'They need to be pro-active and take the pacers' challenge head on'
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that the Indian cricket team has distanced itself from the administrative issues between Cricket SA (CSA) and the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India.
'Believe me, Virat will go out of his way to make the new captain comfortable.'
England wicket-keeper Jos Buttler is being encouraged by coach Trevor Bayliss to play in this year's Indian Premier League to hone his limited overs skills.
Steve Smith is back in the Test squad along with David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, the other two players hit with long bans for their involvement in the Cape Town scandal in March, 2018.
Former India spinners Sunil Joshi and Ramesh Powar will be among 20 candidates to be interviewed for the role of the women's cricket coach in Mumbai on Friday.
Images from Day 4 of the second Test between South Africa and Australia in Port Elizabeth on Monday.
In other developments in cricket, England opener Rory Burns has been rendered a doubtful starter for the tour of Sri Lanka.
South African pacer Lungi Ngidi on Thursday said the Indians were clearly 'frustrated and under pressure' as a controversial DRS call saved home skipper Dean Elgar.
An 'energised' Dale Steyn has passed his fitness tests and will play for South Africa in their three-match Twenty20 International series against Australia starting in Durban on Friday.
India would look to continue their ruthless streak
Former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has urged the International Cricket Council to review its existing 15-degree arm/elbow extension law for bowlers.
Australian batsmen David Warner and Cameron Bancroft signed up for a limited overs tournament in Northern Territory in July as they look to return to cricket in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal which saw them banned from the national team.
There will still be plenty of needle in the third Test between South Africa and Australia whether or not Kagiso Rabada wins his appeal against suspension, opener Dean Elgar said on Monday.
In the space of two days, top batsman Smith has gone from Australia's cricketing golden boy to national pariah and it looks likely that he has played his last Test as captain.
Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada claimed four wickets each as South Africa ripped out Sri Lanka for 110 on the second day of the second Test.
Regular knock out defeats at global events gives rise to serious questions
Cricket Australia has come under pressure from the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) to end the bans following the release of the Longstaff review.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the second Test between South Africa and India, in Johannesburg, on Monday.
South Africa reeled off their modest victory target of 41 runs early on the fourth day of the second Test against Pakistan to clinch the series with a comprehensive nine-wicket triumph at Newlands on Sunday.
'When you have a win ratio of 65 per cent over the last five years, what is there to worry about?' 'How can the standard go down suddenly? For five years, you have been number one side in the world.'
Seamer Vernon Philander took career-best figures as rampant South Africa claimed a 72-run victory over India in a gripping first Test at Newlands on Monday.
Kagiso Rabada said South Africa are gunning for a whitewash of India, having trampled the visitors in the first two matches.
IMAGES from Day 5 of the 2nd Test played at Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday.
'On one hand, three in-form openers is a healthy problem of plenty.' 'On the other, you just don't know whom to pick, and whether the selection sits well with the conditions and opposition on offer,' says Chetan Narula.
Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris, who bowled his country to a series victory in South Africa last week, is hoping knee surgery will prolong his Test career through the 2015 Ashes at least.
Dean Elgar's century and a quick-fire unbeaten 68 from Quinton de Kock lifted South Africa to 297 for six on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Newlands on Monday.
A trio of match winners in Stuart Broad, Joe Root and Ben Stokes offer England a bright future in Test cricket but unfortunately for Alastair Cook, there seems to be no end in sight in his long search for a worthy opening partner.
Having suffered a minor setback in the previous game, India will look to recover and close out this eight-week long tour with a series win.
In terms of days, Dale Steyn has spent 2,320 days at the top of the ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers, the most by any bowler since World War II.
Dean Elgar doubts Australia can keep up their 'docile' approach to Test cricket as the tourists slip towards a heavy defeat and a series loss in the fourth and final Test at the Wanderers.
'They are formidable but not unbeatable. It was just one phase with the bat where we let ourselves down and a quality side like India made us pay'.
Australia named five uncapped players in a raw tour squad to play Pakistan in a Test series in the United Arab Emirates, while recalling pace veteran Peter Siddle for the first time in two years and dropping middle order batsman Peter Handscomb.
'Given there is now independent verification that CA's system and culture were contributory factors, the ACA calls for the lifting of the board-imposed penalties on Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft'
Factbox on Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Tuesday
'We come here wanting to express ourselves, believing in our abilities and knowing we have the right balance to win Test matches under any conditions we play under.'
Dale Steyn produced a ferocious spell of fast bowling to inspire South Africa to a crushing 231-run victory over Australia in fading light on day four of the second Test on Sunday.
With 59 matches spread across 10 cities, the cash-rich league starting Saturday will unearth new domestic talents apart from giving some of the tried and tested faces a shot at redemption during the next seven weeks of what is again expected to be a perfect marriage of cricket and entertainment.
Australia captain believes the result could have been different had Steve Smith and David Warner been available for the home side in Melbourne.
'Rishabh is fine batsman but needs to do improve with gloves'
