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The week in Cricket
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England won the opening ODI, lost the second as Sri Lanka levelled the series, and then secured the decider through Tom Banton's maiden century. Jos Buttler's injury forced a late wicketkeeping change before England finished the series.
Warwickshire moved from controlling the decisive match to making the title race a formality, then defeated Leicestershire by an innings to seal their ninth County Championship title. Their bonus-point advantage and early finish confirmed the scale of the campaign.
India entered the West Indies series under pressure and without several established players, then answered with a dominant victory led by Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Kuldeep Yadav. Kohli's decision to make the 2027 World Cup his final tournament, alongside Hardik Pandya's injury, sharpened the transition ahead.
India retained the women's gold while Pakistan secured bronze and progressed into the men's knockout phase. Afghanistan opened with a dominant win, while rain altered Japan's and Malaysia's paths through the tournament.
Lancashire dismissed both men's and women's cricket directors after disappointing campaigns, with a historic county decline exposing problems in recruitment and squad depth. After finishing seventh, the club placed its cricket operation and performance structure under formal review despite late signs of batting resistance.
Kent moved from a promotion push into control against Gloucestershire, then secured Division One status after Northamptonshire's defeat removed the final threat. The campaign ended with victory and widespread praise for the players' execution.
South Africa began the series short of four injured fast bowlers, while Australia rotated or lost key players before the Test campaign. South Africa converted that uncertain start into a 32-run win and an ODI series victory.
Mark Wood retired from international cricket after persistent injury problems, closing an England career built around express pace and match-changing spells. He will continue in domestic T20 and franchise cricket while England searches for a replacement.
Day’s Recap