Ishan Kishan again started to make headlines after the injury of Rishabh Pant at Old Trafford. A video of Ishan has recently attracted cricket fans.

In this video, the Indian cricketer was spotted as a bowler. Ishan did some spin bowling with his county cricket team, Nottinghamshire, but in an entertaining way. He delivered all 6 deliveries with 6 different actions. Another interesting thing from his bowling is that, despite using different bowling actions, Kishan was mostly right on his line and length, on the line of the stumps, except for the last delivery of the over, which went far wide off the off stump.

The video is an old one from Ishan Kishan's recent endeavors with Nottinghamshire. After participating in IPL 2025 with Sunrisers Hyderabad, the keeper-batter flew to the United Kingdom to play in County Cricket with Nottinghamshire.

Watch the bowling here

Ishan Kishan having different actions for each delivery. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/LJbKvdXKkM

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 27, 2025

Read More: WATCH: Matt Henry's last over brilliance seals Tri-Series Final win for New Zealand over South Africa

Ishan probably had a chance to make a comeback in Team India 

The 27-year-old did well enough with the English club. In two matches, he scored back-to-back half centuries—87 vs. Yorkshire and 77 vs. Somerset. In the match against Somerset, Ishan displayed his bowling skills. That game was on June 29, 2025, now almost a month ago. 

In some recent developments, Ishan Kishan could get a chance to go back in the Team India squad because of Rishabh Pant's injury. Some media reports suggested that the board had inquired about Ishan's current status. But he was not available then. As per the latest updates, Ishan Kishan now struggles with injury, and he can take some time to recover fully. Ishan last played for India in November of 2023, in a T20I against Australia, and has the experience of two Test matches—against the West Indies earlier that year.

Indian left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore claimed his first wicket in the English County Championship, and it was a prized one: England star Jonny Bairstow. In a truncated day of play at Scarborough, Kishore dismissed Bairstow for a fluent 72, as Yorkshire moved to 376 for 5 against Surrey in their 10th round Rothesay County Championship fixture.

Play on day two began late at 1 pm due to a wet outfield, with Yorkshire resuming on 282 for 4. Bairstow was unbeaten on 19 overnight, joined by Matthew Revis, who was yet to score. The pair went on to stitch together an 88-run partnership, with Bairstow taking the lead in an aggressive display.

Bairstow looked in sublime touch, dispatching Dan Worrall for consecutive cover drives to bring up Yorkshire’s 300. He later brought up a 68-ball half-century, his sixth of the season and third against Surrey, by sweeping Sai Kishore for six. It was vintage Bairstow, combining power with precision as Yorkshire’s dominance grew under bright sunshine.

Watch the video:

Sai Kishore won an intriguing battle with Jonny Bairstow! 💥

🤎 | #SurreyCricket pic.twitter.com/jZNmSOb24B

— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) July 23, 2025

We're still of the field here in Scarborough. 😢

Enjoy Sai Kishore's first Surrey wicket while we wait for some updates. 🎬

🤎 | #SurreyCricket https://t.co/BHs30FCeeh pic.twitter.com/1xucZPVyae

— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) July 23, 2025

ALSO SEE: Captain Ayush Mhatre slams 64-ball century in Youth Test

Bairstow's aggression cut short as Sai Kishore bags memorable first wicket in County cricket

His attacking intention ultimately proved to be his downfall. Having tried the aerial route against Kishore once more, Bairstow badly skewed the shot and was caught by Will Jacks at deep mid-on. It was a big wicket for Surrey and a special moment for Kishore, who is on his first County stint.

Despite the sunshine earlier in the day, umpires Nigel Llong and Russell Warren remained cautious due to the soggy outfield and problematic bowlers' run-ups, remnants of heavy rain from the previous day. Further rain arrived after 2.35 pm, cutting short the day's proceedings, and play was eventually called off at 4.40 pm.

Matthew Revis was unbeaten on 34 and Will Sutherland on 6 when the players walked off. Yorkshire will hope to push on with the bat if weather permits on day three, while Kishore’s breakthrough has given Surrey a much-needed opening in the contest. For the 28-year-old spinner, the wicket of Bairstow is not just a milestone, but a potential launchpad for further impact in English conditions.

India left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed is all set for his maiden County stint, having signed with Essex for the remainder of the County Championship and the entire One-Day Cup. The 27-year-old joins the club on a two-month deal that runs through late September, covering up to six first-class matches and as many as ten List A games, depending on Essex’s progress.

Khaleel, who was recently part of the India A squad that faced the England Lions, will link up with the Essex squad in York and is available for selection for the Championship match against Yorkshire starting Sunday.

“I have heard a lot about the rich history of the Club, and I'm excited to be part of it,” said Khaleel. “I’m looking forward to playing at Chelmsford, meeting the loyal Essex Members and fans, and delivering performances they can be proud of.” Essex’s Director of Cricket, Chris Silverwood, who previously coached England, welcomed the signing, highlighting Khaleel’s left-arm angle as a fresh option in the squad.

“We were impressed with his performances for India A,” said Silverwood. “As a left-arm seamer, he offers something different and will add a new dynamic to our already strong attack.” Khaleel has represented India in 11 ODIs and 18 T20Is, picking up 28 wickets in total. He has also played 20 first-class matches, taking 56 wickets at an average of 27.67.

ALSO SEE: [WATCH] Dewald Brevis scores half century on debut against Zimbabwe in ongoing first Test match

Part of a Growing Legacy of Indians at Essex

Khaleel now joins a select group of Indian players who have turned out for Essex over the years. The list includes:

• Ravi Shastri (1991) – The former India captain played a full season as an all-rounder.
• Anil Kumble (1995) – Had a sensational season, claiming 105 wickets in red-ball cricket.
• Murali Vijay (2018) – Played a brief but impactful stint after India's England tour.

Now in 2025, Khaleel becomes the fourth Indian to wear the Essex jersey, continuing a low-key yet notable association between Indian cricketers and the Chelmsford-based club.

Indian Presence in County Cricket This Year

Apart from Khaleel, several other Indian players have signed short-term deals across the County circuit:

• Ishan Kishan – Nottinghamshire
• Tilak Varma – Hampshire
• Ruturaj Gaikwad – Yorkshire
• Yuzvendra Chahal – Northamptonshire

With Essex currently sitting eighth in Division One of the Championship, Khaleel’s arrival comes at a critical time as they aim to climb the table and mount a strong One-Day Cup campaign.

India's star pacer Shardul Thakur is representing Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. The top player has not been provided with a spot in the Indian team for the Champions Trophy. Shardul is, however, set to represent the Essex team in the County Championship soon. Shardul's return can be useful for him to regain a spot in the Indian team.

🚨 SHARDUL THAKUR TO COUNTY CRICKET 🚨

- Essex is set to sign Shardul Thakur for this county season. [Nisarg Naik]

Huge boost for him ahead of the England Test series. pic.twitter.com/czMp7r7On4

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 18, 2025

Shardul Thakur Representation to India :
Shardul Thakur was the last of them when he represented India in Tests and ODIs in 2023. But he didn't perform well. He wasn't included in the Indian squad for being out of form. But Shardul also played for India in ICC tournaments during 2023. Shardul was part of the Indian team in World Test Championship 2023 and ODI World Cup 2023. It is tough now to think of his return to the Indian team. He is playing for Mumbai in domestic cricket now. Shardul is also playing in the current semi-final match being conducted against Vidarbha on behalf of Mumbai.

ALSO SEE :  Harbhajan Singh sighs huge warning To Be Aware Of This Pakistani Player Ahead Before Their Mega Clash

Performance in Ranji Trophy :
Shardul has played his best ever in the Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai. Speaking about the last 3 matches, he has stunned everyone with bat and ball. He has picked 19 wickets in the last 3 matches, besides this, while batting in the last 3 matches, he has made 2 half-centuries besides 1 century. But by featuring in the County Championship, he will be in a position to market himself for a return to the Indian Test team since the Indian team will travel to England to play a 5-match Test series following IPL 2025. In the event that Shardul performs exceptional cricket in the County Championship overseas, then he could get noticed by the Indian selectors.

Career of Shardul Thakur:

James Anderson Set to Resume Playing Career with Lancashire at 43

James Anderson is conversing with Lancashire about getting back into playing this summer when he's going to be 43. It's been almost a year since his last game, but he's ready to get back and play in every type of match with Lancashire. Even though he's not playing in international Test cricket anymore, Anderson truly desires to continue and help out his favorite county cricket team.Mister Anderson's known as one of the top fast bowlers in cricket ever, and he's not done yet.

A Year After His Farewell Test at Lord’s

Anderson still thinks he has many things to offer, and his passion for cricket is making him consider returning to play with Lancashire, the team he started with when he was just a teenager. Since that special farewell match at Lord's against the West Indies in July 2024, he hasn't played at all. His incredible trip got him 704 test wickets, but then the England team leaders decided it was time to look ahead without him.

🚨 43 YEAR OLD JIMMY ANDERSON TO PLAY COUNTY. 🚨

- Anderson will be representing Lancashire in the County Championship. (Telegraph). pic.twitter.com/87tm0H70Ze

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 10, 2025

Fitness and Readiness

Anderson has been keeping himself fit by regularly bowling in the nets and doing conditioning work with England's strength and fitness coaches, during their tours to Pakistan and New Zealand, before Christmas. He believes he can continue performing well and have a strong season with Lancashire when it begins in April. This might be his goodbye season with his county team—but if things go well, he might think about playing for more time.

Balancing Playing and Coaching Duties

Anderson has decided to keep playing into his 40s because he really loves cricket, similar to how Sir Alastair Cook kept playing for Essex for five years after he retired, in 2018, from international Test cricket. Besides just playing, Anderson will also keep his job as a bowling coach for the England Test team. The result? He must handle playing for Lancashire, his coaching responsibilities with England, and any work he does with the media.

ALSO READ: Rishabh Pant's Defence Unmatched: Ashwin Makes a Daring Claim

Lancashire’s Hopes for the Season

Lancashire is very eager to return after getting bumped down from Division One of the County Championship last year, and having Anderson around is going to be a major boost for them to reach that level again. They want the experienced bowler, Anderson, to play in at least five rounds of the County Championship before he has to join up with the England team again for the Test summer. The team's management is eager to have him return.

A Return to Lord’s and Old Trafford

Anderson might play his last season in domestic cricket, starting with Lancashire's first game at their home ground, Old Trafford, against Northants on April 11. The season begins at Lord's on April 4, where Anderson can go back to the place where he started playing for England.

The Legacy Continues

Anderson coming back to play county cricket is very important news, not simply for him but also for the team. Young players get a great opportunity to bat against Anderson, who's a legend when it comes to fast bowling, especially with the Dukes ball in red-ball cricket. His being there is a big positive for Lancashire--but it's also wonderful for young hitters in the County Championship because they get to go against facing a very good bowler.

Despite being unsold at the IPL auction in January, Anderson’s passion for the game remains undiminished. The prospect of playing white-ball cricket again is not ruled out, and his return to Lancashire could mark the beginning of a final, memorable chapter in a career that has already spanned over two decades.

James Anderson Career Stats

Bowling

The ECB's new policy to prevent players from participating in global franchise leagues apart from IPL has sparked tensions between the board and its players. It is being reported that a group of English players are threatening to boycott next year's Hundred if the policy fails to change in the near future. 

The players have raised it as a nuclear option with their agents, and in crisis talks with the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA), but so far the PCA has refrained from making further comments on this matter.

What is all the fuss regarding ECB's NOC policy? 

English players are required to obtain a NOC in order to participate in global franchise limited-overs tournaments. With the ECB's new NOC policy coming into effect this week, players have been left scrambling for clarification. 

Experts suggest that the wording of the policy is not believed to be in line with the details briefed by the ECB. Moreover, the limited consultation with the PCA before its publication, further adds fuel to fire. 

An estimated 40-50 English players have conveyed their frustration to the PCA and suggested potential steps to come to a resolution. Some of the steps included the idea of a collective policy of non-engagement with the Hundred's retention process, which is expected to begin imminently and run until late February.

See also: Mitchell Starc equals incredible Test record in Adelaide Test

What's in store for ECB and its players?

Although the English players are visibly upset with ECB's latest NOC policy, such a practice in reality may seem far-fetched. For one thing, the ECB have approved a pay rise for the 2025 edition of the Hundred and that figure is supposed to surge a lot higher once deals with the private investors are signed off. 

Secondly, the group of players who have voiced their concerns are mostly not the ones on England's central contract. However, a handful few have been featured in the Hundred's higher earners last year.

Before deciding on its own course of action, the PCA is awaiting legal counsel, and a number of players are seeking clarification on whether they will be given NOCs to fulfill long-standing obligations over the winter. 

Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer has joined Lancashire County Cricket Club for the next five weeks. Known for his standout performance with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their IPL 2024 title win, he will participate in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup and the final two rounds of the Vitality County Championship in late August.

Lancashire County Cricket Club confirmed his signing in a statement on Friday. Venkatesh, the energetic Madhya Pradesh all-rounder, is excited about this chance and aims to make a strong comeback to the Indian national team.

Venkatesh’s excitement about county cricket debut

“I am incredibly excited about heading over to England and to have the opportunity to play county cricket for the first time in my career. Lancashire is a very historic county with a long history of welcoming Indian players to their club. I am looking forward to emulating the likes of Farokh Engineer, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, and most recently, Washington Sundar in wearing the Red Rose colours at Emirates Old Trafford,” Venkatesh stated.

“To test my skills in both one-day and first-class cricket in English conditions is going to really benefit my game. I hope that I can entertain the fans and help my Lancashire teammates to achieve their targets in both formats this summer.”, He added.

Mark Chilton, Lancashire’s Director of Cricket Performance, is thrilled about the new addition. “Venkatesh will add experience to a young side during the One-Day Cup, whilst providing an explosive batting option in the middle-order and another seam bowler that we can turn to with the ball,” Chilton said. He confirmed that Venkatesh will play in the County games against Surrey and Hampshire.

Venkatesh’s plans to return for Duleep Trophy

Media reports suggest that Venkatesh has not agreed to a long term contract, as he wants to return to India in time for the Duleep Trophy, which starts on September 5. He plans to use this domestic tournament to re enter the Indian national team setup.

The four squads for the Duleep Trophy will be chosen after India’s tour to Zimbabwe. Venkatesh’s performances for Lancashire will be closely watched by selectors as they finalize the teams for this prestigious domestic competition.

County cricket in England is facing a critical juncture, as the advent of The Hundred tournament has led to a reshuffling of the domestic cricketing calendar. This realignment has not only posed logistical challenges but also raised serious concerns about the welfare of players and the overall quality of the game.

The Impact of franchise cricket

With The Hundred occupying a significant portion of the summer cricketing calendar, the traditional fixtures such as the T20 Blast and the County Championship have been relegated to the fringes of the season. This condensed scheduling has resulted in a packed itinerary for domestic cricketers, leading to physical and mental strain.

See Also: IPL 2024: Do you know what makes Chennai Super Kings special?

Concerns Raised by Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA)

A survey conducted by the PCA shed light on the mounting concerns among players regarding the grueling schedule. A staggering 81% of male players expressed apprehension about the physical toll of the rigorous calendar, with 62% highlighting the impact on mental health. The PCA has labeled the current domestic schedule as “unfit for purpose,” echoing the sentiments of players across the board. About 66% of PCA members feel there’s just too much domestic cricket.

Joe Root’s Call for Change

England’s cricket veteran, Joe Root, has emerged as a vocal advocate for reforming county cricket to safeguard the well-being of players and elevate the standard of the game. Root emphasizes the need for structural changes to align county cricket with international standards and maximize the potential of budding talent.

“I am extremely passionate about county cricket and it is apparent the schedule needs to change for a host of reasons to see long-lasting benefits for English cricket. County cricket is the breeding ground for some of the best talent in the game and this requires world leading structures to allow players to reach their full potential. This is a benefit for everybody in the game. We’re trying to find a way of getting the standard of first class cricket as close to the international game as we can,” Root said.

Championing Player Welfare

Root underscores the importance of prioritizing player welfare amidst the relentless demands of the cricketing calendar. He emphasizes the necessity of providing players with adequate time for recovery, preparation, and skill enhancement during the season.

“There’s a large number of players that don’t think the schedule is conducive to high level performance as it stands right now, we need to find a way of making that gap smaller and the product better,” said Root.

“Having space to recover, prepare and improve your game during the season is crucial and the creation of minimum standards to protect travel windows and player welfare is non-negotiable,” he added.

PCA’s Chief Operating Officer Response

Daryl Mitchell, the PCA’s chief operating officer, called for a “balance” in scheduling to ensure player welfare.

“Back-to-back games have gone up considerably, and only looked at through a commercial lens. We understand that, but there needs to be a balance. There are reports of players who have got off the team bus, driven home and forgotten how they got there, almost on autopilot. We want to pre-empt it before anything disastrous happens,” said Mitchell.

“Our chief executive, Rob [Lynch] is worried about getting the call in the early hours of the morning when someone has driven off the M1. That scares us. 76% of players have concerns about safety when traveling. I don’t think it needs to be a massive reduction [in number of games] but we need to create some space,” Mitchell said.

England bowler Katherine Brunt has announced her retirement from county cricket. The 37-year-old, who is in the England squad for next month’s T20 World Cup, will play in this summer’s Hundred, but will not feature for the Northern Diamonds or Yorkshire.

Brunt has barely featured for her home county in recent seasons due to an increasingly busy international schedule and has not played county cricket since 2019. “I have played some games over the last few seasons, but it’s been two or three max per year because that’s all the schedule has allowed,” she said on Yorkshire’s official website. “There has been a time when I’ve been injured and not fully fit and I’ve played just as a batter.

Also Read: Can Marnus Labuschagne Handle India’s Trial By Spin?

Katherine Brunt says, “I don’t want to hold those girls back”

“I don’t want to take up someone’s place in the team. It wouldn’t think that’s fair when there’s so much good young talent in that Diamonds set-up. “I don’t want to hold those girls back just because I’m someone who walks into the team because I need the practice. “That makes it hard for a coach who needs to develop their young players who will be needed for crunch time in finals when I’m not available. “I’m happy with what I’ve done”.

Brunt retired from Test cricket in June 2022 and has not played ODI cricket since July last year. Said that she is retiring from regional and domestic cricket to allow younger players to come through. Brunt won the Championship with Yorkshire in 2015. Will be in South Africa with England for next month’s T20 World Cup. She last played county cricket in 2019 and has played just eight times. For the Northern Diamonds across the first three years of regional cricket.

Warwickshire County Cricket Club has roped in Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj for the last three matches of the LV Insurance County Championship season. During the Edgbaston Test against England toward the beginning of this month, where he took 4/66 in the hosts’ first innings, Siraj said that the outswinger hadn’t been working for him after the Indian Premier League, so he’d worked on honing his natural inswinger. Siraj is presently playing the ODI series in Zimbabwe however isn’t there in India’s T20 scheme of things.

A natural swinger of the ball, Siraj has played for his 26 times in all formats, taking 56 wickets.

Altogether, he has taken 403 wickets in 207 career matches with 194 of those in first-class cricket.

ALSO READ: “Even In A Room Full Of People, I Felt Alone”: Virat Kohli

“I can’t wait to join up with the Bears squad. I have always enjoyed playing in England with India and I’m excited to experience County Cricket. I would like to extend my gratitude to both Warwickshire County Cricket Club and BCCI for this opportunity.” 

Siraj said, after getting signed by Warwickshire

“Siraj is a fantastic addition to the squad and we can’t wait to welcome him to Warwickshire. He is one of the best fast bowlers in the world right now and his knowledge and experience will help bring an added dimension to our line-up. It’s been clear that we needed to strengthen our bowling attack for the crucial run-in period and I’m excited to see what Siraj can do in these three games.”

Director of Cricket Paul Farbrace said