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How often do we see a batsman get out on 99 and score a hundred in his next innings in Test cricket? Murali Vijay is only the eighth batsman (on the ninth occasion) to do so. Rajneesh Gupta provides the details.
'These guys are not thugs'
Australia have named the unchanged 12-man squad for the second Test of the three-match series against Pakistan beginning at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Boxing Day. The Steve Smith-led side are going with the same side that clinched a nail-biting 39-run win after Pakistan's epic run chase in the opening day and night Test at the Gabba, cricket.com.au reported.
Pace bowler Billy , who stands 2.04 metres tall and has been in fine form in the Big Bash League (BBL) for the Adelaide Strikers, is likely to make his debut if Australia opt to play three pacemen at the Gabba.
Australia fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile could miss the Ashes series against England after breaking down with another back injury.
"This will probably be the biggest World Cup, so there will be great expectations and I know we will do very well for the people of the West Indies," he added.
Former Test batsman Greg Ritchie has threatened to sue Cricket Australia (CA) and its chief executive James Sutherland for their role in the racist speech scandal that transpired during last month's Test between Australia and South Africa at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Fast bowler Steven Finn claimed his first five-wicket haul in a One-Day International as England destroyed India's batting at the Gabba in Brisbane. He took five wickets for 33 runs from eight overs while James Anderson claimed four as the pair skittled the reigning World champions for 153 in less than 40 overs. Statistical highlights from the match.
Australian attempts at mind games ahead of the test series against South Africa were at worst irrelevant and at best a motivation to the tourists, captain Graeme Smith said on Thursday.
Perth's WACA ground will not host a match in Australia's summer of cricket for the first time since 1976-77, with the four Tests against India in 2014-15 to be played in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Smith stood down from his post as captain and was banned for one Test match by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday after admitting conspiring to tamper with the ball during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
The 30-year-old missed England's opening two games in Perth and Adelaide but is available for the final warm-up game against a Cricket Australia XI starting on Wednesday.
Pakistani pace spearhead Wahab Riaz and leg-spinner Yasir Shah have been reported to be involved in a scuffle during a practice session in Brisbane on Wednesday following which the team management is likely to take action against the duo. As per a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official, both the players hit each other following an argument while playing football on the eve of the opening Test of the three-match series against Australia starting from Thursday.
Captain Steve Smith frustrated England with a fighting half-century and pushed Australia to 165 for four at the close of a see-sawing day two, rescuing the hosts after a top order collapse in the series-opening Ashes Test in Brisbane on Friday.
Johnson Charles smacked a half-century and West Indies tore through Australia's batsmen with slow bowling to win their Twenty20 match by 27 runs in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Australia were charged with confidence by their performance in the opening Test against South Africa and are determined to ride the momentum to victory in this week's second clash at the Adelaide Oval.
Mickey Arthur feels his reputation took a big hit when he was sacked as head coach of Australia three years ago but the Pakistan mentor says he is not on a "revenge mission" as he prepares to take on his former charges.
Australia's pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has been under fire for his lacklustre form during the home summer.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) today thanked Cricket Australia (CA) for their rapid and effective response to deal with the racist remarks made by former Australian Test player Greg Ritchie, on the first day of the Brisbane Test match at the Gabba last week.
Australia have added left-handed batsman Rob Quiney to their squad as cover for all-rounder Shane Watson for the first test against South Africa.
Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne missed individual centuries but forged Australia's highest partnership of the summer to earn the hosts a handy first innings lead against Sri Lanka on day two of the series opening day-night Test on Friday.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes was named on Wednesday in a 16-man squad for the Ashes tour to Australia despite being arrested earlier in the week for an altercation outside a Bristol nightclub.
Australia made a meal of it but successfully chased down 128 for a four-wicket victory and an unassailable 2-0 series lead after dismissing India for 224 on the fourth day of the second Test.
Josh Hazlewood and Brad Haddin set new milestones as Australia, replying to India's first innings score of 408, ended Day 2 in the second Test at the Gabba on 221 for four. Check out the day's days statistical highlights.
Australia's fast bowling stocks got some welcome news on Tuesday after James Pattinson suggested he could be fit in time for matches later in the Ashes series against England.
South Africa have brought back spinner Imran Tahir in one of two changes to their team for this week's second Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval.
South Africa battled through an uncomfortable day at the Gabba to reach 166 for five and earn a draw in the first Test against Australia, who declared on 565-5 half-way through Tuesday's first session to try and force a result. Australia captain Michael Clarke, who scored 259 not out, declared with a first innings lead of 115 over South Africa's 450, but his bowlers were unable to claim enough wickets to force a result in a Test which lost a whole day to rain.
Captain Michael Clarke said positive batting had been the key to his unbeaten double century and Australia's remarkable turnaround of fortunes in the first Test against South Africa on Monday.
South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini has lashed out at his team over the alleged preference of 'white' bowlers in the Test squad as the Proteas squad consider a replacement for injured JP Duminy.
Australia's bowlers must make the most of second new ball if they want to get anything out of the rain-disrupted first Test against South Africa after disappointing on the opening day, coach Mickey Arthur said on Saturday.
Australian captain Steve Smith says rookie pacer Barinder Sran has impressive variations in his armoury and was discussed in the dressing room.
Allrounder Shane Watson has been ruled out of the first Test against South Africa with a calf strain in a huge blow for Australia's hopes of upsetting the top-ranked visitors.
Australia will be without five players for next week's first Test against New Zealand after they failed to overcome injuries, Cricket Australia said, on Friday.
England all-rounder Moeen Ali is a doubt for the second Ashes Test against Australia as he struggles to recover from a cut on his index finger, captain Joe Root said.
Australia is set to play two day-night Tests against South Africa and Pakistan next southern summer in a revamp of home international scheduling, according to reports.
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Sunday backed the team's rotation policy in the top order, saying the top three batsmen were not playing each game because they are slow on the field.
Shaun Marsh will replace injured Australia captain Michael Clarke for the second Test match against India, starting at Brisbane from December 17, Cricket Australia said on Saturday.
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