Virender Sehwag doesn't need to look anywhere for inspiration when he leads India in the fourth Test against Australia. His persevering innings the last time he played at the Adelaide Oval, says Bikash Mohapatra, is enough to give his batting the fillip it desperately needs.
While debate continues over the state of the Ahmedabad pitch and whether it is suitable for Test cricket, England shot themselves in the foot before a ball was bowled by opting for a pace-heavy attack on a spinners' paradise in the third match against India.
Mark Waugh criticises India's 'selfish' day-night Test refusal
Australia opener David Warner paid a fitting tribute to his deceased teammate Phillip Hughes, scoring a rollicking 145 before India dealt three quick blows at the fag end to share honours on an emotionally charged opening day in the first Test in Adelaide on Tuesday. Statistical highlights from the day's play.
English umpire Mark Benson rubbished media reports that claimed he is quitting in protest against the Decision Review System, saying he remains a proponent of the use of technology. In a statement on Tuesday, Benson clarified that he returned after the first day's play in the second Test between Australia and the West Indies in Adelaide because of health problems and not because he was angry after one of his decisions was overruled by DRS.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first in Sunday's tri-series ODI against India.
Opening batsman Marcus Harris has been called into Australia's first Test squad as the hosts count the cost of a number of injuries ahead of the series opener against India in Adelaide.
Can this Indian side, which has shown character and courage after the debacle in the first Test at Adelaide, stun the Aussies at their favourite hunting ground?
On December 19, 2016, India, under Kohli, scored a mammoth 759 for 7 declared against England at the Chepauk in Chennai to eventually win the match by an innings and 75 runs.
'Test match cricket is never easy ... when you have a guy disrespecting West Indies, and us players that are playing, it is hurtful.'
Johnson sidelined for Aus tour of UK
India were bundled out for 36 -- their lowest innings score in 88 years of Test cricket -- in the second innings of the Adelaide Test.
The 6'7" seam-bowling all-rounder's inclusion in Australia's line-up was expected after his impressive hundred in the first warm-up game against India A.
Warner has been racing to be fit for the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Test
Considering the Test format as the ultimate challenge for any cricketer, Cheteshwar Pujara, on Friday, said if he had to get an opportunity, he would still like to play the longest format.
'It'll test us out, no doubt, against a good Indian outfit .... They beat us out here last time and they're a very good side'
ICC's proposal to introduce four-day Tests has met with stiff opposition
Joe Burns said India have a skillful bowling attack, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, and they have to 'start well' against them.
David Warner has become the fourth Australian to have recorded at least 10 centuries after 33 Tests, joining an elite company that includes the likes of Sir Don Bradman and Neil Harvey from the famed 'Invincibles' squad of 1948.
With an eye on the gruelling Australia series that follows the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League, the Indian Tests specialists including Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari have begun preparations for the pink ball Test against Australia at the ICC Academy in Dubai, from Friday evening.
Cricket Australia said on Sunday they are still planning to play the third Test against India in Sydney in early January, despite an outbreak of COVID-19 in the north of the city.
Cricket Australia has responded positively to India coach Ravi Shastri's request for more warm-up matches ahead of their Test series Down Under later this year.
Former Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson has slammed the decision to play a day-night Ashes match next year, saying the pink ball Test is a "totally different" game. England will play Australia in a Test under the lights for the first time at the Adelaide Oval in the second match of the 2017-18 Ashes series, it was announced this week. Johnson, who retired ahead of the inaugural day-night Test in Adelaide last year, thinks the Ashes series generates enough interest and ticket sales without any added novelty.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the first Test against Australia?
Jadeja had sustained a thumb injury while batting in the first innings of the Sydney Test and was eventually ruled out for six weeks.
Such was the pain from his injury that Shamar almost didn't turn up at the ground for day four.
The dropped catch of VVS Laxman in the Adelaide Test was the moment which compelled Adam Gilchrist to decide that it was time quit.
Former test bowler Jason Gillespie has returned home to coach the Adelaide Strikers in Australia's domestic Twenty20 league, dashing speculation the Yorkshire mentor might succeed England coach Peter Moores.
The disappointment at home generated by South Africa's failure to win the first Test against Australia showed how much "respect" the team had won since attaining the top ranking, according to Proteas captain Graeme Smith.
While the venue has not been finalised yet, the pink ball game is likely to be held either in Adelaide or Perth. Hosting the game in one of these venues makes sense given the better time slot for the Indian broadcast audience.
'Sehwag put the fear into opposing bowlers and Pant has the same ability at six to do the same. He will make mistakes and get out for low scores at times but he will also win so many games.'
There was no room for KL Rahul in the playing XI.
Joe Root and Ian Bell are the two candidates to replace Jonathan Trott at No 3 in the England batting order for this week's second Ashes Test in Adelaide, batting coach Graham Gooch said on Monday.
'It's really amazing for my team mates, I must give another shout out to them. They're really encouraging.'
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Tuesday congratulated the Indian cricket team on their victory over Australia in the second Test match at Adelaide.
With Australia grappling with injuries in the run-up to the series, there were doubts that Burns too might join the list but scans cleared all fears
Rohit Sharma and Hanuma Vihari will battle for a place in the Indian team for the first Test.
Smith carried his bat with an unbeaten 91 in a losing cause in Brisbane.
Former ICC elite-level umpire Daryl Harper looks back at his controversial decision against Sachin Tendulkar in the 1999 Adelaide Test "everyday of my life" but says he proudly stands by what he believes was a correct decision. A bouncer from Australian pace spearhead Glenn McGrath had Tendulkar ducking and the ball hit him on his shoulders. Officiating in the game, umpire Harper deemed it as leg before wicket and to India's surprise, raised his finger, igniting a debate.
Australia opener David Warner will miss the second Test against India this week because he left a biosecure bubble to receive treatment for a groin injury that would have ruled him out of the match in any case.
