Noffke to leave Pakistan for Netherlands job, Wood retires, India edge Japan — cricket digest 23 Sep 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Ashley Noffke to depart Pakistan after Asian Games and take Netherlands head coach role

Ashley Noffke will leave his post as Pakistan’s bowling coach after the Asian Games in Japan and has been appointed head coach of the Netherlands men on a two-year deal running to the end of 2028. Noffke’s Pakistan contract had been due to run until June 2027, but he will move on after less than 18 months in the job, having joined in May 2025 ahead of the T20I series against Bangladesh.

His exit is the latest in a run of changes to Pakistan’s support staff this year, following Shane McDermott’s departure as fielding coach in July and the earlier exits of white-ball batting coach Hanif Malik and physiotherapist Cliffe Deacon in May. With the Netherlands, Noffke’s key targets will be qualification campaigns for the 2027 ODI World Cup and the 2028 T20 World Cup, as he succeeds Ryan Cook.

Mark Wood retires from international cricket at 36 after long injury battle

England fast bowler Mark Wood has retired from international cricket, bringing to a close a career shaped by extreme pace and repeated injury setbacks. Wood finishes with 253 wickets in 146 internationals across formats, including 119 at 30.79 in 38 Tests.

He intends to continue playing T20 cricket for Durham and in franchise leagues, alongside media work. Wood was part of England’s squads that won the 2015 Ashes, the 2019 men’s ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup.

India survive Japan scare in five-over shootout as a late wide call is overturned

India edged Japan by two runs in a rain-hit, five-overs-a-side T20I in Sano after being restricted to 32 for 4. Japan’s chase stayed alive to the last over and the finish hinged on an overturned wide call after India queried the on-field decision.

Japan captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming said emotions were “running pretty high” after taking a Full Member side to the final ball, while India captain Shreyas Iyer described it as a difficult wicket to bat on and praised Japan’s performance. Japan now turn quickly to the Asian Games, opening against Afghanistan on September 24 before playing Nepal two days later.

Australia set to manage Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood across South Africa ODIs with Tests the priority

Pat Cummins is likely to miss the first ODI against South Africa in Durban on Thursday, with Australia planning to stagger their Test quicks across the three-match series. Cummins arrived later in South Africa than Mitchell Starc, and Australia are prioritising preparation for the Tests that follow as the World Test Championship race intensifies.

Nathan Ellis is expected to play a prominent role if the frontline trio are rotated, while Mitchell Marsh remains the ODI vice-captain. Australia’s fast-bowling resources on tour have been trimmed by Billy Stanlake’s side strain and Spencer Johnson being sent home to rest, with Jack Edwards flown in as cover, partly with Cameron Green managing a shoulder issue.

Rachin Ravindra ruled out of New Zealand’s India T20Is after shoulder injury in promo shoot

Rachin Ravindra has been ruled out of New Zealand’s five-match T20I series against India after injuring his shoulder during a promotional shoot. He is expected to need around six weeks’ recovery, with New Zealand aiming to have him available for the ODI leg that begins on November 4.

Bevon Jacobs has been added as a middle-order option, while Adam Milne is in line for his first T20Is in more than a year as part of a large pace group that also includes Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes and Nathan Smith. Finn Allen and Tim Seifert will reunite at the top of the order, with Tim Robinson missing out.

In brief

  • India Women powered to Asian Games gold with a 147-run win over Sri Lanka Women in the final, making 216 for 3 before Sri Lanka were bowled out for 69.
  • Shafali Verma has climbed to No. 4 in the T20I batting rankings after her recent run of form.
  • Niroshan Dickwella has been named in Sri Lanka’s Asian Games T20I squad for the first time since 2021, with Sahan Arachchige to captain a 15-man group that rests most first-choice players.
  • Glenn Maxwell and Scott Boland are set to play for Victoria against New South Wales in the One-Day Cup, in the first floodlit match at Junction Oval under the venue’s new lights.
  • England chose to bat first against Sri Lanka in the opening ODI at Chester-le-Street, with Adil Rashid ruled out of the series and Kusal Mendis returning from a hamstring injury to captain Sri Lanka.
  • David Miller said he remains committed to making himself available for South Africa despite not being on a national contract from April.
  • Kumar Kushagra (82 retired hurt) and Tanush Kotian (68*) added 138 after India A slipped to 97 for 5, taking them to 257 for 5 against Australia A on day one in Puducherry.
  • Left-arm seamer Alexa Stonehouse has agreed a permanent move to Warwickshire after spending the 2026 season on loan from Surrey.
  • Colin Ingram, 41, has retired from professional cricket after a career that included 40 internationals for South Africa and a long stint with Glamorgan.
  • The DDCA said it has written to the relevant authorities to examine corruption allegations relating to the recently completed Delhi Premier League season.
  • The ICC is holding a cricket operations workshop in Dubai this week as members work towards finalising the 2027-31 FTP, with discussions including more T20Is and fewer bilateral ODIs.
  • Marques Ackerman and David Bedingham have been highlighted as adding intrigue to South Africa’s Test selection picture ahead of an eight-Test home summer.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo