Zach Vukusic named youngest cricket international captain
Croatia’s Zach Vukusic has set a world record as the youngest captain in international cricket across all formats. At 17 years and 311 days, you would have seen him lead Croatia in a four-match T20 International series against Cyprus at Mladost Cricket Ground in Zagreb on Thursday, August 7. This broke the previous record held by France’s Noman Amjad, who was 18 years and 24 days old when he captained in 2022.
Vukusic, a top-order batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler, made his Croatia debut at 16 during the ICC T20 World Cup Sub Regional Europe Qualifiers in Germany. He plays club cricket in England and gained attention after scoring an unbeaten 116 in a 50-over match for Exeter.
In his first four T20Is, he scored 131 runs at an average of 32.75, with a top score of 53 and a strike rate of around 144. With the ball, he took three wickets. Although Croatia lost the T20 series to Cyprus, they won the T10 series 5-2.
New Zealand seals historic Test win against Zimbabwe with 359 runs
New Zealand thrashed Zimbabwe by an innings and 359 runs at Queen's Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Saturday, August 9. This win happened to be the Black Caps’ biggest Test victory yet, as the series ended 2-0.
The Black Caps piled on 601 runs for three declared in their first innings. Rachin Ravindra top-scored with 165 not out, while Devon Conway made 153. Henry Nicholls also chipped in a powerful, unbeaten 150. Their dominant batting left The Chevrons with a high total to chase.
The Chevrons could only reach 125 runs in their first innings, as Matt Henry and rookie bowler Zakary Foulkes led the Black Caps’ bowling attack. In their second innings, the Chevrons were bowled out for only 117 after the other team declared.
The 359-run margin is New Zealand’s largest record in Test cricket. This surpasses their previous record of an innings and 301 runs vs Zimbabwe in 2012.
Gill sets records; Jadeja shines in 2-2 England draw
India captain Shubman Gill had an outstanding tour of England. He scored 754 runs with an average of over 75, including four centuries, and led his team to a 2-2 series draw. Stepping into the No. 4 spot after Virat Kohli’s Test retirement, Gill earned praise for his composure and leadership throughout the tour. He made a new record for the highest score by an Indian with 269 runs at Edgbaston.
On the other hand, former cricketer Ajay Jadeja said Ravindra Jadeja was the most consistent player in the series. He praised his 516 runs in tough conditions and seven wickets. This is the second-most by a spinner in the series. Ajay also talked about Jadeja’s strong mindset. He recalled big innings where Jadeja kept the team steady when under pressure.
After Rohit Sharma retired and star spinner Kuldeep Yadav was missing, India still did well. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal gave the team strong starts. Rahul scored 532 runs, including two centuries. Former batting coach Sanjay Bangar commended Gill’s captaincy and Rahul’s reliability, noting how the team quickly adjusted to key lineup changes.
Jasprit Bumrah's Test performance draws criticism from Pathan
Irfan Pathan criticised Jasprit Bumrah for not making enough impact in India’s five-match Test series against England. Bumrah played only three matches and skipped the rest under the BCCI’s workload plan. India trailed 1-2 heading into the final game, so many expected him to return and lead the bowling attack.
Pathan felt Bumrah lacked urgency in key moments. He pointed to the Lord’s Test, where Bumrah bowled five overs to Joe Root. He believed Bumrah should have pushed for a sixth over to build pressure, but he held back.
Bumrah started strong with a five-wicket haul in the first Test. His form dropped in the following matches. In the Leeds Test, he didn’t take any wickets and failed to control the scoring. Pathan saw this as a missed chance for India’s lead pacer to take charge.
He rated Bumrah 6 out of 10 and said senior players must step up when the game is on the line.
New Zealand hit by injuries before second Test vs Zimbabwe
New Zealand’s injury worries have grown as fast bowler Will O’Rourke has been ruled out of the second Test against Zimbabwe with a back injury. O’Rourke felt back pain on day three of the first Test and has gone home for further checks. Auckland Aces’ left-arm seamer Ben Lister, who was already with the team as cover, will now stay on.
The Black Caps are also missing fast-bowling allrounder Nathan Smith, who is out with a stomach strain. This led to the call-up of new player Zakary Foulkes. Bowling coach Jacob Oram stays cautious but hopeful about O’Rourke’s recovery. He stressed the need to keep him safe for the tours ahead.
O’Rourke bowled 13 overs without a wicket in the first innings of the opening Test but shone with 3 for 28 in the second before getting hurt. His absence could give Jacob Duffy or Matthew Fisher a chance to play their first Test.
Meanwhile, skipper Tom Latham is still uncertain whether he’ll play due to a shoulder problem, as New Zealand get ready for the second Test starting August 7.
India pulls off a narrow six-run Test victory against England
India pulled off a stunning win at The Oval, beating England by just six runs in their fifth and last Test match for the series on Monday, August 4. The visitors managed to defend England’s target of 374 runs, as they bowled out the squad for 367, which levelled the series 2-2.
England looked in control at 339 for 6, eyeing only 35 more runs to win the match and the series. However, India’s Mohammed Siraj had other plans. The fast bowler ripped through England’s bid, taking four wickets for 86 balls during the second innings. He later finished off with a fifer, taking a total of five wickets for 104 in the match.
This win marks India’s narrowest-ever victory by runs in a Test match. The previous narrowest margin was a 13-run victory against Australia in 2004. Siraj said after the game that he found strength with his late father. ‘Jaddu Bhai told me to back my defence and remember my dad,’ he shared.
Chris Woakes ready to ‘put his body on the line’ despite shoulder injuries
Chris Woakes is ready to bat on the final day of the fifth Test at The Oval, despite a suspected shoulder dislocation. With England needing 35 more runs and four wickets, his determination highlights his strong commitment to the team.
Woakes was already seen training batting one-handed. However, there is no guarantee that he can play for the rest of the summer, as the results of his full diagnosis are still unavailable. Despite all these, Woakes admitted that he is ready to ‘put his body on the line’ for the team and will be deployed if his team needs him.
‘It just shows the character and the person that he's willing to put his body on the line like that for England, and hopefully - well, hopefully he doesn't have to, but if it does come to that - get us across the line and win us an incredible series.’ one of Team England’s top player, Joe Root, said in a statement.
India coach confronts Oval curator in a Test drama
Tensions rose before the fifth and final Test between India and England when India head coach Gautam Gambhir argued with The Oval’s head groundsman, Lee Fortis, during practice.
The video, now widely shared online, shows Gambhir pointing at Fortis and saying he had no right to tell the team what to do. This happened after the curator told Indian staff to stay 2.5 meters away from the pitch.
Fortis, a four-time England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) award winner known for strict pitch care, warned that he might file a complaint. Gambhir reportedly replied that he could report it to anyone he wanted.
India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said the argument started when a cooler was pushed close to the square, which triggered Fortis’ reaction. Kotak defended the team, saying they did not harm the surface. He criticised what he called an extreme level of care for the wicket, adding that it was 'a cricket pitch, not an antique'.
The clash divided fans, with some calling out Gambhir’s anger while others praised him for standing up for India’s training needs. Experts noted that pitch conditions often play a big role in the mental battle during key matches. With England ahead 2-1 in the series, this tense moment adds more drama to the final game at The Oval.
Kaushal Silva named Hong Kong coach for Asia Cup 2025
Former Sri Lanka Test cricketer Kaushal Silva has been named the new head coach of the Hong Kong men’s cricket team, marking his debut in charge of an international side. The appointment comes just weeks before their Asia Cup 2025 T20I campaign, which begins with their opening match against Afghanistan on September 9 in the UAE.
The 39-year-old played 39 Tests for Sri Lanka between 2011 and 2018. He made his mark in first-class cricket as a leading wicketkeeper-opener, scoring 13,932 runs and 41 centuries. Since he retired in 2019, he has gained coaching experience in Sri Lanka, England, and Australia.
Cricket Hong Kong chairperson Burji Shroff said Silva’s hiring aligns with the board’s plan to grow local talent and make the team more competitive. Silva also expressed his goal to instil a strong work ethic and winning mindset while identifying young talent for long-term development.
Hong Kong recently secured a runner-up finish at the Asia-Pacific Cricket Champions Trophy in Singapore and now faces a challenging Group B in the Asia Cup. The tournament, scheduled from September 9 to 28, will feature eight teams competing in T20I format.
The group line-up is as follows:
Group A:
India
Pakistan
Oman
UAE
Group B:
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Hong Kong
Sri Lanka
While Hong Kong prepares for a tough Group B campaign, one of the tournament’s key fixtures is the potential for up to three clashes between defending champions India and arch-rivals Pakistan, including a possible final.
England adds Jamie Overton for the final Test vs India
Fresh legs are needed after a long fourth Test. England are bringing in Jamie Overton for the fifth and final Test against India at The Oval starting July 31. The fast-bowling all-rounder joined to help a tired pace attack after a long fourth Test in Manchester, where England bowled for 143 overs. That match ended in a draw.
Captain Ben Stokes said the team may need fresh legs. England must avoid losing the final Test to win the series. Overton joins other fast bowlers Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue. All three might be used, with Atkinson and Overton seen as uncertain picks due to a lack of match time.
Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse have played in all four matches. Jofra Archer played in two after returning from four years out with injury. Stokes had some pain in the last game but said it’s very unlikely he will miss the series decider.
There’s not much time between games. England were still playing on Sunday night, and the last Test starts on Thursday, July 31. Overton has played just once since May due to a finger injury. Atkinson has not played top-level cricket in over two months after a hamstring injury. Tongue, who took 11 wickets earlier in the series, has stayed with the squad.
