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Rohit Sharma took heart from India’s performance at the Gabba, particularly in the way they were able to save the follow-on and then take a few quick wickets when Australia were batting in the second innings.Although they fell behind in the game – after winning the toss and choosing to bowl – KL Rahul held the batting together in their first innings with his 84 and their lower-order rallied hard enough to effectively dismiss Australia’s hopes of a win. India were helped in large parts by the rain in Brisbane which affected all but one day’s play.”This thing has been in our team for a while now that we don’t give up easily, whatever the situation. We want to keep fighting. Even when we bowled in the second innings, we had the same intensity that we wanted to bowl them out for 60-70 runs because we knew they would play their shots and look to score quickly. That gives you opportunities and we get some as well. But we didn’t have enough time to chase 270-280 in 50 overs.”Related

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Australia batted with the purpose of setting up a declaration on day five, so they went out and took a lot of risks and in the process lost a lot of wickets. They declared on 89 for 7 and had about one session or so to go for a win but then the rains came again.”There’s pressure on the other team too,” Rohit said. “Until you put some pressure on the other team you won’t come to know how they react under pressure. When we were here last, we had chased 320-330 [328] on the last day and they’ll remember that in the back of their mind, they know we are capable of chasing like this. Whatever happened today, it gave us confidence ahead of Melbourne. We’re aware we have to start from scratch, conditions are different there and the ball may not move around so much there like it did here. We have to analyse all this and proceed.”Rohit’s own form is a matter of concern as well with the 10 he scored in Brisbane being his highest score in four innings so far on the tour, including a practice game in Canberra.”Yeah, I have not batted well. There is no harm in accepting that. But I know what’s in my mind. How I am preparing myself. All those boxes are very much ticked. It’s just about spending as much time as possible [batting].”Which I am pretty sure I am just there. As long as my mind, my body, my feet are moving well. I am pretty happy with how things are panning out for me.Sometimes those numbers can tell you that it’s been a while since he has got big runs. But for a person like me, I think it’s all about how I feel in my mind. What kind of prep I am having before each game. And how I am feeling about myself. That’s the most important thing.”And I am feeling good about myself, to be honest. Yeah, runs are obviously not showing that. But inside it’s a different feeling.”India move to Melbourne on Thursday for the fourth Test of the series which remains locked at 1-1, and the team is fairly pleased with that state of affairs.”It might appear that we were lagging behind in this Test but we take a lot from here,” Rohit said. “I’m immensely proud of the attitude we have shown because runs and wickets are one thing, but if your attitude and character are good then you can turn the impossible into possible.”

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has had his contract extended until the end of 2027 meaning he will guide the team’s defence of their ODI World Cup title that year as well as throughout next cycle of the World Test Championship.When McDonald was initially appointed in 2022 it was on a four-year deal which took him to midway through 2026. That would have seen him finish after the next T20 World Cup. He had stated that he was likely to be a one-term coach citing the demanding nature of the job and the fact that Justin Langer had only served one four-year term, despite Langer wanting an extension back in 2022.However, if McDonald had walked away in mid-2026, a new coach would have come in at an awkward time. Australia’s 2027 schedule looks like one of the heaviest calendar years the men’s team will have ever had. They host four Tests with New Zealand in December and January of 2026-27 before playing five Tests in India in January and February. Then they return home for a one-off Test against England in March to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Test cricket, with a two-Test home series against Bangladesh also scheduled but likely to be moved.Related

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There will then be a WTC final, if they qualify, followed by a five-Test Ashes tour. The next ODI World Cup then takes place in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia during October and November 2027.Keeping McDonald in place for that period means CA has some stability to plan for the extensive schedule. McDonald has an established coaching group around him, including Michael Di Venuto, Daniel Vettori and Andre Borovec, and will add a national pace bowling coach soon. McDonald’s three assistants have each coached the team for different white-ball series in the last two years in order to share the load. McDonald is hopeful those three assistants will get contract extensions until 2027 as well.”Those people are incredibly important to the team and myself,” McDonald said. “So the idea would be to continue to surround myself with those people, and I think they’ve got an appetite to continue on. So I’m hoping that news will hopefully follow this news and they’ll be on the journey long term.”Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins has recently suggested he would be open to remaining in his role for longer than may have first been planned, meaning he and McDonald could continue to work together until 2027 having developed a very close working relationship over the past three years.”I am very fortunate to have an exceptional group of leaders, players, coaches and staff who are fully invested in the ongoing well-being, success and development of this group,” McDonald said. “The professionalism, commitment and experience of my fellow coaches and the wider staff have ensured the journey has been extremely successful but just as importantly created a culture of unity, trust and inclusivity.”International cricket has many challenges for all teams and I am particularly proud how the group, players and staff, across all formats have navigated those together.”McDonald took over in the head coach role after the ugly departure of Langer in early 2022 and has guided the men’s team to significant success including the 2023 ODI World Cup and World Test Championship titles. The extension means he will have the opportunity for Test series wins in India and England which have recently eluded the side.Australia are currently in a race to qualify for next year’s WTC final at Lord’s in a bid to defend that title with the upcoming India series vital to their prospects.Nick Hockley, the Cricket Australia CEO, said: “Andrew has proven to be an outstanding men’s head coach who as well as delivering exceptional results has built a strong coaching team, methodology and an excellent environment for the team to perform at its best. We are delighted to extend his tenure for a further two years.”

Bangladesh vs West Indies

Dubai, 6pm local timeBangladesh squad: Nigar Sultana (capt, wk), Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Jahanara Alam, Dilara Akter, Taj Nehar, Shathi Rani, Disha BiswasWest Indies squad: Hayley Matthews (capt), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (vice-capt, wk), Ashmini Munisar, Afy Fletcher, Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation, Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Karishma Ramharack, Mandy Mangru, Nerissa CraftonTournament guide: After a win in their first match against Scotland, Bangladesh crumbled to a loss against England on a surface that aided spin. West Indies, meanwhile, lost their first match to South Africa but bounced back with a dominating win against Scotland thanks to an all-round show from Chinelle Henry.Related

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News brief: Left-arm spinner Zaida James suffered a blow to the jaw while fielding off her own bowling in the match against South Africa and subsequently missed the Scotland game. A West Indies statement said she “fortunately does not have breaks and fractures” and continues to be monitored by the medical team.West Indies earned a massive net run rate boost after their win against Scotland, and winning this match will strengthen their semi-final chances. If Bangladesh lose this match, their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals will take a big hit given their negative NRR. This will be West Indies’ first game of the tournament in Sharjah.Despite being used to spinning tracks back home, Bangladesh – after a fine outing with the ball – were undone by England’s quality spin attack in the previous game in Sharjah. This match, too, will come down to how well the teams counter spin. The average first-innings total at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium this tournament is 119, and only twice have teams won chasing.Player to watch: Bangladesh’s batting unit has not been up to mark in both games, but one player who’s stood out is Sobhana Mostary. She helped Bangladesh put up a competitive total scoring 36 against Scotland, and once again top-scored with 44 against England. Coming in after an early wicket against England, she dropped anchor as regular wickets at the other end piled the pressure on her. She hit a four and a six in her 48-ball stay on a slow surface against tight bowling and kept at it till the 19th over, but the target of 119 was too much of an ask in the end.

A nerveless List A career best of 53 not out from Dom Bess guided Yorkshire to a crucial win in a rollercoaster Metro Bank One-Day Cup clash with Essex as they chased 244 to win by three wickets at Scarborough and maintain their qualification hopes.Both sides encountered batting problems in an enthralling contest played on a competitive pitch.The Vikings fell from 102 for 2 to 184 for 7, losing Shan Masood for 58 and James Wharton for a career-best 71 off 89 balls. Seamer Shane Snater impressed with three wickets for Essex, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a fourth defeat in five matches in Group B.After losing three early wickets having been inserted, Robin Das and Luc Benkenstein made 67 off 92 balls and 68 off 94 respectively in Essex’s 243 for 9, which saw new-ball pair Ben Cliff and Ben Coad claim three wickets apiece for Yorkshire, who have now won three from five.Coad also contributed 26 not out in an eighth-wicket stand of 60 inside nine overs with Bess, who hit six fours in 55 balls.Essex opener Feroze Khushi played on to Cliff in the fourth over to start this contest before further wickets fell shortly afterwards as Essex fell to 27 for 3.Nick Browne miscued Coad to midwicket and captain Tom Westley slashed Cliff to point.Das and Benkenstein rebuilt with caution, though Das pulled Matthew Revis for six and ramped Cliff for four over the wicketkeeper’s head.Das reached his fifty off 67 balls, and by the time Benkenstein followed him to the same milestone, off 71, Essex were 150 for 3 in the 32nd over.But, in the following over, Das picked out deep cover off the seam of Revis, ending a fourth-wicket partnership of 125.The good work of Das and Benkenstein would be undone by the loss of four wickets for only five runs in 12 balls as left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty, Coad and Cliff all struck.Benkenstein’s departure came in a damaging spell which saw Essex crumble to 190 for 8 in the 42nd over.Moriarty had a reverse-sweeping Noah Thain brilliantly caught by a diving Wharton at deep backward point before Coad had Benkenstein caught at wide mid-on in that collapse.Ben Allison’s useful unbeaten 27 gave Essex something to work with, and he was one of four batters to post career-best scores alongside Benkenstein, Das and Simon Fernandes with 18.Essex’s hopes were raised when Yorkshire slipped to 18 for 2 inside seven overs of their reply. Snater claimed both wickets – Harry Duke smartly caught at second slip above his head by Thain and Fin Bean caught at mid-on.Masood and Wharton then shared 84 in similar fashion to the earlier Benkenstein-Das alliance – composed but not becalmed.Masood’s 46-ball fifty was his third in succession in this campaign, while Wharton pulled Aaron Beard’s seam for six to reverse the pressure.But the pendulum was about to swing again, as the Vikings lost four wickets for 21, including Masood, to slip to be 123 for 6 in the 31st over.Westley’s off-spin accounted for Masood lbw and Will Luxton caught at cover before Snater returned to bowl George Hill with an angled-in beauty and Richards removed Revis.Wharton pulled a couple of sixes in his 79-ball fifty to keep home hopes alive. But when he was brilliantly caught at mid-on by a leaping Browne off Thain’s medium pace, the Vikings were 184 for 7 in the 40th over and under the cosh.But, in keeping with the day’s flow, the game wasn’t over.Bess, having shared 61 with Wharton, played the guiding hand in partnership with Coad. He worked the ball expertly – to delight the majority of a 3,113 crowd – and reached his fifty with the winning hit off Allison.

Warwickshire fought back superbly in the final session to reach 277 for 6 against Somerset on a hard-fought opening day of their Vitality County Championship match at EdgbastonNeeding a win to maintain their pursuit of Division One leaders Surrey, Somerset chose to bowl and their seamers reduced the home side to 165 for 6, but Jacob Bethell, with 60 not out off 134 balls, and Michael Burgess (63 not out from 79) added an unbroken 112 in 30 overs.The seventh-wicket pair bailed out a top order which contributed little apart from Rob Yates’s 69. Craig Overton and Josh Davey both took two wickets but Somerset’s bowlers mixed good balls with too many loose offerings which prevented them building the required pressure.Warwickshire, mired in a relegation battle, were very grateful for the work of Bethell and Burgess as they try to build a position from which to push for their belated first Championship victory of the season.After Overton, captain in the absence of Lewis Gregory, won the toss, Somerset’s new-ball bowling was inconsistent. Warwickshire openers Alex Davies and Yates added 52 in 13 overs before the former departed furious at himself after edging a footwork-free waft at Kasey Aldridge to wicketkeeper James Rew.On a pitch offering some but by no means lavish assistance to the seamers, Warwickshire advanced comfortably enough to 94 for 1 before a change of ball reversed the flow. Will Rhodes, having moved to 22 in assured fashion, was bowled off-stump by one from Overton that held its own and three more wickets followed for 19 runs in 44 balls.Hamza Shaikh, making his first first-class appearance for Warwickshire, collected his first boundary with a luscious on-drive off Jake Ball but fell in the fast-bowler’s next over when he sliced a drive to Tom Lammonby to backward point. Yates, having struck 13 boundaries, played on to Davey who then produced a peach of an outswinger to find Ed Barnard’s outside edge.Bethell and Dan Mousley, fresh from the free hitting of The Hundred, knuckled down to add 21 in 65 balls before Mousley was drawn into a drive at Overton and former Warwickshire batter Andy Umeed held a stinging catch at second slip.At 165 for 6, the home side was in jeopardy, but Bethell and Burgess batted beautifully. Bethell smashed a 15-ball T20 half-century against Northamptonshire earlier this year and his explosive batting qualities are well-known, but he now showed technique, concentration and selectivity to dig his team out of trouble.The 20-year-old reached his fifth first-class half-century from 107 balls and laid the perfect platform for Burgess to attack at the other end.Burgess lifted Jack Leach for six over long on and then cleared the ropes twice more in an over off the spinner to pass 50 from 66 balls to add to the century he struck against Somerset at Taunton seven weeks ago. It was a stirring fightback from the Bears which left a compelling day evenly-balanced at its conclusion.

As Sophie Ecclestone’s domination of world bowling rankings moves well into a fifth year, keeping her motivated has become a priority for the England Women’s team. Ecclestone assures them they have nothing to worry about.After Ecclestone ripped through New Zealand’s line-up with her indomitable left-arm spin, snaring 5 for 25 in nine overs during Sunday’s second ODI in Worcester, captain Heather Knight told the post-match presentation: “She loves taking wickets and we have to do some funky fields to keep her interested.”Earlier, after England had defeated Pakistan in two home white-ball series where Ecclestone took 11 wickets from five matches across formats, Jon Lewis, their head coach, said: “She has an incredible talent and now our job is to is to make sure that she keeps enjoying her cricket.”So far, so good on that front.”A massive one for me is the people,” Ecclestone told the ESPNcricinfo Powerplay podcast. “That definitely keeps me interested, that I travel the world with my best mates and you play cricket for your country with your best mates.”And the competition, I love the competition. Ashes series, World Cup finals, super overs in a World Cup, that’s what I live for, that’s what I train for and that’s what we all train for. Winning trophies, it’s obviously up there too, so I’ll always keep interested. I wear my heart on my sleeve and you’ll see that.”Related

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Ecclestone made her international debut as a just-turned 17-year-old in a T20I against Pakistan at Bristol in July 2016. Against the same opposition last month, she became England’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, passing Katherine Sciver-Brunt’s 114. She now has 118 at an average of 14.70 and economy rate of 5.81. In ODIs, she now has 108 wickets at 19.94 and 3.66.Ecclestone didn’t feature in England’s 50-over World Cup triumph in 2017, by which time she had just four international caps in all, but she played in the Women’s Ashes series which followed a few months later where Australia retained the Ashes in the early stages of a reign which is now nearly a decade old.Along with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh this October, next year’s Ashes series in Australia is a key motivator for Ecclestone who, now 25, has been No.1 in the ICC’s world T20I bowling rankings since February 2020 and since March 2022 in ODIs.”It’s just win a World Cup and an Ashes,” Ecclestone said when asked what remained on her list to achieve. “That World Cup at Lord’s, that was the last World Cup [England] won and we’ve not won an Ashes since because I’ve been a part of them all, so it’d be really nice to do that in the space of six months, win the World Cup in Bangladesh, win the Ashes. It would be an amazing few months for us.””It’s just the history,” she added of the lure of another Ashes campaign. “Also a lot of my mates are from the other team now after playing a couple years of Big Bash and I get on them really well now.”Trying to get one up on your mates and get them out and give them a send-off and have a bit of a laugh afterwards, it’s always just really exciting. They’re a great team to play against, a great cricket team to watch and yeah, hopefully in the new year we can beat them and celebrate hard.”Sophie Ecclestone leads the team out after her second ODI five-wicket haul•Getty Images

After her feats in Worcester, Ecclestone was among three players rested for the rain-hit third and final ODI against the White Ferns in Bristol, making way for leg-spinner Sarah Glenn as Danni Wyatt and Lauren Filer were replaced by Sophia Dunkley and Lauren Bell.Ecclestone and Glenn form part of England’s enviable spin-bowling triumvirate, along with off-spinner Charlie Dean, who took 4 for 38 in the series opener in Durham. That was only the second time all three have played an ODI together but it is a combination Lewis is keen to employ wherever possible.”I always say I’m biased because I love playing with other spinners,” Ecclestone said. “It’s a nice little trio, me, Glenny and Deano, and we all bring something different whether it’s on the pitch or off the pitch. To have them alongside me and play alongside each other, we help each other out.”Deano showed her class other day and Glenny held up one end for Deano to take all the wickets, so it’s not about always taking wickets but working hard for each other too.”If you look at our squad now with the youngsters coming through, you’ve got the likes of Maia Bouchier, she absolutely nailed it the other day, and then you’ve got Alice Capsey, still only 19, she’s ridiculous.”And me, Glenny, Deano also so young and Lauren Bell, the list goes on and it’s so exciting to have these players to be a part of the next generation of women’s cricket and England cricket and it’s really exciting to see what we can do as a group.”