International Cricket Council (ICC) released the rankings of batsmen and bowlers in Test cricket on the last day of the year i.e. Wednesday, 31 December. The surprising thing is that there is no Indian in the top-5 in the ranking of batsmen in Tests. However, among bowlers, India’s Jasprit Bumrah is the world number-1 bowler. Bumrah has also maintained his position in the latest rankings.

No Indian among top-5 batsmen

England’s Joe Root remains at number-1 position in the ranking of batsmen in Tests. After him, Harry Brook is at number two. New Zealand’s Kane Williamson is at third place and Australia’s Travis Head is at fourth place. In the latest rankings, both have lost one position each. After this, Australia’s Steve Smith is at fifth position, he has lost two places.

Kamindu Mendis of Sri Lanka is at number six. South African captain Temba Bavuma is at seventh and India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal is at eighth. After this, Saud Shakeel of Pakistan is at 9th place and Shubhman Gill of India is at 10th place. In the latest rankings, both Shakeel and Gill have gained one place each.

Jasprit Bumrah number-1 among bowlers

Jasprit Bumrah remains at the top in the rankings of Test bowlers released by ICC. Australia’s Mitchell Starc is at second place after Bumrah. Starc has gained one place. Then Noman Ali of Pakistan is at number three. Noman has gained two places.

Australian captain Pat Cummins is at number four. Cummins has lost 2 places. New Zealand’s Matt Henry is at 5th place, South Africa’s Marco Yansen is at 6th and Australia’s Scott Boland is at 7th. After this, Kagiso Rabada is at number eight, Josh Hazlewood at number 9 and Nathan Lyon at number 10.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced its team for the 2026 T20 World Cup to be held in India. Surprisingly, England has not selected explosive players like Liam Livingstone and Jamie Smith for the T20 World Cup. Livingstone will play in IPL 2026 and he has been sold for a huge amount. Let us tell you that England has just announced the provisional squad. Provisional means that England can still make changes in its team.

According to ICC rules, every team has to announce its team 30 days before the start of the tournament. Before the end of the deadline, teams can make changes to their squad on their own. After the deadline, teams have to take permission from the ICC for changes. England has just announced the provisional squad. In such a situation, she can make changes in her team anytime.

Harry Brook captain, Josh Tong included in the team for the first time

Fast bowler Josh Tong, who bowled lethally whenever he got a chance in the Ashes series, has been selected by England for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Harry Brook will be the captain of the England team in this ICC tournament. There is a mix of young and senior players in the team. However, the surprising thing is that England has not included an experienced all-rounder like Liam Livingstone in the World Cup squad. Livingstone will be seen playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026.

England has selected six fast bowlers in the form of Brayden Carse, Josh Tongue, Jamie Overton, Joffra Archer, Sam Curran and Luke Wood. There are three spinners in the form of Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid. Apart from this, power packed batsmen have been selected in the form of Harry Brook, Phil Salt, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethel, Ben Duckett, Will Jacques and Jos Buttler.

England team for the 2026 T20 World Cup – Harry Brook (captain), Joffra Archer, Will Jacques, Phil Salt (wicketkeeper), Tom Banton, Jacob Bithell, Jos Buttler, Braydon Carse, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue and Luke Wood.

WTC Record: The real test for a batsman in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) is long innings, difficult conditions and putting the team in a strong position in the match. Till now, many batsmen have given record breaking performances in this prestigious tournament, which include big names like David Warner, Harry Brook, Shubman Gill. Let’s take a look at the five biggest innings in WTC history.

David Warner – Australia

Australia’s explosive opener David Warner played an unbeaten inning of 335 runs against Pakistan in the Adelaide Test in 2019. In this marathon inning of 418 balls, Warner hit 39 fours and 1 six. This is the biggest individual innings of WTC so far, which left the opposition bowlers completely helpless.

Harry Brook – England

England’s young batsman Harry Brook caught the attention of the world by scoring 317 runs against Pakistan in Multan in October 2024. In this fast-paced inning of 322 balls, he hit 29 fours and 3 sixes while playing at a strike rate of 98. This innings of Brook is also included in the most special innings of England Test history.

Shubman Gill – India

Team India’s star batsman Shubman Gill played a patient and classic inning of 269 runs against England in Birmingham in July 2025. In this innings played in 387 balls, Gill hit 30 fours and 3 sixes. This innings of his is considered to be the turning point in India’s WTC journey. Gill had tired the England bowlers by spending almost 8 hours at the crease.

Jack Crowley – England

England’s tall opener Jack Crowley had scored 267 runs against Pakistan in Southampton in 2020. This inning played in 393 balls with the help of 34 fours is the biggest inning of his Test career. He gave a huge lead to England and changed the course of the match.

Joe Root – England

Former England captain Joe Root scored 262 runs against Pakistan in Multan in October 2024. In this brilliant inning of 375 balls, he hit 17 fours. This innings of Root was an example of excellent technique and patience.

The IPL 2026 auction will be held in Abu Dhabi on December 16, in which a maximum of 77 players will be able to bid. All 10 teams have retained 173 players for the next season, after which 77 slots are left vacant. Veteran T20 specialist players like Andre Russell, Glenn Maxwell and David Miller can come in the auction. But there are some players who, even if they want, will not be able to come to the IPL 2026 mini auction.

BCCI had made a new rule

Before the IPL 2025 mega auction, BCCI had made some new rules regarding the auction. The first rule was that any foreign player would have to register for the mega auction. If that player does not register his name for the auction, he will not be able to participate in the auction to be held next season.

The second rule was that if a player, after being bought in the auction, withdraws his name before the start of the season. Then he will be banned for 2 years from participating in the auction and playing in the tournament.

These 3 players will not be able to take part in the auction

Ben Stokes- England’s Test captain Ben Stokes is also in this list. He had not registered in the mega auction last year. Giving the reason for this, he said that he wants to prolong his career for England by paying attention to his fitness. Due to lack of registration, Ben Stokes will no longer be able to be a part of the mini auction.

Harry Brook- England’s ODI and T20 team captain Harry Brook had withdrawn his name from the IPL in 2024 due to the death of his grandmother. After being bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs 6.25 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, he withdrew his name from the tournament citing focus on his England career. For this reason, he too will not be able to come to the auction this year.

Jason Roy- Jason Roy has also been a stormy opening batsman for England. He had withdrawn his name from IPL 2024 due to personal reasons, while his name was also not there in the 2025 mega auction. Due to not being in the 2025 auction, he will also not be able to come in the IPL 2026 mini auction.

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In the third consecutive ODI against New Zealand, England collapsed on a small score. In the first ODI, England was all out for 223 runs and in the second for 175 runs. Today in the third ODI too, England’s innings, batting first, was reduced to 222 runs. From Joe Root to Harry Brook, all were huge flops. Today, Jamie Overton (68) and Brayden Carse (36) played important innings and took England beyond 200, otherwise today would have been the lowest score of the series.

In the third ODI, England’s opener Jamie Smith was out after scoring 5 runs, followed by the most experienced batsman Joe Root after scoring 2 runs, then Ben Duckett also returned to the pavilion on the score of 8. England got the fourth blow in the form of captain Harry Brook, he scored 6 runs.

Shameful record in the name of England

In the third ODI, the top-4 wickets of the England team fell in 6.3 overs, the total score of all four batsmen was 21 runs. However, this is not the story of this match only, but the situation was similar in the last two matches of the series and that is why this shameful record was registered in the name of England.

In the first match, England’s top-4 batsmen together scored only 6 runs. In the second match all four had scored 57 runs. That means, in the 3 ODI series, the top 4 batsmen of England have scored only 84 runs.

In the history of ODI cricket, the unwanted record of least runs scored by top-4 batsmen of any team in a series or tournament has now been registered in the name of England. Earlier this was in the name of Bangladesh, whose top-4 batsmen had together scored 89 runs in the Asia Cup 1988.

havoc of New Zealand bowlers

In the first match of the series, England captain Harry Brook played a brilliant inning of 135 runs, although he came at number 5 in that match. Earlier, Zachary Foulkes had taken 3 out of the first 4 wickets. Foulkes took a total of 4 wickets in this match. In the second ODI, the brilliant bowling of Blair Tickner was seen, who took maximum 4 wickets for New Zealand. He was chosen the best player of the match. In the third match also, Blair Tickner took maximum 4 wickets, Jacob Duffy took 3 wickets.

By winning the first two matches, New Zealand has already won the series. Today the third ODI is being played at Wellington Regional Stadium. England, batting first, set a target of 223 runs for New Zealand.

NZ vs ENG 1st ODI: The three-match ODI series between New Zealand and England has started. England team has gone on New Zealand tour. Today the first match of this series is being played at Bay Oval. In this match, New Zealand won the toss and decided to bowl first. The English batsmen surrendered in front of the Kiwi bowlers. 6 wickets fell on England’s score of 56. But captain Harry Brook played a brilliant innings and scored a brilliant century.

Harry Brook’s brilliant innings

In front of New Zealand, more than half of the England team collapsed in the blink of an eye. Jamie Smith lost his wicket on the very first ball. Ben Duckett and Joe Root were also out in the second over. Jacob Bethel, Jos Buttler and Sam Curran also lost their wickets early. But after this there was a partnership between captain Harry Brook and Jamie Overton. Overton scored 46 runs in 54 balls. Whereas Brook played a century inning of 135 runs in 101 balls, in which this batsman hit 9 fours and 11 sixes. In England’s innings of 223 runs, more than half the runs came from Brook’s bat.

A monster from the captain gives us a fighting chance.

He scores 1⃣3⃣5⃣ in our total of 2⃣2⃣3⃣ pic.twitter.com/7k24Gvd73l

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 26, 2025

9 batsmen scored 25 runs

In the first ODI being played in New Zealand, the England team would have been bundled out for 25 runs if Harry Brook and Jamie Overton had not managed the England innings. The remaining 9 batsmen of England together scored 25 runs. Ben Duckett, Joe Root and Jacob Bethel could score only 2-2 runs. Jos Buttler was out after scoring 4 runs and Sam Curran was out after scoring 6 runs. In the end Adil Rashid scored 4 runs and Luke Wood scored 5 runs. Jamie Smith and Braydon Carse were out without opening the account.

New Zealand’s strong bowling

New Zealand’s bowlers put England’s players on the back foot in this match. Among Kiwi bowlers, Zachary Foulkes took the maximum of 4 wickets. Jacob Duffy took 3 wickets, Matt Henry took 2 wickets and Mitchell Santner took 1 wicket.

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England gave a blast to New Zealand on the day of Diwali. Especially England’s star opener Phil Salt and captain Harry Brook made a lot of noise. Salt played a brilliant inning of 85 runs in 56 balls. Whereas Brook played a brilliant inning of 78 runs in 35 balls. England won the second T20 by 65 runs. After playing first, England had scored 236 runs for 4 wickets in 20 overs. In response, the Kiwi team collapsed for 171 runs in 18 overs.

England made a big splash

England, who came to bat first after losing the toss, got the first blow on the total score of 24. Jos Buttler returned to the pavilion after scoring only four runs. At the other end, Phil Salt kept scoring runs rapidly. England lost the second wicket on the last ball of the powerplay on a total score of 68. Jacob Bethel was out after scoring 24 runs in 12 balls. He hit two fours and two sixes.

After this, Salt and Harry Brook set off a lot of fireworks. Both of them hit fours and sixes. Brook scored 78 runs in just 35 balls. 6 fours and 5 sixes came from his bat. Salt played a brilliant inning of 85 runs in 56 balls. He hit 11 fours and one six.

In the end Tom Banton also played the band of Kiwi bowlers. Banton scored unbeaten 29 runs in just 12 balls. He hit 4 fours and one six. Along with this, Sam Curran returned unbeaten on eight runs with the help of a six in three balls.

New Zealand team proved to be a fuskie bomb

In response to England’s 236 runs, New Zealand’s team proved to be a fuskie bomb. The Kiwi team was bundled out for 171 runs in 18 overs and the English team won the match by 65 runs. Tim Seifert scored 39 runs in 29 balls for New Zealand. Mark Chapman scored 28 runs in 24 balls and captain Mitchell Santner scored 36 runs in 15 balls. Whereas Tim Robinson 07, Rachin Ravindra 08, Daryl Mitchell 09 and James Neesham were out after scoring 09 runs.

Which team scored most runs on the first day of a Test Match: On December 1, 2022, England’s batsmen had created history at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Pakistan. England had created a new world record by scoring more than 500 runs against Pakistan on the very first day. This was the first time in the history of Test cricket that a team had crossed the mark of 500 runs on the very first day. This team, captained by Ben Stokes, had thrashed the Pakistani bowlers while batting like T20.

112 year old record broken in test cricket

England broke Australia’s 112-year-old record, which was made by Australia in 1910 against South Africa in Sydney. In that match, Australia had scored 494 runs on the very first day. The England team had scored 506 runs at the loss of 4 wickets in only 75 overs. England’s run rate in the entire day’s play was around 6.74, which was an incredible feat for any team in Test cricket.

Four batsmen of England scored centuries

In this Test match played between England and Pakistan, four England batsmen scored centuries, which was another world record for the first day of Test cricket. This was the first time in the history of Test cricket that four batsmen of a team had scored centuries on the very first day. Names of four batsmen who scored centuries in this match are:

1- Jack Crowley

England’s right-handed opening batsman Jack Crawley played a explosive inning of 122 runs in 111 balls in this match.

2- Ben Duckett

This left-handed opening batsman of England played an excellent inning of 107 runs in 110 balls in this match.

3- Ollie Pope

England’s wicketkeeper batsman Ollie Pope played a brilliant inning of 108 runs in 104 balls in this match.

4- Harry Brook

England’s middle-order batsman Harry Brook played an explosive inning of 101 unbeaten runs on only 81 balls in this match.

The month of September is no less than a festival for cricket fans. Limited overs series between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, Tri -series between Pakistan, Afghanistan and UAE. The same 2025 Asia Cup. That is, the thrill is full. But not only that. This month, a limited overs series will also be played between England and South Africa. The ODI series will start from tomorrow i.e. September 2. England has also announced the playing XI for the first ODI against South Africa.

South Africa’s team is on a 3 -match ODI series and England tour for the same match T20 series. The first ODI between England and South Africa will be played on 2 September at Handingley, Leeds. Harry Brook is the captain of England. At the same time, the command of the South African team is in the hands of Tamba Bavuma.

Pitch report

The pitch of the Handingley Cricket Ground is usually considered favorable for the bowlers. Here fast bowlers get good help from the pitch. The pitch gives the movement to the fast bowlers. At the same time, there is a good bounce on the pitch. The team winning the toss here can take the decision to bowl first.

England’s playing XI- Jamie Smith, Ben Docket, Joe Root (wicketkeeper), Harry Brook (Captain), Jose Butler, Jacob Bethel, Will Jacks, Bridan Cars, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid and Sunny Baker.

South Africa’s possible playing XI- Aden Markram, Ryan Ricelton (wicketkeeper), Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Truston Stabs, Dewald Brevis, Vian Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Nagidi.

England vs South Africa first ODI Match Preference

Our match is the prediction meter telling that the hosts of England are heavy in this match. Although there are many match winner players in the South African team, but still the English team is considered to be a contender for victory in this match.