Australia have chosen the experience of Peter Siddle over the potential of the uncapped Joe Mennie as their third seamer for the opening Test against South Africa, which starts on Thursday.
With the Australian cricket team struggling like never before, India will have their best chance to end a 64-year wait to upstage them in their own backyard when the two sides clash in what promises to be apulsating four-Test series starting, in Melbourne, on Monday.
Statistical highlights on the first day of the opening Test between India and South Africa in Nagpur on Saturday.
India's overall lowest, however, was recorded four years ago against Australia when they were shot out for a mere 36 at Adelaide.
As he closes the most revered chapter of his career, here are some of his best Test knocks:
Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan face a key test as India take on New Zealand in the second T20I at Raipur, eyeing World Cup momentum.
In a boost to the South African team, their team doctor today said that captain Graeme Smith will recover in time from his hand injury for the home Test series against India starting on December 16.
England captain Alastair Cook is all set to break India's legendary batsman Sachin's Tendulkar's record by becoming the youngest batsman in the history of the game to score 10,000 Test runs. Cook is just 36 runs shy of reaching the milestone and once he gets there, he will also become the first English batsman to reach the feat. Cook will be targeting the mark in England's first Test against Sri Lanka at Headingley on Thursday. Tendulkar's 10,000th Test run came against Pakistan in Kolkata in March 2005, a little more than a month before his 32nd birthday. Cook meanwhile, turned 31 on Christmas Day last year, meaning if he scores the 36 runs required in the opening Test against the visiting Sri Lankans, he would have reached the 10,000 barrier five months younger than India's batting legend.
Selected at number three ahead of the burgeoning talent of Jacob Bethell, who averaged 52 on his first Test tour of New Zealand, Pope settled after early scares to compile his ninth Test century.
'I am always in favour of playing five bowlers, because if we play more batsmen, you can score 700 runs in a Test but that doesn't help in any way' 'We want to start the series with that same mindset, that our bowling should be strong enough to take 20 wickets' 'We have committed some mistakes we cannot afford in Test cricket if you want to be a champion side'
Rajneesh Gupta lists the records made on Day 2 of the 2nd Test between South Africa and Australia on Thursday.
The International Cricket Council, on Tuesday, revealed the assessment of the umpires, including the Decision Review System analysis, from the Trent Bridge Test between England and Australia.
India were forced to name a depleted squad for the first Test against South Africa after Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh and S Sreesanth were ruled out due to injuries, sustained during the recently-concluded tour of Bangladesh. Karnataka fast bowler Abhimanyu Mithun was rewarded for an outstanding performance in domestic matches last season, while Bengal wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha was a surprise inclusion, in place of Dinesh Karthik, in the 15-man squad.
Anil Kumble is facing a selection conundrum as he needs to choose either "fifth bowler" Hardik Pandya or "sixth batsman" Karun Nair for the series-opener against England but India's chief coach did not reveal much on his preference, praising talent of both the players. Kumble made it clear that the team will allow Hardik to "express himself" as an all-rounder who can be the potential fifth bowler and was unequivocal about team management fully backing talented Karun if he gets an opportunity.
Images from Day 2 of the first Test between India and South Africa in Nagpur on Sunday.
Images from Day 4 of the first Test between India and South Africa in Nagpur on Tuesday.
Swing and seam friendly conditions, a lack of truly scary Australian bowlers and New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum's retirement are all themes that will resonate when the first Test gets underway in Wellington on Friday.
Australia removed Sri Lanka's openers cheaply to leave the tourists clinging on at 65 for two and chasing an imposing 393 runs for victory at the close of play on the fourth day of the first Test on Monday.
Star Sports, the official broadcasters in India, tweeted a clip of Brook playing mind games with Krishna.
Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas claimed three quick wickets as Australia hobbled their way to 136-3 on Wednesday, chasing a mammoth target of 462 in the first Test in Dubai.
Debutant Pakistan off-spinner Bilal Asif ripped through the Australian middle-order with six wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 202 on the third day of the first Test, in Dubai, on Tuesday.
'The will to work and commitment to put in work is as high as it has ever been.'
Pakistan's bowlers showed controlled aggression and intelligence to skittle out New Zealand for 153 on day one of the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Rabada reaches new milestone as Proteas take control over Bangladesh, on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh.
Brief Analysis: Where did Team India falter on Day 2 of the 1st Test vs Australia at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai on Saturday?
It has been 4,302 days since India last lost a Test series at home.
Taking his 17th Test five-wicket haul, he finished with 7 for 58 off 12.5 overs.
India will aim to soar higher with the return of Virat Kohli against Joe Root's England
Pant also matched India's veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane, who was the last vice-captain to smash a century in each innings, doing so against South Africa in New Delhi, in 2015.
Pant is unique in many ways, let him be that only: ex-players after his somersault goes viral
'Watching him bat this innings is like watching the MCC coaching manual in action.'
Rishabh Pant is making a comeback to competitive cricket after recovering from his foot injury.
AB de Villiers will avoid putting extra stress on a hamstring injury by playing as a batsman only in the first Sri Lanka Test with Quinton de Kock taking over wicketkeeping duties, South Africa captain Hashim Amla said on Tuesday.
On paper, India are overwhelming favourites to win the series against Chamari Athapaththu-led visitors.
Concerned with the questions raised over the quality of Kookaburra balls, the company's Rob Elliot has decided to provide only a dozen of match balls for the first Test match between India and Australia starting December 26, at the MCG.
The arrival of the New Year will see an exciting white-ball showdown with England visiting India for five T20Is and three ODIs.
Photos from Day 5 of the 1st Test between India and South Africa on Sunday.
As Team India gear up for the much-anticipated Test series against England starting on Friday, several players in the squad will draw confidence from their county cricket experience.
In an extraordinary twist to the game, India on Saturday capitulated to an embarassing 63-run defeat in the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak explained the team's rationale behind playing an all-rounder at No 8 rather than fielding a specialist bowler.
