English cricket will remember Sunday 12 July 2026 as the day everything moved at once. Barely 24 hours after Brendon McCullum’s white-ball side swept India 4-0 to reach the top of the T20I rankings, the ECB confirmed the same man’s exit as Test head coach — the formal end of the Bazball era after four years and 44 Tests.
Across town at Lord’s, history refused to wait its turn. Yastika Bhatia became the first woman to score a Test century at the home of cricket, India declared and reduced England to 130/6 chasing 457, and Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont confirmed this match will be their last in an England shirt. Add a teenage debutant lighting up Guyana and a reshuffled India squad list, and this was one of the fullest days of the cricketing summer.
The pace of it all is worth dwelling on. England were crowned the world’s No.1 T20I side on Saturday 11 July; McCullum’s Test exit was confirmed on Sunday 12 July; India can win their first Test at Lord’s on Monday 13 July; and the England vs India men’s ODI series begins on Tuesday 14 July. Four days, four landmarks. If a 4-0 sweep of the world champions cannot save a coach’s job, what exactly is the ECB measuring Bazball against?
Why is Brendon McCullum out as England Test coach?
The ECB confirmed on Sunday that McCullum will leave the Test job while staying in charge of the white-ball sides, with Sky Sports reporting that managing director Rob Key stays in post. The red-ball numbers tell the story: 25 wins from 44 Tests overall, but only three wins in the last 12, a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia and a home series loss to New Zealand — the full picture is in our analysis of why the Bazball era ended.
What happened on day three of the Lord’s Test?
India seized total control of the first women’s Test ever staged at Lord’s. Yastika Bhatia’s 113 from 145 balls — the first Test hundred by a woman at the ground — carried India to a declaration on 341/7, a lead of 456, before Sayali Satghare, Sneh Rana and Kranti Gaud left England 130/6 at stumps. As our day-three analysis sets out, India need just four more wickets on Monday to complete a maiden Test win at the ground. Bhatia joins Kranti Gaud — whose five-for on Saturday made her the first woman on the Lord’s honours board — as the second Indian name etched there this week.
Why are Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont retiring together?
Knight, England’s most-capped women’s cricketer, confirmed on Sunday morning that she will retire from international cricket at the end of this Test, telling reporters the timing felt right after 16 years and 320 caps, in quotes carried by IANS. Opener Tammy Beaumont bows out alongside her, meaning two pillars of England’s 2017 World Cup win depart at the ground where Knight lifted that trophy — the full career numbers are in our Heather Knight retirement report.
Who starred in West Indies’ win over New Zealand?
In Guyana, 19-year-old wristspinner Vitel Lawes took 3-54 in the first professional match of his life as West Indies beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the opening ODI at Providence. Alzarri Joseph’s 4-41 held New Zealand to 267 despite Daryl Mitchell’s 65, before Keacy Carty (95) and Shai Hope (87 not out) added 131 to seal a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, per ESPNcricinfo’s match report.
Who have India called up for the England ODIs and Zimbabwe T20Is?
The BCCI confirmed on Sunday that Harshit Rana (Grade 1 right hamstring) misses the England ODIs and Varun Chakaravarthy (Grade 2 left hamstring) misses the Zimbabwe T20Is, both injured during the Trent Bridge T20I. Prince Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi are the replacements, with both bowlers heading to the BCCI Centre of Excellence. It compounds a rough weekend in which the Southampton defeat cost India the No.1 T20I ranking they had held for only two weeks.
Sunday 12 July 2026 at a glance
| Story | The key fact |
|---|---|
| McCullum leaves England Test job | Out after 44 Tests (25 wins); stays as white-ball coach |
| Lord’s Test, day three | India 285 & 341/7d lead England (170 & 130/6) by 326 runs |
| Bhatia’s century | 113 — first Test hundred by a woman at Lord’s |
| Knight and Beaumont retire | Knight ends on a record 320 England caps |
| West Indies vs New Zealand, 1st ODI | WI won by 7 wickets; debutant Vitel Lawes 3-54 |
| India squad changes | Prince Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi replace injured Rana and Chakaravarthy |
Cricket Facts – 12 July 2026
Have India ever won a women’s Test at Lord’s? No. As of 12 July 2026 India have never won a Test at the ground — they need four England wickets on Monday 13 July to do it for the first time.
Is Brendon McCullum leaving England altogether? No. As of 12 July 2026 the ECB has confirmed McCullum leaves the Test role only and remains England’s white-ball head coach.
When do England and India meet next? The three-match men’s ODI series begins on Tuesday 14 July 2026, with Shubman Gill captaining India.
Who holds the No.1 T20I ranking? England, as of 12 July 2026, after their 56-run win at Southampton completed a 4-0 series sweep of India.
