This week in cricket: Bouchball vs Bazball, the contest we didn't know we needed; the 2023-27 FTP lands and there are a few surprises and some predictable takeaways; and uneven but exciting contests as India and Pakistan take on Zimbabwe and Netherlands. Here's all the action you may have missed.
Full Members to play more international cricket in ICC's new FTP cycle
The 2023-2027 FTP was revealed this week, and the 12 Full Members will play a total of 777 international matches between 2023 and 2027, compared to 694 in the current FTP cycle. India will play marquee five-Test series, more T20Is, and have an extended IPL window, while Australia will see the return of winter cricket and will host West Indies for two consecutive home summers.
Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf set up easy win for Pakistan
After a tiny wobble, half-centuries from Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman made short work of the 187-run chase to seal the series against Netherlands 2-0.
Chahar, Dhawan, Gill lead India's rout of Zimbabwe
Deepak Chahar returned after a six-month injury break to star with three wickets on comeback and India's openers put on an unbroken 192-run stand to steer their side home in the first game of the series. For Zimbabwe, who had just defeated Bangladesh 2-1 in ODIs, India proved a much tougher test, as coach Dave Houghton had indicated earlier.
Dean Elgar: 'I didn't come here to play second fiddle. I came here to win a series'
Fighting words from the South Africa captain, who in the last year led his side to the top of the World Test Championship table and steered the team through multiple crises. How well do you remember South Africa-England series past? Take our quiz and find out.
Cricket could learn from the NFL and start thinking of itself as a collective
Osman Samiuddin bats for a more equitable distribution of cricket's revenues.
Will Pucovski on his multiple concussions: 'It's been a reality check - there's so much more to life'
The Australia batter, who was in Chennai for a ten-day training camp, spoke to Srinidhi Ramanujam about how dealing with repeated trauma to the head has changed his outlook on life.
The umpires I admired
Ian Chappell looks back to the days of Douglas Sang Hue, Colin Egar and Charlie Elliott
Death by T20 leagues? It's real, it's coming
Alan Gardner has lost count of the many, many T20 leagues that have mushroomed in every corner in this month's Light Roller.
How many left-arm bowlers have taken more international wickets than Trent Boult?
And who played the most Tests without ever bowling? You asked and Steven Lynch answered in this week's Ask Steven.