'As a cricketer, you have to hit refresh literally at the end of the every series. Challenges from one series to another are different'
Rajneesh Gupta lists some amazing coincidences in cricket -- a feature guaranteed to amuse you in these anxious times.
While there were brilliant performances from Virat Kohli, Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane, India's pathetic bowling attack -- which could not claim 20 Australian wickets in any of the four Tests -- was depressing.
A slight tweak in hand positioning and body posture was all that it took for Rishabh Pant to turn the tables after a tough stint behind the stumps in England.
Arthur Morris, one of Australia's finest opening batsmen and a key member of Don Bradman's 'Invincibles' side, has died aged 93.
Australia recalled wicketkeeper Tim Paine for the first time in seven years in a selection bombshell while dropping opening batsman Matt Renshaw in a surprising Ashes squad for the series against England.
Virat Kohli has broken into the top-20 of ICC Test rankings at 16th after his stupendous back-to-back hundreds in the opening Test against Australia in Adelaide.
Former captain Allan Border wants the current team to play "hard-edged Australian brand of cricket" in the memory of Phillip Hughes but at the same time urged them not to get involved in some heavy duty sledging with the Indians during the Test series starting December 9.
Cricket Australia chief Executive James Sutherland has admitted that the re-scheduling of the four-match Test series between India and Australia after the tragic demise of batsman Phil Hughes was "not perfect" but hopes that people will understand the "big picture".
Pacer Mitchell Starc has expressed disappointment with International Cricket Council rating the Optus Stadium pitch as 'average' after Australia beat India in the second Test by 146 runs.
The Delhi Daredevils franchise has decided against retaining Kevin Pietersen, their skipper in the last edition, Dinesh Karthik, the costliest buy, and Test specialist Murali Vijay for the eighth season of the Indian Premier League.
Coming down heavily on the Indian bowling attack in Australia, former captain Sunil Gavaskar said that it's time "we look for a fresh set of bowlers" in the Test ranks to ensure better showing in overseas conditions.
Reliving one of his most cherished cricketing rivalries during his 14-year-old career, former Australian speedster Glenn McGrath said that the Indian fans still haven't forgiven him for getting iconic Sachin Tendulkar out in the 2003 World Cup final.
Australia called up uncapped paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile for the first Test against West Indies on Tuesday as a replacement for left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc, who was ruled out of the series due to a broken foot.
Australia's bowling coach Craig McDermott has revealed Mitchell Starc's foot injury isn't as bad as first feared and hopes the left-arm pacer will play on Australia's tour of New Zealand.
The reticence of South Africa's players to participate in a day-night Test has resulted in Cricket Australia unable to confirm whether a pink-ball match would go ahead against the Proteas.
Virtually backing India's stance on producing spin-friendly tracks, former Australian captain Ian Chappell said he does not see anything wrong in the turning track in the Nagpur Test which saw India thrash South Africa inside three days, saying matches played elsewhere on seaming tracks have ended "in the blink of an eye".
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis lauded his "relentless" bowlers for their match-winning performance against Australia in Hobart on Tuesday and dedicated the series win to absent Proteas Dale Steyn and AB De Villiers.
'The 2014 Australia tour and the brand of cricket played by the team laid a great foundation of the brilliant run of success enjoyed across all formats and conditions.' 'It also coincided with Virat Kohli enjoying the responsibilities of leading the team and then putting his heart and soul into taking the Indian team to ascend many unconquered summits.'
Harish Kotian evaluates Indian performances in the third Test.
Statistical highlights of the fifth and final day of the first Test between India and Australia at the Adelaide Oval.
'I knew that I had to stay patient and wait for the loose balls but the way they bowled, they bowled in the right areas'
'To a person, full member countries and their CEOs stated their absolute support of Test cricket being played under lights'
Cricketing legends Kapil Dev, Wasim Akram and Sourav Ganguly have heaped praise on Virat Kohli with one comparing India's batting mainstay to tennis great John McEnroe and another saying that his value in the team is more than his teammates.
Cricket Australia and the Indian board (BCCI) remain in discussions over the future of the first Test between the two countries that was supposed to have started on Thursday in Brisbane.
'In the future, you will get pacers who will bowl even faster than the current lot because these guys are currently setting new standards.'
KP has been raking up big runs in county cricket, and, Australian captain Clarke has a sneaking suspicion that the England batsman could make the squad for the Ashes
In the 35 Tests Kohli has led as captain, he has fielded 35 different playing 11s. Sure, the chopping and changing worked in the sub-continent because the home conditions masked the deficiencies in constantly chopping and changing the playing 11, says Chetan Narula.
India's reluctance to accept the Decision Review System in its current form has cost them what would have been a crucial, match-changing wicket in their loss to Australia at the WACA Ground on Tuesday. The home side were in trouble at 2-21 in the fifth over chasing 310 for victory when debutant quick Barinder Sran and India's fielders appealed for a leg-side catch from George Bailey's first ball. A muted appeal from captain and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni may have contributed to the not out decision from umpire Richard Kettleborough, but replays showed a clear deflection from Bailey's glove.
India's Test captain Virat Kohli on Wednesday took a dig at the ICC, which rated the Nagpur track as 'poor', and wondered why nothing is written when teams get out for under 50-100 runs on South African pitches.
'There is a growing concern that David Warner's thuggish behaviour has gone too far' 'At the minute, people aren't happy with the way people are holding themselves on the field'
Steven Smith (133) became the ninth Australian to score a century on captaincy debut as Australia wriggled out from a precarious 247 for 6 to post a mammoth 505 in their first innings in the second Test against India at the Gabba on Friday. He was well-supported by Mitchell Johnson (88) and Mitchell Starc (52) who made valuable contributions down the order, as the hosts took a first innings lead of 97 runs. India ended the third day on 71 for 1 in the second innings. Statistical highlights from the day's play. Statistical highlights from the day's play.
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada and wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock have achieved career-high positions in the latest ICC Test Player Rankings after firing South Africa to an emphatic 177-run victory over Australia in the opening Test of the three-match series in Perth on Monday.
Former Australia captain Ian Chappell feels even though he backs the hosts to win the series 3-0, India should field five specialist bowlers including two spinners in the final cricket Test, starting January 6.
Adelaide, which was due to host the second Test from December 12-16, will now host the series opener from December 9-13, in what is sure to be a highly emotional occasion.
How India's players fared in Australia.
India's most successful Test captain also presided over a dismal away record with the team winning only two of 22 Tests on foreign soil since 2011.
From bashing big scores to firing back a few choice words at sledging opponents, the captaincy is fitting Australia's Steven Smith well, according to opening batsman Chris Rogers.
Bolstered by the return of regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India will look to regroup and fight their way back into the four-match series when they face Australia on a lively Gabba wicket in the second cricket Test starting in Brisbane on Wednesday.
- 'As a captain, I think first and foremost I'll try to lead from the front with my performance on the field' - 'It's a different kettle of fish (leading) Australia, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge'
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