1:58 PM GMT Andre Russell prefers the “shorter” and “more fun” Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) to Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL). The two tournaments often occupy the same space in the global cricket calendar, forcing players to choose one or the other. Russell is set to play for the Rajshahi Royals in the 2019-20 BPL season, and was unveiled as their captain on Tuesday. “This tournament is more fun,” Russell…

Ben Stokes was troubled by pain in his left knee during the second Test against New Zealand  1:38 PM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff Ben Stokes will be fit to bowl in England’s Test series against South Africa, after undergoing MRI scans in which “nothing really showed up”, following his return from New Zealand. Stokes reported pain in his left knee after completing his second over on the first day of the…

12:46 PM GMT West Indies v India, Wankhede Stadium: here we go again. In the T20 World Cup semi-final at this venue more than three years ago, India managed only four sixes on their way to a total of 192 for 2. West Indies’ power-hitters, led by Lendl Simmons, then made that look a whole lot smaller by smashing 11 sixes. West Indies eventually sealed the chase with seven wickets…

12:41 PM GMT While maybe not the talk of the town, there is plenty of chatter about pitches in Australia. There was the abandonment of the Sheffield Shield game at the MCG and now the intrigue about what will be laid out for the second Test to be staged at the new Perth Stadium. For Australia coach Justin Langer, however, there is just one thing that matters: Test cricket can’t…

12:23 PM GMT Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne, who has a strong side at his disposal in Pakistan, feels it is a “great pleasure to play a part” in the revival of Test cricket in the country. When Sri Lanka toured Pakistan for a white-ball series recently, as many as ten of their premier players had opted out, but the experienced Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal are in the ranks…

11:56 AM GMT Along with ending the long break from playing Test cricket at home, Pakistan would be looking to end a winless – indeed, losing – streak in the format when the first Test against Sri Lanka begins in Rawalpindi tomorrow. It is a fresh start in so many ways – almost like making a debut, as Shan Masood put it – and captain Azhar Ali is very aware…

11:32 AM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff Pace sensation Gerald Coetzee, who had suffered a hamstring strain in a recent MSL match, has recovered and was named in South Africa’s squad for the under-19 World Cup at home in January next year. Allrounder Bryce Parsons was appointed captain of a 15-man squad that is filled with all-round talent. As many as four allrounders were picked, and wicketkeeper Khanya Cotani, who has played…

11:24 AM GMT Matt Roller Close Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets at @mroller98 Eighteen months ago, Tom Abell was part way through his fifth season in the Somerset first team with just 13 T20 runs to his name. Now, he is Bangladesh-bound for his first taste of franchise cricket with Rangpur Rangers at the BPL, having reinvented himself as a middle-order accelerator in the shortest…

11:23 AM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff India allrounder Hardik Pandya is targeting an international return during the tour of New Zealand which begins in the last week of January 2020. Pandya, who underwent back surgery in October, indicated that, as per the plan worked out with India’s team management, he is scheduled to join the squad “midway” into the New Zealand series, then feature in the IPL, and then be ready…