Series gone, but plenty at stake yet for deflated West Indies
West Indies are currently 10th in the ICC men's ODI team rankings and run the risk of having to play the Qualifier for the 2027 World Cup, should they not finish ninth at the very least

📢Ruturaj Gaikwad to lead West Zone in Duleep Trophy 2026

Ruturaj Gaikwad to lead West Zone in Duleep Trophy 2026 (Photo Source: BCCI Domestic)

Indian batter Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed captain of the West Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy 2026. Shams Mulani will serve as the vice-captain of the 15-member squad, which was announced on July 20 following a meeting of the selection committee chaired by Mumbai chief selector Rajesh Pawar.

Gaikwad, who recently led the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, continues to earn leadership responsibilities at the domestic level. He also served as the vice-captain of the India A side during the recent tri-series involving Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A. His appointment reflects the selectors' confidence in his leadership and consistent performances.

The Duleep Trophy 2026-27 will be played at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru from August 23 to September 10. The tournament will continue in its traditional zonal format, with five matches scheduled, including the final. West Zone will begin its campaign against North Zone in Quarterfinal 2, which will be played from August 23 to 26. The final is scheduled to take place from September 6 to 10 at CoE Ground 1.

West Zone boasts a balanced squad featuring a blend of experienced campaigners and promising young talent. The batting unit includes Prithvi Shaw, Musheer Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivalik Sharma, Jaymeet Patel and Siddharth Desai alongside skipper Gaikwad.

Behind the stumps, the team has two wicketkeeping options in Saurashtra's Harvik Desai and Gujarat's Urvil Patel. The bowling attack will be spearheaded by experienced pacer Shardul Thakur, alongside Mukesh Chaudhary, Tushar Deshpande and Atit Sheth. Meanwhile, vice-captain Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian will lead the spin department, giving West Zone a well-rounded attack as they aim to make a strong start to their Duleep Trophy campaign..

West Zone squad for Duleep Trophy:

Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Shams Mulani (VC, Prithvi Shaw, Harvik Desai (WK), Urvil Patel (WK), Shivalik Sharma, Musheer Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Jaymeet Patel, Siddharth Desai, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Shardul Thakur, Atit Seth, Mukesh Chaudhary

Ojha century, and Yashbardhan and Manal fifties rescue India Under-19
Sri Lanka had reduced the visitors to 0 for 2, before Ojha and Yashbardhan added 122 for the third wicket

📢The Hundred Men's 2026: Match 1, MIL vs SRL Match Prediction – Who will win today’s Hundred match between MI London vs Sunrisers Leeds?

MI London vs Sunrisers Leeds (Source: John Phillips - ECB/ECB via Getty Images)

MI London (MIL) and Sunrisers Leeds (SRL) will square off in the first match of The Hundred Men's 2026 at the Kennington Oval in London on Tuesday, July 21.

Oval Invincibles have now become MI London. They have assembled a very strong team, with the likes of Nicholas Pooran, Sherfane Rutherford, and Trent Boult being overseas players to watch out for. MI London will hope to start their campaign on a high.

Meanwhile, Northern Superchargers have become Sunrisers Leeds. They also have a formidable line-up. Australia's T20I captain Mitchell Marsh and England's captain Harry Brook are in the team. Ryan Rickelton and Nathan Ellis are two overseas players who can be key to the team's chances.

MIL vs SRL: Match Details

Match

MI London vs Sunrisers Leeds, Match 1 , The Hundred Men's 2026

Date and Time (IST)

Tuesday, July 21, 2026, 11:00 PM (IST)

Venue

Kennington Oval, London

Broadcast and Live-Streaming

Sony Sports Network and FanCode (App & Website)

Kennington Oval, London: Pitch Report

The Kennington Oval is known for providing balanced surfaces, where the good pace and bounce allows batters to hit on the up. The new ball might swing around and opening batters will need to be wary. If they can get through the new ball, a lot of runs could be there for the taking.

MIL vs SRL: Head-to-Head Record

This is the first time these two teams will meet after Reliance Industries (owners of Mumbai Indians) bought the 49% stake in the Oval Invincibles and Sun TV Network (owners of Sunrisers Hyderabad) purchased 100% of the stakes in the Northern Superchargers. The teams have been renamed to MI London and Sunrisers Leeds, respectively.

MIL vs SRL: Predicted Playing 11s

MI London:

Jason Roy, James Vince, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Ollie Pope, Sam Curran, Sherfane Rutherford, Rashid Khan, Olly Stone, Tom Curran, Richard Gleeson, Trent Boult.

Sunrisers Leeds:

Mitchell Marsh, Zak Crawley, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Tom Alsop, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Benny Howell, Nathan Ellis, Abrar Ahmed.

MIL vs SRL: Probable Best Performers of the Match

Probable Best Batter: Nicholas Pooran

Nicholas Pooran is going to be the batter to watch out for on Tuesday. In the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026, he amassed 424 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 147.74. In his last match in the campaign, he scored a magnificent century and will be high on confidence.

Probable Best Bowler: Trent Boult

Trent Boult did not have a memorable time playing for the Mumbai Indians during IPL 2026. However, he will enjoy bowling in English conditions and his spell with the new ball could turn out to be defining on Tuesday.

Today's Match Prediction : Chasing team to win the match

ECB relief as last-minute Hundred deals swerve gambling shirt-sponsors
Tournament MD blames 'challenging market' as outright ban on betting sponsorship is deferred

📢Calcutta High Court orders immediate arrest of Abishek Porel in rape case

Calcutta High Court orders immediate arrest of Abishek Porel in rape case (Source: IPL)

The Calcutta High Court has ordered the immediate arrest of Bengal and Delhi Capitals wicketkeeper-batter Abishek Porel in connection with a rape case. The court has also directed the investigating authorities to seize the cricketer's electronic devices to safeguard the complainant's privacy and preserve digital evidence during the course of the investigation.

The development comes more than a month after a woman lodged a complaint accusing Porel of engaging in a sexual relationship with her under the false promise of marriage. The complainant also alleged that she was subjected to physical assault and criminal intimidation. Porel has denied the allegations against him.

According to the complaint, the woman, who is reportedly a medical student, claimed that she and Porel had been in a relationship for the past three years. She alleged that their relationship began to deteriorate last year, after which the cricketer gradually distanced himself. The complainant further stated that Porel had promised to marry her but later refused to fulfill that promise.

The woman also alleged that Porel threatened to circulate her intimate photographs and videos if she pursued the matter, leading her to approach the authorities.

The case has been registered at the Mogra Police Station. The First Information Report (FIR) reportedly includes non-bailable offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to rape and criminal intimidation. Following the High Court's directive, the police have been instructed to arrest the accused without delay and seize his electronic devices as part of the ongoing investigation.

Porel, 23, is yet to make his international debut for India but has established himself as a promising wicketkeeper-batter in domestic cricket. He has represented the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) across four seasons, featuring in 35 matches and scoring 769 runs at an average of 25.63.

Apart from his IPL career, Porel has also impressed in domestic cricket for Bengal. He has played 32 first-class matches, scoring 1,408 runs, while in 23 List A appearances he has accumulated 833 runs. His consistent performances have helped him cement his place as Bengal's first-choice wicketkeeper, although he is yet to earn a call-up to the Indian national team.

📢Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran headline Canada Super60 signings ahead of draft

Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran headline Canada Super60 signings ahead of draft. (Photo source: Canada Super 60)

The Canada Super 60 League, one of the most exciting new additions to the global cricket landscape, is set to return for its highly anticipated second season at the iconic BC Place Stadium from September 29 to October 4, 2026. Nicholas Pooran , Andre Russell, and Kieron Pollard are among the marquee cricketers signed by sides ahead of the pre-draft event.

Set in a landmark year for global sport, with BC Place hosting seven matches during the FIFA World Cup 2026, the return of Canada Super 60 further reinforces the venue's historic stature as one of the world's premier multi-sport arenas.

Canada Super60 – Pre-draft signings & retentions

Team Name

Signings

Retentions

Toronto Sixers

Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard

Daniel Sams, Newab Singh

White Rock Warriors

Dwaine Pretorius, Sam Billings

Jordan Thompson

Montreal Royal Tigers

Andre Russell, Chris Lynn, Junaid Siddiqui

Bradley Currie, Josh Brown

Mississauga Masters

David Wiese, Colin Munro

Sikandar Raza, Zahid Shirzad, Shubham Ranjane, Ali Khan, Hamza Tariq

Brampton Blitz

Jonny Bairstow

James Vince , Dillon Heyliger, Yuvraj Samra, Martin Guptill, Chris Greaves

Vancouver Anchors

Akhil Kumar, Mustafizur Rahman, Max Chu, Chris Jordan, Dipendra Singh Airee

-

Legendary cricketer and two-time World Cup-winning all-rounder, Yuvraj Singh , has also partnered with the league and has expressed his excitement ahead of the second season.

"After the success of last year's inaugural season, I am truly delighted to share that Canada Super 60 is returning for Season 2. The response from fans, players, and the global cricket community was incredibly encouraging, and it was clear that the world took notice of what we are building here. This year, we are even more eager to establish Canada Super 60 as a marquee event in the global cricket calendar.

"It is a league that not only entertains but also creates meaningful opportunities for young cricketers, both men and women, from Canada to rub shoulders with some of the game's greats. Personally, I am very excited to be back at BC Place. It is a truly unique venue, and playing under the roof, in front of such passionate fans, makes this experience very special," Yuvraj was quoted as saying.

Stokes return adds intrigue as counties assemble for One-Day Cup
All the runners and riders as the domestic 50-over tournament gets underway in the Hundred's shadow

📢‘I'll be around for The Hundred’ - Brendon McCullum eyes England's next white-ball stars

‘I'll be around for The Hundred’ - Brendon McCullum eyes England's next white-ball stars (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)

Brendon McCullum will be in England to watch The Hundred as he continues to focus solely on the national team's white-ball setup. Having stepped down as England's Test coach following the team's 2-1 series defeat to New Zealand, McCullum is now in charge of the ODI and T20I sides, with his current contract running until the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.

Since taking charge of the limited-overs teams full-time, McCullum has overseen England's 4-0 T20I series win over India and a 2-1 triumph in the ODI series, while also guiding the team back to the No. 1 spot in the ICC T20I rankings.

His decision to attend The Hundred marks a contrast to his approach following England's 4-1 Ashes defeat to Australia, when he opted to take a break and did not attend County Championship matches.

"I'll be around for the Hundred. I think it'd be great to see some of England's premier white-ball tournament. If you're white-ball coach, I think it's good to be around for that, seeing not just the guys who are in this squad, but also some of the next talent perform under the brightest lights of the Hundred tournament,” said McCullum as quoted by Cricinfo.

"I think it'd be good to be able to see that up close over the next four weeks or so. I'll look to try and get around some of those games and see that, and hopefully we'll see some more talent,” he added.

Following the conclusion of The Hundred, England will host Pakistan in a three-match Test series beginning on August 19, while McCullum's next assignment with the white-ball side will be the tour of Sri Lanka, where England are scheduled to play six limited-overs matches from September 15.

With McCullum's contract as England's white-ball head coach set to expire after the 2027 ODI World Cup, his decision to remain in England during The Hundred has sparked speculation that he could be assessing players more closely or exploring a return to the franchise coaching circuit once his tenure with the national team comes to an end.

Meanwhile, England are yet to appoint a full-time Test head coach following McCullum's departure from the red-ball role. Former England coach Andy Flower has ruled himself out of contention, while the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Justin Langer, Stephen Fleming, Richard Dawson, Mike Hesson and Tom Moody have all emerged as potential candidates. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is expected to make a decision closer to the start of the Pakistan Test series.

England also have an important leadership decision to make after Ben Stokes' retirement from Test cricket. Harry Brook is currently viewed as a strong candidate to captain across all formats, but the ECB could instead opt to split the leadership roles by appointing a separate white-ball captain to better manage workload and long-term planning.

Katherine Sciver-Brunt joins Trent Rockets as assistant coach
Former England seamer will work alongside wife Nat in first cricket role since retirement

📢All eight The Hundred franchises secure non-gambling sponsors

All eight The Hundred franchises secure non-gambling sponsors (Photo Source: Matt Lewis - ECB/ECB via Getty Images)

All eight The Hundred franchises have secured primary sponsors from non-gambling sectors ahead of the 2026 edition, marking a significant shift after earlier criticism over the ECB's decision to temporarily allow betting companies to sponsor teams for one season.

Following the sale of stakes in several franchises to new investors, including IPL team owners and other private entities, the franchises were given the freedom to negotiate their own commercial partnerships. Despite concerns over the sponsorship market, particularly after the Premier League's ban on front-of-shirt betting sponsors from the 2026-27 season, each franchise has successfully signed a primary sponsor from outside the gambling industry.

"From next year, it'll be banned. You have to acknowledge that gambling and the betting industry is a massive part of sports sponsorship… [But] there's be no visible betting sponsorships from next year, which is a powerful stand and stronger than any other cricket league,” said Vikram Banerjee, the Hundred’s managing director as quoted by Cricinfo.

"We - myself and the ECB - are very aware of the family audience and what we're trying to do as a brand. Our position was to see if we can get it banned for this year. We had a good discussion and the [Hundred] board agreed, in my parts, that it's an opportunity for us to take a stand that is stronger than any other sport in the world,” he added.

Cricket Australia has long prohibited betting companies from sponsoring Big Bash League (BBL) teams, maintaining the league's family-friendly image. Similarly, the Indian Premier League (IPL) operates in a market where gambling is largely prohibited.

Ahead of The Hundred 2026, only three of the eight franchises had secured front-of-shirt sponsors by the time the tournament's kits were unveiled on June 1. However, the remaining five teams have since finalised sponsorship agreements with companies from a range of non-gambling sectors

"We felt as a board that this year - with all the operational change that's going on, all the transition that's happening, plus, frankly, quite a challenging market with the Premier League going through changes and all the rest of it - [that] just a one-year transition period was helpful for some of the teams to see them through this year," Banerjee said.

"It has been a collaborative effort from teams and partners and ourselves to see if we can get other options through," Banerjee said. "It has ended up working well… We've found a decent, sensible and pragmatic approach for this year,” he added.

England fightback falls short as fluctuating Youth Test ends in draw
England stutter to 144 for 5 in reply to 460 at end of second day in Hove

Cummins, Hazlewood, Lyon return to face Bangladesh
Australia's veterans named in a 13-man squad with Cameron Green and Beau Webster both included

Boland 'big three' debate reignites with full set of quicks available
Australia chair of selectors says there has been a discussion about the pecking order but the enormous Test workload ahead means the full depth will be needed

📢Australia name 13-member Test squad for Bangladesh series, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood return

Australia name 13-member Test squad for Bangladesh series, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood return (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The National Selection Panel (NSP) has today announced a 13-player squad for the NRMA Insurance Test Series against Bangladesh in Darwin and Mackay. Australia plays Bangladesh in Darwin from August 13-17 and Mackay from August 22-26 as part of the World Test Championship.

Australia squad for Bangladesh series:

Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster

Captain Pat Cummins , Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon return, while Usman Khawaja has retired. Michael Neser, Todd Murphy and Brendan Doggett, who were part of the squad at the most recent match in Sydney, have been preparing with the extended team.

Chair of Selectors George Bailey said: “The NSP look forward to the return of Pat, Josh and Nathan. They have worked extremely hard, individually and with the SSSM teams, over the past few months to return from their respective injuries.

“While this is a 13-player squad, we have players prepared and available should any adjustments be required in the lead up to these matches.

“As previously stated, the volume of cricket and schedule across the next 12 months are likely to present further opportunities across all formats for many players.”

Gaikwad to lead West Zone in 2026-27 domestic season-opening Duleep Trophy
Shams Mulani to be the team's vice-captain, while Prithvi Shaw and Musheer Khan have both been included in the squad

📢Katherine Sciver-Brunt joins Trent Rockets as assistant coach for The Hundred 2026

Katherine Sciver-Brunt joins Trent Rockets as assistant coach for The Hundred 2026 (Source - Ashley Allen/GettyImages

Former England fast bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt has been appointed as an assistant coach of Trent Rockets for the 2026 Women's Hundred, marking her first coaching role since retiring from professional cricket in 2023. She will work alongside England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt in the Rockets' coaching setup.

An OBE recipient for services to cricket, Katherine is England's second-highest wicket-taker across all women's international formats, claiming 335 wickets, including 170 in ODIs. She played a pivotal role in England's triumphs at the 2009 Women's T20 World Cup and the 2017 Women's World Cup, and represented Trent Rockets during the first three editions of The Hundred from 2021 to 2023.

"The time has come for me to step back in to a role within cricket. I've had a wild three years since retiring trying to figure out what life looks like for me now as a mum! The first place I thought of was the Trent Rockets. Trent Bridge is such a special place, and having been involved as a player with the Rockets before, coming back as a coach was an opportunity I just couldn't turn down,” said Sciver-Brunt as quoted by Cricinfo.

The Hundred Women's coaching ranks continue to feature several high-profile names. Anya Shrubsole and Sarah Taylor serve as assistant coaches for Manchester Super Giants and Southern Brave, respectively, while former Southern Brave head coach Charlotte Edwards has taken over as England Women's head coach. MI London's Lisa Keightley is currently the only female head coach in the competition.

Sciver-Brunt will work alongside head coach Chris Read, with former Nottinghamshire spinner Graeme White joining the women's setup as fielding coach. Nat Sciver-Brunt stepped down as Trent Rockets captain last year to focus on her England commitments, with Australia's Ash Gardner succeeding her in the role. Meanwhile, former South Africa white-ball bowling coach Anton Roux has been appointed as an assistant coach to Peter Moores for the Trent Rockets men's team.

"I'm moving in to a new era, and I know coaching and mentoring players of this standard will be something I'll love. I'm really excited to be on the other side of the fence and to finally come back to The Hundred. I can't wait to get going and work with this special squad,” Sciver-Brunt said.

📢West Indies vs New Zealand Prediction, 5th ODI – Who will win today’s match between WI vs NZ?

West Indies vs New Zealand Prediction, 5th ODI – Who will win today’s match between WI vs NZ? (Source:Gettyindies)

West Indies will take on New Zealand in the fifth and final ODI at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on July 21. The visitors have already clinched the five-match series with an unassailable 3-1 lead.

After opening the series with a win, West Indies suffered defeats in the next three matches to concede the series. The pitches have largely favoured the bowlers, and the hosts have struggled to post competitive totals consistently. With the series already decided, the Caribbean side will be eager to end the campaign on a positive note with a consolation victory.

Meanwhile, New Zealand have continued their impressive form in the ODI format, dominating the series after the opening defeat. They will be keen to maintain their momentum and wrap up the contest with a commanding 4-1 series triumph.

WI vs NZ Match Details

Match

West Indies vs New Zealand, 5th ODI, New Zealand tour of West Indies

Date and Time (IST)

Wednesday, July 22, 12:00 AM (IST)

Venue

Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

Live-streaming Details

FanCode (App & Website)

Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados: Pitch Report

The surface at Kensington Oval has largely favoured the bowlers throughout the series. The ball has tended to come onto the bat slowly, making stroke-making difficult and forcing batters to work hard for their runs. While there are scoring opportunities, batters will need to pace their innings wisely and pick the right deliveries to attack, as reckless shot selection could result in quick wickets.

WI vs NZ Head to Head ODI Record

Matches Played

75

Won by WI

32

Won by NZ

36

No Results

07

First-ever Fixture

June 18, 1975

Most Recent Fixture

July 19, 2026

WI vs NZ Predicted Playing 11s

West Indies (WI):

Justin Greaves, Ackeem Auguste, Shai Hope (c) (wk), Keacy Carty, Sherfane Rutherford, Amir Jangoo, Matthew Forde, Alzarri Joseph, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales

New Zealand (NZ):

Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Nick Kelly, Mark Chapman, Tom Latham (wk), Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Jayden Lennox

WI vs NZ Probable Best Performers of the Match

Probable Best Batter: Keacy Carty

Keacy Carty. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Keacy Carty could be West Indies' standout batter in the fifth ODI against New Zealand. The right-hander has been the hosts' most consistent performer in the series, scoring 174 runs in four matches at an average of 43.50. With West Indies aiming to end the series on a positive note, Carty's contribution at the top of the order will be crucial in helping the team post a competitive total.

Probable Best Bowler: Jayden Lennox

Jayden Lennox (Source: BlackCaps)

Jayden Lennox could be New Zealand's key bowler in the fifth ODI against West Indies. The left-arm spinner has been the standout performer of the series, picking up 11 wickets in four matches. He delivered match-winning spells in both the second and third ODIs and has consistently troubled the West Indies batters with his accuracy and control. With New Zealand eyeing a dominant 4-1 series victory, Lennox will be eager to produce another impactful performance.

Today's Match Prediction : Chasing side to win the match

📢'They cannot touch Virat and Rohit' - Ravichandran Ashwin makes bold statement amid retirement speculation

'They cannot touch Virat and Rohit' - Ravichandran Ashwin makes bold statement amid retirement speculation (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has come out in support of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli amid growing speculation surrounding the Indian captain's future in international cricket. Ashwin stated that the two senior batters cannot be dropped easily because of their remarkable achievements and the massive fan following they enjoy.

Rohit's place in the ODI setup has been the subject of intense discussion in recent days after reports suggested that the selectors were unlikely to consider him beyond the ongoing England tour. However, the 39-year-old silenced his critics with a magnificent 138 in the third ODI at Lord's, helping India stay in the contest during a daunting chase of 388.

Ashwin explained why Rohit and Kohli occupy a unique position in Indian cricket.

"They cannot touch Virat and Rohit if they want to play. It is because of their credentials. Rohit has scored almost 12,000 runs; they cannot touch him," Ashwin said on his Hindi YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat'.

The veteran off-spinner also highlighted the immense popularity of the two batting icons, saying their absence from the Indian team would create a massive uproar among fans.

"The other thing is, they cannot be touched because they are batters. They have an army, a battalion. People come to see them. If you drop them, it will just break the roof down," he also said.

Ashwin went on to compare the scrutiny faced by batters and bowlers, pointing out that bowlers rarely receive the same level of public backing when they are left out of the side.

"But if Shami, Siraj or Bhuvneshwar are not picked, 10 people will question. 100 people, 1000 people, maybe 10,000 people will question. But they won't make noise. If a day comes when people would make noise for bowlers, it would be difficult to drop them as well," Ashwin explained.

Rohit Sharma answers critics with Lord's masterclass

Rohit entered the series decider under immense pressure after scores of 19 and 4 in the first two ODIs. Questions over his future only intensified following reports linking him with a possible exit from India's long-term ODI plans.

The Indian opener, however, responded in trademark fashion. Chasing a mammoth target of 388, Rohit smashed 138 off 110 deliveries, striking 17 fours and five sixes. The knock was his 34th ODI century and saw him become the first Indian batter to score an ODI hundred at Lord's.

📢WI vs NZ 2026: West Indies to honour Kemar Roach for 300 Test wickets

Kemar Roach (Source: Windies cricket/x)

Fast bowler Kemar Roach is set to be honoured by Cricket West Indies (CWI) after taking 300 Test wickets in his illustrious career. The right-arm fast bowler achieved the feat during the Windies' game against Sri Lanka last month.

Roach took 4 for 51 in the second innings to reach the magical number as the Caribbean outfit secured a famous innings and 217-run victory over the visitors in Antigua. By doing so, the 38-year-old became only the fifth West Indies bowler to achieve the feat, joining legendary players like Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall and Lance Gibbs.

Roach also became only the second bowler from Barbados to accomplish the milestone. The fast bowler will therefore be feted at his home ground in the innings break during West Indies ' fifth One Day International (ODI) against New Zealand.

Along with CWI, members from the Government of Barbados and the Barbados Cricket Association will also join the special event.

"For the better part of two decades, Kemar has represented the West Indies with distinction, displaying extraordinary skill, heart and determination every time he has worn the maroon cap. He has been an outstanding ambassador for Caribbean cricket, and an inspiration to generations of young fast bowlers," CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow said, via Cricket World.

"I am personally heartened to witness a player of this generation whose unwavering commitment and exceptional contributions have earned him a rightful place among the legends of our game. On behalf of Cricket West Indies, I once again extend heartfelt congratulations to Kemar on this remarkable achievement. It is a richly deserved honour, and one that reflects the profound impact he has made on West Indies cricket,” he added.

Since making his debut in 2009, Roach has played 89 Test matches, taking 300 wickets at an average of 26.83. He has 12 five-wicket hauls to his name, including career-best figures of 6 for 48 in only his second Test, against Bangladesh in Grenada.

📢[WATCH] Shardul Thakur reveals story behind the bat Rohit Sharma used for his historic Lord's century

[WATCH] Shardul Thakur reveals story behind the bat Rohit Sharma used for his historic Lord's century (Source: Sony Sports)

Rohit Sharma's magnificent century in the third ODI against England at Lord's grabbed plenty of attention, but an interesting story behind the bat he used has now come to light. The Indian opener's record-breaking knock was played with a bat gifted to him by his Mumbai teammate, Shardul Thakur.

Rohit smashed a brilliant 138 off 110 balls, laced with 17 fours and five sixes, while chasing a daunting target of 388. Although India eventually fell 27 runs short as England sealed the three-match series 2-1, the veteran opener's innings helped him script history by becoming the first Indian batter to score an ODI century at Lord's.

Thakur revealed that Rohit had requested a couple of bats after being impressed with the quality of the willow supplied to him by SS Bats.

"I am signed with SS bats and Jatin Sareen (owner) has been very kind to send me some excellent piece of willows. Rohit once requested me to give him a couple of bats since he loved them. We all love him, and he's given us so many joyful moments in the game of cricket that denying him the bat was out of question. And today I am really happy that he scored his historic hundred at Lord's cricket ground using one of my bats," Thakur told The Indian Express.

The all-rounder also confirmed the same while on commentary during the match, joking that he had indirectly played a role in India's impressive start.

"Yes, that is my bat. (Jokingly) I have given India a start while sitting here inside the comm box," said Thakur.

Watch the clip here -

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Rohit entered the series decider under pressure after scores of 11 and 26 in the first two ODIs, with speculation surrounding his ODI future gathering momentum. However, the former Indian captain responded emphatically, reaching his 34th ODI century off just 84 deliveries.

He celebrated the landmark with a restrained fist pump before sharing a hug with Virat Kohli and acknowledging the Indian dressing room and his family in the stands.

The story behind the bat made the innings even more special. Rohit and Thakur share a long association, having studied at Swami Vivekanand International School under renowned coach Dinesh Lad. The duo later represented Mumbai in domestic cricket and were teammates at the Mumbai Indians as well.