Experienced South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis will not be able to bowl in the first Test against England, captain Graeme Smith said on Tuesday.
He's been one of the most consistent players in the last six months, and even towered above other Indian batsmen in the recently-concluded series in South Africa. While India's leading batsmen struggled to cope with the pace and bounce of Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn, Virat Kohli was rock-solid and unyielding.
Yusuf Pathan's blistering century proved in vain for India as South Africa won the fifth and decisive one-day international by 33 runs on Sunday to take the series 3-2.
South Africa are to gamble on the fitness of Quinton de Kock and JP Duminy, who were named on Wednesday in a 15-man squad for the Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next month.
'You look at the numbers he has served up and the way he has consistently used that yorker, that makes everyone talk about it.'
India need a record-breaking 340 to beat South Africa in the third and final Test in Cape Town on Thursday. Instances of 300-plus targets chased down in a single day even on flattest of tracks are rare. Attaining that against the fiery South African pace attack, led by Dale Steyn, on a fifth day's Newlands pitch will be nothing short of a miracle.
Indian middle-order batsman Rahul Dravid on Monday achieved a rare milestone in his career when he took his 200th catch in Test matches to stay on top of the list in the five-day format of the game.
India were dismissed for 459 in 128.1 overs in their second innings on day five after lastman Jaidev Unadkat was caught at gully off Dale Steyn for one. The Indian innings lasted just 30 minutes and 35 deliveries on the final day, for the addition of just five runs, and the loss of two wickets.
India's master batsman Sachin Tendulkar became the first player ever in the history of Test cricket to hit 50 centuries during day four of the first Test match against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Sunday.
A look at Sachin Tendulkar's 50 centuries in Test cricket.
The opener says in the second innings things have changed drastically and the wicket is good for batting.
Rahul Dravid on Wednesday overtook former West Indian captain Brain Lara as the third highest run-getter in the history of Test cricket when he reached 11 in the first of the three-match series against South Africa in Centurion.
South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel said on Tuesday the contest between the home side's fast bowlers and India opener Virender Sehwag would be the key contest in the forthcoming three-Test series.
Raring to go in the IPL, a fit-again Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Ishant Sharma feels T20 is easier for fast bowlers than ODIs with the problematic four-fielder rule not being there in cricket's shortest format.
Morne Morkel will take no further part in the two-match series against Bangladesh after suffering a side strain that will sideline him for six weeks, officials said on Monday.
Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara has regained the number one ranking among Test batsmen after scoring 130 not out on Friday to help draw the final test against Pakistan in Colombo.
The Proteas bowlers took part in a thorough session under the watchful eyes of Langeveldt with the aim of increasing their workloads and mapping out expectations and game plans ahead of the 72-day tour which starts with the first Twenty20 match in Dharamsala on October 2.
As the SRH dugout watched in utter disbelief at Jansen's bowling crumbling to pieces, Muralitharan got up from his seat and caught on camera shouting, 'Why the f**k is he bowling full?'
South Africa's talismanic captain AB de Villiers has recovered from injury and been included in the Proteas squad for the One-day series at home against Australia starting later this month.
South Africa crushed Australia by seven wickets to level the five-match one-day international series at 1-1 on Sunday. Australia's comprehensive defeat stemmed from a poor batting display with 19-year-old left-arm swing bowler Wayne Parnell claiming career-best figures to help bundle the touring side out for just 131.
A century stand between skipper Ricky Ponting and vice-captain Michael Clarke kept Australia afloat as they reached 194 for five at tea on the first day of the first Test against South Africa Thursday.
Looking forward to the challenge of facing Dale Steyn in the upcoming four-match Test series against South Africa, Indian opener Lokesh Rahul has said playing the speedster in the longer format is a "different ballgame" as one has to counter the late movement he gets.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore, in Nagpur, on Monday.
The South Africans seem to be making the most of it on the Indian soil as both their batsmen and bowlers have proved their worth in the IPL so far and even look set to dominate the fifth edition of the tournament.
Peter Siddle took three wickets to give Australia the upperhand as South Africa were reduced to 198 for seven at stumps on day two of the second Test at the MCG in Melbourne on Saturday. Captain Graeme Smith scored a fine 62 but kept losing wickets at regular intervals in reply to Australia's first innings score of 394.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bangalore on Thursday.
After escaping with a narrow win in Jaipur, India would aim to plug their bowling loopholes and seal the three-match series to retain the number two spot in ICC rankings when they take on South Africa in the second ODI in Gwalior on Wednesday.
Dale Steyn, who picked a career-best figures of seven for 51 on Monday, said the reverse swing came to his aid and pitching the ball up paid rich dividends.
South Africa won the fourth and final Test by an innings and 74 runs on Sunday, bowling England out for 169 just before lunch on the fourth day at the Wanderers to level the series at 1-1.
South Africa moved into a strong position to win the third Test and level the series after England, chasing an unlikely 466 to win, were reduced to 132 for three at the close on the fourth day at Newlands on Wednesday.
England, replying to South Africa's 291, were 241 for seven at close on the second day of the third Test thanks to battling innings by Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Matt Prior.
Jacques Kallis defied England with another composed century to lift South Africa to 279 for six on the first day of the third Test on Sunday.
Former pacer Fanie de Villiers has slammed South African selectors for including "half-fit" bowlers in the national side that suffered an ignominious defeat to the visiting Englishmen in the second Test in Durban earlier this week.
Bowling at a slightly slower pace than he did at Lord's, Archer said his style reflected the conditions.
Pakistan side put its World Cup campaign back on track with an upset 29-run win via Duckworth/Lewis method over South Africa
Pakistan beat South Africa by 7 runs to reach the final of the World Twenty20, that will take place at Lord's on Sunday.
Pakistan's Umar Gul became the first bowler to take 5 wickets in a Twenty20 International in the World Cup match against New Zealand.
South Africa seamer Dale Steyn grabbed his first Test wicket after an injury absence of 14 months as the hosts fought back against a fired-up India on an enthralling first day of cut-and-thrust cricket in the opening Test at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday.
The South African selectors announced four changes to the tour squad with Justin Kemp, Albie Morkel, Johan Botha and Charl Langeveldt replacing Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Ashwell Prince and Hashim Amla.
Jacques Kallis suffered his second disappointment in less than a week on Thursday when he was left out of South Africa's squad to tour Zimbabwe.
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