India may have lost the ODI World Cup final to Australia but have increased their lead over them from three to six points, leading the table with 122 points.
Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey is not interested in specialising in long-form work, although he is hoping for another Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) hundred when hosts take on Pakistan in the second Test, saying that "plenty of ODI and T20 cricket is still left in him."
South Africa's run to the WTC final has been driven by their dominant performances, especially at home. In those matches, their potent pace attack, featuring Kagiso Rabada (37 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 19.8) and Marco Jansen (29 wickets in 7 matches), has proved to be a game changer.
Wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow confident of England recall with T20 WC in sight.
Senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's five-wicket haul in the second innings has helped him narrow the gap with top-ranked Jasprit Bumrah to 21 rating points at 846 after the fast bowler was rested for the Ranchi Test.
Cameron Green's participation in the upcoming marquee five-match Test series against fierce rivals India was on Friday thrown into doubt after a back injury ruled him out of the ongoing tour of England.
Even though India's all-round struggles in the ongoing series have compounded their issues, there were some soothing words from the opposition camp, which has not put a foot wrong on this trip.
Rohit Sharma on Sunday emphasised on building his team around "strong bowling options" in order to take the conditions out of the equation as they gear up for the challenges that lay ahead in the run-up to the World Test Championship.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the second Test against Bangladesh?
The Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar is one of the best facilities in the country and it has hosted several national championships and the Asian Championships in 2017 during which it had earned praise from the current World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
The home side are chasing a modest target of 148 after bowling out Pakistan for 237 and if they win will be assured a place in the WTC final at Lord's.
Gill said his team has learnt plenty from the disappointing defeat against the Kiwis.
Australia captain Pat Cummins said it is a "privilege" to have a bowler of Mitchell Starc's calibre at his disposal.
Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu won her maiden women's ODI Cricketer of the Year award, becoming the first female cricketer from the country to win an ICC award.
New Zealand climbed to the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings following their thumping 281-run victory over South Africa
'There's no secret we're right in the hunt for the World Test Championship final following our two-nil win over India and having Trent and Kane fully fit and focussed for the upcoming series will be crucial.'
Test cricket remains the pinnacle of the game, Cricket South Africa (CSA) said after it was criticised for selecting a second-string squad featuring seven debutants for the country's two fixtures in New Zealand next month.
Sourav Ganguly names Rishabh Pant as the next-best red-ball batter after stalwart Virat Kohli and predicts him to have a "huge impact" in the Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Perth on Friday.
The Indian players are currently on a break and will reassemble on July 14.
Kohli congratulated Watling as both India and New Zealand stepped out to the field on the Reserve Day of the ongoing WTC final
Anil Kumble lauded skipper Rohit Sharma for his leadership in the longest format of the game, pointing out how the 'Hitman' has managed the youngsters in the team and has been "proactive" with his resources.
Ryan ten Doeschate, India's new assistant coach, has diagnosed a significant issue in the team's recent performance: a decline in their ability to play spin. This is a surprising development for a team that has traditionally been dominant against tweakers.
'He is looking slightly preoccupied, maybe he is thinking about the WTC.'
As per the International Cricket Council (ICC), the nine top-ranked sides will compete in the championship with each side playing six series on a home-and-away basis against mutually selected opponents in a two-year cycle.
With a soaring PCT of 52.77, India surpassed South Africa, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, all with a PCT of 50.
West Indies have turned their attention to theTest series as the twice champions missed out on this year's Cricket World Cup
This wasn't the first time the 29 year old delivered a match-winning knock on the global stage. Five months ago, he secured victory for Australia in the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval with a rapid 163.
India will set themselves up as Australia's opponents in that final if they win the fourth Test in Ahmedabad next week.
Quizzed whether batting will be easier in the final Test as it will be a red ball game again, he answered in affirmative.
Here's Prem Panicker's unique take on all the action from the third day of the 2024-2025 Border Gavaskar series.
South Africa were five wickets from victory as Sri Lanka finished the third day of the first Test on 103-5 in their second innings after being set a 516-run target on Friday.
Captain Rohit Sharma rates the seven-wicket victory in the Cape Town Test as one of India's 'best victories'.
The upcoming three-match series, starting December 14, is part of the World Test Championship.
The structure of the nine-team WTC remains intact with each side playing three home and as many away series over a two-year period culminating in the final of a one-off Test.
Shastri lauded the team for making it to the WTC final despite the ICC changing the qualification criteria last year.
'An important piece of carry-on luggage here. The #WTC21 Mace will travel to its new home in style.'
He played just two first-class matches.
The highly-anticipated BGT series will begin next week in Perth as both teams fight for a spot in the World Test Championship final, set to be held next year in London.
India last won a major ICC tournament back in 2013 -- the ICC Champions Trophy.
With more than five months to go for the next Test series, many in the BCCI believe that there is no need to take a decision right away.
