ODI

From Mount Maunganui to Wellington, plus a loss in Hamilton in between, England’s batting failings against the Black Caps were undeniably a concerning trend.

Yes, captain Harry Brook lost all three tosses to expose those batters to the worst of conditions on at least two occasions.

Yes, New Zealand’s 50-over side, with their 93% win ratio at home since 2019, provide one of the toughest challenges in world sport.

But with four Ashes bankers in England’s top five – and the fifth a possible starter in Jacob Bethell – they returned only one innings above 34 between them across three matches.

Bethell, Brook, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith and Joe Root batted 15 times collectively in the 50-over series and together had nine single-figure scores.

No-one would call that ideal.

“It’s a different form of the game and it’s a completely different kind of challenge that we’re going to be confronted with as well,” said coach Brendon McCullum, denying batters would be scarred by the 3-0 series sweep heading into the Ashes.

At no point have England been in New Zealand because they see it as the optimal way to prepare for five Tests in Australia.

These fixtures were part of their wider schedule, dictated by those with a grip on the purse strings and who sign broadcast deals.

England have, instead, tried to make the most of the cramped schedule and ease players back into action after a post-summer break.

Steve Smith’s Sheffield Shield century appeared ominous, but fellow Australia middle-order batter Travis Head is also battling through white-ball matches against India, with no score above 30 in four attempts.

Had Root stroked New Zealand’s medium-fast pacers for a century in front of Aotearoa’s grass banks, few would have said it mattered when it came to facing Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in the Perth cauldron with a different ball.

The reverse must also be true.

“Jamie Smith, Joe Root and Ben Duckett, they’ll be better for the run, too,” McCullum said.

“I’m sure they’ll be better for it with the prep that we’ve had with the other Test guys [bowlers Mark Wood, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson] who’ve been here for a while, too, we’ll have no excuses come Australia.”

India’s ageing stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli rebounded strongly in what may be their last match on Australian soil.

Rohit Sharma smashed his 33rd one-day international hundred, and Virat Kohli rebounded from back-to-back ducks with a meticulous half-century, as India avoided a whitewash against Australia with a nine-wicket win to close their three-match series, in what may have been their final ODI international in Australia.

Sharma, 38, and Kohli, 36, will not feature in the upcoming five-game T20 series against Australia tour starting on October 29, although neither player has confirmed Saturday’s fixture was their final match Down Under.

Sharma made an unbeaten 121 off 125 balls, with 13 fours and three sixes, and Kohli scored 74 not out, as both batters knocked off 237-1 with more than 11 overs to spare in what could be their last international innings in Australia.

Fast bowler Harshit Rana’s career-best 4-39 bowled out Australia for below-par 236 after India lost its 18th consecutive toss in an ODI, but all six of its bowlers were among the wickets.

Australia had clinched the series 2-0 by winning Thursday’s match in Adelaide by two wickets. That followed a seven-wicket victory in the rain-interrupted opener in Perth.

“We had a near-perfect game,” said India captain Shubman Gill, who scored 24 off 26 balls before falling to Josh Hazlewood. “Rohit and Kohli have done it for so many years – [a] delight to watch.

Sharma, Kohli return to form

Sharma and Kohli got loud cheers from the crowd of nearly 40,000 at the Sydney Cricket Ground as they shared a 168-run partnership – the first century stand between the two since January 2020.

Sharma’s century was punctuated by strong sweeps against the spinners on front of square, and he twice lofted Adam Zampa (0-50) for sixes on either side of the wicket before raising his hundred with a single against the leg-spinner.

Kohli, who was dismissed without scoring at Perth and Adelaide, pumped his fist gently as he drove Hazlewood for a single to wide mid-on from the first ball he faced. Kohli grew in confidence when he cut Zampa to the point boundary and welcomed Mitchell Starc with a straight driven boundary.

Kohli survived a close LBW review on 36 when he went to pull Nathan Ellis’s short ball before completing his half-century off 56 balls.

Kohli also overtook Kumar Sangakkara (14,234), and with 14,255 runs, he is now behind only Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time record of 18,426 runs.

Earlier, Matt Renshaw (56) scored his maiden ODI half-century before Australia collapsed and got bowled out in 46.4 overs.

Australia’s first six batters all crossed the 20-run mark, but could not convert them into big scores. The home team lost four wickets for 18 runs after sitting pretty at 183-3 in the 34th over as India kept picking up wickets with regular intervals.

Travis Head (29) started aggressively before he offered a tame catch at backward point off Mohammed Siraj, and Mitchell Marsh’s promising start came to an end when he gave himself too much room against left-arm spinner Axar Patel and was clean bowled on 41 in the 16th over.

Renshaw and Alex Carey added 59 runs for the fourth-wicket stand, before Shreyas Iyer took a stunning catch while running from backward point. Renshaw was out LBW in the 37th over when he advanced down the wicket to the off-spin of Washington Sundar (2-44), but was hit low on the pads. Ellis played a little cameo of 16 with three boundaries before Australia got bowled out.

“We needed one more stand in the back-end of our first innings,” Marsh said. “Had a great platform at 183-3, but couldn’t cash in.”

Mitchell Marsh powered Australia to ODI victory against India as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failed in their return to international cricket.

Australia’s stand-in captain Mitchell Marsh continued his fine run of form on Sunday, scoring 46 not out and leading his side to a seven-wicket triumph over India in the weather-affected first one-day international (ODI) at Perth Stadium.

India limped to 136-9 from 26 overs, interrupted four times by rain, setting Australia a revised target of 131 which the hosts reached in 21.1 overs.

The sea of blue in the 42,423-strong crowd did not have to wait long to see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli after India were put into bat.

Having retired from the game’s other formats with an eye on the 2027 World Cup, the former captains made their return to national duty for the first time since winning the Champions Trophy in March.

Neither looked convincing against Australia’s pace bowlers, with Rohit edging Josh Hazlewood to second slip on eight and Kohli cutting Mitchell Starc to a diving Cooper Connolly at backward point for a duck.

“All of their batters are world-class and legends of the game,” said spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, who picked up 2-26. “In one-day cricket, especially, to get wickets up front makes a massive difference.”

India captain Gill out cheaply

New one-day skipper Shubman Gill was dismissed for 10 when he tickled seamer Nathan Ellis to wicketkeeper Josh Philippe, leaving India reeling at 37-3 when light drizzle halted play for two hours.

The crowd applauded sarcastically when the covers were removed, then in earnest when Shreyas Iyer (11) slashed Hazlewood to the fence. The bowler got his revenge in his next over, however, as Philippe took another leg-side catch.

Kuhnemann and medium-pacer Mitch Owen kept up the pressure and halted any momentum Axar Patel (31) and KL Rahul (38) generated, although Nitish Kumar Reddy brought some excitement with a rapid 19 off 11 balls.

Deputising for Pat Cummins, whose Ashes hopes remain uncertain due to a back injury, man-of-the-match Marsh kick-started Australia’s reply by bludgeoning three sixes, carrying over impressive form against South Africa and New Zealand.

Philippe, playing his first ODI since 2021 due to the absence of Josh Inglis and Alex Carey, supported his skipper with an aggressive 37 before holing out to Arshdeep Singh in the deep.

Matt Renshaw helped his team home with 21 not out, while Arshdeep, Axar and Washington Sundar claimed one wicket apiece.

“We knew we didn’t have that many runs, but we just wanted to express ourselves,” Arshdeep said.

The series moves to Adelaide on Thursday before concluding in Sydney on Saturday.

Australia completed a comfortable seven-wicket win in a rain-shortened first ODI against India in Perth, with Virat Kohli dismissed for a duck on his international return.

Damp conditions saw the match reduced to 26 overs-a-side, with India eventually posting 136-9 after their innings was halted for rain six times.

The visitors were plagued by regular wickets, with Rohit Sharma and Kohli, both playing their first international match since March, departing inside the powerplay, the latter for an eight-ball duck.

The dismissals of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer saw India slip to 45-4 in the 14th over before KL Rahul, top-scoring with 38, rebuilt his side’s innings alongside Axar Patel (31) and Washington Sundar.

However, the latter’s exit in the 24th over sparked another flurry of wickets, with India losing 4-21.

Josh Hazlewood led the way with the ball, taking 2-20 from seven overs, with Mitchell Owen and Matthew Kuhnemann also taking two wickets.

Australia also lost two powerplay wickets – Travis Head and Matthew Short both dismissed for eight – but made light work of chasing their revised target of 131.

Mitchell Marsh anchored his side’s innings with an unbeaten 46 (52), sharing a 55-run third-wicket partnership with Josh Philippe (37 off 29) before seeing Australia over the line alongside ODI debutant Matt Renshaw (21* off 24) with 29 balls to spare.

The second ODI will take place in Adelaide on Thursday, 23 October.

Test captain Gill takes over the 50-over leadership role ahead of the ODI series against Australia.

Rohit Sharma has been replaced by Shubman Gill as India’s one-day international (ODI) men’s captain, says the country’s cricket board.

Rohit was India’s all-format captain until June 2024 and has been included in India’s 15-man squad for the ODI series against Australia, along with star batter Virat Kohli, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement on Saturday.

Gill, who took over as the Test captain after Rohit’s retirement from the format in May, will take over the role ahead of the ODI series away in Australia starting on October 19.

Rohit has led India in the ODI format at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in February and March, when his team won the title in the final against New Zealand in Dubai.

The 38-year-old also led India to their second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title in 2024 in Barbados, following which he announced his retirement from the 20-over format along with Kohli.

The stalwarts of Indian cricket have also hung up their boots in the longest form of the game following the 2024-25 Test tour of Australia.

Kohli, who turns 37 in November, has also retired from Test cricket.

Suryakumar Yadav replaced Rohit as the T20 international captain in July and led India’s triumphant run at the T20 Asia Cup 2025.

There were no surprises in India’s squad for the five-match T20I series against Australia.

🚨 India’s squad for Tour of Australia announced

Shubman Gill named #TeamIndia Captain for ODIs

The #AUSvIND bilateral series comprises three ODIs and five T20Is against Australia in October-November pic.twitter.com/l3I2LA1dBJ

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 4, 2025

ENGLAND will have their ODI clash against South Africa HALTED mid-match.

Harry Brook and Co are in action on Sunday, September 7 at the Utilita Bowl in the final game of the series.

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South Africa won the opening contest with a seven-wicket victory after bowling England out for just 131 after 24.3 overs.

And in the second match, South Africa beat England by five runs to win the ODI series.

The third and final game is a dead rubber, but it will see a delay to action due to an emergency alert test on everybody’s phones.

Why will England vs South Africa be delayed?

The government are planning to send a loud siren to mobiles and tablets across the nation on Sunday at 3pm.

But do not panic, as the emergency alert you will see and hear will only be a test.

It will come through even if your phone is on silent.

The alarm will go off for around ten seconds.

The plan is for the cricket to be paused at 3pm to ensure it does not distract the players.

What have the English Cricket Board said?

An ECB spokesperson said: “Plans are in place to ensure fans attending the Utilita Bowl on Sunday are aware of the national test of the emergency alerts system, which is due to take place during the third England Men’s Metro Bank ODI vs South Africa.

“We will work with match officials ahead of the game and take appropriate action depending on the state of the game.

“Fans will be kept updated with in-stadia announcements as the game progresses.”

Why is the alert test happening?

The government are testing the system as they believe it “serves a crucial purpose in keeping the public safe”.

It is used in extreme circumstances when to warn people of a danger to life.

You may remember when it was tested before on April 23, 2023.

Since the initial test, FIVE real alerts during major storms have been sent to those needed.

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England were bundled out for just 131 and thrashed by seven wickets in the first one-day international at Headingley as South Africa handed out a bruising reality check to the hosts’ new era of white-ball cricket under captain Harry Brook.

MATCH REPORT: England given brutal reality check by South Africa

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Fast bowler Sonny Baker will make his England debut in the first one-day international against South Africa at Headingley on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old has impressed in The Hundred for Manchester Originals and could be part of the squad for the Ashes tour of Australia later this year.

It is the latest step in a rapid rise for Hampshire’s Baker, who made his first-class debut for England Lions against Australia A in Sydney at the beginning of this year.

Fellow quicks Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse are both included after missing the final Test against India in July. For Archer, it will be his first one-day international since the Champions Trophy in March.

The match in Leeds begins a three-match series against the Proteas, which is followed by three T20s.

Australia thrashed South Africa by 276 runs in the final one-day international in Mackay to avoid a first whitewash in an ODI series on home soil.

The hosts amassed their second-highest ODI total as they finished on 431, with their top three all scoring centuries.

They went on to secure their second-biggest ODI victory, with South Africa all out for 155 in 24.5 overs as Cooper Connolly – two days after his 22nd birthday – took five wickets for just 22 runs.

South Africa, who suffered their heaviest ODI defeat in terms of runs, had already clinched the series by winning the first two contests.

“A pretty crazy day, wasn’t it?” said Australia captain Mitchell Marsh.

“A full performance from the lads. Shame it was a little bit too late but full credit to South Africa. They played outstandingly well in the first two games.”

Marsh, Travis Head and Cameron Green each scored hundreds for Australia – with Green’s ton coming off only 47 balls.

In response, South Africa fell to 50-4 in the ninth over and were unable to recover.

“We were under the pump from the first ball,” South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said.

“They put us under pressure. They made it look like a very good surface, and they were far better than us today.”

South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj was awarded player-of-the-series for his six wickets.

Australia’s highest ODI total came against South Africa in 2006, when they scored 434.

Kranti Goud takes career-best figures of 6-52 as she guides India to victory in the third and final one-day international against England, with the tourists winning the series 2-1.

MATCH REPORT: England Women v India Women – third ODI

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England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt falls just short of her century after she’s caught for 98 by wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh as England fall to 195-4, chasing 319 to win the third and final One Day International at Durham.

FOLLOW LIVE: England Women v India Women – third ODI

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Tuesday is England’s last official fixture in the 50-over format before their World Cup campaign begins on 3 October against South Africa in India.

A regular criticism of England of recent years has been their ability to win bilateral series outside of World Cups, only to lose pressure matches at the major tournaments.

They lost to South Africa in the semi-finals of the 2023 T20 World Cup and exited last year’s event at the group stage after crumbling in a winner-takes-all match against West Indies.

Tuesday’s decider will be as close as possible to such moments outside of the global events.

“We have seen bilateral series where done really but when come to the World Cup games or tournament cricket we have not had the momentum or been clinical in those pressure moments,” Dean said.

“Any chance we can emulate that in bilateral series is perfect practice.

“Obviously we want to win, but even if we don’t we can take those learnings, keep getting better and set ourselves up to have a good 50-over competition. That is the most important.

“No matter how the game goes tomorrow that we really reflect and learn from the situation.”

A below-par performance from England saw India seal a four-wicket win in the first one-day international in Southampton.

Chasing 259 to win, India all-rounder Deepti Sharma’s unbeaten 62 saw the tourists reach their target with 10 balls to spare.

The dismissals of Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh in quick succession, with 24 runs still needed from 27 balls, gave England a glimmer of hope and the prospect of a tense finale but Amanjot Kaur held her nerve with 20 not out to see India to their second-highest successful chase in ODIs.

Amid a sloppy fielding effort, England also paid the price for failing to review an lbw against Sharma when she was on 40.

It is a crucial series for England, who are looking to gain confidence from their final three matches in the format before the autumn’s World Cup in India.

The positives included Sophia Dunkley’s well-paced 83 from 92 balls, and Alice Davidson-Richards made 53 as they rescued an innings that was teetering at 97-4.

Openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones both fell cheaply to young seamer Kranti Goud, before Nat Sciver-Brunt and Emma Lamb fell in consecutive Sneh Rana overs, having added 71 for the third wicket.

Dunkley and Davidson-Richards dropped anchor with a steady and sensible stand of 106, and despite scoring 36 from the final three overs, it proved that England left it too late to accelerate with five wickets still in hand.

The three-match series continues at Lord’s on Saturday.

Maxwell, known as one of the game’s most powerful hitters, is calling time on his one-day career with Australia.

Explosive Australian batsman Glenn Maxwell has announced his retirement from one-day cricket, but will continue in Twenty20 cricket with his eye on next year’s World Cup.

The 36-year-old, who played 149 One Day Internationals (ODIs), blasting 3,990 runs, said he was starting to feel the physical toll of the 50-over game.

“I felt like I was letting the team down a little bit with how my body was reacting to the conditions,” said Maxwell on Monday, who was nicknamed “Big Show” for his all-action entertaining style of play.

“I had a good chat with [chair of selectors] George Bailey and I asked him what his thoughts were going forward.

“We talked about the 2027 [50-over] World Cup and I said to him, ‘I don’t think I am going to make that, it’s time to start planning for people in my position to have a crack at it and make the position their own’.

“I didn’t want to just hold on for a couple of series and almost play for selfish reasons.”

His last game was Australia’s Champions Trophy semifinal defeat to India in early March, after which fellow veteran Steve Smith also quit the 50-over format.

The mercurial Maxwell’s strike rate of 126.70 is the second-highest in ODI cricket, where he has crunched four hundreds and 23 half-centuries.

His rate of scoring is second only to West Indian heavy hitter Andre Russell. Maxwell has also taken 77 wickets with his off-spin.

An ODI career for the ages

In a career littered with many magic moments, perhaps his most memorable innings was at the 2023 World Cup against Afghanistan in Mumbai, when he was batting with Australia reeling at 91-7, chasing 293 to win.

In a high-pressure situation, and battling a severe cramp in searing heat, Maxwell took control, slamming 201 from just 128 balls to take his team to victory.

He scored 179 of those runs in an unbroken 202 partnership with Pat Cummins, who contributed just 12 after coming at number nine.

Australia went on to win the tournament, beating favourites India in the final at Ahmedabad.

Maxwell was also part of the Australia team that lifted the 2015 ODI World Cup.

“Glenn will be known as one of the one-day game’s most dynamic players, who had key roles in two ODI World Cup victories,” said Bailey.

“His level of natural talent and skill is remarkable. His energy in the field, under-rated ability with the ball and longevity has been superb.

“What else stands out is his passion for and commitment to playing for Australia.

“Fortunately, he still has much to offer Australia in the T20 format. All things going well, he will be pivotal in the next 12 months as we build toward the World Cup early next year.”

Fast bowler Jamie Overton has been ruled out of England’s remaining two one-day internationals against West Indies with a broken finger.

Overton suffered a broken little finger while attempting to take a return catch during England’s huge win in the series-opener at Edgbaston on Thursday.

The 31-year-old immediately left the field for treatment but came back on to bowl and took three wickets.

Overton is expected to be out for about a month, so will also miss the three T20s against West Indies that follow the ODIs.

No replacement has been called up for the second ODI in Cardiff on Sunday, when England could secure the series.

Linsey Smith becomes just the second England player to take a five-wicket haul on her One Day International debut to help England to a 108-run victory over West Indies in Derby.

MATCH REPORT: England Women v West Indies Women – first ODI

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