South Africa have slipped to number six in the world, behind fifth-placed Sri Lanka, and have a host of questions to answer, not least around a brittle top six and the balance of the side.
Factbox on the five-Test Ashes series between England and Australia
- George Best, one of the most talented footballers to grace the 'beautiful game'.
Novak Djokovic scored a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 victory over Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Australian Open final.
Martyn was under pressure in the current Ashes series after making scores of 29, 11 and 5 in the first two Tests.
The first Frenchwoman to win the Wimbledon singles title since 1925.
The Swiss ace is three titles shy of Pete Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slam victories.
Captain Ricky Ponting said McGrath's retirement marked the end of an era in Australian cricket.
A factfile on Australian bowler Glenn McGrath, who is set to retire from cricket after the 2007 World Cup in West Indies.
is expected to sign a four-year contract with Barcelona for a transfer fee of 24 million euros (16 million pounds).
Since being called for throwing in 1995, the Sri Lankan off spinner has averaged an incredible 6.65 wickets in 66 Tests.
Former world number one Kim Clijsters announced her immediate retirement from tennis on her Web site on Sunday.
Here is a factbox on the third and final Test between India and Sri Lanka beginning at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday:
Factbox on the four-Test series between Australia and India, which begins on Thursday
The ace Indian leg spinner is happy that a spinner broke the world Test record of 519 wickets.
Warne quit one-dayers in 2003 to preserve himself for Tests.
Factbox on Saturday's World Cup match between Australia and Bangladesh.
The Swiss ace joined Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras as the only men to have won four consecutive Wimbledon singles titles when he defeats Nadal in the final.
The Sri Lankan off spinner created a new world record claiming his 520th Test wicket.
England face unbeaten New Zealand in the first semi-final of 2016 World T20 at New Delhi's Ferozshah Kotla Stadium on March 30. While England have been champions in 2010, New Zealand will be eyeing their first World T20 title. Following is a factbox of the two teams:
The Liverpool and England striker is joining Real Madrid.
Midfielder Keane, 34, joined United in 1993 from Nottingham Forest for a then British record fee of 3.75 million pounds ($6.43 million) and has been the lynchpin of Britain's most famous club for a decade.
The Sri Lanka captain became just the fourth player to score hundreds against all nine Test opponents.
Factbox on the 12th edition of the Cricket World Cup
Here is a Factbox on Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, who beat American Venus Williams 7-5, 6-0 to win her first Wimbledon singles title on Saturday:
Factbox on Saturday's World Cup Pool B match between India and Zimbabwe at Eden Park in Auckland.
The Chelsea midfielder said he was sad to see coach Claudio Ranieri go.
Factbox on the fastest half centuries in Test cricket after Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq reached the mark in 21 balls against Australia in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Waugh has 31 centuries, equal second with Sachin Tendulkar and behind only Sunil Gavaskar (34).
Novak Djokovic endured a fierce challenge to his Melbourne Park reign before overhauling Dominic Thiem 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday to clinch an eighth Australian Open crown and reclaim the world number one ranking. While Rafa Nadal rules Roland Garros with 12 titles, Djokovic holds sway in the title match at Rod Laver Arena having never lost a final in Melbourne Park.
Simona Halep's powers of recovery will be put to the test on day eight of the Australian Open on Monday when the world number one meets Japan's Naomi Osaka in a tricky fourth round clash.
A quick look at the records of the two combatants ahead of the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne.
Factbox on the four-Test series between India and Australia, which starts at Pune on Thursday:
Following is a factbox on the first Test match between Australia and England, which starts on Thursday:
The following factbox details five times a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) made an impact at the World Cup.
