Ffion Wynne

Manchester Super Giants defeated Trent Rockets by five wickets at Lord's to win their first men's Hundred title. Trent Rockets made 158-8, with Aneurin Donald scoring 38, while Tim Seifert's 72 from 38 balls anchored Super Giants' successful chase of 159. Despite a late collapse caused by Mohammad Amir and Ben Sanderson, Liam Dawson hit the winning six with two balls remaining. The result denied the Rockets the chance to become the first franchise to win both men's and women's Hundred competitions in the same season.

Trent Rockets won their first women's Hundred title by defeating Sunrisers Leeds by eight wickets at Lord's. Sunrisers were bowled out for 91 after collapsing to 26-3, with Annabel Sutherland making 25 and Dani Gibson 22. Trent Rockets' bowlers, led by Georgia Adams and Charley Phillips, shared the wickets, while Sophia Dunkley scored 41 from 23 balls and Beth Mooney made an unbeaten 31 as the target was reached with 46 balls remaining. The victory underlined the Rockets' all-round consistency, contrasting with Sunrisers' reliance on key overseas players, and set up the possibility of Trent winning both the men's and women's competitions.

The Hundred’s 2026 ticket sales fell just over 5% to 550,000, following the sale of stakes in all eight teams to private owners and extensive rebranding. Attendance was weaker at heavily rebranded venues such as Headingley and Old Trafford, while Welsh Fire achieved record crowds and a London derby set a group-stage record. Officials attributed the decline partly to the transition to new brands, uneven scheduling and economic pressures, while noting that family and junior attendance remained stable. Tournament director Vikram Banerjee highlighted strong broadcast and digital engagement, and ECB chief executive Richard Gould said the new ownership structure should build stronger fan allegiances over time.

Manchester Super Giants defeated Sunrisers Leeds by 20 runs in the Hundred men's Eliminator at The Kia Oval. Paul Walter led the way with an unexpected 80 from 46 balls, supported by Heinrich Klaasen's 63 from 26, as Super Giants posted 186-4. Josh Tongue then took 4-26 to restrict Sunrisers to 166-7, despite Ryan Rickelton's unbeaten 54 and Harry Brook's 49. Super Giants will face Trent Rockets in the final at Lord's.

Sunrisers Leeds defeated Southern Brave by five wickets in the women's Hundred Eliminator after restricting them to 114-7. Issy Wong's three wickets briefly revived Brave's hopes during the chase, but Deepti Sharma and Jess Jonassen guided Sunrisers to victory with 11 balls remaining. Sunrisers will meet Trent Rockets in the final at Lord's, aiming to secure consecutive Hundred titles.

Brendon McCullum says Harry Brook will eventually become England's Test captain but supports Joe Root taking charge after Ben Stokes' retirement. Brook is currently leading England's white-ball team and preparing for upcoming limited-overs fixtures. McCullum also endorsed Stephen Fleming as his successor as Test coach, with Marcus Trescothick temporarily overseeing the Pakistan series. The leadership changes come as England seek to reverse a decline in Test results and manage the demands placed on players active across all three formats.

Nadine de Klerk's unbeaten 41 from 22 balls, including two late sixes, guided London Spirit to a five-wicket win over Trent Rockets with three balls remaining at Trent Bridge. Spirit recovered from 67-4 through a 63-run partnership between De Klerk and Marie Kelly, while Marizanne Kapp took 3-12 as Rockets made 142-7. Both teams have one win from two matches, although Trent Rockets rank higher on net run-rate.

Birmingham Phoenix defeated Trent Rockets by 10 runs at Edgbaston after posting 214-4, the second-highest total in The Hundred's history. Joe Clarke and Will Smeed made rapid half-centuries, while Rehan Ahmed and Donovan Ferreira powered a late surge. Rockets reached 204-7 in reply, with Tom Banton scoring 67, but Scott Currie removed him late to close out the win. The match set records for aggregate runs and sixes and helped revive a low-scoring tournament.

Former England fast bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt discusses the guilt and practical challenges of balancing motherhood with her new coaching career. Now assistant coach of Trent Rockets, she hopes eventually to coach franchise teams but believes a year-round county head coach role would be difficult while raising her son Theo with her wife, England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt. Sciver-Brunt says coaching has given her renewed purpose after retirement and that sharing responsibilities with Nat may help her pursue the role while remaining an involved parent.

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt will miss Trent Rockets' first two matches in The Hundred while managing a calf problem that has disrupted her summer. The injury, sustained playing for The Blaze in April, previously caused her to miss England matches and limited her to batting during the T20 World Cup, where England lost the final to Australia. She is expected to return ahead of England's three-match ODI series against Ireland beginning on 1 September. Her wife, former England bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt, has joined the Rockets as assistant coach.

Sam Curran led MI London to a seven‑wicket win over Sunrisers Leeds in the opening match of the men’s Hundred, contributing 60 not out and taking 2‑27. Nicholas Pooran accelerated the chase with a rapid unbeaten 58, sharing a 93‑run stand with Curran. Richard Gleeson took 4‑25 as Sunrisers were bowled out for 143, with Mitchell Marsh top‑scoring. MI London reached the target with 16 balls to spare, continuing their strong form after winning the past three tournaments.

Sunrisers Leeds opened the 2026 Women’s Hundred with a dominant seven‑wicket win over MI London, restricting the hosts to 107‑8 before chasing the target with ease. Phoebe Litchfield led the reply with 43, supported by Annabel Sutherland’s unbeaten 30. A shoulder injury to bowler Kate Cross was the only concern for Leeds, while Deepti Sharma, Dani Gibson and Hannah Baker delivered key breakthroughs as MI London lost momentum after a fast start.

Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of The Hundred after suffering a knee injury during England’s one-day series against India, forcing Birmingham Phoenix to replace him as captain with Donovan Ferreira. The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed an MRI scan but gave no return date for the 22-year-old, who had been seen as a future national leader after strong recent performances. Phoenix begin their campaign against Trent Rockets on Friday.

Joe Root highlighted England’s lack of 50‑over experience, saying younger players must learn quickly due to limited domestic exposure to the format. His composed 99 guided England to victory over India in challenging conditions, contrasting with the high‑scoring style of the 2019 World Cup team. Root stressed the need for adaptability as England seek consistency amid recent ODI struggles and aim to secure World Cup qualification. He remains optimistic the squad can develop cohesion similar to the 2019 group as they prepare for the series decider at Lord’s.

England levelled the ODI series against India after Joe Root’s unbeaten 99 guided a successful chase of 234 in Cardiff. Despite early wickets and inconsistent top‑order batting, Root anchored the innings with disciplined play, supported late by Will Jacks and Gus Atkinson. India had earlier reached 233, driven by Virat Kohli’s 65 before England’s bowlers triggered a collapse, taking the final seven wickets for 55 runs. Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson delivered key breakthroughs, setting up a series decider at Lord’s.

The first women’s Test at Lord’s highlighted both historic progress and ongoing structural challenges for the format, from poor scheduling and limited preparation time to financial disparities between cricket boards. England’s heavy defeat to India underscored the need for more domestic red-ball cricket, while figures across the sport questioned how women’s Tests can retain relevance amid the commercial dominance of shorter formats. The ECB faced criticism for overshadowing the match with unrelated announcements, and administrators suggested that fewer but higher‑quality women’s Tests may become the norm as boards prioritise formats that generate greater revenue and visibility.

India built an overwhelming lead against England in the women’s Test at Lord’s, declaring at 341-7 before reducing the hosts to 130-6 and leaving them 327 runs short of victory with one day remaining. England’s senior batters Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight fell cheaply in their final Test innings, while Nat Sciver‑Brunt also departed early as the side collapsed to 59-5. A resilient partnership between Mady Villiers and Amy Jones delayed India’s march toward victory before Villiers was dismissed late in the day. Yastika Bhatia’s historic century set up India’s dominance, supported by inconsistent English bowling and limited seam options. Despite Sophie Ecclestone’s five-wicket haul, England face near-certain defeat as India maintain full control.

Heather Knight concludes a 320‑match England career marked by leadership, professionalism, and a transformative role in the shift to a fully professional women’s game. Her tenure included World Cup triumph in 2017, challenges across multiple Ashes cycles, and significant advocacy for gender pay equity. Successor Nat Sciver‑Brunt now leads England, while the retirement of both Knight and Tammy Beaumont leaves major gaps in experience and batting strength. England’s future options include Maia Bouchier, Sophia Dunkley, and several emerging players, reflecting the broader professional depth that Knight helped create.

Heather Knight retires from international cricket after 16 years and a record 320 appearances, leaving England during a period of transition following Tammy Beaumont’s departure. She is celebrated for leading England to the 2017 World Cup title and becoming the first England player to score centuries in all three formats. Injuries and a recent move into a management role at London Spirit signalled the winding down of her career. Praise from leadership highlights her influence on the team and the growth of women’s cricket, while England now looks to emerging players to take on key roles.

India tightened their grip on the one-off Test at Lord's by bowling England out for 170, led by Kranti Gaud’s historic five-wicket haul. Smriti Mandhana anchored India’s dominant second innings with an unbeaten 69 as the visitors extended their lead to 269. England’s batters collapsed after a brief resistance from Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amy Jones, while their bowlers struggled on a flat pitch. India’s strong opening partnership and control with the ball left England facing a difficult path to avoid defeat over the remaining two days.

Sophie Ecclestone became England’s leading wicket‑taker across all formats during the first women’s Test at Lord’s, surpassing Katherine Sciver‑Brunt with her 336th wicket as England bowled India out for 285. The historic match doubled as a celebration of past players, with figures such as Enid Bakewell and Anya Shrubsole honoured before play. Ecclestone’s performance, alongside key wickets from Issy Wong, highlighted the progress and professionalism of the modern women’s game while underscoring players’ desire for more Test opportunities.

Sophie Ecclestone became England’s all‑time leading wicket‑taker as a late fightback restricted India to 285 on the opening day of the historic women’s Test at Lord’s. Smriti Mandhana led India with 83, supported by half‑centuries from Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma, but seven wickets fell for 95 runs as England’s spinners shifted momentum after a rusty start. Debutant Mady Villiers and Issy Wong provided key breakthroughs before Ecclestone claimed the final three wickets. England closed on 21‑1 after Tammy Beaumont fell early in her final international innings, leaving the contest finely balanced heading into day two.

Tammy Beaumont announces her retirement from international cricket ahead of England’s Test against India, saying she no longer has the drive to fight for a place in a newly developing squad. Reflecting on a career that includes a World Cup win, Ashes double-century and key contributions across formats, she cites recent omissions and a lack of motivation to keep pushing back as decisive factors. Beaumont continues to advocate for more meaningful women’s Test cricket and expresses strong emotion about the teammates with whom she has shared major milestones. She plans to continue playing domestically after her final Test at Lord’s.

Charlotte Edwards expressed pride in England’s progress despite a heavy defeat to Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup final, crediting improved fitness, fielding and team culture for winning back supporters. Australia comfortably chased England’s target of 151, led by Beth Mooney’s 64, reaffirming their long‑standing dominance. Edwards acknowledged her side were outplayed but emphasised their growth and confidence for the future. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt echoed the sentiment, calling the loss painful but insisting the team will return stronger.

England and Australia will be allowed to warm up on the Lord's outfield before the Women's T20 World Cup final despite an initial restriction caused by a pre-match performance by Rita Ora. A late change permits bowlers access to the main ground before the show, easing concerns about disrupted preparation. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt highlighted the growing significance of the event amid increased professionalism and large crowds, noting the team's progress since past defeats and downplaying the relevance of previous results against Australia.

England face Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup final with a history of losses shaping expectations, but recent improvements under coach Charlotte Edwards have revitalised the team. Former players and experts highlight psychological challenges, arguing that England must use past failures as motivation while embracing their underdog status. Australia recognise England’s resurgence, and both teams acknowledge the pressure of the occasion. England’s enhanced confidence, role clarity and dynamic young players position them to challenge Australia if they withstand key pressure moments.