Buttler and Inglis injury worries, Hardik setback ahead of A games — cricket digest 26 Sep 2026
Buttler ruled out of Oval ODI decider; Cox set to keep as Lawrence drafted in
Jos Buttler will miss England’s ODI series decider against Sri Lanka at The Oval on Sunday after suffering a left hamstring injury in the second match at Headingley. Jordan Cox is expected to step in and take the gloves, with Dan Lawrence added to the squad as cover.
England are waiting on the extent of Buttler’s injury, with an MRI scan due early next week. Lawrence has been pulled out of Surrey’s County Championship match at Somerset and will train with the ODI group at The Oval on Saturday.
Inglis fractures finger and is out of Australia’s remaining ODIs; Test tour cover now in focus
Australia’s Josh Inglis has been ruled out of the final two ODIs against South Africa after fracturing his right index finger, leaving his availability for next month’s three-Test series in doubt. The injury occurred during Australia’s fielding innings in the first ODI in Durban, before Inglis made 3 in the chase.
Alex Carey will return to the wicketkeeping role for the last two ODIs, starting in Johannesburg on Sunday. With Inglis also in Australia’s Test squad as reserve keeper, selectors may need to consider flying in specialist cover if he doesn’t recover in time; Josh Philippe and Sam Harper are with Australia A in India, while Nathan McSweeney and Peter Handscomb are also mentioned as options if Australia choose to broaden the net.
Hardik’s comeback delayed again by shin injury, likely to miss India A one-dayers v Australia A
Hardik Pandya is set to miss India A’s 50-over series against Australia A after picking up a fresh shin injury and being told to rest for 15 days. He had been named in the squad for the one-dayers starting October 6 in Puducherry, subject to fitness clearance, with the games intended to test his ability to bowl a full 10-over spell.
Hardik has not been pain-free while bowling and has spent much of the past few months in rehab at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, with his absence stretching back to late May during the IPL. Another reassessment will follow the rest period, with India’s ODI tour of New Zealand beginning on November 4.
Gill takes blow to right elbow in nets ahead of West Indies ODIs
India captain Shubman Gill was struck on the right elbow by a rising length ball from Mohammed Siraj during a net session in Thiruvananthapuram, two days out from the first ODI against West Indies. Gill walked away in visible pain and was attended to by the physio, with his arm strapped as he sat out the rest of the session.
He has just over 24 hours to be ready for Sunday’s opener, after also carrying an injury cloud at the start of last month’s Sri Lanka series. India have dealt with a run of injuries this year, though the team management pointed to the depth available as cover.
GT20 Canada to stage 2026 season in St Vincent and the Grenadines, returning in 2027
The 2026 edition of GT20 Canada will be played in the Caribbean, in St Vincent and the Grenadines, during the October-November window. Cricket West Indies said the one-season move is aimed at strengthening cricketing, developmental and commercial links between Canada and the West Indies, with the tournament scheduled to return to Canada in 2027.
The 2026 competition will feature five teams, down from six, with franchises rebranded under new names. GT20 Canada launched in 2018 and has run four seasons so far, with the 2025 edition not held amid restructuring after a long-term licence was awarded to NCL Canada.
In brief
- Rain meant Malaysia vs Oman at the Asian Games was abandoned without a ball bowled, sending Malaysia into the quarter-finals and knocking Oman out; the last eight will feature Afghanistan vs India, Hong Kong vs Pakistan, Bangladesh vs Malaysia and Nepal vs Sri Lanka.
- Nepal’s Asian Games match against Japan was abandoned after Nepal made 149 for 4 in 15 overs, with unbeaten half-centuries for Sundeep Jora and Lokesh Bam, leaving Japan eliminated.
- Sam Hain’s 142 helped Warwickshire into a dominant position against Leicestershire at Edgbaston, with the trophy presentation set to wait until the weekend.
- Glamorgan piled up 505 against Essex and then reduced the visitors to 100 for 7, still 405 behind after Asa Tribe’s 184 and Billy Root’s 59.
- Olly Stone’s 5 for 51 put Yorkshire under pressure against Nottinghamshire, though bonus points left Warwickshire out of sight in the title race.
- Tom Lammonby’s unbeaten 103 led Somerset’s reply against Surrey at Taunton, with the visitors missing Avesh Khan and Dan Lawrence from their attack.
- Ben Compton struck 126 as Kent took a 124-run first-innings lead over Gloucestershire at Canterbury to keep their promotion push on track.
- Saif Zaib (83) and Ricardo Vasconcelos (69) kept Northamptonshire’s hopes alive against Middlesex at Lord’s, with Northants leading by 97 with three wickets in hand.
- Matthew Waite’s 73 not out pushed Worcestershire into a commanding position against Derbyshire at New Road, setting up a 329-run lead.
- Noman Ali took 6 for 166 for Lancashire but Durham still amassed 493 at Old Trafford, with fifties for Ollie Robinson and Brydon Carse before weather closed in.
- Jaydev Unadkat claimed 5 for 32 as Sussex built a 332-run lead over Hampshire, with Tom Haines finishing the day 99 not out in the second innings.
- South Africa’s ODI series against Australia moves to Johannesburg with attention on whether Aiden Markram and Pat Cummins return for their sides.
- Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were among the early arrivals for India’s nets in Thiruvananthapuram as preparations continued for Sunday’s first ODI against West Indies.
- Australia’s upcoming Tests in South Africa could bring an earlier-than-expected spin examination, with recent matches in Durban and Gqeberha showing slow bowlers can come into play.
- Canterbury seam-bowling allrounder Cam Paul is the latest fast-bowling prospect from the region, looking to push his case during New Zealand’s home summer after missing out on the recent NZ A tour of Australia.
- Kevin Pietersen’s presence continues to shape England’s white-ball set-up as he settles into his new mentoring role.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo