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The month in Cricket
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Pakistan ended an eight-match away losing streak against West Indies, but that recovery did not hold against England. Leadership uncertainty and Babar Azam's return failed to prevent England from sealing the series with one Test remaining.
India built a dominant first-innings position and went 1-0 up through a 165-run victory, with injuries making replacement selections part of the story. India then enforced the follow-on in Colombo, but Sri Lanka's lower order resisted long enough to secure a draw.
Bangladesh turned an opening collapse into its first Test win on Australian soil, forcing Australia to reconsider its batting. Australia then responded through Mitchell Starc's ten-wicket performance to level the series emphatically.
The Hundred began with knockout places and elimination scenarios tightening across both competitions. Manchester Super Giants won the men's title and Trent Rockets won the women's crown, while lower attendance under private ownership created a new challenge for the tournament.
The Women's Asia Cup progressed from venue planning and a confirmed Dubai schedule into its opening matches. Sri Lanka began its title defence strongly, while India recovered from a collapse to beat Thailand and Thailand also won the opening game.
Somerset, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire strengthened the County Championship title contest, while Durham established a dominant promotion campaign and Yorkshire gained ground in the relegation fight. Rain then erased or reduced several decisive opportunities, denying Hampshire and Surrey likely wins and forcing draws.
A washout removed Ireland's direct World Cup qualification route and pushed them into the playoff path before Afghanistan repeatedly exposed their resistance. Afghanistan completed a 4-0 sweep and secured qualification, reinforcing its growing ODI strength.
Associates and former players challenged proposed World Cup changes and questioned bilateral scheduling. The debate exposed a continuing tension between making ODIs more meaningful and preserving the revenue on which boards depend.
Week’s Recap