Former Australia opening batsman Cameron Bancroft has broken his silence on the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, casting David Warner as the instigator and himself as an impressionable rookie that just wanted to "fit in" to the team.
Statistical highlights of the fifth and final day in the first Test between India and South Africa, in Centurion, on Monday. South Africa beat India by an innings and 25 runs to a take a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.
Indian physio John Gloster has declared paceman Munaf Patel fit for the third Test against South Africa.
India captain Rohit Sharma said India can take pride in their performance after defeating South Africa inside two days of the 2nd Test at Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday.
Harbhajan Singh claimed two wickets to help India end on a high against South Africa, on Day 3 of the third and final Test at Newlands, in Cape Town, on Tuesday.
There was some cheer for the Indian team as captain Rahul Dravid said he would be fit for the first Test in South Africa.
The 33-year-old surpassed former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who had claimed nine dismissals in a Test match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2014.
The fifth and final Test is still two days away but thousands of English fans have flocked to the hill station.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith has lost his valuable Test cap which he wore in every match since his debut against Australia way back in 2002 in Cape Town.
The move was widely seen as an acknowledgement for his all-format consistency over the years.
With Virat Kohli stepping down as India's Test captain, the reign of the country's "most successful captain" in the longest format came to an end.
Smith couldn't hide his emotions while recalling their work in the early days that paved the way for the entry of six IPL franchises in the league.
Injured West Indies captain Chris Gayle is out of the deciding third Test against South Africa, the touring team said on Monday.
Skipper Rohit Sharma stressed on the Indian team's ability to win games on any surface including rank turners, following its record 434-run win over England on a flat track in Rajkot on Sunday.
Dean Elgar's decision backfired as South Africa were bundled out for 55 in their first innings.
Factbox on the four-Test series between Australia and India, which begins on Thursday
After recording 169 against South Africa at Cape Town in January this year, India's 196 is their lowest score in nine Tests.
Images from Day 4 of the third Test between South Africa and India, in Cape Town, on Friday.
Pacer Prasidh Krishna says the unpredictable nature of the pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground will keep them in the hunt since batting won't be easy for Australia in the fourth innings.
South African pace bowler Charl Langeveldt broke his left hand while batting in the third Test in Cape Town on Monday.
"... they're (India) up against a really talented young Australian cricket team who have got plenty to prove'
South Africa spinner Paul Harris is to see a specialist after fracturing his thumb and will take no further part in the first test against Bangladesh in Bloemfontein, a team spokesman announced on Friday.
Three years after his ignominious exit as Australia's captain in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal, Steve Smith has said he is keen and ready to lead the national side again if an opportunity came his way.
'It's a nice feeling to hear 'Ram Siya Ram' in the background'
India (454 for eight) recorded their highest total against South Africa in South Africa, in the first Test, bettering the 414 at Cape Town in January 2007.
Elgar expects the players to be up for the fight.
Fast bowler Jofra Archer said he is "fully back" from his long injury lay-off after marking his return to an England shirt by bowling for the Lions in a three-day match against the Test side in the United Arab Emirates.
'This indicated Warner -- who had been advised by CA against a public outburst -- didn't trust the authorities to be mindful of his interests. It was a wise decision by Warner as CA is renowned for only protecting their own interests, not those of players.'
South Africa's revered anti-apartheid icon Desmond Tutu was admitted to a Cape Town hospital Wednesday for treatment of a persistent infection.
Shikhar Dhawan continues his golden run in Sri Lanka.
All-rounder Andrew Hall has been recalled to the squad.
Seniors like Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara came in for a lot of flak for their below-par showing with the bat, while Jasprit Bumrah also failed to live up to expectations.
'I remember my first call to him, it was in Kolkata. I asked him would he be interested in Test cricket. He said that would be the biggest day of his life.'
Live updates from Day 5 of the third and final Test between India and South Africa in Cape Town, on Thursday.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on Thursday docked 60 per cent of his match fee while his teammates received a 30 per cent fine each for maintaining a slow over-rate during South Africa's second innings in the third and final Test in Cape Town.
South Africa's Temba Bavuma struck his maiden Test century in quick time (102 off 148), and in so doing, became the first black South African to crack a Test ton.
Fast bowler Duanne Olivier has been recalled for South Africa's home Test series against India, a reward for excellent domestic form from a player who shot to prominence four years ago before taking up a Kolpak contract.
South Africa have named an unchanged squad for the remaining two Tests against England as AB de Villiers prepares to lead the five-day team for the first time in Johannesburg on Thursday.
India missed out on second spot in the annual ICC Test Championship and a prize purse of USD 75,000 after they were pipped by South Africa by just a point following the Proteas' win over Australia in the third Test in Cape Town.
