'We stuck to our guns and delivered skill under pressure and managed to keep ahead in the game'
Record first win since 'sandpaper gate'
South Africa completed victory over Australia by an innings and 20 runs in the third Test at Newlands on Sunday, despite an entertaining maiden Test century from Mitchell Johnson.
'Here we have more freedom to put more water on the wicket, roll it, make it harder come tomorrow's practice session and you have conditions you want'
India will need mental toughness as much as consistent performances with bat and ball if they are to record their first Test series victory in South Africa, captain Virat Kohli said on Wednesday.
Rudra Pratap Singh took four for 22 as Deccan Chargers crushed Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets in the fourth match of the Indian Premier League in Cape Town, on Sunday. Singh took full advantage of the bowler-friendly conditions at Newlands to help bowl out Kolkata for a lowly 101 in 19.4 overs. In reply, Gibbs top-scored with 43 from 26 deliveries and Rohit Sharma smashed 36 not out as Deccan cruised to the victory target in just 13.2 overs.
Opener David Warner thumped a maiden Twenty20 international century as Australia kicked off their home summer with a ruthless 134-run thrashing of Sri Lanka, at Adelaide Oval, on Sunday.
Rajasthan Royals lost to Cape Cobras by 27 runs in an Indian Premier League warm-up match at Newlands on Saturday. Opening bowler Amit Singh bowled impressively to take three for 15 as the Cape Cobras made 142 for eight.
Tickets for the double-header on the opening day of Indian Premier League's second edition at Cape Town in South Africa, on April 18, were sold out within hours of going on sale online, on Friday. Commenting on the sale of the IPL tickets online, at www.cumputicket.com, Lalit Modi, chairman and commissioner of the cash-rich tournament, expressed hope that the first day of the Twenty20 league will see 'a dream start for season 2009'.
The opening match and final of the second edition of IPL, shifted overseas to South Africa, are to be held at the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town and the Wanderers in Johannesburg respectively on April 18 and May 24.
Test cricket on Sunday said farewell and thanks to Steve Bucknor, the most experienced umpire to date in the longest form of the game. The 62-year-old Jamaican umpired his final Test match at Newlands in Cape Town between South Africa and Australia, his 128th match in the middle. Bucknor has been umpiring at international level since 1989 when he took charge of the One-Day International (ODI) between the West Indies and India at the Antigua Recreation Ground on March 18.
Fast bowler Dale Steyn gave South Africa the upper hand against Australia after the first day of the third and final test as they skittled the tourists out for 209 at Newlands on Thursday.
The England bowlers have had time to recover after a marathon stint in Cape Town and are ready for the third Test against South Africa, record wicket-taker James Anderson said on Tuesday.
'They're going to need to get some cricket before coming back into the squad. It's all part of the management. We'll have to wait and see'
Kevin Pietersen smashed 79 from just 37 balls to inspire England to a 50-run victory in the Twenty20 World Cup match.
Only James Anderson, Muttiah Muralitharan and Imran Khan have taken more Test wickets against India, earning Nathan Lyon significant praise from Indian great Sachin Tendulkar.
Kohli promised to up the ante in the remaining three games.
After Ambati Rayudu failed the Yo-Yo test, the selectors turned to Suresh Raina for the ODI series in England.
The Indian cricket team will start its new year with a tour to South Africa, which is likely to commence on January 5 or 6 in Cape Town.
Two months on from the interview, Bancroft said he had been in touch with Warner, and that all three banned players had supported each other through their "journey".
South Africa were 218 for five at the close of play on the second day of the second Test in Cape Town on Thursday. West Indies scored 243 in their first innings.
With an unassailable 3-0 lead in hand, India need just one more win to claim their maiden ODI series triumph on South African soil.
Perhaps for the first time, India's pace strength is not centred on any one individual, or set of individuals.
Brett Lee claimed the first hat-trick as Australia thrashed Bangladesh by nine wickets in a Super Eight game of the Twenty20 World Cup.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting admitted to being embarrassed after his team's stunning loss to Zimbabwe in their first match of the inaugural World Cup Twenty20 tournament at Newlands on Wednesday.
Addressing the first press conference after arriving in South Africa for the three-match Test series, Shastri said adaptability to foreign conditions will be the key to success for the visitors.
'Everyone is different, every board is different, and the way they deal with certain issues'
South Africa pacer Morne Morkel feels that the post-tea sessions will hold the key with the Proteas bowlers looking to inflict maximum damage on the Indian batsmen late in the day.
Some 17 months on, with his rehabilitation after a one-year ball-tampering ban apparently completed, the 32-year-old will return to the Test arena at Edgbaston on Thursday at the start of his sixth Ashes series.
Herschelle Gibbs hit a fine century as South Africa cruised to a series-clinching five-wicket win in the third and final one-day international against New Zealand at Newlands
A half-century by Imran Nazir and three wickets from Umar Gul helped Pakistan beat New Zealand by six wickets in the first semi-final.
Sourav Ganguly slammed Australian cricket team's 'win at all cost' attitude
South Africa scored a 19-run victory over England in a Super Eight match of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup.
The Aussies won the Group B match at the Twenty20 World Cup by 8 wickets and entered the Super Eight stage.
Rabada was initially suspended for two matches by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after brushing against the shoulder of Smith after dismissing the batsman in the six-wicket second Test victory for South Africa in Port Elizabeth.
African XI drew 3-3 with a Rest of the World team.
India rung in two changes, Munaf Patel and Dinesh Kaarthick coming in place of VRV Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni respectively, for the third Test against South Africa.
If you were BCCI boss for a day, a week, what would you do?
Australia vice-captain and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been dropped for the first Test against India as selectors backed the team's three specialist seamers to bowl a full workload at Adelaide Oval.
South Africa on Monday banned its national cricket and rugby federations from hosting or bidding for international tournaments for at least a year due to their failure to increase representation of black players.
