Australia paceman Mitchell Starc has urged curators to prepare bowler-friendly pitches for the Ashes, warning against flattening surfaces to maximise five-day revenue as England’s aggressive “Bazball” approach looms.

Australia batter Travis Head has been released from the T20I squad against India to get some red-ball practice in the Sheffield Shield before the Ashes.

India’s agonising wait for a maiden Women’s World Cup title finally came to an end as Harmanpreet Kaur and her teary-eyed teammates clinched the trophy by beating South Africa in a dramatic final at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday.

Kyle Jamieson was included in the New Zealand squad for the Twenty20 series against West Indies on Sunday despite missing the one-day series against England with a side injury, but his fellow paceman Matt Henry has been rested.

Opener Saim Ayub scored a quickfire 71 from 38 balls and seamer Faheem Ashraf took 4-23 as Pakistan cruised to a nine wicket win over South Africa in the second Twenty20 International in Lahore to level the three-match series at 1-1.

India ended Australia’s title defence and booked their place in Sunday’s women’s World Cup final against South Africa after Jemimah Rodrigues smashed an unbeaten 127 to secure a sensational five-wicket victory in the second semi-final on Friday.

Dismal England were knocked out of the Women’s World Cup after a thumping 125-run defeat by South Africa in the semi-final.

The International Olympic Committee urged international sports federations on Wednesday not to host any sports events in Indonesia after the country banned Israeli gymnasts from a world championship that is taking place there this month.

Annabel Sutherland shined with both bat and ball and Ashleigh Gardner scored an unbeaten century as Australia cruised to a six-wicket win over England in the Women’s World Cup on Wednesday, climbing to the top of the points table.

The opening game of New Zealand’s three-match Twenty20 series with England was abandoned due to heavy rain in Christchurch on Saturday with the hosts denied the opportunity to chase down a modest total for victory.

England have not won an Ashes test match in Australia for nearly 15 years but their batting firepower could prove decisive in the series starting in Perth next month, according to former captain Alastair Cook.

India beat West Indies by seven wickets in the second and final test to complete a 2-0 series sweep at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday.