England split coaching staff as Buttler has hamstring surgery; Sri Lanka recall Nissanka — cricket digest 13 Oct 2026
England confirm split coaching set-ups as Fleming builds Test staff; Buttler faces lay-off after hamstring surgery
England have formalised a split backroom structure across formats, with Stephen Fleming recruiting James Foster and Eric Simons for his new-look Test staff ahead of the tour of South Africa. Richard Dawson is also coming in as England’s elite national spin-bowling lead, while Marcus Trescothick has been retained after his interim stint in the summer.
Brendon McCullum, who remains in charge of the white-ball sides, will again work with Jeetan Patel, Tim Southee, Sarah Taylor and Kevin Pietersen, with Mike Yardy appointed as elite national batting lead. The announcements landed as Jos Buttler revealed he has undergone surgery on the left hamstring he injured during the ODI series against Sri Lanka, with no recovery timeframe yet confirmed and his availability for upcoming assignments now uncertain.
Sri Lanka bring back Nissanka for Pakistan Tests, with Bandara and Malinga in line for debuts
Pathum Nissanka has been recalled to Sri Lanka’s red-ball set-up in a 15-man squad for the two-Test series in Pakistan, starting in Rawalpindi on November 9. Wicketkeeper Anjala Bandara and fast bowler Eshan Malinga have also been included and could earn first Test caps.
Kusal Mendis will captain the side, with the expectation that he may keep only as a specialist batter, opening the door for Bandara to take the gloves. Dinesh Chandimal returns after missing the second Test against India through injury, while Dilshan Madushanka is back in the squad after being left out for that match; Lahiru Udara, Niroshan Dickwella and Vishwa Fernando are among those to miss out.
Smith assessed for concussion after Nortje bouncer as Australia close on win in Durban
Steven Smith was assessed for concussion during the fourth day of the first Test in Durban after being struck on the helmet by an Anrich Nortje bouncer. He continued to bat and made 27, but did not take the field at the start of South Africa’s second innings, with Michael Neser substituting in the cordon; a further update is due on Tuesday.
Australia ended the day firmly in control, with South Africa 102 for 4 in their second innings and still 319 runs behind. Matt Renshaw followed his first-innings 190 with a brisk 82 off 99 balls in Australia’s second-innings declaration, and also took a wicket as the visitors moved to within six wickets of victory.
Pope, Smeed and Willey withdraw from Afghanistan Premier League draft amid NOC debate
Ollie Pope has pulled out of the draft for the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League T20, with Will Smeed and David Willey also withdrawing after criticism of potential England player involvement. The ECB has been weighing whether to grant No-Objection Certificates despite its stance of not playing bilateral cricket against Afghanistan because of the Taliban government’s treatment of women.
Rob Key said players faced a moral decision over participation, while Dawid Malan—still registered for the draft—said he would take guidance from the ECB and ICC. The draft is scheduled for October 24, with the tournament due to begin in the UAE on December 27, though doubts remain over whether the league will go ahead as planned.
In brief
- England handed uncapped seamer Henry Crocombe a two-year central contract as the ECB confirmed its biggest-ever pool of men’s centrally contracted players, with seven new full deals and only two players losing full contracts on performance grounds.
- Litton Das’ century helped Bangladesh tighten their grip on the Abu Dhabi Test, leaving Afghanistan needing 347 more runs with seven wickets in hand in a chase of 479.
- A surprise opening role paid off for Tasmania as Will Prestwidge struck his maiden List A fifty in a rain-affected One-Day Cup win over New South Wales by 57 runs on DLS.
- Matthew Gilkes’ maiden professional century, backed by three-wicket hauls from Jerrssis Wadia and Wes Agar, set up South Australia’s 70-run One-Day Cup win over Victoria.
- Rishabh Pant was ruled out of the first two four-day matches of India A’s New Zealand tour with a left side strain, with Kumar Kushagra called up as his replacement.
- Sri Lanka head into the next Pakistan T20I looking for a spark to avoid a series whitewash, with the hosts weighing whether to rotate despite having the series in the bag.
- Former Zimbabwe player and umpire Sarah Dambanevana has died in Harare aged 36; she represented Zimbabwe between 2009 and 2014.
- West Indies won the toss and chose to bowl against India in Indore, with India bringing in Reddy and Prince while the visitors made changes including Quentin Sampson and Keemo Paul.
- Abhishek Sharma’s rapid fifty—reached off 18 balls after a measured start—was highlighted as a key feature of India’s approach against West Indies in Indore.
- West Indies seamer Shamar Springer said there was little option but to be defensive against Abhishek Sharma, and described Roston Chase as an “X-factor” on the tour.
- Steven Smith’s four-catch display, including two standout slip takes, was singled out as a major factor in Australia taking a first-innings lead in Durban.
- Australia’s shift from early setbacks to control in Durban was framed around Matt Renshaw’s form and sustained bowling pressure, with South Africa set a target of 421.
- Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs were among those under scrutiny after South Africa’s batting again underwhelmed against Australia early in an eight-Test home summer.
- A weekend West Indies chase of 250 prompted discussion over whether it was the highest successful run-chase in men’s T20I history.
- Mumbai Indians traded in USA left-arm seamer Tara Norris from UP Warriorz at her base price of INR 10 lakh ahead of WPL 2027.
- Saracens said Totoa Auvaa has left the club with immediate effect after an internal investigation into a separate incident, months after his punch in a London nightclub sparked an ECB probe involving Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo