In a blistering display of batting brilliance at the R. Premadasa Stadium, India‘s explosive opener Ishan Kishan has redefined aggression against the arch-rivals Pakistan. Rising to the T20 World Cup 2026 occasion on February 15, 2026, he transformed the high-pressure atmosphere of Colombo into his personal playground, dismantling a potent bowling attack with surgical precision. His masterclass in boundary-hitting ensured that despite an early setback, the momentum shifted firmly back toward the Men in Blue.
Ishan Kishan’s 77 vs Pakistan earns him spot in elite list with Virat Kohli and Gaitam Gambhir
By smashing a breathtaking 77 off just 40 balls, Kishan has officially joined an elite and exclusive bracket of Indian legends. He becomes only the fourth Indian batter to score a half-century against Pakistan in T20 World Cup history, etching his name alongside Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli and Robin Uthappa. Kishan’s innings was particularly significant as he neutralized the ‘mystery’ spin of Usman Tariq and the off-spin of Salman Agha, who had earlier removed Abhishek Sharma for a duck. His 10 fours and 3 sixes not only propelled India to a commanding position but also made him the first Indian wicketkeeper-batter to achieve this milestone in the tournament’s history.
Batter
Score
Venue/Year
Match Type
Robin Uthappa
50 (39)
Durban, 2007
Group Stage
Gautam Gambhir
75 (54)
Johannesburg, 2007
Final
Virat Kohli
78 (61)*
Colombo, 2012
Group Stage
Virat Kohli
55 (37)*
Kolkata, 2016
Group Stage
Virat Kohli
57 (49)
Dubai, 2021
Group Stage
Virat Kohli
82 (53)*
Melbourne, 2022
Group Stage
Ishan Kishan
77 (40)
Colombo, 2026
Group Stage
Also READ: ‘Sanju Samson should have played’: Fans troll Abhishek Sharma after he falls for a 4-ball duck during IND vs PAK T20 World Cup 2026 clash
Saim Ayub stalls India’s momentum in T20 World Cup 2026 clash
The high-octane clash began with a frosty ‘no-handshake’ policy at the toss, but India quickly seized control through Kishan’s historic 77-run blitz. However, the game has taken a dramatic turn in the middle overs as Pakistan’s Saim Ayub engineered a stunning collapse to drag his side back into the contest. After removing a cramping Kishan in the 9th over, Ayub returned in the 15th to remove Tilak Varma (25) and Hardik Pandya (0) on consecutive deliveries, leaving India reeling at 126/4. Kishan has been the undeniable star of India’s 2026 campaign so far, adding this masterclass to his 24-ball 61 against Namibia, but the pressure now rests entirely on captain Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube to salvage the innings in the death overs.
Also READ: ‘Sanju Samson should have played’: Fans troll Abhishek Sharma after he falls for a 4-ball duck during IND vs PAK T20 World Cup 2026 clash
Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir was left visibly frustrated after Tilak Varma’s dismissal during the India-Pakistan clash in the T20 World Cup 2026 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15. Tilak scored 25 runs off 24 balls before being dismissed by Saim Ayub.
Ayub came on to bowl the 15th over at a time when the Men in Blue were in a relatively comfortable position. On the second delivery of the over, Ayub bowled a full ball on the stumps, and Tilak attempted a sweep. However, the left-handed batter went down too early and missed the ball, which struck him in line with the middle stump.
He was adjudged plumb in front, and the umpire raised his finger without hesitation. Tilak walked back without opting for a review. The wicket triggered an irritated reaction from Gambhir in the dugout as Pakistan began tightening their grip on the Indian batting lineup.
Speaking about the match, India posted 175/7 in their 20 overs. Ishan Kishan led the charge with a blistering 77 off 40 deliveries, smashing 10 fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 192.50. The pitch offered significant assistance to the spinners, making stroke play difficult for the Indian batters. Pakistan relied heavily on spin, bowling 18 overs of spin in the innings. Saim Ayub was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with impressive figures of 3/25 in his four overs. For India, Suryakumar Yadav contributed 32 runs, while Shivam Dube added 27 to help the team close out the innings strongly.
Looking at their overall campaigns, India began their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 journey with a convincing win over the United States and followed it up with another victory against Namibia in New Delhi. Under the leadership of Suryakumar, India currently sit at the top of Group A. Pakistan have also remained unbeaten in the group stage so far, edging past the Netherlands in a close contest before registering a dominant win over the United States.
The Men in Blue are the defending champions, having lifted the T20 World Cup 2024 trophy after defeating South Africa in the final held across the West Indies and the USA. They will be aiming to defend their title and become the first team in history to win the tournament three times. Meanwhile, Pakistan will be looking to secure their second T20 World Cup title.
Durham v The Blaze Durham 200 ao (47.2 ovs) v The Blaze 201/5 (37.2 ovs) Having been inserted Durham looked to have put themselves into a good position after the early loss of Suzie Bates with Emma Marlow (27), Hollie Armitage (81) and Mady Villiers (45) taking the home team to a healthy 164/2 in the 37th over, but over the next ten overs they conspired to lose eight wickets for the addition of just 36 runs as Sarah Glenn (3/45) and Josie Groves (2/12) ripped apart Durham’s middle-order. With just 200 to defend Durham needed early wickets, but they could not find them. Tammy Beaumont (22) and Amy Jones (35) fell as the powerplay ended, but the Bryce sisters (Kathryn 54 and Sarah 34) continued the Blaze’s inexorable progress to victory with a third wicket stand of 81, and although they both fell with The Blaze short of their mark there was no stopping their progress to a bonus point victory as they reached 201/5 in the 38th over. Highlights – Durham v The Blaze
Essex v Warwickshire Warks 289 ao (50 ovs) v Essex 181 ao (39 ovs) Put into bat Warwickshire were in all sorts of bother at 22/5 midway through the powerplay with their top order blown away by some accurate bowling from Eva Gray (5/62). But consecutive stands of 101 and 132, built around a maiden first-class century from Warwickshire number 7, Emily Arlott (130), with great support from Chloe Brewer (44) and Charis Pavely (31), put Warwickshire firmly back in control of the game as they finished on an imposing 289, losing their last wicket off the last ball of the innings. Essex made a measured start to their reply, but when Grace Scrivens (53) was out just before Essex got to three figures, the Essex innings began to subside around Cordelia Griffith (72), who battled on bravely. Katie George (3/38) led the way with the ball for Warwickshire. Having staggered to 176/5 in the 36th over Essex’s chances of victory were admittedly slim, but they contrived to lose their last five wickets for just five runs as Chloe Brewer (3/18) helped mop up the tail in just 19 balls, to hand Warwickshire a bonus point win which looked so far out of sight six overs into the game. Highlights – Essex v Warwickshire
Hampshire v Surrey Hants 259/8 v 209 ao (43.2 ovs) Having decided to bat Hampshire took full advantage of a pacey Utilita Bowl wicket as Ella McCaughan (64) and Maia Bouchier (61) compiled an untroubled opening stand of 116 in under 22 overs. In fact it was a surprise when Bouchier gloved a Davidson-Richards’ bouncer to keeper Chatli to break the stand. Surrey’s four-pronged spin attack of Smith, Moore, Capsey and Gregory then clamped down in the middle overs as Hampshire struggled to up the run rate, not aided by losing regular wickets, but a late flurry of runs from Abi Norgrove (26) and a 9 ball cameo from Nancy Harman (14) took Hampshire to a respectable, but not unbeatable, 259/8. After a slightly wayward first couple of overs Hampshire openers Lauren Bell (2/43) and Freya Davies (2/39) found their line and length and by the end of the powerplay Surrey were 38/3 with England-capped Bryony Smith, Dani Wyatt-Hodge and Sophia Dunkley all back in the dugout. Only Alice Capsey (57 off 96) and Alice Monaghan (40) threatened to take the game away from Hampshire, but when their stand of 64 was broken by the metronomic Linsey Smith (3/28) the outcome looked inevitable, and when Davies came back and removed Capsey, it was just a matter of time. Surrey were eventually bowled out in the 44th over for 209 and remain pointless at the bottom of the league table, which few would have predicted at the start of the season. Highlights – Hants v Surrey
Somerset v Lancashire Somerset 205/9 v Lancs 207/3 (36.5 ovs) Lancashire made it 2/2 and jumped to the top of the MBODC league table, with a commanding win over last week’s smash-and-grab heroes, Somerset. Having removed Heather Knight early, caught behind off Kate Cross (2/27) Somerset found progress painfully slow, not aided by losing wickets on a regular basis. By the 32nd over Somerset had clawed their way to 89/6 as Emma Corney (35 off 79) departed run out by a Grace Potts direct hit from mid-off. But striding to the crease to join mainstay Alex Griffiths (46) was Amanda Jade Wellington (26). After a measured start – just 2 off her first 10 balls – she and Griffiths took to Tara Norris, hitting 22 runs off the 37th over, including two sweetly-struck Wellington 6s. Ten runs came off the next over, and in the subsequent over Wellington clubbed Emma Lamb for her third 6, but trying to repeat the dose she was caught on the square leg boundary. The pair had added 56 runs in 7 overs. Griffiths fell shortly after and the tail added a useful 46 runs, but 205 still looked well below par. Spinners Hannah Jones (2/23) and Lamb (2/30) joined Cross on two wickets apiece. And an opening stand of 151 in under 30 overs between new recruit Eve Jones (97) and Lamb (52) put the result beyond doubt, with Lancashire’s only disappointment being that Jones could not find the three runs she needed for her century, as she edged a wide half-volley from Ellie Anderson to backward point. Highlights – Somerset v Lancs
Tony Pigott was a journeyman professional who was good enough (and crucially nearby) to help out England for his one Test match appearance, when he did better than most. He even postponed his wedding (sadly, later doomed to fail) in order to do so.
He gave excellent service to Sussex and latterly to Surrey on the field. The book contains some telling comments on his playing contemporaries and it is in its honesty where it scores over similar books that I have read over many years.
Perhaps his greatest service to Sussex was when he attempted to get them back on an even keel and did so in a way that saw them become county champions, albeit after his somewhat acrimonious departure.
His comments on the challenges faced as CEO of the club are refreshingly honest, including an ‘inept’ marketing officer and the groundsman’s wife who ran and pilfered from the club shop.
His has been a far from easy life, with tales of divorce, custody battles for his son and battling through treatment for oesophogeal cancer. He tells of the challenges of injury throughout his cricket career and at times the book is far from an easy read.
Nor is it one of the longer books I have read, but much is packed into its 143 pages, including a useful statistical section.
I have long held the view that many of the best cricket books are not necessarily about the biggest names.
This one, written with Andy Murtagh, reinforces that assertion and is well worth anyone’s time.
Lester And The Deckchair Revolution: The Life And Times of Tony Pigott is written by Tony Pigott with Andrew Murtagh and published by Fairfield Books
New Zealand vs South Africa 24th Match World Cup 2026 Dream11 today match prediction. World Cup T20. Who will win today match NZ vs SA? We provide 100 % sure today cricket match prediction tips by Raja Babu with Dream11 Fantasy Team Prediction. World Cup toss prediction. Live score with the ball-by-ball update. Cricket toss prediction.
Full Details of Today Match Prediction
The cricket fans are ready to witness yet another big battle of World Cup T20. The 24th match of World Cup T20 2026 is scheduled to be played between New Zealand and South Africa on Saturday, 14th February 2026 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. We are posting safe, accurate, and secure today match prediction of ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
New Zealand vs South Africa-Today Match Prediction-Dream11-ICC T20 World Cup 2026-24th Match-Who Will Win
NZ vs SA Match Review
New Zealand had performed well in this edition of T20 World Cup. They had won their both played matches and are leading the points table of Group D. The key players of this team are in good form and we are sure that they will also perform well in this match. South Africa had also performed well in this tournament and they had won their both played matches. They are holding the second position on the points table of Group D. The key players of this team are also in good form and we are sure that they will perform well in this match.
New Zealand Reviews
New Zealand had won their previous match of this tournament against United Arab Emirates with a handsome margin of ten wickets. They lost the toss and were asked to field first. The performance of their bowling unit was good and they leaked 173 runs in their 20 overs. They used seven bowlers in the previous match where Matt Henry was the most successful and highest wicket-taker from their side with two wickets to his name in four overs against 37 runs. The skipper, Mitchell Santner also performed well in the previous match and picked one wicket while he was charged for 23 runs in four overs.
Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, and Glenn Phillips also performed well in the previous match and picked one wicket each while Rachin Ravindra and James Neesham were the bowlers who failed to pick any wicket. The batting order of New Zealand also performed well in the previous match and they chased the target of 174 runs in 15.2 overs without losing any wicket. Tim Seifert was the most successful and highest run-scorer from their side who remained not out after scoring 89 runs on 42 balls with the help of twelve boundaries and three huge sixes. Finn Allen also performed well in the previous match and remained not out after scoring 84 runs on 50 balls with the help of five boundaries and the same huge sixes.
South Africa Reviews
South Africa had won their most recent match of this tournament against Afghanistan. The match was tied which was decided in the second super over. They lost the toss and were asked to bat first. The performance of their batting order was good and they scored 187 runs in their 20 overs. Ryan Rickelton was the most successful and highest run-scorer from their side with 61 runs to his name on 28 balls with the help of five boundaries and four huge sixes. Quinton de Kock also performed well in the previous match and scored 59 runs on 41 balls with the help of five boundaries and three huge sixes.
Dewald Brevis also performed well in the previous match and scored 23 runs while David Miller remained not out after scoring 21 runs. The bowling unit of South Africa did not perform well in the previous match but they defended the target of 188 runs. They leaked 187 runs in their 20 overs. Lungi Ngidi was the most successful and highest wicket-taker from their side with three wickets to his name in four overs against 26 runs. Keshav Maharaj also performed well in the previous match and picked one wicket while he was charged for 27 runs in four overs. Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, and George Linde also performed well in the previous match and picked one wicket each while the skipper, Aiden Markram was the only bowler from their side who failed to pick any wicket.
New Zealand vs South Africa Head to Head Matches Record
New Zealand had faced South Africa in 18 T20 cricket matches where they had won 7 matches while South Africa had won 11 match against New Zealand.
Favorite Team in Today Match Prediction
New Zealand is overall a strong team as compared to the South Africa at least on papers. According to our T20 World Cup match prediction, New Zealand is the favorite team who will win this match. There are many factors that make New Zealand a favorite team to win this match. Some of the key factors are mentioned as under:
New Zealand had performed well in this tournament
The batting order of New Zealand is strong
The bowling unit of New Zealand is also strong
South Africa is also a strong team
The bowling unit of South Africa is strong
Winning Chances of Today Match for the Both Teams
New Zealand is full of experianced and young players of the t20 foramt. The batting order of this team is also strong and some well known hitter of t20 format are the part of the squad of this team, so the winning chances of today match for New Zealand have been increased. The equation of who will win today cricket match prediction and who will win the cricket match today is mentioned as under.
New Zealand has a 56% chance to win this match South Africa has a 44% chances to win this match
Toss Prediction in Today Match Prediction
The toss is playing an important role in the decision of all games of World Cup T20. Having a good total on the board is always a big advantage in these kind of big matches. According to our toss prediction, the team who will win the toss may choose to bat first. Remember that a total of six matches of ICC T20 World Cup had been played on this venue and all matches were won by batting first team.
Pitch Report and Conditions for Today Match
The 24th match of World Cup T20 2026 is going to be held at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. We had observed in the previous matches played here that the pitch here at this venue is good for batting. The pitch is bouncy and fast and run-scoring is not much easy in ealy and middle overs. We are hoping that the surface is bound to get slower and be a bit more difficult for batting in this match. A score of 180 is going to be tough to chase.
Weather Report for Today Match
The weather forecast for today match in Ahmedabad is predicting some clouds around on match day and the weather forecast is also predicting some chances of rain but we are hoping for a full and uninterrupted match.
Who Will Win New Zealand vs South Africa, 24th Match World Cup 2026
Who Will Win New Zealand vs South Africa 24th Match World Cup 2026 Toss-SA
Who Will Win New Zealand vs South Africa 24th Match World Cup 2026 Match-SA
Who Will Win Today T20 World Cup Match?
SA (100%, 1 Votes)
NZ (0%, 0 Votes)
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Possible Playing XI of Both Teams for This Match
New Zealand
Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.
South Africa
Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.
Key Players to Watch
Tim Seifert, Matt Henry, Ryan Rickelton, and Lungi Ngidi are key players to watch in this match.
Dream 11 Predictions for Today’s Match
Dream11 Prediction for New Zealand vs South Africa, 24th Match ICC T20 World Cup 2026. After checking the latest player’s availability, the Dream 11 Team for this match of New Zealand vs South Africa,is mentioned under.
NZ vs SA Dream11 Fantasy Team
We will update you shortly.
Today Match Time & Date
Date: Saturday, 14th February 2026 Time: 01:30 PM GMT / 07:00 PM LOCAL / 07:00 PM IST
Today Match Venue Details, Facts, and History
Stadium: Narendra Modi Stadium Location: Ahmedabad, India Opened: 1982 Capacity: 132,000 Known As: Motera Gujarat Stadium, Sardar Patel Stadium Ends: Adani Pavilion End, GMDC End Time Zone: UTC +05:30 Home To: Gujarat, Gujarat Titans Floodlights: Yes Curator: Bagira Thakur
Venue Scoring Pattern in T20s
Total Matches: 13 Matches won batting first: 9 Matches won bowling first: 4 Average 1st innings Score: 171 Average 2nd innings Score: 147 Highest total recorded: 234/4 (20 Ovs) By IND vs NZ Lowest total recorded: 66/10 (12.1 Ovs) By NZ vs IND Highest score chased: 166/3 (17.5 Ovs) By IND vs ENG Lowest score defended: 107/7 (20 Ovs) By WIW vs INDW
New Zealand T20 World Cup Squad
Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi.
South Africa T20 World Cup Squad
Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs.
Disclaimer
We have provided you above-mentioned today match prediction on the basis of our research, understanding, and analysis. You can consider the point we had provided you and the 24th and decision will be yours.
For some years now I have been in the habit of beginning these half yearly overviews with a look at the titles I missed last time round, but which have been published in the last six months. It is a practice I have decided to drop as I am not convinced it adds a great deal, so from now on I shall not mention such titles if I have already reviewed them.
There is no doubt that 2025 was a vintage year for cricket literature, so it was never going to be likely that this year would match it, but there are nonetheless some interesting titles which, I have no doubt, will keep us entertained in the coming months.
To star with there are several titles due from Fairfield Books, as well as their regular offering of the 2026 Cricketer’s Who’s Who and the continued quarterly appearance of The Nightwatchman. Those apart the new book that the management seem most keen on is a collection of 40 poems by Ben Wyatt that capture the excitement of the 2005 Ashes series. It bears the title Ragged Splendour: My Summer on Fire. It is a book which, after recent events, England supporters who remember those heady days of two decades ago will turn to with a rheumy eye.
There are two titles due from Oliver Randall, a writer whose work I have to confess to not being familiar with, although I clearly will be by this time next year. The first, due in May, is The Literary Cricketers, sub-titled The untold story of a team that left a permanent legacy on English Culture. It concerns men like Arthur Conan Doyle, who played First Class cricket for MCC at the turn of the twentieth century. Primarily a batsman his best known cricketing achievement was however his single First Class wicket, that of WG Grace in 1900. Cricket lovers PG Wodehouse, JM Barrie, Jerome K Jerome and Evelyn Waugh will also feature.
Randall’s second book is due later in the year, but will be from a different genre. Lord’s and Maharajahs is an account of India’s first Test tour, to England in 1932. There was just a single Test, won by a Douglas Jardine led England, but not before fast bowler Mohammad Nissar had bowled both England openers on the first morning as the home side struggled to 19-3. The cloak and dagger story of the tourists captaincy will doubtless be the most interesting part of a story that was told at the time by just one writer, ‘Three Stumps’, in a slim book published in Madras that is, today, extremely difficult to find anywhere.
The best selling Fairfield title of 2026 will, in my view, be one of two, although I am sure that the third innings of Scott Oliver’s Sticky Dogs and Stardust: When the Legends Played in the Leagues will sell well. The two however are on the subject of Gloucestershire legends. One is a hero of not so long ago, Mark Alleyne, whose life story will be told by Stephen Chalke, and the other is the autobiography of a man from a generation further back, Zaheer Abbas, the release of which will coincide with the visit of the 2026 Pakistan tourists.
Nd there are two other important titles due from Fairfield. The first concerns the increasing troubling issue of state school cricket and what should be done to encourage it and ensure that recreational cricket exists for generation and that the state schools produce their share of top class cricketers. The other is a history of women’s cricket in Somerset. 2025 marked the first year that the county fielded a professional women’s cricket team. This, coming in its 150th anniversary, was a momentous occasion. However, the history of women’s cricket in the county of Somerset leading up to this point is vast, and largely undocumented. The book will seek to change that.
Moving towards the south coast Pitch have a number of books due next year. I shall start with what to me seems liklely to be the most interesting, albeit it is not actually due to the second half of the year. That is a new biography of Gubby Allen by Mark Peel. The book should be unnecessary because Allen has already been the subject of a full biography, Gubby Allen: Man of Cricket, by that eminent writer of the past EW ‘Jim’ Swanton.
The problem with Swanton’s book is that it is the worst sort of hagiography, in that it pretends to be something else. Hagiography is never a good thing, but at least if the writer acknowledges he is writing that sort of a book it is not quite so frustrating. When someone as pre-eminent as Swanton purports to write an objective account but comes nowhere near doing so then the result is a disservice to history. Allen had many flaws and I am confident that Peel’s book will, whilst acknowledging Allen’s achievements, give a full picture of the man.
Moving backwards the first Pitch book of 2026 will, I believe, be Mark Sands’ Stars on Sunday which is due at the end of March. It will certainly strike a chord with my contemporaries as it is a look back at the history of the old John Player League which, from 1969, allowed us all to watch county cricket on BBC2 every Sunday afternoon, back in the days when bowlers were limited to a 15 yard run up and a score of 200 in 40 overs was considered exceptional.
A Picture of England: Twenty Years Photographing the England Cricket Team Home and Away by Gareth Copley-Jones (the photographer) and Rory Dollard (the storyteller) will follow soon afterwards and will doubtless be a revealing portrait of the highs and lows of a period that has been something of a rollercoaster ride for followers of the England team.
And there are four more titles due from Pitch, three in June and one I know not when. Two of the three are Women in White form Raf Nicholson, which is clearly a book about the women’s game and I hope the title aping that of the famous Wilkie Collins novel means it well delve back into the distant past. Tim Brooks’ The Englishman, on the other hand I know nothing at all about. The title suggests a biography, but Brooks’ track record does not. The third I know rather more about, Jeremy Lonsdale’s biography of Patsy Hendren. It is many years since the only previous biography of Hendren was published, written by his Middlesex and England teammate Ian Peebles, and I suspect Lonsdale’s objectivity and research will mean a much better book.
Finally, and the book I don’t know too much about, is from my childhood hero Frank Hayes which, I believe, is not exactly an autobiography, albeit a book something along those lines.
Max Books have three titles in the offing, one of those a limited edition of the aforementioned Frank Hayes book. The other two are another literary title, this one on William Blake and Cricket, from Malcolm Lorimer. The second is from Bob Hilton and deals with another aspect of the life of Neville Cardus, on this occasion his time as assistant cricket professional at Shrewsbury School, prior to the Great War and his subsequent life as a journalist.
Red Rose Books, whose output in recent months has been considerable, only have two titles they can confirm at this stage for 2026. The first is out later this month, and is certainly a niche publication from Stephen Musk. Cricket Back in Blighty: Taking a Break from the White Man’s Burden. The book puts in context ten cricket tours that took place between the wars and saw teams of expatriates from West Africa, so what is now Ghana and Nigeria, visit Musk’s home county and the source of a goodly propertion of his writings, Norfolk.
The second Red Rose title is also from Musk, and that one is from the other major source of his inspiration, North America. This one is a biography of a leading Philadelphian batsman. The title will be Hand in Glove; George Patterson and Philadelphia Cricket. Despite this I would however be very surprised if more books and monographs did not appear from Martin Tebay, as either publisher or author.
And we can also look forward to three more monographs from David Battersby, all on the subject of Pakistan cricket. The first will concern Pakistan’s visit to England in 1967, one that was disappointing overall for the visitors, but which did produce a memorable innings from Asif Iqbal at the Oval. Later in the year there will also be another monograph on England’s visit to Pakistan ten years later, and in between the two an appreciation of the eldest of the Mohammad brothers, Wazir, who passed away in October last year at the grand old age of 95.
Steve Smith, whose output in 2025 has been prodigious, intends to carry on with his program of publishing accounts of the tours made to Philadelphia during Victorian and Edwardian times. He also has the three somewhat better known tours of England by the Philadelphians to cover so we can expect regular offerings from him. In addition he is also contemplating a book on the subject of SF Barnes, and his cricketing achievements (of which there were many) after his fiftieth birthday.
The first half of 2026 will not be the busiest in terms of publishing for the ACS, but in addition to their usual statistical volumes; The First-Class Counties Second XI Annual 2026; the ACS International Cricket Yearbook 2026; and, as an online publication after last year’s hard copy experiment, ACS Women’s Yearbook 2026, all of which should be out before the new English season starts, they do have a couple more books due.
The first one is another book in the Lives in Cricket series, and comes with a copper bottomed guarantee of being excellent because the author is Max Bonnell. For those unfamiliar with the subject, Jack Walsh, he was a late starter and did not play serious competitive cricket until he was 20. He was 27 when he first played for New South Wales, and 33 when he signed his first professional contract with Leicestershire. Wartime robbed him of what should have been six prime years of his career, and yet he still captured 1,190 wickets in first-class cricket and won a reputation as one of the most entertaining players in the county game.
The other ACS book appears in their Cricket Witness series. 2026 is the centenary of the formation of the South Wales Hunts CC, Wales’ most famous and prestigious wandering cricket club. This book starts by looking at the very close links between hunting and cricket in South Wales as well as the leading figures in the creation of the nomadic club in 1926. Attention is then paid to the many characters who have represented the Club, the well-known families who have supported the team both on and off the field, as well as the many grounds where the Hunts have played.
The New Year will also see the series of monographs from the Museum of Welsh Cricket continue. We have just seen the appearance of Don Bradman and Glamorgan, the fifth in the series, and there will be a number appearing in 2026. These will include First Class at Fifteen, looking at the life of Roy Gabe-Jones who made his debut for the county at that age in 1922, Daffodils and Bluebirds, the story of industrialist Sir Herbert Merrett who became Chairman of Cardiff City FC as well as President of Glamorgan, and a look at BBC coverage of Glamorgan cricket including how it came to be that we have that priceless footage of Garry Sobers’s six sixes from a Malcolm Nash over at Swansea in 1968.
Moving to the other side of the world I dare say there may be something forthcoming on the as yet not quite finished 2025/26 Ashes series. In England the series will probably be referred to as almost a debacle – I suspect Australian writers might be even harsher.
But enough of such mainstream subjects. What can we look forward to from the Cricket Publishing Company? Their schedules tend to be, like Denis Compton’s calling, best described as a basis for negotiation, but if Ronald Cardwell can get all his ducks in a row there is much to look forward to.
First to appear will be from the Cricketers in Print series, in January. Rex Sellers – Resilience and Perseverance is from the pen of Michael Sexton. Now in his eighties Sellers is a once capped leg spinner. Born in India there are some interesting insights into the ‘White Australia’ policies of his time, and how Robert Menzies managed to get Sellers a passport inside 24 hours.
The same series will also be extended in February when Trevor Chappell: The Teacher’s Journey – A Life Devoted to Cricket’s Greater Purpose by Paul Stephenson appears in the same series. Anything on the life of the younger Chappell brother is to be welcomed the more so because this one promises to reveal insights into ‘the underarm incident’ that have not hitherto been revealed.
Also due in February is a biography from the pen of Cardwell himself, Arthur Watson – The Boy from Inverell by Ronald Cardwell. A more than useful cricketer in his youth Watson, now aged 85, has since umpired more than 850 Sydney Grade matches.
By March we should have Cardwell’s biography of Frank Ward, In Search of Frank Ward. Eleven wickets at more than fifty runs each in his four Tests does not suggest the South Australian leg spinner of the late 1930s is the most interesting subject for a cricketing biography, but my understanding is that it is the other aspects of his life that are the real interest in the story.
Also due in March we will have a book on a subject that, to the best of my knowledge, has escaped the attention of writers in the past. Runs on the Board – Every Scoreboard Tells a Story by Stephen Walters is a book about scoreboards around the world, rather than the matches that they faithfully illustrate the progress of.
Moving on to April we will have one for the memorabilia collectors amongst us, David Jenkins’ The Trials and Tribulations of an Autograph Collector. I am sure I will recognise at least some of the problems that Jenkins has encountered down the years.
In addition to those there will certainly be a history of cricket at Sydney Grammar by James Cattlin, to mark 175 years of the game there. Beyond that Cricket Essays by Mike Coward is planned as well as some interesting biographies. Ronald is working alone on Alan Fairfax and Arthur Chipperfield, on Paul Sheahan with Pat Rodgers and, the one I have been looking forward to for many moons, with James Cattlin on Jim Burke.
Elsewhere in Australia Peter Lloyd and Pat Rodgers have a new book appearing, hopefully in March. It is, no doubt inspired by Lloyd’s superb biography of Charles Macartney, an account of the tour of New Zealand by New South Wales in 1923/24. The events of the tour demonstrate why the full strength of Australia was not unleashed on their neighbours for so many years. Three of the twelve games were drawn, but in two of those the New South Welshmen were on the brink of huge victories to go with the nine hammerings they did dish out. Only in the first match against Wellington did the hosts comfortably draw a match, but even then the hosts were never on top in the game.
James Merchant has contributed some excellent privately published limited editions in recent years on a variety of subjects. One more should see the light of day in the not too distant future. The title has yet to be finalised, but it will be about the Murray Challenge Cup, a competition that took place in Western Victoria between 1875 and 1882. It sounds like an obscure one and, in some ways, by definition it is, but the competition was a showcase for the talents of the legendary aboriginal all-rounder Johnny Mullagh, and featured a number of other decent cricketers as well.
A couple of more mainstream titles from Australia are Ten Out by Ian Brayshaw and The Ashes by Mark Browning. Brayshaw’s book looks at the bowlers from cricket history who have taken all ten wickets, so in that it covers the same subject matter as a book from the ACS a few years ago. The Browning book, based on the title alone, could mean many things, but the sub title ties it down; A Front Row Seat to an Iconic Era of Test Cricket in the 1960s, a time when it would never have occurred to anyone that a two day Test match could take place.
And that is about it from Australia, although I believe that a biography of Clarence ‘Nip’ Pellew is almost ready. Pellew played ten times for Australia in 1920 and 1921, eight of which were won by handsome margins and the other two drawn. In other news there is still no release date that I am aware of for a biography of Percy McDonnell, a book on the twin tours of 1887/88 and one on that of 1928/29, but I still believe all three will see the light of day. Another for the more distant future is a biography of Bill Johnston from Ken Piesse.
Those interested in Scottish cricket will have noticed that nothing more has been forthcoming in Richard Miller’s Scottish Cricket Memories series despite what I referenced here for July 2024. Having admitted to spending too much of his time assisting other people with their projects Richard has promised me that normal service will now resume, so I will repeat myself; ‘Number 21 is going to be The First Scottish Cricket Union 1879 – 1883 by Neil Leitch, Number 22 is The Cricket Grounds of Dundee (Part 1) 1830 – 1890 by Richard himself and Number 23 is likely to be The Story of a Cricket Picture – Craigmount 1870, again by Richard himself. Others including Arbroath United CC – A History, Early Cricket in Dunfermline and some player profile series are also in the course of preparation.’
And finally we are promised a new history of the game, Full Circle: A History of Cricket, a title due in April. I have made the observation before that, within a single volume, that now seems to be an impossible task, but I have been proved wrong before and, this one written by Peter Oborne and Richard Heller, I suspect I may be again. Even bearing in mind that publisher’s blurbs should always be treated with caution, this one certainly raises expectations;
In its earliest forms in the 18th century, cricket was a commercial entertainment, a vehicle for gambling alongside cock-fighting or wrestling. In the Victorian era, the sport was rejuvenated as a means of keeping order in England’s public schools and increasingly became linked with ideas of virtue and manliness. Exported by empire loyalists abroad, cricket took root across the globe – wildly successfully in some countries, indelibly linked with racism and violence in others, and failing to thrive in certain regions. At all times, the authors argue, cricket either evolves or dies. Today, the monetisation of cricket suggests it has returned to its original purpose – less a sport or self-mythologising value system than a commercial enterprise to be ruthlessly exploited.
India and Pakistan are all set to renew their rivalry when they take on each other in the 27th match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2025. The highly-awaited match is scheduled to be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
While India will start the game as favourites, Pakistan are more than capable of springing a surprise or two. One battle that could very well decide the fate of the big game is Jasprit Bumrah vs Sahibzada Farhan. While the fast-bowler will be India’s trump card, Pakistan will be hoping that Sahibzada Farhan continues his fine record against him.
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Sahibzada Farhan vs Jasprit Bumrah:
Not many batters have managed to take down Bumrah but the Pakistan opener has enjoyed considerable success against the India ace. The right-handed batsman faced the pacer for the first time in last year’s Asia Cup and hit the ground running.
In three games, Sahibzada Farhan scored 51 runs off 34 balls against Bumrah in addition to hitting three sixes. On the other hand, Bumrah is yet to dismiss the right-handed batter and will be eager to get the big wicket in the upcoming match.
Bumrah world number one bowler:
Just before the start of the match, Sahibzada Farhan was asked about Bumrah by former India spinner Harbhajan Singh. The ex-cricketer-turned-commentator asked the Pakistan star: “Even the biggest batters feel nervous in front of Jasprit Bumrah, but your record against him is very good.”
In reply, Sahibzada Farhan hailed Bumrah as the best in the world before saying that he would like to attack the India star straightaway.
“When you manage to do something like that against the best, a lot of pressure goes away. But there’s no doubt he is the world number one bowler — there’s a reason behind that. Today as well, I will play in the same manner and try to attack the main bowler,” said Farhan.
Sahibzada Farhan on playing against India:
Farhan also admitted that the players are always in pressure when facing India. He further stated that he would take confidence from his performance against India in last year’s Asia Cup and will look to make impact once again.
“Whenever you play against India, pressure is always there. But whenever you perform, you also get confidence from it. So whoever says there’s no pressure they lie. The way I handled things in last Asia Cup, would like to do the same here,” Sahibzada said.
Both India and Pakistan have won their first two games and will be keen on extending the winning run. The winner of the upcoming match will seal a place in the next round of the competition.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 witnessed a high-octane encounter at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on February 15, 2026. In a crucial Group A clash, the United States of America (USA) asserted their dominance with a commanding 31-run victory over Namibia. The match, played under the shimmering lights of Chepauk, was defined by a breathtaking display of power-hitting from Sanjay Krishnamurthi and a disciplined bowling performance that successfully defended a mammoth total.
The USA started their innings with intent. Openers Monank Patel and Shayan Jahangir set a scorching pace, dismantling the Namibian powerplay to post 65 runs in the first six overs. Patel was particularly aggressive, racing to a half-century in just 27 balls. However, a middle-order wobble saw the USA slip from 68/0 to 103/3, as Namibia’s Willem Myburgh and Gerhard Erasmus applied the brakes.
Sanjay Krishnamurthi’s explosive blitz defies Namibian attack in T20 World Cup 2026 clash
The momentum shifted decisively when Krishnamurthi arrived at the crease. Displaying a fearless brand of cricket, Krishnamurthi turned the game on its head with an unbeaten 68 off just 33 deliveries. His innings was a highlight reel of modern T20 batting, featuring four boundaries and a staggering seven sixes. Krishnamurthi reached his fifty in a mere 23 balls, punishing any width offered by the Namibian seamers.
Partnering with Milind Kumar (28 off 20), Krishnamurthi anchored a vital 87-run stand for the fourth wicket. This late-innings surge propelled the USA to a formidable 199/4 in their allotted 20 overs. Despite the best efforts of Ruben Trumpelmann and JJ Smit, who struggled with an economy rate north of 13, the Namibian bowlers found no answer to Krishnamurthi’s 206.06 strike rate.
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Disciplined USA bowling smothers Namibia’s run chase
Chasing 200 for victory, Namibia began their pursuit with courage. Louren Steenkamp played a valiant hand, scoring 58 off 39 balls to keep his side in the hunt. Alongside Jan Frylinck, Steenkamp guided Namibia to a steady 50-run mark within the powerplay. However, the USA’s bowling depth soon became apparent. Shadley van Schalkwyk provided the breakthrough, dismissing Frylinck and later accounting for the dangerous Namibia captain, Erasmus, for a duck.
As the required run rate climbed, the pressure mounted on the Namibian middle order. Saurabh Netravalkar and Ali Khan showcased their experience by drying up the boundaries during the middle overs. Netravalkar’s dismissal of Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (28) effectively broke the back of the chase. Despite a late cameo from Smit (31), Namibia struggled to find the ropes consistently against the USA’s varied attack.
The match flow stayed firmly in the USA’s favor during the death overs. Shubham Ranjane and Khan ensured no late drama occurred, restricting Namibia to 168/6. With this 31-run win, the USA moves significantly closer to the knockout stages, bolstered by a healthy net run rate and a burgeoning superstar in Krishnamurthi.
🚀🏏 USA KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE! 🏏🚀
199/4 followed by a nerveless defence – 31-run victory.
Super 8 hopes on, Namibia bow out of the tournament ❌
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will be squaring off against each other in Match No. 27 of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on Sunday, February 15. Ahead of the game, the Indian team has reportedly maintained a stance of not engaging in any handshakes with Pakistani players at the toss or after the match concludes.
However, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes that if the Suryakumar Yadav-led team is indeed taking part in the match against Pakistan, they must follow all the protocols and conclude the game by upholding the spirit of cricket in the best manner possible.
“This ‘no shaking hands’ is such a silly thing that India has started. It’s unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play properly within the spirit of the game or don’t play at all,” Manjrekar opined via his official ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter) handle.
Check Sanjay Manjrekar’s ‘X’ post here
This ‘no shaking hands’ is such a silly thing that India has started. It’s unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play properly within the spirit of the game or don’t play at all.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 15, 2026
Suryakumar had earlier addressed in the pre-match press conference that the fans and cricket lovers will have to wait for the happening of the match to know whether his men will actually engage in a handshake with the Men in Green. Notably, the team is following the directives set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
The no-handshake saga dates back to the Asia Cup 2025, where the Indian team had started the norm against the Agha Salman-led side. The two teams had met thrice in the eight-team tournament, including the finals, which also gave rise to the infamous no trophy being awarded to the triumphant Indian side by PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi.
There is very little cricketing context to the no-handshake episode, since the status quo has been in place after Pakistan launched a barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam in May 2025, leading to the deterioration in the geopolitical relations between the two countries.
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