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Cricket This Week: Ashes Buildup, Injuries, Rankings and New Frontiers

From the Ashes opener in Perth to India’s injury worries, Daryl Mitchell’s ranking milestone and new T20 events, here’s this week’s key global cricket news in brief.

Sultanul Arefin November 21, 2025 3 minutes read

Cricket fans have plenty to follow this week. The Ashes return to Australia, India face injury worries against South Africa, rankings have a new leader, and fresh events highlight how fast the game is growing worldwide.

Ashes 2025: Australia and England set for Perth opener

Ashes anticipation is peaking as the 2025–26 men’s series begins in Perth on Friday. Stand-in captain Steve Smith has confirmed Australia’s XI, with two debutants named for the first time since 2019 and Marnus Labuschagne recalled to bolster the batting. Ben Stokes says he wants to be one of the “lucky few” England captains to win a series in Australia, while experts believe this could be England’s best chance in a generation. Meanwhile, stadium branding has also made headlines, with “Optus Stadium” signage removed before the Test amid sponsorship politics and criticism of the telco.

India vs South Africa: Gill injury dominates Test buildup

In India, the Test series against South Africa has taken a dramatic turn after captain Shubman Gill suffered a neck injury in the first-Test defeat. He spent time in hospital and missed the rest of the match, which ended in South Africa’s first Test win in India for 15 years. Gill has now travelled with the squad to Guwahati and is desperate to play; however, reports suggest he may still not be fully fit when the second Test starts on Saturday. South Africa have strengthened their bowling by adding Lungi Ngidi, while India weigh leadership options if Gill cannot take the field and vice-captain Rishabh Pant must step in.

Rankings shake-up: Mitchell rises to No.1 ODI batter

In the one-day game, New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell has climbed to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings. His match-winning century against West Indies in Christchurch pushed him past Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran and India captain Rohit Sharma by a single rating point. Mitchell is the first New Zealander since Glenn Turner in 1979 to reach No.1, a landmark that highlights his consistency in pressure chases and big series. As a result, the change shows how tight the modern rankings race has become, with one standout innings able to shift the order.

T20 action: Pakistan tri-series and Rising Stars Asia Cup

Short-format cricket is also busy this week. Pakistan are hosting a men’s T20 tri-series in Rawalpindi featuring Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, giving teams important match practice before a crowded 2026 calendar. Several rising players are using the event to press for national selection and future franchise contracts. Meanwhile, India A have reached the semi-finals of the Rising Stars Asia Cup by beating Oman, chasing a modest target with six wickets in hand. These tournaments may not always grab front-page attention; however, they often reveal the next generation of international stars.

Global growth: Saudi Arabia deepens cricket investment

Off the field, cricket’s global footprint continues to expand. The ILT20 league and the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation have announced a strategic partnership to develop the game in the Kingdom, celebrated at a launch event in Riyadh attended by figures such as Waqar Younis. The deal focuses on new facilities, coaching programs and pathways for Saudi players to feature in elite leagues. As a result, many observers see the move as another sign that Gulf states want a larger role in world cricket, following earlier investments in major events and franchise tournaments.

From the Ashes build-up to new rankings and emerging markets, this week shows how cricket keeps evolving while traditional rivalries still drive the biggest headlines.

Image: ICC