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Ollie Robinson and Shoaib Bashir will play the fourth Test against India as England roll the dice in this must-win game on a cracked Ranchi pitch. The pair, who will replace Mark Wood and Rehan Ahmed, are the only changes from the 434-run defeat against India in Rajkot, which leaves England 2-1 down, desperate to keep this five-match series alive.Robinson will play his first Test in India, returning to the side for the first time since suffering a back spasm in the first innings of the third Ashes Test last July, which was also his last competitive match. He will line up alongside James Anderson, who pulled up well after bowling 38 overs in the third Test at Rajkot, with match figures of 1 for 139.Somerset offspinner Bashir has also been chosen ahead of Rehan, who is the team’s second-highest wicket-taker with 11 wickets at 44 from three matches. The 19-year-old Rehan has bowled valiantly, but found himself targeted by India’s batters – primarily Yashasvi Jaiswal – in the second innings at Rajkot, returning 1 for 108 from 25 overs.The decision to opt for the high-actioned finger-spin of Bashir rather than stick with Rehan’s wrist-spin reflects England’s impression of what Stokes described as an “interesting” surface, which they believe will contribute to a fast-moving, spin-friendly game. Surrey’s Dan Lawrence was also considered for Bashir’s spot, offering part-time off-spin while reinforcing the batting.Instead, Bashir will join Tom Hartley and Joe Root as a slow-bowling trio. Bashir made his debut in the second Test at Visakhapatnam, taking 3 for 138 and 1 for 58 in the match, after visa issues forced him to miss the series opener in Hyderabad.”We do like to look at the pitch two days out and one day out, because that’s how we like to pick our XIs,” Stokes explained of Bashir’s selection. “You want to give yourself some idea or some indication about what XI you think is going to give you the best chance. Looking at that, I think there is going to be assistance for spin, but I think also it looks like someone like Bash, who releases the ball from such a high release point, the extra bounce that he gets we feel is going to bring us more into the game.”Ollie Robinson has been recalled as Rehan Ahmed sits out the fourth Test•Gareth Copley / Getty

This will be Robinson’s 20th cap, and his selection is a show of faith in the 30-year-old. Despite 76 dismissals at an average of 22.21, he has constantly faced questions about his fitness and ability to bowl multiple spells across the full duration of a Test match, at a consistently challenging pace. Having worked hard to improve his fitness over the last nine months, he has the chance to restate his worth as a Test bowler when England need him most.”I’m really excited for him to get his go,” Stokes said. “He’s been an incredible professional, the way in which he’s operated. Not playing the first three games is extremely disappointing, especially for someone who has played such a vital role over the past two years. The way he kept everything going, going and going through the obvious disappointment of not playing is a great way to operate. Now the chance is here. He has done everything he has needed to and I’m really looking forward to seeing him out on the park again.”He will play alongside the veteran Anderson, who had been considered as one of the likelier bowlers to make way, following his heavy workload in Rajkot and the short turnaround between matches. He currently has six wickets at 35.83 in his two appearances to date. But Stokes has backed the 41-year-old, who is currently sitting on 696 career dismissals, to lead the line once more.”If you’re a young fast bowler, Jimmy Anderson is the one person who you want as your role model. Not only the amount of wickets he’s got but the fact he can keep going at his age. Backing a very high-workload Test match in five days, being fit and raring to go, and feeling as fresh as a fiddle. Jimmy’s wickets, his longevity and his age, he’s an unbelievable role model to all young kids out there who want to be a fast bowler when they grow up.”The way in which over the last two years he’s introduced new ways of operating; you’ve seen him commit to bowling bouncers, bowling around the wicket to right-handers, use his skills when the conditions need that. Even saying he’s approaching 700 Test wickets as a fast bowler is incredible. I think he’ll know that, but I don’t think that will be at the top of his mind for this week, just because of where we’re at in the series.”England: 1⁠ Zak ⁠Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Jonny Bairstow, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Ben Foakes (wk), 8 Tom Hartley, 9 Ollie Robinson, 10 James Anderson, 11 Shoaib Bashir

Retiring opener David Warner crushed Pakistan with an audacious half-century to farewell Test cricket in style as Australia won the third Test at the SCG by eight wickets to complete a series sweep.Warner smashed 57 off 75 balls before his fairy-tale final innings ended shortly after lunch on day four with Australia just 11 runs short of victory. He was given out lbw to offspinner Sajid Khan on review as Warner walked off to handshakes from the Pakistan team and then waved his bat to a raucous ovation from the 24,220 crowd.Marnus Labuschagne finished unbeaten on 62 from 73 balls with Australia making light work of the 130 target on a dry surface that had played tricks with variable bounce and sharp turn.Australia batted with intent and scored at over five runs an over as the surface appeared easier for batting compared to on day three when 15 wickets fell. Pakistan succumbed to Warner and Labuschagne’s 119-run partnership with fiery quick Aamer Jamal, their best bowler in the series, surprisingly not used until after lunch.All eyes were on Warner in his final innings of his 112-Test career. Coming out to a standing ovation, Warner had a long embrace with opening partner and close mate Usman Khawaja before entering a guard of honour from Pakistan.Sajid opened the bowling for Pakistan and made an immediate impact on the first ball when he beat Khawaja with a sharp delivery that turned past the bat. Sajid revived Pakistan’s slim hopes when he dismissed Khawaja lbw for a duck later in the over in a decision upheld on review.There was intrigue over whether Warner would dig in or play in his trademark proactive style. His intention was evident when he skipped down the pitch at left-arm quick Mir Hamza and opened his account with a punch through cover as he showcased his sprinting between the wickets to race back for a second.On his 12th delivery, Warner smashed his first boundary when he plundered a wide delivery from Hamza through cover before unfurling his white-ball skills when he reverse swept Sajid to the boundary. Warner’s approach was nonetheless risky on a tricky surface and he had some luck when he inside edged seamer Hasan Ali past his stumps. He also had an anxious moment when he almost holed out to mid-on off Sajid only to land safely wide of Jamal who had run back in vain.Marnus Labuschagne stayed unbeaten and hit the winning runs•Getty Images

But Warner notched his half-century off just 56 balls and Australia only needed to knock off 39 runs after lunch. The remaining interest in the contest centred over whether Warner would hit the winning runs. He survived a tight lbw call off Sajid on 53 that Pakistan unsuccessfully reviewed and Labuschagne was dropped by captain Shan Masood at short midwicket to continue their series-long fielding woes.Labuschagne, who last year averaged a modest 35 in Test cricket, was in sublime touch and scored his second half-century of the match. He hit the winning run after Warner’s dismissal as Australia claimed a series whitewash with none of the three Tests getting into a fifth day.This match effectively lasted just three days after half of day two was washed out. But Australia were challenged, particularly their batters, with Warner set to leave a big hole at the top of the order.It was a disappointing finish for Pakistan, who sank to their 17th straight defeat in Australia. They had been highly competitive over the past two Tests and showcased a resilience few touring teams have in Australia. Pakistan unearthed Jamal, who was a shining light in his debut Test series with 18 wickets and he also shows promise as a genuine allrounder having struck 82 in their first innings.But Pakistan will rue sloppy fielding and batting implosions, which reared late on day three when they crumbled to 67 for 7 in their second innings. Their hopes on day four of setting Australia a challenging total rested on Mohammad Rizwan and Jamal.Quick Josh Hazlewood opened the bowling on day four, having set the SCG alight in the penultimate over of day three with the wickets of Saud Shakeel, nightwatcher Sajid Khan and Salman Agha. After a cautious start, Jamal scored the first boundary of the day when he hammered Hazlewood through backward point.Rizwan lived dangerously as he looked to attack Nathan Lyon, but he had better success sweeping part-time spinner Travis Head. Underlining his blossoming confidence, Jamal unfurled a reverse sweep off Lyon to the boundary as Pakistan’s lead passed 100.Coming off three straight five-wicket hauls, captain Pat Cummins only brought himself on 45 minutes into the day’s play but he could not break a partnership that had reached 42 runs. Just as Pakistan’s hopes increased, as has happened often during this series, they were rocked by a wicket almost out of nowhere when Rizwan, on 28, inside edged Lyon to Warner at leg slip.Pakistan fell away as Warner took centre stage and finished off his illustrious career with trademark aggression and a comprehensive Australia victory.

Todd Murphy is still getting used to the extra workload his body has been put through this year during his emergence as a Test bowler, but is hopeful he will be fit for the Prime Minister’s XI game against Pakistan in Canberra next week.Offspinner Murphy has missed Victoria’s last two Sheffield Shield matches due to shoulder soreness but returned to bowling on Wednesday with a view to fulfilling his selection in what is effectively an Australia A side for Pakistan’s pre-Test warm-up.Murphy made his Test debut against India in Nagpur in February where he claimed 7 for 124 on the back of just seven first-class matches – one of which was last year’s PM’s XI against West Indies – and went on to play all four matches in that series before somewhat unexpectedly being needed in the Ashes after Nathan Lyon’s calf injury at Lord’s.Related

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He had already shelved a county deal before the Ashes to manage his workloads, but he returned from the UK with some niggles which flared again after four Sheffield Shield outings this season – the last of which saw him bowl 45 overs against Tasmania.”It’s been a pretty big 12 months and something I hadn’t been exposed to, so it’s just been about trying to manage myself through that,” Murphy said. “There have been challenges with a few little niggles and think the shoulder is just another one of that.”It was a bit flared up after the UK series then a few Shield games with a high workload and some one-day cricket, it sort of fatigued a bit. So used the opportunity to try and give it a chance to settle down and strengthen it back up for what will hopefully be a pretty busy summer across the board then also some Shield cricket to finish the year. Had in mind it’s a long summer and don’t want to burn myself too early.”Murphy hopes to play the BBL with Sydney Sixers through December and January then the last four rounds of Sheffield Shield although that will depend on whether he is selected as back-up in the squad for the New Zealand Test tour.With Lyon having successfully returned from his calf injury he is likely to have to wait a considerable time for his next Test – unless the SCG offers conditions conducive for two spinners – but his experience of the Ashes tour means he always wants to be ready to go.”It’s one of those ones that you always want to make sure you are ready, but Nath’s been so durable so even going over to England I probably didn’t have it my mind that there would be an opportunity arise that means I would get a game,” Murphy said.”Obviously it was really disappointing to see him go down with an injury, but it probably reinforces the importance of having a squad that is ready to perform. For me it’s really important to be in a position that if that unfortunately does happen again – fingers crossed it doesn’t – but if something does arise that I’m in a place that I can take it.”With the two Tests in New Zealand unlikely to require extra frontline spin resources, Murphy’s next opportunity may not come until the tour of Sri Lanka in early 2025, but whenever he next gets his chance he feels this year will hold him in good stead.”Looking forward it’s about putting myself in the best place I can for any opportunities that arise down the track,” he said. “The intensity of both tours [India and the Ashes] was something I hadn’t experienced before. So being exposed to that early on is going to set me up going forward and it was great to be a part of. Hopefully in a home summer I can build off that and if there is an opportunity I’m set up to go well.”

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has hinted that replacing David Warner may not come down to a straight like-for-like opening batter with a suggestion the order could be reshuffled to accommodate Cameron Green.Green lost his place for the final Ashes Test at The Oval and is expected to remain outside the XI when the Pakistan series starts next month, but McDonald reinforced that he remains a “generational” talent and there is a belief he won’t be out of the side for long.Providing injuries don’t crop up during the Pakistan series – and there remain some question marks over the workload on Mitchell Marsh’s body – the first vacancy could arrive following Warner’s Test retirement which he has earmarked for the SCG Test in early January.Related

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It has been widely assumed that his replacement would come from one of Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris or Matt Renshaw, but McDonald referenced previous occasions when an Australia top order has been reshaped with players taking on new roles.”What does Cam Green’s future look like in the Test team? Is it a matter of waiting for Mitch to finish or could there be another spot that opens up over time?” McDonald told SEN radio. “He has batted at six for most of his Test cricket, but he has been a fantastic number four for WA and averages close to 50 in Shield cricket.”There is always the idea that you can potentially shift the order to make room to put your best six batters, or what you see as best six batters, in a certain order.”If there was to be a batter moved into a new position for the series against West Indies in January the potential – and simplest – option would be for Marnus Labuschagne to move up one spot, followed by Steven Smith returning to No. 3. A more left-field route could be a promotion for Travis Head although he is so destructive at No. 5 there will likely be reluctance to that.Cameron Green’s Test returns faded this year•Getty Images

“We have seen that in Australian cricket before,” McDonald said. “David Boon went from three to opening. Justin Langer went from three to opening. Shane Watson went from six to opening.”There has been the ability to reshuffle and for that to be successful. But we will leave that to the first Test match in Perth.”Warner is expected to be given his farewell Test series against Pakistan although his selection still needs to be ticked off with the squad likely to be named early next week.Test captain Pat Cummins, who is not a selector, praised Warner as a multiformat great when asked if he deserved a swansong series but added that performance remained highest in the selection criteria. Since 2021, Warner has averaged 28.90 in Tests with one century – the MCG double hundred last season in his 100th appearance.”He’s a great of our game in all formats. So no doubt that’s part of it,” he said. “First and foremost you think of the performance side of things when you are picking a side.”Green, who is currently playing against Queensland in the Sheffield Shield and will line up for the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, could be included as the spare batter in the first squad of the season. Green averages 33.69 with the bat and 36.03 with the ball after 24 Tests. He scored his maiden century in Ahmedabad earlier in the year, but since then has made 134 runs at 19.14. He has opted not to play BBL this season after a hectic year where he has barely been home and in order to focus on red-ball skills.After the current round of Shield matches, which are the last before the BBL break, Bancroft, Harris and Renshaw will also get another first-class opportunity when they face Pakistan for the PM’s XI.Bancroft has the most impressive numbers for the season, as he did last summer, but Harris has been the regular spare batter in Australia squads over the last 18 months and Renshaw is a versatile player although struggled on his return to the Test side in the middle order earlier this year albeit in tough conditions in India.

In the larger context, New Zealand have had a typical campaign in the World Cup so far. They have made the best use of their resources despite injuries, they have been solid in the matches that they were expected to win, and have won one out of the four that could have gone either way. In two of the three defeats, they ran pretty strong teams close.However, in two of those defeats, New Zealand have omitted to do things you expect them to do every single time. There were free hits and dropped chances against Australia in Dharamsala, and then some more against South Africa in Pune. One of the better readers of conditions, and thus good at deciding what to do at the toss, New Zealand received some criticism for not making South Africa do what they don’t like to do: chase.Battered and bruised with five of their 15 players injured by the end of the night, New Zealand are sticking to their guns in the knowledge that they still control their fate, and have still to play two matches that – on form – they should be expected to win: against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Winning even one of them gives them a fair shout at making the semi-finals.For starters, neither captain Tom Latham at the post-match presentation nor Glenn Phillips at the press conference had any regrets about deciding to put South Africa in. Latham said if he had a chance to live the day over again, he would still have decided to chase.Tom Latham shares a few words before walking out•ICC/Getty Images

“At the end of the day, we chose to do a toss what we thought was best on this pitch with the information that’s been given,” Phillips said. “And that’s what we go by every game. Obviously South Africa are incredibly strong batting first, but we’ve got an incredibly good bowling line-up and there was no reason that we couldn’t have restricted them to a total that could have been a lot easier to chase on there. Playing on at the end, I definitely thought it got better as well. So, I think had things gone slightly differently, we could definitely have come a lot closer than we did today.”We definitely recognised that they were playing the style of cricket that they wanted to play. But obviously, when any team tries to accelerate, you get opportunities. Obviously, Quinton [de Kock] had a little bit of luck today as well, which helps. And sometimes you need that as a batter. And then when that luck goes your way, the runs start to flow, things start to move a little bit, and once momentum starts changing, it’s hard to bring it back. So, a couple of things go to hand today. Maybe it looks slightly different.”The worrying part for New Zealand might be that it has now become more than “just a couple of things” not going to hand. Coming into this match, New Zealand had dropped more catches than any other side, and were bang in the middle of catching efficiency standings. While fielding has a limited impact on the game, and catching efficiency is not the ideal indicator of how well a side is fielding, New Zealand generally have these things covered. In Pune, Trent Boult went on to add two more drops to the list, chances that he would back himself to take most of the time.Related

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“At the end of the day a couple of tough chances were dropped, a missed run-out when his back was turned to the bowler’s end,” Phillips said. “You have no idea where Quinton’s actually standing. Obviously, he had a little bit more time than he thought, but at the end of the day, it’s not like we’ve been dropping straightforward chances or creating a lot of blunders in the field. We’ve definitely put a lot of pressure on the opposition in the field, and we’ve saved a lot of runs and obviously sometimes people drop catches and that’s just the way things go.”The injury situation might be alarming, and the losing streak might make things look more alarming than they should be, but you’d rather be in the New Zealand camp than Pakistan’s or Afghanistan’s. “It’s just two wins away, and that hopefully puts us in third or fourth place, potentially even second,” Phillips said. “So, I think if we can just keep sticking to our basics, what we do best on the field, everything will be all right.”We try to remain level-headed throughout everything, not ride the highs too high and the lows too low. So, I think for us, it’s go about our business as we’ve done the whole way through, just keeping things simple, sticking to what we do best. Obviously, England, Australia, South Africa … they all play a very aggressive brand of cricket and we’ve got our own brand and if we stick to it, we know that we’re fighters, we keep coming back time and time again, and when it matters most, we really put the foot down.”

Sunil Narine starred with bat and ball as Oval Invincibles won a thriller against their rivals London Spirt by three wickets at Lord’s.Narine was at his eccentric batting best to pummel 12 runs in three balls from the final set of five bowled by Nathan Ellis, including a six which just cleared the rope as the visitors scrambled to a target of 132 with one delivery to spare.Earlier, the Trinidadian mystery spinner had produced his customary wizardry with the ball to return 2 for 14, his spin twin Nathan Sowter having blown the game open with 3 for 34.The pair choked a promising start from Spirit for whom Adam Rossington top-scored with 39 including three big sixes, the hosts capitulating from 76 for 2 after 41 balls to 131 all out from the last delivery of their innings.