New Zealand dropped to fourth in the ICC World Test Championship standings after a 115-run loss to England in the first Test at Lord's, despite Australia leading the table with 84 points and a 87.50% points percentage.
India, led by captain Shubman Gill, prepares to face Afghanistan in a one-off Test in Mullanpur, marking the beginning of their red-ball season. Despite the match not contributing to the World Test Championship standings, Gill emphasizes its significance for building momentum ahead of crucial Test engagements.
Bangladesh have moved to fifth in the World Test Championship standings after a 2-0 series win over Pakistan, pushing India down to sixth. Australia leads the table.
Bangladesh has climbed to fifth in the World Test Championship rankings after a 2-0 series win over Pakistan. India dropped to sixth, having not played a WTC match this year, and now ranks above only Pakistan among Asian teams.
Babar Azam scored a crucial 68 off 84 balls to stabilize Pakistan's innings against Bangladesh in the second Test. The knock also saw him surpass Ben Stokes in the ICC World Test Championship half-century list.
India's senior selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, will select squads for the one-off Test against Afghanistan and three subsequent ODIs on May 19. Shubman Gill is expected to lead the batting unit in the Test, with fresh faces like Gurnoor Brar potentially included in the bowling group. For the ODIs, KL Rahul is likely to remain the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter despite Rishabh Pant's inconsistency, while Ishan Kishan's form may earn him consideration. The spin-bowling all-rounder role, currently held by Ravindra Jadeja, is under discussion, with Axar Patel as a potential alternative.
Pakistan lost to Bangladesh by 104 runs in the first Test, marking their third consecutive Test loss against Bangladesh.
Longer UK series planned for South Africa and PakistanSingle Sri Lanka and Bangladesh games OK for ICC’s WTCEngland’s men will face a lopsided Test schedule in the next future tours programme (FTP), with a move to stage more five-match series at home to be offset by an increase in one-off Tests overseas.The England and Wales Cricket Board is abandoning the principle of aiming for reciprocal home and away series in the next World Test Championship (WTC), which will begin with the home Ashes series next summer. The ECB has already held talks with South Africa and Pakistan over touring for five Test matches for the first time in decades, but on the flip side England’s future tours to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh could comprise a single Test complemented by white-ball games that are more commercially viable to the host Boards. Continue reading...
Following their T20 World Cup win, selectors are prioritising the World Test Championship and 2027 ODI World Cup, focusing on managing Jasprit Bumrah's workload. Bumrah is expected to play all nine upcoming WTC Tests, with potential rest from ODIs. Middle-order prospects like Padikkal, Jurel, and Gaikwad are also being considered.
