Temba Bavuma has recovered from injury and will take charge
Axar Patel's promotion in Delhi Capitals batting order is being seriously contemplated by the management
A new-look Indian team, led by Shikhar Dhawan, will be hoping to make a statement and be in the reckoning for next year's 50-over World Cup when the three-match ODI series against South Africa begins in Lucknow on Thursday.
umbai Indians overcame some tense moments to pull off a last-ball win over Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Tuesday.
'I wish I could reverse-lap Jofra Archer, that's about it. Don't think I am brave enough to play the shots Suryakumar plays. To be honest, I wasn't looking to take Anrich Nortje on, it was a matter of just seizing the opportunity when I had it. Fortunately, there were one-two balls I was able to go after.'
Former Australia captain Ponting believes Australian players are more suited to English conditions and will have more of an edge than India.
Images from the T20 world Cup Super 12 match between Bangladesh and South Africa in Sydney on Thursday.
South Africa's Test players including Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi have chosen to play the IPL over the home Test series against Bangladesh, starting on March 31.
While the return of pace spearhead Anrich Nortje, who had been nursing an injury, bolstered the bowling unit, the South African, who hasn't bowled since the T20 World Cup in November, looked understandably rusty.
South Africa have included off-form opening batsman Hashim Amla in their squad for the Cricket World Cup in England and Wales starting next month, but there is no place for all-rounder Chris Morris.
The second and final Test starts in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
Delhi Capitals will expect a more purposeful approach from its Indian batting unit as it plays for pride against Punjab Kings.
How Rishabh Pant performs as skipper will be watched with interest
England batters look to tame strong South African bowling
England paceman Jofra Archer escaped being banned from bowling for the rest of the first Test against South Africa after delivering two successive beamers late in the twilight at the end of a frustrating day for his team on Friday. Archer bowled two full tosses at South Africa nightwatchman Anrich Nortje in the penultimate over of the day which were both no-balled by umpire Paul Reiffel, only for his decision on the second no-ball to be rescinded.
Former England white-ball captain Collingwood told reporters they would not worry too much about the disappointing first day.
David Warner slogged his way to his third double-hundred from 254 balls before succumbing to cramps and limping off with the aid of a trainer.
DC would have expected their bowling attack to fire on all cylinders, but that was not be.
South Africa have named six uncapped players in their 17-man squad for the first two Tests of the four-match series against England as new coach Mark Boucher seeks to revive the fortunes of the ailing side. Batsmen Pieter Malan and Rassie van der Dussen, fast bowlers Dane Paterson and Beuran Hendricks, all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius and wicketkeeper Rudi Second will all hope to make their debuts in the first Test starting in Pretoria on December 26.
He joins injured fast bowler Kagiso Rabada on the sidelines.
Rohit Sharma, while facing left-arm throwdown specialist Nuwan Seneviratne, got hit on his left thumb by a delivery that lifted from the back of a good length area.
South Africa bowled England out for 181 in their first innings and had built up a significant 175-run lead by the close of play on the second day of the first Test at Centurion Park on Friday. Images from Day 2 of the first Test between South Africa and England at Supersport Park in Centurion on Friday.
The Indian Premier League encounter between Delhi Capitals and SunRisers Hyderabad on Wednesday saw two milestones being reached. While DC batsman Shreyas Iyer reached 4000 runs in T20 cricket, SRH wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha crossed 2000 runs in the IPL.
Seamer Lungi Ngidi showed all his guile to take five wickets for 19 runs as South Africa skittled West Indies for 97 and seized the initiative on the first day of the first Test in Saint Lucia on Thursday.
Images from the T20 World Cup Super 12s match between Bangladesh and South Africa, in Abu Dhabi.
After registering their first win in IPL 2023, Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma said first wins were always special.
Dube smashed an unbeaten 79 off 60 balls that included a half a dozen of sixes and three boundaries which took India's score to 327 for 6 in 47 overs.
Rishabh Pant is confident of playing entire IPL, in what capacity we're not quite sure yet: Ricky Ponting
None of South Africa's top players will be available for their respective IPL sides in the first couple of games.
Batsmen Temba Bavuma and Keegan Petersen, left-arm seam bowler Beuran Hendricks, and all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo will join the team in Johannesburg on Wednesday
Having shown exceptional consistency in both red and white-ball cricket for Team India, Pant will now look to recreate the same magic for his franchise.
Pictures from the IPL 2022 game between Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
Bavuma has replaced Dean Elgar as skipper in the longest format, though the latter remains part of a much-changed squad.
While the batting looks in perfect shape, India's new-look pace department needs to come up with something special against the Proteas in Cuttack on Sunday.
Dhoni has managed some cameos in the fag end of the innings and the skipper is expected to continue doing so despite calls of him coming up the order.
Kerala's Sanju Samson, 27, was part of the ODI series against Zimbabwe which India won 3-0. He has represented India in seven ODIs and 16 T20Is so far.
Delhi Capitals bowlers made up for the team's underwhelming display with the bat to hand Rajasthan Royals a 33-run defeat in their Indian Premier League match, in Abu Dhabi, on Saturday.
Punjab are seventh on the points table with 12 points. The Capitals also have a dozen points and are fifth
Smarting from opening game losses, a good batting display will be high on the agenda for South Africa and defending champions West Indies when the two teams lock horns in a Super 12 match of the T20 World Cup in Dubai on Tuesday.
Delhi Capitals will aim to solve their opening conundrum quickly and boost their chances of making it to the IPL play-offs when they take on a lacklustre Chennai Super Kings at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.
