England Women’s Sri Lanka tour set to clash with WPL; Fleming on coaching pathway — cricket digest 21 Oct 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

England Women’s Sri Lanka T20Is to overlap WPL as Champions Trophy build-up takes shape

England will play three T20Is in Sri Lanka from February 1 to 5 next year, a window that clashes with the final week of the WPL in India, which ends on February 7. The series is scheduled ahead of the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy (T20 format), which runs from February 14 to 28 in India, and boards may allow players still involved in the WPL to stay put rather than report for national duty.

After the Champions Trophy, England return to Sri Lanka for three ODIs from March 4 to 8, all in Dambulla, with the February T20Is set for Pallekele. England will also hold a red-ball training camp in India in January, following Charlotte Edwards’ call for an increased focus on Test cricket after India’s 270-run win at Lord’s in July, with selection for that camp due in the coming weeks.

Fleming: England job should ultimately be filled by an English coach

Stephen Fleming says he believes England’s Test side should ideally be coached by an Englishman, and that developing homegrown coaches will be a central part of his four-year stint. Fleming, the second successive New Zealander to hold the post after Brendon McCullum, told BBC Radio 5 Live he wants a clear pathway in place, pointing to the make-up of his new support staff as a step in that direction.

Richard Dawson, James Foster and Marcus Trescothick are among the key figures around the set-up, with Jonathan Trott set to coach England Lions this winter and Mike Yardy appointed national batting lead at the ECB. Fleming also said he wants county coaches to spend time with England when schedules allow, and suggested England may again lean on part-time spin options such as Jacob Bethell, Dan Lawrence and Joe Root in South Africa, where he will take charge for the first time in December.

Santner flags Bhuvneshwar threat and India’s power ahead of Christchurch opener

Mitchell Santner believes Bhuvneshwar Kumar will relish New Zealand conditions as India’s five-match T20I series begins in Christchurch on Thursday, with the seamer back in India colours after nearly four years away. Santner said Bhuvneshwar’s ability to swing and nip the ball makes him a danger even on flat pitches, while India captain Shreyas Iyer welcomed the experience he adds to a pace group that has recently featured plenty of new faces.

New Zealand are also preparing for India’s top-order hitting, having seen Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan power India to 255 in the sides’ last meeting in the T20 World Cup final in March. Santner also highlighted the potential impact of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and expects conditions to vary across the series, with Hagley Oval’s larger boundaries offering some help to bowlers.

Shami insists he’s ‘still at my peak’ as he keeps pushing for India recall

Mohammed Shami says he remains fully fit, bowling in good rhythm and has no intention of giving up on an international return, despite being left out of India’s Test and ODI squads for the upcoming tour of New Zealand. Speaking after Bengal’s Ranji Trophy match against Services, Shami said he is focused on playing as much domestic cricket as possible, both to stay ready and to maintain rhythm across formats.

Shami last played for India in March 2025 during the Champions Trophy, where he finished as joint-highest wicket-taker for India alongside Varun Chakaravarthy with nine wickets. He said he has not been in contact with selectors since he is not in the squad, and explained his absence from the field against Services was a tactical choice on a spin-friendly pitch to give younger bowlers an opportunity, rather than a fitness issue.

In brief

  • Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 91 off 41 and Shafali Verma’s 69 set up India Women’s 92-run win over Zimbabwe in Raipur, sealing a 3-0 T20I series sweep.
  • After stepping down as India captain earlier this month, Harmanpreet said she is enjoying batting with less pressure, while Smriti Mandhana praised the value of rotating the order and having plenty of bowling options ahead of February’s Champions Trophy.
  • India Women chose to bat against Zimbabwe in the third T20I at Raipur and brought in legspinner Prema Rawat, while Zimbabwe made three changes including the recalls of Nyasha Gwanzura and Kudzai Chigora.
  • Shafali Verma received an official reprimand and one demerit point for a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct during the second T20I against Zimbabwe.
  • Arafat Minhas backed up a 59 with 6 for 40 as Pakistan beat England by 87 runs in Rawalpindi in their ODI tri-series.
  • England chose to bowl first against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, with Adil Rashid and Sam Curran included and Pakistan unchanged.
  • India arrived in New Zealand with little time to acclimatise for the T20I series, and will be without Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya as Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy comes under the spotlight.
  • Temba Bavuma’s career-best 179 lifted South Africa to 425 for 9 declared against Australia at St George’s Park, leaving Australia 3 for 1 and still 422 behind.
  • Bavuma said South Africa want to push for victory against Australia at St George’s Park, with enforcing the follow-on likely to be central to any series-levelling bid.
  • Ashleigh Gardner struck 84 off 45 and took two wickets as Australia beat New Zealand by 40 runs to clinch the Rose Bowl.
  • New Zealand opted to bowl in the second women’s T20I at North Sydney Oval, with Phoebe Litchfield returning from a low-grade hip strain as Australia looked to wrap up the series.
  • Jack Edwards and Sean Abbott kept New South Wales on top against Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield, with WA 245 for 7 replying to NSW’s 440 for 6 declared.
  • A flurry of wickets left Tasmania v Victoria finely balanced in Hobart, with Tasmania 39 for 4 in their second innings after Victoria were dismissed for 207.
  • Xavier Bartlett’s 3 for 33 helped Queensland seize control against South Australia in Adelaide, with SA 104 for 7 in their second innings after Queensland made 238.
  • R Sai Kishore’s hat-trick at Chepauk helped Tamil Nadu to an innings win over Uttarakhand, continuing a run built on changing angles and rediscovering rhythm.
  • Afghanistan went into their UAE tri-series match against Bangladesh as favourites for a place in the final, leaving Bangladesh needing a big win after their heavy opening defeat to Zimbabwe.
  • Ibrahim Zadran’s 90 against Zimbabwe again underlined both his fluency and a recurring frustration, marking another dismissal in the nineties.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo