De Silva quits as Sri Lanka Test captain, Watling named NZ batting coach — cricket digest 08 Oct 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Dhananjaya de Silva steps down as Sri Lanka’s Test captain ahead of Pakistan tour

Dhananjaya de Silva has resigned as Sri Lanka’s Test captain, saying he wants to pass leadership “to the next generation”. He remains available for selection, with Sri Lanka’s next Tests a two-match series in Pakistan starting November 9 in Rawalpindi, and selectors yet to announce a successor.

Sri Lanka’s men have lost both Test series this year 1-0 — in the West Indies and at home to India — and de Silva finishes with a record of seven wins, eight losses and three draws as captain. His tenure also coincided with a sparse schedule: after a 1-0 home series win over Bangladesh in June 2025, Sri Lanka went 12 months without a Test, and they have the minimum 12 matches in the current WTC cycle. Kusal Mendis is among the options to be considered for the Test captaincy, having been handed the white-ball job earlier this year.

New Zealand appoint BJ Watling as men’s batting coach from December

BJ Watling has been named New Zealand men’s batting coach and will take over from Luke Ronchi after the home Test series against India in December. Watling will join the squad on November 16 for a transition period before stepping fully into the role when New Zealand head to Australia for a four-Test series beginning December 9.

Watling, who retired in 2021 after New Zealand won the inaugural World Test Championship final, played 75 Tests and scored 3790 runs — the most by a New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter — at an average of 37.52. Since retiring he has coached Wellington and Northern Districts, and was part of ND’s 2024-25 Plunket Shield title and 2025-26 Super Smash win; Ronchi is leaving after six years to become Melbourne Renegades head coach.

McGrath to captain Australia in Bangladesh ODIs as she searches for her spot in the order

Tahlia McGrath will lead Australia in the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh in Brisbane starting Friday, standing in while Sophie Molineux recovers from a hip injury. McGrath comes into the series after hitting 154 off 137 for South Australia against Victoria in the WNCL opener, saying technical “minor tweaks” and a mindset reset helped her find form again.

With a line-up that includes Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney and Ash Gardner, McGrath said she has “absolutely no idea” where she will bat, though she guessed it might be around seven or eight. Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana said her side would need to be positive against Australia, who have won all five of the teams’ previous ODIs.

Guptill and Adams drafted into White Ferns staff for Australia T20Is

Martin Guptill and Andre Adams will join interim head coach Dean Brownlie in New Zealand’s backroom for this month’s women’s T20I tour of Australia. Guptill will provide specialist batting and fielding support while Craig McMillan recovers from back surgery, and Adams returns to the national women’s set-up after previous tours in 2017 and 2023.

Brownlie is in charge for the three-match series following Ben Sawyer’s departure in September after a review of NZC’s women’s high-performance structure. New Zealand leave on October 12, play a warm-up against a Governor-General’s XI on October 25, and meet Australia at North Sydney Oval on October 18, 20 and 22.

Punjab Kings lose Hopes and Haddin from coaching group as Ponting reshapes staff

Punjab Kings have confirmed James Hopes and Brad Haddin have left their roles as fast-bowling coach and fielding coach. Both departures had been expected, with Hopes taking up head-coach duties with Queensland and Brisbane Heat, and Haddin appointed head coach of New South Wales.

The exits add to the changes around PBKS’ support staff, with spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule also moving on to the same role with India’s men. Ricky Ponting remains in place as head coach, but now has key vacancies to fill ahead of the next IPL season.

In brief

  • Stafanie Taylor’s unbeaten 64 helped West Indies Women chase down Zimbabwe Women’s 142 for 6 to win by eight wickets and complete a clean sweep.
  • ECB chair Richard Thompson said the board will think “very carefully” before granting NOCs for English players to join the proposed Afghanistan Premier League, even as doubts remain over whether the tournament will go ahead.
  • Bangladesh go into their home Test against Afghanistan as favourites, with Afghanistan beginning a new chapter under captain Rahmat Shah.
  • Australia’s men begin a major 12-month stretch with a Test tour of South Africa, with questions around batting, bowling depth and an ageing core as they set off for Durban.
  • South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said facing Australia brings a clash with “what it means to be Australian” as the sides renew their rivalry.
  • Kagiso Rabada went through a long training session at Kingsmead as South Africa assessed his readiness two days out from the first Test against Australia in Durban.
  • Simon Harmer expects Keshav Maharaj, rather than himself, to be South Africa’s bigger spin threat to Australia’s left-handers in Durban.
  • A small crowd watched Australia’s practice match in Potchefstroom, with one supporter standing out in replica baggy green and full Australia kit.
  • Nathan McSweeney described how county cricket helped his one-day game after he made 123 for Australia A against India A in Puducherry and later chipped in with a key wicket.
  • WA quick Mahli Beardman marked his return from a stress fracture by hitting 140kph-plus and taking 4 for 23 for Australia A against India A in Puducherry.
  • With Hardik Pandya sidelined again, India A’s series against Australia A has opened another window for seam-bowling allrounder Suryansh Shedge to push his case.
  • Abishek Porel has been included in Bengal’s Ranji Trophy squad for the season opener against Delhi in Kalyani, while the injured Shahbaz Ahmed misses out.
  • Left-arm quick Yash Dayal is back in Uttar Pradesh’s Ranji Trophy squad, with Zeeshan Ansari also returning and Aryan Juyal named captain.
  • Former Bihar captain Ashutosh Aman has been appointed head coach for Ranji Trophy 2026-27, with Sakibul Gani continuing as captain.
  • Left-arm wristspinner-batting allrounder Shivang Kumar is pushing towards a first-class debut after a rapid rise that included a lead-spinner role for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026.
  • Tammy Beaumont has extended her deal with The Blaze for two more seasons, taking her through to the end of the 2028 domestic campaign after retiring from international cricket in July.
  • Shreyas Iyer spoke about making the most of a good day by finishing matches, while Ishan Kishan said he focused on rotating strike when Iyer was scoring freely.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo