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Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza has defended his team’s plan of trialing players against Zimbabwe, after the hosts lost the third T20 international by 31 runs in Khulna. There were four debutants and Imrul Kayes replaced Tamim Iqbal at the top of the order, as Bangladesh searched for the right combination ahead of the World T20.Bangladesh had to leave out Mustafizur Rahman and Mushfiqur Rahim because of injuries, Al-Amin Hossain and Tamim Iqbal were rested, and Shuvagata Hom was dropped. Mosaddek Hossain, Muktar Ali, Abu Hider and Mohammad Shahid made debuts, while Kayes was given a chance to display his newly acquired T20 skills.When Mashrafe was asked if he thought there were too many changes, he said the new players knew their roles but could not implement properly. Hider took two wickets and Shahid one; Mosaddek made 15 off 19 balls and Muktar an unbeaten 19 off 15 balls.”It would seem so from the outside,” Mashrafe said about perhaps there being too many changes. “Four debutants and one addition does make it look that way. We were not up to the mark with our planning on the field. We lost because we didn’t play according to the plans. As a captain I always give importance to winning. We didn’t want to lose, that’s for sure. Everyone was given a specific plan but they couldn’t put it into action.”We had said before that we will test combinations. We had to make three changes because two players were injured and we rested Al-Amin. We made two more changes. It was clearly going to be a little harder for us with a number of new faces. Rain didn’t do us any favours either.”Mashrafe said they wanted to see how Mosaddek played at No 4, which is why he was sent ahead of Shakib Al Hasan. “We tried that player to see how he does at that position in that type of situation. It was a test for the newcomer, how he reacts to that particular scenario. We rested Tamim to see Imrul Kayes. Tamim is in good touch though you may ask why we have rested a player in form.”Mashrafe said it would not be fair to evaluate a player after his first game at this level but said Hider and Nurul Hasan had to develop more for international cricket. “We brought [Mosaddek] because he is a promising player. It wouldn’t be fair to put him under pressure after just one game. We can’t judge him so quickly. He bowled well. He can bat better, but it wasn’t that bad.”He [Abu Hider] is definitely promising. It is hard to compare him to Mustafizur but he did well for his first game. I think he will slowly bowl a lot better, wherever he gets the chance to play. I think Nurul Hasan played some good shots towards the end, which looked nice. I would hope he will continue to bat like this.”

Sam Harper’s maiden BBL century blasted Melbourne Stars to their best start to a season in 12 years with a seven-wicket win over Sydney Sixers.On a night when Peter Siddle, at the age of 41, narrowly missed out on his first BBL hat-trick, Harper smashed an unbeaten 110 from 60 balls to help Stars chase down 145 with 15 deliveries to spare. In what was easily the best game of Harper’s BBL career, he took to Kane Richardson and brought up his century off just 50 balls at the SCG.After going the past two BBL summers without a half-century, Harper now has scores of 55 and 110 not out to start this season.Victory means Stars have won their opening three games for the first time since they went undefeated through the regular season in 2013-14. Sixers, in contrast, are struggling with one win from four games.Harper was the cause of most of Sixers’ pain on Boxing Day, hitting six sixes in total and taking 41 runs off two overs from Richardson alone. The manner in which he did so was brutal, twice making use of the shorter side by pulling Richardson into the Bill O’Reilly Stand. When Richardson swapped ends, Harper again made use of the dimensions, hitting the quick over cover for another six.Peter Siddle picked up three wickets•Getty Images

Harper also hit the former Australia white-ball quick to the rope five other times, before taking on Jack Edwards in similar fashion. He brought up his hundred when he top-edged the allrounder over a short third man, after twice clearing the rope earlier in the over.Earlier, Siddle continued his superb start to the season with 3 for 23 from four overs after he also claimed 3-30 in the Stars’ opener against Hobart. He had Jordan Silk caught at cover from the final ball of the 16th over, before returning and getting Joel Davies at long off from the first ball of the 19th.But Jonathan Merlo put down a tough chance at point to remove Sean Abbott first ball, denying the former Test star his hat-trick.Tom Curran also enjoyed some success over his old club, picking up a crucial 3 for 26 with the ball. A six-season player with Sixers, Curran left the club after the 2023-24 season, when he was suspended for four matches for pushing a fourth umpire.Curran got the key wicket of Daniel Hughes, after the opener had played a lone hand with 60 off 42 balls, with the Sixers 90 for 3 when he was dismissed in the 13th over. He also rid of Babar Azam for 2 and the dangerous Edwards for 11, with Sixers all out from the last ball of the 20th over.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is expected to fill up two spots in its list of centrally contracted players – which fell vacant after Lou Vincent and Shane Bond joined the unofficial Indian Cricket League – before June.Justin Vaughan, the NZC chief executive, said Bond’s contract had been offered to another player while no replacement had been found for Vincent yet.”Shane’s contract has been offered to a player but I haven’t heard whether that player has accepted it yet,” Vaughan told . “[About] Lou’s contract, we are working through the process for that at the moment but a decision is probably about a week away.”Iain O’Brien, the right-arm fast-medium bowler, is likely to be named in place of Bond, the newspaper suggested, while Tim Southee – who took 17 wickets and was the Player of the Tournament at the recent Under-19 World Cup – and opening batsman Matthew Bell have been marked as the candidates to replace Vincent.Meanwhile, Richard Hadlee, currently New Zealand’s convenor of selectors, will be involved in handing out the 20 central contracts and in selecting the squad for the tour of England – which begins late next month – despite his announcement last week that he would step down as a selector.John Wright, the former India coach and currently high performance manager of NZC, is tipped to take over the role from Hadlee, who has served as a selector for eight years. However, Hadlee is likely to be replaced only later this year.

Mark Wood will undergo ankle surgery next week after the ECB decided it had to pursue a long-term solution to the problem which he has managed through the first six months of his international career.He was left out of the final Test against Pakistan, in Sharjah, as part of the ongoing management of his left ankle after he had received a cortisone injection following the match in Dubai, where he produced his most impressive performance in an England shirt.Wood had previously missed the third Test against Australia, at Edgbaston, due to the problem and Alastair Cook said that he had never been expected to play all three Tests against Pakistan.After the Test series finished, Wood was also ruled out of the limited-overs leg of the tour with a decision taken that he would return home for further specialist advice on the ankle. The outcome has been surgery, which Wood knew he would probably face the prospect of eventually, with a recovery time expected of at least eight weeks.That makes it unlikely that he will be ready for the one-day series against South Africa, which starts at the end of January, with a more realistic aim being available for the selection for the T20s in February and the World T20 in India during March.”I’ve had that many injuries so far in my short career that I never want to be thrown out of the team,” Wood said in August. “Long term, the ankle problem may need some work done to it – whether that’s time off or maybe an operation. That might be the case. It’s about fitting it in at the right time.”Meanwhile, Steven Finn, who has been ruled out of the Test series in South Africa with the stress injury in his foot which kept him out of the contests against Pakistan, hopes to be available for the later part of the tour.”Reports of my South Africa tour being written off completely. Not the case, I am hoping to be available sooner rather than later,” Finn tweeted on Wednesday evening.An ECB statement said: “Wood will undergo ankle surgery next week and Finn will continue his recovery from a bone stress injury. Further details on their rehabilitation and back-to-bowling programmes will be provided in due course.”The injuries to Wood and Finn, plus the omission of Liam Plunkett, mean there has been a large turnover in the support pace bowling to James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan and the uncapped Mark Footitt are now vying for the third frontline quick slot to make a four-man pace attack alongside Ben Stokes, who has been passed fit after his collarbone injury in the final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah.The combination of Wood, Finn and Plunkett had 168 Test wicket between them; Woakes, Jordan and Footitt provide 27.

Big picture – SL’s first T20I since March

India return to T20Is with the afterglow of a maiden ODI World Cup title at home. But the spotlight now shifts to the shortest format. The first T20I against Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam marks the start of a five-match series that makes up nearly half of India’s limited build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup in England. With just 11 T20Is scheduled before that tournament, India will be eager to build momentum and rhythm ahead of the global event.Since their group-stage exit at the 2024 T20 World Cup, India’s approach has been notably more aggressive. They have scored at the second-highest run rate in T20Is during this period, behind only Australia, among teams to have played at least five matches. Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh and Shafali Verma have all struck at 140-plus, signalling a batting unit intent on dictating terms. Results have broadly followed that shift: five wins from eight T20Is across two series, including a 3-2 victory over England in July, their only T20I assignment this year so far.While the batting appears largely settled, focus turns to the bowling attack. Renuka Singh returns; Radha Yadav, joint-leading wicket-taker for India since the 2024 World Cup, has been left out; and young left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma could make her international debut.Sri Lanka, meanwhile, arrive with a different set of priorities. Their last T20I came on a tour of New Zealand back in March, where they drew the three-match series 1-1. Since then, they have moved on from several senior players, and invested in youth for this tour. With Sri Lanka scheduled to tour West Indies in February and Bangladesh in March-April in 2026 ahead of the World Cup in June, this series is less about immediate outcomes and more about assessing how the new group copes against a confident Indian side.

Form guide

India: LWLWW
Sri Lanka: WLLLLSmriti Mandhana has struck at 146.80 in T20Is since last year’s World Cup•Getty Images

In the spotlight – Smriti Mandhana and Shashini Gimhani

Smriti Mandhana has been India’s most consistent T20I batter since the 2024 World Cup. Among players from Full Member nations, only Hayley Matthews has scored more runs in this period than Mandhana, who has piled up 414 runs, including a century and four half-centuries. She has averaged 51.75 and struck at an imposing 146.80 in this phase, anchoring India’s aggressive approach at the top. After a successful campaign at the ODI World Cup this year, Mandhana will look to continue that run into the T20 World Cup.Shashini Gimhani is one of Sri Lanka’s most exciting young talents. An ambidextrous spinner, she primarily bowls left-arm wristspin. Gimhani impressed with strong showings against Australia Under-19 in September, and has already taken six wickets in five T20Is at an economy of 5.53. With left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari dropped, one place in the squad remains vacant, giving Gimhani a chance to shine on the big stage.

Team news – Will India hand Vaishnavi a debut?

India like to field three seamers and as many spinners in the XI. With Radha out, the hosts might be tempted to hand Vaishnavi Sharma a cap, with Deepti Sharma and N Shree Charani occupying the other two spinners’ slots.India (probable): 1 Shafali Verma, 2 Smriti Mandhana, 3 Jemimah Rodrigues, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Amanjot Kaur, 6 Richa Ghosh (wk), 7 Deepti Sharma, 8 Sneh Rana/Vaishnavi Sharma, 9 Kranti Gaud/Arundhati Reddy, 10 Renuka Singh, 11 N Shree CharaniVaishnavi Sharma could make her India debut against Sri Lanka•ICC/Getty Images

Wicketkeeper Anushka Sanjeewni has been dropped, so Kaushini Nuthyangana is likely to replace her. Apart from the experienced Inoka Ranaweera, Sri Lanka also have Shashini Gimhani, Kawya Sewwandi, Rashmika Kavindi and uncapped Nimasha Madushani to choose from.Sri Lanka XI (probable): 1 Chamari Athapaththu (capt), 2 Vishmi Gunaratne, 3 Harshitha Samarawickrama, 4 Kavisha Dilhari, 5 Nilakshika Silva, 6 Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk), 7 Manudi Nanayakkara, 8 Inoka Ranaweera/Nimasha Madushani, 9 Inoshi Priyadharshani, 10 Shashini Gimhani, 11 Malki Madara

Pitch and conditions

India Women last played a T20I in Visakhapatnam in 2014, also against Sri Lanka. In the six women’s T20Is at this venue, 115 has been the average first-innings total. However, it proved to be a high-scoring track during the recent ODI World Cup. Dew could play a factor as the match progresses. The forecast is for sunny conditions, with temperatures expected around 23 degree Celsius for the start of the game.

Stats and trivia

Scorecard

Edgar Schiferli claimed a career-best 5 for 48 on the second day in Sharjah but UAE dented Netherlands’ hopes of qualifying for the Intercontinental Cup final by taking a narrow two-run lead.To stay in the race for a spot in the final, Netherlands really needed to collect the maximum 20 points from this match, but after conceding a lead, only 14 points are now available. However, following the efforts of Schiferli victory is still within reach. The home side looked well placed for a handy advantage on 256 for 5 until Schiferli ran through the tail as the last five wickets fell for 33 runs.UAE had been given a solid base as they replied to Netherlands’ 287 with a opening stand of 69 between two Ali’s – Amjad and Arshad – with Amjad reaching a hardworking 55 from 190 balls. The middle order scored more freely as captain Saqib Ali hit 58 off 73 balls while Khurram Khan and Rashid Khan produced useful innings.Mohammad Kashif and Daan van Bunge claimed two important wickets apiece, but it was Schiferli who produced the most dramatic intervention towards the end of the day. He made short work of the last four wickets, which fell for eight runs, and when he bowled Fahad Alhashmi it completed his first five-wicket haul.Netherlands, who currently lie fourth in the table, will now need to produce a solid batting effort to leave UAE a final-day target.

First Division

Hampshire were left clinging on for a draw at The Rose Bowl with Saqlain Mushtaq’s 5 for 74 giving Surrey a chance of forcing a win in the final session, although the home side also finished close to their target. Set 281 in 75 overs after Matt Nicholson (73) and Jimmy Ormond (64 not out) took their stand to 140, Hampshire lost Michael Carberry early but appeared comfortable at 110 for 1. Saqlain then trapped Jimmy Adams and Michael Lumb lbw in quick succession as he started to pick off steady wickets. Brown was also lbw, six short of his century, leaving Sean Ervine (51) to hold the fort until he thumped a full toss to extra cover off Ormond, who was by now bowling offspin due to the fading light. Then Saqlain removed Dimitri Mascarenhas, caught at deep backward square, and Greg Lamb was out playing a reverse sweep as Hampshire kept going for the target. In the end it needed the injured Chris Tremlett to block 14 balls and young wicketkeeper Tim Burrows 18 to save the game, with Hampshire 34 runs short of a victory themselves.Murray Goodwin’s century helped Sussex avoid defeat against Somerset at Taunton, where the match finished in a subdued draw. The visitors began the day with nine wickets in hand and needed another 318, or to bat all day, to avoid an innings defeat. The flat final-day pitch helped their cause considerably as Goodwin and Michael Yardy (78) were hardly troubled by the Somerset attack. Eventually Yardy was caught at second slip trying to drive Steffan Jones, but Goodwin found another ally in Chris Adams and the pair’s unbeaten 117-run stand continued to frustrate Somerset. The hosts took the new ball with 26 overs remaining but they found no further success, although Goodwin had a life on 84 when he edged between the wicketkeeper and first slip off Zander de Bruyn. When bad light stopped play at 4.45pm with Sussex on 272 for 3, Goodwin was unbeaten on 106 and Adams had 39. It was a disappointing end for Somerset, who had to settle for 12 points despite dominating the match with a huge first innings total of 557.

Second Division

Stephen Moore became the first batsman to pass 500 Championship runs as Worcestershire battled to a draw against Gloucestershire after following on at New Road. Moore made 84 before edging to gully in a far-improved batting display, while useful efforts from Vikram Solanki and Graeme Hick saved the game on another rain-hit day. Worcestershire’s first innings ended on 214 when Simon Jones became legspinner Matthew Gitsham’s maiden first-class wicket.Derbyshire had to fight to secure a draw against Glamorgan as Alex Wharf and Jamie Dalrymple shared five wickets to keep the home side in with a chance of victory at Sophia Gardens. When Dominic Telo was caught by Jason Gillespie at mid-off, Derbyshire were still six behind. Dan Birch set his stall out for a rearguard effort, facing 136 balls for 43 until he was trapped lbw Dalrymple, who also removed Jonathan Clare to create some late alarms. But Graham Wagg and Jake Needham negotiated half an hour and fading light prevented David Hemp recalling his quick bowlers. Robert Croft was miserly all day, conceding 27 runs from 29 overs.

Fear of the dark
Just after seven o’clock, the players were warming up when the lights went out and the laser show started. Most of them just stood around looking rather helpless. This is supposed to be a cricket league, but entertainment clearly comes first.Southern Spice
A day after Mohali triumphed over Delhi in the battle for northern pride, it was the south’s turn. Quite a few Chennai Super Kings’ fans were present at the Chinnaswamy Stadium and their bright yellow shirts and cheers were in evidence as Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Michael Hussey went berserk in the final stages of the innings. After dinner, with the Bangalore Royal Challengers making a good fist of the chase, the locals discovered their voices, with chants of “Chennai, go back” greeting every big hit.And the band played on
Suresh Raina is one of India’sspecial talents, and he showed it again with a superb little cameo. One six down the ground was struck so cleanly that it bounced on to the elevated stage where the band had played earlier. Music to the [Chennai] supporters’ ears.Umpiring’s a dangerous job
When Michael Hussey propelled one down the ground at blistering pace, Billy Doctrove had next to no time to react. The ball struck him on the shoulder, and almost certainly saved Bangalore four runs. Good thing the game wasn’t that close.Pace like fire
Quick bowlers are certainly hit and miss in this form of the game, and bowling them at the end of an innings is always laced with risk. Dale Steyn had conceded just 16 in his first three overs, but when Dhoni started to tee off, he had no answer. Even yorkers were smashed away with a bat-swing that resembles a whiplash. The over cost Bangalore 24 runs, and perhaps the match.Despair to ecstasy
Against the Mumbai Indians, Palani Amarnath conceded 57 in his four overs, the most expensive spell in the IPL’s short history. When Wasim Jaffer was dropped by Manpreet Gony off the first ball he bowled today, the man named after a temple town in Tamil Nadu where people usually get their heads tonsured must have felt like tearing his hair out. Two wickets later, the follicles were a bit safer.Optical illusion?
When Jaffer clubbed Albie Morkel over midwicket for six, there were more than a few gasps of disbelief. That turned to joy when he flicked one effortlessly over fine leg for six more. For a man with no great pedigree even in the ODI arena, a 33-ball 50 was someeffort.Much ado about drumming
After Chennai clinched victory, Sivamani, the drummer rushed on to the field, drum-kit in tow. As officials and police tried to stop him, Dhoni intervened on his behalf. A few triumphant beats of the drums later, Sivamani was done. Both thedrums, and Bangalore, were beaten into submission.

Miriam Grealey has stepped down as coach of Ireland women due to family commitments, Cricket Ireland has announced. She had held the position for two and a half years, as well as coaching the development side for six years.Grealey has been heavily involved in cricket for decades, including an 18-year international career for Ireland.She said of her decision, “I’ve really enjoyed my time with the Ireland senior team, but it has just become too time consuming with my family responsibilities. I will still be involved with coaching at grass-roots level, and will assist Cricket Ireland in any way I can. I wish my successor all the very best in the role.”Cricket Ireland chairman David Williams said: “Miriam’s service to the game in Ireland has been without equal and I thank her on behalf of all in Cricket Ireland. Her dedication, loyalty, and professionalism has been instrumental in the success of the women’s game in recent years. She will be sorely missed.”Her replacement is expected to be sorted out in the next few months, a board spokesperson told Cricinfo: “The issue of the women’s coach will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cricket Committee and I expect an announcement to be made about the way forward before the end of this month.”

Middlesex Crusaders secured a six wicket victory over Glamorgan Dragons at Cardiff in the last round of National League matches.With three needed of the final ball young Irishman Joyce took an ambitious swing, and bottom edged the ball to the third man boundary.A nail biting finish never seemed on the cards after seamer Aaron Laraman had taken a career best 6-42 to restrict the Glamorgan Dragons to an under par 191-9. The Welshmen relied heavily on in form Michael Powell and his better than a run a ball contribution of 86 with 8 fours and a six off Ramprakash.Middlesex Crusaders seemed to be cruising, with Langer remaining undefeated on 75, but when Ramprakash top edged a hook, and Laraman was bowled the innings faltered, and the Londoners were grateful for Joyce’s fortuitous last ball heave.It was a sad ending for Maynard who was also dismissed for 0 in his last game as Glamorgan’s captain.