Ben Stokes does not see James Anderson stopping any time soon after the "relentless" England seamer returned to the top of the Test bowling rankings.

Australia captain Pat Cummins had occupied the top spot since February 2019, while Anderson was last at the summit in November 2018.

At the age of 40, he is the oldest bowler to reach the top of the rankings since Clarrie Grimmett in 1936.

Anderson took 7-54 across New Zealand's two innings in England's 267-run win at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui last week, and captain Stokes says his side are fortunate to have him.

"Albeit him being 40, I just can't see him stopping," Stokes told reporters ahead of the second Test at Basin Reserve in Wellington.

"Every time he turns out there, he's one of the main guys you throw the ball to when you feel like you need a wicket. He's just relentless with everything that he does.

"We're very lucky to have him. Rightfully so he's back at the top. I know sometimes those rankings don't mean much to people, but in our opinion, he has been one of the best, if not the best, for longer than what these rankings say."

Asked if Anderson cracked a smile at the news, Stokes quipped: "No. I don't think he'll be that fussed by it, to be honest - he'll just keep doing his thing."

New Zealand skipper Tim Southee also lavished praise on Anderson.

"He's phenomenal and has been for a long period of time," Southee said. "To have played as many Test matches as he's had is phenomenal on its own.

"He doesn't look like he's slowing down any stage. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching it from afar and any time you play against them it's a great chance to catch up and talk to them. To see a 40-year-old sitting at the top of the charts is pretty impressive."

Anderson made more history with his performance in the first Test, as he and Stuart Broad dethroned Australia greats Glenn McGrath and the late Shane Warne as the pair of team-mates with the most Test wickets between them while playing in the same side.

Broad and Anderson have taken 1,009 Test wickets combined from 133 appearances together – Warne and McGrath reached their total in 104 matches.

Stokes has named an unchanged team for the second Test, which starts on Friday, with New Zealand striving to salvage a draw.

While Broad and Anderson did the damage with the ball, Harry Brook was named player of the match after making 89 and 54, while Joe Root returned to form with a half-century in the second innings.

All-rounders Mitch Marsh and Glenn Maxwell will make their comebacks from injury having been named in Australia's 16-man squad to face India in a three-game ODI series next month.

The inclusion of Marsh and Maxwell headlined the group, which will be led by Pat Cummins with David Warner and Ashton Agar also named after departing the Test squad this week.

Marsh and Maxwell missed the entirety of the 2022-23 Big Bash League due to ankle and leg injuries.

Maxwell returned for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield this week, while Marsh is in line to commence playing with Western Australia in the Marsh Cup this weekend.

Fast bowler Jhye Richardson is also named after an injury-interrupted past few months, with fellow quick Josh Hazlewood ruled out due to an Achilles issue.

Chair of Selectors George Bailey said: "With the World Cup just over seven months away, these matches in India are an important step in our preparation. Glenn, Mitchell and Jhye are all important players in what we think the squad might look like come October.

"It would be great for Josh to be part of this series but we have taken a conservative view ahead of a very important winter in England of which he will be an integral part."

The ODI series runs from March 17 to 20 in Mumbai, Vizag and Chennai following the conclusion of the four-game Test series which India currently leads 2-0.

Australia ODI squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Debutant Akeem Jordan and Roston Chase each took three wickets but that could not prevent a South Africa XI from taking a 34-run lead over the West Indies at stumps on Day 2 of their warm-up match at Benoni on Wednesday.

The 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) generated a huge economic impact for Guyana as the country hosted the finals for the very first time as part of the newly created Cricket Carnival.

The total economic impact for Guyana in 2022 was S$84,425,587, a 186 per cent increase on the figure from the last time the country hosted Hero CPL matches in 2019.

The vision of His Excellency Irfaan Ali in showcasing the country’s many creative and social attributes whilst making the country the entertainment capital of the region for two weeks in September, led to the most successful hosting of any CPL finals.

Businesses across the country benefited from the significant uplift of in-bound tourism during September last year, as people travelled to be part of the Biggest Party in Sport. The fans certainly didn’t disappoint with almost 50,000 attending the playoff games alone.

With CPL spending more time in Guyana than previous years along with the change to the tournament structure where all six teams, TV production crew and tournament staff travelled as one cohort CPL’s direct spend increased significantly, with one metric showing a total of 25,783 hotel room nights filled across the tournament, a 236 per cent increase on the figure from 2019.

This report was generated by independent, world-renowned research company, YouGov Sport, with the make-up of the values including the total spent by Hero CPL to put on the 2022 event, the value of media exposure for the country from the broadcast of matches and the money spent with local business by those who travelled into Guyana for the tournament.

The total viewership for the 2022 Hero CPL also smashed all records as it increased to 721.8million. This is the third successive year that the tournament has generated a viewership figure of over half a billion.

“The reception for the Hero CPL in Guyana last year exceeded anything we have seen before, and we are hugely grateful for the vision of His Excellency Irfaan Ali, who masterminded the Cricket Carnival concept and showed how cricket can deliver significant economic value when planned alongside other entertainment initiatives,” said Pete Russell, Hero CPL CEO.

“We are so grateful for the amazing support we continue to receive in Guyana and are thankful that we have been able to repay the country with these fantastic numbers. We can’t wait to make an even bigger impact in 2023."

Ben Stokes has revealed he will miss the conclusion of the Indian Premier League season in order to lead England in their Test against Ireland in June.

The four-day match starts on June 1 at Lord's, four days after the IPL final, and provides Brendon McCullum's side with their final warm-up fixture before the Ashes.

Stokes, who was bought by Chennai Super Kings for £1.6m in December's auction, leads a selection of England stars including Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow at the IPL this year.

But speaking ahead of his side's second Test with New Zealand this week, the captain has vowed to ensure he is available, though he will leave others to decide for themselves.

"Yes, I'll play [against Ireland]. I'll be making sure I give myself enough time to get back and play the Ireland game," he said.

"I think it's a little bit too far ahead to say [for others], but one thing I've got to look at is we've got the Ashes after the Ireland Test.

"I'll probably get round the individuals and ask them what they want to be ready for the Ashes.

"Those five [Ashes] games are obviously the big ones of the summer, and you've got to think about what the lads want.

"You also have to think about is if something was to happen in the Ireland game, and we lose someone for the Ashes.

"It's just one of those where you have to weigh up the options of what the individual person actually wants out of that week versus do we really need to play that one? Because I'm obviously right in saying that series is bigger than that game against Ireland."

Stokes sat out the 2022 edition of the IPL, having suffered a broken finger in his most recent game there for Rajasthan Royals, which contributed to what became a break from cricket.

After a 267-run win in Mount Maunganui, England are out to seal a clean sweep of their two-Test series against New Zealand, starting in Wellington on Friday.

Under the tutelage of New Zealand great Brendon McCullum's coaching and Stokes' captaincy, England have won 10 of their last 11 Tests while playing a thrilling brand of cricket dubbed 'Bazball'.

Blair Tickner is hoping the trauma New Zealand has gone through as a nation due to Cyclone Gabrielle will help bring the Test squad together.

Tickner's hometown of Hawke's Bay, on the east coast of the country's north island, has borne the brunt of the cyclone, which has been labelled as the fiercest storm the nation has experienced in living memory.

The official death toll stands at 11 but thousands of homes have been damaged beyond repair.

Tickner, who made his Test debut in the heavy defeat to England at the Bay Oval last week, was given special dispensation to leave the squad and assist the rebuild efforts in Hawke's Bay.

The 29-year-old linked back up with the Black Caps squad in Wellington and, ahead of the second Test starting on Friday at Basin Reserve, believes the team has been brought closer together by the catastrophe.

"I definitely want to get my first win in Test match cricket and really want to do it for the people in Hawke's Bay," he said of the extra motivation he has heading into the second Test.

"Now we've banded together as a team and fundraising this money I think it's going to be very special."

Explaining the damage in his hometown, an emotional Tickner said: "My father's house has been fully destroyed.

"It was good to get back and help them out. And, obviously, it's hard times for the whole region so helping out neighbours and whoever we could.

"Luckily enough, the Central Stags cricket team was helping alongside us. It has been tough. It's really tough at the moment. But [people in] Hawke's Bay are staying strong.

"Obviously, you grow up there as a kid and it's just crazy. A bit hard to talk about, really. There are so many damaged little parts of Hawke's Bay I haven't even seen yet.

"You sort of just get to work: people are just walking down the road and just asking people if they need help and it has just been awesome to see the region pulling together."

England won by 267 runs in the first Test, meaning the best New Zealand can hope for from the two-match series is a draw.

Under the tutelage of New Zealand great Brendon McCullum's coaching and Ben Stokes' captaincy, England have won 10 of their last 11 Tests while playing a thrilling brand of cricket dubbed 'Bazball'.

Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes is enjoying the freedom.

"It kind of feels like club cricket," said Foakes. "When I first came in, the pressures involved in Test cricket were so extreme and you were so worried about playing a false shot and things like that.

"Sometimes now you can get out in a weird way and it's a kind of a joke."
 

England out to extend winning streak

England have won their last four Tests against New Zealand, after going winless across their seven meetings prior in the format (D3, L4).

The last time they enjoyed a longer winning run against the Black Caps was a six-match span from February 1963 to July 1965.

Stokes' team have won their last six Tests. England last had a better such run in the format back in 2004, when they won eight in a row.

Skippers Stokes and Williamson close in on records

Stokes (194) is six away from becoming the 16th player to take 200 wickets for England in men's Tests. 

However, Stokes' Test bowling strike rate against New Zealand (110.8) is his highest against any team.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (7,651 runs), meanwhile, is 33 away from becoming the all-time leading run scorer for New Zealand in men's Tests.

James Anderson has returned to the top of the ICC Men's Test Player Bowling Rankings, ending Pat Cummins' four-year spell atop the summit.

The England bowler, who first became the world number one in May 2016, tops the list for the sixth time in his career after seven wickets in the first Test with New Zealand.

Figures of 3-36 and 4-18 as the tourists recorded a 267-run victory in Mount Maunganui means Anderson dethrones Australia captain Cummins.

The 40-year-old was last at the summit in November 2018, and in returning there, becomes the oldest bowler to reach the top of the rankings since Clarrie Grimmett in 1936.

It marks the latest achievement for Anderson set during England's time in New Zealand, having also become the record holder for the highest Test wicket bowling partnership alongside Stuart Broad.

The pair dethroned Australia duo Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath for the pair of team-mates with the most Test wickets between them while playing together, with 1,009 to date.

Cummins meanwhile drops to third overall in the rankings, with India's Ravichandran Ashwin moving into second after taking six wickets during the latter's second Test victory against the former's side.

Elsewhere in the Test Player rankings, England trio Ollie Pope, Harry Brook and Ben Duckett have all moved up double-digits among batters after impressing in New Zealand.

There is no movement, however, amid the upper tier of the list, with Australia's Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith continuing to lock out the top two spots, ahead of Pakistan's Babar Azam.

Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar is the latest Australia squad member to return home from the Test series in India having been deemed surplus to requirements.

Agar, 29, had been overlooked for selection in the first two Tests as India claimed a 2-0 lead to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The left-armer had played in Australia's final Test of the home summer against South Africa in Sydney but fell down the spin pecking order after a poor display where he failed to take a wicket.

Spinners Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy and fellow left-armer Matt Kuhnemann have all been used in India and Agar has been let go with leggie Mitch Swepson returning to the set-up after flying home for the birth of his first child.

Kuhnemann had been called into the squad when Swepson exited and leaped Agar for a spot in the XI for the second Test.

After losing the second Test by six wickets on Sunday, Josh Hazlewood and David Warner both exited the Australia camp due to injuries, while captain Pat Cummins flew back to Sydney for a family health issue.

Agar's departure will enable him to link up with Western Australia to play in the Sheffield Shield and their upcoming Marsh Cup final. He is likely to be part of Australia's ODI squad for the series in India from March 17 to 22 after the Tests.

Newly appointed West Indies One-Day International Captain Shai Hope led the Lahore Qalandars to a dominant 63-run win over the Quetta Gladiators in their Pakistan Super League at the Karachi National Stadium on Tuesday.

The Qalandars made 198-6 off their 20 overs after being put in to bat by the Gladiators.

Hope led the way with a 32-ball 47 including five fours and a six. Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza provided good support with a rapid 16-ball 32 and Mirza Baig was also in a destructive mood with 31 off just 15 balls.

Afghan leg-spinner Qais Ahmad took 2-36 from his four overs. West Indian Odean Smith also took a pair of wickets in his four overs and went for 41 runs.

The Gladiators reply never really got off the ground with only Jason Roy providing some tense moments for the Qalandars with a brisk 48 off 30 balls including five sixes.

Pakistani speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi was chief destroyer for the Qalandars with 3-22 from his four overs while South African all-rounder David Wiese, who now represents Namibia in international cricket, took 3-23 from his four overs.

Joshua Da Silva and Jason Holder struck half-centuries on day one of a three-day tour match against a South Africa Invitational XI at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Tuesday.

The tourists ended the day 283-9 from 89 overs after the South Africa Invitational XI won the toss and chose to field.

Holder led the way with a swift 62-ball 57 including nine fours and a six while Da Silva ended the day unbeaten on 54 alongside Shannon Gabriel, who is not out on two. The Trinidadian wicket-keeper/batsman has, so far, faced 129 balls and hit six boundaries.

Roston Chase also showed solid form with 35 against two wickets apiece from Corbin Bosch, Irvin Modimokoane and Smangaliso Nhlebela.

The first Test against South Africa bowls off on February 28.

Scores: West Indies 283-9 off 89 overs (Jason Holder 57, Joshua Da Silva 54*, Roston Chase 35, Raymon Reifer 30, Corbin Bosch 2-17, Irvin Modimokoane 2-39, Smangaliso Nhlebela 2-71).

England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes is not "stressing" over the impact Jonny Bairstow's prospective return could have on his place in Ben Stokes' set-up.

Foakes missed two of England's three Test victories in Pakistan in December, but he returned with a second-innings knock of 51 as the tourists won their opener in New Zealand last week.

While captain Stokes has repeatedly described Foakes as the world's best gloveman, Bairstow's return from the broken leg he suffered last September could put his place at risk.

With Harry Brook making scores of 89 and 54 against New Zealand, he looks unlikely to be the man to make way for Bairstow – who has won 49 of his 89 England caps as wicketkeeper.

While Foakes is aware of the debate concerning Bairstow's likely return later this year, he is shutting out the noise in a bid to maintain his own good form.

"Naturally you're going to think about things but at the stage I'm at, there's no point stressing over it," Foakes said.

"I'm having some good form in my career and I'm just trying to enjoy that, rather than stressing about what else might happen.

"My England journey has been a bit of a rollercoaster from day one and I've had a lot of times out of the team where I've thought, 'how do I get back in?'

"I guess thinking about those things doesn't help my game at all."

Ahead of the second Test in New Zealand starting on Thursday, England have won 10 of their 11 contests under captain Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, with their aggressive style being affectionately dubbed 'Bazball'.

While Foakes acknowledges he lacks the attacking range possessed by some of his team-mates, he feels there is still a place for his more considered approach. 

"I don't think it's smart for me to go and try to be Ben Stokes or Harry Brook. I'm not, as you'd say, 'Bazball'," he added. 

"I can't do what a lot of these guys do. If I did that from ball one I'd just get out, so it doesn't make sense for me to try. 

"In bridging the gap between our explosive starts and then batting with the tail, I've got to bat a different way."

Opening batsman David Warner has been ruled out of the remainder of Australia's four-game Test series against India due to an elbow injury.

Warner was substituted out of the second Test defeat after the first day, having been struck on the grille of his helmet while batting facing Mohammad Siraj during his innings.

The 36-year-old left-hander also copped another delivery to his elbow, with X-rays confirming he had sustained a hairline fracture which will end his Test series at a time when he has been under pressure to hold his spot.

"David Warner has been ruled out of the Qantas test tour of India and will return home," CA said in a statement on Tuesday.

"After further assessment, he will require a period of rehabilitation which will preclude any further involvement in the remainder of the Test series.

"It is currently anticipated that he will return to India for the three One-Day Internationals which follow the Test Series."

Warner's departure follows fast bowler Josh Hazlewood who has been ruled out with Achilles soreness, while captain Pat Cummins has rushed back to Australia for a family health issue.

Australia are 2-0 down in the series, with India having already retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy following batting collapses by the tourists in both Tests.

Warner had struggled in his three innings with the bat in India, managing only 26 runs, having ended his Test century drought with a double hundred during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa.

Renshaw replaced Warner as a concussion substitute in the second Test, although Travis Head opened the batting in his absence in the second innings.

All-rounder Cameron Green is in line to return for Australia following a finger injury, with the third Test to commence in Indore on Wednesday March 1.

The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Senior Men’s Selection Panel, on Monday, announced the One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) squads for the upcoming series against South Africa.

The West Indies will play three ODIs on March 16, 18 and 21, followed by three T20Is on March 25, 26 and 28. 

In the ODIs, Shai Hope will have his first series as captain with allrounder Rovman Powell appointed as the new vice-captain. In the T20Is, captain Rovman Powell will be supported by a new vice-captain in batting allrounder Kyle Mayers.

Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel has earned a recall to the ODI squad on the back of his performances during the CG United Super50 Cup last November. 

He was the joint leading wicket-taker spearheading the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force bowling attack, taking 15 wickets in seven matches at an average of 14.2. He last played ODIs for the West Indies at the ICC Cricket World Cup in July 2019. 

Left-arm pacer Obed McCoy has been named in the T20I squad subject to medical clearance.  Fast bowler Jayden Seales remains unavailable for selection following a knee injury and subsequent surgery, while another fast bowler Anderson Phillip has returned to training but is not yet match-fit. 

Lead Selector the Most Hon. Dr Desmond Haynes said: “We have had some injuries to our fast-bowling pool so therefore we see Gabriel as an ideal fit heading into South Africa, and the surfaces we expect to play on. It is felt that we need someone to get those early wickets and he is the kind of bowler that can do that. Judging from his performances in the CG United Super50 Cup, he is potentially a wicket-taking option up front.” 

Haynes added: “For the T20Is, we have an experienced squad. What we are looking for is to form a cohesive unit and look at the players who we believe can form the nucleus as we build towards doing very well and challenging when we host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June 2024.”

FULL SQUADS

One-Day Internationals

Shai Hope (Captain)

Rovman Powell (Vice Captain)

Shamarh Brooks

Yannic Cariah

Keacy Carty

Roston Chase

Shannon Gabriel

Jason Holder

Akeal Hosein

Alzarri Joseph

Brandon King

Kyle Mayers

Nicholas Pooran

Romario Shepherd

Odean Smith

T20 Internationals

Rovman Powell (Captain)

Kyle Mayers (Vice Captain)

Shamarh Brooks

Yannic Cariah

Johnson Charles

Sheldon Cottrell

Jason Holder

Akeal Hosein

Alzarri Joseph

Brandon King

Obed McCoy

Nicholas Pooran

Raymon Reifer

Romario Shepherd

Odean Smith

White ball schedule in South Africa

Thursday, 16 March: 1st ODI at Buffalo Park, East London (day/night)

Saturday, 18 March: 2nd ODI at Buffalo Park, East London (day/night)

Tuesday, 21 March: 3rd ODI at JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom 

Saturday, 25 March: 1st T20Is at SuperSport Park, Centurion

Sunday, 26 March: 2nd T20I at SuperSport Park, Centurion

Tuesday, 28 March: 3rd T20I at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg (night)

Joe Root is still trying to find his role within Ben Stokes' England set up but believes his second-innings knock against New Zealand is a good starting point.

Root gave up the Test captaincy last year and England have thrived under Stokes and new coach Brendon McCullum, winning 10 of 11 matches after a 267-run victory over the Black Caps last week.

Former skipper Root enjoyed a brilliant 18 months from the start of 2021 until the middle of last year, though the 32-year-old's form has since dropped off.

His 57 at the Bay Oval was his second-highest score since August, after a haul of 73 against Pakistan in December, and Root is confident he can rekindle his best form.

"I've not performed for a little while, so I had the bit between my teeth in the second innings," said Root ahead of the second Test at Basin Reserve in Wellington.

"It's given me a little sharpener, a kick up the backside, that this is how I need to play my cricket, how I can be consistently useful in this group.

"There was the initial relief of coming out of the captaincy and now I'm just trying to find out what my role is within this team.

"I've maybe got a bit caught up in it, but I'm not too far away from what's given me success.

"I didn't feel I tried to force it in the second innings and when I'm playing well that's one of my strengths: I can score freely and I can rotate the strike.

"I felt like I found a really good tempo in how I wanted to bat."

Root's trademark reverse-scoop saw him come unstuck in the first innings at the Bay Oval, though that setback will not stop him from playing bravely when the opportunity presents itself.

He added: "You take calculated risks. I've got where I've got to by trusting my gut. It just didn't quite work out.

"It's not going to stop me playing it. It's now part of my Test game and I'll continue to utilise it when it's the right time."

England have won their last four men's Tests against New Zealand, after going winless across their seven meetings prior in the format.

The last time they enjoyed a longer winning run against the Black Caps was a six-match span from February 1963 to July 1965.

Josh Hazlewood will not return from injury in time to play for Australia in the ongoing Test series against India and has instead headed home.

Hazlewood has missed the first two Tests – both defeats – with an Achilles problem.

And Australia have now accepted their fast bowler will not recover before the end of the series, making him the latest player to depart the tour.

Captain Pat Cummins was already confirmed to be travelling back to Australia due to a family issue, although he is expected back before the third Test.

After two big losses, Australia will at least have Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc available for the Indore Test.

Green had been absent with a finger injury, while Starc was dealing with a similar issue, albeit coach Andrew McDonald said he could have played in Delhi.