Shoaib Bashir has been continually backed by England and that faith reaped rewards on day one against New Zealand as off-spinner took four wickets.
England bagged five New Zealand wickets in the final session after Kane Williamson scored 93 to leave the series opener delicately poised.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for their lowest Test total after being dismissed for just 42 -inside 14 overs - during a dramatic second day against South Africa in Durban.
England have called up Durham wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson for the Test series in New Zealand after Jordan Cox was ruled out of the tour by injury.
England beat South Africa by 36 runs to clinch the T20I series with one match left to play.
Australia have added uncapped all-rounder Beau Webster to their squad for the second Test against India as injury cover for Mitchell Marsh.
Keep up to speed with all the signings, departures and overseas players in county cricket for the 2025 season.
As we ready ourselves for the Jacob Bethell era to begin, Ollie Pope - already ousted from No 3 - may well be playing for his future and the right to remain part of it.
England's leading Test run-scorer Joe Root still needs an Ashes century in Australia to be considered an "all-time great", according to Darren Lehmann.
Jacob Bethell averages 25 in first-class cricket and is yet to score a hundred - so why have England handed him an opportunity in Test cricket?
England captain Ben Stokes has defended the decision to hand 21-year-old Jacob Bethell his Test debut against New Zealand.
Jacob Bethell will make his England Test debut in the opening Test of the three-match series against New Zealand in Christchurch.
Sophie Ecclestone hailed England team-mate Nat Sciver-Brunt as "one of the greatest of all time" after her match-winning knock in the first T20 versus South Africa.
James Anderson missed out on an IPL deal but Will Jacks, Jacob Bethell and Sam Curran were among the English players to be signed.
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