The second Test between India and South Africa ended in a damp draw after cyclonic rains and a wet outfield ensured not a single ball could be bowled for a fourth successive day at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.
AB de Villiers scored 97 on Sunday to give South Africa an outside chance of winning the fourth and final Test against England at the Oval. South Africa, who have already clinched the series 2-0, were dismissed for 316 in their second innings, leaving England 197 to win their first Test with Kevin Pietersen in charge.
Andrew Flintoff may not have justified his USD 1.55 million price tag but the star England all-rounder, forced out of the Indian Premier League due to injury, was a "good influence" on the Chennai Super Kings, according to coach Stephen Fleming.
AB de Villiers' sixth Test century put South Africa on the verge of winning the second Test at Headingley after England ended the third day 269 runs behind the visitors on Sunday.
South African captain AB de Villiers says he expects India to bounce back in the four-Test series starting on November 5.
RCB to ring in changes against KKR in search of first win
Herschelle Gibbs hit a sparkling century and Dale Steyn took four wickets to lift South Africa to a series-clinching 61-run win over Australia in the fourth one-dayer on Monday.
South Africa took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series of one-day internationals when they beat Australia by 25 runs on Thursday. Australia, chasing 290 for victory, were restricted to 264 for seven in their 50 overs. Earlier, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers led South Africa to 289 for six with classy half-centuries.
India captain Virat Kohli blazed a magnificent century, but South Africa hold the upper hand as they reached 90 for two in their second innings on a difficult wicket after rain and then bad light curtailed day three of the second Test on Monday.
Australia clinched a series win over South Africa and remained top of the world rankings after completing a crushing 175-run victory in the second Test on Tuesday.
The new ball will hold the key to Australia's chances of clinching the Test series against South Africa on Tuesday, said pace bowler Peter Siddle.
Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers scored unbeaten half centuries to take South Africa to 244 for two at the close of the fourth day of the second Test against Australia on Monday.
South Africa's AB de Villiers wants to concentrate on becoming the world's best batsman rather than taking a role as full-time wicketkeeper.
England, with a series win already secured, can complete South Africa's ignominious fall from the top of the rankings when the final Test of the four-match series starts at Centurion Park in Pretoria on Friday.
South Africa's batting coach Dale Benkenstein credited AB de Villiers for changing the momentum as South Africa put up 286, after tottering at 12 for 3, on the opening day of the first Test against India, in Cape Town, on Friday.
Following his return to form in the abruptly-ended West Indies series, Indian batsman Virat Kohli claimed the number two slot in the ICC rankings while swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar broke into the top-10 for the first time in his career.
"He's so inventive ... he can play a touch game or a power game. Then, he can also keep wickets. I think he's the most valuable cricketer around," reckons former Australian great Adam Gilchrist.
Captain Graeme Smith hit an unbeaten half century as South Africa beat Bangladesh by seven wickets in the third and final one-day international on Friday, to sweep the series 3-0.
Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman Mandeep Singh finds young Rishabh Pant's ability to hit sixes at will, strikingly similar to veteran Yuvraj Singh's best days.
AB de Villiers hit an unbeaten century to guide South Africa to a successful record-breaking run chase of 414 -- the second biggest run chase in Test history against Australia at the WACA in Perth on Sunday. De Villiers was unbeaten on a cracking 106 and debutant JP Duminy was not out on 50 as South Africa produced a great batting display on the fifth and final day to win the opening Test by a comfortable six-wicket margin.
Left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson's brilliant spell of bowling helped Australia make a strong comeback and seize the initiative by the end of Day 2 in the first Test against South Africa at the WACA in Perth on Thursday. Johnson registered his best figures in Test cricket as he claimed seven for 42 to leave South Africa reeling at 234 for 8 at close.
Hashim Amla proved his worth as a limited-overs opening batsman when his century guided South Africa to a series-clinching 128-run victory over Bangladesh on Sunday. Amla hit 140 off 135 balls -- his maiden ODI century -- to lead South Africa, who were sent in to bat, to 358 for four.
In hockey, the women's team continued its inspiring run with a silver medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Ravichandran Ashwin displayed his magic yet again to record career-best figures of 7 for 66 as India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-Test series against South Africa after an emphatic 124-run victory in the third match in Nagpur on Friday.
This is the second time Quinton de Kock has won the Cricketer of the Year in CSA's virtual awards
England were 182 for 6 in their second innings at tea on the fourth day of the second Test, still needing 137 runs to make South Africa bat again.
Sunrisers Hyderabad unit would look to consolidate its position at the top of the points table
Captain Graeme Smith led South Africa to their triumph, smashing an unbeaten 89 from 61 deliveries to steer the host nation past Australia's impressive total of 179-8.
South Africa's AB de Villiers says he is inspired by Rafael Nadal and claims to be a calming influence on RCB teammate Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has managed to maintain his top spot among the ICC's list of ODI batsmen while his compatriot Ravindra Jadeja is among the top-five in both bowlers' and all-rounders' list.
South Africa declared their first innings at their overnight score of 494 for 7 on Day 3, leaving India the improbable task of saving the second Test in Ahmedabad. The visitors have a mammoth first innings lead of 418 runs, after India were dismissed for 76 in their first innings.
AB de Villiers hit an unbeaten half century to steer South Africa to a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh and an unassailable 2-0 lead in their one-day series on Wednesday.
'I don't care where I play my 100th Test. I didn't mind where I played my 50th; I don't mind where I play any of my Test matches. Representing my country is a great honour'
South Africa were 178 for four, just 27 runs short of victory after bowling Bangladesh out for 182.
Kolkata Knight Riders spinner Piyush Chawla says the Royal Challengers Bangalore will certainly bounce back in the IPL because of the quality players in their ranks.
'...and the only thing I expect from you guys is to make the most of the time that we spend on the field whether it is a practice session, game drills it is needless to mention'
Delhi Capitals pacer Anrich Nortje said his team is capable of outperforming their opponents in Monday's IPL match.
West Indies totalled 263 for nine, and South Africa replied with 266 for five in 47.5 overs in the fourth ODI.
Opener Aiden Markram led the way with a career-best 152 as South Africa had the better of the opening day of the fourth Test against a much-changed Australia, reaching the close on 313 for six on Friday.
It is another injury blow for the Proteas, who have already lost AB de Villiers due to a finger injury for the first three matches of the 50-over series against India.
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