished off a 125 chase in 9.4 overs as England beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets at Old Trafford to complete a 3-0 T20I sweep.
  • At Old Trafford, England won the toss and bowled first against Sri Lanka, with the visitors bringing Nuwan Thushara in for Dushmantha Chameera.
  • Chamari Athapaththu smashed an unbeaten 83 with six sixes as Sri Lanka chased down Pakistan’s 177 for 4 to win by eight wickets and reach the Asian Games women’s final.
  • India’s Asian Games women’s semi-final against Bangladesh in Nisshin produced a stack of milestones, with Shafali Verma’s six-hitting and Smriti Mandhana’s run-scoring setting new marks.
  • Emma Jones held her nerve in a last-ball finish as The Blaze beat Hampshire by three wickets to secure a domestic treble in their final season before rebranding as Nottinghamshire.
  • West Indies have handed opener Kamil Pooran his first T20I call-up for the tour of India; Jason Holder has been rested, while Shimron Hetmyer will miss the ODI leg but rejoin for the T20Is.
  • Deandra Dottin will miss West Indies Women’s Zimbabwe tour on personal leave, while Hayley Matthews will play the three ODIs before taking leave and sitting out the T20Is; Chinelle Henry returns from injury.
  • Ayanda Hlubi and Nini took three wickets apiece as South Africa Women beat Zimbabwe Women by 14 runs in Bulawayo to complete a 5-0 T20I series win.
  • Rashid Khan says he was not informed by the Afghanistan Cricket Board before being removed as Afghanistan’s T20I captain, with Ibrahim Zadran having replaced him after the 2026 T20 World Cup.
  • Bangladesh have included Towhid Hridoy in their Test squad for the one-off match against Afghanistan in the UAE from October 9, with Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana unavailable due to fitness and workload management.
  • Rovman Powell’s unbeaten 40 completed a last-over chase as Jamaica Kingsmen edged Guyana Amazon Warriors by five wickets to reach the CPL final despite Shimron Hetmyer’s unbeaten century.
  • The CPL will have a new champion, with Jamaica Kingsmen and Falcons set to contest a final that won’t feature either Trinbago Knight Riders or Guyana Amazon Warriors.
  • Australia headed into the final ODI against Zimbabwe in control of the series, with Cameron Green a possible returnee as they looked to complete a sweep.
  • New Pitch Quality Index figures have highlighted how unusually difficult conditions in Australia have been for batters in the current period.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo