Kai Sotto denies Jordan as Gilas Pilipinas gets World Cup bid back on track

England have made major changes to their Test setup, appointing Joe Root as captain for a second stint and naming former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming as head coach. The decisions come after Brendon McCullum was removed from the Test coaching role and Ben Stokes stepped away from international cricket earlier this month. Root, 35, previously led England in 64 Test matches between 2017 and 2022. He briefly returned to captaincy during the recent series against New Zealand and has now been given the responsibility of guiding England’s next generation of Test players. The Yorkshire batter is among the greatest run-scorers in Test history, sitting second on the all-time list behind India legend Sachin Tendulkar with more than 14,000 runs. Expressing his delight at the appointment, Root said leading England in Test cricket remains a great honour and challenge. He added that he is excited to work with the team and help develop emerging talent. Root also praised Fleming, describing him as an outstanding leader with deep knowledge of the game. Fleming, who enjoyed a successful coaching career with Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, has been appointed to lead England’s Test side. Under his guidance, Chennai won five IPL titles, making him one of the most respected coaches in world cricket. The 53-year-old said his focus would be on immediate success while also building a strong foundation for England’s long-term future. He expressed excitement about working with Root and helping him succeed in his second spell as captain. England’s next Test assignment will be a three-match series against Pakistan, starting on August 19. Marcus Trescothick will handle coaching duties on an interim basis before Fleming officially takes charge later this year. England men’s cricket managing director Rob Key praised Fleming’s appointment, saying he has the experience and leadership qualities needed to turn England’s promising squad into a world-class team.

MACKAY: Mitchell Starc produced a devastating fast-bowling masterclass as Australia stormed back from their first-Test shock to beat Bangladesh by 51 runs in the second Test in Mackay on Sunday, levelling the two-match series. The Australian quick was virtually unstoppable, claiming 10 wickets for 51 runs in the match as Bangladesh’s batting collapsed twice inside two days. His performance transformed the contest after Bangladesh had stunned Australia with a nine-wicket victory in Darwin in the opening Test. Starc finished the second innings with four wickets for 39 runs after destroying Bangladesh’s top order with six for just 12 in their first innings. His match figures of 10-51 marked the fourth time he has taken 10 wickets in a Test, putting him at the heart of Australia’s emphatic response. Bangladesh began their second innings needing 147 runs to make Australia bat again. Instead, they quickly found themselves under intense pressure. Shadman Islam lasted only three deliveries before edging a moving Starc delivery to Marnus Labuschagne. Mominul Haque followed with a second-ball dismissal, losing his off stump without offering a shot and handing Starc a hat-trick chance. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto survived the hat-trick ball and briefly attempted to steady the innings. He faced 46 deliveries before Nathan Lyon ended his resistance, with Shanto holing out to Starc at long-off for 31. Starc returned to strike again, tempting Litton Das into a loose shot that was caught at third slip without scoring. Pat Cummins then added to Bangladesh’s misery, dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Hasan Mahmud. Starc completed his 10-wicket haul when Taijul Islam was bowled for seven, while Lyon quickly cleaned up the tail. Earlier, Australia had been bowled out for 210, giving them a 146-run first-innings lead. Cameron Green top-scored with 67, while Nathan Lyon remained unbeaten on 32 after helping Australia cross the 200 mark. Bangladesh’s Shoriful Islam was the standout bowler for the visitors, taking seven wickets for 48 runs — the best figures by a Bangladeshi bowler in an away Test. Australia’s victory completed a dramatic turnaround in the series. Bangladesh had arrived in Mackay full of confidence after their historic win in Darwin, but Starc and Australia’s bowling attack ensured there would be no repeat. The result sets up a fascinating conclusion to the series, with Australia regaining momentum and Bangladesh left to regroup after a dramatic two-day collapse.

West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph has responded sharply to comments made by head coach Daren Sammy. The issue stems from his exclusion from the Test squad for the ongoing series against Pakistan. Joseph did not make the cut for the series. Cricket West Indies had initially explained his absence, citing personal reasons. Later, Sammy offered a different version. He said the pacer had declined the chance to play. Speaking to a Caribbean news outlet, Joseph addressed Sammy’s remarks directly. He said he had already spoken with both Sammy and Cricket West Indies about the matter. He pointed out that the official statement clearly mentioned personal reasons. Given Sammy’s long experience in the game, Joseph said the coach would have known exactly how his comments might land publicly. He added that he had nothing more to say on the issue. The 29-year-old then turned to his fitness struggles. He explained that he has been out of action for a full year. This followed a second stress fracture, which kept him away from international cricket at full intensity for a long stretch. Joseph called Sammy’s remarks controversial. He argued that his body simply was not ready for the physical demands of a Test series. He recalled recent conversations about his workload. This included playing two Test matches alongside five back-to-back ODIs against New Zealand earlier this month. He said he personally knew his body needed time before taking on another long format series. Without proper context, he felt the statement gave an incomplete picture of the situation. Despite the disagreement, Joseph made his priorities clear. He said his focus remains firmly on his job. He is representing the West Indies, not any individual, including the head coach. He added that he is not there to build friendships. His only goal, he said, is to work hard and represent the people of the West Indies. On the field, West Indies currently lead the two-match Test series 1-0. A win in the second Test would give them their first series victory over Pakistan since 2000. This adds even more weight to a contest that has already stirred plenty of conversation off the field. As the series heads toward its conclusion, all attention now shifts to how this selection controversy might shape team dynamics going forward, both on and off the pitch.